A/N: And I'm back. Hopefully updates a bit more regularly now I've nothing else to do. Hope you like it.

Maddy told Phoebe the same tale as she'd told Paige all those months ago. Paige watched her sister piece together the jigsaw and finally realise there was no explanation apart from that this was the truth.

'Why didn't she tell us?' Phoebe asked tearfully when Maddy had finished.

Maddy shrugged. 'Maybe she didn't think you'd handle it very well.'

'But we're her sisters!'

'You didn't take the news about Maddy and I too well,' Paige reasoned.

'But that's because all I saw was my sister with a liar,' Phoebe argued. 'I'd have been there for Prue.'

'The thing about Prue was that she worried too much,' Maddy smiled wistfully. 'She couldn't pass over any of the responsibility to you or Piper but she couldn't live with it.'

'Andy's death really shook her up,' Phoebe recalled grimly. 'I guess we didn't realise how much.'

Paige was starting to feel uncomfortable with this conversation, all this talking about Prue was unnerving. It reminded her of everything Prue and Maddy had shared, made her feel second best again.

Which was ridiculous really because Paige's relationship with Maddy was much more equal than their's- Maddy had been infatuated with Prue but she was in love with Paige.

Wasn't she?

No, of course she was. All the time they'd spent with each other over the last few months had proved that. But she never once pressed Paige to tell her family like she had with Prue, not once. What did that mean?

Suddenly feeling overwhelmed and more than a little anxious, she orbed into the attic, just needing a bit of space but knowing Pheebs and Maddy would find it more than a little suspicious.

'I need someone to talk to,' she muttered quietly.

'Will I do?' Piper asked from the doorway.

'Piper, what are you doing here? What about Chris and Leo?'

'Yeah,' Piper cringed. 'They're having a father-son chat.'

'Oh.'

'So... this Madeline...' Piper prompted.

'Is my girlfriend,' Paige confirmed.

'Right. And are you happy?' she asked carefully.

'Right now? No.'

'Why not?' Piper queried. 'Cos if she's upset you I really will blow her up.'

'I can't talk to you about it,' Paige grimaced.

'I've got past the anger stage, I'm just concerned, that's all.'

'I can trust Maddy, honest,' Paige insisted.

'Then what's the problem?'

'I can't...' Paige stammered.

Piper sighed. 'If it's about Prue, I'm willing to listen.'

'Really?'

'Let's just say I've had to do this elder sister thing for a while now,' she smiled. 'And I can understand Prue wanting a bit of a secret life, sometimes I wish I had one.'

'You believe me now then?' Paige asked.

'I think I always did, I just didn't want to.'

'That's nice to know.'

'So, what's up?'

'Maddy's downstairs having a nice chat with Phoebe about all of Prue's good points.'

'Ah,' Piper said. 'And you're feeling second best?'

'Something like that,' Paige admitted. 'I know it sounds awful but...'

'It doesn't sound awful,' Piper interrupted. 'It sounds natural. No one wants to hear all about ex's, it's messy.'

'I love her, Piper,' Paige sighed. 'I knew from the start. When she knocked on the door I thought... well, I don't know what I thought but I liked her. When I found out she knew Prue I thought 'no chance'. I didn't wanna get involved with her, not even to be friends and I knew I wanted to be more than that.'

'How did you meet up?' Piper asked curiously. 'Only I was wondering.'

'Erm... she wanted to know how Prue died and who I was, she told me everything about their time together. I knew I was falling for her and I'm there listening to her talk about the first time she kissed my dead sister! I felt so sick it was unbelievable. But she gave me my number and I called her when I calmed down a bit. I didn't tell you cos I thought you might banish me or something.'

'Yeah,' Piper grinned. 'I mighta.'

'Every time I look at her I fall for her all over again,' Paige struggled to explain. 'I'd do anything or her.'

'Like jumping in front of a demonic light?'

'That was pretty stupid wasn't it?' Paige smiled sheepishly.

'Yeah, it was,' Piper agreed. 'You nearly sent me into labour.'

'Pipe?' Paige hesitantly said. 'Can I carry on seeing her?'

Piper laughed. 'I'm not your keeper, Paige.'

'No, but you're my sister and I'd like your blessing.'

'Then you got it,' Piper said with a smile. 'Now, I better go see if my guys have worked things out yet.'

'Thanks, Piper.'

'Talk to her,' Piper advised. 'Before you lose her.'