A/N: I planned to update this yesterday, but for some reason I couldn't log in... Anyway, this is the last chapter. Thanks to all who reviewed and enjoy!

Alyssa Halliwell: Oh cool, you've got an M name... funny how things work out like that... Glad you didn't think the last chapter was boring, that was my biggest worry while writing it.

charmed4eva1990: Yep, that's why Phoebe moved out. I wanted to write a fic that was creative and still fit in with the continuity of the show pretty well, so, here we are...

Princess Pinky: Glad you thought me using scenes from Pre-Witched was so effective!

MidniteMagick: "best one so far," eh? I guess you've been reading this without reviewing... well, thanks for dropping me a note! About the morning-after pill: As far as I know, there isn't one on the market in the US, and there certainly wasn't one around in the 90s. So that's why Phoebe didn't use it. Hope that helps clear things up!

CHAPTER NINE- GOODBYES

April 13, 1997

Grams died in the hospital a few days ago. Damn it was sad. The doctors said she'd had a heart attack. Piper's pretty broken up about it all, but of course Prue doesn't show any emotion- that android. Katie says that I should stick around here longer so we sisters can give each other support in our time of distress. But she doesn't understand. Clarks may work things out that way, but Halliwells don't. "We sisters" haven't gotten along in years, so how in the world are we going to help each other out now? And besides, staying longer means no point in leaving at all; my sisters will find out. I have to go… now. I bought the bus ticket a few hours ago. It'll get me as far as Vegas, and then I'll have to find a new route. Just knowing that I'm about to tell my sisters that they may never see me again is scaring the crap out of me. But hopefully once I get to New York, everything will fall into place. I'll have a whole new life. Chapter eleven, so to speak. Of course, I'll write as often as I can in my new home. But right now, I have to leave.

Phoebe sat in an armchair with her suitcase next to her. She was shaking as she waited for an opportunity to tell her sisters where she was headed. She'd been constructing thoughts of a good way to say it for a few days now.

"I'd still like to know what she was doing up there," Phoebe heard Prue say. She turned to see both of her sisters walking down the stairs. This might be her only chance to get their attention. She took a deep breath and answered Prue.

"Up where?" she asked.

"Piper thinks Grams was up in the attic before she died," Prue informed.

"That's not possible," Phoebe reminded. "She always told us that attic was sealed off."

"Yeah, well then what was she doing coming down those stairs?" Piper asked. It had looked as though Grams had fallen down the attic stairs when they found her lying in the upstairs hallway. But Phoebe knew pondering about this notion would take a while, and possibly ruin her chances of finding an opportunity to break the news.

"I think the more important question is, what are we doing?" Phoebe asked, changing the subject.

"What do you mean?" Prue asked.

"I mean precisely what Grams was always so concerned about. Our future. The only reason we're all still here together is because of her, and now Prue, you've already got one foot out the door, and Piper I know you don't wanna bunk with me any longer than you have to. So let's just face it, she was the glue," Phoebe said.

"Why don't we talk about this over dinner?" Piper suggested. "I'll make one of Grams' favorite meals. She always liked the idea of me being in the kitchen."

"Uh, actually I'm sort of supposed to spend the night with Roger," Prue said.

Piper looked hurt by Prue's abrupt act of blowing her off, but she shrugged it off and turned to look at Phoebe. "What about you Pheebs, table for two?"

Phoebe knew this was it. She was about to walk out the front door of the Halliwell Manor and possibly never return. "Uh… actually, I was thinking about getting out of here."

"Are you going out?" Piper asked.

"No," Phoebe sighed. It seemed to get harder and harder with every word she said. "Going away. I'm not sure what my future holds, but I do know it's not in San Francisco." She picked up her suitcase and swung it over her shoulder.

"Phoebe, you don't have to-" Prue started.

"It's okay," Phoebe interrupted. "We all know that the only thing I contribute to this threesome is trouble, so… I'm gonna go see what New York thinks of me. Whatever my destiny may be, I might find it there."

"Phoebe, what about school?" Piper reminded.

"School will still be here if I come back. …Grams always said that we all had a purpose. Maybe we'll have an easier time finding it on our own."

Phoebe turned and walked out of the room, down the hall and out the front door. If she had stayed to say her goodbyes, she knew she might get way too teary-eyed and emotional to even leave. Sure, she didn't get along with her sisters, but she still loved them. Plus, she was scared about starting over all on her own. As she walked down the front steps, she guessed that she was probably forcing all of the Halliwells to start over by doing this. What would they do without her there? Would Prue stop being so bitchy once she settled down? Would Piper decide to pursue her dream career after all? There were so many things that Phoebe knew she was going to miss out on in their lives. But she couldn't dwell on all the cons just then. She had to leave if she wanted to get to the bus station on time.

"Phoebe?" Piper said, peeking out the front door. Phoebe turned around to face her sister.

"What is it?" Phoebe asked. She could tell that Piper had been crying recently. A wave of guilt swept over her as she thought that perhaps her departure was affecting her sisters more than she predicted it would.

"Do… do you need a ride or something?" Piper asked. "I mean, do you expect to walk to New York?"

They exchanged a smile over the thought. "No, just to the bus station," Phoebe explained.

"Well in that case, can I drive you there?"

"That would be great, Piper," Phoebe agreed. "That would be great."

As she stuffed her things into Piper's Jeep, Phoebe thought back to a few nights ago when she had planned to tell Piper what was really going on. Of course, the issues with Grams made it so that that conversation never happened. Should it happen now? Phoebe certainly had the opportunity. And she certainly wanted to. But did Piper really need that shocker on top of everything else she had to deal with right then? Phoebe figured her emotions had suffered enough. So she remained silent as they pulled out of the Manor's driveway.

"Do you, um, do you have enough money with you, Phoebe?" Piper asked.

"Oh, Piper, please don't. I'll be fine," Phoebe assured.

"But I'm worried about you, Phoebe. You're gonna be all alone on the other side of the country with no one you know and nothing more than a High School Diploma."

"That's not even the half of it," Phoebe whispered.

"Hmm?" Piper asked.

"Nothing," Phoebe answered.

"Well… promise you'll keep in touch anyway. And come back if something happens. You're always welcome here."

"Somehow I don't think Prue would agree with that statement," Phoebe commented.

"Yeah, well, soon she won't even be living in the Manor anymore. Don't worry about what she thinks, Phoebe. She's not why you're leaving, is she?" Piper asked.

"No, no, of course not."

"Why then? Why so suddenly? And why New York? If you want a change of scenery, why not Oakland or something?"

The answer was because Phoebe's sisters could still find her in a place so close by, but she lied about that in her response. "Because… dad's in New York."

"Oh, Pheebs, please tell me you're kidding," Piper said.

"No, I'm not," Phoebe replied. "I want to find him. I want to know the real reason he left us so many years ago."

"Are you going to try to find the 'real reason' Grams was going up those stairs before she died, too?"

"Piper, please, I don't need the sarcasm right now. I want to do this. I want to get out of here, and he's there. So I'm going."

"Well…" Piper began, "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too, honey," Phoebe answered.

"And Prue'll miss you too, even if she doesn't say it."

"Well make sure you tell me if she does, 'cause I want to know if something like that happens," Phoebe smiled.

"I will, I promise. As long as you give me your address or phone number or something. We should keep in touch."

"I promise I'll do that." The car pulled into the parking lot of the bus station. Phoebe got a sick feeling in her stomach as her nerves took over. Maybe she should take Piper up on that money offer after all… no, that would feel rude. Piper got out of the car with Phoebe and helped her with her luggage.

"Have a safe ride," she said. They hugged. "I love you, Phoebe. Take care out there."

"I love you too, Piper. …Goodbye." As soon as she said the words, a tear or two escaped her eyes.

"Just remember that we care about you, Phoebe," Piper said. She was teary-eyed, too. "Don't stay there longer than you have to because you think you'll get a cold reception back home."

"I promise I won't," Phoebe said. She wished she really could do what Piper just told her she could. But she knew her reception would be anything but warm if she came home carrying a little bundle of joy. She would have to stay in New York for quite a while. Hopefully she would be able to give her baby a good childhood, and not have to raise her on the streets or something. Phoebe snapped out of her thoughts, knowing that the longer she dwelled on them, the more qualms she'd have about leaving.

"I, uh… I guess you should go now," Piper sniffled. "Don't want to miss your bus."

"Right," Phoebe agreed, drying her eyes and gathering her belongings. "Bye, Piper."

"Goodbye, Phoebe."

After she'd entered the station, Phoebe turned around and watched Piper drive away. This had to be the saddest day of her life. Any more emotional turmoil and she'd have to find a bathroom to throw up in. It was quite annoying how pregnancy could do that to someone. With unsteady steps, Phoebe approached her bus. No going back now. Today she started her life all over again. No fooling around anymore. This time she was going to be a mother; she had to be serious about everything.

Maybe one day everything would change- she would resolve her conflicts with her sisters, know her father, be a good parent, have some responsibility… but for now, she was just learning, taking life one step at a time. And it was the scariest, most memorable thing she'd ever done.

THE END

A/N: So, did you like it? Well guess what, this was all a shameless plan to reel new readers into a series of fics I've already written about Phoebe and her baby! If you want to read the story that continues this, it's called Phoebe's Journey, and it's a songfic. There's more after that, but you don't have to read them if you don't want to… (This was my first fic with chapters, so they all only have one long one as opposed to many shorter ones.) Enjoy! Thank you to all my reviewers!