The Second First Born

N.B.I hope you're in it for the long haul! Please R&R! Also, disclaimer. I don't own Charmed, the show or any of the original characters.

The icy fingers of a chill wind brushed her cheeks and she pulled her jacket tighter around her tiny frame.

As she regarded her surroundings her eyes looked glassy in the moonlight that bathed the garden in a ghostly silver glow.

Ghostly...

Silent curses chased each other through her mind for even thinking that word. Each breath she took made a wave of agony rip through her, the pain was tearing her apart inside. As she felt the familiar prickle of hot tears begin to build up behind her eyes, she buried her head in her hands and fiercly blinked them back, taking deep calming breaths.

A sentence replayed again and again in her mind, 'For Piper, I have to stay strong for Piper...'
This helped her stay focused, in control...somebody had to...
Reminded of her sister, one hand instinctively strayed and reached for a silver pendant that hung around her neck on a fine chain; each link eloquently intertwined.

Holding the pendant in the palm of her hand, she traced the emblam that graced it's silver surface.
Three links in a chain, intertwined with one another; the triquetra. Blinded by grief, she struggled to keep above her emotions; her heartbreaking sadness, her empty fury...
Encasing the triquetra in her hand, she wrenched the fine chain and it snapped.

She held it aloft, the moonlight glancing from the metal. She closed her eyes and captured each breath she took, willing the moment to be held as easily, for the reality to fade. All her life she had been running from responsiblities. She was the youngest, the irresponsible one; at least compared to Prue...

She whispered her name, her broken voice carried away by the raging quiet that had settled over her life, the endless dark...

Now everything was frighteningly real. She had to cope...had to keep her head above the water that threatened to pull her under, flood her every fibre of being. She released a slow, quivering breath, before opening her hand. The pendant hit the paving with a low, hollow clink, the broken chain spangled across the hard ground.

A broken chain and no more than a memory...no more the sisters three.

Paige gave a relieved sigh, allowing the cheery warm glow to wash over her. The torchlight danced enticingly from the timber in Laura's hand. A slight flicker of jealousy flared inside her. Such a kick-ass power, she thought. She also knew, because she was half whitelighter, she could never really yeild those type of powers. A natural half-pacifist, Paige was more of a lover than a fighter.

Feeling somewhat revitalised, she bent down and picked up the spell that had fallen from her hand in the confusion.
'Right, now...this spell should definately work. Nice job,' she said, looking up at Laura. Laura however, did not return her stare. Her gaze was fixed at the space behind her, her features fixed in a mixture between confusion and horror.

Paige said, 'What?'.
Laura swallowed, gesturing with one finger outstretched.
Paige cautiously turned, bracing herself for something...anything...

'Uh...what am I supposed to be seeing here, Laura?' Paige said, looking into the gloom.
'Nothing...' Laura said.

Paige took in a breath, and folded her arms, 'Laura, I really don't have time for games...'
Laura interrupted, 'No game...no Phoebe...'