Disclaimer: I do not own Charmed

A/N: I deserve shot. Shoulda updated way sooner, so sorry. Hope you like this new chapter. The words in this song are from Louise's – Don't Give Up

Vulnerable Child: Chapter 16

Phoebe's encounter with Ricky had left her raw, emotionally and physically. She sat on her bedroom floor clutching her old journals; she flipped through the pages smiling. It was ironic; she had stopped writing in her journals when she fell pregnant, the first big thing to happen to her and it wasn't even documented.

When the sky that once was blue has turned to grey,

Nothing but troubles in your way,

When the water that you drink from have run dry,

And tears are welling in your eyes…

Phoebe continued flicking through the pages as she heard Piper arrive and climb the stairs, soon she was sitting next to Phoebe.

"What are you doing?" she asked, glancing around the room at the scattered journals.

"Reading," said Phoebe gently, it shocked Piper how much she had changed in the short months she had been 'with child', "My journals, there are lots, lots of entries about Ricky," she squirmed,

"Really?" said Piper, not actually knowing how to react,

"Yeah, like this one… 'I saw him again today, I don't know what it is about him… maybe it's his eyes? Smouldering and mysterious? Its weird, I know he's bad, and will hurt me but I'm drawn to him, I long for him, to kiss him, to have him near me…'" her voice trailed off.

"What's wrong?" asked Piper,

"Well… we all know where that led, now I'm trapped, like this,"

"Is that really how you feel?"

"Yes,"

"You shouldn't."

The storm will pass, you'll be stronger

Moving on, standing taller,

Ready to face another day,

Where ever you go, Whatever you do,

I'll be by your side, so don't five up,

No matter how high, the mountain you climb,

You strong deep inside so don't give up…

Piper moved towards Phoebe, taking hold of her hand and squeezing it affectionately,

"You can't think like that," said Piper, "I know this situation isn't ideal but, you have to make the most of it. If you keep thinking that your trapped then things aren't' going to work, you'll end up resenting your child. That's not fair on it. You have to forget about Ricky, for your child,"

"How can I forget about him, every time I think about my baby, I think about its father… every single time,"

"Your baby doesn't have a father," said Piper, she knew it sounded harsh but she needed Phoebe to understand her,

"What?" said Phoebe looking shocked, "Why would you say that?"

"Because I need you to believe it. I need you to understand that your baby has a biological father, but that's all. A father is someone who wants to be with their child, and the mother wants to be involved… and more than anything loves their family. This baby, doesn't have that…" she paused and looked towards Phoebe, who was cuddling her ever expanding stomach, "But it does have you… and the rest of us. This baby will be loved, and it will be cared for and above everything else it will have a mother, and a good mother."

"Yeah, sure," said Phoebe, looking disheartened,

"But not unless you forget about Ricky and move on with your life, and I mean truly move on. You can't keep pretending he's something he's not, and you can't think that he wouldn't hurt you and your baby… he's the bad guy,"

When the load on your shoulders seems too much,

You just need a human touch,

When the fire in your heart is almost gone,

That is where the life once shone,

The sun will rise on a new tomorrow,

No more tears, no more sorrow,

Your gonna see a brighter day…

Piper and Phoebe sat in silence for the longest time; their breathing was the only sound that could be heard. Slowly Phoebe got up and wandered to the window, she found herself looking out it a lot more recently, and with new found eyes. Suddenly she saw everything differently, if she saw a woman jogging in the morning she would wonder what she was thinking, what she trying to escape by jogging… if she saw a young boy, she would wonder if her son or daughter would laugh like him, or run for the ice cream truck, and play hop scotch in the street. If she saw a teenage boy she would wonder about his character, was he like Ricky, would he use someone and leave them, or was he one of the nice ones she read about in romance novels. She didn't know.

"You're right… I need to forget about him for my baby, for my son." She said, once again clutching her stomach.

"Son?" questioned Piper looking towards Piper, "How do you know it's a boy?"

"Just a feeling, like I've been more inclined to wear less pink, and eat curry and just little things… it doesn't seem like I'm carrying a girl… it's a boy. I bet,"

"How do you feel about that?" asked Piper,

"As long as its happy, healthy, and mine… I don't care… I just want a healthy baby, I don't care if it's a boy or girl, or whatever. As long as its mine,"

When the load on your shoulders seems too much,

You just need a human touch,

When the fire in your heart is almost gone,

That is where the life once shone,

The sun will rise on a new tomorrow,

No more tears, no more sorrow,

Your gonna see a brighter day…

"Phoebe," said Piper, joining Phoebe at the window, "I'm so proud of you, you know that don't you?" she said,

"What? Why are you proud of me... I screwed up Piper, got I into this mess and now things are just wrong and… it's not a good situation."

"I know that, but you're dealing with it, you're making it a good situation, a better one that it could have been before. I admire that, you're beginning to see the positive things, and not the negative. You'll be a great mother, even if you are so young. But still…" she stopped,

"What?" asked Phoebe, Piper hesitated, glancing around the room,

"I sometimes wish that… I could have taken this away from you, taken your place. You don't deserve this, and I could have done it,"

"No. Don't say that. Don't even think it. You don't deserve this any more than I do, you deserve it even less. You're good, and kind and pure, I've never known anyone who loved and cared so much… This is my fault, I screwed up but I'm not going to screw up anymore, I'm not. I'm going to change, to be stronger for my baby… but I can't do it alone. I need you."

"You've got me,"

I will take your place,

I will carry you,

When its hard to face,

What I've put you through,

Any road you take,

Or mistake you make,

I'll be there to share every step you take…