Chapter 4

Waiting and Elder Counsel

When Piper and Phoebe got home they put Paige into her bed. "What do we do now?" asked Phoebe. "We wait," said Piper simply. "How are we going to get her to talk? We can't force her to tell us, we'll just push her away," said Phoebe. "We'll just have to see when she wakes up. I think the stress of what that guy did to her put her into a sleep of some sort," said Piper. "We just have to make sure she gets better," said Phoebe as she started some coffee. Phoebe just got her words out when they heard screaming. "Paige," Piper whispered.

Piper and Phoebe bolted towards the stairs and ran into Paige's room. When they got into the room what they saw and heard shocked them. Paige was tossing and turning while mumbling "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I just wish that……," then she stopped without saying anymore. Piper made a move towards Paige's bed to wake her but Phoebe pulled her back and whispered "Wait I learned in Psychology 101 that if you asked someone something in their sleep they have to tell the truth." Phoebe walked over to Paige's bed with Piper right behind her. "Paige what are you sorry about, what do wish?" asked Phoebe in Paige's ear. Paige answered, "I'm sorry I'm not Prue and I'm sorry I'll never be able to be the big sister that you love and miss so much. I wish that I would've never been born so that maybe you would still have Prue."

Piper and Phoebe just looked at each other sadly, and then Piper signaled to Phoebe to leave the room. Phoebe followed Piper outta the room and into the kitchen. Piper poured her and Phoebe each a cup of coffee. "I don't think that's the only thing that she has been hiding and keeping bottled up inside. I think there is something much worse especially to have caused her to faint," stated Phoebe logically. "I agree but remember what happened when we got her to move in with us? We cannot risk losing the Power of Three, we'll be defenseless against the Source," said Piper. "I know but she is out sister Piper not just a part of the Power of Three," said Phoebe getting angry with Piper. "Your wrong our sister died or don't you remember?" Piper lashed out angrily. "Of course I remember Piper she was my sister to," said Phoebe with tears running down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry Phoebe I didn't mean that it's just that I really miss her and when I see you and Paige getting along so well it makes me think that you forgot all about Prue," said Piper going over to Phoebe and hugging her. "It's just so hard to accept someone you barely know especially right after Prue died," said Piper wiping away Phoebe's tears. "Piper I can never forget Prue but Paige is our baby sister and I don't wanna lose her to," said Phoebe her voice full of sadness. "I know but it's so hard to accept someone else especially since that means that Prue can never come back," said Piper sadly. "I know Piper and I miss Prue too but we need to concentrate on helping Paige," said Phoebe her voice full of determination and a little bit of sadness.

What Piper and Phoebe didn't know was that the moment Prue was in fact trying to convince the Elders that she should be allowed back. "Prudence Halliwell why have you called for a meeting with this counsel?" asked the head Elder with a booming voice. "I asked this counsel to a meeting because I would like to have my witch powers back and continue my life as a Charmed One. Now before you say anything please at least let me argue my case?" asked Prue stubbornly when she saw the Elder was about to say no. "Go ahead," said the Elder waving his hand at her.

"Well for one thing I know Piper and Phoebe miss me terribly as do I but that could cause trouble. It could affect their job of slaying demons, if they are busy mourning my death and missing me they might not be too excited or enthusiastic about hunting demons including the Source. For another Paige as you know has a dark past and doesn't think she fits in or that she doesn't belong in the family," Prue said and then paused to think about her new baby sister. "I can help Piper better accept Paige. If Piper cannot accept Paige, that may also affect their demon slaying and the Power of Three. After all the power behind the Power of Three comes from the bond as sisters and trust. Another reason is that haven't you heard of two heads are better then one? Well aren't three witches better then four? Can't we have a Power of Four? It might take out the Source and make sure he can never come back. Wouldn't it be better if we had more behind the spell?" said Prue finishing her case to the Elders.

"You make some good points Prudence, how about a temporary placing back as a Charmed One with all your powers and of course to a Power of Three?" asked the head Elder. "That's a good idea but that will only help until the next big threat comes along. "You know just as well as I do that evil won't give up. It might tip the favor to our side but the demons will compare for the Source's spot as the leader of the Underworld. Also what you would be doing is sending me back and then taking me away could make things harder on Piper. They would have to mourn my leaving all over again," said Prue stubbornly. "Okay we need to meet and we will let you know in a few minutes," said the Elder once again in a big booming voice. "Thank you," said Prue gratefully. Prue missed her sisters terribly and she would like to have a chance to get to know her baby-sister. Yes Paige was only her half sister but that didn't matter to Prue, she loved Paige just as well. "Now if I could only get Piper to accept her, Phoebe mostly accepted her but I can see that she thinks she's betraying me somehow by accepting and loving her," thought Prue as she let out a heavy sigh.

A few minutes later the Elders cam back into the room. Prue was getting nervous "After all coming back from the dead doesn't happen very often," she thought sarcastically. The Elders all sat down and the head Elder stood up and said………

A/N: I know, I know evil cliffy. Sorry I have always wanted to do that. I will post Chapter 5 where they will be serious sister bonding and jealousy. Will Prue be able to come back? If so how will Paige feel? What about Piper will she then completely shut Paige out? Will Prue defend Paige what about Phoebe? These questions will be answered in this story. Just keep reading and reviewing and maybe I will post faster.