Erlack! We are up to Ch. 13. Oh how the time flies...

"How'd she get like this anyway?' Phoebe asked as she hoisted herself unto the countertop to rummage through some cabinets.

" I don't know." Prue groaned as she tried to hold Paige and look through drawers at the same time." Why don't you ask her?" She teased looking up at Phoebe.

Upon seeing her little sister padding across the high marble surface feet clad in white socks, she bristled at the accident waiting to happen. " Phoebe get down this instant!" Prue shreiked

" Geez don't have an annurism.' Phoebe rolled her eyes and she hopped down of the counter landing feet first unharmed on the floor." See? No reason to worry"

" There's always a reason to worry." Prue retorted head craned into a cabinet. " Did you find anything?"

" Nope." Phoebe stated " Hey can I play with Paige?"

" Sure" Prue replied " Take her into the living room and do not let her out of your sight, clear?"

" Crystal." Phoebe smirked lifitng Paige out of Prue's grasp.

As Phoebe carried her out of the room, Paige protested. " Hey! Hey!" She attempted to verbalize "You're not going to let her take me are you? This is the girl who tried to massacre my doll yesterday.Prueee!" She complained " Prue"

But as she was only a baby, her words were meaningless and taken by her eldest sister as just noises. This frustrated Paige and in result she choked out a couple of cries. That always seemed to get her sisters attention.

Prue in an instant shuffled over to Phoebe and tried to pry Paige away, but Phoebe stopped her " I got it Prue, trust me."

Prue nodded knowing Phoebe was telling the truth. She wouldn't hurt Paige."You sure?" She questioned once more.

" Yes Prudence I'm sure" Phoebe retorted as she left the room. God, her sister was such a prat.

As Phoebe left the room, Prue realized something. Where in the hell was Piper?

"Okay cutie" Phoebe smiled at Paige whos big brown eyes stared at her with disdain. " We are going to play house and you are going to be my baby."

Paige tried to crawl away from Phoebe but was too slow. She found herself being yanked up by Phoebe to her doom. She wasn't happy about this at all. So she cried.

Phoebe frowned at her baby sister crying. She didn't mean to upset her. " Hey, don't cry. I was only playing. We can do whatever you want."

Paige's tears stopped. " Okay" she said "How about we go up to my room. I have some great toys."

Phoebe continued to pout." I can't understand you. This isn't fun anymore. Prue! Prue!"

Prue came running in phone in one hand and a baby bottle in the other. " What? What happened?"

" Hey you found it!"

Prue looked down at bottle in her hand. " Yes. I did. But i'm very busy right now honey. I'm trying to find Piper. So what did you need me for?"

" Paige is boring you can take her away now."

Prue shook her head in Phoebe's direction. "I should've guessed this is what would happen. Okay, hand her over. She needs to eat anyway."

She took Paige from Phoebe's arms and tossed her younger sister the phone.She then went to sit down on the couch so she could feed Paige. Tilting the baby into a sitting position, she pushed the bottle into Paige's mouth, who accepted and began drinking, but not before grabbing the bottle out of her oldest sisters hands.

" Independant one we've got here huh?" Prue quipped looking at Paige. She knew she shouldn't, because she was going to have to leave, but she couldn't help feeling a maternal bond with Paige. It was weird and thrilling all at the same time. Prue had not been able to have kids before she died. Maybe this was a gift to her.But she couldn't forget Paige wasn't going to stay little forever. They would have to change her back eventually. But why? Prue sighed from the conflicting thoughts she had. Why couldn't life be simple?

Never actually finishing her search for Piper, Prue spent the rest of the day playing with her sisters, and trying to teach Paige some of the things she would need to learn developmentally at this age. Anything they did at this point in her life, had a great chance of effecting how she would turn out as an adult. They couldn't neglect her needs.

" Say Prue, Paigey, Come on say it." Prue crooned kneeling on the floor on her knees in front of Paige who was gnawing on some toys disintrested.

" No leave me alone." She said, knowing very well by now Prue wouldnt have a clue what she was saying or what she wanted unless she cried. But she still didnt have to like it.

" Prue. Prue. Prue. I know you can do it." Her sister pressed

Paige relented. If it got her to stop this annoying prodding then she'd say it.

"Padah" was what came out of her mouth , shocking her. Even if she tried she couldnt say anything. Now she was determined to regain her voice. Even just to learn one word was all she wanted.

" Close, but no. Try again baby."

Paige mustered up all of her will power. She was going to say something. A real word. Whether it was Prue or something else. Here it comes.

" Mama" she heard a tiny little voice simper. That surely couldnt have been her could it?

She looked up at Prue to see her reaction. It was total shock and awe at the same time. Yup that had been her.

" Hey Prue, are you okay? I didn't mean to upset you." Paige tried saying but instead all that came out was another " Mama?"

Oh so thats how it was going to work from now on. Geez, if she had only known.

" Yes very good sweetheart." She heard Prue praise quietly almost unsure of herself for once before she lifted her up and took her into the kitchen. Paige realized Prue wasn't pissed at what the first word she uttered had been, but rather that it was what she had been wanting to hear all along. She wrapped her tiny arm Prue's neck and rested her head on the oldests shoulder.

" Mama." she whispered again, now so close to Prues ear, this time knowing it wasnt a mistake, but how she really felt.