Sisters Bound

Part 11 – Sisters Four

By: Silverstar03

Okay, this is the last part, I really swear this time! Thank you to everyone who has read this far. And now, here it is…

The next morning I woke up early and bolted into a sitting position. Confused, I looked around for a moment before realizing where I was. I was in my new room at the Mathews' house…home. Seeing that Phoebe was still asleep, I got up quietly and headed downstairs. When I walked into the kitchen I was surprised to find Paige sitting at the table. The clock said eight when I got up, so I had assumed that she had gone to school.

"Piper!" Paige said loudly as she jumped up from her chair in excitement.

"Shhh honey, Phoebe's still sleeping," Jamie reprimanded from her spot at the sink washing dishes. "Good morning Piper. Breakfast?"

"I made pancakes!" Paige said proudly and I smiled as she pulled them from the microwave where they were being kept warm. "Mom said I could stay home to help you move your room." Breakfast was quiet, so quiet that I could hear the clanging of the dishes in the sink and the flipping of the pages of Paige's book. I liked it that way. Thirty minutes later I returned to my new room to find Phoebe standing in front of the window looking to the back of the house.

"Hey, you hungry?" I asked. "There're pancakes downstairs."

"Oh, no," Phoebe replied, turning as she did so.

"Come on,' I said, taking her hand and dragging her to the door. "Let's see if we can find you something of mine that might fit you." Phoebe sat down on my old bed as I sorted through some of my clothes and found something that looked like it would sort of fit her. When I turned to her I found her deep in thought and I knew what she was thinking about. It was the same expression I had had on my face when I came here. She was thinking about home. "It'll get easier in time," I said softly to her as I handed her the clothes and sat down on the bed as well.

"You think?" she asked, desperation in her voice.

"I know," I answered, and smiled when she looked up at me. "I know how you feel…cause it's the same way I felt when I first came here. You're excited to go home, but afraid too. The memories that are in that house…will they haunt you? Can you stand it? It use to be a place we called home…can it ever be again?" Phoebe stared at me, her eyes wide open in shock that I had expressed in words what she had been thinking and feeling.

"It'll get easier?"

"I promise."

An hour later we were in the car and driving back to the manor. Paige was in the front seat next to Jamie and I was in the back with Phoebe. I could sense anxiety and fear coming off of her in waves. What scared me the most was her hope, because I knew there would be nothing there that would satisfy that feeling. Grams was gone, and the house was empty. When we finally got there Jamie and Paige pulled boxes out of the trunk as Phoebe and I walked into the house. I saw her face drop as we entered, so I slid my good arm around her shoulder to comfort her.

"It'll be okay," I whispered as I walked her upstairs and to our room. Seeing Phoebe in our room again gave me such joy, even if all of my belongings were no longer there. Phoebe walked slowly around, looking at all of her dusty possessions that had been left for months. I watched her for a minute before sitting down on my old bed. "Well…I guess we should start," I whispered, and Phoebe turned as I said this.

"Yeah, I guess…" she answered as she started pulling clothes out of the drawer and both Jamie and Paige came in with the boxes. I wasn't much help to them with my arm, but two hours later we had everything packed in the trunk of the car and we were off. Realizing how late it was, I immediately thought of Prue.

"Jamie, we never went to visit Prue!" I called out, panic in my voice. "We promised her we'd go…please, can we stop by?" Phoebe's head popped up at my request and I knew she was praying under her breath. Jamie looked at me in silence for a minute before sighing, nodding, and turning the car towards the hospital.

"I'll call Mike to pick you up in an hour or two when his shift ends," she told us as we hopped out of the car.

"Thank you so much," I replied, leaning in to kiss Jamie on the cheek and smile at Paige. As the car drove away I followed Phoebe into the hospital and smiled in anticipation of seeing my big sister. When we entered Prue's hospital room I was surprised to find her sitting up in bed. Then again, she was always the strong one.

"Piper! Phoebe!" she said with excitement, a smile covering her face as Phoebe ran over to give her a hug. "Rough day?" she asked my little sister, but Phoebe just kept hugging her. I smiled at my sisters for a moment before walking over to join them.

The next few days were hard. At home I stayed close to Phoebe, and every time I looked at Paige I saw her giving me a look. But…what could I do? Phoebe needed me. Prue was making a fast recovery and both Phoebe and I were counting down the days till she could leave the hospital and come home with us. It wasn't till one week later that the doctors finally relented and told us that Prue could leave. I remember the excitement I felt and the happiness that shone off of Phoebe's face. I also remember the unsettling expression that Paige's eyes held. Phoebe and I went to the manor that day to gather all of Prue's things for her. While we were alone I showed her the Book of Shadows and all of the witchcraft supplies that Grams had kept a secret from us for all of these years. Phoebe's eyes widened in curiosity as she traced her hand over the cover of the Book, and I smiled as I saw the spark in her eyes that had been missing these past few weeks. The old Phoebe was slowly, but surely, coming back to me. Mike picked us and the boxes full of Prue's things up two hours later, and after he helped us unload it into her new room I saw that Jamie was getting ready to leave. She was going to pick Prue up. Phoebe was next to her, holding onto a bag of clothes for our sister, and they were looking at me at my spot at the top of the stairs.

"You coming?" Phoebe asked, but I slowly shook my head.

"I think I'll wait here." Phoebe looked at me in confusion for a moment, but I gave her a smile and she seemed satisfied that I was okay. Jamie waved as she left and Mike disappeared into the kitchen to fix dinner. I stood alone at the top of the stairs to gather my thoughts. Prue would be coming to live here…all three of us under the same roof again. But…at the same time, I was worried. The family dynamic would change, and the person I was most worried about was Paige. I hadn't talked to her much this past week. Every second of my time had been given to Phoebe and helping her to adjust and deal. I was there when she woke up in the middle of the night from nightmares, and I was there for her to climb into bed with so she wouldn't have to be alone. I hadn't even dealt with what happened myself, since my full attention had been on my sister. Now Prue was coming home, and I worried what Paige was thinking. Taking a deep breath, I turned around and walked towards Paige's room.

"Hello? Paige?" I called as I knocked on her door and then opened it. There she was, sitting on her bed with a book on her lap and Kit sprawled out next to her. She was petting Kit out of habit and I could tell that she hadn't read a word from her book.

"Piper?" she asked, looking up as I entered. I saw a small smile form as I walked in and sat down next to her.

"Yeah, it's me," I replied. "How've you been doing? I'm sorry we haven't had much time to hang out this past week or two." Paige looked down at these words and shrugged.

"It's okay…I'm fine…" I looked at my littlest sister with guilt and then shook my head.

"No, it's not okay Paige. I'm sorry." She looked up at these words and then smiled a little.

"I have missed you."

"I've missed you too. The thing is…remember when I first came here and I was really sad?"

"Yeah, I remember. You cried in your sleep." I smiled sadly at these words as Kit walked over to sprawl over both of our laps.

"Do you remember how you were there for me? You cheered me up and let me cry on your shoulder."

"That's what sisters are for," Paige replied, and I smiled at this comment as she leaned over and wrapped her arms around me.

"Yep, that's what sisters are for. Well, Phoebe's going through the same thing as I was back then. She's lost 6 months of her life, she's lost her home, she's lost her grandmother, and she's lost everything that she's ever known. That is…except for me and Prue. She cries in her sleep too and has nightmares, just like I did. I have to be there for her. Do you understand?" Paige looked up at me when I was finished and slowly nodded.

"I hadn't thought of that…"

"And just because I have to be there for Phoebe, that doesn't mean we still can't hang out. Feel free to come into our room whenever you want. I can comfort Phoebe by myself, but two sisters are always better than one in the comforting department." I smiled as Paige realized what I was asking of her and she then flopped back on the bed, bringing Kit with her.

"You trust me to help Phoebe?" she asked, and I nodded.

"You helped me, didn't you?" Paige glanced over at me for a second before drifting back into her own thoughts.

"What about Prue?"

"Prue…" I repeated softly as I thought of my older sister. "Prue's a strong one, that she is…but she's only human. At night, when we're sleeping, I won't be able to hear my big sister. If she has a nightmare or needs someone to be there with her, you'll be the only one who can hear her since you're right next door. Will you help me look after them? I'm only asking you Paige, because you're special."

"Special?"

"Yeah…you always know the right thing to say that'll make someone else feel better. It's a gift."

"A gift…hmmnn…" I watched as Paige thought about that and then I plopped down next to her. "Okay," she finally said with a smile. "I…I don't know if your sisters will like me…or want to include me…but I'll try."

"I'm sure they'll love you," I laughed as I gave her a hug with my good arm and we both sat up again. "I told Prue how you sat with her in the hospital, and she's very grateful."

"Really?"

"Yep. And I told both of them how you were here for me when they couldn't be. They love you already." Paige smiled at these words and then reached over to pull out a drawer from the night stand next to her bed. A second later, she held out her fist and then opened it. Inside laid my grandmother's pendant necklace…the necklace that had saved us all. Reaching out, I slowly took it from her hand and stared at it. "Grams…" I whispered before reaching around my neck and clasping it tight. It felt right there. Paige closed the drawer again and then jumped up off her bed, sending Kit flying into the air. I laughed as I caught her in my lap, gave her a hug, and then let her run out the door. Paige was standing at the window looking out.

"They're here!" she said excitedly as I got up off the bed and walked over to stand behind her. "I've always wanted sisters," Paige whispered as I put my hand on her shoulder and watched Phoebe and Prue climb out of the car door.

"And here we are," I replied. "And here we are…"

THE END