A/N: seeing as you all asked so nicely…penultimate chapter..all will be explained soon.

Disclaimer: I do not own charmed nor do I own the words to the Hymn Amazing Grace.

Chapter 23: "Yea though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of death" Psalm 23.

The church was full. Standing room only some might say. Mourners had gathered not only to say goodbye to the deceased, but also to support the rest of the family. One solitary white coffin stood at the top end of the alter, a simple bouquet of Lilies, adorned its lid.

The front pew held the Halliwell Family, Victor at one end of the row, followed by the surviving sisters, Sam,Cole, Ben, Kyle, Jo, Chris with baby Victor and finally Leo, clutching Wyatt.

"we are gathered here today to celebrate the life of a remarkable young woman" the vicar began " A most wonderful daughter, caring sister, much loved m…."

Chris zoned, out he couldn't bare to listen to the rest of the speech, he heard the sobs next to him grow louder. Cole was wiping Ben's nose, Jo was so upset that she was letting Kyle put his arm round her to comfort her. On his lap, baby Victor just smiled up at him, blowing bubbles, too young to understand the solemnity of the event.

"….and finally friend" Chris zoned back in as the vicar reached the end of his seemingly never ending list of suitable adjectives to describe the dearly departed.

"I'd like us all to stand and join together to sing Hymn number 1 on your order of service"

"Amazing grace! how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see."

Chris turned to the back of the Church, he saw the spectral image of Patty looking back at him. Penny had sent her down to make sure that the family were alright, and to reassure the girls that their sister was in good hands.

"Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear,

The hour I first believed!"

Patty's gaze changed toward the end of the pew. Chris looked across, to see his grandpa Victor. This wasn't the happy man that Chris knew and loved, the man who never told him off even when he had been naughty, the man to whom he could confide his deepest darkest secrets. The man at the end of the pew was broken, his face red, his eyes puffy from the tears that rolled down his cheeks, all pretence at being strong had been long forgotten. Chris wanted to leap up and go and hug him, tell him that it would be alright, even though he knew it wasn't, that it would never be.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;

'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

They had beaten the most dangerous demon in the underworld, but at what price?. The elders had consoled them on their loss but couldn't help but show that they were pleased. The magical community was at peace. It would be at least another couple of years until anyone tried to take them on again, The Caixa demon's reputation spread far and wide, and the fact that the Charmed Ones had taken him out, spoke reams for the power that they could punch.

The Lord has promised good to me,

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.

He had felt so useless, so helpless. When he had come down to observe the battle field and found nothing but row upon row of bodies. Leo had told him not to blame himself, that he should burden no guilt. Piper had insisted that he stay away, and he had only been doing what any respectful child would do, that is, obeying his parents orders. He hadn't known that only evil could vanquish the Caixa demon. In his timeline the attack had been unprovoked, they had been caught unawares. Still he couldn't help but feel that had he helped them, he could have prevented the death somehow.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease;

I shall possess, within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

His palms began to sweat. The hymn was nearly over, which meant that he would soon have to go and do the reading. Why had he said yes to it? Because once again he was trying to protect them all, once again he knew that none of the others would have the strength to make it to then end of a sentence without breaking down in tears. After all, he was the one who was the most experienced at suppressing his emotions. His family were counting on him

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who call'd me here below,

Will be forever mine.

Chris stood up and walked slowly to the lectern, his father giving him a pat on the back as walked past.

He looked out on the crowd of mourners, cleared his throat and began:

"Prudence Halliwell, my aunt, will be forever remembered for…."

Flashback

Piper had taken 5 demons, at once, throwing her hands out and exploding them one by one. She was so focused on this task that she didn't see the fire ball headed directly for her. The first sign that something was amiss was the demon in front of her throwing himself to the ground voluntarily.. She turned. The fireball was 30 centimetres from her face. Time seemed to freeze. She closed her eyes to brace herself for the inevitable. But it never came.

There are times in life when you don't stop and think about things, you don't contemplate the consequences of your actions, you simply do what needs to be done in the heat of the moment. At least that is what happened when Prue Halliwell lept between the fireball and her baby sister.

Nothing could quite prepare her for the pain, that immediately rocketed through her body as the fireball made impact with her stomuch. She fell to the ground, moaning. Piper, opened eyes, looked down , and in a split second realised what had happened.

"Prue" she cried, flinging herself at her oldest sister. "what did you do that for?"

"It's okay" Prue said, her voice shaky, her breathing laboured "I wanted to"

"You wanted to?You wanted to die?" Piper was hysterical, as the puddle of blood flowing from her sisters front grew bigger and darker.

"No…., I…. wanted…. to save you"

"Prue, no, you shouldn't have"

"It was easier this way..there's no husband for me to make a widower,…. no children…, hardly any friends…..…"

"But what about us, what about your family? we can't go through that all again"

"yes, you can, you're strong, Piper, you're the strongest person I know"

"No, no I'm not"

"Yes…you ..are.." Prue began to shudder as the death rattle rose up through her body "I ..love..you..all.." were her final words before the eternal darkness fell.

End of Flashback.

XXX

a/n '…much loved member of the family'….what you didn't really think I'd kill Piper did you!

TBC