Welcome to my new reviewers: ShadowWren and PaytonPaigePatriciaHalliwell. It's good to have you on board and I'm glad you like the story.
Chapter 13: Divided We Stand
Piper stood behind the podium with the Book of Shadows opened up in front of her.
Worry was starting to take hold of her. She continued to pace back and forth and had her mind made up. She was prepared to enter the Underworld alone, with a potion she had conjured up, if the others were not back in ten more minutes. Granted, she wasn't sure the potion would work but it was worth a shot. She already knew the location. However, when Piper looked back up, the familiar blue and white orbs suddenly appeared in the attic.
Piper took in a deep sigh of relief.
Thank god.
As Leo and Paige orbed in with the others, they all took a moment to catch their bearings. Prue felt herself grow dizzy and reached out to the nearest wall for some support. Paige reached out to steady her from the other side.
"You okay?" Paige asked.
"Um, whoa! Head rush," came Prue's reaction to the sudden feeling that overtook her as Paige steadied her by one arm. "Does that happen all the time?" she asked.
"Nope, just 'til you get used to it!" reassured Paige.
Suddenly, everybody in the room was alerted to the fact that they were now standing in the company of two Pipers. Phoebe, Paige, and Billie each looked between the Piper standing beside them and the Piper standing in front of them.
"Uh, okay, what's going on here?" Phoebe voiced in a high-pitched tone of concern. "Did we just bring a shape shifter demon back home with us?"
Prue was mostly in the shadows but she could still make out the presence of the two identical women.
What was going on?
All the women backed away from the Piper standing next to them.
"Relax," declared Leo with a smile. "Trust me, it's not what you think."
The Piper who was standing nearest to them suddenly materialized back into the form of a young man. They didn't recognize him. He smiled in their direction.
"Um, okay! So who the hell are you?" came Phoebe's very forward inquiry to this complete stranger.
"This is Dimitri," Leo jumped in. "He's an Elder, actually, he's just been appointed one very recently."
"Ha! Good luck!" mocked Phoebe while rolling her eyes and sticking both hands into her back pockets. The Elders. They weren't exactly on their list of favorite people these days, she thought.
The real Piper, who was still standing at the podium, smiled with a wide grin. After all, it had been slightly amusing to watch the shocked expressions coming from her sisters in response to her double. "Got'cha," she teased.
"No, you didn't, actually," Paige playfully narrowed her eyes at her sister. "But apparently your double did," she joked, her curiosity regarding the new Elder piqued.
Prue stepped out from behind the shadows, coming into full view. Her brows furrowed, creases appeared across her forehead, her curiosity piqued while she surveyed her new surroundings. It was the oddest feeling washing over her. Had she been here before? No. That wasn't possible. As quickly as the feeling had come, it had gone. Prue's line of sight landed on Piper and then their stares met and locked with each other.
Piper's grin immediately dropped. A serious glare emerged in its place.
They had found Prue.
That familiar pair of eyes, which could also appear grey under certain lighting, seemed so foreign to her. The eyes staring back were the eyes of a complete stranger. No recognition of Piper flashed through them. In that moment, Piper didn't know what bothered her more: that blank and questioning look or the betrayal itself? Piper kept silent but quickly averted her gaze. She couldn't look at her right now.
"I'm just happy we got out of there alive," Paige breathed out, oblivious to Piper's growing discomfort. "Not sure what those demons had up their sleeves but all I know is they didn't even try to confront us head on."
Phoebe was in agreement. "Pretty strange too, considering they had us right where they wanted us," she bit against her lower lip, contemplating it.
"Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea what it was all about," Piper muttered to herself, shaking her head and thinking of Prue. She began flipping through the pages in the Book of Shadows to help keep the focus off their newly resurrected sister. They obviously had intended to use her, instead of "Christy," to spring a trap which led the others to that particular location after scrying. Perhaps it was a good thing that she hadn't gone after all. They all would have been stuck without anybody else knowing what happened. At the very least, it seemed as if she were being spared from delivering the most difficult of the news to both Phoebe and Paige. Apparently, they had already found out about Prue still being alive because she escaped with them. The Elders conclusions were accurate when they told Leo that Prue had gone missing too, most likely held captive in the Underworld.
"What was that?" Billie asked Piper, folding her arms. She hadn't quite made it out.
"Nothing," Piper sighed heavily, doing everything in her power to remain calm. "Just thanking the Elder of the month over there for his service," she waved her hand at him and forced a smile.
"Happy to help," Dimitri offered, smiling back.
"Dimitri's also been helping me to reorganize the Magic School. To get it back in operation again," explained Leo, completely oblivious to his wife's thoughts. "He offered to help us get you back without exposing Piper to any unnecessary danger."
"Unnecessary danger?" Paige questioned.
"Well, Piper scried and then used a glamouring potion to alter our appearances and that's how we were able to rescue you." Leo opted for some half-truth because he knew this new-found revelation about the Ultimate Power should be a discussion to take place with Piper first. Hopefully, he had just provided her with an opening to break into it.
However, Paige assumed differently, believing Leo was referring to Piper and her current condition. She opted to reassure her brother-in-law that no harm would come to either Piper or the baby. That their welfare would always be top priority. "Leo, everything will be fine. Piper will be fine. We promise not to let anything happen to either one of them," Paige offered, to help ease his worry.
Only now, Leo was left feeling confused on how Paige reached that conclusion. "Uh, no, it's not that. I trust you guys with that but it's ..." he let his voice trail off, hoping his wife would jump in and take over from here. As he looked at her, he noticed the distraction. "Piper?"
"Mhm," she hummed. "What?" she finally reacted.
Then it dawned on him. In fact, as impossible as it may seem, he himself had almost forgotten that she was standing there with them.
Prue.
"Uh? That thing? You know, the power thing ..." he once again invited her to break the news.
"Oh, right," it suddenly dawned on Piper. She shook her head to get rid of the mental cobwebs forming there and realized she should start explaining everything they had found out. Piper tried pouring all her concentration onto the others. "I should probably take it from here," she sighed, "and say you guys missed a lot in the short time you were gone."
Phoebe interrupted. "Uh, Piper, maybe there's something we should explain first," she announced, nervously glancing over in Prue's direction. She was clearly in view, Piper had to have already seen her.
Piper immediately shook her head. She knew what was coming. "Phoebe, it can wait, this is more important right now," she rushed to cut her sister off. She really needed to get the information out now before an emotional dam broke. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to.
"I know, Piper, but - " Phoebe pushed.
"Phoebe! I don't care right now, I said it can wait!" Piper cut her off again more forcefully. Her heart just wasn't ready to go there. Honestly, she had no idea how she was going to react when finally forced to confront Prue, memory intact or not.
"But, Piper, it can't wait because it's about Prue. She - " Paige tried jumping in to help Phoebe deliver the news.
"I already know that Prue's alive, Paige," Piper finally exploded. "And I don't care. Now can everybody just shut up long enough for me to get out what I need to say? Seriously, is that too much to ask?" she slammed her hands against the podium.
Dead silence filled the attic; everyone was left speechless.
"Piper?" Leo scolded.
"Don't Piper me!" she countered her husband.
"But Paige was just trying to share what happened to them, what they found out, she didn't know that you and I already knew," defended Leo.
"Well, Paige is a big girl now, Leo," Piper nodded at him. "I don't think she needs you acting as her whitelighter buffer anymore," she spat. "She's not fresh out of the witch closet. But, hey, why don't we ask Prue instead? Oh wait, that's right," her snark was suddenly being redirected at her sister. "You weren't here. What the heck would you even know about Paige!"
Prue picked up on the unfriendly tone apparently being thrown her way. "Excuse me?"
"No, you're not excused, not now, not ever!" Piper's temper flared to life. "What are you even doing here?"
Completely baffled, Prue surveyed the others. "Okay, listen, I have no idea what crawled up your butt today," she spat back, "let alone, who the hell you even are ..."
"Piper, you're not being fair," Leo cut in.
"It's a simple question, Leo," Piper countered. "Let her answer it." Her attention went back to Prue. "Why are you here?"
"Piper, you need to seriously chill out!" Paige folded her arms. "Where else was she supposed to go?"
"Home, actually sounds really good right about now," Prue answered for them, darting her eyes back and forth between Piper and Paige.
Piper huffed at Prue while sending a glare Paige's way for good measure. "You know what," Piper addressed Prue, "Can't help you there. Pretty sure though you could have found time inside that demon free life of yours to ... not ... get ... nabbed ... by ... demons," her sarcasm drew the words out slowly. "Looks like you were on a five-year luck streak too, maybe explain to us what the hell happened?"
Prue flinched.
"Piper?" Phoebe cut in. "C'mon," she shook her head, disappointed.
"Phoebe," Piper folded her arms, "I'm just simply saying that we wouldn't need to risk our lives to save hers if she can keep her own life in check. Then wherever she ends up won't be a problem," she stressed, her eyes ablaze. "Will it?"
"Hey, look! I didn't ask for your help," Prue became defensive. "Not from any of you," she looked around the room.
"Piper, hello!" Paige waved her hands at her sister for dramatic effect. "Did you suddenly go senile and forget we're The Charmed Ones or something?" she decided to remind her. "Saving innocents is what we do."
"Innocents?" Piper laughed. "Is that the category we're placing Prue in now?"
"Piper?" Paige shook her head.
"Paige, you know what, here's an idea. If you're suddenly so gung-ho on cheerleading for Team Prue, maybe the two of you," she pointed at both sisters, "can get together and compare notes on what it feels like to be a substitute Charmed One. Because Phoebe and I never got the option."
"Are you kidding me?" Paige was now fuming.
Phoebe intervened again. "Okay, Piper, stop it! What's the matter with you?"
"Apparently, nothing you'd be interested in hearing about," Piper supplied, shaking her head dramatically.
This whole encounter was quickly spiraling out of control. Emotions were erupting fast, Phoebe noted. She shared a forlorn look with Leo. Was she missing something here? How had things taken such a sour turn only minutes after getting back home? Prue's return should have given them a reason to celebrate not provided an excuse for all of them to start tearing each other apart. Phoebe glanced quickly between Piper and Prue and then over to Paige, who already looked completely stricken. Piper's reaction had taken them all completely off guard.
It was too late, though. Paige scurried for the attic door. She didn't know what to say or do. Piper's sharp words had pierced the air and her sister's fragile heart. She was absolutely speechless, crushed by the insinuation that she was merely a replacement in the Power Of Three. Piper had basically inferred just as much about Prue too but that didn't make it any better. Paige finally had enough with being her sister's personal punching bag to take out all her pent up frustrations on. That was it, she was out of there. Besides, it's not like she didn't have her own life to live. I've been treating Henry and my marriage like second fiddle to put up with this crap, Paige thought. I don't think so, not anymore.
"Paige, wait!" came Piper's plea. It was laced with regret. "I didn't mean - " but it was too late.
The sound of the attic door slamming shut could be heard.
"Okay, so that didn't really go exactly how I wanted it to," Piper mused. She rested her elbows against the podium as she brought her hands up to cover her face. She didn't mean to take it out on Paige like that. For the first time, she actually began to acknowledge that she had done that a lot, albeit not so intentionally, but it needed to stop.
Phoebe let loose on her sister. "Piper, what the hell is your problem?" she stressed, feeling her own anger rise. "Get it together, will you!" The reaction had been totally uncalled for. She made her move to go check on Paige.
Phoebe exited the attic, calling after Paige, and Piper didn't try to stop her. Paige needed Phoebe more than she did right now. Instead, her attention fell back on the source of her anger and frustration.
"Okay then," Billie finally let out a deep breath that she had been holding far too long throughout the altercation.
Leo, himself, was at a loss for words. He wanted to get involved, but ultimately concluded his attempts would prove to be ineffective. Piper needed to cool down on her own. He wasn't going to be able to make things right. Prue, on the other hand, felt out of place. This whole exchange made her extremely uncomfortable. She just wanted to get out of here, wherever the hell here was.
"Piper, you need to go to them, they need to know about the Ultimate Power," he urged his wife.
Piper approached their direction but nobody expected what happened next.
Prue stared. "What now?"
Without warning, Piper suddenly slapped Prue's face and Prue instinctively brought her hand up to cover the spot. She felt momentary shock; her eyes widened. No words were exchanged. Prue only got a brief glimpse of the other woman's eyes watering over before making her hasty departure from the attic next.
Billie dropped her mouth wide open.
Dimitri let out a low whistle.
Prue felt her anger growing. What had she ever done to that woman to deserve that? Prue didn't even know her; she had no idea what all her crazy rantings were supposed to mean. Maybe it was her own stubborn nature or maybe she was just a glutton for punishment but she wanted some answers and she wanted them now. Over the course of the past week or so, some mistaken identity had gotten her into serious trouble. She got attacked in her apartment. Then she was receiving mysterious phone calls and being lured to abandoned buildings by strange beings who could change their form and launch fire balls through the air. If all of that wasn't bad enough, she was abducted and held prisoner in some sort of underground cavern until she was rescued by magic? All while in the company of these complete strangers who believed her to be somebody named Prue. She was NOT Prue. Why couldn't they get it through their heads?
"Okay, I've had it!" Prue marched for the door.
"Um, Prue, maybe you should let her cool off first?" Leo stepped forward in protest but his suggestion went unheard.
"I'm not Prue!" she shouted back. "You people really need to stop calling me that!"
Right, I forgot, Leo remembered. She can be just as stubborn as Piper. God help us.
Billie, Leo, and Dimitri looked to each other before parting ways.
"Uh," stuttered Billie. "I think I'm just going to spend the night at my dorm. Things are going to be a little tense around here for awhile, I can tell," she conceded gently. Besides, this way she figured she could check in with her roommate so she wasn't making anymore unexpected appearances at the manor. However, Billie also needed some time alone. She had a lot to come to terms with regarding her own identity, her relationship to the people around her, and the resurrection of a birth mother who knew nothing about her. Someone she herself didn't know either.
"It's late Billie," Leo argued. "How are you even going to get there?"
"Well, if I hurry, I thought maybe I could catch a ride with Paige," she reasoned with a small shrug of her shoulders.
Leo thought about her suggestion but decided to argue against it. "No, better not," he advised. "Things are a little heated with the sisters right now. Let's just give them some space so they don't take it out on anybody else. I'll take you," he offered.
"Um - " Billie hesitated, not feeling like it was the best idea to risk orbing anywhere near the school. What if they were seen by somebody?
"I'll be careful," Leo reassured her, picking up on why she was hesitant. "Come on." He then reached out his hand to her and she grabbed onto it.
"I'll be going too," supplied Dimitri. "And I do hope the sisters will be able to sort out their differences soon," he replied solemnly.
Leo turned to address Dimitri before orbing. "Yeah, me too," agreed Leo. "See you at Magic School."
Dimitri looked up and exited the attic in the traditional swirl of blue and white orbs.
Leo and Billie proceeded to do the same, leaving the attic silent and empty.
X
Piper rushed down from the attic to the second-floor landing. She was determined to make it to her bedroom, lock it, and to stay there away from everyone. Her turbulent emotions were quickly morphing into physical manifestations. The feelings had built up in the pit of her stomach, traveled down her skin, and then finally caught in her throat. Her body was begging for a release; she needed to cry, shout, or just blast something for how unfair it all had been. However, those plans were put on hold after hearing the closely approaching footsteps behind her.
"Hey!" came Prue's yell, while approaching from behind.
Piper stopped, turned around, coming face to face with the last person she wanted to see right now. For a few short seconds, the two women stood there engaging in a glaring match, the tension in the air so thick that a knife could cut through it.
"Mind telling me what the hell that was all about?" Prue demanded to know.
Piper took a few steps in her direction until they were only a few inches apart from each other. "Actually, I do mind!" she retorted, her voice carrying a cold edge with it. "I thought that I would, but I have absolutely nothing to say to you!"
"And I absolutely mind when complete strangers put their hands on me," Prue retorted, still fuming.
Piper looked away. "Complete strangers," she repeated to herself, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, sure, whatever you say."
"What is your problem?" Prue furrowed her brows. "I don't even know you!"
"Oh, believe me, you've earned it and more," Piper threw back. "And it's your own damn fault that you can't remember any of us! I refuse to feel sorry for you. You made your own bed with this mess, so as far as I'm concerned, lie in it," she spat.
"Excuse me, but did I just enter the Twilight Zone or something because I think you've lost your mind!" Prue cracked.
"I'm talking about how completely selfish you've been by playing dead and taking the easy way out these last five years!" Piper unleashed. "You've been reaping the benefits of a normal life while the rest of us have been left to deal with all the dirty work."
Prue threw her a look. "I didn't do anything!" she threw up her hands in frustration.
"That's for sure," came Piper's snark.
"So, you have lost your mind," Prue retorted.
"Actually, no," an eerie calm washed over Piper. "I just refuse to pretend like what you did never happened and then welcome you back with open arms. This isn't a Brady Bunch episode," she added to make her point.
"Well, why not? You seem to have Jan Brady down pat," Prue narrowed her eyes while dishing the comeback.
"Right, well, then let's not forget Marcia's sense of entitlement, because you've definitely been scoring a perfect ten in that department!" Piper reciprocated. "Are we seriously doing this?" her eyes went wide.
Prue silently internalized everything that was said. How dare she? This woman had no idea what her so-called normal life had been like over the course of the last year. It had practically been a nightmare between her daughter's abduction and the accusations she had been forced to live with resulting from it. And now all this?
Piper watched different emotions filter across Prue's face.
"Let's get something else straight. I don't need you to welcome me back with anything," Prue mocked. "Like I said before, I don't know you. And how dare you presume to know anything about my life?" There was a touch of animosity in her tone. "So take that pent up attitude elsewhere."
"Hold up, my attitude?" Piper just laughed.
Prue gave one firm nod in return, making a face at her.
"Whatever, at least the feelings are mutual," Piper delivered. "You certainly wouldn't have a clue about my life right now or anything we've had to go through!" she asserted. "So, you're right, I don't know about your life," she conceded. "But you know what? I don't want to. I don't need to because it was your decision to make it that way, not mine. And certainly not Phoebe's."
Prue felt frustrated by this incessant need to speak around the truth. Who exactly did this woman think she was? This Prue? What was she being blamed for exactly? She already made it clear several times she was not this other woman but the woman before her was so emotionally entrenched in her own ranting, she wasn't getting it. Her empty accusations meant nothing and she couldn't really defend herself against something she had no idea about. She wanted own answers but this confrontation wasn't helping her get to them. It left her feeling more lost, more angry, and even more confused.
"Look," Prue tried hard to recollect herself. "If there's something you think you have to say to me, why don't you just say it?" she challenged.
"Actually, you know what? I think you were spot on earlier. Complete strangers just about sums it all up," Piper settled on.
"Stop talking in circles."
"I have nothing left to say to you and I wouldn't even waste my time trying to explain it," Piper countered heatedly. "Because as far as I'm concerned, my sister died five years ago and she's still dead."
"Your sister?" Prue parroted, her brows contorting. That's what she was waiting for her to get at. Clearly, the woman was accusing her of being this other person. "What exactly does she have to do with me?" she interrogated.
Piper shook her head. "Nothing. That's the problem."
Prue shot her a look of confusion. "Ok, so then how's that MY problem?"
"Well, for starters," Piper sent her a defiant look, "my sister never would have taken the coward's way out."
Prue snorted. "Wait just a minute," she laughed bitterly. "I don't know who you're calling a coward but I know one thing for sure. I certainly didn't see you coming to the rescue a little bit ago when the rest of us were stuck god knows where for hours," she challenged, referring to her time spent in the Underworld with the others. "You sent in, what, a magical decoy in your place who could make himself look like you?"
Piper blanched; however, she very quickly regained her composure. The accusation had hit a little too close to home after she had walked away hours ago. She had let Phoebe & Paige walk into danger alone, but she also realized that she shouldn't have been caught that off-guard. Prue had always been quick with a come back, or some kind of retort when arguing, and anyone who knew her from their past knew that she would argue to win. Some things never change, she reflected. However, Piper had rarely found herself on the receiving end of Prue's stinging retorts, not like Phoebe anyway, so it still hurt.
"Think whatever you want about me," Piper sighed. She now wanted this confrontation to finally come to its end. "I don't even care what you think anymore."
"I'm not Prue!" Prue declared quite defiantly, crossing her arms.
Piper ignored the declaration. "I may not have been the perfect older sister and god knows I've made my share of mistakes but at least I was there. I never ran away when things got tough. Phoebe and Paige always knew they could count on me and that they still can. Leo, and both of my boys, know that I'll do anything in my power to be there for them. But you? You did run away. I think you earn that title way before I do because you can't be counted on anymore."
"I'm not your sister," she declared, putting together who this Prue must have been.
"You're right, you're not," Piper nodded in agreement.
"Then stop talking to me like I am!" Prue insisted.
Piper could tell she really believed her words too. At this point, did it even matter? "Hey, I just call it like I see it," she left it cryptic. "It was the easy way out. For yourself."
Prue shook her head, deciding that this was getting nowhere. "Fine, whatever you say," she relented. "I run and I'm a coward," she mocked. "Now that we've established that, I'm out of here," she rolled her eyes. "I don't have time for this."
Prue moved to walk around Piper.
"Good idea, run because you can't handle the truth," agreed Piper. She turned to watch her sister's retreating form. "And don't come back next time. We've done fine on our own."
"Not a problem. Consider me gone," came Prue's final word on the matter. She turned a corner at the end of the hallway.
After Prue was out of sight, Piper released all the pent up frustration through one loud grunt. She regretted some of the exchange. They did need her whether she liked it or not. A part of Piper was tempted to run after her because there was still the more troubling fact that Prue was at serious risk without her memory or powers intact. As pissed of as she was, she didn't want any harm to befall her. On the other hand, the hurt and angry feelings stemming from what she considered Prue's ultimate betrayal were strong and still sitting right on the surface. Predictably, the stubborn part of Piper won out and she continued on in the direction of her bedroom.
Her feelings were completely torn on what to do.
She's done just fine without me for the past five years, she reasoned. What's a little more time going to do?
X
Paige rushed down the stairs and into the foyer, preparing to make her way out the front door. However, Phoebe was close on her trail as she shouted over the staircase banister.
"Paige, wait!" she shouted. "Please stop!"
She finished making her way completely down the stairs, following Paige into the foyer. But just as Paige was about to open the door, she stopped.
"Leave me alone, Phoebe!" came Paige's brush off reply. "I'm outta' here and there's nothing you can say to stop me!"
"Paige, Piper was way out of line up there," she asserted. "But please don't leave upset!"
Paige huffed, walking away from the front door and returning to join Phoebe. "You know what?" she finally vented for the first time in a long time. "I realize that you and Piper got this cool super-duper longer history together that has nothing to do with me but that doesn't give Piper the right to rag on me anytime she feels like it while you get a free pass!"
Phoebe shook her head in denial. "Paige, that's not it. You know that's not it." She hated playing the middle sister at times like these.
"Do I?" came Paige's inquiry.
Unfortunately, the fact that Prue had suddenly resurfaced out of nowhere was starting to play on Paige's own doubts and insecurities when it came to her other two sisters. And it wasn't at all like she wanted to blame it on Prue. How could she? The poor woman didn't even remember her own life from her own name. But she couldn't help the questions that kept swimming around in her mind, threatening to drown her at every turn. She contemplated these questions with worry.
Will Piper and Phoebe even need me anymore? And what will this mean for the Power of Three?
Phoebe gave her a sympathetic look. "No. It's just that so much has been happening lately and I know that's not an excuse to take it out on you. But I just think Piper's had way too much on her platter to deal with all at once."
Paige stood in her position and remained contemplative for a brief moment, absorbing Phoebe's words. That all made sense but she was sick of putting her feelings on the back burner and pretending like she was fine every time Piper had one of her moments. Besides, they were all dealing with the same things and coming to terms with the same startling revelations.
"Look, I gotta' go. I'm tired and I just don't want to talk about this anymore tonight," concluded Paige. All she wanted to do was wallow in some self pity by herself for one night. Was that too much to ask for? "I'll see you later."
However, just as Paige was about to leave, they were drawn to the sight and sound of Prue making her way down the staircase in quite a hurry. She brushed by them without saying a word and without making any eye contact. She looked upset. Phoebe threw her hands up in the air feeling the need to just give up.
Now what's with her?
"Okay, now where are you going?" Phoebe spoke up and addressed Prue after her sister swiped past her. Unfortunately, Phoebe had left the attic in such a haste that her concern for Paige momentarily blotted out Prue. God only knows how Piper reacted to Prue about her sudden return.
"Anywhere but here!" Prue answered in a strained voice. She brushed past Paige and exited the manor while Paige and Phoebe were left behind feeling bewildered.
"Whoa, Tornado Piper strikes again?" Paige half-joked at the sudden retreat made by their oldest sister from the manor.
Piper probably used me as warm up practice so that she could really lay it into Prue.
"I don't know but we can't let her wander around out there alone!" announced Phoebe in a concerned tone as she made her way to follow behind Prue. "She has no memory, nowhere else to go, and the Triad wants her."
"I got it!" declared Paige as Phoebe stopped in her tracks.
"Paige, are you sure?" Phoebe asked, feeling unsure. She released a skeptical look in her sister's direction.
Paige sensed the doubt flowing off of her in waves. What? They didn't think she was capable of handling Prue just because they knew her from before and she didn't? Who were they kidding? The woman didn't remember them anymore than she ever knew her.
"Look, I'm on my way out of here anyway. I'll follow her and check up on her. So don't worry, I won't screw it up," Paige barely made herself audible. She wasn't in the mood for another confrontation. "You stay here with Piper," she suggested solemnly. She moved to exit the manor just a few minutes after Prue.
Phoebe released a heavy sigh filled with weariness. After Paige's departure, she turned back around and slowly made her way back upstairs realizing that they all had a long road ahead of them before anything felt normal again.
Normal as life could get living as a Charmed One.
X
Darryl made the final turn onto Prescott Street in the dead of night.
Andy sat in the passenger seat, just watching out the window, as they approached their destination point. They had actually planned on making it to the house earlier in the evening while it was still light out but had run into some trouble catching any flights into San Francisco and renting a car. Darryl had figured it would be more convenient to have a car available to them rather than using a taxi cab for a one way trip.
"We're almost there. It's that house on your right," Darryl nodded to his former partner.
As the car approached, both men thought that they could make out the silhouette of a woman leaving the home. She looked to be in a hurry. Darryl assumed she had to be one of the sisters but he couldn't quite make out which one. It was too dark and they weren't close enough to see her. As the car was parked to the side of the road, they could barely make out the woman in the distance, walking down the sidewalk. After Andy got out of the car, he took some time to take in his surroundings. He was hoping for some sense of recognition to overtake him, some feeling of familiarity to assail his senses. But it didn't come. Both men proceeded to make their way up to the front door of the house. However, when the door bolted open and another woman exited, she crashed straight into Andy.
"Oh, sorry about that!" she apologized, having seen the man only after she made contact with him. Instantly, she recognized the other man standing with him. "Darryl!" she exclaimed in surprise.
X
Wyatt and Molly had awoken to the sounds of shouting close to the bedroom. Wyatt was the first to get out of bed and he made his way to open the door as Molly had followed close behind. He heard his mommy upset.
Molly thought she recognized one of the voices. It had been a long time, but that voice had once brought her comfort and security. The voice had laughed with her, played along with her, read to her and also been there when she went to sleep at night. The voice sounded different too. It sounded angry.
Wyatt peeked out the door before Molly pushed herself out. However, as they made their way into the hallway, they were caught by Phoebe who had just made her way around the corner. She immediately caught sight of both of them.
"Hey, what are you guys doing up this late?" she gently interrogated in a soothing voice. She bent down to meet their eye level.
"I heard mommy" Wyatt explained. "Mommy was crying."
Molly looked between Wyatt and Phoebe.
"Aw, really? Well, I'll tell you what?" Phoebe offered. "I'll go check on mommy to make sure she's not crying anymore but the both of you need to stay in bed and get some sleep, okay? Because only little boys and girls who get their rest get to go to the park and play," she bargained in an effort to gain their cooperation.
Wyatt was excited. "Yay!" he jumped up and down excitedly clapping his hands together.
"Okay, shh," she stressed bringing her finger to her lips.
"What's that?" Molly asked. "A park?"
Phoebe sighed. "You'll get to find that out tomorrow, sweetie, okay," she settled on. "So, in you go," she instructed them as she held the bedroom door open.
Phoebe silently thanked the heavens that it worked while she led both children into the bedroom and back to bed. She was too physically exhausted and mentally drained to have to reason with them tonight. Of course, she acknowledged that she would also have to keep that promise to the kids.
X
Paige was shocked to be staring at the man before her. After all, he had transferred to New York over a year ago and they hadn't seen him since.
"Hey Paige," came Darryl's quick and urgent greeting. "Look, are either of your sisters around? I'm sorry it's so late but this is really important. We need to talk!"
"They're inside but I'm on way out so whatever it is will have to wait for me. They can fill me in with the details later," she replied.
She really didn't mean to brush Darryl off. And honestly, she was curious as to what could be so important that it would drag Darryl all they way back out to California. But she needed to get to Prue before she lost her. That was the last thing she needed after she assured Phoebe she could handle it.
Darryl, feeling somewhat confused by her admission, thought of the woman they witnessed scurrying away just moments before while they were pulling in front of the house. He turned to look over his shoulder and then turned back at Paige, pointing his finger back in the same direction.
"Uh, wasn't that one of your sisters high-tailing it out of here a few minutes ago?" he questioned.
Andy just stood there silently, watching the entire exchange. He was sure he didn't recognize this woman but there was something strangely familiar about her. He wasn't sure whether it was her mannerisms or the woman's physical appearance. She reminded him of his wife.
"Um, yeah, actually it was," she began nodding her head. "I mean no! No," she squinted her eyes and shook her head vigorously. "Look, I really got to be going now. Great to see you again, Darryl," she waved over her shoulder.
Damn, I sound like a rambling idiot, she thought to herself.
Paige rolled her eyes while scurrying down the cemented steps, looking for any sign of her sister. When she didn't see her, she jumped into her green buggy parked in the driveway.
"Okay!" came Darryl's response to Paige's strange behavior. Both men watched her pull out onto the road and take off. Then Darryl reached for the door bell and turned to Andy. "Sisters," he joked, shaking his head. He earned a small smirk from Andy as well while they waited for one of the other sisters to answer the door.
X
Paige drove down the dark road.
The street lights were casting a dim glow over the blackened pavement. She could barely make out the trees let alone anybody walking on the sidewalk. Still, she eagerly continued on with her search as she glanced back and forth between the two sides of the street.
"Prue, where are you?" she pleaded out loud.
How could she have gotten that far ahead? Prue was only a few minutes ahead of her and on foot. Suddenly, she caught a figure just ahead, making her way past a white painted fence in front of a neighbor's property.
Ha ha! Got'cha! Paige rejoiced triumphantly, while pulling up ahead of her and over to the side of the street. She rolled down the window and leaned across the passenger's side. "Hey!" she shouted out to grab Prue's attention as she passed by.
Prue continued walking while Paige kept the car gliding along slowly at the same pace.
"Forget it!" Prue announced. "I'm not going back!" She didn't even turn to look at Paige.
"Why? Do you have some place better to go?" teased Paige.
"Yeah, I do actually. Home." Prue answered back with a light ripple of laughter. Then she smiled for the first time in what felt like days.
"Look, I won't take you back to the manor if you don't want to go. But can you get in?" Paige beckoned. "Please? It's way too dangerous to be out here alone," she reasoned, referring to their very recent time spent in the Underworld.
Prue stopped walking. She turned to look at Paige, considering what she had said. In truth, where was she supposed to go? She didn't know anybody else from around here, she had no money, and no identification on her. And she certainly had no intentions of stopping by any police department with a tale about a demonic abduction that left her stranded out here in the first place. But she knew one thing was for sure. She needed to get into contact with her husband so he knew she was alright. So it was either this woman's offer or going back to that house.
"Hey, I've got a couch you can use for the night?" Paige tried persuading some more, albeit, in good humor. "It ain't much but it's better than a cardboard box in an alley somewhere."
Prue cracked a smile and shook her head. "Yeah, sure. Why not?" she finally relented, reaching for the door handle and sliding into the passenger's side.
"Good choice," Paige remarked while putting the car into reverse.
She made a quick U-Turn and then drove back down the road into the night heading for her apartment.
X
Phoebe knocked on the door to the master bedroom.
"Piper?" she called out.
"Leave me alone," came the reply. "I'm not in the mood to talk to anyone!"
Phoebe turned the door knob gently to find out whether or not it was locked. To her surprise, it wasn't. She opened the door to find Piper on the bed lying on her side. Piper didn't have to turn around to know that her sister was in the room because she felt her hovering presence.
"What? Is English suddenly your second language?" Piper retorted, sitting up to face her sister. "I said that I wanted to be left alone. I meant it."
But that didn't deter Phoebe. "Yeah, I know you meant it," commented Phoebe. "And that's what worries me." When silence continued to ensue, Phoebe pushed some more. "Sweetie, what's the matter?" came the inevitable question on her mind. "Something has got you really upset. You came down really hard on Paige and she's just as confused, and in the dark, as the rest of us. And it can't just be about Billie." She stopped for a minute, giving Piper a chance to answer her. When she didn't, she pushed more. "Is it Prue?"
Piper sighed heavily and was about to respond when they were interrupted by the door bell ringing downstairs. Piper threw Phoebe a questioning look. "Paige?" she questioned.
Phoebe shook her head. "I don't think so. Why would she ring the bell? I thought she was going home but - " she trailed off as she headed downstairs with Piper following closely behind.
"But what?" Piper questioned.
"Well, she said she would check up on Prue first," she finished.
"Alone?" Piper asked incredulously.
Where was Prue even going to go and how exactly was Paige supposed to stop her? Piper felt some of the guilt return. When they reached the foyer and the first floor, Phoebe reached out to open the front door.
"Yeah," Phoebe defended the decision to let Paige go after Prue. "But don't worry. I'm sure she'll call if anything goes wrong. Or orb!" she concluded on second thought.
Then as the door swung open, Piper and Phoebe were greeted by the sight of Darryl and another man. When they took a closer look at the man standing at their front door, they realized they were looking a dead man straight in the face. He stood there waiting; however, his body language appeared to indicate that he had no idea who they were. Phoebe made it a point to take note that while Piper seemed surprised to have their oldest sister's former beau standing on their doorstep in the flesh, she didn't appear all that shocked.
"Um, uh - " Phoebe stuttered. Phoebe blinked her eyes and couldn't help but to stammer. She looked over her shoulder, glancing between Piper and Darryl and then finally allowed her eyes to land back on the man they all once knew as Andy.
"Yeah, it's nice to see you too!" mocked Morris. He plastered on a big fake grin. "Answer your phone much or does voice mail not register out here in this part of the country anymore?"
"Messages. What messages?" Piper asked, shaking her head back and forth.
"What? Are you telling me you didn't get them?" Darryl responded in disbelief. "All ten to fifteen of them?"
Piper didn't know what to say. She certainly hadn't received any voice mail messages from Darryl over the course of the past weeks. Granted, they did have alot going on but she wouldn't have missed one of his calls. She turned to look at Phoebe who just looked as bewildered as she did.
"Okay, Darryl, what's going on?" Phoebe laughed nervously. "What are you doing back here and what is a dead man doing on our front doorstep?" Her face turned serious.
"Well, now, if you answered your phone calls you would know already, wouldn't you?" he supplied. "This is what's going on," Morris explained as he pointed in Andy's direction. "And that's not all!" he exclaimed.
Piper quickly jumped in. "Um, yeah, not here!" she exclaimed.
Immediately connecting the dots, both Piper and Phoebe knew exactly where this revelation was leading. To Prue. Quickly, Piper and Phoebe ushered the two men inside the manor before anyone saw anything that appeared suspicious to them. Phoebe took one last look around outside before closing the front door and joining the others back inside the house. There was still no sign of Prue or Paige anywhere. She silently prayed that they were both okay as she closed the door.
To Be Continued: Okay, the reunion with the sisters is a bit tense right now but that will change in time. I honestly have nothing against mushy reunions but, for the purposes of my story, I felt this was more realistic. After five years and the complicated circumstances that led to Prue's departure, I figured it would only make sense that there would be more complex emotions involved rather than just feelings of joy. Also, didn't get to the Andy/Prue/Molly reunion yet but that's coming soon.
Stay tuned.