The next morning came fast; Piper woke up with a splitting headache, she immediately sat up and realized she was still in Prue's room and they were safe.
She ran her hands through her long hair and back to her forehead. She could feel her fresh bruise; she had gained this one during the blast while her sisters were saving them. She was okay with that, even though it hurt like hell.
She looked over and Phoebe was close to her while Penny was sprawled across the other side of the bed.
She didn't see Prue or Paige and her immediate thought was to panic but she looked over and could see a foot hanging off the love seat near the television.
Piper sat up to see and it was Prue with Paige cuddled next to her to her resting on her chest, she could see Prue had her arms wrapped around Paige. They looked completely fine and both were fast asleep.
Piper smiled and climbed down the middle of the bed off the end, careful not to wake Phoebe or Penny.
She was so exhausted she slept the whole night, something she hadn't done in what seemed like forever.
She went into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. It sucked that Leo couldn't heal them but she was so glad to be home she didn't care.
She ran her hands over her skin and splashed water on her face.
After drying off she tiptoed quietly out of her room and into her bedroom. She looked around and sighed, it looked exactly the same.
Lights appeared behind her and in orbed Leo, her love.
He looked at her and smiled, with the emotional sister reunion she had almost forgotten Leo and how he must have felt with them gone. "Leo," she said out loud and went to embrace him.
Leo held Piper close, he never wanted to let go. "I can't imagine how you must have felt," Leo shushed her. "Just let me hold you," and he did.
After a few moments Piper looked up at him, he ran his fingers gently across her face. "I wish they would let me heal you," Piper sighed, "its okay," she responded quietly.
They went and sat on the edge of her bed.
Leo held her hand, "are you okay?" He asked looking her up and down.
Piper nodded, "it's just emotional, I am feeling pretty drained and Prue lost it last night which was hard to watch." Leo looked confused, "Prue?" Piper knew exactly what he meant; they were just as taken back by it when it happened.
Piper nodded, "it was scary but I know it was a release. She's had years of built up stress, it's about time she let it out," she said.
Leo looked up; he was getting a jingle, Piper knew immediately. "It's okay, go," she said.
"It's probably about you," he looked her directly in the eyes, almost like he was memorizing her face. He had gone so long not seeing her.
Leo reached out and touched her again and planted a soft kiss on her lips. "I love you," He said. "I love you," Piper hugged him and just as he appeared shortly before he disappeared in blue lights.
Phoebe heard chatter, she looked over and Piper was gone; she could hear Leo down the hall way. She sighed and sat up; just as she did Penny started to move across the bed.
She opened her eyes and Phoebe was staring at her. Phoebe didn't say anything she just moved across the bed and embraced her.
Penny wrapped her arms around Phoebe and they sat that way for a while, there were lots of hugs given in the last day, hugs are healing.
"Where are they?" Penny started to look around. "Piper is with Leo, Prue and Paige are asleep over there," Phoebe pointed.
Penny made a surprised face and looked over, sure enough there they were. Things were definitely changing.
Piper came to the door and signaled for them to come out. They climbed off the bed and went downstairs.
Phoebe looked Piper up and down to make sure she was okay, "how are you Piper?" Phoebe asked. It was the counselor in her.
"I'm okay, I'm sore," Piper leaned on the kitchen counter. "I haven't had good food in a long time," Piper said.
Phoebe could tell she looked so thin, they all did, "What did they give you?" Penny asked.
"Scraps of things, we did eat, it was just not enough," Piper responded quietly.
"Do you want me to make you something?" Phoebe asked. Piper laughed, "Phoebe… You can't cook!" It made Phoebe smile, nobody had laughed in a long time.
"I resent that, I make a mean macaroni and cheese," Phoebe rolled her eyes as Piper laughed again.
"I'll do it I want to, it's been so long out of the kitchen, I missed it," Piper started to turn on the stove. She went to reach for a pan and whimpered in pain.
"Piper," Phoebe was watching her. "I just need the icy hot," Phoebe went into the downstairs bathroom and grabbed it.
Walking back into the kitchen she handed it to Piper. "Actually, can you do it? I can't reach," Piper had a huge knot in her back from her position in the underworld.
Phoebe lifted Piper's pajama shirt and could see the marks. She took a deep breath; it was difficult to look at. She ran her hand across and Piper winced.
"Maybe we should go to the doctor," Phoebe suggested. Piper shook her head, "and what would we tell them?" Phoebe started rubbing the icy hot on, "I don't know I just want you to get better," Phoebe responded.
"I know Pheebs, I know," Piper turned around to face her."I am so thankful for your courage, if it had been reversed and I was in your position I don't know what I would've done," Piper looked her in the eye, she could see tears forming. "Don't cry, it's okay," She embraced her.
She had been so strong; each of them was trying to release emotions in different ways. Phoebe had yet to really do that. While they were gone she couldn't for Penny's sake and now that they were home and safe, she was so relieved but exhausted and she didn't know what to feel but she was trying.
Hours later Prue and Paige were awake and all of them were in the living room talking. No one had gotten dressed they were still in pajamas with messy hair.
"Who wants tea?" Piper walked in and sat it down on the small table.
"Do you think we'll ever get back to normal?" Paige asked. She was lying on a bunch of pillows on the floor.
Piper, who had just sat on the couch with Phoebe, looked over, "I think so, it may take some time but we will," she responded. Penny, who was lying across Prue's lap on the chair decided to speak up, "I think it will always be different now," everyone looked over.
"What do you mean?" Paige asked.
"Now we're all really sisters," Penny responded.
The room fell silent; they all knew what she meant. Before they did not act like sisters, they sometimes acted like they barely knew each other. They sometimes had their pair they were close with, but now… Things were different, they ALL wanted to have a close relationship. Each sister wished it wasn't tragedy that had to happen to change that.
Orbs appeared in the living room, "Hey guys, I need to talk to you," Leo said.
No one was talking anyways so the girls were all ears, "Okay so in just a few minutes the elders are going to send a gift to you. This is for your hard work but also for you to recover from all that's happened. I vouched for you and said that it would be okay," Piper looked confused. "Leo?" she spoke up.
"You get 72 hours and I know that you will need every moment. I know this will help you, just take it all in. See you in a few days," Leo walked over to Piper and kissed her forehead before orbing out.
Prue looked at Piper completely confused before another set of lights appeared.
Two ghosts were standing before them and when they turned around, eyes were wide. "My girls," They stepped forward and became flesh, "mom? Grams?" Phoebe screamed.
The moment they stepped into flesh, the 72 hours began.