The picture on her bedside table seemed to talk to her. Telling her she deserved to be as happy now as she was then. Phoebe picked it up and looked down on it. She ran the back of her hand over the last picture of her with Prue and Piper, she remembered the day to every minute. In fact it was Cole who had taken the picture.
"Phoebe get back here." Prue yelled out at her little sister as she ran down the beach.
Piper sat on the blanket with Leo for half a second before she too got up and ran after Phoebe.
Prue was drenched from the bucket of water that Phoebe had tossed on her, some of it getting on Piper, hence her chase as well. She wasn't about to let her baby sister get away with getting her wet as well.
Prue had finally caved in and used her power to trip up Phoebe and soon caught up with her.
"You cheated." Phoebe laughed as she tried to get back up before Prue caught her. But Prue was on her and had dragged her half way into the ocean before Phoebe had a chance to defend herself.
Piper had reached the two of them and helped Prue lift Phoebe up and toss her in the water. The youngest Halliwell coming up for air as she sat in the surf spitting the salt water out of her mouth.
"Oh you cheater!" she laughed as she pushed herself out of the water. Staggering towards her sister she grabbed onto Piper before she could get away. The two of them laughing as Piper was now almost as wet as Phoebe as she hugged her sister tight.
"Let me go you wet thing." Piper laughed, but with Phoebe everything was a surprise and she too soon found herself sitting in the surf line with Phoebe laughing so hard she had to support herself with her hands on her knees.
Prue reached her hand out to Piper to help her up, and as she did she realized the mistake she had made as Piper pulled her in with her. Causing Phoebe to laugh even harder to the point she fell down in the sand along the waters edge.
Eventually the older two managed to get out of the water and sat down next to Phoebe all three of them laughing hysterically. It was then that Cole had taken Prues camera and snapped the three of them in a happier moment.
Though as soon as it was snapped and Prue got her camera back in her hands Phoebe and Piper had their arms around Cole and he too was in the water. Somehow throughout the day the only one to stay dry was Leo.
Phoebe felt the lump forming in her throat as she remembered that day. It was a few weeks later that her world was turned upside down and she lost the only mother she had ever known and her big sister.
Piper knocked on the door and saw Phoebe sitting in the little window seat in her room. She could see her sister had something in her hand and had a feeling it was picture.
"You about ready honey?" Piper asked as she came up and sat next to her seeing the photo in Phoebes hand. "How did Leo get to stay dry that day anyway?" She asked remembering the events of the day herself.
"I don't know. But next time we do that, he is the first one in the water." Phoebe chuckled softly, thinking of how she would get her brother in law.
Piper took the picture from Phoebes hand and got up and placed it back on her nightstand. "You ready to go?"
"You are sure about this?"
"Yes. Paige agrees too. You need sometime to see if Jason is your guy and we will be fine."
"Can we stop on the way to the airport?" Phoebe asked though she knew that Piper would say yes.
"You know I already timed that in the trip." She answered though holding her gaze with Phoebe; "She would want you to do this honey, and you will only be gone a few days right. When you get back you and I can spend some time together and then the three of us can go see her again."
"I hate that day you know."
Piper wrapped Phoebe into a hug, "I know sweetie so do I, but you will be back then and we can face it together, like we did last year."
Phoebe returned the hug and stayed safe in Pipers arms, "I will be here for you every year on that day Piper you know that right."
"We will be here for each other Phoebs. Now lets get going or we aren't going to make that stop in time for you to leave." Piper said as she reached down and picked up Phoebes carry on bag.
Paige sat in the back seat with Wyatt as they made their way through the San Francisco traffic. Piper leaned on the horn as another driver cut her off.
"What is it with people now a days? Always in a hurry."
"Everyone has somewhere to go Pipe." Paige said from the back seat as she shock Wyatt's rattle causing him to laugh even more.
"Well yeah but they don't have to kill each other in the process." Phoebe put in as the Jeep slowed down and pulled against the curb.
Piper looked over at Phoebe and took her hand in hers. "Ready?"
Phoebe looked back at Piper and took in a deep breath, "Yeah."
The four of them approached the head stone they had come to see. Bending down and sitting on the grass they sat in silence. Even Wyatt seemed to know that this was a time not to laugh or talk out. But eventually he let out a small laugh that made them all laugh out.
"My bet is Prue is tickling him." Phoebe said as she took her nephew from Pipers hold. "Is that what it is Wyatt? Is Auntie Prue tickling you?" She brushed her nose up against his as he then snuggled into his Aunt. Her reaction only causing him to laugh even more.
Piper ran her hand over the top of the headstone as Paige said few words to the sister she never knew. Phoebe was happy at that moment holding on to Wyatt and listening to her sisters. She had to say her own good byes, but she wasn't even sure how to start. "Can you two give me a few minutes here?"
Paige hugged Phoebe and turned back to the Jeep. Leaving Piper and Phoebe alone with their sister.
"Piper I."
"I know sweetie." She reached up and rushed away a tear that was starting down Phoebes cheek.
Phoebe couldn't take any more. The pain in her heart was baring too much as she felt Piper pull her into a hug.
"I'll be over by the Jeep sweetie. Take your time." Piper reached and took Wyatt from Phoebe as she turned leaving her sister to say her own good-byes to the sister they had all lost.
Phoebe was lost for a moment. She didn't want to say goodbye. She hadn't told Piper yet that she wasn't sure when or if she would be back. She was going with the idea she would be back in a week. She wanted to be home with her family when the anniversary of Prues death came around.
"I love you Prue. I wish you were here now and help me decide about Jason. You have a big sister sense about guys for me. Remember Tommy from the 8th grade? You warned me about him, and in the end you were right. Turned out he was only out for the 'score of a Halliwell'. Now I need you to gauge Jason for me, I am so afraid that deep down inside he too is a demon like Cole was. And I will lose another person close to me because I was blinded by love."
Phoebe felt the tears starting down her face once again as she reached up and placed her hand on Prues resting-place. "I love you Prue. Always did and always will. And I will see you again. Even if it is in a few years when I come back here, or when the angel of death decides it is my time too." She placed a kiss on the headstone and took in a deep breath before turning towards the Jeep and to a future with a man she was hoping was the one for her.
The remainder of the trip was done in near silence with only the jabber of the infant in the back seat.
Parking the car and grabbing Wyatt and Phoebes bags the three of them made their way to the Private terminal.
"Are you sure Jason has sent the plane?" Paige asked as she switched hands with Phoebes bag.
"Actually he doesn't know. I called his assistant and we agreed not to tell him. That I would surprise him. She is going to arrange for a limo to pick me up at the airport and take me to a restaurant that she will arrange for him to be at."
"Oh that is so romantic." Paige cooed as they stepped towards the private jet that was sitting on the tarmac waiting for its passenger.
Phoebe handed her bags over to the crewmember that was waiting for them as she turned to her sisters and nephew. Taking Wyatt from Piper she held him into a hug as she kissed him on the forehead, "I love you Wyatt. Take care of your Mum for me, and I will see you again. Always remember your Aunt Phoebe."
She turned to Paige and pulled her into a hug. "Love you."
"Love you too Sis. Take care and see you in a week or so."
"Yeah. Take care of Piper." Phoebe squeezed Paige tighter as she then turned her gaze and thoughts to Piper.
Piper stood still a moment before she reached over and drew Phoebe into her arms, each one taking in the love and support that was always there.
"I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you more." Phoebe responded.
They each felt the tug at their heart with each passing moment as they held on to the hug, a hug that meant goodbye. Phoebe fighting with her inner self to tell Piper that she wasn't sure if she would ever be back. Everything was suddenly weighing down on her. But deep inside she knew that one day she would be back.
Piper pulled back and brushed away the tear that was running down Phoebes face.
"You are coming back right?" Piper asked an insight to her sister thinking for her.
"Why wouldn't I? I'll be back next week Pipe. Don't be silly." She lied. It came so easily.
Piper looked at Phoebe as she spoke. She still wasn't convinced but let it go. As she pulled her sister again into a hug. "I will always love you no matter what. You know that right?"
Phoebe was taken back slightly, "And I will always love you Piper. Please just don't ever be mad at me. I love you." She kissed Piper on the cheek as she broke the hug and ran for the steps of the plane. Stopping momentarily at the top before turning back and looking down at her sisters. Paige with her arm around Piper. Phoebe knew that Piper knew she wouldn't be back in the week she had planned for, but it was something she needed to do. She needed to get away from the demons and all the magic in their lives.
The plane taxied down the runway as Piper and Paige watched it leave.
"She isn't coming back." Piper stared as she felt a warm tear running down her face that she quickly wiped away.
"Sure she will." Paige answered as she watched the plane take off.
"No she isn't. She is going there to hide away from everything that has happened in the last two years. She might come back eventually, but she isn't coming back anytime soon." Piper sighed as she watched the jet take off through the sky carrying the sister she didn't know when she would see again.