How many times does tragedy strike one person or group of people? For some it is a never ending battle to beat the odds, for others it never seems to grace them at all. Until the death of a loved one, but that is as far as their pain every goes. For those that it strikes out almost everyday, how do they survive the next day or the next tragedy? Their friends and family are there for them but sometimes the one person you want there is the one that is already gone.

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Piper looked down at Wyatt as he in turned looked up at her. She reached down and tickled his tummy as she laughed up at her. "What are you laughing at hey?" as she tickled him some more, causing him to laugh even more. His tiny smile seemingly light up the room.

"He has Phoebes laugh."

Piper turned at the sound of the voice behind her. "It's the Halliwell laugh. We all had it at his age. She just kept it."

Leo walked over to the two of them and sat down next to Piper and he too rested his hand on Wyatt's tummy tickling him slightly. "She's fine you know." he said as he held his gaze to his son.

"I know, she called last night." Piper answered as she leaned back against the couch as she watched the two men in her life. "Sounds like it was just what she needed."

"But…" Leo knew Piper was holding something in.

"I just get the feeling she is hiding something from us."

"Hiding like what?" Leo had sensed unhappiness in Phoebe lately and had even talk to her, but she assured him everything was ok. How as her whitelighter could he have missed something?

"I don't know. But I have a feeling we won't be seeing her at Wyatt's graduation."

"Piper that is like 18 yrs away." Leo looked at her surprised.

"She isn't coming back Leo. After everything we have been through with Prue and then Cole. I don't really blame her. What I do blame her for is not opening up to us, or more so me, telling me the truth. I could have dealt with that. But she kept this from me, and now of all times for her to run. I can't handle losing another sister right now." Piper felt the lump in her throat and the hot tears starting down her face. She felt Leo's arms around her, holding her, as she cried for the sister she didn't know when she would see again.

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Paige walked along the edge of the man made lake, that was in the park near the Manor. She had called Glen telling him she just needed to talk to someone. She could sense Pipers anguish in what was going on the last few days since Phoebe left and needed to talk to a neutral party.

"Hey you."

"You came." Paige said as she was greeted by one of Glen's huge hugs.

"I said I would."

"What about Jessica?" Paige said as she thought of Glen's wife.

"She's cool with it. She figured it had to do with magic, and she doesn't hold any grudges as to what happened before we were married."

Paige pulled away as the memory of her nearly ruining her best friends wedding filled her thoughts.

"Paige what's going on?" Glen asked seeing right through her façade.

"I don't know. Pipers all down and depressed and Phoebe went off to Hong Kong."

"Wow, Hong Kong? What about, you know that power thing."

"The power of three? So far it's been ok. We have only had lower level demons attack us. Nothing that required all three of us."

"But what if something does happen?" his concern for his friends showing through his wedding vows to Jessica.

"We get Leo to go get Phoebe. Or I can."

"Have you gone that far before. I mean what if something happened?"

"Glen it will be fine. I just don't know what to do. I mean Piper is unhappy and she seems to think that Phoebe isn't coming back. At last not when she said she was."

"What makes her think that?" Glen had only known the sisters a short time, but he was concerned if Paige was.

"Next week is the two year anniversary of Prues death. And after Phoebe lost Cole not that long ago it just seems that she was distant. You top it off with her current beau taking off to Hong Kong to start another Paper up. It was just too much for her."

"I don't know what to say Paige. I mean you just have to be there for Piper until you both know what's going on with Phoebe." He said, "But I have a feeling that even if she doesn't come back soon or when she said she would, she won't be gone long. She loves Piper and you to much to let you alone like that. Maybe she just needs some time."

Paige leaned in against her friend as she let his words take effect. "You are right. But I just needed to vent or bounce things off of someone."

"You always know I'm here for you Paige."

Had it been nearly a week since she walked into the deserted restaurant? She was expecting to surprise him, but it turned out he had surprised her. Her favorite flowers lined ever shelf and wall of the place. A small gift containing a diamond necklace sat at her place at the table.

"I though I was surprising you? She said as she felt his arms wrap around her waist.

"You were until my pilot told me he was flying to get you. We had an agreement that even my assistant didn't know about but. Funny how a friendship that spans the years over rides everything."

"Yeah, funny that." She said as she tipped up to her tippy toes and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. Lips she had longed for since she had decided to go to Hong Kong.

Breaking away he locked eyes with hers. He could see the turmoil inside her then, "You ok?"

"Yeah, just everything going on all at once. But I'm here now and I'm not going to worry about what I left behind."

Jason looked at her once again, "You aren't going back are you?"

She stayed in the comfort of his arms, "Not until I'm ready."

He pulled her back close knowing that some of her decision had everything to do with a certain date that was coming up. "You can't hide from her Phoebe, but I can be here for you on that day. I always will. I love you and will wait for you to make your decision for the same reason I have."

Phoebe leaned into him relishing in his warmth.

Now nearly a week later she still wasn't sure what she was doing. They had so much fun together, everything just seemed righ, but she didn't forget the sisters she had left behind. She had called Piper the other day to let her know she was ok and that she would be coming home in a few days. But now her few days were up and she looked at the calendar, Prues anniversary was three days away. She felt her heart tug at being at home with Piper, but she also didn't want to deal with it anymore.

Phoebe rolled over at the break of sunlight to her sleep. She didn't want to get up but she knew she would have to eventually. Jason had an early morning meeting and she wanted to see him off.

"Hey sleepy." He approached towards her placing a soft kiss on her lips as she woke.

"Hmmm can we just stay in bed?" She reached up and pulled him back towards the bed.

The kisses became more passionate, "Hmmm I would love to but I can't"

Phoebe eventually let him go, knowing full well he had to go.

"Meet me for lunch?"

"Name the place." She answered with one last kiss.

"Oh you gotta stop doing that I'll never get there on time."

"That's the plan." Phoebe smiled at him seductively.

Jason leaned in for one last kiss; "I will see you later with a surprise. I love you." He added almost last minute.

"Love you too." It just came out. She wasn't even sure until that moment how she really felt about Jason. He wasn't a demon, he was just a guy who she loved with everything she had. More then she ever did with Cole. Cole. Her demonic ex, which only brought up memories of the sister who had him pegged from day one: Prue.

Julia walked through the crowded plazas, as she felt the tears rimming her eyes but held them back. 'Hold it in a bit longer kiddo.' She ordered herself as she spotted the one person she had to hold it together for.

Phoebe had ordered a drink as she waited for Jason. She had feeling inside her of what the surprise for her would be. And she knew that if that was what it was what she thought, that she would see her sisters sooner then she had planned.

The white wine spritzer was placed in front of her as she smiled up at the waiter. She kept her eyes in the entrance as Jason ran late. How long was it now? Half and hour? An hour?

She finally looked up at saw Julia walking towards her. He wasn't coming. He was running late and something had come up. She smiled lightly as she waved up at her new friend.

"Julia hi, is he running late as usual?"

Julia hugged Phoebe as she approached the table. But she couldn't hide what was on her mind.

"Julia? What is it? What's wrong?" Phoebe didn't need her powers to see that her friend was upset about something, and why had she come to see her. Then it came together, "Jason. Oh god. Julia what happened? Is he ok?" Phoebe felt the tears start in her eyes before she even had the answer.

Julia didn't know what to say, "I'm sorry Phoebe. He's. Jason is.."

Phoebe knew what was going on as she felt her knees weaken. She felt someone's arms around her, arms she assumed were Julia's.

"I'm sorry honey, but it was quick, he didn't feel a thing. It was a drunk driver. He swerved."

Her words were lost on Phoebe as she felt herself sink further into the chair. She wanted her sisters then. She wanted to feel Pipers love and Paige's warmth as they comforted her.

How was this possible? So close to another date she feared every year. Once again she had lost someone close to her.

How does one survive with loss after loss of those that are nearest to you? The ones you love the most gone in the blink of an eye. You think you have all the time in the world to say your goodbye's and I love you's. But in the end you have no time at all. No time but the present.