Thank you to PrueAndyForever, littlemissbad, and lizardmomma for being such loyal readers and reviewers. Welcome to Rini08, our newest reviewer, and a big thank you to manutdfan for adding this fic to your favorites!
Enjoy and Happy Reading!
PART SEVENTEEN: "For You, Piper"
Getting out of the car, Prue stopped to look at the church, her heart breaking, still unable to believe that this could possibly be happening. She reached out for Andy's hand and then for Leo's. The two men immediately put their arms around her so she was in a "sandwich" and then Leo reached out with his other arm for Phoebe, who put her other arm around Cole. In this "comfort-sandwich", the five of them leaned on on another as they walked up to and into the church's foyer.
The first thing they noticed was Piper. This hour before the funeral would act as Piper's wake and she lay in the beautiful ivory coffin that her sisters had chosen for her, candles lit on either side, a cross behind her coffin, dressed in the wedding dress she had worn only a few months before. She indeed looked like she was sound asleep except her chest didn't move. They all hurried to the coffin to once more touch her cheek, her hair, her face, her hand, unable to believe how ice-cold they all were, but knowing that it was still Piper.
Leo bent to kiss her, but the funeral director, who was standing next to the coffin shook his head. "Please don't. Her lips will crack," so Leo kissed her cheek instead. He lifted her hand and kissed his ring which was still on her finger. "You may remove it if you like," the funeral director told him, but Leo shook his head. "Our love is forever so my ring stays on her finger the way hers will stay on mine."
Soon people began to file in and the five mourners knew what they had to do. Prue and Andy stood by the door to greet each person and to hand each person the beautiful program that Prue had designed, including her favorite picture of Piper on the cover. Phoebe and Cole went by the book where they could greet each person and received their condolences while the person signed the book. And Leo continued to stand by the coffin, where he, too, could receive their condolences before the other mourners began to walk around the room, looking at all the pictures that the family had chosen, pictures of Piper from when their mother, Patty, held her as a baby with a smiling Victor standing next to her on one side and a little Prue, already holding Piper's little hand on the other to pictures of her as a child and a schoolgirl to pictures of her as a chef at Quake to the owner of P3 to her wedding.
Music was playing, all of Piper's favorite songs sung by the various bands who had played at P3 and who would play at her life celebration at P3 that night.
There were so many people. Neighbors. Friends. Schoolmates. Co-Workers. Employees. Regulars from P3. All the various people who had been touched by Piper's life. And there was a father.
When Victor walked into the church foyer, Prue held her breath, but Victor didn't even notice her. His eyes were straight ahead on the coffin sitting in front of the doors leading into the church--the coffin that held his beloved middle daughter.
Andy squeezed Prue's hand and when she turned to look at him questioningly, Andy first indicated the programs that were in Prue's hands and then Victor.
Quickly flicking her gaze from Victor back over to Andy, Prue sent an unspoken message with her eyes--Do I have to? He nodded in affirmation and she sighed resignedly. "Fine," she muttered under her breath as she took a program from the pile on the nearby table One of the last people I really wanted to see today was you, Victor. But the fact remains that you are our father—whether I like it or not. And you are here for Piper, so let's just get this over with.
"Dad?" He turned toward her as if caught by surprise.
"Prudence," he greeted cautiously.
She shot him a glare. l hate being called by my full name. Although they had made up somewhat, She still hadn't totally forgiven him for abandoning her and her sisters as much as he had. Andy squeezed her hand, and she sighed. Andy was right. For you, Piper.
After receiving one more reassuring hand squeeze, Prue shoved her feelings about Victor to the back burner for the time being. Taking a calming breath, she gave him a half-hearted hug. "Dad. It's good for you to be here." Although none of us actually wants to be here.
As they pulled apart she looked him in the eyes, noting the look of loss in them that she was sure mirrored her own. Softening her slightly defensive stance a bit, she handed him the program she held in her hands and gave a half-smile. He didn't have to say a word for Prue to know what he was thinking about and who he really wanted to see. "Piper's right over there," she said needlessly, indicating directly behind her. "Go on ahead and I'll catch up with you later at the club, ok?"
Victor only nodded and began the slow walk towards his middle daughter's coffin. As he did, Phoebe spotted him. Abandoning her post next to the book, she ran to him, throwing her arms around him. "Daddy!"
"Baby," and Victor hugged his youngest daughter tight. Still keeping one arm around her, they began to walk toward the coffin. The other mourners surrounding it, seeing who was coming, stepped aside, allowing Piper's father and sister to walk directly to it. Just like the sisters and Leo had, Victor touched Piper's hand, then stroked her face before stroking her hair. "My little girl," he murmured. "My little girl. Children should bury their parents; a father shouldn't have to bury his daughter," and both his and Phoebe's tears splashed onto the gown that was both Piper's wedding gown and her burial gown.
"Victor, I'm sorry that we have to go through this. I would've done anything to save her."
Victor looked up into his son-in-law's face. At first there was anger and hate on Victor's face, but when he saw the agony on Leo's, his heart melted the same way Prue's had toward him. He nodded. "I'm sure you did all you could."
Then Phoebe led her father back over to the book, so that he could sign it. After kissing his daughter's cheek, Victor began circulating among the other guests, receiving their condolences while trying to comfort them.
The number of people filtering through the front doors since 11 a.m. had been fairly steady. After awhile, it seemed like one face blended right into the next--until the next two figures walked through the door--Inspector Darryl Morris and his wife Shelia.
Upon seeing who it was, Andy visibly paled. This was the first time he had seen his former partner in three years. He quickly shot a sideways nervous glance at Prue, who picked up on the unspoken message in his eyes.
"Don't worry about it," she whispered in his ear. "He won't recognize you. Just remember, you're our second-cousin Manny from Hawaii." After patting his hand reassuringly, she turned her attention back to the two newest guests and greeted each with a hug. "Darryl, Shelia, thanks for coming. And Darryl, thank you for doing the eulogy. It means a great deal to us--and Piper, too. I'm sure she'll love whatever you have to say."
Darryl returned the eldest sister's hug with one of his own. "You're welcome. After all, she's like a sister to us, too. We'll also miss her a great deal." Looking up, he caught sight of the unfamiliar person also standing by the doorway. "And you are?"
Andy shifted nervously as his eyes locked with Darryl's. Here goes nothing. "I'm Manny Hanks," he stated while shaking the Inspector's hand. At his ex-partner's quizzical look, Andy added quickly, "I'm the girls' second-cousin."
"Darryl Morris, and this is my wife Sheila." The quizzical look remained on Darryl's face. "Second-cousin? From where? I don't think I've ever seen you before."
Whew. That wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. "That's because I don't think we've met before. Their grandmother and mine were sisters, but our side of the family all live in Hawaii, but I flew over to give them my support. Even though we didn't see alot of each other growing up, we were pretty close." He paused and shrugged. "I'm sort of like the brother they never had."
A sad smile crossed Darryl's face and he glanced at Prue. "Yeah, like my old partner, Andy, Andy Trudeau. Wish he could've been here for you, Prue."
Prue nodded, allowing a sad look to cross her face, too. "Yeah, so do I, Darryl. But having Manny here helps a lot. When he used to visit us when we were kids, we were all pretty close."
"Hmmm, funny in all those stories that Andy told me about you guys, he never mentioned a second-cousin. Oh, well, maybe I just don't remember, since I was mainly concentrating on what he said about you and your sisters. I've included a number of those stories in my eulogy."
"Oh, Darryl, that's great. I was so glad when you volunteered--I knew you'd do a good job."
"You haven't heard it yet."
"I'm sure it will be perfect."
That made Darryl smile as he accepted two programs from Prue and handed one to Shelia.
"Phoebe and Leo are right over there," Prue gestured towards her younger sibling standing at the table by the book and her brother-in-law over next to Piper's coffin. "I'm sure they'd love to see you too." She smiled sadly before adding: "Darryl? Thank you again."
Phoebe was taking advantage of the slight lull in guests to gaze around the room. Her eyes happened to land on Darryl and Shelia heading in her direction.
She smiled in greeting as Darryl and Sheila walked up, leaning over to hug the tall dark inspector. "Thank you so very much for coming, both of you. And Darryl, I'm so glad you volunteered to do the eulogy--Piper would be thrilled."
Darryl smiled in return. "Like I told Prue, it's the least I could do--you guys are like sisters to me, and Piper was always so good to me."
Sheila nodded. "We loved all the great dishes she'd send home with Darryl. We'll miss those."
Phoebe smiled sadly. "Yeah, we'll miss her great cooking, too--neither Prue or I cook so it will be like when I was in New York--if you can't boil it or nuke it, forget it!" and they all just smiled.
Phoebe handed Darryl the pen, who handed it to Sheila. She quickly wrote "Mr. & Mrs. Darryl Morris" into the book before handing their card to Cole so he could drop it into the box sitting next to him.
After both giving Phoebe another hug, Darryl and Sheila walked over to the coffin, waiting for their chance to stand next to it so they could look down at Piper and say their own private, silent good-byes. Darryl looked up into Leo's sorrowful face as he reached out his hand. "I'm so sorry, Leo. You know the department is doing all they can to find out who did this," but the look Darryl gave him told him that as always, he was doing all he could to continue to protect the sisters' secret and his words were more for those around them.
Leo gave him a wan look. "Thanks, Darryl, we all appreciate that. Just like we appreciate you doing the eulogy," then he reached out and gave him a big hug, both men patting each other on the back.
Sheila also offered her condolences and then after a final glance at Piper, they stepped aside to allow others the chance to see both her and Leo.
Shortly after the Morrises' arrival, Pastor Williams arrived along with a couple of the church ministers. Prue and Phoebe both felt another piece of their hearts break as they knew what was going to happen next. Pastor Williams called for everyone's attention and then asked for everyone to gather around the coffin. Once everyone had, he welcomed everyone on behalf of Piper's family and then he said a blessing on Piper, her family and those gathered around to say good-bye. He then asked the ushers to lead the mourners who wouldn't be part of the upcoming procession to the side doors where they could enter the church and take their seats.
Phoebe gasped out loud, knowing what was coming and so not wanting to watch, even as she knew she had to. Prue felt the same way, but as always, she kept all of her emotions hidden deep inside. She kept thinking about the reading she was going to give. She wanted to do a good job for Piper and knew that she couldn't if she let her emotions out.
Cole, also knowing what was coming from when he had come here with the sisters, quickly put his arm around Phoebe and she laid her head on his shoulder, then also reached out for her dad. Andy, in turn, knowing what Prue was going through even though he knew she wouldn't do or say anything, reached out for her, hoping it was okay to be doing that as Manny, her second cousin, but not really caring. He was here for Prue and he was going to be here for Prue. Darryl, in turn, reached out for the man who, despite being so part of the magical world that Darryl still refused to believe in, was becoming like a brother to him--Leo. Behind them stood the six P3 employees who would act as their employer's pallbearers.
As soon as all of the other mourners were in the church, the other ministers slammed shut the coffin. "No!" Phoebe screamed, unable to stop herself and Prue, Leo and Victor almost did the same thing. That loud bang just seemed to make it all so final, all so real that none of them could prevent the tears from coming to their eyes yet again.
To top it off, they heard a soft voice say, "Excuse me?" a soft voice that sounded much too much like their lost sister/wife/daughter/friend/employer. Prue and Phoebe spun, almost expecting to see Piper's ghost. Instead they saw a young woman holding one of the programs. She looked so much like Piper that in that situation it was almost unbearable. This young woman also had big brown eyes, long dark hair; sharp cheekbones. She wasn't Piper, but she could've been and in that situation, after just suffering through that slamming of the coffin, to see this woman alive while Piper was dead was just too much for Phoebe as the youngest Charmed One completely freaked out, screaming, "Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Oh, my God!" her voice becoming higher, louder and more hysterical with each line!
The poor girl's face grew almost as pale as Piper's. "I'm sorry I'm late! Maybe I shouldn't be here!" and spinning around, she sprinted out the door!
I'd like to add that had Primrose and I had our way, this is where the first half of Charmed Again would've ended--with the first part concentrating on the two remaining sisters remembering and mourning the one who is lost, giving us Prue-fans a chance to remember and mourn our favorite--before concentrating on what happens next, which would've/should've been shown the next week and not right afterwards.
Although with this new Halliwell-look-alike running away (and we didn't name her because, naturally, at this point the sisters would have no idea what her name is), she won't be part of the funeral. Again as it should've been.
Keep those tissues close by! Most of the funeral is based on my own mom's funeral--modified by Primrose and me to fit Piper. We hope you like what we came up with.
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