A.N Here is the last story in the 'Do you think she know?' mini-series! Thank you so much for all the reviews, especially the ones about writing Prue :) Hope you enjoy this.

Chapter 3 takes place after season 5 episode 6 'Sympathy for the Demon'

Disclaimer I do not own Charmed.

Chapter 3

Paige felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Sure, proving that she could defeat Barbus and knowing she had saved her sisters had been great, but this damn animal conjuring spell had had her baffled. It seemed so simple, one two three poof doves. Why had she found it so damn difficult?

With a satisfied 'hm' Paige closed the Book of Shadows and smiled to herself, tapping the triquetra on the front before moving around it and stretching above her head as she walked. Maybe I'll take a bath. Or hey I could go join Phoebs and Piper at P3, tell them that I finally-

"That was pretty impressive."

The unexpected voice made Paige freeze, but she didn't turn around. Unexpected though it was it wasn't entirely unfamiliar.

'"Hi Robbie, is Piper around? Oh geez sorry I completely cut in front of you there. After you."'

"It can't be…"

Paige was aware she hadn't turned around yet, and taking a breath she moved slowly to face-

"Prue…?!"

"In the flesh," Prue laughed, tucking her hair behind her ear, "Well actually I guess not."

"Oh geez Piper is going to kill me!" Paige buried her face in her hands and Prue tilted her head a little.

"Not exactly the welcome I thought-"

"I must've screwed up the damn animal conjuring potion! God Paige!"

"Paige, wait, you didn't-"

"And I ended up conjuring some Prue from…I don't even know what you are!"

"I'm an astral projection," Prue smirked a little. Wow she reminds me of Phoebs. "Paige you didn't do anything, I did this. Turns out I got to keep one of my powers." Paige wrinkled her nose as if she didn't understand and Prue cleared her throat a little. "But Piper will kill you if those doves crap all over the attic." The expletive from her youngest sister made Prue laugh and she watched as Paige moved quickly to open up the attic window then orbed the doves out of it when they wouldn't go of their own accord. "Very nice."

Paige banged the window shut and leant against it, looking back at the other woman. "So, wait…" Prue smiled a little, she could practically see Paige's mind whirring. "So, you're actually Prue? The Prue Halliwell?"

"That's right."

"But you're dead."

"That's also right."

"So you're a ghost?"

"No like I said I'm an astral projection."

"Can ghosts astrally project themselves?"

"Apparently this one can."

"I need to sit down."

"That's probably a good idea before-" Too late, Paige's eyes had rolled back and she'd fainted right there. "Oh crap."

Paige was pretty sure she was dreaming. She had to be dreaming, because what she could feel and see just could not be true.

Prue Halliwell was standing over her, fanning her face with a cushion.

Prue Halliwell.

The lady who had apologised for cutting in line at P3.

The person whose funeral she had gone to.

The picture in the locket Piper kept under her pillow.

The voice Phoebe listened to on the answering machine when she thought no one was home.

The Prue Halliwell.

"Are you alright?" Prue smiled a little as she held out a hand and Paige gratefully took it, pulling herself up.

"Wait, how are you-?"

"Don't think too much about it Paige," Prue laughed shaking her head, still holding the red-head's hand, "It's…it's really great to finally meet you."

"You too," Paige breathed, aware that she was staring somewhat open-mouthed at the black haired woman in front of her, "This is…wow. Just wow." Her cheeks suddenly went pink. "Oh but Piper and Phoebs aren't here! I'll orb and get them just-"

"Wait, no." A sad look crossed Prue's face and she forced a little smile. "No, I can't. I can't see them just yet, and they can't see me or know that I was here." Paige tilted her head in confusion. "It's too soon for them, I understand that now. Besides it'd completely undermine what you did today." Paige blushed and Prue smiled. "It was pretty amazing."

"Not really," Paige laughed nervously.

"It was." Prue squeezed her hand. "You defeated Barbus."

"You did it first."

"Missy, stop." The nickname shocked them both, Prue hadn't really meant to say it and Paige sure as hell never thought she would hear it. "Paige," Prue said softly, "You've gotta stop these comparisons, okay? It's not right, and it's not fair. On either of us."

"Um how is it not fair on you?" Paige wrinkled her nose.

"Because you're making me out to be this wonder witch and I wasn't." Prue bit her cheek a little. "Paige you are so much better than me."

"O-kay I think being dead made you a little crazy," Paige laughed and she let go of Prue's hand, "And I don't…I don't need a pep talk. I'm okay now." Until the next 'oh wow Piper do you remember when Prue did this/defeated that demon/moved that thing' story.

As if reading her mind Prue shook her head. "Paige, listen to me. I didn't just come down here to meet you, I came to…well I guess yeah give you a pep talk. You are a great witch, a great Charmed One."

"But-"

"I'm not done talking."

Paige shut her mouth quickly, well damn big sister alert right there. So that's who Piper learnt that from!

"You defeated the Source," Prue went on, "And before that, you kept this family together when Phoebe had abandoned it and Piper was giving up hope. And before that, you knew about Cole. You never trusted him, and he knew that that's why he did all those terrible things to you."

"How do you know all about this?" Paige frowned a little, and Prue shrugged.

"Sometimes I peek." She carried on before Paige could speak. "You had to come into this family with all it's baggage and it's like you've been here the whole time. Piper and Phoebe love you, so much. And they need you. They need you more than they ever needed me they just don't see it yet, but they will. You're a rock, Paigey."

Paige never thought that ghosts could cry, or astral projections, or whatever Prue was. But the tears slid down the eldest sister's cheeks and Paige bit her lip and moved to take her hand again. "It's hard," she said quietly, cheeks flushing at the sardonic smirk Prue gave her. "I mean, I guess it's harder for you. Being dead and all, only being able to 'peek'. But it's hard because all I hear are these amazing stories and the great Prue Halliwell and Piper…Piper idolises you, she does, and I know sometimes she doesn't think I'm good enough. That's why I had to get the stupid animal conjuring spell right."

"Which you did, after defeating Barbus and saving everyone's life," Prue reminded her, "Paige, today was a turning point. Not just for you and our sisters but for everything. They're going to need you, and you're going to save them."

"Why what's going to happen?" Paige frowned and Prue shook her head.

"I can't tell you anything, anyway I've only seen glimpses."

"It's Cole, isn't it."

"Paige I can't."

Paige sighed a little and nodded, biting her lip and looking around the attic. "Is it weird being here?"

"Like you wouldn't imagine," Prue laughed, wiping at her cheeks.

"But you still came?"

"Well I had to meet my baby sister didn't I," Prue smiled and Paige blushed.

"I've always wondered whether you knew about me, whether someone told you."

"I've known, just had to find the right time to sneak out."

Paige giggled at that before looking up at her. "But, you don't have to leave yet. Right?" She almost kicked herself at how desperate she sounded, but now that Prue was here and she had that opportunity, she couldn't quite bring herself to let it go just yet.

And Prue didn't want to either. "No, not yet." She lead Paige over to the couch and sat down, patting the cushion next to her. "I want to know everything about you, Paige Matthews. Don't leave out a single second."

And they talked long into the night, and as Paige fell asleep she dreamt of a time when four little girls grew up together, fighting over Barbies and clinging to the hand of their big sister. The sister Paige finally knew.