A/N: Hey all. How are you?

I have an update and I think it is quite possibly the longest to date...for this fic anyway.

I 'll stop wafferling and let you read.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. Wishes Have No Guarantee

Piper walked into the unusually quiet manor and moved tiredly through the house, finally noticing it was almost three in the morning. She realised she had probably made her entire family worry but she had stayed at the club until closing, not wanting to face them.

In particular, she didn't want to come face to face with her older sister. It tore at Piper that she had reacted the way she had but all she had ever wanted was to have her sister returned. Although when faced with her wish granted, she thought it was too good to be true.

Piper had spent most of her evening and early morning in her office just thinking and blaming the Elders for the messes in her life.

She came to the conclusion that everyone had given up on Prue because there was a band aid, of sort, to mask over her disappearance. Piper chastised herself for referring to Paige as a band aid but the Elders used her baby sister as a reason to stop them finding Prue.

In their eyes the Power of Three remained and that was their main objective.

Prue was deserted in the underworld with the Source, going through…God knows what, while the rest of us went on believing she was dead, she thought, standing at the sink in the kitchen, staring out the window.

Piper shuddered as the day of Prue's funeral played through her mind and how she had stood in the same spot contemplating her life without her big sister. Now she was stood contemplating her life with her sister.

Had things changed too much?

She wanted Prue back but would Prue want to be with a family that had buried her and in effect moved on?

Sighing heavily, Piper put the thought out of her head for the time being, feeling as though if she continued to dissect the matter she would go insane before the sun was up.

Ignoring the soft creeks that sounded as she made her way upstairs, Piper had a sudden urge to move to a room she had tried to avoid for a year.

Opening the door gently, she found the form of her sister, sleeping peacefully.

Piper couldn't help but wonder if it was possibly the first time Prue had properly slept in the entire time she had been gone. She didn't know of the conditions her sister had endured and a part of her never wanted to know.

It took all of Piper's self control not to run into the room and bound onto the bed, crawling for the comfort her big sister had always held. Instead of her childish impulse, she quietly closed the door again and decided to resolve her feeling with Prue in the morning.

That would be if Prue wants to, she thought, lightly stepping down the hallway.

----------

The bedroom door closed and Prue stepped out from the shadow, while looking at her sleeping form. Works like a charm, she mused with a cruel smile adorning her face.

Jaden stepped up next to her and glanced between the door and the bed. "Have they always been that gullible?" he asked in a soft voice.

"Pretty much." Prue grinned.

Jaden mirrored the expression and then walked further into the room and looked closer at the Prue lying in her bed. He poked her arm and then glanced up at the actual Prue, who was stood across the room.

"Do you feel that?"

She shook her head and laughed quietly. "Nope, nada."

Jaden stood back to full length. "Well that would take the fun out of beating this Prue then, wouldn't it?"

"Hmmm, not that you could beat me anyway." she shot back.

"Have done before.." he argued with a smug grin.

"Yes that is true, but you also had to have me chained to a wall. In my books that's an unfair advantage."

"That's why evil barely uses rules." Jaden still didn't remove his grin.

Prue moved closer to the bed. "Well, as much fun as debating how macho you are is, I would like to go to sleep, so you may now return to what ever hole you crawled out of…."

"Nah. You have to come with me." Jaden responded, moving around the other side of the bed and grabbing her arm tightly.

"Uh, excuse me. What do you think your doing?" she asked indignantly, trying to pry his hand from her arm.

"As I said, you have to come with me."

"Why?" Prue questioned again, not liking his answer.

Jaden gazed at her and removed an eyelash from her cheek. "The Source wants to speak to you…" he held the eyelash out to Prue. "…make a wish."

"You of all people don't want to hear my wish." she spat in turn.

The warlock smiled pleasantly before blowing the eyelash off his finger. "Fair enough."

With his final words they vanished in a blur of shimmers. At that moment the bedroom door opened again and Piper peered in, having heard voices. Sighing she closed the door.

I must be going mad, she thought, walking back to her own room.

----------

Paige sat at the kitchen table lost in thought, staring at the cold cup of coffee that was glued to her hands. She had finally met her deceased older sister and although happy to have one wish granted, apart of her questioned her purpose.

Piper's words yesterday at the club did little to ease her troublesome mind, as now she felt the contempt and distrust she had felt when first meeting her sisters.

Half, she corrected herself. Never had she used that term when referring to them but what was she to think. Their full sister had returned and she was in fact only the half sister that was given away at birth.

They didn't share the Christmases or birthdays, their graduations, their first date. She was consequently a stranger, who would once again have to earn her place within the family.

"Morning." Piper greeted moving into the kitchen.

Paige looked up and smiled half heartedly at her older sister. "Morning."

Piper seemed to look guilty as she fidgeted with her hands and finally found the courage to take a seat next to Paige. "I'm sorry." she apologised.

"No need." the youngest Halliwell responded, not being entirely truthful.

"Yes there is. I shouldn't have snapped at you yesterday. You never asked for any of this, you have literally been played with and thrown about as if you don't matter. You do and you're a big part of this family. I don't want you to think I was mad at you yesterday. I wasn't, I just happen to take it out on you….again." Piper grimaced slightly at her own realisation that she did seem to hit out at Paige first.

Maybe that's how it always worked between Prue and Phoebe, she mused silently.

"Piper, honestly, it's okay. With Prue returning it's going to be hard…for all of us to begin with." Paige reasoned, a little happier with the her talk with her sister.

"I can't believe I tried to blow her up yesterday." Piper responded, running her hands over her face.

"If Prue is everything you have told me about her, then I'm sure she'll forgive you." the youngest Charmed One smiled softly.

"I hope so." Although Piper also hoped Prue would forgive them for a lot of things.

"Morning all." Phoebe sang as she walked into the kitchen, beaming from ear to ear.

"Wow, in my entire life I have never seen you this happy in the morning…well unless you count the time when…"

"Piper! Do. Not. Finish. That. Sentence." Phoebe ordered her older sister, her face turning a slight red.

Paige looked between her two sisters, seeing Piper grin mischievously. "What time?" she asked with a smile, looking at Piper.

"Piper, I swear I hear a pep and I'll spill all your Godly secrets." Phoebe warned.

"What Godly secrets? You can't keep secrets." Piper beamed, raising an eyebrow in a challenging manner.

"I have some that I have kept for leverage."

"Like what?" The older of the two was lost. Phoebe was terrible with keeping things to herself and Piper had learnt a long time ago secrets don't stay so secret with her younger sister.

It's was Phoebe's turn to grin mischievously. "A certain night in college, when a certain Piper Halliwell…"

"Stop!" Piper yelled, suddenly having a flashback of what Phoebe was hinting at. "I won't tell."

Phoebe grinned in triumph. "That's my girl." she gloated given Piper a peck on the top of her head, before taking a seat next to her.

Paige glanced between them. "Am I going to find out eventually what you two were on about?"

Her two older sisters looked at each other and then turned back to Paige. "Nope." they both answered at the same time.

"Too Godly." Phoebe explained. "Catastrophic repercussions."

"Yep, what she said." Piper nodded in agreement.

"I'll find away." Paige threatened, raising both eyebrows to show she met their challenge.

"So.." Piper said suddenly, wanting a topic change. "..what's got you so chipper this morning? Pheebs."

Phoebe's grin returned as she rested her head on Piper's shoulder, gazing over at Paige. "It's the first morning where everyone I love is where they are supposed to be. Right here in the manor."

Piper smiled, knowing that with Prue's return a great weight of guilt had been lifted from her younger sisters shoulders. Having always blamed herself for Prue's death, Phoebe never really felt content with anything in her life after that…although claimed otherwise.

"Well, isn't this a picture of perfection." a voice filtered into the room, making the hair on the back of Piper's next stand up.

They all turned towards Prue, who stood in the doorway, casually leaning on the door jamb, her arms lazily crossed over her abdomen. There had been no malice in her voice moments ago, but Piper felt as though their was a hint of jealousy.

"It'll be better if you sat here." Phoebe responded, patting the chair next to her.

Prue smiled shortly, then moved fluently to the chair that had been offered. "So…what were we talking about?" she asked.

"Why I am so happy." Phoebe answered.

Where's the bucket? Prue thought, but kept the pleasant smile on her face.

"..and she was also trying to tell my secrets." Piper added a little quieter than normal, noticing the glance Prue gave her.

"Secrets aren't good.." Prue replied, looking at her baby sister. "..wouldn't you agree? Paige."

Paige was caught of guard by the sudden question and upon glancing at Prue, her month went slightly dry. If her coffee had been remotely warm she would have attempted to drink it.

"Depends if they cause damage to someone." she finally answered, after clearing her throat.

"I have to agree with Paige on that one." Phoebe injected.

"But it's only once the secret has been told that the damage is made, so how can you be sure of the amount of damage that would validate it as a good secret to be kept. What seems like a small secret to begin with could escalate with huge repercussions."

The three younger Halliwells looked at Prue in slight puzzlement at her response before she continued.

"I mean, Paige, you were a secret…" Piper and Phoebe's expressions changed to mild shock at the direction Prue had taken. "…and when the secret was let out of the bag, so to speak, you were thrown into a world you didn't even know existed, as well as dealing with the abandonment aspect of your life. Sometimes secrets cause more damage than initially intended. I'm sure Mum never wanted you to find out the way you did but because it was a secret and had escalated over the years, I think it's safe to say the damage has been greater to you than it would have been, say if you found out before any of us had known we were witches."

Paige began to examine her coffee cup again, thinking through what Prue had just said. "I suppose your right." she finally replied, thinking of how she still feels unwanted or just a necessity for the Power of Three.

"But then Mum would have to risk Paige and expose her relationship with Sam." Phoebe responded.

"Risks have to be taken to protect the ones you love. Paige may have had a life with us had Mum done so."

"I'm sure Mum had good intentions and reasons for her actions." Phoebe smiled back, trying to lighten the darkening mood.

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions…" Prue countered, putting emphasis on the word hell, knowing they would instantly connect her with it. "..Trust me I know."

Her final comment left the room in silence, while Prue was amused at how easily she made them question things and play with their minds. Their insecurities laid wide open for all to see and now they would each mull over her argument.

"Sorry," Prue laughed softly. "..I didn't mean to get all preachy on you guys, just I had plenty of time to think things over."

"It wasn't exactly preachy, Prue, just a little too insightful for nine o'clock in the morning." Piper smiled, noticing how Paige had completely zoned out.

Prue made her best sheepish face and then focused on her hands, trying to contain her need to laugh.

"Prue."

The eldest Halliwell looked up sharply at Piper, who was gazing at her intently.

"Could I…um…have a word?" the younger sister asked and smiled when Prue nodded. Both of them stood up from their seats.

"Your not going to try and blow me up again, are you?" Prue questioned, while watching as a glint of shame covered Piper's face.

They are making it way too easy, she thought, following Piper out of the room.

"About that, I'm sorry." Piper stated, when they were stood in the dinning room.

"Forgiving, I probably would have done the same thing." Prue replied with a shrug. Her words however caused Piper to smile.

"Yeah, I could have seen that."

"You may still get to." the eldest smirked, aware her sister would take it as a joke.

Piper nodded with a smile before looking at the cut on Prue's head. "Did you want Leo to heal that for you?"

Prue shook her head in response. "No, I'll be fine. I've had worst."

Unintentionally, Prue began to run a finger along a scar that just about poked out from a top the shirt she had chosen to wear. Piper caught the action and within a moment was pulling Prue's hand away and pulling at her top.

"Hey!" Prue yelped in surprise and moved away from Piper.

"Show me." Piper retaliated stepping forward.

Great! Prue yelled at herself. You just couldn't keep that covered. She had known she had picked up the habit of rubbing that particular scar, but she had never really worked out why. Jaden always mocked her when he noticed, taking joy in the fact he was the one to have given it to her.

"It's nothing." she argued, wondering if she had wanted her sister to notice the damage she endured herself. No, she argued with the thought. I don't give a damn what they think.

"Prue. Show me." Piper demanded.

"No."

Piper stared at her older sister, not blinking. "Show me what they have done to you."

"What would that achieve?" Prue shot back, finding her anger rising.

"If you don't show me, I will get everyone in here."

Prue glared at her sister, wanting nothing more than to throw the little witch into the wall. However a thought occurred, as Prue realised she could use the sympathy from them to get even closer. She told herself she didn't want their sympathy and that she was using it for her assignment, although doubts on her resolve were beginning to develop.

"Fine." Prue snapped, before undoing two of her top buttons. She pulled the two sides apart slightly, while Piper moved up closer.

The scar wasn't large or raised. It was as if a small knife had been dragged delicately across and then rounded towards the bottom. Healing had left it with a slight discolouring and it ran above her left breast with the flick aiming towards Prue's neck.

Piper felt anger boil inside at her as she continued to scrutinize the mark, assuming it had came from some kind of torture. She gazed back at Prue.

"Are there more?" she questioned in a quiet yet determined voice.

"Guys get in here, quickly." Phoebe shouted through, something Prue was grateful for.

Piper looked at Prue once more. "Don't think that's all." she warned before moving out of the room.

"That's what you think, stupid witch." Prue muttered to herself, doing her top buttons back up. Everything was going just fine, then this, she thought, before heading back to the kitchen.

There she found her sisters around the TV watching a news report.

"Two people found murdered outside a local shop in downtown San Francisco. The two unnamed victims have been reportedly stabbed with what appears to be a steel dagger in the early hours of this morning.

Police have no leads as of yet but are warning residents to be on full alert, while never walking alone at this present time.

We shall update you more on this story shortly."

As the report finished, all four sisters shared a look, however Prue was screaming in silence. I'm going to kill him!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: There you all go. I know it's crap but kinda needed I'm afraid.

Danielle; Thanks for the review and I'm sorry for the delay...it's a problem I am slowly working throw, lol. I'll try to update more.

Lucrecia Almasy; thanks for another review, much appreciated. It's slightly diturbing to have Prue on the dark side but I kinda thought that it would be a hell of a lot more interesting then watching Phoebe's moment of darkness...but you know, can't change that hence why I write this, lol. Anyway I'm glad your liking it...me, I love writing it. :o)

Some aren't liking Jaden, cough Peanut cough, I'm afraid his staying for the most part. Sorry...and also I don't think Andy'll be making an appearence in this fic...I do it too often. SORRY!

I'm going run now before I'm hung, drawn and quartered.

Chat to you all soon...Thanks for all the reviews! LOVE 'EM!