CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Later that evening, Prue, Piper, Chris and I were sitting around the living room, talking, we sisters having fun reminiscing about the good old days, Chris enjoying hearing the stories from Prue's point of view. "All right, the original P3 is back!" Piper declared happily, just as Paige rounded the corner.

"Hi, guys"

"Oh, hi, Paige," I called. "How was Richard's?"

She started saying something, but I hardly heard a word, since I was much more interested in reminiscing with Prue. "That's great, Paige," I interrupted off-handedly. "Now, Prue, tell us again about the time that…"

"I'll be at Richard's if anyone needs me," Paige muttered.

Without even looking up, Piper called out, "Yeah, yeah, we'll call if we need you. Okay, Prue, finish the story," and Paige orbed out.

"Piper!" cried Prue. "Don't dismiss Paige just because I'm here. From what I've heard, she's an important part of this family and if her boyfriend hadn't wished us alive, I wouldn't be here!" She turned to look at Chris. "Chris, do you think you can bring her back?"

"I don't know; she was pretty hurt," he put in accusingly, glaring at me and Piper. "But I'll try," and he orbed out.

"Oh, c'mon, Prue," I laughed. "Let her have some alone time with her boyfriend!"

"Yeah," Piper agreed.

Now it was Prue's turn to glare at us. "She said Richard was out for the night!" she exclaimed, which must be what Paige said when I wasn't really listening. "And that he'd been moody. She didn't sound like she was really happy to be with him."

Piper looked apologetic. "You're right. She didn't. I'll have to apologize to her," and I nodded, too.

"Good," smiled Prue triumphantly, proud of us.

Suddenly something hit Piper. "Oh, Phoebe, isn't this the day of your office party?"

"What party?" Prue wanted to know.

"You are going, aren't you?" Piper asked. "They're giving you that award."

I shrugged. "I was really excited about going, but it just doesn't seem that important, since my big sister has returned from the dead!" and I smiled at Prue, wishing I could tell her that she didn't have to die again--if she was willing to give up her powers.

"Oh, no," insisted Prue. "You are not missing out on anything on my account. None of you are," and going into General Prue mode, she stood up, heading for the stairs, "C'mon, let's get you dressed for your party. And you can tell me all about your award," and always happy to be the center of attention, I gladly agreed.

Well, it was great fun playing dress-up with Prue again, and when I left for the party, I knew that I hadn't looked that good in ages.

And I had a great time at the party, too, although I found myself very uncomfortable being in the same room as Jason so soon after our breakup. Despite his not-so-subtle overly-done job of praising me and my accomplishments when he handed me my award as the Best San Francisco Advice Columnist, I was sure that he felt just as uncomfortable as I did. But even though I suddenly found myself the center of attention as more and more people wanted to congratulate me, I couldn't help wondering what was going on at home and wishing I was back there with all three of my sisters. But just about when I'd think about phoning home, someone else would come up to congratulate me, and I'd get side-tracked.

So I was really shocked when I spot Leo standing in a quiet corner at the other end of the room, motioning me to come over, now. He looked upset, and I managed to excuse myself from the person I was talking with, and made my way to Leo, having to stop to quickly talk with several people on my way over.

I finally reached him, and he led me out into the hall, away from the other guests. "Leo?" I finally asked. "What are you doing here?"

"You gotta come home right now, Phoebe."

"Why? Prue didn't get attacked again, did she? Is she okay?"

"She's fine, but she has to leave soon, and she wants to tell you good-bye."

"Good-bye!?! But…" Then it hit me. "She's going to become a Valkyrie!"

He shook his head. "No, she's already one."

"She's WHAT??!! She became one without me even being there?!? No fair!"

"Phoebe, we can worry about that later. We gotta go. Now. She has to leave for Valhalla by midnight, or she won't remain a Valkyrie and she'll be back on Death's collection list."

I glanced at the clock. "We've still got time. You look upset, Leo, and I don't think it has anything to do with Prue. What happened while I was gone?" and he told me, but I'll tell you about that later, because it made about as much sense to me then as it would to you if I told you now.

So he orbed me back to the Manor. Piper and Paige were there, but Chris and Prue weren't. I found out that Prue asked Piper and Paige whether they thought she should give up her powers to become a Valkyrie, and I started grumbling because this very important family decision was made without me. Me, the one who had just received the award for best San Francisco advice columnist!

"You weren't here," Piper calmly told me. "Prue had to make the decision right away."

"No wonder Chris was messing around with the Valkyrie," I recalled with a smile.

"Chris!?" Piper looked at me strangely. "This has nothing to do with Chris. It was Leo's idea!"

"Actually, it was Chris's idea," Leo blurted out.

"Great!" and Piper shook her head. "So what has he got up his sleeve now?"

"Give it a rest, Piper," Leo insisted. "I thought the same thing, and I was wrong. Chris truly wanted to save Prue, and this idea will."

"You are defending him now! He tried to trick us into binding Wyatt's powers! He exposed Wyatt to a demon! He even broke me up with Greg!"

Through most of Piper's rant, both Leo and I managed to maintain a straight face, but I saw a quick smile light up his face during that last bit about Greg, but he quickly suppressed it. I knew he didn't want Piper to realize that he was actually happy about that, but I was glad to know that he was. It told me that there was still a chance for Chris to be conceived.

"And now here you are, defending him!" Piper finished her rant.

"I don't approve of all that stuff either," Leo replied, although I could tell he was fighting down that smile at the thought of Greg and Piper breaking up. "But his heart appears to be in the right place. At least this time."

But I didn't hear what they were saying, because Paige called out, "Chris! Prue! You're here!"

Later I would wonder whether Chris heard what Leo said and if that had helped him change his mind about his father. At this point, I could only think of one thing. Marching over to my eldest sister, I demanded, "Prue, how could you make this decision without me?"

"I had to make up my mind quick," she explained with a shrug. "I don't have much time left here. Can we not argue?"

"What would you have chosen anyway?" Paige wanted to know. "It really wasn't a hard choice for Piper and me. We went with the option that lets her live. We'd rather not be able to see her but know that she's alive than to have to watch her die."

I sighed heavily. "All right, all right, I admit it! That is what I would have chosen too." Then I hugged Prue tightly, telling her, ""You look cool as a Valkyrie," and she did--better than me, Paige and Piper combined! I hated to admit it but it truly looked like being a Valkyrie was what she was always destined to be, even more than being a witch, even more than being my big sister. Now I smiled at my big sister, who hugged me back.

And while we were still hugging, a portal suddenly opened up and Mist reappeared. "Time to go," she told Prue insistently.