CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

(A/N: During this part, please remember that this was written during S7 and totally ignores all events of both S7 and S8, which, as far as I'm concerned, should've been ignored—people came back from the dead much too easily which took away what death is all about! Thanks again for the fantastic response to this part of the fic!)

I'll tell you about our farewell with our big sister later, but right now I want to tell you about something that happened later that evening. After Prue left, we all headed back to our rooms. I was surprised to see Paige heading towards her old room and not orb back to Richard's. Feeling bad about blowing her off earlier, and since I'd never had a chance to apologize, I changed into my jammies, then I knocked on her door.

When she let me in, I told her how bad I felt and how guilty, but she insisted that she understood, and I hoped she meant it. Then I asked her what happened after she orbed back to Richard's.

She looked a bit embarrassed about it now, but told me that when she got there, Richard wasn't even there, and she only had her own thoughts to keep her company. And blushing a little since she knew better now, she admitted that she was afraid that Prue was going to replace her as part of the Power of Three and as part of our family and began to cry.

"No way!" I cried.

She smiled. "That's what Chris said, too, so I whirled around. I hadn't even heard him orb in. So I asked him what he was doing there."

"What he say?" I wanted to know.

She smiled. "He said he was looking after me. He must've seen the tears in my eyes, because he walked over and hugged me, asking me what was wrong. He said he'd been blown off like that, too," and we shared a poignant look, knowing he meant Leo, or rather, Future Leo, and for the hundredth time I wondered what had ever happened in the future for Leo to possibly treat one of his sons that way. "Then he said he knew it can be a little disheartening, but why the tears?"

"I want to know, too," I said sincerely.

She sighed, as if it was no big deal, but explained. "Oh, Richard and I are not getting along so well. I don't think it's going to work out between us."

I hugged her, too, telling her, "Oh, honey, I'm so sorry."

She smiled. "Thanks. But that's not what was really bugging me. I told him that with Prue back, I couldn't go back to the Manor and I don't make enough at the temp service to go back to renting my own place, and I actually wailed as tears rolled down my cheeks," and she looked embarrassed, since she knew better. "Oh, Phoebe, I told him that I was afraid I would be out on the streets!" and now I really felt miserable.

"Oh, that will never happen!" I insisted.

She smiled. "Chris said the same thing. He told me to trust him, that I could get my old room back at the Manor any time I wanted it," and she looked around, smiling at it. "And, of course, he was right, but I didn't know it then. I was sure it would be Prue's room again. Besides, I was sure you guys didn't need me anymore, since you had the original Power of Three."

"Yes, we do!" I cried. "Even if Prue could've stayed, we'd still want you! We love you!"

She nodded. "That's what Chris said. He actually snapped at me, and I don't think I'll ever forget what he said.":

I smiled at the smile in her voice. "So what did he say?"

Still grinning, she told me, "He said, 'Wrong! They still need you. They love you! They've just missed their big sister and are excited that she's back from the dead. But Prue won't be around long'," and I wished I could've told her back then what I knew then, because I knew Chris wouldn't.

"So I asked him what was he saying--that Prue was going to die again?" Paige continued, then she admitted, "And I was shocked to think how much that would hurt you and Piper, and I knew I would never want you two to hurt that much, even if it meant I'd have to step aside."

And again I wished even harder I could've told her back then what we now knew. I knew Chris wouldn't either, so I asked, "What did Chris say?"

She actually did a pretty good imitation of our nephew: "Not exactly. Forget Prue for now. Let's talk about you. What's up with you and Richard?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I want to know, too."

"Well, he was so moody all day. And I don't think he really wants me around anymore, as if seeing me reminds him of the fact that he no longer has his powers. Maybe stripping his powers was a mistake."

I shook my head. "Helping someone end an addiction is never a mistake," I insisted. "I've written that in my column enough."

She smiled. "Yeah, you're right, besides, it doesn't matter anymore."

"It doesn't?"

"Nope. Chris told me not to worry about Richard, because he isn't in my future anyway."

"He isn't?" I asked, surprised that Chris had let something like that slip.

She nodded, a huge grin at the memory. "He was trying to soothe me. Didn't do much good, thinking that I'd end up old and alone!"

"You?" I demanded in disbelief. "Never!"

She smiled. "That's what Chris said. I'll never forget what he said after that, Phoebs!"

I had to smile fondly at the sound of the joy in her voice. "What was that?"

And again she quoted Chris: "You? Alone? No way! Are you kidding? You and Uncle Glen were the coolest!" And just like Chris must've, Paige slapped her hand over her mouth. "Oops!!"

"You guys were the coolest!" I cried, stung "What about me?" Then it hit me, the way it must've hit her. "Wait! Did you say Glen?"

Paige grinned. "You know Chris. He tried to deny it. Besides, I told him that that's not possible. Glen married Jessie, and Chris blurted out that, nope, he's still single!"

"Really!" I cried, thrilled for her, wondering if there was some way I could get him to blurt out who I'd end up with, like who's the father of that baby I felt inside me during my vision quest and when would I meet him.

But Paige was still going on, her eyes dancing. "Before he could stop me, I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Glen's number. But all I got was his voice mail."

"Oh," I groaned, disappointed for her.

"So I started to leave a message and Glen answered."

I laughed, "So he screens his calls, huh?"

She nodded, smiling. "Yep. He told me it was great to hear from me, so I had to ask about Jess."

"And—," I prompted. "And--"

"Oh, Phoebs! He told me they broke up! She stood him up at the altar, so they never even did get married!"

"Oh, that's terrible!" I exclaimed, that same twinkle in my own eyes.

She grinned. "Yeah, that's what I told him."

I laughed, "With that same ear-to-ear shit-eating grin, I'll bet."

She continued to laugh, "Yeah, and Chris snickered at me. Glen had to go, but said he'd call me back later."

"So you two are gonna get back together again?" I wanted to know.

She sighed. "Not right away."

"Why the heck not?"

"Chris gave me a little warning. He reminded me that my being with Glen is part of the future he comes from and it will happen naturally anyway if I let it. He told me not to push it now and to just let it happen when it is meant to."

"Why?" I demanded, still thinking about what I'd do when I wriggled my own future out of that stubborn close-mouthed kid. No way I wouldn't go for it right away!

She looked at me seriously. "Because if I change things, I could wreck that future, just like he did by breaking up Leo and Piper."

"Oh." And thinking how he was coming so close to jeopardizing his own existence, I knew he was right. Maybe I wouldn't try to wriggle my own future out of him after all. And maybe that's one of the reasons why he didn't want to tell us who he really was.

"Yeah. I told him I understood, but I still think his parents are going to be okay and he told me he hoped so."

"Yeah," I agreed. "I do, too."

She smiled, remembering. "Then he smiled at me and asked if I felt better, and I admitted that I did a little, still thinking of me and Glen getting back together. But then something hit me. Think about it, Phoebs. How could I be married to Glen? Chris said I died when the Titans attacked. I thought he was lying about my marrying Glen, saying that just to make me feel better!"

"What he say?" I asked.