Piper couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her baby sister was sleeping on their couch. But that wasn't right. Phoebe was dead. She died after Roger kidnapped and drugged her, forcing her to see things through her power. And then they had lost her to her drug-induced coma. She could feel her emotions churning inside her. But the more she thought about it, the more confused the she got.

Prue sat on the edge of the couch watching as Phoebe slept. She ran her hand over the top of her head aimlessly.

Leo had orbed them home not long after they all witnessed seeing Phoebe in Prues arms. Getting her to rest on the couch was easy, as she was so exhausted she nearly fell on to it when they orbed in. They all knew she had no idea what was going on around her as she soon drifted to sleep.

Prue couldn't take her eyes off her. It wasn't possible. Everything they had gone through the last six months. The pain, the broken hearts, the funeral. She wasn't supposed to be there, but she was.

Piper moved and sat beside Prue on the couch, "Prue. What's going on?"

Prue didn't even move. She couldn't take her eyes off her baby sister. "I don't know." She replied quietly. "But I intend to find out." She finished as she glared up at Leo, knowing that he could find the answers they both sought.

Leo just watched the two older sisters giving any comfort they could to the one on the couch. He had been as shocked as they were at the beach when he had seen Phoebe in Prues arms. He didn't even want to consider what was going on as he looked down at them. He just reacted as he wrapped his arms around the three of them and orbed them all to the Manor. But now, as he looked on Prue sat starring down at Phoebe, and Piper soon joining her at their sisters' side he heard the ring in his mind. But he ignored it. As much as he wanted to go like he was suppose to, he shut them out. Being more concerned for the sisters before him.

He didn't miss the look in Prues eyes as she turned towards him. The edge in her voice was something he did not want to even face as he even felt himself take a hesitant step back.

"Leo?"

"Prue I don't know honest. As far as I knew she was dead."

"Then get your whitelighter ass up there and find out what the hell is going on! Because some how my baby sister, who died six months ago, is lying here on our couch!" Prue practically yelled at him.

Piper looked at Prue and then towards Leo. She wanted to help Leo from the wrath of her sister, but she too wanted to know what had happened and what was going on as much as her sister.

Leo had turned his look to Piper, hoping but some how knew she could not or would not help him. Taking one last look at Phoebe he orbed out leaving the three of them alone.

He looked around and quickly started for the chamber before him. He had been summoned what to them was hours ago. But he couldn't leave them, he still couldn't believe what he had seen.

Pushing open the door he stood waiting for the assault of anger that he usually got when he was that late.

"You are late Leonardo."

"I know. But." He started before he was cut off.

"We know what has transpired."

"How is this possible? I saw her die six months go in that hospital. I comforted and protected her sister's before, during and after the funeral."

"We have seen what has happened but it was not us who twisted destiny."

Leo looked around confused. "If it wasn't you then." He starred each on in the eyes, "Who?" he finally asked.

They seemed to be lost in their own thoughts as they cast glances at each other. No one wanting to speak, for they only had a slight idea of what was happening.

He watched as they gazed past each other. He had a feeling inside him and reached out with his mind. He prayed that what he thought was not real.

He felt the twinge as he listened in his mind. Listened to what they told him. He was the oldest, the wisest. But he answered to them. He held his eyes closed as he listened to them, those above him that controlled everything.

He opened his eyes and felt everyone else's on his. Standing he made his way around the large bench they all sat behind.

He locked eyes with Leo as he made his way to the whitelighter.

"Take me to them." was all he said as he rested his hand on Leo's arm.

Leo hesitated a moment before he looked around to the other elders. Then taking his leave he orbed out with the oldest of all elders.

--- ----

Prue felt her anger boiling inside her. She had no way of controlling it as she felt she was going to burst. Whether through her power or any other means she didn't care. She needed to know why and how her baby sister was alive and well. Maybe well wasn't the word she was looking for. She knew that Phoebe was still suffering from whatever effects that Roger had caused to her.

She looked up as she saw the familiar blue orbs of Leo returning and stood ready to ream into him the second he became solid. She was taken back though as she soon noticed the figure standing next to their friend and whitelighter.

She tossed in her sleep. Nothing making sense to her but the pain she felt. Yet somehow she knew the pain was not hers. Sitting up suddenly she felt the warm embrace around. Not the usual cold straps she felt that held her down when she was upset or angry. All she felt now was warmth. Love. That was the one thing she couldn't ever remember feeling was the love of another, yet here now, she felt it like she thought she never would again.

Again. The word rang through her mind. Had she ever felt love like that before? She hadn't recalled but she buried her face in the arms that held her hoping they would never go away. Hoping the feeling would never let her go.

---

Prue looked over at Phoebe and Piper knowing that her sister was in safe hands she turned back towards Leo.

"Hitchhiker Leo?" she asked sarcastically.

Leo looked at Prue not really sure if he should answer or let it go. He choose the later.

He looked around at the Manor and all she had to offer the world., "I don't blame you for your hostility Prudence. If I were you I too would be more then furious. But do not take this out on Leo or even the elders. The decision to what is happening was not theirs but someone higher then even them. Even if what happened, happened for a reason we may not agree on. Even I did not. I fought to save Phoebe, but there were others that felt this was the best way to preserve the Charmed Ones."

Prue stood in shock, "Preserve us? " she was too stunned to say anything that she had built up over the years.

Prue looked down at Phoebe who was now comfortably situated on Piper lap. "Preserve us? Does she look preserved to you? My sister is like talking to a two-year-old. She has lost everything." Prues anger shot out as she turned back to him

He held her gaze in his. He wasn't even sure himself what had happened. But he knew it was his duty to tell her. To tell them.

"She didn't die that night." There it was. He said it. He had let everything open.

He felt the stares of both Prue and Piper on his eyes as he tried to fend them off. "Let me see if I can explain."

He looked down at the demon before him. "You failed." as he screamed out at the pain they had all felt. Yet at the same time he was waiting for the signal. Any signal

"No your highness. I have not. I have discovered something even more powerful then you could imagine." He prayed and tried for his own life.

He waited till his servant spoke again.

"She lives. The youngest Charmed One is still among them. The power of three lives on." He answered though he knew that the wrath of his master was not far behind.

He sat quiet before he gave his final offer for the day.

"Then it is simple." he said as he watched in the distance the ripples of the lake.

He needed no words as he started to leave.

"And do not fail me again." The source spoke the cold edge in his voice more evident then before.

Prue moved towards him as he didn't even move, about to confront him with a whirl wind of past emotions she had felt when she lost her sister.

"Prue I don't even think I can explain the emotions you are going through."

"No you can't. Phoebe is here and you all deny her life." Prue shot back.

"It was not us. But know she is changing all your destinies by being here now."

"I don't give a shit whose destiny she is changing. You guys took her. You messed with our lives again!"

Prue felt the evil presence in the air around the Manor. But before she could even react. She felt the arrow slam into her chest. The searing pain it was causing caused her to fall quickly as she grabbed on for anything to support her. As she fell to the ground her world went black

Piper looked up to freeze the sudden demon attack but he was once again faster then she was and she too felt the same pain she had before. Feeling her blood seep through her fingers she fell to the floor as her world went black.

He quickly reached over and picked up the sleeping figure on the couch and was soon gone. Leaving the two older ones to their own destiny.