Wow. I am on FIYA! I never update this fast. But somehow I managed to write another chapter! But I must warn you that it won't happen again because I started soccer today and it was brutal. It was cold and rainy (gotta love the Midwest!) and we ran 2.5 miles as a warm up and then we actually started playing soccer. So somehow I don't think I'll be up to writing like I have been. I'm hoping that I'll be able to get at least one more chapter up before the end of spring break hopefully more but I'm not making any promises. I was kind of pumped up about this chapter because I think it addresses one of the major flaws in the Charmed series (which I do not own!)
REVIEWS:
atlan2007: Thanks for the review. Billie isn't my favorite either but with Phoebe and Paige out of the picture for now I figured she was the next in line.
NERDZROCK: Thanks for the review!
Marie Nomad: I think that Piper should've listened to Melinda too but where's the fun in that?
.:You'll be glad to know that there's more Prue coming. A lot more!
(ha you should be proud of me! I'm actually responding to the reviews while I'm still writing instead of waiting until later! Punto!)
HAPPY READING!
The lights flickered on to reveal a beautifully furnished condo located in downtown San Fransisco. A sigh escaped from the mouth of Phoebe Halliwell. She dropped her bags with a loud thud and then collapsed in the nearest chair. The last few months had been thoroughly exhausting. She had been traveling the country to promote her new autobiography which had been number one on the best sellers list for seven weeks now. If she had known that being successful would require so much work she would've stuck to living off her sisters. She couldn't remember a time when she had felt so spent. Well, actually she could but she didn't like to think about them. She was about to doze off when a knock came from the door of her condo.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me. Coop I swear if that's you I'm gonna kick you in the...." It wasn't Coop.
"Someone's a little testy this evening. Good thing I brought some bubbly! For you not me." Phoebe couldn't help but smile at the antics of her younger sister.
"Hey honey." Phoebe gave Paige a hug "Take a seat I'm going to pour myself a glass of this!" After she had satisfied her "thirst" she seated herself on the couch next to Paige.
"Not that I'm not happy to see you.....but wouldn't a phone call have been sufficient?"
"Yes but that's so impersonal. After all we've been limited to the phone for months but if you need to sleep I can leave."
"No its fine. I'm glad to see you. Both of you." Phoebe took a moment to gently rub Paige's enlarged belly.
"Funny. What was all the shouting about Coop for? I thought you two weren't getting along?"
"We aren't but he won't leave me alone. He followed me the entire trip!"
"Stalker much?"
"Yes. I thought I made it clear when I told him I wanted nothing to do with that world anymore. I just want a normal life."
"I got some bad news for you."
"What?"
"Have you talked to Piper lately?"
"I talked to her Wednesday.....why?"
"Oh its nothing....." Phoebe easily detected the worry in Paige's voice and it had her concerned. "Paige what's wrong? Did something happen?"
"Its probably nothing."
"Paige!" Paige looked at her older sister and saw that she was obviously distressed and decided that it would be best to stop dragging it out.
"Well I was over there the other day and there was this girl there. Piper said she was a runaway.....she was letting her stay with them."
"What?! Is she crazy?"
"That's exactly what I said but she didn't take kindly to that and practically threw me out the door." Phoebe rubbed her eyes trying to fight off her drowsiness. A family crisis was the last thing she needed right now.
Paige watched her sister suffer in silence and then decided to drop the other bombshell.
"Phoebe it gets worse......Billie was there." Phoebe's head shot up.
"What?"
"Billie Jenkins was at the Manor." Phoebe thought for a moment.
"Paige you don't think....."
"Maybe."
"But its Piper I mean....oh my God!"
On the other side of town Piper Halliwell was enduring another sleepless night. She was slouched against a wall in the attic holding a cup of tea that she had no intention of drinking. She felt miserable. Stupid and miserable. She should have known that wandering back into the the supernatural world would only bring her grief. She hadn't talked with her sisters in days, she hadn't been spending time with her boys, and her love life had been.....a little off lately. If only she had trusted her gut instinct and slammed the door in.....her face. She couldn't even say her name without sinking into a deeper depression. With a soft "huff" she lifted herself from the floor and headed off to bed knowing very well that even if she managed ti fall asleep her nightmarish reality would haunt her dreams.
Somewhere in between Phoebe's condo and the Manor, a young girl sat in the very church where Sister Agnes had received baby Paige so many years ago. Prue Halliwell paused in the entrance. She spotted Melinda hunched over in the second pew with her forehead resting on the pew in front of her. Prue approached silently and took a seat in the third row directly behind her charge. Prue waited for her to acknowledge her presence. Only when it was obvious that Melinda wasn't going to say anything did Prue speak.
"Melinda." The teen sat up and Prue rested a hand on her shoulder. An involuntarily shudder alerted Prue to the fact that Melinda was still overwhelmingly distraught over what had happened.
"Do you believe in a higher power?"
"Uh....well...I" Prue hesitated not knowing what to make of Melinda's sudden interest in theology.
"I thought I did but now I'm not so sure. I mean if there really is something out there.....than why would something like me exist?"
"Melinda don't..."
"Prue I'm a monster. I try to be good but.....when I tapped into my power back in the warehouse it felt so good. But I almost lost control. I could feel the demon trying to take over. Prue I don't know if I'll be able to fight it next time."
"Now you listen to me. You're good. No." Prue cut off a protest from Melinda than continued. "I've seen you do amazing things and I know I'm going to see a lot more. Everything happens for a reason. The Elders chose you for reason and your going to live up to their expectations. I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you. I promise."
"That is so touching." Prue and Melinda jumped at the sound of the unknown voice. Then they turned to locate the owner. About ten feet a dark hooded figure stood in the center aisle. It took a few steps as it spoke again.
"You know she's right Melinda. You are a very special little girl but you've been causing me quite a bit of trouble lately."
"Stay away from her!" Prue stood in front of Melinda in an effort to shield her from any potential attack. If she wasn't already dead she knew her heart would've been racing. There was something in the air that told her this conversation was going in a bad direction.
"Now, now. There's no need to fight. We are in a church after all. There is a simple and peaceful solution to all of this."
"And what is that exactly?" In a slight retreat Prue and Melinda backed up until they were at the base of the stairs that led to the main altar.
"Give me the girl."
"Not a chance. Melinda get ready to run." Prue shot the teen a reassuring look and got a small nod in return.
"Why must witches always insist on doing things the hard way?"
"Melinda run!" Prue released her grip on the trembling girl and used her hands to shoot a bolt of energy at the mysterious figure who easily deflected her attack.
"Damn." As thankful as she was that the Elders had granted her any powers she still would've preferred her old power of telekinesis. She wasn't used to this new power and was afraid that her inexperience would end in disaster for both her and Melinda. Complaints aside Prue focused her thoughts on the fight and attacked her enemy once again.
Melinda, who had been watching silently decided that this would be the ideal time to run. But before she even took two steps three demons flamed in blocking her path.
"Prue." Prue didn't answer as she was too preoccupied with her own battle and Melinda once again found herself at a crossroad. She could either lay down and let them take her or she could tap into her demonic powers and fight back. Either way the outlook was grim but she had never been much of a pacifist so she shot of two energy balls. One was right on target and sent the unlucky recipient flying into the wall behind him but the other one missed. The more fortunate demon grinned and initiated his own strike. Melinda was slow on her feet and as a result she took the blunt impact of it right in the chest.
"Melinda!" She heard Prue call her name as she flew slow motion through the air. She slammed into a table of prayer candles and cried out in pain as something pierced her side. As she fell forcefully to the ground a small "snap" issued forth from her body as her wrist broke against the ground. Her vision blurred as her injuries set pain signals to her brain. The third demon who had yet to get in on the action decided to take advantaged of the girl's wakened state and shot another energy ball her direction. As it approached Melinda felt the panic rise up in her chest. 'I have to move. I need to move!' She closed her eyes as a strange sensation spread across her body.
Prue turned just time to see her charge shimmer out. Now that Melinda was free from any immediate danger she could seek safety as well. She gave the demons one last look before she too disappeared.
"Noooooo! You cretins! I told you she was not to be harmed! She's not any use to us if she's dead! How could you let her escape?!"
"Master we...."
"Silence! Go after her." The two demons obeyed and flamed out leaving their master alone.
"Demon! In the name of Jesus the Lord I command thee to leave HIS house!" The demon in question turned to see a little old lady bearing a crucifix and a Bible. He smirked. He could've easily killed the woman and on any other night he would've without a second thought. But luckily for Sister Agnes he had bigger things to worry about.
"Leave this house!"
"Yes ma'am" after giving a slight bow the demon flamed out.
Piper was jolted out of her sleep by a large crash from the first floor.
"What was that?" Leo's soft whisper came from the darkness beside her.
"I don't know. Go get the boys." Piper answered in a hushed whisper as she scrambled from the bed.
"Piper where are you going?"
"Where do you thin I'm going? I'm going to see what the noise was."
"Not alone you're not." Leo stood quietly in protest but Piper wasn't having any of it.
"Hey remember when you were married to a witch that could blow stuff up with a flick of her hands?" Point made Piper slowly crept out into the hallway and towards the stairs. When she reached the top she peered down to the hallway below. The moonlight revealed that the table in the entry way had been toppled over. Next to the table heavy breathing issued from a small figure was hunched over against the ruined furniture. In an attempt to surprise the intruder she moved swiftly down he stairs and turned on the lights.
"Melinda?" the teen jumped at the sound of Piper's voice and turned to face her. Piper's stomach lurched at the sight. It was obvious that Melinda had taken quite a beating. She was holding her side which was dripping in blood and her shirt looked like it had been singed by a fire. The most grotesque injury was her left wrist that was bent at an odd angle with a bit of bone poking through the skin.
"Oh God Piper. I'm sorry I shouldn't be here. I didn't mean too. I've never done it before." Piper stared silently in confusion as the girl struggled slowly to her feet.
"I'll leave right now." Melinda attempted to walk to the front door but fell almost immediately. She was panicking and rightly so. If she didn't get help fast she was going to bleed to death on Piper's floor. 'I think this counts as an emergency.'
"Prue! Prue!" Melinda shouted as tears swelled in her eyes. Now Piper was even more confused. She couldn't understand why Melinda was calling out the name of her dead sister. unless it was her whitelighter's name but that would've been too big of a coincidence. Right?
"Melinda who are you...?" Before Piper could finish her question it was answered. In a flash of light a woman appeared. A woman that Piper hadn't seen in over six years.
"Melinda!" Piper's heart skipped a beat at the sound of her older sister's voice as Prue bent down to tend to her charge. Realizing the severity of Melinda's wounds Prue called for help.
"Andy!" Almost immediately another person from Piper's past appeared out of nowhere.
"Prue I've been looking all over for you."
"Andy hurry! Melinda's hurt!" Andy Trudeau spotted the girl and immediately set to work.
"Prue what happened?"
"We were ambushed in the church."
"In the church? Bastards."
"They tried to take her but luckily she figured out how to shimmer just in time."
"She shimmered?"
"Yeah." The two went back and forth oblivious to the stunned Piper standing just a few feet away. Once Andy had worked his magic on Melinda, Prue helped her to her feet.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine but I don't think she is." Melinda gestured towards Piper and Prue met her gaze for the first time. Neither of them said anything they simply stared at each other. Melinda bit her lip as she slowly backed out of the room and Andy followed suit. The sisters stayed silent as Prue drew closer to her younger sister. Prue wiped a single tear from Piper's cheek who shuddered at the touch. Unable to contain herself any longer Piper embraced her long lost sister and buried her face in her shoulder as she cried.
"I've missed you so much."
"I know. I've missed you too." Prue squeezed her sister closer as she began to shed her own tears.
"Prue?" the pair turned to see a dumbstruck Leo brandishing a baseball bat.
"Nice to see you too Leo." Prue smiled as she stepped forward to hug her brother-in-law.
"But uh...I don't understand how are you here? Why are you here?"
"That's going to take some explaining. Let's go get Melinda and Andy."
"Andy's here too?"
"Oh Leo don't ask so surprised." Prue smirked as she headed to the family room.
"I thought he was stationed on the east coast?"
"You knew he was a whitelighter?" Piper turned to her husband as they walked.
"Well yeah. I was still a whitelighter when he died."
"How come I never knew about this?"
"You know now." Andy smiled as the three joined him and Melinda in the living room. Prue and Andy sat on the couch with Melinda in the middle. Piper and Leo sat across form them. Melinda stared at the floor as Prue spoke.
"I bet you would like to know exactly whats going on. Unfortunately I'm not one-hundred percent sure either but I'll do my best. Now where should I start?"
***FLASHBACK***
"Look, I know that this all sounds incredible, but it doesn't make it any less true. Alright, you're a healer, you do good, now either you have saved too many lives or you're about to save a life that they don't want you to save." Prue rubbed her temple hoping that she had finally gotten through to the stubborn doctor.
"They?"
"Yeah, demons. Uh, more specifically, Shax. He was The Source's assassin."
"Hold it, I get it. This is a practical joke, right? Do you have a hidden camera here? My second wife put you up to this? Ah, it's just like her."
"O-o-okay, Dr. Griffiths, listen to me, this is anything but..." Prue paused as bone chilling shudder ran down her spine.
"What?" Piper shot her sister a look of concern as she noticed her sudden discomfort.
"I don't know, I just felt a chill. Phoebe?" Prue was met with silence so she cried out again. "Phoebe, are you there?" This time she got an answer in the form of a tornado of wind that burst through the front door. "Phoebe, where are you?" The tornado knocked the two Halliwells to the floor and then dissipated to reveal Shax.
"Dear god" the demon turned to his focus on the doctor.
"No!" Prue jumped to her feet and shoved Dr. Griffiths out of the way just in time. Shax's energy ball hit Prue crashing her straight through a wall. Piper struggled to her feet but met the same fate as she joined her sister on the floor of the conservatory after being hit by a blast from Shax. With the witches out the way Shax turned back to his target.
"What are you?"
"The end." With a single motion Shax sent the doctor through a window killing him instantly. The demon took one last look at the destruction he cause and then whirlwind out leaving his victims to die.
***END FLASHBACK***
Leo felt Piper shudder as Prue continued.
"After my death I was immediately assigned to be Melinda's new guardian."
"What happened to the other one?" Piper assumed that she had posed a fairly innocent question but could tell almost immediately that she was wrong.
"Well..." Prue hesitated so Melinda finished for her.
"He tried to kill me."
"Oh."
"Yeah the Elders didn't fun a very good background check on him. Anyway, for the first few years everything was normal. I had to deal with the consequences of a few spells gone awry but nothing big. That is until a little over a year ago when Melinda got the prophecy from the seer. Prophecies happen all the time but numerous seers from around the world reported having the same exact prophecy. Word for word. After a little investigating we discovered a movement in the underworld that was trying to restore the source's bloodline. The demons found out that the former source has a living heir. If they can find him and reestablish his power than we're going to be in big trouble. That's when the Elders decided to send Melinda to you."
"Why did they send her? No offense."
"That's an excellent question." Melinda took no insult from Piper's question. She was the last person she would call upon to save the world. Prue continued.
"The Elders have lived up to their reputation because they haven't told us anything. All I know is that we have to find this "heir" and kill him so the bloodline won't continue."
"And how are we going to find this heir?" They continued to talk until well past midnight pitching ideas back and forth. After hours with nothing but dead ends it was anonymously decided that they should get to bed. As the others headed upstairs Prue went outside with Andy.
"Well that went pretty well."
"Yeah. Piper only freaked out a little bit." Andy took Prue's face in his hand and gave her a soft kiss on the forehead.
"You should talk to her."
"What do you mean? We've been talking for hours."
"You know what I mean." Prue knew exactly what he meant. Piper had stared at Prue all night and Prue knew the reason behind her odd behavior. Prue had been absent for six years and Piper wanted to know why.
"Night." Prue returned Andy's affection with a kiss and watched as he orbed away. Then she went to find Piper. After a few minutes of searching she found her gazing out the attic window deep in thought.
"Piper." The younger Halliwell turned to reveal a new set of tears streaming down her face.
"Oh honey.." guilt built up in Prue's heart as she tried to comfort her baby sister. "Please don't be angry with me."
"Angry with you?" Piper laughed bitterly, "I'm not angry at you. I'm angry at me."
"What? Why?"
"Because I hate you." Prue was taken aback by her sister's harsh confession.
"I hated you. how could you leave us Prue? Did you think I could handle being the oldest? Because I couldn't! It nearly killed me! Why didn't you fight it?"
"Baby, I did but there was nothing..."
"You should have tried harder! For me! For Phoebe! God! Do you have any idea what I've been through? Your life was a cake walk compared to the hell I've been through. And you weren't there. You were never there. Mom, Grams,.......even Cole!...they were there for me. But you never came back. Why didn't come back?"
"Because it was too fucking hard!" At this point Prue could barely speak through her sobs as she continued. "Don't you think it hurt me too Piper? I had to watch you and Phoebe suffer knowing that I couldn't do a damn thing about it! See Piper your wrong. I was there. I was there the whole time. When you found Paige, when you vanquished Cole,......when your sons were born. You couldn't see me but I was there." For a moment the only sound in the attic was the sniffling coming from the two sisters.
"I was going to name her Prue."
"What?"
"I was going to name my daughter Prue." Piper looked up into the face of her older sister. "After you." Prue didn't say anything but once again pulled her sister into her arms. In fact neither of them spoke another word that night. They simply held each other trying to make up for lost time.
The time that had been stolen from them.
I was bummed by the fact that Prue never appeared again after her death. I know that there were real world factors involved (mostly the feud between Milano and Doherty) but COME ON! Do it for the fans!!!!!!!! I mean it didn't make sense that Prue never popped in for a visit (never ever!) considering that Mama Halliwell and Grams were guest stars several times. Seriously just grow up and DO YER JOB!!!!! I mean even in the final episode....NO PRUE! Hollywood drama is dumb. And now I'm done ranting to you (I'll just rant to myself for awhile) My head hurts from staring at the computer screen so long. And my legs hurt from soccer. I'm going to go take a nap. I'LL UPDATE AS SOON AS I CAN!!!!!