Breakdown

Piper, Phoebe, Leo and Cole were sitting in the living room after handling a ghost situation with Melinda. Melinda had just left to go back to the hotel with Jim. It was a long day between learning the family history, turning into a demon and then dealing with a ghost at the end of the day. It was a bit overwhelming.

"How is it that Melinda can see ghosts that we can't see? I mean we're witches and witches can see ghosts." Phoebe asked.

"The difference between this gift that Melinda's has and yours is that she can see ghost all the time and you two can only see the ghosts that reveal themselves to you. See, there are spirits around everywhere all the time. Melinda sees them all, all the time. For some reason that's just a power that she has." Leo explained.

"I guess get it... I hope she didn't get scared away by changing into a demon and all." Phoebe said.

"Well, her last name may be Gordon but I see a lot of Halliwell in her. She probably just needs a breather. I'm sure she'll come back." Leo said.

"Maybe, but for someone who's seen ghosts her entire life she sure does scare easily." Cole said.

Phoebe laughed a little.

"What?" Piper asked.

"Oh nothing, it's just that Cole's comment kind of reminded me of you a bit. When we first found out we were witches you were even afraid to go into a church...but look at you now." Phoebe said.

-v-

Jim was watching E.R. when Melinda walked into the hotel room.

"Melinda! I didn't expect you to be gone all day." Jim said.

"I didn't expect to be gone all day." Melinda replied.

"Is everything ok?"Jim asked.

"Yeah... I guess getting to know my biological family is a little more overwhelming than I expected it to be." Melinda explained.

"Maybe we should leave sooner." Jim said.

"No. We're only here for a week and I came here to get to know them so that's what I'm going to do. There's so much about myself that I just don't know. It's just going to take some getting used to, that's all. I promise I won't just leave you like that again though. Thanks for being here for me Jim." She sat next to him and hugged him.

-v-

Back at the manor, Piper was in the attic looking through some of their old things. She was constantly coming across Prue's old things and then the tears began to fall. She couldn't take it anymore and she through a book across the room. Piper completely went into a rage and started throwing a bunch things. Leo orbed in.

"Piper!" Leo yelled and then grabbed his wife. "What is going on?"

"She left me. Prue and Phoebe are the only ones who have been there my whole life, now she's gone. I have always had a big sister and I don't know what to do without her. Prue and Phoebe were the super witches and I just tagged along and freeze things." Piper cried.

"That's not true. You are just as strong as they are. In ways, you're stronger." Leo said.

"You're saying that because I'm your wife. You saved me because I'm your wife." Piper said.

"I'm saying it because it's true and if I could have saved Prue I would have but she was already gone. I love Prue too. She was like a sister to me." Leo said.

"I'm not fighting anymore." Piper said.

"I know that you feel that way but the demons of the underworld want you to give up. If there are no Charmed Ones, they can rule and they will win. Ultimately the choice is yours.

-v-

The next day...

Phoebe was in Prue's room crying over her things as she sat in the bow window. Piper walked in, sat next to her younger sister and held her in her arms.

"I was wondering when you were going to let go." Piper said.

"One sister at a time... I just miss her so much!"

Piper and Phoebe both had a chance to completely fall apart and it had been a couple of days since they had heard from Melinda and they knew that she would be going back to Grandview, New York in just a few days so Piper went to her room at the hotel. Jim answered the door.
"Hi! Jim, right?" Piper asked.

"Yeah." Jim replied. "Piper, right?"

"Yeah." Piper replied.

"Come in." Jim insisted.

Melinda walked in the room from the bathroom.

"Piper!" Melinda exclaimed surprised. "Please, have a seat."

Melinda and Piper sat together on one of the beds.

"I know I haven't been the most welcoming toward you." Piper said.

"It's ok. I understand." Melinda said.

"It's not ok. It really had nothing to do with you. I just couldn't deal with it all but things are different now and I just want to say welcome to the family." Piper said.

"Thanks." Melinda responded.

"You should come over today." Piper insisted.

"I don't know. I don't want to leave Jim again. He came all this way for me." Melinda said.

"Uh... maybe he could hang out with Leo."

They went back to the manor. Jim hung out with Leo while Piper and Phoebe showed Melinda how to make potions in the kitchen. The three of them finally had some sisterly bonding time. After giving Melinda a crash course on potion making, Piper cooked a nice dinner. They talked while she prepared it.

"Can you cook?" Piper asked Melinda.

"I'm no chef but I can cook a bit." Melinda replied.

"You two have so much in common." Phoebe pointed out. "...Melinda, this has been fun hanging with you so I hate to bring this up but we have to. We mentioned The Source to you before. We're eventually going to have to fight him, the three of us. We need you to be ready. I mean, we're not really ready but we're more experienced. We kind of need to catch you up fast."

Melinda looked between her sisters.

"Yeah, we have to catch you up fast but not today. We made progress today and taught you a lot. Dinner is ready so for now let's just be the sisters we haven't had the chance to be. We can worry about being witches later." Piper said.

"Piper, this is serious." Phoebe said.

"I am serious, Phoebe. The Source won't know what hit him but right now let's just celebrate that we're all here together." Piper said.

A few days later, it was time for Melinda to go back to New York and by then she had gotten a little better at orbing. Piper and Phoebe said goodbye to Melinda and Jim at the airport. She couldn't orb home because she was with Jim and even though he's her good friend, he still doesn't know her secrets. Melinda and Jim boarded the plane Piper and Phoebe went back to the manor. Piper went upstairs and Phoebe met Cole in the living room.

"Hey baby." Phoebe kissed him.

"Are you ready to train?" Cole asked.

"Train?"Phoebe asked.

"Yes, so that you can be ready for The Source." Cole replied.

"Oh... I hoped that we could just spend the day together." Phoebe said.

"Phoebe you need to be ready for The Source." Cole said.

"I know... I'll go get dressed." Phoebe replied and then went up to her room.