Chapter Eleven: Almost Surly
As Phoebe sat there, trying to appease her elder sister's heartbreak, stroking her hair and shushing her with comforting sounds, Billie stood alone, willing to show her support, but afraid of the oldest Halliwell's reaction.
"You've just gotten back from the future, too," Phoebe reminded Piper, "and there you saw him and yourself old and healthy, and alive, didn't you?"
"Future – ch-changes. You – know it – as well as I – do."
"True but –"
"But what if something changed in the last three days, altering the whole outcome of the future I have seen?"
"Piper!" Phoebe's tone was once again stern. She forced Piper to look at her. "Where is the strong woman who faced Death more than is allowed to anyone else, raised two wonderful kids and became the runner of a famous nightclub, all that starting from scratch?"
Piper looked away and snuffled. "She's lost, Phoebe, she's tired, she's had en–"
"I don't want to hear that! I know you're hurt, believe me, I do!" Piper turned back to her. They shared a stare. Phoebe was definitely an Empath again. They kept looking at each other. "But you have to keep fighting. Your sons need their mother, your siblings need their sister, the world needs its most powerful Charmed –"
"I am not –" Piper began but Phoebe continued, "– One. And your husband needs his wife."
Piper sighed. She glanced over Phoebe's shoulder at nothing then nodded and stared back into Phoebe's eyes. "Let's go back home and pack." She stood up, wiped the tears from her eyes and brushed her jeans clean of dust. "I got a husband to find and a demon witch's ass to kick. We'll search and dig the whole world if needs be."
"That's my Piper Surly Halliwell." Phoebe smiled broadly to her joke. Piper tried to help herself but could not stop her lips from quivering.
An unfamiliar voice brought them back to reality. Piper, Phoebe, and Paige – who had tears in her eyes – turned to Amos.
"Er, ladies? Yer little blonde friend, she just took off with the other chick. Went poof or somethin'."
Piper rolled her eyes. "Damn it! Can't we really vanquish her?"