A/N: Hey everyone! I still have people who are reading this story! Yess! And thank you :) I'm going to do my best to update this one, but I might be a little slow while I figure out the new direction for it. Please be patient!

wiccawhitewitchsmalltownguy: Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it so far. Chapter three is here, now! Lol. Chapter 4 should be up within the next few days, if all goes well. To be honest, I don't know right now. I had a whole plan for this fic, and after 8 years, I don't remember what that plan was. So please be patient while I figure that out! My goal right now is just to finish all my old fics. Hopefully they will still be good and sort of original.

Okay, so here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

...

The Halliwell Cousins didn't return to school for a whole week. When they finally did, Rebecca felt awkward. She had never in her life spoken to them, and yet she had insisted she and her mother go to the funeral. What had she been thinking?

"I wasn't thinking," she mumbled to herself, slamming her head back into the locker and sighing.

Now what? Did she try talking to them? Did she ignore them? Did she go back to the way it used to be? She wasn't sure if she could do that. She didn't know how to explain it, but it almost felt as if she had lost Prue, as well. She knew that was ridiculous, and she could never say it out loud, especially to the cousins. But it was how she felt, nonetheless.

With that in mind, she trudged off to class, bracing herself for whatever came next.

...

It wasn't until third period French that Melinda spotted Corrine, Melinda, and Katelyn. They sat together, as always, but they looked distant today. As if the grief had cut them off from the rest of the world. And maybe it had. Rebecca had never known that kind of grief; no one she loved had ever died, though sometimes it felt like her father had died, since he had abandoned her and her mom so long ago.

Shrugging that depressing thought away, Rebecca tried and failed to pay attention to class. When the bell rang, it was a relief.

She escaped class quickly, her eyes trained on the floor. She just wanted to get through the day and get home. She felt weird, disconnected in a way she couldn't explain.

"Oof!"

Rebecca staggered backward, dropping her books. "I'm so sorry!" She exclaimed, grabbing her books and standing before noticing the person she had run into.

It was Katelyn Halliwell.

"I'm really sorry," Rebecca insisted. "I wasn't looking where I was going. I'm stupid. I'm so sorry." She was rambling, but she couldn't seem to stop herself.

Katelyn smiled, though the smile didn't reach her red-rimmed eyes. "It's okay." She frowned, opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. Rebecca waited, giving her the time she needed to say whatever it was she needed to say.

"You look familiar..." Katelyn played with the strap of her messenger bag. "Weren't you at my aunt's funeral?"

Rebecca nodded, somewhat reluctantly. "Yes. I went with my mom." Silently, Rebecca cursed herself for sounding so lame. "I-um.. I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thanks," Katelyn replied softly. She looked troubled, and avoided Rebecca's gaze. "So, what made you come to the funeral? Did your mom know Aunt Prue?"

Rebecca licked her lips, wondering what she could possibly say to explain herself. "Well.. Not really. Uhm..." She sighed, deciding the truth was probably the best option. "I know it doesn't make sense, but I saw you and your cousins, the day you were called out of class. I heard what happened, and I just felt... incredibly sad. I can't explain it. I'm sorry if I intruded."

This time, when Katelyn smiled, it looked genuine. "It's okay. None of our other friends showed up. Some friends, huh? It was nice to see someone from school. I appreciate it. My cousins do, too."

Rebecca returned Katelyn's smile, relieved. "Well, I better get to class. I... Well, I don't know what it's like to lose someone like that, but my dad left my mom and I when I was little, so I kind of understand if, you know, you need to talk to someone."

Katelyn nodded. "Thanks... Rebecca, right?"

Rebecca nodded.

"Well, thanks. I appreciate that." She smiled once more, then turned on her heel and took off down the hall.

Rebecca breathed a sigh of relief. Her heart was pondering, but she felt good. It almost felt as if a weight had been lifted off of her chest. She felt relaxed, and smiled for the whole the rest of the way to class.

...

"Paige, have you taken care of the Tommy Caine case yet?"

Paige looked up, startled. Her boss stood before her, arms crossed. No, she hadn't. She tried to cover her guilt, and nodded, forcing a smile. "Yes, Mr. Cowan, I'm on top of it."

Mr. Cowan nodded, though he looked like he might not believe her. "That deadline is today, Paige. Four sharp." He turned and walked off to harass someone else, leaving Paige to slink down into her seat and groan.

"Paige, seriously? You never miss deadlines. What's up?"

Paige looked up. Her coworker, Lila, stood at her desk, looking concerned.

"Nothing," Paige said quickly. "I've just been a little distracted, that's all. I'll get right on it and I'll have it taken care of, no problem." She nodded to emphasize this. But inside, she felt shaken. It wasn't like her to miss deadlines. She was late a lot, sure, but she took her cases very seriously. These kids needed help, and to let them suffer because her mind was elsewhere was unacceptable.

Lila gave her one last look before going back to her desk to get her own work done.

Paige sighed, massaging her forehead. She had to concentrate. But she couldn't stop thinking about the Halliwell Sisters. No matter how hard she tried.

...

"Watcha doin, sweetie?"

Phoebe looked up. Piper had just entered the room. Her eyes were still red from crying, but otherwise, she looked put together. She sat on the couch next to Phoebe, and waited patiently while Phoebe got her thoughts together.

"I'm just thinking of that woman. Paige." She shifted so she was facing Piper more. "She said she didn't know Prue, right?"

Piper nodded. "Right. She's a social worker. She said she had dealt with this kind of stuff before, and to let us know if we needed anything."

Phoebe frowned at Piper, gesturing with her hands as if to say 'And...?'

"What?" Piper asked, clueless.

"Well, doesn't it seem strange? Why would she just show up? We don't know her, and she didn't know Prue. Why would a social worker take the time to come to a funeral for someone she has no connection with?"

Piper shrugged. "I don't know, Pheebs. Maybe she read about it, and just wanted to come and offer her condolences. Does everything have to be suspicious with you?" Usually, Piper was the one doubting everything. But since Prue had died, she felt drained. She was the big sister now, and it wasn't something she was prepared for. She had given up faith in so much, and she didn't want to wonder who this mystery woman was. She was tired.

"I don't believe in coincidences, Piper, and you didn't used to either," Phoebe pointed out. "Piper, we're vulnerable without Prue. We have the girls to think about. Aren't you concerned? What if this girl is a demon or worse? We're weak without Prue. We have to be prepared for anything."

"Phoebe," Piper said sharply. "Just stop. Just stop, okay? I don't want to talk about Prue or demons or fighting or being prepared. We aren't the Charmed Ones anymore, and there's nothing we can do about that. The Elders buried their precious Charmed Ones when we buried our sister."

Phoebe recoiled at Piper's sharp tone.

"I don't want to investigate this. I don't want to go looking for evil," Piper added, standing. "Just drop it, okay?"

She stormed out of the room, leaving Phoebe shocked at her outburst. She understood Piper's rage, but they did have Corrine, Melinda, and Katelyn to worry about. So why wasn't Piper more concerned?

Phoebe sighed. It looked like she was going to have to take matters into her own hands. She reached into her back pocket and pulled out Paige's card. She stared at it for a long time, finally deciding what she had to do. She had to keep her family safe. She had to make sure that no one else died. She couldn't lose anyone else. Her heart couldn't stand it.

Determined, she grabbed the keys to Prue's car, called out to Piper that she'd be back, and left without another word.