It was a beautiful morning, with the sun shining onto the streets and the blooming flowers. Piper's eyes fluttered open when the early morning rays drifted through and lit her face. A bright smile lit up her face when she remembered the events of the previous day. She could still feel Leo's calm breath on the back of her neck, signaling that he was still fast asleep. She wiggled out of his embrace and out of bed. After her morning shower, she made her way to Wyatt's room and found him still peacefully asleep. It was a Saturday morning, so she didn't even bother to check on Paige and Phoebe, knowing that both her sisters will probably take advantage and sleep in. She made her way to Prue's room, and found only Paige fast asleep in it.
She made her way downstairs, and as soon as she reached the first floor, the smell of fresh coffee filled her nostrils, as the sounds of laughter and giggling reached her ears and filled her heart with warmth. She made her way to the kitchen doorway silently and stood there watching as Prue mercilessly tickled her squirming and giggling daughter, who was sitting on the table top.
The sight of Prue sitting in the kitchen with the newspaper divided into its separate sections and a cup of coffee next to her, as she fed or played with Andie was a sight Piper only dreamed of. She never thought she'll ever walk in on it again, and it brought tears to her eyes. Her sister was really back and her niece was going to grow under the loving and eagle-like watchful eye of her mother.
"Uh-oh" Andie's playful voice interrupted her train of thoughts, and she could only smile at her niece's very cute innocent puppy face look she was giving her, "Mommy made me do it" the little girl piped up.
"Hey" Prue screamed, before she attacked the giggling girl's stomach with her fingers and proceeded her punishment of tickling.
Piper only walked further into the kitchen and kissed the little girl on the forehead and her sister on the head, and then made her way over to the cabinets to start on breakfast, she also didn't want Prue to notice the tears that were brimming in her eyes.
"So since we have more than one reason to celebrate, I am taking orders; what do you both want for breakfast?" she said, as she busied herself with the cooking pots.
"Oh, don't even think about it missy! I saw them already, what's wrong?" Prue asked worriedly, giving her a pointed glare when she met her eyes.
"It's just that…."Piper trailed off, she didn't know how to phrase it. Prue got up and made her way around the kitchen island and put a comforting hand on her sister's back, which only made the tears come faster and heavier, and Piper collapsed against Prue's chest and clasped her arms around her waist.
"I've been dreaming about this for so long, that I was just scared that when I look at you, it'll be Paige tickling Andie and last night was nothing more than just a beautiful dream." she sobbed.
Prue tightened her arms around her sister's shaking body and brought one hand to cradle her head against her shoulder, "it wasn't a dream, sweetie. I really am here and I have no intention of leaving you again." She assured her quietly. She couldn't blame Piper for feeling that way. She herself was scared to open her eyes in the morning, so that she doesn't find herself back in the cave in the Underworld, and only had the courage to do it when she felt Andie's small hand brush a few strands out of her face.
Both sisters looked down, when they felt small arms wrap around their legs and were met with Andie's big blue eyes. Prue bent down and picked her up, only for Andie to reach for Piper. Once she settled into her aunt's arms, she held her tear-stained face between her small hands, and gave her the most serious expression she could muster, "Don't worry Auntie Piper, I sent the demon to oblivion, orbs and all." She said in all seriousness.
Piper pulled her niece into a hug, as her body shook with laughter.
"Orbs and all?!" Prue repeated, gobsmacked.
"We really do need to limit your time around Auntie Paige don't we?!" Piper giggled, as she kissed her niece on the top of the head.
"I heard that!" Paige exclaimed as she walked into the kitchen, and crossing her arms over her chest and raising an eyebrow.
"Well, I wasn't kidding about breakfast; I am taking orders" Piper stated.
"Scrambled eggs and French toast" Prue said excitedly.
"Me too" Andie clapped her hands in her arms and Piper only smiled brightly in response.
"Bacon and Pancakes" Paige demanded.
"Bagels" and "Croissants" were heard from the dinning room from Phoebe and Leo respectively , and they both soon appeared with Wyatt in Leo's arms.
Piper only chuckled happily at her family, "Alright, coming right up, ladies and gentlemen. Sweetie, why don't you go to Mommy so I can start cooking?" she chimed, as she handed Andie back to Prue.
Prue took Andie and went back to the table and to her coffee. Paige, Phoebe and Leo were all already seated with their respective cups of coffee, and Wyatt was in his high chair.
"Piper!" Chris yelled from the foyer.
"Kitchen" she yelled back, and was replied by the sound of his approaching footsteps.
"What do you want for breakfast? I'm taking orders" she asked distractedly, as she kept moving around the kitchen.
Chris was slightly taken aback by her question, "Uh, scrambled eggs and French toast I guess." He half stuttered.
"Coming right up"
"That's what Mommy and I ordered." Andie exclaimed.
"Really?" he asked, turning around to face Prue and Andie.
Prue could swear she heard joy in his question, and when she nodded her head in response; her heart twisted at the glint of happiness she saw in his eyes.
"Do you need any help?" he asked, turning to Piper once more.
"You cook?" she wondered.
"Yeah, my aunt taught me. My mom couldn't cook to save her life" he chuckled.
"Reminds me of some people" Piper mused, her eyebrow raised. She smirked when she saw her sisters with their noses so deep in their coffee mugs, she feared they will soon need a snorkel.
They were now sitting around the dining room table, laughing and talking as they ate. They were taking turns telling the embarrassing tales of each other to Prue. Chris was laughing with them and very much enjoying himself. He hadn't relaxed like that in a very long time, and he missed simple moments like this. Piper was bouncing a happily babbling Wyatt on her legs, while Leo fed him; Prue was helping a laughing Andie with her eggs ; while Paige and Phoebe bantered playfully.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Prue's gentle voice pulled him back to earth.
"Hm, sorry. I was just savoring this I guess; I dotn remember the last time I relaxed." His voice was heavy with the bottled up sadness and pain, and Prue could feel her heart constrict at his statement.
"Is the future that bad?" Paige asked cautiously, she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to know the answer.
"More than you want to know, but please let's not talk about it. I miss moments like these!" he said, then mentally kicked himself for his slip, since he knew Piper's question before it even left her mouth.
"Chris, do you have any family left in the future?!" she asked, and his silence along with how he suddenly found his fingers to be the most interesting thing on earth, she knew the answer.
"We'll fix it sweetie, I promise" Prue soothed, as she squeezed his hand assuringly.
"Well, we need to tell Daryl and Victor about Prue first, which should account for some entertainment." He changed the subject and was glad when they all respected his wish.
"I like how you think" Leo smirked, smiling cheekily at Prue's glare.
"Don't forget the Trudeaus" Phoebe chimed in, ducking behind Chris when her sister turned her glare towards her.
Victor was walking up the stairs to the mansion, when Daryl caught up with him.
"Hey Victor" he greeted.
"Hello Daryl, the girls called you too?" Victor wondered. Piper hadn't really said much on the phone; just asked to come as soon as he could and that it was urgent but nothing to worry about. But if they called Daryl too, that cant be good.
"Yeah, they said it was urgent but nothing to worry about." He voiced his thoughts.
"I guess, we're about to find out" and with that they both closed the rest of the remaining distance between the stairs and the front door and rang the bell.
Leo was the one to greet them and ushered them into the living room.
"So what's the big emergency?" Victor asked, as soon as he was seated.
"Me"
Victor's blood ran cold in his veins at the sound of the voice; a voice that he knew all too well, one that he hadn't heard in two years and had been dreaming of ever since; the voice of his eldest daughter. His back was to the entrance, and he was scared of turning around. He was scared that as soon as he does, he'll find it empty. That his baby girl wont be standing there and it will only be a dream. Daryl was the one who was facing the entrance and judging by look on his face, Victor wasn't dreaming; since Daryl looked like he was seeing ghosts.
He slowly turned around and the air got knocked out of his lungs at the sight. Prue was standing in the doorway, smiling softly at him.
"Hey daddy"
Her voice was soft and gentle, just like he remembers it. He had spent nights dreaming of this and -like Piper- he was afraid that it was nothing more than that. But how can a dream feel so real? Her eyes held the same gleam of strength and determination, with even more pain and sorrow underneath it all. Those same eyes that used to send angry and death glares his way to hide how much she missed him and how much she wanted him in her life; the same eyes that always lit up around her little girl, who was in Paige's arms watching the scene intently. He had vaguely registered her excited voice as she called his name, and Paige's hushed one as she told her to wait.
"Prue" Daryl's gobsmacked voice tells him that he's not the only one that sees her; and when he sees her hug Daryl back, it is even more confirmation of her existence.
Once Daryl let's go, Prue looks at him warmly, "Daddy" she calls apprehensively and in one big stride, he closes the distance between them and engulfs her in a hug. He brings up one hand to cradle her head, as he barries his nose into her hair, rocking them both gently from side to side. A few moments later he pulls back, only enough to cup her cheeks.
"You're really here" he chokes out and she chuckles in response.
"Yeah, I am"
"For how long?"
"For as long as you shall have me" she quipped.
"How?"
"So no one remembers that you died?" Daryl asked, once they were done with their story.
"Nop, only those who know the truth about us." she replied.
"And what about the shape-shifter?" Victor wonders.
"We already summoned Mom and Grams and explained it all; and they said they will take care of it." Piper replied.
Chris, who had been witnessing the entire reunion, and even weighted on the story, was having the time of his life but at the same time; it was taking all the self control in the world for him not to crack and inform them of his identity.
Prue, who had noticed the look of longing on his face, made a mental note to have a bit of a chat with him once it all settles down. She had already called the Trudeaus and explained the situation to them, so she had all the time in the world to talk to Chris.
The rest of the day went by uneventfully; Piper cooked yet another celebratory meal, this time a dinner. Daryl picked up his wife and kids, and Andie had the time of her life playing with them, as the adults spent the rest of the night chatting and laughing together. Victor had decided to stay over night with the girls, and they all welcomed it. Phoebe was the one who chose to give up her room so she can snuggle up to Prue like she used to, only receiving a groan from Prue and a plea to not kick her ass all night. Phoebe just smiled cheekily at her eldest sister and told her that she can make no such promise.