I don’t own them.Phoebe walked into her office as she did every morning and was greeted by her secretary. “Morning Nicole,” she smiled. “Sorry I’m late, any messages?” “No, no messages, you did get a few new letters though,” she said handing her a stack of envelopes. “Thanks Nicole,” Phoebe said. “I’ll get started on these right away, and this is for you,” she smiled. Nicole worked really hard for Phoebe and every so often, Phoebe would bring her coffee, or donuts, or bagels or something. Just as a small thank you. Phoebe handed Nicole the cup of hot coffee, who raised it to Phoebe in appreciation. Phoebe walked into her office and shut the door. She read carefully over the first few letters. Every letter got a response, just not every letter got a response in the paper. She made her piles for the day, paper and private. She worked on about six letters before she got one that totally threw her for a loop.

Dear Phoebe,

I’ve never known my big sister. We are a family of four and I’m the baby. My big sister died before I got the chance to meet her and I’ve always wanted to get to know her. I’m told I’m a lot like her and I get really sad sometimes knowing that somewhere up in heaven, or where ever the after life takes us, she is up there watching me. I know that the dead cannot be summoned, but I have a million questions to ask her and I need to do something about it. Please tell me if there is anything I can do to help myself to feel better.

Sincerely,
Littlest P.

Phoebe read over the letter at least five times. Each time she would sigh and start to pick up the phone but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. “It does sound like Paige,” Phoebe said to herself. “Oh Phoebe, just do it,” she scolded herself. She couldn’t bring herself to dial her sister’s cell phone so she put the letter aside all by it’s self and continued sorting letters. She finished her sorting and picked up the “in the paper” pile but before she could start to re read the letters and write responses, she was drawn to that letter sitting all alone on her desk. She picked up the letter and brought it to her chest. Closing her eyes and holding it tight she waited for a premonition she was sure would come but nothing happened. “Come on, come on,” she said to herself. Nothing! So she put the letter down and set back to her original work. She got through all of her “in the paper” letters and went to hand in her copy to Elise. On her way out the door, she picked up the lone letter.

She knocked on the door before receiving a curt come in. “Hey Elise, this is my copy for the column,” she said handing it to Elise. As soon as her arm was extended Phoebe focused on that letter that was causing her so much stress and concern. “Phoebe,” Elise called out to her. “Earth to Phoebe,” she tried again. Phoebe just looked blankly at Elise and waited patiently for her to say something. “Phoebe are you alright?” she asked slightly concerned. “Hmm?” Phoebe said as she glanced back at her letter. “Oh yeah, I’m fine, I, uh, I just got a very intriguing letter.” “Oh ok, well I hope it made it into the column, if it’s that good.” “Hmmm, oh no, it’s not in there, this one doesn’t belong in there.” Elise looked quizzically at Phoebe, but she let it go as Phoebe walked out of her office and over to Nicole’s desk. She stopped in front of the desk and just stood there reading her letter. Nicole watched her for a few moments and then Phoebe spoke. “Nicole can you get my sister Piper on the phone please?” she asked as she walked into her office and shut the door. “Sure,” Nicole tried to say but as the word escaped her mouth, Phoebe had already shut the door.

Piper was busy at home, cleaning up the kitchen. “Ya know I love my family but sometimes I wish I could just magically clean up all this stuff, because they are no help,” she griped to an empty house. She was startled out of her train of thought by the phone ringing. “Hello?” “Piper? This is Nicole, Phoebe’s secre..” “Hi Nicole, is everything okay?” Piper cut her off. “Well, I think so, Phoebe asked me to get you on the phone for her. Hold on I’ll let you talk to her.” Nicole patched the call through to Phoebe who picked up the phone and was greeted by her older sister’s irritated voice. “Hey,” Phoebe said flatly. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again!” Piper scolded. “I thought that…” “Yeah yeah, listen, we’ve got problems,” Phoebe said. “Problems like you need your sisters problems?” Piper asked as her demon radar suddenly went on full alert and her stress level went through the roof. “No actually. I think we are having sister problems.” “Well, there’s three of us, so could you clarify that a little,” Piper asked. “No problems as in I think Paige wrote into my column anonymously.” “Okay well we have a slightly bigger problem then because if you share this with me and it’s not from Paige, I just took on another person’s grief and I really don’t need that.”

“I’m sorry read it again.” “PIPER! I’ve read the letter six times already, and another five on my own. Now tell me what you think!” Phoebe demanded. “Well,” Piper said with a semi shaky voice. “It certainly does sound like it could be her, but why wouldn’t she just come and talk to us.” “That’s why I called you, genius,” Phoebe scowled. “Okay time out, did you look at the return address on the envelope?” Piper asked, hoping that this letter was NOT from her sister. “It didn’t come with one Piper,” Phoebe whined in frustration. “Alright, alright,” Piper said waving her arm in frustration. “Just, answer the letter and put it in your column and then it will be answered.” “I can’t do that, I just, I just can’t,” Phoebe said with defeat in her voice. “Okay, so, then bring it home and write a response with the original letter and leave it in her room.” “Piper, if she’s having a problem,” “Then she’ll know that we know and she’ll come to us for help.” “I don’t want to have to do this in secrecy.” “Maybe she wants secrecy,” Piper countered. “PIPER! You aren’t helping and I called you for help.” “Fine, then we’ll confront her when we’re all home okay? I’ll tell Leo that I have sister issues tonight.” “Thank you,” Phoebe said letting out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. “See ya later,” Phoebe said softly. “Okay honey, love you.” “I love you too.” And with that they hung up the phone to contemplate over that damned letter. Piper looked to the ceiling. “You couldn’t have made this a little bit simpler could you?” she asked. She didn’t know why she said what she said or who she said it to, but she knew she needed to say it.

Around five thirty, Paige came home and Piper welcomed her with a big hug. “Oh-kay, not that I don’t love that welcome, but why?” she asked. “I can’t hug my baby sister?” Piper asked holding Paige back at an arm’s length. “Well, you don’t normally greet me this way, so it does raise suspicions.” “Come sit we need to talk,” Piper said guiding her to the couch. “Am I in trouble? I haven’t cast any wayward spells or anything.” Piper just shook her head. “No you aren’t in trouble. I got a call from Phoebe, and we all need to sit down and have a talk.” “OH MY GOD, you’re pregnant,” Paige beamed. “What!?! NO!” Piper took a deep breath and just as she exhaled Phoebe came home. “Hiiiii Paige,” Phoebe beamed as she wrapped her arms around her. “Ugh, Hello to you to Phoebe, now please just say it quick I feel very strange right now,” Paige said honestly. “Honey, do we ever make you feel left out, or lonely?” Phoebe asked. “No why,” Paige said taking a defensive position. “Honey, I know about the letter, I got it today,” Phoebe told her. “And that letter would be about?” Paige asked. “Paige, it’s okay, we know, you can tell us whatever it is,” Piper explained. “Piper, I have no idea what you are talking about,” Paige said. “Are you sure honey?” “It’s really okay to tell us,” Piper and Phoebe said at the same time. “Okay well can I see this letter at least?” Paige asked. “Because now I’m really curious as to why you both think that it’s me.” Phoebe nodded and handed Paige the letter.

She finished reading and tried not to burst out laughing. “Okay first off, the signature was very cheesy, IF it were me I’d have been a little more creative. Secondly I can understand why you both thought it was me, but Pheebs, we’re witches, if it were me then why would I say I know you can’t conjure the dead.” “To hide it was you?” Phoebe guessed. “No wrong,” Paige said flatly. “Look I love you both and I’m glad that you care enough to check on me, but I know Prue can see me. I know she’s watching and we have our own special little communication system of our own.” That earned suspicious looks from Piper and Phoebe. “What I mean is that I have seen pictures of her and every night before I go to bed I talk to her. I’ve seen her in my dreams. I would have loved to meet her, but I know that ‘they’ won’t let us, so I decided to figure out a way to meet her on my own.” Piper and Phoebe nodded, not sure what to say. “We’re sorry we jumped to conclusions,” Phoebe said, “and I would be honored if you would write to this girl and let her know in a round about way what to do, because you’ve been there already.” “It’s your column Pheebs, you can do it,” Paige said and then smiled. Phoebe nodded and hugged her little sister. “I love you,” she whispered. “Me too!” Piper said effectively sandwiching Paige. “I love you too, now get off!” Paige cried. A tickle war soon broke out with lots of giggles and later on after dinner Phoebe went to the privacy of her room to respond to the letter.

As Paige fell asleep she dreamed herself in a park. She walked over to a willow tree and sat down. She looked at the meadow of fresh green grass blowing in the wind as she sat quietly. The white picket fence that had a small opening in one section is where she had her eyes fixed. Finally she came. The person who she was waiting for showed up and pulled her to her feet. Prue sat back down and pulled Paige to her. Paige sat down and straddled her lap so she could put her head on Prue’s shoulder. “I love you my angel,” Prue whispered. “I love you too sis,” Paige said.

END