Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters used in this story, those belong to the WB. I do however, own the story and it should not be recreated without my permission. Thanks.

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“Phoebe come on!” Prue yelled as she leaned in the manor door impatiently. Phoebe suddenly streaked down the hallway, skidding to a stop next to the door long enough to grab her bookbag and jogged to the car where Piper was already waiting in the front seat. Prue grumbled something as she locked the manor and finally got into the car.

“You’d think by the third month of school you could actually be on time,” Prue mumbled as she pulled out of the manor driveway.

“I would have been if somebody had left the little sister some freaking muffins,” Phoebe defended, sending a meaningful glance toward Prue.

“Hey Piper said they were up for grabs,” Prue argued, “didn’t you Piper?”

“Uh uh,” Piper said, shaking her head, “I’m Switzerland.”

“Well whatever,” Prue sighed, reaching over and cranking up the radio.

The sisters arrived at high school about three minutes before the last bell was going to ring. Phoebe cringed when she saw the time, she was definietly going to be late. Prue and Piper were out of the car before she even had a chance to remind Prue that she had softball practice. Phoebe shrugged as she glanced at her sister’s retreating figures and knew she couldn’t catch them before they got to gym, their first class. So Phoebe shifted her bookbag and walked toward the main entrance, letting out a frustrated sigh as the tardy bell rang.

“Little late there Pheebs?” a familiar voice called as Phoebe walked toward her first class, history. Phoebe turned and smiled.

“Hey Garrett,” she smiled, “yeah we were running kind of slow today, Piper forgot to set my alarm, Grams took five minutes extra in the shower AND Prue ate all the muffins.”

Garrett shook his head as he laughed, “Women!” he exclaimed.

“Hey!” Phoebe defended with a smile. He smiled and stuck out his arm.

“Walk to class?” he asked. Phoebe nodded, slipping her arm into his and the two continued toward the freshmen hallway where their class was, and planning how they could get into history without getting noticed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“So you’re going to Kleaton’s after school right?” Sasha questioned her best friend as they stretched in gym class. Kleaton’s was a café that all the seniors hung out at after school on Fridays. It was tradition that all the cheerleaders and jocks be there and usually head to a party after.

“Is Andy going?” Prue asked calmly.

“Yes,” Sasha replied with a grin. Prue smiled back.

“Then I will definitely be there.”

“Why don’t you just give him your number.”

“Sash, we’ve been best friends for like 10 years, he knows the number,” Prue replied.

“Well,” Sasha defended, exasperated, “then why aren’t you two together! I mean it couldn’t be more obvious that you like each other.”

“Yeah well, I’m old fashioned, I want the guy to make the first move,” Prue said as she stood and shook out her legs, preparing for the mile run they always started out class with.

“Ladies to the track,” the teacher called. Sasha and Prue jogged toward the track.

“Okay, well anyway see you tonight,” Sasha said as she jogged ahead. She was on the track team and couldn’t stay back with Prue for long. Once her friend was gone Prue was alone to contimplate her situation when a male voice spoke from next to her.

“You never could beat me,” the voice laughed. Prue didn’t need to turn to look so she kept her eyes forward, confident.

“Never tried Andy,” Prue teased, finally glancing over at him. She practically fell over on the spot, he looked so cute in his gym outfit, his blue eyes shinning in the early morning glare.

“You going to Kleaton’s tonight?” he asked.

“I might swing by,” Prue said nonchalantly.

“Oh I see how it is,” Andy teased, “then I might just see you there.”

Prue laughed, “I might look forward to it.”

Andy laughed too and winked, “I might too.” Then, he sped up a little and jogged ahead, leaving Prue to watch him go.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Piper!” Phoebe called as she entered the cafeteria to see her older sister about to disappear into the library. Piper turned and smiled gently as Phoebe and pointed to herself as she mouthed.

“Me?”

Phoebe laughed, “Of course you! Get over here!”

“Phoebe I was going to study,” Piper complained as she approached her little sister.

“It’s lunch Piper,” Phoebe said, “relax. Now, do you know where Prue is?”

“Phoebe you know perfectly well she’s over with the seniors where she always sits,” Piper replied with a sigh, “why?”

“I was uh wondering...could you do me a favor?”

“Uh oh, I know that voice, this is going to be good.”

“It’s not that bad.”

“What is it?”

“Can you go over there and get her for me?” Phoebe said with her best puppydog voice. Piper just stared at her sister as if she were crazy.

“Phoebe you have got to be kidding me!” she exclaimed, then she continued, lower, “the SENIORS sit over there.”

“So..you’re a junior. Better you than me,” Phoebe begged, “and you know she won’t get mad at you. Please???”

“Absolutely not,” Piper shook her head, “you’re on your own.”

Piper walked off, ignoring Phoebe’s calls. Finally Phoebe sighed, realising what she had to do. She glanced over at the table where her older sister was sitting laughing and joking. Phoebe knew Prue had told her to NEVER approach her at school but this was an emergency. Phoebe drew in a deep breath, and walked toward her doom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prue saw Phoebe approaching and sent her a glare. Phoebe saw the glare but she knew she’d get worse if she didn’t talk to Prue right then. She stopped and gestured Prue over but Prue stared back at her without budging. Phoebe sighed, and stepped up to the table. All the seniors immedietly went silent and Phoebe felt the burning of a dozen pairs of eyes in her back. She gulped back a groan and opened her mouth.

“Prue can I please talk to you,” she said, hardly above a whisper. Everyone turned to look at Prue, who was looking hard at Phoebe, her blue eyes flaming as she stood up. Prue swiftly grabbed Phoebe’s wrist and dragged her out of the cafeteria and into the hallway where she turned on her younger sister.

“Dammit Phoebe,” she snapped, “how many times have I told her NEVER go to my table to talk to me at lunch. It can wait.”

“But I won’t see you before the end of the day,” Phoebe protested.

“Then tell me at home!” Prue yelled, exasperated.

“That’s the whole point!” Phoebe exclaimed, “I need you to pick me up from softball practice today.”

Prue moaned, “Phoebe no! You know Fridays everybody goes to Kleatons.”

Phoebe sighed and shook her head, “Look Prue I’m sorry, but I really need a ride.” Prue scoweled and roughly pushed Phoebe out of the way as she charged back toward the cafeteria. Prue was so tired of being responsible for her sisters all the time, she hated being the taxi, the homework help and the supervisor. She’d never asked to be thrust into the role of substitute mother.

“Walk.”

Phoebe sighed in frustration and anger as she wheeled around and almost ran into the guy in front of her.

“Ouh, sorry,” Phoebe mumbled as she took a step back and then recognised the guy, “oh, hi Andy,” Phoebe smiled. For as long as she could remember Andy had been Prue’s best friend, but it was obvious they had feelings for each other, though each refused to act on them.

“Hi Phoebe,” Andy smiled back, “get chewed out again?”

Phoebe chuckled as she rolled her eyes, “Always Andy, always.”

“What was this one about?” Andy asked calmly.

“I need a ride home from softball practice,” Phoebe informed, “but Prue wants to go to Kleatons. I guess I can walk,” Phoebe added with a sigh. Andy shook his head.

“All that way at night!” he exclaimed, “no way.”

Phoebe smiled, “As much as I appreciate the big brotherlyness Andy, I’m okay really.”

“Let me talk to Prue,” Andy assured, and before Phoebe could object he was gone, walking toward the senior table. Phoebe noticed Prue was looking at them, her eyes curious but sparkling as she watched Andy approach and smiled at him. Phoebe glanced at her watch and hurried to class, she didn’t need to be late twice in one day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Get in the stupid car,” Prue groweled as Phoebe loaded her stuff into the car after softball practice that night. Phoebe looked a little surprised that Prue was there, but she obediently got into the passenger seat. Prue waited for her younger sister to speak, but surprisingly Phoebe never did. She slid into her seat and turned her head to the window, leaning her forehead on the cool glass.

“You’re lucky I even came to get you,” Prue snapped, “I could get a thank you.”

Phoebe sighed, realising that Andy must have lectured Prue for chewing her out. Phoebe opened her mouth to say something, but then thought the better of it and clamped her mouth shut again. Seeing her sister silent, Prue continued.

“You owe me big time for this,” Prue hissed, in her frustration, speeding up a little as they neared a green light.

“You didn’t have to come, that was your own decision,” Phoebe defended,quietly, her voice wavering. That startled Prue, Phoebe was acting strange, “you could have told Andy the real reason you didn’t want to pick me up.”

“Shut up Phoebe,” Prue yelled, turning to glare at her sister, forgetting Phoebe’s behavior in her anger.

“What? It’s not my fault you don’t have the guts to tell him that you like him,” Phoebe defended.

“What is with you?” Prue yelled, “just get off my back and out of my business.”

“Fine,” Phoebe’s voice changing from angry to soft and hurt.

If Prue hadn’t been so angry she might have noticed Phoebe’s trembling hands and the way her sister was sitting as close to the window as she could. But Prue was too angry to even look over toward Phoebe. Prue hated it when her sister pulled the guilt trip on her, and this time she snapped, “Phoebe quit being such a freaking baby about everything, jeez, if it wasn’t for you I’d probably be meeting Andy right now!”

“How about I save you the trouble and walk from here,” Phoebe shot, her feelings hurt but she was too stubborn to quit then.

“Be my guest,” Prue said.

“Fine,” Phoebe said, “pull over.”

Prue hesitated a moment before she shook her head, “I wish I could, but Grams would kill me.”

“Like you give a shit,” Phoebe shot back, “let me out!”

“Fine,” Prue screamed, screeching to a stop and pulling to the curb, “Go ahead, run away from your problem like you always do. You’re just like dad...” Prue was a little surprised she said that, and she immedietly regretted it when she saw the look that cross Phoebe’s face. But the look was just as soon gone when Phoebe glared at Prue for a second before grabbing the handle and hauling herself out of the car.

”Screw you,” she whispered and slammed the door. Phoebe started walking in the opposite direction. Her eyes pooled with tears and she vaguely heard Prue’s car scream off and disappear around the corner. After she knew it was gone Phoebe sunk to the ground, pulling her knees to her chest and lying her head on top of them.

Phoebe didn’t know how long she’d been sitting there when it started to rain. Phoebe groaned, lifting her head and staring up to the sky, which was pouring it’s gray cloud’s contents in buckets on her already cold body. Phoebe pulled herself to her feet and looked around, trying to get her bearings. It was dark but she knew where she was. She started walking toward the street that would lead her to the manor when a car’s bright lights could be made out in the distance. Phoebe’s heart pounded as the car neared. The car pulled over and Phoebe looked away, knowing full well who was in the car.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Need a ride?” her sister’s farmiliar voice called through the rain.

“Piper, I don’t want to talk about it,” Phoebe groweled, “just leave me alone.”

“Phoebe...” Piper sounded a little hurt. Phoebe kept walking and Piper followed slowly in the car, her head out the window.

“Phoebe just get in the car,” Piper urged,”why are you doing this? I know I’m not the one you’re mad at.”

“I am mad at you!” Phoebe surprised herself by saying that, but she continued because it was the truth, “you should have went over to Prue and asked her to pick me up, she wouldn’t have cared if it was you. Then she wouldn’t have gotten mad at me, and then we wouldn’t have fought and then...”

Phoebe stopped, she wasn’t making any sense and she knew she’d lost the fight. She sighed in defeat and shook her head against the tears that threatened behind her eyes. Phoebe grabbed the handle to the passenger door and jerked it open, plopping down next to her stunned sister.

“Phoebe...I...” Piper started.

“Piper just forget it,” Phoebe dismissed quietly, “I want to go home...please.”

Piper bit her lip and nodded, she put the car in gear and the two headed home. They sat in akward silence all the way into the driveway and the silence continued until they’d each retired to their rooms later that night, never having spoken another word.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prue laughed loudly as she fell through the manor doorstep late that night. She stumbled into the kitchen and flipped on the light. Her blue eyes went up in surprise when she saw her sister sitting at the counter, sipping on a mug of something.

“Whatcha drinkin’ Pheebssss,” Prue slurred loudly. Phoebe was shocked, she’d never seen her sister like this before.

“P...Prue what’s wrong?” Phoebe asked cautiously.

“Nothing Pheebsss,” Prue said, walking over and draping an arm over
Phoebe’s shoulder and placing a huge, wet kiss on her forehead. It was then that Phoebe smelled the alcohol and realised what was wrong. Prue was drunk. It hit Phoebe hard, she’d never seen Prue drunk before. Prue wasn’t really the drinking type, she had fun without liquor, or at least that’s what Phoebe had thought.

“Are you drunk?” Phoebe questioned.

“Pshhh,” Prue waved her hand and laughed, “I just had a couple beers...and some other sstuff.”

“Prue you’re drunk,” Phoebe said bluntly.

“You mad at me little ssisssster?” Prue prodded, hugging Phoebe. Phoebe wiggled under Prue’s heaviness and threw her sister’s arms off of her.

“Yes,” Phoebe replied truthfully.

“It was jussst a couple beersss Pheebsss, geessss,” Prue rolled her eyes and leaned heavily against the counter, “quit being such a tight ass.” Phoebe was going to point out that Prue’s drunkeness hadn’t sparked her anger, but she figured it would be pointless so she forgot it.

“Prue shut up before you wake up Grams and she busts your butt,” Phoebe hissed. Then, out of a prodding sense of duty she got up and walked toward her older sister. Phoebe had a feeling that her sister was drunk in some way because of their arguement earlier that night and a big wave of guilt hit Phoebe all at once. She sighed, not knowing what to do. She wished she could wake Piper, but she knew if she did she risked Grams waking too.

“Come on,” Phoebe urged, “drink some of this and then we’ll get you to bed.”

Prue snickered, “Phoebe wantsss to play houssse.”

“That’s right,” Phoebe replied, “and I get to be the mom this time. You’re the baby.”

“Awww Pheebsss,” Prue smiled, but her eyes were glassy and red,”we haven’t done thisss for a long time.”

“I know,” Phoebe sighed, “please just drink some of this.” Prue nodded and reached for the mug with shaking hands. Phoebe saw this and pushed her sister’s hands down, tilting the cup into Prue’s mouth herself. Prue gulped at the hot chocolate in the mug until it was gone. She backed away, catching her breath.

“Thanksss mom,” Prue roared at laughter from her joke. Phoebe set the mug in the sink and grabbed Prue’s arm.

“Come on,” Phoebe said, “you can sleep in my room, it’s farthest from Grams.”

“Gramssss, that old bag,” Prue waved her hand and swayed, Phoebe slipped her arm around Prue’s waist and held her up.

Phoebe slowly managed to get Prue upstairs and into her room. Once she’d locked her door Phoebe turned toward her sister, who’d already crashed on Phoebe’s bed, her eyes closed and snoring lightly. Phoebe took a deep breath and walked to the bed. She pulled off her sister’s shoes and socks and pulled down the bedcovers. After that she rolled her sister under them and tucked the blankets around her. Prue stirred and opened her bloodshot eyes, smiling up at Phoebe.

“How come your hair is wet Pheebsss,” Prue asked, her breath stank and Phoebe gagged.

“I um...” Phoebe paused, did her sister even remember leaving her in the rain? “I got rained on.”

“Oh yeah,” Prue laughed again, “ssssorry ssissss,” Prue said.

“We’ll talk about it later, now you better sleep because you’re going to have one helluva headache tomorrow,” Phoebe warned.

Prue obedietly closed her eyes. Phoebe watched her sister sleep, noticing how young she looked when her eyes were closed. Phoebe knew that it was hard for Prue to have the responsibility of taking care of two sisters and being a teenager at the same time, but she was the only mom Phoebe knew, and she needed her. Phoebe bit her lip, thinking of their latest fight and trying not to cry. Finally Phoebe pulled herself away and left the room, going to one of the safest places she knew.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Piper opened her eyes and found herself staring into the sleeping face of her baby sister. Phoebe’s mouth was pursed. Piper noticed her sister’s brow was knitted and her eyes squeezed shut as if she were having a nightmare. Piper reached over and gently stroked Phoebe’s face cheek with her finger. Phoebe’s deep brown eyes flittered open and locked with Piper’s. That was all the apology needed for the previous night and Phoebe tucked her head under Piper’s chin, curling up to her sister. Piper heard Phoebe sniffling and felt her sister’s body tremble next to her. Piper sighed and wrapped her arms around Phoebe.

“What?” Piper finally inquired.

“I...I don’t know,” Phoebe replied, “I just hurt.”

“What’s wrong? Are you sick?” Phoebe shook her head.

“Did you and Prue get into a fight?” Piper guessed again, “is that why you were walking in the rain last night?” Phoebe nodded miserably.

“I told her to let me out. It’s my fault,” Phoebe explained, “I try so hard Piper, I really do. I try at softball and I try at school but I always screw up. And then last night she was drunk and I know it was because of me. I always mess stuff up.”

“Phoebe slow down,” Piper soothed, sitting up. Phoebe pulled back and sat across from her sister in the bed, “what do you mean you always screw up. You make good grades in school and you made Varsity as a freshmen in softball.”

“But I get detention at least once a month and Prue has ever gone to a single one of my games,” Phoebe came back.

“You know Prue has cheerleading practice afterschool Pheebs,” Piper said, her voice tried and impatient.

“See, I’m doing it again. I hate this, I try so damn hard and no matter what I say it’s never right!” Phoebe got up, “I want to be there for her Piper, I do, and for you too. But I feel like...I don’t know...I just feel wrong all the time. I don’t know what to say, or what to do when you guys are upset, and it bothers me, because you always comfort me. I just...I don’t know...”

Piper could only watch as Phoebe paced the room. Suddenly Prue appeared in the doorway, her hair was a mess and her eyes were red. Piper knew instictively something was wrong. But Phoebe didn’t see her older sister and kept talking.

“I try so hard,” Phoebe’s voice softened, “I really do try Piper. I try to be good, I know it’s hard for you guys to be the older ones, always having to take care of me. And you have every right to resent that, but sometimes it feels like you resent me too...” Phoebe paused and took a shaky breath, “..and I don’t know what to do because I don’t have anyone else to go to.”

“Phoebe...” Prue spoke, her voice soft and apologetic.

Phoebe whirled around, startled to see her sister at the door. Phoebe glanced hard at Piper and brushed past Prue and ran down the hallway. Piper winced as she heard the manor door slam. Prue sighed, walking in and collapsing on Piper’s bed, her head in her hands.

“What happened last night?” Piper finally questioned, she was still reeling from Phoebe’s outbreak.

“Piper,” Prue groaned, “not now, my head is pouding.”

“Why?”

“I got drunk last night,” Prue admitted, “and when I came home Phoebe was in the kitchen. I don’t remember much except that she put me in her bed and made me drink some hot chocolate. But I can’t stop thinking that when I got home her hair was still wet from the rain.”

“You left her,” Piper reminded. Prue nodded.

“I remember,” she said, “I was going to go back when the rain started but I just...I don’t know Piper. I was so sick of being the mom all the time. I just wanted to be the one that got to run away and be mad. I wanted to be the kid this time and now look what I did.”

“She’s not your child Prue,” Piper reminded gently, “she’s your sister. You don’t have to do everything right with her. She thinks you’re not proud, and you think you’re not doing her justice. It sounds to me like the both of you need to talk about this.”

“I want mom back,” Prue’s voice broke and Piper nodded, her own eyes filling with tears as she pulled her older sister into her arms.

“I know,” Piper whispered, “it’s not fair. Nothing that we’ve had to do is fair, but we manage Prue. Look at Phoebe, she’s beautiful and it’s because you took care of her. You raised her.”

“We raised her,” Prue reminded, “and Grams too.”

“I was her sister Prue,” Piper shook her head, “and Grams was her Grams. She always thought of you as her mom.”

“And now she wants me to be her sister again?” Prue was puzzled.

“Now she’s just confused,” Piper sighed, “because she knows it’s hard for you. She knows she has no right to demand you to be mother to her, but she still needs one.”

“So what do I do?” Prue asked.

“I don’t know Prue,” Piper sighed, “I don’t know.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Phoebe sat on the swings, watching a little boy in the sandbox. He was sitting, focused on the castle in front of him. Another little boy accidentially knocked some of it down and the first boy began to cry. Phoebe watched as his mother swooped in, lifting him into her arms and rocking him back and forth. The boy finally quieted and the mother whispered softly to him, Phoebe watched the boy giggle and finally wiggle down and back into the sandbox. Her vision blurred as her eyes filled with tears. A voice broke her thoughts.

“What we wouldn’t do to be normal huh Pheebs?”

Phoebe turned around and saw Prue in front of her. She turned back around and she felt Prue’s arms slip around her from behind. Phoebe leaned her body against her sister’s, her head nestling comfortably under her older sister’s chin. Phoebe felt her eyes fill again and she wondered at her sudden sensitivity.

“We’ll never be normal,” Phoebe’s voice wavered.

“Look Phoebe,” Prue sighed, “I’m sorry about yesterday, all of it, the fight, me being drunk. I just...I was stupid and...”

“Prue you don’t have to explain,” Phoebe cut in, “you’re still a teenager, you can have your bad days too.”

“I forget that sometimes,” Prue laughed bitterly. Phoebe sighed and shook her head.

“I know, and that’s not fair,” she agreed,”you shouldn’t have to be an adult all the time.”

“Phoebe I want you to know that I know I get impatiet with you, and yes a lot of times I do resent having to be the mom. But don’t for one minute, think that I resent you okay,” Prue pried, tugging lightly on her sister’s brown locks, causing Phoebe to look up at her, “you’re my baby sister, and I’m sorry if I don’t always treat you like it.” Phoebe smiled slightly.

“There’s another thing too,” Prue’s voice was shaky and unsure, “you’re...you’re not dad.” Phoebe unconciously winced at this, “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Why, you were right,” Phoebe laughed bitterly. Prue sighed, running her hand through Phoebe’s brown hair.

“No I wasn’t Phoebe,” Prue shook her head, “you’re nothing like him and I shouldn’t have said that.”

“You didn’t mean it,” Phoebe said, “no big deal.”

Silence followed, neither sister really knew what to do or say next. They just stayed frozen in place, Phoebe leaning against Prue and Prue running her hands through her sister’s hair. Finally Phoebe broke the tension, “Can we go home?”

“Yeah, come on,” Prue said.

Prue and Phoebe walked home side by side, subtly and with no extra affection. It was enough for both of them just to be walking down the street together. They would always have a unique relationship, sisters forced to behave like mother and daughter and always struggling to hold the balance of both. But today, they were just walking down the street, side by side.