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.

Music Disclaimer: I do not own any of the lyrics used in this story, those belong to their respective artists and writers.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Dream Dream Dream
Dream Dream Dream Dream
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Mom what does die mean?” the little girl with long raven hair asked as she curled tighter in her mother’s lap. The girl’s mother sighed, weighed down at the task of answering her daughter’s question.

“Prue what would make you ask such a thing?” her mother decided to decoy, hoping to throw her seven year old daughter off the subject.

“Because Ben from my class, his grandma is die, and I want to know what that means,” Prue said stubbornly.

“You mean she died sweetie,” her mother corrected gently as she stared into her daughter’s brillantly blue eyes. “Dying means that your body stops working and it goes into the ground, in something called a casket. And they put a tombstone where they bury your body, like the cementary, you know where we go to visit Grandpa sometimes.”

“I know,” Prue nodded, “so does that mean Grandpa is really under all that dirt, in the basket?”

“Casket honey,” Patty replied, “and no, your grandpa’s body is there. But his spirit, is somewhere else, somewhere peaceful and safe. A place where nobody gets hurt anymore.”

“Can we visit him?” Prue asked softly, her eyes searching her mother’s.

“No honey,” Patty shook her head, “you can’t visit anyone that has died. Except in your dreams.”

“In your dreams?” Prue asked, her curiosity sparked and the once somber look on her face replaced with an innocent sparkle and eagerness.

Patty chuckled as she kissed Prue’s forehead, “Yes, you can only visit someone that has died in your dreams.”

“But how?”

“Well,” Patty spoke slowly, patiently, “If you miss them a lot, they’ll come into your dreams and see you.”

“Always?” Prue asked, excitement in her voice.

“Sometimes,” Patty corrected, “when they can. But nobody that dies ever really truly goes away because they’re right there in your dreams.”

Prue was silent for a minute and Patty could almost see the wheels turning in her head. That was one of her favorite things about being a mother, watching her daughters learn and grow. It was fascinating to her, and she loved being a part of it. She loved teaching them and being with them and watching how different they could all be, even in the same situation.

“Do moms die?” Prue asked quietly, fiddling with her shirt sleeves.

Patty sighed, “Everybody dies sweetie.”

“Are you going to die mom?”

“Someday,” Patty nodded, “yes.”

“And Phoebe and Piper?” Prue asked, horror in her face.

“Yes,” Patty replied honestly, “even your sisters will die someday. But baby, you have to love them while they’re here. They won’t die for a long time, none of us will.”

“Promise?” Prue asked cautiously.

“Sweetie I can’t promise you that,” Patty said as she brushed her hand through her daughter’s hair. She saw the disappointment and fear on her daughter’s face and felt the farmiliar motherly urge to make all the bad things disappear. “But I can promise you one thing.”

“What?” Prue asked eagerly.

“No matter what happens,” Patty said, “I always love you, and I will always meet you in your dreams.”

Prue smiled as she sat up and wrapped her arms around her mother’s neck, “I love you too mommy.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When I want you
In my arms
When I want you
And all your charms
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Phoebe?” Piper called as she pushed open the door to the manor, trying desperately to balance the grocery bag in her arms. “Phoebe! I need a hand.”

When her sister didn’t answer Piper let out an aggrivated sigh and walked into the kitchen. She set the bags down and was putting everything away when she caught the sight of something flashing across the backyard. Piper peaked her head out the back door and her breath caught. Her little sister was squatting next to a tree in the backyard and digging furiously. Piper walked outside and lightly touched Phoebe’s shoulder, she jumped.

“Crap Piper!”

“Sorry honey,” Piper chuckled, “what are you doing?”

“Digging,” Phoebe’s blushed deeply, “I didn’t know you were home.”

“What are you digging?” Piper said in a voice that Phoebe knew well. The one she used when she was slightly amused but mostly curious.

Phoebe sighed as she dropped her shovel and stood up, “You remember the day after mom died? Grams flew into that rage and was like destroying the attic. We didn’t know what she was doing, although now I would guess she was trying to bring her back. But we thought she was throwing away all mom’s stuff. So the three of us made that box....you know...”

Piper nodded, “We put in everything we could think of that had to do with mom.”

“Yeah and then Prue said she’d put it in a safe spot where Grams couldn’t find it,” Phoebe said, “well I followed her and I thought this was where she buried it. But I haven’t found it.”

“And can I ask why you were digging up this box?” Piper asked sympathetically.

“I wanted to umm,” Phoebe bit her lip, “I wanted to see exactly what we put in there, so I could make one for Prue and bury them next to each other. Make a little ceremony out of it. Her funeral just felt so breif, so....” Phoebe paused as she searched for a suitable word, “so empty.”

“Oh Phoebe,” Piper sighed but her voice was far away. Phoebe could tell she was thinking of Prue. “Well do you want some lunch?”

“No,” Phoebe shook her head, “I need to find this box.”

“Okay,” Piper nodded, she knew that greif was something nobody could understand because no one did it the same and if finding this box would make her sister happy, then she couldn’t stop it. “Let me change and I’ll help you.”

Phoebe brightened, “Really?”

Piper grinned, “Sure,” she nodded, “It’s a pretty day and I love you...why not?”

“Aww,” Phoebe smiled and splashed a sloppy kiss on her sister’s cheek, “I love you too.”

“Now don’t go soft on me Phoebe,” Piper giggled, “I have a big bad sister reputation to uphold now.”

“Oh sorry,” Phoebe said stiffening playfully, “I forgot.”

Piper chuckled as she walked toward the house, “Be careful you don’t dig up any roots.”

Phoebe burst into laughter, “Yes Captain Planet.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Whenever I want you
All I have to do
Is dream...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Prudence?” her gram’s exasperated voice penetrated the light sleep she’d managed to fall into. The little girl was up in an instant. She heard the loud, unconsolable cries of her baby sister and she knew that she was the only one that had a chance at quieting them. She silently followed her Grams down the hall into her sister’s room. Phoebe was standing up in her crib, her face beat red from crying and the tears soaking her cheeks. Prue sighed.

“I’m sorry Prudence,” Gram’s voice was full of exaustion, “but I can’t get her to be quiet.”

“It’s okay,” Prue nodded, “go get some hot chocolate Grams, I’ll hold her.”

“Thank you dear,” Grams said.

Prue nodded as she waited for her grandmother to leave. Once she was gone Prue stepped forward and lifted her three year old sister from her crib. Prue sat down in the rocking chair and settled Phoebe in her lap. At first the baby just cried and squirmed. But eventually she relaxed and the screaming stopped, although the tears flowed.

“Mama,” Phoebe pleaded desperately, “Mama sing.”

Prue bit her lip, “What about me Phoebe? Can I sing to you?”

Phoebe shook her head stubbornly and her bottom lip trembled again, “No, mama.”

“Mama can’t sing to you anymore Phoebe,” Prue said harshly, she was tired of everyone crying but her.

“I want mama,” Phoebe muttered, her little hands wrapped desperately around Prue’s neck and she was instantly sorry for being so mean. She felt Phoebe’s little body tremble in her arms and she knew that her little sister didn’t understand death, couldn’t. She couldnt’ know that their mom was never coming back, and couldn’t sing anymore.

“I know Pheebs,” Prue whispered her voice soft as she stroked her sister’s thick hair, “but you know what?”

“What?” Phoebe asked leaning her head against her shoulder.

“You can see her in your dreams,” Prue repeated, biting her lip harder to keep the tears out of her eyes as her mother’s face and voice came rushing back to her in a thrust of deep pain.

“Weally?” Phoebe asked sweetly, her tiny voice perking a little as she rubbed her chubby fist across her drooping eyes.

“Yes,” Prue nodded, more stable now, “mom told me. You just think really hard about her and she will come to you in your dreams and you can go wherever you want. She’ll even sing to you if you want. But you have to stop crying and go to sleep so she can come.”

“Oh,” Phoebe said she grinned and touched Prue’s face, “I sweep now.”

Prue chuckled, “Okay, you want to go back in your crib?”

“You hold?”

“I’ll hold you if you want,” Prue agreed.

“Okay,” Phoebe said as she settled into her sister’s arms.

Prue cradeled her small sister. Phoebe had always been tiny and she still fit pretty well in her sister’s arms, with only her legs hanging off the rocking chair. Phoebe closed her eyes and her thumb found her mouth. Prue closed her own eyes and leaned her head back against the chair. She hoped that her mother really would visit Phoebe in her dreams because she knew her little sister needed her mother then. But Prue wondered if that meant her mom wouldn’t be able to see Prue in her dreams that night. Prue pushed that thought aside and reminded herself that her mother had promised to see her in their dreams and it would happen...eventually. Prue knew, she could wait forever.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When I feel blue
In the night
And I need you to hold me tight
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Phoebe?” Piper cautiously pushed open the door to her older sister’s room, her hands out and ready to use her powers, “Phoebe is that you?”

“It’s me Piper,” Phoebe confirmed. Piper sighed in relief and let her hands drop to her sides. She walked farther in Prue’s room and spotted her little sister on the floor at the foot of the bed, a folder in her hands.

“Phoebe it’s two in the morning,” Piper said with a tired voice, “what are you doing?”

“Do you know,” Phoebe started in a shaky voice, “that she kept every single birthday card that I ever sent her.”

“Oh Phoebe,” Piper sunk onto the floor next to her little sister and peaked over her shoulder as Phoebe pulled out card after card. “Why are you doing this to yourself...it’s late, you need to sleep.”

“I can’t sleep,” Phoebe said, “because there will never be another card for her to put in this box. There are twenty cards in this box....I started giving them to her after mom died and we had to get each other our own presents...remember?”

“Yeah,” Piper nodded, the tears pooling in her eyes as she wondered how Phoebe’s eyes could stay so dry. “You never had much money and your memory sucked. They were always a couple days late.”

“I know,” Phoebe chuckled and then her voice turned serious. “All those years I thought she didn’t even think twice about those cards, and she saved all of them. Every damn one Piper...” Phoebe’s voice shook, “I can never tell her I’m sorry for not giving them to her on time, I can never fix it.”

“You don’t have to,” Piper tried to reason, “Phoebe she obviously treasured the thought if she kept them this long.”

“I miss her,” Phoebe stated. Piper nodded, brushing her hand across her sisters and let Phoebe entwine them.

“What are you doing up here this late anyway?” Piper changed the subject, she’d cried enough lately and she preferred not to tonight.

“Trying to make that box,” Phoebe said, “I’ve been looking through all this stuff and Piper...I didn’t even know her. I mean I want to put everything in this box because there is so much about her that she never let anybody see and those parts of her are just as important as the parts we remember.”

“Phoebe you should go to sleep,” Piper rubbed her head, she felt a headache coming on but she knew her sister was hurting and she needed to be with her. Lately it had been the other way around, Phoebe being the pillar of strength and Piper knew she owed her sister this, to listen, at least.

“I can’t sleep,” Phoebe shook her head, “I’m scared.”

“Scared of what Phoebe?” Piper asked.

“That she won’t meet me in my dreams.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Whenever I want you
All I have to do
Is dream...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Prue!” Phoebe squeeled when her oldest sister entered the living room.

“Phoebe what are you doing up?” Prue asked her voice sounded exausted and strained, it was too dark to tell but Phoebe suspected she was crying.

“I was studying...but then I stopped,” Phoebe admitted, “I have a test in English tomorrow.”

“You’re in seventh grade,” Prue said as she sunk down next to her sister on the couch, “you shouldn’t be stressing out about a little test...not yet anyway.”

“What about you?” Phoebe changed the subject, “what are you doing up?”

“Couldn’t sleep,” Prue replied, “I thought I would watch some TV.”

“Why couldn’t you sleep?” Phoebe asked as she slid off the couch to let her sister lay down. Prue laid down and then patted her side. Phoebe curled up next to her and pulled a blanket around them both.

“You know how it is,” Prue said vaguely, “my mind never stops ticking.”

“You were thinking about mom?” Phoebe guessed.

“How did you...” Prue started quietly.

“I may only be thirteen,” Phoebe said with a wise tone, “but I know more than you think Prudence.”

Prue chuckled, “Okay Dr. Spock, you guessed right. Sometimes I just think about her and it makes me sad. So I wanted to watch some Three Stooges and make myself feel better.”

“You should go to sleep,” Phoebe advised, “we’re both going to be crabby tomorrow if we don’t get some sleep and it’s never good when that happens.”

“I don’t want to sleep right now Phoebe.”

“You don’t want to see mom in your dreams?” Phoebe asked softly.

“Phoebe shut up.”

“No Prue,” Phoebe said, “you don’t think she’ll come.”

“Phoebe this is ridiculous,” Prue scolded, “I am seventeen years old, I don’t believe in fairy tales anymore.”

Phoebe stubbornly persisted, “It’s not Prue. Do you remember that night you first told me mom came to me in my dreams? Do you know that night I slept all night and I don’t even remember if she came or not and you know what? It doesn’t matter, because I believed she would, and I still believe she did. It’s not so much really seeing her in your dreams, as believing you will.”

Prue stared at her little sister, faltering for a moment. Phoebe just smiled and quietly lifted her hand and touched Prue’s eyelids, forcing her to shut them. Then Phoebe kept her hand there, holding her sister’s eyes closed. Prue was about to protest when she heard Phoebe’s innocent voice begin to softly sing. Phoebe didn’t have an exceptional voice, but there was something comforting and loving about her singing. Prue shut her mouth and let her sister’s hand stay across her eyes.

“I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine, any time, night or day. Only trouble is...
Gee whiz...I’m dreamin my life away,” Phoebe sang the song that their mother used to sing to them each night before she put them all to bed. Prue wondered how Phoebe remembered that, she had only been a baby. Mostly Prue wondered if Phoebe was right, if her mother really would be in her dreams, and if the next morning, it would really matter or would it just matter that the belief had gotten her through the night? As if she could sense her sister getting tense again Phoebe stopped singing and gave a tired yawn.

“Goodnight Prue.”

At that moment Prue realised how simple it was. She kept her eyes shut even when Phoebe took her hand away and Prue let her body relax. She felt her chest expand and contract to a rythem with her sister’s and wondered if there was anything simpler or easier in life than that moment.

“Goodnight Pheebs.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I need you so
That I could die
I love you so
And that is why
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Phoebe what are you talking about?” Piper asked gently as she took the folder out of her sister’s hands and set it on the ground beside them.

“Prue used to tell me,” Phoebe’s voice was wavering and Piper knew she could start crying soon, “when I missed mom, that she would meet me in my dreams.”

Piper drew in a breath, “She told you that?”

“Mom told her once,” Phoebe explained, “when she was young. I used to not be able to sleep after mom died...you remember?”

“Yeah,” Piper said, and she silently recalled all the lonely nights of her childhood directly after her mother died. She’d laid in her room, all alone and listened to Phoebe cry wishing she was still a baby, and could scream too.

“Well that was what she used to tell me,” Phoebe said, “to get me to go to sleep.”

“Did it work?” Piper asked.

“I guess,” Phoebe said, “I slept.”

“No,” Piper shook her head, “I mean did mom come to you in your dreams.”

“I honestly don’t remember,” Phoebe said, “but that kind of wasn’t important. It was more believing that she would and then I’d sleep and forget it about it by the next morning. I just needed to stop being afraid of sleeping.”

“And that’s what’s wrong now isn’t it?” Piper guessed, “you’re scared of sleeping because you’re afraid Prue won’t come to see you in your dreams. You stopped believing.”

“No,” Phoebe said with such a forlorn sadness it stabbed at her sister, “I’m scared that she will come.”

“But...” Piper was baffled, “but I thought that’s what you wanted.”

“I can’t face her Piper,” Phoebe said, “I can’t see her in my dreams and know that I can’t have her in real life. I couldn’t face that, I can’t. And us being witches, it wouldn’t be hard for her to come visit me, and she always told me that when people die they always visit your dreams. You know Prue always made good on her word.”

“Phoebe,” Piper was hesitant, unsure if she was saying the right thing, “Prue always knew what the right thing to do was...you and I both know that. I think she knows how you’re feeling and she’ll do what you really need.”

Phoebe sighed and gave Piper a slight smile, “I’m tired.”

Piper gave a relieved grin back and stood up. She reached down and hoisted Phoebe to her feet. “Me too,” she agreed, “come on, you’re coming into my room tonight.”

“Look I like you and Leo a lot Piper but I’m just not into that kind of thing,” Phoebe joked in a teasing voice. Piper smacked her sister and laughed.

“Phoebe!”

“What?”

“You’re so bad,” Piper shook her head and tugged Phoebe into her room, “Leo is gone. Which side do you want?”

“Left,” Phoebe said immedietly.

“Why?”

“Left side, strong side.”

“Would you stop with the jokes I’m tyring to have a serious sister moment here,” Piper chided. Phoebe laughed and fell into the bed. Piper sat down next to her. Phoebe settled herself on the pillow and stared up at her sister.

“How about you come with me?” Phoebe volunteered.

“What are you talking about?” Piper asked as she pulled the covers over them.

“Tell me you’ll come with me,” Phoebe suggested, “we can meet her together.”

“Phoebe I don’t believe in that kind of stuff,” Piper said with a doubtful voice, “and anyway, that is you and Prue’s thing.”

“We’re sisters,” Phoebe reminded, “all for one and one for all remember? I want you there. Please?”

“We are still talking about your dreams right?” Piper said with an amused voice. Phoebe smiled.

“Come on Piper,” she begged, “I’ll sleep better.”

“Phoebe I would go with you to the moon if you wanted,” Piper asserted, “now close your eyes and shut your damn mouth.”

Phoebe burst into rolling laughter at that. Piper had to giggle to as she wrapped an arm around her sister. Phoebe smiled and laid her head against Piper’s shoulder and said sweetly.

“Goodnight Piper, see you in my dreams.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Whenever I want you
All I have to do
Is dream...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Phoebe.”

“Prue?!”

“Hey little sister,” Prue smiled as she stepped out of the fog and approached the tree where her little sister was standing. Phoebe took a step back and looked around, fear and sadness in her brown eyes.

“Piper said she’d come,” Phoebe’s voice was childish and lost.

“I’m right here Phoebe.”

Phoebe looked to her right and sure enough, there was Piper, standing beside her. Phoebe reached for her hand and Piper took it. Together they faced their oldest sister. The three stared at each other for a minute and it was Phoebe who spoke first.

“I didn’t want you to come,” Phoebe accused and she still sounded like a child that had just been scolded.

“I know,” Prue nodded, “but I had to come. Phoebe, I needed to see you. To see both of you and you needed to see me whether you like it or not.”

“We miss you,” Piper volunteered and there was a need for approval, for praise evident in her voice. Prue smiled.

“You’re doing good,” Prue said, “and you’ve both handled the whole Paige situation surprisingly well. I’m proud of you, but you know that.”

“Prue where did you put that box?” Phoebe asked suddenly.

“Phoebe you don’t need to know where I put that box,” Prue said.

“Yes I do,” Phoebe said, “I need that box.”

“It’s disrespectable to dig up something that has been buried so long,” Prue said with a wise tone, “and it’s really not worth it.”

“But I want to make you a box,” Phoebe argued, “like we did for mom.”

“Don’t put me in a box Phoebe,” Prue said as she took a step back from both of her sisters.

“No Prue!” Phoebe cried desperately as she started to step forward but Piper held her back. Phoebe shreiked and tried desperately to wiggle out of Piper’s hold. “Don’t go! I need you. You can’t leave Prue. We’re sisters, you’re not supposed to leave us. Prue I still need you. I need to talk to you, I need you to tell me what to do. Prue what am I supposed to do without you?”

Prue smiled sweetly and her brillant blue eyes sparkled with an innocence stolen from childhood and only returned after death,“Meet me in your dreams.”

And then she was gone, lost in a swirl of fog.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Dream. Dream. Dream.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~