All these things


Phoebe Halliwell bolted upright in bed. She had kicked off her blankets and tossed her pillows to the other side of the room. With one had she wiped the persperation from her brow, with the other she snatched her stuffed toy rabbit.

The little girl fled down the hall and landed promptly in the middle of her big sisters doorway.

‘Prue! Prue!!!’

She hauled herself on top of the bed buried her face in the eldest’s shoulder.

‘Wake up!’

Prue Halliwell began to stir from her sleep. She mumbled some incoherent words and let out a frustrated sigh.

‘Mmmmm…..Ugghhhh…..Pheebes?’

Her hand searched for the bedside night-light as she tried to make her eyes focus. She could just make out Phoebe’s tear streaked face.

‘Honey what’s wrong? Are you sick?’ Seeing her kid sister in such a state put her on red alert.

The little girl shook her head, unceremoniously letting out a huge wail.

‘Did you have an accident?’

The tiny voice was almost inaudible. ‘Noooo….’

‘Bad dream?’

There was a short pause before Prue felt the youngest give a slight nod. Phoebe cuddled into the safety of her protectors arms, pushing herself as close as she could get.

‘Rock me.’ She stuttered somberly, a request that Prue hadn’t heard for nearly a year now.

‘Ok….’

Prue frowned as she began the slow comforting motion. She couldn’t think what could have triggered it. Phoebe had been acting odd for the last week or so – not quite her self, but not really too out of character. There had been no major fights, her grades were average, but there was just something she couldn’t quite put her finger on… Prue decided to press on.

‘So, you gonna tell me what it was about?’

‘No………………’ Phoebe sat up straight and put her hands on her sisters face. ‘Where’s dad?’

Prue was caught off guard. She was ready to tackle the normal 8 year old imagination of monsters and fear of the dark, but explaining the whereabouts of her nowhere father left her extremely unprepared.

‘Erm…………’

‘Kids at school say he’s gone. He left us. He didn’t want us. He didn’t like me… Is that true?’

‘No Phoebe! He’s a jerk. He has no idea what he’s missing out on. He could have had the chance to know the 3 most beautiful little girls in all of San Fancisco, but he didn’t. It’s not because he didn’t like you, or me or Piper……he’s an idiot for giving you up.’

‘That’s what I said…did Grams & Mum like me?’

‘Of course they did! You were their little girl! Precious baby Phoebe – cutest and most innocent of all the Halliwell women. They clucked over you like mother hen!’

Phoebe grinned then her face became serious again.

‘Where are they?’

‘What?’ Prue looked confused.

‘Do you think they’re together in heaven, looking down on us from the sky?’

‘I suppose so…’ Prue didn’t want to raise her sisters on false hope. At an early age, she had lost her faith.

‘Do you think Mum’s proud of us? That we turned out ok?’

‘I’m sure she is…you and Piper are so wonderful. So smart and kind and beautiful.’

‘And you.’

‘Me?’

‘Uh huh. You’re all those things too………………Are we happy?’

‘What?’ Prue even more confused than before.

‘Me and you and Piper……..are we happy?’ Prue stared bewildered at her little sister. She hadn’t expected such a deep and meaningful conversation to take place when the little girl rushed in. ‘I mean…I don’t want to die unhappy. I don’t want to leave you guys unhappy. So are we? Are you?’

Prue felt hot tears prick in the back of her eyes as she pulled her youngest sister towards her.

‘We are. I am. I’ve got you and Piper and that’s what makes me happy. Baby girl I love you so much.’

‘I love you too……’