Disclaimer: I lay no claim to any of the Charmed characters, quotes, or overt references that may appear in my stories. They are the sole property of Spelling Television. I write for my own satisfaction and for the enjoyment of those who choose to read them.


Float Like A Butterfly Sting Like A Bee

FLABSLAB ~ for short :D


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You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But, if you sit quietly in the grass, it will come and sit on your shoulder. ~ Unknown
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She leaned against the uneven bark of the shapely elm. Allowing its natural shade to cool her skin from the harsh heat of the sallow sun. The contagious double up of her sisters caused her to gaze at the basketball court in the near distance. Phoebe’s rich laughter always filled her heart with a warmth that nothing else could. But, sadly, she knew that the joy behind her tone would quickly change, as their older sister’s competitive nature, always pumped with pride-filled steroids, would cause the melodious tones to turn into a discordant pitch of anger. An argument would ensue, one that she would be expected to referee. A job she despised and quite frankly was growing weary of. Slowly she closed her eyes as she listened to her sisters’ play their one on one b-ball game... or was it a death match?

“Ok Prue let’s see what ya got. I’ll even spot ya six, ‘cause you big sis are gonna need it.”

“Yeah riight. You lil sis are gonna be the one eating MY dust.”

“HA! We’ll see!” Phoebe smirked as she, none too gently, tossed the orange orbed Wilson to her opponent, who deftly caught the ball. “Age before beauty.” She bantered, as Prue took no time to work her feet.

Phoebe matched her move for move, before easily snatching the ball out of Prue’s hand. Faking right then left. Before Prue even knew what was happening, her baby sister was hanging from the net-less rim, an ear-to-ear grin plaster on her face.

“What the hell was that?”

“That my dear sister was a preview of me whipping your sorry ass.” Satisfied with her court abilities, she let herself drop. Ready for a full court press, Prue hurled the ball for her sister to take out.

Twenty minutes into the game, they were hoop for hoop.

With a slight sheen on her face, Phoebe puffed out. “I gotta give you your props. You’ve got skills Prue.” A mixture of frustration and awe as she missed her attempt to block Prue’s shot.

Putting on a face of humility, she just shrugged. “Yeah well, Andy has been teaching me a few moves lately.”

Moving back down the court Phoebe scoffed. “Oh I bet he has, but none them will do you a bit of good outside the bedroom.”

Phoebe’s words had the desired effect, distracting Prue enough to easily make a sweet all net three pointer, putting her in the lead.

Piper felt, more than saw the competitive edge coming over her big sister. Letting out a deep sign, she stood up and made her way to the ’other’ end of the park. She didn’t want to be anywhere near those two when the insults and injuries started.
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“Damn it Prue, you can’t just play a nice clean game can you?” Phoebe huffed as she headed back to the picnic blanket.

“Oh puhleeze, I barely pushed you.”

“Riight, I’ve seen you go easier on a demon, than you did me.” She spat, taking hold of her injured arm.

“That’s not…”

“It is so. You used your powers didn’t you?” Phoebe paused and looked deep into her sister’s eyes. “Well?”

“Yes, but…”

“Who was the one who said no magic today? Who was the one who told me not to use my power for personal gain…? Who…”

“Ok, I get the point. Let’s just get you cleaned up.” Prue’s adrenaline rush was wearing off and her motherly instincts were kicking in. She gently laid her hand on Phoebe’s shoulder only to have her sister jerk away.

“Oweey!!”

“Sorry Pheebs.”

“Yeah right, whatever. I think Piper threw in an icepack when she heard us talking ball.”

“Piper always packs a first aid kit.” Prue said, trying to ask as if nothing had happened, yet guilt was eating her up inside. She hadn’t meant to use her powers; it was just as if something took her over.

Pride, that’s what took over Prue, you couldn’t stand to see your baby sister beating your butt and you just HAD to do something about it. And look at the result, you hurt her. Was it worth it? You feel better beating up you sibling all over a harmless game of one on one? Harmless Prue, it was supposed to be harmless.

Prue was pulled out of her thoughts by Phoebe asking her a question.

“What?”

“I said, did you see which bag she tossed it in?”

“The blue one over by the tree.” her tone more benevolent.

Phoebe unzipped the rucksack and reached inside. Suddenly her world went black and white and the rush of wind a fear swept over her body, her concrete burn and aching shoulder totally forgotten.

Phoebe took off like a shot. The rush of colors pulling Prue along.

She jumped the bike rack, leapt over a couple of sunbathers, dodged a little old lady, avoided a dog, a leash and a fire hydrant. Zigzagging across the park like it was an obstacle course, Phoebe never even looked back.

Prue followed her sister’s path as onlookers gave both confused an annoyed glances at the two women disrupting their pleasant afternoon.

Phoebe pulled out her cell and was yelling into the mouthpiece. Prue couldn’t hear the conversation but knew that Phoebe tone expected nothing less then immediate compliance.

Suddenly Phoebe came to a screeching halt, causing Prue to nearly collide into her young sibling.

“WHAT!” Prue panted out, swallowing hard from both the impromptu sprint and fear. Phoebe may be many things in Prue’s mind but she learned early in their charmed days, that when Phoebe got a premonition, you best not just brush it off.

She watched as Phoebe frantically scouted the area. Phoebe’s gaze stopped at a small patch of trees about fifty yards ahead.

“THERE!” She pointed to Prue, just before starting off again.

“MEET US AT THE SOUTHWEST END OF THE PARK….” Phoebe’s voice trailed past the receiver and floated past Prue’s ears.

They ran by a sign baring the name of that section…

“GROVER’S COVE… HURRY!” She slapped the phone together and increased her stride.

Slowly the distance came into focus. Prue slowed to an agonizing gait. Phoebe leaving her behind.

“Piper!” Was all Prue could whisper, her feet frozen in their tracks.

Time stood still as Phoebe’s actions went into slow motion.

Through the blur Prue could see Phoebe kneeling over her a prone Piper and a hideous noise buzzing in her ears. The droning was interrupted by baby sister’s shouts.

“PRUUUUUUEEEE!!”

“MOVE THEM!! DAMN IT HURRY!!!”

Instinct took over and with one wave of her hand the swarm of bees went sailing toward the other end of the park.

“Piper!?” She cried as she flew to aid her fallen sister.

Prue slid to Phoebe’s right side, just as Pheobe was shooting Piper in the arm with the epicene. The elder Halliwell came to her senses and grabbed the tweezers and began pulling out all the stingers. “Oh God, Phoebe, they’re everywhere.” She cried, as attempted to remove the venom filled barbs.

“I know.” Was all Phoebe said as she stared in to the swelling face of her middle sister. Their eyes locked and both fear and love reflected back to the other.

The wheezing started to become louder and panic registered all over Piper’s face.

“Prue…” Phoebe yelled, but her big sister was already placing the tongue depressor into her ailing sister’s mouth.

Phoebe continued to shoot a second dose of epinephrine into Piper’s arm when the wails of sirens could be heard in the distance.

“Hang on baby, help is on its way. Don’t you dare close your eyes. PIPER!! Damn it, stay awake.” Prue shouted as her best friends eye lids began to flutter, finally resting in a downward position.

She could feel strong arms pulling her away from the only one who was able to provide balance in her life. Prue’s glazed over expression was lost on a sobbing Phoebe.

She held it together long enough to give the medic all the info. They needed, but then her knees buckled and she fell, she shoulders shaking as she wept for the only one who provided balance in her life.
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The officer called to the scene had cornered Phoebe and was not letting her check on Piper’s status. She went from angry, to pissed, to scared. The child came out of the young woman as she pleaded to be allowed to see her sister.

“Please, I have to…

“Just a few more questions Ms. Halliwell….”

“You don’t understand, I need too…” Her voice rising to near hysteria, as she watched Piper being loaded into the ambulance.

“LET ME GO, I HAVE TOO…”

“All in due ti…”

Prue’s sharp and cutting glare stopped the officer mid-sentence. His previous authority fading as the blue-eyed woman, took the situation’s upper hand.

“She comes with me. Any questions can wait. Got it?”

Without waiting for his answer, she wrapped her arm around Phoebe’s waist and led her toward the ambulance.

“Come on sweetie, I’ve got you now, let’s go.”

The shrill sound penetrated the dusky air as flashing lights illuminating the area with an eerie alarm.

Death hung heavy as the ambulance rushed toward park’s entrance and into the unknown.

Andy reached the waiting room and paused at the double doors. He had only seen her in this state once before, the last time Piper was in the hospital with Arroyo Fever. To the world, Prue Halliwell, looked in command of the serious situation and in total control of her emotions. But, she couldn’t fool Andy. She, let down her guard with very few, but Andy was her sounding board. Ever since Tempus nearly killed him, she vowed to let him into her life, every aspect. The wedding ring on his hand proved that.

Slowly he made his way to her side. She felt his presence, the safety of his arms calling her aching heart to them. She gave a slight gasp as his arms enfolded her from behind. Her sobs were silent as she leaned into his chest. He offered no words, for what was there to say? It will be ok. She’ll pull through. She’s a fighter. No, all these statements were flawed with uncertainty and he knew Prue didn’t need anything to tip the scales; her fragile state was precarious at best. So Andy did, what Andy does best, he let his love speak for him. He led her to a private room so that they would have privacy when the doctor came back to report on Piper’s condition.

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The room was cold and stark. The beige faux leather sofa was hard and unfeeling. The clinical smells nearly made her gag. Her frame trembled as she leaned into her only safety. Her arms clinging tightly to the one that would always be there for her. Sleep was intermittent and visions of the days events played havoc on her taut nerves. She felt the gentle hand rubbing her back, urging her muscles to relax-- it wasn’t working. The dimly lit lamp cast shadows on the wall; hauntingly they mocked her, telling her that everything would never be as it once was. The shimmering darkness laughing at her willingness to believe that Piper would live to see tomorrow. The explosive merriment coming from these menacing wisps of death grew louder and painfully closer. She couldn’t take it any more and bolted upright. The only thing she could feel was the deep, deep dread in the pit of her stomach and the familiar embrace that kept her from escaping the ethereal room.

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Her spirit floated, like a butterfly over her still form. She could see doctor’s and nurses working with both precision and deft. She felt weightless as she rose high above the clouds. She hovered in an indescribable space between earth and the heavenlies. The bright light she assumed would be awaiting her was absent, yet her heart felt no fear. The atmosphere was perfectly calm and this strange stillness appealed to the void that stress had left wide open in her life. The invisible draw to relinquish control was tempting her the longer she stayed in this utopia of nothing. Her mind no longer thinking on earthly matters, refused to recognize the pressure of being a middle sister or the stinging responsibilities that came with being a Charmed One. No, this life of living as a complete nonentity was exactly what Piper was looking for. The fact that Leo was there holding out his hand to her sealed her mind’s decision. Without a second thought or a look back she made her steps in earnest toward her beloved. This is where she belonged.

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The room was filled with a flash of light and the occupants were temporarily blinded by the illumination. He made his way with purpose into the room, heading in the direction of the oldest Halliwell. He eyes held an indescribable gaze, putting her senses on high alter. She gripped the hand that had never left hers and stared with courage she wasn’t at all in possession of.

“What do you want?” Prue’s voice held an edge that would make most recoil, but not him, his arrogance kept him from feeling her venomous glare.

“Ms. Halliwell?”

“Like I said, what do you want?”

“I’m Jack, Dr. Jack Sheridan and I am the doctor that has been treating your sister. We…” Jack’s pager went off, interrupting him from continuing.

The speakers just above their heads erupted into a loud and urgent message. The words nearly indistinguishable due to the system’s over use.

Dr. Sheridan, paging Dr. Sheridan, you are needed in ICU STAT, Code A… Dr. Sheridan ICU STAT, Code A.”

Jack turned on his heels and began to leave the family area when Prue’s voice made him stop.

“Where do you think your going?” Prue’s tone dripping with anger, which was born from the fear she had been harboring for over six hours.

“To save your sister, do you mind?” He didn’t stick around for an answer.

A blur of white was they saw as Jack sped toward the hallway marked Intensive Care Unit.

A sudden panic came over the leader of the Halliwell trio. Her eyes darted the length of the room and then searched her husband’s eyes for answers.

“Where’s Phoebe? Andy?!?…. TELL ME WHERE SHE IS!!”

“I don’t know baby, I just don’t know.”

The room was deathly still, the rasping intake of Prue’s breath the only sound floating through the tense air. She gripped Andy’s hand until his fingers turned blue and prickling needles were dancing on his skin. The days events were taking their toll. The fact that Phoebe was now missing was only adding weight to the fraying nerves of the eldest sister.

“Where could she be?” Her voice soft and fearful. The strong veneer cracking with every minute her sister’s were absent from the ring of their bond. “I need her, she can’t just leave. She always takes off when the going gets rough. She is just as irresponsible today as she was when the front door slammed her selfish butt to New York. Never there when you need her, well fine, I didn’t need her then and I definitely don’t want her here now. Let her…”

“Prue..” Andy attempted to break in.

“No, Andy, don’t try to make excuses for her now. Its her fault that Piper is fighting for her life… just like it was her fault when she nearly died twenty years ago. Let her go, if Piper dies, it will be at the hands of her baby sister.”

“PRUE! THAT’S ENOUGH!!” Andy’s tone was harsh and drew Prue from the rant she knew was born from fear and not reality. But the loud sound at the door was what pulled Prue back into the present. She quickly turned to see the three cups of coffee laying empty, as the black contents pooled around the feet of her shocked little sister. The painful gasp drew Prue’s eyes to lock briefly with Phoebe’s only to find them filled with tears. She attempted to speak but her words lodged in the guilt forming in her heart. All Prue could do is stand frozen in place as she watched Phoebe turn and run down the hall.

“Andy, what have I just done?”

He pulled her to him, his emotions vacillating between love and anger. “Nothing that time and love cant fix.” I hope He thought as the floodgates of regret soaked into his shoulder, as his wife sobbed out her grief.
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She ran, she didn’t know where she was going, blinded by the sharp and cruel words of her sister. The walls became distorted and long as she mindlessly weaved her way through the corridors of SFMH. The distant drone of activity began to fade as she had wandered out of the emergency area and into the lobby of the large hospital. The sign that read chapel drew her to the heavy oak door with the brass handle. Her trembling hand gripped the ring of metal until her knuckles turned white with her strength. Phoebe pushed open the thick wood panel and reverently stepped into the room lit only with the flicker of numerous candles. The smell of tears and pain wrapped around her, the feeling causing her sore and fragile body to shiver from its touch. The room was empty of people and she felt weary and in need of a place to sit.

Phoebe stared straight ahead, not really seeing any of her surroundings , feeling was the only sensation she was experiencing at the moment and the anguish of betrayal and guilt filled her mind and soul with an ache so deep she didn’t think anything could hurt so much. The flickering candles on the simple wooden alter were hypnotizing the youngest Halliwell back to a time when she had once felt this very pain.

“But Pippy, me no wike pawk, me to go to oshun.” The three year old stated firmly, her deep dark eyes belying the folded arms across her chest and the crease of frustration that crossed her brow.

“I know Phoebes you asked to go to the ocean, but just this once, tell Prue you wanna go to the park. She’ll take us if you ask her, but don’t tell her it’s my idea. Kay?

“NO!! Me no wie!! Pwue pank my butt and I no wike… Sides, it’s not wight to wie. Pwue says…”

“Please Phoebes? I’ll bake you all the chocolate chip cookies you want, read you 3 stories at bedtime and make you blueberry pancakes for a month. I have to go to the park, or I’ll fail my science project. I need a special leaf and there are none to be found on our block. PPPLLLEEESSSEEE?!?!

“Hmm… Boocake for bweakfast for TWO monfs, FIVE stories at sweeptime and chocolate chip cookies AND frow in a whole wot of bwownies and you got a deal.”

“Deal” Piper said, extending her hand as the little girl in front of her pumped it up and down with great enthusiasm.

“Ok sweetie, do me proud, get me to that park.” Piper patted her bum and aimed her toward the direction of the reluctant older sister

Phoebe turned and with a cheeky grin said. “Oh pwease, dis be sooooooooo easy.”

“PWUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” She turned and shouted as she scampered in search of her unsuspecting big sister.



The walk to the park was uneventful except for having to retrieve the overly investigative toddler. Prue seemed convinced that Phoebe had changed her mind, as the youngest would NOT shut up about having Prue push her on the BIG girls swings.

“… And you push me weel high, kay? I wanna see Widdle D’s face when I get up higher din him… cuz….”

Piper barely heard the ramblings as she was in deep thought as to how she was going to slip past the eagle eye of her big sister. Prue was way over protective of Piper ever since they learned how highly allergic she is to bee stings. Light colored clothing, no flower smelling and no trips to the park in the spring and summer. She still wondered how Phoebe pulled it off. The next thing Piper heard was the endless list of DON’Ts coming for Prue’s direction.

“I’m gonna fail, I just know it.” Piper’s voice mumbled.

“What?” Prue asked as she grabbed Phoebe by waist of her Osh Kosh jeans, saving her from the doggie doo she was about to step in.

“I… I.. I gotta mail. Yeah.. I gotta mail a letter to Amy, I have it with me can I drop off at the mailbox by the park entrance?”

“Sure, don’t see why not. We can post it on our way in. You feeling ok?” Prue asked as her middle sister as acting… well, acting weird.

“NO!!” Piper nearly shouted, as panic took over. Phoebe rolled her eyes, her second biggest sissy was never any good at lying.

“No? You need us to go back home?” Prue asked as she attempted to feel Piper’s forehead around the squirming little one in her arms.

“No, I mean yes, I mean… I mean yes I’m fine, but I still have to finish the letter, can I drop it off while you push wiggle worm on the swing. I won’t be far and you can see me from there.” Seeming to cover herself well, Prue reluctantly agreed.

Phoebe proved to be her usual handful, keeping Prue very occupied. Piper bided her time, until Phoebe was just about to feed sand to the bully trying to take her swing. Prue as too focused on her little sister to really ‘hear’ Piper say she was going to mail her letter.

Phoebe gave her middle sister a wink as she hurried off toward the patch of woods not too far from the play area.

Twenty minutes later, Phoebe was pooped and needed a cuddle. Prue exhausted herself readily agreed. Phoebe was dozing in Prue’s arms. The afternoon had turned chilly and Prue’s maternal instincts told her to place the blanket Piper had thrown in the bag. Just as she covered the weary little bundle of energy. Phoebe sat up and screamed. Tears, gasps and pain were all Prue could see and hear.

“Pippy got owiee, Poo need to fix. Huwwy Pwue, you make Pippy all better. Pwease. Owwie bad.” Phoebe had nearly crawled up her big sister. The terror in her eyes made her think she had just had a bad dream, but when Andy came running up to her, shouting Piper was stung by a bee. Prue was on her feet, handing off Phoebe to her boyfriend, she bolted instinctively to Piper’s location.

“Anny, Pwue make Pippy aww better wight?”

“Yeah, Jr. Prue will make it all better, doesn’t she always?”

“Not always.” Phoebe said, and she let her pain be voiced in sobs.

Piper looked down on her little sister and knew the pain she felt was all her fault. She had once again, conned Phoebe into lying about the park, this time with the same outcome as it had so many years before, only this time was worse.

Prue walked the halls with a slowing gait. Her every fiber aching for not only one sister, but two. Piper in some sort of physical peril and Phoebe in emotional distress- “which sister do I help?” Andy had read her thoughts and told her what she already knew. She could do nothing to help in saving her middle sister, but she could and would save her baby sister from jumping off the cliff of the past and present emotion, agitated by the hurtful words she spoke of which Phoebe overheard- again. So here Prue was, walking the corridors of San Francisco Memorial in search of the little girl lost.

She rounded the corner and found herself in the same open lobby that Phoebe had walked into a moment, a lifetime ago. Looking at the heavy wooden door she knew what was behind it and that scared her. She could handle evil and with a wave of her self-assured hand destroy the problem and still make it home in time for Piper’s wonderful homemade dinner. But, this, this was different. She had to face the sister who she accused, not once, but TWICE of sending Piper, her best friend, to her death bed. The words Prue had said in a moment of anger have lasted a lifetime and had just made an unfortunate encore appearance.

The cold metal of the brass handle felt warm in her freezing hand. The Halliwell with nerves of steel, found herself terrified to face the sister on the other side of the door. Prue jumped as she felt a heavy hand on her shoulder.


Piper looked down on her young sister, the sibling who would do NOTHING to bring harm to either of her older sisters. The guilt weighed heavy on Piper’s shoulders as she saw Phoebe crawl into the corner and begin to rock back and forth. The ache in her heart was only enhanced by the repeated two words Phoebe’s retreating self began to repeat.

I sowwy, I sowwy…”

Hot tears ran down Piper’s cold cheeks as she hovered over the tiny form that blamed herself for the unfair acts of another. Piper had made Phoebe lie to Prue both times and each time it was the tender soul that was punished for her sins.

“Oh, Pheebs, baby, I am so sor…” Just as Piper was reaching her transparent hand toward the cowering figure, a crushing hand yanked her back to where she had just come from, leaving Phoebe alone… all alone.

Andy paced the tiled floor just outside the emergency bay that held his sister-in-law and his wife’s dearest friend. He knew that to lose her would mean that he would lose the other half of his soul.

The time seemed to rush in place. The lights in the concourse seemed brighter, the peripheral sounds seemed to crowd his ability to think clearly. The slamming of the double doors and the rush of urgent wind that swept by was not at all a good sign. The look on Dr. Sheridan’s face was grim and tension would be felt like a tightrope ready to snap.

“I need to talk to Piper’s medical power of attorney right away!!” Jack’s words were curt as he turned toward the fleeing gurney and the challenge he and the young passenger faced.

Andy stood unashamedly blinking tears before going in search of Prue. As his long strides drew him nearer to his wife, the inward struggle of not knowing how he was going to break this to her raged on. Little did he know both Prue and Phoebe were battling past and present demons of their own.

The grip on her shoulder startled her into a fighting stance. The deep voice rumbled with a throaty laugh, his eyes brilliant and piercing.

“We have to stop meeting like this, don’t we Prue?”

~:~:~:~:~

“Leo, I said let me go! I have to go back, I need to help, I need to help Phoebe before she self-destructs.” Piper shouted, as she struggled against the firm grip Leo had around each arm.

“You, need to be here. You made your choice, you can’t turn your love for me off and on like a water tap. You CHOSE me and there is NO going back.”

~:~:~:~:~

“I bad, I vewy, vewy bad. Me sowwy. Pease wove me ‘gin.” The reverence of the tiny chapel was interrupted by the chanting , child-like voice of the youngest third of the Charmed trio. With each vewy, and every sowwy, Phoebe was sending herself further back in time and literally burying her emotional self alive.

~:~:~:~:~

Andy rounded the corner and mistakenly entered into a restricted area. His focus was his wife and sister-in-law, not the sign that read: AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY. Marcus Kelly, the security officer on duty, was however, and all 6 foot , 5 inches and 250 pounds easily moved into the hurried path of Sgt. Trudeau.

“And where do you think you off to lil’ fella?” The unfriendly baritone echoed off the sanitary white wall, falling onto Andy’s deaf ears.

~:~:~:~:~

“Brendan?.. I mean Father Austin.” Prue stuttered, the hand on her chest failing to keep her broken heart from racing. “You scared me.”

“I know, I am so, but I have been watching her and I think you should be careful. Keep your temper in check and be patient, she is retreating quickly. I have seen this more times than I care to recall and if you push her too fast, or show the slightest hint of anger, you may never get… just heed my words, from one friend to another, ‘kay?”

“Father..”

“Brendan, please, please call me Brendan. We have too much of a history for formalities.” His huge smile and brilliant eyes warmed as he took in his dear friend’s pain.

“Brendan, thanks.” Was all Prue could get out. Her throat choked any further conversation. Standing on her toes, she leaned in and gave the padre a kiss on the cheek and turned and entered the chapel with gingered steps and a heavy heart.

~:~:~:~:~

“Leo, get off of me, my sisters will always be my first priority, what has gotten into you, you never acted this way before?”

She stared as the man she loved, confusion, pain and fear vying for attention. Leo’s eyes were harsh and unfeeling, the stony gaze was filled with only malice.

“You will never get away from me, I am not who you think I am, Piper. I shall have you for fate has written it to be so.”

~:~:~:~:~

Andy shook the dazed feeling from his head as he attempted to stand. His head was throbbing from its painful introduction to Marcus’ iron grid six pack set of abs. Standing quickly, as he recalled the mission he was on, he attempted to turn and seek out Prue giving little thought to Rent-a-Cop Kelly’s concerns.

“Not so fast mister, you have entered a restricted area and now I have to make out a report. You’re coming with me.” Marcus caught Andy’s right bicep and started hauling him towards the security office.

~:~:~:~:~
Prue cautiously inched towards her sister’s voice. The jagged mantra nearly broke her heart. Phoebe had always been more of a daughter than a sister and Prue’s instinct was to shelter Phoebe from any possible heartache. The fact she was to blame for her sister’ s physical and emotional retreat stabbed at her maternal nature, proving, once again, in her mind, that she had failed.

Prue paused mid-step as she rounded the rough oak pews. The hesitation was due to both her trepidation and the state in which she found her baby girl. The atmosphere was ominous; the room’s only light was being offered my prayer candles. The smell of tears and pain surrounded the barrenness of the chapel. Only love for her sister kept her from running out the door and not looking back.

~:~:~:~:~

Piper stared into the blazing eyes of her angel, wondering what in Heaven’s name had come over him.

“Leo? What is the matter with you?” Piper barked, breaking free from his death grip.

“It was not me, my dear Piper, who chose to walk away for your sisters and your destiny. It was not me who gave into her longing for normalcy, even if that could only be achieved in death. It was not…”

“Ok, ok, I get the point. I made a choice, a wrong choice, but that doesn’t me I belong to you or anyone else, so back off while I find a way to undo whatever the hell I just did.” Piper’s tone was one of mixed emotions. Anger at herself, worry for her sisters and determination to fix her present situation. Piper’s feelings of insecurity were always rescinded whenever her sisters’ welfare was at stake.

“There is no answer to your self-imposed predicament. The sooner you realize this the sooner we can get on with our happily ever after… What do you say sweetheart?” Leo’s voice was dripping with sarcasm, which only pissed Piper off more.

“Back off Leo. You really DON’T what to…” The look on Leo’s face proved she needn’t finish, her point had finally pierced his consciousness.

~:~:~:~:~:~

“Get your hands off me, you over paid, academy reject; I need to find my wife!” Andy was no longer gauging the mass of the Marcus or the odd stares from the various people they passed.

“Yeah right, I’ve heard ‘em all, you can’t…”

“Not only can I, I WILL!” Andy quickly maneuvered and before Officer Bonehead knew what happened, He was looking up from the shiny tiled floor, staring straight into Andy’s badge and a piercing glare that held Marcus in his prostrate position.

“That’s better. Now, if you still wish to keep your job, I suggest you point me in the direction of the Chapel.”

Marcus Kelly had never been subdued by anyone, not even the Biker Dudes at the bar he once bounced for. Fear and shame was all he felt amid the muffled chuckles and outright laughter. Timidly he pointed toward the southeast corner of the building.

Andy didn’t waste anytime saying thanks, he took off like a bat out of hell, hoping to get to Prue in time.

~:~:~:~:~

The golden flames sparkled off Phoebe’s tear-stained face. The guttural sobs were what finally drove Prue to gather her little sister in her arms and with swift synchronization began to rock to the beat of Phoebe’s breaking heart.

She felt the arms wrap around her, but she was no longer in control of her actions. They were being held hostage by the pain and guilt she was allowing to take control. If Prue didn’t act quickly, she would more than likely loose her chance… her nerve.

“Shh, Pheebs, you’re gonna make yourself sick. Don’t do this, please.”

Phoebe just held on tighter and cried even harder. The thought of loosing her sister, either one was bad enough, but to think she was to blame was just too much for Phoebe’s overtaxing emotions to handle.

“Look, baby, I’m sorry. I messed up, not you. I was… I was…”

Prue felt Phoebe pull back and with brown eyes nearly swollen shut stared achingly into hers. “What… You were what, Prue?” Phoebe’s voice cracked and was just above a whisper, but Prue could read more in the face of her baby sister, making her words not really necessary.

Growing uncomfortable with where she, herself, had led the conversation, shifted and averted her gaze to the mural painted on the chapel’s rustic wall.

“Tell me, Prue… please?” The pitiful anguish was too much and the eldest Halliwell crumbled underneath the weight of her sister’s gaze.

“I was… am scared, I am scared damnit, there I said it. Are you satisfied, now?” Prue hadn’t meant to be so harsh, but the worry of Piper being in physical danger and Phoebe being lost emotionally was beginning to take its toll.

Phoebe’s flinch and attempted to move away, but Prue reacted and drew Phoebe’s retreating gaze back towards her own.

“Pheebs, sweetie, I messed up, not you… then and now. I know, without a shadow of a doubt that you would never do anything to hurt Piper.”

“Or you.” Phoebe said before burying her head into the nook of safety she always felt in Prue’s arms.



Andy and Dr. Sheridan happened upon the Chapel door at the same time. The look on Jack’s face, told Andy that he had been detained too long and that his worst fear had be realized, Piper was gone. Wordlessly both men entered the meditation room, the bearers of bad news.

The unspoken forgiveness was interrupted by the creaking of hinges and the heavy steps of their unannounced visitors.

Prue looked up first, Andy’s generally stoic face was contorted with pain, his chin trembling and eyes welled with tears. He couldn’t speak, yet said everything in the love penetrating into his wife’s unsteady azure gaze.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Halliwell, we did everything we could, but the number of stings… the venom… I’m sorry.” Jack had never lost a patient, and to loose this one hit him hard. The callous edge he portrayed was a façade of protection, but death penetrated his veneer with great ease.

Turning to Andy, Jack sadly spoke. “I’ll leave you alone, but if you need anything just have me paged.”

“Thanks.” Andy said, then turning his full attention to his family.

~:~:~:~:~:~

“Take me back.” Piper said a matter-of-factly.

“What?” Leo looked incredulous.

“You heard me Angel Boy; take me back to where I made my choice… the wrong choice. The same portal that brought me here, will take me back home, home to my sisters.” Piper’s tone and rapid gait, gave Leo no chance to respond.

He knew she would figure out how to return, he just didn’t expect her to figure it out so soon, yet another thing about her that he should have known, but didn’t.

“It’s over here.” His voice was full of emotions, but he knew that the only way to really keep her was to let her go.

“Thanks Leo, if it weren’t for them, you know I’d stay. But, if I don’t go back, Phoebe will drive Prue insane that is if she hasn’t killed our baby sister first.” Piper smiled and leaned in for their final goodbye; a sisterly sacrifice that proved the powerfulness of their bond. Slowly, yet with purpose, Piper turned and stepped into the vortex.

~:~:~:~:~:~

Phoebe refused to lift her head, knowing, to do so would mean she had to face the truth… the truth that her best friend was dead. Prue’s voice seemed so distant, like a train whistle in the dead of night. The tone was gentle but the words cut through her heart like a knife. She fought to control the name from escaping her lips, she battled to hold it together, but her efforts failed.

“PPPPIIIIPPPPEEEERRRR!!!!”

~:~:~:~:~:~

The rushing of the wind and the suction of the dimensional travel left Piper dizzy and disoriented. The sound of her older sister’s sobs and the voice of her young sibling, crying out her name, reeled her back to reality. Phoebe’s screams heartbreaking. She rushed to her and attempted to wrap her arms around her sister’s pain, but was rewarded with only empty air. Again, she heard her name being shouted, echoing off the chapels timbers.

“PPPPIIIIPPPPEEEERRRR!!!!”

“Pheebs, baby, I’m right here, right next to you, why can’t you see me? Unless… Uh oh.”

“PPPPIIIIPPPPEEEERRRR!!!!”

She suddenly felt her whole body begin to quake and the ground begin to buckle under. She closed her eyes preparing for whatever it was that was going to happen next. The last thing she remembers hearing was:

“PPPPIIIIPPPPEEEERRRR!!!!”… Then nothing, all except for this heaviness all around her body, like she was wearing a lead body suit.

“Come on Piper, quite playin’ around, wake up.”

“Huh?” Carefully she opened her eyes, not sure what she was expecting. Confusion was all she understood. There she laid, in her bedroom with her little sister jumping on her bed and shaking her with both hands.

“You heard me the first ten times I called your name, get a move on, we need to get going if you want to get our favorite spot at the park.” Phoebe gave her a quick kiss and jumped off the bed. “Still wish we were going to the ocean.” She harrumphed as she headed to the door.

“Park?”

“Yeah, the park, huge piece of land with trees and benches and… the park you begged Prue into taking us to, I said the ocean, but noooooo you wanted the park, so the park is where we are heading… that is if you can get you lazy ass out of bed… You know how Prue gets if we aren’t on schedule.”

Piper looked around, felt the nightstand and even pinched her arm to see if she was in yet another dream. But nope, this was the real deal. No park, no basketball game, no fighting sisters, no swarm of bees…

“Ocean!” Piper blurted out, causing Phoebe to peek her head back into her sister room.

“What?”

“I said, ocean. We are definitely going to the ocean. No bees there.”

“Ocean, bees, what the heck are you talking about?”

“Never mind, do you want to go to the beach or not?” Piper said in half exasperation and half relief.

“YAAAAAAYYY!!” Phoebe threw her arms around her now standing sleepy head and gave her the biggest Phoebe hug Phoebe could give.

“Oh, get off of me will you, I can’t breath.” Piper said, not really wanting to let her sister go. “Now scoot, tell Prue to unpack the basketball equipment and put the beach gear in the car…”

In mock horror, Phoebe pulled away. “Piper have you gone crazy? I value my life. I FINALLY get to go to the beach AND then you send ME to my death by having me tell Prue… dare I even say it out loud… there has been a change of plans…. I’m telling you, Pipe, STOP, DROP, AND ROLL, does NOT work in every situation, this being one of them.

“Ok, drama queen, you get a standing “O” from me, but no encore, time’s a wastin’. Now go!”

Giving Piper another peck on the cheek she bolted from the room. Phoebe was not going to give her middle sister a chance to change her mind.

“PPPPRRRRUUUEEE!!! PIPER CHANGED HER MIND; WE ARE GOING TO THE BEACH!!! YAAAAAAYYY!!

“WHAT!?!?!? BUT I JUST FINISHED PACKING….”

Piper smiled as she heard her older sister’s voice raise the rafters once again.

“It’s good to be home.” She said as she headed to defuse the explosion just waiting to happen downstairs.

Pausing at the picture of Leo on her dresser, she lifted her brow and said, “And you, Angel boy… I will deal with you later.”

Leo looked down and smiled. Placing the pouch of dream dust aside, he stood proud… proud that his girlfriend had passed yet another one of ‘Their’ needless tests, choosing the greater good.

The Charmed Ones would stay intact, all because of the epoxy of sisterhood that held more magic than magic itself.

The end