Disclaimer : My name’s not Aaron Spelling, so I don’t own them. But I really, really, really like to write about them. Disclaimer : My name’s not Aaron Spelling, so I don’t own them. But I really, really, really like to write about them.

Fallout
by Freaky Fan

Part 1

If I knew it would be the last time
That I’d see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
And pray the Lord, your soul to keep

She laid there, eyes shut, a million miles from sleep but not quite ready to face the world yet. The forecast was calling for rain. And if the last few days were any indication, the weatherman would be proven right again. Torrential downpours. High winds. Just another storm season in good old San Francisco. Getting drenched was part of the city’s charm. But a dousing wasn’t what she needed right now.

She sighed, knowing there was no sense in putting off the inevitable. One eye finally popped open, her mouth falling open when it did. Both eyes snapped open and she blinked several times, trying to make sure she wasn’t seeing things before throwing back the covers and climbing to her feet. A small grin played across her face as she walked toward the window, one hand playing through a ray of sunlight as she went. Her grin became a halfhearted smile when she drank in the perfect blue sky outside.

It hurt like hell to breathe, but the weather had held.

If I knew it would be the last time
That I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
And call you back for one more.

She leaned her head against the window pane, hoping some of its warmth would radiate through her body. But it did nothing to the ever present chill that had invaded her body a few days before. The one that had wound its way through her stomach and laid claim to her heart. She should have known a little sunlight would have no effect.

The pain of losing someone you love wasn’t that easy to get rid of.

If I knew it would be the last time
I’d hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
So I could play it back day after day.

She sighed again as she turned away from the window, trying not to take in too much of the room as she did so. It wasn’t the mess that bothered her. The haphazard maze of half full boxes and clothes strewn everywhere. No, it was the memories.

If I knew it was the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
To stop and say, “I love you,”
Instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

Time spent laughing. Time spent crying. Time spent loving. They all swirled together in her mind as she went about picking up the wad of blankets making up her crude resting place in the middle of the floor. There was a perfectly good bed just a few feet away, but she couldn’t bring herself to look at it, let alone sleep in it. She knew if she did she would see him.

His crooked smile. The glint in his eye. The wild hair on his chest. All of it inviting her to join him. But she wouldn’t actually be with him. She would just be crawling into the place they had shared their most intimate times. The one place that, no matter how hectic the day or how hard the vanquish, she knew she would be safe. With his arms around her she felt like she could conquer the world.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I’m sure you’ll have so many more,
So I can let just this one slip away.

All too familiar tears clouded her vision at the thought of his touch. She had asked him once how the same hands that had done so many evil things over the years could possibly be so gentle. His simple reply was, “With the right person, anything is possible.”

That was him in a nutshell. Strong and brooding one minute, sweet and mushy the next. Sometimes it was like pulling hen’s teeth to get him to talk at all. Other times he would sit and tell her story after story of his past. In the end she knew him almost better than she knew herself.

That’s how it was supposed to be with your soul mate.

For surely there’s always tomorrow
To make up for an oversight,
And we always get a second chance
To make everything just right.

Sobs wracked her shoulders as the blanket she had been folding slipped from her fingers. How was she supposed to do this? How was she supposed to just go on as if nothing happened? As if he had never been a part of her life? As if she wasn’t one of the lucky few who had found the one she was meant to spent the rest of her life with?

How was she supposed to pick up the pieces of her shattered heart and put them back together?

How was she ever supposed to feel anything but numbness again?

There will always be another day
To say “I love you,’
And certainly there’s another chance
To say our “Anything I can do?”

She stumbled, the seemingly never ending river of tears running down her cheeks making it impossible for her to tell where she was. It wasn’t until her leg hit something solid that she realized she had found her way to the bed after all. Common sense gave way to exhaustion as she threw herself down, letting the soft mattress cradle her body.

The comfort she craved didn’t come. Want showed up instead. And need. Her two constant companions since the last time she had held him. Since he had….

She shoved the thought aside, refusing to give in to those memories again. She couldn’t. Not now. She had someplace to be. But her heart wouldn’t listen to her brain. Wouldn’t let her get up off the bed and keep moving. If forced her hand to reach for his pillow instead, pulling it to her so she could bury her face in its depths.

His sweet smell washed over her, taking her breath away.

But just in case I might be wrong,
And today is all I get,
I’d like to say how much I love you
And I hope we never forget.

The world could wait a little longer. She wasn’t ready to get up. To move away from what she had left of him. To move on without him. To stand by and watch as others said their final goodbyes.

She wasn’t ready to let the love of her life go. Not just yet.

She buried her face even further in the pillow, a whispered, “I love you, Cole,” escaping her lips as she gave in to another round of tears.


The atmosphere in the Manor was beyond somber. Everyone wanting to be there for everyone else. Wanting to say something profound to ease the unbearable pain that weighed on their souls. But they ended up walking around on egg shells instead. Afraid their words might actually do more harm than good.

As a Whitelighter he had seen it a million times before. The grieving process. Everyone wondering around in a daze, just trying to make it through another day. It hurt like hell and seemed to last forever but eventually it eased. Life would never be the same, but it would go on.

The tiny form in his arms was a perfect example of that. His daughter. Leo’s eyes softened as he looked down at her. The spitting image of her mommy with her dark hair and high cheekbones. But under the now closed lids were his eyes. The same shade of green that looked back at him every time he looked in a mirror. She was perfect, right down to her ten little fingers and ten little toes. He grinned as she pursed her lips, looking even more like Piper, if that was possible.

His grin faded as he looked up at his wife. She was standing at the window, one arm raised to hold back the curtain, the other wrapped protectively around her stomach. He didn’t have to be a mind reader to know what she was thinking about. Or rather who.

“Why don’t you go to her?”

Piper jumped. “Did you say something?”
“Yes, I did.” Leo laid the baby down on the bed, making sure there were pillows on either side of her before crossing the room to where Piper stood. “I said, why don’t you go to her?”
“I can’t.” She let the curtain slip from her fingers as she turned toward him. “She made it pretty clear she doesn’t want to talk.”
“Since when have you ever let that stop you?”

He pulled her into an embrace, loving the feel of her head against his chest as she snuggled close.

“I know. Normally I would just bust the door down and tell her I‘m not going away, but….” Piper sighed. “I’m not used to her pushing me away. Not like this.”
“You’ve all been through a lot, sweetie. This is how she’s choosing to deal with it. But whether she wants to admit it or not, she doesn’t really want to be alone.”
“How do you know?”
“Skill.” Leo gave her a squeeze. “I’ve been around you and your sisters long enough to know the difference between leave me alone and give me a big hug. She needs you.”

“You’re right.” Piper pushed away from him, wiping at a tear meandering down her cheek. “You’re absolutely right. She DOES need me. And I’m going to remind her of that.”
Leo nodded. “That’s my girl.” He watched as she went to the bed and looked down at the baby. “Go on. I’ll keep an eye on her.”

Piper leaned over, gently brushing her lips against the baby’s cheek before giving Leo an appreciative look and leaving the room. She pulled the door shut behind her, letting her hand rest on the cool wood for a moment as she said a silent thank you to anyone who might be listening for keeping her husband and daughter safe. She turned to walk down the hall in time to nearly plow into Prue.

“Whoa.” She gripped her big sister’s arm in an attempt to keep her balance. “Where’s the fire?”
“In there.” Prue pointed motioned toward her own room with her thumb.
Piper frowned. “What’s going on?”
“Tricia.” Prue shook her head as they started toward the stairs. “She’s having an all out ‘I want my Aunt Rion’ attack.”
“So you’re going over to see if she’ll come help?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s where I’m heading too.”

Prue didn’t ask her why. She just reached over, taking Piper’s hand in her own as they started downstairs.

“How’s the baby?”
“Sleeping.”
“Did you come up with a name yet?”
“No.” Piper furrowed her brow when she noticed her sister’s sidelong glance. “What? You didn’t name Tricia as soon as she came out.” She sighed. “Besides, coming up with a name seems like the least of my worries right now.”
“I know.” Prue pulled her sister a little closer as they walked out the front door and headed across the lawn. “But we can’t call her ‘hey you’ forever.”

They both froze when they heard the crashing noise coming from inside the house. Piper let go of Prue and ran for the front door, her heart beating out of her chest.

“Rion?!” She threw open the door and ran into the house. “Ri….”

Her voice caught in her throat when she saw the man stalking around the living room.

“What the hell is….” Prue pulled up short as she appeared at Piper’s side. “Who the hell is that?”

The sound of her voice was enough to spur Piper into action. She flicked both hands, blowing the man up just as he turned to glare at them.

“Or should I say who the hell WAS that guy?” Prue frowned as she took in the room. It was in shambles. The couch was overturned, the end table was broken, feathers from one of the pillows was still floating through the air. “What happened in here?”

“Nothing much.”

They both jumped when they heard the voice.

“Just a visit from a demon who lost his way.” Rion appeared from behind the couch, obviously on the receiving end of the demon’s wrath. “Thanks for the assist, Piper. But I could have handled him.”

“Yeah.” Prue took in her sister’s disheveled appearance. “That’s what it looks like to me.”
“Are you all right?” Piper’s voice was full of concern as she started toward her.
“I think I’ll live.” Rion looked down at her torn shirt and the fresh rip in her pants. “I can’t say the same for my clothes though.”
“Or your arm.” Piper cringed as she reached for the bloody sleeve of her sister’s shirt.
“Damn.” Rion frowned. “Must have hit the end table harder than I thought.” She pulled her arm back at the last possible second, keeping Piper from actually touching her. “It’s nothing.”
Prue gave her a look. “It’s not nothing, Rion. Heal it.”
“It’s a scratch. Not even worth wasting my time on.”

Rion made a show of knocking some feathers out of the air. “So, what brings you two over anyway?”

“I….” Piper glanced at Prue. “We were worried about you. You didn’t come over last night.”
“Yeah, well….” Rion suddenly looked uncomfortable. “I was working on the house. Lost track of time.”
Prue gave her a look. “And this morning?”
“You saw what I was doing this morning. Must have thought I would be easy pickings, being here by myself. Guess we showed him, huh?”
“Rion….” Piper sighed, not sure of what kind of reaction she would get from what she was about to say. “You can’t keep avoiding her, you know. She’s still your sister.”

“I’m not avoiding anyone. I’m just…. I….” Rion swallowed hard. “I need to change. Meet you guys next door in a few?”

Prue shook her head as she watched her little sister run up the stairs. “OK, what just happened here? First she won’t let you touch her. Then she refuses to use her powers.” She shook her head. “What’s going on?”
Piper sighed. “I wish I knew, Prue. I wish I knew.” She started toward the stairs. “But I know one way to find out.”

“Oh no you don’t.” Prue caught her by the arm.
“What are you doing?”
“I want to know what’s up with her just as much as you do, but now is not the time. We both have to finish getting ready for….” She couldn’t bring herself to finish her sentence.
“You’re right.” Piper looked wistfully up the stairs. “But we can’t put this off forever.”
“And we won’t. We’ll get both our little sisters through this, Piper.” Prue put her arm around her. “I promise.”

Piper let herself be led away, hoping Prue was right.

“Ant down!”

Seth couldn’t help but grin at the squirming mass in his lap. “Nope. Sorry little missy. Your Mommy said….”

Tricia looked at him over her shoulder. “Momma?”
“Yes, Momma.”

Seth paused for a moment, caught off guard by how truly beautiful his little girl was. Just like her mother. What would he do without them in his life? How would he react if one or both of them were suddenly ripped away from him?

“Momma?” Tricia prodded him.
Seth shook his head, snapping himself out of his morbid thoughts. “Will have both our hides if I let you get all messy.” He tickled her. “Especially after the fit you threw earlier.”

Tricia belly laughed as he intensified his attack, his fingers moving from her legs to her ribs and back again. For a split second it struck him how out of place her laughter seemed in the otherwise tomb like house and he thought about stopping. But the gleam in her eye told him to keep going. As callous as it seemed, life had to go on. They couldn’t stop living just because Cole was gone. So he let his daughter enjoy herself.

He realized she was launching herself off his lap a split second too late to stop her. He opened his mouth to scold her but his voice never came out. Not once he saw where she was going. Or rather, who she was going to. Standing just inside the living room doorway was Rion.

“An Ion!”

Tricia’s excited tone broke the momentary silence. She latched onto her aunt’s leg, but Rion didn’t even seem to notice. She was too busy staring at him. Seth suddenly felt uncomfortable, his mind reeling at how much she had changed since he last saw her.

Memories of three nights before raced through his mind. Coming home extremely late from his conference, expecting Piper or Phoebe to read him the riot act for not taking ten seconds out of his busy day to call and let them know he had been conned into doing his own lectures and those of a friend who had to go out of town at the last minute. Opening the door to find Prue, Piper and Phoebe on the couch, the older Halliwells trying to comfort the youngest as she sobbed uncontrollably. Prue coming to him, telling him the events of the day through her own tears. Rion slipping away seemingly unnoticed as Phoebe’s weak voice called out for her husband.

That was the last time he had seen her. A fleeting glance as she moved noiselessly through the kitchen and out the back door. She had looked bad then. A lost little girl dressed in borrowed demon garb, the weight of the world on her shoulders. Now she looked downright ghastly. Pale, unkempt, her eyes devoid of any and all emotion. If he didn’t see Tricia pulling on her pant leg with his own eyes, he might of thought she was a ghost.

“An Ion!!”

Tricia’s voice was impatient as she tried once again to get her aunt’s attention but Rion still didn’t answer. Seth swallowed hard, the haunted look in her eyes making the big brother-in-law in him want to pull her into a hug. But he knew her well and didn’t want to run the risk of getting his ass kicked.

“Hey.” The sound of his own voice startled him.

Rion didn’t answer. Hell, she barely even nodded as she suddenly averted her gaze, refusing to look him in the eye. Now what was he supposed to do? Try to make small talk? He looked to the stairs hoping someone, anyone, would come to his rescue. Even a demon showing up would be preferable to what he had now.

He mentally kicked himself. Could he be more of an insensitive lout? There was his sister-in-law, obviously in need of some kind of human contact and he was praying for a demon visit. Of course Tricia was standing right in front of her demanding her attention and getting nowhere. If his daughter couldn’t get through to Rion, how was he supposed to?

“You’re my doctor, right?”

He nodded, trying not to show how shocked he was to hear her speak. “Yes.”
“Then anything I say is just between us? The whole doctor-patient confidentiality thing?”

He frowned as he continued to nod.

“Same goes for any….” Rion’s brow furrowed slightly as she thought. “Procedures, right? I mean you can’t tell my sisters unless I want you to?”
“Of course.” His heart was hammering in his chest. Was she about to open up to him? “Look, Rion, whatever it is you know you can….” His voice trailed off when he saw her already pallid complexion get even paler. “Rion?”

It was like looking in a mirror as he turned to see what had spooked her. Phoebe had just stepped into the room from the dining room with the same pale, unkempt appearance. The same emotionless eyes. The same ‘let’s get this over with’ air about her. It broke his heart to see them like that. One normally full of life sister-in-law turning into a zombie was more than enough, but two….

“I…. I’ll….” Rion stammered. “I’m gonna wait by the car.” With that she turned and practically sprinted out of the house.

He could sense Phoebe’s glare without actually looking at her. It was like an invisible force in the room. But it wasn’t directed at him. No, it was meant for one person and one person only. He couldn’t blame Rion for wanting to get away from it.

“Whoa there chicky poo. Where do you think you’re going?”

Seth breathed a silent sigh of relief when he heard Piper’s voice.

“An Ion.” Tricia pointed toward the front door as Piper carried her into the living room, Leo right behind her with the baby cradled in his arms. “Ant an Ion!”

Piper cocked an eyebrow at Seth for an explanation.

“Rion was in here.” He nodded ever so slightly toward Phoebe. “But she decided to go wait outside.”

“Who did?” Prue spoke as she came down the stairs.
“Rion.” Leo answered.
“Oh.” Prue cast a glance at Phoebe, her voice low. “Did they….”
“No.” Seth shook his head. “Not a word from either of them.”
“Damn it.” Prue sighed.
“I second that.” Piper rubbed Tricia’s back.
“Give them time.” Leo tried to be the voice of reason. “They’ll work it out.”

The chiming of the grandfather clock startled all of them.

“Come on, Piper.” Prue took her daughter, handing her to Seth before taking her sister by the hand. “It’s time.”

The heavy veil of grief fell over the room again as they went to their baby sister, each of them hugging her before taking her hands in theirs and leading her toward the door.

Seth shared a look with Leo as they followed, knowing his brother-in-law was thinking the same thing as him. It might be time to say goodbye to Cole, but it didn’t seem like anything was coming to an end. As a matter of fact, he couldn’t shake the feeling that things were just getting started.
Matt squinted against the intensity of the midmorning sun, finally raising his hand to shield his eyes as he scanned the parking lot before him. So far only two cars were there, his and Victor’s. He cast a glance at the older man, not surprised to find he was still doing a damn fine job of inspecting his shoes. Not a word had passed between them since Victor pulled up a few minutes after him. But at a time like this, what were they supposed to do? Compare notes on what the girls had told them on the phone?

He could tell Victor was as upset as he was about not being there for the girls when they needed them. Probably more so. He was their father after all. But at least he had a good excuse. Being overseas on business made it a little difficult to get home right away. Not that his own excuse wasn’t just as good.

After finally taking the officer’s exam he had been promoted from uniformed beat cop to inspector. And as the rookie inspector, he got the crappy jobs. Like staking out the house of one of the girlfriends of the biggest drug dealer in the city on the off chance that he might show up. Vice wasn’t really his cup of tea, but a new ordinance in the police department called for all new inspectors to spend at least two months in each of the force’s divisions so they would be better informed when it came to choosing where they wanted to be placed. So for now he spent the dark of night in a car with a senior member of the vice squad who always pigged out on Chinese, knowing it would come back to haunt him and the light of day in the squad room trying to keep up with a mountain of paperwork his fellow inspectors needed help with.

That’s where he was when Prue called. Stuck behind a desk, his head in his hands as he tried to decipher someone else’s chicken scratch on an arrest report. He had wanted to go to them right then and there, but he knew there wasn’t a chance in hell his superiors would let him leave. The Halliwells weren’t his family. Not by blood anyway. At least one of the other guys had agreed to trade with him so he could be here today.

The sound of tires on pavement drew him out of his thoughts. The limousines seemed oddly out of place as they came to a stop beside the abandoned snack bar. Like some big super star had been craving a hot dog and asked his or her driver to pull over, not knowing this particular stretch of beach wasn’t open to the public anymore. Of course the limos being there wasn’t any stranger than having a funeral at the beach. But this wasn’t really a funeral. It was more of a send off.

A voice in the back of his head told him to stop rambling. The door opening on one of the limos was more than enough to motivate him to listen. His heart tightened in his chest as he watched Phoebe climb out of the car, followed closely by Prue and Piper. He frowned when Piper shut the door behind her. Where the hell was Rion? That’s when he notices her getting out of the passenger side of the other limo. Not out of the back with Leo and Seth, out of the front. What could she have possibly been doing up there?

He felt Victor’s hand on his shoulder giving it a gentle squeeze as the people he had come to love walked toward them. Like he thought before, he might not be related to them by blood, but they were still his family. He fell into step next to Rion, reaching for her hand to offer what support he could. But she pulled her own hand away, giving him a ‘don’t try it again’ look before returning her attention to watching her sisters, who were walking a few feet in front of them. Prue had said something about things being a little tense at the house, but what he had just seen went beyond tense. He stayed beside her though, determined not to let her scare him off.

Phoebe led them all down to the water’s edge, taking a moment for herself before turning to face them.

“I know you’re probably wondering what we’re doing here. I mean, Cole hardly seemed like the beach going type. But he loved it here. I don’t know if it was because I liked it so much or what, but he….” She swallowed hard, her brown eyes filling with tears. “We came here a lot. So it seemed fitting to bring his….” Her voice cracked. “To bring him here.”

She looked down at the object clutched in her hands. “He, uh…. He told me more than once that he didn’t want to be buried. Something about being six feet under freaked him out. So here he is.”

Her right hand shook as she reached for the lid of the urn grasped in her left. Matt could see it was taking everything Piper and Prue had not to step forward and help her. But they knew this was something she had to do on her own.

“I….” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she let the ashes inside sprinkle into the water lapping at her feet. “Some people spend their whole lives searching for the one they’re meant to be with. I was fortunate enough to find my best friend, husband and soul mate in you Cole. I love you so much.” She knelt down, her hand barely skimming the surface of the water as she spoke. “But this isn’t goodbye. I’ll always….” Her shoulders shook as she sobbed. “Have you in my heart.”

Prue stepped forward, putting the flower in her hand adrift in the water as she knelt beside her sister. “It’s no secret that I didn’t like you at first Cole. I thought you were nothing but bad news.” A lone tear streaked down her cheek. “But you made my sister happy. Truly happy. And for that I will be eternally grateful.” She placed her hand on top of Phoebe’s. “I’ll miss you.”

Piper’s tears were already falling as she moved to join her sisters. “I don’t know what to say. Of all the people who have come into our lives, I never imagined you would go away.” Her flower bobbed after Prue’s as she knelt down at Phoebe’s other side. “Thank you for being there. For protecting us. For doing everything you could for my little girl. If it’s all right with Phoebe I’d like to name her Melinda Colleen. In honor of you.”
Phoebe put down the urn, using her now free hand to grip Piper’s. “He would have loved that.”
Fresh tears fell from Piper’s eyes as she put her other hand over Prue and Phoebe’s. “I’ll miss you too.”

Matt felt moisture on his own cheeks as he looked to Rion, expecting her to go next. But she didn’t. She just stood there, staring at her sisters until Victor took a half step closer to her.

“Rion?”

She jumped at the sound of his voice, sparing him a tearful glance before finally stepping forward timidly.

“I….” She closed her eyes, the poor flower in her hands drooping over as she squeezed its stem. “I can’t do this.” She opened her eyes again and shook her head. “I’m… I’m sorry.” She didn’t direct her apology at anyone in particular. “I can’t do this.”

“Yes, you can.” Phoebe looked up at her coldly.
“No, I can’t.”
“YES you can.” Phoebe pulled away from her big sisters, turning on Rion as she stood. “And you will. Today is about Cole. Not us.”
“I know but….”
“I’m not about to let you turn this into a poor Rion moment. Get over here and say your goodbyes, NOW!!”

“Phoebe….”

“Don’t even try it, Prue.” Phoebe cut her sister off before she could say anything more. “You let him down enough when he was alive, Rion. I’m not about to let you let him down again.”

“Phoebe!”

“No, Piper….” It was Rion who interrupted their big sister this time. “She’s right. Only I did more than just let him down. I let him die.”
“Which doesn’t matter right now.” Phoebe growled. “What matters is that you show him the respect he deserves!”
“I’m trying to.” Rion shook her head. “But how can I show him respect when I don’t even respect myself anymore.”
“By getting up here and saying your goodbye!”

Phoebe’s hand on her arm was obviously something Rion wasn’t expecting. She quickly pulled away.

“You want to know what I would say? Fine, I’ll tell you.” Rion looked toward the spot where Phoebe had poured the ashes. “I’m sorry, Cole. Sorry you loved me like the sister you never had. Sorry we shared all those late night cookie feasts and talks about the future.” Tears spilled from her eyes. “Sorry that I had the chance to save you and blew it.”

Silence enveloped the group as Rion and Phoebe continued to stare at each other.

“You now,” Phoebe finally spoke again, her voice barely audible. “I think you were right. You don’t deserve to be here. You let my husband die. For that I can never forgive you. I can’t stand to be in the same room as you, let alone the same city!”

With that she turned and ran toward the limos, quickly climbing into one. She barely had the door shut behind her before the driver took off with a squeal of tires.

“I’m sorry, Cole.” Rion threw the flower in her hand into the water. “Truly sorry.”

“Rion….”

“Don’t, Piper.” Rion looked at her big sister sadly. “I don’t deserve anyone’s pity right now. You and Prue, you need to go find Phoebe.” She turned and started up the beach away from them, throwing an, “I need some time alone” over her shoulder before breaking into a sprint.


“So you’ll let us know as soon as you hear something?”

Seth slowed his pace as he neared the couch, keeping one eye on Prue and the other on the tray of coffee in his hands. He put it down and sat on the couch, directing all of his attention on his wife as she paced behind the couch, the cordless phone tight against her ear.

“I know I don’t have to ask. It’s just a force of habit.” Prue smiled weakly. “Yeah, one of those momma bear things.” She listened for a moment. “OK, thanks, Matt. For everything.”

Piper looked up at her anxiously as she hung up. “Well?”

Prue sighed as she sat down next to Seth. “Apparently the limo companies in town make it a policy to lo-jack their cars. Matt managed to pull a few strings with one of the guys on the force who knows the owner of the limo service we used today. They should have a location on the limo in a little while.”
Seth frowned. “Couldn’t they just call the driver?”
Piper rolled her eyes. “Phoebe can be VERY persuasive when she wants to be. One bat of those big brown eyes and she can wrap just about anyone around her little finger.”
Prue nodded. “Especially unsuspecting sweethearts like the guy driving our limo. He has probably agreed to take her to Tijuana by now.”
Seth looked back and forth between them. “Wonder where she gets that from?”

Piper ignored the comment. “What about Rion?”
Prue shook her head. “Matt has every cop in town keeping an eye out for her, but so far no one has seen her.”
“Let me guess….” Seth looked between them again. “Rion’s as good at hiding as Phoebe is at wrapping people around her finger?” The looks he got as an answer made him raise his eyebrows. “That bad, huh? Sorry I asked.”

A shrill cry from overhead made them all look up.

“Someone’s hungry.”
Piper nodded. “I better get her. She loves her daddy, but sometimes she just wants her mommy. Yell if you hear anything.”
Prue nodded. “I will.”
Piper stopped halfway out of the room, pointing at her sister. “And I mean anything.”
“I will. Go feed my niece.”

Seth watched his wife as she sighed and leaned against the back of the couch. “I don’t know how you do it.”
Prue frowned at him. “What?”
“Putting up a front like you did just now with Piper. Making it seem like everything is peachy keen when I know you’re worried sick.”
“Well wouldn’t you be? I mean, my sister who just lost her husband took off in a limo and my other sister, who went through who knows what in the underworld, seems to have disappeared into thin air.”

Seth put his arms around her, pulling her to him so that her back was resting against his chest. “They’ll both be fine, Prue.”
“I’m not so sure about that, Seth.” Prue leaned against him heavily, letting him hold her up. “Not this time.”
“What’s so different this time? I’ve seen them fight a million times before.”
“But never over anything as big as this. And Phoebe said something she can never take back. She said she couldn’t forgive Rion. I know eventually they’ll make up, but that one sentence will haunt them forever. Trust and forgiveness are the cornerstone of any good sisterly relationship. Without them, you might as well just be friends.”
“What about love?”

Prue got a far away look in her eyes. “We’re sisters, Seth. The love is always there. But the trust and forgiveness…. That’s something you have to work at. I learned that the hard way with Phoebe a long time ago. But not until I almost lost her for good.”

Silence enveloped them as Seth let her words sink in. He finally tightened his grip on her, whispering, “We have all that, right?” in her ear.
Prue turned to look at him. “What?”
“Love and trust and forgiveness. We have all that?”
“Of course we do.” Prue snaked her arm around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss. “All that and more.”

Seth hated when she pulled out of the kiss but was more than content to cuddle with her as they watched Tricia playing quietly with her toys on the floor.

“I love you, Seth.”
“I love you too, Prue.” Seth buried his cheek against the top of her head. “I love you too.”

*************

Piper looked down at Melinda, still finding it hard to believe that her daughter was actually there. That she could hold her and take care of her and love her.

“Whoa there, little missy.” Piper pulled the bottle from between her daughter’s lips. “Time to burp.”

She hoisted the tiny girl to her shoulder, patting her gently on the back. Some people had babies that took forever to eat a bottle. But not their Melinda. She didn’t eat, she inhaled. Just like Phoebe and Rion.

Thoughts of her little sisters brought tears to her eyes. She couldn’t stand the thought of them being out there all alone. It made her want to hold them like she was Melinda. Then maybe they would realize they weren’t alone. That there was someone out there who loved them.

“You two have got to be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

Piper turned when she heard her husband’s voice, all the hope draining from her eyes when she saw the look on his face. “They didn’t tell you anything, did They?”
“No, They didn’t.” Leo sighed. “It’s not demon related so They think Rion and Phoebe should work through it on their own.”

“Wait a second….” Piper stood up from the bed and started pacing, never breaking the rhythm she had going on her daughter’s back. “You’re telling me that Cole being killed by a Darklighter isn’t demon related enough for Them?”
“They think his death has very little to do with what’s going on with Phoebe and Rion.”
“Then They don’t know sisters, do They?”

Leo walked over to her, putting one arm around her shoulders as he used the other to rub their daughter’s back.

“Maybe not, but you do. And you know that Rion and Phoebe can’t stay mad at each other for very long. Maybe they’re out there somewhere right now, making up on a park bench.”

“I don’t think so, Leo. I wish it was like that, but it’s not.” Tears stung her eyes. “What if they never make up? What if they distance themselves and never speak again?”
“A vow of silence from the Bobsey twins? We wouldn’t be that lucky.”
Piper nudged him with her elbow. “I’m being serious.”
“Me too.”

Leo watched her as she looked at her shoes, fresh tears filling her already watery eyes. “I didn’t mean anything by it, Piper. They might not know Phoebe and Rion, but I do. At least well enough to know they’re not going to let something little like this get between them.”

They both jumped when the phone rang. Piper pulled away from husband and made a beeline for downstairs, leaving Leo behind.

“Who was it?” The question slipped out before she even had a chance to realize she was about to speak.

Prue looked at her. “It was Matt. The limo company finally found their car. And….”
Piper motioned at her. “And what?”
“They finally spotted Rion.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Piper kissed Melinda on the cheek as she handed her to Leo.

Prue looked to Seth. “Can you two….?”

Seth waved away her question before she could even finish asking. “Go.”
Leo nodded. “Definitely. We can handle things here for a while.”

“Good.” Prue was already halfway to the door, her hand gripping Piper’s tightly. “Because I think this might take a while.” She looked at Piper. “Are you ready for this?”

Piper shook her head. “Probably not, but I’m willing to give it a try. You take Pheebs and I’ll take Rion?”
Prue nodded. “Sounds good to me.”

Seth shared a look with Leo as they walked out the door, hoping they would have all the sisters back home soon.

Prue bit her lip as she stopped the car and put it in park. She should have known this was where Phoebe would be. She opened her door and climbed out, squaring her shoulders as she started toward the limo.

“Oh damn.”

She saw the color drain from the driver’s face as he caught sight of her.

“You’re not going to press kidnapping charges or anything, are you?”

Under different circumstances the innocence of his question would have made her smile. This evening she just shook her head.

“Of course not.”
The driver breathed a sigh of relief. “Good to know.” He lowered his eyes before glancing back up at Prue. “I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. She was just so upset and I wanted to help. So I did the only thing I could.” He looked at the barely visible figure a good fifty yards away. “I drove her around.”

Prue followed his gaze, her heart breaking when she saw the silhouette of her baby sister.

“We went back to the beach for a little while, then she asked me to bring her here. I know I shouldn’t have turned my cell off, but she said she needed some time alone and she knew you would be looking for her.” The driver swallowed hard. “I don’t think she should be alone anymore.”

“You’re right. She shouldn’t.” Prue extended her hand to the driver. “Thanks for taking such good care of her. I’ve got it from here.”

The driver took her hand in both of his. “At least I know I’m leaving her in good hands.” He smiled as he grabbed his jacket and black hat from the hood of the car. “Take good care of each other.”

Prue watched him climb back in the car, giving him a little wave as he drove away. She wiped at the tears on her cheeks as she turned and started toward her sister. She couldn’t afford to be an emotional wreck right now. Phoebe was the one who deserved that privilege.

“I wish you were here.”

She paused as she came up behind her sister, those simple words breaking her heart even more.

“You know she would be if she could, sweetie.”

Phoebe jumped. “You found me.”
“Yeah.” Prue nodded. “It wasn’t easy, believe me.”
“I….” Phoebe turned her tear streaked face toward her sister. “I didn’t mean to worry anyone.” Fresh tears feel. “The last thing I want to do is hurt you or Piper.”

Prue noticed the absence of Rion’s name in her sister’s sentiment but decided not to call her on it. Rion was a subject she was going to have to be very careful with.

“You didn’t, baby.” She knelt next to Phoebe, drawing her into a hug. “I can’t say we weren’t worried sick, but I’ve got you now and that’s all that matters.”
“I just….” Phoebe clung to her. “I needed some time.”

They sat there, oldest holding youngest. Prue wracked her brain, trying to come up with something to say. Something that would take away a little of her sister‘s pain. But no words of wisdom would come to mind. As a matter of fact, the only thing she could think about was how good it felt to hold her baby safe and sound in her arms.

“Did you mean what you said earlier?” Phoebe didn’t make a move to look at Prue as she spoke. “About her being here?”
“Of course I did.” Prue looked down at the headstone before them. “The Elders probably had to tie her to a chair to keep her from sneaking away to be here with you.”
“The Elders.” Phoebe growled her words. “They’re always doing something to mess up our lives.”
“Everyone knows I would be the last one to defend Them, but this is one time I agree with what They are doing. They were attacked in their own home. You can’t blame them for being cautious now. Maybe overly cautious, but still….”

Prue wondered if she had gone too far when Phoebe moved away from her and started staring at the headstone again. The last thing she wanted to do was push her sister away. The last few days had been a blur of Phoebe needing her one minute and needing to be alone the next. She realized it was all part of the healing process after losing someone you loved, but she couldn’t stand the thought of her sister being in pain and her not being there to comfort her.

“It’s not fair, Prue.”

She looked up when she heard Phoebe’s barely audible voice.

“I know we’ve all said it a million times before, but it really isn’t fair.”
“What isn’t sweetie?”
“Losing the people we love.” Phoebe’s fingers lightly traced the lettering on the stone as she talked. “I mean, what did Mom ever do to deserve to die at such a young age? She gave birth to the Charmed Ones for crying out loud. You would have thought the Elders could at least have given her a second chance. But no. They took her and left us to be raised by Grams. I love Grams, don’t get me wrong. But she wasn’t Mom.”

Prue held her breath, not trusting herself to breathe for fear she would say something to interrupt Phoebe and knock her off her train of thought.

“And now there’s Cole.” Phoebe’s voice cracked on his name. “We were supposed to be together forever. Have kids. Grow old. Get rid of our fair share of demons along the way. But yet again all that was ripped away.” She clutched the grass on her mother’s grave tightly. “When does it stop, Prue?” Her emotions got the better of her again as she looked to her big sister for an answer. “When do we finally get to live happily ever after?”

“I don’t know, honey.” Prue pulled her into another hug. “Sometimes I wonder if happily ever after even exists. And whenever I do, I think of all the innocents we protect. Of all the happily ever afters we may or may not help set into motion.”
“But it seems like there are a thousand sacrifices for every little bit of good we do. When will the scales finally stop tipping?”

Prue swallowed hard, knowing her sister probably wasn’t going to like what she was about to say. “Do you realize that without Cole’s sacrifice, Melinda wouldn’t be here? By going up there and taking on those Darklighters, he started a happily ever after for Piper and Leo. Thanks to him, they have a little girl. A beautiful part of the next generation of Charmed Ones. Think of all the good she will do in the future.”

“I know, I just….” Phoebe started to cry again. “I miss him Prue. I miss him so much it hurts!”
“Come here, baby.” Prue put her arms around her again. “I know it hurts. And no matter what anyone tells you, that pain will never completely go away. But that doesn’t mean things don’t get better. They do. You just have to give yourself time. And remember that Cole will always be a part of you.”

Phoebe clung to her again, sobs ripping through her body. Prue did the only thing she could.

She held her tight.



Piper squinted at the crumpled up piece of paper in her hand, knowing she had to have the wrong place. But no matter how hard she started at the numbers, Prue’s perfect handwriting didn’t change. She reached for her phone, intent on calling Matt to double check the address when she saw an all too familiar figure standing in a crowd of guys. She had lost the jacket that went with her dress pants, but she would have recognized those Nikes doubling as dress shoes anywhere. Her breath caught in her chest as Rion threw her head back, laughing out loud at something one of they guys had said. Her little sister could barely stand to be in the same room with her but was laughing it up with a group of strangers?

She scrambled out of the Jeep when she saw them heading toward the building behind them, but only made it halfway across the parking lot before the disappeared inside. She cursed her luck as she continued to follow them. The wide array of motorcycles in the parking lot told her this wasn’t really the kind of place you wanted to go when you were female and alone. But what choice did she have?

The blast of music that slammed into her as she opened the door ripped the thoughts right out of her head. She recognized the tune as “Bad To The Bone” as she ventured inside, intent on finding her sister and getting out of there as quickly as possible.

Her skin crawled when she felt half the eyes in the room turn in her direction. She expected the music to come to a screeching halt as the rest of the bar joined them in their scrutiny. But it didn’t. A few of the stares lingered, but everyone else went back to what they were doing, leaving her to go about her busy.

“Did it hurt?”

She spun around when she heard the voice behind her, finding herself face to face with a barrel-chested, balding hulk of a man.

“Excuse me?”
“I asked if it hurt.” The man took a step closer to her, his breath caressing her cheek as he spoke again. “Did it hurt? You know, when you fell from heaven.”

“I can’t speak for the angel….”

Piper jumped when she heard Rion’s voice right next to her.

“But I can guarantee you it’ll hurt like hell if you don’t get out of her face right now.”
The man glared at her. “And who are you?”
“Her sister.” Rion returned his glare. “Her very protective, can kick your ass ten ways from Sunday, sister.”

“Rion….”

Piper tried to put her hand on her sister’s arm but Rion pulled away, somehow managing to squeeze into the almost nonexistent space between the man and her sister and still look intimidating. The man held her gaze for a minute longer before looking away.

“Ah, the bitch probably isn’t worth the aggravation anyway.”

“Rion!” Piper grabbed her sister as she lunged after the man.
“Someone needs to teach him some manners!”
Piper wrinkled her nose when she caught a whiff of her sister’s breath. “You’re drunk.”
Rion frowned. “No I’m not!”
“Oh yes you are.” Piper shook her head.

“Is everything all right over here?”

“Hiya Roy.” Rion smiled at another man as he approached them.
“Is this woman giving you a hard time?”
Rion snorted. “Piper? No way.” She wiggled free of sister’s grip and slung her arm around her shoulders. “This is my sister. But that guy over there.” She pointed in the general vicinity the man had gone. “The Mister Clean wannabe. Someone needs to teach him a lesson.” She suddenly cocked her head. “And I’m really thirsty.”

“Hi, I’m Roy Masters.”
Piper automatically shook the proffered hand as she watched her little sister stagger toward the bar. “Piper Halliwell.”
“You own P3, right?”
“Yes,” Piper looked at him more closely. “I do.”
“Don’t be so shocked.” Roy grinned. “This place may not seem like much, but it’s all I’ve got. So I tend to keep up with the clubs in town.” He nodded toward the bar. “And don’t worry, I told Billy not to give her any more to drink. She’s had more than enough.”
Piper watched as her sister tried to sit on a bar stool, missed and nearly fell down, managing to look graceful the whole time. “Ya think?”

“She came roaring in here on her Harley earlier.”
Piper cocked an eyebrow. “Harley?”
“Yeah.”
“She doesn’t have a Harley.”
“She does now. Brand new.” Roy held up one hand. “But I already took her keys and had Billy hide it in the storage shed out back. Anyway,” he continued his story. “She came flying in here. Got the regulars all shook up by playing ‘Highway To Hell’ on the jukebox first thing. By the time ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ came on, the whole place was on its feet dancing.”
“I’m sorry if she….”
“Are you kidding? We haven’t had someone that lively in here in ages.” Roy smiled. “It makes for a refreshing change.”

Piper glanced at Rion again in time to see her dangling a cherry in front of her, running her tongue around its outside as she waggled her eyebrows suggestively at a man sitting on the barstool next to hers.

“Oh!” Piper hurried toward her, knocking the cherry away before the man’s girlfriend could climb off her barstool. “I think it’s time to go, Rion.”
“Hey!” Rion pouted as she looked at the cherry, which was now laying on the floor. “I was just trying to have some fun.”
“Well you can have all the fun you want at home.”
“No!” Rion pulled away from her again. “I’m old enough to decide when I want to go home and when I don’t. And right now I DON’T!”

“Why don’t you take her to my office?” Roy was suddenly beside them again. “Give her a chance to cool off a little before you try to put her in a car.”
“Thanks.” Piper gave him a grateful look, knowing there was no way she would get Rion out the door if she didn’t want to go.
“Don’t mention it.” Roy waved her off. “Any friend of Jenna’s is a friend of mine.”

Piper frowned but let the comment go as Rion started to reach for another cherry. “Oh no you don’t.” She took her sister by the shoulders, turning her in the direction Roy had indicated. “Let’s go.”
Rion frowned. “Where are we going?”
“To the back.”
“Why?”
“Because you need to….”
“Why?”
“Rion….”
“Why?”
“Because I said to!” Piper growled.
“OK, geez.” Rion rolled her eyes. “There’s no need to get your panties in a twist.”

Piper followed her, amazed at how many people said hi to her sister and called her by name. Rion must have made one hell of an impression. Most of the people at P3 were lucky to remember to call you “hey you.”

“In here.” Piper grabbed her sister’s arm as she started to walk past the office.
“I know.” Rion tore her arm away and walked into the room. “I’m not four, Piper. I DO know what an office….” Her voice trailed off. “Looks like.”
Piper came to a stop beside her, taking in the picture her sister was staring at. “Is that?”
Rion nodded. “Jenna.”

Piper drank in the girls features. “I wonder how she’s going up there. I bet Grams drives her crazy.”
“No one’s doing anything to her anymore.”
Piper gave her sister a look. “What?”
“No one’s doing anything to her anymore.” Rion repeated herself. “She’s dead.”
“I know honey, but….”
“No, Piper, I mean dead dead. As in no more spirit dead. As in I sucked her right up dead.”

Piper frowned. “Rion, what are you talking about?”

Rion paced away from her. “She was with me. Jenna. When I was in the underworld.”
“Oh no.” Piper wore a pained expression. “Did a demon….”
“Nope.” Rion shook her head. “It was me.”
Piper’s frown came back. “You?”
Rion nodded. “Sammael had me fighting demons. I kicked some major ass and was about to see what rewards he had to offer when one of the demons I thought was out of commission threw an energy ball. I can’t be sure but I think….” She shifted uncomfortably. “I think it might have broken my back.”

“What?!” Piper gripped her sister’s chin to make her look her in the eye. “I think you need to say that again.”

Rion squirmed away from her. “I said I think it broke my back. Whatever…. The next thing I know I’m watching my whole life flash before my eyes and there’s Jenna. It took everything she had to help me heal myself.”
Piper looked confused. “What do you mean by everything?”
“Just what I said.” Rion shrugged. “It took Jenna everything she had to help me. I….” She swallowed hard. “I was dying, Piper. I was dying and she came to help and I used her up.”

“Slow down, Rion.” Piper led her sister to a nearby chair. “What do you mean you used her up?”
“I mean I used her up. As in she was trying to give me energy enough to start to heal and instead of taking a little, I took it all. Now she’s in here.” Rion pointed at her chest.

Silence enveloped the room.

“I didn’t remember what happened until I went to help Cole and froze.” Rion wiped angry at the tears on her cheeks.
“Let me get this straight.” Piper shook her head, trying to get her thoughts in order. “You got hurt fighting some demons and Jenna gave her essence to save you?” Her heart broke as her sister nodded sadly. “Oh, Rion….”

“Don’t!” Rion pulled her hand away. “I could use you up too.”
“Rion….”
“No, Piper. I already did away with one family member this week, I don’t think I want to go for two.” Rion shook her head. “You have NO idea what it feels like to have someone else’s presence inside you. To know that you’re doing something because they like to do it. Take this bar for example. Does this look like the kind of place I would frequent? No,” she answered for her sister, “but Jenna’s picture is hanging on the owner’s wall. He gave me a couple of free drinks just because I knew her.”
“Rion, I….”

“And as if doing away with Jenna wasn’t enough, I let Cole die.” Tears were streaming down Rion’s cheeks as she spoke. “Sat right there and watched him slip away because I couldn’t stand the thought of using my powers to help him. All I had to do was pull the arrow out.” She slammed her fist into the wall. “Why didn’t I pull the arrow out?!!”

Piper went to her little sister, wrapping her arms around her from behind. She tightened her grip when Rion started to struggle.

“Let go, Piper.”
“Not a chance, Rion.”
“But….”
“You’re not going to hurt me.”

Rion continued to struggle for a second before turning around, throwing her arms around Piper as she buried her head on her sister’s shoulder. “I love you.”

Piper closed her eyes as she rubbed Rion’s back, relieved to know she had gotten through to her. “I love you too, baby. I love you too.”


“Thanks.”

Prue frowned when she heard the barely audible sound. She pulled back and looked at her baby sister. “Did you say something?”
Phoebe nodded as she wiped at the tears on her cheeks. “I said thanks.”
“For what, sweetie?”
“For being here. For listening to me rant.” Phoebe shrugged awkwardly. “For being my sister.”

Prue smiled. “Anytime, kiddo.” She tucked Phoebe’s hair behind her ear, letting her hand linger on her sister’s cheek. “I love you.”
Phoebe put her hand over Prue’s. “I love you more.”

The familiar phrase slipped out before she even realized it was coming. The color leaked from her cheeks as memories that weighed so heavily on her heart bombarded her. It was a game she and Cole would play. Especially if they were feeling particularly amorous. One of them would look the other in the eye and say ‘I love you’ with such conviction it sent chills down both their spines. The other would grin and say ‘I love you more’ as they removed an article of clothing. It went back and forth like that until they were either naked or just couldn’t stand it anymore and jumped in bed. Afterwards they would lay in each other’s arms, no more words needed as they enjoyed being together.

Her heart broke a little more when she realized she would never have that again. Never hear his laugh. Never feel his arms wrapped around her tight. Never look into his eyes and thank God for bringing him into her life.

“Phoebe?”

She looked up when she heard Prue’s concerned tone.

“Are you all right?”

“Yeah.” Phoebe sighed. “Just thinking.”
Prue gripped her hand. “It WILL get a little easier with time.”
“It will?”
“Yeah.” Prue nodded. “Now what do you say we go home?” She offered her sister a hand up as she stood.
“Sounds good.” Phoebe accepted her hand, looking down at their mother’s stone as she let herself be pulled into a standing position. “Bye Mom. I love you.”

Prue put her arm around her as they made their way back to the car. She glanced at Phoebe, knowing now was hardly the time to bring up Rion. But something had to be said before they got home.

“Pheebs?”
“Huh?”
“Can I ask you something?”
Phoebe squeezed her hand. “Sure.”
“I was…. I just….” Prue sighed. “How long is this thing with you and Rion going to go on?”

Prue felt Phoebe tense but kept going. “I know deep down in your heart you don’t really blame her for what happened to Cole. She loved him too.”

Phoebe clinched her jaw. “She sure had a funny way of showing it.”
“Phoebe….”
“I really don’t want to talk about it!”

Phoebe pulled away, taking the lead as they neared the car.

“Fine.” Prue shook her head. “But she’s still your sister. And whether you realize it or not, you need her.”

*************

Piper frowned when she felt Rion moving. She had no idea how long it had been since they moved to the couch in Roy’s office, Rion finally calmed down enough to let her keep her in her arms. Not that it really mattered. She could hold one of her sister’s forever.

“Going somewhere?”
“Yeah.” Rion grunted her response as she started to push herself up off the couch. “”The little girls room is….” She only made it into a half standing position before falling back down next to her sister. “Gonna have to wait.” She let her head drop forward into her hands. “Who set the room on spin cycle?”
“Probably the booze you had earlier.”
“You might be right.” Rion squeezed her eyes shut. “Remind me to drop a thank you note to Mr. Daniels and Mr. Cuervo. They’re doing a hell of a job.”

Piper wanted to comfort her, but she wasn’t sure of her sister’s mood. Sure they had just been cuddling, but Rion had been drinking. And if there was one thing she knew from being a club owner, it was never to mess with someone who was drunk. Not that she would have known where to begin with Rion anyway. She had taken care of Prue after many a wild party when they lived together in college. And she had tucked Phoebe in when she dragged her butt home after a long night of club hopping. But never Rion. She had never even seen her tipsy, let alone smashed.

“Do me a favor?”

Piper looked up, but Rion kept going before she could say anything.

“Give me a good swift kick in the ass if I even so much as think about drinking ever again.”
“Consider my foot up your ass.” Piper rubbed her sister’s back. “I’m just glad you realize it didn’t do any good.”

“You can say that again. I’m sobering up already.” Rion caught the shocked look on Piper’s face and grinned. “Just kidding. I really am sobering up, but that’s not why I don’t want to drink again. Drowning your sorrows never did anyone any good.”
“That sounds like the Rion I know and love.”

Piper’s breath caught in her throat when she caught the faraway look in her sister’s eyes. “What is it, sweetie?”

“You shouldn’t be here.”

Piper frowned. “What?”

“You.” Rion managed to make it to her feet this time. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“And just where should I be?”
“With Phoebe.”

Piper looked at her sister’s back. “Prue’s with Phoebe.”
“You should be too. She needs both of you right now.”
“From what you told me just a few minutes ago, you need someone too.”
Rion shook her head. “I shouldn’t have told you that.”
Piper furrowed her brow. “Excuse me?”

“I said I shouldn’t have told you anything. I used what happened with Jenna as an excuse for letting Cole die. And then I had a ‘pity me’ attack and gave in to that stupid voice in the back of my head that said it would be fun to cut loose for a little while. And now you’re here. You’re here feeling sorry for me when you should be taking care of Phoebe.”

“No.” Piper shot up off the couch. “I’m here because I knew you were hurting. And when you hurt, I hurt. You’re my sister, Rion. I love you.”

“Then you won’t tell Prue or Phoebe.”

Piper looked confused. “What?”

Rion turned to face her again. “I don’t want them to know, Piper. Having you pity me when I don’t deserve it is bad enough.”
“Rion….”
“Promise me.” Rion swallowed hard. “Piper, please. I….” Tears filled her eyes.

“All right.” Piper pulled her into a hug, seeing her so upset almost more than she could stand. “I won’t tell them. But you better come to me when you need to talk.”
“I will.” Rion pulled away from her. “Now can we go home? I have a meeting with a hangover in the morning.”

Piper put her arm around her as they started out of the office.

“But you’ll bring me back tomorrow, right? To get my Harley?”
“If I must.” Piper rolled her eyes. “I still can’t believe you bought one of those death traps.”
“Wait til you see her. She’s blue.”

*************

They pulled into the driveway at the same time. Prue with a still brooding Phoebe and Piper with a not quite sober Rion. The older Halliwells shared a look as they climbed out of their respective vehicles, knowing this was the moment of truth for Rion and Phoebe.

Phoebe made her feelings abundantly clear as she turned on her heel and started across the lawn to the Manor after glaring at Rion.

“Phoebe, wait….” Rion hurried to catch up to her, getting in her way so she couldn’t continue to the house. “I wanted to….”

“Not now, Rion.” Phoebe pushed past her, never looking back as she hurried up the porch stairs.

Rion’s shoulders slumped as she turned to her other sisters. “I’m done. She can come to me when she’s ready.”

Prue sighed as she watched Rion walk next door. “Well, that went well.”
“Yeah.” Piper’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

They linked arms as they walked toward the Manor, knowing they had an extremely long road ahead of them.