Disclaimer: I do not own them they belong to the WB. To Climb for her

Halliwell'a Episology (Year 3)

Do you know what is it like to get hurt? Especially when it comes to breaking a bone? The pain? The tears? And the possibility of facing concern from love ones first, followed by a lecture of doing something so reckless? I didn't know, cause I wasn't the one to break any of mine. It was Prue. And all she did was to climb up a tree to put a nestling back to its nest on one of the branches, at Phoebe's insistence. My 3-year-old little sister found a new-born two wingers right beneath the tree that was a few feet from our driveway. I recalled her running back into the manor yelling,

"PRUE! PIPER! COME HERE!! SEE? I FOUND THIS!!"

We were helping Grams doing some house cleaning then. Phoebe seemed to be not a helping hand around so Grams set most of her toys outside, gave her very specific orders not to go anywhere past the pavement or she would be in big trouble. Phoebe despite her age understood clearly the real seriousness of the word 'Trouble'. We used that often on her, she heard it frequently from us and she is part of it almost day in and out. To be sure, Grams had the manor door opened, so that any of us could see her when we walked to and fro.

"PRUE! PIPER!!" We went half running to her side.
"What? What is it?" Prue asked.
"I found something." The little one answered loudly with her brown eyes sparkling as if a secret was about to be unfold.
"What? What did you find?" I enquired further looking at her little hands thinking that she has it hidden within.
"Come! I show you!!" She held my hands and pulled me towards the door, indicating whatever she found, it was outside.
"Pheebs, we are helping Grams to carry those boxes to the attic. Can you show us later?" Prue seemed not that keen to know what enthusiasms has gotten into our littlest sister. Besides, I knew she was more unwilling to let Grams wait, especially when she hasn't been in the best of health lately. Maybe it was the weather. Anyway, back to Phoebe. Well, she wasn't that happy or about to accept Prue's partial rejection. Her pouting face said it all.
"No! I want you to see it now! I want now Prue! Please Prue!" She said it with such a sad face and pitiful eyes and, if you're guessing, that's right, you got it. Phoebe has got her way into us again and was pulling me in her quick little steps out of the door with Prue right beside. Running down the few flight of steps, she pointed ahead with an eager look. "See?"

Oh yes we saw, a tweeting little brownish sparrow was trying its best to flap its wings, eager to be airborne for probably the first time. But alas, it has to be hurt or something, cause it just won't fly. It was chirping furiously or fearfully away thinking and viewing us as its potential enemies.

"A bird!" I exclaimed aloud and I knew a smile was displayed on my face, a huge one mind you.
"Ya! A bird! See? I found a bird!" Phoebe was as equally excited as Prue and me. The three of us squatted near it.
"Prue?" Why the bird cannot fly?" asked the forever inquisitive one.
"I think its hurt or something."
"No? I think it just fell from the nest up there." I corrected her.
"That's what I mean Piper. It fell from the tree and now its hurt." Prue always has her way with words. The things that she often said overlaps mine.
"Can I put a plaster on the bird?" The little one has her eyes fixed on the chirping bird while she talked.
"You can't Pheebs." Prue was chuckling at her innocence.
"Why cannot? Prue? Why I cannot put a plaster for the bird?" She never runs out of question to ask.
"Because it isn't hurt like we always do, and the bird won't need a plaster too."
"Oh." Concluded the satisfied youngest.
"What do we do?" I asked.
"I dunno."
"Put it back on the tree!" Phoebe squealed a little too loud and excitingly.
"How? We don't have a ladder. Grams can't climb, I can't and Piper can't too."
"I want to climb the tree Prue."
"No you can't." it was a simultaneously response from the both of us.
"Yes I can! I want to put the bird back on the tree! Please?"
"Phoebe, I say no. Grams will scold you if you climb."
"And what if you fall? Look at the tree, it’s so high. How are you going to go up?" I briefed her gently.
"Prue can carry me up."
"Oh, I will?" Prue has an amusing look on her face.

I laughed at her answer, sounded logical and yet back to square one. From inside the house, we heard Grams yelling at us for our absence.

"Ok, tell you what Pheebs. You stay here for a while and watch out for this little bird here. Piper and I will help Grams first, then I'll think of something to help put it back up the tree, all right?"
"Ok." She happily replied as Prue came to a deal with her. And so leaving her there squatting by and watching after the little bird, but not before I reminded her again about not doing a dangerous act, we headed back to the manor and hurriedly carried the last few boxes up. Thankfully, Grams allowed us to go out and play, partly because we were of great assistance, and partly because she was worried about the littlest one outside. Besides, helping her taking care of Phoebe at that age is like taking away a huge stone tied around her ankle.

Before we joined our little sister though, Prue took a detour to our bedroom. From Phoebe's play set, she took out a small basket, and then she headed to Grams room, to her sewing set for some thread. I knew what she had in mind, the only question was, how was it to come in use? Outside, Phoebe was still squatting there looking with eyes transfixed at the little chirping sparrow.

"Pheebs, how is the bird?" I asked, putting my hand around her shoulders.
"The bird keep like this Piper, chip, chip, chip. Why it like that?" She looked at me, her brown eyes shone in great wonder.
"Maybe its scare, maybe it wants to go back onto the tree." Prue answered while fixing the white thread around the handle of the basket and tying it in a firm knot.
"Prue, what are you doing? That is my basket."
"I know Pheebs, but do you want to put the bird back up there?"
"I want."
"See? We will put the bird in the basket, then I'll pull it up and put it back nicely. Use your basket for a while ok?"
"Ok."
"Prue, Grams said we cannot climb trees."
"She's inside, she will not know."
"What if you fall?"
"I won't. I'll be careful."
"But you don't know how to climb a tree."

"So I am climbing one now. I'll tie one end of this string to my hand, its not very high and when I'm up there, I'll pull the basket up, very easy!"
"Are you sure?" I asked sceptically. Something I was to realize at a later age that I was born with it.
"Ya."
"Prue want to climb tree?" The littlest one wanted to know.
"Yes Pheebs, promise you won't tell Grams or I won't help you put the bird back on the tree. Promise?"
"Ya I promise."

A few minutes later, Prue scooped up the tiny bird in her hands and both of us eagerly reached out to touch it. Phoebe was so happy that I thought her smiling face was plastered there since a long time ago. Standing under the tree, I held the basket in my hands while we watched Prue slowly tackled the tree. Up she went, like an amateur, testing each foot she set on, turning her head here and there searching for the best option to hoist herself up. Looking down at Phoebe, the bird was forgotten for she was looking up at her oldest sister performing a never-before-seen act with open mouth and wonder eyes.

Turning to me with one finger pointing at Prue's direction, she said, "See Piper? Prue can climb tree." She grinned and spoke in awe of her.
"Un-huh? But Pheebs, you cannot do that ok?"
"Why I cannot?"
"Because it’s dangerous, you'll get hurt and Grams will scold. And if Grams scold, that means you’re in trouble. Do you want trouble Pheebs?"
"No I don't want trouble." She turned back to the climbing sister, now looking more serious. Good warning from me I thought.

Minutes later, Prue secured a place on one of the branches where the nest was only within her reach, and began to pull up the basket using the thread attached to around her wrist. Again we watched in awe, as the basket slowly made its way upward and swinging sideways. Come to think of it, who's more frightened? Me? Prue? Or the bird? I, for fear the Grams will come out any moment and also afraid that Prue might fall. Prue, I guessed she might feel a little tense about Grams too. All I could see was that she seemed to be enjoying her little adventure up there, cause she was smiling big time. And the bird, if it wasn't frightened, why was it chirping louder and more frequent than before? I left out Phoebe because at age 3, I think she understood the meaning of danger but seeing something that never happened before, and it was her oldest sister in action, I guessed she was in a more admiration mood than any other feelings.

Finally, we watched in silence as Prue put the little bird nicely back into the nest. I forgot the danger and I clapped my hands for Prue's amazing feat and Phoebe followed suit.

"Prue! Come down now! Be very careful!"
"I will!"
Turning to me, Phoebe whispered, "Piper, I want to go up there too."
"I said no Pheebs, you want Grams to know?" That kept her quiet.

Actually, everything was going well, Prue was coming down real smoothly when somehow ego and pride got into her little 8-year-old head. Nearing the ground, she decided to perform another stunning feat.

About halfway, she jumped, thinking that she would be able to land safely on the ground feet first. In fact, she did but then, the silky grasses gave her the slip and down she went. She gave a loud ouch and I could smell trouble like the way I smell anger in the manor, or maybe food. I saw her sitting on the ground holding her right arm and face contorted in great pain. That's it. I rushed into the manor screaming literally for Grams. Soon, we were all on our way to the hospital to get Prue's broken arm fixed. Along the way, she was in great agony but she refused to let loose a tear. It was Phoebe who was crying because she knew Prue was hurting when she couldn't let her touch her arm. She kept her wet eyes on our big sister and I have to hold her in case she flung herself at Prue causing her more pain. The injured one however, was more embarrassed of the panic she stirred in Grams and for having to scare us like that. That was the first time one of us was that physically hurt since Phoebe was born, or actually since mummy's death.

~~~~~~~~~~

(20 years later, Halliwell’s manor, daytime. I saw Prue's car drove nearer and into our driveway. I headed towards her direction as the door opened. Before I could utter a single word, she handed me one grocery bag and then another which she placed on the seat beside hers.)

"Whoa."
"Welcome. I'm in the mood, so I did the marketing on your part. No complains if the brand is not to your liking." She said not even knowing what I have at the tip of my mouth.
"Prue,"
"And oh, everything green should be the freshest, got them as the supply came in."
"Wow, I didn't know you hog supermarket in your spare time honey."
"No I didn't. Got the extra time cause I finished my shooting earlier than expected and my ass-infection boss was so pleased with the results that he has to fix braces on his teeth."
"Huh? Why?"
"To flatter me white and straight."
"Oh, by the way..."
'Wait, give me a second." Prue shut me up before ducking into her car to get her camera bag. Then slamming the door shut, she pulled me with one hand towards the manor.
"Err Prue? Spare me a second will ya?"
"What? Oh no, its not demons related."
"No, just..."
"At least that's the last thing on my head right now. I can use a hot warm shower."
"Well after you manage to..."
"What Piper? You seemed so cut off today? What is it you're trying to say? And? where's Phoebe? Should be back from the college already right? Tell me she did not plant her butt in the attic deciding after all she's gonna marry that book?" Prue asked, though with a dirty look.
"Yes she's back and no, she's not having that marriage idea as yet, at least not with a book. She needs something more moveable. Flexible. Expandable. Recyclable. Squirtable."
"Hey! That's very nice words Prue. Very descriptive" I had to chuckle along. Prue can be very good with words too. We walked up the few flights of stairs.
"So, where is she?"
"Nowhere, just right..."


"PRUE!"

We stopped. Prue looked upwards, kinda towards the attic direction and Phoebe's bedroom.

"I heard her calling, but I can't see her. Please don't tell me she's yelling from the other rooms. How did she know I'm back anyway? Oh god, she just discovered her power of X-ray vision? How am I ever to feel safe having sex with a man in this house?"
"Relax Prue, our sister saw you coming home just the way I saw you pulled up a while ago."
"I didn't see her."
"Turn around, tilt your head slightly to an angle of say, 45 degrees and you'll see her."

Prue did as I said and her response was expected. She dropped everything in her hands, mouth opened in shock and nearly tumbled down the steps trying to get to where she was. I mean, the trouble one was.

"PHOEBE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING UP IN THAT TREE?!!"

Finally, she found her. That's what I've been trying to get into her head and she said I was cut-off in speech? I looked at the youngest one, she has that big smile flashed across her face with her legs dangling in mid-air.

"PIPER! WHY DID YOU LET HER CLIMB THE TREE?!"

Going to her side, "I didn't. I was upstairs passing by her room when she called me. It was empty and that's when I saw her. I have been trying to get her down, until you came back."
"Then why didn't you tell me?!! Phoebe, are you going to come down this very minute?"
"I tried to but you won't give me a talking chance." That was a truth and she knew it.
"Let me sit up here for a while Prue, this is nice!" Phoebe answered with a grin.
"WHATEVER FOR?!" The oldest one was boiling, in anxiety and anger.
"I dunno. Just thinking?"
"THINKING ABOUT WHAT?!"
"Whether I can see Prue making out in her room from this position I'm sitting!"
"Why you little rascal! That's it! I'm coming up to get you! Sit tight and I promise a real spanking on your little butt soon!"
"Piper! Help!!" Phoebe mimics a baby's voice.

I had to laugh, on the contrary, my nature insisted on getting worried too. Two stubborn sisters up on the tree, what will happen next? One thing for sure, there will be some running in the manor when they come down.