Disclaimer: How I do not wish the characters belonged to me!

A/N: I have had the idea to write a Charmed Christmas fic since the end of November. I do not really know what will happen because I do not really have an idea. Therefore, whatever comes out I hope it is good. Please let me know what you think I could do better for the next story. This is and AU.

It is the yr. 2002. I never went back to San Francisco after that fight with my sister. I was too scared to. Now there is only weeks left until Christmas. I am married and have a daughter. Mike is the best! Of course Prue was invited, but scared to come cause Piper probably would a killed her! Prue and I always got along, Piper and I got along too when we children. However, after what happened with Max I was and still am sure that Piper would never forgive me. Even though it was not me who started it, Max did. Nevertheless, even if Prue tried to tell her that it would not fly. In addition, Prue has sent me a few plane tickets home. One for Mike, one for Ashleigh and one for me. I have not decided if I am actually going to go. Mike thinks I should but I do not think I could bear having Piper glaring at me the whole time I was there.
“Pheebs, phone!” Mike called from the living room.
“Hello?” I asked after picking up the phone.
“Hey, Pheebs. Do you remember me?” A voice I kind of recognized asked.
“Melina?” I asked.
“Yah. So you do remember me!” Melina exclaimed.
“Yah. So how are you?” I asked.
“I’m totally fine!” Melina replied, “And you?”
“Well after that fight with Piper I moved to Canada and finished up school here which is where I met Mike my husband. I now have a daughter. I’m fine.” I replied as Ashleigh walked into the room.
“Mommy, Ashleigh have juice.” Four-year old Ashleigh asked.
I covered the mouthpiece on the cordless phone and answered.
“Yes. Ask daddy to get it for you.” I replied.
Two hours later Melina and I were done on the phone and I was now making dinner for Mike, Ashleigh and myself when the phone rang again.
“Hello?” I asked.
“Hi, Phoebe.” Prue replied.
“Prue! How are you?” I asked.
“I’m fine and so is your new niece. I named her Phoebe.” Prue replied, “How are Mike, Ashleigh and you?”
“Were all fine, Ash is so cute. She does not really remember you because you were only here for two minutes when she was 1 month old. How is Piper?” Phoebe replied.
“She’s fine. I am sure she misses you; she just will not admit it. So what have you decided about coming here for Christmas?” Prue asked.
“Truthfully, I’m scared. You are the only one who believes me about what happened with Max. I can’t stand to arrive there and have Piper glare at me the whole time.” I replied.
“Actually two years after you left, Max told Piper the truth. She did not really believe him at first cause she really wanted a reason to be mad at you but eventually she believed him. She really wants you to come home. In addition, to meet Mike and Ashleigh cause she just knows about them. Please just think about it, Pheebs.” Prue said.
“That’s what I have been doing and what I will continue to do.” Phoebe replied, “Hey do you think Piper wants to talk to me?”
“I’ll see.” Prue replied.
Two minutes later, I was talking to my sister who I thought hated me.
“I did hate you, Pheebs but when Max came up to me that day and told me the truth, I was appalled. I do not think I ever really believed you would do something like that. I know Prue did not believe Max, but you two were the only ones who saw him for what he really was.” Piper said.
I just sat there with the phone to my ear wondering what to say next. Piper finally spoke.
“Pheebs, I know we never really got along and we have a lot to talk about and we could really get a start on that if you came home.” Piper said.
“Piper, I don’t really think of the Manor as my home anymore. I haven’t since I left but I’ll think about coming.” I said, “If I do come though it will have to be in another week.”
“That’s ok. Prue kind of figured that. But why then?” Piper asked.
“Cause that’s when I can get time off work. I will take a month off cause I have not had a vacation in four years or five years.” I replied.

Two days later I phoned Prue, and told, her I was coming with just Ash cause Mike could not get time off work.
“How is work for you?” Prue asked.
“It’s fine, busy but fine. How is your job?” I asked.
“It’s ok. Piper’s ids ok too.” Prue replied, “So what time does your plane get in next week?”
“9:30 pm I think. The plane leaves at 3:00 pm. In addition, I got off half an hour before that. Mike might come when he has time.” I replied.
Two days for Christmas, Piper and I went out leaving Ash with Prue and her boyfriend.
“Piper, you really not mad at me?” I asked.
“I’m really not mad at you, Pheebs. Max was a jerk to all of us. Mostly to you, making me believe that you were into him! All I want is for us to be sisters again and for you to move back. I want us to be a family again. You may have your own family now but we can still be a family. We need to stick together. That’s what sisters do.” Piper replied.
“Well my boss wants to transfer me to somewhere in California she just hasn’t said where yet. Ash is only four so I don’t have to worry about moving her part way through the school year.” I said.
Piper and I talked for hours then I decided it was time to go home and visit with Prue.

Christmas Eve:

Piper, Prue and I went out to a club the night before Christmas Eve and left Ashleigh with a babysitter. Mike phoned a couple of times that day but it was a surprise when he showed up at the Manor Christmas Eve morning with a load of presents that I must have left at home in Canada.
Knock…knock.
Ashleigh heard the noise and ran to the front door. As soon as Prue got there, the door opened and Mike came inside.
“Daddy! You’re here!” Ashleigh said in her little four-year-old voice.
“Hello, Prue.” Mike said picking Ash up.
“Hello. Piper and Phoebe are in the kitchen baking cookies. Ashleigh was helping. Or what she called helping!” Prue said laughing.
“Yah sounds like Ash.” Mike said following Prue into the kitchen.
Piper and I looked up from making cookie dough and saw Mike, Prue and Ash in the doorway. Ashleigh came running into the kitchen to ‘help’.
“Hey, Ash, no running in the kitchen.” I said.
“Ok, Mommy.” Ashleigh said, “Can me help you?”
“Ok.” I said knowing that if I said no Ash would start to cry.
We made cookies all morning and by the afternoon, we were very ready for something else so we took Ashleigh to see Santa at the mall.
“And what’s your name?” Santa asked picking Ashleigh up.
“Ashleigh.” Was the reply.
“And what would you like for Christmas, Ashleigh?” Santa asked.
“A dolly.” Ashleigh replied.
“What kind of dolly?” Santa asked.
“Cabbage Patch dolly.” Ashleigh replied.
“Ok. Merry Christmas, Ashleigh.” Santa said.
“Mommy, Santa is going to bring me a dolly.” Ashleigh said.
“Cool, Ash.” I said.
We wandered around the mall then Ashleigh was getting tired so we went back to the Manor. Once there, Ashleigh fell asleep on the couch and I went into the backyard to wrap presents while Mike put the ones he had brought with him under the tree and then came outside.
“So how’s it going with your sister?” Mike asked.
“Good. I don’t know the whole thing that sent me away now it just seems like a stupid fight and I wish it had never happened.” I replied.
“Well you can’t really go back and change what happened.” Mike said.
“I know that but I still could’ve stayed here instead of running away. Which is what I did.” I said.
“But then that way we never would met and Ashleigh wouldn’t be here.” Mike said.
“Yah. So eat any of those cookies yet?” I asked.
“Only a couple. Ash told me she wants to give some to Santa.” Mike replied.
An hour later I was done wrapping presents and hid them inside until I could put them under the tree without Ashleigh noticing, which would be tonight after she was in bed.
“Pheebs, want to go out for dinner tonight?” Piper asked walking into the dining room where I was sitting.
“Sure.” I replied.

That night we went to a casual restaurant for dinner and enjoyed it. Ashleigh fell asleep on the way back to the Manor so Mike tucked her in and helped me put the presents under the tree.
“So did you have to get any presents while you’ve been here?” Mike asked.
“Only one for Piper and Prue helped me pick it out.” I replied.
Two hours later Mike and I went to bed after putting out Ash’s cookies for Santa. On the plate, there was a note for Santa. It said: Dear Santa thank you for the presents and Merry Christmas.

Christmas Day:

Ash was the first one up and woke Mike and me up then Prue and Piper. Ashleigh was sooo exited to open her presents from ‘Santa’ that she got up at 5 a.m. and woke up the rest of the house! Not cool! Anyway, the day started early. We did stockings, and then Piper made breakfast. We ate many pancakes then opened presents. Ash loved all her presents from ‘Santa’. Mike and I wrote from Santa on every one of Ashleigh’s presents except a few which said: From Daddy & Mommy, Merry Christmas. Mike gave me a nice locket necklace even though we had decided that presents should only go to friends and family and that we would not exchange gifts even though I gave him a gift certificate to Sears.

Later that day, we ate Christmas Dinner with Piper and Prue’s inspector friend Darryl and his family. Ash was scared of Darryl because she thought he would arrest Mike or me, him being a member of the San Francisco Police Department and all. Piper and Prue convinced Ash that he was just a friend and she believed them when the rest of Darryl’s family walked in the door. Ash is only four after all. Although she will be five in February, anyway this Christmas was the best so far. I talked to my boss on Boxing Day and she is transferring be to Santa Monica, California which is only four hours away from SF.