Prue = 21
Piper = 18
Phoebe = 16

Phoebe Halliwell sat on the sofa in the living room. She was bored, nothing was on television and there was nothing to do outside either. Her friends were on holiday, leaving Phoebe alone with her sisters. Sisters that were out enjoying themselves leaving her to twiddle her thumbs as time passed ever so slowly.

It wouldn’t be so bad if she had just broken up from school a few weeks ago, no she had been on holiday since her last exam ended in June. It was now mid august and Phoebe had had nothing to do that whole time.

Phoebe looked up as she saw her sisters come charging in through the front door. Laughing their heads off, giggling like little girls. Phoebe sighed in frustration and got up. She couldn’t deal with anyone at the moment. If she came face to face with them she felt like she would blow her top.

Phoebe made a silent exit as her sisters made a beeline for the kitchen. Completely unaware that she had been in the house and had just made her exit. This is what it had been like for a week now. Herself alone nothing to do, her sisters enjoying the free time they had from university, enjoying it with each other, never bothering to ask if Phoebe wanted to join. They had been away for 10 weeks this time, away at university where they shared an apartment together along with some of their friends. It seemed like they never had time for her.

Phoebe shook her head. Bitterly. Trying to get the thoughts to leave her mind. But they wouldn’t. They replayed over and over and over again. Never letting her have a rest. All Phoebe wanted to know is ‘what had she done wrong?’ she could not think of one thing.

Phoebe found herself in the woods. She loved the woods. So quiet. Only animals scurrying across the ground trying to avoid getting trampled on and birds singing in the sky made noise. Phoebe walked calmly along the path. It made her laugh, a wood was meant to be nature at its best, nothing manmade was meant to be there but yet the local council had taken it upon them selves to put a path made from gravels and stones there. To let people walk through the woods without getting mucky. Phoebe couldn’t comprehend this point. What was the point of going into the woods if you didn’t want to get mucky? Woods were where many animals habitats were, where you could see them at their best and enjoy the quiet serenity of it all. But now they had ruined it. Along with the nature reserve they used in winter to go sledging. They had put a path zigzagging through there also. Phoebe shook her head in disgust and walked off the path onto the little dirt path that so many other people, nature lovers, had walked in frustration with the new paths.

She walked for what seemed like a short period of time but in fact had been hours. That’s why she loved the woods; she could loose herself in them.

She saw that she was approaching the steps that would lead her out onto a little dirt road that led to a house in the woods. It would only take her 15 minutes to get home from there, but Phoebe didn’t want to be home as quick as that so she carried on walking across the stream and up in to the fields that surrounded the woods. She walked in the fields that some cows were grazing in. She walked quietly hoping not to disturb them. She reached the other side of the field and jumped over the fence.

Phoebe walked in to the manor, it was quite late and she knew she would get a bollocking off of Prue for coming home so late without her telling anyone where she was going or when she would be back. She was quite surprised to see no one waiting for her, just two suitcases in the foyer with two bags by the side of them.

Phoebe looked at them with a frown across her face.

"You look puzzled?"

Phoebe looks to where the voice came from and saw Piper leaning against the doorframe.

"Not really."
"Then why the long face?"
Phoebe sighed she hated this, Piper used to know her inside out but not anymore. "Just wondering what they are doing there," she pointed that the suitcases.
"Well if you had stayed where you were when we came home," Phoebe gasped, "What you didn’t think I didn’t notice your little disappearing act you have been pulling lately"
"I didn’t think anybody had."
Piper gave a small smile. "I noticed. Anyway we can talk about that later. The suitcases are Prue’s and mine. We have found a bargain last minute holiday that we just couldn’t refuse."
"Oh that’s nice." Phoebe moved towards the stairs.
"Yep. We leave tonight for a week." Phoebe just nodded her head in acknowledgement. Piper frowned "What’s up sweetie?"
"Nothing, enjoy your holiday, see you when you get back." Phoebe walked up the steps to her room, head down.
"Phoebe!" Phoebe carried on walking, Piper wasn’t about to give up though she walked up after Phoebe and walked into her room.
"Phoebe we are only going for a week."
"Yeah I know." Phoebe replied not looking at her. "As I said have a nice time."
"Don’t you want to know where we are going?"
"Not particularly."
Piper sighed and sat down at the end of Phoebe’s bed. "What’s up? Has something happened?"
"Yeah there has." Phoebe stood up making her way past Piper and towards the door. "My two sisters seemed to have forgotten that I am alive." With that Phoebe walked down the steps and out the front door. Leaving Piper to stare on after her.


Phoebe walked away from the house flabbergasted, tears welled in her eyes but she stubbornly held them back. She couldn’t believe that her sisters were going on holiday this week of all weeks. To Phoebe it seemed like they didn’t care one bit about her. All they cared about was themselves and University. Phoebe shook her head in resignation. And carried on walking, unsure of where she was going but at that point not caring.

The shock at what her sister had said wore off and Piper ran from the room to find Prue.

"Prue"" Piper shouted when she found her hunched over some forms.
Prue looked up startled. "Geez Piper What! You scared the living $hit out of me!"
Piper apologized. "Its Phoebe."
"What about her?"
"That’s the thing. I don’t know. Well I didn’t know until she ran off."
"Ran off?"
"Yeah. I told her we were going away for a week and that. And she walked sullenly up the stairs. So I followed wondering what the matter with her was. Well she, well she was so hurt."
"Why? Cause we aren’t taking her." Prue laughed. "She needs to learn to grow up and know that we won’t be there all the time."
"That’s the thing Prue. We never are."
Prue looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said. We are never there. Phoebe is by herself more often then with someone. Grams gets called away a lot leaving her by herself. We are away at university and never call."
"Wait Piper we do call."
"Only when we need to talk to Grams, never to Phoebe. And since we have come back. When have we taken time out and just hung with her?" Prue paused, that was long enough for Piper. "See. Rarely, or Never."

Piper saw Prue concentrating. "Don’t bother thinking about it Prue. We haven’t spent more than 10 minutes in the same room as her since we got back from university. Phoebe has been alone to much and now she believes that we don’t love her and that."
"That isn’t true."
"We both know that Prue. But Phoebe feels like we don’t even think she is alive. She wants acknowledgement but we never acknowledge her. And now we are going on holiday for a week, without even thinking of what Phoebe is doing."
"But Piper, we deserve this holiday."
Piper stopped her. "So does Phoebe. More then both of us combined. She has worked her socks off these last two years. She recently took her exams but have we asked how they went? Nope. And I think what Phoebe is most upset about is that she gets her results this Thursday and we won’t be here to congratulate her. She’s hurting Prue and we are just pushing her away more and more."
"What do we do about it?" Prue asked sighing.
"We cancel our holiday"
"What?!" Prue shouted.
"Prue. She is our sister. There will be other chances to go on holiday before university starts back up."

Prue stood up, scrapping her chair back as she did so. She picked up the forms that were on the table and ripped them up.
Piper was shocked. "What are you doing?"
"Doing exactly what you say. Canceling our holiday." Prue looked angry as she stormed out of the room.

Piper followed her and saw her talking to someone down the phone. Prue hung up and looked at Piper.

"There its cancelled. I’ll just have to ring round and tell them some bull $hit story as to why we cant go."
"Prue."
"Leave it Piper!"
Piper watched Prue storm up the steps. She knew to leave well alone, Prue had had her heart set on a holiday for a long time.

Phoebe sat on the swing gently going back and forward as her legs went back and forth. Back and forth.

She had walked around trying to get the annoying voices out of her head. Voices telling her one thing and then telling her another. Phoebe sighed in frustration and jumped from the swing. Usually when she came to the park she could think about things. But not this time. This time she didn’t know what to do.


Phoebe walked slowly up the steps, of the Manor. It was late and once again she would be by herself so what was the point in hurrying. Her Grams was out, probably over at her Aunt Gails and Prue and Piper would be somewhere up in the sky now. Leaving her all alone as usual.

Phoebe opened the door and walked through to the kitchen. She wasn’t surprised at all that the lights were on. Everyone in the manor normally left them on when it was getting dark and they were going out to make the impression that someone was in. She reached for a glass and poured herself some lemonade from the fridge. She sat at the kitchen counter just staring off into space. As she had done many times over the last few weeks.

"You not eating?"

Phoebe let out a little shriek, and fell backwards from the bar stool onto the floor.

"Woah, you okay there Pheebs. I didn’t mean to scare you."
"Piper?"
"Yeah sweetie it’s me."
"But I thought. You said. Why aren’t you on Holiday?"

Piper held her hand out for Phoebe to take it, she did and Piper pulled her to her feet.

"We cancelled it."
"Why?" Phoebe paused. "Because of me right?"
Piper looking into Phoebe’s eyes. All she could see was pain and hurt. "You were right. We haven’t been spending time with you. I’m sorry you thought what you did"
Phoebe sat back down on the stool. "So you cancelled your holiday out of guilt?"

Piper began to say no but shook her head, knowing there was no way around it. "Phoebe. It was wrong of us to think you could look after yourself. It was wrong of us to book this holiday when we haven’t spent a great deal of time with you. For that I’m sorry."
"Piper, just go on your holiday we can talk when you get back." Phoebe began to stand up. But piper pushed her back down.
"No listen, please. We cancelled it. We are spending this whole week here with you."
"Piper, I don’t want pity and I don’t want you spending time with me out of guilt. I’m sorry."
Piper looked sad. "Will you at least eat something?"
"I’m not hungry." Phoebe stood up, this time Piper held back. Phoebe began to walk out the door.
"You never eat anymore Phoebe! You need to." Piper shouted after her.
"Whatever!"

Prue was coming down the stairs when Phoebe walked into her.

"Geez! Are you blind or something?" Prue asked bitterly.
"Get out of my way."
"No. You do know that you have ruined my holiday don’t you?"
"Oh dear. I haven’t have I? What shall I do?" Phoebe mocked, bringing her hand up to her face in mock shock.
"You are one selfish bitch." Prue stated.
"Yeah well I guess it runs in the family then doesn’t it." Phoebe made a move to get around Prue but she stopped her.
"You’d better watch that tongue of yours missy." Prue threatened.
"Like wise."
Prue could feel her anger rising. "Get to your room now!"
Phoebe smirked. "Um Prue if you hadn’t of noticed I’m on the stairs. On the way to my room already."
Prue had had enough. "That’s it. You’re grounded!"
"You can’t ground me." Phoebe laughed.
"And why is that?"
"Because you lost the right to do anything concerning me, when you went off to university and forgot that I was alive!"

Phoebe carried on up the stairs leaving Prue to just stand there in shock.


"God she is so selfish" Prue whined as she walked in to the kitchen.
Piper looked up from the soup she was making. "Who?"
"Phoebe!" Prue sat heavily on to the chair at the table.
Piper looked angrily at Prue. "She has every right to be."
"Oh Piper don’t start this again. She needs to learn to grow up and know that we are not going to be their spoon feeding her for the rest of her life."
Piper turned the stove off. "You know what?" Prue looked up. "If Phoebe is selfish then you are ten times worse than her." Piper stormed out of the kitchen. "Just grow up!"

Prue sat there in shock. She hadn’t expected Piper to turn on her as well. She got up and took a water out of the fridge slamming the door shut as she did. ‘They have no right turning this against me.’ Prue thought to herself. ‘Its not my fault Phoebe is acting like a baby. She needs to deal and move on.’ Prue stormed up the stairs to her room slamming her door.

Phoebe had been listening to music in her room but she could still hear the heated discussion that was going on downstairs between Piper and Prue. She couldn’t believe Prue thought she was the selfish one. At least Piper was sticking up for her, but then again that is what Piper always does.

Phoebe sat down on her bed and laid back, hands behind her head. She needed to relax, but the tension in her body was overpowering her. She grabbed the remote for her stereo and skipped to the next track a familiar tune came on, one that she loved. Phoebe started to hum along with the intro and sang along when the words, turning the volume up as she did.

It wasn’t long until Phoebe started to relax. Music had always had this affect on her. It was always able to soothe her whatever mood she was in. She laughed as the next song came on.

"We’re all going on a summer holiday,
No more working for a week or two,
Fun and laughter on our summer holiday,
No more worries for me or you,
For me or you.
We’re going where the sun shines brightly,
We’re going where the sea is blue,
We’ve seen it in the movies,
Now lets see if it’s true.
|Everybody has a summer holiday..."

How ironic she thought. Her sisters had always said she was sad listening to tracks before her time, but she didn’t care she liked all music old and new. Just then the door flew open.

"Have you no respect?!" Prue screamed as she walked in and over to the stereo, turning the music down. She heard Phoebe laughing and switched it off.
"Hey!!! I was listening to that!"
"Well your not anymore."
"You can’t dictate what I do and don’t do." Phoebe grabbed her remote and pressed the ‘on’ button. The music fired to life.

"We’re all going on a summer holiday,
No more working for a week or two,
Fun and laughter on our summer holiday..."

"Your such a brat! Why don’t you ever listen to anyone?"
"Umm lets see, who is there to listen to? Grams? Umm nope, she is never here. Piper, same with her" Phoebe counted down with her fingers. "Prue? Nah she wouldn’t even care if I dropped dead. So you see there is no one to listen to."
"You think you’re so clever don’t you. But your not." Prue screamed in annoyance.
"I am too." Phoebe shouted in retaliation, she hated it when people questioned her intelligence.
Prue smirked she knew she had got her. "Your not Phoebe and its about time you faced it. You won’t amount to anything. These results you will get back will just prove what I have always know."
"PRUE!" Prue spun around to find Piper starring at her in shock. "You take that back!"
"Nah don’t bother Prue. " Phoebe spoke quietly tears threatening to spill. "At least now I know what you really think of me."
"Phoebe." Piper went to grab her but she shied away from her.
"No Piper. It’s okay. Honest." Phoebe walked past her. "I’m off for a walk."
Piper heard the door close and turned to Prue. "Well done Prue!"
"What?"
"You know damn well what. You can be such a bitch sometimes." Piper turned around and walked back into her room. Leaving Prue stood rooted to the spot.


Phoebe walked aimlessly around. Her despair had reached rock bottom and she knew things between her and Prue were the worst they had been in a long, long time, and she had no idea if they would ever be mended. But she wouldn’t cry. If she cried then there would be no turning back. She had to be strong, even if strong at this point meant being upset. She wouldn’t cry. ‘I have no right to cry.’ Phoebe thought. ‘Prue’s right I’m not exactly the brightest light bulb in the box.’ Phoebe shook her head and continued walking around.

She needed something to occupy her time. She didn’t want to go back to the manor yet, she needed to relax. She needed a distraction. Phoebe walked over to the park and saw a few people kicking a football about. Phoebe smiled, she knew these people.

"Hey Angie, Kelly, Marc" Phoebe greeted them
"Hey Pheebs."
"Mind if I join?"
"No not at all. We can have a little five on five now." Mark grinned pointing to the others who were jogging up to them.
Phoebe smiled. "Cool."

Before Phoebe knew it, it was nearly 10pm. She was having a blast. She had missed her friends while they were away.
"Hey guys. I’d better go."
"We’re off also. We will walk with you." Angie and Kelly said.
Phoebe smiled in appreciation.
"So how was your holiday?"
"It was great. We went parascending and went on the banana boat and to the water park. I had a great time. But a week was long enough. Any longer and I would have tore my hair out." Kelly said. Kelly and angie were twins so they did everything together. "How about you?"
"Oh you know the usual. Get up, no one in. Go to bed, no one in."

Angie and Kelly looked at her in sympathy. Phoebe caught the look they were giving her. "Hey its okay. I’m used to it."
"Then why do you look so sad all the time. And why do you look distraught tonight?"
Phoebe looked down. "I just had an argument with Prue."
"So they’re are back?"
"Yeah, unfortunately."
Kelly frowned. " I don’t get you. A week ago you couldn’t wait to see them. Why the big change of heart all of a sudden?"
Phoebe sighed. "They planned to go on holiday. I haven’t seen them for nearly 10 weeks they come home and they plan to go on holiday. It just feels like they don’t even consider me to be alive"

Kelly pulled Phoebe into a hug.

"You do know that they love you right?" Angie said "They love you unconditionally."
Phoebe pulled away from the hug saying a quiet thank you. "Then why does Prue say the things that she does?"
Kelly and Angie giggled. "Because you’re sisters. Who are exactly a like. Me and Kelly argue all the time."
"Yeah I know that. But never as bad as Prue and me. And you don’t say hurtful things to each other like she does."
"Phoebe. You need to go home and sort this little tiff with your sister out before it blows up."
"Too late for that." Phoebe looked down. "Look I want to be alone. I’ll see you later."

Phoebe walked slowly away. Still dreading going to the manor and bumping into Prue.


Phoebe walked up the stairs to her room. Thankfully no one had stopped her or talked to her. She had had a glance in the lounge as she walked past and had seen Prue sat there watching television. She couldn’t understand why she was being this way.

Phoebe walked into her room and sauntered over to her stereo. She couldn’t live without her music. Her music was her saviour. She walked over to her bed as the music fired to life.

I’m sitting down here,
Buy hey you can’t see me...
Your words cut rather deeply,
They’re some other lies.
I’m hiding from a distance,
I’ve got to pay the price
Defending all against it,
I really don’t know why.

Phoebe thought back over what Prue had said earlier that evening. Calling her dumb had really hurt, everyone knew it was a sore point. She just couldn’t believe Prue would bring it up especially when she hadn’t seen her for so long. Hadn’t seen the work she had put into her studies. Into her exams. So now she was upstairs hiding from Prue. Hiding from the hurt she wanted to spare. She didn’t want anything more said to her. Not until she apologized. That is if she ever would.

Your obsessed with all my secrets,
You always make me cry
You seem to want to hurt me
No matter what I do
I’m telling just a couple
But somehow it gets to you
But I’ve learned how to get revenge
And I swear you’ll experience it one day.

Phoebe thought back over all the years she and Prue had been fighting. Harsh words said from the heat of the moment. But having to have originated from somewhere. She could easily remember all the times she had come home with good news, just for Prue to cut her down. It seemed that all she wanted to do was hurt her and make her cry. But Phoebe had had enough, she didn’t want to cry anymore. She knew in her mind and she knew Prue knew that she had started to fight back.

I’m sitting down here
But hey you can’t see me, kinda invisible
You don’t sense my stay
Not really hiding, not like a shadow
Just thought I would join you for one day
I’m sitting down here,
But hey you can’t see me.

Phoebe’s mind once again drifted back to all the fights they had had. And all the times she went to Prue first with an apology but Prue seemed to ignore her. Like she was invisible. Phoebe had called her stubborn and just sat there, wondering if she would ever acknowledge her presence.

Phoebe sighed in frustration, grabbed the remote and stopped the CD. There was no chance in hell that she was going to apologize first. Prue had hurt her deeply, all Phoebe had wanted was some sister time after so long away from each other but Prue never seemed to be able to get the hint or stay in the same room with her for more than 15 minutes for that matter.

She knew she was half to blame for what had happened now and then, in the past. But it still gave on right for Prue to go off the way she did. Couldn’t she just for once understand her, congratulate her, hug her, be a sister to her.

Phoebe turned over to the window as tears started down her face. She let them flow. She had been bottling everything up, denying what she was feeling and now that those feelings were over powering her she wouldn’t hold them back.


Prue was sat staring off to space thinking. Or rather beating herself up over her sister. She had heard the door open and close and Phoebe pause in the hall before moving on to her bedroom. Prue shook her head. She had had that opportunity then to apologize why did she let it go. She didn’t understand why.

Prue didn’t know how long she had been sat there when a song reached her ears.

Kinda loose your time
‘Cause the days don’t matter no more
All the feelings that you hide
Gonna tear you up inside
You hope she knows you tried.

Prue signed in frustration, that was exactly how she was feeling. She couldn’t understand why Phoebe didn’t see it. ‘Maybe because you never show her, by talking to her’ Prue thought.

Follows you around all day
And you wake up soaking wet
‘Cause between this world and eternity
There is a face you hope to see

Prue looked down at the face she had in her hand. She had been looking at a photo album when her thoughts had drifted to times gone by. This Photo album was dedicated to Phoebe. Each of them had one just of them selves from the minute they were born up to the present. Through the good and the bad. Prue smiled as she remembered the time that this particular picture had been taken.

It was about a week before Prue and Piper started university. And Phoebe had begged them to a sister day. One they would hopefully remember for years to come. Prue hadn’t wanted to do this, she had made other plans to spend them with her friends, but one look from Piper and seeing how hurt her sister was she relented.

It had started off as a normal day. Just the three sisters going out to buy movies, popcorn and sweets for the movie marathon they were going to watch. Phoebe had run straight through to the house and out the back without a word to her sisters. Thinking they had done something wrong they had followed her. Only to find themselves dripping wet as Phoebe had splashed them with a bucket full of water.

Both her and Piper were not amused but one look at Phoebe’s happy smiling face they joined in the laughter. Soon a fierce water battle was going on. Only for them to slump down on the grass one on top of the other.

That’s where that picture had come form. Grams had returned home to find them slumped one on top of the other and snapped away. Prue smiled remembering. ‘Why cant we still have that sort of fun.’ Prue shook her head. Willing the tears to stay where they were.

You know where you’ve sent her
You sure know where you are
You’re trying to ease off
But you know you won’t get far
And now she’s up there
Sings like an angel
But you can’t hear those words
And now she’s up there
Sings like an Angel
Unforgivable Sinner.

Prue shut the photo album and looked around, she couldn’t believe that she hadn’t of noticed what she had been doing.

She had been trying to get Phoebe to understand she wouldn’t be there forever. But she hadn’t realized she had been hurting her. By not calling, writing or popping home for a good ol’ sister day Phoebe had thought they had abandoned her. And now she was upstairs thinking of worse things. Prue mentally slapped herself for being such a bad sister.

Phoebe had been crying out for attention and all she had done was push her away.

Prue got up off the sofa and walked up the stairs.


Phoebe rolled over on her bed and stood up. She shook her head and opened the door. She rounded the corner on the way to the stairs, when she crashed into someone, sending her flying to the floor.

"My god. Don’t you ever watch where you are going?"

Phoebe looked up in shock.

"Well?"

Phoebe pushed herself up to her feet. Ignoring her.

"So your ignorant now as well?"
"I... I ... I’m sorry."
"Whatever."

Phoebe watched Prue walk away to her room. Looking down in defeat she turned around and went back into her room.

Prue slammed the door shut behind her; half of her was fuming at Phoebe the other half was fuming at herself. ‘Way to go Prue. So much for wanting to patch things up between the two of you.’ Prue thought to herself as she flopped down onto her bed.

~ ~ Morning ~ ~

Phoebe walked slowly down the stairs. It was early morning and she was hoping yet again to not bump into Prue or Piper for that matter. She rounded the corner and her hope was dashed.

"Morning Phoebe. Sleep Well?" Piper asked cheerfully as she sat down across from Prue with a cup of coffee for the both of them. Prue didn’t even look up Phoebe noticed.

"Morning. Yes thanks." Phoebe replied quietly.
"That’s good. Would you like something to eat?"
Phoebe shook her head. "I’m going out. Don’t know when I will be back" Phoebe shrugged.
Piper frowned. "You need to eat something. You haven’t had anything for so long."
"I’m not hungry Pipe."
"Phoebe please eat something." Piper tried again. "I’ll make you whatever you want."
"Piper. I’m fine honest. I’ll probably eat while I’m out."
"Do you have any money?" Phoebe looked at Prue shocked. Shocked that she had actually said something to her. Phoebe didn’t reply. "Well?"
"I have a little bit."
"Enough to have lunch?"
"If I have a sandwich yes."
Prue stood up and retrieved her purse. "Here." She handed her $10. "Now you have enough for more."

Phoebe looked at Prue then the money then back to Prue. "Why?" Prue didn’t answer her. "It’s okay I have enough without this." Phoebe placed the dollar bill on the table. "Thank you though."

Prue didn’t say anything she watched as Phoebe slowly walked out the door. Like she was waiting to hear something.

"Prue. Are you ever going to patch things up?"
Prue looked at Piper. "I don’t know what you mean."
"Yes you do." Piper looked angrily at Prue. "I’m not dumb Prue. I heard you last night. You were having a go at Phoebe. What for?"
Prue’s eyes widened. "I wasn’t having a go at her."
"Then what was it. Because it sure did sound like it."

Prue looked down at the cup she held in her hands.

"I was going to apologize for the way I acted last night. But I don’t know. Something came over me." Prue looked up to find Piper staring at her.
"Something came over you?"
"Yeah. I was walking to her room when she came out and knocked into me. I was angry when I shouldn’t have been and I let her have it."

Piper shook her head as she stood up, with her empty plate and cup.

"You need to get over whatever it is that is stopping you from apologizing. You don’t know how much you are hurting her."
"Don’t you think I don’t know that?" Prue asked angrily.
Piper turned around. "I think you have just realized that. And you’re beating yourself up."
"Well how would you feel if you thought distancing yourself from someone you loved was helping them when in fact it was hurting them more than you could ever know?" Prue scrapped her chair back and walked out the room.

Piper followed hot on her heals.

"Prue. I know exactly what you are feeling. Exactly what you are thinking. I’ve done the exact same thing that you have."
Prue stopped and turned slowly around. "Then why if you have done the exact same thing is Phoebe ignoring me and not you."

Piper looked at Prue and could see the tears in her eyes threatening to fall. "Because Prue, you are her protector, her mother, her sister and her friend. Me I’m just two of those things. Her sister and her friend. She thinks she has failed you. Thinks she has done something that you are not proud of. And I believe that she thinks that you, her protector, has abandoned her, like everyone else in her life that held power over her."
Prue looked down yet again. "I didn’t know."
"Prue stop beating yourself up. You wanted to spread your wings. You wanted to live without the strings attached. But you forgot that the strings will always be attached whether you like it or not. Because we are family."

Piper approached Prue and pulled her into a hug that she had been deserving for a long, long time, but had never got.


Phoebe ran down the field with the ball at her feet. She had met up with her friends Kelly, Marc and Angie, and now they were having a kick about in the park. She passed inside to Marc who passed back. They were having a game of five on five again. Marc had invited some other people to have a kick about.

"Phoebe pass." One other person shouted. Phoebe passed inside of her then stopped as the ball sailed past Kelly and into the goal. Phoebe smiled as Marc ran up to her.
"Good pass Phoebe. You’ll be ready for the national team if you keep it up."
Phoebe jokingly pushed Marc. "Yeah right. You can dream." She laughed.
"Seriously though. You should find some team to play for."
Phoebe walked away from him. "I already do."
Marc stopped laughing. "You do? Since when?" He asked as he caught up with her.
"Since the summer began. I knew I would be bored so I joined up with the local team. I needed something to help pass my time."
"That’s well cool."
Phoebe smiled. "Yeah I guess. I just wish over people would appreciate what I am good at."
Marc frowned, he knew her sister Prue Halliwell was hard on her. "She doesn’t want you to play?"
"She doesn’t know." Phoebe shrugged and walked off again.

Marc knew her well enough to leave it be.

Prue sat down on the bench and watched the group of teenagers play football in front of her. She had wanted a walk to clear her head. Her thoughts drifted back to earlier that day.

She had had a conversation with Piper to sort out everything that was going on in her head. All the bad and the good. She realized that what Piper had said about her wanting to spread her wings was true. She had indeed wanted to but her Grams wouldn’t let her.

Prue frowned in annoyance. All she had wanted to do was go to New York to do a photography course but her Grams had insisted on her staying in San Francisco and had eventually won the argument. Leaving Prue bitter and taking it out on, who else but Phoebe.

Prue shook her head. All she had wanted to do was show Phoebe that the world wasn’t as perfect as she, Prue, had once thought it was. She didn’t want Phoebe to make the same mistakes she had. And in doing so she had been pushing her away. So much so that she had no idea what was going on in her life. She had no idea how her sisters exams had gone, what she had actually taken, what she was going to do next and what she hopefully wanted to become. And that pained her. She knew as a mother she had failed, as a friend she had failed but more importantly as a sister she had failed.

Prue swiped at the tears on her face as they worked their way down.

"Phoebe Pass!"
Prue looked up sharply. Had she heard right, was someone shouting at her sister? All she had seen when she sat down on the park bench was a group of teenagers playing football. As Prue looked more closely she could see Phoebe talking to Marc then walking away, then Marc catching her up and talking to her again. But this time Prue noticed something else. She noticed the sparkle in her eye had gone. The one thing that Phoebe had always had since the day she was born. But more importantly Prue noticed that Phoebe looked tiny and haggard.

Prue stood up and made her way over the field to where Phoebe stood.

Phoebe ran after the ball, it was only a friendly play match but she needed to vent her anger on something. Phoebe slid on the ground and tackled Angie, winning the ball. Phoebe took off running in the other direction. Passing to Marc to finish it off. She stood still as she watched Marc once again score.

Marc threw his hands up yelling loudly. Phoebe saw him running to her. But something was wrong. She was seeing two maybe three of him. Phoebe blinked and shook her head hoping that that would help, but as she opened her eyes the world seemed to be spinning.

Phoebe looked to her left and then to her right. She could see extra visions of everyone. She knew something was wrong. She brought her hands up to the side of her head. Hoping that would stop the ground from spinning so fast.

Prue slowly made her way over to Phoebe, she had seen her sister slide on the floor and won the ball, running down the field then passing to Marc. She had no idea her sister was so good. But then something else caught her eye. Phoebe had stopped running and was looking around, swaying ever so slightly. She caught the glimpse of panic and pain in her sister’s eyes before Phoebe slumped to the ground.

"PHOEBE!!!!"


Prue sat in the hospital waiting room, Piper by her side. She had rung her as soon as the ambulance had arrived at the hospital.

"Prue. What, what happened?"
Prue looked at Piper. She seemed so small. "I don’t know Pipe. All I know is that Phoebe suddenly fell to the floor while having a friendly kick about."

Piper nodded her head. She didn’t know what else to say.

"Look she will be okay. You have to believe that."

Piper once again nodded her head.

"Halliwell?"

Prue and Piper both stood up to find a doctor with a clipboard in his hand.

"Would you like to follow me this way please."

Prue followed the doctor with Piper bringing up the rear, holding tightly to Prue’s hand.
The Doctor stopped outside a door and turned around to look at them.

"I’m Doctor Threpleton. I’m the one who has been over seeing the treatment of your sister."
"Is.. Is she okay?" Prue gulped.
"It seems that Phoebe has been putting too much pressure on her body. Not eating followed by exercise has left her body worn out and in need of some repair. Do you know when the last time she ate anything was?"

Piper looked away. Prue just looked down.

"We don’t really know. We haven’t been home that much. I know that she hasn’t eaten much since we did come home."
"Okay. And when was it you came home?" The doctor wrote things down on his clipboard as Piper spoke.
"We came home about a week ago from university."
The doctor once again scribbled something down. "And do you know to what extent Phoebe has been doing exercise?"
Prue looked at the doctor. "She has been playing football and she has been riding on her bike mostly everywhere, except from today."

Piper looked at Prue shocked.

"Okay. Thank you. That should help."
"Can we see our sister?" Prue asked.
"Yes sure. She is just in this room. But please she needs her rest so I cannot let you stay more than an hour. If you need anything just let the nurse at the nurses station know."
"Okay thank you." Prue watched the Doctor walk away as she and Piper walked in through the door.

Prue and Piper took the seats at the side of the bed that Phoebe was occupying.

"She looks so small Piper."
Piper nodded her head. "How did you know that she had been riding her bike, and playing a lot of football?"
Prue sighed. "I’ve just seen her ride her bike a lot and also I accidentally ran over her bike last night."
"What?"
"She left it behind my car. How was I to see it?"
"What about the football?"
"She has joined a local team."
"And you know this how?"
"I didn’t know anything up until yesterday. Not until her coach rang looking for her. Something about a game coming up and wanting her to play."
"I didn’t know." Piper looked down at Phoebe.
"Don’t beat yourself up Pipe. I didn’t either."
"I’m sorry" A small voice whispered.

Prue and Piper turned to see Phoebe’s eyes open staring away from them.

"Why are you sorry?" Prue asked softly.
"For everything. Being a brat, being ignorant, not telling you stuff and for ruining your holiday." Phoebe closed her eyes.
"Phoebe, it shouldn’t be you who is apologizing. It should be me."
"Us." Piper piped in.
"But I was being a brat, wanting my own way." Phoebe spoke quietly still with her eyes shut.
"Phoebe, if we hadn’t of ignored you then you would have had no reason to act like that." Piper spoke quietly running her hand over Phoebe’s head.
"Look Phoebe." Prue reached for her hand. "I am so sorry for what I said, I didn’t mean any of it. I was just being a bitch. I should have realized how you were feeling. I wanted to spread my wings, feel the freedom that the world has. And I did that but with consequences. I forgot that my baby sister needed me and I her. I’m sorry Phoebe." Prue wiped at the tears that were falling down her cheeks then did the same with Phoebe’s. "I promise it won’t happen again."


"God I’m so glad I am out of that place." Phoebe shuddered.
"I’m glad your out of there too." Piper pulled Phoebe into a hug.
Phoebe stopped walking and looked at Piper. "Where’s Prue?"
Piper saw the panic, hurt and lost look in her eyes. "She had to work sweetie. I’m sorry."
Phoebe looked down and continued walking. "Oh. Its okay. Nothing to be sorry about."
"But she said that she will be home to see you as soon as she could get away. You know what new bosses are like."

Phoebe just nodded her head.

Piper held the car door open for her. Phoebe climbed slowly into the car and sat down in the front passenger seat.

"So." Piper began. "What would you like for dinner?"
"I’m not hungry Pipe."
Piper stopped what she was doing and turned to look at Phoebe. "You know what the doctor said Phoebe. You have to eat."
"I know. I’m just not hungry at this moment in time."
"Well dinner won’t be made until about 3ish. So what would you like to eat then?"
"I’m not bothered. Anything." Phoebe turned her head to look out the window.

Piper put the keys in the ignition and drove home to the Manor.


"You want some help Pheebs?" Piper asked as she saw Phoebe getting out of the car.

She wouldn’t have it but she was still frail.

"No I’m good thanks Piper."

Piper smiled and made her way to the manor door opening it and walking in.

Phoebe followed but stopped on the porch.

"Whatcha doing kiddo?"
Phoebe jumped.

"Woah easy there. Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you."

Phoebe turned around.

"Prue?"
"Yeah sweetie."
"Piper said, she said that you were working."
"I know. I told her to tell you that."
Phoebe looked up at her. Directly into her eyes. "Why?"
Prue saw the confusion in her baby sisters’ eyes. "Because I wanted to surprise you."
"Right you ready?" Piper spoke as she walked out of the manor door.
Phoebe looked back and forth between Prue and Piper. "Ready? Ready for what?"
"Umm Pheebs love. Its Thursday?" Prue could see the acknowledgement spread over Phoebe’s face. Then all of a sudden it was replaced with fear. "What’s wrong?"
Phoebe shook her head. "N..n..nothing."
"Come on Phoebe. What is it?" Prue pushed.
"I.. I... I"
"Your what sweetie?" Piper asked gently.
"I’m scared I’ll let you down. That you wont be proud of me."
Prue looked at Phoebe. "Oh sweetie I will always be proud of you."
"But what you said?"

Prue pulled Phoebe into a hug. Piper seeing this was a moment between her two sisters went to wait in the car.

"I was stupid for saying those things. I didn’t mean them. I was mad. And you know me I just say whatever is in my mind and I twist it so it comes out hurtful. I’m sorry Phoebe."

Phoebe still wasn’t so sure.

Prue pulled away from the hug and held Phoebe at arms length. "Phoebe no matter what you get in these results. I will always be proud of you. We are all different. You, me, Piper and I have to stop comparing you to both of us. You are good at what you are good at and we are good at what we are good at. Do you understand me?"
Phoebe nodded. "So what you are saying is that its Okay for me to be good at sport and Piper to be terrible at it. And its okay for you to be good at Math and for be to be bad at it?"
Prue pulled Phoebe into another hug. "Yep that’s it. Just don’t let Piper hear what you just said." Prue once again pulled away and held a finger to her lips in a sshh position.
Phoebe laughed. "Okay I wont."
"Good. Now what do you say we get in the car and go get those results?"

Phoebe nodded her head but Prue could still see she was unsure.

"Look kiddo your going to find out you did really well."
"But.. But what happens if I don’t?"
"Then we will still be proud of you for trying so hard. Now lets go get those results."


Half an hour later Phoebe walked out the high school entrance with an envelope in her hands.

"Hey Phoebe!" Phoebe spun around to see Kelly, Marc and Angie walking up to her.
Phoebe smiled. "Hi."

They all hugged her.

"So you feeling better?" Marc asked
"Yeah thank." Phoebe smiled at him.
"That’s good to hear."
"So Pheebs. What did you get?" Kelly asked.
Phoebe looked at the envelope in her hands. "I don’t know I haven’t opened it yet."
"Well what are you waiting for." Angie shouted laughing.

Phoebe looked at her friends then the envelope in her hands then at the car behind her which held her sisters.

"I’m going to open them with my sister. Hope you don’t mind?" Phoebe told gently.
"Oh no. No problem" Kelly smiled. "Good to see you and your sisters are back on speaking terms."
Phoebe smiled again. "Yeah it is."
"Well I guess we better be off. Go tell our parents that we got mostly C’s."
"Well done." Phoebe called after them as they walked away. She turned to Marc.

Marc was stood head down shifting from one foot to the other.

"You okay Marc. You did well right?"
Marc looked up. "Oh yeah. Yeah I did. A for sports and the rest B’s and C’s."
"That’s great!" Phoebe hugged him. "Well I guess I will see you later." Phoebe turned to go.
"No wait." Marc grabbed her wrist.

Phoebe turned to face him.

‘Its now or never.’ Marc thought. "You know we have been friends for what seems like forever right?" Phoebe nodded her head wondering where this was going. "Well I’ve always liked you Phoebe. And I just wanted to ask you if you would like to go out with me."

Phoebe stood there shocked. She wasn’t expecting that.

"I will understand if you just want to remain friends."
Phoebe lent in to him and gently kissed him on the lips. "I would love to."

Marc smiled at her and Phoebe returned it. They embraced each other. Both happy to finally be together after denying their feelings.

"Aww would you look at them two." Prue said to Piper.
Piper looked to where Prue was pointing. "Oh how sweet."
"It’s about time!" Prue shouted.

Piper laughed.

Phoebe climbed into the car with a huge smile on her face.

"Hiya sweetie."
"Hey." Phoebe replied happily.

Prue looked at Phoebe and smirked.

"What?!" Phoebe asked puzzled.
"All I can say is that its about time." Prue laughed.

Phoebe smiled once again then looked at the envelope in her hands and ripped it open.

Prue and Piper watched Phoebe’s face. For once in their life they couldn’t read her facial expressions.

Prue had enough waiting. "So?"
Phoebe put the paper in Prue’s hand. " 1A, 1B and 8C’s!" Phoebe beamed.

All that could be heard and seen from outside the car were huge screams and shouts of congratulations and people embracing.

The Halliwell sisters were once again reunited.

THE END

** I do not own any of the characters that you recognize. And also the songs I used in this story are not mine. They belong to in order Sir Cliff Richard and Lene Marlin X2.**