Disclaimer: I don’t own them they belong to the WB



Prue Halliwell looked at her youngest sister - she had curled up in a ball on the floor, screaming at the top of her lungs her fists clenched tightly.

"Stop this right now! I'm warning you"

Phoebe raised her tear stained face her eyes were swollen and red "I hate you!"

"Yeah well I'm not too fond of you at the moment - now get!"

"No!"

Prue Halliwell had had enough - in one quick movement she picked her sister up and practically threw her up the stairs.

"I said get!"

"I said no!" Phoebe was screaming now - raising her clenched fist she punched her sister as hard as she could.

Prue was shocked as much as anything - Phoebe was nine years old and rapidly running out of control. Phoebe was the wild one - she had really begun to get out of hand she was running with a bad crowd at school, she was continually in trouble - cutting class, fighting, and now the latest stealing.

Prue caught her little sisters wrist just as she was about to deliver another punch - Phoebe was nine used to playground fighting - as soon as Prue caught her wrist she lifted her foot and kicked her sister in the stomach.

Prue felt the air leave her lungs she knew this one fight she had to win - if she let Phoebe even think she had the upper hand she might as well give in now. Prue lunged forward her temper getting the better of her she grabbed Phoebe round the middle pinning her arms to her side, as she did Phoebe brought her leg back and kicked Prue in the shin.

"Shit!" Prue swore as the pain registered Prue could hardly believe this was happening - Phoebe was tiny - at nine she could easily pass for 6 or 7 and here she was ready to scrap with her eldest sister.

Prue moved quickly before Phoebe could regain her footing not caring if she hurt her little sister or not she dragged her up the stairs and threw her into her bedroom.

"Don't you EVER! EVER! Do that again!" Prue was furious.

"Piss off, you're not my Mum!" Phoebe once again brought her fist back.

Prue was on her in a flash she grabbed her sister by her upper arm, Phoebe struggled as she tried to free herself from her sister’s grip.

"Don't you ever, do that again - if you ever hit me or swear at me I promise you you'll be sorry"

"Let me go! Let me go you bitch!"

That did it for Prue - Phoebe gasped in shock as her sisters hand came down hard on her bottom - Phoebe was still struggling but now her shouting had stopped and given way to huge sobs.

"Let me go!" Phoebe was crying uncontrollably.

"What do you say!" Prues hand came down hard again.

"Let me go" Phoebe was sobbing

"Try again"

Prue was greeted by silence.

"I'll keep going Phoebe" as she spoke Prue smacked her sister

"Sorry!"

"For?"

"Let me go" Phoebe was whining now

"For?"

"Hitting you"

"And" Prue smacked her again

Phoebe sobbed "Swearing"

"And" Phoebe gasped as the next slap caught her.

"EVERYTHING!!!! EVERYTHING!!"

Phoebe was sobbing - apart from the occasional smack off Prue across the back of her legs or a hard swat to her bottom, she'd never experienced anything like this and to add to her upset her other sister had just come in the room - shock written all over her face.

"Prue?"

"Just get out Piper - I'll speak to you later" Prue’s tone was not to be messed with - Piper took another look at the scene before her and left the room.

Prue took a deep breath - she had to regain control Phoebe had to know her boundaries, at just seventeen Prue felt like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders, the sisters had been brought up by their Grams, recently she had been very ill and had gone away for a long well deserved rest. It had taken some doing to persuade her Grams that she was up to the job of looking after things at home. Eventually their Grams had agreed on the proviso that their next door neighbours the Trudeau’s kept a close eye on them, this still left the majority of the responsibility with Prue, as she was looking at her little sister she was beginning to wonder if she was up to the job.

Prue picked her sister up and sat her on the bed.

"I hate you" Phoebe's voice was shakey as she looked directly into her big sisters eyes.

"Do you think I care? - And carry on like that Phoebe and you'll get more"

Phoebe scowled at her sister defiance still radiating out of every pore, Prue roughly pulled her up and gave her the hardest smack of all "I warned you - now apologize"

Phoebe was facing Prue again her face downcast "Sorry"

"Better - now I'll tell you what's going to happen next shall I? Prue didn't bother to wait for a reply "You can stay in here for the rest of the night, think about what you've done and we'll have a chat either later on tonight or tomorrow - either way don't think for one minute this is over. Things are going to change round here and the first thing will be your attitude - do you understand?"

Phoebe sniffed - looking Prue directly in the face the young girl slowly nodded - no way was she going to get another smack.


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

Prue made her way to the kitchen Piper was sitting at the table her face was serious a frown evident across her forehead.

"What did she do?"

"Cut class, went to the mall, got into a fight - broke a kids nose then went on a little shoplifting spree"

"Oh god!"

"Yeah oh god is right! Then when I told her she was grounded and I was stopping her pocket money she went balistic - I sent her to her room and she started swearing and hitting me"

"So you smacked her"

Prue sat with her head in her hands "So I smacked her"

"Now what"

Prue shook her head "Don't know - I've told her I'm going to talk to her later but to be honest Pipe I don't know what to say or even do for that matter"

Piper sighed "She'll be upset"

"She's not the only one, she's nine years old - how can she even get out of school? They get watched so closely"

"You know what I mean - you've never smacked her like that before"

"Yeah well if she carries on like this it won't be the last time"

"She'll be resentful - you know what she's like"

"Its not going to work - not this time I'm sick and tired of the temper tantrums the way she always has to have her own way - its got to stop Piper, besides its getting dangerous anyone could have taken her"

Piper sighed "I know"

The sisters sat in silence for a few minutes.

"She's not always like this Prue, she's pushing the boundaries"

"Well they've just given way"

Piper smiled "Are you ok?"

Prue shook her head "No not really"

"Mmm - are you going to talk to her"

"Not yet I'm still too mad"

Piper nodded her head "And before you ask no you can't go up to her" Prue knew her sister well, she hated to think of anybody being upset and she was particularly protective of their baby sister.

"Ok but Prue one of us should look in on her - don't forget she's only just turned 9"

Prue knew Piper had a point - she needed to suppress her anger and make sure her sister was alright.

"I'll take her a drink - although don't be surprised if one of us ends up wearing it"

Piper smiled at her sister - she loved Prue to bits even though Piper thought Prue could be too hard on their little sister she knew she only did it because she was trying to protect her.

Prue took the drink up she hesitated when she reached Phoebes door she could hear voices - well one voice her little sisters. The door hadn't shut properly and Prue could just about make out her sisters words - she was talking to her stuffed monkey. Prue listened trying to make out what her sister was telling George.

"I hate her" Prue cringed "She hurt me George" Prue watched as Phoebe lay down on the bed curled up on her side George was squashed tight against her chest. "I want my Mum" Phoebes voice was quiet Prue knew her little sisters face had probably crumbled she could tell by the sadness in her words.

Prue felt the tears prick at the back of her eyes her sister had sounded so sad.

Prue heard Phoebe sob "Mum would love me" Phoebe didn't sound so sure of herself.

Prue opened the door taking a deep breath she walked over to her little sister as she reached her Phoebe turned the opposite way - burying her face in the pillow.

"Pheebes?" Prues voice was soft

"Go away"

Prue sat down on the edge of the bed "I'm not going anywhere Phoebe I want to talk to you"

"Don't want to talk to you"

Prue almost smiled she'd calmed down by now - she knew her little sister was hurting.

"Well I want to talk to you - look at me Phoebe"

"Why? What will you do If I don't -will you smack me?"

Prue took a deep breath "Phoebe - you can't behave like that and expect to get away with it - and if you do it again then yes I will"

"Mum wouldn't hit me"

Prue could feel the hair on the back of her neck bristle "Mum's not here"

"I know that" Prue looked at the back of her little sisters head - even having a conversation with her was irritating - she'd started off feeling sorry for her and now she could feel herself getting angry again. Prue took a deep breath.

"Listen Phoebe - I've given you plenty of warnings but you didn't listen. Its what Mums and Dads do, their not here but I am, and that means it’s my job to teach you right from wrong and make no mistake Phoebe Mum wouldn't have put up with that type of behavior and neither will I"

Phoebe turned around and looked at her sister "How do you know?"

"Because everyone wants their children to be well behaved and to know what they can and can't do, it’s part of growing up"

"You've never smacked Piper"

Prue's brow creased - she wasn't sure where this was going.

"It's different Pheebes she's older, I don't have to look out for her as much as you"

Phoebes face looked like it was about to crumble "Do you love her more than me?"

"No, the same"

"I don't think that's true" Phoebes little lip was quivering

Prue suddenly realised just how vulnerable her little sister could be - she saw now what Piper was trying to say before,

"It is - you're both very different but I wouldn't swop either one of you for anything"

"Not even me"

"Never" Prue’s voice was firm

"Not even when you're mad at me"

Prue smiled "It never lasts long"

Phoebe smiled back but her lip was still trembling Phoebe crawled over to her sister and put her arms around her neck.

"I'm sorry"

Prue held her sister close and stroked her back she smiled inside she was relieved she hated it when Phoebe was upset especially if she'd caused it even if she had deserved it!

"Ok"

Phoebe started sobbing again "I'm really sorry"

"It’s ok - don't ever do it again"

Phoebe had calmed down a bit Prue gently stroked her hair back and tucked it behind her ear.

"Phoebe will you tell me why you stole the flowers?"

Phoebe hung her head down "no"

"Why?"

"You'll be angry"

"I'll be angry if you don't tell me"

Phoebe’s lip was quivering again "Please don't"

Prue could see her little sister was over tired and emotional - she decided to leave it at least for now.

"Ok - I'll leave it for now - I'll have Piper fix you a sandwich then its bedtime for you"

"Can't I come down?" Phoebe looked at her big sister

"No - I told you before you're to spend the rest of the night in your room, I don't want any arguments - get you're PJ's on and Piper will be up with your sandwich and milk"

"Ok" Phoebe sounded sad but Prue was not going to give in - her sister had overstepped the mark, Prue had set the boundaries she was sticking to them.

Prue was sitting in the lounge when Piper came down with the empty plate and glass.

"Was she ok?"

"Yeah - she was quiet but she's all tucked in she looks tired"

"Yeah well she's been quite active"

Piper laughed glad to see Prue's mood was lighter. Both sisters looked in the direction of the stairs they'd heard a shuffle, Phoebe was standing there in her PJ's George dangling from one hand. Phoebe hesitated then came towards her sister, Phoebe stood in front of Prue her big brown eyes teary, she sat down on her sisters lap and snuggled in.

Piper raised her eyebrows wondering what Prue would do - after all Phoebe was still under punishment and was meant to be in her room.

Prue wrapped both arms around her little sister and held her close.

"What's wrong Phoebe?" Prue knew whatever was troubling her little sister was related to the afternoon’s events.

"I want to ask you something"

"Go on"

"Promise you won't get mad" Phoebe sounded scared her voice was trembling.

Prue looked across at Piper Piper was looking concerned "Ok - go on"

"Did Mum love me"

The silence seemed to go on forever but in reality lasted a couple of seconds.

"Of course she did" It was Piper who spoke

"Why do you ask?" Prue knew there was more to it than this.

"She didn't really know me - she knew you and Piper so she must have loved you but she didn't know me so I don't think she did" two big tears slid down the little girls face.

Prue brushed them away with her thumb and kissed the top of her sister’s head.

"Love isn't about time honey - Mum loved you just as much as she loved us, love............ well it’s just.............. well it's there. She loved you even before you were born, she was so pleased when she knew she was having you. You weren't too happy though you announced your arrival very loudly!" Prue laughed "Mum loved you honey never doubt that as soon as you were born you had a special place in her heart."

Tears were falling freely down Phoebes face, she choked - "I can't remember her"

"You don't need to baby - she's here" Prue held her thumb close to her sisters mouth "and in here" Prue tapped her sisters chest.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah - you've got mums eyes honey you look a lot like her, and when you smile - its just like Mum her smile filled her face just like yours" Prue smiled at her sister Phoebe smiled back through her tears.

"It’s why I took the flowers" Phoebes voice was almost a whisper.

"Why?" Prue didn't sound angry she was curious

"To give to Mum - I thought she might like me more"

"Oh babe! Mum wouldn't need anything from you - she loves you just as you are"

"You never take me Prue" Phoebe squirmed on her sisters knee she knew this was a sensitive subject Prue would get annoyed whenever Phoebe brought their Mum up they would end up in an argument.

"I, erm its just that well I like to go there on my own - you know quiet time"

"I could be quiet" Phoebe looked at her sister sadness still evident in her eyes.

"That would be a first" Prue smiled at her baby sister but Phoebe didn't smile back.

"Would you take me Prue? What if you went on your own like now but found time some time different to take me"

Prue looked across at Piper and could see the tears welling in her eyes Prue couldn't speak she felt so choked up she had no idea her little sister had been so upset about their Mum.

Prue nodded she felt Phoebes arms go round her neck and a kiss land on her cheek.

"I love you Prue"

"Love you too honey"

Prue let her little sister stay on her lap for a few minutes more then carried her back to bed - carefully tucking her in she kissed the little girl goodnight.

"When" Phoebe sounded sleepy, Prue smiled persistent little bugger!

"Tomorrow"

"Ok. Night" Phoebe snuggled down already half asleep.

"Night baby"

Prue made her way back downstairs to Piper and a mug of hot chocolate.

"Thought you could do with this"

Prue smiled Piper was the sensitive sole of the family!

"Yeah quite a day! From hate to love all in the space of a few hours!"

"She's well" Piper hesitated "She’s complicated"

"You could say that"

"She's not the tough nut she makes out you know"

Prue nodded "I do know".

The following day Prue looked out of the window she'd just got up and was about to start breakfast when a blur of yellow caught her eye - taking a closer look she saw her little sister still in her pajamas balancing on the patio wall complete with skateboard.

Prue let out a deep sigh, normal service had been resumed! She doubted she'd ever figure her little sister out - who the hell would wake up and the first thought to pop into their head was to go balance on a wall using a skateboard! She was just about to yell at her sister when she stopped herself, she smiled - she suddenly realised that this is what made Phoebe well......Phoebe.

It was a few minutes later that Piper Halliwell threw back the curtains in her bedroom only to be greeted with the sight of both of her sisters in their pajamas on their skateboards Piper grinned as she watched Prue show Phoebe how to jump on to the low wall then slide down the other side. Piper rushed outside just in time to see Phoebe throw herself on to Prue’s back - "Go on Prue! See if you can do it with me holding on!"

Piper heard Prue’s laughter "I'm good! I'm not that good!"

Prue lost her balance the two ending up in a heap on the floor - Piper laughed as she dived on top.

Phoebe’s young voice rang out above the laughter "To the death!"

Piper caught Prue’s look and grinned typical Phoebe!

"Yeah yours!" both big sisters at once as they pounced on the little one.

The sound of childish laughter filled the early morning air, until eventually all three lay exhausted on the ground.

Piper pulled her youngest sister to her and landed a kiss to the top of her head, she felt the small arms snake around her as they returned the hug, the small body snuggling in ……….. she knew the little one inside out, the hard ass outer exterior hid the softest, sweetest centre. Grinning to herself she looked across at Prue, the oldest, and just like the youngest – hard on the outside, soft in the middle. Piper closed her eyes as she basked in the early morning sun, content in the knowledge that while her sisters had some terrible fights their anger never seemed to last long, their love and sense of caring for each other would eventually always come through.


THE END