Disclaimer: the Charmed Characters are the creation of Aaron Spelling and Constance Burge.. I've just borrowed them for your enjoyment



.“Piper please!” Phoebe Halliwell looked beseechingly at her older sister “Please Piper please, I’ll make it up to you I promise”

“No”

“Please Piper please” Phoebe jumped in front of her sister and threw herself on the ground at her knees, “Please Piper I promise I’ll never ask you to do anything for me ever again just please do this please.”

Piper looked down at her 10 year old sister with a pitying look “No honey stop, being dramatic isn’t going to help you’ll have to tell her”

“Piper she’ll kill me you know she will”

“I hate to sound hard honey but it’s your own fault you never should have touched Prue’s stuff”

“I just wanted to look Piper I never meant to break anything please Piper she won’t get as mad at you, please Pipe” Phoebe was still on her knees her eyes wide as she stared at her sister, "Pleeasse!!" Phoebe put her hands together as though in prayer.

Piper closed her eyes, Phoebe was pulling out all the stops, she took a deep breath “No and stop asking I’m not lying to Prue for you if she finds out she’ll kill both of us”

Both girls jumped when they heard the front door slam with lightening speed Piper watched her little sister dive out the back door into the yard. She looked up straight into the eyes of her eldest sister Prue.

“Hey Pipe was that the back door I heard”

“Yeah you just missed Pheebes she’s gone out to play” Piper hated lying but she knew things would be bad enough for her baby sister once Prue found out what she’d done.

“Dam I wanted to talk to her”

“What now?”

“Apparently she beat some kid up”

“What! That doesn’t sound like her she must have had a reason”

“What good reason can you think of Pipe?”

Piper looked blank

"She’s got away with murder lately”

“Oh Prue don’t! she’s only a kid you’ve got to give her a chance you're too hard on her”

“No Piper – its time she stopped and thought things through”

“She doesn’t do it on purpose Prue – trouble just seems to find her, try talking to her”

“Now you are having a laugh! First of all trouble doesn’t just find her she finds it! And as for talking to her I’ve tried that, been there failed, no more drastic measures are called for, she’s never on time, she's cheeky, she's always breaking the rules - she goes where she wants to when she wants to, its got to stop I never have a clue where she is or who she's with." Prue paused "Do you know where she is now?"

Piper frowned, once again caught between a rock and a hard place, "Not exactly, I think she's just playing local"

Prue growled "Ughhh! See what I mean! Piper anything could happen to her we've got to stop this!"

Prue went up to her room leaving Piper to worry downstairs – Phoebe was so dead – Prue didn’t even know yet that her youngest sister had broken the figurine her mum had given her on her 4th birthday, Piper had received one on her 4th birthday and Phoebe would have done if their mum hadn’t died when Phoebe was 2. Prue was the oldest, at 17 she took her responsibilities seriously one of them was to look after her younger sisters and keep them out of trouble. Phoebe had always been a bit on the wild side and this often got her into trouble with the eldest, Piper thought Prue was too hard on the baby of the family but Prue would hear none of it. Piper sighed maybe she should take the blame.

******************
Phoebe Halliwell had put off the inevitable for as long as she could it was with dread that she opened the gate she took a deep breath and prepared herself for the wrath of her sister.

Prue and Piper were sat at the kitchen table waiting patiently for the youngest to return at least Piper was, Prue was still mad at her.

“See she doesn’t help herself – little things like being home for dinner on time she can’t even manage that – then you wonder why I’m always so mad at her”

“Oh Prue! She’s only a couple of minutes late, lighten up, I’ve just heard the gate” Piper was dreading this evening – it was evident that Prue still didn’t know about the figurine Piper knew the whole street would have heard her when she discovered the broken bits, Piper guessed Phoebe had hidden it, once again trying to put off the inevitable.

Piper looked up at the sound of the kitchen door opening, Phoebes big brown eyes stared back at her, Piper couldn’t help but think how cute she looked – Phoebe was tiny for her age she only looked about 7 or 8 she had massive brown eyes and a great big smile that filled her face.

Piper glanced quickly at Prue, it was obvious from Prues expression she wasn’t thinking how cute their little sister looked.

“In now! And get cleaned up, we’ve been waiting for you, you know when dinner is!”

“Sorry Prue, sorry Piper” Phoebe rushed through to the downstairs bathroom not wanting to give Prue another reason to be mad with her.

Phoebe quickly returned to the kitchen table and sat quietly next to Piper.

“Right Missy – after dinner you and me are going to have a little chat any idea what about”

Piper cringed Phoebe stayed silent she’d learnt through experience not to admit to anything until she knew exactly what her big sister knew.

“Well!” Prues voice was stern as she glared at her youngest sister.

Phoebe shook her head.

“Billy Thornton ring any bells!” Prues voice was dripping with sarcasm.

“Erm he’s the lad that’s been picking on me”

“Oh picking on you was he? Then how come he’s the one with the broken wrist?!”

“I pushed him back he fell awkward that’s all”

“That’s all!! You’ve broken another childs wrist and you say that’s all!”

Phoebe looked down at her plate why did Prue always have to misunderstand her she hadn’t meant it literally but she knew if she tried to explain she’d only make things worse.

“I, I didn’t mean it like that” Phoebe was looking around nervously sometimes her big sister intimidated her.

“Fine! Well listen here madam when you’ve finished your dinner you’ve got an appointment in my room with me – is that clear?”

Phoebe nodded, suddenly losing her appetite; she knew what that meant. After a few minutes Prue pushed her chair back and made her way to her room.

Phoebe looked at Piper a look of desperation on her face.

“Pipe what am I going to do – she’s already mad at me she’ll kill me”

“No she won’t honey she might hurt you badly but she won’t kill you” Piper was trying to make light of the situation.

Phoebe gave her a half smile “She might as well, what shall I do Pipe? Shall I tell her now or should I wait?”

“Not sure – at least it would be over with”

Phoebe frowned at Piper “I could always run away”

“Then she definitely will kill you! Finish your dinner then go see her she’ll be even madder if you keep her waiting”

Phoebe pushed her plate away “I can’t eat anyway Pipe” She stood up and made her way slowly to her big sisters room.

Phoebe took a deep breath and opened the door.

“Ever heard of knocking!” Prue glared at her youngest sister her manners were appalling.

“Sorry I didn’t think erm you wanted to see me”

“Phoebe come here”

Pheobe slowly made her way over to her sister she stood in front of her nervously clutching her hands.

Prue remained sitting at her desk – she took a few seconds to observe her kid sister, her head was down and she was examining her sneakers as though it was the first time she’d seen them.

“What have I told you about fighting?”

“To only do it if I know I can win?” Phoebe smiled at her sister hoping to win her over with humour.

“Don't!”

Phoebe lowered her gaze “Sorry Prue I wasn’t really fighting he hit me first I pushed him and he fell on his arm”

“That isn’t what Mrs Thompson said! I’m sick and tired of this Phoebe every week there’s something! What if you’d been hurt? What if you’d been the one with the broken wrist?”

Phoebe bit on her lip "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to happen"

Prue studied her little sister "You never do" there was note of resignation in Prues voice.

"What's going to happen?" Phoebe looked her big sister in the eye, she knew she was mad and she knew there would be consequences.

"First of all we're going to have a chat, and then I'm going to remind you of a few things and then you will be punished"

Phoebe could feel the tears stinging at the back of her eyes, she really hated it when things reached this stage, she knew she was in for one big lecture and then some!

Prue sat on her bed and called Phoebe to stand in front of her "Apart from today, you've totally disregarded basic manners and courtesy. You know you need to tell us where you're going and who with"

"I'm not a baby"

"Its not about being a baby, Phoebe both Piper and I tell each other and you where we'll be, it's safer and it stops worry. How would you feel if Piper was missing and we had no idea where she was? Wouldn't you be worried?"

Phoebe nodded "So its not about being a baby - its about keeping each other informed and safe. Now you continually refuse to tell us, my only conclusion is that you're doing stuff you're not meant to do. Is that the case.....and Phoebe please don't lie"

Phoebe knew things would be worse if she did - Prue hated lies and would not stand for them, it was probably her pet hate. "Sometimes"

"So what have you been up to?"

"Just the woods" Phoebe's head was hanging down.

"After what I said last week!" Prue was finding it hard to stay calm, she wasn't particularly good at talking to her sister normally she acted first then sorted it out later.

"Everyone was going" Phoebe was mumbling now.

"Look at me"

Phoebe raised her eyes "You know you're not allowed to go, I'm glad you told me and if you hadn't things would have been worse but you still deserve to be punished. You're grounded for the next week, and do it again Phoebe and I'll make it a lot longer, understand?"

Phoebe nodded.

"And when I say grounded I mean grounded, no TV, no phone, no computer apart from homework"

"Oh man!"

Prue raised her eyebrows - she actually thought she was being rather lenient all things considered.

"Sorry" Phoebe took the hint.

"Ok, next - some rules, once the grounding's over you never come back when you say you will, I don't want excuses Phoebe, just know that next time it happens however long you are over the curfew will be doubled and deducted from the time you can go out" Prue watched Phoebe slump. "So that means if you're one hour late instead of having an 8.30 curfew it will be 6.30"

"Ok"

Prue raised her eyebrows surprised at the lack of protest. "Ok next the fight, you know you're not allowed unless there is a very good reason. Can you give me one?"

Phoebe shook her head "He did pick on me" Phoebe's voice was low, she knew she was on dangerous ground, Prue had already told her what would happen if she had another fight.

"How bad? Again don't lie Phoebe because whatever happens we are going to Billy Thorntons to say sorry, and that's to his Mum and Dad too, and if I find out that you've lied to me..........." Prue left the sentence unfinished.

"Not that bad, he was shoving me and pulling my hair" Phoebe paused, "But I didn't mean to hurt him bad"

"Was it a push or a proper fight?"

"Mmm fight" Phoebe was mumbling barely audible.

"What?"

"A fight"

"Ok, tomorrow you're going to apologise and you know what I said would happen if you got into another fight?"

Phoebe nodded – she knew what was coming and was not surprised when Prue turned her around and delivered a few hard smacks.

“You're behavior has got to improve Phoebe now go on go to your room, go to bed, I mean what I say”

Phoebe didn’t need telling twice she made her way to her room and lay down on her bed she cried herself to sleep on top of the covers. Piper found her like that when she went to bed, she tried to put her to bed without waking her but Phoebes eyes flew open she still looked teary as she put her arms around Pipers neck and drew her close for a hug.

“Shh, shh its ok its over now” Piper gently stroked her little sisters back.

“It’s not Pipe she still doesn’t know”

“Is that why you're crying?”

“No, well one of the reasons” Phoebe brushed the tears away from her face “It can’t be fixed Pipe I’ve broken something precious I feel so bad”

“She’ll get over it and so will you just be prepared she’ll go mad”

Phoebe nodded and snuggled back down in her bed “Night Pipe”

“Night baby girl” Piper leaned in and kissed her sisters wet cheek.

Phoebe lay there for a while not knowing what to do – at first she’d just been worried about what Prue would do to her when she found out but the more she had thought about what she’d done the more upset she’d become. She’d broken something of Prues something their Mum had given her she knew how she would feel if anything happened to the few things she had from their Mum. She couldn’t put it off any longer she couldn’t sleep she felt sick, she knew she should have owned up earlier but she'd been scared. She crept out of bed and made her way to her big sisters room.
She knocked quietly on the door.

“Come in”

Phoebe took a deep breath and opened the door.

Prue was surprised to see her little sister – normally after she’d been in trouble Phoebe tended to avoid her at least for a little while.

“What do you want?” Prue asked not unkindly

Phoebe still didn’t answer she was too busy chewing on her lip.

Prue noticed how pale her little sister looked “Are you ok – do you feel sick?” Prues voice was one of concern now.

Phoebe shook her head “No, I’ve, I’ve done something, something terrible” With that admission Phoebe burst into tears.

Prue was surprised - Phoebe had come to confess – usually Phoebe would avoid facing up to things for as long as she could.

“What have you done?”

Phoebe couldn’t stop the tears by now she was sobbing.

Prue pulled her little sister to her and picked her up – sitting on the bed she held the little girl on her lap.

“What have you done that’s so bad?”

“You’ll” Phoebe was fighting for her breath “You’ll hate me”

Prue brushed away some of Phoebes tears “Tell me, I won’t hate you”

“Yes you will” Phoebe was still trying to speak between sobs “Even I hate me”

“Why? Why do you hate you?” Prue smiled at her little sister.

“I’ve done something really bad, I, I, I,” Phoebe had started stammering something she only did when she was really upset.

“Take a deep breath Phoebe”

Phoebe brought her hand out from behind her back she was holding a leather belt.

“What’s this for?”

“For you to …to…whip me with”

“What! – I’d never do that to you what makes you think that” Prue was shocked, it was extremely rare that Phoebe got smacked it was only after warnings and other restrictions failed, even then it was just a few hard smacks nothing that would cause any damage.

“Coz its bad Prue I deserve a strapping”

“Tell me”

“I, I I just wanted to see to think about how how how”

Prue waited patiently “how Mum would have felt when she when she” Phoebe started crying again.

“When she what?”

“Bought you that figure, I just wanted to hold it to see what Mum saw when she bought it for you, and when she got Piper hers, I was pretending that it was mine. That I had a present from Mum”

Prue felt like a heavy weight was lying on her chest.

“You broke it?” Prues voice was almost inaudible.

Phoebe nodded tears streaming down her face “I’m so sorry Prue, I’m so sorry”

Prue didn’t know what to say it was one of her most treasured possessions.

“I know this can’t be fixed, I’m so, so sorry!” Phoebe was sounding more and more distraught she climbed down of her sister’s knee and picked the belt up thrusting it into Prue’s hand, sobs still wrecking her body.

Prue looked down at the sobbing child feeling the belt in her hand, something in her broke. Never had Prue seen anyone so remorseful.

“Phoebe” Prue’s voice was almost a whisper, Phoebe didn’t move her sobs were coming louder “Phoebe” Prue tried again.

Prue reached out to her “Phoebe, honey it's ok” Pheobe still didn’t move Prue leaned down and picked up her trembling baby sister. She sat down with the little girl on her lap, she held her tight as she gently stroked her hair off her wet face.

“Shh baby don’t cry its ok I’m not going to whip you”

“But, but you shh you should”

“No I shouldn’t its ok don’t get so upset you’ll make yourself sick”

“Prue I’m sorry, I’m so sorry”

By this time Piper had appeared she had been woken by the noise coming from Prues room. She took one look at her distraught little sister and the leather belt laying at the side of the bed.

“Prue! What the hell?!”

“I haven’t touched her she’s ok she’s just upset”

Piper came closer she tentatively reached a hand out and stroked Phoebes hair.

Prue maneuvered her baby sister so Phoebe was facing her. Phoebe leant forward and pushed her face into Prues neck, Prue could feel the wet face against her skin. Prue gently rubbed her sisters back soothing her trying to calm her down.

“Shh, shh its ok it was an accident its ok”

“So sorry” Phoebe whispered back.

“I know its ok, I know you didn't mean to”

Piper looked on in wonderment – this was not the reaction from Prue that she had been expecting.

“Piper go back to bed its late – she’ll be alright”

“Ok if you’re sure, Night Pheebes stop crying it’s ok”

“It’s not ok – Mum bought it it was precious”

Piper smiled at her little sister – this must have been a new word she’d learnt but give her her due she was right, she leaned forward and kissed her little sister on the forehead “Night baby” then she leaned across and kissed her big sister on the cheek “Night big sis”

“Night Pipe see you in the morning” Prue looked down at the little one “What about you? You ready for some sleep?”

Phoebe nodded her head Prue looked into her big brown eyes she’d never seen her look so sad, “Do you want to sleep with me?”

Phoebe tightened her grip and kissed her big sister “Please”

Prue picked her up and put her under the covers climbing in next to her she wasn’t surprised when the little girl crawled into her arms.

The next morning Phoebe woke up to find herself alone – she jumped out of bed intending to go and find Prue but first of all she stopped off in her own room.

Prue was sitting in the sun lounge reading the paper when her little sister made an appearance. Prue couldn’t help but smile – her hair was all over the place her pajamas were all scrunched up she still looked half asleep. She watched as Phoebe hesitantly came towards her she noticed that she had something hidden behind her back.

“Prue?”

“Yes Phoebe?”

“I want you to have something”

“What?”

“George” Phoebe brought her hand out from behind her back and held up her favourite toy – George the stuffed monkey – one of the few and last presents she ever got from her Mum.

Prues eyes filled with tears she held her arm out to her little sister and pulled her on to her knee.

“I don’t want George honey he’s yours he belongs with you”

“No Prue – it’s fair”

“No Phoebe its not necessary you keep him – Mum gave him to you to look after”

“But she didn’t know I’d break one of your most precious things something Mum gave you, I know you're upset”

“Maybe I am but its ok I’ll get over it”

Phoebe shoved George at Prue.

“Please take him”

Prue looked down into the deep pools that were Phoebes eyes she tenderly brushed some hair back and tucked it behind her ear.

“You know something?”

Phoebe looked expectantly at her big sister.

“That figure wasn’t the only precious thing Mum gave me”

Phoebe looked puzzled.

“You know what the most precious thing is that I ever got from Mum?”

Phoebe shook her head. Prue took a deep breath.

“Two little sisters”



.THE END