firstlines1000's challenge #23.
Title: Message.
Author: Kaelle - cieux.
Fandom: Charmed.
Characters: Piper, Prue.
MsWord Count: 1000.
Summary: The night Piper brings Chris home, Prue drops into her dreams for a visit.
Author Note: Written for challenge #23 and for charmeddrabble's #19.
---
Prue sits down next to me. “Are you okay?” she asks quietly.
All I can do is look at her in disbelief. Am I okay, what kind of question is that? I’ve been through hell in the last few years.
I’m not saying I’m the only one, but I’ve had to adjust to a new sister while at the same time adjusting to losing Prue and finding myself the eldest. I’ve had to adjust to the idea that my first son - my precious, beautiful son - grows up into pure evil while adjusting to having my second son growing inside me, and standing in front of me, at the same time.
There’s been so many times I needed to see Prue, so many times I needed her advice, so many times I spoke to her in the hope that she’d visit and she didn’t, not even once. I’m sidetracked for a moment wondering what she’s been doing and what life is really like after death. Has she seen Andy since she crossed? Are they together again? Was she allowed to see him again after Mom and Grams helped her adjust to the fact that she’d died in their battle against Shacks?
I’d felt so alone at first, even though Phoebe was hurting and Leo was always there for me, it wasn’t the same. I’d had a big sister my entire life and then all of a sudden, she wasn’t there. I’d always had Prue to turn towards when I needed someone to talk to, or if I had a problem. I’d done it since my teenage years; if I had a problem I couldn’t handle alone, I’d hunt down my big sister and tell it all to her and then, somehow, Prue would just make it right. It was a talent I assumed came from being the eldest.
She was always there when I needed her and then, when I really needed her, I couldn’t have her. I wonder how she managed to make it look so easy - being the eldest, being the one who had to lead and figure everything out when no one else could. I kept trying my best and everyone said I was doing a good job … I was the only one with doubts it seemed. So I hid them away and pretended that they didn’t exist and eventually, even I believed I was doing okay.
And now that I’ve gotten used to being the eldest, now that it really feels like Paige belongs with us as the third Charmed One in what had been Prue’s place, Prue’s standing in front of me acting as though she’s been gone five minutes instead of years. Today has been one of the happiest days I can remember; I brought Chris home from the hospital and we celebrated - each silently praying that in the new future, an adult Chris would be doing the same thing. Then I put both of my children to bed and, when I fell into my own and closed my eyes, she was suddenly standing in front of my eyes, solid and real.
I’ve resolved not to cry until I’ve found out why she’s here but it’s hard to hold back the tears when my big sister, long absent and deeply missed, is sitting right next to me. It’s getting harder by the minute.
“Why did you bring me here?” I beg her quietly, unable to not-ask any longer. “Why now, Prue, why now after so long?” It’s bringing everything back again, all the feelings that rose up and overwhelmed me when she first left us; the pain and the sadness and the childish urge to throw myself into her arms and hang on tight, as though I can bring her back with me that way even though logic tells me it isn’t true.
“I had something I wanted to tell you.” Prue shrugs her shoulders, brushing strands of dark hair out of her eyes and tucking it behind her ear. She looks exactly the same as I remember her - the same dark hair and flawless skin - but she’s looking down and it bothers me that I can’t see her eyes. “Something that I wanted to tell you in person. They finally said that I could, but just this once.”
“What ‘something’, Prue?”
I want to know, but I’m suddenly terrified of what she could say. What message could she want to give me that would make the Elders grant her permission to do this now, when they’ve always refused before? I wouldn’t say they’re known for their fairness and it usually takes the extreme to make them agree to something they don’t want to agree too. Prue’s always been good at arguing her point though, and she rarely gives in, so maybe I shouldn’t be this surprised that she eventually wore them down.
My panic levels rise, despite my best intentions and I open my mouth to say … well, probably to babble until she stops me. Only she’s looking up now and there are tears gathering in the corners of her eyes, a slight sheen blanketing the blue, and her smile is the one I always strived to be rewarded with in my younger days.
I know suddenly, with a little sister’s instinct, what she’s going to say and I’m already sniffling when she whispers the words.
“That… I’m so proud of you, Piper.”
It means more coming from her than from Grams or even Mom. She’s proud of me, she thinks I’ve done a good job taking over as the eldest sister, a job only she truly understands with me. Phoebe can’t and neither can Paige. All those nights I screamed silently for Prue to come back and take the job away from me, because I believed with my entire heart and soul I couldn’t do it anymore, were worth it. She just made it worth it.
Prue’s proud of me, and it shatters the last of my resolve not to cry.
Author: Kaelle - cieux.
Fandom: Charmed.
Characters: Piper, Prue.
MsWord Count: 1000.
Summary: The night Piper brings Chris home, Prue drops into her dreams for a visit.
Author Note: Written for challenge #23 and for charmeddrabble's #19.
---
Prue sits down next to me. “Are you okay?” she asks quietly.
All I can do is look at her in disbelief. Am I okay, what kind of question is that? I’ve been through hell in the last few years.
I’m not saying I’m the only one, but I’ve had to adjust to a new sister while at the same time adjusting to losing Prue and finding myself the eldest. I’ve had to adjust to the idea that my first son - my precious, beautiful son - grows up into pure evil while adjusting to having my second son growing inside me, and standing in front of me, at the same time.
There’s been so many times I needed to see Prue, so many times I needed her advice, so many times I spoke to her in the hope that she’d visit and she didn’t, not even once. I’m sidetracked for a moment wondering what she’s been doing and what life is really like after death. Has she seen Andy since she crossed? Are they together again? Was she allowed to see him again after Mom and Grams helped her adjust to the fact that she’d died in their battle against Shacks?
I’d felt so alone at first, even though Phoebe was hurting and Leo was always there for me, it wasn’t the same. I’d had a big sister my entire life and then all of a sudden, she wasn’t there. I’d always had Prue to turn towards when I needed someone to talk to, or if I had a problem. I’d done it since my teenage years; if I had a problem I couldn’t handle alone, I’d hunt down my big sister and tell it all to her and then, somehow, Prue would just make it right. It was a talent I assumed came from being the eldest.
She was always there when I needed her and then, when I really needed her, I couldn’t have her. I wonder how she managed to make it look so easy - being the eldest, being the one who had to lead and figure everything out when no one else could. I kept trying my best and everyone said I was doing a good job … I was the only one with doubts it seemed. So I hid them away and pretended that they didn’t exist and eventually, even I believed I was doing okay.
And now that I’ve gotten used to being the eldest, now that it really feels like Paige belongs with us as the third Charmed One in what had been Prue’s place, Prue’s standing in front of me acting as though she’s been gone five minutes instead of years. Today has been one of the happiest days I can remember; I brought Chris home from the hospital and we celebrated - each silently praying that in the new future, an adult Chris would be doing the same thing. Then I put both of my children to bed and, when I fell into my own and closed my eyes, she was suddenly standing in front of my eyes, solid and real.
I’ve resolved not to cry until I’ve found out why she’s here but it’s hard to hold back the tears when my big sister, long absent and deeply missed, is sitting right next to me. It’s getting harder by the minute.
“Why did you bring me here?” I beg her quietly, unable to not-ask any longer. “Why now, Prue, why now after so long?” It’s bringing everything back again, all the feelings that rose up and overwhelmed me when she first left us; the pain and the sadness and the childish urge to throw myself into her arms and hang on tight, as though I can bring her back with me that way even though logic tells me it isn’t true.
“I had something I wanted to tell you.” Prue shrugs her shoulders, brushing strands of dark hair out of her eyes and tucking it behind her ear. She looks exactly the same as I remember her - the same dark hair and flawless skin - but she’s looking down and it bothers me that I can’t see her eyes. “Something that I wanted to tell you in person. They finally said that I could, but just this once.”
“What ‘something’, Prue?”
I want to know, but I’m suddenly terrified of what she could say. What message could she want to give me that would make the Elders grant her permission to do this now, when they’ve always refused before? I wouldn’t say they’re known for their fairness and it usually takes the extreme to make them agree to something they don’t want to agree too. Prue’s always been good at arguing her point though, and she rarely gives in, so maybe I shouldn’t be this surprised that she eventually wore them down.
My panic levels rise, despite my best intentions and I open my mouth to say … well, probably to babble until she stops me. Only she’s looking up now and there are tears gathering in the corners of her eyes, a slight sheen blanketing the blue, and her smile is the one I always strived to be rewarded with in my younger days.
I know suddenly, with a little sister’s instinct, what she’s going to say and I’m already sniffling when she whispers the words.
“That… I’m so proud of you, Piper.”
It means more coming from her than from Grams or even Mom. She’s proud of me, she thinks I’ve done a good job taking over as the eldest sister, a job only she truly understands with me. Phoebe can’t and neither can Paige. All those nights I screamed silently for Prue to come back and take the job away from me, because I believed with my entire heart and soul I couldn’t do it anymore, were worth it. She just made it worth it.
Prue’s proud of me, and it shatters the last of my resolve not to cry.