Charmed: A Fifth Sister/Adopted Daughter

2. Phoebe Comes Home

A little later the house phone rang. Prue got up and answered. "Hello?"

"Prue, we need you in again. There's a complication with the project."

"Alright. I'll be right in." She replied and hung up. "Dorinda!" She called.

Dorinda stopped her research and ran down the steps. "What is it, Mommy?"

"I have to go back into work. I can't leave you alone, so you're going to have to come with me. Your Aunt Piper is running late."

"Ok." She said and went to the door.

Prue helped her put her rain coat on as it started to rain then put hers on. They walked to the car and they left.

Later that night, Prue was fixing the light. Dorinda was bathed and in her pajamas playing with her doll that Prue passed down to her at a year old in the living room. It was storming and Dorinda's afraid of thunder and lightening. She was in bed for an hour then woke up scared from the thunderstorm. She had come downstairs and Prue decided to let her stay up and play so as not to get more nightmares from the storm. Piper walks in and hangs up her umbrella. "Prue?!"

"In here!" She called.

Piper started in the direction and found her. "Sorry I'm late."

Prue got down and faced her. "Piper, you know I couldn't be here for when the electrician arrived."

"I know. I'm sorry. I didn't realize how long I was in Chinatown."

"What were you doing in Chinatown? I thought you had an interview at the restaurant this afternoon."

"I did. But I stopped at the Yowling Market on my way home to get the ingredients I needed for my test tomorrow."

"I see." Prue replied and went to the drawr in the kitchen to look for something.

"Phoebe's good with a wrench." Piper said following her.

"Phoebe lives in New York." Prue said dully facing her middle sister.

"Not anymore." Piper blurted. Prue faced her sister again in surprise. "She left New York. She's moving back in with us."

Prue sighed and went around her. "You've GOT to be kidding."

"Well, I could hardly say no!" She called then followed her again. "It's HER house too. It was willed to all of us."

"Yeah. But that was months ago and we haven't seen or spoken to her since." Prue replied stopping to face her again.

"Well, YOU haven't spoken to her."

"No I haven't. Look, maybe you've forgotten why I'm still mad at her."

"No, of course not, but she had nowhere else to go. She lost her job, she's in debt..."

"And THIS is news?!" Prue cut her off. "How long have you known about this anyway?"

"A COUPLE of days. Maybe a week... or two." She said hesitantly.

"Thanks for sharing." Prue replied dully and sarcastically. "When does she arrive?"

Just as the words left her mouth, the door opened. "Surprise!" Phoebe said walking in and closing the door. "I found the hiding key."

"Phoebe, welcome home." Piper said hugging her little sister. "It's so good to see you. Isn't it, Prue?" She asked the elder sister in a warning tone.

"I'm speechless." She replied with a not so obvious fake smile.

There was a honk from outside and Phoebe suddenly remembered. "Oops. I forgot about the cab."

"Don't worry. I'll get it." Piper said and grabbed the purse off the sideboard.

"Piper, that's MY purse!" Prue called.

Piper just waived her hand in a doesn't matter gesture. Phoebe turned to her eldest sister. "Thanks. I'll pay you back."

Prue nodded then realized what she had. "Is that all you brought?"

"That's all that I own. That and a bike." Then she sighed. "Look, I know that you don't want me here..."

"We're not selling Grams' house." Prue said cutting her off.

"Is that why you think I came back?!" Phoebe asked insulted.

"The ONLY reason Piper and I moved back here is because THIS house has been in our family for generations."

"NO history lesson needed." Phoebe cut her off. "I grew up here too. So can we talk about what's REALLY bothering you?"

"No. I am still furious with you."

"So you would rather have a tense-filled reunion filled with boring chit-chat and unimportant small talk."

"No. But otherwise we won't have anything to talk about."

"I never touched Roger."

"Whoa."

"And I know you think otherwise because that's what that armonty weary, chardonnay, slugging, trustfunder told you. But..."

She was cut off by Piper walking back in. "Hey!" The two turned to face her. "I have a great idea. Why don't I make a FABULOUS reunion dinner."

"I'm not hungry." Prue stated and walked back to the kitchen.

"I ate on the bus." Phoebe said and took her stuff upstairs not even acknowledging her baby sister turned niece playing in the living room.

"Ok. We'll try the group hug later." Piper said.

Dorinda stopped playing and walked out to the foyer where Piper was standing. "What's wrong, Aunt Piper?"

Piper turned around and picked her up. "Aunt Phoebe is living with us again."

"I heard. She didn't even say hi to me on her way upstairs." She replied a bit disappointed.

Piper kissed her forehead. "Don't worry about it, Sweetie. She's just upset about Prue."

"What did Mommy do?"

"Nothing. It's just hard for her to accept Aunt Phoebe being back and forgive her for leaving."

"Oh. Can I go talk to Aunt Phoebe?"

"Sure, Sweetheart. Just be cautious ok?" She said putting her down.

"Ok." Doe replied and went upstairs to Phoebe's room. She stopped at the door and knocked.

"Who is it?" Came from the other side.

Doe cautiously opened the door and peeked in. "Hi, Aunt Phoebe."

Phoebe smiled. "Hey, Munchkin. What are you doing up?"

"Mommy said I could stay up so I don't have anymore nightmares from the storm. I only slept for an hour."

"Ah. So I guess you're still scared of thunder and lightening."

"Yeah. Aunt Phoebe, you didn't say hi to me." She said disappointed with a small pout.

Phoebe sat on the bed. "I'm sorry, Sweetie. I didn't even think about it. I was upset about your mommy."

"I know. Aunt Piper told me." She said walking over to her.

Phoebe picked her up and kissed her cheek. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." Doe replied and kissed her cheek.