Our Screwed-Up Destiny

[~.:Alysha:.~]

Yeah thanks girlies..that was great

[Jamie]

that was so good thanx for the entertainment i am loving it

[Primrose_Empath]

You're all very, very welcome! It's been our pleasure writing and posting this fic up for you to enjoy. And knowing that you're enjoying it so much just makes our day. ;D

Here is part 2 of Pastor Williams' sermon...

---

--PASTOR WILLIAMS (continued)--

"When we were preparing for this celebration, I asked her family what were the special parts of Piper, which told me what were her good works. And it made me wish I knew her better. I was told there was her energy. Her bubbly, bright spirit. Living every day to the fullest. Her very special dry sense of humor, when she always seemed to know just what to say to make the darkest moment seem lighter.

"Her long shiny hair. Her big brown eyes. Her beautiful smile. And I'm glad that her big sister made sure that you were all albe to get one of these programs, because, wow, doesn't that capture her smile? Doesn't it just make you want to smile right back at her? I know it does me."

"And when she was talking with you, didn't she make you think that you were the most important person in that moment of time to her?

"Her loving. Her caring for people. That people were important to her, that people came first--thinking of them and not of herself."

"Her thoughtfulness. Never gossiping about anyone, not trying to hurt anyone. And her family always coming first, celebrating birthdays and holidays with all of the wonderful things that came out of her kitchen or out of her club. From what I've been told, no one could cook like Piper. No one could just take anything she could find in her kitchen and know just how to put it together to make something wonderful.

"Even the way she acted as a mediator between her strong-willed older sister and free-spirited stubborn younger one. Without her, they never would've been reconciled, and how happy they must be now that they can comfort and support one another in this time of need.

"All these beautiful things. They were all such wonderful virtues and goodness. If you want to honor this woman, you take something of that and put it into your own life and you allow her to live through you!

"And look around you, all of these people, here today. She's still alive through all of you! You're going to go back through those doors, back into the world, to your homes, your work environment, wherever your journeys may take you, but you will not travel alone.

"We're here today because she has touched you and each of you has those stories, those memories, those experiences. Keep telling them. Laugh with them. Cry with them. Go silent with them. But don't stop remembering. Because again, every time you do it, you allow her goodness, her soul, to flow through you to touch somebody else.

"That way your wife, your daughter, your sister, your co-worker, your employer, your friend will continue to add to her treasure chest through you. This good woman, her memory, her presence, her good deeds, her love, will live through all of us and perhaps countless others. And you will go forth from this celebration of life and touch other people's lives, and it will just keep growing and growing and growing. And it will all be due to someone who simply touched each of us during her 28 years."

---

Don't put that tissue box away...

[*Sammi!*]

its not away trust me!! I love this you two!!

[woogyinthehouse]

ohh this is beautiful!! I have cried so much!! my keyboard is socked i have no tissues left!!

please update you wonderful writers!!

[pipercharmedphreak]

YAY!! An update! I am still loving it! Great job you two!

[Esmeralda]

Oh, you guys make us *so* happy! Like we said near the beginning of the funeral, most of this is based on my mom's funeral, specifically Prue's reading (although I didn't have to tweak is, since I could say, "A perfect wife and mother, who can find her? She is far beyond the price of pearls," because that she was), and the sermon, which is also based on Mom's, modified to fit Piper. But you have some idea why I miss my Mom so much and why I suggest that all of you who still have your Moms give her an extra-big hug for me!

We hope you like the rest of the fic just as much as we continue to explore what could've happened if suddenly the oldest and the youngest found themselves without their peace-loving middle sister.

[Primrose_Empath]

^ I ditto that! You guys simply rock. ;D

And the fact that most of what we've written for this part is based on actual events in my wonderful co-writer's life, just makes it all the more heart-string tugging.

Tissues at the ready?

---

--PASTOR WILLIAMS--

I was silent after I finished the sermon, giving everyone a chance to think of my words. Then I smiled. "I have a special treat for all of you. This young woman was supposed to appear at Piper's club, P3, tonight. When she found out what had happened, she called and asked the sisters if they would mind if she sang a song during the service, and they agreed if I'd agree, which I definitely do. Everyone, I present Miss Faith Hill."

Everyone gasped as both the famous country singer and her just as famous husband, Tim McGraw, stepped to the pulpit. Tim was holding his guitar. Faith had already given her music to the organist earlier. She looked at the others. "Like Pastor Williams, I also wish that I had known Piper Halliwell-Wyatt better, but I'm glad that I could be here today. I'm totally amazed how much his sermon fits in with the song I want to sing for you today, my new single that will also be part of the upcoming movie, 'Pearl Harbor.' This is 'There You'll Be'..."

Tim McGraw began strumming his guitar and the organist began to play and Faith Hill began to sing:

When I think back on these times
And the dreams we left behind
I’ll be glad 'cause I was blessed
To get to have you in my life
When I look back on these days
I’ll look and see your face
You were right there for me

In my dreams I’ll always see you soar above the sky
In my heart there always be a place for you for all my life
I’ll keep a part of you with me
And everywhere I am, there you’ll be

Well you showed me how it feels
To feel the sky within my reach
And I always will remember
All the strength you gave to me
Your love made me make it through
Oh, I owe so much to you
You were right there for me

In my dreams I’ll always see you soar above the sky
In my heart there always be a place for you for all my life
I’ll keep a part of you with me
And everywhere I am there you’ll be

'Cause I always saw in you
My light, my strength
And I want to thank you
Now for all the ways
You were right there for me
You were right there for me
For always

In my dreams I’ll always see you soar above the sky
In my heart there always be a place for you for all my life
I’ll keep a part of you with me
And everywhere I am there you’ll be

And even though it was a church, everyone clapped and cheered as Faith and Tim returned to their seats, while those in the front row (and a lot of the others) reached up to wipe away their tears.

---

More to follow...

[pipercharmedphreak]

OH! I love that song (and that movie-Pearl Harbor). I am actually using that song in a video that I am working on! Anyways great update as always!

[~.:Alysha:.~]

Yeah i agree i am a huge fan of Pearl Harbour and that songs its beautiful and fits in so well.. great work guys

[woogyinthehouse]

wow that songs fits perfectly!! I loved the update!! and like always cant wait for more!

[Esmeralda]

SOOO glad you guys liked both the surprise and the song!

pipercharmedphreak said:

OH! I love that song (and that movie-Pearl Harbor). I am actually using that song in a video that I am working on! Anyways great update as always!

Funny thing about that. In Prue's fanclub, Drewsfan posted a link to a Prue memorial video that another fan had posted on Youtube. Piper Mourns Prue The song reminded me *so* much of Mom's funeral, that that's the reason why we decided to include it in this fic, and the video, with Piper remembering Prue is what gave us the idea to use the flashbacks you guys have been enjoying so much.

And here's hoping that now that the funeral is *almost* done (a few more parts to go), that you'll still like what we have up our sleeves!

[Primrose_Empath]

And again, I'll ditto!

If you haven't checked out the video, please do -- it's quite touching. I'll admit that it brought tears to my eyes when I watched it. Then again, I'm quite the sentimental softie. Not that there's anything wrong with that!

**** Please note! Unlike the flashbacks previously used in this fic, the one used near the end of today's and ones used for tomorrow's updates did not come from Charmed, nor are they what Es and I think happened after the end of "All Hell Breaks Loose." It's what we think might have happened, had Piper been the one who was the most hurt, not Prue. ****

And away we go with today's update....

ps: Click the link located somewhere in this update for a special surprise!

---

--PRUE--

"Thank you, Miss Hill and Mr. McGraw." said Pastor Williams with a soft smile before starting on the various prayers that would precede the eulogy. As before, the minds of those of us occupying the first row started to wander yet again--triggered by the song that had filled the church not moments earlier.

I refocused my eyes on a nearby stained-glass window as images flashed through my mind--memories of the last moments I ever spent with my sister and best friend.

[Start Flashback (Episode 3.22 All Hell Breaks Loose -- modified for this fic by Esmeralda & Primrose_Empath)]

[The whole day resets and Prue and Piper are back in the manor before Kernus attacks.]

Prue: Look, I know that this all sounds incredible, but it doesn't make it any less true. Alright, you're a healer, you do good, now either you have saved too many lives or you're about to save a life that they don't want you to save.

Dr. Griffiths: They?

Prue: Yeah, demons. Uh, more specifically, Kernus.

Dr. Griffiths: Hold it, I get it. This is a practical joke, right? Do you have a hidden camera here? My second wife put you up to this? Ah, it's just like her. (He laughs.)

Prue: O-o-okay, Dr. Griffiths, listen to me, this is anything but...

(She stops.)

Piper: What?

Prue: I don't know, I just felt a chill. Phoebe? (No answer.) Phoebe, are you there? (A tornado of wind twists through the front door.) Phoebe, where are you?

(The tornado knocks Prue and Piper to the floor. A clap of thunder is heard, the tornado calms down and Kernus appears. He is a somewhat tall demon and is black and gray all over save for his skin. Grayish hair, gray unbuttoned shirt, black long pants. He wears glasses and has an evil smirk permanently plastered on his narrow pointy face.)

Dr. Griffiths: Dear God.

Before she can get her hands up to either try to freeze or explode him, Kernus throws an energy ball at Piper and she literally crashes straight through a wall.)

Prue: Piper!

(Prue gets up and Kernus throws an energy ball at Prue which she deflects back at him, but before she can send him flying, he throws another energy ball at her, also sending her crashing through the wall and landing next to Piper. Kernus turns to Dr. Griffiths.)

Dr. Griffiths: What are you?

Kernus: The end.

(He throws an energy ball at Dr. Griffiths and he crashes through a window. Kernus looks around. He looks at Prue and Piper unconscious on the floor. Pleased with what he's done, Kernus turns back into the wind and flies out the front door. The glass on the door smashes as it slams shut.)

[End Flashback]

--PHOEBE--

Just a couple seats over, memories of that fateful day were also playing though my mind as I stared past my hands and down at my shoes.

[Start Flashback]

[Scene: The Manor. Cole shimmers in, his arms wrapped around Phoebe. She sees the destruction caused by the recent attack, including the rather large hole in the wall. She lets out an audible gasp and her eyes open wide in panic.]

Phoebe: Oh, no.

(She wriggles out of Cole's arms, leaving him standing by the remains of the doorway and sprints over to the hole where she sees her sisters. They are surrounded by debris and both appear to be unconscious, while Prue is copiously bleeding.)

Phoebe: Oh, God. Leo! Leo! Leo! LEO! (Leo orbs in) Hurry! It's bad!

(Leo is in shock at sight of the destruction but Phoebe's panicked voice draws him out of his daze and he hurries over to join her by her older sisters)

Leo: What happened?

Phoebe (rapidly shakes her head as her eyes move back and forth between her two sisters): Never mind, just heal them. Quickly, come on.

(Leo kneels down beside her and places his left hand above Piper and his right one over Prue. Neither hand begins to glow.)

Phoebe: What's wrong? Why isn't it working?

(Leo places the hands on both hurt sisters' chest. With a low, anguished moan, he immediately orbs out, leaving a flabbergasted Phoebe by the destroyed wall.)

[End Flashback]

---

To Be Continued....

[pipercharmedphreak]

ROLFLMAO! OH MY GOD!! That "surprise" was freaking hilarious! Great update as always and nice comedy to break the tension of the story. ;D Nice alterations of ALHBL as well!

[Primrose_Empath]

*grins* Glad you liked the "surprise"! Wish I could take credit for making it, but alas -- I can't.

And thank you for the compliment on the alterations we made to AHBL for it to fit this fic.

Same rules apply for today's flashbacks as yesterday's last flashback.

**** Please note! Unlike the flashbacks previously used in this fic, the ones used for today's update did not come from Charmed, nor are they what Es and I think happened after the end of "All Hell Breaks Loose." They're what we think might have happened, had Piper been the one who was the most hurt, not Prue. ****

So where did Leo go when he orbed out? Read on and find out!

---

--PHOEBE (continued)--

[Start Flashback]

[Scene: The Manor. Phoebe is still standing right where she was. Leo orbs back in. Phoebe opens her mouth to yell at Leo, but seeing the devastated look on his face, she stays quiet]

(Leo takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, then he once more puts his right hand over Prue and his left one over Piper. Again his hands glow and again the glow surrounds both sisters' bodies. Again the light surrounding Piper goes out, while the light surrounding Prue dims. Leo gasp in agony even as the line in his forehead grow deeper as he continues to concentrate and finally the light surrounding Prue begins to brighten, concentrating on her head, finally glowing a bright gold, and her breathing becomes deeper. Tears of relief comes to both Phoebe and Leo's eyes as the bright golden light spreads to completely envelop her entire body.)

(After another moment, the blood surrounding Prue disappears as she is completely healed, and her eyes start to flutter as she slowly regains consciousness. She slowly sits up, shaking the cobwebs out of her head and as Phoebe wraps her arms around her big sister.)

Prue: (looking at Leo) The doctor?

Cole: (standing by the doctor's body) He's already gone, Prue. I think he died right away. Leo? How's Piper?

(Both sisters turn towards Leo and look on with shocked expressions and tear-filled eyes as Leo stays knelt down beside Piper and now holds both hands above her. Immediately the light in his right hand goes out. He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and concentrates as hard as he can, harder than he ever has before, but still nothing happens.)

(While he's doing this, Prue and Phoebe pick through the debris and kneel beside Piper, opposite Leo, tears streaming down their faces.)

Phoebe: (taking one of Piper's hands in hers) What's the matter? Why isn't it working?

Prue: (pulling Piper's upper body into her lap and begins stroking the top of her head) Leo?

(Leo gives a world-weary sigh as he shakes his head in anguish and frustration. Tears are now forming in his eyes.)

Leo: I can't heal the dead.

(Prue and Phoebe are completely stunned at this news and start to cry harder. Prue refuses to believe him. She grabs his hands and puts them over Piper's heart herself, but they stay dark.)

Prue: Yes, you can! You've got to heal her... You've done it before! Now heal her, goddammit! NOW! You've got to heal her! You've got to!

Phoebe: This is Piper, Leo! You can't let her die!

Leo (still shaking his head as tears now rolls down his face): Phoebe, don't you understand? She's already gone. Just like the doctor--she was gone before you even got here. I tried to bring her back, I did, but I was too late. She's dead. Piper is dead. My soulmate is gone, and there's nothing I can do to bring her back--not this time--not ever!

Phoebe: You tried to save her?

(Leo nods)

[End Flashback]

--LEO--

Next to Phoebe, I was also remembering that last day and my desperate attempt to save Piper's life.

[Start Flashback]

[Scene: The "between realm" -- the realm where Leo brought Piper back to life after she had died from the Arroyo fever. Leo orbs in.]

Leo (looking around frantically): Piper! Piper!

(Looking straight ahead his heart sinks as he sees a brightly-glowing Patty and Penny Halliwell with their arms wrapped around Piper who also begins to glow as they welcome her into the Light....he's two seconds too late! As much as he wishes he could follow her, he knows he can't. Utter devastation washes over him.)

Piper (turning in her mother and grandmother's arms to smile brilliantly at Leo): I love you! Now go save Prue!

(Prue! In Leo's hurry to save his soulmate, he has totally forgotten the other hurt sister. His devastation turns to horror as he realizes that doing this might have also caused Prue to die.)

Piper (waving her hands in typical Piper-fashion): Go! Go! Go!

(With one last sad look at her, Leo orbs out.)

[End Flashback]

Even as tears rolled down the faces of those of us remembering Piper's last day, we hear Pastor Williams calling Darryl's name, so we all come out of our daydream to listen to Darryl's eulogy.

---

Do I even need to say what you need to do to get the next part?

[*Sammi!*]

haha! Brad Kern! lol!
Great set of updates lovely!! bring on the next ones!!

[pipercharmedphreak]

Aw! What a great idea--the plane where Leo healed Piper in Awakened! I also love how Piper tells Leo to go heal Prue!

[~:*Destiny*:~]

awesome I love this! I will bless you ( because i feel like it! ;D)

[~.:Alysha:.~]

I absolutely love this fic! Its amazing great writing..cant wait for the next update ;D

[Primrose_Empath]

Thanks! You guys are the best -- I mean it. *big hug* ;D

We loved how she told him to go back too -- can't you just picture her doing that? And how Leo must've felt, knowing that he was just seconds too late to save her...

Like the sermon and the song, this part is also done from a supporting character's point of view (which is why it is in maroon).

Happy Reading!

---

--DARRYL--

I slowly walked up to the podium, looked at those in the front row, then spoke. "Good afternoon. My name is Darryl Morris, and I'm an inspector with the San Francisco Police Department. I only really got to know Piper Halliwell the last couple years, but I've known about her for a lot longer than that. That's because my first partner, Andy Trudeau, grew up with the Halliwells. And although Andy moved to Portland and married a non-Halliwell, he never talked about his ex-wife or Portland, he just talked about the Halliwells. So I felt like I knew Piper and her sisters, Prue and Phoebe, long before I even met them. From what Andy told me, I never thought that Piper could be half the person that Andy made her out to be. But when I met her, I found out that I was wrong. She was twice that person.

"If Andy was still around, I'm sure he would be the one telling you these stories, but you guys are kinda stuck with me. I'm doing it for both of them, my first partner who was my friend and who is gone, and Piper, who was also my friend and who is also gone, and who we both looked at as our own sister.

"Everyone knows about Piper's wonderful cooking. My wife Sheila and I will miss the fantastic dishes that Piper would send home with me, just like I know that you all will. And most of you know how much she wanted to be a chef, how she was a manager at Quake before she and her sisters bought P3 and that her biggest dream was to one day open a restaurant of her own. But how many of you know that that desire to be a chef started very early in life?

"Once after Piper had left one of her wonderful cakes at the station house for all of us inspectors, Andy told me that as a child, Piper's favorite plaything was the Ez-Bake Oven that "Santa" had bought her one year. Andy told me that she made some of the best things from that oven--and that even back then, she didn't like the idea of only dumping the box of mix into the pan, adding water and sticking it in the oven. Not Piper! She was always going to ask their grandmother for extra stuff from the kitchen that she could throw into the mix. And Andy said everything she tried always tasted great.

"Speaking of their grandmother, Piper spent a lot of time in the kitchen with her, and Andy said that Grams, as everyone called their grandmother, always said that she was never sure who was teaching who!

"Speaking of Grams, as most of you know, the Halliwell sisters didn't have a very happy childhood. Their father left them when they were very young and their mother died just a few years later, the reason why Grams had to raise them. But I think this just made them stronger and closer to each other, even if you'd never believe it if you ever heard Prue and Phoebe going at it! Andy said that even as kids, Prue was always the one who followed the straight and narrow, while Phoebe was always the one who would constantly push the limits as much and as often as she could! And shy quiet little Piper was the one who with just a few words would be able to remind them just how much they truly loved each other, something she did all of her life, the reason why Phoebe is here today and not living in New York, since she took off shortly after Grams' death.

"Shy quiet little Piper. Somehow that doesn't sound anything like the Piper I met, and yet everyone insisted that that's what she was like as a child. Like the time that she ran for class secretary and couldn't even finish her speech. Hearing the way Piper could give someone whatfor makes that hard for me to believe, but Andy insisted that it was true."

"Another story that he insisted was true happened back when they were kids. The girls and Andy had always been close. He was sort of like the brother they never had. Just today I found out that they also have a second-cousin who also played that role. But Andy never mentioned him--probably didn't want to admit to me that they looked at anyone else as their big brother.

"Anyhow, when Piper was very young--about 5 or 6, she developed a crush on him, and for a good couple weeks that summer, she followed him around like a puppydog. He pretended like he didn't notice, since she was more like a little sister to him than anything else, but he knew that she was still suffering from losing her mother shortly before this, so he figured if having a crush on him helped her to recover from that sudden loss in her life, that was fine with him.

"However, he didn't want her to suffer the endless teasing at the hands of her sisters if they found out--which, of course, they eventually did. You can only imagine how hard her sisters teased her! And poor sensitive Piper was so upset! It took all the power of both Andy and Grams to get Prue and Phoebe to knock it off! But even as Andy laughed about that, he admitted to me that seeing that little girl looking at him with stars in her eyes was by far one of the sweetest things he had ever seen. And you know something, I can agree with that--I saw the same look in Piper's eyes just a few months ago when she and Leo got married.

"Thank you for everything you did for all of us, Piper. Thanks to you, I now have a new friend who I'm almost as close to as I was to Andy, and that's Leo. You were a very, very special woman, Piper Melinda Halliwell-Wyatt, and we'll never forget you."

---

More to follow....