Her Last Day--COMPLETED 5/29/06

[Esmeralda]

Today is the second anniversary of my Mom's death, so I had to add an extra part of my story. Rest in peace, Mom! I love you! I miss you!

CHAPTER TEN

Just then a head pops into the doorway. “Can we come in?”

We look up and smile—it’s Darryl and Dare, aka Darryl Jr. “Of course you can,” I welcome. “Just keep it quiet!”

Darryl nods as they walk in. “Yeah, Sheila phoned me and told us.”

Dare looks around. “Where’s Wy? Where’s Chris?”

“Out on a mission,” Leo replies. “We hope they’ll be back soon.” Then he looks down at Piper. “Look who’s here! More visitor?”

A questioning look comes into Piper’s eyes, so Leo motions Darryl to come stand by Piper’s head and Paige motions Dare to come stand by her, so he can stand opposite his dad. As always, Piper’s eyes glow as she looks up and recognizes her visitors. Darryl smiles back as he reaches down to kiss her cheek. “Told you I’d be back and glad to see you’re still here.”

Piper’s eyes smirk again, obviously saying, “I told you I’d still be here!”

“Hey, Piper! I’m glad you’re still here, too,” says Dare and she smiles back at him.

Oh, oh, one of Piper’s doctors just came into the room. Darryl and Dare just got here! Don’t tell me they’re gonna shoo us out again already! Of course, after my long nap, it seems like we were just shooed out, even though we weren’t.

The doctor smiles at us, which surprises all of us. “We’ve found something strange on Piper’s last test. We’d like to try it again. If we get the same results, we might have some good news for you!”

Now we all stare at him in shock. Good news? How could we possibly get good news on a day like this? He nods, so we all leave and silently return to the family room, where we all start talking a million miles a minute, wondering what the heck this could mean.

The only one not saying anything is Leo. He looks absolutely dazed, unable to even think about what this could possibly mean.

Not Trish. She’s smiling so big that it’s amazing that her face doesn’t split. “Auntie-Pi’s gonna be OK, Mommy! Auntie-Pi’s gonna be OK!”

That makes little Sam jump up and down with delight. “Auntie-Pi OK! Auntie-Pi OK!”

Sheila shakes her head. “I don’t think it could mean that, Trish. Your Auntie-Pi’s too far gone for that.”

Paige grins at me. “Well, miracles have happened before. Why not now?” and I grin back, too afraid to even hope that maybe Piper will get to see her boys married, get to see her grandkids.

Sam keeps jumping. “Miracle for Auntie-Pi! Miracle for Auntie-Pi!”

And Leo whispers, “If only. Oh, God, if only!”

I’m not sure how long we’ve continued to discuss this. “What’s all the racket about? Mom’s still here, isn’t she?”

“Wyatt!” cries Dare as he runs and hugs his friend. “The doctor says he might have some good news for us!” and Wyatt’s face lights up.

Leo looks around and asks what we’re all wondering. “Where’s Chris? Is Janna OK?”

Wyatt nods. “Don’t worry, Dad, they’re both fine. We finally found her and got her out. We had to do some vanquishing and it was pretty messy, but we succeeded, then we got out of there quick before more demons showed up. Chris decided to take Janna home. She never broke, but she came close, so she's pretty shaken up. Dad, Chris is going to erase her memory. We hoped that would be OK.”

Leo nods. “That’s what I would do, too. No need for her to remember all of that,” and Wyatt looks relieved. “But is he going to leave her with anything for protection in case the demons try again?”

“Yeah, that’s what he’s going to use as an excuse for being there. One of our handy-dandy all-purpose demon-vanquishing spells. With her powers, she should be able to cast it, no problem. He probably should’ve given it to her before, but he didn’t want to scare her. This is different.”

“Good job, both of you! Wait til we tell your mother! She’ll be so proud!”

“Thanks, Dad!” and it’s Chris who replied. “So Mom’s OK?”

“She just might be,” and this time it’s the doctor who’s replied.

“WHAT?” we all scream.

The doctor nods. “C’mon back in the room, so I can tell Piper, too.”

As we walk back, Leo tells the doctor, “If you want to tell Piper, stand next to her head. That’s how she can hear best,” and he nods.

Once we’re all in the room, Leo next to Piper’s head, the doctor on the other side, her sons holding her hands, the rest of us surrounding her, Leo starts it by telling Piper, “The doctor says he has good news for us,” and I swear that Piper isn’t even surprised!

“We truly thought that Piper would pass tonight,” the doctor starts. “That’s why we had the admin give you the information,” and Leo nods, looking at both me & Paige, warning us not to say a word. “But looking at the latest tests, we no longer think so. The cancer has definitely stopped spreading.”

“So she’s going to be OK?” I have to ask what we’re all thinking.

“We can’t say that for sure. She might pass tomorrow, she might pass next week. And if things continue the way it is, she might not pass until next month or even next year. The only one keeping the cancer from spreading is Piper. Your wife has a very strong will, Leo.”

Now Leo manages a small smile. “Oh, yes, she does,” and Piper’s eyes smirk.

“Will you be able to cut down the morphine?” I have to ask, thinking how wonderful it would be if Piper got her smile back, could hear better, could speak and laugh again.

“That’s up to Piper. Right now, she’d be in too much pain for us to stop using it, but if she keeps improving, maybe we can put her back on the chemo and maybe be able to put her back into remission. It’s all up to Piper.”

Remission. What a fantastically wonderful word! As has happened so often today, I find tears coming to my eyes. But for the first time all day, they’re tears of joy. Today’s not going to be Piper’s last day after all!

--to be continued

[charmedluva01]

that is rele rele kool!! i love the way you did that last chapter!! plz carry on the story!!! luv Kayleigh x x

[XxP3HalliwellxX]

Awsome update!!!! i absolutely loved it! Please continue soon because I can't wait to see hwat happens!!!

[hollypop]

Esmeralda.. I'm sorry for your loss and I'm happy for you that you are finding a way to work through it. It's turning out to be a wonderful story, so full of emotions and love.

It makes me misty-eyed everytime I read it.

[charmedluva01]

hey please please please update soon!! it is a great story!! really moving!! i cant wait to see what happens next!! luv from kayleigh xx xx xx

[Leo_The_Elder (He's Back!)]

I'm so sorry to hear about your mom Esmerelda, my condolences. Touching story, please keep it up!

[Esmeralda]

Thank you so very much to all of you! Your sympathy and support means more to me than I can possibly say! Sorry that it's taken so long for me to update this, but as you can imagine, this hasn't been an easy fic to write.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

"Now keep in mind," the doctor warns us, "that until we can take Piper off the chemo, she'll still be counted as a vulnerable adult."

I nod. "So she'll need someone to stay with her at night until she comes off of it." He nods. "I'll do it tonight," I add.

Leo turns to look at me. "Are you sure, Phoebe?"

"Well, it makes sense," I point out. "Just like last night. If something starts happening, you and the boys can get here quickly and so can Paige and David and the girls. I can't." Of course, by quickly I mean orb. But after decades of protecting our secret, the presence of the doctor makes me automatically use "family code".

"But you were up all night, Aunt Phoebs!"

I smile at the concern in Chris' voice--he reminds me *so* much of his dad despite the fact that he looks so much like his mom! "Ha! I'll bet your mom and I got more sleep last night than the rest of you guys combined! I can take another nap tonight and you guys can wake me up before you leave. Besides, I really enjoyed it."

"It won't be the same as last night," Paige warns. "You won't be able to talk with her."

I smile at Piper's bright eyes going back and forth between me and the others as Leo continues to repeat our conversations for her, thinking of the way she’s been talking with us through her eyes all day. "Wanna bet?" and the others smile, too, as do Piper's eyes.

"Well, if you're sure," Leo starts.

I nod. "I am,” already looking forward to it.

"Speaking of naps," Paige starts. "As long as Piper's going to be OK, I think I should bring Sam home, so she can take one."

"No!" protests little Sam, even as she tries to hide her yawn.

Piper's eyes go to Sheila, then to Sam, then to Trish, then back to Sheila. Sheila gives her a questioning look back and Piper's eyes nod.

"Piper's right," Sheila tells us. "Maybe it's better if I bring the girls to our place instead."

"But..." Paige and David both protest.

Sheila raises a hand to stop them. "I don't know if this is what Piper's thinking, but I'm sure there's a lot of logistics that you guys are going to have to figure out with this new development--like figuring out a schedule over who's going to be with Piper when, so you guys can have a little bit of your own lives back while she gets hers back,” and Piper’s eyes nod, smiling at Sheila.

"Maybe Sam needs to go to Auntie-She's," Trish protests. "But not me! I'm not sleepy and I wanna stay with Auntie-Pi!"

"You have to be sure Sam behaves for Auntie-She," Paige tells her, as she gives her older daughter a look.

Trish sighs. "All right," and Wyatt smirks, probably thinking of all the times he had to be sure Chris "behaved"—“family code” for not using magic. And when Leo repeats this for Piper, her eyes look back to her sons and smirk at them, making her sons roll their eyes back at her!

"But I'm not that sleepy, Mommy!" Sam protests. "I wanna stay with Auntie-Pi!"

"And if Sam's not gonna go, I'm sure not gonna go!" insists Trish, crossing her arms in protest.

David gives both of his daughters a stern look. "Patricia! Samantha!"

I can't help but smile as I watch both girls immediately give in, thinking about how Piper once told me how she and Prue would do the same thing when Dad called them Prudence Victoria and Piper Melinda!

"Say bye to Auntie-Pi," Paige tells her daughter, her tone identical to her husband's.

"Bye, Auntie-Pi!" cries Sam.

"Bye, Auntie-Pi!" Trish echoes. "Love ya! So glad you're gonna be OK!"

"Love ya!" Sam echoes and the look in Piper's eyes says that she loves them too and that she's mentally giving them a hug. Both girls blow kisses at her.

Sheila walks up so she's right next to Piper's head and gives her a look, one very similar to the one Piper gave her. "Bye, Piper! Love ya!" and Piper's eyes give her a similar look and also say that she loves her, too. Sheila leans over and kisses Piper on the cheek, then stands up, takes a deep breath and says to Piper, "See ya," before adding, "C'mon, girls, let's go."

David gives his girls a hug and a kiss good-night, they wave at us and we wave back, and then Paige toes out with them, probably to give Sheila some instructions, and, I'm sure, give her daughters a few, too.

Darryl stands up, too. "Well, as long as you're gonna be OK, Piper, I should get back to the station."

"But, Dad!" Dare protests.

"You can stay," Leo tells him. "We can bring you home," and Dare glows, knowing that means he'll get to get an orb-ride, something he thinks is ultra-cool!

Much like his wife, Darryl tells Piper that he'll see her soon, adding, "Can't wait to see you back at the Manor!" and her eyes glow. Then he leans over to kiss her cheek, then shakes the hands of Leo, Wyatt, Chris & David before hugging me, telling us all how happy he is for us, and then he leaves.

The doctor's been smiling, watching all of this. "Well, I'm going to go see about getting Piper some supper," he says.

Leo thanks him sincerely and we all echo the sentiments.

He smiles. "I wish I could give all the families on this floor the same news!"

Paige nods as she walks back in. "So do we!" and he smiles again before leaving.

Suddenly something the doctor said hits me. "Supper? Is it really close to suppertime already?"

Paige grins. "Yes, sleepyhead, it's almost 6." All three boys smirk at me and when Leo repeats this for Piper, her eyes smirk at me, too.

That reminds me of something else. "That cafeteria closes at 7! If we want to get some dinner, we better go down now."

Paige nods. "Good idea. David? Leo? Wyatt? Chris? Dare?"

David nods and so do Wyatt and Dare. Chris shakes his head. "After that vanquish? I'm not really that hungry."

Wyatt laughs and can't help teasing his brother any more than Prue or Piper could help teasing me when we were young. "Just like Mom. Can see just about anything and it doesn't bother your appetite, but see a little bit of demon guts..."

"That was more than just a little!" Chris protests. "And I can't help it if I don't have an iron stomach like you!"

"That's OK, sweetie," Paige says as she hugs Chris. "I feel the same way. Do you want me to get you anything for later?"

"Sure Aunt Paige!" And he brightens. "That would be cool! Whatever looks good."

"Leo?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "I'm not really that hungry either, and it's not due to seeing demon guts! I just want to stay with Piper."

"C'mon, Leo," I cajole, remembering Piper's words about taking care of her sweetie. "You're going to need your strength for the new few days!"

"Aunt Phoebs' right, Dad," Wyatt tells him. "C'mon! Chris can stay with Mom. You heard what the doctor said--he's gone to get her supper, so she can eat, too. C'mon, it will do you good."

Leo looks at Piper longingly.

Chris gives him a look--the same look David gave his daughters! "Go on, Dad!"

Leo finally gives in and leads us out, all of us taking time to wave at Piper.

On our way to the elevatory, I start thinking about all the things I want to get. I remember how good their honey chicken salad looked when we went down for lunch--I'll have that and milk for supper--no caffeine much as I'd love some, since I don't want it to prevent me from taking my nap later on tonight, so I can stay up with Piper--I want to make sure they don't take her for no MRI! But I also want to get some chip and nuts, so I'll have something to snack on during the night. And, yes, they had muffins. I'll want to get one of those and maybe a can of diet cola for tomorrow morning--don't want to get that hungry again. Maybe I should pick some up for the others...

I'm smiling as we walk into the elevator. As soon as the door closes and I know it's finally just us, I turn to Leo. "Do you think the Elders changed their minds? Do you think they decided to heal Piper after all, even if this is a mortal disease?"

He shakes his head. "I don't know. I hope so, oh, God, I hope so, but right now I just don't know what to think."

Paige's face lights up--she must not have thought of that. "If the Elders healed her, then she'll really be OK!" and the others in the elevator cheer as Paige hugs me tightly in joy.

Oh, no! She's stiffen! "Paige?"

"Piper!" she breathes at the same time Leo, Wyatt and David do--the four whitelighter/half-whitelighters in here.

[*Prueforever*]

Im really sorry about your mom ...this story is absoloutly amazing I cant wait for the next chapter.

[Esmeralda]

Thank you so very much all of you who are reading this!! Your love and support of me and this story is what gives me the strength to share it with all of you!

Fair warning--be sure you have some tissue with you for this one!!

Also, since it's close to Mother's Day--to all of you who have also lost your mother, my most heartfelt sincerest condolences. To those who haven't, give her an extra hug for me!!!

CHAPTER TWELVE

"What's going--" I start to ask, but before I can finish my statement, I feel myself sparkle as Paige orbs us and I find myself saying, "on?" as we all orb back into Piper's room. The first thing I notice is the squeal of the flatline sound of the heart monitor and the second is seeing the life gone from my big sister's eyes. "No! NO! NOOOO!" I scream. "She can't be gone! She can't! Not while we were going down to eat! Not while we were were so happy! Not while we were laughing, celebrating!"

Chris grabs me, hugging me tightly, his face aglow with an unearthly light. "It's OK, Aunt Phoebs! It's OK. It's what she wanted!"

I push back so I can look at his face, staring at him in shock. "WHAT?" I screech.

He nods, his face still aglow, not a tear in his eyes, even as tears begin to fill mine. "After you guys left, I was just talking with her, telling her about how we rescued Janna, and suddenly her eyes started going to the spots where each of you guys were standing and they she'd look at me questioningly, so I told her that it was OK, that you guys had gone down to eat and that the doctor would soon be back with her own dinner. Then she looked to where Dad had been standing and then back at me questioningly, so I told her that, yes, Dad had gone, too. And, oh, Aunt Phoebs! She gave me this look so full of love, so full of peace, so full of joy, and gave a sigh, an actual audible sigh, and she was gone. It was beautiful, Aunt Phoebs! One of the most beautiful things I've ever seen."

"But I wanted to see it!"

He smiles gently, his smile reminding me a lot of both of his parents. "But she didn't want you to see it; didn't want Dad to see it, I'm sure of it. She wanted you guys to be happy, laughing, smiling when she went--I think that's why she put on that last burst of strength, so we'd think she was going to get better."

Before he can continue, we hear a loud, sharp keen of agony. Leo, who had been just staring at the bed, has finally come just enough out of his shock and is mourning the loss of his wife, his love, his soulmate, his best friend, one he certainly would've tried to save had he known she was going. Letting me go and with a moan of "Dad!", Chris turns and hugs his father tightly, while Leo just puts his head on his son's shoulder and cries. Chris rocks back and forth, almost as if he's the parent and Leo the child.

Somehow Leo's cry gets all of us going, all but Chris who is still in awe over watching his mother leave. David is holding Paige, who is crying on his shoulder, while Dare is holding Wyatt, who is sobbing on his friend's shoulder.

Looking at them, knowing that it's time to start being the matriarch of my family, I walk to the head of the bed on legs that feel like lead, feeling like I'm walking through syrupy water, tears streaming down my face. Looking down at the waxy-white face of the sister I love so much and am going to miss so much, into the dark eyes that were so full of life such a very short time ago, I start telling her how very much I love her, how very much I'm going to miss her, what a very big part she played in my life, asking how the heck am I going to manage without her, but that I'll keep my promise to take care of her sweetie and also her boys.

Taking a deep breath, I reach down and slowly, softly close her eyes, then I sink to the bed next to her, burying my head into her pillow and cry and cry and cry.

Suddenly I feel soft arms around me. Looking up, thinking it's Paige, I'm surprised to see "Prue! Oh, God! Prue!" My oldest sister, corporeal for the moment, lifts me to my feet and hugs me tight. I put my head on her shoulder and finally let go, no longer having to be strong or be brave because my big sister is here. Prue holds me tightly and rocks me, much as Chris is still rocking Leo.

I finally look up, tears streaming down my cheeks. "Piper?"

Prue nods. "Mom and Grams have her. She's already made the transition.”

“Already?” I sob.

“Yeah, it was a lot easier for her than it was for me, because she's gone through it before, and because she wanted to go. She left knowing her loved ones are in good hands now.”

"No, they're not!" I protest. "How can they be in good hands when they're in my hands? They need her hands or your hands! Please tell me you get to stay!"

She smiles sadly and shakes her head.

"No! Please say you get to stay! I need you so much! If I can't have Piper, I really need you!"

She smiles sadly. "You know better. They just let me come down for a short while, so I could let you know that she's OK and that even if you don't think you can do this, she knows you all can--that's why she was able to leave--and that we'll all be watching you, helping you, even if you can't see us."

"Please! Just stay for the funeral!" I plead. "I need you so much for that!"

"No, Phoebs, sorry. Of course I'll be there, all of us will be there, just like we've always been there for all of you, but you guys can handle this, we know you can and you know you can."

“I need you,” I told her.

“She needs me, too,” Prue points out, her smile still sad.

"Who? “ I ask, then it hits me. “Oh, of course. Oh, Prue!" and again I put my head down on her shoulder and cry. “I'll be all alone,” I mumble between sobs.

Now she rolls her eyes at me. “Hardly.”

"PRUE!" Paige has recognized the sister she never met. She and David run over and join a family hug. At the sound of her voice, Leo looks up from Chris' shoulder and soon he and his sons join the family hug, too, while Dare just stands and watches. We hug and we cry and we cry and we hug.

Softly Prue tells them, "She just wants you to know that she's OK, that she loves you and she's so excited about always getting to be close to each of you, the way I have, the way Mom has, the way Grams has. She knows you guys will be OK, coz she knows that you guys will do it together. She loves you guys so much--her love for you and yours for her just makes her glow! Just like I love you guys so much!" and suddenly she begins to glow as the lights begin to take her away.

"No, Prue!" I cry. "Please, no!" but the lights take her away, so I hug my family as tight as I can and we cry and we hug and we hug and we cry some more, so happy that Piper's OK, but already missing her so very much.

[leorules]

Oh my god that chapter rejuced me to tears. It was so sad.

[Leo_The_Elder (He's Back!)]

so the story is over now........

[Esmeralda]

No, there's still more coming. I'm hoping to write more this weekend, but I'm awful busy. I already know *what* I want to write, I just have to write it, and as I've said before, that's not easy to do.

Don't worry; when it's actually finished, I'll write "The End" at the bottom of it, and will also add "Completed" to the title.

Again, thanks for your support of me and this fic!!

[JiiN JiEk]

really nice!!!

[Esmeralda]

Thank you very, very much. Just for you guys, here's some more.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Even as we hug and cry, we hear Dare say, "Guys, I should call my folks and let them know."

Paige lifts her head from David's shoulder, reaches to squeeze me and sobs, "I think your mom already knows."

We all look at her in confusion.

She nods. "That's why she took the girls home, David, and why she wouldn't let us go. The looks she kept exchanging with, with Piper? That's what Piper wanted--for the girls not to be here when she made the crossing!" and sobbing, she puts her head back on David's shoulder and weeps. I reach over and hug her just as tightly as I can, thinking about my big sister getting ready to cross over and thinking of those two little girls who she's been taking care of for the last few years, her wanting their last memories of her to be happy ones, not ones like this.

Dare nods. "Yeah, that sounds like Mom." Now the tears start rolling down his cheek. "She's been around those ready to go before. She knew, all right. But she made it sound like Piper was going to be OK, even though she was really saying her own good-byes, because she knew that's what Piper wanted," and I run over to Dare and hug him tight, and soon he's in the middle of our family hug, before taking out his phone.

Paige looks at him. "Dare, please call your dad. I want to call your mom. I want to tell her. And I want to thank her," and he nods, smiling sadly.

I look at the others. "I should call Elise."

Suddenly each of us think of someone who we should call and we all pull out our phones. It feels weird doing this while Piper is just lying there, but if also feels right--like being able to leave this room for just a minute, reach out to others, so that like when I was leaning on Prue, we can each lean on someone else before we have to leave Piper here and go home, knowing that the only way we can bring her home now is in our hearts. I keep remembering what Piper told us, and I'm determined to keep Piper--and Prue and Mom and Dad and Grams, but especially Piper--glowing with our love!

I can hear the others crying as they speak to the person they're reaching out to, but I'm not. Calling Elise was a good idea. She's my boss and she knows exactly what I need--she talks about my column. She tells me that it's up to me--if I don't feel I can do one for tomorrow, I don't have to, but if it helps me, I can, and she's right. I can and I will and I know exactly how to do it and help make Piper glow more. I tell Elise my idea and she absolutely loves it. I don't believe it--I'm actually smiling as I turn off the phone.

"What happened?" The doctor has just come into the room, holding Piper's dinner tray.

We all turn to look and we all start crying again. Leo manages a small laugh. "Looks like she fooled you, too!"

[Esmeralda]

I was finally able to finish writing this and even tho nobody has replied to the previous chapter I'm going to post it here. I hope you all enjoy it. Thanks so very much for your love and support of me as I took nearly a full year to write this fanfic!

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

He nods, then sets down the tray before going around and hugging each of us women and shaking the hands of each of the guys, offering his sympathies, while we thank him for doing all that he could. Then he gives us a sad smile. "I'm sorry, but you're going to have to leave soon. Again, my most deepest Sympathies. She was a very special person," and he after we thank him, he leaves.

We all run, trying to touch Piper just one more time--hold her hand, touch her face, stroke her hair, kiss her cheek. Then Paige looks at me, at David, at Dare, before glancing at Leo, Wyatt and Chris. She's right. It's one of the hardest things I've ever done, but after touching my big sister's cheek one final time, I leave with Paige, David and Dare, leaving Piper with her family to say a final good-bye.

After stepping out of the room I realize that I’ve been holding my breath since I last looked at Piper. Releasing it slowly, I sink into a nearby chair and lean my head against the wall behind me. A moment later someone’s hand squeezes mine and I open my eyes to see Paige sitting next to me with a defeated look on her face as David and Dare walk down the hall.

“I feel beat,” she whispers before looking over at me. “All of those emotions…First Piper was leaving us, then she was staying, and now…”

“She’s gone.”

“Yeah.”

We sit there for a moment, taking it in, and then Paige squeezes my hand again before turning the chair so that it faces me. “Phoebe…”

“It’s okay, Paige, you don’t have to say it. It’s Prue, isn’t it?”

She nods and I smile as tears still fall down my cheeks.

“I just wanted to let you know that…I will be here for you, ya know? I mean…The next few months are going to be hard, but you’re not alone. You still have one sister left– You still have me.”

“Oh, Paige.” I look at Paige for a moment and see the tears in her eyes as she looks me over.

She manages a smile and continues, “I grew up without sisters, learned how to depend on myself, but when I finally got some, I told myself that I would never let them go, and I‘ve learned to depend on them. I mean, I know I have David and the girls, but I’m going to need you too, Phoebe.”

Touched by Paige’s words more than I can possibly say, I‘m absolutely speechless, so I simply lean forward and give her a hug. I’m going to need you too. I mean I don‘t know how to be the matriarch! I‘ve always been the baby! I mean, I know you‘re younger, but you never seemed like the youngest.”

She smiles. “That‘s because growing up as an only child I was both the oldest and the youngest. And that‘s the point. You don‘t have to be the matriarch, not really. Piper will always fill that role--we’ll always try to do exactly what she’d want us to do, so as Prue said, we can keep her glowing. Besides, I‘m a mom and David’s a dad and so is Leo--we‘re used to taking care of people. You don’t have to take care of us. All you have to be is my sister, David and Leo‘s sister-in-law and the boys‘ Aunt Phoebs and the girls‘ favorite Auntie-Phoe!”

Again, she leaves me absolutely speechless as I hug her even tighter, then as we both cry and hug and finally we both laugh, because her mascara is dripping and I’m blowing my nose, and we’re making a racket that Piper would never want us to make. Feeling stronger, I stand up with Paige and we walk slowly down the hall towards David and Dare. “I miss her already,” I whisper as we get closer.

“Me too” Paige replies with a sad smile and a nod to her husband.

David reaches out to hug both of us as he says, “We should really get back to our girls.”

Paige nods. “Yeah, Sheila told them, God bless her, but they need their mommy and daddy! Dare? We can give you a ride home.”

He nods eagerly, knowing they’re going to orb to there.

David turns to me. “Phoebe? Do you want to stay at our place tonight? You can.”

I shake my head. “No, thanks so much, but I don’t think so. I have my car here and I’ve gotta get home and write my column, a special one, besides emailing everyone and letting them know. But the funeral! The wake! What do I tell them?”

David smiles sadly. “Just tell them that arrangements are pending and you’ll let them know when we know. And remember, both of you, even though Piper’s your sister, she’s Leo’s wife and the boys’ mom. They can take care of the arrangements. We’ll be there to support them however we can, but it should be done according to their wishes.”

Paige manages a smile. “See why I love him so much?” and I have to agree. “But are you sure you’ll be OK, driving home by yourself? I couldn’t stand losing you, too.”

“I made it here OK; I can make it home.”

“Aunt Phoebs?” Looking up, I see that Leo and the boys are now standing near us, arm-in-arm, tears in their eyes and on their cheeks, although Chris’ face still has that unearthly glow. He’s the one speaking. “I can drive you home, then get home myself. I know I can do it.”

I reach out to hug him. “I’d really appreciate that, sweetie,” and Leo gives him a proud, sad smile.

Wyatt nods. “You take care of Aunt Phoebs, and I’ll take care of Dad,” and now it’s his turn to get Leo’s proud, sad smile.

Knowing it’s time to say good-bye, we all hug each other and snuffle on each other and then slowly, sadly, with one long last look into Piper’s room, we go our separate ways--the others to the family room, where once it’s empty, David and Paige will orb Dare home and pick up their girls before orbing home, while Leo and Wyatt will orb back to the Manor. Chris and I head for the elevator, my car and home.

On the way home, neither of us say a word. We don‘t have to. He‘s still in awe over watching his mother leave, probably still feeling her spirit close by, while I feel a lot of comfort just having him near me. I know a lot of his serenity comes from his being half-Elder and again I find myself thanking that other version of him for coming back and doing that.

As he drives, I work out my column in my head and we get my building, I‘m almost eager to get to it, but I know I'll have to take care of all those emails first. Those I'm not looking forward to doing, but no matter what Paige said, as the oldest, I know I must.

Once inside my apartment, I give Chris a big hug and a thanks.

“Now if you need any of us, just give a holler, OK?” he asks.

I nod. “Just take care of your dad for us--I’ll be OK.”

“All right, but if you’re not…”

I give him a sad smile. “Don’t keep reminding me of your mom or I’ll start crying again. Just go home, OK?”

He gives me his sad smile and then orbs home, while I head for my den where my desktop awaits me. I stare at it for a long time before taking a deep breath and turning it on. Once online, I go to my email and once more set up a message for everyone in my address book:

I’m very sorry to inform all of you that our beautiful Piper joined our parents and our sister Prue in Heaven at 6:05 tonight. It was a beautiful, peaceful crossing done on her terms, and I know all of your prayers and best wishes is what helped make it so.

So from Piper’s entire family, we wish to thank you for all of your love and support. Please keep all of us in your mind and your hearts, they way we're keeping Piper in ours as we go about making final arrangements for Piper. As soon as we know anything concrete, I’ll be sure to let you know.

Love,
Phoebe

After I hit the Send button, I go about the sad task of reading all of the emails. They all hurt and yet all help support me so very much. I print each and every one, determined to make a booklet out of them, so I can share them with the rest of my family, knowing how much each of the messages will mean to each of them.

When I finish, I’m surprised to realize that I’m actually hungry and I realize that I never did get supper. Going into the kitchen and opening the frig and the freezer, tears come to my eyes as I take out an aluminum foil-covered plate. While she was home last week, Piper made up some of my favorites of her recipes. As I take off the foil and stick the plate in the microwave, it just seems right to have that for supper now, and I think of her and miss her with every bite.

After the last bite, I return to the computer to work on my column. Already knowing what I want to write, I begin:

Special note from Phoebe: Last night, I lost my beloved sister Piper to ovarian cancer. The previous night, I spent the time reading her your letters while she told me what her advice would’ve been. So today in her honor, I’m going to let my big sister take my place. This if for you, Piper! I’ll always miss you; always love you!

And looking through my various virtual photo albums, I find my favorite picture of Piper and add it to the piece, knowing that Elise will use it in place of my own and will also substitute “Ask Piper” for “Ask Phoebe”.

I take the letters out of my briefcase, type each of them out, then add Piper’s advice, wondering what Paige will think when she sees it. I wasn’t certain if I’d remember all of Piper’s advice, since I only decided to do this while talking with Elise, but I can hear my sister’s voice in my head, so all I have to do is take dictation. And when I finish and send it on its way to Elise, Piper’s voice tells me how much she appreciates this, how much she loves me, and then it’s gone, and once more I find myself crying, just missing her so very, very much.

When I finally sniffle back my tears, I know I somehow have to get away, like I did when I called Elise, but even though I know they wouldn’t mind, I don’t really want to bother Paige or Leo or the boys. I also don’t really want to bother any of my other friends. I know they'll just want to hear all about it and I really don't want to cry any more tonight.

Then an idea hits me. Getting up, I walk over to my closet and start rooting through it. I look and I look and I look until I finally find what I was looking for, the present Piper gave me the first Christmas after Dad died, when we became adult orphans. Sitting in my favorite chair, the afghan Piper crocheted for me wrapped around my legs, I open the book cover to see my sister’s handwriting:

Dear Phoebe,

You know how much I have always wanted a normal life, yet once I finally read a book that doesn’t involve cooking instructions, what is it about? Magic, that’s what. It is like I can’t get away from it. But as I have followed the story, I gained a greater appreciation for all we have been given the hero of this story has not, my family.

Blessed be,
Love,
Piper


I snuffle a bit from that, then I turn to the first chapter and begin to read:

THE BOY WHO LIVED

Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you’d expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn’t hold with such nonsense…

THE END

[Leo_The_Elder (He's Back!)]

That story was so touching. Well done esmerelda, and again, sorry about your mum

[*Prueforever*]

I have been following the story all the way and u have had me in tears so many times i have forgorten how many . It was a wonderful story and once again i am so sorry for the loss of your mum.

Thank u for sharing your story with us
Abbi x x

[*Sammi!*]

Oh Es! I cried! That was beautiful, absolutely beautiful. x

[pipercharmedphreak]

Oh Es! This was incredible. My condolences for your mother. I know this story has been posted for a while, but I am glad to have read it. Ever aspect of this story was wonderful. And yes, I definitetly cried at the end. Props to you!

[~B@MeLiSsA30@B~]

I know this has been posted for awhile, but I wanted to let you know I loved your story. It's not my mom, but I lost my Uncle in 2003 and I loved him as much as I love my mother, and your story reminds me a lot of that day. I am so sorry about your loss. Thank you for sharing it with us.