Unknown Truths

Written by Sammi: [email protected]

Prue had made her decision.  She would swap rooms with Piper and Leo, giving them the bigger room, and more privacy.  She felt that it was the least she could do, considering that she and Phoebe wouldn’t let her move out of the manor.  Phoebe had played her part too, moving all her stuff out of the upstairs bathroom so that the newlyweds would have a bathroom of their own.

Piper was unpacking her things in her new room.  Leo had rewired her stereo, but then he had been called, so Piper was left to do the unpacking.

She sighed, walked over to the window seat.  Opening the lid, she looked into the storage compartment underneath, try to decide what to put in it.  Running her hands over the smooth wood, she suddenly felt a slight depression.  When Piper pressed on the place, the depression deepened.  She knocked on it and it sounded hollow.  What happened next surprised her.  While continuing to run her fingers over the wood, she felt something similar to a button.  When she pressed it, the whole bottom of the storage compartment lifted up.

“Whoa, a false bottom.”

Piper was about to call out to her sisters, when she noticed that there were some things in the space.  She reached in and pulled out two of the objects.  Both were bound in red leather.  One was a photo album, the other was a journal.  Putting these objects aside, she reached into the space again and found a small box.  Opening the crystal box, Piper found two hospital bracelets.  Before she could read the names on them, there came a knock on the door.

“Piper!”  came Prue’s voice.  “Do you want to take a break?”

“Sure Prue, I’ll be right out.”  She said as she quickly put the objects back into the space, repositioned the false bottom and tossed a cushion over it.

She opened the door and smiled at her sister.  “C’mon, let’s have some iced tea.”

 

Two hours later, Piper’s thoughts wandered to the window seat and the secrets it might hold.  She had finished unpacking and was lying on her bed, writing in her diary.  Piper wondered if the journal had been someone’s diary.  Perhaps Grams’, or maybe someone even before Grams.

Getting up, she slowly made her way over to the window seat and took out the cushion.  She found the button and pressed, then took out the journal and quickly replaced the false bottom.  A noise startled her and she spun around.  There was no-one there.  Piper checked the note Leo had left her.  It said that he was on an assignment that would probably take at least three days, so she knew he wouldn’t see her reading the journal.

Piper held the journal tightly as she scurried to the bedroom door locking herself inside.  She didn’t want her sisters to see her reading it, she didn’t want them to know that she was not perfect and couldn’t fight the temptation to be nosy.  Piper slid under her covers and by the lamp on her nightstand she opened the book and read the first page.  Prue Halliwell – 1986.

‘I never knew Prue kept a diary’  Piper thought to herself before turning to the first entry.

**********************************

November 14, 1985
Dear Diary,
It happened last night.  I am now officially a woman…

**********************************

 

‘Wait a second, did Prue get her period that late?’ Piper thought.  ‘Does that mean I got mine before my older sister?’

***********************************
November 14, 1985
Dear Diary,
It happened last night.  I am now officially a woman.  I’m not talking about my period diary, I got that years ago.  I’m talking about sex.  Last night was my first time.  I am no longer a virgin.
Andy and I watched a movie at his house, and then we started kissing, and it just…happened.  It was his first time to, so we were both really nervous but we both wanted it to happen.
He was really gentle, and took his time.  I tried my best to please him, and he said I did a great job.  I’m so happy, I can hardly write.
Love, Prue
***********************************

Piper shifted uncomfortably.  She didn’t really want to hear about Prue’s first time.  She hadn’t known that it happened with Andy, because Prue had always told her and Phoebe that she had lost her virginity when she was 17, not 15.  What had made Prue’s first time so traumatic that she wanted to forget it?  From the sounds of the entry, it had been every bit as magical as her own first time.  Piper thought briefly of that night, before returning her eyes to the book.

*******************************
December 16, 1985
Dear Diary,
Uh oh.  Something has happened.  My period is five days late.  That can’t be good.  It could be normal, we always learnt that it takes a few years for menstruation to settle in a regular pattern, but I’ve had it for three years now.  And it’s never been late before.
Andy and I spend almost all our spare time together.  I think I’m falling in love with him.  I can’t believe I’m falling for someone so early.  Grams always said that young love is not real love but I’m not sure I believe her.  If this isn’t real love, what is?
Prue

January 15, 1986
Dear Diary,
Everything is OK now.  I’m not pregnant.  I got my period this month.  I skipped last month, and this month, it came early.  I was so scared.  I really thought I was pregnant.  Our health teacher always said that the first sign of pregnancy was a late or missed period.
Now I’m know I don’t believe Grams.  What she said about young love I mean.  I’m definitely in love with Andy, and I can’t see how it’s fake in any way.  We spend all our spare time together now, I’ve hardly seen Piper or Phoebe in the last week.
I’ve got to go now, Andy’s taking me to a concert.

Prue
************************************

 

Piper sat back and remembered that time.  Prue was hardly ever at the manor, only coming home after school to change clothes and go out again.  Piper and Phoebe only ever saw her at breakfast, when she would eat really fast in order to meet Andy on the way to school.  She had had no idea that Prue was in love with Andy.  She had thought that he moved away before they had become too serious, but by the sounds of the diary, Prue had been in deep.

 

***********************************
January 29, 1986
Dear Diary,
Oh god, oh god, oh god.  We had health class today, and the teacher said that it was quite possible to be pregnant and still get your period.  I missed one month, but then I had it this month.  Our teacher said that other early signs are a general feeling of weakness, and nausea.  Oh my god, I’ve got both of those symptoms.

It feels like my head has hardly touched the pillow, and my alarm clock is ringing to wake me up.  I never seem to get enough sleep, and I’m always feeling…well, weak.  I don’t have the energy to do anything anymore.

And the other morning, Grams cooked us eggs for breakfast, and I felt so sick that I threw up in the bathroom.  I didn’t eat any breakfast that morning, coz I couldn’t stand going into the kitchen, not with the smell of the eggs in there.
Prue

February 7, 1986
Dear Diary,
How can this have happened?  Why?  Why me?  I’m only fifteen!  I’d better start at the beginning.
I’d been feeling sick and generally tired during the past few weeks, so I two days ago went to see a doctor.  He told me I wasn’t sick – I was pregnant!  It must have happened the first time Andy & I made love.  We were careful, but the doctor told me that nothing is 100% effective.
I’m about twelve weeks along.  I don’t want to have an abortion, coz I can’t just kill an innocent little child like that.
How am I going to tell Andy?  He’s fifteen, like me.  We can’t raise a baby.  He’ll be so scared, but he’ll try to stay strong for me, I know it.
And Grams, how am I going to tell her?  She’ll be so crushed.  Her responsible, sensible Prue, pregnant at fifteen!  And what about Piper, and Phoebe?  They both idolise me, I’m the model sister, or at least I’m supposed to be.  Phoebe will be shocked, and Piper, well, I have no idea how she’ll react.
Oh diary, what am I going to do?
Prue
***********************************

 

Piper read the last sentence of the entry and laid back on her bed, shocked.  Prue had been pregnant.  And she’d kept it a secret from everyone for so long.  Had Prue kept the baby?  If so, where was it now?  Had she told Andy?  How had she kept it hidden from everyone else?

Piper got out from under the covers and laid the journal on her nightstand.  She went to the windowseat and looked out the window.  The sun had almost set, and her watch said that the time was almost six thirty.  Going downstairs, Piper found a note on the fridge.
Piper,
Prue and I have gone out to dinner, then we’re gonna go shopping.  We thought you and Leo would like some time alone.
Love Pheebs.

Chuckling, Piper set about fixing herself some dinner.  How could she and Leo have some time alone when he wasn’t even here?  She took her dinner upstairs, intent on getting some more reading done while the others weren’t at the manor.

 

***********************************
February 21, 1986 (14 weeks – 3 months)
Dear Diary,
I had my first ultrasound today.  The doctor put this cold, jelly substance on my stomach, and ran a probe over it.  Then I saw my baby.  It was so cute!  The doctor pointed out the parts.  I could see its nose, mouth and eyes.
The heartbeat sounded very fast.  I was worried until the doctor said that this is normal.
I can’t believe that there is a human being growing inside of me.  Before I was in shock and denial, but now, for the first time, I’m actually excited about this pregnancy.  I’m going to witness a human being growing inside me for nine whole months.
Prue

March 5, 1986 (16 weeks)
Dear Diary,
Well, I did it.  I told Andy.  He was shocked, like I was, but he was very strong, as I knew he’d be.  He let me cry on his shoulder, and he held me in his arms for the longest time.  He said that he was going to help me through this pregnancy, but he didn’t say if he wants to keep the baby.  I don’t.
Andy says that I have to tell someone else, preferably an adult, so that they can tell me what I should do.  But who can I tell?  I’m not close to any adults.  I don’t want to tell Piper, coz she won’t know what to do.  Phoebe won’t understand and Grams…
Prue

March 16, 1986 (17 ½ weeks – 4 months)
Dear Diary,
I told Grams today.  She was surprisingly calm about it.  She didn’t blow up at me or anything, just sat me down and asked how I felt about all of it.  That’s when I finally realised how scared I am.  I broke down and Grams held me for ages.
Once I’d calmed down, she started asking me questions.  Who’s the father?  How far along are you?  She was surprised when I told her that I was four months along.  I showed her my small bump.  I’ve been hiding it with loose clothes.
Grams told me not to tell Piper and Phoebe, but I wasn’t going to anyway.  Then she said “If we’re going to keep this a secret, then you’ll have to go away for a few months before the baby’s born.”  I hadn’t thought about this.  Of course she was right.  I didn’t want my sisters to find out, and pretty soon my bump will be too big to hide.  “But we’ll talk about that when the time comes.” Grams said, “right now we are going to go out and have some ice cream.”  I just stared, shocked.  She hadn’t yelled at all.  I thought that she would have been so disappointed that she would have yelled at me for ages.  But she didn’t.
I was so confused, but I called Piper and Phoebe down anyway.
Prue

***********************************

Piper crept downstairs and looked out the kitchen window. There was no sign of Prue or Phoebe. The manor was dark as it usually was on a Friday night, only this time it was unaware of the single occupant creeping about. Piper, rifling through the chips in the pantry, snagging a drink from the fridge, swiping the cookies from the jar on the counter.

Gathering her midnight snacks, Piper quickly headed for the stairs.  She was almost at the top when headlights swept through the room.  Her sisters were home.  Bounding up the rest of the stairs, Piper practically ran into her room and shut the door as quietly as possible.

Hiding her food in her desk drawer, Piper started changing into her pj’s.  A knock on the door reminded Piper that she had forgotten to lock the door.  Phoebe opened the door.

“Hey Piper, we’re home, just thought you’d like to know.”  Phoebe shut the door and left as abruptly as she had come.

Piper stood by her wardrobe, pyjama top in hand.  Phoebe hadn’t even noticed that Piper was topless.  But at least now there would be no more interruptions, hopefully.  Piper finished getting dressed, then locked her door.

She spread the snacks out on her desk and retrieved the journal from her nightstand.  Intrigued by Prue’s huge secret, she returned to the journal, geared for the next few entries.

 

***********************************
April 11, 1986 (21 weeks – 5 months)
Dear Diary,
Today Grams and I talked about where I would go for the last few months of my pregnancy.
It will have to be soon.  My bump is getting harder and harder to hide, it’s growing every day.
We decided that I would go and stay with relatives in San Diego.  Grams called them and explained the situation to them.  They agreed to take me in for the last 3 months of my pregnancy.  Luckily it will be summer vacation then, so I shouldn’t miss too much school.  And Piper and Phoebe (hopefully) won’t get suspicious.
Prue

April 16, 1986 (22 weeks)
Dear Diary,
The baby kicked today!  I had my hand on my ever-expanding stomach, and then I felt this…this kick!  At first I thought I imagined it, but then it kicked again!
This pregnancy is getting more and more exciting, there are new things happening every day.
I have another problem now.  I don’t know what I’m going to do with the baby.  I really only have two choices – keep it or give it up for adoption, but I don’t know what to do.  If I keep the baby, then Phoebe and Piper and, well everyone, will know that I fell pregnant at fifteen.  But I’m not sure if I can just give it away.  I mean, I’ve been carrying this baby for five months now, and it’s becoming a part of me.
Prue

April 7, 1986 (25 weeks – 6 months)
Dear Diary,
I’m leaving today.  School finished two days ago, and my bump is getting really hard to hide.  I think Phoebe suspects something, coz she’s been looking at me really weird lately.
I said goodbye to Andy yesterday.  We hugged and kissed for ages.  He doesn’t want me to go, but he knows that I have to if we’re gonna keep this a secret.
Piper doesn’t want me to go either.  She was crying almost all day yesterday, and I so badly wanted to hug her and tell her that I’d be back but I couldn’t coz that would mean that she’d feel my bump.  I think that she feels like I’m leaving her forever which of course I’m not.  Gotta go, my relatives are here to pick me up.
I’m back, I’m settled into the house, I’ve got my own room, with an ensuite!  It’s so cool here, this house is out in the country somewhere, and it’s HUGE!  It’s all on one level, it has seven bedrooms, all with ensuites, three lounge rooms, plus a rec room with a pool table and a huge pool outside.  A balcony wraps around the entire house, and I have my own door out to the balcony.  But I’d better tell you what happened before.
When the car came, I took my bags out to the car, and while they were loaded into the boot, I said goodbye to everyone.  I couldn’t hug anyone goodbye, so Phoebe and Piper just stayed on the porch and waved.  Grams came with me to the car, and she gave me some money, then kissed me on the cheek and went back to the porch.  I blew kisses to Piper and Phoebe, then got into the car and waved until we turned the corner.
I miss them already.  I don’t know how I’m going to survive for three months without them.
Prue
***********************************

 

As she gathered up her trash, Piper thought about those three months that Prue had spent in San Diego.  She herself had missed Prue terribly, but at least she had had Phoebe to comfort her.  Prue had had no-one to talk to, no-one to comfort her through her homesickness.

After taking her trash downstairs, Piper returned to her room and hopped into bed to read the last few entries.

 

***********************************

July 5, 1986 (33 ½ weeks – 8 months)
Dear Diary,
I’m sorry I haven’t written for so long, but nothing’s happened.  I just live, getting bigger every day.  Sometimes I play dolls or something with the two little girls here, but it’s summer so most of the time they’re in the pool or playing in the yard with their brothers.  I usually sit under a tree and read.  I’ve read three books since I came here, big, thick novels.  I’ve never been a great reader but right now I have nothing better to do.
Anyway, yesterday I thought I was having the baby!  I started having some weird pains which I later found out were contractions and they rushed me to the hospital.  I know I told you that we’re out in the country somewhere, but we’re not really, just a few miles from the town.  It was a false alarm.  I had to stay overnight at the hospital, just to make sure that everything was alright, and then they let me go home.
But of course I couldn’t really go home.  I miss Piper and Phoebe soooo much.  And even Grams.  And Andy, I miss him the most.
Prue

July 23, 1986
Dear Diary,
I had my baby today!  It was a beautiful little girl.  I named her Cassandra Phillida.  But I’d better start at the beginning.
It was about seven in the morning when I started having those weird pains again.  At first they were barely noticeable, and about half an hour apart.  But then they started hurting more, and they were longer, with less time in between.  Finally, at 10 o’clock, they took me to the hospital.  I was in labour – for real this time.
It hurt.  Really bad.  I’ve never experienced pain like it.  But then the pain was all over and the midwife handed me my little girl.  And I forgot all the pain I went through.  I forgot everything except for the precious little bundle in my arms.
But I only held her that once.  I got to hold her and name her, then she was taken to the nursery to get cleaned up.  I never held her again.
Later, when I was cleaned up and dressed, I went down to the nursery and I saw them.  Cassandra’s adoptive parents.  They were staring through the glass, staring at my baby.  The one I carried for nine months, the one I gave birth to.  Their arms were wrapped around each other and they looked so content.  And I felt so alone.  I wished Andy was there, holding me in his arms like that, giving me the security that I so badly needed.
I walked up to them.  When they turned and I saw their faces, I knew I’d done the right thing.  These people could care for Cassandra better than Andy and I could.  They would love her and take care of her as their own.  But they could never love her as much as I love her.  Even though I was really only her mother for a few minutes, I know in my heart that I’ll love her forever, and I will always feel like her mother.  They agreed to keep her name as Cassandra Phillida, that was my only request.  I watched as they fed her, bathed her, clothed her and placed her in their car.  Then they drove away.
I’m going to lock this diary away, where only I can find it.  Grams doesn’t know that I’ve written this, so I’m going to hide it where no-one will ever find it.  If someone finds it, then I guess the time has come for that someone to know my secret.  Until then, goodbye dear diary.
Prue

***********************************

 

Piper slowly closed the diary, her earlier questions now answered.  Prue had kept the baby for the full term of her pregnancy, then she had given it up for adoption.  Andy had known, and so had Grams.

Hopping out of bed, Piper crossed to the window seat, when she lifted out the false bottom.  Placing the diary back inside, she lifted out the other two items in the space.  Piper sat on the floor and leaned against the windowseat.  Opening the crystal box she took out the hospital bracelets again.  One was about the same size as her own wrist and read “Prue Halliwell”.  The other was tiny, the size of a newborn’s wrist.  It read “Cassandra Halliwell”.

Placing the box and bracelets on the floor, Piper pulled the photo album into her lap.  She opened it and saw pictures of Prue.  Prue, with a bikini and sarong on, her stomach swollen a little.  Prue, in a turtleneck sweater and jeans, her stomach slightly bigger.  Prue, in a loose, flowing dress that was pulled around her bulge.  Prue, in a nightshirt, her prominent stomach pulling it up to her thighs.  And the last photo was of Prue, in a hospital bed, holding a small, dark haired baby.

“Cassandra.”  Piper said aloud, tracing her fingers over her niece.

Putting the items back into the windowseat, Piper replaced the false bottom and sat, and wrapped around her knees, thinking.

 

****Flash forward to the present (the end of my previous fic, The Demon of Desire)****

 

“What’s going on?”  Leo asked.

“That’s what I’d like to know.” Phoebe answered, glaring at her sisters.

“The Fourth Charmed One.” Piper said.

“Is my daughter.”  Prue finished.

 

TO BE CONTINUED…

 

 

Sorry it took so long guys, but this one was hard to finish.  Hopefully, the next one won’t take so long.  But now you know Prue’s secret.  Who figured it out?  Next we meet Cassandra, who is now fifteen.