Girlfriends & Sisters & Other Things You Can’t Vanquish (Charmed OG F/F)

[wannablessedbe]

Hi everybody! It's been...over a year and a half since the last time I wrote a story or even logged into the forum. Life has been tough. COVID kicked my ass. I wasn't sure if I'd write any more stories at all, to be brutally honest. But I've just been taking life one day at a time, and recently a friend recommended a witchy pop culture podcast to me that is mostly about Charmed (the original--though they are planning to also do the reboot afterwards), and so I've been rewatching Charmed for the first time in a long time...and it reminded me that my first ever fanfics--both for the general world and here--were Charmed stories. (Here's my first Charmed sneezefic if you're curious--it's quite tame and not gay, but it def shows my fluffy/comfort roots 100%).

Anyway, watching Charmed again has made me very nostalgic! Also reminded me that I've had a crush on Alyssa Milano my entire fucking life. Lol. So this story takes place in my AU world where Prue never died, and Paige is NOT a sister--instead she's Phoebe's girlfriend! (I wrote a whole series of fics in this world back in the day on fanfiction(dot)net under the name JewWitch; I know that site is a huge pain in the ass to look at now, but they're still there if you're interested). 

Anyway, this is a shorter part 1 than I would normally write--it's just been so long and I feel so out of practice, I just wanted to put out something short to "test the waters," as they say. Also this show is wicked old now and idk how many people are still into it? Takes place immediately following ep 2x09, "Ms. Hellfire," in which Prue is put under a spell and tries to kill Piper and Phoebe. (Paige is not in the show at this point. That's my AU). I always loved this ep because Phoebe has a really cute sneeze--Alyssa Milano is a natural, it sounds really real. Also I love how she looks in the early seasons; her hair just looks natural and they aren't trying so hard to give her tons of stylized makeup and clothes, etc. Like, we get it, she's gorgeous, so stop trying so hard! That's just my take. I hate all the unnatural hairstyles they give her later on. 

Holler if you're here for more...

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Girlfriends & Sisters & Other Things You Can’t Vanquish

Post-Hellfire (2x09)

Starring Phoebe & Paige as girlfriends (NOT sisters)

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            When Piper’s car pulled up in front of the manor, a lime-green VW bug was already in the driveway; and the lights were on inside the house despite all three Halliwells currently being in the car together.

            “Phoebe, your girlfriend’s here,” Piper said, not bothering to look over her shoulder into the back seat. “Did you forget to cancel your plans? She’s probably worried sick.” But there was no response from the youngest Halliwell as the older two unbuckled their seatbelts. Prue glanced in the rearview mirror. 

            “Aww, Piper. She’s out cold,” Prue sighed, turning to look at Phoebe passed out in the back seat with her head leaning against the window. 

            “Yeah, well, almost getting murdered by your sister can really take it out of you,” Piper teased dryly, poking her older sister in the ribs with a teasing smirk.

            “Okay, okay, I was under a spell you know. What am I gonna have to do to get out of the doghouse on this one?” Prue rolled her eyes as she exited the car and opened Phoebe’s door, gently shaking her youngest sister’s shoulder and receiving a soft, cranky whine in response. 

            “Carry me,” Phoebe mumbled, blinking blearily and holding her arms out in an irrefutable display of trust. “I’m so tired.” Prue and Piper looked at each other, sharing a small smirk.

            “Well she’s clearly not scarred for life by the trauma of attempted sororicide,” Piper snickered, as Prue gave in a lot more easily than she normally would, and sat down on the edge of the seat, allowing Phoebe to climb onto her back and wrap both arms and legs around her. 

            “Thanks…” Phoebe yawned softly and put her head down on her big sister’s shoulder, in a boneless, trance-like state as the three sisters made their way up the front steps. 

            “You’re welcome, sweetie. Did you hear Piper telling you that Paige is here, by the way? We pulled up behind her car.”

            “Hmm?” Phoebe mumbled sleepily, as the front door swung open before Piper’s key had even touched it.

            “Phoebe! Oh my god, what happened?” Another powerfully magical, dark-haired girl stood in the doorway of the manor, looking terrified as she took in the sight of the youngest Halliwell being carried in, barely conscious, by the oldest.

            “Oh, shit!” Phoebe startled herself into alertness, her warm brown eyes flying open as she jumped down from Prue’s back, reaching out automatically for her girlfriend to steady herself. “Paigey, it’s fine, I’m fine, see? Nothing’s wrong with me. I’m so sorry I didn’t have a chance to call you, but Prue was under a spell and she tried to kill us and we only had till midnight and—” Paige broke through Phoebe’s babbling with a gentle kiss, one hand pulling her in by the small of her back and the other cupping her cheek.

            “It’s okay, Pheebs…you never have to apologize to me for saving innocents. Or, you know, each other. I’m just so glad you’re okay. You scared the shit out of me, I thought you were knocked out at least.”

            “No…just tired…” Phoebe sighed and leaned into Paige’s taller frame, dropping her head against her girlfriend’s shoulder, and rubbing her nose with a soft snuffle. Paige nodded, still looking rather anxious as she hugged the smaller girl tight and kissed the top of her dark head. 

            “Okay, well…obviously it’s too late for us to go out tonight…and you guys just had a big demon battle. Do you want me to leave so you can have some sister time?”

            “Nooooo,” Phoebe whined, wrapping her arms more tightly around the taller girl and burying her face in long black hair. “Stay, Paigey. *Snfl.*” Phoebe reached up and rubbed her nose absently on the back of her knuckles.

            “It’s really fine, Paige. You should stay,” Prue agreed, while Piper locked the door behind them and hung up their coats. “It’s my fault your date was ruined, the least I can do is buy you guys dinner. None of us had a chance to eat—did you?”

            “Uh-uh. I was too worried to eat,” Paige admitted, playing with the end of one of Phoebe’s braids as the anxiety-fueled adrenalin began to drain away, leaving her feeling limp with relief, but also keenly protective of the sweet little witch in her arms.

            “Good. You’re staying,” Phoebe mumbled, finally detaching herself from Paige’s neck and leaning away from her, one hand still resting absently on Paige’s back. “*Snghf*…” Phoebe rubbed her nose again with a huffy sniffle. 

            “Do you need a tissue, sweetie?” Piper asked kindly, eyeing her little sister’s sniffles. 

            “No, I’mb fine. *Snfl.* I just wanna change into comfy PJs so we can get cuddly. C’mon Paigey.” Their hands linked automatically, and Paige followed her girlfriend willingly up the stairs. 

            “Okay, but come right back so we can decide what to order for dinner! Do not get sidetracked by naked sexy time!” Prue called after them warningly.

            “Yeah yeah…” Phoebe sighed, stopping short halfway up the staircase so abruptly that Paige bumped into her back.

            “Whoa!” Paige chuckled. “You okay, baby?”

            “Uh-huh,” Phoebe nodded slightly, pulling her hand from Paige’s grip and slowly wrapping it across her face. “Hhuh…” She trembled, and Paige put a hand on her back, feeling a huge swell of love, affection, and protectiveness for her sweet, sniffling girlfriend. “Hh-hhih…iiihxhew!!! *S-snfl.*” Phoebe bowed forward hard into the arm wrapped around her face with a full-body shudder, almost stumbling with the force of her sniffly sneeze.

            “Bless you, sweetie.” Paige kissed Phoebe’s temple, one hand slipping up the back of her crop top to rub her back consolingly. 

            “Ugh.” The shorter girl sniffled and wiped her runny nose on her arm, leaving a long, wet mark. 

            “C’mon, let’s get up to your room. I’ll get you some tissues. You just get comfy.” Paige cooed, continuing to trail her fingers over her girlfriend’s warm back—possibly a little too warm.

            “Have I…*snghf*…mentioned today that I am madly in love with you?” Phoebe sighed, allowing herself to be steered up the stairs by the taller girl.

            “I love you too, little witch,” Paige hummed happily, a dopey grin spreading across her face. For tonight, at least, there were no more demons, no warlocks, no bad guys—just Paige and Phoebe, and the love and safety of Phoebe’s sisters. Anyway, it wasn’t like they were gonna be having naked sexy time, as Prue so eloquently put it, with Phoebe so exhausted—and, from the looks of it, coming down with a bit of a cold, too. That’s one thing we can definitely vanquish, Paige thought to herself with a smirk, gently nudging her sleepy, sniffly girlfriend to her bedroom.

 

[Mems]

Just as perfectly lovely as always ❤️ I also got back into the OG Charmed over lockdown and something about Alyssa Milano as Phoebe is just too sweet! Thanks so much for sharing- would love more if you are so inclined, but if not I am happy with this little nugget!

[jem]

You're back!!! Hi! I hope you've been well (besides covid, sorry to hear you've had a tough time). I remember getting super into Charmed when I was a kid and I routinely rewatch it since it's such a good show. Your writing is also something I've been enjoying for quite a number of years, so I'm very happy and thankful that you're sharing something new! This is fantastic and I look forward to reading more. :)) 

Welcome back and have a good weekend!! 

[Purplelily]

I hope you’re doing better now!

I have to admit, I’ve never seen this show, but I would absolutely love more of this fic. There’s not so much wlw content out there, especially with colds and caretaking! If you feel so inclined, I’m definitely interested

[MIN]

Oh yay! I'm so glad you're doing a charmed fic! I absolutely love you're other fics and this is so great! Covid can absolutely suck it, I've literally just come out of isolation today so and I have severe asthma so I feel you there. Glad your starting to feel more yourself enough to get back into writing! Just go at your own pace, we'll always be here!

[wannablessedbe]

Hi gang! I'm so happy to have a response for this story even tho the show is now officially RETRO, along with everything I grew up with (except for Buffy which always seems relevant and never ages, lol). Anyway, I wrote a longer part, sorry it took some time to get it out. Enjoy! 

 

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Girlfriends & Sisters & Other Things You Can’t Vanquish

Part 2

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            With late-night takeout on the way and the four of them comfortably snuggled on the big L-shaped couch in their pajamas, Prue had suggested opening a bottle of wine while they argued halfheartedly over what movie to watch. Phoebe accepted a glass of malbec automatically; but it felt like sandpaper on her throat, which had been feeling a bit dry all night. With a soft cough, she put it aside and reached for her water bottle instead. 

            “Do you want something else, babe? I could make you some herbal tea,” Paige murmured, grazing her fingertips lightly up and down her girlfriend’s inner arm as Phoebe cuddled up to her on the couch, curling up against her side with a familiar ease. 

            “No, just water. I’m fine.” The shorter girl lifted her head to kiss Paige just below her ear, then settled back down against her shoulder contentedly. Paige wrapped an arm snugly around her, grazing her fingers loosely over Phoebe’s stomach under her pajama top. “Ughh…that feels good,” Phoebe yawned, ending with another shallow sniffle. Paige eyed the Kleenex that had been placed deliberately on the coffee table while they’d been upstairs changing. Clearly, she hadn’t been the only one to notice her girlfriend’s persistent sniffles. 

            “I like making you feel good,” Paige hummed quietly, feeling a deep sense of contentment roll over her as the shorter girl’s warm weight sunk into her, and the soft, squishy couch seemed to envelop them. 

            “Mmm…sweet talker,” Phoebe murmured. 

            “Here you go, babies. This blanket’s got your name all over it,” Piper grinned affectionately, shaking out one of their beautifully patterned family afghans over the two of them and tucking the edges in around them so it wouldn’t fall off. 

            “Thanks, Piper,” Paige grinned shyly. She’d had to get used to being thrown into her girlfriend’s family quickly, with all the supernatural adventures they were constantly facing together; but as alien as it had been at first, Paige found she really liked being part of a family again, after eight years as an orphan. Having two instant big sisters could be pretty cool sometimes—and it was clear they were every bit as protective of Phoebe as Paige was herself, so she couldn’t exactly argue.

            “No problem,” Piper winked, then surveyed the room with her hands on her hips. “Now, can we start the movie?”

            “Excuse mbe,” Phoebe sniffled, lifting her head a little to glare mutinously at her sisters. “The queer corner has not been consulted yet!” She swiped her nose against the back of her knuckles, pointedly ignoring the tissues on the coffee table.

            “Sweetie, we picked Practical Magic. It’s one of your favorites,” Prue said gently, without any of her usual acerbic edge, Paige noted. She was obviously feeling guilty for the whole, almost killing her sisters thing, spell or no spell. 

            “Well you still didn’t ask Paige,” Phoebe pouted, seeming determined to stay cranky about something.

            “Phoebe, it’s fine. I love that movie,” Paige said gently, reaching up to tuck a lock of loose brown hair back behind her girlfriend’s ear.

            “Well fide,” the shorter girl huffed softly, finally giving in and leaning forward to take a tissue from the coffee table with a soft, wet sniffle. “Hhiih…*snfl*…” she pinched her runny nose lightly in the tissue as her eyebrows quirked woozily. “Ehhiixschew!!! *Snfl.*” Phoebe’s small body shivered under the blankets as she curled up more snugly against Paige with a breathless, stuffy sneeze.

            “Bless you!” Chorused three voices at once. 

            “Uhh, thag you,” Phoebe mumbled from behind her tissues, both hands cupped snugly over her face. 

            “Are you feeling a little under the weather, bug?” Piper asked gently. “You’re sounding very sniffly.”

            “Uhhh…*snghf*…maybe a little,” Phoebe sighed, in a slightly babyish voice that Paige was quite sure she had never heard before from her badass witch of a girlfriend. 

            “Do you want some tea?” Prue asked, noting her sister’s untouched glass of wine.

            “I’m fine. Everybody just stop looking at me and watch the movie,” Phoebe grumbled mulishly, burrowing into Paige’s side and pulling the blanket up snugly around herself. Paige gave her a little squeeze under the blankets, trying to express empathy and solidarity without annoying her slightly cranky girlfriend even more. Prue and Piper shared a knowing look that plainly said they were going to placate Phoebe for now; and without another word, they all fell silent and turned their attention to the screen.  

            They watched in silence, punctuated only by Phoebe’s occasional sniffles and soft coughs. She’d finally given in and started taking tissues from the box, and there was a small pile forming in her lap of the crumpled, used up ones. Paige just kept playing with her girlfriend’s dark hair every time the shorter girl settled back down against her. Finally, Phoebe took a sharp, deep breath and snatched a tissue from the box with a jerky movement, pulling away from Paige so quickly the blanket that was tucked around them fell down to their laps.

            “Aahhshxiew!!! …*snfl*…iiishhiih!! *Snghf.*” Phoebe trembled and shivered, tissues cupped snugly to her face as she snapped forward and sneezed twice in a row.          

            “Bless you!” everyone chorused again. 

            “Ughh…th-thags,” Phoebe whined softly, her voice very sniffly as she reached for more tissues and blew her nose vigorously, eyes scrunched up tight. 

            “Aw honey, you sound miserable,” Paige cooed, putting a steadying hand on her girlfriend’s back. “Are you sure you don’t want some tea? We all just want you to feel better, you know.”

            “I…*snfl*…I know…” Phoebe nodded, still rubbing her runny nose in the tissues as she blinked back at her girlfriend with glassy brown eyes. “I…hhhuh…” Paige waited patiently, trailing light circles over Phoebe’s back while the shorter girl’s breath contracted jaggedly. “Iiihhshxhew!!! *Snfl.*”

            “Bless you, cutie.” Paige wrapped an arm around Phoebe’s shoulders and kissed her temple.

            “Thadks, baby.” Phoebe sighed, sounding exhausted and defeated as she wiped her nose once more and dropped another soggy tissue in her lap. Her nose was still slightly shiny around the bottom, and she sniffled wetly, with a slightly pouty look. Paige found the whole effect utterly endearing, even as she yearned for a way to make her sweet girlfriend feel better. 

            “Are you sure there isn’t anything we can do, Pheebs? Anything that will make you feel better?” Paige hummed, lightly rubbing Phoebe’s back as the shorter girl broke into a sharp cough, and reached for her water bottle.

            “You could…*snghf*…keep cuddling me,” Phoebe grinned slyly, reaching up and wrapping her fingers into a long lock of Paige’s black hair. 

            “Gee, I hadn’t thought of that,” Paige smirked sarcastically, pulling her girlfriend more snugly against her and tugging the blankets back up securely around them, tickling her and kissing her teasingly underneath. Phoebe giggled weakly, kicking and squirming.

            “Paige, stop…you’re gonna…*snfl!*…catch mby germbs,” Phoebe sighed, coming up for air as Prue got up to answer the door, announcing the arrival of their late-night takeout. “I know I wanted you to stay before, but…I’m really not feeling so good. Maybe you should leave now, before you catch it too.” 

            “You want me to go?” Paige asked in a small voice, her goofy grin of moments ago fading instantly as she emerged from the blankets.

            “I don’t want you to go, Paigey,” Phoebe shook her head, sniffling softly as her nose began to run again. “I just don’t want to get you sick. I’m trying to protect you.” She ducked her head and coughed into the crook of her elbow, shifting her upper body away from the taller girl under the blankets.

            “Phoebe, are you familiar with the word girlfriend?” Paige cocked her head and raised one eyebrow smugly. “I know you’re new to dating girls, so we can skip the written test. But just so you know, the bylaws clearly stipulate that I retain full caretaking rights. You can’t kick me out when you’re sick.”

            “Oh really?” Phoebe smiled weakly. “Bylaws, you say.”

            “Yes. I do.” Paige nodded vigorously. “You don’t want to get me in trouble with the union, do you?”

            “Can’t…*Snghf*…have that…” Phoebe shook her head, cupping a fresh tissue to her face as her eyes narrowed and slid shut. “Ehhiixhew!!!” Her thin frame shuddered under the blankets, and Paige played with her hair consolingly. 

            “Bless you, Pheebs.” Prue spoke as she deposited a large tray bearing a stack of plates, napkins and silverware, plus all the Chinese takeout cartons they’d just received. “Okay, everybody serve yourselves.”

            Everyone reached for a plate; but while the others started loading theirs with food, Phoebe just held hers vaguely in midair as another huffy, jagged breath overtook her, and she wrapped her free arm snugly across her face as her runny nose twitched. “K’hschxx!!! *Snnghf.*”  

            “Bless you,” everyone said as Phoebe sighed wearily and dropped her empty plate back on the table, reaching for a tissue instead. 

            “Aw, baby,” Paige cooed, putting her plate down too and rubbing her girlfriend’s warm back while the shorter girl blew her nose impatiently. “Here, take my plate. I’ll make another.”

            “Thadks, Paigey, but I…*snghf*…I don’t want this,” Phoebe sighed, curling up against her girlfriend’s side with a rattling cough into her sleeve.

            “Uh-oh. Phoebe’s on hunger strike. We know what that means,” Prue sighed, getting up and crossing around the coffee table to where Phoebe and Paige were curled up, and gently pressing the back of her hand to her little sister’s forehead, then her cheek. “You’ve got a fever, ladybug.” Phoebe just whined softly and pressed her face into Paige’s arm. 

            “I’mb just…*snfl*…gonna lie here while you guys eat. I’ll close mby eyes and listen to the movie. Maybe if I’mb lucky I can fall asleep…” She broke off coughing, burying her face in the blankets to protect Paige.

            “Not with an empty stomach, honey,” Prue said, sitting lightly on the edge of the couch next to Phoebe and Paige. “You don’t have to eat this, but you have to eat something. C’mon, Piper will make you anything you want.”

            “Oh Piper will, will she?” the middle sister in question said sardonically, with a teasing quirk of her eyebrow.

            “Hey, we both know she’s not gonna eat anything I make,” Prue shrugged with a little smirk. “It’s not my fault you’re a professional chef. We both know how picky Phoebe is when she’s sick.” 

            “I know, I’m just teasin’,” Piper grinned playfully, cocking her head at her little sister and giving her an encouraging smile. “Anything you want, baby girl. Of course.”

            “Will you…” Phoebe sighed and cupped the crumpled tissue she held back to her damp nose for a moment as her breath swelled and her eyes narrowed; but then it passed, and she pinched her nose in annoyance. “Uhh. Will you mbake your special oatmeal? *Snfl.* With the golden raisins and grated green apple, and extra brown sugar?”

            “That’s an easy one. Give me a challenge, why dontcha,” Piper teased gently, brushing the remains of their Chinese takeout off her hands as she stood up and stretched. “And I’m making you a cold bomb, too—and you better drink the whole thing.”

            “’Kay,” Phoebe agreed sleepily, closing her eyes as she settled back down against Paige’s arm with a sniffle. 

            “So you guys do have a vanquish for the common cold? You’ve been holding out on me,” Paige teased, only half kidding.

            “Yeah, we wish,” Prue snorted. “It’s not a potion—just good old-fashioned natural medicinals. Our grams used to make it, and it’s ten times better than anything you can get over the counter, believe me.”

            “What’s in it?” Paige asked curiously.

            “Mainly it’s fresh ginger tea with lemon and raw honey—but about five times the normal strength. If you have turmeric, licorice root and elderberry, it’s even better. Plus the secret ingredient, of course.”

            “Which is?”

            “A shot of black label whiskey.” Paige laughed. 

            “Sure sounds better than NyQuil to me.”

            “Try drinking hot lava before you say that,” Phoebe snorted softly, with a yawn. 

            “Spicy?” Paige asked sympathetically.

            “Uh-huh,” Phoebe nodded, wiping her runny nose in a fresh tissue with a shallow sniffle.

            “But you promised Piper you’ll drink it all.”

            “Uh-huh…” Phoebe sighed defeatedly, dabbing lightly at the bottom of her damp nose with the tissues she held as her dark eyes fluttered woozily. Paige could definitely see why she was being so delicate with her touch; Phoebe’s cute little nose had grown rather pink and raw around the bottom over the course of the night from the increasing frequency of her sniffles and sneezes and nose rubs. 

            “Iiihhxschew!! *Snfl.*” Paige wrapped an arm snugly around her girlfriend’s thin shoulders as the smaller girl pitched forward and sneezed into her lap, tissues still cupped snugly to her face.

            “Poor baby…bless you,” Paige cooed, trailing her fingers absently up and down Phoebe’s arm while the shorter girl sniffled and blew her nose again.

            “Paigey, I’mb dizzy…can I lie down and put mby head in your lap? *Snfl.*”

            “Of course, sweet girl…shh, I got you, I’m here. You’re safe, Pheebs.” Paige leaned down and kissed her girlfriend’s hot forehead; and at the other end of the couch, Phoebe felt her legs being lifted onto the cushions and tucked under a blanket. She cracked her woozy eyes open and saw Prue smiling back at her with a little wink. The familiar clang of pots and pans told her that Piper was in the kitchen, where she’d have comfort food and medicine ready any minute.

            “I know,” Phoebe murmured quietly, and smiled before letting her eyes slide shut. 

 

            

Edited April 5, 2022 by wannablessedbe

[nothin2sneeze@]

Omg they’re so adorable I could cry!! Can’t wait for more!!

[Mems]

Yes to ALL the sweet snuggly caretaking 😍

[MIN]

Ohh this next part was 🤌 its just too cute! I'm sorry but absolutely nothing is allowed to be that cute! Can't wait for more! 

[Germophobe]

Oh my goodness, I’m so glad you’re back, and with incredible writing as always! I’m sorry you’ve had a rough time, I really hope things get better for you.

[wannablessedbe]

Hi hi hi! Thanks so much for the friendly feedback! Here's another part.

 

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Girlfriends & Sisters & Other Things You Can’t Vanquish

Part 3

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            Phoebe woke up shivering and aching all over, the raw feeling in her throat from last night having grown substantially while she slept, while her foggy head swam with congestion. She whined softly, rubbing her sweaty forehead as she blinked in the dull grey light of early dawn. Her body felt like lead; the last thing she wanted to do was get up. But she was so unbelievably thirsty, she knew there was no way she could fall back to sleep. 

            She glanced over at her sleeping girlfriend; Paige had said last night, pretty emphatically, that she wanted to stay and take care of Phoebe while she was sick. Which was just about the sweetest thing Phoebe had ever heard, and already about a hundred times more thoughtful than any boy she’d ever dated. She wasn’t about to ruin it by being unnecessarily high-maintenance—and waking her girlfriend up at 5am to get her a glass of freaking water would definitely qualify as high maintenance. With a soft sigh, the woozy girl pushed herself upright and put her feet on the cold hardwood floor.

            “Ughh, fuck…hh-hhuh…hh’kshxhh!! *Snghhf.*” She squelched a breathless, stuffy sneeze between her pinched fingers, gripping the mattress with her free hand to keep from losing her shaky balance. With a cranky sigh, she reached for a tissue from the bedside table, sniffling softly and wiping her nose as quietly as possible so as not to wake Paige. It wasn’t really enough to quell the teasing tickle in her runny nose, and she gave a soft, hesitant blow, hoping it was still quiet enough not to wake the peacefully sleeping girl beside her. Instead, the halfhearted blow just flooded her raw pink nostrils with more congestion, and her drowsy eyes snapped shut convulsively. “Iiihhshxiew!!! Hht’chhxsh!! *Snfl*…” Phoebe gripped the mattress more tightly, waiting for the room to stop spinning as she rubbed her runny nose impatiently in the now-soggy tissues she held. 

             For fuck’s sake, just get up, loser. You can sneeze your stupid brains out downstairs. With this rousing internal pep-talk, the shivering, fever-flushed girl forced herself up and stumbled over to the closet to get her favorite UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs hoodie. Pulling the warm, oversized thing over her head awkwardly, she lost her balance and stumbled sideways into the makeup mirror with a small crash.

            “Oof! Ow. God dambit. *Snfl.*” She grabbed onto the edge of the vanity to steady herself, as nail polish bottles, lipstick tubes, and other small objects clattered to the floor, causing enough of a ruckus to wake the other girl still sleeping in her bed.

            “Mmm…Pheebs? S’amatter?” Paige mumbled into her pillow, clearly more asleep than awake.

            “Ndothing, baby. It’s fide…*snfl*…just go back to sleep,” Phoebe murmured back, wincing at how hoarse and croaky her voice came out.

            “Doesn’t sound fine,” Paige yawned softly, sitting up and rubbing her eyes as she took in her in woozy-looking girlfriend in the pale dawn light, still holding onto the edge of the vanity for support. “Oh, Phoebe. What are you doing? You look like you’re gonna faint.” The taller girl slipped out of bed and hurried to wrap her arms around her fever-chilled girlfriend, who collapsed against her without any resistance.

            “That’s probably an exaggeration…probably,” Phoebe sighed sheepishly, closing her eyes to help the world stop spinning. 

            “What do you need, sweet girl? Why didn’t you wake me up?” Paige cooed, both arms wrapped snugly around her weak and trembling girlfriend. Even in the grey light of early dawn, Phoebe looked horribly pale. 

            “Because I…*snfl*…thought I could get a stupid freaking glass of water by mbyself,” the shorter girl whined tearfully.

            “Okay, shh, it’s okay,” Paige hummed, smoothing a few sweaty tendrils of hair back from her girlfriend’s face. “Please don’t worry about anything, Pheebs…I got you. Let’s just get you back in bed, ‘kay?” With Paige’s steadying arm around her, it was much easier for Phoebe to take a few steps back across her bedroom than it had been on her own; but before she was close enough to actually reach it, Paige stopped her.

            “On second thought, your side’s all sweaty. Come lie on my side for now, okay honey?”

            “But what about you?” Phoebe asked, frowning as she wiped her nose on the cuff of her sweatshirt with a soft snuffle.

            “Don’t worry about that.”

            “But I amb worried about that,” Phoebe pouted, dragging her heels when Paige tried to pull her towards the other side of the bed. “I know you…*snfl*…don’t care about being exposed to mby germbs, but that doesn’t mean you should take a…a bath in themb…hht’iihhxhew!!!” Phoebe cupped a sweatshirt-covered hand to her face to cover a trembly sneeze, doubling over weakly in Paige’s firm grip.

            “Okay, okay…bless you,” Paige sighed, with a tiny smirk. “I will let you win this time, but only because if I let you pass out on your bedroom floor your sisters will have my head on a pike.”

            “Hooray for mbe,” Phoebe murmured, eyes closed again as she allowed her girlfriend to support most of her shaky weight.

            “So let’s go downstairs and you can lay on the couch for a bit, okay? And I’ll change the sheets.”

            “’Kay. I just really want a glass of water first,” Phoebe sighed softly. “I give up, okay? You’re in charge. My only demand is water. *Snf.*”

            “Aww, baby…” Paige sighed. “Of course I’ll bring you a glass of water. Let’s just get you comfy; then water, and then I’ll lecture you about letting me help you. One thing at a time.” She gave Phoebe a little wink and kissed her hot forehead; then orbed them both from the second floor to the first, right back to where they’d been the night before. Phoebe dropped down onto the couch like a sack of potatoes, with a soft groan of relief as Paige settled the afghan over her weakly shivering body.

            “I’mb never getting up againd,” the sniffly girl mumbled, reaching for a tissue from the box now conveniently right in front of her on the coffee table.

            “You don’t have to, silly,” Paige shook her head, stroking Phoebe’s hair back and gently feeling her face the way Prue had last night. “Just let me take care of you, please. It’s literally all I wanna do. You know that, right?”

            “I know…” Phoebe blinked, her eyes suddenly full of tears. “I’mb sorry Paigey…I’mb just…*snghf*…being so stupid…”

            “Nope.” Paige brushed a tear from her girlfriend’s flushed cheek. “My girlfriend is not stupid. But I think she is a little insecure…especially when she’s feeling vulnerable.” 

            “I…*snghf*…thig you’re right,” Phoebe sighed sheepishly, with a tiny smile as Paige winked at her reassuringly. “But she’s working on it.”

            “Okay,” Paige smiled sweetly, smoothing Phoebe’s mussed hair back one more time as she stood up. “You really need something for that fever, baby, you’re burning up. Is there Advil in the kitchen? And water, right? Are you sure you don’t want tea?”

            “No, water. Please,” Phoebe whined, with a completely unnecessary pout as Paige was already at her beck and call. “And the Advil’s by the spice rack.” 

            “Okay. I’ll be right back. Just keep your cute butt on this couch.” Paige winked.

            “I’mb…*snfl*…nod going adywhere…” Phoebe fumbled for a fresh tissue as her breath hitched unevenly, cupping it snugly to her damp pink nose with a soft gasp. “Aahhschxiiew!!!”

            “Bless you, baby.” Paige took the tissues from the coffee table and put the whole box in Phoebe’s lap, figuring she’d need them. Then she orbed straight from the living room to the kitchen, not wanting to waste a second getting back to her poor sick girlfriend with the things that would make her feel better. Phoebe sighed, finally giving in and blowing her stuffy nose properly now that Paige was in a different room, making a very loud, wet, deeply congested sound. She knew it was dumb to worry about Paige being turned off by her blowing her nose too loudly—her girlfriend was a freaking angel, after all, and she’d made it clear in every way she could that she wanted to be here and wouldn’t be scared off by this beast of a cold. 

              But Phoebe had been telling the truth about feeling insecure with Paige seeing her like this. Boyfriends had never hung around for stuff like this, that was for sure. Fever chills and sniffles and runny noses were not sexy; and the world had taught Phoebe at much too young of an age that being sexy was her chief asset. She knew Paige didn’t feel that way; but being sick and out of sorts had always caused the youngest Halliwell to become uncharacteristically sensitive and emotional. Which was just one more thing she didn’t want to put on Paige. 

              Soon hot tears were blurring Phoebe’s vision as her thoughts were overtaken by all the ways in which she was too much; too high maintenance, too emotional, too needy. And, right now, way too snotty. With a hot stab of shame, she pulled the afghan up over her head, muffling the sound of her weepy sniffles as she tried to bury herself in a blanket cocoon. That was how Paige found her when she came back a minute later with water, Advil, and not one, but two ice packs.

              “Hey, hey, baby…what happened?” Paige cooed, immediately sitting down by the lump that was Phoebe and pulling the blankets back down over her head. “You’re going to suffocate…why are you crying, sweet girl? Does anything hurt?” Cool hands were running through Phoebe’s hair, smoothing the tears from her flushed cheeks; and it felt like heaven. 

              “Ndoe…well, yes, but…*snghf*…that’s nod why I’mb crying…”

               “Then what, hmm baby? Can you tell me?” Paige asked gently, continuing to run her fingers lightly through her girlfriend’s sweat-dampened hair while the sniffling girl sobbed brokenly into her soggy tissues.

               “I d-don’t even know why…how s-stupid is that,” Phoebe choked on her tears, trying her best to regain control of her ragged breathing.

               “It’s not stupid…” Paige shook her head, picking up one of the ice packs she’d brought from the kitchen and pressing it to Phoebe’s hot forehead; then the side of her face, then the back of her neck. “Poor little thing, you are so sick…you’ll feel better when the fever goes down, I promise. Here, can you swallow these? Come on, that’s it…” Paige managed to get Phoebe to take a dose of extra-strength Advil, and once she had the water bottle in her hands, she drank half of it down in silence while Paige just sat quietly, one hand resting reassuringly on Phoebe’s hip. 

               “Thag you…” Phoebe sighed, with a small smile despite how weak and raspy she still sounded. 

               “You’re welcome, sweet girl,” Paige hummed, leaning down and kissing Phoebe lightly on the lips. “Do you feel a little better now?”

                “Uhhh…*snghf!*…yuh-huh,” Phoebe nodded, her dark eyes sliding out of focus again as she cupped a fresh tissue to her pink nose, squeezing it lightly as her breath huffed erratically in her chest. “Hhh…hh…aah’eshxiiew!!! *Snfl*…”

                “Bless you,” Paige shook her head, biting back a small grin. “Now I know you have magical powers, because no mere mortal could be this much of a mess and still be this cute.”

                 “You cannot…*snghf!*…possibly think I’mb cute right ndow,” Phoebe sniffled, looking up at Paige with her tired brown eyes half glazed, pink nostrils twitched wide and running gently as her hands held a fresh tissue hovering uncertainly in front of her face. “Ehhxhiiew!! *S-snfl*…uhh.”

                 “Well I do,” Paige smirked, kissing the top of her girlfriend’s head as the smaller girl sighed and blew her sniffly nose. “So deal with it. Now just lie still, I’m going to try to bring your temp down a little…there, is that comfortable?” Paige gently slipped one of the ice packs behind Phoebe’s neck, and draped the other one across her forehead, holding it there briefly to increase the cold sensation.

                  “Yes,” Phoebe sighed, reaching up and threading her hand into Paige’s. “Come cuddle with mbe…”

                  “Aw honey, I was gonna go change the sheets. Then we can go cuddle upstairs, and you can go back to sleep in your big comfy bed,” Paige cooed.

                  “Uh-uh. Comfy here,” Phoebe shook her head weakly, still holding onto Paige’s arm as her eyes closed. “Please, Paigey, just stay…I just…*snghf*…just wadt to feel your hands on me.”

                  “Well fuck me, that worked,” Paige sighed with a little smile, crawling under the afghan beside her fever-dazed girlfriend and letting the smaller girl throw an arm over her like a life-sized teddy bear. “Is this good, Pheebs? Do you think you can get some more sleep now?”

                  “Mmm. *Snfl.*” The soft, stuffy voice was almost trance-like, and soon there was nothing but the even rise and fall of slightly wheezy, deeply sleeping breaths as the small, overheated body in her arms went limp.

                  “Sweet dreams, baby girl,” Paige whispered, pressing her hand over Phoebe’s on her stomach as a deep sense of calm rolled over her. Phoebe was okay…or, at least, she would be. She was getting what she needed. And that meant Paige had everything she needed, too.

[MIN]

Ah this part was perfect. I've had a migraine today so reading this in all of its care taking glory was just what I needed. Excellent writing and detail as always 👌 

[emten10]

The gentle caretaking is everything!! ☺️ And glad you’re feeling better! I remember reading your first charmed fic when when it was published!

[wannablessedbe]

hi, sorry! I accidentally posted an update to a different story on this thread by mistake, and I cannot figure out how to DELETE a comment; only how to edit. So I have to leave some text here in order to save the edit; I can't leave it blank or delete it. If anyone knows how to delete a comment, please let me know! Sorry about that!

Edited May 25, 2022 by wannablessedbe
accidental--meant to update a different story!