Wow, I had one major blonde moment. I thought I had already updated this story so I almost uploaded chapter 26. Luckily I realized I only had 24 chapters before I posted. Oh, and again, for those who get emotional pretty easy, tissue warning.
3:00 AM
Prue laid her head down on the table in front of her. She hadn't slept for twenty-four hours, but she couldn't give up hope. That was all she had right now. If she lost that, she'd lose her mind. She looked over at the sleeping baby in the bassinet. It suddenly hit her how horrible of a mother she was being. She had kept her daughter cooped up here with her for over twenty-four hours…but she couldn't bear to let her out of her sight. She was so scared of losing the only child she had left. Prue felt herself start to succumb to her tiredness. She tried to fight it and go back to writing another spell but finally she dozed off.
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5:00 AM
Piper walked into the attic and saw her sister asleep with her head on the table. She noticed tear stains on Prue's cheeks. Piper contemplated waking her sister up. Even though she needed to sleep, she was in a very uncomfortable position.
"Need help?" Leo asked, appearing at the attic doorway.
It still amazed Piper how her husband was always there when she needed him.
"I was going to check on her anyway but you beat me to it" Leo whispered.
Leo walked over to where Prue was sleeping and gently lifted her up. Piper picked up Anna from the bassinet. On the way out of the attic, they ran into Phoebe. Piper held her finger to her lips. Leo carried Prue to her room with the sisters following. Piper placed Anna in the bassinet in Prue's room. Then she pulled the sheets back and Leo placed Prue in bed. Piper and Phoebe tucked their sister into her bed.
"You should go back to bed" Piper whispered, "I think I'm going to stay with her"
"Me too" Phoebe whispered.
Leo nodded and left the room. Piper and Phoebe watched there sister toss and turn in her sleep.
"I wish I knew how to help her" Phoebe whispered, sadly.
Piper nodded and laid down next to Prue. Phoebe went and laid down on the other side of her sister. They laid close to their sister until they too fell asleep.
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8:00 AM
"Caleb!" Prue yelled, shooting up from bed.
Piper and Phoebe jumped at their sister's awakening. Piper sat up.
"It's okay, sweetie" Piper said, putting her hand on her sister's shoulder.
Prue looked over at Piper and then at the bassinet. Prue stood up and went to the bassinet. She saw Anna was fast asleep.
"Prue" Phoebe said, softly.
Prue looked back at her sisters.
"I should finish the…spell" Prue stuttered.
She leaned over and carefully picked Anna up. She started to head for the door and Piper and Phoebe got up to follow.
"Prue, wait" Piper said.
Prue started to head towards the attic.
"Prue, hold up for a sec" Phoebe said.
"What?" Prue asked, pausing and turning towards her sisters.
"What happened back there?" Phoebe asked.
"It was just a dream" Prue said. "It was nothing"
"Nothing doesn't make you shoot up from bed screaming" Phoebe said.
"Sweetie, talk to us" Piper said.
"Talking is a waste of time I could be using to find Caleb" Prue said.
Prue continued into the attic and placed Anna in the bassinet.
"Prue" Piper said. "You have to talk to us eventually. We know how much you hurt"
"You know how much I hurt?" Prue asked, snapping towards her. "You've lost your son because you were stupid enough to trust a demon?"
Prue looked at her sisters with tears glistening in her eyes.
"You don't get it!" Prue exclaimed. "Everything that has happened in the last ten months has been my fault! They should never have been born! I never should've let the pregnancy continue! There are so many things I should've done, but I was too stupid and selfish to do it and now my son is gone!"
"Prue, that's not true" Piper said, softly. "None of us could've stopped this. Eventually another demon would've taken him or done worse and if we hadn't done some of the things we did, we could've lost both Anna and Caleb permanently"
Prue fell to her knees before her sisters.
"My son is dead" Prue sobbed.
Piper kneeled by her sister and took her into her arms. Phoebe joined Piper and they held their sister until her sobs had quieted. Piper stroked Prue's hair while Prue continued to calm down. Once Prue's sobs had become the occasional shutter or hiccup, Piper started to talk.
"Now listen to me" Piper said softly but firmly. "You don't know that he's dead for sure. Now we are going to work on a spell together and we are going to find him and bring him home"
Prue shook her head.
"I can't find him" Prue said. "He's either dead or somewhere we can't get to"
"You haven't tried using the power of three" Phoebe said.
They heard a crash from downstairs. Prue grabbed Anna and the three of them ran downstairs. When they reached downstairs they saw Cole fighting off a demon. An energy ball hit the wall by the sisters and they jumped. Piper tried blowing up the demon but it didn't work. An energy ball came sailing towards them and Piper froze it. Prue tried to move it back towards the demon but it didn't budge.
"Prue?" Phoebe asked.
Prue looked confused and tried it again but nothing happened. Finally the energy ball was sent back towards the demon. He exploded and Cole sighed.
"Thanks" Cole said. "He followed me back from the underworld"
"What took you so long?" Phoebe asked.
"I didn't move that energy ball" Prue said. "She did"
Prue looked down at Anna.
"Why didn't you?" Phoebe asked.
"I couldn't" Prue said, confused.
"Wait, try to astral project" Phoebe said.
Prue handed Anna to Phoebe and closed her eyes. After a few seconds she opened them.
"Nothing" Prue said.
"Leo!" Piper called.
Leo orbed in.
"What's wrong?" Leo asked, noticing Piper's concerned look.
"This" Phoebe said. "Prue, move the picture"
Prue waved her hand at the picture on the wall but nothing happened. Leo looked at Prue concerned.
"I had my powers when we were fighting Madelia, what happened?" Prue asked.
"It's probably because of the grief" Leo said. "You're powers are attached to your emotions, when you're grieving they can get out of control or you can not be able to use them at all"
"How can I find Caleb without my powers?" Prue asked.
"You should still be able to cast spells and use potions" Leo said. "But it'll still be dangerous; you can't go up against demons without an active power"
"He's right, that would be suicide" Phoebe said.
"Well I'm not going to sit here and wait for them to come back" Prue said. "We have to find him"
"We will, but we'll find a safer way" Phoebe said.
Phoebe put her hand on her sister's shoulder. Instantly she was hit with a premonition.
Phoebe saw Prue with Caleb in her arms. They were in the underworld together and Prue was holding Caleb close.
"It's okay" Prue said, comfortingly. "You're with Mommy, you're safe"
She saw Caleb shimmered out of Prue's arms.
"Caleb?" Prue asked. "Caleb, where are you?"
She started walking towards a doorway.
"Caleb, come back here" Prue said. "This isn't funny"
Prue turned behind her and saw Phoebe and Piper standing there.
"Don't bother looking for him" Phoebe said.
"You have Anna" Piper said. "He's evil"
Prue turned away from Piper and Phoebe.
"Once evil, always evil" Moira said. "Nothing can change that"
"He's the heir of the throne" the Source's voice said. "He will be the downfall of the Charmed Ones and all of good"
"He will be the downfall of both sides" the Seer said.
"Then I will stop him" Madelia said.
The voices went away and Prue started running. She reached a room and saw Caleb lying in a bassinet.
"Thank god, you're okay" Prue said. "I thought I had lost you"
Prue headed towards the bassinet.
"Now we can go home to your sister. To your family" Prue said.
Prue looked into the crib. Phoebe saw her sister's face fall.
"Caleb, no!" Prue exclaimed.
Phoebe watched as Prue picked up Caleb. Phoebe saw that Caleb's body was limp and lifeless.
"Caleb!" Prue exclaimed.
Phoebe snapped out of her premonition and noticed Piper's concerned expression. She looked at Prue and saw hers was pained.
"Was that…?" Phoebe asked. "Prue, we don't actually think that…"
"I have to go finish the spell" Prue said.
"Prue, you can't just run away" Phoebe said. "It won't solve anything"
Prue ignored Phoebe and kept walking.
"Prue, stop" Piper said. "What is bugging you so much?"
Prue stopped for a second.
"If you really want to help, just help me find my son" Prue said; her voice hoarse.
Prue headed towards the attic. Piper looked at Phoebe.
"What did you see?" Piper asked.
"I think I saw what she's been dreaming about" Phoebe said. "She thinks we don't want her to find Caleb"
"That's insane; of course we want her to find him!" Piper exclaimed.
"I don't think she knows that" Phoebe said.
Piper looked towards the attic.
"Then we have to show her" Piper said.
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REVIEWS: Would you guys believe I'm sick again? It's ridiculous; I have gotten 2 colds since June rolled around. How am I supposed to enjoy that school is out when I'm stuck with this stupid head cold? Well, on the bright side for you guys, I tend to do my best writing when I'm sick (odd, I know), but what can I say, those freakish fever dreams you get can be quite the inspiration.
Pointless author's note #2: Who else got to watch Verlander pitch the no-no? Yea! Go Tigers!
Mony19: Well you can see some of the reasons Prue is pushing away Piper and Phoebe. But she is opening up a little (hence the breakdown). Unfortunately, I do warn you, their relationship is going to take quite a beating in the next few chapters.
And of course the Elders aren't going to help. They're just going to sit and watch the family they helped destroy fall apart even more….as you can see I'm not too fond of most of the Elders. Well, thanks for reviewing!
Kristy: You suck.
Charmedchick34: Thanks for reviewing!
Lizardmomma: Yup, she's pretty obsessed. Not only is he her son but she feels a great amount of guilt (as you could see in this chapter). Thanks for reviewing!
Brittany: Well I hope you're feeling better. As you could tell from the previous author's not, I'm not, lol. I'm beginning to wonder to wonder if I have a sinus infection. Ugh, I hate my doctor, don't make me go, lol.
Well I'm glad you liked the last chapter. Looks like Prue's going to have to sort out some other problems before they stand a chance of finding Caleb, unfortunately. Well, my head's starting to throb so I'm going to go finish replying to the reviews. Thanks for reviewing!
Jorden's Prayla: I know, I wish she could find Caleb soon, too…sigh, unfortunately I get to write all this sad stuff instead. I'm glad you understand about the not updating thing. I have two other stories I haven't updated in a year because I simply can't write for them and I have one person that keeps bugging me to update, it makes me feel horrible. Well, I should finish the replies, thanks for reviewing!
Lucrecia Almasy: Glad you like the chapter. For the next few chapters there's going to be some battles, and most of them aren't going to be magical. Thanks for reviewing!
Charmed255: I'm glad you liked the chapter. I'm glad to have your support with whatever I choose, lol. Thanks for reviewing!
MJLS: I'm so glad you like the story; it's a huge confidence booster when someone tells you that. I should be able to update fairly soon since school is out and I already have the next chapter written. Well, glad you liked the last chapter and thanks for reviewing!
Prucole: Glad you like the story. Now if I told you if there was or wasn't a way to get Caleb back, wouldn't that ruin the story, lol. Thanks for reviewing!