Charmed... the other way around Chapter 25:
Winter 2001 - 2002 Part 2

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After Andy's little meeting with the butterfly knife, he was set a week on holiday. I took off some days as well. I easily could work from home and every now and then head into the office to get updated and update them on the work I had done.

I rather enjoyed it. It was the first time we finally could lay back and take a breath again after all these months of fast living and adjusting to a new life. But what I didn't know was that my life was going to change once more drastically in not such a far future.

It had been the last day of our 'holiday' and Andy and I had planned to have a night out. Go eating somewhere and just enjoy the night in the town. Andy served places for us in an Italian restaurant, my favourite, I might add.

I enjoyed the evening, while I noticed Andy was somewhat off. I started to get worried about him. After all he still was hurt. But knowing, I was always over worried, I pushed the thought aside.

The weird part really only came, when we finally left the restaurant. Andy had gone mute. I felt, he was depressed, I just didn't get why. One of his hands was always sitting in his pocket. We went along the streets for quiet a while and Andy still hadn't spoken. I glanced at him every now and then, but couldn't find a sign of him not feeling well

"Honey, are you okay? I mean... you've been silent the whole evening... if you don't feel well we also can go ho..."

"No!" he almost yelled and I looked at him, somewhat freaked out. Had my boyfriend now gone nuts?

"There's a candy shop... want something?" he asked letting go off my hand and changing the topic in a split of a second.

"Umm... no..." I told him as he backed away, walking over. He went slowly and I wondered what had gotten into him. It was almost as if he tried to make time pass. Same was true on how he stood at the little shop looking through the things. I saw him saying stuff and just wasn't sure, if he talked to himself or the owner. I just stayed where he had left me. Stood still waiting for him to return, waiting for an explanation.

As he got back to me he was completely changed. He now was smiling brightly and was almost running towards me. I looked at him confused

"What the hell?" I asked him

"You ever had one of those?" he asked opening his hand to show me a packed up red ring pop. Which girl doesn't know that candy? Diamonds, after all, are a girl's best friend.

"You're smiling like a little boy because of a ring pop?"

"Why not?" he asked me ripping the plastic away from it. I kinda laughed. Andy was definitely back to himself. "Otherwise... this isn't just any ring pop" he told me.

"How come?" I asked noisily as we started to walk again. it wasn't that much into my kind of nature to be noisy, but whatever changed my boyfriend's state of mind in a split second could only be interesting.

"The old man at the candy shop said, it was a special ring pop, it'd change its colour, when you see the man you love."

"Really?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"Uh hum... wanna try?"

"are you kidding me? you actually believe in crap like that?"

"it doesn't hurt to try. I mean... if it works... that's just great... cause... we then can see if I'm the guy you love... if not... who cares? Nice little story then..."

"Okay... what are you up to?" I asked him. I mean, I knew he was crazy, but he on the other hand was pretty down to earth in such things. Especially because Andy was like quarter Italian and his mom a straight catholic girl, who also raised her kids with this believe. I was almost sure, he didn't believe in superstitions. But this night was crazy and somehow I couldn't erase the strange feeling, which told me, there was something here.

"What should I be up to?" he asked laughing nervously, which ensured my suspicion "gosh, Prue, I wanted to make you smile with one of my silly jokes! why can't you just once play along?!" He asked suddenly very much grumpy. I sighed and stopped our walking. Moved my hand out to him and smiled. Anything to make him go back to normal, I thought back then and yet didn't realize nothing would go back to the 'normal' I knew after letting him place that ring on my finger

"Really can't wait to see that" I told him, waiting for him to slip the ring on my finger. He flashed a tiny smile at me and got the ring pop out again.

"Okay, close your eyes..."

"Why?" I asked acting confused

"Well, stupid, because the ring only works on the first man you see... now you see millions of men... can only be sure of the result, if you had your eyes closed. so when you open them, you gotta focus on me. c'mon... close your eyes..."

I did what I was told. I smiled a little thought. I knew exactly he had probably just bought another one and would put that one on my finger. So when I opened my eyes, the ring would have another colour, because I had looked at him. I guessed my suggestion was right, when the ring, he put on my hand was somewhat cold. It couldn't be the one, Andy had already for a few minutes in his hands. Playing, somewhat nervously with. I felt the ring slip on my hand and Andy then holding it for several seconds. I could tell he was looking more or less proudly at the ring on my finger, since he didn't move

"Okay... open your eyes." He finally told me. I opened my eyes and looked smiling into his eyes and then down at my finger, expecting to see a brown ring pop or a yellow one.

What I saw instead, took my breath away. it had been a real ring. Not a fake one. But the most amazing piece of jewellery I had ever seen. I gasped and covered my mouth in shock as I, only from the edge of my already tear-blurred vision, noticed how Andy sunk to the floor

"Prue... I... you told me to wait and I did and... I wanted so badly to ask you already since that doctor at the hospital called you misses Trudeau and... I just wasn't sure if I ever again find this perfect moment like the first time and... I was so scared it is the wrong timing now but... I had to go through with it tonight because... argh I dunno why... but I thought it could be good and... All I did whole evening was screw up because of my nervousness. Please don't turn me down this time... please just say yes..." he babbled and then looked into my eyes "I beg you to marry me, prudence Bennett" he told me.

I looked down into his eyes and I could see the fear in them, as I like last time, started to cry again.

"I should say no, considering how often you damn bastard make me cry" I told him

"Always just tears of joy" he quipped. More tears ran from my eyes, as I chuckled slightly.

I sunk to my knees in front of him and touched his cheek gently with my hand

"Why did I say no again the last time?" I cried

"I don't remember anymore..."

"Neither do I..."

"That a yes?"

"Of course it is, you idiot" I answered and pulled his face closer to mine and kissed him gently. The kiss grew more and more passionate and when we finally parted to get some air, he pulled me up with him again, picked me up and spun me around

"Did you hear that?! She's gonna marry me!!!" he yelled, to no one in particular.

I couldn't help but laugh. But it didn't take too long for me to remember his shoulder

"Andy, let me down!!" I yelled against him. he spun me around a few more rounds and finally placed me in front of him again, his hands resting on my waist. I hit his chest playfully

"You idiot! You know you're not supposed to put so much weight on your shoulder" I scolded

"Oooh I don't care! May the arm fall off, if you just marry me"

I smiled. This was all so much more Andy than the first proposal he made me. I don't think I would have wanted it to be any other way. this was the best story ever to tell our kids and grandkids and great-grandkids. I had known the whole evening there was something going on, but not in my wildest dreams I had thought about him actually doing – or better asking – this.

"I said already yes, no need to threaten with anything" I told him

"You did, didn't you?" he asked beaming, as he gently trailed his thumbs over my cheeks to brush the tears of joy away

"I should have done so from the start" I told him, gazing into his eyes

"To notice your mistakes is always the first step" he told me seriously. I couldn't help but chuckle, as tears again fell from my eyes

"I love you, you clown!" I told him pretty loud as he just captured my mouth with his again and my arms snaked around his neck

"You too" he whispered while ending the passionate kiss in soft pecks

"You like the ring?"

"Which one?" I asked cockily. He threw me an evil glance

"I love it..."

"Not as much as me, I hope?"

"it's not possible I could love anything more than you!!" I told him, playing with the fine hair of his neck. Just starring into his eyes.

I love his eyes. And even though that saying that slipped from my lips back then, had proved to be wrong, it's only been proved wrong, because there now is more than one person with those amazing blue eyes...

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AN:
Okay, this is long wanted and yet long forgotten and I'm very sorry about it!!!:

Thanks all of you guys sooooooooooooooooooo much for reading and reviewing!!! You guys are amazing!! You have no diea how much I always love to read those reviews. Each and every makes a smile magically appear on my face ;)

I'm sorry I haven't answered to your reviews in so long, but lately life is very chaotic. I'm very glad I have written a lot already... and so don't necessarily have to write right now. Your guys reviews makes me survive this very hard time right now. That's why I kinda update lately so much.

I also have to warn you... in the next time reviews will get more rare... since I soon am gonna get to the point where my resources are eaten up ;) But hopefully I'll be able to write some more during the holidays... let's just pray that my muse won't leave me exactly then ;)

Now.. last but certainly not least... MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! May all your wishes come true. Have a lot of fun with your families and friends. This is the season were you seriously should enjoy having and being with them. But do me one tiny little favor and don't forget with all the food, sweets and pressies, what Christmas is all about...

always yours
Nic!!!

p.s: Hope I made you a good present with this, anajet. Even though you kinda already guessed it ;)