Piper and Leo had gone up to the attic to look in the Book of Shadows for something, anything, that might help them find out what they were up against. By the time Phoebe got there with Cole and Kritt, they'd been through the book twice and hadn't found anything.

"Having any luck?" Phoebe asked.

Piper shook her head, looking defeated. "Nothing. There's nothing in here that'll tell us anything."

"Well, maybe I can be of service," Kritt offered.

Piper's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"

Kritt sighed. "You know, you're just like your little sister. I mean, I suppose anyone seen in Cole's company would have to be at least a little crazy, no offence Phoebe, but do you always assume your houseguests are evil?"

"Yes," Piper said. "When they show up in our attic without warning and are obviously connected to Cole, yes."

Cole was about to take offence, but decided to let it slide. They had much more important things to worry about. "Piper, this is Kritt. He'll be staying here for a while."

"What? Why?" Piper demanded.

"Because if you don't have someone here to protect you, your sister and her baby will both die, that's why," Kritt replied impatiently.

This got Piper's attention. She listened quietly as Phoebe, Cole, and Kritt related the story of the prophecy and what it meant for them.

"That's it," Leo said quietly when they were finished. "It has to be. It explains why Prue was attacked this afternoon. Evil doesn't want the baby born."

"But why?" Piper asked him. "If what they're saying is true, then she'll be their queen, too."

"Exactly," Cole replied. "The last thing evil wants is to be merged with good. They figure that the only way to keep this from happening is to kill the princess before she's coronated. Since that would most likely take place soon after she's born, and since her powers will start showing themselves maybe even before then, the easiest way for them to do this is to do it now."

"No," Piper said softly. "No, that can't happen."

"It won't," Kritt assured her. "That's why I'm here. I'm... an old friend of Beltha- of Cole's. I'm a former demon, like him."

"Kritt's half witch," Phoebe told her sister.

Leo nodded, somewhat intrigued. "I heard something, years and years ago, about a male witch falling in love with a demon. I guess it's true."

"Yeah, and the Elders gave my father hell for it," Kritt replied, with an amused glance at Leo and Piper. "I heard about what you two went through in order to get married. Are you people allowed to date anyone at all?"

Piper bit back a smile. "Yes, but only as long as the Elders approve, and we have to be home by ten."

Kritt laughed. "I thought as much."

"Speaking of the Elders," Leo said, "Shouldn't we let them know about the prophecy?"

"The prophecy isn't the only thing we have to worry about," Cole responded. "There's also Aarden."

"What about Aarden?" Piper asked, confused. "Prue hasn't seen him since that night. He doesn't know about this."

"Actually," Kritt countered, "He does."

"Aarden is a member of the Alliance," Phoebe said. She paused, and looked up at Cole. "Honey, what is the Alliance?"

"It's one of the highest-ranking groups in the evil hierarchy," Cole replied. There's usually only five or six of them at a time, and they're right below the Source in terms of power. Aarden is a newer member. The goal of the Alliance is, of course, to kill the Charmed Ones, but Aarden felt he needed to prove himself by bedding one of you first."

"So he got my sister pregnant just to make himself look good in front of a bunch of power-hungry jackasses?" Piper asked incredulously.

Kritt nodded. "Yeah, pretty much."

"Well, he didn't exactly plan on getting her pregnant," Cole interjected. "If he'd known about the prophecy, he never would have touched her. The other Alliance members are pretty pissed. They blame him for fulfilling it."

"Okay, so the baby's father is evil," Piper summed up. "Does this mean she'll be half-and-half, like you, Kritt?"

He shook his head. "My mother was a lower-level demon, and my father was just a regular witch. They didn't have anywhere near the power that Aarden and Prue have, and thankfully I don't have anywhere near the power or responsibility that will be forced upon your neice."

"And there's no way to keep this from happening?" Phoebe inquired.

Cole paused. "Well, we aren't sure. Right now, the only thing we can do is keep Prue safe."

Leo looked up. "I'm being summoned."

Piper kissed him. "See how much they know about the Alliance."

He nodded, and orbed out.

Piper turned to face Phoebe. "What do we do about Prue? Do we tell her? Or does she already know?"

Phoebe shook her head. "She doesn't know, and we don't do anything. We can't tell her until we know exactly what's going on. If we just give her bits and pieces of the puzzle, she'll only be more afraid than she already is."

Piper sighed. "I don't like keeping this from her. She deserves to know."

"I know," Phoebe replied. "And we'll tell her. Just not until we know more."

"Know more about what?"

Piper, Phoebe, Cole, and Kritt all turned around to see Prue standing in the doorway, with Victor right behind her.

"I told her she shouldn't get out of bed, but she said she needed to come up here," Victor said.

"Know more about what?" Prue repeated.

Piper and Phoebe exchanged nervous glances.

"Okay," Phoebe said, "Maybe we should tell her now."

"Ya think?" Piper replied.

The girls sat their sister down, and explained everything as gently as possible. When they finished, they put their arms around her, waiting for her reaction.

Prue shook her head disbelievingly, putting her hand instinctively over her stomach. "No. That can't be right. It can't be her. It can't be. Where's Leo? Leo! Leo!"

The Whitelighter orbed in as fast as he could.

"Leo, they're wrong. Tell them they're wrong," Prue begged desperately.

He frowned, shaking his head. "I can't, Prue. I'm sorry."

Prue shook her head, too shocked to speak. She crossed over to the rocking chair in the corner of the attic and curled up in it, staring out the window. Her family tried to comfort her, but she was too deep in thought to notice. When she finally spoke, through a tear-stained face, it was only to say, "Leave me."

They waited a while, trying to get some other reaction from her. When it became apparent that she wasn't going to respond, they honored her request, and left the attic.