When Victor went back to the attic, Prue was still in the same place she'd been when they'd left her. This time, however, she looked up when he called her name.

"How are you feeling, honey?" he asked, pulling up a chair next to her.

She sighed. "Confused. Afraid. Other than that... I just don't know."

"It's a lot to take in," he agreed.

Prue shook her head. "I don't think I've even begun to take it in yet. When I found out I was pregnant, I thought my biggest problems would be juggling single-parenthood with demon fighting. I never thought the two would mix, especially not this way."

Victor pulled his chair closer, and put his hand on her shoulder reassuringly. "I know you didn't expect this. I know this prophecy thing is making you crazy. Honey, when your mother told me that you and your sisters would be the Charmed Ones, I didn't know what to do. But maybe it's your destiny to have this omni-magical child, just like it was my destiny to be the father of the Charmed Ones."

Prue shifted, so that she was facing him instead of the window. "Yeah, well I'm starting to think this whole concept of 'destiny' really, really sucks."

He smiled. "Prue, I couldn't agree with you more."

Suddenly, she sat up straight and looked around. "I don't hear anything. Where is everyone? Is that guy, Cole's friend, whoever the hell he is, still here?"

"Yes," her father replied, "Kritt's still here, but don't worry. I don't think he'll hurt you, after the way Piper threatened him. From his expression afterword, I'd say she's got him scared shitless."

Prue bit back a smile. "Yeah, well, that's our Piper. But where is she? And Leo? I don't hear either of them. It's never this quiet, not even up here."

"Piper sent Leo to go check with the Elders about Kritt," he answered. "Now she's downstairs washing dishes."

"Washing dishes?" she repeated. Victor nodded. Prue got up quickly. "I know Piper. Housework is her coping method, which means she's nervous, which means somethings going on that's even worse than what I already know. And from the look on your face, I'd say you know what it is. Dad, tell me."

Victor sighed. "It's Kritt. He's moving in with you. Phoebe and Cole are setting him up in the room across yours, to protect you."

Prue stared at him blankly. "Protect me? A demon's going to protect me?"

"Technically, he's just as much witch as he is demon," Victor pointed out. In truth, he didn't trust Kritt either, but he thought it was more important to keep her calm. She glared at him, clearly not buying it, and stalked past him out of the attic. He had no choice but to shut up and follow her downstairs, to the guestroom directly across the hall from her bedroom.

"Prue," Kritt greeted cordially. "Glad to see you're feeling better."

She didn't stop for pleasantries. "What the hell is going on here?"

Phoebe stepped forward, trying like Victor to calm her older sister. "Honey, it's okay. Kritt's good now. Like Cole."

"How do we know Cole is good?" Prue asked through clenched teeth.

"What does a guy have to do to get some trust around here?" Cole shot back. "I've helped you guys more times than I can count, and, by the way, I've stabbed evil in the back every damn time I did. I've gotten information for you, gone undercover for you, risked my ass for you, and nearly gotten killed for you. How much more is it going to take?"

"How do we know that evil is the side you're backstabbing?" Prue questioned. "You could have been working with them this whole time, plotting to kill us. It wouldn't be the first time."

Cole rolled his eyes, looking at Kritt. "Be careful around here, man. You do something once, you're branded for life."

"Tell me about it, dude," Kritt replied. "I haven't done anything yet, and I've already been interrogated at least once by each of them. Are these girls always this..."

"Bitchy?" Cole provided.

"I was going to say 'paranoid', but I suppose 'bitchy' works, too," Kritt responded.

Cole nodded. "Piper and Prue? Oh yeah. I mean, I guess Prue has an excuse, raging pregnancy hormones and all, but Piper... damn. The girl's got bite."

"So I've seen," Kritt said. "And what about Phoebe?"

Cole put his arm around her waist protectively. "Don't go there, man. She could kick your ass. Not that would be a challenge for anyone, mind you, but especially not for Phoebe."

"I'll bet," Kritt replied. "Although, I've heard that Prue is excellent in the ass-kicking field, too."

"Yeah, but only when she's pissed," Cole told him.

"Hi, still here," Prue said, stepping in between the guys.

"Hi," Kritt said jovially.

"Hello," Cole joined in.

Prue let out a frustrated sigh. "Okay, one, you're both lucky that I just don't have the energy to kick your asses right now. Two, if evil is after my baby, then the last thing I need is a damn demon as my bodyguard."

"Right," Kritt agreed, "That is the last thing you need. The first thing you need, however, is a former demon. Once we figure out exactly who attacked you this afternoon, I'll be able to predict their next move. I know of practically every demon in the Underworld, and how to defeat most of them. There are plenty of higher-level demons that aren't in that book of yours."

"Like you?" Prue asked.

He shook his head. "Oh, I'm in there. Alkyl. Lower-level demon. There's really not much about me, except that and a picture which, I might add, really isn't flattering."

"Can't imagine why not," she mused tauntingly.

"Hilarious," he replied dryly. She smirked.

"Well, looks like you two are going to get along just fine," Phoebe said suddenly.

Prue glared at her little sister. "Like hell." She turned, and stormed downstairs. "Piper!" she called, heading toward the kitchen.

Piper was drying off the last dish. "Prue, what's wrong, sweetie?"

"Are you aware that we're about to have two demons in the house?"

Piper sighed, and put the dish down. She sat her sister down at the table before speaking. "Honey, I know you don't trust him. I don't either. But he's been right about everything so far. I think there's a chance - a small chance - that he's telling the truth, so I sent Leo to go check with the Elders. I think we should both suspend judgment until we hear what he has to say, alright?"

Prue frowned. "You know I don't like this. I don't even like Cole being in the house, but at least we know him."

"I know," Piper said, reaching across the table to take her sister's hand. "Just don't worry about it so much, okay? It's bad for the baby."

Prue nodded, giving her sister a brief smile. "Okay. I'll stop worrying. But only until Leo gets back."

"Good girl," Piper approved. "You relax, and now that I'm done with the dishes, I'm making cookies."