A/N: Okay just so that everyone's knows in case I don't explain it right. Prue still has all of her memories, except for Amanda's birth. By my way of thinking she remembers everything up until Phoebe and Piper left to vanquish the demonic horsemen. Paige is also going to make a guest appearance, but nobody get excited. She isn't staying but her role in what Natalie does will be important. I'm also putting out a tissue alert for those of you who are feeling emotional. piperleo4eva: I share your views about Kern, but taking it out on Natalie isn't going to effect the way he runs the show...hee-hee. Charmedsisters: Thank you so much for taking time to review. Everyone else, I love all of your comments, and don't worry Natalie is going to get what is coming to her!
Piper looked around the room in disbelief. From all accounts the room was sparkling clean. There was no trace that Amanda's birth had even occurred yet Prue was no longer pregnant. She stared frighteningly at her sisters nearly flat looking stomach "What kind of demon would do that?" she muttered under her breath.
"Maybe a white lighter demon," Andy replied. Piper looked at him curiously as he held something out to Leo. It was a sparkling powder he'd found on the dresser "What do you make of this?"
Leo took a pinch of the gritty sparkling powder into his hands and smelled it, "It's white lighter memory dust" he answered sickly watching Andy's face grow dark.
"I'll kill her". No one needed to spell out to him that it was Natalie. He himself was all too familiar with the use of her memory dust.
"Andy no, you need to stay here with-" Piper reached for Andy's arm in attempt to hold him back, but she was too late. He was already gone. "Leo you have to go after him, if he tries to kill Natalie-"
"The Elders will vanquish his soul forever" Leo finished, "are you sure you guys will be okay with Prue?"
"We'll be fine" Phoebe assured him as Prue started to come too, "just make sure you make her tell you what's she done with our niece". Piper pressed her hands to her face for a moment as Leo orbed out. "Oh God, Phoebe, if Natalie has hurt that baby in any way. Prue will go off the deep end."
"And we'll be right there with her," Phoebe said, stroking Prue's hair as she started to moan. "Prue...Prue, come on, you've got to try to tell us what happened."
"I vanquished a grimlock and I'm in labor," Prue said groggily pushing her hair from her face. Her hand fell to her stomach and she bolted straight up. "My Baby! "Where is my baby?"
"Prue the baby's gone," Phoebe said softly, not realizing her choice of words.
"No!" Prue looked about the room frantic, her first thought being that somehow her child had died. "Oh God NO!"
"No sweetie it's not like that, a demon took her," Phoebe restated, "A Natalie demon"
"What? NO!"
"Prue what are you doing?" Phoebe and Piper tried to hold Prue back, as she tossed the covers over from her lap and slid from the bed. Still weak from childbirth, her knees instantly gave out on her forcing her to rely on Piper and Phoebe for support. The entire room was spinning thanks to Natalie and her memory dust. "This isn't happening," Prue said softly sinking to the floor along with her sisters. "This can't be happening!" All three huddled together sobbing.
Phoebe rested her head on top of Prue's and kissed her hair, "It's okay sweetie, and we'll find her. Even if we have to search heaven and earth we will find her"
South Bay Area Dept. Of Social Services
Midnight
"Good Night, Mr. Cowan!"
"Night Paige, thanks for all of your hard work today"
"He ought to thank me, it's after midnight and on Halloween none the less," Assistant Social Worker, Paige Matthews shivered as she left the office building and walked out into the cold night air. "Whoo, it's chilly" she commented, hugging her arms close to her body. She'd just started down the walkway when a set of chimes caught her attention.
"What is that?" Paige looked to her left, seeing a set of glowing lights coming from over near a bush. The soft sounds of a newborn baby crying caught her attention. "Is that a baby?" Quickly she walked over to the bush, pausing when the lights dimmed. Paige looked down to see a small wicker basket, with a baby nestled in side with swirling white lights dancing all around
"You came to us in a swirling set of lights, from the angels" A voice rang inside Paige's head. The voice was that of Sister Agnes, the nun whom of which Paige had a strong bond. Ever since she'd been left at the church, Sister Agnes had been like a second mother to her.
"Oh my goodness what are you doing out here?" she cooed lifting the child into her arms. Paige looked around, sensing something was nearby. "Who would just leave a baby out here?"
Nearby Natalie stood watching while Paige took the baby inside, "welcome to your new destiny, Amanda". Content that Amanda was safe, she orbed away.
Inside, Paige set the basket on her desk, cradling Amanda with one arm, "hey Ray, look at this! I just found her all alone outside". Ray Cowan frowned. He was never amazed at what people would do; another abandoned child
"Better call the shelter and see if they can take her"
A miffed look came to Paige's face, "the shelter? Mr. Cowan this is a newborn. She couldn't be more than just a couple of hours old."
"I can see that Paige"
Paige's bottom lip turned upward at his tone, "well shouldn't take her to a hospital or something?"
"Does she look sick?" The man observed that the child was dressed and appeared to be well cared.
"No," Paige answered slowly, "but a shelter, it's just seems so-"
Cowan put his hands on his hips, "Paige-"he said warningly. He knew the look on her face. Paige wanted to take the baby home, "This baby doesn't belong to you"
"I know that," Paige said softly, "but you can't get a social worker until tomorrow. It would only be for one night. I promise, I'll bring her back first thing in the morning". Cowan looked at his watch, agitated.
"Do you even know how to take care of a baby?"
"Uh...no, but how hard could it be?"
"I hate it when you let me talk you into these things," Ray grumbled, "Make sure you get a car seat from the storage closet and grab plenty of diapers and formula."
"Thank you," Paige beamed, "I promise you won't regret this"
"You will if you don't have that child back here first thing tomorrow morning"
Manor 6 a.m.
Prue stood over the book, her eyes puffy, red and swollen, "magic forces, black and white, reaching out through..." her voice faltered a little, space and light, bring me back what is right. Be she far, or be she near...Prue's eyes closed, letting crocodile tears fall from her lashes. Bring my daughter here." Nothing happened and Prue swiped at her face with the back of her hand.
"Lost and Found Spell" hastily she flipped the pages in the book, "Guiding spirits I ask your charity, lend me your focus and clarity, lead me to the one I cannot find, restore my heart and my piece of mind." Unconsciously, Prue's body trembled, her bottom lip quivering. "Damn it! Why isn't magic working?" She swallowed hard, pinching the bridge of her nose, "Magic can fix this, I know it can"
"No it can't," Leo said quietly orbing behind her. Prue whirled around; looking at the white lighter through tear filled blurred eyes. "Why?"
"Because Amanda hasn't come into her powers yet," Leo answered.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Prue challenged. Leo swallowed hard, hating to be the bearer of more bad news, "Young witchlings, need to bond with their magical parents before she's technically considered a witch. The Elders don't have her on their radar and I can't sense her."
"We never told them," Prue said sickly speaking below Piper's voice.
"But she has powers we saw that when she made Prue fade and orbed the crossbow into Prue's hands"
That's because at the time, her magic was spiritually connected to Prue's. Now that she's on her own, her powers won't be detectable unless she's threatened. It's sort of a built in protection device to keep magic from being exposed.
Piper's eyes narrowed sharply, "Let me guess something decided upon by the Greater Good?" Nothing further was said until Phoebe entered the room, holding the cordless phone in her hands.
"That's right Darryl, a baby girl. What does she look like?" A huge grin, spread across Phoebe's face, "Uh we don't know exactly, we've never seen her but she has to be cute. She's a Halliwell" A pause lapsed, as Phoebe held the phone away from her ear. "Oh an uh one more thing, she might be invisible"
"WHAT? I CAN'T PUT AN APB OUT FOR AN INVISIBLE BABY!" Darryl's voice echoed through the line.
"This is Prue and Andy's daughter Darryl" Phoebe countered, her voice serious. She hung up the phone. "Did you find Natalie?"
"No" Leo answered, "she's gone off radar into hiding"
"Fat coward, she better hide her ass before we vanquish it" Piper retorted.
"Piper watch what you say" Leo cautioned, "She's still a white lighter"
"Ah, come on Leo. Don't tell me the Elders are going to protect her, after this? She kidnapped an innocent baby for God Sakes!"
"All I'm saying is that we can't afford the consequences of a revenge".
Prue stood near the window, turning her back from the crowd, "do you think Andy will find Natalie?" she asked softly.
Leo blew out a tense sigh, feeling the eyes of Piper and Phoebe upon him, "For his sake and yours I hope not".
Demonic Pub
Andy sat a table along with the Sources dark lighter, drinking a frothing brew, "What is in for me?" the dark lighter questioned when Andy asked for one of his arrows. Andy pushed several gold looking coins in the dark lighter's direction. "May I ask why you want to vanquish a white lighter?"
"It's personal" Andy replied. The dark lighter picked up the coins and stuffed them into his pocket and then set the arrow on the table. "Won't your precious Elders take your soul?"
Andy rose to his feet, taking the arrow into his hands. "They already have"
