A/N: Wow thanks for the awesome reviews for the last chapter. I haven't gotten that many in a long time. Not to worry, Natalie will get what is coming to her Yes Pinky, Natalie is an Elder in training that is why she was made Prue's assistant. Prince Halliwell: You are correct in your assumption about the Source and his plans for Alyeia.
Eternally Charmed: Eavesdropping Empath
Prue paced anxiously beside her bed until she saw Andy's eyelids begin to flutter revealing small slits of blue. Despite the fact that both Natalie and Leo had laid their healing hands upon him, Andy had yet to awake. Dealing with Mandela had left him drained once before as it had before and like before her vanquish had made his powers weak.
"Prue?"
"Hey I was beginning to believe that I was married to Rumplestiltskin " Prue edged to the side of the bed and dropped her hand into his short spiky hair. Tenderly she tried to kiss his slack lips, receiving an electrical burst of energy from Alyeia.
"Hey ow!" Prue pressed two fingers to her lips and looked down at her bulging stomach. "I thought we were on the same side here!"
"She and Austin saved my life" Andy replied with a tired expression.
"Mmm…didn't I have something to do with it too?" Prue grinned impishly before turning her face serious, "Andy, I am so sorry I had no idea until you used Austin to call out to me"
"It's okay, Mandela's gone now" Andy reached up cradling Prue's cheek with his palm. "The Source destroyed her"
"That's what Natalie said"
"Natalie?" Andy dropped his hand back down to his side. He didn't remember her being around nor did he remember calling for her.
"She's the one who brought you back from the underworld".
Andy shook his head, dismayed. "I can't remember a thing, the Source hit me with some sort of energy bolt. I was surprised he didn't kill you"
"He must want you to live for Alyeia so that you can guide her powers"
"Well now I can't very well do that if we're going to give her up to the Elders for dissection now can I?" Andy looked at her with a you've been caught in the act expression. He and Mandela had overheard Prue talking about it with her sisters while Mandela had been moving him about the house in their invisible form.
Prue turned her head and tucked a strand of hair behind one ear. "Ewe, yeah about that" she began sheepishly. "Andy you know that I would never want to hurt you"
"You could have at least told me about it before you went off and made plans!" Andy pushed himself up onto his elbows as Prue rose from the bed. "It's not like we're talking about a used car Prue, this is my child!"
"Don't you think I know that"? Prue choked whirling around to reveal that her eyes were fill with tears. "This child is now growing inside of me and it isn't even mine! Don't you see, I feel her every moment, her every emotion, her hatred towards me! It is strong Andy that sometimes she won't even let me near Ally or Amanda" For some reason Austin seemed to be the exception. Tears started to dribble down her cheeks as Andy tossed back the covers and pulled himself from the bed.
"Oh Prue" Naturally he gathered her into his arms, dropping a kiss on her forehead. He let her cry for a few minutes and then gently cupped her face into his hands. "And you have to know that I would give anything for you not to have go through this but everything happens for a reason and Alyeia is an innocent" Like Melinda said, Prue was meant to bare the children of the mortal tracer. Andy released her face and pointed a finger into her chest. "An innocent you have to protect" He knew that although their intentions would be good. "The Elders can't offer Ayleia any more protection from the Source than we can. All the Elders can do would be to bind her powers and mask her identity. They would then give her to some unsuspecting chosen moral couple to raise as their own." This if they didn't vanquish her first.
"Would that be so bad?" Prue challenged mentally. It had all worked out fine for Paige in the long run so why not Ayleia too? "You love her don't you?"
"Of course, I do Prue she's my daughter!" It was his job to protect her. "We can make her good, Prue. I know we can but I need you on my side"
At the moment, that was all Prue needed to hear to know that they were going to fight for Alyeia. Sighing, Prue pushed a hand through hair and held in place for moment. "I'm always on your side, Andy. I just need to take this one day at a time". Prue then pressed to her tiptoes, kissing his cheekand headed for the door.
"Prue, I love you"
"I love you too" Prue tossed a half-smile from the doorway before opening the door to find Phoebe on the other side.
"Eavesdropping, Pheebs?"
"Who me?" Phoebe braced herself in the door jam, "Who needs to eavesdrop when you're an empath?"
Giggling slightly, Prue bit her bottom lip, "C'mon Phoebe spill it. I can tell by the look on your face that you have something to say"
"Uh…okay, your right I do" Phoebe hesitated for a moment as if she were gathering courage to say something big. "I was wondering how you and Andy would feel about Cole and I raising Alyeia?" Phoebe watched Prue's jaw drop open in shock.
"WHAT?" Prue slammed the bedroom door shut as to not involve Andy in the conversation. "Absolutely not!"
"Why?" Phoebe pleaded, "Andy would still be her father, but Cole could teach her so much about fighting her dark powers. The two of them working together could turn her good"
Prue shuffled herself down the hallway towards the bathroom, while Phoebe continued to babble. "It's the perfect idea Prue-
"I don't think so. This is the future demonic high priestess we're talking about here, not an angel like Austin"
"I know that" Phoebe argued, but think about Prue, "there are six angelic guardian roles to be filled, so that means either Paige or I have to give birth to an angel in order for the spots to be filled. Alyeia's some sort of see'r a like Austin Prue, I feel it"
"She's also conjurer" Prue reminded.
Prue stepped into the bathroom, preparing to use to commode with Phoebe trailing right behind her like a little dog nipping at her heels. "Phoebe do you mind? I need to pee!" Prue shut the door, leaving Phoebe on the opposite side.
"But I could guide her mind based powers"
"You can also guide butt away from the door!" Prue grumbled wanting a moment of peace. Phoebe waited impatiently listening to flush. She was still standing at the door when Prue came out of the bathroom.
"Don't you and Cole want to have children of you own?" Prue tossed out before heading for the stairs.
Phoebe remained at her side, keeping pace with the waddling witch. "Of course we do, it's just with the witch sterility law, it's making it kind of difficult, plus Cole and I kind of promised the Elders we wouldn't" Not having an half-demonic children was Phoebe's only way of getting the Elder's to agree to her marriage to Cole.
"And you and Cole think you can get around all that by taking demon baby off our hands?"
"Please Prue, I know I don't have the right to ask, but it would really mean a lot to me and Cole"
Prue placed her handon Phoebe's shoulder and smiled, "As much as I'd love to say yes. I can't make that decision. You'll have to ask Andy"
