A/N: Hello all.
I'm a bit bored at the moment; lots of rain and work...always the way, ain't it?
Anyway, that's not why your here...
9. Believe
"They what?" Paige shrieked, anger storming in her eyes.
Leo recoiled slightly at the tone. "I'm sorry, Prue." he replied instead, as the eldest Halliwell sat completely still, feeling as though she had just been punched in the stomach.
"Why?" Piper asked.
"They wouldn't tell me the reason, only told me to inform you all that Andy won't be returning." the whitelighter answered sombrely, hating being the messenger.
"We have just busted our asses for Them and They go and do something like this!" Phoebe raged.
"What do we do now?" Piper questioned the group, not planning on giving up on getting Andy back yet but not having many ideas herself.
"I say we do what you did." Paige responded. "We strike."
"I agree." Phoebe added.
"No we don't…" Prue finally spoke up, having formed her own plan. "..First I need answers." she stated and stood from her seat, heading for the front door.
The three younger Halliwells and Leo shared a look before following her.
"Uh, Prue, where are you going? To get answers, we need to go Up There." Phoebe questioned her eldest sister, not seeing the logic.
"No, we don't because They are likely to just send us away. I have something else in mind." Prue replied, while grabbing a jacket and her keys.
Paige raised an eyebrow. "Do you mind sharing?"
"You guys, try calling him or something…although They've probably already thought of that." Prue spoke the last part more to herself and glanced at Leo, who barely nodded, letting her know she was right.
"Where are you going?" Piper repeated the question, which was asked earlier.
"To get answers, I'll be back as soon as possible." the raven haired witch replied, shutting the door behind her.
"Why is that girl so cryptic." Paige vented to the closed front door, causing both Phoebe and Piper to smirk slightly.
Phoebe glanced between Leo and Piper, then finally gripped Paige's hand. "Come on, sweetie, we'll see what we can find in the book."
"What, like a spell to trap Andy in this house for all eternity?" the youngest Halliwell spat sarcastically.
Phoebe shot her a look and then tried to subtly indicate to Piper and Leo, who needed to work some of their own problems out. Paige, however, gave away her faint attempt, as she turned to look at her sister and her brother-in-law quickly.
"Oh.." she stated in realisation. "…right, yeah, the book. Let's go Pheebs?"
Phoebe gave her baby sister a glare for her total lack of reserve to the subject, before she found herself being dragged up the stairs by a very eager Paige.
"Maybe we can find a spell to cover the Elder's in chicken pox…or boils, there nasty." the youngest was rambling.
----------
Piper and Leo watched the two younger Halliwells leave them alone. Both glanced at the other for a split second, then looked away again.
"So…um…" Leo began. "..do you think Prue will be okay?"
Piper finally gazed up at him. "I don't really know, she barely got through the first time she lost him…" she couldn't imagine what she would do if the Elder's suddenly decided to take Leo from her once more. "..I would have liked to know where she was going though."
"I can, you know, go find her…if you wanted." he offered.
"No, it's okay. That'll probably piss her off even more." Piper smiled pleasantly. "..but thanks for the offer."
Silence filled the air between them, as they just looked at each other.
"So, do you want something to drink? I've got iced tea in the fridge." she asked him. "We could talk."
"Yeah, I think we should." Leo smiled, following his wife into the kitchen.
Piper pulled the jug out of the fridge and poured two glasses out, while he took a seat at the kitchen table.
"Are you still mad?" she asked rather timidly.
"I've calmed down from earlier but I still can't believe you and Prue were that stupid." Leo replied, as Piper placed his glass in front of him.
"I'd believe it." Piper smiled a little. "It's kinda a Halliwell thing. Act now, think later."
"Well it could have got you and the baby killed." he shot back, not really finding her comment funny.
"Yeah, well it got someone else killed instead." she muttered, which caused Leo to go quiet. However she did detect a very slight bitter sigh escape his lips.
"Leo, why do think Prue came after the Source when he had hold of me? It wasn't just because of me…it was this little thing in here." Piper continued, indicating to the small bump of her stomach. "..she told me before the battle, that I shouldn't go because of the guilt she would feel of not demanding I stayed. Now, because of my own pig-headedness, I still went…thinking of the guilt I would feel if I didn't go and if something was to happen…and in the long run, I got my sister killed because I didn't listen.."
Leo gazed at Piper, watching as a tear slipped down her face.
"…I knew the risks of myself going, I didn't consider the risk of anyone else. It was my stupid decision, not Prue's. She stuck by me because she knew if she didn't, I'd be on my own. I wouldn't have listened to her and I wouldn't have told anyone else." she finished.
"But you both should have done." Leo responded.
"In hindsight, yes….but when your this protective of a family, Leo, sight goes out the window." Piper smiled softly.
"I want to be that protective of you and our baby…I just don't want you taking unnecessary risks and I don't want your sisters covering for you." the whitelighter replied, showing the determination in his voice.
"I want to be protected by you Leo…but I needed to be there and you wouldn't have let me."
"No kidding, Piper." he sent back with a small smirk.
"Okay, I am sorry. I will never do it again, without you there to keep me safe." she smiled.
Leo took her hand and pulled her to him, letting her sit on his lap. "I want you to keep that baby of ours safe. Your not keeping me in the dark anymore, I'm taking over Prue's nagging and worrying and we're going to do this together. Okay?"
"Okay." Piper beamed, giving his lips a quick peck.
"Okay." he mirrored the expression. "..and don't think your of the hook. I'm still annoyed, I've just realised though that we kinda need to stick together. The whole family."
"For Prue, you mean?" Piper asked.
"That is one thing. Something's going on Up There…and Their not willing to share." Leo answered.
"So would I then have your permission to kick some Elder ass?"
The whitelighter grinned. "We'll see what They throw at us first? They still have power over me too, remember."
"I'm not letting you go." Piper responded quickly and full of strength.
"I don't plan on going. I'm going to be here for you and our little Wyatt."
"Excuse me, Wyatt? Don't you mean Halliwell?" she shot back.
"Compromise." Leo stated with a smile. "How about Halliwell-Wyatt?"
"I love it." Piper beamed, finally kissing her husband. "Little Halliwell-Wyatt."
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"Krolan!" Prue called, as she stood at the lake. However this time she wasn't watching the cool and eerie water, she was looking up at the sky. "Krolan! You get your Elder ass down here now!" she yelled.
Prue was grateful the camp was closed, otherwise she would have some major explaining to do. She chose the lake, rather than the manor, because she didn't want her sisters to interfere. Added to the fact that the lake was the first place she met Krolan outside of the manor, she thought it would be a logical meeting ground.
"Krolan!" she called again.
A light appeared and began to materialize into the surprised Elder, who was once more, not in his Elder robes, throwing Prue of slightly as she remembered the first time they met here.
---
"Hey." somebody said behind her.
Prue automatically wiped her face before turning to face the person. A small smile spread on her face as she saw who it was.
"Hey." she replied, then tilted her head in puzzlement. "Where's your white gown thing, you Elders like to wear?"
Krolan walked round the front of the car and sat down next to her. He was dressed in plan jeans and a white t-shirt, showing the surprisingly toned body, he kept hiding. To Prue he looked even less of an Elder, making her attraction grow. This is getting very complicated, she told herself.
"Less conspicuous down here….plus it's more comfortable." he replied with a smile, which was returned.
---
"Prue, why-"
His voice brought Prue crashing back down and she advanced towards him, cutting him of from completing his sentence.
"You asshole!" she shouted. "You complete and utter asshole!" Prue swung her hand round, which collided with his face with a crack.
Krolan looked at her with wide eyes, while he touched his stinging cheek. "What the hell have I done?"
"Oh don't pretend. The least you could do, is not deny it." Prue sneered back, although a part of her wanted to ask if his face was okay, noticing the red welt that began to appear.
"Prue, I have no clue of what you are talking about." he responded, bewildered by the whole thing.
"Don't lie Krolan! Don't lie to me!" she yelled, moving forward and pushing on his chest, causing the Elder to stumble back.
"Honestly, Prue-"
He was cut off again, as Prue pushed him harder realising a small amount of telekinetic energy. Krolan felt himself lift from the ground and sail through the air, finally hitting the ground with a bang to his head.
Prue worried for a brief moment as he never moved. However when she saw him lean onto his arm and push himself up, the worry once again turned to anger.
"Was this some twisted game to kick me in the teeth 'cause I told you it would never work between us?" she moved towards him, with anger burning throughout her body.
Krolan was now standing, although still a little wobbly from his first flying experience. "I haven't done-" the Elder never finished his argument and disappeared quickly, as Prue drew back her arm, ready to throw him again.
"That's right, run you coward!" Prue screamed. "You come and destroy my life…my world!…"
Prue next found herself with her arms being held behind her back tightly.
"I would never run from you when your like this." Krolan spoke with concern in his voice. "..but it's hard to help you if you won't even talk to me."
"Let go off me! I don't want you anywhere near me." Prue sneered, struggling to break free.
"Prue, please." he begged.
The eldest Charmed One had had enough and placed her leg inside of his. Before Krolan realised what she was about to do, he found himself lying on his back with the wind knocked out of him.
"You stay away from me and my family." Prue warned, as she climbed back into her car. She wiped the tear from her cheek and started the engine.
Krolan watched her for a moment, then breathed in heavily and disappeared again.
Prue went to pull away but stomped on the brake when Krolan stood in front of the vehicle. "Move!" she shouted.
"No! Not until you tell me what I have done." the Elder replied determinedly.
"Do you want me to throw you into that lake?" Prue threatened.
Krolan just stared at her, not budging.
When he stayed like that for a while, Prue jumped out of the car and moved to him. "I'll throw you in there, Krolan. Just get out of the way and out of my life."
"Fine, once you tell me what I have done." Krolan shot back.
"You stole Andy from me!" she suddenly yelled.
Krolan's mouth opened slightly, staring at her in shock. "Prue, I did no such thing."
"Yeah sure. What was it? You didn't want me to be happy?" Prue shot back with a glare full of spite.
"Prue, I swear, I didn't. I wouldn't do that." he defended himself.
"Well I've told you now, so you can get the hell out of my life." she spat.
Krolan watched as she climbed back into her car. He ran to the door and pulled it open, keeping her from moving.
"I didn't do it Prue. You may not believe it, but it's true. You asked me why things were given, only to be taken away again. I answered that I didn't know. Well, I want to know, but I need you to believe in me. The sooner you realise that, the sooner I can find Andy and bring him back."
With that Krolan disappeared from sight, leaving Prue alone at the lake. She dragged her eyes from where the Elder had been earlier and rested her arms on top of the steering wheel, lying her head on top of them. Prue let her tears flow down her face.
She didn't know what to believe. Was Krolan as genuine as she had always thought he was?
All she did know was that she wanted Andy back.
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews. They're VERY COOL and those who send them; major kuddos to you all.
I've never actually used the words kuddos before. I don't know if I like it, lol.
Anyway, thank you!
(thumbs up and big grin)
Sorry, I'm kinda hyped on caffine!