A/N: Ohmigod! Have you seen how long it has been since I updated this! I am utterly sorry, this should have been posted before I went away but I'm afraid I only got the first part wrote and then...it all dried up.

But, I do now have a chap for all you lovely people who are still with me. (fingers crossed!)

Here you go...

12. The Light Within The Darkness

Paige felt a hand gently shake her. At first she wanted to slap the offending person away and roll comfortably back into the peaceful state she found herself being more and more pulled from. However the more she tried to resist, the more persistent the person got.

Slowly the youngest Halliwell began to realise she wasn't in her bed and had a blanket wrapped around her. She didn't remember going to bed. The last thing she did remember was walking into Prue's room, sitting down and….getting sleepy.

Paige opened her eyes quickly and sat up, gazing round the room.

"Whoa, easy there Paige." Piper whispered, placing a calming hand on top of her sister.

Paige looked to Piper and then down to the blanket wrapped around her. She gazed back at her sister with a bewildered expression.

"How did you do it?" Piper continued to use the hushed tone she had began with and nodded her head in the direction behind Paige.

The youngest Halliwell turned to try and find what Piper was getting at and then noticed the sleeping form of Prue laying next to her. Also something else caught Paige's eye. The Book of Shadows was closed and laying on the floor next to the bed.

Prue had refused to give up for the past couple of days and finally appeared she had. At that thought, Paige had a two feelings clash inside of her. Part of her was grateful her sister may return to the land of the living and another side questioned whether she had given up on Andy completely.

Paige turned back to Piper, who was gazing at Prue also. Then she smiled at Paige. "She's eaten too." she stated quietly.

"That's good.." the half whitelighter commented, using the same tone. "…but I didn't do anything. I fell asleep."

Piper laughed softly at the sheepish expression Paige used. "Well you did something and thank you."

The younger sister smiled lightly and then turned her gaze back to Prue, who hadn't moved or stirred. Not that I think she would, she thought, considering the lack of sleep her sister had had lately.

"Come on Paige, Leo has something to tell us." Piper announced, returning to the real reason she had woken Paige, who turned back after hearing what Piper had told her.

"Do we wake Prue?"

"No." Piper replied quickly with a shake of her head. "Let her sleep."

They both had final glance at the peaceful form of their oldest sister before silently exiting the room and closing the door soundlessly behind them.

----------

A pink flare of light brightened the darkened room, which held no opportunity for pure light to shine through and deter the shadows. There was only one faintly lit touch lighting one corner by the entrance to the dirty and dingy room.

However the brightness faded into Prue, as she stood in the centre of the room and surveyed her surroundings in bewilderment and somewhat irritation. Her nose crinkled slightly and looked down at herself, wondering how…or why she was there.

The how she answered with a roll of her eyes, knowing she had obviously astral projected, especially as she had the very slight woozy feeling that always seemed to be present when she used that particular power.

That understanding was soon followed by a groan, as memories of her more active astral-self came to the forefront of her overworked mind.

"You have got to be kidding me." she muttered.

Her own voice sounded foreign to her ears and had a noticeable scratch and croak from the few days of not using it. Prue coughed softly hoping that would lessen the strain that had seemed to have developed.

Movement could be heard in the far corner blanked by the shadows and she span in that direction, preparing for any attack.

"Prue?"

The eldest Halliwell froze at the sound of her name, finding the strain in her voice now unbearable.

"If your here to torment me, there's no need. I'm doing an outstanding job by myself." the voice spat, before walking into the dim light.

A tear rolled down Prue's cheek at the sight of him. "Andy."

"What? It's not bad enough you mock me that I can't be with her, that you've now stooped this low." menace edged in his words.

Prue, however, ignored them and ran into his arms, wrapping her own around his neck. Andy automatically laced his around her waist and breathing in her scent, while kicking himself for his early accusations.

"It's you." he barely murmured into her neck.

"It's me." she confirmed, pulling herself even closer and sniffing from the onslaught of tears that wanted out. "I'm so happy to find you."

"I'm happy to be found." Andy laughed softly, as Prue noticed the slight stubble on her skin. She pulled away and looked into his slightly darkened features, watching as a soft grin appeared on his face.

Before Prue knew it, he leant forward and kissed her gently. Naturally she responded, pushing all her questions to the back of her mind and finding herself clinging to him, scared he may disappear.

Finally they pulled apart and both mirrored a beaming smile, although Prue's slowly faded as reality hit her when she once again became aware of their surroundings.

"Your breakfast got cold." she said trying to make it sound as if a joke, however it only came out as a sigh.

Andy felt his heart break at the disappointment in her voice, even though he knew she would never blame him personally. "Prue, I am so sorry. I..I should have.."

"Andy it's not your fault. It's Theirs." she spat.

"I should have stayed."

"What? So They called rip you away like they did to Leo. Eventually Andy, you would have been taken, by choice or not." Prue responded in a determined manner, again something that felt a little abnormal for her lately.

Her words caused Andy to gaze down, knowing that by agreeing to be a Lighter, he had consequently given his soul over to the Elders; one in particular he feared my have stolen his heart.

"Maybe this was Krolan's plan all along, comfort you and then swoop in." his voice had been quiet but that did not diminish the conviction that he supplied.

Prue backed away from him and pulled herself out of his arms, looking at him in disbelieve. "Excuse me?" hurt pouring out of those two words.

"Don't defend him now, not after this!" Andy gestured with his arms around the room he now found his 'home.'

"What about defending myself!" Prue retaliated. "I mean, is that how little you think of me! That I would suddenly fall into another guys arms out of grieve. It took me long enough the first time and I wasn't even dating you!"

"I didn't mean…"

"Don't Andy." Prue warned, before he had a chance to explain. "Don't. I want to explain something to you and you better damn well listen. I. Don't. Love. Krolan. Believe it or not, you're the only guy I ever have…but at the moment your making too hard."

"Krolan loves you though." Andy argued, trying to ignore the sting her last words caused.

"Oh my God." Prue groaned in frustration, while taking a deep breath before she pummelled her childhood sweetheart. "For a start, no he doesn't. Secondly, even if he did, Andy, do you not trust me?"

"Of course I do, but…"

"No! No but. Your not allowed to but. If you claim to trust me, then why don't you do just that…and trust me."

Andy looked down at his shoes and then back up to meet her gaze. "I trust you with all that is mine…but you can't expect me to believe he has the best motives when I'm stuck here…away from you."

The eldest Halliwell edged forward slightly, closing the gap between them. " He wants to get you out. I told him I didn't want him near me and he said he can help."

Andy snorted slightly. O' the gallant hero, he bitterly thought. "And how is that, when his kind put me here."

"Have you considered the fact that They put you in here, maybe one of Them can get you out. If me and my sisters broke you out, They would push us even further away. You might not even have the pleasantries of the torch." she smiled softly, indicating to the only source of comfort in the shabby room.

He smiled back in return, before she continued.

"I don't expect you to trust him, but the least you can do is trust my judgements. I have spent the past few days reading the book cover to cover…and I think Krolan is the only way to get you out of this dump."

Andy moved closer and circled his arms back round her waist. "Why can't you just stay in my dump?"

"Andy, I love you but I also love the shower." she smirked, which grew at his indignant face.

"Are you implying I smell?"

Prue grinned. "Not implying, rather telling."

"Well maybe I don't want you in my dump." Andy smiled, trying to play it seriously.

"You would have me here in a flash and you know it."

"Speaking of which," Andy grinned. "You got here, how?"

"I believe my astral self has finally found a productive way to get my life back on track." Prue nodded her head once she had finished.

"We still have a lot of catching up to do, don't we?" he asked, puzzled by her statement.

"Once your back…and showered, we will have all the time in the world."

Andy nodded and then leaned forward with a soft peak. "So, you will work on my escape, while I'll continue to use the spoon the guy before me left in the corner."

Prue laughed. "We will get you out, promise."

"And Krolan…."

Prue groaned again.

"Hear me out…" Andy responded to her actions. "Please be careful."

"Andy, you have nothing to worry about. I can take care of myself and Krolan is only wanting to help."

"Hey, if he gets me out, I will be the first to shake his hand…but I just want you to be careful. Your going up against Them, which their not going to appreciate." Andy gently argued.

Prue smiled softly. "I don't appreciate Them stealing and locking you away. They've had this coming and it's about time we knocked them down a peg or two."

"Like I said, be careful." he reiterated.

"As long you are too." she beamed, pulling him close for another kiss.

Pulling away, Andy brought himself closer to her and rested his chin on top of her hear. "I don't want you to go."

"I don't want to leave either but…"

"I thought you said were not allowed buts." Andy teased.

"No, I said your not." she laughed, before finding his lips back on hers. It was then she felt a tug and cursed all of magic for having really bad timing.

Andy felt her tense and instead of breaking their moment, he concentrated on Prue's thoughts, knowing the reason behind her sudden action.

I love you, he projected into her mind, again feeling her tense.

What? he heard reply in shock of his actions, before he noticed her slowly fading and finally heard I love you…

The rest however was cut off, as Prue disappeared along with the pink flash of light.

Andy opened his eyes and sighed heavily at the now increasingly darkened room.

"So Andrew has a girlfriend." a sing-song voice mocked, from within the shadows. "..and Prue Halliwell, no less." they continued, not hiding the admiration lacing their words.

Andy's hands balled into fists at his sides. "Shut it Bane, before you have no teeth left."

---------

"Your telling me the Elders set this whole thing up?" Phoebe questioned her brother-in-law once he had finished explaining his conversation with Krolan.

"That's what he told me." Leo nodded.

"Okay, you all know, I'm all for Elder bashing.." Piper began. "..but would They really go that far. I mean are you sure it's not Krolan, you know, pushing the blame?"

"I was kinda wondering that too." Paige agreed before continuing. "..but what would he gain. He must know Prue would never trust another Elder. Also it was only like the two flirted."

At her words, Paige watched Piper's gaze drop. "Piper?"

Her older sister looked up and sighed heavily, feeling the increasing strain of a headache. "They kissed…a couple of times…but it was all over before we even knew Andy was back." she rushed out her explaination.

"Okay, I'm going to forget that we have just been informed of this.." Phoebe spat and turned to Leo. "Is Krolan the jealous type?"

"Come on guys, if he really cared for Prue, do you really think he would want to see her suffer?" Leo asked, trying to defend his friend, although he was condemning his bosses.

"So you believe him?" a quiet voice floated into the room.

All eyes turned to Prue, who still looked tired but had a small spark back within her own eyes.

"Prue.I..uh.." Leo spattered at being caught of guard.

"I need him down here." Prue continued, ignoring the whitelighters incoherent ramblings.

"Prue, are you okay?" Piper questioned, standing up to go to her sister's side.

The eldest sister nodded. "I'm getting Andy back."

A/N: There you go. I know it's a complete disappointment...but I tried. :o)

Danielle; Thanks for the review, glad you like my little thing. About how long until it is finished, I'm really not sure. I'm hoping it'll be just as long as Fight the Good Fight and after thatI have an idea for the follow up but whether I get done is another matter.Anyway, thanks for the review again and I'll try harder to get more updates going.

Thanks to all my lovely reviewers, hope you all don't hate me too much.

:o)