A/N: Hey, so I'm updating quickly as Ikinda feel guilty for leaving you hanging on the last chap.

Also thanks for the congrates on my job. I'm a little nervous but I'll get over it.

Anyway, that's not why your reading, so here you go. I'm a little self conscious about this one, because I'm not sure how it'll go down with you guys. But tell me what you think.

18. Snakes and Ladders.

Paige walked in through the front door and was greeted with the sound of shouting. What surprised her though was that it was Phoebe doing most of the yelling.

"Why speak to her like that?"

Paige heard her sister yell, then a gruff response floated through the air as she made her way to the dining room.

"I'm her father."

Yeah, try telling Prue that, Paige thought, biting down on her lip as not to say it out loud. At times she never understood the obnoxious and hypocritical ways of Victor Bennett. And when he upset her sisters, he irritated her even more.

Walking back to the room, she noticed both Darryl and Leo had disappeared at some point. Piper looked up and her face was the picture of worry. If the situation was different, Paige would have laughed.

"Where is she?" Piper couldn't even mask the worry in her voice.

"She…uh…left." Paige answered, sending Victor an unnoticed glare.

"That's great! Thanks Dad!" Phoebe spat, not hiding the disgust and anger from the word Dad.

At that moment, Leo and Darryl both came back from the kitchen. Leo immediately went to Piper's side, to try and calm her down.

"I'm going to go." Darryl announced, "Call me. Let me know what's happening."

"Okay, thanks Darryl." Paige replied, offering a small smile to the Inspector, which was returned, as he left.

"Did she say where she was going?" Piper questioned.

"No but I think she's gone to the lake."

Victor looked up at the mention of the lake. He had known that his ex-wife had died at a lake and assumed that was the one they were talking about. Why would Prue go there...of all places? he thought. He looked at Piper and Phoebes' faces and noticed that neither looked surprised.

"Guys…" Paige continued, ignoring Victor's puzzled expression. "..I'm kind of worried. She left rather fast."

"Is she always this irresponsible?" Victor muttered, but with the silent room, it was as if he had shouted it.

Piper stood from her chair and glared at her father. "Don't. You. Dare." she spoke with venom dripping with ever word. Victor looked taken back by the tone. "Don't you even dare. Prue is more responsible than you will ever be."

"So taking you to this battle is responsible?" he replied, choosing to take no notice of the meaning behind his daughter's words.

"She didn't want to take us. We told her too." Phoebe answered, wanting to defend her oldest sister. "She was prepared to go at it alone but we weren't prepared to let her."

Paige wanted to stand up for Prue also, but found that her other two sisters had more right to yell at their dad. Although she knew if Victor was to go too far, she was more than likely to snap, which would result in telling him what she really thought. At the moment she bit down on her lip, to suppress the urge and just observed the situation.

"Before you start talking about responsibility, Dad…" Piper spoke icily. "…maybe you should have a good look in the mirror. When you left, Prue was there to pick up your slack. When Mum died, Prue was there for us and again when Grams passed. She found Paige and brought her home, to be with her family. She has protected us and kept us safe more than you ever did…or could. You have no right to blame her for something that is completely out of all of our hands, especially with your past."

The words alone hit Victor where it hurt. He was left speechless as Piper turned her back on him and left the room, Leo followed close behind.

The whitelighter was surprised by the outburst. Although understanding the cause, he knew Piper had never been one for talking back to people. She also made excuses for Victor and his lack of parental involvement. That's why he was astonished at her speech.

Phoebe was also a little shocked. However she knew why Piper had reacted the way she had. What their dad had said, would now reaffirm Prue's believe that she is responsible for anything that could happen or does happen. Increasing the huge guilt complex her sister already had.

She turned to her father and sighed, "I think you should leave."

Phoebe moved passed Paige and went to find Piper, to make sure she was okay.

From the original seven people, only two remained. Silence enveloped the room, as Paige finally found her chance to speak. She turned to the weakened man, and spoke as calmly as she could, "I believe you know the way out."

All Victor could do was watch her walk out of the room, leaving him alone to realise the cold hard truth of what he had just done.

----------

Prue was sat on the front of her car, staring out at the eeriely calm lake. Silent tears ran down her face as memories ran through her mind. Ones of her sisters, her Mum, Andy, Grams….and her Dad. Her family.

Questions began to take over her thoughts, as the memories slowly faded to the back of mind. She contemplated her father's words. Condemning and death, screamed at her more than any of the others.

The one question that began to repeat in her mind, gradually getting louder was; Why didn't he care I was going?

"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.

They stared at each other for a brief moment, before Prue turned her attention back to the lake.

"Why are you here?" she asked. "Not that I'm complaining." Prue added, not wanting to offend him.

Krolan's gaze also fell on the water. "Came to help with a plan. Couldn't sense you at the Manor….but a lot of anger. I'm assuming that's why you're here."

"Yeah, something like that."

The vague answer caused the Elder to look towards her. "You want to tell me?"

He's response also caused Prue to meet his gaze. After a fleeting moment, Prue returned to slightly rippling lake. "We…uh…told our dad, encase something was to happen."

"And he didn't like it." Krolan interpreted.

Prue laughed bitterly, running a hand through her hair. "Understatement." she paused, wondering if she should tell him, "He told me that I was condemning my sisters to death."

"He did?" he asked in disbelieve.

"Yep, I'm signing their death certificates…..It's actually quite funny, because at the moment the thing bothering me the most is, he didn't care who was signing mine."

"I care." Krolan replied quietly as he looked away, slightly embarrassed he had said it out loud.

Prue watched him for a short time, letting silence take it's place between them, while she contemplated what she had heard. She noticed the slight blush to his face and decided she would safe him from the awkwardness he felt.

"Do you know the story with my Dad?"

It took him a while to meet her gaze, as he was aware she had heard his comment. "Not really, I know he left and has only recently came back."

"That's basically it." Prue replied. For a short time silence fell again, until Prue broke it.

"I'm going to tell you something but you can't laugh." she stated pointing a finger at him. Krolan grinned and went to grab for it, but she pulled away quicker. "Ah uh, promise." she grinned back, pointing again.

Krolan tried again, this time he was more successful in catching her finger. "I promise."

Prue noticed he never let go, instead rested his hand on his knee. "Okay," she sighed, "My relationship with my Dad is like a game of…Snakes and Ladders." she watched as a grin spread on his face, "You promised." she smiled back, trying to free her finger from his hand.

"I'm not." he replied, keeping hold as she tried to pull away.

"Your going to."

"I promised. Now explain."

Prue glared playfully at him before continuing, "Fine…so, Snakes and Ladders…" she noticed the grin appear on his face yet again, but chose to ignore it. "..he slowly makes his way up the ladders and then he lands on a snake, which means he has to start all over again….I'm sick of always watching him slide down the snakes."

She looked at Krolan and observed that the grin had now softened to a gentle smile.

"Maybe it's time you stopped watching. The snakes get longer when your looking out for them." he replied.

Prue smiled as he used her analogy. "Are you saying if I keep my distance, he'll climb the ladder."

Krolan grinned, aware that this was probably one of the strangest conversations he had ever had. "Yeah, something like that."

"I could be waiting a while." she sighed.

"He'll get there. Have faith."

Prue smiled softly, then glanced back to the water. "Is it fair that I might not be able to forgive him, for today I mean."

Krolan gentle placed his free hand under her chin, making her face him. "That's entirely up to you, but at least let him move up the board." he replied his hand never leaving her face.

"Thank you." the eldest Charmed One responded, gratefully.

"No problem." he smiled, letting his hand fall, but had no intention to release her finger yet. "So, what game are we playing?" the Elder asked to lighten the mood.

Prue looked thoughtful for a moment, pondering the question carefully. "Cluedo." she answered.

"Murder?"

She laughed at his puzzled face. "No, more like, I'm trying to figure you out."

They stared at each other for a short time, as the familiar silence appeared again between them. Not uncomfortable but just an awareness that it was present.

"How long have you been gone?" Krolan finally asked.

Prue shrugged, "Not sure really, a while I guess."

"You want to go back?" he questioned, hoping she didn't. He liked this; sitting and talking with Prue. It made him feel somewhat….human.

"No, I'm okay. They know I can take care of myself." the witch replied, not noticing the Elder inner grin. "Anyway, they'll be more worried about convincing me that what he said, was untrue."

"Do you believe it is?" he asked, rather surprised at the melancholy and irony used in her statement. He watched as she sat in a thoughtful manner for a minute or two.

"A little. I mean I'm taking them to face the Source. I'm supposed to protect them and keep them safe, not hand them over."

"Your not. They wouldn't let you go alone, Prue. I was there, they chose to go with you, not hide away. You're the Charmed Ones, your stronger together."

Prue scoffed in response. "Yeah, until one, if not all of us, die." she replied rather harshly.

"Who says any of you will. You don't know that and your Dad certainly doesn't. So stop acting like they've already won." Krolan replied, matching the harshness she had used.

The silence came again, as Prue stared at his hand, which still gripped her finger. Krolan, however, watched her intently, scared he may have upset her. Instead of speaking though, he remained quite, no matter how much the silence was killing him.

Eventually she looked up, smiling. The Elder, nevertheless noticed unshed tears in her eyes, which completely contradicted the smile. "I think when this is all done, I'm going to go to Disneyland."

Krolan laughed, "That's more like it." although he was slightly aware it may never happen.

He watched her longingly, as Prue once again turned to the murky water that she seemed to be fascinated with.

To Prue though, it was the catalyst that had dramatically altered her life long ago. What did fascinate her though, was the power it still held over her. Even though it appeared peaceful, with the minor ripples covering the surface, she still felt threatened by it's calmness.

"I think it's time I went back." she announced finally, turning to face Krolan.

"You sure?" he asked, trying to hide his disappointment under his concern.

"Yeah, I've probably given Piper ten years worth of stress she could do with out." Prue laughed softly, aware of the amount of distress things caused her little sister, no matter how trivial they are. "Do you wanna go in the car or your own, special way?"

Krolan grinned. "I'll take the car. My way kind of takes the fun out of things."

Prue laughed, noticing Krolan finally letting go off her finger. She suddenly lent over to him and hugged him. "Thank you." she whispered.

Krolan was surprised at the action, nevertheless he cherished the moment. "No problem." he whispered back, not really wanting to let her go.

She pulled away and smiled at him, then slid off the car and turned back to the Elder, who was still a little surprised. Prue grabbed his hand and gave it a pull.

"Come on. I can't drive with you on the car."

Krolan laughed, then slid off the vehicle as well. "Can I drive?"

"No, you have no license." Prue responded, amused at his request.

"I'm an Elder." he protested.

"Still no license."

"And I thought my way took the fun out of things." he mumbled, as they both climbed into the car.

Prue glared playfully after hearing his comment. "To think, I was going to invite you to Disneyland."

She drove away, while Krolan pleaded his innocence.

A/N: Warning! Do not drive with someone on your car. I did it to my brother and he was not impressed when he fell off. Bareing in mind he did try to jump off and failed, so I still blame him, lol.

Thanks for allthe reviews, I'm glad you all seem to like it. Also welcome to all the newbies, hope you stick around and I enjoy reading all of your reviews.

So there you go, what ya think?

Press the little button below. I dare ya.