A/N: Hey guys, sorry bout the delay but I have managed to write this up. Now it's quite long...well for me anyway but here you go.

Hope you like.

24. Attack Of Demons.

Patty appeared in the afterlife, still shell-shocked by the revelation from her eldest daughter. She was intent on looking for one person, who hopefully would have answers.

Many emotions were trying to escape through Patty's collected exterior,but she remained composed, as she glanced around her surroundings intensely.

It was then she spotted her mother, eagerly talking to another ancestor. However as Penny Halliwell noticed her daughter,she soon made her excuses to leave. She moved towards a less crowded area, worry evident on her face, as Patty also went over to join her.

"Patty, dear, how is Prue? Is she okay? The Elder's know of your visit, although they still believe we shouldn't have intervened." Penny explained, with a hint of spite towards the end of her sentence.

"Did you know?" was Patty's reply, only now showing the anger she had felt simmer within her.

"Did I know what? Patricia." Penny answered defensively, not liking the tone her daughter used when speaking to her.

"Did you know Prue was at the lake the day I died?" Patty questioned with the same tone as before.

"Of course I did, dear. You took her, if you remember rightly." Penny was bewildered by the unusual behaviour of Patty, who was never known for her anger.

Patty in response breathed out heavily in irritation. "Did you know what Prue saw that day?" she asked calmly, trying to keep from screaming.

The Halliwell matriarch grew quiet, aware of what her daughter was now referring to. The action, however, was as clear as glass to Patty, reading her mother's silence as a yes.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she seethed.

"I couldn't, you had to adjust and every time I summoned you, you spoke of how much you missed the girls. I didn't want to hurt you even more." Penny reasoned gently. "Prue managed to pull through, she's stronger for it."

"But she didn't, Mother. She buried her feelings…like the rest of her problems since." Patty sighed.

Penny remained quiet, wondering how she could not have seen that Prue was keeping her feelings hidden. That day had changed her granddaughter, which it would anybody but apparently more than she had imagined. Prue had placed a brave face on the situation and regularly told Penny that she was fine. A word that is now automatically said, whether true or not.

"Eight.." Patty whispered, bringing her mother out of her thoughts. "She was eight, mum. I destroyed my little girl when she was eight."

"That is not true, you hear me. Prue is far from destroyed. She is a Halliwell and that girl has so much strength you should be amazed. Over twenty years it has taken her to finally let it out and now that she has, she can grow from it."

Patty was silent, she still felt as if she had let Prue down as mother, as a protector.

Penny sensed her daughter's feelings. She had had similar ones when Patty had died, in response the elder Halliwell continued, "The strength Prue has.." she spoke, causing Patty to look up, "..she gets from you. Everything she does, she does it to make you proud. Nobody else's opinion matters, only yours and now her sisters'."

Patty now contemplated her mother's words, before replying, "She looked so tired and defeated. She might have strength but at the moment, all she feels is that she's alone and falling."

"She won't be for long, dear." Penny responded, adding a smile at the prospect of what was to come.

Patty covered her face with her hands, releasing another heavy sigh. "Oh God, I left Piper alone to deal with this. I'll have to go back." she stated determinedly.

"You can't, Patty." Penny replied sombrely. "The Elders won't allow it."

"Why?" Patty asked. Today was not the day she wanted to play by the rules.

"They don't agree that we intervened and you are more than likely to be sent back here even before you reach the girls."

"We've done it before, we just did in fact." Patty replied, wanting to see her daughter.

"Patty, we can't risk it at this time. I would love to send you back but other things will be at stake if we interfere again." Penny reasoned, knowing the Elders could be spiteful when they felt inclined.

"But.."

"Patty," her mother warned, to which her daughter sighed in defeat. "If anyone can talk to Prue, it's Piper." Penny continued, with a smile towards Patty.

----------

Piper was stood in front of the bathroom mirror, splashing cold water on her face. The cool sensation did little to ease what she felt inside. She had managed to control herself enough not to barge into Prue's room for just under an hour, which was slowly driving her insane.

However for a short time, Piper had found herself unable to move from the attic floor. She had been hoping that time would reverse and she could have refrained from listening to the conversation between Prue and their mother. Although she then berated herself for being such a coward.

Leo had soon found her in the attic. Slowly and at times inaudibly Piper had explained to her husband what had happened and he in turn calmed her to the point where she was only sniffing. Leo then left at his wife's request, to insure Patty was okay.

Now Piper stared at her reflection, wondering how her sister had managed to cope, for just over twenty years, with the image. Why didn't she tell us? she thought. It wouldn't have been nice to hear but at least Prue wouldn't have felt so alone.

Why is this family full of secrets? was Piper's next thought and immediately felt hypocritical, as she instinctively placed a hand on her stomach. Some secrets are needed, to protect those close, she answered. They were always the type of secrets that plagued this family. Only they didn't manage to stay secret for as long as the person intended.

She glanced down at her watch for possibly the millionth time and let out a long and painful breath. She never actually registered the time, only that she felt she couldn't stand there any longer.

Piper turned from the mirror and left the bathroom quietly. She moved down the hall as dread built up inside of her,but she pushed it a side, knowing Prue would have been there for her and so she wanted to be there in return.

She knocked gently on her older sister's door and in response she heard the lock go. Piper only prayed it was unlocked and Prue hadn't decided to hide away. Carefully she tried the handle and sighed in relieve as the door opened a fraction. She pushed the door further open, to find Prue laid on her bed, staring up at the ceiling.

Silently she closed the door behind her, then moved towards the bed. At first look, people would have thought Prue was asleep, with the comfortable breathing and the calm appearance. However Piper knew this more of Prue's very deep thinking action.

As a result, the younger sister lightly laid down next to Prue. Nostalgia set in, as Piper remembered when Prue would do this when they were younger, particularly during high school when Piper had had a bad day. Her oldest sister would lye down and wait for Piper to talk. Sometimes it could be a matter of minutes or would take hours.

A few more minutes passed before Prue finally turned her head to face Piper, knowing she needed some kind of explanation. Piper did the same waiting for her sister to speak.

"I'm sorry."

"Why didn't you tell me? Prue." Piper asked softly. That was probably the thing that had hurt Piper the most.

Prue's eyes returned to the ceiling, as if she would find the answer up there. "You guys didn't need to know and it's not exactly a conversation I wanted to have."

"Did anyone know?" was Piper's next question, concern evident in her voice.

Prue looked back at her sister and smiled very slightly, "Grams did….and eventually I told Andy."

Piper nodded a little in understanding. If she was honest she expected Prue to have told Andy, there was a time when neither had secrets from the other.

Little things began to piece together, like the reason Prue would momentarily freeze at the mention of their mother's death or when she would shudder when they would watch TV as teenagers and the police would carry away a body. They seemed so trivial at the time but know Piper understood the meaning behind them.

"Is that why we made the pact, the day after Mum's funeral?" she asked.

Prue smiled slightly at her attempt to keep herself from being alone. Although it was years ago, it was fresh as if she had done it yesterday. "Yeah.." she answered softly, "..I didn't want you to leave without me."

Piper grew quiet for a short time, then turned so she was on her stomach. She wanted to get Prue's reaction when she asked her next question. It seemed unfair to press her sister in this state but if she wasn't careful, Prue would once again bottle it away.

"Does it still haunt you?"

Prue looked at her younger sister. It was the one time she was actually grateful for being at the lake that day. She knew that had it been Piper or even Phoebe, they would have found it more difficult to handle.

The fear in her sister's eyes when she asked her question confirmed Prue's thoughts. Piper was stating that she would have been. Something Prue would not have wanted to happen.

"Sometimes. It's easier now." she replied softly.

She watched as Piper considered the answer, then laughed silently as her sister then prepared the next question. For an odd reason, Prue didn't feel as guarded as she usually would have been. It was either; she had no will-power and energy to be or it was her way of apologising to Piper.

"Why do you go back?" the pregnant witch then questioned. She knew Prue used it as a place to think but the history behind it seemed almost unforgivable.

"It's where everything changed." Prue stated calmly, "I then had you guys to protect. I had lost Mum and I wasn't prepared to lose you or Phoebe…and now Paige." she let the silence hang in the air for a short time and then sighed, "I don't know, that place just seems to reaffirm my purpose. In some mixed up way, it clears everything else out and I'm left with who I am."

Piper was slightly stunned by the response. The initial thought was strange but everybody had at least one place where they could think and reaffirm themselves. Her own would probably be the kitchen. The only difference, Prue's place had a deeper impact.

She moved towards her sister and cuddled up, not really sure on what she could say. Prue in response smiled and placed an arm round Piper.

"Is it wrong of me to be grateful for who you are?" the younger sister finally asked, feeling a little selfish that she wouldn't want Prue to change, even though it meant her sister had to experience the ordeal with their mother's death.

Prue laughed softly, "No."

Piper smiled a little, then decided to change the subject for both of their comfort. "So, Mum knows I'm pregnant." she stated.

"I swear I didn't tell her, even in all my hysteria….she peaks." Prue explained, still berating herself for her lack of control.

"I know, I heard….I peak too."

"Wish you hadn't." the eldest Halliwell muttered. She had felt pathetic as it was but to then have Piper witness the entire thing, only made her feel worse.

Piper sat up to look at Prue directly, slightly peeved her topic change hadn't worked as well as she would have hoped. "Prue, you can't hold everything in forever, eventually it will find away out and you have to realise that we wouldn't think any less of you because you do."

Prue took Piper's words in and was slightly surprised her sister could have a mixture of sternness and sweetness within her voice. However, she became uncomfortable as she began to compare her current position with being on a psychiatrist's couch, and quickly sat up.

"I think less of myself." she stated in a small voice.

"Well, for a start; don't…and secondly, how many times have you watched me breakdown?"

"That's different Piper, your...different." Prue argued.

"Fine, what about Mum? When Dad left she had a hard time and times after that. Did you feel any less for her?" Piper shot back.

"No." Prue whispered.

"Precisely, you didn't because you love her. The same with us. Prue it is natural to falter, everyone does. You should know that strength is what keeps us standing, Love is what keeps us going." the younger Halliwell replied softly.

Prue allowed a smile to grace her face at Piper's words, "Hallmark?" she asked in a mocking tone.

"No," her sister drew out the word, also smiling.

Silence sat comfortable between them for a while, but eventually Prue broke it. "I'm sorry you had to find out that way."

"I'm just happy I know…" Piper replied and laid back down, across her sister's legs, where Prue began to finger through Piper's hair. "…there isn't anything else is there?"

"Not that I know of." Prue smirked, then grew a little serious. "Just, can you not tell Paige or Pheebs at the moment. They'll have questions, I can't even answer myself."

Piper thought about it for a while. Although it was against her better judgement, she nodded slightly and began to relax along with quietness of the room.

Eventually though, she decided to speak, "Mum says she's sorry." her voice barely above a whisper.

"She has nothing to be sorry about." Prue stated calmly, even though inside she was feeling incredibly guilty that she made her mum so upset. She was completely mystified as to how things she thought she had dealt with completely sent her into being unable to stop what came out of her mouth.

"She'll understand, Prue." Piper replied.

Prue, however, was sat mindlessly playing with her sister's hair, praying Piper's words were right. She could only hope her mum understood.

----------

"I am telling you, Lucy Berman had a major thing for you." Paige laughed as she and Glen discussed old times. They had yet to move from the living room and were both completely oblivious to the drama that happened upstairs.

"No she didn't, she was just a sweet girl." Glen replied, which made Paige raise an eyebrow at the statement.

"Yes, so sweet that she would follow you the entire way home, even though it took her twice as long to then walk to her own house." she sniggered. Paige missed this. She couldn't really talk about little moments or people from her past because her sisters couldn't really understand the value.

"She liked to walk." Glen argued before a grin appeared on his face, along with the mischievous glint in his eye that Paige immediately recognised. "..Plus she was a good kisser."

The youngest Halliwell stopped laughed, causing his grin to grow wider. "Lucy Berman?" she asked in disbelieve.

The mortal shrugged in response, "I had to give her something for her efforts." he smiled. At Paige's glare, Glen continued, "I never said she was better than you."

For an odd reason, Paige found herself smiling shyly at his comment. As if to test his theory, Glen lent forward but something else caught Paige's attention.

"Demons!" she shouted, leaving Glen to pull away in shock and slightly deaf.

"What?"

"Demons!" Paige shouted again, as she grabbed his hand and jumped up from the couch.

Glen then had full view of what his best friend was screaming about. Stood before them were six men, all dressed in the same clothing. Each with a sadistic grin on their face.

"Sorry did we interrupt?" one sneered as another lifted his hand.

Next thing Paige knew she was laying in the debris and remains of a piece of furniture with Glen beside her.

----------

"Did you hear that?" Piper asked as she sat up from her restful state.

"Yeah." Prue answered, getting to her feet quickly and running to the door.

As she and Piper left they came face to face with Phoebe and Cole, who had obviously also heard the commotion. For a split second they all glanced at the other, then bolted for the stairs.

"Paige." Prue stated, being in front.

----------

"Glen are you okay?" Paige asked worriedly. However the only response she received was an inaudible groan.

"Come on Charmed One, we want to play." another demon mocked, slowly approaching her.

"Well we should at least make the teams fair." came a voice from behind them, who Paige recognised as being Phoebe's.

The six demons turned to be faced with the three other Charmed Ones and Cole.

"Balthazar." one scorned.

Cole smiled at the demon. "I see my reputation proceeds me."

"Can you play dodge the electric bolt?" Phoebe mocked, shooting out her hand along with her new power. The demon, who sneered at Cole was now a tiny pile of ash and didn't even have enough time to scream.

The demons in response charged at the group, completely forgetting the youngest sister and her mortal friend. Piper however hadn't and momentarily froze the demon who came for her.

"Paige," she called, "put up your force field and try and heal Glen."

"Piper I can't heal." her sister argued, know noticing the huge gash and small piece of wood imbedded in Glen's leg. He, however was still groggy and had practically passed out.

"Our powers are meant to grow, so try it!" Piper shouted, now taking on the demon before her.

"Okay," Paige sighed, doing as she was told and removing the wood from the injury. "Please work, please work." holding her hands over the woundshe soonmade an excited noise as they began to glow. "I can not believe it worked." she grinned.

Across the other side of the room, the other's were each battling with a demon as Piper had blown her first one up. Prue currently had hers up against the wall with a strong telekinetic hold.

Where as Phoebe had just drop kicked her demon to the floor and prepared an electric bolt.

Once he was gone she turned to Cole and witnessed his own power fly full force into another demon's chest. Then Phoebe span round to catch the tiny pieces of Piper's demon float to the ground. The only one that now remained was Prue's, which was still pinned to the wall, only a further distance from the floor.

"Why has he sent you?" she asked, refusing to loosen her hold.

"Go to hell." he snarled in response to her question.

"Wrong answer." she sneered back, tightening her hold around his neck. The demon began to splatter and grab at the non-existent hand around his throat.

Prue waited for the demon's legs to begin to kick out, then she relaxed her grip. "I'll ask again…"

However before she could finish he managed to choke out a few words. "He never told us."

"Well you can tell him…" the eldest Charmed One replied, throwing the soulless demon towards the front door, where it slid to a prompt stop at the entrance. "…that it's now or never."

"You're a fool, witch." he snarled again, then disappeared in a blur of dark shimmers.

Everyone else had watched a little shocked by the exchange. Paige stood and dropped the force field, while offering a hand to the fully healed Glen.

Then she turned to face her older sister, "Prue, why'd you do that?" she asked but there was no anger in her voice, she was just generally curious.

"I'm sick of waiting. At least now the Source knows it." Prue shrugged, as she began to walk up the stairs. "I'll see you guys in the morning." she called over her shoulder.

Phoebe, Cole, Paige and Glen shared a look of bewilderment at the abrupt exit. However Piper only looked from them to her departing sister. If only they knew, she thought, wondering if Prue's rapid need to battle the Source was a result from the earlier event.

"I'm heading up as well." she announced, trailing a lot further behind Prue.

When both had disappeared, Phoebe turned to Paige with a perplexed expression. "That was weird."

Paige nodded then grinned. "Guess what? I can heal." she beamed.

"Your kidding?" Phoebe asked, a small amount of jealousy escaping. Paige shook her head as an answer. "Ohh, I hate you." Phoebe glared playfully, taking Cole's hand and leading him back upstairs.

"No you don't. You love me." Paige teased, know aware it was only her and Glen remaining.

Although he was still stunned by what had happened on his first night seeing Paige again, Glen could only remember what he wanted to do earlier.

"So.." he stated a small grin on his face, "..where were we?"

A/N: It kind of ended rather pantsly (not sure if it's a word but I like it) didn't it.

To all reviewers; thank you very much, I'm really happy you liked the last chap. I was kinda nervous bout it. I think it's the drama stuff, I seem to worrythat itdoesn't flow right.

Anyway, once again I'd really appreciate your opinions...so send a review.