A/N: Hi everyone. It's FRIDAY! sorry I get exctited over silly things.
Anyway next chap.
30. Baring Gifts
"Oh…my God." Phoebe whispered, while studying the newcomer in awe. She also watched as Prue turned round slowly, scared that if she did it quickly it would all be an illusion.
The remaining family members all stood in shock. Piper had raised a hand to cover her mouth, where as Paige had a marvelled smile placed across her lips. Leo put a comforting hand on his wife's shoulder but never removed his eyes from the person. Cole, however, appeared confused but remained quiet, worried he might offend someone.
Patty and Penny shared a look and a smile, having been aware of this for a little while.
"Andy." Prue choked out, as one tear run down her face.
He grinned the only way Andy could, which made the eldest Halliwell catch her breath. "Hey Prue."
That was all it took for Prue to run into his arms, wrapping her own tightly around his neck, while ignoring the tears that fell. She let out a small giggle as she gazed up to his eyes, with the biggest grin on her face.
Andy had a reflection of the expression on his own face, while seizing the opportunity to lean forward and kiss her tenderly. It had taken him almost two years to find her again and he didn't want the moment to pass.
They pulled away and had completely forgotten about the audience they shared. Prue hugged him again, unable to hide how ecstatic she felt for having him back. Both of their hearts were pounding, as well as the overwhelming feeling of happiness at being together again.
"I've missed you so much." Prue whispered, burying her head in the space between his neck and shoulder.
"I've missed you too." Andy whispered back, pulling her slightly tighter not wanting to let her go.
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Krolan watched from a distance, jealousy being at the forefront of his thoughts. Although another part of him was happy for Prue, especially with the knowledge he couldn't be there when she would need him to be.
The Elder was aware of the man Prue loved. It was no secret amongst the Elders that she was prepared to give up being a Charmed One, a witch, when he died. However, Krolan had suspicions as to the others motives in returning him to her.
It was obvious They were not impressed with the bound he shared with the eldest Halliwell. I only hope she doesn't get hurt because of it, he thought, glancing at the group he shared his destiny with.
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The three younger sisters were grinning at the arrival and shared a glance, all knowing how happy this would make Prue as well as themselves.
Piper coughed loudly, to break the reunited couple up even though her older sister would hate her for it. Nevertheless it had the desired effect as Prue and Andy were brought back to reality and noticed the group that allhad amused expressions covering their faces.
"Hey Piper, long time no see." Andy grinned, walking over to her and wrapping her in a hug.
"You've been kinda hard to get a hold off lately." she replied, giving her childhood friend a kiss on the cheek.
"I'll work on it." he laughed, then noticed the man stood behind Piper. "Leo, right?" Andy asked, having recognised him as the handyman, although knowing he had a bit more to him from what he found out before he died. The deceased cop extended his hand to the whitelighter, who smiled widely.
"Yeah. It's good to see you again."
"You too. Thanks for looking out for my girls."
Leo laughed at the comment, "It's not been easy."
"Tiring, I believe is the right word." Andy joked, receiving small sceptical grins from the Halliwells.
"Andrew.." Grams warned, "I hope your not insulting my granddaughters."
"Never Ms Halliwell." he cheekily grinned, remembering the frightening figure from his past, although it was more of the time when he wanted to be alone with Prue, that she became scary.
"Have I not taught you anything in the afterlife, young man?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
The comment, however, caught the attention of all the living members of the family, especially Prue.
"Sorry Ms Ha….Penny." he replied.
"That's a good boy." she patted his cheek.
Andy moved on to avoid anymore embarrassment as he heard snuffled laughs…at his expense.
"Patty." he greeted the sisters mother, giving her a peck on the cheek. Prue again was shocked by the exchang, although happy Andy hadn't completely forgotten her and had kept close to her family.
"Andy. Pleasure as always." Patty replied with a smile.
"Now, who would I be if I didn't say the pleasure was mine." he beamed.
"You've always been a charmer." she laughed with a shake of her head. Andy completed her daughter and she loved him for that, it had been that way since they were little. He made Prue happy and for that she would be eternally grateful.
Andy noticed the youngest Halliwell stood by her mum. He smiled warmly at Paige, which she returned.
"You regret moving in yet?" he joked.
"Only when they steal my shoes." she replied with a smirk.
"You should have seen the Barbie years, it was like war had broken out." Andy laughed wrapping her in a hug too, while whispering, "I'm glad it worked out."
"Me too." Paige whispered back, glad to have him back in their lives, even though most of it was for Prue.
"Okay, where's Pheebs?" Andy said, as he turned from the baby Halliwell, intent on finding the original baby of the family. He found her stood with a tall man he didn't recognise.
"Hey Andy." she smiled sweetly, glad to have her big brother back. Even though not official, he might as well have been.
He pulled her into a hug, before pulling back to get a better look at her. "You been staying out of trouble?"
"You know me." Phoebe answered innocently.
"That's why I asked."
"I'll ignore that…" she replied, "..and instead; Andy meet Cole, Cole meet Andy." introducing the two, who both eyed each other for a moment.
"Nice to meet you." Andy said good naturedly.
"And you." Cole replied.
Andy nodded in acknowledgement, then turned again, this time meeting Prue's eyes. She was grinning from ear to ear and Andy knew he probably looked the same. He took in the sight of her and the slight changes, her hair being one of them. However, the spark in her penetrating eyes still remained bright.
Those eyes that could bore into the depths of his soul. Beautiful, yet terrifying all at the same time.
"You know, you took your time coming back." she playfully smirked, while crossing her arms in front of herself and leaning all her weight to one leg.
"I thought distance made the heart grow fonder." he sarcastically remarked, mimicking her playfulness.
Prue stalked closer, with her arms still placed in front of her. "That's a myth." she quipped in a hushed tone, keeping up the childish banter.
"So were witches." Andy grinned, watching as her mouth opened but no reply came and instead she smiled trying to think of one. He knew he had won and so continued, "Would you forgive me if I gave you something?"
Prue raised an eyebrow to his question, which only made him snigger more. As not to draw out the process, Andy held his hands out in front of him and in a flurry of purple and blue orbs a small sword appeared.
"I believe this is yours." he stated, handing over the weapon.
Prue was at a loss for words. She had completely forgotten about her own dagger, having other things on her mind. The eldest Halliwell gave it a glance over and it was similar to her sisters, only bigger and had the element of fire marked on it, as Phoebe had predicted.
Little did she know, Paige's stomach twisted at the sight of the familiar object.
Prue noted that it wasn't the typical sword length, it was smaller and lighter in weight. As she looked along the blade, an inscription caught her eye.
"Power alike, power shared." Prue read aloud, "What's it supposed to mean?"
"I have no idea. It is yours though, I hear it matches your sisters." Andy added.
Prue nodded, then something else entered her mind, causing her to glance up at him then to her brother-in-law. "Leo, did you know?…I mean about Andy?"
"No, I honestly didn't. I knew yours would come but I had no idea Andy was part of the deal." he smiled.
She turned back to the man she loved, who only stood with a grin on his face. "Next question…" she stated, trying hard to not grin herself, although finding it near impossible. "…the orbs?"
"Yeah, I'm a Lighter." he replied proudly. At the puzzled expressions, Andy went on to explain, "In short, I'm a non-passive version of a whitelighter. Also I'm not a guide, I'm more…..back up for witches."
"So you're a type of witch with whitelighter powers?" Phoebe asked, looking at her younger sister then back to Andy.
"Not really…well.." he somewhat stammered, trying to find the right words. "Leo." unable to, he turned to the whitelighter, who was not as new as himself.
"As he said his back up. See, whitelighters aren't supposed to get involved in the battles, we're to offer advice and watch over our charges. Where as Lighters are used to help a witch in need of a hand with the fighting side." Leo helped explain forhim.
"How come we've never came across them until now?" Piper asked, looking between her husband and her long term friend.
Leo wrapped his arms around her, with a small grin playing on his face, "Your Charmed, you've never needed one."
"So what powers do you have?" Paige questioned curious and somewhat excited at the idea.
"Well orbing, these electric ball things and telepathy," Andy replied proud of himself. He might not be a cop any more but he still had his chance to help protect and fight crime, just of the demon kind now, he thought to himself.
"You can read our minds!" Phoebe panicked.
"Only when I tune it in, so to speak.." he grinned, all of them had a look of horror on their faces with the prospect of having somebody inside their mind. However he didn't want to tell one person in particular that her thoughts were one he couldn't control, Prue would not be happy, he thought. "…I promise I'm not using it." Andy added, raising his hands in defence.
"Your new at this, aren't ya?" Prue grinned looking at him with an amused expression.
"How'd you guess?" he replied in a hushed tone, leaning forward so only she heard.
"Electric ball things, not exactly a definition from an old timer…so how long?"
"Month or so." Andy replied rather sheepishly. "…but I want to be here." he added, knowing what Prue could be like.
After a moment of consideration she smiled thoughtfully. "Good, 'cause I'm going to need you here."
He smiled back, which then turned into a grin, "So I'm part of your world now."
"You never left."
"Prue.."
She turned to face Leo, noticing an Elder walk away from her brother-in-law.
"…contacts say we have five minutes." he smiled apologetically.
"Um…okay." Prue nodded then grabbed Piper and Paige's hand, who in turn grabbed hold off Phoebe. "I need a big sister talk." she clarified for the rest, who each shared a glance of worriment and amusement.
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Once out of ear shot, Prue stopped and turned to face her three sisters. "Right, before you start arguing, hear me out. If things turn nasty, you leave." when Paige went to argue, Prue held up her hand. "Ah uh, I said no arguing with me. I mean it though, if things start to go very bad, I want you guys gone and don't look back."
"Prue, we can't." Phoebe stated, with Piper and Paige letting Prue know they agreed with what the second youngesthad said.
"You can. All I love is on this field and I said I won't stop until it's safe and protected, which means you have to leave before it's too late….Are you going to do as ask?" Prue replied, hoping they would at least humour her.
Instead, each of her sisters folding their arms in front of themselves and took on a defiant position.
"Not the answer I was looking for." Prue sighed, glancing at the ground.
"Well your not getting the one you want." Piper responded.
"Come on, work with me here."the oldestwhined.
"That's what we plan, Prue. We're working with you out there but not the way you want us to, no matter what you say." Paige replied, wondering why Prue would even think they would agree.
Prue breathed out heavily and turned away from their hardened faces. Don't they get what could happen? she thought frustrated with the idea of possibly losing one of them.
"Three against one Prue, majority rules." Phoebe concluded solemnly, which caused her eldest sister to spin on them and look at each of their facesbefore she started walking back to the remainder of the group.
"Yeah, well, I'll do every thing in my power to insure you go back." she muttered loud enough for the other Halliwells to hear.
"You know we've always said we wouldn't change her over-protectiveness, I'm tempted to change my mind." Paige stated, watching Prue walk away from them.
"Come on." Piper sighed, taking both Phoebe and Paige's hand.
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The rest of the family watched as Prue walked towards them without her sisters, looking more than annoyed. Whatever it was, however, it appeared it wasn't going to be resolved any time soon.
"Don't ask." she stated simply, finally standing at Andy's side. It felt slightly strange to be doing so, for her, even though it was as if he had never really left.
He wrapped one arm around her and leaned in close. "It's okay, Prue, their big girls now."
Before Prue could respond and work out why Andy had started the conversation there, a dark mass of shimmers appeared opposite them and within that moment evil had arrived.
A/N: So as you may have gathered you were all right that it was Andy. Also alot of you need to believe in yourselves more, lol.
Also, I'm reconsidering the forum idea, I feel kinda disconnected.
VampirePrincess86 and Jessabella87 thank you for the reviews and glad you like what you read. Also Jessabella87, wow the 3rd or 4th chap, that seems like ages ago but thank you very much.
TVCrazed; glad you like and I might have to take your idea. Thank you.
Mony19; I hated the speech, seriously...but I need to push it forward. Glad you liked it any way :o)
Charmedbaby11and Poofball; some how I think your right. :o)
emelie; sorry didn't tell ya and thank you very much, I'm afraid I still have to review your chap yet, I've been well slacked lately...forgive me? ;o)
Anna Coulter; aww thank you, don't know if I agree with the speech thing. Also the metaphor thing, I'm told I make way to many connections between stuff...I have to agree, I did have a chapter about snakes and ladders, lol. Thank you for the compliment.
Kaydence; if at first you don't succeed try, try again, lol. The speech thing, not my strong suite or my favourite but thank you.
Peanut; I know your out there some where and heeeee's baaaaacck!
Okay, I'm going to go and you can use the forum if ya want to chat. Write to you guys later, bye.