Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed.
I have decided to dedicate this story to PruelovesAndylovesPrue because I like her first story so much! Read it!
Chapter 1
Prue Halliwell sat reading a book. She had been on the same page for the last 45 minutes. A knock at the door brought Prue out of her thoughts, and she hurried to answer it.
"Piper! What a great surprise!" She smiled warmly at her younger sister and stepped aside to let her in.
"Hi Prue. I just came around to see how you are and ask if you want to come to the manor tonight, so we can all have dinner together. And don't worry; I'm cooking." Piper laughed. "Phoebe would love to see you again."
"Oh. I'd love to see her too, but I really can't tonight. Roger's taking me out for a meal."
"A meal, hmm? Ah well, it isn't as if you won't be having fun then." Prue felt her smile fade momentarily, but she quickly forced it back onto her face.
"How's Phoebe settling in?" Prue asked, hastily changing the subject.
"Yeah, happy enough."
"But," Prue prompted.
"It's just strange; you gone and Phoebe there instead. Don't get me wrong, Phoebe's great, but I just miss you. At least you helped around the house and contributed money!"
"Piper, give her time to get used to this, and to relying on you again. It's new to her too." Piper nodded, and Prue gave her a reassuring hug.
"Thanks Prue," Piper said.
"Anytime. Sorry about tonight. Maybe some other time."
"Sure! I have to go. Grocery shopping." Prue and Piper said their goodbyes and Prue watched Piper get into her car. A meal with Roger. As if that was ever going to happen. But she wasn't going to leave the house herself, unless it was for work or to buy food, and seeing as work was him, that didn't leave much option. Prue glanced nervously at the clock. Roger would be home early today. She checked her appearance in the mirror, flattening her hair. The front door slammed and Prue jumped.
"Prue? Where are you?" Prue answered him at once, rushing to the hall.
"Hi honey," she said, smiling at him. Roger shot her a suspicious look.
"What?" He snapped. Prue tried to keep smiling innocently.
"Nothing! I'm just happy to see you, that's all." Prue could see his anger already. Roger pushed her roughly out of the way, and Prue grabbed the doorframe in surprise.
"I don't expect you've made me anything to eat. You never have been a good cook." Prue listened in silence. "So what exactly have you been doing all day?"
"Not much. I-"
"Nothing then," Roger sneered. "Your usual laziness. Can't you do some work for once? I've been working all day, and you aren't even grateful!" Roger's voice was gradually getting louder. Prue knew exactly what was coming next. Roger raised his hand, bringing it back down across her face. Prue tried not to cry out. Roger's hands were around her neck, and he was slowly applying more and more pressure, until Prue was gasping for breath.
"It's time you started showing me more respect. We'll be married soon, and I won't stand for this!" Prue nodded desperately. "good," Roger said, letting go, a smile forming on his face. Prue stood waiting to see what he did next. His smile disappeared. "Answer me then! You ungrateful little bitch!" Prue took several steps back in panic.
"Running from me now? Does the truth hurt?" Roger shoved her against the front door and kicked her. Prue let out a cry of pain. Roger reached to the table by the door, grabbing something and bringing it to Prue's throat, smirking at the fear on her face.
"Please don't…" Prue begged.
"You're pathetic," Roger hissed. "You're worthless, and no one would rightly want to marry you, so I expect a lot more gratitude from you! I don't want a lazy whore for a wife!"
"Y-yes Roger," Prue stuttered. Roger began moving the knife away and Prue breathed a sigh of relief. Roger suddenly brought it back towards her face and Prue let out a piercing scream.
"Shut up!" Roger shouted furiously. "You are nothing but an ugly, selfish bitch!" He threw the knife to the floor, grabbed his keys and left the house, with a last shove at Prue. She fell to the ground, landing painfully on her arm. Prue fought to keep the tears back. She knew their was no point in crying and scrambled up. As she passed the mirror in her room, she caught a glimpse of herself and a hand flew up to her cheek. Prue stared in surprise at the warm blood on her pale cheek and hand, and then walked to the bed, lying down carefully.
She wasn't sure if she even slept or not, but she heard the doorbell ringing. Prue jumped up and grabbed a cloth, running it under the cool water and washing the blood from her cheek and hand. She ran downstairs and pulled the door open, knowing it wouldn't be Roger, who would be gone until tomorrow evening probably. Prue stopped in shock at the person at the door who was equally as shocked.
"Prue!" Andy said at last.
"Hi Andy," she said slowly. He hadn't changed in the six years since she had last seen him. "What brings you here at this time?" Andy opened his jacket slightly, to show his badge.
"Mind if I come in?" For one moment, Prue wondered if Roger had had an accident, but somehow she doubted that.
"Sure…" Prue shrugged and let him in. Six, almost seven, years…and here he was all of a sudden. She led him to the couch, where they sat opposite each other.
"How have you been?" Andy asked her awkwardly.
"Fine. You?" Prue felt as if this wasn't really happening.
"Great! God, I haven't seen you in…seven years! You've hardly changed a bit!"
"You neither," Prue said with a shaky smile. "What have you been doing all these years then?"
"Work mainly. I did marry, but things didn't work out. You?"
"I'm engaged." Andy looked a little surprised.
"What's his name?"
"Roger. So what brings you here? I have a feeling that it isn't a social call."
"We had a call from a neighbor. She says she heard screaming coming from here. Just came to check everything's okay." And took this opportunity to study Prue properly. He remembered her eyes the most. And her nearly black hair. And her smile of course. But he hadn't seen her smile at all yet and her eyes had lost their sparkle.
"Everything's fine. I must have just left the TV on loudly." And knew at once that she was lying. He could see it written all over her face, and she was picking her cuticles nervously.
"What happened to your face?"
"I…fell down the stairs. So clumsy!" She laughed anxiously and smiled almost hopefully. Andy raised his eyebrows. Prue was not clumsy. She was anything but.
"Well, if you're sure everything's alright…" Prue nodded, standing up, and showing him to the door. Andy reached out reluctantly for the handle, not wanting to leave her after having only just found her again. He paused and then let go of the handle, bending down to pick something up.
"Yours?" he asked Prue. Prue felt her eyes widen slightly, at the sight of the knife, which had blood on it. Her blood. That must have been where the blood on her face had come from. Prue gave Andy a pleading smile, as if she was begging him not to do something and Prue took the knife from him.
"Yeah…thanks." Prue pulled the front door open, not wanting to lose him again, but not wanting him to stay and be found by Roger or find her secret out. Andy was about to go down the steps, hen he hesitated and turned around again. Prue was leaning against the wall in relief. He touched her cheek carefully.
"Oh yeah. You're bleeding." He dropped his hand and left. Prue had the terrible feeling he knew. She should have tried harder, to protect her secret. Prue went back into the house. Now that Andy was gone, she began to suspect that it was some sort of cruel dream. How many times had she dreamed and prayed and wished for Andy to come back and rescue her. She knew it was stupid and completely unrealistic, but she still did it. Andy and her had probably broken up because of how pathetic and selfish she was. Still, she thought, or at least hoped that she had seen something in his eyes. She had probably imagined it because that's what she wanted to see. She climbed the stairs slowly and curled up on her bed. She had wanted to tell Andy more than anything, but that had consequences, and why would Andy even want to know?
AN: I would like a review. Something to fill my otherwise empty life perhaps? Oooo, I'm all nervous!