Just in case you're wondering, Andy and Darryl have talked a bit about Prue.

Home Truths

"Hey man, what's up?"

"Hey. Nothing much. You?"

"Nothing much?" Darryl asked, ignoring Andy's question. "How was dinner with Prue and the rest of her family?"

"Mm, fine."

"So was her fiancé there?"

"Yeah," Andy said, clenching his fists and scowling. "I can't believe the bastard. He tried everything he could to make Prue feel completely uncomfortable. All through the meal, trying mentioning things to Piper and Phoebe, trying to turn them against her or something! But I did that for him in the end. It's all my fault. I kissed her and Piper came in and Prue's scared that she's going to tell Roger. But Piper doesn't understand what that would do. I didn't mean to kiss Prue, it just sort of happened. The bastard was really suspicious of us before he we even… all because he found out that Prue and I used to date, in high school! You should have seen the look he gave her. Do you think I should call her? To see if she's alright?"

"Wait, you kissed her? What were you thinking? I thought you kept saying that you only cared about her. Did she kiss you back?"

"I'm not really sure. Piper came in before…"

"Look Andy, instead of trying to persuade her to leave him constantly, why don't you just…let her know that you're there. When's she's ready. You can't wait forever."

"You mean sit back and watch while she suffers. And wait for what?"

"That isn't what I mean. There's nothing you can do without Prue deciding to leave him, and for some reason, she's not."

"That doesn't mean I shouldn't care."

"I'm not saying you shouldn't. But you need to stop trying to rescue her. Just let her know that you care, and then maybe back off a bit. It's only going to make her fiancé angrier if he knows you and Prue have been spending time together."

"So, what? She can't have friends now?"

"That's not how he sees it, is it?"

"No. I think you're wrong about backing off. I can't just leave her with her psycho fiancé soon to be husband. I don't want her to be alone."

"I know what you're hoping." Andy didn't reply. He knew he couldn't wait for Prue forever. She was going to get married. Admittedly to a complete bastard, but she was still getting married. The thought of Prue marrying Roger just made things worse. At least at the moment she could just leave, even if she wasn't. Once she married him, Andy doubted she would leave him. She would have to get a divorce and go through court. He stood up, grabbing his jacket.

"I'll see you later."

"Where are you going? Wait, don't tell me. To see Prue." Darryl shook his head, as Andy left.

"Andy! How do you know that Roger isn't here?" Prue hissed angrily.

"Because I assumed he would be at work at this time, and his car is gone."

"Oh, well…come in." Andy stepped inside, and looked properly at Prue's face. Prue suddenly felt very conscious of her fresh bruises. She turned around hastily.

"Would you like a drink or something to eat?"

"No thanks." At the sight of her bruised face, Andy suddenly found that he couldn't yell at her and hope she'd finally listen. He didn't even think he could talk to her about it.

"So what do you want then?" Prue was wandering towards the couch, keeping her face turned away from him.

"I just wanted…to see if you are okay?" Prue sat down on the couch and curled her legs under herself.

"Well, I'm fine." Andy sat down opposite her, looking doubtfully at her face.

"Prue, I know I've said this before, but this time I'm begging you. Please just leave him. I don't understand why you won't. I don't even understand why you're letting him do this. What's changed? You would never have let him six years ago."

"I-I don't know."

"Don't know what? Why you let him hit you, and God knows what else?"

"Yes." her voice was noticeably shakier than usual.

"So why don't you leave him?"

"Because I can't. I can't just walk out. I'll have no job, no home, no money, no future."

"You'll have your sisters and the manor, and me. And you'll find another, probably much better job easily."

"But I'll have wasted two years of my life, and be back where I started only two years older. No job, living in the same house I was born in with my sisters, and I'll never leave."

"Is that what this is about? Is that why you won't leave him?"

Sort of. Okay, yeah."

"But Prue, you'll be happier, and safer and better off altogether if you left. You wouldn't be stuck in life."

"What would I tell Piper and Phoebe? You aren't being practical. I wouldn't have anything, and I would never get married. I'd just sit there, getting old watching Piper and Phoebe get married and have children. I'm lucky to have Roger. Without him, I'd be alone, with nothing." Prue's voice sounded empty, like she didn't quite believe it, and Andy's eye's widened in horror.

"Prue! That's a load of crap! Right now, you have nothing, and I'd hardly call him a fiancé!"

"Is that what you came here for? To make me feel like nothing?" Andy frowned in surprise, as Prue began to shout. "Well, congratulations, you've done it! So you can leave now!" Prue burst into tears, much to Andy's horror.

"Prue, you know that's not true! I'm trying to help you. I'm doing it because I care." More than anything he wanted her to stop crying. It shocked him to see her cry, especially seeing as it was his fault.

"Just shut up! I hate you! You don't care at all! I'm sure this has been very entertaining for you, but you got what you wanted, so go!"

"Look at yourself Prue! You can't keep living like this. Look at your face." Andy grabbed her arms and dragged her to the mirror hanging in the hall, where Prue struggled to get away. "Look at yourself," he commanded. Prue reluctantly looked. A pale, scared face with red eyes, tear streaks and bruises looked back. She could also see Andy's grim face in the background. She stepped away from the mirror, pulling her arms back from Andy. Prue wasn't looking at Andy, she was looking her hair, which fell neatly down to her shoulders. "Prue?" Andy asked uncertainly.

"What?" Her voice was only a whisper.

"Are you okay?" She still didn't take her eyes off her hair. "Say something, Please." Prue finally looked at him, her eyes filling with fresh tears.

"What do you want me to say, Andy?"

"I don't know," he admitted. Prue stepped towards him slowly.

"I know you're disappointed in me."

"No," he said firmly. "I'm not." Andy held open his arms and Prue stepped into them. He wanted to tell her everything would be okay, but he didn't know that it would.

AN: Well, there you go. Another chapter! And to be honest, I think it's a crap one, so let me apologize now. Now I have to go and work out how to overcome my fears.