Chapter 34: Leo's Promise

Disclaimer: My husband is a popsicle.

A/N: WOW. I'm so sorry it took me so incredibly long to update. It's ridiculous how long I took. Sorry again.

No more than ten minutes later Prue entered her room with a smile on her face.

"Andy," she called out happily, "Come on—the rest of the family's waiting for us. Piper wants us to come to P3. Something about watching the sound check for tonight's band."

Prue walked farther into her room and looked around a bit. The more steps she took the more her smile faded as a thought occurred to her.

"Prue, I have to give myself up to them—I have to go back—"

"Andy!" Prue yelled, quickly running into her bathroom to check for him. When she assured herself that no one was in there she sprinted up the attic stairs as fast as her legs would carry.

"Did you hear something?" Cole intoned with an odd look on his face.

"Yeah," Phoebe concurred, "Why don't you go check what it is?"

"Ugh," Piper rolled her eyes, "If I have to vanquish a demon and then go to that sound check I'm gonna—"

"I'll go," Leo smiled, "No demons, alright? I promise. The club's full of enough of them."

Leo orbed out and into the attic to find Prue crying over the Book.

"Prue, what happened?" Leo asked in a concerned manner, moving towards her and the Book.

"He left…" Prue choked out, indicating towards the Book.

"Who left?" Leo inquired. He looked down at the Book and upon seeing it turned to the page on the Elders immediately answered his own question.

"Oh, God," Leo breathed. He ran over to Prue and embraced her; blaming himself every second.

Andy looked around in awe at the blinding light of the area he had been dropped into.

"Why do you call out to us mortal?" An Elder asked in a foreboding tone.

"We—we had a deal," Andy spoke, "And I know—I know I broke it."

"Oh, so you realize that?" The Elder laughed wryly, "Then does that mean you remember the unspeakable wrath we promised to bestow upon you if you were to break the 'deal' we had?"

"Yes," Andy spoke a bit impatiently, "But it was never my intention going in," Andy continued, "I never meant to leave like that. But I had to. I know all of you are wise and heavenly and know everything about well; everything—but then you should know that I love Prue more than fear of some 'unspeakable wrath' could hinder."

"If this love is so strong, Trudeau," Another Elder began, "Why are you standing here before us?"

"Well," Andy started, "I messed up. I went back on something and that's not the kind of person I am. I was scared before—scared of losing her. But now—now I'm ready."

"Ready for what, exactly?" The same Elder asked.

"Well for lack of a better term," Andy swallowed, "The unspeakable wrath."

"Prue this is all my fault," Leo apologized, "I didn't know he'd go back like this—"

"It's not you're fault," Prue countered, "Just—just tell me it's not too late," Prue sobbed.

"I promise," Leo spoke, "Let's go get everyone else."

As he Led Prue out of the attic and down to the others he spoke deprecatingly under his breath.

"I guess Piper's gonna miss that sound check."

"What do you mean he left?" Piper hollered upon Leo and Prue issuing the rest of the family the news of Andy's MIA status.

"When I went to go ask the Elders if they could make it so that Andy never died they told me that they weren't going to do a thing," Leo filled in.

"What?" Pam said, disbelieving, "But what about exposure?"

"It tried that," Leo breathed impatiently, "They said that exposure was no fault of their. They said that if anything were to happen, I'd be responsible."

"Well Leo did you try to reason with them?" Piper almost shouted.

"Of course I did," Leo said exasperatedly, surprised that Piper had to ask, "But they said if I tried anything else, Andy wouldn't be the only one to suffer."

The group went silent much like Prue had done when Leo first told her what had happened.

"And that's what Andy heard," Prue said, trying to sound like she was taking charge and failing miserably.

The Elder that had Andy had addressed sat with a bemused sort of amusement on his face.

"Is that what you really want?" The Elder spoke.

"What I want," Andy began somewhat flippantly, "Is to be back with my family and not have your threats hovering over my shoulder. But I know that's not really an option. I don't go back on what I say. So assuming you meant what you said, I'm here to get what's meant for me. That's all."

"Well then," a different Elder said, "So be it."

"Then it's decided," Phoebe said, "Leo, you go make the appeal again. Just keep them talking until you can get some idea of what they've done with Andy. A location, some physical action; anything. When they give some hint, Pam will take Leo's appearance and come in as him while the real Leo will go and try to act on what they've said. Then Pam as Leo will tell them that we'll expose ourselves and all of magic beyond the point of repair if they don't erase Andy's death and return him consequence free. Then," Phoebe concluded, "We'll just have to see what happens."

"What do the rest of us do?" Prue asked.

"We need to stay down here," Phoebe answered, "In case Andy comes back. Or, you know—in case the Elders decide to start that suffering they were talking about."

"Sounds like an awfully shaky plan to me," Cole commented, "Isn't there a better way to do this? I mean right now we're just going off blind instinct and chance. There has to some way for us to make sure we get Andy back."

"I wish there was," Pam said simply, "But this is our best shot. If the Elders don't respond to this I don't know what else we can do."

"Let's worry about that later," Piper spoke up, "For now we need to focus on this."

"Right," Pam nodded, "Well let's go then."

Leo orbed into the familiar blinding white atmosphere and swallowed all his pride as he approached the main hall where he knew the Elders would most likely be deliberating over Andy's punishment. As he entered, he noticed that there were considerable less Elders than he expected to be there. Leo swallowed once more as he steppe forward.

"He's coming back," Leo affirmed resolutely.

One Elder rose from their spot among the others with an indignant face on.

"What are you here for now, Leo?" He spoke.

"I'm not leaving until I get him back," Leo replied, "I promise."