A new Power of three Part 6:
Worries and lies

2004, 5 days earlier, Monday morning

Even before their alarm clock had gone off, Andy woke by the sounds coming from the bathroom. He sighed heavily. He really wanted to help her somehow. He felt so completely helpless. But he didn't go after her. He knew, how she hated that. In movies she always thought it was ridiculous how husband, wife or friends 'helped' the one vomiting.

"what's there to help? What use does it have that someone holds your hair or presses a cold cloth to your face? You're throwing up and none of that makes it any easier, right? You still feel miserable." Prue always argued. But that wasn't the only reason he didn't go after her. The truth was, he always got sick himself. Even when his girls were throwing up and he had to clean it, he always almost throw up as well. He just couldn't bare that smell. And now, just by the sound of it, his stomach twisted.

He sighed again as he heard the toilette's flush and took a look at the clock. Ten past five. He heard how the shower was turned on and tried to go back to sleep, but just couldn't he was worried about Prue. If it was like that all week, he understood how she fell asleep on the girls yesterday. How could he have not noticed this? In all of his cases he always was that attentive, not to miss anything, but here at home, where the people were he loved most, he missed such simple things? He felt miserable. He could have taken so much off her, if he'd just noticed. But he didn't. His mind was far too gone on his stupid case. And on his dad. And when he finally found the peace in his mind to go to sleep, he had been that exhaust, that he wouldn't have woken up if the house was breaking together over him.

He heard the familiar click sound of the light in the bathroom and closed his eyes. He acted like he was asleep. He felt how the bed moved and by the simple move of the bed knew exactly, how his wife rolled up into a ball next to him. The covers up to her chin, like she always used to do it when she wasn't feeling well. He wanted to comfort her, make her feel better with his presence, but felt like all she wanted was sleep and so he let her sleep. Once her breath had calmed and she started to breath more regularly again he opened his eyes again. He turned to his side, starring at the dark form next to him. He reached out for her hair and softly stroke over her head. When there was no reaction to it, he sat up, turned off their alarm and got up.

Andy took a shower and shaved, then went downstairs, made himself some strong coffee and started to read the paper. Halfway done, he made breakfast for the girls and set Meghan's lunch. About 7 he finally went to Meghan's room and softly woke her

"hey princess, time to wake up" he said as he stroke her long curly hair. He smiled a little. Prue's hair.

"I'm still tired" Meghan mumbled and curled up into a ball. He had to smile again. Their eldest almost was an exact copy of his wife.

"but you have to go to kindergarten, sweetie" he argued and lay down behind her as he started to caress her face. Tease her with tickling her behind her ears and at the edge of her lips.

"daddy, stop" she laughed, as she opened her eyes and turned to him. Father and daughter looked at each other. Both enjoying the little extra time, while the house was still laying asleep. They both weren't exactly morning persons, so they barely had the opportunity to do this.

"where's mommy?" Meghan asked sleepily. The four year old already knew how out of order things were when her father woke her.

"we'll let mom sleep in today, okay?" Meghan nodded and cuddled into her dad, enjoying his soft strokes. Eventually they peeled themselves out of bed and into the kids' bathroom where Meghan got dressed. Anna, a morning person like Prue, was wide awake by the lightest sound in the bathroom and joined the duo soon in getting dressed for the day. Once the girl's were settled in their usual places at the table and chewing away on their breakfast Andy started to do calls. He called Prue's work to call her in sick for the rest of the week. He called the station, saying he was going to be late, as he wanted to take Meghan to kindegarten himself. He called the doctor's in try to make an appointment for Prue, but they only opened at ten. And finally he called the manor to find someone to take care of Anna that day.

It was now almost 9 and Piper had already picked Anna 20 minutes ago, so he and Meghan could get ready and leave the house at time. She told him, she had planned on going with Chris to the playground today and that she would just take Anna along. He had sent Meghan off to the bathroom to brush her teeth and afterward get ready to leave the house, while he crept into his and Prue's still darkened bedroom.

He sat down on the bed and started to stroke Prue's face. Prue reacted almost immediately, as she wasn't used to getting up this late. She started to stir a bit and finally opened her eyes to look at him

"hey. Morning" he greeted her and kissed her forehead

"morning" Prue mumbled sleepily. At first she was smiling a little, but soon her face turned into a look of pure confusion

"you're dressed already?" she asked, starting to play with his tie

"yeah. I let you sleep in. it's almost 9 already. I took care everything. I called you in sick and called the station that I'll be late today. Anna's over at the manor already and will go with Piper and Chris to the playground later. And Meghan and I will be off soon. Phoebe will pick her later again. I left you some breakfast downstairs. Toast and scrambled eggs..." he trailed off, seeing how Prue swallowed heavily "sorry. I just thought..."

"it's okay" Prue told him smiling "i guess i should try to eat something. Thank you. You're amazing"

"well, if you say so" Andy answered with a smirk and lent down to kiss her, but Prue immediately turned away. Andy confused pulled back again. He had sworn he saw from the corner of his eyes some disgust in his wife's face.

"you might get infected" Prue said fast. Almost a little too fast for both of them. But Andy just put it off and Prue was glad, she didn't just throw up right into his lap after smelling his after shave.

"right. Umm, listen, I just wanted to let you know, we're off now, so you don't worry. Aaaand please remember to call the doc for an appointment. I tried already, but they only open at 10" Prue sighed heavily and looked down. Andy just sighed as well

"Prue..." he said softly and lifted her chin again, so her eyes met his "i know how much you hate doctors. Still, please, you need to call! I'm seriously worried about you."

"yeah. I know. I'll call. Promise." she answered while looking him in the eyes. She tried her very best to convince him, she wasn't lying. But she was. She had no intention on going to a doctor until Friday. Friday she finally could take a pregnancy test. And usually Andy easily could tell whether she was lying or not. It was a cop thing. He simply knew when someone lied. But he also knew Prue like no one else and most of the time could read her face like an open book. But somehow this time it worked. Andy seemed to relax slightly.

"thanks. Now go back to sleep. Or do you want me to get something for you?"

"no. no thanks. I might be sick, but not an invalid" Andy smiled and put up his hands in defeat, then kissed her cheek. Prue swallowed back a huge pile of vomit as she again smelled his aftershave

"alright. We'll see you tonight then" Prue nodded slightly and brushed a small smile on her face

"i love you. Have a good day"


2004, 5 days ago, Monday evening

Prue had spent the whole day alone with her thoughts again. Some when by noon she was sure, she'd go insane any second, if she wouldn't be able to take her thoughts off of the subject. She needed something to keep her mind and body busy. Desperately she started to do some cleaning and finally the thought settled in her mind, that she finally could sort out the kid's closets. She started to fish things out of Brianna's closet and toy boxes she had grown out of, but soon had to realize, as much as it was needed, it definitely was not helping her to distract herself. She even almost laughed at herself. It was ridiculous to get your thoughts off being pregnant while putting baby stuff away. She sat in the middle of the baby stuff and cried. God this wasn't even baby stuff. Anna was two, for Christ's sake!

Once she had calmed down again a little, she went to the kid's bathroom and splashed some cold water into her face to clear the leftovers of her crying from her face. Her eyes stayed red and puffy. She starred at herself in the mirror. She always was being the strong, responsible, straight headed kind of person. How could she just let her life get out of control again that easily? How could some goddamn hormones mess with her that easily? She shook her head slightly and dried her face. On the way downstairs she checked a clock 2pm. Meghan would be home by now. For a split second she thought about going to the Manor and spending some time with her kids, but she almost immediately decided against it. So she ended up in front of the TV again.

But not for long, as Paige soon after had come around to check on her. But her little sister really wasn't on her most sensible day, as she had greeted her with an "wow, you really look like shit" to cheer her up. But Prue wasn't really up for jokes or talking, even Paige sensed that and soon left her alone again.

Prue then went back to watching TV, but fell asleep again. As she woke again at 5 she started to set the table for dinner already and as Andy and the girls came home everything was set.

"mommy!" the girls yelled and ran into her, almost knocking her over. She laughed slightly and bend down to their height, hugging them tightly

"oh, I've missed you two as well" she said and softly pressed a kiss to each girl's head

"girls, let go of, mom, okay? Get out of your shoes and go wash your hands. We'll have dinner soon" Andy told them, but they wouldn't let go

"no! Mommy!" Anna pouted. Meghan was going to pre-school every day and was used to being apart from Prue, but Brianna usually spend every day completely with her mom, so she really was taking this bad. She had cried almost all day, Piper had told Andy. Prue didn't want to let them go either. It felt so good to have them around. She really had missed them. Usually when they were somewhere else she actually had no time to miss them. But today it was completely different. Still she eventually pushed them softly away

"heeey, daddy's right, okay? or do you wanna get smelly feet?" she asked tickling them a bit "And I bet you two are hungry, huh?" Meghan shook her head

"no… aunt Piper made pudding for dessert this noon and later aunt phoebe brought donuts home from work… and aunt Paige took us for ice cream" she told her mom, smiling a little. Prue couldn't help but stifle a laugh as she clearly saw the sugar rush in her oldest face

"okay, well, I see, but you two still need to have a little bit of dinner, okay?" she asked them

"no." Anna said stubbornly and looked at Prue with a pout "mommy up!" she said as she wanted to be picked by Prue, but before Prue could do anything Andy stepped in

"girls you heard me… I said go wash your hands." he told them sternly.

"fine!" Meghan almost shouted, but knew better than to raise her voice at her dad.

"young lady..." Andy warned as she stomped off to take off her shoes

"go with Meghan. She'll help you with your shoes" Prue told Anna softly.

"Mags, wait I!" she called after her sisters as she followed her. Prue smiled a little and got up again, but her smile faded as she looked at Andy

"you shouldn't have set the table. You were home to rest" he scolded

"well, hey to you, too" she told him, as she got closer "and you shouldn't be so strict with them. And don't look so grumpy and..."

"hey" he grumbled back, interrupting her as he wrapped his arms around her "how are you feeling?"

"a little better"

"you still look pale" he told her worried, his features becoming softer as he tucked a fallen stray of hair behind her ear "what did the doc say?"

"umm… nothing" she answered truthfully, but started to squirm in his arms, as he raised an eyebrow at her, just like he did, when he was about to scold their kids

"Pruedence" he warned sternly "you promised me!"

"oh don't you Pruedence me. I DID call" She looked into his eyes again and saw how his expression changed slightly, but she could clearly tell, he wasn't buying it. gosh lying felt so wrong, but she just didn't want to share her suspicion with him yet. Not until she was a hundred percent sure, there was no other reason for being sick. And definitely not before she had found out why she felt so weird, bad or whatever else about it. She still didn't think of it as good news and she knew he would. Andy loved children and if it was up to him, they'd have a whole football team.

"they're pretty stuffed this week. I couldn't get an appointment before Friday and so I took the date and told them, I'd call if I was feeling better or worse" and another lie. Great Prue! Friday. She'd tell him Friday. Friday. It rang through her mind like a threat. She suddenly was hung to that word. Friday. Friday she could take that goddamn test. Finally. She almost shook nervously at the thought. Friday. 'Friday… iday… day…' her own words echoed through her ears. She barely realized Andy was talking, but knew she needed to concentrate again

"… is way too long. I'll call again. This can't be true. You need something against that sickness. Who do they think they are? You can't just throw up til Friday! This is ridiculous! This is… god, are they nuts?"

"Andy calm down. They can't do anything about their tight schedule and just because you are calling instead of me, there won't magically appear an appointment, which is free" she reasoned to stop him from calling. From finding out the truth.

"but maybe Leo could take a look at you"

"Leo's a surgeon. Not a doctor like that and you know that..."

"still he studied medicine. Maybe something stuck to him"

"Andy..."

"I'm gonna..."

"you're not gonna do anything, but eat dinner. I'm feeling a little better already, okay? The worst is probably over already. Just trust me, okay? I know my body..." Andy looked her into the eyes again. Something bothered him. Completely. But before he could find out more, Anna and Mags came back from washing their hands and Prue had broken their eye contact.

"c'mon you two, let's get something to eat, okay?" she asked as she lead the girls to the dining. Andy stayed at the door, watching Prue's every move. He didn't want to start a fight now. Not with Prue being sick. And not with the girls in the room. But something felt off. Something just wasn't right and he just couldn't put a finger on it. He knew Prue knew more than she was letting through. And he knew she was at least twisting the truth since yesterday. He fought back the huge need to talk to her. He just watched her, like her actions were the key to find out what the hell was going on. Prue wouldn't get away with this. He'd talk to her as soon as the girls were in bed.

"daddy, are you coming?" Meghan finally pulled him out of his thoughts

"yeah. Sorry" he answered and on his way to his seat crossed eyes with Prue, what caused her to look down immediately. That settled his mind once and for all. Something was definitely wrong.

AN:

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