A new Power of three Part 15:
Return
2004, yesterday, Friday
A few hours later Andy had taken the girls back home. They ate dinner and he tucked them in. Andy retired to their bedroom and sat down on his side of the bed. He took the picture of him and Prue from his nightstand and looked at Prue. He sighed and closed his eyes. He once again got his cell phone out and again dialed her number.
"hey, this is Prue Trudeau speaking. Unfortunately you can't reach me right now, but if you'll just leave me a message, I'll call you back as soon as I'm free again"
he sighed and this time didn't leave a message. Instead he concentrated hard on Prue, trying somehow to connect to her. He couldn't sense her. He couldn't localize her, but somehow, he knew he connected to her.
'Please. Please. I won't start again. I'll leave you all the time you need. Just come home. The girls miss you. Your sisters are gonna try to search you tomorrow. Please. Please… I beg you… just come home! I don't care what I have to do… or not do… just come home. I'm worried. I miss you. More important… I love you. Come home, please!' he pleaded in his thoughts, hoping it had any use.
He opened his eyes again and the image of his beautiful wife came back to them. He softly trailed his fingers over her fine features, then sighed and put the picture back to where it belonged. He went to take a shower and then settled into bed. He starred for a while at the ceiling and then suddenly saw a light which head towards the house. He sighed in relief, got hurriedly out of bed, put on some jeans and ran to the door. He was there, just as Prue opened it
"oh god be blessed. You're home!" he said, wrapping his arms around her and kissed her. He was relieved she kissed him back. It seemed like she at least wasn't mad at him anymore
"i missed you, too" she whispered when they separated
"i didn't say that"
"you did earlier." she told him locking eyes with him "I'm sorry. I was stupid. And selfish… and I..."
"shshsh" he said and put hand to her mouth "you were right. You always sacrificed everything for everyone. You're allowed to be selfish once in a while, as well. It's all fine. Take your time. I don't care. Just please… please stay" Prue pulled away and Andy already was scared she'd turn again. She reached into her pocket and then handed him something. Andy looked at it. He instantly knew what it was, though he couldn't recognize anything. He started to smile, then laugh lowly
"after all that ultra sounds… I still don't see it" he told her, knowing exactly she was done thinking. He made a step towards her and cupped her face "i love you!" he told her and kissed her again. Then slowly let one of his hands fall to her belly "i love the both of you" he repeated, his eyes still locked with hers. He studied her face a little and saw, the small smile playing on her lips. She deep down loved that baby as well. She somehow was happy about it as well. He put his arms more firmly around her and lifted her, a huge and happy smile on his face.
"I'm gonna be a daddy again" he told her, just to put her back on the ground.
"yes you will. But… now I think I need a shower" she told him.
"I know something better" he told her and helped her out of the jacket and carried her upstairs into their bathroom. He started to fill the bathtub while she undressed. He added some rose bathing bowls and helped her in. He sat down next to the bathtub and just watched her. He looked intently at her stomach. He could swear it was already swollen a tiny bit. She followed his gaze and smiled
"pants are getting tight after 4 weeks already..." she told him confirming his assumption. He looked back at her face and they laced hands
"this is really going to be a special kid… made on our kissaversery" he told her, stroking her palm with his thumb
"they're all special. All conceived on important days of our lives" she told him
"listen… I thought about it all… and I decided I wanna get a vasectomy. This one is rounding us up. No more kids. We're complete… aaand… I'm working on a deal with the chief, if everything works out I'll have – except emergencies of course – Mondays off. So you can have all your appointments on Mondays… or Saturdays… just please no Sundays… we should have some family time… this way you don't have to stop… you just make your photos… I don't wanna take this from you. Seriously. I don't want you to sacrifice more. I just want you to be happy. And… I'm not arguing this. It's all set in my mind. I even already have an appointment for the surgery… and I already talked to the chief..."
"bu..." Prue's voice faded out as she didn't know what to say "are... are you sure? I mean..."
"shshsh. Like I said. It's already all taken care of anyway. I am sure. It's all good. It's all fine by me. I just hope, this is somehow making you happy as well" Prue smiled, leaned over and kissed him. She pulled his hands and arms closer to her until he finally was in the bathtub with her. He got out of his boxers, the last item he wore and she snuggled into his chest
"i scared you. And I'm really sorry about that" she said lowly "it was just too much for me. I needed a time out. I just… the only thing I could do was run…"
"shsh. That's not important anymore. You're home again. That's all that matters"
"i love you" she whispered as they were done in the bathroom and found the tiny music box star laying on their bed. Finally they climbed into bed and Prue snuggled into Andy's chest. Andy beamed down at her and softly brushed a hand through her dark hair
"i love you too" he whispered before kissing the top of her head, knowing exactly she didn't hear him anymore
