Surprise Reactions

"I'm really going to be a father," he repeated after a minute. I couldn't tell if he was just in shock or if he was actually happy about the news. So I decided just to nod in agreement.

"This is...this is insane," he continued.

"I know it's a really big shock and I'm sorry...I should have told you sooner. I'm sorry...I was just scared," I rambled.

"Should you be standing up right now...I mean...you're ok right?" he rambled right back to me.

"I'm ok, yeah. I'm a lot better now that you know," I added, pulling him into a hug. He opened his mouth to speak but I shushed him. I knew my family was watching us but it didn't matter. I had an ally in al of this now. And he wasn't running away in fear or kicking me to the curb.

"Prue," Grams called. I untangled myself rom Andy and turned to look at her.

"Can I talk t you for a minute?" she asked, beckoning me towards the kitchen. I followed. What could she possibly need to talk to me about now? I'd told everyone I was pregnant. What else was there?

"I know it seems that Andy is supportive right now but that could change when he tells his parents," she said after a minute.

"It won't change, Grams. Alex and Karen have known me forever. They're not going to freak out," I retorted. Just then footsteps were heard as was the front door opening and closing. I slowly turned around to see Andy's parents come in.

"Did you call them?" I asked. Grams nodded and I let out a groan. I trudged back into the room, figuring I should be there.

"Prue, your Grandmother said there was something you needed to tell us," Andy's mom said.

"Mom...Prue's pregnant," Andy interjected before I could speak.

"Are your father and I to assume this baby is yours, Andrew?" Karen questioned. He nodded. He actually looked proud. How could he look proud about getting his girlfriend pregnant?

"Well, son. I can't say I'm very impressed with this news. It demonstrates to your mom and I that you're not as responsible as we thought you were," Alex sighed.

"I know how it looks Dad. I just found out," Andy began.

"So did we," Phoebe added. I glared at her, shoving her an inch or down into the couch.

"But I want to accept this responsibility. I know I can support Prue in this," Andy continued.

"Andy...I think we need to think about this a little. I mean I don't know if I really want a baby...right now," I interjected.

"You're certainly not going to take the easy way out," Grams boomed.

"I didn't mean that, Grams. Stop acting like you're a mind reader," I spat.

"I just think we need to take a minute and try and think about all the options, that's all," I murmured.

"I'm open to options," Karen said, looking at me with a smile. Unexpectedly she pulled me into a hug.

"You would make a very good Mom one day, Prue," she whispered, just loud enough for me to hear her.

"Thanks Karen," I breathed

I looked around at the cluster of people. Maybe this wasn't going to be so hard after all. I had family to support me and Andy was willing to stand by my side. So why then in all of my new-found calmness was I panicking inside? Why did that horrific night have to rear it's painful head at this moment?

"I...need to go la down. I'm feeling kind of light-headed," I lied. I was feeling fine. But they all seemed to believe me and after a few assertions to Andy that I didn't need him to escort me upstairs, I left. I walked as quietly as I could up the last flight of stairs and locked the attic door behind me. I gathered the candles, placing them at the points of the pentagram and lit them. I stepped back, reciting the spell I'd committed to memory.

"Hear these wods, hear my cry. Spirit from the other side. Come to me, I summon thee, cross now the great divide," I chanted softly. A wind began to swirl and Mom's spirit appeared.

"Oh, Prue dear. I wasn't expecting this," she said, looking surprised. I had been holding back tears and all I wanted was to just cry them in her arms. She seemed to sense my waning control of my tear ducts because she became corporeal and pulled me to her.

"Shh, honey. What's wrong?" she asked. I couldn't answer. I wasn't ready.

"Did you tell them?" she whispered. I merely nodded.

"Mom...I can't do this. I just can't," I finally sobbed.

"I know it's scary but we talked about this, sweetheart. You can get through it," she told me.

"But I can't Mom. I'm living a lie and I just cant make myself tell the whole truth. I can't admit what happened. They'd never believe me," I whimpered.

"Look at me," Mom demanded gently. I couldn't make my eyes meet hers.

"Prue. Look at me," she repeated and I finally looked up.

"You are the victim in all of this. You didn't ask for what happened. Deep down you know that," she assured me.

"If I'd just used my powers, it wouldn't have happened. But I was so scared that Grams would find out that I used them on a mortal...that she'd give me the 'don't expose magic' speech," I sniffled.

"You really think your Grams would react like that?" she questioned, sounding surprised.

"Yes. It's like she takes everything we do as some way to break the rules," I explained.

"I was so afraid of what she'd say that I let that pig rape me, Mom," I rasped.

"What you need to do, Prue, is accept that this has happened to you and get angry about it. Break a chair or five. Get all of these feeling out and then talk to someone. It's your decision what you do with the information but you need to talk to someone about this. You need to find peace for yourself," Mom lectured.

"I will try. I don't know if I can do it right now. I don't want to overwhelm everyone. But I will try," I promised her.

"That's all I ask. Now go, lay down for a little while," she urged. I nodded and headed out of the attic.

Three months had gone by since I'd told everyone my secret. I was now four months along and starting to show. Andy was as supportive as ever and that made my heart ache a little, not telling him the truth. We were in the waiting room of the doctor's ofice.

"Prue Halliwell," the nurse called. I slowly stood and followed her, Andy's hand st firmly on my shoulder. I got situated on the bed and watched as she squirted the gel on my stomach.

"Well the baby is growing nicely. Looks healthy and oh, I think we could even find out gender today," the doctor told us. I smiled nervously, praying it was a girl. He maneuvered the camera around for a minute until he seemed satisfied.

"Looks like we've got a girl here," he announced and I let out a sigh of relief. Grams would at least be pleased.

"We'll see you back in a month," he said, handing me a towel to wipe off my stomach. Andy helped me up as we headed out to pay for the visit.

"So a girl. Wow," Andy breathed.

"Did you really expect anything else? I mean we've had only girls in this family since the 1600s," I told him.

"So...should we start thinking of names?" he asked, wrapping an arm around me.

"I'm not sure if that's such a good idea. I mean if we name her...won't it make it harder in the end?" I asked. I'd been thinking a lot lately and I was leaning towards adoption.

"I know you don't think you can raise a baby, Prue. But think about it. We've got my parents, your Grandmother," he tried to convince me.

"I don't know, Andy," I sighed.

"Ok...we can put off thinking names for a little while. But she's going to have one no matter what," he reminded me. I smiled a little at that. I knew Grams would want me to name her something with a P. But maybe it was time to break the trend, just a little.

"I'll make a deal with you. I'll make a list and you make a list and then we can look at them," I said abruptly.

"Ok...sure," he agreed.

Back at home I was sitting with the Book of Shadows in my lap, flipping through, writing down names of as many of our ancestors as I could find.

"Prue, what are you doing?" Grams asked me.

"What do you think of the name Brianna? She was one of our most powerful ancestors...not s powerful as Melinda Warren but I mean she was able to separate Gabriel from his sword. And she and I share a power," I said all in one breath.

"Well...it's not a P but I suppose it works," she said, cracking a smile.