Chapter 5.3 – The Day Andy Died
John shook his head. "No, I don't mind at all."
"You shared a unique experience with us," Mary added. "It's not too many people that get to come back after experiencing the afterlife."
"Time travelers and those turning back time need not apply," Phoebe added with a laugh that seemed to express a mixture of feelings as she looked across the table at Andy. Without time being turned back by Tempest, Phoebe would be dead and Andy never would have died. There had been times over the last two years that she wondered if perhaps Prue would have preferred that. Their relationship was still not the best, but it had come a long way since that first year as witches.
"I sense a story there," Mary commented with a laugh.
"More than you know," Phoebe admitted softly. "I was thinking of the day Andy died. It should have been me."
"Phoebe!" Piper exclaimed, stunned.
"Phoebe Penelope Halliwell!" Prue's voice shot across the table. "Don't you ever say that again!"
Phoebe closed her eyes and when she opened them she looked straight at Andy. "It was me, you know, the first time. They don't remember. I only have the vaguest impression of it, a sense of déjà vu all that day that I knew when it diverged. I knew I died. If time hadn't rewound you never would have died. Prue never would have lost you."
Prue stared across the table at Phoebe. "And you think I wanted to lose you? Phoebe!"
Andy looked across the table at Phoebe and shook his head. "It wasn't your time to die, Phoebe. Prue taught me that everything happens for a reason and my death was no exception. For two years I helped my charges in a way I never could have helped people as a police inspector. And now I am alive again. I don't know what I will do, but I will find a way to keep helping people. It's who I am."
For a long time there was silence as everyone ate their breakfast, unsure what to say. The silence wasn't broken until they were interrupted by the sound of the doorbell ringing from the front of the house.
Prue exhaled slowly. "I guess I'll go see who that is." She pushed her seat back and stood. Before she headed toward the door she looked over at Phoebe. "Phoebs, baby girl, I love you. No matter what I would never trade one person I love for another, so forget about it. Everything is going to work out, now more than ever. And had you died rather than Andy, maybe the nine of us wouldn't be sitting here now."
Prue headed out of the room and into the hall. She reached the door as the person on the other side rang the doorbell, again. The silhouette was familiar, but she hoped she was wrong. She turned the knob and pulled open the door. Surprised she demanded, "What are you doing here?"