Prue's hands shook as she looked herself in the mirror.

"I'm pregnant…" she whispered, trying to make it feel more real. Her head swirled as she ran her hands instinctively over her still flat stomach. A baby was the last thing on Prue's mind. With everything that had happened in the past year or so, she'd started to think she'd never be able to have a family. She looked around, fighting back tears of shock. The perfectly tiled bathroom seemed so ordered, so clean; it was nothing like Prue's life at the moment. Her stomach was filled with mix of nervousness and love, and a few other emotions she couldn't quite place. No wait, there it was, nausea. She lifted the toilet seat and resigned herself to what life would be like for the next few months.

"Prue are you okay?" asked her youngest sister caringly as she exited the bathroom. "You look like you've seen a ghost… wait, have you seen a ghost!" Phoebe put a hand on Prue's back and led her to the kitchen where their other sister was making breakfast. Upon seeing Prue's pale face, Piper brought over a cup of coffee. Prue thanked her and sat down at the table. She traced the knots of the wood table with her fingers, avoiding eye contact with her sisters who had now joined her. How did she explain this to them when she didn't fully understand it herself? Piper broke the silence.

"We can't help you if you don't tell us what's wrong. Let me see, demon or personal related?"

"Personal," Prue mumbled, looking up to meet her sister's gaze.

"Okay," Phoebe joined in. "Is it Andy? We know you miss him, honey."

At the mention of his name Prue let out a gasp. She'd done all she could not to think about him this past month. It just hurt too much. And yet here she was carrying what would be a constant reminder of the man she loved. The man she loved more than anything, but had never had the time to show him, and now he was gone and it was all her fault. Nobody blamed Prue for Andy's death; nobody but Prue herself. She could not come to terms with the idea that she'd not been powerful enough to save him. She was Prue, the eldest Charmed One, and she'd just let him die. What use were all these powers if they couldn't save the ones you loved?

Prue drew in a breath, "I'm pregnant."

"Oh my goodness!" exclaimed both her sisters at once, barely hiding their excitement at becoming aunts. It was an excitement which Prue didn't share.

"Oh honey, Andy would want you to be happy. He'd be ecstatic at the news and I'm sure he's watching over the both of you joyfully right now," Piper assured her, grabbing her sister's hands and squeezing them tight. Prue nodded slightly.

"I know. It's just, how can I bring a baby into my life right now? Emotionally I'm a wreck, and my life is so dangerous that it gets the people I loved killed! I just can't bring a baby into a world of demons and warlocks where it would never be safe! If I couldn't protect Andy, what hope do I have of protecting my innocent little baby?" Prue finally stopped to take a breath, and Phoebe jumped in before she could get herself any more worked up.

"Prudence, stop. Andy's death was not your fault. And you've protected Piper and me better than anyone could in this past year. If it wasn't for you, we'd both be dead by now. You're strong enough to keep this baby safe, I know it. But you won't be alone. You don't think Piper and I would ever turn our backs on you or any children you may have, do you? We'll protect them – all three of us. And if the power of three isn't enough, then I don't know what is!"

"Exactly," Piper agreed, still holding tightly onto Prue. "I'll be damned if I'm going to let magic stop me, or either of you two from living a 'normal' life. There is nothing in the rulebook that says witches can't have children. If there was, we wouldn't be here. It won't be easy, but when is anything in our lives ever easy? Leo and I managed, or do manage, or whatever. Melinda is proof of that!" She relinquished her grip on Prue and thought back to the trip they'd recently taken to the future. A trip where she and Leo had a young daughter named Melinda. "Your baby will be safe with us."

"We promise."

Prue braved a smile. She drank her now lukewarm coffee in silence while Piper and Phoebe tried without success to engage her in distracting conversation. Her head was still filled with so many doubts that she could barely concentrate on what her sisters were saying. Admitting defeat, Piper and Phoebe stopped talking altogether and they sat in silence. There was nothing more they could say that would make Prue feel any better. She needed to wrap her head around things on her own. Though they would have stayed by Prue all day if they could, Piper had a lot to do at the new club, P3, and Phoebe had a class that stared in half an hour. They got up from the table and kissed their eldest sister on the top of the head. They exchanged goodbyes as they hurried out the door.

Now alone in the kitchen, Prue placed a hand on her stomach. Was it just Prue, or did the yellow walls seem darker than they had yesterday? She thought of the days ahead and somehow they seemed to be no lighter. Prue was used to having all the answers, but right now nothing made sense. She loved her baby the minute she knew of its existence, but she'd learnt the hard way that love was not enough to keep people from dying. Her mother, Grams, Andy… if she lost one more person she didn't think her heart could take it. A piece of her died with each of them and she wasn't even sure if there was enough of her left to carry on anymore. This baby would be a part of herself, and Andy; a living, breathing piece of them both. She knew that she could never forgive herself if anything happened. It would be like losing Andy all over again, but a thousand times worse. She prayed to God that her sisters were right, that they could protect the baby from all harm.

The rest of the day passed in a daze, and before long Piper and Phoebe were came bursting through the front door. They told Prue all about their day and she listened politely, slightly more talkative then she'd been this morning. Piper cooked a delicious dinner and forced Prue to eat it, arguing that she had to think about the health of two people right now. Once they were done and the dishes had been cleaned up they retired to the couch to watch television. Phoebe even let Prue have control of the remote. She lay with her head in Piper's lap, flicking through the channel. Piper ran her fingers gently through Prue's hair. Piper was the maternal one of the family. Prue may have been the eldest, and took charge of most situations, but Piper had a calming, motherly demeanour that neither she nor Phoebe could match. Emotionally exhausted she began to doze off to sleep right there, her younger sister still playing with her hair. Phoebe grabbed a blanket from upstairs and laid it over Prue. Piper slid out from beneath Prue's head and tiptoed towards the stairs, followed by Phoebe. Prue was barely conscious when she whispered something that made both girls stop.

"What if I'm a bad mum?"

Phoebe and Piper looked at each other and shook their heads. They'd deal with that absurd idea tomorrow. And with that, they flicked off the light and headed to bed themselves.