Tensions were high in the Halliwell household over the next few days. Prue went to work during the day, and Piper spent almost every night at P3. Usually they relished the precious, demon-free hours they spent together in the manor, but lately they preferred to hide from each other in their rooms. Phoebe felt torn between her sisters. She's always been in the fights, never the peace keeper. She came downstairs one night once Piper had already left for the club to find Prue lying on the couch reading a book called 'Parenting 101'.
"What are you reading that for?" Phoebe asked, perching herself on the armchair of the couch. "You already know what you're doing - you practically raised Piper and me."
Prue closed the book and let out a slight chuckle. "True, and after you, a tiny baby should be no trouble."
Phoebe pretended to be hurt by this. "Hey! I turned out alright, if I do say so myself!"
"That's debatable" Prue joked. "Maybe I should be worried about my parenting abilities?" Phoebe poked out her tongue and Prue giggled.
"You know I love, you right?" Phoebe asked her older sister.
"Yes, and why do I feel a 'but' coming?" Prue answered curiously, sitting up.
Phoebe slid onto the now empty cushion beside her. "But I hate it when you and Piper fight. Honestly, what is with you two? You've barely spoken in days."
Prue sighed. It was true. The most in-depth conversation she'd had with Piper had been asking if she could pass the gravy at dinner the night before. She was still mad at Piper but she could see how Piper could be hurting. Never in a million years had she wanted to hurt her baby sister. Piper would come around, but she needed time. She needed time to come to terms with losing Leo, and maybe even Melinda, just like Prue needed time to adjust to life without Andy. And sitting beside her was her youngest sister, caught in the middle of it all. She deserved the truth, and so Prue began to explain exactly what had been said during the fight on the way home from her doctor's appointment.
"You two are so stubborn," Phoebe mused after hearing the whole story. "You're obviously sorry, and I know Piper's feeling guilty too. Why don't you just talk about it? There can only be one strained relationship in this sisterhood, Prue, and that's yours and mine."
Prue grabbed Phoebe in a vice-like grip and pulled her close, whispering in her ear how much she loved her, even if she was the screw-up sister.
Phoebe hugged back. "You too, sis."
The following morning was a Saturday, meaning Prue and Piper would find it much harder to hide from each other. Prue wanted to make up with Piper, even tried talking to her over breakfast, but Piper seemed yet to have calmed down. So in the interest of not making matters worse, Prue withdrew to the attic and busied herself by sorting through their old baby things that lay in storage up there.
"DEMON!" yelled Prue from the attic alarmingly. Piper and Phoebe instantly dismissed what they were doing and raced up the stairs two at a time. They found Prue hiding behind an old couch. The demon was against the wall, where Prue had thrown him just moments before. He was big, almost twice the size of a normal man. And he had dark grey, scaly skin and hands like claws. Scorch marks littered the room. The demon had gotten to his feet and was about to throw another fireball right at Phoebe and Piper. They dove behind the couch, narrowly avoiding getting hit. Piper peered out from behind the couch and quickly froze the demon, before he could conjure yet another fireball.
"Any ideas?" She asked nervously "because he isn't going to stay frozen for long."
Before they could stop her, Prue dashed out from behind the couch to grab the Book of Shadows. She had almost made it back when the demon unfroze. He launched himself at her, pushing her to the ground. Struggling to her feet, she tossed the book behind the couch and sent an old lamp crashing into the demon's head. Phoebe was furiously thumbing through the pages of the book, while Piper refroze the demon.
"I've got it!" Phoebe shrieked. "The Power-seeking Demon… oh my God, he's after Prue's baby! They feed off of the power of unborn witches, and absorb their powers."
"But my baby doesn't have any powers!" Prue cried, shielding her stomach instinctively.
Piper shook her head. "Of course the baby has powers, Prue. They're just dormant. How do we vanquish him, Phoebe?"
Phoebe skimmed the page quickly. "We can't. It has to be Prue." Prue's eyes widened with fear.
"No, there has to be another way!" Piper cried, "It's too dangerous!"
"No Piper, it's okay. Phoebe, what's the spell?" It was the only way. She took the book from Phoebe's hands and read the words quietly a few times over, memorising them. After placing the book on the floor, she stepped out from behind the couch. Phoebe and Piper stood in front of her protectively. With perfect timing, the demon unfroze. He swiped at Phoebe and sent her flying across the room. She fell to the ground, unconscious. In return, Prue sent him crashing into the wall, buying herself some time to recite the spell.
The great power which you seek,
You shall not steal from the meek.
I banish you to the depths of hell,
You cannot hurt my baby Halliwell.
The demon roared in pain, and as he met his demise, threw a final fireball towards Piper and Prue. Prue threw Piper out of the way and bore the full impact herself. She slumped to the ground.
"No!" Piper screamed, hurrying to her side. She cradled Prue's head in her lap. Prue's face was warm and sticky with blood. Piper glanced across at Phoebe. She wasn't bleeding and she was still breathing. Thank God, Piper thought. As she held her dying sister in her arms, she cursed the Elders who had forbidden her relationship with Leo. She needed him here now. She'd always need him; she loved him. Yet the Elders had gone and taken him away, leaving The Charmed Ones unprotected. And now Prue was going to pay the ultimate price. Prue was unconscious and shaking. Her blood had stained Piper's clothes a dark red. There was too much blood. Piper would've given anything for just the power to heal at that moment.
"LEO!" she called in hopeless anguish. Her whole body shuddered as she sobbed. "Damn it Leo, you get back here right now. You have to save her! You have to save her." Her tears engulfed her and she let out a cry of despair. Suddenly, as if her prayers had been answered, a blue swirling light filled the room. She looked up and was met by the very last person she'd expected to see.
"Andy!" She sobbed with confusion.
He nodded. "I'm a Whitelighter now. But the Elders have forbid me to show myself to Prue, at least not yet. You can't tell her. Or Phoebe. Just give her this for me please." He hurriedly took a small silver rattle from his pocket. It was old, as if it may have belonged to him as a baby. Piper sniffled and took it from him. She nodded – a silent promise to honour his wishes. She'd do anything if it would just save Prue and the baby. Andy lovingly cupped his hands to Prue's wounds and a warm glow emanated from them. The blood disappeared from her face and she took a deep breath inwards.
"Oh Prue," Piper cried, pulling her close to her chest. Thank you, she whispered silently to Andy who had vanished from the room before Prue could see him.