Chapter 4: The Life They Never Expected

As Andy adjusted to his new life, he found peace in a simpler career. With connections to his past life still lingering, he worked as a security guard at Crystal Falls Hospital. His days were spent ensuring everything ran smoothly, watching over the town, and providing protection for those in need. It wasn't a life he had ever imagined, but it was steady, fulfilling, and—above all—safe.

A year passed, and Prue and Andy had settled into a comfortable routine, growing closer each day. Their little family felt complete, even if they weren't entirely sure what the future held. Still, they were happy, content with the small, simple life they had built together.

Then, a year later, as if the universe was once again twisting their fate, Prue discovered she was pregnant again. This time, however, the news wasn't as shocking as before. After all, they had been trying for another child for some time, and the idea of expanding their family had been on both their minds.

The pregnancy went smoothly. Prue carried the twins without complication, and both she and Andy were excited to welcome their new children into the world. When the time came for the babies to arrive (month earlier before Chris Halliwell was born), Prue gave birth to twins: a boy and a girl, just as they had dreamed.

The boy was named Andrew Victor Bennett-Trudeau, after both of their fathers. The girl was named Andrea Patricia Bennett-Trudeau, in honor of the family they had left behind and the life they had never fully reclaimed.

It was a bittersweet moment. Prue and Andy knew their children would never grow up in the world they had once known. They would never be a part of the magical legacy that had once been so central to who they were. But they had each other—and that was enough. Their little family, their quiet life in Crystal Falls, had become their world, and they would protect it with everything they had.

Still, there was a lingering question in Prue's mind. She had once been one of the most powerful witches in the world. What happened to the Power of Three? Did her sisters survive? The Elders hadn't mentioned anything about their fates.

Meanwhile, in the Chamber of Elder Galen:

Galen, who had been searching for Prue and Andy, was growing frustrated. He could sense their presence—he knew they were out there—but it was as if a veil had been drawn over them, blocking his ability to locate them fully. The moment their child was born, it was as though they had vanished completely.

Back at the Trudeau House:

As Prue and Andy settled into their new life, they occasionally talked about their past, about their powers. Little did they know, their powers hadn't disappeared. The Elders had suspended them. It was a precautionary measure, designed to ensure that Prue and Andy's return to the real world wouldn't disrupt the delicate balance of magic. By taking away their powers, the Elders had ensured that they wouldn't accidentally draw attention to themselves or trigger another catastrophic event.

The Elders had no way of knowing whether Prue's return would cause ripples in the magical fabric—especially now that she had a child, one born outside the expected flow of time, a child who wasn't meant to exist in the natural order of things.

But for now, Prue and Andy lived without magic, without their powers, in the peaceful town of Crystal Falls. The town had become their sanctuary.

Time Skip: Five Years of Peace

Crystal Falls, 2007

It had been five years since Prue and Andy had started their new life in Crystal Falls, a small town where they could blend in seamlessly with the rest of the world. For them, the days passed quietly, without the chaos of their past. There were no demons, no magical battles, no Charmed Ones to unite them. They had come to accept that their powers were gone, and that their life would be one of simplicity and peace.

But as time passed, the quiet moments they shared with their children—Adrianna, Andrea, and Andrew—became the most precious of all. The twins had grown into bright, energetic four-year-olds, and their older sister, Adrianna, was already a kind and curious five-year-old. Life in Crystal Falls was everything Prue and Andy had dreamed of: a safe haven, filled with love, laughter, and the joy of raising their family.

Prue's days were filled with the comforting rhythms of motherhood. She woke up early every morning to make breakfast for the kids—pancakes, scrambled eggs, or sometimes waffles, depending on what the kids asked for. Her mornings were spent tending to them, getting them ready for school, or simply enjoying their company. They lived in a modest house on the outskirts of town, with a small backyard where the children could play.

Andrea, the more independent of the twins, would race ahead, her small legs carrying her quickly as she played with her brother Andrew, who was always trying to keep up. Adrianna, ever the responsible older sister, helped Prue in the kitchen, setting the table and chatting about the latest book she'd read or the science project she was working on at school.

Andy spent his days as a security guard at Crystal Falls Hospital. He had become a familiar face in town, always ready with a friendly word or a reassuring smile. Though his life was more ordinary now, he still retained the instincts and sharp awareness from his days as a police officer. The quiet small-town life suited him, and he enjoyed the simplicity it offered. But there were still moments when he'd look at his children and wonder what their life would have been like if the Elders hadn't erased their past.

Every night, Prue and Andy sat down to dinner with their children. They'd laugh over silly jokes, talk about school, and share their hopes for the future. They had become a family in every sense of the word. Adrianna was growing into a curious, intelligent young girl, always asking questions and exploring the world around her. Andrea and Andrew, though still young, showed signs of their own individual personalities. Andrea was fiercely independent, always the first to challenge authority, while Andrew was quiet and observant, preferring to listen more than speak.

As a family, they were content, though there was always a subtle undercurrent of curiosity about the world beyond their little town. There were moments when Prue and Andy would exchange silent glances, acknowledging the knowledge they shared—about who they once were and the powers they no longer had access to.

But unbeknownst to them, forces beyond their understanding were still at work. The Elders had hidden their powers, suspended them in a limbo that neither Prue nor Andy could access. But magic was a force that couldn't be kept hidden forever. It had its own way of resurfacing, especially when nature decided it was time.

Prue occasionally had flashes—brief moments when she caught a faint whiff of magic, or when she sensed something deep within her stir. In those moments, a force called to her, one she couldn't name but couldn't ignore.

Andy, too, had his own moments. Sometimes, in the middle of the night, he would wake up, sit up in bed, and say, "I feel like there's someone watching us," before falling back to sleep. It was unsettling, but Prue always reassured him that it was just a bad dream. She didn't want him to know the truth—that magic still lingered in their family, waiting for the right moment to return.

As for their children, Adrianna, being the oldest, was the most perceptive. Recently, she had started asking questions about their past. "Why don't we have any family?" she asked one evening as she sat on the porch, gazing up at the stars. "Why don't we have grandmothers or grandfathers like my friends at school?" Prue had always avoided answering directly, telling her daughter that they simply didn't have family nearby. But it was clear that Adrianna knew there was more to the story.

Meanwhile, in an Unseen Shadow:

One day, when Adrianna was playing in the yard with her siblings, Prue had a strange sensation. She was sitting on the porch, watching her children, when the air around her seemed to thicken. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. There was something in the air—a presence, just out of sight.

She stood up, her heart racing, and walked toward the edge of the yard. As she stepped onto the grass, a shadow moved just beyond the tree line. She squinted into the dimming light, but saw nothing. Her pulse quickened. It was as though someone—or something—had been watching her.

"Prue?" Andy's voice called from the front door, snapping her from her thoughts.

She blinked, shaking off the feeling, and turned to find Andy standing in the doorway.

"Everything okay?" he asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

Prue forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah. Just… thought I saw something. It's nothing." But deep down, she knew it wasn't nothing. She had felt it before—those moments when the magic inside her stirred, when the world around her seemed too still.

The Change is Coming

It was only a matter of

time before fate came knocking. The universe, restless as always, had a way of steering people back to their destinies. For Prue and Andy, their pasts were never truly erased—only hidden. Soon, their peaceful life in Crystal Falls would be upended, and they would be drawn back into a world they had tried so desperately to leave behind.

One evening, as the family gathered around the dinner table, a loud bang echoed from outside, shaking the walls. The kids jumped, frightened, and Andy stood quickly, instinctively protecting his family. "Stay inside," he said, rushing to the window.

Prue joined him, and together, they looked out into the growing darkness. A figure stood in the distance, just beyond their gate. Cloaked in shadow, its form was indistinct, but there was something about it that felt... familiar. The air hummed with strange energy, as though the world itself was holding its breath.

Prue felt a chill run down her spine. The figure had a presence, a power that she couldn't explain. It was as if the universe was telling her that this moment would change everything.

Andy reached for Prue's hand, squeezing it tightly. "What do we do?"

Prue took a deep breath, knowing their quiet life in Crystal Falls was about to be upended. "I think it's time we found out what's really happening."