Bitter Destruction

Merry Christmas! Hope you enjoy it and the next chapter of this story! :) Return this gift with some lovely rates and/or reviews please! :D

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Prue and I slept (almost) peacefully the rest of that night. Another nightmare had strangled my mind, but Prue managed to bump into me mid-dream and woke me up. (I wondered if she'd done it on purpose.) When I'd woken up again after the morning sun peeked through the blinds, I was glad to see that Prue was sleeping soundly beside me rather than when I'd usually wake up to find her absent and at work.

Smiling sadly, I remembered what happened last night when Prue and I were kissing on the bed, enjoying each other's touch and taste. Then, I recalled, I freaked out, like I'd been doing for the past month, and left her frustrated - mentally and sexually. Prue and I had decided that we were going to try to go slower and not get so "close" as often as we had in the beginning, but I could tell that Prue wasn't really liking the idea as much as I was.

I hated seeing her so upset, but every time she touched me, I was reminded of the attack... Of how my father had manipulated me and made me think he was Prue, and how I came on him. Disgusted with myself, I'd never been able to go further than kissing with Prue. I was too ashamed.

Prue didn't deserve it, but I couldn't deal with having another person's hands fondling me... digging under my skin... Not now.

'Stop being a baby,' I silently scolded myself. 'Stop being selfish and thinking about yourself, and help Prue and her needs.'

'I suppose I could try,' I counter-thought with slight reluctance.

Carefully, I unwrapped myself from the blankets and replaced them neatly. A smile engraved upon my pale face as I looked at Prue, slumbering peacefully. I slinked quietly out of the bedroom, glancing back at the undisturbed angel before she vanished from my sight.

The hall was silent. Phoebe, Prue's youngest sister, must've been awake already because, through her bedroom's open door, I saw her bed was empty. Piper's bed was also empty, but I knew she wouldn't be downstairs. She and Leo had gone to Paris (once she'd finally convinced him not to orb there and use passports instead like "normal" newlyweds) for their honeymoon and weren't expected back for a few more days.

I tiptoed down the rest of the pathway and down the stairs. Distantly, I heard talking in the kitchen. I slowly walked into the kitchen, peering around the doorframe before entering.

Phoebe was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in her hand, a drowsy smile on her face. My eyebrows scrunched together as I jumped to the other side of the doorway to see what she was smiling at. Behind the cooking counter that I was used to seeing Piper behind of was Phoebe's boyfriend Cole, whom was also my ex-lover that I had known by the name of "Belthazor." He wore a crooked smile as he talked to the youngest Halliwell sister.

I walked inches into the room and cleared my throat. Both faces turned to me immediately, their smiles a bit less cheery and more sympathetic. "Hello Delilah," Phoebe said in a friendly, tired tone.

"Hi," I responded quietly, returning the smile with my own shy one. "Cole," I said politely, whipping around to see his blue eyes.

"How was your sleep?" he inquired.

I sat down beside Phoebe, feeling two pairs of eyes on me awaiting an answer. I wasn't stupid; I knew they heard my screaming at night as well.

Swallowing dryly, I said softly, "Okay." Subconsciously, my right hand crawled over my belly.

Phoebe's right hand grasped my open left hand, giving it a light squeeze. Her eyes were like Prue's: she didn't want to pressure me into talking, but she really wanted to know what was wrong. Reluctantly, she seemed willing to wait.

Letting out a laugh that sounded forced, I lied to them both, "I'm fine, guys. The nightmares will go away."

'Won't they?' I thought.

Phoebe looked to Cole with hopefulness. "Oh," he said, shuffling over to us. Cole sat down in the chair next to Phoebe. "Phoebe and I were talking about going on a picnic today," he said, looking at me. "And we were wondering if you and Prue would like to join us."

A small smile rose across my face. "That sounds nice, actually," I responded happily.

Cole smiled back. "We'd like to go in about an hour, though, so..."

"I'll go wake her up," I finished for him. The youngest Charmed One released my hand and allowed me to wander my way back up to Prue's room.

I pushed the door open cautiously, my eyes moving immediately to the bed that snuggled against the body of the oldest Charmed One. The smile still visible, I went inside the room and gently closed the door. Prue had been turned on her side so that she faced away from me. I climbed onto the bed and whispered into her ear, "Wake up, beautiful."

"Mmm..." she moaned sleepily. "Two more minutes."

"Make that 'mmm' noise again. It was really sexy," I said tenderly.

"Mmm... mmm..." she repeated, her voice a lullaby of tiredness.

"Mmm... I love it," I purred.

She tossed over to face me, her grin like Phoebe's tired one. I leaned myself in to kiss her lips gently and trace my fingers around her blanket-covered waist. Prue pulled away, her green eyes sparkling despite the inactivity that stained them. "I love you," she said.

My smile broadened.

"I wish you would've let me sleep, though," she mumbled through a moan.

"But I have plans for us today!" I retaliated in a childish voice.

She gave me a curious, skeptical look. "Really?"

Heat developed upon my cheeks. "It wasn't my plan, no -- it was Cole and Phoebe's. But we're invited."

"What is it?"

"A picnic."

"That sounds enjoyable," she said with a hint of sarcasm.

I frowned a little. "Prue, please. I think we should go. I'll try not to fall asleep and scream," I added jokingly, putting on my pouty face.

The side of Prue's mouth curved upward. "As long as there's no demons."

"...Cole?"

She rolled her eyes. "He's the only exception," she stated.

"...and me?"

"Delilah, how could I go anywhere without you?" Prue asked, stroking my cheek.

'And the baby?' I asked silently. "We have to get ready now, though," I told her.

She sighed heavily and got out of the bed. "I'll go take a quick shower," she said, grabbing a towel. As she turned the knob, she asked me, "Would you...?" Her somewhat-innocent smirk finished her question.

I smiled halfheartedly and dropped my head, shaking it slowly left and right. "Rain cheque?"

"For you?" She walked over to me and kissed me passionately. "Of course."

Prue walked briskly out of the room, leaving me alone. Moments after, I lifted myself from the bed and rummaged through Prue's closet for an outfit. Most of the shirts that Prue owned were tight - clothes that someone who was pregnant and didn't want others to know wouldn't want to wear. Through constant pushes of clothes hangers, I decided on a black, button-up blouse that expanded outward around the middle.

"This'll have to do," I mumbled to myself. After making sure the bedroom door was securely shut and locked, I grabbed a lacy, black bra from a drawer. I slipped off my pajama top and put on the lacy undergarnment without any trouble. Before putting on the blouse, I ran a pale hand over my abdomen, tracing a finger over the long, faded scar that lay there, reminding me of my past.

My eyes glossed over with tears, but I wiped them away before they could trickle down my cheeks. I pulled on the blouse, buttoning the bottom four buttons, baring a little cleavage, and admired that my stomach wasn't bulging out from the material. Then, I shuffled out of my bottoms and into a pair of dark jeans and slipped on a pair of sandals.

Once I finished, I unlocked the door and went out into the hallway, surprised to see that Prue had already finished. Her body was wrapped with a black towel that contrasted against her soft, milky skin. A hand was ruffling through her dark, damp hair, attempting to relieve it from its wetness. She caught sight of me and smiled. "Hello, gorgeous."

Pink swarmed along my face. "It's nothing, Prue," I countered without much defiance.

She pulled me close to her and captured my lips. Moaning, I could smell the scent of shampoo and honey body lotion tingling off her hair and flesh.

"You girls ready yet?" Phoebe called from downstairs.

I pulled away, folding my lips in with embarrassment. Prue huffed and rolled her eyes. "Almost!" she singsonged toward the stairs. Her hand cupped my cheek. "I'll try to hurry."

I smiled and let her trudge to the room. Scampering down the stairs, I saw that Phoebe had changed, too; she was wearing a short, pink dress and had her blonde hair curled at the ends. Cole was dressed in a white dress shirt and jeans. He also held a picnic basket and a couple blankets in his hands. I could tell by their expressions that they were quite ready to leave.

"Um... Prue's almost done," I confirmed meekly.

"That's good," Cole replied, sounding impatient.

Determined to change the subject, I asked, "What did you guys bring for food?" I'd been very displeased recently, especially now that I had two bellies to fill, because of Piper's absense. Piper was always cooking something delicious in the kitchen, and I needed the lucious meals that we currently lacked.

Cole cleared his throat and tried to hide a smirk before Phoebe jabbed him in the side. I eyed them with suspicion. "What?"

"Cole's being a rude ass," Phoebe remarked before Cole could speak.

"Hey!" he retaliated immediately at her. The half-demon turned his attention back to me. "It's just we've-- Ow!" The youngest Charmed One jerked her elbow back into Cole's torso. "Fine. I've noticed that you've put on a little extra weight lately."

My cheeks flushed instantly and I bit my lip. If Cole had noticed that I was gaining pounds, it was very obvious that Prue, someone that had seen me almost completely naked recently, had noticed as well.

Phoebe hurried to my side promptly. "Oh, honey, don't worry about it. We all go through this, okay? Nothing to be upset about," she soothed, brushing a hand through my raven hair.

"Thanks Phoebe," I thanked, keeping my eyes away from Cole.

"Are we ready?" said the voice of the strongest witch. Phoebe moved away from my side and back to Cole's - keeping a distance, however. I looked at Prue and saw that she also wore a dress, only white and not as thin as the youngest Halliwell's, but showed a pleasing amount of skin. She smiled at me but the smile faded - I must've still looked uncomfortable. "What is it?" she demanded softly.

"Nothing, nothing," I said hurriedly. "Let's just go."

"Cole," Prue nearly shouted, taking us all aback. "Did you do something?"

"Why do you assume it's me?" Cole barked back. Prue and Cole hadn't been on good terms since I'd met both of them. Prue didn't like Cole because she didn't trust him; Cole didn't like Prue because Prue didn't trust him.

Phoebe and I exchanged sympathetic looks; we knew there was no use getting into it.

"Because you're the one that causes problems in this house," Prue snarled.

Cole scoffed in disbelief, nearly dropping the basket and blankets. "I made a small comment about Delilah's weight--"

"What's wrong with it?" My mouth curved a little in relief.

He sighed. "Nothing. I'm sorry, Delilah," he added, turning toward me. "That was rude of me to say."

"It's okay," I replied through a whisper and weakly hugged him before returning to my place beside Prue. "Now can we go?"

Phoebe laughed while Prue continued to glare at Cole, whom decided to pick the dropped picnic items back up. "Yes, please, let's go," Phoebe hurried, opening up the front door.

She and Cole left quickly, leaving a fuming Prue and me behind. "Prue..." I began, "You don't have to be so angry about it. It was just a comment, and he apologized."

"I know that, but it was disrespectful and insulting and-and-and--"

"Prue," I interrupted, grasping her hand. "It doesn't matter."

"But he knows you've had a rough past, especially with what's happened a month or so ago!"

I winced at her words. Did they know everything already? "What do you mean?" I asked softly.

She calmed a little after my flinch. "With finding out about Jarrod, losing your father," she said, ending with a sigh. "I know that even though he was evil, he was still your father."

In much relief that she didn't know anything further about that, I nodded weakly in agreement. "It's okay now, though, Prue. I'm... starting to get over it."

"Yeah," she murmured, rubbing her thumb along my hand. "Sorry."

I smirked. "Now you're starting to sound like me," I teased.

Prue's straight face brightened and returned the smirk with her own. "Let's get going before Phoebe leaves without us."

As we walked to the door, hand-in-hand, I asked seriously, "Do you think I'm getting fat?"

A giggle escaped her mouth when we stepped out into the cloudy atmosphere. "Oh, Delilah..."

With worry, I thought, 'She notices.'

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