Prudence and I sit across from each other at a coffee shop on Main Street.

I watch the fascination look on her face and the way she's amazed at people walking around. She's explained to me that her future wasn't a dystopian wasteland, not entirely. She explains that after my death, the supernatural creatures overtook this realm. The gates were open and there was no one to close them.

It's inconceivable that I will only ever be the one to keep the gate. I always figured that someone would be called after me. Like Buffy. Seeing her here, I immediately assumed it would be my children. Looks like I was so wrong.

Prudence notices I'm watching and smiles over at me. The barista brings over our drinks. I take mine and thank the barista as he leaves. Prudence picks hers up and chugs it.

"Slow down, kiddo!" I chuckle, "You act like you haven't had coffee before."

"I live on coffee. I haven't had any since I traveled here." Prudence frowns, "It's kind of been a weird trip. Why are you staring at me like that?"

"I just—I'm sorry."

"For what?" She asks.

"Not being a better Dad. For not seeing how hurt it makes you." I notice her eyes jump before she looks down at her coffee. She begins to run her finger around the ring of the mug. I clear my throat, "I don't want you to think I condone my actions. Just because I'm this Bastion or Gatekeeper, it doesn't make up for that."

"That's not the first time I've seen you have an anxiety attack, you know. You're so strong, you have these moments of complete bad-ass but afterwards, it's like you crumble. Dad is the only person that could pull you together."

"What happened to him?" I ask.

Her eyes find me again and she sadly mutters, "A lot."

"That's not an answer, Prue."

"Just drop it!" She snipes, "It's not a thing I like to talk about. It's just not a topic I like."

We both go quiet. I notice how truly upset she is. I can't block it out. I also can't press her. I can't back off this subject. He's not just her father. He's my husband, or he will be. I take a sip of my coffee and sit back in my chair.

"You know, I really like your hair. It's beautiful. What shampoo do you use?"

Prue smirks at me, "What?" She asks.

"You're beautiful. I've never been that beautiful. You're totally the girl in high school that I hated."

"Dad used to say this was like you. I never understood what he meant."

"And now you do?"

"I appreciate you not pushing me." Prudence nods, "I know it's not easy for you."

"I can't tell if that's a compliment or a criticism but I'll take what I can get." I smile. She stares at me with what I can only explain as fascination. I nod, "I was never good at silence. Silence is good, though. It's like golden. I think I'll be that now."

There's a brief pause. I can't help it.

"So, am I still hot in the future?"

-

As I walk up to the Christiansen Estate, I feel a twinge of guilt.

Finn hasn't spoken a word to me since Lucas died. He promised that he didn't blame me but I know that's not the case. His brother sacrificed himself for me, like so many others. I can't decide whether I should knock or not. I'm sure the door is unlocked but walking into the Christiansen Estate seems like something I shouldn't do.

I knock on the door and am shocked when a shirtless Godric opens the door. He smirks at me, further confusing me.

"May I help you?" He asks, "A little early for booty calls."

"You wish! Is Finn here?" I ask.

Godric shakes his head, "Sorry, nobody by that name lives here."

"Okay, enough jokes."

"Yeah, there are enough jokes. But this time I'm not kidding." He eyes travel the length of my body before meeting my eyes again, "Finn left for New Orleans. Apparently, he couldn't stand to live in this town, with you, without his twin brother. They've always been close. It's annoying."

I glare at him, "Your brother is dead."

"He's been dead for a while. Am I to mourn him? That is a silly human notion. It's weak and irrational." He says in a matter-of-fact way.

"Wait, Finn left? I don't think you're lying."

"Smart of you."

"Where is he in New Orleans?" I ask.

"The Ward, of course." Godric says, obviously flexing his muscles.

I roll my eyes and turn to walk away from him. I stop on the path and turn to him, "And for the love of Christ, put a shirt on."

As I'm walking to my car, I can hear him cackling in the doorway.

-

David enters his apartment, thinking no one is there.

He is not right.

He stops in his tracks when he sees Prudence standing in the middle of the apartment, looking around. She looks to him with a smile as he shuts the door. The two stare at each other for a minute. David admits to himself that she has to be is. He feels it in his body. His soul is bare.

"Hey Prue." David stammers.

"Dad. Sorry to let myself in. Dad, other Dad, gave me a key." Prudence says nervously. She pulls her hand behind her back, "It's really confusing, you know. Calling you both Dad. In the future, he made us call him Perry. He couldn't deal with being called Dad. He said it only confuses us and himself."

"You have to ease up on him."

"I know. I just—It's hard. He becomes a real son of a bitch. It's scary to see how carefree his is. He's so different and unburdened. I can't help but think it's us." Prudence says softly. David begins to open his mouth but she interrupts him, "It think that's why I came back. I needed to convince myself that being born wasn't that moment."

"You're just as crazy as he is." David says angrily. Prue stares at him with surprise. He quickly adds, "It's a trait I've grown accustomed to in him but I can't let you be so stupid."

"Dad—"

"Your birth is not what hardens him! As much as I'm loving this cloak and dagger routine you're using, can you just be honest with us."

"What's cloak and dagger?"

"I—uh, I think it's in the Bible." He stammers, "The point is that you really need to be honest with us. This could be the difference between you changing the future or reliving it."

Prudence gestures to the couch and both of them move and sit beside each other. Prudence is quiet for a minute before sighing.

"It's very complicated. Our family has a very significant tie to the one once called Lucifer and Hecate. Lucifer is the dark entity that follows our family line, especially with Perry." Prue watches her father's reaction, "He's the Prince of Lies and the evil of all evils. He destroys any and everything he touches."

"He's the mysterious man in Perry's dreams?" David asks.

"Yes. He's watched the family for centuries, waiting for the first males of the family. Perry and Porter are the first males in centuries, maybe longer."

"So, I'm assuming that you're not telling a cute story about the Prince of Lies."

"You love Perry. You'd die for him. You'd save him no matter what." Prue says cautiously, "The darkness, the real darkness that lies within every human and, including the one that brought Lucifer from favor. The darkness lies in Lucifer, it's the true nemesis of good."

"I can't let him—"

"Dad!" Prue sighs, "It's not him. The solution is to embrace the darkness. The thing is, because you love him and will die for him..."

"I took it in?" David asks, "To what end?"

"To the end." Prue frowns, "And he had to kill you."

David is silent and stares at her. The two of sit quietly for a long while. David can't wrap his mind around it but at the same time it makes sense. His hate for magic is rising more and more. He shouldn't know this. He should be blissful.

David breaks the silence, "He can't know. I don't even want to know." He pleads.

"But Dad—"

"No, Prue! As your father, I need you to promise me that Perry can't know this!" David commands, "Did he ever tell you what he did for his father? It almost destroyed him."

"I won't but I think lying to him is useless. He doesn't like people lying to him."

"He'll be mad as Hell but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. He's skittish and afraid to commit now. Telling him this is going to spook him more."

"Fine, but promise me that you won't do it again. You won't take in the darkness."

"I can't." David shakes his head, "I can't promise that."

"You do or I swear to God I'll tell him this story but in full detail."

"Fine. Dammit, why couldn't you be more like me?"

"I told you that I came back to pull you apart, to see if we're worth saving." Prudence says as she looks to David, "I'm here to save my fathers from the darkness. Because if I don't, we will never be safe."

The room is silent. Neither of them can think of the words to say. Both stare forward.

"Well...shit."