Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed. I don't pretend to owned Charmed or its characters. I'm just writing this story for my own amusement. It takes into account all of season five before the season finale... if there is anything wrong call me on it and I'm sorry.

Masked

Paige felt someone shimmer in behind her. She turned, mouth agape at who she saw. Cole.
Piper! Piper! Paige screamed for her eldest sister. Phoebe! Piper!
Phoebe isn't home, Cole stated flatly, shifting the bundle in his arms.
Wait... what? Paige turned towards him, putting a hand on her hip. How do you know?
She's right here, Cole nodded towards the bundle in his arms. Paige, curiosity piqued, looked in his arms. Indeed, she saw a girl who looked exactly like Phoebe... the only difference being her body was battered and bruised and you could see every one of her bones. She was that thin.
Paige gasped and backed up. She soon regained her composure though. You're dead! And she still lives here!
Phoebe hasn't lived here since before she accepted to be queen of the Underworld. He bowed his head. When I found her... the real Phoebe... the demon... His voice choked. The demon... he told me that she was pregnant, but... but she lost the baby. Tears dripped down his face as he looked up at Paige.
Paige turned towards the kitchen entrance. You stay here, she said turning to Cole. I'm going to find Piper.
Can I got put her on the couch?
Paige replied, grumpily leading him out of the kitchen and into the sitting room.
Cole gingerly placed the girl on the couch. Paige, still not convinced that she was Phoebe, stomped up the stairs.
Piper! Leo! Paige, angry and out of breath appeared in the doorway of their bedroom.
Piper responded by handing Wyatt to Leo. The courser demon's back?
Paige shook her head.
Piper looked at her sister, eyes huge. Phoebe's gonna...
Paige, before Piper could say anymore, grabbed Piper's hand. Leo followed at a safe distance, Wyatt in his arms.
Paige led Piper over to the couch.
Piper looked, mouth open, at her fragile and beaten baby sister. She then turned on Cole. How could you? You... you sicko!
Cole handed the phone to Piper. Call Phoebe.
Piper glared at him, but took the phone for some reason. Piper asked surprised. Phoebe answered. What do I want? Piper glanced from cole to the battered Phoebe-look-a-like on the couch. Oh nothing. I just wanted to tell you to finish your column. I'm sick of Elise calling here. Piper laughed nervously. Yup. Love you too. Bye.
Piper turned to Paige. Paige nodded and Piper froze the room. She unfroze Leo.
I'll check with the Elders, Leo said, orbing out.
You think that's her? Piper gestured to the crumpled form on the couch.
Is she frozen? Paige asked.
She's unconscious, Piper said pointedly.
Paige agreed. Unfreeze Cole.
Piper sighed and gestured.
You didn't have to freeze me, Cole said sitting down the with a sigh. I won't hurt you.
Yeah right, Paige rolled her eyes. We've all heard that one. Piper got into a defensive stance. What's your story buddy?
Cole smiled grimly. I joined the Avatars and created that stupid alternate reality. Then I was vanquished... or so I thought. The Avatars gave me a deal. I give them all my powers and they give me life as Cole/Belthazor.
Good deal, Paige interrupted with a whistle.
Cole gave her an annoyed look. That woman, he frowned, I knew she wasn't Phoebe. I needed something to believe and it was that Phoebe was out there somewhere... not the woman who hated me in San Francisco. So I searched. He cocked his head towards the couch. And I found. That's the real Phoebe.
How do you know? Paige sneered. She come running into your arms?
You don't think we know our own sister? Piper threw in.
At some times? He paused. No. You don't think that's the real Phoebe? Okay. I don't care. Just have Leo heal her and we'll leave.
Piper said, calling Leo. He orbed in.
He's the real Cole for sure, Leo said.
Piper turned her back to Cole, disgusted. Whatever. He his little girlfriend. I'm going to get Wyatt. She left to get her son, who had been happily orbed into his crib by Leo earlier.
I can't heal evil, Leo said, a note of sadness in his voice.
She's not evil. She's Phoebe, Cole maintained.
You need to let go, Cole. Paige shook her head sadly. She also left the room.
She's Phoebe! Cole cried.
Well she's not evil, Leo said, beginning to heal the girl. Cole knelt down by her side as Leo continued healing her.
Her eyes fluttered open. she asked, weakly. She shut her eyes again.
Cole said his thanks to Leo and helped her to her unsteady feet. He held her tight and shimmered them both away.
==============================================================================
They didn't believe it was me? Phoebe asked. They didn't believe it was me? Tears dripped down her face.
No they didn't. Cole answered. He gave her a hug and rolled over to face her.
Phoebe rubbed the tears out of her eyes with the sleeves of her pink pajamas.
It had been two months since Cole left the Halliwell manor that day. She asked almost every day the same question: They didn't believe it was me?
Go to sleep, Cole said sleepily.
Phoebe mubled, hugging Cole
==============================================================================
The seed of doubt had been planted into the minds of Piper and Paige. Leo tried to get them for a long time to summon Cole and talk to him about it, but they refused.
Piper slipped into her sister's room. Do you remember that time when Prue stole your favorite shirt and gave it to her friend?
Phoebe didn't look up from her computer screen. Uhuh. Sure. Whatever.
Maybe we should call Cole, Piper whispered to Paige as she shut the door to Phoebe's bedroom.
We don't even know where he lives, Paige pointed out.
Piper countered.
============================================================================== I can't go to work... I can't go to the club... I can't go anywhere, Phoebe sighed exasperatedly, flipping through the TV channels.
We could move, Cole suggested.
Phoebe said with a sigh. They'll come around. They'll realize it isn't me. That she, Phoebe pointed to the television, where a picture of Ask Phoebe at the charity ball with her new beau, flashed acrossed the screen, isn't me.
Yeah, yeah they will, Cole said, not believing what he said. They had this conversation at least once a week. He hugged her and gave her a kiss. I'll be back. Call me if you need anything.
She stole my powers too, Cole. You know that? Phoebe asked.
Yeah. I know that. Cole turned off the TV. Phoebe look... you have to realize that you don't have your powers and your sisters... they think that she is you.
But she isn't, Phoebe protested.
I know that and you know that, but they don't. Cole squeezed her hands.
Shouldn't they know? Phoebe asked, sadly.
Maybe. Maybe they should, but... We'll talk about this later, okay? I've got to get to work.
Phoebe and Cole both stood up.
Be careful and call me if you need anything, Cole gave her another hug and kiss.
I know. I know. Phoebe gave a small smile. You be careful and call me if you need anything.
Cole laughed. Paperwork might attack me.
It could. Never know. Phoebe laughed and waved to him as the elevator doors shut. She then collapsed onto the couch. She wondered how they could confuse that woman with her. She was going to ask Cole if he'd come with her to see her sisters that night.
============================================================================== I had the best day today! Phoebe walked in the front door, greeting her two sisters.
Meet a guy? Piper asked, happily.
A particular guy? Paige asked, pointedly.
Phoebe looked at Paige baffled, but ignored her. Piper elbowed her
youngest sister. I met the cutest guy today! He's sweet and smart and... fantastic.
Paige, ignoring the warning elbowing, continued. Is he tall?
I guess, Phoebe replied with a shrug.
Is he a lawyer? Paige asked, stepping a few feet away from Piper.
Phoebe shook her head, confused. No. A news anchor... the one on channel three.
He's cute, Piper agreed.
Who's cute? Leo walked in from the kitchen.
Piper said automatically with a smile. And the new guy Phoebe met.
A new guy? I thought that you were dating...
That's over, Phoebe cut Leo off quickly. I have to go finish my column. Call me if you need anything! Phoebe bounced happily upstairs.
You almost spilled the beans, Paige! Piper turned on her sister. She doesn't need to know!
She has a right to know, Paige said in a much quieter voice. We don't even that's Phoebe anyway.