CHAPTER THREE

THE REUNION

"Paige sure did a wonder up here. I have never seen the attic so organized before." Phoebe slowly turned around in a small circle. Everything was in it's own place. Labels were made where only true Halliwell blood line can find the item. No unsuspecting innocent would know that the attic was the center of most of the magic of the Halliwell family. The attic looked to be a typical mortals attic.

"She didn't use magic to move anything around." Chris said folding his arms across his chest. "Even through it would have made things much easier on her muscles," laughter entered his voice, "and a hell lot quieter for the rest of us to boot."

"She wanted to work out her frustrations." Piper said from where she was sitting on the day bed. The same bed that she and Leo had spent countless moments in. Her hand was on her stomach as baby Chris was very active this day. "But, even moving heavy furnisher for three weeks straight – hasn't broken her."

Chris frowned and turned away from his mother. "She won't be broken. Not for a long time yet."

"Do we convince her to remain here at the manor?" His mother quiet voice asked.

"I can't tell you." Chris shook his head, and turned around in frustration. "Look, I need to get back to demon hunting. I have lost so much time since Aunt Paige took over the attic." With that he went to the pedestal where the BOS was sitting. Holding out his right hand, he just allowed the spirits to guide him to the next demon that needed to be vanquish.

Piper just watched her son orb out. Turning to look at Phoebe, "Any more word on when Cole will get here?" She didn't like how drawn out and tired Phoebe had been.

"Soon." Was all Phoebe allowed to escape. Licking her lips. "I have been working on spells – counter spells – and indigents that I need to make the vanquish potions."

"Why won't let me help you?" Piper said.

Phoebe shook her head. "I'm the one whom have to vanquish my son. I have to be the one to make the poison that will kill my son. His life and death are in my hands. Solely in my hands." Tears rolled down her checks. She quickly lifted her hands up and brushed the tears away. "I'm his mother."

Piper looked over at Wyatt whom was playing on the floor – and felt Chris kick. "I don't know what I would do if I ever had to kill my boys."

"They aren't evil." Phoebe said in a dead voice. "They are light. They are good."

"Chris says that Wyatt is new Source of all evil in the future." Piper said not taking her eyes off her beautiful first born son.

"We are going to stop that. We are going to find the demon whom turned him. Vanquish the demon's sorry ass, and raise Wyatt as we have planned." Phoebe said in a calming voice.

LIVING ROOM

Paige leaned her head back against the couch. Her eyes couldn't remain open. She was so exhausted. She had spent every waking moment up in the attic. Or down in the kitchen eating meals with the family. Even in her sleep – she had been dreaming about cleaning, and getting the attic prepared.

"Piper will be pleased." She murmured just as she feel into a exhausted, and deep sleep.

Piper had walked into the living room just as she heard her youngest sister say her name. Tears sparkled her eyes as she realized how much love Paige had in her voice. Love that she couldn't disguise due to how exhausted she was.

Pausing at the end of the couch, she just looked at her sleeping sister. "Oh Paige," She softly said, as she noticed the awkward position Paige's neck was in. "You'll be even more sore if you sleep like that." She gently moved around, and gently wrapped her arms around her youngest sister's neck and waist. Easing her down to lye length way.

Leaning down and gently pressing her lips on the side of Paige's left eye. Leaving her lips on her sister's skin for a few moments. She couldn't even remember the last time she had been this close to her baby half sister. Seemed like centuries since Paige allowed her to be this close to her. Blinking back the tears – before the could fall and perhaps awaken her sister. She didn't want to destroy this moment. She pulled away and sat down in the small spot that Paige's stomach made on the couch.

Reaching up she pulled the soft blanket down. Gently placing it over Paige, tucking it in behind her back. Piper gently stroked Paige's hair back from her face. "Oh Paige, what am I going to do with you? How can I convince you finally that we love you. That we just want the best for you. That when we interfere it's out of love."

PHOEBE'S BEDROOM

"Phoebe -"

She looked up and suddenly found him in front of him. "You aren't real. You can't be real. It's not time yet."

A slow smirk let up his face, "I'm real, Phoebe, but you are quite correct. It's not time yet. I'm only here to remind you of what is too become." His head tilted to the right. "Do you want to see a picture of our son, Phoebe?"

Phoebe shook her head. "No," her voice was husky. "I can't bare another look at him."

"Perhaps you should," Cole said with a grin. "Than you won't have the nerve to vanquish him. He looks like you." His arms folded across his chest. "He asks after you. Always wondering when his mother would come and join him."

"I'll never join him. How can I, when he's pure evil." Phoebe stood to her feet and backed away from Cole. "He belongs in the underworld. I belong in Heaven."

"He's half good." Cole's eyes darken. "At least he would have been half good if you carried him full term, Phoebe, given birth too him. Loved him." Anger and steel laced his next words. "But you just allowed the Seer to steal him from you."

"I tried to fight, Cole. I tried to fight for him. But she was just too powerful. She had my sisters in a cage and would have killed them." Phoebe cried. "I had to chose."

"You chose your sisters over your own son." Cole barked out. "Figures."

"He truly wasn't my son, nor your son, Cole. He belong to the Source and the Seer." Phoebe said in the voice of truth.

"We made him together, Phoebe, he was ours." Cole said fire in his eyes.

"You were the Source when you were inside me. I was being poisoned by the Seer when we came together. My spirit was no where around when he was created." Phoebe said lifting her eyes. "When he was ripped from my body – I felt free."

"Than why are you feel so guilty with having to vanquish him once more?" Cole asked smirking brightly.

Phoebe blinked. "He looks like you and me, Cole. He looks like the son that we always wanted." Her hands shaking at he sides. "I have to vanquish our son. But I know the moment I do – he'll be the Source and I'll be able to do it. I have to do it."

"You don't have to do anything, Phoebe. You are your own person. You have your own child to protect." Cole pleaded.

"I have to protect Wyatt and Chris." Phoebe said in a firm voice.

"You chose your sisters once more. Over your own happiness." Cole didn't even pose it as questions. He didn't need too.

"I chose to protect the rest of the world." Phoebe said lifting her chin. "He is pure evil. If he continues to live – than the entire world will be lost."

"The entire world will be lost if Wyatt turns into the Source of all evil." Cole said matter of factually.

"We are going to find the demon in time. Wyatt will be safe and protected." Phoebe shot back. "Wyatt is the Twice Blessed. He'll be able to save the world when it's his time."

"No one can save the world. At least no human can." Cole said with a laugh. "I knew the Warren bloodline was full of prideful women. But I never thought that they thought they were the Almighty God."

Not even giving Phoebe a chance to reply, "So how's Paige doing?"

"You leave Paige alone." Phoebe's eyes turned into steel as she glinted.

"Why everyone in the underworld knows how weaken Paige has gotten. Everyone down there is just waiting for her to be weak enough to strike." His right hand rose to his chin. "Question is – should Paige be killed – or you and Piper. It would be nice to watch Paige live in deep and undying guilt over the deaths of both of her sisters. All due to the fact that she had so willing given into depression and allowed her self to leave them defenseless."

Phoebe wished she had more of an active power like her sisters – so she could send something at Cole. Or better yet blow his sorry ass up. But she did have one powerhouse punch. She could still beat him senseless.

"I wouldn't do that Phoebe," Cole said in a soft quiet voice. She just eyed him as she felt her body tense up. Prepared to attack. "If you attack me, Phoebe, than I have no choice but to strike one of your unexpecting sisters."

"You wouldn't dare." Phoebe growled deep in her throat. Heat rose higher in her cheeks.

"Want to test me?" Cole folded his hands across his chest.

Phoebe knew that he won this round. She remained still. "I won't allow you or your minions to attack my sisters."

"As if you have a choice." Cole said laughing. "It will be nice to play with Paige some more. I'm sorry now that I allowed the Power Brokers to leave her so soon."

"Y-you sent the Power Brokers into Paige." Phoebe whispered as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Paige was telling the truth. All along Paige was telling the truth." Cole said his eyes darken in pleasure. "You never believed your sister. You believed me – a half demon – evil being of the earth – over your own sister. A sister whom was pure by her DNA make up. A sister whom had no reason to lie to you." He suddenly laughed low in his throat. "I may not have been able to vanquish you; when I had the chance. But I have seriously weaken the power of three. Ever wonder why I wasn't punished for not full filling my task?"

Phoebe paled.

"Yes that is right, darling; the power of three has been broken." His head tilted. "Do you think that you can be the one to pull it back together in time?" With that he shimmered without allowing her to have a chance to reply.

Phoebe had none.

END CHAPTER THREE