"Well -- that should hold them for now." Lilith says, removing the powers Phoebe took from Cole and placing them in a hidden compartment in the wall of her cavern.
"Sorry I didn't get them all --- my stupid sister walked in. Don't worry, I'll finish the job tonight." Phoebe says. "Then you're all set to fix things for me, right?"
"Don't worry -- as soon as you've taken Cole's powers, everything will be ready for your new human form and new home. After this evening, Phoebe Halliwell will no longer exist in your world." Lilith tells her.
"Good -- I guess I need to go finish what I started." Phoebe says, and she pulls out her mirror and vanishes. Elizabeth enters the room.
"What are you going to do to Cole, mother?" she asks.
"That's none of your concern." Lilith says.
"He's my SON. I know you only sent me to him to distract him from stopping Phoebe, but -- I'd forgotten how much I love my son. I won't let you hurt him -- and I won't let the Charmed Ones hurt him, either."
"Don't interfere with this, Elizabeth. In fact -- you are not permitted to see Cole again."
"You can't do that." Elizabeth says.
"I can -- and I will. And if you defy me -- you WILL pay dearly." Lilith reminds her.
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"Are you sure you want to do this?" Cole asks Paige, as they stand in the lobby of the courthouse. Paige hesitates for one moment.
"Eh -- why the hell not? " she finally says.
"Well, that's encouraging." Cole replies. "Look -- Paige, this isn't the only way. I don't want you marrying me simply out of some obligation to protect me."
"Cole, I'm kidding. Geez, get a sense of humor." Paige says, and she kisses him on the lips. "Besides, this isn't just for you, it's for Phoebe -- if we do this in secret, we can trap her. My sister may be a pain but I do want her back."
"You're sure Piper won't vanquish me for this?" Cole asks.
"Why do you think we're not telling her?" Paige asks. Cole glares at her. "Again -- kidding. Sort of."
"Well I'm not. Look Paige, I've already had one marriage go bust. I'm not taking this lightly, you know. I mean, I don't want to turn into some male-demon version of Elizabeth Taylor. I know we're not exactly doing this for the most romantic of reasons, but -- I really do want to try and make this marriage work." Cole says.
"Turner. Miss Matthews." the judge says, coming out of his chambers.
"Yeah -- hey, thanks for doing this last minute." Cole says.
"I'm doing it as a favor for Miss Matthews, I've presided over cases for several of her former clients -- she always impressed me. You -- not so much." the judge says to Cole. "You've thought this through?" the judge asks Paige.
"Of course I have. And we really do appreciate it." Paige says.
"Okay, let's get this over with." the judge says. They go into his chambers, along with two court employees as witnesses, and close the door. Cole and Paige face one another. "Paige Matthews, do you take Cole Turner to be your wedded husband to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love, comfort, honor and keep him for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. And forsaking all others, be faithful only to him so long as you both shall live?" Paige looks up at Cole.
"I do." she replies, smiling at Cole.
"And do you, Cole Turner, take Paige Matthews to be your wedded wife to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love, comfort, honor and keep her for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. And forsaking all others, be faithful only to her so long as you both shall live?"
"Absolutely -- I do." Cole says.
"Then by the power vested in me by the state of California, I pronounce you husband and wife. And you may now kiss your --" he begins, as Cole and Paige are already locked in a kiss. "Well, have a good a day." the judge says, leaving the room. "I give it six months, tops." he whispers to one of the witnesses as he leaves.
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"You did WHAT!" Piper shouts, as Paige cringes. Piper lets out a loud scream, and shatters one of the living room lamps.
"See, this is why we didn't tell you." Paige says.
"So you're saying I've got ONE sister who's possessed by a demon, and one sister who's MARRIED to a demon. Great. Just great." Cole enters the house.
"Hey Piper. How are you?" Cole asks hesitantly.
"You -- you --" Piper starts aim her hands at Cole, and Paige grabs her and orbs her outside, and Piper blows up a tree.
"I will NOT have you blowing up my husband!" Paige reprimands her.
"Well, I need to do SOMETHING to him! Paige, you were just telling me how you only THOUGHT you might be falling in love with Cole, and now here you are MARRIED to him? I've heard of speed dating, but this is ridiculous!" Piper stomps toward the front door -- Paige grabs her and orbs them both back in the house.
"So, you two girls have a nice chat?" Cole asks. "You're -- not gonna vanquish me, are you Piper?"
"Don't tempt me." Piper says to him.
"Piper, you don't know the whole story. Cole needs me to be married to him if he's going to be protected from Phoebe." Paige says.
"Yeah, she kind of tried to kill me earlier. She took half of my powers. I think that's what Lilith took her in for. I have new powers most demons would kill for, and Lilith decided to attempt it." Cole says.
"So your solution was to marry my sister?" Piper asks, her arms crossed.
"Actually, that was MY idea." Paige says.
"I may have planted the seed, but -- this was all Paige's doing. The lilim can't attack men who are in bound, committed relationships. And Phoebe doesn't know that we're married. So when she tries to finish what she started, we ambush her. It's pretty simple, actually -- I'm glad Paige thought of it."
"Simple? We still don't know how to vanquish the demon that's possessing her." Piper tells them.
"Yeah, and we also haven't been able to spend enough time with her to figure out what exactly her new demon powers ARE. The minute she feels threatened she pops out that stupid mirror she's carrying around and vanishes." Paige says.
"Mirror? What mirror?" Cole asks.
"I've seen it too -- it has this thing on it, a flower -- it looks like a --" Piper begins.
"A lily." Cole says. "My mother has one just like it. She was always looking into it when I was growing up, I figured she was just in love with herself. Which she is, but -- now it all makes sense. If we destroy that mirror, we destroy Phoebe's access to Lilith -- and doing that --"
"Will release her from the demon." Piper says.
"So what, we're vanquishing a mirror?" Paige asks.
"Sort of." Cole says. "So, I guess we just wait for Phoebe to show up."
"And you're sure she will?" Piper asks.
"She has to. She didn't finish what Lilith told her to do." Cole says.
"Okay -- so then after we save Phoebe, you're getting this ridiculous marriage annulled, right?" Piper asks.
"Um -- no, we're not." Cole tells her.
"EXCUSE me?" Piper says. Paige walks over to Cole, and he puts his arm around her.
"We've decided we want this to work. Look, we know it's not the most conventional of circumstances, but -- well, come on Piper, there's nothing that conventional about this family anyway." Paige says.
"Believe it or not Piper, we're in love. I know it was fast and sudden but it happened, and we want to see where this can go." Cole informs her.
"Paige, barely a month ago you wanted to VANQUISH him -- as painfully as possible!" Piper shouts.
"And I've forgiven her for that. We all make mistakes, Piper." Cole says.
"Whether you like it or not -- I'm Mrs. Paige Turner, and that's not gonna change. Piper, can't you just be happy for us?" Paige asks. Piper sighs in defeat.
"Leo is going to have a FIT when he hears about this -- he still doesn't trust you completely." Piper says to Cole.
"Yeah, well I'm working on that, too. I'm hoping that one day -- Leo and I can be friends." Cole says. Piper snickers a bit.
"Wonderful -- I have a delusional demon as a brother-in-law." Piper says.
"I prefer the term RECOVERING demon, thank you." Cole says.
"Cole isn't evil, Piper -- he's only using his powers -- well, what he has left of them -- for good." Paige says.
"Gee, I've heard that song before." Piper says. Piper hesitates for a moment. "If you EVER hurt my sister -- for ANY reason -- I will make it my personal mission to see that you are vanquished in the most painful, torturous manner possible."
"Duly noted." Cole says. "Can I get a 'welcome back to the family' hug now?" Cole stretches his arms out to Piper and smiles.
"Honey -- don't push your luck." Paige tells him.
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Later that evening, Piper, Paige and Cole are at the manor, just waiting for Phoebe. "Is Leo EVER going to be home tonight?" Paige asks.
"I don't know -- he was called away early this afternoon by the elders, they had some sort of emergency counsel meeting -- something MAJOR must have happened for him to be gone this long. Whatever it is, it can't be good." Piper says. Suddenly they hear something at the door, and Phoebe enters.
"Cole -- I kind of had a feeling you'd be here." Phoebe says. She looks at Paige and Piper. "Don't worry, this will be over soon -- Piper, you'll be so proud of me, I finally found a way to vanquish him. Paige, I know you'll be upset at first but it's for the best -- just trust me." Cole stands up.
"Go right ahead and try." Cole dares her. Phoebe moves toward him. She grabs him by the neck and forces him to gaze into her eyes.
"Admit it Cole -- you want me, don't you?" Phoebe whispers.
"Actually -- I've moved on, Phebes." Cole says, still staring at her. He then pushes her hands away and wraps his arm around her, holding her in a chokehold position. "Get her purse." Cole says, as Phoebe kicks and fights with him.
"Purse!" Paige says, and the purse orbs to her. She searches through it. "Got it!" Paige shouts, holding up the mirror.
"NO!" Phoebe screams.
"Now, do it!" Cole shouts. Paige tosses the mirror up in the air, and Piper blows it up, shattering it into pieces. Phoebe lets out a loud, shrill scream, then collapes in Cole's arms. Cole gently carries her to the couch. Paige and Piper sit down next to her, as Cole steps back and watches.
"Phoebe -- come on, wake up, honey." Piper says to her. Phoebe wakes up and looks up at them.
"Piper?" she says. She starts crying as Piper wraps her arms around her tightly.
"It's okay, sweetie." Piper says.
"What have I done, Piper? Oh my god, what have I done?" Phoebe says, still crying. "Miles, I -- I killed him."
"That wasn't you -- and don't worry, we'll fix it. We'll fix everything, okay?" Piper says. Phoebe then looks at Paige, and immediately notices her wedding ring. She then notices that Cole is wearing the same type of ring.
"Hey Phebes -- it's good to have you back." Paige says. Phoebe doesn't say a word to her.
"I -- I think I want to go upstairs and lie down." Phoebe says.
"Of course -- Paige, can you orb her to her room?" Piper asks.
"No -- I can get there myself." Phoebe says, and she stares icily at Paige. Piper helps her stand up, and they start to head upstairs. Cole walks over to Paige and puts his arm around her. Phoebe turns and glances at them, then walks away.
"She hates me." Paige says.
"She'll get over it." Cole tells her, rubbing her shoulder. "Let's go to bed, it's been a long day."
"You go ahead." Paige says.
"Paige, this is our wedding night." Cole tells her.
"I know -- I'll be up in a minute." Paige says, and she gives him a kiss. Cole reluctantly heads upstairs alone.
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Phoebe is crying as Piper helps her get settled into bed. "You want me to stay here with you tonight, sweetie?" Piper asks. Phoebe nods her head.
"I can't believe I was such fool." Phoebe says.
"Phebes -- you were possessed. It wasn't your fault."
"No, I ALLOWED myself to be possessed, and that's makes me such a fool. Piper, I wasn't angry at Cole for being evil -- I was angry at him for sleeping with my SISTER! I was jealous, Piper! When I saw them together -- I seriously wanted to kill BOTH of them!" Phoebe tells her. "And now, after everything that just happened -- Piper, I understand what Cole went through, with the Source. It was no more his fault than it was mine. And now he's with Paige -- and that IS my fault."
"Honey, I know it has to hurt, but -- you'll get over him, Phoebe." Piper tells her.
"I don't WANT to get over him, Piper! I want him BACK! I still love Cole, and I want him back!" Phoebe tells her -- as Cole is listening in outside the door, unseen, a stunned look coming over his face.
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Paige is on the front porch, looking up at the stars, as Leo orbs in. Paige turns and looks at him. "Where have you been?" she asks. "We could have used your help today."
"Well, from what the elders tell me, you've been a very busy girl. Do you know how much trouble you're in, Paige?" Leo asks.
"Why am I in trouble?" Paige asks.
"You married a demon -- that's kind of against the rules. Piper and I went through hell to get married, and she's one of the GOOD guys." Leo informs her.
"Cole is good now." Paige tells him.
"That doesn't matter -- he's a demon. And I have my orders to carry out -- I'm sorry Paige." Leo says. He puts his hands up to Paige's face, and she feels his power surge through her, but it's like nothing she's ever felt before.
"Leo, what did you just do to me?" Paige asks after he's finished.
"I had no choice Paige -- you've been stripped of your whitlighter powers. It's what the elders demanded be done immediately." Leo tells her.
"They can't do that to me!" Paige insists.
"They can, and they did -- it's for your protection Paige. For yours -- and your child's." Leo says.
"What? I don't have a child." Paige says.
"Not yet -- but you will in about nine months. You and Cole -- you conceived a child this morning. The moment it happened, the elders called a meeting -- then we found out you married him, which made a bad situation even worse."
"I'm pregnant? Oh my god, Cole is gonna FREAK, we never talked about kids!"
"You never talked about much of anything -- the elders feel this entire relationship with Cole has been reckless and impulsive and now with your pregnancy and marriage --"
"We got married to save PHOEBE, Leo! If you had been here, you would have known that!"
"That doesn't change the fact that you're married to Cole, and you're pregnant with his half-demon child. A female whitelighter cannot be the incubating host for a demon, Paige. It's too dangerous." Leo informs her.
"Dangerous?"
"Well -- it was. Now that you're no longer a whitelighter, there is a chance this child will be -- safe."
"Safe from what?" Paige asks.
"Not from -- TO. If a whitelighter and a demon conceive a child together -- there's a strong chance you could have conceived a darklighter. Paige, your own child -- may very well kill you. That's why we've removed your powers -- to keep your baby -- and you -- safe from harm. I'm sorry, Paige -- this one's out of my hands." Leo says, and he orbs into the house. Paige stands outside on the porch, still in shock. She looks down at her belly, then back at the door, which opens -- Cole steps outside.
"I thought you were coming to bed." he says, putting his arms around her from behind. He kisses her on the cheek. "Why don't you orb us upstairs -- Mrs. Turner."
