Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed or Dragon Lance…but I do own this story so booyah. This chapter has some adult like content, nothing too serious but just a warning for you guys maybe one curse word, and a little sexual reference.

Thanks for the reviews greatly appreciated and helpful.

Chapter 9

Love and Fate

Better to have loved and lost then never to have loved at all.

Dude...shut up.

"Phoebe…"

"Phoebe…"

"PHOEBE…."

She woke up with a start and Cole was automatically at her side, he curbed his heart beat, as he refrained from grabbing her into his arms to calm her. It didn't help much of her reaction when she saw him.

"Cole?" At first she thought it was the man that she had just murdered, her heart wrenched at the memory, and she grasped him to her. She waited patiently for his arms, for him to whisper that she was safe, that he loved her. Instead she felt coldness looked up into his eyes, and the realization hit her, he wasn't the same; this Cole was unshaven, his hair a complete mess, and the look of a man who had gone days without a decent nights rest…she screamed.

Cole jumped back, and she quickly climbed out of bed ready to fight.

"Cole what are you doing here."

"Phoebe calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down, why aren't you dead…I killed you…."

"Phoebe…." He stared at her for a moment and moved a little closer.

"Don't come near me…." She hissed, and without turning to look she ran out the door.

Cole sighed, and slumped back into his seat, his emotions conflicted.

She had seemed so happy to see him at first, the way she had grabbed him. But it was probably from a dream…or a nightmare…more then likely she was downstairs right now trying to concoct some type of potion to get rid of him.

Sure as hell wouldn't be a good idea to stay around and find out.

"Phoebe calm down." Piper urged her younger sister, "Calm down…CALM DOWN!" Phoebe turned to Piper staring her straight in the eye…. "Piper you brought back my dead ex-husband…."

"Actually I really just released him."

"Released him?" Phoebe muttered incredulously.

Piper swallowed nervously "You remember the time I died and ended up in Limbo…."

"Yeah…"

"Well there was something I didn't tell you…about the old friend."

"It was Cole wasn't it…that's how he convinced you to release him, preyed on the fact that he helped you."

"No…"

"Then he what cast a spell?"

"No…." Piper muttered agitated.

"Then why Piper, why in all that is pure and good would you release that…that man?"

"That reason was upstairs yesterday, and stuck his hands through your stomach!" Piper shouted.

Phoebe quieted down, and abruptly sat down. Piper moved to her side, and slowly rubbed her back.

"I'm sorry honey…I didn't."

"That was, I felt it from his emotions he didn't say anything but I knew…he was my son…mines and…."

"Mine." Cole's stepped down the stairs and stood opposite of the sisters, he ignored the scowl that Piper sent at him, instead his gaze focused on Phoebe. She met his eyes for a moment, but quickly lowered them before he could read what she was thinking…or feeling.

Phoebe could sense Cole's emotions; they were rough, painful, and incredibly raw. She pushed her own back down, trying to calm down her racing heart. Must have been because of the dream, the dream were the man she loved…and married, was still alive…and loved her as well.

"We need to find him," Cole spoke, interrupting Phoebe's thoughts.

"And then what?" Piper asked staring at him as if he was foolish, "didn't you see what he did upstairs? Heck even the big bosses are nervous…and he has the book of shadows."

Phoebe looked up alarmed.

"He took it after he knocked us out." Piper explained

"He touched it…" Hope shown in Phoebe's eyes, "Doesn't that mean he isn't evil…maybe?"

"No," Cole looked away, "It just means that he doesn't plan to use the book for evil. He's Halliwell blood, the book wouldn't know how to respond, and with his powers…who knows…."

"Maybe it's a spell…maybe that's why…."

Cole barked out a laugh, "You were so dead set that he was evil before he was even born…now what's so different?" His eyes narrowed, and Phoebe shivered from the coldness they radiated; the similarities between the eyes were shocking, and it took so much for her not to simply crumble from the scrutinizing gaze.

"It is a spell, what's his name…Simelan, he cast a spell." Cole focused on Piper, "did he say what type?"

"Tempus animus," Piper responded, and Cole let out a sigh.

"You can't break that without the power of three, and I doubt he'll let us get close enough to break it…did he say how long ago he cast it?"

"No,"

"Damn it…there's a time limit on these type of spells after enough time they are impossible to break, no matter how hard you try." Cole paced the floor, trying not to cast a glance at Phoebe.

"So we need to find him…" Phoebe stated, "I want…" she paused and swallowed pushing down the lump in her throat, "I want my son back."

"He's not staying here." Cole interrupted his back facing the sisters. He could feel their eyes burning into his back, and Piper let out a growl.

"When he…when we fix this…I leave..." "Fine" Phoebe shot back, and shrugged her shoulders.

"With him," Cole turned to them his eyes hardening, and without a word he shimmered away.

"What do you see?" Nuitari gazed at the oracle before him, her hands over a glowing orb.

"I thought you were blessed with the gift of foresight my lord?" Illiria responded, desperately attempting to hide the sneer that lay underneath.

"Time is not a river for me, as it is for you mortals," Nuitari wheezed, "to me it is an ocean, with each event influencing countless others."

He sat straighter, his hand wiping away the small droplets of blood that hung from his lips.

"I see nothing…my lord…the future…I see nothing." She edged away, her head bowed low.

Nuitari moved to her, and brushed a strand of her red hair from her face. Her green eyes avoided his, and her pale skin burned from the heat that radiated from his hand. His thumb moved over her lips, and she grimaced from the pain that shot through them.

"You're lying," he finished forcing her chin up, and her eyes met his.

"No my lord, never…" She said faintly, her heart pounded within her chest and she bit her tongue to stop herself from crying from the heat that rose through her body.

He leaned to her, and brushed his tongue slowly across her skin, she finally cried out as the pain increased; her eyes seeing bright lights.

"You taste like a liar and your mind attempts to block my own." His grip tightened, and with she felt herself lifted into the air, his eyes a pale white hue.

"What did you see Oracle?" He questioned, removing his hand from her chin, she remained hoisted in the air.

"I saw nothing just as the former Seer saw nothingness, when the Source freed the hollow."

"I do not plan to free it."

"You cannot honestly hope to control it; its powers are too great…."

"I would know…they are mine," He turned away holding his hand close to his body, to attempting to stop its shaking."

"The bane of the Gods," She whispered, and painfully fell to the floor, his body bending over her own.

"Yes; ignorance of mortality with the infallibility of the God's; its very essence screams chaos and order. A paradox…that would bring my…our demise," Nuitari's eyes glazed over. "I want it back…and you are going to tell me how to get it back."

"In return…." She whispered daringly.

"I make you the Source, by name if not by power."

Illiria gazed at him, as if he was insane, "How…the Grimoire is gone…and even if…why would you?"

Nuitari reached his hand out, and a black book appeared within his hands, and she eyed it hungrily. When she reached for it though, it disappeared with a puff of smoke.

"Tell me…and it is yours."

She contemplated how many females had ever had the chance to be the Source? How many would give their lives for this opportunity.

"Deep within the recesses of the wasteland, and within the belly of the beast," Nuitari nodded happily.

"The book," She demanded and froze, his eyes stared into hers and she could feel the heat rising around her body. He moved closer and pressed his lips to hers; she uttered a cry of pain and surprised, and bit down on his lip. Blood pooled within her mouth and she chocked as it burned down her throat, she attempted to struggle but the pain only kept her frozen in place; the pain only seemed to increase as he left her, and she felt a the heat reside leaving her with a feeling of completeness, but also a deeper sense of emptiness.

Nuitari pulled away, and licked his lips the wound healing instantly. "Here," he waved his hand and the book appeared within her hand.

"What did you do?" She stuttered out, frightened but amazed at the power that she felt coursing through her veins.

"Come now…an Oracle…as the Source, you wouldn't last a day. I gave you something extra…a little boost. Now leave, I have thing's to attend to."

Illiria bowed deeply, and vanished in flames.

"The wasteland," Nuitari contemplated, it wasn't a world one walked into; even with his powers its access was still barred; an athame flashed into his hand, and with a quick movement cut deep into his right palm.

The blood sizzled on the floor, and the forms three wolf like beings rose from the steam. Their dark forms bowed before their master, the tentacles growing from their heads flayed around, and the blackened eyes swiveled deeply within the sockets.

"Go," Nuitari announced, "and bring me the Hollow."

Their piercing howl echoed throughout the cavern, he could feel their protests and cries, but he ignored them instead imposing his will; the loud keening howl lowered into a deeper pitch and they melted into the shadows.

Cole stood on top of the Golden Gate Bridge; his eye's surveying the city below him. The clouds blocked the moon, and stars and cold breezes fluttered around him.

"I'm an idiot," he muttered under his breath. The wind picked up and whistled as if in agreement. There was nothing that he could do that justified what he had done…the way he had acted; except maybe pure defense, fear.

"Could be worst, you could be dead…again." The voice floated to him, and he turned the black flames flashing around his hands again.

"Calm down dad, I'm not here to fight." Nuitari appeared standing besides him, the cloak replaced with a black overcoat, a white shirt underneath and black jeans. Noticing the pointed stare, he smiled at his father the very smile that showed more of his mother then he would ever care to admit.

"I thought it would be nice to try to fit in, being part human and all; by the way how's mom? Awake by now, I'm sure."

Cole grabbed him by the scruff of the shirt, and lifted him up.

"What did you do to her," he hissed between clenched teeth.

"Nothing, nothing she was just somewhere she wasn't supposed to be. She's back safely right? Maybe with five little scars but that's all." He pried the fingers from his clothing, Cole flinched slightly from the iron-like grip; and back away as his son brushed his body down, a disappointed sigh escaping his lips as he looked at the wrinkles.

"You tried to kill us." Cole stated

"Not really, if I had honestly wanted you dead…you'd be dead." He turned to his father, "I'm a god remember? Anything you humans can do I can do better." Looking up into the sky he let out a wistful sigh

"The magic's eating away at you, if you don't let me help…you'll die," Cole stated.

"I'm fine, just a little incomplete; you know how demonic essences are if they aren't complete…well things tend to find a place to settle in."

"You don't want to do that…you aren't evil, but if you give into your demonic impulses you will be."

"You've forgiven me already…even after everything I've done to mum and you?" Nuitari said, his voice trembling mockingly.

Cole scowled. "I'm going to save you."

"Save me? Oh dear, big daddy to the rescue just as always," Nuitari turned smirking, "I'm pretty sure it's that attitude that led to this very situation now." He quieted down, and waved his hand through the air, parting the clouds allowing the pale light of the moon to embrace him.

"Come and save me dad," Nuitari whispered his back heaving softly, "Do all you can to save me, and when you fail…like always…" He turned and Cole looked away from the eyes that cried tears of blood.

"When you fail…I'll be there to make sure you remember every moment of it." Nuitari approached Cole his hands tightening into fists.

He relaxed visibly and let out a breath and pulled in a deeper one.

"But for now…go home…get some rest…enjoy life…it's probably gonna be pretty short." The chilling smile appeared back on his lips, but Cole stared back defiantly.

Nuitari shrugged his shoulders, and started to fade away, "By the way tell mom I say hi won't ya?"

Phoebe stared at her computer screen and let out an exasperated sigh; a family trait really, they all had it, the inability to complete anything until a deadline was glaring its ugly head at them. She had basically turned all her insights complete to her work; the disappearing of Coleridge was met with indifference, his existence basically wiped from everyone's memory. Perhaps for the best it would be difficult for someone to explain that their missing partner was actually their supposedly dead son, out for revenge.

She let out another sigh, her thoughts once again turning to him; the past months had gone by but no information had new information had risen, things were quite even peaceful…unless if one counts the increase in demonic activity; the Underworld had apparently managed to gain itself a new Source but this one apparently wasn't an idiot or obsessive; at first she had feared that he had placed himself upon the demonic hierarchies; but it was just another Source; She let out a laugh at the thought; when had the dangers of her life become so routine that she really could just dismiss them so quickly?

Paige joked and said something along the lines of the new Source being a woman; none of them had really found the idea funny.

Life went on, as it always did; existence really didn't care much about your problems; you could either let them eat at you, or just ignore them. Unfortunately for her they were eating away. Slowly of course because misery and utter damnation always took time to simmer till perfection.

Cole wasn't helping either, and she hated him for it; staying at the house avoiding her at every turn. The only time they had managed to stay in a room together had erupted into one huge family commotion, in between the, "I hate you's and you ruined my life" the entire family somehow managed to get sucked into it. Paige now three months pregnant and already pretty moody referred to Cole as "demonic backstabbing son of a bitch." To which he responded with a crack about her girth and how he was surprised that it took people so long to figure out she was pregnant since he could tell from miles away; Phoebe ever at her sisters defense made a crack about his sexual performance; in anger he shot back that it hadn't really taken his "demonic backstabbing son of a bitch" self much to get her back into bed. The result ended with Cole disappearing for nearly a week, Paige sulking and eating, Piper refusing to talk to anyone and it took Leo ever the pacifist to finally manage to bring them all together.

Simelan the new resident demon shook his head at the whole matter and muttered something about how was it possible that such a dysfunctional mortal family managed to stay alive. He received a sound yelling at, and he collapsed in a dead faint when Piper threatened to explode his manhood.

After that, things went back to normal; Cole and Paige grudgingly made peace, but he refused to even acknowledge her when she inched forward to whisper an "I'm sorry."

Somehow just thinking about the memory pissed her off, how dare he just ignore her like that, yes she could understand his pain; she was an empath for crying out loud. But he didn't have to be so damned rude to her, he owed her that at least.

she found herself attempting to make him jealous, didn't know why but she felt that she needed to; going as far as to bring her dates home late at night when she knew he was around and making out with as loudly as she possibly could. One time she thought she had managed to catch a glimpse of jealousy in his eyes but it was gone and replaced with indifference, and a little bit of what seemed like disgust. She had sent the poor guy home not knowing what he had done wrong, stomped up to Cole stared him straight in the eye and asked him if he was happy…and the bastard…because that was what he was, had the gall to shrug his shoulders and say the business of spoiled sexually-desperate witches was not his business.

And then he shimmered…or whatever it was his powers did; he knew it pissed them off and he took great pleasure in doing so. In fact the only one who seemed happy to have him around the house was Piper…and the boys who had picked up the annoying habit of calling him "Uncle Cole." Chris had even asked if he was going to marry Phoebe during breakfast and she had almost chocked on her eggs. She of course brushed it off as the imaginations of a little boy, but she couldn't help the blush that had crept on her face, or the heat that she had felt between her legs.

No matter what jokes she made about his sexual performance, she was lying, she was lying lower then the deepest sections of the underworld, and she knew it…worst he knew it. So what was she supposed to do then? Continue to pretend that she wasn't attracted to him; 'sexually' her mind hissed, and she nodded frantically, of course sexually; there could never be anything more between them it just wouldn't work.

That little dream sequence of hers had been too damn real; her feelings were probably just stemming from her dream counter part. Yeah that was the problem, she turned her gaze at the computer screen the words mingling floating and forming a very familiar face, "THAT BASTARD."

Down stairs Piper and Leo cast a glance at each other and erupted into giggles. Cole shimmered in and stared at the giggling couple and took a seat at the table.

"Well speak of the devil…erm ex devil." Piper grinned, and Cole's look of confusion only served to send the two into another fit of giggles.

"What?"

"Oh nothing, its just that now wouldn't be a good time for you be here…especially since Phoebe seems a little piss." Leo said

Cole shrugged his shoulders, "I don't care…she's been nagging me constantly lately acting like a spoiled little b…" he cast a glance a Piper who's eyes narrowed "brat…like a spoiled brat." He finished lamely and turned his gaze to the kitchen floor tiles.

"You know how she is Cole."

"She's wasn't like this when I was with her."

"Phoebe's always been like this, trust me." Piper muttered.

"It's like she thinks she owns me or something," they noted the tired look in his eyes, and Leo pulled his hand over his mouth to hide a smirk.

"Anything in the Underworld," Piper asked quickly changing the subject, Cole shook his head no no.

"Any info on the new Source," "well…one…." Cole said and laughed a little, "What?"

"Well turns out the new Source of All Evil, is a female." He snickered a little.

"And what's wrong with that?" Piper snarled and her hands moved threateningly.

"Nothing it's just that…it's unheard of."

"Chauvinistic Pig," Piper shook her head, and she turned her nose up at him. "What, I didn't mean it like that…it's just things might get really interesting around here."

"You call getting attacked by demons on a regular basis…interesting,"

"Well it's not like their strong enough to kill you guys, so I'm sure whoever this woman is you'll get her in a couple of months." "Humph," Piper stomped away but not before Cole noticed the smirk on her face.

Leo shook his head "you really know how to kiss ass don't you?"

Cole flashed him a smile, "The Source wasn't a demon who took insults well, I had to figure out how to get out of trouble some how." He closed his eyes, and Leo again noticed the tired look on his face and shook his head.

"So…when are you and Phoebe gonna be able to have a civilized conversation without trying to kill each?"

Cole opened his eyes "I don't remember you lacking so much…tact Leo."

The whitelighter shrugged, "So…."

"When hell freezes over," he replied nonchalantly.

"Literally or figuratively," Leo pried, and Cole raised an eyebrow.

"I wonder," Paige questioned stroking her belly gently as she rested on the living room chair; "Wonder what?" Piper asked taking a sip of hot chocolate as they both sat enjoying an unusually quiet demon free afternoon.

"When Cole is going to figure out that Phoebe is just trying to wrap him around her finger again." Paige shook her head sadly, she knew her sister and was pretty sure that she wasn't aware she was doing it; but the signs were obvious.

"Well if she does it's going to be Cole's fault. He'll bitch and moan about it; pretend that we are out to make his life a living hell," "aren't we?" Paige asked in surprised, Piper ignored her, "but if they do get back together," "I doubt it," Paige muttered, "Well if they do it's going to be his entire fault."

"How so," Paige questioned.

"Phoebe's spoiled Paige, don't give me that look you and I both know it and it his fault really; coming back from the dead and trying to convince her about their never ending undying love. Deep down she still believes she owns him," Paige stared at her and Piper shrugged her shoulders. "She's going to keep acting like this until he final admits that he still loves her."

"Doesn't that mean that she still loves him too?"

"With Phoebe…who knows, Cole will probably admit he loves her and then she'll go sulking for a couple of days maybe weeks, and in the end they'll either get back together," Paige grimaced, "or they'll kill each other." Piper finished and calmly took a sip of the chocolate.

Paige shook her head, "you know sometimes…I really feel sorry for Cole."

Piper looked at her surprised, "What, maybe I don't like the guy…but when's he's not being an ass…he can be a pretty cool."

"The kids think so too," Piper retorted.

"Yeah…Uncle Cole," Paige snickered, and Piper grinned.

"It's not like he wouldn't have been," Piper said turned her gaze into the fire.

"We did what we had to do…" Paige said a haunted look in her eye; Piper nodded, "I know it's just if he had been around who knows how many things would've been different…better."
Paige looked away, "how so?" Her voice hardened.

Piper smiled and understood; when Paige had joined the family she had the whole notion of good and evil, simply black and white; she hadn't had the chance to warm up to Cole, who had managed…fought to make himself a part of that family.

"I don't know…but he always managed to see his way around things; secrets, lies, maybe he could've stopped Gideon, you know stopped what happen. Maybe Chris wouldn't have to come back and…." Piper cut off, and wiped her eye.

"Oh honey I'm sorry." Paige said, Piper shook her head; "but look, things changed; you have him and Wyatt, they aren't evil."

"And Phoebe's son is; he killed those women Paige; I didn't tell Cole or Phoebe, how the murders were connected with him; but she'll find out. How do you think they'll be able to stand killing their own child?"

Paige looked uncomfortable, "she did…once."

"That was different the seer had her convinced, after everything that was going on and what she was going through; it was simple for the seer to convince her otherwise. This time she knows he is hers; and she'll do anything to protect him."

"She's changed; she may actually vanquish him if we can't turn him back."

"Can we even vanquish him Paige; he's a god, and if Phoebe does manage somehow to vanquish him…she'll never recover…not from this one."

"Somehow I feel like saying its all Cole's fault," Paige sighed and leaned back catching Piper's disappointed gaze, "What I didn't say it was…."

Piper shook her head and took another sip of chocolate her gaze turned to the fire that burned bright.

"Piper…why aren't we really worried about the book of shadows," Paige questioned after awhile.

"The book can't be used by evil,"

"But he can use it,"

"Not for evil."

"Oh."

"Still, it's very unlike you I mean lately you've been really…" Paige stopped searching for a word to describe her sister, "serene."

Piper shrugged, "we all have our secrets" and winked at Paige.

Okay that's chapter 9…or 10 whichever one It's short I know, I'm gonna take a little break on the story to gather thoughts and focus on my other writing…or I might not and actually just keep going on with this story; anyway I just need new plans and storylines so anyone feel like helping greatly appreciated.