Black As Cole
'Hey ya'll! :D ANOTHER update! :O ALREADY! lol I KNOW! :O I'm shocked myself but it just happened lol Anyway, this chapter's a little more angsty cause of the episode itself.
You'll see why and fully understand when you READ it so...without further distraction lol Read away! :D OH! And don't forget to review at the end :) The make me smile.
Halliwell Manor
"A demon who likes to kill witches well..." Paige Mathews pursed her lips as she stood at the podium gazing down at the Book of Shadows, "...that narrows it down to about every page in the book."
Piper Halliwell-Wyatt rolled her eyes, "We have one clue, we know he likes to use an atheme." She informed her sister from behind.
Paige frowned, "How does that help?" she asked sardonically.
"Well..." Piper turned to her, "It means he has hands." She quipped with a smirk and Paige rolled her eyes trying not to laugh.
Piper grinned, "Keep flipping." She instructed walking out from behind the podium.
Paige looked up, following Piper with her eyes, "Soooo...I hear you and Leo are thinking about having a baby." She stated bluntly a smile tugging at her lips.
Piper froze momentarily then spun round to face her, "Where did you hear that from?" she interrogated.
Paige shrugged, "From Phoebe." She replied nonchalantly and Piper sighed.
"Of course it was Phoebe." Piper muttered to herself darkly.
Paige's eyes widened, "Oh! Did I just break some sort of sister confidentiality clause?" she queried sheepishly.
Piper shook her head, "No, you didn't." She assured her folding her arms across her chest, "And no, we aren't."
"Really?" Paige asked looking surprised, "Don't you want to?" she questioned and Piper smirked. "Not to be nosy, but if I'm gonna be and Aunt and all..." she trailed off with a pointed look.
Piper shook her head in amusement, "You're not gonna be an Aunt, all right." She corrected her, "At least not any time soon. It's too risky." She added looking to the book pointedly, "It would be in constant danger around us."
"What does Leo think?" Paige asked with narrowed eyes, one hand on her hip.
"Leo thinks that there's enough magic around here, we'd be able to protect it." Piper answered both looking and sounding extremely unconvinced.
Paige tilted her head, "Maybe he's right." She shrugged.
"Maybe he's not." Piper countered then frowned, "Keep flipping."
Paige rolled her eyes, "I'm flipping." She promised turning a few pages for effect before addressing her older sister again, "You know, it's not like having a baby isn't hard enough even without demons attacking but...for what it's worth? There are ways of seeing what it's like before you actually have one." She informed her.
Piper laughed, "Mm-hm, great!" the sarcastic enthusiasm was apparent, "Well, the next time you pass a baby-rental, pick up one for Leo." She joked.
Paige gazed out thoughtfully, "Maybe I will." She answered and Piper chuckled.
"Somebody just kill me now!" Prue Halliwell-Trudeau exclaimed loudly, and in all seriousness, as she stormed into the attic, stopping just shy of her two sisters', "Please!" she begged desperately.
Paige frowned and Piper smiled sympathetically, "Andy still not talkin' to ya?" she asked already knowing the answer.
Prue shook her head, "No! And I don't think he ever will again." She replied sighing heavily then throwing her hands in the air in frustration, "Urgh! My marriage is over already. Uh! I have nothing left to live for so..." she gestured randomly, devastation radiating off of her. "How are you two doing?" she asked both sisters', distracting herself.
Paige bit her lip, "Come here." She instructed instead and Prue stomped over, dropping her head onto Paige's shoulder heavily.
Paige rubbed her arm comfortingly and kissed her head, mimicking what she had previously witnessed Prue doing for her other sisters' or experienced first-hand herself.
Piper couldn't help but grin widely at the sight.
"I'm sure he'll get over it." Paige offered sounding certain but Prue grunted.
"No. I don't think he will, Paige." Prue countered sadly standing up straight, "I think this baby thing is non-negotiable on his part, I mean who doesn't want a baby in all honesty."
Paige looked pointedly at Piper who gawked.
Prue shook her head vigorously.
"Wrong again." She stated, "Piper does want a baby just not right now." She corrected then looked directly at Piper, "Which I totally agree with by the way. It's better to wait until we axe the Source first." She offered her opinion and Piper smiled widely, "It's much more sensible and reasonable and responsible so...I'm on your side." She winked at her younger sister.
Piper smiled at her, "Thank you!" she exclaimed, the appreciation oozing out of her.
Paige rolled her eyes, "Fine." She huffed then bumped Prue with her hip, "What about you?" she asked, eyebrow raising.
Prue frowned in plain confusion, "What about me?" she asked glancing at Piper, who shrugged.
Paige looked at her seriously, "Is the baby thing non-negotiable on your part too?" she asked and Piper's eyebrows rose in interest.
Prue froze, unsure of how to respond just as Leo orbed in.
"AH!" Piper shrieked startled by his sudden appearance.
"So, did you find anything out?" Leo asked eagerly.
"Uh...yeah." Piper answered as Paige began flipping again, Prue's attention on the couple. "I scried for the location of the demon, using the slime from the last victim and Phoebe and Cole are checking it out." She spouted off professionally.
"Alright." Leo nodded, "Well, I hope that it pans out because with two dead witches, they're pretty concerned up there." He told them glancing towards the heavens.
Piper opened her mouth but Prue beat her to it, "Yeah, well we're pretty concerned down here too considering that this family is full of witches and if they aren't satisfied with our pace then they can get their lazes ass's down here and do it THEMSELVES!" she seethed glaring up at the heavens.
Leo's eyes widened and he looked down at his wife in fear. "I guess Andy still isn't talking to you huh?" he asked Prue gently and she exhaled sharply.
"No." She replied stiffly, "He's not."
"Hey? I think I got something." Paige called, breaking the tension and drawing their eyes to her, "Upper-level demon who likes to kill witches using an atheme, sometimes energy balls." She read, looking at the page and missing Prue's cringe as she shook her head slowly. "His name..." Paige continued, "...is Belthazor." She concluded, Prue saying the name with her.
"Yeah." She nodded seemingly uncomfortable, "It's not him." Prue informed her baby sister matter-of-fact.
Paige frowned, "Why not?" she questioned feeling out of the loop.
Prue, Piper and Leo exchanged uneasy looks before Leo answered carefully when the two sisters' smiled at him, "Uh...well, because that's Cole in his demonic form." He informed her with a kind smile.
"You knew he was half demon." Piper added with a shrug.
"Yeah." Paige nodded staring at the picture of Belthazor, "But I didn't know he could turn into that." She replied as the phone blared loudly throughout the room.
Piper reached over and snatched it up, "Hello?" she greeted.
"We're at Battery and Clay, but there's no sign of any demons." Phoebe Halliwell's voice informed from the other end on the line.
Piper frowned, "Okay, I'll scry for him again." She answered, "Talk to Paige." She instructed quickly passing the phone back to her younger sister.
Prue looked at Piper questioningly.
"Phoebe's says he's not there." She informed her older sister kneeling down at the table, picking up the crystal and dangling it over the map of San Francisco.
"Hi, Phoebe." Paige greeted stiffly, "How's Cole?" she asked, "Morphed into any demons lately?"
"What?" came Phoebe's confused reply.
Prue gave Paige a look as she snatched the phone away, "Don't." She ordered before addressing Phoebe, "Piper's almost got him Pheebs." She said brightly, "Hold on."
"Battery and Clay." Piper muttered as the crystal dropped and she turned to Prue, "He's still there."
Prue frowned, "He's still there, Phoebe." She informed her, "You just gotta look." She smirked.
Phoebe snorted down the line, "Piper says he's still here somewhere." She replied and Prue assumed she was addressing Cole.
The line went quiet until Phoebe screamed.
Prue flinched, almost dropping the phone in surprise, "Phoebe!" she barked sharply into the receiver by got no reply, "Phoebe!" she tried again but all she could hear was screaming, "PHOEBE!"
~PO4~
Battery and Clay Warehouse
Phoebe Halliwell giggled loudly as her boyfriend tickled her sides gently, "Cole stop!" she cried wriggling free, "We're working." She reminded her with a smirk.
Cole Turner grinned, "So?" he asked yanking her towards him and planting his lips firmly onto hers.
Phoebe sighed happily breaking the kiss before it got heavy.
"No." She pointed one finger at him, "Stop." She glanced around the warehouse, "I can't see him. Can you see him?" she asked turning back to Cole who shook his head, eyes glued to her.
Phoebe rolled her eyes, "You have to actually look." She giggled, "I'm calling home." She announced pulling out her cell phone and hitting speed dial 1.
"Hello?" Piper's voice answered from down the line.
Phoebe glanced around again quickly as she replied, "We're at Battery and Clay but there's not sign of any demons."
"Okay. I'll scry for him again." Piper's voice informed her, "Talk to Paige."
"Hi, Phoebe." came Paige's less than cheery greeting, "How's Cole? Morphed into any demons lately?"
Phoebe frowned in confusion, casting a sideways glance at Cole, "What?" she asked voicing her confusion.
"Piper's almost got him Pheebs." The voice of her oldest sister informed her cheerily, "Hold on."
Phoebe frowned but shook it off as Prue's voice addressed her again.
"He's still there Phoebe." Prue told her and Phoebe frowned scanning the building, "You just gotta look" she added and Phoebe snorted at the clear insinuation in her statement.
Phoebe turned to Cole, "Piper says he's still here somewhere." She informed her boyfriend who frowned neither one of them noticing the demon dropping to the floor behind him. Nor did they notice him release his extremely strong slime at Phoebe, wrapping it around her leg and pulling.
Phoebe screamed as she was lifted into the air, dropping the cell phone to the ground and grabbing onto Cole.
"Hold on!" Cole ordered through clenched teeth as he fought to keep a hold on her.
"Noooo! I can't!" Phoebe replied panicked as her hands slipped from his arms to gripping his hands.
The couple locked eyes and Phoebe nodded once.
Cole readjusted himself and counted down, "Three...two...one!" he cried and she let go of his right hand gripping his left with both instead and Cole threw an energy ball at the demon who exploded, covering them in green goo and sending them soaring forwards, landing on a pile of old clothes.
"We have to stop meeting like this." Phoebe rasped out through her laughter.
Cole nodded, "Marry me." He smiled.
Phoebe stilled, her body going rigid and her laughter ceasing, "Wh—what?"
~Opening Credits~
Halliwell Manor
"Don't you think we should talk about this?" Cole asked as he stormed through the front doors of Halliwell Manor.
"Talk about what?" Phoebe asked innocently from in front of him as she maneuvered herself carefully making sure not to get demon blood everywhere.
"Wow!" Piper cried as she reached the bottom step, Prue behind her, "Looks like you two got a juicy one." She commented and Prue sniggered.
"Yeah." Phoebe agreed, "But unfortunately not the one who kills witches."
"How do you know?" Prue asked with a frown.
Phoebe gestured to Cole who took a step forwards, addressing the two sisters', "Because upper-level demons have a human form and they bleed red not green." He explained.
"Right." Prue nodded smiling at Piper.
"Where are you going?" Cole asked Phoebe as she headed for the stairs.
"I'm going up..." she replied stopping next to Piper who took a step back, "...to take a shower first, and then I'm gonna check out the Book of Shadows. I wanna ID this demon that I'm..." she glanced down at her clothes as did her sisters', "...wearing, try to find some answers." She concluded turning and continuing her climb.
"Speaking of unanswered questions—" Cole called after her but Phoebe spun round cutting him off.
"There is a demon on the loose, Cole." She reminded him angrily, "We don't have time for this."
"Shouldn't we make time for it?" Cole retorted.
"No!" Phoebe snapped, "Not now we shouldn't."
Prue and Piper exchanged suspicious looks, "What are you guys talking about?" Piper asked, her eyes narrowing at the couple along with Prue's.
"Nothing." Phoebe answered quickly.
Cole shrugged, "Nothing." He repeated.
"Uh-huh." Prue chirped not buying a word.
"Please Cole." Phoebe begged, "Let's just focus on vanquishing the demon." She suggested giving him a stern look when he failed to agree instantly.
"Fine." He relented unhappily, "I'll uh...go see what I can, find out." He forced a smile then shimmered out.
Prue and Piper turned to Phoebe as she sighed. "Honey, did you two have a fight?" Piper asked sweetly.
Prue leaned in close to Piper, "Apparently it's contagious." She muttered bitterly under her breath, referring to her and Andy's less than stable relationship as of the moment.
Phoebe shot her a sympathetic pout, "Andy still not talking to you." She sighed then shook her head answering the question, "No he just...never mind." She muttered turning away and disappearing upstairs in much need of a hot shower.
~PO4~
A very large black demon with red design shimmered in after a terrified woman, trapping her in a dead end, "Witch."
The woman turned to him and screamed loudly.
The demon sprang forwards, covering her mouth with his hand to silence her and pushed her back against a dumpster.
The demons pulled out an atheme and used it to lift her necklace: three crescent-shaped moons. "You're next." He growled in her ear before plunging the atheme into her stomach, muffling her whimpers with his hand. He yanked it out and let her limp, dead body slip to the ground before sheathing his weapon and morphing into his human form.
The demon them proceeded to call 911 "Yes, I'd like to report a terrible murder." He spoke into the receiver faking fear and disgust, "A beautiful young woman in the alley behind the Cannon Theatre."
"Hey? You gonna be long?" and innocent bystander asked from his left. "what are you deaf? I need to use the phone." He stressed when the demon failed to answer.
The demon turned to him, "Um...hold on." He said into the phone placing it down then sending an energy ball at the innocent. It sent him flipping backs before exploding against the far wall, leaving a scorch mark.
The demon picked up the phone again, "Hurry, please." He continued like nothing happened, "Before anyone else gets hurt." He ended the call there and shimmered out.
~PO4~
Halliwell Manor
"Okay." Phoebe said loudly, fresh and demon blood free, as she stood by the Book of Shadows, "So, the demon that Cole and I nailed is a Scavenger demon." She informed Piper and Prue who were standing in front of her. "Apparently, he feed on the remains of other demons' victims." She read aloud and shuddered, "Nice huh?"
"Lovely." Piper agreed sarcastically.
"That explains why we scried for him accidentally." Prue voiced, crossing her arms tightly.
The two eldest Halliwell sisters' exchange a quick glance before they each took a step forwards.
Phoebe looked up from the book with wide eyes, "Uh-oh." She whispered.
"Um..." Piper glanced quickly at Prue, "...are you gonna tell us what happened out there?"
Phoebe shrugged looking back at the book, "Well, there's not much to tell. I mean, the demon jumped in behind us and we—"
Prue placed her hands on the book, "That's not what she meant." She said pointedly and Phoebe sighed, "What happened between you and Cole?" Prue rephrased.
"Oh." Phoebe nodded closing over the book, "Yeah, that. Um...I'm not exactly sure." She admitted then shrugged, "He asked me to marry him." she revealed nonchalantly turning away.
Prue flinched and did a double take while Piper froze and blinked once as they both echoed, "What?"
Piper blinked again, "Wh—He, he did what?—He did?"
"More or less." Phoebe answered.
"What, what did you say?" Piper continued to question while Prue remained silent and still.
"I didn't know what to say." Phoebe replied turning back to her older sisters' looking lost and confused, "I was too surprised. I mean, all my power of premonition and I never saw that one coming."
Prue scoffed, coming out of her shock induced daze, "I don't think anyone coulda seen that coming."
Phoebe turned to her and chuckled just a little, "I know right!" she cried with a smile.
Prue smiled back gently.
Piper shook her head, "I, I don't think a witch is allowed to marry a demon." She stated turning to Prue, "Are witches allowed to marry demons?" she asked and Prue shrugged.
"I don't know." Prue replied, "Why you askin' me? You're the expert in forbidden unions." She smirked.
Piper glared and jabbed her side, "Not funny!"
Prue smirked, "Little funny." She countered, making an example with her two fingers, before they turned back to Phoebe.
Piper laughed nervously, "Phoebe, honey? We can't have a demon in the family."
Prue shook her head, "God no! I draw the line at demon."
Phoebe rolled her eyes, "That is the least of my concerns right now." She sighed moving to perch on the higher level floor that was almost like a step.
Piper followed her sister with her eyes, "Phoebe, don't kid yourself. If you decide to go through with this, it, it's gonna be a source of huge concerns, especially for them." She pointed to the ceiling.
Prue elbowed her sharply, "I think their feelings about this don't really matter right now, Piper." She stressed with a glare as she moved to sit next to Phoebe.
Piper remained standing above them.
Phoebe nodded, "Exactly. I have to be concerned with my own feelings right now." She agreed pointing to herself.
Piper nodded, "Sorry I just...I'm worried." She admitted lovingly kneeling down in front of Phoebe.
"Me too." Prue piped up, nudging her younger sister gently.
Phoebe sighed, "I love Cole." She said looking between her sisters', "You know I do but...demon stuff aside, I just, never thought of myself as the marrying type." She began to explain, trying to make sense of her feelings, by talking to the two most important and prominent people in her life: her best friend and her mother. "You know, it's not something I fantasized about, ever." She smirked and her sisters' chuckled.
"So then, what are you gonna tell him?" Prue asked gently.
"I don't know." Phoebe huffed.
"Well..." Piper grinned, "You have to tell him something." She pointed out the obvious, "Because a question like that just doesn't go away by itself."
Phoebe pouted, "Are you sure?" she asked grabbing Piper's hands.
Piper nodded with a smile, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure." She replied with a giggle.
Phoebe bit her lip, turning her head to Prue who nodded too, throwing an arm around Phoebe's shoulders.
Phoebe sighed and leaned into her, resting her head on Prue's shoulder but keeping a tight hold on Piper's hands.
"How's your love-life?" Phoebe asked quietly and Prue shook her head, "Please?" Phoebe pleaded, "Need a distraction." She added bringing out 'baby Phoebe'
Prue sighed heavily and felt the tears spring to life once again, "I think my marriage is over." She said deadpanned.
Piper and Phoebe chuckled.
"Oh, come on." Phoebe cried sitting up straight and turning to her sister.
Upon seeing their sister's tear filled dull grey orbs Piper and Phoebe immediately sobered up.
"Oh my god." Phoebe whispered.
"You're really serious." Piper finished and Prue nodded once.
Piper reached out and took one hand, Phoebe the other.
Prue laughed painfully, "This a good enough distraction for ya Pheebs?"
Phoebe shook her head, leaning it against Prue's, "I'm so sorry."
Prue shrugged, "We want different things." She stated plainly, "At least for now."
Piper looked at her in interest, "You mean you'd consider having kids?" she asked surprised.
Phoebe sat up straight looking extremely excited.
Prue sniffled, "I don't know I..." she trailed off closing her eyes as a sob escaped her lips, "I really don't want children." She told them honestly and they could see the seriousness in her eyes, "But I...I can't live without him." her voice breaking at the end, "I've tried it already and it sucks!" she chuckled and they did too.
Prue shrugged, "I just want him to love me, to stay and if that means giving him a baby..." she trailed off once more, looking to the floor.
Piper sighed squeezing her sister's hand as Phoebe rubbed her back. "Prue?" Piper called and her sister looked up, "That is not the reason a child should be brought into this world."
Prue whimpered, "I know." She agreed, "But it's all I've got."
Cole shimmered in at that moment and Prue quickly turned away, wiping her tears.
"Hey." Cole greeted Phoebe nervously.
Phoebe looked over, "Hey." She replied a little distracted.
Prue leaned in close to Phoebe and whispered, "Did that do the trick?" she asked and Phoebe laughed. Prue smiled as her comment did exactly what she had intended: made her baby girl laugh.
Piper looked between Cole and Phoebe before grabbing Prue's arm and yanking her to her feet, "We'll...be downstairs." She informed them with a nod.
Prue frowned, "What? No I, I think we should stay here." She countered and Piper glared. "But I—we can't—fine." She huffed, "We'll be downstairs." She agreed with false chipper before she and Piper scurried out of the attic shooting Cole knowing looks as they passed.
~PO4~
Silence engulfed the couple as they stood staring at one another. Cole cleared his throat loudly, sticking his hands in his pockets, "I couldn't find out who the demon is." He admitted looking to the floor, "But at least I ruled out the usual suspects."
"Any idea of...who it could be?" Phoebe asked nervously playing with her hands.
Cole shook his head, "No. Just another upper-level demon trying to build a reputation by killing witches, to move up the ladder."
Phoebe remained silent, looking anywhere but at him.
Cole sighed, "Anyway...I guess I'll keep checking." He concluded turning to shimmer out.
"No, Cole, wait!" Phoebe called out, rising to her feet, "We should talk."
Cole turned back to her expectantly, "Alright."
Phoebe exhaled slowly, "It's...just...hard."
Cole's eyes flashed in what Phoebe recognised as hurt as he replied, "It's just me."
Phoebe locked hers with him, sadness shinning through as she hesitantly stepped towards him, "Okay. Let me ask you a question." She began slowly, stopping at arms' length, "When you...you know, proposed...did you mean too?" she asked fearing the answer, "Or did it just come out? In, in the heat of the moment?"
Cole opened his mouth looking away, "Well, does that matter?" he questioned turning back to her.
Phoebe's eyes widened, "Well, yeah." She answered nodding, "It matters to me."
Cole hesitated for a moment before revealing, "It just came out in the heat of the moment."
Phoebe's face fell, "Oh." She whispered in disappointment.
Cole quickly defended himself, "But that, that doesn't mean that once I said it I wasn't serious." He corrected himself, "Because I, I, I was. I still am." He insisted.
"Cole." Phoebe sighed turning away from him and wrapping her arms around herself tightly.
"Phoebe ,listen to me." Cole pleaded following her closely, "I...I know it was crazy to ask and I, I know it doesn't make any sense because of who we are but...that shouldn't matter." He came up right behind her, "If it did, we never would have fallen in love in the first place." He added in a last desperate attempt to reach her.
Phoebe turned to him and slowly ran her hands up his chest, gripping the lapels of his jacket and closing her eyes.
"I love you, Phoebe." Cole told her, looking directly into her eyes, the conviction and sincerity in his voice impossible to ignore, "And...I don't know where we go from here but...I do know that wherever it is...I want it to be with you."
Phoebe smiled taking his face in her hands and gazing into his eyes.
The moment of understanding was shattered by the shrill cry of a baby from downstairs.
Phoebe looked past Cole to the attic door, Cole twisting his head in the same direction. "Is that a baby crying?" Phoebe questioned incredulously before the two hastily exited the attic.
~PO4~
"You told me to rent one." Paige reminded Piper innocently, clutching a mechanical baby to her chest, "So I did." She shrugged.
Piper looked to Prue in disbelief.
Paige thrust the doll into Piper's arms.
Piper's eyes bulged, "Well, I didn't think you could!" she exclaimed giving the doll a fearful look.
Prue chuckled, "Where did you get it?" she asked staring at the doll in amusement.
Paige shrugged, "The clinic."
"Great!" Piper chirped, "Take it back." She snapped thrusting it back into Paige's arms.
"What's going on?" Phoebe asked as she and Cole joined her three sisters' in the TV room, Cole perching on the arm of one over-stuffed chair while Phoebe came to a stop at Prue's side.
"Wait till you hear this." Prue muttered to her younger sister whose interest was piqued.
Paige smiled innocently, "Piper and Leo wanted to try out having a baby before actually having one." She explained, "So I got them a mechanical baby. We use them in parenting classes all the time." She added.
Phoebe grinned, "Wow! It sounds so real." She commented as it continued to cry. Prue chuckled.
"And so annoying." Piper added, cringing at the noise and glaring at the doll.
"Huh. Well..." Prue spoke up with a smirk, "...now you know why I don't want one."
Piper and Phoebe's eyes widened, and Phoebe elbowed her side.
Prue frowned, "What?" she snapped, "It's true." Phoebe smacked her forehead while Piper jerked her head towards the front door.
Prue looked up quizzically to find Andy standing in the doorway to the TV room, his face blank.
Prue gasped, her eyes widening as Andy joined the small group, "God! You just have the greatest timing don't you." She muttered sarcastically, a pained smile on her lips.
Andy looked to Piper, Phoebe and Paige, "What's with the doll?" he asked and Paige turned to him.
"It's a mechanical baby." She informed him brightly, "I got it for Piper and Leo. Kinda like a test run at parenthood."
Andy nodded slowly, smiling at her, "Smart."
Paige grinned, her eyes showing surprise and relief at the compliment, "Thank you." She gushed gratefully.
Andy smiled at her then turned to his wife, "I'm gonna go change." He informed her vacantly.
Prue startled, her eyebrows rising and her eyes widening, "Oh? So you're talking to me now?"
Andy clenched his jaw, "I was." He shot back before disappearing up the stairs without another word.
Prue folded her arms across her chest defensively and dropped her head with a broken sigh.
Phoebe snaked her arms around Prue's waist, resting her head on her big sister's shoulder, "You okay?"
Prue lifted her head, shaking Phoebe off, "Demons now, failed marriages later." She ordered deadpanned.
Piper turned to Paige, "Look, Paige, I appreciate the thought but we are on a demon hunt. The last thing I want to do is protect a fake baby." She insisted.
"Oh, really?" Paige questioned smartly before throwing the baby into the air.
Prue and Phoebe followed it with their eyes calmly while Piper jumped, throwing her hands up in a frenzied panic. "AH!" and froze the baby in mid-air.
"See?" Paige smirked, "Your instincts were to save it."
Piper glared, "My instincts were to shut it up!" she corrected, curling her hands into fists.
Paige rolled her eyes, "The doll has a sensor." She explained, "It'll stop crying if you just hold it."
"But I don't want to." Piper huffed.
Paige narrowed her eyes, "Come on. Just try it." She begged, "If it doesn't work, I'll take it back I promise."
Prue smirked nudging Piper's shoulder, "She promised." She whispered highly amused.
Phoebe buried her head in Prue's shoulder to muffle her laughter, shoulders shaking silently.
Piper sighed in frustration and flicked her hands at the frozen baby and it fell into her waiting arms, the screaming continuing.
Phoebe grinned moving around Prue to wrap her arms around Piper and the baby, "Okay, now you just rock it gently." She instructed rocking them both up and down and side to side.
Prue walked over to Paige and threw an arm around her, "Nice." She praised and Paige giggled.
"I know how to hold a baby." Piper informed Phoebe through clenched teeth, "That is not the issue, thank you!" she snapped and Phoebe released her jumping away.
"Just give it a shot." Paige encouraged with a smile, "What have you got to lose?" she added with a shrug.
Piper glared at her as Leo orbed in beside Cole and Andy returned to the group, gun and badge at his hip, cell phone in hand.
"Another witch has been killed." Leo informed them grimly.
"Oh no." Phoebe whispered sadly.
"Yeah." Andy spoke up indicating his phone, "Police got a call, anonymous tip." His brow creased ever-so-slightly.
Prue noticed and unconsciously stepped towards him, "What?" she asked knowingly.
Andy shrugged, "Morris listened to the 911 recording and...the guy was unbelievably calm." He explained looking directly at Prue, talking only to her for the first time in a week.
"You think it was the demon." Prue concluded with a nod, "After he killed her."
Andy nodded, "It wouldn't be the first time."
Prue took a deep breath, "Where?"
"Alley behind the Cannon Theatre." Andy replied his tone clipped and professional.
"We should go there and see what we can find out." Piper suggested looking to her sisters' who all nodded their agreement.
Prue turned back to her husband, "Think you can get us in?"
Andy smirked, "You doubtin' me Halliwell?" he joked and Prue laughed smirking too.
Prue leaned close to him, one hand resting on his chest, "Never." She whispered with a wink, the couple slowly falling into their usual banter, despite their current problems.
Phoebe smiled, "Great! And no..." she pointed to Cole as he stood, "...you cannot come. Someone might recognize you from when you posed as a DA."
Cole frowned about to defy.
"She's right Cole." Andy backed his sister-in-law up, "It's too much of a risk. We don't need any more questions being asked about this family."
Cole sighed but nodded, slumping into the seat in defeat, "I don't get to go anywhere anymore." He called after Phoebe's retreating form.
Paige gawked at him, "You were a demon and a lawyer?" Cole scowled and Paige crossed her arms, "Insert joke here." She muttered.
Leo walked over to Piper and tapped the hand of the baby in his wife's arms, "Where'd you get it?"
Piper smiled, "It's Paige's." She answered looking pointedly at her younger sister.
Paige shook her head, "No, it's yours. You need to figure it out." She smiled before dashing after Phoebe.
Piper smirked, "Yeah, Daddy, figure it out." She instructed pushing the doll into Leo's arms, "Excuse me."
Prue laughed turning back to her husband whose face had once again returned to a blank, expressionless stare and she closed her eyes.
She pressed her palm into his chest desperately, "Give us a minute to grab our coats?" she asked softly and Andy nodded once.
Prue sighed, "Andy..." she begged but he silenced her placing one finger on her lips.
"Don't Prue." He ordered sternly, "You go do your thing and I'll do mine." He said simply.
Prue gazed up at him silently pleading with her eyes but he refused to look at her, "Fine!" she snapped and stormed past him to find her sisters'.
Leo approached Cole and Andy with the screaming doll seemingly lost. Cole stood when Leo turned to him.
Cole looked pointedly at the doll then up at Leo, "Don't look at me."
Leo sighed and turned too Andy who chuckled taking the baby from Leo's arms and rocking it gently, the crying quickly lessening until silence replaced it.
Andy smirked and passed it back to Leo, "You're on your own now." He told him amusement shinning in his eyes.
Leo groaned and Cole smirked turning to Andy, "You're a natural." He stated the obvious and Andy's face fell.
Cole cringed, "Sorry man." He apologized smacking him on the shoulder comfortingly.
~PO4~
"I can't guarantee you much time on this." Andy informed the four sisters as he and Darryl escorted them under the crime scene tape. "Promise me you'll stay on the fringe." He asked looking between the four of them.
"We promise." Phoebe assured with a sparkling smile.
"So, what do we know?" Prue asked looking between the two partners.
"A man called 911 from that pay phone." Darryl began pointing to the object in question, "Reported he found a body."
Piper turned to her right, eyes falling on the scorch mark, "Looks like she wasn't the only victim." Her three sisters' turned to her and she pointed, "Scorch mark. Definitely demonic."
"Looks like one of Cole's." Prue added from her side.
"Don't you mean Belthazor?" Paige corrected.
Phoebe walked towards the mark inspecting it closely, "It's too bad Cole can't check it out. Probably be able to tell us who did it." Phoebe glanced around quickly, "Is anyone from the DA's office here?" she asked Darryl.
Darryl nodded and pointed to behind Andy, "Yeah, that guy over there is an ADA. He's interviewing a friend of the victim's." Darryl reached into his pocket and pulled out a clear plastic bag, "I also found this on the victim."
"A triple crescent." Paige muttered upon seeing it.
"Does it mean something to you?" Andy questioned.
Paige nodded, "I studied it in one of Piper's quizzes." She replied, "It's an ancient Wiccan symbol. A cousin to the Triquatra." She explained.
"Could be the mark of a coven." Piper added and Prue smiled, "What?" she asked.
Prue shrugged and addressed Phoebe, "They're so smart." She whispered and Phoebe giggled.
"A coven someone's trying to wipe out." Phoebe added once she sobered, "We have to figure out who else is in it."
Prue walked over to Andy, looking past him to the other woman, "The victim's friend would be a safe place to start." She offered heading off in her direction.
Andy grabbed her arm, "Fringe remember?" he muttered and she nodded.
"And she hasn't complained about any disgruntled friends, co-workers, ex-boyfriends?" the ADA asked.
The friend shook her head, "No." She replied, "Kari was a beautiful person. Everyone loved her."
The ADA reached into his pocket, "If you can think of anything else at all, please, don't hesitate to call." He told her handing over the card.
The friend took the card and nodded. The ADA smiled before turning and walking away.
"Nice necklace." Prue admired as the victim's friend walked past her, "Very unique."
The woman turned to her, "Do I know you?" she asked suspiciously.
Prue smiled, "No, but you might know of me." She replied, "Me and my sisters' have quite the reputation." She added as Phoebe appeared at her side, Paige and Piper making their way over.
Phoebe leaned close to the woman and whispered, "The Charmed Ones."
The woman's eyes bulged in surprise and her mouth fell open.
"You and Kari were in the same coven?" Prue continued with her interrogation.
The woman glanced down at her necklace, "Yes."
Phoebe nodded, "And your mark is the triple crescent." She stated reaching out to touch the necklace. Once she did a premonition struck her.
Premonition
The woman is in a park. It's daylight. I large, strong demon grabs her from behind and plunges his atheme into her back.
Premonition Ends
The woman looked at her in concern, "What is it? Are you alright?"
Prue pulled Phoebe close and smiled, "She'll be fine." She assured the concerned woman.
"What happened?" Piper asked as she and Paige reached them, "What'd you see?"
"The demon." Phoebe replied looking the woman in the eyes, "He's after her."
"Where?" Prue questioned rubbing Phoebe's arms comfortingly.
Phoebe shook her head, "Uh...by the steps...in some park." She answered unsure, "I think it was like an old amphitheatre or something."
"I know that." The woman spoke up and all four heads turned to her, "That's in Stanley Arboretum. I walk past it every day going to work."
"What did the demon look like?" Paige asked.
Phoebe fiddled with her hands avoiding eye contact, "Like Belthazor." She admitted reluctantly, "I mean, not exactly like him, just similar." She corrected herself quickly.
"What the hell is going on here?" The ADA demanded catching sight of the sisters' and striding over, "This is a murder investigation. Who are these people?" he demanded of Andy and Darryl.
"We'll get rid of them." Darryl assured him, "Come on, ladies, move along." He instructed.
Andy walked right up to Prue and took her arm, "First time we ask nicely."
Prue locked eyes with him and the tension mounted.
Piper glared at them both as the sisters', and the woman retreated, "We're goin' mister." She snapped as Darryl led her away.
The ADA smirked glanced around quickly to make sure no-one was watching then shimmered out.
~PO4~
Stanley Arboretum
"I don't understand. If you know the demon is meant to attack here, shouldn't we go someplace else?" Susan asked as the five of them walked through the park the next day, her usual route.
"Not if we wanna get rid of him for good." Piper answered her.
Prue smiled, "They only way to get rid of this thing is to fight him." she explained gently, "If you run away then he'll just keep coming."
Susan nodded and Prue rubbed her arm gently.
"Power of four spell?" Paige asked her sisters'.
"No." Piper replied with a shake of the head, "The only way to vanquish an upper-level demon is with a potion of his own flesh." She informed her.
"Sounds like you've done this before." Paige commented.
"Once." Phoebe answered, "On my fiancé." She stressed the word and Prue froze momentarily, Piper's head snapped round to her and Paige wrinkled her nose.
"Your fiancé?" Paige echoed and Phoebe shrugged.
"Yeah, I just wanted to hear how it sounded." Phoebe explained.
"And...?" Prue asked.
"Kind of weird." was Phoebe's reply.
"Yeah." Piper agreed instantly.
"Wait, wait, wait. Back up." Paige exclaimed looking at Phoebe, "Did you say you once tried to vanquish Cole?"
"No Belthazor." Phoebe corrected her, "There's a difference."
"Is there?" Paige murmured to herself but Prue heard and shot her a look.
Paige widened her eyes innocently.
"Okay, review." Prue ordered stepping forwards and turning so she was facing them all, "Phoebe, you'll play decoy." She repeated and Phoebe nodded, "Demon attacks. Piper freezes." She pointed at her sister and Piper nodded, "I disarm and Paige..." Prue turned to the youngest with a smirk, "You, girlie, get to slice and dice."
Paige groaned and her sisters' laughed.
"Then we get outta there." Prue instructed, "No delays understood?" she asked and received nods from all, "Okay. Everybody ready? Good."
Paige cringed as she pulled her own knife from her purse, "As I'll ever be."
Phoebe turned to Susan, "I'm gonna need your coat and hat." She said gently and Susan removed them, handing the items over, "Um...and your necklace." She added softly.
Susan sighed, her closing as she handed it over reluctantly.
"Okay, we gotta get Susan someplace safe." Piper decided, "LEO!" she called for her husband who appeared behind Phoebe instantly amongst a shower of blue and white orbs. "Hi, honey." Piper smiled, "Could you orb Susan out of here?" she asked sweetly.
"Sure." Leo replied, "Any place in mind?"
"I don't think home is a good idea." Prue voiced regarding Leo with a strange expression.
"You should take her to my old loft." Paige told him, "I don't think it's rented yet."
Leo nodded, "Alright, take my hand." He held it out to Susan who took it hesitantly.
Paige frowned, "Where's the baby?" she asked.
Leo smirked turning to show the doll sitting in a strap on carrier on his back.
"Ohhhh!" Prue smirked, "That's what that thing is."
Leo nodded then addressed his wife, "See? We can make this work."
"Mm-hm." Piper replied rolling her eyes, "Go away and drop Robo-kid off at the Manor." She ordered him with a smile, "Please? Thank you." She smiled wider as he orbed out with Susan.
Piper glared at Paige who grinned, "Okay! We gotta do this quickly because this demon won't stay frozen for long." She pointed out looking from sister to sister, "Ready? Let's go."
Phoebe, disguised as Susan walked slowly down the path from her vision, eyes darting about, senses on high alert. Her three sisters' were crouched behind some bushes out of sight, watching her every move.
"Hello witch." The demon greeted as he shimmered in behind Phoebe.
"Goodbye..." Phoebe spun to face him, her eyes bulging at the sight, "...demon." she whispered stunned at how similar they were.
The demon roared as it charged for Phoebe who flipped it over her as Prue, Piper and Paige emerged from the bushes. Piper raised her hands to freeze as a woman charged out behind her, throwing her own atheme at the demon and knocking Piper to the ground. The demon saw it coming and shimmered out, their chance lost.
"I had him!" the woman seethed.
"Who the hell are you?" Piper demanded as Prue pulled her to her feet.
~PO4~
Halliwell Manor
The four sisters' sat at the breakfast table facing out to the island, where Emma was standing. Piper and Paige were seated on the table while Prue and Phoebe took residence in the two chairs in front.
"He used this to kill my fiancé." Emma informed them holding out the atheme from them all to see, "It's a ceremonial knife. The demon left it behind after the struggle." She explained to the sisters', "I've been hunting him down for the last year and a half. It's...all I care about."
"May I?" Cole asked, gesturing to the knife. Emma glanced at the sisters' who nodded and she handed it to him.
"Look familiar?" Phoebe asked her boyfriend.
"He looked familiar to me." Paige commented and Prue squeezed her leg to silence her.
"I meant the atheme." Phoebe retorted.
"It's one used by the Brotherhood." Cole informed them staring at the object in his hands.
"Emma?" Piper called her name gently, "Do you know why the demon wanted to kill your fiancé?"
"Because Andrew was a witch." Emma replied instantly.
"Are you a witch too?" Prue questioned this time.
"No." Emma shook her head, "But after Andrew died, I studied his books and devoted myself to the craft."
"To continue his work?" Phoebe asked with a smile.
"To track down his killer." Emma corrected crisply.
"And you just happened to be in the park at the same time the demon was going to attack Susan?" Paige asked sceptically.
"I know his M.O." Emma explained, "I know when he kills a witch he goes after the entire coven."
Prue nodded sitting up straight, "You've taught yourself well." She praised and Emma nodded, "But what you did today was stupid." She added, her tone reprimanding and full of authority, "You're actions were reckless and could have resulted in catastrophic consequences." Prue lectured, "Not only did you endanger you own life but you also endangered the lives of me and my sisters'."
Emma shook her head, "Vengeance empowers me." She defended herself.
Prue shook her head, "No! It blinds you."
"Vengeance won't save you." Cole added from behind her, backing up Prue and all eyes turned to him, "Your desire for revenge is keeping you from the truth." He elaborated, "You want the demon vanquished, my advice is to stand back and let the Charmed Ones handle it."
"This is my fight." Emma insisted.
"Then you shall lose it." Cole said simply.
"Cole's right." Phoebe agreed her voice kind, "You have to trust us. Trust that we want the same thing you do."
Emma sighed looking away, "It's just—his face has haunted me ever since Andrew died. It's the face of pure evil." She shook her head adamantly, "I can't let him get away."
"He won't." Prue assured her, "But you cannot do this on your own." She insisted firmly, "If you do, you'll die and I am not willing to let that happen." She told her sincerely and Emma dropped her gaze.
Prue stared at Emma unblinkingly until she looked up, "You either work with us or...we incapacitate you until it's done." She told her honestly and Emma's eyes cut to hers sharply her expression one of disbelief.
Prue raised an eyebrow and Emma faltered. "This is not a game, Emma." Prue told her firmly, "The choice is yours."
Emma held Prue's gaze a little longer before relenting with a nod.
"Why don't you scry for him again while we prepare the vanquishing potion." Piper instructed gently, "Once we get a piece of his flesh, he's dust." Emma nodded again.
"We'll get him." Phoebe smiled, "I swear we'll get him." she promised as the fake baby began to cry again.
Emma turned towards the noise.
"Ignore that." Piper said flatly.
Paige gasped and slapped her back, "Piper!" She chastised.
"Aright." Piper spat through clenched teeth then smiled at Emma, "Excuse me." And with that she went off in search of the screaming toy.
Emma placed her hands on her hips, "She has a baby?" she questioned confused.
"Actually she's not sure yet." Paige replied with a smile.
~PO4~
"Inspector's Morris and Trudeau, they're partners based downtown." The ADA from the crime scene addressed his assistant as they walked towards his office, "I want you to get in touch with their Captain and you tell him my office wants to see all of their recent case files."
"Got it." She nodded with a smile.
"In fact." ADA Sykes turned to her, "Better go make that request in person. This way , they can't duck you on the phone."
"I'll be back as soon as I can." She promised him.
"That's okay." Sykes assured her, "Take your time." And with that he entered his office and closed the door behind him. "I'm gonna lure the witch here." He informed his shadow, "So I'm gonna need you to stand guard in case the ones who ambushed me show up. You understand?"
The shadow nodded.
"Fortunately, they won't recognize me in my human form." He continued picking up a manila folder from his desk, "Your old boss, Belthazor, he was right about one thing, posing as a DA is perfect cover." He complimented with a sly smirk, "Leave me." Sykes ordered and the shadow bowed his head and slithered out under the door.
~PO4~
"How much longer do you think I'll have to stay here?" Susan questioned as she paced nervously back and forth.
"Well, I'll talk to your whitelighter." Leo replied from his place by the open window, "But my instincts tell me that everyone in your coven should break their routine until this threat is over." He advised as her cell phone began to ring.
"Excuse me." Susan apologized as she pulled it free and flipped it open, "Hello?"
"Miss Coleman? This is the assistant district attorney Sykes." A voice down the line greeted her.
"Who is it?" Leo asked turning to her.
Susan looked over at him, "ADA. Uh...I'm sorry. Yes hi."
"I'm calling cause I've received new evidence." He informed her, "I'd like to talk to you about it, if that's alright?"
"Um...okay, when?" Susan replied eagerly.
"Can you come over to the office now?" he asked hopefully.
"He wants me to come in." Susan informed Leo, hand held over the receiver.
Leo nodded, "Okay."
"Alright." She replied addressing her caller, "I'll be right there." She promised.
"I'll be waiting." He answered ending the call.
~PO4~
Halliwell Manor
"I can feel the crystal pulling." Emma informed them from her place at a small round table in the conservatory, "He's still in the area." She announced dangling the crystal over the map of San Francisco, the string tied around the demons atheme.
"I can't find him in the book anywhere." Phoebe announced from her seat next to Cole.
"Did you notice how he vanished?" Cole asked staring at the book, "Did he smoke out? Flame out?"
"Actually he shimmered." Phoebe informed him, "Like uh...Belthazor." she added glancing quickly at Emma then averting her gaze to the book.
"I uh...I think I found him." Emma announced from the table.
Phoebe's head shot up, "Where?"
"He's at uh...Prescott and—" Emma replied but Phoebe cute her off.
"Pine." She finished looking at Cole.
Emma turned to her, "How'd you know?"
"That's where we are." She answered grimly.
Emma's eyes widened, "Wait, he's here in the house?"
Cole straightened up, "I'll go check upstairs. You find your sisters', get ready." He instructed and everyone cleared the room.
~PO4~
"Hello?" Susan called from just outside ADA Sykes office.
"Miss Coleman." Sykes greeted with a smile, which disappeared as soon as he saw Leo, "Who's this?" he asked slightly angered but the other man's presence.
Susan and Leo looked at one another quickly, "I'm...a friend." Leo answered with a shrug, "Is it a problem?"
Sykes shook his head, "No, no. No problem at all." He forced a smile, "Um...why don't you just wait over there..." he gestured to the bench opposite his office door, "...and I'll let you know when it's over."
Leo glanced at Susan and smiled encouragingly, nodded and Sykes then took a seat.
"Right this way." Sykes gestured to his office, allowing Susan to enter first then closing the door behind them.
Leo looked over at the door just in time to see the shadow slip under it.
Susan gasped as Sykes pushed her against the door, hand covering her mouth so she couldn't scream.
He pulled out his atheme and traced his down her skin. He pulled it back to plunge it in when Leo orbed in beside his, elbowed Sykes on the side of the head, knocking him to the floor and orbing out with Susan.
~PO4~
Halliwell Manor
"Phoebe?" Cole called out as he descended the stairs quickly and Phoebe came racing out of the kitchen., "He's not upstairs." He informed her sharply.
Phoebe shook her head, "He's not downstairs either." She replied as Leo and Susan orbed in.
"It's the ADA." Leo informed them both immediately.
"Sykes?" Phoebe questioned in surprise.
"He tried to kill her." He continued gesturing to Susan, "I don't know if he followed us here or not." He said as Sykes shimmered in behind them.
"WATCH OUT!" Phoebe yelled pulling Susan to the ground, Leo going with them as Sykes released an energy ball their way and it connected with the wall above their heads instead.
Cole sent his own energy ball at Sykes hitting him on the stomach.
"Take her upstairs." Phoebe told Leo who quickly pulled Susan up the stairs, Phoebe staying out of the line of fire.
"You're gonna have to do better than that." Sykes smirked as he morphed into his demonic form as Piper, Prue, Paige and Emma came running into the room from the kitchen.
Sykes made to fire again and Piper threw up her hands freezing him.
"Hurry! Slice 'em." Prue ordered Paige with a nudge.
Paige hesitated and Phoebe made a panicked noise motioning in his direction.
Paige ran over, knife in hand and cringed pausing again with the knife hovering over the demons forearm.
"Oh, Paige, just do it!" Piper cried impatiently, "This is no time to be squeamish."
Prue turned to her with accusing eyes, "Oh, says the girl who wouldn't touch a pigs foot."
Piper rolled her eyes and Prue smirked.
Paige sighed and quickly sliced a piece his flesh. She bent down and picked it up between two fingers, holding it as far away from her body as possible just as the demon began to unfreeze.
"PAGE!" Prue cried as he unfroze and made to strike her, "NO!" she yelled throwing up her hand sending him backwards and away from a startled Paige.
Prue ran to her as the demon recovered and pulled her down.
Sykes threw an energy ball at Piper and Emma who Cole pushed to the ground, the energy ball hitting the mechanical baby instead blowing it to pieces.
Cole stood to his feet and morphed into his own demonic form.
"Oh my god!" Emma cried from beside Piper, staring up at Belthazor.
"Belthazor." Sykes growled, "We meet at last."
"But not for long." Belthazor snarled and the two demons released an energy at the same time.
The energy balls collided and the house shook.
"We'll finish this later." Sykes promised before shimmering out.
"Everybody okay?" Piper asked pulling herself and Emma, who was still staring at Belthazor, to their feet.
"I'm okay." Phoebe assured her from the stairs then looked to Prue and Paige.
Paige nodded wordlessly and Prue chuckled, "We're good." She verbally assured them.
"Emma?" Phoebe asked the silent woman.
"He's not the demon who killed my fiancé." She replied, referring to Sykes, "He is." She announced pointing at Belthazor who turned to Phoebe slowly and sighed.
~PO4~
"He's a killer!" Emma almost yelled, "What is the matter with you people?" she demanded looking affronted.
"Emma I know you're upset." Piper tried to reason, "But you don't understand." Taking her arm lightly.
"Let go of me!" Emma seethed.
"You're making a huge mistake." Phoebe insisted from her place next to a solemn looking Cole, "He's not who you think he is."
Emma glared at her, "He's the demon who killed my fiancé and that is all I need to know." She spat pushing past Piper and grabbing the atheme from the foyer table and throwing it at Cole.
Cole stopped the atheme mere inches from his neck.
"How can you protect a murderer?" Emma asked Phoebe, the pain in her voice causing it to shake slightly, "How can you live with yourself?" she demanded before grabbing her coat and storming out of the house.
Phoebe sighed heavily.
"Is it true?" Paige asked from beside Prue, "Are you the one who killed him?"
Phoebe shook her head, "Honey, now is not the time." Phoebe answered instead, "We have to worry about Sykes. We got what we need, you guys work on the vanquishing potion." Phoebe instructed her three sisters'.
Prue and Piper exchanged glances as Prue took Paige's hand, pulling her towards the kitchen.
Piper picked up the plate with the slice of flesh on it as she passed the table and followed behind them.
All three shooting Cole looks as they left.
Phoebe turned to Cole when they were gone, "We need to talk." She told him seriously.
Cole sighed but nodded and took her hand, the couple heading up to their room.
"Don't tell me you're scared of me." Cole commented as he entered the room completely, stopping by the bed while Phoebe remained by the open door.
"No." She assured him quickly, "Don't be ridiculous."
Cole turned to her, "That's good." He replied still holding the atheme, "Because I think Emma's right." He revealed, "I am the one who killed her fiancé." He indicated the weapon in hand, "This is mine."
Phoebe sighed and looked down.
Cole dropped the arm holding the atheme, "I don't even remember doing it." He admitted turning away, "I don't even remember who he is." Falling down onto the bed, "Didn't matter what they looked like. It only mattered that I did what I was told." Cole paused, "He was a witch. The Source viewed him as a threat."
"Sssshhh." Phoebe soothed walked towards him, "You don't have to explain yourself to me." She told him sitting next to him on the bed.
"Yes, I do." Cole insisted.
"No, you don't." Phoebe countered firmly and he looked to her, "I know who you were." She informed him, "Who you used to be and that's not the person you are anymore." She told him softly.
"Aren't I?" he whispered and Phoebe narrowed her eyes slightly, "Balthazor still exists inside of me." Cole continued, "That hasn't changed, nor does it change what I've done."
Phoebe smiled, "But just think of all the good you've done since then." She added, her eyes gentle and loving.
"Hm." Cole turned away again, "Doesn't balance out." He said sadly, "Doesn't even come close. And now the very thing I've been trying so hard not to be is the very thing I might have to become."
Phoebe frowned, "What do you mean?"
Cole rose to his feet, walked to the window then turned to her, "Sykes has done a good job of emulating me, emulating Belthazor, which means if the potion doesn't work...the only way to destroy him is for me to turn into Belthazor." He explained gently.
Phoebe tilted her head, "Yeah, but then afterwards you'll turn back into Cole." She added obviously.
Cole held her gaze, "I may not be able to." He admitted darkly and Phoebe's eyes narrowed. "To stop him, I'll have to embrace my demonic self completely." Cole explained staring into her eyes, "There may be no coming back from that."
Phoebe sighed, "Well, then we'll just have to make sure that potion works very well." She insisted with a smile, rising to her feet and walking to the door, "Won't we?" she threw over her shoulder grabbing her bag.
"Where are you going?" Cole asked confused.
"To find Emma." She replied throwing her phone into the bad and sighed, "Try to explain."
"It won't make any difference." Cole shook his head.
"Well it will if I can keep her out of the craziness." She pointed out, "Keep her from getting hurt."
"I'm more concerned with keeping you out of the craziness." Cole said walking towards her, "Keeping you from getting hurt." Phoebe sighed as she pulled on her jacket. "You still have some of that Belthazor vanquishing potion left, don't you?" he asked, voice low.
Phoebe shook her head, "Yes but—"
"Get it." Cole ordered sternly, "Just in case. It might be the only way to stop me."
Phoebe looked away as he walked past, leaving the room and leaving her alone.
Phoebe glanced to see if he was out of sight before opening her desk drawer and pulling out said potion, slipping it into her bag and heading out.
~PO4~
"Okay, we just need the pigs' feet over there by the mandrake root." Piper guided as she stirred the potion on the stove. Prue passed it to Paige who took it with a grimace.
"Poor piggy, piggy." Paige pouted, "They're sensitive creature, you know."
"Really?" Prue smiled indulgingly.
Paige nodded walking to the pot, "Smart too."
"Yeah, not that one." Piper commented stepping away as Paige dropped it in and the potion flamed momentarily.
"Okay...so all we need to do is drop in the Sykes flesh." Piper instructed as Prue took her hand and they silently moved far back from the island and Paige.
"Go ahead just...drop it in." Prue smirked as an oblivious Paige scooped the flesh with a spatula and dropped it into the pot.
The potion exploded and Paige was thrown to the ground at her sisters' feet.
Prue and Piper chuckled as a bewildered Paige gazed up at them.
Paige glared, "You did that on purpose didn't you?" she said knowingly.
Prue and Piper smiled at one another.
"Yeah." Prue replied with a smirk and they pulled her up.
"Yeah." Piper grinned, "It happened to me last year. No substitute for experience." She said innocently.
Paige punched her shoulder as she laughed and Prue chuckled, earning her a punch too.
"You girls' alright?" Cole asked running into the kitchen.
Paige turned to him and her amusement ceased.
Prue's smile faltered but Piper kept smiling.
"Yeah." She replied with a smirk, "We were just doing a little sisterly bonding, that's all." She explained.
"Where's Phoebe?" Prue asked looking past him, "The potion's almost ready." She informed him as Piper moved to take it off the heat and bottle it.
"Yeah, she wanted to talk to Emma, explain things." He told them.
"Good luck." Paige commented and Prue shot her a stern look.
Cole frowned, "Look, I don't need the guilt from you, okay?" he snapped irately, "I've got enough of my own to deal with."
"What, and you think that covers it?" Paige retorted, "What you did?"
"Paige don't." Prue reprimanded sternly.
Paige turned to her affronted, "Don't what Prue? Of all people I would expect you to agree with me." She snapped narrowing her eyes at her older sister, hands on hips, "He killed a man. Are you condoning that?"
Prue's eyes widened and her eyebrows rose, "Hell no!" she exclaimed, her own hands moving to her hips, "He should feel horrible. He should feel guilty." Prue insisted turning her eyes on Cole, "You took away the one person that Emma would have done anything for. The one person that she loved with everything she had. He was her world and you stole that from her. Stole her heart, broke it, broke her!" She stopped herself and looked away, calming herself, "Sorry." She apologized quietly and Cole nodded.
Prue focused her attention on Paige. "Paige, it's...it's complicated okay?"
"Cole can't change the past." Piper intercepted, regarding her older sister carefully, "You've seen how much good he's helped us do." She added looking her youngest sister in the eyes, "That's who he is now and we accept that." She concluded looking pointedly at both Paige and Prue.
Prue closed her eyes and dropped her head.
Paige shrugged, "Well, if you say so." She relented stiffly stepping away from Cole.
Cole walked towards Piper slowly, "Thank you." He said sincerely, "You want me to help you find Sykes?" he asked.
Piper looked up, "Can you?"
"If he's still emulating me, all I have to do is figure out what I'd do next." He explained looking thoughtful.
"Which would be?" Piper asked expectantly.
"Go after the Charmed Ones." He replied.
"Oh, that's nice." Paige muttered loudly.
"Paige!" Prue snapped a little to harshly and Paige immediately closed her mouth.
Cole raised his eyebrows then continued, "But first I'd have to regroup somewhere. Tend to my cut."
"The mausoleum?" Prue questioned approaching them hesitantly.
Cole turned to her, his expression unreadable, "Except Sykes will anticipate that." He sighed, "He'll be expecting you to come after him, which means he'll probably be lying in wait." He explained glancing between the two. "Maybe even set some kind of trap." He added.
"One that you could identify?" Piper asked, eyebrow quirked and Cole nodded, "So let's go." She announced.
"Wait." Paige stepped in front of them, "Don't we need Phoebe?" she asked with a frown.
Prue shook her head as Piper replied, "No, all we need is this." She shook her bottle of potion, "Besides it's better to keep Emma away from the action." She added glancing at Prue who nodded.
Leo entered the kitchen clutching the mangled baby and Piper gasped, "Oh, honey, what happened?" she asked gently.
Leo pouted slightly, "Sykes." He sighed, "Guess you were right."
Piper sighed, "Oh I-sweetie, I didn't wanna be right." She insisted walking towards him, "I'm sorry."
"You're sorry!" Paige cried in horror, eyes wide, ""Who's gonna pay for this?" she demanded sternly, "Well?"
Prue laughed quietly and Piper ignored her, "We're gonna go after Sykes." She informed her husband, "So you should probably orb Susan out of here, just to be safe."
Leo nodded and Piper kissed his cheek as she passed, her sisters' and Cole following.
~PO4~
Phoebe drove down the street as slowly as possible hoping to spot Emma. It took about 15 minutes until she did. Phoebe pulled the car into the curb, cut the engine and jumped out, "Emma."
Emma turned behind her, scoffed and continued walking, arms crossed.
"Emma! Please. I need to talk to you." Phoebe pleaded walking swiftly after her.
Emma stopped and turned to her.
"Look, I know that there's nothing I can say that can change what happened." Phoebe acknowledged, "But I think there is something that may help." She offered and Emma stared at her silently and expectantly, "I want you to know that Cole has dedicated his life to good now."
Emma stared at her in outrage before spinning on her heel and storming away.
Phoebe sighed and walked after her, "And I'm not saying that it excuses what he did."
"Damn right, it doesn't." Emma snapped.
"A—all I'm saying is the demon you're searching for no longer exists." Phoebe continued, desperately trying to make her see.
"Oh my god!" Emma cried throwing up her hands and turning, "Who are you trying to kid? Are you blind!" Emma paused looking Phoebe up and down, "Did you not see what he turned into? That monster still exists, whether you want to believe it or not." She insisted and Phoebe faltered.
"Technically, yes but—" Phoebe replied.
"But not technically." Emma cut in looking her dead in the eyes, "Actually. He's alive and I'm not gonna rest until he's dead, no matter what you say."
Phoebe shook her head, "All that would do is keep him from doing future good." She reasoned, "And put your life at risk in the process. Emma, please, please...let it go." Phoebe begged her.
"Let it go?" Emma echoed, her eyes vacant, "Have you ever lost someone?" she asked quietly, "To evil, I mean."
Phoebe nodded, "Yes." She said sadly.
"And did you just...let it go?" Emma asked already knowing what her answer would be. Phoebe remained silent and Emma nodded once before turning and walking away.
~PO4~
Cemetery
Cole descended the spiral staircase slowly, eyes darting about before he signalled to the sisters' and they crept down behind him: Paige and Prue in the front, Piper right behind.
"Any sign of him?" Paige asked as her sisters' scanned the area silently.
Cole shook his head, "No." He said back quietly, walking further into the Mausoleum the sisters' right behind him.
Cole noticed something on the stone floor and grabbed Paige's shoulder, halting her.
"Ow!" She yelped as he pushed her back and Prue glared at him.
"What?" Piper snapped glaring at him also.
"Trap." Cole replied simply, "Back up." He instructed and they obeyed.
Cole picked up a candle and threw it in the direction of where he had warned.
The floor sprang to life, bursting into flames.
The sisters' and Cole ran forwards as soon as it disappeared but the demon never showed.
"Where is he?" Piper asked looking around.
Cole turned to them, "I don't know."
Piper threw her hands up and Prue scoffed, "Great."
Paige frowned in confusion, looking to his sisters', "Well, why would he set a trap for us and not be here?"
Prue looked at Cole, "Because we've been played." She announced grimly and her sisters' turned to her.
"This is just a distraction." Cole agreed.
Piper frowned, "What do you mean, "distraction" You said he was after us." She cried in frustration.
"I was wrong." He admitted, "He's after me. And the best way to get to me is through—"
"Phoebe." Prue and Piper concluded in unison.
~PO4~
Halliwell Manor
Phoebe entered the darkened and deserted Manor, "COLE!" she yelled looking around. Sykes shimmered in behind her and threw her arm around her, under her neck and pointed his atheme at her.
Phoebe screamed and dropped her bag. "Close." He whispered with a smirk.
"What do you want?" Phoebe asked holding onto his arm, pulling it away from her neck slightly.
"Same thing you do." Sykes replied, "Only you call him Belthazor."
Phoebe froze and her eyes widened. She looked down at the potion which at fallen from her bag.
Sykes followed her eyes and sniggered, "Except I don't need a potion to vanquish him. I just need you." He informed her before shimmering away.
"PHOEBE!" Prue yelled as the four of them came running through the front door.
"Prue." Piper grabbed her sister's wrist and nodded to the floor where Phoebe's bag lay.
Paige bent down and touched it, "Phoebe." She whispered standing back up.
"I'll check upstairs." Cole said, "You check downstairs."
Piper and Paige strode forwards, Cole moved towards the stairs but Prue's hand around his wrist stopped him.
He turned to her expectantly, his eyes glancing down at her hand then back up to her eyes.
"I'm coming with you." She informed him, her tone determined and her eyes daring him to refuse.
Cole nodded once.
"Cole." She said quietly and he shook his head.
"Not now, Prue." He insisted as they climbed the stairs.
"I'm sorry." Prue apologized anyway, her voice and eyes filled with sincerity.
Cole nodded and the two of them raced to the attic.
~PO4~
"You must be something very special." Sykes mused as he circled Phoebe who was bound to a chair in the middle of the attic. "Turn a demon." He continued stopping to dig the tip of the knife into her neck, "Something very special indeed." He added and Phoebe shuddered, pulling away from the blade.
Sykes crouched down next to her, "Unfortunately though...when you made him less evil, you made him less powerful." He informed her, leaning in close. "Hmmmm..." he rose to his feet again, "...I wonder." He leaned in so he was touching her and Phoebe flinched jerking away, "You gonna have the same affect on me after I kill him?" he asked so confidently.
Cole and Prue came barging through the door as Phoebe recoiled further.
"Phoebe." Prue moved towards her but Cole threw out his arm, stopping her in her tracks.
"Well, well, well." Sykes chuckled, "The mighty Belthazor. You don't disappoint." He smiled eyes flicking to Prue then back to Cole, "I knew you'd figure out what I was up to." He pointed the blade at Phoebe again, "Sooner or later." He smirked and Prue flinched but Cole curled his hand around her hip holding her still.
Phoebe locked her eyes onto Cole's, "Cole, get out of here." She ordered pleadingly. Her eyes flickered to the knife, "He won't hurt me. He's bluffing."
"I can't take that chance." Cole and Sykes said in unison.
Sykes shivered, "Oooh, it's kind of eerie, isn't it?" he commented, removing the knife from Phoebe's throat, "How I know you better than you know yourself."
Prue glared at him, "Actually...it's kinda creepy." She answered and he cut his eyes to her, "Kinda makes you sound like a stalker." She shrugged.
"Prue." Cole warned through clenched teeth and she stopped.
Sykes glared dangerously at her then addressed Cole again, "The student has surpassed his mentor." He announced proudly, arms outstretched.
"I was never your mentor, Sykes." Cole corrected.
"By reputation you were." Sykes informed him, "By your legend. It'll be an honour...to kill you." He smirked, "And assume your rightful place in the hierarchy." He finished sheathing his weapon.
Cole locked his eyes with Phoebe's and she shook her head, eyes pleading. "Remember what I told you?" he asked, "What I asked you to do?"
"Cole, please don't." She begged tears threatening to form.
Cole smiled at her as he pushed Prue back and away from him.
Prue frowned looking down at his arm then up to his face. "Cole what are you—" she asked confused.
"Stay back." He instructed, interrupting her.
Cole then looked back at Phoebe and screamed before morphing into Belthazor.
Prue eyes widened and she instantly stepped further away.
Phoebe flinched, her eyes falling closed.
Sykes morphed into his own demonic form and growled.
Belthazor threw an energy ball which merely stalled Sykes, making him groan.
"Did you hear that?" Paige asked Piper who came running towards her.
Piper nodded, "Attic." She instructed pulling Paige towards the stairs.
Belthazor lunged at Sykes, striking him on the head.
Sykes instantly returned it to Belthazor's jaw. He then wrapped his arms around his back and squeezed.
Belthazor cried out as he back cracked painfully and Phoebe flinched as Sykes threw Belthazor onto a table, strangling him, "DIE!" he yelled squeezing hard.
"COLE!" Phoebe screamed.
Belthazor snarled loudly then threw Sykes up. He hit the ceiling before falling to the ground, Belthazor rolled away and Sykes smashed through the table.
Prue's eyes darted between the battling demons and her little sister. They were getting too close and Phoebe was no match for them. She cast one last wearying glance at the wrestling demons before racing to her sister.
"Prue." Phoebe gasped, eyes shining with tears.
"I know." Prue whispered as she quickly untied her and pulled her away in the opposite direction, Phoebe clinging to her.
Belthazor stole the atheme from Sykes' belt and raised it.
Just as he was about to stab Piper entered the attic with Paige and threw up her hands, freezing the two demons then running to her sisters', pulling Paige with her.
~PO4~
Emma ran up the stones steps to Halliwell Manor and upon seeing the door wide open, let herself in.
She glanced around and saw Phoebe's bag lying on the floor. She caught sight of the vanquishing potion for Belthazor and bent down.
She lifted it slowly into her hand and looked towards the stairs.
~PO4~
Belthazor and Sykes began to unfreeze and the four sisters' backed up further, their eyes never leaving the demons.
Belthazor haled Sykes to his feet, pulling the atheme backwards for momentum and plunging it into his stomach.
Paige cried out, burying her head in Piper's shoulder.
Piper jumped and turned into Paige shielding her.
Prue flinched, her hold on Phoebe's hand tightening and her free arm flying out in front of Piper and Paige but she kept her eyes trained on the demons'.
Phoebe jumped, gripping Prue's hand as her eyes snapped shut tightly.
Sykes screamed in pain as Belthazor pushed the blade so far in that his hand entered the demon too.
Belthazor growled loudly and yanked it out.
Sykes hollered as he burst into flames and disappeared.
Belthazor turned on the sisters', blood soaked hand pointing the dripping atheme in their direction.
"Cole?" Phoebe called sternly, her eyes pleading with him but he continued forwards. "It's over." Phoebe said gently as she and her sisters' backed up slowly, "You can turn back now." But he continued to advance. "Cole, you can do it." Phoebe encouraged him, "For me. For us." She tried desperately to reach him.
"Hurry! Throw the potion." Paige told Piper, nudging her arm, "Maybe it'll work on him."
Piper raised her arm and Phoebe reached for her crying, "No, don't!" then turning back to Cole, "Cole, please." She begged, "You can do this. You're good." She pleaded but he roared at them and Phoebe jumped back.
Piper raised her arm again and threw it but Prue waved her arm to the left and it smashed to the ground instead.
Emma entered the attic at that moment and threw hers at the demon who murdered her fiancé, stole the love of her life, took him from her forever.
The bottle smashed against Belthazor's back, its contents seeping into his skin.
The sisters' jumped back in surprise and Phoebe gasped as Belthazor was engulfed in flames and exploded.
Phoebe shook her head and turned into Prue, her heart breaking painfully and slowly in her chest.
Prue wrapped her arms around her sister, her eyes never leaving the ball of fire in front of them.
When the smoke and flames cleared they revealed a stunned Cole who fell to his knees where Balthazor once stood.
Prue's eyes widened, "Phoebe." She pushed her sister away from her and turned her body around. Phoebe reluctantly opened her eyes and gasped.
"What happened?" Paige questioned staring at Cole.
Phoebe smiled as she remembered what had been in the bottle, "That was the power-stripping potion I made to free Cole." She breathed her smiled growing as she dropped down in front of him, "Are you okay?" she asked pulling him against her tightly, Cole wrapping his arms around her just as tight.
Piper and Paige stared at the couple in shock while Prue darted between them and the grief stricken Emma.
Emma caught sight of the abandoned bloody atheme and dived for it, scooping it up and heading straight for Cole's back.
Prue stepped forwards, "NO!" she barked and used her power to send the atheme into the wall instead.
Phoebe's eyes snapped open and widened in fright. She jumped to her feet and blocked Emma's path to Cole, "NO!" she yelled hand held out in front of her, "Emma, no!" she repeated staring into the other woman's eyes, "You got your revenge." She informed her, voice low, "You killed the demon you were after."
Emma looked behind her at Cole.
"Belthazor is dead." Phoebe continued, "Gone forever. Cole's a human being. An innocent."
Emma sighed and relaxed her stance, taking a step back in defeat and acceptance.
The truth hitting them all.
~PO4~
Prue sat alone at the head of the dining table, hands clasped on the table in front of her, eyes fixed on her wedding rings as she waited for her husband to return home.
Piper, Leo and Paige were at P4 and Phoebe was upstairs in her room waiting for her once-a-demon-boyfriend turned mortal-maybe-fiancé to return from wherever the hell he was.
Prue was torn from her thoughts by the front door opening and closing. She lifted her eyes to meet her husband's as he walked towards her.
"Hi." She whispered with a shy smile.
Andy offered one back, "Hey." He replied then looked around, "Where is everyone?" he questioned, not used to an empty house.
Prue glanced towards the stairs, "Piper, Leo and Paige are at P4 and Phoebe is upstairs waiting for Cole."
Andy nodded, "She figured out what her answer's gonna be?"
Prue shrugged, "Dunno but uh...that's not all they've got to talk about." She implied, "Cole's human." She revealed to him slowly.
Andy's eyes bulged, "What?"
Prue nodded slowly, "Long story which I'll explain later but..." she trailed off fiddling with her hands and meeting his gaze hesitantly.
Andy sighed and nodded, "We got stuff to talk about ourselves." He acknowledged, placing his suit jacket on the table along with his gun, badge and cell phone, then taking a seat on his wife's right.
Prue sighed heavily, twisting her rings around her finger and staring straight ahead, "I want a divorce." She announced her voice cracking at the end.
Andy flinched at the words and his jaw dropped, "Excuse me?" he asked turning to her.
Prue shrugged continuing to stare straight ahead of her, "Come on Andy. This isn't working, we're not working." She said heavily, "We want different things and I don't think either of us are willing to compromise. We shouldn't have too."
Andy shook his head, utterly stunned by those first four words and still reeling, "Prue." He took her hands in his and squeezed making her cut her eyes to meet his.
Prue smiled sadly, "You said it yourself Andy." She whispered, "Three years ago, after our encounter with the ghost from Alcatraz." She explained and he sighed shaking his head and closing his eyes knowing where she was going with this.
Prue drew in a shaky breath, "You told me that you wanted a normal life to come home to one day. The wife and the white picket fence, the two car garage, the screaming kid." She reminded him, a sob mingling with the last word, "And with me you don't get any of that."
Prue licked her lips and gave him a pained smile, eyes filled with salty tears, "You should have that life, Andy." She whispered fighting back the tears, "You deserve your dream." She told him firmly then dropped her gaze to their entwined hands, "You already lost your life once because of me." She whispered as the tears slipped down her cheeks, "You shouldn't lose your dream too. You don't have to sacrifice that." She sniffled, closed her eyes briefly then looked up at him and smiled lovingly, "I'm letting you go." She told him, pain lacing every word, "That's what you have to do sometimes...for the one you love the most." She whispered brokenly another sob escaping her lips as her strength betrayed her.
Andy shook his head adamantly, "I don't want to be free, Prue." He told her sternly but she shook her head.
Andy sighed and closed his eyes, "I was thinking about this, about us as I sat at my desk and I realised...that the last time I had thought that hard about us...was the day that I ignored your warning and came to this, this house."
Prue raised her head and he opened his eyes.
"I died here that day." He said as if reminding them both of an event neither would ever forget, "I died and I lost you. I left you and it wasn't until I realised that I was going to spend the rest of eternity without you...it hit me how desperately I need to be with you." Andy pulled one hand free and reached out to her, turning her head to face him and lifting her chin so she was forced to look at him.
Andy smiled, "I love you, Prue. I want to be with you." He repeated, the conviction and determination in his voice overwhelming, the love in his eyes making her heart swell.
Andy chuckled, "Prue, baby, all I want is you that, that stuff I said back then were only words. I don't need any of it, I don't want any of it." He insisted and she let out a pained sob.
Andy took her face in his hands, "I would give up this world for you Prue. I don't need to be a father, don't wanna be if the children aren't yours too."
Prue laughed painfully, "But you'd be an amazing father, Andy." She insisted firmly, "You've always wanted to be one. Who the hell am I to deny you that?"
Andy looked directly into her eyes, his hands falling to her shoulders, "Then talk to me." He pleaded, "Tell me what you're afraid of."
Prue breathed deeply, knew tears threatening to fall. Her hand gripped one of his wrists as the other pressed into her chest, "I..." she bit her lip and looked into his electric blue orbs, "I...I don't—I don't want to become my mother." She whispered, voice hoarse and barely audible.
Andy closed his eyes and sighed, slipping out of his chair and onto his knees in front of her, pulling her into his arms and holding her tightly.
Prue sucked in a desperate gulp of air and buried her head in his neck, clutching him for dear life.
Andy kissed her head and whispered softly, "You won't baby. I promise you won't."
Prue whimpered and pulled back, "Don't say that. You can't know that. You don't know that."
Andy nodded as he cupped her cheek, "You're right, I don't." He agreed, "But I'm gonna try my damn hardest to make sure it never happens." He promised her completely, "And so will your sisters' and Leo, hell even Cole." He smiled and Prue laughed a little. "You can't live your life in fear honey." Andy whispered, tucking some loose strands of hair behind her ear. "That's no way to live."
Prue sighed and hunched her shoulders, "I'll think about it." She conceded reluctantly, "I'll think about it." She pointed a finger at him, "I make no promises but I'll think about it." She repeated and he smiled, "But definitely not until the Source is dead and gone."
Andy nodded and his smile turned into a grin, "I completely agree." He kissed her lips, "And that's all I was hoping for." He kissed her again, rose to his feet and pulled her up into his arms, lifting her off the ground.
Prue threw her arms around his neck and sighed in relief, "I love you." She said in a hushed whisper, placing a soft kiss to his neck.
Andy squeezed her tighter, "I love you too Prue." He replied, "And if you ever mention divorce to me again?...I'll shoot you." he joked and she laughed.
Andy's hold on her tightened suddenly, "Thank you." He whispered, his voice catching in his throat as he blinked away tears of joy.
Prue heard the emotion break his voice and knew in her heart that she had done the right thing, despite feeling sick to her stomach at the thought of becoming a mother.
~PO4~
P4 Nightclub
"Prue not joining us?" Paige asked as she took a seat across from Piper at the bar.
Piper shook her head slowly, pulling out her check book, "No." She sighed sadly, "She's waiting for Andy at home. They need to talk so..." she shrugged helplessly.
Paige frowned, worry creasing her brow and seeping into her tone, "Are they gonna be okay?"
Piper looked up and sighed, "I honestly don't know." She replied gazing off into the crowd.
Paige shook her head in denial, "I hope they do-No they will." She corrected herself with a nod.
Piper smiled and took her sister's hand, "I hope you're right, Paige." She sighed, "I really hope you're right."
Silence descended upon the two sisters' their thoughts with their older sister until Piper needed to end it.
"You know, this baby was your idea." She pointed out as she scribbled the necessary information onto the check.
"I know, I know." Paige replied as Leo joined them at the bar, "That's why I'm paying for half of it." She smiled the frowned, "Still haven't quite figured out how I'm going to explained what happened to it, though."
Piper narrowed her eyes, tore out the check and handed it over.
Paige grinned, "Thank you." She replied snatching it up.
"Well, at least it served its purpose." Piper concluded as she capped the pen.
Leo sighed, "In spades, unfortunately."
Piper looked over at him, "Oh, honey, it doesn't mean that we can't ever have children." She assured him, "Just, you know, we have to wait till it's safe."
Leo looked her in the eye, "Promise?" he asked with a charming smile.
Piper smirked, "Promise." She nodded then leaned over the counter to kiss him.
"Oh that's sweet." Paige grinned, "You two ought to get married." She joked then turned serious, "Unlike Phoebe and Cole."
"You don't think they should?" Leo asked turning to her.
Paige shrugged, "I don't know. I guess it's none of my business." She added, "Probably just reeling from the fact that Cole killed people." She cringed and shuddered at the thought.
"Yeah, but that wasn't Cole." Piper explained, "It was Belthazor."
"Splittin' hairs if you ask me." Paige replied.
"It's not though." Leo added, "His human half had absolutely nothing to do with any of that. It was totally subjugated." He looked between his wife and newest sister-in-law, "Phoebe's right...he's an innocent."
"The question is, what does he do now?" Piper added, wondering aloud.
~PO4~
Halliwell Manor
Phoebe had spent the last two and a half hours pacing up and down her bedroom floor, checking the clock, looking out the window waiting for Cole return and he still hadn't shown.
Phoebe eased herself down into the chaise in front of the window, her deep, heavy sigh passing as she dropped her head into her hands.
The bedroom door opened and Phoebe's head shot up, her dark brown eyes meeting the deep blue of Cole's.
"Cole." She exclaimed pushing herself to her feet and running to him, "Oh my god, I was so worried!" she cried throwing her arms around his neck and holding on tightly.
Cole caught her as she threw herself at him, "Oh, I'm sorry." He apologized with a frown, "I just...I had to take a walk." He explained as she pulled back, "And I lost track of time."
Phoebe smiled as he took her hands in his.
"And I tried to shimmer back here, and realised I..." he chuckled, "I didn't have my powers anymore."
"But that's a good thing." Phoebe insisted with a smile, tugging on his hands, "Isn't that what we always wanted?" she asked him, her smile faltering.
"I don't know." Cole replied, "Did we?" he asked and Phoebe's face fell, "I mean, I get that I'm finally off the Source's radar and that I don't have to worry about demons tracking me down all the time, but..." he trailed off shaking his head and Phoebe looked at him quizzically. "I, I, I'm grateful for that, don't get me wrong." He assured her quickly smiling, "It's just..." he shook his head laughing.
Phoebe searched his eyes, "What?" and Cole shrugged, lost for words, "Come here." Phoebe instructed softly pulling him to the bed, and laying her head on his shoulder.
"Phoebe." He sighed, squeezing her hand, "For all intents and purposes, I've been a demon for...over 100 years. It's all I've ever known or been. What am I supposed to do now?" he asked utterly lost, "Who am I?"
Phoebe smiled, "You're still the good man that I fell in love with." She answered gently.
Cole nodded, eyebrows raised, "But not the one you want to marry." He pointed out bitterly.
Phoebe lifted her head to look at him, "I love you, Cole." She said simply, "And nothing will ever change that." She promised whole-heartedly.
He frowned in confusion.
"But I'm not ready." She explained honestly, "Not yet." She added then shrugged, "And that's got more to do with me and my issues...than it does you."
"I still don't know where that leaves us." Cole admitted, "Especially now."
Phoebe nodded, understanding his point of view, "Well, just because you're not a demon anymore..." she looked up at him slowly, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "...doesn't mean we can't live in sin." She smirked, wiggling her eyebrows and pulling him down on top of her kissing him hard.
~PO4~
'Well? You all know the drill by now so...drop me a line and leave a review! :D They're greatly apprectiated and extremely helpful XD'
Rachel xo