Author's Note: Hello to my loyal readers/writers/reviewers! I finally have chapter 10 up! I'm sorry it took so long, but I've just moved into my new apartment and I've been trying to get things in order.

Warning: This chapter has, at least, one adult reference.

Chapter 9 thanks to: SyndiDowell, for her kind review!

To Recap:

"Hey, are you two coming with us or not?" Henry's partner, Les commented.

Paige grinned. "See? They were wondering."

"Maybe after dinner we—"

She pressed a finger to his lips, pressing hers to his ear. "All you'll need to do is pull the car into the driveway and grab the keys." She breathed. "I'll handle the rest." She told him, grabbing his hand as they walked downstairs.

"Should we take our own cars?" Henry commented.

"It might be easier." Les suggested as he stood.

They stood and the four of them walked out of the house, Les and his wife Ana in one car, Henry and Paige in the other.

"Did you guys decide where we're going?" Paige asked.

Henry's free hand came to rest upon Paige's which rested on the middle console. "No, they just said to follow them. I'm sure we'll have a good time." He said as they turned left down the highway, following.

I'll Trust My Heart to You

By: Piper Chris Melinda Halliwell

Chapter 10: Through a Cupid's Eyes

Mumbling incoherently in his sleep, he pushed his only love away from his embrace, trying to protect her from the awful nightmare that plagued him…

The stench of his own blood nearly overwhelmed him. If his hands weren't restrained to the cavern wall, he would protect his senses.

His demon captor strode toward him smiling, taking much pleasure in torturing him.

"Tell me, Cupid, where is your precious witch?" Instantly, he was in his face. "If you tell me, I might let you live."

His face was contorted in pain, bleeding profusely as he struggled against the restraints. "Never!" he shouted, "I'll never let you lay your hands on her!"

Coop jolted upright in bed, noticing his body was shaky and sweaty. He looked to his left and saw Phoebe still asleep. That's…strange. I know I shouted, he thought as he stood and walked out in to the living room. Coop ran his hand through his damp hair, realizing her had to tell Phoebe (and her sisters, not to mention Leo, but mainly Phoebe). The more he bottled it up, the harder it would be to tell.

He sat on the couch and waited for Phoebe, trying to decide how to tell her. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he didn't want to keep it from her anymore.

Phoebe struggled in her sleep, reaching for Coop's reassurance, but all she found was a warm spot where his body laid moments before. Something gave her chills as she wrapped her arms around herself. She sat up, swinging her legs over the edge of her bed and walked over to grab a light blanket from a chair. Wrapping it around her shoulders, she searched for Coop.

"Coop," he heard her call as she walked into view. "I was wondering where you'd gone," she sat beside him.

"Are you all right, Phoebe? I didn't wake you, did I?" he asked, taking his hands away from his face.

"No, I was just – you're sweating. What is it?"

"You mean other than what happened?" he asked. She nodded, resting a hand on his arm. "No, it's just not gonna be easy to tell."

"Did you think it would be?"

He shook his head. "I don't know what to think. You're right. The demons are definitely against this."

"Do you still think everything will work out?" Phoebe asked hesitantly. A demon had kidnapped him, after all. If that wasn't a bad sign of something else then what was?

He sighed. "The only thing I do know is that everything that we go through," he grabbed her hand. "Everything we overcome gets us one step closer to everything we've ever wanted."

"Don't you mean everything I've ever wanted?"

"You don't think I want to settle down and start my own family? Phoebe, I've helped thousands of people realize who they love and who they don't. And even though I love what I do, there's always something missing, someone missing, from my life."

"I can't be the only one. I'm sure you—" he cut her off with a soft kiss. She fell forward, but he pulled her toward him before she collided with the coffee table.

"But you are. I know what love feels like, real love, from helping others," he said after breaking the kiss. "And yet, I've never felt it myself until I finally met you."

"Sounds just like Cupid," Part of her believed with all her heart he was the one, but she was still afraid. Afraid of being hurt? That was nothing new to her.

"Phoebe, what is love to you? What does it mean?"

She looked into his eyes and said one word. "Eternity."

He smiled. "Just eternity? No commitment, trust, love for one above all others? Being able to share everything, every dream and heartache with one person who understands?"

Phoebe bit her lip, looking down. "I thought I had that person, but…"

Coop cupped her chin, bringing her eye-level to him. "You do now. Don't cry. What we have is real. Trust me," he brushed her hair out of her eyes. "What are you thinking?" he asked as he saw confusion in her eyes.

"A lot of things," she admitted. "But I'll be able to focus more once that demon is vanquished."

"That makes two of us."

"Well, I…I should probably…" her statement hung in the air as her heart beat faster. Now she realized why. It hadn't occurred to her – not in the slightest – where she was sitting, until now, a warm, caring arm around her back to rest his hand on her shoulder. Her breath caught in her throat.

More important things are at stake, but… Phoebe leaned in closer resting her head in his neck as Coop sat back against the couch. Her eyes closed and instantly the words that put doubts in her head came back.

"I'm sorry Phoebe," he told her, tears streaming down her face. "It's just not going to work."

"B—but why? What did I do? We were so happy, Coop, I—" he silenced her with a kiss.

"No, Phoebe. It's not you," he told her cupping her chin. "I just need time…"

The next question that came from her mouth made her cry. "Is—is there someone else?"

"Phoebe? Phoebe?" Coop called, trying to jar her from her thoughts. She was okay a second ago, and then she was shaking. At first, he thought she was cold, and then he heard sobs that she was failing to hold back.

"I should go get dressed," she said standing as he reluctantly let his arms fall to his sides and watched her walk away.

Coop knew she needed time, but he couldn't stand to see her upset if it involved him. He stood and walked to her bedroom door, hoping he could get her to talk. He knocked, but heard no answer so he stood against the wall, figuring she was getting dressed as she said, giving her a few minutes.

She pulled a pair of jeans on and a light t-shirt over everything else and sat to put on a light amount of make-up. Phoebe caught her true emotions in the mirror and felt like she'd kicked someone she'd never meant to. She struggled to hold her mascara level, but found her hand shaking too much, so she recapped it and set it down.

It wasn't fair to him. He didn't know why she ran, exactly. He'd knocked a few minutes ago, he but she ignored it so she could finish what she was doing. Standing, she walked over and cracked the door for him.

"Does this mean…?"

"Yes, I'm – decent," she struggled as she walked back over to her mirror.

Coop walked in and sat on the bed. He noticed how uneven she was, even the way she walked – no, she didn't walk, she stumbled – was unusual. Phoebe caught his reflection in the mirror. He looked hurt.

"Coop," she sighed. This wasn't easy to say. "It wasn't you." In an instant she felt his hand on her shoulder and covered it with her own.

She saw his reflection smile. "I know Phoebe, but what was it?"

Her gentle smile turned to what looked to be almost anguished. "I heard the same thing in that dream –" she turned around, looking at him with unshed tears. "–When you left…and said –" he sat on the floor in front of her bed now and grabbed her hand as she dropped to sit in his arms.

"Phoebe, whatever happens, I'll never leave you," he tried to reassure her as she rested her head in his neck.

"That's probably what you said to the dream-me then before that happened," she said wiping her eyes and resting a shaky hand on her stomach. "And if it does then what's going to –"

"It won't. You already agreed to give me a chance, remember?"

She nodded. "Both dreams, they just felt so real."

"They were supposed to," he insisted as she looked him in the eye.

"What's this decision Paige was talking about?" she asked, changing the subject.

Coop took her face in his hands and rested her forehead on his. Something inside her that had been dormant for a number of years was rising to the surface, but there wasn't time now to try to reason with her. "Let's just tackle one thing at a time, okay?" she looked hurt. "After we get this demon taken care of, what do you say we go out to dinner?"

"Where?" she asked puzzled.

"Nowhere too exotic," he shivered. His last encounter with sea food hadn't been friendly. "Just no sea food, okay?"

"Okay," her smile lit up the room as she stood and applied her make-up.

At the Manor

"Damn!" she cursed as the boiling sauce splattered on the stovetop, splashing her hands. She moved over, running her hands under the sink. "Well, that's better, but—" she looked at her hands through the crystal liquid. "Yeah, I'm gonna have marks," she said to herself as she turned off the water and grabbed a dish towel.

"Hi Piper," Paige said walking in. "What are you cooking?" she asked as she walked up behind her.

"Oh, just a little spaghetti sauce. Be careful. It's scalding hot," Piper said, holding a wooden spoon out for Paige to taste. She then walked over to grab a wet cloth to clean the stove. "Any good?"

"What do you expect from the chef?" Paige laughed. "I see you got a little on you," she said pointing to the light burns. "Would you like me to—?"

"Yes, please," Piper said holding her hands out for her. "Phoebe and Coop should be here and minute," she said as her burns disappeared.

Hearing the familiar sound, Paige looked left. "Sooner than a minute," she replied as her sister and her boyfriend appeared from smoke.

"Mmmm, is that dinner?" Phoebe asked walking toward them.

She rolled her eyes as Paige grinned. "Yes, now go sit down," Piper said, batting her away from the scalding utensils.

She sighed. "Okay," she took Coop by the hand, but he pulled away. Phoebe looked at him puzzled.

"Do you need any help, Piper?" he asked.

"No, I think I've got it," she said as she drained the pasta in the sink, but it dropped with a clang! She sucked in a breath.

"Piper, are you—" Phoebe began.

"I'm fine," she insisted through gritted teeth.

Paige stepped up beside her. "I don't think so. You go sit down. Henry should be arriving any minute anyway."

"But—"

"Go!" Phoebe insisted. "You've done all you need to. Paige and I will handle the rest."

"Come on," Leo said forming behind her as he placed his hand on her shoulder and led her out.

"What can I do?" Coop asked. Phoebe dug in the cupboards and drawers.

"Here, take these," she said.

"Wait, don't forget these!" Paige said handing him the kids' things too.

"Okay," Coop said, his arms nearly overflowing with cups, plates and silverware.

"Looks like you could use some help," a voice said from the doorway.

"Hi Henry," Phoebe said.

"Hi. Here, let me take some of that," Henry said, grabbing half of everything.

Phoebe nudged her arm. "Hm?"

"Piper said you two had a dinner date with a friend and his wife last night," Phoebe said, taking the sauce from the stove. "How'd it go?"

Paige grinned. "Well, let's just say that dinner was great and so was getting to know them, but I think what happened after everything was better."

Phoebe clapped her on the shoulder, grinning. "That's how it should be. Come on, I think everything's cooled down enough now."

"Okay," she said as they walked out.

Dinner passed without demonic influence, but that didn't mean boys weren't boys. After Wyatt was done, he wanted to get down and play. Of course Piper told him no, so he settled for flinging his leftovers all over. Piper took Chris from his seat and went to put him in bed, as his head was drooping into his food.

"Hey!" Phoebe complained, picking spaghetti out of her hair. "You're just gonna leave us with the messy one?"

As Piper turned around to answer, she was met with sauce coating her face. Phoebe backed up covering her ears expecting a yell, but her sister just wiped her eyes. "Of course not. I'll be right back," she said dangerously calm and headed upstairs. A few minutes later they heard. "WYATT MATTHEW HALLIWELL, GET UP HERE!"

He shrunk down in his seat, smiling innocently. Leo stood up and grabbed him, Orbing upstairs.

"Wow," Paige said, picking off stray food from her shirt. "Okay, everyone stand up."

"Paige," Phoebe said. "Personal gain?"

She raised an eyebrow, sighing. "I don't wanna go home and change."

"No spells," Henry reinforced.

"I wasn't going to use a spell," she said, snapping her fingers as her clothes appeared to be brand new.

"Oh…" Phoebe looked to Coop. "Is that…considered…?"

"I don't know. Probably, but I don't see anyone," he said.

"And I don't hear anything," Paige said. "So…" Four snaps and everyone was clean again. Paige grabbed the dishes and put them in the kitchen sink in water to soak. She walked back out and tossed Phoebe a wet cloth. "Here."

"Huh?" Phoebe asked confused.

"Someone's got to clean the lights," Paige said, smirking.

"Sometimes I hate you!" she pouted as she levitated and cleaned.

Paige just smiled as she grabbed the other towels and cleaned off the table and chairs.

"So Piper doesn't discipline?" Coop asked.

"Oh no, she disciplines," Phoebe answered.

"She just won't hit, which, if you ask me, is good, but…" Paige said walking back out. "I'm not for hitting kids, I never will be, but he might learn faster. I'm not saying brutal, but… Oh, who am I kidding? None of us would ever hit a kid! We're not barbaric!"

"Gee, I would've thought you'd be the other way," Coop said. Paige looked at him oddly. "Uh, from your expression."

"Nope," Phoebe said as she touched the floor. "She used to be a social worker."

Phoebe and Paige locked eyes. Phoebe nodded. "And…I was adopted…so…"

"So you wouldn't believe in it because of all you've seen," Henry walked over. "And been through…" he finished, wrapping his arms around her.

"Uh, come on," Phoebe took Coop's hand, leading him to the couch. "Let's go sit down," she knew her sister was still sensitive to the tragic incident after all these years and didn't want to push the subject.

"What's…" Coop began.

"It's – a touchy subject for her. She'll tell you sometime," Phoebe said as she sat beside him.

"Well, that was a chore," Piper said coming downstairs with Leo behind her.

"They didn't want to go, huh?" Henry asked as he and Paige sat beside Phoebe.

Piper's hair covered half of her face as she sat in the nearest chair. "Piper, I told you I could heal that," Leo said as he sat on the arm.

"Heal what?" Paige asked as she brushed her sister's hair back.

"What the—"

Her eye was black and slightly swollen. "This, Pheebs," Piper said, wincing slightly as her fingers brushed her eye, "is why I had to put him to bed."

"I would've—" Phoebe began, but Piper held up her hand.

"I know, you would've helped, but it's okay," she said. Phoebe raised an eyebrow at her. "Really. I'm –ouch!– fine. Leo, don—" he pressed a finger to her lips as golden light covered her face.

"No, you were not fine. And you can argue with me all night over it, but I think we have more important issues now," he gestured to Coop. "Don't we?"

Coop sighed, but nodded. "Yes, we do."

"Just start with what happened after you left," Phoebe suggested.

He nodded.

The 'call' came from the park he'd taken Phoebe to a while before. He walked through the trees and saw a young girl with red hair sitting on a bench with her head in her hands. As he got closer to her, he noticed her purse a few feet away. He walked over and picked it up and walked over to her, stopping a few feet away. The girl must've noticed his shadow because he only stood there a few moments before she looked up.

"Wh—who are you?" she asked her voice soft and shaky from crying.

He walked over and sat beside her. "I'm Coop and I think you dropped this," he said offering her purse to her. She laughed as she took it from him. He looked at her with a puzzled expression.

She wiped her eyes. "I'm Adrian and I didn't drop it," she looked down at it, her fingers gripping it so tightly, Coop was surprised nothing broke. "I threw it."

"Oh," he said. "At what?" As soon as he said that she stood up and Coop thought he hit a cord. "Adrian? Did I say something?" he asked as he stood to rest his hand on her shoulder.

"No," she said and he could tell by the dark tone in her voice something was amiss. Her grip on his hand became tighter and tighter as he tried to pull away. She raised it as she turned around. "But you will," he dropped as she crushed his fingers, "if you want your precious witch to live," gritting his teeth, he looked into her eyes and he saw they were as cold as ice.

"No!" he yelled as she formed a fireball, releasing his hand, and threw it at his chest. He flew across the walkway and crushed the bench.

"Now," she said walking over, "where is she?"

He sat up, rubbing his hand. His face was so contorted in pain, he couldn't speak – not that he would have.

"Well then," she said, forming one in each hand, "I guess I'll have to do it the hard way," before she could release the fireballs, however, she combusted. Coop sighed in relief, thinking it was Piper.

The person walked up and all Coop saw was a red light. Then a searing pain nearly cut him in two…

"The next thing I knew, I was chained to that wall with injuries," he said as he looked at Phoebe. "If I would've known what that did to me, I never–" she cut him off by cupping his face in her hands.

"I know that. It wasn't your fault. If you would have told her, I might not be here," she looked to Piper. "So," she sighed, "what's next?"

"He never told you his name?" Piper asked.

"If he did, I don't remember it," Coop said.

"Or any plan?" Paige asked. Phoebe rolled her eyes. "What?"

"Why do demons even need a thought-out plan anymore? They're main objective is to kill us."

"Or the Next Generation," Leo added, "but with Wyatt being as tuned in to evil as he already is, as long as nothing can break his shield, they're both safe."

"Trying to win the earlier argument, are you?" Paige asked.

Leo shook his head. "No."

"It's a simple fact," Henry stated, though as he'd stood up while Coop had recounted events, even his own wife forgot he was there as they all jumped. "What? Did you forget I was here?"

Paige looked down. "Henry, I—" someone elbowed her ribs, "we didn't forget," she stood up.

"You're usually not here when these things happen, so…" Phoebe tried to finish.

"I'm sorry, I just – I got caught up in it. You know how much I love this," Paige finished. Henry turned around to face her, kissing her in an instant.

"Yes Paige, I do and it's okay. It comes with the territory. I'm not magical at all, but it isn't completely new to me," he said as they went and sat back down.

"So, what do you think we should do?" Coop asked.

"Me?" Henry said. Coop nodded. "I'd say go back there and find the main demon, warlock, ghost or whatever caused that."

They laughed and he smiled, grateful to know he was on the right track. "Well, whatever it is, I'm not letting you go alone," Phoebe said.

"Phoebe, you shouldn't go—"

"Why?" she interrupted as he stood. "Why shouldn't I go? Why shouldn't I fight? It's a demon, Coop, demons like we've faced all along. Why's now so different?"

He turned to face her. "I told you why I don't want to go back down there. Knowing you were hurt—"

She took his hand. "I'm fine now. And the fact you that you were hurt because you wouldn't say anything, it just proves how—much you love me," the last four words were so quiet he almost had to read her lips. "To love someone so much you would risk anything and everything for, I know how it feels."

"What?" he asked confused.

"I had a man who walked through hell and came back just for me. Because he thought, as long as I was alive, he was safe. We were different – much different than you and I are, Coop, but that was years ago – or at least it feels that way."

"But you said you didn't want him back."

"True. I did say that. What I feel from him is dying. What I feel from you is the beginning of something I never thought possible."

"Does anyone else feel like the conversation should be reversed?" Page asked. They nodded.

Phoebe turned toward them, laughing. "Yeah, you're right. All of a sudden, I sound like an expert."

Coop stepped toward her. "Well, I would hope so. I think your readers would be disappointed if you didn't have a clue what you were talking about," he told her smiling.

"You mean like when she wrote her first column?" Paige asked.

Phoebe smiled, turning to Piper, who tried her best to hide a slight blush. "Don't say it!"

"I won't, but still. That column wasn't even mine – yet – anyway."

"You never did tell me what happened," Paige said.

"Never mind. It – it's not important," Piper told her, trying to steer her sister's mind onto anything else.

Paige rolled her eyes. "All right. But really, what do we do? The only demon we killed down there was the one we saw."

"Why do you think he was working for someone, Piper?" Phoebe asked.

"It didn't try too hard to kill us for one thing. Most demons don't take us on all by themselves."

"That's true, but I can think of one," Phoebe said.

Paige sighed. "Yeah, but he's the one whose probably the worst to face."

"And I highly doubt we've seen the last of him," Piper said.

"We have to go, Coop. If we don't," the wedding picture ran through her mind, "then there's a chance none of what I saw will happen…" the nursery entered Phoebe's head as well as her future-self, "and don't want to lose that hope. If I did, I don't know what I'd do."

Coop hesitated, but smiled. "Okay," he knew they were strong and could handle just about anything, but that didn't keep him from worrying over her, "but I'm going too," he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"That's the plan," Paige said. "So," she turned to Henry, "do you want to come along?"

Henry shook his head. "No, this is your…uh…"

"Thing?" Leo suggested.

Henry nodded. "Yes. It's not mine. Though I would like to learn more about it."

"Well, I'd say you married the right sister then," Leo said, "but if you want, I could take you to the school's library while they're gone."

"That'd be great!" Henry said. "You don't mind, do you, Paige?"

She smiled. "No, though if you'd like to learn about us," she pointed to herself and sisters, "then I'm not sure how many books in the school would help you."

"It still has books on our powers, Paige," Piper said. "Probably not as current, but it would work."

Paige nodded.

"It's settled then," Phoebe said. "The four of us will go down there and take care of whatever demon planned the attack and then," she turned to Coop, "I'm holding you to that dinner you promised me."

Coop smiled. "Absolutely."

"Okay, uh yeah, about that," Paige began, "how do you expect us to find the exact demon? It could be the Source for all we know!"

Coop shook his head. "I don't think it is. If it targeted me, I think it has something to do with Phoebe and me."

"Why do you say that?" Piper asked.

"Well, think about what the Elders did and said about Phoebe trusting me or nothing will come true. If I'm not there, then nothing will ever happen."

Paige looked at Piper. "Do you think it's the same demon?"

"It shouldn't be. They said that was the only time he would interfere," Piper said.

"Yeah, on their terms, but how many demons follow instructions, to the letter, without someone directly behind them?" Leo asked.

Paige raised her hand and they laughed. "None."

"Right."

Piper stood up. When they looked at her all she said was, "we need a plan."

They nodded and followed her.

In the Underworld

"Stupid Elders!" he fumed. "'Only attack once, don't kill!'" he mocked.

A knock resounded in the room. "Come in," he said as the doors opened.

"They're taking the offensive, sir," he said as he walked up.

The demon's face took on a malicious grin. "Good. Let them come."

"What would you like us to do?" he asked.

"Nothing. I will deal with them."

"Very well," he said as he exited the room.

"This time I will not fail, witch! I will make certain the Next Generation is never born!" he laughed…

Author's Note: What do you think? What will happen? Is Coop right? Is it the same demon from before and, if so, what will he do to Phoebe? I'm sorry for the long wait, but I've been trying to get things done.

Please read and review!

Next chapter: Chapter 11: Emotions of Two as One

Piper Chris Melinda Halliwell