A HalfBreed's Redemption?

by Lunara Dragon

Takes place after the last season (on TV). The sisters are all happily living with their families. Peace is coming to an end, and it's been decided they need a new Guardian. You won't believe who their new protector will be. First in Charmed Lineage series

14. Ends and Beginnings?

-1A Half-Breed's Redemption?
By: Dragonstar/ Lunara Dragon

Chapter 14: Ends and Beginnings?

Author's Note/Disclaimer: As usual I do not own Charmed or any of the original characters. I do however own Lillith along with any of the other characters created in this story but none of it is for profit and is purely fan fiction. Thanks for the continued comments. This is the big battle and I was nervous and excited while writing it. On to the story.

Halliwell Manor

Phoebe Halliwell rose to smells of pancakes wafting through the entire manor on delicious scented air streams. She knew immediately that her older sister was making a big breakfast but then felt a melancholy after thought at the reasons of why Piper was probably making such a big breakfast. She pulled herself out of bed and wiped left over sleep from her eyes before glancing down and seeing Patricia and Chris both waking from their sleep. Chris was the first to roll out of his bed, away from his aunt and cousin. Chris was just over two years old, and his younger cousin Patricia was just over one.

"Downstairs? Mommy." Chris blurted out and quickly orbed away from his room, Phoebe jumped up and looked around the room. Apparently her nephew had learned how to orb himself to where he wanted to go, he had over time learned how to orb other people when asked to and objects but orbing himself seemed more of a feat.

"Christopher!" Phoebe yelled out in to the manor letting her voice echo off of the walls. Patricia jumped at her mother's yelling and stared around the room before toddling over to the door and opening it.

"He's down here Pheebs. Don't worry!" Leo yelled up from the bottom of the stairs. Phoebe soon walked over and pulled Patricia up on her way out the door, in to her arms. "Hey Tricia." Leo greeted to his niece when Phoebe and Patricia finally reached the bottom of the stairs and Leo appeared to be waiting for them. Tricia reached out for her uncle and giggled when she pulled him out of Phoebe's arms and lifted her in to the air.

The two adults and giggling toddler walked in to the living to wait for Piper's announcement of breakfast being done. Phoebe looked down at the couch to find the slumbering figure of Lillith, with Cole sitting on the couch with Lillith's legs once again crossing over his lap. He grinned up at her in greeting as she shifted her weight in to the chair she had just occupied last night as well. Wyatt was in the other room banging loudly with his toy tools on plastic nails.

"She sleeps through anything I see." Phoebe commented staring at the two figures on the couch as a half-hearted grin crossed her face. Cole nodded his agreement and continued to hold his wide grin.

"Yea I guess so. She slept through Wyatt, as well as my moving her legs to sit here. She also slept through Leo and Piper bickering when they first rose this morning. That was my alarm clock." Cole responded as he continued to stare at Phoebe and only occasionally glance down at Lillith. Phoebe looked surprised at the mention of Leo and Piper arguing this morning.

"What did they argue about that woke you up?" Phoebe asked in a hushed tone as she leaned forward in her chair. Cole laughed and shrugged.

"The usual for them I suppose. Leo told her she should try and get as much sleep as possible and she said she was fine. That cooking was something she needed to do and he should have learned that by now." Cole answered back as he recollected on the morning then added. "I didn't catch a whole lot. I just woke up to Leo's voice raising an octave before they headed in to the kitchen. Remember, I was still sleeping so without caffeine I am not to perceptive."

Phoebe released a small laugh and tried to stifle it. "Some things never change no matter how long you were dead." She teased in response and Cole picked up his folded blanket that he had conjured last night and threw it towards his ex-wife.

"Yeah well that is one thing both of you have in common." Lillith finally muttered through a yawn as she turned to see both of them talking. "Phoebe here is still the same to, aren't you. If it wasn't for the baby inside you coffee would be hooked up to your veins figuratively speaking." She added as she pulled herself in to a sitting position. Phoebe glanced between Lillith and Cole now and glared in a playful manner.

"I think you have been talking to Piper to much Lillith!" The dark haired woman shot back at Lillith. The Soul Guardian just shrugged as she glanced towards the kitchen and then saw Cole holding a cup of coffee in his hand. She smiled before standing and trampling off towards the kitchen.

--

The Mitchell/Matthews Condo

Henry had woken to the phone ringing to find after answering that it was his oldest sister-in-law Piper calling about breakfast. Henry had agreed to wake Paige up and bring her as well as the twins over when it was time. When Henry rose out of bed he began to nudge at Paige who had only woken him up long enough last night to crawl in to his arms in their bed. Henry smiled down at her as he pushed some of her red strands away from her face. Her roots were showing from the last two months of not being able to re-dye her hair after finding out she was pregnant. Paige nodded that she was awake and so he walked out of the bedroom and found a demon sitting on his couch holding some type of hat.

"What the hell?" Henry shouted freezing in his tracks. Paige quickly followed behind running out of the bedroom at her husband's shout but then calmed when she saw it was just Asmodai.

"Oh sorry I did not keep you up long enough to tell you. We had an over night guest and his name is Asmodai." Paige reported as she walked over and took the crown from his grasp. She glanced at it trying to figure out what exactly they would need to do to pull the essence out of it and Asmodai smiled at Henry before reaching his hand out to shake it. Henry winced at the look of the Ayman monk with pupiless red eyes and yellow skin but forced himself to be polite.

"Yea great nice to meet you." He muttered in response before pulling Paige towards their dining room. "You could have mentioned that a demon would be staying. I would have liked to be woken up for that warning." Henry reported to her as one eyebrow rose in agitation. He pursed his lips together making Paige laugh as she leaned up and kissed him.

"You worry to much. We needed him to watch the crown so we could go to battle today." Paige responded again as her smile faded and she walked over returning the crown to Asmodai.

--

Halliwell Manor

Breakfast had been finished after the arrival of Henry, Paige, the twins, and surprisingly Asmodai who enjoyed Piper's breakfast as much as Cole and Leo, if not more so. The monk kept thanking Piper and telling her that she was a wonderful cook as much as she was a witch. Piper looked surprised but smiled politely thanking him before clearing the dishes with the help of Leo, Cole, and Paige. The others took the kids in to the playroom when Coop arrived shortly after breakfast. He had talked the Elders in to giving him the day off and announcing that he would be watching the kids with Leo because Henry had to work and the girls were going to be busy. Paige soon followed after Piper as she led the way in to the attic where they now began to gather all of the Lamanian vanquishing potions they had and divide them amongst the three. Piper had tried to give some to Lillith and Cole but both said that they'd be fine. She then took a few extra bottles and set them aside for her husband.

"There just in case she sends a few up here after the kids while we are down there battling. Between Wyatt, Chris, and Patricia they should be fine. But take these just in case." She said handing them to Leo. He nodded his agreement and now rolled them around in his hands trying to preoccupy himself. He glanced around nervously and caught the same tension reflected in Cole. The group in the room began the process now of strategies.

"Alright body guard you better be ready. We're counting on you!" Paige teased to Cole trying to ease his tension that she felt. Paige smiled at him and Cole nodded his head.

"Of course. I am always ready." He shot back in a cocky tone. Paige rolled her eyes now and turned to Phoebe who smiled between the two. He then added quickly "Will you be ready. We don't need either of you pregnant women having your hormones take over in battle."

"Looks like another thing has not changed. You two still have a love/hate annoyance relationship no matter the circumstances." Phoebe spoke up now adding on to her earlier comment about some things never changing. Cole looked at her and laughed in chorus with Paige's light giggles and both agreed.

The Charmed Sisters along with their new allies and old friend, decided that they were ready except they had not decided on the last part. "Wait. What is the best way to start this do we just barge in to her lair. Or try and lure her away from her 'children'?" Piper questioned and turned to face Asmodai now who caught her eyes and stared in to her chocolate brown eyes. He sent images in to her mind as she flinched at the sudden searing pain and felt the mental barrage coming from the monk.

"You could have just spoken an answer. I would have been satisfied with your word for Christ sakes!" Piper muttered in an agitated tone as she rubbed her forehead.

"Are you sure you are ready for this?" Cole asked down to her as he walked over and glared at the monk. Piper looked up and then around the room at her sisters.

"The last two and a half months have been bitter sweet Cole. We have had you back in our lives and made a new friend in the process. But they have been hell worrying about all of our kids so hell yeah I am ready for this. As ready as I am ever going to be." Piper shot back at him and her bravado rose as Cole could not help but shake his head.

"You always were the direct one." He commented echoing another thing he had always said to her over the years.

"And never forget that. So a direct attack it is because Lamia would never leave her lair. Let's go!" Piper commanded as she took Cole's hand on one side and Asmodai took Lillith's hand. Phoebe took a hold of Paige's and the group left in various modes of magical transport. Leo looked around at the empty room and let out a deep sigh.

"It's days like this Coop that I miss my powers." Leo forced himself to admit as he looked to his cupid brother-in-law.

Coop answered after clenching his fists in and out to calm himself. "How do you think I feel Leo? I am magical and yet was stuck on baby sitting duty with you. No offense."

"None taken. But do understand it is for the best I am going to need your help if that crazed serpent woman sends some of her minions up here."

"Yeah I know."

--

Underworld Caverns leading to Lamia's lair

Telane felt the bindings around her arms and legs and the amulet that sat fused in to her head. Tears fell down from her hazel eyes when she felt the all to familiar presence of her best friend as magical lights and shimmering hazes announced the arrival of the group. The dark green amulet began to send a searing pain through out Telane's body as she felt the crunching feeling that announced the first stages of her change. She had not felt this pain since the first time she was alive in the Greek Gods era.

Telane looked awful when the group finally noticed her. Lillith fought to rush over to her friend but was pulled back by Cole's grip on her arm and she glared up in to his eyes. Piper ignored his warning and was the first to step forward after Lillith's attempt when she saw the tears on her face and then heard the crunching noise. Asmodai had a look of horror on his face and shook his head in anger.

"Stop. Don't…" Telane began and froze in mid-sentence as she let out a scream of agony. Her words cut through Piper's core but she listened and stopped moving towards Telane. Her body began to shift in size and form and the six others watched in horror. "I won't do this." They could make out in the murmurs as they saw Telane turn in to the legendary form of Scylla with three heads and serpent like scales. Her eyes still blazed but were a bright yellow in color now and matched the serpent eyes that her mother had.

"Kill me!" Telane yelled and let it echo through out the cavern. It now had a hissing quality to it. She soon had also the sharp teeth popping out of her main mouth now and grew a cat like tail with canine like legs. "Asmodai please." She said as a last hope before the beast like qualities devoured her.

"It seems mommy dearest has put in an alarm system. Was she expecting us?" Paige muttered as she dodged a spew of sludge being shot at her from the form that was now Scylla. Cole stepped in the way an amped up an energy ball looking to Piper who nodded from her place still in front of them. She threw her hands up causing one of Scylla's legs to explode. Cole held his energy ball above his head and released it at Scylla's head. Lillith shook her head in frustration as she turned back to see Asmodai still looked horrified and looked at the crown in Paige's hand. Phoebe levitated out of the way of another stream of miasmic sludge before turning to Asmodai.

"Do something!" She yelled to the monk who nodded. He began to chant as Cole and Piper continued to try and fight Scylla. Cole waved his hand now and tried to turn the beast in to an inanimate object but it was to no avail. Piper blew up another ligament before turning her head.

She shouted quickly over her shoulder. "A little help here please! I would like to conserve as much energy for Big Snake momma. Not her tortured offspring!" Lillith gave in as well as Paige who handed the crown to Phoebe and called for a rock sending it hurling towards the huge creature and hitting it in the eye causing a distraction. Piper was pushed out of the way of a hurling paw by Cole who now pushed back at the paw while Asmodai continued to chant something that no one could quite hear.

"Telane stop this!" Lillith yelled out trying to break through to her friend again. Cole felt the paw ease a little in it's thrashing motion and caught the eyes clearing and staring down at Lillith but it only lasted for a few moments before the amulet emitted a light and the malicious look reappeared. Cole was now caught off guard and was swatted flying towards the wall.

"Cole!" Paige yelled out without realizing it would actually have an affect. The orb lights erupted around him and he landed softly next to Piper who stood with him.

"You did not need to push me so hard!" Piper shot at him before focusing back on the battle. Lillith stepped in the way now as she amped up her own form of the energy ball with bright orb lights mingled in with the radiating electricity and sent it towards Scylla's row of sharp teeth. Piper shot her hands up again and caused one of the smaller heads to blow up which caused bits to fly around the cave. The three sisters along with Lillith muttered different variations of the word disgusting before returning all attention on to the battle. A thought then flashed in Paige's mind and she turned to Asmodai who was still chanting. Phoebe took the moment upon her self as she used her ability to levitate and rose in the air causing a distraction while she glanced down at Cole who nodded quickly before moving his hand to the ground causing it to shift underneath the beastly Scylla.

"Asmodai what are you doing?" Paige questioned. The man turned to stare at her and jolted his head toward Scylla before walking over to Paige and looking above her at Phoebe who was still levitating trying to confuse their opponent now.

"That was a good tactic we may need that again. But come down now please." Asmodai requested politely as he reached his cool yellowish hand up and placed a barrier around the two pregnant charmed sisters before the sludge shot from Scylla's main mouth hit them. When Phoebe landed she looked to Paige who smiled and returned her gaze to Asmodai. He then continued "Call for the Amulet in her forehead. It is referred to as the Serpent's Eye. First PIPER!"

Piper turned from battle after Cole dodged in the way blocking another stream only this time it seemed to be made of an acidic water based chemical. He deflected it with a fireball that caused it to evaporate before grimacing at the smell it caused.

"What?" Piper yelled in response.

"Try to freeze Scylla." Asmodai yelled back with his deep voice and turned his attention back to Paige. "Call for it after Piper freezes her."

Piper waved her hands in the freezing motion and it only slowed Scylla down but did not completely freeze her. Cole quickly turned to face Lillith and yelled in her direction. "Hey when you brought me back you said some of my powers were returned but not all. Do I still have the ability to freeze things to?"

"How the hell should I know and since when does Cole Turner ask instead of just trying?" She shot back in some anger while ducking closer to Piper and motioned for her to try again. Cole rolled his eyes at her answer and nodded to Piper as well, both did their motions for freezing, and Scylla froze completely this time. "Well looks like you do." Lillith added on before turning to face the trio that stood behind them.

"Serpent's Eye!" Paige yelled out and the amulet resonated one more time before disembodying itself from the forehead of the beast and appeared in Paige's hands with a magical blue-white light. In the lights Paige noted some green tones were dancing with in it and pointed that out to Asmodai who quickly took it from her. Phoebe now held the Crown of Hera since her younger sister had to call for the amulet.

"I'll hold on to that. If you have it who knows what else Lamia may be able to do with this thing." Asmodai commented with a worried expression as he placed the over-sized stone in to a deep pocket inside his robes. They all focused their attention back on Telane who had started to revert back to her normal form. Now as the last ligaments returned to their proper forms, she bared scratches, deep gouges, bruises, and scorch marks where they had been forced in to fighting her. She smiled up weakly at the group and forced herself to sit up slightly.

"Thank you. The battle is still a head I am afraid." Telane murmured in a hoarse voice as she was now pulled to stand by Lillith who looked back to Asmodai. She focused her energy getting ready to try and call on her ability to partially heal people but was stopped by Telane. "You need to save your strength as much as they do. I am going with you."

Piper looked surprised at her comment then looked back at Paige and Phoebe who also seemed just as unsure about Telane's declaration but shrugged. Cole shook his head no and walked forward pulling the blonde demoness who was just once the embodiment of Scylla to stand as she shifted her weight glaring up at him. He motioned to Paige and she nodded taking the cue.

"Telane er Scylla…wait where should I send her? The Manor is out of the question right?" Paige asked and both Piper and Phoebe fervently nodded before a thought passed through Paige's mind and she grinned. "Telane to Golden Gate Bridge." Her blue-white lights erupted again and now Lillith turned to her in surprise.

"Why there?" She yelled in confusion and also felt her temper rising.

Paige shrugged and answered "Simple she will be safe there from her mother but is to weak to shimmer back here or to where our kids are. You may still have some trust for her but WE don't." Lillith and Asmodai both accepted the answer and turned to trudge on ward. The sisters quickly pulled out the vanquishing potions to get them ready as they walked through the caverns and followed Cole and Lillith's lead since those two were the only two who had been down here the first time.

They finally arrived at the entry way as Piper thought quickly and threw her hands up causing one of the guards to explode while Cole amped up an energy ball releasing it at the other guard. A warlock blinked in behind Asmodai who quickly turned and deflected her from the two sisters under his care. He opened his eyes widely and sent a searing pain in to the warlocks head but it was not his mental intrusion. The warlock slowly summoned and athame and stabbed herself with it.

"You have the power of mind control? Remind me to be glad you are on our side." Phoebe whispered in to the direction of Asmodai who just wore a devilish grin on his face now and they turned back to see their element of surprise had still not been quite ruined yet. Asmodai looked around and glared at the group of Lamanians that stood just inside the cavern and noted that they were newly made. He shook his head and turned to another warlock who stood on the makeshift throne area with Lamia herself standing with him.

"It seems that is our welcoming committee and she was not expecting us to beat Scylla so soon." Asmodai whispered to the group before nodding to Phoebe. "Give Piper the Crown of Hera and then you two stand behind her and we will go straight in. Cole continue to lead in the front with Lillith. Afterwards I will pull Phoebe and Paige away from the battle as soon as the essence of Hera is released. Got it?"

"Yeah sure. Let's go now!" Cole replied in agitation as he held his hands in front of him on his left he held a fireball and in his right he held his usual energy ball. He pulled his newly made attack and combined the two creating the blue cosmic fire ball that had electricity moving in circular motions around the blue fire. He released it in the direction of the warlock. He went up in flames and did not blink out in time but Lamia turned and released her own bolt of lightning towards Cole who felt it sear in to his right arm as he barely dodged out of the way. Lillith turned to face the Lamanians now coming towards them as she frantically called on an energy ball releasing it and sending one up in smoke before realizing she could not take them all up. She knelt to the ground ignoring the one closest to her as she called on a tangle of vines to hold them back temporarily. The one closest to her began to try and pry her from her kneeling position as she kicked out with one leg and then saw him go up in flames. She turned to see that Phoebe had thrown a potion at him before placing her hand on Piper. Lillith flashed her a quick smile before returning to holding the barrage of Lamanian warriors back.

Paige and Phoebe put their hands intertwined around either of Piper's arms. The eldest living Halliwell glanced around and did not see the corporeal soul of Prue but had to focus on the task at hand right now. Piper held the crown out in front of her and Asmodai quickly approached sending his own power in with theirs. Lamia glared when she recognized Asmodai and shook her head.

"What the hell are you doing with them?" Lamia yelled to him before adding "Haven't you learned monk, you can not do anything more than imprison me!" She shot another attack, this time her own green fireball with snakes slithering within the green fire and it was a stronger version of the one she had blessed one of the demons with on the night Cole had been first revealed to Paige and Phoebe.

"Wait what spell do we use?" Piper yelled over her shoulder and both of her sisters shrugged turning their attention to Asmodai.

"The spell to summon a spirit. I am here to add the mental power needed to call the essence out of the object." Asmodai responded quickly. Cole jumped in the way of Lamia's serpent filled fireball and waved his hand sending the attack back in to the direction that it just came from.

"Hear these words, hear my cry spirit from the other side, cross now the great divide." The three chanted the all to familiar spell and felt the magical energy of the Ayman monk mixing with their spell and a white glow erupted from the crown as it rose out of Piper's hands and landed on her head as her hair began to twist in to small buns in her hair and her eyes flashed with a golden glow. Her two sisters were quickly pulled back by Asmodai and a force field erupted around them. They turned to see their sister now transforming as the crown appeared almost like a golden halo atop Piper's head and her clothes melted into the white gown similar yet different from when she was the mother goddess. Cole took a side glance back at the glow and looked Piper up and down before realizing it was not Piper at all.

"What is going on?" The new embodiment of Hera, Piper, questioned. She quickly glanced around before Cole looked at her and smiled trying to think of a quick answer. A few of the Lamanians began breaking through the vine barrier as Lillith stood from her knelt position trying to fight them off. She threw two small energy balls and one hit the mark but only caused a minor burn on the Lamanian as it began to quickly heal. Hera/Piper now took note of the Lamanians and raised her hand sending them flying far from the area where herself and Lillith stood.

"You are in my friend's body, we need your help to defeat Lamia." Cole whispered quickly directing the Piper and Hera hybrid woman to glance up at the make shift throne as the serpent woman began to glide down the stairs not realizing that Piper had in fact changed in to her arch nemesis. Hera glared and nodded her understanding when looking back at Cole and locking her bluish-brown eyes on to Cole's worried expression.

"I see." Was Hera's only response before a slow glow erupted around her again and her eyes clouded over in a haze while she turned to face each member in the group behind her before resting her hazy eyes on Asmodai. Lamia seized the moment as she waved her hands releasing more of her demons and then summoned a few more warlocks, Zanatos was in the ranks of warlocks. He was quickly informed by Lamia what was going on and headed in the direction of Lillith who now had backed up closer to Cole. Piper/Hera stood in front of Phoebe, Paige, and Asmodai and seemed to be concentrating intensely on the Ayman monk who met her gaze with an unblinking one of his own.

"Ok I thought she was supposed to be HELPING!" Cole yelled over his shoulder before a snake slithered towards him, wrapping itself around his legs. Lillith turned to find two Lamanians, one who stood as short as she did but had huge bulging muscles and held a radiating stream of grey toned light in its hands. The other was much larger then even Cole or Asmodai, and had no distinguishable hands but shot acid from its mouth. Lillith jumped out of the way of the acid spat in her direction and glanced back to Piper/Hera before giving Cole a quick shrug and releasing another energy ball amped up with lights and sent it towards the first demon heading towards her as it sent smoke around him. Cole released a fire ball incinerating the serpent at his feet but not before feeling some of the affect, it had stolen some of his magical energy via a bite and he could only assume that it went from him to the serpent's master, Lamia.

"Great!" He muttered but then heard the gasp of the person who stood behind him and saw that his Soul Guardian had been hit by some of the acidic spray from a Lamanian who resembled that of a bird minus the wings. It was covered in feathers but had no beak, it had black beady eyes and a snout instead in the place of its mouth. The feet of it were human like but had huge talons at the tips of the toes. Paige also heard Lillith and thought quickly as she stepped out of Asmodai's barrier and threw a potion in their direction causing it to erupt in smoke. That was exactly want Lamia wanted as she now motioned her hand to Zanatos who blinked himself in front of Paige and it was now seen that he had another serpent in his hands as it slithered towards Paige's stomach.

"NO! Serpent, Fire!" Paige yelled trying to force the serpent away from her unborn child that rested in her womb, and the magical lights appeared around it but Zanatos pulled it out of Paige's spell and glared at the witch-lighter. Phoebe ran out of Asmodai's protection as well as she levitated towards her sister and pulled her away from Zanatos. The warlock glared up at her but wore a smirk as Phoebe and Paige now stood out of the protective barrier of Asmodai who was still staring at Hera.

Lamia glided in their direction as a maliciously happy light danced in her serpent eyes when she saw the two sisters with unborn children just a few feet in front of her now. Lillith turned to Asmodai and orbed out of the way of an oncoming fire streak and towards the Ayman monk. "DO SOMETHING!" She hissed in to his ear before closing her eyes and focusing her energy. She knelt again sending this time a wall of flowers, but they were poppies and as the magic intermingled with Lillith's power she forced them to release a powder in Lamia's direction as well as a few of her children that were following her lead and encircling around Phoebe and Paige. All it did was make Lamia lose her eye sight for a bit and some of the weaker Lamanians fell under the spell as slumber consumed them.

Cole finally fought off another warlock that had appeared with Zanatos and had been planned as a distraction for the former demon. His eyes gleamed with green fire of his own, but it was his rage resonating in his eyes as he glared at the warlock and let his darker side take over. He had tried every attack in his arsenal and the other man simply absorbed the magical attacks with in a necklace he wore around his neck. Getting fet up with the game Cole conjured an Athame and then waved his hand freezing the warlock long enough to step forward and stab him in the heart while pulling the amulet off the neck. "Let's see you survive this." Cole leaned in and muttered in an overbearing whisper that dripped with pure anger in to the catacomb of the warlock's ear. A look of fear passed through his brown eyes before he went up in flames with the glare Cole gave him and that was the first time Cole realized he still had that power as well. Lamia continued to glide towards Phoebe and Paige as she held her hand up an it emitted a barrier of her own keeping the two sisters from moving far from the devilish serpent-like woman. She stood only a few feet from them now and both could feel a burning sensation through out their bodies. Paige tried orbing herself and her sister out but to no avail. Lillith was busy fighting off two more warlocks and Asmodai had finally broken the mental spell he was stuck in with Hera. The woman still continued to stand inside Piper's body and was unmoving Cole glared in her direction before sending two more Lamanians up in flames on his quest to get to Phoebe and Paige.

"You thought you could come here and win?" Lamia asked with a low growling tone before glaring in to the eyes of Phoebe and reaching her hand towards Phoebe's stomach. Phoebe stepped back and punched Lamia causing her to stop her approach for a few moments. Paige looked around the small barrier as Lamia's cackles filled the air. "You are making this agony longer then it has to be. Why do you do that?" Lamia questioned as she continued her approach towards Phoebe again. Paige used her power and forced her will in to it orbing a dirt whirlwind around Lamia causing another distraction. All the time this was occurring Cole pushed through the army of demons and warlocks alike to try and make his way to Phoebe and Paige but help Lillith and Asmodai as much as he could as well. He finally gave in when Phoebe's scream erupted through the air and tore in to his heart. He glanced over and saw Lamia standing over Phoebe who had been knocked on to the floor and now had the arm of Lamia's with a serpent attached on to her stomach. He could make out a green glow as the serpent began the process of absorbing Phoebe's unborn child. Paige had been knocked out by the woman and laid in a crumpled heap beside her sister. A shimmer erupted as he tried to break in to Lamia's barrier.

The force distracted Lamia and Phoebe could feel the tension and fangs slowly releasing from her womb. Tears filled her eyes with rage as she glared at Lamia and saw a shimmer trail trying to break through the barrier. Cole finally appeared on the dirt ground right outside the force field and he pushed against it harder.

"You can't break through so don't even bother Traitor!" Lamia hissed in his direction she saw the eyes of Lillith and Asmodai both turn to face them. Each wore bruises and gouges to match Cole's that revealed their wear and tear from the battle. "Belthazor you should still be dead." Lamia added on before she waved her hand and Zanatos appeared in the blink of an eye beside Cole pulling him away from Lamia's magical wall and Cole allowed his anger to completely consume him. He forced himself out of the taller Warlock's death grip on him and continued to glare. The two were battling each other with their telekinetic powers but neither budged more then a few inches. Cole's death glare soon won out as Zanatos went up in a stream of flames. Cole quickly returned to the barrier trying to break back through. Hera stepped forward at that moment and waved her hands pushing through the ranks that were left of weaker Lamanians and as she glanced back and forth between them they all seemed to shrink in size, miraculously returning to the forms of children. Asmodai quickly stepped in to the middle of them and put up a barrier around the passed out children and looked up to watch Hera's actions.

"You still can't break through! Why are men so stubborn?" Lamia said with a laugh. Phoebe had fallen in to a trance as well with Paige, the serpent arm was once again hooked to where her unborn child sat inside of her and Piper stepped beside Cole now glaring at the scene. She put her hand to her stomach and looked at Cole in horror before shaking her head.

"This host is not suited for me? She does not know it yet but…" The hybrid of Piper/Hera murmured to Cole before smiling and placing her hand on Cole's head. "You however are perfect. Well out of the choices anyway." She continued not finishing her earlier comment and Cole stared at her confused. He felt a wave wash over him as it left from Piper who stepped back with a knowing grin on her face and the Crown floated from her head to Cole's whose green eyes now blazed a teal in color.

"Oh you're legends don't do you justice Hera. Apparently you are also the goddess of humor!" Piper mumbled in to the air and caught Lamia's attention when she mentioned the name of Hera. It was the first time the malevolent spirit had focused on the crown enough to realize what it was and her arm quickly drained the last bit of Phoebe's child in to itself.

"It can't be!" Lamia spit out in anger. She raised her hand as Cole fought to regain his composure. He quickly glanced to Piper before glaring back at the unconscious forms of Paige and Phoebe on the floor.

"What the hell just happened?" Cole yelled in rage as he placed his hands on the crown that sat atop his head. "You've got to be fucking kidding me!" He added after realization struck him.

'LEAVE IT ON! You are a surprising being Mr. Turner. With the crown I am one with you and yet not. It seems you really were the perfect host. You control your own body even while my spirit inhabits you.' A very feminine voice rang in Cole's head as he furiously shook it back and forth trying to make sense out of what was happening. He turned back to what he originally was trying to do. While he was in a mental sparring with himself trying to comprehend what was going on, Lamia had picked that time to attack Piper. Piper kept throwing her hands up sending her explosions mixed with the potions she had in her pocket and all it did was send Lamia flying but barely any harm came to her. Lillith heard Piper yelling curse words and orbed in front of her.

"Where's the crown?" Lillith questioned frantically, hysteria filling her voice and Piper quickly pointed towards Cole. Lillith, even in the midst of battle and anguish, started laughing hysterically at the scene of Cole wearing Hera's crown. A barrier still was held up around the two forms of Piper's sisters and Lillith kept her protective stance now in front of Piper and a serpent began slithering in their direction while Lamia reappeared inside her barrier in a fading blur.

Cole pushed his anxiety aside and now felt intense anger again as he stepped through the barrier as if it were not hard to do at all.

"How did you do that?" Lamia yelled as her rage danced off of the walls and in Cole's direction. When she locked eyes with him and saw his smirk she noted that his eyes seemed vaguely familiar. In a quick flash a hazy spirit appeared in front of Cole that looked like Hera but Lamia refused to admit that was it. "The crown you can't use it. You're a…" she paused angrily and summoned a spray of flames that twirled in circular motions with that of snakes in Cole's direction. He pushed them aside and summoned his usual new favorite attack, combining an energy ball with a fireball and sent it in Lamia's direction only not directly at her. He sent it towards her Serpent's arm and it went up in flames as his rage had also made it stronger than it had been the first time he used it on her. Magical essences were released as they flew back in to the wombs of both Paige and Phoebe. Cole smiled with happiness at success of saving their unborn children before returning his angry glare in Lamia's direction.

The Serpent quickly grew in size as Lamia waved her hand in its direction and it stood over Piper and Lillith who glared up at it with a mixture of fear and defiance mixing in their eyes. Lillith felt weak but tried to summon her last attempt at fighting before she turned to face Asmodai who was killing off the rest of the warlocks. She summoned an energy ball and held it in front of her longer then she usually did. She sent orb lights in to the electro-ball but also stared at the ball and flowers started to dance in the lights as well. Piper threw her hands up in a freezing motion as the serpent froze in place.

"I am starting to think Lamia's hobby is creating oversized beasts as much as seizing magical children." Piper mumbled and glanced at Lillith who's purple eyes danced with weary but she forced a half-hearted nod in agreement before releasing the energy ball. As it hit the head of the serpent, the lights and electricity erupted wrapping around the beast as if followed the trail of flowers that began popping up along its back as if it were made of dirt. Lillith quickly slid to the ground and shook her head.

"I am so not used to this crap. Saving lost souls is so much easier then this battling crazy spirits that possess magical beings crap." Lamia mumbled up to Piper who laughed. The serpent unfroze as the electricity and flowers continued to radiate around its body. It let out a painful hiss before it fell to the ground thanks to the combined powers of Piper and Lillith. The two then turned their attention to Cole with Hera's power who was battling Lamia now. Asmodai walked over towards Phoebe and Paige who were starting to waken from whatever magical spell Lamia had cast over them. That was a good sign Piper noted as she watched.

Cole continued sending fire streams deflecting Lamia's attacks left and right. Lamia was backtracking to her throne but continued to glare with defiance at the embodiment of Hera. Cole finally waved his hand and his power amped up with Hera's essence caused the earth to literally shake underneath Lamia and the make-shift throne to crumble.

"DAMN IT! Why won't you just let me finish this. Why do insist on making it longer?" Cole shouted at Lamia in a mocking tone repeating a similar comment she had made to Phoebe not long ago. Lamia used the last of her strength to jump away from the shaking ground and sent a beam of electricity in Cole's direction. He ducked out of the way but not before being scorched on his shoulder and he winced in pain. Phoebe and Paige had now completely woken and were standing with the assistance of Asmodai who waved his hands over them healing their wounds as much as he could. He had mumbled something about not being a white lighter.

'Finish it Cole! Send my spirit towards her and I will finish it from there.' The female voice of Hera rang out in his mind again and Cole held his hands to his head wincing at the yelling quality of the voice. He glared at Lamia and pulled the crown off of his head while holding his hand in front of him. He tried to think fast before waving his hand in a circular motion over the top of the cylindrical crown as he would do when undoing his powers that turned people in to inanimate objects. The crown began to fade in to an ethereal glow as it faded a soul appeared and morphed in to the form of a ghostly woman who was beautiful by first glances but seemed to have bright blue eyes that were more ox like then human like. Hera grinned back at him before holding her hands up in Lamia's direction.

"You should never have crossed me all those years ago!" Hera yelled in her rage as Lamia's demonic body began to erupt in blinding lights that were yellow mixed with a deep red that resembled the color of the fruit pomegranate, and shades of blue and green. The demon body was destroyed as the spirit of Lamia stepped away from the body. Lamia glared at Hera as she charged towards her. Hera waved her hands one last time as the spirit of Lamia erupted turning in to a pile of what looked like peacock feathers. From the pile stepped a form of a Greek woman who looked similar to Telane but very different.

"It was your fault that I ended up that way in the first place." The spirit whispered towards Hera who cocked her head and nodded. She held her hand out to this spirit and glanced back at the group.

"You will need me to take you to those who run the heavens now." Asmodai said in his usual normal baritone voice. The spirits of Hera and the part left of Lamia's soul turned to face him as he held the crown in one hand now. He pulled the Serpent's Eye out and held it towards both of them. The two spirits were willingly evaporated in to the Eye and then he turned and pulled his hood up over his head getting ready to leave.

"HOLD IT!" Piper's voice echoed off the cavern as she took her place as the leader again and quickly walked over to the Ayman monk with Cole on her heels and falling in to step with her. "Where are you taking them?" Piper yelled adding on to her earlier order.

"Furthermore why did Hera decide to possess me?" Cole added on as his annoyance began to show through. He turned quickly and glared when he heard the faint laughter of both Phoebe and Paige who finally relaxed against the wall with Lillith sitting close to them. She grinned and shrugged feigning innocence.

Lillith stood and walked over to them while Asmodai began to answer Piper first. "Well that was only a part of Hera's soul I am going to allow it to rejoin with the rest of itself I guess you could say. As for Lamia I think it is time Maria finally send her to an Angel of Death. Don't you agree?" Piper rolled that thought around in her head and grinned nodding her agreement.

"Yea definitely. She has been evading death and wreaking havoc for far to long." Piper shot back with a grin still weakly worn on her facial demeanor. Cole waved his hand and still looked agitated.

"What?" Asmodai questioned to him. He quickly left the cavern in a crimson barrier once he knew that Piper was satisfied with his answer and wore a devilish smirk of his own. Piper and Lillith both turned their attention to Cole as Paige and Phoebe walked towards the three ignoring the pain that was still left in their bodies.

"The bastard left without answering me!" Cole yelled in frustration. Piper smirked up at the taller man and shrugged.

"I can answer that for you Cole." Piper said with a mischievous grin of her own.

"Oh really?" Paige and Cole seemed to ask Piper in unison. Of course Paige's tone was mixed with her trying to fight back laughter, and Cole's was mixed with his own temper. Piper nodded quickly and laughed again.

"You insisted you wanted to protect my sisters and I no matter what. So what better way to do so then becoming the embodiment of Hera? Besides apparently I wasn't fit for going against Lamia anymore then Paige and Phoebe were and Hera had made a mental note while still in my body that Lillith was already to weak as was Asmodai because of the battle. So she chose you." Piper reported with a grin and placed a hand on her hip as the grin continued to dance over her face despite the circumstance of what they had all just gone through.

Phoebe took the moment to add in her two cents "Besides Cole it could have been worse. You could have gone in to full goddess mode but you didn't!" She said laughing as she allowed the implications to take hold. The four women began to laugh as they allowed the different mental pictures to dance in their heads.

"I never thought I'd mutter this but I miss Leo and that damn Ayman monk." Cole shot back as he realized he was the only guy left now that Asmodai had left. Piper grinned when Cole had said he missed Leo then a thought passed through her mind.

"Wait where is Prue?" Piper finally asked turning her attention on to Lillith. Lillith smiled and closed her eyes trying to sense for the soul but to no avail and just shrugged.

"She has returned to where she belongs. I will continue to watch over you though." A voice rang out in all of their heads and it was very familiar to Phoebe, Cole, and Piper who glanced at each other and tears filled Piper's eyes as well as her younger sisters. Lillith smiled at them and nodded her head.

"Someday she will be allowed to visit I am sure. Hopefully next time not through my trickery though." Telane said surprising them all as she appeared in a puff of crimson by the children that were left.

"What are you doing here?" Paige quickly asked as she recalled sending Telane to the Golden Gate Bridge. Telane just smiled and waved her hands around the cave.

"You all did your part. Now it's time for me to finish mine. The kids need taken home. Cole you did a great job I heard." Telane said with a smirk before walking over and slowly waking the children that were left who had been healed by Hera.

"Ready to go home yet?" Cole mumbled to Piper and Lillith with annoyance at Telane's implications. Both nodded yes with enthusiasm as they took his offered hands. Paige linked hands with her sister Phoebe and they all left the area through shimmers and orbs.

--

Halliwell Manor

Leo stood pacing in circles as if in a choreographed dance, because his brother-in-law Coop paced as well and they simultaneously circled each other while the boys and Patricia played in the play room, the twins played with each other in their play pen.

"Well I didn't know you liked Coop that much Leo." Piper muttered as she appeared in the hall right outside the living room with Lillith and Cole. Cole laughed at her comment as Leo rushed over pulling his wife in to a huge hug and kissing the top of her head, her face, and anywhere that was appropriate to kiss with other people in the room.

"Alright former white lighter. You can take care of that later!" Cole shot at him sarcastically. Coop glanced around the room waiting for the arrival of his wife and other sister-in-law. Leo glanced at Cole who was still holding hands with Lillith without realizing it.

"Is it really over?" Leo asked as he saw the orb lights announcing the arrival of Paige and Phoebe. Coop quickly rushed over to Phoebe who rested in to her husband's embrace but hit him when he glared in the direction of Cole and Lillith.

"Yes it is really over." Piper answered to her husband as she smiled at the group."No it is just the beginning." But she wore a smile as she glanced up at Cole and then back to Paige who grinned. She quickly continued "Umm tonight I think is a call for celebration. We can talk more over dinner how's that sound?" Lillith weakly added and tried to unlink her fingers from her charge's, but Cole just pressed his hand closed a bit more firmly and shot her a sly grin before rolling his eyes and looking back to Piper and Leo to see their reaction.

"Ok but I think we should order in. I promise this time Leo it's really my treat." Cole added with a sly grin still worn on his face as he picked up the phone to order dinner for the group. Leo nodded before laughing and continuing to hold Piper who whispered what she had learned in to his ear and he looked surprised but a grin crossed his face but he agreed to keep it hidden until tonight because Phoebe and Paige were still out cold when Piper with Hera inside her had said anything.
Coop quickly lead his wife in to the solarium and as she whispered in to his ear "I know you can't use your ring on demons but technically neither of them are full demons. Are they starting to…?" She let her question linger in her husband's ear as a smile of hope crossed her face. Coop followed her deep brown eyes to where Cole stood still holding the phone up to his ear and mumbling an order in to the phone. When he hung up the phone he smiled down to Lillith and continued to hold her hand while she rested her weight in to his side. Coop grinned for the first time at Cole Turner and returned his attention to his wife.

To be Continued-

End note: The last paragraph will just be dinner and a few endings to the story ;). I hope I did the battle justice and you liked the unexpected humorous twist that I just couldn't help but put in there. For those of you who didn't catch it Piper is pregnant also but did not know it because she is only going to be like three weeks pregnant is how I figured it. Let me know what you think!