Half to Fear

Phoebe sat the guest down and he took off the hood and sunglasses to reveal Cole. Piper looked over at her sister.

"Prue's on her way," Phoebe said.

"Leo is downstairs," Piper hissed.

"Tell him you have some weird craving," Phoebe said.

"That comes later on, Pheebs," Piper snapped. Cole just stayed silent.

"I thought you said we were going to summon him," she added.

"I thought so too…guess not," Phoebe replied. Just then a car came to a stop outside and a door opened and shut. Footsteps thundered up the stairs and Prue walked in.

"Uh...you know Leo is down-" she began.

"Downstairs…we know. We'll just try to be quiet," Phoebe answered. Piper had moved to the Book and was looking at the vanquishing potion for Balthazar.

"Guys…we're going to need to use the kitchen," she said, looking up from the thick tome.

"Then we're going to have to get rid of Leo," Phoebe said.

"You know it might not be a bad idea to have him around," Cole finally spoke up.

"What?" all three girls asked simultaneously.

"If one of you gets hurt he can heal you," he explained. Shouldn't that be obvious to them? They were skilled witches after all.

"I guess he's right," Prue said, not getting to close.

"So what do we have to do for the potion? We're going to need to be ready for Barbas, too," Phoebe remarked.

"I'll bring the book," Piper said and headed downstairs.

Cole, Prue and Phoebe followed behind her. Apprently, Piper had intercepted Leo in the kitchen and was filling him.

"You really want them to vanquish you?" Leo asked. Cole nodded his head vehemently.

"Ok…we're going to need split this up," Prue said, taking charge.

"Phoebe and I can work on the vanquishing spell for Balthazar. Piper, you and Leo can work on the one for Barbas," she said.

"I can help," Cole offered.

"If you want," she replied.

"It's your death sentence," Prue mumbled under her breath.

"I meant help with Barbas," Cole shot back and went to join Leo and Piper. Piper quickly copied down the ingredients and instructions for their potion and handed the Book back to her sisters. As they worked, Cole couldn't help but look over at Phoebe and Prue. They were working diligently and Prue had just retrieved a piece of his flesh from the freezer.

"That's not sanitary," he said. Phoebe laughed.

"So what happens when you're only human?" Piper asked.

"He's only going to be half-human," Prue corrected her.

"Whatever," Piper mumbled.

"Well…I won't have my powers anymore…and hopefully Barbas will stop looking for me," Cole replied.

"Well he should stop looking for you once we banish him back to Hell," Piper said.

"But there are other demons who know he's alive. Even if his demon half is gone…what's to stop them from coming after him anyways. He'd be a lot more vulnerable," Phoebe said, sounding worried for his well-being.

"Thanks for the concern," Cole said, reaching out to brush his hand against hers. He pulled away as soon as he caught Prue's eye.

"Well our potion is done," Phoebe announced a little too loudly.

"Ours too," Piper said. Phoebe looked around at the mess they'd made and shook her head.

"Let the object of objection become but a dream as I cause the seen to be unseen," she chanted. The kitchen cleaned itself up.

"That is the handiest spell in the Book," she said as they headed back up to the attic. Cole took several deep breaths as Piper set the Book back on the pedestal. They stood around for a minute, not sure what to say or do.

"Are you really sure you want to do this?" Phoebe asked. She was pretty sure she was feeling her own second thoughts right now but she wanted to be certain.

"Yes…besides…even if my human half comes out a little banged up, we've a got a whitelighter on hand," Cole answered. Prue nodded and Cole took his demonic form.

"Do it," he ordered gruffly. Apparently that was the cue Barbas had been waiting for.

"Well what do we have here," he laughed, flaming into view.

"Freeze him, Piper,' Phoebe called. Instead, Cole sent an energy ball in Barbas' direction.

"Hurry," he urged. The girls looked at one another and threw the potion. It his Cole dead in the center of his chest. Let out a crippling scream as flames consumed him. Phoebe turned her head away and buried it in Prue's shoulder. Piper had been watching Barbas' movements. He had been hit by Cole's energy ball but it had barely fazed him. Piper shot her hands out and the demon froze. She knew it wasn't going to last long. Finally, Cole's screams stopped and his human form lie on the floor, cuts and bruises covering his body.

"Leo, hurry," Phoebe prompted. Leo bent over the young man and his hands began to glow with the healing touch. The bruises and cuts began to disappear until Cole opened his eyes.

"How do you feel?" Phoebe asked, kneeling at his side. Leo stood back up to give them some space.

"Kind of empty," he admitted.

"I think that means it worked," Prue commented from above them.

"Try creating an energy ball," Phoebe said. Cole concentrated but couldn't make I come. He jumped to his feet and pulled Phoebe into a hug.

"It did work. Thank you," he breathed. He couldn't resist giving her a quick kiss.

"In case you forgot, we have another demon to take care of," Piper said as Barbas began to unfreeze. Cole took a step towards the demon, having momentarily forgotten he didn't have powers.

"Cole, get out of here," Phoebe shouted. Instinctively, Leo grabbed Cole and orbed out just in time.

"Well haven't we grown," Barbas said, looking the Charmed Ones up and down.

"So have our powers," Prue said, trying to put herself in front of her sisters.

"You were lucky last time. You won't be so successful this time," Barbas taunted.

"We're ready for you, Barbas," Piper said, flashing the potion vials.

"You think that is going to stop me? I gained considerable power to escape Hell. Those potions aren't going to work on me," he hissed and took a step closer. He waved his hand in their general direction, his gaze locked on his palm.

"It appears our fears have grown too," he snickered. He turned to Phoebe and leaned in close.

"Poor little Phoebe…fallen for a demon," he sneered.

"Cole isn't a demon," she spat back, levitating into the air and trying to aim a kick at him. He moved out of the way just in time. She landed hard on her ankle but hobbled to her feet again.

"And what have we here," he said, looking at Piper. Before he could do or say anything else, Prue had sent him hurtling across the room.

'Piper, throw the potion," Phoebe said, doing her best to get out of the trajectory of the vials. Piper picked up the potions and threw as hard as she could. They hit Barbas but had little impact, just like he'd predicted.

"Oh…not good," she said, lending her arm to Phoebe.

"I told you," Barbas cackled, turning his attention back to Piper. He waved his hand at her again and watched her body begin to react to what he was making her see.

Piper saw the little boy from her future running towards her. She smiled and bent down, ready to receive him into her arms.

"Mommy!" he cried just as a very tall, very familiar demon appeared behind him.

"No!" Piper shouted. The boy stopped running and turned around to face the demon. He looked down at the child and formed an energy ball. Piper threw her hands out, trying to freeze the demon or blow him up but nothing happened. She tried to reach for the child's hand but he was just out of reach and she couldn't make her legs move. So she watched in horror as the energy ball ended the boy's life.

"Piper…fight it!" Prue shouted at her sister.

"What he's making you see…isn't real. Whatever it is," she continued, wrapping her sister in her arms. Prue's touch and warm embrace seemed to pull her back to reality. She was still shaking violently but tried to focus on Barbas.

"You aren't going to win," she spat him, sending all of her emotion into her power. She managed to blow Barbas back a few feet. He was clutching a wound in his arm. She tried again and he went to clutch another wound.

"Keep it up, Piper," Phoebe coached. Prue soon joined in and started sending things flying at him. He tried to form a fireball and send it towards them but Phoebe channeled it and sent it right back. As the fire consumed him, he gave a shriek.

"You haven't seen the last of me. I'll always be in your darkest secrets," he howled before disappearing.

"Easy," Prue said, guiding Piper to a chair. Just then, Leo and Cole walked in and Piper jumped.

"What happened?" Leo asked, sitting next to her.

"What fear did Barbas use?" Phoebe asked, taking a step closer to Cole.

"My baby…but he was bigger…like he was in the future. And…you killed him," she answered, looking at Cole.

"I…I don't have powers," he stammered.

"He was just a little child," she shouted.

"Piper…it wasn't real. He's safe…he's safe," Leo whispered, placing a hand atop her stomach. Piper leaned against his shoulder and let a couple tears slip down her cheeks. Barbas was right. She had new and different fears now that she was older, now that she was going to be a mother. Was she really ready to bring another person into this world? Was she ready to have to fight off demons day in and day out to keep him safe? Phoebe could feel her sister's doubts.

"Piper…you are going to make a great Mom. And you know you have me and Prue and Dad and Andy and Leo here for you," she said, bending down to take her sister's hands in her own.

"Phoebe's right. We're all here for you and the baby. You're not going to have to go through this all by yourself," Prue assured her.

"I know…it's just all so new and something I've never done before," she admitted.

"And I'm sure we can summon Mom and Grams for help too," Phoebe added.

"I…I should go," Cole mumbled and headed towards the stairs. Phoebe stood up and followed him down to the front door.

"Please don't be a stranger. I know you don't have powers anymore but it's nice to have someone to talk to who is related to me about magic," phoebe said.

"Thank you again…for everything you've done," he said, kissing her again.

"You know…maybe you could come back to school?" she suggested.

"No…I don't think so," he answered.

"Ok…well you know where to find me. And Piper should be moving back home son…and Leo is moving in," she said.

"You wont' feel so lonely," he said. She smiled.

"Be safe," she called. He nodded and donned his sunglasses and hood again before walking down the front steps. Phoebe watched him until he was out of view before shutting the front door. That had been a big hurdle they had overcome. None of them had ever thought they would be trusting a demon ten years ago, let alone saving his life on several occasions. But it felt right to Phoebe. Somehow she could see the goodness in Cole…in his human half. And now that was all that was left. It was something she knew her sisters couldn't or chose not to see about him. She just hoped he would be ok on his own with the whole Underworld still in chaos. She was about to head upstairs when her sisters appeared at the bottom.

"I say we go find Dad and go out for a celebratory dinner…in Piper and Leo's honor," Prue suggested.

"Sounds good to me," Phoebe said, looking at Piper and Leo.