Disclaimers: I don't own Charmed or any of the characters that already appeared on the show…bla bla… but I wish I own Cole!
A/N: Phew! I didn't get bombed with insults for last chapter so I guess it's OK with Emily and Cole being together, at least for a while… Thanks everyone for your kind reviews! Keep 'hem coming! See? I updated sooner this time!
A/N2: Weird, huh? I guess you're right none. I never imagined Cole with somebody else before season 5 (that I still have to see by the way) but I tried to make last chapter as believable as possible anyway.
A/N3: Thanks for your review Kell! And to answer your question: I really like Love Triangle! ;-)
***
This story takes place after Daddy Dearest (Sam I Am)
Summary: As Cole is now invincible the Elders decide to send him a Whitelighter, Emily (much to Elder Aaron's displease) With her help, Cole recovers slowly his sanity. Piper is pregnant with Melinda. Paige met Prue's ghost and dates Steve. When, Lauren, Cole's secretary, who is also an empath, is attacked, the sisters accuse Cole and try to vanquish him only to find at the last minute that he is innocent of this crime. Emily nearly dies in the process. This event leads the girls to converse about last year and they realise they were mistaken about Cole. When the Avatars kidnap Piper, the remaining Halliwell family turns to the half demon who finally brings her back only to lose himself in the clutches of the Avatars. He is now the seventh Avatar and must help Arthus and Valeria to rule the Underworld while Baltus, Hector, Lemanis and Meneon, plot to assault Heaven and get their revenge on the Elders. When Cole is brainwashed by his new powers and the Avatars' spell, Emily decides to bring him back to Good and avows her love for him. What will be the Elders' reaction?
***
Another Chance
Chapter 36: The Elders' Revenge
Meanwhile at the penthouse…Cole and Emily were sleeping peacefully, legs intertwined. Emily rested her head on top of Cole's chest, as he brushed tenderly her naked arm with his fingers.
Cole stirred a little and woke up to find he wasn't alone in his bed today. He hadn't sleep that well since… well since he still lived at the Manor. He was finally at peace with himself as he watched Emily securing her arms around his chest in her sleep as soon as she felt him move.
He caressed a lock of her dark curly hair away from her face and realised she was smiling in her dreams, rocked by the sweetest lullaby: the steady beating of a loving heart.
He pulled the covers on her back to keep her warm, careful not to wake her up.
Last night had been wonderful, strange how he never realised he loved Emily before yesterday night and yet it seemed so evident to him now… like he had refused to see it before. He had been blinded by Phoebe then but now, it seemed like he was seeing clearly again. He had moved on… Phoebe would always hold a piece of his heart and he would cherish it for ever but he had Emily now, and that was all that mattered.
He stroke her head tenderly, listening to her steady breath. The thought he could have lost her that night sent shiver through him. She had saved him again… with her love. That was not the place for 'what ifs' but he realised everything he was right now, was thanks to her.
She snored a little and he couldn't help a grin to come to his lips. He even found her snoring cute!
"Are you laughing at me, mister?" she said with a sleepy voice, feeling him smile.
"I was thinking how sweet you were…" he said, kissing the top of her head.
She looked up and smiled:
"What makes you smile then?"
"You!" he said "You snore!"
"I don't!" she said as she slapped his chest playfully and rolled off of him.
He quickly caught her and brought her back to him:
"You do!"
She cuddled closer, and secured her arms against his chest:
"Do not!"
"Yes, you do!" Cole replied again, he was happy again after a long dark road and wanted to enjoy this moment.
"Oh really?" said Emily, sticking out her lower lip in an adorable pout that made Cole smile even more. "Oh you!" she started tickling him and their laughter echoed in the dark penthouse for a good five minutes.
"OK OK! I surrender!" said Cole raising his hands in defence as Emily was atop him exploring all the sensitive spots she had discovered the night before.
She stopped and smiled at him: "That's more like it!" then she leaned over and whispered IN his ear "I love you"
"Me too" he responded with that bright smile that made her melt with joy. "What's wrong?" he asked worriedly as he saw her teary eyes.
She rolled off of him and laid on her side facing him, smiling brightly through her tears.
"Nothing, I'm happy, that's all." She saw his confused look and continued "I'm happy we have make it, I'm happy we are here together at that place and time. It just feels so… so right, you know?"
Cole hugged her and smiled in her hair, humming her sweet aroma with delight. He never wanted this to stop. It was just perfect and he felt love course through his heart and most of all he felt loved in return. He wondered what he could have done to deserve such a gift.
Emily hugged him back. She closed her eyes and snuggled in Cole's protective arms, she had found Heaven on Earth.
They stayed like that for a long time, forgetting everything but their presence to each other.
The first rays of light pierced through the closed curtains as the sun shone on this new day. The world just didn't count for a moment and neither one of them wanted to think at what the day would bring to keep them apart.
"Tell me more about you Emily…"
Emily looked up to his bright blue eyes:
"Like what?" she asked smiling.
"I don't know. Like your family name, and how you became a Whitelighter, that kind of things. You seem to know so much about me and I realise I barely know you."
"I don't know you all that well you know…" she saw his doubtful look "OK OK let's just say I was fascinated by your case. The Elders have collected quite a lot of information about you, over the years."
"Oh… What kind of information?" he asked, his curiosity aroused.
"Well… your record…" Replied Emily and Cole sighed sadly.
"Not really the side of me I wanted you to see."
"It didn't scared me away. You were some kind of a challenge at first but then I heard about your epics with the Charmed Ones and I wanted to know the man behind the demon. Your complexity fascinated me. A demon seeking love isn't common you know." She smiled but Cole's features were drawn as he averted his eyes and stared worriedly at the ceiling. "I believe in redemption, Cole and so far, no one has come back from the road you've covered. I think I had fallen for you even before the Elders told me you would be my charge."
This made Cole crack a smile and he returned his gaze to Emily's peaceful face.
"You didn't tell me your story yet."
"Maybe there is nothing interesting to say about me, maybe you will fall asleep before I tell you how I died!"
"Try me!" he proposed, light-heartedly.
"Well… I'm Emily Krachovscky."
"Glad to meet you!" he joked.
"Me too Cole Turner." She paused, not to sure where to start "I was born in Warsaw in 1941… So let's just say Fate didn't give me the best basis to start in life. I remember the night the Nazis came and took my mother away" she said as unshed tears clouded her green eyes
" I was three and I remember her begging the neighbours to hide me that night. They probably were the ones who gave us away to the SS but she had no other solution, she gave them all the money we had to save my life. They took the money and threw me in their basement. I didn't even had a chance to say goodbye to my mother and I staid there for days… I heard her scream, I heard them beat her that night and… I think she was deported to Auschwitz. I never got a chance to know what happened to her.
Soon I was given to understand I wasn't welcome in our neighbours' family and I found refuge at my aunt's, an old farm hidden in the country. When she heard of my mother's capture, she had moved Heaven and Earth to find me.
She raised me like her own child and I loved her like a mother. When the war ended we moved to San Francisco where my aunt married an American soldier. He was a doctor, and he unfortunately contracted a bad pneumonia while trying to save infected children and he died.
I became a nurse and volunteered to go to Vietnam to help and heal the young soldiers. Our hospital was bombed and here I am."
Cole listened attentively to her story, stroking her from time to time as she recalled the difficult events that made her the strong woman she is now.
"I'm sorry if I made bad memories comes to the surface, Emily, I didn't mean to…"
"No that's okay" she said whipping a tear and her smile returned "Actually it feels good to speak about it. It feels good to exorcise those fears and I'm glad to share it with you." She kissed him lightly on the lips.
A loud grumble came from Emily's stomach and she blushed with shame as Cole started to laugh.
"Do you want some breakfast?" he asked, looking down at her, grinning.
"No that's OK, Whitelighters don't have to eat." She said out of habits but then it downed on her. She TRULY was hungry.
Cole didn't see her expression darkened as he starred at the ceiling still smiling:
"Well Leo sure eats a lot! You should see him at mornings! He says orbing burns a lot of calories! I swear I saw him devour one entire plate of pancakes one time!" his grin grew even bigger as he remembered Piper's astonished look when she snatched the plate out of his hands to rescue at least one pancake for the others…
Emily sat straight up, surprising Cole, and looked frantically around:
"I need to go to the bathroom" she said not even daring looking at Cole.
Cole lifted his head up and watched her go as the pale light of the morning caressed her naked body. *Women…*
When she disappeared in the bathroom, Cole let his head fall again on the pillow. He closed his eyes for a second before a bad feeling invaded him…
"Well you are here." Said a dark voice.
Cole's eyes fluttered open and discovered Hector standing before the bed, starring at him doubtfully.
Cole couldn't find his voice, if he discovered Emily here… if he discovered he was involved with a Whitelighter…
*I'm screwed…*
Suddenly a snicker appeared on Hector's thin lips:
"Had fun I see…" he remarked eyeing the bed covers with disgust "And here I thought you were serious about not going back to Earth!"
"Well… uh" was all Cole could utter as Emily stepped out of the bathroom, wearing nothing but Cole's blue shirt.
"Cole, I…" she started but her heart stopped when she saw who she supposed to be an Avatar, standing near Cole.
Hector looked from Emily to Cole with astonishment and then smiled.
"You really have good tastes Turner." He nodded to Emily "Good Morning lady!"
As Emily guessed he didn't know anything about her, she played along, hoping the dark man couldn't hear the crazy beating of her heart:
"Good morning mister" she said faking a smile with difficulty "Cole you didn't tell me we had visit?"
Cole opened wide eyes at this but when Hector turned to him wearing the same delighted expression at the eyeful view of a young woman with almost nothing on her, he guessed that for whatever reason, the Avatar hadn't sense that she was a Whitelighter or that he had changed:
"Well uh…" he said, dumbfounded "This is Hector. A… friend? And Hector, this is Emily."
Hector laughed and turned to the beautiful woman:
"Nice to meet you"
"The pleasure is for me, mister. So I guess you're a ... lawyer?" she asked, trying to sound casual, but the situation was anything but common. People don't barge in someone's room anyway.
Hector turned to Cole raising an eyebrow, and he added:
"Yeah that's it… Cole we might have a little problem. We need you to execute – "
" – Our plans. Execute our plans. I'll be down in an hour." Finished Cole, glaring at Hector dangerously.
"Yeah right." Hector turned to the door, rolling his eyes… * Humans…*
When he was out for good, Emily and Cole staid in a confused silence and Emily sat heavily at Cole's side on the bed. The two of them stared at the door Hector had just taken.
"That was close" Cole murmured, once he found his voice again. He reached for Emily across the bed and hugged her from behind "Thank god he didn't sense you were a Whitelighter!"
Emily stared at the window outside, still shocked:
"There is a good reason for that… I am not anymore…"
"What?"
"You understood. I am not a Whitelighter anymore. They clipped my wings." She felt Cole's arms tense around her waist "The Elders warned me that if something like that happened I could kiss my wings goodbye, and they held their promise" she added sadly.
"I'm sorry…" whispered Cole as he nuzzled in her neck.
Emily stroke the back of his head, her fingers playing with a curl of his dark hair:
"What is there to be sorry about. You did nothing wrong, Cole. I made a choice… and I chose you."
Cole kissed her cheek and tightened his hold on her.
She smiled more to assure him she was all right, that it didn't change anything, but as much as she wanted to appear joyful, she had a bitter taste in her mouth and a knot in her throat that hadn't gone away since she failed to orb, back there in the bathroom.
She added reassuringly:
"So what do you say, breakfast?"
"Yeah…" Cole whispered. He was well aware of the new sacrifice Emily had to make for him. She had bargained her eternity as an angel for a poor ex-demon from Hell fighting to hold out against evil.
Emily sensed his hesitation and the sadness in his voice and she knew he was worried:
"I assure you I'm fine!" she said whirling around so she could face him "I have you, you're really really worth it!" she kissed him lightly on the lips and smiled "Go in the shower, I will make you some breakfast. We only have one hour to find a way out."
Cole nodded and she left his embrace. He pondered for a while what she said but he could read her heart… and she was far from OK.
***
"Any news Leo?" asked Piper as her husband's form settled in the Manor's kitchen in a blue swirl of orbs.
"Well… The Elders were pretty pissed this morning I don't if that has anything to do with the Avatars but I couldn't find Emily either to ask her about Cole…"
Worry appeared on the three sisters' faces. Paige and Phoebe were at the counter preparing their own breakfasts in an heavy silence and Piper was glad for Leo's interruption.
"Do you think that she is…" started Paige not daring to finish. A Whitelighter's loss always seemed like a personal grief for the half Whitelighter sister.
"Dead? I hope not but I couldn't sense her and the Elders were no help. They were more concerned about Evil spreading on Earth."
"Other attacks Leo?" asked Phoebe seeing the pain on Leo's face.
"I just lose a charge because of a warlock in Europe while I was busy healing another witch in Africa."
"A warlock? But that's an easy vanquish!" exclaimed Paige.
"Easy for you to say that! You have great powers. Some witches only have potions and spells to defend themselves. Don't forget you are the Charmed Ones and not just any witches! Besides, Amelie was alone against a whole coven. They didn't let her any chance. "
"I'm sorry…" said Piper putting a comforting hand on Leo's shoulder. She knew her husband never could completely erase the pain he felt every time one of his charge was hurt. Each of those deaths affected him personally, the grief obvious on his tired face.
"Need my help Leo? I'm pretty good at being a Whitelighter now!" proposed Paige with enthusiasm.
"Thanks Paige but your sisters might need your help here in the near future. The Charmed Ones might be the last ramparts of Good soon. I know that's a huge responsibility…" he added as he saw their blank faces. "However, It seems all the demons of the Underworld have been given the order to invade Earth. They are surfacing everywhere. And the Elders are actually afraid they aimed higher than Earth."
"What do you mean?" asked Phoebe, on the alert "Are they planning to invade Heaven? Just like that? They are crazy! They will never access that plan! No demon could, the Elders won't let them."
"Not the demons, but their new leaders, the Avatars. The Elders announced this morning they are controlling the Underworld now… with Cole's help." When Leo dared look up at Phoebe's shocked face, he felt sorry for his sister-in-law. She had been trying so hard to believe in her instincts about Cole. They all knew he wasn't responsible for the Source's possession last year … Even Paige seemed to have some sympathy for Cole… in her own way. They all sincerely wished he was out of Evil's way but the Avatars had other plans for him. And they might pay the price very soon.
"I'm sorry Phoebe" he added "He killed the demon that had taken the Source's place and had been busy reorganising the Underworld with the other Avatars. That's his task, he helped demons. Our source inside the Avatar's organisation says he wasn't himself, that their ceremony of admission had changed him and the Avatars are more powerful than ever before. The Elders don't even rely on Cole anymore… They are calling for some kind of Holy War and now, with Emily's disappearance… I'm afraid we might have to fight Cole again… For Greater Good"
"I won't" affirmed Phoebe decisively "I won't kill him without trying everything to save him this time."
Despite their reluctance about Cole, Phoebe's determination convinced her sisters. To Leo's surprise, Piper and Paige nodded their agreements.
"Phoebe listen to me…" tried to reason Leo "Cole might be out of reach right now, if the Elders have lost hope then…" he sighed tiredly as the resolve on her face didn't disappear and he realised it wouldn't, no matter what he said, "Please, Phoebe, just don't try something too risky… OK?"
"I won't risk my sisters' lives or my niece's for that matter. But if Emily failed, I'll try to talk to Cole… maybe we can get through to him."
Tiny bells rang in Leo's ears:
"I have to go, my charges need help. Be careful…" he disappeared hurriedly and for the hundredth time in two days, Piper prayed for her husband to come back unharmed of his quest for Good.
"OK, far from me to say something against this new attitude of yours toward Cole, but I hope you are right. We are in it against Leo's advise and I wish we're not doing a mistake." Said Paige, glaring at her so-stubborn-at-times sister.
Phoebe took her purse and went to the front door without a word.
"Where are you going Pheebs?" asked Piper, worried.
"I'm going at Cole's penthouse. There is a chance to find him there. After all he made it its quarters when the Source was possessing him last year."
"OK we are going with you. I will make some of that power stripping potion, just in case and Paige will orb us there. Paige, go take the crossbow." Piper turned back to Phoebe who sighed as Paige did as ordered and went to the basement. "Phoebe we are with you in this but we need protecting. We don't know what's going on in his head…"
"OK but promise me you won't use it without my accord."
"OK you're the only judge Phoebe, besides I really hope you will succeed 'cause we might REALLY need his help."
Piper whirled on her feet and bustled about at the kitchen's table.
The phone rang and Phoebe picked it up in the lobby:
"Hello, Phoebe Halliwell on the phone."
"Hi, Phoebe! It's Lauren, remember? Cole's secretary. Do you know where Cole is? 'cause I'm worried, I haven't seen him in two days and I left like a hundred messages on Cole's phone but he never called back."
"I'm sorry Lauren, I wished I could help you but…"
"No that's OK. If you see him, please, tell him to contact me. I know the world won't stop turning if he disappeared for two days but still… I need to know when he will come back!"
"I will Lauren, I will… for the world's sake…"
At the other end of the phone, Lauren laughed as to a really good joke and hung up after a brief 'thank you'.
Phoebe hung up in turn, wishing she would indeed see Cole today.
***
Paige came back from the basement and saw Phoebe on the phone in the Hall.
Piper took the crossbow out of her hands and put it safely on the counter.
"We might need our sister for that plan to work!" she joked, pouring some herbs in a smelly blue potion.
Paige flashed a quick smile:
"No that's OK. I've just realised Phoebe is right. We need Cole to fight the Avatars."
Piper nodded and asked, changing the subject:
"I guess the Halliwell always were attracted by problematic guys. After all, grams was married like… six times."
Paige pursed her lips in a sweet pout:
"I see you coming, but don't worry. Everything is fine with Steve… I think."
"Looks like a good guy." Added Piper.
"He is…"
"But…?"
Paige rolled her eyes, Piper could read her like an open book sometimes:
"But he is hiding things from me… and I hate it."
"You think he is a demon?" asked Piper as if it was the most natural thing in the world to ask when your sister had doubts about a boyfriend, not even distracted from the boiling cauldron in front of her.
"NO! Are you crazy!" exclaimed Paige, mortified at the idea of Steve being a demon. "I would kill him with my bare hands if he is…"
"Oh I believe you!" Piper said smiling ironically.
"I'm serious!!" added Paige.
"Yeah, Yeah… I think I heard that one before…"
***
Cole grabbed his black shirt and put it on. He was in no hurry to come back to the Avatars as he wasn't sure how to deal with them now. He already had plans to slow down the Underworld's growth and the demons attacks on Earth but he barely had the power to make decisions with Arthus on his heels half of the time he was there. He always had to look over his shoulder around them, evil or not.
When he arrived in the kitchen he noticed Emily was still wearing his blue shirt and was eating pancakes with peanuts butter like she was famished.
"Uh Cole! You want some?" she said, swallowing her pancake with enthusiasm.
"No, I'm not really hungry..."
But he realised too late it was only a rhetorical question as she glared at him for not eating what she had cooked. So he sat at the table near her…
"Well I might take one of your pancakes after all. They look delicious" he added with a grin.
"Liar!" she said smiling, she knew he just wanted to please her.
"No really!" he said grinning at her perspicacity. He thought he had mastered the art of lying about a woman's cooking ability after two years at the Manor. He had nothing to reproach to Piper's food, but Phoebe's… well, let's just say he didn't love her for her cooking.
Emily became serious again as she said between two mouthfuls of her pancake:
"Cole I don't want you to go."
"Neither do I, but we have no choice."
"Yes we have. We can flee." She said, taking his hand in hers "Flee far away from the Avatars and from the Elders…"
Cole dove his intent blazing blue eyes in the ocean green of her own:
"Utopia Emily. You know there is no way in Hell we can flee from them."
"I don't care. I don't wanna lose you!" she snapped.
"Please Emily…" pleaded Cole, he would find a way to destroy the Avatars with or without her approval but he preferred it to be with her.
Emily saw the resignation shine in his eyes and she knew their was no way to hold him back. She sighed:
"I saw Steve two days ago. He was afraid you would break his cover… did you?"
"No"
She heaved a sigh she had been holding since then:
"Thank God…"
"But I nearly killed him yesterday. Your call saved his head I think."
"No I don't think so, you had plenty of occasions to give him away to the other Avatars but you didn't… That only proved that there always was good in you."
"That was damn close yet…" he said, ashamed. "I think he believes I'm evil now."
"Oh no… And I can't do anything about it now… That bunch of cretins! If they thought it was the best solution to strip away my powers! Now I can't even help you or anyone else, I'm just useless!"
Cole approached Emily and took her in his arms… she leaned on his strong chest, relaxing at the steady rhythm of his heart.
"I know how it feels, I felt it too. I was pretty pissed last year when I lost my powers. Actually 'pissed' is an understatement. I hated myself for not being able to help Phoebe and her sisters. With hindsight, I think that had more to do with the male ego but still… I can assure you, It's just a bad stage you have to pass and you'll cope with it, like I did."
This didn't seem to reassure Emily who toyed mindlessly with Cole's collar. He looked her in the eyes:
"Besides, being human has its advantages."
"Like what?" said Emily, frowning.
"Like being able to do whatever you want without responding to the Elders for your very actions in this world."
"That's what you learn when you became human last year?" she asked, retrieving her former Whitelighter role, only without powers.
"No, I learned that being human sometimes sucks, that it's damn hard to find a place for yourself in a civilisation you've had no connections with for a century and that even being human with the whole 'innocent' thing it implied, I still wanted to strangle my boss the first day I worked at the social services!"
This got a smile out of Emily and Cole grinned too. She was more serene and he realised that none of Phoebe's pep talks then had any effect on him last year. 'I love you and nothing will ever change that'… like hell!
Then he tried again, more seriously:
"You know why the Avatars chose me?"
"Because of your powers?" she said as she looked up.
"No, because of my humanity. Hector, the Avatar that was there earlier, told me that there was no point denigrating my human half and that that's what made me so powerful when I was a demon. He considers being human as an asset, not a burden."
"Thanks Cole" she said and hugged him. She then realised how wise her charge was. He had lived so many things, crashed so many barriers to obtain what he bargained for and she was so proud of him.
"You are welcome" he whispered sweetly in her neck, his hot breath sending shivers down her spine.
"What will we do now?" she said without breaking the hug.
"You will need to find Leo and tell him about what happened. The girls will protect you, it's too dangerous here. Besides, Hector already saw you and I don't want him to seek revenge upon you if anything happens to me…"
Then Emily was truly scared for him, she pulled away and cupped his beautiful face of her two hands:
"What do you mean 'if something happens to you' Cole? Do you have a plan and wouldn't talk to me about it?"
Cole didn't answer. He took her hands and kissed them gently.
Suddenly, blue orbs lightened the penthouse's kitchen…
***
Steve's screams echoed in the dark cave of the Underworld as the Kirskan demon removed the poker, red from the heat, leaving yet another scar on Steve's battered body.
Kirskan demons were tall demons who hid their horrible faces under the blackness of their hood. They were blind and mute, Steve could only hear the whistling sound of his breath as its smell left him nauseated. They fed on the pain they inflicted their victims and were known to keep them alive for weeks while suffering unbearably. Most of them, ended up crazy from the suffering, and death was considered as a gift when a Kirskan demon laid its filthy hands on you.
Arthus watched attentively from the other side of the room, a snicker bending his thin lips.
He had caught him giving falsified orders to their minions. That poor warlock was trying to save some bunch of witches… How stupid! When he had grabbed the traitor, he could sense his inner goodness. Those new powers really came in handy. That servant had been with them for years, they had never suspected him to be a traitor and yet it appeared as he read his mind that he had been giving information to the Elders the whole time…
Poor of him, now all he had to do is wait for Cole to arrive… and prove his loyalty.
***
Well… oups* I didn't put Phoebe's reaction in that chapter! But it's ready and it's in the next chapter!!!
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