The shapeshifter

Halliwell Manor

Phoebe's room

Two days had passed since Phoebe last saw Cole.

She decided to give him time to process what happened. She had wounded his pride by casting that spell on him. But Cole loved her, she knew that.

His love for her would never die.

Phoebe stared at herself in a mirror. He wanted it, Phoebe..., she muttered to herself. She convinced herself he was the responsible for what happened. After all, if he hadn't been so stubborn, she would never do that to him.

It was his fault.

Phoebe put a coat and looked at herself in the mirror one last time. It was time to see Cole, to make him understand that she had to do this.

He belonged with her, she had no doubt about it.

She saw their future mapped out before her. And she wanted it, she wanted that cute little baby in her arms.

Her premonition would be true.

In one way or another.

Cole's penthouse

When the elevator doors opened, Cole walked slowly into the living room and threw his wallet and keys on a side table.

He spent the last two days going from work to home, struggling to get his life back to normal.

"Not if we meet in the mausoleum. That's the second safest place I know."

"What's the safest?"

"With you."

Cole shook his head, trying to escape the images. He had always been strong. Physically and emotionally. He had to be. However, he felt depressed and weak, since he learned the truth about his 'blackouts'. He really trusted Phoebe and then... he got stabbed in the back.

"You allowed it happen to you, Turner," he thought.

Then something broke his thoughts. He heard the elevator ding behind him and turned to see who was there.

"Phoebe..." Cole let out in a whisper, as he saw who entered the room.

Kaia smiled.

She tricked him.

For two days the shapeshifter discretely observed Phoebe. She knew it wasn't enough to morph into her; she had to learn how act like the Charmed One.

"Cole, I missed you..." the demonic seductress said softly.

Cole shook his head. "Get out, Phoebe. I don't want to talk to you. Leave me alone," he said, in a tired tone of voice.

Kaia/Phoebe didn't expect that. Great, they had a fight, she thought. It doesn't matter; I just need to shimmer us to the Underworld. "C'mon, baby, why are you so angry?" she asked innocently.

Cole sighed. "It's serious, Phoebe. Get out!" he said firmly.

Kaia/Phoebe walked seductively toward him. "You want me, I can feel it," she said, trying to kiss him.

"I want you out of my life," he said, pulling away from her. He waved his hands in frustration and a little statue flew against the wall.

Kaia/Phoebe shuddered. He used telekinesis, she thought. But The Ice Queen had said that he had no powers anymore.

Oh crap...

Kaia/Phoebe shook her head. Her mission was to take him with her to the Underworld.

And she wouldn't fail.

"We love each other, Cole. Let's make peace tonight," she said in a soft voice, curling her hair around her finger.

Cole started to breath heavily. Definitely, Phoebe was trying to drive him insane. "I won't repeat myself, Phoebe. Go away!" he said furiously.

Kaia/Phoebe let out an evil smile. "I'm sorry, but I can't do that," she said.

Suddenly, the elevator ding and the door opened.

The real Phoebe walked in.

"What the hell is that?" Cole asked in surprise, looking from Phoebe to... Phoebe.

Kaia/Phoebe rolled her eyes. Dammit, it was supposed to be so easy.

"A shapeshifter..." the real Phoebe shouted. "Who are you?"

Kaia/Phoebe grinned. "Me? I am you," she replied nastily and pulled out a knife. "Stay away from this, witch. My queen only wants him," she said.

Cole was about to use his telekinesis when Phoebe threw herself against the shapeshifter.

"Dammit, Phoebe!" he shouted, as they fell to the floor.

Cole rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, as he watched Phoebe trying to defeat the demonic seductress. Cole had to admit that Kaia did a great job morphing into Phoebe. He could just recognize the shapeshifter because of the knife in her hand.

"Phoebe, stop it!" he snapped.

"I can handle this!" Phoebe assured him. She tried to grab the knife from the shapeshifter, but she failed.

Kaia/Phoebe threw the Charmed One against a mirror. "I'm better than you!" the shapeshifter said proudly.

"I don't think so..." Phoebe got up.

The shapeshifter attacked Phoebe, but the Charmed One kicked her in the stomach. "Silly witch, you won't win," she said angrily.

Kaia/Phoebe threw herself against her opponent and they fell to the floor again.

This time the knife slipped from Kaia's grasp, as they rolled on the ground fighting each other.

Dammit, Cole muttered. He could no longer distinguish the real Phoebe from the shapeshifter.

Suddenly ,one of them grabbed the knife and stabbed the other in the stomach.

"Phoebe..." he whispered, as he saw the knife buried in her stomach. The way she looked at him made him believe she was the real Phoebe.

It took a few seconds until the woman finally morphed into Kaia. She screamed in pain and disappeared in flames.

Phoebe sighed in relief, as she walked toward Cole.

"I thought it was you, I thought you were dying," Cole said unemotionally.

Phoebe smiled. "No... I'm fine, Cole. I'm right here for you," she said, leaning to kiss him. However, he stopped her.

"You don't understand..." he shook his head. "I thought you were dying, but it didn't mean nothing to me."

She bit her lip. "What are you saying?"

"I don't love you anymore, Phoebe. It's over... I'm finally free," he said, a slight smile on his face.

"You're lying," she said, her voice cracking.

"No, I'm not... When you rap..." he stopped and sighed. "When you cast that evil spell on me, you killed my love for you," he said.

Phoebe stepped back. "You're angry at me... I understand. I know I've disappointed you, but our love is strong, nothing can separate us", she said, as the tears overflowed

Cole waved her hands and the elevator doors opened. "I don't think so," he said.

Phoebe gasped. "I won't give up on us," she assured him.

Cole shook his head. "Just go," he said wearily.

Phoebe sighed and looked around the room one last time. Then she walked into the elevator.

"This isn't over, Cole!" she said, before the door shut.

A/N: Thank you, guys. I'm really glad that you enjoyed the last chapter.

I hope you liked this chapter, those fight scenes were particularly difficult to write.