A/N: Hey guys. So, so, so sorry for the delay. I dunno what's with me lately... Writers block and tiredness and just blahness. I'm really sorry for the delay.

Anouki90: Yay! Glad you enjoyed!

lizardmomma: I'm sneaky like that! I figured it would be cliché to have it be Prue, Piper, Phoebe, or Paige. And what could Penny or Patty really do but offer advice? So Cole seemed to work :)

RandyOrtonxWifexx: You gave me the idea! Also, what I said above to lizardmomma... I wanted someone significant, with shock value, but not someone who would be cliché. So it couldn't be any of the Charmed Ones. Penny and Patty can really only give advice, not help. Leo was taken by the Elders, so he's out. I figured Cole could work on so many levels. And you're idea to have it be him sparked this thought process, so thanks!

CharmedOpal: YAY! – Dances. –

sassytxnmama: Welcome to fanfiction! I hope you're enjoying it so far, and thank you so much! That means a lot to me! I hope you continue to enjoy the story, as well as the site as a whole :)

Okay guys, so this is a slightly shorter chapter. But, in my humble opinion, it's freaking amazing and I'm really in love with it. So enjoy, read and review!

PS*/*BTW: Semper Fi Witchlighter pointed out that I really hadn't given you guys detailed descriptions of what the cousins each look like. So I'll start dropping hints in this chapter, and I'm hoping to write up full descriptions and post them in one of my author's notes in the next few chapters.

...

Katelyn paced her room, biting her lip – gently at first and then, as her panic set in, harder.

She couldn't believe Cole was back... She couldn't believe she had agreed to let him work with her and her cousins. She couldn't believe he'd tried to pull the concerned father routine.

But at the same time, she could believe that he'd managed to worm his way back into her life; after all, he had done it numerous times to Phoebe. No matter how many times he was vanquished, he always found a way. And she could absolutely believe that he knew Carsaeus. When you were a Halliwell, coincidences didn't exist.

She also knew, though she hated to believe it this time, that everything happened for a reason. So that meant Cole was back for a reason, and that reason would be revealed – whether she liked it or not – in due time.

"Am I interrupting?"

Katelyn spun around, her long blonde hair whipping into her face. She tucked it behind her ears, taking an involuntary step backwards, and away from Cole.

"Stay away from me," she said firmly, pointing a finger at him menacingly, a silent warning.

Cole put his hands up before him in mock surrender. "I'm not going to hurt you, Katy Bear."

Katelyn closed her eyes, taking an unsteady breath at the use of her childhood nickname. When she opened her eyes, Cole hadn't moved, though he had lowered his hands to his sides. His eyes remained steadily on her.

"That's what you always say – to mom, to me." Katelyn licked her lips, tasting blood; she had bitten down hard, startled, when Cole had entered the room. "But whether you mean for it to happen or not, something does always happen. And someone always gets hurt."

Cole hung his head. For him, it felt like déjà vu. This was a conversation he had had, many times and on multiple occasions, with Phoebe. His head spun at the idea that she was dead, that he might never see her again... Unless he could somehow bring her back to life, of course. She was in Heaven. And, last he checked, demons didn't go Up.

"Katy Bear..."

"Don't call me that," she snapped.

"...I'm sorry," Cole finished softly, pausing for a long time before speaking again. "I can't help what I am. And you can't either. I know you've been struggling with your demonic heritage."

Katelyn's eyes widened. "H-How?" She quickly pushed the shock from her face, adopting a poker face. "I mean, I don't know what you're talking about."

Cole chuckled, though it held very little amusement – more like sadness. "I told you, how I'm back and how I know what's happened since I was gone... I can't say." He looked down for a moment, then back at his daughter. "The point is, I know. And I'm here. And, given the chance, I can help you."

Katelyn burst out laughing. It took her a moment to compose herself. "You? Help me?" She shook her head, her blue eyes cold as ice when she finally spoke. "You're here to help us vanquish Carsaeus and get Rebecca back. After that, I want you gone."

"Katy-."

"Don't," she growled, "call me that!"

Cole frowned. "I screwed up. I get that. But don't you think I deserve a second chance?"

"You got a second chance, and a third, and a fourth." Katelyn shook her head. "I'm pretty sure you got a fifth and sixth, also. Between mom and I, you used all your extra chances."

"I'm a demon, Katelyn," Cole said firmly. "I can't help what I am. I can't pretend I'm anything else. I have demonic powers, and I'm vulnerable to what they do to me. I'm sure you know what that's like."

Katelyn took a step back, wanting nothing more than to look away. But Cole's eyes bore into hers, and she remained glued to the spot.

"Done anything you regret lately?" Cole asked, tilting his head slightly as he watched her.

Katelyn's eyes widened. She shook her head fiercely, taking another shaky step backwards, wanting to put as much distance between herself and her father as possible.

"No," she finally squeaked, her throat dry. She tried clearing it, tried to speak more firmly. "No. I'm a good witch. I'm a Charmed One."

Cole smirked. "No. Piper, Phoebe, and Paige were Charmed Ones. You're merely a Halliwell witch. But you're also my daughter. You're also part demon. That fireball you threw in the attic made that pretty obvious."

Katelyn frowned, confused by his words; then, slowly, the events in the attic finally registered, and she realized what she had done.

"No... But, I don't have any active powers," she argued. "Good or evil. I can shimmer. I can't throw fireballs." She said it to convince him, but she felt as if she needed to convince herself even more.

Cole shook his head, moving forward for every step she took backward. "Then your demonic nature has gotten stronger. Maybe stronger than your witch nature."

"No!" Katelyn cried, throwing a hand out to keep Cole from taking another step toward her. A fireball formed in her hand. She gasped, shaking her hand around, trying to snuff it out.

"Clearly, anger is your trigger," Cole remarked, observing her struggle with amusement dancing in his eyes.

"How do I get rid of it?" She cried, desperately shaking her hand around, gasping in shock and fear.

Cole quirked a brow. "I thought you didn't need my help?"

"Cole!" She snarled, desperation in her voice.

"I can't hear you," he said with a shrug.

"Dammit!" She whined, panic settling in. "Cole!"

He shrugged again. "You said it yourself, I only hurt you." He turned his back on her, heading for the exit.

"Dad!"

Cole paused, standing with his back to Katelyn for a solid minute before turning to face her. Tears shone in her eyes, dancing and sparkling in the light that reflected off them. After a moment, the tears slipped free and fell down her face.

Cole cleared his throat, still shocked that she had called him 'Dad'. Finally, he nodded at her hand. "Make a fist."

Katelyn, heart pounding, did as she was told, and the fireball extinguished. She took a deep breath to calm down, shaking slightly.

"Still don't trust me?" he asked softly, before walking out, leaving Katelyn alone to ponder over his question.