1 THE LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE
2 Or part of "The Deads are walking the earth"
At the Manor's door, Piper was preparing to go to the club and looked up impatiently. She called:
"Leo, Prue! I'm waiting!"
From the top of the stairs, Prue called back:
"One moment…Be a little patient, will you!"
Piper uttered an annoyed growl but settled down to wait nevertheless.
Upstairs, Prue knocked on Phoebe's door.
"Phoebe," she called.
Phoebe answered flatly.
"Come in."
Prue opened the door to find Phoebe lying on her bed. She was watching her favorite movie for the millionth time, a tissue in her hand.
"Come on Phoebe, you got to stop this. Come with us. It'll do you good."
Phoebe peeled her eyes from the screen and cast a sad glance toward her sister.
"Oh Prue, I really don't feel like having fun. Not at all!"
However, Prue insisted:
"You have to get out of the house… anyway you need some air.
What you're doing is not good for you or the baby."
Phoebe just shook her head, dismissing her sister's concerns.
Prue went on anyway:
"No, I won't let you wither away like that. You're coming with us."
Then, without waiting for an answer, she went to her sister and pulled her in a sitting position.
This time, Phoebe didn't resist but showed little enthusiasm.
Prue continued firmly:
"You've got to get over it. It's been 3 weeks, Phoebe and he has not given any sign.
Maybe it's all for the best."
This brought back some fire in Phoebe's eyes.
"I see that you've already assumed the worst. What if he got hurt?" Then, after a moment of hesitation, she added, "or worse…"
"And what if Leo's right? What if the shock of his memory returning pushed him over the edge? Even before this happened we always knew that it was a risk."
Phoebe replied pleadingly:
"Prue, I won't accept that. At least not until I see it for myself."
Prue paused a long moment, while watching her sister uncertainly. Then she tried to reason with her in a soft voice:
"You know? That might turn really bad if it's what happened. As a warlock he might just wanna take the baby and your powers."
However, seeing the pain in her sister's eyes, she quickly offered:
"I might be wrong though. And at any rate, we don't know for sure, so there's no point dwelling on this."
Phoebe smiled at her sadly but then she pushed herself up.
"Ok, I'll go with you."
"Great! But then you've better hurry up cause Piper's gonna have a nervous breakdown if we don't leave soon."
At this, Phoebe's smile brightened somewhat, as she hurried toward her closet.
"Ok then, we'll wait for you downstairs." She went out of the room after giving Phoebe a little pat of encouragement on the back.
Meeting with Leo at the top of the stairs, she gave him the news.
"Good for you," Leo exclaimed happily, "I was starting to worry. She really needs a change of scenery."
"You said it!"
At the door, Piper was becoming impatient and she called again:
"Guys… what's keeping you?"
Prue waited until she reached her before telling her about Phoebe, which immediately calmed her down.
A few minutes later they were all outside descending the driveway.
Further down the road, Cole was observing them with an inscrutable expression.
"Well I guess I'm gonna have to wait to find you alone. So be it," he said harshly.
"There's still plenty of time." He lips expanded in a joyless smile and he blinked out.
The next morning, Prue and Phoebe were in the kitchen and Prue asked her sister:
"So how are you this morning?"
Phoebe seemed more alert already.
"Better now, you were right I did need an upper."
Prue smiled softly, and then added:
"I'm glad. We were all getting worried about you."
"I don't know… I think I've gone crazy yet again because of him. He really has that effect on me."
"Phoebe I know that you love him, but he really messes up badly with your emotions. I just wish…"
Phoebe replied quickly.
"Me too." They exchanged understanding smiles, and then Phoebe said:
"Somehow I'm sure he'll be back soon and all will become clear…"
In the underworld, in some kind of a dark throne room, The Source uttered in a deep voice:
"I can feel him again."
One of his minions turned toward the Source and questioned politely:
"Who's that, my Liege?"
"Belthazor, or rather Cole, as he is called now."
The minion couldn't dissimulate his surprise.
"And what is it you're getting from him?"
The Source turned to the minion and with a cruel smile he said:
"The delightful smell of evil is all around him."
"If he is, we might get him back and finish him for you…"
However, the Source added quickly:
"No, he may yet bring me what I crave." And then with a wicked smile he went on:
"If he does, I'll forgive him."
The minion's perplexed look deepened:
"You would?"
The Source:
"If he kills those witches, I'll give him a swift death instead of the torture he so deserves."
Then he utters a chilling laugh.
Back at the manor, Prue and Piper were talking about the previous night, but Prue changed the subject abruptly:
"Piper, I know this will upset you but I really think we should talk about this."
"Talk about what?"
"The Cole situation."
"I don't know what's there to discuss," Piper protested mildly, but she had the look of someone who knew where this was going.
"If Leo is right…"
Piper interrupted.
"He might be wrong too, you know?"
Prue insisted:
"What if he isn't? We've got to be prepared for the worse…There's a possibility that the shock of his returning memory brought back evil in him, you know that."
"I so hope not for Phoebe's sake."
"So do I, but we can't ignore the possibility. It's too dangerous. Who knows what he might do?"
Piper sighed deeply before answering:
"I know, I know… So what do you suggest?"
"I took the liberty to prepare a vanquishing spell, just in case."
Piper was stunned.
"Without consulting us?"
"I couldn't risk waiting any longer, and I knew you wouldn't be thrilled at the idea either."
"You think?"
"I need you to tell me if it sounds right, since I'm not the expert at this…" Prue said while handing Piper a piece of paper with her handwriting.
Piper hesitated slightly but picked it up and began reading aloud:
"From darkness you came,
Into light you were greeted,
If dark again you became,
Suffer the fate of the wicked"
Piper looked up at Prue with a pained expression:
"I guess it'll do, but how are you going to convince Phoebe?"
"She's gonna have to see that this might be the only way for us to be safe, and for the baby as well."
Piper watched Prue dubiously, but decided to leave it at that.
Prue pocketed the paper just in time since Phoebe was coming their way. She had a wobbly walk, since her pregnancy was almost to term by then, and she was feeling the weight more than ever.
"Prue? Wanna give me a ride to school?"
Piper seemed surprised:
"You wanna go to school now?"
"Well the teachers don't care that I might actually give birth during the finales," Phoebe answered with a little smile. "All they care about are the test results."
"If you say so… wait a second, I'll find my keys." Prue said before going out of the room.
Piper could barely face her sister as she felt terribly guilty.
Phoebe noticed her sister unease.
"What is it, Piper?"
"Oh nothing, it's just… are you sure it's safe for you to be alone? Maybe one of us should stay with you. If only to drive you to the hospital in case you're right about the baby," Piper added lightly.
Phoebe accepted her explanation:
"Oh… I'll be ok. Nothing'll happen while I'm in school."
Then dismissing her sister's concerns she continued:
"And I was joking about the baby. I still have a full three weeks left even if now, I wish it was less. It's really starting to be tough on me."
At this moment, Prue returned with her keys and they both went out the door after saying their good-byes. Piper stared at her sisters as they departed, while a deep concern crept on her features now that Phoebe wasn't looking anymore.
Outside and from beside the house, Cole was observing the sisters leaving. Then he blinked out and reappeared in Phoebe's bedroom.
He hesitated somewhat while looking around. Tentatively, he walked toward the bed where he picked up Phoebe's nightgown. Almost trembling he brought the garment to his face and smelled it almost hungrily. For a moment, he seemed in infinite pain, but soon his face hardened.
He then uttered under his breath:
"You betrayed me, witch. I'll never forgive you for that."
He threw the nightgown back on the bed at this point.
"Soon." he added with a cruel smile. Then he blinked out again.
Prue arrived at the school to pick up Phoebe, just as this one was walking out,
"Hey Phoebe, how was the test?"
Phoebe climbed heavily into the car.
"It was murder. I heard that being pregnant made you smarter, but that must be everybody else," she answered comically.
"I'm sure it's not as bad as you think."
"Well, I sure hope not, because if it is, I'll never get out of school."
Then her mood darkened again.
"Anyway let's go home… I'm so tired, and I really need a nap."
Prue worried about her change of attitude, but she still thought that resting was the best solution.
"Yes that's a good idea." She told Phoebe then, before putting the car in gear.
When they got home, Phoebe didn't lose time, and went directly to her bedroom while Prue stayed behind.
A strange and indefinable malaise invaded Phoebe as she came into her bedroom. She looked at the bed uncertainly, while trying to remember how she'd left the nightgown, but just couldn't remember exactly and she went to pick it up. The moment she touched it, a terrible vision engulfed her.
She was in her bedroom late at night, and Cole was standing over her with a knife, with an enraged expression. He lifted up the knife and, as he was about to strike, the vision stopped.
Phoebe sat on the bed heavily, shaking. For a long moment she couldn't seem to react.
Prue, who was coming to check up on her, was immediately alarmed by the frightened look her sister harbored.
"Phoebe, are you ok?" She asked anxiously.
Phoebe was unable to answer. Her eyes were bright with repressed tears and she suddenly let her head drop into her hands in obvious despair.
Prue insisted, now frightened herself.
"Phoebe, what's wrong? You're scaring me?" As she was sitting by her sister's side, she wrapped her arms around her.
Finally, Phoebe manages to utter:
"Leo was right. He's coming for me."
Prue shuddered, as she understood what was happening.
She tried to get Phoebe to talk:
"You had a vision?"
Phoebe whispered in a strangled voice.
"Yes." Then she couldn't say more.
Prue questioned again:
"What did you see?"
Phoebe was about to describe the vision, when her eyes caught sight of the nightgown again and an idea flashed into her mind.
Prue noticed her change of attitude right away and she asked:
"What is it?"
"Prue I don't think that he wants to hurt me."
Puzzled, Prue let her continue.
"He came here somehow and touched something I was sure to use soon. He's reaching out, Prue, I'm sure of it."
Prue immediately became suspicious.
"You can't be serious, Phoebe. You just saw him about to hurt you!"
Phoebe pleaded with her.
"But in my vision he didn't, at least it didn't get that far…The man who loves me is still there, inside him. I can't give up on him."
Prue understood where this was going:
"Phoebe I can't let you risk your life on a hunch. What if you're wrong?"
Phoebe stared at Prue strangely.
"Anyway, it didn't happen here… so as long as I stay in the house, I'll be safe," she lied.
Prue remained unconvinced but still decided to trust her sister.
"Well, now is as good a time as ever. I know you're not gonna like it… but your vision confirmed my worst fears."
"What are you talking about?"
"I concocted a vanquishing spell just in case this would happen."
Phoebe turned as astounded stare toward her sister.
"Prue you don't intend to…" but she couldn't finish the thought, as even this was too painful.
"We may not have a choice, Phoebe! And don't you think that the man who loved you would've wanted you to be safe, no matter the cost?"
Phoebe gave another enigmatic glance at her sister, and then she seemed to make up her mind.
"I guess that you're right… maybe that's really what he wants…"
Prue eyed her sister with even more suspicion, but decided against arguing right then and she left her to go have a talk with Piper and Leo.
She found them both in the kitchen, and quickly filled them in on the latest development. Piper has a horrified look on her face at the news. Leo is saddened but not overly surprised.
Then Prue continued with what truly worried her:
"Piper, I think that Phoebe's about to do something really stupid…"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't think I convinced her of the gravity of the situation.
I'm afraid that she's still gonna try to save him."
"Even after this premonition?"
"She loves him so much, Piper, it blinds her."
Piper made herself the devil's advocate:
"And are you so sure that she's wrong?"
Prue replied with a movement of annoyance:
"It doesn't really matter now. We can't risk it. Our sister could die, and then where would we be? To become a Warlock, which I'm afraid he has, he had to make the choice. We know that…"
Piper looked down at this, resigned.
When she was satisfied that she at least got Piper and Leo's mitigated approval, Prue went on:
"We can't leave anything to chance. I had an idea.
First of all, I've got to be sure that you won't tell Phoebe."
Piper caved reluctantly:
"All right… but what are you planning to do?"
"We're going to put a spell on a crystal to detect any blinking in or near Phoebe's bedroom. We'll have to take watch tonight and until we're sure that nothing is gonna happen."
Piper glanced sadly at her sister but she acquiesced:
"I guess that's a plan."
Then they both went to the attic to prepare the trap.
Later that day, Prue reentered Phoebe's bedroom under the pretense of checking up on her. And although she did too, she also surreptitiously planted the crystal in a corner, out of sight.
During dinner time, Phoebe was very quiet, pushing her food around under the worried look of her sisters.
"Phoebe you should talk to us about it." Piper tried.
Phoebe barely looked up before answering:
"About what?"
Piper stared at her with an appalled expression.
"You know what I'm talking about! You can't just keep it to yourself, Phoebe. You'll just make yourself sick."
Phoebe simply dismissed her sister's concern.
"I don't really wanna talk about it."
Piper sighed as she couldn't think of anything to say just then.
After a long moment of charged silence, Phoebe finally pushed her plate away, still almost filled, and got up while announcing that she was going to bed early.
The others just said goodnight and they watched her going with even more concerned expressions.
Piper announced that she'd take the first watch and went to the attic, intent on reading some to kill time.
In an attempt to relieve the tension, Prue chastised her sister before she left, saying that she was doing it on purpose, so that she wouldn't have to do the dishes. Piper and Leo tried to laugh but the heart wasn't in it.
As they were going to each their tasks, Phoebe was entering her bedroom with a hint of apprehension. No matter what she'd told her sisters or what she felt in her heart must be true; there was still the chance that she was wrong. She had spent the afternoon turning it into her mind. If it were only she that she had to worry about, she wouldn't have hesitated so much… but she also had to think of her child. Still, she finally convinced herself that Cole couldn't; he wouldn't hurt her… This is why in spite of her apprehensions; she still prepared to wait for him.
Later that night, Prue entered the attic to take over the watch. The crystal had not glowed, not even flickered, as Piper told her. Prue wondered if she has been wrong but she still couldn't risk ignoring her gut feeling. She then settled down for her own watch.
It was around midnight and Cole blinked outside the Manor observing the house for signs of activity. When he found none, he materialized a ritual knife in his hand. Feeling the knife, he seemingly tried to imagine himself doing the killing. In his mind, he could see the fear in Phoebe's eyes, and he suddenly felt a pang of remorse. Nevertheless, he tried very hard to reject his doubts, remembering what he figured they took away from him. Ever since the day his memory had come back, he had been confused and fighting between his desire to be good and the seductive temptation of evil's freedom. Or at least, that is how he seemed to remember it. He felt that killing what he has loved would free him completely and put an end to his struggle.
He reaffirmed his hold on the knife and blinked out of sight. The moment he reappeared in Phoebe's room, he knew she'd been waiting for him. Instead of the scream he'd expected, she called his name, pleading with him to reconsider. Nevertheless, he continued to advance on her menacingly.
In the attic, the crystal was glowing, but Prue had dozed off and did not realize the danger. After a few moments, her head dropped toward the book she had been reading and she woke up with a start.
She wiped her eyes sleepily with the back of her hand while trying to focus, as she still felt groggy. But then, she caught sight of the crystal and jumped off the chair running out and toward Piper's bedroom to alert her.
Meanwhile, Cole was still advancing on Phoebe. In his eyes, she could only see determination. So she talked to him again, trying once more to get through to him.
"Cole you have to remember how happy we were, even when you were a demon, you told me that you never wanted to be evil again. Can't you remember that?"
For a moment he seemed to hesitate, on his face she could read the signs of his struggle, so she went on insistently:
"You know that I love you, Cole. Please don't destroy us. Think of our child. You were so protective of him! I can't believe that you really want to do this. Stop, please!"
His hand was shaking and he tried to steady it, as he replied:
"Stop talking witch, it won't save you." However, something had changed already. Cole seemed to be trying to convince himself more than she… He wasn't moving anymore and instead, stared at the hand holding the knife.
The anger that had been present until then receded to leave only a deep shame inside him. He finally whispered:
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…" And then, Cole stepped back, moving away from her as if scared of himself. Phoebe was about to go after him when the door exploded inwardly, tkd by Prue. She entered decisively and, seeing the knife in Cole's hand, didn't hesitate to send him flying into a wall where he crashed rudely and then fell to the floor. He screamed in pain, but was already struggling to get up. When he saw Piper coming behind Prue, he prepared to blink out, but she was quicker and froze him just in time.
Immediately, Piper and Prue went to their sister's side, already preparing to chant the vanquishing spell, but Phoebe stopped them.
"I won't do that."
Prue glanced at her sister incredulously:
"Phoebe, it's gone too far now, we can't let him go."
However, Phoebe insisted:
"Before you came in and destroyed my room, I had managed to get through to him. He was backing out!"
Prue couldn't believe her ears:
"You can't seriously consider forgiving him, can you? Cole tried to kill you!"
Phoebe still went on in spite of her sister's agitation:
"Remember, he didn't kill me even when he was a demon and his life depended on it. Why would he now?"
Piper and Prue could only watch her with a deepening astonishment. In spite of everything, Phoebe was still defending him. However, in the face of her determination, they agreed to postpone the spell.
Phoebe then went to Cole and she picked up the knife that had fallen to the floor. She immediately handed it to Prue.
Then she signaled for Piper to unfreeze Cole. This one cast an uncertain look toward Prue who seemed just as reluctant about it.
"Piper, please… I know what I'm doing," Phoebe pleaded then.
Piper grimaced unhappily but she still gestured Cole out of the freeze, and then took a few steps back. The moment he was free, Cole tried to stand up to defend himself, but when he saw Phoebe in front of him, he stopped struggling. In his eyes, she could read a deep sorrow, but he when he spoke, his voice still held some harshness:
"Why didn't you just finish me?"
Phoebe didn't let it get to her, and she answered softly:
"For the same reason that you couldn't kill me…"
She slowly moved toward him but he took a step back.
"Cole?"
Instead of looking at her, he stared at his own hands for a long moment. Then something broke inside of him and he fell to his knees crying like a child.
After a moment, Phoebe came closer and kneeled beside him. When she was certain that he would let her, she pulled him to herself in relief, knowing that he was at least partly healing.
Then, remembering that her sisters were still in the room, she half turned toward them and said:
"You can leave now. It's ok."
Her sisters' hesitated at length, unsure. Nevertheless, they finally decided to trust Phoebe's judgment and left the room through the shattered door. Even at this, they still remained close by, just in case.
As soon as they had left, Phoebe reported her attention to Cole and she tenderly took his face in her hands, forcing him to look up. His face was haggard, full of remorse and confusion.
She understood that he couldn't say anything, so she spoke instead.
"I know it must be hard for you to believe it, but I forgive you. Everything's gonna be fine now."
Hoarsely, Cole managed:
"How?"
"Our love's gonna help us. Trust me." Then she kissed him tenderly, trying to make him feel the same relief that she felt.
Afterward, they simply held each other in silence…
In the underworld, a terrifying roar was heard and the minions in the throne room backed away in fear.
2 Or part of "The Deads are walking the earth"
At the Manor's door, Piper was preparing to go to the club and looked up impatiently. She called:
"Leo, Prue! I'm waiting!"
From the top of the stairs, Prue called back:
"One moment…Be a little patient, will you!"
Piper uttered an annoyed growl but settled down to wait nevertheless.
Upstairs, Prue knocked on Phoebe's door.
"Phoebe," she called.
Phoebe answered flatly.
"Come in."
Prue opened the door to find Phoebe lying on her bed. She was watching her favorite movie for the millionth time, a tissue in her hand.
"Come on Phoebe, you got to stop this. Come with us. It'll do you good."
Phoebe peeled her eyes from the screen and cast a sad glance toward her sister.
"Oh Prue, I really don't feel like having fun. Not at all!"
However, Prue insisted:
"You have to get out of the house… anyway you need some air.
What you're doing is not good for you or the baby."
Phoebe just shook her head, dismissing her sister's concerns.
Prue went on anyway:
"No, I won't let you wither away like that. You're coming with us."
Then, without waiting for an answer, she went to her sister and pulled her in a sitting position.
This time, Phoebe didn't resist but showed little enthusiasm.
Prue continued firmly:
"You've got to get over it. It's been 3 weeks, Phoebe and he has not given any sign.
Maybe it's all for the best."
This brought back some fire in Phoebe's eyes.
"I see that you've already assumed the worst. What if he got hurt?" Then, after a moment of hesitation, she added, "or worse…"
"And what if Leo's right? What if the shock of his memory returning pushed him over the edge? Even before this happened we always knew that it was a risk."
Phoebe replied pleadingly:
"Prue, I won't accept that. At least not until I see it for myself."
Prue paused a long moment, while watching her sister uncertainly. Then she tried to reason with her in a soft voice:
"You know? That might turn really bad if it's what happened. As a warlock he might just wanna take the baby and your powers."
However, seeing the pain in her sister's eyes, she quickly offered:
"I might be wrong though. And at any rate, we don't know for sure, so there's no point dwelling on this."
Phoebe smiled at her sadly but then she pushed herself up.
"Ok, I'll go with you."
"Great! But then you've better hurry up cause Piper's gonna have a nervous breakdown if we don't leave soon."
At this, Phoebe's smile brightened somewhat, as she hurried toward her closet.
"Ok then, we'll wait for you downstairs." She went out of the room after giving Phoebe a little pat of encouragement on the back.
Meeting with Leo at the top of the stairs, she gave him the news.
"Good for you," Leo exclaimed happily, "I was starting to worry. She really needs a change of scenery."
"You said it!"
At the door, Piper was becoming impatient and she called again:
"Guys… what's keeping you?"
Prue waited until she reached her before telling her about Phoebe, which immediately calmed her down.
A few minutes later they were all outside descending the driveway.
Further down the road, Cole was observing them with an inscrutable expression.
"Well I guess I'm gonna have to wait to find you alone. So be it," he said harshly.
"There's still plenty of time." He lips expanded in a joyless smile and he blinked out.
The next morning, Prue and Phoebe were in the kitchen and Prue asked her sister:
"So how are you this morning?"
Phoebe seemed more alert already.
"Better now, you were right I did need an upper."
Prue smiled softly, and then added:
"I'm glad. We were all getting worried about you."
"I don't know… I think I've gone crazy yet again because of him. He really has that effect on me."
"Phoebe I know that you love him, but he really messes up badly with your emotions. I just wish…"
Phoebe replied quickly.
"Me too." They exchanged understanding smiles, and then Phoebe said:
"Somehow I'm sure he'll be back soon and all will become clear…"
In the underworld, in some kind of a dark throne room, The Source uttered in a deep voice:
"I can feel him again."
One of his minions turned toward the Source and questioned politely:
"Who's that, my Liege?"
"Belthazor, or rather Cole, as he is called now."
The minion couldn't dissimulate his surprise.
"And what is it you're getting from him?"
The Source turned to the minion and with a cruel smile he said:
"The delightful smell of evil is all around him."
"If he is, we might get him back and finish him for you…"
However, the Source added quickly:
"No, he may yet bring me what I crave." And then with a wicked smile he went on:
"If he does, I'll forgive him."
The minion's perplexed look deepened:
"You would?"
The Source:
"If he kills those witches, I'll give him a swift death instead of the torture he so deserves."
Then he utters a chilling laugh.
Back at the manor, Prue and Piper were talking about the previous night, but Prue changed the subject abruptly:
"Piper, I know this will upset you but I really think we should talk about this."
"Talk about what?"
"The Cole situation."
"I don't know what's there to discuss," Piper protested mildly, but she had the look of someone who knew where this was going.
"If Leo is right…"
Piper interrupted.
"He might be wrong too, you know?"
Prue insisted:
"What if he isn't? We've got to be prepared for the worse…There's a possibility that the shock of his returning memory brought back evil in him, you know that."
"I so hope not for Phoebe's sake."
"So do I, but we can't ignore the possibility. It's too dangerous. Who knows what he might do?"
Piper sighed deeply before answering:
"I know, I know… So what do you suggest?"
"I took the liberty to prepare a vanquishing spell, just in case."
Piper was stunned.
"Without consulting us?"
"I couldn't risk waiting any longer, and I knew you wouldn't be thrilled at the idea either."
"You think?"
"I need you to tell me if it sounds right, since I'm not the expert at this…" Prue said while handing Piper a piece of paper with her handwriting.
Piper hesitated slightly but picked it up and began reading aloud:
"From darkness you came,
Into light you were greeted,
If dark again you became,
Suffer the fate of the wicked"
Piper looked up at Prue with a pained expression:
"I guess it'll do, but how are you going to convince Phoebe?"
"She's gonna have to see that this might be the only way for us to be safe, and for the baby as well."
Piper watched Prue dubiously, but decided to leave it at that.
Prue pocketed the paper just in time since Phoebe was coming their way. She had a wobbly walk, since her pregnancy was almost to term by then, and she was feeling the weight more than ever.
"Prue? Wanna give me a ride to school?"
Piper seemed surprised:
"You wanna go to school now?"
"Well the teachers don't care that I might actually give birth during the finales," Phoebe answered with a little smile. "All they care about are the test results."
"If you say so… wait a second, I'll find my keys." Prue said before going out of the room.
Piper could barely face her sister as she felt terribly guilty.
Phoebe noticed her sister unease.
"What is it, Piper?"
"Oh nothing, it's just… are you sure it's safe for you to be alone? Maybe one of us should stay with you. If only to drive you to the hospital in case you're right about the baby," Piper added lightly.
Phoebe accepted her explanation:
"Oh… I'll be ok. Nothing'll happen while I'm in school."
Then dismissing her sister's concerns she continued:
"And I was joking about the baby. I still have a full three weeks left even if now, I wish it was less. It's really starting to be tough on me."
At this moment, Prue returned with her keys and they both went out the door after saying their good-byes. Piper stared at her sisters as they departed, while a deep concern crept on her features now that Phoebe wasn't looking anymore.
Outside and from beside the house, Cole was observing the sisters leaving. Then he blinked out and reappeared in Phoebe's bedroom.
He hesitated somewhat while looking around. Tentatively, he walked toward the bed where he picked up Phoebe's nightgown. Almost trembling he brought the garment to his face and smelled it almost hungrily. For a moment, he seemed in infinite pain, but soon his face hardened.
He then uttered under his breath:
"You betrayed me, witch. I'll never forgive you for that."
He threw the nightgown back on the bed at this point.
"Soon." he added with a cruel smile. Then he blinked out again.
Prue arrived at the school to pick up Phoebe, just as this one was walking out,
"Hey Phoebe, how was the test?"
Phoebe climbed heavily into the car.
"It was murder. I heard that being pregnant made you smarter, but that must be everybody else," she answered comically.
"I'm sure it's not as bad as you think."
"Well, I sure hope not, because if it is, I'll never get out of school."
Then her mood darkened again.
"Anyway let's go home… I'm so tired, and I really need a nap."
Prue worried about her change of attitude, but she still thought that resting was the best solution.
"Yes that's a good idea." She told Phoebe then, before putting the car in gear.
When they got home, Phoebe didn't lose time, and went directly to her bedroom while Prue stayed behind.
A strange and indefinable malaise invaded Phoebe as she came into her bedroom. She looked at the bed uncertainly, while trying to remember how she'd left the nightgown, but just couldn't remember exactly and she went to pick it up. The moment she touched it, a terrible vision engulfed her.
She was in her bedroom late at night, and Cole was standing over her with a knife, with an enraged expression. He lifted up the knife and, as he was about to strike, the vision stopped.
Phoebe sat on the bed heavily, shaking. For a long moment she couldn't seem to react.
Prue, who was coming to check up on her, was immediately alarmed by the frightened look her sister harbored.
"Phoebe, are you ok?" She asked anxiously.
Phoebe was unable to answer. Her eyes were bright with repressed tears and she suddenly let her head drop into her hands in obvious despair.
Prue insisted, now frightened herself.
"Phoebe, what's wrong? You're scaring me?" As she was sitting by her sister's side, she wrapped her arms around her.
Finally, Phoebe manages to utter:
"Leo was right. He's coming for me."
Prue shuddered, as she understood what was happening.
She tried to get Phoebe to talk:
"You had a vision?"
Phoebe whispered in a strangled voice.
"Yes." Then she couldn't say more.
Prue questioned again:
"What did you see?"
Phoebe was about to describe the vision, when her eyes caught sight of the nightgown again and an idea flashed into her mind.
Prue noticed her change of attitude right away and she asked:
"What is it?"
"Prue I don't think that he wants to hurt me."
Puzzled, Prue let her continue.
"He came here somehow and touched something I was sure to use soon. He's reaching out, Prue, I'm sure of it."
Prue immediately became suspicious.
"You can't be serious, Phoebe. You just saw him about to hurt you!"
Phoebe pleaded with her.
"But in my vision he didn't, at least it didn't get that far…The man who loves me is still there, inside him. I can't give up on him."
Prue understood where this was going:
"Phoebe I can't let you risk your life on a hunch. What if you're wrong?"
Phoebe stared at Prue strangely.
"Anyway, it didn't happen here… so as long as I stay in the house, I'll be safe," she lied.
Prue remained unconvinced but still decided to trust her sister.
"Well, now is as good a time as ever. I know you're not gonna like it… but your vision confirmed my worst fears."
"What are you talking about?"
"I concocted a vanquishing spell just in case this would happen."
Phoebe turned as astounded stare toward her sister.
"Prue you don't intend to…" but she couldn't finish the thought, as even this was too painful.
"We may not have a choice, Phoebe! And don't you think that the man who loved you would've wanted you to be safe, no matter the cost?"
Phoebe gave another enigmatic glance at her sister, and then she seemed to make up her mind.
"I guess that you're right… maybe that's really what he wants…"
Prue eyed her sister with even more suspicion, but decided against arguing right then and she left her to go have a talk with Piper and Leo.
She found them both in the kitchen, and quickly filled them in on the latest development. Piper has a horrified look on her face at the news. Leo is saddened but not overly surprised.
Then Prue continued with what truly worried her:
"Piper, I think that Phoebe's about to do something really stupid…"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't think I convinced her of the gravity of the situation.
I'm afraid that she's still gonna try to save him."
"Even after this premonition?"
"She loves him so much, Piper, it blinds her."
Piper made herself the devil's advocate:
"And are you so sure that she's wrong?"
Prue replied with a movement of annoyance:
"It doesn't really matter now. We can't risk it. Our sister could die, and then where would we be? To become a Warlock, which I'm afraid he has, he had to make the choice. We know that…"
Piper looked down at this, resigned.
When she was satisfied that she at least got Piper and Leo's mitigated approval, Prue went on:
"We can't leave anything to chance. I had an idea.
First of all, I've got to be sure that you won't tell Phoebe."
Piper caved reluctantly:
"All right… but what are you planning to do?"
"We're going to put a spell on a crystal to detect any blinking in or near Phoebe's bedroom. We'll have to take watch tonight and until we're sure that nothing is gonna happen."
Piper glanced sadly at her sister but she acquiesced:
"I guess that's a plan."
Then they both went to the attic to prepare the trap.
Later that day, Prue reentered Phoebe's bedroom under the pretense of checking up on her. And although she did too, she also surreptitiously planted the crystal in a corner, out of sight.
During dinner time, Phoebe was very quiet, pushing her food around under the worried look of her sisters.
"Phoebe you should talk to us about it." Piper tried.
Phoebe barely looked up before answering:
"About what?"
Piper stared at her with an appalled expression.
"You know what I'm talking about! You can't just keep it to yourself, Phoebe. You'll just make yourself sick."
Phoebe simply dismissed her sister's concern.
"I don't really wanna talk about it."
Piper sighed as she couldn't think of anything to say just then.
After a long moment of charged silence, Phoebe finally pushed her plate away, still almost filled, and got up while announcing that she was going to bed early.
The others just said goodnight and they watched her going with even more concerned expressions.
Piper announced that she'd take the first watch and went to the attic, intent on reading some to kill time.
In an attempt to relieve the tension, Prue chastised her sister before she left, saying that she was doing it on purpose, so that she wouldn't have to do the dishes. Piper and Leo tried to laugh but the heart wasn't in it.
As they were going to each their tasks, Phoebe was entering her bedroom with a hint of apprehension. No matter what she'd told her sisters or what she felt in her heart must be true; there was still the chance that she was wrong. She had spent the afternoon turning it into her mind. If it were only she that she had to worry about, she wouldn't have hesitated so much… but she also had to think of her child. Still, she finally convinced herself that Cole couldn't; he wouldn't hurt her… This is why in spite of her apprehensions; she still prepared to wait for him.
Later that night, Prue entered the attic to take over the watch. The crystal had not glowed, not even flickered, as Piper told her. Prue wondered if she has been wrong but she still couldn't risk ignoring her gut feeling. She then settled down for her own watch.
It was around midnight and Cole blinked outside the Manor observing the house for signs of activity. When he found none, he materialized a ritual knife in his hand. Feeling the knife, he seemingly tried to imagine himself doing the killing. In his mind, he could see the fear in Phoebe's eyes, and he suddenly felt a pang of remorse. Nevertheless, he tried very hard to reject his doubts, remembering what he figured they took away from him. Ever since the day his memory had come back, he had been confused and fighting between his desire to be good and the seductive temptation of evil's freedom. Or at least, that is how he seemed to remember it. He felt that killing what he has loved would free him completely and put an end to his struggle.
He reaffirmed his hold on the knife and blinked out of sight. The moment he reappeared in Phoebe's room, he knew she'd been waiting for him. Instead of the scream he'd expected, she called his name, pleading with him to reconsider. Nevertheless, he continued to advance on her menacingly.
In the attic, the crystal was glowing, but Prue had dozed off and did not realize the danger. After a few moments, her head dropped toward the book she had been reading and she woke up with a start.
She wiped her eyes sleepily with the back of her hand while trying to focus, as she still felt groggy. But then, she caught sight of the crystal and jumped off the chair running out and toward Piper's bedroom to alert her.
Meanwhile, Cole was still advancing on Phoebe. In his eyes, she could only see determination. So she talked to him again, trying once more to get through to him.
"Cole you have to remember how happy we were, even when you were a demon, you told me that you never wanted to be evil again. Can't you remember that?"
For a moment he seemed to hesitate, on his face she could read the signs of his struggle, so she went on insistently:
"You know that I love you, Cole. Please don't destroy us. Think of our child. You were so protective of him! I can't believe that you really want to do this. Stop, please!"
His hand was shaking and he tried to steady it, as he replied:
"Stop talking witch, it won't save you." However, something had changed already. Cole seemed to be trying to convince himself more than she… He wasn't moving anymore and instead, stared at the hand holding the knife.
The anger that had been present until then receded to leave only a deep shame inside him. He finally whispered:
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…" And then, Cole stepped back, moving away from her as if scared of himself. Phoebe was about to go after him when the door exploded inwardly, tkd by Prue. She entered decisively and, seeing the knife in Cole's hand, didn't hesitate to send him flying into a wall where he crashed rudely and then fell to the floor. He screamed in pain, but was already struggling to get up. When he saw Piper coming behind Prue, he prepared to blink out, but she was quicker and froze him just in time.
Immediately, Piper and Prue went to their sister's side, already preparing to chant the vanquishing spell, but Phoebe stopped them.
"I won't do that."
Prue glanced at her sister incredulously:
"Phoebe, it's gone too far now, we can't let him go."
However, Phoebe insisted:
"Before you came in and destroyed my room, I had managed to get through to him. He was backing out!"
Prue couldn't believe her ears:
"You can't seriously consider forgiving him, can you? Cole tried to kill you!"
Phoebe still went on in spite of her sister's agitation:
"Remember, he didn't kill me even when he was a demon and his life depended on it. Why would he now?"
Piper and Prue could only watch her with a deepening astonishment. In spite of everything, Phoebe was still defending him. However, in the face of her determination, they agreed to postpone the spell.
Phoebe then went to Cole and she picked up the knife that had fallen to the floor. She immediately handed it to Prue.
Then she signaled for Piper to unfreeze Cole. This one cast an uncertain look toward Prue who seemed just as reluctant about it.
"Piper, please… I know what I'm doing," Phoebe pleaded then.
Piper grimaced unhappily but she still gestured Cole out of the freeze, and then took a few steps back. The moment he was free, Cole tried to stand up to defend himself, but when he saw Phoebe in front of him, he stopped struggling. In his eyes, she could read a deep sorrow, but he when he spoke, his voice still held some harshness:
"Why didn't you just finish me?"
Phoebe didn't let it get to her, and she answered softly:
"For the same reason that you couldn't kill me…"
She slowly moved toward him but he took a step back.
"Cole?"
Instead of looking at her, he stared at his own hands for a long moment. Then something broke inside of him and he fell to his knees crying like a child.
After a moment, Phoebe came closer and kneeled beside him. When she was certain that he would let her, she pulled him to herself in relief, knowing that he was at least partly healing.
Then, remembering that her sisters were still in the room, she half turned toward them and said:
"You can leave now. It's ok."
Her sisters' hesitated at length, unsure. Nevertheless, they finally decided to trust Phoebe's judgment and left the room through the shattered door. Even at this, they still remained close by, just in case.
As soon as they had left, Phoebe reported her attention to Cole and she tenderly took his face in her hands, forcing him to look up. His face was haggard, full of remorse and confusion.
She understood that he couldn't say anything, so she spoke instead.
"I know it must be hard for you to believe it, but I forgive you. Everything's gonna be fine now."
Hoarsely, Cole managed:
"How?"
"Our love's gonna help us. Trust me." Then she kissed him tenderly, trying to make him feel the same relief that she felt.
Afterward, they simply held each other in silence…
In the underworld, a terrifying roar was heard and the minions in the throne room backed away in fear.