Heaven Can't Wait
Chapter 3
Jason-Benjamin Halliwell-Turner, hum, it has a nice ring to it, I guess."
Prue was looking at the baby, now cradled in her arms. The infant was asleep, and so beautiful. She smiled tenderly at the little bundle of joy, amazed at how powerful he already was, even though he still was so small and apparently, so vulnerable. After they got out of the hospital, she and Paul had insisted on staying at the Turner's house to help in any way they could for the first few days. Phoebe was still weak from her ordeal and the doctors had wanted to keep her longer, but she insisted on leaving as soon as possible. Cole had not approved of her impatience, given the amount of blood she had lost prior to the delivery, but as usual, there was no arguing with her…
She had looked up and smiled slyly, then said:
"Besides, now if something happens to me, you can heal me…"
Cole had replied with fake severity:
"And what do you make of the rule about personal gain?"
Phoebe, undeterred:
"Hey! I just gave birth to a miracle child, that should entitle me to a little special treatment…"
He had not been able to resist smiling at her enthusiasm. He himself was still shocked by the latest events, not quiet sure of how he should react to the change in him. As a matter of fact, he barely understood it at all. Until now, nothing really different had happened beside the one time where he had healed her, quiet by accident, and the excitement of their new baby had kept him from questioning any further what he truly was.
Just then, he was looking at Prue with the baby and was only grateful to have the chance to see him grow up. He was even more grateful at the thought that now, he truly would be with the woman he loved forever… For the moment, they had convinced her to take a nap, even though it had taken a lot of coaxing.
Cole:
"Well Prue, you look good with a baby… Does it give you any ideas?"
Paul grimaced in the chair next to him:
"Oh ok, am I being trapped here?" He asked semi-serious.
Prue laughed softly, careful not to disturb the infant, but she still went on to smile teasingly at her boyfriend…
Prue:
"You are not tempted at all?"
Cole was observing him with a twinkle in the eyes and Paul felt that they were somewhat testing him…
"Huh, well… Not that I have anything against children per say…"
He practically babbled this to the utter amusement of the other two. Then Prue decided to put him out of his misery.
"Ok, come on, we were just joking weren't we?"
Cole:
"I still say that it's never too soon to think about it… After all, Paul is not getting any younger…"
Paul:
"If you child wasn't in the room…"
Cole:
"Didn't I tell you that he was a miracle child?" He replied with a smile, his gaze returning to the baby. "Well speaking of, I think that that it is time for him to go back to bed…"
Prue:
"Already," she asked rhetorically, obviously disappointed.
Cole came to her and picked up the baby. He was still a little awkward at it, but he was trying very hard to be a modern father. Then again, he had to admit that he had never thought he could love someone as much as he did Phoebe, and yet he did. He knew, from the moment he had seen him, that he would die to protect him…
Jason almost woke up, disturbed by the change of position, but he quickly settled down and Cole carried him upstairs.
In San Diego, on a business street:
The perky little brunette was walking fast, an annoyed expression obvious on her face. She was late for work, again! Not that her job was very satisfying, but she needed it. A secretary in a small lawyer's firm, the work was boring her to death. Ever since she was little, she had always imagined herself doing great things. Many glamorous careers had floated in her mind, but in the end, this is all that she could find. She had even studied drama at some point, tempted as she was by acting. However, her short stature and unusual looks were not what the producers had been looking for. She was pretty, very much so, but her looks were not the classic kind. She was full of unspent energy. Every morning, she woke with the sensation that she should have been elsewhere, that some destiny awaited her. Yet, she would put this aside quickly, convinced that it was just her ego talking.
Arriving at her destination, she hesitated, certain that she was in for another speech about punctuality. Then she sighed heavily and pushed open the doors of the firm, bracing herself…
There was another reason why Prue had temporarily moved to the Turner's… After the latest events, Piper and Leo needed some alone time. He was still under the shock of losing his friend, and mostly of the terrible things that he came close to do. He was infinitely grateful that Paul and Prue had stopped him in time, but that didn't alleviate his remorse about it. Piper tried very hard to make him feel better, but the last few days had been strained. What bothered him most, in fact, was that the Elders had not called him yet. Not a word from them since he came back. Coleridge had been called back and had not given any news either… The wait was making him antsy. Many times, he had been tempted to go to them and present his defense, but he knew that he should wait for their summon. He had figured by now, that they probably were thinking of what to do with him…
Piper:
"Leo, you have to stop worrying about this," she told him as they were sitting at the dining room table for breakfast. "I'm sure that they will understand that your intentions were honorable and your heart in the right place."
Leo frowned:
"I don't think that they are seeing it like this, Piper… I defied them and in doing so, I almost caused an enormous disaster. I'm not even counting the fact that I almost caused Cole's death…"
Piper, insisting:
"But you haven't. Not only that, thanks to you, they have gained someone very powerful to help them…"
Leo uttered a little derisive laughter:
"I really don't think that this is the way they will take it…"
Piper:
"You still shouldn't torture yourself so much… I'm sure that it will all turn out for the best…"
In spite of the fact that he had been waiting for it, the call from the Elders made him jump. Piper understood without being told that they had, and no matter the assurance to the contrary that she had given him, she couldn't help but being fearful of their judgement. She remembered too well that they had taken him away from her in the past, and couldn't help wondering if they would do it again…
Still, she put on a good face for her husband, smiling encouragingly at him. He didn't need more worries right then, and she knew it.
They looked at each other intensely for a moment, the same concern on their mind, then Piper said:
"Everything is going to be fine, go…"
Leo then just orbed out, and Piper took a deep breath, the fear now plain on her face now that she was sure he couldn't see her anymore…
He put the baby carefully in his cradle, and watched it, holding his breath, as this one wriggled a little and opened his eyes just for an instant before going back to sleep. Then he turned to his wife, still asleep, and a contented smile formed on his lips. He still couldn't believe that he was there, alive and so very happy… After a long moment, he went to her, pushing away a strand of her hair that had fallen on her face. He kissed her forehead lightly, careful not to wake her; then he left the room as quietly as he could. Both of them needed their rest…
The little brunette stood fast in front of the head secretary, who always acted like she was imbued with powers well beyond the frame of her actual workplace. Lizbeth, as she liked to be called, looked down on Paige with a severe expression:
"When are you going to learn that punctuality is a virtue? I cannot keep you here much longer if you do not respect the rules of this firm…"
Paige lowered her eyes, hiding her contempt by pretending contrition. At this point, needy or not, she was almost ready to resign, so annoyed as she was. "What were a few minutes late when she was working so hard for them," she told herself? However, she was only venting inwardly, for she truly needed the job. Her adoptive parents had both died a few years back and she was an only child with very little money ahead of her. They had been as good parents as they could, but a few reversal of fortune had left them practically penniless in the end. All she had inherited from them were debts that she was trying her best to repay at the moment, while living precariously with the rest of her salary. She also needed the money for a search that was close to her heart. Her parents had never told her that she was adopted, and she had been shocked to learn about it shortly after their death. Now she was trying to piece together information about her past, in order to find her true parents. She didn't delusion herself in thinking that they were wonderful people who had had no choice, or even that she was kidnapped at birth, like she heard from some other adopted children that she had met in the course of her research. Nevertheless, she felt strongly that she needed to know where she came from. It was more of a gut feeling than anything else was. After a few years though, she was starting to get discouraged. Practically all the avenues that she had tried had produced no results. The agency refused to give her any information, and the private firms engaging in that sort of research were very expensive and painstaking. Still, she had a few things that had been kept in a trunk at her parent's house to start with: a locket with the picture of a smiling woman, for one. And a few other items, mostly baby stuff, that no one had ever let her see until her parents died. After the firm had made a copy of the picture along with a description of all the items, she had taken to wear the locket at all time, as if somehow, it could bring her closer to find her true family…
Lizbeth just felt silent, and it shook Paige out of her reveries. She looked up again, to see her walking away, apparently convinced that she had made her point. Paige sighed and took her post for another boring day at the office…
In the underworld, the Source was pacing relentlessly, irritated to no end at the turn of events. By now, he had found out what had happened to his former demon' soul… That alone had made him so mad that a few lower demons had not survived his wrath…Now spent, he was thinking furiously. First, he was puzzled by Belthazor's ascension, for he could not understand how this might have been brought about… But much more than this, he was trying to find a way to reverse it. He knew that it would have to be soon, before the new Archangel figured out how to use his new powers. No one actually knew of his true interest in the former demon. Very few even suspected the direct relation that he had with him. The Source had been careful not to tell Belthazor about it; for fear that the already cocky one would become totally unmanageable.
The Source believed that he still had a small window of opportunity, one that he could use to reverse this state of affair. He had acquired an information that would be invaluable to him. All he had to do was to find a way to use this to his advantage, and force Belthazor to renounce his Archangel status. And as an alternative solution, he figured that maybe killing the charmed ones would at least insure his own safety. If he waited too long though, it would become increasingly difficult, so the plan started forming in his mind… This time, there could be no mistake…
Leo stood uncertain in front of the Elders. They were observing him severely, and all he could do was to await their judgment. He had made his plea to them, insuring that the responsibility of what happened would befall him alone, and in doing so, hopefully protected Coleridge from their wrath. Finally, one of them talked:
"Leo Wyatt, you are demoted of your whitelighter' status as of this moment…"
Even if he expected it, he still felt as if punched in the chest at the confirmation of his fears.
The Elder continued:
"Furthermore, we agree that Coleridge's responsibility in this affair does not warrant a punishment, and that, as you suggested, he should be appointed not only to the charmed ones, but as guide for his son…"
Leo sighed in relief, as this was at least good news. However, there was still another matter to be decided, one that was of great importance to him, and he awaited anxiously the rest of their judgement.
At this point, the Elder's voice seemed to soften somewhat:
"As for your marriage… We are all agreed that the witch had nothing to do with what happened, and that you respected your promise not to let your relationship influence your judgement… So, you will be returned to her."
Leo, who had been positively holding his breath, let it out slowly.
The Elder again:
"This demotion will be a temporary one, at least until we are sure that you have understood the gravity of what you have done."
Leo finally answered:
"I understand." He felt himself being lifted and transported magically. He could already sense that his powers had been stripped. For the second time since he had met the charmed ones, he once again had become mortal…
Prue busied herself in the modern kitchen, trying her best to cook a decent meal. She had to admit to herself that cooking should have been left to her sister Piper as she pained over the simple lunch that she was preparing. She laughed as she thought that Cole was in for some take-out too, since Phoebe had never been much of a cook either.
Although she had been happy to help in the last few days, now she was hitching to return to work. She needed more stimulation than mere domestic tasks. She was cutting some vegetable when a violent sensation of foreboding almost caused her to cut herself. It took her breath away, and left her shaking for a long moment. There was nothing specific to the feeling, but it scared her…
Cole was just returning from checking up on the baby, he was doing this a lot. Sometimes he wondered if he wasn't going a little overboard. This time, Phoebe had beaten him to the punch, the little one was hungry and she already had been in the process or feeding him when he had entered.
"Slept well?"
She had smiled happily, just looking up at that moment.
"Yes, you were right of course, I needed it. Is lunch ready?"
Cole:
"I'm sure that it will be soon, of course that is, if Prue doesn't blow up the kitchen first," he added with a little laugh.
Phoebe almost giggled, but she didn't want to disturb the baby, it was all so new and she was still afraid to hurt him, he was so small.
Cole:
"I will go check for it and tell you when it's ready."
Before he left, he came to her and kissed her softly:
"I love you, you know that, don't you?"
She just smiled contentedly, and then watched him leave before returning her gaze toward the infant.
"We are so lucky…"
When he came to the bottom of the stairs, he spotted Paul reading in the living room and figured that he might take a moment to ask him the question that he had not dared until now…
Paul had lifted his head toward him at his approach, putting the book down, and from the look on his face, Cole supposed that he had guessed what was coming.
"Yes," he questioned?
Cole:
"You guessed, I suppose, what I want to talk to you about?"
Paul:
"I was actually wondering when you would ask…"
Cole took a seat before continuing:
"How am I here, and most of all what am I?"
Paul:
"The how is a bit complicated, but for the what, well you did it yourself…"
Cole frowned in puzzlement:
"What do you mean?"
Paul:
"In that last moment, before you died, you made a choice, to save a perfect stranger and to protect two people even if they wanted you dead. This changed the nature of your other half. This simple selfless act, was the one, I think, that Jason was waiting for. He then somehow saved you from death and pleaded with the elders to let you return…"
Cole:
"Phoebe said that she saw me burn…"
Phoebe:
"It was only an illusion that he created, he preserved your body at the very instant of your death and brought it somewhere else. If the elders had not agreed, he would have had no choice but to let you go…"
Cole stayed silent for a while, taking it in and still unsure if he truly understood what it all meant. Then he thought of something else:
"Why couldn't he do the same thing for you and the others?"
Paul smiled sadly:
"It's not going to be this easy for us… The blame is much more on us than the demons that followed us, and besides you're half-human, which helped a lot…"
That was another thing that bothered Cole:
"Am I, still?"
Paul:
"Oh yes, nothing can change that… One way or the other, your human half will always be a part of you. If it wasn't, you wouldn't be here but rather up there…"
Cole:
"There is something else that I do not understand. All my life, I knew what I was; I could always feel it. But right now, I barely feel anything besides my human half…"
Paul:
"Very soon, you will find out about the other… But you need to be careful. When you need it, it will come to you. However, there is something that you must remember. It is possible that anger will release it, and if you're not careful, it may also undo the good that has been done…"
Cole:
"What am I supposed to do?"
Paul:
"Simply understand that you must control the anger, not let it control you. It will be the most difficult part of this, and believe me I know what I'm talking about…"
Prue interrupted their talk, announcing that the meal was ready and Cole went to get Phoebe.
He had not noticed the worried expression on her face, but as soon as he was out of hear shot, Paul asked about it:
"What is it?"
Prue:
"What do you mean?"
Paul:
"There is something bothering you, that is obvious," he questioned as they were walking toward the dining room.
She shrugged and kept silent until they were seated, then she thought better of it:
"I don't know what it was, but I felt like a cold wind passing through me earlier… Like a warning…"
Paul frowned:
"Can't you be more specific? Is it something that you felt before?"
Prue:
"No, I can't say that I have. I didn't want to worry Cole or even Phoebe with this, they have had enough lately…"
Paul:
"You can't keep it all to yourself, you know that don't you?"
Prue:
"I know… And there is something else… I called Piper earlier and the Elders have called Leo back…"
Paul:
"Hum…"
Prue:
"I invited her to join us but she preferred to wait until his return."
She added in a lower voice:
"If he returns…"
She turned her head toward the back of the house, hearing a knock on the door.
The Source had summoned his most trusted guard, Lucifer. He was convinced that this one had a chance to succeed, but he still gave him a severe warning:
"Do my bidding, but if you don't succeed, I won't hesitate to vanquish you on the spot. Go and bring me what I asked for…"
Lucifer flinched at the warning, but still bowed in acquiescence and shimmered out.
Phoebe had just finished changing the baby and was preparing to go join the others, when she heard a whooshing sound behind her. It reminded her of Cole' shimmer, but he had not been able to do this since he came back… She turned abruptly around, the baby still cradled in her arms, and couldn't help a scream of fright when she found herself face to face which what she assumed was a demon. This one didn't hesitate one moment, not giving her a chance to escape, he moved toward her rapidly and ceasing her, immediately started shimmering out. On the wall at the top of the bed, word started to write themselves, in blood red lettering. Cole had heard her scream and started running toward the bedroom. He entered to find it empty, but he saw the message right away and screamed with rage and despair…
"NO!"