Love Connections
Chapter 11
"You know what? I think that I'll go see how Cole's doing, I need the exercise…"
Phoebe got up and went out of the room without waiting for an answer.
"It's amazing to think that those are not just stories, isn't it?"
"It's nothing. Once, one of Phoebe's past lives took over her body… Now, that was freaky!"
"Really? I don't think I'll ever be able to take it the way you do. It's all so weird…"
Piper smiled:
"Don't worry; I'm not exactly the poster girl for acceptance here. I tried many times to get away from all this…"
"Seeing you now, I'd never have thought that."
"I guess that becoming the oldest all of a sudden gave me a new perspective."
A shadow crossed over Piper's features and Paige knew that the subject of Prue was still a painful one.
"I'm really sorry about your," Paige hesitated, "our sister. The little time I spent with her only gave me an idea of how she was like, but I'm certain that I would've liked her."
Piper smiled weakly:
"She was really something. Pretty big shoes to fill..."
"You said it!"
"Don't worry; we'll help you. We, Halliwells, stick together."
Then she continued more seriously.
"You don't regret being here do you?"
"Not for a minute. I'm so glad I've found a new family."
Piper smiled affectionately:
"And we're glad we found you…"
Phoebe got in her son's room to find her husband playing with Jason…
Cole turned to her.
"Hey, was I that long?"
"No that's fine; I just needed to stretch my legs…"
"Well, he's ready any time you want." Cole said, becoming more serious all of a sudden.
"Don't stop on my account; that looked fun."
Then she came closer:
"You're not mad, are you?"
"What for?" He answered without meeting her gaze. Phoebe waited for the true answer.
"Oh alright, I didn't like it very much, there I admit it. I don't like the way you look when you talk about that guy…"
"What way?"
"I don't know, different from when you talk about other guys. What was he to you?"
"The operative word here is was. It was a long time ago, and I don't think about him anymore…"
"Are you sure?"
"Couldn't be more certain! I'm perfectly happy now," Phoebe said while wrapping her arms around his neck.
They stared at each other for a long moment. Then Cole leaned to kiss her but he pulled back slightly, a little smile on his lips.
"So, you're sure?"
Phoebe chuckled.
"You know what, I'm learning a lot about you tonight. Romantic… And insecure…"
"Hey, don't mock me!" Cole protested jokingly.
"Believe me, you've got no reason to worry about him. None whatsoever…" she replied, coming closer.
The baby's cooing interrupted the moment and Phoebe sighed. Cole kissed her lightly and whispered:
"Later…"
Phoebe smiled and turned to Jason.
"Hey little guy… you hungry?"
She held Jason and they went back downstairs.
Piper and Paige greeted them impatiently.
"Hey, we were starting to believe you were not coming back."
"Oh it's so much fun to be in demand…"
She settled on the couch with the baby:
"If that kid remembers everything he hears…Hey, he's special you know," she told Piper, who was looking at her with a teasing smile. "Well anyway, maybe I'll write them down for him, just in case." She continued, amused.
"Ok now, are you ready?"
"No, we're just dying of curiosity here… Yes, of course we're ready…"
"Oh alright, I was just teasing you…"
****************
'Phoebe heard the shot and fear gripped her insides. She was already turning to run toward the back door when she noticed that the soldiers were not moving.
That stopped her momentarily and she heard her cousin's call:
"Phoebe, what's happening here?"
Phoebe noticed Piper but didn't answer. Instead, she went out the back in a hurry, afraid of what she would find out there.
Piper had reacted instinctively when, entering the stables behind the soldiers with Clay and her father in tow, she heard the shot. She had frozen them all, just in case, then noticed her distraught cousin. Now, she saw that she wouldn't get an answer from Phoebe and forgetting about Clay and her father, still frozen like the others, she went after her alone.
Outside, Phoebe was running as fast as she could, and then she saw them…Apparently their escape had been cut short, as they were still only halfway to the underbrush, and now, there were three of them…
In the field, the two brothers had started fighting fiercely, but when Cole tried to come to Matthew's help, Nicholas managed to get a hold of the gun at his belt. He pushed his brother rudely away and once more threatened them with a gun. The other two froze, discouraged…
"Well, we're back to our business," Nicholas said a little out of breath.
"As much fun as that was, it is time for you to face your judgement. Turn around."
Cole and Matthew reluctantly turned back toward the stables, only to see Phoebe running toward them and then stopping abruptly. She took in the scene at once and decided to act. A simple hand gesture threw the gun out of Nicholas's hand and she started running toward them again:
"Now!" She screamed.
Cole looked back and understood right away. This time, he went after Nicholas himself. The young man was too stunned to defend himself, and he fell to the ground after the first hit, unconscious.
Phoebe reached them, out of breath and she went to Cole directly, looking him up to find out if he had been hurt.
"I'm fine Phoebe, the shot went wild…"
She jumped into his arms and just stayed there, barely believing that he was fine, her heart still racing from the emotions.
Then Cole wondered, as he was holding her.
"How come the soldiers didn't come out?"
Piper, who was coming up to them at last, answered for her.
"I froze them… but it won't last forever…"
Phoebe turned toward her, somewhat worried at her cousin's reaction. However, Piper didn't seem overly surprised, but rather concerned at the moment. Cole noticed her worried look and he pushed Phoebe away reluctantly.
"Then we should go, we caused you enough trouble as it is…"
Piper wondered why he didn't question her about the freezing, but now was not the time for inquiries.
"That's not gonna work… They will unfreeze soon, and they heard the shot…"
Phoebe suddenly thought of something. It was crazy, she knew, but might just be their only chance.
"I think I know what to do…"
They all turned to her curiously.
To Cole, she asked:
"Do you have a knife?"
Cole looked at her in bewilderment.
"What will a knife do to help us now?"
"Trust me?"
She turned to Piper.
"Can you keep them frozen for a few more minutes?"
Piper didn't exactly understand what she was trying to do but she acquiesced nevertheless.
"Give me five minutes, and then you can free them…"
"How will I know that you're ready?"
"You will…" Phoebe uttered confidently.
Then she turned her back to Piper.
Piper went back to the stables, still wondering…
Once inside, she watched the soldiers for any sign of movement but, to her relief, her power was stronger than ever, and they were still frozen in place.
Just about five minutes later, her cousin entered the stables, out of breath, and relieved that she had been in time. She signaled that Piper should release them immediately. So she went back behind them and unfroze them in spite of her doubts…
The moment they were free, they started toward the back door as if no time had elapsed, still convinced that they had just heard a shot…
Piper looked anxiously toward her cousin but this one was already on her way out and still didn't give her any explanation. She went after her while Clay and Victor followed them, still unaware of what was happening…
As she approached the scene, her confusion deepened…
Cole was lying down in a pool of blood, apparently dead. One, it must have been Nicholas, was still unconscious, towered over by his brother, gun in hand. This one lifted the weapon in the air as soon as he saw the soldiers approaching, in sign of surrender.
Piper saw her father's reaction just in time and took his arm firmly to keep him from running toward the young man. He looked at her in puzzlement, but she pleaded silently that he'd keep quiet. Victor seemed hesitant… However, he decided to trust his daughter's judgement and stayed put. Clay just watched in total bewilderment, particularly baffled by Phoebe's lack of reaction to the lawyer's death, but also by Piper's apparent lack of concern about the would be rapist in front of them. Unable to comprehend what he was seeing, he decided to watch and wait for the moment.
Matthew started:
"I got them for you; they're the ones I told you about…"
Piper turned to her cousin again, but this one only had eyes for the soldiers and the one she still thought must be Matthew.
The sergeant approached cautiously, gun at the ready.
"Who are you?"
The sergeant was looking from Matthew to the unconscious Nicholas very suspiciously.
"Don't you remember me Sergeant? I'm Nicholas… I'm the one who told you about them… My brother betrayed my trust and I thought it my duty to deliver him to you; along with his accomplice. However," he continued rapidly, "this one attacked me and I had to shoot him. My brother, I managed to knock unconscious. He's all yours…"
The sergeant was still not totally convinced.
"But this one looks exactly like you, how are we to know?"
Another voice answered this, one which made most of them turn in surprise.
"I'd know…" Paige had heard the commotion outside and, at first, had been too scared to go out. Then, when no one came back, the worry for her family became stronger than her fear and she went out. She had come into the stables only to see the last of them going out the back and she followed them. Now, standing just a little ways behind them, she had been the one talking.
"I know them well sergeant, and I can tell you without a doubt that this one is Nicholas, as he told you…"
Matthew opened his mouth in surprise but thought better of showing his astonishment to the sergeant…
This one turned to her halfway, still doubtful.
"How can you be so sure? And besides, why should we trust you?"
Paige came closer.
"Because sir, I have only contempt for these other men, they attacked me a few days ago… And I can recognize the one who saved me without a shadow of a doubt."
The sergeant looked at her more intensely.
"Attacked you?"
Paige lowered her eyes in shame, and the sergeant had no doubts anymore on what she meant.
He cleared his throat, and then continued.
"Well miss, at least one of them got the proper punishment and the other one will get what he deserves shortly, I promise you."
Paige only nodded weakly without looking up. Her father came to her, just as confused as the others, but trusting that she knew what she was talking about. He had been about to protest the name confusion, but thought better of contradicting his daughter in front of the already very suspicious soldiers. Paige welcomed his protective embrace as she was trembling and it broke Victor's heart.
Meanwhile the sergeant was now convinced that he had caught his fugitives and he gave the signal to his men to get the unconscious Nicholas. Then he turned toward the inert form of Cole.
"About this one?"
"Don't worry sergeant, our servants will bury him in some field later… All that matters is that they won't bother us again…"
The sergeant nodded then turned to Victor.
"About your family sir…"
Clay interjected, surprising the sergeant who had not noticed him until that moment.
"Sir? If you remember well, I'm the one who told you where to find them and I assure you, I have been a friend of this family for a very long time. None of them had any parts in this sordid business."
Phoebe couldn't help the look of surprise and disappointment that appeared on her face, but fortunately the sergeant didn't notice.
"I made a mistake, sergeant. I was so upset that I thought they were all in it as well. I was wrong…"
"That still doesn't explain why they came back here…"
Clay replied:
"Maybe they realized that you were after them and changed direction? The fact that they found themselves here is easily explained, as the Leightons own most of the land surrounding the town…"
The sergeant couldn't help but think that something was up with all this, but he was tired and convinced that he had the guilty party in custody. After a moment, he just turned his heels and signaled to his men that they were leaving.
Matthew watched the soldiers going, carrying his brother, with mixed feelings. He had never meant for his brother to die even though now, it was the most likely outcome. The soldiers would never listen to him after this, and he would be executed for his crimes albeit with Matthew's identity.
He was almost convinced that it was all over, when the sergeant's voice startled him.
"As for you," this one called back, as if just remembering about him. After a long pause, he pursued.
"As promised, you're free to return home, and may I suggest that you be diligent about it… We might not be so lenient next time…"
Matthew took a deep breath and simply nodded in the affirmative.
It was not until the soldiers had gone that Victor finally questioned.
"What the hell just happened?"
Nobody answered at first, until they heard the soldiers riding away.
Then Piper chimed in:
"I'd really like to know myself?"
"I'll give you all the explanations in a moment but for now…"
She went straight to Cole, while the others showed their impatience and slight surprise at her reaction.
"It's alright, they're gone…"
Cole opened his eyes and smiled:
"You've got some guts my dear."
Phoebe smiled back:
"And you better remember it…"
While getting up, he had to put his hand down and grimaced.
"Well, I guess that it's only a small price to pay compared to what might've happened," he said, looking at the deep cut on his hand.
"We'll take care of this inside."
"Wait a minute!" Victor exclaimed. "He's alive? What in the bloody hell is going on here? I demand an answer…"
"Dad, it's alright, these have helped Paige escape from her attacker, and if only for this, we owe them…"
He looked at her with a frown.
"But they're traitors, they…"
"They won't stay long, Uncle. Please…" Phoebe pleaded.
Victor was still not convinced, but Paige added:
"Daddy, Matthew here…"
"I thought that you said it was Nicholas?"
"Please listen. He saved me, and for that, I will be eternally grateful. Could you let me repay this debt?"
Victor was still unsure, but he backed down, as he could feel how much it mattered to his daughters and niece.
Clay was about to protest himself but Phoebe came straight at him.
"Why?"
This startled Clay. "Why what," he asked, pretending not to understand.
"Why did you give them away?"
He babbled:
"I gave them a chance to escape but…"
Phoebe came closer, angrier now.
"But what? You warned the soldiers of where they were going."
"I only had your best interest at heart; you must believe me Phoebe. These men, either way they will soon be gone, and we're still gonna have to live here…"
"You maybe, not me…"
Clay was floored:
"Where would you be going?"
This surprised even Cole.
"You can be serious, it's too dangerous."
Phoebe turned to him.
"I thought about it and I'm sure that I'll be safe with you. You're not leaving without me…"
Cole was torn between the joy of having her with him and the fear of the dangers to come. They were not out of trouble just yet, although her brilliant idea had, indeed, made their escape all the easier.
Phoebe saw his hesitation and she insisted.
"I won't stay behind, not now."
"Phoebe that's crazy…" Clay protested.
Phoebe looked back at him with a determined expression.
"Then I'm crazy… and happy about it…"
Matthew and Cole stayed at the house for one more day, letting things cool off. Phoebe didn't have much more convincing to do, as Cole was too happy to know that she would be with him to protest any further.
Clay still tried to talk her out of it, but she stood fast. The next evening, they were preparing to leave.
"Can I try once more to stop you?"
Phoebe went to him.
"Clay, you betrayed my trust. You knew that no matter what, I didn't want him to get hurt and yet you did this terrible thing."
Clay lowered his eyes in shame.
"I'm sorry; I know now it was wrong. No matter what they are… I…"
"I know… And that's the only reason why I forgive you."
He looked back at her in surprise, as she pursued:
"I know why you did it, and maybe if the situation were reverse, I might just have done the same. We were always alike, maybe a little too much. I still consider you my friend and when this war is over, maybe we still could see each other. I know that it's not what you wanted but…"
"I suppose that I have to accept that…"
Phoebe gave him a kiss on the cheek and she turned back toward Cole. They were almost on their way when Piper and Paige got out of the house in a hurry.
"Hey you were not leaving without saying good bye, were you?" Piper uttered.
Phoebe smiled warily at her cousin.
"I wasn't sure if you really wanted to talk to me again…"
"Don't be ridiculous, we're cousins and I love you like a sister. And there's something else…" She came closer to Phoebe and lowered her voice so that only her cousin could hear:
"Isn't it a little inappropriate for you to go alone with a man without…"
Phoebe looked at her with a little amused smile.
"You mean being married? Don't worry, I'll be good, and besides, Cole already asked me today…"
"Oh, well then… I guess that it's good bye?"
"I'll write, and as soon as I can, I'll visit. Hopefully this terrible war will pass you by and soon come to an end…"
Piper smiled weakly.
"I hope that someone is listening to you." They hugged affectionately.
Then Piper went to Cole.
"You'll take good care of our cousin will you?"
"I promise you. And thank you. For your help, I mean. I wish that I knew how to repay you. I know that you did it for her, but it doesn't matter," he added quickly, as she was about to protest.
Cole took her hand and a vision brought a smile to his face.
"I think that I just figured out how."
Piper looked at him curiously.
"What do you mean?"
"Your husband's name is Leo, isn't it?"
"Yes…" Piper trailed. "Why?"
"Well, I think that you'll find that tomorrow morning, a certain Leo is coming home… And something else, I just saw this house standing intact for many years to come."
"How would you know that? OH! That's why you weren't surprised by the freezing…" She exclaimed, as she understood. "For a while there I thought that Phoebe had told you…"
He simply smiled.
"I found out about her on my own."
"You had many more secrets than one…"
Meanwhile, Paige was standing back, unsure of what to say or do. Matthew came closer, still hesitant, but she couldn't look at him.
"I wanted to thank you for your help last night…"
Paige answered, whilst still looking away.
"It was nothing, you saved me first…"
"I can never tell you how sorry I am about what happened. It still hard for me to believe that my own brother…"
He saw her discomfort and didn't finish the sentence.
"It wasn't your fault, don't blame yourself. In a way, it was mine, for being so fickle. I should've known better than threat the both of you like this. And much more, for not seeing how dangerous Nicholas truly was."
Matthew tried to protest.
"No you…"
Paige suddenly looked up.
"It's ok, I will get better…"
Matthew, seeing that the time to go was near, emboldened himself.
"If I wanted to see you again…"
"Maybe…"
He took a step forward but she backed away instinctively.
"I'm sorry, I know that looking at me…"
"I'll need some time. However, I know your heart, and that is all I need to know who you truly are…"
"Then, when this war is over, if I was to come back…?"
Paige smiled weakly.
"I think that I'd like that… a lot…"
Matthew smiled sweetly, filled with hope, and then he went to rejoin his travel companions and they went on their way…
Meanwhile, Nicholas had tried everything to convince the sergeant of who he was, but no one ever listened. That very afternoon, he faced the firing squad. His last words were:
"I will come back, one way or another; I'll have my revenge…"
*****************
Phoebe stopped talking and the others looked at her curiously.
"That's it? What happened next, did Matthew ever see her again?" Paige questioned.
"Unfortunately, Matthew was killed when he went back on a mission a few months later. Paige always kept a place for him in her heart, sometimes telling her sister that she believed they would meet in another life… And I'm not making this up…"
"No way?"
Phoebe smiled.
"Way…"
"Unbelievable!"
"You know what, I just thought of something…"
Phoebe frowned:
"What?"
"I thought that what you did in the mausoleum…" He stopped, looking back at Piper with a little grimace…
"Oh go ahead; it's ancient history, but I must say that it did sound very similar."
Phoebe didn't need him to tell her what he was thinking about.
"Well, all I can say is that a good idea is still a good idea…"
Piper teased he.
"Hum, hum."
Cole looked at both of them, a little uncomfortable.
"Come on, sweetie, she's just joking," Phoebe told him, then she turned to Piper, "aren't you," she added insistently.
Piper just laughed.
Paige was looking at all of them, unsure of what was the big deal.
"What are you all talking about?"
"Why don't I tell you all about it later…"
Paige was still a little puzzled but she agreed to wait, as Phoebe was getting up, the baby asleep in her arms.
"Time for this little guy and me to go to bed... I'm exhausted…"
"Any more of those stories, for another night maybe?"
"A few… Good night sisters…"
"Oh Phoebe, I forgot to tell you, I left some folded laundry on my bed for you… I was about to give it to you this morning but…"
Phoebe smiled.
"No need to finish that. Thank you." She winked at her half sister meaningfully.
She then went upstairs, soon followed by her husband. Then Piper prepared to leave, even if she was disappointed that her own husband had not showed up yet...
Matthew was just now remembering the last time that he had seen her, as she had been all those years ago. Then, he had truly believed that he would come back and maybe have a chance at happiness with her. And now, there she was, not five minutes away. And after all these years, he could finally be with her. In that instant, all his doubts were washed away and he started the car…
Jacob had not come back yet. Nicholas started to wonder what took him so long. "Could he have failed?" He asked himself. For a moment, he was tempted to go verify, but he feared that he would miss her. At least, he knew that the Elders would not be able to help Matthew. The spell he had used was preventing him from orbing, and from being detected by them. This, he was certain of. So he opted for patience. "If not this night, then soon, she will be mine…And I'll have my revenge on you, brother, at last."
The Elders listened to Leo and Coleridge's account of the latest events with interest, although they had chastised them for their lack of prudence.
"I think that we can go back to business," Leo assured them. "The threat has to be over now."
One of the Elders said:
"Then you might help us with another problem… We've lost track of Matthew…"
"How's that possible?" Coleridge questioned.
"We've not heard from him since yesterday in earth time; so we tried to find him a few hours ago. However, he has all but disappeared…"
"Don't tell me that we've got another Whitelighter turning to evil; I'll never believe that of Matthew…"
"We don't believe that either. However, something must've happened to him…"
"We'll see what we can do." Coleridge assured them.
The Elder nodded approvingly, and the two whitelighters orbed out. The first Elder turned to the other members of the council.
"Should we have told them?"
"If it's still possible, wouldn't we prefer that his watching them stayed a secret?"
The other acquiesced warily.
The Source had retired to his lair, convinced that, at the very least, he had gotten rid of the charmed ones' threat. It still annoyed him tremendously to have lost Belthazor in the process, and that is why the news that a darklighter had been vanquished, most probably by him, got his attention. He was not overly surprised, as now the former demon would indeed help the Elders. This annoyed him deeply however, and he decided to pay more attention to everything that pertained to the archangel and his entourage. Not to mention that he was still thinking of finishing the other witches, eventually… Who knew, maybe soon, he would find a way to get his revenge?
Chapter 11
"You know what? I think that I'll go see how Cole's doing, I need the exercise…"
Phoebe got up and went out of the room without waiting for an answer.
"It's amazing to think that those are not just stories, isn't it?"
"It's nothing. Once, one of Phoebe's past lives took over her body… Now, that was freaky!"
"Really? I don't think I'll ever be able to take it the way you do. It's all so weird…"
Piper smiled:
"Don't worry; I'm not exactly the poster girl for acceptance here. I tried many times to get away from all this…"
"Seeing you now, I'd never have thought that."
"I guess that becoming the oldest all of a sudden gave me a new perspective."
A shadow crossed over Piper's features and Paige knew that the subject of Prue was still a painful one.
"I'm really sorry about your," Paige hesitated, "our sister. The little time I spent with her only gave me an idea of how she was like, but I'm certain that I would've liked her."
Piper smiled weakly:
"She was really something. Pretty big shoes to fill..."
"You said it!"
"Don't worry; we'll help you. We, Halliwells, stick together."
Then she continued more seriously.
"You don't regret being here do you?"
"Not for a minute. I'm so glad I've found a new family."
Piper smiled affectionately:
"And we're glad we found you…"
Phoebe got in her son's room to find her husband playing with Jason…
Cole turned to her.
"Hey, was I that long?"
"No that's fine; I just needed to stretch my legs…"
"Well, he's ready any time you want." Cole said, becoming more serious all of a sudden.
"Don't stop on my account; that looked fun."
Then she came closer:
"You're not mad, are you?"
"What for?" He answered without meeting her gaze. Phoebe waited for the true answer.
"Oh alright, I didn't like it very much, there I admit it. I don't like the way you look when you talk about that guy…"
"What way?"
"I don't know, different from when you talk about other guys. What was he to you?"
"The operative word here is was. It was a long time ago, and I don't think about him anymore…"
"Are you sure?"
"Couldn't be more certain! I'm perfectly happy now," Phoebe said while wrapping her arms around his neck.
They stared at each other for a long moment. Then Cole leaned to kiss her but he pulled back slightly, a little smile on his lips.
"So, you're sure?"
Phoebe chuckled.
"You know what, I'm learning a lot about you tonight. Romantic… And insecure…"
"Hey, don't mock me!" Cole protested jokingly.
"Believe me, you've got no reason to worry about him. None whatsoever…" she replied, coming closer.
The baby's cooing interrupted the moment and Phoebe sighed. Cole kissed her lightly and whispered:
"Later…"
Phoebe smiled and turned to Jason.
"Hey little guy… you hungry?"
She held Jason and they went back downstairs.
Piper and Paige greeted them impatiently.
"Hey, we were starting to believe you were not coming back."
"Oh it's so much fun to be in demand…"
She settled on the couch with the baby:
"If that kid remembers everything he hears…Hey, he's special you know," she told Piper, who was looking at her with a teasing smile. "Well anyway, maybe I'll write them down for him, just in case." She continued, amused.
"Ok now, are you ready?"
"No, we're just dying of curiosity here… Yes, of course we're ready…"
"Oh alright, I was just teasing you…"
****************
'Phoebe heard the shot and fear gripped her insides. She was already turning to run toward the back door when she noticed that the soldiers were not moving.
That stopped her momentarily and she heard her cousin's call:
"Phoebe, what's happening here?"
Phoebe noticed Piper but didn't answer. Instead, she went out the back in a hurry, afraid of what she would find out there.
Piper had reacted instinctively when, entering the stables behind the soldiers with Clay and her father in tow, she heard the shot. She had frozen them all, just in case, then noticed her distraught cousin. Now, she saw that she wouldn't get an answer from Phoebe and forgetting about Clay and her father, still frozen like the others, she went after her alone.
Outside, Phoebe was running as fast as she could, and then she saw them…Apparently their escape had been cut short, as they were still only halfway to the underbrush, and now, there were three of them…
In the field, the two brothers had started fighting fiercely, but when Cole tried to come to Matthew's help, Nicholas managed to get a hold of the gun at his belt. He pushed his brother rudely away and once more threatened them with a gun. The other two froze, discouraged…
"Well, we're back to our business," Nicholas said a little out of breath.
"As much fun as that was, it is time for you to face your judgement. Turn around."
Cole and Matthew reluctantly turned back toward the stables, only to see Phoebe running toward them and then stopping abruptly. She took in the scene at once and decided to act. A simple hand gesture threw the gun out of Nicholas's hand and she started running toward them again:
"Now!" She screamed.
Cole looked back and understood right away. This time, he went after Nicholas himself. The young man was too stunned to defend himself, and he fell to the ground after the first hit, unconscious.
Phoebe reached them, out of breath and she went to Cole directly, looking him up to find out if he had been hurt.
"I'm fine Phoebe, the shot went wild…"
She jumped into his arms and just stayed there, barely believing that he was fine, her heart still racing from the emotions.
Then Cole wondered, as he was holding her.
"How come the soldiers didn't come out?"
Piper, who was coming up to them at last, answered for her.
"I froze them… but it won't last forever…"
Phoebe turned toward her, somewhat worried at her cousin's reaction. However, Piper didn't seem overly surprised, but rather concerned at the moment. Cole noticed her worried look and he pushed Phoebe away reluctantly.
"Then we should go, we caused you enough trouble as it is…"
Piper wondered why he didn't question her about the freezing, but now was not the time for inquiries.
"That's not gonna work… They will unfreeze soon, and they heard the shot…"
Phoebe suddenly thought of something. It was crazy, she knew, but might just be their only chance.
"I think I know what to do…"
They all turned to her curiously.
To Cole, she asked:
"Do you have a knife?"
Cole looked at her in bewilderment.
"What will a knife do to help us now?"
"Trust me?"
She turned to Piper.
"Can you keep them frozen for a few more minutes?"
Piper didn't exactly understand what she was trying to do but she acquiesced nevertheless.
"Give me five minutes, and then you can free them…"
"How will I know that you're ready?"
"You will…" Phoebe uttered confidently.
Then she turned her back to Piper.
Piper went back to the stables, still wondering…
Once inside, she watched the soldiers for any sign of movement but, to her relief, her power was stronger than ever, and they were still frozen in place.
Just about five minutes later, her cousin entered the stables, out of breath, and relieved that she had been in time. She signaled that Piper should release them immediately. So she went back behind them and unfroze them in spite of her doubts…
The moment they were free, they started toward the back door as if no time had elapsed, still convinced that they had just heard a shot…
Piper looked anxiously toward her cousin but this one was already on her way out and still didn't give her any explanation. She went after her while Clay and Victor followed them, still unaware of what was happening…
As she approached the scene, her confusion deepened…
Cole was lying down in a pool of blood, apparently dead. One, it must have been Nicholas, was still unconscious, towered over by his brother, gun in hand. This one lifted the weapon in the air as soon as he saw the soldiers approaching, in sign of surrender.
Piper saw her father's reaction just in time and took his arm firmly to keep him from running toward the young man. He looked at her in puzzlement, but she pleaded silently that he'd keep quiet. Victor seemed hesitant… However, he decided to trust his daughter's judgement and stayed put. Clay just watched in total bewilderment, particularly baffled by Phoebe's lack of reaction to the lawyer's death, but also by Piper's apparent lack of concern about the would be rapist in front of them. Unable to comprehend what he was seeing, he decided to watch and wait for the moment.
Matthew started:
"I got them for you; they're the ones I told you about…"
Piper turned to her cousin again, but this one only had eyes for the soldiers and the one she still thought must be Matthew.
The sergeant approached cautiously, gun at the ready.
"Who are you?"
The sergeant was looking from Matthew to the unconscious Nicholas very suspiciously.
"Don't you remember me Sergeant? I'm Nicholas… I'm the one who told you about them… My brother betrayed my trust and I thought it my duty to deliver him to you; along with his accomplice. However," he continued rapidly, "this one attacked me and I had to shoot him. My brother, I managed to knock unconscious. He's all yours…"
The sergeant was still not totally convinced.
"But this one looks exactly like you, how are we to know?"
Another voice answered this, one which made most of them turn in surprise.
"I'd know…" Paige had heard the commotion outside and, at first, had been too scared to go out. Then, when no one came back, the worry for her family became stronger than her fear and she went out. She had come into the stables only to see the last of them going out the back and she followed them. Now, standing just a little ways behind them, she had been the one talking.
"I know them well sergeant, and I can tell you without a doubt that this one is Nicholas, as he told you…"
Matthew opened his mouth in surprise but thought better of showing his astonishment to the sergeant…
This one turned to her halfway, still doubtful.
"How can you be so sure? And besides, why should we trust you?"
Paige came closer.
"Because sir, I have only contempt for these other men, they attacked me a few days ago… And I can recognize the one who saved me without a shadow of a doubt."
The sergeant looked at her more intensely.
"Attacked you?"
Paige lowered her eyes in shame, and the sergeant had no doubts anymore on what she meant.
He cleared his throat, and then continued.
"Well miss, at least one of them got the proper punishment and the other one will get what he deserves shortly, I promise you."
Paige only nodded weakly without looking up. Her father came to her, just as confused as the others, but trusting that she knew what she was talking about. He had been about to protest the name confusion, but thought better of contradicting his daughter in front of the already very suspicious soldiers. Paige welcomed his protective embrace as she was trembling and it broke Victor's heart.
Meanwhile the sergeant was now convinced that he had caught his fugitives and he gave the signal to his men to get the unconscious Nicholas. Then he turned toward the inert form of Cole.
"About this one?"
"Don't worry sergeant, our servants will bury him in some field later… All that matters is that they won't bother us again…"
The sergeant nodded then turned to Victor.
"About your family sir…"
Clay interjected, surprising the sergeant who had not noticed him until that moment.
"Sir? If you remember well, I'm the one who told you where to find them and I assure you, I have been a friend of this family for a very long time. None of them had any parts in this sordid business."
Phoebe couldn't help the look of surprise and disappointment that appeared on her face, but fortunately the sergeant didn't notice.
"I made a mistake, sergeant. I was so upset that I thought they were all in it as well. I was wrong…"
"That still doesn't explain why they came back here…"
Clay replied:
"Maybe they realized that you were after them and changed direction? The fact that they found themselves here is easily explained, as the Leightons own most of the land surrounding the town…"
The sergeant couldn't help but think that something was up with all this, but he was tired and convinced that he had the guilty party in custody. After a moment, he just turned his heels and signaled to his men that they were leaving.
Matthew watched the soldiers going, carrying his brother, with mixed feelings. He had never meant for his brother to die even though now, it was the most likely outcome. The soldiers would never listen to him after this, and he would be executed for his crimes albeit with Matthew's identity.
He was almost convinced that it was all over, when the sergeant's voice startled him.
"As for you," this one called back, as if just remembering about him. After a long pause, he pursued.
"As promised, you're free to return home, and may I suggest that you be diligent about it… We might not be so lenient next time…"
Matthew took a deep breath and simply nodded in the affirmative.
It was not until the soldiers had gone that Victor finally questioned.
"What the hell just happened?"
Nobody answered at first, until they heard the soldiers riding away.
Then Piper chimed in:
"I'd really like to know myself?"
"I'll give you all the explanations in a moment but for now…"
She went straight to Cole, while the others showed their impatience and slight surprise at her reaction.
"It's alright, they're gone…"
Cole opened his eyes and smiled:
"You've got some guts my dear."
Phoebe smiled back:
"And you better remember it…"
While getting up, he had to put his hand down and grimaced.
"Well, I guess that it's only a small price to pay compared to what might've happened," he said, looking at the deep cut on his hand.
"We'll take care of this inside."
"Wait a minute!" Victor exclaimed. "He's alive? What in the bloody hell is going on here? I demand an answer…"
"Dad, it's alright, these have helped Paige escape from her attacker, and if only for this, we owe them…"
He looked at her with a frown.
"But they're traitors, they…"
"They won't stay long, Uncle. Please…" Phoebe pleaded.
Victor was still not convinced, but Paige added:
"Daddy, Matthew here…"
"I thought that you said it was Nicholas?"
"Please listen. He saved me, and for that, I will be eternally grateful. Could you let me repay this debt?"
Victor was still unsure, but he backed down, as he could feel how much it mattered to his daughters and niece.
Clay was about to protest himself but Phoebe came straight at him.
"Why?"
This startled Clay. "Why what," he asked, pretending not to understand.
"Why did you give them away?"
He babbled:
"I gave them a chance to escape but…"
Phoebe came closer, angrier now.
"But what? You warned the soldiers of where they were going."
"I only had your best interest at heart; you must believe me Phoebe. These men, either way they will soon be gone, and we're still gonna have to live here…"
"You maybe, not me…"
Clay was floored:
"Where would you be going?"
This surprised even Cole.
"You can be serious, it's too dangerous."
Phoebe turned to him.
"I thought about it and I'm sure that I'll be safe with you. You're not leaving without me…"
Cole was torn between the joy of having her with him and the fear of the dangers to come. They were not out of trouble just yet, although her brilliant idea had, indeed, made their escape all the easier.
Phoebe saw his hesitation and she insisted.
"I won't stay behind, not now."
"Phoebe that's crazy…" Clay protested.
Phoebe looked back at him with a determined expression.
"Then I'm crazy… and happy about it…"
Matthew and Cole stayed at the house for one more day, letting things cool off. Phoebe didn't have much more convincing to do, as Cole was too happy to know that she would be with him to protest any further.
Clay still tried to talk her out of it, but she stood fast. The next evening, they were preparing to leave.
"Can I try once more to stop you?"
Phoebe went to him.
"Clay, you betrayed my trust. You knew that no matter what, I didn't want him to get hurt and yet you did this terrible thing."
Clay lowered his eyes in shame.
"I'm sorry; I know now it was wrong. No matter what they are… I…"
"I know… And that's the only reason why I forgive you."
He looked back at her in surprise, as she pursued:
"I know why you did it, and maybe if the situation were reverse, I might just have done the same. We were always alike, maybe a little too much. I still consider you my friend and when this war is over, maybe we still could see each other. I know that it's not what you wanted but…"
"I suppose that I have to accept that…"
Phoebe gave him a kiss on the cheek and she turned back toward Cole. They were almost on their way when Piper and Paige got out of the house in a hurry.
"Hey you were not leaving without saying good bye, were you?" Piper uttered.
Phoebe smiled warily at her cousin.
"I wasn't sure if you really wanted to talk to me again…"
"Don't be ridiculous, we're cousins and I love you like a sister. And there's something else…" She came closer to Phoebe and lowered her voice so that only her cousin could hear:
"Isn't it a little inappropriate for you to go alone with a man without…"
Phoebe looked at her with a little amused smile.
"You mean being married? Don't worry, I'll be good, and besides, Cole already asked me today…"
"Oh, well then… I guess that it's good bye?"
"I'll write, and as soon as I can, I'll visit. Hopefully this terrible war will pass you by and soon come to an end…"
Piper smiled weakly.
"I hope that someone is listening to you." They hugged affectionately.
Then Piper went to Cole.
"You'll take good care of our cousin will you?"
"I promise you. And thank you. For your help, I mean. I wish that I knew how to repay you. I know that you did it for her, but it doesn't matter," he added quickly, as she was about to protest.
Cole took her hand and a vision brought a smile to his face.
"I think that I just figured out how."
Piper looked at him curiously.
"What do you mean?"
"Your husband's name is Leo, isn't it?"
"Yes…" Piper trailed. "Why?"
"Well, I think that you'll find that tomorrow morning, a certain Leo is coming home… And something else, I just saw this house standing intact for many years to come."
"How would you know that? OH! That's why you weren't surprised by the freezing…" She exclaimed, as she understood. "For a while there I thought that Phoebe had told you…"
He simply smiled.
"I found out about her on my own."
"You had many more secrets than one…"
Meanwhile, Paige was standing back, unsure of what to say or do. Matthew came closer, still hesitant, but she couldn't look at him.
"I wanted to thank you for your help last night…"
Paige answered, whilst still looking away.
"It was nothing, you saved me first…"
"I can never tell you how sorry I am about what happened. It still hard for me to believe that my own brother…"
He saw her discomfort and didn't finish the sentence.
"It wasn't your fault, don't blame yourself. In a way, it was mine, for being so fickle. I should've known better than threat the both of you like this. And much more, for not seeing how dangerous Nicholas truly was."
Matthew tried to protest.
"No you…"
Paige suddenly looked up.
"It's ok, I will get better…"
Matthew, seeing that the time to go was near, emboldened himself.
"If I wanted to see you again…"
"Maybe…"
He took a step forward but she backed away instinctively.
"I'm sorry, I know that looking at me…"
"I'll need some time. However, I know your heart, and that is all I need to know who you truly are…"
"Then, when this war is over, if I was to come back…?"
Paige smiled weakly.
"I think that I'd like that… a lot…"
Matthew smiled sweetly, filled with hope, and then he went to rejoin his travel companions and they went on their way…
Meanwhile, Nicholas had tried everything to convince the sergeant of who he was, but no one ever listened. That very afternoon, he faced the firing squad. His last words were:
"I will come back, one way or another; I'll have my revenge…"
*****************
Phoebe stopped talking and the others looked at her curiously.
"That's it? What happened next, did Matthew ever see her again?" Paige questioned.
"Unfortunately, Matthew was killed when he went back on a mission a few months later. Paige always kept a place for him in her heart, sometimes telling her sister that she believed they would meet in another life… And I'm not making this up…"
"No way?"
Phoebe smiled.
"Way…"
"Unbelievable!"
"You know what, I just thought of something…"
Phoebe frowned:
"What?"
"I thought that what you did in the mausoleum…" He stopped, looking back at Piper with a little grimace…
"Oh go ahead; it's ancient history, but I must say that it did sound very similar."
Phoebe didn't need him to tell her what he was thinking about.
"Well, all I can say is that a good idea is still a good idea…"
Piper teased he.
"Hum, hum."
Cole looked at both of them, a little uncomfortable.
"Come on, sweetie, she's just joking," Phoebe told him, then she turned to Piper, "aren't you," she added insistently.
Piper just laughed.
Paige was looking at all of them, unsure of what was the big deal.
"What are you all talking about?"
"Why don't I tell you all about it later…"
Paige was still a little puzzled but she agreed to wait, as Phoebe was getting up, the baby asleep in her arms.
"Time for this little guy and me to go to bed... I'm exhausted…"
"Any more of those stories, for another night maybe?"
"A few… Good night sisters…"
"Oh Phoebe, I forgot to tell you, I left some folded laundry on my bed for you… I was about to give it to you this morning but…"
Phoebe smiled.
"No need to finish that. Thank you." She winked at her half sister meaningfully.
She then went upstairs, soon followed by her husband. Then Piper prepared to leave, even if she was disappointed that her own husband had not showed up yet...
Matthew was just now remembering the last time that he had seen her, as she had been all those years ago. Then, he had truly believed that he would come back and maybe have a chance at happiness with her. And now, there she was, not five minutes away. And after all these years, he could finally be with her. In that instant, all his doubts were washed away and he started the car…
Jacob had not come back yet. Nicholas started to wonder what took him so long. "Could he have failed?" He asked himself. For a moment, he was tempted to go verify, but he feared that he would miss her. At least, he knew that the Elders would not be able to help Matthew. The spell he had used was preventing him from orbing, and from being detected by them. This, he was certain of. So he opted for patience. "If not this night, then soon, she will be mine…And I'll have my revenge on you, brother, at last."
The Elders listened to Leo and Coleridge's account of the latest events with interest, although they had chastised them for their lack of prudence.
"I think that we can go back to business," Leo assured them. "The threat has to be over now."
One of the Elders said:
"Then you might help us with another problem… We've lost track of Matthew…"
"How's that possible?" Coleridge questioned.
"We've not heard from him since yesterday in earth time; so we tried to find him a few hours ago. However, he has all but disappeared…"
"Don't tell me that we've got another Whitelighter turning to evil; I'll never believe that of Matthew…"
"We don't believe that either. However, something must've happened to him…"
"We'll see what we can do." Coleridge assured them.
The Elder nodded approvingly, and the two whitelighters orbed out. The first Elder turned to the other members of the council.
"Should we have told them?"
"If it's still possible, wouldn't we prefer that his watching them stayed a secret?"
The other acquiesced warily.
The Source had retired to his lair, convinced that, at the very least, he had gotten rid of the charmed ones' threat. It still annoyed him tremendously to have lost Belthazor in the process, and that is why the news that a darklighter had been vanquished, most probably by him, got his attention. He was not overly surprised, as now the former demon would indeed help the Elders. This annoyed him deeply however, and he decided to pay more attention to everything that pertained to the archangel and his entourage. Not to mention that he was still thinking of finishing the other witches, eventually… Who knew, maybe soon, he would find a way to get his revenge?