Chapter Nine- Fate Kicks In

San Francisco, Late January 1998

Penny sighed as she stood in front of the Book of Shadows.

She thought back to that afternoon. She had tried so hard to take simple picture of the girls, but they kept bickering.

The three of them worried her so much at times.

She knew that she wasn't going to live forever and that as soon as she died, their powers would be unbound. It frightened her to know that soon they could become the Charmed Ones.

They weren't ready. She wondered if they ever would be. It wasn't their personalities that worried her anymore.

Phoebe, who had always given her the most cause for concern, seemed to have grown up over night. Though Penny didn't like to admit it, she knew that Cole was responsible.

As soon as she had met him, Phoebe had matured tremendously. Her clothing had changed, her attitude, even her schoolwork had improved. In fact, it looked like that Phoebe might actually graduate soon. More than that, she had never seemed happier.

Still, despite these changes, the relationship between the sisters was as strained as always.

Piper got along well with both her sisters, though Penny noted that things between Piper and Prue had been strained because of their opposite opinions regarding Cole.

Prue and Phoebe on the other hand... If anything, their relationship had gotten worse. They could barely stand to be in the same room. All they ever did was fight. Penny knew that Prue's increasing dislike of Cole was one of the factors.

Penny had been afraid that was going to happen and wondered if at this point they could ever mend their relationship.

She hoped so, if not, they were in big trouble. But it wasn't just the bickering that bothered her, they had such separate lives.

They never even seemed to interact anymore except to fight with one another.

She knew that if their powers were to be unleashed now, they couldn't handle it. They just weren't ready to have to deal with their destiny.

Patty had tried to talk her out of it, but Penny knew that didn't matter. Not now.

She had thought this through and knew it was the only way. She had to strip their powers from them once and for all.

The risks were too high not to.
* * * * *

Phoebe lay on her bed, staring at ceiling. Her mind just kept repeating the conversation she and Cole had had the night before.

~*~
"James wants me back at the New York office." Cole mentioned as the two of them ate their dinner.

Phoebe froze. "What?"

Cole sighed. "He wants me to come back to New York. I'm not really needed here anymore and he's beginning to gear me for when he retires."

Phoebe took a deep breath. "Oh."

She couldn't believe it. He was leaving.

"Phoebe-" Cole began.

She cut him off. "When do you leave?"

"Phoebe, I don't want to leave you." He told her.

"But you're going to anyway." She said, trying not to cry.

"No." He told her. "At least I hope not. Phoebe, I have to go to New York, but... I want you to come with me."

"What?" Phoebe asked in shock. "What about school, my family?"

"Well, the second term hasnÕt begun yet." Cole told her. "You could go to school in New York, as for your family... You have to leave sometime. You can't live at home forever, and it's not like you'll never be able to see them again. I know that this as come as surprise, but please... Will you at least think about it?
~*~

She couldn't help but think about it. It had been the only think on her mind since he had asked.

She loved him, she knew that.

But, it was such a big decision.

Yet, a part of her definitely wanted to say yes. It was so tempting... She knew that she didn't want to lose him, but...

She knew that Grams would disapprove. Besides could she really leave with Grams so sick?

She sighed. It was such a hard choice. She didn't know how she was going to make it.
* * * * *

Cole sighed as he stared at the paperwork.

He knew that he had freaked Phoebe out the night before when he had asked her to move to New York with him.

He had freaked himself out.

But, he didn't want to leave her.

He knew it was time to get back to New York and the main base of operations. In fact, Raynor had ordered him back.

The Source had decided that there was no use wasting his talents there when there had been no sign of whatever it was that the Oracle was predicting.

So, he would go back. However, he didn't want to give up Phoebe.

He liked having her around. Which was why he had decided to bring her with him, if she would agree.

He had been thinking about it and had made a decision.

At some point, he wanted a child. Preferably a son he could train in his own image.

He knew he could have one with some demoness, but that didn't appeal to him. He knew that a lot of demons had children with mortals and that as long as the child had demon blood and was raised evil, it became a demon, though it maintained a mortal half like Cole had.

Cole had been thinking about this for a while and had decided that he wanted Phoebe to be mother of this child.

Not right then, of course, but sooner or later. But for that to happen, she had to agree to come to New York with him.

Cole didn't know what he would do if she didn't. But he would do something. He wasn't ready to let her go.
* * * * *

Piper was in the kitchen making dinner.

She had to admit that she loved to cook. She knew that Grams wanted her to follow her heart and become a chef, but...

It wasn't possible. She needed a real job if she was going to pay the bills.

Prue was getting married soon and leaving, and she had a feeling that Phoebe would be leaving soon. She and Cole were getting more and more serious and it wouldn't surprise Piper if something happened there.

That would just leave her, Grams, and this big house.

No, she needed her job at the bank if she was going to pay for Grams medical bills and keep the house.

Suddenly, she heard a scream and ran out into the hall. Grams was laying at the bottom of the stairs.

Piper ran to her, screaming for her sisters as she did so.

They appeared a minute later.

"Oh my god, Grams." Prue cried.

Phoebe just stared in shock. "Grams."

Piper began to cry. Oh, God, what had happened. Was she going to be okay?

Piper didn't know what she would do if she wasn't.
* * * * *