Prologue to "Twice in two lifetimes"

The charmed ones and Leo came back downstairs in a daze.

They more or less settled down in the manor's living room, and kept silent for a long moment.

What had just happened was nothing short of unbelievable, and flooring at the same time. Cole had allowed the impossible to happen… But at what price?

They kept silent, while the baby cooed happily in Phoebe's arms.

Leo was the first to speak:

"Well, it worked, we did it!"

Phoebe gave him a meaningful look that stopped his enthusiasm short.

"You used me shamelessly. Both you and Cole…"

Leo tried to apologize:

"You know that we did that only because it was the only way…Neither me nor Cole ever meant to hurt you…"

"Well, you did a bang up job of it."

She was still so upset that the baby stopped his cooing, and became agitated. Phoebe realized that she was being unreasonable, but it all had been too much. The fear and the suffering that they had put her through… Was it all worth it?

Piper came to sit by her, wrapping her arms across her distraught sister' shoulders.

"Come on, Phoebe, it is all over now…"

"How the hell can you say that?"

Piper sighed.

"It is going to be ok; you will be fine. You will see…"

The front door opened and closed, which had them all looking up.

Cole walked hesitantly through the threshold, while avoiding Phoebe' stare.