Nightmare on Prescott Street
Cole smirked evilly while the three sisters huddled in front of him. "You know you can't do anything to me. I'll have you as my queen, Phoebe. And I'll have my revenge on your sisters. I guaranty you that."
"You can't have me, Cole. When in the hell are you gonna get that in your thick head that I don't love you anymore."
"Never," Cole said casually.
The girls started saying the Source vanquishing spell and at first, it looked like nothing would happen as Cole went on sneering at them. "Told you it wouldn't work!"
"Yeah," Phoebe screamed, "Wait for it buster!" Phoebe pulled a vial from her handbag and without waiting she threw it at Cole, as they began reciting the spell again.
Cole's first sensation was of his powers being drained, and then he soon felt the all too familiar burning that announced his own imminent demise. "No way! Not again!" He exclaimed angrily before turning his eyes toward Phoebe. "Well better luck next time," he added before he blew up in such a fireworks display that the whole room shook.
~~~~~~ "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH," came a scream in the night, as Cole sat up in a sweat. He was breathing hard and looked around with obvious disorientation. He saw he was lying in a bed that stood in one of the Manor's bedrooms, but he knew it didn't make sense.
"Honey what's wrong," Paige asked from the other side of the bed.
Cole jumped out of bed, realizing that he was standing in his boxers, and that everything around him seemed oddly normal in spite of the totally mind blowing presence of Paige in his bed.
"Cole what's the matter?" Paige said as she sat up in turn.
"You're asking me what the matter is? What the hell am I doing here.with you?"
"Cole? Did you hit your head harder than we thought this afternoon? That demon threw you really hard against the wall. Maybe we should ask Leo to come and heal you."
"Leo??? Leo hates my guts."
"Cole come on, what are you talking about? You're his daughter's godfather. He certainly likes you well enough to do that."
Cole stared at Paige with such disbelief that she came closer with a worried expression. "Cole what is it?"
"I shouldn't be here.what about Phoebe?"
"Oh no, not again!" Paige exclaimed unhappily. "Cole, I thought we were over this thing. When are you gonna stop blaming yourself for Phoebe? Maybe if you did, you wouldn't have all those awful nightmares."
"Nightmares.?" Cole questioned with some interest. "That's it," he thought, "I must be dead and back in the Wasteland.Although I don't remember having nightmares there." "Where is Phoebe," Cole asked, forgetting about the nightmare question.
Paige opened wide eyes at this. "Cole. you know where Phoebe is. Why rehash this pain? You said you were over her; that you loved me now. Was that all a lie?"
"What? I can't have said that. I love Phoebe."
Tears formed in Paige's eyes and with a sob, she grabbed her bathrobe and ran out of the room. Cole was made uncomfortable by her obvious pain but he couldn't help thinking that all of this was the nightmare. As he grabbed a robe himself and sat heavily in the chair by the bed, Cole also reflected that if this was the nightmare, the reality of things wasn't much better. Either he was betraying Phoebe with her sister, or he was betraying her by becoming an insane monster, using his powers to belittle the woman he loved. At this very moment, Cole wondered if it wasn't what happened. Maybe he had finally gone mad and he was now in some sort of strange delusion.
"How bloody reassuring," he thought, while getting up and then pacing the room nervously. All the horrible memories from the nightmare were still very vivid in his mind. Or was it from his reality? He felt a headache coming. If he had truly gone mad, then there might not be a way out of this. However, he had never been one to stay in the dark for long. Considering that he was stuck in this particular reality for the moment, Cole decided to try and understand it. He headed out and found Paige sitting forlornly at the dining room table. It was still dark outside and she had not turned on the light. When Cole did so, Paige jumped.
"What do you want," she asked in a teary voice.
"Paige.I'm sorry.I just don't understand."
"What's there to understand? You should know better by now. You know how bad I felt about us. Just the same as you did. I mean even if she isn't with us anymore, Phoebe was still my sister."
"What do you mean was?" Cole asked anxiously. He had a very bad feeling at this point. The only reason why he might be with someone else would be because.
"Cole, she's dead! She won't come back and reproach you your happiness."
Cole felt as if he was gonna choke and he dropped into the seat in front of Paige without even looking at her. "Dead?" he questioned in a strangled voice.
Paige stared at him with renewed worry. "Ok I'm calling Leo. Something's wrong with you."
"Everything is wrong Paige!" Cole suddenly exploded. "This can't be real! Phoebe can't be dead. I won't accept that!"
Paige watched him with a hint of panic. "Leo," she called a little too loud. "Leo," she almost shouted again.
After only a few seconds, Leo orbed in, obviously barely awake. "What is it," he asked sleepily.
"It's Cole...something's wrong with him."
Leo glanced at Cole with what seemed gentle annoyance. "I knew I should've insisted this afternoon. Let me have a look at it," he added as he went toward Cole.
"Stay away from me," Cole exclaimed crazily as he stood up and stumbled backward. "I don't need a healing. I just need to know what happened to Phoebe."
Leo opened wide eyes at this and he questioningly looked back at Paige.
"Don't ask me," she answered the silent question. "I think it's those nightmares." Paige pursued hesitantly.
Cole shook his head unhappily and he suddenly went to Leo, grabbing his arm, intent on getting answers from him. As soon as he did so, a vision came to him. Leo was standing in another house's living room and talking to a woman Cole had never seen before. Suddenly, a Darklighter materialized behind Leo, causing the woman to scream in fright. Leo barely had time to turn and see what scared her before the Darklighter threw an arrow his way. Leo was struck in his side and the vision ended abruptly.
Cole felt dizzy and he let go of Leo suddenly.
"Cole did you have a premonition," Paige asked right away, as if she thought it the most natural thing in the world.
"I don't have visions," Cole stuttered while he took several steps back. "I can't have visions." he pursued hesitantly.
"Of course you have premonitions honey. You've had them since." Paige stopped herself, realizing just in time that this was again a painful reminder. Cole seemed confused enough as it was.
Cole waited for her to finish the sentence, while dreading the meaning of it. When she didn't continue, he asked her directly, "since when?"
Paige gave an applied stare to Leo. She wasn't too certain she wanted to continue this freaky conversation.
"Look Cole," Leo began, understanding the awkwardness of the situation, "Why don't we sit down? You tell us what you saw in the vision and we'll try to figure out what's wrong with you afterward. How is that?"
"Not." Cole was about to protest that they were the ones who were wrong, but he remembered his earlier musings about having gone mad. If Phoebe was dead, maybe that's what drove him into madness and this truly was his reality. But how could he be sleeping with Paige? How could it have happened? How could he have premonitions?
"Cole?" Leo questioned solicitously.
Cole looked up abruptly and then he nodded weakly before sitting back uncertainly. "I. I need to know what happened to Phoebe," he finally uttered, ignoring Leo's other request.
Leo turned to Paige and gave her a gentle smile of encouragement. "Why don't you go prepare something warm to drink for all of us, Paige?"
Paige knew she was being dismissed and in truth, she was grateful. When Cole got into those guilt trip phases, she didn't know how to deal with him; not to mention the fact that it awakened her own guilt every time. Sometimes she wondered if her love for him was worth all this aggravation. Even as she left however, she reflected anxiously that it had never been this bad.
Leo gave Cole a moment to settle down and then he started talking in a soothing voice. "So.did you get more of those nightmares?"
"Nightmares," Cole repeated absently. Then he shook himself and turned to Leo. "I don't wanna talk about nightmares, Leo. I wanna know what happened to Phoebe." Leo sighed heavily. "Are you sure you wanna talk about it again?"
"Again?" Cole questioned with obvious incomprehension. "Leo, I don't know what happened to her. How could I have talked about that before?"
"Oh my.I'm starting to wonder if your power boost wasn't a little premature. Maybe it's doing something to your memory. I should ask the Elders about it."
Cole replied angrily. "I don't wanna know what the Elders think, Leo. I want you to answer my question!"
"But Cole you know very well what happened."
"Humor me, alright?" Cole interrupted impatiently.
"Alright," Leo sighed again. "Well, Phoebe died during the Source's vanquishing. I know why you feel so bad about it, but she was the one who told you to stay out of it. You can't blame yourself for coming in a few seconds late. You tried to save her."
"I did save her," Cole exclaimed. He was floored. How could Leo be right? He remembered distinctly saving Phoebe. He also remembered bitterly that this was what brought about the nightmarish reality he had just come from. Cole noticed the worried stare Leo was giving him now, but he had to know the whole story. "Did I.I mean.what happened next?"
"Well, you had taken the Hollow on the ill advice of the Seer and when we put it back in the box, Phoebe's powers were transferred to you since she wasn't there to receive them. I know it was very hard for you. Even more so because you felt you betrayed her by taking her powers, but if Phoebe is at peace with it, why can't you?"
"How would you know she's at peace with it?"
"Because she told all of us, Cole! Remember when you summoned her?"
"No Leo.I don't remember. I don't understand what I'm doing with Paige either."
"Cole." Leo's concern grew exponentially at this. "How could you not remember that?"
"I just don't, Leo."
"I'm very worried about you. I think that those nightmares could be one big premonition trying to come out and it's causing you big problems because you're repressing it. What did you see earlier?"
Cole had an impatient gesture, but he still told Leo about the premonition. Even though, the fact that he had it in the first place was blowing his mind just as much as Paige's presence in his bed earlier.
"I'll be sure to watch for that Darklighter, thank you," Leo uttered calmly.
"Leo.How did I get to be with Paige? I love Phoebe.I mean I like Paige well enough, even though she didn't use to be fond of me herself.but I don't love her."
"Of course you do.and Paige never expected you to stop loving Phoebe. You worked things out together.alright, I'll admit, Piper and I were very circumspect about this. We both thought it was too soon, but Paige and you seemed so happy."
"I think I'd remember something like that, Leo. How could I have betrayed Phoebe's memory so soon? I can't imagine that."
"Well, Paige took care of you in your time of need. She was very patient with you through your grief and I guess that your gratitude slowly changed into affection and then, one thing led to the next."
"That can't be."
"Tea anyone?" Paige announced with an enthusiasm that rang false. From the look of Cole, things hadn't progressed much. Leo's almost guilty glance when he nodded yes was even more damning. She put down the plate where a steaming teapot and three cups stood, but she didn't sit as she poured herself some of the warm liquid. "I think I'll go see what's on TV.I'm not very sleepy," Paige pursued as she stepped away from the table.
Cole looked up and gave her an uneasy smile in response, while Leo poured himself some tea. Cole felt how much it hurt Paige, but he still couldn't bring himself to accept this reality as his own. Paige smiled sadly and left the room without another word. Soon they heard sounds coming from the living room, while an awkward silence prolonged between Leo and Cole. After a moment, Cole grabbed a cup with a shaking hand and barely managed to pour the tea without spilling any of it. He had never felt more confused, except maybe when the Source was taking him over.but then, from what Leo and Paige said, it never happened either.
"Cole," Leo started at last, "I really think that this whole thing comes from your nightmares and the power boost you just had. I've got to talk to the Elders about it. Maybe they'll have a better idea how to help you through it."
This time, Cole didn't protest.
"Why don't you go talk to Paige?" Leo tried when Cole didn't say anything. "Maybe that would. clear some things for you."
"I can't Leo," Cole answered forlornly. "I mean I'm not ready and I'll only hurt her more. Do what you have to do."
"Alright.promise me you won't do anything rash? And also, why don't you let me check your head? Maybe you're just having a concussion and it brought all this confusion about."
Cole still didn't believe this, but he nodded in the affirmative, certain that Leo wouldn't stop insisting until he agreed. Leo came closer and applied his healing touch to Cole's forehead. However, he soon removed his hands with a look of disappointment. "Well, I feel nothing wrong." He had obviously been hoping that this was all there was to Cole's problem.
"I told you, didn't I?" Cole uttered almost angrily again. However, he immediately saw that there was no point in aggravating Leo. "I'm sorry.I'm just."
"That's ok," Leo dismissed. "I understand."
"That makes one of us," Cole replied unhappily.
"Just go take some rest. I'll let you know what I find out." Leo orbed immediately after this and Cole decided to follow his advice as he felt infinitely tired. When he passed in front of the living room on his way upstairs, he was tempted to go and apologize to Paige for whatever offense he seemed to have committed. However, he found he didn't have the strength to discuss this matter any further.
As soon as his head rested on the pillow, Cole began drifting into sleep.
~~~~~~~~
Cole opened his eyes and found that it was still night. He had no idea how long he'd been asleep, but he decided to get up in spite of the intense fatigue he still felt. As he did so, Cole almost screamed out of sheer disbelief. He was in his apartment. The one he rented after coming back from the Wasteland. "How can this be?" Cole questioned himself with something like fear creeping its way inside his mind. Uncertainly, he turned back toward the bed and saw no one else in there with a certain measure of relief. However, as he was grabbing a robe, determined to figure out how he got there, a sultry voice coming from a shadowed corner of the room startled him anew. "Finally awake," Phoebe's voice was asking.
"Phoebe," Cole exclaimed with intense relief. He had no idea where he ended up this time, but it was at least a reality where Phoebe was alive.or was she? "You're alive, aren't you?" He continued while peering at the shadows.
Phoebe moved out of the corner and came into view, very much flesh. However, she was wearing one of the outrageous outfits she had been so fond of while being the Queen of All Evil because of him. That alone made him uncomfortable, but Cole only wanted to grab this moment with Phoebe, so he set his nagging doubts aside.
"Of course, I'm alive. Even though, you tried to make me a corpse more than once."
"What? No, I don't wanna hurt you. Whatever happened before, you've got to believe me now." Cole uttered nervously. He feared in which manner he might have actually hurt her in this reality.
"Really?" Phoebe questioned with a smile. She walked up to him and soon, he felt her warm body against his. Forgetting all about any doubts, he wrapped his arms around Phoebe and held her tight, as he was afraid this might be another delusion.
"Yes, Phoebe. I won't hurt you, I promise. I love you."
"Good," Phoebe said gently before grabbing his face and pulling him into a languorous kiss. Cole didn't know where he was or when, or what for, but at this moment, he didn't care. He felt as if it had been an eternity since he had touched her in this manner, no matter what was real and what was pure fantasy. "So, Cole." Phoebe whispered, "Are you ready to come with me? I mean, have you finally come to your senses?"
"Huh," Cole babbled uncertainly. He wasn't sure what she was referring to. Again confusion was setting in. "I know it's gonna sound weird Phoebe.but what exactly are you talking about? And if I tried to kill you before, why would you want me to come with you?" The nagging doubt was returning to him and he wished intently that the situation wasn't what it seemed to him.
"Oh come on Cole. You know perfectly well. Don't play coy with me; it doesn't suit you," Phoebe uttered with a hint of annoyance.
Phoebe pulled away from him and Cole wondered why he was risking this blissful moment. He only wanted her to come back to him. It didn't really matter where she wanted him to go, or even if she had ill intents toward him. At this point, Cole would have given his life for one more kiss, one more smile; one more proof that she loved him. "Phoebe, you've got to believe me. It doesn't matter whatever it is. I just want to understand, that's all."
This had a positive effect as Phoebe turned her face up to him with a satisfied smile. "See, I knew you loved me. For a while there, I had my doubts, but it doesn't matter anymore. All that matters is that you must come with me and take your rightful place by my side. I can't have you as a threat to me. Not when all I want to do is love you back. I knew my advisors were idiots."
Cole's confusion deepened as he refused to see the obvious. How could Phoebe have believed even for a moment that he didn't love her? Or that he would want to kill her for that matter? Cole's love was the only thing Phoebe never doubted ever since they got together. Not even throughout the horrible experience he remembered. "You've got to know that I love you Phoebe. No matter what, I'll always love you!"
"Then come," Phoebe said gently as she took one of his hands in hers. As soon as she did that, the nagging feeling became more intense inside Cole. What he had repressed until that moment was becoming almost deafening. Yet, Cole managed to close his mind to the doubts at great efforts. That is until Piper and Leo orbed behind Phoebe. This one sensed them there because she turned abruptly and growled. "Get away from him. Cole's mine. He said he wanted to come with me. You can't keep him from following his true destiny."
"Oh, big words!" Piper sneered. "Cole what's the matter with you," She added, staring directly at him. "I thought you got the point about Phoebe."
"What point," Cole uttered in a strangled voice. "I love her. Shouldn't it be all that matters?"
"Cole, for god sake!" Leo exclaimed. "We've been through this before and you swore you'd never fall for her tricks again. The Elders are counting on you. Don't make me look like an idiot for convincing them to trust you!"
Piper took a bold step forward, and while keeping a cautious eye on Phoebe, she continued for Cole. "You've got your wings for doing the right thing. Are you gonna give up now just for a roll in the hay? You know what she's about."
"No I don't," Cole answered stubbornly even if deep down, he already knew. Still, he tried denying it further, although much less forcefully. "Wings? Why in the hell did I get my wings? For trying to kill Phoebe!?"
"Of course not, Cole. That's what she's trying to have you believe. You earned them," Leo said as he moved toward him as well. "Now don't let her take it all away from you. You've suffered enough already. Moreover, you owe this to Paige."
Cole was flabbergasted. What was it about all these realities where he ended up with Paige? She hated him. "I'm not with Paige!" He exclaimed with a hint of anger.
"What? Who said you were with her," Piper went on. "Phoebe killed her after she tricked you the last time. You promised you'd never let that happen again, as much for Phoebe's sake as for ours. I thought you understood how badly it all went for our sister."
"Shut up!" Phoebe finally intervened, while her eyes glowed of a bright red. "I'll kill you too, right now. You won't keep Cole from coming with me. You had him turning against his own kind, you bitch!"
Leo quickly moved in front of Piper, preferring to be the target, should Phoebe make good on her threat. "You got it all backward Phoebe. But that doesn't change much from your usual. You're the one who taught Cole to be good, before you were taken over by the Source. Get out of here!"
"Or what?" Phoebe mocked without a shred of worry in her expression.
"Or Cole will do what he was supposed to do all along." Leo replied with as much conviction as he could muster in spite of his doubts. Cole seemed utterly ambiguous and it worried him.
Phoebe sneered anew as she glanced back at Cole. This one actually let go of her hand at this point, but he only waited as he had no idea what they were talking about. A knot was forming in his stomach just thinking about the possibilities.
"He never could before. He certainly won't hurt me now. Not after he agreed to come with me as the rightful heir to the throne."
"That was before you killed Paige, Phoebe! Cole, the Elders brought you back because they thought they could trust you to do the right thing. Now it's time to prove them right."
The sinking feeling deepened inside of Cole, even as he fought hard to repress the doubts again. However even as he did so, he couldn't help hearing the voices in his mind. Without knowing how, he was aware of who the voices belonged to. The Elders were talking to him; they were appealing to him. Shakily, he stepped a few feet back from Phoebe and then stopped, while lifting his hand toward her almost against his will. He could feel the energy building inside of him.
"Cole," Phoebe called to him with a hint of doubt piercing through her voice. "You said you loved me. You said you'd come with me. Don't let them change your mind. They're only trying to separate us."
Piper saw that Cole was still hesitating and she stepped around Leo, calling to him. "Cole, it's now or never. End this. Save her from herself."
Phoebe suddenly turned angrily toward Piper and threw a fireball in her direction. Before anyone could do anything about it, Piper burst into flames as her screams echoed throughout the apartment. Leo tried to get to her but in vain and then, he fell to his knees, crying desperately. "No.no." he could only manage.
Cole felt tears of intense regret and sorrow filling his eyes. "Phoebe no." he said, echoing Leo's despair. "How could you, Phoebe?" Then it all happened very fast. A powerful energy ball built in his extended palm and, even as Phoebe tried to flame away, he hit her fully with it. Then, without even thinking, he threw himself against Phoebe, feeling the flames consuming him at the same time as they did her. "I'll always love you," he said before the pain ended and he fell into a tunnel of darkness. ~~~~~~~~~
Cole opened his eyes and looked around the room. He was back in the apartment, but there was no trace of anyone there, or of the horror that had just taken place. "NO!" He screamed, shook by a deep anguish.
Cole smirked evilly while the three sisters huddled in front of him. "You know you can't do anything to me. I'll have you as my queen, Phoebe. And I'll have my revenge on your sisters. I guaranty you that."
"You can't have me, Cole. When in the hell are you gonna get that in your thick head that I don't love you anymore."
"Never," Cole said casually.
The girls started saying the Source vanquishing spell and at first, it looked like nothing would happen as Cole went on sneering at them. "Told you it wouldn't work!"
"Yeah," Phoebe screamed, "Wait for it buster!" Phoebe pulled a vial from her handbag and without waiting she threw it at Cole, as they began reciting the spell again.
Cole's first sensation was of his powers being drained, and then he soon felt the all too familiar burning that announced his own imminent demise. "No way! Not again!" He exclaimed angrily before turning his eyes toward Phoebe. "Well better luck next time," he added before he blew up in such a fireworks display that the whole room shook.
~~~~~~ "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH," came a scream in the night, as Cole sat up in a sweat. He was breathing hard and looked around with obvious disorientation. He saw he was lying in a bed that stood in one of the Manor's bedrooms, but he knew it didn't make sense.
"Honey what's wrong," Paige asked from the other side of the bed.
Cole jumped out of bed, realizing that he was standing in his boxers, and that everything around him seemed oddly normal in spite of the totally mind blowing presence of Paige in his bed.
"Cole what's the matter?" Paige said as she sat up in turn.
"You're asking me what the matter is? What the hell am I doing here.with you?"
"Cole? Did you hit your head harder than we thought this afternoon? That demon threw you really hard against the wall. Maybe we should ask Leo to come and heal you."
"Leo??? Leo hates my guts."
"Cole come on, what are you talking about? You're his daughter's godfather. He certainly likes you well enough to do that."
Cole stared at Paige with such disbelief that she came closer with a worried expression. "Cole what is it?"
"I shouldn't be here.what about Phoebe?"
"Oh no, not again!" Paige exclaimed unhappily. "Cole, I thought we were over this thing. When are you gonna stop blaming yourself for Phoebe? Maybe if you did, you wouldn't have all those awful nightmares."
"Nightmares.?" Cole questioned with some interest. "That's it," he thought, "I must be dead and back in the Wasteland.Although I don't remember having nightmares there." "Where is Phoebe," Cole asked, forgetting about the nightmare question.
Paige opened wide eyes at this. "Cole. you know where Phoebe is. Why rehash this pain? You said you were over her; that you loved me now. Was that all a lie?"
"What? I can't have said that. I love Phoebe."
Tears formed in Paige's eyes and with a sob, she grabbed her bathrobe and ran out of the room. Cole was made uncomfortable by her obvious pain but he couldn't help thinking that all of this was the nightmare. As he grabbed a robe himself and sat heavily in the chair by the bed, Cole also reflected that if this was the nightmare, the reality of things wasn't much better. Either he was betraying Phoebe with her sister, or he was betraying her by becoming an insane monster, using his powers to belittle the woman he loved. At this very moment, Cole wondered if it wasn't what happened. Maybe he had finally gone mad and he was now in some sort of strange delusion.
"How bloody reassuring," he thought, while getting up and then pacing the room nervously. All the horrible memories from the nightmare were still very vivid in his mind. Or was it from his reality? He felt a headache coming. If he had truly gone mad, then there might not be a way out of this. However, he had never been one to stay in the dark for long. Considering that he was stuck in this particular reality for the moment, Cole decided to try and understand it. He headed out and found Paige sitting forlornly at the dining room table. It was still dark outside and she had not turned on the light. When Cole did so, Paige jumped.
"What do you want," she asked in a teary voice.
"Paige.I'm sorry.I just don't understand."
"What's there to understand? You should know better by now. You know how bad I felt about us. Just the same as you did. I mean even if she isn't with us anymore, Phoebe was still my sister."
"What do you mean was?" Cole asked anxiously. He had a very bad feeling at this point. The only reason why he might be with someone else would be because.
"Cole, she's dead! She won't come back and reproach you your happiness."
Cole felt as if he was gonna choke and he dropped into the seat in front of Paige without even looking at her. "Dead?" he questioned in a strangled voice.
Paige stared at him with renewed worry. "Ok I'm calling Leo. Something's wrong with you."
"Everything is wrong Paige!" Cole suddenly exploded. "This can't be real! Phoebe can't be dead. I won't accept that!"
Paige watched him with a hint of panic. "Leo," she called a little too loud. "Leo," she almost shouted again.
After only a few seconds, Leo orbed in, obviously barely awake. "What is it," he asked sleepily.
"It's Cole...something's wrong with him."
Leo glanced at Cole with what seemed gentle annoyance. "I knew I should've insisted this afternoon. Let me have a look at it," he added as he went toward Cole.
"Stay away from me," Cole exclaimed crazily as he stood up and stumbled backward. "I don't need a healing. I just need to know what happened to Phoebe."
Leo opened wide eyes at this and he questioningly looked back at Paige.
"Don't ask me," she answered the silent question. "I think it's those nightmares." Paige pursued hesitantly.
Cole shook his head unhappily and he suddenly went to Leo, grabbing his arm, intent on getting answers from him. As soon as he did so, a vision came to him. Leo was standing in another house's living room and talking to a woman Cole had never seen before. Suddenly, a Darklighter materialized behind Leo, causing the woman to scream in fright. Leo barely had time to turn and see what scared her before the Darklighter threw an arrow his way. Leo was struck in his side and the vision ended abruptly.
Cole felt dizzy and he let go of Leo suddenly.
"Cole did you have a premonition," Paige asked right away, as if she thought it the most natural thing in the world.
"I don't have visions," Cole stuttered while he took several steps back. "I can't have visions." he pursued hesitantly.
"Of course you have premonitions honey. You've had them since." Paige stopped herself, realizing just in time that this was again a painful reminder. Cole seemed confused enough as it was.
Cole waited for her to finish the sentence, while dreading the meaning of it. When she didn't continue, he asked her directly, "since when?"
Paige gave an applied stare to Leo. She wasn't too certain she wanted to continue this freaky conversation.
"Look Cole," Leo began, understanding the awkwardness of the situation, "Why don't we sit down? You tell us what you saw in the vision and we'll try to figure out what's wrong with you afterward. How is that?"
"Not." Cole was about to protest that they were the ones who were wrong, but he remembered his earlier musings about having gone mad. If Phoebe was dead, maybe that's what drove him into madness and this truly was his reality. But how could he be sleeping with Paige? How could it have happened? How could he have premonitions?
"Cole?" Leo questioned solicitously.
Cole looked up abruptly and then he nodded weakly before sitting back uncertainly. "I. I need to know what happened to Phoebe," he finally uttered, ignoring Leo's other request.
Leo turned to Paige and gave her a gentle smile of encouragement. "Why don't you go prepare something warm to drink for all of us, Paige?"
Paige knew she was being dismissed and in truth, she was grateful. When Cole got into those guilt trip phases, she didn't know how to deal with him; not to mention the fact that it awakened her own guilt every time. Sometimes she wondered if her love for him was worth all this aggravation. Even as she left however, she reflected anxiously that it had never been this bad.
Leo gave Cole a moment to settle down and then he started talking in a soothing voice. "So.did you get more of those nightmares?"
"Nightmares," Cole repeated absently. Then he shook himself and turned to Leo. "I don't wanna talk about nightmares, Leo. I wanna know what happened to Phoebe." Leo sighed heavily. "Are you sure you wanna talk about it again?"
"Again?" Cole questioned with obvious incomprehension. "Leo, I don't know what happened to her. How could I have talked about that before?"
"Oh my.I'm starting to wonder if your power boost wasn't a little premature. Maybe it's doing something to your memory. I should ask the Elders about it."
Cole replied angrily. "I don't wanna know what the Elders think, Leo. I want you to answer my question!"
"But Cole you know very well what happened."
"Humor me, alright?" Cole interrupted impatiently.
"Alright," Leo sighed again. "Well, Phoebe died during the Source's vanquishing. I know why you feel so bad about it, but she was the one who told you to stay out of it. You can't blame yourself for coming in a few seconds late. You tried to save her."
"I did save her," Cole exclaimed. He was floored. How could Leo be right? He remembered distinctly saving Phoebe. He also remembered bitterly that this was what brought about the nightmarish reality he had just come from. Cole noticed the worried stare Leo was giving him now, but he had to know the whole story. "Did I.I mean.what happened next?"
"Well, you had taken the Hollow on the ill advice of the Seer and when we put it back in the box, Phoebe's powers were transferred to you since she wasn't there to receive them. I know it was very hard for you. Even more so because you felt you betrayed her by taking her powers, but if Phoebe is at peace with it, why can't you?"
"How would you know she's at peace with it?"
"Because she told all of us, Cole! Remember when you summoned her?"
"No Leo.I don't remember. I don't understand what I'm doing with Paige either."
"Cole." Leo's concern grew exponentially at this. "How could you not remember that?"
"I just don't, Leo."
"I'm very worried about you. I think that those nightmares could be one big premonition trying to come out and it's causing you big problems because you're repressing it. What did you see earlier?"
Cole had an impatient gesture, but he still told Leo about the premonition. Even though, the fact that he had it in the first place was blowing his mind just as much as Paige's presence in his bed earlier.
"I'll be sure to watch for that Darklighter, thank you," Leo uttered calmly.
"Leo.How did I get to be with Paige? I love Phoebe.I mean I like Paige well enough, even though she didn't use to be fond of me herself.but I don't love her."
"Of course you do.and Paige never expected you to stop loving Phoebe. You worked things out together.alright, I'll admit, Piper and I were very circumspect about this. We both thought it was too soon, but Paige and you seemed so happy."
"I think I'd remember something like that, Leo. How could I have betrayed Phoebe's memory so soon? I can't imagine that."
"Well, Paige took care of you in your time of need. She was very patient with you through your grief and I guess that your gratitude slowly changed into affection and then, one thing led to the next."
"That can't be."
"Tea anyone?" Paige announced with an enthusiasm that rang false. From the look of Cole, things hadn't progressed much. Leo's almost guilty glance when he nodded yes was even more damning. She put down the plate where a steaming teapot and three cups stood, but she didn't sit as she poured herself some of the warm liquid. "I think I'll go see what's on TV.I'm not very sleepy," Paige pursued as she stepped away from the table.
Cole looked up and gave her an uneasy smile in response, while Leo poured himself some tea. Cole felt how much it hurt Paige, but he still couldn't bring himself to accept this reality as his own. Paige smiled sadly and left the room without another word. Soon they heard sounds coming from the living room, while an awkward silence prolonged between Leo and Cole. After a moment, Cole grabbed a cup with a shaking hand and barely managed to pour the tea without spilling any of it. He had never felt more confused, except maybe when the Source was taking him over.but then, from what Leo and Paige said, it never happened either.
"Cole," Leo started at last, "I really think that this whole thing comes from your nightmares and the power boost you just had. I've got to talk to the Elders about it. Maybe they'll have a better idea how to help you through it."
This time, Cole didn't protest.
"Why don't you go talk to Paige?" Leo tried when Cole didn't say anything. "Maybe that would. clear some things for you."
"I can't Leo," Cole answered forlornly. "I mean I'm not ready and I'll only hurt her more. Do what you have to do."
"Alright.promise me you won't do anything rash? And also, why don't you let me check your head? Maybe you're just having a concussion and it brought all this confusion about."
Cole still didn't believe this, but he nodded in the affirmative, certain that Leo wouldn't stop insisting until he agreed. Leo came closer and applied his healing touch to Cole's forehead. However, he soon removed his hands with a look of disappointment. "Well, I feel nothing wrong." He had obviously been hoping that this was all there was to Cole's problem.
"I told you, didn't I?" Cole uttered almost angrily again. However, he immediately saw that there was no point in aggravating Leo. "I'm sorry.I'm just."
"That's ok," Leo dismissed. "I understand."
"That makes one of us," Cole replied unhappily.
"Just go take some rest. I'll let you know what I find out." Leo orbed immediately after this and Cole decided to follow his advice as he felt infinitely tired. When he passed in front of the living room on his way upstairs, he was tempted to go and apologize to Paige for whatever offense he seemed to have committed. However, he found he didn't have the strength to discuss this matter any further.
As soon as his head rested on the pillow, Cole began drifting into sleep.
~~~~~~~~
Cole opened his eyes and found that it was still night. He had no idea how long he'd been asleep, but he decided to get up in spite of the intense fatigue he still felt. As he did so, Cole almost screamed out of sheer disbelief. He was in his apartment. The one he rented after coming back from the Wasteland. "How can this be?" Cole questioned himself with something like fear creeping its way inside his mind. Uncertainly, he turned back toward the bed and saw no one else in there with a certain measure of relief. However, as he was grabbing a robe, determined to figure out how he got there, a sultry voice coming from a shadowed corner of the room startled him anew. "Finally awake," Phoebe's voice was asking.
"Phoebe," Cole exclaimed with intense relief. He had no idea where he ended up this time, but it was at least a reality where Phoebe was alive.or was she? "You're alive, aren't you?" He continued while peering at the shadows.
Phoebe moved out of the corner and came into view, very much flesh. However, she was wearing one of the outrageous outfits she had been so fond of while being the Queen of All Evil because of him. That alone made him uncomfortable, but Cole only wanted to grab this moment with Phoebe, so he set his nagging doubts aside.
"Of course, I'm alive. Even though, you tried to make me a corpse more than once."
"What? No, I don't wanna hurt you. Whatever happened before, you've got to believe me now." Cole uttered nervously. He feared in which manner he might have actually hurt her in this reality.
"Really?" Phoebe questioned with a smile. She walked up to him and soon, he felt her warm body against his. Forgetting all about any doubts, he wrapped his arms around Phoebe and held her tight, as he was afraid this might be another delusion.
"Yes, Phoebe. I won't hurt you, I promise. I love you."
"Good," Phoebe said gently before grabbing his face and pulling him into a languorous kiss. Cole didn't know where he was or when, or what for, but at this moment, he didn't care. He felt as if it had been an eternity since he had touched her in this manner, no matter what was real and what was pure fantasy. "So, Cole." Phoebe whispered, "Are you ready to come with me? I mean, have you finally come to your senses?"
"Huh," Cole babbled uncertainly. He wasn't sure what she was referring to. Again confusion was setting in. "I know it's gonna sound weird Phoebe.but what exactly are you talking about? And if I tried to kill you before, why would you want me to come with you?" The nagging doubt was returning to him and he wished intently that the situation wasn't what it seemed to him.
"Oh come on Cole. You know perfectly well. Don't play coy with me; it doesn't suit you," Phoebe uttered with a hint of annoyance.
Phoebe pulled away from him and Cole wondered why he was risking this blissful moment. He only wanted her to come back to him. It didn't really matter where she wanted him to go, or even if she had ill intents toward him. At this point, Cole would have given his life for one more kiss, one more smile; one more proof that she loved him. "Phoebe, you've got to believe me. It doesn't matter whatever it is. I just want to understand, that's all."
This had a positive effect as Phoebe turned her face up to him with a satisfied smile. "See, I knew you loved me. For a while there, I had my doubts, but it doesn't matter anymore. All that matters is that you must come with me and take your rightful place by my side. I can't have you as a threat to me. Not when all I want to do is love you back. I knew my advisors were idiots."
Cole's confusion deepened as he refused to see the obvious. How could Phoebe have believed even for a moment that he didn't love her? Or that he would want to kill her for that matter? Cole's love was the only thing Phoebe never doubted ever since they got together. Not even throughout the horrible experience he remembered. "You've got to know that I love you Phoebe. No matter what, I'll always love you!"
"Then come," Phoebe said gently as she took one of his hands in hers. As soon as she did that, the nagging feeling became more intense inside Cole. What he had repressed until that moment was becoming almost deafening. Yet, Cole managed to close his mind to the doubts at great efforts. That is until Piper and Leo orbed behind Phoebe. This one sensed them there because she turned abruptly and growled. "Get away from him. Cole's mine. He said he wanted to come with me. You can't keep him from following his true destiny."
"Oh, big words!" Piper sneered. "Cole what's the matter with you," She added, staring directly at him. "I thought you got the point about Phoebe."
"What point," Cole uttered in a strangled voice. "I love her. Shouldn't it be all that matters?"
"Cole, for god sake!" Leo exclaimed. "We've been through this before and you swore you'd never fall for her tricks again. The Elders are counting on you. Don't make me look like an idiot for convincing them to trust you!"
Piper took a bold step forward, and while keeping a cautious eye on Phoebe, she continued for Cole. "You've got your wings for doing the right thing. Are you gonna give up now just for a roll in the hay? You know what she's about."
"No I don't," Cole answered stubbornly even if deep down, he already knew. Still, he tried denying it further, although much less forcefully. "Wings? Why in the hell did I get my wings? For trying to kill Phoebe!?"
"Of course not, Cole. That's what she's trying to have you believe. You earned them," Leo said as he moved toward him as well. "Now don't let her take it all away from you. You've suffered enough already. Moreover, you owe this to Paige."
Cole was flabbergasted. What was it about all these realities where he ended up with Paige? She hated him. "I'm not with Paige!" He exclaimed with a hint of anger.
"What? Who said you were with her," Piper went on. "Phoebe killed her after she tricked you the last time. You promised you'd never let that happen again, as much for Phoebe's sake as for ours. I thought you understood how badly it all went for our sister."
"Shut up!" Phoebe finally intervened, while her eyes glowed of a bright red. "I'll kill you too, right now. You won't keep Cole from coming with me. You had him turning against his own kind, you bitch!"
Leo quickly moved in front of Piper, preferring to be the target, should Phoebe make good on her threat. "You got it all backward Phoebe. But that doesn't change much from your usual. You're the one who taught Cole to be good, before you were taken over by the Source. Get out of here!"
"Or what?" Phoebe mocked without a shred of worry in her expression.
"Or Cole will do what he was supposed to do all along." Leo replied with as much conviction as he could muster in spite of his doubts. Cole seemed utterly ambiguous and it worried him.
Phoebe sneered anew as she glanced back at Cole. This one actually let go of her hand at this point, but he only waited as he had no idea what they were talking about. A knot was forming in his stomach just thinking about the possibilities.
"He never could before. He certainly won't hurt me now. Not after he agreed to come with me as the rightful heir to the throne."
"That was before you killed Paige, Phoebe! Cole, the Elders brought you back because they thought they could trust you to do the right thing. Now it's time to prove them right."
The sinking feeling deepened inside of Cole, even as he fought hard to repress the doubts again. However even as he did so, he couldn't help hearing the voices in his mind. Without knowing how, he was aware of who the voices belonged to. The Elders were talking to him; they were appealing to him. Shakily, he stepped a few feet back from Phoebe and then stopped, while lifting his hand toward her almost against his will. He could feel the energy building inside of him.
"Cole," Phoebe called to him with a hint of doubt piercing through her voice. "You said you loved me. You said you'd come with me. Don't let them change your mind. They're only trying to separate us."
Piper saw that Cole was still hesitating and she stepped around Leo, calling to him. "Cole, it's now or never. End this. Save her from herself."
Phoebe suddenly turned angrily toward Piper and threw a fireball in her direction. Before anyone could do anything about it, Piper burst into flames as her screams echoed throughout the apartment. Leo tried to get to her but in vain and then, he fell to his knees, crying desperately. "No.no." he could only manage.
Cole felt tears of intense regret and sorrow filling his eyes. "Phoebe no." he said, echoing Leo's despair. "How could you, Phoebe?" Then it all happened very fast. A powerful energy ball built in his extended palm and, even as Phoebe tried to flame away, he hit her fully with it. Then, without even thinking, he threw himself against Phoebe, feeling the flames consuming him at the same time as they did her. "I'll always love you," he said before the pain ended and he fell into a tunnel of darkness. ~~~~~~~~~
Cole opened his eyes and looked around the room. He was back in the apartment, but there was no trace of anyone there, or of the horror that had just taken place. "NO!" He screamed, shook by a deep anguish.