Disclaimer: Once again, I do not own charmed. Please don't sue me.

A/N: Okay so there isn't much action in this chapter either, but I promise, it's all building up to a crap load of action/adventure! :) And please do review, reviews will motivate me to update more frequently. Also, for those of you who worry, I promise this will not turn into a Cole bashing fic. I love Cole and am not going to make his character into some evil, heartless beast.

At three o'clock Parker slammed his locker closed and walked outside the school building to meet his mother. She was late, as he had expected. She was rarely on time for anything, especially after work. She always felt obliged to answer every letter submitted to her column, even if it meant staying at work for up to ten hours each day. Parker sat down on the stone steps leading into the building and took out a book. Parker was not like the other Halliwells. Besides being the only boy, he also shied away from his magical side. He longed to be like all the other kids his age, playing soccer and baseball, not working with potions and taming his fire starting abilities. Although he was the youngest in the house, Parker was by far the most powerful. He had the ability to start fires, both demonically and as a fire starter. Also, like his mother, he got premonitions, though not yet to the extent of Phoebes. He couldn't see much in his premonitions nor could he comprehend them. He could also levitate, no telling where that one came from. He only realized he could levitate a year ago when he jumped down the last two stairs at the manor and never landed. It seemed new powers were always appearing, it often worried Phoebe. She worried that if Parker became too powerful, Cole would come for him.

At three thirty, Phoebe pulled up to the now, nearly vacant school. Parker dropped his book back in his bag and rushed over to the car. He threw his bag in the back seat and got into the front seat next to Phoebe.

"Sorry I'm late baby, work was awful. I swear, everybody in this city wrote a letter to my column, I don't think I even got to half of them today." Phoebe put the car in drive and pulled away from the school rather quickly. She was eager to get home and see if there was any more news about Cole.

"That's okay, I didn't really expect you to be on time." Parker brushed a strand of hair out of his eyes and stared out the front window.

"I'm late that much?" Asked Phoebe glancing over at her son.

"You're busy, that's all. It's really no big deal mom." Parker reached over to the radio dials and turned on the radio.

When they got home both Piper and Paige were sitting in the living, waiting for Leo to return.

"Not back yet?" Asked Phoebe, walking into the house and closing the door behind both her and Parker.

"Nope." Said Paige.

"Who are you waiting for Aunt Paige?" Asked Parker, removing his jacket and throwing his bag on the living room floor.

"Uncle Leo." Answered Paige without lifting her gaze from the floor.

"Why?" Asked Parker sitting on a chair that was near the couch.

"Oh, just demon stuff." Answered Phoebe, "Why don't you go up and get your homework started."

"Okay." Said Parker warily before heading up the stairs.

"How long have you guys been waiting for Leo?" Asked Phoebe, joining the two on the couch once Parker had disappeared into his bedroom.

"I don't know, maybe an hour." Said Paige.

"I just got home a few minutes ago." Added Piper.

"Have you tried calling him?" Asked Phoebe.

"I did. He orbed in, said he would be back soon, and orbed out again." Said Paige. The three witches remained seated on the couch for twenty minutes until Leo finally orbed in.

"Where have you been?" Asked Paige, rising heatedly from her seat, "You said you would be right back."

"I had a couple charges to deal with." Leo said walking over to the sisters.

"Did you talk to the Elders?" Questioned Piper.

"Yeah, they don't have much more information but they have a few ideas."

"Like?" Asked Paige

"They say he might be after you or Parker." Leo looked over at Phoebe sympathetically.

"He's not after Parker, he doesn't even know about Parker." Said Phoebe defensively.

"What if he does Phoebe? Parker is getting more and more powerful every day, what if Cole tracked him?" Questioned Piper from the couch.

"He didn't. Cole is not after Parker, he's not. What are the Elders' other ideas Leo?" Phoebe was clearly irritated so Leo quickly dropped the subject and answered her question.

"Well, they've been sensing a growing demonic presence in the mortal world. The demons haven't taken action yet, so neither have the Elders, but they think Cole might be doing something with them." Leo finished talking and joined his wife on the couch.

"Okay, so what do they think we should do?" Asked Paige.

"They want you three to pay Cole a little visit, they say he's at the penthouse."

"Great." Said Phoebe as she exited the room. Phoebe walked over to the staircase and rested on the banister for a moment. She then walked up the stairs to Parker's room. "Hey babe." She said, still standing in the doorway.

"You okay mom? You look...different." Parker said looking up from his computer.

"I'm just a little...tired."

"That's a lie. Why don't you guys ever tell me anything?" Parker turned his chair around so that he was facing his mother.

"Because you are just a kid, you don't need to worry about demons and evil, and all that junk just yet."

"I see it all you know. I know all about demons and evil, and all that junk."

"I know you do baby, I just don't want you to grow up to fast, you know?" Phoebe walked into the room and sat on Parkers bed. The quilt that was draped across the bed was badly disheveled; Parker obviously hadn't made his bed that morning.

"You mean you don't want me to get totally involved in all that witch stuff until I have to."

"Precisely." At times Parker was unusually perceptive for a ten-year-old boy.

"You don't have to worry so much mom, everything will work out in the end."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, it always does." Parker smiled sweetly at Phoebe then turned back to face his computer screen. Phoebe walked over to Parker, kissed the top of his head, and headed back downstairs. When she reached the bottom of the staircase she heard Leo and Piper bickering about Cole.

"We can't make her go over there Leo, that's crazy." Piper fiercely whispered.

"You all need to go, you'll need the power of three just in case he tries something." Leo urged back.

"Well the Elders will just have to come up with another plan because I'm not putting her through that." Phoebe took a breath and walked into the living room.

"It's okay Piper, I'll go. Saving the world is a little more important than my issues with my ex-husband." Said Phoebe reluctantly. Paige walked over to Phoebe and put her arm around her.

"We'll be there too, it's not like you'll be all alone or anything." Paige said cheerfully. Phoebe smiled, though what she felt inside was much less than happiness. She dreaded seeing Cole, and what if the elders were right? What if he knew about Parker? Phoebe wasn't about to lose her son to evil; she had fought to hard to keep him good. Every day was a struggle against Parkers demon side. His demonic powers often seemed to overpower his witch ones, which cause Phoebe severe amounts of worry and grief. Phoebe knew Parker wasn't evil, but she could sense in him a great capacity for it.