"Cole," Phoebe murmured as she stirred on the floor. She struggled to pull herself up but, with her trembling body, she couldn't manage to do so. "So hot," she murmured as her eyes closed once again, "Cole"

"Phoebe!" Cole reached her before the others when they burst into Phoebe's bedroom. He quickly gathered her in his arms and carried her to her bed.

As Piper and Paige rushed to the bed, Piper realized, "She must've woken up and tried to get out of bed."

"Well, she's out again," Cole commented in concern as he moved aside to let them in closer, "and she's burning up."

"We've got to bring down her fever," Paige announced as she sat down next to Phoebe and felt her sister's forehead.

"Phoebe, honey," Piper gently called as she sat on Phoebe's other side and leaned forward, "can you hear me? Come on, Phoebe, open your eyes."

Phoebe's eyelids fluttered before she opened them slightly. "Piper?" she whispered as her eyes closed.

"That's it, you can do it," Piper encouraged with a hopeful glance to Paige. "Just open your eyes. We're so worried about you. C'mon, wake up."

Phoebe opened her eyes again and croaked, "Here? How" But the dizziness was overwhelming and, before she could say another word, she surrendered once again to the growing darkness.

********** ********** **********

"Piper?" Phoebe whispered as she opened her eyes. She found herself in Cole's embrace as they sat on the floor of the corridor. She noticed the guards standing watch and pushed herself back. "I think I was home. Really home, I mean."

"I'm taking you back," he told her as he helped her stand.

She shook her head and she glanced at the guards again, "Just give me a minute." She brushed off her robe, took a deep breath, and looked up at him. "I'm fine. I'm ready." She slid her arm through his bent elbow and gave his arm a reassuring squeeze with her other hand.

But Cole didn't move. "Are you sure?" he questioned. After she nodded, he promised, "This won't take long."

She nodded again and allowed him to slowly escort her into the crowded, torch-lit, chamber.

Cole held her hand tightly as they made their way through the parted crowd to the opposite end of the chamber. When they stopped, they turned around to face the assembly, and Cole announced, "Bring him in."

Two guards came forward with a struggling demon between them. They shoved the white-haired male down to his knees before Cole. Dressed in a simple black robe, the demon stared defiantly at Cole and spit at the ground before Cole.

"Get up," Cole ordered.

The guards pulled the demon to his feet and he stated, "I regret nothing. The Charmed Ones destroyed my youngest offspring this past week. They deserve to suffer the same pain as I have seven times before."

"Except that you chose to destroy my offspring," Cole angrily announced. "You knew of the Declaration and yet you still defied my order. I will not allow that to go unpunished."

"You do what you must," the man spat, "but I won't be the last to try and put the witches in their places. You'll see. And they will rise against you. They will --"

"Enough," Cole angrily interrupted. With a wave of his hand, the demon was suddenly set afire. As the demon screamed, Cole raised his voice and announced, "For those among you who are hard of hearing, the Charmed Ones and their family are my family. A move against them is a move against me and that will not be tolerated. You will learn that my word is --"

"Stop," Phoebe insisted to Cole. "Stop this," she repeated in a louder voice.

Cole glared at her but complied. He waved his hand and the flames vanished. The demon collapsed in his spot and coughed and moaned. Cole looked around at the crowd and saw that no one dared even whisper.

Phoebe stepped away from Cole and addressed the smoking demon, "How dare you! How dare you compare a capable full-grown demon to a newborn. My newborn. You demons constantly pride yourselves on your cleverness but your arrogance has always been your downfall. If your offspring weren't smart enough or good enough to beat a few witches, they deserved their fate. And how pathetic does that make you that you kept sending them after us? You sent them to their fate. And if you think that hiring some bug to do the job for you will somehow --"

The demon turned his blistered face towards Phoebe and interrupted as he cursed, "And your arrogance will be yours, Witch. I swear by all present that I will have my revenge. On you and all your offsp--"

"Never," Phoebe angrily promised as she suddenly stretched out her arm at the demon and found that electricity flowed from her fingertips. She ignored all around her as she allowed her anger flow through the electricity to him. She ignored his screams and kept shooting electricity until there was nothing left in his spot but a ring of ashes. She kept staring at the ring and didn't realize that Cole had protectively wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Numbly, she let her arm drop down to her side and she slowly looked up at Cole.

"You have seen what the Queen can do," Cole announced to the stunned crowd, "so I suggest there be no one here left foolish enough to question her authority. Spread the word to those above and to those in even the deepest caverns. The Declaration stands. And let this be a lesson to anyone who dares to even think of disobeying my word."

The demons all bowed their heads and murmured, "Long live the Source and his Queen." Then, within a moment, they all quickly vanished and left Cole alone with Phoebe.

Phoebe's knees immediately gave way as she sank to the floor. Cole held her as she trembled. "How did I -- I didn't mean to -- It just happened -- II wanted itOh, God"

"You've always known that was likely to be your third power," Cole told her as he held one of her hands and rubbed her back with his free hand. "It developed during the pregnancy and you've said that it's come in handy at times. And didn't you always wish for an active power?" Phoebe only continued to tremble. He kissed the top of her head and, in a low tone, added, "You've never killed. You've never even used this power against a humanno matter how much Elise has tried your patience." Phoebe still didn't respond and he stopped rubbing her back. He gently turned her face towards his and gazed into her eyes as he assured her, "You're not evil, Phoebe, not at all. You're still a Charmed One. And our childrenPhoebe, they're pureinnocent. And they'll stay that way. I swear it."

"Take me home," Phoebe whispered as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Please." But, as Cole helped her up, she grabbed his shirt as her knees again gave way. "Cole, I think I'm going to --" was all she managed before her eyes embraced the darkness.

********** ********** **********