"Love," Phoebe whispered as she fought to open her eyes.

"I love you, too," Piper answered as she squeezed her sister's hand. She was sitting next to Phoebe and bent close to Phoebe's ear and whispered, "Come back to me."

Phoebe slowly opened her eyes. "Piper?" She slowly looked around the room, "Cole? What"

"I'm here," he answered as he stepped closer into view.

"Why?" she asked as she tried to sit up in bed.

"Your sisters called me," he answered before he cautiously added, "and you did too."

"Piper," Phoebe nervously wondered as she turned back to her sister, "what'swhat's going on?"

"You've been stuck in a premonition," Piper replied as she helped prop up her sister.

"What?" Phoebe uttered in shock as Piper straightened her covers. "I didn't have any --" Phoebe suddenly remembered the letter and froze. She couldn't bring herself to look at Cole to ask him about it. The letter. Cole. He had set them up. Set her up. He had wanted them to vanquish him. But she had caught a glimpse of the note and realized the truth. She tried to stop it but he used his power to fling the potion at himself. But why? Why did he do it? And she didn't know which scared her more. That he wanted to be vanquished or that he couldn't be vanquished. So she had tried blocking out that entire night. But the letter haunted her. As much as she didn't want to, she needed to read it. If only to confirm her suspicions. But she found she didn't have the nerve to go back there and possibly face him, or her memories. So she had asked Leo to get it. Did Cole realize it was gone and that she had it? There was something else, she realized. "The ring," she barely whispered as tears flooded her eyes. Cole had left his ring for her. Why was he there now? Did she really call for him? What did he want from her? What could she even give him in return?

"What'd you say?" Paige questioned as her sister grew more upset and lost in thought.

"Hey," Piper held Phoebe's hand and quietly asked, "what is it? What's wrong?"

Phoebe looked back at Piper and wiped her eyes. In a hoarse voice, she asked, "How long?"

"A couple of hours," Paige answered instead as she remained standing at the foot of the bed near Leo. "It's almost twelve-thirty now. You've had us all pretty worried."

"Don't feel so good," Phoebe mildly complained to Piper. She then brought a hand to her forehead and rubbed it. "Hot."

Piper nodded, "You've got a pretty high fever." She reached for the washcloth from the nearby bowl and gently pressed it to Phoebe's cheeks. "Better?" Phoebe nodded and closed her eyes. Piper glanced at the others before she asked Phoebe, "Can you tell us about the premonition?"

Phoebe opened her eyes, thought for a moment, and frowned. "No," she realized, "I don't remember it." She rubbed her forehead in frustration and commented to herself, "This's never happened before."

"You don't remember anything about the Avatars?" Paige questioned.

Phoebe shook her head, "What are they?" She saw everyone's solemn reactions and nervously asked, "What's going on?"

"You were almost delirious at times," Piper calmly told her, "and we couldn't make out everything you said but you did mention the Avatars a few times. What about Baldirons? Do you remember anything about them?"

"No," Phoebe apologized in a quiet voice. "I'venever heard of them. Did theyalready attack someone?"

Cole shook his head and explained, "The Avatars came to see me about a week ago. They wanted me to join them in their cause."

"Did they" Phoebe hesitated as she struggled to ask him, "What happenedthe penthousebecause of them?"

"Partly," he honestly answered in a quiet tone. He noticed the look of pain that flashed across Phoebe's face before she quickly looked away from him. She knew the truth, he realized, and she felt guilty. But it wasn't the time to go into it with her so, in a normal tone, he added, "The Avatars admitted they have plans and told me that I will come to them."

"But he won't," Paige confirmed, "and we're all going to stop the them."

"But what did I see?" Phoebe anxiously wondered as Piper continued to cool her face and neck with the washcloth. "Who are they?"

"The Elders don't know much more than what Cole told us," Leo admitted. "The Avatars are a small group of beings who have basically remained neutral in the battle between good and evil. The Elders feel that, because the Avatars haven't interfered, we have no real cause to go up against them."

"And I told you," Cole commented in annoyance, "they're planning something big. And, unless we're prepared, it won't matter if you're good or evil. Everyone is going to lose."

"I still don't think your plan is a sound one," Paige informed him. "Why should we even trust you?"

"Because you'll need someone on the inside," he rationalized, "someone who'll know how to manage the Underworld. Someone you can trust and, deep down, you know you can trust me."

"I don't understand," Phoebe quietly interrupted as she pushed away Piper's hand, "what do you want to do?"

Piper dropped the cloth back in its bowl and admitted to her sister, "If the Avatars are after ultimate power, we have to make sure that we're ready for them when they make their move. And because we don't know when that will be, we have to work fast and in secret or they'll know what we're up to in which case we'd be royally screwed."

"What are we up to?" Phoebe nervously asked as she pushed some hair from her eyes.

"Working together," Piper stated. "It's the only way we'll be able to beat them."

"Good and evil," Leo clarified. "And it won't be easy," he told everyone, "convincing the Elders that we have to start organizing witches and Whitelighters from all parts of the world to work in conjunction with the Underworld."

Phoebe looked directly at Cole and hesitantly asked, "And you want to work with the Underworld?"

"Not exactly," he replied. He watched her eyes widen with realization and shock and he confessed, "I have to, Phoebe."

"No," she shook her head as she suddenly scrambled out of bed. She confronted him and slapped away his hands as he tried to steady her. She was trembling as she shouted at him, "What about your promise to be good? Were you lying? Were you just waiting for this opportunity? Were you just biding your time in order to set us up?"

"No," he insisted as he grabbed her upper arms in order to support her. "No," he repeated more calmly. "But this may be the only way."

"No," she cried as she shook her head, "there has to be another way." She turned to her older sister as her knees gave way, "Tell him, Piper, tell him he can't do this." But Piper couldn't look her in the eyes and Phoebe almost violently shook her head as she began to sink to the floor in spite of Cole's grip on her arms. "No, this isn't happening, this isn't happening," she repeated to herself.

"Phoebe!" Piper leapt off the bed but Cole had already caught Phoebe.

He lifted her in his arms and returned her to bed. "Talk to me, Phoebe," he requested.

But Phoebe was oblivious to him and the others. She wrapped her arms around her knees and chanted softly to herself, "This isn't realIt isn't realNot happeningNot real"

"Damn it, Cole," Paige muttered as she watched Piper sit next to Phoebe who rocked back and forth. "This is your fault."

"Not now, Paige," Leo quietly told her.

"But we're just talking about a plan," Paige insisted. "What happens to her if we actually follow through?"

Piper placed her hand on Phoebe's knee and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "It's okay, sweetie. Nothing's happened. You're safe."

Phoebe mutely shook her head and continued to rock.

Piper glanced back at Leo who motioned to Cole. Piper then turned to Cole and beseeched, "Cole..." As he took a step closer, she crawled to the other side of Phoebe. "Phoebe, look at me," she requested as she stroked Phoebe's matted hair but Phoebe shook her head and let out a soft moan.

Cole took Piper's original seat and sat next to Phoebe on the edge of the bed. He ignored everyone else and concentrated on her. He gently pried one of her hands free and brought it to his lips where he placed a light kiss in her palm. She looked back at him but shook her head as tears streamed down her cheeks. With his other hand, he brushed away some of her tears. As she sniffled and shook her head slightly, he noticed that Piper was gently rubbing Phoebe's legs.

Phoebe had stopped rocking and he kissed her hand again. This time, she wouldn't meet his gaze so he caressed her cheek. "Phoebe, look at me," he quietly requested. "Look at me." He waited for her gaze to slowly meet his. He laced his fingers with hers and rubbed them with his other hand. She turned her head toward him a bit more and, just as quietly, he admitted, "I know this terrifies you, honey, terrifies you more than anything else in the world but it won't be the same as before." He saw her lower lip quiver and he quickly repeated in his calm tone, "It'll be different this time." Her eyes widened in fear and he kissed her fingertips before he explained, "I'll be in complete control if I become the Source. And I won't let anything happen to you or your sisters. I'll be powerful enough to make sure of it. You won't become evil, Phoebe. I swear."

Phoebe squeezed his hand tight but she shook her head and looked down.

He caressed her cheek and repeated, "I swear, Phoebe. I will protect you. All of you."

"Yeah, well," Paige muttered as she watched Phoebe and Cole, "I'm still not crazy about this part."

"Who is?" Piper agreed with a sigh as she turned to look at Paige and Leo. "But Cole's right. He is the best one to pull that side together. And he can only do it if he becomes the Source."

"Phoebe got this premonition for a reason," Leo reminded them, "so we have to be prepared for the Avatars. And we have to accept the fact that Cole becoming the Source might simply be his destiny."

"No," Phoebe whispered as she began to tremble again.

"Leo!" Piper admonished.

Phoebe pushed back herself back into her pillows and tried to pull her hand away from Cole's. "No," she whispered again.

But Cole held tightly to her hand and kissed it again. As he still held it near his lips, he again promised, "It will be different this time."

"This could change everything," Paige commented as she shook her head. "We could end up destroying everything we've fought for. If only we could be sure this was the right way."

Phoebe froze. Something about Paige's last comment. Something familiar. Something she was supposed to remember. She questioned Cole, "Kermit?"

Cole returned to her a look of confusion. "I don't understand."

Phoebe rubbed her forehead with her free hand and frowned as she tried to concentrate. "Kermit," she repeated in a whisper to herself. "Sure of it."

Cole looked to the others for explanation. "Any ideas?"

"Honey," Piper asked her sister, "what about Kermit?"

"I don't get it," Paige turned to Leo. "Why would she pick now to talk about a Muppet?"

"Kermit? Muppet?" Cole asked. "I've never heard of those demons."

"Kermit-the-Frog? A demon?" Piper let out a chuckle. "Sorry, I forget you're not --"

"No," Phoebe interrupted in a serious tone, "not Muppet."

"What do you mean?" Paige asked as she stopped laughing. "Kermit's a Muppet."

Phoebe frowned again. "I'mnot sure. I just know that it's important." Her eyes widened and she squeezed Cole's hand as she exclaimed with relief, "Moppet."

Paige and Piper exchanged shrugs and Leo commented, "I thought Kermit was a Muppet."

"He is," Piper assured her husband, "and later you'll tell me just why you know that." She quickly turned back to Phoebe, "Honey, are you sure you don't mean Muppet?"

Phoebe frowned as she considered, "Pretty sure." She looked back at Piper with disappointment. "Are you sure it doesn't mean anything to you?" As she watched Piper glance at the others, she caught the pensive look on Cole's face and asked him, "What is it?"

"This is the right plan," Cole quietly announced as he suddenly released her hand and stood up. "I'd better get started."

"Wait," Phoebe called out as she managed to grab his hand. "What did that word mean to you?" Cole remained silent and she asked again, "Cole, what is it?"

Cole sat next to her again and slowly confided, "I don't remember much about my father. I was too young when he was killed to have had any real memories of him. Just images really. But if I try hard enough, I can almost hear his voice. Just a phrase or two." Phoebe shyly gave his hand a gentle squeeze and he nearly smiled back at her. "He used to refer to me as the moppet.' Don't look now but the moppet is watching.'"

Phoebe whispered, "I didn't know."

Cole shook his head with indifference, "No reason you should. I never mentioned it." He turned to the others. "In the premonition, I must've told her to mention the word after she woke up here."

"Like a code?" Phoebe wondered as she rubbed her eyes.

Cole nodded as he stood, "In case anyone wondered about my plan being the right one. I suppose now we know."

"No, we don't," Paige argued.

"She's back, isn't she?" he countered as he faced her. "That means the premonition gave her the information she needed. And we haven't come up with any other plans, have we?"

"Cole wouldn't have brought up his father," Phoebe weakly agreed as she leaned back against the pillows, "unless it was to confirm your plans and to make sure that whatever happened in the future does happen. Whatever you've started planning, is the right way."

Piper kept her eye on Phoebe and announced, "All right, Phoebe's been through enough today. She needs her rest so, everyone, out."

Paige opened her mouth to retort but thought better of it and, instead, suggested to Phoebe, "Get some sleep, okay?"

"I'll inform them of what's going on," Leo decided. "Cole, we're going to have to arrange for a way to meet with you."

Cole nodded, "I'll be at the penthouse for now but I'll have to find a new place soon. But it's probably not a good idea for all of you to go there anyway. The Avatars have to believe you're done with me. I'll leave word for you later."

"You think they're watching?" Piper asked in a worried tone as Leo kissed her good-bye.

"Possibly," Cole suggested as Leo orbed out, "and I don't want any of you put in added danger if they should determine that you're a threat to their plans. Meanwhile, I have to start making my presence known and that means"

"Turning evil," Paige finished.

"Only as much as I have to in order to fool the Avatars," he insisted. "If they believe I've gone back to the Underworld, they may try again to bring me into their group."

"You can't be half-evil. It doesn't work that way," Paige challenged. "And you're dreaming if you think you'll be able to simply walk away from being the Source when this Avatars mess is over." Cole was silent and she muttered, "I hate this. You'll be evil and we'll be stuck with an invincible Source."

"And you think I want this?" he finally retorted. "I don't have much choice. You need someone in the Underworld that you can trust and we don't have time to interview the current top-level demons for the job."

"Well I'm not sure that's you," she angrily stated.

"Stop it," Phoebe tearfully requested. "PleaseI can'tI can't handle this now."

Piper caressed Phoebe's cheek, "It's okay, sweetie, close your eyes and get some rest. We'll deal with this later."

"He's right, Piper," Phoebe insisted. "I don't know why, but I feel it."

Piper tried to pull the covers over Phoebe and said, "We'll talk about this later, after you've slept a bit."

Bur Phoebe stopped Piper and insisted, "It has to be this way." She gazed at Cole and realized, "We have to trust him. Everything's depending on it."

"He'll be the Source," Paige reminded her, "and vanquishing him will be impossible."

Phoebe became more agitated and Piper tried to soothe her. "It'll be okay, Pheebs. I promise. Close your eyes for now."

Phoebe shook her head, "Cole..."

He immediately went to her side and knelt next to her. "What is it?"

"I need" Phoebe struggled to find the words. "I need to tell you"

Cole cast a worried glance to Piper who shrugged. "What, Phoebe?' he encouraged as he reached for her hand.

"I..I can't remember," she cried in a panic as she pulled her hand away. "Somethingsomething important happened and II can't remember."

Piper quickly pulled Phoebe into a hug. She lightly stroked Phoebe's hair and back and rocked her sister. In a calm voice, she said, "The premonition doesn't matter, sweetie. What matters now is that you get better because we need you healthy and strong."

"It's like a dream, Piper," Phoebe whispered, "and I can't remember but I want to." She pulled back, "I want to remember."

Cole nodded as he stood up again, "And maybe you will, in time. But, Piper's right, the important thing right now is that you get some rest."

"Come on, close your eyes," Piper softly told her, "we'll still be here when you wake up."

Paige recognized the worried look on Phoebe's face and assured her sister, "Truce. I won't vanquish him while you're sleeping. Not that I could even if I wanted"

"Paige" Piper warned.

Paige held up her hands in surrender and sighed, "I promise. No vanquishing."

Phoebe glanced at Cole who told her, "I'll check on you later." He gently pushed her back into her pillows and brought the covers up to her chin. "Get some sleep," he quietly suggested as he stepped back.

Phoebe looked to Piper who nodded, "I'll bring you some of Grams's soup a little bit later. Okay?"

"Okay," she murmured as she finally closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax and accept sleep.

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