Disclaimer:All the characters from Charmed belong to the Charmed Productions and Spelling. I only lay claim on the character(s) that I created myself…
Author's Note: Sequel to "Family Ties"

The Miracle Child
Prologue

In the two months since his unexpected resurrection, Cole found that not much had changed, at least not where it counted… Granted, he had managed to find a job again. At least this time it was legitimate, thanks to Daryl. This one had not exactly been thrilled to help, but Cole had been convincing, and for once, he thought with an amused smile, it had been with words rather than magic. His records were completely purged and he had been able to start fresh. It had mostly worked because of his brother. As he entered the courtroom and spotted Melchior, or rather Charles as Cole preferred to use his human name now, he knew that ironically, it was his help in capturing him which had weighed in the balance. Now Cole found himself in the delicate situation where he had to defend Charles after helping the police arrest him almost a month and a half ago.

Charles had not been thrilled at this idea either. However, considering he had no means, and even less lawyers jumping to defend him, Cole happened to be his best bet. His chances of getting out were rather thin at any rate. Cole caught sight of the man Charles was accused of beating up. Although it had happened a while back, the man still sported ugly scars from his brother's attack. That was already disheartening but what worried Cole was that for one instance he knew about, there might have been many others he was still unaware of. For a while, Charles had vanished and Cole had feared his brother might have found a way to become a demon again. The fact that the present situation was not much better didn't escape Cole. As he sat besides his handcuffed brother, Charles utterly ignored him. With a shrug, Cole began pulling papers from the folder he brought along, while his thoughts returned to the last two months.

No, things hadn't changed much in spite of all of this. Phoebe had come to him a few times, but even if she had been friendlier on those occasions, she wasn't ready to take him back. Her only purpose, or so she told him, was to get the help he had offered. Cole wasn't about to take back his words, but he couldn't help feeling used once in a while. It was childish, he knew, but Cole so wanted things to go back to the time when they were happy. Even so, he could understand her fears. In fact, these were also his. Often, he wondered about the future. Was there even the slightest chance that he could live his life without being faced with more drama? This was a futile question, but it came to him often. Whatever would happen, he was determined to fight it of course. However, he knew that he had tried to fight off the Source without much success… The experience had been humbling if nothing else.

Meanwhile, some surprising developments had occurred. If Phoebe couldn't bring herself to forgive and forget just yet, Paige had been relying on him more and more lately. This was not to say that she was on his side as far as Phoebe was concerned, but Cole hoped that if he could prove to her he was good, Phoebe would eventually believe it too. He was helping Paige mostly at her work place, taking up pro bono cases. When he offered the first time, Paige almost laughed in his face. Cole remembered that he was tempted to turn around and give up on this altogether. However, his desire to help had been sincere and he'd eventually convinced Paige of that. The most surprising was that this gesture had helped him build a real practice after he won a few apparently hopeless cases.

Cole almost smiled wickedly at the memory of Paige's renewed suspicion when she saw his office.
"What the hell? I thought you were practically in the street."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you," Cole had retorted with a smirk.

Paige had obviously been tempted to say yes, but as luck had it that day, she was there to ask for his help and both of them chose to forget this lapse in the truce they established.

For one, this relationship of sorts with Paige gave him an insight into Phoebe's life. If he had been annoyed by Paige's incessant chatter before, now he was grateful for it… The only thing that annoyed him slightly was that he was also treated to the play by play of Piper and Leo's blessed pregnancy. Cole never protested to Paige when she started on that subject, but in truth this was only a painful reminder of an irreparable mistake. The memory of their lost son inevitably brought back the bitterness about Phoebe. From what Paige told him, they were both just as miserable and he kept wondering when Phoebe would find it in her heart to put an end to their common pain. The only thing Cole couldn't and wouldn't face was that she might never come back.

The bailiff announcing the judge's arrival put an end to Cole's musings, as he prepared to do his best for his brother…