A/N: Hehe, this is about the fastest update I've done in awhile. Yes, well... on with the story! Please read and review.

--------

Piper stared, dumbfounded, at the small replica of Cole. He knew. She'd killed someone, and he knew. But she hadn't killed anyone! Not for 10 years, at least. Not since… okay, so maybe at one time she'd been a 'protector of the innocent', but not now. How could this be happening? That was the past. It should have stayed there. She didn't need it coming back, taking away her perfect little sanctuary. She didn't think she had enough sanity left for that.

'What…?' asked Piper slowly, backing away from the doorway. Ben stepped across the doorframe, in effect entering Piper's little haven. But, she didn't feel him break it. His presence didn't break it. Maybe this was all just some big misunderstanding? Behind him, Kaitlyn and Melinda entered the house, Melinda quietly shutting the door after her. Both of them looked questioningly up at their mum, whom was trying to avoid their gazes' at all costs.

'You killed someone,' Ben repeated, his voice shaky. 'You were there… in the room… you helped… kill someone. You were chanting something and then… and then fire engulfed him, before he exploded. You killed a man.'

Nope. This definitely did not sound like some big misunderstanding. He knew. Somehow he knew. Piper felt her heartbeat quicken, as she gazed frigidly at the boy in front of her. Whom had he seen her kill? And were… were her sisters there? Was Leo there? Piper felt a pang of guilt at the thought of her family. She loved them more than life itself, and had torn herself apart over contemplating leaving. But now… were they fine? What were their lives like now? Did they miss her? Would they accept her if… if she had to go back… if she had to go back to the place where the magic began for her and her sisters… if she had to go back… to Halliwell Manor?

'Who… who did I kill?' Piper asked, trying to make her voice sound as flat as possible. Nervously she twiddled her fingers behind her back, watching the somewhat shell-shocked expression on the boys face.

'He was… he was tall, with dark, short, curly hair. His eyes seemed kind… but his face told otherwise. He was dressed in black… and… he formed a big fireball in the palm of his hand.' Ben struggled with the details, as they slipped through his mind while he desperately tried to hold on to them.

'Were my sisters there?' asked Piper. 'The man, perhaps, was in love with one of my sisters?' She could see where this was going. Cole. After all, no one else could hold such an evil expression on his face, and still have gentle, caring eyes. And this boy… he looked so much like Cole. It had to be.

'Another woman… she had… dark hair… it was short. She kissed him, and the fireball disappeared, and then… she sealed his fate.' Ben's voice lowered to a whisper. 'She put the fifth crystal in place.' Piper could feel her stomach do a somersault as the terrible details of that awful night came flooding back to her. Ben had seen events on the night that they had vanquished Cole, whom had also been the Source at that point in time. Ben had seen what had happened, Ben knew more about her then he should have. Melinda had said he was a demon, but demons couldn't see into the past, could they?

'How do you know this?' questioned Piper, her voice somewhat croaky as she struggled to hold emotions back, her conscience still sifting through her thoughts.

'A vision… something… like a TV,' answered Ben, uncertainly. After all, how was he supposed to explain that he'd just witnessed it, as if he were there? He watched a range of emotions flickering over Piper's face, before she whispered something, barely audible.

'You're a clairvoyant… just like Phoebe.'

Melinda seemed to snap to attention at the sudden mention of this person. A light flickered on in her eyes, although she was still confused, unable to see where this was going.

'Aunt Phoebe…? What's she got to do with this?' asked Melinda curiously. There was a long silence, before Piper began to pace the floor, back and forth, and ramble incoherently.

'It has to be… but… but it can't be… can it? … I won't go back… I don't want to go back… but… but why… I don't understand… he's just a boy… how did he… oh Merlin… whatever am I going to do? … I don't want to go back… I wouldn't be able to… what would they say? … And what if… but he's too young… isn't he? … Surely he can't be…'

'Mum…' Melinda started, concerned. No response. 'Mum!' She yelled. Piper fell silent, stopping in her tracks.

'Do you remember Uncle Cole?' asked Piper, evenly. Melinda's hand reached up to clasp the little heart shaped locket sitting on her collarbone. Memories coursed through her, memories filled with emotions… happiness, sadness, anger… memories Melinda had not even known were there. Memories of a tall man, with raven hair and eyes sparkling with joy. Memories of bedtime stories and midnight kitchen raids. Memories long since forgotten.

'Uncle… Cole?' Melinda echoed, her voice hollow and empty.

'Uncle Cole,' repeated Piper. 'I think… I think Ben saw the night that we… the night we vanquished him,' replied Piper, her voice dead flat and eerie. 'Ben, how old are you?'

'Ten and a half,' he replied quickly. Silence engulfed the room for a few minutes, before Piper started up again with her random thoughts.

'But that… that can't be possible… he's older then Kaitlyn… but Phoebe wasn't pregnant… yet he's so much like them that it's uncanny… oh dear… oh dear, oh dear, oh dear… it's a trap… that's it… it's a trap -'

'Excuse me,' Kaitlyn's quiet voice cut Piper off. 'Mum… who does Ben look like?'

'Cole. But… Ben has Phoebe's power,' answered Piper.

'He's our cousin?' asked Melinda incredulously, putting two and two together but not quite believing her ears.

'No,' answered Piper firmly. 'He's not your cousin, because this is just a trap. It's a trap, I'm sure of it.' She turned to Ben, saying, 'You're just a trap, aren't you?'

He shook his head. Negative.

'Then who're your parents?' asked Piper. 'They're not Phoebe and Cole, I'm sure of that.'

'My mother's name was Divinus,' answered Ben, his gaze never wavering from Piper's. He was determined not to let his weak-side show.

'A demoness?' Piper questioned. 'I don't think I've heard of her.'

Ben shrugged.

'I don't know… she disappeared shortly after I was born, apparently,' Ben replied.

'Then who raised you?' asked Piper, her expression somewhat disbelieving.

'Serenity,' Ben replied once more, not protesting to the amount of personal questions he was being asked. He needed help with his powers, and if this was how he had to get it than so be it.

Piper laughed.

'Ironic name, for a demoness - Serenity. No, I can't see her as evil, somehow,' said Piper. 'You know, there's only one way to get answers,' Piper turned to face Melinda, Kaitlyn, and Ben. 'We have to go back to Halliwell Manor, and Ben has to come with us.'

--------

Meanwhile, back at the school, a lady dressed in black had appeared. The dark robes covered her completely, so that not even her face was visible to prying eyes. She swept across the small courtyard by the car park, looking for any signs of the small boy whom was under her care.

'Ben… Ben, where are you?' she questioned icily. She turned to scan the car park once more, and then she spotted it. Soft, emerald green lights, hovering in midair - creating a trail. A magical aura. Ben's magical aura. It was heading in the direction of the park. As she moved towards it, she realized something else. Ben's aura was not alone. Along side it was a vibrant, purple aura - the girl's. So, this was it then, the plan was in action.

'Well done, my child.' And with that, she turned back to survey her own black aura, before she vanished from sight, a cloud of black smoke hanging where she had stood a split second before.

TBC