A/N: This is the sequel to The End of the World? and takes place a year after my previous story left off. You may want to read my previous fic before reading this one; otherwise you might be a tad confused. And for all of those who are concerned about Cole and whether of not he will return, let me just say I would never keep him dead for long (wink wink). Oh, and as always please review, I love to know what you all think!
Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed, I am just borrowing them for the purposes of writing this story so please don't sue me!
Chapter Three: Hello and Goodbye
Phoebe, Piper, and Paige returned to the manor roughly an hour later than they had intended. They approached the door wearily, their clothes covered in a sticky slime.
"Well that was fun." Paige stated sarcastically.
"You didn't check the book carefully. We should have known that form changing demons do this." Piper said, raising her arms and revealing clumps of a slimy yellow substance.
"Maybe if you hadn't been looking over my shoulder the whole time I was making the potion I would have read the fine print." Paige said indignantly turning the doorknob and pushing open the large wooden door. "And why is it always my fault when something goes wrong with the potions. You two have eyes, you could help from time to time."
"We have jobs Paige, and the reason you don't is so that you can stay home and double check these things." Piper urged as she removed her gunk-covered shoes. Phoebe ignored her sisters and let the bickering continue. She scanned the open part of the house for Parker but didn't see him anywhere. She listened more carefully, expecting to hear the TV blaring, but instead she heard what sounded like Parker talking to someone. Phoebe decided that Leo must have finished with his charge early and had returned home to keep an eye on Parker.
"That is so rude Paige." Piper practically shouted, bringing Phoebe back into their argument.
"Like you weren't being rude. God Piper, lately you have been such a--" Paige hollered back.
"Paige!" Phoebe interrupted in a scolding tone. "Both of you need to lighten up." She sighed, removing her coat and entering the living room to find her son. As she neared the living room, Parker's voice grew louder as did the other person's. "Parker," She called casually "whatcha--" When Phoebe saw the figure sitting next to her son on the couch she forgot the rest of her intended sentence. She felt faint, yet could not take her eyes off of him.
"Cole?" She questioned breathlessly. "How?" Cole rose from the couch and stood motionless.
"I came back." He stated soothingly. Phoebe didn't reply, she didn't know what to say. From behind her, she detected the voices of her squabbling sisters drawing nearer to where she stood. Piper and Paige both saw him at the same time but said nothing, at first.
"Cole? What are doing here?" Paige said finally, ending the uncomfortable silence. Before Cole could answer, Phoebe spoke.
"Cole can I talk to you, alone." Without waiting for his response she headed into the kitchen. She rested her arms despairingly on the counter top as she waited for Cole to enter the room.
"Phoebe, I--" He began as he slowly entered the kitchen.
"Please Cole don't. I have tried too long to forget about you to start something again, it's just too hard Cole." She said softly without raising her gaze from the tile countertop it now focused on.
"Phoebe I came back for you." He said, clearly hurt by her willingness to dismiss her feelings.
"I don't care why or how you came back Cole, I just want you to leave. Please, just stay away from me, this house, and Parker."
"You can't make that decision for him Phoebe. If he wants--"
"He's eleven, he doesn't know what he wants. Cole the last time you were here..." Phoebe trailed off, she couldn't continue with the sentence. She didn't want to relive that nightmare, even through words.
"That was then Phoebe, I was different then." Cole said walking towards her defensively.
"How were you different? How have you changed Cole?" She asked, turning around abruptly. Cole opened his mouth as if to speak but no words came out. "Do you still have your demonic powers Cole?" Phoebe asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yes, but--"
"And are you still a demon?" Phoebe said again, staring Cole right in the eyes. Cole looked at the ground; he knew he was losing the argument.
"I suffered the demonic wasteland for you. I came back for you. Phoebe I love you." He finally said. Phoebe closed her eyes tiresomely.
"Cole, it would never work between us. Your a danger to me, this house, our son, even yourself." She finally said rashly.
"Do you love me Phoebe?" He asked, his hurt expression becoming more evident by each passing second.
"That doesn't matter now. How I feel about you doesn't matter. I'm not about to endanger my son's life with my...my feelings." She said waving her hand in the air dramatically.
"He's my son too Phoebe. You think I don't care about him?" Cole said, wounded by Phoebe's lack of trust in him.
"I know Cole, I know he's your son too. I also know that you wouldn't harm him intentionally but you're dangerous Cole, you can't deny that."
"Phoebe..." Cole said pleadingly, raising his arm meekly to her.
"Just leave Cole, just leave us alone." Phoebe said harshly, turning back to face the counter. Cole's facial expressions displayed his misery better than words ever could. He stood a moment longer, staring at Phoebe, a sense of longing in his eyes. He glanced at the floor one last time mournfully before desolately, shimmering out.