"I'm not so sure this was a good idea," Paige told Piper and Leo as the three stepped out of the elevator.
"I knew she sounded off last night," Piper complained. "Why didn't I push the issue? I should've known she was lying about going out. Why didn't I think of the cemetery earlier?"
"You couldn't have known," Paige told her sister. "But I don't get why she would've gone there after everything Cole did to us the other night."
"Maybe she went to say good-bye," Leo suggested.
"Whatever." Piper knocked on the penthouse door and said, "We found her car and she's been missing since last night and I know Cole's involved."
"Maybe he isn't. Maybe she ran into real trouble," Paige offered.
Leo shook his head. "I'd have sensed it last night and I'm not getting anything from her. Maybe some confusion but nothing to indicate serious trouble."
"Well, we have to be careful with Cole. We can't vanquish him," Paige reminded them. "Certainly not without the Power of Three."
"Maybe it won't come to that," Leo said. "Cole cares about her. If she is in trouble, he'll help."
"I don't know, honey," Piper said as she knocked louder, "Phoebe didn't talk at all about what happened in the basement but I can tell it wasn't a good ending. He may not want to help."
Suddenly the door opened and, as the trio entered, they saw Cole in the center of the room carrying a tray.
"Sorry," he said as he waved his hand and caused the door to close behind them, "there's only enough breakfast for two."
Paige grimaced, "Look, we're not interested in what poor soul you've got tortured in there. We just want to know where Phoebe is."
"Phoebe," he considered as he set the tray down on the table, "why would I know anything of her whereabouts? She tried to kill me, you know. Doesn't make for a solid foundation in a relationship."
"Cut the crap, Cole," Piper snapped. "We know she went to the mausoleum last night and she never came home."
Just then, Phoebe entered the room as she fumbled with her bag, "Cole, I'm calling a cab. I'm going home." She looked up and saw her family staring back at her in shock. She glared at Cole.
"They came on their own," he told her. "I promised you, mum's the word."
"Piper, listen --" Phoebe began.
"Oh my God," Piper whispered as she rushed towards Phoebe. She touched Phoebe's torn shirt and took in her sister's bruised mouth. "What happened to you?"
"It's not what you think," Phoebe timidly answered as Piper hugged her tight. "Things got a little out of hand and --"
"Did you do this to her?" Paige shouted at Cole.
"Paige, it's not --" Phoebe began.
"Come here," Leo interrupted as he went towards his wife and Phoebe. "Let me --"
But Phoebe stepped back out of his reach. "Don't, Leo."
Piper kept her arms around her sister. She stared into Phoebe's puffy red eyes and told her, "It's okay, sweetie. We'll get you home. You'll be okay." Phoebe automatically shook her head. "We'll take care of you, I promise. No one's going to hurt you."
"And get away with it," Paige threatened as she glared at Cole. "I'll never forgive you for what you've done."
"He didn't do anything, Paige," Phoebe quietly announced as she sought out Cole's expression. "Nothing I didn't want to have happen."
Piper dropped her arms from her sister and took a step back. "What, what are you saying?"
"Piper, I --" Phoebe began.
"Are you telling me," Piper interrupted, "that while we were worried sick about you, you've been here this whole time enjoying some twisted fantasy with this sick murdering demon?"
"It wasn't like that," Phoebe commented as she looked down.
"I'll say," Cole muttered.
"Shut up, Cole!" Phoebe warned. "Piper, I know how this looks but this wasn't --"
"Save it," Piper interrupted as she pushed past Phoebe.
"What?" Phoebe uttered, taken aback.
"I don't want to hear it," Piper answered. "You've made your bed, you can lie in it." Phoebe touched her arm but Piper slapped her sister's hand away. "Don't," she warned. "And don't come back to the manor."
"You don't mean that," Phoebe commented in confusion as Piper pressed close to Leo. "Paige," she asked, "will you at least --"
Paige shook her head and interrupted, "Not this time," she said as she joined Piper and Leo and the three orbed out.
Phoebe turned back to Cole in shock. "Take me there," she ordered in a quiet voice.
"They need some time," he explained as he shook his head. "They've had a shock. So have you, for that matter."
"Take me there, now," she repeated.
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"Sit down, Piper," Paige suggested as she watched Leo hold her trembling sister.
Piper shook her head even as Leo led her to the sofa. "I don't understand. How could this have happened?"
"Maybe she was under a spell," Paige unconvincingly suggested. "You saw those bruises and her torn clothing. Maybe she fought him until"
"Maybe we should let Phoebe tell us what happened," Leo quietly said.
"I don't want her here," Piper stated.
"Why not?" Phoebe asked as she and Cole suddenly appeared in the doorway.
"Because I won't be put through hell again because of you," Piper answered as she stood up and faced her sister. "Every time our lives have gone to hell, it's been related to him." The doorbell rang but Piper continued her rant, "I'm expecting a baby and I refuse to put her life in danger too. Enough is enough, Phoebe. If you're so blinded by your feelings for him then go to him. By all means, spend an eternity with him but don'tdon't expect me to stand by and watch it all fall apart."
"Not every bad thing that happened to us has been because of Cole," Phoebe countered as Paige passed her to answer the front door. "And that you could think I would willingly put your baby's life in danger really hurts, Piper. I didn't plan any of this. I fell in love, Piper, and I got burned. More than once."
"But you still go back for more," Piper shook her head, "dragging all of us along with you. Well, no more. Make your choice now."
"It's not that simple," Phoebe insisted as she stared at Cole.
"Anyone for breakfast?" Victor cheerfully asked as he entered the room with Paige. He quickly saw everyone's expressions and asked, "What's wrong?" He then noticed Cole's presence. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"He's taking her away," Piper answered. "Isn't that right, Phoebe?"
"Would you just listen to me?" Phoebe requested in a frustrated tone.
"No," Piper stated. "I've heard it all before. Too many times before. Choose. It's that simple. Him or us."
Phoebe stared at her older sister in disbelief. "Piper"
"Fine," Piper calmly announced, "I'll make it easy for you."
"What's going on?" Victor asked of everyone.
"She's your daughter, Dad," Piper told him as she rushed by him, "but she's no longer my sister."
"Piper!" Leo called out as Piper rushed up the stairs.
"Piper!" Paige shouted at the same time. She hurried after Leo who followed Piper up the stairs.
"Phoebe?" Victor questioned. He took in her appearance and asked, "Are you okay?"
"No, Daddy," she whispered as she went into his arms.
As Victor ran his hand up and down Phoebe's back to soothe her, he stared at Cole who only looked down at the floor. "Are you two back together?" he asked.
"I don't know," Cole honestly replied after a moment.
"She said you killed a woman," Victor accused as he continued to comfort his sobbing daughter, "and that you used the law to ruin their jobs and kick them out of their home."
"I was desperate," Cole quietly answered. "It was a last ditch effort. It didn't go like I'd hoped which is a good thing. I haven't been thinking clearly but last night..."
"What happened last night?" Victor asked in a worried tone.
"We lost control," Phoebe answered in a muffled voice.
"What?" Victor gasped.
Phoebe pulled away from him. "We were angry," she explained as she wiped her eyes. "Said a lot of things in the heat of the moment. Horrible things." She glanced at Cole and continued, "Things we meant. Things we can't take back."
"We confronted one another with the truth," Cole somberly added, "and it was painful. But it was also a release."
Phoebe stepped away from her father and towards Cole. "Like a huge weight is gone. It doesn't change the past and it doesn't mean a future but it's a turning point."
"What happened with Piper?" Victor asked.
Phoebe turned back to her father. "I didn't go home last night." She saw that her father understood her meaning and continued, "I didn't mean to make them worry. I thought I'd get home before they'd notice. But they did and they went to Cole's. I guess they figured he was involved or maybe they just wanted his help."
"And they found you together," Victor surmised.
"It was horrible," Phoebe nodded. "She told me not to come home."
"I wish I knew what to tell you, sweetheart," Victor sighed. He reached for her hands and held them. "The truth is, I think Piper has a point. Your relationship with Cole has brought you more pain than happiness. Maybe it's a sign. Maybe it's time for both of you to let go."
Phoebe glanced at Cole and told her father, "It's not that simple, Dad. Things have changed."
"Overnight, in fact," Cole commented. Phoebe glared at him and he shrugged an apology.
"What do you mean?" Victor asked warily as he looked from one to the other.
"I'm pregnant," she answered quietly. Victor stared at her in shock and dropped her hands. "Dad?"
Victor didn't say a word and reached for the sofa. He sank down into the cushions. "Are you sure?" he asked in a dazed tone.
"She had a premonition," Cole answered as he came up behind Phoebe and put an arm around her shoulders. She stared back at him but didn't try to remove his arm. "Victor, from the moment I realized I loved your daughter, I have only wanted the best for her. She loved me and made me feel that nothing could ever come between us. But something did and I can't do anything to change what happened. I know that, one day, I will pay for my actions of the past few weeks. But right now, Phoebe needs me and I will be there for her. And for our baby."
"Right now, Phoebe," Victor realized, "you have to make things right with Piper. Before things get any worse."
"I know," Phoebe nodded sadly as she walked away and headed towards the stairs. "She's probably in the attic," she told them, "looking up some way to vanquish us both."
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