Author's Note: I got four reviews today, and true to my word I'm updating once more. It's hard to keep writing with school and sports going on, but so long as you guys keep giving me feedback, you'll be seeing a new chapter each day! Also, don't think that this story will focus mainly on Phoebe and Cole throughout its run; I mean to incorporate more elements in as I go, though I won't ignore those two either. This chapter, at least, is mainly Cole-centered. Also, this might be PG-13 as well, for some dirty-mouthed demon at the end.

Robyn1212: I'll do my best to satisfy your Phoebe/Cole needs, but at this point I'm undecided as to whether or not their relationship will work out. I personally believe that they could have saved it in Season Five, had Phoebe been more willing to listen and Cole more willing to calm down, but when he went insane that screwed up the relationship even more. We'll see what happens, though.

Chloe: Though Leo and Piper are actually my favorite couple, I'll do my best to satisfy your need for updates so long as I keep getting reviews.

Barb: Don't worry, I've got more in store for Cole; I'll address what you've brought up; I'm not as sure what to do with Phoebe (Piper's actually my favorite Charmed One; I still need to get a feel for how to write Pheebs) but I'll do my best to make it seem 'real', whatever happens.

Copyright (again): Just because this chapter uses a name of one of the episodes of Charmed, I want to reiterate that I DO NOT own anything related to Charmed, and I don't claim to. Charmed belongs to whoever has the rights to it, and I'm too lazy to make a list or anything like that. Anyways, on with the show!

Chapter 4: Mortality Bites

As he stepped away from the Manor, Cole felt his heart thumping against his chest; he marveled at the way it was still working, considering he felt as though it had been ripped in two. Sure, he hadn't expected a warm welcome, but he had nearly forgotten how much it hurt to hear Phoebe reject him, to see the anger and resentment I her eyes when she looked at him, instead of the love and affection that had been there before.

Trying to take his mind off of his pain, Cole wondered where exactly he was supposed to go from here. After all, the lawyer Cole Turner had been absent from work for several months; he doubted his position would still be open at the firm. Even if it was, he'd have a hard time explaining why he'd been away. Somehow, Cole didn't think saying: "Yeah, I was going through a demonic depression and couldn't quite figure out how to kill myself when my witch girlfriend dumped me, and then I went back in time and ended up getting killed, but now I'm back again." would go over well in the mortal population.

Even now, it was difficult for him to adjust to being mortal. It frustrated him to have to walk instead of shimmering, to be effected by the cool weather that was associated with dawn. But most of all, he was uncomfortably aware of how vulnerable he was without his powers; he hadn't exactly made friends in the Underworld, and he knew that there were a great deal of demons who would like to see him dead. He could even be killed by a mugger, or by a hit-and-run accident. Cole's thoughts were bitter on the subject of mortality. Oh, how the mighty had fallen.

The ex-demon stopped in front of a building, realizing it was his old apartment. Taking a deep breath, Cole stepped into the lobby, wishing he still had mind-control; that certainly had been a handy demonic tool before. Now, though, he would have to see if he could lie his way into getting his room back.

To Cole's complete surprise, however, the desk clerk smiled at him and handed him a key, saying politely: "It's good to have you back, sir. I hope you enjoyed your vacation." All that Cole could do was nod dumbly, turning to go up the elevator into his room, wondering what the hell had just happened. Then he spotted a familiar blue light out of the corner of his eye, and realized that the Elders must have done some manipulating of their own; apparently, they had made all of Cole's associates believe that he had been on extended vacation. Because of that, what few funds Cole had set up (so that his disguise as a mortal would look legit) were still functioning, leaving him with just enough to buy groceries until his next paycheck.

Cole scowled as he entered his room, kicking a chair across the area angrily. He'd never bought groceries in his life, not without having some alternative plan behind doing such a mundane chore. It occurred to him, as he picked up the chair, that he wouldn't be able to take his temper out on his belongings, either. Without demonic powers to fix things up, it would put him in a tight spot to explain, for instance, why his window would spontaneously break at least twice a week.

He sighed, and held his head in his hands as he sat on the edge of his bed. Mortality was something that would take getting used to, and it looked like it was going to be a pain. Out of the corner of his eye, Cole noticed something on a small nightstand near the door. He walked over, and picked it up, his eyes glazing over as he recognized it. It was a picture of Phoebe and him, together, one of their more happy moments. Suddenly filled with pain and anger once more, he slammed it face-down on the nightstand, hearing the glass break as he did. Trying to tell himself that it now longer mattered, he walked over to his closet to see if he had enough clothes to last him the next few days.

It only took a few moments for him to give in and walk back over to the picture frame, picking it up and taking out the photo gently, afraid that it might have been damaged by the broken glass. It hadn't, and Cole laid it down on his desk, propping it up this time.

"I can't give up on us, Phoebe. I know you still love me; Paige showed me that before. This time I won't screw up, I promise you that."

Meanwhile, back at Halliwell Manor, it was now seven o'clock and Piper held Wyatt in her arms as he suckled greedily at a bottle. She smiled as she looked down at him, knowing that she couldn't bear it if she ever lost him. Even though he barely gave her and Leo a moment's rest at night, she hadn't once regretted bringing him into the world. That was why Cole's return had irked her so much; not only was Phoebe possibly in danger, but she instinctively felt the need to protect Wyatt as well. Though she trusted Leo enough to believe what he had confirmed, she knew that Cole's inability to let go of Phoebe might cause him to try to get her back violently again; even with mortal methods she and her family could be hurt.

Phoebe held a mug of coffee in her hands, staring into space with a dazed looked on her features. No matter how much she tried, she couldn't shake off the memories that had been sparked by her premonition. She just kept seeing Cole's face flash before her eyes. Sometimes it was when he was Balthazar, demonic features the stuff of children's nightmares. Other times he was in his human form, and his eyes were filled with love, a love that she couldn't help feel herself respond to. Back before everything happened, before she got pregnant, she had thought that their relationship would last forever. Other memories, particularly of the look on his face as he watched her throw the vanquishing potion both times, caused her to feel a jolt of guilt and pain; determinedly, she tried to fight those emotions. After all, Cole had been evil, he had been a threat to her and her sisters, and he had lied to her. But as she tried to convince herself of this, a nagging voice in the back of her mind was saying, "He's mortal now; he's not evil, he doesn't have demonic powers. He's finally managed to get rid of the part of him that kept you two from being together. Doesn't that mean anything?"

Paige read the newspaper, scanning the articles slowly. Her mind wasn't really on the text; she, too, was thinking of Cole, though her memories were certainly different than Piper and Phoebe's. The only Cole she knew of was one who had been obsessed with Phoebe; who had used his demonic powers first to try and impress her, to win her trust, and then, ultimately, to try and change reality to get her back. Not to mention, of course, that if she hadn't been lucky, Paige would have been dead in that reality. Then there was the time he tried to force Piper to save Phoebe instead of her with the whole mummy deal. Personally, Paige had no qualms about vanquishing Cole a third time, if it was needed.

Leo was away helping out a charge, and although he tried to pay attention to his job, his mind kept drifting back to Wyatt and Piper. Though he did believe the Elders, Leo couldn't help imagining all the crazy things that Cole might do if he was driven far enough. The Whitelighter knew what it was like to be kept away from the person you love, and he knew that he would have done nearly anything to stay with Piper, back when the Elders were trying to keep them apart. He worried for Wyatt, still an infant; though his son had already shown signs of powers, he knew that there was only so much a baby could take before he would be vulnerable. And Piper, though she could defend herself, was Leo's soulmate; he couldn't imagine a life without her.

In the Manor, a demon surprised the Charmed Ones as he shimmered in, an athame held in his hand. Piper had Wyatt in her arms and couldn't blow him up right away, though she and her sisters stood quickly, Piper shifting her arms to protect Wyatt as best she could. To the Charmed One's surprise, however, the demon didn't try to launch an attack against them. Instead, he blinked, looked around the room, and scowled.

"Where is he?!!? Where is Balthazar?! I know he's here, witches, so you may as well give him up!" Phoebe was the first to speak in response to this unexpected outburst.

"He's not here; he left hours ago. What do you want with Cole?" The demon sneered at the Phoebe.

"I want his blood, and I want to hear him scream for mercy. I'm not the only one, either. Now, don't lie to me, girl, I know that you were Balthazar's slut. I'll ask you one more time: Where is-" Before the demon could finish his sentence, he was blown into pieces. Piper had given Wyatt to Paige seconds before, freeing her hands.

"Nobody calls my sister a slut. Are you okay, Pheebs?" Phoebe nodded, bending down to pick up the athame that had fallen to the ground when the demon was vanquished. She gasped, and was thrown into her second premonition of the day.

*Begin Premonition*

Cole Turner got out of a taxi and began to walk down the street. It was nighttime, and the lights around the curb did little to scare away long shadows that led to dark alleys. Cole turned down one of the alleys, apparently wanting to take a short-cut to get back to his apartment. A figure shimmered behind him, and a cold voice spoke. "Balthazar. You have many blood debts to pay, traitor." With those words there was a click, and Cole doubled over, gasping in pain. The bolt of a crossbow arrow stuck out of his back, and the demonic bounty hunter smiled. "Pity that it won't kill you; my employers wanted you alive, to have a bit of fun with."

*End Premonition.*

Piper was holding Phoebe's hand, Paige had her hand on her shoulder when the Charmed One's premonition ended. Phoebe looked up at her sisters, fear in her eyes; she didn't even think about trying to conceal it, acting on instinct instead.

"Cole's in trouble."