Author's Notes: All right, finally here's an update. I'm sorry it took so
long, thanks tons to everyone who reviewed. I'm just going to put this up
right now, instead of typing out responses to all my wonderful reviewers,
because I'm sure the sooner it's up, the better. *grins*
Chapter 13: Of Angels & Demons
The sisters talked together for a few hours, none of them really paying attention to the time. After all, it wasn't every day a sibling returned from the dead. Paige, in particular, was eager to learn about the sister that she had 'replaced'. Eventually, the conversation turned to the topic of relationships.
Prue explained to her sisters that she and Andy were back together; at some point after he died, Andy had decided that he didn't care if Prue was a witch. When Prue saw him after she died, he told her that he loved her for who she was, and not what she was. "You seem to be going through a few rough spots of your own, Piper." Prue's words were a statement, not a question. Phoebe and Paige both exchanged a look; they were well aware that Piper did not like to discuss her marital problems.
"Leo and I are working through it." Piper's response was short, and her body language was conveying the message that this was an off-limits topic.
However, ever the most stubborn of her sisters, Prue kept going forward. "Well, what exactly is the problem? Wyatt, your jobs, your sex life?"
"I'd rather not discuss it." This time there was a definite edge to the Charmed One's tone, which Prue continued to ignore.
"Piper, if you don't tell me then I can't help you fix it-"
"Fix it? You think my relationship can just be fixed?!?" Piper looked like she was going to say more, but Phoebe cut her off.
"Uh, did you guys see where Cole went?" Phoebe had just realized that her lover was no longer around, and she figured it was better to interrupt than let Piper finish her outburst.
Prue was staring at Piper; she hadn't remembered her younger sister acting this way- it had always been Phoebe who Prue fought with the most, not their middle sister. Apparently, coming back to earth after being dead for a year was going to be harder adjusting to than she had thought.
"He left a couple hours ago, hon. I thought you knew." Paige responded to Phoebe's question, since everyone else seemed to have lapsed into silence.
"I'll go check on him for you, Phoebe. After all, he is my charge now." Prue decided to pretend the near-argument with Piper hadn't happened. Without another word, she orbed out of the Manor.
A few moments later, she reappeared in Cole's apartment. The ex-demon was sitting at his desk, holding something in his hands. He didn't even look up when Prue orbed in, though he must have sensed her presence.
"Hey, I see you left the reunion early, huh?" The eldest Halliwell sister tried to keep her tone free of any accusations. She knew that Cole had changed since she died, but it was hard to shake off old suspicions and behaviors.
There was no response from Cole, and Prue took a step towards him. At this new angle, she could see what he was looking at; it was a picture of him and Phoebe, both of them laughing. Cole's expression was hard to read. "I had to go through some paperwork; I'm arguing a case in two days."
Prue raised an eyebrow. "Do you really expect me to believe that? I'm your Whitelighter Cole, and I need to know if something's going on with you."
"What would you understand, Prue? You've been dead for a year! Just because you got appointed my Whitelighter, you think that I have to tell you everything?" There was a familiar tinge of anger in Cole's words as he looked at the eldest Halliwell sister; that anger was all that was left of Balthazar in him. "I never asked for a damn guardian angel; all I wanted was to be with Phoebe." These words were spoken in softer tones as Cole looked back down at the picture again.
"You know what, maybe you're right Cole. Maybe I don't know anything. Maybe I was wrong to tell the Elders that you deserved another chance." Prue had been hurt by Cole's response; she was used to being the best, and she didn't want to admit that perhaps she wasn't cut out for being a Whitelighter.
"Why would you tell Them that?" Cole was surprised; he knew that Prue's opinion of him was suspicious at best, and he couldn't think as to why she would want him to come back to life.
"Because I believe that you really do love my sister, and that she loves you. Sometimes you just have to set aside your doubts and go with your gut instinct." Her voice was firm as she spoke. Prue had seen how much Phoebe was hurting after Cole died, and how she wouldn't let anyone else find out about; she knew this was the only thing that would make her baby sister happy again.
There was silence for a long moment, during which Cole avoided her gaze. Finally, he spoke softly. "I do love her, more than anything. I remember. . . I remember when I first tried to kill her, but I just couldn't do it; I couldn't hurt her. My love for her was the strongest thing I'd ever felt, stronger than my demonic side. Then everything fell apart. I don't deserve Phoebe; she's too perfect."
"Oh, get over yourself Cole. If you ever had any doubts, they should be gone now. You know as well as I do that the power transfer spell is never wrong. Both of you have been hurt, but you're being given another chance now. Use it, Cole, and live a happy life for once." Prue wasn't about to sit around and listen to Cole feel sorry for himself. "Besides, I refuse to a depressed charge. Now, a certain someone is waiting for you to come back."
Prue held out her hand to Cole. He looked back at the picture one more time, remembering when he had promised Phoebe that he wouldn't ever give up on them. The memory brought back his absolute confidence in their relationship, after his slight doubt. Cole took Prue's hand, and they orbed back to the Manor.
"Leo?" Piper came down the stairs, looking disappointed when she saw that her husband wasn't home yet. He orbed out earlier, saying he had something he needed to do. "Oh- Phoebe, Cole's back!"
Within a matter of seconds, Phoebe was down the stairs as well. Paige was sitting on the couch, looking through the Jobs section of the newspaper; though she liked being able to devote her time to being a full-time witch, she felt that it was her duty to try and bring in some more cash, now that they had Wyatt to look after.
"Paige, why don't you come with me upstairs and I'll tell you what Piper was like in high school." Prue grinned mischievously, and Piper followed her two other sisters up the stairs while protesting, leaving Phoebe and Cole alone together.
"Cole, I was worried." Phoebe looked at the ex-demon.
"I'm sorry Phoebe; I just needed some time alone to think. You weren't the only one who had doubts." Cole knew he was revealing a side that most didn't see; after all, he had been conditioned to think that showing any weakness was a death sentence. However, he trusted Phoebe now; all he had to do was look into her eyes to remind himself of how much he loved her.
"I guess I never thought you'd need time to think; you always seemed so sure of everything. . ." Phoebe trailed off, looking away.
Cole gently turned her head so that she was facing him again. "I don't have any doubts about us, Phoebe. I never have, and I never will. The only one I doubt is myself."
"I trust you Cole." Phoebe spoke softly; both of them knew just how difficult it may have been for her to say those words. Instinctively, the couple came together for a long kiss.
The sound of Wyatt screaming and things crashing upstairs made them pull apart; both of them started up the stairs quickly. Several demons had shimmered into the nursery, where Prue, Piper, and Paige were sitting. Piper blew up one just as Cole and Phoebe entered; Prue squinted her eyes, then remembered that she had no witch powers. So, she tried to punch the nearest demon, who easily threw her into a wall. When that same demon prepared to throw a fireball at Prue's fallen form, Piper gestured and blew him up before he could let go of it. Cole managed to burn up a few others, with Phoebe and Paige working together on the rest. Phoebe would put a few well-aimed kicks on the demons, then Paige would call for their weapons, finishing them off. Within a few minutes, several pieces of furniture in the nursery had been overturned, but the demonic threat was gone.
"Prue, are you all right?" Piper couldn't hide the panic in her voice; she kept seeing Shax killing her sister. Prue stood up slowly, grimacing.
"I'm fine, Piper, thanks to you. I'm just not entirely used to having no powers, I guess." Prue paused to look at her younger sister, who had recovered and was reaching down to lift Wyatt from his crib. "I'm sorry for what happened earlier; I thought that I would go back to being the big sister, the one who solved all the problems. I forgot that you know how to take care of yourself."
Piper smiled, clearly pleased by the compliment. Leo orbed into the room before she could speak; she turned her attention back to him as Wyatt gurgled happily. "Yes baby, Daddy's back. Finally." There was a definite accusing tone in her voice.
"Piper, I'm sorry, I had to get something." Leo was holding a small bag in his hand. He opened it and took out two things: a card, and a box. Piper took both of them, the look of irritation on her face fading quickly as she read what he had written down:
Piper-
I know that things have been going rough lately, and that we've both had our doubts as to whether or not we'd make it through everything. But I want you to know that I never once stopped loving you, and I never once regretted marrying you. You're the most stunningly beautiful and caring person I have ever met, and I love you.
While she was reading, the rest of the Halliwells and Cole had left the room quietly, sensing that the married couple needed some time alone. Piper opened the box, and inside was a beautiful silver bracelet. Leo spoke softly. "I had our birthstones, and Wyatt's set in it. I thought it might help both of us remember how much we love each other as a family."
"Leo, did I ever tell you that you're the man of my dreams?" Piper's expression was all smiles as she pulled her husband close and kissed him, the baby giggling. The couple broke the kiss after a few moments, both of them smiling down at their son, a living testament to the love they shared with one another.
Prue was with Paige in the attic, showing her a few tricks in potion- making. The eldest and youngest Halliwell sisters were getting along quite well.
"Cole, would you like to come in?" Phoebe stood just inside her bedroom, smiling seductively at Cole. Of course, he didn't refuse, and within moments the door closed and locked with an audible click.
That night, another Charmed child was conceived.
Chapter 13: Of Angels & Demons
The sisters talked together for a few hours, none of them really paying attention to the time. After all, it wasn't every day a sibling returned from the dead. Paige, in particular, was eager to learn about the sister that she had 'replaced'. Eventually, the conversation turned to the topic of relationships.
Prue explained to her sisters that she and Andy were back together; at some point after he died, Andy had decided that he didn't care if Prue was a witch. When Prue saw him after she died, he told her that he loved her for who she was, and not what she was. "You seem to be going through a few rough spots of your own, Piper." Prue's words were a statement, not a question. Phoebe and Paige both exchanged a look; they were well aware that Piper did not like to discuss her marital problems.
"Leo and I are working through it." Piper's response was short, and her body language was conveying the message that this was an off-limits topic.
However, ever the most stubborn of her sisters, Prue kept going forward. "Well, what exactly is the problem? Wyatt, your jobs, your sex life?"
"I'd rather not discuss it." This time there was a definite edge to the Charmed One's tone, which Prue continued to ignore.
"Piper, if you don't tell me then I can't help you fix it-"
"Fix it? You think my relationship can just be fixed?!?" Piper looked like she was going to say more, but Phoebe cut her off.
"Uh, did you guys see where Cole went?" Phoebe had just realized that her lover was no longer around, and she figured it was better to interrupt than let Piper finish her outburst.
Prue was staring at Piper; she hadn't remembered her younger sister acting this way- it had always been Phoebe who Prue fought with the most, not their middle sister. Apparently, coming back to earth after being dead for a year was going to be harder adjusting to than she had thought.
"He left a couple hours ago, hon. I thought you knew." Paige responded to Phoebe's question, since everyone else seemed to have lapsed into silence.
"I'll go check on him for you, Phoebe. After all, he is my charge now." Prue decided to pretend the near-argument with Piper hadn't happened. Without another word, she orbed out of the Manor.
A few moments later, she reappeared in Cole's apartment. The ex-demon was sitting at his desk, holding something in his hands. He didn't even look up when Prue orbed in, though he must have sensed her presence.
"Hey, I see you left the reunion early, huh?" The eldest Halliwell sister tried to keep her tone free of any accusations. She knew that Cole had changed since she died, but it was hard to shake off old suspicions and behaviors.
There was no response from Cole, and Prue took a step towards him. At this new angle, she could see what he was looking at; it was a picture of him and Phoebe, both of them laughing. Cole's expression was hard to read. "I had to go through some paperwork; I'm arguing a case in two days."
Prue raised an eyebrow. "Do you really expect me to believe that? I'm your Whitelighter Cole, and I need to know if something's going on with you."
"What would you understand, Prue? You've been dead for a year! Just because you got appointed my Whitelighter, you think that I have to tell you everything?" There was a familiar tinge of anger in Cole's words as he looked at the eldest Halliwell sister; that anger was all that was left of Balthazar in him. "I never asked for a damn guardian angel; all I wanted was to be with Phoebe." These words were spoken in softer tones as Cole looked back down at the picture again.
"You know what, maybe you're right Cole. Maybe I don't know anything. Maybe I was wrong to tell the Elders that you deserved another chance." Prue had been hurt by Cole's response; she was used to being the best, and she didn't want to admit that perhaps she wasn't cut out for being a Whitelighter.
"Why would you tell Them that?" Cole was surprised; he knew that Prue's opinion of him was suspicious at best, and he couldn't think as to why she would want him to come back to life.
"Because I believe that you really do love my sister, and that she loves you. Sometimes you just have to set aside your doubts and go with your gut instinct." Her voice was firm as she spoke. Prue had seen how much Phoebe was hurting after Cole died, and how she wouldn't let anyone else find out about; she knew this was the only thing that would make her baby sister happy again.
There was silence for a long moment, during which Cole avoided her gaze. Finally, he spoke softly. "I do love her, more than anything. I remember. . . I remember when I first tried to kill her, but I just couldn't do it; I couldn't hurt her. My love for her was the strongest thing I'd ever felt, stronger than my demonic side. Then everything fell apart. I don't deserve Phoebe; she's too perfect."
"Oh, get over yourself Cole. If you ever had any doubts, they should be gone now. You know as well as I do that the power transfer spell is never wrong. Both of you have been hurt, but you're being given another chance now. Use it, Cole, and live a happy life for once." Prue wasn't about to sit around and listen to Cole feel sorry for himself. "Besides, I refuse to a depressed charge. Now, a certain someone is waiting for you to come back."
Prue held out her hand to Cole. He looked back at the picture one more time, remembering when he had promised Phoebe that he wouldn't ever give up on them. The memory brought back his absolute confidence in their relationship, after his slight doubt. Cole took Prue's hand, and they orbed back to the Manor.
"Leo?" Piper came down the stairs, looking disappointed when she saw that her husband wasn't home yet. He orbed out earlier, saying he had something he needed to do. "Oh- Phoebe, Cole's back!"
Within a matter of seconds, Phoebe was down the stairs as well. Paige was sitting on the couch, looking through the Jobs section of the newspaper; though she liked being able to devote her time to being a full-time witch, she felt that it was her duty to try and bring in some more cash, now that they had Wyatt to look after.
"Paige, why don't you come with me upstairs and I'll tell you what Piper was like in high school." Prue grinned mischievously, and Piper followed her two other sisters up the stairs while protesting, leaving Phoebe and Cole alone together.
"Cole, I was worried." Phoebe looked at the ex-demon.
"I'm sorry Phoebe; I just needed some time alone to think. You weren't the only one who had doubts." Cole knew he was revealing a side that most didn't see; after all, he had been conditioned to think that showing any weakness was a death sentence. However, he trusted Phoebe now; all he had to do was look into her eyes to remind himself of how much he loved her.
"I guess I never thought you'd need time to think; you always seemed so sure of everything. . ." Phoebe trailed off, looking away.
Cole gently turned her head so that she was facing him again. "I don't have any doubts about us, Phoebe. I never have, and I never will. The only one I doubt is myself."
"I trust you Cole." Phoebe spoke softly; both of them knew just how difficult it may have been for her to say those words. Instinctively, the couple came together for a long kiss.
The sound of Wyatt screaming and things crashing upstairs made them pull apart; both of them started up the stairs quickly. Several demons had shimmered into the nursery, where Prue, Piper, and Paige were sitting. Piper blew up one just as Cole and Phoebe entered; Prue squinted her eyes, then remembered that she had no witch powers. So, she tried to punch the nearest demon, who easily threw her into a wall. When that same demon prepared to throw a fireball at Prue's fallen form, Piper gestured and blew him up before he could let go of it. Cole managed to burn up a few others, with Phoebe and Paige working together on the rest. Phoebe would put a few well-aimed kicks on the demons, then Paige would call for their weapons, finishing them off. Within a few minutes, several pieces of furniture in the nursery had been overturned, but the demonic threat was gone.
"Prue, are you all right?" Piper couldn't hide the panic in her voice; she kept seeing Shax killing her sister. Prue stood up slowly, grimacing.
"I'm fine, Piper, thanks to you. I'm just not entirely used to having no powers, I guess." Prue paused to look at her younger sister, who had recovered and was reaching down to lift Wyatt from his crib. "I'm sorry for what happened earlier; I thought that I would go back to being the big sister, the one who solved all the problems. I forgot that you know how to take care of yourself."
Piper smiled, clearly pleased by the compliment. Leo orbed into the room before she could speak; she turned her attention back to him as Wyatt gurgled happily. "Yes baby, Daddy's back. Finally." There was a definite accusing tone in her voice.
"Piper, I'm sorry, I had to get something." Leo was holding a small bag in his hand. He opened it and took out two things: a card, and a box. Piper took both of them, the look of irritation on her face fading quickly as she read what he had written down:
Piper-
I know that things have been going rough lately, and that we've both had our doubts as to whether or not we'd make it through everything. But I want you to know that I never once stopped loving you, and I never once regretted marrying you. You're the most stunningly beautiful and caring person I have ever met, and I love you.
While she was reading, the rest of the Halliwells and Cole had left the room quietly, sensing that the married couple needed some time alone. Piper opened the box, and inside was a beautiful silver bracelet. Leo spoke softly. "I had our birthstones, and Wyatt's set in it. I thought it might help both of us remember how much we love each other as a family."
"Leo, did I ever tell you that you're the man of my dreams?" Piper's expression was all smiles as she pulled her husband close and kissed him, the baby giggling. The couple broke the kiss after a few moments, both of them smiling down at their son, a living testament to the love they shared with one another.
Prue was with Paige in the attic, showing her a few tricks in potion- making. The eldest and youngest Halliwell sisters were getting along quite well.
"Cole, would you like to come in?" Phoebe stood just inside her bedroom, smiling seductively at Cole. Of course, he didn't refuse, and within moments the door closed and locked with an audible click.
That night, another Charmed child was conceived.
