A/N: I am SO jazzed about the reviews! It was great! Thanks everybody ! This next part is Cole's story... from when he was killed in the alternate reality to when he brought Phoebe back to the penthouse after saving her. Tell me what you think! :-)

Chapter 7: Cole's Tale

Cole wiped some of Phoebe's tears off her face and gave her a gentle kiss before starting his story. Phoebe squeezed his hand, as much for her comfort as his. That's when he began.
It all started when I was vanquished in that alternate reality, Cole began. Phoebe nodded. Cole had told her a little about what happened although some of it had been too painful for him to divulge.

=====================================

Cole opened his eyes and found himself standing in pitch black darkness. This isn't the Wasteland, Cole mused aloud.

Of course it isn't, a plump woman stepped out of, Cole thought, nowhere. Her jolly-grandmother type figure was draped with a midnight blue pant suit. Her red hair, which was twisted in a bun, rose and fell with the moving of her thin, dark eyebrows.

Who are you? Cole stepped forward. He figured he didn't have any other option. And, he thought, with a bitter laugh he's already died. He'd gone through all the pain a person could go through. His love had rejected him and killed him. He had been consumed by evil and gone insane.

Pay attention, the woman snapped, apparently aware of his traveling thoughts.

Cole thought about how idiotic all of this was and he heard his thought boom through the chamber. The woman looked at him amused while he glared.

I am one of the Avatars, Cole, she said seriously. Her tone was somber, as opposed to her violet shirt under her blue suit jacket. We are offering to give you back your life if you give us back the Avatar powers you inherited.

Cole laughed, but then smiled. With Phoebe?

The woman waved her hand over the floor - or what Cole assumed to be the floor. Suddenly a picture of Phoebe angrily typing up her advice column appeared.

That's not Phoebe, Cole growled. In his heart he believed that the Phoebe he met and fell in love with wasn't the Phoebe who rejected him. Most people thought that he was just fooling himself, but he... he knew that Phoebe would always love him.

Maybe she isn't, the woman's voice interrupted his thoughts. He realized that she probably had heard all that passed through his mind. She's changed a lot from that woman, who... How did you say it? Met and fell in love with'? The woman shrugged and turned quickly on her heel. Follow me, she instructed curtly.

Cole did as he was told and soon came in front of a board of people, cloaked in shadows.

Fellow Avatars, the woman's voice had lost it's slight grandmother-feel and turned to a voice that Cole had often recognized himself using in court, this is Cole Turner. He nodded. He will wait while we make our decision. Cole felt himself falling and, strangely, all he thought about was how the Avatar who greeted him looked more like a banker than a powerful magical being.

Cole found himself in a library. Where am I? he looked around at the strange books on the shelves. Tina Townsend' read one. George Thompson' read another. He followed the boundless list of people with last names that began with and he found a book with his own name on it.

Cole Turner, he said his name, awed at what he held in his hand. He shimmered himself to where he had fallen in and decided to do something drastic. Phoebe Halliwell! He shouted out the name and suddenly a book flew across the room and hit him square in the forehead. Ouch. Who knew she'd hurt as an inanimate object? He laughed to himself.

I did for one, a short man in a three piece suit grabbed the book from him. This book is off limits. To you or anyone else.

I'm an Avatar I'll have you know, Cole said, reaching for the book. The short man threw the book into the air and it zoomed back across the library.

You are soon to not be an Avatar. I am the keeper of lives and NO ONE, he emphasized the words, is allowed to see the book of one Phoebe Halliwell. He produced an unsigned, but very official looking document and handed it to Cole.

Not even an Avatar? Cole asked, taking the document and skimming it over.

Avatars... Elders... Phoebe Halliwell... No one! The man gave a frustrated sigh. For now... I am the only one allowed to see the book.

Cole asked, narrowing his eyes.

The Halliwell is not the one she was
And no one may know because
Destiny must play out its path
To prevent future blood bath
That Halliwell's information is concealed
Until her destiny is revealed

The man spoke in rhyme, baffling and annoying Cole. The man said tersely.

Read what? Cole asked.

The document, you idiot! cried the fed-up librarian.

Cole looked dubious, but read it anyway and found the rhyme that the man had just said on the page in black and white. This document is unsigned, Cole said.

The man waved his hand and his name, signed in gold, appeared on the page. the man, who seemed to be named Henry Whitfield, said flatly.

Can I read my book? Cole asked.

The man turned and thought for a moment. Only so much, he said before walking off.

Cole opened the book and found himself before the Avatars again. We wish to know your decision, the female Avatar said.

I will get my life back, Cole replied.

We have decided - considering factors - that you shall get the powers you had as Belthazor... and his dual identity, one booming voice shot through the dimly lit room. Do you accept that?

Cole replied quietly after a moment's hesitation.

=====================================

So there's a library filled with books on our lives? Phoebe asked in awe.

Cole said with a small smile.

And they wouldn't let you see my book? Phoebe asked.

They wouldn't let anyone see your book, Cole replied. I'm guessing that it was because of the fact that you weren't you. And, quoting the librarian, Destiny must play out its path to prevent future blood bath.'

I liked him... the librarian, Phoebe said with a giggle.

How'd I guess? Cole gave a mock groan and laughed again.

=====================================

So Cole spent the next few months in the Underworld, dodging bounty hunters, and looking for information on Phoebe.

That's when he saw it. Baranxes. Cole had always hated him - as a demon and still now.

Baranxes was a slimy lower-level demon who worked with anyone and everyone for next to nothing. He had no discretion at all, which Cole thought impeded his demonic career and made him look bad in the eyes of all of the Underworld.

Cole growled, grabbing the yellow haired-yellow teethed demon by the throat. Do you have any information on the middle Charmed One?

The... the... middle one? Baranxes stuttered, backing up a few steps. He soon fell into a cave, which had been hidden by a powerful spell before. Baranxes tripped over Phoebe.

Cole tried to pick her up, but he couldn't. It was like she was glued to the floor.

Release her! Cole summoned a fire ball in his hand and launched it precariously close to Baranxes.

I.. I can't! She'll kill me! Baranxes yelled. He was backed against the wall by now.

I'll kill you! Cole yelled. Release her!

Baranxes saw the fire in Belthazor's eyes and mumbled a few words under his breath. She's released, he squeaked.

Cole ran to Phoebe and picked her up in his arms. He noticed how thin she had gotten... unbearably thin. He shimmered off to the only people he knew who could help her... her sisters.

He remembered the look of shock on Paige's face when he appeared in their kitchen. He remembered the look of disgust Piper gave him when she saw him again. He didn't care about it though. All he cared about was Phoebe's well-being. Her life was quickly slipping away from her. Cole could feel it.

Leo healed her, sadness in his eyes and he shimmered her back to the penthouse. The lease had never gone up so it was still in his name.

Tears glinted in his eyes and a small smile took shape on his face as he saw her wedding band on her finger that first night he tucked her into bed.