A/N: More about the Avatars, their motives, and their vendetta against the Halliwells in this chapter. Yes, if you're wondering, I feel the need to provide each chapter with an Author's Note.
Disclaimer: see chapter one... thought I'd mention again... just in case.

Chapter 16: Learning

Piper sighed, flopping down into the chair in the attic. She, Paige, and Leo had exhausted all their means of finding Phoebe and Cole hadn't shown up since it happened.

Do you think that he thinks she's dead? Paige asked, running her fingers over the aged pages of the Book of Shadows.

Piper looked up, never realizing that possibility. He can't... She sighed, shrugging again. Um... I have to set up for the band at P3 tonight. When I get back we can ask Leo for help to find Phoebe and stuff like that.

Paige smiled. Yeah. Wherever Phoebe is she's safe. Okay, Piper? Leo's able to sense any duress she's in...

But not where she is, Piper finished. Piper went to walk out of the attic

And Piper? Paige called to her sister. Piper turned around. When you get home you're going to sleep. Also, if you leave me with Wyatt without warning anymore I'm going to start charging you baby-sitting fees.

Piper laughed, shook her head, and left the attic.

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I need you to get in touch with the Halliwells, Cole told Henry, handing him the baby blue sweater.

Henry agreed. I will. You need to leave.

Cole nodded and, without another word, shimmered out.

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I still don't understand why we need to get rid of the little witch and keep Turner, the youngest Avatar, Tur, complained to Bartholomew.

The slight man, shifted his eyes, looking out to see if other Avatars were walking around. Don't you understand? If Turner and the witch have a child it will be the first child who is half-demon and half-witch in a millennia! That child would be the perfect candidate to be on the Balance.

Tur still didn't understand the significance of either Cole or Phoebe. Compared to the Avatars they were no big deal. There are many members of the Balance.

But with one who did not cross over from evil to good... one who is evil and good automatically would give the Balance the power to get rid of us. Weren't you paying attention? The Avatars are just rebuilding. The Balance banned them from earth when Kia, a half-witch and half-demon child, came to the Balance, and gave them enough power to get rid of the Avatars! Kia's mother was a low level demon and her father a low level witch. The child of a Charmed One and an Avatar could not only ban us, but eradicate us.

Wait! An Avatar? Tur was confused. Couldn't we just take away his powers?

Bartholomew shook his head. Once you receive the Avatar powers you keep them. He had them all the time, he just didn't know. The Avatars don' like that known, however.

Tur's eyes grew wide in fear and realization. We should destroy the Halliwell witch!

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You trained well, Margaret walked in, handing a towel to Cole, who was collapsed on the floor in exhaustion.

he croaked.

Are you ready for your first mission? Margaret asked.

Cole replied simply, emotionless. He was frightened, however. If he did his first mission and then got Phoebe back it might be too far gone. He might be an Avatar forever with no means to go back.

You should be, Margaret replied, interrupting his thoughts.

Well I'm not. Cole turned and stalked off, deciding he should talk over the issue with Henry.

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Leo found himself in a huge library.

Oh hello, Henry looked up from his book. I'm Henry Whitfield. I am the Librarian of the Library of Life.

Leo asked again, shocked at who was in front of him. I thought that this was just a myth.

Henry? I mean, Mr. Whitfield? Cole walked over. Leo? Leo! He shook his hand.

Leo asked again, still trying to find his bearings.

We have to do this quickly. An Avatar and a whitelighter in one place may be noticed, Henry interrupted them. Leo turned towards Henry. I hope this registers, whitelighter. Your sister-in-law, Phoebe, has been sent to another world or an alternate reality or something by the Avatars. We need you to find where.

Leo asked, still trying to grasp the information.

That's right, Phoebe, Henry said, as if speaking to a child. Good-bye, whitelighter. Henry waved his hand and in a burst of blue light, Leo was gone.

Thank you. This may help me find her, Henry turned to Cole.

May help you? Cole asked.

Yes. May, Henry said quickly, waving his hand again causing Cole to disappear.

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Piper! Paige! Leo called.

Paige rushed up the stairs to the attic, holding Wyatt close.

Leo took Wyatt from Paige. Would you go get, Piper?

Paige, shrugging, orbed off to find her sister.

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Paige walked through the back entrance to P3, from the alley.

Paige? What are you doing here? Piper left the roadies who were setting up and walked over to her half-sister.

Um... Leo wants you.

Piper rolled her eyes. Well I'm busy. I have to keep this club up and running if we're going to keep our house. I have two unemployed moochers, one a sister and one a husband. Piper's words were harsh, but a smile softened the blow.

Paige took the hint. I'm on the job search.

Piper laughed. I know, Paige. I know. So what does Leo want exactly?

Leo? I'm not sure, Paige winced.

You're not sure? Piper asked, disbelieving.

It looked urgent, Paige replied with a shrug.

Piper gave a resigned sigh. Well... okay. She went over to talk to the manager and when she came back, to orb out with Paige, her sister had a date with a band member.

Oh Paige, Piper said with a sigh. Don't do a Phoebe on me.

I'm much more middle-child than Phoebe. She's not half as responsible, Paige replied indignantly.

This from the unemployed one? Piper asked, crossing her arms.

I only quit my job to concentrate on you-know-what. I figured my life was more important than an income, Paige replied, walking into the alley.

Well... that's much more thought out than a Phoebe-plan, Piper admitted.

Thank you, Paige replied, smugly, orbing out.

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She's trapped where? Piper was pacing the attic. Paige was flipping through the Book of Shadows and Leo was holding Wyatt and trying to comfort his wife.

The Avatars sent her to another world or reality, Leo replied calmly.

Paige replied with a scowl. I suggest we kill them all.

Leo repeated the word. Cole's an Avatar!

Cole joined the people who banned Phoebe somewhere else? Paige tried to grasp the idea.

That's impossible! He'd never! Piper protested. Paige and Piper glanced at each other. It's got to be a trick, Piper concluded.

Well... It doesn't matter what Cole is. We need to find where Phoebe is and save her, Paige replied, ready to jump into action.

We shouldn't save her without Cole, Leo said, the voice of reason.

We need to at least find her! Piper said, setting to work.

she turned to her husband, go find out everything you could possibly know about alternate realities and other worlds.

Leo was slow to get up and Piper shouted.

He handed his son to Paige and, with an exasperated sigh, orbed out.

A/N: What do you want to see? I'm at a standstill really? Tell me! Review! Share your ideas... I just may use them! :-))