Author's Notes: Thanks to my most wonderful reviewers, without whom this
story would probably have fallen into oblivion. Here's another chapter, but
I'm sorry to say that this fanfic will probably end in a few more updates,
because I'm having a lot of trouble getting the storyline to work as well
as I thought it would when I wrote the prologue; but don't worry, I'll make
sure both Phoebe and Cole have some closure.
Chapter 3: Summoning Spirits
Piper immediately lifted Wyatt and settled him in her lap, her eyes darting around the room. She never had liked me before, and after the Source possessed me, her dislike had turned to a hatred nearly as vehement as yours. After Prue's death, I had noticed that Piper began taking personal offense when any of her family was threatened. That meant that I was probably number one on her demon hit list. "That's impossible, isn't it? Paige?"
Paige had a perplexed look on her face; I almost felt sorry for her. By all rights, my soul should have been left in Hell in the alternate reality- but destiny seemed to have something else in mind. "It should be impossible- I mean, the Book was pretty clear that anything involving alternate realities is final, no coming back. But this is Cole we're talking about." She trailed off, as though unwilling to say more. I had a feeling that my returning would be a definite blow to her pride.
"You're right- that bastard never seems to stay dead for long." Piper sounded more irritated than actually frightened- I suppose that by this point my returning from the dead was commonplace enough that all awe and fear were long gone. "Leo!"
The Whitelighter arrived in a swirl of blue orbs a moment later. Wyatt turned his attention from me to his father, reaching out his chubby arms and gurgling. Leo smiled at him. "Hey there, little guy. Daddy's glad to see you too." Then he looked to Piper, who didn't look nearly as happy as her son. "Is something wrong?"
"We think that Cole might be back again." Your tone was softer than usual as you spoke, and once again I silently wished that I could take back all I'd done to hurt you.
"That's impossible." Leo's smile disappeared; the Whitelighter and I had always been natural enemies, despite working together when you and I were together.
"Yeah, well, if you haven't noticed, Cole has a habit of doing a lot of impossible things. Like, oh say, fighting his way out of Hell to be alive again, becoming invincible, and creating an alternate reality." Piper's tone was sarcastic, as it often was, but her eyes were serious. I also noticed that she kept glancing at you, as though checking to make sure you were okay.
"No, I mean this time, it really is impossible. Not even Cole had the powers to return to our reality, not unless powerful forces from Good and Evil allowed it. And even then, they wouldn't be able to bring him back to life. He'd be a spirit, a ghost, if they brought him back." Leo was frowning, his blue eyes now cloudy.
"A ghost?" Your face had paled slightly, and I began to wonder if Wyatt alerting you to my presence was a good thing or not.
"Well, if he's ghost now, then we should be able to summon him, like Grams." Piper stood up, Wyatt whimpering in protest from the sudden movement. "Let's go try out the spell."
A few minutes later, you were all gathered around the Book of Shadows, the candles in place on the floor. I stood the side, nervous. After all, even though I wanted badly to speak to you, I knew that you probably wanted nothing more to do with me- that summoning me might only inflict more pain on you. Then you and your sisters started the spell, and I no longer had any control over my movement.
"Spirit from the other side, come to me, I summon thee. Cross now the great divide." I felt my spirit being pulled into the circle of candles, felt myself materializing in front of you, before I had a chance to react.
All of your gazes were suddenly focused on me, including Wyatt's. The twice-blessed child giggled, seemingly amused at the situation. He was the only one smiling.
"Phoebe-" I took a step forward, my gaze locked with yours.
"Hold it right there, mister." Piper was glaring at me, her eyes flashing in warning.
"Relax. I'm a ghost, remember?" There was a tinge of irritation to my tone, something that I hadn't intended. I was just annoyed at how you all seemed to automatically assume that I was there to cause harm, even though deep inside I knew that I hadn't given you many reasons to think differently. "Besides, if I wanted to hurt you, I would have. I've been haunting the Manor for over a year." Right after the words left my lips, I realized that they probably weren't the most comforting. And if looks could kill, Piper's glare would have sent me right back into Hell.
"Why?" Your voice cracked as you spoke, and I nearly flinched when I met your gaze, seeing the pain in your eyes. "Why do you keep coming back? Why do you keep doing this to me?!" Tears were gathering in your eyes, but you refused to let them fall.
"I didn't mean to hurt you again, Phoebe." I wished so badly that I could take you in my arms, but I didn't move. "I'm so sorry."
Chapter 3: Summoning Spirits
Piper immediately lifted Wyatt and settled him in her lap, her eyes darting around the room. She never had liked me before, and after the Source possessed me, her dislike had turned to a hatred nearly as vehement as yours. After Prue's death, I had noticed that Piper began taking personal offense when any of her family was threatened. That meant that I was probably number one on her demon hit list. "That's impossible, isn't it? Paige?"
Paige had a perplexed look on her face; I almost felt sorry for her. By all rights, my soul should have been left in Hell in the alternate reality- but destiny seemed to have something else in mind. "It should be impossible- I mean, the Book was pretty clear that anything involving alternate realities is final, no coming back. But this is Cole we're talking about." She trailed off, as though unwilling to say more. I had a feeling that my returning would be a definite blow to her pride.
"You're right- that bastard never seems to stay dead for long." Piper sounded more irritated than actually frightened- I suppose that by this point my returning from the dead was commonplace enough that all awe and fear were long gone. "Leo!"
The Whitelighter arrived in a swirl of blue orbs a moment later. Wyatt turned his attention from me to his father, reaching out his chubby arms and gurgling. Leo smiled at him. "Hey there, little guy. Daddy's glad to see you too." Then he looked to Piper, who didn't look nearly as happy as her son. "Is something wrong?"
"We think that Cole might be back again." Your tone was softer than usual as you spoke, and once again I silently wished that I could take back all I'd done to hurt you.
"That's impossible." Leo's smile disappeared; the Whitelighter and I had always been natural enemies, despite working together when you and I were together.
"Yeah, well, if you haven't noticed, Cole has a habit of doing a lot of impossible things. Like, oh say, fighting his way out of Hell to be alive again, becoming invincible, and creating an alternate reality." Piper's tone was sarcastic, as it often was, but her eyes were serious. I also noticed that she kept glancing at you, as though checking to make sure you were okay.
"No, I mean this time, it really is impossible. Not even Cole had the powers to return to our reality, not unless powerful forces from Good and Evil allowed it. And even then, they wouldn't be able to bring him back to life. He'd be a spirit, a ghost, if they brought him back." Leo was frowning, his blue eyes now cloudy.
"A ghost?" Your face had paled slightly, and I began to wonder if Wyatt alerting you to my presence was a good thing or not.
"Well, if he's ghost now, then we should be able to summon him, like Grams." Piper stood up, Wyatt whimpering in protest from the sudden movement. "Let's go try out the spell."
A few minutes later, you were all gathered around the Book of Shadows, the candles in place on the floor. I stood the side, nervous. After all, even though I wanted badly to speak to you, I knew that you probably wanted nothing more to do with me- that summoning me might only inflict more pain on you. Then you and your sisters started the spell, and I no longer had any control over my movement.
"Spirit from the other side, come to me, I summon thee. Cross now the great divide." I felt my spirit being pulled into the circle of candles, felt myself materializing in front of you, before I had a chance to react.
All of your gazes were suddenly focused on me, including Wyatt's. The twice-blessed child giggled, seemingly amused at the situation. He was the only one smiling.
"Phoebe-" I took a step forward, my gaze locked with yours.
"Hold it right there, mister." Piper was glaring at me, her eyes flashing in warning.
"Relax. I'm a ghost, remember?" There was a tinge of irritation to my tone, something that I hadn't intended. I was just annoyed at how you all seemed to automatically assume that I was there to cause harm, even though deep inside I knew that I hadn't given you many reasons to think differently. "Besides, if I wanted to hurt you, I would have. I've been haunting the Manor for over a year." Right after the words left my lips, I realized that they probably weren't the most comforting. And if looks could kill, Piper's glare would have sent me right back into Hell.
"Why?" Your voice cracked as you spoke, and I nearly flinched when I met your gaze, seeing the pain in your eyes. "Why do you keep coming back? Why do you keep doing this to me?!" Tears were gathering in your eyes, but you refused to let them fall.
"I didn't mean to hurt you again, Phoebe." I wished so badly that I could take you in my arms, but I didn't move. "I'm so sorry."
