Love Triumphant
Rediscovering Cole
Chapter VII
Cole was surprised to see Patty, Prue, Piper, Victor and Leo had been asked to join the meeting with his great grandparents as well. It made him wonder even more what this was all about. He was also curious as to how they would react to news of his and Phoebe's nuptials. True Piper, Leo, Patty, and even Prue had come around towards him but he had no idea how they were going to feel that the initial ceremony had taken place without them. Victor's reaction was the biggest question mark.
Apparently Cole wasn't going to have to wait long to find out. Phoebe had rushed over to give her sisters a big hug and Prue had noticed the ring immediately. "Wow, that is an incredible engagement ring," she exclaimed. "Well to tell you the truth," Phoebe started to say then stopped. She turned toward Cole and said, "Quit looking like a deer caught in the headlights honey and let's face the music together." Cole did as he was told and immediately went to her side.
"And what music would that be?" Piper asked curiously. Phoebe grabbed Cole's hand in hers and held on tight. "Actually it's a wedding ring," she informed her family. She then lifted Cole's hand and showed them his too. "You're married?" Victor queried with a slightly mutinous look on his face. Cole hoped this immortal thing really worked other wise Phoebe might end up a widow the first full day of their marriage.
He didn't expect that it would be Prue that stepped between he and Victor but that's exactly what she did. "Dad before you loose your cool remember Cole risked his life to save both Phoebe and Piper, and this wasn't the first time either. I think he's more than proven that he's really has changed and that he beyond a doubt loves Phoebe. They deserve our support in their marriage." "Here, here," Piper said, "I heartily agree." "And by the way Cole I never did get a chance to give you a proper thank you for saving me from Dan." She came over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you both, and Piper you're welcome. I couldn't let him hurt you. You're too important to Phoebe and you've become important to me as well. You all have."
Leo spoke up, "You know you have my support and thanks as well," he assured Cole. "I just wish we could have attended the wedding." "Yeah, Phoebe you and Prue were my bridesmaids, I was kind of hoping, I'd get to return the favor," Piper added.
Phoebe briefly explained that they had wanted the family present but that it was important that the initial ceremony had been conducted the way it had. She also promised them that she and Cole would renew their vows in a wedding the whole family could attend sometime in the near future. They all seemed satisfied with that. Victor even grudgingly shook Cole's hand after securing a promise from him that he never hurt his little girl.
The moment was interrupted by the arrival of Morrigan and Erin. Morrigan congratulated Cole and Phoebe, greeted everyone else, and instructing them to take a seat. Then the Queen goddess of Ere immediately started to conduct business. Cole appreciated it. He didn't believe he could wait much longer to find out what she was going to say.
"I always planned for the Halliwells to be in on this discussion Cole because they are your family just as much as we are and they are the primary reason we have you back in the first place. My other plans in regards to this meeting have changed, however, due to unforeseen circumstances. It was initially to explain an important piece of family history, if you will, but now it will serve as a prelude to your first assignment as a guardian too. The girls will also be heavily involved in the case as well."
"Now this isn't going to be easy to say or to hear, so please bear with me. And please take that look of fear off your face dear grandson. I assure you it won't lead to your loosing what you have fought so hard to gain." Erin added his own reminder to Cole that he was now guarded by some of the most powerful gods and goddesses in history. Not to mention that Cole was now a full fledged god himself.
Morrigan continued, "This is more about your past. It is painful but you have the right and the need to know." Cole nodded and braced himself. Phoebe placed a comforting arm around him. "Let me get one of the biggest shockers out of the way first. "You aren't who you were led to believe you are. The real Cole Turner slash Balthazor died over thirty years ago in earth time." There was a collective gasp in the room and Cole nearly fell off his chair. "What?" he managed to ask.
"He was vanquished in a battle with the forces of good but his demonic mother, the one whom you were made to believe was your mother managed to capture his essence. You see she felt a certain amount of affinity towards her son at least as much as a demon was capable of feeling. Not to mention the fact that she knew he was potentially destined to become one of the most powerful of their kind, and she wanted to ride his coattails to the top." She then devised a most horrific scheme. It was beyond her dark magic to bring his physical body back to life so she decided to place his essence in a host as it were."
Cole wasn't sure he truly comprehended all that Morrigan was telling him but he urged her to continue. His great grandmother was right he had to know. She picked up her explanation: "Belthazor's mother knew she couldn't choose another demon. There was too much of a chance that he would just absorb her son's powers and find away to expel his presence. She also knew that a full grown human being might be able to put up a different sort of struggle with his mind and soul, so no suitable candidate could be found there either. The only choice left to her was an infant. Her own womb was barren because a black witch had cursed her shortly after the birth of Belthazor because of some long-standing feud.
"So this demon woman did some research and devised a plot to kidnap a mortal baby. A seer identified for her a man whose wife was pregnant with twin boys. She seduced him in a bar one night and promised him her very voluptuous body and riches beyond his wildest imaginations if he would agree to take one of his sons and then all three of them could run away together. He wasn't exactly a man with a clean soul and he agreed.
They arranged to make sure the wife didn't make it to a hospital to give birth. Instead the demon posed as a nurse who just happened onto the situation. She helped deliver the babies then gave the wife something to drink to ease the pain. Except it wasn't to ease the pain at all. It was a potion to make the mother pass out and forget she ever had another son. Then the demon woman took one of the babies and told the man she would hook up with him outside the bar where they had originally met the following night. Obviously she never showed, and he never heard from her again.
She had taken the baby to a secret part of the underworld that few knew about. She then kept him in stasis until he reached manhood and then she implanted her son's essence and memories into him or into you I should say Cole for, as you now have probably guessed you were the baby that she stole.
There was dead silence in the meeting room. Cole could feel cold sweat dripping down him and he was shivering. He didn't know how he was supposed to deal with this. Phoebe jumped up and shouted at Morrigan: "What I want to know is if you knew all of this why didn't you stop it, why didn't you protect him? Some grandparents and guardians you are." Patty, who was sitting on the other side of Phoebe softly, advised her daughter to try and keep calm.
"Don't silence the girl Patty, she has a right to her anger. The truth is we were warned about the initial kidnapping by Cassandra but we were stupid enough to believe the Elders when they said they'd handle it. Neither Erin nor I will ever forgive ourselves for that. Apparently even then they were into dealing out their own twisted sense of justice. I guess they figured that the man deserved to hoodwinked and loose his son because of his cruelty. I guess they didn't stop to consider how fair that was to the boy, his mother or his brother."
"The rest of what happened to him after the kidnapping we didn't find out until recently. The Elders just came to us later and said they regretted that they were unable to save our descendant and that for everyone's sake we had to let the matter drop. "
"We didn't want to but we were denied access to any more information at the time. It wasn't until recently when it became increasingly clear that the Elders weren't on the level that we found out what the rest of Cole's fate had involved. A team of our security people and Zeus' discovered his file, which the elders had hidden. By this point Cole, you had already met the Halliwells and were on the road to finding your true soul. Our stepping in at that point would have accomplished little."
"So what your telling me is that I'm a man without an identity, a past, or even a name to call his own," Cole said in a strangled voice. "And that now I can't even claim a decent father because my real father was some sick twisted bastard, who was willing to sell his own son to a demonic bitch."
"No, that is not what I'm telling you. You have an identity. You're our great grandson. Your true mother was our descendant even though she never knew of her magical heritage. She was a fine woman with a beautiful pure soul. Her only weakness was that she loved too much and fell for a man who took advantage of that. Later when the true extent of her mistake became clear to her she corrected it. She found out that he was beating your brother and she had the courage to get both of them away."
"Oh great so my father was an abuser too, anything more you want to spring on me grandmother?" Cole asked bitterly. "There is no doubt the man was a bastard, I won't stand here and defend him. The thing you have to hold onto, however, is that you are nothing like him. You are your mother's son through and through and he was nothing more than a biological donor. "And as far as the other issues you raised, you do have a past. This wasn't you first incarnation. Your spirit is strong and has been around for a long time and it has always been a good one at its very core."
"This also isn't the first time that you and Phoebe have been together either. Your love has been reborn through several periods in time. It is those two things, which gave you the strength to break through the demonic possession to find your true soul and your destiny. Luckily those were also two things the demon woman never knew about you. You also have your present and your future. Great and wonderful things are ahead of you."
Please you need to hold onto that, your bride, and your family. Don't let the demons take anymore away from you. And as for your name, you've made Cole Turner your own. You've turned it around and made it a fine name for a fine man, and I don't think the late Benjamin Turner would object to your using it. In a way maybe it will give him a more peaceful rest to know that you can now live the sort of life he would have wished for his son."
Cole struggled to control his voice as he asked, "What happened to my family, my real family?" "Your mother and father have passed on. Her spirit is in Ere's version of the Elysian Fields. We wanted to ask her to join us but we figured that she earned a peaceful rest. We knew she would be happier there. Your father was a full mortal and we had no control and also know idea of where his soul ended up." "What about my brother?" Cole asked.
"He's very much alive and is a fine strong and decent lad at heart. Oh he has his issues just like you but he is one of the good guys have no fear about that. Now I realize we've thrown a lot at you in a very short period of time. Are you going to be alright with this?" Cole didn't answer Morrigan right away. Instead he turned toward Phoebe. "Are you still with me?" She reached over and caressed his face. "You heard your grandmother, I always have been with you and I always will be with you." "Then I will be fine," he whispered to her first, the repeated it louder so everyone assembled could hear.
"Do you have any questions?" Morrigan asked. "Yes, what were my parent's names, and what is my brother's name? Will I get to meet him? Your parent's names were Patrick and Noreen O'Doyle and your twin brother's name is John Grant. He changed his surname for obvious reasons. He's a former police officer and FBI agent, and now works for a private security firm," Morrigan told Cole.
"And it's funny you should ask about meeting him because your first assignment involves him. A ghost has kidnapped a good friend of his. John is going to need your help although it is going to be a bit difficult convincing him of that because he doesn't believe in magic."
Rediscovering Cole
Chapter VII
Cole was surprised to see Patty, Prue, Piper, Victor and Leo had been asked to join the meeting with his great grandparents as well. It made him wonder even more what this was all about. He was also curious as to how they would react to news of his and Phoebe's nuptials. True Piper, Leo, Patty, and even Prue had come around towards him but he had no idea how they were going to feel that the initial ceremony had taken place without them. Victor's reaction was the biggest question mark.
Apparently Cole wasn't going to have to wait long to find out. Phoebe had rushed over to give her sisters a big hug and Prue had noticed the ring immediately. "Wow, that is an incredible engagement ring," she exclaimed. "Well to tell you the truth," Phoebe started to say then stopped. She turned toward Cole and said, "Quit looking like a deer caught in the headlights honey and let's face the music together." Cole did as he was told and immediately went to her side.
"And what music would that be?" Piper asked curiously. Phoebe grabbed Cole's hand in hers and held on tight. "Actually it's a wedding ring," she informed her family. She then lifted Cole's hand and showed them his too. "You're married?" Victor queried with a slightly mutinous look on his face. Cole hoped this immortal thing really worked other wise Phoebe might end up a widow the first full day of their marriage.
He didn't expect that it would be Prue that stepped between he and Victor but that's exactly what she did. "Dad before you loose your cool remember Cole risked his life to save both Phoebe and Piper, and this wasn't the first time either. I think he's more than proven that he's really has changed and that he beyond a doubt loves Phoebe. They deserve our support in their marriage." "Here, here," Piper said, "I heartily agree." "And by the way Cole I never did get a chance to give you a proper thank you for saving me from Dan." She came over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you both, and Piper you're welcome. I couldn't let him hurt you. You're too important to Phoebe and you've become important to me as well. You all have."
Leo spoke up, "You know you have my support and thanks as well," he assured Cole. "I just wish we could have attended the wedding." "Yeah, Phoebe you and Prue were my bridesmaids, I was kind of hoping, I'd get to return the favor," Piper added.
Phoebe briefly explained that they had wanted the family present but that it was important that the initial ceremony had been conducted the way it had. She also promised them that she and Cole would renew their vows in a wedding the whole family could attend sometime in the near future. They all seemed satisfied with that. Victor even grudgingly shook Cole's hand after securing a promise from him that he never hurt his little girl.
The moment was interrupted by the arrival of Morrigan and Erin. Morrigan congratulated Cole and Phoebe, greeted everyone else, and instructing them to take a seat. Then the Queen goddess of Ere immediately started to conduct business. Cole appreciated it. He didn't believe he could wait much longer to find out what she was going to say.
"I always planned for the Halliwells to be in on this discussion Cole because they are your family just as much as we are and they are the primary reason we have you back in the first place. My other plans in regards to this meeting have changed, however, due to unforeseen circumstances. It was initially to explain an important piece of family history, if you will, but now it will serve as a prelude to your first assignment as a guardian too. The girls will also be heavily involved in the case as well."
"Now this isn't going to be easy to say or to hear, so please bear with me. And please take that look of fear off your face dear grandson. I assure you it won't lead to your loosing what you have fought so hard to gain." Erin added his own reminder to Cole that he was now guarded by some of the most powerful gods and goddesses in history. Not to mention that Cole was now a full fledged god himself.
Morrigan continued, "This is more about your past. It is painful but you have the right and the need to know." Cole nodded and braced himself. Phoebe placed a comforting arm around him. "Let me get one of the biggest shockers out of the way first. "You aren't who you were led to believe you are. The real Cole Turner slash Balthazor died over thirty years ago in earth time." There was a collective gasp in the room and Cole nearly fell off his chair. "What?" he managed to ask.
"He was vanquished in a battle with the forces of good but his demonic mother, the one whom you were made to believe was your mother managed to capture his essence. You see she felt a certain amount of affinity towards her son at least as much as a demon was capable of feeling. Not to mention the fact that she knew he was potentially destined to become one of the most powerful of their kind, and she wanted to ride his coattails to the top." She then devised a most horrific scheme. It was beyond her dark magic to bring his physical body back to life so she decided to place his essence in a host as it were."
Cole wasn't sure he truly comprehended all that Morrigan was telling him but he urged her to continue. His great grandmother was right he had to know. She picked up her explanation: "Belthazor's mother knew she couldn't choose another demon. There was too much of a chance that he would just absorb her son's powers and find away to expel his presence. She also knew that a full grown human being might be able to put up a different sort of struggle with his mind and soul, so no suitable candidate could be found there either. The only choice left to her was an infant. Her own womb was barren because a black witch had cursed her shortly after the birth of Belthazor because of some long-standing feud.
"So this demon woman did some research and devised a plot to kidnap a mortal baby. A seer identified for her a man whose wife was pregnant with twin boys. She seduced him in a bar one night and promised him her very voluptuous body and riches beyond his wildest imaginations if he would agree to take one of his sons and then all three of them could run away together. He wasn't exactly a man with a clean soul and he agreed.
They arranged to make sure the wife didn't make it to a hospital to give birth. Instead the demon posed as a nurse who just happened onto the situation. She helped deliver the babies then gave the wife something to drink to ease the pain. Except it wasn't to ease the pain at all. It was a potion to make the mother pass out and forget she ever had another son. Then the demon woman took one of the babies and told the man she would hook up with him outside the bar where they had originally met the following night. Obviously she never showed, and he never heard from her again.
She had taken the baby to a secret part of the underworld that few knew about. She then kept him in stasis until he reached manhood and then she implanted her son's essence and memories into him or into you I should say Cole for, as you now have probably guessed you were the baby that she stole.
There was dead silence in the meeting room. Cole could feel cold sweat dripping down him and he was shivering. He didn't know how he was supposed to deal with this. Phoebe jumped up and shouted at Morrigan: "What I want to know is if you knew all of this why didn't you stop it, why didn't you protect him? Some grandparents and guardians you are." Patty, who was sitting on the other side of Phoebe softly, advised her daughter to try and keep calm.
"Don't silence the girl Patty, she has a right to her anger. The truth is we were warned about the initial kidnapping by Cassandra but we were stupid enough to believe the Elders when they said they'd handle it. Neither Erin nor I will ever forgive ourselves for that. Apparently even then they were into dealing out their own twisted sense of justice. I guess they figured that the man deserved to hoodwinked and loose his son because of his cruelty. I guess they didn't stop to consider how fair that was to the boy, his mother or his brother."
"The rest of what happened to him after the kidnapping we didn't find out until recently. The Elders just came to us later and said they regretted that they were unable to save our descendant and that for everyone's sake we had to let the matter drop. "
"We didn't want to but we were denied access to any more information at the time. It wasn't until recently when it became increasingly clear that the Elders weren't on the level that we found out what the rest of Cole's fate had involved. A team of our security people and Zeus' discovered his file, which the elders had hidden. By this point Cole, you had already met the Halliwells and were on the road to finding your true soul. Our stepping in at that point would have accomplished little."
"So what your telling me is that I'm a man without an identity, a past, or even a name to call his own," Cole said in a strangled voice. "And that now I can't even claim a decent father because my real father was some sick twisted bastard, who was willing to sell his own son to a demonic bitch."
"No, that is not what I'm telling you. You have an identity. You're our great grandson. Your true mother was our descendant even though she never knew of her magical heritage. She was a fine woman with a beautiful pure soul. Her only weakness was that she loved too much and fell for a man who took advantage of that. Later when the true extent of her mistake became clear to her she corrected it. She found out that he was beating your brother and she had the courage to get both of them away."
"Oh great so my father was an abuser too, anything more you want to spring on me grandmother?" Cole asked bitterly. "There is no doubt the man was a bastard, I won't stand here and defend him. The thing you have to hold onto, however, is that you are nothing like him. You are your mother's son through and through and he was nothing more than a biological donor. "And as far as the other issues you raised, you do have a past. This wasn't you first incarnation. Your spirit is strong and has been around for a long time and it has always been a good one at its very core."
"This also isn't the first time that you and Phoebe have been together either. Your love has been reborn through several periods in time. It is those two things, which gave you the strength to break through the demonic possession to find your true soul and your destiny. Luckily those were also two things the demon woman never knew about you. You also have your present and your future. Great and wonderful things are ahead of you."
Please you need to hold onto that, your bride, and your family. Don't let the demons take anymore away from you. And as for your name, you've made Cole Turner your own. You've turned it around and made it a fine name for a fine man, and I don't think the late Benjamin Turner would object to your using it. In a way maybe it will give him a more peaceful rest to know that you can now live the sort of life he would have wished for his son."
Cole struggled to control his voice as he asked, "What happened to my family, my real family?" "Your mother and father have passed on. Her spirit is in Ere's version of the Elysian Fields. We wanted to ask her to join us but we figured that she earned a peaceful rest. We knew she would be happier there. Your father was a full mortal and we had no control and also know idea of where his soul ended up." "What about my brother?" Cole asked.
"He's very much alive and is a fine strong and decent lad at heart. Oh he has his issues just like you but he is one of the good guys have no fear about that. Now I realize we've thrown a lot at you in a very short period of time. Are you going to be alright with this?" Cole didn't answer Morrigan right away. Instead he turned toward Phoebe. "Are you still with me?" She reached over and caressed his face. "You heard your grandmother, I always have been with you and I always will be with you." "Then I will be fine," he whispered to her first, the repeated it louder so everyone assembled could hear.
"Do you have any questions?" Morrigan asked. "Yes, what were my parent's names, and what is my brother's name? Will I get to meet him? Your parent's names were Patrick and Noreen O'Doyle and your twin brother's name is John Grant. He changed his surname for obvious reasons. He's a former police officer and FBI agent, and now works for a private security firm," Morrigan told Cole.
"And it's funny you should ask about meeting him because your first assignment involves him. A ghost has kidnapped a good friend of his. John is going to need your help although it is going to be a bit difficult convincing him of that because he doesn't believe in magic."