A/N: All right. This gets depressing. But the family has gone through a lot and never really (I think) had time to properly deal with what was thrown at them. Therefore... they can fall apart if they want. Call me on it if you think that this is too strange.

It had been three months since that day with Cole and the family dealt with their individual issues in their own ways.

Phoebe had indeed decided to , which mostly entailed not voicing her feelings, concentrating on her magic, and being a ride for anyone who needed it. She slowly tried to get through each day, although sadness always tainted its colors - dimming every day. The situation between she and Piper became icier. And Phoebe, having the knowing feeling that Wyatt could feel what she did, distanced herself from her nephew.

While Phoebe held the weight of her problems alone, Piper spread hers around. She never really came to terms with the fact that Wyatt had magic. She felt an enormous amount of anger at Nor, who she pinned the inevitable on. Piper, however, did not want Wyatt to feel upset because of her hatred at his newest companion so she struck out at everyone else. Piper became more judgmental and ready to point out another's faults. She was especially hard on Phoebe, which is why they didn't talk much to each other anymore.

Paige took Phoebe's long forgotten advice of keeping a life outside of magic. She lived on, blissfully unaware. For although Paige's whitelighter powers allowed her to sense evil they didn't help her to tap into familial discord.

Wyatt felt that something was going on and, although tempted to use his power to find out, didn't now what. He could see his relationship with his Aunt Phe quickly deteriorating. And the small dinners, excepting Saturday, with only his mother and him didn't help reassure him that everything was OK. He spent most of his time with his grandfather and whitelighter, the only people who, he felt, stayed the same.

Leo's utter frustration with his superiors was not helped by the situation at home. Paige wrapped herself up in the world, which was perfectly fine until she once almost refused to return home for a demon attack. Phoebe buried herself in her problems, which were only briefly pacified when she saved an innocent. She was running through the motions with her sisters, only talking to Leo and Darryl. His little boy, Wyatt, only four and already burdened with so much, found refuge at the home of Leo's father-in-law. Piper, his dear wife, was the worst to see. She was always quick with a caustic remark causing Paige to run from the family and Phoebe to retreat further within herself. Paige, the week previous, had even suggested giving up her powers. Leo had asked about the Charmed Ones and Paige had just remarked with a shrug, You'll get by without it. Phoebe had asked about her new cause for living, the innocents. Paige frowned. Screw em. Who says I have to save the world? The only way the plan was stopped was because Piper threatened to blow up her boyfriend.

The family was falling apart.

* * * * * *

Cole, in comparison, had fared well. He felt low for a week or two, but, deciding not to prove Phoebe right, bounced back with help from Darryl. He wasn't particularly happy, but he wasn't particularly sad - except on those days when he tapped into his psychic link with Phoebe.

He often wondered if Phoebe felt the connection they shared ever since that night in the mausoleum. He doubted it. The magic was weak and fragile. It took him considerable power to tap into it.

The Halliwells cropped up in his life from time to time mostly through Darryl. Piper had thanked him last time she saw him with a smile close to a sneer, Paige had ignored him, Leo tried to smile, but failed miserably, and Phoebe was ostensibly absent.

That's why he was so surprised when Leo showed up at his office.

Cole asked, as he opened the door.

Leo greeted stiffly, stepping into the office. Cole shut the door and sat down, motioning for Leo to do the same.

You OK? Cole asked.

No. I'm not. We aren't. Cole frowned. I need your help to save the family.

They aren't my family, Leo, Cole pointed out.

Fine then. Save the world. That good?

What's wrong?

My - you - the family. Piper's cold, Paige is indifferent, and Phoebe's letting everything go. She saves innocents, but doesn't see them or care. None of them care anymore. And I don't know whether it is evil or just them.

That's bad, Cole agreed.

I know.

Cole sighed. I'll try, he said, unexplainable sadness in his eyes. The truth was that he wasn't allowed to do anything about it.

Good. Good, Leo said with a sigh of relief and his first smile in a month.