Part Six

"I hate this," Paige announced while she watched Chris draw a circle in chalk on the floor of their attic.

"You've said that," Piper rolled her eyes, "at least once very five minutes for the past twenty. Give it a rest, Paige."

Paige turned to her, "I can't believe you're okay with it!"

"I'm not okay with it!" she snapped. "But Chris's right. There's no one else powerful enough to help," she said before she corrected herself, "who'd want to help."

"Assuming this works," Leo murmured as he watched Chris set down six thick candles along the circle's edge.

"But, it's not --" Paige began.

"But, nothing," Piper interrupted. "Don't forget, you were the one who insisted we had no other choice."

"That was before I knew which demon Chris had in mind," she grumbled.

"Are you sure you don't need Phoebe for the spell?" Leo asked Chris in an attempt to distract Paige.

Chris thought a moment before he shook his head. "She's best left to rest alone and take care of things."

"Things?" Paige shrugged with frustration. "What could be more important than this?"

"Good-byes," Piper whispered with a glance to Leo who gave her a sad, sympathetic smile in return.

"Phoebe was still in shock when Chris told her his plan. I'm telling you," Paige shook her head, "Phoebe hates this idea and wants nothing to do with it and that's why she's not here now. We should be trying to find another way. Another demon. Any other demon."

"There's no other way," Leo disagreed and reminded her again, "you said so yourself."

"I hate this," Paige muttered even though she knew they were right. There was no other option.

"Besides," Leo quietly considered, "whether it's to save her or simply for closure, Phoebe needs this"

"Last chance," Piper murmured before she broke down in tears. She felt Leo's arms wrap around her and she clung to him, "This has to work! He has to help, Leo, he just has to"

"He will," Paige reluctantly admitted while she watched Chris light each candle. "Phoebe was always his one true weakness."

"Well, we're all about to find out," Chris said when he finally stood. "You ready with the spell?" The sisters nodded and he carefully stepped out of the circle. "Good luck, you'll need it."

Piper left Leo's safe embrace and joined Paige. She linked arms with her sister and, together, read from the paper Paige held.

"Our sister's fated to a mindless waste,

unless, of all the foes we have ever faced,

we can summon the one from a reality now erased.

To save our sister with all undue haste,

we call the one we had once embraced,

and, once more, we pray our trust is not misplaced."

A white tornado suddenly swirled within the circle and the flames of the candles flickered before they blew out. Old books, magazines, and clutter flew across the room but Leo and Chris shielded their eyes and stood firmly in place. The sisters, arms still linked together, averted their faces from the wind but stood their ground. The wind finally died down and all stared at the lone figure standing before them in the circle.

"What the hell kind of vanquish was that?" he complained in surprise while he patted his chest and arms to make sure he was actually in one piece.

"Cole," Paige whispered as she took a step back.

"Welcome back," Piper warily greeted even as she copied her sister's instinctive reaction.

"How about that," he muttered to himself, "I finally made it to hell."

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Phoebe sat at her vanity and carefully licked the glue strip of the envelope in her hands. Once she sealed it, she turned it over, wrote Paige's name on it, and placed it on the pile of envelopes for her father, Jason, Leo, and Wyatt. She'd even written a brief note to Chris telling him to protect her family or she'd find some way to come back and kick his butt. It was time for Piper's letter, the one she'd deliberately saved for last.

She picked up her pen but found she was unable to write anything. Piper had always been there for her. They didn't always agree but Piper had tended to Phoebe, protected her, and loved her for her entire life. Piper wasn't just her sister but her best friend. How could she say goodbye? It seemed like just yesterday Piper had been devastated by Prue's death. How could a letter help Piper through the coming grief? Tell Piper that, no matter what she does, she'll always be there for Piper in spirit? Phoebe leaned back in her chair and knew she had to somehow get the words down. Time was running out and, if her sisters' spell worked, she'd have to join them and might not get another quiet moment to write.

The spell. She'd wanted no part in creating it. Insisted it was for fear of personal gain but knew that was simply an excuse for her sisters. For herself even. Alone in her room, staring at the pile of letters, she closed her eyes and almost allowed herself to face her true fears. Fear of success that the spell would actually work. Fear of his return and that, once again, he'd be brought back into their lives. Fear of her own reaction when she'd finally see him again.

With a sudden weariness, she dropped her pen and stood before she collapsed on her bed. She grabbed one of her pillows and hugged it tightly to her chest. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to banish him from her mind. "Cole"

Her eyes popped open and she stated aloud, "I love Jason." But, even as she said the words, an image of Cole flashed in her mind.

"It doesn't matter!" she uttered fiercely as she flung the pillow across the room. "It's over," she declared as she sat up. "It's over."

But images of him clouded her vision and she burst into fresh tears as her heart traitorously pounded with excitement. "Damn him," she whispered. She buried her face in her other pillow and sobbed, "And damn me for still loving him."

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