Part Nine

Paige impatiently stirred the potion. Richard hadn't had any suggestions for dealing with a Dark Starling and she had turned down his offer of coming over. She didn't want him in the line of fire even if he was a witch. It was the waiting around for something to happen that was driving her mad. And it was the urge to do something, anything, that led her to, "The perfect solution." With Chris in the attic and Piper with Wyatt, no one realized she'd even left. As the potion bubbled, she murmured, "Now for the little bit of Belthazor flesh." A puff of smoke erupted from the boiling potion almost as soon as she dropped the chunk into it and she stepped back. "Perfect," she smiled smugly as she stirred it again.

"Where the hell'd you get that? Did you go down there and attack him?" Chris accused.

Paige gasped from his sudden appearance, "Of course not." She continued to stir the potion and explained, "Piper once told me how she and Prue kept the piece of flesh in the freezer so I merely cast a spell to go back in time. I cut off a little bit and, voila, one Belthazor Vanquish." She noticed his frown and assured him, "Don't worry, I was there and back before anyone in either time realized it. And the piece I left is still big enough that history won't be changed."

"Why would you risk everything to pull a stunt like that?" he demanded.

"Insurance," she replied through clenched teeth. "Sure, your plan might work. Cole might help save Phoebe. But then what? You think he's gonna thank us for bringing him back and just walk away? Let me tell you what's gonna happen, he's gonna start all over again trying to convince Phoebe that they belong together. And, in his obsession to get her back, he'll come between her and Jason and will make our lives a living hell while Piper and I try to keep this family together."

"Oh, give it a rest already!" Chris threw up his hands in frustration, "You and Piper with your whining about how terrible you had it. You've got no idea what living in hell is like and you certainly have no idea how good you had it while Cole was on your side."

"On our side?" she sputtered. "He became leader of the other side!"

"Only after a year and a half of struggling to be good," he pointed out. "What about all the good he did, Paige? His knowledge and actions helped the Charmed Ones time and again."

"Doesn't come close to making up for all the evil," Paige glared at him, "and why are you defending him? What are you up to? What is he to you?"

"He's our salvation against the Dark Starling," Chris stated. "If Phoebe turns, the Power of Three is gone, Paige. As in forever. And then you and Piper won't have the combined strength to save Wyatt from the comingfrom evil."

"What evil?" she asked in a worried tone while she turned off the flame.

"Now's not the time," Chris shook his head, unwilling to reveal the future. "Let's see what happens to Phoebe first."

"Do you really think Cole can help?" she wondered.

"I hope so," he quietly answered. "Still," he stared intently at her, "if he does, will it have finally earned him forgiveness or just another vanquish?"

Paige didn't answer and, instead, gazed into the vanquishing potion. When she looked up, Chris was already gone. She carefully poured the hot liquid into a green glass vial and began cleaning up her work area. At least Piper would understand her reasoning. Better to be safe with the potion than sorry later on.

She checked on the vanquishing potion for the Dark Starling and turned that flame a bit lower. It was almost ready. She glanced back at the green vial and sighed. What would they owe Cole once it was over? "One more potion," she decided as she placed an empty pot on one of the burners, "just in case."

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From the center of the bedroom, Leo watched Piper hover by Wyatt's crib. "Let him sleep," he quietly suggested.

She nodded but couldn't resist the urge to brush her fingers through her son's soft hair. "He's a miracle," she murmured, "a blessed miracle, more powerful than anyone expected. Even if he doesn't understand all the words, maybe we can help him under--"

"No," he gently interrupted. "Honey, there isn't anything anyone can do right now, not even Wyatt. It's all up to Phoebe and Cole."

Piper turned to him with tears in her eyes. "If I ask you something, do you promise to give me an honest answer?"

"I've never lied to you," he replied, unsure if he should feel insulted.

She apologized as she approached him, "I didn't mean it like thatI don't want you to try and protect me from the truth no matter how much you think it'll hurt me. Okay?" He nodded and she took a deep breath before she asked, "Is Phoebe going to die?"

"I can't see the future," he shrugged helplessly before he turned away from her.

"Leo, you're an Elder" she warned. "You've got to have some idea."

He faced her again and sighed, "If there's anything you and your sisters have learned about timelines it's that the future is always changing. I don't have an answer for you, Piper. An hour ago, I'd've said yes, Phoebe will die, at least the Phoebe as you know her."

"But now?" she asked hopefully.

"Bringing back Cole was unexpected," he admitted, "and will have consequences."

"It has to work," Piper cried, "it has to!"

Leo quickly wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. "Get some rest, Piper, now, while it's quiet."

She shook her head and tried not to feel comforted by his warmth. "I need to get --"

"No," he interrupted as he nudged her to the bed, "you need to rest. Paige is finishing up in the kitchen and Chris is checking the Book again. I'll keep an eye on Wyatt."

"But only for a few minutes," she agreed while she sat on the bed. "Don't let me fall asleep." Leo nodded, turned to leave, and she stopped him, "Leo? Do you thinkdo you think she's okay?"

"It's not painful, if that's what you're asking," he answered as he stepped closer. "From what I understand, whenever the Dark Starling deliberately taps into the victim's powers, the victim has an episode similar to the one Phoebe had in the attic. The episodes will occur more often and last longer until the victim is completely drained and falls into a coma-like state until the Dark Starling is ready to activate its new minion."

Piper couldn't stop her tears as she pictured her sister's fate and she reached for a tissue from her nightstand. "What about now? With Cole, I mean?"

Leo remembered his promise to her and frowned. "I think she'll do whatever she has to in order to increase her chances of survival."

"Tactfully put," she told him. "Now the truth and you know what I mean."

"I told you before," he honestly replied, "Phoebe needs closure. She never really came to terms with what happened to her, to them, by the time she confronted him in the basement. Whatever happened down there was only a temporary fix."

"She's moved on, though," Piper insisted, "with Jason."

"Jason isn't Cole," he reminded her as he sat down next to her. "Her love for Jason may be real but that doesn't mean she still doesn't --"

"Love Cole," she softly interrupted. She gazed into his eyes, "But that doesn't mean she'll go back to him."

"No, it doesn't," he agreed, "but keep in mind that whatever happens between them is between them. What she said before about being put in the middle"

"I know," she nodded contritely, "it's terrible of us to do that to her and we don't mean to." She wiped away a tear from her cheek, "But we don't want her to get hurt and he only causes her pain."

"You sure you're talking about her pain," he gently asked, "or yours?"

She hung her head and toyed with her crumpled tissue. "We lost so much because of his involvement in our lives, including Prue. We were all hurt so badly. And the way it endedI can't help thinking that"

"What?" he encouraged. But Piper wouldn't continue so he tilted her chin towards him, "What?"

She sniffled and finally admitted, "With all his powers before heDid you ever think that maybe he could've helped prevent what happened? To us, you, I mean? That maybe, if he had been here, you wouldn't've become an Elder and we would still be together?" To her surprise, Leo burst out laughing and she angrily asked, "What's so funny about that?"

"I'm sorry," he chuckled, "but if you only knew how that sounded." She didn't look amused and he sobered quickly. "Piper, you've just finished damning him for getting involved in your life in the first place and now you're damning him for not being there?"

"But he --" she began.

"Never claimed to be an angel," he pointed out. "Just as you and your sisters at times struggle to do the right thing, Cole has that same struggle. Made worse by the very nature that he is part-demon. He fought for control when he was Belthazor and I'm sure he fought for it when he was the Source. He wasn't always responsible for his actions, Piper, a fact I think you and your sisters keep ignoring."

"Suddenly Cole's got an Elders fanclub?" she muttered.

"I'm not his fan," he argued, "but I can look at him, and his presence in your lives, with a little more objectivity than you or your sisters. Being an Elder has given me insight into the larger picture and I wish you could --"

"You were just happy to have another male opinion around the house," she snapped, "even if it was demonic."

"That too," he grinned. He placed his hands on her shoulders, "Piper, you've experienced some major upheavals in your life, especially in the past year, and I am truly sorry for my part in it. But you're going to have to tap into some of your strength and get past this business with Cole. Harboring the pain and resentment will only hurt you in the long run. It's time for you, and your sisters, to let it go. Truly let it go."

"Spoken like an Elder," she accused even though she knew he only meant well. "It's not easy, Leo," she sighed. "You were there, how many times did we try with him? How many times did it blow up in our faces?"

"It wasn't always his fault," he reminded her.

"It wasn't always ours either," she complained.

"Let it go," Leo quietly advised.

"Maybe Paige and I haven't dealt with everything," she conceded, "because there was no need to once Cole was gone. And I guess I'm just afraid that he won't simply walk away this time and we'll go through all that madness again."

"You have to be careful with what you say and do," he cautioned, "or you'll be the one hurting Phoebe. Let her deal with Cole in her own way and just be there to support her decisions."

In spite of her fear that Phoebe's decision would mean getting back with Cole, Piper slowly nodded in agreement. "Not all of this past year was that bad, though," she said with a shy smile. She nodded to the nursery and told him, "You were part of some of the best of it."

"Thank you," he smiled. After an awkward pause, he suggested, "Now, lie down and get some rest. I'll be right here in case anything happens."

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