Six Weeks Later…
"How are we supposed to host Wyatt's birthday party next week," Piper complained, "if we're attacked by demons every weekend?" She leaned back against the sofa, propped her feet up on the coffee table, and turned to Phoebe who sat next to her. "How's your head?"
"It hurts," Phoebe complained while she continued to press the ice pack to the back of her head. "Maybe if I grew my hair long again it would help cushion the blows."
"Nah, trust me," Paige muttered from the nearby chair as she winced under Richard's care, "it'd still hurt like hell."
"Stop fidgeting," he scolded while he bandaged the bloody scrape on her shoulder. "Why didn't Leo heal you?"
"He's up there," Piper sighed as she looked up to the ceiling, "on Elder business so he's not answering. I suppose we shouldn't've gotten used to him being around so much again."
Knowing that comment referred more to Piper alone than the sisters together, Phoebe gave her older sister's hand an encouraging squeeze. "At least you've got a built-in Whitelighter again," she teased before she leaned over and spoke to Piper's slightly-rounded belly as she rubbed it, "and you just keep up the great job, Chris."
Piper smiled indulgingly to her younger sister before she swatted away Phoebe's hand. "Strange how he can heal now but couldn't when he was older."
"We really don't know much about him," Phoebe responded while she leaned back and pressed the ice pack to her neck, "or about the world he came from. It was obviously a rough place to grow up. Maybe something happened to him and he lost that power."
"Since he can't answer, don't wrack your brains trying to figure it out," Paige instructed as she flexed her wrist with a groan. "Just enjoy your invincibility while you can."
"I can't believe they still haven't assigned you a new Whitelighter," Richard commented as he shut the first aid box and placed it on the coffee table. He then stood behind Paige, gently kneaded the back of her neck, and smiled when she sighed with contentment. "You'd think the Charmed Ones were important enough."
"You'd think so," she grumbled, "wouldn't you."
"It isn't Leo's fault no one wants to work with us," Piper sighed. "We're too stubborn, opinionated, hot-heated, fool-hardy, and," she frowned, "what else'd he say?"
"Bitchy, inexperienced, and magnets for evil," Paige replied with a roll of her eyes.
"Can you believe they said inexperienced? Weren't we the ones who vanquished the Source? Twice?" Phoebe griped before she caught Richard's amused expression. "What?" she glared as she sat up straight and removed the ice pack. "You agree with them? You think we're that terrible?"
Knowing when to pick his battles, Richard held up his hands in surrender. "All I'm saying's there has to be some truth, however small," he quickly amended, "if the Whitelighters're all unanimous in their opinions. Especially considering they've never even met you."
"Yeah, well, if that's their attitude, I say we're better off without a Whitelighter," Phoebe muttered before she stood. "I'm going to take a nice long soak in the tub. 'Night, you guys."
"She's blaming herself for the Kort escaping," Piper reasoned as she watched Phoebe solemnly climb the stairs.
"But it's not her fault," Paige quickly replied. "Our innocent had to come first."
"You know Phoebe," Piper sadly shook her head. "All she's thinking about right now is that she took too long comforting the little girl instead of immediately going after the Kort who're now free to continue their killing spree. It's only a matter of time before we lose an innocent to them."
Paige noticed Piper absentmindedly rubbing her stomach. "Does she still think the Kort're responsible for the Dark Starling attack?"
Piper shrugged, "During the past three months, they've appeared in six of her premonitions and each of those attacks occurred with us being separated. We were very lucky we caught up to her tonight when we did."
"Or we might've lost more than just the Kort," Paige quietly agreed. "Guess maybe it is more than coincidence."
"Maybe not," Richard commented with growing concern. The others turned to him and he continued, "The Starling attack was three months ago and you don't have any concrete evidence that the Kort were behind it. If not for these premonitions, you wouldn't have any evidence at all against the Kort over any other demon. You can't let yourselves get obsessed with the Kort. And what happened to your decision to let the Starlings go so you could concentrate on protecting Wyatt from the evil Chris spoke of? You can't keep going after some invisible demon behind that failed plan."
"Not so invisible to Phoebe," Piper countered. "She was the one targeted and, thanks to the Dark Starling, she believes, once again, that she's the Charmed Ones' weak link. And she's sure the Kort will finish what the Dark Starling started for them."
"I'm not big on demon lore," Richard spoke thoughtfully, "but I've never heard of the Kort needing to mastermind an attack like the one using the Dark Starling. Especially considering how successful they've been on their own in separating the three of you while they go ahead with their attacks."
"You may have a point," Paige considered before she turned to Piper. "Just because they haven't defeated us yet doesn't mean we have an edge over them. We've managed to save the innocents in each of their attacks so far but you're probably right about it being only a matter of time before we lose one. So why would the Kort need a Dark Starling?"
"Who knows why demons team up? And does it really matter?" Piper sighed. "What does matter right now is Phoebe who's barely keeping it together."
Paige nodded, "This strong act of hers is finally starting to crack. Between keeping up appearances for us and at work, you know she still has nightmares from that horrible attack. And then with trying to move on after the breakup with Jason and knowing that What's-His-Name might pop in at any given moment, Phoebe's been pushing herself past the limit."
"His name is Cole," Piper chastised, "and your attitude towards him doesn't help." Before Paige could retort, Piper continued, "Look, I know you've been good about not deliberately bringing him up in front of her but, anti-empathic potion or not, she knows how you feel about him and I'm sure part of what's stressing her is that she's waiting for you to pounce on her about him."
"I do not pounce," Paige replied indignantly as she placed her hands on her hips and glared back at her older sister. "I suppose you've already forgiven him for everything and are happy knowing he's orbing around free somewhere? With your son's powers, I might add."
"No, I'm not," Piper sighed, "but as long as he stays away from us and we don't hear about him causing any trouble, it's none of our business what he does. Besides, Leo said we don't have to worry about Cole and I believe him. As for forgiveness, I haven't forgotten anything he did to us but he did save Phoebe."
"That's nothing new," Paige retorted. "I told you she's his weakness. But, how long, though, 'til he comes after us?"
Piper shook her head, looked down, and in a sad hushed voice said, "Paige, he tried to save Chris. He practically attacked Chris for what happened to Phoebe but, in the end, he still risked his life to save Chris."
"He was trying to score points," Paige insisted.
Piper let the comment slide and tried to calmly explain the shift in her attitude about the former demon. "Cole had just been stripped of his powers…again…when all he'd done was what Phoebe wanted. She was dying. He could've left. But he didn't. He stayed and he tried to save Chris."
"You're okay that he tried to kill her?" Paige whispered harshly.
"Of course not," Piper exclaimed, "but we didn't know about their agreement. I'm still angry with Phoebe for choosing death as her way out but it was her choice and we ended up punishing him, changing his life forever, because of it. Because of our resentment and bitterness for him." Piper hugged herself and quietly admitted, "And I can't help but think that if we hadn't've acted the way we did and taken Cole's powers, he might've been able to save Chris. And I may not be crazy about Cole or want him back in our lives but I am thankful he tried to save my son and I can't, I won't, forget that."
Not exactly what she wanted to hear, Paige also didn't want to argue. Deep down, she knew no matter how much Cole might have reformed, she would never be able to accept back him into her life the way Piper might one day. She leaned against Richard who wrapped his arm around her waist. "Back to Pheebs," she said, "any ideas what we can do for her?"
"Maybe we can convince her to call in sick and have a sister-day with her," Piper suggested. "I did call Dad and he's making arrangements to visit and spend some quality time with her but it won't be for another week." She glanced at the empty staircase and added, "Maybe if we can find the Kort on our own and do the vanquish ourselves, it'll help."
"I don't know," Paige warily said, "didn't Leo warn us not to go after them separately? It might be dangerous to try vanquishing them without her."
"Even if you did, it'll only be some other demon haunting her," Richard told them. "I know you don't want to hear this but Phoebe's the only one who can get her through this. Believe me, I know all about being haunted by inner demons. You can have all the love and support you want from your family but, when it comes right down to it, you still have to deal with your problems in your own way." He kissed Paige's temple and suggested, "Let Phoebe be. Let her know you're both here for her but wait for her to come to you. She will when she's ready."
Piper nodded and patted Richard's arm in gratitude as she walked past the couple. "C'mon to the kitchen. I'll whip us up something to eat."
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