Part Twenty-Two
"It's over. You did it," he announced as he turned away.
"We did it," she quietly acknowledged. "How'd you know about Chris?" she wondered as she reached for him.
Cole stiffened under her touch. "As I was learning how to use them, I researched my powers. And Chris. You don't need to know anything more than I found a source. Not literally," he quickly added.
"I didn't think so," she politely assured him. Not only was he shutting her out, he was also blocking her. 'Why'd I kiss him?' she groaned inwardly. She couldn't sense his emotions but she imagined he was just as confused. "Are you okay?"
Whether he was more surprised by her inquiry or her sincerity, Cole wasn't sure. 'But I certainly don't want to talk,' he maintained to himself. "Goodbye, Phoebe."
Phoebe dropped her hand as if she'd been slapped. "I ask if you're okay and all you can say is goodbye?"
He turned back to face her even though he couldn't see her clearly in the darkness. "Is there really anything left to say?"
Without thinking, Phoebe formed a fist and let it fly straight into Cole's jaw. "You son of a bitch!"
Sprawled on top of the crate, Cole lightly rubbed his jaw. 'What the hell just happened?'
Before either could say or do anything else, Leo orbed in next to them. "What the hell is going on?" he fumed when, in the fading orb light, he took notice of Cole's position on the crate. "How could you go after the Kort, Phoebe? And, you, Cole, you knew a Darklighter'd been hired. How could you expose yourself to the danger?"
"You know me well enough to know, I don't run from a fight," Cole retorted.
"You were involved with the Kort and couldn't warn us? Warn me? Oh, wait, was that what you were doing tonight? Just waiting for me to be trapped so that you could save the day and I'd fall gratefully into your arms?" Phoebe ranted.
"Hardly," he retorted. "Believe me, babe, I've finally learned my lesson. And, for the record, I had it all under control tonight. You were the one who nearly blew it."
"Enough!" Leo declared. "I don't care why each of you ended up here. You were both wrong."
Phoebe suddenly spun to face Leo, "And you. You knew the Kort were working with others? They've been the main cause of all our problems from the past three months and you didn't see fit to give us all the details? Haven't you learned from the past when we were screwed because the Elders kept parts of the truth from us?"
Leo ignored her questions and continued to seethe. "How many times in the past three months have I told you and your sisters not to go after the Kort alone? I told you the time would come when you'd be ready to face them together. You needed to wait. You can't keep taking foolish chances, Phoebe."
"I wasn't going to lose an innocent to them!" she angrily told him. "We came too close tonight, Leo, to losing two."
"Losing one!" he practically shouted. "You lost the second one!" At her stunned silence, he continued in a cool tone, "Your innocent tonight was so terrified when he ran from the warehouse that he ran blindly down the alley and was hit by a speeding car. The fact that the driver was drunk and would've crashed into the hydrant anyway doesn't lessen the fact that now he'd have to live for the rest of his life with the knowledge that he killed another human being."
"That can't be," she whispered in disbelief.
"You saved him, though," Cole stated at the same time.
"I shouldn't've had to save him," Leo angrily replied. "Rules aren't created to punish you. They're to help you, guide you. You both should've listened and stayed away."
But Phoebe was only half-listening. She'd done her best and saved an innocent only to have him die anyway? Or did he? Leo didn't actually confirm that her innocent had died. "You saved him, didn't you?" she quietly inquired. "He's okay, isn't he?" she added with a touch of desperation.
Leo took a deep breath and nodded, "Both he and the driver will be fine. And neither will have any memory of what happened. Of what almost happened." But he didn't let her feel relief for too long and gestured angrily at them both. "You've got to learn that you can't bend the rules to suit your needs. Get back to the manor. I still have some more to clean up but I want you both to wait for me."
"Leo, she didn't ha--" Cole started to say.
"Save it, Cole," Leo interrupted. "For once, do as you're told."
"But it's not his --" Phoebe began.
"Go!" Leo ordered. "And make sure both Piper and Paige join you. There are going to be some changes made tonight."
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Paige sat stiffly on Richard's lap in the chair and glared at Cole who stood silently off to the side. "How much longer?" she grumbled, unable to find comfort in Richard's arms wrapped around her waist.
"I presume until Leo gets here," Piper yawned before she leaned back against the sofa and caught a glimpse of her other sister watching Cole with a more thoughtful gaze than Paige's. She patted Phoebe's thigh and asked, "Sure you're okay?" Phoebe nodded and Piper pulled her blanket tighter around herself and asked again, "And the Kort were all vanquished?"
"Yes, Piper," Phoebe tiredly reassured her. Unable to look again at Cole, she stood and announced, "I'm going to bed."
Cole stared at her in surprise, "What about Leo?"
"What about him?" she snapped. "I think Elder Leo made his point crystal clear at the warehouse and I'm too tired to hear his angry lecture again."
"Well you'll still hear it from me, missy," Piper warned her. "How could you go there alone? It was the middle of the night, Phoebe, and you didn't even leave me a note. You could've been killed and we never would've known."
"I would've come back to tell you," Phoebe promised.
"That's not even funny," Piper frowned in disapproval. "You know better."
"Leo warned us about going after them alone," Paige joined in. "You not only risked your life, Phoebe, but all of ours."
"I was trying to protect our lives," Phoebe hissed. "And I can't believe the two of you. You're only angry because I did what you've both wanted to do for weeks."
"That's not the point," Piper calmly told her. "Phoebe, we're upset because you didn't tell us first. This isn't the first time in recent weeks that you've taken risks upon yourself in the name of protecting this family. But, honey, that's not your job alone."
"The Charmed Ones are a team," Paige concurred. "And that means we each share in the responsibility of protecting this family and our innocents. We don't go running off in the middle of the night to fight demons against impossible odds. Certainly not without having the courtesy of first letting our sisters know."
"We work together," Piper added, "we fight together."
"Too bad none of you listen together," Leo said when he orbed into the room.
"I'm sorry you all have a problem with what happened tonight but I did what I thought best," Phoebe stated above her sisters' protests. "Goodbye," she told Cole as she strode past everyone and headed for the stairs.
"Not yet, Phoebe," Leo called out. "What I'm about to say also pertains to you and I want you to hear it straight from me." While he waited for her to return, he suddenly realized Richard was sitting there. "You don't have to stay."
Richard glanced up at Paige and, when she squeezed his hand, he told Leo, "Yeah, I do."
"Fine," Leo nodded, "then all of you listen up. From this moment on, you will start considering the consequences of your actions before you act. You will be more mindful of warnings and rules. You will start listening."
"We do listen," Paige insisted.
"When it's convenient," he countered. "Believe me, I know how you operate and I know how successful you've been. The Charmed Ones are a true force to be reckoned with which's why you've often deserved the leeway you've been given. But lately it's been hard even for me to justify some of your actions when it seems that, in some ways, you haven't grown at all in six years." He recognized the anger smoldering in Piper's eyes and he held up his hand to stop her before she began to speak. "I know about the sacrifices you've each made for magic. I know what you've each lost and I know how badly you've each been hurt. But there comes a time when you've got to accept that you're not the sole force fighting for good. And that you're not the best. That there are others who might, on occasion, actually know better. You've got to learn when to hold on. And know when to let go."
Phoebe recognized that phrase and held Cole's gaze for a moment before she turned toLeo and shrugged, "So what now? We're on probation? We get punished for fighting evil the only way we know how?"
"Did you hear a word I said?" he asked sharply. "Stop taking everything so personally, Phoebe. All of you. You're not being punished. We're not out to get you or to make your lives miserable."
"Well, maybe if we were clued in on the important things," Paige complained, "we wouldn't feel like we were winging it all the time and then maybe we wouldn't need to behaving this conversation at three in the morning."
Piper's heart pounded and she asked hopefully, "Leo, are you saying that you're coming back to guide us?"
"No," he replied in a softer tone. He hoped she could still read his expression and understand that he wished it were different. He gave a slight cough and announced, "But you have been assigned a new Whitelighter. Effective immediately."
Piper tried not to let her disappointment show. She knew it'd been wishful thinking to hope that Leo would return permanently. She tried to convey her understanding as she gazed back at him even as she tried to continue a normal conversation. "I thought none of the Whitelighters wanted to work with us."
"That's true," he nodded with a silent promise to spend time with her alone, "for all the reasons I've told you. Nevertheless, you've proven that you're still too reckless on your own and you need the guidance." He turned to Cole, "Say hello to your new charges."
"What?!" Cole and Paige exclaimed at the same time.
"You need guidance and a mentor," Leo told the sisters. "And you," he told Cole, "need to learn how to trust in goodness and to work as part of a team."
"This isn't fair," Paige muttered.
Leo sighed and repeated, "This isn't a punishment. I know you, all of you," he added pointedly as he watched Cole, "and I know where your strengths and weaknesses lie. And it's time each of you acknowledged and accepted both. You need to learn from one another so that you can grow and fulfill your destinies to your full potential." He glanced at all parties and suggested, "Why don't you all get some sleep now? I'll be back tomorrow to tell you about your first assignment as a team."
"Like we can fall asleep now," Paige grumbled as soon as Leo orbed out of the room.
"Paige…" Piper sighed understanding her youngest sister's feelings. She turned to Cole, "This isn't going to be easy."
"For me either," he acknowledged. "But it seems we have no choice."
"As always," Paige uttered when she suddenly stood. "No matter what Leo's ordered," she informed him, "you can't expect us to welcome you back with open arms."
"I don't," he somberly told her. "But I do expect you to cooperate. Leo's right about one thing. You do need a mentor and you can certainly learn a lot from me."
"Respect is a two-way street, Cole," Piper said. "It's got to be earned. And that takes time."
"Agreed," Cole nodded.
"I hate this," Paige shook her head.
Richard stood and placed his hand on her arm, "C'mon, let's go home. It'll look better in the morning."
"No, it won't," she replied as she pushed his hand away. "I told you what he did to me. To all of us. But you don't know. Not really. You weren't there. You didn't see."
"I can't keep apologizing for what the Source did to me," Cole snapped. "And I can't keep apologizing for suffering the consequences of escaping the Wasteland. And I certainly won't keep apologizing for the way I was brought up. You were right," he said as he glanced from Paige to Piper, "Prue was right. Once a demon, always a demon. I can't change the past and I won't live in it any longer. I am who I am and I've accepted it. And it's time for you to accept it too."
"You've changed in three months," Piper realized.
"I had no choice," he told her, "and I don't expect from you anything more than an open mind to the possibility that I might just be able to help you for no other reason than the fact that I want to."
"But you don't," Paige insisted. "You don't want this any more than I do."
"Maybe I didn't," he admitted, "until this moment. Maybe now I need to prove something."
"To us?" Piper warily asked.
He nodded. "And to myself," he added.
Paige tugged on Richard's sleeve, "I think I'd like to go home now."
"I can't do this," Phoebe quietly announced just as Piper hugged Paige.
Surprised, Paige pulled back and commented, "I would've thought out of all of us you'd be the most happy."
Phoebe shrugged helplessly, "I can't be caught in the middle anymore. I can't keep defending any of you to each other anymore." Both of her sisters were about to interrupt and she shook her head as her eyes welled with tears. "I know you, Paige, and I know that even if he proved it a million times over you will never see Cole as the good man he is. And I know you, Piper, and I know that no matter how many times Cole might save us, it will never make you forget what he tried to do to you while you were pregnant with Wyatt or what happened to Chris in our attic. And I know you, Cole," she continued as her tears fell, "and I know that no matter how much we all back off, you will never forget how we, how I, kept turning you away especially when you needed me the most. Maybe a truce will work for a few days or even a few weeks but what happens when the resentments start creeping back into our words, our actions? I can't keep waiting for the explosion that's eventually going to happen. I won't be able to handle it."
Paige and Piper both pulled Phoebe into their arms and each promised her that everything would be okay.
"It's just gonna take some time," Piper softly promised. "Give us a chance, Pheebs."
"Give us all a chance," Cole added from the side.
Phoebe disentangled herself from her sisters and sniffled. After a moment, she agreed with a silent nod.
Paige kissed her, "Get some sleep, honey, I'll see you in the morning."
As soon as Paige and Richard orbed out, Piper glanced at the couple standing before her. "See you in the morning, Cole."
"Yeah, sure," he responded, not quite taking his eyes off Phoebe.
"Well, then," Piper awkwardly replied when she realized the two still needed to talk, "I'm off to bed." She hugged Phoebe and whispered, "I'm your sister and I will always love you. No matter what."
"Love you too," Phoebe replied before she cleared her throat. She watched Piper leave and climb the stairs before she wiped her eyes and turned back to Cole. "I need some air." And, before he could say anything, she walked out.
Cole followed her out to the back patio and watched her gaze at the sky. "Make a wish?"
She shook her head and didn't turn around. "The clouds are out. It's too dark. Besides," she added, "wishes don't always come true." He didn't respond and she faced him, "I didn't thank you for saving me at the warehouse. It shouldn't've mattered why you were there and I should've been more grateful."
"I'm sorry I let it go too far before I acted," he apologized. "Why?" he suddenly asked.
"I don't know," she quietly admitted.
"You don't know why you hit me?" he exclaimed in disbelief.
"Hit you?" she echoed in surprise. "I thought you meant…"
He suddenly smiled and shook his head, "I know why you did that."
"Then maybe you can explain it to me," she mumbled to herself before she cleared her throat again. "I, um, hit you because I was angry." He raised his eyebrow and she frowned, "And it's all coming back to me again. How could you not contact me? I called you but for three months I didn't hear one word from you. Leo knew I was worried and I know he spent a lot of time with you. I shouldn't have to hear from him that you're okay and that I should stop calling."
"I don't believe this," he complained as he turned away. "I can't believe you were mad because I gave you what you wanted." He spun back to face her. "I left you alone. I let you move on. With Jason. Why would I want to talk to you when all you'd do is keep hammering it into me that I've got to be good? I thought you had more faith in me that. Now I know I made the right choice in staying away."
Phoebe slugged him in the jaw again. "You idiot!"
Cole rubbed his jaw and glared at her, "Paige is right. This'll never work."
As soon as he began to orb, Phoebe grabbed him and shouted, "I was worried about you! About how you were coping with the loss of Belthazor and the gain of Chris's powers. I was concerned about you being forced to start a new life without any support. It never crossed my mind for even one moment to think that you'd turn back to evil."
Cole stared back at her with his mouth half-open, unable to find his voice.
Phoebe shook her head. "I thought it might be hard for you and that you'd want someone to talk to. Someone you could trust." She glared at him, "Obviously I was wrong." She pushed past him to leave but he grabbed her arm. "What?"
"I'm sorry," he finally said as he released her arm. "I thought…I thought a clean break would be best for all of us. I didn't want to interfere in your relationship with Jason."
"And what about when it was over?" she challenged. "Leo told me you knew. I thought that after the Dark Starling we might've begun a new path. Not recapturing what we had but something different. Why didn't you come back then?"
"I had my reasons," he quietly told her.
But Phoebe was unable to let it go. "Such as?"
Cole sighed, "Such as I knew Jason was the one who ended the relationship, not you. I've been there, Phoebe. I know what it feels like to love someone and be told it's not enough. I know what it's like to feel rejected even if it was meant with the best of intentions. If I'd come to you, you'd've thought I was flinging the past back in your face. You'd've accused me of being happy to see you that way. That's not what I wanted. And even if that wouldn't've been the case, if I had come back and told you I wanted to try again, that things would be different, can you honestly say you wouldn't've turned me away anyway? I wasn't ready to risk my heart for you again."
"And now?" she whispered. "What happens now?"
"Now we get a few hours sleep," he decided. "And then we take each day as it comes."
"It'll never be the same again," she sadly realized, "will it?"
"No," he agreed as he orbed away, "it'll sure as hell be different. But maybe that's not such a bad thing."
*********** ********** ************
"Leo!" Piper whispered loudly as she stopped pacing and looked up at the ceiling. "Get your butt down here!"
A moment later, he orbed into her bedroom. "You need your sleep, Piper. It's not good for the baby to be up this late."
"Leave Chris out of this," she demanded. "I can't believe you didn't tell us, tell me, that you were making Cole our Whitelighter."
"It wasn't planned," he assured her. "Believe me, Piper, Cole asked me three months ago not to make him your Whitelighter."
"He what?" she asked in surprise.
Leo nodded, "He was afraid that, due to the circumstances, and the fact that he…inherited Halliwell powers, it'd be a no-brainer. But, at the time, I was able to oblige his request."
"And now?" she warily inquired.
"It's exactly like I told you. Like it or not, you need each other." He reached over and caressed her belly, "Chris came into our lives for a reason, Piper, and we owe it to him to give him, and his brother, the best future possible."
Piper placed her hand on Leo's and couldn't help but smile before she chuckled. "If you think about it, Chris actually caused his own conception." Leo looked puzzled and she grinned, "If he hadn't've thought of bringing Cole back, I wouldn't've freaked out and, well, you know…"
"I know," he smiled before he kissed her on her forehead. "Get some sleep. We'll deal with the rest tomorrow."
His lips lingered on her skin and she closed her eyes and used the moment to hold his arms. "It'll never be the same."
"No," he agreed with a comforting smile as he pulled back, "but that doesn't mean it'll be bad." He kissed her again, "Give it some time, Piper. I promise it'll get better. The future holds such promise for this family, you just have to be willing to accept it."
"You'd better be right," she warned him, "or your children will be the ones who have to pay."
"Trust me," he softly requested. "Believe in me, and in each other, and you'll find the magic again."
"I didn't think we'd lost it," she suddenly teased as she led him to the bed and invited him to join her.
He hesitated, "I thought we agreed this wasn't a good idea anymore."
"Some pregnant women crave pickles," Piper grinned as she unbuttoned his shirt, "I crave the father of my children."
Unable to resist, Leo pulled her close, "Who am I to deny a pregnant woman her craving?"
"C'mere, Elder Leo," she teased as she reached over and turned out the light, "and prove that Whitelighters don't have all the fun."
And he did.
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