Wow! Thirteen reviews! It helps to complain.

Ernie: And. Now. For. Some. Long. Overdue. Thank. Yous. From. Both. Me. And. Cinammon.

Meow14: Please don't freak out on me. I can absolutely guarantee that Cole will not be going crazy. You are absolutely right. He doesn't suit crazy. He is strong and he is powerful and although he will do anything for Talia and Pheobe, he is still a bad guy, albeit an honourable one.

Siamese: Hey, are you a new reviewer? I'm glad you think Talia's such an interesting character. A lot of thought has gone into her. She's very real to me. As for which way she will turn... last time I asked her, she kept insisting she was good now and threatened me with a fireball when I suggested otherwise. But the thing is... she'll never be completely good, like Wyatt is. She finds the dark side too... alluring for that.

TanyaM: It's good to hear from you again! I have a little surprise for you at the very end of this chapter... Read on to find out.

Mickis: Hey Micki you're so fine,

you're so fine you blow my mind,

Hey Micki! Hey Micki!

Hehehe! I'm sorry, I've been dying to do that since you first reviewed. I'm glad you still like my story!

Ori1: Ooh drugs, doctors, hospitals and sick people! Not nice. You have my full sympathy. Hope you are feeling better! Oh, and because you asked, Piper and Leo are together in this story. They've remarried and are very much in love, as always. After the whole "Chris Fiasco" (Chapter 2: Reunion) they decided that they do belong together. I haven't actually seen much of season 6, so I haven't elaborated on that, but as far as I can tell, Leo is still an Elder and very busy. He's not around much, but he tries to be, and the Haliwells are very understanding. The Charmed Ones don't really have a whitelighter. With two half-whitelighters and an Elder frequently dropping by, do they really need to?

Oh and as for Talia... you sound as if you think of me as a sadist! Well, there's nothing wrong with a little bit of torture, isn't there?

Piper: Lol! I'm glad you've grown to like Talia so much, but I don't think so yet. Talia's still young and there's a whole lot of things for her to experience out there. She's not really the family type. Maybe one day she will be. Who knows?

Phoebe-Cole-lovers-foreve: Phoebe and Cole will not be getting back together. They love each other very much, but they belong in different worlds and they know that now. Talia is the only real bridge between them.

Charmedchick11: I'm really glad you like my story. Hope you like this upcoming chapter too. It's action packed!

Bob-the-bear: I don't think Talia appreciates your two-timing comment.

Talia: I don't!

Talia's torn between two really nice guys who she really likes. It's not a very nice place to be. I think she's just confused.

Talia: Yup! That's right! I'm just confused!

But because you asked for it... this chapter is dedicated to you.

Svata2004: You are my rock! You are always asking for more my friend, aren't you? Much appreciated.

Barb6: It's so good to have you back! I missed you! And you've described my story as "absolutely great"! I LOVE you!

Lothy: My story has CAPTIVATED you? Wow! I love that word! Keep reading!

Chantedly: Wow! Two CAPTIVATED readers for one chapter??? I love you guys! So what's this demon of yours like Chantedly? Don't hold out on us. Is he tall dark and handsome? *Sigh* I wish I had my own demon!

Valdis: You do! Have you forgottten all about me?

You don't count. You're a fictional character.

Valdis: Hrmf! Fine! Be that way!

No! What I meant was...

Erm guys? Help?

.

I would also like to thank My devoted beta, Nightcrawler. Have I mentioned how wonderful you are lately? Without him, nothing in bold or in italics would ever look this good.

Ernie: Do. Your. Beta. Magic. Nightcrawler.

.

And without further ado,

I present the next chapter to you,

But please, pretty please,

Don't forget to review!

.

Chapter 36: In the fury of the storm

"I'm glad we've decided to do this," said Josh smiling into Talia's eyes.

"Me too," she answered, returning his smile but avoiding his gaze.

No, Josh wasn't Valdis. He could never be. And she was glad of that, wasn't she?

Talia had to finally admit to herself in the early hours of the morning, as she lay awake in bed, that Josh was really more of a friend than anything else. She cared for him and would protect him with all she had if need be, but his kisses could never send shivers down her spine like Valdis' had. There was just no spark of that something special, between her and Josh, like there had been between her and Valdis. She was flattered by Josh's response to her, but there was simply no magic between them. No pun intended of course.

"Should we get some dessert?"

She smiled up at him again. He really was sweet!

"How about we go for a walk? We can probably find something on the way."

"Sounds like a plan. Shall we go then?"

Talia rose from her seat. Josh helped her into her coat.

She couldn't help but feel guilty for deceiving him. Josh was like an open book, and even if he hadn't been, Talia had been trained from young to read people. When it came to her, Josh was rapidly going down a certain path Talia recognised. It was a path that Talia knew would lead him to heartache.

As Princess of All Evil, she had led many men down the same path for her own sadistic fun and enjoyment. She had loved the attention. All it took really was a smile, or a certain look, and men of all ages, strengths and weaknesses, would throw themselves at her feet willing to do anything for her. It made her feel powerful and she loved to see them make fools of themselves in an attempt to impress her. But her friendship with Nicholas had changed her in more ways than one.

She had been selfish and uncaring when it came to anyone but her father, Xander and herself. Nicholas was a shock. He was a warm hearted person, who genuinely cared about everyone around him. He would have made a fine doctor! Then she met Wyatt and the Charmed Ones and she realised what it felt like to care for people; to consider their feelings above your own.

She threw a sideways glance at Josh and hated herself for doing this to him! She knew she had to break it off, but she couldn't. She needed to stay close to Josh to protect him. And so she had made her choice. He needed her. She would forsake her own feelings and stay with him for as long as he needed her. She would be loyal and sweet, like a girlfriend should be. And she would protect him.

Ironic really...it all boiled down to the same choice her mother had had to make sixteen years ago: to follow her heart, or the side of good. It was a tough choice to make, but unlike Phoebe, Talia had been raised with a sense of duty and awareness of the magical war that was continually fought around her. She had chosen sides and to her, there was really no choice. Duty called and she answered.

"Ready?"

She nodded. Besides, she could do a whole lot worse than Josh. She did care for him after all.

He opened the door for her and, placing his hand on the small of her back, guided her out of the restaurant.

**************************

A pair of cold grey eyes watched the couple as they exited the restaurant. A cruel sneer graced his otherwise handsome features. Words echoed in his mind.

~Not long now, my love. We'll be together soon...~

**************************

"Mmm, don't you just love the smell of fresh waffles?"

"There's nothing like it," agreed Talia, taking a big bite out of hers.

Josh laughed at her.

"You've got chocolate syrup on your nose."

Talia grinned and tried to reach the tip of her nose with her tongue. Josh simply laughed at her some more and threw her a paper napkin.

The two teenagers were huddling under the tent of a shop in the dark. December made its presence known with a chilling wind, but wrapped up in her warm jacket, all Talia needed to keep her warm was the fresh waffles they had just bought off a street vendor and their cheerful banter.

Unfortunately, that's when the weather decided to throw them all it had. Lightning tore the sky.

"Oh-oh..." said Talia ominously.

Sure enough the thunder followed almost immediately. The skies burst open and rain fell heavily all around them. They were lucky to have been standing under the tent.

"Whose bright idea was it go for a walk in the middle of December?" asked Talia with an exasperated sigh.

"Um... yours, Tal..."

"Oh. Yeah. I forgot," she said grinning sheepishly.

The two of them stood in silence under tent munching their waffles, looking thoughtfully at the storm.

"It's not that bad," Josh lied.

As if to prove him wrong, a second lightning lit the sky. Deafening thunder followed.

Talia threw Josh an incredulous look. He shrugged. She swallowed the last of her waffle.

"How are we going to get to the car?"

"There's not much choice is there?" he said, "We'll have to run for it."

The two teenagers looked back at the storm and steeled themselves for the task at hand.

"Ready?"

Talia nodded before they both pulled their jackets over their heads. With one last look exchanged, they both lunged out from under the protection the shop tent offered, and into the manic storm.

In seconds they were both soaked to the bone. Talia felt deep laughter bubbling in her throat. She couldn't help it. She loved the rain.

"Over here!" yelled Josh turning into an alley, "Shortcut!"

Unthinkingly, Talia followed.

It was only when she saw the menacing figure in black blocking their way that she regretted their decision. She stopped and raised her hand to prevent Josh from moving forward any further.

The unknown man's hood was pulled low to hide his features. At that moment, it didn't matter to Talia who he was. She already knew what he was and what he wanted.

"Talia?" she heard Josh ask in confusion next to her.

She grabbed Josh and turned on her heel to leave the alley the way they came, but their exit was blocked by two other demons of similar appearance. Roughly she pushed Josh behind her as more demons appeared from the shadows of the alley. Talia and Josh were surrounded.

The scene froze for a while as Talia mentally counted the demons threatening them. There was a demon behind them, two in front, and another one on each side. That made six all together. Josh and Talia were trapped!

The rain cascaded down on all of them; wet hair plastered on foreheads, stares unflinching. Talia felt all her senses heighten in preparation of the oncoming battle. She took a single deep breath even as Josh stared uncomprehendingly at everyone around him.

"WYATT!!!" shouted Talia with all her might, before all hell broke loose.

**************************

Wyatt was in the Halliwell living room watching television when he heard Talia's scream go off in his head.

Wyatt was half whitelighter. He had no official charges as yet, but he had soon found out that if he concentrated hard enough, he could locate at least the members of his own family successfully. It was this ability for Talia to alert him to any danger, and Talia's pointing it out, that eventually persuaded him to agree to her, otherwise mad idea, to keep Operation Josh a secret from the Charmed Ones. Talia's call conveyed to him the fact that the long-awaited attack on Josh was finally taking place.

His cousin needed him.

Wyatt jumped off the couch.

"Mom, I'm going up to my room," he said before racing to his room.

"What's up with him?" asked Phoebe, who along with Wyatt and Piper, had been watching television.

Piper shrugged and went back to the game show they had all been watching.

**************************

Talia was doing her best but there were just too many of them, she thought, as she barely jumped out of the way of a fireball. Unceremoniously, she tackled Josh to the ground with her. He simply stared, frozen in shock and horror.

"Stay down!" she yelled before getting back up.

She spun round and kicked one of the demons that had surrounded them. Without pausing to survey the damage she had exacted on the, now crumpled, figure laying on the ground, she almost absentmindedly, waved her right hand. A demon flew across the narrow alley, landing painfully on one of his comrades. And then, Talia found herself standing in front of one of the largest demons she had ever seen.

He was strong, but she was fast. She blocked blow after blow, barely missing a beat, or a chance to give as much as she got. The demon was soon staggering backwards, away from her onslaught. As she jumped out of the way of a particularly lethal-looking punch, she saw out of the corner of her eye one of the other demons creeping up behind her. She risked a few moments to form a fireball and hurl it at him. She barely had time to register the screams of the dying demon as he disappeared into a pile of ashes, before being forced to turn her attention back to the demon in front of her. With a jumping kick that nearly took his head off, Talia disposed of her opponent.

"Talia...!"

She turned round to see Josh pointing at yet another attacker that was menacingly advancing towards her. He carried one of the numerous metal trash cans, the alley thoughtfully provided, above his head. His intent to throw that, at her was clear. Another wave of her hand quickly disarmed him. A second wave threw him at the brick wall with such force that with a single groan he slid to the floor and stayed there.

Talia turned round to thank Josh for his warning just in time to witness a terrifying sight. One of the demons had apparently gone unnoticed by her and now stood directly behind Josh. Talia's lips parted with a warning that never came, as the athame, clutched tightly in the demon's hands, buried itself to the hilt between Josh's shoulder blades. Once again lightning tore at the sky as Talia watched in horror the scene before her. It was as if everything was suddenly in slow motion. Josh's eyes widened at the unexpected pain, as he slid to the ground, revealing his attacker who was still standing behind him.

She didn't see the swirl of pale blue lights, or hear the telltale chime of heavenly bells that signalled the arrival of her cousin. Only when his blue eyes met her own did she know that he was there. The unspoken words between them were louder than the thunder that filled the world around them.

Wyatt quickly bent down over Josh and as gently as possible, pulled the dagger out of his friend's back. He then spread his hands over the growing red blotch that marred the back of Josh's jacket. A soft glow indicated that the healing had begun.

The man responsible for Josh's predicament took a terrified step backwards when he saw the flames that were literally dancing in Talia's eyes. The other remaining four demons felt a growing sense of foreboding as Talia's wet hair whipped around her. They could feel the power summoned by the teenage girl before them, and were amazed, entranced, awed. None of them attempted to, as much as move, or shimmer away as they watched her.

An unearthly scream left Talia's lips and fire burst from her finger tips. The fire raced along her limps until a fiery aura seemed to cover her body. There was a blinding flash, and all those present were forced to shield their eyes lest they go blind. When they could finally see, it was all they could do not to gasp aloud at the sight.

A beautiful bird flew above them; a Phoenix. Its fiery wings tore into the darkness of the night, and its haunting cry rivalled the thunder of the storm as it swooped down at the demon that had stabbed Josh. The man raised his arm in an attempt to shield himself from the flames.

The Phoenix collided with the demon and for a while, all one could see were sharp, murderous claws tearing at burning flesh. The demon's agony was almost palpable and his screams were raised above the storm. Everyone present could do nothing but stare as the Phoenix vented her fury.

When the demon she had literally torn apart was no more, the Phoenix turned back to the other demons. Her eyes spelled their doom it their fiery depths. One by one the demons shimmered away, but not before throwing the fire bird one last horrified look.

The Phoenix hovered above the alley for a while before uttering another of its blood curdling screams. Its great fiery wings seemed to flare and yet another blinding flash ensued. Wyatt covered his eyes. When he opened them again, there was no sign of the great bird. Instead, he saw his cousin kneeling on one knee in the middle of the alley, a few feet away from him. She was panting heavily.

Wyatt stood up and walked up to her unsurely.

"Tal, are you ok?" he asked consciously.

When she turned her face up to look at him, he was startled to see the embers of a dying fire still glowing in her eyes.

"I'm fine," she answered. "Help me up?"

Wyatt took her proffered hand and pulled her to her feet.

"Who the hell are you people?"

Wyatt and Talia spun round to see a healed Josh stare at them, eyes wide open, horror written in his every feature.

"Josh..." Talia managed, reaching a weary hand towards him.

Josh jumped away from her touch as if it would burn him. Not an illogical action after what he had just seen.

For a tiny moment, Wyatt thought he saw hurt in Talia's eyes, but it was gone before he had time to make sure. It was as if a mask had come down to cover her features. He face became blank, betrayed no emotion.

"Josh..."

"Get away from me you freaks!" he said, then spun round and fled, too scared to think straight.

Talia and Wyatt were left standing in the rain, which had at least slowed down to almost a drizzle. Unconsciously, Wyatt turned to his cousin for instruction.

 "I was hoping we could handle all this alone, but it's time to let the Charmed Ones know. Orb back to the manor, explain everything to them and find Josh. He could be anywhere in this city and he's not safe."

Wyatt nodded.

"And what will you do Talia?"

"I think it's time I had a little chat with daddy."

TO BE CONTINUED...