Distribution: This story cannot in part or whole be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may only be distributed with author's permission and must include all disclaimers.
Disclaimer: Cole Turner, Darryl Morris, Prue, Piper, Paige, and Phoebe Halliwell. Leo Wyatt, Jenna, and Andy Trudeau and all other characters that have appeared on the series "Charmed" as well as the concept of Charmed and all backstory are the copyright property of Aaron Spelling, E. Duke Vincent, and the WB Television Network. No copyright infringement was intended. All original characters as well as the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author.
Okay here's the latest and I am sorry that it took so long to get done but what can I say, my Muse is very picky.
While Piper was learning that not everything is as it appears, especially when it comes to the world of magic, two things were happening. The Twins were washing up upstairs while the boys washed up downstairs. Each pair was about to make a rather startling discovery.
Anita had pulled Julianna behind her up the stairs; Julianna had simply wanted to be with her mate but Anita realized that Grams was right, if they had gone together no one would have seen them till lunch or dinner as the case maybe.
"Don't even think about it." Anita said to her sister as she gathered some clothes for them to change into.
"Don't think about what?" Julianna knew it was a waste of time trying to fool her sister but that didn't mean she wasn't going to try, but as usual her sister was being the reasonable one just like Darryl was probably being with her love right now.
"You shimmer down there and we are going to be toast and you know it so just let that thought pass sis, just let it pass. Here's your stuff and remember the faster you change the quicker we can get back to them." Anita watch with a smile on her face as her sister practically tore off her jammies in her haste. It was while watching the jammies top go flying through the air that she realized something just wasn't right. "Uhm, Julianna? Julianna."
"Hey get changed right now Anita so we can get back downstairs." Julianna studied the look on her sister's face. "What's wrong?"
"If memory serves these were not the jammies we went to bed in. Are they?" She watched the question appear on her sister's face, one that she knew was mirrored on her own.
"No they aren't. How did we get our clothes changed? Did Darryl get us new jammies after." Julianna's voice trailed off as a memory from the night before came back to her, came hard and fast. "Whoa. Uhm sis… do you remember last night… I mean did that actually happen or am I having very… uhm…"
"If you are talking about the earth moving in such a very big way then no you were not dreaming and yes it did happen." Anita looked at her sister, looked very closely at her. What she saw was nothing short of amazing, her sister was practically glowing.
"Uhm sis, you're glowing."
Anita and her sister spoke at the same time. Quickly the two looked to the mirror over the sink and simply stared at their reflections that were in fact giving off a subtle but definite purple glow.
"Okay we are both glowing and we woke up with different jammies on. Any ideas?" Anita turned to look directly at Julianna as she spoke. The answer however, came not from her sister but from the doorway.
"Having a problem girls?" Pee Wee was smiling sweetly at the Twins, the glow coming from them also giving off a warmth that he knew only magical creatures would be able to see and feel. "Okay I see that we left our senses of humor downstairs so let me explain."
"That would be a very good idea." Julianna was upset and it showed. If something had happened then she wanted to know what it was, especially since her mate was probably also affected.
Pee Wee could see that Julianna was upset and he quickly made the connection. She's worried about Cole; she's worried something happened to him last night as well. He hadn't meant to worry the child but he also felt it only right to wait until the Twins were with their mates before breaking the good news. Quickly he decided on what to do.
"Well I know that you are wondering how you went to bed in one pair of jammies and woke up in another. That one I would be glad to answer. You see during the night there was some, how shall we say, excitement that resulted in your original jammies being discarded. Now this morning when Grams came down to make breakfast she was greeted by a most unusual site."
"And that site would be." Julianna was fast losing her patients; she was beginning to feel an overwhelming need to be with Cole. She could tell by the look on Anita's face that she was feeling the same way.
"A Moon festival." Pee Wee smirked up at them. He rolled his eye a moment later when realized that they weren't getting it. "How do you sleep at night? On your sides wrapped around your mates and without a stitch of jammies on with the covers pulled down… " He saw when they finally made the connection. "Grams put the new jammies on so she could fix breakfast without having another laughing fit." It took less time then he thought to get their reaction, but it was satisfying nonetheless. He had given them something that would take their minds off other things for a little while anyway. He didn't want to spring everything on them all at once and they definitely needed to release some tension before the other news was delivered. Even though they were sure that the boys and the Twins would be happy about the big news they also knew that between Cole's blindness and a Charmed One being in the house there was tension to spare and they wanted to alleviate some of that tension and quickly. Tension was definitely not good for the new Mommy's to be.
"What!"
The Twins looked to each other, grabbed the rest of their clothes and tossed them on while on the way to the kitchen and their Grams. They met by the boys at the foot of the stairs and the four turned to Grams as one.
While Pee Wee was talking to the Twins the two puppies were talking to the boys downstairs.
As soon as the door was shut Cole started to undress and quickly realized that he didn't have the same clothes on as he had when they had gone to bed. Needing to make sure he wasn't imagining things he turned to Darryl.
"Okay is it just me or I am wearing different jammies than the ones I went to be in?" As Cole spoke he absently rubbed Snuggles' head as the puppy sat next to him on the sink. The feel of these jammies against his skin was different.
Darryl took a moment to actually look at himself and his charge before answering. "You are correct my friend, we are wearing different jammies and I would dearly love to know how it happened." Darryl found himself actually becoming frightened at the thought that someone could get that close to Cole without him knowing about it. Before he could get a full panic attack going though Bearlock decided to intervene.
"It was Grams." Bearlock said from his place on the sink next to Darryl. When Darryl turned and looked at him he decided to come clean. "Last night there was an… event shall we say." He paused when he heard both boys sharp intake of breath.
"It wasn't a dream. It actually happened." Cole remembered the feeling of Julianna's body under his, of joining with her in a way that was even more intense than when the four of them had joined in the past. As he felt the feelings that were coming from Darryl he knew that his friend was thinking the same thing.
"What does that have to do with our change of clothes though?" Darryl, for the life of him, just couldn't think it through to an answer that made sense. Of course when he heard the answer he didn't feel so bad.
"Well you see." Bearlock turned to Snuggles. "You tell them."
"Why does it have to be me?" Snuggles asked as he turned to look at his furry friend. One look told him that if he didn't tell the boys then no one would. Muttering a little under his breath about Bearlock owing him for this he took a deep breath and simply forged ahead. "Okay, this is what happened. This morning when Grams came out to make breakfast she found you four in a state of… uhm shall we say undress and considering that you were each curled up around your mates well… Grams was greeted by four rather naked uhm…" Snuggles stopped speaking as he heard a groan come from each of the boys. "It was only her, she was the only one who was up."
"Besides us of course." Bearlock said, trying to help. "And after she stopped laughing she simply put new jammies on the four of you."
Neither puppy had expected the reaction that they got; a one-word exclamation that was echoed by two female voices coming from above them.
"WHAT!"
Darryl looked to Cole and quickly put the t-shirt he had grabbed for his friend over his head and as Cole finished putting his arms through the sleeves he put on his pants. As soon as each of them was clad in their t-shirt and jeans Cole reached out for Darryl's arm and they took off down the hallway. As they reached the staircase the ran into their Twins, no words were needed as together the four made their into the kitchen. Their Grams was in the kitchen and they wanted answers.
"Grams what did you do?"
Grams turned to face the four voices and found four very upset children. She quickly looked to the furry ones and knew that they had finked. Instead of copping to it though she tried for innocent. "What do you mean what did I do? I haven't done anything." The looks she was receiving did not seem to coincide with what she had done a few hours earlier. They looked upset and they were glowing. Glowing? What could possibly make them glow like that and what is it that they think I have done? As Grams pondered this she looked to her Uncle D and was startled to find confusion there, as if he too were confused by the children's actions. She reasoned that if he was confused then he had to know what really happened last night.
"Uncle D would you care to share with the rest of the class because I have the distinct feeling that we are on two different wavelengths here." Grams briefly flicked her eyes back to the four and found them now looking at Uncle D with interest. As she watched them she saw a ripple in the power around them as each of the boys gripped their twin just a little tighter. The ripple reminded her of something, it took her a moment to realize what that something was but when she did she froze.
"Gods Above and Below you're… you're both… Uncle D what happened? What did you do?" Grams asked her Uncle never taking her eyes off of her boys and the Twins.
"I had very little to do with it. My only involvement was in helping to unite the Circle of Power." As he defended himself he too started to take note of the glow and it's sudden increase. He jumped with everyone else in the room a moment later though as Darryl finally found his voice.
"FOR WHAT!" Darryl wasn't happy and it showed. The very idea that someone, even Uncle D, was able to perform heavy magic that close to Cole made him nervous enough, but when the Twins had also apparently been at risk he moved beyond angry and moved directly to livid. Before he could say anything else he felt a hand grab his arm, he knew without looking that it was Cole's hand and just that small physical contact allowed him to rein in his emotions. Closing his eye he took a few deep breaths and found himself calming down. He knew that Cole was helping him and he couldn't help but smile a little at that thought. For all my talents as Guardian he guards and helps me just as much as I guard and help him. Who would have suspected that when all was said and done that I would be the one with anger control issues? Darryl shook his head a little at the thought before opening his eyes and turning to Grams this time.
"Grams, first off I am sorry for yelling, I didn't mean to but you caught me off guard here." He waited till Grams had nodded her head, a sure sign that she isn't going to hold it against him before moving on to, in his mind the more important business at hand. He knew Grams wouldn't take it personally, Gods knows she'd been on the receiving end of enough of his outbursts during the past year and never once held it against him and for that he was eternally grateful. "Now," he said, getting back to the business at hand, "what exactly happened last night? I mean other than what I believe all of us have now remembered happening that is." He briefly glanced to the Twins and Cole and could see each of them turn a slightly different shade of red and he once again thanked whoever was listening for his own dark complexion as it hid a multitude of sins. Anita's complexion wasn't quite dark enough to cover the blush and like always he found it incredibly cute. He turned back to Grams as she cleared her throat.
Grams wasn't entirely sure what happened but she had a fairly good idea, after all one didn't reach her age by not paying attention; she only hoped that the furry ones would fill in the appropriate blanks. "Okay but why don't we sit down first." She ushered everyone into the living room area where they all took seats while the boys and the Twins simply sat on their bed, with their puppies of course. Pee Wee had chosen to stay on Uncle D's back as he sat on the living room table at the foot of the boys pulled out sofa bed; Piper chose to sit in the chair nearest Cole's side of the bed and had Pandy firmly planted on her lap. Once she was sure everyone was comfortable she decided to simply dive right in.
"Alright then, this is what I think has happened. First I believe that the furry ones are even more than we first realized. You are Soul Carriers aren't you?" She looked to each of them as they shook their furry heads yes. "Okay then. If they are Soul Carriers then they must have had cargo when we rescued them. Am I right?" Again they unanimously shook their heads yes. "I also take it that this cargo has now been delivered?" Again the yes nod. "Ahem then that means we can be expecting some little ones soon. Correct?" One big yes nod and the boys and their Twins froze. "I think from your reaction that you four have realized what this means so let me explain to the rest while you four just concentrate on breathing before you all pass out. That's it … in and out… in and out… that's right, just keep doing that and you should be fine. Now as for the rest of you let me elaborate. The furry ones had unborn souls with them when we rescued them and last night, after returning from dealing with Mr. Schmuck he joined the furry ones in delivering those souls to their new parents and if I am not mistaken our Twins will be having their own set of twins each in about nine months."
A whisker could fall to the floor and be heard through out the Manor as everyone froze. Overwhelmed by the news didn't even begin to cover the reactions of those present. It was a good five minutes before anyone spoke.
"I'm going to be a daddy." Both Darryl and Cole said, breaking the silence. They had matching grins on their faces that were only matched in brightness by the grins on the Twins faces. As soon as they spoke the spell was broken and everyone started to talk at once until Grams put two fingers in her mouth and whistled loudly for their attention.
"Okay. Now that we know that we have one more thing to celebrate I strongly suggest that we move to the kitchen and have some breakfast. Come on then hustle their people we don't have all day here you know. Besides we must get the new mommies fed right and proper, so let's move." As everyone jumped up and began to file back into the kitchen she motioned for Darryl to bring Cole to her. Darryl responded immediately because he knew what she wanted. Just as Darryl brought Cole even with her she quickly pulled his right arm to her and jabbed him with the syringe she had been holding in her hand from earlier. She made sure her hold on him was firm and that Darryl had a hold of both of her little one's hands; the brief flash of light from those hands faded harmlessly into Darryl. Her little one's response was the usual.
"Ow! Grams you really have to take a class in how to give shots because all I have to say is OW!" Cole rubbed his arm as soon as Darryl released his hands but quickly grabbed onto his friend a second later as the dizziness hit him. "Whoa. Next time give a guy a little warning if you please." Cole wasn't really upset but he was fighting his emotions and he was simply hiding behind his quips. The thought of becoming a daddy had awakened feelings that he had kept buried until now. He had almost been a daddy once before but his son had never gotten the chance to even take his first breath, a candle in the Hall of Memory was all that would ever be of his lost son and there was a part of his heart that had died the day his son had. As Darryl helped him over to the kitchen table he thought about visiting the Hall again.
"We can go as soon as you feel up to it." Darryl had felt his friend's emotions and knew what he was thinking. The very thought of an innocent child's soul being devoured made his own emotions churn, anger always the one that came to the surface the strongest. He knew Cole had always wanted a family to call his own and just when he thought he had found love enough to try, it had been ripped from him as the girls and Leo simply discarded his friend and his emotions.
"Darryl." He knew what his friend was thinking and he didn't want to spoil this moment for either of them.
"I know." Darryl replied as he lowered Cole into his regular place at the table. Their connection was already strong but they also knew each other so well that most of the time a few words was all that was needed for understanding.
The Twins looked at each while their boys got settled. They knew their boys well enough to know what they were thinking and they had no problem with Darryl taking Cole to the Hall of Memory. His son was the one thing that he had never spoken to either of them about; he only spoke to Darryl and Darryl would never betray that trust nor would they ask him too.
As soon as everyone was settled at the table, with the furry ones eating out of the bowls that Uncle D had placed at their respective charges feet, the conversation turned to other things for the moment. Simmons brought everyone up to speed on what was now known of Slater so far. He had been briefly spotted down by the Bay but he slipped through their fingers before they could take him.
"Sims relax. He'll be caught so don't worry so much and please don't take it out on any of the others. They are only doing their jobs. He's not the only criminal out there that needs catching." Cole told Simmons. He knew Simmons and he knew that his watch-dog had a tendency to get hot under the collar, sometimes taking it out on the poor unfortunates who just happened to be unlucky enough to cross his path. As he felt Darryl reach across the front of him, grabbing his left hand and placing a glass of milk in it, he also felt his friend's emotions and he didn't like where they were going.
"Hey Sherlock, that is so not nice."
"What's not nice? I haven't said a word." Darryl realized right away what had happened; Cole had seen his thoughts. It wasn't like it was the first time he had thought about Slater having an accident but his friend never liked it when he had those thoughts. Vengeance against Slater was something that always seemed to bother Cole and he had figured out why rather quickly.
A tiny part of Cole still believes that his being a Chosen One is a mistake and even after all Darryl has tried to do, that tiny little piece remains. Darryl blames the Charmed Ones for that piece that he can't seem to get rid of. The three girls and Leo destroyed parts of his friend that he shall never be able to repair, no matter how hard he tries and Darryl simply can't bring himself to forgive them, not yet. He isn't even sure he will be able to ever fully forgive them for what they have done to his charge but, for his charge, he will try.
"You know exactly what I am talking about. There shall be no accidents involving Slater that result in his untimely demise. Got it? And that goes for you too Simmons. I know you and you would help Sherlock over here in a hot second. I want Slater to pay by the laws that govern him not by the laws that govern us. Got it? Good. Now partner would you be so kind as to get my tea for me please?" Cole wasn't sure what was for breakfast but he always had tea in the morning and he knew that if he tried to prepare it himself right now his Guardian would have to rescue him from himself. Pouring tea when one cannot see is a sure fire way to end up getting burned as he had found out the hard way the first and only time he had ever tried doing it himself.
Darryl looked to Simmons and both had the same look… they heard but that didn't mean that Slater was now safe from any accidents, if the man chose to step in front of an oncoming bullet then too bad for him.
Uncle D watched as the family got down to the business of eating. His eyes moved to Julianna as she fed her soon to be husband his breakfast. She always fed him breakfast, it was the one meal of the day that almost always had to be eaten with knife, fork, and spoon and it was hard on her to watch Cole struggle just to eat. It had taken only one meal for her to start the current system and she had a way about doing it that made his nephew feel completely at ease, in fact he thoroughly enjoyed his morning meal feeding time. Uncle D smiled as he watched them. His smile grew as he looked to Anita feeding Darryl his morning meal. Both of the boys enjoyed this time with their mates and Uncle D enjoyed watching them.
His eyes shifted to Piper, her gaze moving around the table as she ate. He knew she was uncomfortable, especially watching Cole with Julianna but he also knew that if she was to join their little family then she would have to learn to accept them, all of them just the way they were. The Prophecy told of her coming and joining them, however none of them had imagined that the "her" of the Prophecy would be Piper, a Halliwell and a Charmed One. Of course they would do all that they could to help her, Uncle D still knew that when it came down to it the road was going to be very painful for all concerned. Somehow though he knew that she was going to bolt soon and when she did he would be right there with her. He knew he could count on Darryl taking care of Cole while he was gone, well Darryl and Raven and Cam and Simmons and Tim and the rest of them he mused. Piper would be the one who would need someone and he elected himself for the task, of course he knew that Pandy would help him and he was confident that between the two of them they could bring Piper back. It was going to be a painful few lessons she will have to learn before she returns but they were lessons that had to be taught.
His eyes found Raven's and she smiled a small smile at him. She also knew what was to come and she too had the confidence that he would be successful in bringing the Charmed One back. A giggle from Cole brought his eyes back to his nephew. Darryl's giggle soon joined Cole's, Uncle D chuckled a he watched the four play. They were relaxed for the moment and he decided to simply enjoy the moment himself as well. He knew what was to come soon, the second backlash attack but for now he contented himself with simply watching his family at play. The feedings continued and so did the laughter and for that he was thankful. He returned his attention to his own meal but continued to watch and listen and enjoy himself.
A good hour later found Grams and Piper clearing the table and doing the dishes while the others spread themselves out around the room. Simmons and Tim were trying to remake the boys' bed for them, an amusing sight that lasted about five minutes before Prue and Benjamin took over the bed making chore and shooed the two helpless men away.
"One would think that two men of your respective ages would at least know how to make a bed properly." Prue's comment simply earned the men in question snickers from the room in general. Knowing that they weren't going to win this particular argument they decided that discretion was in fact the better part of valor and sulked off to the gaming table situated in the north corner of the living area.
The Twins had brought their men to the south corner of the living area that was known as the reading area. Strewn about the floor were large over stuffed pillows that the twins quickly pulled into a tight circle creating a ringed in area for them to sit and relax in. As soon as the twins were comfortable Darryl helped Cole down first, once Cole was comfy with his head in Julianna's lap, Darryl eagerly arranged himself into a comfy position with his head in Anita's lap. He made sure that his right arm was resting against Cole's left one out of habit.
"Okay then, what shall it be today?" Julianna was not surprised in the least by the answer she received as both boys spoke as one.
"Scooby-Doo."
The twins laughed at the puppy expressions their boys were giving them. "Alright Scooby-Doo it is. Any particular one?"
"No my love just surprise us." Cole said as he snuggled further into both Julianna and Darryl.
Julianna brushed some unruly curls from her love's forehead with one hand while her other hand reached out towards the bookcase that was behind her sister. A thin Scooby-Doo children's chapter book gently floated into her outstretched hand. Just as she got to the first page Cole and Darryl's voices stopped her as they called out across the room.
"Snuggles." "Bearlock." Each boy called for his puppy.
"It's quiet reading time." They both called out.
Snuggles and Bearlock promptly shimmered to their charge's and quickly made themselves comfortable on the boys' chests.
"Okay now we're ready Love." The childlike smile on his face made Julianna smile as she turned to the first page of the book and began to read. Once she finished the first chapter Anita would take over and read the second chapter, they would continue to switch back and forth until they finished the entire book.
Piper had a towel in her hand that she was using to clean off the table but as she looked over to the reading corner she became transfixed by the scene that was taking place there. She watched as Cole, a man that she thought she knew laying with his head in Julianna's lap, a puppy on his chest, and a smile on his face as he listened to his fiancé read to him from a children's Scooby-Doo chapter book. When he had shifted a little to make himself more comfortable it hadn't been lost on her that he also moved a bit closer to Darryl as well. The smile on his face was warm and genuine and Piper found herself having to hold back some tears that were beginning to threaten to fall. I never knew him did I? I never even tried to know him. He looks so happy and the smile on his face… so warm and childlike. I've never seen that smile before. How much of Cole have I never really seen and how much have I ignored? There is so much I have to learn if I am ever going to be able to earn his forgiveness. Piper was startled from her thoughts as Cam sprinkled back in; it was the only description Piper could give to the transportation method the fey-demon half-blood used. She literally appeared and disappeared out of a shower of sparkly sprinkles.
"Aunt Raven why are they glowing?" They were the first words out of Cam's mouth as she solidified, her eyes automatically scanning the room for her Uncle Cole and Darryl. As her eyes caught sight of them the first thing she noticed was the glow that was coming not from just the twins but the boys as well.
"The Twins are with child… actually the Twins are with twins. The furry ones are Soul Carriers and the brought cargo with them, cargo they delivered last night apparently." Grams smiled at the look on Cam's face, her smile turning to chuckles as Cam's mouth opened and closed with no sound coming out, it reminded her of a fish out of water. "Wonderful isn't it? They're going to be mommies and daddies." Grams understood as Cam's smile turned into a frown. "I know Cam but this time the babies will survive."
"Oh no. Has one of the Twins lost a child before?" Piper had heard them talking even though they tried to keep their voices low. She immediately assumed that it was one of the Twins that had lost a child in the past. Of course she became confused when Cam shot her a death glare look. She was about to say something when Grams spoke up.
"Cam why don't you go over and join Simmons and Tim. I do believe that they are trying to play two handed "Devil's Hand" again." Grams made sure that Cam was sitting at the gaming table before she turned back to Piper.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry." Piper felt bad for brining up what was so obviously a painful subject. She had no idea just how painful the subject was going to be though.
"That's alright Piper, its just Cam is rather sensitive on the subject. You see she loves her Uncle Cole so very much and the thought of him hurting bothers her. I can see you don't understand." Grams motioned for Piper to follow her as she made her way to the farthest corner in the room from where the boys were resting. "Neither of the Twins has ever been pregnant before."
"Then who?" Piper was really lost now, if it wasn't one of the Twins then who was it.
"It was my little ones child, his son whose candle he lit himself and still visits whenever he can."
"Cole had a son? He never told us." The sadness in Piper's eyes was genuine, her mind unable to make the proper connections.
Grams felt sorry for Piper at that moment. Piper truly never thought of her dead nephew as a child, a living child. Taking a calming breath she began to explain, quietly so as not to upset her little one. "Piper, I am referring to your nephew, Phoebe's son." She watched as Piper froze. "Piper, I am not saying this to hurt you or to be cruel, only so that you may understand. The child Phoebe carried was a boy, an innocent little boy."
"How can you say that? It tried to kill Paige, more than once." Piper's voice remained subdued for some reason she couldn't quite understand herself.
"He Piper. He had a name given to him by his father. He was Benjamin Jr. named for his grandfather."
"Wait a minute. You mean the Seer gave birth?" She couldn't understand it; they had seen the Seer vanquished so how had baby Lucifer survived. Piper found her own mind filling in the name that she and her sisters had come to call the unborn child. Why? Again she didn't know.
Grams wasn't sure how much more she should tell the Piper, she could see the effect her words were having on her and she didn't want to upset her into leaving, not now when her little one was so close to finding some closure. There was a pleading quality to Piper's eyes, a need to know yet a fear of what that knowledge would bring with it, the guilt. Casting a small spell so that Cole could not accidentally overhear them she decided to forge ahead with her explanation.
"No Piper, the Seer never gave birth. Baby Ben was never born, he died before he was allowed his first breath. The only thing left of him is what is within his father's memories from their conversations and the eternal candle in the Hall Of Memory that he lit for his son and the love that the candle represents; the love and promise to never forget him." Grams could actually see the struggle going on behind Piper's eyes. If she believes and accepts what I am saying then the lie that they created vanishes only to be replaced by the guilt, the guilt of killing an innocent and a child no less.
Piper's thoughts were all a jumble. Baby Lucifer… no Baby Ben Jr. But if it was Baby Ben Jr. then it was a real baby, a real innocent child who had been used by the Source just like his father had been. My God, did we… did we actually do that? Could we have been so blind or did we choose once again not to see? Did we kill, did I kill an innocent child? Piper's mind was in overdrive with the fear of uncertainty. Once she would not have questioned her actions, she would have simply plowed ahead secure in her belief that the Charmed Ones were the ultimate power for good in their world. Prue had started to show her things as did her own nightmares, things that now made her question her own destiny as a Charmed One. How can we be such a force of good if we failed to see Cole's pain when he was right there, living with us? How could we have not seen an innocent child being used as his father had been? Powers aren't evil, it is how you choose to use them that determines whether you are good or evil.
Piper's mind was suddenly filled with the images of the times that Cole had saved them using the Sources powers, images that came from her own nightmares that she had spoken to Prue about. He fought so hard and he never really hurt us until we gave him no choice but even then he could have killed us before Phoebe came out of the bathroom but he still hesitated. Cole stopped him but Baby Ben didn't have his father's power, he was just a baby. His only chance was his father and we took that chance away when we killed Cole. Images of when she had frozen Leo and killed him floated through her mind. I killed Leo but he was given back to me because I beat the evil that had taken us over. Cole survived, he beat the evil back long enough for us to kill him, taking the evil with him, or so we thought, but he won't get Baby Ben back… not like I got Leo back because the Elders don't see him as good. My God… what have we done? What have I done?
Just as she looked back to Grams, tears beginning to well up in her eyes, there was a knock on the front door. She watched as Darryl and Cole sat up, Darryl placing himself between the door and Cole. The Twins took up positions on either side of Darryl. Snuggles and Bearlock had hopped off of the boys chests, planting themselves between both boys and the door. Cam, Simmons, and Tim quickly moved into the living room proper where Simmons continued on his way to the door. Benjamin and Prue ran up the stairs and out of sight. Pandy jumped from the counter to the kitchen table, placing herself between the door and her charge while Uncle D never moved from his chair and Pee Wee never moved from his back, however both sets of eyes were firmly locked on the front door. Grams rushed to the center of the room placing herself close to Cole but far enough away just in case.
"Everyone stand down. Its just Alexavier." Simmons smirked a little before opening the door and ushering the young half-blood in.
Alex was Cam's boyfriend but he also worked for Cole in the D.A.'s office and for Darryl at the station since the two boys were never far away from each other. When Cole's office was officially moved to the stationhouse Alex naturally went with it so he actually worked for both boys.
"Sorry didn't mean to startle you guys." Alex said contritely as he noticed everyone's positions in the room.
"That's alright Alex, we know." Cam said as she moved forward, taking his hand and leading him to the couch. She loved Alex and she hoped someday to be able to make love to him. She saw the happiness between the boys and the Twins and she wanted to feel that happiness and to make Alex feel it as well. The only thing standing in their way now was their own physiology, if they were to come together there would be a child every time and that simply wasn't possible or practical, not to mention dangerous. Looking to her Uncle Cole she felt a small stab of guilt for even thinking about her problem right now, she knew that he still had some of the Nation searching for a way, he had even visited the Fey Realm requesting their help as well. Right now Uncle Cole was more important. Our carnal feelings will simply have to wait till he is safe again she thought to herself. For Cam, her Uncle Cole's health and welfare always took top priority. "So what brings you here today?" She said trying to get back on track.
Benjamin and Prue had come down the stairs when they heard Simmons and the first thing they noticed was the briefcase in Alex's hand. The rest of the room's occupants had also noticed it, well all except Cole that was.
"I'm almost afraid to ask but what's in the briefcase?" It was Prue who spoke but everyone waited to hear the answer, as they too were curious. Before Alex could say a word though three soft growls could be heard.
Snuggles, Bearlock, and Pandy didn't know this person and that made them alert. It wasn't until Cole spoke up that they relaxed.
"It's alright guys, he's a friend." Cole was still on his knees and when he reached over to pick Snuggles up he fell over, his balance still affected by the swelling around the bullet. He had reached his hand out but it never made contact with the floor as two pairs of hands grabbed him, arresting his fall. "Thank you and can you give me a hand up please partner." As soon as he was standing, Darryl automatically facing him Alex's direction, he asked the question again with the sinking feeling he knew just what was in that briefcase. "Okay Alex, what bad news do you have for us today and you wouldn't be here this early in the morning if it wasn't bad news or."
"You would have used the phone so spill." Darryl finished for him, as was a habit for them.
Alex looked uncomfortable because they were right he did have bad news and if they didn't already know about it then that meant that Cole hadn't received the call yet, but before he could open his mouth the phone rang. Quickly he grabbed the portable that was sitting next to him on the end table and answered it. "Hello." He slumped down in his seat when he heard who it was.
"I see that you are already there. Good. I take it Mr. Turner will be ready for tomorrow morning then. Good again." The voice of the State's Attorney said on the other end of the line.
"Actually Sir I just got here and I haven't had a chance to tell Mr. Turner yet." Alex kept his eyes focused on his lap as he spoke, afraid to look up and see MHD's infamous 'Death Glare' aimed at him.
"Then I suggest that you give the phone to Mr. Turner. Now." The voice brooked no arguments.
"But Sir."
"Now Mr. Skyridge!"
Alex holds the phone out for Cole, forgetting for a moment that Cole can't see what he is doing before getting up and giving the phone to Darryl. The glare he was receiving from Darryl was all the convincing he needed to hand over the portable. As he sat back down next to Cam he almost wished that the couch would open up and swallow him whole, however his luck wasn't that good.
"Inspector Morris here. To whom am I speaking?" Darryl ignored the eye-rolling coming from his charge as he kept his attention on the person at the other end of the phone.
"This is State's Attorney Millhouse Inspector and I would like to speak to Mr. Turner." Mr. Millhouse had heard through the office grapevine that ADA Turner and Inspector Morris had been living together for almost a year due to some medical condition of Mr. Turner's, along with their fiancé's. Quite frankly he didn't really care just so long as this medical condition didn't threaten his present case.
Before Darryl had a chance to say anything Cole, using their link to find Darryl's hand, had grabbed the phone away from him with his free hand, the other was still holding Snuggles.
"This is Turner."
"Mr. Turner this is State's Attorney Millhouse."
"Mr. Millhouse what can I do for the State's Attorney's office?" Cole didn't like this, not one little bit but anyone listening to him that didn't know him would never have guessed.
"I'm a little pressed for time so I will get right to the point."
As Cole listened Darryl reached down, picking up the extension from the end table next him and listened as well. The longer he listened the more worried he became. It seemed that one of their cases had been brought to the attention of the Attorney General's Office and there was a hearing scheduled for tomorrow morning.
"Mr. Millhouse this is Inspector Morris again." Darryl said breaking into the conversation. "A hearing tomorrow morning could prove to be very difficult for two reasons. Slater, the man who shot Mr. Turner escaped and has been spotted in the area. We already have full protection in place around Mr. Turner as it appears that Slater is planning on making good on his threat to try and kill Mr. Turner."
"And the second problem." Mr. Millhouse sighed heavily, this wasn't going to be easy and he knew it but the hearing couldn't be postponed or the case would be thrown out. When Darryl spoke again he was beginning to think it was going to be impossible.
"The second reason is that Mr. Turner is, for the moment, blind so appearing in court would be more than a little difficult." Darryl had no intentions of letting his charge out of the Manor until Slater was caught; too bad his charge had other ideas.
Cole knew what Darryl was doing and as much as he appreciated him for it Cole knew what had to be done. "Mr. Millhouse, I assume that they have not dropped the charges against Darryl correct?" He could feel Darryl's eyes practically burning a hole in him but he chose to ignore it for the moment, there would be time to deal with his upset Guardian after he finished making the arrangements he was planning.
"No they have not and they are now threatening to sue Inspector Morris and the SFPD."
"On what grounds, I didn't do anything." Darryl knew very well that he had done something but he didn't think he could get sued over it; after all it wasn't like he was acting as a Police Officer when it happened.
"Inspector Morris, you assaulted the Chief of Security for the Maxortech Corporation. I would call that doing something." Mr. Millhouse replied rather dryly.
"I hit him once, just once and I wasn't even on duty at the time." Darryl heard Cole snicker.
"Darryl you broke the guys jaw with that one punch. He's going to be eating with a straw for the next month and in case it slipped your mind that constitutes assault." Cole was enjoying this since he wasn't the one in trouble for a change.
"Is it my fault the guy had a glass jaw?" Darryl said, shrugging his shoulders in exasperation.
"No, but you are the one who hit him remember." It was taking a lot of concentration on Cole's part not to start snickering again at his friend's very put upon tone.
"Well he was the one aiming a steel pipe at the back of your head. What was I supposed to do, let him hit you over the head with it? I don't think so." A part of Darryl's mind told him to shut up before he digs himself in any deeper but he just didn't seem to be able to listen to that part right now. Especially when the image of that creep beginning to swing at the back of Cole's head kept popping up in his mind.
"Inspector Morris need I remind you that I am an officer of the court." Mr. Millhouse said, a smile forming on his lips despite the seriousness of the situation.
"In other words Darryl shush. Now then Mr. Millhouse which judge did you draw?" Cole's lips had formed a grin, one he couldn't seem to get rid of. When the answer to his query came his grin turned into a full out smile.
"Judge Lillian "the Hanging Judge" Tigera, which means that if we are not in her court room first thing tomorrow morning this case will be thrown out."
"Oh we will be there Mr. Millhouse, both Inspector Morris and myself but it won't be in her court room." Cole's mind was already working furiously, smoothing out his plan so that they were in the least amount of danger as possible.
"What do you mean Mr. Turner?" Now he was completely confused and he didn't like the feeling in the least.
"Let me make a few calls Mr. Millhouse. You'll hear either from myself or from Alex with the details by the end of business today." He knew that the second backlash attack was coming and he wasn't sure if he would be awake to call him with the information or not. Once he had the judge's name a plan started to form and now he just needed a little cooperation from certain parties and this whole thing would be fairly painless for all concerned.
"Very well, but I expect to hear from you or Mr. Skyridge today. Understood?" He wasn't quite sure why he was agreeing but something told him that if he didn't he wouldn't be seeing Mr. Turner or Inspector Morris tomorrow and this case would be thrown out.
"Yes sir, thank you sir." Cole closed the connection but stopped Julianna from taking the handset from him. "Not yet Love, I still need to make a call and partner would you please just relax and breathe here. We have to be at the hearing tomorrow or the case will be thrown out and we can't let that happen. It would set a very bad precedent. Besides if the case is thrown out then all of those elderly people will end up homeless, do you really want to let that happen?" Cole knew that it was a cheap shot but he also didn't have a lot of time either. He knew he had won before Darryl even spoke, the Bond telling him all he needed to know.
"Cheap shot doesn't even come close my friend but… you're right. However, your plan isn't foolproof though so I reserve the right to worry." Darryl was both happy and sad. He was happy that his friend hadn't crawled too far back into himself with the reappearance of the Charmed Ones but sad that he was going to have to risk this when he only just found out that he is going to be a daddy. We should be celebrating not planning he thought to himself.
"We will celebrate my friend, after we have taken care of what we must." Cole responded to the thoughts and as always left the others a little confused. "Besides if we don't show up they'll issue a bench warrant for you, after all you are being charged with assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm which just happens to be a class B felony." The smirk on his face hid his fear of Darryl being arrested and taken away from him, hid it from the rest of them but not from Darryl himself.
Darryl saw the smile, but unlike the others he also felt the fear. He found a matching fear within himself, fear of being taken away from Cole. This wasn't just a Guardian's fear but a friend's fear as well. Yes Cole needed him but he needed Cole as well. His friend understood him in a way no one else ever has or ever would be able to. As lost as everyone seems to believe Cole would be without him, he would be just as lost without Cole. Cole was the brother he never had and just the thought of being separated from him was something akin to a nightmare.
"I won't let that happen." Cole's words were low but fierce. He had sensed what he thought was his own fear being reflected back at him, but he quickly realized that it was Darryl's fear he was now sensing, a fear that rivaled his own.
Darryl and Cole were so focused on each other that they never noticed the knowing look that passed between Anita and Julianna. They and they alone could understand the fear that was now threatening the boys for they lived with it as well. The fear of familial separation is a powerful one and for twins even more so; the boys may not have been born twins but they were twins of the soul and that bond was just as powerful as the twins blood bond.
Anita moved quickly, wrapping her arms around Darryl's waist while Julianna mirrored her movements with Cole. Both girls could feel the tension in the boys, the tension their smiles were hiding. They held on tightly, willing them strength and were rewarded rather quickly as they felt the tension begin to drain away. No one else in the room had moved or said a word, afraid to break the spell. They knew something was happening but they didn't know quite what. After a few minutes the girls stepped back a little, not far enough to lose their hold on their men but enough for their men to do what they had to do.
"Okay Sherlock, can you please call her honor Judge Tigera? The numbers." Cole didn't get a chance to finish as Darryl took the phone from his hand and started to dial the number.
"I know the number Mr. Smarty-pants but why am I calling her? Oh let me guess, she's the judge that Millhouse drew. Well at least that is one thing going in our favor here." Darryl dialed the number and waited. He hadn't heard when Mr. Millhouse had told Cole the judge's name, he had been too busy sticking his tongue out at Julianna who was snickering from behind Cole
"Yes it is considering that it looks like you are going to get the entire SFPD sued." Cole snickered again trying to lighten his friend's mood.
"Oh just ha ha ha so funny. I can't believe he is even going to try. I mean he started it." Darryl responded as he waited for the switchboard to put him through to the Judge's office.
"He did not." Cole simply could not resist as he felt Julianna snickering behind him.
"Oh he so did to and you know it… like I was going to let him hit you." Darryl could feel Anita begin to shake a little behind him. "Hey, whose side are you on here woman? Hmmm. You are supposed to be agreeing with me you know." He smiled as the tension drained away from him. If Cole promised not to let it happen then he knew it wouldn't happen because Cole never made a promise he couldn't keep.
"All right boys what is going on?" Grams' voice rang out across the room getting everyone's attention. She had started to get a little worried when she saw the fear that they were trying to hide. Her own tension though was draining away along with theirs and she decided that it was time for them to let the rest of the class in on what was happening.
"Don't even think about it or the next time I dress you, you will spend the entire day wondering what I dressed you in from your boxers to you shirt." Darryl called out as he saw Cole opening his mouth; unfortunately Judge Tigera chose that moment to pick up her phone much to Darryl's embarrassment.
"Good afternoon Inspector Morris and shall I add one count of Malicious Dressing to the charges I see are already pending against you?" Judge Tigera had a smile on her face but one she knew that Darryl wouldn't be able to hear in her voice. She had been expecting a call but this was simply much more than she has anticipated.
Darryl simply stood with his mouth opening and closing a few times with no sound coming out. Cole however was laughing so hard that Julianna had to support him, his heightened hearing having picked up the Judge's words. While across the room Grams was trying very hard to hold her laughter in, as was Uncle D, their senses also heightened to the point where they heard as well.
"Give me the phone Sherlock." Cole reached his hand out as soon as he could breathe enough to speak. Anita had to take the phone from Darryl's hand to give it to Cole, as Darryl still couldn't quite believe what had just happened.
"Good…"
"Afternoon." Darryl automatically supplied for him.
"Good afternoon your Honor." Cole's smile was still firmly in place and it showed in his voice. "It seems that we are supposed to be appearing in your court room tomorrow morning."
"Yes it would appear that way. However it has come to my attention that Mr. Slater escaped not quite 48 hours ago. I take it that Inspector Morris has already placed you in protective custody." Judge Tigera already knew the answer but she asked anyway as she finished reading the file that Mr. Millhouse had sent her.
"Oh yes your Honor. I am most assuredly already tucked away safely in protective custody courtesy of Inspector Morris." He felt Julianna tighten her hold on him just a little but it was enough to make him pay attention. Carefully he tucked the phone between his neck and shoulder and using his free hand pulled her around so she was in front of him. He then placed Snuggles in her arms while he wrapped his arms around her, one hand coming to rest on her tummy.
"I also take it from the Inspector's attempted threat that you are unable to see at the moment." She had been aware of his periodic loss of sight issue since the very trial that had put Mr. Slater away. He had been in the courtroom every day of that trial, every day but the one he had spent in hospital. She had not expected him to return as his testimony was over but return he did and for three days he sat there staring into a world of darkness that the defendant's bullet had created. "I will take your silence as a yes. All right then open court is not an option so we shall meet in my chambers at 10 AM tomorrow morning. Will that give Inspector Morris enough time to make arrangements for your secure travel to the Courthouse?" Judge Tigera had no intentions of taking any chances with his life, especially with Slater on the loose and in the area.
"Yes it will your Honor." Darryl had picked up the other extension again. "And thank you."
"Inspector Morris, it wouldn't do any of us any good to have Mr. Slater interrupt the proceedings and I have no intention of having anything happen to Mr. Turner on my watch. To that end I shall inform my staff to comply with you in any and all requirements you will need to insure his safety. Will that be satisfactory?" She had come to like Cole, he was tenacious, determined, and completely fair-minded and she knew the world could use a few more people like him, and like Darryl.
"Very satisfactory. Thank you your Honor." Darryl knew that Judge Tigera had a soft spot for Cole and he wasn't above using it to help ensure Cole's safety. "I will begin making the arrangements immediately, however if conditions arise it will be necessary for Officer Simmons to continue in my absence."
"I will make Mark aware. Now I expect to see both of you in my chambers by 10AM tomorrow morning. If there is a problem please have Dr. Blackwell call me immediately."
"How long do you expect this to take your Honor?" Darryl was well aware that the timing was going to be tricky in regards to the third backlash attack and the more calculating he did the more likely it seemed that the last backlash attack would hit while they were in the Judge's chambers.
"Well that will depend on how far the Chief of Security Mr. Smythe plans on taking his charge. Cole and I should be able to dispense with the other matter fairly quickly from what I have read so far. Is there a problem?" She wasn't liking the direction Darryl's questions were going and she had a feeling she knew where that was. During Slater's trial the bullet had moved causing Cole to collapse in her courtroom, the sound of his cry of pain as he grabbed his head one she never forgot. When Darryl didn't say anything right away she knew. "I'll have Dr. Blackwell and Nurse Blackwell cleared for full courthouse access."
"Thank you Judge Tigera and we shall see you in your chambers by the stroke of ten tomorrow morning." Darryl turned to put the phone back into its cradle but dropped it instead, his hand reaching instinctively for one of the loaded hypos on the end table. Bearlock had jumped down from Darryl's arm a few moments earlier, knowing what was about to happen.
"Prepared I hope." Judge Tigera knew it was unnecessary to even say to Cole, he was always prepared but it was her habit and Cole never took offense. The smile that had begun to form on her lips as she listened to his usual response died a quick death though as she heard his cry of pain echo over the phone line.
"Why Judge Tigera, you know I am al…" Cole never finished as he felt the pain crash over him blocking out almost all of his senses.
The phone fell from his hand and he let go of Julianna as he grabbed his head with both hands, his legs collapsing under him. An arm, one he knew was Darryl's though grabbed him around the waist from behind stopping his fall. Metal, cold on the back of his neck and then a pressure at the base of his skull; he knew what was happening but the pain seemed to last forever like it always did. Finally as the pain flowed away he found himself floating away and he was afraid. This wasn't anything really new but the level of his fear was and he didn't know why. Instinctively he reached out for Darryl through the Bond but just as he brushed against his friend he found himself pulled into a drowning darkness… one that shouldn't have been there… one that filled him with terror.
Darryl pressed the hypo against the back of Cole's neck as quickly as he could, the pain his friend was in scaring him like always; he knew what he had to do to stop the pain but there was always a small little voice that worried, one that said what if it doesn't work this time and he hated that voice. He felt relief when Cole's body finally started to sag against him. Julianna had already taken the spent hypo to free his right arm, which he quickly placed behind Cole's collapsing legs. As he swung Cole's now limp body up into his arms, his dark head coming to rest on his shoulder he felt it. He felt Cole reach out to him through the Bond and the depth of Cole's fear, his terror froze him on the spot. Cole was always afraid when this happened but he had never been terrified like this before. Reacting without conscious thought he reached out through the Bond in response to that terror, just as he was about to grab a hold of him, Cole was yanked away and disappeared into a sea of blackness. Without a moments hesitation Darryl dove into that terrifying blackness himself, his need to find Cole quickly beginning to consume him.
Okay I hope you enjoyed this part and please please please review because my Muse lives for reviews.
To all of those that have reviewed in the past thank you.