Part Twenty-Five

Moments Later...

May 9, 2004

Her hand nervously stroking her abdomen, Phoebe unconsciously stepped back to watch the hologram. She barely acknowledged Chris's hand of support upon her shoulder. Despite the fact that, from the corner of her eye, she could see Wyatt reaching for her, she couldn't tear her gaze from the sharp clear images of her husband standing in the Underworld, staring at Gideon and Wyatt.

Piper gasped as she watched the image of Gideon aiming the wand at her son. She quickly looked back at Wyatt and kissed his hands and mentally counted to ten. There was nothing she wanted more than to grab her son and get as far away as possible from Gideon and the entire Tribunal. But she caught sight of Phoebe and sadly shook her head. Even if Phoebe proved that Gideon had lied to them, it wouldn't change the fact that Cole was gone. She kissed Wyatt's chubby fingers and continued to watch the hologram.

All she had seen in the hologram was Cole's image but Paige already felt her anger growing. Anger at Gideon for apparently lying to and betraying them. Anger at herself for having been suckered into believing his lies. And anger at Cole for having kept her in the dark after all they'd planned together. "Phoebe..." she quietly uttered when she noticed her sister looking so forlorn while watching the tragic event once again unfold.

Phoebe ignored the persistent ache in her lower back and stood tall. She didn't have to look at her watch to know it would only be a few minutes before her next contraction but she refused to show the Tribunal any more weakness. She disguised a choked sob by coughing and tried not to think of the precious moments slipping away. She was out of second chances. It was this hologram or nothing. "Oh, Cole..." she whispered as she saw him step from the shadows.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Cole waved his hands and watched as Wyatt switched places with a boulder that had been next to him. "Care to try that on someone your own size?"

"I haven't done anything wrong," Gideon declared when he immediately turned in Cole's direction. "Thankfully, the child appears to be fine after a demonic attack. I only want to make sure he stays that way."

"I didn't rise in the ranks through stupidity," Cole retorted as he nudged Wyatt behind him. "Little instances here and there," Cole continued, seemingly oblivious to Wyatt's tugging on his pants, "where it all seemed a little too pat. And two weeks ago, you barely acted at the trial."

Gideon spread his hands apart, "With such a distinguished trial lawyer present I felt out of my league."

"My wife's powers were taken and she nearly lost the child she's carrying!" Cole shouted while firing an energy bolt at Gideon.

"Unexpected and hardly my fault," Gideon frowned. "I would not have wanted anything to happen to her or her sisters. However, Phoebe is fine now and you had performed well. If you recall, I did warn against using the Tribunal to save your officer friend. The Cleaners have a purpose and the ruling could have been much worse for her, them."

"Not for you, though," Cole growled while his hands clenched into fists. "It only further entrenched you into the witches' good graces."

"Yes," Gideon smiled thoughtfully, "there was that too."

"Thanks to my wife's influence," Cole stated, "I am willing to hear your excuse before I bring down my own brand of justice. Why have you been trying to kill Wyatt?"

"I most certainly am not trying to kill Wyatt," Gideon declared in outrage. "Nor am I after the Charmed Ones. Do not confuse me with your demonic associates."

Cole fired another shot at the boulder next to Gideon. He didn't flinch as it exploded in miniscule particles. "Try again."

Gideon coughed and waved away some of the dust. "A shapeshifter managed to bypass the school's security and took Wyatt to the Underworld. I followed and vanquished it just as it began attacking the boy." He displayed the wand for Cole and claimed, "I was trying to reverse any possible damage the demon may have caused. Your reckless interruption might very well have been just as deadly for Wyatt."

Cole glanced down at Wyatt who smiled at him. "The kid seems fine to me and you're trying my patience."

"I admire your concern for the boy," Gideon said, "but --"

"Don't play me for a fool!" Cole snarled as he fired a bolt at Gideon's feet. "The truth this time."

Gideon stared at Cole as if sizing up the former demon and then nodded, "Very well. The truth is that this child, this twice-blessed child, is imbued with more magic than any being should have. He is a danger to all realms of magic and mortal beings."

"He's a baby!"

"All the more reason why he poses a danger!" Gideon shouted in frustration. He pointed to Wyatt who was peeking from behind Cole's legs. "Don't you see, the power he wields with an untrained mind can cause repercussions far worse than any Source ever could."

Cole fired once more at Gideon's feet, "This child is the combination of everything good and pure. That you could even consider --"

"I was doing what was best for the greater good!" Gideon maintained. "Wyatt needs to be stripped of his powers and those powers removed from every plane of existence. They cannot simply wait in a void for someone to absorb them. Wyatt should be fine after the process and live a normal life. Hasn't his mother always wanted that?"

"And I'm to believe you've put them all in danger simply to gain the opportunity to strip Wyatt of a part of himself?" Cole exclaimed when he suddenly picked up Wyatt. He glanced at Wyatt before focusing again on Gideon. "And what about Chris? If you're successful with Wyatt, how can you be sure Chris won't take his brother's place?"

"I had thought of that possibility," Gideon admitted, "particularly after it was confirmed that Chris is, in fact, the second child of Leo and Piper. But, given his behavior and his use of limited magic, it seemed unlikely he had become the menace Wyatt is bound to become."

"The future isn't set in stone," Cole reminded him. "It's always changing and every one choice may have a thousand possible consequences."

"Wyatt's the only one prophesized," Gideon insisted, "and he must be stopped."

"Then why not simply kill him?" Cole questioned.

"How dare you!"

"How dare you." Cole set an icy stare upon Gideon. "You have no idea what it is to have half yourself ripped away. The feelings of loss, pain, anger. And to a baby like Wyatt? You would be causing him irreparable damage and would be risking the lives of his unborn brother and cousin in the process." He fired a bolt that singed Gideon's shirtsleeve. "You're not fit to lead a school of good magic. You're not even fit to apologize to those you've already harmed." He turned to Wyatt and bounced Wyatt gently, "Orb home, kiddo. Orb home to Mommy."

"Mama?" Gideon gazed at him in confusion.

Cole smiled gently at the toddler, "That's right, Mama. She's with Auntie Phe. Orb to them. I know you can do it." But Wyatt's arms encircled his neck and he paused a moment before he pulled Wyatt's arms loose and set the boy on the ground. "Orb to Mommy," he sternly demanded. "Now, Wyatt."

When the boy disappeared in blue and white lights, Gideon quietly said, "You're making a big mistake."

"I'm doing you a favor," Cole coldly replied, "by not letting the witches get their hands on you. They don't take betrayal lightly. Believe me, I know."

"So they're not aware you're even here," Gideon murmured. "Do they even suspect what you've learned? Probably not or they'd be here themselves." He stared at Cole, "Pity it's come to this." He aimed the wand at Cole, "I had felt you provided the witches with a certain balance, a certain perspective they lacked. I'm sure they'll recover. They usually do from the tragic events in their lives."

Cole laughed, "It'll take a lot more than a stick to strip me of my powers."

"Of course," Gideon smiled ruefully, "overconfidence was not one of their better traits to influence you." As a white light zapped from the wand, he continued, "Sacrifices must be made for the greater good. Goodbye, Cole."

Cole fired an energy bolt at the white light but it had no effect and he didn't have any time to duck before he was struck. His body glowed with streaks of light.

Gideon shielded his eyes from the exploding brightness and when he slowly removed his hands, he saw only a pile of clothing on the ground before him, apparently missing the toddler peeking at him from behind another boulder.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Wyatt screamed and Piper didn't hesitate to pull her son into her arms. She rocked him gently and soothed him with loving whispers.

Paige joined Chris and Phoebe. "Pheebs..."

But Phoebe stepped back, "Don't. I don't want to hear it. Not now."

"What have you to say, Gideon?" Adair asked.

"I will not deny what you have seen," Gideon defiantly replied. "I was only concerned for the greater good and I never intended for anyone to be hurt."

"You killed my husband!" Phoebe screamed. "You lied to us, you betrayed us."

"What punishment do you seek?" Crill questioned. "We may consider your request before rendering judgment."

"I want..." Phoebe stopped the instant the contraction began. She squeezed Chris's hand and couldn't help but lean against Paige as it intensified. She tried to remember the way she and Cole had practiced but thoughts of him seemed to make it worse. She hunched over and, with every pant she breathed, promised herself that she would be strong and deliver this baby and protect and love it and she would make sure Cole would always be present in their lives.

Thrask barely waited for Phoebe to recover before he reminded her they awaited her response.

Phoebe wiped her forehead with the palm of her hand. Looking directly at Gideon, and in a tired voice, she answered, "I want him to suffer. I want him to know what it means to be vanquished. I want him to feel every ounce of pain as he's torn apart from the inside." She was about to add more when she suddenly felt warm liquid gush down her legs. "Oh, God," she whispered helplessly.

Stunned, Paige couldn't stop herself from announcing the obvious, "Her water broke."

Piper quickly turned to Leo, "Do something."

But Leo shook his head and sadly told Phoebe, "It's too late."

"Gideon," Adair began, "we believe you acted out of concern for the greater good. Such a powerful being, even a child, is indeed cause for concern and the child will be watched by an assigned guardian. However, instead of consulting a higher authority, you acted alone and, at times, impulsively. The Charmed Ones were placed in danger due to your actions and the child's life was at risk. Not to mention the death of the former demon at your hands. Therefore, it is the ruling of this Tribunal that you step down as leader of the Magic School, be stripped of your powers, and sent to the Realm of Exile for the duration of the lifespan of Wyatt Matthew Halliwell. After such time, you will be retrieved and returned to your duties as an Elder under the supervision of a trio of your colleagues to be named at that time."

"I would like to accompany him to the Realm," Leo requested. Thrask nodded and Leo spoke up, "And I would like my sons to go with me. They need to see that justice isn't blind and that they are now safe."

"Very well," Adair agreed.

Both surprised and confused, Chris followed Leo's gaze and retrieved Wyatt from a reluctant Piper's arms.

"They'll be fine," Leo promised. "Go with Phoebe to the hospital. We'll join you in a little while."

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

"What is this place?" Chris looked around at the bleak, gray, landscape. Unconsciously, he tightened his arms around Wyatt.

"The Realm of Exile," Leo explained, "is where a magical being is sent when the alternatives don't qualify."

"They couldn't kill me," Gideon realized, "so they did the next best thing."

"You'll be returned with your powers," Leo assured him, "after my son's lived a long, healthy, and good life."

"Is there anyone else here?" Chris wondered with a shiver. The place was beginning to freak him out.

"I'm sure there's a soul or two still waiting for release," Leo replied. "You won't be alone, Gideon."

"Oh, good, company's here."

Gideon spun at the sound of the familiar sarcastic tone and his mouth dropped open, "You!"

"In the flesh," Cole Turner grinned. "Leo," he acknowledged, "you and I've gotta talk about your taste in shirts. Plaid is definitely not my style."

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%