***HE'S BAAAACK!!! Enjoy! Thanks, tessalynne for your wonderful reviews!!
~abs
The Halliwell family ascended the stairs to the attic. Chris and Chloe had the room set up for the ritual. Five white candles were set at the points of a pentagram drawn on the floor in white sand and unicorn horn dust. A potion's basin was set up in the middle of the circle with a red candle beneath it. Inside the basin were the basics for the potion with the remaining ingredients in each of Chris, Chloe, Phoebe, Piper and Paige's hands. Chloe began to direct everyone where to sit then turned and with a wave of her hand lit the five candles. She pointed to the candle under the basin with her index finger as a small fireball emitted from it and lit that candle as well.
Chloe would sit at the northern point of the pentagram, and going clockwise the order would be Piper with Wyatt in her lap, Phoebe, Paige and Chris. As everyone collected themselves anxiously awaiting the five minutes for the clock to chime midnight, Chloe noticed Phoebe standing off by herself in the door frame. Chloe rose from her seat in the circle and approached her mother. She smiled as she walked up to her, "Phoebe?" she noticed Phoebe flinch, "is it alright if I call you mom?" Phoebe nodded her head yes and smiled. Chloe continued, "I can't imagine what this is like for you. Finding out you have a twenty-one year old daughter from the future with your demon ex-husband. I would be in shock. But what I can tell you, and assure you, is that you love Cole. You love him in your past, present, and future—and he is good. He really is! I truly think that part of my destiny was to come back here to bring him back—or else I don't know how I came to be."
Phoebe watched her sisters, nephews, and brother-in-law wait for her to join them at the circle. She looked back into her daughter's hazel eyes, noting the curve of her lips, and she saw Cole. And for the first time she felt overcome by what she was about to do. "I wish I could get over these feelings of dread, I really do... but you've got to understand it was so hard for me to get over him. He was crazy, Chloe. Really... and he was the source of all evil and made me his queen. I don't know if I can forgive him for that. I don't know if I can trust myself not to fall into the same trap."
Chloe did not hesitate putting her hand on Phoebe's cheek and placing Phoebe's hand on her cheek. Phoebe was pulled into a series of flashbacks. Phoebe revisited her's and Cole's first meeting, kiss, the apple peel "C," Prue and Cole going back in time to save Phoebe, Cole's proposal, their marriage, Cole's coronation as the source with Phoebe by his side, vampires, Cole finding out Phoebe was pregnant and looking for baby gifts online, trying to give the wizard his powers, being vanquished, coming back, mummifying Phoebe, Piper death match, and his second vanquishing. The vision fast-forwarded two years to Cole and Phoebe's second wedding and a good marriage, Chloe's birth, Cole's tears of joy upon seeing his baby girl, and Chloe sitting in his lap while he read her book with a pink princess crown on her head. Chloe pulled her hand away from Phoebe's face. Phoebe was weeping. "I didn't do that to hurt you, mom," Chloe was also crying, "I wanted you to SEE. I do know what you've gone through. And I know what you are going to go through raising me and it's not going to be easy," she gave a small laugh, "but you love him, he loves you, and he loves me. I'm his little princess," she grabbed her mom's hand, "And I love you. If we don't bring him back—I won't happen. And..."
Phoebe didn't let Chloe finish her thought. She put her finger to Chloe's lips, "Shhh..." she finally hugged her daughter, "I trust you."
There was not a dry eye in the room. Even Leo and Chris were wiping tears from their eyes. "Let's get this bad boy started," Paige encouraged, "no pun intended."
Chloe and Phoebe rejoined the circle. "We all have to join hands. No matter what happens, the circle cannot be broken. Leo is going to be watching us to make sure everything is ok. Mom," Chloe blushed, "and I will have to cut our palms. Chris keep your hand on my shoulder, Paige on mom's, and Piper on both of our's. Here's a copy of the spell. I hope it works even though Wyatt can't read."
Phoebe reached across the circle and grabbed her daughter's hand, "It will."
"Everybody happy, optimistic and ready? Good magic is bringing Cole back so let's all pray that we're right—that he'll have to be good," Piper initiated everyone linking hands.
Phoebe smiled with pride at her daughter, "He will be made of mine and Chloe's blood."
"And his soul."
"He'll have to be good," Phoebe's eyes twinkled.
Chloe looked around the room at her family as the clock began to chime midnight. As the twelfth chime of the clock in the foyer rang, "Let us begin..."
They all chanted, "Witches of the Halliwell line. Grant us your power across space and time. Lend us your wisdom to see us through; to conquer death, a vanquish undo. We summon forth a man's soul," as Chris and Chloe telekinetically brought Cole's soul to the center of the circle above the boiling potion, "Whose birth name is Turner, Cole. Raise his spirit from an unseen place. Grant his soul peace, mercy, and grace."
"We add to this pot—a locket and a key—given to me by he. To protect his wife, protect his daughter. So that love will always blossom and flower," a tear fell from Chris's face into the pot as he placed the locket in the potion.
Next was Piper's and Wyatt's turn, "We add to this pot—a picture and a kiss—of a memory of one we surely miss," she kissed a picture of the family mourning Prue at her funeral. Then taking Wyatt's hand in her's, she added the picture to the pot, "He was there as family, family who mourned for one above. To help us fill a void when we needed more love."
"We add to this pot a piece of his flesh," Paige added the Balthazar flesh to the pot, "For from flesh ye shall be when from flesh ye must first arise. Taken from him first for life to be taken away. Given back to him now—so that he will live again this day."
Phoebe placed Piper's and Paige's hands on her shoulders as she reached into the center of the circle, "We add to this pot—a golden ring. A sign of thy love, promise, and fidelity. Never-ending circle thus our love shall be. A pure heart built as pure gold to bless our daughter, you and me."
Phoebe remained in the center of the circle as Chloe placed Chris's and Piper's hands on her shoulders and joined her mom in the center. "We add to this pot—the blood of your blood, the blood of your seed," she slashed the palm of her hand and let the blood trickle into the pot bathing the bubbling ingredients with a flash, "So as to separate who you shall be—the blood of your bride will also shower thee," Chloe ran the athame across Phoebe's palm as her blood was added to the pot as well. Then together, mother and daughter chanted, "Blood to blood we summon thee, Blood to blood return to me."
The rest of the family joined in finishing the chant, "Man of this soul, man of these powers. We call upon you in the 'tween hours. Cross through portals, cross through time; come back to your family and place in line. Halliwell witches' powers we trace; grant us Cole's sanity, grant us his face. As one final call upon your power; bring forth Cole Benjamin Turner."
The potion glowed and shot up towards the glowing orb of Cole's soul engulfing it as the room began to shake. There was an explosion as the Halliwell witches turned their faces away from the center. Chloe shouted over the din of screaming, moaning, and shattering glass, "Do not break the chain!" As everyone continued to hold hands—Chloe managed to bury her head on Chris's shoulder, Phoebe on Paige's, and Piper pulled Wyatt close.
Silence.
Paige, who was still turned toward Phoebe, questioned Leo, "Is it over?" Leo stood with his mouth agape staring at the naked figure of a man huddled in the center of the pentagram. He grabbed a blanket from Wyatt's playpen and threw it over the body. "Leo, is it over?" Paige repeated.
"I think so."
Piper was the first to lift her head. She dropped Chloe's and Paige's hands as she covered Wyatt's eyes, "Oh my... wow..."
Chris opened his eyes second, "Look. Look, Chloe," he jostled her head on his shoulder, "Look."
Chloe and Phoebe lifted their heads simultaneously. Phoebe's eyes widened as she saw the shape under the blanket on the floor, "Is it? Is it really him?" Everyone shrugged or shook their heads in astonished confusion. Chloe bravely inched closer to the form. "Sweetie, be careful. Remember he was crazy before," Phoebe warned.
Chloe nodded her head and approached the mass under the blanket. She pulled back a corner of the blanket and found an arm. Picking it up she announced, "I found a pulse," then pulled back the rest of the blanket to reveal her father's face—Cole's face. This was the first time Cole had been tangible and six inches from her in sixteen years. "Oh my gosh," she quickly crawled toward him, "Dad? Dad? Wake up!"
"Chloe, be careful we don't know how he'll..." Piper began.
"AAHHHRRR!!" Cole jumped up from the floor stark naked and ran screaming from the room.
"React," Piper ended. Phoebe lunged to cover Chloe's eyes as Leo covered Chris's.
"I think I have seen a naked man once or twice before," Chris pushed Leo's hand away.
Chloe broke free from Phoebe's grasp and ran after Cole with Chris close on her heels. They found Cole standing in the conservatory with a blanket wrapped back around his bare body. The others orbed down and joined them. "Cole?" Chloe slowly approached him, "Hi, do you know where you are?" Cole finally turned and made eye contact with his daughter, "Cole?" she repeated.
"How did I get here? And who are you?" Cole's voice was rough and hoarse. His blue eyes were glassy and his expression was one of bewilderment. Chloe backed away out of fear and rejection.
"Cole," Phoebe now approached him. Startled to see his soul mate, Cole shimmered out and shimmered back in. Phoebe continued, "Cole, I know this has got to be a shock for you, but it is to us as well. Just please try to stay calm. We'll explain everything."
Cole examined Phoebe. Her hair was shorter, and darker, but she was still radiantly beautiful. He always got lost in her eyes. He looked into them, "Stay calm? I have my powers, and you have vanquished me three times and I have come back from the dead three times, Phoebe. How am I supposed to stay calm?" he shivered.
"You're cold," Chloe noticed, "let me..."
Cole batted her hand away, "Don't touch me. I don't know you. And I don't want to be here," he shimmered out.
The room stood in awe of what they had just accomplished and witnessed. The silence was broken by Chloe's sniffling. Then Chris remarked, "Well, that went better than I thought it would," Piper shot him a death look, "Seriously, I thought there would be panic and bloodshed. I'll settle for just panic."
Chloe began to pace. She closed her eyes and tried to sense him but could not pin point where he was. "We got to find him!" she announced exasperated, "Cole is crazy, vulnerable, and naked wandering around San Francisco. And you know what, he just seems crazy enough to jump off the bay bridge! Or, no, better yet—he is naked on some other plane! And Batterak's looking for him—he'll be able to sense him. We have got to find him!"
Phoebe drew near her daughter and placed her hand on her cheek, "Calm down, baby," Phoebe ran her fingers through her daughter's hair. "We'll find him. I know just where to look. Leo?" Leo nodded to Phoebe knowing what she was insinuating, "We'll bring him back, calmer, I hope. You'll get to hug your daddy before the day is over, I promise you," Phoebe concluded kissing Chloe on the cheek. She then motioned for the rest of the family to join her out of Chloe's earshot, "But until then, Leo will be with me. Paige, get Piper and Wyatt to the Magic School. Chris, do not, I repeat do not, let my little girl out of your sight, senses, or thoughts."
"I won't let you down, Phoebe. She's basically my little sister," Chris promised. Phoebe put her hand on Leo's shoulder as he orbed.
"Piper my dear, if you don't mind, you, me and Wyatt are going back to visit Ye Old Magic School," Paige orbed them out.
Chris looked at Chloe sitting alone in the conservatory. She had her eyes closed and was obviously focusing intently. He knew that she was searching for Cole even without hearing her thoughts. He sighed and joined her on the loveseat. "Looks like it's you and me, kid, just like old times." He sat for a second before he continued, "Want to go down to P3 and play a game of blind, telekinetic darts?" Chloe opened her eyes and smiled at him deviously, "Wicked," Chris smiled back placing his hand on her shoulder and orbing out.
The Halliwell family ascended the stairs to the attic. Chris and Chloe had the room set up for the ritual. Five white candles were set at the points of a pentagram drawn on the floor in white sand and unicorn horn dust. A potion's basin was set up in the middle of the circle with a red candle beneath it. Inside the basin were the basics for the potion with the remaining ingredients in each of Chris, Chloe, Phoebe, Piper and Paige's hands. Chloe began to direct everyone where to sit then turned and with a wave of her hand lit the five candles. She pointed to the candle under the basin with her index finger as a small fireball emitted from it and lit that candle as well.
Chloe would sit at the northern point of the pentagram, and going clockwise the order would be Piper with Wyatt in her lap, Phoebe, Paige and Chris. As everyone collected themselves anxiously awaiting the five minutes for the clock to chime midnight, Chloe noticed Phoebe standing off by herself in the door frame. Chloe rose from her seat in the circle and approached her mother. She smiled as she walked up to her, "Phoebe?" she noticed Phoebe flinch, "is it alright if I call you mom?" Phoebe nodded her head yes and smiled. Chloe continued, "I can't imagine what this is like for you. Finding out you have a twenty-one year old daughter from the future with your demon ex-husband. I would be in shock. But what I can tell you, and assure you, is that you love Cole. You love him in your past, present, and future—and he is good. He really is! I truly think that part of my destiny was to come back here to bring him back—or else I don't know how I came to be."
Phoebe watched her sisters, nephews, and brother-in-law wait for her to join them at the circle. She looked back into her daughter's hazel eyes, noting the curve of her lips, and she saw Cole. And for the first time she felt overcome by what she was about to do. "I wish I could get over these feelings of dread, I really do... but you've got to understand it was so hard for me to get over him. He was crazy, Chloe. Really... and he was the source of all evil and made me his queen. I don't know if I can forgive him for that. I don't know if I can trust myself not to fall into the same trap."
Chloe did not hesitate putting her hand on Phoebe's cheek and placing Phoebe's hand on her cheek. Phoebe was pulled into a series of flashbacks. Phoebe revisited her's and Cole's first meeting, kiss, the apple peel "C," Prue and Cole going back in time to save Phoebe, Cole's proposal, their marriage, Cole's coronation as the source with Phoebe by his side, vampires, Cole finding out Phoebe was pregnant and looking for baby gifts online, trying to give the wizard his powers, being vanquished, coming back, mummifying Phoebe, Piper death match, and his second vanquishing. The vision fast-forwarded two years to Cole and Phoebe's second wedding and a good marriage, Chloe's birth, Cole's tears of joy upon seeing his baby girl, and Chloe sitting in his lap while he read her book with a pink princess crown on her head. Chloe pulled her hand away from Phoebe's face. Phoebe was weeping. "I didn't do that to hurt you, mom," Chloe was also crying, "I wanted you to SEE. I do know what you've gone through. And I know what you are going to go through raising me and it's not going to be easy," she gave a small laugh, "but you love him, he loves you, and he loves me. I'm his little princess," she grabbed her mom's hand, "And I love you. If we don't bring him back—I won't happen. And..."
Phoebe didn't let Chloe finish her thought. She put her finger to Chloe's lips, "Shhh..." she finally hugged her daughter, "I trust you."
There was not a dry eye in the room. Even Leo and Chris were wiping tears from their eyes. "Let's get this bad boy started," Paige encouraged, "no pun intended."
Chloe and Phoebe rejoined the circle. "We all have to join hands. No matter what happens, the circle cannot be broken. Leo is going to be watching us to make sure everything is ok. Mom," Chloe blushed, "and I will have to cut our palms. Chris keep your hand on my shoulder, Paige on mom's, and Piper on both of our's. Here's a copy of the spell. I hope it works even though Wyatt can't read."
Phoebe reached across the circle and grabbed her daughter's hand, "It will."
"Everybody happy, optimistic and ready? Good magic is bringing Cole back so let's all pray that we're right—that he'll have to be good," Piper initiated everyone linking hands.
Phoebe smiled with pride at her daughter, "He will be made of mine and Chloe's blood."
"And his soul."
"He'll have to be good," Phoebe's eyes twinkled.
Chloe looked around the room at her family as the clock began to chime midnight. As the twelfth chime of the clock in the foyer rang, "Let us begin..."
They all chanted, "Witches of the Halliwell line. Grant us your power across space and time. Lend us your wisdom to see us through; to conquer death, a vanquish undo. We summon forth a man's soul," as Chris and Chloe telekinetically brought Cole's soul to the center of the circle above the boiling potion, "Whose birth name is Turner, Cole. Raise his spirit from an unseen place. Grant his soul peace, mercy, and grace."
"We add to this pot—a locket and a key—given to me by he. To protect his wife, protect his daughter. So that love will always blossom and flower," a tear fell from Chris's face into the pot as he placed the locket in the potion.
Next was Piper's and Wyatt's turn, "We add to this pot—a picture and a kiss—of a memory of one we surely miss," she kissed a picture of the family mourning Prue at her funeral. Then taking Wyatt's hand in her's, she added the picture to the pot, "He was there as family, family who mourned for one above. To help us fill a void when we needed more love."
"We add to this pot a piece of his flesh," Paige added the Balthazar flesh to the pot, "For from flesh ye shall be when from flesh ye must first arise. Taken from him first for life to be taken away. Given back to him now—so that he will live again this day."
Phoebe placed Piper's and Paige's hands on her shoulders as she reached into the center of the circle, "We add to this pot—a golden ring. A sign of thy love, promise, and fidelity. Never-ending circle thus our love shall be. A pure heart built as pure gold to bless our daughter, you and me."
Phoebe remained in the center of the circle as Chloe placed Chris's and Piper's hands on her shoulders and joined her mom in the center. "We add to this pot—the blood of your blood, the blood of your seed," she slashed the palm of her hand and let the blood trickle into the pot bathing the bubbling ingredients with a flash, "So as to separate who you shall be—the blood of your bride will also shower thee," Chloe ran the athame across Phoebe's palm as her blood was added to the pot as well. Then together, mother and daughter chanted, "Blood to blood we summon thee, Blood to blood return to me."
The rest of the family joined in finishing the chant, "Man of this soul, man of these powers. We call upon you in the 'tween hours. Cross through portals, cross through time; come back to your family and place in line. Halliwell witches' powers we trace; grant us Cole's sanity, grant us his face. As one final call upon your power; bring forth Cole Benjamin Turner."
The potion glowed and shot up towards the glowing orb of Cole's soul engulfing it as the room began to shake. There was an explosion as the Halliwell witches turned their faces away from the center. Chloe shouted over the din of screaming, moaning, and shattering glass, "Do not break the chain!" As everyone continued to hold hands—Chloe managed to bury her head on Chris's shoulder, Phoebe on Paige's, and Piper pulled Wyatt close.
Silence.
Paige, who was still turned toward Phoebe, questioned Leo, "Is it over?" Leo stood with his mouth agape staring at the naked figure of a man huddled in the center of the pentagram. He grabbed a blanket from Wyatt's playpen and threw it over the body. "Leo, is it over?" Paige repeated.
"I think so."
Piper was the first to lift her head. She dropped Chloe's and Paige's hands as she covered Wyatt's eyes, "Oh my... wow..."
Chris opened his eyes second, "Look. Look, Chloe," he jostled her head on his shoulder, "Look."
Chloe and Phoebe lifted their heads simultaneously. Phoebe's eyes widened as she saw the shape under the blanket on the floor, "Is it? Is it really him?" Everyone shrugged or shook their heads in astonished confusion. Chloe bravely inched closer to the form. "Sweetie, be careful. Remember he was crazy before," Phoebe warned.
Chloe nodded her head and approached the mass under the blanket. She pulled back a corner of the blanket and found an arm. Picking it up she announced, "I found a pulse," then pulled back the rest of the blanket to reveal her father's face—Cole's face. This was the first time Cole had been tangible and six inches from her in sixteen years. "Oh my gosh," she quickly crawled toward him, "Dad? Dad? Wake up!"
"Chloe, be careful we don't know how he'll..." Piper began.
"AAHHHRRR!!" Cole jumped up from the floor stark naked and ran screaming from the room.
"React," Piper ended. Phoebe lunged to cover Chloe's eyes as Leo covered Chris's.
"I think I have seen a naked man once or twice before," Chris pushed Leo's hand away.
Chloe broke free from Phoebe's grasp and ran after Cole with Chris close on her heels. They found Cole standing in the conservatory with a blanket wrapped back around his bare body. The others orbed down and joined them. "Cole?" Chloe slowly approached him, "Hi, do you know where you are?" Cole finally turned and made eye contact with his daughter, "Cole?" she repeated.
"How did I get here? And who are you?" Cole's voice was rough and hoarse. His blue eyes were glassy and his expression was one of bewilderment. Chloe backed away out of fear and rejection.
"Cole," Phoebe now approached him. Startled to see his soul mate, Cole shimmered out and shimmered back in. Phoebe continued, "Cole, I know this has got to be a shock for you, but it is to us as well. Just please try to stay calm. We'll explain everything."
Cole examined Phoebe. Her hair was shorter, and darker, but she was still radiantly beautiful. He always got lost in her eyes. He looked into them, "Stay calm? I have my powers, and you have vanquished me three times and I have come back from the dead three times, Phoebe. How am I supposed to stay calm?" he shivered.
"You're cold," Chloe noticed, "let me..."
Cole batted her hand away, "Don't touch me. I don't know you. And I don't want to be here," he shimmered out.
The room stood in awe of what they had just accomplished and witnessed. The silence was broken by Chloe's sniffling. Then Chris remarked, "Well, that went better than I thought it would," Piper shot him a death look, "Seriously, I thought there would be panic and bloodshed. I'll settle for just panic."
Chloe began to pace. She closed her eyes and tried to sense him but could not pin point where he was. "We got to find him!" she announced exasperated, "Cole is crazy, vulnerable, and naked wandering around San Francisco. And you know what, he just seems crazy enough to jump off the bay bridge! Or, no, better yet—he is naked on some other plane! And Batterak's looking for him—he'll be able to sense him. We have got to find him!"
Phoebe drew near her daughter and placed her hand on her cheek, "Calm down, baby," Phoebe ran her fingers through her daughter's hair. "We'll find him. I know just where to look. Leo?" Leo nodded to Phoebe knowing what she was insinuating, "We'll bring him back, calmer, I hope. You'll get to hug your daddy before the day is over, I promise you," Phoebe concluded kissing Chloe on the cheek. She then motioned for the rest of the family to join her out of Chloe's earshot, "But until then, Leo will be with me. Paige, get Piper and Wyatt to the Magic School. Chris, do not, I repeat do not, let my little girl out of your sight, senses, or thoughts."
"I won't let you down, Phoebe. She's basically my little sister," Chris promised. Phoebe put her hand on Leo's shoulder as he orbed.
"Piper my dear, if you don't mind, you, me and Wyatt are going back to visit Ye Old Magic School," Paige orbed them out.
Chris looked at Chloe sitting alone in the conservatory. She had her eyes closed and was obviously focusing intently. He knew that she was searching for Cole even without hearing her thoughts. He sighed and joined her on the loveseat. "Looks like it's you and me, kid, just like old times." He sat for a second before he continued, "Want to go down to P3 and play a game of blind, telekinetic darts?" Chloe opened her eyes and smiled at him deviously, "Wicked," Chris smiled back placing his hand on her shoulder and orbing out.