Chris was the first one to interrupt the father-daughter bonding that
was going on outside. Chloe and Cole had been to the store to pick up
various melons and were practicing throwing fireballs and energy balls at
them. "Whoa, this is a big mess. You better hope my mom doesn't see it,"
he commented stepping over a broken cantaloupe.
"Chris, right?" Cole offered his hand.
"Yeah, that's right," Chris took it and gave Cole a boyish grin.
"Do we know each other? In the future, I mean," Cole postured.
"We do—briefly. You've saved my life once or twice."
"Briefly?" Cole looked between Chloe and Chris.
*Haven't told him how or why he and Batterak are linked?* Chris raised his eyebrow to Chloe.
*Can I not enjoy having my father back?* she shot back at him then spoke out loud, "I guess we need to fill you in a little more, dad. For your protection and for our's." She and Chris sat back down and Cole followed them. Chloe and Chris fully explained the situation to him—both the present and future.
Piper yelled for Chris and when she couldn't find him went to the kitchen. She noticed the open patio door on the conservatory, "Chris, honey, do you mind" she drew out the last word as her mouth dropped. "What have you done? Did you decide to make fruit salad of my clean patio?" she accused the threesome.
"That was me, Piper," Chloe stood up and approached her, "I will clean it up, I promise. My dad was a little rusty on his powers so we decided to do some target practice with some melons." Piper's mouth was still agape as she pointed to the shattered flower urns, "Oh yeah, that was me, too," Chloe confessed.
Paige heard the commotion outside and went to the doorway, "Whoa, baby. Anybody hungry," she tried to break the tension. Piper turned to her, still in shock. "Piper, no need to panic," and then turning back to the mess of mangled fruit, "Let the object of objection become but a dream as I cause the seen to become unseen." And the remnants of the fruit vanished in a cloud of orbs. "Told you, not a problem," she patted Piper on the shoulder and winked at Chloe who gave a sigh of relief.
"You better be glad your aunt's favorite spell works wonders with messes," Piper scolded, "Can you three come back inside? We are on demon duty."
*I'm going to have to remember that one,* Chloe cut a glance to Chris as Cole placed his hand in the small of her back and the three of them followed Piper into the living room.
Chloe stopped in the door to the living room as Chris and Cole continued on and took seats with Piper and Paige. "What's the matter?" Cole turned back to her. She was standing in the doorway, pale, and rigid.
She shook her head. "Seen a lot?" Phoebe asked joining them from the foyer. "It's a lot to take in, isn't it?" Chloe turned her head to Phoebe—still speechless.
"You saw all that?" she finally uttered.
"Yeah, our powers are really tight," Phoebe sat on the sofa next to Paige. Chloe had yet to move from the doorway.
"What did you see?" Chris asked whoever was willing to answer. Chloe couldn't look at Cole.
"She saw Balthazar and the source," Phoebe answered for her. "And what he did, who he killed."
"What?" Cole looked quickly between his daughter and beloved.
"She has telepathy," Phoebe further explained, "an expansion of my powers I'm assuming. She can read you when she touches you—see your thoughts, see your past." And then turning back to Chloe still as motionless as a statue, "Why did you read him?"
Chloe's color was still drained from her face and her heart was racing. She shook her head, "I didn't know Balthazar. I never knew any of that. I didn't have my telepathy until after he was gone," she took a step forward and stopped again. For the first time in her life she was afraid of her father.
Cole rose form his seat and approached her—he could see the terror in her eyes, and Phoebe could sense it. "Balthazar did unspeakable things—as did the source. Things I have been to hell for," he reached for Chloe who stiffened up as he touched her, "But just as you and I were talking about earlier—Balthazar and the source have both been vanquished. They are no longer inside me or a part of who I am. The man, the human, is who your father is—who I am, who you raised. The powers are just a bonus," he smiled. Chloe knew in her heart he was right, but her brain wouldn't accept it. She now knew why her aunts, uncle, and mom had been afraid to raise him.
Phoebe walked over to her daughter, "Chloe, sweetie," she pulled her aside, "I can sense your fear. I can also sense Cole's goodness, for lack of a better word. Your spell worked! He is good! And he is your dad. What is in his past is hard to reconcile, I know," Phoebe put her hand to her chest in empathy, "but we're all going to have to work through this. Even him... he's got a soul now and can feel the guilt for all he has done. But you are here as a testament of the good he will be able to accomplish," she looked Chloe in the eye, "We're all going to get through this." Chloe nodded her head as Phoebe took her hand and lead her back in the living room. Cole was now seated again.
Chloe joined Chris in the chair he was sitting in, "Scoot over," she pushed him to the side of the chair—she wanted to be closest to the person she trusted the most and still knew.
Leo orbed into the living room to join his family, "Well, I've got some information from the other elders," he sat on the arm of the sofa.
"Spill it," Paige encouraged.
"Phoebe officially has her powers back. When she used them to protect Cole, the elders decided it was time to give them back. I was able to find anything out about Gideon because he was unfortunately at the meeting. As for Cole being back," Leo looked at him, "The elders are a little uncomfortable about it—as they should be."
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," Cole began to interrupt, "How many times do I need to defend myself?"
"Sorry, Cole, but you can't blame us," Paige interjected.
"I was wondering when you were going to speak up," Cole said hotly.
"Hey, you were crazy and evil! It's kind of our job to get rid of people like that," Paige defended herself.
"Hold on! Everybody just be quiet," Phoebe stood up, "this is unprecedented for all of us... elders, witches, demons, whatever Cole is now. And as we've all said, we are going to have to deal with this. Leo, did the elders have anything positive to say about the situation?"
"Yes," Leo said calmly, "Batterak is a serious threat. And Cole is the only one who is strong enough to at least weaken him, if not vanquish him."
Chloe and Chris had been sitting back quietly listening to their family argue. *Do you think they got along this well before they vanquished him?* Chloe thought.
*I think it was worse,* Chris frowned nodding his head. As the fight between the adults continued, Chris and Chloe got up from their chair. Chris grabbed Wyatt and three of them left the room.
"So, the demonic world is not going to want me, but neither are the good guys. Great! Thanks a lot! I'm so glad you brought me back!" Cole was frustrated.
"Now, Cole, don't be like that. We want you back. We wouldn't get Chloe one day if we didn't bring you back. But if we still don't like you after that, we'll vanquish your ass again," Paige threatened. Cole turned on her and acted as though he was going to fire an energy ball at her, but Phoebe grabbed his arm as Paige taunted, "Bring it on!"
Piper sat back on the sofa watching the fighting escalate. She was the only one to notice that Chris, Chloe and Wyatt had left the room, "Excuse me," she said calmly as the rest of the family turned slowly to her, "has anyone else noticed that our offspring have left the room?" she posed. Everyone looked around and noticed the younger generation was missing. "I think we have all failed to realize what is most important here—and that's them... Chris, Chloe and Wyatt. And insuring their future. Because even though we can sit here and argue all day about our issues, it's their's that should concern us. Batterak doesn't just want Cole, he wants Chloe... dead. And someone is still after Wyatt—potentially the headmaster of the Magic School who is also an elder. So if you don't mind... focus." Piper's point shot straight to the hearts of those in the room. She was right. They were all focused on their petty past when was more vital was their future. Piper looked back to Leo, "Now, if you don't mind honey, finish what you were telling us pertaining to them."
Leo sighed and continued his story, "Well, the reason Chris did see the same vision that Chloe did is because their powers are connected and were heightened at the Magic School. They are the next generation of the Charmed Ones. When the three of them are joined around the book of shadows, they will take your place. However, with what we know about Wyatt turning evil... that hasn't happened yet, and they don't know that it is even possible."
"Wow," Phoebe looked astonished at Leo.
"Ditto," Paige sat back down with Piper.
"Yeah, and even though the three of them are currently here, since Chris and Chloe aren't from our time, it won't happen until the three of them around the book in their own time, and all three of them are good. Talk about the power of three... the sons of an elder and the daughter of an avatar whose mothers are the original charmed ones. That's why we think that someone or something is wanting to turn Wyatt, keep the balance of power. Or possibly topple it to the side of evil. The other elders think that's why Batterak is here, to make sure the future charmed ones are never constituted, but that Cole is still his source of power," Leo concluded.
The gravity of their future, and their children's future, sank into everyone's mind. Cole and Phoebe locked eyes as did Piper and Leo. "What do we do?" Paige asked.
"What else," Phoebe began, "we protect them just like we do any other innocent. Nothing has changed... except that they are our children."
"I just want to reiterate, Wow," Paige repeated.
"Chris, right?" Cole offered his hand.
"Yeah, that's right," Chris took it and gave Cole a boyish grin.
"Do we know each other? In the future, I mean," Cole postured.
"We do—briefly. You've saved my life once or twice."
"Briefly?" Cole looked between Chloe and Chris.
*Haven't told him how or why he and Batterak are linked?* Chris raised his eyebrow to Chloe.
*Can I not enjoy having my father back?* she shot back at him then spoke out loud, "I guess we need to fill you in a little more, dad. For your protection and for our's." She and Chris sat back down and Cole followed them. Chloe and Chris fully explained the situation to him—both the present and future.
Piper yelled for Chris and when she couldn't find him went to the kitchen. She noticed the open patio door on the conservatory, "Chris, honey, do you mind" she drew out the last word as her mouth dropped. "What have you done? Did you decide to make fruit salad of my clean patio?" she accused the threesome.
"That was me, Piper," Chloe stood up and approached her, "I will clean it up, I promise. My dad was a little rusty on his powers so we decided to do some target practice with some melons." Piper's mouth was still agape as she pointed to the shattered flower urns, "Oh yeah, that was me, too," Chloe confessed.
Paige heard the commotion outside and went to the doorway, "Whoa, baby. Anybody hungry," she tried to break the tension. Piper turned to her, still in shock. "Piper, no need to panic," and then turning back to the mess of mangled fruit, "Let the object of objection become but a dream as I cause the seen to become unseen." And the remnants of the fruit vanished in a cloud of orbs. "Told you, not a problem," she patted Piper on the shoulder and winked at Chloe who gave a sigh of relief.
"You better be glad your aunt's favorite spell works wonders with messes," Piper scolded, "Can you three come back inside? We are on demon duty."
*I'm going to have to remember that one,* Chloe cut a glance to Chris as Cole placed his hand in the small of her back and the three of them followed Piper into the living room.
Chloe stopped in the door to the living room as Chris and Cole continued on and took seats with Piper and Paige. "What's the matter?" Cole turned back to her. She was standing in the doorway, pale, and rigid.
She shook her head. "Seen a lot?" Phoebe asked joining them from the foyer. "It's a lot to take in, isn't it?" Chloe turned her head to Phoebe—still speechless.
"You saw all that?" she finally uttered.
"Yeah, our powers are really tight," Phoebe sat on the sofa next to Paige. Chloe had yet to move from the doorway.
"What did you see?" Chris asked whoever was willing to answer. Chloe couldn't look at Cole.
"She saw Balthazar and the source," Phoebe answered for her. "And what he did, who he killed."
"What?" Cole looked quickly between his daughter and beloved.
"She has telepathy," Phoebe further explained, "an expansion of my powers I'm assuming. She can read you when she touches you—see your thoughts, see your past." And then turning back to Chloe still as motionless as a statue, "Why did you read him?"
Chloe's color was still drained from her face and her heart was racing. She shook her head, "I didn't know Balthazar. I never knew any of that. I didn't have my telepathy until after he was gone," she took a step forward and stopped again. For the first time in her life she was afraid of her father.
Cole rose form his seat and approached her—he could see the terror in her eyes, and Phoebe could sense it. "Balthazar did unspeakable things—as did the source. Things I have been to hell for," he reached for Chloe who stiffened up as he touched her, "But just as you and I were talking about earlier—Balthazar and the source have both been vanquished. They are no longer inside me or a part of who I am. The man, the human, is who your father is—who I am, who you raised. The powers are just a bonus," he smiled. Chloe knew in her heart he was right, but her brain wouldn't accept it. She now knew why her aunts, uncle, and mom had been afraid to raise him.
Phoebe walked over to her daughter, "Chloe, sweetie," she pulled her aside, "I can sense your fear. I can also sense Cole's goodness, for lack of a better word. Your spell worked! He is good! And he is your dad. What is in his past is hard to reconcile, I know," Phoebe put her hand to her chest in empathy, "but we're all going to have to work through this. Even him... he's got a soul now and can feel the guilt for all he has done. But you are here as a testament of the good he will be able to accomplish," she looked Chloe in the eye, "We're all going to get through this." Chloe nodded her head as Phoebe took her hand and lead her back in the living room. Cole was now seated again.
Chloe joined Chris in the chair he was sitting in, "Scoot over," she pushed him to the side of the chair—she wanted to be closest to the person she trusted the most and still knew.
Leo orbed into the living room to join his family, "Well, I've got some information from the other elders," he sat on the arm of the sofa.
"Spill it," Paige encouraged.
"Phoebe officially has her powers back. When she used them to protect Cole, the elders decided it was time to give them back. I was able to find anything out about Gideon because he was unfortunately at the meeting. As for Cole being back," Leo looked at him, "The elders are a little uncomfortable about it—as they should be."
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," Cole began to interrupt, "How many times do I need to defend myself?"
"Sorry, Cole, but you can't blame us," Paige interjected.
"I was wondering when you were going to speak up," Cole said hotly.
"Hey, you were crazy and evil! It's kind of our job to get rid of people like that," Paige defended herself.
"Hold on! Everybody just be quiet," Phoebe stood up, "this is unprecedented for all of us... elders, witches, demons, whatever Cole is now. And as we've all said, we are going to have to deal with this. Leo, did the elders have anything positive to say about the situation?"
"Yes," Leo said calmly, "Batterak is a serious threat. And Cole is the only one who is strong enough to at least weaken him, if not vanquish him."
Chloe and Chris had been sitting back quietly listening to their family argue. *Do you think they got along this well before they vanquished him?* Chloe thought.
*I think it was worse,* Chris frowned nodding his head. As the fight between the adults continued, Chris and Chloe got up from their chair. Chris grabbed Wyatt and three of them left the room.
"So, the demonic world is not going to want me, but neither are the good guys. Great! Thanks a lot! I'm so glad you brought me back!" Cole was frustrated.
"Now, Cole, don't be like that. We want you back. We wouldn't get Chloe one day if we didn't bring you back. But if we still don't like you after that, we'll vanquish your ass again," Paige threatened. Cole turned on her and acted as though he was going to fire an energy ball at her, but Phoebe grabbed his arm as Paige taunted, "Bring it on!"
Piper sat back on the sofa watching the fighting escalate. She was the only one to notice that Chris, Chloe and Wyatt had left the room, "Excuse me," she said calmly as the rest of the family turned slowly to her, "has anyone else noticed that our offspring have left the room?" she posed. Everyone looked around and noticed the younger generation was missing. "I think we have all failed to realize what is most important here—and that's them... Chris, Chloe and Wyatt. And insuring their future. Because even though we can sit here and argue all day about our issues, it's their's that should concern us. Batterak doesn't just want Cole, he wants Chloe... dead. And someone is still after Wyatt—potentially the headmaster of the Magic School who is also an elder. So if you don't mind... focus." Piper's point shot straight to the hearts of those in the room. She was right. They were all focused on their petty past when was more vital was their future. Piper looked back to Leo, "Now, if you don't mind honey, finish what you were telling us pertaining to them."
Leo sighed and continued his story, "Well, the reason Chris did see the same vision that Chloe did is because their powers are connected and were heightened at the Magic School. They are the next generation of the Charmed Ones. When the three of them are joined around the book of shadows, they will take your place. However, with what we know about Wyatt turning evil... that hasn't happened yet, and they don't know that it is even possible."
"Wow," Phoebe looked astonished at Leo.
"Ditto," Paige sat back down with Piper.
"Yeah, and even though the three of them are currently here, since Chris and Chloe aren't from our time, it won't happen until the three of them around the book in their own time, and all three of them are good. Talk about the power of three... the sons of an elder and the daughter of an avatar whose mothers are the original charmed ones. That's why we think that someone or something is wanting to turn Wyatt, keep the balance of power. Or possibly topple it to the side of evil. The other elders think that's why Batterak is here, to make sure the future charmed ones are never constituted, but that Cole is still his source of power," Leo concluded.
The gravity of their future, and their children's future, sank into everyone's mind. Cole and Phoebe locked eyes as did Piper and Leo. "What do we do?" Paige asked.
"What else," Phoebe began, "we protect them just like we do any other innocent. Nothing has changed... except that they are our children."
"I just want to reiterate, Wow," Paige repeated.