Disclaimer: I do not own Charmed and any of the characters.
-----------------------------------
He opened his eyes and found himself standing in front of the house he knew too well, the house he'd never wanted to see again. Sometimes he really hated the twisted games the fate was playing with him. Not only 'it' didn't let him end his miserable life, but 'it' took him there, to the last place in the world he wanted to visit.
As he was standing there and looking at the old pink manor that used to be his home a long time ago, he understood. He knew he had to do it. He was sure it would be hard, but he had to face them again, to face the people that totally changed his life, the people that used to be his family. It was the only way to leave the past that was hunting him in his dreams and finally move on.
Slowly, he came closer to the door. He closed his eyes and took a deep breathe. Nine years passed since he was standing there for the first time, but he could remember it as if it happened the day before. In that time, he would be a mighty demon, a half-breed known as Belthazor prepared to kill all occupants of that house. But one of them changed his plans and mainly, she changed him. 'She', the thought of her made him smile. 'She' turned his world upside down and awoke his human side. He became Cole Turner that got rid of Belthazor and he knew, it was the best thing that had ever happened to him.
Finally, he press the doorbell and in a while he heard somebody yelling "I got it!"
The door opened and there was a little boy with the dark hair and blue eyes staring at him.
"Can I help you?" The boy asked. Cole knelt to be at the same level as the boy and smiled.
"Hi, buddy, is Phoebe here?" The boy raised an eyebrow and looked at him suspiciously.
"Who's asking?" Cole had to laugh, the kid was very cute. But when he gave him the familiar 'shut up' look Cole stopped.
"You're sure a Halliwell" Cole said more to himself, but the boy heard it and nodded.
"I'm Ben" The boy informed him.
"That's very nice name, my father was Ben too." Cole smiled, he liked that child "How old are you?"
"Five" Ben said and showed Cole his hand with all finger lifted "But you didn't tell me who you are"
"Right. I'm Cole, Cole Turner. Nice to meet you Ben." Ben didn't hear the last part, he backed and was gazing at Cole in shock.
"What's wrong?" Cole was surprised with Ben's reaction.
"You... you're my daddy?" Ben finally managed to say and it was now Cole's turn to be shocked.
-----------------------------------
"What... how... why do you think I'm your dad?" Cole said a little too loud, angrily enough to scare Ben who was about to cry.
"No, no, no, just don't cry, ok?" Cole didn't know how to calm a kid, so he did first thing he could think of. He extracted ten dollars from his pocket and gave it to Ben. Suddenly, a big grin appeared on Ben's face.
"Good" Cole breathed a sigh of relief. "Now, would you tell me why do you think I'm your dad?" He asked softly.
"My mommy told me your name and gave me this..." Ben tried to open his medallion he had on chain, but without any success. Cole smiled at him and wave his hand to magically help him open it.
"She gave me this so I can see her or my daddy whenever I want" Ben showed Cole two pictures that were inside his medallion. One of them was Phoebe's and the second was Cole's. Cole stared at the pictures and then at Ben in disbelief.
"Ben, who are you talking to?" A voice came from behind Ben. He and Cole looked at the person who was speaking, it was Phoebe.
"I told you not to talk to..." When Phoebe sighted Cole, she dropped the cup of tea she was holding and it broke into many pieces "... strangers"
"Cole..." when she looked into his amazing eyes, she felt her heart was like the cup she'd been holding a while ago... broken
"Ben, go watch TV with your cousins" She said not taking her eyes from Cole.
She and Cole went to the kitchen to talk.
-----------------------------------
"You're supposed to be death! How is it possible you're still alive? Why can't you leave us? What makes you come here after six years? What do you think...?" Phoebe was yelling but Cole didn't listen.
"Why?" He asked softly.
"Excuse me?" Phoebe didn't know what was he talking about.
"Why did you tell him I'm his father?" Cole asked more firmly.
"Because you... you are." She was looking at the floor.
"No! It's not possible. We... we lost our baby, you weren't pregnant when I came back from Wasteland" Cole remembered how happy he was when he first found out Phoebe was pregnant and how heartbroken when she told him their baby was gone.
"It wasn't our baby, it was Source's, but Ben is ours. We conceived him after your return" She said still looking at the floor.
"How can you be so cruel? To me, to Ben... Why are you lying to him?" A tear escaped his eye.
"Didn't you listen?! He's yours!" Phoebe was now yelling.
"I don't remember us sleeping together, how could we conceive him?" Cole wanted to believe her, but it was impossible.
"You don't remember because I made sure you wouldn't" Phoebe almost whispered "It happened one night after your return from Wasteland. I was drunk and somehow appeared at your penthouse, I didn't know what I was doing. I remember us kissing and making love. When I woke up I regretted everything and I didn't want you to find out what happened, so I put a spell on you." Cole was looking at her with disgust, but was shaking with his head.
"You're lying, I don't believe you a word. He's not my son!" He yelled and more tears escaped his eyes. As much as he wished Ben was his, he didn't believe it.
"Don't be dumb. He is your son!" She yelled too.
"He's not my son! He can't be! Don't you understand! He is not my son!" The tears were running down his cheeks. Cole was still yelling when he noticed Ben standing in the door. He was crying and holding his ears not to hear his parents' altercation.
"Ben?" Cole said softly and Phoebe noticed him too. She wanted to go to him but he shimmered away.
"He can shimmer?" Cole didn't believe his eyes.
"Of course he can, he is your son, you idiot!" With that she ran out of the kitchen.