Chapter 9: Odd One Out

"Does that mean that we're okay?" Phoebe asked, looking at the ground.

"As okay as we can be after your several attempts at vanquishing me…"

"Well, I can't do that anymore. No magic, remember?"

"No magic, right. Would that fact have something to do with your sudden wish to bring me back? If there's no magic, I can't hurt you. You've been trusting other demons for years now, but didn't believe in me?"

"Cole, it's not like that. It's…it's complicated. It's more to do with the fact that with no magic around I can't hurt you. I was confused and I used my powers

inconsiderately. It was actually Romix, Paco's father…"

"Romix!"

"Yeah, he said you possibly will react that way."

"You've been with him for three years? Wha?…Have you seen his demonic form?"

"A lion that gives you electric shocks? Not very original, I must say, if not a little bit bizarre."

"That's not what I mean. In his demonic form, he acts like a lion with huge powers. He doesn't even understand human language!"

"Iii…I know. I know how that sounds. To you. Cause your demonic form was at least humanoid. But isn't that good? I mean, it's not very likely that I will reject anything for being too demonic after that…and it was him who convinced me to use our powers on criminals. Human criminals. And through him, we actually helped give asylum to fugitive demons from the underworld, to some even without stripping their powers. That was one of the reason the leader was so pissed with him. And it would've not been fair to either of you to bring you back while he was alive. It hasn't been a year since…and we've been busy with the Elders' plan since. I will tell you all about what happened while you didn't do much else than pour down the drain, but now, I'm just glad we got you back. It was Piper that came up with the potion."

"I must say…I'm glad too…and I'm sorry you had a hard time."

Phoebe shrugged slightly, "I guess I had to…to be a better person," she looked up at him, taking one step towards him. Somehow a physical contact, a hug even better would've eased the situation and would've filled the void somewhat that the loss of a partner creates. She made a step hesitantly towards him. It wasn't long after he had alienated himself from anything conscious that she had found herself missing him badly, longing for the passionate relationship they used to share. She had struggled to recreate something similar with Romix, but it was quite obvious that he wasn't interested. He was a revolutionary mind, more interested in his goal than anything else. Phoebe was well aware of the fact that Romix has used her a tool and now that she was standing face to face to Cole, rather then spending endless hours getting soaked in the pouring rain, her yearning for the his touch, and for the warm, moist heat of his lips on hers intensified. She made another step, then gazed wordlessly at him for a long moment, not sure of how he would react it she acted upon her desires.

He took the other couple of steps that kept them apart, stopped in front of Phoebe and scanned her features, "what did you do with your beautiful hair?"

"Paco was pulling at it a lot when feeding as a baby, so I had to cut it," she enlightened him, "even though he still levitates up out of mischief to have a pull at it…"

Cole's hand grabbed hers, and he was smiling at her in a way she had forgotten he could in the last few years, "I hope you'll let it grow?"

"If you want…" She smiled back at him, drawing courage from the part of her soul that always loved him and didn't have to be ashamed for rejecting him. She could feel his hand move towards the back of her head, pulling her close as he learned down. Except that the moment was not meant to be, because when he parted his lips slightly to welcome hers, a shriek made them both jerk backwards.

"Aaaa!" The simultaneous squeal came from both Leo and Paige, the latter adding, "he's back!"

"Why are you so surprised?" Phoebe retorted, "but you knew I will attempt this."

"Knowing is one thing, seeing another," Paige nodded.

"Whatever Phoebe, we have more urgent matters," Piper waved them off, "even more urgent than saying hi," she nodded in Cole's direction, "the Hollow…eee…kinda backfired. The demons are human all right, but the all the humans with no witch blood in them became demons and the moment they figure out we are the enemy we're dead. Elders are doing it back right now…"

"Yeah, shit would be a good word," Paige agreed.

Tbc