All attention was on Briel as she rose and spoke. "It has been proven to my satisfaction that the Avatars seek out power and use ruthless manipulation to get it. Indeed, it seems to be their standard method of getting someone to join their cause. Very few would be able to stand against them. Therefore, Leo Wyatt is not to be persecuted for joining them as he did. He acted under duress, and he acted to save his family. It is further evident that Leo Wyatt's ties to the mortal world make him unfit to be an Elder. His guidance was needed when the Elders were in chaos after the rise of the Titans, but no longer. It is also clear that the attack upon Zola took place while Leo Wyatt was under the emotional assault of a powerful demon, and he is not to blame for his actions."

Briel gazed evenly at the Charmed Ones. "The Charmed Ones have served the force of good, and they have done it well. For all their incessant complaining, they have vanquished countless demons. The Elders might have all been destroyed by the Titans were it not for them. They are to be commended...and trusted to do their job. I believe in their hearts they know their duty, and if they have fallen from the path, perhaps this will serve as a reminder. There is, as was said here already, nothing more important than the life of an innocent, and they would do well to remember that and learn to live with the inconveniences of their mortal lives. The Elders will not interfere in their personal lives so long as they do not affect their obligation to protect innocents.

"It is therefore our ruling that the Charmed Ones be allowed to retain their powers. Leo Wyatt shall be stripped of his Avatar and Elder powers, but allowed to retain his abilities as a Whitelighter. He shall be assigned to be where he truly belongs – with his family. They will be his sole charges and he will act as liaison between them and the Elders," Briel finished. "And he is responsible for keeping them on their path."

The other Elders nodded in acceptance of the decision and orbed out. Piper sank against Leo in relief as her sisters absorbed the enormity of the decision. Kevin leapt to his feet and let out a whoop. "You did it!" he said to Cole.

"So I did," Cole said wearily.

Kevin looked guilty. "I...uh...I have to send you back now," he said reluctantly. Cole nodded.

"Wait!" Phoebe said. "What's going on?" She moved to Kevin's side, looking at Cole.

"I pulled Cole from Purgatory to help Leo," Kevin said sadly. "And now I have to put him back."

"He didn't agree to do this for a Get out of Death Free card?" Paige asked.

Kevin shook his head. "No...he only did it because I asked."

"There must be something..." Phoebe looked at Briel, who had remained behind. "Does he have to go back?"

"Stay out of this," Cole said to Phoebe. "I don't want your help."

"Interesting," Briel said, studying Phoebe. "You were the one who sent him to Purgatory. Yet now you wish him free? Why?"

"I don't know," Phoebe said. "Maybe...maybe we were wrong? Isn't there anything we can do? He was manipulated by the Avatars, too. He needs justice as much as Leo."

"Justice," Briel repeated. She waved her hand at Phoebe.

"Oh, god," Phoebe said, starting to hyperventilate. She sank to her knees, clutching her head as tears began to stream down her face. "Don't...I can't...please..."

"What are you doing to her?" Piper demanded. She knelt beside Phoebe and tried to pull her into her arms.

"Her empathy was given to her for this very reason," Briel said evenly. "It was never meant as a gift to augment her powers. It was meant so she could feel what her callous and selfish actions did to those around her. You found a magical way to prevent her from feeling your emotions, Piper Halliwell, but these feelings she cannot block. She now feels what the demon feels."

Cole looked at Phoebe, alarmed. "Stop this. This isn't what I want."

"Is this not justice, demon?" Briel said. "This is your pain, your sorrow. Your love for her kept you alive when first they vanquished you. Your pain kept you in Purgatory the second time, unable to move on."

"I said stop it!" Cole took a step toward Phoebe, then stopped himself.

Briel shook her head. "No."

Cole closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath. He let it out slowly, his stance become more relaxed. After a moment, Phoebe stopped crying and writhing on the floor. She pushed herself up, looking at Cole "Phoebe?" Piper said, pushing the hair away from her sister's face.

"The pain, the sadness, it's gone...I just feel..." Her voice dropped to a confused whisper. "Love."

Cole looked away from Phoebe, facing Briel instead. "Congratulations. You have passed," the Elder said.

"What? This was some sort of sick test?" Cole said, bewildered.

Briel nodded. "If evil ruled your heart, you would have reveled in her pain. Instead you stopped it the only way you could...by letting go off your pain. And for that I judge you free to return to the mortal realm."

"Return?" Cole repeated, stunned.

Another nod. "Yes. You are restored to what you were...minus the Avatar's powers. You are no longer one of them. You are free to choose your own path now."

"I...thank you," Cole said.

"Cole," Phoebe whispered, climbing to her feet. She took a hesitant step toward him.

He backed away from her. "Are we done here now, then?" he asked Briel.

"You are free to go where you will, Cole," Briel said, addressing him by name instead of calling him "demon." "But we will be watching. If you abuse your powers, if you fall from the path again, you will be dealt with."

Cole nodded respectfully, then started to shimmer out. "Cole, wait!" Phoebe shouted, jumping toward him.

"What do you want?" he said carefully, keeping a distance between them.

"Where-where are you going?" she asked.

He shrugged. "I don't know, Phoebe."

A small smile touched her lips. "You called me Phoebe."

He ignored her words. "What do you want?" he repeated.

"I...I think we need to talk," she said.

Shaking his head, he said, "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Cole, I felt what you feel," Phoebe pleaded.

He looked away from her. "That doesn't mean anything anymore."

She tried to close the distance between them. "How can you say that? It means everything."

Bitterness and pain flickered in his eyes again as he turned toward her again. "It meant nothing to you two years ago, why should it change now?"

"Because I was a fool!" Phoebe said passionately. "I was scared and I didn't understand what you were going through and please can't we forget the past and try again? Cole...I love you. I always have. I always will. That wasn't a lie when I told you that."

"It...it's too late, Phoebe," he said. "We tried. We failed. It's over. Goodbye, Phoebe."

Cole shimmered out, and Phoebe dropped her head. As her shoulders began to shake, Piper and Paige hurried to wrap their sister in their embrace. "It's okay, honey," Piper said comfortingly. "You're just caught up in the moment. You know you don't want to be involved with him again..." Her voice trailed off as she realized Phoebe was laughing. "Phoebe?"

"Yeah, what's so funny?" Paige said, confused.

Phoebe's eyes shone with tears, but she was smiling. "He still loves me. And I'm going to get him back."

"How can you be so sure?" Paige asked.

"Because I've seen the future," Phoebe said happily. "And my daughter has her father's eyes."