-------

Chapter 5: Comprehensive Information

Cole realised he woke up to a baby crying. It was daylight and Piper was nowhere to be seen, however, the child continued screaming. Cole walked over to the crib to gaze at the baby boy dressed in pastel blue pyjamas, not sure what to do. It has been a long while since he had done anything similar, "I presume you're hungry, aren't you?" he asked, "or maybe not," he noticed the almost empty bottle that was lying next to the child and with some of the milk making the infant's face wet. He touched him with shaky hands, "come on, sweetie," he picked him up, and held him to his chest, "what's wrong? Do you need your nappy changed?" He felt the odour from close distance. He thought one second, then let the baby go with one hand to wave his wrist at the box of diapers in the corner. One nappy flew out of it and after another wave, the child stopped crying and he ended up holding a dirty nappy with his free hand. He hesitated about what to do with it, then simply dropped it onto the floor. Main thing was, that perhaps from the strange sensation of having his nappy changed magically, or because Cole was holding him close to his heartbeat, the boy rested peacefully against his chest. He was soothingly stroking his soft blond hair when Piper entered.

"Oh," she cornered the dirty nappy on the floor, "you didn't have to do that...I didn't know you could do that."

"It's like riding a bike," Cole didn't mention his magic, letting her think it was done manually. It wasn't an evil power, but he had to try them all out before he let even himself believe in the good by-product of the sisters' spell. He gently passed the baby over to his mother instead.

"I see you have experience?"

"My son died before the war."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know you had a son."

"No, you wouldn't be sorry if you knew him. You'd probably have to vanquish him. He had power over the wind and did some hurricanes...but I have another son actually. I haven't seen him for forty years though. We bound his powers when he was a baby. I don't think he will ever know he is part demon."

"Really? Why?"

"It's hard for a half breed down there. I didn't want him to have to go through that...in fact...do I want to go through this myself? I realise you had to bring me back, but...do I want to be here?"

"It's another chance..."

"To do what Piper? Certainly not what I'd like to. Yesterday I was too confused and weary, but today...what am I gonna do now?"

"Live, for yourself, away from Phoebe."

"Yeah, and what if I don't want that chance? Besides, I can't live away from her if I'm running errands for you."

"For Leo and the Elders, not for us."

"Leo and...? You speak of him as if he was a separate entity, not your husband."

"Well, he isn't. He lives up there now."

"I'm sorry Piper. You were so picture perfect."

"Love is overestimated I think. Consequently, what you should do is find your own place, you own purpose, find yourself Cole. You never got the chance before, cause well, something always came up. I'm sure Leo and his colleagues would be willing to open a few doors for the success of their assignments for you. As honestly as I can, I believe your only real chance is to forget about my sister. Can you do that?"

Cole sat on the bed, not sure whether he could look in her eyes. Because what could he say? That nothing changed? That without Phoebe life meant nothing? Maybe it did, maybe it didn't, he wasn't convinced about it either. He felt abandoned, and his heart was empty and sore. He had been like this since that day Phoebe came to see him in the wasteland, but only to tell him to move on. Thinking about that, the sense of betrayal overwhelmed him.

Piper placed the now back to sleep Wyatt into his cot and gently sat down next to him, touching his arm. She slowly nodded, "I understand...maybe you're not ready yet. But are you willing to try if I help?"

"Help? Me? Why would you do that?" Disbelief showed on Cole's features.

"Because it's the best for my family if you are sane and able. Especially if you're powers will get stronger, evil or not."

"But I don't want to be alive! She is all I care about."

"You don't have a choice, you realise that?"

"I still have a choice. Before I become invincible."

"Well, we will always bring you back if we need you. You can't run, unless you get to heaven, which we can't touch," she said in a voice that could have been considered cruel if she didn't change to her gentlest voice he ever heard her talk in, "I want you to live," she touched his cheek.

"Why Piper?"

"Cause...I realise we messed up your life not believing you about the source. Will you let me to make it right?"

"If you know, Phoebe knows that too? That it wasn't my fault?" Hope started to flicker in him once more.

"She does, but she's still afraid she would turn to the wrong side. That you would turn, no matter what kind of powers you have."

"And you're not?"

"My son is meant to be the arch nemesis of the next big evil. Yes, don't look at me, it was foretold, my son. If I give him a chance, you deserve one too."

"You're so nice to me," Cole whispered. Hit by emotion, he closed his eyes and

swallowed hard. He was nearly crying. Even though parts of it made no sense to him, in his muddled emotional state, he was shaken by how much Piper seemed to have cared about him.

"I just wanted you to remember the feeling, so don't get me wrong," Piper laughed , but she hugged his from the back nevertheless, "are you willing to try now? It would not be the Cole I know if you didn't."

Cole looked into her eyes, "if you think it's worth it, I will."

tbc