A/N: Thanks to prissy-lady. I'm glad the Cole thing didn't totally make you hate it!

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

"Cole can't be back! How many god damn times do we have to vanquish him?" Piper fumed. Cole was her sister's only weakness. As if was, Phoebe's marriage was stretched to the limit with Les. Les was gone on business often, and Pheobe's Charmed duties kept them apart far more than either would have liked. Piper felt nausea rise up in her throat. Cole could be the final nail in the coffin for Phoebe's marriage. She new that as much as Phoebe denied it, there was still a soft spot for Cole in her mind and heart.

"He didn't seem like he wanted to hurt us. He could have blown our cover. He didn't. He acted like he had no idea who we were. But let's face it, Co.. er. Belthazor wouldn't be fooled by the fake darklighter act. He helped us. I don't think he wants to hurt any of us. It sounded like he wanted to help us." Wyatt tried to calm his frantic mother.

"Help us? Cole is a demon. Even when he was human, he had such a temper that he might as well have been a demon. Did I ever tell you guys about the time I got him a job at legal aid?" Paige was still annoyed with Cole. She had never liked him, and now she was terrified that he might be back in their lives permanently.

"Yes, Aunt Paige. We know. He beat up the slum lord and got fired. But maybe we need to consider that the slum lord deserved it. And anyway, it doesn't matter now. What matters is making sure that Cole or Balthazor, whichever form he takes, doesn't try to hurt this family. He could have had us killed in that bar. Instead, he personally gave us information." Wyatt reasoned again.

Chris was tired. They had been talking around this for hours. Phoebe was still just sitting silently in the arm chair, not talking or seemingly even listening to the conversation. Her stillness scared him. He got to his feet, going over to her chair and kneeling down beside her.

"Aunt Phoebe. Aunt Phoebe, please. We need you, ok? Can you come back to us for a few minutes please?" Chris reached for her hand, and was immediately thrown into Phoebe's memories.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

From "Black as Cole"

"Okay, let me ask you a question. When you, you know, proposed… did you mean to? Or did it just come out in the heat of the moment?"

"Well, does that matter?"

"Well, yeah, it matters to me."

"It just came out in the heat of the moment."

"Oh."

"But that doesn't mean that once I said it I wasn't serious because I-I-I was, I still am."

"Cole…"

"Phoebe, listen to me. I know it was crazy to ask, and I know it doesn't make any sense because of who we are but that shouldn't matter. If it did we never would have fallen in love in the first place. I love you, Phoebe, and I don't know where we go from here but, I do know where ever it is, I want it to be with you."

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

From "Witch Way Now?"

Scene: Astral plane. Cole is standing on a rock. Phoebe astral projects in.

'"Cole."She climbs onto the rock. "I have to talk to you but I don't have a lot of time."

"Did you see me come to you?"

"Yes, I did. How did you do that?"

"It's a secret."

"I'm giving up my powers, we all are."

"What?"

"I don't have time to explain but it's true, which means..."

"I know what it means."

"Cole, we did the best we could. We tried every way possible to make this work but it wasn't meant to be. And it wasn't because we didn't love each other, it's just love wasn't enough, so now we have to move on, okay, the both of us."

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

From "Happily Ever After"

"I don't know what you're up to but whatever it is, it is not gonna work."

"Don't you think you're being a little paranoid?"

"With my demon ex-husband from hell? No, Cole, I don't."

"Look, I'm just trying to help you, okay? I found out Adam liked your column so I figured if he could syndicate it that..."

"If you hurt me or my sisters, I will vanquish you. And this time I'll make sure it sticks."

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

"Aunt Phoebe. Please. I know you can hear me. This isn't doing you any good. Come back to us. I understand." Chris' soft voice echoed through the now silent room. Everyone was staring at Chris and Phoebe with their linked hands.

"Chris. You can't possibly understand. I don't even know what to think or feel. And Les… how do I tell Les. I do love Les, Chris. I do. I do!" Phoebe cried, insistent, finally speaking.

"I know you do, Aunt Phoebe. I saw your memories. And I remember them. Like this one:"

From "Cheaper By The Coven"

"Come on, there was nothing else besides gratitude behind that hug?"

"What would you like there to be?"

"Just admit it. You like me."

"How can you be so sure of that?"

"Oh, I don't know. The twenty-eight phone calls in two hours. Caller ID."

"Yeah, well, that was because my redial button was broken, so it just kept redialling."

"Ahh."

"Yeah, and you were the last number I called, you know, so it just..."

"Right."

"Well, thank you."

Phoebe walks out into the main room.

"If she turns around it means she likes me. Come on, Phoebe, don't let me down. You can do it, turn around." Phoebe stops and looks back at Les. "That-a-girl."

Chris smiled after showing Phoebe the memory. "I do understand, Aunt Phoebe. I know that you're confused and hurt. I know that you're afraid and nervous. And I know that you are one the bravest people I know. Not only have you fought demons side by side with mom, Aunt Paige & Aunt Prue, but you are the only one who had to choose between love and duty. We'll help you. I promise."

"Oh, Chris. I always knew you were my favorite nephew. But you still can't know what it feels like. Those are still my memories and feelings. Until or unless you experience them first hand, you can't truly understand." Phoebe looked deep into her nephews stormy green eyes.

"Aunt Phoebe. I have experienced it. Not in this life. In my other one. Losing Bianca was the worst thing that ever happened. I knew that she wasn't completely good. Just like you knew Cole wasn't good. But you just can't choose who you love. It's already there. Predestined. I felt like someone had done the Mexican hat dance on my heart when I saw Bianca get killed. I knew it was my fault. She was dead because I loved her." Chris' voice was think with emotion. A part of him had never really gotten over Bianca. Even though he loved his girlfriend, Maya, Bianca was still a huge part of his memories.

"You do understand." Phoebe whispered, understanding dawning. "You understand what it's like to kill someone you love. Or to at least blame yourself for it." Phoebe curled into Chris' chest, hugging him.

Chris wrapped his arms around his petite aunt, wishing he could do more. "I know. We'll find a way to fix this, I promise."

"You don't have to. I already told you. You can't kill what you most love. Hello Phoebe. It's been a long time." Cole spoke from the corner of room.