Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, don't sue me.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, they were much appreciated. I know how long I took to update. I know! And I apologise.
Just a note: Leo's still an Elder. Cole is 'powerful', not invincible. He can still get injured without acidic blood healing him. Chris isn't around.
One Year Later. . .
"Oh man. . .that was the third mirror this week. . ." Piper exclaimed, cringing at the sound of broken glass. She ducked behind the couch, in between Paige and Phoebe, as two fireballs went flying overhead. "If this keeps up, I'm going to have enough bad luck for two lifetimes. . ." She mumbled.
"Ready?" Phoebe asked, clenching onto the small vial.
"I guess. . ." Piper sighed. She rolled out from the cover of the couch and threw forward her hands, freezing the scene momentarily. As Paige and Phoebe looked up, the huge demon standing in front of them began to shake off the magic. Without another thought, Phoebe threw the potion. As the demon broke through Piper's magic, flames appeared at the bottom of his robes. Within seconds he was engulfed, before vanishing completely.
Phoebe brushed off her pants, before turning to her sisters. "I have to get going. . ."
"What? Now?" Piper asked incredulously. "This place is a mess!"
"I have to meet Jason. . .I'm already late." Phoebe tried to explain.
"Right. . .Jason." Paige said, as she and Piper shared a knowing look.
"Look, you guys might not like him now. . .but he'll grow on you." Phoebe said uncertainly. Her sisters' obvious disapproval was getting to her.
"Who said we didn't like him?" Paige asked, with a pout.
Phoebe rolled her eyes slightly. "He'll grow on you." She reiterated, before turning around and heading for the front door. When it shut behind her, Paige grimaced at Piper.
"Were we that obvious?" She questioned.
"Like a house on fire." Piper said. "Now help me with this glass. . ."
"A battle. . ." Cole repeated the other man's words somewhat lazily.
"The mother of all battles, Turner." His friend replied. "Good vs. Evil. A fight till the death. . ." He trailed off.
Cole shook his head with a slight smile playing on his lips. He leaned forward over his desk, giving Matthew Donaldson, his partner, a reproachful stare. "You have as much work to do as I have."
"That doesn't mean I don't have time for a movie!"
"Matt, why don't you go ahead . . . I'm not in the mood." Cole replied.
"You're never in the mood, Turner. But if that's how you feel. . .it's your loss." Matt replied, standing up heading for the door. "Has your life always been this boring?" He provoked as he pulled open the door.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Cole said, shaking his head as his friend disappeared through the doorway, shutting the door behind him. Cole thought about his words, smiling inwardly at them. His life had been anything but boring. But now, he had to admit, things were getting a bit depressing.
But that was his choice. He had stopped using magic to prevent himself remembering his past. Or anyone in it. He stood up suddenly and headed to the window in his office that overlooked the city below him. New York City. This place should have been anything but boring. He glanced around. The city was incapable of being cloaked in darkness, lights illuminating the business district for miles. He smiled slightly. He froze, his smile vanishing, as he sensed the presence of someone behind him. He spun around, his body prepared for any onslaught. Once again he froze, confused, as he stared at the figure seated on the other side of his desk. He frowned.
"Cole. It's been a while. . ." The figure replied.
Cole hesitated, before stepping forward. "Leo." He said cautiously. "What are you doing here?"
"I think you know." Leo replied, standing up.
"Why don't you tell me?" Cole said, still suspicious.
"You haven't felt it? The presence of evil stronger than any of us has known?"
Cole hesitated. "I didn't believe it."
"You're powerful Cole, none of us can deny that. And while we don't completely trust you, we're willing to admit that we could use your help." Leo replied.
"We?"
"Not the sisters. . .if that's what you're asking." Leo replied.
"Then who?" Cole questioned, his curiosity growing.
Leo hesitated, knowing this admission probably wouldn't help him. "The Elders."
Cole stared at him. "You're an Elder. . ." He stated, half questioningly.
Leo nodded. "Almost six months now." He replied. "Can you help us?" He changed the subject abruptly.
"The Elders have never supported me. Give me one reason why--"
"Phoebe." Leo interrupted. "You want a reason? She's it."
"I don't understand." Cole said, confused.
"The Power of Three is powerful, we both know that. But this evil power. . .this new Source. . .has the potential to destroy them. Without you, they might not survive."
"You can find someone else." Cole said, turning around, his defences already faltering at the thought that Phoebe may be in danger.
"Someone with as much power as you? Who knows the ways of the Underworld?" Leo paused. "I don't trust that you will protect Good, Cole. But I trust that you will protect Phoebe. And in this case, that's good enough."
Cole clenched his fist, there was no way he could pull back now. "They're not just going to welcome me back into the Manor."
"They will. When I explain what's going on." Leo said, somewhat wearily, not gleefully anticipating the conversation. "Can you help us?"
Cole stared at him. There was no choice now. Phoebe's safety wasn't something he could easily shrug off. He hesitated, knowing he may come to regret it, before nodding. There was no going back now.
"Well tell him to go back!" Piper exclaimed. "I'm not letting that man back into this house."
"Can we keep it down?" Leo pleaded. "I don't want Phoebe to know until it's absolutely necessary."
"Leo, she's in the shower. She can't hear anything." Paige said nonchalantly from the counter.
"Aren't you going to back me up?" Piper questioned of her youngest sister.
Paige looked up, frowning. "I think you've got it pretty well covered."
Piper growled. "He lied and schemed--"
"In his defence, that was only the Source." Leo interrupted.
"Don't defend him. He could put Wyatt in danger. If not from him, than from any of the other crazed demons that want him dead." Piper almost smiled, playing her trump card.
"In more danger than he already is just by being one of the Charmed Ones children?" Leo questioned. "I would never let anything happen to Wyatt, Piper, you know that. And you also know that that boy has a knack for protecting himself." Piper remained silent, her smile having disappeared abruptly. Paige chuckled to herself.
"Sure you don't have anything to say now?" Piper snapped at Paige.
Paige gave a sigh of resignation, before facing Leo. "The man tried to kill us, Leo. Source or not. And even if he's not still plotting some evil scheme. . .he's put Phoebe through enough. It's not fair to bring all the pain back for her."
Leo sighed. "You don't have to convince me, I know what he's done, and what he's capable of. But I also know that without him we're helpless--"
"We've never been helpless before." Piper interrupted.
"You've never been up against power like this." Leo retorted. He paused, and then pleadingly, "We need him."
Piper realised that despite what she had to say, Leo had the authority. And if things were going to be as bad as he predicted, then maybe having Cole on their side was better than nothing. "Phoebe's not going to like it."
Phoebe hurried to her room, clutching the towel around her damp body. Her feet padded lightly on the ground as she entered her room, flicked on the light switch and shut the door behind her. She shivered slightly as a breeze from outside met her skin. She crossed the room and shut the window. She shivered again, this time not because of the wind. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as she felt the presence of someone behind her. She whirled around. A breath caught in her throat, as she once again clutched on to the towel to prevent it from falling off.
"Cole?" She whispered, her voice barely audible.
"I'm sorry to come to you like this. . .now. . ." He indicated towards the towel. "But I needed to tell you before your sisters could."
"Tell me what? Why are you here, Cole?" She questioned, taking in his clean-shaven, formal appearance. A midnight blue shirt. Pitch-black suit. Black tie. Shiny, black shoes completed the picture.
"Leo found me. He told me that the Elders needed help vanquishing a new evil. That you needed help. . ." Cole tried to explain.
"New evil? I don't understand." Phoebe said, unable to make sense of his words while her heart was beating so rapidly.
"They needed my help. Leo said you may be in danger, so I came." Cole said awkwardly. He paused. "You look amazing."
Phoebe was taken aback. She looked down at herself, draped in a towel, her hair messy and damp. She smiled slightly. "Yeah, right."
"I'm serious." Cole replied with a half smile.
"Well you don't look so bad yourself." Phoebe said, indicating towards the suit. "I haven't seen you like this in a long time." They shared a moment of eye-contact, before a knock on the door received their attention.
"Phoebe?" Piper's voice floated through the door. Phoebe met Cole's eyes again. He nodded slightly, somewhat wearily. She crossed the room and opened the door.
"We have something to talk about." Piper said, entering the room. She froze immediately as her eyes fell on Cole. "What are you doing here?"
"Piper--" Phoebe began.
"Leo said that I could have some time to talk to Phoebe about this." Piper continued.
"Leo doesn't know I'm here." Cole said.
"I do now." Leo replied, entering the room behind Piper. "Cole, we agreed you would at least try to do things my way."
"I tried, Leo. And I failed miserably." Cole replied, causing Phoebe to smile slightly. Piper, however, wasn't amused.
"How are we going to be able to do anything if he won't listen to any of us?" Piper said exasperated.
"I'm not here to work against you, Piper. Believe it or not I'm here to help you. And that's what I'm going to do." Cole said, glancing momentarily at Phoebe. Phoebe met his gaze for a moment, but was quickly distracted by Piper's next comment.
"What's Jason going to think when Cole starts hanging around here?" Piper blurted out.
Phoebe sighed. "I thought you didn't like Jason."
Piper hesitated. "Like you said. . .he'll grow on me."
Phoebe smiled wryly. "We'll deal with that when we get to it." She said, avoiding Cole's eyes. "But right now, I'm under the impression that we need Cole." She looked questioningly at Leo, who nodded slightly, almost regretfully. She then turned to Piper, who didn't say anything. "So I guess there really isn't a choice in the matter." Phoebe said, a trace of finality in her voice. "Meanwhile, I'm freezing my butt off wrapped in a damp towel. . .so if you all don't mind, I'd like to get dressed."
"Right. . ." Leo said, backing out of the room.
Cole glanced from Piper to Phoebe. "I'll be back soon." He said softly, before fading out of the room. Piper gave Phoebe a soft gaze.
"I hope you don't regret this." She said. Phoebe smiled.
"I won't, Piper." Phoebe said, gently pushing her sister out of the room. "And stop worrying so much. . ." She added, as she started to close the door behind Piper, "It's giving you wrinkles. . ." The door shut with a light thud.
Sorry again that this took so long to come up. Hope it was worth the wait. Review and give me your thoughts.