"I'm so glad you're back," said Phoebe, hugging Cole close. "I was so afraid you'd never get out of the underworld alive."
"Well, there was a close call when the Seer approached us," said Cole, peeling off the makeup that made it appear the left side of his face was scarred. "But I was able to convince her I was the real Source."
"He was quite convincing," said Nelsar. "Had I not know I would have believed him to be the real Source."
"Well, at least it's over," said Piper. "The Source is finally vanquished for good, Cole is free of him forever, we have the pages from the Tome of the Ancients, and the underworld is once again without a leader. All in all I'd say we did a decent days' work."
"They all seem to be here," said Michael, looking the pages over. "Now that we have these out of the underworld we can make sure they never harm anyone ever again."
"Thanks for the help, all of you," said Cole. "Especially you, Peter. I know how hard this must have been for you. Considering everything I've put you through."
"Well, Michael did say it was for the forces of good everywhere," said Peter. "Besides, like he said, I guess everyone deserves a second chance. It doesn't mean we're going to be doing any bonding or anything in the near future. But you did risk your life to get those pages back. I guess I owe it to you to show me that you've changed. Mom would have wanted that."
"It's a start," said Cole.
"The boy is very like you, Cole," said Baldasor.
"Will you stop calling me that?" said Peter. "I'm almost fifty years old, for crying out loud. Hardly a kid."
"Don't feel bad," said Cole. "I was almost sixty before he stopped calling me a boy."
"I am over four hundred years old," said Baldasor. "By my standards you are hardly more than a teenager."
"Just don't call me boy, Uncle Baldasor," said Peter, emphasizing the word "uncle". "I think I've proven I'm more than capable of taking care of myself."
"Uncle Baldasor?" questioned Baldasor. "Now that's going to take some getting used to."
"What will the Brotherhood do now?" Cole asked. "If the hierarchy learns you helped us they're sure to try and take revenge on you. And not even the Brotherhood will be able to survive that."
"We are leaving the underworld," said Baldasor. "The Order of the Thorn has asked us to assist them in Los Angeles. Something about a vampire with a soul that's been giving them some measure of trouble. They are having to reallocate their resources and require our assistance there."
"Take care of yourself," said Cole. "This is the second time I am indebted to you. I won't forget it."
"Once a brother," said Baldasor.
"Always a brother," finished Cole.
"Take care, brother," said Baldasor. "And you too, nephew. Perhaps you may one day distinguish yourself enough to join the order."
"I wouldn't hold my breath on that one," said Peter. "I have a very good practice providing legal services to the underprivileged. Those who can't afford decent legal services are really in need of my help. And you'd be surprised just how appreciative they are when they get it."
"Of course," said Baldasor. "Still, things may change."
Without another word, Baldasor and the other two Brotherhood demons shimmered out of the manor.
"I need to get these to a safe place," said Michael, holding up the pages from the Tome of the Ancients. "The sooner they're locked away were no one can get to them the better I'll feel."
"What will you do now?" Paige asked. "Your identity as Malevant has been exposed. You certainly can't return there."
"We're sorry about that," said Piper. "It was a high price to pay."
"Not for what we got in return," said Michael. "The Source vanquished and these pages out of the hands of demons. Besides, I knew it couldn't last forever. I had over sixty years of funneling information to the Elders and thwarting demonic plans. It's about time for a change in career."
"You could always join the White Lighter council," suggested Leo. "You'd be instrumental in choosing new White Lighters."
"Me, a bureaucrat?" gasped Michael. "That will be the day. No, there are many things I can do. Look at it this way. Now I'll have more time to devote to my charges. Don't worry. I won't be bored. There will always be something for me to do."
"And maybe you can come by for just dinner sometime," said Piper. "Instead of involving us in one of your elaborate plans."
"That would be a refreshing change," said Michael. "I just might take you up on that."
"Any time," said Piper, "any time."
"You think he'll be in any danger?" Phoebe asked after Michael had orbed out. "There are bound to be more than a few demons who'd like to get revenge on him especially now that they will know who he is."
"He can take care of himself," said Cole. "Trust me when I tell you that most demons will think long and hard before they go up against him. Maybe he no longer has his secret as Malevant but he's still as powerful as ever. Every demon will remember that."
"Plus he doesn't have to hide his secret any longer," said Leo.
"Speaking of dinner," said Peter, "I'm famished. Would it be okay if I invite myself to dinner?"
"Sure," said Piper. "You probably don't get many home cooked meals being a bachelor and all."
"Would it be okay if I brought a friend?" Peter asked hesitantly.
"I don't see why not," said Piper. "I should be able to throw something together pretty quickly if Phoebe and Paige will help."
"No problem there," said Phoebe.
"Great," said Peter. "I'll be right back."
Peter shimmered out of the manor as the girls went into the kitchen to start preparing dinner. About twenty minutes later Peter shimmered back into the manor. With him was a young woman just a little older than Piper. She had blonde hair and was very beautiful.
"Piper, Phoebe, Paige," said Peter, "this is Cherise Young. My fiancé."
"Fiancé?" questioned Phoebe. "Peter, that's wonderful."
"Cherise," said Peter, "this is Leo Wyatt, Pipers' husband. And this is Cole Turner."
"You're Peters' father," Cherise said.
"Yeah, I guess so," said Cole.
"He's told me a great deal about you," said Cherise. "I must admit when I learned he was part demon and that his father was the infamous Belthazor I was taken back a bit. That's a lot to take in."
"You told her?" Paige questioned.
"She has a right to know everything," said Peter. "Especially since any children we have may have demonic powers. She needed to be prepared for that."
"Besides, it's not like it was exactly news to me," said Cherise. "My mother told me about demons and the Elders and all."
"You're a witch?" Piper asked.
"No, I'm not," said Cherise. "My mother was but it seems to have skipped me."
"Yeah, it can do that sometimes," said Leo.
"Anyway," said Cherise, "I was a bit freaked out at first. But I knew Peter was a good man. Eventually I decided that it wasn't his fault his father was half demon."
"You're very forgiving," said Cole.
"Something she's teaching me," said Peter. "After I told her everything that happened when I was here the last time she starting harping on me that maybe I should give Cole as second chance."
"I don't harp," said Cherise. "I just reminded him that he was part demon and he wasn't evil. I only thought that he should consider that his father might have changed. Especially since he apparently had a very good influence in his life now."
"Anyway," said Peter, "it's in no small part to Cherise that I decided to give Cole the benefit of the doubt. I still harbor some resentment over what he did and I probably always will. But I'm trying to cut him some slack. So he can prove he's not the demon he used to be."
"Yeah, we came to the same realization recently," said Paige. "I guess we've all been unfair to Cole in the past."
"Can't say I blame you too much," said Cole. "Belthazor had a pretty bad reputation. I just hope I can justify your faith in me and prove I've changed."
"I have no doubt you will, dad," said Cherise, smiling at Cole.
"That's going to take some getting used to," said Cole.
"Well, dinner is just about ready," said Piper. "Why don't you guys go set the table? We can all get acquainted over dinner."
"Sounds good," said Cherise. "I'm dying to hear all about the Charmed Ones. Peter has told me a lot about you but I'm sure there's a lot he doesn't know. My mother told me about you but that was before you got your powers. Maybe I could even see the Book of Shadows."
"I think that might be arranged," said Phoebe.
They all went into the dining room to get ready for dinner.