Peter sat at the desk in his office. This office wasn't nearly as fancy as the one he had used when he had represented demons. It was located in one of the poorer sections of the city. Many of his clients couldn't even afford to pay him. Not that that was a problem. He had more than enough money to last him. And the satisfaction he got from helping those who couldn't afford decent legal representation was payment enough.
He was staring at an address written on a pad. Tracking down Cole had been easier than he had thought. He was using his real name. And working for one of the most prestigious law firms in San Francisco. Cole didn't seem to be attempting to hide who he was.
As Peter stared at the address he had a hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach. It wasn't fear that was tying him up in knots. It was more anticipation. He had never listened to Cole before. Even when his father had tried to explain what had happened, Peter wouldn't listen. He hadn't cared.
But now things were different. His feelings for Cole were in turmoil. On the one hand there was what he had done to Peter's mother. The reason Peter had vowed to one day kill him. On the other hand there were the feelings that he imagined most orphans felt. Curiosity about their parents. Wondering what they were really like.
Peter knew his belief that Cole was nothing more than a demon was not entirely accurate. The things Baldasor and Teltrick had told him showed that Cole Turner was much more complicated than he had always believed. And his association with the Charmed Ones only seemed to further confuse the issue. A demon that had sided with witches? That was practically unheard of.
But then much about Cole seemed to be a contradiction. A demon of more than a hundred years who had sided with witches and betrayed those he had served. A force of evil that had often killed without a thought had suddenly began risking his life to protect others from the very forces he had once served. And who had then turned once more and become the Source of all Evil. Literally.
Then there were the reports Peter had discovered of yet another about face. Reports that only served to further confound him. About how his father had apparently risked his life to pull a man from a burning building. He knew Cole would have been in no danger. Not with his demonic powers. But the act itself was out of character for a demon that served evil.
Peter was sure he knew the motivations behind Cole's actions. He and Phoebe had broken up long ago. She had even vanquished him when, according to rumors, he had tried to kill Piper and Paige. From all indications, Cole was trying to prove his love for Phoebe and restore what they had once had.
But that didn't make any sense either. Cole was a demon. By definition that made him incapable of feeling love or of even understanding the concept. Yet, he was also half human. And that human half, no matter how evil and despicable, could feel love and compassion. A fact that Peter had denied his entire life.
He wasn't sure how Cole would react to him. The last time they had spoken Peter had recanted his vow to kill Cole. But he had also told his father they would never even be friends, let alone father and son. How would Cole react now when Peter showed up wanting to know the father he had never known?
There was still a lot of hatred for Cole Turner. But as Baldasor had pointed out there was also some admiration. Some small desire to be like him. Maybe even something akin to hero worship. This too confused Peter. How could he hate this man so much and yet look up to him?
Because in spite of anything he may have done, he's still my father. Most sons idolized their fathers. Looked to them as one of the primary guiding forces in their lives. And often tried to emulate them. It was natural for a boy to react in this way.
Peter was no boy. He was a grown man and one-quarter demon. He knew the vile and despicable things his father had done during his life. The evil he had perpetrated on humanity in the name of the Source. And still there was some small part of him that looked up to Cole. A small part that, even knowing all the things he had done, couldn't forget that this was his father. The man that had given him life.
That conflict had only been emphasized when his mother had returned. Returned as a White Lighter. She had forgiven Cole for what he had done and forever taken away Peter's rationalization for his revenge of Cole. He had promised not to kill Cole.
Since that meeting Peter's confusion had grown. How could a woman marry a demon, raise a partially demonic son and still become a White Lighter? His mother had been a good woman, he knew that. But she had wasted her life waiting for a man who was never coming back. Peter had not been able to reconcile the evil that he thought he saw in his father with his mother becoming a White Lighter. It was a turmoil that wouldn't release him.
Peter knew that he would never resolve any of this until he confronted Cole. Listened to what he had to say. And was finally able to decide for himself just what kind of man his father had been. He had hated Cole for what he had done to his mother. But as a lawyer Peter had often seen people do things that were totally out of character for them.
And there was one other thing that had nagged at Peter since meeting Baldasor. It was something Baldasor had mentioned to him. Something that Peter had wondered about for as long as he could remember.
He never let minor complications distract him from completing an assignment. However, if he had known of you that might have made a difference. My brother understood blood.
His mother had confirmed that Cole hadn't even known she was pregnant when he had left. She was planning to tell him when he suddenly just disappeared. She had no way to let him know that he had fathered a son.
Peter wondered if what Baldasor had said was true. Would it have made a difference if he had known about Peter? He had hated Cole for forcing him to grow up without a father. But now Peter could honestly say that he had been wrong in that respect. He couldn't hold his father responsible for something he hadn't even known about.
Would things have been different if Cole had known about him? Would he have stayed around, raised him like other fathers? Explained to him why he was different? Why he could do things no one else could? Helped him adjust to who, and what, he was?
Peter didn't have the answers to any of these questions. After so many years there might not be any answers to be had. But he had a chance to try and find out. Cole's miraculous return offered Peter a second chance at peace. All he had to do was find the courage to talk to his father.
There was nothing stopping Peter. He simply had to shimmer to Coles' office. The worst that could happen would be that Cole wouldn't speak to him. Even if that should be the case at least Peter would know he tried. If he didn't at least try he would wonder for the rest of his life if he could have learned anything from his father. With a sigh of resignation Peter shimmered out of his office.
Peter left Cole's office and walked outside the building. Cole hadn't been in his office for days. His secretary had no idea where he was. His work was beginning to suffer and it seemed he had little interest in it. This concerned Peter. It wasn't in keeping with the reputation Cole had garnered his entire life.
Peter suddenly stopped on the street. He was staring at a woman who was walking toward him. A woman who couldn't possibly be there. If Peter didn't know better he would have sworn it was his mother.
As the woman drew closer to him he realized it wasn't actually his mother. For one thing the woman was too young. She looked to be perhaps a few years younger than he was. Her hair was also different. It was nearly the same shade of yellow as his mothers' but the style was all wrong. As the woman walked up close to him he realized he was still staring at her.
"Are you okay?" the woman asked.
"What? Oh, yeah, I'm fine. I apologize for staring. It's just that you remind me of someone I used to know."
"An old lover, perhaps?" asked the woman, smiling slightly at him.
"My mother actually. She passed away when I was very young. When I saw you on the street I guess I was kind of shocked. Again, I'm very sorry for staring at you."
"No harm done. A woman likes to think she's attractive to handsome men. It's actually a compliment. I'm quite flattered."
"Thank you for understanding," Peter said, looking at his watch. "Well, I should be going."
"No need for thanks," said the woman as Peter started walking away. "It's just that I hadn't realized I looked so much like her, that's all."
Peter stopped in amazement and looked at the woman. What an odd thing for a stranger to say. It was almost as if she had known whom he was talking about. But that was clearly impossible. His mother had died before this woman would even have been born.
"He never told me she resembled me so much," said the woman seeing the look of confusion on Peter's face. "But I can certainly see him in you. Mostly in the eyes. You're definitely his son."
"Who are you?" Peter questioned softly.
"I'm a… an acquaintance of your fathers'," said the woman. "My name is Angelique Dupree. I'm a Dark Lighter. And you would be Peter Coleson. Cole Turner's son."
Peter stared at Angelique in total confusion.