4.

A tunnel of wind appears within the circle of candles along with sparkling white lights. Soon the physical body of Cole Turner appeared as well. Stun to be dragged out of the cosmic void with such force Cole looks around taking in his new yet familiar surroundings finally settling his eyes on the face of the woman he gave up everything for.

"Cole." Phoebe calls to him with a small smile playing on her lips.

"Phoebe, what... ?" Still incoherent from the shock Cole could not get out another word but merely gaze at her.

"Cole, I brought you back. Ever since I found out you weren't gone but stuck in a void, I've tried everything under the sun to get you back." Phoebe began to explain while walking tentatively towards him. "I know this is a shock but…"

Before she could go any further, Cole found his voice and said one simple word that devastated Phoebe beyond reason. "No."

"Cole please let me explain."

"No." Cole utter again while backing out of the circle of candles away from Phoebe. He turns, intending to leave the attic.

"Cole wait!" Desperate, Phoebe reaches her arm out to him. Suddenly an electricity-like stream of light shot out of her hand hitting Cole square in the back, throwing him up against the hard attic wall. Falling down, Cole's body slump to the ground unconscious.

"Oh my god!" exclaim both Piper and Paige, their hands covering their mouths. The sisters ran towards Cole's limp body. "Oh god, is he dead? Did I kill him? I can't believe this is happening!"

Bending down to check for a pulse, Piper looks up after a moment. "No. I think you just knocked him out. Good thing your new power is still pretty weak. No damage done."

"Well, bright side? At least we know he's not invincible this time around. If anything happens and he goes crazy again, we can always just vanquish him."

"Paige!" Piper gave her sister a glare.

"What? I'm just saying. The way he reacted..."

Ignoring her sisters, Phoebe bends down to cradle Cole's head and whisper "I'm so sorry." Then turning to Paige: "Can you orb him down to the sofa?"

"Sure." Without saying another word Paige grabs hold of Cole's shoulder and both disappeared in an orb of blue lights.

Reappearing in the living room Paige orbed Cole onto the couch, Piper and Phoebe following seconds later walking down the stairs.

"You've been complaining since day one you wanted an active power, now you have one. We all know you'll get one sooner or later. You saw it when we went into the future." Piper tells Phoebe as they walk into the living room.

"Yeah, but now! Of all the time They could've given it to me, They pick this moment?" Looking up towards the ceiling for the second time that day Phoebe exclaims, "You guys have the worst timing! Either that or a sick sense of humour!"

Turning her attention back to the man on the couch she asks Paige, "How is he doing?"

"Still out cold. Your new power packs quite a punch. When you learn to develop it, you're going to be super witch."

"Yeah well, this wasn't exactly how I had planned on welcoming Cole back. This is awful. What is he going to think?" Her sister didn't have an answer to that question.

Night has fallen and Cole has been out for hours. Phoebe had refused to leave his side even for a moment. She simply sat next to him gently rubbing a cool wash cloth over his face hoping he would wake up soon. Her sisters had let her be, Piper only stopping in to offer her a sandwich for dinner half an hour ago.

"Cole, please wake up. I need you."

At that moment, Cole let out a soft moan as his head starts to move. Soon his eyes flutter open, once more taking in his surroundings. Closing them he mumbles "God, I thought it was all a dream."

Phoebe places her hand on his cheek. "Cole, please look at me. This isn't a dream. I'm here, you're here. This is real. I bought you back. We can have another chance."

Cole took Phoebe's hand in his and remove it from his face. A mix of emotions flash through his expressive eyes that seem to change colour with each change of emotion. Confusion, hurt, betrayal, disappointment, sorrow and yes deep down, love.

Sitting up on the couch, he drop Phoebe's hand. "I can't. I can't go through this again." Cole suddenly stood up and turn to leave. Panic propels Phoebe into action. "Cole wait!" And once again she reach out her arm to him.

Piper and Paige having heard voices, enter the living room in time to see another stream of electricity come out of Phoebe's hand. This time thankfully missing Cole but destroying the antique clock in the hallway.

Piper cringed. "Oh, not again! Grams' clock."

Cole turns around and look at the destroyed timepiece then to Phoebe. "I'm sorry, I can't." With that he walks out of the manor and into the night.

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A/N: Yes, yes I know Cole's behaviour here is totally different than in "Seven Year Witch" but what's the fun in giving them "happily ever after" so soon? No worries though, they'll get there.

Thanks for all the nice reviews. They mean a lot.