Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed.
The Battle
The Ultimate Power began advancing on the Charmed Ones. Piper flicked her wrists, using her explosion power, to try and slow them down. Nothing happened. "Uh, guys?"
Her sisters glanced at her but had no time to respond as they stooped to the ground to avoid an attack. They recovered and Phoebe called out, "Look at their eyes! They absorbed the Hollow again."
"That's what happened to my powers," Piper realized. "We won't be able to hold them off with powers and otherwise they'll never let us chant. Cole, why didn't you take that into consideration?"
"I'm supposed to think of everything?"
"We can't fight them with the Hollow. Paige was right," worried Piper.
"No," Cole objected. "We still have use of our minds. We'll think of something."
Paige glared at him, "Unless practically all of its recipients die, we need that spell Phoebe and the Seer used to send it back!"
"We'd need a being of evil to say it too," Phoebe reminded.
"Cole's evil!" Paige said. "The problem is none of us remember it."
Billie halted the conversation. "Stop talking to each other. You have no escape. Accept it and die."
Prue waved a hand at the assault that went their way. "There go my powers."
"Just make up a spell," Cole instructed.
"Will that work?" Phoebe asked.
"Worth a shot. Otherwise, you're gonna have to hope they let you recite the Source's spell. But, I won't be able to add anything extra to that. My powers will be stolen, too."
"We're gonna die, again," Paige predicted.
"Thief of Powers, leave your host. Back to your prison, swarm away..."
"Leave our sight, or we'll make you toast!" Paige finished Phoebe's spell. She shrugged at her sisters' looks. Toast rhymed.
The group watched astonishingly as the Hollow's essence left Billie and Christy. Prue and Piper's powers were restored.
"It worked," Phoebe cheered.
"What did you do?" yelled Christy.
"Now, we don't have brains as an advantage," Paige sneered at Cole. "We're back to being equal."
"Calling yourself stupid again?" He spoke again, before she had a chance to yell at him. "Say the spell."
"Prue, please tell me you know it!"
"Yeah," she assured Piper, as the de-Hollowed girls got to their feet. "I watched you three use it. We ready?"
"Definitely," Paige replied.
"You prepared a spell for us? I'm honored. And, you even got us some more victims." Christy smiled at the blonde to her left, both laughing at their opponents.
"Penelope, Patr-."
"You can't defeat us." The Jenkins' girls cut off Prue's spell as they sent a dark bolt of energy at the Halliwells.
They ducked to avoid the blast, but the force of the wind it sent out was enough to blow them several feet across Phoebe's kitchen. Prue jumped to her feet and retaliated by telekinetically flinging the table towards them. Knocked off balance, they began to stand up again.
Paige took Prue's cue as she used her own powers to push the Ultimate Power into the living room. "Chairs!"
"Piper, can you freeze them?" Phoebe cried as the evil sisters came back for more.
"I've been trying," Piper's arms were stretched out and her palms faced their enemy. "It's not working!"
"We need a crystal cage," Paige said as she orbed Billie across the room. Prue sent Christy through a wall.
"A cage," Billie mocked. "Christy, they think we're animals."
They grabbed hands as they stared the Charmed Ones down. Christy smirked, "That's not very nice."
Cole deflected the attack they threw with a fireball of his own.
"I have crystals in my room; hold them off until I can get there."
"I'll just orb them here," Paige suggested. But, Christy didn't like the idea, as she sent Paige through a window onto the balcony. She quickly allowed Piper to join her sister with a wave of her hand.
"Paige! Piper!" Prue ran to help the two, holding the brunette Jenkins back with her hand.
Phoebe started to follow, but Cole grabbed her hand. "Get the crystals! They'll be fine."
As she ran to the back of her loft, Billie sent another black wave her way. "Not so fast!"
Cole's attack knocked it out of the way. Billie looked at him, "Who the heck are you! Stop interfering!"
Cole smiled. He threw a sphere of flames that scorched the evil witches' side.
"I got them," Phoebe ran back.
"Crystals! Circle!" Paige formed a ring around Billie and Christy. She, Piper, and Prue sprinted to Phoebe's side.
"What do you think you're doing?" Christy tried to walk out, but was shocked, falling to the ground.
"That's impossible! We're stronger than this!"
"Billie, calm down. If we focus, I'm sure we'll be able to overcome this." They closed their eyes and concentrated their power.
"We have to hurry," Piper warned. The four clasped each other's hands.
Prue began the chant, "Penelope, Patricia, Melinda..."
"Ashford, Helen, Laura, and Grace..." Piper picked up. Please, please work, she silently pleaded.
Flames began to form near the feet of the crystal fence's prisoners. At the same time, the young witches reached their hands through its barrier.
"Halliwell witches stand strong beside us," Phoebe added.
The good sisters' targets moved from the crystals' boundaries, making them lose effect. The orange blaze followed and the girls cringed in pain even as they moved to attack the Halliwells. Cole quickly fired off his own flames in rapid succession. Each hit its mark since the Charmed Ones' former protégée and her sister were so intent on reaching their adversaries. Grunting in pain, their steps became slower, more awkward.
"Vanquish this evil..." Paige hurriedly recited.
"From time and space!" the four finished as one. With a final anguished scream, the Charmed Ones' rivals went up in smoke.
"Is it over?" Paige asked.
Piper looked down at the scorch mark on Phoebe's formerly unblemished floor. "I think that speaks for itself," she gestured with her hand.
A big smile crossed the eldest witch's face. "Boy, it feels good to kick some demon butt again."
Phoebe shook her head sadly. "Just a few months ago, I never would have thought we'd vanquish Billie."
"I know what you mean," Paige agreed. "She was my charge, but I didn't protect her." She looked at Phoebe. "But, we couldn't save her, Pheebs. Christy killed the good in her, just like the Triad did to Christy when she was little."
"I guess."
Cole spoke up, "I may want her to kill me again for saying this, but Paige is right, Phoebe. They were corrupted by evil. And though you wanted to save their lives, you probably did them a bigger favor this way. You freed their souls."
Phoebe looked up at him, "You're speaking from experience."
He nodded, a bit surprised that she seemed to want to listen to him. "When I was possessed by the Source, I was miserable. Evil was all around me and I couldn't escape it, despite my best efforts. It hurt when you killed me, Phoebe, but I was always grateful for it. You gave me freedom from him."
"I wanted to save you," Phoebe whispered.
"I know," he said. Phoebe was gazing at him with a look in her eyes he hadn't seen directed at him in years. He turned away from her, thinking he must be reading her wrong.
"I'm sorry." Her small voice caused him to turn back around. "I'm sorry I couldn't. I'm sorry for how I treated you when you came back. I'm sorry I didn't let you be good. I, I know you have a good heart. I'm just so... sorry for everything."
"I'm sorry, too," Cole said, once he'd recovered from his shock. "For all I put you through."
Paige coughed into her hand, alerting the couple to the fact that others were still in the room and that they were getting a bit too emotional toward each other for her tastes. She turned to Cole, "You're standing a bit too close to the sister there, Buddy. We're all very thankful for your help, but seriously, back up."
Piper sent Paige a look that clearly said to 'stop being so mean to the guy who just helped us defeat the Ultimate Power of evil'.
"I apologize to you, too, Piper, Paige." Cole looked at each of them in turn. Turning to Prue, he said, "Uh, sorry, for trying to kill you when I was Belthazor."
"Old news," Prue shrugged. "I told you I'm not holding a grudge."
"I'm sorry, too. You'd been a part of this family," Paige snorted in the background as Piper talked. "We should've seen your pain, too, back then, and tried to help, instead of blaming you for everything."
"So, what are we going to do about this mess?" Paige viewed the room with a practical eye. "I know. 'Let the object of objection become but a dream, as I cause the seen to be unseen'." Phoebe's apartment was magically put back to its original cleanliness. "I'm gonna go call Henry now, let him know everything's OK."
Piper followed Paige with her eyes as she left the room, before she turned back to Cole. "I'm sure Paige is also sorry."
"No, she's not," Cole disagreed. "But, it's OK. I think I'll not live just fine, anyway."
"Guys, I think it's time for me to go," Prue announced. "I can feel myself being pulled back up."
"No," Phoebe cried, holding onto her sister tightly. "It's too soon! We didn't even get to talk."
Piper joined in the hug. "It figures that when you finally come down they pull you away as soon as Charmed duty is over."
"Maybe if we handle this maturely," Prue proposed, "they'll see that we can let go, and I'll be able to visit sometimes."
"Are you kidding? They don't have a choice anymore. You'd better visit!" Phoebe ordered.
Prue laughed, "Now, Pheebs, this isn't showing we can handle it."
Phoebe pouted, "Fine. But, they have to let you back down at least every once in awhile or, or I'll-"
"Or we'll quit," Piper finished the thought.
"Where have I heard that before?"
"Heard what?" Paige asked re-entering the room.
"That Piper will quit working as a Charmed One," Prue explained.
"Oh. Yeah, she does say that a lot," the youngest sister agreed. "Why is she gonna quit this time?"
"Prue has to leave," Phoebe said, still clinging to her, "but, we want the Elders to start allowing her to visit, now."
Prue looked to the ceiling. "They're really pulling. Time's up."
"Bye, Sis," Phoebe said a last goodbye.
Piper echoed, "Bye."
Paige stepped forward. "I'm really glad we got to meet."
Prue gave her half-sister a hug and moved away from the group. She faced Cole. "Thanks for helping."
"See you, Prue."
Turning back to her sisters she beamed, "Love you, all."
Paige nodded, while Piper and Phoebe said the same
"Blessed Be," Prue said as she was swept up by white lights.
Phoebe rested her head on Piper's shoulder, "I can't believe we finally got to see Prue."
"Only to lose her again."
Shaking her head, Phoebe replied, "Not for good. We won't let that happen."
"So, I'm gonna go, now," Cole announced, feeling very out of place. "Bye."
Before he was able to blur out, however, Phoebe grabbed his arm. Without giving him time to question her motives, she pulled him down to her, pressing her lips to his. Cole, though stunned, deepened the kiss as he pulled her petite frame close, placing his hands around her small waist. Phoebe's fingers caressed his face.
As Paige went to protest, Piper's hand covered her mouth, stopping all speech.
Cole reluctantly pulled away; he was fading out of this realm, no longer having enough energy to sustain his existence outside of Limbo. Phoebe's chocolate eyes stared into his warm blue ones. Breathless, she managed to murmur, "Coop was right." She smiled at his dazed look, "I do love you, Cole. Forever."
A smile crept across his face, the first genuine one in a very long time. "And I love you, Phoebe. Always."
An idea suddenly hit her. She loved Cole, with all her heart. And, if he still felt the same, there was no reason why they couldn't be together. Death hadn't stopped Piper and Leo. "Let me bring you back," she pleaded. "Then, we can be together. And, I swear, I won't give up this time. You're all I want, Cole. We can make it work this time, Baby; we can."
Looking at her determined expression only made it harder for Cole to turn down her offer. "No."
Her heart sank.
Cole hurriedly amended his words, "It's not that I don't want to be with you. But, Phoebe, I doubt it can even be done. And, I don't belong here. Not anymore. My place is in Limbo. Yours is here. You'll find love again with someone else and you'll be happy with him forever."
"I don't want anyone else. I've denied what, my, our hearts want for so long. I can't lose you again. I won't."
"I'm sorry. Remember, you're always in my heart."
They were the last words he said. In the next instant, Cole vanished, back into his Limbo.
Phoebe stared at the spot he'd just disappeared from. Piper walked up behind her, "Phoebe?"
"Piper," she said brokenly.
"What happened?" Leo asked as his wife and her sisters orbed into his father- in-law's home.
"We vanquished Billie and Christy."
"Where's Prue?" Victor asked, seeing that the Charmed Ones were back to three members.
"She had to go, Dad," Phoebe said before walking from the room. "I'm gonna go see my nephews."
"Cole had to go, too," Piper answered her father's unspoken question. "And, unlike Prue, I don't think he'll be coming back."
"Shouldn't that make her happy?"
"I wish," Paige grumbled. "I'm going home, Piper. Henry's waiting. Call me later."
When Paige had orbed out, Piper asked her father, "You have any rooms available? Leo and I might have to stay her with the boys a while."
"Of course. My door is always open to you, Sweetie."
"Thanks, Dad." She gave him a quick hug. Grabbing Leo's hand, she left in the same direction Phoebe had gone.
Later that night, after Phoebe had returned home and her children were in bed for the night, Piper was lying on her father's guest bed against her husband. Leo's arms were wrapped tightly around her. She looked up at his face. "I missed you so much. I thought I'd go crazy; I wanted to see you so badly. I love you so much, Leo."
"I love you, too, Piper. Don't think about the past anymore. We're going to have a happy future together now."
"A happy future with no house. What are we going to do about the manor, Leo? What are we going to do about the authorities? They're going to investigate. And, Phoebe, she's so sad again. Why can't she be happy, too?"
"Piper, we can worry about it tomorrow. Tonight, let's just be glad that everyone's safe."
"I know. You're right." She gave him a deep kiss, lingering against his lips for a bit. When she pulled away, Piper smiled. Her husband was back, safe and in her arms. Her kids were healthy and happy. Phoebe and Paige were alive again- she was away from that nightmare. And she'd finally gotten to see Prue. She really couldn't be more pleased, even if her family's ancestral home was still in one piece and Phoebe wasn't heartbroken.
"So, it's all really over?" Henry questioned. He was lounging on the couch. Paige was resting her head on his chest and had her eyes closed contentedly.
"The fight with Billie and Christy, yeah. Demon fighting, in general, never. They'll always be there. But, it probably won't be as much."
"As long as you always come back to me."
Paige smiled, snuggling closer, "Count on it."