Hey all. Once again I was overwhelmed by the positive response I got to my last update. Thank you for the support and I very much appreciate all the reviews. One of these days I'm going to do an itemized response to those of you who made more specific comments, but for now just know that I do read and think about every review before I write my next segment. So, don't hesitate to make more suggestions and extended comments.

It may be a little while till my next post because I've got family coming to town and must play the role of entertainer in chief. It's amazing how much less free time you have when other people are running around your house. But, fear not, I will continue this story.

And, without further ado:

Ch. 4

"NO!" Phoebe screamed. She was beyond shocked, beyond agonized. Cole, the love of her life, stood alive in front of her. He looked at her with an expression of utter loss and longing.

"Phoebe," Cole said.

His piercing eyes stared right into her and begged forgiveness. He seemed to have completely forgotten the other man who had beaten him bloody and stood poised to vanquish him. All that mattered was his eyes and hers, locked in time and space. A thousand sins and regrets flew between those eyes.

"Don't," Phoebe said softly and averted her gaze. She wasn't sure if she was speaking to Cole or Victor.

Victor lowered his athame, but kept Cole pushed firmly against the wall. He looked to his mother and she gasped. He had the same storm cloud eyes as Cole, the same intensity, the same pain. He was undeniably his father's son.

"I have to," Victor said softly. "It's the only way."

"Please," Phoebe said. "I can't, I just can't lose everything again."

Victor turned again to Cole, brought the athame back and forward in a killing arc. He drove it with all his strength and thrust it into the wall right beside his father's head. Then he took two steps back.

Cole stepped away from the wall and ran his hands down over his jacket in a gesture Phoebe found all too familiar.

"I didn't know you still cared," he said to her.

Phoebe glared at him. Of all the arrogance. "I didn't do it for you. I did it for him," she gestured towards Victor. "You, Cole, why can't you just leave me alone!"

"Leave you alone," Cole said. His whole manner changed from tortured to angry. "Phoebe, in case you hadn't noticed I didn't exactly come knocking down your door step. Something summoned me back against my will." He glanced angrily at Victor. "And who is he, anyway?"

"He's your s…" Phoebe started

"Sworn enemy" Victor interrupted.

Phoebe stared at him. This felt like a really bad idea, but she wasn't going to earn her son's trust by contradicting him on this.

"Funny," said Cole, "Normally people meet me before they become my sworn enemy. Do I know you?"

"You will," Victor said.

"Uh guys," said Paige. Phoebe was startled to hear her voice. She'd completely forgotten her sister was there, even though it was Paige who orbed them.

"Maybe we should continue this conversation later." She gestured over to the corner, where a man of small stature and large fedora stepped out of the shadows.

"Mace," Phoebe said.

The demonic construct smirked, inclined his head and spread his hands as though half taking a bow. Phoebe really wished she had her active powers right now. It didn't seem fair she had to face all this while at her weakest. Then again, maybe it was all punishment for abusing her powers – and her son.

"Phoebe, now," said Paige. They both threw vanquishing potions at the demon. Phoebe knew it wouldn't stop the demon, but she hoped in might slow it down until they could escape. For all Mace's reaction she may as well have thrown a water balloon.

Victor and Cole moved at the same time and interposed themselves between Phoebe and the demonic construct. They glanced at each other in surprise but then focused on Mace.

The demon blurred forward. Cole threw a punch, but Mace was no longer standing their by the time his fist extended. Mace grabbed the larger man and tossed him back as a normal man might a 5 year old. Cole landed next to Phoebe.

"Get out of here," Victor shouted. He had somehow managed to grab Mace and twist him into an arm lock. Phoebe shook her head. She was not going to let her son fight that thing alone.

Mace shimmered out of the arm lock and rematerialized behind Victor. He kicked the young man in the small of the back and sent him somersaulting forward, away from the sisters. Victor came back up in a combat crouch.

"Paige, get her out of here. She'll die if she stays. I'm not exaggerating," said Victor.

Phoebe felt a small hand on her arm. "Paige, No!" The world devolved into a familiar blue swirl. The last thing she saw was an energy ball forming in the demon's hands.

They reappeared in the attic of the manor. Piper and Leo looked up from the Book of Shadows.

"What…" started Piper.

Phoebe interrupted. "Paige, take me back there right now."

"Cole," Piper said in shock. Phoebe realized Cole had joined them for the orb. From the sour expression on his face he was none too happy about it.

"How?" Piper started again, but was again interrupted.

"We don't have time for this," Phoebe said. "Now, Paige!"

"But you heard what Victor said," Paige objected.

"Paige, I swear if you don't orb me back their right now, I'll, I'll…" Before she could articulate how exactly she would murder her sister Paige held up her hands in surrender.

"Alright, alright," Paige said and placed her hands again on Phoebe and Cole. They orbed back to the cave. No one was there.

"Oh god," Phoebe said. "Victor, Victor!" She walked around the cave frantically. "Victor, come out. We're back." She dropped to her knees. "No, this can't be happening."

"Phoebe," Cole said softly. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Get away from me," she sobbed. Cole withdrew like he'd been bitten.

"Phoebe," Paige said.

"You too," Phoebe yelled at Paige. "This is your fault." She turned her attention back to Cole, "And you, somehow it always comes back to you." Tears welled up and she could say no more.

After some time passed, she couldn't say how long, Cole spoke again. "He's not dead," Cole said.

Phoebe turned her head to regard her former husband. A spark of hope showed through the tears.

Cole said, "Death by demonic powers leaves a residue of some sort: A bit of ash, a smell, something. I would know. There's nothing here, which means the demon that attacked must have shimmered him out somewhere. If the demon wanted him dead there was nothing to stop him from finishing the job here. Your friend is alive, but probably captive. And we need to find him before it's too late."

Phoebe stood up. "Orb us back to the manor," she told Paige. Paige did so.

They reappeared in the attic, to be confronted by a very angry Piper.

"What's the big idea orbing out without an explanation," she said.

"Piper, I'll explain everything, but right now I need to talk to Cole alone for a minute," said Phoebe.

"Are you insane?" Piper asked. "I'm not leaving you alone with him."

"Not until we get some answers from him," agreed Paige. "Like why he's back and what evil scheme he's planning this time."

"Anyone else getting a sense of Déjà vu?" asked Cole.

"Shut up!" all three girls said at once. Cole's eyebrows raised and he looked over at Leo, whose expression was a strange mix of hostility and shared amusement.

The sisters continued to squabble.

"Enough," Cole finally said. He grabbed Phoebe's hand and shimmered them out.

"Let go of me!" Phoebe shouted. Cole let go. Phoebe realized where they were, the alley behind P3.

"Why did you bring us here?" Phoebe asked.

Cole smiled, even as his eyes narrowed in pain. "This is where I first laid eyes on you Phoebe," he said. "You remember; the incident with the guardian demons. I saw you there, in that very spot you're standing now, talking to Darryl and your sister. There was something about you. So brave, resilient, beautiful. And you cared. It was etched in every line of your face and posture. You really, deeply cared about what had happened and were determined to stop it. You looked like a goddess of love and avenging angel all wrapped up into one. And in that moment, I started to fall in love for the first and only time."

Phoebe didn't know what to say. She remembered the moment well because she had felt the same way. She had known instantly that he was the one. In some ways, looking at him now, she felt exactly as she did then. Like a Princess with her Prince Charming. But then there were the memories of all the pain he had caused to her, her sisters, innocents. How could she forgive all that? Even if her heart wanted nothing more than to reach out to him, her mind told her it would only lead to disaster.

"Cole," she said, "I think, I, I don't know what I think. Why did it happen the way it did?"

"It wasn't my choice Phoebe," Cole said, "The source overwhelmed me. I tried to fight it. I even tried to give up my powers, but you stopped me."

Phoebe remembered that incident well, with the strange little wizard who looked like a Ferengi or maybe a high school principle.

"No Cole," she said. "That's not good enough. Even if the devil made you do it that time, what about when you first met us and all the people you hurt before that? What about when you came back and went crazy and tried to force me to be with you by changing the entire world? Even the slightest drop of power and you start back the downward spiral." She shook her head, "I can't have this conversation with you right now, Cole. We have to find Victor."

"You love him," Cole said. "Victor. The way you reacted in the cave. You do love him, don't you?"

"Of course," Phoebe answered.

Cole was silent for a moment. "Then I'll help you find him."

"Why do you care, Cole?" Phoebe asked.

"Because you do," Cole answered. "And you deserve to have love in your life, even if it's not with me."

Phoebe realized what he was thinking and nearly gagged in revulsion. He must have seen her reaction because he looked confused again.

"What am I missing?" he asked suspiciously.

"Never mind that," Phoebe said a little too quickly. "Take me back to the manor so my sisters and I can figure this out."

Cole shimmered them back to the attic, which looked like it had been hit with a bomb. Leo, Piper, and Paige were nowhere to be seen.

"Oh my god, the children!" Phoebe yelled and ran to the nursery. Wyatt and Chris were gone too.

"What are we going to do?" she asked.