Note This chapter is dedicated to my good friend Jenna in SA. I miss you beautiful!

Thanks for the support guys! Here's a big chapter. It's pretty intense. There is a good of amount of latin in this. (I spent far too much time researching.) The English translations are either next to the latin or underlined in brackets. Anyhow, keep telling me what you want to see.

Blueeyes6 - Hee. It's always good to see Phoebe grovel.
psychokitty3 - Thakns for the brainwaves! ; )
Max - I'm a big Cole fan too. I don't know if you'll like him so much in this chapter though. Tell me what you think.
ethereal girl - Frightening huh? In a good or a bad way? I was kinda going for an eerie juxtaposition. Hopefully it worked.


She collapsed to the ground and curled up into a ball. The pain pulsed through her continually, never waning. She squeezed her eyes shut and willed the pain to go away. She tried to focus her breathing like she had learned in the birthing class, only she wasn't giving birth. She refused to believe that. It was too early. She wasn't even 30 weeks along yet. One, two, three, inhale. One, two, three, exhale. Over and over again. Her fists were clenched, her nails digging into the palms of her hands. Not that she could feel it. The searing pain in her gut outweighed any other discomfort she was feeling. An ephemeral moan escaped her against her will. She gritted her teeth and tried to swallow down the pain but the ripping sensation in her stomach refused to abate. She could feel the wetness between her legs. Her vision was getting fuzzy. Even the ruckus of the fighting began to sound distant and faded.
The hair. It was the hair that caught his eye. He was running and shimmering mid stride. He was on a vicious crusade in the underworld. He was about to shimmer out again when he saw the body out of the corner of his eye. The underworld was littered with them especially right now. A coup was rising up. He had instigated it. He saw the body. He'd seen dozens in the last hour but it was the hair that caught his eye. That long, glossy hair. He knew it. Night after night he'd lain there, inhaling its sweet aroma, tangling his fingers in its thick shiny locks. He was mid-shimmer when it clicked. He stopped and sprinted. There she was. His love. His lover. His Piper. Still. Motionless. Lying in a pool of blood. He heard a foreign wail echo through the cave. He didn't realize it came from him. He fell to his knees and scooped her into his arms. Tenderly he pushed that lovely hair away from her face. It was smeared with dirt and blood but morbidly beautiful. He gasped and sobbed. He never should have let her go. Why had he been so damn stubborn? So stupid? He squeezed her close and buried his face in her chest, sobbing without restraint. He had never felt so desolately empty. It was then that he heard it. At first he thought it was in his head. He was imagining things. It was his head pounding. No. It was there. Faint but real. The sound of life: a heartbeat. And she was breathing. Barely. Faintly. But it was breath.

"Leave her alone!" Tatum screamed and raced towards the demon huddled over Piper. He stood up rapidly and shielded her with his body, protecting her from the oncoming woman. He formed a fireball in his right hand but stopped as he sensed that she wasn't of evil origin. He narrowed his eyes and glared at her. The woman gaped as she saw his fireball disappear. Suddenly Taylor appeared from behind another rock and warily approached them as well. They stared each other down for a few moments.

"You won't hurt her?" Tatum asked softly? She already knew the answer. This demon, this man seemed to care for Piper. How Piper knew him she didn't know. He wasn't her husband, that was positive. Piper's husband was the infamous Whitelighter who had fallen for his charge.

"Do you know where the healer is?" He asked the witch cautiously. He needed to find someone who could help Piper.


"Altheda!" He bellowed, racing through the extensive catacomb in which she resided. "Altheda!" He strode through the cave system so quickly Tatum and Taylor had to jog to keep up. Phoebe was in tow as well. They had come across the other Charmed Ones on their way to the healer's lair. Paige had orbed up to find Leo. Phoebe had joined Cole and the other two witches. He was frantic. Piper lay limply in his arms. He could feel the moistness of her blood on his arm. He needed to find her, the healer. She was the only one who could help.

"Yes, darling?" A low seductive voice echoed through the cavern. He spun around. Tatum and Taylor were also looking about curiously, trying to find the owner of the voice. Then he saw her. Tall, curvaceous: stunning. She was covered in a long crimson dress that clung to her body. Her long, dark hair hung to her waist in tussled, loose curls. She had an ever-so-slight smirk on her face. She took two small, languid steps into the dim torch light. One of the girls gasped. She was insanely beautiful. Her skin was a very light mocha color and her eyes a striking blue-green.

"You called?" She asked calmly. Cole stepped closer to her urgently.

"You need to help her." He said, slight panic in his voice. Altheda frowned. Then casually breezed her way past him.

"Cole, darling. You know the rules just as well as I do. Hell, you made a few of them yourself." He followed her hurriedly, trying to keep Piper's body cradled gently in his arms.

"This isn't about rules, Altheda." They were making their way deeper into the caverns.

"Oh no?" She asked in a disinterested tone. "Well, it's lovely that you are cavalier enough and powerful enough not to have to care about the rules Cole. But I don't have that kind of freedom." She turned around. They had reached a more private chamber.

"Now, Cole." She paused, smiled, looking him up and down. "If you ever need me to help you out in a different capacity. Feel free to drop in any time." She spun around and continued further down the corridor. "Now, kindly remove these witches from my home. I don't want this place wreaking of witch." She waved her hand over her shoulder and a slab of rock appeared in front of him. Cole stopped abruptly. With one hand he felt the rock. It was hard and smooth. He inhaled, angrily and turned around. Tatum and Taylor were huddled together a few yards behind him. He nodded for them to approach and threw a fireball towards the wall. Nothing. It barely let a scorch mark. He screamed. Taylor jumped and clung closer to her sister. Suddenly a force emanated from his body and the stone shattered. He strode in swiftly.

Altheda heard the sound. She was in her chamber. Suddenly she saw him. Eyes, blazing, the witch limp in his arms and he was coming straight for her. Anger and power radiated from his very being. Her eyes widened as he approached her. She took a few steps backward. There weren't many demons who could actually frighten her and at this moment Cole was most definitely one of them. With one flick of his wrist he slammed her against the hard wall. She fell to the floor viciously and instantly she was in the air again, pinned to wall. Cole was standing yards away, merely holding out a finger.

"I don't have time for your coquettish games Altheda. You will heal her. Do you understand me?" It was almost as if he was Belthazar again. He commanded so much presence.

"Or what?" Altheda replied sardonically. She was pinned against the wall and she could feel some moistness on the back of her head. "You're going to kill me?" She dared him with her eyes. "That would just ensure your precious witch dies as well." Instantly she was pressed against the wall even harder so that she was finding it hard to breathe.

"Do as I say." His face was a stone. "Or you won't die. And you'll wish you had." He released her from his invisible grasp. She crumpled to floor and looked up at him icily.

"Now."

Reluctantly, she got to her feet. She pursed her lips and nodded her head towards the large stone slab that stood in the center of the circular room. Cole walked over to the altar and gently laid Piper down. Her face was extremely pale and her forehead was damp. He lovingly brushed strand of hair from her head. It was all he could do to keep from kissing her but he knew that a show of weakness would not bode well for any of them.

Altheda shooed him away from the stone altar. Cole stood with the witches on the side while Altheda got to work. Altheda approached the altar slowly. She was a healer. This was a process. She raised her hands above the witch sensing her. As she neared the motionless figure she gasped slightly. Cole and Tatum shared a worried glance. Altheda shook her head and let out a sigh.

"She's with child." She murmured and looked up at Cole accusingly. "You didn't tell me she was with child!"

Cole looked confused.

"I'm sorry." Altheda continued, still circling Piper's still figure. "There's nothing I can do." Cole stood stunned for a moment.

"What do you mean?" He asked incredulously. Then the anger emerged again. "Heal her Altheda!"

"It's too late Cole! There's nothing I can do."

"No!"

"Do you see her? She's a wraith. She's lost too much blood."

"So perform a ritual! A ceremony! That's what you're here for! You heal people!"

"Wrong, Cole. I heal demons. She's a witch. Powerful to be sure but human nonetheless. They are flawed. I can't heal her."

Cole's nostrils flared and he gritted his teeth. He approached her slowly.

"Listen to me, you pompous hag. You will heal her. I don't care about the damn rules. Heal her. I will deal with the fallout. If she dies. I'll hold you responsible. Do you know who she is? That's not just an ordinary witch. She's a Charmed One and if you let her die you'll have the entire magical community on your ass. But most of all you'll have me to answer to." Altheda's eyes widened and she glanced back at Piper.

"Yeah, a Charmed One." Cole repeated, watching the realization sink into the woman.

"Heal. Her. Now."

Altheda was frightened again. She was trapped. Trapped in a lose-lose situation. If she managed to save the witch she'd be a demonic pariah at best. If the witch died she might as well die too. She had no desire to be the subject of anymore of Cole's rages. She sighed. She walked over to the witch again, examining her, feeling her energy, her pain. It was going to take a lot of work to save this one. She hadn't been lying to Cole. She had lost too much blood. Alright. There was only one thing to do.

"Hey! You!" She snapped her fingers towards the side where two of the witches were standing with Cole. They weren't Charmed Ones. She couldn't sense that intense power. The third on the other hand bore a familial resemblance to the dying witch and she could sense ancient power in her.

"Over here!" She barked at them. They looked to Cole for reassurance. He nodded to them and they cautiously approached Altheda and Piper's still body.


The three of them worked together, in unison, hardly faltering. Althea occasionally spat out orders but mostly she was incredibly focused on Piper. Cole stood silently in the background, watching them. As the witches worked on several potions and salves, Altheda chanted and danced around the stone slab. She anointed Piper with oil and burned mystical incense over her abdomen. Suddenly, her eyes glazed over and her hair flew around her, despite the absence on any wind. She emitted a dark glow of power and she began to chant.

Media vita in morte sumus vos / In the midst of life we are in death

In tua se clausit viscera factus / Enclosed in they womb

Requiem aeternam dona sum /Grant her eternal rest

Dies irae, dies illa, /This day, this day of wrath

Solvet saeclum ingis/ Shall consume the world in fire

Lacrimosa dies illa/This day full of tears

Qua resurget ex favilla /When from the ashes arises

Venustas et vires infinitus /Beauty and Power unlimited

Dona sum requiem / Grant her rest

Passus cruenta et mystica / Having suffered bloody & mystical torments

The wind began to fly around Piper and she was enveloped in swirling smoke. When the smoke abated Piper was moaning softly. Altheda immediately rushed to examine her.

"Cole!" She motioned towards him to approach her. "Talk to her." Cole walked towards the stone table looking confused.

"You need to wake her up." Altheda explained to him "Fast."

"Why?" he asked and immediately regretted it.

"Don't question me right now. She needs to be conscious so she can push this baby out." Altheda was busy stirring several different mixtures and lighting incense.

"No." Cole murmured. It was too early. Piper hadn't even hit the 30 week mark yet. She wanted this baby more than anything in the world. She'd been dreaming about her since the day she had gone to the future and met her. There was no way she could lose this child.

"No, what Cole? She needs to wake up."

"It's too soon." Cole explained as he caressed Piper's damp brow. For a moment, Altheda's face softened.

"I know." She sighed. "I can't save them both." Cole's heart plummeted.

"Piper." He murmured softly, bending over her and caressing her face. "Baby, you need to wake up." He continued. Piper moaned in her delirious state and writhed on the slab of stone. "Baby. I know it's hard. But you can do this. You need to wake up." He crooned into her ear. Piper whimpered and slowly her eyes fluttered open. They were unfocused and empty. She turned her head, opening and closing her eyes. She was incoherently trying to adjust and focus.

Piper heard a voice. A familiar voice, urging her to open her eyes. Eyes. Had she ever opened her eyes? They felt super-glued shut. Darkness. She was swimming in darkness. It was frightening and comforting at the same time. She wanted to stay there. But it wasn't working. Every moment that passed she could feel pain shooting through her body. What was happening? Was someone stabbing her? Had she been mugged? Who was hurting her? What was hurting her? It didn't matter. It just needed to stop. Stop. The pain was too much. The piercing shooting through her stomach in excruciating waves. Stop. The pain had to stop.

"That's it Piper. Wake up baby." He spoke to her tenderly.

Darkness. She could only make out shapes. Strange shapes and hushed voices. Darkness and pain.

She was trying to focus on him. He could tell. Her eyelids sagged. She looked so weak and small.

"Okay." Altheda spoke. "Here." She handed Cole a small wooden bowl filled with a foul smelling substance. "Have her breathe this in."

Smell. Shapes. Figures, Moving. Fading. Swirling. Weaving. Darkness. All around her. Stay. She needed to stay in the darkness. The warmth. No the cold, the pain. The blood, the hurting. Warmth. No.

"That's it, Piper. There you go." Piper was stirring, her head lolling. Her eyes were fluttering and she was moaning softly. "That's it. Breathe it in." Cole supported her head and encouraged her. Slowly, her eyes began to adjust and focus. Her breathing deepened and she began gasping for breath and coughing. Cole looked to Altheda but she simply nodded her head. Piper was regaining consciousness.

Cole. Cole was here. What was Cole doing here? What was that smell? Godawful that's what it was. Why wasn't Cole stopping her attacker? Who was stabbing her? She could taste blood. Why was there blood in her mouth?

Suddenly, a wave of pain enveloped Piper. She was being suffocated by it. She couldn't breathe. Barely moan. Her eyes widened as she saw the woman standing in the room. She clutched at Cole's shirt and gritted her teeth. Why? Why was she here? What was going on?

"Cole" she managed to gasp as she struggled to sit up and focus. He set down the bowl and helped her into a sitting position. She was gasping for breath and her face was contorted in pain. Their eyes locked. Cole's eyes were filled with sorrow. He had never seen Piper in so much pain. She was shaking and bruised and ragged.

"Come on!" Altheda spoke with urgency and clapped her hands together. "Set up."

Piper watched, confused, as Taylor, Tatum and Phoebe began sprinkling incense all around the slab she was on and lighting strange candles. The room was frigid but she was sweating. The pain was too much. She gasped as Altheda grabbed her ankles.

"What are you doing?" Cole asked accusingly. He didn't want her causing any more pain for Piper.

"This baby needs to come out. How else do you suggest it happens?" She motioned for the girls to come closer to the table.

Piper shook her head, grimacing.

"No." she moaned. She looked at Cole for reassurance. He'd help her. Protect her. Save her from this demon lady trying to steal her baby.

"Please." She swallowed painfully. "No."

"Look lady." Altheda replied harshly. "If you have death wish, that's fine with me but I don't. And to keep myself alive I have to keep you from dying and to do that you need to get a grip and cooperate."

Piper looked at Cole, pleading at him with her eyes. Cole could see the terror there. And all that pain. She was pale and clammy and he could tell she was trying to be brave but she was squeezing his hand so hard he thought it was very likely that it'd bruise. She was trying to breathe and swallow down the pain. Her eyes were glistening. She didn't have the energy to fight anymore. She could barely sit up on her own. Tatum gently pushed Cole to the side and took Piper's right arm, simultaneously supporting the small of her back. Taylor took her place on Piper's other side. She appreciated their kindness but her eyes pleaded with Cole not to leave her. She tried to squirm away from their grasp but Altheda in response forced Piper's legs apart and she cried out in agony.

"Hey!" Cole glared at Altheda. He noticed the pool of blood between Piper's legs had grown larger. He glanced back at her and his chest tightened with worry. Her eyes were squeezed shut and her face was contorted in excruciating pain. Her chin was down on her chest, her head down, her hair falling in her eyes. Her knuckles were white where she was squeezing Tatum and Taylor's hands. Phoebe stood off to the side, tears streaming down her face. Cole couldn't help but feel disgusted and angry. She had no right to cry. Piper was about to lose her child and she was the one crying. Piper shuddered and gasped. Her body was still shaking but the look on her face broke Cole's heart: despondent surrender. She had given up. She winced again and moaned slightly but when Altheda asked her if she was ready, Piper simply nodded miserably.

Cole, saw her body tense as Altheda inserted a hand into Piper's birth canal. She was so small and frail, her body shaking uncontrollably. He couldn't take it anymore. He walked behind her and put his arms around her. Altheda looked up and glared but didn't say a word. Piper let her head fall back and rest on his chest. He crooned into her ear.

"It's going to be okay, baby. I'm here. I'm going to help you get through this." Piper whimpered and shook her head slightly. She felt stronger now that Cole was with her. She couldn't let herself think about it all. Her body was telling her to push. This entire time she had refused to believe the truth.

"You're fully effaced and completely dilated. You need to bear down and push this baby out. Do you understand me?" Piper nodded in pain, tears glistening in her eyes.

Piper let out a long strangled sob as she felt the tiny body slide out of her. She collapsed against Cole and cried freely as Altheda took the miniature infant and callously plopped it into a bowl.

"Bring the salves, quick!" Altheda bellowed. Taylor and Phoebe immediately rushed for them. Cole held Piper tighter against him and Tatum stood next to Piper wiping her brow with a cool cloth.

"Okay." Altheda, for once, had compassion in her voice. "This is going to hurt like hell, but you have to trust me."

"It doesn't matter anymore." Piper whispered almost inaudibly.

"What's happening?" Phoebe screamed. Piper was convulsing on the stone slab. Her blood was dripping on the floor. Her lips had a pale blue tint to them. Cole was trying to keep her head still so it wouldn't smack against the table.

"She's lost too much blood." Altheda spoke. She was shaking her head, still focused intently on Piper. There was no way. It was a miracle she had managed to regain consciousness the first time. She looked up and sighed, shaking her head at Cole. Phoebe saw it and shrieked, running towards Altheda.

"No!" She grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "No! You have to do something! You have to save her."

"I'm sorry." Altheda replied with sincere regret in her voice. "There's nothing I can do."

"No!" Phoebe continued to wail.

They stood in silent despair, the five of them watching Piper shudder on the table.

"Vicissitudo mortis." Cole stated. His face stone. Altheda, looked at him in shock. (Trade death)

"Do it." He ordered coldly. She looked at the witches in the room quizzically. In a moment Cole had grabbed Tatum and sliced an athame across her throat. She gurgled and fell do the ground as Taylor and Phoebe shrieked in horror. Stunned, Altheda looked at the dying witch on the ground. She looked up at the expectant look on Cole's face.

"Two." She said without an ounce of emotion. "Una furta erogo vita." (A stolen life to pay a life.)

Without so much as a glimmer of regret Cole looked up and glanced at Phoebe hungrily. A trickle of fear sparked through her body. The fear returned to horror when Cole shimmered in behind Taylor and mid-scream, Taylor's throat squirted blood. Her eyes froze in shock and she collapsed to the ground clutching herself, the crimson liquid mixing with Tatum's and Piper's.

Altheda wasted no time in getting to work. Quickly she scooped up bowls of blood from each dying witch and began chanting.

Vita enim vita! / A life for a life

An eerie breeze filled the room.

Compello enitor / Force birth

The candles flickered and a low humming sound began.

Nex abeo vivificus /Death changes to life

The blood began to steam.

Conflixere mirando/ As death and life struggle

Benedictus fructus ventris tui / Blessed is the fruit of her womb

Altheda hovered in the air, her eyes closed, her arms extended outwards. The entire room was filled with nearly tangible energy.

Perforatum fluxit aqua et sanguine /From which flows water and blood

Sano haec veneficus! / Save this witch

There was a blast of sound and instantly the cave was immersed in thick ebony darkness. For a few moments, the remaining members stood in absolutely silence, barely daring to breathe. When the torches slowly began to flicker on again, Altheda was bracing herself on the table, weak from the exertion of such a difficult spell. As Cole's eyes adjusted to the light he noticed Piper. She was lying still on the slab. No longer seizing or bleeding, she was breathing evenly and her face, though still pasty, was no longer deathly pale. He breathed a deep sigh of relief and approached Piper's still body. She looked peaceful. He was so grateful to Altheda.

"Iuro eternus debitum." (I swear an eternal debt) He murmured softly to Altheda as he gently scooped Piper up into his arms, carefully cradling her like an infant. He was forever in her debt. As he crossed the room towards a stunned, statuesque Phoebe, he noticed the tiny bloody body of Piper's baby. It was curled up in the bowl. Perfect, in a miniature way. She could have fit in the palm of his hand. She was teeney but she was all there. Ten fingers, ten toes. Absolutely perfect, if not for the fact that she wasn't breathing. Altheda saw him gazing at the tiny figure and called out a warning. A warning that he would not understand for months to come.

"Geminis superstes."

With a last, woeful glance, he crossed the room, grabbed Phoebe's shoulder and shimmered.


Yes, that last line doesn't have a translation. There's a reason for that. If you're truly curious, google it or something. It's key and will come into play later on in the story. Anyhow, I worked really hard on this chapter so I hope you liked it. Some of it is still rather confusing I know but if you pay close attention I think you can figure out a few things. I'd like to hear some of your thoughts on it! Read & Review please!