Sorry for the hugely long wait in updating but I had exams...they're all over now so hopefully I'll be able to start upating more regularly again.

Chapter 18: Climbing Back Up

Phoebe's P.O.V

The moment didn't last. For one brief second I was happy as I heard Cole tell me he loved me but then all the other memories came flooding back. My mind flashed back to Cole killing the witch and my contentment disappeared; just being near Cole opened up all the wounds.

"Stay away from me. Just stay away." demanded Phoebe tearfully.

"Phoebe…" began Cole

But Phoebe shook her head, not letting Cole continue, "I don't wanna hear it, Cole."

"Yeah, you do." contradicted Cole, "You're not the only one hurting here. We both are. That's why we're drawn into this mess. I tried to deny it too; I tried everything to break my feelings for you, even magic. But nothing works."

Phoebe was silent for a moment. "It doesn't change anything." she told him quietly.

Cole smiled sadly, "No, it doesn't. It doesn't change the fact that I killed a witch. Even if I was tricked into doing it."

"What do you mean?" asked Phoebe.

"Forget it, it doesn't matter." muttered Cole.

Phoebe frowned in annoyance, "Yeah, well, maybe it matters to me."

"Raynor cast a spell. He made me kill her against my will." stated Cole.

Phoebe snorted in disbelief, "And why would he do that?"

"Because he wanted to turn me. And he knew the only way to do that was to destroy the one thing that was keeping me good. He knew that my killing a witch would destroy your faith in me." Cole paused and looked away, "And he was right." he whispered.

The sceptical look on Phoebe's face disappeared as she realised Cole was telling the truth. "I don't know what to say." she admitted.

Cole reached out to touch her face. "There's nothing to say." he told her gently, "Like you said, it doesn't change the fact that I did it, or that we'll always love each other. I guess it's a pain we both have to live with."

Cole stepped back and shimmered out.

Cole's P.O.V

I felt like I was leaving part of myself behind when I shimmered out. I loved Phoebe so much, but I had ruined any chance of happiness we had. Like I had said to Phoebe, I guess that it's just something we'll have to live with.

I was a demon again now. Working for evil, not good. As I shimmered out I tried to mentally block out my emotions. There was no place for emotions like love in a demon. I would always love Phoebe but I couldn't be constantly reminded of it. I was a demon again now.

Phoebe's P.O.V

It was a mistake giving up on Cole. Now that I know why he did what he did, that it was a spell that made him kill. I should never have given up on him. He said he loves me, which means that there's still good in him. I know I can bring him back. I know it.

"I wanna try a new potion on Cole. One that'll reverse the spell that turned him bad in the first place." announced Phoebe.

"Phoebe…" began Piper.

Phoebe interrupted her, "I'm not looking for your approval, Piper, just your support." she pleaded.

Prue sighed, "Well, Phoebe, it's sort of hard to give you support when you're just setting yourself up to get hurt again."

"Cole is good inside, I know it. And if dark magic did this to him, then how come white magic can't save him? I can't just turn my back, I have to try." insisted Phoebe.

Prue and Piper exchanged looks. 'We have to help her.' Piper realised.

"What do you want us to do?"

Phoebe smiled slightly in relief; "I want you to use the magic to magic spell to send me down there. I reworded it to make it work." Phoebe handed Piper a piece of paper.

"Uh, Phoebe, that's awfully dangerous." said Piper worriedly, reading over the spell, "If something goes wrong we won't be able to contact each other."

"I'll be safe, I'll be with Cole. And he'll bring me back, so don't worry about that."

"You're banking a lot on that little potion of yours, you know." interjected Prue.

"No, I'm not." Phoebe shook her head slowly, "I'm banking on Cole."

Phoebe's P.O.V

Cole had tried so hard to be good that I knew he couldn't just suddenly block it out again. There was good inside of him and all I needed to do was reverse the magic that turned him to bring that goodness to the surface again. I was trusting in Cole, trusting in the fact that he was good inside. The potion was just going to help him remember that.

A swirl of white orbs appeared, briefly lighting up the dull and gloomy cave, before reforming into Phoebe.

Cole was sleeping on a bed of straw and was wearing a plain black robe. Phoebe crouched down beside him, "Cole, wake up." she whispered, reaching out to stroke his hair.

Cole opened his eyes and met Phoebe's. "Phoebe?" he asked disbelievingly. Cole pulled himself to his feet, "What are you doing here?"

There was a slight trace of coldness in Cole's voice but Phoebe ignored it. "I came to bring you back." she told him gently.

Cole stared silently into Phoebe's eyes for a moment before grabbing her round the neck. "You just made a huge mistake." he snarled.

Phoebe's P.O.V

No. I hadn't made a mistake. I was going to get Cole back whether he wanted that at the moment or not. He was evil at the moment, that's why he was acting like this, but that would change when the potion worked. He would be good again. I knew it.

Phoebe broke out of Cole's grip and kicked him, sending him flying to the ground.

Cole laughed slightly. "You're not an easy girl to dump." he told her.

"Yeah, well, I didn't risk everything to come down here and not get what I came for." Phoebe replied coldly.

Cole sat up, "Well, you can't have me. Not anymore." he stated.

Phoebe shook her head, "I can if I reverse the spell that took you away from me."

"We've already had this conversation, Phoebe." sighed Cole, "Even if you could reverse it, it doesn't change the fact that I..."

"That you killed a witch." interrupted Phoebe, "Yeah, I know, Cole, but you didn't do it willingly and that's the difference." Cole stood up as Phoebe continued, "That's what gives you a second chance, that's what gives us a second chance."

Cole grabbed Phoebe round the neck again, "I already had a second chance and I blew it. Now, this is your last chance, understand? No more games. Go home. You can't save me."

Phoebe reached in her bag and pulled out the potion. She resolutely smashed it on his back. "You wanna bet?"

Cole released Phoebe and staggered back. "Pretty cool potion, huh?" she told him.

Cole raised his eyes to look at Phoebe and for a brief moment Phoebe thought the potion hadn't worked. Cole walked up to Phoebe and kissed her passionately.

Phoebe smiled as Cole stepped back slightly, "Let's get out of here."

A bitter smile spread across Cole's face, "Where?" he asked.

"What do you mean where?" asked Phoebe puzzled, "Home. Back to my place."

"You really think they're just gonna let me go? They're not gonna come looking for me again?"

"We'll fight them off." replied Phoebe defiantly.

" For how long? Indefinitely?" sighed Cole, "Phoebe, we tried it up there, it doesn't work for us."

Phoebe met Cole's eyes sadly, "So where does that leave us?" she whispered.

"Right where we are."