A/N: Many thanks for your reviews! Hope you like this chapter too.

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Family secrets

Cole and Leo were standing in a corner of the living room talking quietly. They had stepped in the background to allow the family some privacy when Zin's husband woke up. Leo had healed Cole's cut in the arm already. The women were hovering around Zin's husband who was on the couch.

Slowly Jason opened his eyes and looked at the faces of his wife and his great niece. They both smiled at him, but Zin couldn't hide a little concern in her glance. Jason took some deep breaths and tried to remember what had happened before he had passed out.

He had argued with Wu Wei about Ming and then, Wu Wei had stabbed him. He remembered the searing pain when the knife had cut his flesh. Automatically his hand reached for the place he had felt the dagger slice him. He felt only smooth skin. There was no wound. Confused he looked at his wife. She interpreted his glance and answered,

"You are fine. You were healed."

Jason just nodded. The last thing he remembered was that someone else had appeared and obviously distracted Wu Wei and then everything had went dark for him.

"Wu Wei?" he asked and tried to sit up, but his wife pressed him back, "Easy Jason. Just stay down a little longer and I answer your questions."

Jason obeyed. He felt like a train had driven against him.

"Wu Wei is gone for the moment. Mr. Turner helped us to get rid of him." She motioned with her head in the direction of Leo and Cole.

Jason turned his head and looked at the two men standing in the corner of his living room. They weren't Chinese, they were European. And the absolutely strange thing was they had a familiar ring to him.

"Ming are you ok?" he asked his niece. She still looked very shaken.

She nodded, "I'm fine great uncle Jason", she assured.

"Good", Jason was glad she was safe. Ming had always been his favourite niece. She was very similar to Zin when she had been young.

"Who is this Turner and his friend?" he queried his wife, "where do you know them from and why are they here?"

"I met Mr. Turner by accident", Zin explained, "and he brought his friend to ….", she didn't know how to tell Jason, she had never told him that there were witches in her family. Jason probably didn't believe that something like magic even existed.

"yes?" Jason demanded. His wife was behaving a little strangely.

"Mr. Turner brought him to heal you." Jason's eyes grew wide and he looked again at the men in the corner. Something in his mind wanted to come to the surface but he couldn't quit grab it, yet.

"What was their name again?" he asked again.

"I know only one of them", Zin answered, "The dark haired one, his name is Cole Turner."

"Cole…", Jason repeated, he had heard this name before. Somewhere. It had to be a long time ago. Also the other man looked so eerily familiar.

Jason touched his tummy again. It was perfectly fine. No doctor could be that good. He had gotten a ten inch blade in his tummy. It had to be….magic.

It hit Jason like a bucket of cold water. The two men had to do something with magic. He thought of Phoebe, Phoebe Halliwell, the witch and his former lover. He sat up with a swift motion and jumped to his feet, startling his women by his side.

"Cole!" Jason cried out.

Cole turned around and looked at Jason questioningly. The man had said his name like he recognized him.

"Yes", he answered tentatively, throwing a glance at Leo. Leo raised a surprised eyebrow.

"Cole Turner", Jason repeated. He still couldn't believe it. Phoebe's ex-husband. He looked exactly like he had when Jason had met him the first time. That was almost 30 years ago.

"That's my name", Cole confirmed. He felt a little inconvenient about the trouble the man had with him.

Jason walked over to Cole and starred into his face, the disbelief openly visible on his face. Cole just looked back observantly. Then Jason turned to Leo and studied him equally.

"I know you too", Jason stated.

Phoebe. Jason tried to remember more about Phoebe. Phoebe had sisters and suddenly it was crystal clear, "you are the husband of Phoebe' Halliwell'ssister". Jason was proud of his capacity of remembering. He never forgot a face he had seen once.

The moment Jason had mentioned Phoebe's name Cole had grown stiff and his look had changed from a relaxed one into a tense one. "Where do you know Phoebe from?" he demanded.

Zin recognized the change in Mr. Turner and hurried to stand by the side of her husband. "She was a friend of my husband in the US. How do you know her?" she asked.

"He is her ex-husband", Jason answered instead of Cole.

Zin looked at Jason bewildered. Leo was surprised too. This guy seemed to know a lot about them and he didn't recognize him.

"And how would you know all that?" Cole demanded not to friendly.

Leo placed a soothing hand on Cole's arm. Cole was likely to go off where Phoebe was concerned. Nothing had changed in this section over the last decades.

Zin didn't escape Leo's gesture and she was thankful. This Leo seemed the much more peaceful guy. He radiated an aura of goodness and peacefulness that made Zin feel very safe. Mr. Turner in contrast was a totally different story. He was able to change from a nice and caring guy to an intimidating and scary one within split seconds.

Jason was undisturbed. He smiled and offered Cole his hand, "Jason Dean. I was Phoebe's boss when she worked for the Bay Mirror." He watched Cole process his words.

Cole's eyes searched Jason's face and then recognition flickered in his eyes. He took Jason's hand and shook it. "Jason", he said slowly, "didn't expect to find you here."

"Believe me, I'm equally surprised", Jason chuckled and offered his hand also to Leo, "My wife told me you were the one who healed me".

Jason had always thought that Cole and Leo were normal guys living with the witches. But as both looked not a day older than in the past, he was sure they weren't.

"That's right", Leo smiled back and shook Jason's hand cordially. Now he remembered Jason too.

"So who are you Leo", Jason asked intrigued, "that you make a stab wound go away like this?" He stroked his recovered tummy.

"He is kind of a guardian angel", Cole explained instead of Leo and Zin's eyes grew wide. She had heard of such creatures and now one was standing in her living room.

"And you?" Jason doubted that Cole would go through as angel. Every time he had met Cole in the past there had been something dark and dangerous around him.

"I'm not", Cole avoided the answer and counter questioned. "But I'd like to know what your lovely wife and little Ming back there is."

Jason thought for a moment about pressing Cole for further revelations but decided against it. It didn't seem like a good idea to make him angry.

"That is a really good question," Jason turned to his wife, "I guess there is something you need to tell me?" He was angry now. He had been married to Zin for almost 30 years and she had never told him.

Zin looked to the ground. "Jason, I ….", she backed away from the men and sat herself on the couch, where Ming still sat. Zin played with the wedding band on her finger. She hoped Jason could understand it. But he had taken the revelation of magic much better than she had expected. Ming was watching the whole exchange with astonishment.

"Before I met you, I was a witch", Zin disclosed with a sigh.

"Was?" Cole queried and stepped closer, this was interesting, "and what are you now?"

Jason looked at Cole but let him query his wife further. Cole probably had more experience in this matter and would go to the point much faster than he could.

"I'm human", Zin said, looking pleadingly at Jason. He answered her with a still angry and hurt glance. She had lied to him for such a long time.

"Why did you loose your powers?" Cole dug deeper.

Zin looked up, "When I decided to marry Jason", her glance flickered to him with a loving glance.

"I don't understand it", Cole commented, "How does marrying Jason influence your powers? I have never heard of something like that." He sat himself in one of the armchairs.

Leo stayed at the back. Interrogations he left to Cole, he was the lawyer after all and knew how to get information out of people fast.

"In my line only virgin women have powers. We loose them when we loose our innocence." Zin explained.

Cole thought about her answer but Jason murmured, "You gave your powers up for me?" Zin nodded looking fearful at him, she hoped he would forgive her.

Jason went over to his wife and took her in his arms, "I love you Zin", he whispered in her ear, so that only she could hear it. She hugged him tight as an answer. She had never regretted her decision.

Ming looked up as she felt Cole's burning glance on her. She tried to hold his scrutinizing stare but couldn't. She looked at the floor instead.

"So Ming obviously still has her powers", Cole announced and Jason broke the embrace, to look at Cole.

"Why do you think so?" Jason asked.

"Her father wanted her, I guess it was for her powers. Mrs. Chang, do you know what your nephew wants from her and more interestingly, why did you know that you had to hide her from him?" There were still a lot unanswered questions for Cole. Too many.

Jason laid his arm around his wife's shoulder and Zin answered Cole. "Sometimes I have a foreboding, a feeling. If I act on this feeling, I'm almost never wrong. I had a feeling for Ming and decided to invite her to my place for some time. I had a bad feeling about Wu Wei and that's why I tried to hide her from him and, " she smiled at Cole, "I had a good feeling about you, that's why invited you for a tea."

"A good feeling about me", Cole repeated, "I' don't think many people ever had that."

There was it again, Jason thought, that hint towards the darkness. "And why would they not? Who are you really?" He needed to know regardless of what the answer was.

Cole's smile vanished from his face. He starred at Jason but stayed quiet. This time Leo answered for Cole, "He is a demon. But", he raised his hands assuaging as he saw the surprised and scared expressions on their faces, "he has been working for the good side for a very long time."

Cole held their stares as they looked at him with new eyes.

Zin looked straight at Cole scrutinizing him thoroughly. A demon! She had never met one. Not even in her time as witch. All she knew about demons was what her mother had told her. It was better to avoid demons. Once you got into contact with them, you couldn't get rid of them easily. They often killed the person who conjured them.
Mr. Turner being a demon explained the shining ball in his hand, his vanishing and his nonchalant attitude towards a fight with Wu Wei. But it didn't explain the kind man she had gotten to know yesterday. And it didn't explain why he appeared here together with an angel. She had no doubt that Mr. Wyatt was what he claimed to be. She had seen the transcendental light coming from his hands, it was also in his eyes.

Many of the things Phoebe had said to him about Cole fell into place for Jason. Why Phoebe had fought against being with Cole. It was because he was demon, but still Cole had obviously saved his life. At the moment this was enough for him to know. He would ask his wife – the ex witch – later about demons.

Ming looked at Cole with big eyes. A demon! She had heard about them from her late mother. But in the descriptions of her mother they used to be ugly and scary. Mr. Turner looked like a decent guy and he was quiet handsome. Furthermore he had been so good company last evening. Maybe there were different kinds of demons?

"You fought of Wu Wei?" Jason asked and Cole nodded, "well that's good enough for me. I'm in your debt Cole. What can I offer you quid pro quo?"

Cole wiped Jason's thank away, "Its ok Jason, you are a friend of Phoebe. I don't charge friends," he smiled relieved. He was glad that the revelation of his identity had gone so smoothly. Nobody freaked out, that was rather surprising.

"Phoebe how is she?" With all that magic stuff Jason had totally forgotten to ask about her. He had lost contact with her years ago.

Cole's expression darkened visibly as he answered quietly, "she is dead".

Ming looked at Cole again. His voice had such a sad and hopeless timbre. Could demons be in love? She wondered.

Apparently it was possible. Apparently Mr. Turner still mourned his ex-wife. This was probably the reason why he hadn't flirted with her yesterday. Ming had been surprised. She hardly ever met a guy who wouldn't flirt with her. She knew she was a very good looking woman.

Jason was thunderstruck, "No! But why? When? How?"

Cole didn't look like answering so Jason looked at Leo. He could see the pain on Leo's face too.

"It was an accident", was all Leo said.

Jason wanted to press on but Zin touched his hand, she had noticed the pain the mention of Phoebe caused her two guests. "We are deeply sorry for your loss, Mr. Turner, Mr. ", she looked questioningly at Leo.

"Wyatt, Leo Wyatt", Leo helped her out.

"Our genuine condolences for your loss Mr. Wyatt. I know how hard it is to loose someone you love. I lost my sister, Zin's mother, some years ago. I still miss her dearly."

Jason was shocked. Phoebe was dead. He needed time to process all this new information. "Do you mind if I excuse myself, I think I need a rest", he stood up.

Cole stood up too and Leo came over.

"You do that Jason", Leo advised, "Take it slow today ok." With a nod towards Jason and the women, Leo turned to Cole. "If you need help with this sorcerer, don't hesitate to get us Cole", Leo patted Cole on the shoulder amicable.

Leo knew that Cole preferred to solve every crisis by himself. There was this wild, reckless streak in him that could never be tamed, even not after decades of working with the sisters. Cole still thought he had to take on everything by himself.

"Sure", Cole answered unwillingly as Leo orbed out. The Changs looked amazed at the swirling white lights in which Leo disappeared.

That Moment Zin remembered that Mr. Turner had taken away Wu Wei.

"What did you do with Wu Wei, Mr. Turner?" Now that she knew he was a demon, she feared of what Cole could have done to him. Wu Wei was still her nephew regardless of what he had done.

"I dropped him in Hong Kong city. Far enough away that he won't be back soon. And if he knows what is good for him, he won't come back. Ever." Cole informed her.

Wu Wei made him sick. Attacking the own family was the worst crime in Cole's opinion. He had lacked a family for over 100 years and when Phoebe's family had finally accepted him, he was genuinely glad. He would lay down his life for each of his family members without hesitation, while Wu Wei spurned the concept of family.

"As I know my father, he won't give up", Ming said sadly and fearfully. "Please excuse me. I need to be alone for some time."

She turned to go but Cole called her back. "Ming! I want to give you something", Cole offered. She stopped at the staircase and waited for him to approach her. Jason and Zin watched them attentively.

Cole pulled a ring from his finger and put it into Ming's palm. She looked at it surprised and not understanding. Cole put is hand on top, so that his ring was between their palms and then recited a spell.

Ming felt the ring become hot for a moment and she cried out surprised. Zin wanted to rush to Ming's side but Jason held her back.It didn't hurt, Ming wondered. She looked at Mr. Turner inquiringly but somehow she trusted him, despite he was a demon. He had saved her uncle and protected her aunt after all.

"As long as we are not sure what your father is up to, be sure to have my ring with you all time", Cole advised, " if you hold it and think of me, I can feel your call and come to you. Do you understand that?"

Cole took back his hand and watched Ming slip the ring on her right thumb. It was much too big for any of her other fingers.

Ming nodded earnestly and looked at the ring in more detail. It looked like a wedding band. "Why are you giving me this", she whispered. She was touched by his concern for her.

"You remind me so much of my daughter", Cole answered with tenderness in his voice, "No girl should be afraid of her father the way you obviously are."

Ming found warmth in his glance towards her, that she hadn't noticed before. Maybe it hadn't been there before? She nodded understanding, "Thank you very much, I cherish it, Mr. Turner. And be sure I will take great care of it". With that she turned and started climbing the stairs.

Cole watched her go. He had never parted from his wedding band voluntarily since Phoebe and he had married again. But now, here he could do it so easily and it felt right. Zin's property was a weird place.

Zin came to his side and touched his arm to get his attention. "Mr. Turner, do you think Ming is still in danger?" she asked worried.

"I'm afraid so", Cole answered facing her, "from the impression I have of your nephew, he will be back for her. Would you tell me all you know about him? What powers he might have?"

"Sure", Zin nodded, "but give me a moment to attend my husband first."

"Of course", Cole answered, "you will find me at the pond." With that he shimmered out and left a very worried couple back at the house.

Jason stared at the place where Cole had vanished, amazed for a moment. "What can we do about Wu Wei? We can't call the police", Jason was unsettled, "and you have to tell me what you know about magic, demons and the like."

"Calm down Jason, you need to rest darling. We can talk about this later. While you rest I will go and talk with Mr. Turner about our options", Zin soothed him as she ushered her husband to their room.

Deep in thought Ming ascended the stairs to her room. When she was out of sight, she took the ring off and looked for the inscription. It was faint, since the ring was heavily worn but she could read it nonetheless.

"Forever yours - Phoebe".

Mr. Turner had truly handed her his wedding band. She slipped it on again. What a precious thing to give to her.

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tbc
Next Chapter: Ming takes things in her own hands and needs the help of - Phoebe!
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