Author Notes: This is a short chapter. Sorry it took me so long my computer crashed and I lost everything until I got all my data extracted. This chapter is kind of fluffy I know but don't worry some drama will present itself in the following chapters.
I need to pick better beta readers, lol. After I get them their lives gets to busy and they can't do it anymore. Now I went through and proof read it but grammar is not my strongest subject.
Pairing: Leo/Piper; Cole/Phoebe; Richard/Paige
Summary: Cole is back.
Disclaimer: I do not own Charmed or its characters.
Rate: PG
Season: 6- but its AU after The Courtship of Wyatt's Father
Category: Drama
Spoilers: Season 1-6
The Unseen Future: A Soulmate ReturnsTwo Weeks
Phoebe could hardly believe it, after two weeks of looking she found him. She could barely hold herself together as the woman on the other line explained where he was. All she could think about was the fact Cole was alive he was human and he needed her help.
"I found him, he's in New York City," Phoebe explained.
"How'd it happen," Paige asked.
"He was coming home from the air port and a drunk driver hit him," Phoebe mumbled.
"What are you going to do," Piper asked.
"Chris and I leave tonight for New York…then I'm bringing my husband home," Phoebe announced.
"Phoebe," Paige sighed.
"I'm bringing my husband home Paige, he's the only man I've ever loved and will love," Phoebe confessed. "I loved Jason but I was never in love with Jason. Cole is my soulmate and he belongs home with his family."
"Chris can live here," Piper chirped. "We have a spare room."
"And what happens when Chris is born," Paige asked.
"He won't need it for awhile," Piper argued. "Wyatt was almost a year old before he got his own room."
"No he still lives with me, Cole will understand," Phoebe told them. "That's why Chris is coming with me."
Piper just nodded she had hoped to get Chris to move in with them. She knew he was only next door, but she like the idea of him living with her. He told it was the best way to make sure he could live his own life. She hated this, he wasn't even born yet and he was always already striking out on his own. Paige worried about Cole, but from what she saw in the future she knew they had nothing to worry about. What scared her was the fact she didn't know if she still lived pasted his fourteenth birthday or not.
Chris watched Phoebe as she packed her bags for her trip to New York. Elise understood what was going on and why she was leaving, and she didn't care as long as Phoebe met her deadline. Walking out they left for the airport, everything about this trip had to be normal. Except for the fact that they were as far from normal as you could get. Phoebe was a witch, he was a witch/whitelighter from 22 years in the future and they were off to pick up her should be dead ex-source of all evil husband. So why did they have to start acting normal now.
"Chris you okay," Phoebe asked looking at him as they walked in.
"I don't like to fly," Chris admitted with fear.
"You're kidding right," Phoebe laughed. "You orb all over the world but you don't like to fly."
"Orb being the keyword," Chris mumbled wondering if it was too late to just orb there.
"Why don't you like to fly," Phoebe said
"When I was 3, mom and I went on a trip and we had to go in a plane. Well to make a long story short the plane crashed," Chris explained. "As the plane went down I got so scared I orbed me and mom back home."
"How did you explain that," Phoebe asked curious.
"Dad had to fix the records because there were no survivors," Chris told her. "If I hadn't of orbed us out when I did we would have died."
"Chris," Phoebe softly said taking his hand.
"At least I didn't get in any trouble," Chris laughed nervous "Mom hated when we orbed, wants us to be normal."
"I promise this plane will not crash," Phoebe vowed.
The plane ride was a success, they got off but Chris didn't know if he could do this again. He might just orb back home, because he didn't know if he could take it. Phoebe would understand if she hadn't been staying in a hotel recommended by Elise, she would have had him orb them back. That is what kept him from doing this Elise was being so great about this all. He knew she was probably watching Phoebe making sure everything went according to the plan.
Phoebe smoothed down her outfit as she walked into the hospital. She didn't know what she was expecting really, she just could hardly believe that she had found him. The nurse directed them to where he was Chris held her hand as they walked towards his room. Phoebe's breath caught at the slight of him, laying there in a coma.
"Excuse me," a man said. "But you can't be here, only family."
"I'm his wife, Phoebe," Phoebe said. "If you're Doctor Stevens we spoke on the phone."
"Oh Mrs. Turner I'm sorry," Doctor Stevens apologized looking at Chris.
"This is my cousin, Chris he came with me for support," Phoebe explained.
"And its Mrs. Halliwell," Chris said. "The women in our family keep their name."
"Is my husband going to be okay," Phoebe asked. "Can I see him?"
"You can but I'm afraid your cousin here must stay out here," Doctor Stevens explained.
"Its okay, go on," Chris smiled.
Phoebe walked inside the room; she could feel the tears beginning to burn her eyes. Walking up to him she was almost afraid to touch him. Afraid that she would break him even more than he was already broken. If this was the elders way of bring him back into her life, they needed to rethink their ways. Taking his hand she did not expect what happened—she had a premonition.
An older Phoebe was wearing a formal gown, Cole was coming behind her. Two girls came behind them—their daughters Prue and Pat. They had on matching gowns; another girl walked in with Paige—must be Alexis. Then another guy around their age with Richard—must have been Samuel, Wyatt walked in with Leo and Piper laughing. They were all at the manor, celebrating something. Victor Darryl and Sheila walked in shutting the door and laughing. Sam, Penny and Patty appeared before them with smile. The doors opened again, this time with Chris walking in carrying a woman. Not just anyone but the one who tried to kill him—Bianca. And she was wearing a wedding dress she could feel their happiness and love.
"So how was school," Piper asked.
"Gideon may have been evil, but he didn't want the students to be," Leo told her.
"He really wasn't evil," Paige told them. "He just lost his way and thought killing your children was it."
"Yes not evil at all," Piper joked.
Paige got up from the table with a slight smile on her face. Richard was at a meeting and wouldn't be hope until later that night. It seemed like their lives were actually coming together. Piper and Leo were back together, expecting their second child. Phoebe was reuniting with Cole, pregnant with their first child and still married. She was in a great relationship with a great man who understood her more than she ever thought possible.
Walking toward the window she felt like things were coming together finally. As much as she loved being a witch she always felt something was missing. That there was a piece of the puzzle that just didn't fit yet but slowly that feeling was going away. It looked like for the first time they might actually get a real chance of happiness and maybe never a slightly normal life.
"I'll be back later," Paige yelled as she orbed out.
Paige found herself in her bedroom looking around. She had added a little of herself to the place once Richard came back from his karma cleaning. He hadn't been using magic anymore then he used to but it was nice to know that if he did she didn't have anything to worry about. She walked out to the living room smiling as she saw a picture of them sitting on the mantel. Pictures now hung up all the room thanks to her. Framed pictures of her with her sister, a few with Leo, one with Wyatt and her most precious picture her last family portrait with her parents. Pictures of Richard's family hung around as well. As well as one of her mother, Patty and grandmother, Penny that stayed next to the wedding picture of her parents.
Her stuff seemed to fit here, the prefect mixture of her and Richard. But she knew they wouldn't live here forever. Richard talked of someday getting a home closer to her sisters. But for right now she needed this place, she needed to find a life beyond the power of three.
"Richard," Benjamin yelled. "Paige."
"Hello Benjamin," Paige smiled. "Richard is at a meeting but he should be home in the next hour."
"Home," Benjamin repeated. "So it's serious, you and my big brother."
"Yes," Paige laughed lightly. "We live together."
"That's great," Benjamin replied with a big smile. "The family hasn't heard from him in a while."
"I'm probably to blame," Paige admitted. "When he's not at work I tend to take up his time."
"Well then that's okay," Benjamin laughed.
"You were afraid he was into magic we're you," Paige asked. "Don't worry about it, he can use magic now."
"We know about the Karma cleaning," Benjamin told her. "But it still scared me."
"He doesn't use magic, he did it so his children could use magic," Paige explained.
"We never said thank you," Benjamin sighed. "For saving us…all of us."
Paige didn't say anything she couldn't say anything, she was doing what was right. That was what she and her sister did, they protected the innocent. He only stayed for a few more minutes until writing a note he stuck on his desk. Benjamin took one more look at the house while Paige went to the kitchen. For the first time in year it felt good, the place was oozing with good energy. His family's luck had changed too; they would be forever in the charmed one debt.
"Paige," Richard yelled walking. "You home."
"I love it when you say that," Paige told him before kissing him deeply.
"And I love it when you do that," Richard laughed.
"Your brother came by and left a note on your desk," Paige informed him. "And dinner will be done in ten minutes."
"Dinner," Richard laughed.
"Today is my Grandma Matthews's birthday and every year on this day we always had the same meal," Paige explained.
"What are we having," Richard asked with a soft smile.
"Meatloaf mash potatoes salad and corn," Paige replied. "And for desert we are having a chocolate cake."
"You guys ate this every year," Richard asked amazed.
"Yes my family was big on the homemade meals," Paige admitted. "Mom always had dinner ready at the same time everyday. Seven o'clock, that's when my dad would walk in, she was such a great cook."
"You miss them," Richard observed.
"I was such a screw up, but that never stopped them from loving or believing that I could be something special," Paige told him. "After they died I dedicated myself to becoming that person, to becoming something they would be proud of."
"I think you have," Richard told her as he wiped away her tears. "I know you have."
She welcomed the hug that Richard pulled her into, closing her eyes and just relaxing before she had to finish the dinner. It still hurt to think about her parents and their death. It was like the whole that was in her heart would never be filled or even healed. Even after she went to the past to come to terms with it and understand why her parents died. But sometimes it helped that she felt that pain, it reminded her of them. But there were times it just wouldn't go away where it felt like her punishment. All she could do is believe that she is someone they would be proud of, still be the daughter they loved.
Going back into the kitchen she started to put the final touches on dinner. Phoebe would be back sometime tomorrow with Cole. She still didn't know exactly how she felt about that one, but she knew Phoebe loved him. She loved Jason Phoebe really wanted them to work out. But Jason wasn't the man she was supposes to be with, they had to accept that. It has always been Cole, even if they wanted it not to be. But Cole was human—and innocent, and they would just need to make sure he stayed that way.
Two Days Later
"I've done it," Paige said orbing in.
"Done what," Piper asked. "Or do I want to know."
"Cole no offense to him seems to attract demons," Paige told her. "It's like he can't help it they just need to take over him and make him evil. So I sort of made a charm so no evil could do that."
"Like a protection spell," Piper sighed.
"It's a little stronger than that," Paige explained getting out a wedding band. "I took his ring and blessed it making it impossible for any evil entities spirits ghost to take over him again, but I need you and Phoebe to bless it too."
"Mom did something like that for our father," Piper told her taking Cole's wedding ring.
"Yes but it wasn't this power," Paige explained.
"Well like you said my dad wasn't a demon magnet," Piper said with a hint of sarcasm.
"Bless the ring them I'll take it to Phoebe to bless it," Paige replied. "Where is Wyatt?"
"It's past ten o'clock he's in bed," Piper reminded her.
"This can't wait," Paige told her. "After the blessing the ring must set for a day then must be given in a holy ceremony."
"You mean they have to get married again," Piper said.
"Yes I've already contacted Grams and she's agreed to do it," Paige told her.
"I think you need to find a hobby," Piper laughed walking off to the attic.
Phoebe could not sleep; Cole woke up after the premonition with a smile on his face. He could hardly believe she was there, he thought it was all a dream. But it wasn't, she motioned for Chris to walk in so they could met. Cole would be able to leave tomorrow at nine, and their plane left at noon so they would be home sometime tomorrow night.
Chris was asleep in the room next to hers, she told him to get some rest knowing he would not sleep any on the plane. It still amazed her that he had such a fear of planes. But after finding out about his last plane ride she understood. So she sat up typing away on this week's column. She was also temped to call a couple of her old friends up but knew it was a bad idea. She had this feeling that more and likely they hadn't changed that much.
"You up," Paige greeted orbing in.
"Is something wrong," Phoebe asked worried. "Is it Wyatt or Piper?"
"No everyone is fine," Paige laughed. "Don't take this the wrong way and please don't say anything until I am finished."
"This is about Cole isn't," Phoebe groaned looking away.
"He attract demon energy and I have this feeling it's not his fault so I came up with a plan," Paige told her. "Piper and I blessed this ring; it's a protection ring. This way no evil can ever take over him again, but you need to bless the ring as well."
"My dad had one of these," Phoebe replied taking the ring from her.
"I know," Paige told her. "That kind where I got the idea from, I was looking at their wedding pictures."
Paige could hardly believe it; she had found a way to keep Cole human and innocent. She placed the ring in a special case to allow the blessing to take over the ring. Cole and Phoebe would be getting remarried in a few days. They would return home tomorrow night. The next day they would need to get Cole settled in but that left the rest of the week up for grabs.
Paige had had put herself in charge of making all the arrangement. She wanted this wedding to be perfect, unlike their first one. This was also her way of trying to show Cole and Phoebe that she wanted him in the family. She decided that it was going to be a small wedding, Leo, Piper, Wyatt, Richard, Darryl, Sheila, Victor, Sam, Chris, and Grams. Piper agreed that this would their real wedding.
"Hey," Cole greeted as Phoebe walked in. "Where is Chris?"
"Waiting outside," Phoebe explained. "Are you okay with Chris living with us?"
"I'm fine with it Phoebe," Cole laughed. "All I care about is the fact we are together."
"You really don't remember being the source of all evil do you," Phoebe asked.
"Not really, I can remember everything up to that point," Cole admitted. "But after that it's all a blur. Chris said it was a gift from the elders, this way I can live without guilt."
"Well Paige is preparing our wedding as we speak," Phoebe explained.
"Do you think that ring will really protect me," Cole asked?
"Yea I do," Phoebe smiled. "Now let's go home and be warned Chris has a fear of flying. So he's going to be very nervous until we land."
"A whitelighter afraid to fly," Cole stated with humor.
"Chris loves orbing and believe he's not afraid of heights," Phoebe explained. "He just really hates airplanes."
"Did he have a bad experience or something," Cole asked.
"Very bad," Phoebe confirmed. "When he three years old he and Piper were on an airplane and if not for his orbing power they would have died. He hasn't been on a plane since."
Chris sat in the hallway wondering if Phoebe would change her mind about allowing him to orb home. He knew she wouldn't but he could ask what the harm in asking. Cole and Phoebe walked out of the room holding hands. This was a sight he hadn't seen in along time. He and Prue used to look at the picture of these two for hours. Cole was the only person who ever believed he was more then Wyatt's little brother. If not for him he wouldn't be here, and Wyatt would be on his way to being evil.
"No," Phoebe said sternly.
"I didn't even say anything," Chris complained.
"But you were," Phoebe smiled. "Now I'm going to get Cole's release papers."
"I hate having a psychic empathic aunt," Chris mumbled as Phoebe walk away.
"Try being her husband," Cole whispered.
"I heard that," Phoebe yelled.
Phoebe walked up to the counter told them what she wanted. The nurse told it would be just one moment, Phoebe nodded with understanding. She took a side glance at Cole and Chris who were talking like old friends. Maybe this would work maybe they could make this work this time. They'd go home get remarried and started their lives for real this time. She felt something inside her grow warm; she smiled brightly because she knew it was their daughter Prue.
They gain the papers and they walked out of the hospital together happy. The cab ride wasn't that bad but phoebe had to stop Chris twice form just orbing home. He kept going on about odds, and how they should be alone for this. Taking his seat he never closed his eyes and the shade never went up. Cole felt bad for Chris, every time he got in a plane all he thought about was death. As they got off Chris had to admit it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be, but he would still take orbing over it any day.
A whitelighter named Dana who was a friend of Leo's was there to help them. Piper had loaned them her vehicle, Phoebe was just happy that they knew how to drive. Chris knew Dana and agreed to seat up front on the way home. The ride was long and silent, which suited Dana just fine. She wasn't one for conversation, actually she lived by the motto actions speak louder then words. Suddenly they pulled up to Phoebe's house, Dana nodded at Chris and orbed away.
To say Cole was nervous about coming home would be an understatement. He could remember having a partly good relationship with Piper and a good one with Paige. But it seemed he had ruined what he had with Paige; he could only hope he could win back her trust. Getting out of the car Chris grabbed all the bags and headed towards the house. Cole just stopped, he was home he was finally home.
Looking next door he smiled, the window shades were open. From here he could make out the play pin he knew how much they wanted to have a child. That they were blessed with two sons meant the world to them. If he and Phoebe were blessed with two children, he would be the happiest man alive. He already wanted to thank them for giving him a second chance.
"SURPRISE," Everyone yelled as they walked in!
Cole stopped in his track as he looked around the room. Paige was standing with some man he did not know, but he was smiling so he must be a friend. Leo was holding a toddler with blond curly hair while Piper stood next to him. Another older guy stood next to Phoebe's father, and Daryl stood next to his wife Shelia. But what shocked him was that Penny and Phoebe's mother Patty were there as well. He looked to the side to see there was a table of food and what looked like a few presents on the table.
"What is this," Phoebe asked.
"Cole welcome home dash your engagement party," Patty explained.
"Engagement party," Phoebe question confused. "But we're already married."
"But this will be your real wedding," Piper explained. "Last time you married Cole Turner the Source of All Evil this time you are marrying Cole Tuner the very human man you love."
"Cole welcome home," Leo greeted. "This would be your nephew Wyatt Matthew Halliwell, Wyatt this is your Uncle Cole."
"Hello there Wyatt," Cole said shaking his tiny hand.
"Welcome to the family Cole," Patty said hugging him. "It's good to have you back."
"Grams," Cole winked.
"Welcome back," Penny said with a small smile of amusement.
"I think I speak for everyone when we say we're glad you are back in one piece," Victor announced. "And that we all want to start a new beginning Cole, leave the past in the past. I know that Sam and I have been doing that and so far it's work for us. So don't think about what you did Cole, only think about what you are going to do."
"Thank you all," Cole sighed. "But I know I still have some time before I gain all your trust, but I'm up to the challenge."
"This is Paige's biological father Sam and her boyfriend Richard," Chris explained.
Darryl came up to him and they talked for a little bit, Cole was surprised Shelia was there. Then they explained that she knew about their world now. She was okay with it and understood now why her husband went to such great lengths for the sisters. In Cole's mind Darryl was one of the great mortals he had ever encountered. After all he had seen and been through he still put innocence lives ahead of his own.
He even talked to Richard for a few minutes and began to like him. He seemed like a decent guy who truly understood what Paige was about. Then it hit him that Paige was the only person who had not hugged him or even talked to him. He saw her quietly walked into the kitchen to get something and excuse him self to follow her. He needed to know how she felt about his homecoming, because he did not want to come between them again.
"Paige," Cole said coming into the kitchen.
"That speech you made earlier was more for me wasn't it," Paige asked.
"Chris said I treated you badly," Cole explained. "And I know that it's going to be awhile before you trust me again."
"That wasn't you it was the Source," Paige told him softly.
"But I still feel like I need to make amends. Not only to you but to all the innocence that I could have hurt," Cole sighed annoyed with himself. "And that you all have forgiven me and let me back in is such a gift. One that I don't think I deserve."
"We're family Cole," Paige stated sternly. "We're going to fight, there will be times when we don't agree but in the end we'll be by your side."
"Coming from you that means a lot," Cole confessed.
"And I have to earn your trust too," Paige told him. "I was never your biggest supporter. So how about we start from scratch, clean slate."
"I'd like that," Cole laughed.
"Then come on lets go enjoy your party," Paige laughed back. "Because I know my dad and Victor are going to eat all your cake. They've been eyeing it since Leo orbed it in."
Cole followed Paige into the living room and just watched for a moment. He looked at Chris, he saw Prue when he looked at him. Phoebe agreed with him, he was so selfless when it came to his family. He gave up it all just to save his brother. Piper and Leo were talking to Shelia about siblings and what they could expect. Darryl and Leo were talking about baseball and a night out sometime this week. Wyatt was sitting on Chris's lap as Phoebe played some kind of hand game with him making him giggled. Patty and Grams were talking to Richard and Paige about the wedding. Cole laughed lightly; he was finally home with his family.
Next Chapter: Cole and Phoebe's Wedding with a surprise guest—and it's not Prue or Jason!