Cole Turner sat in a demonic pub, stroking his three-day old beard. Three days that's how long his beloved Phoebe had been gone. He still couldn't believe it. "Hey honey can you bring me another?"
"Be right there, handsome" A waitress turned and nodded changing her appearance from a sultry blonde to a petite brunette with chestnut colored eyes: she was an exact clone of Phoebe. "This what you wanted?" she set the frosty glass of bubbling brew down on the table in such a manner that her cleavage nearly spilled from her busty waitress costume.
"Not quite but you'll do" reaching out, Cole let him arm slip around her waist and pulled her into his lap. "Kiss me Phoebe, let me know that you're still here"
"Whatever" the waitress hissed letting her lips slid over his. Cole kissed the women deeply but not even in his drunken state could he believe that she was Phoebe. With his bloodshot eyes revealing his pain, Cole apologized and gently pushed the women away. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
"Don't mention it, just know that shape shifting costs you extra" The women held out her hand and Cole paid handsomely with gold coinage before taking his drink his and chugging. He drank so fast that he nearly choked, spitting and coughing away profusely.
"Easy Belthazor, you don't want it to be a double funeral. Your wife would never forgive you"
Cole wiped his face on his sleeve and looked up to see his old demonic, friend Drake standing before him holding a pillowcase sized sack. "What's in the bag?" the legendary demon asked.
"The head of the demon hound who slain your wife" Drake placed the bag on the table for Cole to see.
"You really killed it?" Cole asked peeking inside the sack to see the head of a demonic dog with razor sharp teeth. "Did you make suffer, just like Phoebe?" A vision of Phoebe's torn and shredded body was permanently etched Cole's head. It was a scene he'd never forget.
"Of Course, I did exactly as you asked" Drake replied, "I slain the entire pack"
"Good" Cole took another pull from his drink. "Did you find out who sent them?"
"Not yet, the Underworld as you know is being very hush, hush about it" Drake replied. The handsome vaudeville-loving demon then smiled as the same waitress placed a drink before him. "Anyone you want me to be?"
Drake smiled handsomely, "Can you be Marilyn?"
"Monroe?" The waitress snapped her fingers and instantly transformed herself into the shorthaired blonde from the fifties. "Would like me to sing Happy Birthday Mr. President?"
"Then I'd have to be JFK" Drake quipped sitting up a little straighter as the woman placed her hands on either side of his temples.
"That's not a problem" As quickly as she'd transformed Drake's features began to change to resemble those of the late great John F. Kennedy. The women then straddled Drake and seductively began to sing. Happy Birthday to you…Happy Birthday, Dear Mr. President…"
"That's enough!" Cole snapped tossing what was left of his drink upon the wayward couple.
"Ah, that really wasn't necessary Belthazor" Drake grabbed a napkin and raked it over his wet face transforming back into his normal looking self.
Cole reached across the table and grabbed Drake by the lapels of his leather jacket, "I need to find out what upper level demon killed Phoebe and that's not going to happen if you lap dance with every hottie that waves her bust line at you!"
"Neither is you drinking yourself into an oblivion!" Drake brushed the front his jacket smoothing the wrinkles. "Don't you have a funeral to attend?"
Cole glanced at his watch. He was already late. "What's the difference, I'm already as just as dead as Phoebe" Cole rose to feet wobbling as his hand dove into his pocket for some money to pay the tab.
"Easy buddy. The difference is the witch was your wife and she deserves your respect" Drake stood beside his old friend, steadying his gait. Cole wobbled a little more shoving Drake away.
"Do-don't need your help. All I need is Phoebe"
"That's where you're wrong Chap" Drake place a firm arm on Cole's and together the two demons shimmered to the manor where Victor was already in the solarium with Melinda and Amanda greeting the guests who'd come to pay their respects.
Victor calmly shook the hand of one of the editors of the Bay Mirror and waited until the room was relatively clear of people before addressing the two demons. "Oh no, no demons at my daughter's funeral! I don't care if you were her husband. It's because of your kind that my daughter is dead!"
"Dad, I'm so glad to see you too:" Cole's speech slurred as he slapped Victor on the back, "Now where's the bar? Phoebe would want he guests to be well taken care of"
"There is no bar! You half-breed excuse for a human!"
"Watch it, Pops or I'll bury you right beside Phoebe" Cole replied the deep throaty voice of Belthazor. Momentarily, the red demonic half of Cole Turner appeared, forcing Drake to step between the two men.
"Now, now, let's not cause a demonic scene."
"Who the hell are you?" Victor's upper lip curled at this new strange being.
"Oh, I'm the demon known as Drake, Belthazor and I go way back" Drake offered his best smile and extended his hand.
"I don't give a damn who you are, I want you both out of here now!"
Bright blue orbs appeared depositing Leo on the floor next to the three men. The white lighter was dressed his best navy suit with a pale blue shirt and matching tie. Sensing the tension, Leo looked at his father in-law. "What's going here?"
Demons, Damn it! They're trying to take over Phoebe's memorial service and I won't "allow it!"
Drake's eyes became wide and his head whipped around, "demons where? I only see Belthazor and myself". The coy demon smiled as his eyes landed upon a mirror catching a glimpse of his reflection.
"There aren't just any demons. Cole is Phoebe's husband and he has a right to be here. " Leo said calmly as Belthazor caught site of an 11x14 picture of Phoebe setting on the cherry wood table. Slowly he reverted back into a ragged looking Cole and walked over to the picture taking it into his hands.
"All right" Victor grunted, "But there'd better not be any funny business. Magic had better not ruin the day".
"Nothing is going to ruin this day" Piper and Paige appeared in the door along with Glenda, Ally and Austin. Angels all dressed to perfection in matching angelic white. "Any demon that shows up here, we'll kick their ass" Piper leaned over and gently brushed a fallen hair away from Melinda's face. "Nothing is going to ruin Phoebe's day. The Elder's owe us that much"
"They certainly do" Paige replied with a hand on her hip. Moving towards the widow, Paige saw several fans standing outside the manor. Some of them were holding signs that said," We love Phoebe". Dozens of flowers and candles were splayed along the front lawn creating an onlookers vigil.
Victor looked around the room expectantly. "Where's Prue?"
"Not coming" Piper said straightening. She's locked herself in her room said she didn't want to be disturbed.
"That's my Prudence" Victor sighed watching as the two sisters joined hands and walked towards the living room to greet their guests with their children and nieces following in silent procession.
Still dressed in jeans and a tank Prue Halliwell stood in her bedroom holding a picture in her hands. It was the snapshot that Grams had taken of the three sisters the day before she died. God, they looked so different then. My hair was short, Piper was wearing her hair with bangs and Phoebe's well it that weird brassy color and overcurled. Prue always thought it made Phoebe look as if she were wearing a wig.
Gently she set the picture on the nightstand, and sank to her bed, grabbing a pillow. "I'm so sorry, I let you down Pheebs"
Elise stood in the living roomalong with several staff members of the Bay Mirror. "Elise" Piper whispered giving Phoebe's boss and dear friend a hug."
Jason Dean, the owner of the paper was also present along with another male columnist, Leslie. "Your sister will be greatly missed" Jason told Paige. "She was the heart and soul of the Bay Mirror"
"Thank you for saying that" Paige whispered a teary reply recalling how much Phoebe had admired the handsome entrepreneur from afar. She then glanced sideways to see Victor stepping up the podium that had been placed at the entrance of the solarium.
"Ladies and Gentlemen if you'd take your seats we'd like to begin."
"Well, well it looks as if we are right on the time" Outside on the porch the See'r, masked in her human form stood holding a two-year old Ayleia in her arms. Zankou was beside her.
"Are you sure you want to take her inside?" Zankou asked stroking Alyeia's cheek.
The See'r smiled her most wicked grin, "But of course, Ayleia wants to pay her respects to her sisters, not to mention, I wouldn't want to miss the demonic show? Are the dogs ready?"
"Ready and waiting for your command" Zankou replied shimmering from sight.
Oh, what a beautiful day, isn't it Alyeia?" The See'r lifted her nose to the sky breathing in a healthy dose of the fresh San Francisco air. "It's a pity you never got to know your Aunt Phoebe"
"Phee-wee" Alyeia said softly as they walked inside and slipped into a vacant seat in the back where Victor was just starting the Eulogy.
The graying grandfather looked down at the first row and smiled warmly, his eyes filled with heart felt emotion. "Family, Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today to mourn the passing of my Daughter, Phoebe Elizabeth Agnes Bennett-Halliwell"
"I just don't believe this is actually happening again" Piper whispered softly leaning into Leo's strong embrace as Victor pointed out the urn on the table that held Phoebe's ashes. Since Phoebe's body had been torn to shreds by the demons, the family had decided upon cremation.
"Phoebe, was one of kind, Charmed in many ways" Victor continued just as a rumbling sound began causing the windows and the glasses to vibrate.
"Okay, what the hell is going on?" Piper's eyes shifted back and forth.
"Earthquake?" Paige whispered hopefully, right before all of the stain glass windows shattered sending splinters everywhere.
Piper's jaw clenched as she sensed what her heat had been dreading. Flexing her wrists she quickly froze the crowd with the exception of Victor and girls, protecting the others from what was yet to come "Demon Attack!"
Several large black rots with glowing red eyes and hackles bounded into the manor along with a monstrously tall demon dressed in black and carrying a whip. "Kill them all my pets"
"I thought you said you destroyed them!" Cole snapped at Drake as both men jumped from their chairs ready to fight.
"I said, I slain the one who killed your wife but uh maybe I got the wrong pack" Drake's hands formed fists ready to use them if necessary.
"Dad, take the girls to the attic!" Piper ordered, readying her hands for an explosive blast. Quickly, Victor scooped his three smallest Grandchildren under his arms, calling to the other two to follow.
"Ally, Amanda come on" Taking no chances, Victor took the stairs two at time unaware that Amanda had stayed behind. "Come on girls, hurry!"
"Mandy c'mon!" Ally called scrambling up the stairs as her oldest sister stood frozen watching the events unfold.
"Prue, get your ass down here NOW!" Piper called up the stairs releasing a blast so violent, that it took out three dogs and the wicker furniture.
"Force Field" Paige shouted raising a hand of her own and placing a protective barrier over the frozen crowd of mourners.
Simultaneously, Piper continued flicked her wrists releasing blasts after blasts at the canine beasts while Cole and shot energy balls taking out several more.
"Stupid witches" the beast master cracked his whip hard on the floor. "For every dog you kill two more will take it place!" From out of nowhere more rapid looking canines appeared taking the place of those who'd been vanquished.
Again the beast master raised his whip high above his head, this time releasing it upon Paige. The whip extended several length times it's original size to coil around the witch, binding her tightly, like a fly caught in a spider's death web. The beast master recoiled the end, drawing Paige towards him sending Piper into a rage.
"LET HER GO DAMN IT!" Piper hissed sending a blast in the demon's direction just as Prue appeared on the stairs.
"My Pleasure" With a might shove, the beast master pushed Paige to the floor where she was easy prey for the pack of frothing rots who ready to dog pile.
"NO!" From her position on the stair, Prue drew back her arm and sent the attacking dogs flying back towards their master, but as promised more dogs appear, this time surrounding Amanda snarling ready to kill.
"Amanda ORB!" Both Prue and Piper screamed in horror as they watched the little girl close her eyes tightly preparing to leave the scene. But instead of orbs a flurry of white Angelic lights encircled the angelic witch transforming her human figure into that of a young adult woman with long flowing brown hair dressed in a black halter top and matching leather pants.
"What the hell?" Piper returned whipping her head back at Prue.
Prue could only stand in awe as she watched her now adult daughter orbed herself just outside the pack of dogs and then call upon her father's sacred, weapons. "Crossbow!" Not a second passed and a crossbow with a flaming arrow appeared in Amanda's hand, aimed and ready to fire. With one click of the trigger, Amanda took out the entire gang of mongrels that were threatening her and then held out her hand, telekinetically calling on her father's heat seeking probe.
"Beast Master!" she called sending the probe smashing right into its target.
"I don't believe this" Piper muttered as the beast master exploded into bits and one by one the remaining dogs disappeared.
"Neither do I," Prue replied now standing at her sister's side.