Chapter 14: Marry-Go-Round Part 1
March 15, 2002 – Friday
Grace Cathedral
Over the month since they had vanquished the Source. Piper had tried to get everyone to sit down to a celebratory breakfast. And Phoebe had cast a spell that brought her past and future selves into the present. Phoebe had wanted help in deciding whether or not she should marry Cole. In the end her future self, helped her out and she finally told Cole 'yes'.
Buffy had not only gotten to see what her daughter was like when she was ten-years-old, but after glamouring herself into Patty had spent time with the girl. While Buffy had known that Grams would wipe the girl's memories when she returned, she wanted to give her daughter the joy of spending time with her mother. Once the spell was reversed and the two Phoebes went back to their respective time periods. Buffy worked out a spell that reversed the spell Grams had cast on Phoebe to erase that future knowledge. Phoebe was happy to have such a wonderful gift.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Piper, did you check on the cake?" Phoebe called to her sister from somewhere near the altar, her voice filtering through the microphone and throughout the whole church.
Piper looked up from the large flower arrangement and answered, "Yes."
"That's good," Phoebe nodded appearing from behind one of the several other flower arrangements, playing with it a little, thinking it wasn't already perfect. "Because I don't want the cake to be delivered till after the linens arrive."
"I checked on the cake," Piper assured her. "Could you please take off that microphone?"
Phoebe looked over at her. "Sorry, I'm just, checking the sound system," she answered raising her volume to back up her statement before detaching herself. "What about the limo?" she asked walking towards Buffy, who sat a couple pews back from the front. "Mom, did you book the limo?" she asked again.
Buffy nodded. "I took care of it," she assured her daughter. "Only the best for my little girl. Honey," she called and Phoebe glanced up. "Everything's taken care of: the DJ, the caterer, the table arrangements and the rice."
Phoebe turned away from the flowers sharply. "Rice? No, no, no, no we can't throw rice."
"Why not?" Buffy questioned with a frown. "It's traditional."
"Well, because the birds can't digest it and they will blow up." Phoebe informed looking panicked.
Buffy and Piper's eyes widened but they nodded. "Okay...so we'll throw...birdseed," Piper substituted. "Or, or, we'll release balloons."
"No, no." Phoebe shook her head. "We can't release balloons either, they float to the ocean and the whales mistake them for squid and I can't be thinking about whales washing up on the beach during my wedding, you know, what I mean?" she asked panicking even more and Piper had to swallow her laughter.
"Honey, I know you want the perfect day but you need to relax a little bit," Buffy instructed demonstrating with her fingers. "And, and breathe," she stressed seriously, "Breathing is good. Breathing is your friend."
"I'm nervous as all get out, Mom." Phoebe said, breathing deeply.
"As I was when I married your father." Buffy said. "Every bride to be gets a little nervous right before their wedding."
"How did Dad look when you saw him waiting for you at the end of the aisle?" Piper asked trying to in part distract Phoebe.
Buffy smiled, "He was quite handsome."
"Whoa!" Paige cried as she entered the church, pulling off her jacket. "Is this a wedding or a coronation?"
Piper's eyes widened and she turned away from Paige. "Um..." she stammered feeling the brewing storm.
Phoebe's eyebrows rose as she took in Paige's empty hands. "Where, where is my dress?"
"Oh, I don't have it," Paige said casually looking around in awe.
"Wha—" Phoebe turned to Piper and Buffy. "N—not breathing," she gasped.
Buffy and Piper reached out to her as Piper muttered darkly. "I knew Aunt Dawn should have been in charge of the dress."
Phoebe turned on Paige with thundering eyes. "What do you mean?" she demanded harshly. "How could you forget my dress the day before the wedding? The bridal shop is closed tomorrow."
"Relax, it's open tonight," Paige dismissed. "I'm planning on picking it up on my way to the rehearsal dinner."
Phoebe sighed in relief. "Oh, all right."
"Okay." Piper nodded. "Why don't we sit down?" she suggested as she led Phoebe towards one of the pews.
"Yeah." Phoebe breathed deeply, "Sitting is good." She sat down next to Buffy. "I think I'm a little stressed out," she replied and received several nods and murmurs of agreement. She mock glared at them then continued. "I, just, I just want tomorrow to be perfect. No glitches, natural or supernatural you know," she explained and her mother and sisters nodded. "No magic, no ghosts." Phoebe looked to the heavens. "You guys understand that? I just want tomorrow to be nice and normal."
"Honey?" Piper called and Phoebe turned to her. "I promise you will have your perfect wedding."
"But..." Buffy interjected and Phoebe's head snapped round to face her.
"But?" Phoebe echoed shaking her head. "No, no Prue, no 'buts'."
"But..." Buffy repeated pointedly. "...if something happens to go awry, it doesn't matter," she said confidently. "The only thing that does matter, is that by the end of the day, you and Cole are husband and wife."
Phoebe frowned. "Mom, why are you saying this?" She looked at Piper. "Why is mom saying this?"
"Because Phoebe," Buffy drew her attention back. "Nothing is ever perfect and I don't want you to get your hopes up only to have them crushed and your day ruined, understand?" she asked and Phoebe nodded knowing it was for her own good considering Piper's want for her perfect wedding without magical disruption went to hell.
Piper smiled. "Phoebe? Just think, by this time tomorrow, you and Cole will be joined in holy matrimony."
Underworld
"Holy matrimony will be the worst possible thing that could happen," the Seer informed him seriously, her eyes misted over as she foresaw the future. "It'll keep you from ever reigning as the Source," she concluded her eyes returning to normal.
"That can't be right," Cole insisted from his chair.
"It's what I foresee," the Seer replied simply, turning to face him. "Unless, of course, you cancel the wedding."
"I can't," Cole instantly dismissed the suggestion. "I need Phoebe."
"Yes, I can see that too," The Seer stared pointedly.
Cole sighed tired of her suspicion and second-guessing. "We've been through this. Cole's love for Phoebe still exists within me, I can't overcome it," he explained again. "If I'm to regain what I've lost, it has to be with Phoebe. Marrying her," he insisted, giving her a stern warning look.
The Seer listened to his words, watching his face closely as she took a seat. "Even if it means losing your son?"
Cole's eyes cut to hers. "A son?" he echoed sitting forwards in his seat. "You saw a son in my future?"
"More than a son," the Seer added standing up. "You and Phoebe Halliwell will produce the most powerful child the magical world has ever seen."
Cole smiled, sitting back. "That's my boy."
"No, he won't be your boy," The Seer corrected him snappishly. "He'll be theirs, on the side of good," She told him forcefully and Cole's featured darkened. "Unless you marry the witch in a dark way."
"That's impossible, the wedding's tomorrow," Cole reminded her. "I don't have time."
"Then your son will never be heir to your kingdom," she warned him matter-of-fact. "He will be heir to their destiny."
Cole stood up abruptly, the Seer following him with her eyes. "Not if I destroy the white wedding," he countered walking around her slowly, in a circle as he thought. "Then find a way to lure her into a dark one." The Seer watched him with interest as he talked more to himself than her. "I'll have to move quickly. Start a fight with Phoebe and one of her sisters, her mother or her aunt. Paige." He smirked turning to her.
"Do you really think family rivalry of any kind, in this case sibling rivalry, is going to—?"
"Not by itself, no," Cole cut her off with a shake of his head. "I'll have to get a demon to attack, to distract them." He glanced at her quickly. "While you're doing that, I'll set Paige up, mix a potion or two to incite the infighting, then poof!" He snapped his finger. "Watch the white wedding disappear, literally."
"Still, how will you get her to marry you in the dark way?" the Seer asked, compliant with the rest of the but puzzled on that front.
Cole paused turning to her questioningly. "What do I need for that?"
"A dark priest to perform the ceremony, at night in a cemetery," she answered tilting her head in doubt. "And of course, the groom will have to drink her blood. What are the chances of that?"
"Good," Cole assured her, sitting back down in his chair. "Very good."
Halliwell Manor
"And what about Phoebe?" Piper asked staring pointedly at her sister, "Who was speed walking down the aisle?"
The group of ten were seated around the dinner table: Victor and Buffy sat at the heads of the table, Leo was to Victor's left followed by Piper, Dawn and Faith. Cole was to Victor's right next to Phoebe, then Paige and Darryl.
"I was not!" Phoebe insisted throwing her napkin onto the table.
"You left both Buffy and your dad," Leo pointed out with a smirk. While no one could tell the assembled guests who Buffy and Dawn really were. They had decided to continue the half-sister lie, especially when Phoebe wanted both Buffy and Victor to walk her down the aisle.
"Twice," Buffy added as she passed, refilling everyone's water glasses. She noticed that Victor was looking at her intently. "What?" she asked curiously stopping her in her tracks.
Victor smiled glancing around the table making sure everyone was still immersed in conversation. "I know that this is Phoebe's night," he whispered to Buffy subtly, "But I just wanted you to know how thankful I am, Patty, that you let me back into your life and allowed me the honor of walking our daughter down the aisle together," he told her sincerely.
"As I told you when Dawn and I revealed ourselves to you, you are still family," Buffy said.
"You of course understand with what happened in your previous life, with our divorce that…well I still wasn't sure about that," Victor admitted. "I knew what you said of course. But it wasn't till the rehearsal that it finally drove it home. And to tell the truth, Patty, when the time comes, I hope you will do me the honor of letting me walk you down the aisle."
"I would like that, Victor," Buffy said as she gave her ex-husband a watery smile and kissed his cheek.
Faith leaned towards her fellow Slayer when Buffy had sat back down beside her. "What was that about?" she asked motioning toward Victor.
"Just…" Buffy smiled at Victor, "…just Phoebe's parents finally burying the hatchet."
"I thought you had already had done that," Dawn admitted looking at her sister.
"Technically speaking yes," Buffy said as she glanced at her sister. "As was evidenced last month when he let you and I stay the night after we helped Piper, Phoebe and Paige vanquish the Source. But he still harbored some doubts about where he and I stood. Today finally drove it home that he was truly part of our family."
"Okay, attention," Cole called the table to order, clinking his glass with his spoon and rising to his feet. "I have something for my groomsmen, two fine gentleman..." he glanced at Darryl and Leo. "I chose to stand by me on the most important day of my life." He smiled down at Phoebe pointedly then back to the table. "Because uh...well, they're the only ones I know."
"Well, you have to admire his honesty," Leo shrugged glancing at Darryl who nodded.
Cole picked up two bags from the shelf behind him, handing one to each man with a smile. "There you go."
"Cool," Darryl nodded, pulling out a box, "Engraved golf balls. Titleist Pro V1s." He looked down the table at Cole. "Thanks, man."
"I...don't golf," Leo informed Cole with a shrug.
Victor turned to Leo. "Hey, I'll take 'em," he offered.
Leo frowned. "Well, they got my name on it."
Victor reached out and snatched the box from his grip. "So?" and everyone couldn't help but laugh at Leo's expense.
"Victor?" Buffy admonished.
"What, Patty?" Victor said giving her a sheepish look.
Phoebe stood up too. "And for my beautiful bridesmaids." She smiled at her sisters and her aunt lifting the three baskets from the corner, "...whom I choose because…they're three out of four of my best friends in the whole wide world," she told them sincerely handing one to Paige on her right then across the table to Piper and Dawn.
"Oh Phoebe..." Paige smiled gratefully.
"There's a bonsai tree for balance and harmony," Phoebe explained gesturing to the baskets, "And a dream catcher so that all your dreams will come true, just like mine have."
"This is so great!" Paige cried happily. "Tarot cards! My deck is totally trashed, this is perfect."
"Yeah, that's just in case you need psychic services while me and my new husband are busy gettin' busy," Phoebe admitted. "And, Aunt Dawn, I got you a little something extra. I had actually intended to give them to you at your birthday last month but they hadn't arrived in time. So I held onto them for today. Mom told me you liked Harry Potter." Dawn nodded. "So…" She handed a box to Dawn.
Dawn opened the box and smiled happily at the complete set of Harry Potter books, all in hardback. She hopped up and ran around the table to Phoebe and hugged her. "Thanks, Phoebe."
"Your welcome, Aunt Dawn," Phoebe said as she returned the embrace. When Dawn returned to her seat she picked up one final basket. "For my last best friend, who gave me the best gift anyone could give, she gave birth to me." She smiled at Buffy as she handed the last basket to Buffy. "The only difference as you can see from the other baskets is the orchid. Because dad said you loved them in your previous life."
Buffy looked to Victor and smiled, "I can't believe you remembered."
Victor returned Buffy's smile as he looked at her. "Of course I remembered," he said. "How could I not."
Buffy took the orchid out of the bag and then looked at Phoebe. "It's beautiful," she said. "Thank you."
Phoebe smiled as she threw an arm around Cole, leaning into him. "You're welcome, mom." She looked toward Faith. "I'm sorry, I didn't get you anything, Faith. If I had known you would be coming down today…"
"It's five by five," Faith admitted. "Besides given my life, just being invited is gift enough."
Phoebe nodded as she stepped out of her fiancé's embrace and walked around the table. She pulled Faith to her feet and pulled the brunette Slayer into her arms.
Faith smiled at the love she felt coming from Phoebe. She couldn't be happier that the Halliwells were welcoming her into their extended family.
Phoebe gasped as she was immediately thrown into a premonition.
Faith was down on one knee a ring box in her hand in front of Dawn. "Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" she asked Dawn who stood before her.
Dawn took a moment to answer and then smiled. "Yes!"
"What did you see?" Buffy said noticing the reaction.
Phoebe didn't answer her mother instead she whispered into Faith's ear, "Another small gift. For the woman who stole my aunt's heart. Go ahead and ask her. I already know the answer, but I won't spoil the surprise."
Faith blinked at Phoebe as her hand went to her pocket. "You saw?" she whispered back as Phoebe nodded. She smiled when Phoebe released her and spun her to face Dawn. She pulled the ring box out of her pocket and went down on one knee. "Dawn Marie Summers," she said as she opened the ring box and showed the brunette witch the diamond engagement ring. "Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Dawn looked at Faith for a moment and then smiled. "Yes!" she said happily as everyone applauded. Faith stood up and slid the ring on Dawn's finger.
"Congratulations, Aunt Dawn," Piper said as she hugged her aunt.
Phoebe smiled as she returned to her fiancé. He leaned down and whispered into her ear, "That was a good thing you did for them," he admitted.
"It was," Phoebe agreed. "Oh! Oh I hope that's the photographer," she cried as she raced to answer the ringing telephone.
"Hey Leo?" Darryl called reaching into his suit jacket pocket. "I got an extra stogie, you want to join me?" he asked waving a cigar in the air.
"I don't smoke," Leo shook his head.
"I'll take that," Victor grabbed up the cigar and rose to his feet. She noticed Buffy roll her eyes. "What?" he asked his ex-wife.
"You do remember how I always hated when you smoked those," Buffy reminded him.
Victor nodded as he smiled at Buffy. "I remember. It's why I always went outside, remember?" he said as Buffy nodded.
"I do, however, eat chocolate," Leo said suddenly turning to his wife with an evil smirk.
"Leo," Piper warned narrowing his eyes. "No wait. Wait, wait," she cried jumping over his chair and running after him. "No, no Leo! You need to wait for everybody else," she told him firmly as they disappeared towards the kitchen leaving only Buffy, Dawn, Faith, Paige and Cole at the table.
"I think I will go check on dinner," Buffy said as she glanced at her sister and soon-to-be-sister-in-law. "You two behave."
Dawn and Faith glanced at each other and rolled their eyes as Buffy followed Piper toward the kitchen. As soon as Buffy was out of sight Faith leaned over and kissed Dawn passionately.
"Let's see what the future has in store for Phoebe and Cole," Paige said loudly, looking down at the three stacks of cards.
Dawn perked up at Paige's words, she walked around the table with Faith. "Ooh let's," she agreed excitedly taking Darryl's seat next to Paige before pulling Faith into her lap. "Then maybe you can do one for me and Faith."
"I would be happy to, Aunt Dawn," Paige said as she smiled at her aunt. She returned her attention to the cards and turned over the first card: Lovers. "Aww." She smiled turning over the second: Despair and her smile fell. She looked at Dawn whose brow was creased in concern. She lifted the third card: Death. "Oh no," she whispered and she and Dawn turned to look at Phoebe who was standing near the front door, phone to her ear.
"What is it?" Faith whispered looking at Dawn.
"Not a good omen," Dawn answered.
"You don't really believe that stuff do you?" Cole asked them causing Faith, Dawn and Paige to jump, forgetting he was there. He even though the question was directed at all three of them he was looking at Paige.
Faith narrowed her eyes. "So what if she does?" she retorted stiffly. "Only matters if you do right?"
Cole's shifted his eyes to the brunette Slayer and held her slightly cold stare, while Paige and Dawn glanced between them both warily. Paige was eternally grateful to Faith for saving her from answering because the truth was that she really did believe them.
"Oh I am so sorry," Phoebe apologized walking back to the table. "There's just so many details, you know?" She looked at Faith and Dawn who had returned to their seats. "Something you two have to look forward to."
"Not till after graduation," Dawn said looking at Faith. "That's if you don't mind."
"I think this summer is the perfect time," Faith admitted.
"Talking about details, I practically bit Paige's head off today at the church." Phoebe informed Cole. "Because she didn't pick up my dress on time." She smirked slipping her hand into her future husband's.
Paige laughed nervously. "Which is now in the attic."
"Yay!" Phoebe grinned resting her head on Paige's shoulder.
"Excuse me," Cole excused himself politely. "I'll be right back." He smiled at Phoebe pushing out his seat and disappearing from the room.
Faith watched him go with narrowed eyes, missing Buffy, Piper and Leo re-enter the room.
"Faith?" Dawn whispered. "What is it?"
"Not sure," Faith whispered. "But something is tripping my Slayer senses. It could be nothing. Could just be nerves because this is the first wedding I've ever attended."
"So, what did the cards say?" Piper asked as she placed a platter of something delicious looking onto the table and taking Cole's seat.
Paige glanced nervously at Dawn and Faith then answered. "Oh, nothing." She shrugged putting them away.
Piper frowned slightly, glancing between her sister, aunt and soon-to-be-aunt, feeling as though she was missing something.
Buffy set another platter on the table before sitting next to Faith. "What is it?" she asked looking at Faith.
"Nothing," Faith and Dawn answered.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Cole walked into the kitchen, glanced around and flamed out and into the attic. He walked toward the beautiful white dress, smirking wickedly as he waved his hand at it and the dress grew a good four sizes bigger. He raised his eyebrows at the size and lifted the card, waving his hand again and changing it to 'Millie Platt.'
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Piper, Phoebe and Paige now sat in a row, Phoebe in the middle, Piper on Phoebe's right and Paige on her left.
Phoebe's head was rested on Piper's shoulder, Piper resting hers against Phoebe's and the latter had the biggest smile on her face.
"Try the cards again," Buffy suggested. "See what comes up."
Paige looked up startled and shrugged. "Oh...maybe later."
Cole came out of the kitchen listening carefully, then plastered a smile on his face for his bride. "I don't mean to spoil anyone's fun, but uh...I should be going," he informed them all with a smile.
"Going where?" Leo asked confused.
"Hotel," Cole replied as Phoebe wrapped her arms around him. "I'm not supposed to stay in the same house as my bride the night before the wedding, right?"
"That really only has to do with seeing the bride in the dress before the wedding," Dawn said.
"Actually, Dawn," Buffy said, "there is a tradition that says the groom is not supposed to sleep in the same room as his bride. Which means when it's the night before yours and Faith's wedding, you two won't be able…"
"Oh," Dawn said as she glanced at Faith.
"Anyways," Cole concluded, "Phoebe has the number in case of emergency."
"Its really up to you two if you want to follow that tradition though," Piper said looking at her aunt and Faith. "After all Leo and I didn't do that." She looked at Cole and smiled. "Goodnight," she and Buffy said.
"See you later," Leo called as the couple walked to the door.
"So, what are you going to do your last night as a single guy?" Phoebe questioned playfully.
"Hmm." Cole smirked as he lifted his coat and suitcase. "If I told you that, you'd never marry me," he joked and Phoebe gasped, her eyes sparking playfully.
"I feel like I'm standing at the edge of a cliff right now," Phoebe told him suddenly.
Cole looked down at her in interest. "You do?"
"Yeah," Phoebe turned to him, placing her hands on his chest. "And somehow I've never felt safer in my whole life," she shared, gazing into his eyes lovingly.
Cole looked down, unable to stand the love and trust reflect in Phoebe's eyes, the guilt tightening around his heart.
Phoebe dipped her head to meet his eyes. "Are you okay?" she asked concerned, biting back laughter.
"No," Cole replied honestly he picked up his suitcase wordlessly. "Not really." His gaze fell to her lips and he kissed her hard. "You have no idea how difficult you're making this for me," he told her seriously.
Phoebe smiled. "I do but you have to go," she told him firmly. "You'll have me soon enough."
"I hope so," Cole replied as he turned to leave.
Phoebe smiled as she watched him walk out the door.
"I know how that feels."
Phoebe spun to see Dawn standing behind her.
"Every time Leo orbs me back here or orbs Faith home," Dawn said. "It's hard."
"It's is," Phoebe agreed.
Holiday Inn
Cole sat at the small table in his hotel room, carefully mixing potions together to prepare for the next stage of his plan. He froze mid-pour when the phone rang, reaching behind him and snatching it up. "Hello?"
"I had to call," Phoebe's panicked voice filled the line. "It's an emergency."
"Phoebe what is it?"
"I needed to hear your voice." She giggled and Cole smiled in relief.
"I'm glad you called," he assured her continuing with his mixings.
"You are?"
"Yeah. Something's been bothering me," Cole began slowly. "Maybe it's my imagination but uh...Paige was a little, I don't know, weird at dinner, kind of cold," he lied through his teeth once again.
"Really?" came Phoebe surprised reply. "I didn't notice."
"I wouldn't bring it up though but I don't want to do anything to come between you and your sister." He threw something into the bowl and it exploded. "If us getting married is going to hurt the Power of Three in any way—"
"I don't know what to say," Phoebe told him clearly confused. "Except Paige has been nothing but supportive of our marriage."
"Forget about it," Cole dismissed, emptying the contents of the bowl into a little bag. "It's probably nothing."
"Oh-kay."
"So...how do you look in your wedding gown?" he asked planting the seed.
"I don't know yet, I've been too busy to try it on," Phoebe admitted sounding a little sad. "With Faith's proposal and Aunt Dawn's acceptance it kind of turned into an engagement party after you left."
"Just out of curiosity, what did you see, anyways?" Cole asked remembering that just before Faith proposed he saw the signs of Phoebe having a premonition.
"Faith proposing," Phoebe answered. "I was like here is my gift to you, ask her."
"That was sweet of you to do that," Cole admitted. "Anyways, when you do try on the dress, I want you to picture me taking it off." He smirked. He looked to the door as knocking sounded from the other side. "Got to go babe. Love you." And clicked off, cutting Phoebe off mid—I love you.
Cole closed the bag and waved his hand at the table, clearing it easily. He dropped the bag into his suit pocket and opened the door.
"HEY!" three male voices called loudly on the other side and Cole smiled as Leo, Darryl and Victor pushed through.
"What is a wedding without a bachelor party?" Leo asked, paper bag hand. "Especially when the girls turned Phoebe's into an engagement party for Faith and Dawn. I've got poker chips, corn chips, I have chips."
"I've got the entertainment," Victor held up tapes. "Don't tell Patty, but there from my private collection."
Darryl opened Cole's jacket. "You wouldn't happen to have the key to the mini bar in there, would you?" he smirked and Cole chuckled.
The three men walked further into the room, none seeing the smile on Cole's face fall.
Halliwell Manor
A still fully clothed Paige lay on her front on her bed, tarot cards laid out in front of her. She placed her hands above them and closed her eyes tightly, willing the answer to be different this time.
"What does the future have in store for Phoebe and Cole?" she asked them quietly. She hesitantly turned over the first: Lovers and then the second: Despair and finally the third: Death. All the same cards as before.
Paige snatched up the cards making her way to Dawn's bedroom. She knocked before opening the door. She closed her eyes, just in case. "Sorry, Aunt Dawn, but can you come with me?" ,
Dawn and Faith broke their kiss and looked at Paige. "Why?" Dawn asked and then she saw the cards in her niece's hands. "Same ones?"
"Yeah," Paige said. "I want to show Piper and mom."
Dawn and Faith looked at each other as they got out of bed, quickly throwing on their pajama's. They followed Paige to Piper's door as once again she knocked. She noticed Piper was getting ready for bed. "Come with me."
"Why," Piper asked as she followed Paige, Dawn and Faith out of her room and up the stairs into the attic.
Buffy looked up in surprise when she heard the attic door open and her curtain pulled aside. "This is Phoebe and Cole's tarot reading," she informed Piper and Buffy holding the cards up for them both to see. "They were lovers in their past, despair fills their present...but this..." she held out the Death card as Buffy and Piper frowned. "...is their future."
"Oh please!" Piper cried taking the card. "This looks nothing like Death. Prue met him, I know."
"She did?" Buffy asked. "How long before she died was it?"
"Two months," Piper answered glancing at her mother. "It was during the time we all thought that Phoebe had vanquished Cole."
"Urgh! You're missing the point!" Paige cried frustrated taking the card back. "This is a bad omen."
"Uh, well not necessarily," Piper countered trying to be nonchalant about it.
"Oh come on, Piper," Dawn backed Paige.
Paige plopped down onto the bed beside Buffy. "Look, Cole's a nice guy, fine, whatever, but face the facts. He was the world's greatest demon for what, a century?"
"Yeah," Piper nodded, glancing to Buffy for help. "But we've been through that."
"Yeah, I know but a century's worth of blood and bad karma, you don't just walk away from that," Paige pointed out sternly, not backing down and Piper sighed, looking at Dawn and Faith.
Faith jerked her head towards Paige, "She's got a point, Piper and a good one at that."
Piper glared, huffing. "Are you saying that as a Slayer or a concerned future aunt?"
"As someone who has killed people," Faith reminded Piper. "Not only is that on my conscience. But I am sure if their families knew where I lived right now, or that I was even out of the slammer. They would come looking for me. I bet you if one of you did a tarot reading for me and Dawn you would get nearly identical results."
"But you aren't that person anymore," Dawn whispered softly, the only two people to hear her where her sister and fiancé because of their Slayer hearing.
"I know, Dawn," Faith said as she wrapped her arm around Dawn's waist comfortingly. "But we have to admit the possibility does still exist."
Paige sighed heavily. "God, I don't know, maybe I'm just worried," She shrugged resting her head on Buffy's shoulder and Piper straightened.
"Well, have you considered that...maybe you drew those cards because they represent your feelings and not Phoebe's future?" Buffy reasoned gently. "After all your feelings can cloud the reading. There is after all a human element to tarot card readings."
"That's a possibility," Paige said, somewhat reluctantly as Phoebe's scream echoed throughout the attic.
They burst out from behind the curtain. Dawn and Faith in front followed by Piper and finally Paige and Buffy. Phoebe turned to them, eyes murderous as she glared at Paige who stood there with wide eyes, mouth agape at the sight of her older sister in a wedding dress big enough to fit in another two Phoebe's.
"You!" Phoebe growled, her eyes darkening.
"Oh!" Piper gasped looking her up and down.
"You ruined my wedding!" Phoebe cried shrilly. "And the bridal shop is closed tomorrow!"
"Phoebe Johanna Halliwell! Let's not blow this out of proportion," Buffy admonished as Phoebe struggled to keep the dress up.
"Oh my goddess!" Dawn muttered through her hands.
Phoebe cut her eyes to meet Buffy's, "My wedding dress could double as a circus tent, Mom, I think things are already out of proportion!" she snapped shaking with anger.
"All I did was pick up the dress," Paige defended herself, eyes still as wide as saucers.
"The wrong dress!" Phoebe cried obviously.
"No." Paige shook her head. "I checked the tag."
"Oh really?" Phoebe questioned with raised eyebrows. "Let me just look at that." She grappled for the tag bringing it up to her face. "Millie Platt," she read tersely then went back to glaring at her younger sister. "Do I look like Millie Platt to you! Do I?" she exclaimed throwing the tag at Paige roughly.
"Okay, okay." Buffy held up her hands standing in between the two sisters, for Paige's safety. "Let's just all calm down alright?"
"Calm down!" Phoebe fumed incredulous.
"Yes," Buffy nodded calmly. "Calm down because we can fix this okay? We'll even use magic if we have to, right, Piper? Dawn?"
Piper and Dawn nodded. "Right," the said.
"There is still time Phoebe, just relax and breathe," Piper added.
Paige bent down and snatched up the tag, staring at the name. "That's impossible."
"Okay, you know, if you would have picked up the dress when I asked, we'd still have time to fix this," Phoebe snapped and Piper gawked.
"Hey! What did I just say?" Piper asked throwing up her hands. "I said there's still time, so there's still time!"
Paige nodded. "Yeah, don't worry I can sew," she said hopeful. "I will take in the seams, all of them, tonight," she assured her sister feeling absolutely horrible.
It was at that moment a Lazarus demon decided to appear.
"Ah!" Paige yelped in surprise as everyone turned to the demon. The Lazarus threw out his arm and sent Piper flying backwards landing on a table then falling to the floor.
"OH!" Dawn gasped throwing out her own arm and sending him crashing into the far wall.
The Lazarus shook his head to clear it and threw out his arm, sending Dawn in the same direction as Piper, hitting the table before landing next to her niece.
Phoebe gasped, dropping the dress so she was only in her wedding underwear. This distracted the demon as he stared at her in confusion. Phoebe kicked him sharply sending him soaring back, into shelves.
Faith ran to Buffy's weapon's chest. She grabbed a sword from it. "Paige!" she yelled as she held up the sword.
Paige looked to toward Faith, seeing the sword and holding her hand she cried, "SWORD!" sending it into the demon and turning him to dust.
Phoebe bent down and scooped up her dress. "You better take care of this mess."
"There's got to be something about this in the Book of Shadows," Paige thought aloud.
Phoebe shook her head. "Not the demon, my wedding dress!" she exclaimed throwing said garment at Paige before storming out of the attic.
"OW!" Piper hissed after her sister's retreating form, now back on her feet, then turned to Dawn and yanked her up. "NICE TO KNOW YOU CARE, PHOEBE!" she yelled shaking her head. "Unbelievable."
"Ow," Dawn hissed hoping on one foot, one hand on her side, the other squeezing Piper's to keep them both upright.
"Are you okay?" Faith asked her fiancé worriedly, looking Dawn up and down.
"Same question from me," Buffy added worriedly as she too looked up Dawn up and down.
Dawn hesitated before she nodded as she rubbed her side.
"Okay," Buffy said. "Paige is on the dress. Dawn and I are checking the book. Piper and Faith, you two are on demon duty."
Piper sighed as she glanced at her mother. "I knew this would happen."
"Yeah," Buffy sighed remembering Piper's wedding. "Seems to be par for the course with our family when it comes to weddings, doesn't it."
"Yeah," Piper agreed.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Buffy and Dawn were standing behind the Book of Shadows, Dawn flipped lazily through the pages while Paige continued to work of fixing Phoebe's dress, Piper and Faith stood beside Phoebe who was sulking in her fluffy dressing gown.
The all looked up when bright lights filled the room and Leo orbed in with Cole.
"Are you hurt?" Cole asked looking his fiancé up and down.
Phoebe sighed. "Baby, you're not supposed to be here," she whined.
"Leo said it was an urgent call, I was worried," Cole defended gesturing to his future brother-in-law.
"Thanks." Phoebe pushed herself into his arms. "I'm fine."
"Leo, check her over," Piper ordered her husband pointing to Dawn. "She took a pretty hard fall."
Leo held a glowing hand over Dawn. "You're fine."
"While I appreciate the concern, Piper," Dawn admitted. "I could have told you that. I just hit the table at the wrong angle."
Leo approached his wife, encircling her waist with his arm and kissing her head. Piper smiled at him.
"No demon is going to stop me from marrying you tomorrow," Phoebe told Cole determinedly then slowly rounded on Paige. "Now, my sister's another story."
Paige sighed. "I said I was sorry."
"What kind of demon attacked you?" Leo asked looking at Dawn and Buffy.
"This one, 'Lazarus demon?" Dawn answered unsure.
"Lazarus demon?" Cole echoed, "You sure?"
Buffy nodded. "Rare, high-level demons with telekinetic powers," she read aloud. "Yep, that's the one."
No-one noticed the ashes of the demon slowly coming together
"Has it resurrected yet?" Cole asked, looking around the attic.
"Oh shit. I knew I was forgetting something," Buffy said as she realized why she had been reading and rereading the page on the demon. She had a nagging feeling that they had not seen the last of that demon.
"Say what now?" Faith drawled turning to him with raised eyebrows.
"Resurrected?" Piper repeated, tilting her head questioningly.
Paige stood up swiftly seeing it happen right behind Buffy and Dawn. "MOM, AUNT DAWN, BEHIND YOU!" she yelled as the demon threw out both hands, telekinetically throwing the two sisters backwards. "SOFA!" she yelled orbing the sofa behind her mother and aunt just in time for them both to land on it.
"NO!" Cole yelled as the demon raised his arm again, but the demon ignored him sending the chandelier crashing down. Faith shoved Phoebe out of the way and it landed on her head instead.
"Piper, blow him up!" Paige ordered but the demon was gone by the time Piper tried.
"Leo!" Dawn gasped her eyes on an unconscious Faith.
"Oh god," Phoebe muttered as Cole wrapped an arm around her.
Leo kneeled down next to Faith and placed a healing hand over her head wound, closing it instantly.
Faith raised her head with a frown and groaned, "Ow!"
"You okay?" Dawn asked Faith as she and Leo lifted her up.
"I think so, yeah," Faith answered shaking herself.
"He's going to be back," Buffy announced. " Lazarus demons get stronger the longer they are out of cemetery ground."
"Cemetery ground?" Paige uttered with a frown.
"It's the only way to keep them from resurrecting," Faith explained. "You bury them. I've come across since becoming a Slayer."
"You have?" Buffy asked looking at her sister Slayer clearly surprised.
"Yeah," Faith answered looking toward Buffy. "It was before you and I met. Before Diana was killed, back in Boston."
Buffy remembered Kakistos and what Faith had said he had done to Faith's watcher and adoptive mother, Diana. "Sorry," she mouthed.
"It's five by five," Faith mouthed back knowing that Buffy was apologizing for reminding her about Diana.
"So that means someone intentionally dug him up..." Phoebe pointed out from Cole's arms, "...to attack us. The night before my wedding."
"The question is, who and why?" Leo stated, bringing Phoebe back on topic.
"I know why," Paige spoke up. "To stop the wedding."
"Paige," Buffy admonished her daughter.
"No, Mom," Paige silenced Buffy then turned to Phoebe. "I did two tarot readings Phoebe. They both said that marrying Cole will only cause death and despair."
"Wh—what?" Phoebe stuttered.
"I'm surprised he didn't tell you," Paige continued. "He saw the first reading."
Cole glanced at Phoebe who looked at him curiously. "Well, if I ran scared every time things looked dark for us we'd never have made it this far."
"That's true," Phoebe agreed looking to the floor tensely. "Is there anything else bothering you, Paige, that I should know about?"
Paige shook her head slightly. "No, not really."
"Okay good," Buffy ended the conversation. "Let's not start fighting right now, that's the last thing we need. Now Faith, Dawn, Piper, Paige and I will be on demon watch tonight so that Phoebe can get some sleep."
"I'm too wired to sleep," Phoebe added sighing heavily.
"Well maybe I can help you relax with one of my aromatherapy treatments," Paige offered with a shrug.
"See, now this is the spirit," Piper boasted with a smile. "Everything will be fine, as long as we stay together and stay calm."
Underworld
"I just did what the Seer told me!" the Lazarus demon defended himself brushing himself down after Cole's little temper tantrum.
"Did she tell you to try and kill my fiancé?" Cole demanded coldly, "Because that's what you almost did if not for Faith."
"The Source before you would have rewarded me for killing one of those witches," the demon replied angrily.
Cole smiled. "The old Source was reckless and now he's dead," he reminded the demon circling him imposingly. "You want to follow him to his grave?" he threatened darkly.
"No."
"Then let's get this straight, you work for me now," Cole informed him decisively. "Do what I tell you, I guarantee you'll never see another cemetery," he bargained and the demon tilted his head in interest. "But..." he looked him dead in the eyes, "...hurt my bride again and I will bury you myself!" he threw a fireball at the demon temporarily turning him to dust. "Stay down until I need you," he ordered then turned on the Seer. "How dare you unearth a Lazarus demon."
"We need a creature that can lure your witch into the cemetery," the Seer reasoned calmly.
"But a Lazarus demon?" Cole scoffed distastefully.
"The witches must believe they are under attack for your plan to work," the Seer reminded him coldly.
"There's no plan with Phoebe dead."
"I'm beginning to wonder if you can handle your new mantle of power," the Seer queried watching him closely.
"Are you questioning my leadership," Cole asked her, going perfectly still.
"No. You inherited the world's evil I'll follow that anywhere," she promised him.
"But...?"
"Cole," she replied simply. "He's still alive inside you and he loves the witch."
Cole turned to her. "I know. I can feel it."
"When he was a demon, his love for her ruined more than one good plan," the Seer reminded him pointedly.
"It's different now," he assured her. "Cole's voice used to scream inside my head now it's just a whisper." He looked over her at. "We can use his feelings to control her."
Halliwell Manor
"So we'll take shifts," Buffy explained as she, Dawn, Faith and Piper led Phoebe into her bedroom. " Dawn's first, then Piper, followed by Paige, then Faith and I will wake you up in the morning. After all Faith and I because of the Slayer don't need as much sleep as the rest of you."
Phoebe sighed heavily, smiling gratefully at her family as Paige came striding into the room. "What's this?" she asked with a smile as Paige held up a jar of cream.
"Face cream," Paige replied handing it over. "Also known as 'Heaven in a Jar'. It's a special blend."
"You made it?" Phoebe asked unscrewing the top and sniffing it.
"Uh-huh. It's got patchouli oil for balance and confidence, and chamomile to relax your nervous system. I'm really sorry about your wedding dress," Paige apologized for the umpteenth time. "I want everything to go so great for you tomorrow."
Phoebe smiled. "It's okay," she forgave Paige, pulling baby sister into a hug, looking at her older sister, mother, aunt and Faith all sitting on her bed and seeing them smile.
Paige smiled at Buffy, Dawn, Piper and Faith before leaving the room to get back to the dress, closing the door behind her.
"She's trying," Piper mused watching Phoebe sit down at her vanity.
"Yeah I know." Phoebe nodded, sniffing the cream again. "Couldn't hurt right?"
"You still feeling tense?" Buffy asked with a sympathetic smile.
Phoebe shook out her hands. "Not really tense just...extremely alert," she explained shifting her eyes to meet Buffy's. "Thank you, by the way," she said quietly.
"For what?" Buffy questioned tilting her head.
"For reminding me that things are never really perfect," Phoebe elaborated. "Knowing that before all of this happened...I think it's the only reason I am not completely melting down right now."
Buffy smiled. "Well, that is what mothers are for. Although..." she trailed off turning to Piper. "I'm surprised that Piper wasn't the one to remind you. I mean you were the one that wanted everything absolutely perfect and ended up with..." she shrugged searching for the right word.
"Chaos," Piper supplied with raised eyebrows. "All thanks to Prue."
"I still can't believe she crashed through the front door on the back of a Harley!" Phoebe cried with a giggle.
"Only Prue could make my wedding day all about her," Piper concluded.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Cole flamed into his and Phoebe's bedroom to find her sound sleep in bed, Paige's cream covering her face. He walked to the bed, sitting on the edge and pulling out the small blue bag he had put the potion in. He held one hand above her face and began to chant.
Outside Paige slipped out of the bathroom quietly, sitting back down in the chair outside Phoebe's room and picked up the dress, freezing when she heard something from inside her sister's room.
Inside Cole continued his chant until the cream on Phoebe's face began to glow blue, before removing his hand.
Outside Paige pressed her ear to Phoebe's door and frowned, moving her hand to the knob and twisting sharply.
Inside Cole turned at the sound of the door opening and quickly morphed into Buffy.
"Mom, what are you doing in here?" Paige whispered.
"Shh," Cole/Buffy quieted her, rising from the bed and walking to the door, "I was checking on Phoebe. You were in the bathroom." Cole/Buffy pushed her out the door and closed it behind them.
"I didn't even hear you," Paige mused to herself.
"Well, that's a problem don't you think?" Cole/Buffy asked. "What if I was a demon?"
"Oh, good point," Paige winced.
"When you're on demon watch in this house, you don't take bathroom breaks," Cole/Buffy told her pointedly.
"Got it," Paige nodded lifting the dress and taking a seat as her sister walked away.
"And whatever you do..." Cole/Buffy turned back around. "Don't fall asleep."
Paige nodded affirmatively then looked down at the dress.
Cole/Buffy waved a hand at Paige who instantly fell asleep.
Cole/Buffy smirked then moved into Piper's room waving her hand at Piper whose face glowed white like Paige's, before moving into Dawn's room and doing the same to her and Faith before going up to the attic and doing the same to Buffy then flaming out.