Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed, but the WB does.

AN: A review would be nice!

Chapter 4: Return

The Source flamed into his lair, calling upon a great deal more power than what he would normally need due to his wounds. Selia was sitting on his throne, already waiting for him when he appeared. As he was made his way towards her, he grabbed his arm, and dropped to his knees. Worried, the Oracle rushed to his side. "My prince, are you ok?"

A grunt escaped the demons mouth, as he held the wound on his shoulder. "They were more powerful than I had thought." He laughed, closing his eyes in exhaustion.

"Well, they are the Charmed Ones." Selia whispered as the Source passed out on the cold, hard floor.

Piper paced back and forth in the manor's family room. She was angry, not to mention worried. Angry that the Source got away, and worried because he was able to bypass the vanquishing spell. "What are we going to do?" She sighed, taking a seat on the couch. "I mean how could one guy be a match for a whole line of witches?"

"Well, he sure was powerful." Paige stated, placing Wyatt back in his playpen.

Phoebe watched the little boy played with his toys, as a thought entered her mind. "Yes, but not the most powerful in the world."

Piper traced Phoebe's line of vision to her son. "What do you mean, Pheebs?"

"Just saying, perhaps we should focus on our family's future magic. Obviously our ancestors don't have enough power, maybe we need Wyatt's power." Intrigued, Leo asked what she had in mind. "Well, a simple spell should be able to bring his power to us. Then we'll use it to vanquish the Source."

Piper didn't look too enthusiastic. "I don't feel right using his power for ourselves."

"Well, it's not like we're funneling money from his college fund, Piper." Paige countered sarcastically. "And, plus, if we don't, we won't be there to raise him, or protect him." Paige finished, hoping she could sway her older sister.

"Piper, I know how you feel, but this Source is just too strong. We must use it, if we are to survive." Phoebe added.

Piper sighed, dropping her head into her hands. "I guess you're right. How long will it take to write the spell, Pheebs?"

"I'll start it now." The middle sister replied, grabbing some paper and a pen.

Deep in the Underworld, the Oracle Selia caressed the head of the demon that was sleeping in her lap. Once he passed out, she moved to his side and made sure he was all right. Looking down at his features made her smile. She hated how he pranced around in his demon form, when his human form was tall, dark, and handsome. A sigh escaped her lips, as she realized she put all her faith in him. If she were caught now, she would surely die.

An hour later found the three sisters ready to say the spell; they just hoped it would work. They didn't know if they'd be able to stand up to the Source if he would attack anytime soon. With a nod to each other, the sisters began chanting.

"When powers of the charmed ones fail, summon the energy of he who hails, be he young or be he old, bring the son into the fold."

A wind began to pick up around the house; a chilling noise accompanied the wind, as well. Walls began to shake, and windows began to shatter. With a final flash of light, a golden haired man stood in front of the girls. He was tall, well built, and had long, wavy golden brown hair.

"Well, this is unexpected." The young man said with a large grin.

"Ah, who are you?" Paige said with an air of wariness around her.

The stranger laughed, running a hand through his hair. "Don't worry, Aunt Paige, I'm not going to hurt you."

Piper gave a start. "Aunt Paige? Wyatt?" She asked, a glimmer of recognition entering her eyes.

The man gave a bow in response, an exact replica of the Source's actions just hours ago. "Of course, mom, who else would it be?"

Piper ran to her son and gave him a hug. Phoebe, and Paige soon followed suit. Leo stood in the background waiting for his son to finish greeting the girls. When he looked up, Leo took a few steps forward. Wyatt met him half way, and shook his hand. After the handshake, they gave each other a hug, and then got down to business. "So, you're Wyatt from the future?" Phoebe asked, smiling brightly.

"Well," Wyatt began, deciding how to best answer the question. "I am that Wyatt." He said pointing to the baby in Piper's arms.

"What does that mean?" A confused Paige asked. If he's that Wyatt, then that meant he was future Wyatt, right?

"I am from his future." He replied, trying to ease his aunt's confusion. "As long as nothing changes his perception, then yes I am Wyatt from the future. But I could be from a different future then what you're leading to right now."

Piper stared at her son, not knowing what to say or do. "So, we meant to summon your power, but we called for you instead?"

Wyatt grinned, laughing at his mother's nervousness. "Yeah, and now I suppose you want my help?"

"Well there is this pesky Source after us." Phoebe laughed, rubbing her head sheepishly. It was, after all, her plan and spell that brought Wyatt here.

A frown came to Wyatt's features suddenly, as if what Phoebe said was in some way wrong. "So you want me to vanquish him, then?" At the girl's nods he continued. "I'm sorry, but I wont…It's not my place to. I will protect you, though, of course. But tell me, what happened last time you fought him?" He asked, trying to get some answers.

"We used the ancestor vanquishing spell, and it didn't work. He was far too powerful." Piper answered, wondering why Wyatt denied helping them. What did he mean by 'it's not my place', she asked herself.

Wyatt nodded at his mother, muttering in thought. "That's what I thought. Are you sure it was his power that protected him from your spell and not something else?" He inquired, cocking an eyebrow as he smirked knowingly. He knew exactly who the Source was, but he couldn't just come out and give them all the answers. If he would do everything for them now, then they wouldn't learn it on their own.

"What else could it be?" Leo asked, confusion written on his face.

"It's not my place to say, but I know someone who deserves to be here." Wyatt said, standing up from his seat. Closing his eyes, he lifted his hands up and began to concentrate. What he was doing it for, the sisters didn't know, but they could tell he was scanning or searching for something. "Ahh, there he is." He whispered a few minutes later.

With a wave of his hand, an outline of a man began to form off to the side in a swirl of wind, akin to a tornado. As the spell started to take effect, the man's features got more and more clear. Phoebe's stomach began to churn as his image was forming. She knew exactly who it was the moment he began to appear. She could feel his presence somehow, as if their bond was still there. "What is he doing here?" Phoebe screamed pointing a deadly finger at the new guy.

The man turned around, and everyone saw whom it was. "What? How did I get here?" A very confused Cole Turner said, scanning the room.

"Piper, blow him up." Phoebe yelled, jumping up from her chair.

Just as Piper was about to do it, Wyatt stood up and used his telekinesis to stop his mother. "No one will be blowing up anyone today."

Phoebe looked aghast at her nephew. "You're defending him?" She snarled, losing herself to her anger and confusion. Why? Why would he do this to her? Why would he bring back the one person that she hated more than anyone in this world?

Cole entered the conversation, still as confused as he was before. "Can some one tell me how I got here in the first place?"

Wyatt smiled at the ex-demon, pointing to himself proudly. "I summoned you here. Raised you from the dead, too." He added, laughing quietly as he remembered something a friend from the future had told him just moments before his mother summoned him to the past.

Cole scowled at the male witch. "Send me back now!" He ordered, not knowing or caring whom he was talking to. He could see a resemblance to Leo in the man, but thought nothing of it.

"No, you don't want to go back to that Hell. You don't want to spend the rest of eternity alone." Wyatt responded, exchanging his smile for a frown.

"It's better than spending any more time on this hell on earth, Phoebe's so graciously made for me." Cole spat, turning his back on the group.

Phoebe sneered, angry fire dancing in her eyes. "What are you talking about, Cole? You did everything yourself. Now, Wyatt, return him to the pit he came from."

Cole turned back around, rage and anger written on his face, as he shouted, "I did everything myself? I'm sorry to tell you, but you ruined my life. And it appears that you want to ruin my after life, as well."

"I ruined your life?" Phoebe laughed, somehow finding this exchange funny. She never thought she would talk to him again, nor did she know what she would had said if she did; although, in her opinion, she knew it would go something like this. "You were never stupid while you were alive Cole, why did you pick up the trait while being dead?" Phoebe said with a smirk.

Cole scowled at his former lover, rolling his eyes. "You have no idea what you're talking about."

Phoebe sneered back. "Doesn't seem like you do either. Now go back to hell."

Cole just shook his head with a sad smile. He would go back where he was, but there was something he needed to say…something he needed to be made clear before he returned. "Phoebe, I was perfectly fine being a demon, until you came into my life. I gave up everything for you. Not that I'm complaining, because I did it of my own accord. But then, I lose my demon hood. I lose my only ability to protect you. A couple of weeks later, I take on the hollow to save and protect you, never knowing that I would become the Source. So, I fight it off, or at least try to. I fight off the mind control the Source's essence was trying to force upon me. Then, I find my only way to get it out of me. And what do you do? You vanquish my only hope, my only chance to be a mortal. A week later what do you do? Well, you vanquish me, of course."

Tears began to form in his eyes. It was hard going over your life, especially when it was pitiful like his was. "So I cling to life in the Demonic wasteland. I fight to try and get back to you. When I do, you crush me. You turned your back on me. Me, someone who you said you loved…who you said you would be with for the rest of your life. Yet you turn your back on me. Add that to the powers I had inside me, it's no wonder I went insane. Slowly, but surely I was losing my mind. I finally cracked. Paige knows it. I did everything to sustain my mind. Then I orchestrated a plan to be normal again. And you vanquish me there, as well. I can't win with you, Phoebe. Never could. I did everything to try and fight my inner demons. But, as it turns out, you weren't even worth the fight."

Turning to Wyatt, he spoke in a tone that clenched everyone's heart in the room; even Phoebe's. "Please, please, send me back to the Void. At least there I can spend my time alone, secluded, in peace."

Wyatt didn't answer; instead he looked pointedly at Phoebe. "I've always loved this man. This is your mess to handle, aunt Phoebe. I won't be sending him back anytime soon." Everyone watched as the young man walked out, his father in tow. After a few awkward moments, Phoebe asked Piper and Paige to leave. Obeying their sister's order, the two-woman left with a last look at Cole.

Phoebe looked at the man she once loved. She had never seen him so down trodden, so hurt. Consoling him was something she wasn't used to you. He was always the strong one. He was the one who consoled, never her. 'I guess that's why I never realized how much pain I put him through. How selfish I was when it came to us,' She thought. "Cole." She began in a soft voice. "I don't..." she was stopped mid sentence.

"Save it. I don't want to hear it." The ex-demon said looking out the window, as he wiped the tears out of his eyes.

She shook her head, intent on saying what was on her mind. "I don't care if you want to hear it, but I will speak. Like I was saying, I don't know exactly what to say. I never realized what I put you through. I never realized that it was, in fact, me who ruined the relationship. I failed to see that you took the hollow in to save me. I failed to see that you tried to fight the Source as much as possible. I failed to see that it was in fact me who ripped away what shred of normalcy we had a chance at. I failed to see a lot of things, that's for sure. For that I am sorry. I cannot express how much pain you made me feel before. How much anger welled up inside of me when I saw your face after so long. In truth, what I told you at the beach I meant; I can never stop loving you, Cole. Even throughout the hell you put me through during your crazy stage, I still had a feeling of love, and regret when I saw you."

Tears were now flowing freely down her face. She…she had no idea what was coming over her or why she was saying what she was, but her heart whispered into her head, and she had no choice but to obey. "To know that you would rather spend eternity by yourself, in hell none the less, than be here on earth where I am is painful. It hurts, Cole, it does! For so long my heart has been blocked, but now…now it's bleeding. It's crying the tears it's been holding in all this time. It shows me how much we truly hurt each other. For hurting you, I'm sorry. From the deepest, darkest part of my heart, I am sorry." She cried, losing herself to the emotion Cole somehow forced out of her.

Cole continued to stare out of the window for a few moments. Turning around he faced his ex wife. "I'm sorry, as well." He said, trying to stop the salty tears that rushed down her rosy cheeks. "I should have fought harder. I shouldn't have let the powers take over me like they did. I guess we were always destined to be a tragedy."

Phoebe gave a slight smile. Even through out the pain, he still could make her smile. "Maybe, maybe not."

"What do you mean by that?" Cole asked, confused.

Phoebe walked over to where he was standing across the room. Like before, she had no idea what she was doing, but somehow knew it was the right thing. "Well, perhaps the third times the charm?" She gasped internally when she realized what she had just said. Am I…am I drugged, or something, she asked herself. Never in her right mind did she think this would be happening, but somehow it was.

Cole looked flabbergasted, as he stared down at the much shorter witch. "Are you serious? After all we've put each other through? Are you okay?"

"What you said before was like a smack in the face. It made me realize that we both made mistakes. We both were to blame. I always thought it was you whom was the one who ruined it. But, in fact, I made most of the mistakes. If we take small steps, it might work this time." She answered, trying to calm the butterflies in her own stomach. Phoebe, what are you doing, she screamed in her mind. Somehow, however, her hurt wouldn't allow her to stop.

A look of uncertainty came upon Cole's handsome features. "I don't know, Phoebe. I mean just before I wanted to go back to hell."

Phoebe touched his face, wiping away the remaining tears from his blue eyes. "And it was I whom wanted to send you there. But, but I've always loved you, Cole. I might not have been able to say it, or even think it, but in the back of my mind I knew I would never love anyone like I loved you. You were my heart, my soul. Seeing you gave me a flood of emotions. Love, hate, anger, desire, regret, sorrow, and every emotion you could think of. And after all the crazy plans you concocted to get me back, it surprises me that I don't hate you and nothing else. Hell, even you agree that we should hate each other, but yet…but yet that doesn't change the fact that my heart is aching seeing you like this. Seeing you so weak, and down is painful, Cole. I don't understand it myself, but this is the right thing to do."

Cole leaned into the touch, missing being close to her. "Phoebe, I don't know. I don't know if we should, or even if I want to."

"I've always wanted to see you one last time." She whispered, biting her lip. Finally, after having been talking to him for a good ten minutes, she remembered what was making her heart cry out to him. It was magic that was making her act this way, not only physical magic, but the magic of love, as well. "I had a vision a few weeks ago of our first date. You know, when we went dancing at the Spanish restaurant? When I told you the penguin story?" She grinned when she saw him nod, remembering it as well. "That brought a smile to my face, I haven't been that happy in a long time. It's because of you that I was happy. I know, this seems like it's moving fast, because well it is. But if we take small steps I really think it could work this time. You've grown as a person. You would have never placed blame on me before today, but you did. That means we're both more mature, perhaps ready for this."

Cole smiled, not realizing how they got here exactly, but glad they did. "I'm still a little hesitant, but…small steps then."

Phoebe and Cole reached in for a hug, when they were interrupted by a voice from the other side of the room. "Ah, how touching. I hope I'm not interrupting something." A cloaked figure mocked.

Cole pulled Phoebe behind him in a protective manner, not realizing she had a better shot of surviving than he did; or, rather, not really caring. "Who are you?" He asked, hoping to by sometime until the others got in here, specifically the one who brought him back to life.

From behind Cole, Phoebe yelled into the other room, "Piper, Paige, come out here now!"

The Source quickly threw a fireball at Phoebe, but an energy ball sent by Wyatt deflected it halfway there. The rest of the family soon followed the male witch into the room, where they saw the Source ready to attack. They surrounded the demon in a circle and prepared themselves for a fight they hoped would end with them winning. Looking around, the Source knew he was out matched, out manned, and out gunned. With a grunt, he flamed out.

"Is everyone ok?" Piper asked looking at Phoebe and Cole. She had originally thought it was Cole that Phoebe called out to vanquish, but was pleasantly surprised the Source was there, rather than it being her former brother-in-law.

"Who was that?" Cole inquired, not knowing what had transpired these last few days.

"Well, we were kind of hoping you could tell us." Paige replied from the side. While they were out of the room, Piper and herself had discussed the idea of Cole being able to identify the Source. Cole looked around the room, confused.

"He's the new Source." Leo explained. "We were wondering if you knew of any powerful demons whom could stand up to the Source vanquishing spell?"

Cole took a seat on the couch, losing himself in thought. He knew that spell well, since, after all, he was the one to create it; sure, Phoebe helped, but it was his mind that designed it. Plus, he, himself, was vanquished by it. "Well, what does he look like?" Looking around all he got was a shrug. "You don't know?"

Phoebe took the seat across form him. "No, we've never seen his face. Turns out not many people have. After all, he just got coronated a few days ago."

Cole pondered for a few seconds, before saying, "Hm, he's definitely a demon that's for sure. I doubt a Warlock would be able to take the throne. I don't know of any demons that could take on that spell and live to tell the tale. Although, I suppose he could be one of the ancients."

"One of the ancients?" Paige asked, never hearing the term before. Was that a race of evil beings like demons and warlocks, or something?

Cole nodded, frowning. "Yes, there are countless of ancient demons. There are some that are in slumber, waiting to be awakened. Some of whom are trapped, hoping to get released. And some of who are incarcerated, wishing they were dead. Their tombs are all over the Underworld. Many of them have never been found. Hell, it could even be a demon from the Source's dungeon."

Piper threw up her hands in frustration. "That's great, the demonologist doesn't even know who we're up against."

The man in question, looked at the person who gave him life again. He looked awfully a lot like Leo it was startling. "Excuse me, but you said you loved me before. Well, who are you?"

Wyatt laughed, running a hand through his hair. Piper had noticed that he did this chronically, a bad habit if you asked her. "I'm Wyatt, that little guy right there." He said pointing towards the young boy in Leo's arms.

Cole looked back and forth between the baby, and the adult. "Time travel?" He questioned, still having no idea on what was going on. Phoebe explained the situation to him. After Cole was completely briefed, he looked back up at Wyatt. "So I guess we are quite close in the future?" At Wyatt's nod he smiled. "I guess I would have to be around for us to be close. Well then, I guess small steps work."

While everyone else was confused, Phoebe smiled broadly. "Guess so."

After a good dinner, Cole and Phoebe went out for a walk. Hoping to catch up, and renew a love they once had. It would take time; they knew that, but they both were prepared for it. They would both give their heart and soul this time, since they both understood this would be the final chance to be with their one true loves. There would be no fourth chances, this was it…an eleventh hour miracle. "You know we're still going to have to talk about the past. Work everything out, right?" Phoebe said before entering the house.

Cole nodded, grimacing slightly. Truth be told, it would be hard going through all their history; it would take a lot out of him. "I know, I just can't go through it tonight. I'm emotionally drained."

Phoebe opened the door, giving him entrance. "I know, I didn't mean tonight. Just sometime, okay?"

"I understand." Cole said stifling a yawn. Having no need to sleep while being dead, Cole couldn't help but laugh at the memory of actually being tired. Since, after all, before he died the demon powers allowed him to stay awake forever.

Seeing he was tired, she asked, "Tired? Do you want me to make the couch for you?"

Cole shook his head. "I'm hoping someone could orb me back to my penthouse. While in the void, I went there a few times and saw it hasn't been touched since I left it. I'll stay there for the night. Small steps, remember?"

Phoebe nodded with a smile. "Small steps. Goodnight." She kissed Cole on the cheek, and walked upstairs.

Cole walked into the living room, and saw that Leo and Wyatt were the only ones still downstairs. The ex-demon coughed to get their attention. "Can one of you orb me to my penthouse, please?"

Wyatt nodded, and walked over. "I will. I'll be back in a little while, dad." Leo grinned and watched as they orbed out. The two arrived at a destroyed, dirty Penthouse. Wyatt laughed at the mess. "Well looks like we're going to have to clean this up, huh?"

Cole sighed. "Unfortunately."

Wyatt laughed again. "Here this might be easier. Let the object of objection become but a dream. As I cause this scene to be unseen"

Cole watched as the whole room became just like new. "Thank you." He said, honestly, liking this kid more and more.

"No problem. Shall I come by in the morning and pick you up?" Wyatt asked before orbing out.

"Yes, please." Cole said to the blue lights of Wyatt. Shaking his head, Cole went into the bedroom and prepared himself for bed. What the heck just happened today? He asked himself before drifting off into the dream world.

Phoebe was sitting down on her bed, brushing her long brown hair. A knock on her door forced the witch to stop. With an invitation, Piper and Paige entered her room. "Hi Pheebs, do you have a minute?" Paige asked.

Phoebe nodded, cocking an eyebrow. "Yeah, what is it?" She knew this was going to come up sooner or later.

Piper and Paige shared a look. "Well it's just, we were wondering..." Piper started out.

"Why are you so willing to give Cole another chance? I mean the last we heard you hated him." Paige finished.

Phoebe's face took a solemn look, as she thought of an answer to their question. "I know it seems bizarre, but he was right about something; he did try to get the Source's powers out of him. He tried for me, and I just ripped his chance to be normal away. Then I vanquish him, a month later he returns and I turn my back on him. I realized I had no right to act the way I did. It's just a matter I was hurt and scared. I was ashamed that, in truth, I killed him; I took away his life. He wanted to be normal, to get the Source out of him, but I took that chance away from him. The least I could do is give him that second chance I should have when he first came back from the wasteland." Piper and Paige both tried to comfort their sister. In a way they understood what she was going through. To realize you betrayed your love must be a real killer. After a couple of heartfelt conversations, the two women left Phoebes room with the intention of giving Cole a chance.

The next morning, Wyatt and Phoebe both orbed together to pick up Cole. Since it was a Friday, Phoebe had to call work and tell them she would be in late so she could see Cole before. Arriving in the place Cole was vanquished stirred up bad memories for Phoebe. The witch walked around, inspecting the place she once called home. "Cole, how is it that this place is still empty?"

Cole poked his head out of the bathroom, shaving cream covering his face. It was obvious he was shaving. "Oh, well I own it. And since no one reported me dead, I guess they thought I was still alive." Cole finished a few minutes later, and came out in his patented dress pants and dress shirt.

"Always the good dresser aren't you, Uncle?" Wyatt said while rolling his eyes.

Cole smiled. "Uncle you say?"

Phoebe just shook her head, and grabbed a hold of Wyatt's arm. They orbed out to the manor, where the rest of the family was already sitting down to breakfast. Wyatt grabbed a seat, and dug in. Cole, on the other hand, remained standing. When he had everyone's attention he started to speak. "Listen, I just want to say how sorry I am for what I put you all through. I know it's no excuse but the powers in me were driving me crazy. I needed a way out, and I used you to try and get it. For that I'm sorry. I know you probably won't forgive me, but with time I hope I can make it up to you."

Silence loomed for a few minutes, before Piper broke it. "Well, we're sorry, too. We shouldn't have treated you the way we did. We know you took on the Hollow to save us, if you hadn't then we'd be dead right now. We just hope you can forgive us with time, as well."

Cole gave a smile before sitting down next to Phoebe. When breakfast was finished, the ex-demon was the first one to get up and clear the dishes. The others watched as he clearly tried to get on their good side. They could see how much he wanted them to forgive him. When everything was cleaned up, the sisters left for work. Leo, Cole, and Wyatt all looked at each other. An awkward silence over took the house, as each guy looked at the other. "What the heck do we do now?" Wyatt asked with a laugh.

Selia watched as the Source paced around his lair. Anger flowed from him like a river: anger at his in-ability to kill the Charmed ones, and his inability to crush the good in the world. The tall demon stopped pacing, suddenly, and looked at the Oracle. His demeanor quickly changed to that of a lighter tone. Taking down his hood and changing into his human form, he smiled at the beautiful woman. Selia cocked an eyebrow up at him. "Why the sudden mood change?"

The demon shrugged. "There's no point in being angry. I am alive, and not vanquished. That means, although I didn't win, I didn't lose either."

"Well then, where shall we go today?" The Oracle said while holding her hand out towards him.