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

AN: A review would be nice!

AN: About Payton being "too good", it was explained partially a few chapters ago, and then it'll definitely be explained in a chapter 10, which is Phoebe and Cole centric.

Chapter 9: Ranger

Leo looked towards the ceiling as chimes went off, signaling the Elders calling for him. "I'm sorry, but I got to go. Cole, we'll start tomorrow is that ok?" Seeing Cole's nod the elder orbed out.

Leo arrived in a pure white realm that had an ethereal glow. White lighters and Elders alike were hustling around talking in clicks and clacks. Following the other Elders into the council chamber, Leo took his seat and waited patiently. Although it wasn't everyday an Elder session was called, it wasn't anything to be worried about. After a few minutes had passed, every one was gathered and the meeting began.

"Leo, what news do you have about the Source?" Odin's voice rang out.

Leo gulped. He had to think up a story quick. No way would the elders understand that Payton was, in fact, still living. "The sisters, and I vanquished him."

"Vanquished him? But I did not feel the magical fall out." Roland sneered.

Leo shook his head. "You wouldn't. He attacked us but we were able to hurt him. He then ran back to the underworld. The girls and I followed, once we found him, we destroyed him."

"Then what is the power we feel? What can possibly be the coming storm if it's not the Source?" Sandra asked the group.

"Leo" Zola began. "I think it would be wise for you to stay with the girls. For, if this coming power we feel attack them, I fear they will be unable to handle it."

Leo smiled underneath his hood. He would be able to spend more time with his family. Although there was a threat, he had no doubt the sisters would be able to handle it. "If the council deems it wise, I shall." Leo responded.

The meeting continued for another few moments. The coming storm had everyone on edge. They debated about the course of action they should take, as well discussed the updates from magic school; Gideon was preparing for the coming school year. After it was all done, Leo orbed back down the manor.

Cole and Tyler were both moving boxes out of the basement. Christmas decorations, Halloween decorations, old clothes, everything was moved. It was either headed to the corner, the garbage, or the Salvation Army. Once all the junk was moved out, the duo began to sweep and mop the cement floor.

Cole turned when he heard a voice from the stairs. "Tyler, can you go upstairs for a moment? I need to speak to Cole." Phoebe said with Payton in her arms. Tyler nodded, and headed towards the stairs. He gave one last look at Cole before he trudged up.

Cole looked at the mother of his son. She had a smile on her face, but he could see she was thinking about something. He put out his hands to take the baby away from her. "You wanted to talk to me?" Cole said, while situating Payton in his right arm.

Phoebe bit her bottom lip. "Cole why are you doing all this? You never picked up a hammer before, now you're like Bob Vila."

"Well, Phoebe…" He paused to gather his thoughts. "I've done some terrible stuff. I want to make up for everything I've ever done. Whether it's making up for everything I did to you, or your sisters; or even making up for what I did as a demon. I want to fit in around her. I want us to be a happy family again."

Phoebe smiled at the man. "You don't need to win my sisters over, Cole. If they were against you being here, you being with me, they would say something. They're willing to give you another chance, just as they're hoping you give them another chance. We all did terrible things to each other, now is the time to make it up to one another."

"You know Phoebe, I never stopped loving you. Even through the supposed hatred I felt for you while in the Wasteland, it was because you didn't love me back. I only wanted the best for you. I love you so much that I get lost with out you."

Phoebe moved towards Cole. She reached up, grabbed his face, and pulled him into a passionate kiss. Payton's giggles went on deaf ears as his parents were kissing. A few minutes passed by before either of them backed off for air. When they finally did, it was due to the fact Piper called them up for dinner, rather then the necessity to breath. Looking at each other with a smile, Phoebe grabbed Cole's hand and led him upstairs.

The dinner began a quiet affair. Everyone was lost in his or her own thoughts. Cole was feeding Payton, while Piper fed Wyatt. About halfway through, the conversation took a magical turn. "Cole, I know you might not want to answer this, which is fine. But were you in the Wasteland by yourself these past two years?" Paige asked slowly.

"Paige." Phoebe warned.

Cole put his hand on Phoebes arm. "It's ok, I have no problem answering." The ex-demon rubbed his chin, gathering his thoughts. "Yes, I was in the Wasteland. For a little over a year, I was just sitting around, lying down sometimes, watching the demons fall from the sky and having their essences be eaten by the beast. Then I had a visitor."

"A visitor?" Piper asked joining the conversation.

Cole nodded. "One of your bosses Leo."

Leo looked at the ex-demon. "Who?"

"The Angel of the Scale."

"Angel of the Scale? Who's that, Cole?" Phoebe inquired.

"He's the angel of choices. Rarely ever comes down, only when he feels the need." Leo answered his sister-in-law. "Why'd he come to you, Cole?"

Cole gave out a laugh. "He offered me a choice. To either spend eternity in the Wasteland, escape the Wasteland by gaining powers like last time, allow myself to be eaten by the monster and hopefully get reincarnated, or be the messenger in the void."

Seeing the confused faces Leo explained. "As a demon, he couldn't possibly go to heaven. Nor enter limbo and be reincarnated yet, at least not until his soul is ready to. You see, there are three plains of existence before you move on. There is the Ghostly plane. That's the plane all people who die go through before they're either saved or they move on. Then there's limbo world, but you've already been there. The last is the most obscure. It's called the Void; the void between life and death. It's parallel to this existence, and it comes in contact with it at all times. It's the place where lost souls go, or the ones who are damned and cannot move on."

Cole continued on. "There is what they call a messenger, or ranger more like. He wrangles up all the lost souls, and tells them how to either move on, or go back to the living. He saves people from dieing whom aren't supposed to, as well as helping ghosts move along. As an anomaly in the cosmos, my soul threw a monkey wrench into the grand scheme of things. Pitying me, the Angel allowed the last messenger to be reincarnated to make space for me. When I die again, that is what I have to go to; helping all those who need help in the after life."

"So he took me to the Void, and showed me how things work. One of the good things that came about it is that I got to see my past lives. And Phoebe, it turns out we are soul mates. We were together in our life before the last." He smirked, rubbing Phoebe's arm. "But that's neither here nor there. He returned to my home, or ledge rather in the Wasteland, and gave me one month to decide. Next thing I knew, I made my choice to be the messenger. A few weeks later, I was here again." Cole finished.

Paige furrowed her brow. "So when you say lost souls, what does that exactly mean?"

"Well, people in comas, people who die in a freak accident and weren't supposed to die in the first place, or even people who lose the will to live. I would help them regain consciousness, move on, or find a reason for life." Cole explained.

When dinner finished, and all the dishes were cleared away, Phoebe and Cole along with their son, took their customary walk. The walks were integral for Phoebe and Cole's relationship. It opened them both up to their mistakes, which something that never happened in the past.

"So we're soul mates, you say?" Phoebe seductively said with her arm in twined with Cole's.

Cole laughed, while rolling the stroller. "What were you thinking with that Anton guy?"

"I don't know. You were alive back then, why didn't you come and sweep me off my feet, instead of that evil warlock?" Phoebe jokingly scathed.

"I was busy getting my law degree around that time actually." Cole said thinking out loud.

Phoebe looked up at him with a curious expression. "Where'd you get it?"

"Yale." Was Cole's reply. "That was originally why I came to the earthly plain; to learn about humans, and become a prominent member of the community. Belthazor came up with the plan. We used the money my father left me, and went to law school. And yes, even though I was a demon, I legitimately earned my degree."

"You hadn't come to this plain before that?" Phoebe asked taking a seat on a bus stop bench for a breather.

"Nope. My mother wouldn't allow it. She was grooming me to become the demon I was. She feared my human side coming out if I were to live on this plain for a good amount of time. Who would have known, she was actually right."

"Tell me about our past lives."

Cole rubbed his chin in thought. "There's really not much to talk about. The life before mine right now, and before your last one, we met on the civil war battlefield. We only knew each other for a few weeks before I died. You were a nurse, and I was badly injured; Florence Nightingale affect, I guess. You tried to use your magic to save me but it was too late."

"So you knew about magic in all of your lives?" Phoebe asked leaning on Cole.

"Yes. I was a fire starter, conjurer, or a spell caster before I became Belthazor. What I'm going to be next, I don't know." Cole said looking up at the stars.

Phoebe looked up at the stars also. "Will I be reincarnated when I die?"

Cole turned and studied the witch. "Yes. Paige, you, and myself have all done some nasty stuff in our past lives. Although Paige, and yourself have probably earned back your powers in your next life, you haven't earned the right to be in heaven, in their eyes at least."

A solemn look came across Phoebes face. She was a charmed one, vanquisher of evil, but yet she wouldn't be able to rest after she died. She would need to go through the pains of life again. Seeing Cole get up put a smile on her face. If they were truly soul mates, then at least she didn't have to go through her next life alone. She would have him. Walking home, Phoebe enjoyed the silence of the world. It was just Payton, her, and Cole, and she couldn't think of anything better.

The group walked into the manor. Phoebe took Payton out of stroller, and carried his sleeping form upstairs to bed. Hearing voices in the solarium, Cole strolled into the room.

"Where am I going to sleep tonight, Piper?" Tyler said.

Piper looked around. The only open spot was the couch. "The couch I guess."

Cole shook his head. "No, no, I have an extra spot at the penthouse. He can stay there with me until his room is ready."

"Is that alright, Tyler?" Paige asked.

"Sure." Was the boy's reply.

Cole smiled. "Just let me say good bye to Phoebe and we'll be off."

Jolting up to his son's room, he walked in on Phoebe standing over the crib. She had tears in her eyes, and a smile plastered on her face.

"He's so beautiful." Phoebe whispered noticing Cole.

"Just like his mother." He replied, watching her every breath.

The next morning, Cole, Leo, and Tyler began working on the room. It would be rather simple. They were just adding an extra wall, carpeting, and furniture. The three men used this time for bonding. Cole and Leo both got over their differences and became friends again, while Tyler learned more about his two new father figures.

"Hey, Tyler, I meant to ask you, after we give back your powers, would you be interested in going to Magic school?" Leo said taking a break from the work to enjoy a nice glass of Iced tea.

Tyler wiped the sweat off of his brow. "Magic school?" He asked curiously. The boy couldn't wait to get his powers back. While they were gone, he felt incomplete, like he wasn't whole.

"Yeah, one of the other elders created it. It's a place for kids like you to learn their magic in safety." Leo replied, taking another sip of his iced tea. No one could make iced tea like Piper could. It was sweet, but not too sweet, and had a little bit of lemon.

"Yeah, I wouldn't mind that. Wouldn't mind it in the least." Tyler excitedly said.

As the hours flew by, Tyler's room moved along well. The carpet was down, while the walls were painted. The group estimated they'd be done with in a week, which was much shorter then what Leo and Cole had planned. They both thought it would take close to two weeks, maybe even three. But both men had greatly under estimated Tyler's work ethic. The boy worked his butt off for things he wanted.

Deep down in the pits of the Underworld, the cave of Jannah to be exact, an ancient ritual was being performed. It was a ritual so ancient, only two remembered it. The ritual, which intertwined people's powers, had only been done six times before; and one of the people he had performed it on had died a day later. That's why this time, unlike last time, he had waited and watched for over a year to make sure his new recruit was perfect. He made sure the recruit known as Tempus would bow to his will; after all he had too, for he had nothing, he was a nobody now.

"Ribus uero fecit orum bitis danae. Arca nvenio hospiyto fortis mundus." The hooded man chanted, in a deep voice that echoed the broken language off the cave walls.

Five beings watched on as the hooded figure stood above a kneeling demon. As a jet of white light left the man's hand, the kneeling demon closed his eyes in anticipation. The light entered his head, and an aura of power covered the demon.

The man took down his hood; releasing the stream of light, and he bellowed, "Stand up, Tempus." The demon stood up, feeling renewed by the energy coursing through him. Looking at his leader, he bowed his head down.

"You Tempus," A goateed man with black robes began. "Are now the Avatar of Vigor."

Tempus looked down at his hands. Flexing his muscles, he felt a new rush of power flow through him. "This power. Even at my peak, I couldn't dream of having this much power."

The goateed man smiled. "That is the power of the collective. I, as you know, am Alpha, the Avatar of Force."

Alpha then pointed to the five other cloaked beings. The first one took down his hood to show a black man. "You have already met the Avatar of Power. Also known as Omega."

"I am the Avatar of Strength. But you may call me Beta." A woman next to Omega said.

The being next to Beta spoke next. Pulling down his hood, he was a young man with a goatee. "My name is Gamma, the Avatar of Drive."

"Kappa" A blond haired woman said. "I am the Avatar of Might."

"I am Sigma, the Avatar of Potency." A young man said.

"Welcome to the collective, Tempus" Omega spoke.

Tempus smiled. Loving the power he now possessed. "So, what's the plan?"

"I start magic school tomorrow then?" Tyler said between bites of his dinner. The group had finished building his room for the night. They would start up in the morning, and hopefully finish it enough for the boy to sleep in it. It wasn't that Tyler didn't like staying with Cole; he was just giddy to sleep in his new bed and room.

"Yeah," Leo began. "Gideon has a spot for you ready."

"Gideon? That's the Principal guy, isn't he?" The teen asked with furrowed eyebrows. He had remembered that name, but couldn't think of where it was from.

Leo laughed. "Kind of, yeah."

After dinner, everyone gathered in the kitchen. A simmering pot was on the stove, waiting for someone to stir it. As Piper began stirring, it started to smoke. The smoke signified the ingredients had been properly settled, and added at the right time. "Ah, it's done." Piper smiled.

The witch took a vial out of the cabinet, and poured the clear potion into it. Not bothering to cap it, Piper walked the vial over to Tyler. Looking down at him, she handed it over to the soon to be firestarter. Not looking back, the boy preceded to down it in one gulp.

"How do you feel?" Paige asked after a few moments. Nothing changed in the boy; at least nothing she could see.

Tyler looked down at his hands, not really noticing any affects. Scanning the room, the teenager found a white candle sitting in the middle of the table. Squinting, Tyler lit the wick on fire in an instant. The flame bursted on, and lit up the room.

"I can control it!" The firestarter yelled, smiling all the while.

"Well, you're older now." Cole said. "You're powers are matured." He had seen this in lots of magical beings; their powers would act up, until they were properly prepared for the burden.

Tyler looked at the candle and extinguished the flame, only to light it again. Tyler, the firestarter, was back and ready to fight demons. He would protect his new family; the only family he had ever known. If it cost him his life to do it, he'd gladly pay that price. To him, sacrificing his life for theirs was a bargain. He would easily give his eternal soul if it would save them.