This chapter begins almost four months after the previous chapter ended . . . . . . .
"I should be going -- it's almost midnight." Phoebe says.
"What, are you going to turn into a pumpkin if you don't get out of here by then?" Eli teases.
"Hey -- don't joke about that, it actually happened to me once, it's not funny." Phoebe says. She gives Eli a hug and has a vision that upsets her.
"What's wrong?" Eli asks. "Phoebe, you've been acting all skittish around me for the past week. What aren't you telling me?" Eli asks. Phoebe sighs.
"It's just that -- Lilith --"
"Phoebe -- stop letting Lilith run your life. If this family is ever going to move beyond the havoc she caused YOU have to let her go." Eli says.
"She's still out there, Eli. I don't know if I'll ever be free of her." Phoebe says.
"I'll find a way to make you free of her -- after our wedding." Eli says, pulling her into a kiss. "You're not sorry we're waiting, are you?"
"No -- but I might drag you upstairs the second we say 'I do'." Phoebe suggests.
"If that's the case, I'll gladly follow." Eli says, grinning. "I'll see you tomorrow." He kisses her one more time -- Phoebe tries to hide the fact that she's having a premonition.
"Yeah -- tomorrow." Phoebe says, and she leaves. Once outside, she leans against the door. "Get out of my head, Lilith. Get the HELL out of my head!" she says to herself.
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"You're kidding me, right?" Piper says, as she and Paige are getting dressed for Phoebe's wedding.
"Just found out last night." Paige says, smiling.
"Hey -- can I come in?" Cole asks as he peeks his head in the door, holding Ben, who is crying, in his arms. "Sorry -- he's being really fussy, I think he wants his mommy." Cole hands Ben over to Paige, and she starts to feed him. The boy calms down immediately. Piper glares at Cole for a moment, then walks over to him and smacks him on the back of the head with the palm of her hand. "Hey! What was that for?" Cole asks.
"Do you have NO self-control?" she asks him. Cole looks over at Paige.
"You told her." he says. "I thought we were going to wait until AFTER the wedding."
"It's just Piper. Honey, I just had to tell someone else, I'm too excited." Paige says.
"Are you two crazy? Ben is barely four months old -- you seriously want TWO of them in diapers at the same time? I can barely handle ONE!" Piper shouts.
"Well -- that's you, Piper." Paige says.
"Besides, it's not our fault that you can't control your own kid." Cole says.
"Oh -- well, let's see how well YOU could control a 7-month old that's discovered she can levitate anything she wants, including herself! She thinks it's a game, you want to try reasoning with her?" Piper says.
"Well, just -- bind her powers then." Cole suggests.
"You sound like Leo. With everything that's gone on in this family over the last year, I want her to be able to have some sort of self-defense capability. And I don't see you two rushing to bind Ben's powers." Piper says defensively.
"Ben needs his powers. Leo even said his healing capabilities are beyond that of any whitelighter he's ever known. AND things don't fly at your head when you're entering HIS room." Cole remarks.
"Okay, can we not argue about who has the better kid? Both Melinda and Ben are wonderful children -- they're just different." Paige says. "And Piper, regarding our news -- Cole and I decided that we want a big family, so we figured we might as well get started on that. Here honey, I think he's done, he was just a little hungry." Paige says, handing the baby back to Cole.
"And this pregnancy is going to be stress-free, right? No crazy demon-women chasing after us. And the odds of us having another empath are slim to none, so that worry won't be there." Cole says.
"Yeah, Cole and I figure that Ben is an empath because he was conceived at the same time that we admitted we were in love. Not that we're still not crazy about each other but -- you only get one moment like that one." Paige says.
"But we still like to remind each other -- don't we baby?" Cole says, and he walks over to Paige and plants a huge kiss on her, which continues for quite awhile as Piper watches, a disgusted look on her face.
"Get a ROOM already!" Piper finally says, and they stop.
"Oh, come on Piper, it doesn't still bother you to see us together, does it?" Paige asks.
"Every time I see you together you're always groping each other. And for heaven's sake, your son is right there with you!" Piper complains.
"Well, at least Ben knows that his parents love each other." Cole tells her.
"Knowing is one thing -- having a front-row seat to WATCH is another. You don't see Leo and I sucking on each other's faces in public every five minutes." Piper says.
"That's because you and Leo both have huge sticks up your butts. Loosen up, Piper. Enjoy life -- Paige and I have been through enough hell to know that's how we want to live." Cole says, putting his arm around Paige and kissing her on the cheek.
"That's right -- we don't want to waste one moment of our time together." Paige says, smiling and kissing him back. "We need to finish getting ready -- Piper, we should go check on Phoebe too, she should have been in here by now."
"Okay -- Ben and I will leave you two ladies to finish making yourselves even more beautiful -- I'll see you --" Cole kisses Paige on the lips, "-- and YOU --" he says as he kisses her belly, "-- at the ceremony." Cole leaves the room.
"Are Leo and I really that boring?" Piper asks.
"Well -- it's not really fair to compare yourselves to me and Cole. Cole has always been very -- intense, I guess is the best word for it. Just because he's not a demon anymore doesn't mean that level of passion he's always had has gone away. And I was pretty wild myself when I was younger, I guess he just brings that out in me -- but in a good way." Paige tells her.
"You know -- I didn't think you two stood a chance together. But after watching you the past year, I can honestly say that you and Cole deserve each other. Because I don't think anyone else would put up with either of you." Piper says in reply.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Paige asks, not sure if she should be offended or not.
"Hey guys." Phoebe says, entering the room, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Her hair is done, her make-up halfway done.
"Why aren't you dressed?" Piper asks. "Last time I checked, YOU were the one getting married."
"Yeah -- about that." Phoebe says.
"Phoebe --- don't you do this again, you know what happened the last time you got cold feet about marriage." Paige says. "Eli is a good man -- don't blow it."
"Is he?" Phoebe asks. "Because I keep having these -- visions. I don't know, you guys. Maybe I'm just going crazy."
"Well -- that's a possibility, too. What's going on? And why are we just hearing about it for the first time now?" Piper asks, as Phoebe sits down. Piper and Paige sit down next to her.
"Lilith." Phoebe says. "I know, I know, she's supposedly too weakened from our attack on her to do anything to us -- Leo even said that the underworld is in chaos because of it. But I keep -- seeing her. And every time I'm anywhere near Eli lately, I keep having these visions of him -- using his powers at our wedding. He said he'd never use his powers again. So why do I keep seeing him -- my visions don't lie. What if he marries me, and then something triggers in him and he --"
"Have you told Eli about this?" Paige asks.
"No, of course not!" Phoebe says. "He'd never marry me if he knew."
"Who is he using his powers against?" Piper asks.
"I don't know -- I can't see that part. Dammit, I just don't know if I can do this." Phoebe says.
"Phoebe, you want my honest opinion?" Paige asks. "I think Lilith, with whatever powers she does have left, is trying to play mind games with you. You can't give in to that. You and Eli love each other -- don't let Lilith win this round. She needs to be out of our lives -- forever. You're having the hardest time letting her go because you're the one who brought her in. It's over -- we won. Move on with your life." Phoebe thinks about it for a moment.
"You're right. I am not going to let her ruin my wedding day. I guess I need to finish getting dressed. I'll be right back." Phoebe says. She goes out into the hall, and bumps into Cole.
"Why the hell aren't you dressed?" Cole asks. "I was just sent up here to see what's taking so long."
"I'll be ready in a minute. Here -- take this." Phoebe says. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out her athame.
"Why?" Cole asks.
"Just do it. Take it and keep it with you -- use it if you need to." Phoebe tells him.
"Phoebe, what is going on?" Cole asks.
"Cole, please -- don't ask me any questions. Just make sure you have that on you at the wedding. And don't tell anyone -- especially not Piper or Paige, and definitely not Eli. Please."
"I don't keep secrets from my wife, Phoebe." Cole tells her.
"It's not a secret -- it's a favor. Please -- Cole, when was the last time I asked you for anything?" Phoebe asks. Cole sighs.
"Fine. Go get ready." Cole tells her, and reluctantly puts the athame in his back pocket.
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Everyone is gathered outside the house, which is set up for a small reception. "Okay -- are we going to cut this cake or what? Where are the bride and groom, they've been gone for like thirty minutes." Paige asks.
"Um -- they're upstairs." Piper says.
"Upstairs? Right now? And you complain about me and Cole?" Paige asks. "They couldn't even wait till tonight?"
"Apparantly not." Piper tells her. Eli and Phoebe finally enter the reception area -- Phoebe's hair and make-up are a bit disheveled, and her dress is wrinkled.
"Sorry -- we had some things to -- discuss." Phoebe says, giggling a bit.
"Yeah, I bet you did." Piper says sarcastically.
"You guys were right -- I was worried over nothing." Phoebe says. "I'm married to Eli, and everything is -- perfect."
"Dad, can we cut the cake now, it looks really good." Nicholas asks.
"Of course -- you ready Mrs. Warren?" Eli asks.
"I am SO ready." Phoebe says, and she and Eli cut their wedding cake and feed it to one another gently.
"Oh, you guys are too nice." Cole teases.
"Well -- now that we've finally gotten THAT done -- I have a huge mess to clean up in the kitchen, and Leo -- someone needs a diaper change and a nap." Piper says, handing Melinda off to Leo.
"Thanks alot." Leo says.
"Aren't you gonna have any cake?" Phoebe asks.
"We will as soon as Melinda is asleep -- the last thing I need is her making the cake fly across the yard. We'll be right back." Piper says, and she and Leo orb into the house with the baby. Cole walks over to Phoebe, holding Ben in his arms.
"So -- what were you all worried about earlier?" he asks.
"Obviously -- nothing. Just my mind playing tricks on me, I guess." Phoebe says. "Everything is perfect."
"Is it now?" Phoebe hears a voice say, and suddenly Lilith appears.
"You -- get away from us, we don't want you here. Get out of our lives." Phoebe says, going to Eli's side. Eli puts his arm around her.
"Get out -- leave us alone." Eli says angrily.
"So -- you really thought this was over, Phoebe? You thought ignoring me was the answer. I already told you -- there are no happy endings for you. You destroyed everything I had, so -- this new little family of yours -- you should say goodbye to them now." Lilith says, and she forms makes her way toward Nicholas, who ran under a table to hide when Lilith arrived.
"NO!!!!" Eli calls out, and filled with rage he forms an energy ball and throws it at Lilith, but misses. "You stay away from my son. You want a fight -- you deal with ME."
"I thought you had renounced your warlock powers -- but perhaps all you need is a little temptation." Lilith says in a taunting voice. She vanishes, and appears next to Phoebe, and grabs her in a chokehold. "So -- ready to fight with me, warlock?"
"Let her go." Eli says angrily. "You are not welcome in this family." During the whole exchange, Cole, who is holding Ben, makes his way over to Paige.
"Take Ben -- orb out of here with him if things get really bad." Cole tells her.
"Cole, what are you going to do?" Paige asks.
"A favor." Cole replies. He slowly maneuvers his way behind Lilith. Eli watches every move Cole makes, as Lilith continues to taunt him.
"I'm waiting for your answer, warlock -- fight me, or she dies." Lilith says, as Cole takes Phoebe's athame and plunges it into her back. Lilith lets out a loud scream, and lets Phoebe go as she collapses to the ground. Eli rushes to Phoebe's side.
"Are you okay?" Eli asks. Phoebe nods her head yes as she tries to catch her breath.
"THAT was the last mistake you'll ever make, Cole." Lilith says, angrier than ever. "I think I'd like my powers back now." Before she has a chance to make her move, Eli blinks himself next to her.
"You won't be taking anyone's powers -- I told you, you are not welcome in this family -- or anywhere else." Eli says. He pulls the athame out of her back, grabs her by the neck, and stabs Lilith forcefully in the heart. Lilith lets out an even louder scream than before, and within seconds her entire body turns to ashes.
"Eli -- you killed her. She's gone." Phoebe says, running to his side.
"Stay away from me." Eli tells Phoebe.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Phoebe asks, putting her hand on his shoulder.
"I said get AWAY!" Eli screams, and he looks up at Phoebe, his eyes turning demon red.
"No -- no, Eli, what's happening to you?" Phoebe asks, crying.
"When a warlock makes a kill he takes on his victim's powers. Lilith was weak but she still had power -- all evil." Cole says.
"What is going on out here -- oh my god." Piper says as she returns to the yard with Leo, seeing Eli.
"Eli killed Lilith, and he took on her powers." Paige tells her.
"Phoebe -- you have to kill me." Eli says.
"No -- no, we can just bind your powers, we'll come up with a potion and --" Phoebe begins.
"There is no binding this. Please -- kill me." Eli says, and he hands her the athame. "Kill me before the evil takes me over completely. I want to die loving you. Nicholas -- come here son." Nicholas slowly makes his way toward his father. "You understand what has to be done, right?" Nicholas nods his head.
"I don't want you to die, daddy." Nicholas says.
"Phoebe will take care of you -- it has to be this way, son. I love you and Phoebe too much for it to be any other way." Nicholas reaches out to hug his father. "No -- I'm sorry son, you have to go. Don't ever forget me. Please -- take him away." Eli says, looking up at everyone.
"Leo, isn't there anything we can do?" Piper asks.
"No -- there's not. Lilith was too powerful." Leo says. "Piper let's take him inside." Leo and Piper put their arms around Nicholas.
"I love you Nicholas." Eli says, clearly fighting for control over the evil that is consuming him at this point.
"I love you too, dad." Nicholas says, and the three of them orb into the house.
"Take Ben inside -- I don't want him to see this." Cole says to Paige, who is in tears.
"Be careful." Paige says to Cole. She gives him a kiss on the cheek and orbs away.
"Phoebe -- please. There's not much time. If you wait any longer I'll be able to overpower you." Eli says.
"I can't -- I can't do this." Phoebe says, crying even harder. "I love you."
"If you love me -- you have to do it." Eli says. "I don't want to live if I'm evil."
"You saved all of us from Lilith. We can save you now. We'll find a way." Phoebe says. "Cole, when you were possessed you found a way to come back, and --"
"This isn't the same, Phoebe." Cole says. "Lilith had more power than the Source could even imagine. Eli is right -- if you can't do it, I will. It's what has to be done." Cole starts to reach for the athame.
"No." Phoebe says. "I'll do it." Phoebe moves closer to Eli, and pulls him into a kiss. "I will always love you." Phoebe tells him.
"Always." Eli whispers, a tear falling down his cheek. Her hand shaking, Phoebe takes the athame and plunges it into Eli's chest. He lets out a loud scream, and vanishes. Phoebe drops the athame and falls to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. Cole goes to her side and takes her in his arms.
"Shhhh. You did what you had to do. He saved our whole family, Phoebe. Eli died a hero -- don't you ever forget that." Cole tells her in a comforting tone of voice.
"But we never even had a life together. We just had a few hours, and now he's gone." Phoebe says.
"And now you have a son to raise." Cole says. "I was going to tell you right when things -- happened. The adoption went through this morning, just like you hoped it would. Nicholas is legally YOUR son." Everyone orbs back into the yard. Nicholas is crying, and he runs to Phoebe as soon as he gets outside.
"Come here, honey." Phoebe says, pulling away from Cole and taking Nicholas into her arms. "Everything's gonna be okay. We still have each other. I will always be here for you Nicholas."
"You promise?" Nicholas asks through his tears, looking up at her.
"I promise." Phoebe says, hugging him even tighter. "I love you so much -- my son."