Charmed: A Half-Breed's Redemption?

By: Lunara Dragon/Dragonstar

Chapter 2: Coffee and Confusion.

Author's Note:
I do not own Charmed or any of the original characters, however the characters of Lillith and Maria are my own creation.
A special thank you to Joleca and 30obelow for the comments and encouragement. Thanks MAD Dog for your comment as well. Thanks to everyone for the continued adding of this story to your alerts. Sorry it took a while to get Chapter 3 done.

On we go

In the Halliwell Manor

Phoebe and Coop sat with Leo watching their children playing. Leo and Piper had called Phoebe the day before to warn them of the new threat to their family but not much was known about the demons who had attacked. Wyatt and Christopher were playing a game as they tried to get their younger cousin, Patricia, to use her power. She had received the ability to levitate items as much as herself from her mother and the boys found it entertaining.

"So Leo you said that three demons attacked that were thought to be lower level demons according to the Book of Shadows. I understand that possibly evolution in their powers took over seeing as most of the older upper level demons are gone. But how did you manage to beat them anyway?" Phoebe questioned with skepticism. Leo turned to look at Phoebe but kept quiet as he tried to ponder an answer. He smiled at her awkwardly and then pointed to the wreckage still left from the battle.
"The same way Paige did. Piper put her effort in to it and blew up the entire room. Just like Paige won against her own demon by putting everything she had in to her own power." Leo said trying to make his lie believable.

Cole laughed from the other room but went unheard. Lillith had made it clear that for now he was still to stay in Limbo and only for small amounts of time would she return him to the plane of the living when he was needed until Maria instructed her otherwise. He ran his hand through his hair, which seemed to be a habit of his when he was bored or nervous. The former demon was glad to see that Leo managed to convince Phoebe and Coop that his lie was the truth. The two had come over while Piper left with Lillith to go out for lunch. He then got up and walked in to the room to observe the conversation better and to see how much Patricia had grown since the last time Cole had seen her.

When he stepped in to the living room the one and a half year old daughter of Coop and Phoebe was levitating one of Wyatt's toy cars and giggling when her older cousin could not orb his own toy out of her levitation spell. Cole smiled at the younger girl who already had the spunk and attitude of her mother. It hurt him to see that could have been his daughter, but he was glad to see that Phoebe had found love at last and finally got her dream come true of starting a family.

--

At Luna's Café in Downtown San Francisco

Lillith took a sip of her vanilla cappuccino before staring back in to the brown eyes of Piper Halliwell. Piper had ordered just a regular cup of coffee with a flavor shot of hazelnut and a biscotti. Lillith encouraged her to order more because it was her treat and it was going to be a while, but Piper still kept it light. She had a feeling with where this conversation would go, she did not want to spit food at this woman who can shift between planes.

"Alright Piper. As I said my name is Lillith. Why don't we start with you asking me a few questions to get comfortable with me before I explain a bit more about what is happening. Sound good?" Lillith began after finishing her own drink. Piper nodded her agreement as she finished her bite of biscotti. She looked at Lillith and noticed that her eyes were a very light purple color and smiled. For some reason they reminded her of the flower, Lavenders, and it made her feel a bit more calm with this woman.

She asked the first thing she wanted to know "How do you know Cole and why did you bring him back?"

Lillith looked a bit surprised at the question. "What do you mean how do I know him? He's my charge, it is my job to help him find redemption since he can't cross or be reincarnated." Piper just shook her head.

"Yea I gathered that when you first orbed him from the plane of Limbo. But you seem to trust him. Why?" She continued to antagonize Lillith. Piper had put the things together that happened the day before and when Lillith had said for now Cole must stay in Limbo until she was further instructed otherwise, she also realized she was probably some type of guardian. She then continued "I mean I figured it out when you also spoke briefly of orders and so forth. You are similar to a white lighter in ways, only you watch over those who are stuck in the in-between."

Lillith wanted to try and deflect the conversation from her connection to Cole. So she took a deep breath and answered "Shouldn't you be more concerned that your demonic ex brother-in-law is getting a chance to get out of Limbo and back in to your life?"

"Probably. But I'm not. After he helped both Leo and myself a few years ago for some reason I trust him. And the small things he does around the house now to let me know he's still there watching over us shows that he could have intentionally hurt Chris when he was still very young because his power did not develop as quickly as Wyatt's. He could have done something so simple as move an object on to him if he wanted. But he didn't." Piper responded with a grin.

Back at Halliwell Manor

Cole continued to watch the conversation between the people he once knew and those he only knew from observation. Coop sat with Phoebe and Leo on the couch. Paige had arrived not shortly after Leo began explaining things and had brought Henry and her twin daughters with her. His green, on the border of blue, eyes then looked back to the children as he stared down at the twins who were sleeping in a playpen. He walked over and stared down at them with another smile. He hoped it was true that he could help to protect all of the children that were now at the Halliwell Manor.
He sat down on the floor to watch the three older children still playing a new version of the same game. Patricia was now levitating a ball to either Wyatt of Chris who would in turn try to grab it and then orb it back to her. They were smiling and enjoying their game. Sometimes Patricia's aim was still off and she would make the ball go way off target. This time it went towards the playpen and Cole stood reaching out and hoping to stop the ball before it would wake Paige's slumbering daughters. It worked and he was able to catch the ball long enough before kneeling and rolling it back to Patricia. In turn the toddler smiled in Cole's direction and levitated the ball back towards the soul trapped in Limbo.

"Can you see me little one?" he whispered. But the response he got was not what he expected.

At Luna's Café

Lillith nodded in agreement with Piper but still would not answer why she trusted Cole. "Please, Piper, for now just accept that I trust him as much as you seem to. Next question."

"Alright fine! What do you know about this new threat to us?" Piper was getting annoyed with not getting the whole truth out of this woman. But she gave in and moved on with the questioning.

"All Maria has told me is that the Underworld is starting to regain strength. After the Charmed Ones beat the ultimate power the demons left went through a rapid evolution in power. I am not sure who controls them right now with the Grimoire still gone, but they are targeting the next generation of the Charmed lineage. So just a white lighter won't do and Maria bargained. You will be getting a new white lighter with in time but you also need a protector of sorts. Someone who would never want to see your children hurt." Lillith answered with ease as she recalled what Maria had told her. She then continued "The reason Cole, better known to our world as Balthazar, is getting a chance is because he has observed your family for so long and cares deeply for all of you. Furthermore you can look at him as a glitch in the system he is a demon with a soul who can not pass or be reincarnated because he holds on so strongly to the only family he knew."

Piper did not realize how much Cole still did really consider them all family. He had said when she was in Limbo Is that anyway to treat family?, but she didn't realize he really did consider them family still. She sighed in agreement with Lillith's statement.
"I do not need anymore explanation. I trust him and he seems to trust you besides you saved our asses. If worse comes to worse and I need to I can vanquish both of your sorry selves. But I do want to know, what are you?" Piper responded while laughing a little. Lillith found herself actually laughing also and accepted Piper's threat before she felt a twinge in her head. She looked to Piper and sighed. Lillith then stood placing money on the table to pay for their meal and a tip.
"Duty calls." she replied before walking into the restroom and orbing out.

Piper looked to where the other woman had just disappeared and whispered to herself "She managed to escape again without really telling me who or what she is. What the hell?"
Halliwell Manor
Paige watched curiously as her niece whispered something in to the air. But she wasn't talking to Wyatt or Chris. It seemed like the toddler was whispering to her sleeping daughters, Samantha and Cecelia. Paige stood and walked over to the toddler bending down to rustle her light brown hair, when she did this light blue eyes turned and smiled up at her. Chris and Wyatt stood to also hug their Aunt Paige and looked confused.
Patricia then returned her glance to where Cole now stood, still in the plane of Limbo, and whispered again still not able to pronounce her L's right "Pway, baw?"

At the Office of Maria Infintia

Once again Lillith found herself standing in the façade of an office, watching herself in the mirror before Maria entered through a portal in the mirror. After Maria stood there in her full stature, her own dark hair curled up in to a bun this time. She smiled down at the shorter woman.
"Lillith I see you have gained the trust of Cole Turner. But would you like to explain why you also got involved in the battle?" Maria questioned with a flat tone that showed no anger, or any emotion for that matter. The older woman even managed to keep a straight face. Lillith looked at Maria for a few moments. The woman had a light orange complexion with dark eyes and hair. She was similar to the species of the demon race but not quite the same. She wore a dark purple gown that reached to the floor.
Lillith cleared her throat "Yes. You did not warn me and I figured you saw it coming. I am truly sorry I got involved but…

"I do not want to hear excuses Lillith. If the sisters or anyone for that matter finds out what you are, my marking and powers can no longer conceal you from either side." Maria stated with regret.

Lillith looked back down to the ground before looking back up. "Forgive me. But I do not think with this case that I can sit out. You said it plenty of times that there will come a time when you can no longer protect me and you are right. To be able to save Cole I also needed the eldest sister of the Charmed ones to trust me. Besides I could not just stand there and watch someone get hurt."

"The problem with that is my dear you now have chosen a side. We are not supposed to fight for either side just simply guide our charges, and…" Maria started to argue back but was cut off by her own employee. But this was not a thing that happened often and so she just stopped and listened in shock.

Lillith's temper got the better of her as she shot back her response. "Then so be it. I can not take on saving my charge, but not get involved, nor could I stand to see anyone get hurt. If I have chosen a side then so be it. I am not a little girl anymore and over the years I have learned to fight and think for myself. I am grateful that I had a chance to live because of you but I do not want to hide anymore!"

Maria smiled at this "Rules are meant to be broken. Thus you were born in the first place." she stated simply.

To be continued-

Sorry it is not as exciting or have as much humor as the previous chapters. But I wanted to explain a few things better. Soon their new white lighter will come, but probably not in this story. I am actually thinking of doing a series of stories. What do you think? But in the next chapter will be a bit more revealed about the cloaked man in Chapter 2 and I may reveal more about Lillith when she talks to Cole. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated? Also if your interested I have some art of Lillith etc on my Sheezyart account J