A Half-Breed's Redemption?
By: Dragonstar/ Lunara Dragon

Chapter 5: Identities Revealed, Return of Old Friends.

Author's note: ok I noticed for some reason when I upload my chapters they end up not looking completely right so bear with me on that until I find out what it is. Also I am going to go back and fix some minor typed or grammatical errors I have found over time in the previous chapters. Also for this week (Valentines day Week) I am going to try and get this chapter and chapter 6 typed up. Also it seems appropriate to make the timeline in the next two chapters slightly match up with ours so the dates are going to be in February.
Thank you to the people who have continued to read my story and comment on it that means a lot to me. If you have any suggestions on where you want to see it go do not hesitate to state what you think on that aspect to J

On to the story.

Penthouse near downtown San Francisco

A woman in her early thirties sat at her dining room table as she watched her daughter coloring a picture. The girl was a little over a year old and had her mothers dark hair and facial structure. She had her dads ability to sense great love among people but when she looked up to meet her mom's eyes the blue eyes she had was neither from her mom or her dad.
"Your eyes remind me so much of Prue's, my Ladybug" The young mom whispered. Phoebe Halliwell smiled at her daughters enthusiasm for her picture as she reached over and ruffled the young girl's hair. Patricia in response returned to finishing her picture and then held it up and pointed.
"Daddy, mommy!" She yelled happily. She had drawn a picture of her mom and dad with her sitting between them. Phoebe laughed in joy as she took the picture from her daughter. She stood from her seat and walked to hang the drawing with her family and hearts on the fridge among the other many pictures from her oldest daughter. She then placed a hand on her stomach and let out a sigh.
"I know you miss your daddy, I do to my Ladybug. But it is his busiest time of year." Phoebe reported to her daughter with a weak forced smile as she glanced to the calendar. The date read February 11th and with Valentine's day only being three days away, her husband Coop was working extra hard. A loud noise broke her out of her reverie with her daughter, as she glanced to her cell phone sitting on the table in front of her. She picked it up and saw the screen flash Piper's name.

Phoebe flipped open her phone and hit the talk button "Hello Piper." she said smiling but her smile quickly faded when she heard Piper's tone of voice.
"Hey Pheebs. I'd love to just say I am calling to chat but I think we both know I'd be lying." Piper said from the other end of the phone. Phoebe quickly glanced to her daughter and then stood to walk out of hearing range before replying.
She then whispered in to the phone for only her sister to hear. "Did another demon come after Wyatt and Chris again?"
"Yes. Don't worry there was only two and frankly I am insulted. They were weaker this time. Well the one demon was but the other I had a little trouble with." Piper responded and winced when she mentioned the second one. She hated not telling her sister that she had help from her demonic ex-husband with the second one.

"Alright I will bring Patricia over to stay the night with the boys so we can have a family meeting. Have you called Paige already?" Phoebe questioned to her sister. She then headed towards her daughter's room. Patricia had already heard her mom say something about staying at Piper's so she jumped up with joy and followed her mom. She began picking out what toys to take with her. Phoebe picked out some clothes and threw them in to a bag.
"Yes, of course. She'll be here as soon as Henry gets off work to keep an eye on the twins for the night. I will see you when you get here. Love you!" Piper shot back before hanging up the phone. The middle sister of the Charmed ones glanced at her cell phone and just shook her head. This was not a good timing but then again it never is.

"Great, Patricia isn't even two yet and I am not even three months pregnant yet with our second kid. Already they have to deal with demons!" She thought to herself as she continued packing before heading to the car.

Halliwell Manor

Piper had just left the kitchen when she saw Leo taking Chris and Wyatt up to their rooms to go to bed for the night. She caught a quick kiss from Leo and the boys wrapped their arms around their parents in a group hug before being escorted up the stairs.
Piper then turned to walk in to the back yard where Cole sat staring up at the stars. Lillith stood just behind him at the door as she was waiting for the slightly taller woman to step back out. Piper looked at Cole and then at Lillith and threw her hands up.

"Alright I called her." Piper reported to Lillith who smiled slightly and glanced at Cole. He was relaxing after the battle that had just took place and enjoying being able to feel the wind on his face again and interact with the living. Piper then walked up behind him and tapped his shoulder.
"Don't you think that's your cue buddy." Piper said to him with a grin. He shrugged his shoulders.
"I thought I'd stay and visit see how the whole family's doing." he replied with his own smirk. Piper and Lillith both paled at his answer before he stood and walked around the chair he was just occupying to stand beside Lillith. Piper just shook her head.
"When are we going to be able to tell them really that he's the one helping us? I mean no matter how much time you give it the fact remains that neither of them will respond well." Piper finally asked. Lillith looked at her as she began to pull at a loose strand of hair and looked to her charge. She knew it was worse for him to shift between the planes then when it was earlier on when he just accepted that he was stuck there. She smiled when a thought crossed her mind.
"Soon. But for now Cole I am going to trust you to stand guard but stay hidden." Lillith shot back before turning back to Piper. She then continued "I told you I'd stay tonight for the discussion with your sisters right? I have an idea but I need you to buy me some time. Being a Soul Guardian has some perks of bringing any soul back to life for a short period. Can you do that?"

Piper shook her head "Oh yeah sure." she started while rolling her eyes. Then continued "Listen I don't like him being stuck in Limbo either but if you haven't noticed even if he stays hidden they'll sense him in the house. Especially Paige with her powers advancing and all. There's no way except a cloaking spell maybe. If they find him before you get back how am I going to explain that! 'Oh hey guys by the way our old enemy is back from the dead and oh yeah he's also the old friend who helped me when I almost lost Leo?' that'll go over well."

Piper started on a rampage before Cole stepped in the middle of the two women. He smiled down at Piper "Do you trust me?" He asked. She hesitantly paused and looked up to meet his gaze before nodding yes.
"Beyond all reasoning against you. Yes I do, I think you have changed." Piper answered but her tone still held some hostility. Cole looked at Lillith.
"Listen Piper, he can stand guard outside. It's either we go with my plan, which might I add I am going to be in deep shit for with Maria, or you keep lying to your sisters. I promise it'll be worth it. If we do it my way I can tell them tonight which means I can also allow Cole to stay in this plane." Lillith shot back her own temper rising. Cole could almost feel the temper from the two fill the room as he realized that his hope for redemption was connected to two women who were both the most stubborn women he had ever encountered, aside from Phoebe of course.

"Fine. You OUTSIDE after I cast a simple cloaking spell. You…" Piper started then used her index finger to tap Lillith "Better hurry up. If he gets found out believe me, I won't be enough to keep my sisters from sending him back to Limbo and I assuming it will stick this time!" Lillith nodded at Piper's command then looked to Cole who reached out to Piper. Piper nodded and took his hand before she started inciting the proper spell off the top of her head
"This soul is from the plane of limbo, but here to help so him I owe. Cloak him, his presence unseen, as if here he's never been." A small glow enveloped around the taller man and he then smirked.
"That wording really? I am glad it didn't literally rip me from the house." Cole sarcastically responded before turning towards the door. Piper glared after the retreating figure before picking up an old toy and throwing it at him. He laughed and then headed out to hide and watch for danger. Just as he ducked behind the bushes in the front yard he saw Phoebe parking in the drive way and getting her daughter out of the backseat. He smiled when he saw her with her daughter and felt his heart ache a little at the thought that she could have been his child if he hadn't messed it all up.

Lillith sensed the sister approaching and waved to Piper before orbing out to put her plan in to motion. Not as soon as she orbed out and the lights gone Phoebe and Patricia walked in to the Manor. Phoebe waved as she put the bags down and Patricia ran to Piper with sleepy eyes.
"Aunt Piper!" She yelled with glee as she tackled her Aunt. Piper laughed as she picked up the young girl and motioned for her to go upstairs.
"Hey kiddo. Oh you're getting so big! Alright upstairs, Wyatt and Chris will be happy to see you." She replied before putting her back down. She ran up to find her Uncle Leo who in turn picked her up in to a bear hug and carried her to the room to sleep.
"Hey Pheebs." Piper greeted her sister and did the same as she had just done with her niece, pulling her sister in to a hug. Phoebe looked at Piper and then started to walk towards the kitchen with her older sister.
"So should I put the coffee on, I feel like this will be a long night for us." Phoebe laughed with a humorless tone. Piper shook her head.
"No coffee for you young lady! So no coffee for us either we will make some caffeine free, pregnant lady friendly green tea." Piper laughed and shot back at her sister.

--

Underworld Cavern

In the darkest part of The Underworld, where demons of the lowest levels lived a woman sat on top of a make-shift throne. Her piercing gaze stared out at different types of lower level demons who were gathered around her.
"They failed again mother. We aren't strong enough to take on the Charmed Ones, let alone to gain their children for you." a small, lithe demoness reported to the woman on the throne. Lamia looked down at the figure and laughed.

"My Child, I knew they would fail. Think of it as testing the waters before I plan a bigger attack. We still need to gain more power."

"You know Lamia." Another female demon began. Her voice filled with an acidic tone spoke. "You send in those you call your children to be killed. You've already miscalculated a few extra things. For one the former demon Belthazor is still helping them." Lamia turned her gaze to her daughter. She then spit on the ground beside her as the acidic venom began to eat away at the floor.
"Well yes I did over look that. But we both know there is only one explanation for why he was able to come back from the dead this time. Maria will be the next to feel my vengeance!" She yelled in anger. The demon body that Lamia had possessed caused her to take in a deep breath before turning to another lower level demon. The serpent that was molded with her arm opened its eyes as she inhaled deeply and the serpent arm reached out grasping the demon and bringing in the essence of its life.
"I see you still need to feed on your so called children to be able to live." The daughter of Lamia stated before shimmering out.
"You three!" Lamia let her anger with her daughter flare up in to her conquest against the Charmed Ones. "They will not be expecting an attack again so soon. Wait for late in the night when their little ones are sleeping and attack the Manor again. This time will force their HELP to come out in to the open. Go Zia, Mernos, and Cathol. Take with you my gifts of magic." She then released her serpent as it gifted the three chosen demons with different types of magical artillery.

---

Halliwell Manor

The three sisters now sat sipping their tea as Piper had filled them both in on what Lillith and Cole had both told her. Paige seemed a bit confused by what her oldest sister was saying.
"So where did you get all this information from. Your 'old friend'?" Paige questioned while using her fingers to emphasize old friend with air quotes.
"Did you just do air quotes?" Phoebe asked while laughing. Then she turned to Piper to see her answer. She had looked at the entry in the Book of Shadows and was curious as to where Piper had learned all this from as well. "What does she mean old friend?" Phoebe then questioned to Piper. Piper turned between her two sisters and glanced at the door before trying to answer.
Paige beat her to it "You know her to Pheebs. You know Lil…" but before the youngest could finish Piper cut her younger sister off.
"Paige! Can I see you in the kitchen?" Piper said before pulling her younger sister to stand. Paige turned to look at Phoebe who was confused by what just happened. She stood to follow them but Leo had just entered the room and motioned for her to sit and wait.
"You know they'll tell you as soon as they talk out whatever they are arguing about." Leo spoke. Phoebe nodded and continued to chat with Leo about the kids and how story time went.

"Why can't I tell her about Lillith? You said it was an old friend that used to fight with you guys." Paige shot at Piper with annoyance.
"Yes well the friend was, not Lillith. I promise Lillith will be here soon and introduce herself as well as the old friend to you and Phoebe. Just please be patient!" Piper retorted back.
"Fine. Whatever!" Paige yelled before storming out of the kitchen. Piper followed and Phoebe and Leo both looked up to them with curiosity.

Before Piper realized it Paige looked at Phoebe "Why don't you ask Piper who Lillith is. Unlike her I am not all for lying to you at a time like this." Piper glared at Paige who just smiled at the oldest in response. Phoebe looked back at Piper with astonishment and Leo tried to stifle a smile behind a fake yawn.
"Who the hell is Lillith? Making new magical friends that I don't know?" Phoebe questioned with her own small laugh. Piper shook her head.
"No Pheebs, Lillith is a mutual friend who SUPPOSEDLY is here on behalf of an old friend who used to fight beside you two and Prue." Paige replied for Piper while rolling her eyes. Phoebe had a look of shock cross her face at the mention of Prue. She sat patiently waiting for an explanation for Piper. The three continued to stare at each other for a while, Piper was trying to think of an explanation.

"Just an old friend." Piper defiantly answered. Phoebe stared at her and motioned for her to continue. Piper started to try and come up with a better answer for her sister when she saw the all to familiar reddish-blue orb lights appear behind her sisters. The man that stood with her completely caught Piper by surprise.
"So do you think of me when you dance?" The deep voice questioned and Phoebe and Paige both turned in surprise. Phoebe looked the most surprised as she tried to find her voice. She took in the shorter girl she had never seen before with brown hair and a pale complexion. She presumed it was this Lillith person that had caused the argument between her sisters in the first place, but the man that stood with her was the one that surprised her the most.
There stood her old fling at a tall stature, with black hair and dark eyes. His hair still fell slightly in his face and was a medium length. Drake still looked the same as the last time she had seen him but he was supposed to be dead.
"Drake?" Paige broke the silence with her confused voice. Piper met the expression of Lillith who had a look of complete triumph. This was not who she expected to see the Soul Guardian bring back. Phoebe was the first to stand and rush towards the former demon who gave up everything for a year of humanity and to gain a soul. She enveloped him in a huge hug.
"What are you doing here? How?" Phoebe asked him. Drake smiled as he returned the hug before motioning towards Lillith.
"She asked me to come help. Something about a new threat to your children and redeeming an old friend." Drake answered with a grin. Lillith glared at the demon at the mention of the second part.
"Sit. Now." Lillith simply stated to the two people standing by her. Phoebe looked at her.

"Excuse me? I don't even know you and you tell me to sit, more like command? Who are you?" She shot at Lillith who looked to Piper.
She then responded "Please sit. I have a few things I want to discuss and I don't know how much time we have." Drake laughed and guided Phoebe to a seat before sitting between Phoebe and Piper. Piper waved her hello to Drake who shrugged in response to Piper's questioning gaze.

"As I told Piper a month ago when these demons first started attacking. I am here to help, for now. It's been decided that on top of a new white lighter, someone who can actually fight more and help will be needed to protect your children. Someone who has observed your family growing over the years and has come to care deeply for them." Lillith began.

"That's great. Piper's kept you a secret this long. How does Drake count, no offense Drake, but he hasn't really known us that long and besides. He's dead." Paige questioned.
"None taken, I think." Drake responded before motioning for Lillith to continue.
She let out a deep sigh before sitting beside Paige. Her eyes locked with Paige who also nodded for her to continue and gave her an apologetic look. "Alright as I was saying. With some persuasion on behalf of my charge, its been decided he has a chance to be your new protector. But first I need to ease you in to whom it is." Lillith said with some tension in her voice. She glanced to both Piper and Drake for help and both looked to the other two sisters for their response. Paige's mind was reeling at this new information.
"First Phoebe seeing as you have a degree in psychology will you answer this for me. If a person who committed acts while having a temporary part of insanity be held accountable if proven true by a psychiatrist?" Lillith questioned to her. She locked eyes with Phoebe's darker brown gaze who looked stunned at the question.

"No, but what does this have to do with our protector?" She replied. Lillith smiled and shook her head.
"You'll see, in time. So with that in mind. Paige please tell me this if one is possessed by a power greater then themselves are they responsible for what is done while possessed?" She continued with more ease then before. Paige just shook her head no unable to find her voice. So Lillith continued on with her persuasion. She glanced to the door again wondering what Cole was up to out there.

"Good with both of those in mind. The person up for a chance at redemption, shall we say, is the same person who has helped even after you thought he couldn't help anymore. Right Piper and Drake?"

---

Outside Halliwell Manor

Cole watched the perimeters of the Manor while he pulled his blazer tighter around him to block out the chill. He was curious to know how it was going in there but assumed Lillith would come and get him when it was time for him to confront Paige and Phoebe. A thought flashed through his mind when he remembered Lillith stating something about bringing back an old mutual friend who can help.
"No. She wouldn't think that Prue would be helpful. Would she?" He thought to himself. The image of Prue ran through his mind causing him to involuntarily shudder a little. He respected the eldest sister, but knew she wouldn't be the key to persuading the other two. She would be just as much against it if not more.

He then saw two demons fade in to the yard in front of the door way to the Manor. He quickly shimmered in front of them and grabbed the two shimmering them farther from the manor to battle them else where.
--

Lillith felt the surge of worry coming from her charge as she glanced to Drake who was telling his story. Piper had already told them about how she was stuck in Limbo after being hit by the Thorn demons and that an old friend was there. How he helped guide her to letting go to help save her relationship and life with Leo. Now Drake spoke of this same friend.
"Phoebe we were falling in love right at the time you needed it the most. Remember me saying a little bird told me?" He questioned.
"Yea, but…" She responded with hesitation but was cut off by Drake.
"Well the little bird was the same man who helped Piper when she was stuck in Limbo. He was the one who helped me to become human and there fore be able to move on to the heavens instead of the Demonic wasteland. He also knew that Piper would be dead if he didn't get involved." Drake stated with a small laugh. He felt it was appropriate to leave out the part that Cole was responsible for the Thorn demons in the first place. Piper was even shocked to learn that Cole was the one who helped Drake.

"That would explain why he was quoting Shakespeare." Piper whispered to herself. Paige turned to Piper in astonishment. Lillith stood and motioned to Drake.
"You have to go. I can't keep your soul from getting hurt." Lillith said as a worried expression crossed her tone. Drake nodded before returning to the heavens.
"I promise I will bring him back for a longer chat later. We have bigger problems!" Lillith told all of the sisters and Leo before they caught what she meant. Another demon stood in by the stairs facing the three of them. Two more faded in behind them in the dining room.

"What the hell?" Piper shouted as she stood to freeze them. It worked on the demon by the stairs but the other two slowly began to move out of her spell. She looked to Lillith who nodded and summoned an energy ball. Phoebe stood and levitated out of the way of the fireball directed towards herself.
"Well Piper you were saying you felt slightly insulted earlier. Happy now!" She yelled to her eldest sister. Paige called for the Fireball that had just gone towards Phoebe and shot it at the demon behind her.
"Leo can you make it to the room and make sure they don't get to the kids?" Piper shouted. Leo nodded as Paige grabbed him and yelled out "LEO! Upstairs!" Before Leo could move Paige's power orbed him out of the room and where he needed to be. Lillith smiled even under the circumstances to see how much Paige's powers really had advanced. That would be good for her to protect her two daughters. Her energy ball had only scorched the demon beside her. Piper flicked her hand and his arm exploded.
He yelled out in rage. As he summoned a new form of an attack none of them had ever seen before. It was made of a dark smog but in the smog ball, tiny snakes seemed to coil around each other.
"Don't get hit by that or you'll be wrapped in snakes until they strangle you." Lillith reported to the other three. She looked at Paige and grabbed her hand. "Call for the potion in the kitchen!" Paige nodded and called for the last bottle of potion that Lillith had given Piper. Lillith enveloped the potion in her energy ball before shooting it towards the demon by the stairs. She went up in smoke as the other two replied angrily.
"ZIA!" Mernos and Cathol yelled in unison. Phoebe landed a kick on Cathol in his moment of grievance as the same time Mernos let out another form of his smog ball. Paige called for his wrangling snakes and the ball headed towards her hands. Lillith grabbed her and orbed them both out before returning a few seconds later. She shook her head.
"There's a reason Lamia granted him that power. If you called for it the snakes would have bit you causing the ball to then allow the group to envelope the rest of you. She hoped you'd do that." Lillith stated to the surprised girl. Paige's face began to turn as red as her hair with anger. She then looked at Phoebe who was breathing heavily.
"Take her in to the kitchen and hold them off. We won't give them the satisfaction of her losing her baby." Piper yelled to Paige. Paige grabbed Phoebe and orbed herself and her pregnant sister in to the kitchen. Piper then glanced to Lillith as she tried to again freeze the scene.
"CALL FOR HIM NOW!" Piper yelled angrily at the Soul Guardian. Lillith nodded frantically. It seems Lamia is moving faster then Maria had anticipated and she quickly called out his name.
"COLE TURNER! Shimmer your sorry ass in here now!" Lillith yelled out before sending her own energy ball at Mernos to counter-act his attack. Piper blew up Cathol's head and that bought some time as it slowly began to regrow. She took a quick look to see her sisters' faces both angry at what they had just heard Lillith yell out.

Cole shimmered in and the two could tell he had been facing demons of his own. He took in what he saw and realized they were sent as a distraction for him. Someone wanted to draw him out. He glanced to meet Phoebe's angry stare of disbelief. He then turned to Lillith and Piper.
"Sometime tonight would be preferable!" Piper yelled in anger. She then let her anger take over as she blew up Mernos' other arm and shoulder. In the moment the demon took to glance at his wound Cole fired his own energy ball at the demon. Mernos went up in flames leaving only Cathol.

Phoebe couldn't contain her anger any longer "WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING HERE?" She yelled stepping in to the door way.

"Pheebs he's here to help!" Piper shot back quickly. Lillith looked at Piper who nodded and as Lillith released an energy ball to distract Cathol, Piper flicked her hands to blow him up. With the two attacks combined he was turned into smoke.

"I can explain." Cole replied with an awkward look on his own face. Lillith stepped between the taller man and Phoebe. Paige walked in to the dining room again as she saw another demon shimmer in. He went to aim an attack at Phoebe, Cole turned sensing where Paige was staring at and waved his hand. The floor shifted causing his own demon that followed him to the manor to lose his balance.
"You can kill him now." He said to Paige who stood dumbfounded still by seeing one of their worst nightmares back from the dead again. She took in to consideration that right now he was right.
"Kitchen knife. Demon" she yelled then realized she didn't specify which but was surprised to see it hit the other demon and not Cole. The last demon killed and Lillith closed her eyes.
"I think we're ok for now." She reported. She looked to Phoebe and back to Paige to try and read their responses. This was not really how she envisioned easing them in to who her charge was.
"Nice to see you two again. What no welcome hugs?" He questioned to the two staring at him. Piper walked over to her sisters and smiled.

"At least they aren't trying to kill you. Yet." Piper answered his greeting.

To Be Continued

Tell me what you think. I tried to combine humor and action as well as the other two finding out. My cousin said I should have had Lillith bring Prue back but I don't think she would have helped with the case of Cole for one, for two there are a lot of fan fictions where Prue comes back as a white lighter or spirit I may bring her back later but not now, and three I like Drake and his demeanor as well as his friendship with Cole Turner in The Seven Year Witch.

In the next chapter I will go in to more of how Phoebe responds as well as Paige I wanted to sort of leave a cliff hanger. ;)