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

Chapter 7: Pleading Each Side.

Author's Note: Once again I do not own Charmed or any of the original characters, they are © to the WB, Paramount, the writers of the show etc. I do however own the original characters in this story such as Lillith, Maria, Asmodai etc as much as this story. It is purely fan fiction.

Thanks to everyone for the continued comments and support etc. I really do appreciate all of the feed back. Also there is a specific reason I am not naming who Lamia's real child is, the scenes with her daughter will not mention the daughters name but instead will just mention small details about her for now. I don't want to ruin the surprise of who she is.

On to the story…

Lamia's Underworld Cavern

While the Charmed Ones and their families slept, as well as their new found help an angry demoness was on a rampage feeding on some of her followers that she referred to as her children. The Lamania had failed again and she had lost three of her best demons as well as two decoy ones that she had sent.

"Zia, Mernos, and Cathol have been killed!" Lamia shouted as the angry tone echoed off of the walls. The sound caused some of the weaker Lamanians to wince back in fear. The stronger ones just stared up at her with no emotions and met her gaze. Lamia had taken over the body of a demon that was weak and the body had started to change to fit her actual appearance. It still had the green skin of the former demon that inhabited the body but with Lamia's magic she had completely possessed the body and with her Serpent Arm it now belonged to her.

Her daughter continued to stay in the shadows and watch the one who claimed to be her mother, but she knew her mother died long ago when Hera had killed the rest of her real children. The thing that Lamia had become was now a nightmare in appearance with her fire red hair with green streaks, green skin where it should have been tan, and eyes as black as the night. She had thin white pupils that resembled that of a serpent and appeared to be a human woman except with the skin coloring, the serpent arm, and now her eyes. Lamia was on a rampage about what had occurred earlier that night and this caused a smile to cross the figure who appeared to be a young woman's lips.

"Hmmm." The daughter began as she let a humorless laugh escape her lips. She pushed herself off the wall and stepped in to the light where her mother turned to glare at her. Acid dripped and it seemed as if electric would crackle when the two women's eyes were caught in a glaring match. Lamia's daughter let her hazel eyes finally fall to the floor as she shimmered from where she stood and on to the make-shift throne and steps.

"What do you have to say now?" Lamia questioned to her daughter. She allowed her own midnight serpent eyes to continue to glow with rage at her daughter's insolence.
The younger demoness responded "Just that it seems you keep failing and allowing your rage to mess up your judgement more and more. Each time the sister's and their help have stopped your attempts, Mother." She let the last part of her statement drip with hatred as Lamia continued to glare at her. She then stood and summoned a small fire ball.

"If you doubt me every time I come back, then why are you here?" She questioned to her daughter. Lamia's daughter summoned her own defense as she held up a shield.

"You already know why. Don't you get it? I will help lock you back in your prison every time and as for your little attack we both know this match will be a stand still. The woman who was more of a mentor to me then you ever were, makes sure of that!" Lamia's daughter heatedly shot back. She wasn't strong enough to kill her mother, nor vice versa, but every time Lamia returned her daughter was sent to stop her and each time was given allies strong enough to do so. The daughter finally put down her shield and added one last statement before shimmering out "Cole Turner and the Charmed Ones will be your down fall. I will make sure of that!"

Lamia let out another scream of rage before turning and feeding on another low-level being. She then shouted an order "Find me a warlock, NOW!"

---

Halliwell Manor

Piper rose with the morning sun as she looked down at the sleeping figure of her husband. She released a yawn as she stood and stretched, her whole body ached for the battle and she tried to stretch out some of the knots. She heard Leo start to stir in their bed and smiled softly at him. Leo also stood from the bed and walked over to his wife rubbing her shoulders.

"Today should be interesting." He whispered in to her ear before softly placing a kiss on her head. Piper nodded as she continued to think about how to deal with her sisters and Cole. Leo then let out another sigh as the two headed out of the room and down to make breakfast.

On the way through the hall Piper stopped and slightly opened the door to her son, Chris's room, and found the two children were still sleeping. Phoebe during the night must have called for her husband because the two were laying on the one side of the bed in each other's arms. The two kids with Leo had built a tent to "camp" for the night so Phoebe could sleep on Chris's bed. Leo nodded as he pulled Piper away from the door and towards the stairs.

An hour had passed and Piper had whipped up one of her usual big breakfasts. Paige, Henry, and the twins would be arriving in a half an hour and that was when they agreed to wake Phoebe and the kids up if they were not awake by then.

"Should we call for Cole and Lillith?" Piper questioned to Leo. She was unsure whether they should all try to sit down for a breakfast with the two and try to talk out last night now that everyone had some rest, or wait until after her and her sisters along with the rest of the family had time to talk. Leo seemed to be pondering it before he locked his blue eyes on her and nodded.

"I think so. Now that Coop is here with Phoebe, and Henry will be with Paige. We can also see how all of the kids react to Cole since that actually seems to be the reason he was brought back." Leo answered. Piper shrugged and he added "We can tell Phoebe that Lillith is here to make sure he doesn't do anything. Maybe that will help her?"

Piper just shrugged "I don't know. No matter what Pheebs isn't going to…"

"Isn't going to what?" Pheobe interrupted her sister as she stepped in to the kitchen. The middle sister walked to Piper and hugged her good morning before pouring herself a cup of orange juice. Leo and Piper wouldn't meet her deep brown groggy gaze and this caused her to take a deep breath.

"Are you talking about Cole?" She questioned trying to hold back her emotions. Phoebe had let out most of her hurt and tears last night and only felt some anger left in her. Piper slowly nodded and Phoebe shrugged.
"We weren't sure if you were ready to have them over or not." Piper finally explained.

"It hasn't been two days yet!" Phoebe shot back. She then headed towards the sun room with a following Piper behind her. She sat in a chair that looked out the huge windows and would not meet Piper's eyes this time.

"Yeah, but we figured now that everyone's had some rest we could try to talk and get through some of the issues. I don't know maybe even see how the kids react to him?" Piper tried with an overly sweet tone to her voice. Phoebe shrugged.

"Fine, whatever." was the only answer that Piper received. The oldest let her shoulders sag with frustration before returning to the kitchen. When she returned she found Leo picking at a waffle off the top of the pile and she shot him a look.

"So I guess we should call them after Paige get's here?" Leo questioned with a sly grin. Piper nodded her agreement but still had an unsure look on her face.

---

San Francisco Bay Hyatt Hotel

Cole woke up earlier then Lillith and rose out of bed pacing over to the far side of the room to continue looking out the windows that over looked the Bay. He let his thoughts enfold around him about the previous night. The sunlight hit his face as he enjoyed the early morning rays. he gave in and turned to sit in the chair. Phoebe was right to doubt him still and so was Paige for that matter but he knew he had to try.

"I still may not be their ideal of what good is. But I am on their side and I need to convince them of that." Cole thought to himself. He allowed his green eyes to close in thought and began to plan on what he was going to say.

Lillith pulled herself out of her slumber and forced her body to get up. She wanted to sleep late and ignore the outside world but let out a deep sigh before quietly glancing over to find her charge on the other side of their room. He seemed to be in deep thought so she quietly shifted her weight to her feet and slowly walked to the dresser pulling clothes out to wear and headed for the bathroom to take a shower. She allowed the warm water and steam to wrap around her as she began to think of her own ways to help Cole convince the sisters that they'll need his help. Piper and Leo were her only allies in this conquest and she knew that was going to be something in favor of Cole's fate.

Cole had heard his companion awaking from her slumber but still didn't open his eyes and break his concentration. He was trying to recall something that would break his ex-wife. Then a few moments later and his eyes shot open and a smile crossed his face. Just then he heard the tiny clink as the bathroom door came open and Lillith stepped out ready for the day. He took in her appearance she had settled on a light green top that had sleeves leaving her shoulders bare but still covered her upper arm. She let her hair fall freely today and also wore a pair of loose fitting boot cut jeans.

"Good morning." She said smiling as she walked over to wear he sat and sat in the other chair opposite him. He just responded with a grunt and looked back out the window. Lillith also sat back and admired the blue jeans and black T-shirt that he wore. She let out a deep breath and waited for him to say something.

"So today starts my trial." Cole muttered with some anger in his voice. He thought back to when he had first met Phoebe and the way she had always responded in her flirtatious manner was with law jokes since he was posing as a lawyer. Lillith looked at him confused and shrugged. She felt the hostility in his posture and decided not to ask him to explain. Both felt a twinge in their head and Cole was the one this time to look confused. Lillith laughed a little at the expression that crossed his face.

"Now you know how Leo felt whenever he was summoned. While in the plane of living Piper and the sisters can summon you like they would a white lighter. Except instead of hearing them in your head you feel their emotions that call out to you. It's a little different but works all the same." Lillith explained with a smile.

"Great just what I need." Cole retorted back. He stood and motioned for her to lead the way. Lillith orbed out while Cole shimmered since he knew where they were going now.

---

Halliwell Manor

Breakfast was sitting on the table waiting for the rest of the guests to arrive. Piper was standing in the conservatory waiting for Lillith and Cole. Leo sat with Wyatt and Chris on one side of the table, next to the boys sat Patricia. Across Leo looked in to the concerned eyes of Coop who still had no idea what was going on and all his wife had said was that her ex-husband was coming over for breakfast to discuss the new threat. Next to him sat Phoebe, then Paige and Henry. The twins were placed in their high chairs that Paige had orbed over with them. She glanced around the group and tried to think of something to say.

"So how is it your ex-husband is alive again?" Coop finally whispered to Phoebe. She shrugged and still was not sure of that answer herself. Paige also glanced to Coop now and tried to give both her sister and brother-in-law a reassuring smile but it didn't seem to help ease the tension.

Piper smiled when Cole was the first to shimmer in. He stood out of sight from the inhabitants of the dining room for the time being and looked to her. She seemed happy to see him and that eased his own nervousness. Lillith orbed in shortly after and walked closer to Piper.

"Good morning. I hope you two brought your appetites." Piper greeted the two. She turned to lead them in to the dining room but Cole's firm grip on her wrist stopped her. She glanced up to meet his questioning face and she sighed.

"Is," Cole began before he saw Piper shake her head no. He didn't even have to finish his question. Phoebe was still as angry as she was the night before. He let go of the shorter woman's wrist while he slowly followed Lillith and Piper in to where the rest awaited. He stayed behind the two women and tried to avoid the daggers that both Phoebe and Coop shot at him with their piercing gazes. Cole was a little surprised to see though that Paige waved him a quick greeting and Henry did not seem as tense as his ex-wife's husband was.

Cole and Lillith took a seat on the opposite side of the table and Lillith sat between Wyatt and Cole. The four year old boy glanced at them shyly and looked to Patricia who was giggling. This caught Phoebe and Coop's attention both as they watched who she was grinning at, Cole returned her smile with one of his own.

"Ok what the hell is that about?" Phoebe shot at Cole angrily. He just shrugged but kept the same smug smile on his face.

"I don't know she's your kid!" He shot back across the table. Lillith placed a hand on his shoulder and shook her head.

"You aren't helping your case by losing your temper." She simply stated to him. Cole continued to stare at Phoebe before turning to Piper and moved his hand towards the table.

"This all looks great Piper. I am starved it's been to long since I have had one of your breakfasts." He said with an honest tone. Piper and Paige both stared at him and neither could help but smile at the irony that even a demon like Cole Turner was still in love with Piper's cooking. She nodded her thanks and was the first to start passing everything around the table. Each person took waffles, bacon, and some of Piper's home made fruit sauce to put on top of the waffles.

"Ok can I just get this out in the open. Why are you back in their lives?" Coop questioned as he still glared over to Cole. Cole nodded.
"Sure you have every right to ask that question. Although I never knew a Cupid could be so hostile." Cole retorted back but then continued in a calmer voice "I am being given an honest chance to make up for what I have done wrong. I may not be the ideal choice but then again in many ways I am the perfect choice."

"You're the perfect one to protect us? That's beyond a twisted sense of humor!" Phoebe was the one to answer this time. She tried to stay calm because of the children in the room.

Paige spoke up in Cole's defense this time. Or at least her own attempt at defending someone she hated. "Hey Pheebs, it wasn't his idea to play this joke. It was this Maria person and those damn Elders again."

Cole glared at the younger woman and then rolled his eyes. "Yes and no. There have been plenty of times I wished I could get out of the cosmic void between Life and Death."
"Ok let's start there with the questions." Lillith spoke up. She was nibbling on her waffle with a look of sheer joy on her face which was not the right look to have when everyone was arguing. She couldn't help it she was enjoying the meal.

"Alright well if you are neither a ghost or nightmare. What are you now?" Paige began the interrogation.

"Simply a soul with a corporeal body right now. Well the human half of who I was anyways. Aside from the powers I gained from the Wastelands I am human, not completely demonic or an avatar." He answered with a grin. Cole was glad to see Paige was at least willing to allow her curiosity to over ride her hatred and give him a chance to explain. When he said he was human he heard Pheobe let out a humorless laugh under her breath.

"Why is it so hard to believe that he deserves this second chance, and is the perfect candidate for the job?" Lillith spoke up finally after wiping her face with her napkin.

"Oh I don't know, because he tried to kill us for starters. Not to mention the whole period where he was the Source and then came back and went crazy!" Phoebe responded as she settled her deep brown eyes on the Soul Guardian.

"Yes but may I remind you as much as I dislike Barbas he was right. Cole went crazy because of your cold, ruthless rejection to even allow him a chance to prove that the Source thing wasn't his fault!" Lillith shot back with her own anger dripping in her tone. All three of the sisters looked at her shocked when she mentioned the name of Barbas and Cole had no idea what she was talking about.

----

Lamia's Cavern

Lamia stood and was discussing things with a warlock named Zanatos. The two were bargaining over the price for his Coven's assistance to the Lamanians.

"Why should we help you?" Zanatos coldly questioned to Lamia. Her gaze pierced him as she motioned to her minions that sat below her. She was sure that with his assistance they could gain more strength in the Underworld.

"Simple really. I am not quite sure what your little brain isn't grasping. The Underworld is still in ruin and the Triad was not resurrected as planned. With my children and your coven together we are stronger. None of the upper demons that are left consider us worthy to try and help them. But we can prove them wrong now that I am released from my prison my children are more powerful now than even some of the upper level demons. Not many of them however are strong enough yet and that is where you come in." She pleaded her case to the warlock.

"Alright I will discuss this with the others and I will report back to you our joint decision." He answered before blinking out of the cavern.

---

Halliwell Manor

The interrogation had lasted all through breakfast. Phoebe just listened for the most part and put in her own angry comments when needed. For the most part Paige had asked questions to Cole and he would respond. They had cleared up that the Source had been able to possess him because of the void that was left after they destroyed Belthazor, the Seer's role, and what happened when he returned from the Wastelands for Phoebe. Then a thought flashed through Paige's mind.

"Ok so sense your stuck in this cosmic void thingy, when you were there did you ever try to umm." She paused not sure of how to word the thoughts in her mind. "Attack us or somehow contact us? I mean we've encountered several spirits who could create Plasmo balls and similar things to impact the living."

Cole nodded his head and tried his best to answer "Yes they could. But I couldn't because like I said I am not a ghost or angered spirit. I am just simply locked in Limbo for punishment. Or was, might be again?" He rolled his eyes at his own answer causing Lillith to smile slightly.
Phoebe finally spoke up again as she glared to her ex-lover and stood from her seat. "Oh but you did in fact try to force something to come on to our plane?!" She said with a bitter voice. Coop stood up and tried to calm her but was also curious to the answer.

"I'll be honest with you Phoebe. Yes I did!" The taller man now stood and met her glare with a look of hatred but it wasn't directed at her but at the man who stood behind her. Paige looked to Henry and the others still sitting who nodded their heads.

"Alright then. I think I am just going to take the kids in to the living room now." Piper said as she noticed the heat start to rise in the room and frustrations leaking off of each adult there. It was beginning to affect the children as Patricia looked scared between her parents and Cole. Henry stood to help Piper by taking the twins and motioning for Wyatt to follow. Piper had Chris in her own arm while using her free hand to escort Patricia. "Come on Tricia, dis way." Wyatt whispered over his shoulder to try and comfort his younger cousin.

"Are you happy now?" Cole asked the question that Phoebe or Coop were thinking in his direction. "Can we please try to be more calm?" He added but his own tone denied his feelings that he wanted to be more calm.

Lillith caught Leo's gaze who was wondering what she was doing. She finally stood beside her charge and forced him to return to sitting. "Maybe you should try following your own advice." She said with a normal tone, but it was a stern recommendation as Cole noticed her facial expressions and nodded.

"Yes Phoebe if you want to know I did try. Three times actually! The first was when I first ended up here. Beyond all rational reasoning I still care about you and your family." Cole started to try and explain himself. Paige looked curiously towards him and noticed the old anger still lying in the depths of his green eyes and frustration was worn on his face.

"Which was?" Paige calmly asked so as to deflect her older sisters rampage.

"When those three blondes stole your identities. I was angry that the so called love of Phoebe's life even bought in to it. To hell that he was mortal if it was real love the spell shouldn't have worked! I tried to summon a fireball strong enough to hit them but it did nothing at all. I summoned smoke and that was it." Cole answered bitterly and Coop nodded his agreement. The statement about if it was true love, Jason would have eventually realized it wasn't Phoebe. He noticed his wife had a look of shock on her face. Cole then continued his explanation " The second time was when Gideon was attacking Chris."

That caught Leo's attention as he recalled the memory and a pain filled his heart at the memory of his son from the future who in the end had saved Wyatt's life. Leo shook his head with frustration to try and rid himself of the memory.

"Go ahead tell them about the third time." Lillith was the one who spoke this time as she saw the look on Cole's face. He recalled the last time and this time looked directly at Phoebe as his gaze slightly teared over.

"The last time…" He began his voice taking on a melancholy tone "was when you three were fighting the Ultimate Power, or as you knew them, Billie and whatever the hell her sister's name was. I thought you three would survive the explosion but then as the dust had died down I had been forced from the grounds of the Manor and been pushed in to the backyard by the impact. When Piper was the only one to survive…" he paused. He now had Phoebe and Paige's full attention and all bitterness left the earlier's face as she recalled that time. It was the last big battle the sisters had had until this point in time now. They only dealt with minor demons since then but nothing that one sister couldn't handle.

"When I saw the two of you dead then Leo stopped Piper from killing Billie I put all my power, mind, and soul in to trying to break free from my hell even if only for long enough to become alive again for a few minutes. That was all I needed! What resulted wasn't quite what I expected, the smoke actually did appear on your plane but of course not the fireball. Luckily Cupid here was able to give Piper that damn pink ring!" He finished his words and felt his shoulders crumple at recalling the memory. The biggest hell wasn't the part of not interacting with the ones he cared about, but it was the part of not being able to help them at all. Sure he could force himself to be able to lift small objects for short periods of time but that would never have done them any good. Piper had over heard Cole talk about the last time and stepped back in to where they sat while occasionally glancing back to check on the kids.

"You still kept trying to help them even after everything that occurred?" Coop was the one to question Cole now. He just shot the Cupid a dark glare but nodded his head yes. Paige still seemed unsure of what to make of this new information as she stood and walked over to Cole and placed a hand cautiously on his shoulder.

"I think the questioning is done for now. Don't you?" She said. Cole looked up at her and shrugged. Paige looked at Lillith who nodded her head. "Perhaps Coop and Phoebe should take some time alone to talk about everything. I for one want to go play with the kids." Paige added on before heading towards the living room.

"Sounds like a plan." Piper answered and waited for the others to stand. She looked at Phoebe "He will after all technically be the guardian for the kids as much as us, if not more. Why don't you see how Patricia even reacts to him."

Cole quickly smiled and added before Phoebe could say her no. "Besides from what I've seen if she doesn't like me she'll just levitate something at my head." This in turn caused Phoebe to laugh a little at the picture but her eyes still held rage. Coop put a reassuring arm around his wife as they all headed to the living room. The entire group walked in on Henry giving Chris and Wyatt turns at a piggy back ride, while Patricia watched, and the twins not quite a year old yet were in a playpen.

When Cole walked through the entry way to the living room Patricia took her eyes off of her cousins and Uncle Henry and stared up at the much taller man. She had her mother's courage and did not hesitate to walk around the couch and stand looking up at him. This caused Cole to stop and his whole body went rigid not knowing what to do. She smiled up at him and put her hands up in the air.

"Up." she demanded to him. Cole glanced over to Phoebe and Coop who looked down at their daughter and Phoebe sub-consciously placed a hand on her stomach. She then looked at her husband who stepped forward to scoop up his daughter. Patricia looked at her dad confused and back to Cole. She had Prue's eye color Cole noted, and this made him even more tense.

Henry had stopped the game with the boys and now watched but he only had curiosity more then fear or anger. Wyatt walked over to the adults that stood with his mom and dad. "Mommy, why did Uncle Coop pick Tricia up? She wanted Cole." he questioned to his mom. The kids didn't understand the history that went on between the adults and Wyatt asked the honest question that he wanted to know the answer to. Piper looked to Coop and Phoebe.

Cole spoke up in the Cupid's defense so as not to cause an argument "Because her daddy doesn't know me that well." Wyatt shrugged and then looked up at his Uncle who was now handing Patricia back to his wife. Phoebe took her daughter and put her down. She glanced at Cole and motioned to Patricia.

"Well Piper said let's see how she reacts to you. Why does she seem so comfortable with you?" She questioned trying to keep her own temper from being heard in her voice. Cole shrugged his shoulders but knelt down and smiled at Patricia.
"Hey there. I know what you want." He said with a smile on his face. Patricia looked at him curiously as a smile lit her face and she toddled over to the much taller man. She then stopped a few feet from him and stared at Wyatt's toy box causing the same ball they had played with almost a week ago to levitate towards Cole. Phoebe let out a sharp laugh but then realized her daughter wasn't trying to hit the ex-demon with it.

Piper stared in amazement as Cole motioned the ball to dance circles in the air in front of Patricia. "Someday you'll be able to do that to. Who knows maybe you are like your Aunt Prue and will receive powerful Telekinesis along with your ability to levitate small things." He said to Patricia. She smiled bigger and she tried to levitate the ball out of his circular pattern. She managed to send it out of the pattern but her aim was still a little off and it went towards Lillith who caught it. She tossed the ball up and Cole once again used his index finger causing the ball to go in a circular pattern before softly sending it towards Wyatt and Chris. Wyatt laughed at this.

"Ball!" He yelled and the ball ended up in his hand via a magical blue light. He then rolled it to his younger brother. Cole smiled as the kids and himself began a game of magical catch. He glanced around at the other adults who also began to join in the game aside from Phoebe and Coop who just watched with both some anger and curiosity.

"So far at least, all of the kids seem to like you." Lillith said simply while she tossed the ball to Paige who orbed it to Chris. Cole had a smug smile on his face and nodded. His plan was already set in motion that would win the other two sisters over in the end, or so he hoped.

To be continued.

Author's End Note: I was kind of stuck there at the end so in the next chapter I have to figure out what I want to happen next for Cole to win his case etc. Sorry this Chapter didn't take place on V-day like I originally intended that will be the next chapter, I swear. Any suggestions for what you want to see happen? It would be a big help thanks.