-1A Half-Breed's Redemption?
By: Dragonstar/ Lunara Dragon

Chapter 13: The Eve of Battle.

Author's Note: Thank you again to Joleca, Atlan, Mad dogg and everyone for the continued comments and support it means a lot to me. Also I am thinking this story is almost done (either with Chapter 14 or Chapter 15) So here is my question. Would you like to see a Sequel to the story?? Also as usual I do not own Charmed or any of the characters they are © to WB, Constance Burge etc. However the original characters in this are my own creation. Now on to the story.

Halliwell Attic

Piper paced around nervously as the other three adults in the room sat on the old couch that once belonged to Grams and mirrored her anxiety with habits of their own. Leo just watched the movement of his wife while taking deep breaths, Lillith fidgeted under the pressure, and Cole being the more hot-headed of the four would occasionally let out remarks about storming in to Magic School or throw low-voltage energy balls around causing harsh glares from Piper in response so that habit didn't last long for the former demon. A silence aside from Cole Turner's comments, loomed in the attic and was disrupted by the grandfather clock's thunderous gong announcing that it was now midnight.

Henry had called as well as Coop hearting in wondering where their wives were. Piper did her best to explain each time that they were at Magic School doing research and talking to an ally so they would most likely be staying at the Manor tonight. Henry agreed to take care of the twins after talking to both Cole and Leo, which seemed to calm him down a bit and ease his worry. Piper smiled at the way Cole had started to fit in to the picture lately. Of course it was not the same with Coop, seeing Cole there made him even more tense and angry. He decided to stay with Patricia in Chris' room but that only lasted a few hours before he got called to duty. Piper as well as the others now just had to convince themselves of their story that everything was alright. Paige had not answered their calls and when Leo used the portal to go to Magic School, the Library had a force field around the door causing it to stay locked and closed no matter the force Leo tried to put in to getting in.

"What the hell is taking them so long. Are you sure Asmodai can be trusted?" Cole questioned again, temper flaring brighter then the dim lights of the attic. Lillith looked up at him and nodded her head with agitation filling her facial features. She refused to speak much about what was most likely taking so long and Piper deflected the idea of making Lillith explain why she did not want to orb in on them.

A few more minutes seemed to drag on before bright blue-white lights announced the arrival the other adults had been waiting for. Paige Matthews and Phoebe Halliwell appeared with weary expressions on their faces. Paige held a small sketchbook in her hand and Phoebe forced a smile when Piper turned and ran embracing both of them. Lillith however turned to face the other side of the room as if she was still waiting. Cole pulled on her arm to get her attention as she just pointed and motioned for him to wait. Leo however stood now and walked over looking at his sister-in-laws.

"What the hell took so long. The boys are already in bed along with your daughter. Speaking of boys both of your husbands are worried sick about you!" Piper lectured as she now lovingly placed a hand on both of her sisters' stomachs. Paige laughed a little but Phoebe glared in response as she turned to look at Cole who was watching with amusement on his face. A flash of crimson caught the attention of the sisters as well as Cole returning his attention back to where Lillith had pointed earlier.

"I see you were expecting me." Asmodai appeared with a smirk worn on his face and he still carried a piece of paper with his incantation scribbled on it. He locked eyes with Lillith who now stood and walked towards him. The monk hesitated before pulling her in to a quick hug. "It is good to see you again little one." He said in a softer tone catching the others by surprise. Cole could not explain it to himself, but for some reason seeing this man hugging his Soul Guardian sent an odd feeling in his mind as he felt his temper rising.

"Ok what's going on?" Piper questioned with curiosity. Lillith turned and continued to stay beside Asmodai but pulled out of his embrace and smiled over at Piper. Cole now stood as well while Leo glanced between the groups and shook his head. The attic soon felt very small with everyone standing in the room and he nodded to Phoebe and Paige.

"Piper we are sorry we took so long. Asmodai has come up with a plan and had a few visions that can assist us." Phoebe responded with an apologetic tone. However the smirk she wore on her face matched both Paige's and the demonic monk's.

"We all get out stubborn factor honestly and genetically." Paige added as she looked around and felt the same way Leo did. She then added as an after thought "Maybe we should move this down stairs? You know the whole cramped factor is a bit irritating."

Piper looked around and nodded as the group followed her lead trampling down the stairs by twos towards the living room down stairs. Piper walked with Leo, Phoebe with Cole, Paige with Lillith, and Asmodai behind them all. Cole took side glances at Phoebe all the way down the stairs and caught her doing the same. Lillith watched as she smiled and realized the two were slowly building a new type of relationship and that was what the Soul Guardian felt Cole really needed to finally let go of the past.

Once the group arrived and settled in to seats Cole hesitated when Phoebe sat down in the chair and he finally gave in sitting in the over sized chair next to her. Piper glanced up and then turned and faced Lillith who sat on the arm of the chair Piper was now occupying, giving her a huge grin of her own before hiding it and looking to Paige. Paige finally opened up the sketchbook she had found at Magic School and flipped it open to reveal a picture of a hat of some sort. It appeared on the head of a lovely drawn bust portrait of a woman who wore her hair in many tight buns. It reminded Piper of the illustrations in the mythology books her and Leo had looked through when it hit her. Paige had done a sketch of Hera.

"Is that what the crown looks like?" Leo asked from the other side of Paige on the couch. Paige just nodded her head yes and then looked to Asmodai who continued to stand. He still wore a smirk as he placed the piece of paper he held next to it and the sisters read over his words.

"Told you we are going to help you whether you like it or not." Phoebe commented with a look of sheer joy dancing across her facial features. Cole turned to her in the chair and shook his head no but she directed his gaze back to the paper and drawing.

"We are. Asmodai has foreseen that we will be in the battle with you, Piper, and Lillith." Paige added to her sister's comment and gave Cole a direct look of triumph.

--

Office of Maria Infinitia

Maria sat at her desk flipping through the book and finally coming across the entry she had bookmarked earlier that day. She peered at it as a figure shimmered in to her office. Telane stood with a look of worry as she glanced around the office, but the figure that stood with her was not one Maria expected to see. Prue Halliwell stood there as well as she glanced at the surroundings before locking eyes with Maria.

"What's the meaning of this?" Maria questioned with anger rising.

"My mother wants to kill her she has absorbed a child powerful enough that she can recycle Prue's soul energy. You need to send her back to the Elders NOW! Please?" Telane responded quickly. She pushed Prue towards Maria before shimmering back out of the office to deflect any argument's from either of the women.

"What the hell?" Prue questioned to Maria who looked at Prue while standing and gliding over to her. Prue quickly added "I may not like her but won't her mother know she brought me back here?"

"I can honestly say I do not know dear. But she is right you need to go back now." Maria responded with concern of her own reflected in her eyes as she stared where Telane stood for a few minutes.

"I have to go talk to my sisters!" Prue tried to argue. Maria shook her head as she stared at Prue and held her hand up. Prue felt the searing pain that seemed to be removing the marking on her arm that pronounced her as a Soul Guardian. "Wait! I can be a good guardian even if you never planned to make me one."

Maria's temper rose a bit as she shook her head no and deflected the argument by stating the one thing that always grounded Prue. "Your sisters are fine, Piper is doing a fine job as well as Phoebe and Paige with the help of Cole. They are near ready to go against Lamia and if you stay that will drastically change the destiny of Cole Turner. Besides you need to go back. You don't want to lose Andy again do you?" She responded.

Prue now gave Maria a confused look and shook her head no. "What do you mean?"

"It's simple Prue Halliwell. If you became a Soul Guardian it is many years before you work your way up to having the privilege of walking around the heavens. Even those that are good are not allowed up their because of their jobs. They only deliver the Lost Souls to the Angels of Death. You can have either your afterlife with Andy and watching over your sisters or you can have your sisters and never seeing Andy Trudeau." With that Maria placed her hands on Prue and a small white light erupted around the corporeal body before she disappeared all together.

--

Halliwell Manor

The group consisting of Cole, Piper, Leo, and Lillith stared in awe as they looked at Phoebe and Paige. Asmodai coughed to ease the silence and gain the attention back to himself. Phoebe and Paige had reported that similar to when Paige called for the ring from the warlock who stole Muses, with the help of Asmodai's spell she can call on the crown since he sent the images of what it looks like in to Phoebe's mind.

"That's great!" Lillith finally responded before turning back to Asmodai and smiling. "That means Telane can come back right?" Asmodai shook his head no and now caught the fury of Cole as much as Lillith.

"Why not? I suggest you start explaining a lot of things that still remain unanswered." Cole said in a forced calm tone.

"That's what he's been trying to do." Piper observed out loud as she glanced between Cole and Asmodai. He grinned sincerely down at the oldest sister and she thought in the back of her mind that the smile was not evil so it seemed out of place on the monk's face. A lot of things about his mannerisms seemed off but then he wasn't a demon really was he.

"Thank you Piper. Always the voice of reason I see that in person now." Asmodai began as his deep voice sounded sincere and was he complimenting her Piper thought to herself some more. Asmodai then continued "As I told Phoebe and Paige. They can receive the Crown of Hera by Paige calling it after I use an amplification spell to draw it out no matter where Lamia has hidden it. But they will be needed to also draw the essence out of the Crown for Piper to be able to use it in battle. Telane is staying down there until the battle is completely done because she hopes that with her mother killed her soul can pass on. Cole Turner, your job is crucial you are to protect the children of the Charmed Ones. Which means while I can be there to help I can not guarantee I can deflect all attacks so you must protect Paige and Phoebe since they are pregnant."

"Oh so I get demoted to demonic body guard? Sounds fantastic!" Cole muttered in answer. Lillith now wore an angry expression as she stood up and stared at Asmodai.

"What about Piper? If he has to protect those two whose going to help Piper in the battle? Telane is a wild card we can't count on her to fight beside Piper against her mother for Christ sakes." Lillith yelled as her temper bubbled over and she glared in to the crimson eyes of Asmodai. He looked at her bewildered.

"Never in the whole time I helped in raising you have you lost your temper to me Lillith!" Asmodai responded and Lillith turned to now feel Piper's soft grip on her arm pulling her to return to sitting.

"I can handle it. I promise." Piper answered trying to defend the monk's decision but her voice failed her. She did not feel as sure of her self as she tried to force herself to appear. "Besides if it comes down to it. I want Cole protecting my sisters; they do not need to lose their children before they are born and I am doing this for my sons as well." She added on.

"Fine if that's the way it is then I am fighting beside Piper. Why have you not calculated me in to your plan Asmodai?" Lillith shot back her temper still pouring off of her in waves as her light purple eyes seemed to darken with her anger.

"Because that is your decision to make. Maria says you should not get involved because this battle could tip the scales in the side you choose meaning you will no longer be neutral. But I think that is your choice to make and it seems you have made it." Asmodai answered with his voice sounding almost like that of a father or at least a parent. Piper stared up at the newest person in her life and realized how much Lillith had opened up to her in the few months they have known her, she then thought back on the look she gave Piper when last week she had mentioned making plans after they vanquished Lamia.

"After this is over Asmodai, what will happen?" Cole could not help but ask. He seemed to speak the thought on Piper's mind and a slight chill went up her spine. The monk looked back at Paige and Phoebe.

"Well if you succeed these two will need to decide if they want you to stick around as the role of Guardian. That is all I can say and as for your Soul Guardian she will…" He began and caught a sharp glare and hissed shhing sound from Lillith. Cole now glanced at her. Asmodai ignored the sound and continued "She will be given a new charge. Her job is to just lead you to the path of redemption and give you the second chance. That's all." With that he looked around the room and noted their weary expressions.

"I say we call for the Crown of Hera now. Then you all should get a good night's sleep. Trust me you are going to need it." Asmodai added as the sister's nodded their heads wearily. Lillith now took a side glance at Piper while she stood. Paige held the drawing in front of her as she focused her mental energy, Phoebe stood to the left and Piper stood at Paige's right and they both placed a hand on their younger sister's shoulders. Asmodai reached out as the cool feeling of his hand was placed around Paige's right hand and she forced the chill to stay unexpressed. Lillith and Leo both felt the strange magical energy that flowed through the group of four as Cole continued to glare at Lillith for a reason she could not understand.

"Now what?" Piper questioned finally feeling the night catching up with her.

"Asmodai will chant his spell thing. Then I will call for the Crown of Hera, with the power of three and his added magic we should be able to call it to us no matter how many blocking spells Lamia has sealed it with." Paige answered over her shoulder to her eldest sister and grinned with enthusiasm and sparks filling her light brown eyes.

"Hagios, adutan aisthanomai" Asmodai spoke in a now very low deep voice as his words resonated with power. He was speaking in the old Greek tongue that now sounded more natural in his voice then when he spoke in English. The three sisters felt the power flowing through them as Paige focused on cue and felt the power of her sisters as well as their new ally meshing within her core.

"Crown of Hera come to me!" Paige yelled out as a bright yellow light erupted on the sketch and began to grow in brightness causing Cole and Leo to look at each other with some worry on both of their faces. The sketch grew warm as Piper and Phoebe looked at Paige who stared in awe at the glow. It now turned in to the usual orb lights and finally Paige held a tall cylindrical crown in her hands as triumph and weary mixed in her expression. Phoebe was the first to pull her hand away and Piper looked in awe struck before turning to Asmodai.

"Wait why do we need a good night's sleep?" She questioned to the monk with some confusion in her expression. Phoebe was the one to look at her oldest sister with compassion.

"Tomorrow we go to battle." Phoebe answered before Asmodai could.

"What? Pheebs, you didn't think about mentioning this oh say I don't know before when you first arrived at the house?" Piper shot back. "Fine but you get to tell your husbands first thing in the morning!" With that she turned to Leo who smiled at his wife's ferocity and worry started to well up inside him but she caught on to this.

"Honey let's go upstairs to bed. It will be fine I promise." Piper said trying to comfort her husband. He nodded and turned to Cole.

"I am counting on you ex-demon. Protect my wife and family tomorrow." Leo shot as he stood and walked towards Piper but was stopped by Cole wrapping a firm hand around the shorter man's arm as Cole stepped close to Leo.

"Alright Elder I will protect OUR family just fine. I promised that once and I will promise that again." He responded with the overprotective tone Leo had only heard a few times in their friendship and nodded his head with satisfaction. Cole released his grip and Leo followed Piper up the steps but not before catching the grin of Piper that was directed at Cole.

Phoebe stared at Cole now and walked over to him. "After this is over Cole. I am going to be more then ready to talk. Ok?" She finally reported the thoughts she had been turning over in her head for the last couple of days. Cole smiled at her and hugged her quickly before murmuring good night to her. Paige had already took her cue and carried the Crown with her home as she orbed home. If she was going to fight tomorrow she wanted to curl up next to Henry tonight she decided. Asmodai agreed to follow her home and guard the Crown of Hera while she slept. She glanced at him cautiously but agreed it was a good idea and so the two figures had left not long after Leo had told Cole his thoughts.

"Alright good night you two. Thank you also for being here when we needed you. Both of you." Phoebe whispered through a yawn before walking up stairs to her old room out of habit.

Cole now turned his focus on to the only adult left in the room. His eyes still blazed with anger. "So when did you plan on telling me?" He shot at her. Lillith yawned as well and caught his glare with a look of fake innocence.

"Can't we argue about this tomorrow. I'm tired and I promise I will…" Lillith began but was cut off by her charge.

"No just tell me this. Do you really plan on leaving when this is over?" Cole asked trying to hide some of the pain and anger he felt because of Lillith keeping this from him. He was caught off guard by Lillith walking over and placing a hand on his cheek and shaking her head.

"I honestly don't know. But I promise I won't just disappear from all of your lives. Can you be happy enough with that?" She answered sincerely. Cole shook his head no but dropped the subject.

"Fine you can go to sleep. But only because I need your help with protect Piper tomorrow!" Cole shot back in anger his temper still kept him from allowing his own weariness from filling him. He was used to running on few hours sleep from when he was alive before and never slept in Limbo so it came much easier to him.

"Yeah I am sure that's it." Lillith mumbled in response before rolling her eyes and moving to Piper's couch. She did not want to even waste time orbing back to the hotel room and so plopped down on the couch and curled up. Cole pushed her legs out of the way as he sat down on the couch before allowing her to return her legs across his lap. She kicked him playfully to push at his nerves.

Lillith soon drifted in to sleep as Cole continued to stare down at her and shook his head with frustration still feeling him. "You can't just leave me now." He whispered in to the night and catching himself off guard. He reached over and pushed a few of Lillith's lose strands back off of her face lightly brushing his hand over her cheek.

'Why does it even matter that much to you Turner?' Cole thought to himself before pulling himself off the couch and pulling one of the oversized pillows off of Piper and Leo's chairs and throwing it on the floor he stretched out on the floor closest to the couch and conjured a blanket thick enough to pad the floor he was calling his bed for the night.

--

Lamia's Lair

Lamia stalked in her cavern in anger as she glanced around at her demons and warlocks a like. "Go and gain as many children as you can NOW!" She boomed at them before turning on her daughter.

"You. You never desired to join me at all did you? Telane you betrayed me! Should I turn you in to Scylla again then maybe you will work for me whether you like it or not." Lamia yelled catching Telane off guard. She thought she had convinced Lamia that Prue had escaped of her own accord by over-powering Telane. But apparently she was very, very wrong and the malice that danced in the serpent like eyes of her mother confirmed what Telane feared most.

To be Continued-

End Note: It will be revealed in the next chapter what happened to Telane as well as I think the battle will be in the next chapter as well.

Oh and the Greek words Asmodai spoke translate (according to wikipedia), they mean "Holy, not to be entered, perceive and to be apprehended by the senses"