Chapter 5

Back at the manor, Paige and Piper are still trying to understand everything that Phoebe has told them and deal with their mix emotions about what has happened. Leo has orbed out without the girls realizing since they were too focused on each other.

Phoebe: I have to find Cole – I need him to know how sorry I am for everything that I did and for not seeing what had happened to him. My god, how could I have been so stupid no see what he was going through?

Piper: Phoebe, you're not stupid, none of us saw it, we only

Phoebe: no, Paige saw it and tried to tell us but we wouldn't listen to her, if we had maybe we could have stop the Seer and my baby would still be here.

Paige: Oh Phoebe, I never thought he was possessed, I thought he had turned back to the dark side because he was so lost without his powers but I never imagined that the Source had gotten control of him.

Phoebe: But don't you see I saw he was acting strangely but I didn't do anything about it. I never questioned why I couldn't get a promotion from him, why he was acting so bizarre after we vanquished the Source the first time.

Piper: blaming yourself is not going to change anything, right now.

Phoebe: You're right, because right now I need to get back to Cole, Paige can you give me a lift?

Paige: Are you sure this is the best idea, I mean, I understand that you need to talk to him but with all those powers he picked up in the Wasteland are you really safe?

Phoebe: Paige, why did you send him to find me earlier?

Piper: What, you sent Cole, but why?

Paige: well….. because…..okay, see, I went to see Cole earlier when you guys went to the beach to go after the Sea Hag and I sort of, well, you see…

Piper: Spit it out Paige, what did you do?

Paige: I…. well… I cast a spell for Cole to see what was truly inside her heart and that is when I realized how much she still loved him and what she was really running from, not because she was afraid of him but because she was still in love with him.

Piper: oh my god, now I understand why you ran and didn't want to come back. Oh honey, why didn't you talk to me, to us? We are family and we would have understood.

Phoebe: No Piper, you would not have understood, neither of you has understood anything I have tried to tell you.

Piper: What! Phoebe you can't be serious?

Phoebe: Yes I am Piper. Please understand I am not blaming you, either of you. I know how hurt you both were when I became the Queen of the Underworld. When we vanquished Cole ( Phoebe stops and wipes the tears away from her eyes as she struggles to gain her composure again, she realized that she needs to get things straight with her sisters here and now). After we vanquished Cole……all I could think of was holding on to our baby no matter the cost. When the Seer was destroyed and we came back I wanted to forget everything because I couldn't deal with the pain. You both were doing the same thing, pushing the pain away and we all put the blame on Cole and tried to move on but then he came back. Piper, you are pregnant and are looking forward to your life with Leo and you daughter and Paige you have embraced your witchcraft and me well I though myself into work – none of us have dealt with it, how could I come to either of you for help and support when you both need the same.

Paige: Phoebe, I had no idea you were feeling this way. I thought you were moving forward and getting over the past not pushing the past down inside you.

Phoebe: That's just it Paige, we have all done that and now we need to stop and deal with what happened and I think the first step is finding out what really happened, starting with the promotion I had, there is a reason I got that now and we have to figure it out.

Piper: Well, maybe you got it so we would know the truth, that Cole did not choice to become the Source.

Phoebe: No Piper, I don't think that is it, I mean why now, there has to be more to it, something that we are suppose to ….

Paige: But what? What are you thinking?

Phoebe: I don't know yet but I plan on finding out, with or without your help but I would really like to have you guys with me.

Piper and Paige looked at each other, and then smiled as they turned to Phoebe.

Piper: You have it sis

Paige: I'm in, I mean, I am not sure what we are going to find but I agree with you, things happen for a reason and there are so many things that do not add up here.

Phoebe: How so Paige?

Paige: Well, how did this happen and "they" (looking up) not know, at least something, they had to realize that the Source's powers did not go away. They can sense such great power and yet they did not say a thing, it just doesn't make sense when you look at it now.

Piper: I agree with you Paige, looking back, the day after we vanquished the Source in the attic, things were "normal" in comparison to the reaction after the Seer was vanquished in the Underworld.

Phoebe: Wait, are you guys saying you think that the Elders were aware that the Source was not actually gone and that he knew he was possessing Cole?

Piper: I don't know, Phoebe, but some things just don't make sense and we need to find out the truth for everyone to move on and heal.

Phoebe: Ya and I think the first thing that I need to do is find Cole and tell him about the baby, he deserves to know and he deserves to hear it from me.

Piper: Okay honey, while you are with Cole, I am going to look into the book of shadows and see if I can find out anything about "voids" and "possessions". We will find out what really happened.

Phoebe: Thanks guys (group hug thing). Paige can you orb me to the beach where you found Cole and I were earlier? I hope that he is still there and we can talk.

Paige: Sure sweetie. (She looks down and then at Phoebe with tears rolling down her cheeks) And Phoebe, I'm sorry about the baby.

Phoebe: (her lips quivering) thank you Paige.

Piper heads for the attic while Paige and Phoebe orb to the beach. Leo orbs back in to find the manor living room empty and just as he is about to sense for Piper, he hears the call of the Elders and looks up. "Well that was quick" – he thinks to himself and orbs out.

Deep in the Underworld, in a damp, dark cavern there can be heard the hum of a lullaby and then a loud evil cackling from a hood figure holding a "white, glowing" ball like orb.

TBC

I know this chapter was all the girls but I needed to set the stage for what is going to happen. The sisters have finally been able to talk and see that they each have been dealing with their pain themselves and were not able to seek each other out for support. They also have finally realized that things do not add up and suspect that the Elders may have known more then they were told. And last, the orb in the underworld, well there is a reason we heard a lullaby…..