"Alright" Cole said "To start off I just want to state that none of this is my fault, so those glares you're giving me are not really appropriate. Especially since I just saved you, so try to show a little gratitude."
Cole turned as he heard Prue trying to turn a laugh into a cough.
"Fine" Piper said "But you're stalling, so get on with it."
"Alright, so I also want to state, that this is mostly speculation on my part. I mean no one sat down and explained things to me, I just have been figuring it out as I go. But as far as I can tell a new source has risen…"
"What!" Piper screamed interrupting Cole.
"Ya, what do you mean a new source?" Paige asked.
"Well if you hadn't interrupted me I might already be explaining that" Cole snapped.
"Alright guys, why don't we just let him tell the whole story uninterrupted" Prue said.
"I don't see how it involves you" Paige snapped.
"Paige!" Phoebe said sounding surprised.
"What?" Paige snapped back.
"That was uncalled for" Piper said.
"Well, she's is not a charmed one anymore, merely a white lighter, so it hardly involves her" Paige replied.
"Not true" Prue said "It's my job to oversee and guide, and to do so I need to be made aware of all plans, and important information. And I think a new source constitutes important information."
"Alright, this whole family scene is just touching, but if you want to actually hear about this new source you actually are gonna have to put aside your family issues and listen to me for a minute" Cole said.
"Oh, yes, alright guys break it up lets deal with this later" Phoebe said.
"Thank you" Cole said "Alright so as I was saying, a new source appears to have risen. Apparently he has risen with the support of previously vanquished demons. He apparently has the power to bring them back and is using them as a power base."
"So he brought you back?" Paige asked.
"Well kinda. He brought back Belthazor. Originally he brought back just Belthazor and not my human soul, or at least that was the plan. However, he was unaware that my soul was hanging out in limbo. So when my body was suddenly brought back, my soul was sucked right out of limbo and here I am. And with all that time, with my soul separate and free from demonic influence, it gained a great deal of power and control and as such I was able to take full control of my body, and kinda cage up Belthazor in the back of my mind. And then I took off. I don't know exactly what I was planning to do from there, but then I felt something pulling at my heart so I went to investigate. And was brought to Phoebe, I should have known it would be her. And well here I am" Cole said.
"So what other demons has he bought back?" Prue asked.
"I have no idea, like I said I haven't exactly been around long, and I haven't been exactly reintroducing myself to old enemies or anything nearly that fun" Cole snapped.
"Ok, well is the source a true source?" Piper asked.
"I'm afraid I don't follow" Cole said sounding confused.
"Well did he get made source in the ceremony with the grimoire and everything?" Piper asked.
But before he could answer Paige chimed in "He couldn't, I mean we hid the grimoire."
"Why don't you actually let Cole answer" Prue said.
"Thanks, and ya to the best of my knowledge I think he is, he sure seemed like it" Cole said.
"Well I guess maybe now that I'm not a white light and not checking up on it, some demon found it" Leo said.
"Great, that's just wonderful" Piper snapped "So not only do we get to re-vanquish a bunch of demon we thought we got rid of, we also get a fully powered source to deal with. That's just lovely."
"Well, bright side, we get Prue back" Phoebe said.
"Oh ya fabulous news" muttered Paige.
"Well I think I better go tell the elders and see what they think" Prue said.
"Actually you don't need to, I'm more than able to do that myself" Paige snapped.
"Well the elders would prefer me to do it from now on" Prue snapped back.
"I don't really think you are necessary, I'm more than able to handle being my sisters white lighter" Paige stated coldly.
"Well actually you're not really of much use to my sister when you can't even heal them" Prue stated in an even colder voice.
"Well you're not really of much used to them dead" Paige said and Piper and Phoebe gasped.
"Well good thing that's fixed now is not it" Prue snapped.
"Oh yes, fabulous" Paige said sarcastically.
"Good, I'm glad we are in agreement" Prue snapped "And now, I'll go talk to the elders, don't worry I'll be back soon."
"Believe me, I'm not worried" Paige muttered.
Cole just started cracking up and finally said "Wow, you can just feel the love in here."
Prue smirked and orbed out. And Paige rolled her eyes.
"Ok what was all that about?" Phoebe asked.
"All what?" Paige replied.
"All that sniping at each other" Phoebe said.
"I don't know what you mean" Paige said awkwardly.
"Ya right, the tension was so thick I could have cut it with a knife" Piper said sounding upset.
"I should have known you'd take her side" Paige snapped.
"Her side? I don't even understand how there are sides at all!" Piper practically yelled.
"Ok, keep it down you guys, most of the kids are sleeping" Leo said.
"Ya sorry about that" Piper replied "How are all the kids?"
"They all seem fine, as I said they are all pretty much napping, although they have taken up basically every bed in the house. We are gonna have to work something out with the living situation" Leo told her.
"Ya that's true" Paige said "And actually, well, I was kinda hoping to move back here too."
"What!" Piper practically yelled.
"I know, I know, but I can't bare to go back to my house. I mean Henry was just killed there" Paige said.
"Ya, ya, I mean I understand, but this place just is not big enough for all that" Piper said.
"True, but with this new source and all these powerful demons on the loose, living together again might be a good idea. I mean we were already having huge problems with this, and now it just seems like it might be smarter. I mean, I just lost Henry, and if we don't take more care who knows who might be next" Paige said.
"Well, we just finished with having the basement turned into a bedroom. So why don't we do a bit more construction and add on to the house, build another couple bedrooms?" Phoebe suggested.
"Well, while you are adding, it looks like you are gonna need to add on another room for me" said Prue's voice from behind them.
"Oh hell no" Paige muttered.
"What?" Phoebe said.
"Well the elders say this situation is highly serious. And the last time that you dealt with the source you had a live in healer and they feel that might be what saved you. So they have ordered me to live here with you guys in the manor. I did not think you'd mind, although I also did not think the entire family would be staying here. But if we are adding on rooms, maybe it won't be such a problem." Prue said.
"Well, I mean I guess that doesn't leave us with a lot of choices" Piper said.
"Ya, sorry about that, not my decision" Prue replied apologetically.
"I know" Piper said smiling.
"Anyway, I kinda thought you guys might like it, I mean you get to have me back. I'll admit there may be some trouble with people thinking I'm dead, but still I'm sure we can work something out" Prue said..
"Actually, I might be able to help with that" Cole said finally speaking up.
"Oh? What do you mean?" Prue asked.
"Well, like you people think that I'm dead; so I'm gonna do a little mind trick thing and make everyone believe I'm been in a coma. And I could do the same for you" Cole offered.
"Well what about personal gain?" Prue asked.
"Prue, I'm a demon, I don't have to worry about the consequences of personal gain" Cole said with a slight grin.
"So you're going to get help from evil" Paige said angrily.
"Cole is not evil" Prue stated, and Cole looked at her in surprise.
"Of course he is! My god, he was the source of all evil!" Paige yelled.
"No, he was not, he was possessed by the source of all evil, there is a difference" Prue yelled back.
"What?" Phoebe said staring at Cole in shock.
"Even so, he still was a demon for like a hundred years and killed hundreds of people, and generally I consider that evil" Paige snapped.
"Well that was not Cole, that was Belthazor, Cole's human half had nothing to do with that" Prue stated calmly.
"Um Prue, why are you suddenly all on Cole's side?" Piper asked.
"Well, as I told him earlier when he asked the same thing, being up there and being able to watch everything let me see things more objectively. I was able to see how he was not responsible for things and how hard he tried to do the right thing and see how unfair it all was. And well I was able to see that he was good. And since technically I'm the angel here, I think I'm the best authority here to say that he's not evil" Prue said.
"Ya right, I'm a white lighter too and I think he is" Paige snapped.
"Well, you are only half white lighter, so my judgment is better than yours. And I'm more objective, you are letting personal feelings and beliefs interfere with your judgment" Prue stated coldly.
"Alright enough you two. So Cole, you think you can make everyone think that you and Prue were both in comas?" Piper asked.
"Ya, it shouldn't be a problem. I'll just say we were both in car accidents. I'll change a few records and news clips. And do a general mind change that will make everyone believe that they have always known that Prue was in a coma, those who went to the funeral will think they went to visit her at the hospital and will just think that all this time she was still in a coma, and the same for me" Cole said.
"Well great, that solves that problem. And Prue you might even be able to get your old job back, I mean it did not take up all your time and being a white lighter shouldn't take all your time, so maybe you could. We kept all your equipment, its up in the attic, and it hasn't even been hurt by a demon attack, amazing" Piper said optimistically.
"Ya, that would be great. I will have a great deal of free time I think. You guys are my only charges, so ya I'd love to get my job back" Prue said sounding excited.
"And as for changing up the house, well we would probably need three new rooms and at least one more bathroom. We could move the laundry machine to Leo and my's closet, and turn the laundry room into a hallway that will lead to the new rooms. There is more than enough room on that side of the house. We should defiantly call a construction crew tomorrow and start work immediately. Paige you should hire a cleaning and packing crew for your house and put it up on the market as soon as possible. We'll need some of that money to do all the renovations. I figure Henry jr. can move in with Chris and Wyatt. And Paige's girls in one of the new rooms, and maybe Phoebe, your youngest, Pegatha, could move in there too. And Paige and Prue will each have one of the other two new rooms. For little while though, things are gonna be really crowded. Paige, you and Prue are just gonna have to set up cots in the attic like Phoebe did before, and Henry jr. can move in with the boys, and your girls will just stay in the basement room with the other girls, although that will be tight. But for a limited time that will work" Piper said.
Paige and Prue both looked horrified at the idea of living together in the attic, and Phoebe upon seeing that look quickly said "Actually, Prue can stay with me in my room."
Prue looked totally grateful and Paige looked hurt. "Thanks Phoebe that's great!" Prue said.
Phoebe saw the hurt look on Paige's face and said "Paige, I'm not picking her over you, I just haven't seen her in so long, and I want to spend time with her."
"Oh ya no worries" Paige said, and she looked away.
"Well, not to ruin the mood, but what the hell is with all the family planning. I tell you that there is a new source and you decide that the most important thing to talk about is renovations!" Cole yelled.
"Well, its things that need to be settled. It's not like there is anything we can do right this second, so we might as well get everything else in order so that when the time comes to fight the source, all these things are out of the way. And also we are just protecting ourselves, we are stronger when we are together, so making plans to live together is just another way of working on protecting ourselves" Piper told him.
He gave her a look of disbelief and finally said "Ya sure whatever. Anyway ladies. I'm gonna go get on the whole making people think we are alive thing. And try to get my job back and maybe even get the penthouse back. So well, ya that's my plan."
"Cole, once you have everything in order let me know, tell me where you are staying and all that" Prue said "I think I may end up needing somewhere to escape too" And as she said that she gave a significant glance in Paige's direction.
Cole laughed and said "Will do" and with that he shimmered out.
"What are you doing?" Paige snapped.
"What do you mean?" Prue asked.
"Acting all friendly with Cole!" She yelled.
"I think I already explained that to you" Prue said rolling her eyes.
"Ya, fine, being civil and saying he's not evil while we need info from him is one thing, but planning on getting together with him on a social basis and acting like he's your friend is a totally different and unacceptable thing" Paige snapped sounding furious.
"Well, frankly, I don't care what you think. I'll remind you that I am the oldest and I'll have whatever friends I like, I hardly need your approval" Prue told her glaring at her the whole time.
"How dare you, you are back for less than an hour and you are already putting this family in danger!" Paige screamed.
"Oh jeeze put a lid on it already. I'm hardly going to put my family in danger. I've dedicated my life to this family" Prue snapped at her.
"Ya a lot of good that did" Paige muttered.
"Well it kept them alive now didn't it!" Prue yelled at her.
"So? And I've helped keep them alive since you went and got yourself killed. And in fact I've been a charmed one longer than you ever were, so I guess by that measurement I've done a hell of a lot more than you for this family" Paige said cruelly.
"Give it up, all you are is a substitute, they just needed someone to help them fight demons. I'm the one they grew up with, who knows all the secrets and all the memories. The one who fought off the bullies who picked on them at school and helped them get ready for their first dates, who helped teach them to drive, and who they first learned magic with. I'm the original, and you are merely a replacement" Prue stated coldly.
Paige looked shocked and looked ready to cry and finally screamed at her "Well I've done things with them you haven't and things you'll never be able to do, irreplaceable things. I was there for the birth of their children and for the raising of them, and I was there when we vanquished the source…"
Prue interrupted her with "Ya, clearly you did a great job of that, didn't I just here that he's back."
"Alright! Enough! Both of you, just Stop!" Piper yelled "I don't know what the hell the problem with you two is, but dammit that is enough of all this fighting and competing. Phoebe and I love you both, equally, you are both our sisters and you're gonna have to deal with that, and not by yelling and insulting each other. If necessary we will send you two to family therapy. Actually, I think that might be a great idea, but for now, just stop yelling."
"Ya, that's enough you guys, really. Prue why don't you come with me and we'll go up to the attic and find some of your stuff" Phoebe said "And Paige why don't you go call the cleaning and moving crew and call a realtor."
"Alright, I'll go do that" Paige said.
"And I will go call a contractor and work on a floor plan for the manor, Leo please watch the kids" Piper said.
"Okay, no worries, they are still sleeping" Leo said.
"Good, and we will all talk later, alright?" Piper said.
"Ya fine" Paige said and walked off.
"Sounds good" Prue said and she and Phoebe headed toward the attic.
"Leo, I think our lives are about to get very very stressful" Piper said.
"Well don't worry honey, I'll be right there for you to lean on" Leo said.
"Thanks, I'm counting on that. I love you" Piper told him.
"I love you too" Leo said and turned and headed upstairs, while Piper went in search of her phone.
Please Review! This motavates me to write more, so if you like it and want to read more let me know.