A Slight Change in Destiny's Plans
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"Leo!" Phoebe pushed open the door to the Manor.

"She's back," Paige called from the landing, where she was scrubbing the wall.

"What happened?" asked Phoebe, dropping her purse.

"We had a little demon incident," Piper said as she came into the entryway.

"Is everyone all right?"

"Fine. Just your typical shimmer, freeze, and explode."

"Did you check the Book? Maybe he was just a sneak preview."

"His blood was green," said Paige. "Believe me, he wasn't important."

Phoebe glared upwards. "Where's Leo?"

The familiar white and blue orbs circled, and Leo became visible. "Sorry. I got caught up in Madagascar."

"Madagascar?" Piper repeated.

"Leo, you need to go check with the elders," said Phoebe. "I've got a new power and I need to see if it's evil."

Paige dropped the sponge. "You got a new power? That's terrific."

"You call throwing lightning bolts 'terrific'?"

"Oh. Ouch."

"I'll go ask," said Leo, who disappeared as quickly as he'd appeared.

"Phoebe," Piper said, "how did you find out you could throw lightning bolts?"

"I was...somewhere," began Phoebe, "and I melted a TV set."

"Somewhere. You were somewhere. Oh God, Phoebe. You weren't in a store, were you?"

"Of course not. Why would I go to a store? You know me. I never go to stores. Well, I'd better be going to the office now, so-"

"Phoebe, you're babbling," Piper said. "And it's Sunday, which means your office is closed. So why don't you sit down and tell us what happened?"

"I can't." Phoebe pushed past both of her sisters.

Paige raised her eyebrows. "For some reason, I think she's hiding something."

Once upstairs in the attic, Phoebe grabbed the Book of Shadows. "There has to be something about power stripping potions in here." She paused as she opened the book. "Wait a minute."

But you can't ask Paige for the one she made, she told herself. That'll lead to questions, which will lead to a nasty confrontation about Cole, and the whole thing will get blown way out of proportion.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Leo, who orbed in behind her.

Phoebe slammed the book shut. "That was fast."

"The elders were interested in your concern," said Leo. He sat down next to her. "They had some information about your future that they think might ease your mind."

"Really?"

"Apparently--in that future--the power you used to kill Cal Greene wasn't yours. You...you borrowed a demonic power from the demon you were involved with."

"Wait. I was involved with a demon? Some things never change." Phoebe put the book down. "So this new power I have is good?"

"Very good, especially for the Charmed Ones. You've always wanted an offensive power, haven't you?"

"Yeah, but I thought it'd be something less...hot."

"Do you remember which emotion triggered it? Fear, anger?"

Phoebe thought back. "Frustration."

"Should I ask where you were when you found out about this?"

"No."

"All right." Leo stood up. "I'd better go and help Piper clean the kitchen."

"Have fun," said Phoebe. "And will you send Paige up here?"

"Sure."

Once Leo had left, Phoebe picked up the book again. Before she could open it, the pages flipped open.

My darling Phoebe,

I know how much you're going through right now, and to be perfectly frank, it's going to get a lot harder. If you continue to pursue Cole, you're going to have to go through your family to get to him.

Grams, quit being so negative. I just got her to admit that she still has feelings for the guy!

I'm just pointing out the facts.

Well, stop it.

Oh, Phoebe, I'm sorry about that, but Prue just had to butt in. Sweetheart, you have my support.

And mine.

With much love,

Grams (and Prue)

Oh yeah, Phoebs, you might want to tear this page out of the Book...you know, just so Paige and Piper don't get suspicious before you want them to. And about those two--they'll come around about Cole. Eventually.

Phoebe shook her head and snorted back laughter.. She was glad that she had some kind of guidance, even though it was from the afterlife.

"Phoebe?" Paige stuck her head in the doorway. "Leo said you wanted to talk to me?"

She shut the Book. "There's no easy way to start this, so I'm just gonna blurt it out. Do you still have the power stripping potion you made for Cole?"

"Yeah--well, part of it, anyway. Why?"

"I need it."

"Why? I thought for all you cared, Cole could deal with demonic powers for the rest of his life."

"I was wrong," said Phoebe. "Look, Paige, I know you're not gonna like this, but I talked to Cole this morning."

"You what?" Paige asked. "Phoebe!"

"I said I talked to him. That doesn't mean that I jumped into his arms and begged him to take me back."

"You better not have." Paige sat down next to her sister. "So you want to strip his powers because...why?"

"I think that there's still a chance for us," said Phoebe. "Maybe not to be a couple--at least, not right away--but to start out as friends, and then-"

"I don't believe this," Paige said, standing up and putting her hands on her hips. "Phoebe, he tried to kill us. Multiple times, I might add."

"That was the Source."

"And what about before that? When he was Belthazor? You saw that...that thing in the attic that tried to kill us."

"What's wrong with you? Two days ago you were all for stripping Cole's powers."

"That was because I was under Barbas's influence."

"Paige," Phoebe began, "I'm not asking for your permission, just the potion."

"No."

"What do you mean 'no'?"

"I'm not going to watch your ruin your life again."

With that, Paige stomped out of the attic and Phoebe put her head in her hands. This, she decided, was not going to be a piece of cake.

A/N: Sorry about the wait! I've got some other stuff that I'm working on and people to deal with, so I beg forgiveness? Please? (Imagine Bambi eyes.)