Disclaimer – I don't own Charmed or any of the characters

Witch Way Now?

Chapter 19

....

The Charmed Ones stood in the living room in complete silence. The only thing that could be heard was their breathing. They had sent the remaining children away somewhere safe just in case, Cole might kill them to.

Potions in hand and strapped to them the sisters all looked at each other several times each nodding their heads signaling they were ready.

They had been through it all together from being turned to stone to battling the four horseman of the apocalypse, but nothing compare to this. What they were about to face in a few moments was something they had hoped they would never have to do again. Vanquish Cole for a third or was it forth time…

It was so long ago Piper couldn't remember but she knew what the outcome of this fight would be. She intended to end this once and for all and make sure Cole did not rest in piece.

The sisters reached up and gripped each others hands moving closer together. Phoebe held the white slip of paper up so all eyes could clearly read the words.

"Through time and space, land and air…"

"Joy and happiness, tears and despair…"

"Power of three our wants are clear…"

"We summon Cole Turner, bring him here…"

A bright white light flashed forcing the Charmed Ones to cover their eyes.

....

Cole stood on the edge of the building looking down into the street below still overseeing the clean up effort. Linda Mitchell and her cameraman were standing next to him still interviewing the newly crowned hero.

Cole had explained magical beings in deep detail and his dream of magical and non magical beings coexisting. He had broke down his life story in a detailed interview leaving out a few major details like his relationship with the Charmed Ones but otherwise the world now knew everything about him and magic.

"Cole I must say this has been the best interview I've ever had the pleasure of conducting," Linda Mitchell said to him. "You are the most unique and caring individual I have ever met."

Cole's cheeks flushed light red. It was nice to finally be the good guy for once in his live and really be appreciated. "Thank you," he replied happily.

"So how is that a handsome man like you has never been married?" Linda asked.

Cole hesitated, his mind being pulled back to thoughts of Phoebe and their rollercoaster ride. Just as he was about to open his mouth and reply a bright light flashed and he felt something pulling him forward. Cole covered his eyes and braced himself for whatever completely blinded by the light.

He felt himself stop moving and slowly moved his arm down to find out what had happened. As he moved his arm down and looked to the right he caught a glance at something old and familiar.

The grandfather clock in the Halliwell Manor…

Cole quickly turned his head straight just in time to see the Charmed Ones cocking back their arms preparing to throw three potion vials at him. He had no time to react before the vials were flying towards him.

Cole held up his arms just as the potions exploded. Flames spread all around the area and the Charmed Ones were flung backwards onto the couch before tumbling backwards to the floor. Chunks of wood from the floor and dust filled the air along with pieces of other things that had been destroyed in the blast.

Paige was the first to stand up and look around quickly followed by her sisters. The room was completely smoky and they could see nothing at all. They paused for a moment in hesitation not hoping Cole was dead and not really wanting to know if he was still alive.

Finally Phoebe had enough. "I need wind give me a gust, clear all this smoke out for us." She chanted quickly

A powerful wind tore through the room knocking over everything that the explosion hadn't and breaking the glass clean from the windows. As the wind pushed the smoke out the Charmed Ones eyes widened when they saw Cole standing in the same place. His shirt was ripped and torn but besides that there was no visible damage.

Cole slowly let his arms come down and even he was staring and searching himself for injury surprised he had survived the attack. After a moment he remembered what happened and eyes darted up to the sisters.

"What the hell is wrong with you bitches?" he growled angrily.

The sisters faces twisted and their heads cocked to the side in confusion. "FREEZE HIM PIPER!" Paige shouted.

Piper immediately snapped back from the surprise of Cole surviving the attacks and flicked her wrists attempting to freeze Cole, of course it did not work.

"What the hell is wrong with you bitches?" Cole grumbled again shaking his head from side to side. "That didn't even work on me before I was all powerful." He added.

Paige had enough of the disrespect and flung her last to potion vials at Cole's head swiftly. Cole was engulfed in the explosion and only his shouts of agony could be heard. For a moment inside Paige felt the swell of victory fill her but the moment was quickly taken as she watched Cole step through the smoke.

"I have done nothing to you since I've been back," Cole said waving his hand to clear the smoke from his face. "You and your family have attacked me unprovoked several times and I'm the bad guy?"

"You killed the Elders," Phoebe tossed at him.

"You all hate the Elders," Cole flung back. "Always have." The silence let him know he had won that argument.

"how was I supposed to know those were your sons that were trying to kill me when I have endless waves of demonic bounty hunters popping in on me at all times?" Cole asked sympathetically.

"Don't look for forgiveness from us Cole," Piper said angrily. "We brought you here to kill you."

Cole straightened up and brushed off his shoulders and sighed little as he looked at his ex-wife and ex-sisters-in-law. "So be it," he whispered.

Piper flicked her wrists and caused an explosion to slam into Cole's chest tossing him backwards. He hit the ground hard and rolled over onto his back feeling several more explosions hit him as he rolled.

Paige rushed forward wielding two knives in her hands. Cole climbed to his feet and grabbed her by the armpits flinging her to the side and into the stairway hard. As he turned around all he saw was the bottom of Phoebe's shoe before he was kicked in the face.

Phoebe landed swiftly on the ground and rushed forward swinging her fist at Cole's face. At the last second Cole grabbed her by the wrist and flipped her into the wall beside Paige. Cole opened his palm and created one of his trademark giant fireballs as he stared down at Phoebe and Paige who were struggling to get up.

Piper came around the corner just in time immediately tossing two potion vials into Coles back then flicking her wrists several times. Nearly five explosions collided with Coles back lifting him from the ground and sending him through the wall Phoebe and Paige had already hit.

Paige finally got up and grabbed Phoebe pulling her back beside Piper. The three sisters grabbed hands and stared at the hole in their staircase waiting. They were breathing hard and sweaty feeling fatigued from the brief battle they had with Cole. Inside the hole Cole shook his head and rubbed the dust from his arms and body sighing a little.

Blue fire exploded from the staircase destroying the entire staircase and side wall of the house. The Charmed Ones held their hands and stood their ground as they watched Cole taking slow steps towards them.

"Repeat after me!" Phoebe shouted.

"This demon has lasted and tried us for years…" Cole stopped in his tracks and realized he couldn't move.

"Caused nothing but suffering, pain, and tears…" Fire ripped from his shoulders and stomach.

"Strip him of all powers and forever burn his soul…" Pain ripped and tore through Cole's body forcing him to cry out.

"End this saga and the life of Cole…" Cole gave one last shout and exploded into flames, his voice echoing throughout the city over and over.

They waited and waited before even breathing. All the smoke cleared the area and nothing was left but a huge scorch mark on the ground. "I-is it over?" Phoebe stammered.

"Is he dead?"

Nothing…just silence…

"ITS OVER!" Paige shouted and sprang into the air leaping into her sister's arms. They all embraced and began accepting that usual feeling of victory at the end of a battle they didn't quite know they would win.

Piper broke down and began crying silently thank GOD for letting her have her revenge for her children. Phoebe reached up and wiped her sister's tears smiling up at her.

"Its ok honey," She whispered sweetly. "They are watching us as we speak."

The three broke down and began crying holding each other tighter and tighter giving thanks for Cole finally being dead.

"Why all the tears?"

Phoebe's eyes immediately dried and grew larger then life. She turned around and looked in the hallway staring directly into Cole's eyes. Cole was standing in the doorway with a huge smile spread from ear to ear. He stood there for a moment not moving or saying anything just loving the look on their faces.

"I wish I had a camera," Cole finally said. "Your faces are priceless right now. Just so surprised."

"B-but how?" Phoebe questioned no one in particular.

"It doesn't really matter how," Cole replied. "Just know that I'm still here." He smiled big. "But now I'm going to even the odds."

Cole turned his head to the side and whistled. After a second or two Hercules and Thor sprang from an explosion of flames stepping up directly next to their master. The fire covering their bodies burned brighter then usual and they growled dangerously at the Charmed Ones.

"What now?" Phoebe asked.

"Crossbow!" Paige shouted orbing her white lighter crossbow into her hands. Phoebe reached at her thighs and pulled two butcher knives up as defense. Piper was next to them strapped down with potion vials and knives staring at Cole intently.

"Kill them," Cole commanded.

Thor lunged forward directly towards Phoebe but she levitated over the beast and flew forward towards Cole. Thor landed and turned to Piper jumping at her; Piper threw a potion into the ground in front of her and took off running into the next room closely followed by Thor.

Hercules sprang to the left dodging the white lighter arrows from Paige then continued running towards her. Paige jumped backwards and flew into the room behind her slamming into the floor hard but dodging Hercules fierce bite.

Paige orbed just before Hercules could close his jaws around her ankle and appeared behind him firing several arrows at his direction. Two landed in Hercules back before he turned around and released a fireball from his mouth. Paige had no time so she threw the crossbow forward causing the fireball to explode before it reached her.

Hercules pulled himself from around the smoke and stalked forward towards Paige. "Knife!" Hercules jumped forward, Paige fell backwards and dragged the knife down Hercules flaming leg forcing him away. The lava like blood that burned in his veins leaked out onto the floor and burned through it.

Paige eyes widening and she noticed the knife was melting as well. When she looked up Hercules was spreading his jaws and she could see flames growing in his throat. She concentrated hard and was surrounded in swirls of blue and white orbs but the flames engulfed the orbs and swallowed Paige inside burning her to a charmed crisp. When the flames stopped nothing was left but a scorch mark on the floor.

...

Phoebe and Cole stood staring at each other in the hallway not moving or saying anything. This was the first time they had been alone in years.

Phoebe finally broke down and began crying. "Why does everything always have to be like this Cole?" she asked him tearfully. "Why do you always have to be the bad guy?"

"I'm the bad guy?" Cole questioned and cocked his head to the side. "I'M THE BAD GUY!"

Fear filled Phoebe's body when Cole shouted. "I gave up my demon powers countless times to be with you! I was tricked into being the source by the seer but did you care? NO!"

Cole began taking steps forward as he shouted at Phoebe. "You broke my heart more times then either of us can remember but I kept coming back!"

"You three whores always, ALWAYS think you are on the right side and everyone else is wrong but never stopped to look from the other side of the fence!" Cole's words were hitting home and Phoebe began crying more and more.

"You killed our unborn child because it was evil!?!?" Cole stopped a few feet away from Phoebe. "Who is really the bad guys here honey?"

Phoebe couldn't contain herself. 20 years, nearly 20 whole years and she hadn't once thought about anything she'd done to Cole like this. "I didn't mean to hurt you," was all she could say.

"I never wanted it to be like this," Cole replied. "Just peace by any means necessary."

Phoebe wiped her eyes and looked up at Cole. "And that's why we could never work out." Phoebe flung a knife in her hand directly for Cole's heart. The knife harmlessly bounced off his demonic barrier and fell to the ground.

"So be it," Cole said sadly. Phoebe stretched her arm back about to throw the second knife but Cole caught her in a stream of lightning immediately turning her into dust. Cole sighed heavily and stared at the remains of his ex-wife, strangely enough feeling no emotion about just killing her.

....

Piper turned around and jerked her wrists forward hard causing a huge explosion to flash in front of Thor as he charged her. Thor agilely dodged the attack springing to the side and continuing forward.

Piper ducked ad rolled underneath Thor just as he jumped at her then pulled another set of potion vials from her waist. Thor turned around just as she threw the potions forward, one landed on the ground harmlessly the other smashed into Thor's side causing him to yelp loudly ad fall over.

Piper wasted no time she stomped forward knife in hand about to finish the job. Just as she brought the knife down Thor disappeared in a quick burst of flames causing the knife to dig into the wooden floor.

"Damn it," Piper growled attempting to pull the knife from the ground. One final yank and the knife pulled free from the floor and Piper stood to her feet and turned around to see Thor behind her. Thor's jaws spread apart and a fireball flew from his mouth speeding at Piper.

She flicked her wrists exploding the fireball a mere inches from her body. The explosion sent her flying backwards into the wall hitting it hard and leaving it cracked. She let out a quick scream just as she hit the floor.

"LEO!" She cried out, struggling to roll on her back.

When she finally got to her back Thor was directly behind her breathing heavily licking his jaws. Piper reached her hands up but Thor was on her in a flash, his powerful jaws snapped shut around her neck and chest.

Thor quickly jerked back tearing a large chunk of Pipers neck and chest from her body then swallowed it whole. Blood gushed out from Pipers body as she struggled to breath and stay alive.

'This is it,' she thought while coughing up a mouthful of blood. 'This is how it ends,'

Blue and white orbs began to pour from the roof and leak out into the room beside Thor. Piper took her last breath as Leo stepped out of the orbs. It took a moment for Leo to look down and catch a quick glimpse of Thor chewing on Pipers remains.

"PIPER!"

A gigantic bolt of lightning cracked from the sky and smashed into the Manor blowing it to pieces.