Heaven's Mistaken Gift

by: Piper Chris Melinda Halliwell

Co-written by: That70sShoLova

Chapter 11: More than Expected

"Phoebe, are you okay?" Cole asked.

She looked at him with a bored raised eyebrow. "Yeah, why?"

He shook his head. It had been a couple of days since she had seen her family again, maybe she missed them. "You're just acting a little...off."

She glared. "What's that supposed to mean? Huh?"

He looked at her oddly. "Nothing, it means...nothing."

She smirked. "Good."

Cole sat in his bedroom alone, Phoebe claiming how Cole should stop acting like a little girl and stay alone and give her some space like a man.

Jared shimmered in and sat on the bed. "You alright, man?"

"Just a little worried. Phoebe's been acting weird."

He laughed. "I should think that's a good thing."

"Why?"

"Because, I slipped a potion into her drink."

Cole shot up, quickly morphing into Balthazar and shoved Jared into the wall by his throat. "What did you do?"

Jared stood calmly. "You need to realize, Balthazar, that you and that witch can't be together. She is good, and you are evil. It will never work."

"I know!"

"No, Balthazar. You don't know! She is here for one purpose and one purpose only, so we can raise her child to be evil. Her powerful ancestry and my blood will make her offspring one of the most powerful half-demons known to history."

"We can get past the good ancestry without doing this!" Cole assured. "We can—"

He raised an eyebrow. "What makes you so sure? Sooner or later, the child's good nature will manifest, so I gave her the potion so her good powers wouldn't mess with our plan."

"What makes you think I wouldn't be able to keep the child evil?"

Jared sighed. "You need to pick a side, Balthazar, and it better be the right one because if you don't help me, you'll have The Source of your bad side." With that warning said, he shimmered away leaving Cole to collapse on the bed and rub his temples.

He couldn't let her good nature be tainted! He just couldn't! But if Phoebe wasn't evil, Melinda wouldn't be evil either. Sure, she'd have demonic powers, but that would mean very little in time.

But if she was evil then we could stay together… he thought. He shimmered upstairs, finding Phoebe sprawled out on the couch.

"What do you want?" she snapped as he walked over to her.

"Just wondered if you needed anything," he answered honestly. "You really don't look good."

"I'm fine!" she insisted, pushing him away. "Go away!"

"Don't you feel something's different about you?" he asked, sitting on the arm of the couch. He couldn't tell her why, though something told him Phoebe would believe him. Or she may be pissed enough to try and off me right here and now from a combination of hormones and an evil elixir, he thought.

She sighed, sitting up. Something had changed since she'd seen Grams and her sisters, but she didn't know what. She felt…unconsciously bitchy for no apparent-or pregnant—reason. Like her good nature was changing into something dangerous. It wasn't drastic so she could take time to get used it, but it still felt weird.

She nodded. "Yes, but I know it's just how she is."

He hesitated. To say this might jeopardize everything, but he felt he had to. "But don't you want her to be good like you?"

"Why would she be—"

"His blood is demonic. Yours isn't. It'll be a split and—" just then Jared walked in with a cup of tainted tea.

"Here, Phoebe, this'll make you feel better," he said offering it to her.

"But I'm not really—" as she answered, she felt Melinda become extremely hot in temperature, almost like she was moody. Phoebe sighed taking the cup.

Before it touched her lips, however, Cole snatched it from her.

"Hey! Cole! Melinda's acting weird without that," she said reaching for it.

"I know, but you shouldn't—"

Phoebe's eyes turned black for a split second before she started coughing violently and shaking. So much so that she couldn't sit up.

Jared pulled her up and restrained her while Cole gave her the liquid. After the cup was drained, the violent coughing and shaking ceased and she passed out.

Jared sighed and stood up. "Well, that was unexpected."

Cole grabbed him by the shirt almost lifting him off the floor. "Unexpected? What the hell's in that tea?"

He smirked. "Only her grandmother's recipe and the elixir. Why are you suddenly so protective?" he asked as Cole put him on the floor. "Haven't you gotten it through your half-human skull that once the child is gone and we wipe the girl's memory and her family's, she'll remember nothing of you? Not to mention you'll never see her again!"

Cole just sighed, turning around and pulling Phoebe to his chest after standing up. "Yes, I know, but did you ever think that maybe I could make the most of this while it lasts? Demons are happy with kills and power." He shrugged. "And, in case you haven't noticed, I'm not a full demon. Maybe that's what makes me a better man."

And with that, he walked downstairs, leaving a confused Jared to sort out his words.

He rolled his eyes, why was he getting so upset about this? Cole was weak. He was half human for crying out loud! How was he the better man? He scowled and shimmered down to the Source's cave.

He looked up and dropped the hood off his head. "Zepar," he greeted in a raspy voice. "What do you have for me?" he held up his hand, stopping him from talking. "You know, I hate when you switch forms. Switch back, now."

Zepar complied and continued. "Something...odd happened with the elixir."

"What?" he growled.

"She took it, but Balthazar didn't want her to, and when he grabbed the cup from her...her eyes turned black, she started to shake, and she couldn't stop coughing until I restrained her and Balthazar poured the liquid down her throat."

He sighed, rasping. "Ah, an interesting side effect."

"Side effect?" Zepar asked.

"Yes, the child wanted the elixir—craved it—and when Balthazar refused for the witch to take it, the child acted of her own accord."

"What does this mean?"

"It means that the child's nature is curious and that she likes your blood."

"Wh—what?"

"The elixir reinforces your demonic blood with the child's body and, from what you've just told me, she's responding well even without coaxing. Good, very good."

"What about Balthazar? Should something be done?"

The Source looked deep in thought. "No. Balthazar shall be the main overseer of this task."

Zepar looked amused. "And what if he decides to back out, take the witch away?"

"He will not. He knows his true place of importance is at my side. Do not be worried."

Angrily, Zepar shimmered out.

Zepar stormed into Cole's room. Cole glared at him and motioned towards the sleeping form of Phoebe. He stomped up to him and shimmered him into the Underworld.

"What the hell, man?" Cole shouted.

"You!" Zepar glared. "Why does The Source want you in charge, huh?" Cole didn't answer and Zepar shoved him against the wall. "You're so obviously clouded by your feelings with that useless witch," he said the word scornfully," so how he could want you in charge?"

Cole shoved back. "Maybe, it's because I actually think before I act and don't end up kicking the shit out of my girlfriend. Maybe, it's because I'm strong and you're not. Ma—"

Zepar threw an energy ball at Cole. He glared and shifted into his demonic form.

Balthazar shimmered away causing the energy ball to embed a hole in the cavern wall. He then shimmered back in place. "Stop this, Zepar!"

"I'm not the one whose off-kilter here," he said throwing another.

Balthazar charged him, catching him by the throat. "You jeopardized the entire fucking plan," he said, slowly cutting off his airway. "What would've happened if she would've miscarried because of your drunken antics? Then where would you be?" he growled. "I'm looking out for her. I think things through. You? You're reckless as all hell and using alcohol to cope with a problem you think you have when you don't."

Zepar clawed as his hand, his vision slowly turning black. "Sh-she's my g-girlfriend a-and yo-you're screwing her," he took a ragged breath. "H-how do you ex-expect me to act?"

He dropped him. "I haven't touched her that way because she's always said no."

"Bu-but you want to," Zepar said standing up.

He shrugged, morphing back into his human form. "Yes, but I'll always respect her wishes. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. She likes me, yeah, but I think its more from the fact that I actually help and protect her from your drunken ass." He sighed. "You said you didn't care and The Source knows that no matter how much I care, our mission is at the top of my list."

Zepar nodded, morphing back into human form as well. "Yeah."

"And in order for that to happen she must be kept safe until the birth at all costs," he finished.

Zepar nodded once again. "I know that, but I'm not giving up that awesome drink!"

Cole rolled his eyes. "Then I'll take care of Phoebe, that is, until she doesn't want me to."

He raised an eyebrow. "You'll make sure she drinks that elixir every day?"

He nodded. "Yes, now go to your human hangout and drown your human existence."

Zepar nodded, shimmering out. Cole sighed as he reformed next to a still-sleeping Phoebe on top of the covers.

He understood why she had to drink it. He just wished that it didn't change her personality. What real difference did it make if Phoebe was evil? He liked her just the way she was.

And with that thought in mind, he shimmered upstairs and found the bottle of elixir. Shoving it in his pocket, he left, hoping he'd come back with one that was more to his liking…

Author's note: So what do you think? What will Cole do with the elixer? Will Phoebe still be affected? What powers will Melinda have? Will they start to show themselves now? How will Phoebe handle it?

Reviews are much appreciated. Please?

Review thanks to: That70sshowlova, SyndiDowell, HalliwellMB, & LolyChristine!

Thanks to my co-writer: That70sShowLova!

Piper Chris Melinda Halliwell & That70sShowLova