Sorry for the very late update, I had some personal problems. Anyway this is the next chapter.
Chapter six.
Cole thought he didn't heard Prue correctly. 'Can you repeat that?' he asked.
Prue shook her head, the tears running down her face. 'She's our… she's our…'
'Sister,' Cole completed the sentence, 'And somehow she was erased from history… How could I've not known that Wyatt had a another daughter!'
'You don't have to yell Cole,' Jack said, 'We understand it's complicating.'
'You understand it's complicating? This is freaking insane! How is it that that I never heard of her?'
Jack stood up, 'Kitchen Cole… now'
Cole followed the young man, while the other stayed where they were.
'We have to tell mom and dad,' Matt whispered.
'Speak up Jack, what's this about?' Cole leaned against the counter, looking at the younger man with a frown.
Jack sighed, his grey eyes observing the demon before him. 'Stephanie Laura Halliwell… but everybody called her Stevie. She turned 31 this summer. She… she disappeared fifteen years ago…'
'How?'
Jack shuddered, 'I remember she had a boyfriend, some preppy guy named Alec. She eh… she rebelled a lot against her parents. Then one day she was just gone. And as time went by we went on with our lives… we grew up…'
As Cole listened he realized immediately that somebody, he suspected Piper, had casted a spell on the children to ease the pain. But seeing Stevie had broken the spell and the pain they never had to feel came back.
'I think no one ever expected to see her again.'
Jack nodded, 'I think so. This is so messed up. Uncle Wyatt and aunt Catherine were heartbroken when she disappeared, it will devastate them knowing that their oldest daughter is the Queen of all Evil.'
Cole frowned, 'I think Stevie is still inside her.'
'You think?'
'Yeah. When the Source took over my body, I was still there. And sometimes there were moments that I had control, even though they were short. There must be a part of Stevie still inside Hecate, there has to be. The problem is that I have no idea how to reach her.'
****
Prue realized that telling her parents that their oldest child/daughter was still alive, was one of the hardest things she ever had to do. As she stood in her room, she gazed out of the window, thinking of the words she should say.
'You know, it's not like you parents will blame you or Matt,' the voice of a woman mentioned.
Prue turned around, 'Victoria,' she said surprised, 'What are you doing here?'
Victoria Halliwell, Phoebe's middle daughter, looked no day older then 31, even though she was in fact 55. When she decided to become a fulltime cupid, it was decided that her death would be faked. Only then she could fully become involved in her work, her passion and she would have no trouble from the outside. She didn't care about her own love life, only about the love life of others. Coincidently, her best friend was her cousin Eliza Mitchell, who made the same sacrifice to become a fulltime whitelighter and looked just as young as Victoria.
Unlike her sisters, who looked more like the Halliwell side of the family, Victoria was her father's daughter in every inch, his female counterpart, like Phoebe always said.
'Gwen called me,' she said, 'I heard you brother finally proposed to her.'
'Yeah,' Prue almost forgot that happened today to, she was too caught up with the return of Stevie.
'She also told me about the Queen of all evil.'
'Stevie,' Prue sighed, 'My sister…'
'No one knew Prue.'
'We wanted to kill her.'
'You didn't know Prudence,' Victoria looked stern, 'None of you did. But now we do know and it's up the family to bring Stevie back. She's a Halliwell.'
'Are my parents back yet?'
'They are downstairs. Matt asked me to get you.'
'Why didn't he send… never mind.'
'Cole?' Victoria asked, 'He's still in the kitchen. You're folks don't know he's here yet.'
Prue nodded, 'Hey Vic, can I ask you something?'
'Always.'
'Is it possible to feel in love with someone you just know for a few hours.'
Victoria suddenly looked al little bit uncomfortable, 'It's a rare reaction, but it can happen… but most of the time it can also be something else…'
'Something else?'
'Nothing to worry about,' Victoria replied with a obviously fake cheerful voice, 'Come on Prue, let's go downstairs.'
Wyatt leaned back in his chair as he looked around. On his right stood his brother and his best friend, Chris, on his left stood his sister, Melinda. His wife Catherine sat on the couch, next to Bianca, Chris' wife.
The younger generation all stood in front of him, with Matt in the middle. Wyatt smiled, he had always known that Matt would take the lead with the third generation, even though Wyatt had to admit, Prue would've been a better choice.
He put a hand through his full gray hair and looked with his blue eyes at his son. 'What's going on Matthew?'
'I rather wait till Prue gets here.'
'Why is she upstairs anyway?' Melinda asked, 'Did something happened?'
'I'm here,' Prue said as walked in. She walked towards her father and kissed him on the cheek, then she went on to hug her mother. Then she walked back and stood next to her brother.
'Okay, now can you proceed to tell me what the hell is going on?' Wyatt asked, 'You all stand before like someone got killed.'
'No one got killed dad.'
'Then what's going on honey?'
'Dad… earlier today someone came to magic school.'
'Who?'
Prue looked at her brother and then looked back at her parents, uncle and aunts. 'Please don't get angry. He's on our side.'
'Prudence Grace,' her father said with a strict voice, 'Who was it.'
'Cole Turner.'
'What!' Wyatt jumped up, 'Cole Turner! The bastard who made the life of the Charmed One's a living hell! Who almost destroyed them by turning Phoebe evil?'
'Dad, he helped us.'
'Where is he!'
'Wyatt,' Chris put his hand on his brother's shoulder, as did Melinda, 'Control your temper brother. You heard what Prue said.'
'Is he in the house?' Melinda asked.
Prue nodded and called out his name, 'Cole!'
When he walked in, Cole expected Wyatt to attack him, but instead the oldest son of Piper, stared at him.\
'How is it possible,' he mumbled, 'that you look no day older then my own children.'
'Demon blood keeps you young,' Cole cracked.
'Why did you contact my children,' Wyatt went on.
Cole looked at Prue and Matt and realized they still hadn't told their parents about their sister. He looked back at the seniors and told them the story that he told Phoebe. He told them about the rumors of a new Queen and how he contacted Matt.
'It took me nearly a month to let him trust me. He brought me to Prue.'
'Why didn't you get straight to me?' Wyatt asked, 'I am the head of the family young man.'
'That has nothing to do with it dad,' Matt said, 'We are the next generation, I thought it was our turn to shine.'
'Anyway,' Cole went on, 'After we convinced Prue, she wanted to talk to Phoebe. After all, Phoebe is the expert.'
'She's in her eighties,' Chris said, 'She hasn't fought a demon in over two decades.'
'So what, my grandmother is still as good as ever,' defended Gwen the choice.
'Well said,' Victoria applauded.
'Let Cole speak out,' Catherine said, she was very quiet and when Cole looked at her, he saw that Stevie had the looks of her mother. But he saw also the caring look in her dark brown eyes, she knew something was up and was worried about it.
'Thank you ma'am,' he said polite, earning a irritating sigh from Wyatt, 'Phoebe taught them the spell, including a way to make him more stronger.'
'Adding the power of three,' Melinda remarked, she looked a lot like her mother.
'Indeed,' Cole said. 'We went on with a frontal surprised attack… but then…' He looked at the rest, 'I think Matt and Prue should tell you the rest.'
'Prudence? Matthew?' Wyatt said, 'What happened down there?'
'We saw Hecate,' Prue whispered, 'She's… I'm so sorry daddy.'
'About what?'
'It's Stevie,' Matt said.
Catherine looked as she was about to faint, while Wyatt looked like he was turned in to stone. Even Chris, Melinda en Bianca didn't know how to react, they looked totally surprised.
Cole had the feeling they all stood there for days when it was Catherine who spoke, 'How… why do you think that?'
Prue walked to her parents en kneeled before them, 'It's her mom. She looks exactly like you. Stevie is not dead, she's…'
'The Queen of all evil,' Wyatt finished the sentenced.
'Dad.'
'I thought she was dead… I was certain she was dead… all those years…. I looked everywhere for her… We all did… We all did…'
'I know dad,' Matt kneeled next to Prue, 'But there is no doubt it's her. She looks so much like mom… it's Stevie.'
'My daughter… our enemy,' Wyatt said. Cole felt sorry for him, he looked completely broken.
'There has to be a way to bring her back to us,' Melinda said hopefully, 'I know there is.'
'It can take a while,' Jack said and he looked at Cole, 'Will you stick around?'
'Of course he will, for Prue,' Melinda mumbled, but suddenly looked suprised, 'Did I say that out loud?'
'Yes you did cousin… well done,' Victoria snarled.
'What are you talking about?' Cole asked, 'Did you knew I was coming?'
Both Melinda and Victoria suddenly looked a little bit guilty.
Prue stood up, 'Aunt Melinda, did you had a premonition?'
Melinda nodded, 'It happened to me a few days ago. I'm sorry honey, I didn't know if I could trust it, that's why I only told Victoria.'
'What did you see sis?' Chris asked, gladly changing the subject.
'A marriage…'
'A marriage!' everyone said surprised.
Cole looked at Prue and suddenly he wondered about his feelings. Ever since he saw Prue he was aware of the strong attraction between them, but he also realized that he started to love her. However he only knew for mere hours. Even Phoebe had commented on the strong feelings between him and Prue.
He looked at Victoria, a cupid. Did she had anything to do with this. Victoria met his look and she smiled guilty.
'A marriage between who?' Prue asked.
'Between you and Cole,' Melinda admitted.
'Me and Cole? Are you of your mind!'
'I can't change what I see Prue. And I saw a wedding… that's why I went to Victoria.'
Everyone looked Victoria, she shrugged her shoulders. 'I thought it was weird… so this morning I went to check something out on Magic School. I heard Gwen yelling against Matt, so I went your office Prue. That's where I saw you and Cole. I could feel a attraction, so when I used my ring to see if you indeed were meant to be…. It malfunctioned…'
'Malfunctioned?' Cole said.
'It released so much love on you… It made you both love each other already…'
'It at least explains my feelings for him,' Prue said.
'Can you turn it back?' Cole asked, he ignored Prue's surprised gasp.
'Yes,' Victoria answered.
'Do it now.'
'You sure?'
'Positive.'
Prue was back in her room. A hour had passed since the conversation with her parents. They were now downstairs, talking to each other. About the pain, about the loss and now about the return of Stevie. Her cousins were also downstairs, talking probably.
She didn't want to talk. With the return of Stevie, she realized how much she missed her. All those years. Her big sister... and now she was her enemy.
And then there was also Cole.
She couldn't believe he made that choice so easily. She still felt the attraction, but the feelings were now more normal, like they should be when you just met someone. But still she wanted to make the choice herself.
'Prue?' She heard his voice, felt his hand on her shoulder.
'What do you want?'
'Talk.'
'About what,' she growled.
'About us.'
'There is no us Cole. The feelings are gone.'
'All of them? Prue, I just made that malfunction gone. I still feel attracted to you.'
She turned around, she saw the truth in his blue eyes. 'But why did you ask to turn it back?'
He touched her cheek, 'Because I want to fall in love with you in the old fashion way.'
'You didn't give me the choice.'
'Let me court you.'
'What?'
'I know it's a little bit old, but it's the best thing I can offer. Let me court you and let us get to know each other.'
She smiled, 'Okay, I'll let you court me… when will you start?'
'Tomorrow. It will take a while before we know how to free Stevie from the evil that's holding her. In that time I want to take you out, date you.'
'Okay… I'll see you tomorrow then.'
I know this is fast, but I want that premonition come true Cole. Open your heart for me.
'See you tomorrow Prue,' he whispered and gently kissed her lips before he shimmered out.