A/N: Don't underestimate Phoebe, she has a few tricks up her sleeve! Thanks so much to ShadowCat17, PhoebeColefan, Bleu Feenix, lizardmomma, Concealed Eminence, Draco's-Loyal-Longing, Cole + Phoebe = Love Forever, Angelspot, BellaCullen666, Rahl's beloved Queen Kahlan, and Mama Darkness for reviewing. Sorry I'm not replying individually again. But I appreciate all input! Hope you like this chapter!

Chapter Fifteen

Cole tilted his head back in his laughter. "Phoebe, you really had me going there! Did you forget that evil can't touch that book?"

Phoebe watched his rather immature display with annoyance. "Of course not, Cole. You seem to be the one forgetting that I'm a witch."

Cole held back his amusement and took a good hard look into her eyes. He tried to find a sign that she was joking, or just getting back at him for turning on her like he had the previous day. But his amusement died down when he realized that Phoebe was quite serious. "Uh, Phoebe? Don't you think that the Halliwell ancestors would've protected that book from spells that shield evil? It's probably already been done before."

Phoebe rolled her eyes. "It hurts how much you underestimate me. My sisters have already done that; I don't need it from you, too."

She turned away from him and sat back down at the computer, opening up a new document.

Cole looked to his feet, ashamed of the words he had just spoken. He hadn't meant for it to sound as though he didn't have faith in her. He did; in fact he placed more faith in her than he had ever given anyone else.

"I know, baby. I'm sorry. If anyone can find a way to steal the Book of Shadows, it's you."

Phoebe didn't look as though she believed him. She kept her eyes glued to the computer screen, typing whatever was going through her mind quickly so that she wouldn't forget them.

Hating the awkward silence between them, Cole said after a while, "Is that a spell you're working on?"

Phoebe nodded. "One that will hopefully take on the appearance of a Power of Three spell. If it recognizes it as a Power of Three spell, then it should recognize me as one of the Charmed Ones."

"Okay, I hate to poke holes in this plan, but don't you need the actual Power of Three in order for a Power of Three spell to be worth anything? I mean, when just one or two of you read one of those spells, it didn't work like it should have. Right?"

Phoebe glared at him for a moment before turning back to the screen. Cole could see that he had just said something wrong again.

"No. I mean, yes it didn't have as much firepower as it should have, but whenever I said a Power of Three spell by myself, it did some damage, just not a lot. I said it to Shax when I was still above ground and it made him go away for a little while. And besides, this spell isn't actually going to be a Power of Three spell. It'll just sound like one," she explained slowly, as though she had just explained it to a three-year-old.

Now Cole was becoming irritated. "Well, excuse me for not growing up in a Charmed household. I've been a demon longer than you've been alive, Phoebe. I'm sorry if I don't really know the inner workings of witches!"

Phoebe sighed, and Cole relaxed when he saw her defeated look. "You're right. I'm sorry. Maybe I should just finish this up by myself."

"That's fine. I have some business to attend anyway."

Phoebe didn't watch as Cole vanished in a blaze of fire. Cole knew that they were both were a little on edge. It was clear that they were being tested, and they both knew that the only way in which they were going to survive it was if they were on each other's sides.

That was why he didn't mind if Phoebe and he took a little time away from each other. It gave him the perfect opportunity to conduct his meetings. Not that he didn't intentionally exclude her, but he wasn't sure how she would react to seeing demons receive orders to kill innocents. Not when she was so new to being evil.

When Cole was down in the cave that had always been known as the Source's lair, he closed his eyes and telepathically summoned Maseras.

"Yes, my liege?"

"Gather all the faction leaders. It's time I started making it well known that Phoebe and I are here to stay."

Prue was not looking forward to getting home. Mainly because it involved talking to Piper, and if their phone conversation earlier was any indication of how speaking face to face was going to be, then she wasn't too eager to get started on it.

She had known that Piper wouldn't take kindly to the idea of saving Cole. Hell, Prue was barely even able to hold her breakfast down just thinking about it, but in her deepest heart of hearts, she knew that it was the only way to save Phoebe.

Prue had just finished her assignment on photographing one of San Francisco's local celebrity chefs, and once she had turned in her pictures, her boss Gil Corso, had told her she was free to leave.

But she drove down to the cafe on the end of the block and ordered lunch and driven around town for a while before deciding that Piper had calmed down enough to give the idea a chance. Though if she were truly honest with herself, she knew that it would only take a miracle for Piper to see the logic in it.

Prue figured that it would take Paige, Leo, and herself ganging up on Piper for Piper to agree with them, but she would never do that to her. And it would only cause Piper to hate the idea even more. And the bigger picture in all of this was saving Phoebe. In the end, it wasn't Prue or Piper's feelings towards Cole that mattered. It was Phoebe's well being.

Once Prue got home, she parked her black BMW SUV in front of the manor as usual, grabbed her purse and camera equipment from the passenger seat, and walked up the stairs slowly.

When she opened the door, she heard Piper and Leo talking in the living room.

"Hey, guys," she said, announcing her arrival.

Piper and Leo shut up once they realized they were no longer alone, and turned to face Prue, smiles plastered on their faces.

"How was work?" Piper asked automatically.

Frowning, Prue said, "Fine."

Both Piper and Leo were staring at her as though she had just interrupted an important conversation. Prue waited for them to continue, but when it became apparent that they weren't going to, she said, "Look, it's obvious that you were discussing witch-y type stuff, and that involves me too. So whatever you were going to say, you can say to me."

"No, it isn't anything like that. I just told Piper something that I need to discuss with you as well. Something that the Elders told me, and quite frankly I think it's a good idea," Leo said, speaking in code as always.

"Which is?" Prue asked, looking from Leo to Piper, waiting for an answer.

Piper spoke up before Leo could, and it was obvious by Piper's stance that it was something she didn't quite agree with. "The Elders think that Paige should move into the manor."

Prue stared at her younger sister, waiting for some huge bombshell that would explain to her why Piper thought this was such a bad idea.

"And?" Prue asked after a while.

Piper looked at Prue incredulously. "What do you mean 'and?' Don't you think it's a little too soon for her to be moving in?"

"Not really. I mean, she is a Charmed One and we're the strongest when we're here together."

"I agree, but looking at it from a sister aspect..." Piper's voice trailed off and she looked to her feet.

Prue's heart went out to her younger sister. They both had been through so much these past couple of days. It all felt like one giant emotional roller coaster. "I know. It feels like we're completely throwing Phoebe out of our lives, but it's a sacrifice we need to make if we expect to bring her out of the dark. And besides that, Paige is our sister too, and I think it's about time we started to accept her as one."

Piper avoided Prue and turned instead to Leo. I'm not saying that I don't want Paige to live here because I do. And I love her, too. I mean, she's my sister and everything. But...it just seems a little premature to ask her to move in with us. What do yo think, Leo?"

Leo looked at them helplessly, and Prue felt sorry for them to have put him in the middle again. "I think that this has nothing to do with me and everything to do with you guys. You need to work this out for yourselves."

Prue nodded, knowing he would say that. Piper looked annoyed.

"Okay, but could you at least give us a hint? You know, what you think we should do?" she asked.

Leo smiled lovingly and put his hands on Piper's shoulders. "I think that you know that in order for you guys to be as strong as you were when Phoebe was still a Charmed One, you need to have a strong sisterly bond. And the only way you're going to get that is if you get to know Paige better."

Piper nodded. "Well, then I guess we ought to give Paige a call."

Leo leaned in to kiss Piper's cheek, and Prue turned away, wanting to give them privacy without completely leaving the room. She and Piper still needed to talk.

They pulled away a second later and Leo orbed away, presumably back up to the Elders. Piper crossed her arms and turned to Prue, and at that moment Prue could see just how lost and confused Piper must've been feeling.

"What are we supposed to do with her stuff?" Piper asked, and Prue didn't have to ask to know who her sister was referring to.

"We can put it in the attic, at least until we can think of something better to do with it," Prue replied.

She could see tears forming in Piper's eyes, and Prue went over to hug her. "This doesn't mean that we're disowning Phoebe. We're just doing the sensible thing. If our roles were reversed, Phoebe wouldn't hesitate to do the same thing."

"I know that, but it doesn't make it any easier. I know I was all gung-ho on casting Phoebe out of our lives earlier, but i didn't mean it. She's our sister, Prue, and I just feel like..."

Prue stared at her gently. "Feel like what, sweetie?"

Piper sighed, looking as though fresh tears were about to spill. "I just feel like the more we push Phoebe away, the deeper into the Underworld she goes. Like we're the ones to blame for this."

"No, Piper. Don't you say that. This isn't our fault, this isn't Phoebe's fault. This is Cole's fault. We've been over this before. We can't blame ourselves," Prue reminded her at once.

"That doesn't make it any less hard. I mean, she's been with us our entire lives, and having Paige move in feels like we're throwing her out. Sort of like we're sending a message to her. 'Stay away, we don't want you here anymore.' And what if that's how she sees it?"

Prue smiled weakly. "I can see where you're coming from. But we won't let that happen. Should we get into touch with Phoebe again, we'll make it quite clear to her that she is still welcome here. You know, once she's good again."

Piper seemed to consider this. "I know. Why don't I call Paige?"

Prue stepped aside to let Piper pass and decided to pay a visit to her evil sister's bedroom.

When Phoebe entered the Underworld later that day, spell in hand, she had the feeling that Cole was up to something. Something he didn't want her to know about.

A couple of demons that were passing by bowed in respect to her, but she stepped in front of them before they could walk away.

"Where's my husband?" Phoebe demanded.

They looked taken aback by the question, and Phoebe snapped her fingers with impatience. "Hello? I'm talking to you! My husband, Cole Turner, also known as the Source?"

The first demon gulped. He looked up, purposefully avoiding making eye contact. "He's in the lair, my queen. In a meeting."

"A meeting? With who?" Phoebe asked, although the last question was more to herself than to the demons kneeling before her.

"I...I think with the faction leaders, my queen," the second demon said, his eyes glued to his shoes.

Frowning, Phoebe brushed past them and headed down the all-too familiar path to the Source's lair. It wasn't too far, luckily. Just a pain to have to chase down her husband when he had important business with her to discuss.

Phoebe didn't understand why he was down here when it had been his idea to find a way to ensure they wouldn't be torn apart my magic in the first place. While she hadn't been too worried that her sisters would give them a magical divorce, she had to admit that it would be pretty naive if they didn't at least consider it.

When she stomped into the lair, she saw Cole standing before many demons Phoebe thought she had vanquished with her sisters as a Charmed One. Cole hadn't seen her arrive, and she watched for a second, trying to figure out what they were talking about.

"You're all dismissed." Cole's professional voice ended the meeting, and the various demons shimmered out, leaving Cole and Phoebe alone.

"Ah, Phoebe. Just in time," Cole said warmly, walking over to his wife and smiling at her.

"Just in time for what?"

Cole indicated the piece of paper clutched in Phoebe's hand. "You're planning on getting the Book of Shadows, right?"

Phoebe regarded the paper and Cole. "Since when are you so excited to try something you think won't work?"

"Since I've figured out that it's going to work."

Phoebe smiled. "Really? Why the change of heart?"

Cole shrugged, touching his fingertips together. "Just a feeling. A really good feeling. Are you ready?"

Phoebe let out a high-pitched squeal and wrapped her arm around his.

She let him envelope her in the feeling of being shimmered, and a moment later they were in the attic of the manor.

When they got there, they noticed that the place was empty. She crept silently to the door.

"Phoebe, what are you doing?" Cole asked as he looked around the attic. "It's been forever since I've been up here."

"Shh! I'm trying to hear that they're talking about!" Phoebe hissed.

"Who?" Cole asked as he went to join his wife by the door.

"My sisters. It sounds like they're arguing about something."

"Since when do you care?"

Phoebe shrugged. "I don't...It's just that in a strange way I feel connected to my sisters."

She was glad that Cole didn't say anything about how she and her sisters were now estranged and that technically they were enemies now that they were on different sides. No matter how evil she became and how hard they would fight to get her back, it was nice to hear that some things, like bickering sisters, would never change.

After a while Phoebe walked away. "Alright, let's do this. It's now or never."

She unwrapped the paper she held and began to read out loud:

'Book of Shadows, mystical and fine,

Come to me so I may find

A way to be, no matter what,

With my love, the one I sought.'

As Phoebe had expected, the magical tone glowed bright yellow and jumped into her outstretched arms.

At that moment the door burst open, and Phoebe turned to find Prue, Piper, and Paige staring at her and Cole, their mouths hanging wide open.

"Busted," Phoebe murmured silently to herself.