Part Nine

Summary: The Avatars turned down Cole's request to stop Richard Montana using his magic after he had a vision of him doing evil. He takes matters in to his own hands and returns to Earth, threatening Richard to stop using magic. He enlists the help of future white lighter Chris who agrees Richard needs to be stopped. The sisters and Richard discovered who they're dealing with and there's more shouting. Cole is punished by the Avatars for interfering and is forced to live back on earth as Belthazor, he tries confronting Richard at his estate but he has the backing of the Charmed ones and Cole is forced to re-think his plan.

It's a new day and Cole and Lana are back at the Penthouse. Lana awakens to find Cole is no longer in her bed. "Cole?" Lana calls out as she enters the living area putting on her dressing gown to see Cole sitting in the dark.

"When did you get up?" She asks as she walks over to drawer the curtains and let in the night."

"Last night was a mistake." He tells her, staring forward and not making eye contact with the demonic witch.

Lana smiles at the shaggy haired, bearded Cole whom is still dressed in his avatar gear. "I'm not some teenage girl with a crush, I just enjoyed the company." She tells him, sitting next to him on the couch.

Bright orbs illuminate the room, forming a silhouette of a person and finally taking the form of Chris.

Cole stares blankly at the new arrival for a moment, seemingly unsurprised to see him.

"You're late." He calmly tells the white lighter, now standing to greet him.

"It's 8am, where do I tell the girls I'm going at this time?" Chris questions.

Cole ignores his question and walks away from the couch and over towards the elevator in order to face them both. "Right now, you two are the only ones I trust…"

Lana stands and extends her hand to Chris, "I don't think we've been properly introduced yet?"

Chris looks at her for a moment and turns back to Cole, "Look I haven't got long, they think I'm consulting the Elders about you. But I am on your side; I've seen that future too, remember? I'm from there. By that time he's not the only problem the girls had to deal with, what with Wyatt and all."

Lana, looks confused for a moment, "You're from the future?"

"One possible future." Cole informs his companion.

"I don't understand how we lost Phoebes support; she was there in the white room with me and dad." Chris said, thinking aloud.

"The Avatars…" Cole simple said.

"Who else?" Lana continued.

"What? They did something to Phoebe's mind?" Chris asked.

"She thinks I made it up, what with the Avatars taking me away. Why do you think she never questioned your part in this?"

Chris nods in agreement, "At least dad's on our side. He can talk mom 'round."

"I'm not so sure he is… I could still hear him when I was being dragged away; he was quick to assume the Avatars were taking me…"

"Unless he didn't, and he already knew." Lana chipped in.

"Makes sense." Cole agreed.

"Does it?" Chris argued. "How would dad already know?"

"When I spoke to him at the Manor, he seemed to know a lot about the Avatars. Yet the Charmed Ones didn't and neither do you." He tells Chris as the pieces in his head start to come together. "That's because the Elders know nothing about the Avatars, very few do… What's Leo up to?" He asks himself.

"Of course, Leo was trying to make you believe he was on your side? Yet when did he ever agree with you on anything? He convinced Phoebe because he knew she would always believe him over you. So why not just deny everything?" Lana quizzed.

Chris was completely lost in this; he simply looked back and forth at Cole and Lana waiting for one of them to reach a conclusion.

"Because he wanted me thrown out of the Avatars, he let me interact with Phoebe because he knew the Avatars would look down on that sort of thing. Leo knew about the Avatars because he's seen them before, I sensed it when I spoke to him yet I didn't piece it together. I assumed he had potential, but it's more than that!"

"You're way off Cole!" Chris argued. "I know what you're thinking; my dad is not an Avatar!

Brushing his unkempt hair back with his hands for a moment as he slowly comes to terms with the truth about is old brother in law; Cole finally snaps his fingers and points at the dark haired young man standing across from him. "You should have known!" He coldly tells him.

Lana looks at Chris for a moment and when he simply shakes his head, she walks over to Cole. "If you're right, whose side is he on?" She asks.

"It would make him neutral." Chris finally responds, coming to the realisation that the once district attorney must be right.

"It's a good question Lana…" Cole responds, ignoring Chris's conclusion as he swipes his hand across his face to remove the beard with his powers. "…And it's time to find out!" He says with a devilish grin. "Get dressed."

TO BE CONTINUED!