Chapter 120: The Importance of Being Phoebe
Paige is driving along the road, talking on her phone to Phoebe. "Okay, so I've stopped at five herb shops but I finally found some eye of newt. So if it's good enough for Shakespeare's witches, I figured it'd help us put a serious dent in Cole."
"Look, we've tried everything to vanquish him but nothing works, okay. So I just say we watch our backs and get on with our lives. Speaking of which, do you think eye of newt would work on the woman that's trying to sue me?" Phoebe says.
"Is she demonic?" Paige asks.
"Well, she's demonically stupid. Paige, I am seriously worried that I'm going to lose my job over this." Phoebe says.
"For giving bad advice in your column?" Paige asks.
"No, the advice wasn't bad, I never told her she should leave the guy at the altar." Phoebe says.
Paige sighs, "Either way, what happened to freedom of the press?"
"Well, apparently some dirt bag lawyer is finding a way around it." Phoebe says as Paige passes a demon wearing a suit, standing on the side of the road. He waves his hand and something blows on her car. Her car spins out of control and Paige screams. "Paige? "Paige's car crashes into another car and she is knocked unconscious. "Paige, are you okay? Paige, do you hear me? Are you okay? Paige."
Later at the hospital Dawn, Piper, Phoebe and Paige are there. Paige is in the hospital bed, Phoebe sits on the end of the bed, Piper sits beside in a chair, and Dawn stands beside Piper.
"Are you sure you don't want to call Leo?" Piper asks.
Paige shakes her head, "No, no, it's just a mild concussion and besides, I don't deserve to be healed. I know better than to talk on the phone and drive, I don't know what I was thinking."
"Do you remember what happened?" Piper asks.
"I was speaking to Phoebe and then the next thing I know the car just started spinning out of control." Paige says.
"Hm, it's kinda like my career." Phoebe says.
"Oh, honey, it's not that bad is it?" Paige asks.
Phoebe sighs, "I think it is. The newspaper's lawyers wanna meet with me and I don't think it's because they're huge Phoebe fans."
"Well, I'll see you your career and raise you Buffy's club. The health inspector's coming back today and the plumbing just exploded, again." Piper says.
Dawn sighs, "I'll add in Riley dumping Buffy."
They all nod knowing Buffy has them topped at the moment.
"What is going on with us? Is Mercury in retrograde?" Paige asks
"Have you thought about using a magical band-aid?" Phoebe asks.
"I'd do it in a heartbeat if I wasn't afraid of the personal gain consequences." Piper says. "Especially if it helped Buffy get over Riley."
"See, this is why demons always have the upper hand, you know. They can use their magic whenever they want to." Phoebe says.
"Yeah, well, you know, that's what separates good from evil." Piper says.
"Yeah, I know that but it's still very tempting. I mean, you could fix your plumbing; I could turn some lawyers into toads. Buffy could turn an ex-boyfriend into a toad." Phoebe says.
"Aunt Phoebe, little wiccans have very big ears that can hear you." Piper says.
"Oh, I'm sorry, baby, I was only kidding! Mostly." Phoebe says. "Are you going to be okay because I have to go get fired now."
Paige nods, "You are not getting fired and I'm fine."
"From your mouth to god's ears," Phoebe says as she kisses Paige on the head and turns to Piper's stomach. "Okay, bye, my little niece." She kisses Piper's stomach.
"You're smashing me." Piper says.
"I love you." Phoebe says.
"Get off me!" Piper says.
Phoebe turns to Dawn, "Are you going back to the Manor?"
Dawn nods, "Soon. I don't want to leave Buffy alone too long."
Phoebe nods, "Give her my love. And of course that goes double for yourself Dawnie." She turns and leaves.
"This is no segue but Piper, you and I need to talk about vanquishing Cole." Paige says.
"'Cause we don't have enough problems at the moment?" Piper asks.
Paige shakes her head, "No, because he's actually our biggest problem at the moment. Okay, look at Phoebe; it's totally beaten her down."
Piper shakes her head, "I don't know, she seemed kind of cheerful considering the state of her career."
Paige sighs, "That's this wonderful thing called denial. Okay, the Phoebe I know would never roll over for lawyers like that. This morning when I was talking to her about vanquishing Cole, she told me I was wasting my time. I'm telling you she is off."
Piper sighs, "Alright, okay, already. Well, we'll spend the afternoon with our noses in potions. But can I go save the soul source of our income first?"
"Yeah, go, I'll see you later." Paige says.
"Are you okay to orb? Maybe Dawn should shimmer you?" Piper says.
Paige shakes her head, "I'm perfectly fine to orb. Go. In fact Dawn why don't you shimmer back to the Manor and check on Buffy."
"Alright," Dawn and Piper say as they leave the room.
At Payson's P5 Piper, Leo and the Health Inspector are there. The Inspector has stamped a file saying 'condemned'.
"Oh, no, no, no, don't do that. Come on, you've gotta give me another chance." Piper says.
"And why is that?" Health Inspector asks.
"Because, because, because..." Piper says.
"Because we've been in business nearly four years and we haven't failed an inspection yet." Leo says. "Plus the club is in trust for the owner. What will it mean when she turns 21 in a little over a year?"
"Well, I'd have to disagree with that, Mr. Wyatt. You've failed two this week." Health Inspector says. "And about the owner. Well you can explain to her what she needs to address. If she wishes Mrs. Halliwell to reopen the club for her before she turns 21."
"Yeah, but this week has been bad, like strangely bad and we'll have the plumbing fixed tomorrow so can't you just come back then?" Piper says.
"Well, your record has been impeccable until now." Health Inspector says as a rat squeaks and crawls past his feet. "Whoa, hello." Piper gasps. "Rats too."
Piper shakes her head, "No! No, we don't have rats. They don't live here. They're just; they're just trying to ruin my life."
"Rodent infestation takes longer than a day to clear up. Close down, address the problem, and we'll schedule another inspection in a few weeks." Health Inspector says.
"We won't need another inspection in a few weeks because if we stay closed that long, we'll be out of business. And Payson's inheritance will have gone down the drain." Piper says.
"Sorry, there's nothing I can do." Health Inspector says.
Leo nods, "Alright, well, I'll show you out."
Leo and the Inspector head for the door.
Piper grabs a broom. "Where are you?" She chases the rats with the broom. "I hate you, I hate you. Go home! Get out of here you plague spreading, club ruining rodent. I will get you!" She tries to blow up the rat but misses and gets a chair.
Leo walks back in. "Piper, what are you doing?"
Piper sighs, "Diminishing the rodent population obviously."
"Come on, honey, we're gonna get through this." Leo says.
Piper goes over and sits on the stairs. "Yeah, we will but the club won't. How can this be happening? I mean, I know I've neglected the club since I've been pregnant but not this much. What am I going to tell Buffy? She trusted me to run this place for her after Prue, Phoebe and I decided to give it to her."
"These things happen, it's just bad luck." Leo says. "I'll tell you what I'll talk to Buffy about what's going on."
Piper shakes her head, "No, it is more than bad luck, it is sabotage, it is... it's demonic."
"What?" Leo asks.
Piper nods, "Well, yeah. Phoebe's lawsuit, Paige's accident, Riley leaving Buffy... Well, that's it, it's all part of it, it has to be."
"Why?" Leo asks.
"Because I said so and if not, we're losing the club which is just not an option." Piper says as she and Leo leave the club.
At the Manor Dawn comes up the stairs and into hers and Buffy's room. "Buffy?"
Buffy sighs and looks at her younger sister, "What?"
"Paige was in an accident." Dawn says.
Buffy sits up her grief over Riley temporarily forgotten over concern for Paige, "What? What happened?"
"She's fine. She has a mild concussion. They should be releasing her soon." Dawn said.
Buffy smiled, "That's good. At least it wasn't anything serious.
Later downstairs Piper opens the front door to let Darryl in. "Darryl, have you heard from Paige? Because she was supposed to come straight home from the hospital but..."
"Paige is in jail. We tried to call you but..." Darryl says.
Buffy and Dawn come up behind Piper, with dual looks of concern.
"What? What for?" Buffy asks.
"Reckless endangerment and felony hit and run." Darryl says.
"What?" Piper, Buffy and Dawn asks, concerned.
Suddenly, Paige orbs in, she sees Darryl is there. "Oops."
"You have got to be kidding me." Darryl says.
"Paige, Darryl said you were in jail." Piper says.
Paige nods, "Oh, I am. I mean, I was, I will be. Just as soon as I figure out what demon is doing this to me."
"You just disappeared from jail?" Darryl asks.
Paige shakes her head, "No! I put pillows in the bed first. It always worked at my parents' house."
"Paige!" Darryl says.
"What? You weren't gonna help me so I had to help myself. Whether you believe it or not, there is a demon behind this." Paige says.
Darryl sighs, "At two o'clock, they're gonna come get you for your bail hearing. If you're not there, that's my ass. Everybody knows we're friends. They're gonna just think I let you go."
"I will be there at two o'clock." Paige says as Darryl leaves.
"See ya." Dawn says as she closes the door.
Paige sighs, "Okay, he hates me."
"Yeah, he does. But for what it's worth I'm with you. Leo's doing the Elder thing." Piper says. "In fact I have a small theory about Riley."
Buffy sighs, "What about him?"
"Well I think we have a demon problem. The club has been shut down pending a new health inspection in a couple weeks. Paige gets arrested. Phoebe is being sued. Since the club is associated with me more than you since my names on the deed and licenses till you turn 21. That means I was targeted because of it. I think you were targeted also. I think a demon used magic to get Riley out of your life." Piper says.
Paige nods, "Let's just cut to the chase, shall we? Our problems are legal, right? Well most of them. Who's the only demonic lawyer we know? Who's the only one powerful enough to affect all of our lives?"
"Cole. And he has gone off the deep end lately. But how is ruining our lives gonna help him get Phoebe back?" Buffy asks.
"I don't know. But until we figure it out we should keep her out of it." Paige says.
Later in Cole's office building, the elevator doors open and Buffy, Dawn, Piper and Paige walk out. They head for Cole's office.
"So what are we gonna do?" Piper asks.
"We're gonna tell him we're on to him and it's not gonna work." Paige says.
Buffy looks to Dawn, "I agreed you coming along because this affects you as much as us. But if it turns out he's going to start throwing fireballs I want you to shimmer out."
Dawn sighs and nods, "Ok."
They walk into Cole's office and see Cole and Phoebe making out on his desk. They watch in shock.
Moments later they've left Cole's office and are standing in the hallway, looking grossed out.
"I can't believe I saw what I just saw." Paige says.
"Well, believe it 'cause I saw it too." Piper says.
"So did we," Buffy says, indicating herself and Dawn.
"How, why is she kissing him?" Paige asks.
"That's a good question," Dawn says. "I thought she hated Cole."
Piper sighs, "I don't know we all thought she hated Cole, but I say we go back in there and we pull her out by her hair."
Buffy shakes her head, "No, no, we can't make a scene. Okay, we need a plan."
Piper nods, "Okay, here it is. We go home, we vomit..."
"And?" Paige asks.
"That's all I got so far." Piper says.
Buffy and Dawn nods as they say together, "Okay."
Later back at the Manor they are talking with Leo.
"There's not, there's no... Are you sure?" Leo asks.
"Leo, we saw Phoebe and Cole tongues locked, hands groping all over each other." Paige says as she shivers.
"Okay, didn't need the visual." Leo says.
Dawn raises her hand, "I have to second that. I'm still trying to get the image of actually seeing it out of my mind."
"Well, maybe he has her under some kind of mind control. I mean, he can do that, that's possible, right?" Piper says.
Leo nods, "Right. I think right now he could do pretty much anything he wanted."
"Why? What do you mean?" Buffy asks.
"Well, the Elders have sensed a major surge in demonic activity. They think that evil is organizing under a new leader." Leo says.
Paige frowns, "Oh, that's just great because the last time Cole was the leader of the Underworld, he took Phoebe as his queen and we were completely blindsided by it that time too. Oh my god, that's why she didn't want me to try to vanquish him."
"She was talking this morning about being tempted." Piper says.
Paige nods, "She was trying to warn us and we didn't even see it."
Buffy sighs, "Now my own problems seem to have paled in comparison."
"Okay, this just cannot be happening, people. I mean, Phoebe would not do this to us. I mean, it cannot, cannot, cannot be happening!" Piper says.
"Okay, let's just calm down, okay. The last time Phoebe was evil she was under the influence of her demonic pregnancy." Leo says.
"So what, you're saying you think she's pregnant again?" Buffy asks.
Leo shakes his head, "No! I just think that maybe we're underestimating her. Maybe there's something that we're missing."
"Ugh." Dawn says.
"We saw what we saw." Paige says.
"Okay, well, maybe she's under a spell. Or-or maybe there was some information that she wanted and she was using sex as a tool." Leo says.
Piper shakes her head, "Okay, I like the sound of that. Slutty and manipulative, that's better than evil any day."
Leo sighs, "So let's not panic. Let's talk to Phoebe and give her the chance to explain what's going on." The clock chimes two o'clock. "By the way, Darryl called."
"Oh." Paige says as she orbs out.
Later Phoebe walks in through the front door. Buffy, Dawn, Piper and Leo walk in from the living room.
"Oh, uh, hi, Piper," Phoebe says, "Buffy, Dawn."
"Don't you hi Piper me. We saw you." Piper says.
"I thought you said you were gonna be calm." Leo says.
"I am calm." Piper says.
"Well I'm not." Buffy says.
"You saw me what?" Phoebe asks.
"Don't act like you don't know what we're talking about." Piper says.
"Trust me, it's not an act." Phoebe says.
Dawn sighs, "We saw you making out with Cole."
"Okay, well, that's just not possible, you see, because I'm pretty sure that I hate Cole, right?" Phoebe asks.
"Phoebe, I am pregnant, I am emotional and I am freaking out. And if you are back together with Cole then that is just fine but do not deny what we just saw." Buffy says.
Phoebe sighs, "Okay, alright, then, uh, I'm back together with Cole."
"What?" Leo asks.
"What? How can you say that?" Piper asks.
"Wh- I thought Buffy said it was fine?" Phoebe says.
"Well, I didn't mean it and for goddess' sakes the man mummified you." Buffy says.
"Whoa, seriously?" Phoebe asks.
"Something's not right, her memory seems gone." Leo whispers.
"Okay, that's a good sign. Now Phoebe, try and focus. Does Cole have you under some kind of spell?" Piper asks.
"Maybe." Phoebe says.
Buffy nods, "Maybe, maybe is good. Because magic we can fight, lust, desperation, insanity we cannot fight, but magic we can fight."
"Unless you've used your powers for evil." Leo says.
"Which you haven't, have you?" Dawn asks.
Phoebe shakes her head, "No, no, I don't think so and that would be the worst thing ever, right?"
"Oh, yeah, we couldn't bring you back from that," Leo says.
"Okay, so this is what we have to do. You have to take away my powers so I don't misuse them." Phoebe says.
"Yes. She's not evil, you're not evil." Piper says.
"So you think Cole has you under his control?" Leo asks.
"Well, yeah, why else would I have kissed Cole? Oh my god, what has he done to me?" Phoebe asks.
"Oh, no, honey, it's gonna be okay." Buffy says.
"Yes, it is going to be okay, it's going to be okay once you take away my powers, you know, just to be safe." Phoebe says.
"Buffy, Piper, if you take away her powers she's going to be really vulnerable." Leo says.
"But you guys can protect me, right?" Phoebe asks.
Leo shrugs, "Well, I don't know. If Cole is reorganizing the Underworld, you're gonna need the Power of Three."
"No, as long as we're the ones to take it away we can bring it back but if Cole's got Phoebe under his control..." Piper says.
"Yes, she's right. I am my own worst enemy. The sooner we weaken me the better." Phoebe says.
A few minutes later Piper and Buffy are reciting a spell as Dawn and Leo watch. "This witch's power cannot fight, the lure of evil's magic might, before misuse lands her in hell, remove the powers of Phoebe Halliwell."
"Well, it wasn't my best work but it should've done the trick. Are you okay?" Piper says.
"How do you feel?" Leo asks.
"Um, fine." Phoebe says.
"So the spell worked?" Buffy asks.
"Why wouldn't it?" Phoebe asks.
"You know, maybe you should try it out. Try levitating." Leo says.
Phoebe puts her arms in the air.
"What are you doing?" Dawn asks.
"Well, I just thought I'd try everything." Phoebe says.
"So you can't levitate?" Leo says.
"No, apparently not. That means the spell worked, right?" Phoebe says.
Piper shakes her head, "I don't know, you're still kind of weird. Maybe the spell had a side effect?"
"Or maybe I just feel sick because I had to kiss Cole." Phoebe says.
Piper smiles, "Ah, that's my girl."
"Yeah, maybe I need to go and rest for a little while, you know." Phoebe says.
Leo nods, "That's a good idea."
Piper, Buffy and Dawn walk Phoebe up to her room.
"Okay, honey, why don't you just lay down for a little while?" Buffy says.
"Do you want some tea or something?" Piper asks.
"Tea sounds great." Phoebe says.
Piper smiles, "Tea, yes." She, Buffy and Dawn walk out of the room closing the door behind them. "Dawn, sweetie. Why don't you stay here? Keep an eye on Phoebe. Let us know if she does anything out of the norm for her."
"Okay." Dawn says as she pulls a chair out of her and Buffy's room and sits by Phoebe's door as Piper and Buffy go downstairs to make the tea.
15 minutes later Piper comes back upstairs, "Anything?"
Dawn shakes her head, "She hasn't come out of her room. Uhm how's Buffy?"
Piper smiles, "Buffy's doing much better, sweetie. Since she has something to take her mind of Riley." She tries the door and finds it locked. "Weird."
"What?" Dawn asks.
"The door's locked." Piper says as she knocks on the door. "Are you okay? Phoebe?" Phoebe opens the door, wearing headphones. She takes them off. "Didn't you hear me knocking?"
"No, I was listening to music to help me relax." Phoebe says.
"Why was the door locked?" Dawn asks.
Buffy walks up behind them. "That was Paige on the phone, things just got a whole lot worse."
Later at the Police station Paige is sitting on the bed with a blanket wrapped around her. Buffy, Dawn, Piper, Phoebe, Leo and Darryl are standing outside of the jail cell.
"How did she die? I thought it was just a concussion." Piper says.
"The doctors think there was a blood clot in her brain." Darryl says.
Paige sighs, "It's all my fault."
"No, it isn't." Dawn says.
"Yeah, it is, I killed her." Paige says.
Buffy shakes her head, "No, you didn't, Cole did."
"What?" Darryl asks.
"Look, we can't prove it but we found out that he has Phoebe under some kind of mind control, which means he's probably behind all of this." Piper says.
"That evil bastard," Phoebe says.
Paige nods, "He's killing innocent people."
"Alright, let's get you outta here. Come on, open this thing up." Piper says.
"It's not gonna be so easy." Paige says.
"Why?" Buffy asks.
"When the other driver died, the prosecuting attorney charged Paige with vehicular homicide. The judge set the bail at fifty thousand dollars." Darryl says.
Piper frowns, "Oh my god, where are we gonna get that kind of money."
"The club was shut down." Buffy says.
"It's after six, the banks aren't even open." Leo says.
"Bail bondsman. We'll just go to a bail bondsman." Phoebe says.
"Just go. Do that light thing that you do. I will try to cover for you." Darryl says.
"What about your job?" Paige asks.
Darryl shakes his head, "It doesn't matter. You know, I should've believed you in the first place. I will cover for you."
"No, because if they figure out that Paige is gone, she will be in even more trouble. We'll go to a bail bondsman, that's what they're there for." Phoebe says.
Dawn shakes her head, "No, I'll shimmer her in and out."
Piper shakes her head, "Dawn sweetie, I think Phoebe might be right." She looks to Phoebe. "But you don't have to be so cheerful about it."
"I'm just saying we can't leave Paige in jail overnight. You know, that's exactly what Cole wants, I'm sure." Phoebe says.
"For that kind of bail you're gonna need some heavy duty collateral." Darryl says.
"I'd do the club." Buffy says. "But with it losing money because it's shut down, no bail bondsman will touch it."
Piper sighs, "Then we'll have to use the house."
Later at a Bail bondsman Office; Piper and Phoebe are sitting on one side of a desk. Cecil, the Bail Bondsman is sitting on the other side. Buffy and Dawn are standing beside Piper and Phoebe.
"This will cover the fifty thousand bail. Sign here and here. And, uh, I'm gonna hold on to the grant deed to your house. You'll get it back when the jail bird shows up for court." Cecil says.
"Oh, it'll be fine. Paige won't skip bail." Phoebe says.
"Alright, just, uh, sign there." Cecil says.
Piper signs the paper. "This doesn't feel right."
"It never does, lady, it never does. There's the receipt. Hold onto it. That's it. Your sister shows up for court you pay me back, plus ten percent." Cecil says.
Piper sighs, "Let's go make this worth our while."
Buffy, Dawn, Piper and Phoebe leave the office. Cecil morphs into Cole. Cole looks at the deed, smiles and puts it in his pocket.
Later back at the Manor Buffy flames in as Dawn shimmers in and Piper, Phoebe, Paige and Leo orb in.
"Okay, people, let's move. The sooner we destroy Cole's headquarters, the sooner I feel better about this whole damn day." Piper says.
They notice three demons lounging around in their living room.
"Piper, we've got a bit of a situation in here." Paige says.
Cole stands on the stairs. "Oops, I knew I forgot something. My mother always warned me about protecting my house from orbing, flaming and shimmering. The last two of course of the witch variety, not the demonic variety."
"Your house?" Buffy asks.
Cole nods, "Yes," He pulls the deed out of his pocket, "and Piper, you signed it, I have it. You could take me to court, try to evict me but by then it will be too late."
"Too late for what?" Dawn asks.
"Cole, I don't know what you think you're doing, but we have the paperwork that says the house is ours unless Paige forfeits bail." Piper says.
Phoebe holds up the receipt "Correction." She walks over to Cole. "I have the paperwork."
"Phoebe, what's going on?" Paige asks.
Phoebe shapeshifts into Kaia.
"Oh… my… goddess." Buffy says.
Cole waves his hand and pushes Buffy, Dawn, Piper, Paige and Leo outside. He wiggles his fingers and the front door slams shut, activating a force field.
They stand on the sidewalk looking at the house as Leo tries to sense Phoebe.
"Okay, we said something about hell and I rhymed it with Halliwell." Piper says.
"How can you two not keep a copy of the spell you used to take away our sisters powers?" Paige asks.
Buffy sighs, "It was a crappy spell, okay? So we left it in the house, alright? Forgive us for not anticipating the demonic foreclosure."
"What does he want in the house anyway? Is he after both Book of Shadows?" Dawn asks.
"I still can't sense Phoebe." Leo says.
"Oh, god, do you think she's even still alive?" Paige asks.
Piper shakes her head, "Cole wouldn't kill her. I don't think."
"What about floozy Phoebe? Maybe she's got something up her sleeve?" Paige asks.
"Are you trying to help or are you just gonna ramble?" Piper asks.
"I'm just gonna ramble." Paige says.
"Alright, Paige, that's enough. Buffy, Piper, you both need to work on the spell. If Phoebe is still alive, she's gonna need her powers." Leo says.
"What about me?" Dawn asks. "What can I do to help? I know I'm still in training but I want to help."
Buffy looks at her little sister and nods. "For now watch the house."
At Cole's apartment Phoebe is thrown against the wall.
"You don't deserve him." Kaia says.
"How many times do I have to tell you I don't want him?" Phoebe says as she attacks Kaia.
Kaia blocks Phoebe's kicks and punches. "I want the real Phoebe, I love the real Phoebe. You'll never be as good as the real Phoebe." Kaia throws Phoebe against a mirror and Phoebe falls to the floor. "What do you think, witch? Am I as good as you?" She pulls out the knife. "Or better?"
Phoebe gets up. "Okay, alright, look, I'm sure we can talk about this."
"I don't think so. See," Kaia says, "I'm more of a looker than a talker."
"Oh, you're blonde, I should've known." Phoebe says.
Kaia smiels, "This is gonna be fun." A light hits Phoebe and her powers return. Kaia throws the knife at Phoebe and she levitates in the air. "Your powers!"
Kaia attacks Phoebe and Phoebe kicks her in the stomach, sending Kaia across the room. Phoebe grabs the knife and Kaia runs towards Phoebe.
Phoebe stabs Kaia in the stomach. "You were right, that was fun." Kaia is vanquished. Phoebe levitates up into the vent. "Leo!"
Outside the Manor, Leo orbs in with Phoebe.
Piper smiles, "Hi!"
"We're really sorry." Buffy says.
Piper nods, "Yeah, we're sorry."
"Sorry." Buffy says.
"Are you okay?" Dawn asks.
Phoebe nods, "It's okay, it's okay, I'm okay, I'm not mad. Well, maybe I'm a little bit mad. I mean, what took you guys so long and what happened to my powers?"
"Uh, well, she looked like you." Leo says.
Paige nods, "At the hospital you said you were tempted and that you didn't want us to vanquish him."
"Then we saw you making out with Cole and we all got a little panicky." Piper says.
"Excuse me, did you really think I was making out with Cole?" Phoebe asks.
"We mentioned we were sorry?" Buffy says.
"You guys! Okay, well, I'm assuming since you're standing out on the street that means Cole's in the house?" Phoebe asks.
Dawn nods, "Yeah."
Piper sighs, "But we don't know why."
"He wants the Nexus." Phoebe says.
"Oh, no, he does not." Buffy says.
"Wait, didn't I read about that in the Book of Shadows? Isn't that what made you evil before?" Paige says.
"How does he know about that?" Piper asks.
"He knows everything about us. Okay, look, if he wants its power, he's gonna have to open the earth under the basement and take the shadow into him." Phoebe says.
"Okay, so how do we stop him?" Leo asks.
"Well, we can't, but once he has the shadow, there is a spell that can send it back into the earth and hopefully taking Cole with him." Phoebe says.
"Yeah, but it has to be said over the Nexus in the basement." Buffy says.
"Great, there's only a whole load of demons in the house and a force field keeping us out." Paige says.
"But the one good thing about Cole's little girlfriend, who is dead by the way, she looks just like me." Phoebe says.
"Wait a second, so you're gonna pretend to be her, pretending to be you?" Dawn asks.
"If you go in there, you'll be vulnerable." Piper says.
"To turning evil? Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's his plan. Look, you guys underestimated me once already today, please don't do it again." Phoebe says.
Buffy nods, "She twirled her hair."
"A lot." Paige says.
"She twirled her hair. Like this?" Phoebe says as she twirls a piece of hair around her finger. Buffy, Dawn, Piper and Paige nod. "Okay, I'm going in."
On the porch a demon guard is there. He rings the doorbell. Phoebe approaches him and takes his arm.
"Hey, baby, wanna escort a girl inside?" Phoebe asks.
"Kaia, are you still playing good witch?" Demon Guard asks.
"It's the way the big man likes it." Phoebe says.
"Sick." Demon Guard says.
The door opens and Phoebe and the guard walk in. The hallway is full of demons.
"Hey, look who it is." Demon #1 says.
Phoebe smiles, "Hi, boys, did you miss me?"
Demon #1 nods, "Alright, the entertainment's here." He touches Phoebe's butt and she jumps.
"Hey! Sorry. I'm just, you know, saving the goods for Cole. Take my jacket." Phoebe says.
Phoebe walks into the kitchen where a demon guard stands at the basement door. "Step aside and let a lady by?"
"You're no lady, Kaia. And the boss sent you away." Demon Guard #2 says.
"Yeah, but he didn't mean it. Come on, let me past." Phoebe says.
"I'll let you past if you can drop that witch act right now." Demon Guard #2 says.
Phoebe kicks him and he falls down the basement stairs.
In the basement Cole is there, chanting. The guard rolls down the stairs. Phoebe races down the stairs. The floor opens up and the shadow enters Cole. He gasps and his eyes turn black then return to normal.
"I'm so happy you came." Cole says.
"I am light; I am one too strong to fight." Phoebe says.
"Oh, don't fight it, Phoebe. Let evil take you." Cole says.
"Return to dark where shadows dwell, you can't have this Halliwell." Phoebe says.
"It's no use, Phoebe." Cole says.
"So go away and leave my sight, and take with you this endless night." Phoebe says.
A tunnel of wind rises out of the hole in the floor and sucks Cole and the Demon Guard into the hole. It swirls upstairs and sucks every demon into the hole. The hole closes up.
Cole appears. "My sweet Phoebe. I don't know how you did it. How you got past the force field, past the guards, but I love that you did. It's that fight that made me fall in love with you in the first place."
"I thought you were dead." Phoebe says.
Cole nods, "So did I for a minute there but now that I know the earth can't even hold me, I guess I'll just call the shadow and try again."
"You could do that. Hell, you could even turn me evil again. But you will never win because I'll never come back to you." Phoebe says.
"Phoebe." Cole says.
Phoebe shakes her head, "You just don't get it, Cole, do you? I thought you were dead and I felt nothing. No pain, no love, nothing. I'm free. And when we do vanquish you, and we will, I'll never look back."
Cole disappears.
Upstairs Buffy, Dawn, Piper, Paige and Leo walk in to the foyer.
"Okay, where are they? Where are the demons?" Paige asks.
Phoebe walks in from the kitchen, "Sorry, my sweeties, but they're all dead."
"You didn't even leave us one?" Piper asks.
Phoebe smiles, "Well, there's one left. Believe me, there is one left. But I was able to get back the house and keep Cole from getting the Nexus."
"Phew. What about your job? And my club?" Buffy asks.
"I think you can use your magic to reverse Cole's consequence free." Leo says. "Well all except maybe Riley leaving."
"Well, thank the lord for that." Piper says.
"It won't reverse everything though. What about the woman he killed?" Paige says.
"I promise you he won't get away with that." Phoebe says.