Coles pain at Christmas - Completed

[~B@MeLiSsA30@B~]

This is insane what Cole is going through to be with Phoebe. It's really sad Barbas is torturing him like this. Making Cole not have a choice. I do agree though he should tell Phoebe and get killed however he gets killed then kill an innocent and know that the girls will kill him. He knows he wont have Phoebe that way. So telling them would be his best bet.

[*Sammi!*]

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

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Everything went misty around Cole.
"Cole... Cole... COLE!!"
"Ouch!!" Cole felt a sharp stinging, and jumped up. "Phoebe! Why did you slap me?"
"Sorry, you were shouting and wouldnt wake up!" She explained. Cole looked around and realised that he was back in the chapel, and his head was banging.
"Here, let me help you up" Phoebe offered. She pulled him up and looked into his eyes. Coles heart melted. Those big brown eyes were one of the things that he loved so much about Phoebe. If you looked closely you could see that they sometimes reflected green in the sun when she was happy. Yet, now he could see pain and anguish in them.
"How did you find me?" He asked.
"A woman told me that there was a guy unconcious on the floor, and as you were nowhere to be found I assumed it was you. Crazy really, you would have thought with it being a hospital that someone would have helped you." She managed a weak smile. Cole touched the back of his head, which felt warm and wet.
"Ouch" He cursed. Phoebe looked up.
"Are you hurt baby?" She asked. Oh how Cole would miss that.
"Im fine, just must of hit my head pretty hard on the fall down" He explained.
"How did you do it?" Phoebe asked again.
"I felt a bit dizzy, and the next thing I know, you woke me up!" He lied. There was nothing else he could say.
"Oh, the hero is a bit tired and stressed!" She cooed and stood on her toes to reach and kiss him. Cole returned the kiss and felt extremely guilty.
"Come on baby, lets go see Paige!" She welcomed as she took his hand and walked him out of the chapel.
As they walked back into the room where the rest of the family was, Cole couldnt help but feel misplaced. He couldnt relax as he knew what fate was awaiting for him. He needed to do something about it.
A nurse walked into the room.
"Im sorry people, but mommy and baby need their rest now. Its been an eventful day!" Everyone groaned as she told them.
"Daddy can stay, but noone else!" Henry immediately smiled.
"Do something!" someone whispered into Coles ear, causing him to jump.
"I cant keep helping and pushing you!" it whispered again.
"Leo, are you coming back with me, Cole and Piper?" Phoebe asked.
"Yeah, I need to do some work at the Manor" he said.
They all said goodbye to Paige and Henry and walked back out to the car.
On the way back to the Manor, Cole couldnt relax. He knew that exposure was imminant, and there was nothing he could do, but kill someone, or tell the sisters. What am I supposed to do?! He thought to himself. Phoebe held his hand, as his heart was breaking.
They got out the car and walked into the Manor. Cole went and sat in the living room to try and think of what to do. He watched as Leo painted the walls back where Chris had attacked them with his crayons.
"Whats up?" Leo interrupted Coles thoughts.
"Im stuck between a rock and a hard place" Cole explained.
Leo sat down next to him and sighed.
"Wanna talk about it?" Leo asked.
"Its too shocking for your ears." Cole sniggered. Leo looked offended.
"Trust me, Iv heard a lot" He reassured. Cole felt a sense of appreciation for Leo trying to talk to him.
"I just... Iv done something, and now I need to do something else, otherwise Im gonna die!" Cole blurted out. Leo sat back in the chair and nodded.
"And now, I just dont know what to do. Thanks to my stupidity Iv messed everything up, and I have to find a way out of a situation either by killing someone, or by being killed." Cole explained further.
"What did you do anyway?" Leo asked. Cole looked at Leo. He really didnt want to tell, but he knew he had to. He knew he had to get it off his chest.
"Barbus was bribing me. I killed someone. Paige found out. Threatened my future with Phoebe. I kidnapped Paige, and then she went into labour." Leo looked at him wide eyed.
"And then I shimmered into the hospital, and exposed magic. Now, Barbus is again telling me that I have to either kill the guy who saw me and stop magic being exposed. Or let it be and then have the sisters kill me."
"Cole!" Leo exclaimed. "How did you let it get so bad?" He asked.
"You should have told us before this thing spiralled out of control so much!"
"Its not that easy!" Cole cried standing up. "I cant just tell everyone that a demon is bribing me!"
Leo followed suit and stood up too. "Cole, this is your whole future here! You need to tell the girls, atleast for their sake so they know that the media are going to find out about magic again!" Cole roared and turned around and looked at Leo.
"But by doing that I lose Phoebe!"
"By not doing that, you risk everything anyway!" Leo reasoned.
"What is going on in here?!" Both the guys jumped and turned to see Piper and Phoebe walking through the door.
Phoebe looked at Cole, as Piper looked at Leo who then looked at Cole.
"Just tell them!" Leo told him.

[Primrose_Empath]

Whoops! Looks like I missed the boat on reviewing yesterday's update -- but now I get to review two of them. *grins*

For yesterday's, I hope nobody minds if I simply say "ditto" -- as you've all said what I wanted to say in one form or another. But that was a fantastic update. !@#$! you Barbus for torturing Cole like that and forcing him between a rock and a hard place where neither option is going to end up well for him. But out of the two possible choices, I agree -- telling the girls will be his better bet.

And today's? *applauds* Poor guy. Guess he just couldn't hold in the secret any longer, and it all comes out at once. If I were Leo, I'd be just as shocked at what I heard -- what a thing to keep bottled up inside you. Of course, now it looks like Cole's got no choice now but to tell Phoebe and Piper the whole story.

So what's gonna happen? Please, please update soon!

[~.:Alysha:.~]

Brilliant absolutely brilliant!! Im glad Leo didnt go crazy on him when he told him!! I though Leo would of acted differently but he seemed rather understanding which i liked..someones gotta give the poor guy a break!! Poor Cole..

[*Sammi!*]

Cole felt the desperate need to disappear as he felt three sets of eyes on him while he explained everything that had happened to him within the past 36 hours.
After he had finished he felt so much better that he had now informed the sisters of what was happening, even though he knew that certain death was just around the corner.
He watched and tuned out as Piper started ranting at him, even though she had known all along, it was something different for Cole to actually admit it to her.
He left Leo to calm Piper down, as he followed Phoebe upstairs to the attic.
"Leave me alone Cole!" She demanded.
"No" Cole replied, defiantly. He wasnt going to leave her like this. He had been with Phoebe long enough now to know when she was either going to explode from anger, or just break down.
And as he expected she shortly burst into tears. He walked upto her, his heart aching just wanting to hold her. Hold her until the pain went away. Hold her until she didnt hate him anymore. He knew however, that this wasnt going to happen anytime soon.
"Phoebe, Im so sorry!" He told her. He knew it wouldnt make a difference, and was therefore a useless sentence, but it somehow made him feel a bit better.
"Why did you lie to me?" She asked as she tried to choke back the tears.
"It just seemed easier" He explained. This was the truth. It was easier to tell his wife a whole pack of lies than to explain that he was being bribed by one of their most hated demons, even though they would have helped him! Cole was mentally kicking himself.
"Why didnt you come to me?" She asked again. "Do you think that less of me that I wouldnt help my husband?" She cried to him.
"No! No Phoebe!" He cried back. "I love you so much that I didnt want you to have to worry about it!" He explained to her.
"NOT WORRY ABOUT IT?!" She screamed at him and flew towards him, hitting him with all her might. Cole took the punches in hope that it would calm her down.
Eventually when she has worn herself out, she fell to her knees and started sobbing again.
"I thought we were past this Cole" She looked up at him and tried to make out his face through teary blurred eyes. Cole bent down and attempted to hug her. She pushed him back so he fell flat on his arse.
"Dont touch me" She spat at him. Cole pulled himself up and studied Phoebe's face. I wonder what she'll do to me, he thought. Maybe if she did just kill me, it would stop all the pain and torment.
"Phoebe, I said I was sorry!" He said again. "I dont know how many more times I can say it."
"How about shutting the hell up while I try and think of how to sort this mess out!" She roared.
They both jumped as Piper came running up the stairs.
"Get away from my sister you murdering scum!" She shouted at him. Leo was running after her trying to pull her back.
"Piper!" He managed to pull her arms back before she tried to blow Cole up. Cole backed away from her.
"Why, oh why did I bring him back?" She said to herself as she paced arounf the room trying to calm down. Phoebe turned and looked at her sister with confusion.
"Oh Phoebe, Im so sorry!" Piper said. Cole and Leo stood back and watched as the sisters interacted.
"It was a different life... you were with Coop... and so unhappy... and I just, I wanted you to be happy... and until now, you were!" Piper explained.
Phoebe still looked confused as she turned to look at Cole.
"Summon Barbus." She demanded.
It was Coles turn to look confused.
"Why?" He asked.
"Because I want to know what right he has to ruin my life, for what? The 6th time running now?" Phoebe explained.
"Phoebe, think sensibly!" Leo said as he watched Phoebe walk over to the book.
"Cole! Do it, or I will!" Phoebe shouted at Cole, ignoring Leo.
"We cant just summon him Phoebe, you know that" Piper said to her.
Phoebe let out a roar in anger.
"Why should he be able to do this at any given point, and we dont have anyway of summoning him?!" She screamed.
"Phoebs! Calm down!" Piper said walking towards her younger sister. "Youre hurting baby, I know that, but lets not let this get too out of hand!" Piper hugged her sister. Cole watched in jealousy, but in amazement that Piper hadnt said to vanquish him first.
"Girls" Leo interrupted. "We need to do something before the media get hold of details and it ends up like 6 years ago."
"Cole, can you remember what this guy looked like in the hospital?" Leo asked him.
"No, well, he was quite tall, grey hair... And thats all I can remember" He answered.
"Anything like that guy?" Piper asked. She was staring out the window as she asked. Cole rushed upto her, and looked at where she was pointing. He looked at the street, and there was a guy, fitting the description Cole had just said looking up at the manor.
"Yes, yes like him" Cole answered again. Before they could say anything else, they heard sirens in the background. Phoebe and Pipers faces dropped.
"Oh no!" They said in unison. Cole strayed back as the sisters and Leo ran downstairs.
He carried on looking out of the window as patrol cars, news vans and police pulled up outside the manor. He felt a knot of dread in the bottom of his stomach as he knew what was about to happen.

[pipercharmedphreak]

Oh! I've missed SO much since I last read and I apologize for that, but I am now caught up and all I can say is wow!! Everyone has said all that I've wanted to say. What a great job you are doing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D

[Esmeralda]

I'm in a similar situation, pipercharmedphreak. I read yesterday's update at work and thought that I had reviewed, but now see that I didn't. And I love it! I love that Cole finally found someone to bare his soul to, and I'm glad that someone was our ex-whitelighter. If anyone would make a good sounding board and be able to give the right advice, it's Leo.

And Leo's right. Just killing the man who saw Cole shimmer into the hospital would only make Cole more evil and give Barbas a bigger hold on him, besides setting him up for Barbas to torture him more. Telling the sisters so they can do something about it makes a lot more sense.

I'm just hoping the sisters will be a bit understanding and forgiving and be able to see things from Cole's point of view, even if he did do evil...he did it for them, specifically Phoebe and their daughters.

*off to read the newest update*

Oh! My! God! They waited too long! They waited too long! It's going to happen anyway!!

What a fantastically wonderful update! The sisters didn't react the way I hoped they would, but then they *are* the latter-seasons version of the sisters so I should've known better--this is exactly how they would've reacted, and this just makes so much more drama and so much more exciting!

I'm still confused how the heck Piper managed to change time for Phoebe. I admire her for doing that for her younger sister and I know she's developped into a Superwitch, but, huh???

I specifically loved the scene between Phoebe and Cole; it was just *soooo* them!!

Now I can't wait to see what happens next!! PLEEEEEEASE update soon!

And for this wonderful update, you have been blessed!

[Astral Echo]

I haven't read the whole thing and like a dumby I read the last updates first but I just like to say how good they were. Not sure about Piper's characterization but you've got the others down. Well done.

[Primrose_Empath]

Yippee!! Another new update.

*reads update -- is speechless*

And all I can say is that you've got me eagerly waiting more...so please update again soon!

[~B@MeLiSsA30@B~]

Oh my gosh, the update is amazing. I wanna know what happens next. PLease update soon.

[~.:Alysha:.~]

Everyone has said everything for me!! That was absolutely amazing!! Cant wait for more

[*Sammi!*]

Thank you for all your reviews! Im sorry its no earlier, havent been able to get online at home!
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As Cole continued to look out of the window he watched as the media flocked the house, as the police stationed themselves trying to push people back, as the sisters ran out to ask what all the drama was about.
He looked around, and saw that the guy they had witnessed before was still stood there, looking up at the Manor. Cole felt a chill down his spine and decided to go and investigate. He looked around the attic just checking to see if anyone was there and shimmered out.
He appeared behind a hedge infront of the house across the street, right behind the mystery man. He thought quickly, walked forwards, gagged the mans mouth, grabbed his arms and shimmered out again.

Cole then appeared in the Mauselium, and let go of the man as he stumbled forwards shocked at what had just happened to him.
"Explain to me, why you were staring insanely at the Manor!" Cole demanded of the guy.
"I was just watching" The man replied, still trying to get his barings. "What the hell just happened?" He asked Cole in surprise.
Cole ignored then question and started pacing round the man.
"Who are you?" Cole asked.
"Geoffery Watkins" The man answered straight away.
"And what business do you have looking at the Manor?" Cole asked him again, he felt angry and confused.
"I was just-" He tried to explain but Cole cut him off mid sentence.
"Didnt I see you in the hospital before?"
"Yes" Geoffery answered bluntly.
"So how did you find out where I live?" Cole asked again.
"I followed you, in the car, on the way back." The man answered again.
"How did we get here?" It was Geoffery's turn to ask questions. "And how did you materialise into the hospital before?" He was asking too many questions that Cole didnt want to answer.
"ENOUGH!" Cole shouted, causing the man to back off.
He didnt mean to shout, it was just easier as he didnt have anyone else to vent anger on to. It just felt like this way just too much for him to handle.
"From what I can see, it appears as though I did the right thing, going to the media" The man started talking. Cole looked up.
"It was you?" He asked. The man looked at him and nodded, then continued to speak.
"The sooner that people find out the kind of evil that there is in the world, the better. I mean, could you imagine what else would have happened?"
Cole started pacing again. He felt his anger rising from the pitt of his stomach again.
"And, isnt that place where 2 people were murdered several years ago? It doesnt surprise me. I bet it had something to do with what I witnessed today. And such a shame, that was a beautiful young woman and an excellent doctor."
Cole snapped. He stormed over to the man, roared and morphed into Belthazar. He grabbed the man and pinned him up by the neck against the wall.
"HOW DARE YOU JUDGE WHAT HAPPENS WITHIN THAT MANOR!!" Belthazar growled at him.
"Do you blame me?" The guy shouted back. Cole was amazed that he wasnt the least bit scared. He squeezed a little bit tighter on the mans neck.
"Was it you? Was it you who killed those people? You look EVIL!" The man spat at Cole.
"I bet you killed your wife's sister, I bet you killed her from spite" Belthazar roared again, let the guy go and walked to the other side of the room.
He really didnt want to do it, he really didnt, and he was struggling with Belthazar, but it all got the better of him. He let out another almighty scream and summoned an energy ball and launched it at the guy.
Cole then fell down to his knees and sobbed. He had done it again. He had murdered someone else! Im such a fool! He kicked himself.

[Primrose_Empath]

Apology accepted sweetie! And you know what they say: "better late than never!"

*reads*

Oh no! The media's involved -- again. What a nightmare. And an interesting move by Cole in getting the guy that started the whole media circus outta there.

But then the interaction in the mausoleum? Wow. And Cole loses his temper in the worst possible way too. Now he's really gotta be kicking himself, because what he did by killing the guy is exactly what he didn't want to do. It's a "darned if I did, and darned if I don't". And in his mind, he's screwed either way. So what's going to happen now?

Please update soon when you get the chance!

[~B@MeLiSsA30@B~]

Oh my gosh. I can feel that pressure he was under with that guy. WOW WOW WOW!!!! What are the girls gonna say about this.
Please update when you have time.

[~.:Alysha:.~]

Ohh no i cant believe he did that!! Why Cole, Why?? That guy was taunting him..getting him all fired up..why wouldnt he be scared when this demon is threatening to kill him..i would of kept my mouth shut the moment he turned into Belthazar.. Silly Man oh well.. I wonder what the girls are going to do!! He just dug his grave i think!! Poor Cole..

[*Sammi!*]

Cole knelt there for the next couple of minutes sobbing his heart out, barely believing what he had just done. Im truly evil! He thought to himself.
He heard a laugh, an evil laugh that sent chills down his spine.
He looked around the mausoleum, and couldnt see the guys body. Cole stood up and walked around, and still couldnt see where the body had gone to.
He heard the laugh again from behind him this time, and turned around to see Geoffery stood there watching him. Cole was confused.
"What... How...?" Cole attempted to ask.
"Whats the matter?" He asked Cole, as if surprised by Cole's reaction.
"I killed you!" Cole stated.
"No... No you didnt!" The guy said. Cole studied his face. He couldnt understand why Geoffery hadnt been scared by him as Belthazar, and why the energy ball didnt kill him. He was just a mortal.
"Youre just a mortal. Why arent you dead?" Cole asked.
"Who said I was mortal?" Cole walked upto him, really trying to understand what was happening.
"Unless youre not..." It dawned on Cole. "Barbus?" He asked.
Geoffery laughed again, and transformed into Barbus.
"Correctamondo!" Barbus congratulated Cole. "It took you a while Belthazar!" He goaded.
"Why are you doing this to me?!" Cole asked.
"I now know how much further you will go." Barbus told him. "You killed a completely innocent person, who was just winding you up. YOU ARE EVIL BELTHAZAR!! Embrace it, love it, but dont fight it. It isnt right!"
"Im not evil!" Cole cried. Im not! He thought, and if I was being goaded by a demon, then surely it shouldnt matter? He thought again.
"Yes you are!"
"Why did you go to the media about me?" Cole asked Barbus, he just wanted to know. He knew that Barbus was manipulating everything, but a straight answer was what Cole needed most at the minute.
"Because, mighty Belthazar, I wanted to see how far you would go to protect your precious witch and your life with her."
Coles head was about to burst. He summoned an energy ball, as much power as he could muster and threw it at Barbus. It hit him in the middle of his chest. Barbus looked at Cole, smiled and fell to the floor.
Cole walked over to him and looked as Barbus appeared to lose his energy, and then shimmered out.
Cole felt a bit happier that he may be able to get a bit of peace and sort out his current situation while Barbus was too injured to do anything else.
He walked out of the mausoleum and into the cemetary.
He watched as people were walking round looking at graves. Watched as a Vicar was conducting a funeral, watched as apparently to everything else, it was just an ordinary day. Cole knew however, that things are so messed up and twisted, its just beyond belief.
He walked back behind cover and shimmered back to the Manor.

It was quiet. Too quiet. Cole looked around, expecting to see Piper walk round the corner. She didnt. He walked around, waiting for someone to appear. They didnt. He looked out of the window. No media, no police, no anything besides cars and the usual driving past.
"Phoebe?" He shouted. "Piper?" He turned as he heard someone walking down the stairs.
"Phoebe?" He called again. "Oh, its you" he said as Paige came round the corner.
"Oh gee. Nothing like a hello is there?" Paige said as she flopped down on the settee.
"What are you doing back?" Cole asked. He was sure she had to stay in the hospital.
"They let me go." Paige explained.
"Where are Phoebe and Piper?" Cole asked again.
"Blimey Cole! Whats this? Thirty questions?" She protested. "Im not sure to be honest. I got back, and they werent here" She continued.
"Paige, I want to just say thank you for not telling Phoebe all that happened." Cole started. Paige looked at him, she was studying him.
"Its fine."
"I ended up telling her anyway" Cole explained. "And now Im scared she hates me!"
"Are you surprised?" Paige asked. Cole glanced at her. Ever the sympathetic one hey Paige? He thought.
"Seriously Cole. She forgave you, you were happy, and then she finds out you killed someone else?!"
"No need to be so blunt Paige!" Cole protested.
"No Cole, Im telling the damned truth. You betrayed us all again, and then you kidnap me and endanger my baby's life!"
"Hey hey hey!" They both turned round and saw Phoebe stood there.
"Take it easy Paige!" Phoebe said.
"Yeah, well he started it." Paige stated and carried on watching the tele.
"Cole. Word" Phoebe said and pulled him out of reach of Paige's hearing.
"We tracked who is was down who started it. It was Barbus. And as soon as we eighty-six him, again, everything will stop spiralling out of control" Phoebe informed him.
"Then what?" Cole asked. Phoebe looked at him, straight into his eyes, as if looking right into his soul.
"Then we have to figure things out. I cant deal with that at the minute Cole. I thinks its over" She walked away, and Coles heart smashed into a thousand pieces.

[Primrose_Empath]

So the media circus and the guy that Cole killed, it was all a trick by Barbus?! Ohhh. That b@stard -- toying with Cole's psyche like that. And just when he thought it couldn't get any worse, Phoebe finds out the ugly truth about Paige's disappearance and the baby -- exactly what she didn't want to hear.

Keep it coming please!

[Esmeralda]

Sorry, Sammi, I did it again! Read an update; thought I had reviewed but hadn't. And once more, what an update to miss! Amazing, m'dear, absolutely amazing!

Oh, who the h*ll is Geoffrey Watkins that he knows so much about the sisters and knows just what to say to upset Cole??? I don't blame him at all for what he did; that guy truly pushed his buttons--I wanted him to be killed, too, especially when he accused Cole of murdering his wife's sister!!!

And what are the Charmed Ones gonna do when they find out that Cole has murdered yet again??? They'll vanquish him for sure!! IF they find out what he'd done....how are they handling the media??

Gotta find out!! NOW!! And lucky me, there's another update!!

*runs off to read next update*

OMG!! OMG!! GEOFFREY WAS BARBAS!! You caught me totally on that one, Sammi! No way I would've figured that out, but, oh, what a way to drive Cole nuts!

I was more than just a bit surprised that the hospital let Paige go home so soon after all she's gone through (to the point where for a moment I thought Cole was back in his other world), but enjoyed the convo between her and Cole...he truly needed it! Also at first I thought maybe Piper and Phoebe had been killed by the media while Barbas kept Cole busy...

I'm still trying to figure out how they got out of the media mess and am also curious how Piper and Phoebe figured out that Geoffrey was Barbas--I thought Cole would have to convince them.

BUT I'm glad that Paige is out of the hospital so she can help get rid of Barbas--hopefully forever finally!--and what will happen between Phoebe and Cole. I can't believe that she would blame what happened on Cole when he was being manipulated by Barbas--unless this is still all part of Barbas' cruel plan!! I'm *dying* to find out!!

PLEEEEEEEASE update soon!! And for this wonderful update, you have been blessed!

[~B@MeLiSsA30@B~]

Amazing update Sammi. What a shock to find out that guy was Barbas.
At least it wasn't another innocent, even though he did think he killed an innocent at first. Barbas is one tricky demon. I can't believe he is playing with Cole like this.

Please update when you can. I'd love to read more.

[~.:Alysha:.~]

Ohhh i cant beleive what Cole is going through.. it hurts me to think he ahs to go through all this to be with Phoebe.. Man if only i was in the show id accept him just as he is!! I know he doesnt mean it!! lol

I hope Phoebe forgives him, she has to understand that he is being Manipulated by Barbas, surly she has to see that and forgive him! He never meant to hurt anyone and of course if there is someone who keeps pushing your buttons in all the right places hes going to kill them, only natural!! lol Ohh my poor Cole!

Please update again very very soon! lol