Coles pain at Christmas - Completed

[*Sammi!*]

Cole and Phoebe said bye to the family a couple of hours later as they had decided to go back to the apartment to sort things out.
The drive back was in complete silence. The silence continues right up until the apartment door, and right through as Phoebe went straight into the bedroom.
Cole hung back and looked around. The place had been full of Christmas cheer just two days ago, right before Paige had come in and ruined it all for him.
He noticed a picture of him, Phoebe and the girls. Such a happy we must have been, he thought to himself.
He heard a crash from the bedroom followed by a cry from Phoebe. He ran into the room to discover his wife on the floor. Cole looked to the side and saw a picture of the two of them, broken.
"I dropped it" Phoebe explained through tears. His heart was aching for her. He walked over to her and helped her up. It was all he could do to refrain from hugging her.
"Phoebe..." He started. She shushed him.
"Cole, dont" She stopped for a minute to collect her thoughts. "It was a 'To Find a Lost Love' spell you know" Phoebe explained.
Cole looked at her.
"Piper cast it. Apparently I wasnt happy with my husband called Coop, and she cast it for me to find you, because you were still alive. Basically rewrote my life" Phoebe explained further.
"Oh" Cole replied. He felt silly, but there was nothing else he could say.
Phoebe laughed weakly. "How can it make sense that my one true love, is the one causing me the most heartache?" It was obviously a hypothetical question, but Cole felt the desperate need to cut in.
"Phoebe, I did it for us!" He protested.
"You just, you could have come to ME!! You could have come to your wife and explained instead of destroying any kind of future that we will ever have now!"
"IM SORRY!!" Cole felt like a brokon record. He couldnt count how many times he had said this now, and probably wouldnt be able to predict how many more times he would need to in the future, if at all.
"Barbus has caused so many problems before, hell he even helped Gideon with attempting to kill Wyatt, but we always come out ok!" Phoebe carried on ranting at him.
A thought crossed Coles mind.
"How did you figure out the media was linked to Barbus?" He asked her. Phoebe looked at him.
"We summoned Barbus, to confront him. He was wounded. Told us that you had done it. All his power had stopped being focused on the frenzie and was now being focused on him trying to get better" Phoebe explained.
Cole was amazed that Phoebe was still acting so coldly towards him now that she knew that Barbus has set him up, besides the whole killing an innocent thing.
"So he told you that he had set me up?" He asked her.
"Not quite" Came the reply, as she carried on packing a bag.
"I got a premontion Cole. I saw that he was acting as a human, annoying you. Pushing the wrong buttons. I saw that you attempted to kill him" Phoebe continued to explain.
"No! It was obviously Barbus setting me up!" Cole protested.
"Thats not my point!" Phoebe screamed at him. "The point Im making is that you didnt know that he was Barbus, and you still killed him! He could have been an innocent man Cole!"
"But he wasnt!" Cole screamed back.
They both jumped as the phone rang. Phoebe answered.
"Hi baby! Yes mommy is fine! How are you?... And Ruby Roo?..."
Cole listened to the conversation. He didnt feel any worse. He actually didnt think it was possible to feel any worse. It was like his wife was ganging up on him with a loathed enemy. How much worse can life get?! He thought.
He tuned back into the conversation. Phoebe was talking to Victor.
Oh great, he thought again, now Victor will be in on it too. He hasnt been keen on me since Pipers wedding!
"Ok, bye dad!" He heard Phoebe say as she put down the phone.
"Dad is having the girls on New Years Eve" She informed him.
"Ok" Cole replied. News Years Eve, he thought. Will I make it to another year?

[Esmeralda]

*sigh* Oh, will this couple *ever* get together and have the happy ending we want for them?

I can see where Phoebe is coming from--Cole should've gone to her--what I've lost track of is whether she knows that he's a Cole from a different reality who doesn't remember what it was like to marry Phoebe, have babies with Phoebe, raise his daughters with Phoebe. If he'd gone through all of that, kept Belthazar under control for all that time, would he have done the same things he's doing now? We don't know.

And of course my heart totally aches for Cole. Phoebe should understand what it's like to be manipulated by Barbas--as she pointed out, they've gone through it before. And as she said, they did because they stuck together as a family. Cole and the girls are her family; I hope she can stick together with them now.

I hope he can convince her that someone who knew all the things Barbas as Geoffrey Watkins knew, he wouldn't be an innocent, couldn't have riled him up like that. And he murdered before due to his choice over having his family or not. A bad choice, yes, but done from love, one that I'll bet Phoebe would've also done had she been faced with the same choice.

Thanks for explaining how Piper brought Cole back...pretty Also thanks for explaining why the media circus went away...I totally missed that it was an illusion by Barbas, the b@stard!

This is easily the best fanfic going right now with all of its twists and turns! If they were still doing voting for Fanfic of the Month, this would win, hands down!!

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

[Primrose_Empath]

Well, you've basically summed it up for me Es, so I'm just going to say "Ditto".

But man, oh man, do I feel for Cole. You're really putting your favorite half-demon through the emotional wringer here -- and that can't be easy...at all. However, that was a most excellent update, and I look forward to reading another one soon.

Please? *puppy-dog eyes*

[~.:Alysha:.~]

Oh man i really feel for Cole.. The thing is but he couldnt of gone to Phoebe at the very beginning cause didnt he think that Barbas was giving him this alternate reality, if thats the case then he had to do what barbas said even to get close to phoebe..so if he could just explain that he never knew that it was Piper giving him another chance and that Barbas had told him that he had to kill someone to be with Phoebe then she should understand that...right.. Man Sammi im loving this update..cant wait for more ;D

[*Sammi!*]

They stood staring at each other for the next five minutes. It seemed like an eternity to Cole. He wanted to know what was going on inside Phoebe's mind.
"Im going to the Manor" Phoebe broke the silence.
There was no point trying to stop her. No point trying to explain himself again. He watched her walk away, every step a piece of himself dying.
Phoebe walked into the elevator, turned and looked Cole right in the eyes as the doors closed.
Cole sat down on the bed, defeated.
He sat there for what seemed like the rest of the day, staring out of the window. The weather reflected his mood. Dark, raining and windy.
He stood up, switched the radio on and pottered around the room for a bit. He listened to the song on the radio
“So lately, been wondering
who will be there to take my place
when Im gone, you’ll need love
to light the shadows on your face…”
Typical, Cole thought. Great song to also reflect what Im feeling. He looked at the floor, and saw that the picture of the two was still there in its broken frame. He picked it up and felt a tear running down his face. He loved Phoebe from the bottom of his heart, and now she had left him again.
“…I could turn back time,
Id go wherever you would go….”
Cole listened to the song finish, revelling in the irony of the song, and decided to shimmer into the manor.
“She cant stop me from seeing my girls!” Cole said out loud. At least then Ill be able to see her too!

Cole appeared in the sunroom. He heard Paige laughing to his left, looked and saw that Henry was also there. His heart warmed knowing that Paige was ok, even though her baby was still in hospital.
He walked around, but couldn’t see Phoebe. He walked upstairs and heard Leo reading a story to his children. He continued to walk up to the attic, where he finally heard Phoebe talking to Piper.
Cole hid behind the attic door and listened.
“… another way to deal with this!” Phoebe said.
“Phoebe, this isn’t something that we can put aside again!” He heard Pipers reply.
“I know, but, I love him Piper! Surely we can find some way to save my husband from this!” His heart pounded. She does love me! He thought to himself.
“We need some of his flesh”
“NO!!” Phoebe cried.
“If you don’t get it, I will, and you know Ill be a lot more vicious about it” Piper explained.
How can you do this to me Piper? Cole thought. You bring me back for Phoebe, and now you want her to kill me again?
“Cant we just give him one more chance?” Phoebe begged. Cole heard them both moving and tucked himself further behind the door.
“Phoebs, is this one of those times where I tell you to get real because its never going to happen?” Piper asked her.
Cole could curse her for all the negative thoughts. He had badly wounded Barbus, therefore stopped the imaginary media bust. I know I killed someone, he thought, but isn’t this mental torture enough now?
“I just want to know what happened to the happy family that I had not two weeks ago!” He heard Phoebe continue. Cole was now fully behind the door as he heard the girls walk past him and head downstairs. His ears strained to hear what else was being said, but there voices were fading as they walked further into the house.
He shimmered to the front door, and knocked as if to try and make it look like he had just arrived.
“Cole!” Phoebe greeted. He noticed that her face lit up a tiny bit. Not much but enough to make it look like she was happy to see him. He walked into the Manor.
“How are the girls?” He asked, trying to avoid any other type of conversation.
“They’re good. Spent the day in the park with dad” Phoebe replied.
Cole longed to open up to her so much. Just letting into a tiny bit of his pain, so she could know everything that had happened to him recently.
As she walked past him, she slightly touched his arm and let out a sharp gasp. Cole reached out to try and help her as he thought she was in pain, but then realised that she was having a premonition.
“Oh God!” Cole exclaimed out loud.
“Cole?” He heard someone ask. He looked around. It was Leo.
“What’s wrong with Phoebe?” He asked, walking towards her.
“I think she is having a premonition.” Cole replied. He looked at his wife again. It was eerie, seeing her just stood there, her eyes just misty, and looking forwards. He had no idea what she was seeing and was petrified that she was seeing something else detrimental against him.
She moved and snapped out of her trance. She looked at Cole oddly and then noticed Leo and smiled.
“Are you ok?” Leo asked her, concerned.
“Yes” Phoebe replied, bluntly. “Where are the girls?” She asked Leo.
“They’re asleep.” Leo replied.
“Ok, thanks” She then replied. She took Cole’s hand and led him out of the room and into the kitchen where she knew that no one would be able to hear what she was saying to him.
Cole looked into her eyes again. She looked lost.
“I saw it all” Phoebe told Cole.
“Saw what?” Cole asked, confused and dreading what she was about to tell him.
“You’re not my real Cole” she replied. “Which explains everything” she held his hand and stroked it.
“I know you have no memory past Christmas of the past seven years. No memory of what made us the couple we were. No memory of your children. No memory of what made us stronger.”
Cole listened, aware that she was now awakened to his hell and confusion.
“I also know why you so easily succumbed to Barbus, because you are the weak Cole that I thought was in the past. The Cole, I has said goodbye to. Not the Cole that I love, and have children with.”
“No Phoebe, I’m still that guy! I’m still Cole! Cole Turner, you’re husband. The dad to your children! I was bribed Phoebe! I don’t know what happened!” Cole cried. Phoebe shushed him.
“I’m sorry Cole, I’m so sorry” Phoebe continued.
“What for?” He asked.
He didn’t have to wait long for his answer as in one smooth move he watched Phoebe reach behind her, and take a knife from the kitchen table. Watched as she brought it round, and watched as she sliced a chunk of flesh from his arm.

[~.:Alysha:.~]

OH NO!!!! My poor Cole!!! I just want them to be happy again lol!! And now they are going to vanquish him!! I feel so sorry for him!! Loved the update by the way!! All your twists and turns are fantastic!!

[Primrose_Empath]

Goodness gracious! What he must be feeling...to hear Phoebe defend him to Piper, saying that she still loves him -- to hearing her tell him that he's not "her Cole". Talk about going from one extreme to the other. Right after hearing that, she takes a slice off of his arm, which can only mean one thing -- and it's not good.

Update soon please!

[~B@MeLiSsA30@B~]

[*Sammi!*]

Thankyou everyone!
I wont be on tomorrow to be able to update, therefore I wish you all a happy Easter, and hope you enjoy the following!!

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Cole roared and jumped away from Phoebe.
"What are you doing?" He screamed at her. He knew what was happening, but he didnt want to admit it to himself.
"Leave Cole!" Phoebe demanded.
"What just leave and then let you kill me?!" He asked her. Piper came running into the kitchen.
"Whats the matter now?" She asked them both. She looked at Coles arm, then at Phoebe's hand.
"Oh" She then said, and walked over to Phoebe to take it off her.
Cole looked at Phoebe. He saw that she was struggling with everything, saw that she was about to burst into tears, and decided it would be best if he left, if only for a little while.
He took another look, and shimmered upstairs to quickly look in on his girls. He walked over to the bed. Rose had her arms round her little sister. Ruby's hair was sprayed out all over the pillow like a little halo.
"My angels" He whispered. He bent over to kiss both of them on their cheeks, a tear splashing on their heads as he did so.
"Cole..." Leo started as he entered the room.
"Im sorry Leo, Im going now" Cole informed him. Leo walked round to the other side of the bed, and looked at Cole, who also looked up and stared at Leo.
"What am I going to do?" Cole asked him, aware that Leo couldnt help. It just seemed easier to ask someone else, rather than ask himself.
"I dont know..." Leo left the sentence trailing as they heard the girls walking up the stairs. Cole looked round, looked at Leo, and then shimmered out to the apartment.

Cole paced round the apartment, mentally kicking himself.
I should have ignored Barbus, and my instincts to kill! He thought to himself. If it werent because of my stupidity, I would be with my wife and children, he continued to think.
Eventually he had worn himself out, and sat down on the couch, staring out of the window.
It was a clear, cold winter night. No rain, no wind. Just peaceful.
"The weather obviously doesnt reflect anything now!" He muttered out loud. He led back on the couch and looked up at the ceiling.
Thousands of thoughts were flashing through his mind. It was hard to pin point just one, and if he did, he would end up thinking of his girls and Phoebe. I just want to rest! He thought to himself. Just give me that brain! He demanded of himself.
Need to get my strength up, Im going to have to fight my wife again!
Cole stared at the wall, and concentrated on a picture of himself, Phoebe and baby Rose at her wickening.

He was woken a couple hours later by more loud knocking at his door. He climbed up out of the chair and slumbered over to the door.
"Jeez my neighbours must hate me!" He thought out loud.
"...COLE!" Came the angry voice on the other side of the door.
"Alright, alright Im coming!" He shouted back. He looked through the spy hole and groaned. It was Piper.
He slowly unlocked the door, dreading whatever he was about to get blasted with.
"About time!" Piper exclaimed as she pushed her way past him and into his apartment.
"Feel free to come in!" Cole said as she sat down on the couch, were he wished he was still sleeping on. He looked at the clock.
"Piper, its half five in the morning! What are you doing here?!" He demanded. He looked at her face and immediately calmed down a little bit. Piper looked panic stricken.
"Whats up?" Cole asked cautiously.
"Leo..." She started "Leo!..." She cried, as she tried to tell him what was happening.
"Come on Piper!" He said as he started getting wound up.
"Barbus..." she started again. Cole stopped what he was doing to the sound of that name.
"What about him?" Cole asked. He walked over to his sister-in-law who he had never really seen eye to eye with and crouched down infront of her.
Pipers eyes were red, and blood shot from where she had apparently been crying alot.
"He... he's taken him!" Piper finally blurted out. Cole stood up and started pacing again. What is this demon trying to do to me?! He thought.
"And... and Phoebe too!" Piper then informed him.
"What?" Cole asked as he walked towards Piper again, trying to decipher whether he had heard correctly or not.
"He's taken Phoebe too!" Piper repeated.
Cole's heart started racing.
"How do you know it was Barbus?" Cole asked.
"He came to me, and said if I dont kill you, or if I dont take you to him, he will kill them both." Piper explained.
"And do we know where he is?" Cole asked again. He sounded like he was asking millions of questions, but he needed to know. He needed to get his wife back into safety!
"No" Piper replied. "I tried scrying for her, but it didnt work, so it must mean that she is in the under world" Piper explained.
Cole laughed sarcastically. Piper looked at him, and he immediately apologised to her.
"I was just... Oh... I dont know!" Cole started. He was rambling.
"Do you know how big the under world is Piper? They could be anywhere!" Cole cried.
"I know! Thats why I have come to you. I wouldnt know where to start otherwise. I need you to help me find them! Please?" She begged him. Cole couldnt refuse really, he would sacrifice anything, including himself if it meant leading Phoebe back to safety.
"Oh, and then what happens to me?!" Cole asked her. "Ill tell you what, I get killed." He finished off the question for Piper.
Piper looked as though she was about to say something, but had decided against it.
"Piper, what exactly did Barbus say to you?" Cole asked.
"That he had taken Phoebe and Leo away, and that they wouldnt be returned safely until I either kill you, or take you to him" Piper replied.
It sounded like a bit of a dirty plan to Cole, but he ignored his common sense and carried on thinking.
"And at no time, he gave any inclination where he was going?" Cole asked her. Piper shook her head.
Cole had a knot in his stomach. He didnt like this at all.
"Who has the girls?" He asked again, as he walked into his bedroom and started rummaging through some drawers.
"Paige. She wasnt strong enough to come. She wanted to though." Piper explained.
Yeah, sure Paige wanted to come. She would have her sister back, and have me killed!! He thought. Cole knocked those thoughts out his head and found what he was looking for.
"Are we ready?" He asked Piper as he walked back into the living room. She jumped up and walked over to Cole.
"You'll have to hold my hand for this!" Cole said to her. Piper tutted, and Cole felt a sense of deja-vu from when he and Prue had gone demon hunting.
Those were the days, he thought.
Cole grabbed Pipers hand, and shimmered them to the underworld.
As his eyes re-adjusted, he looked round, and familiarised himself with the surroundings.
They were in his cave that Cole had used as a base when he was a demon. He walked over to some shelves. Noted that things were obviously missing, one of them being another one of his athema's.
"Not here" He pointed out to Piper.
He knew it was obvious, and this was backed up with Pipers sarcastic remark of "Really?".
They shimmered here and there for what felt like hours, and both he and Piper were feeling both mentally and emotionally drained, as a thought crossed his mind.
"Come on I have another idea" He said to Piper.
"Cole you have been saying that for the past couple of hours!" Piper said to him, as he reached for her hand again.
"Well this may be something" He hoped it was because he was beginning to get slightly disheartened.
He closed his eyes, and shimmered somewhere else.
"PHOEBE!" He heard Piper call. He opened his eyes, and saw that he had been right. Why hadnt I thought of her first?! He kicked himself. It wasnt too obvious though, he thought as he gave himself some credit. The mausoleum isnt exactly a safe place from prying human eyes is it?! He asked himself.
He took the time to look at the scene around him.
Phoebe was on one side of the room, tied to the wall. Leo was in the middle of the room, tied to the crypt.
He walked towards Phoebe in the hope that he may be able to release her, but he should have known better as he was launched across the room, hit by some kind of magical force field.
Piper had obviously tried to do the same thing to Leo, as she also joined him, flat on her arse at the other side of the room.
"Ah... So eager to get going. Not even saying hello to the host of this little party..." They heard a voice cackle, as Barbus materialised in the middle of the room.

[~B@MeLiSsA30@B~]

Barbas is going after the whole family to get back at Cole now.
Oh my gosh. Please update when you can.

[Esmeralda]

Here I go again, behind by two updates, when once again I could've *sworn* I'd read and updated! Sometimes I think either I'm getting Alzheimer's early or my posts at work don't stay put!

Man, that first update almost broke my heart, but this time I must agree with Phoebe. As much as it has to tear Cole to shreds, I can see how she would want her true husband back and not this one who doesn't have Belthazar under control. I just hope that by vanquishing this Cole, she isn't also somehow vanquishing the Cole of this alternate universe. Although I'm beginning to wonder if this whole thing is an illusion set up by Barbas to drive Cole crazy! If so, he's certainly succeeding!

*off to read the next part*

WOW! MAN, Sammi, I wish it were you who was the executive producer of Charmed rather than Kern! Something like this would've been SOOO much better than the crap we were given!

In Barbas, you have a truly evil demon and a truly evil demon of fear, more than any of the other demons. I'm beginning to think that Barbas is the true Source of all Evil (and isn't fear the source of evil??), much more than the demon leader we saw in S4!

Now he's also torturing Piper, the one who brought Cole back for Phoebe in the first place. And I *love* the fact that you brought them to the mausoleum, although I'm not certain why Piper wasn't able to scry for Phoebe there...unless Barbas moved them once he sensed them in the Underworld.

I *love* the reminder of Cole and Prue in "The Good, The Bad and The Cursed"---"This part still sucks!" is still one of my most favorite lines in all of Charmed!

I loved Cole turning to Leo and Leo not being able to say anything. I loved his looking in on his girls and focussing on Ruby's wiccaning as he tried to get some rest.

I just love this fic!!

This continues to be one of my favorite Charmed fanfics for all of its twists and turns while you continue to write the characters right on!! PLEEEEEEEEEEASE update soon!

And as always, here's another blessing for the fantastic updates!!

AND here's hoping you have a wonderful Easter, too!

[~.:Alysha:.~]

OMG you are like the best writer ever haha!! I agree with Es i wish they had come to you to think of their storylines they are absolutely amazing!! Love all the twists and turns and everything!! Im just speechless..Brilliant absoluetly brilliant!! Cant wait for more as always!!

[*Sammi!*]

Thank you again! It really encourages me to carry on!
And it appears as though I have a sneaky bit of time to update, so enjoy!!

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Everyone stared at Barbus as he jumped down from the crypt and walked over to Cole. Coles heart was racing from fury.
"How DARE you do this Barbus! This is between you and I, not the rest of the family!" Cole shouted to Barbus.
Barbus walked right upto Cole's face, grabbed his neck and pushed him back onto the wall. Barbus was so close that Cole could feel his breath on his face.
"You should be made to beg for what you have!" Barbus spat at Cole. He let go of him, and Cole dropped to the floor.
Phoebe looked at Cole. Right into his eyes and knew what he was about to do.
"No Cole!" She shouted. Barbus snapped round and walked over to Phoebe to place a gag on her. She kicked out to try and get Barbus, but he placed rope around her legs so she couldnt move.
Cole then looked at Piper, who nodded. It was like they suddenly had an understanding.
"YOU LEAVE HER ALONE!!" Cole roared at Barbus. Cole walked upto Barbus and pushed him back. Barbus was taken by surprise and fell to the floor. Cole stood over him and kicked him.
Barbus tried his best to back away as Cole kept on kicking him.
Cole stopped what he was doing as Piper called to him. He walked over to her, as she whispered into his ear.
"You can do it"
Cole was knocked to the floor with Piper as Barbus sent a fire ball straight into his back. He stood back up, and helped Piper. Just as Barbus was about to send another, Cole transformed into Belthazar.
The pair squared upto each other. Cole felt all, his anger towards Barbus burst as he pulled out an athema, but he was too late. Barbus had produced another fireball and threw it. It hit Belthazar in the chest.
He fell back onto the floor, and turned back into Cole.
Barbus walked over to him and kicked him back.
"Did you really think that you could beat me?" He asked Cole. "Youre no good Belthazar. You are completely useless, a waste of space." Barbus taunted him. Cole tried to stand back up, but was weak. He looked at his chest. The fireball had ripped through his shirt, and severly grazed him.
"So." Barbus started again. "Whats it going to be?" He asked Cole.
Cole looked up, confused.
"The choice is yours. Your precious witch's life in turn for this also useless mess here" he pointed to Leo. "Or, you can choose his life, and lose your witch"
Cole laughed, and managed to stand up. Barbus looked at him, impressed that he had attempted to fight back again, but then summoned another fireball and threw it at Cole again.
This time Cole dodged it and threw one of his own, which caught Barbus by surprise as he fell to the floor.
"Or I could kill you and have it done with?" Cole said as he loomed over Barbus.
"You really think you could really kill me? No one can kill me!" Barbus boasted. "Just ask your witch. Not yet have they managed it! I always find a way back!" Barbus carried on talking.
Cole looked round. Piper was knelt next to Leo, trying to heal a wound that Barbus had given him earlier on. He then looked to Phoebe. Oh how beautiful she was! How can I just admit defeat, and leave her? He thought to himself.
"And what if I just sacrifice myself?" Cole asked Barbus. "How can I guarantee that you will leave my family alone?"
Barbus chuckled and stood up.
"You cant Belthazar. Simple."
"I hate you!" Cole stated to Barbus.
"Oh the feeling is mutual, dont worry about it!" Barbus said to Cole.
What should I do?! Cole thought to himself. He was desperate. He really didnt want to leave.
"How about I step things up a bit?" Barbus said to them. They all looked at Barbus as he walked over to Phoebe, produced an athema and stabbed her in her stomach.
"NO!!" Cole and Piper screamed as Barbus laughed evily. Cole ran over to Phoebe, but again he was knocked to the floor as the force field appeared again.
"You son of a b*tch!" Piper screamed, as she ran towards him. She made an attempt at trying to blow him up, but Barbus simply tutted, waved his hand and sent her flying across the room.
Cole turned to look at Piper, she was out cold from the force of the knock.
Cole then turned to look at Leo, who was looking at Cole.
"Do something!" Leo encouraged. "Dont worry about anything and do what you have to do! You can do it!"
Cole hated doing this, but he knew that for one last time that he was going to have to do something. He looked at Phoebe, who looked really weak, and thought of his girls, who would be without a daddy, but happier because mommy would be there too. His heart was aching as he screamed loudly and morphed into Belthazar.
"Ah ha! Here we go!" Barbus rejoiced as he watched the events unfold before him.
Belthazar thought of everything that Barbus had done to him, of everything he had put him through, of all the things he had done these past couple of days, when he had been so happy with Phoebe and his family. When he was just innocently trying to carry on with a life that he didnt know he had.
He took a deep breath to summon lots of energy, and then one after another threw fireball after fireball at Barbus.
Barbus was backed into the wall as Belthazar continued to pummel him with fireballs. He finally got worn out, and realised that Barbus was unconcious.
Belthazar sighed, and looked at his hands. He was shaking from worry, anger, pain and stress. He turned back into Cole and ran over to Phoebe.
The force field wasnt present now. It must have been powered by Barbus's strength, Cole thought.
He examined his wife's wound, and untied the gag so that she could speak to him if she wanted to. He tried to lift Phoebe down from the magical ropes that were tying her up.
He took her in his arms and placed her on the floor. Time seemed to stop, like it was just him and Phoebe in the room.
"Cole!" She said as he knelt down next to her, and looked into her eyes.
"Im here baby!" He said to her. "Youre going to be fine!"
"I love you!" Phoebe said to him.
His eyes whelled up with tears as he replied "I love you too!"
He looked up as he heard a whimper, and realised that Piper was coming round. He jumped up and walked over to her.
"Cole, what happened?" She asked as she looked round and saw Barbus at the other side of the room, unconcious.
"I think I stopped him for a bit, but you got to get yourselves out of here, before he wakes up again!" Cole instructed her.
Piper rushed over to Leo, and undid the ropes that bound him.
He watched as the two embraced each other and kissed.
Cole walked over to Barbus and kicked him so he turned onto his side.
Leo walked over to him.
"You hurt him pretty bad!" Leo exclaimed as he also looked.
"Leo, you need to take Piper and Phoebe! Phoebe is really hurt, she needs Paige to heal her" Cole said, he turned round to look at Piper.
"Go on, take them quickly!" Cole ushered Leo. He walked over to Phoebe and lifted her to her feet.
"Cole watch out!" He heard Piper shout.
Suddenly Cole found himself knocked to the floor again.
"I see you made your choice Belthazar. Your witch comes before the ex-whitelighter. As you wish!" Barbus said.
Cole looked at Barbus. Piper looked at Leo, who then also looked at Barbus.
"NO!" Piper shouted. "No"
Everyone looked at her including Barbus. They were barely surprised at the outburst, though Barbus seemed to smirk.
"So whats it going to be?" Barbus asked Piper. Piper looked at Cole.
"Ill kill him" Piper told Barbus as she went into her pocket, and took out a potion vile.
Barbus laughed.
"Wise choice" He said.
Cole turned to look at Phoebe, who was crying.
"No Piper! Please dont" She begged her sister.
"Im sorry Phoebe, he isnt going to kill my husband!" Piper cried.
Cole looked over to Phoebe. This is it, he thought. Just brilliant, it isnt Paige who kills me after all.
Cole took one last fleeting look at Phoebe.
"I LOVE YOU!" He shouted.

[~B@MeLiSsA30@B~]

Oh wow, oh wow. That update is deep. WOW. I can't quit saying that. WOW!!! I need to know what happens.

Update when you can. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[~.:Alysha:.~]

OMG!! Whats going to happen..Piper cant kill Cole, she just cant.. i need to know whats going to happen next Sammi so please update as soon as you can!! Love it!!

[pubesy]

this is BRILLIANT sammi

i NEVER EVER read fanfics as i usually find them corny, out of character, and unbelieveable........but you have changed my mind

i can really see this as an episode!

i cant believe how PERFECTLY you have portrayed cole. 100% perfect-a-mundo. the way you have written cole..

.... the fact that he loves phoebe so much and would do anything for her.
.... the fact his intentions are good, but he cant help but be evil.

the fact that the relationship couldn't work no matter what reality cole is in

and there is the real threat of the sisters killing him again

the fact that cole is doomed from the start

this is brilliant!

i am eager to see how this ends

[Primrose_Empath]

I'll echo the sentiments of those above me and say Wow! These last two updates are excellent -- and I also wish that we could've had something like this as an episode. I hated Barbas before, but the way you write him makes loathe and dispise him for what he's done to Cole -- who is also brilliantly written.

Please keep the updates coming, as you've got me on pins and needles here.

[pubesy]

when is the next update.....come on come on come on!!!!!!

[*Sammi!*]

Thank you so much everyone!
And Im sorry Pubesy! Here you go!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"PIPER!!" Phoebe cried.
"Well, you didnt want him anyway." Barbus replied. Phoebe looked at him and glared. Barbus laughed and turned round to Piper.
"I knew I could rely on you to do my dirty work for me!" He said to her. It was Pipers turn to glare at him.
"I didnt have much choice" Piper spat at him as she walked over to Phoebe and helped her out of the Mausoleum.
"Well, thanks for helping me out! Just what I needed, free to roam the world for the rest of eternity!" Barbus taunted them.
"Take Phoebe to Paige" Piper instructed Leo as she turned to walk towards Barbus.
"Come back for more?" Barbus asked. "You witches just dont learn"
In one sudden movement, Barbus moved towards Piper and she fell to floor. He bent over her as she lay there, struggling to get away. Barbus let out an evil laugh.
"Your greatest fear, is that Phoebe will never forgive you for killing her husband, and that she will resent you for the rest of your life, making it unbearable for you to live" Barbus informed her.
"So I may aswell help you out there, and kill you now, to stop the misery, ofcourse" He continued.
"If you lay another hand on her, or move another muscle, you'll be sorry Barbus" someone growled from behind them.
Piper smiled as Barbus looked up, startled. She kicked him so that he fell backwards.
Infront of them stood a bruised, bloodied and weak Cole.
"But... But she killed you?" Barbus stuttered, looking petrified, as the look on Cole's face gave him a thousand fears in itself.
"Far from it" Piper informed him. "Infact, all I did, was throw a potion that makes your body stop moving etc for about 10 minutes, but we had to make it look as though I had killed him, so that you would think you had gotten away with it"
Barbus climbed to his feet, shaking his head as he did so.
"You think youre so clever" Barbus muttered.
"Oh, we dont think, we know" Cole said as he walked towards Barbus. "Do you want me to tell you, what your deepest fear is?" Cole asked him and he pinned him to the wall.
"Your deepest fear is that you havent succeeded once again, and now you wont be given the opportunity to try and reign the underworld, or this world for that matter, as you didnt succeed in killing me"
Barbus spat in Cole's face.
"Ill find a way out, I always do." Barbus said.
Cole let him go, and for the last time transformed into Belthazar.
As Cole looked right into his eyes, he saw fear. Fear that he knew he would he would always remember, as this is time that he actually does something right, to help his family. To secure a future for them all.
With that thought, Cole looked down at his hand, and for the last time aswell summoned a fireball. He had to be careful not to throw it too quickly, so that he could watch Barbus's face as he was hit.
"Its 12" Piper shouted.
"No" Barbus cried. "NO!! I almost did it! No!" Cole couldnt help but feel a thrill of happiness as he threw the fireball right at Barbus's chest.
Both Piper and Belthazar stood there, and watched as their worst enemy, after the Source, was sucked into oblivion. They winced as Barbus was flung round and round in whirling winds.
And then it was silence.
The pair stood there for the next five minutes.
"Well, for fear of sounding like Phoebe. I never get tired of kicking his a$$!" Piper broke the silence.
Cole laughed and turned back into his normal self. He embraced Piper as they laughed uncontrollably for the next couple of minutes.
When he pulled away, he flinched. He had been hurt pretty bad through the course of the night.
"Come on, lets get you to Paige too. I may be able to persuade my sister to help" Piper told him.

Cole shimmered them back to the manor. They appeared in the living room right infront of Paige.
"Jeez, you scared the b'jesus out of me!" She exclaimed. She then noticed Cole. "Well Cole, you look like death."
"Paige, heal him" Piper demanded. Cole felt thankful that he and Piper had had the past 4 hours to bond again, to be able to talk and for her to be able to see that it wasnt all his fault.
"Ok ok!" Paige said as she stood up. She gave Piper a funny look, and lent over to heal Cole's chest.
"And just why did I do that?" Paige asked after she had finished.
"Because I asked you to" Piper replied.
"And for me" They heard another voice chime in, and all looked up. It was Phoebe, who had just walked down the stairs.
"Hey hey hey!" Leo jumped up and walked over to her. "What are you doing out of bed?" He asked.
"I came to see how Cole was" Phoebe answered as she looked at her husband. He looked back, scared to meet her eyes.
"He is better" Piper reassured her. "I think I may have put a bit too much ammo in the potion though, it seared through his skin!" She laughed weakly.
"Ill live" Cole replied shortly. He wanted to hold Phoebe. To erase the pain of the past couple of days. To make sure that she knew that she was safe, and that she didnt have to worry.
"So Barbus is gone?" Paige asked.
"Yes, and hopefully wont return again!" Piper exclaimed. "It was lucky that Cole found out about his loophole, because we wouldnt have known otherwise." Piper looked at Cole and smiled.
"How did you find out?" Phoebe asked. She was staring right through him again.
"I asked someone I used to know in my demon days" Cole replied, not meeting her eyes. He still felt too guilty. He knew that the end was very nigh and that he had to step carefully, but he didnt want to admit it to himself properly yet.
"Well, I dont know about you, but I fancy a slap up meal!" Paige said excitedly.
"Oh yeah? And who is it thats cooking it?" Piper asked.
"Well... You?" Paige replied. Piper smiled and tutted.
"Typical" She said outloud, and everyone smiled.

[pubesy]

DUN DUN DUNNNNN

what a twist, a motion stopping potion! cool bananas!

but i dont understand the it's 12 comment, and the loophole business. is that "stay tuned for the next installment"

i really loved barbas's character. i could actually imagine the creepy voice he uses when i read the story!

and i can see coles face when i read about him, even down to the cute little nervous smile he does when he is unsure of himself!

for cole this is too good to be true! he has to wake up and find its a dream, or be teleported back.........or could cole have really found happiness?