Title: One Last Chance
Notes: This becomes an AU after seven year witch. I've altered some of the dialogue in the final scene of the episode and it will branch off from there. Be warned, I'm planning a love triangle. :)

"You did good."

Cole just stood there and looked at Drake.

"Thanks," Drake said and turned around the face him. "So did you. I couldn't have tasted life unless you set me up with that sorcerer."

"Did you remember what you promised?" Cole asked.

Drake smiled. "A deal is a deal." Drake passed him a vial.

Cole looked down at it. He'd came this far..

Both of them looked up as chimes rang through the Magic School.

"How's dying like?" Drake asked.

"Painful."

"Comforting," Drake chuckled. Cole saw the colour drain from his face and watched as he fell to the floor. Drake stood up as a ghost.

"Good luck. You be good to her, she deserves a lot," Drake told him.

The door of the hallway opened and Cole turned. For a minute he thought Phoebe had come to see Drake's last moments, but it was not. Even though he recognized her, she looked so different.

Drake's body dissolved in a quick burst.

"Okay, that was interesting. Ashes to ashes, eh?"

Drake looked at the woman standing behind Cole. "I guess it's time for me to go." Cole nodded.

"Thank you," Cole said.

Drake smiled briefly and let go. He disappeared in bright lights, seemed almost like a white orb.

Cole turned around. He took the vial and drank it. He didn't feel different but he must have joined the living plane as the woman in front of him smiled.

"Cole."

She walked up to him and grabbed his hand.

"Vanessa."

He smiled. She grinned.

"When some whacked out poet comes and visits me and says a Cole Turner has a message for me, I think I shouldn't kill him and wait to hear what he has to say."

"Good intuition."

Vanessa reached out and touched his face. "Not liking the hair, darling."

Her finger grazed across his cheek. It sent him shivers. He hadn't felt like this for so long..

"My poor baby is so hurt. She doesn't deserve you, Cole."

"Let's go."

She sighed and shimmered them away.

Cole looked around himself.

"You always had expensive taste."

Vanessa smiled. Cole looked around. The place was a mansion. The room he was in seemed to be some kind of sitting room. It had huge big and plush couches, a huge television and the room was big enough to be its own house.

"Do you want the grand tour?"

"No."

Cole had sat on the couch and she sat near him. She interlocked her fingers with his as he looked around.

"I've heard so much gossip about what happened to you these last couple of years. I need to hear it from you."

"It's very simple. I fell in love again."

Vanessa smiled. "Weren't we the cutest couple?"

"Absolutely." Cole smiled. "I've never been wrenched from a relationship before. I usually wind down from it, don't feel so strong when it falls apart. Not this time."

Cole looked up at Vanessa. "How many men have you married since I last talked?"

"Three." She said. Vanessa got up and sat on his lap.

"What's that make it? Eleven times?"

"I fell in love with every one of those men, thank you very much."

"Sure."

Her face was so close to his. He could feel her breath on his face. Her lips brushed with his but he pulled away.

"You're no fun."

Vanessa was pouting. She was very moody today.

"Go see her Cole. I can see what she's done to you already and it's only been ten minutes."

"I can't. She'll think I have something planned. She'll get defensive."

"So what's the big plan? Sit here and feel sorry for yourself? Come on."

Cole thought for a moment. "It'll take time. And I need time to figure everything out."

"What's to figure out, Cole? You love her."

"I know, Vanessa, believe me, I know."

"Cole," Vanessa said, "You're the smartest guy I have ever met. You'll find a way."

Just then he felt himself let go. Vanessa as so close, he felt so hot, burning. He lent upwards to kiss her, to feel anything..

She abruptly swung her legs to the floor and got up.

"You are such a tease!" he called after her.

As she exited the room she called over her shoulder "It's why I'm so irresistible."

Cole knew he cared for Vanessa too. Phoebe was so hard sometimes, and he knew he could have Vanessa with no problem. It was easy. They'd been through a lot and they were great friends.

But Phoebe made his insides churn, his blood boil, his heart flutter. Vanessa didn't do that anymore. Vanessa and he just took comfort in each other's company..

He longed to feel like that again. Phoebe was waiting for him. He had to fight for her. Cole would take her back and never let go. Never.

The only question was how was he gonna get her back? Phoebe wouldn't exactly be glad to see him.

--

TBC...