A/N: Hello to my fellow readers and writers! *Waves* I have a new story for you! I'm pretty sure it'll be a three-shot, if it's getting longer, I'll let you know.

Warning: This story is rated M for a reason, but this chapter isn't too "lemony". I will, for the sake of small children, warn the reader if the chapter contains more than what is in this chapter.

And now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the first chapter!


I'll Trust my Heart to You

By: Piper Chris Melinda Halliwell

Chapter 1: Love and Fear

Coop knew that, in some ways, Phoebe was afraid to love again. He understood that. He'd taken his time opening her heart, careful with each little crack from every broken relationship. He'd taken them all and healed them. He knew much more about her past than she knew. He knew why the hardest falls were her hardest. He'd looked over them time and time again, trying to find exactly what went wrong, or rather, what needed to be done in order for her to trust him.

"Phoebe," Coop called, hearting into the living room of her apartment. She turned to meet his gaze with her eyes glazed over in confusion. "What's wrong?" he asked as he saw her eyes that were barely holding back tears. He pulled part of the blanket back that was draped over her as he moved to the couch, and then placed it over him as he sat beside her.

"I—I just…I can't do this anymore…" She told him, her tears overflowing and splashing on her hand. Coop could feel her barriers around Phoebe's heart melting. He knew she was scared of being hurt again, but he wondered if that feeling was strong enough to make her cry—or if it was something more.

"Do what, Phoebe?" he asked gently, taking her hand that was on top of the blanket in his own.

"Y—you should leave. I've probably caused enough chaos already…especially with what happened between Piper and Leo. I—I don't want to cost you anything." She replied, her teary eyes looking up at him. Coop wiped a stream away with his thumb. 'Ah, so that's what this is about', he thought.

"What do you mean?" he asked. He knew why her emotions were so unstable now, but she needed to say it and not be told. In the end, it'd make her feel so much better, he knew.

"Coop, I—I l—l…" the words were caught in her throat.

She was afraid of what would happen to them as well as his response. What if she said that, then the Elders found out and took him away from her? After all, it was forbidden love, wasn't it, for a witch to fall in love with a cupid? It'd never work, no matter how much they might want it to, but still she felt she needed to say it, get it into the open. One of the most amazing things now, she realized, was that Coop said nothing while she was contemplating her thoughts. He just wiped a tear away, now and then.

"Yes, Phoebe," he said after about five minutes. While she was thinking, their eyes never left each other's face, almost as if they were each trying to freeze the moment in their memories. "what is it?"

"Coop, I—" 'Oh, come on, you can say it!' "Iloveyou." Phoebe said in a rush, sounding as though the three small words were one. Coop's grin grew wider, but he noticed she was still crying. He moved over and wrapped his arms around her, placing a kiss on her temple as she leaned into him.

"Phoebe, it's okay—" he said trying to get her tears to stop.

"N—no it's not. It—it's forbidden. I can't—we can't…" Phoebe said crying harder into his chest. "a—and anyway, you probably don't want someone with such a broken heart, Coop. You—" He guided his face to hers and kissed her lightly. Her kiss had so much longing and passion in it that he hated to pull away, but he had to speak.

"Phoebe, it is okay. I was sent not just to help you find love, I was sent for you. Don't be afraid. I worked my way into your heart without you realizing it at first. I had to do something to gain your trust, so I took you to your other relationships not only to help you see what you really want, but to help me as well." he told her stroking her hair as she pulled back a little.

"So, the feeling's mutual…then?" she asked trying to stay focused on the conversation, but she couldn't. She wanted to trust him, but something in her heart still wouldn't let her.

Instead of answering her in words, he moved in closer and kissed her again, but firmer this time. Instinctively, her hands started combing his short, dark hair with her nails, which deepened it even more.

In a flash, she was reminded of Cole and what he did to her and she pulled back quickly, on the brink of tears. Coop caught the expression in her eyes and grabbed her hand before Phoebe had a chance to pull it away.

"I can't. I'm so sorry. I—I just…" she said as tears ran down her face.

"Phoebe, don't be. I know how you feel. But I'm not him, and I'll prove it to you if you'll let me. I love you too and nothing will stop that. Open your heart," he said as his hand went over her heart and ring flashed rapidly. "and let me show you what it feels like to love without being afraid of anything."

"I just don't know what to think anymore, Coop. I know you're not Cole, but…you just remind me of him in more ways than you know. I don't want my love for him transferred to you…" Phoebe said, her tears dripping onto his hand. "That's why I can't keep going. It's not you."

"But it's not, Phoebe. It's a different type of love. You just don't realize it. You were afraid to love him because he was evil and your sisters weren't fond of him right?" she nodded.

"Then when I finally did…" she couldn't keep talking…reliving the memory and her body shook as she cried. He moved over to the corner of the couch beside her, and held her again.

"He broke your heart, so deep that you were willing to do anything to make the pain stop and the feelings you still had for him go away." She nodded. "Phoebe, you can't do that, no matter how hard you try. You can't just extinguish a flame that burns that brightly by anyone."

"I want to let go…I want to forget him…what he did to me and my sisters, but because I can't let go of him…"

"You're afraid that you can never truly love again." She nodded. "Phoebe, you don't have to forget anything except the pain. I'm not here to make you relive your worst memories…" he said as she looked up at him. "I'm here to help make everything you've ever dreamed of possible."

She knew the real reason she couldn't let go of Cole, but she didn't feel like it was right to say. Phoebe was afraid that she would never be able to find true love again with him in her heart, yes, but there was something more, something she didn't think he knew as to why she'd held so tightly to the good memories after four years.

She wasn't sure how to phrase it…it was a difficult subject for her. Coop could see worry in her eyes, so he didn't steer the subject away even though he wanted to. He didn't know why she looked so worried and wanted to help.

"How am I supposed to know what you're saying is true?" she asked hesitantly. Coop knew that wasn't why she was so tense, but now, he knew he had an opening.

"You won't know unless you trust me. When we went back to where Cole was vanquished in the penthouse, why did you turn to me, why not run after him?" Coop knew he'd hit a cord by the look in her eyes…it was something about that night…

"I didn't want to, but after—after that happened I had a hard time and not just because of him, but also because…you probably don't want to know. You know me now, so what's the point?" she asked as he wiped a tear away.

"No Phoebe, I do want to know. What happened after that was partially kept from my eyes," he said rubbing her hand slightly. "tell me, tell me everything so I can help."

"But there's nothing you can do about this! I—I just don't see a point."

"Phoebe, it was something that influenced you greatly…I can tell by your eyes…it's like you long for it…"

"I do, but I'm just not sure it'll ever happen. I'm not necessarily talking about him…"

"You're tired of trying to find it, just hoping it'll happen…I can see that. Ju—" he was cut off when she laid her head on his chest and what she told him next caused tears to flow in endless rivers.

"I was pregnant with his son…the Source's child, but the Seer stole him from me, but, as it turned out, he had too much power and he destroyed her from the inside." His arms came around her strongly.

Coop was stunned. He had never been told any of this…by the Elders or her sisters, but he figured this was something that had tortured her for a long time and also possibly why she wanted to get rid of her feelings for Cole so badly.

Then, her eyes showed brightness that he didn't know if he'd ever see before as she brought her head up and looked into his eyes, though still crying. "And now, for about a year, I've had these wonderful visions of a demon-free world and I little girl with light brown hair and a button nose. With how my past was, I'm just afraid it's never going to happen, Coop."

"It will, Phoebe. Someday, I promise you, you'll get everything you've ever dreamed of and, me, I'll be the one to give them to you. We can take as much time as we need, as much time as it takes…learning, trusting each other. Just let me in, that's all you need to do." he told her.

Staring deeply into his eyes, it was then that Phoebe realized it. It'd been staring her in the face for months, but she never noticed it, not once, until she admitted true her fears. His face, his eyes, his nose…everything practically screamed that Coop was the father of her little Ladybug. The daughter she'd longed for since she'd been on that vision quest…seen the premonitions…dreamed…everything.

And just like that, Phoebe Halliwell's tears ceased to flow and a glowing smile appeared on her delicate lips. She leaned into him, letting her fears go and her horrible memories disappear. And somehow, someway, the icy-cold barrier around her heart melted as she sat within the arms that would, someday, give her everything.

Somehow, they'd make it work, she knew.


A/N: So how was that? I didn't think it was too "mature", but depending on the way a certain part is read, I think it can be established.

Please read and review, guys! I really want to know what you think! Plus, I love my reviews (and reviewers)! *Winks*

Next chapter: Chapter 2: Trust Your Heart

Until the next chapter update, I hope everyone has a good day or night and I'll "see you" later!

Piper Chris Melinda Halliwell