Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, don't sue me.
Rating: PG-13
A/N: Okay, this was just something that came to me. The only thing you need to know is that it's set a few years after 'Centennial Charmed'. So Cole's dead. . .for now.
She was running so fast her sides felt as though they were on fire. She ignored the pain and continued to dart in between the gravestones. She tripped over and used her hands to prevent her fall. Lying on the ground she heaved in deep breaths, before pushing herself up and setting off again. She tried her best to keep silent, but between her need for air and the sobs that wracked her chest, it was impossible. She slowed down and eventually stopped when she reached her destination. Her breaths grew shallow and her tears stopped flowing as she stared at the small tomb. Memories of the night came rushing into her mind, threatening to bring back her tears.
Thirty minutes before. . .
"Phoebe, I told you before, your sisters aren't going to help you. Don't turn back now, you're almost done with them for good." Phoebe looked at her boyfriend over the table, doubt filling her mind. How long had it been since she had seen her sisters? She couldn't remember. It all seemed like a blur to her. "It's either me, or them." Phoebe clenched her teeth. She remembered him saying that. Maybe because he said it so often. Sometimes she didn't know why she didn't just walk away from him, after all, he wasn't the kind of guy a woman dreams of. She ran her fingers over the bruise on her arm. She couldn't leave him, not now. After she had vanquished Cole, everything seemed to take a turn for the worse. Her sisters and her began to draw apart, and work was becoming tiresome and annoying. That was when she met Stephen. He worked in an office close to hers, and he seemed like a nice enough guy. Months after dating him, she had moved in with him, much to the horror of her sisters. They had pleaded with her, they never liked Stephen from the moment the met him. Granted, he didn't seem to like them much either. But Phoebe was different now, she didn't need her sisters. She could make do without them, or so he had convinced her. So Stephen got angry now and again, it didn't mean he didn't love her. "You do know I love you, right?" Stephen seemed to read her mind as he took hold of her hands from across the table.
"I know." She replied hesitantly. He made sure she was looking at him before he continued.
"So you know that you have to tell them to stop calling. It's been a year, Phoebe. Tell them to get on with their lives without dragging you into them." He said quietly. Phoebe nodded in defeat. For the past year Piper and Paige had been trying to contact Phoebe in a bid for her to return to them. The Power of Three was no more, all that remained of her life years ago were the memories she had of them. Even now those threatened to disappear. "Come on, let's get out of here." He said taking out his wallet and paying for the beers he had consumed that night. He took her hand and pulled her towards the exit of the restaurant. As he started to lead her to their parked car, she stopped. The building across the street seemed so familiar to her, and it took her seconds to realise why. It was the block of apartments Cole had stayed in when they had started dating. "Phoebe!" Stephen yelled. Phoebe snapped out of her trance.
"What?" She asked quietly, cringing slightly. She hated it when he drank, it always seemed to make things difficult for her.
"What's up with you tonight? First you start wondering about whether you should contact your sisters, and now you go all woozy on me? What's going on?" He asked, his voice loud. Phoebe knew where this was going, and she tried to step back. His grip on her arm startled her, as it grew tighter.
"Stephen, it's nothing. I'm just tired." She said quietly, hoping he would calm down soon. She could see his jaw clenching slightly, and she knew the beer he had just consumed was going to take over. With a great pull she managed to free herself from his grip and stumble away. His look of anger told her she had made a huge mistake, and she turned around and ran into the alleyway behind them. It wasn't often that he got drunk enough to hit her, but it happened every now and again. She didn't blame him. . .it was just the day taking it's toll on him, or whatever it took to make her believe that he wasn't the bastard her sisters tried to convince her he was. She squeezed herself behind a large, metal dumpster.
"Phoebe? Honey? I'm sorry. . .I'm just a bit worn out from work." She heard his voice calling for her. The sincerity in it almost made her believe she had imagined the hostility he had shown seconds ago. "Phoebe?" He called out again, this time louder. She heard something being thrown to the floor. "Phoebe! Dammit! Come here!" She held her breath as tears began to fall down her cheeks. She gasped as the dumpster was moved away violently, and Stephen stood in front of her. "Why did you hide from me?" He asked her through gritted teeth. He once again grabbed her by the arm and began pulling her towards the alleyway entrance. Phoebe tried to pull away again, but was thrown to the ground as his hand made swift contact to her face, drawing blood immediately. "You made me do that! Stop struggling!" He shouted at her. Phoebe whimpered slightly, but this only earned her another slap, before she was pulled to her feet.
'This isn't him.' She thought to herself, over and over. She tried to remember the times when he hadn't resembled who he was now, and held the picture in her mind. She often did this when her sister's warnings were threatening to take hold of her. With one last ounce of strength she pulled her arm out of his grip, surprised that his grip had weakened. Not waiting to see his reaction, she turned around and sprinted away from him.
So here she was, half an hour later. True, Stephen wasn't the ideal boyfriend. He did tend to get drunk every now and again, which almost always ended in her earning a new bruise. But he was all she had now, and despite everything he put her through, she knew she would have to return to him eventually. Why would her sisters want her back now? But she wasn't ready to return to Stephen yet, she'd go back when the alcohol had worn off. Right now she was at the one place that seemed to calm her down. She had been here many times since it had been built. Since her and her sisters had had it built. She pushed open the concrete door and stepped into the lightly lit tomb. Instead of sweeping Cole's ashes into the street like they normally did, they all felt that he deserved more. Phoebe was surprised when Paige had offered the idea, and even more surprised when Piper agreed. Eventually they built the tomb in honour of the Cole they used to know. The Cole they had once called family. Phoebe walked across the diminutive room to the far wall, where she ran her hands over the small bronze plaque. She traced the words with her finger. 'Cole Turner'. She closed her eyes and willed herself to forget the happenings of the last hour. When she opened her eyes again, they were drawn down to the wall underneath the plaque. She frowned and crouched down. Using her hand she wiped away the dust that had formed from her last visit. She was surprised to find words engraved into the wall. It wasn't possible that they were always there, she knew this tomb from top to bottom. They definitely wasn't there the last time she was here. Nevertheless, she squinted her eyes and tried to read the writing through the faint lighting.
"Through heaven, hell, earth and fires. Bring me what my heart desires. . ."
Phoebe read out the word softly. 'Why would anyone engrave two meaningless lines on the wall of a tomb?' She thought to herself. She never had time to think more about it though, as a loud thud behind her forced her to spin around quickly. Her breath caught in her throat at what she saw before her.
Unknown to Phoebe, she was being watched intently.
"This is all your fault!" A man wearing a long robe exclaimed.
"My fault? You were the one who carved the engravings!" Another man, much younger replied.
"Only because you were absolutely sure that this wouldn't be the outcome!" The first man said, annoyance clearly written on his face. The younger man flinched slightly.
"I said I was pretty sure." He said quietly. Before the older man could reply, he continued. "And besides, I had good reason to assume it. It's been years since they vanquished him, she had plenty of time to get over him. How was I supposed to know he was what her heart desired!" He questioned loudly. The older man shook his slowly.
"I'm going to lose my charge because of this. . ." He muttered.
"Hold on just a second! We don't know, this might just work." The younger man said hopefully.
"Justin, you've been an Elder for what? Two years? You may be young and intelligent, and maybe worthy of your position. But one thing you don't have, is experience. And only with experience will you realise that it isn't possible for a demon to solve our problems."
"Well, it's too late to take it back now. All we can do it hope that he can convince her to return to her sisters. Experience or not, I know how necessary it is for the Power of Three to be restored. It's been far too long. . .
So what do you guys think? I know it was a bit weird that Phoebe was acting like that. Ah well. . .drop off a review and let me know what you thought.
Rating: PG-13
A/N: Okay, this was just something that came to me. The only thing you need to know is that it's set a few years after 'Centennial Charmed'. So Cole's dead. . .for now.
She was running so fast her sides felt as though they were on fire. She ignored the pain and continued to dart in between the gravestones. She tripped over and used her hands to prevent her fall. Lying on the ground she heaved in deep breaths, before pushing herself up and setting off again. She tried her best to keep silent, but between her need for air and the sobs that wracked her chest, it was impossible. She slowed down and eventually stopped when she reached her destination. Her breaths grew shallow and her tears stopped flowing as she stared at the small tomb. Memories of the night came rushing into her mind, threatening to bring back her tears.
Thirty minutes before. . .
"Phoebe, I told you before, your sisters aren't going to help you. Don't turn back now, you're almost done with them for good." Phoebe looked at her boyfriend over the table, doubt filling her mind. How long had it been since she had seen her sisters? She couldn't remember. It all seemed like a blur to her. "It's either me, or them." Phoebe clenched her teeth. She remembered him saying that. Maybe because he said it so often. Sometimes she didn't know why she didn't just walk away from him, after all, he wasn't the kind of guy a woman dreams of. She ran her fingers over the bruise on her arm. She couldn't leave him, not now. After she had vanquished Cole, everything seemed to take a turn for the worse. Her sisters and her began to draw apart, and work was becoming tiresome and annoying. That was when she met Stephen. He worked in an office close to hers, and he seemed like a nice enough guy. Months after dating him, she had moved in with him, much to the horror of her sisters. They had pleaded with her, they never liked Stephen from the moment the met him. Granted, he didn't seem to like them much either. But Phoebe was different now, she didn't need her sisters. She could make do without them, or so he had convinced her. So Stephen got angry now and again, it didn't mean he didn't love her. "You do know I love you, right?" Stephen seemed to read her mind as he took hold of her hands from across the table.
"I know." She replied hesitantly. He made sure she was looking at him before he continued.
"So you know that you have to tell them to stop calling. It's been a year, Phoebe. Tell them to get on with their lives without dragging you into them." He said quietly. Phoebe nodded in defeat. For the past year Piper and Paige had been trying to contact Phoebe in a bid for her to return to them. The Power of Three was no more, all that remained of her life years ago were the memories she had of them. Even now those threatened to disappear. "Come on, let's get out of here." He said taking out his wallet and paying for the beers he had consumed that night. He took her hand and pulled her towards the exit of the restaurant. As he started to lead her to their parked car, she stopped. The building across the street seemed so familiar to her, and it took her seconds to realise why. It was the block of apartments Cole had stayed in when they had started dating. "Phoebe!" Stephen yelled. Phoebe snapped out of her trance.
"What?" She asked quietly, cringing slightly. She hated it when he drank, it always seemed to make things difficult for her.
"What's up with you tonight? First you start wondering about whether you should contact your sisters, and now you go all woozy on me? What's going on?" He asked, his voice loud. Phoebe knew where this was going, and she tried to step back. His grip on her arm startled her, as it grew tighter.
"Stephen, it's nothing. I'm just tired." She said quietly, hoping he would calm down soon. She could see his jaw clenching slightly, and she knew the beer he had just consumed was going to take over. With a great pull she managed to free herself from his grip and stumble away. His look of anger told her she had made a huge mistake, and she turned around and ran into the alleyway behind them. It wasn't often that he got drunk enough to hit her, but it happened every now and again. She didn't blame him. . .it was just the day taking it's toll on him, or whatever it took to make her believe that he wasn't the bastard her sisters tried to convince her he was. She squeezed herself behind a large, metal dumpster.
"Phoebe? Honey? I'm sorry. . .I'm just a bit worn out from work." She heard his voice calling for her. The sincerity in it almost made her believe she had imagined the hostility he had shown seconds ago. "Phoebe?" He called out again, this time louder. She heard something being thrown to the floor. "Phoebe! Dammit! Come here!" She held her breath as tears began to fall down her cheeks. She gasped as the dumpster was moved away violently, and Stephen stood in front of her. "Why did you hide from me?" He asked her through gritted teeth. He once again grabbed her by the arm and began pulling her towards the alleyway entrance. Phoebe tried to pull away again, but was thrown to the ground as his hand made swift contact to her face, drawing blood immediately. "You made me do that! Stop struggling!" He shouted at her. Phoebe whimpered slightly, but this only earned her another slap, before she was pulled to her feet.
'This isn't him.' She thought to herself, over and over. She tried to remember the times when he hadn't resembled who he was now, and held the picture in her mind. She often did this when her sister's warnings were threatening to take hold of her. With one last ounce of strength she pulled her arm out of his grip, surprised that his grip had weakened. Not waiting to see his reaction, she turned around and sprinted away from him.
So here she was, half an hour later. True, Stephen wasn't the ideal boyfriend. He did tend to get drunk every now and again, which almost always ended in her earning a new bruise. But he was all she had now, and despite everything he put her through, she knew she would have to return to him eventually. Why would her sisters want her back now? But she wasn't ready to return to Stephen yet, she'd go back when the alcohol had worn off. Right now she was at the one place that seemed to calm her down. She had been here many times since it had been built. Since her and her sisters had had it built. She pushed open the concrete door and stepped into the lightly lit tomb. Instead of sweeping Cole's ashes into the street like they normally did, they all felt that he deserved more. Phoebe was surprised when Paige had offered the idea, and even more surprised when Piper agreed. Eventually they built the tomb in honour of the Cole they used to know. The Cole they had once called family. Phoebe walked across the diminutive room to the far wall, where she ran her hands over the small bronze plaque. She traced the words with her finger. 'Cole Turner'. She closed her eyes and willed herself to forget the happenings of the last hour. When she opened her eyes again, they were drawn down to the wall underneath the plaque. She frowned and crouched down. Using her hand she wiped away the dust that had formed from her last visit. She was surprised to find words engraved into the wall. It wasn't possible that they were always there, she knew this tomb from top to bottom. They definitely wasn't there the last time she was here. Nevertheless, she squinted her eyes and tried to read the writing through the faint lighting.
"Through heaven, hell, earth and fires. Bring me what my heart desires. . ."
Phoebe read out the word softly. 'Why would anyone engrave two meaningless lines on the wall of a tomb?' She thought to herself. She never had time to think more about it though, as a loud thud behind her forced her to spin around quickly. Her breath caught in her throat at what she saw before her.
Unknown to Phoebe, she was being watched intently.
"This is all your fault!" A man wearing a long robe exclaimed.
"My fault? You were the one who carved the engravings!" Another man, much younger replied.
"Only because you were absolutely sure that this wouldn't be the outcome!" The first man said, annoyance clearly written on his face. The younger man flinched slightly.
"I said I was pretty sure." He said quietly. Before the older man could reply, he continued. "And besides, I had good reason to assume it. It's been years since they vanquished him, she had plenty of time to get over him. How was I supposed to know he was what her heart desired!" He questioned loudly. The older man shook his slowly.
"I'm going to lose my charge because of this. . ." He muttered.
"Hold on just a second! We don't know, this might just work." The younger man said hopefully.
"Justin, you've been an Elder for what? Two years? You may be young and intelligent, and maybe worthy of your position. But one thing you don't have, is experience. And only with experience will you realise that it isn't possible for a demon to solve our problems."
"Well, it's too late to take it back now. All we can do it hope that he can convince her to return to her sisters. Experience or not, I know how necessary it is for the Power of Three to be restored. It's been far too long. . .
So what do you guys think? I know it was a bit weird that Phoebe was acting like that. Ah well. . .drop off a review and let me know what you thought.