What Could've Been

NewGirl AKA Liz

(c) 2003

Disclaimer: "Charmed" is not own by me, so don't sue. I don't have that much cash. I just blew it all on cds, clothes, and books at Hot Topic and Barnes and Noble so I have nothing of interest to you. :)

A/N: Unlike the rest of my fics, this is NOT a P/C. I know, it's strange, but deal. I've basically lost interest in Charmed now, but I'll catch it every now in then. The point is that I had to write this fic. The idea has been playing in my mind all season, so I needed to get it down. As I said, it's not a P/C, but Cole is in it. If you don't like Cole then I suggest you don't read this because he is a main character in this fan fiction. Feedback is strongly encouraged.

Oh, also, the math for birthdays and timing is really bad in this. I needed the ages to be close together and I couldn't account the 'dating/marriage/it takes time stuff' for everyone because it just didn't work out with me. Just don't question it or think about it too much and it won't matter anyway.

Timeline and info: This fic is a 'what if.' What if Cole and Phoebe didn't get back together in The Good, the Bad, and The Cursed? I think that that ep. aired in 2001? If not, let me know. This takes place in 2018. Also, all the good bands that I listen to now (Examples: Good Charlotte, LINKIN PARK, Riddlin' Kids, Tool, Simple Plan, Saliva, and the band that my friend is in) do exist, but I'm using their work as originals in this fic. Don't ask, it will be explained later. :)

Oh, It's in script format. I'm not the best at it, so bear with me.

Part One

(Camera pans up to a shot of a Victorian house with a 'SOLD' sign in the yard. A moving tuck is parked out front, and a black car is in the driveway. A mover walks down the truck ramp carrying a big box. It's obvious that he's tired.)

MALE VOICE OS (Off Screen): That the last box?

MOVER: Yep, this is it. Where does this one go? All is says is 'boy' on it, and you got two.

(OS MALE walks up to the mover and looks at the box. The man is COLE.)

COLE: I think its Ben's. That goes in the blue room.

(The MOVER nods and walks into the house. COLE is standing outside still when someone comes up behind him. It's a woman. She places her hands over COLE'S eyes.)

WOMAN: Guess who.

(Cole turns around and smiles.)

COLE: Clair, you made it just in time.

CLAIR: Just in time for what?

(Before COLE can answer, CLAIR reaches her hands around his neck and kisses him.)

COLE: (Smiles) We get to pull the sign out of the yard. Our new home, God, I can't believe it.

CLAIR: Believe what? (CLAIR gives him a quizzical as she wraps her hand around his waist.)

COLE: Seventeen years. Us. The boys.

CLAIR: They're hardly boys anymore. They're sixteen. (CLAIR shakes her head.) Drivers Ed. That's what we have to do, sign them up for Drivers Ed.

COLE: We'll get it settled. They're first day at a new high school is tomorrow. We don't need to overwhelm them.

CLAIR: Yeah. (She smiles and then looks up at COLE.) Shall we?

(COLE nods and then walks up to the 'SOLD' sign. He pulls it up out of the grass and the sets it on the front porch.)

COLE: It's ours now. We're on the human plane.

CLAIR: Yeah, the human plane that's full of witches, demons, warlocks, and whitelighters.

(Opening credits)

(Commercial Break)

(Camera pans across the Golden Gate Bridge and of the city. Flash fast to the front of a high school were a bunch of kids are hanging out in the front. It's early morning and class hasn't started yet. On a cement bench there are four teenagers sitting on a bench. Two are guys and two are girls.)

GIRL #1: So, Wyatt, did Uncle Leo ground you for being late, or did he let you off the hook?

WYATT: Oh, no, I'm defiantly still on the hook. I'm fish food. Grounded for two weeks because I was late. That's not constitutional either because I was late from a demon. He attacked me. I-

GIRL #2: Keep the 'D' word and the magic talk to a low minimum please. I do have a reputation to maintain and all. Not that you would know what that is considering you're nothing but a dumb skate rat/drummer.

WYATT: I'm sorry that you're such a cynical prep, Melinda, but don't take it out on the rest of us.

MELINDA: You're such an evil brother. I'm out of here. I actually have important people to talk to. (Melinda stands up, grabs her book bag, and walks off.)

WYATT (to GIRL #1 and BOY #2): It amazes me that we're even related. So, guys what did your mom have to say about the high demonic activity as of late?

JENNA: Oh, you mean 'Dear Phoebe' who gives such great advice, but doesn't notice when her daughter has something to ask her?

BOY #2 (Shoves JENNS a little): Don't be so hard on mom. She's busy.

JENNA: What about dad, Tristan? He's her boss. Can't he lighten the workload enough for some mother/daughter bonding?

TRISTAN: So, they may be a little caught up in their work right now, but the paper is doing really well.

WYATT: Sure, but the demon thing, what did she say about that?

JENNA: Nothing. So, what are you gonna do?

WYATT: About being grounded or about finding a lead singer and a bass player for the band?

JENNA: Both.

WYATT: Well, I can talk to my dad and endlessly beg him to reconsider, but the band thing...I'll just have to ask around. See if any of my friends can play. I can't believe that Jake and Tom would just bail on the band like that. I mean they find out that Tristan and I are a little different and …then they just don't like us.

TRISTAN: Wyatt, watching you blow up some sort of unearthly demon with your powers would naturally freak a human out.

(Two boys walk up to the kids. They both have on black pants. One is wearing a white shirt with a black skull on it. The other has a red shirt that says in black writing 'ROLE MODEL.' The two boys have black and red wristbands and a couple of spikes. The 'ROLE MODEL' kid has his eyebrow pierced. It's hard to tell at first, but they are twins.)

'ROLE MODEL' KID: I'm Ethan Turner. (Points to his brother) That's Ben. (BEN nods at the group) We just transferred here. Can any of you tell us where the office is?

WYATT: I can. Been there a lot.

BEN: (sarcastic) Really? Wouldn't have guessed.

JENNA: He's always late to class. This (points to her brother) is Tristan, my brother, that's (points to Wyatt) Wyatt, my cousin who is a psychopath, and I'm Jenna, the sanest person of the bunch.

BEN: Well, Ethan and I are psychopaths too, so that's okay.

ETHAN: Damn, and here I thought we wouldn't fit in. Most people just tend to stare at us, but that could be my imagination. The men who lock me up in the padded room said it was very wild.

BEN (Mock tears): I miss the padded room.

(ETHAN pats BEN on the back)

ETHAN: It's okay, Ben, mom and dad said we would go back real soon.

(They all smile.)

(The bell rings.)

WYATT: Oh, what another wonderful day for torture. (Looks to BEN and ETHAN) You'll have fun with the preps and jocks, I promise. The torturing on the first day is always fun.

(They all walk towards the doors of the school. ETHAN taps BEN on the shoulder and they share a silent question. BEN nods.)

ETHAN: So, Wyatt, what was this I hear about a lot of demonic activity lately?

(WYATT turns around with his jaw dropped.)

(Commercial Break)

So, what did you guys think of part one? Please send feedback. I'm addicted to it! :)