This story begins somewhere around the time of the episode "Lost and Bound" -- however, in this story, Cole did NOT lose his job with Social Services, and he is still working there as an attorney -- he is in his second month of employment there, and he is still an innocent. Phoebe still has not 'officially' accepted Cole's marriage proposal when this story begins (he's only proposed TWICE in this story), which is starting to put a strain on their relationship. Paige and Cole are fast becoming good friends due to their working relationship -- however, this will NOT turn into a Cole/Paige fanfic, they will just maintain a strong friendship that will solidify even more as the story progresses.
Paige looks over the case file that she has just been handed by her supervisor. "I'm giving this to you because I figure you're the best person to -- handle it, given the situation." her boss says.
"What do you mean?" Paige asks.
"Just read the file -- I think you'll figure it out." her boss says, and she leaves. Paige starts going over the file page by page. When she reaches a certain point, she stops, completely stunned.
"Oh my god." she says to herself, looking at the paper, just as Cole walks into her office.
"Hey -- I need you to sign off on some of this paperwork, it's one of your cases." Cole says, handing her a stack of papers. Paige just continues to stare at the file she was reading. "TODAY would be nice. NOW would be even better." Cole says. Paige looks up at Cole.
"Cole -- did you ever know a woman by the name of Jacqueline Kane?" Paige asks. Upon hearing the woman's name, Cole immediately drops the stack of papers he was holding onto the floor. "I take it that would be a 'yes'." Paige says.
"How do you know about her?" Cole asks.
"Because she just died in a car accident, and -- well, here. See for yourself." Paige says, handing him the file. He looks it over, then tosses it onto Paige's desk, the same look of shock come over his face that she had. "So --- is it possible this is true?" Cole plops himself down in a chair, looking up at Paige.
"I -- I guess it is." Cole replies.
"Well -- a DNA test will determine whether it is or not." Paige says. "You didn't know anything about this, did you?"
"Do I look like I did?" Cole asks.
"What will you do if it's true?" Paige asks.
"Can you at least give me two seconds to PROCESS this before I have to make a decision that will change my entire life?" Cole asks.
"So you'll take a DNA test?" Paige asks.
"Yeah. Fine. Whatever." Cole says, picking up the papers he dropped. "Here -- get these signed, I -- I need to go -- for a walk or something." Cole throws the papers down on Paige's desk and leaves. Paige sighs as she looks at the new case file once again, looking at the birth certificate of the 8-year old little girl whose caseworker she has just become. The mother is listed as Jacqueline Kane. The father's name -- Cole Turner.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Okay -- Piper, I think I'm ready." Phoebe says, entering the kitchen.
"That's nice. What are you ready for?" Piper asks.
"I'm ready to make it official -- and say yes to Cole's proposal." Phoebe says.
"You mean it's actually still ON the table?" Piper asks.
"Of course it is." Phoebe replies.
"Phoebe -- he asked you over a MONTH ago -- how long do you expect a guy to wait?" Piper asks.
"I just -- needed to make sure that I was ready. And now I think I am." Phoebe says. Piper rolls her eyes.
"Oh, okay. Because SO much has changed in the last four weeks. Come on, Phoebe -- you haven't given Cole an answer yet because you're a commitment-phobe. You want all the fun of the relationship with NONE of the responsibilities. If I were Cole, I'd have told you where you can stick your 'yes' at this point." Piper says.
"Well -- you're not Cole." Phoebe says. "And he'll be happy." Just as Phoebe says this, Cole enters the room. "Hey, baby -- we were just talking about you."
"Phoebe -- we need to talk." Cole says, in a VERY serious tone of voice.
"Ooooh, that sounds like MY cue to leave. Have a nice -- discussion." Piper says, and she leaves the room.
"Cole, I'm so glad you're here -- you know, I've really been thinking and --" Phoebe begins, but Cole interrupts.
"Phoebe -- I think I have a daughter." Cole says, Phoebe half ignoring him.
"I know I've kept you waiting for what seems like forever, but I think I'm finally ready to -- what did you say?" Phoebe says, just now reacting to Cole's remark.
"I think I have an eight-year old daughter. And if I do -- I'm her only living relative. I'm taking a DNA test, I'll find out in a week." Cole says. Phoebe is speechless. "You -- were wanting to say something to me, right? What?"
"A -- daughter, huh? Wow. That's big. That's HUGE." Phoebe finally says.
"And?" Cole says.
"And -- what?" Phoebe replies.
"What were you wanting to tell me?" Cole asks.
"Oh -- that. Nothing, just -- a week, huh? So -- I guess we just -- wait then, huh?" Phoebe says.
"Not much else we can do." Cole says.
"So -- you just found this out?" Phoebe asks.
"No, I've just been waiting for the right 'out of the blue' moment to spring this on you, of COURSE I just found this out!" Cole shouts, using a sarcastic tone of voice at first.
"Have you -- seen her?" Phoebe asks.
"No -- she's not even in the state right now. All I know is that her name is Caroline, and she's eight years old, and her mother was killed in a car accident yesterday. She doesn't have any other family, and -- I was listed as her father on the birth certificate." Cole says.
"And you think it's true?" Phoebe asks.
"It's not out of the realm of possibility. In fact it -- it's more than possible, it's -- probable. The dates add up." Cole says.
"So who was her mother?" Phoebe asks.
"She was someone I -- had a relationship with." Cole says.
"Oh." Phoebe replies.
"Phoebe, it was nine YEARS ago -- I did have a life before I met you, you know." Cole says.
"You were a demon -- didn't you spend most of your time killing witches and stuff?" Phoebe asks. "Was she a demon too?"
"No." Cole replies.
"Well, then who was she, Cole?" Phoebe asks. Cole hesitates for a moment.
"She was -- a witch." Cole replies. "That I had been assigned to kill."
"Just like you were assigned to kill me. So -- what happened? You just -- let her go?" Phoebe asks.
"Yes." Cole replies.
"Why, Cole?" Phoebe asks.
"Because -- I couldn't kill her. Because I -- I was in love with her." Cole replies.