CHARMED
"Forever Yours"
by shel
© april 2007
disclaimer: the charmed ones, cole, and leo, and the rest of the cast of characters we've come to know and love, belong to spelling television, inc. and possible other copyright holders. i intended no true infringement on their copyrights; i only wanted to borrow these marvelous characters for a short time in my own scenarios and hopefully return them no worse for wear; the only things i've gained from this story are the satisfaction and pleasure of having written it and in knowing that others may have enjoyed it too…
rating: pg-13
summary: what we didn't know about phoebe's death during the two-part series finale ('kill billie: vol. 2' & 'forever charmed')…
timeline: may 2006
archive: please don't without expressed permission…
notes: there are minor references to s3's 'all hell breaks loose,' s7's 'the seven year witch,' and s4's 'charmed again, part 1'…please let me know if you enjoyed my tale and why and, if not, why not…and, please, don't bother wasting your time or mine by sending any flames…
Prologue
Phoebe stood nearby, watching in shock as her sister cradled her body. "Piper, no, I'm not dead." She crouched next to Piper and gasped when her hand passed through Piper's shoulder. "Sweetie, you have to hear me. I'm right here!" But Piper was lost in grief and Phoebe implored her sister, "Sweetie, it's not too late. You can bring me back. Go to my place and get the Book."
"Only the Grimoire can bring back the dead and I don't see Piper turning evil in order to use it."
"Omigod," Phoebe uttered, afraid to turn her head and see the person matching the voice.
"You're dead, Phoebe. Damn you!"
"What?!" Phoebe stood and spun in one fluid movement, her hand shooting out in a fist as she did. But as before, it met with air and she was torn between frustration at her new spirit form and anger at his curse. "Go to hell!"
"Already there, sweetheart!" he snapped as he grabbed hold of her other attacking arm.
She froze and stared at the hand clamped on her arm. "How?" she whispered. "I couldn't touch Piper or you."
Loosening his grip, he calmly stated, "It takes time…and talent."
A glow distracted her from responding and she turned to find, "The Angel of Destiny…Leo!" Phoebe remained silent while watching Piper's bittersweet reunion with her husband. "Leo, you have to hear me. You have to convince Piper I'm not dead," she requested.
"Except you are."
Ignoring him, she focused on the rest of the Angel's comments. "I don't understand," she shook her head. "She makes it sound like we failed."
"You did."
"Hello, I'm dead," she glared at him. "Of course we failed. I mean how she said it, like this whole thing with the Hollow and Billie and Christy ended wrong, that we were really supposed to have won." She caught the roll of his eyes and grumbled, "Never mind."
"Time is a tricky thing," he commented. "You can never be sure where one reality ends and another begins."
"Time," she mused quietly. "Time! That's it! All Piper has to do is reset time to prevent all this."
"As if Tempus doesn't have anything better to do than save the Charmed Ones," he muttered when she appeared pleased by her idea. This time her fist did collide with his chin and, despite the lack of pain, he instinctively rubbed his jaw, "You always were a fast learner."
"You think this is all a joke?" she fumed. "Paige and I are dead, the manor's in ruins, and did you see her? Piper will never let up until she kills Billie!"
"There's nothing remotely funny about this," he somberly agreed. "But Piper can't change history. I told you, time is tricky. If she makes the slightest change, even to save you, she could set in motion other consequences that might destroy her future. Everything happens for a reason, Phoebe, and some things are meant to be. You taught me that."
Her shoulders sagged with the realization that he was right. She turned aside to scan the rubble of her home. "But I'm not ready to die. There's still so much I have to live for."
"If that were true," he quietly remarked as he approached her from behind, "you wouldn't be here."
"Hell?" It came out as a bitter chuckle. She gazed up at him and sincerely wondered, "If I'm dead, why are you here and not the Angel of Death? Or are you an Angel of Death?"
"Hardly," he snorted. He swept his arm around, "This is my domain."
"I don't understand," she sighed. "What is this place? Where am I really? And what am I supposed to do now?"
"Now, you adjust. I can help…if you'll let me." He stretched out his hand to her, "Trust me?"
Glancing once more at the smoldering surroundings, she locked eyes with his and placed her hand securely in his, "I always did."
Acknowledging her comment with only a gentle squeeze of the hand, Cole Turner faded with his ex-wife deeper into limbo.
888888888888888888888888888