Chapter 3

They arrived back in San Francisco and Phoebe waited for a few days before she called Cole. When she did call him, he was happy to hear from her and relieved they had gone to San Francisco rather than some hotel in the airport. She told him her proposal and he refused.

" Well, the kids are totally fine with staying here, I was going to apply for an annulment any way," she said, leaving out the fact that she already had.

" Ashley can't even say annulment, let alone understand it and Peter and Prue will be mad at you for a year," Cole said, laughing.

" No, actually, they're fine with it, especially after they found out about the incident on the ski trip last year," Phoebe explained.

" Yeah, right! Phoebe, I'm not stupid," Cole spat.

" Hold on a second, Ashley wants to talk to you," Phoebe said, handing the phone to her youngest child.

" Hi Daddy!" she greeted.

" Hi darling. How are you?" Cole asked.

" Good, did you know Mommy might get an anullimint so we can live here with Aunt Piper and Aunt Paige and Uncle Leo and all our cousins."

" Did she now? Did she tell you that the annulment will not let you see me again for a long time?"

" Yes, she did. That's OK though because she says you're taken over by the bad man when you drink beer," Ashley explained. Although no one could see it, Cole was slowly changing his mind.

" OK, I'll talk to you again soon sweet heart, can I talk to Mommy again?"

" Yeah, bye Daddy, I love you!" She handed the phone back to Phoebe and bounded outside to play with the dog. Phoebe talked to Cole for a little while longer and hung up after deciding he would come to San Francisco and go through a detox program. Phoebe and Piper joined Leo on the porch. The kids were playing in the yard and this gave the adults an opportunity to talk.

" What did he say?" Leo asked.

" He's going to do it," she replied happily.

" When's he coming?" Piper asked.

" In a few days. He's hiring a moving company and a real estate agent," Phoebe explained.

" I'll help you get the kids enrolled in school here," Piper exclaimed, excited to have her sister move back home. Phoebe smiled and nodded, turning her attention back to the kids in the yard.

The following Wednesday, Phoebe and Piper drove out to the airport to pick Cole up. The kids had been disappointed when they found out they couldn't come, but they were excited to have their dad around again. As thy waited in the lobby, Phoebe told Piper how worried she was about Cole. If this plan didn't work, she really would have to get an annulment, or at least a divorce. Piper reassured her just as people began exiting the plane. Phoebe found Cole and ran to meet him. He kissed her and kept his arm around her waist as Piper joined them.

" Let's get your luggage, the kids want us home as soon as possible," Phoebe said, smiling up at her husband, she could see that he had changed. She really believed he could do it.

When they all arrived back at the manor two hours later, they found a welcome party sitting on the front steps. Everyone was there except for Leo and William who were inside preparing for William's nap.

" Daddy!" Ashley exclaimed happily, jumping off the steps and running into her father's arms. Peter, Prue, and Victoria were close behind. After a nice family dinner for which Paige joined them, everyone retired to the living room, including the kids. They wanted to discuss the situation. By the end of the night, it was decided that everyone would stay at the Manor until the Turner's house in Los Angeles was sold and they could find a new one near by. The kids would start school as soon as possible and Cole would begin attending AA meetings once they found a place where they were held. With thoughts of a new life, much better than the one they left behind, everyone trooped off to bed, exhausted from the day's excitement.

Epilogue-

Within the next two months, the Turner's were moved into a new house, just down the road from the Manor and two seconds away from Paige's apartment. Cole's AA meetings were successful and after a 90-day trial, he never went back to drinking. The children enjoyed living close to each other and growing up together.

The End

A/N- In my mind, Cole's drinking problem was attributed to two things, one being his mother was an alcoholic and two being the fact that when his demonic half was destroyed (which it was since Phoebe and Cole make such a fabulous couple!!) he thought something was missing but it was really the fact that Phoebe was distancing herself from him as his problem grew bigger. This story is not based on any real event or anything and I don't have a depressing childhood so far. Hope everyone liked it!! Remember to read and review!!

~Nicole~