Chapter twent-one: One heart.

Cole had left thirty minutes ago and I was dying. I couldn't stop thinking about him leaving this place with my unborn daughter and dying in the way. The ache was indescribable. He needed me now and I was here feeling pity for myself. I took my phone and called him.

"Come here, it's important," I told him nervously.

Within fifteen seconds, Cole was downstairs.

"Are you ok?," he asked me worried, hugging me tight.

"No if you are not".

He stared at me, serious.

"Listen, I know you're used to be alone. I know Beatriz broke your heart, she betrayed you. I wish I could do something, anything to bring your daughter back but I can't. The only thing I know is that you need me now, that we're a family and that we are meant to be together. If I let you go now...that's not what the people that loves you do".

As he didn't say a word, I kept talking.

"I love you Cole, the days in where you were alone are over. We are tw...three now," I smiled gently, "I love you, and your place is with me, with us. Stay with me tonight Cole, don't leave me out of your life. Your pain and your wounds are mine now and I want to be here to heal as much as you allow me..."

Cole smiled warmly and I hugged him as he was a little boy. I closed my eyes when I heard him sobbing and I smiled.

"It's okay babe, I'm right here...forever".

I led him to the sofa and I held him in my arms as he cried in silence. It made me feel good to have him so close, to see that he was willing to open his heart to me, but it didn't mean that it killed me to know that I couldn't do anything to fix his heart completely.

"Phoebe?," I heard my gram's voice asking for me.

"I'm here...," I said aloud but not a lot, I didn't want to awake Cole who had fallen asleep in my arms.

"What are you...," she was going to ask when she saw him, "What is he doing here?"

"I asked him to come. Please, let him stay here tonight".

"Phoebe..."

"Grams, please. I'm afraid this is way too much to him and..."

"Phoebe, you're asking me for another favor when you haven't even told me about his wife and daughter".

"I didn't know, the whole story at least. I'm as shocked as you're. He hadn't tell me and why? because it's too painful for him and I'm his girlfriend, I have to support him".

"He has his own place".

"Grams, he's tired...," I told her very worried, "And he's going to be alone...he has done a lot for me and our baby, why can't I, why shouldn't I do something for him?"

"You're turning this house into a refuge for homeless," she told me, sighing.

"Please," I begged, caressing his face with the back of my hand.

"One night Phoebe, only one," she said, and I know that she acceded just because she felt guilty.

Grams left the living room and went upstairs. I kissed Cole's forehead, I didn't want to wake him up...he was sleeping so peacefully, sound, but if Prue come here tomorrow and sees him here, she's gonna make a scene, and Cole is like a shadow: as soon as he wakes up he is going to leave and I will not notice.

"Cole...," I whispered in his ear, kissing his cheek several times, "Wake up..."

He stretched a bit, but he didn't really move.

"Let's go upstairs, the sofa is too uncomfortable..."

He opened his eyes, his red swollen eyes and I tangled our fingers. I led him to my room and I made him lie down in my bed.

"I should g...," he tried to say.

"Shhh," I asked him, "I told you that I'm not going to let you go, not again".

Cole closed his sleepy eyes, he felt in a safe place, otherwise he wouldn't have. I took his shoes off, his belt, his jeans and his shirt. He just let me do it. I took the shirt of him I had under my pillow and I made him wear it. I turned off the lights.

"Now you're comfy," I told him kissing his lips sweetly.

He wrapped me with his arms, surprising me.

"I thought you were sleeping," I said, outlining his nose with my index finger.

"I don't want you to stay away".

I kissed his forehead, then his eyes, nose and lips again. I didn't reply, I felt that there was nothing I could say to that. He helped me to undress and then I took my pajamas from under my pillow too. My bed was for only one person, but he held me in his embrace, my back to his chest and my head to his shoulders; our hands to my belly.

"Sleep, you have work tomorrow," I said proudly.

"Sleep, I'm going to say goodbye tomorrow. I promise I won't keep you away anymore".

"Don't make me promises," I whispered, "Just act".

He kissed my neck as I cuddled to get him closer, what was technically impossible when two hearts had become one.