Chapter Three…The Answers
Authors note: This takes place during the season finale of season three. The other previous chapters are sort of flash backs but I am still trying to find a way hook it all together.
It wasn't easy, making the decision to stay. Every part of her mind fought against it but it was the only thing her heart would allow. They had been there for her and Piper needed her now. She couldn't stand to watch Leo suffer like this. She knew exactly how it felt. If Cole…well she couldn't think about that now.
Phoebe wasn't naïve enough to believe that every thing would work out fine after this. Staying would probably result in death or much more worse things. But it was her choice and the only choice she could make.
It felt strange to say that Piper was dead. Foreign almost. She should be feeling something now, anything. It was odd that she didn't. Only love and peace filled her soul. Strange that now of all times she would be able to heal. Now she would truly be able to forgive Cole and move on. Now when it didn't matter. When she would probably die anyway.
Should she be scared? Piper was gone, Prue was suffering and she…she was deciding all of their fates. An odd feeling swept over her and she knew that Prue wouldn't be there when and if she got back. The peace she had felt before melted away.
"I only have one condition. You must warn Prue and Piper before the demonic hit man attacks…otherwise they're dead anyway." She told him. Cole swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded. It didn't do anything to alleviate the feeling that she had seen Prue for the last time.
Cole started to walk out of the room to inform the Source of her choice but she grabbed his arm to stop him.
"Tell Prue and Piper…tell them…I love them." She said quietly. Cole nodded again choking back emotion. "No Cole. Make them understand." A single tear fell. "Especially Prue." She finished. He pulled her to him.
"Don't Phoebe. Leave. There has to be another way. If you stay…" he stopped as a tear rolled down his cheek. Phoebe pulled away and traced the line the brave drop had left with her finger.
"If I stay I die…if I go we all die." She found strength inside herself as the walls around her heart came tumbling down. Cole needed her to be strong. Piper needed her to be strong. And Prue…she'd remember Prue as strong.
"We can be together…" she tried hopefully.
"I didn't want it this way Phoebe. I would rather not have you at all." Cole stiffened. He was afraid, she realized. Outside he was trying to be the strong one but inside he was crying, she could see it in his soulful eyes. Those eyes had always held so much but now they were threatening to flow over and he didn't want her to see it. The love she saw reflected there for her and her family caught in her throat. She had made the right decision.
She'd saved Cole. She'd saved Piper. And she'd saved herself.
Phoebe only hoped that Piper and Leo would be ok. They had each other though and Piper was stronger then she realized. They all were.
"Go Cole. Go save them." She urged him. He needed to feel noble right now. He had needed to feel like he wasn't a traitor. After she was gone she hoped he would understand that it wasn't his fault. Otherwise the guilt of it all would destroy the path he had tried so hard to carve.
Cole nodded and left. Phoebe walked over to Leo who was still crying in the corner. She needed to be strong for him now.
"She'll be fine." She comforted. Leo nodded.
"She was so…cold." He said brokenly.
"Don't think of her that way. Remember her face at your wedding when the two of you had finally been joined. Remember how she always has that smile. You know the one I'm talking about. She only smiles that way at you." Phoebe tried again. Leo smiled.
"She can be so sexy when she's angry you know." Leo added.
"Oh I so agree." Phoebe joked.
"Thanks Phoebe." Leo said and hugged her. "Can…can I do anything for you?" he asked uncertainly. How could anything he could do be of any importance?
"Watch out for Cole. When I am gone…He'll think it's his fault. Help him understand that it isn't. And take care of Piper. She'll need you more now then ever." She said calmly.
"What about Prue?" Leo asked. He saw the look in her eyes and knew the truth of it. "She won't be with us very much longer either. Will she?" Leo asked sadly.
"I want so much to say that she will Leo…but…I don't think so…" she drifted off.
"No Leo…I don't think she will."
