LOVER'S REUNION

Part Three
A sadder and a wiser sister



"Nervous?" Cole asked when the cab turned into Prescott Street a few days later.

Phoebe gave him a tremulous smile. "A little," she admitted. "Some harsh words have been said between us." Phoebe remembered the accusations and recriminations as if they had been voiced yesterday.

"That's in the past, " Cole assured her. "They'll understand. Believe me, your sisters will be so glad to see you again." He reached for her hand and gave her an encouraging squeeze. Grateful, she squeezed back.

Cole was right; it had been a long time. A lot of water had passed under the bridge since. However, she couldn't help worry that Piper and Prue would not forgive her long absence, or that she never sent word of her whereabouts. But she had come this far; she wasn't about to turn away now.

She watched as Cole paid the driver. He had wanted to try and shimmer them to San Francisco, although he was not sure if the Elders had permitted him to keep that power. Phoebe had refused to try. She needed the time of travel, so she said, to think about what to say to her sisters. Cole had not argued and Phoebe suspected he knew the real reason for her refusal: it had been years since she used magic and she was a little frightened to return to the world of spells and potions.

Once she stood at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the front door, Phoebe craned her head and looked up. The trees had grown bigger and the lawn could use a trimming but otherwise the Manor looked exactly like she remembered.

She heaved a sigh, took another deep breath and started up the stairs. Cole followed closely on her heels, for which she was very grateful. With Cole present, she didn't feel so much like the prodigal sister returning home at last.

Cole rang the bell and a few seconds later the door swung open. Phoebe opened her mouth, then snapped it shut. The girl before her was unfamiliar.

"Can I help you?" she asked. Phoebe could only stare. The girl was a budding teenager, twelve, thirteen, maybe, with long dark hair framing an oval face. Two blue eyes looked curiously at Phoebe. Phoebe struggled for her voice.

"We are looking for Prue or Piper Halliwell," Cole said and Phoebe cast him a thankful look.

"Mo-om!" the girl yelled over her shoulder. "It's for you."

Mom? She was an aunt! What else had she missed?

"Phoebe? Is that really you?" Piper appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. Her hair contained a few strands of gray and there were a couple more wrinkles around her eyes but other than that her sister hadn't changed a bit, Phoebe decided. Piper even sported the oft-seen streak of flour on her cheek.

She wiped her hands on her apron and stared at her sister, her skin pale beneath the powder.

"Still baking those blueberry muffins, sis?" Phoebe asked, desperate to break the awkward silence. Her voice was hoarse, even to her own ears, and she cringed.

"Oh my God," Piper breathed. Her lips turned up and her eyes crinkled as she smiled. "It's you! Come on in! This is my daughter, Melinda. Melinda, this is your Aunt Phoebe. And- Cole!" Again, Piper paled when she recognized the tall man that had arrived with her sister. "I thought you were d-"

"You're right, I am. I think," Cole broke in with a meaningful look at Melinda. The girl was staring with unveiled interest at her aunt and her aunt's companion. Cole gave Phoebe a gentle push and she stepped over the threshold.

"Prue? Leo!" Piper called over her shoulder while pulling Phoebe into a tight embrace. "Look who's here!"

Leo appeared from the sunroom. "Hello Phoebe," he said, and gave her a hug. A distant part of her mind noted that he didn't look at all surprised to see her.

Prue's voice drifted from upstairs. "Coming!" She sounded muffled and Phoebe knew she was in the attic.

She walked to the foot of the stairs and looked up, expectant and a tad concerned. How would Prue react to her return? She had said some awful things to her eldest sister.

The moment Prue saw her, Phoebe knew she need not have worried. Prue raced down the final few steps of the stairs and wrapped her arms around her baby sister. "Phoebe! Welcome home." Phoebe returned her embrace, relieved with the welcome.

The lights flickered. The large chandelier over their heads tinkled and swayed slowly. Everyone looked up. Then everything was quiet.

"Dad?" Melinda was the first to break the silence. "What was that?"

"That, honey," Leo said with a huge grin on his face, "was the restoration of the Power of Three."

The three sisters shared another hug; they were happy to be reunited. Phoebe reveled in the feeling of being wanted and accepted. It had been so long, she had forgotten how much she missed her family and she wondered why she had not returned sooner. If not for Cole-

The thought of her lover made her pull out of her sisters' arms and she turned around. Cole was several feet away, half-hidden in the shadows, watching them. She couldn't quite make out his face; however, his drooping shoulders spoke volumes. "Cole? What's wrong?" Phoebe asked. Deep in her heart she feared that she knew the answer.

"My job is done," he said softly, sadly. "I have to go."

Her heart dropped to the bottom of her stomach. "What?" Phoebe exclaimed. "Go? Now? Cole, you can't go! You promised!" Anger warred with anxiety for precedence. She struggled to stay calm but couldn't help the edge of hysteria that crept into her tone.

"I'm sorry, Phoebe, I have to. I would like nothing better than to stay with you but I have no choice. I was sent back to reunite you with your sisters. Now that that's done-" He gestured, a helpless shrug. "I should not have made that promise-" His voice trailed off.

He looked so abashed that she couldn't be upset with him. Instead, she directed her wrath elsewhere. "'Them' again, huh," she said bitterly. She whirled to face Leo. "Leo, you can go and tell them that the instant they take Cole away-"

"Phoebe, no!" Cole interrupted before she could fully voice the threat. He took her shoulders and his eyes bored into hers. "Don't punish yourself; don't punish your sisters."

"Cole, I need you," Phoebe sobbed. She clutched at his shirt and hid her face against his chest.

Cole shook his head. "No, you don't," he said. "You have your family now, your sisters. Phoebe, I need to go. You know I do."

She gave a nod, the gesture half hidden by the folds of his shirt. Yes, she did. She pulled back her head and lifted a tear-streaked face up at him. The thought of him leaving hurt so much that the pain was almost physical.

He offered her a sad smile that was full of love. With his fingers he wiped the tears from her face. "You'll be fine, Phoebe. I know you will."

Phoebe raised herself on tiptoe and brushed her lips against his. "I love you, Cole. Nothing will change that." They could take him away but they could never take away the love she felt for this man that had given her so much.

Cole smiled. "I love you too, Phoebe. Good bye." A swirl of bright lights and Cole was gone.

Phoebe's jaw dropped. "He- He orbed! Did you see that? Cole orbed. Leo, how can he orb?"

"He did not orb, exactly, " Leo said. He gave a knowing smile. "He's with your mother and grandmother - your great-grandmother," he added in his daughter's direction. "He'll be around if you need him, like they are."

Phoebe stared at Leo for a long minute until he shifted uncomfortably beneath her gaze. "Hmm. I guess it'll have to do," she murmured. She wasn't quite ready yet to forgive the Elders for taking Cole away from her so shortly after their reunion. However, she was happy to know he would be with her loved ones until she was ready to join them.

She raised her eyes toward the ceiling. "I love you, Cole." And was it her imagination? Or did she indeed feel a feathery brush across her lips? A touch so light it could have been a mere whiff of air, yet a touch that was so familiar to her.

A small smile played around her mouth when she turned around again and faced her sisters. "Let's sit down," she suggested. "We have so much catching up to do."

Prue and Piper nodded in agreement and linked their arms through Phoebe's. Together, the three sisters walked into the sunroom.

--END--


Author notes: Okay, okay, you can hate me now for taking Cole away again. However, it wasn't my idea! The story dictated that all by itself, I only wrote it down... And before you ask, no, I'm not planning a sequel to this one. :-)


Disclaimer: this story is based on the Spelling Television/WB Television Network series Charmed. All characters belong to their respective creators. The story is written for entertainment purposes only and no copyright infringement was intended.