A/N: Wow, sorry I haven't updated in forever. My computer broke and it was all a big mess, I won't get into it. Anyway, I hope you like this chapter, it took me awhile to figure out what direction to take the story but I think I have everything figured out now. Okay, I'll stop blabbing now, enjoy. Oh, and as always, please review. Thanks!
Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed nor do I own Piper, Phoebe, Paige, Cole, Leo, or anyone else that appears in my fic that has come from the show.
Chapter Four: Good News?
Phoebe finally emerged from the kitchen, obviously shaken and perhaps a little remorseful. Maybe I shouldn't have been so hard on him? She thought as she entered the crowded living room.
"Where's Cole?" Asked Parker rising from the couch.
"He had to go baby." Phoebe said, avoiding her son's accusative stare. Parker looked at his mothers torn features and without responding, hastily headed to his bedroom.
"What happened Pheebs?" Asked Piper once Parker had left the room.
"I just told Cole that he wasn't welcome here." She stated plainly, sitting next to Piper on the couch.
"Are you okay?" Paige asked, joining her sisters on the couch.
"I'm fine. Can we just talk about something else?" Phoebe questioned, not raising her eyes from the floor. Neither Piper nor Paige answered her; they didn't know what to say. Granted, they weren't too fond of Cole, but they doubted Phoebe's decision to cut him out of their lives. Happily breaking the silence, Leo orbed into the manor.
"Leo!" Hollered Piper enthusiastically, thankful to be free of the awkward silence her and her sisters had been placed in.
"Hey honey." Leo said, embracing his wife tenderly. "You seem happier than usual to see me." Leo mused.
"You have no idea." Piper said, wrapping her arms around her husband's body. "You seem tense, what's wrong?" She asked, sensing her husband's discomfort.
"Bad day." He said, walking with her to the kitchen tailed closely by Paige. Phoebe sat, alone, in the living room deliberating her conversation with Cole.
"Care to elaborate?" Asked Piper, placing her hands casually on the kitchen counter.
"A bunch of my child charges are asleep." Leo said, grabbing the milk carton out of the refrigerator.
"Oh how dreadful." Paige sarcastically commented.
"They're asleep and they can't wake up." He added, pouring himself a tall glass of milk.
"But they're not dead?" Asked a confused Piper.
"No, just trapped in their dreams. The Elders are looking into it--" He began, but then stopped mid-sentence.
"You okay honey?" Piper asked, placing a concerned hand on her husband's shoulder.
"It's the Elders, they need to see me, I think they've found something." He kissed Piper briefly and orbed out of the manor.
"So what do you think about Phoebe and Cole?" Paige asked in her gossipmonger tone.
"That is none of our business Paige." Piper scolded. "What Phoebe and Cole decide to do is between and up to them alone." She finished.
"So you think they're being stupid too?" Paige asked, ignoring her sister's previous reprimand.
"No actually, I think Phoebe has made the right decision. Cole is dangerous and unpredictable, we just can't trust him." Piper said, washing out Leo's glass and placing it on a towel to dry.
"But they love each other, shouldn't that count for something?" Paige questioned.
"It should, but in this case it just doesn't." Piper answered, leaving the kitchen and once again heading to the living room. Paige shot her sister a snotty look then followed her into the living room where they found their sister still sulking on the living room couch.
"Hey Pheebs." Paige chirped, sitting next to Phoebe on the couch. Phoebe raised her head and smiled weakly. "Maybe you should tell Cole how you feel. Seriously, what's the worst that could hap--" Piper elbowed Paige in the side, interrupting her projected thought. "Ow." Paige whispered to Piper.
"You guys really think it would be wise to put us all through that again?" Phoebe finally said.
"I think you should do whatever you feel is right." Piper said glaring silently at Paige who remained silent.
"Well, that's what I'm doing now. I don't want to risk letting him back into my life, it's just not smart." She said looking Piper solemnly in the eyes. Piper's face writhed in disgust and pain. "What? You think I should take Cole back too?" Phoebe asked, confused.
"No, no, my stomach hurts." Piper rose from the couch and headed into the bathroom. "I think I'm going to be sick."
"What was that about?" Asked Phoebe once Piper was out of earshot.
"Beats me, she's been acting--"
"Insane, I know." Phoebe interposed.
"Yeah. Maybe she's just sick or maybe things between her and Leo are on the fritz again." Paige suggested. Phoebe shrugged her shoulders and left to check on Piper in the bathroom.
"Hey Piper, are you okay?" Phoebe questioned through the bathroom door. Piper mumbled a weak 'yes' and then went silent. "What's going on Piper? You haven't really been acting like yourself lately, are you sure you're alright?" Phoebe went on. For a moment no answer came, then the bathroom door opened and a clammy, pale, Piper exited the bathroom.
"No, I'm not okay." Piper said, walking past Phoebe and heading back into the living room where Paige sat waiting for them to return.
"What's wrong?" Phoebe asked with concern in her voice. "Are you sick? Unhappy?" She suggested.
"No, nothing like that." Piper looked around the room thoughtfully before whispering, "I'm pregnant."
"What!" Paige exclaimed excitedly.
"Paige please be quiet, I'm not ready to tell Leo yet. I just want to keep the whole thing under wraps for a few more days. Okay?" She asked, looking at both of her sisters pleadingly.
"We won't say anything to Leo Piper." Phoebe assured, "Congratulations." She added quietly, embracing her sister.
"Yeah, that's awesome news sis." Paige said, patting her sister cheerfully on the back.
"I know, I just hope Leo feels the same way. We weren't really trying for a baby." Piper went on.
"He'll be thrilled." Phoebe guaranteed her. The continual slamming of doors coming from upstairs interrupted the three. "Maybe I should go check on him." Phoebe mused, referring to Parker.
"Maybe you should let him see Cole." Paige suggested.
"No. Cole's too dangerous, too unpredictable, and far too powerful. I just don't trust him." Phoebe urged as she rubbed her temples wearily.
"Don't worry honey, we're here for you, whatever you decide to do." Piper said, rubbing her sister's back caringly.
"And we are here for you." Phoebe said, raising her head and weakly smiling at Piper. Phoebe then rose from the couch and headed up the stairs to find and comfort her son.