CAUGHT RED HANDED

"Phoebe, you look so beautiful!" Evan stared at Phoebe for a while as they sat on the sofa. Phoebe began to laugh. "Oh Evan! You're making me blush! I'll open a bottle of wine since you're here. We won't be disturbed. Paige is looking after Wyatt and Piper's………well she's out."

      Phoebe went to open a bottle of wine and fetch some glasses when the doorbell rang. Evan shouted from the room. "I'll get rid of them, whoever they are, you just get the wine."

      Phoebe was walking towards the room with the wine and the glasses when she saw Jason in the doorway. "Jason…you're here! Oh my god."

      Jason eyed Evan curiously and walked up to Phoebe. "Phoebe, what's going on? The wine, you all dressed up, who is this man?" Phoebe looked nervously around and put on a laugh.

"Let's all go into the room and we can talk."

They all sat on the sofa. Evan seemed even more confused then Jason.

"Okay." Phoebe began. "Evan this is Jason, my boyfriend. Jason this is Evan…uuh…my boyfriend."

Together, Evan and Jason both said "WHAT?!"

      "Look." Phoebe looked down and began to fiddle with her nails. "Jason you went to Hong Kong, all the way around the other side of the world. A relationship is hard to maintain when you're so far away. The truth is that I didn't know when you'd come back and I care about you so much but I didn't want to put my life on hold. I decided to give us another chance when you came back but then I met Evan here……… and well we hit it off."

      Jason looked hurt and he looked at Evan. Evan looked at Jason and then back at Phoebe. "Phoebe," Evan began "You're seeing this man while seeing me?"

Phoebe looked deeply ashamed. "Yes I'm so sorry. Jason me and Evan, we've only been going for three months. I want to be completely honest with both of you. I recently came out of a horrible marriage which was built on lies and evilness and I don't want that again. Evan, I'm sorry but I guess I was biding my time when I was seeing you………just waiting for Jason to come back. Jason, I'm sorry but did you expect me to wait?"

      Jason looked at Phoebe. "I guess I should have expected this. The reason I came here tonight was to tell you that I don't want to stay in Hong Kong, even for business. I missed you too much and realised that I should put us first. Phoebe………you're what's missing in my life." Jason got on his knees and held out a ring to Phoebe.

      Phoebe looked at the ring, looked at Jason and then looked at Evan. Evan smiled and said "If I were you, I wouldn't say no. I think I'd better leave you to it. Jason, if that's your name; you're a very lucky guy." Evan got up and left the manor.

      Phoebe smiled at Jason. "Jason, wow, I don't know what to say." Jason smiled back. "Say yes."

      "Jason, like I said, my divorce has been messy. I just don't want to rush anything. Marriage is a bit sudden at this moment in time after Cole and everything. I think we should get to know each other a little better first." Jason looked disappointed but sat back on the sofa quietly, head drooped. Phoebe hugged him. "I'm sorry."

      Jason looked up at her. "No you're right. I am rushing it a bit. It's alright."

Phoebe couldn't believe what she was hearing. Jason was proposing to her, now when her life was already so complicated. She hadn't even know Jason long enough and something like this just sprung up. Memories of Cole came flooding back; the thought of thinking you know who you're marrying only to find out that he's the source of all evil. How well could she know Jason anyway? Even though Jason had accepted the rejection and realised his error, Phoebe couldn't stop thinking about it and it began to bring her down.

      Jason left soon after, when the conversation became limited and they both felt uncomfortable around each other.