A/N: Thanks Sweetone, for reviewing! I really appreciate it and I'm glad that you think it was true to the show.
I have to admit, though, that it was a little sad only getting one review...

Oh, Cole. You didn't! Phoebe croaked out, putting her head dejectedly into her hands. she asked. Her voice was hopeful.

Cole stated quietly.

Phoebe groaned. Well at least I won't have to lie about where I was.

The circumstances...

Let them think what they want, Phoebe said, rolling over onto her side.

* * * * * *

So then my dad got the job and we moved here, Nick finished.

So your record shop was once your living room? Paige asked, awed.

Basically, yeah.



Nick took a bite of the pastry that he and Paige were sharing. They discovered that they both had the same favorite - cherry. How'd you find your biological sisters? Did your parents help you? How do they feel about it?

Paige gulped. Well my parents died in a car accident while I was in high school. Seeing Nick's face she assured him, It's okay. She took another sip of coffee. When my eldest sister, Prue, died I felt compelled to go to the funeral. I did and Phoebe, the family research one, felt a... connection with me. We bonded and my birth mom told us we were related.

I thought she was dead.

She was. She is. She wrote us a note. Paige bit her lip. Her birth mom wrote them a bunch of notes - it is called the Book of Shadows.

Why'd she... Nick trailed off, flushing with embarrassment.

Give me up? It's okay, really. I was the result of an affair. She and her husband were estranged at the time so he never knew.

Paige wished, as she saw Nick's face, that she could take back the entire story.

* * * * * *

So how was the date? Piper asked her half-asleep half-sister.

Good I guess. I almost killed it with the story of my life, Paige said, taking a sip of the steaming coffee, which Piper handed to her.

All the lies?

Paige shook her head. Phoebe told me to practice those.

You took dating advice from Phoebe? Piper asked in mock mortification. You see her by the way?

Phoebs? As far as I know she's still asleep.

Probably. I'll just leave a note as usual, Piper told Paige, trying to convince herself that Phoebe was asleep in her room.

* * * * * *

In fact Phoebe was asleep in her own room in her own bed. Cole had woken her up a few hours after she fell asleep on his couch.

Cole said. C'mon Sleeping Beauty. You need to go home.

Five more minutes, Phoebe mumbled, pulling the blanket over her head.

Don't think so. Cole snatched the blanket away from her and lifted her over his shoulder.

Cole Turner! Phoebe yelled, snapping awake. Put me down!!

Cole said with a laugh. Piper will hear.

Phoebe shut up, horrified, as Cole shimmered out.

* * * * * *

Cole sat up, trying to concentrate on the cases in front of him. Sheryl? Did my ex-wife call? Cole asked.

Sheryl's laugh traveled unadulterated across the intercom. Good news for you: no.

Oh. Okay, Cole replied. Cole had, in a less than nice manner, dropped Phoebe in her room a little past midnight. Piper and Leo, the old married couple, were safely tucked into bed for at least an hour and Paige wasn't home yet. Phoebe had been itching to fight, but Cole shimmered off before she could say a word.

He, with a grim smile, thought of their next meeting.

* * * * * *

Phoebe wandered bleary-eyed into the kitchen. She, as usual, collected the notes from under the fruit bowl on the table. She grabbed herself a glass of orange juice and sat down at the kitchen table to read the notes left by her sisters.

Dear Phoebs,
Nick is gorgeous.
Life story almost killed the date - I'll explain later.
Got in a little past two. Piper worried. Go figure.
Thanks for the advice.
Love,
Paige

Phoebe smiled. She couldn't wait to hear of the date.

Dear Phoebe,
Cole dropped by last night. Did he tell you?

Phoebe gulped and, placing her empty glass to the side, continued reading, gripping the note with both hands.

Wyatt refuses to tell me where you two went on Friday. (It's a secret tween me and Aunt Phe.)

Phoebe gave a little smile. She could always count on her number one supporter, her conspirator, and her favorite little guy - Wyatt, her nephew.

You better not get back together with Cole. You know what that means.
Expect a call from me later.
We'll have a family meeting about Cole later.
- Piper

Phoebe silently fumed.

She went upstairs and returned a few moments later with a box. was engraved on the top of the box, surrounded by vines. Cole had gotten it for her one birthday and now the elegant wooden box housed some of the things related to her relationship with Cole. By not means did it have all Cole and Phoebe things, just some special items.

Phoebe angrily pulled a yellow sheet out of the box and read it.

Phoebe,
Cole is dangerous.
HE'S HALF-DEMON! You can't trust him not matter what he says.
It's just an infatuation, Phoebe. I've known you since you were little and you've fallen over every guy you've ever met.
You aren't in love.
For once, Phoebe, take responsibility. You know what I mean.
(There's a fresh bottle of potion in the fridge.)
For the family. For the Power of Three.
We'll talk about it later.
Love,
P

The letter was written a long time ago by a Halliwell so half-drunk with confidence that she could sign It was written by the older sister Phoebe loved, hated, feared, scoffed at, and admired all in one breath - Prue.

* * * * * *

Paige said, surprised. She swiveled around her chair and hissed. Why the hell are you calling? My office no less!

I heard you needed, Cole smiled as he took a dramatic pause, legal contacts.

Paige squeaked, wondering the extent of her sister's ex-husband's powers.

Phoebe told me, Cole explained.

Why the hell were you talking to my sister? Paige asked, ready to orb over and kill him - or try.

I drove her home after your previous legal resource - Robert? - cornered your sister; and tried to French her, Cole said, easily.

Paige almost accused. You were the one he said Phoebe went home with!

Cole laughed. No. I drove her to her home. Richard? Robert? Rudolph? Whatever-his-name wasn't being a gentleman.

Paige said flatly. Okay. Listen, you arrogant bastard, I don't need nor want your help.

Oh Paige, Cole scolded, that's not good business. You can't just not work with me because I'm an arrogant bastard. Lots of lawyers are.

Paige let out a snort. You're just begging for a vanquish.

Cole pointed out.

More than one way to kill a demon - as the saying goes.

Cole corrected.

Paige let out a yell of fury, to the surprise of her coworkers, and slammed down the phone receiver.

* * * * * *

Phoebe yelled at herself, mentally. Replying to the note would tell Piper that she wanted to be with Cole.

She tucked Prue's note into the box with a mix of sadness and tender remembrance.

Phoebe put the box upstairs. She would just rationally explain to Piper that she didn't want anything to do - romantically - with Cole.

She flopped down on the bed with a sigh. She was a bad liar.