Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, don't sue me.
A/N: I'm loving the reviews - thanks. I wish I could update sooner, but school is becoming a bugger. Lisa, you disappoint me, there is always a chance for Cole and Phoebe. Always! Anyway, hope this one is okay. I know the last chapter was a bit infuriating with the already-done-in-the- fifth-season-and-it's-driving-me-crazy fight, but what's a love story without a fight, huh?
* * * * *
Phoebe opened her eyes and groaned. How was it that yesterday morning she had felt so much better than she did now? She climbed off the bed and headed downstairs, looking in on Wade and Wyatt on the way, both who were still fast asleep. She entered the kitchen a smiled at Piper, who was already dressed.
"Morning." She said, somewhat gruffly.
"Good Morning." Piper replied cheerfully. "How'd you sleep?" She poured Phoebe a mug of coffee and held it out to her.
"Don't ask." Phoebe replied, gratefully taking the mug.
"Oh." Piper said with a smirk. "Cole called." She said after a moment. Phoebe grimaced and looked up.
"What did he want?" She asked. She hadn't told anyone about her argument with Cole the previous day. Not even Brian.
"To speak to you. I told him you were asleep, and," Piper smiled. "I invited him to dinner tonight."
Phoebe choked on her coffee. It took her a minute to swallow. "You what?"
"What? I thought you wanted Paige and I to make an effort with him. . ." Piper said, shocked at Phoebe's reaction.
Phoebe ran a hand over her face. "I did. . ." She said, with emphasis on the past tense. She frowned. "I was supposed to go out with Brian tonight." She smiled slightly. She would just have to tell Cole that the dinner wasn't happening, and she could go out for a normal dinner with Brian. Maybe they could take Wade with them.
"Oh, don't worry about that. Brian called as well, so I invited him along too." Piper said with a smile.
This time Phoebe was smart enough keep a napkin close by as she choked again. "They're both coming?" She asked.
"Yeah." Piper replied. "Maybe they'll even grow to like each other."
Phoebe almost laughed out loud. "Yeah, maybe." She replied gloomily. She would just not talk to Cole until he apologised for his behaviour yesterday. And she would spend some quality time with Brian. Just to prove to Cole that Brian did spend time with her.
* * * * *
Cole switched the bouquet of flowers from his left hand to his right hand before ringing the doorbell. It was answered almost immediately by Wade. He hugged his son hello, and was led to the lounge. As he walked through the foyer, he adjusted the card sitting in the bouquet. It had taken a while to write the two words. 'I'm sorry'. He had acted badly. Phoebe didn't deserve that. As he reached the lounge, he stopped dead when he saw Phoebe and Brian sitting on the couch, deep in conversation. He gritted his teeth. Maybe he wasn't as sorry as he thought. He quickly removed the card from the bouquet and pocketed it.
"Cole." Piper greeted walking up to him.
"Piper, hi." Cole replied, handing her the bouquet. "I wanted to thank you for inviting me."
"No problem." Piper replied, giving him a forced smile as she took the bouquet.
"You might want to work on that smile." Cole said with a smirk. "I might think that you don't like me."
Piper genuinely smiled. "I'm trying." She said simply.
"I know." Cole replied with a half smile. He turned to Phoebe, who was trying her best to ignore him.
"Cole, good to see you again." Leo said, appearing from the kitchen.
"Leo." Cole said, raising an eyebrow. "Where have you been this last week?"
"Work." Leo replied, accepting the hand Cole held out. He looked up at the ceiling.
"Right." Cole replied, taking the hint.
"I was wondering when you'd show up back in San Francisco." Leo said.
"You were so sure I would?" Cole questioned.
"It was only a matter of time." Leo said with a small smile. Cole returned this smile and glanced back at Phoebe. Their eyes met for a brief moment, before she looked away. Cole sighed. It was going to be a long night.
And it was. An hour later they were all - except the children who had already eaten - sitting at the table in semi-silence, the occasional conversation being held between the sisters. Cole didn't say a word to Phoebe, who wasn't even sparing a look for Cole. Naturally, Cole and Brian only spoke to each other in a gruff monotone, and only when it was absolutely necessary.
"So Cole." Paige said in an effort to make some conversation. "What's it like in the FBI?"
"It's okay. Definitely more interesting than law." He said looking up.
"Ever killed anyone?" Paige asked.
"Paige." Piper warned. Brian looked up confused. Cole smiled.
"A couple." He said honestly. "But they were the bad guys, I promise."
"I'm sure they were." Paige muttered.
"Paige!" Piper exclaimed.
"What?" Paige said in her defence. "All I'm saying is that sometimes you can't tell who the bad guys really are." She said, throwing a look at Cole.
"And sometimes people change." Cole replied softly.
"I'm sorry. What's going on?" Brian asked. No one said anything. Luckily, a beeping sound interrupted them. Brian pulled a beeper from his belt and read it. "I'm sorry, I have to take this. Can I use your phone?"
"Sure." Phoebe replied gently, trying to keep the frustration out of her voice. Brian gave them an apologetic look before heading to the foyer. Silence filled the room.
"What were you thinking?" Piper hissed at Paige after a minute.
"I was just--" Paige started.
"Well don't!" Piper exclaimed. Before Paige could reply, Brain was back in the dining room. "That was fast." Piper said, taking a sip of her water in an effort to calm herself.
"Yeah." Brian replied reluctantly. "I have to go. They're low on staff, they need help." Cole saw Phoebe breathe in deeply.
"Okay, I'll walk you out." Phoebe said, standing up. She walked out of the dining room with Brian, who gave them all a short goodbye. After a minute, Cole stood too.
"Actually, I should get going too." He said, with a small smile.
"What? We haven't even got to desert." Piper said.
"I know. But let's face it, this isn't going to get less awkward." Cole said with a reluctant grin.
"I guess so." Piper replied.
"But thank you, it was great." Cole said. He turned to Paige. "It was nice arguing with you, Paige. It's not something I get every day."
"Yeah, you too." Paige replied, half sarcastically.
"I'll see you guys soon." Cole said as he headed out of the dining room. He reached the front door and opened it, before he stopped.
He could just make out Phoebe kissing Brian goodbye, before he climbed into the car and drove away. Cole stepped out of the manor and closed the door behind him, heading to his car as Phoebe turned around. Metres away from each other, they shared a look, before he walked past her. She didn't say anything, but headed back to the manor. Cole searched for his car keys in his pocket, but his hands instead fell upon a small card. Pulling it out he read his apology to Phoebe. He stopped a couple of metres short of his car, before turning around.
"Phoebe." He called out, causing her to hesitate. She eventually stopped, and he walked towards her. He didn't say anything at first, instead he handed her the card. "I came here with the intension of giving that to you." He managed simply.
Phoebe took the card and read the familiar writing scrawled on it. "Why didn't you?"
"My fragile ego, I guess." Cole said with a smirk. "But I was out of line, and I'm sorry."
Phoebe hesitated before speaking. "I don't know what to say." She admitted.
"Don't say anything. The truth is, I never lied to you yesterday about anything. And as much as I hate to admit it, Brian could probably make you happier than I ever could. But I also know that maybe seeing you with Brian is how I'll finally get closure over us.
"So what. . .are we just supposed to go on like nothing happened?" Phoebe asked.
"No." Cole replied immediately. "We're both adults. We both know what happened, and we'll deal with it. And then we'll move on."
Phoebe breathed in deeply. "Okay, I guess."
Cole nodded. "Okay."
"Were you going to leave?" She asked suddenly.
"Yeah, I thought things were getting way too awkward." Cole replied with a smile. Phoebe returned his smile.
"Why don't you come back in, you can say goodnight to Wade." She offered. Cole thought for a moment.
"Okay." He replied simply, following Phoebe as she led the way back to the manor.
* * * * *
Well? Review! I'm off on a school trip for a week, so I probably won't update for a while. So I guess you guys will have to wait in suspense!
A/N: I'm loving the reviews - thanks. I wish I could update sooner, but school is becoming a bugger. Lisa, you disappoint me, there is always a chance for Cole and Phoebe. Always! Anyway, hope this one is okay. I know the last chapter was a bit infuriating with the already-done-in-the- fifth-season-and-it's-driving-me-crazy fight, but what's a love story without a fight, huh?
* * * * *
Phoebe opened her eyes and groaned. How was it that yesterday morning she had felt so much better than she did now? She climbed off the bed and headed downstairs, looking in on Wade and Wyatt on the way, both who were still fast asleep. She entered the kitchen a smiled at Piper, who was already dressed.
"Morning." She said, somewhat gruffly.
"Good Morning." Piper replied cheerfully. "How'd you sleep?" She poured Phoebe a mug of coffee and held it out to her.
"Don't ask." Phoebe replied, gratefully taking the mug.
"Oh." Piper said with a smirk. "Cole called." She said after a moment. Phoebe grimaced and looked up.
"What did he want?" She asked. She hadn't told anyone about her argument with Cole the previous day. Not even Brian.
"To speak to you. I told him you were asleep, and," Piper smiled. "I invited him to dinner tonight."
Phoebe choked on her coffee. It took her a minute to swallow. "You what?"
"What? I thought you wanted Paige and I to make an effort with him. . ." Piper said, shocked at Phoebe's reaction.
Phoebe ran a hand over her face. "I did. . ." She said, with emphasis on the past tense. She frowned. "I was supposed to go out with Brian tonight." She smiled slightly. She would just have to tell Cole that the dinner wasn't happening, and she could go out for a normal dinner with Brian. Maybe they could take Wade with them.
"Oh, don't worry about that. Brian called as well, so I invited him along too." Piper said with a smile.
This time Phoebe was smart enough keep a napkin close by as she choked again. "They're both coming?" She asked.
"Yeah." Piper replied. "Maybe they'll even grow to like each other."
Phoebe almost laughed out loud. "Yeah, maybe." She replied gloomily. She would just not talk to Cole until he apologised for his behaviour yesterday. And she would spend some quality time with Brian. Just to prove to Cole that Brian did spend time with her.
* * * * *
Cole switched the bouquet of flowers from his left hand to his right hand before ringing the doorbell. It was answered almost immediately by Wade. He hugged his son hello, and was led to the lounge. As he walked through the foyer, he adjusted the card sitting in the bouquet. It had taken a while to write the two words. 'I'm sorry'. He had acted badly. Phoebe didn't deserve that. As he reached the lounge, he stopped dead when he saw Phoebe and Brian sitting on the couch, deep in conversation. He gritted his teeth. Maybe he wasn't as sorry as he thought. He quickly removed the card from the bouquet and pocketed it.
"Cole." Piper greeted walking up to him.
"Piper, hi." Cole replied, handing her the bouquet. "I wanted to thank you for inviting me."
"No problem." Piper replied, giving him a forced smile as she took the bouquet.
"You might want to work on that smile." Cole said with a smirk. "I might think that you don't like me."
Piper genuinely smiled. "I'm trying." She said simply.
"I know." Cole replied with a half smile. He turned to Phoebe, who was trying her best to ignore him.
"Cole, good to see you again." Leo said, appearing from the kitchen.
"Leo." Cole said, raising an eyebrow. "Where have you been this last week?"
"Work." Leo replied, accepting the hand Cole held out. He looked up at the ceiling.
"Right." Cole replied, taking the hint.
"I was wondering when you'd show up back in San Francisco." Leo said.
"You were so sure I would?" Cole questioned.
"It was only a matter of time." Leo said with a small smile. Cole returned this smile and glanced back at Phoebe. Their eyes met for a brief moment, before she looked away. Cole sighed. It was going to be a long night.
And it was. An hour later they were all - except the children who had already eaten - sitting at the table in semi-silence, the occasional conversation being held between the sisters. Cole didn't say a word to Phoebe, who wasn't even sparing a look for Cole. Naturally, Cole and Brian only spoke to each other in a gruff monotone, and only when it was absolutely necessary.
"So Cole." Paige said in an effort to make some conversation. "What's it like in the FBI?"
"It's okay. Definitely more interesting than law." He said looking up.
"Ever killed anyone?" Paige asked.
"Paige." Piper warned. Brian looked up confused. Cole smiled.
"A couple." He said honestly. "But they were the bad guys, I promise."
"I'm sure they were." Paige muttered.
"Paige!" Piper exclaimed.
"What?" Paige said in her defence. "All I'm saying is that sometimes you can't tell who the bad guys really are." She said, throwing a look at Cole.
"And sometimes people change." Cole replied softly.
"I'm sorry. What's going on?" Brian asked. No one said anything. Luckily, a beeping sound interrupted them. Brian pulled a beeper from his belt and read it. "I'm sorry, I have to take this. Can I use your phone?"
"Sure." Phoebe replied gently, trying to keep the frustration out of her voice. Brian gave them an apologetic look before heading to the foyer. Silence filled the room.
"What were you thinking?" Piper hissed at Paige after a minute.
"I was just--" Paige started.
"Well don't!" Piper exclaimed. Before Paige could reply, Brain was back in the dining room. "That was fast." Piper said, taking a sip of her water in an effort to calm herself.
"Yeah." Brian replied reluctantly. "I have to go. They're low on staff, they need help." Cole saw Phoebe breathe in deeply.
"Okay, I'll walk you out." Phoebe said, standing up. She walked out of the dining room with Brian, who gave them all a short goodbye. After a minute, Cole stood too.
"Actually, I should get going too." He said, with a small smile.
"What? We haven't even got to desert." Piper said.
"I know. But let's face it, this isn't going to get less awkward." Cole said with a reluctant grin.
"I guess so." Piper replied.
"But thank you, it was great." Cole said. He turned to Paige. "It was nice arguing with you, Paige. It's not something I get every day."
"Yeah, you too." Paige replied, half sarcastically.
"I'll see you guys soon." Cole said as he headed out of the dining room. He reached the front door and opened it, before he stopped.
He could just make out Phoebe kissing Brian goodbye, before he climbed into the car and drove away. Cole stepped out of the manor and closed the door behind him, heading to his car as Phoebe turned around. Metres away from each other, they shared a look, before he walked past her. She didn't say anything, but headed back to the manor. Cole searched for his car keys in his pocket, but his hands instead fell upon a small card. Pulling it out he read his apology to Phoebe. He stopped a couple of metres short of his car, before turning around.
"Phoebe." He called out, causing her to hesitate. She eventually stopped, and he walked towards her. He didn't say anything at first, instead he handed her the card. "I came here with the intension of giving that to you." He managed simply.
Phoebe took the card and read the familiar writing scrawled on it. "Why didn't you?"
"My fragile ego, I guess." Cole said with a smirk. "But I was out of line, and I'm sorry."
Phoebe hesitated before speaking. "I don't know what to say." She admitted.
"Don't say anything. The truth is, I never lied to you yesterday about anything. And as much as I hate to admit it, Brian could probably make you happier than I ever could. But I also know that maybe seeing you with Brian is how I'll finally get closure over us.
"So what. . .are we just supposed to go on like nothing happened?" Phoebe asked.
"No." Cole replied immediately. "We're both adults. We both know what happened, and we'll deal with it. And then we'll move on."
Phoebe breathed in deeply. "Okay, I guess."
Cole nodded. "Okay."
"Were you going to leave?" She asked suddenly.
"Yeah, I thought things were getting way too awkward." Cole replied with a smile. Phoebe returned his smile.
"Why don't you come back in, you can say goodnight to Wade." She offered. Cole thought for a moment.
"Okay." He replied simply, following Phoebe as she led the way back to the manor.
* * * * *
Well? Review! I'm off on a school trip for a week, so I probably won't update for a while. So I guess you guys will have to wait in suspense!