Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, don't sue me.
A/N: Thank you to all who reviewed. I refer to some memories in this one. None of them actually happened - don't think you missed an episode, :).
* * * * *
"You saved him?" Piper asked Cole, glancing down at Wyatt who was sleeping soundly beside her on the hospital bed.
"Me? No. . .it was all Phoebe." Cole said, smirking at Phoebe. "And a gigantic frying pan."
"You dived at the guy, Cole. I was just swinging at his head." Phoebe said, trying to remain serious.
"Cole, don't take this the wrong way - I appreciate what you did. . .but this doesn't make me trust you any more than I did before." Piper said. Cole smiled as he shook his head.
"I know Piper, that wasn't what I was trying to do." He explained. "I just didn't want to be the one accountable if anything happened."
"Why would you be responsible?" Paige questioned suspiciously. Cole hesitated, and Phoebe, noticing his discomfort, spoke instead.
"He thinks he could have said something when they were interrogating him." She explained. "He can't remember."
"And that's why I'm going to leave. . .as soon as possible. The longer I'm here, the easier it will be for them to track you." Cole said, standing up.
"You're leaving?" Phoebe questioned incredulously. Cole turned to look at her, and they shared a moment of eye contact. He nodded. "Cole, they've already found us. It doesn't matter if they track you." Cole opened his mouth, but finding no logical argument, he remained silent. "Stay. For a couple of days." Phoebe offered.
"I don't have anywhere to stay." Cole said after a moment. Phoebe contemplated this, before turning to glance at Piper, who smiled in slight disbelief. She shook her head.
"I don't like it." She said simply, but seeing the determined look on Phoebe's face, "Okay." Phoebe turned to look at Paige, raising her eyebrows in query.
"I guess I don't have a choice." Paige said after a moment of hesitation.
"Alright." Phoebe said, turning back to Cole, who was completely confused. "You can stay at the Manor." Cole laughed. Then, noticing none of them were amused, his smile vanished.
"You're serious?" He questioned disbelievingly.
"Apparently." Paige muttered.
"Why?" He asked, ignoring Paige's comment. It was Phoebe's turn to hesitate. Her mouth opened and closed as she contemplated her answer. Piper noticed her sisters pause, and although not happy about it, replied for her.
"You're the only one that knows anything about these guys. You can help us get rid of them." Piper said, gaining a thankful look from Phoebe. Then, in an attempt to change the subject, "So when are we going home?"
"When are you allowed to go home?" Paige questioned in reply.
"The doctor said I could leave today." Piper said, then at their sceptical looks, "Apparently I'm an unusually fast healer."
"Or Wyatt left some of his Whitelighter genes behind." Phoebe said with a smirk. "Maybe you should stay, just in case."
"There is no way I'm staying in this bed all night." Piper argued. "Let's go home."
* * * * *
As Cole stepped into the Manor, he noticed that very little had changed. There was occasional piece of furniture around, which was probably due to the constant destruction around the house thanks to the ever-present demonic forces. He smiled. It had been many years ago that he had last been welcomed into this house. Times were definitely changing. Piper and Paige headed upstairs, while Cole and Phoebe stepped into the lounge. Cole sat down on the couch, realising that it was the same one that had been there when he used to stay in the Manor.
"I guess this is where I'm sleeping?" He asked, turning to look at Phoebe. She gave him an embarrassed smile.
"Sorry. We only have the three rooms." Phoebe said apologetically.
"Don't worry about it, it's okay." Cole said, brushing off the apology. "It's not like I've never slept on it before." Phoebe gave him a look of confusion. He smiled. "There was one night. . .when we were fighting about something pointless, and you kicked me out of your room." He smirked at the memory. "Where do you think I slept." Phoebe smiled.
"I had forgotten about that." Phoebe said as she recalled the moment. "What were we fighting about?"
"Can't remember." Cole replied honestly. "I think it was--"
"There, take a look." Piper interrupted, as she walked down the stairs. She lifted up her shirt to reveal her abdomen, where there was now only a wound no larger than a graze.
"Paige is getting the hang of this healing stuff." Phoebe said, running a hand over the wound.
"See, nothing to worry about." Piper said with a smirk. "I'm fine. Now what do you want for dinner?"
"You're cooking now?" Phoebe asked, finding it impossible that Piper was bleeding to death only hours ago. Piper ignored her and walked into the kitchen. Phoebe turned to Cole and raised her eyebrows. "She's cooking now." She mouthed, before following her older sister into the kitchen. Cole watched her leave, and leaned back into the couch with a sigh. A sound behind him made him jump up, only to find Paige behind him, lowering Wyatt into his playpen. She turned to face him. They shared an uncomfortable look.
"I hope you're not going to make us regret letting you stay here." Paige finally said. Cole raised an eyebrow.
"So do I." He stated honestly.
* * * * *
"It's been a while since it happened. Piper's still finding it hard." Phoebe said with a glance at the kitchen.
"I'm not surprised. I thought they were the ones that were going to make it." Cole said with a frown. They remained silent for a while. "I can't see Leo as an Elder."
"Head Elder." Phoebe corrected. "He hasn't even been to see Wyatt."
"Are you sure?" Cole asked. And when Phoebe frowned in confusion, "All he has to do is orb in and out - none of you would notice. I don't think Leo's the kind of guy that could just ignore his own child." Phoebe nodded.
"I don't know. I haven't seen him in so long, I can barely even remember him." She said softly. She started to say something else, but broke off as Piper walked into the lounge.
"Dinner's ready." She said cheerfully. Phoebe and Cole shared a glance, before standing and following Piper into the kitchen.
* * * * *
"That was amazing." Cole said, leaning back in his chair.
"Well, you probably haven't had a good meal in weeks." Piper said, smiling at the compliment.
"Longer than that." Cole added quietly.
"Yeah, well. . .I have work to do." Phoebe said, standing up and hurrying out of the room, closely followed by Paige.
"Same!" Paige shouted from outside. Piper smiled.
"Anything to get away from helping with the cleaning." She explained. "They're like kids." Cole gave her a half smile, and gathering the plates on the table, he stood up and walked over to the sink. He placed them gently in the lukewarm water, then returned to the table to help Piper clean up. "You don't have to. . .I'm alright." Piper said when he reached for the large serving dish.
"It's fine." He said, picking up the dish and placing it on the kitchen counter. He paused and turned around to face Piper. She met his eyes and frowned.
"What?" She questioned. He hesitated.
"Phoebe told me about Leo." He said, and she looked away.
"Oh yeah?" She said, heading to the sink where she started scrubbing the dishes.
"Yeah." Cole replied. He breathed in deeply. "I know you're not about to listen to me," he began, "but he will be back." Piper stopped and turned around to face him.
"And how would you know that?" She asked, her eyebrows raised, not bothering to believe him.
"I just do." Cole replied with a small smirk.
"That's reassuring." Piper muttered, turning back towards the dishes.
"Piper." Cole said gently in an attempt to keep her attention. "I used to envy you and Leo. . .because the two of you made it work so well. You got through everything." He paused as he watched Piper's hands stop moving, and he realised that although she may have been trying not to, she was now listening intently. "It takes a lot to make it - I would know. . .and you two did. And the thing you know for sure is that he didn't leave because he doesn't love you. Or Wyatt. He knew what you guys meant to him." He smiled. "Even I knew what you meant to him." He paused. "Believe me or not, he isn't going to be able to forget that. Not ever. And he won't be able to stay away for too long." Piper turned to face Cole and paused before speaking.
"If we hadn't found you. . .you would have stayed away." She retorted. "I know how much you loved Phoebe. . .I still see it now. But you would never have come back." Piper said softly.
Cole hesitated, glancing away. "That's different." He finally let out. Piper let out a breath.
"How so?" She asked curiously. Cole met her eyes, and she noticed the saddened look beneath them.
"Because Leo still loves you."
* * * * *
Sniff. But wait, there's more. There has to be, right? Review and tell me what you thought.
A/N: Thank you to all who reviewed. I refer to some memories in this one. None of them actually happened - don't think you missed an episode, :).
* * * * *
"You saved him?" Piper asked Cole, glancing down at Wyatt who was sleeping soundly beside her on the hospital bed.
"Me? No. . .it was all Phoebe." Cole said, smirking at Phoebe. "And a gigantic frying pan."
"You dived at the guy, Cole. I was just swinging at his head." Phoebe said, trying to remain serious.
"Cole, don't take this the wrong way - I appreciate what you did. . .but this doesn't make me trust you any more than I did before." Piper said. Cole smiled as he shook his head.
"I know Piper, that wasn't what I was trying to do." He explained. "I just didn't want to be the one accountable if anything happened."
"Why would you be responsible?" Paige questioned suspiciously. Cole hesitated, and Phoebe, noticing his discomfort, spoke instead.
"He thinks he could have said something when they were interrogating him." She explained. "He can't remember."
"And that's why I'm going to leave. . .as soon as possible. The longer I'm here, the easier it will be for them to track you." Cole said, standing up.
"You're leaving?" Phoebe questioned incredulously. Cole turned to look at her, and they shared a moment of eye contact. He nodded. "Cole, they've already found us. It doesn't matter if they track you." Cole opened his mouth, but finding no logical argument, he remained silent. "Stay. For a couple of days." Phoebe offered.
"I don't have anywhere to stay." Cole said after a moment. Phoebe contemplated this, before turning to glance at Piper, who smiled in slight disbelief. She shook her head.
"I don't like it." She said simply, but seeing the determined look on Phoebe's face, "Okay." Phoebe turned to look at Paige, raising her eyebrows in query.
"I guess I don't have a choice." Paige said after a moment of hesitation.
"Alright." Phoebe said, turning back to Cole, who was completely confused. "You can stay at the Manor." Cole laughed. Then, noticing none of them were amused, his smile vanished.
"You're serious?" He questioned disbelievingly.
"Apparently." Paige muttered.
"Why?" He asked, ignoring Paige's comment. It was Phoebe's turn to hesitate. Her mouth opened and closed as she contemplated her answer. Piper noticed her sisters pause, and although not happy about it, replied for her.
"You're the only one that knows anything about these guys. You can help us get rid of them." Piper said, gaining a thankful look from Phoebe. Then, in an attempt to change the subject, "So when are we going home?"
"When are you allowed to go home?" Paige questioned in reply.
"The doctor said I could leave today." Piper said, then at their sceptical looks, "Apparently I'm an unusually fast healer."
"Or Wyatt left some of his Whitelighter genes behind." Phoebe said with a smirk. "Maybe you should stay, just in case."
"There is no way I'm staying in this bed all night." Piper argued. "Let's go home."
* * * * *
As Cole stepped into the Manor, he noticed that very little had changed. There was occasional piece of furniture around, which was probably due to the constant destruction around the house thanks to the ever-present demonic forces. He smiled. It had been many years ago that he had last been welcomed into this house. Times were definitely changing. Piper and Paige headed upstairs, while Cole and Phoebe stepped into the lounge. Cole sat down on the couch, realising that it was the same one that had been there when he used to stay in the Manor.
"I guess this is where I'm sleeping?" He asked, turning to look at Phoebe. She gave him an embarrassed smile.
"Sorry. We only have the three rooms." Phoebe said apologetically.
"Don't worry about it, it's okay." Cole said, brushing off the apology. "It's not like I've never slept on it before." Phoebe gave him a look of confusion. He smiled. "There was one night. . .when we were fighting about something pointless, and you kicked me out of your room." He smirked at the memory. "Where do you think I slept." Phoebe smiled.
"I had forgotten about that." Phoebe said as she recalled the moment. "What were we fighting about?"
"Can't remember." Cole replied honestly. "I think it was--"
"There, take a look." Piper interrupted, as she walked down the stairs. She lifted up her shirt to reveal her abdomen, where there was now only a wound no larger than a graze.
"Paige is getting the hang of this healing stuff." Phoebe said, running a hand over the wound.
"See, nothing to worry about." Piper said with a smirk. "I'm fine. Now what do you want for dinner?"
"You're cooking now?" Phoebe asked, finding it impossible that Piper was bleeding to death only hours ago. Piper ignored her and walked into the kitchen. Phoebe turned to Cole and raised her eyebrows. "She's cooking now." She mouthed, before following her older sister into the kitchen. Cole watched her leave, and leaned back into the couch with a sigh. A sound behind him made him jump up, only to find Paige behind him, lowering Wyatt into his playpen. She turned to face him. They shared an uncomfortable look.
"I hope you're not going to make us regret letting you stay here." Paige finally said. Cole raised an eyebrow.
"So do I." He stated honestly.
* * * * *
"It's been a while since it happened. Piper's still finding it hard." Phoebe said with a glance at the kitchen.
"I'm not surprised. I thought they were the ones that were going to make it." Cole said with a frown. They remained silent for a while. "I can't see Leo as an Elder."
"Head Elder." Phoebe corrected. "He hasn't even been to see Wyatt."
"Are you sure?" Cole asked. And when Phoebe frowned in confusion, "All he has to do is orb in and out - none of you would notice. I don't think Leo's the kind of guy that could just ignore his own child." Phoebe nodded.
"I don't know. I haven't seen him in so long, I can barely even remember him." She said softly. She started to say something else, but broke off as Piper walked into the lounge.
"Dinner's ready." She said cheerfully. Phoebe and Cole shared a glance, before standing and following Piper into the kitchen.
* * * * *
"That was amazing." Cole said, leaning back in his chair.
"Well, you probably haven't had a good meal in weeks." Piper said, smiling at the compliment.
"Longer than that." Cole added quietly.
"Yeah, well. . .I have work to do." Phoebe said, standing up and hurrying out of the room, closely followed by Paige.
"Same!" Paige shouted from outside. Piper smiled.
"Anything to get away from helping with the cleaning." She explained. "They're like kids." Cole gave her a half smile, and gathering the plates on the table, he stood up and walked over to the sink. He placed them gently in the lukewarm water, then returned to the table to help Piper clean up. "You don't have to. . .I'm alright." Piper said when he reached for the large serving dish.
"It's fine." He said, picking up the dish and placing it on the kitchen counter. He paused and turned around to face Piper. She met his eyes and frowned.
"What?" She questioned. He hesitated.
"Phoebe told me about Leo." He said, and she looked away.
"Oh yeah?" She said, heading to the sink where she started scrubbing the dishes.
"Yeah." Cole replied. He breathed in deeply. "I know you're not about to listen to me," he began, "but he will be back." Piper stopped and turned around to face him.
"And how would you know that?" She asked, her eyebrows raised, not bothering to believe him.
"I just do." Cole replied with a small smirk.
"That's reassuring." Piper muttered, turning back towards the dishes.
"Piper." Cole said gently in an attempt to keep her attention. "I used to envy you and Leo. . .because the two of you made it work so well. You got through everything." He paused as he watched Piper's hands stop moving, and he realised that although she may have been trying not to, she was now listening intently. "It takes a lot to make it - I would know. . .and you two did. And the thing you know for sure is that he didn't leave because he doesn't love you. Or Wyatt. He knew what you guys meant to him." He smiled. "Even I knew what you meant to him." He paused. "Believe me or not, he isn't going to be able to forget that. Not ever. And he won't be able to stay away for too long." Piper turned to face Cole and paused before speaking.
"If we hadn't found you. . .you would have stayed away." She retorted. "I know how much you loved Phoebe. . .I still see it now. But you would never have come back." Piper said softly.
Cole hesitated, glancing away. "That's different." He finally let out. Piper let out a breath.
"How so?" She asked curiously. Cole met her eyes, and she noticed the saddened look beneath them.
"Because Leo still loves you."
* * * * *
Sniff. But wait, there's more. There has to be, right? Review and tell me what you thought.