Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, don't sue me.

Summary: Cole leaves San Francisco after the Season 4 final. Five years later, will fate step in (as it always does . . .) and throw us loyal Cole/Phoebe fanatics a bone? No demon action. Just soppiness to the max - it's what I do best.

Author's Note: This story isn't going to be too long, not if I can help it. I want to try and get most of it done before I start school again.

I know this particular kind of story has been done countless times, but I never get tired of reading it. And I've read it a lot. Hope you guys aren't tired of it yet.

* * * * *

Five Years Later

"Who's Linda Hamilton again?" Phoebe questioned, coming out of her daze. Jason raised his eyebrows at her.

"Phoebe, I just told you that." Jason said with a sigh.

"Sorry." Phoebe said, grimacing. Jason had been muttering something about a new investor, and like she had been doing for a while now, tuned him out.

"She's putting a lot of money into this newspaper, you should engrave her name into your memory." Jason said. Phoebe tried not to show her indifference. "Are you coming tonight?"

"Where?" Phoebe asked, confused. Jason stared at her.

"The formal function. . .I've been telling you about it all week." Jason said, growing annoyed.

"Oh yeah. . ." Phoebe said, trying to recall when he had mentioned it.

"Linda and her fiancé are going to be there, it'll be good if you can go and make a good impression." Jason said, softening.

"I guess I'll be there, then." Phoebe said, taking in a breath.

"Good." Jason said with a smile. He kissed her on the forehead. "You won't regret it."

* * * * *

"I'm going to regret it." Phoebe sighed, taking a sip of her coffee.

"You might not." Paige offered. "It might be good to get to know this woman."

"A corporate hag?" Phoebe questioned. "I don't think so. I've always tried to talk Jason out of having people like that investing in the paper. . .I guess he liked this woman."

"Is there a hint of jealousy in that?" Piper asked with a smirk. Phoebe glanced at her.

"I wish there was." She replied honestly. "I wish I had some sort of indication that there is something left in this relationship."

"You've been with him for almost five years now, there must be a reason for that." Piper said.

"I don't know. Maybe it was fear. . .I don't know." She repeated. She glanced at both her sisters. "What do you think of him?"

Paige and Piper exchanged uncomfortable glances. "He's. . ." Paige began, "Nice."

"Nice?" Phoebe asked.

"Yeah." Piper agreed. "He's a nice guy."

"That's it? He's nice?" Phoebe questioned.

"It could be worse." Paige said with a smirk.

"I know. . .I know." Phoebe sighed. "But this was what I was worried about. He is a nice guy. But there's nothing else, there's no spark. Nothing else that tells me that I can live the rest of my life with this guy."

"No one really sees themselves spending eternity with someone else." Piper said, leaning back against the counter. "No one really knows."

"You did with Leo." Phoebe replied. Piper contemplated this, before smiling.

"Okay. Maybe I got lucky. But have you ever felt that way with anyone?" Phoebe looked up at her, wondering whether or not to answer the question. Piper caught onto her hesitation. "Cole." She said simply.

"I can't help how I feel." Phoebe sighed.

"We know you can't." Paige said, trying to be sensitive towards the issue. "But Cole left for good, you said so yourself." Phoebe nodded, relieved that she had chosen to tell Piper and Paige about Cole coming back just after it had happened. She couldn't imagine having to tell them the truth now.

"I know." She said. "It's just going to be hard believing that Jason can compare. . ." She said softly. She stood up with a deep breath. "I'm going to go get ready."

"Okay. . ." Piper said after a moment. "But remember, even if you do end up regretting tonight, maybe you'll be able to tell Jason how you're feeling."

Phoebe nodded. "Maybe. . ."

* * * * *

"There she is." Jason whispered into Phoebe's ear, pointing to one side of the large, bright ballroom. Phoebe nodded, but didn't turn to look where he was indicating, her eyes instead falling on the bar on the opposite end of the room.

"Why don't you go talk to her. . ." Phoebe said, removing her arm from his. "I'm going to go. . ." She paused, "mingle."

Jason seemed to accept her statement, and headed away through the crowd. Phoebe watched him disappear, and as soon as he was beyond view, hastily headed towards the bar. As soon as she reached it, she leaned over the bar to try and get the barman's attention. He didn't spare her a look and she clenched her teeth.

"Patience. . ." She tried to calm herself. Turning, she leaned back against the bar and looked around the room. Her eyes fell on Jason on the far end of the room talking animatedly with a gorgeous blonde woman. She raised an eyebrow, willing a fraction of jealousy to overcome her. Nothing happened. She turned to face the barman again, who was still in the same spot he had been previously. She opened her mouth to shout something at him, but another voice called out before her.

"A little service, please?"

Phoebe froze at the sound of the voice, and spun around. He was standing not more than three metres away from her, not having even noticed her presence. She watched him clench his fist in an attempt to calm himself, before, just as she had done, turning and leaning his back against the counter.

"Cole?" She finally found her voice, though it sounded barely audible to her. He turned immediately, his eyes meeting hers, and he was taken aback by her presence beside him. He, however, seemed to recover much faster. He let out a breath and gave her a surprised smile.

"Phoebe. . ." He began, his voice faltering slightly. "What are you doing here?"

She paused. "I think the better question is," She started, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm only here for a couple of days. . ." He said softly. "I didn't mean for us to meet in that time."

Phoebe didn't know how to reply, instead took the time to gaze at him, taking in the changes that had taken place since she had last seen him. Clean-shaven, as normal. His hair wasn't as neat as it could have been, but was certainly not messy. And his eyes. . .exactly the same as she remembered. They were deep - a chasm of uncertainty and mystery. Yet an unwilling sense of warmth. She felt a chill run up her spine. Turning away she started to say something, but was once again interrupted before she could make out the words.

"You two have already met, I see." Jason said, sidling up beside her and wrapping his arm around her waist. Phoebe was taken aback, wondering why she felt a tinge of guilt. She forced herself not to look at Cole.

"Hmm?" She managed to let out, looking at Jason.

"Phoebe, this is Linda." He introduced the blonde woman who he had been speaking to earlier. She stepped forwards and offered Phoebe her hand, smiling widely. Phoebe took her hand somewhat reluctantly.

"It's good to finally meet you, Phoebe." Linda said. As they released hands, Phoebe watched as Linda's hand moved down to grasp Cole's, and she tried to hide her surprise. "And you seem to have already met my fiancé. . ."

* * * * *

"Nooo!" You all scream at me. "What the hell are you doing?!"

Don't worry so much, you know it always has a happy ending. At least. . .almost always. . .

Review?