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: Thanks to all who reviewed.
* * * * *
Phoebe's mouth fell slightly open. "Fiancé?" She said after a moment.
"Yeah. . ." Cole replied offering her his hand. "Benjamin's the name."
Phoebe stared at him, before accepting his hand. She ignored the shiver that made its way through every inch of her body. "Phoebe." She replied pulling back her hand, still staring at him, a confused expression on her face. Neither Jason nor Linda seemed to notice her awkwardness.
"Jason Dean." Jason introduced himself to Cole, offering him his hand. Cole took it, glancing at Phoebe. "I've heard a lot about you."
Cole plastered a smile on his face, and only Phoebe recognised his sarcasm. "Great." He pulled back his hand. "So you two are. . ." He paused.
"Not married or engaged." Jason said with a smile. "But we've been together for almost five years now."
"Wow, that's a long time." Linda replied, returning his smile. Phoebe didn't see the humour in the situation.
"Hey, why don't you three go take a seat, I'll get us some drinks and be there in a moment." Phoebe said hastily, unable to make small talk while her mind was working in overtime.
"That's a good idea." Linda replied, "Why don't you help her, sweetie. She won't be able to carry them alone." She added, turning to Cole.
"Sure." He replied after a while. They both watched as Jason led Linda to a table a distance away, before glancing at each other again.
"Benjamin?" Phoebe questioned.
"You can call me Ben." Cole replied with a small smile.
"Why?" She asked, genuinely confused.
"Cole Turner's dead." He replied simply, turning the other way and waving at the barman in an attempt to get his attention.
"He's missing, not dead." Phoebe replied. "That's how I managed to annul my marriage without much hassle."
Cole looked at her, and she was unable to make out what he was thinking. "I think we both prefer it that way, don't we?"
Phoebe didn't answer, instead looked away. She couldn't make out what her own mind was telling her, much less her heart.
"What can I get you?" The barman asked, finally making his way over to them. Cole glanced at Phoebe, and they shared a knowing look.
"How good's your memory?" He asked her, raising an eyebrow.
"How good's yours?" She replied, tilting her head slightly.
Cole turned towards the barman, contemplating his answer. After a moment, he spoke, "She'll have," He began, indicating towards Phoebe, "Red wine. . ." He said, glancing at her, "Make it a tall glass."
Phoebe smirked. "Nice, very nice." She muttered. He turned to face her expectedly. "Okay . . .he'll have . . ." She paused, "A whisky . . .no ice." She raised her eyebrows at him. He smiled and nodded.
"Not bad." He said approvingly.
"Anything else?" The barman questioned, not bothering to understand their game. Phoebe and Cole glanced back at Linda and Jason.
"A diet coke." Cole replied with a half smile, ordering for Linda. "She's trying to keep off alcohol." He added for Phoebe, and she nodded.
"Two diet cokes." She corrected, glancing at Jason. Cole gazed at her, surprised. "He's going through a health phase. It won't last. . ." She said with a smirk. Both decided not to comment. They each grabbed two of the drinks on the counter and headed towards the table. "So how long have you two been together?" Phoebe questioned, trying to sound indifferent.
"Two years." Cole replied simply. "Does he know the truth about you?" He asked, changing the subject completely.
"Does she know the truth about you?" Phoebe retorted. They both remained silent for a minute.
"No." They both said in unison, causing both to smile slightly.
"I've thought about it though." Phoebe said softly.
"Well, chances are he'll stay with you even when he knows the truth." Cole said quietly as they approached the table. "I don't have that luxury." They set the drinks on the table, taking seats opposite one another.
"You two took your time." Jason said, putting an arm around Phoebe's chair.
"Just getting to know each other." Phoebe stated. "Weren't we. . .Ben?" She put emphasis on the name, taking a sip of her wine.
"Hmm." Cole chose not to speak.
"That's good, because there's a change of plan." Linda said, leaning over the table as she glanced at Cole. He looked at her, confused.
"What do you mean?" He questioned suspiciously.
"Well. . .we're only here till tomorrow. . .and I thought maybe it would be good if we stayed and got to know the newspaper I'm investing in." Linda explained. "And Jason agreed." Cole hesitated, glancing at Phoebe. She met his eyes for a second, before they both looked away.
"I have to get back to work. . ." Cole started.
"Well, you've been working so hard lately. I figured it would be easy for you to get some time off." Linda said pleadingly. Cole swallowed.
"Why not." He said after a moment of consideration.
"Thanks, honey. I knew you'd be fine with it." Linda said, leaning over to kiss him. Phoebe ignored the pang of jealously that hit her. Trying her best to look uninterested.
"What exactly do you do, Ben?" Jason asked. Phoebe sighed. Any chance of recovering the night had just disappeared from her thoughts.
* * * * *
"He's back?" Piper asked incredulously. Phoebe sighed and nodded. After stating that she had a headache, she had declined Jason's offer to drive her home. Catching the first taxi she had found, she had made her way home as fast as she could manage. Things had been too awkward for her to think straight. Even now she was having trouble making sense of it.
"This can't be coincidence. . ." Paige muttered. Phoebe looked up at her.
"It is. I saw him. . .he was as surprised as I was." She said. She took in a deep breath.
"And he's engaged to the corporate hag?" Piper asked, still shocked. Phoebe nodded again, before bending over and leaning her head in her hands.
"I can't believe this is happening." She said softly. "I didn't have to face everything that had happened because I assumed I would never see him again. Now it's all coming back. . .I don't know what to do."
"Just stay away from him." Paige said after a moment. "He'll be leaving soon. . .so just stay away from him." She repeated. Phoebe looked up and shook her head.
"I can't." She stated. "Jason wants me to go everywhere with them. . .show them around. . ." She broke off. "Five years. . .five years, and my feelings for him. . ." She stopped herself.
"Are still there?" Piper asked.
Phoebe looked up and nodded slowly. "They were always there. I just. . .I never had a chance to forget. To move on."
Piper started to say something, but was interrupted by the doorbell. "I'll get it." She said, heading to the door. The doorbell rang again. "Coming!" She shouted, swinging open the door. She froze. "Cole."
"Piper. . ." Cole greeted, unsure of what to say. "How are you doing?"
"What are you doing here?" Piper questioned, ignoring her question. Cole smirked.
"Nice to see you too." He said, then seeing she wasn't about to back down, "I need to talk to Phoebe, I know she's here."
"Do you?" Piper asked, glaring at him.
"Piper." Phoebe said, stepping up behind her elder sister. "It's okay."
"He's not coming into this house." Piper said, breathing in deeply. Phoebe nodded.
"I'll go out." She said softly, stepping around Piper and over the threshold. As she closed the door behind her, she gave Piper what she hoped was a reassuring look. She turned to face Cole. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with Linda and Jason?"
"I'm in the bathroom. . ." He explained with a slight smile. "I just. . .I thought we had a lot to talk about."
"I can't. . ." Phoebe said softly. "Not now."
"It has to be now, Phoebe." Cole said. "Your boyfriend is already planning how you and he are having lunch with me and Linda tomorrow. How are we going to sit through that with this kind of tension between us?"
"That tension isn't going to disappear just because we talk." Phoebe said, looking away.
"You're angry." Cole realised.
"Well. . .what do you expect, Col--" She paused. "Ben. . ."
"Cole." He corrected.
"You said--"
"I know what I said. But there's no one else here." He said softly. "You weren't angry earlier." He swerved the conversation back to the original one.
"I was shocked earlier. I didn't know what to think. . .I still don't." She said, turning away. "It's been five years. . .but I haven't forgotten. . .any of it."
"Neither have I. . ." Cole said quickly. "I could never. . ."
"I can't trust you Cole." Phoebe stated simply, "I can't." She repeated. Cole gazed at her, and nodded slowly.
"I don't expect you to." He said gently. "Just. . .can we just. . ." He hesitated. "Let's just act it out, then. You don't know me, I don't know you."
"I don't have a choice." Phoebe said.
Cole nodded and gave her a smile, and it didn't take Phoebe any effort to realise it was forced. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Yeah." Phoebe murmured. "I'll see you then."
"Bye. . ." He mouthed, before turning his back on her and jogging down the stairs. He faded away when he was halfway down them, and Phoebe took in a breath.
"See, that wasn't so bad." She muttered to herself. Just a few more days. . .maybe more. It couldn't be so bad.
* * * * *
Review and tell me what you thought - where you want this to go.
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: Thanks to all who reviewed.
* * * * *
Phoebe's mouth fell slightly open. "Fiancé?" She said after a moment.
"Yeah. . ." Cole replied offering her his hand. "Benjamin's the name."
Phoebe stared at him, before accepting his hand. She ignored the shiver that made its way through every inch of her body. "Phoebe." She replied pulling back her hand, still staring at him, a confused expression on her face. Neither Jason nor Linda seemed to notice her awkwardness.
"Jason Dean." Jason introduced himself to Cole, offering him his hand. Cole took it, glancing at Phoebe. "I've heard a lot about you."
Cole plastered a smile on his face, and only Phoebe recognised his sarcasm. "Great." He pulled back his hand. "So you two are. . ." He paused.
"Not married or engaged." Jason said with a smile. "But we've been together for almost five years now."
"Wow, that's a long time." Linda replied, returning his smile. Phoebe didn't see the humour in the situation.
"Hey, why don't you three go take a seat, I'll get us some drinks and be there in a moment." Phoebe said hastily, unable to make small talk while her mind was working in overtime.
"That's a good idea." Linda replied, "Why don't you help her, sweetie. She won't be able to carry them alone." She added, turning to Cole.
"Sure." He replied after a while. They both watched as Jason led Linda to a table a distance away, before glancing at each other again.
"Benjamin?" Phoebe questioned.
"You can call me Ben." Cole replied with a small smile.
"Why?" She asked, genuinely confused.
"Cole Turner's dead." He replied simply, turning the other way and waving at the barman in an attempt to get his attention.
"He's missing, not dead." Phoebe replied. "That's how I managed to annul my marriage without much hassle."
Cole looked at her, and she was unable to make out what he was thinking. "I think we both prefer it that way, don't we?"
Phoebe didn't answer, instead looked away. She couldn't make out what her own mind was telling her, much less her heart.
"What can I get you?" The barman asked, finally making his way over to them. Cole glanced at Phoebe, and they shared a knowing look.
"How good's your memory?" He asked her, raising an eyebrow.
"How good's yours?" She replied, tilting her head slightly.
Cole turned towards the barman, contemplating his answer. After a moment, he spoke, "She'll have," He began, indicating towards Phoebe, "Red wine. . ." He said, glancing at her, "Make it a tall glass."
Phoebe smirked. "Nice, very nice." She muttered. He turned to face her expectedly. "Okay . . .he'll have . . ." She paused, "A whisky . . .no ice." She raised her eyebrows at him. He smiled and nodded.
"Not bad." He said approvingly.
"Anything else?" The barman questioned, not bothering to understand their game. Phoebe and Cole glanced back at Linda and Jason.
"A diet coke." Cole replied with a half smile, ordering for Linda. "She's trying to keep off alcohol." He added for Phoebe, and she nodded.
"Two diet cokes." She corrected, glancing at Jason. Cole gazed at her, surprised. "He's going through a health phase. It won't last. . ." She said with a smirk. Both decided not to comment. They each grabbed two of the drinks on the counter and headed towards the table. "So how long have you two been together?" Phoebe questioned, trying to sound indifferent.
"Two years." Cole replied simply. "Does he know the truth about you?" He asked, changing the subject completely.
"Does she know the truth about you?" Phoebe retorted. They both remained silent for a minute.
"No." They both said in unison, causing both to smile slightly.
"I've thought about it though." Phoebe said softly.
"Well, chances are he'll stay with you even when he knows the truth." Cole said quietly as they approached the table. "I don't have that luxury." They set the drinks on the table, taking seats opposite one another.
"You two took your time." Jason said, putting an arm around Phoebe's chair.
"Just getting to know each other." Phoebe stated. "Weren't we. . .Ben?" She put emphasis on the name, taking a sip of her wine.
"Hmm." Cole chose not to speak.
"That's good, because there's a change of plan." Linda said, leaning over the table as she glanced at Cole. He looked at her, confused.
"What do you mean?" He questioned suspiciously.
"Well. . .we're only here till tomorrow. . .and I thought maybe it would be good if we stayed and got to know the newspaper I'm investing in." Linda explained. "And Jason agreed." Cole hesitated, glancing at Phoebe. She met his eyes for a second, before they both looked away.
"I have to get back to work. . ." Cole started.
"Well, you've been working so hard lately. I figured it would be easy for you to get some time off." Linda said pleadingly. Cole swallowed.
"Why not." He said after a moment of consideration.
"Thanks, honey. I knew you'd be fine with it." Linda said, leaning over to kiss him. Phoebe ignored the pang of jealously that hit her. Trying her best to look uninterested.
"What exactly do you do, Ben?" Jason asked. Phoebe sighed. Any chance of recovering the night had just disappeared from her thoughts.
* * * * *
"He's back?" Piper asked incredulously. Phoebe sighed and nodded. After stating that she had a headache, she had declined Jason's offer to drive her home. Catching the first taxi she had found, she had made her way home as fast as she could manage. Things had been too awkward for her to think straight. Even now she was having trouble making sense of it.
"This can't be coincidence. . ." Paige muttered. Phoebe looked up at her.
"It is. I saw him. . .he was as surprised as I was." She said. She took in a deep breath.
"And he's engaged to the corporate hag?" Piper asked, still shocked. Phoebe nodded again, before bending over and leaning her head in her hands.
"I can't believe this is happening." She said softly. "I didn't have to face everything that had happened because I assumed I would never see him again. Now it's all coming back. . .I don't know what to do."
"Just stay away from him." Paige said after a moment. "He'll be leaving soon. . .so just stay away from him." She repeated. Phoebe looked up and shook her head.
"I can't." She stated. "Jason wants me to go everywhere with them. . .show them around. . ." She broke off. "Five years. . .five years, and my feelings for him. . ." She stopped herself.
"Are still there?" Piper asked.
Phoebe looked up and nodded slowly. "They were always there. I just. . .I never had a chance to forget. To move on."
Piper started to say something, but was interrupted by the doorbell. "I'll get it." She said, heading to the door. The doorbell rang again. "Coming!" She shouted, swinging open the door. She froze. "Cole."
"Piper. . ." Cole greeted, unsure of what to say. "How are you doing?"
"What are you doing here?" Piper questioned, ignoring her question. Cole smirked.
"Nice to see you too." He said, then seeing she wasn't about to back down, "I need to talk to Phoebe, I know she's here."
"Do you?" Piper asked, glaring at him.
"Piper." Phoebe said, stepping up behind her elder sister. "It's okay."
"He's not coming into this house." Piper said, breathing in deeply. Phoebe nodded.
"I'll go out." She said softly, stepping around Piper and over the threshold. As she closed the door behind her, she gave Piper what she hoped was a reassuring look. She turned to face Cole. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with Linda and Jason?"
"I'm in the bathroom. . ." He explained with a slight smile. "I just. . .I thought we had a lot to talk about."
"I can't. . ." Phoebe said softly. "Not now."
"It has to be now, Phoebe." Cole said. "Your boyfriend is already planning how you and he are having lunch with me and Linda tomorrow. How are we going to sit through that with this kind of tension between us?"
"That tension isn't going to disappear just because we talk." Phoebe said, looking away.
"You're angry." Cole realised.
"Well. . .what do you expect, Col--" She paused. "Ben. . ."
"Cole." He corrected.
"You said--"
"I know what I said. But there's no one else here." He said softly. "You weren't angry earlier." He swerved the conversation back to the original one.
"I was shocked earlier. I didn't know what to think. . .I still don't." She said, turning away. "It's been five years. . .but I haven't forgotten. . .any of it."
"Neither have I. . ." Cole said quickly. "I could never. . ."
"I can't trust you Cole." Phoebe stated simply, "I can't." She repeated. Cole gazed at her, and nodded slowly.
"I don't expect you to." He said gently. "Just. . .can we just. . ." He hesitated. "Let's just act it out, then. You don't know me, I don't know you."
"I don't have a choice." Phoebe said.
Cole nodded and gave her a smile, and it didn't take Phoebe any effort to realise it was forced. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Yeah." Phoebe murmured. "I'll see you then."
"Bye. . ." He mouthed, before turning his back on her and jogging down the stairs. He faded away when he was halfway down them, and Phoebe took in a breath.
"See, that wasn't so bad." She muttered to herself. Just a few more days. . .maybe more. It couldn't be so bad.
* * * * *
Review and tell me what you thought - where you want this to go.
