Chapter-14 Steps To The Solution
When Cole and Phoebe emerged from the blur, Phoebe gasped. It was sunset at Paris, France, and it looked wonderful from where they were.
"Cole! You said France, not Paris, France!" Phoebe said, her astonishment still present in her voice. She was turning left and right to figure out just exactly where she was, and it smacked her right in the face, by the Eiffel Tower against the sunset.
"Well, I wasn't exactly sure either, I just knew that it was somewhere in France," Cole said, smirking a little.
"Humph," Phoebe grumbled, but she turned to the breathtaking view that was in front of her. The last time she was in France, she remembered it being just as beautiful as it was now. The last time...
Phoebe's thoughts trailed to the last time she was here with Cole. They had just defeated Yen Lo and then Cole had surprised her with a trip to the south of France. It was a very...pleasant memory of her and Cole.
Cole watched Phoebe's face in amusement as he saw bits of what she was thinking. Phoebe was lost in the memory of them, and she was a little careless with her emotions that went through the link. Phoebe turned to him, and was both shocked and angry that he had seen at least of glimpse of what she was thinking about. She blushed and turned away from him. Cole chuckled, and looked around. Paris was always beautiful, and he loved coming here, especially if it was with Phoebe.
"Well, I really like the view, but we have a Whitelighter to track," Phoebe stated tersely, turning her gaze from the sunset. Her comment snapped Cole from his thoughts, and agreed silently with her.
"So, how do you plan on finding him?" Cole asked. Phoebe thought for a moment, not quite sure how to at the moment.
"Well, you said that he was here, in Paris, France, right?" Phoebe asked, looking up at Cole. Cole nodded at her.
"Well, then...Leo!" Phoebe suddenly yelled.
"What are you doing?!" Cole exclaimed in alarm when he saw a few passer-bys looked in their direction.
"What? I was just calling Leo...oh," Phoebe said, when she looked around. She had completely forgotten that there were other people besides Cole and herself.
"I thought since Leo wasn't your Whitelighter here, he couldn't hear you," Cole stated, still a little agitated due to her slip up.
"Well, if he's near, then he could hear us. That's what happened before when Piper had gotten sick," Phoebe informed Cole.
"Ah, I see," Cole said, nodding his head.
"So, what may I ask are you doing here? And who's this?" someone said behind them. Phoebe and Cole swiveled around, to find the source of the voice. They found Leo, standing behind them, his arms crossed over his chest, waiting for an explanation from Phoebe.
"Oh, hey Leo, I was wondering when you'd show up," Phoebe said, seeing him.
"It's nice to see you too, but what, may I ask again, are you doing here, and who is this guy?" Leo asked, jerking his head toward Cole.
"Well, this is Cole, Cole, past AR Leo, AR Leo, Cole, my...ex-husband," Phoebe said, uncertainly. She may as tell him, he is after all their Whitelighter, and he wouldn't tell if it would endanger them.
Leo looked stunned when Phoebe had said that this guy was her husband. Then something occurred to him.
"Ex?" AR Leo asked surprised that Phoebe would actually marry anyone.
"Yes, ex-husband," Phoebe answered, seeing the look on his face she added, "long story."
"Ah, would you please answer my first question now?" AR Leo asked.
"Okay, well, hmm...where should I start this? Cole, a little help please?" Phoebe said turning to him.
"Oh, fine. Well here's the thing, you are supposed to be with Piper right now, and Brad isn't even supposed to be with Phoebe," Cole said, being as blunt as possible.
"I don't think it's any of your business what is going on between Piper and Dan. Who's Brad?" AR Leo asked, looking from Phoebe to Cole. Phoebe was about to answer, but Cole cut in.
"He's the Halliwell's new Whitelighter. What, didn't you know?" Cole asked, looking at AR Leo quizzically.
"What new Whitelighter, and how do you know about Whitelighters?" AR Leo asked suspiciously, looking again at Phoebe.
"Oh, that doesn't really matter at the moment," Cole said, dismissing Leo's question with a wave of his hand.
"What does matter, is the fact that this reality is screwed up, and you need to be with Piper at the moment," Cole said, his aggravation showing through.
"Reality? What...what are you bloody talking about? Phoebe, is this...Cole person sane?" AR Leo said, turning from Cole to Phoebe.
"Yes, of course he's sane," Phoebe said, suppressing her smile. Cole looked at her, and frowned at her.
This is not the time, Cole thought to her, so that AR Leo couldn't hear.
"Oh, fine," Phoebe answered, forgetting that he had spoke to her via telepathy.
AR Leo looked at Phoebe confused. It seemed as though Phoebe had answered a question that Cole had asked, but he hadn't heard anything.
"Are you a witch?" AR Leo asked tentatively. Cole scoffed at the thought.
"A witch? Please. I'm not a witch, and I'm much more powerful than an average witch," Cole said, his voice showing that Leo's comment was absurd.
"If you're not a witch, than what are you?" AR Leo asked, backing up a few steps, looking worriedly at Phoebe, wondering if she was safe.
"Oh, I'm a demon. Well, technically, a human with demonic powers," Cole corrected. Wondering exactly what he was at the moment.
'Oh, it's not time for that now!' Cole thought to himself, silently chastising himself for philosophizing now.
"A demon? Phoebe, take my hand," AR Leo said, urgently, not taking his eyes off of Cole. When Phoebe didn't come, he glanced at her.
"Phoebe," AR Leo hissed at her.
"Calm down Leo, he isn't going to hurt me or you. Leo, can we speak to you somewhere so that we can explain this?" Phoebe asked, getting a migraine.
Leo nodded hesitantly, still eyeing Cole warily. Cole simply shrugged and turned to walk to a nicer setting that was still secluded. Phoebe followed him, and AR Leo followed close behind.
At the manor (at night)...
"Hey you guys, have you seen Brad?" AR Phoebe asked her sisters while jumping and skipping her way to the dining room table.
"Uh, no Phoebe, he hasn't come in yet from when he orbed out," Piper answered her, setting her plate down.
"Thanks Piper," Phoebe said, when she sat down and began to eat her breakfast.
"So...how is everything going with you and Brad?" Prue asked, looking at her baby sister, then glancing to Piper quickly, before she could notice.
"Everything's going great. Hold on, why?" Phoebe added suspiciously, looking at her older sister.
"Oh, nothing, nothing," Prue said, suppressing a smile. Her eyes darted back to Piper, who wasn't really paying attention. Phoebe's eyes lit up in understanding, and nodded slightly, showing that she understood.
"So, has anyone heard from Leo?" Phoebe asked out of the blue. She grinned as Prue gave her one of her famous death glares, and Piper looked at the two shocked.
Before anyone could answer her, or yell at her, the familiar light of an orb appeared, and Brad appeared.
"Brad!" Phoebe said in excitement, as she jumped up and gave him a soft on his lips. Brad smirked inwardly, just wishing that Cole could see this. The look on his face would be priceless.
"So, what did the Elders have to say?" Piper asked, still irritated at her sisters and the whole Leo thing.
"Oh, nothing really. Just wanted a report," Brad said. Well, it wasn't a complete lie. Scier did want a report.
"Will you be able to stay here tonight? Or do you have to go?" AR Phoebe asked, looking up at Brad. He just had to smile, at least a little bit. To have her like this without Cole interfering was too good to pass up.
"I can stay here tonight, if you wanted," Brad said, looking around at the sisters.
"Oh, sure of course you can. You don't mind using the couch do you?" Prue asked innocently at Brad.
Brad grimaced at having to use the couch, he would much rather sleep in more...comfortable places.
"No, I don't mind," Brad said, sighing quietly. 'At least I have her here. Oh, how much I wish that Cole were here right now.'
The sisters and Brad were leaving to get ready for sleep, when all of a sudden Cole blurred in.
"Surprise."
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All right, you have the right to just scream your head off at me if you're still reading this. I know I haven't updated this, it's just that I've gotten this major writer's block. Not only on this story but on the other ones I've been working on. So, don't be surprised if these updates are few and far between. But don't lose hope guys, I'll keep beating at this annoying writer's block, and try to come up with the goods sooner or later. Thanks for all of you who have been diligently waiting for the upcoming chapters of this story and others. So, thanks, really, and drop me a line when you're done reading. ^_^
When Cole and Phoebe emerged from the blur, Phoebe gasped. It was sunset at Paris, France, and it looked wonderful from where they were.
"Cole! You said France, not Paris, France!" Phoebe said, her astonishment still present in her voice. She was turning left and right to figure out just exactly where she was, and it smacked her right in the face, by the Eiffel Tower against the sunset.
"Well, I wasn't exactly sure either, I just knew that it was somewhere in France," Cole said, smirking a little.
"Humph," Phoebe grumbled, but she turned to the breathtaking view that was in front of her. The last time she was in France, she remembered it being just as beautiful as it was now. The last time...
Phoebe's thoughts trailed to the last time she was here with Cole. They had just defeated Yen Lo and then Cole had surprised her with a trip to the south of France. It was a very...pleasant memory of her and Cole.
Cole watched Phoebe's face in amusement as he saw bits of what she was thinking. Phoebe was lost in the memory of them, and she was a little careless with her emotions that went through the link. Phoebe turned to him, and was both shocked and angry that he had seen at least of glimpse of what she was thinking about. She blushed and turned away from him. Cole chuckled, and looked around. Paris was always beautiful, and he loved coming here, especially if it was with Phoebe.
"Well, I really like the view, but we have a Whitelighter to track," Phoebe stated tersely, turning her gaze from the sunset. Her comment snapped Cole from his thoughts, and agreed silently with her.
"So, how do you plan on finding him?" Cole asked. Phoebe thought for a moment, not quite sure how to at the moment.
"Well, you said that he was here, in Paris, France, right?" Phoebe asked, looking up at Cole. Cole nodded at her.
"Well, then...Leo!" Phoebe suddenly yelled.
"What are you doing?!" Cole exclaimed in alarm when he saw a few passer-bys looked in their direction.
"What? I was just calling Leo...oh," Phoebe said, when she looked around. She had completely forgotten that there were other people besides Cole and herself.
"I thought since Leo wasn't your Whitelighter here, he couldn't hear you," Cole stated, still a little agitated due to her slip up.
"Well, if he's near, then he could hear us. That's what happened before when Piper had gotten sick," Phoebe informed Cole.
"Ah, I see," Cole said, nodding his head.
"So, what may I ask are you doing here? And who's this?" someone said behind them. Phoebe and Cole swiveled around, to find the source of the voice. They found Leo, standing behind them, his arms crossed over his chest, waiting for an explanation from Phoebe.
"Oh, hey Leo, I was wondering when you'd show up," Phoebe said, seeing him.
"It's nice to see you too, but what, may I ask again, are you doing here, and who is this guy?" Leo asked, jerking his head toward Cole.
"Well, this is Cole, Cole, past AR Leo, AR Leo, Cole, my...ex-husband," Phoebe said, uncertainly. She may as tell him, he is after all their Whitelighter, and he wouldn't tell if it would endanger them.
Leo looked stunned when Phoebe had said that this guy was her husband. Then something occurred to him.
"Ex?" AR Leo asked surprised that Phoebe would actually marry anyone.
"Yes, ex-husband," Phoebe answered, seeing the look on his face she added, "long story."
"Ah, would you please answer my first question now?" AR Leo asked.
"Okay, well, hmm...where should I start this? Cole, a little help please?" Phoebe said turning to him.
"Oh, fine. Well here's the thing, you are supposed to be with Piper right now, and Brad isn't even supposed to be with Phoebe," Cole said, being as blunt as possible.
"I don't think it's any of your business what is going on between Piper and Dan. Who's Brad?" AR Leo asked, looking from Phoebe to Cole. Phoebe was about to answer, but Cole cut in.
"He's the Halliwell's new Whitelighter. What, didn't you know?" Cole asked, looking at AR Leo quizzically.
"What new Whitelighter, and how do you know about Whitelighters?" AR Leo asked suspiciously, looking again at Phoebe.
"Oh, that doesn't really matter at the moment," Cole said, dismissing Leo's question with a wave of his hand.
"What does matter, is the fact that this reality is screwed up, and you need to be with Piper at the moment," Cole said, his aggravation showing through.
"Reality? What...what are you bloody talking about? Phoebe, is this...Cole person sane?" AR Leo said, turning from Cole to Phoebe.
"Yes, of course he's sane," Phoebe said, suppressing her smile. Cole looked at her, and frowned at her.
This is not the time, Cole thought to her, so that AR Leo couldn't hear.
"Oh, fine," Phoebe answered, forgetting that he had spoke to her via telepathy.
AR Leo looked at Phoebe confused. It seemed as though Phoebe had answered a question that Cole had asked, but he hadn't heard anything.
"Are you a witch?" AR Leo asked tentatively. Cole scoffed at the thought.
"A witch? Please. I'm not a witch, and I'm much more powerful than an average witch," Cole said, his voice showing that Leo's comment was absurd.
"If you're not a witch, than what are you?" AR Leo asked, backing up a few steps, looking worriedly at Phoebe, wondering if she was safe.
"Oh, I'm a demon. Well, technically, a human with demonic powers," Cole corrected. Wondering exactly what he was at the moment.
'Oh, it's not time for that now!' Cole thought to himself, silently chastising himself for philosophizing now.
"A demon? Phoebe, take my hand," AR Leo said, urgently, not taking his eyes off of Cole. When Phoebe didn't come, he glanced at her.
"Phoebe," AR Leo hissed at her.
"Calm down Leo, he isn't going to hurt me or you. Leo, can we speak to you somewhere so that we can explain this?" Phoebe asked, getting a migraine.
Leo nodded hesitantly, still eyeing Cole warily. Cole simply shrugged and turned to walk to a nicer setting that was still secluded. Phoebe followed him, and AR Leo followed close behind.
At the manor (at night)...
"Hey you guys, have you seen Brad?" AR Phoebe asked her sisters while jumping and skipping her way to the dining room table.
"Uh, no Phoebe, he hasn't come in yet from when he orbed out," Piper answered her, setting her plate down.
"Thanks Piper," Phoebe said, when she sat down and began to eat her breakfast.
"So...how is everything going with you and Brad?" Prue asked, looking at her baby sister, then glancing to Piper quickly, before she could notice.
"Everything's going great. Hold on, why?" Phoebe added suspiciously, looking at her older sister.
"Oh, nothing, nothing," Prue said, suppressing a smile. Her eyes darted back to Piper, who wasn't really paying attention. Phoebe's eyes lit up in understanding, and nodded slightly, showing that she understood.
"So, has anyone heard from Leo?" Phoebe asked out of the blue. She grinned as Prue gave her one of her famous death glares, and Piper looked at the two shocked.
Before anyone could answer her, or yell at her, the familiar light of an orb appeared, and Brad appeared.
"Brad!" Phoebe said in excitement, as she jumped up and gave him a soft on his lips. Brad smirked inwardly, just wishing that Cole could see this. The look on his face would be priceless.
"So, what did the Elders have to say?" Piper asked, still irritated at her sisters and the whole Leo thing.
"Oh, nothing really. Just wanted a report," Brad said. Well, it wasn't a complete lie. Scier did want a report.
"Will you be able to stay here tonight? Or do you have to go?" AR Phoebe asked, looking up at Brad. He just had to smile, at least a little bit. To have her like this without Cole interfering was too good to pass up.
"I can stay here tonight, if you wanted," Brad said, looking around at the sisters.
"Oh, sure of course you can. You don't mind using the couch do you?" Prue asked innocently at Brad.
Brad grimaced at having to use the couch, he would much rather sleep in more...comfortable places.
"No, I don't mind," Brad said, sighing quietly. 'At least I have her here. Oh, how much I wish that Cole were here right now.'
The sisters and Brad were leaving to get ready for sleep, when all of a sudden Cole blurred in.
"Surprise."
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All right, you have the right to just scream your head off at me if you're still reading this. I know I haven't updated this, it's just that I've gotten this major writer's block. Not only on this story but on the other ones I've been working on. So, don't be surprised if these updates are few and far between. But don't lose hope guys, I'll keep beating at this annoying writer's block, and try to come up with the goods sooner or later. Thanks for all of you who have been diligently waiting for the upcoming chapters of this story and others. So, thanks, really, and drop me a line when you're done reading. ^_^