Disclaimer: See First Chapter.
Author's Note: Hi! Thanks for all the reviews! This is a short chapter. I'll try to post more soon.
Thank you to all who reviewd.
Goldstranger: Oh good, that's what I was going for - tense, but not necessarily totally hostile. Although, later when Paige gets added to the mix you can expect some hostility...
Icantthinkofafnick: lol, I don't think Chris will show up here. I wouldn't be able to give him the attention he's used to, so he'll probably refuse an invitation (hehe) Anyway, during the Cole-is-the-source-season I wasn't watching every week, so I'm not completely sure, but I do know that they do vanquish him at least twice and that Paige was on a mission to find out how to kill him. About him and Phoebe getting back together... well... keep reading ;)
Ballad of the Odd: Here's more!
RakeTheSky: Thanks for the reminder. I actually did remember that and have a scene in my head that deals very specifically with that. (hehe - a yelling scene -hehe) )
Trina-K: I'm sorry, hun! I'll try to remember to post spoiler warnings. This one has no spoilers.
Lovey4758: Me too. Cole wasn't necessarily my favorite character. I never had a favorite character until Chris, but I really likes his storyline and I felt that they just handled it badly. They spent to much time making him "good" and then he was suddenly so "bad" he had to be vanquished.
Sehar: He're 4!
Hope you all like it.
PLEASE REVIEW!
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They'd called Paige home as soon as he'd left. Eyes wide she'd asked them to repeat the story three times… just to make sure she understood clearly.
Repeating it hadn't helped much, it was still too unbelievable to understand.
"Cole's alive?"
She'd asked seven times.
Phoebe had burst into tears the second time she'd asked, "You're sure you have a daughter?" So that line of questioning had been cut short.
They'd comforted her, as best they could, telling her that everything would be okay. Reminding her that Tessa loved her, that they knew about her now, that they'd never let her go.
Still though, the shell-shocked atmosphere didn't fade. The boys were kept in constant line of sight because of what Phoebe had felt earlier and Leo decided that maybe it would be a good idea for him to stay home.
At about nine, Piper started making hot chocolate for everyone and Paige conjured a plate of Danishes.
No one said anything about personal gain.
They were in the living room, the tv off, the blinds shut, the lights rather dim. Each had a mug in their hand, the plate of Danish's sat on the coffee table, Wyatt was curled on his side, sound asleep, his head on Piper's lap. Chris was reveling in the quiet attention of his Aunt Paige and Father.
Phoebe was staring off into space.
The minutes ticked by and still no one made a move to leave the comfortable, domestic scene. It wasn't just Phoebe's old ghost's that had been resurrected, it was their entire past.
Memories washed over them all without relenting, and there was comfort from knowing that they were all together.
Phoebe sighed softly occasionally, and sometimes Piper dabbed at her eyes, other times Leo's gaze on the smiling Chris became intense, or Paige kept her lips on his little cheek just a moment longer than necessary for a kiss.
It was a bittersweet evening, that was interrupted much too abruptly.
Everyone's head shot up as a brilliant array of dots appeared in the living room. They formed into Cole, dressed in sweat pants and nothing else; in his arms, swaddled in blankets and clad in power puff girl's pajamas was a sobbing Tessa.
Phoebe shot off the sofa, "Oh god, what happened?"
She asked rushing over to tem.
He glared at her, his dark eyes burning with anger, "You." He said harshly, through clenched teeth. "You. Happened." His eyes swept over everyone in the living room, "This family happened."
There was something almost akin to hate in his eyes, even though his voice was kept relatively low, "Four years I keep my daughter safe. One day of association with you and we get ambushed!"
He took a step towards her, than looked down at his daughter; again she saw how his features changed whenever he looked at her, "Tess I need you to stay here for a little while." The child whimpered, and shook her head.
Phoebe felt a stab of hurt slice through her, then promptly squelched it. Time would change things.
"You have to baby, you'll be safe here…" he looked up and glared a warning at Phoebe, than transferred a gentle look to his daughter, "I'll be back later, I promise…"
With that he, he leaned over and deposited the bundle in Phoebe's arms. Tessa whimpered, "Daddy…" but Cole said nothing, he just stepped back.
Revealing that he had three claw-like gashes on the front of his chest. They were no longer bleeding, but they looked harsh and angry and made Phoebe gasp.
But he said nothing more and in the same swirl of dots he'd appeared, he disappeared.
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