Part Two

"I'm sorry, Dad." Phoebe blew her nose into the tissue he'd handed her. "Not exactly the way I'd planned on spending lunch with you."

"I'm here with my daughter, that's all I care about," he assured her. "Now talk to me."

"There's nothing to talk about," she insisted as she wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. "Leo's back, for good. Drake's gone, for good and C -- and life goes on."

Deliberately not picking on the aborted mention of his former son-in-law, he said, "But it won't be the same, certainly not with Leo being human. If I recall correctly, weren't his wing clipped once before?"

"It's permanent this time," she declared.

"Wasn't it permanent then too? What if the Elders change their minds again?" Victor worried. "If they were so desperate that they had to trick him, maybe --"

"They didn't trick him exactly," she patiently interrupted, "they just didn't play fair. But don't worry, Dad, Leo's fine and so is Piper and they'll adjust and overcome any problems because they're destined to be and I think the Elders finally get it. Of course, they could always offer some sort of compromise but I'm not sure they're ready for that yet."

"So you do think Piper and Leo will have problems…"

"Not the way you think. It was hard for Leo that first time," she explained. "Magic was a part of him for decades and to suddenly be without it…It's not a simple adjustment, especially when you're involved with our family. But they love each other and this's what they both want so they'll make it work."

This time, he took advantage of the opportunity and asked, "Isn't that what you told me about you and Cole?"

Phoebe's breath caught in her throat at the mention of his name but ignored the comment. "Piper and Leo will be fine. I told you, they're destined to be together. Their love is so powerful and will endure anything."

Refusing to let the matter slide, he quietly commented, "As opposed to yours."

She was silent a moment before standing, "I'd better get back to work."

"You'll have love again," he promised, "just like Piper. Don't give up on it, on your future."

With her eyes downcast, she shook her head, "I know what my future holds, Dad. I'll be alone, a sad lonely old woman."

"You can't believe that," he gasped.

"I've seen it."

"You've seen other futures that didn't, that won't, come true," he countered.

She turned from him, "I've gotta go."

"You've gotta sit down, young lady," he ordered, tugging on her elbow, "and that's not a request."

Phoebe grudgingly sat down next to him. "What do you want me to say?"

"I want you to tell me where that load of crap is coming from."

Surprised by his anger, she looked at him in confusion, "It's reality, Dad. Our whole line is filled with witch after witch who was single either by choice or by death or by disappointment. Not one had a happily ever after. That's something for fairy tales and TV shows and I never should've dreamed of it."

"I know you've been hurt and disappointed in life," he acknowledged, "and I know you've lived nightmares I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, but you can't tell me you haven't found happiness or love."

"Of course I have," she quickly clarified, "but it never lasted. It's time I accepted the truth. Except for Piper, it's just not meant to be."

"They ought to fire you," he chastised.

"What?"

He pointed his finger at her, "They're paying you good money to give advice that you're obviously making up because you don't believe it yourself."

"Look," she conceded, albeit with annoyance, "maybe Paige stands a better chance because her parents were happily married but me? Face it, Dad, I'm destined to be alone. Maybe I won't be a bitter old hag but I'll be alone just the same."

"I can't believe you're giving up on love," he exclaimed. "You were born to love, Phoebe, and born to receive it. Damn Cole for doing this to you!"

"It's not Cole," she quickly told him, hoping they weren't attracting any attention, "at least not completely. Don't you remember the cold feet I had when he first proposed? It's because I'd never imagined myself being married. Sure, I loved kids and wanted them in my life but I thought that meant being the absolutely best auntie in the world. I never expected to have my own."

"Phoebe…"

She held up her hand to stop him from speaking so that she could continue, "For me, having my own kids meant that I'd have to find that one special someone to share the rest of my life with and I never thought that would happen. Remember, Dad, love was something I wanted to avoid at all costs. Find a guy and have fun in a fling, sure, but to open myself to the risks of pain and heartache in a long-lasting relationship? Not a chance."

"But you did. You found love and opened your heart and I know you were hurt but you can't give up on love now," he argued. "Your life would mean nothing without it. Love is everything, Phoebe."

"It makes the world go round?" she chuckled sadly. "You sound like Drake."

"Maybe the demon knew what he was talking about," he said, surprising himself for actually defending a demon he'd never met.

"Drake meant well," she sighed, "and maybe if we'd met sooner, we'd -- See, it just proves my point. I'm pretty sure he was in love with me, I mean he didn't say it but I could feel it, even without my power, and --"

"Did you love him?" He was taken aback by her silence. "Phoebe?"

"I cared about him," she confessed, "so much that I ache when I realize he's not gonna burst into the room singing some old song and I miss him even more than I thought I would but I'm not sure I was head over heels in love with him. Maybe if we'd had more time…"

Victor caressed her cheek, "I'm sorry, sweetheart. But maybe all this is coming from his death. You're still mourning him and what might've been and --"

"That's not it," she interrupted. "It's love, plain and simple. I tried to help Drake, I wanted to do more research and find a way to save him but he kept refusing. If he loved me and if he believed in love being so all-powerful, why would he do that? Why would he give up? Why shouldn't I?"

"If for no other reason than he asked you not to," he stated. "I'm guessing it was important to him."

"I just wish I could figure out what he'd been hiding," she murmured, lost in thought. "He was pretty vague about answering me and --"

A gunshot interrupted her and both Phoebe and her father were startled into standing positions.

Victor grabbed Phoebe's arm, "Don't even think about it."

She gently removed his hand, "I've gotta help."

"That's why there're foot patrols, Phoebe," he insisted. "Leave it to the professionals."

"I am a professional, Dad," she smiled before kissing his cheek and running off in the direction of the shot. "Stay here."

"Be careful," he prayed in a whisper. He watched her disappear behind a grove of trees but a feeling of dread was growing stronger and he decided to ignore her warning and go after her. He hadn't gone far when another shot rang out and he froze. "Phoebe…"

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In the solarium, Leo watched Wyatt playing with the colorful blocks. He called out to Piper who was still in the kitchen cleaning up Chris's lunch, "So we won't have to pay for those extra liquor bottles."

"We shouldn't have to since it was the driver's fault the original order shattered in transit." She entered carrying Chris who reached out for his father.

Leo gladly took Chris and Piper smiled at him, "This's gonna work, isn't it, Mr. Co-Manager?"

"I'm still not sure I want the title," he chuckled, "but I don't mind helping out at P3. It keeps me busy and I feel like I'm helping."

"Of course you're helping," she hugged him, squashing her son. She tickled him in return. "I couldn't do this without you, Leo. Besides, if nothing else, at least you're on-call to watch your sons if we have to run and fight evil."

He placed Chris in the playpen among the plush toys and added, "But we may have to consider buying another car."

"Why," she worried, "what's the matter with my car? You didn't have an accident, did you? Our insurance --"

"Nothing happened," he interrupted, "but I realized that when I'm using yours during the day, you're left without one."

She waved away his concern, "I'll use Paige's. Since she's been running the school, she's barely used her car. I'm sure she wouldn't mind."

"Speaking of Paige, how is she?" Leo asked as he led Piper to the wicker loveseat.

"Still worried about Phoebe," she sighed, leaning into his embrace.

"And you're not?" He gazed at her and realized she did seem more at peace these days. "Cole did more than convince you to call for me, didn't he?"

Piper sat close to him and thought for a minute before she answered softly, "I think I understand why Phoebe fell in love with him and why she was so devastated when he died." She caught the flash in his eyes and smiled, "You're cute when you're jealous." But she quickly continued to stop his protest, "But it's not like that. You're the only one living or dead that I'm in love with and want to spend the rest of my life with."

"Good," he muttered before accepting her remorseful kiss.

"I think the worst part is that he's still so much in love with her. I mean you should've heard him talk about her," she wistfully recalled. "Of course, he also really did screw things for her too," she sighed as she rested her head against Leo's shoulder. "She really hasn't found love again since Cole. I mean I know she loved Jason but it wasn't the same and she certainly wasn't in love with Leslie. Maybe if she'd've had more time with Drake…"

"So why aren't you as worried as Paige?"

"Because Phoebe will get past this," Piper honestly replied. "She's stronger than we tend to give her credit for. And now that I've told her about Cole's involvement, I think she can finally let him go in a way she couldn't before. It's just a bit of a double-whammy to deal with that and Drake's death at the same time."

"She cared about Drake," Leo nodded as he laced his fingers with his wife's, "more than she realized."

"She misses him," she agreed. "She misses them both and we just have to give her space."

Leo pulled her closer, practically into his lap, and they sat quietly for a while, content to watch their sons play. Until Leo's light caresses and kisses became infinitely friskier.

"Leo," she purred, "I swear your libido's gone into overdrive since you've become mortal."

"Complaining?" he murmured while nuzzling her neck.

"Not at all," she grinned, tilting her head to give him better access.

"Purely selfish on my part, of course," he admitted, between kisses along her neck. "Gotta have some way to burn off the calories from your cooking now that I can't orb anymore."

Piper sucked in her breath when her earlobe suddenly became his snack. "Leo…" She tried pushing him back with her elbow, "The boys…"

"Then we'd better go and be quick," he grinned, pushing her off his lap so he could stand.

"I don't want you quick," she retorted, refusing to let him budge her from the loveseat. She yanked his hand until he sat again next to her and she whispered in his ear, "I want you nice and slow."

"Piper…" he groaned as her fingers toyed with his belt buckle, "not nice to…tease…"

"Mama," Wyatt called out.

Kissing him lightly on the lips, she murmured, "Saved by Junior-Whitelighter."

Leo watched her join their son and admire his tall tower of blocks. As his heart rate returned to normal, Leo's breath was taken away when she turned back to him and smiled. Was it the way she glowed from the sun streaking through the stained glass windows? Or was it simply the love she felt for him? "I love you, Piper."

"Later," she promised and blew him a kiss.

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Victor ignored the chaos all around him and focused solely on his baby girl. The paramedics were on their way but it seemed that her life was slipping through his fingers. "Hang on, Phoebe," he ordered as tears stung his eyes.

"Daddy…" Phoebe could barely see him. Darkness ringed her vision and was growing.

"I'm here, baby, and I'm not going anywhere," he promised even as his hands were soaking with the blood he was trying to staunch from her stomach wound. "Do something!" he screamed at the nearby officer. "Don't let her die. You hear me, Phoebe, don't you die. Don't you die on me."

"I'm sorry, Daddy…" she weakly told him before everything went completely dark. But she felt herself pulled upright and held out her arms to stave off the dizziness. Slowly opening her eyes, she looked around and realized her body was lying on the ground and her father was quickly making room for the paramedics.

"So that's it then," she said, realizing no one could hear, "I'm dead. What now?" She looked to the heavens and called out, "Hello? Where's Death? I sorta expected him y'know, take me to the next world and all that, when my time came."

"Except it's not your time yet."

Phoebe spun and, if she could've actually felt her heart, she'd've found it pounding against her chest a mile a minute. "Cole…"

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