Last chapter, edited as best I can but if I've missed anything please tell me. I left room for a sequel/sequels if any new ideas come to me. The story ended up being a little shorter than I had originally imagined, but oh well. Please review!

Chapter Five-In a Disused Graveyard

Phoebe cautiously opened the door to the manor, dreading the questions her sisters would surely ask. Paige, thankfully, was no where to be seen, but Piper was cleaning the living room and looked up as Phoebe entered.

"Hey stranger," Piper said, her tone noticeably warmer than what Phoebe had expected.

"I'm sorry I didn't call," Phoebe apologized, "I guess I had a lot on my mind."

It was the understatement of the century; her head was still reeling from the events of the past 24 hours. Piper nodded.

"Where's Paige?" Phoebe asked nervously.

"With her charges," Piper replied, "I suggested she focus on work for awhile, let go of some steam."

Phoebe gave Piper a grateful look. She didn't think she could deal with her little sister right now.

"I just wanted you to know," Piper said, putting down the couch cushion she'd been holding and turning to face her sister," That I'm willing to give Cole another chance, if that's what you want."

Phoebe's jaw dropped to the floor, wondering what could have caused this change of heart. She nearly ran to Piper, hugging her tightly.

"It is," Phoebe said simply, feeling a wave of certainty pass over her. Everything that had been holding her back seemed to vanish at that moment, as soon as she knew her big sister was behind her.

"When both love and destiny are on your side it's pretty hard to object," Piper explained, referring to Destiny's messenger and Cupid, who had combined their power to bring Cole back, "And I think Paige could come around eventually."

Phoebe hugged Piper again before turning to go upstairs. Then she froze. Sitting on the table was her purse, the one she had left at Jake's. Piper followed her gaze and explained, "He dropped it off earlier, and he seemed pretty upset. Have you told him about Cole already?"

Phoebe shook her head. She was thankful she hadn't been home; she wasn't ready to face her former fiancé. Piper could tell from the look on her face that she didn't want to talk about it, and so she let Phoebe go upstairs without further question.

Phoebe took a deep breath and pushed thoughts of Jake out of her mind, trying to focus instead on what to wear on her date.

An hour and a half later Piper opened the door to welcome Cole in, an action which took Cole completely by surprise. Paige still hadn't returned home.

"Come in, Phoebe will be down in a minute," Piper said, acting as though everything were perfectly normal.

"Thank you," Cole said awkwardly, entering the home that held so many memories for him, both good and bad. At that point Phoebe appeared at the top of the stairs and started slowly to walk down. The white halter dress that she was wearing fit her perfectly, and her smile seemed so amplify the perfection a million times over. It took Cole's breath away.

"You look amazing," he said as she approached. She thanked him, suddenly reminded of how wonderful he looked in a suit.

"You're not so bad yourself," she replied as he opened the door for her. Piper watched the scene, smiling to herself.

"Oh, and if you need me I'll be at the club," Piper said to Phoebe right before she left. Phoebe nodded, but all her focus was still on Cole.

"We'd better get going if we want to make our reservations at Chateau Sicilian," Cole said, guiding her out to the drive way. It was one of the best restaurants in the city, and her personal favorite. She gasped when she saw the Porsche in the driveway.

"Is that…but how did you," she stuttered, impressed despite herself.

"I'm a man with impeccable taste," he replied with a mischievous grin, "And with all that time to waste today I had to do something."

"You bought it?" she asked, although she already knew the answer. He could never refuse expensive things.

"I would never expect you to ride in anything else," he said, helping her in. She rolled her eyes, but he knew she liked it.

At the restaurant everything was perfect, the candles, the flowers, the food, and most importantly her date. She just couldn't stop smiling, laughing, staring into his eyes. The only one happier than her was Cole, though he wasn't quite as obvious. An hour flew by like a second, and before they knew it they were walking out into the parking lot. Cole went to get the car, and Phoebe waited by the door, staring up at the sky. That was when her world came crashing down. She didn't notice him coming toward her until he was only a few steps away. Jake.

"You know what," he said angrily, "I came to apologize, but it looks like I was right all along."

She didn't know what to do; she was paralyzed with fear.

"You're nothing but a whore," he spat, "And to think I loved you."

"You loved me huh?" she replied, something in her snapping, "Well you certainly had a funny way of showing it."

Cole pulled up just in time to see him smack Phoebe across the face. With in an instant Cole had him pinned against the wall by his neck. When he saw Phoebe was crying he tightened his grip.

"Let me go you bastard," Jake choked out, "She's my fiancée and I'll deal with her however I want."

Cole punched Jake, savoring the crunch as his jaw shattered. Jake yowled in pain and Cole hit him again. Cole began to break his ribs one by one, white hot rage consuming him, and he was halfway done before he felt Phoebe's hand on his shoulder pulling him back. He forced himself to regain control.

"If you ever hurt her again," Cole growled, fighting the impulse to snap Jakes spine as he released his grip and let Jake tumble to the floor, "I will kill you."

Phoebe led Cole to the car, tears still running down her cheeks. Cole gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white, staring straight ahead.

"Thank you," Phoebe said, breaking the silence in the parked car.

"You mean you're not mad at me?" he asked, disbelieving. He had lost control, he had almost killed someone, he though he had just ruined his last chance.

"For saving me?" she answered softly, placing her hand in his, "Of course not."

She managed a weak smile and he leaned over to wipe the tears off her face. How could anyone hurt her?

"Don't take me home," she said as they pulled out of the lot, "Not yet…"

He nodded, and they drove around the city, mostly absorbed in their own thoughts. Suddenly she told him to stop, and he pulled over next to an oddly familiar graveyard.

He knew, almost instinctively, why they had stopped. They got out of the car and began walking a familiar path into the heart of the cemetery, finally descending the stone steps into the mausoleum. Phoebe walked to one of the corners, bending down and running her hand over a patch of cement more recent that the rest. She knew it was covering a scorched crater in the floor. Cole followed her, and pulled her into his arms.

"Everything that's happened since then…" she said, her quiet voice still echoing slightly against the stone walls, "Where did we go wrong?"

"That's all over now," he replied, allowing a moment of silence, "Let's go home."

It was only later that he realized he'd called the manor home, and he had meant it. It was the only real, loving home that he had ever known.

She took one last look at the mausoleum floor, wondering what had driven her there. Maybe this was goodbye, goodbye to the past.

When they got to the manor Cole walked up into the porch with her.

"So much for our wonderful start," Phoebe said with an ironic laugh. Cole bent down and swept her off her feet, carrying her towards the door. He stopped briefly in the doorway, looking down at her.

"I know you wanted to go slow this time," he said, "And if you don't want…"

"We've waited long enough," she replied as she leaned up and kissed him. She'd never meant anything more sincerely in her life.