Eternal flame

Chapter 15 - The labor

Three months passed and Phoebe was now in the 8th month of pregnancy. Both, Cole and Jason were still living in the Manor, and that was driving her crazy. She was still trying not to be in the same room with Jason, she was afraid for her babies, too. Cole was just passing by, but it was still like he was living there. Phoebe was hoping she'd move on after she gives birth, and that was only a month away. The only problem was that the more time passed, she loved Cole more and more. It was driving her crazy. Instead of forgetting about him and start thinking about divorce, she was falling for him deeper and deeper. Cole shimmered in the living room, where he saw Piper. "Piper, help me." he managed to say and than he shimmered away again.

Piper heard that and than realized that Cole asked her to help him. As much as she could see, he was wounded at many places. "What the hell is happening to Cole?" Piper whispered. "He is wounded and obviously on the run? How can I help him?"

Than Cole shimmered in again, but this time, unconscious. "Oh, my God!" she yelled and ran to her brother-in-law. "Phoebe is so gonna have a nervous breakdown." she thought. Than Cole shivered for a moment and started burning. She quickly stepped away. In just a few seconds, Cole exploded and there was nothing left.

Paige was standing at the door, stunned. "Did he just... explode?" Paige asked her older sister. "Yes, I think so." Piper replied. "Paige, I'm afraid he might be... you know... dead."

"Me too." Paige whispered. "But, we mustn't tell Phoebe. She'll die if she finds out. You know that they didn't get along very well lately. She was really rough to him, and you know she loves him."

"I couldn't do anything, he just... exploded." Piper quickly said when the sense of guilt started to flow over her body. "Could I?"

"No, don't feel guilty. It really wasn't your fault. You didn't even have a chance to save him." Paige explained.

"What are we going to tell Phoebe, Paige?" Piper whispered worriedly.

"I don't know." Paige whispered back.

---

"Uh... Phoebe." Piper walked into her sister's room. "Cole stopped by to tell us that... Well, he won't be coming in the Manor now... or ever again. He decided to leave for good."

"What?" Phoebe yelled, but than realized that her sister is lying. "He would never do that, Piper. He said he'll always stop by to see his sons. Besides, if he really decided that, he would defiantly come to say goodbye to me." she explained. "What are you hiding? What's wrong with Cole?"

"Nothing's wrong." Piper said, too quickly. Phoebe gazed at her, but she avoided her gaze. "What makes you think something's wrong?"

"That lie you just said and your I-am-pretending-not-to-be-nervous attitude." Phoebe replied. "What happened to Cole, Piper?"

"Well... uh... Phoebe... Look, don't shock, remember that you have anemia that causes premature birth. Uh... Cole's dead." she said, and continued before Phoebe had time to react. "He is vanquished. He begged me to help him, but I never had a time. He just burst into flames and... Exploded."

"WHAT?" Phoebe yelled. She suddenly felt very strong contraction and screamed.

"Oh, my God!" Piper screamed. "I think you'll give a birth. Leo!" she yelled, but he didn't orb in. "Leo, if you don't get that ass of yours right here is three freakin' seconds, I swear that I'll..." she was cut up when Leo shimmered in. "Get her to the hospital!" she demanded."NOW!"

---

"Okay, Mrs. Halliwell, try to relax and breath." doctor Peterson said. "Take a deep breath... That's it. Now, do it again... Very good." he said, trying to cal Phoebe down. "Is everything ready?" he asked the other doctors.

"Yes, doctor." one of the doctors replied. "We're ready."

"Okay." Doctor Peterson nodded and turned to Phoebe. "Now, you'll have to push really hard when I give you a sign, okay?" Phoebe nodded. "Let's go on three. One... two... three." he announced and Phoebe screamed painfully. "That was very good." he said. "Now, you'll have to do it again, okay? On three again. One... two... three!" Phoebe screamed again. One of the doctors took a little baby in this hand. "Look, Mrs. Halliwell." Doctor Peterson pointed at the baby. "That's your son. But, since you're having twins, you'll have to push twice more, okay?" he asked, and Phoebe nodded, but now with a big smile. "One... two... three!" Phoebe pushed and suddenly fainted.

"She fainted!" one of the Doctors panickly yelled. "Shall we...?"

"No, we have to wait for 30 seconds." Doctor Peterson said, looking nervously at the clock.

But, before even five seconds passed, Phoebe woke up. "Thank God!" he whispered. "Don't leave us now, Mrs. Halliwell. Only once more. You can do it. For your other son."

"Okay." Phoebe whispered with a raspy voice.

"Just one more time." Doctor Peterson repeated. "Okay... Ready? On my sign. One... Two... Three!" before even two seconds passed everything was over. Phoebe fell back on the pillows. She was completely exhausted. "That's it! Congratulations! This is a girl." he said. "You have a son and a daughter now."

"My God, I've never seen so little baby in my whole life, doctor." the Doctor who was holding Phoebe's girl said to Doctor Peterson.

"Well, the woman just reached the 8th month. She was supposed to give birth in about two months from now. Put the babied in the incubator. She is anemic, you know." he explained. He turned around and saw Phoebe who was sleeping now. He smiled and took off his gloves and went to the waiting room, where her sisters and her brother-in-law ran to him.

"How is she, Doctor?" Piper yelled worriedly.

"She is exhausted. Sleeping." the Doctor smiled. "But the important thing is that you have a sister, a nephew and a niece."

"Really?" Paige screamed happily.

"Thank God." Piper sighed. "So, they're all fine and healthy?"

"Probably. But, the babies will have to stay in the incubator for few days. This was a premature birth. The babies weren't supposed to leave their mother's stomach yet, but since they did, we have to take a good care of them."

"I thought they were both boys." Prue remembered.

"Yes, you did. All of you thought that they are boys. I never said it, though."

"How was the birth?" Piper asked.

"Hard." Doctor replied. "Your sister had to go through something really painful because of her anemia. The birth at the time would be much easier. Anyway, after giving birth to her son, who is 53 second older than a daughter, she fainted. It almost came to a cesarean section, but she woke up in the last moment."

"Can we see her?" Leo asked. "And the kids?" he added.

"It wouldn't be recommendable for you to come near the incubator right now. But, you can see Mrs. Halliwell. Like I said, she is sleeping. But, can you tell me one thing?"

"What?" Leo answered.

"This premature birth was provoked by something. What was it?"

"Uh..." Piper looked down. "You see, her husband had an accident."

"An accident?" Doctor looked. "Well, is he in here? At the hospital?"

"N... No, he... it isn't that serious." Piper lied. "He remained at home. He just has to rest, that's all."

"Oh, okay. Well, follow me." Doctor said and they walked 'till they reached the hall. "Your sister's room is the third one on the right." he showed them. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to visit few more patients."

"Of course, go." Prue agreed. "We got no problem with that."

They walked in Phoebe's room and saw her sweaty head stuck in the pillows. "Poor Pheebs." Piper said. "She could die today... and Cole died. Her kids have to stay in incubator."

"I wonder what happened to Cole." Paige said. "I mean, last time I checked, he was invincible."

"But he died, Paige." Piper whispered guiltily.

"How?" Paige asked.

"No one knows." Piper answered.

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Hey, people, this is short chapter again, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry, I wanted to make it longer, but it's 5:10 A.M. and I'm tired. I just want to sleep. Sorry. Oh, and please review!