Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, don't sue me.
A/N: I'm glad so many people are reading and enjoying this story. Thank you again to those who reviewed. Don't underestimate how much incentive a good review can provide. . .
"Phoebe?" Paige exclaimed, "Are you even listening to me?"
"What?" Phoebe glanced up at her younger sister. "Sorry?"
"Never mind." Paige said, her eyes meeting Piper's. Piper stepped out from behind the kitchen counter and sat down beside Phoebe at the dining table.
"What's going on?" Piper asked. Phoebe met her gaze, before turning to glance at Paige across the table.
"I don't think you two need to ask." She said simply.
"Ahh." Paige said, leaning back in her chair. "Cole."
"I am that transparent." Phoebe muttered to herself.
"What did the home wrecker do this time?" Piper questioned with a half smile.
Phoebe hesitated before speaking. "You guys. . .you don't particularly like Jason, right?"
"Umm. . ." Paige let out, unsure of how to continue.
"It's not that we don't like him. . ." Piper said, before pausing. "Where is this coming from?" She said instead.
Phoebe let out a slow breath. "Cole said something last night. . .something that I haven't been able to get out of my head."
Piper lay a hand on Phoebe's arm. "What did he say?" She said, a trace of anger slipping into her tone.
"It wasn't like that, Piper." Phoebe said, bringing both hands to cover her face. Moments later she let them drop to her side. "What he said. . .it wouldn't have bothered me. . .except for that. . ." She hesitated.
"It struck home?" Paige offered. Phoebe glanced at her.
"He said that the only reason I'm with Jason is because he's safe." She said softly. "That I'm not as happy with him as I could be with someone else."
"Look, Phoebe. . .Cole. . .he's inclined to say stuff like that. Ex's don't take to the new beau's so well. . .it's a fact." Piper said, throwing a glance at Paige.
"Piper's right. Maybe this is just one of Cole's attempts to--" Paige began.
"Win me back?" Phoebe questioned. She shook her head. "I don't believe that any more than you do." She said, looking from one sister to the other. "What do you really think. . .is there any truth in what he said?"
Piper met Paige's gaze, before she spoke reluctantly. "I'm not a fan of Cole. Or of Jason, for that matter. But with Jason. . ." She paused, looking at Paige for some assistance.
"In short, you smile less, Phoebs. . ." Paige added. "Cole may not be our favourite person in the world. . .but if we're being honest, as much as we hate to admit it. . .you were the happiest when you were with him."
Phoebe let out a breath of exasperation, before pushing back her chair and walking away. She turned back to face them, her fists clenched. "I hate that he can just come into my life and effect it so drastically without even having to. . ." She broke off. "I wish he didn't affect me so much."
"Believe me, so do we." Piper said with a half smile.
"Hey." The three sisters spun around to face Cole, who had just entered the room. He glanced at them, feeling slightly uncomfortable, before turning to face Phoebe. "Can we talk?"
"No." Phoebe said, striding past him into the foyer. Piper and Paige smirked at Cole, and he frowned slightly, before spinning around and following her.
"Phoebe!" He called, hurriedly walking after her.
"Just leave me alone, Cole." Phoebe burst out, jogging up the stairs and locking herself inside her room.
"I can't do that, Phoebe." Cole said, reaching her door. He rapped on the wooded surface lightly. "Come on, Phoebe. Let me in." Silence. He sighed. She wouldn't like it. And he was guaranteed to face her wrath if he did it. But Cole figured that the need to sort things out between the two of them took first preference. Hesitating for a moment, he shimmered into her room, only to be smacked in the face with a pillow.
"How did I guess you were going to do that?" Phoebe questioned, standing on the opposite side of her bed, her hands on her hips. Cole smiled wryly.
"You know me so well?" He offered with a shrug. Phoebe's frown deepened, and his smile vanished as he realised he better get to the point. Taking in a deep breath, he spoke, "I'm not sorry about last night."
"Oh, gee, Cole. . .that apology just makes me melt inside." She retorted sarcastically.
"Don't do this." Cole warned, walking around the bed towards her.
"What's that?" She questioned, standing her ground as he approached.
"Don't pretend that there wasn't any truth in what I said." Cole said, stopping a metre away from her. "I've been thinking about what you said yesterday, about me only saying what I did because I wanted you back. That wasn't true. . .I said what I did because it's what I truly believe. As for wanting you back. . ." He paused. "I can't deny that I. . ." He broke off.
"What?" Phoebe said, surprised that the bitterness she had been expecting in her own voice sounded vaguely like eager curiosity.
"I feel it, Phoebe. It's been missing for months. . .but ever since I saw you. . ."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Phoebe said, turning away. He caught her arm gently, taking another step towards her, so they were barely a foot apart.
"I think you do." He said softly. "The tension whenever we're near each other. . .the sparks whenever we touch. . ." He grazed his hand against her cheek, and a breath caught in her throat.
"Cole. . ." She began, unable to pull away.
"I know you feel it." He whispered, barely audible to her ears. But she could feel his breath on her lips, and she felt herself melting into his familiar caress. He pulled back abruptly, and Phoebe, her eyes flying open, felt like she had been dunked into a pool of iced water. "But then again, maybe you don't know what I'm talking about."
Though embarrassed, Phoebe couldn't bring herself to look away. And as she tried to glare into his eyes, she didn't see the ridicule that she expected. There was no amusement. He was hurt. The look in his eyes was unmistakable pain. He started to shimmer out of the room, and Phoebe impulsively grabbed his hand. He faded back in, confusion lining his face as he gazed at her. She wasn't sure what she was thinking, except that it felt natural to lean in closer to him. To caress his jaw softly, before kissing him gently on the lips. He reciprocated after an initial moment of shock, his hands snaking around her waste, pulling her closer to him, as he deepened the kiss.
It was amazing, Phoebe thought, how she could ever have thought anyone compared to this. And she knew it was impossible to get over this as easily as she thought she had done. Not this.
A sudden knock at the door caused them to pull apart abruptly, as Piper's voice called out. "Phoebe! Attic, Now." Her footsteps disappeared towards the attic. Phoebe's initial thought was that Piper somehow knew that Cole was in her room, and had somehow found out what had happened. But that wasn't it. Piper's voice had an ounce of distress in it, and Phoebe immediately made her way to the door. She stopped to face Cole.
"Are you coming?" She asked. She couldn't read the look he gave her, but he stepped forward all the same.
"Right behind you." He said, following her as she hurriedly made her way to the attic. As soon as she entered she knew something was wrong. Piper, Paige and Leo all looked slightly sombre.
"What?" Phoebe questioned. "What happened?"
"It happened a lot sooner than we anticipated." Leo said.
"What?" Cole asked, his curiosity matching Phoebe's.
"Ronan did it. He killed him. . ." Leo added.
"Who. . .?" Phoebe began, but realised as soon as the word left her mouth. It had taken them years to figure out how to kill him. Time and resources. Ronan had done it in only a matter of days.
"The Source." She heard Cole mutter behind her.
And we finally reach the non-romance part of the story. Hope it was half-enjoyable. Please review, give me your thoughts. Guaranteed, they'll be much appreciated.