Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, don't sue me.
A/N: Thank you to all who reviewed. I hope that this next chapter keeps you interested, and hopefully, eagerly awaiting the next one.
Phoebe closed her bedroom door behind her. Her hair was only slightly damp, having just dried it after her shower. She sat down on the edge of her bed, her hands clasped. The rain was still beating down outside, harder than it had been earlier in the night when they had been standing under it. She thought back to that moment, trying to identify exactly what it was that she was feeling. Guilt, that was definitely present. After all, she had only broken up with Jason two days ago. There was a trace of annoyance - at herself, due to the fact that she had let her emotions overcome her conscience. And also, though she didn't want to admit it, fear – that any relationship that she tried to build with Cole would self-destruct, as it had done previously.
But beneath it all was a feeling that Phoebe could not easily identify. Warmth. Contentment. Rapture. No, not easy to recognize, but it's meaning was obvious. She had enjoyed being out there with Cole. No expectations. No secrets. No resentment.
A light rapping at her door interrupted her thoughts. It opened slightly, and Cole entered, holding a mug in one hand. He smiled. "I wasn't sure if you'd be coming back down after your shower. So I decided to come up." He said, handing her the mug. "Coffee, just the way you like it."
Phoebe smiled slightly, taking a sip. "Thanks." She said, placing the mug on her bedside table. "Cole, I"
"Phoebe. . ." Cole interrupted, smiling gently. "Tonight was amazing." He said simply. "Don't over think it."
She contemplated his statement. "You're right." Phoebe replied. "I just don't want you to get the wrong idea."
"What idea is that?" Cole questioned, sitting down beside her.
Phoebe paused, smiling. "I don't know." She said honestly. He smirked slightly.
"Here's the thing." He said, growing serious. "Tonight didn't hold any expectations. I want you to take your time in figuring out what it is that you feel." He reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently. "I'll be here when you do." He gave her a reassuring smile, before releasing her hand. "But, right now I better get back to my couch . . .before you get the wrong idea about why I'm up here." He started to stand, but Phoebe caught his arm.
"Stay with me tonight." She said softly. He hesitated, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Not to. . .do. . .anything." She said hurriedly, "I just don't want to be alone."
"Sure." He replied gently. He climbed onto the bed and sat back against the headboard, watching as Phoebe positioned herself the same way. She moved closer and leaned against him, and his arm automatically went around her, holding her near. She let out a slow breath, closing her eyes, revelling in the newfound warmth.
'I do still love you', she thought to herself, smiling at the revelation.
"What?" Cole questioned softly, leaning back slightly to look at her.
She opened her eyes and met his gaze, giving him a small smile. "I didn't say anything." She replied. It was too soon for new relationships. Too soon for new revelations.
Phoebe woke slowly from an unnaturally deep sleep. She allowed herself a deep sigh of contentment. No threatening dreams. No pressing premonitions. For the first time in weeks, she had experienced a night of undisturbed slumber. Her content was interrupted when she noted that her head was resting on something much harder than her pillow. When she realised that it was rising and falling slowly, her eyes flew open. Cole. She frowned, before remembering the night before. Of course, she had asked him to stay with her. As though sensing her increased distance from him, Cole stirred. His eyes opened slightly after a moment, and he blinked twice before they opened completely. A smile spread across his face.
"Good morning." He said, his voice slightly husky.
"Hey." Phoebe replied, allowing herself to return his smile. She realised with a start, that during the course of the night her legs had become entangled with his, and hurriedly reversed the predicament. Cole smirked.
"It's been a while since I've had a good night's sleep." He said, sitting up.
"Me too." Phoebe replied, running a hand through her hair self-consciously.
"Phoebe." Cole said, trying to catch her attention. She met his gaze and frowned at his amused expression. "You're still over thinking things." He said.
Phoebe allowed herself to smile at his comment, straightening her clothes and climbing off the bed. "I'm not sure that's something I can avoid." She said.
"It's not necessary." Cole replied, following suit. He walked around the bed towards her. "I'm to go downstairs and make us some breakfast."
She gazed at him. "I have to be at work in a couple of hours."
"Work?" He questioned. "I thought we had decided it wasn't safe."
"I know." Phoebe replied. "I just have some things that I need to do. Waiting for a demon to attack isn't good for my career." She caught his concerned look. "I'll be fine, I'll be back early, before it's even looking to get dark."
Cole relented. "Okay. . .but I'm still going to make you breakfast. If you're going to do the concerned dumper routine, you better do it with a full stomach." Phoebe caught his gaze, surprised. "What? You think I didn't know that's why you need to go to work?" He questioned.
"I thought I was being subtle." Phoebe said, smirking slightly.
"I suppose you would be, to someone who didn't know you half as well as I do." Cole replied. He gave her a half smile. "I'll see you downstairs."
Phoebe glanced at the clock on the wall. There was an hour before she normally left work, but she had let Elise know that she would be leaving early. She leaned over and switched off her computer, grabbing her coat off the back of her chair. Then as she exited the room, she made her way cautiously towards Jason's office. His door was slightly open, and she knocked lightly as she pushed it open.
"Hey. . ." She said softly. He glanced up from his desk, his expression unreadable. He didn't reply. "I just wanted to see how you're doing." She continued.
Jason met her gaze. "You come to me a couple of day after you dump me to find out how I am?" He questioned. "How do you think I am, Phoebe?" His voice grew louder, and Phoebe stepped into the office, closing the door behind her.
"I think you're hurting." Phoebe replied guiltily, choosing not to sit down. "But despite what you might think, Jason, I do care about you."
Jason gave her a sardonic smile. "I see. And tell me this, Phoebe, how long were you unhappy with our relationship?"
"Jason. . ." Phoebe said, rethinking her decision not to sit. She lowered herself in the chair in front of his desk. "I was never unhappy with our relationship."
"You just weren't satisfied." Jason said simply. He glanced away, and Phoebe noticed as his anger was replaced by pain. "And you're ex-husband. . .what makes you think that you and he. . ." He broke off.
"Cole?" Phoebe questioned gently. She contemplated her answer. "Have you ever had that feeling that. . ." She paused, "that you're meant to be with someone?"
Jason stared at her. "Soul mates?" He questioned, shaking his head. "I don't believe in soul mates."
Phoebe smiled gently. "I do." She replied softly. "You're an amazing guy, Jason." She said standing up. "One day you'll find someone who deserves you, and maybe you'll know what I'm talking about." She let her gaze drop, before lifting it to catch his eye. "I am sorry, Jason." She let the apology hang as she left his office.
As she made her way down through the building, she went over her words in her head. What she had said about Cole had been said in the moment. They weren't words she had been planning. And yet they rang true. Her and Cole did belong together. She had tried many times to disprove that fact, to no avail. Every path she had taken had led back to him. She smiled slightly. Maybe it was time she told him how she felt.
"Hey, how was work?" Piper asked, stirring the pot in front of her. She turned off the stove dial.
"Good." Phoebe replied, slightly impatient. "Where is everyone?" She asked, as subtly as she could manage.
"Paige is in the attic working on a spell." Piper replied. "Leo's got the boys at magic school." She added, wiping her hands on a tea towel.
"Oh." Phoebe said, nodding. "And Cole?"
Piper looked up, frowning. "What do you mean?"
Phoebe stared at her. "Where is he?" She might as well be direct.
Piper looked at her awkwardly. "I thought he was with you."
"Why would he be with me?" Phoebe questioned, her eagerness to talk to Cole quickly replaced by confusion.
"You called him a little while ago, told him to pick you up." Piper said, her frown growing more pronounced. "Don't you remember?"
"I didn't call him." Phoebe said simply.
"I answered the phone, Phoebe." Piper said. "It was you."
"I would know if it was me!" Phoebe burst out. She glanced away, several thoughts going through her mind at one time. Then the possibility occurred to her. "Ronan." She said simply. She met Piper's gaze. "With Leo out of the house, all he had to do was get Cole out of the way. . ."
Piper started to grow worried. "You really think it was him?" She asked.
"What other possibility is there?" Phoebe asked, pacing through the kitchen. "There's a phone call, with someone who sounds like me on the other end. And Cole leaves to pick me up from work. . ." She paused. "Why would I ask Cole to pick me up when I could get Paige to orb me?"
"He said you needed the car for something afterwards." Piper said, shaking her head.
Phoebe stopped pacing. "What are we going to do, Piper?" She asked desperately.
"Okay. . ." Piper said, contemplating the situation. "I'm going to go upstairs and tell Paige what's going on." She said. "Cole left a while ago, so he should figure out that something's not right sooner or later. But try and call him, see if he's okay."
Phoebe nodded. She headed into the foyer as Piper made her way hastily up the stairs. She grabbed the receiver and flipped open the phone book on the table before her, dialling in the number hurriedly. She tapped her fingers on the tabletop as she waited. There was no answer. She tried it twice more, both producing the same result. As she began to redial again, she paused abruptly. A shiver ran up her spine, and she spun around, staring at the empty stairwell. Memories of her premonitions – her dreams – came back to her. Piper and Paige, unconscious in the attic. Ronan, hovering above them. Cole, bleeding to death. "No. . ." She whispered, dropping the receiver. She sprinted up the stairs, taking them two at a time. When she reached the landing, she immediately started ascending the attic stairs. The door to the attic was slightly ajar even before she burst through it. She froze. "Oh my God. . ."
I'm hoping my poor attempt at a cliffhanger will coax you all to review. What do you say?