Part Seven

Phoebe stared at the document displayed on her computer but couldn't bring her fingers to the keyboard. She shook her head in annoyance. It had been six weeks since Cole woke up in the attic in Michael's body. Six weeks since he decided he needed to learn about his new powers and Michael's life. Six weeks since he had walked out of her life without another word. "Where are you, Cole?" she whispered.

She jumped when her phone rang and rolled her eyes when she recognized the number on the display. "Twenty minutes later and I'm still fine, Piper."

"It's been forty and I'm still worried."

"No need to be snippy," Phoebe told her. "Look, I'm sorry I've been moping around but it's kind of annoying that you keep checking in on me like this. I'm not about to do anything stupid like scry for him and I really can't believe you're not even the slightest bit annoyed Cole hasn't even called to let us know he's okay when it took all three of us to bring him back."

"He thanked us, especially by not attacking us, and he needs time to adjust and frankly, Pheebs, I'm surprised at you."

"Why me?" Phoebe honestly wondered.

"Because you found your closure with Cole in limbo and it's past time you moved on. He obviously has."

"I know but…"

"No buts, Pheebs, I know you love him and I know he loves you but sometimes that's not enough. So be grateful for the good feelings you share and let it go."

Phoebe paused and leaned forward on her desk, "I wish I could. I don't know, maybe you're right. Maybe I gave Cole the chance for a new life but I shouldn't expect to be included in it."

"I'm sorry it hurts…"

Phoebe smiled even though her sister wasn't there, "I know, sweetie, and I'll be okay...I guess Cole wasn't the only one who needed time to adjust." There was a sudden knock on her door and Phoebe held a hand over the receiver, "It's open." She waved in her assistant and told Piper, "I'd better go, see you later."

"I love you."

"Love you too," Phoebe replied before she hung up. "Okay, wha'd'you have for me?"

"Him…" the young woman happily pointed to the doorway.

Phoebe arched her head to see around her assistant and gasped when she saw him standing in the newsroom. On shaky legs she stood and approached the doorway and stared at Cole. Cole and not Michael. Piper or Paige must've taught him the spell to change his looks. She had so many questions for him not the least of which was why he was there. But all she could do was stare at him.

"He asked me to give you this message."

Phoebe blindly accepted the paper and finally tore her gaze from him to read the note. Her hand shook and, unsure she read it correctly, she read the note again but this time in a whisper, "We've waited long enough. Marry me, Phoebe." She looked back at Cole in confusion.

Cole's heart was pounding in his chest or rather it was Michael's heart that was pounding. But he couldn't let himself think right now about the strangeness of this body, of being alive again. All he could think of was Phoebe and of what she was thinking. And right now he thought she looked confused. His hastily written note was clenched in her hand and all he could think of to say was, "Marry me, Phoebe."

A million questions and doubts ran through her mind but what passed through her lips was a simple, "Yes…" And it took only another moment for her to throw herself into his arms. "Yes," she whispered again as she hugged him tightly.

He inhaled her sweet perfume and clung to her. She'd said yes and there were witnesses to prove it. But he still pushed her back slightly and gazed into her eyes and demanded, "Tell me again."

"Yes, Cole," she insisted as she understood his wariness, "yes, I'll marry you."

"It'll be Michaela," he warned her in a hoarse whisper as he hugged her again. "We owe it to Michael."

Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of Cole being the father of her promised little girl. She squeezed her eyes shut before she opened them and pulled back to whisper, "Bringing you back changed things. What if I don't have that little girl now?"

"Then we'll call him Michael," he promised with a growing smile as he saw delight fill her eyes.

Without her empathy, she still believed him. He wanted to marry her and he wanted children with her. "Oh Cole," she uttered as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close for a deeply passionate kiss that she broke only to laugh with happiness when he lifted her off the ground and swung her around.

"I love you, Phoebe Halliwell," Cole declared as he swore inwardly never to take that love for granted ever again. "I won't let it slip away," he murmured as he nuzzled her neck. "I love you."

And Phoebe held him as tightly as she possibly could and promised him amidst all the cheering and applause, "And I love you, Cole Turner, and I always, always, will…"

The End