Author's note

shel: you are one of my heros at fanfiction with your terrific emotional stories. I´m proud you read my story :-) - but I hope my story holds some unexpected turns for you - even when you are not disappointed if the story turns out like you thought it would.

sehar: there are going to be some more of P&C scenes- just read on and see ;) - and Phila will have her turn too

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LET´S PARTY

It was Monday morning and the whole family was busy starting the new week. They were buzzing around the kitchen to catch some breakfast before heading out to work or school. The kids, Wyatt, Chris and Phila always went to school together, Phila was driving them all. Paige always orbed to the social worker's office and Piper was going to do the ordering for the club today. Leo was on some whitelighter mission and had orbed away after a little secret visit to Phoebe.

Phoebe and Piper were now sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast and having some quality sister time together.

Piper thought that Phoebe was looking better these last days. There was some fire in her eyes that hadn't been there for a long time, not since her illness had been discovered. She wore some makeup, something she hadn't done for months.

She also was in a better mood, smiling and buzzing around the manor with her witch craft books. Maybe she got some new pills that made her feel better Piper speculated. She smiled encouragingly at Phoebe.

"You look chirpy today." She put her hand on the hand of her sister and squeezed it.

"I feel good today Piper, really good", Phoebe said, that energy boost from Leo always worked miracles for her, "And I wanted to ask a favour from you", she continued.

Piper pulled her brow up and asked, "Anything that makes you happy Phoebe. What is it?"

"I'd like to have a party with all the family and closest friends next Saturday", Phoebe released, "you know in the backyard, a private little barbecue, sitting together, chatting, eating, having fun, enjoying life", while I still can, she thought to herself.

"I think this is a great idea", Piper jumped on the idea.

If Phoebe wanted to celebrate, so be it. Since they had known of her illness, there hadn't been any celebration in the Halliwell manor. Everybody had felt it was inappropriate.

"So who would you like me to invite for you?" Piper asked her sister. She wasn't sure if Phoebe was going for a small, big or bigger party.

The illness of the former ASK PHOEBE had created some disturbance and talking in the papers of San Francisco. Many former readers had written to Phoebe expressing their sympathy for her and her family and offering support. That additional attention was dangerous to their witch job so Piper hadn't been very pleased about it, but the letters had helped Phoebe a bit, so she had had to accept it.

"I thought about you, Paige, Leo, the kids of course, Dad, Darryl. All the people we trust and only people who know we are witches", Phoebe gave the directions for her party.

"Do you expect any demon activity – did you have a premonition- or why are you so strict on only magic aware people?" Piper asked curiously. She had the feeling that Phoebe wasn't telling her all that there was.

"I just don't want to risk any trouble with exposing us while we are celebrating. You know like I do, demons always drop in at the worst possible moment. Furthermore with my illness we are under more observation that before." Phoebe reasoned with Piper.

"OK, so I will tell the family, invite Dad, Matt and Darryl. I hope the weather is kind to us", Piper said. "I will also go and buy some really good meat to make my special barbecue recipe for the steaks."

"I'll do the salads", Phoebe offered, but added giggling, as she saw Piper's shocked face, "You can supervise me of course, so that I don't poison us all".

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Saturday came much too fast for Phoebe's taste. Saturday came much too slow for the rest of the family. They were looking forward to some happy moments together and of course Piper's famous steaks.

The weather had pity on them and the sun was shining brightly. A tender spring wind rustled in the trees and little white clouds where roaming the blue sky.

"What a fabulous day for a barbecue!" Paige exclaimed happily as she came back from the shop with a tray of wine bottles.

Piper was already working on the barbecue food with Phila. Other than Piper's boys Phila had taken a liking to cooking. She still wasn't as good as Piper, but much better than Phoebe ever got. They were working on the gravy and meat at the moment.

"When will the boys start the fire?" Phoebe asked. She was slicing tomatoes and cucumbers for the salads. Piper checked her progress critically.

"You should cut the slices a little bit thinner", she ordered shaking her head with a grin, "or our guests will choke on them."

"They are fine like they are", Phoebe protested with a pout, "That is Phoebe salad style".

Phoebe really enjoyed the afternoon in the kitchen with Piper and Phila chatting and joking around.

"Since our bases are covered in the cooking section", Paige winked at Phoebe, "I'll go and check out what the boys are doing."

With that she left the kitchen and strode into the backyard. In the backyard Leo, Wyatt and Chris stood around the barbecue, debating on the best way to start the fire.

"To bad none of us is a firestarter", Chris wailed peskyly.

"Hi!" Paige greeted, "everything going ok?"

"No." Wyatt laughed, "I guess Dad never did a barbecue before all on his own". He slapped his Dad lightly on the shoulder.

"That's not exactly the job description of a Whitelighter – you know", Leo defended himself.

"Then you will be glad that we are here", a voice from behind joined the conversation.

"Matt!" Paige turned round to greet her husband "Who says the police are never here when you need them?" Paige grinned, "Here comes the expert on barbecue – Hi Darryl."

Paige's husband Matt had been Darryl's partner for some years now. That was how Paige had met him in the first place. Darryl and Matt were investigating a case which involved magic and the sisters. The rest was fate as Matt had turned out to be comfortable with magic and much more comfortable with Paige.

The two men started working to fire up the barbecue and Leo watched in amazement at how easy it seemed suddenly.

The whole family was sitting in the backyard, enjoying the meal the girls had prepared. The sun was settling down slowly but it was still nice and warm outside. Phoebe kept looking at her watch from time to time.

"Mum you seem fidgety", Phila established, "you are looking at your watch every 10 minutes."

"I just don't want to forget my pills you know", Phoebe answered. She wanted to be as fit as possible at this party of hers.

She was sitting between Phila and Victor and chatting about Phila's further school plans. Matt and Darryl were telling stories about complicated police cases for Wyatt and Chris, who loved to hear about them in every detail. Leo, Piper and Paige were engaged in a heated discussion about Paige's favourite television drama.

Time flew by and everyone was having a great time. There was laughing in the air, the clinking of glasses and voices of happy people. It seemed like Phoebe's illness had left their minds for this wonderful evening.

Around 9 p.m. Phoebe got up, stepped in front of her family and asked for some attention.

"I'm so glad you all have come to celebrate this wonderful family party with me", she said to them smiling. "I want to drink a toast", she raised her wine glass, "to the people I love the most in this world. To you all!"

The others also stood up and answered her toast by saying "To Phoebe!"

Her sisters came over to Phoebe and hugged her. "That party was such a great idea", Piper said, "I haven't had so much fun in a long time."

"Piper's right", Paige agreed, "it is so lovely that we are all together –without any demon disruptions."

That was the moment Cole chose to flame in behind the girls.

He was dressed casually with a pair of black jeans and a pitch black shirt. He also wore a long black leather coat. His hair was spiked with some gel. He looked like he had put some effort in to his looks.

Phoebe, Paige and Piper didn't see him at once because they were facing the others, but the rest of the family did.

"Look out!" Leo shouted jumping up and pointed towards Cole. The girls whirled around quickly, grabbing each others hands. They knew Leo's voice and this voice meant danger. As soon as they had fully turned they froze in place. Paige's and Piper's face showed utter disbelief but no word escaped their lips.

"Cole?" Victor asked and reached for his glasses to take a better look at the newly arrived.

"Who is Cole, never knew they knew a demon personally", Matt leant over and whispered to Darryl.

Phila was just staring at the vision before her eyes. Was it her fault that the Source appeared at the family party? She dreaded that it came out that she had contacted him.

Wyatt and Chris had already jumped up, ready to defend their family but waiting for their aunts to act first.

Cole stood there sizing up the audience, scrutinizing the new additions to the family he didn't know. So Phoebe had apparently not bothered about informing her family that he was going to show up tonight. He was curious what else she hadn't told her family.

"Cole!" Phoebe squeaked happily and started to rush towards him.

"Phoebe!" Piper yelled angrily and grabbed her sister's shoulders, not to let her go nearer, "are you out of your mind? He is still the Source."

"And he sure isn't here for the party." Paige spat.

"In fact, I am", Cole answered coolly.

"Come on Cole, don't be ridiculous", Piper said still holding a struggling Phoebe, "Who would invite you? I surely didn't do it." Piper looked inquiring at Paige who shook her head "no" vehemently.

"Piper, would you just get your hands off me", Phoebe rebelled against Piper "please?"

"Only if you promise not to do anything stupid", Piper answered watching Cole cautiously.

"OK", Phoebe agreed impatiently, "but no harming Cole until you hear me out."

Phoebe ordered glaring directly at Paige and also sending a glance back to Wyatt and Chris. She had to be careful the situation didn't get out of hand with the emotions running high and all the magic gathered in this place.

"What?" Paige got into a fit, "Now we are doing small talk with the Source? Are you mad?"

"I invited Cole to my party", Phoebe said firmly.

Piper dropped her hands to her side, her mouth fell open. Phoebe slowly made her way to Cole until she stood in front of him. A heavy silence hovered in the backyard and the tension was almost unbearable. Leo had come up to Piper, encircling her from behind. He was shaking his head in disbelief.

Victor had finally found his glasses and was watching the scene with interest. He had never really understood what was going on in the magic world; it always gave him a headache.

Phila sighed with relief, so it wasn't her fault that he was here – good. That would spare her a temper tantrum with her godmother Paige. Still she was thrilled that Cole was here. So she would maybe have an opportunity to get to find out something more about him.

Darryl tried to explain the reason for the wrath of the sisters to Matt silently. During Darryl's story, Matt's eyes grew big, his glance darting between Cole, Phoebe and the other two sisters.

Chris eyed Cole carefully, he liked the coat, it was kinda cool. Wyatt stepped nearer to his parents – his force field was the best protection if any demon went mad.

Cole looked down on Phoebe and greeted her with a gentle smile. She ran her hand along the sleeve of his coat.

"Cole, good you're here." With that she tiptoed to press a tender kiss on his already waiting lips.

"Please tell me that I'm under the illusion that Phoebe kissed him." Piper pleaded with no one in particular.

"I'm going to be sick", Paige commented nastily.

Phoebe shifted herself nearer to Cole, put her arm around his waist and leant her head on the side of his shoulder, all the time smiling brightly. He encircled her shoulders with one arm, the other stuck lazily in his pocket and he looked challenging back at the stunned family. They wouldn't stare him down. He had never been a coward.

"I guess I owe you some explanation", Phoebe started.

tbc