A/N: I made some serious effort to rewrite this chapter,after the reviews I got about how the tune of the story had changed. Therefor I'm really curious how you are going to like this chapter.

TigersEye32: glad you liked the catfight - me too ;-) I had fun writing it. I also liked to have Prue have a different view on Cole than she had before,a littel more distant and not so judgmental. To see Prue and Paige fighting is certainly worldwar3. I am curious if you like the outcome I chose.

len: Paige stopping to hate Cole? well nothing that will happen anytime soon in my universe - sorry Paige he he he someone has to be the bad guy.

Phoebe Turner Halliwell: thanks for letting me know that I hit the characters well. it is not so easy to write Prue with the other 3 sisters, but I guess from your feedback it worked out just fine. I always found Paige more strict and unforgiving about things then the other charmed ones, and she is especially hard on Cole, that is true.

sehar: thank you so much for your compliments :-)) and here it goes finally, Phoebe meets Cole.

archangewoman: I would love to see Cole move on of his own but on the other hand I would not adore him like I do if he did. He is the one man for Phoebe in my world and she his one and only. So either they are together or they can not be completely happy. sorry but that is the way it works for me.

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Open your heart

Phoebe headed through the entrance of Cole's building. The old concierge barely looked at her. "Good afternoon Mrs. Turner," he called after her. Phoebe stopped in her tracks immediately. Nobody had called her that in a long time. She went back to him.

"It is Halliwell if you don't mind," she clarified. But if this goes well who knows, Phoebe allowed herself to be a little foolish.

Do you know is Mr. Turner home?" she asked him.

"I'm sorry Madame. I'm old fashioned. I come from a time where the women took on their men's name. And I don't know if Mr. Turner is home." The old man smiled", he always manages to slip by me." He shrugged his shoulders, "I think my eyes are not the best anymore."

And your memory isn't either, Phoebe thought. Had the old concierge never picked up the news about their divorce?

She entered the elevator and pressed the button to the top floor. Uncomfortable, she leaned against the elevator back. The last time she had been here was when she goaded Cole into the magical handcuffs. She had been evil. She almost felt sick but pulled herself together.

In front of his door, she hesitated a moment, but then rang resolutely. She waited with a wild beating heart. No answer. She rang longer again but there was still no answer. She decided to wait inside. She typed her birthday date into the code lock and expected the door to open. But it didn't. Phoebe pouted. She was a little bit stung that Cole had changed the Code. She tried his birth date but it didn't work either. Maybe Grace's? Immediately after she had typed Grace's birth date into the keypad the door opened with a quiet buzz.

Contentedly she entered the apartment. The next moment she wished she hadn't. It looked the same as 2 years ago, except some baby stuff lying around. Phoebe took a deep breath. She had lived the worse days of her life here. She had lived here with the Source. She had vanquished Cole here.

But the apartment looked as innocent as if these things had never happened. Goosebumps spread over her body and she gasped for breath. She raced towards the terrace, opened the door, and stepped out into the fresh air. If she was to wait for Cole, she would do it here, not inside, not alone. She just hoped he hadn't run away with Grace. She watched the sun go down and still there was no trace of Cole.

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Cole shimmered into his apartment and was immediately aware that he wasn't alone. He grabbed his daughter tighter and conjured an energy ball in his free hand just in case. Grace didn't make a sound- she already knew when something wasn't right.

Warily Cole scanned the dark apartment. Then he noticed that the terrace door was open. Cautiously he stepped towards the terrace and almost collided with an incoming Phoebe. She had felt someone's presence too.

"It's just me," Phoebe assured him, looking at the energy ball in his hand unimpressed. She stopped at the porch and peered inside.

"Phoebe," Cole acknowledged, extinguishing the energy ball. He had noticed the quiver in her voice, "What are you doing here? Breaking into my apartment?"

"I'm not breaking in Cole, I'm visiting you. You just weren't at home," Phoebe retorted.

Cole didn't address the issue any further. He waved his hand to turn on the lights and stepped back to allow Phoebe in and she followed hesitantly.

"Why are you staying out there? It's freezing cold." Cole noticed that Phoebe hugged herself.

"I didn't feel well alone inside, bad memories and all," Phoebe explained, and stepped into the room, closing the terrace door behind her, "I have come to talk to you."

"I already wondered what took you so long," Cole answered unwillingly. He fully expected Phoebe to claim Grace as her own – and only hers.

"What do you mean?" Phoebe asked not understanding. He looked troubled, Phoebe noticed.

"Grace," Cole hinted loathly, "Come on Phoebe don't tell me you are not here to talk about her. How everything we agreed upon is going to change because she is your daughter now, a Halliwell, first and foremost."

"Yeah that changes everything," Phoebe confirmed quietly. And that's why I want to talk about us, she thought.

Phoebe looked at Cole interestedly. He wore some loose white linen trousers and a short arm shirt in the same fabric. His hair was tousled and he was barefoot. His tanned skin stood out to the light color of his clothing. Grace was in light yellow jumpers.

"Where have you been?" she asked curiously and glanced tenderly at her daughter and her husband, her family. Ex-husband, the mean little voice in her head said, and you don't have a family of your own, not with him, not at all.

"At the beach," Cole answered nonchalantly. He put his sleeping daughter down on the couch and then went over to the bar to pour himself a drink.

"Want some?" he asked her. Phoebe shook her head no.

"But it is dark already," Phoebe asked again, walking over to Grace and stroking her soft head lovingly.

"I wasn't at SF beach, I was in the south sea," Cole said without turning towards Phoebe. He was weary of defending his every action. "Are you still challenging everything I say?" He downed his vodka in one gulp and it burned down his throat, but didn't help to reduce the tension he felt.

"No, not at all, I just wondered," Phoebe defended. That was really smart to start with making him angry, Phoebe chastised herself. Now don't be a scaredy-cat Phoebe, go on!

Phoebe stepped haltingly towards Cole, hugged him from behind and lent her head against his back. It was a comforting feeling to touch him. He smelled of sea, sand and sun. She breathed in his shirt and inhaled his scent, how she longed for him. But instead of reacting positively to her, she felt him grow stiff in her arms. But she wasn't crestfallen. She tightened her hold on him and whispered, "I miss you so Cole."

He slowly turned in her embrace and Phoebe just loosened her grip around him enough so that he could do it. She glanced at him expectantly but he looked down at her seriously, his arms hanging limp by his side.

"Tell me what you want," Cole demanded all business.

He put his hands on her shoulders and tried to shove her away from him gingerly. Phoebe didn't give in. She just clung to him stronger. Cole's expression tightened and he pressed down on her shoulders harder, trying to free himself from her. But Phoebe wouldn't let go. She looked up at him, stung. Cole didn't want to be rude so he just shimmered out of her grip and reappeared at the other side of the room.

"Hey, that's not fair!" Phoebe complained turning around to face him again.

"And you trying to seduce me is?" He shot back irritably. "How often do I have to reject you? Do you think I cave into your demands regarding Grace if you throw yourself at me?"

"It's not like that! It's not about Grace!" Phoebe flared up. "Cole, I need you, I realized that finally. I want to be with you. I'm deeply sorry I didn't concede it earlier," she admitted calmer and looked at him pleadingly.

"It's too late," he said feebly, regret in his voice.

"It's not," Phoebe insisted walking over to him.

Cole watched Phoebe approaching him determinedly. He prayed he could overcome the temptation she was offering. For Grace. He held his place as she advanced but didn't look at ease.

Phoebe invaded his personal space again and laid her palms on his chest. She felt it was easier to reach him, emotionally speaking, if she touched him. She noticed his muscles under his shirt and sand under her fingers. A picture of her and Cole at a secluded beach entered her mind. Phoebe started stroking his chest tenderly, playing with the buttons on his shirt and smiled up at him with a dreamy expression.

Cole looked into her glistening big brown eyes. Her body slightly touched his, just a little, but enough to make him want more. She knew just how to push his buttons.

"I told you Phoebe, I can't. It's because of Grace," he tried to reason with her a little angrily, catching her wrists.

Her touch sent shivers down his spine. He had to stop this now, or he wouldn't be able to anymore. Cole let go of her hands quickly and folded his arms behind his back. He couldn't let Grace down. He wouldn't forsake his daughter.

"Then you didn't think about it good enough," she whispered, tiptoed and stole a kiss from his lips. Her lips lingered on his for a sweet moment. Her warm breath on his face.

"I can't risk your sisters opting out of our agreement, Phoebe, please understand that," he pleaded with her, backing off slightly. He looked intensely into her eyes. "Why do you torment me like that? You know I love you," he finally confessed. He still had his hands firmly clasped behind his back. If he touched her he was lost.

Phoebe's heart jumped when Cole said those words she had been dying to hear from him. She stepped towards him again. She traced his jaw line with her hand tenderly and Cole almost leaned into it out of habit. Her big brown eyes were sucking every resistance out of him. He caught himself at the last moment.

"MY sisters won't stop protecting MY daughter. Never," Phoebe said convinced, a sparkle in her eyes, "regardless of what you or I do."

She watched Cole as he processed her words and slowly a small smile and an equal sparkle found its way to his face. Suddenly he pulled her close, claiming her lips fiercely. They shared an ardent kiss, with the urgency oftwo people dying with thirst would swallow a drop of water. Phoebe gave into his sudden passion. She clung to his body and he swooped her into his arms lifting her from the ground.

Phoebe wrapped her legs around his waist. She was so delicate but trembling with fervor. When she couldn't ignore her lungs crying for air anymore, Phoebe broke their kiss panting heavily. She snuggled her head into his neck. Cole looked first at Phoebe in his arms than at Grace on the sofa an amused expression on his face.

"What are you thinking?" she asked clinging close to him. He had his arms wrapped tightly around her waist.

"Nothing special," he refused, becoming uncomfortable and put her down on her feet.

"Don't lie to me Cole, please. Don't start that again," Phoebe begged, sliding slightly from his arms. He stopped her before she could break their body connection.

Cole exhaled and said, "Grace never liked her Daddy having company, but at the moment she is just one little angel."

Phoebe looked at him dumbfounded, as the meaning of his words hit her. She only managed to whisper, "You are dating?"
She suddenly felt ridiculous chasing after him like that. He was apparently meeting other women, bringing them to his apartment, doing what she so desperately wanted him to do to her.

Cole felt her became rigid in his arms. She wanted him to be open and honest. "I tried to." He wouldn't tell her more than what was really unavoidable. He didn't let her go when she wriggled in his arms.

Phoebe swallowed the slump in her throat and cast her eyes down, "Someone special?" Was it possible that she came too late? That he had given himself to someone else?

"Are you jealous?" Cole counter questioned. Phoebe had been dating men, he knew that, and now she was the one who was jealous. He was flattered and cajoled.

"Maybe a little," Phoebe fessed up and looked challengingly at him, "but if you start dating me again I promise you will forget about every other woman."

Cole raised an amused eyebrow at her cockiness but Phoebe gave him no time to tease her. She underpinned her statement with a very deep promising kiss. Now that she had made up her mind about him, her body was screaming for his caress. She wanted to feel him all over her.

Without a warning Cole suddenly broke the kiss, straightened up, and let her go from his arms.

"What?" Phoebe asked confused and more than a little bit hurt. She searched his face for a hint for his sudden change of mind. She had expected him to carry her to his bed within the next 5 minutes and make love to her. At least that was what was on her mind.

"I hate to say this Phoebe, but your sisters will never agree to you seeing me again. Even if they don't take it out on Grace, they will take it out on me. I won't go through that again, I can't. Not even for you."
The fire from his eyes was suddenly gone. He didn't look that bold like before when he was angry, his shoulders sagging down, his glance haunted.

"When did the opinion of my sisters ever stop you before," she teased, playing with his shirt collar. Their conversation was drifting in a similar direction like it had in front of the Manor some months ago. She didn't like that at all.

Cole fled her, walking towards the balcony door and Phoebe stared after him disappointed. He started pacing in the room. "I was a fool then. I thought I cold have a relationship just with you. But it's not working that way. Halliwells only come in bundles and I have a daughter now. It's not only my life I would be screwing up, she would be in the line of fire too."

"I don't want to make choices, Cole. Between you and my sisters. And I won't ever do that again. Don't try to make me," Phoebe said resolutely.

"I don't urge you to. It's your family, the elders, the greater good – hell, I don't even know who makes up these stupid rules, certainly not me," Cole got it straight, "I never pressed you to give up on your family or your heritage to be with me – not when I was in my right senses."

Suddenly Phoebe giggled, "Looks like we Halliwells are like Asians." Oh Jason you were so right, Phoebe thought.

"Come again?" Cole was confused and furrowed his brows. They were having a serious discussion and she just giggled and talked nonsense, "Asians?" He couldn't follow her mental leaps. Was just Phoebe doing things like that or was it a trait every woman had?

"Never mind Cole," Phoebe said, "My sisters won't be a problem. Not this time." She followed his smooth movements admiringly with her eyes.

"And that's why, suddenly? As far as I know Paige still loathes me, and Piper is only civil as long as I stay away from you. I'm not keen on being vanquished again you know." Cole got into a rant, "I sacrificed my invincibility for you, you AND your sisters some weeks ago. Did your sisters, or the Elders even notice that, do they even appreciate it?" He shook his head. Surely they didn't. Were the Charmed Ones so good in vanquishing demons because they were as unforgiving and ungrateful as them?

"Piper does, you know it Cole. And Prue will handle Paige," Phoebe retorted convinced.

"Prue?" Cole asked. "She is still around? Just perfect," he sneered sarcastically. Another sister to deal with, as if two weren't enough. "I don't think Prue will do anything that is in my favor."

"Probably," Phoebe smiled mischievously, "but she loves me. She would do anything to make me happy. And she knows that means me being with you, even if she doesn't like you. Furthermore, she promised me." Prue had never let her down, Phoebe was building on that, she was building her future life on that right now.

Cole wasn't convinced at all. He looked at Phoebe skeptically. "Do you really believe Prue manages to arrange that with Piper and Paige?" If he strained his fantasy, he could picture a civil enough relationship with Piper, they had done it before, but Paige?

Cole knew the stubbornness of the Halliwells all to well. He stopped in front of Phoebe, looking at her and trying to find out if she seriously believed Prue could work it out for her. For them.

He was aching for Phoebe. She would always be the true desire of his heart. There was no point in denying it. He had known it long before the spell had proved it. Could he believe in her feelings, believe that she listened to her heart this time? She had let him down, not once, but twice, crumpling under the expectations of her sisters and the demands of the good side. Not least under her own doubts about him.

Did Phoebe love him the way he loved her? Once, when their love had been young, when she had lied to her sisters for him and had saved his life, he had believed it, he would have bet his soul on it . But that was then. Now this kind of his trust in her was just a distant memory. He longed for having this trust in her again, but couldn't. That didn't make his love for her diminish or go away though.

Phoebe was returning his thoughtful glance openly, her eyes as dark as the bottomless sea. "I have a feeling everything is gonna be ok," she whispered, "I love you Cole."

Despite his doubts,Cole's heart leaped at her words and he took her in his arms tenderly. Phoebe buried her face at his chest, listening to his hard beating heart. She blinked some tears away. She was home, at last.

"You don't know how long I dreamed of you saying this to me again," he murmured into her hair, taking in its silky shimmer and soft brush against his chin.

There he was, overwhelmed with his feelings for her, discarding the desperate warnings of his logical thinking, that it wouldn't be any different this time. She said she loved him. This moment his head had lost the battle with his heart.

Phoebe's grip on him tightened and before he could ask her why she blurted out. "I'm so sorry Cole for everything I did to you, I can't express how much. For not believing in your love, for not recognizing your change because of the Source, for not acknowledging it was you again after you came back, for not supporting you when I should have, for all the mean words I said to you, for all the times I hurt you deliberately, for not protecting our child enough,.. I'm sorry," Tears were streaming down her face in torrents, wetting his shirt as the repeated sorrys shook her body.

"Hush," Cole whispered stroking her head and steadying her. Hearing Phoebe confess her own failures in their relationship was a thing he never had dreamed of. It was giving him hope. And regrettably also satisfaction. He hated himself for it but he felt it was onlyfair she felt all the pain now which he had felt in the past.

"Love means never having to say you are sorry," he quoted, "It doesn't mean you shouldn't say sorry ever but try to act in a way you don't have to be." He sounded like a damn white lighter and hated it.

"I made you say sorry so many times without honouring it", Phoebe recognized, being very choked up and talking into his chest because she couldn't face him. How could she look at him with all the guilt she felt?

"You never heard me say it Cole, please let me say it now, for all the times I should have said it but was too narrow minded to do it. I thought I was better than you for the simple fact that I'm the witch and you are the demon. I was wrong Cole, you are better than me, kind and braver. I just couldn't see it, accept it."

Phoebe continued timidly," Can you ever forgive me? Give me another chance?"
What if he couldn't let go of the things she had done to him? She held onto him so tightly it almost made it impossible for her to breath, but she didn't care.

"Let the sorrys be in the past Phoebe, no one can change what was," Cole soothed her, his voice empathic, "I forgave you a long time ago."

He wondered when he had become so thoughtful or was it mellow. But it was true. If he hadn't forgiven her and himself, he wouldn't be here today. He would have disintegrated into evil again. He had changed for Phoebe, through his relationship with her. Whatever pain he had been trough because of it, it had freed and strengthened his humanity. It had freed him from the underworld's grasp. Even if he wouldn't love her, which was unlikely, he would eternally be grateful to her for that.

"For how long I longed to be with you again." He whispered, stroking her back gently.

Phoebe loosened her grip on him a little, unable to say anything as a wave of relief flooded through her entire being. How had she earned the gift to be loved by a soul as magnificent as Cole's?

They were standing in silence for some time, their arms wrapped around each other, simply relishing in the closeness of the other, their minds slowly adjusting to the possibility that it could be a new start for both of them.

"That must have been for 19 months, 3 days and 18 hours," Phoebe resumed their talk, when she had somewhat composed herself.

"What are you counting from?" Cole asked detaching himself a little from her, searching for her eyes.

Phoebe lifted her head from his chest. She looked at him with watery eyes, for the first time since she had confessed her sins to him. She was afraid of what she would find in his eyes, but she saw only love there and a spark of hope.

"The day we broke the evil desire spell," Phoebe said bashfully, "The last day I felt truly happy."

Phoebe with her red eyes and the tear's stains still wet on her cheeks was as most beautiful as Cole had ever seen her. Slowly he bent his head down and kissed her, tentatively, sweetly. Like the very first kiss they ever shared. It was a first kiss in its own right with the hopeful taste of a shared future.

tbc
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I did it! I brought them back togehter. I think that's a very good moment for you to tell me -did you like it or did it suck?

Only 1 chapter and an epiloge left.