Part Two
The heavy rain pelting their bedroom windows wasn't as soothing as he'd have hoped. He'd thought she'd relaxed in the shower and she'd certainly been an eager participant a little while ago but, as he lay spooned behind her, one arm wrapped protectively around her belly, he could still feel the tension within her. Kissing her bare shoulder, he murmured, "Did I hurt you? Maybe we shouldn't have --"
"No," she quickly said, bringing his hand to her lips and pressing a kiss to it, "don't ever regret our lovemaking."
"I don't," he assured her, "but the stress can't be goo--"
"Making love to you de-stresses me, Cole," she promised as she awkwardly turned over. Settling her head upon his chest she kissed it and snuggled close, "The doctor said we should be careful and maybe cut back a bit but it's not off-limits."
"The only time I'm ever scared," he whispered as he locked his arm around her shoulders, "is when I think I might lose you."
Even though she knew he was momentarily talking in the physical sense, she could still sense the underlying emotions behind his comment. "You won't lose me," she swore. "Never again, Cole, will I let you or our love slip away. God, when I think of how I almost let you rot in limbo…"
"Hey, don't cry," he requested when he felt her hot tears on his chest. But she was already trembling and he knew it best to simply let her get it out of her system. "Shhh," he soothed, "it's okay, Phoebe. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."
"I lost you," she cried as thunder boomed, "I lost myself, for a couple of years, and because of that I nearly lost our precious babies…"
"Those little girls were always in your future, Phoebe," he told her as he traced imaginary circles on her back, "and if you hadn't had them with me, you would have had them with someone else. Who knows, maybe even Coop."
She immediately looked up and palmed his unshaved cheek with her hand. A flash of lightning lit up the room and she gazed into his blue eyes, "There is no one else for me. Coop or otherwise. And don't argue because I know it's true. I tried to move on with other men. But love was never the same, never the same as what we had."
"What we have," he corrected. He turned on his side in order to face her, propping himself on his elbow. "I was perfectly willing to spend an eternity in limbo just so you would find happiness and love and have the life I know you deserve."
"And I tried," she acknowledged, "but even with that normal life right after vanquishing Zankou, I still felt empty."
"Because you weren't being true to Phoebe Halliwell," he reminded her. "You killed her and became her cousin, Julie Bennett."
"Still," she shrugged with a sniffle as she ignored the thunder, "There was something missing inside me. And when I think of all the mistakes I made with Dex just so I could have that baby girl…I mean I was relieved that first pregnancy test was wrong because I knew deep down the relationship wouldn't last but it still hurt and I felt so…"
He brushed away new tears from her cheeks, "Empty because, despite it all, you'd still hoped the test would've been positive."
She gazed at him with tear-filled eyes, "I think that's when it all finally clicked. When I sat in that clinic and saw those pictures of happy families on the wall. I knew I couldn't force the premonition to happen any more than I could force love to happen. And that's when I realized the only one who could fill the empty hole inside me was me."
"By acknowledging and accepting the truth," he prompted. They'd had this conversation at least once in every one of her pregnancies and he knew what she was going to say next. He kissed her forehead and wished the rush of hormones didn't always make her so melancholy over the mistakes of her past.
"You were the one I was destined to be with," Phoebe declared, unaware of his thoughts regarding her well-being. "In that moment in the clinic, I knew what I had to do. I'd had the clues all along and I kept hearing Piper's voice in my head, telling me that an old friend helped her in limbo. I'm so sorry I didn't figure it out sooner or maybe I did and just couldn't accept it, accept that you were in limbo for eternity. I'm so sorry…"
"Don't be sorry," he quietly told her. "You needed all those experiences before you could reach that conclusion or we might not be lying here together right now with three beautiful little witches asleep in the bedrooms down the hall."
The next boom of thunder echoed in the room and Phoebe shivered, "And then with everything we were going through with Billie…God, if I'd waited any longer to come up with that spell to send you from limbo to the Wasteland…"
Cole tugged the blanket over her and rubbed her arm beneath it, "Everything happens at the right time because --"
"Everything happens for a reason," she completed for him. "What's so funny?"
"Sorry," he chuckled, "I was just remembering when I'd finally gathered enough powers to leave the Wasteland and I appeared to you in your bedroom."
Insulted, she jerked back, "That was funny? We nearly broke the bed giving into our passion."
"Not that part," he chuckled again before apologizing with a kiss to her turned cheek. "It was the next morning when I accompanied you to the manor and followed you into the kitchen. The looks on your sisters' faces…"
Phoebe couldn't keep her giggles from joining his laughter, "Piper thought she'd died again and Paige fainted in her seat." But her giggles faded and she frowned when she then recalled the loud and long lectures she received from her sisters, Grams, Leo, her father, and an old windbag of an Elder.
"But your plan to rescue me was brilliant," he complimented while sweeping aside her long bangs from her eyes, "and not even the best trial lawyer could argue with your logic."
"Especially not after the Angel of Destiny appeared and said it was as it was supposed to be," she smiled before it faltered. "It still took time, though, for us, I mean."
Covering her hand, resting on the side of her belly, with his, and stroking the back of her hand with his thumb, he reminded her, "I had to adjust to being alive and having new powers, as well as some old ones, and we had to learn about each other all over again."
"Not to mention coming up with a reasonable excuse for your return," she murmured, "and what you'd do for a living. We changed so much."
"Not really," he kissed her. "We were already at the best starting point; we had love. And it didn't really take us that long to be sure of what we wanted for our future, did it? Samantha joined us, what, nine months later?"
"You know I didn't marry you just because I was pregnant with Sami, don't you?" she worried. "I wanted you, I wanted us. Sami was just the, I don't know, bonus, for loving you."
"I know," he smiled back at her. "And if Sami hadn't come along the way she did, I still would have married you again and vowed before everyone to --" He nearly chuckled when, for the first time that night, Phoebe was startled by the thunder, "C'mere you, I'll protect you from the big bad thunder."
Phoebe inched closer and quietly stated, "All I knew was that I'd do whatever it took not to lose you again. Despite all our anger and pain, you still held onto love. In limbo for eternity and you used love to help Piper and Leo and countless other lost souls. If anything, I learned from you about love."
"Debatable," he smiled before pulling her closer for another kiss.
"You saved us," she insisted, though in a whisper. "All of us. If you hadn't warned us about the Triad's plot with Christy…"
"It wasn't enough though, was it?" He tightened his embrace as he recalled, "It didn't prevent Leo's confrontation with Death or his being frozen and taken from Piper and the boys. It didn't prevent Billie's parents from being killed. And it sure as hell didn't prevent me from losing you and the baby after you and your sisters took in the Hollow and fought Billie and Christy." He tried to block out the horrifying images of the manor in ruins, Phoebe's broken pregnant body buried in the rubble, the feel of her in his arms as he'd raged to the heavens over their priceless sacrifice.
"You saved us when you helped Piper go back in time to change it and that's what counts. It all worked out, Cole, just like the Angel of Destiny had foreseen." But it had been a bad scare, a nightmare, for them that night and she pressed her body even closer to his, offering her warmth to him, "I love you, Cole, with all my heart and soul."
"I'm nothing without you," he hoarsely told her, "and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you or our family." He tugged her a bit higher to kiss her and, holding her, he rolled onto his back and deepened the kiss. But he suddenly pushed her back when he realized, "Maybe we shouldn't. You've probably had more than enough activity for one night."
"Maybe," she reluctantly admitted. "I think they're finally settling down," she rubbed her belly, "for the first time today." Snuggling next to him, she closed her eyes while he caressed the babies within her. "I'm scared," she finally confessed.
"I'm sorry I wasn't with you at the doctor's. Twins…" he sighed. "I think Sami may have to start sharing a room again, once the twins are old enough, if we're having a boy."
"He would need his own room, wouldn't he?" Phoebe frowned. She hadn't thought that far ahead. "Can we manage in this house? D'you think we should move?"
He could have vanquished himself for speaking without thinking. Phoebe had finally calmed down and now he'd given her something new to worry about. And the last thing she needed to think about was room arrangements that wouldn't be necessary for a few years. Certainly not all the stresses associated with packing, moving, and settling into a new home when she was in the midst of a pregnancy. "Trishy and Vicky are perfectly happy sharing their room and we've got plenty of time before the babies would need to be separated. And this's all if one of the twins is a boy. Twin girls could share the nursery and Sami could still have her own room. Besides," he added as an afterthought, "there aren't any other houses available within a five block radius of the manor."
She peeked at him in surprise, "You checked? You didn't even know about the twins."
"I always keep my eyes open," he shrugged. "I like to be prepared."
"It was your idea to buy the house next door," she reminded him as struggled to sit up.
"And I don't regret it," he quickly insisted as he tried to settle her down next to him again. "And this isn't anything that has to be decided right this minute."
"We could do some construction," she suggested as eventually lay against him again, "and use the hallway linen closet."
"Split Sami's bedroom into two by using that space from the closet?" He kissed the top of her head when she nodded. "I'm not saying no and I'm not saying I want to move," he clarified, "but we have plenty of time to decide, at least another three months until the twins arrive." He felt her stiffen and glanced down, "What?"
She merely kissed his chest in reply.
Suddenly worried over health concerns she hadn't revealed, he requested, "Tell me what the doctor said. Everything."
"The last trimester might be difficult," she finally informed him, unable to meet his inquiring gaze. "The doctor's concerned because it's twins and I'm so petite and because of my blood pressure. And she said the way the babies are on top of each other and the way the twin is pressing against my -- she said -- she might put me on bed-rest and they still -- they still might be premature…"
"It's okay," he murmured while stroking her arm. "We'll take it one day at a time," he assured her as he tucked some long strands of hair behind her ear. "Honey, don't cry, the important thing is that all three of you are healthy right now." He kissed her, "What did the doctor suggest you do?"
"The usual," Phoebe shrugged, "eat right, get enough sleep, stay off my feet whenever possible, keep stress to a minimum."
"None of which you had trouble with in your other pregnancies," he teased. But she was still upset and he softened his tone, "How can I help?"
"Maybe," she hesitated, unable to look at him, "maybe help get the girls ready in the morning when I'm always so tired or maybe with their baths because I've been having trouble sitting on the floor like I usually do."
His playful attitude completely vanished, "Why didn't you tell me, Phoebe?" She simply shrugged and, in an effort to prevent her from bursting into a fresh batch of tears, he quickly kissed her and asked, "What can I do now? Right now, what can I do for you?"
"Maybe," she whispered, "maybe you could just hold me, 'kay? That's all I really want, just hold me, Cole."
"For as long as you need," he sincerely promised as he wrapped his arms around her. "Shhh, don't work yourself up over what might go wrong," he soothed. "We'll follow the doctor's instructions and take care of you and the babies. And we'll deal with any complications if they happen."
"We need to be prepared," she sniffled, oblivious to the storm raging outside.
He brushed away her tears, "And we will be. We'll talk to the doctor about all the possibilities and be ready, just in case. But no worrying, Phoebe, I mean it. We've got enough stress on a regular basis without worrying about what may or may not happen in the next few months."
Phoebe was spared from responding by the sudden pounding on their bedroom door and the calls from their daughters. "Pants," she warned even as she was scrambling as best she could to reach for her nightshirt that had been earlier tossed to the side.
Pulling on his pajama bottoms, he barely waited for Phoebe to slide the nightshirt over her head. With a wave of his hand, he released the magical block on their door. And he was immediately tackled by the three-year old who had shimmered directly into his arms causing him to fall back into the pillows. He noticed the older two had already shimmered to their mother's sides and were snuggling close to Phoebe.
"It's okay, my ladybugs," Phoebe told her daughters, "you're safe. Mommy and Daddy are here. Did you have a bad dream?"
"It's so loud," Trishy sniffled.
Even the six-year old was shivering next to her and Phoebe covered them with the comforter. "Shhh, Sami, it's okay. There's nothing to be afraid of."
With Vicky wrapped tightly around him, Cole still managed to shift positions so he could lean back against the headboard. He spotted Phoebe doing the same and he smiled when Trishy squished herself between her parents. "Did the thunder scare you, little one?" he questioned his youngest daughter. But she'd buried her face in his chest and he couldn't make out her reply.
Just then, a crash of thunder rattled the windows and all three girls shrieked.
Rocking his baby gently, Cole promised, "It's only thunder, sweetheart, it can't hurt you."
They'd never really had a storm like this, one that had woken all three girls at the same time. Phoebe glanced to her husband before giving her two eldest daughters a slight squeeze. "How about a story until the storm passes?"
"Really?" Sami perked up.
"Mermaid?" Vicky mumbled while nuzzling her father's chest.
"Fairies!" Trishy protested.
"Watch your hand, young lady," Cole sternly cautioned.
Properly chastised, Trishy looked down in her lap, "I'm sorry, Daddy."
He brushed his hand along the back of her head and gently drew her closer to his side. He caught Phoebe's smile as their daughter snuggled close to him. For a split second he wondered what his former colleagues would think of the sight of the great Belthazor cuddling little witches. And anger boiled up within him at the thought of any demon laying a claw on any one of his girls. Never. He would never let evil touch them. Demonic powers or not, his girls were pure and innocent and he'd be damned for eternity before he'd let anything, or anyone, change that.
Sensing her husband's abrupt change in mood, Phoebe sent waves of love in his direction. She waited until he gratefully smiled back at her and then she hugged Sami closer and announced, "A new story then, one about magic and love."
"And I've got just the one," Cole suddenly declared. "It's perfect."
"Hey," Phoebe exclaimed, "Mommy's idea, Mommy's story!"
"Except that Mommy told her story at bedtime," he countered. "It's Daddy's turn now."
"Fine," she grumbled before a smile slipped free, "Perfect, huh?"
"On so many levels," he nodded with a confident smile.
"What's it about Daddy?"
"Well, Trishy, like Mommy said, it's about magic and love and it all started on Halloween not long after I met Mommy," he winked to his wife.
"I'm gonna like this one," Sami decided.
Phoebe hugged her daughter and grinned at Cole, "I know I do. It's when I realized that your daddy was my true love."
But by the time Cole reached that part about the apple peel, all four of his girls were asleep. He brushed his fingers along his wife's cheek before he carefully stood with Vicky in his arms. He took his time tucking each of his little girls in bed and he spent an extra few minutes standing watch over each. Despite the raging storm outside, all was calm and peaceful within the Turner home and he finally made it back to his own bedroom and crawled under the covers next to his wife.
"'m not asleep," she murmured as she snuggled back against him. "Girls asleep?"
"All of them," he kissed her neck as he wrapped his arm around her belly before he slid his hand underneath her nightshirt.
Phoebe sucked in her breath the instant his fingers touched her bare skin. And she gasped as the images crystallized in her mind.
Cole froze, "What'd you see?" When she struggled to turn over in his arms, his sudden panic didn't allow his helping her to be any less awkward. But when she was finally facing him, he ran his fingers along her cheek, neck, shoulders, and belly in order to convince himself that she was fine and it was only a premonition. He took a few deep breaths too, steeling himself for her response, before he repeated, "What'd you see?"
With tears in her eyes, she caressed his scruffy cheek, "I saw, Mr. Turner, that we have a room to paint blue."
The End