Part Three
In the corner of the sunroom, Phoebe stood invisible to the others and watched with sorrow as her sisters mourned. "You shouldn't've interrupted," she chastised the presence she felt at her side.
He took form behind her and pulled her close, wrapping his arms protectively around her. "Piper wasn't in the right frame of mind to listen."
"Well thanks to you," Phoebe complained even as she leaned back against him, "she won't be ready later either." She suddenly smiled as Chris began to toddle in her direction. Instinctively, she knelt and encouraged him to continue. Her smile broadened when he gurgled a few unintelligible words to her and wiggled his fingers excitedly. And then she looked up at Cole in shock, "Chris can see me, can't he."
"You know how perceptive children can be," Cole shrugged. "Of course, given that he was born the son of a Charmed One and Elder, it's more than likely." He held his hand out to her and helped her up, "But Piper's the one who needs you now. She's the one who'll end up lost if you can't convince her that you're where you're meant to be."
She frowned, "You make it sound as if you think I'm not."
He matched her frown with one of his own, "Because you're not. You don't belong here, Phoebe."
"I belong with Grams and Mom and Prue," she rolled her eyes, "yeah, yeah. Look, Cole," she ran her fingers up his arms, "we've been over this. I'm here because I was lost. And I was lost because I never resolved my feelings about love."
"You were falling in love with Coop," he reminded her as he plucked her hands from his sleeves. "You found love so you're not lost and, as soon as you help your sister, we're going to make sure you get out of here."
"You're right," she smiled, "I did find love and I'm not lost." She began to fade from the room, "And that's why I'm not going anywhere."
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Cole materialized right behind Phoebe in her old bedroom, "I'm not going to argue with you about this anymore."
"Good," she nodded, "because it's getting to be a very boring argument."
"You're leaving and that's that," he declared, folding his arms across his chest.
"Why are you being so stubborn about this?" she demanded, her hands on her hips.
"Because you don't deserve to spend an eternity in limbo!"
"And you do?" she retorted.
"Yes!" he snapped back.
She glared at him for a moment before saying, "I suppose you think Billie and Christy deserve to be here too…"
"What, why would I think that?"
"Because they did terrible things," Phoebe stated. "Things they should be punished for."
He stared at her in surprise, "I thought you believed they were innocent?"
"Christy used us and Billie betrayed us," Phoebe told him, "and they turned everyone in the magical community against us. We didn't stand a chance."
"You blame them for your death?"
"They knew the odds were against us. Turns out, I was the one who paid the price. But it's okay," she quickly added, "I mean it's not like I had anyone counting on me. Piper has the boys, not to mention that Leo's back now, and Paige has Henry. If anyone had to die, it was better that it was me."
"But they didn't mean for it to happen," he commented. "They were pawns."
"They deliberately baited us," she countered, "and set us up to face an army."
He was quiet for a long while before he finally decided, "But they thought they were doing the right thing. Their intentions were good."
Phoebe sighed and smiled in relief, "Were yours any different?" She watched with amusement as confusion flooded his face. She reached up to caress his cheek, "Baby, don't you understand, you were a pawn too. Yes, you did terrible things, things that may not be forgivable, but you meant well."
He stepped back from her and turned away, "When did you come to that conclusion?"
"Consciously, probably not until I was dying in my sister's arms," she shrugged. She approached him from behind and lightly placed her hands on his back, "But deep down, I probably knew the truth all along." She gently turned him around to face her, "You hurt me so badly…"
"We hurt each other," he amended.
She nodded, "And I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry I couldn't see past the anger and the pain. Maybe things would've worked out differently."
Cole traced the contour of her cheek with his finger before lowering his hand back to his side, "I'm sorry too."
"I still have to talk to Piper. Come with me?" She stretched out her hand and smiled when he accepted.
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"Piper, it's been a long day, maybe you should lie down," Victor requested. "The boys are already asleep."
But Piper refused to budge from the attic sofa, "She said she'd be back."
"And here I am," Phoebe announced when she and Cole materialized before her family. "Sorry I'm late, I'm not used to the way time works here yet."
Victor's eyes filled with tears and he held open his arms, "Oh, baby…"
Phoebe rushed into them and hugged her father tightly, "Oh, Dad, I'm so sorry…"
He kissed the top of her head and pushed her slightly back, "I won't get over losing you any more than I have losing Prue but, Phoebe, I am so proud of you, so proud to call you my daughter."
She hugged him again, "I love you so much."
"Thank you for finding me again," he whispered. "Thank you for giving me back my daughters."
She glanced up at him, "Promise me you'll take care of yourself. Promise me you'll be there for my sisters and nephews."
"I promise," he nodded before acknowledging Cole, "and you'd better take care of her or limbo won't save you from me."
Cole nodded seriously while Phoebe chuckled in embarrassment and hugged her father again, "Daddy…"
"Be good," he warned in a choked voice as he kissed her one last time, "I love you." Not bothering to hide his tears, he took one last look at his daughter, turned, and strode from the room.
Henry cleared his throat, "I think I should go too."
"No," Phoebe tried to smile, "you're family now."
Tears were streaming down Paige's face and she shook her head, "I don't understand any of this. Why are you in limbo?"
Phoebe stood before her sister, took Paige's hand, and led her to the sofa next to Piper. She knelt before her sisters, "Because I was lost. No, hear me out. My life…in the past two years, nothing's consumed me more than that little girl I'd seen in so many premonitions. I was obsessed with making my daughter a reality."
"But that's not the same as being lost," Piper argued. "You found love again. Your soul doesn't belong in limbo."
"I cared about other men, sure," Phoebe agreed, "but how often was it because I was trying to create that little girl? I'm not so sure it was ever really love."
"You fell in love with Coop," Paige reminded her. "You said so yourself."
"He's very special and I hope you'll tell him for me but," Phoebe shrugged, "he is a Cupid and I'll never know how much of what I felt for him was real or simply him projecting into me."
"I thought we saved your soul," Piper whispered, referring to Cole.
"You're not the only one," he muttered.
"You did," Phoebe insisted, "because I'm no longer lost."
"But you're in limbo," Paige shrugged.
"Because it's where I'm meant to be."
"No, it's not," Piper snapped, "and we're gonna figure out how to get you out."
"I knew you were the smart one," Cole smirked.
"Not nice," Phoebe glared at him.
"Maybe Piper's right," Paige suggested. "Maybe something went wrong and you shouldn't be there."
"Why do you keep saying that?" Phoebe groaned as she spun on her heels and nearly lost her balance.
"Why do you keep insisting you belong there?" Piper countered as she watched Phoebe stand.
Exasperated, Phoebe threw her hands up in the air, "Because I love him!"
"What?" Cole asked in a stunned tone.
"What do you mean what?" she questioned in return. "I love you, Cole."
"Just like that," he skeptically commented. "Why didn't you say something before?"
"Because," she glared at him, "I thought you knew. Why else would I be here in limbo?"
"Because your soul is lost!"
"How many times do I have to tell you," she exclaimed, "I'm not lost, not anymore!"
Cole turned to her sisters, "Isn't there anything in the Book about releasing a soul from limbo?"
"Don't you love me?" Phoebe suddenly worried.
"I will always love you," he stated as he slowly turned to face her, "but that isn't the point."
"Why not?" she inquired. "Why can you love me but I can't love you?"
He squeezed his eyes shut as he pinched the bridge of his nose, "You're here to torture me…That's why you're really here."
"Don't be silly," she grinned, standing on tiptoe to kiss his chin, "I'm here to help you."
"She's right, you know."
Phoebe spun gratefully to Leo, "Finally, a voice of reason!"
"Was your brain frozen too long?" Cole snapped simultaneously.
"You shouldn't be in limbo," Leo told him. "You went insane and tried to recreate the world and you were vanquished in that reality. Technically, Cole, you shouldn't be anywhere."
"And yet here I am," Cole sighed, "too good for down there and not good enough for up there."
"Or maybe you're in exactly the right place at exactly the right time," Leo proposed.
"Think about it, Cole," Phoebe requested before he could argue. "Who else has better knowledge or experience to guide lost souls? You keep thinking of this as a punishment but --"
"What, I'm supposed to be grateful I'm here for all eternity?"
"You did help me," Piper quietly reminded him.
"And he helped Drake," Phoebe revealed before focusing on him again, "and so many others. Don't you see, Cole? You're not torn between two halves, you're confident, and you're helping souls. You're good."
"And with Phoebe at your side," Leo added, "you're no longer alone."
"But it's for eternity," Cole shook his head in defeat. "She doesn't deserve this fate."
"I deserve to be happy," she declared, "and I'm damn well gonna be happy with you whether you like it or not."
"I never said I wasn't happy you were with me," he retorted.
"Sorry, guess I was fooled by all that business of you trying to get rid of me," she snapped back.
Piper watched her indignant sister and couldn't help it as a chuckle slipped out. Phoebe stared back at her in surprise but the chuckle became a giggle and within a moment she held her arms out to Phoebe who eagerly stepped into her embrace. "I love you, sweetie," she whispered in Phoebe's ear, "and nothing will ever change that."
Phoebe waved a hand to Paige who joined the hug, "I love you both so much. You've been my world for so long but I'm where I need to be now."
"I'm gonna miss you," Paige barely managed to say.
"No more than I'll miss you," Phoebe assured them as she pulled back and gently brushed away their tears. "And I'll be watching you." Her hand lingered a moment on Piper's cheek, "But, sweetie, I need you to promise me something."
"Anything…"
"Don't name her after me or Prue," Phoebe smiled. "Give her a nice normal name."
Paige's eyes widened as Piper gaped at Phoebe, "You mean Piper's…"
"That can't be," Piper stuttered, "I mean I, I mean Leo, I mean we haven't…"
"Then you'd better get started," Phoebe grinned at the couple, "because a year from now that little girl, your little girl, will be wrapping all of you around her little finger." She then stepped back and watched as Henry and Leo reached for their wives' hands. "Everything happens for a reason," she smiled as she reached for Cole's and gazed into his eyes.
"I do love you," he sighed before bringing her hand to his lips.
"Good," she teased, "'cuz I don't spend eternity with just anyone y'know." She turned to her sisters, "Later, guys…" And, allowing herself to be pulled into Cole's arms for a kiss, she faded from the attic into eternity with the man she loved.
The End