Wow...there's snow everywhere…it's so pretty! Sorry for the wait in updating but i was too busy snowballing!...well we hardly ever get more than a couple of days snow a year, can u blame me!
Ok back to this chapter; well, don't have much to say about it really, just enjoy it and don't forget to review! Tell me if you think I'm putting to many flashbacks in and not enough of Phoebe and Cole… I think I might be…
Chapter 9: Accepted By Love
Cole reached up and rang the doorbell. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other and breathed in the scent of the flowers he had brought with him. Rubbing a hand over his unshaven chin Cole looked up as the door opened.
"Hey, Prue, long time. Is Phoebe home?" he asked breezily stepping past her and into the foyer.
Prue stood there dumbfounded for a moment then, coming to her senses, flicked her fingers, sending Cole flying across the foyer to land on a small table.
At the sound of the crash Phoebe and Piper jumped up from the couch and ran into the foyer.
"What the..." Phoebe began, then seeing Cole she gasped, "Cole, what...?"
Phoebe walked over to him almost in wonder as Cole pulled himself to his feet.
"Phoebe, hi. Oh, phew." Cole grinned still attempting to be light-hearted. He presented the flowers to Phoebe with a flourish. "These are for you." He announced brightly.
Phoebe pushed the flowers away, still too astounded at Cole's presence to make a reply.
"What the hell are you doing here?" spat Prue, "Do you have some kind of death wish?"
"I told Phoebe last week that I wasn't giving up on her and I, I meant it." Cole looked around at the sisters, his tone less perky as he found little encouragement in their faces.
"You talked to Phoebe?" asked Piper, then without waiting for an answer turned to Phoebe, "He talked to you?" she demanded her voice rising slightly hysterically.
"Uh-huh." nodded Cole as Phoebe remained silent, with a slightly guilty look on her face as she faced Piper.
"You said that he was alive. You never said that he was back." Prue accused angrily gesturing wildly at Cole.
"It didn't matter because as I told him, I don't want anything to do with him anymore." replied Phoebe coldly staring at Cole.
Phoebe's P.O.V
I thought that he had got the message…or at least I hoped he had. Apparently he hadn't and now my sister were gonna be mad at me for keeping secrets from them about Cole… again. Why did he have to show up again? I was trying my best to ignore the feelings I had for him and all he was doing was dragging them back to the surface again. I reacted in the way which came instinctively to me; to pretend that I didn't care.
"Okay, um, anybody up to a rehearsal dinner?" questioned Piper
"Absolutely. I'm starving." smiled Phoebe.
Everyone except Cole headed for the dining room. "Well, I guess I should be going." he muttered uncomfortably.
"Yeah, that would probably be a good idea." agreed Prue coolly.
Phoebe paused by the door then turned and walked back to Cole. She looked into his eyes for a moment, "You're not going anywhere." she opposed tenderly.
"Phoebe, I don't want to cause any trouble." began Cole
Phoebe reached up and kissed him before he could say any more. Everyone else looked away, their expressions carefully neutral.
"You're staying and that's that." decided Phoebe resolutely.
Piper and Prue exchanged glanced before Piper clapped her hands at an attempt to lift the mood. "Alright then, shall we?" she asked brightly.
"Yeah." nodded Cole contentedly.
Phoebe's P.O.V
After Cole risked his life to save me I couldn't just ignore those feeling anymore. I loved him. It was as simple as that and anything else we could work around. I couldn't just let him leave; walk out believing that I didn't care; especially after everything he had done. I knew my sisters weren't happy but I hoped that they would come round to the idea. Hopefully they would see that we loved each other and be happy for me.
Cole's P.O.V
Phoebe had accepted our love for each other. I was so happy I felt like I was walking on air. I knew I had to help save her as I was the only one who could and I wasn't going to let her die. No matter how she felt about me I loved her and that was enough to make me want to save her. I wasn't feeling much friendliness from her or her sisters, Prue especially, at the beginning but after Prue and I had saved Bo and so saved Phoebe she finally admitted to herself that she loved me. I had never felt so accepted in my life when Phoebe said I was staying and that was that; never felt so content with life. I only hoped that it wouldn't change.
"I should get outta here." muttered Cole, not meeting Phoebe's eyes.
"What?" exclaimed Phoebe, "Why?" she continued incredulously.
"Because it's getting too dangerous." replied Cole gently.
Phoebe shook her head dejectedly, "So you're just gonna disappear again?" she challenged.
"If that's what it takes to keep you safe." started Cole.
Phoebe cut in before Cole could finish, "What about keeping me sane, Cole. I'm not gonna lose you again."
"Some demon obviously knows I'm alive or at least suspects that. Why else would they have killed my landlady? And if they killed her, they'll kill anyone they have to, to get to me." Cole met Phoebe's eyes but then had to look away as he tried to reason with her.
"That is exactly why you cannot leave. We have to stop them before they hurt anybody else; or before they hurt you." insisted Phoebe, desperate not to lose Cole.
Cole reached out to take Phoebe's hands. "They're after me, Phoebe." he replied gently, "This is my battle. I'll handle it."
Cole turned and started to walk away before Phoebe stopped him.
"I love you," Phoebe stated simply, "…and if holding onto that means that I have to fight a couple of extra demons along the way, then bring 'em on." She finished fiercely bringing a smile to Cole's face.
"Unfortunately, we have no idea what we're dealing with." he pointed out, glad that Phoebe wanted to help him.
"So we'll figure it out together" she replied smiling tenderly.
Cole's P.O.V
I should have known better than to think it might last. But it wasn't as bad as I had dreaded. Ok demons were after me and I was worried that Phoebe might get hurt but she was willing to stick by me… Hell, she was determined to stick by me! It felt strange. As a demon there was always someone to stab you in the back but never anyone who would stand by your side through loyalty. I knew how lucky I was to have found Phoebe.
"It's strange to be back here." observed Cole distractedly, surveying the familiarity of what used to be his apartment.
"I know." agreed Phoebe, "It's strange to be back here too."
"This was the first taste I had of a normal life." continued Cole as if he hadn't heard Phoebe. "There were mornings I'd wake up next to you and I didn't feel evil. I was just a guy in love with a beautiful girl. I wanted it so much. I started to believe that lie."
Phoebe smiled up at him, "That's not a lie anymore. We can have that. We can have a life together."
Cole's P.O.V
Being back in my old apartment brought back memories that I would rather forget. It reminded me of whom I had been before I met Phoebe; of how guilty I had felt when I was betraying her. I never wanted to feel that way again.
"Well, at least we saved one." commented Prue, glancing at Cole.
"Wow, did you hear that? You just reached innocent status." grinned Phoebe to Cole.
Cole smiled, glad for the release of tension, "Well, that's good." he laughed
Phoebe's P.O.V
My sisters had finally accepted Cole. Prue had called him an innocent, well near enough anyway. I knew that it would take a while to fully accept him but they were on the way and I felt so much better now that Cole and I could be together without the disapproval of my sisters. Cole and I were together now, for good.