Part Two

"Phoebe!"

"Kathi!" Phoebe squealed excitedly as she rushed into the private hospital room. Dumping the new pink teddy bears at the foot of the bed, she hurried to the other end and pulled her friend into a hug. "How are you? Really. No complications? The babies're okay? When can you take them home? When can you go home? D'you need anything?"

"Slow down," Kathi giggled as she pulled back and tightened her messy ponytail, "catch your breath. What'd you, run here from the airport?" She glanced behind Phoebe, "I thought you said Cole was with you."

Phoebe shook her head, "He's here for business while I'm taking advantage of the opportunity to visit."

"Darn," Kathi snapped her fingers, "I was hoping to finally meet in person the hunk who snagged your heart."

Phoebe lightly slapped her friend's hand, "Stop that. Besides, he's meeting me here so you'll meet my hunk later."

"You're blushing," Kathi teased, "that's so cute. Oh, Pheebs, it's so good to see you like this. When I think of the nights we spent together after you broke up with Clay and weren't sure if you'd ever find someone to love you like you wanted."

"Clay was pretty special," Phoebe quietly commented. "He was the first guy I was ever really serious about, potential marriage material, I mean."

"I know," Kathi nodded and squeezed Phoebe's hand, "and I know how devastated you really were when you ended the relationship. But you saw him again, what, two, three years ago? Didn't you tell me you things went well?"

"Yeah, but it was still awkward telling him about the wedding," Phoebe informed her. "I mean, do exes really invite each other to their weddings to other people?"

"He still cares about you," Kathi shrugged, "maybe it hit home that it was really over. But, admit it, you both knew it wouldn't've worked between you two or he would've stuck around or you would've asked him to. You make better friends than lovers."

"We were great lovers," Phoebe sniffed indignantly.

"You know what I mean," Kathi smirked in return. "But, honey, even in your e-mails, I can tell the way your face lights up when you talk about Cole. I am so glad you found him."

"Actually," Phoebe smiled, "he found me. I told you, he was investigating a case and Prue and I were witnesses."

"Magic," Kathi sighed.

"More than you know," Phoebe chuckled. "And speaking of husbands, where is that hunk of yours? I thought for sure he'd be standing in the hallway greeting everyone with a cigar or two."

"Funny," Kathi wrinkled her nose, "when you know he gave up those nasty things two years ago. You missed him by about ten minutes. He went back to the babies. Here," she stretched to the nearby stand with a groan, "take a look."

"You guys work fast, an album already." Phoebe helped take the small album and smiled in awe as she flipped through the photos. "God, Kat, they're beautiful." She squeezed her friend's hand, "Scared you, huh…"

Kathi shrugged and stared at their clasped hands, "The doctor warned us about the possibility of them being premature and of all sorts of consequences. I wasn't sure which scared me more, the fact that it was happening or that --"

"Shhh," Phoebe soothed as she set aside the album and pulled her tearful friend into her arms, "it's over now. It's okay, the babies are here and they're beautiful and healthy."

"They are, aren't they," Kathi sniffled. She hugged her friend tighter, "I can't believe you came. My own sister won't be here for another week."

"You couldn't keep me away," Phoebe assured her. "We may not live in the same city anymore but you're still one of my closest friends. You know that, right?"

Kathi nodded before pulling back, "I miss you. I miss our lunches. I miss our boy sessions."

Phoebe laughed, "Just because we're finally happily married doesn't mean we still can't share."

"You first," Kathi giggled and wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. "Don't mind me; my hormones are all over the place."

"Really? I thought that was only a first trimester thing."

"Oh, honey," Kathi shook her head, "one day you'll find out for yourself. Hopefully, Cole will survive just like my snookums did."

Phoebe glanced at the door, "He doesn't know you call him that, does he? The man's a six-two surfer god and could ea--"

Kathi dismissed the door with a wave of her hand, "He found out when I was five months along. He'd left the seat up and at two in the morning heard me calling him that and every other name under the sun. Besides, he got his revenge by discovering which pet name annoys me most."

Phoebe's eyes lit up, "Do tell."

"You're one of my best friends," Kathi grinned, "but some secrets are meant to be kept."

Phoebe reached into her bag and pulled out an envelope, waving it at her friend, "What if I showed you some pics?"

"Bribery, hmmm…well, I suppose that all depends on the pics now doesn't it."

Phoebe confidently slapped the batch into her friend's waiting palm, "Careful, one of those is one-of-a-kind."

"Oh, Pheebs, you were beautiful. I love your gown," Kathi sighed as she began flipping through the photos. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there," she glanced at Phoebe, "but flying for me's been out from the minute I knew I was pregnant."

"You weren't taking any chances," Phoebe nodded with understanding. "Don't worry, you only missed a little excitement."

"I'll say," Kathi mused distractedly as she looked through more wedding photos, "fights in the church, postponing the ceremony, and then practically eloping in the middle of the night. As long as you're happy…"

"I am," Phoebe confidently stated. "Cole's ev--"

"Whoa…" Kathi's eyes widened appreciatively at the last photo, "You are one lucky girl indeed."

Phoebe grinned at the photo she'd deliberately slipped to the end of the batch. "One-of-a-kind," she repeated. "Paige accidentally deleted the file from my laptop so this's my only copy," she frowned, wondering for half a moment just how accidental it had really been. "I keep meaning to scan them in but it's been so crazy lately, I haven't had a chance."

"Did he know you took this?" Kathi leered at the picture again. "God, what a body…I love even the barest of chest hair, you know that, but that build…" she fanned herself, "truth now, is he, well, you know…"

Phoebe blushed again, "Better than you can even imagine…" She took back the photo, "I'd just gotten the camera and Cole was working out in the basement and I figured why not test it out on him. I mean, look at him, the man was simply born to model."

"Underwear…" Kathi uttered, straining to see the picture in Phoebe's hands.

Phoebe playfully shoved her friend back but couldn't help but laugh, "Behave!"

Kathi laughed, settled back against the pillow, and sighed again, "And he was scruffy too. My honey-bunny couldn't get scruffy in a year if you paid him. Some girls have all the luck." Then she glared at her friend, "Where are the rest?"

"Lust after your own hubby, my friend," Phoebe grinned, "Cole's taken."

"So there are more," Kathi moped.

"Of course there are, a whole bunch of different poses, some sweatier than the others," Phoebe teased. "And that was before he discovered me snapping away. We had a whole 'nother workout with him trying to grab the camera and turn it on me."

"So where are they?" Kathi eagerly glanced at Phoebe's bag and held out her hand, "Gimme…"

"Sorry," Phoebe grinned, "left them home."

"That's just plain mean!" Kathi sulked.

Phoebe simply shrugged, "You've just had twins and I couldn't risk exciting you too much."

"Honey," Kathi pointed to the picture, "with a body like that, too much is never enough."

"That's what I tell him," Phoebe giggled. She took back all the pictures and put them in her bag. "Is it hot in here?"

"Your own fault for bringing that picture with you," Kathi replied unapologetically. But she was unable to keep a straight face and smiled as she indicated to the pitcher on the nearby stand, "Feel free to cool off." But when Phoebe seemed dizzy upon reaching over, she automatically leaned forward and winced from the sudden movement, "Phoebe?"

Phoebe sat back and closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath before exhaling. "I'm okay, just moved too fast."

"When was the last time you ate?"

"Do you remember airplane food?" Phoebe teased. "When Cole picks me up, we'll do dinner. Don't wor-- oh, damn…"

Kathi watched in concern as Phoebe covered her mouth and ran for the adjoining bathroom. She had a cup of water ready for Phoebe's return a few minutes later. "You okay?"

Phoebe nodded and sat on the edge of the bed before carefully sipping from the cup. "Sorry, it snuck up on me again."

"Omigod," Kathi's eyes lit up, "you're pregnant!" Without waiting for an answer, Kathi pulled Phoebe into a hug and water sloshed over both, "Oh, Pheebs, that's so great! Why didn't you say something the instant you walked in? How far along are you? How are you feeling? I mean other than the obvious," she rolled her eyes at her own question.

"Y'mean a little wet?" Phoebe chuckled as she pulled away and set the nearly empty cup back on the stand. "I'm only about four weeks and I'm not ready to make announcements yet. 'Til now, only Cole, my sisters, and my boss know."

"I understand," Kathi nodded sympathetically. "And I'm honored I'm included although," she thought for a moment, "I suppose I wouldn't've been if you hadn't just hurled in front of me."

"It wasn't in front of you," Phoebe rolled her eyes.

"Get used to it," Kathi teased before suddenly frowning, "what the hell are you doing flying across the country?"

"I knew you'd be like this," Phoebe muttered before calmly explaining, "traveling isn't a problem for me. Trust me, Kat, I wouldn't do anything to endanger this baby."

"Sorry," Kathi apologized, "you know how I am about pregnancies…You're happy?" She smiled when Phoebe emphatically nodded. "And Cole's happy?"

"Cole's thrilled," Phoebe clarified. "I've gotta admit, I'm pretty relieved. Cole hasn't had much, experience, let's say, with babies and we'd never even discussed the possibility."

"Surprise, huh."

"Like you wouldn't believe," Phoebe sighed. "Last week, when I actually suspected I might've been pregnant, the test I took came out negative."

"So what made you realize it was wrong?"

"Paige was hurt in a little incident in the parking lot and I fainted at the hospital."

"Phoebe!"

Phoebe shook her head, "I'm okay, really. It was just late and I hadn't eaten much earlier in the day. Anyway, the first thing the doctor asked was if I was pregnant and I told him 'bout my symptoms and the negative test so he did some blood work on me suspecting anemia but ended up calling with the results to say I was pregnant."

"Surprise," Kathi commented, patting Phoebe's hand. "So what's wrong?"

"I wasn't expecting that, even fainted again with the doctor still on the phone," Phoebe reluctantly admitted. "Don't get me wrong, Kat, I want this baby. But it was such a shock and I couldn't process how I was feeling much less how Cole would react."

"You've just gotten married," Kathi understood, "started new jobs; having a baby's a huge adjustment to any relationship. But you said Cole's thrilled and that's all that matters. So, how'd you tell him?"

Phoebe chuckled, "Not like you'd expect. I told you I was surprised, hadn't thought it through, and I kept it to myself for nearly a week before I ended up blurting it out to him as I left for work."

"You didn't…"

Phoebe nodded, "The elevator doors closed and all I caught was his mouth dropping in surprise, like he couldn't believe I'd just said I was pregnant. I came home and found our bedroom filled with balloons and flowers and teddy bears."

"That's sooooo sweet. I had this whole dinner planned," Kathi reminisced. "I cooked all these little baby veggies, y'know, baby carrots, corn, 'bella mushrooms, I barbecued some baby-back ribs, and then burst into tears when he didn't get it. He actually asked, 'Why are my mashed potatoes pink?'"

"Clueless," Phoebe giggled.

"I'm so happy for you," Kathi squeezed her hand. "Of course," she added, "I don't think I'll ever be able to picture your scrumptiously yummy husband in anything but those workout pants, no shirt, and scruffy beard, but, hey," she shrugged, "I can think of worse things to --"

"Good evening, ladies," Cole entered the room and paused when both women burst into a fit of giggles. "Am I interrupting something?" he warily asked before catching himself from reading his wife's mind. Didn't stop him from reading her friend's though. "Why do I feel like a sinful piece of chocolate cake at a Weight Watchers meeting?" he questioned, pleased by the growing blush on their cheeks.

"Hi, honey," Phoebe greeted as she stood and wrapped her arms around his waist. She couldn't help but press a kiss to his chest and squeeze him tighter when he placed one on top of her head. She peeked at her grinning friend and waved to Kathi to stop picturing Cole half-naked. She squeezed her husband possessively again, "You're early."

Enjoying himself in her arms, and the way Kathi kept eyeing him, he said, "Meeting wrapped earlier than expected." Meaning, he thought to himself, that the demon pulled a foolhardy stunt against him and was now ash polluting the Hudson River. "Thought if we left now, we might get in some shopping before dinner."

"He shops too," Kathi sighed, rolling her eyes to the ceiling as she sank back against her pillow.

"And he's taken," Phoebe playfully reminded her as she left Cole's arms and went to hug her friend. "We'll stop by again before dinner."

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