Road Not Taken
Chapter 4
Cole didn't know what to do anymore. He was on his fourth beer already in the darkened corner of the bar. His tie was loosened and he looked like a lost man. He ran his hands through his hair. He was beginning to think that something was wrong with him because of Phoebe's persistent cheating. With the same men none the less. He finished off the beer and casted the glass to the side. Then he put his head down taking deep breaths. He was getting nauseous with the thought of other men touching his Phoebe.
No she wasn't his anymore.
He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Cole?"
He lifted his head up meeting his sister in law's concerned eyes.
"No" he says quietly. "I have to do it"
Piper slips in the booth next to me and he knows she will listen. Despite her and Phoebe's relationship Piper could always be counted on to listen. She sympathized with him. She knew all the good he could do and they became closer.
"I know" said Piper still looking down at his depressed form. She looks at all the glasses and frowns. He was averting back to his old ways when he first found out of Phoebe's affairs. She cursed her sister for giving up Cole and their children.
"Is it because I'm a demon?" he asked.
"Huh?"
Cole looked at her and she wasn't surprised to find tears in those sad blue eyes.
"Is it because I killed people? Or maybe I'm not good in bed anymore? Am I boring? What is it Piper! Why? Why doesn't she want me anymore?"
He choked out a sob and Piper embraced him. She ran her hand through his hair.
"There's nothing wrong with you" she whispered. "I don't know why. I honestly don't"
Manor
Paige was playing with a small squeaky rabbit from the playpen as she looked to Phoebe who was shaking her knee nervously.
"I don't think Piper will want you here" said Paige. "She's really angry at you"
Phoebe just looked to Paige.
"Since when is Piper and Cole so close?" asked Phoebe.
"Since you first cheated on him" said Paige with a hint of annoyance in her voice. "He was so broken Piper felt she had to be the one to fix it and she's been trying to keep your marriage together. That's the only reason why you two are still together"
"Not anymore" murmured Phoebe. "He wants a divorce"
"Phoebe admit you want one too. I mean why be still married and sneak around with Jason when you can just be with Jason"
"Cause I wanna be with Cole, Paige" said Phoebe sternly. They heard the front door close.
Phoebe and Paige immediately got up and walked towards where Piper was leading Cole in.
"Cole wait" said Phoebe.
Piper shook her head. "Not tonight"
"Oh yes" said Cole coldly turning around. "Let's do this right now"
"Cole" said Piper touching his shoulder. Phoebe's glared at her. She didn't like her sister being so touchy with him. She had her suspicions flaring but right now that wasn't the point.
"Piper stay out of this" said Phoebe putting her hands at her hips.
Piper removed her hand from Cole's shoulder and stepped back there to intervene when she needed to.
"Cole listen Miles came over on his own" explained Phoebe. "I told him that I loved you and that whatever he and I had was over"
She realized that wasn't exactly the right thing to say.
"Oh so you two didn't just sleep together once it was plenty of times!" cried Cole.
"No!" shouted Phoebe getting frustrated. "I don't know"
She wanted to tell all of them about the wish that had gotten her there in the first place.
"I love you so much" said Phoebe. "I only want to be with you…"
"Just shut up and stop the lies" said Cole pointed a finger at her. "You couldn't resist the temptation"
She could see how drunk he was but the anger seemed to replace that. He was turning red and she wondered if Balthazar would actually emerge. He was never ever that angry with her.
"Divorce is what you actually want" said Cole. "I don't know why you keep delaying it"
"I don't want one what about the kids Cole?"
"You don't give a damn about those children!" he shouted. "You warned me. You said you couldn't be a wife. Is this too mature for you? Are you such a nymph that you would give up those kids just to fulfill yourself!"
Before she could stop herself Phoebe smacked Cole with such force he stumbled back. Gasps emerged from all three sisters' mouths. Cole rubbed his cheek and didn't look at Phoebe. He stared at the floor.
"I feel…sick" he groaned running upstairs.
"I'll check on him" said Piper following him.
Phoebe placed her hand down at her side and wiped the tears falling from her eyes.
"He had no right" said Paige going to her sister's side. "No matter how angry he is"
Phoebe didn't say anything she just closed her eyes and hugged herself. What kind of reality was this?
"Maybe I'll just go home" murmured Phoebe. She turned and faced Paige. "But I want to see my kids"
In actuality she wanted to go back. She wanted the wish to be over. Phoebe started up the stairs with Paige following her when they heard Piper scream for Paige. They ran up the stairs and Phoebe saw the bathroom door open. Piper was sitting on the floor and Cole was leaning against her with his back to her chest and his head on her shoulder.
He appeared to be unmoving.
"What happened!" cried Phoebe as she ran in and bent down. Paige right behind her.
"I don't know" said Piper shaking her head. "He threw up and then passed out"
Phoebe was getting panicky. He looked pale and sweaty, barely breathing.
"Leo!" she cried.
A shower of orbs appeared in front of them and Leo was greeted by worried faces. He saw Cole and immediately bent down.
"What happened?"
"Heal him now explanation later" ordered Piper.
Leo couldn't see any wounds but put his hands over his body anyway. Piper and Phoebe waited anxiously as Leo attempted to heal him.
"Nothing" he said. "It's internal"
Leo grabbed Cole's wrist and checked his pulse. Paige bent down and examined Cole.
"Alcohol poisoning"
"Phoebe call 911" ordered Leo.
Piper sprang into action turning Cole on his side. He was unresponsive. Piper felt tears sting her eyes.
"Don't do this to me" she said.
Cole was the only person she could really talk to especially when Leo wasn't around. Phoebe ran to the nearest room and grabbed the phone. Tears blurred her vision and she was stuttering throughout the whole conversation with the operator. No he couldn't end his life like this.
Phoebe slid to the floor distraught. Were they meant to be?
End of Chapter