Title: The Road Not Taken

Chapter: 8

A/N: Really sorry I took so long. I graduated from high school, took a hiatus from my Charmed online role playing game and trying to get of my sabbatical by catching my muse. So here's another chapter…

Sadly this story is winding down to its final chapters. Don't worry though Cole and Phoebe are getting together but it really depends on the next choice that Phoebe has to make by the Angel of Destiny.

Two hours later Phoebe was driving into the penthouse garage. She couldn't concentrate on her work and she had to break it off with Miles. He had taken it well saying he didn't want to be part of an affair at that. Phoebe parked next to Cole's car then got out. She took out her laptop bag and slung it over her shoulder. Then she left to go towards the elevator.

Phoebe was going through what she was going to say in her mind. Nothing seemed to work. She told him everything she wanted to already. Phoebe didn't want to seem repetitive. It was just…she couldn't stand the way he looked at her. As if she were a stranger in his home.

Phoebe turned the key into her penthouse number. It lit up and the elevator started to go up. Basically she now had 24 hours before she was thrown back into her time. Where she had no Cole and the sadness consumed her. The elevator dinged and the doors opened. What she saw shocked her…Suitcases were waiting for her. Cole was leaning against the couch staring at her coldly.

"Is this the welcome home I get?" asked Phoebe with a shaky voice. She stepped out of the elevator.

"This is no longer your home Phoebe" said Cole. "And soon it will no longer be mine"

Phoebe raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me. You're kicking me out!"

"The kids are sleeping keep your voice down"

Phoebe took a breath and stared at him.

"You are no longer welcomed here" he said coldly.

"How much time did it take you to think about this two whole seconds" hissed Phoebe.

She rubbed her temples. Phoebe was totally exhausted.

"It took me about a year" said Cole. "I've been looking for divorce lawyers, and I'm petitioning for custody"

Phoebe's face fell. "You can't be serious"

"I'm dead serious" said Cole his face grim. Phoebe took the bag off of her shoulder and placed it next to the suitcases as the elevators door shut. "I knew you weren't going to go"

"You know me well"

"Well see I don't know about that anymore" he commented crossing his arms.

"If I'm leaving I'm taking my kids Cole" stated Phoebe.

"You're welcome to try Phoebe" challenged Cole.

"Resorting to petty threats now Cole?" asked Phoebe. "Threatening to take my kids, kicking me out of my home. That's pretty low"

"You are one to talk"

Phoebe cleared her throat and scratched her neck. "I'm not going to let you give up on us Cole. I can't…"

"Can't what Phoebe?"

"Nothing" she muttered. "I don't have much time left"

"Phoebe what the hell are you talking about?"

"Cole just shut up and listen!" cried Phoebe as she walked up to him. " I love you. I love you so much. I don't know how to live without you. We have gone through so much together and trust me when I say that wasn't the real me. The one who cheated on you, the one who broke your heart, who made you question if those children were yours"

"I've heard it all and it's enough!" cried Cole. "It's just enough!"

He went to turn away and Phoebe grabbed his hand. They were both pulled into various premonitions.

Scene: Cole's apartment. Cole's there packing a suitcase. There's a knock on the door. He answers it.

Cole: Phoebe, what are you doing here?

Phoebe: I, um, I came to tell you something. Actually... (She kisses him passionately.) I was always better at show then tell.

(They continue kissing. He picks her up and she wraps her legs around his waist. They lean against the door.)

Cole: You have no idea what you're getting yourself into.

Phoebe: Neither do you.

-"Primose Empath"

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Phoebe: Give me your shirt.

(She starts taking off his shirt.)

Cole: My shirt?

Phoebe: Hurry up. (He takes off his shirt and Phoebe drops it on the ground. She picks up the potion and gets out the dagger.) Give me your hand. Trust me.

(Phoebe cuts Cole's hand with the dagger and squeezes the blood onto his shirt. She drops the potion onto his shirt and it burns and makes a loud noise.)

-"Sleuthing with the enemy"

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Piper: Okay, um, anybody up to a rehearsal dinner?

Phoebe: Absolutely. I'm starving.

(Everyone heads for the dining room.)

Cole: Well, I guess I should be going.

Prue: Yeah, that would probably be a good idea.

(Phoebe walks over to Cole.)

Phoebe: You're not going anywhere.

Cole: Phoebe, I don't want to cause any trouble.

(Phoebe kisses him. Everyone looks away.)

- "The Good, the bad, and the cursed"

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Cut to the mausoleum. Phoebe/Banshee and Belthazor are fighting. Belthazor pushes her across the room. She kicks him and he falls over a crypt. She jumps on him and scratches him. He pushes her off. She screams and Belthazor roars. He grabs her around the neck.

Belthazor: Don't make me kill you. (She pushes him away.) Damn it, Phoebe. (He changes back to Cole.)

Cole: I love you.

(Phoebe screams.)

Cut outside. Piper and Leo are running, following Prue.

Cut back to the mausoleum. The banshee changes back into Phoebe.

- "Look who's barking"

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Cole: You can't save every innocent, Phoebe, or stop every demon. (He hugs her from behind.)

Phoebe: Yeah. Well, I have to stop this one. I just hope that by me saying the vanquishing spell, it wounds him enough that you can take him out. (Cole snuggles from behind.)

Cole: I got a better idea. How about you and me go someplace? You know? Drop off the face of the earth together, disappear?

- "Charmed Again, Part I"

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(Suddenly, a black painted demon with a green face drops down behind them. He throws out a string of slime and it wraps around Phoebe's leg. She drops the phone. Phoebe screams and the demon pulls the slime, lifting her up. Cole grabs a hold of Phoebe's arms.)

Cole: Hold on.

Phoebe: I can't. (Cole starts to lose his grip and holds onto her fingers. Phoebe looks at Cole and nods.)

Cole: 3,2,1. (Cole lets go of one hand and throws an energy ball at the demon. It explodes and green goo splats all over Cole and Phoebe. They are sent flying across the alley and land on a pile of clothes. They laugh.)

Phoebe: We have to stop meeting like this.

Cole: Marry me.

- "Black as Cole"

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Phoebe snapped out of it. Her and Cole were breathing heavily. It felt like they were actually there. Phoebe felt all those feelings from all those premonitions. It was nothing like she ever experienced.

"If we can survive hell, we can survive anything" said Phoebe after catching her breath. Cole still hadn't looked at her but she can see the hard debate in his eyes and noted that he didn't brush away her hand. Phoebe linked their hand and pulled Cole into a hug.

She hugged him tightly and breathed in his scent deeply. Listened to his heartbeat, relieved to hear the sound of his breathing. She closed her eyes and smiled slightly feeling Cole return the hug.

"You have me in some kind of spell Phoebe I swear" whispered Cole not meaning it literally. "I don't know how to live without you either"

"Let's not waste this moment Cole" said Phoebe looking up at him and then lifted herself to her toes to get more leverage and kissed him passionately.

It had been too long that they were apart, that they haven't kissed, and Phoebe found herself missing her Cole so much. She was practically crying and screaming inside because any moment The Angel of Destiny could take her away. She barely noticed that Cole picked her up and was taking her to their bedroom.

He placed her on the bed and took off her shirt with eagerness as Phoebe pulled open his pants. No words were spoken, only the heavy sounds of their breathing could be heard and in almost no time they were pressed against each other. This felt so different to Phoebe, the passion, the love making. It was something that she would never ever find in another man.

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Phoebe was wearing one of Cole's white button up shirts, and was watching him sleep. After their intense love making they were too exhausted to talk, and Phoebe was thankful. She watched as the moonlight hit his sleeping face making him look so innocent.

"That's what you were all this time, Cole" whispered Phoebe. "An innocent, and my biggest mistake was listening to everyone else but myself. I'm so sorry"

She kissed his pink lips again and then leaned up as he shifted his position. Phoebe got off from their bed and glanced around their bedroom. Memories from when they spent time together.

No, that was The Source and his Queen, she thought sadly.

Phoebe left their bedroom and made her way towards her children's room.

Madison and Ben

Two precious angels that her and Cole created. That was what they could have had if she hadn't been so damn stubborn the past few months. If she would have opened her heart. But could anyone blame her. Could he?

She gave each of them a kiss.

"I wish I could have been a better mother to you" said Phoebe softly. Unshed tears came to her eyes as she thought of the child she so quickly vanquished. That child could have been actually twins…could have been these two sweethearts. She stifled a sob…if she had fought harder for her child's life maybe she would have been opened to Cole. Maybe he wouldn't have gotten so crazy.

Because he was right he could not live without her, she had been his salvation she opened his human side, and he had opened her heart. They were one, they were soul mates. Phoebe left that bedroom and saw The Angel of Destiny about 40 feet in front of her.

"I didn't want to disturb you" he said solemnly.

"So now it's time?" asked Phoebe bitterly. "You're going to take me away"

"I have to Phoebe" said The Angel. "There's nothing I can do"

"You can tell me how to get Cole back" pleaded Phoebe. "He was vanquished in an alternate reality right? He has to be alive…the wasteland"

"I'm afraid not Phoebe"

"You bastard!" she cried angrily. "You, The Elders didn't warn us about The Source living under our own roof. How could they not know!"

"Phoebe…" started The Angel of Destiny. "It's time to move on. I gave you this chance to be in this alternate reality. To give you your last goodbye, to see what would have happened if things had turned out differently"

"Well if you concocted this somehow, you damn well got me wrong" sobbed Phoebe. "I was always happy with Cole. Never lusted after another man when I was with him"

"Like I told you things went sour, became too boring for you" said The Angel. "The only time you really felt it was when he was on the run from The Source or when you could control him Phoebe. Then when he changed a little too much for you, you pushed him away"

Phoebe stood there quietly.

"I hope that now you can move on, continue your duties as a Charmed One and now you have a piece of mind"

And before Phoebe could say anything she blacked out.