-1The Road Not Taken
Chapter 9
A/N: Thank you for the reviews everyone! I hope this will make you happy to know that a few days ago I completed the fic so you don't have to wait another year to see it finished. Enjoy the next chapter. Oh and just so you know…I really really dislike Paige.
Piper Halliwell sighed as she stopped by her younger sister's room. She could hear muffled sobs through the door. This was nothing new to Piper. Even if Phoebe tried to hide it Piper knew that Phoebe though relieved was mourning the death of her ex-husband. Cole had been the world to Phoebe and vice versa. Piper placed her hand on the doorknob and opened the door slowly she saw Phoebe sitting up on her bed crying and hugging her knees.
Phoebe looked up to see her older sister looking at her sympathetically.
"Go away" said Phoebe as she placed her head back onto her knees.
Piper played with her hands slightly before shutting the door halfway and made her way towards Phoebe. She didn't know what to say…what could she say?
Sorry the love of your life is dead, but everything will be okay!
If it had been Leo, Piper wouldn't know what she would do, and now Phoebe was going through a pain that Piper never wanted to experience. Piper sat on the edge of the bed and stared at Phoebe.
"I let evil win…again" sobbed Phoebe. "I let him go too easily"
"Sweetie you didn't let evil win" explained Piper. She sighed. "Things got out of hand. Things were overlooked"
"So easy to put into words"
Piper bit her bottom lip.
"Would it help if we lit a candle…give peace to his soul?"
"What the hell would that do Piper!" cried Phoebe as she stared at her sister red-faced. "It won't bring him back"
Piper was taken aback by her sister's outburst.
"And my baby…my baby" whispered Phoebe.
Piper put her own hand on her belly, she closed her eyes. Phoebe was always good at hiding her feelings. Bottling up stuff…Piper always wondered if Phoebe needed therapy for her losses. Especially since she never mourned her child…never even mourned the loss of Cole properly.
Piper touched her sister's shoulder and embraced her. They stayed like that for awhile before Phoebe's sobs became silent. Piper didn't say anything she felt she said enough the past year.
"I was in an alternate reality" murmured Phoebe as she wiped her tears and leaned up.
Piper handed her a box of Kleenex while giving her a perplexed look. "What are you talking about Pheebs?"
Phoebe squeezed her eyes shut and sighed heavily. "An alternate reality…the Angel of Destiny came and showed me my life with Cole if I had changed the night The Source took over him"
"When did this take place?"
"All last night…a couple days in that reality must have meant one night here" she concluded. "Anyway it wasn't happily ever after that's for sure"
She blew her nose and laughed. "I was Freebie again…sleeping around, I had twins but I wasn't sure of the paternity…and you and Cole were pretty close. Paige of course cheered for our divorce"
Piper raised her eyebrows. "And you believe that"
Phoebe shook her head. "I don't know…The Angel said that I grew bored of our relationship that there was no mystery, no danger…I think that's complete bull"
She looked at Piper. "All I ever wanted was peace, and love with Cole"
"And for him to be human" added Piper.
"It would have been easier" said Phoebe. "At least that's what we thought…but Cole had never lived as a human…he had never been without powers. He has never been so vulnerable and it killed him. I changed him without regard to his needs"
"Phoebe listen to me it's not your fault" said Piper sternly. "You didn't even throw the potion when you vanquished Balthazar, and you didn't even vanquish him in that alternate universe"
"But I put that crystal down in that penthouse" said Phoebe a whole new set of tears spilling out. "I ultimately put that dagger through his heart"
"And he broke yours too, he's not the only hurt one"
"No, but he didn't come out of this alive" sobbed Phoebe. "But since when does a Halliwell relationship come out happily ever after without death"
"Me and Leo…"
"He's already dead and you have had your fair share of hurt over that"
Piper nodded. "What can I do to make you feel better?"
Phoebe shrugged. "I guess I just need time"
She noticed Paige standing at the doorway looking pensive.
"Hey" said Phoebe. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Since the start of the alternate reality thing" said Paige stuffing her hands into her pockets. "I'm sorry Phoebe for your loss"
Phoebe nodded. "You had to do it…"
Paige nodded. "Yeah I did"
She walked over to Phoebe and embraced her while Piper watched. As soon as Paige touched her Phoebe was thrown into a premonition. Piper watched in concern as Phoebe stiffened.
"You bitch" she gasped.