Long time no see, but still hope you like this anyway. I own nothing.

Chapter 3

The penthouse was dark, so dark that even after their eyes adjusted to it they still struggled to see each other. They were in separate places in every way. They had become separate people and they didn't know a solution for that as that sat in that unfathomable darkness. What had happened to their lives, to their marriage, to the love they shared. Was any of it real anymore; did they even love each other anymore? The answer didn't seem to be there, not to either of them. That was clear just by the silence when Phoebe entered the penthouse finding Cole sitting in darkness. It was in that moment that Cole voiced the question on both their minds.

"We weren't always like this, Phoebe…I wish we could go back to the way we were before," said Cole his voice strained his eyes on her. Phoebe didn't answer or respond right away. She didn't know what to say. Until finally their eyes met and staring straight into each other's eyes they both recognized that they had no hope. But neither of them voiced it. Phoebe didn't know what to say, she didn't even remember moving closer to him until sitting on the couch by his side still nothing was said.

"I don't know, Cole, wouldn't that mean we were repeating the past. You know that's impossible," whispered Phoebe meaning it as a joke, a way to break the tension that was rapidly building between them. It didn't do that though. It only seemed to build it more and then suddenly she grabbed his hand. She hadn't meant to do it, but it had just happened making him look at her more.

"Maybe not…maybe we can," whispered Cole wanting her to smile, to say okay let's give it a shot, but Phoebe's eyes only seemed to grow sadder until her hands covered her face as she released a sob.

"A long time ago, I might have believed it was possible, but now Cole, I think it's too late. We've changed…so much so that we're not us anymore. I don't know you anymore and you don't know me. We don't know each other," exclaimed Phoebe the tears lacing her voice making him want to undo everything he had done. All the evil she didn't know about. He wanted to prove her wrong that was why he moved slowly closer to her. That was when she looked at him again.

"I always thought I could trust you, you kept me together once, and now it feels like you're tearing me apart," exclaimed Phoebe that moment with the stranger flashing through her mind. She knew what that encounter made her, and she blamed him, but also herself. She had let them get to this point. It was as that thought went through her mind that Cole touched her face making her look at him and not letting her look away. The silence resumed as they stared at each other each trying to find the words to say. Until Cole took all her words from her as his lips gently kissed her. His hands still tenderly caressed her face and as she started to cry Cole wiped her tears away. Afterward, they stared at each other before his lips ghosted over hers one last time.

"Phoebe" breathed Cole his voice smooth his heart beating fast as he looked at her trying not to let images from earlier today flash through his mind. That was why he couldn't say he loved her now because it didn't seem right. Not after what he had done. Today had meant nothing and looking at her, he knew he was still in love. He would always love Phoebe.

"Then why don't I feel you anymore? I don't even know you, you are not the man I fell in love with," said Phoebe.

"Yes, I am, Phoebe. Or at least I can be again," exclaimed Cole grabbed her hands trying to get her to look at him again, but this time she wouldn't.

"Let's learn to love again. Let's get to know each other again," whispered Cole grabbing her face seconds later.

His movements were animalistic in that moment. Phoebe wanted to say no to pretend not to like it, but as his lips scoured hers she couldn't. It was the type of love from him she had been longing for. That was why her hands touched his chest and gripped his shirt.

"Cole?" gasped Phoebe her heart pounding as she remembered when they were like this all the time. Soon, they were ripping each other's clothes off.

"We can be us again, Phoebe," growled Cole his lips running over her neck sensually touching her sides the way she liked as she moaned his length at her core only a second before he slipped inside. He felt so good, so hot, so big, and as he moved inside her their lips met.

"We still have a chance, Phoebe, I know we do," gasped Cole moving inside her as he spoke his eyes peering down into hers. Phoebe didn't respond and closing her eyes she let his words fade away. She didn't want to think about their future or lack thereof. She wanted to just enjoy this rare moment between just the two of them. But then he touched her face making her look at him on instinct. She could tell he wanted her to say something, but looking at him she just couldn't. So, she did the only thing, and pulled his lips down to cover hers. The kiss was carnal and crazy and something they hadn't shared in so long. Words weren't needed. Not now and Cole accepted that for now.

"Oh god," exclaimed Phoebe breaking away suddenly as she came closer to the edge feeling as he buried his head in her neck. They stayed like that his lips on her neck leaving his mark. Phoebe closed her eyes again letting her mind fade away again until suddenly they flew open. She came before she was ready, but that made it all the better his breath fanning her neck as her nails ripped down his back into his skin.

"Phoebe," growled Cole when he came after her falling on top of her soon after that dreaded silence finding its way back to them until Cole turned looking her straight in the eye. But Phoebe didn't look back; she stared at the ceiling. Sex with them had always been fantastic. This was no exception, but something was missing. They both felt it as they laid there together and in that moment neither knew what to do about it.

"The fireworks weren't there this time," thought Phoebe finding that because of that she just couldn't look at him; she couldn't lie to him. With that thought, Phoebe sat up not bothering to even cover herself as she rose from the couch.

She could feel his eyes on her too. Cole wanted to scream at her. To ask her what was wrong, but he couldn't because he knew it would make nothing better. He wasn't sure if they could get better. So, he just watched her walk across the room wanting to run after her. But then she turned standing naked in the doorway to stare at him. She spoke then her eyes peering straight into his.

"I'm moving back in with my sisters, Cole," said Phoebe not even flinching as she said it. She simply turned around and walked away. Seconds later, Cole heard the shower turn on.

"I'm not giving up, Phoebe," called Cole knowing that trying might be useless, but not wanting to give up.

Cole fell back onto the couch then, he stared at the ceiling just like Phoebe had done, and he asked that question again. What had happened to them? What had happened to the love, the passion, the spark they once shared? And could they get it back?