Part Two

"I'm sorry."

I looked up from the pasta primavera I had no appetite for and set down my fork. "I'm the one who should apologize."

"I should never have left the way I did," Coop argued as he bent to kiss my cheek.

I threw my arms around his neck so I could kiss him properly, relieved when he didn't pull away from my embrace.

I released him, gazing at him, unsure where to begin.

He smiled and pulled a chair out to face me, reaching for the few strands of hair that had slipped free from my messy bun. He lightly touched my hairline, my cheek, my chin, and I was content by the silence between us.

"How are you feeling?" he eventually wondered.

"Where'd you go?" I asked at the same time. "Okay," I immediately answered him, lightly rubbing his forearm that rested on the table's edge. When his eyebrow arched and he took stock of my full dinner bowl, I conceded, "I threw up breakfast and lunch. But," I nodded to my bowl, "third time's the charm, right?"

He leaned forward, kissing my forehead, before he stood, "I'll make some toast and tea. Would you prefer --"

I managed to grab hold of his shirt, "Coop, please…" He reluctantly sat and I reached for his hand, "Can't you tell me where you were or…oh, I see…"

He brought my hand to his lips before answering, "Don't worry, Phoebe, it was Cupid's business." He must've sensed my wariness because he continued, "A couple of federal agents in Atlanta needed another push in the right direction." He sighed, "After all these years, they're still afraid to give in to the sparks between them."

As curious as I was to know more, at the moment I was only concerned about one couple in love. But it all came out in a jumbled mess, "Do you -- Can we -- Would it be okay if -- How about -- "

"I know you love me, Phoebe," he interrupted with a chuckle. "And I'm not going anywhere," he added more seriously.

I let out a breath I hadn't been aware I'd been holding. "I do love you, more than I ever thought possible."

"I know," he smiled warmly as he stood. "But I think that right now I'm not the one who needs to know."

"I don't understand," I whispered, afraid to hear his explanation.

Gently lifting me from my seat at the table, he carried me over to the sofa. When he sat next to me, he immediately pulled me into his lap where I happily snuggled closer.

"I love you, Phoebe." He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. "But I'm not the only one."

"The only one who counts," I promised, kissing his neck.

"Perhaps," he murmured.

"Not perhaps," I pulled away, "definitely." I wasn't sure what to make of the expression he wore. "You don't believe me. Deep down, you doubt what I feel for you."

He quickly grabbed my two hands and brought both to his lips. "I feel your love for me," he fiercely assured me. "I know how deep and true it runs," he added before kissing my lips.

But I didn't want him placating me and I scrambled off his lap. "Then what is it? I'm so sorry about this morning, Coop. It wasn't until after you left that I realized I'd been dreaming the whole time. Not of the future," I quickly clarified as I stepped back from my husband who also stood, "but of the past, my past with Cole. It was after the coronation and I was settling into my new life as Queen and I was having mood swings and morning sickness and I'd vanquished a number of his demon colleagues and I --"

"Hush…"

I did but more because of the two fingers he pressed to my lips than because I felt I'd made my point. I couldn't help but nip at them, relieved when he smiled in return.

Framing my face between his hands, he leaned closer, our foreheads practically touching. "I love you, Phoebe, and I know you love me. But I also know and accept the piece of your heart that Cole still holds." He must've seen something in my face because he immediately cut off any protest by saying, "He does and you know it. Deep down, you know it. And while I appreciate your trying to spare my feelings, I don't want you worrying about it. I'm a Cupid. I'm rather tolerant when it comes to love," he smiled.

I tried to smile in return but all I felt was my lower lip quivering.

He gently pressed his hands together as if willing the words to enter my brain. "Don't deny your feelings for him, Phoebe, not any more and certainly not for me."

But I could only stand there shaking my head as tears began to sting my eyes.

"Don't cry," he whispered, lightly brushing away my tears with his thumbs. "It's okay to love him and I'm sorry I haven't assured you of that earlier."

"But --"

"No buts. I was caught off-guard this morning but I shouldn't have left without making sure you understood."

After he wrapped his arms around me, I nuzzled his chest and admitted, "I'm not sure I do. You still seem so upset."

"With myself, love," he sighed, "never with you."

"You didn't do anything wrong," I insisted, rubbing his back. "I did."

He pulled back slightly and tilted my chin up, gripping it so I couldn't look away. "No. You didn't. It was only a dream." He loosened his grip on my chin but kept me in his arms. "But I let it go too long," he rued. "After our trip through your romantic past, I never pushed you to deal with your feelings for Cole because you seemed to have turned the corner when it came to love."

"You helped break that block around my heart," I quietly acknowledged. "The one I never realized I'd had."

"Of all your loves, Cole was the only one I should have pressed further about because, unlike all the others, you never had closure with him. And now this pregnancy is bringing up your pas--"

I broke free of his light grip and spun from him. "This pregnancy is nothing like that one! I can't believe you would even think I would compare the two!"

"I don't," he stated as his hands settled on my shoulders. "But they are bringing up memories you'd once buried. No matter how much you love me, your subconscious hasn't forgotten Cole or the life you shared with him, the future you'd planned with him."

"Keyword: subconscious," I declared as I slowly turned around. "Cole is in my past along with whatever dreams I'd had for us."

"But that doesn't mean the love has to end," he argued. "I'm a Cupid, sweetheart, and more than anyone I know that some people will spend a lifetime with more than one love. There's no shame in --"

"I'm not ashamed of loving him!"

"Good," he grinned, "I'm glad you're not that far in denial. Besides, I'd hate to think the Cupids had lost their touch."

"I'm very well versed in how Cupids don't mix demons and love," I indignantly reminded him. "Cupids had nothing to do with me and Cole falling in love."

"He was only half-demon," my husband shrugged, still grinning.

"Don't be cute," I warned. "You know damn well what I mean. Cole and I were on our own the whole time."

"And yet he became the love of your life."

If I didn't love Coop so much, I'd have wanted nothing more than to knock that stupid grin off his face.

Something must have registered with him because his grin did fade into a stern frown. "Phoebe…"

"Fine," I threw my hands up in the air, "fine, I love Cole. He was the love of my life. Are you happy now?"

"Immensely," he chuckled.

I glared at him, wishing he didn't seem so smug. But I didn't resist when he pulled me back into his arms. "I love you, Coop. You're my destiny. Remember that."