Part Three

"And then he had to leave. I think that pair in Atlanta again, something about re-enacting dinner with goat and couscous but without alcohol…doesn't matter," I sighed as I leaned back in my seat, "as long as we're okay."

"I'm glad things worked out yesterday," Paige said. But I could feel her concern coming through her words.

"They did," I grinned, recalling how I'd greeted Coop when he came home, "most definitely. So don't worry." I glanced at Piper who also sat opposite me in her kitchen, "Both of you. I'm completely in love with my husband and we have this perfect future ahead of us and --"

"There's no such thing as a perfect future," Piper cautioned.

I picked up my plate and carried it to the sink, giving one last lick to the chocolate icing stuck to my fork. "You know what I mean...Things are so good for me and Coop. We've got this unbelievable bond," I rubbed my tiny bump, "a ladybug on the way…" I couldn't help but smile, "It's just perfect…"

"Phoebe…"

"What about this business over Cole?" Paige intervened before Piper started in again with worrying over how we shouldn't ever forget that demons are still out there waiting for the opportunity to test the Charmed Ones once more.

"I told you, Paige," I sighed, "he completely understood about my dream and --"

"You called him Cole," she interrupted. "Don't you think that means something?"

"No, I honestly don't. It was a dream, Paige, a memory of something that happened years ago, triggered by my heavy workload and constant morning sickness."

"But don't you think you should give his suggestion a try?" my ever-skeptic younger sister persisted.

"What suggestion? You don't think he was serious about me talking to Cole?"

She pointed a forkful of chocolate cake at me, "I'm the one who was there at the end so maybe Coop has a point about you needing to find closure with Cole."

I was feeling too good about not having been sick to my stomach the entire day so I didn't snap as I reminded her, "Cole was vanquished in a reality that doesn't exist. You and Coop can't change the fact that there is no Cole to talk to."

Paige invited our older sister to speak with an impatient wave of her hand, "Well?"

I narrowed my gaze on Piper, "You have been rather quiet the whole time I've been here. You okay?"

"What if there was a way?" Piper asked instead, pushing aside her barely touched slice of cake.

"Of course," Paige snapped her fingers. "You could light a candle, say a blessing in his name, maybe at the mausoleum. That was your place, wasn't it? You could talk to him there in order to find that closure you need."

"I suppose I could," I shrugged. "Maybe it would be good for me. I'll think about it. Okay?" I bent to kiss Piper on the cheek, "Thanks for the snack, sweetie, but I'd better get home and start dinner for Coop. And you," I went over to Paige, "thanks for the suggestion and for understanding my current no-orbing-except-in-case-of-extreme-emergency policy."

"Strictly saving myself some dry cleaning bills," she teased as I kissed her cheek.

"Love you…Bye boys!" I shouted as I headed out the back door.

"You can talk to Cole."

Piper hadn't spoken loudly but I'd still heard her and turned around.

"Of course she can talk to Cole," Paige shrugged, "that's what we were just talking about."

"No," Piper shook her head, not lifting her eyes from her plate, "I mean she can really talk to him."

I slowly made my way back inside. "His soul doesn't exist in this reality, Piper. I can't call for him. It's impossible."

Her emotions were a jumbled mess but I sank down into the chair next to her when I realized she was utterly serious…and truthful. "Tell me, Piper."

"He's not gone," she announced, finally looking at me.

I glanced to Paige, who shrugged in confusion, before focusing again on Piper. "Of course he's gone," I confirmed in a voice that unexpectedly lacked conviction. My mind was racing almost as fast as her emotions. "Paige was there, Piper. She was there in that other reality when the Charmed Ones vanquished him for good. He's gone. Cole is gone."

"No," she whispered, "he's not."

I knew I'd never make it to the bathroom in time so I raced for the garbage, heaving every last crumb of chocolate cake into the can.

Both sisters had run to my side and were talking as they supported me but all I heard was Piper's statement that Cole wasn't gone. Over and over as I continued to retch, I heard those three little words, "No he's not."

Spent, I leaned into my older sister while my younger one handed me a damp towel to wipe my mouth. I let Piper lead me back to the table but quickly turned down Paige's remaining cup of tea. "Just tell me," my voice croaked.

Piper swept some hair off my face and kept holding my hand with her other one. "He's in limbo, sweetie."

"Limbo?" I gasped.

"Limbo as in where you went when the Elders decided to test Leo's love for you?" Paige questioned. "That limbo?"

"I don't understand," I admitted. I had to be missing something. "What does Cole have to do with limbo?"

Piper now took both of my hands in hers and lightly squeezed them. "He was there. He was in limbo with me."

I shook my head, "It doesn't make any sense. Why? How?"

"I was a bit too angry to pay much attention to his explanation," she admitted, "but it's true. He's in limbo and he's there for eternity."

The room spun and I felt her grab my shoulders. "Phoebe!"

I sagged back in my seat, closing my eyes, "He's alive?"

"No," Piper corrected me, "he's not. He's just --"

"The old friend," Paige interrupted and I quickly looked at her. "He's the old friend who helped you."

Piper nodded, "I didn't think I should tell you. Leo wanted me to but I wasn't sure how you'd react, either of you, so I didn't. I'm sorry, Phoebe."

"We owe him a lot," Paige acknowledged. "He helped save you and Leo."

"And me," I realized in a whisper. Because of Leo sacrificing everything for Piper while she was in limbo, because of Drake, I had started believing again in the power of love. And Cole had been there. Oh God. "I didn't imagine it."

"Imagine what?" Paige asked.

"There was a moment, only a moment, when I thought I sensed something familiar. It felt like Cole but I knew it couldn't be him so I chalked it up to a fleeting bit of imagination. But it was him, Piper. That's what you're saying, right?"

She nodded, "Between the look on your face and the look on his…every time I've ever wondered if I should've told you, that's the image that's haunted me."

I covered my face with my hands and hunched forward, "Oh my God. Cole."

I felt Piper's arms around me. "I'm so sorry, Pheebs. I didn't want to hurt you and he never told me whether or not I should tell you."

"What did you mean about him being there for eternity?" I heard Paige ask.

Piper rubbed my back and rocked me, "It's his penance."

I abruptly pulled away, "For eternity?!"

"Despite the good, he was evil for a lot longer," Paige softly reminded me, "more than a century of evil."

"And he's paid for those sins," I snapped. But I quickly added, "And even if not, he doesn't deserve to be there alone for eternity!"

"Calm down, Pheebs. It's not good for you to get too worked up. Between the three of us, I'm sure we can figure out a way for you to talk to him," Paige offered.

"Without killing you," Piper somberly added.