Chapter 7 – Goodbye To You.

Two days later, Steffi was sat typing at her desk. She sighed as she saw the next letter she was due to write – a thank you to Mr Cole Turner. She pressed the button on her intercom and said to Tom,

"There's a letter here that I would prefer not to write. Could you do this one yourself?"

"That depends – who's it to?"

"Cole."

"In that case, keep writing. You never know, it might help."

"I don't need help," Steffi said irritably. "I just need people to stop reminding me of that moron!"

"Now, now, Miss Miller," Tom said, appearing in the doorway. "I think we both know you don't think he's a moron. You love him, don't you?"

"No I don't! He's arrogant, cheeky, presumptuous, idiotic, simple… he's no good for me. I need Phil, not Cole."

"Steffi," Tom said with a sigh. "Come into my office." She obliged, and when she had sat down opposite him at his desk, he steepled his fingers and looked at her.

"I know it's hard for you, especially after all that time you spent trying to forget him. But I want you to talk to me about how you feel, and I promise it won't go outside these four walls."

"He's nothing to me anymore. I hate him! He had no right to give Phil such a beating, and I'll be damned if I let him stay in my life after that! Besides, you're wrong. I don't love him anymore; I found that out after I slept with him again. I find him vulgar and unattractive, and… and… and completely and utterly adorable." She put her face in her hands and sighed. Tom put a hand on her arm comfortingly, and said quietly,

"You don't have to be so strong, you know. He broke your heart, and it's allowed to hurt. So take it out on him, scream and curse and fight with him. Just promise me that when the time comes you will do the right thing; by him and by you."

"Thanks, Tom," Steffi said after a long pause. "But without Cole, I haven't got the strength to get through the day. Everything I used to love doing seems a little less exciting, and life just loses its general wonder. Without Cole, I almost don't have a life. I have a shell of a life, with shells of people around me."

"Steffi," Tom said, and he took her hands. "Go and see Cole, and tell him how you feel. Vent all your anger, all your sadness, and tell him that you love him. If you go now, you might catch him before he boards his plane."

"His plane?"

"Yes; have you forgotten? He leaves for San Francisco today." Steffi stood up so fast her chair almost toppled over.

"Shit! How could I forget?" She shimmered out quickly, and into his hotel room.

Cole was just locking the door when he thought he saw a flicker in the bathroom mirror. He shook his head, and thought he must be imagining things, when he heard a familiar voice calling to him.

"Cole? Cole? Oh God, Cole, please be here! I need you…" Cole shook his head again, remembering the previous two evenings when he had awoken, thinking he could hear Steffi calling to him only to find that the windows had blown open in the wind. He went to lock the door once more, and then froze when he saw Steffi walk out of his bathroom and into the bedroom cum living room. She sat on the edge of the bed and began to cry softly, and Cole's heart melted.

"Steffi? Is that you?" He opened the door, and she looked up.

"Cole…" She rushed over to him, throwing her arms round him and kissing his face and neck. He held her tightly; stroking her hair and inhaling her scent for what he imagined would be the last time.

"You came to say goodbye, I take it?"

"N-no… I came to tell you that I love you, and that Phil really is a terrible mistake on my part."

"Steffi, that's not funny. I love you, and you treat it like its some kind of joke! Well I'm sorry, but I can't be that way when we're talking about my feelings…" He released her and she looked up at him with imploring eyes.

"I really am sorry, Cole. Please believe me when I say this, because up until twenty minutes ago you never would've heard me saying these things. I love you more than I love life itself, and I know you may find this hard to believe what with recent circumstances. I look at Phil and I see stability, kindness, a man who's predictable, comfortable with the way people see him, and not happy within himself for what he is. I look at you and I see unpredictability, a man who isn't afraid to be himself, and so much love it makes my heart ache to think that I lost you. Please, Cole, if you don't believe me, believe what I feel and what I pray you still feel for me."

Cole stood speechless, staring at her with glassy eyes. Steffi tried to hold his gaze, but could not, and turned her face away. After what seemed to be a long time, she spoke.

"Well, I guess I should be going back to the office. I've got work to do, and the longer I leave it the later I leave the office. Goodbye, Cole." With that, she shimmered out.

A/N and Disclaimer: (must be sung to tune of Phantom of the Opera): I, I do not own 'Charmed', nor do I own Cole, but Tom and Steffi are, they are both all mine…

Goodbye to you… aww I love Michelle Branch, me. And Sarah McLachlan. Most chapter titles are either lyrics or song titles by her or other reputable artists. But see if you can spot the ones that aren't when this story ends, and PM me your answer. If it's right, then you shall have a sweetie. Or something like that. 932 words, by the way.