Chapter 15 – And So It Is.

The doorbell buzzed just as Steffi was about to feed Grace. She sighed, then continued and went to go and get the door.

"Oh, hey Cole! We weren't expecting you for a while yet!" Steffi tried to cover herself up as Cole turned away politely. When she was finished, Cole went to kiss her and she turned her cheek, knowing that he would forget what had happened and try to kiss her a little differently. She smiled awkwardly, and moved back.

"I've got a meeting soon, so I thought I'd pop in early… this is my little goddaughter then, hmm?" He reached out to touch Grace's cheek, and Steffi gave her to him. He cradled her gently, and Steffi smiled at the sight of them.

"She's called Grace… isn't she beautiful?"

"Not as beautiful as her mother, but when we look at her history then perhaps that's a blessing." Cole wouldn't look at Steffi when he spoke. "So how are you?"

"Me? I'm not so bad, not so bad at all. Things are improving between me and Phil finally; we're actually touching each other now."

"What was wrong with you two then?"

"You want the nice answer, or the honest answer?"

"Honest; it would be nice to hear you telling the truth for once." Steffi bit her lip, trying to keep her temper.

"It was you, actually. I had Cole on the brain and it started to screw with my marriage, but we're okay now. I think it's because I know this baby couldn't be yours, not with those eyes." She took Grace back and held her against her breast.

"Good to know I have a lasting impression, isn't it?"

"If you like."

Steffi made her way into the kitchen, trying to escape the oppressive atmosphere between the two of them. Putting Grace down in the cot which Phil had put in the kitchen, she sighed heavily. Why was this so hard? It was just Cole, the one true love of her life… wait; he couldn't be, not if she loved Phil. She did love Phil, but then again she wasn't quite over Cole… Putting her head in her hands, she closed her eyes.

"How can you love two people without breaking apart?" Steffi said to no one in particular. Grace began to cry, and Steffi tried to pull herself together. When she had, she turned around to see Cole comforting Grace.

"Sorry, she was crying and I thought you were asleep or something… look do you want me to go? You're tired and I'm snippy, we're no good like this. I can come back later if you want."

"No, you don't have to do that. Let me just feed Grace and then I can put her down for her nap, but then we need to talk."

When Steffi returned, Cole had made two cups of steaming coffee and was sat on the sofa smiling slightly.

"You make a great mom. You look so natural with Grace, it's like she's a part of you."

"Of course she's a part of me, she was in my stomach for nine months," Steffi said, returning his smile.

"I forget these things, leave me alone." Steffi went and sat on the opposite side to Cole, picking up a mug of coffee and sipping it happily.

"This has to be one of the best mugs of coffee I have ever drunk. Maybe it's because it's my first cup since I got out of hospital… I don't know. But yesterday I got home and Phil had done the living room up for a party and Marcus and Katy were here, and then I was so tired I fell asleep on this here sofa." She patted it affectionately.

"I can remember another time when you fell asleep on this here sofa," Cole said, his voice sounding far away. "It was two nights before I was due to leave for San Francisco, and it was just you and me. Phil was working and you weren't pregnant… I remember it so well." Steffi sighed and drank more coffee.

"Maybe you should start to let it go," she said carefully. "After all, it's over a year ago now, and a lot of water has passed under the bridge."

"Why should I let go of some of the happiest memories I have? You can't sit here and tell me that you've let every happy memory we had go to waste just because we broke up."

"No, I just try not to remember them in such detail. It's a waste of my time, looking back at what we've had and lost – twice. If it happens more than once… it's an omen, in my opinion. Now can we just forget about it and have a conversation which doesn't revolve around us?" Cole looked at her silently, and she tried to hold his gaze, but could not. She opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off by Cole's unexpected kiss. She told herself not to respond, but found herself putting her arms around his neck and kissing back, enjoying the passion and familiarity. Neither of them heard the key in the lock, scratching around then the opening of the door. Neither of them saw the head of scruffy brown hair poke around the corner. They only sprang apart when the head said,

"So this is why you said no, is it Cam?"

"Marcus, it's not like that at all… we're not doing anything…" Steffi desperately tried to push Cole off her and pull her shirt back over herself, as Cole wiped his mouth and moved away, looking sheepish.

"You just can't keep your hands off each other, can you? I think that's just… you know, words can't describe what I think about that! Cam, all I've heard you say recently is how much you love Phil; doesn't bloody well look like it now, does it?" Marcus was shaking with rage and betrayal, and Cole sat up to look at Steffi.

"You love Phil? But you… you can't!"

"I can, and I do. But I've still got feelings for Cole… oh, God." Steffi put her head in her hands and began to sob quietly as Marcus stormed out and Cole watched her, speechlessly.

"Oh my God… you still love me."

A/N and Disclaimer: Charmed belongs to the WB.

Of course Steffi still loves him. What kind of idiot doesn't realise that? And that Marcus is just dumb if he thinks he can replace Cole.