Candy Corn and Pumpkin Shells
Disclaimer: I just own the fanfiction. The characters all belong to Spelling and Co. This is a rather short Halloween piece. It takes place well after season four, and in a not so distant future. Phoebe unexpectedly runs into Cole at a work related Halloween party, and the only thing crossing her mind is his reluctance in signing the divorce papers, thereby making her a free woman. Will she have a change of heart before the night is over?
"Would I be lying if I said I'm strongly reconsidering making myself available to the wandering male eye again?" Phoebe Halliwell queried, as she attempted to delicately apply a very pink shade of lipstick to her lips, her mouth turning into a slight pout at the pronounced effort it suddenly required. "I mean I think I've finally convinced myself that I actually have a chance these days, you know? Granted, we still have to keep the whole witch thing a secret, but it's not like that's new, right?" She reluctantly pulled herself away from the small vanity table, easily snapping the cap onto the cosmetic with a fleeting bout of exhaustion, glancing hopefully at her younger sister. "Have you even heard a word I've said?"
"Yeah, but are we going to a circus, or a party?" Paige Matthews retorted, regarding the other Charmed One with a rather perplexed expression, her hand promptly reaching for another tube of lipstick seated directly across from her. "Here. Try this one instead. It won't make you look like you're desperately trying to relive the eighties. Plus, I'm betting it also doesn't come off when you make with all the kissing on a random date."
Phoebe scoffed, as she quickly pulled it from her grasp, her reflection gazing back at her in the mirror, her long brown locks brought back into countless heaps of curls, her wrinkled gown rumpling slightly from the brief sense of movement. "There aren't going to be any smooches tonight, Paige. I have scruples."
Paige wrinkled her nose, as she mindlessly shrugged, helping herself to a faded shade of eyeliner upon the dresser. "Yeah, and the scruples certainly aren't helping you deal with the obvious, are they?"
"The obvious?" Phoebe repeated strangely.
"Here you are, it's Halloween night, you're all dressed up, you've got your fancy little costume..."
"But..."
"But no date," she observed fondly, raising an eyebrow. "For someone your age, that's mighty....odd."
"And I told you, it's been over for awhile now. Which means...I don't want to talk about it. Ever again."
"Aren't you being just a little judgmental?"
"Coming from you, I would say that's an understatement."
"Phoebe, you have to get back out there! You can't keep punishing yourself for this. It happened...okay? It happened, and for a minute there, you were actually happy. You can't allow yourself to feel so...."
"So...?"
"Bleh! It's unhealthy."
"And so is nagging your sister when she was starting to feel a little more positive about tonight. Breaking up doesn't mean the end of the world. It just means I couldn't deal with the complexity of the relationship."
Paige sighed, as she hung her head in her heads, quietly pursing her lips, her eyes falling vacant to the carpet below. She hesitated a moment, as she finally rose to her feet, offering a short exhausted pat to her knees. "Is Elise actually charging the people who don't work for her, or is that just a rumor?"
Phoebe smiled. "When you're all painted up, I'm sure she won't even know the difference."
"He is still your husband, you know. Remember that, would you?"
The Charmed One carefully planted a hand upon her hair, checking once more to make sure the long curls had continued to stay in their proper places. Attempting to slip into the heels she'd recently purchased for the event, she immediately groaned a bit louder than she'd expected, when she finally realized what she'd done. "Dammit."
"Well. I guess Cinderella really can't go to the ball, after all," Paige commented, smirking slightly, as she eyed up her sister with a newfound sense of curiosity. "I mean, not unless she expects to become a pumpkin before midnight."
"So I picked up the wrong size. It's not entirely uncommon to make that kind of blunder in the world of fashion these days."
"It is when you're more than a little distracted," Paige filled in.
"Phoebe blushed a bright shade of crimson, as she struggled to fit the shoe onto her foot for a second time, despite the recent hindrance on her part, her hands turning a faded white from the forced effort.
"You can borrow a pair of mine, okay?"
"Paige-"
"I don't want you hurting yourself. It's hard work being the belle of the ball."
She laughed then, in spite of the situation, randomly tossing the shoes aside. Picking up her dress, she began to make her way over to the closet, uncomfortably bending down to the very bottom of the compact room, her hands feeling their way through the dark. "I guess I just wish I could finally live the fantasy. I mean, all my life I depended on that one single fairy tale to make it the only reality I knew how. But...it's always just been wishful thinking on my part, because no matter how real I try and make it, it can't ever happen. Girls don't find their true loves at parties, and glass slippers don't prolong the romance. In fact, I don't even think I've ever owned any glass slippers."
Paige's expression melted, as she took a step closer to her, her arms finding their place across her chest. "But you look beautiful. If it's any consolation, the dress could be the real deal."
"Yeah, well, you can thank Grams for that," Phoebe mumbled, her speech barely audible, as she dove her head back into the closet.
"But what if you could make it come true?"
Swerving being buried alive beneath the long skirt that suddenly clouded her line of vision, she pulled herself out, meeting her sister's gaze rather seriously. "What?"
"Not permanently- but only for a few minutes? What if you could live your life like her?"
Phoebe bit her lower lip, as she felt the corners of her mouth twitch rather faintly, her hands absentmindedly shaking without her knowledge as she recovered a pair of weather-beaten sandals, scrunching up her nose. "These will have to do."
"But I already told you-"
"No. I'd rather wear something that still symbolizes who I am. Because lately, I really do think I've started to lose sight of that particular somebody."
"Hmm?"
"My identity."
"Do you still love him?"
"I don't know."
"Well, separation is only one step away from divorce," Paige reminded her. "It never lasts, and...truth be told, you're already more than halfway there."
"Maybe it's because I'm just not being honest with myself," she mused quietly.
"What's honesty, when you have all of that rage still built up inside of you?"
"And Cole never did anything but love me," she pointed out.
"Which is exactly why you owe him a better explanation."
"Since when did you become his-"
"Hey, I'm on your side, don't worry."
"Then why-"
"But the way it happened, kind of tells a different story," she added, shrugging.
"He's a man with stolen powers...a former demon half. I'm not over the risks, and he's still willing to take them. I'm not about to lose him to evil again. End of story."
"Yes, but he's been careful. I know you know that, and someday you'll realize his interests were better spent looking out for you."
"Okay. Who are you, and what have you done with my sister?"
"I'm just saying..."
"And as a lawyer, he's proved his worth more than most."
"Yeah, and while they may let a few lies loose to preserve the business, he never, ever lied about being in love with you," she concluded. "I mean, I'm no saint either. But that hasn't stopped me from making a fool of myself before."
"And with that said, you and I are going to make fools of ourselves at this party."
"I can hardly wait," Paige drawled tiredly.
"Um...aren't you two gonna be late?" another voice echoed in the hallway, as Piper Halliwell emerged from the stairwell, her figure donning a fairly thin apron, as she struggled to free herself from the oven mitts enclosing the palms of her hands. "You've been up here for what- almost two hours already?"
"Perfection takes time," Phoebe insisted, as she ran out to greet her, twirling around in her long gown, as she offered her older sister a low curtsy, her curls bobbing to and fro about her head. "Sure you don't want to come?"
"Actually, I'm still thanking my magical butt that I do not work for Elise," she deadpanned, throwing Phoebe a short smile. Her eyes slowly wandered over the finished product of the costume before her, as she raised her eyebrows in awe. "You're a vision. Really."
"You like it?"
"Who are you going as again?"
"Oh, just a princess. It's not masked, so I thought I'd improvise through creativity instead."
"I told her she didn't need that many sequins on the dress," Paige observed, grinning. "But does she ever listen?"
"They're tiny," Phoebe told her. "Practically going in unnoticeable."
"Oh. Wearing a dress like that? You're going to get noticed, believe me."
"Well, they're just going to have to wait in the wings for me then. Because this single gal is not ready to start giving out her phone number again just yet. I meant what I said."
"Oh, honey, guys are people too. You can't just exclude them because you suffered through a bad relationship," Piper suggested, throwing her baby sister a look. "You have to forgive and allow yourself to move on with your life."
"And if Leo did the same, wouldn't you have at least a few regrets?"
"Do I really have to answer that?"
"The point is, I'm destined to be miserable. I only ask that you let me be miserable in peace."
"In that case, can you make me a promise that you'll do the best you can to enjoy yourself on Halloween?"
"Trick or treat," Phoebe mumbled carelessly.
twenty minutes later "Playing with what?"
"You're fidgeting because you're still nervous, aren't you?"
"Who, me?"
"Paige, you look fine. Trust me, you don't need to worry."
"Easy for you to say. You're not the one who had to make yourself even more deathly pale than you already are."
"The black boots were a nice touch," she added. "They really complete the whole...Goth-like appearance, you know?"
"Then maybe we'll be good sisters and trade costumes next Halloween," she muttered. Examining herself briefly in the review mirror, she cautiously smoothed out the equally black shade that lay clothed across her lips. She absentmindedly inspected her teeth then, as her short matching wig toppled helplessly to the floor of the car, her hand immediately outstretched and reaching for its fallen location. "Ugh! It is not my night. I am such a mess!"
"Would you rather be at a party for your job tonight?"
"Phoebe, I quit my job. Remember? I turned in my weekly salary to help with the demonic brewings in the area?"
"Brewings?" her sister sounded out, slightly rolling her eyes.
"Troubles, problems...nevermind. Bottom line, I am only doing this because I love you. If it were anyone besides the immediate family, forget about it."
"And I'll love you right back for that," she lightly joked, giving her a quick pat on the back, her other hand once again checking her hair. "Do you think we'll get towed over here?"
"I guess it depends on whether or not Elise has it in for you," Paige concluded, taking out a tube of mascara.
"I thought you told me you only had to apply some finishing touches?"
"And I did. I have the top and the skirt, don't I? A little too vintage for my tastes, but..."
"What about your coat?"
"I appreciate the concern, but I think the weather will let me manage." She sighed heavily. "Just don't let it slip your mind that you dragged me along, and how I will forever remain in your debt. I could have just as easily crawled up on the couch with my little niece and caught a few late night comedies."
"Paige, Melinda is less than a year old. She doesn't even understand that television exists yet. And when you think about it, it's honestly better for her in the long run."
"Whatever. The fact of it is, I couldn't get a date either, and God help me, I'm actually feeling pretty bummed about it."
"Well, wonders never cease," her sister commented, yanking the key from the ignition. "What about that guy at the grocery store the other day? You said he was cute."
Paige glared at her. "Yeah. Cute. And also married- with five kids."
"Ouch."
"That pretty much sums it up, doesn't it? I never have the luck..."
"There'll be plenty of-"
"Which means you have to try and leave with someone too. If you're not planning on forgiveness, you really should be exploring other options."
"And if I finally admit that I'm still sitting on that one, would you maybe consider leaving me alone about it?"
"See, I knew it."
"Paige, if you breathe a word of this to-"
"Hey, my lips are forever sealed. Besides, love takes time. You above anybody should know that. Just don't be surprised if I don't come back for a ride. It can only mean that I've quite possibly found that special-"
"Prince Charming you dream about in storybooks," the old woman confessed, as she gently toasted her glass with her companion's, shifting her weight from one foot to the other as she adjusted the pointed black hat atop her head, smirking briefly at the thought. Her graying hair hung in rather limp tatters that she carefully patted with her free hand, a roughly manicured shade of bright purple nail polish covering each individual nail. "Can you imagine? I mean, for starters, does she really actually think all men are too good to be true nowadays? Because, sweetie, I'll tell you right now. I don't think I've ever met one I have appreciated for all he was worth." She took a sip from her wine glass, as she gestured with a thin arm. "No offense, of course. It's just that I'm still stuck on the whole movie idol persona of the decade....if you know what I mean. Mr. James Bond, 007. Now that was a man."
"I'm afraid I wouldn't know," Cole Turner commented as he took an equal graze from his coffee mug, his eyes wincing at her speech, as he nonchalantly pursed his lips. "James Bond always struck me as a kind of ladies man, to be rather blunt, Mrs. Davis. All may be fair in love and war, but if I remember right, he never, ever stayed with the same girl."
"Why, that's what I meant."
"Excuse me?"
"I was simply....surely you don't actually believe there is a man out there who still carries traditional values. That ended when chivalry ceased to exist and no longer began to impress me."
"Chivalry isn't dead," he offered. "And some men could just surprise you. Now, if you'll pardon me, I really do have to attend to some important business. It was awfully nice running into you like this, and with hope, maybe we'll do it again sometime."
"Your ring," she surmised then. "Is that a wedding band?"
He nodded, his eyes abruptly averting her prolonged stare, as he quickly pulled it out of view. "Yeah. Yes, I guess it is."
"Well, that's funny, isn't it? Because in all the time you helped settle my case, I just assumed you were going home to an empty house."
"I was," he whispered, as a slight tinge of pain covered his brow, his gorgeous visage threatening to crumble. Forcing the bravest smile he could muster, he glanced uneasily down at his worn sneakers, declaring a slight chuckle. "I've just got to prove to myself that she'll find her way back to me someday."
"She ran off?" Mrs. Davis stated rather shockingly, a hand going across her chest. "My, how dreadful."
"No. No...it was probably my fault. I was trying to crack this big case, and I- well...she thought my being a lawyer was just an excuse for making our relationship a lot more difficult than it needed to be. That I would bring the lies home to her in more ways than one."
"My Marvin was very skeptical too," she uttered, her eyes growing big from the memories. "Didn't trust me worth a damn."
"And...Marvin's...now deceased?"
"The old dope died in his sleep. Can you believe that? It was the silliest thing you'd ever heard of. But one day he was just gone."
"My condolences. I'm sure he was a great man."
"Not in the least. But I'll tell you, there's only one thing I still regret...one thing I didn't get to say to him before he died. I forgot to tell him a lot, as it was common practice where we could go days without speaking to each other, strangely enough."
"I'm sorry?"
"Love," she managed. "I was never able to tell him that I loved him." She regarded him more closely, as she took a firm hold on his hand rather unexpectedly. "And maybe that's why I'm so bitter. Why I can't bear to contend with the thought that I might find it again. If you have found it, if you know you've found it, treasure it with all you have." She released him then, her mind suddenly vanishing into a trance of preoccupation. "I should find Elise. I came because I was supposed to mention that awful young woman's new article in that pointless column of hers. We'll catch up later, hmm?"
"As I was trying to say before," he mumbled, as he watched her go off, the muscles in his face finally relaxing, as he gently shook his head, readjusting the sleeves of his gray sweatshirt upon his elbows. The music continued its loud invitation around him, droning in and out of tune. He briefly cleared his throat, half wondering why he'd even showed, if only to receive a puzzling heart to heart from an unrelenting old widow whose viewpoint failed to share an origin identical to his.
Then he saw her. His composure immediately brightening tremendously by her overwhelming appearance, he chose to get a better look, as his blues curiously ran over the sight of her. Clothed in a long, elaborate silver gown, the edges fighting a hopeless battle with the floor, the tail ends swept continuously to and fro, anonymously picking up pointless speckles of dust. Her pretty face was a vibrant shade of happiness, a deep smile deepening the color in her cheeks. Her hair was even longer now, carefully swept behind her in a swarm of loose curls. He felt his fingers losing their grip on his mug then, as he fought to bring it back into the comfort of his own hands, his consciousness starting to fail him. There she was....right in front of him. And yet he couldn't do a damned thing to get his legs moving.
"Well, look who decided to make an entrance," Paige mouthed casually. "No. Wait. On second thought, don't look. You'll only give him exactly what he needs to come over here and try and start an intellectual conversation with us, conveniently fitting in the question of why it had to end the way it did. Forget I said that, okay?"
"You're rambling," Phoebe observed, as she hesitantly let her brown eyes gaze the length of the room. "Did you find him already?"
"Huh?"
"A guy? Usually you only do that when you're head over heels in love with a new proposition."
"Well, yeah. He's actually by the punch bowl dressed as Mickey Mouse. I plan to make an introduction, but in all honestly, his hotness factor is besides the point. I mean, Cole."
"He never was one to get into the spirit," she remarked softly, as she finally took him in in the far corner, a small mug clasped within his strong hands, his stare transfixing itself right on her at that very same moment. Blushing, she couldn't help but further study his attractive countenance with more than a little interest, settling on the slightly scruffy complexion upon his profile, the five o'clock shadow lingering in her memory, as her gaze traveled to his thicker lower lip, parted slightly from the top. His jeans hung loosely upon his well compacted frame, his hair having been cut a bit, resting at the top of his head rather undisturbed, a few unnoticeable faded curls clinging to it. She couldn't count the day- she couldn't even analyze the number of months they'd spent away from each other. She knew it was long, but the period of time literally escaped her then, as she just as rapidly shunned her frame of vision from him, turning back to her sister. "Matter of fact, I don't even care," she recited simply.
"Maybe he's still trying to decide what I'm going as," Paige suggested hopefully. "Which, by the way...this bracelet is starting to kill me. And if I don't take it off right now, I have a feeling it's going to leave one hell of a mark in the morning."
"I told you you couldn't hope to fit that thing around your wrist again. It's been a few years since-"
"Oh. Well, thanks for trying to make me feel better," Paige commented dryly, rolling her eyes. "You're a real lifesaver, Pheebs."
"Well, someone's going to need to save her life," a not so pleasant voice echoed then, as Elise made her way roughly through the crowd, her plain attire standing out more to Phoebe than she would have liked, as she threw on the best smile she could muster, greeting her boss with a now hopeful grin. Elise did not appear the least bit impressed by her employee's last minute attempt at friendship, as she indicated a single finger to the right side of the room. "That's Mrs. Davis. In case the word hasn't gotten around, she happens to be holding your column ransom this week."
"What are you talking about?"
"She called it, and I quote 'the unrealistic expectations of a moral-less meddling minor.' Not exactly the stuff dreams are made of for aspiring writers."
"But I-"
"Look, Phoebe, I don't care how you do it. But if she's not thoroughly convinced otherwise after tonight, it may just cost you your job."
"I wrote about love," she protested. "About finding your place, and getting back on your feet again. You saw it, and you said it was harmless. I've got nothing but the best response so far."
"And Mrs. Davis still wishes God had brought Mr. Davis back from the dead. It isn't up for further discussion."
"So she's using her own grief to manipulate me?"
"Hardly. She's been a widow for over five years."
"It's an opinion," she stated. "No one's asking her to read it."
"And under normal circumstances, I'd keep my mouth shut. But it just so happens that she's one of San Francisco's most wealthy residents. Cole Turner helped her win a case against the terms of some-"
"Wait. Cole Turner?"
"Yes. He-"
"Dammit," she hissed. "I knew there had to be a reason why...." She nonchalantly set her glass of wine down upon the coffee table, as she picked up her dress with two shaky hands, her fingers threatening to slip right off the fabric. She pursed her lips. "Don't worry. I'll take care of it."
"Isn't he your husband?" Elise questioned oddly, throwing her a suspicious look.
"Which is why I said I'll take care of it. In fact, I'd say he's probably just waiting for a confrontation at this point."
"I don't think I need to warn you not to do anything that might jeopardize the lifeline of this company- because all of it depends on the customers. And if our customers aren't happy, I'm not happy. If the customers are pleased, then it works out great for both of us. Everybody’s meeting everybody halfway, and there's a mutual understanding."
"And with that said, I'm going to take this time to make a lasting impression on Mr. Punch Bowl over there," Paige concluded, her face a complete tabula rasa of the events unfolding in front of her. "This is not really my area of expertise, so..."
"Paige-"
"Good luck and all, but I'd rather not get on the really bad side of a former demon," she whispered under her breath.
"Fix it," Elise advised, as she began to head away, quietly shaking her head. "And Happy Halloween, hmm?"
"Paige," she hissed again.
"I'm sorry, Pheebs, but I just don't think it's my place to interfere with the inevitable," she added, shrugging, as she slipped a potato chip into her mouth, taking a quick sip from her drink of soda.
"Well, it's about time I quite delaying that inevitable then," she told herself, straightening up her composure, as she took a rather deep breath, carefully taking a step forward. Everything in her heart, in her entire being, was telling her to go back, to just forget about the whole thing and confront Mrs. Davis directly. But another part of her wanted to get it over with...wanted to make all of the hurt go away.
"Well. What is it this time? Coffee...penny for your thoughts...boxing match- winner take all?"
"You bastard."
"Not...exactly the response I was hoping for. But then again, you always were unpredictable, weren't you?" Cole regarded her with a slow, amused smile, running his hand the length of his stubbled complexion, as he gestured toward her briefly with his mug. "Some party."
"You're one to talk, you lying little backstabber. Great way to get back at me, Cole, wasn't it? I mean, in all honesty, if I was still taking self pity on myself like some people I know, I'd at least be a little less obvious."
"I'm sorry?"
"You can play dumb all you want. And maybe you can actually take comfort in the fact that the only reason I'm talking to you right now, is because-"
"And just for the record, I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh really?"
"Truth be told, I was invited tonight through the firm. Some guy from Jackman, Carter, and Kline helped an employee in your vicinity with some trouble concerning a case with her estate, and the rights her husband still possessed over the property. They were pretty close to a divorce, and it damn near cost her her job. All I'm doing, is accepting those kind words on behalf of that firm. If you still have a problem with it, I suggest you take it up with your boss."
"You must have known I'd be here," she insisted. "You and that...old hag that's pining to have me fired. But you know, I guess you two make a great team. You've got the whole subtle brooding thing down, and she's got the more direct approach. I mean, I truly did not ever think you'd sink so low. Old habits die hard, don't they?"
"I really wouldn't know."
"Wouldn't you?"
"And that dress really brings out your eyes," he noted casually, as he threw her a slight smirk. Absentmindedly covering his bottom lip with the top, he softly shook his head. His blue eyes looked about the crowded house again, his eyebrows perfectly arched. "You may or may not believe this, but contrary to what you've just assumed, I don't know any old hag- and even if I did, my private life remains private. I've never repeated a word of what went on between closed doors to anyone. Only that I regret-"
"Ever having loved me. Well, sure. Isn't that how you've always felt?"
"Dammit," he breathed. "Look. Would you please stop twisting my words around? It's chilidish, and so unlike-"
"Correct me if I'm wrong, Coleridge, but it wasn't even hard to see back then. Your priorities were everything but me."
"You've got some nerve," he whispered. "I'll give you that."
"You never loved me," she repeated. "And that's the end of it. I'm going to see that you go right down with me for this."
He sighed, moving closer to her, until their faces were no more than a few inches apart. "Is that really what you think?" he asked, his voice barely audible. "That we were nothing more than a mistake?"
"Cole, she's only after my column because of you. Nothing else could possibly explain a way around this. You sure as hell aren't going to admit it, but I will. And I'll be damned if I'm not going to be having the fun I promised myself tonight because of it."
"So it was you?"
"What?" she questioned, apparently confused. "What was me?"
"Alright. C'mon...I've had enough of this. We're going to cause a stir, if you're not careful." He gently took hold of her arm, as he calmly led her toward the stairwell, reluctantly taking her up the flights of steps with him, as he set his coffee cup down upon a nearby end table in the narrow hallway. Frowning, he knocked upon the closest door he could find, giving it three slight raps with his knuckles, as he awaited any kind of response. The silence that greeted them in return, propelled him to try the knob, as he tugged her inside the darkened space, the music now subsiding in value, as the catchy "Monster Mash" drifted up to them, the absurd silliness of it never ceasing to penetrate the rapid beat. Phoebe wasted no time in breaking herself away from him, as she carefully worked out the creases in her gown, her breathing having fully increased in her chest. "Mrs. Davis mentioned she was going to run a young woman by Elise- one that she had a few disagreements with."
"Yeah. I'm well aware of that, Cole. Especially since that young woman was me. I'm the 'moral-less, meddling minor.' "
"She didn't use those exact words, but if you insist."
"Elise told me you helped her out- with a case. She said you seemed cozy with her."
He shrugged. "And doting on your sorrows isn't making your situation any better in this. If you want, I'll talk to her. Obviously, she didn't know you were my wife."
"Even if she did, that old bat would and could make a hundred accusations."
"You're right. The fact that we're still married really holds no consequence for me anymore."
"Just tell me the truth," she urged.
"Truth? You want truth? God, Phoebe- truth is all we ever gave each other. If you think I could do anything in my power to ever contemplate hurting you in that respect...I'd kill myself before I'd even try. If your fears are clouding your judgment, then there's nothing I can even begin to say or do that will make everything okay again. You have to come to grip with that all by yourself, without a damn shouting match. I'm not the cause of-"
"Then why do I still feel this way?" she whispered. "Why can't I make it all just go away?"
"It's the same way I've felt since you left," he confessed. "Lucky for me, I've managed to hide it more than I would've liked."
"But you knew I'd come, didn't you?"
"Okay, so I had an idea," he surmised. "But even then, I knew it wasn't going to change anything. In fact, I half expected you to be carrying the divorce papers with you all along. Afterall, it'd be the perfect opportunity to get me to sign them, wouldn't it?" He took a deep breath. "So let's just get this over with so we can officially get by without the drama, alright? I'll go wait outside the manor, and you can bring them out to me. Should be a fairly painless process of sparing you the agony."
"Cole-"
"Look, I understand. I didn't before, but I do now. Seeing you here tonight...knowing you can still smile, knowing that you just seemed so content around all of those people- I really think there's hope for you yet. You were certainly more than brave enough to confront me to secure your job. It means a lot to you, and that's a perfectly logical reason-"
"I don't have any divorce papers," she cut in. "I never did."
"I'm sorry?"
"To be honest, I never gave it the serious thought it deserved."
"Phoebe, listen to me-"
"I always wanted to be like Cinderella, you know? I really wanted you to be that handsome prince who would be able to rescue me, sweep me off my feet...save me from the love I lost in myself. I wanted that to be you so badly. I mean...Cinderella went to that ball, despite her step-mother's wishes. I came here tonight, against the wishes of myself, no matter how hard I worked to disprove that. Because to say that I feel absolutely nothing for you, would be a damn big lie. All along, Cole...all along you were that guy. You were that special something I needed in my life to make it whole again."
"And I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not the guy with the glass slipper. If anything-"
"I don't...."
"Cinderella had the perfect man. I'm as imperfect as they come. I can't promise you to be the embodiment of what he was to her in that fairy tale. Nor could I ever possibly hope to achieve something that's deliberately out of my reach. I mean, I'm not an-"
"Angel?" she countered, as a quiet smile crept across her pretty face. "Yeah. I think we got that part covered a few years ago. And just to let you in on a little secret, I'm no Cinderella, either. But it does feel good to pretend sometimes, doesn't it?"
"Does this mean I have to go out and buy you a pair of glass slippers right now?"
"No," she said simply, as she gingerly took his face into her hands, letting her fingers run across his stubbled profile, as she lightly placed her lips upon his, wholeheartedly taking the plunge, losing herself completely in his touch. "I wanna pretend for just a little longer," she breathed, as she shut her eyes, feeling his strong hands brush up rather hesitantly against the small of her back.
Then you can mash Then you can monster mash "So what exactly did you have in mind for Mrs. Davis?"
"How does, 'lonely lady with no life- how a mindless widow copes with an array of pointless rejection' sound?"
"Actually, I think moral-less, meddling elder has a much better ring to it," Cole offered, as he managed a straight face.
"You think?"
He pressed his nose up against hers, as he nodded. "Either way, she owes me a favor. So if you currently have no objections, I'd love to intervene."
"Well, I don't know...are we..."
"Oh. Yeah. I know," he added, immediately pulling away. "You're not too sure about us yet, and I'm still overstepping my- it was a bad move on my part, and it won't happen again. It's Halloween. We're both a little on edge. I...I just came up here to explain myself, so....at this point, I think it might just be best if we head back down before anyone suspects anything. I'll find her and talk to her..." He paused a moment, regarding her with a meaningful look.
"Is that what you think we just did?"
"I'm going to move on," he added. "Dammit, Phoebe, I have to. Because if I have to see you like this....see what we could have been, it shatters all the hope I previously held on to. I know it's a lot harder for me, but I guess I just need more time. When...you're ready to bring those papers, let me know, all right? My office door's always open."
"Are you crazy?"
"I'm honestly not sure right now."
"Then why- what's gotten into you?"
"Thank you," he added. "For everything. I don't think I've been able to smile that much in weeks."
"And I never wanted you to go.....I don't want you to go. Not now, not tonight, not ever. Least of all to think that what we just did was something of horrifying proportions. We kissed because we love each-"
"Wasn't it?" he sided. "Phoebe, you've been out of my reach for months now. Do you think I'm just going to take tonight as if we never had a disagreement in our lives? Because if we're still being honest, that's just bull. You've changed, and so have I. We both want different things."
"And all I ever wanted since the first time I saw you, was only you," she admitted sheepishly, as she felt the blush creep back into her cheeks, the anger consuming her face. "I don't care at all about that other stuff anymore, Cole. Not about your powers, the Source, Belthazor....none of that matters when all I'm left with is you. You can deny that as much as you want, and blame me as much as you want- but honest to God, that's the truth. And if you really don't want me right now...right here...I'll walk right out that door and you'll never see me again. But I'll be damned if I'm going to lose you again to half the things I almost did before."
He could only stand there, his gorgeous blue eyes focused on her entire being, on all she'd just poured out to him with all her heart....as if he could see the very soul which existed beneath the surface, having been gifted with a beautiful spirit that he'd never before known in his entire lifetime. "You don't have to say-"
"Yes, I did. For my own sake. I've been lying to myself more than I realized." She calmly traced her fingers down the length of his cheeks, as they slowly came to a halt upon his lips. He easily clasped two firm hands upon her wrists, as he slowly kissed her with everything he had, finally drawing her into a full embrace, accepting her for all she was and had been worth to him. He'd come home at last.
The End
"Would you stop playing with that? You'll get it all over the place."
The monster mash And my graveyard smash
Then you can mash You'll catch on in a flash
Then you can mash Then you can monster mash