11/12/05
CHARMED
Title: Full Circle
Author: Teri AKA tessalynne
Rating: YTeen
Pairing: Cole/Phoebe
Universe: AU – Post Centennial Charmed
Disclaimer: I do not own Charmed or any of its characters. I am uncertain whether they are the property of WB Television or Spelling Television, but either way, no copyright infringement is intended. I have borrowed them strictly for entertainment purposes and shall return them unharmed.
Author’s Note: I doubt that anyone who believes in love and wants to write fanfiction can resist the temptation of attempting to write a closure fic, this is my attempt.
Summary: When the beginning is an end and the end is a beginning.
ONE
The flames erupted to engulf him, his screams rivaling the cry of a banshee, and her heart was consumed with his body.
“Cole”, Phoebe gasped as she sprang up in her bed. The darkness of her room and the rapidly fading memory of her dream only added to her sense of disquiet as she pushed the sweat soaked hair off her brow. The dream had not haunted her sleep since the first week following their vanquish of Cole, but apparently it was back now. Phoebe could only suppose that regret and damnable hindsight were responsible for its return. In any event, she knew from experience that she wouldn’t be sleeping any more tonight. A rueful glance at her clock confirmed her fears, four A.M. Oh well, there’ll be plenty of hot water.
Rising with a sigh, she silently padded to her bureau to retrieve clean clothes and head for the shower. As she rummaged through her underclothes, her hand struck the solid edge of a picture frame. She didn’t pull it from the drawer, she didn’t need to; she knew it to be a picture of her and Cole. Her emotions began to twist; disquiet shifted to an uneasy feeling that she wasn’t alone, which, in turn, shifted to anger with herself for such wild imaginings and for having forgotten the picture was there. “Can’t you even leave me alone in death?” she hissed into the darkness. “ I know we were wrong to vanquish you. But, Damn it Cole! You didn’t exactly leave us much choice.” And with that she stormed from her room. She never saw the clothes in the drawer part on an invisible breeze to reveal the photo of the smiling couple.
Happy chatter and the smell of fresh brewed coffee greeted Phoebe as she descended the stairs two hours later. Ah, breakfast at the Halliwell’s, Phoebe thought with a smile. “You’d better have saved me some coffee,” she said wandering into the kitchen.
“ Of course we saved you some,” Paige chirped, while Piper quietly handed Phoebe the hot cup with an appraising glance.
“ You’re all up early today. What’s up?” Phoebe questioned them, as she gratefully accepted the coffee.
“ Well, some of us aren’t on sabbatical, “ Paige mumbled around a mouthful of muffin. “ I have some work to finish up. All the recent excitement has put me behind. And speaking of work, I had better scoot.”
“ I want to get the bookkeeping done at P3 this morning, so I can do some shopping later. Would you like to come with, Phoebe?” Piper asked from over her shoulder.
“No, I don’t think so,” Phoebe said a bit hesitantly. “ I kind of have some things to do today.”
“Bye,” Paige called out as she headed toward the door. The kitchen remained silent until they heard the front door click shut. Then Piper moved from the sink to sit down across from Phoebe and waited expectantly. Phoebe held her silence.
“Bad night?” Piper asked.
“Just a dream.”
“The dreams are back? When did that start?”
“Piper, it was one dream and only last night. Will you please just relax?”
“I know how you’ve been feeling, I even understand to some extent, but…”
“Thank God you waited for Paige to leave to start this, I don’t think I could take you both on this morning,” Phoebe interrupted sharply.
“Honey, I’m not trying to pick on you. That is why I waited to talk to you until she was gone. I love Paige, but I know she isn’t very understanding when it comes to the subject of Cole. But, you can’t really blame her, she lacks most of the more positive experiences we had with him.”
“I know, I know. I just don’t think you understand either Piper. There should have been another way. I said I loved him, but I didn’t do a very good job of showing it.”
“Phoebe, dwelling on this isn’t healthy! I know how much you loved Cole. I can even agree that I wish there had been a better way. But the man had lost his mind, if you could even call him a man at that point! You took the time off work to get over this, so please sweetie, try to stop beating yourself up over it. Why don’t you come shopping with me today, just to get your mind off things?”
“Look, Piper, I promise you I am not dwelling, as you put it. As a matter of fact, the things I mentioned doing today will keep me more than busy.”
“Oh?” She sounded doubtful.
“Yes. I’m actually going to work, even if it isn’t at the office. The paper has been after me to try my hand at some articles for awhile. So I’m going to spend part of the day on the computer doing some research and I’ll probably even meet with Darryl to get some insight into the criminal angle of the story. Then I think I’ll spend some quality time with the Book of Shadows, I’ve been neglecting magic pretty badly lately.”
“If you’re sure…”
“Of course I’m sure, silly. Stop worrying Piper, I’m just tired today, not depressed. Now, you had better get started or the day will be over before either of us accomplishes anything.” And with that, she gave Piper a playful shove toward the kitchen door and headed for the telephone.
She dialed the number and waited for an answer while Piper gathered her purse and keys. “Inspector Morris, please…Hi Darryl, its Phoebe. Are you free for lunch today? You are…Good, I’ll see you then.” Hanging up the phone, she waved as Piper left the house.
When she heard the car engine start, Phoebe turned to the stairs and headed for the attic with a grim determination. The memory of a photo of a smiling couple resting at the top of a drawer full of clothing dogged each step she took.
: 
