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Chapter 21 - Divided ~*~*~*~ I...I'm a little divided ~*~*~*~ "WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE?!?" he shouted at her. "Me?" she fired back, "I did exactly what you could not." Cole's look was one of murder. "I told you I wanted this operation over with. Why in the HELL did you continue it?" "Because you have been planning this revenge for the past two years. Why stop now? You have them exactly where you want them!" "I told you Mrs. Seer. I love Phoebe. She is going to have MY baby. I want a different life because I am sick of this one. I had that chance with Phoebe." he told her. "Perhaps you can't see it now but this was for your own good." she told him. Cole shook his head, "Jail was good for me? Being blamed for the kidnapping of a pregnant woman was good for me?" he snapped. "I've lost Phoebe. I was hoping that I could have a better relationship with the woman of my child, but this is going to be worse than Julie!" he shouted. "Julie was perfect for you." "Leave me." Cole demanded. Mrs. Seer didn't say anything further and did as he commanded. ~*~ Phoebe looked around the room that she called hers while staying at Piper's house. She was packing. It was time to get her life back into gear. She had finally gotten in touch with her secretary and made arrangements for photo shoots while she still wasn't showing. She had decided that money from that would be put into the savings for the baby and she would make as much money as she possibly could before the baby. She knew her sisters would support her. She just hoped it didn't come to that. Although she would cherish their emotional support she didn't want their financial support. Her whole life she had wanted to be independent and now that she was she wasn't really ready to give it up yet. "What are you doing?" Prue asked from the doorway. Phoebe jumped, "Ugh! You scared me." she told her and continued her packing. "I didn't mean to scare you, but I was passing by and saw you packing what's going on?" Prue moved to the bed and sat down. She was going to force Phoebe to talk to her. Ever since their talk two days ago Phoebe had started to act like Super Phoebe. And although Prue thought that the attitude was a good thing she also knew it was covering something else up. "I'm getting ready to go on some photo shoots and I wanted to move out of Piper's house and back into my apartment." she told her. Prue didn't say anything for a moment, "So your moving out of the house?" she quietly asked. Phoebe stopped and looked at Prue, "I have to. Piper is going to get better and her and Leo need to get ready for the baby. You and Andy will leave back for San Francisco soon especially since Paige will be starting school soon and I need to get my life in order." Prue gave her a smile, "I'm proud of you Phoebe. I know this hasn't been easy for you, but I'm very proud of you." Phoebe smiled, "Thanks." Phoebe leaned down and gave her big sister a hug. "I really gotta get going." Phoebe said and moved out of the embrace. "I understand. Are you going to go by and see Piper? She's been asking about you." Phoebe nodded her head, "Yeah. I'll go by and see her. I wish they could get conclusive tests to make sure the baby was all right. I hate her having to stay in the hospital like this." Prue nodded, "I know, but at least she's safe and as far as they can tell the baby should be fine, but you can never be to careful." The sisters didn't say anything further and Prue finally left Phoebe. She heard Andy calling for her, "I'm up here." she told him as she walked toward his voice. "Are you ready? Paige is all dressed and ready to go see Piper." he told her. "Yeah." was her response. Andy cocked his head, "Are you okay?" "I'm fine." was all Prue would tell him. Andy narrowed his eyes at her, "We're not going to play that game Prue." Prue had a nasty habit of never sharing anything and if they were going to get married that had to stop. She gave him a piercing look, but her features softened, "I'm just worried about my family." she finally told him. Andy understood and put his arm around Prue and walked her down the stairs, "I know it's hard right now, but I have no doubt that you guys will be okay. You've survived so much already that I have no doubt that you all will come through this with flying colors." his voice was coaxing her into optimism and Prue liked it. She gave him a smile and a kiss, "I love you." Andy's eyebrows shot up, but he responded in kindness. "Mommy!" Paige yelled. The couple looked at one another and laughed, "Time to go." they said to one another and walked downstairs where their impatient daughter was waiting on them. "Are you ready to go visit Aunt Piper?" Andy asked as he picked Paige up. She nodded her head, "And Uncle Leo." she added. "And Uncle Leo." Prue mimicked. The family walked out the door and Andy shut it. Phoebe heard them finally leave and sat down on the bed and started to cry. She had no idea how she was going to do this, and right now she would give anything for Cole. As horrible as that probably made her she needed him. She gathered her tears and finally finished packing. Cole or not she had a life she had to get together. ~*~ "I want to go home!" Piper pouted. Leo gave her a look that spoke of his annoyance, "I know honey, but you can't. They still aren't sure about the baby yet and you don't want to anything to happen to he or she." Piper exaggerated her annoyance, but backed off. "I hate it when you're right." she grumbled. He gave her a smile, and stepped aside to let the nurse take Piper's vitals. "You two are improving." Nurse Owen commented. "Thank-you." Piper and Leo said together. Nurse Owen shook her head at Leo who gave her a teasing smile. "I'll be back in three hours." she told the couple as she left the room. "Knock Knock." Prue said as she walked in. "Hi guys." Piper greeted. "Hello." Leo said. Andy came over and shook Leo's hand while the sisters hugged, "Me Next!" Paige declared. Piper laughed and Prue moved to let Paige give Piper a hug. "Your tummy got bigger." Paige told Piper. "It sure did and you got taller. Soon you'll be taller than I am." Piper teased her. Paige laughed, "Daddy says I can be as tall as him." Paige said raising her head with pride. Everyone laughed. "Hi Uncle Leo." Paige said from where she was sitting, "Hi Paige. I was wondering when you were going to notice me." Paige laughed and Leo came toward, "Get over here and give me a hug!" he demanded. She slid off the bed and went to give him a hug. Andy walked over to Piper, "You're looking better." he commented. "Thanks. I want to thank you and Darryl for helping to find me." she told him. "It wasn't a problem I'm sorry that Dan died." Piper shrugged, "I'm sad about the waste of life. I just wish I knew what he was thinking." Andy nodded his head, "So would I, but that's not going to happen so it is better not to dwell on it." he advised. "I agree." Prue needed to talk to Piper alone about Phoebe, "Leo, Andy, how would you like to go and spend some quality time with Paige?" she asked. The guys could take a subtle hint when they needed to and looked at one another and nodded, "I think we could do that." Leo said and the three of them walked out. Paige happy to be the center of attention waved good-bye to Prue and Piper. "What's going on?" Piper asked when the three had left. "Phoebe's hurting. She's moving out of your house and is determined to do this all on her own." Prue explained. Piper's laughter was not what Prue had been expecting, "Why are you laughing this is serious!" she admonished. Piper shook her head, "Hello? Prue this is you all over again. Remember when you found out you were pregnant. You said you were going to move out because you didn't think that Phoebe and I needed the stress. Whether you believe it or not you two can sometimes act exactly the same." Prue pinkened a little. She had forgotten that, "Still..." Piper shook her head, "Prue, if she wants to go we have to let her. This is her life. Does that mean we abandon her? No. It means that we give her all the help she needs and not allow her to forget that we are here for one another." Prue smiled at her, "When did you get so wise?" she asked, "Growing up with you two all my life." Piper quipped. They heard a real knock and saw Phoebe at the door. Prue got up and let her in, "Hi Piper." Phoebe greeted and set a bouquet next to the bed. "Hi, how are you doing?" Piper asked as they hugged. "I'm okay. I'm sure Prue told you I'm moving out of your house." Piper nodded, "She did. I'm glad that you're becoming pro-active about your life, but do not forget that we are always here for you no matter what might happen." Phoebe narrowed her eyes at Prue, but didn't say anything. "Just please give me some space." she pleaded. The other two sisters nodded, "We just want you to know that we are behind you, we support you, we love you, and we are ALWAYS here for you." Prue told her. Phoebe shook her head but smiled, "Thanks you two. Now you Ms. Piper get better and keep my niece or nephew safe." Phoebe directed as she got up to leave. "I have to go, but I'll call you guys when the shoot is over." The girls said their good-byes but before Prue and Piper could continue talking Leo walked in. "Sorry to interrupt but I just got a call, there is a buyer for my house." he announced. "Really?" Piper asked happily. "Yes, are you sure you want to sell it?" he asked. "Very much. I want us to be a family and since we use my house most..." "Our" Leo corrected. Piper gave him a smile and continued, "Our house then I want to use it." "Okay." was his reply. "Hey Prue are you ready?" Andy asked coming into the room. Prue gave Piper a hug, "I'm ready. We'll see you guys later." Prue told them then followed Andy out the door with Paige. "So what did she want?" Leo asked. "Phoebe's moving out of the house. Wants to try the whole independent thing." Leo laughed, "Halliwell women and independence. Sooner or later you guys are going to have to realize that as much as you may say you want to be independent from one another you really don't." Leo laughed. Piper smacked him, "You behave." she commanded. "With everyone but you." he teased. Piper couldn't hold the laugh in and he leaned down and kissed her. "Love you." he said. She wrinkled her nose and kissed him, "Love you too." ~*~ "Hey Phoebe how are you?" Charlene asked. Phoebe smiled at her she had missed her friend, "I'm okay Charlene how are you?" "About the same." she replied. "How's Piper doing?" Charlene asked as Phoebe got in the make-up chair. Charlene and Piper knew one another so Phoebe wasn't to worried about telling her, "She's doing okay. They still have her at the hospital, but she seems to be doing okay." Charlene nodded as she started to do Phoebe's make-up, "So what happened exactly?" Charlene ventured to ask. Phoebe shrugged, "We don't know. Piper can't remember anything past being kidnapped and then trying to escape the fire." Phoebe looked around and realized she had no idea who the photographer was, "Do you know who the photographer is?" Phoebe asked. Charlene shook her head, "I thought Cole Turner was." It was Phoebe's turn to shake her head, "No. Cole Turner will not ever photograph for me again." Phoebe said emphatically. "I'm not?" Both Charlene and Phoebe turned their heads quickly, "Cole what the hell are you doing here?" Phoebe demanded getting out of the chair she had sat in for her make up. "You hired me for this gig." he explained. This was the only way he could think of to talk with her. "I was sure that you would know you were fired when I wouldn't return your calls, when you had my sister kidnapped, or when I told you to YOU WERE FIRED!" Phoebe yelled the last part. "I had to talk to you and I knew you were going to be here and by the way I DID NOT have your sister kidnapped." He knew explaining things to her was going to be difficult, but it was looking to be worse than he had anticipated. "Can we go some where and talk?" he asked. Phoebe shook her head, "No. I have a job to do and I am not going to let you interfere with that." she stated. "Fine, but I am the only photographer here so you're going to have to deal with me." he told her. "Fine." was her only comment. Phoebe walked back over to her make up chair and sat down and let Charlene start on her make up. Everyone who had witnessed the display dispersed and went back to work. Charlene was smart enough not to ask Phoebe what was going on, but she had already put a few assumptions together. It was better than any movie she had seen. Phoebe's lover had kidnapped Piper? She just shook her head and went back to work. Photographing was easy. Phoebe allowed her self to forget for a few minutes who was behind the camera and what exactly her life had entailed these past months. Cole was mesmerized. He knew Phoebe was beautiful, but when she was in front of the camera's she was on fire. He didn't know how he was going to explain everything to her but he knew he had no choice. He wasn't going to let anything get in his way. She had to know how much he loved her and how truly sorry he was for his whole sorry life and what he had put her through. Soon the shoot had finished. Cole waited for Phoebe to leave, "We have to talk." he told her. "Cole I don't want to talk with you." Phoebe said as she walked away, "I'll tell you everything you want to know." he offered. That made her stop her fast speed. "Everything?" she asked still presenting her back to him. "Everything." "Fine, but we talk in a public place." Phoebe told him. "Uh..." he really didn't want to do it in public but if that is what it took he was willing to do it, "Okay. Where would you like to go?" "McDonalds." ~*~ End of Chapter 21 * "Times Like These" by Foo Fighters. I LOVE the acoustic version with just Dave G, but the regular version is fantastic as well. |