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Chapter 22 - Times Like These ~*~*~*~ It's times like these you
learn to live again ~*~*~*~ Phoebe stepped into her mini-cooper and immediately called the one person that could help her out. Cole had suggested that they take one car, but Phoebe was going to have none of that. There were going to be traces to find her in case something drastic happened. She honestly believed that Cole would not hurt her. Now why he had hurt her sisters was beyond her, but she knew that he couldn't hurt her. "Hello?" "Leo, it's Phoebe." She knew what she was doing was horrible. After all he was going to have to tell Piper and face her wrath and if Prue found out she was going to be upset. The truly horrible thing was he was going to have to face it first. Which by the time they got to her they wouldn't be as bad as they were. "Hey Phoebe, what's going on?" She had to shake her guilt away. "I'm okay. Listen I'm going to McDonalds near Shadows to talk with Cole and then I'll be home." She then promptly hung up the phone and ignored the ringing. She wasn't going to answer any more questions. She just wanted to make sure that someone knew where she was in case something happened. Before she knew she was at the parking lot following Cole's Porsche to a parking space. They parked and then both got out at the same time. Cole looked around and cringed at all the germ infested kids. "Why again did you want to come here?" he asked her as they made their way inside. "Does it matter?" she countered. He shook his head. Not really but he did curl his lip when he thought of the germ fest that could only be found at McDonalds. Phoebe saw a place to seat that was a little out of the way but enough in the way that if something were to happen someone would see it. They sat down facing one another. Phoebe sat with her back facing the restaurant because she did not want to be recognized. "So are you going to start talking?" she prompted. Cole drew a deep breath. He had imagined telling her for some time, but now he was really going to do it. He nodded. He didn't say anything for a moment and Phoebe almost said something but he started before she could. "My father was a doctor. He was hardly ever home. Always out to do this or that. My mother had taken over my grandfather's business and she was always gone on business. I had a nanny, Mrs. Seer. She was a friend of my mother's and so she played the part when no one was home. When I was about nine my father died in a car accident." "So that is why you chose my family?" she bit out. Cole shook his head, "No. that was far from it. I have some good memories of my father, but he always told me that he loved me and that someone else need him more. I always wanted to yell at him that I needed him, but I could never muster the courage to tell him. After his death I was too upset to do much. My mother didn't really seem to care. I remember asking Mrs. Seer why that was and she answered me with something that changed my life. He had been having an affair with one of his nurses who was pregnant with his baby. He also drained my mother's bank accounts and she was nearly forced to ask for money from some of her friends. Which showing any weakness in my house was completely prohibited, so the fact that she was willing to ask showed how bad the situation really was." Cole paused for a moment lost in thought. Phoebe knew Cole didn't talk about his childhood. She had tried to pry it out of him, but to no avail. He simply wouldn't talk about it. She knew that something wasn't right about his childhood, but still as tragic though it may seem that didn't mean he had to go after her family or why he had targeted her family. However, Cole's eyes snapped back to her and without so much as word from her he continued. "As I got into my teen years I became horrible. I was bent on revenge. Anything to stop the pain that I had felt. I wanted to know who my father was leaving us for. So I started doing research. I found out that there was one nurse who had been pregnant while working for my father, Patricia Halliwell." Cole ignored Phoebe's gasp because he knew it was only going to get worse. "So I went in search of her. I wanted to see what her family was like. How they lived, who they were, more important I wanted to see what my half sister looked like. And I did. I found the address, 1329 Prescott St. I saw the three of you in the yard bickering, but I could tell from there that you were a family. I saw Prue give Piper a hug and then Piper give you one. At that point I swore revenge. How dare you get such a charmed life when mine was miserable. You were happy without my father. You were fine. His death didn't seem to have affected any of you. He was going to leave me and my mother for a family that didn't even care of his death." Phoebe wanted to protest about her charmed life, but she didn't. She shoved aside the fact that she might very well be Cole's half-sister and focused on his story. "I kept tabs on you from that time on. I watched as your careers took off. I was seething with jealousy and rage. Success wasn't new to me so the fact that I had it didn't make a difference. I wasn't happy with it. You were though. You and your sisters. They were all happy. I HATED it! So plotted and planned and waited until I could take you down one by one. Destroy your careers and your life so you could feel just one moment of my pain. I no longer wanted to know who my other family might be, you became the enemy and for a long time that was all you ever were." He let her soak that in before he continued, "Then my mother died. Julie left me and took my son with her. I was fueled with hatred. Everything in my life had left, except for Mrs. Seer and with her help I pushed for revenge. We set in motion a plan to take over the Halliwell Empire and put ourselves in it's place. My first step was to get Prue out of the way for a while. I didn't want her dead because if she was dead she couldn't feel the pain and she needed to feel the pain. However, I was going to have to take over her company and if I could put her out for a while it would make it easier. Then I sat down for a interview with you." Cole took a breath. He didn't remember the last time that he had ever talked so much or with so much honesty, but it felt good. To finally get it all out. He still had more to go though so with his next breath he started again. "However, before I had a chance to get anything started I found a letter from my mother. She had written a confession. I didn't know about this until I was sorting through junk mail that had piled on my desk. It said that my father hadn't cheated with his nurse and hadn't planned on leaving us at all. No, he wanted to quit his practice and do pro-bono work. His first patient was a woman who's husband had left her and she didn't have the income for a real doctor and she was pregnant. That woman was your mother. My mother had been furious. After all they were one of if not the most wealthiest families in California. So she arranged his accident. She would rather be a widow than have a poor husband." Cole wanted to stop there, but knew that truly understand he was going to have to continue, "That was when the real war began. Because now I knew the truth, but revenge was all I had known for so long. What was I to choose? Mrs. Seer wanted me to continue, after all she had a very big stake in all of this. On the other hand I started to get to know you and fall for you. When I was with you I forgot who I was and what I was suppose to be doing. It finally came to the point where I had to make a decision. Revenge was all I knew and Mrs. Seer had always been there for me, so I turned my back on you and started in full force my plan. The day you left for Texas I set it in motion. I wasn't exactly happy, but I forced myself to make sure that this was the right way to go. Then I had lunch with my son. He told me how he had liked Paige and how much he would like to hang out with you again." Again Cole paused, but at look in her eyes he continued, "That was when I went to Texas. Because I told myself that if you had feelings for me the way I was having feelings for you then I would stop the madness and choose you. That night I called Mrs. Seer and told her that I no longer wanted to do anything. She went into a rage and told me I would regret it. I told her I didn't care. I should have known that when she became complacent she was planning something, but honestly Phoebe I didn't think she would have Piper kidnapped. I know that I wanted revenge, but to hurt a baby? I'm not a monster. I swear Phoebe I had NOTHING to do with Piper's kidnapping I still feel terrible about that. " Cole stopped with that. He wouldn't tell her that Mrs. Seer was the one behind that, but he knew from his words she would guess it. He just couldn't voice right out loud who was responsible. In a way Mrs. Seer was all he did have as a family and he would never turn her in and that was final. Phoebe on the other hand had no idea what to make of what she had just heard. However, she didn't get a chance to voice anything for she felt a sudden and very sharp pain in her stomach. Her hands flew to her stomach and the pain didn't ease in fact it was getting worse, "Phoebe!" Cole exclaimed and hopped out of his seat to get to her, "Cole you need to take me to the hospital." she got out through gritted teeth. Cole didn't say anything further and picked her up and walked out of McDonalds. ~*~ "Hello?" Leo was about to leave the house to go and tell Piper what Phoebe had just said when his phone rang again, "Mr. Wyatt this is Nurse Owens." Leo's heart stopped for a moment and panic set in, "What is it?" he managed to ask. "You need to get down here quickly. I think your wife is going into labor." she explained. Leo shook his head, "No, she's got six more weeks." he argued. "I know, but I need you to get down here as soon as you can." her voice was calm but insistent. "I'm on my way." ~*~ Cole kept his panicked face away from Phoebe, but it was taking everything that he had. He didn't know what to think every few seconds she whimpered and he wanted to help, but other than driving her to the hospital he didn't know what else to do. "Is there someone I can call?" he asked. He knew that she wouldn't want him there, but he didn't know Prue's number or how to get Leo. Phoebe just shook her head. She couldn't get anything else out but that. She was trying to deny what was going on, but she had a sinking feeling she knew exactly what it was. ~*~ "Leo." Piper shouted when she saw him enter the room. He came running to her. Nurse Owens was on the other side, "She is in labor. The doctor will be here soon." she told them and then walked out. "Leo I'm scared." she said the minute that the woman had left. Leo took her hand and bent down, "I know you are, but Piper you are strong and you can do this. We're in a hospital and we've got the best people looking out for you. I'm not going to leave. You can do this." Piper nodded along, but when he said the last part she shook her head, "Leo..." she trailed off as a contraction hit her. Her tight grip on his hand became a death grip. When the pain had ebbed Leo moved her face to his, "Piper you will do this." he commanded and it broke no argument. He held her hand in his and watched as the doctor came in. He had to be strong for her and by God he would. She was going to deliver their child and she would be healthy there were going to be no arguments on that front. Piper squeezed his hand again and he looked down at her and smiled. He made soothing sounds and continued to do so as the pain flared up again. ~*~ Cole was forced out of the door as they took Phoebe away, "Sir we are going to need you to fill out some forms." Cole took the clipboard and went and sat down where the nurse showed him. He was in shock. Something started ringing and it took him a moment to realize that it was Phoebe's phone in the purse that she had been carrying and now he had. He found and clicked it on, "Hello?" he asked. "Who is this?!?" Prue's voice demanded. "Oh thank God. Prue it's Cole, now before you start screaming I was with Phoebe when she started getting stomach pains. She's here at Memorial Hospital. They won't tell me what's going on and they want me to fill out some forms and I don't know how and..." he trailed off, "Okay I will be there in twenty minutes. Do NOT leave." He shook his head but he didn't think about the fact that Prue couldn't see that. "OKAY?" Prue demanded. "Yes, I mean yeah I'll be here I wouldn't leave." Prue didn't say anything further, but hung up the phone. ~*~ "What's going on?" Andy asked. "Listen, I have to go to the hospital. Phoebe was just admitted and Piper's gone into labor. I don't know more than that. I have to go now." she told him and didn't wait to hear anything more. She hopped into her and drove as fast as she could to get to her sisters. Prue found Cole first. "Have they said anything yet?" she asked him. "No." he said. He handed her the forms, "What were you doing with her?" Prue asked as she took the forms and started to fill them out, "We were talking. I was trying to explain to her what was going on, and as soon as I finished she started whimpering about her stomach so I drove her here." he told her. Prue nodded her head, she took the forms and herself to the nurse's station. "Excuse me, my sister, Phoebe Halliwell was admitted here I was wondering if I could get a status." she asked one of the nurses. "I don't know anything right now, but the doctor should be out shortly." Prue nodded not liking the answer but went and sat down. Cole kept looking at her nervously like he wanted to say something but wasn't sure if it would go over well. She only took that look for one minute, "What is it?" she finally asked him. "I'm sorry." he said. "What is it?" she asked again thinking he hadn't heard her. "No, I wanted to tell you I was sorry. I can't begin to make it up to you, but I wanted you to know that I am sorry." Prue looked at him for a moment. "We can talk about this after I hear what is going on with my sister." she told him and then went back to the nurses station. She gave the forms to another nurse and she was about to ask about Piper when a doctor came out, "Prue Halliwell?" he asked. "I'm her." she answered. "Can you come with me?" he asked. Prue nodded and followed him, "I'm Dr. Williams. Your sister has had a miscarriage. She's resting right at the moment, but she's been asking for you." he told her. The rest of the walk were steps in silence. Prue pushed on the door that the doctor had pointed at and walked in to see a tear streaked Phoebe. She walked over to her and without saying a word wrapped her up in her arms and held her as Phoebe started to shake with tears. She soothed her and whispered words of nonsense, but were comforting none the less. Neither knew how long they had stayed there, but at some point Phoebe fell asleep and Prue put the covers around her and slipped out. As she walked back Cole greeted her with a questioning look. No matter what Prue thought of Cole no one deserved this, "I'm sorry Cole, but she had a miscarriage." The look of desolation struck Cole's face. Prue patted his back, "She's sleeping right now, but you can go in there and see her if you would like." she told him. Cole nodded and walked toward Phoebe's room. Prue took in a deep breath and tried to keep the tears at bay, "Prue Halliwell?" a nurse asked. "Yes?" she answered. "Your sister, Piper Halliwell, she's in labor. She's been asking for you." she told her. Prue nodded and headed toward the elevator. She walked toward the room and walked in just at the moment that the newest generation made it's entrance. Piper was crying as was Leo as they looked on watching the doctor clean the baby and finally the nurse put the baby in Piper's arms, "Meet your son." she said. Nurse Owens smiled at the couple and then turned and looked at Prue. Nurse Owens had been told what had happened, and admired the sister as she came with a smile on her face to congratulate her sister. "He's beautiful." she told Piper on the opposite side of Leo. Piper smiled, "He is." Piper was wrapped up in the new life that was now her son and therefore didn't notice Phoebe was missing. at first. However, when Leo took his son Piper turned to Prue, "Where's Phoebe?" she asked. Prue tried to keep the tears out but couldn't. "She's in another room. She had a miscarriage." ~*~ End of Chapter 22 "Times Like These" by Foo Fighters. I know I used on the last chapter, but what better song? |