What's in The Bag?

Chapter 4: Phoebe

Author's Note: Sorry I was a little sick around New Years and then school was back in session, thus I had to go back to work. But here is the last main chapter. I am thinking of writing a short Epilogue/Chapter about how the family reacts to their presents from Cole but I haven't 100% decided yet. Please forgive the long delay!

It was exactly two days until Christmas and the family had all finished up their shopping, decorating, and now three sisters stood in the kitchen baking up a storm. The shorter sister with straight, long brown hair was at the helm spitting out directions on what still needed to be done.

Leo glanced at Cole "Ok follow my lead,"

Cole gave a nervous look back to the shorter man "Leo, Are you sure Piper isn't going to kill us?"

"Oh she'll be mad. But she gets over it fast, I'll orb us out of there if it comes to it," Leo answered and Cole rolled his eyes at that answer. The two men were ducking behind the main door frame that lead from the dining room in to the kitchen. Cole was leaning his weight on the side of the curio cabinet while Leo rested on the wall. The two could smell the cookies that had just come out of the oven, and the apple tarts were taunting them from the cookie sheets as Phoebe placed them in the oven. Paige was busy melting chocolate and peanut butter to make various types of fudge.

When Leo saw the peanut butter chocolate chip cookies had been left unguarded on the side counter he made his move. Cole quickly followed suite after checking to see that Piper was messing with the settings of the oven and turning the temp down for the tarts. Cole's eyes danced over the snicker doodles but they sat to close to the cookie guard. Leo and Cole both stole one of the cookies that sat on the side countertop and shoved it in their mouths quickly.

"Seriously?" Paige mockingly lectured but it caused Piper to turn around in frantic mode and the boys got a glare from the two older sisters

"OUT! Both of you!" Piper yelled out in frustration and Leo waved a quick hello

Cole met Phoebe's gaze and gave a weak smile of his own "It smelled to good not to take one," and knew that his pleading worked when she dropped the angry look. She gave a slide glance to Piper before walking over and pulling him in to a hug.

She then whispered "You have about five seconds before she goes Postal. I suggest you run. If you think my sister is a cooking Nazi you've never experienced her around the holidays," with that warning she placed a quick kiss on Cole's cheek who in turn kissed her forehead. He then grabbed Leo by the shoulder to push the white lighter back towards the living room.

"Sorry!" He yelled over his shoulder causing Paige to try and stifle a laugh when she saw Piper's eyes harden

Cole sat enjoying the fruits of his and Leo's little adventure as he ate his second cookie. The two men were now in the living room. They had grabbed a few more cookies for each before making their hasty exit. As the former demon sat eating his cookies he picked up a stack of ads from the newspaper.

"Do you still have present shopping to do?" Leo asked with surprise when he saw what Cole was perusing in the stack of papers

Cole glared up from his reading and let out a deep sigh of annoyance. He passed the ad over to Leo and shrugged his shoulders. He then answered Leo explaining his dilemma "The rest of you were easy in comparison to Phoebe. She has plenty of jewelry, books, and odd end things. Besides the one sparkly thing I want to purchase for her she told me to put on the back burner for now,"

"You're overthinking it Cole. I did it my first couple of years I was with Piper to. Think outside the box and look for something that fits your current situation." Leo explained trying to provide the best advice he could think of

"That doesn't make sense Obi-wan," Cole muttered in confusion "How?"

"I see Phoebe got you to watch Star Wars finally," Leo said with a small laugh "Just think about it but not so much with your mind. Try to think about something Phoebe has talked about in the past few months or looked at. It'll hit you when you least expect it,"

Cole finished the last bite of his cookie and stood up from the couch. "Movies are all I have to do now. No Job, no powers, no known mortal skills aside from being a lawyer. I clearly have no idea what you mean Leo,"

"It'll come within time. But this one you should figure out on your own. You offer a lot more to all of our lives and you fight for the greater good now. Don't sell yourself so short Cole..." Leo tried with a pleading tone

"I need some air," Cole replied cutting the white lighter off in mid-sentence.

'Of course I know I should get her something important that shows how I feel. But what the hell is that if it's not an engagement ring.' Cole thought to himself as he took a walk up the block. He turned around the corner and headed to the nearby park. He found himself wishing he could talk to Piper but it wasn't really anything she could advise him on this time. Leo tried but did no good and he hadn't even asked his friend to. That was how Leo was though, it was his nature to try and help whenever he felt it was needed.

That was just it though, and Leo hardly even realized why his help made it far worse. Leo was at his core, Human, and a good guy. He was a human who thrived on helping others no matter the cost. That was how Leo Wyatt had earned his wings in the first place. But Leo was trying to give advice as if Cole knew exactly what he meant. Cole may have been half human all those years, but he never used his human side except for a handful of times in his very long existence as a demon. Belthazor called the shots.

Cole lowered himself on to a vacant bench and breathed in the cool night air. It was a cooler night than what was the norm for San Francisco weather and so the park was fairly empty of people. He saw a few dedicated runners and one couple walking their dog. 'Maybe that's what I should get her' he thought then a smile passed over his face. He knew all the times Phoebe had talked about how animals should not be given as presents. She was an animal rights activist and it was one of the many pure qualities about her that he loved about her.

He then watched as stars started to twinkle in to the sky as the sun sunk lower in and the darkness finally took hold. Cole glanced at his cell phone to see he had a missed call from Leo and two from Phoebe. He hit the redial button to call the Manor and let them know he'd be gone for awhile but that he was fine.

"Hello," Piper's voice answered the house phone when she realized it was Cole she dropped the friendly tone "Where the hell are you. First you take up arms with my husband to become a cookie thief; then you leave without any indication to us where you are going,"

"Be careful Piper. It almost sounds like you're concerned for me," Cole teased in response

"Don't be ridiculous. Of course I care," Piper said with all seriousness

Cole now stared at the phone with some surprise "I apologize. I hadn't realized how long I had been gone on my walk. Listen, I am going to catch a bus but I'll be back home in a couple of hours. Will you cover for me."

"Sure. Whatever." Piper spat back before hanging up the phone with annoyance

Cole headed to a used bookstore where the girls would sometimes stop on their way to Chinatown. He had already bought Phoebe a pair of earrings but he wanted to get her something extra special. The sisters would stop here to seek out basic mythology books from time to time, and Piper preferred classic novels over new ones so she'd stop in to pick up something to read for herself.

The store was called Twice Upon a Book. Cole enjoyed the store and owner as well, because there was a familiarity about the older books that he enjoyed when looking at the threading on the bindings, feeling the worn leather on the covers, and smelling the mildewy aroma of worn out pages. The hand made were more appealing to the former demon then the ones made and pressed by machines in the current days.

"I want it to say that despite it all being crazy I know my place is beside her. And that is all that really matters," He whispered to himself. As he looked over the shelves he saw it. Glowing with a soft back light in a locked glass display case. He slowly stepped closer and peered down in to the case at the worn edges and glowing letters that were just barely there on the cover. Time had worn away the gold leafing on the sides of the pages and the letters of the title but it still had some flecks clinging to the leather binding on the side. Sense and Sensibility by A Lady. Cole had a grin that he felt stretched from ear to ear and made his whole face hurt. This was Jane Austen's very first published novel and she used to remain anonymous when she first debuted on to the scene. Cole remembers Phoebe telling him about it at one point in time.

He finally walked around the second, inner door way and strolled to the main counter. An older couple owned the book store but Cole knew the man better than the woman. "Mr. Fletcher," He greeted with warmth when he stepped up to the counter.

"Mr. Turner, Nice to see you again." Mr. Fletcher greeted then looked around "Where are the Halliwells?"

"Not with me today I'm sorry to say. I'm actually here for a last minute Christmas gift for Phoebe. What can you tell me about that copy of Sense and Sensibility. Is it really an original?" Cole questioned

Mr. Fletcher pursed his lips together "It is. But you'd have to talk to my wife about whether or not it is for sale," He explained looking Cole up and down.
"Roberta!" He then beckoned to his wife who came out from the back storage room. Cole could make out a cash register drawer and realized they were starting their normal pre-closing routines.

"I'm sorry for coming in so late," Cole quickly apologized and Roberta shook her hand at him. "That book is Phoebe's all time favorite book. She's read it so many times she has not one, but two copies worn out from reading them"

"But have you read it Cole?" Roberta asked quietly and Cole was taken aback by the question

"Once, a long time ago." Cole answered with exasperation "Is it for sale Mrs. Fletcher?"

"Of course it is or else it wouldn't be in the shop. I am just picky about the buyer. But I know the Halliwells and they are very respectful of books. Those three are some of our best customers."
Cole then winced, this was why he preferred Mr. Fletcher. Roberta Fletcher was a very nice and kind business woman, but she loved to talk. Sometimes not knowing when to stop. "Right I know. We are all in here at least once a month,"

"The price dear," Mr. Fletcher interrupted the conversation and Cole shot him a thankful glance before returning his attention to the woman.

"Mr. Turner I think we can make a deal," She said as she wrote down a price and Cole's jaw dropped.

"Well the most I can afford is only about a thousand. I knew it was going to be costly but I had to try. Thank you for your time Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher," Cole began then looked away with frustration.

"I'll come down to that price if you tell me why you think this it the perfect present for your girl," Roberta persuaded and Cole tried to think hard.

He brought one quote to the front of his mind from the book "I come here with no expectations, only to profess, now that I am at liberty to do so, that my heart is and always will be yours."

Roberta nodded her head and waved for him to continue his explanation "I believe that this book will help me show Phoebe that even though our relationship is very different then those of the novels Jane Austen wrote there is one major thread that is similar in all of them. The relationships work as long as both hearts are open and honest. I will always keep my heart open to her and I will wait for when she is ready for marriage. I will tell her that just because she is not ready currently, does not mean never and she is worth that wait,"

Cole began to realize he was rambling and was cut off when he saw Mrs. Fletcher walking over to the display case with a set of keys. She pulled the book out and then placed it in a sealed box for him.

"I think this book is going to the perfect owner. I hope for your sake Mr. Turner that she loves you as much as you love her" the older woman said with a strained voice and Cole held back a smirk when he realized what had happened. The Fletchers were apparently a couple of old, romantic saps. Mrs. Fletcher had began tearing up while the former demon was rambling on in explanation to the couple.

"Thank you! I plan to write out everything to her and wrap it up with the book. I promise you we will keep it up in the attic in our Manor House away from the elements," He said before writing a check to the couple. Cole then carried the box out of the book store and caught the last bus home to Halliwell Manor.

Cole snuck around the side of the house and cut through the laundry room in to the kitchen. Based on the several missed called he had received in the four hours since he had left the Manor after the Cookie fiasco he assumed the baking frenzy was done for the day. He was right as he stepped through the door and looked around the only one in the kitchen was Piper.

"She's upstairs waiting on you," Piper reported as if reading his mind "Whatcha got there?"

Cole placed the box carefully on the limited counter space. There was an empty spot because Cole had walked in on Piper beginning the process of placing the baked goods that had cooled enough into tupperware containers or gift bags. He pulled the lid of the box off and Piper's eyes went wide.

"Is that a first edition?" She questioned with a grin "Pheebs will love it Cole,"

"That's what I was aiming for Piper," Cole said with his voice full of pride "Do you have some place I can hide it until I wrap it to put under the tree?"

"The basement. She never goes down there. You know that," Piper said with a grin

After Cole had placed the box, with Piper's help, on the top shelf that ran on the wall farthest from the water pipes and the shelves appeared to be dry. Piper had given Cole a plastic tarp to place over it for extra precaution when she picked up on how paranoid he was about it. She also made a face when he explained why he was so worried about it.

Phoebe Halliwell was fidgeting on her bed looking over last minute lists for who was getting the treat bags of baked goods that her and her sisters had spent the day making. She crossed off Darryl and Sheila as well as Father Morgan, the new Priest at the church that Piper would volunteer at from time to time.
Cole pushed her bedroom door open and fought the urge to scoop her up in an embrace when he could see the look of relief wash over her face.
"Where have you been?" She shot at him "Leo said you went for a walk. But for 4 hours? That's hard to believe,"
"I had some last minute shopping to do. Didn't Piper tell you I called and checked in?" He questioned
Phoebe nodded and moved the papers out of Cole's way as he walked over to the bed. He sat down next to her before resting his arm across her shoulders and placing a kiss on her forehead.
"Would you like me to be honest my love?" He said in a teasing tone, When Phoebe nodded her head yes he continued. "You are a very difficult woman to shop for,"
"Hey!" Phoebe said when giving him a playful slap on his arm
"Well most women want jewelry, but oh no you told me to wait on that," Cole began and a pained expression caught him off guard
"Cole," She began before he pulled her in to an embrace and she smiled
"But you aren't most women and that's why our love works in the first place. Wouldn't you agree Ms. Halliwell," Cole said in a formal tone
He pulled her down to the bed before pushing the lists she was writing aside. He knew that he was willing to wait forever for her and if they never got married he also knew that they'd be together with or without a formal piece of paper stating that they were in love. She rested her head on Cole's chest and a shiver ran up her spine as he used his free hand to run his fingers slowly through Phoebe's hair.
"You are always the only thing that matters to me," He whispered in to the night "So nothing is ever to difficult if it is for you and your happiness. Please, tell me that you know that Phoebe,"
"I believe our feelings are mutual Cole Turner. You and our family are the only things that matter," She said before sitting up and pulling Cole in to a deep kiss. He felt her warm lips and closed his eyes to get lost in her embrace. He let the waves of passion wash over both himself and her as the two laid back on the bed and he pulled the covers over them.
The End
End Note: The quote that Cole recites to Mrs. Fletcher when starting his explanation of why he thinks the book is the perfect gift for Phoebe is actually from Sense and Sensibility if you have ever read it. I thought it fit with Cole's personality in Season four; The short time we see him as just human he is pretty forward about his feeling with Phoebe.