Third Time's Charmed

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters in this story unless you do not recognize them from the show. I also do not own any of the songs used in this chapter.

Chapter one…The Words

Phoebe opened her eyes and squinted against the sun peeking through the curtains.  She rolled over again and put her pillow over her head. She didn't want to get up. She'd given up on making the hurt go away but sometimes when she was asleep she didn't feel it.  Life was still good then.  Things weren't so complicated.  People weren't so…  Well people didn't hurt you if you didn't want them to.  Not like the real world.  Not like real people. Being naturally trusting, she always found herself getting burned.  It was just that this time hurt a lot more than any other. 

            From the down the hall she heard Piper's laugh and the answering laugh of Leo. She wondered if she'd ever be able to laugh like that again.  Maybe when she could things would be ok again.  Admitting to herself that Piper and Leo's happiness annoyed her had taken awhile, but she realized now that no matter how much she wanted to deny it, it would still be true.  And there was nothing she could do about it.  They deserved to be happy.  Hell had taken on a new meaning for both of them and it was time they be allowed a little heaven.  Watching it right now was hard though.  But had she really diluted herself into thinking that saying goodbye to Cole would be easy?  In her head she could dismiss him easily, it was her heart that was giving her trouble. It was always her heart.

            Prue was humming something in her room and Phoebe held her breath to hear better.  It was a slow tune that Phoebe recognized immediately.  Wishing she hadn't she reached over and turned on her radio to try and block out the sound.

"I never found the words to say. And you're the one I think about each day. And I know no matter where life takes me to.  A part of me will always be with you."

She quickly scanned for a new station.

"I don't want the world to see me.  Cause I don't think that they'd understand."

She flipped again.

"Third time's a charm right." She muttered. "Yeah right."

"There's so much I need to say to you. So many reasons' why. You're the only one who really knew me at all…so take a look at me now there's just an empty space and there's nothing left here to remind me but the memory of your face."

"That's it." She said slamming her hand down on the off button.

"Pheebs!" Prue called from her room.

"Yeah." She yelled back.

"Have you seen my black sweater?" Prue asked from her doorway.  Phoebe stumbled out of bed and walked over to her closet.  After a short and fruitless search she turned to her sister.

"Nope. Maybe Piper has it." She answered.

"Unlike you Piper asks." Prue answered.  Phoebe stuck her tongue out at her older sister pretending that it wasn't a forced gesture to calm the troubled and worried thoughts she knew Prue had running through her head.  Prue seemed to accept the gesture and moved on without questioning.  Phoebe let out the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.  The last thing she needed right now was an interrogation.

"Pheebs!" Piper called from down the hall.

"Yes!" she answered.  This time it was Phoebe who found her way to her sister.  The laughing couple had made their way downstairs and Phoebe found Piper at the bottom of the stairs calling up to her.

"We're going out.  Do you want us to pick up anything for you?" her sister asked when Phoebe had reached the top of the stairs.

"Yeah a new life." She muttered under her breath. Then to Piper, "No. I'm fine."

"You sure?" Piper asked.  Phoebe nodded.  She could feel tears in her eyes and at any moment now she knew they'd spill over.  For the first time Phoebe felt Leo must be and angel.  With one look at Phoebe he saw through her, but he didn't interrogate or stop her from the self-destructive path they both knew she was on.  He knew exactly how she felt.

"Come on honey." He said and ushered his wife away as the first tear fell.