Author’s Note: Look at the title. . . think of the promos after "Brain Drain". . . there ya go. My idea of how this happens, but I doubt it’ll be quite as nice. . .

Summary: "It never failed; just when he had built up enough nerve, something went wrong."

The Proposal
by: chopsticks
g

Cole shimmered into the manor, surprising the only occupant of the room.

"Cole!" Phoebe gasped, putting her hand across her chest after having accidentally levitated into the air. "Don’t do that!"

"Sorry," he mumbled and looked around nervously.

"Cole," Phoebe said tentatively, removing the hand from her heart and moving closer to Cole, "What’s wrong?"

Cole looked into Phoebe’s eyes and saw the gentle look of concern that clouded them. He wanted to allay her fears, but he didn’t have the words because he was just too nervous.

"Nothing at all," he said, trying to smile. But Phoebe saw right through it and moved closer to his form.

"I’m not buying it," Phoebe simply stated, putting her hands on her hips and glaring at him.

"Not buying what? I thought you bought everything in all the stores in San Francisco!" he said, trying to use humor to get her to stop worrying.

"Ha ha," she said, whacking his arm gently. "Not funny."

Cole mumbled to himself: "I thought it was. . ."

"What was that?" Phoebe asked, moving so that she was barely inches away from him.

"Nothing. . ."

Phoebe just rolled her eyes at his response and moved to go back to where she had been prior to his sudden entrance.

"Well, if you’re not gonna tell me, then I guess I’ll just leave you alone then."

"Wait, Phoebe." Cole reached out and grabbed her arm, spinning her back around to face him. "I will tell you, right now."

Cole took a deep breath and tried to prepare himself mentally for what he was about to do. He closed his eyes and thought of how it would go, and how perfect everything would be soon. He exhaled and opened his eyes, staring into hers.

"Phoebe. . ."

A crash resonated throughout the house and Paige came running in from the other room, screaming to Phoebe something that couldn’t be identified.

"Phoebe! A. . . it’s. . . big. . . tall. . .evil. . ." Paige let out a scream as she was sent flying by the demon that she was trying to describe.

"Oh, whoa!" Phoebe said, stepping back from Cole and moving into a defensive position.

Cole looked towards the action, completely stunned. It never failed, just when he had built up enough nerve, something went wrong. Just like everything else in his life. Always something had to come along and mess with it, even before he could remember clearly.

Cole was jolted out of his musings when an energy bolt went flying past him.

"Whoa!" he shouted, ducking out of the way. He quickly summoned his own ball of energy and threw it at the demon, but not before the demon had hit him. He went flying backwards into a cabinet and landed with a groan.

Phoebe ran forward and tried to kick the demon, but she was simply thrown to the side.

"Lamp!" Paige shouted over the din and hurled the object that appeared in her hand at the demon. The lamp, one of those priceless ones that could never be replaced, was shattered to pieces on the demon’s head, throwing him off for a moment. That moment was just what Cole needed to destroy the demon. He hurled an energy ball at the demon and watched it explode, spraying him with green goop.

By that time Phoebe had recovered and was running over to where Cole was. She stopped just to the left side of him and leaned down towards him.

"Cole? Are you okay?" she asked, concern covering her beautiful features.

"Marry me?" was all he could get out, surprising even himself.

"What?" Phoebe asked, standing up straight in surprise.

"What?" Paige repeated in the background, not believing that two people that she’s only known for a few weeks would be getting married (she hoped).

"Um. . ." Cole mumbled, getting up unsteadily. He then decided to do it right, so it wouldn’t seem like a spur of the moment kind of thing.

"Phoebe Halliwell," he said, getting down on one knee, "Will you marry me?" he asked as he pulled a ring out from his pocket. It was a beautiful ring, made only of the finest things known to man and demon. The stone was a diamond with a starburst cut, making it shimmer in the light and the band was 24-karat gold with hearts made of rubies encrusted on it.

"Oh. . . my. . . God! Yes!!" Phoebe exclaimed as she put her hand out for him to slip the ring on her finger. She pulled him up and hugged and kissed him with a fervor most will never know.

Only after a few minutes did they realize that Paige was still in the room.

"Congratulations!" Paige said through tear-filled eyes as she went over and hugged both of them.

"Thank you," Phoebe whispered in her ear. Paige just smiled and pulled away from the couple.

"Oh! What am I doing in here still? I have to um, go. . . buy new furniture!" Paige said, motioning to the mess around them. "Congratulations again!" she shouted over her shoulder as she headed out the door.

Cole just chuckled and turned back to his soon-to-be blushing bride.

"You know. . . there is only one proper way to celebrate this. . ." he whispered huskily, looking towards the ceiling.

"Now I think you’re the one trying to seduce me!" Phoebe giggled happily.

"Always," he whispered as they shimmered away.

the end.

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