Notes; Yay! Thanks for all the reviews to the previous chapter! And sorry this is so late but school's really keeping me busy this year. Sucks:( Anyhow here's the new chapter for all of you thanks for being patient with me:)

Disclaimer; I'd rather sing.. can i? Feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeever sure has got me good what d'you do when feeeever takes hooo-ooold. IIIII can't ... - notices everyone staring yeah on with the chapter.

Chapter 05. Tom Cruise Charms.

Cole Turner was nervous. And not just a little bit. He was standing in the bathroom of his new apartment, checking out his reflection in the mirror. He was wearing a smart dark blue button down shirt and a pair of beige coloured slacks that fit him just right. Still he wasn't sure if this was the appropriate outfit for a night of clubbing down town. Sure it was the appropriate outfit for a hundred-something year old ex-demon. Or maybe just hundred-something year old demon, but still. Cole blew out a heavy sigh and ran a hand through his dark hair.

Who cared anyway? He knew Paige had never disliked his style of clothing. Not before anyway. He left the bathroom before he'd start hesitating even more and sat down on his bed to put his shoes on. The last time he'd been nervous was years ago right after he figured that Phoebe had found a way to kill him after all, but this was a different kind of nervosity. One that was starting to drive him crazy. He fastened his laces and got to his feet. One last look around the bedroom before picking up his leather jacket and leaving the room to go and meet Paige.

''Hey lady, where's my beer?''

''It's right here, okay? I've only got one pair of hands. Here.'' Paige handed the impatient man his change and his beer before moving on to the next impatient customer.

''Two beer, one vodka, one scotch straight up, one bloody mary and two gin tonic.'' A good looking woman told Paige while she slipped 40 dollars across the bar to Paige.

''Keep the change.'' Paige gave her a nod and put the money in the register before starting on the order. The two beers, scotch and vodka were easily done, but the mix drinks took her slightly longer which was a problem with the growing line – or better yet; group – of people who wanted a drink. It wouldn't have been a problem if Angela, her colleague, hadn't called in sick and if she didn't have to take care of the bar on her own. Sure there were a couple of waitresses around and the owner of the club himself would help Paige whenever he had time which frankly; was never. If only people had a little more patience nowadays.

''Lady I've been waiting for fifteen minutes here! Hurry up would you?! Jeez is this your first day?'' Paige rolled her eyes and finishued up the last bloody mary before placing everything on a tray so the woman could carry everything at once. She offered her a friendly smile thankful for her patience and walked over to the man who'd apparently been waiting for fifteen minutes.

''What can I get you?'' She said loudly to make herself audible over the loud music that was playing. The man grinned a cheeky grin and placed his hand flat on the bar, a folded 10 dollar bill underneath.

''One orgasm, please.'' Paige sighed inwardly and did her best not to roll her eyes. No matter how much innuendo her customers would put into their orders she had to stay nice. It was the best way to receive tips. Her boss had told her this yet she still couldn't help but feeling the urge to slap the rude customers across their grinning faces. Too bad she'd get fired if she did actually do that.

''Which one?'' She asked though she already knew the answer. The same as always with these drunk men.

''Any will do as long as it's coming from you.''

Bingo. Paige placed her fingers on the dollarbill but before she could take it from him his other hand slipped over hers and took a firm sweaty hold of her wrist. Her eyes looked at the man who was still grinning and she opened her mouth to ask him – politely – to let her go, but someone else beat her to it. The hand of another male person closed around the flirting man's wrist and Paige looked up to find Cole standing next to him, eyebrow raised.

''You won't be able to afford an orgasm from this lady. Why don't you just tell her what you want, hm?'' Cole asked and Paige couldn't help but let the side of her mouth twitch slightly as she supressed a smile. He had lowered his voice which he usually did when he was trying to sound threatening. She remembered that from before they had swept him off the face of the earth. The man looked Cole up and down and then apparently decided that Cole was too tall for him to take on, because he pulled his hand away from Paige's and handed her the dollar bill.

''Make it a baileys.'' He said. ''And keep the change. Consider it a tip.''

She gave him a short nod and fixed him the baileys, glancing at Cole when she gave it to him.

''You didn't need to do that.'' She told him when the man walked off, making his way through the dancing crowd.

''Yes I did, he was basically harassing you. You looked like you could use some help.''

''Hm. Thanks. I really could, ever stood behind a bar?'' Cole shrugged in response and started to roll up his sleeves.

''No, but I'll be as good as Tom Cruise in Cocktail.'' He offered her one of his best smiles and she returned it slightly, still not that happy with his return, but any help would do at the moment.

''Good enough for me.''

At half past three Paige was finally done cleaning up and placed the last couple of chairs on the round tables. Cole was watching her from the tall stool he was sitting on and got to his feet when she turned to him looking relieved.

''Done.'' She announced and walked towards him, her hand pulling some money from the backpocket of her jeans.

''This is your half of the tips, thanks for helping me out.'' She held out a couple of 10 dollar bills to him and Cole looked at them and refused to accept them.

''They're your tips Paige. You've earnt them.'' He told her and shook his head when she waved the money in front of him.

''You have. Did you see those women checking you out? I really should tell my boss to hire a male bartender.'' She folded the money in half and slipped it into his pocket using only her index and middle finger as she didn't want to get too intimate. Cole blew out a sigh and was about to fish the money out of his pocket again when Paige turned and walked toward the exit,

''I don't want it, Paige. I don't need the money. You do.''

''Cole, I'm not poor. If you don't want the money then use it to buy me a coffee because I sure could use one of those right now.'' She climbed the steps and opened the door. The demon shook his head slowly at her stubborness and stepped outside waiting until she'd followed suit and locked the place securely.

''Consider it done, once we've found a coffee shop that isn't closed at four in the morning.'' He shot her a charm smile which she didn't fall for. In stead she strolled right past him and started down the pavement.

''There's one right around the corner.'' She threw up her hand indicating that he should follow her and Cole gave a roll of his blue eyes. Of course, he should've known.

He stuck his hands in his pockets and followed her slowly while staring down at the street. This was not his idea of explaining things to her. She was barely even giving him a chance. He kicked a tiny stone and listened to it tumbling across the street stopping when it ended up in the gutter. He rounded the corner and bumped into Paige just as he opened his mouth to speak.

''Pa-ow.'' She turned to him and raised an eyebrow her arms were folded across her chest. Cole took a step back and smoothed down the front of his shirt looking at her with a blank stare.

''What?''

''You gonna buy me that coffee or not?'' It was then that Cole realised they were standing in front of a small store that had the word ''Coffee'' written across the front. Inside it was nearly dark apart from two tiny lights burning, as far as he could see through the dirty window.

''Here?'' He asked, dumfounded but recovering quickly and fishing a 10 dollar bill out of his pocket. He was about to give it to her, but she had already disappeared into the small shop after a roll of her eyes. Muttering something under her breath about men being so slow and sent the scruffy looking shop owner a dazzling smile as she approached the bar.

''Hey Earl, could you get me the usual please?'' The door opened behind her when Cole walked in and she glanced over her shoulder briefly before looking back at Earl.

''And a special for him.'' She said as she jerked her thumb back over her shoulder referring to the man behind her. Earl gave her a two-toothed grin and nodded before turning around and making the hot drinks she'd asked for. Paige had become a regular at his shop and he'd known her for quite some time now. He knew she was struggling every now and then to keep up with her two jobs and taking care of her two kids, but he'd once met Simon and was pretty sure she was going to manage as long as that man was around to help her out.

''So who's the new guy, Paigey?'' The old man asked while he added three sugars to Paige's coffee and then put the lid on top of the foam cup.

''Oh he's..'' She looked at Cole and he offered her one of his best charm smiles, causing the ends of her mouths to kick upwards slightly.

''Yeah he's just a friend actually.'' Paige tucked her hair behind her ear and took the cups from Earl, holding one of them for Cole while she waited for him to pay Earl for the drinks.

Cole handed the man the 10 dollar bill and took his drink from Paige, telling the shop owner to keep the change and moving to hold the door open for the petite whitelighter. Earl winked at Paige and she shook her head almost invisibly at the man before turning around and leaving the shop. The elderly shopowner watched as the tall stranger glanced his way briefly before following Paige and allowing the heavy door to fall shut behind him quietly.

Through the window he could see him smelling his drink before taking a sip and frowning in delighted surprise. Apparently he liked the drink and he guessed that's what he told Paige because she smiled to herself and waited for him to catch up with her before the two disappeared around the corner. There was definitely something going on between those two, even if they hadn't figured it out themselves yet. Earl knew that the next time he'd see them in his shop again something would have changed.

To Be Continued...

Notes; Apparently I have a thing for friendly old men and happy gay men in stories lol. Alrighty then I hope you liked this. Leave a review they make me write faster :) Until next update! x