A/N: I'm going to try to make this chapter as long as I can, but I'm not making any promises. :-) Warning: This chapter contains a major shocker! Enjoy!
Chapter 10: The Kiss
Piper cleaned the dishes from the luncheon. He was nice, Piper remarked to her husband, who was playing with their son at the kitchen table.
Bradley? He's a good guy. He's a good whitelighter, Leo agreed. He bounced Wyatt, who was giggling happily, on his knee.
Paige seems to think so, Piper replied with a smirk.
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So maybe I'll see you around? Paige stood at the half open door of the manor, saying good-bye.
Bradley smiled at the Charmed One. I count on it.
Bradley reached for his jacked as Paige went to shut the door. Their lips met and lingered a few seconds in an innocent kiss. Then they both backed away, red staining their cheeks.
Well I guess I better go, Bradley said with uncertainty. Paige didn't reply, but gave him another quick kiss.
See you on Tuesday? Paige asked.
Bradley replied with a smile before orbing out.
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Cole watched Phoebe sleep, his thoughts still in turmoil. She, he finally realized, had been holding back for so long - months. And she did it so that he and her sisters could recover. Cole remembered how they comforted themselves over their lost baby, but it had been Phoebe who told him that they'd get through it.
Cole scowled at the sleeping form in bed. Phoebe, in her typical way, had made sure everyone was all right before she broke down herself. For seven months she had let her insecurities, fears, and pain eat away at her.
Cole decided that there was only one person who could assure him everything would be all right. He got off the bed and awakened her pajama-clad wife.
Phoebe's voice was small. She rubbed her eyes with her pajama sleeves, which she preferred long.
He kissed her. I got to run out for something. Okay?
Phoebe nodded. Cole waited. He wanted her to reply vocally. He remembered a time earlier that month when Phoebe, after just being woken up, agreed to go to a dinner party with Cole. She had nodded and Cole had taken that, foolishly, as a
However, when fully alert Phoebe didn't want to go at all. (She did go to the dinner party, but she wasn't very happy about it.)
Phoebe asked, her tiny just-been-woken-up voice gone.
he turned his head to look at her.
I thought you were going.
Cole gave a a small laugh. I am. They don't give breaks for napping in the afternoon at the law firm.
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I think this thing with Bradley could really work out, Paige gushed, strolling into the kitchen.
That's what you said about Tom, Carl, Jack, Jake, and Alan, Piper said with a smile.
Don't forget Aaron, Leo interjected.
Ah yes... I-think-that-he's-the-one-Aaron, Piper remembered.
Paige was obviously angry. Tom, Carl, Jack, Jake, Alan, and, she glared at Leo, Aaron didn't know about my alter-Charmed-ego.
Piper gave a sympathetic smile and squeezed a reluctant Paige into a hug. We just don't want you to get your hopes up. Don't get into a relationship with Bradley unless you know it's right. The Elders will give you so much trouble.
Paige flopped onto a kitchen chair with a dejected sigh. How did you know it was right?
Piper and Leo glanced lovingly at each other over the head of their son, Wyatt, who sat between them. They seemed picture perfect, but quite a few times they thought that it would turn out differently.
Piper started, Well it all began...
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Cole, after many unsuccessful tries, had managed to shimmer himself into the Library of Life.
Mr. Whitfield to you, boy, the short, balding man appeared from behind one of the library's many bookshelves. His shoes shine and his pinstripe suit was perfect, not a wrinkle to be seen.
Cole laughed out loud. I'm one hundred odd years old.
One hundred and seventeen I believe, the librarian said after a moment of thought. But, no matter, you're still a boy. I'm one thousand two hundred years of age. He suddenly started walking through the countless rows of books.
So all the lives ever are here? Cole asked, running his fingers over the bindings of the books.
Did George Washington really cut down a cherry tree?
Really? Did he tell his father?
After a fortnight.
Cole laughed.
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Paige sighed as Piper finished her story. She cocked her head, which rested in her hand, to the side. That's so sweet. I didn't know all of that happened to you guys.
Leo squeezed Piper's hand.
Well... maybe I'm not ready to dive into this thing with Bradley, Paige recanted.
So you'll take it slow? Piper wanted... no needed assurance.
Paige said unsure. She smiled and nodded. she repeated, positively this time.
That's all we were asking, Piper said with a relieved sigh.
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Here we are. Henry Whitfield and Cole came to a small area in between a few bookshelves.
There were two leather chairs with a small, low table between them. Next to each chair was a mahogany table with a lamp, which cast a soft glow over the vicinity.
Henry sat down in a chair that was by a table, upon which an open book lay, glasses perched atop the pages. Sit down, Henry offered, waving his hand to the other chair.
Cole stood a moment uncomfortably before sitting down.
So you came here to talk about your wife? Henry asked.
How'd you know? Cole asked, a hint of contempt in his voice.
Henry shrugged. A lucky guess. I don't get too many social calls. He gave an almost pensive sigh.
Back to my wife, Cole interrupted the man's thoughts, steering the conversation back to why he came.
Henry looked up. Ah yes! So what is it you want to know?
Don't you need the book? Cole motioned the bookshelves.
Henry put the bridge of his nose and looked over the rims at Cole. Picking up the book he said, It's right here.
I thought that no one could see Phoebe's book, Cole said, extremely suspicious.
I can. I read it every so often. It's one of my favorites, Henry replied, a small smile playing on his lips.
You read her life? Cole exclaimed, clearly outraged.
Henry laughed. I thought that you'd reply in that way. When the Charmed Ones were born I thought, What an interesting story' and so I decided to read the books... when they were older. It's not that exciting reading about baby crying and laughing without seeing baby. To me, Cole, these are novels... nothing more. I never met these people. To me they are words on a page. I don't mean to intrude.
Cole calmed down. All right, but why'd you like Phoebe?
She's the most interesting to me. Her witchcraft... that was her purpose in life. To help the innocents. And yet, she's not sure of her goodness and she never had been. It amazes me.
Cole nodded. She has always worried about her darker side.
Yes, she has, Henry agreed. Both she and you are not good or evil. You're the gray in the middle. You have reached the depths of darkness and the pinnacle of good, Phoebe has reached the middle parts of both evil and goodness. Piper, Paige, and Prue are sure - and have always been sure - of their goodness. They see themselves as fighters and beings for good. That's it.
Henry settled in his chair and continued. Prue saw her witchcraft as a way to kick demons'... ass as you say... and save a few innocents on the way. For Piper it's the means to an end. It's a way to protect her family and her innocents. Paige uses witchcraft to establish herself in the family and become the next Prue.
They don't want Prue, Cole interjected.
Henry agreed with an amused smile. They want a Paige. Not another Prue. They already had one. Paige is progressing quickly in her witchcraft. Too quickly if you ask me. It might consume her.
Cole couldn't disagree with that. Paige had seemed a little obsessed... and lost.
Phoebe never had a purpose. She was always the screw-up. Her sisters helped her along because of pride and love, but she had never really made it entirely on her own, Henry said.
Cole sat forward about to ask his question. But then Henry stood up.
That's all I'm going to tell you, son, Henry clasped Cole's arm. You can come back and visit anytime. I'm the one who chooses who comes here. Then the conversation turned, Henry looking straight into Cole's eyes. Cole, don't become an Avatar. They're independents, soldiers of fortune.
Cole tried to shrug off the words. I won't, Cole replied with a nervous laugh.
Henry nodded, a small frown clouding his face. I'll send you home. It takes you too much energy, which you need. Henry clapped his hands and Cole was gone.
