Chapter 8 Adjusting
"Ok so where do we go from here?" Cole asked looking at the other remaining occupants of the attic.
"Well we do have a demon to vanquish." Piper put in and her sister nodded.
"Right, first we'll need something of the nightmare king's." Phoebe said and then she was frowning. "The only thing is we didn't get close enough for a skin bit to fleck."
"Ok, well we could call him up and get it." Piper suggested and Cole was already shaking his head.
"No, it's too dangerous."
"Cole it's how we do it, we call it up or when we're fighting it we get something and then use it for the potion." Phoebe reminded him.
"I still don't like it; the thing nearly had us for dinner." The newest charmed one pointed out grumbling all the while.
"Don't worry honey we'll protect you." Phoebe said in a babying tone that had Cole rolling his eyes.
"Very funny." He muttered.
"I thought so." Phoebe smirked.
"Alright children, we do have a spell to cast, this foreplay can wait until that's finished." Piper said in a teacher to taciturn student tone that had Phoebe sticking out her tongue.
"Excuse me?" Cole asked not quite understanding the whole scene. What was Piper talking about? That wasn't foreplay. Foreplay was what two lovers did…
"Hello "the cutting Edge"." Piper said in disgust and Leo decided that it was time to get his family back on track.
"Ok now who's acting like children?" He asked sounding a bit superior to them and all turned their glares on him.
"Leo!" They yellowed at once.
"Ok well fine the elders are you know." He said looking skyward in that all too familiar gesture he had.
"Bye." Piper said and smiled at him a glint in her eyes saying she'd get him for leaving her just then.
"Bye." He said and orbed away.
"Well, at least something's never change." Cole said and Phoebe nodded
"Alright like I said, save that for later we do have to stop this demon." Piper told them and Phoebe rolled her eyes.
"Right," the pair replied this time acting the students being put in line.
"Yeah, ok well I'll see if there's anything in the..."Phoebe said and Piper shook her head holding up a scrap of paper.
"Hello got the spell." She said and when they looked at her she added. "I started keeping a locating spell since you went all manikin like on me." Piper told her sister.
"Ok well let's do this then." Cole said and Phoebe nodded and then Piper was casting the protective circle. They also carried Phoebe so she was leaning against Cole.
"North," Piper began and looking at Cole nodded.
"South," Phoebe said and looked to her ex-husband.
"East and west, Goddess of the winds," He picked up and then they all three intoned the conclusion of the spell.
"Keeper of locations bring us now the one we seek." With that the lights dimmed and slowly a misty form began to materialize. Then it was in the full image of the King of Nightmares.
Phoebe felt her knees go weak at the horrific sight of the creature that had trapped her in her mind for the last two and a half months.
Piper saw her sister stumble and move dangerously close to the edge of the circle and called to Cole even as the demon reached out and grabbed a hold of her arm.
"Cole!" Phoebe screamed and he was there then clubbing the beast even as Phoebe grabbed at the monster's hair. She tore out a big clump even as he shimmered out.
"Phoebe, are you alright?" Cole asked and she nodded a little shaken even as her legs fully gave out and he had to catch her.
"That's better." He said setting her on the divan in the corner where she'd been laying earlier.
"Did you get it?" Piper asked and triumphantly Phoebe held up the clump of matted hair.
"Yeah," she said and then Piper took it from her saying.
"Well we have to work fast he'll want vengeance." Then seeing how shaken the other two looked Piper knew she'd not get much use out of them just then. "Right why don't I mix up the potion and Phoebe you go and eat something?"
"Oh…" Phoebe replied not sure if her legs would hold her after what had just happened. "I um can help."
"It's ok; you've not had any real food in what, two and a half months?" Piper assured her little sister.
"Yeah," Phoebe said and hoped her legs would hold her after all as she slowly got up and took a step for the attic door.
"Are you going to need my help?" Cole asked Piper who shook her head.
"No, I can handle this. Besides you could probably do with something to eat as well."
"Yeah," He said and headed to catch up to Phoebe.
***
"Ok we have left over stir fry or some eggs and bacon or…" Phoebe said leaning against the cabinet as she peered into the refridgorater. Heavens it felt good to be able to do this, to really be in her home, no more smell of burning flesh and fear. Not to mention having Cole there with her.
"Phoebe wait." She found Cole's hand on her shoulder and looked back at him. He looked both exhausted and a little uncertain.
"Cole?" She asked and he looked down. What was this? She'd rarely ever seen him like this. He'd always been so certain. Then she knew that with all that had happened he could be a little afraid of her real reaction. The funny thing is she still loved him, wanted him with her, despite all that happened. She always had. Now that he was no longer evil she knew they could have a real chance. She wanted to reach out to him, to rest a hand on his chest and tell him that but she was a little scared too, what if he didn't want to try again. What if he was only there to be on the good side this time? Phoebe didn't know if she could handle a rejection like that, not now after all that had happened.
"I'll do that while we talk." She frowned, had she really heard him right? Did he just offer to cook? She just looked at him.
"Ok," She started slowly trying to think what to say to him. Then it hit her this would be easier if she didn't have to stay still while they did talk. "But I want to make the…"
Cole could see his own nerves now echoed in her eyes and then the glazed look in her eyes as Phoebe swayed slightly.
"You're sitting down, at least until you get some real strength back." Cole told her and she did' have time to protest as he scooped her up and carried her over to the table where he set her and then pulling out a chair he lowered her into it.
"Cole I'm not completely helpless you know."
"Yes but your bodies still weak from disuse, you need to get your strength back and then you can move all you want."
"Right," She admitted grudgingly. She knew it was true but she still hated being helpless. Not now when so much rode on this time they shared.
"Ok," he pulled out the eggs having decided that fat and protein were just what they needed he set them on the counter. "So, what I was thinking is that I know we can't go back but maybe we can start again." He said reaching then for the bacon on the second shelf.
"Cole…" She began and he turned back to her frowning.
"Look I know it won't be easy but…" He began and she shook her head sending his heart plummeting into his shoes. She didn't want him after all. He'd come back for nothing.
"The eggs are going to fall." At her words he stared at her dumbfounded then back down at the eggs. They were he realized half on the counter and half dangling above the floor.
"Oh right." He mumbled and quickly pushed them further back on the counter top, his heart slowly returning to its normal resting place.
"Anyway, I think you have a point but Cole, we've been through too much and I don't think forgetting is the answer. I know I've learned from my mistakes. If we forget then it will make things weird." She said and he tried to take her words in, what was she saying? Did she want to be with him or not? Was that a brush off or was it just that she wanted to keep the past in mind for the future so they'd not forget their mistakes and repeat them?
"Yes well…" He began slowly still trying to understand all she'd just spit out.
Phoebe held her breath, how would he feel about this? Would he not want to try this her way? Would he want to leave and then she knew he wouldn't. He was one of the charmed ones he'd stay in the house as they all had. She felt like crying at the way this was going.
The sound of a small child crying broke the spell and Phoebe got up to go look in on her new nephew.
TBC
***
What do you think? Is the tension thick enough?