Chapter Two
Phoebe was cuddled next to Cole in the sisters' booth and she toyed with the lace tie of his pirate's shirt. She shook her head in answer to the waitress who asked if she wanted anything. She sighed and rested her head against Cole's shoulder.
Concerned by her uncharacteristically quiet behavior, Cole placed his hand on top of hers. "Tired?"
She rubbed her cheek against him and admitted, "Maybe a little."
"Too much dancing," he decided.
She turned her head slightly and looked up at him with confusion, "We've barely been on the dance floor."
"I was referring to your bar dance," he replied in amusement with a kiss to the tip of her nose.
Embarrassed, Phoebe immediately covered her eyes with her hand, "Don't tell me you saw that." She felt the rumble of his chest when he chuckled. "Oh, God," she groaned and slid a little lower in her seat.
"It seems I got here just in time to catch your act," he grinned while he deliberately propped her up. "Dare I ask?"
"Dare is right," she muttered. "Paige bet I wouldn't do it and I'm sure Piper was in on it. She never quite forgave Prue and me for teasing her about her own bar dancing."
"Piper?" Cole questioned in surprise.
"Like you've never seen her," Phoebe smiled at the memory. "Still," she decided with a sudden frown, "I'm sure she had something to do with it. What're the odds the band knew that particular Elvis song?"
"He is the king," Cole chuckled again. She lightly slapped his chest and he responded, "You didn't have to take up Paige's offer, you know."
"I had to," Phoebe sheepishly confessed, "She offered me her car for any job interviews I get lined up for the next two weeks."
"Incentive enough," he considered. "Still, it couldn't've been too painful for you. You didn't even spot me when I arrived, you were having so much fun."
"If you call making an idiot of yourself having fun," she snorted.
Cole shifted position, looked her straight in the eyes, and placed his finger on her lips to stop her protest, "You had fun."
She nipped at his finger before she conceded with a slight smile, "Maybe a little." She wrapped her arm around his waist and squeezed tight before she again rested her head against his shoulder.
"You ready to go, my "rock-a-hula" baby?" he quietly teased before he cupped her chin and lightly kissed her lips.
"Stop it," she practically whined and pushed herself away.
He chuckled and asked, "Where'd you learn to hula?"
"I didn't," she sulked, "I made it up."
"Looked authentic enough to me." He kissed the top of her head and added, "But maybe I need to see it again to be sure."
Suddenly interested, Phoebe suggested, "You mean like in a private luau of our own? Just you and me?"
He leaned forward, "I think that can be arranged. Come on."
"I can't," Phoebe decided as she slumped back in the booth. "I told Piper I'd help her clean up after she closes." She checked her watch and added, "And that won't be for at least another hour."
He disagreed, "She's got Leo and Paige to help." She didn't respond and he tried to convince her, "She'll understand."
"It's not safe," she reluctantly whispered.
"You'll be with me," he confidently stated with another kiss to the top of her head.
"What about Piper and Paige?" she shook her head even as he moved out of the booth. "What if they need the Power of Three?"
"Leo will get you," Cole promised. He stood and held out his hand to her, "Come with me. You need to get out of here." He patiently waited for her to accept his hand and then helped her slide out of the booth. "It'll be okay."
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"Hey," the 'ninja' waitress poked Piper in the arm with her elbow, "can you take this one for me?" She set a tray on the bar and said, "I've gotta get some drinks over to table four."
"Sure, Anna," Piper sighed as she stepped aside, "whatcha need?"
"A kiss," Anna replied distractedly as she placed some drinks on her tray, "extra sweet."
"I've never heard of that drink," Piper replied in concern. "Is it something new?"
"Don't think so," Anna cryptically remarked as she passed Piper. "Why don't you ask the guy at the end of the bar who requested it."
Piper looked in that direction and smiled when she discovered Leo sitting on the last stool at the bar. She strolled over and leaned across the bar, "I hear you want a kiss."
"Extra sweet," he demanded as he also leaned forward. "Think you can handle it?"
"I can try," she purred before she tugged his World War II uniform, pulled him close, and kissed him deeply.
Leo pulled back and smiled, satisfied, "Bartender, make that a double."
Piper giggled and hurried around the end of the bar where she stepped into his open arms. She felt so safe in his arms that she almost cried. "Leo…"
"It's okay, Piper," he quietly told her as he brushed her long hair. "It's okay."
"Hey, Piper?" Paige innocently interrupted. She caught their solemn expressions and she worried, "Something wrong? Loose demon?"
"No," Piper half-chuckled before she cleared her throat. "Enjoying yourself?"
Paige nodded and told them, "I ran into some friends who've offered me a ride back to the house so I can pick up my car. I know I said I'd help clean up but would you mind if I took off? Or's it too dangerous for us to split up?"
"Don't worry," Piper patted her on the arm, "if any demons wanted to attack, they would've already."
"Are you sure?" she nervously wondered. "Maybe my leaving isn't such a good idea."
Piper disagreed, "Leo can get you if there's a problem."
"What about cleaning up?" Paige asked in an unsure tone.
Piper smiled, "Two of my staff volunteered to help, for overtime of course, and Phoebe's still here. Besides, you helped enough by setting everything up. The place looks terrific. People've been complimenting it all night."
"I'm glad. Thanks, Piper," Paige said as she kissed Piper's cheek and quickly rejoined her friends. "You're the best…" she called out.
"It's been a success, hasn't it?" Piper quietly asked her husband.
"Of course, it has," he assured her. "This party's been a real -- hey, here come Phoebe and Cole."
"Hey, guys," Piper greeted with a bright smile, "great party, right?"
"The best," Phoebe replied with a bright smile of her own.
"Especially the dancing," Cole teased when he realized the sisters were nearing a breaking point.
"Caught that hula act, did you?" Piper laughed.
"Great show, Phoebe," Leo kidded, relieved that Piper's current smile hadn't seemed as forced as her previous one. "Too bad we didn't get it on tape."
"Now, that would've been great," Piper agreed with disappointment. "There's always next year," she informed her sister.
"Not for me," Phoebe shook her head. "This surfer witch will be home next year."
"You were so good," Piper assured her, "everyone thought that I'd hired you as part of the act."
"You're kidding," she uttered with disbelief.
"It's true," Piper insisted. "I've even got half-a-dozen napkins with guys' phone numbers just for you."
"And I've got an energy ball for each of those napkins," Cole warned as he placed his arm securely around Phoebe's shoulders.
Piper and Leo both laughed at Cole's display of jealousy but, oddly enough, Phoebe had a thoughtful look upon her face. "Honey," Piper questioned in concern, "something wrong?"
Phoebe cleared her throat and uncomfortably requested, "Would it be okay if we left?" Piper didn't respond and Phoebe quickly turned to Cole, "I told you it wasn't a good idea." She turned back to her sister and apologized, "I said I'd help clean up and I will. Besides, it's not safe tonight and --"
"It's okay," Piper gently interrupted. "Paige just left with some friends and a couple of the staff've already volunteered to stay."
"But now you'll be alone," Phoebe softly told her. "I can't leave you."
Piper indicated to Leo and teased, "What is he, chopped liver?" Phoebe didn't look comforted so she hugged Phoebe, "I'll be fine. Go, have some fun." Phoebe still hesitated and Piper reached over and unclipped the butterfly from Phoebe's flower. She held it in her open palm and showed her sister, "No more letting life pass us by. Remember?" Phoebe shook her head and Piper urged her, "Have fun. I'll be okay." She nudged her sister back to Cole and promised Phoebe, "I'll see you in the morning."
Piper leaned back against Leo and he asked the couple, "Where will you be?"
Cole wrapped his arms around Phoebe and scanned the area to make sure no one was watching them. "Surfing," he replied with a grin as he shimmered away with Phoebe.
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