Chapter Three

"Surfing?" Piper quizzed her husband. "What's he mean surfing?" She caught Leo's grin and shrugged, "What?" And then she blushed bright pink when he whispered his theory in her ear. "Leo!"

"Not a good idea?" he teased.

She grabbed his uniform and kissed him before she murmured, "It's a great idea. And now might be one of those times I wish I didn't own a club."

"You do have an office," he whispered in her ear. "With a lock."

Piper raised an eyebrow but when she recognized the desire in his eyes, she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the back rooms. "We just have to be back before the last song," she excitedly cautioned when she reached her office door and threw it open, "so I can introduce it." Leo suddenly stopped in the open doorway and she immediately became upset. "They can't need you again. You were with them all morning."

"It's not that," he shook his head in concern, "it's Phoebe."

"Oh God, she's in trouble," Piper immediately panicked. "She was so concerned about me, what about her? Where is she, Leo? You've got to take me to her."

He let out a breath of relief and assured his wife, "No, it's okay now." He led her inside the office and tried to explain, "It was like a wave of panic, but it's gone now. I'm not sensing anything wrong."

"Are you sure?" Piper quietly asked.

"She's safe," he promised. He hugged her, used his foot to close the door, and teased, "Now, remind me why we came in here?"

*********** ********** ************

"What was that?" Phoebe exclaimed. "Why all the stops in different realms?"

"Sorry," he apologized, "but I needed to be sure no one was tracking me."

Suddenly scared, she hugged him, "Are we safe now?"

"We weren't in danger," he assured her. "I was just being cautious. We're safe here."

She looked around the deserted beach and stepped out of his embrace. "So, what're we doing here anyway?"

"Told you, we're going surfing," he replied with a wink.

"Didn't know that's what we were calling it these days," she smiled. But he didn't react and she complained, "You can't be serious. It's freezing and Piper'll kill me if I catch pneumonia. I'm a lousy patient."

"I'll take care of you," he promised while he rubbed her upper arms.

"In between running from which bounty hunter?" she snapped. But she immediately regretted her words and covered her mouth in shame. "That was uncalled for and I didn't mean it. The only reason you're in danger at all is because of me."

"Because I love you," he quietly told her as he caressed her cheek. She leaned into his palm and closed her eyes and he slowly smiled. "Trust me," he requested, "you'll feel better once you've caught a few waves."

Her eyes popped open, she hugged herself, and she tried not to let her teeth chatter, "What're you talking about?"

"Surfin' U.S.A.," he grinned.

"It's nearly one in the morning," she scoffed. "I don't like the ocean, I don't have a surfboard, and, besides all that, I don't know the first thing about surfing."

"Don't worry," he told her, "I'll give you a few tips."

"You? You know how to surf?" she asked incredulously.

He shrugged nonchalantly, "It was a long time ago when I was in Hawaii on a mission."

"Really?" she asked, her eyes sparked with interest.

"ReallyNow, try this," he suggested as he offered her the broom.

"A broom?" she asked skeptically. "You want me to surf in the ocean on a broom?"

"You managed fine in the house," he acknowledged.

"Yeah, Cole, in the house," she frowned. "Come on, take me home."

He shook his head and insisted, "You've tapped into the magic before and that was thirty feet in the air over a field. Do it now, over the ocean. I know you can swim."

"That was different," she objected as bittersweet memories of that night flashed in her mind.

"How?" he pushed.

She turned away from him and faced the ocean. "Our lives were on the line, I had no choice. It was a dangerous stunt."

"You know better." Cole stood behind her and bent his head slightly so he spoke into her ear. "You relished every moment in the sky. I saw it in your body language as you soared above those terrified peasants." He gently turned her toward him, "Your magic is strongest on this night. Take this chance and fly." She didn't move and he promised, "I'll catch you if you fall."

She gazed into his eyes and silently took the broom. She swept sand from east to west and, after a moment, felt the powerful spark she'd expected. The broom suddenly hovered a few inches off the ground and, when she felt the power grow, she sat on the stick, side-saddle style. Cole steadied her while she slowly stood. She nodded and he released her hands and she quickly stretched out her arms at her sides to balance herself. Slowly, she began to move forward.

Cole smiled while she "surfed" along the sand. The longer she flew, the more relaxed she seemed. "Time for the waves," he suggested when she passed him again.

Phoebe heard him and guided the broom back toward him. She hovered in front of him as a plan ran through her head and she ordered, "Get on."

His smile faded, "What d'you mean?"

She put her hands on her hips, "I mean, surfing was your idea so get on."

"You're kidding," he uttered. "Get on that thing?"

"Trust me," she taunted, "you'll feel better once you catch a few waves." She reached out and tugged on his shirt, careful not to lose her balance, "C'mon, my magic's strongest on this night, remember?"

With a curse, Cole stepped onto the broomstick. It dropped slightly and he grabbed Phoebe's waist.

"Sorry, I didn't consider the added weight," she apologized as they awkwardly shifted their feet so they were both balanced on the stick. She caused the broom to float higher again and glanced back at him, "You ready?"

"As I'll ever be," he muttered and squeezed her waist tighter.

"Let's go," she said as she directed the broom toward the water, "surf's up!"

She took them over the waves and, at times, flew low enough to feel the water's spray on her face. But, after a short while, she felt her energy waning and cautioned him, "I think we'd better come in." But, as she spoke, the broom shook underneath them and dropped into the water, and she nervously cried out, "Cole!"

Cole immediately reacted and shimmered them into her bedroom where they landed on her bed's soft covers. He quickly pinned her beneath him and kissed her passionately.

"Wipeout," Phoebe breathlessly teased when he pulled back for air.

"Oh, really" he commented with a leering grin as he pressed down and kissed her again.

Her eyes widened in realization and she grinned, "Surf's up, dude."

"Cowabunga," he chuckled before he "attacked" her and buried his lips in her neck. He was vaguely aware of her fingers running through his damp hair when she suddenly clung tightly to him. "Phoebe?" he questioned as he carefully loosened her hold and pulled back. Surprised by the tears in her eyes, he quietly asked, "What's wrong?"

"Thank you," Phoebe whispered in a choked voice. She traced her finger along the edge of his jaw and added, "For tonight. It was magical."

"It was you," he softly declared before he kissed her tenderly on her lips. "Your magic"

"Our magic," she corrected even as her tears fell. "Thank you for understanding, for coming back and being here."

Cole shifted position so that they spooned and he draped his arm around her waist. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "I love you, Phoebe, and I'll always be here when you need me."

She snuggled back closer to him and pulled his arm tighter around her. "I love you Cole." She felt his warm kiss on her temple and haltingly asked, "Can westay like thisfor a while?"

"For as long as you want," he promised. He brushed away her remaining tears, settled down behind her, and softly added, "For as long as you need."

And they lay that way, quietly and lovingly, in each other's arms, until the dawn

the end...