Chapter 4:

"Piper…what are you doing?" Cole asked, he knew he better do or say something quick before Piper blows up his visitor.

                "Don't you think I should be asking you that same question Cole? I mean, you have this man here." Piper looked at the man. She noticed the big lump underneath his glove. She eyed Cole suspiciously. "What is that?" Piper pointed at the hand covered with the glove. Cole looked at it, then he pretended not to know what it was.

                "I don't know, maybe some kind of ring."

                Piper thought back to the events that had occurred the night before. She cocked her head, looking Cole in the eye. "Is he by any chance the man that attacked you and Phoebe?" Before Cole could answer, the man unfroze. He looked at Piper then he shimmered from the room after giving a small nod to Cole.

                Phoebe walked into the kitchen to see what was taking Piper so long. "Did you find something to eat Cole?" Cole was still looking at Piper, her eyes not leaving his. Phoebe noticed Cole's and Piper's eye contact and looked at them both suspiciously. "I don't know what's going on but someone better tell me now!" She said her voice slightly rising.

                Cole shook his head hoping Piper would get his message, then he turned to Phoebe. "Can Piper and I talk?"

                Phoebe looked at Cole again, not understanding. "Well if this involves a demon, I believe that I should stay." Phoebe wanted to chip in and know why Cole wanted to talk to Piper.

                "Well this is um…personal right now." Cole said quietly. Phoebe turned to walk away, but Piper put her hand on Phoebe's shoulder.

                "What I think Cole, is that Phoebe should stay. This could work out for the best. I certainly have some questions to ask." Piper said sarcastically. Paige peeked into the kitchen from around the door frame.

                "Um…is this a meeting where I'm not welcomed? I can understand if this is about you kicking me out." Paige bit her lip.

                "Oh no sweetie! We're not kicking you out! We would never do that to you Paige!" Phoebe said. Phoebe walked over to Paige and pulled her to where Cole and Piper were gathered.

                Cole frowned not wanting all of this attention. He closed his eyes then frowned thinking whether or not to tell Piper the truth. He didn't want to tell Phoebe directly or she would think was still on the demon side. It was just a past that he wanted to forget. "Look Piper, please. It would be better if I can just speak to you." Piper held her hands up, gesturing for Cole to begin talking. "I mean alone Piper." Piper looked from Paige and Phoebe. Paige looked as confused as ever. Phoebe was wondering if she really wanted to hear what Cole had to say. But she made the decision on her own and began to push Paige out of the kitchen. Phoebe gave Piper a one last look then she disappeared out of view after walking up the stairs with Paige.

                "There isn't much to explain Cole. There isn't much to lie about either." Cole leaned himself against the window that was behind him, Piper stepped back subconsciously after seeing Cole move.

                "There is but you will have to trust me." Piper looked Cole in the eyes and pushed her long brown hair past her shoulders. She crossed her arms as Cole opened his mouth, but he shut his mouth. He found it very hard to explain things to Piper when her arms were crossed. She seemed a little upset, but impatient as well.            

                "Cole, look, you're going to have to tell me or there will be no trust. Paige suspects you of still being Balthazaar, but Phoebe and I are taking great risks to put our 'trust' in you." Cole didn't like the way she said "trust".

                Piper's eyes searched the kitchen, seeing if she should say more but she felt what she said was sufficient. Cole gulped what wasn't there in his mouth and began to speak. "The guy you saw with me is the guy that attacked Phoebe and me earlier." Cole stopped talking to see if Piper would hurt him or something but she stayed in the same position. He found this odd but he continued. "He wasn't looking to hurt Phoebe though. He was only looking for me but I think he was startled at finding Phoebe there. Him thinking that I'm demon, it doesn't make much sense to find me in a house with the Charmed Ones when one of you is still here.  You know?"

                Piper forced a smile, she was getting impatient. She was trying to see where Cole was getting with this but he seemed he was going to ramble to avoid the real subject. "Get on with the story Cole." Piper said while releasing a sigh.

                "He was looking for me so that he could be…of some assistance to me but I don't need him because I'm pure human now." Cole paused thinking of what he should've said next.

                Piper took this little time and intervened. "Why did you need him when you were Balthazaar?"

                "Well I didn't need him then, but I've known him all my life and he's always wanted to please me even though it should be the other way around. Maybe it should be like it is…" Piper thought maybe should make Cole stop rambling but she heard him say "he was human" so she let Cole continue rambling. "…so since he was human, it was really hard to please me even at such a young age." Cole noticed himself talking about what he thought was a bunch of nothing so he got quiet.

                Piper rolled her eyes thinking that she'd be there the whole night trying to figure out who the hell the guy was! "Cole, I'm going to ask you upfront! Who in the hell was that guy Cole? What did he hold to your past?"

                Cole hesitated to answer. "Um…he was my father." Piper held her breath hoping she didn't hear what she thought she did. Cole noticed Piper didn't say anything so he continued. "He was human and my mother was a demon so you know. Their mixed blood is running through my veins which make it easy for me to turn from human to Belthazaar. I had power back then as a child and my father wanted to impress me but he couldn't so he's been trying to find some way to reunite with me after getting his hands on power and it seems he's found a way." Cole saw that Piper still hadn't said anything. Piper was trying to process in her mind of the who the man/demon was. She was shocked but with Cole, there was always surprises.

A/N: Sorry, I would add more but this seems like a good idea to leave it at this. (good idea to me at least. *snickers*) Please R+R! I may add more soon but with me, you'll never know!