Cheers to you, Terin!; Happy you could come along for the ride Maricole;
Thanks for your wonderful comments Dana, Beba & Plasmic Female. You all
just make me want to keep writing and I'm already becoming sad that this
journey is heading for the finish within the next few chapters.
********************
"A Kiss is Still a Kiss"
It was the middle of the night and Phoebe ran to the door thinking she'd made it past the sister detector but she was sorely mistaken.
"Where do ya think you're going at this hour of the night, Missy?" Piper called down from the landing.
"Aaaah, out?" Phoebe squeaked.
"Out where?"
"Out...side."
"You're gonna have to do a little better than that. Phoebe you've been sneakin' around here for the last two weeks now. Are you doin' something witchy, you're not telling me about?"
"I'm just going to meet Jason in the park."
"Phoebe, it's three in the morning. The park isn't safe at this hour."
"Come on Piper, you know I can take care of myself."
"Yes, I know that, but Jason doesn't. Or have you finally told him everything about us?"
"No, I haven't really gotten around to that. I've been sort of distracted. But I will. Look," Phoebe said, dreading the lies that were about to spew forth. "Jason and I were starting to get a little blah lately and we've just been thinking of new ways to spice up our sex life. Would you like to hear some of the details?"
"No, I wouldn't, thank you very much. I try not to think about sex at all these days. It's better for my health."
"Awwww Piper. You and Leo were so much in love. Don't you think it's time you admitted you belong with him and work on spending whatever time with him you can?"
"No, I don't. Phoebe, you and Cole were just as much in love as Leo and me, but you know you don't belong with him, right? You moved on, you're happy now with Jason and I plan on following suit."
"Piper, I..." Phoebe was so tempted to reveal the truth, to confess to Piper that not only was it Cole she was meeting in the park tonight but that she'd realized over the past few weeks that she hadn't moved on like she'd thought. Though she fought it with everything inside her, she was still so powerfully attracted to Cole and found it hard to even function these days despite the warning bells that her empathic powers sounded in her brain telling her that he was concealing a very important truth and could very well be a danger to her.
Cole was as much an enigma to her now as ever. Though he didn't transform into Balthazor, he wore the mask of his demon self, sounding cold and distant when they worked together in his office. But then, he'd do something unexpectedly like he did the other day when he leaned over her as she was reading a chapter from his mother's spell book. She inhaled the smell of his cologne she'd always found so intoxicating while he rubbed her tired shoulders and Phoebe could swear he was coming on to her, only he wasn't exactly. The moves were there, but the feelings weren't. It was almost as though he were trying purposely to get her aroused without feeling it himself? But why, she wondered, was he torturing her like this. The only thing she could do was to play along with his scheme, pretend to be falling under his spell and find out what kind of game he was playing while doing her best to keep her guard up and not give in to the temptation he was expertly stirring within her.
Like the big sister she was, Piper, grabbed Phoebe's jacket, placed it around her and said, "if you ever need to talk about what's bothering you, because I know something is, I'm here, Phoebe, and though I know I can be a bit preachy at times, it's only cause I love you so much."
"Piper, do you realize that's the first time you've ever told me you loved me? I've always known you have of course, but I've never actually heard you say the words."
"And that's my biggest regret with Pru. I just didn't want to make the same mistake with you."
"Well I'm not dying tonight, Piper, just going for a walk in the park. And, if I do need you for anything, I promise I'll come to you," Phoebe said with tears in her eyes as she gave her big sister a smothering hug. "I love you too!"
Piper mumbled something Phoebe didn't hear. "What Piper?"
"I said air, I need air! You don't have to love me to death," Piper cracked. Okay go. Go get your man!"
"He's not....Oh, yeah right, my man. I'll be sure to get him before he gets me. See ya later."
"And be careful."
In the park Cole and Phoebe walked quietly, each of them lost in their thoughts. Cole looked at his watch and Phoebe could have sworn he heard Cole mutter, "he's late."
"Who's late?"
"I said it's late. You sure you don't mind walking at this hour?"
"No, I was up anyway. But, now that you brought it up, why did you want to meet me here?"
Cole looked down at Phoebe's hand for a moment and then held it as they continued to walk. Again Phoebe was conflicted. She secretly enjoyed the intimacy of their handholding, but it was once again lacking in feeling.
"I brought you here because I thought it was a good idea to get away from my office and that the surroundings might stimulate...an idea about the demon we're after."
"Stimulate an idea? Is that all Cole?"
"Well that and you know how I've always loved the park especially at night when its peaceful and the night is clear enough to count the stars overhead. I think I see our star."
"It must be a shooting star. One that soars through the sky and later fades completely into nothing."
"We once burned brighter than any other star in the heavens, didn't we?"
The words were so romantic, and yet uttered so falsely, Phoebe realized. "Yes we did, burn brightly, Cole, Phoebe said and reached up to stroke his cheek. "Nice touch, Phoebe thought to herself. That should have him convinced." Phoebe pretended to look dreamily into Cole's blue depths, meanwhile searching for even a hint of an ember still burning, but found only ashes.
Just as Cole was about to lean in...the demon appeared, opened up the gaping hole in his foreahead and aimed his suctioning force at Phoebe. But before it could vacuum her out of existence, Cole formed a huge energy ball in his hand and threw it at the demon. As the energy ball reached its mark, Vector screamed in pain. Cole went to Phoebe, placed a protective arm around her thinking the fight was over but it wasn't. Vector summoned up his reserve of energy and sent a lightning bolt back at Cole that hit him in the back and sent both he and Phoebe flying across the grass. Satisfied with his work, he shimmered away.
Phoebe landed hard on top of Cole and fortunately neither was injured. In fact, the adrenaline rush was like an aphrodisiac setting their blood on fire and Cole was quick to act on that feeling, pulling Phoebe's head close to his own and kissing her full on.
Phoebe tried to contain the mix of emotions that was coursing through her body and mind but the kiss was too passionate to be denied. Cole rolled her beneath him and Phoebe held on tight for the ride, feeling as though she were flying high above the stars they'd just observed as their mouths and hands feverishly explored one another. The amazing part was, that for the first time since Cole had come back from the Wasteland, Phoebe could feel his desire for her and it was mounting in a very tangible way. At the moment, Phoebe didn't care if this was somehow a part of the game. She reveled in the sensations they were creating together and it felt more powerful than anything she'd ever experienced with Jason or any other man since Cole.
"How could he let her do this to him?" was the lone thought that brought Cole back from his drugged state. His mind waged war against his body's growing need to grab hold of the swirling ecstasy that lay beneath him. This was supposed to be an act, his logical mind argued, a carefully orchestrated plot to win Phoebe's trust. If he gave in now, how far would he end up falling? Far enough to earn a one way trip back to the Wasteland, he wagered. And what of his calling and a silent promise he'd made to his father when he opened up his detective agency, to right all the wrongs in his life. Would he give all that up now just to sample the pleasure from a rose that has long since withered on the vine? "No I won't and can't lose my only shot at redemption."
Cole broke off the kiss abruptly, closed his eyes and when he opened them again, Phoebe saw the mask fall back firmly into place. Whatever tender feelings he felt during the kiss were gone now and were replaced with an icy exterior that Phoebe longed to thaw. "God help me for wanting the devil," she thought, "but I do." His plot had worked, she was thoroughly seduced, she realized, but that did not have to make her deaf, dumb and blind.
"Cole we need to talk."
"No, I need to get you home. It's not safe here."
"That was a lie," she could feel it. For just a brief moment during that kiss, he'd wanted her, really wanted her and now he was running from it and she desperately needed to know why. "Cole, remember before during that awful time when you became the Source and I thought that there was something wrong with you and I asked you point blank what was the matter and you didn't tell me?"
"Yes, Phoebe, I remember."
"Well that was the turning point in our marriage. If you'd only told me the truth then when I'd asked, we might have stayed together. But you didn't. Instead you lied and soon after we had nothing left."
"I couldn't tell you." Cole wanted to say more, to explain about the Source's possession of his will and that every time he'd tried to tell Phoebe the truth he was hit with a blinding migraine that threatened to tear his skull apart if he revealed anything. But why bring that up now when he no longer wanted her in his life.
"I know you couldn't. That's why we never made it. You couldn't open up to me, Cole, when it counted and I guess I'm bringing that up now because I feel like we're at another type of crossroads. Cole, There's something you're not telling me here and there's no use denying it because my powers are picking it up. So, please, confide in me and tell me what it is I don't know about this demon and your part in all of this. What is it? Phoebe asked tenderly trying to coax an answer while caressing his cheek with her hand once more, only this time it was for real.
"Phoebe, I'd get those empathic circuits checked if I were you. There's nothing I'm not telling you. It's late and its time I get you home." Cole made a move to grab Phoebe's hand but Phoebe jerked it away.
"I'll get home on my own, thanks."
"Phoebe, don't leave angry. Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there really is a problem."
"I'm not the one with a problem, Cole, you are because I'm not letting up on you until I find out exactly what's going on here so you better get used to me in your face. Do you here me? I said I'm not giving up or going away."
Cole watched her walking to her car and he recalled those same words he'd said to her in the mausoleum only he did finally give up and she would too in time.
Back at the Halliwell manor, Phoebe walked through the door feeling more confused than ever and was greeted by the sight of Piper and Phoebe sitting around the dining room table having breakfast with Jason.
"Good morning, Phoebe, Piper said with exaggerated cheer. "I can't wait to hear all about your walk in the park."
Back in the park, Vector came back to have a word with Cole.
"I did as you said. I trust the plan went well?"
"Yes it did, Vector, except for my accident with a runaway lightning bolt which I believe belonged to you."
"Yes, well I was a tad angry at you for that low energy ball that didn't feel quite so low to me."
"I had to make it look like I was really attacking you, Vector."
"Well you did, a little too well so I retaliated. It's nothing a powerful demon like yourself couldn't handle, now is it, that is if you really are a demon?
"Of course I am. You've seen Balthazor."
"Yes I have, but still I wonder why Phoebe Halliwell felt so conflicted in your presence. Could it be that you're the mortal she pines for? I ask this because I'm picking up feelings of conflict in you right now as we speak. Demons aren't supposed to have feelings I can register."
Once more Cole forced the demon in him to dominate his weaker half and he successfully pushed aside his remorse at having to hurt Phoebe again.
"Now the conflict's gone. Maybe it's me. I apologize. I'm in a very weakened state and in need of nourishment soon." Were you successful in gaining the witch's trust so we may bring her to my father soon?"
"Yes, I made significant headway tonight. The witch will be ready for transport to your father's lair when needed.
"Good, because we'll need her tomorrow."
********************
"A Kiss is Still a Kiss"
It was the middle of the night and Phoebe ran to the door thinking she'd made it past the sister detector but she was sorely mistaken.
"Where do ya think you're going at this hour of the night, Missy?" Piper called down from the landing.
"Aaaah, out?" Phoebe squeaked.
"Out where?"
"Out...side."
"You're gonna have to do a little better than that. Phoebe you've been sneakin' around here for the last two weeks now. Are you doin' something witchy, you're not telling me about?"
"I'm just going to meet Jason in the park."
"Phoebe, it's three in the morning. The park isn't safe at this hour."
"Come on Piper, you know I can take care of myself."
"Yes, I know that, but Jason doesn't. Or have you finally told him everything about us?"
"No, I haven't really gotten around to that. I've been sort of distracted. But I will. Look," Phoebe said, dreading the lies that were about to spew forth. "Jason and I were starting to get a little blah lately and we've just been thinking of new ways to spice up our sex life. Would you like to hear some of the details?"
"No, I wouldn't, thank you very much. I try not to think about sex at all these days. It's better for my health."
"Awwww Piper. You and Leo were so much in love. Don't you think it's time you admitted you belong with him and work on spending whatever time with him you can?"
"No, I don't. Phoebe, you and Cole were just as much in love as Leo and me, but you know you don't belong with him, right? You moved on, you're happy now with Jason and I plan on following suit."
"Piper, I..." Phoebe was so tempted to reveal the truth, to confess to Piper that not only was it Cole she was meeting in the park tonight but that she'd realized over the past few weeks that she hadn't moved on like she'd thought. Though she fought it with everything inside her, she was still so powerfully attracted to Cole and found it hard to even function these days despite the warning bells that her empathic powers sounded in her brain telling her that he was concealing a very important truth and could very well be a danger to her.
Cole was as much an enigma to her now as ever. Though he didn't transform into Balthazor, he wore the mask of his demon self, sounding cold and distant when they worked together in his office. But then, he'd do something unexpectedly like he did the other day when he leaned over her as she was reading a chapter from his mother's spell book. She inhaled the smell of his cologne she'd always found so intoxicating while he rubbed her tired shoulders and Phoebe could swear he was coming on to her, only he wasn't exactly. The moves were there, but the feelings weren't. It was almost as though he were trying purposely to get her aroused without feeling it himself? But why, she wondered, was he torturing her like this. The only thing she could do was to play along with his scheme, pretend to be falling under his spell and find out what kind of game he was playing while doing her best to keep her guard up and not give in to the temptation he was expertly stirring within her.
Like the big sister she was, Piper, grabbed Phoebe's jacket, placed it around her and said, "if you ever need to talk about what's bothering you, because I know something is, I'm here, Phoebe, and though I know I can be a bit preachy at times, it's only cause I love you so much."
"Piper, do you realize that's the first time you've ever told me you loved me? I've always known you have of course, but I've never actually heard you say the words."
"And that's my biggest regret with Pru. I just didn't want to make the same mistake with you."
"Well I'm not dying tonight, Piper, just going for a walk in the park. And, if I do need you for anything, I promise I'll come to you," Phoebe said with tears in her eyes as she gave her big sister a smothering hug. "I love you too!"
Piper mumbled something Phoebe didn't hear. "What Piper?"
"I said air, I need air! You don't have to love me to death," Piper cracked. Okay go. Go get your man!"
"He's not....Oh, yeah right, my man. I'll be sure to get him before he gets me. See ya later."
"And be careful."
In the park Cole and Phoebe walked quietly, each of them lost in their thoughts. Cole looked at his watch and Phoebe could have sworn he heard Cole mutter, "he's late."
"Who's late?"
"I said it's late. You sure you don't mind walking at this hour?"
"No, I was up anyway. But, now that you brought it up, why did you want to meet me here?"
Cole looked down at Phoebe's hand for a moment and then held it as they continued to walk. Again Phoebe was conflicted. She secretly enjoyed the intimacy of their handholding, but it was once again lacking in feeling.
"I brought you here because I thought it was a good idea to get away from my office and that the surroundings might stimulate...an idea about the demon we're after."
"Stimulate an idea? Is that all Cole?"
"Well that and you know how I've always loved the park especially at night when its peaceful and the night is clear enough to count the stars overhead. I think I see our star."
"It must be a shooting star. One that soars through the sky and later fades completely into nothing."
"We once burned brighter than any other star in the heavens, didn't we?"
The words were so romantic, and yet uttered so falsely, Phoebe realized. "Yes we did, burn brightly, Cole, Phoebe said and reached up to stroke his cheek. "Nice touch, Phoebe thought to herself. That should have him convinced." Phoebe pretended to look dreamily into Cole's blue depths, meanwhile searching for even a hint of an ember still burning, but found only ashes.
Just as Cole was about to lean in...the demon appeared, opened up the gaping hole in his foreahead and aimed his suctioning force at Phoebe. But before it could vacuum her out of existence, Cole formed a huge energy ball in his hand and threw it at the demon. As the energy ball reached its mark, Vector screamed in pain. Cole went to Phoebe, placed a protective arm around her thinking the fight was over but it wasn't. Vector summoned up his reserve of energy and sent a lightning bolt back at Cole that hit him in the back and sent both he and Phoebe flying across the grass. Satisfied with his work, he shimmered away.
Phoebe landed hard on top of Cole and fortunately neither was injured. In fact, the adrenaline rush was like an aphrodisiac setting their blood on fire and Cole was quick to act on that feeling, pulling Phoebe's head close to his own and kissing her full on.
Phoebe tried to contain the mix of emotions that was coursing through her body and mind but the kiss was too passionate to be denied. Cole rolled her beneath him and Phoebe held on tight for the ride, feeling as though she were flying high above the stars they'd just observed as their mouths and hands feverishly explored one another. The amazing part was, that for the first time since Cole had come back from the Wasteland, Phoebe could feel his desire for her and it was mounting in a very tangible way. At the moment, Phoebe didn't care if this was somehow a part of the game. She reveled in the sensations they were creating together and it felt more powerful than anything she'd ever experienced with Jason or any other man since Cole.
"How could he let her do this to him?" was the lone thought that brought Cole back from his drugged state. His mind waged war against his body's growing need to grab hold of the swirling ecstasy that lay beneath him. This was supposed to be an act, his logical mind argued, a carefully orchestrated plot to win Phoebe's trust. If he gave in now, how far would he end up falling? Far enough to earn a one way trip back to the Wasteland, he wagered. And what of his calling and a silent promise he'd made to his father when he opened up his detective agency, to right all the wrongs in his life. Would he give all that up now just to sample the pleasure from a rose that has long since withered on the vine? "No I won't and can't lose my only shot at redemption."
Cole broke off the kiss abruptly, closed his eyes and when he opened them again, Phoebe saw the mask fall back firmly into place. Whatever tender feelings he felt during the kiss were gone now and were replaced with an icy exterior that Phoebe longed to thaw. "God help me for wanting the devil," she thought, "but I do." His plot had worked, she was thoroughly seduced, she realized, but that did not have to make her deaf, dumb and blind.
"Cole we need to talk."
"No, I need to get you home. It's not safe here."
"That was a lie," she could feel it. For just a brief moment during that kiss, he'd wanted her, really wanted her and now he was running from it and she desperately needed to know why. "Cole, remember before during that awful time when you became the Source and I thought that there was something wrong with you and I asked you point blank what was the matter and you didn't tell me?"
"Yes, Phoebe, I remember."
"Well that was the turning point in our marriage. If you'd only told me the truth then when I'd asked, we might have stayed together. But you didn't. Instead you lied and soon after we had nothing left."
"I couldn't tell you." Cole wanted to say more, to explain about the Source's possession of his will and that every time he'd tried to tell Phoebe the truth he was hit with a blinding migraine that threatened to tear his skull apart if he revealed anything. But why bring that up now when he no longer wanted her in his life.
"I know you couldn't. That's why we never made it. You couldn't open up to me, Cole, when it counted and I guess I'm bringing that up now because I feel like we're at another type of crossroads. Cole, There's something you're not telling me here and there's no use denying it because my powers are picking it up. So, please, confide in me and tell me what it is I don't know about this demon and your part in all of this. What is it? Phoebe asked tenderly trying to coax an answer while caressing his cheek with her hand once more, only this time it was for real.
"Phoebe, I'd get those empathic circuits checked if I were you. There's nothing I'm not telling you. It's late and its time I get you home." Cole made a move to grab Phoebe's hand but Phoebe jerked it away.
"I'll get home on my own, thanks."
"Phoebe, don't leave angry. Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there really is a problem."
"I'm not the one with a problem, Cole, you are because I'm not letting up on you until I find out exactly what's going on here so you better get used to me in your face. Do you here me? I said I'm not giving up or going away."
Cole watched her walking to her car and he recalled those same words he'd said to her in the mausoleum only he did finally give up and she would too in time.
Back at the Halliwell manor, Phoebe walked through the door feeling more confused than ever and was greeted by the sight of Piper and Phoebe sitting around the dining room table having breakfast with Jason.
"Good morning, Phoebe, Piper said with exaggerated cheer. "I can't wait to hear all about your walk in the park."
Back in the park, Vector came back to have a word with Cole.
"I did as you said. I trust the plan went well?"
"Yes it did, Vector, except for my accident with a runaway lightning bolt which I believe belonged to you."
"Yes, well I was a tad angry at you for that low energy ball that didn't feel quite so low to me."
"I had to make it look like I was really attacking you, Vector."
"Well you did, a little too well so I retaliated. It's nothing a powerful demon like yourself couldn't handle, now is it, that is if you really are a demon?
"Of course I am. You've seen Balthazor."
"Yes I have, but still I wonder why Phoebe Halliwell felt so conflicted in your presence. Could it be that you're the mortal she pines for? I ask this because I'm picking up feelings of conflict in you right now as we speak. Demons aren't supposed to have feelings I can register."
Once more Cole forced the demon in him to dominate his weaker half and he successfully pushed aside his remorse at having to hurt Phoebe again.
"Now the conflict's gone. Maybe it's me. I apologize. I'm in a very weakened state and in need of nourishment soon." Were you successful in gaining the witch's trust so we may bring her to my father soon?"
"Yes, I made significant headway tonight. The witch will be ready for transport to your father's lair when needed.
"Good, because we'll need her tomorrow."