As Paige Matthews' orbs formed in front of the Elders she had a look on her face that showed contempt. She just didn't want to be there. Not one of the Charmed Ones had a high opinion of the Elders and she was no different. She tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for one of them to speak.

"You been making noises in my head all morning" she snapped "you better want something"

"We do" Jake spoke up.

Paige looked at the figure that spoke.

"Well?" she glared at the lot of them.

Jay cleared his throat. "Nina?"

One of the Elders stepped forward. Paige was surprised, she seemed to glide. Her walk was graceful and unique. As the figure pulled back the hood Paige nearly gasped at her beauty. She had curly blonde hair that seemed to flow like a waterfall. It flowed down to her shoulders, and she smiled. She looked caring and kind.. without even knowing her you could trust her with your life.

"We have a situation that.." Nina glanced at Jay "requires a different approach"

"I think I got the different part down" Paige dryly replied.

Nina laughed. "Yes.. I think you do"

--

Cole stirred as Max entered the room. She sat down on a nearby chair and got out a book from her bag.

"Hey" Cole said "Hey yourself. Are you OK?" "Yeah" he said, still wanting to die.

He sat up, and his head didn't spin. He was glad, he hated just resting. He had to do something.

"I think I'm going to go for a walk," he said "I think it would be good for you to go to work," she said, frowning. "Have I gotten myself a parent? I don't need you telling me what to do," he snapped.

She swallowed hard and averted his gaze. "Sorry" she mumbled "Just trying to help"

He sighed. "I know. Sorry"

He noticed she hadn't changed clothes. "Been out all night?"

"Nah, got a couple of hours sleep" she then realised why he asked "Oh yeah. My wardrobe isn't too extensive at the moment"

He chuckled. It felt good again to laugh.

"I'll buy you some stuff," he offered "I can provide for myself," she snapped. "Right. Uh.. sorry"

"Do we have to do this?" she asked "Do what?" "Where you're so uncomfortable that we step around each other toes and you feel sorry for yourself for eternity"

"You think it's easy for me?" he snapped, his voice rising "Do you know what it's like for someone you love to try and kill you?"

"I do actually" she chirped, "Want to hear the tale?"

They were both going nowhere and he knew it. She jumped up. "I'm going to go play the piano while you get changed." She bundled out of the room, rushing to escape.

"Piano?!" he asked walking out after her.

He walked over to it, as she sat down. "Where did you get this?" "I bought it" she replied "I sure hope so" he said "With your own money" "Who else's money would I buy it with?" she mischievously asked with a sly smile on her lips. "Certainly not mine" he said, glaring. She burst into giggles. "I mean I didn't find any cash.." she paused "but there was a credit card or two lying around.." "You didn't!" he snapped "How much?" "$800" she sweetly replied "You are so paying me back for that!" "You wish" she poked her tongue out at him. "Max!"

He sighed and sat down. "So can you play anything on this?" "So can you" "Actually I can't" "Yet"

He laughed. "In your reality. Not this one"

"I'll sing you your favourite," she said and she started to play.

She was quite good. Cole was impressed, as her hands flew over the keys. She sang the words as well, and it was quite a lovely song. The notes crept throughout the large room. I see right through you You're just so predictable So unbelievable How you never change..

What are you gonna do? Now that somebody knows the truth about you?

The song continued and Cole really liked it. Had a modern beat to it.

She finished and looked at him for approval.

"My favourite, eh?" "I wrote it too" she grinned "Impressive" "It's about you" "Really?" his interest perked up "I'm predictable?" "I think I know more about you then you do," she laughed

--

The week passed, and Cole liked getting to know his daughter. She would not talk about her reality at all, what had happened, how she got here, why she'd come. He just asked her silly everyday questions like her favourite colour, how many sugars she had in her coffee, her friend's names, celebrity crushes.

Cole was glad she was there. Without her he probably would have fallen into a pit of depression and he knew it. The future looked bleak. He never had much time to himself to actually become too depressed.

Max would not let him, under any circumstances, drink. "Bad stuff that is" she would mutter. She threw it all out. He would laugh at her and tell her not to control his life, though he knew she must have a reason for it. "How knowledge of the future must be a burden," he would tease her "what a life".

He also felt kind of cheated.. Max was a lovely caring girl.. he couldn't be more proud to be her father. He'd missed out on two decades of her life.

Thank god demons are immortal, otherwise life would be just too short.

He didn't care about the war anymore, he didn't care. Witches, demons, whitelighters, warlocks, darklighters, vampire, nymphs.. all of them didn't matter anymore. Max still insisted she had to kill the evil.

He suddenly decided to venture into the unknown.

"How were you conceived when I was vanquished?" he asked. This was the question he was probably most curious to. He would have died if it wasn't for her.. how did she come to be if he was dead?

The look on Max's face told him she really didn't like the new subject. "We're not going there," she told him. Her eyes were so cold, her face as tough as steel.

"Okay. How about your mother? Who is she?" Cole asked "Mortal, if that's what your asking" Max replied "That means you must mostly be human" Cole replied "I mean, my half, your mother's humanity.." "You have no idea who you are" Max realised "Of course I know who I am" Cole replied "No, I mean your place in the world" "I don't have a place," he muttered softly

Max knew it was too soon. She answered his question, so he might forget to enquire into what she had just said.

"Her name was Marie. You actually met when you kidnapped her" Max laughed "Really? First I try to kill Phoebe, then I abduct my.. Uh, wife?" Cole questioned. He knew nothing of his relationship with Marie or how deep it was. Max nodded. "Yeah. You were married"

She smiled. "Quite a story actually. You were mistakenly identified as a internationally known human assassin. The whole government was after you." "Really?" "She was just a means to get you out of Paris when you were trapped" "And then what?" "Well you never wanted to hurt her, but when you let her go she ran straight into the hands of some" she paused, waiting for the right word "gangsters really. Wanting the reward for you. They were going to kill her." "And I saved her?" Cole asked "Yeah, it's a clichéd story, isn't it?" "And next?" "Well in you saving her you were hurt really badly. She could have just run though she helped you to a hospital. She then helped with the mess of the American government, found the real assassin" "Then we were left to live happily ever after?" Cole asked "Something like that"

"And her death?" "We're not going there.." "Max. Please. I want to know" "No" she said, her lip quivering. "Not now" she whispered.

Cole's heart went out to her, she looked devastated.

"At least tell me how long ago" he said, daring to ask.

"I was five," she whispered. She wouldn't look at him. She paused "I have to go". "Please don't. I didn't mean to upset you" "I'll be back soon" she weakly smiled, as reassurance "Just a quick walk"

Cole sighed. He knew he should have stayed away from the subject but he couldn't help it. He just had to know.

--

Max had walked only just down the street when she senses someone following her. "Every single time" she rolled her eyes "When will they ever learn" Especially in an empty street. Crowds weren't so obvious, though this was just plain dumb.

She spotted a pipe, and laughed quietly. "Oh, the irony" she mumbled. She jumped and grabbed it, and flipped herself onto, now completely hidden by the dark. She did this so quickly; it was as if she disappeared.

Max waited until the figure had walked 10 or so feet in front of her, and then jumped down, not making a sound. Her stalker was looking around anxiously, trying to see where she had gone. Max followed her quite closely, so it was quite obvious she was there.

Paige whipped around to come face to face with Max. The look on Paige's face made her laugh.

"I'm one who likes to switch the tables" she laughed, "It isn't nice being followed, is it?"

Paige was bewildered and wondered who exactly she was. She was so good at the night thing.

"How?"

Max ignored her. "Your aura.. quite mixed up, I should say. Whitelighter and witch. Nice combination."

"How?" Paige repeated, "did you know that?"

Max smirked. "Now I think I have the Elders in a twist. New player, don't know which way to turn. They send a newbie after me"

"Hey!" Paige pouted, "That's unfair"

"Maybe. Though true" Max sneered "Another thing. Whitelighter and witch combination isn't too common at the moment. Your Paige Matthews"

"Your good"

"I've learned to read people" Max said, walking again. Paige walked beside her.

"I'm sorry, I just didn't know how to approach you"

"If he wasn't so fond of your sister you would be dead" Max sneered. "Go back to your Elders and tell them I don't like games"

"Do you hate me because I followed you or who I am?" Paige asked. Max's attitude towards her was unnerving, and she was uncomfortable.

"Not who you are, but who you will be" Max said right before she shimmered out.

Paige was left to contemplate the scene that just unfolded before her.