I LOVE YOU, PIPER

Summary: Leo got lost in the reality where Piper was married to Cole. He showed her his sincere love and tried to win her back.

Disclaimer: I don't own any Charmed character, the spell, and the song "Don't cry Joni".

A/N: Thank you very much for your reviews. Yeah, I'm enjoying the flow of Cole/Piper love stories. It's time to admit my story is on the way converging to this flow.

For the great honour Leo/Piper fans did me by having deigned to this story. I'm feeling very sorry about irritating you. Leo is a main character here, but he is not with Piper, he still and always loves her though.

And for Cole/Piper fans, this part is about this amazing couple.

Please keep reading and reviewing me!!!

Summary of part 5:

- The long-lost cousin - Laura Bennett – who is a warlock, steals The Book of Shadows result in The Charmed Ones powerless.

- Piper suggests Cole and Leo to co-operate in retrieving the book.

Part 6
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I have an engagement to a demon

"I don't work with demon." – resisted Leo.

"Do you have a better idea?" – asked Piper, she waited for a moment. As Leo didn't answer, she continued – "Both of you take care of the book, I don't want you to go after Laura."

"Piper, she's evil." – said Prue – "We can't spare her."

"But she didn't kill us. She still considers us as her cousins." – resisted Piper.

"She needs to be vanquished for good. You shouldn't look back, Piper!" – said Phoebe.

"I just can't kill the one whom I used to spend some harmonious time with." – said Piper.

She always remembered how four sisters and Laura had played together during their childhood. It's really too hard and merciless to kill such a friend/relative. She's actually thinking of someone else, she knew she wouldn't have a heart to vanquish him when it's time to do that. She glanced at Cole furtively realizing he's looking at her. He seemed to get what she meant, the fact that it's his thought as well. He'd been underhanded to have broken up The Source's plans several times for saving her just because he appreciated what they shared together.

"We'll talk about it later." – said Prue – "The book is a top priority now."

"Piper, go with me!" – insisted Cole – "I can't keep my mind on work if you're helpless here."

"We're helpless as long as the book's gone." – said Piper – "Leo will sense if we're in danger."

"No, it's too risky." – protested him – "It might be a-second late."

Piper was feeling his love which was revealed clearly in his concerned look, in his expression and in his voice. Suddenly, three Laura appeared, each of them grabbed one of the sisters. Leo quickly rushed to wrest Piper away, Cole threw an energy ball to the Laura who was keeping Phoebe, this Laura was the original, after she's vanquished, her two copies vanished.

The atmostphere slowed down, no one said anything. They guessed Laura hadn't known how to use the book, so she wanted to kidnap a sister to bring pressure on them to instruct her. Her scheme wasn't successful but she did bring another pressure on the family.

Phoebe had no idea why Cole cared for her instead of his wife. She had promised to break off with him and was trying to keep her words, she hoped Piper understand it's not her fault that Cole decided to save her.

Prue knew Leo loved Piper, but it still hurt her so much. Leo chose to save Piper. He'd rather let his own wife die than his real love. She believed he would've saved her if he'd had enough time, but she would never replace the position of her sister in his heart.

Leo understood he had crashed his wife's heart. He hadn't done it on purpose. It's just he hadn't had a thought when it'd been happening, he worried for Piper and he did what his heart urged.

Piper stared at Cole, she thought he would've protected her, he would've killed anyone who snatching her that rudely, but what he'd acted was absolutely to the contrary. Cole had persisted in asking her to go with him because he couldn't've left her alone. He had caressed her picture when she'd refused him, he had asked if she would grieve at his death. All those things had touched her, and it turned nothing when Phoebe was the one he protected in the lurch. It's his real feeling, maybe he himself hadn't known who he really cared before. It still hurt Piper.

"OK, let go get the book!" – proposed Cole, he walked close to Piper and touched her. She brushed his hand off giving him a cold look.

"Is that jealousy?" – grinned him. Piper turned to another direction.

"Now isn't right time, but I have something to state." – said Cole, he held around her waist and pulled her close to him – "I love my wife. Longer and deeper than you can imagine. It sounds weird considering the whole situation, but I wonder whether your book mentions I'm half human." – everyone looked at him in amazement – "So we're in the same boat, I'll help you with all my best."

"Can we solve the problem first? And postpone the evil hour?" – suggested Leo.

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Leo orbed with Prue and Phoebe, Cole shimmered with Piper in front of a castle in Canada.

"The book's inside." – informed Leo

"They're witches." – said Cole.

"They're my old charges." – said Leo.

"Why they want our book?" – asked Piper.

"Don't they have their own one?" – asked Phoebe.

"Of course they do. They're very powerful, just follow The Charmed Ones." – elaborated Leo.

The gate was open.

"They welcome us." – mumbled Leo.

Everyone walked into the castle. They entered the hall where a man was lying motionless on a bed, and a lot of people around.

"Hello, Leo! Long time no see." – greeted a middle-aged lady.

"Grace, what are you up to?" – asked him.

"Look at my son!" – replied her – "Lychy is consuming his soul."

Leo turned pale.

"My whitelighter has been killed. And my son is suffering the dead pain." – continued Grace – "I chanted a spell to ask for the most powerful witches of all time help. And this book came to us." – she pointed at the book near her son.

"Our book." – blurted Phoebe.

"That's why it's in north while Laura's in south." – said Leo.

"Laura, the warlock, I've just talked to her a minute ago." – said Grace – "She couldn't compete with all of us, so she promised to take one of The Charmed Ones here to exchange the book."

She paused throwing her look around her visitors.

"Lychy isn't in your book either." – continued her – "But it do have a spell to transfer a misfortune to someone else." – smiled her evilly – "I immediately thought of you. Since Lychy just ignores my son if I give him the soul of a Charmed One which'll be more nourishing."

"How can you?" – angried Leo.

"Originate from motherly love, Leo!" – said Grace – "I'll do everything for my children."

"We're not witches now." – said Piper.

"Yes, after you're charmed again with your book." – explained Grace – "I didn't think Laura would finish her job and come back here. I'll give you your book after one of you substitute for my son."

"I'll do it." – Prue walked forward.

"No. Let me." – said Phoebe.

"No, Pheebs. You still have your future. There's no reason to destroy it." – protested Piper.

"Don't think it's a sacrifice. It's my release from pain." – insisted Prue.

"Prue." – murmured Leo.

Piper squeezed her oldest sister's hands tightly and walked toward the bed.

"I'm the biggest sister. I've lived enough." – opposed Prue.

"Why don't we use a coin?" – suggested Cole. He pulled out one, and tossed it up then snatched it putting on the back of his hand.

"Head or tail?" – asked him.

"Head." – said Prue.

Cole unpacked his other hand, and the coin was revealing its head. No one knew he had the power of permutation.

Despite of the result, Piper went straight to the bed. Cole grabbed her back.

"Let me go." – bestirred her. But he kept his grip tightly.

Leo touched his wife's hand. Prue just looked at him and stepped away. She hugged Phoebe, and wiped the tears on Piper's face.

"No, Prue." – sobbed Piper.

Prue gave her younger sister a sad smile and turned around. She joined them to start the spell.

After it was chanted, she passed out, the man on the bed woke up. His family surrounded cheerfully. Cole loosed his grasp, Piper rushed to her oldest sister.

"Prue!. . . Prue!" – she cried bitterly.

"Read your spell to be charmed now, or your sister'll be dead." – reminded Grace.

Phoebe took the other hand of Prue.

"Hear now the words of the witches,

The secrets we hid in the night,

…"

They're chanting while weeping.

Right after her powers returned, the first thing Piper did was blow the middle-aged witch up, but she discovered her intent in time to evade. A male witch tk on Piper, Cole ran to help his wife up then sent an energy ball to him, Grace deflected it back to Cole, he shimmered out and re-appeared. Another witch shot fire to him, he threw an energy ball at it, both efforts eradicated each other.

"Are you starting fight?" – cried Leo.

"Go home. We have to find a way to save Prue." – said Phoebe holding the book.

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Leo held his wife's hand in his one, he's crying. If he'd been able to do it, he would've never let it happen to Prue. He admired her valour, her love to her sisters, she didn't deserve to bear such a thing. She's supposed to have a happy family, a husband who loved her with all his heart. He remembered her eyes, her smile, and the sympathy she had given to him for his erratic job. It tormented him that she'd been suffering the pain he had caused to him till the last conscious minute.

"I'm sorry, Prue." – Leo tightened her hand. He thought he'd been the only one who needed to be comforted for being the loser in love field, but he'd also been the one making the woman loved him heart-broken, and never thought of comforting her.

He raised his hand up to heal her, but Prue's still lifeless on the bed.

"Tell me what you know about Lychy." – said Piper.

"He's in the highest level of the Underworld. Very powerful, he's serving The Source as his best assassin. Even the complete Charmed Ones would have to fight hard to vanquish him. There's some upper level demons want to take his place in hierarchy recently."

"Maybe The Elders know his Achille's heel." – said Phoebe.

"That's all they told me." – he shook his hand.

"Give it a try, Leo." – said Piper.

He nodded sadly looking at her and orbed out. Phoebe walked to her sister.

"We'll take turns to watch her." – suggested Phoebe – "Mine now, you should get a rest."

They hugged each other, and Piper left for her bedroom.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

She sat near the table touching the photo of four sisters. Her tears were falling down.

"Paige, help our big sister. You have to tell her it's not time to join you." – whispered Piper.

Cole stepped in putting a glass of milk in front of her.

"You have nothing in your stomach since last night." – said him.

"I'm not hungry."

"Please." – said Cole softly – "You've got to keep your strength."

It's effective to Piper, she wanted to be ready for the battle with Lychy, she lifted the glass and took a large gulp.

"Will you give me some information about Lychy?" – asked her.

"You shouldn't attack him. Remember the agreement?"

"But Prue's dying. We're not The Charmed Ones anymore, Your Source has enough reason to kill us." – she raised her voice.

"Don't worry. I'll protect you. He'll accept us to be together." – said Cole.

"No, that isn't what I mean. I'm not afraid of me being in danger without the power of three.  Prue's my sister, I'm not letting her die. My sisters are all I have."

"But you're unable to confront him." – he tried to show her the situation.

"We'll do my best. Maybe all of us will reunite up there, but we're not parting." – emphasized Piper.

"You insist on it?"

"If you love me, Cole." – said her – "Tell me all you know."

"You believe I love you? And I saved Phoebe not because I loved her?"

"I realize it now." – she stared at him intensely – "Laura didn't choose Prue since Leo might orb his wife out. Neither me, since you would've killed her. Phoebe's guardless, so she's her real target."

"Thank you." – he's satisfied that his wife trusted him – "Lychy was the first one The Source chose for the agreement."

"Why you then?"

Cole took out a flute putting it on the table. Piper recognized somehow familiar it was.

"If we don't talk about it now, we won't have another chance." – said Cole.

…Flashback…

San Francisco 1986

13 year old Piper was running on the walkside joyfully. She bumped into a strange man by accident. He knelt down to help her stand up. Piper gazed at him amazely, she couldn't say to him that he's so handsome like a prince while her heart's beating faster for the first feeling. All she did was smile, and her brown eyes stuck at him.

"Are you ok?" – asked Cole, he never met such a lovely little girl. She had a tail on each of her head's sides and an angelic face, her hand was grabbing a flute tightly.

Piper didn't answer him, but running back to her mother.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Cole was searching for some law book in a small bookstore. He heard some light footsteps toward him, and turned around to see his little angel in a pink dress.

"Hey!" – smiled him. She walked to him smiling bashfully. He bent on his knees offering her his hand. She took it by her tiny one.

"Where's your mom?" – asked Cole.

Piper pointed at the woman behind the counter.

"Oh." – grinned him – "Would you like some story book?"

"No. I can't receive gift from a stranger." – babbled Piper.

"What's your name?"

She stretched his hand out and used the flute to draw her name on his palm.

"P-I-P-E-R. Piper?"

She nodded and play a music for him. Cole felt funny realized which music she's flutting, the song "Don't cry Joni".

"Piper!" – called Patty. She ran away, but stopped to spin around.

"Have you had a girlfriend?" – asked her.

"No." – chuckled Cole. Her smile was more bright. . .

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Cole paced up and down in his cavern, he missed his little girl. She had warmed his solitary heart, there was nothing more beautiful than a smile of a child. He wanted to adopt her, he'd never had children, he didn't know how to be a father, but he loved her and he would try all his best to make her smile always. Cole had done some research about her family to know her parents had divorced, Patty was living with another man and his Piper was just one of her four daughters. Piper might not to be happy being with her family. While he just had her, he would give her all his love.

Cole shimmered to the Manor planning to kidnap her. Four sisters were playing in their mom's room. They're wearing Patty's night gowns and Piper wore a pair of pearl earrings.

Suddenly, Pattty barged in.

"Oh no. You're messing up here." – shouted her – "Take them off, they don't fit you." – she looked at Piper – "My earrings. Take them off, sweetie. They're for married ladies, you look too old wearing them."

"But I like it."

"Come on."

Piper looked in the sulks.

Fifteen minutes later, five of them went downstairs. A demon attacked them in the living room. Patty tk him on the wall. Cole was horrible to find out they're witches. The demon zapped fire at her, she gathered her children and pulled them sideward, then chanted a spell. The demon was vanquished.

"Everyone's ok?" – asked Patty.

"I'm not scared. I'm a strong witch." – said Prue.

"Me too. Me too." – said the rest noisily.

"I know you are." – Patty gave them a big hug.

He shimmered out.

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Cole was waiting for her outside the Manor. He decided to go away. His little angel was a witch, she couldn't accept a demon to be her adoptive father. He also realized her family was the best craddle for her, it might be dangerous, Patty might have to share her love for a lot of people, but she's her own mother. She knew how to bring Piper as well as all of her children up the way they deserve to have.

Piper appeared on the window, she smiled to him and ran out. She stood looking up to see him. Cole knelt down.

"I come to say goodbye. I'm leaving."

"Where're you going?" – asked Piper in disappointment.

"Somewhere distant."

"Will you come back?"

"I don't know."

Her teary eyes made him melt. Cole wanted to say something to comfort her, but all his words were stuck in his throat. She gave him her flute.

"Take care of yourself." – stammered Piper.

"Thank you, my little angel." – whispered him.

A tear flew down on her rosy cheek. He couldn't restrain himself anymore.

"Do you want me to be your daddy?" – asked Cole.

"No." – Piper shook her head swinging her tails – "I can talk to my dad whenever I want."

Cole nodded gently tightening the flute. He felt hurt.

"I want you to marry me." – prattled her.

Cole frowned, a teenage girl, his little angel, was proposing to him. He'd never thought of it. And she wasn't being serious now. It's probably the ebullient nature at her age. Piper touched his hand linking her smallest finger to his one.

"Jimmy, please say you'll wait for me.

I'll grow up some day you'll see.

Saving all my kisses just for you.

Shine with love forever true." – crooned her.

Cole stared at her, speechless. His blue eyes fastened to her brown ones. He could wait for her, when she's grown-up, he would be still the same. But would it possible??? Jimmy in this song hadn't waited for Joni, and he did regret it. His status was more complicated, how could a demon and a witch be together???

"You'll forget me by and by." – murmured Cole.

"Never." – she looked deeply at his blue eyes and caressed his cheek.

Cole pulled out a box then opened it.

"Your pearl earrings." – said him – "They're little now, so I hope them fit you. I'll give the bigger ones later."

"After I'm married. To you." – she took the box.

It's half laughing and half crying. But she's so lovely and naïve. Cole held her in his arms, being touched profoundly.

"Promise, Piper." – he wasn't aware clearly whether he's acting without much thought.

She laughed, her face still streaked with tears. She kissed him lightly on his lips and ran into the house. Her kiss was so pure, her soft lips just brushed against his ones outside, perhaps she didn't know how to kiss yet, and that what she saw people did it.

Cole smiled, he wondered if he was a pervert. Anyway he would come back there. He didn't hope to be her husband, but he wanted to see her get married to the love of her life someday.

"Who did you talk to?" – asked Prue.

"My fiance." – answered Piper proudly.

…End of flashback…

Piper stood up to hold Cole. She threw her arms around his neck and pressed her body against him sobbing.

"I'm the groom. Who is my bride?" – said him.

 "Me." – said Piper.

. . .

"What esle do you want from me? Happy and satisfied?" – asked Piper angrily – "My life is like hell since you stepped over the porch."

He walked to grab on her shoulders:

"Tell me that isn't what you're thinking." – required him violently and pleadingly – "That isn't what you're really thinking."

. . .

"What did you do that for?" – asked Piper.

"Good question. Am I supposed to ignore it? You're betraying me right in our bedroom. Damn it!"

"Now you're playing the aggrieved husband? It doesn't suit you, pal." – said her.

"You don't understand!" – he shook his head disappointedly – "This is not the way it's meant to be here."

. . .

"Would you grieve at my death someday?"

Now Piper understood. He's the prince she'd got an engagement to.

"Jimmy, please say you'll wait for me.

I'll grow up some day you'll see.

Saving all my kisses just for you.

Shine with love forever true."

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