Part Four

Piper put Wyatt in his car seat and shut the door lightly. Wyatt had had a full day, with going to the tree lot where they had their pick of Charlie Brown trees to the grocery store where Piper brought the store's stock of cheese and crackers. Most of them were for her, but being the nice woman that she is, gave Kyle a box as well.

Piper turned back around, she clutched the jacket around her tightly as Kyle stood in front of her in short sleeves. They may be in California where the sun never goes down, but it was still winter and San Francisco was chilly.

"Your masterpiece is finished," Piper stated, taking a miniature curtsy to emphasize that she needed a bow and thanks for her services.

"Not yet," Kyle stuffed his hands in his jeans pocket and smirked at her. "I still need Paige."

"That's a given," Piper paused. "You'll get her, heck you never really lost her, but you just lost your way. And that's why you needed me," Piper smiled up in his direction. "Paige is a Charmed One and as much as we would like to dismiss it, we all fall for the cops."

"But Leo…"

"Not Leo. David was way before Leo. But hey, we're not talking about me," Piper turned to open up the driver's side door. "Just don't force this, Kyle, don't be like Phoebe."

"But I love Paige…"

"I know and I love that you love her. But love isn't forced or pushed, it just is. Sometimes there's chemistry and magic involved but most of the time there isn't," Piper smiled more and stepped forward knowing that the magic and chemistry between them was something that she remember her and Leo having. It was a once in a lifetime kind of love and they couldn't pass it by; they didn't want to.

"Thanks Piper, this means a lot."

"I know and you're welcome. But you have to remember one thing," Piper hoisted herself up into the Jeep and shut the door, rolling down the window so Kyle could hear her.

"What's that?" Kyle asked.

"Hurt her and I'll vanquish you," Piper gave him a quick smile that made him laugh. Yep, tonight was going to be perfect.

Piper laid the sheet of paper with elegant writing on it on Paige's plump pillow. Wyatt and Chris were sleeping and Paige would be home any minute and silence filled the space around her. This will work, this will work, this will work.

Phoebe popped her head into the room and watched her sister be sneaky, "What 'cha doing?"

Piper jumped up a few feet, started by her squeaky voice. "Phoebe!" Piper straightened herself up and scolded her sister. "Is Paige home yet?"

"Not yet. What 'cha doing?"

Ignoring Phoebe's question, Piper straightened out Paige's bed and turned herself around, walking past the other brunette standing in the doorway. Striding down the hallway, she felt Phoebe zip around and follow her, wanting to know everything that happened with her today. But Piper was not going to budge, she promised herself that she wouldn't, she didn't want Cupid to screw things up again.

"So what 'cha doing?" Phoebe asked again, getting more annoying by the minute.

"Isn't Leslie here yet?"

"No, he's not coming until tomorrow and stop avoiding the question. Tell me what's going on."

"I'm fixing your mistake," Piper stated, walking past her and started to descend the stairs, intent on her path to the kitchen where chocolate chip cookies were baking.

"Mistake? What mistake?"

"Forcing what can't be forced. You of all people should know that Phoebe," Piper emphasized, trotting down the stairs while her eager knowing sister followed.

"Forcing what, Piper?"

"Kyle and Paige. You can't force it, Cupid."

"I'm not Cupid, Piper and…oh my God…" Phoebe stopped herself when she realized what Piper was talking about.

"Phoebe, if you ruin this, I will un-invite Leslie and make you go see the woogy-man again." Piper threatened her sister. She wanted this night to be perfect: Leo and her would have their dinner, Paige and Kyle would have their night of romance and Phoebe would be with her two favorite nephews at magic school.

Twinkle lights and soft candle flames danced against the dark shadows of the walls in Kyle's apartment. He paced back and forth, each time looking at the clock upon the wall and counting down the minutes until hopefully Paige got there.

He was driving himself insane, for there was nothing left to do. Crackers and cheese were laid out on the coffee table alongside champagne being chilled in a bucket of ice and his devilishly delicious dessert was sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator. He had tried straightening up more, but since Piper's spring cleaning brigade, there wasn't anything that wasn't clean. Except for his closet, but that was self explanatory and he didn't want to clean that: he had a system.

Drawing his eyes back to the clock, his impatience grew more and he found himself more nervous than he had planned. Breathe, Kyle, breathe, he told himself when the phone rang, making him jump at the break in the silence.

"Brody," Kyle answered.

"Do you always answer your phone like that?" His kid sister's voice echoed into the receiver from Uncle Stevenson's home. That phone always echoed and Kyle now knew what to get his uncle for his birthday.

"Hey Kel."

"Merry Christmas, Ky."

"Merry Christmas, Kellee," Kyle paused, glancing at the clock to time himself from Kellee's usually long telephone conversations. "You got there safe?"

"I'm talking to you, aren't I?"

"Don't be sarcastic, I was just asking."

"I know. So, did you take any of my advice?"

"What advice?"

"Ky! All that advice with your girlfriend that you asked for…" Kellee reminded him, stressing that he did ask her. And even though he didn't use it, he still appreciated it.

"Oh yea…thanks."

"You're welcome," she said. He could hear her smile on the other side of the phone and he reciprocated. "So, what 'cha doing tonight?"

Kyle knew where this was going. When she asked stuff like that, that usually meant that she was bored and long conversations about nothing and awkward silence filled an hour or two. He loved having conversations with Kellee but he had to put this one on hold. Her voice came again over the receiver, seeing if he was still there when a knock on his door told him it was time.

"Kel, I've gotta let you go."

"Wha…Ky?"

"I'll call you later," Kyle replaced the phone on the cradle and moved towards the door, trying to keep his nerves that were jumping all over the place, calm. Swiftly opening the door, he suddenly felt over dressed in his khakis and white striped tailored shirt. Paige stood there in sweats and a long sleeved shirt, looking comfortable and so beautiful that he literally couldn't take his eyes off of her.

Stepping into his apartment, Paige stopped abruptly as she saw the sight before her. Decorations filled the tiny bachelor's apartment: from the tinsel on the Charlie Brown Christmas tree down to the holly intertwined with lights on the windowsill and over to the mistletoe hanging from the ceiling fan in the kitchen, Paige was impressed. She had never seen the place look so good. Turning back around to face him and smiled as he moved seductively towards her.

"Two questions before anything happens," Paige made her conditions clear as he nodded, awaiting her investigation. "One, what's the occasion and two, who's Kellee?"

"Kellee is my sister."

"Sister? You have a sister?"

"Yea, she called to wish us a Merry Christmas."

"Oh," Paige paused, feeling silly for thinking that Kellee could be another girl that he had been seeing. Thank God she was just his sister. "So, about the other thing…what's the occasion?"

"You're the occasion," Kyle simply put and slid his arms around her tiny waist, pulling her as close as he could get her to him. Lowering his mouth to hers, he wasn't wasting any time to get what he wanted for Christmas. All he ever wanted was in his arms, kissing him back. The kiss was steamy as his lips moved over her silky ones with desire and there was no sign on letting go; that was until oxygen was a necessity for continuing.

Breaking for a breath, he felt Paige take an even deeper one than him. She fluttered her eyes open and looked up at him, at a loss for words for once.

"Champagne?" Kyle loosened his grip around her and taking a hold of her hand, he led her over to the living area where the cooled champagne and flutes were located.

"Champagne? Since when do you drink champagne?" Paige repeated, hardly believing that this was the guy who had a fully stocked beer fridge for two months straight.

"It may not be my favorite, but I do drink it. And cheese and crackers and if you're a good girl, you'll get a dessert later."

"Dessert, huh? What's for dessert?" She inquired suspiciously.

"Nice try," Kyle smiled and poured the bubbly liquid into a flute set beside the bucket.

Paige looked about his renovated apartment, garland and streamers made the confined space spacious, appealing and inviting. He had gone through great lengths to make everything picture perfect…and she had to wonder why he was doing this. She was the one who made the stupid mistake of speaking her mind like always. Of course, that was immediately followed by her foot in her mouth but she couldn't change the past. She should be doing this, not him.

Paige sipped on the champagne and felt her heart flutter at his movement back to her. He had put music on, Christmas music to be exact and she couldn't believe this was happening.

"Kyle,"

"Yea?"

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what? Having a romantic evening at home with my girlfriend? You know that you're my girlfriend this time around, right?"

"I am?"

"Why would you think that you aren't?" Kyle set his champagne flute back on the coffee table and took hers as well. He caught her hand in his and held on tight, not wanting to let go. "Paige, you're my girlfriend and I'm your boyfriend. We're not friends with benefits or just shagging buddies, we're more than that. Aren't we?" Kyle said, looking up at her with his sheepish grin and a hopeful glint in his eye.

Her chocolate tresses swirled around her shoulders and her milky white hands covered his. She didn't know what to say and she couldn't think of anything that would explain her brainless words and heck, she probably couldn't even make up for them, but she would try. Taking her right hand, she traced the edge of his jaw and wondered how anyone could be so stupid.

"I'm so stupid," Paige tried to explain herself when he stopped her, his mouth covering hers again. His muscular hands moved away from her hands and brought her close again, their bodies touching and moving to the winter season melody that was playing around the apartment. Lee Ann Womack and Harry Connick Jr.'s duet rang in their ears as the heat between them gave off steam and Kyle's shirt floated down to the floor.

I really can't stay (Baby, it's cold outside)
I've got to go' way (Baby, it's cold outside)
The evening has been (I've been hopin' that you'd drop in)
So very nice (I'll hold your hand, they're just like ice)

My mother will start to worry (Hey beautiful, what's your hurry?)
And father will be pacing the floor (Listen to that fireplace roar)
So really, I'd better scurry (Beautiful, please don't hurry)
Well, maybe just a half a drink more (Put some music on while I pour)

The neighbors might think (Baby, it's cold outside)
Say, what's in this drink (No cabs to be had out there)
I wish I knew how (Your eyes are like starlight now)
To break this spell (I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell)

I oughtta say no, no, no sir (You mind if I move in closer)
At least I'm gonna say that I tried (And what's the sense in hurting my pride)
I really can't stay (Oh baby, don't hold out)
Baby, it's cold outside

I simply must go (it's cold outside)
The answer is no (Baby, it's cold outside)
The welcome has been (So lucky that you dropped in)
So nice and warm (Look out the window at that storm)

My sister will be suspicious (Your lips look delicious)
My brother will be there at the door (I ain't worried about your brother)
My maiden aunt's mind is vicious (That ol' biddy, she ain't gone bother me)
Well maybe just a cigarette more (You don't need no cigarette, it's smokin' plenty up in here)

I've got to get home (baby, you'll freeze out there)
Say, lend me a comb (It's up to your knees out there)
You've really been grand (I thrill when you touch my hand)
Oh, but don't you see (How can you do this to me)

There's bound to be talk tomorrow (Well, think of my lifelong sorrow)
At least there will be plenty implied (If you caught pneumonia and died)
I really can't stay (Get over that hold out)
Oh, but baby it's cold outside.

Author's Note:

The Song Baby, it's Cold Outside is sung by many artists, but my favorite version is the one with Lee Ann Womack & Harry Connick, Jr.