Chapter 2:

Cole walked into Piper's room where she was sleeping, "happy birthday, Piper. Eggs benedict, easy yolk. Steamed asparagus, fresh fruit, orange juice, no pulp. How did I do?"

Piper sat up quickly and panted, "Cole! Aren't you dead? And have you lost your mind? Oh, wait a minute, delete last question."

"I thought you might react like that…" Phoebe frowned from around the corner.

"Oh, Phoebe…wanna complicate my life further? Why are you back with him? Are you back with him? Since when is he alive anyway? And for god's sake's, why did you send him in just like that? To freak me out?"

"Well, uh, this is your birthday present. From me. Although, you know, Paige helped."

"The breakfast?"

"No, Cole."

Piper snorted and got out of bed, "why, just why in a million years did you think that I wanted to see Cole on my birthday?" She put on her dressing gown.

"I would've not thought that in a million years. I was gonna ask you the same question myself, cause I must admit, it was a surprise!"

"Phoebe, what are you talking about? Have you lost your mind along with Cole?"

"Don't worry. It's not really Cole. But it's sorta Cole. We made him. Magically. And ah, you know what? This was Paige's idea. Mine's was a surprise birthday party. What I wanna know is why is it you never told me you fancied Cole. Wait, I rephrase the question, why is it you never told me you fancied Cole that much?"

"Who says I fancied Cole?"

"The spell. It was to give you the man you want. Traitor."

"It wasn't that kinda fancy."

"What kinda fancy is there?"

"Just you know…he was everything that Leo isn't. I never wanted to take him away from you or anything. So, get rid of him. It."

"I can't. The spell will play out at midnight," Phoebe eyed Cole with visible disturbance.

"I have enough confusion in my life as it is," Piper sighed.

"You're both pretty mad, aren't you?" asked the dummy Cole that was meant to make Piper happy.

The oldest of the Charmed Ones stormed out the room and down the stairs, Phoebe following, "hey, Cole, or whatever you are, come with us," where they bumped into Paige, "you should've used less pheromones," Phoebe blamed her, "definitely less pheromones if you didn't want…this," she motioned towards the perfect man that confusingly looked so much like Cole.

"Why not take advantage of him while you can?" the youngest sister suggested, "there is no danger that he will become the source or kiss any sirens, now is it? He was created for entertainment."

"I can't believe you guys did this. Did you not hear me yesterday?" Piper reasoned.

"No, actually, I have never heard you say Cole was the loveliest man on earth," Phoebe still couldn't let her sister off the hook.

"It only looks like Cole. This is a magical gigolo," Piper disputed.

"Why? You want the original?" Phoebe retorted.

"Oh, criminy," Paige interrupted, "point is here Piper enjoys herself, so Phoebe, could you just let her? And Piper. Give the man a chance."

"Yeah, you won't be able to resist him if you look at him," Phoebe mocked her sister further, half jealous, but mostly irritated by the fact her older sister kept a secret from her for so long.

"Come on guys," Piper tried to act responsible and calm, "this is like something we would do years ago before we knew better, but now we do know better, at least we're supposed to."

"We knew better Piper," Paige defended herself, "if we didn't know better, we would've called back the real Cole."

"No way in hell…or not hell, that's the wrong word…" Phoebe started.

"You know what?" Paige pushed the man into Piper, "desperate times call for desperate measures."

Piper nearly fell back on the stairs, but "Cole" caught her, "I'm sorry. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, no, I'm pissed, remember? Are you wearing cologne?"

"No. You don't like cologne."

"No, I don't, do I?"

"But what does she like?" Paige advanced closer a step, interested.

"Well, she likes long walks on the beach," Cole answered, "shopping at the embarcadero, lunching at Zuni, deep tissue massages, if I remember right."

"If you remember?" Phoebe caught on, "do you remember? I mean, anything. What…what memories do you have? And why the hell would you know what Piper likes from memory? How much of you, percentage wise, how much of you is Cole?"

"I have his physical appearance, his memories, his powers. The only thing I don't have is his feelings."

"Great, that's just great," Phoebe exhaled noisily.

"We created a puppet with powers?" Paige freaked out.

"As long as he is a puppet," Phoebe tried to relax.

"I can't believe you two," Piper shook her head, and to Cole lifting his finger to indicate his presence, she added, "you three. You said you knew better! You should've made sure."

"How on earth could we imagine Cole would emerge as the man of your dreams?" Phoebe growled again.

"Everybody loosen up," Paige insisted, "why wouldn't you just enjoy life for a second here?"

"So what are we waiting for?" Cole suggested as well.

"No, I can't, 'cause, uh, the demon," Piper differed.

"Wait, wait, wait a minute," Phoebe realised one more thing, "are you a demon as well?" She turned towards the tall man.

"I am as I left this world. Human, with demonic powers."

"Invincible?"

"Yes."

"Great, that's just great," Phoebe repeated.

"We'll take care of the demon, it's done," Paige suggested, trying to stay by the original plan, "you go on that walk Piper. At least we'll have Cole out the way as well, before Phoebe has a nervous breakdown."

"Well, what about Wyatt? I can't just leave him," Piper maintained.

"Can't we take him with us?" Cole suggested, "maybe go to the fair. Or perhaps, the zoo."

"I'll get dressed," Piper decided.

"I'll get him. Unless you don't want me to," Cole offered.

"No, no, you can get him. Right, girls? No danger, correct?" Piper took the stairs.

"Sure," Phoebe gestured her concession.

"Okay. Excuse me, ladies," Cole walked up the stairs.

"Bye," Phoebe looked after him, peeping around the corner to see his firm buttocks.

"Cool your jets, lady, it's for Piper," Paige hit her sneeringly on the shoulder.

"Right. Stay on target."

tbc