Part 2
Knock, knock.

The incessant knocking on the attic door woke Piper and Cole with a start. They exchanged glances of horror when they heard Phoebe's voice yelling.

"Hello? What's going on in there?"

The two took in each others' states of undress.

"Whoever's in there better open up, or I'm coming in!" Phoebe yelled, banging even harder. Fear was evident in her voice.

"Shit," Piper whispered.
Cole grabbed her tightly.
"Um, Cole? That's probably not the best position for her to find us in," Piper told him, struggling against his hold. She felt light-headed for a second and the next thing she knew, they were in her own bedroom.

"What the…?" She looked around confusedly.

Cole gently pressed his index against her soft, round lips. "Shh," he warned softly. "I shimmered."

A look of realization lit Piper's classically beautiful features. "Ah."

"Aie!" Phoebe let out a yell as she kicked the attic door with all her strength.

The hinges burst and she rushed in. Her eyes scanned the room quickly. It was empty.

'That's strange.' She thought. 'How did it get locked?'

Phoebe made a mental note to ask Leo about it later and went off in search of Cole.

Piper tiptoed over to the door and peeked out. The coast was clear. Phoebe had just bounced down the stairs calling Cole's name.

Piper turned just in time to see Cole shimmer off. She blew a lock of sweaty hair off her face. Why couldn't guys just stay in one place?

Cole shimmered into the kitchen, right in front of Phoebe. "You called?"

Phoebe smiled brightly. "Yes, I did!" She linked her arm through his. "Let's go out and doing something fun!"

Cole stared at her for a second. This was one of the reasons he needed to be with Piper. Phoebe was still so young, while Piper was so much more mature. "Uh, not right now. I'm a little tired. I think I'll go…take a nap."

"Why are you so tired?" Piper strode into the kitchen, looking as if she could care less how Cole felt. Just like usual.

"Uh, long night," he replied. He searched her eyes for something, anything. He saw conflict. He knew she was fighting with herself. Her feelings for Cole mixing with the attraction she had her himself.

Ding, dong.

"I'll get it!" Phoebe sang out, skipping slightly as she went to the front door.
Piper and Cole locked eyes. Piper crossed the distance between them and looked up into his deep brown eyes. "Cole. We almost got caught," she started softly. "I love Phoebe and Leo and too much to hurt either one of them. If we ever got found out, they'd both be crushed beyond belief. I'd lose them forever."

Cole nodded slowly. "I know. I don't want to lose Phoebe, either."

Piper realized they'd come to an agreement. She felt disappointment pulling at her stomach, dragging it down around her knees.

Then Cole added something. "But I don't want to lose you, either," he told her, wrapping his strong arms around her slim waist.

Piper looked once more into his eyes and she knew she didn't want to stop, either.

"Hey, guys," Phoebe called.

They broke apart immediately.

"Yeah, Pheebs?" Piper asked.

"Darryl's here. He has something he wants us to check out," Phoebe called back. "Come on into the living room."

Piper and Cole complied.

"Hi, Darryl," Piper greeted her long-time friend.
Hey, Piper," Darryl replied. "Cole," he added, nodding his head toward the man slightly.
Cole nodded back.

"So what's up?" Piper asked, wanting to get whatever it was over with so she could get far away from Cole. She needed some time to think while he wasn't right next to her, clouding her thoughts.

"There's a woman missing," Darryl began. "I know, doesn't sound like your department, but there's more. She's a wiccan and her boyfriend said she'd been acting weird for a few days."

"Weird how?" Phoebe asked.

"She'd been quoting Shakespeare. More specifically, she'd been performing entire plays of his. But according to the boyfriend, she hates Shakespeare and refused to read it."

Piper and Phoebe exchanged confused looks.
"Okay, Darryl, we'll check it out," Piper promised.

Leo chose that moment to orb in. "The Elders have a job for you," he informed the girls.

"Does it involve a missing witch who got obsessed with Shakespeare?" Piper asked.

Leo looked at his wife curiously. "Yeah. How'd you know?"

Piper indicated towards Darryl. "Darryl just told us."

Leo whirled around. "Oh, hi, Darryl. I didn't even see you."
"Yeah, thanks, man," Morris replied teasingly.
Leo smiled back. Then he turned to the girls. "So how do you two wanna do this?"

Piper thought for a minute. "I really wish Prue wasn't on that business trip. We could use her. Ok, Cole, you take Phoebe to the girl's apartment and see if she can get a premonition. Leo and I can hit the Book."

"Actually, Piper, Leo should take me and Cole should stay here." Leo opened his mouth to protest, so Phoebe added, "He knows most of the demons, so he can make the search go more quickly."

Leo studied Piper for a second before grudgingly nodding his agreement. He took Phoebe's hand, and Phoebe took Darryl's. Darryl told them where to go and they left in a swirl of blue lights.

Piper bounded up the stairs, leaving Cole behind. She needed to think.

Cole listened closely and heard he go into the attic and then into her, shutting the door. He shimmered up to her room and ended up right next to her.

"Piper," he said. "I know you need time to think, but Phoebe was right. You need my help to find this demon."

She watched him for a moment, reveling in his beauty. She could feel his dark power radiating off his skin in waves. And it turned her on. Life with Leo was so safe, so…boring.

She swung her leg over him, so she was seated on his lap.

"What are you doing?" Cole hissed, keeping an ear out for Phoebe. "We could get caught."

Piper licked her lips. "Good. I like a little danger."

Cole raised his eyebrows and kissed her hard on the lips. They fell back onto the bed. And this time, they didn't bother shutting the door.