Disclaimer:
None of these characters are mine. I offer any apologies to Joss Whedon (BtVS/Angel) and Aaron Spelling (Charmed) for any misuse which is purely unintentional.
Summary:
AU – Crossover between the Charmed and Buffyverses. What happens when a certain half-human demon and a red-headed witch get together?
Author's Note:
I've had a little trouble writing this chapter. Please R&R and let me know what you think.
Chapter Two – But Does He Have A Plan?
"You!" Paige and Piper screamed.
Cole grinned, his blue twinkling with amusement. "Hi, girls. Miss me?"
Suddenly, Piper's hands went up and everyone but Cole and the girls and the children were still. "Now, Piper, I'm sure that freezing a federal officer must, or at least should, be a federal crime. Besides, wouldn't you feel a little safer with me with a mortal witness?"
Piper snarled and Paige bristled. "Not yet. What's going on?" Piper demanded.
"As Agent Nakayama has already said, I am a federal prosecutor. I've just transferred to San Francisco and I'm here on Prescott Street as part of a multi-agency operation. You know, FBI, ATF, and the DEA Now, we need to question every one in the neighborhood about these people. I'm not here for any other reason. And, just for the record, I haven't killed or used my demonic powers against a mortal for the last five years." Cole paused and looked placatingly at his audience. "Please, girls, let Agent Nakayama ask his questions, and we'll be on our way."
Piper shrugged her shoulders in surrender, and released the frozen agent.
"Tom," Cole introduced the agent. "This is Piper Halliwell and her husband, Leo Wyatt. And this is Piper's sister, Paige Matthews. This is Agent Tom Nakayama from the San Francisco FBI Office."
"Nice to meet you." Agent Nakayama thrust out his hand in a friendly gesture and shook the hands of the adults. "Now, we'd like to talk to you about your neighbors across the street. I understand this is stressful, especially since Mr. Turner and one of you had such a messy divorce."
"Woah, there, Tom. Not them. I married the third sister. You don't think either of those girls would lower herself to marrying an imperfect creature like me?"
"That sounded insulting, Cole." Piper accused.
"No, Piper, it was just honest. Phoebe accepted me, she has a giving heart and was willing to accept me, no questions asked. You and Paige are much more questioning. It's not bad, it's not good, it's just your character."
"Well, I think we're a little off topic. Why don't you ladies tell us about your experience with your neighbors?"
"Well," Leo began. "We didn't really know them that well. Although they did seem very friendly."
"Yes," Piper laughed. "Much nicer than the previous residents."
Cole laughed at that. "Ah, yes, I remember the war over the azaleas and the fence. Who finally won?"
"Well, when the new residents moved in, they took out the azaleas and put in a fish pond."
"A fish pond? That's very interesting. Any other changes or strange behavior?"
"Well," Leo continued "They also put in a brand new patio in the back."
"They're also up at odd hours." Paige put in. "They always seem to be working in the garage at all hours, except during the day."
"Then there was the thing with the cars." Leo began.
"Oh, Leo," Piper sighed. "Maybe he just wanted a new car."
"Leo," Cole interjected. "I'd like to hear about the cars. As I remember, cars and baseball were the only things we had in common."
Leo laughed out loud. "You're right, that we did. Anyway, when they first came here they had silver Trans Am. This car had a bad muffler, bald tires, and a bad timing belt. Anyway, one day a couple of months back, the silver Trans Am left and later that afternoon a black one came back. Now, Piper and the girls think they just bought another used car, but it had the same problems. And then, two weeks ago, they brought back a brand new car. A Subaru Outback. Anyway, it..."
In the background, the front door opened and closed. "Hey, guys, I'm home. You won't believe the day I had. Jason told me that Cole is..."
Phoebe at that moment entered the kitchen and shrieked. Cole turned and gave his ex-wife a big smile. Turning to Agent Nakayama, he introduced them. "This, Tom, is my ex-wife, Phoebe Halliwell. Phoebe, this is Agent Tom Nakayama of the FBI."
"Hello, miss. I know this is quite a shock. We're here because of your neighbors across the street. We've been talking to your family. Can you think of anything about them? Anything odd or perhaps something about them? Visitors they may have had?"
"No, the only thing I can remember is that they replaced the azaleas."
"Nothing else?"
"Nothing that comes to mind."
"Well, thank you for your time." Agent Nakayama thanked. He reached into a pocket and pulled out a few business cards. "Here, please take my card and call me if anything comes to you."
Cole also handed out several cards and left them on the kitchen table. "If you can't reach Tom, please feel free to call me. Thank you for your time and patience."
Cole and Agent Nakayama headed outside and headed back to the house across the street. Turning to Cole, Agent Nakayama laughed. "And I thought I had troubles with my ex. What exactly did you do?"
Cole laughed and patted the agent on the back. "Tommy, what you don't know won't hurt me. Anyway, I'm going to get back and process our guests. Keep me informed, will you?"
"You bet, say hello to your wife for me."
Cole turned once last time and looked up at the manor, the focus of so much in his life. My old life, thought Cole, I have a whole new life now, a new family, a new love, a new chance. Cole got in his car and drove back to the city and Willow.