"Paige." She sighed, and raked her hand through her hair. "Look. I just … I need to talk to him." She stopped. Bit her lip. Waited for the reaction. Paige sighed and nodded. She had been Piper's shadow for the last week, never letting her out of her sight. She had accompanied her to the grocery store, to the library, the club, a business conference, event to her prenatal water aerobics class. As much as she had disliked playing Piper's Siamese twin she knew Piper had hated it that much more. Piper had always been incredibly independent and Paige knew she had detested the constant company but she hadn't complained. Not once. It would have been easier if she had, but it was as if Piper had resigned herself to her sins. Paige looked at Piper. The yearning in Piper's eyes convinced her. She sighed. She couldn't' torture her sister anymore. She knew if Phoebe found out she'd be furious but at this point she didn't care.

"Okay." She said. Piper looked surprised. "But I'm going with you." Piper nodded gratefully.


They were standing together in silence as the elevator slowly lifted them up the nine stories that it took to get to Cole's pent house. Paige watched Piper in the reflective ceiling. To the casual viewer she would look completely normal but Paige knew she wasn't. She was biting her lip ever so slightly and she kept rubbing her fingers on her palms as if her hands were sweating. Paige was pretty sure they were. Piper's eyes kept darting around the small room. Piper felt as though this was the longest elevator ride she'd ever been on. She closed her eyes, inhaled and braced herself on the side rail.

They stumbled into the elevator. One hand was around his neck, the other was clutching his tie. Cole had his arms around her. They were kissing furiously. His tongue ravaged her mouth, flicking in and out rhythmically. He pressed her against the elevator wall his groin hot against her. She could feel his hard desire. A guttural moan escaped one of them. As the doors closed Cole scooped her up by her ass. She wrapped her legs around his waist. He pushed her higher. She moaned. He licked her neck. Sucking tenderly on the sensitive skin below her ear. He slipped one hand up her dress. He linked two fingers underneath the thing strap of her underwear. He tugged on it and she groaned. She arched her back resting her head against the wall as he sucked hard on her neck and ripped her thong. Piper gasped in painful pleasure as she felt the sting of the thin material rip across her thigh. Her breathing increased as he caressed the inside of her legs. He delicately slid his fingers inside her and she gasped. She gripped his neck tighter and pulled herself away from him ever so slightly. He grinned devilishly and she smirked at him as she slid to the floor and dexterously unfastened his belt and slid off his pants and boxer briefs in one swift motion. Just as quickly, he scooped her up, slammed her against the wall and impaled her.

Piper was startled out of her reverie as the elevator came to a stop. Instinctively she threw her hands out and froze the doors before they could open. She glanced at Paige who raised her eyebrows at her. After a moment she took a deep breath and unfroze the room. The doors slowly slid open. She felt her heart skip a beat as she saw the familiar apartment reveal itself before her. Cautiously, she walked out into the large apartment. Her eyes widened slightly as she took in her surroundings. It was filthy. Half-eaten food was everywhere. Liquor bottles and trash littered the floor and furniture. Piper maneuvered through the debris and scanned the apartment for any sign of Cole. Paige reluctantly followed.

"Cole?" Piper murmured gently. He was lying motionless. "Cole?" She spoke a bit louder. She gasped as his eyes shot open. He blinked repeatedly, attempting to orient himself. Scratching his head he sat up and looked at her. Piper's heart sunk as she saw him. A bottle of rum was tucked in his arm and several other empty bottles of liquor were scattered around him. His face was scruffy. It looked like he hadn't shaved in days.


"Piper." Paige called and tapped her watch. She had been standing there in silence for nearly a half an hour as Piper and Cole had spoken intensely. They really had to get out of here before someone noticed they were off the radar. Piper glanced back and nodded.

"Okay." She said, gazing deeply into Cole's eyes. "I better go."

He nodded. Sadness filling his deep blue eyes. She looked up at him lovingly. Hesitantly, she stood on her tip toes and laid a gentle kiss on his cheek. She could smell his aroma, which despite the sweat and tears and booze she could still make out. Slowly she began to pull away, her face still lingering close to his. Slowly, their eyes met. Those piercing, cerulean eyes seared through her. Everything he was feeling was transmitted to her through those clear blue portals. She could feel his sadness, misery, anger, love. He gazed deeper into those Amber pools and ever-so-slowly their faces got closer together. Piper closed her eyes and seconds later his lips were fervently pressed against hers. His arms wrapped around her, holding onto her desperately. She flung her hands around his neck and kissed him back. She didn't even think about Paige, who was standing yards away, watching the whole thing. At first the kiss was ardent, fierce with a desperate passion. It was frantic and intense, their lips entwining in a violent dance of love and desolation. Their tongues, stabbing and melting in each others mouths. They were consumed with the panic of separation and so their mouths and lips and tongues became one in a futile attempt to stop the inevitable. Slowly, the kiss deepened. The frenzy lessened and the kiss became a gentle wave of lingering, melancholy bliss. They carefully, sucked and tasted each other. Each one memorizing every last curve of the other's body while simultaneously, silently pleading with reality to be wrong. It was with serene anguish that they reluctantly separated, opened their eyes and silently said their last goodbyes.