Well folks the incessant e-mails harrassing me to continue to the fic finally paid off. Here's the next chapter. It's kind of short and it veers off from the story a little bit. This is a bit of a prologue. It provides background to their relationship. I'll continue the actual story itself too, don't worry. I'm just setting a few things up.
The attraction had begun long ago. Shortly after Piper had gotten married, she was rather ashamed to say. Leo was gone more often than not and Cole tended to be around. What started as a relatively innocent brother/sister-in law relationship turned into something much more carnal and passionate than either of them had ever expected.
"Baby, I'm so sorry. I promise I wouldn't leave if it wasn't an emergency." Leo spoke regretfully to his wife. She had prepared him dinner and they were just getting to the dessert – chocolate covered strawberries and champagne. He really wished he didn't have to go. He had a strong feeling that she had planned some more fun for them later than night but there was nothing he could do. It was his duty as a Whitelighter.
"Fine." She grumbled. He could tell she was very upset but he had to go. He leaned forward to kiss her as he orbed out and she turned her head so he only made contact with her cheek.
"Damnit!" Piper cried and threw down her napkin as the last of her husband's orbs receded.
Cole watched from a slight distance, unbeknownst to Piper. He watched as she buried her head in her hands for a few moments and then sighed dejectedly. He continued to watch her as she carefully carried the dishes to the kitchen and returned several times for a few more trips. He winced as a large crystal bowl slipped from her hands and shattered to the floor, slicing her finger in the process. Her freezing though quick was a few seconds too late and the shards of glass stopped in mid-air after landing on the floor.
"Shit." She cringed as she saw the remnants of the lovely antique bowl suspended motionless in mid-air. Her finger throbbed and she realized she had cut herself. She turned around to grab a napkin from the table and saw Cole standing there. Instead of acting embarrassed, which was what he felt, he strode towards her and took her finger in his hand. With one swift motion he plucked the shard of glass out of her hand. Piper gasped momentarily as she felt the object slide out of her wound. She looked up into Cole's eyes and saw something she had never seen before – ardency. With eyes locked he gently brought her finger to his mouth and sucked on it, milking the blood out of her finger. Electricity shot through Piper's body as she felt his tongue caressing her.
And that was that. First it was just stolen glances during dinner or while they were watching a movie. But slowly, steadily it had become much more than either had wanted or expected. He loved Phoebe and she loved Leo. That much was true. But did they love each other? They hadn't dared to address that. They cared. But they were both attached … and lonely. It was an affair of convenience. At least that's what they told themselves. Leo was gone all too much and Phoebe … well, she was Phoebe. For all her strengths, dependency was not among them. She was distant, flighty and unreliable. And so on nights when she was out clubbing and drinking. Nights when Leo was off saving the world. He'd quietly slip into bed with his girlfriend's sister and without a shred of guilt, make love to her. The guilt came later. Afterwards. In the morning. But during the night, she was his. And it was perfect.
She was everything that Phoebe wasn't and that's what had attracted him to her. Phoebe was loud, obstinate, bull-headed. Full of energy and spontaeity. Piper, was demure, intense, stubborn in her own right but more quietly so. Phoebe was a bright summer day. Full of light and energy and blatant sexual heat. Piper conversely, was the refreshing night that followed such a day. Still warm but with a pleasant cooling breeze. The moon eliciting enough erotic enigma to drive him crazy. He understood Phoebe. She was an open book. Piper was a mystery. But despite their differences, in certain lights, he'd see the resemblance that only shared DNA can produce. Piper would laugh and he'd see Phoebe's smile. Phoebe would sulk and he'd see Piper's pout. It was uncanny and eerie … yet lovely. He'd love them both he told himself. Each in their own separate way. And he had fully intended on doing so. But one can't control the heart and slowly, without his realizing it, the tides began to turn and more often than not, Phoebe was his second choice. His consolation prize. She wouldn't leave Leo. She had said as much. It was out of the question. So he had done the only logical thing. He'd married her. Phoebe. He was Jacob marrying Leah when whom he wanted was Rachel. But as long as he was a part of the family he could be near her, his real love – Piper. They shared everything. All of it. He listened. Always. It was something that Piper was unaccustomed to. As the middle sister she had constantly been the listener. The one people went to to vent. But not Cole. He understood somehow. They had cried for Prue together. He too had lost a sibling long ago. They had wept for their mothers. For their fathers. They had bonded over uncertain identity and laughed about literature. Yes, after a hundred years of life he had acquired quite a taste for books. They discussed philosophy, cooking, art, history. Their relationship was more than sex. It transcended the physical. It went beyond the magic. Beyond witches and demons. They connected on a very basic human level. Human.
"Do you think … in another lifetime we might get to be together?" Piper murmured. She lay in his arms, basking in the aftermath of their glorious love-making. He breathed for a few moments, contemplating the thought, stroking her hair, enjoying the feel of her against him.
"I hope so." He murmured, inhaling her scent.
"God, I hope so." He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms tighter around her.
"But probably not, right?" Her voice was small. Almost childlike with a trace of longing and fear.
"Don't think like that."
"But it's true."
"Piper …" Of course she was right but he didn't have to say it out loud. So he didn't. And she snuggled against him once more. He thought, maybe that she'd fallen asleep. Her breathing was slow and even. Her heartbeat steady. He always waited until she was asleep before he shimmered back to his own bed. To Phoebe's bed.
"Cole, I'm scared." She whispered softly. Her warm hands moved softly on his chest, clutching him tighter.
"Of what?" He asked, worried.
"Of never being free." He heard the melancholy desperation in her voice and his chest tightened painfully. He knew exactly what she meant. Free from the constraints of obligation. Obligation to her family, to magic to her destiny. Free to do what she wanted. To make her own decisions. To live without fear. To love without fear. He wanted that too. More than anything. The freedom to love her without repercussions. He felt a damp warmness on his chest and realized she was crying. Without moving, without making a noise.
"Piper." He crooned and lifted her chin with his hand so he could look her in the eye.
"I swear to you even if it lasts but a day, we'll get our freedom." She shook her head, trying to keep the tears from falling.
"You can't promise that."
"Piper. Look at me. I promise." And despite all logic, she believed him. His earnest compassion. She knew he was telling the truth. It was only a matter of when.
After all those e-mails damn straight, you guys better review. ; ) No, but seriously. Read and review folks. Your continued support is the only thing keeping this fic alive right now.
