Chapter Twenty-three
When Ororo reached the top floor, she called out, "Girls? I need to talk to you all."
Prue came out of her room and hugged her aunt. "They're in there with Carl and Joxer! I don't know why they're all in the same room." She walked over and knocked on the door. "Phoebe, Paige, Aunt 'Ro wants to talk to us."
"Coming," Phoebe called.
Paige attempted to be a different story, however. She frowned. "Can't it wait?"
It was at that time that Joxer let out a screech. Phoebe whirled around, took one look at the scene, and shouted, "PAIGE HALLIWELL, DON'T YOU DARE GET CARL UNDER YOUR SKIRTS IN HERE!"
Paige shrugged. "I was just trying to -- Ow!" She broke off talking as Phoebe grabbed her ear and began dragging her toward the door.
Ororo looked at Prue.
"We can talk in my room," Prue volunteered, choosing not to acknowledge what they'd overheard.
Phoebe opened the door with a blush. "Sorry about that."
"Paige is the one who should be sorry!" Prue said. "Don't you ever get tired of that!"
"Huh . . . No?"
Ororo shook her head. "Girls, go into Prue's room while I get Piper."
"She's in Cole's room, and it's down there," Prue informed her, pointing at the door. "You might not can get her out of there. It's been very quiet in there for a long time. I've been listening. I had my door open just a little. That's why I heard you when you first came up."
Ororo nodded. "I'll fetch her," she insisted. "We must all talk."
Prue led the way back into her room. She didn't want to see Cole get into a fuss with Auntie 'Ro, and she figured that was what was about to happen. She couldn't blame Cole for wanting to protect Piper, but she thought he'd gone overboard as she hadn't seen hide nor hair of her sister since the living room.
Ororo watched as Prue shut the door behind them. She then walked over to Cole's door and knocked lightly.
Cole walked silently over to the door. Piper had managed to doze off. He knew it was because she was extremely tired after the ordeal she'd just gone through. He opened it a crack and looked out. He was surprised to see 'Ro standing there. He opened it a little wider and slipped outside, closing the door behind him. "What can I do for you, 'Ro?"
"It's Piper I'm after actually," she told him. "We're having a family meeting."
"She's sound asleep. Right after I brought her up here, we talked for a few minutes, and she went out like a candle in the wind. She's totally exhausted. You want me to try and wake her?"
"She'll have to wake soon to eat any way," she gently answered, "and this is of importance."
"You want to wake her?" Cole asked. He opened the door, allowing 'Ro to step inside.
She followed him but declined the invitation as she knew how he felt about Piper. "I think it might be best for you to do so."
Cole went back over to the bed, sat on the edge of it, and brushed Piper's hair back out of her face. "Piper, sweetie? Wake up. Your aunt 'Ro's here. She wants to talk to you about something. Piper?" he called to her again.
Piper slowly began to stir. "Cole?"
"Yes, darling. Your Aunt 'Ro's here. She wants to talk to you about something," he repeated, knowing she had not heard him the first time.
"I know you're tired, Piper," Ororo added, "but this is a matter that must be discussed. Your sisters are waiting in Prue's room."
"What's wrong?" Piper asked, instantly worried.
"Nothing, my dear. Well, nothing short of the obvious, at least."
"You want me to take you across to your sister's room, Piper?" Cole asked.
She nodded. "Yes, please." She wondered what was going on.
He scooped her up out of the bed and shimmered instantly to Prue's room, arriving in the midst of giggling females. He lay Piper on the bed. "When you're ready to come back, Piper, just call to me in your mind. I'll come back for you." He leaned down, kissed her, and then quickly shimmered out, not wanting to get caught in the midst of a family fuss.
Ororo was waiting with a puzzled look when she saw Cole reappear. She realized then that he had simply teleported Piper to Prue's room. "Thank you, Cole," she told him, "and thank you also for taking such good care of her."
"I love her, 'Ro. I know I'm not worthy of her, but I love her. I'll do anything for her. It's an honor to be able to do something for her." He smiled at 'Ro.
Ororo could not help mentally comparing Cole's words now to a certain part of what Logan had told her. What was with these men that they thought they offered so little when they were, in truth, so wonderful to their beloveds? "Cole, you are a good man," she told him, "and Piper is blessed to have you as you are to have her. I'll make sure you're called when the meeting is over." She turned and began to walk out.
Cole watched her go, wondering what he could do to pass the time until Piper had need of him. He busied himself tidying the room that was already neat.
Ororo paused just outside Prue's door. Her fingers hesitated where they had taken the handle. She had not expected this talk to come so soon, but in a way, it might even be past time that they had it. She knew she had to talk to them, had to open herself completely up to them, but she could not help being nervous. Her free hand reached up to gently touch Logan's amulet. The time had come, though, and with it, a blessing beyond anything she could have ever dreamed. Finally, she opened the door, entered, and shut it quietly behind her.
Prue looked at her aunt questioningly. Was she here to chew her out about sleeping with Brendan? She figured since her outburst, every one in the house knew.
Phoebe and Paige also looked worriedly at Ororo. Were they about to get reamed?
Piper turned toward the sound of the door opening. "Aunt Ororo?"
"Yes, my child," 'Ro answered her, "it is me. I . . . " How should she start? She moved closer toward the bed and tried again, "I know the last couple of days have been a whirlwind for us all, and I know you have a lot of feelings arguing with each other. However, I've also noticed that you each seem to be growing close to certain gentlemen."
Uh-oh! Here it comes! Prue thought and braced herself.
Phoebe and Paige also exchanged a worried look, but Piper remained strong. She would not allow her godmother, no matter how much she loved her, to ream her for following her heart! Besides, she thought, 'Ro wouldn't do that . . . would she?
The room had grown so quiet that you could have heard a pin drop. Ororo's next words seemed to echo to the girls' ears. "They are not normal men by any stretch of the imagination, but that does not matter. What does matter is that they are Pirates."
"Don't you dare -- "
Ororo looked at Piper in surprise. "I am not about to condemn them, my child, for there is nothing wrong with the lives they have chosen. However, it does raise a question for each of us. After all, do any of you truly wish for them to give up their dreams?"
"No, I don't want Brendan to give up his dreams," Prue told her, "but I don't want to give him up either! I love him! I don't care if he's a Pirate! Although a girl could wish for a little more of what Pirates are supposed to be about -- the raping and pillaging part," she whispered as though the walls had ears.
Her slight admission caused Phoebe to look at her. "But I thought you -- "
"What? Slept with Brendan?" Prue finished for her. "I did, but that's all we did!"
"Thank Gods I'm not the only one -- " Phoebe gasped as she realized her words were aloud and covered her mouth with both hands.
Paige could not believe her ears. "Wait a minute. Me and the virgins are the only ones who've been getting any action!"
Ororo sat at that; luckily, her winds caught her.
Prue nodded. "Although I slept with Brendan last night, a hurricane wouldn't have woke him up! He's dead to the world!"
"So are you, Prue, when you sleep!" Phoebe told her. "I don't know how many times I've tried to wake you up to no avail!"
"It's not that. I actually got to sleep with him, my head on his shoulder, and he snuggled up to me! It felt wonderful, but I wanted so much more! It just didn't happen!"
"Prue," Ororo managed to recover enough from her surprise that Paige had just let out to all of them not only Piper's but her activities the previous night as well to speak, "Brendan is afraid for a very good reason, but that does not mean that he does not want you. He has powers that he can not control, a being always within him that could come out at any moment and tear any of you limb from limb. If he did not care for you so much, it would be easier for him, but he does care a great deal for you."
"I guess that's why he's hiding? I can't find him anywhere!" It was at that moment that it hit Prue that 'Ro had been doing something the night before. "Auntie 'Ro! You didn't!" She stared at her aunt in shock. She'd never realized till that moment that 'Ro had a life all her own outside of being their aunt and godmother and that that life was full of sex. She racked her brain, trying to figure out who it was her aunt had been with, and then she realized that the only man she'd seen her with had been Wolverine.
'Ro would not meet their gazes. "I did," she admitted in a soft whisper. "And I do not regret it. I . . . thought I would, but I do not."
Phoebe saw the necklace around 'Ro's neck. "That's pretty, Aunt 'Ro! Where'd you get that?"
"Lo -- " She quickly cleared her throat. "Wolverine."
Prue looked at the necklace. She'd thought she had seen it before, but then she noticed the amulet and realized that that was the one Phoebe was talking about. She knew that Wolverine wore it and that it meant something else now that she could see it around her aunt's neck.
Paige looked at it. "Why'd he give that to you?" she asked.
"What is it?" Piper wanted to know.
"Wolverine's necklace," Prue told her, "is now around Auntie 'Ro's neck!"
"What?" Piper breathed in disbelief.
"It is true," Ororo answered. "Last night, we shared the most magical moment, but I . . . I was afraid today. I thought you knew this morning and did not realize that you were referring to your situation with Cole. As for why he gave it to me . . . We are together," she told them. "We are partners and . . . more . . . "
"He wants to marry you?" Prue asked even as she rushed forward to hug her aunt. "Congratulations, Auntie 'Ro! I like him!"
Joy filled 'Ro's heart again as Prue embraced her. She descended from the air and stood so that she could fully return Prue's hug. It was then that she was also tackled by Paige.
Phoebe remained on the bed, looking at them with worried eyes. "There's more though, isn't there?" she asked.
Ororo nodded. "Yes." She led Prue and Paige back to the bed. "I would love to marry Wolverine," she admitted, "but it may not be that simple."
"Why isn't it that simple?" Prue asked her. She had seen the two together and believed that Wolverine did love her aunt. There did not seem to be any obstacles between them.
"I . . . " 'Ro faltered, realizing that she needed to begin before the last few days. "My parents died when I was a baby," she told them, "and it was not until I met your mother and she began having you girls that I had a family. I am sorry she and your grandmother are gone. I miss them both as I know you all do, but I love each and every one of you as though you were my own. I'm blessed to have a family, and I am glad that you are each finding your heart's desire as I have. However, that raises a question for each of us . . . " She looked at each girl as she spoke, "None of you wish to make your men give up their dreams, but this life of piracy is one of their dreams. You can not have your men and they have their dreams unless . . . "
"Unless we stay with them," Piper finished for her aunt as Ororo let the sentence hang in the air. "Unless we become Pirates alongside them."
"I want to be a Pirate," Prue said, "if that's what Brendan truly wants! I plan to follow him wherever he goes! He can't hide deep enough that I won't find him! Sooner or later, I'll find him! I feel that we're destined to be together! I'm not giving him up, and if it takes being a Pirate, then I'll be a Pirate!"
Paige grinned. "I like the life of a Pirate -- carefree, able to do what you want to do when you want to do it! It's fun!"
"There's a great deal more to it than fun, Paige. This is a life full of danger."
"Witches are always in danger," Phoebe spoke up again, "but they're not afraid of us. They welcome us just the way we are."
"We know it's dangerous, Auntie 'Ro," Piper told her. "We've all already tasted that what with that Demon the night of the crash and the dinosaurs here, but . . . I love Cole, and I want to be with him . . . " Her voice trailed off again, and a sad look suddenly replaced her determined one.
"Piper?" 'Ro asked, reaching out a hand to gently touch hers.
"I'm just not so sure if I can do it now."
Prue reached out and hugged Piper. "We don't know that you won't regain your sight, but even if you don't, you can still be there for him. You know he loves you, and I know you love him. Things'll work out," she reassured Piper.
"But what if it doesn't come back, Prue? What if I'm like this from now on? Cole already told me that he'd be my eyes forever if need be, but how's he supposed to be able to fight and protect himself while also protecting me?"
"There are ways to make up for the loss of a sense."
"I know. He told me I could learn, but . . . Fighting?"
Ororo nodded. "Yes. I've heard of it before, and we will find you a teacher."
Phoebe said, "I love my Joxer, even if things are not working out right now, and I don't want to lose him so I guess I'll be a Pirate as long as he wants to be one."
"So I guess we're all decided, Aunt 'Ro. We're standing by our men, and we're going to be Pirates! We've just got to find somebody to teach us, and I know just the woman but I don't know if she'll do it. Captain Xena?"
"Well . . . " 'Ro replied. "I do not know if she would, though I imagine she'd be glad to. However, you do not have to reach that far to learn how to fight."
"We don't?" Piper asked.
Ororo caressed her hand reassuringly. "Unfortunately, you do for now, my dear, but the rest of you don't."
"Who then can teach us?" Prue asked.
Ororo looked at them with a sly smile.
"Auntie 'Ro?" Paige asked.
"I can."
"But you're not a fighter! I've never seen you fight!" Prue told her.
"I am, but it is a part that I put away a long time ago. There is a lot you do not know about me, my girls. I once was . . . not too far away from being a Pirate myself."
"Cool!" Phoebe exclaimed. "We already got a Pirate in the family!"
"You wanna tell us about it, Aunt 'Ro?" Prue asked.
"I was not a Pirate, Phoebe, but close enough to it. We will still need instructions for life at sea, but . . . I was once a fighter, an adventurer, and . . . a thief. I had to find a way to survive after my parents died, and that was when I met him . . . " At long last, she began to tell them about her past.
Kurt was hanging from a tree deep in thought. His life had been a whirlwind ever since the day the townspeople had attacked him and he had been rescued by Kitty. He knew he had no business thinking the thoughts he thought when she was near. He was a Priest, for Gods' sakes, yet he burned for her! He knew he could never tell her, especially not now as she had recently lost her husband. She probably would never think of him in that way, because he was a Priest and a Demon. Perhaps he should take the easy way out and tell her to get herself to a nunnery but instead he wanted to tell her to come into his arms so that he might pledge his love to her!
He thought back over the fight he had just been in and how many of Gods' creatures he had just destroyed. He asked forgiveness, but he couldn't just stand by and let them destroy the family he was coming to know. His tail twitched a couple of times as though it had a life all its own, and he knew it was just his nerves.
He expected them to call breakfast at any moment. He figured he'd face Kitty soon enough. In the midst of others, he would not have a chance to make a fool of himself and tell her how much he loved her.
It was then that he heard her voice. "It's just not that simple, 'Heed! Don't you blow smoke at me!" He looked and saw her rounding the corner of the house, deep in conversation with the purple dragon on her shoulder. "Peter's dead, and it's my fault! I was too busy paying attention to what I shouldn't have even been looking at!"
Lockheed cooed, and Kitty's eyes flashed. "Don't you start in on that again! He's a Priest!"
Kurt wondered why Kitty was talking about him. He knew she blamed herself for her husband's death. He had tried to talk to her about it before. Pete was just the kind of man who would have freely given his life to save his family and friends. He also had taken unnecessary chances and that was how he had met his fate. It wasn't because Kitty had saved him, even though she thought it was and had blamed herself. Kurt knew better. He had seen the whole thing. Maybe he should have bamfed himself out of the picture before now, but it was too late. He thought he had best make himself known to Kitty now. "Good morning, fraulein!" he called to her.
Kitty froze as Kurt's voice reached her ears. She looked toward it and found him hanging upside down in the tree. Her heart skipped a beat at the piercing gaze of his yellow eyes that met hers. "Good morning, Kurt . . . Father!"
"Vhat's on your mind, my child?" he asked her although he could not ever consider her to be his child for then he would be contemplating incest.
"N-Nothing." Lockheed cooed. "Lockheed, don't you dare!" He cooed again. "I am not about to notice that!"
"Notice vhat?" Kurt asked.
"Oh . . . Hum . . . Huh . . . " Kitty desperately raked her brain, but no solution was coming. She couldn't tell him that her dragon had been chiding her about paying attention to his cute, pointy ears!
Kurt dropped to his feet and stood in front of Kitty. "Any time you vish to talk about vhat is bothering you, feel free to talk to me. I listen good. Shall I valk you back to the house?" He could easily bamf himself back, but he wanted to be near her as much as he could.
She nodded and turned to let him lead the way to the house. Lockheed cooed. "Dragon, if you don't hush -- !" Kitty warned him.
Kurt turned to look at her. "Kitty, speak what is on your heart. I vill listen. Maybe it vill help?"
"It won't," she told him. If he had any idea of what she thought of him, she'd never even have a chance at continuing their friendship!
Kurt shrugged. "I can not make you talk. It vill need to come out one day. Know that I am here for you." He resumed his walking to the house.
Kitty sighed as she fell into step beside him. "It's just . . . not that simple," she tried to explain, thinking she'd hurt his feelings by refusing to talk to him. "I . . . Besides, you wouldn't know anything about this sort of thing any way," she gently told him.
"I am a Priest, my child. I know many things that you vould think I vould not know. I could help."
"That Priesthood keeps you from knowing about this . . . thing."
He stopped and turned around to face her. "Vhat does my Priesthood have to do with it?"
Kitty sighed, raking her mind again while avoiding his look. "I . . . It's a matter of the heart."
"True I am not very experienced in such matters, but I can listen. It might do good for you to get it off your chest."
Perhaps she could admit just enough to stop his questions? "I . . . I'm having feelings that I know I shouldn't be having."
Kurt thought, Could she be having feelings for Sean? He didn't think it would be Chong. Chong wasn't strong enough for her to be too interested. He knew it'd take a strong man to hold Kitty. "Does the man you're interested in know how you feel about him?"
She shook her head. "I can't tell him. He doesn't feel the same. His heart . . . belongs elsewhere, and I know mine should too. But I couldn't even stop it when Peter was alive!"
"Kitty, you are not to blame for Pete's death. He vould vant you to get on vith your life. You should tell the man that you are interested in and find out how he feels. He may be attracted to you as you are to him. He may not dare to even think you might feel that vay about him."
"It's impossible! It could never work out! His duty's where it's supposed to be! Mine should have been with Peter, but it wasn't and that's why he's dead!"
"Peter's dead, because he was a hero. He took unnecessary risks. You are not to blame. I hope some day that you vill come to realize that. Any man vho should be lucky enough to have your attentions vould be a fool not to take that chance to be vith you. He vould be one lucky man."
"No, he wouldn't be, and he wouldn't take any chance! His life's dedicated to somebody else!"
"Dedicated?" He knew Sean wasn't dedicated to anything but his past. He doubted Chong even had a sex life; at least, he had never seen him get excited around women. There was only one man left, and that was himself! Surely Kitty was not talking about him? "Kitty . . . vhat man are you talking about? How can he be more dedicated to some one else than you?"
She stumbled backwards at his question. Lockheed cooed. "No way! Forget it! Uh uh!"
"Kitty, I know you're not talking about me." He looked at her full in the face, but her eyes would not meet his. He waited for her words to come.
She tried to laugh it off, but her laughter was weak and forced. "You? As if I could? You're a Priest!"
"Doesn't make a difference if I'm a Priest. I'm still a man. You're a temptation that goes to my head, Kitty! One I wish I could indulge in, but you'd only hate me tomorrow. I am vhat I am, and I'm not referring to Priest but to my Demon side. Vhat voman beautiful as you vants to be seen vith a Demon?"
Her heart was hammering so loudly that Lockheed could hear it where he floated in the air next to her. She stared at him with wild, frantic, and confused eyes. "Your Demon side wouldn't matter, but you're a Priest!"
"Just because I'm a Priest doesn't mean I don't have feelings, especially sexual feelings, but I have to fight them. I can't let them out." He backed away from her. "If ve vere anywhere near a church, I vould tell you to get yourself to a nunnery. The nuns could help you. Unfortunately, I am at a loss as to how to deal vith our situation." Without saying anything else, he bamfed out.
Kitty stared at the spot where Kurt had just been. "A nunnery?" she repeated through gritted teeth. "He'd. Want. Me. To. Join. A. Nunnery!"
Lockheed shook his head. He knew where she was going with this and braced himself for the anger that was about to come.
"There's no way in Hell -- !" She cut her own words off and began stalking toward the house. "Come on, dragon! We're going to find us a Demon and tell him off!"
Lockheed shook his head sadly but followed.
To Be Continued . . .
