Okay a couple of people have informed me that Cole's mother's name was, in fact mentioned, and is Elizabeth, so I apologise for the mistake there.
Even though there is no magic in this story and everyone is human, I'm still keeping some of the traits some of the characters have/had in the show. This is mostly with Cole and Leo, as I want them to be quite opposite.
Chapter Five: Arrangements
Phoebe groaned and pulled a pillow over her head, trying to block out the sounds of three different types of loud music coming from below her. It was Saturday, and Saturday's were meant for sleeping in late and then going out in the afternoon. But clearly her sisters did not believe this philosophy.
She cursed under her breath as she rolled herself out of bed and saw that it was only ten thirty. She stumbled down the stairs and on to the first floor corridor. From the door nearest to her she could hear My Chemical Romance playing. Paige's bedroom. From the door next but one to Paige's, Liz Phair blasted out. That was Prue's room.
From downstairs, she could hear what, disturbingly enough, seemed to be Queen, or something similarly glam rock. She remembered that Leo was coming over to help Piper re-decorate her room. Grumbling to herself about early mornings and loud music, Phoebe descended the stairs into the entrance hall. The source of the music appeared to be the kitchen so, yawning so widely it hurt her jaw, she went in that direction.
"Piper, please tell me why Bohemian fucking Rhapsody is blasting through the house at half ten on a Saturday morning? And it better be a good reason."
"Morning sunshine," Piper grinned. "You going to say hello to our guests?"
Without even looking around her, and with her eyes half closed, Phoebe waved a hand in the vague direction of the kitchen table and murmured, "Good morning Leo."
Leo chuckled. He'd been a regular visitor to the Halliwell manor since he was fourteen years old, and he'd learnt that Phoebe was not a morning person.
"Morning Phoebe," he replied.
As Phoebe flicked the kettle on, another voice from the general table earlier asked, "Don't I get a hello either."
In that moment, Phoebe was wide-awake. "Oh shit," she muttered to herself.
Turning round and leaning against the kitchen counter, she smiled weakly. "Hey Cole."
Cole shot her a crooked grin. "Hi."
Stirring her mug of steaming coffee, Phoebe walked past Piper, whispering, "You couldn't tell me he was here?"
"I didn't know he was coming," Piper replied, still smiling.
Phoebe sat in the chair opposite Cole, folding her legs underneath her and cradling her coffee mug.
"You going to help us decorate Piper's room?" asked Leo.
Before Phoebe could respond, Piper jumped in.
"No, no, no. No way is she getting near my walls with a paint brush."
Phoebe shrugged. "It'll end up all over the ceiling and floor and us. Very little would actually get on the walls."
"Well, at least Cole's helping," said Leo.
"Um…that's probably not a great idea," Cole replied. "Paint and me don't really mix well. I think I should stay out of the way."
"So I guess both of us are free today," commented Phoebe.
"How convenient," muttered the older sister, sitting next to Leo.
Sending Piper a death glare, Phoebe continued. "So maybe you and I could stay out of the way together…"
"How about we stay out of the way together in town? I'll even buy you and ice cream," suggested Cole.
"Sounds great. I should do get dressed."
Phoebe bounded from the room, up the stairs and knocked loudly on Paige's door.
"Come in Phoebe," called Paige, recognising Phoebe's special knock.
"Paige, I need help."
"You're only just realising this?"
"Shut up!" exclaimed Phoebe, flopping on to Paige's dark purple and blue striped bedspread.
"Sorry. What can I help you with?" asked Paige, sitting next to Phoebe.
"I'm going out with Cole today and I have no idea what to wear."
"…This is your major dilemma? And who's Cole?"
"Yes, this is my 'major dilemma', and I told you about Cole last night. I met him at that party."
"Eh…" Paige had mostly blocked out Phoebe's babbling.
"Well, he's downstairs. Go see him for yourself. But remember, I saw him first, so no touching!"
Paige smiled. "If you like him, I probably won't."
"That's true."
"I'll be back in a few. Find something to wear and I'll comment."
Paige hurried downstairs, eager to meet the guy Phoebe was practically giddy over.
"Morning all," she said cheerily, grabbing a slice of toast from Piper's plate. "You must be Cole. I'm Paige."
"Hi. You're the youngest…right?"
"Yup, that I am."
"Paige, you want to help with some painting today?" asked Leo, keen to hand out the workload.
"Tempting…but I'm going over to Glenn's…so I cannot."
"Just you and me then," he remarked to Piper. "Unless Prue-"
"Don't count on it," remarked Prue, as she swept into the room.
"I gotta go help Phoebe with something," said Paige. "See you around Cole."
Back in her room, Paige cast a critical eye over the short khaki skirt and purple, camisole top Phoebe was wearing.
"Well?"
"It's great…if the message you're sending out is 'Come and get me like a big, funky, sex machine.'"
"That's really not what I want to say."
"Yea, I guessed as much. Look, just wear something that you're comfortable in."
Phoebe nodded, before dashing back up to her room.
Downstairs, Prue and Piper spoke rapidly and animatedly about the party the night before, while Leo ate contentedly, used to the noise of the house, and Cole looked on in what seemed to be close to fear.
"You know Darryl was, like, two steps away from hitting on Paige," Prue informed Piper.
"Darryl? Andy's Darryl?"
"The very one."
Piper gasped in shock. "No way! Doesn't he know she's only fifteen?"
"If he didn't, he does now. But it's just really weird."
"What is?"
"Guys, guys our age, thinking of little Paige in that way," Prue explained.
"She's not so little any more," commented Leo.
"You know, that's exactly what Darryl said," retorted the eldest Halliwell sister.
"What? No, I didn't mean it in that way!" Leo defended himself. "I just meant, she's growing up. And, in a purely observatory way, she's growing into a very beautiful young woman. Of course guys are going to be interested in her. And she's going to be interested in some guys too. It's just the way."
Piper shrugged. "She's always going to be little Paige to me."
"And to me," Prue agreed.
"You don't feel that way about Phoebe?" inquired Leo. His tone wasn't accusatory, just curious.
"Yea, I mean, every time Phoebe's late home, I think the worst," replied Piper.
"But Phoebe can take care of herself so much better than Paige can," continued Prue, "Regardless of what Paige may think."
"And Paige is more naïve," added Piper.
"Phoebe can just tell people better."
"Phoebe can what now?" asked the sister in question, as she entered the kitchen.
"Nothing," Prue, Piper and Leo all replied in unison.
"Yes, because I believe that," she remarked, rolling her eyes.
"Ready to go?" asked Cole, standing up.
Phoebe nodded. "Yes indeed. Tell grams 'I'll be back later, 'kay?"
"Sure," replied Piper. "Have fun."
"Behave," added Prue.
"Don't I always?" Phoebe asked, smiling coyly.
"Cole, if your mum asks where you are, what do you want me to say?" questioned Leo.
Cole shrugged. "Tell her whatever you want."
"I could-"
"It doesn't matter Leo," Cole said sternly, barely allowing Leo to get two words out. "Tell her what you like."
With that, Phoebe and Cole left the house, leaving Prue and Piper to look on after them, both wearing expressions of confusion.
"Leo?" asked the two sisters.
Leo held up his hands. "Sorry, I'm sworn to secrecy."
"Leo!"
I know there hasn't really been a great deal of Prue so far, but there will be, I promise. For those still waiting – the next chapter will be the proper introduction of Glenn.
