I promised that I'd post another chapter today and by golly I will live up to it... even if it takes me all day! So here is the promised chapter. Unfortunately, I probably won't be able to post another one for a while (I've got a ton of essays/tests due soon and a swim meet this weekend and next... BLAH) – so if I don't update for a bit, bear with me and know that I haven't forgotten.
As always, I appreciate your comments (good or bad) and review if you have time, if not, than just enjoy the read!
"Mommy! Mommy!" Paisley cried as she orbed into the manor along with Paige and Cole. "Where are you Mommy? I'm back!"
Cole bent down to reach the same level as the small child in front of him and gently tapped her on the shoulder. As he pointed in the direction of the large staircase in front of them, he whispered into her ear, "Why don't you try up there?"
Paisley didn't have time to reply, nor did the two adults have time to react as she shot up the stairs as fast as her three-year old legs would carry her, calling, "Mommy, are you up there? I'm coming!"
Upstairs, Phoebe couldn't suppress her laughter anymore as she heard her daughter noisily ascend the stairs. While rising from the bed where she rested, preparing to greet her daughter, she commented to Piper who remained seated, "God, she's pretty loud, isn't she?"
"Yeah," Piper responded with a smile. "She reminds me of someone else at that age."
"Well, I never," Phoebe mockingly gasped in shock.
"Face it Phoebes, you always had to be the center of attention," Piper laughed somberly, remembering the past. Although the tension between them was still unmistakable, the mood had lightened considerably after Piper had taken the biggest step to date, in comforting and understanding Phoebe and her actions. Now she was even beginning to receive glimpses of the old Phoebe that she had missed so much, and yearned to have back in her life. Her heart skipped a beat of hope when she looked into her sister's almond eyes, and found the familiar sparkle that had always resided there. This was the Phoebe that she remembered - The woman who had led a carefree existence and had a flair for life. This image severely contrasted the tired and defeated woman who had appeared on her doorstep a couple of days earlier, helpless to the world. Piper didn't know that woman, nor did she trust her. As soon as she caught the sparkle glimmering in her eyes, Piper felt hope, and could see the old Phoebe fighting to resurface.
"Mommy?" a tiny voice question worriedly, inevitably breaking Piper's thoughts.
"Over here, baby doll," Phoebe called into the hallway as she popped her head out of the room.
"Mommy!" Paisley cried gleefully as she raced down the corridor and jumped into her mother's arms, nearly strangling Phoebe with a ferocious hug. As she lifted her and placed a single kiss on her daughter's cheek, Paisley continued, "I missed you soooo much, and - - Uh oh. Have you been crying again, Mommy?"
"Just a little bit, sweetheart," Phoebe said carefully, trying not to upset her tiny and over emotional daughter. "But you don't need to worry about mommy - -"
"Happy or sad tears?" Paisley interrupted, a look of concern spreading across her face.
"Happy of course!" Phoebe responded with a smile.
"Because I'm back?" Paisley suggested. No matter how grown up and beyond her years she seemed to be, Paisley was still only a toddler, and like any other little boy or girl her age, considered the world to revolve solely around one person: herself.
"Of course I'm happy that you're back sweetie! I missed you too – and you know that!" Phoebe smiled as her daughter giggled in response. "Did you have a good time at the park with Paige?"
"Yup!" she said excitedly, while wriggling out of her mother's hold. "Oh! I have to show you my friend. He's waiting for you downstairs, Mommy, let's go!"
While smiling, Phoebe turned her head back into Piper's room as Paisley tugged on her hand impatiently and asked her sister, "Are you going to come down with us?"
"No," Piper said thoughtfully. "I think I'll just wait here a moment, but I'll be down soon."
"Suit yourself!" Phoebe cried happily before turning to Paisley and saying, "Let's go meet this mystery man, shall we?"
"Yay!" Paisley cried as they began walking down the large staircase. "You're really going to like him, Mommy, because he's my friend and we're even like twins! Look! There he is, Mister - -"
"Cole," Phoebe finished, in a voice barely audible as she stopped dead in her tracks and released Paisley.
Paisley continued down the stairs, oblivious to her mother's discomfort and said, "Oh you know him. He's my friend and I love him."
"Hi Phoebe," Cole started, ignoring the little girl's rambling and without breaking eye contact with her.
"Don't you 'Hi Phoebe' me," she responded bitterly after regaining her confidence. As Phoebe continued, Paige ushered the youngest Halliwell out of the room, sensing the anger laced within her sister's voice. "I thought I told you to stay the hell away from me."
"And I did, but - -" Cole replied.
"Liar!" Phoebe shouted as she slowly descended the stairs, her eyes threatening to overflow with tears. "What are you doing to my daughter?"
"Doing?" Cole repeated, obviously confused. "I haven't been doing anything to her! Jesus, Phoebe. You aren't making any sense. I just met her today!"
"Cole!" Phoebe cried pleadingly. "Please! Just tell me the truth... for once. You can't hide this from me. I know... about the dreams. Paisley told me."
"Dreams? Phoebe, what the hell are you going on about?" Cole cried out in anger.
"Don't you dare play dumb with me," Phoebe retorted as tears spilled onto her cheeks. "She told me. She told me about how she dreams about... her father."
"Oh," Cole stuttered confusedly. "Yeah, I met her father. Seemed like a pretty strange guy, if you ask me. But what the hell do I know – and how do I factor into all of this?"
"What do you mean you met her father?" Phoebe asked sounding more worried than angry.
"Well, I saw him at the park today. He was talking to Paisley," Cole replied without hesitation.
"What do you mean you saw him at the park to day?" Phoebe cried.
"Phoebe you're not making any sense!" Cole shouted in confusion.
"Cole, you don't understand," Phoebe started quietly. "You're... you're her father."
"What?" Cole questioned in shock.
"You are Paisley's dad," Phoebe said seriously, while searching his eyes for any emotion.
"Ha," Cole chuckled sarcastically while searching for the right words to describe what he was feeling. "Phoebe I saw that man – and Paige did too. Paisley clearly told us both that he was her father, so don't go placing false hope inside of me."
"Cole, I'm not lying," Phoebe cried as she slumped onto the floor, defeated, and buried her face into her hands. "I haven't slept with anyone since that night four years ago. But if you don't believe me... than just look at her."
"I have," Cole retorted. "She looks just like you."
"That maybe so," Phoebe started while looking up at Cole hopefully, her face streaked with fresh tears. "But look at her eyes. They're yours, Cole. Nobody I know has eyes quite like them. You're a daddy."
"Oh my god," Cole gasped in realization as he joined Phoebe on the floor. "I'm a daddy. But... why didn't you tell me."
"I wanted to," Phoebe started. "But things got confusing. I had to leave town. I... I couldn't contact anybody I knew, including you. I had to disconnect myself from my life."
Cole looked at Phoebe who was crying silently and said, a little bitterly, "You couldn't spare the time to tell me that I had a daughter?"
"No," Phoebe bawled. "I'm sorry... but... oh my god. Cole, what's wrong with my baby?"
I hope that clears a few things up for y'all. See, no worries, Cole's Paisley's father - for sure! But waddup with Paisley... Guess you'll just have to wait and see!
Until next time... PEACE.