notes; After one very very busy time involving school, work, the fact that it's winter and boyfriends, I've finally found some time to finish chapter five to this story so I could post chapter four. In fact, my muse is BACK which means I'll probably be writing some of chapter six tonight. Anyhow that'll be all.

Thanks so much for the reviews to the previous chapter!! Makes me feel good to see so many positive reactions:)

Disclaimer; Eeeh!

Chapter 04. Return of the Demon.

''Cole, stop following me.''

''I'm not following you. I just happen to have to go the same way.''

''Then take another route. Take a detour, whatever. Just go away.''

''I don't want to. So tell me, why did you and Henry break up? Sure you could've forgiven him, but then again I'm sure you never held him for the type who would..''

''- This way.'' She snapped and Cole's eyes widened when Paige took a firm hold of his upper arm and pulled him into an alleyway, pushing him against the dirty wall.

''Listen to me. You stop following me or stalking me in any way.''

''Or what? You'll vanquish me? Come on, Paige. That's old news. I just want to talk.'' A slow grin appeared on his face when she kept her hand on his arm. He glanced at it before raising an eyebrow. Her hand dropped back to her side and she shot him a death glare.

''I don't. You think after eight years you can just waltz back into my life like everything is peachy?'' She took a step closer to him and if she'd be a few inch taller the would be standing nose to nose. Now she only reached up to his chest but she didn't feel the slightest bit intimidated by him. If he thought that she'd forgotten about everything that had happened in the past then she'd show him wrong. In fact, he was going to be the one feeling intimidated by her.

''No, that's why I want to talk.'' He folded his arm across his chest in an attempt to maintain a certain distance between them. Sure it had been eight years since they'd shared a brief affair, but even now she still caused a tingling feeling in the pit of his stomach. One that he desperately wanted to ignore.

''Well I don't. Now I'm warning you, Cole. Stay away from me.'' One last time she gave him her best 'drop dead' look before huffing slightly and walking out of the alley and disappearing from the demon's sight. He sighed and shoved his hands into the pockets of his neat pants before glancing around. Then the air around him started to shimmer and he faded out of the alley.

Paige's bad mood was still there when she entered her apartment and dropped her keys onto the small cabinet that stood against the wall right next to the door. She took her blazer off and walked into the livingroom, her heels ticking across the wooden floor in a regular rhythm.

''Shame you didn't like him, hun. I've heard he's quite amazing in bed.'' Simon's voice sounded and he emerged from Paige's bedroom. He ran a hand through his hair and Paige could tell that he'd been in her bedroom looking for some good hairstyling product. She'd gotten used to him going around her stuff for the past few months. If she was looking for some product he knew better than her where it was.

''I don't care how good he is in bed, it would never in a million years make up for that laugh.''

''Oh little cranky are we? Well Paige it's not my fault you don't want to get laid good.'' he rolled his eyes and grabbed his coat which was neatly draped across one of the kitchen chairs.

''No. Simon, I'm sorry. It's not his fault. It's just..'' She sighed quietly, an almost inaudible sigh.

''I ran into someone I really didn't want to run in to.''

''Don't tell me you ran into Henry and his bimbo again. I'm telling you that man's trying to make you jealous. It's what I would do if I'd divorced my gorgeous wife.'' Simon put his coat back down.

''No.'' Paige shook her head and sat down on the couch, reaching down to take her heels off.

''Not Henry. Cole.'' Her shoes dropped to the floor with a small noise, one not loud enough to infury her downstairs neighbours and she got more comfortable on the couch awaiting her friend's reaction.

''Cole? Wait I know that name. Paige, not that man you slept with and.. Oh My God. It's him isn't it? Hey, he's dead.'' A small smile kicked up one corner of her mouth at his exasperation. You had to love him.

''Well now he's not. And he wants to talk, but I don't think that's a good idea.''

''Are you afraid he'll hurt you?'' The cushions of the couch were pushed down when Simon lowered his weight onto them, his forearms resting upon his knees and his eyes looking directly at Paige.

''No, because.. Simon you've seen a picture. That man. His looks. It's worse than with James. He causes shivers to run down my spine just by looking at me, even after all these years.''

Even if she barely dared to admit it, it was true. When they'd been standing in the alley earlier, just a few steps away from each other Paige had found herself being tempted all over again. Her eyes watching his lips, the way his shirt pulled tightly across his muscular chest. Not too tight though, just tight enough. And the way he stuck his hands in his pockets. Simon's voice pulled her out of her short daydream.

''Well you know if you end up sleeping with him maybe talking to him is not such a bad idea.''

''No. I mean yeah. I mean – Simon! You're no help whatsoever.'' She scoffed and with a sigh she leaned back against the couch. He just grinned his toothpaste white smile and tickled her cheek with a gentle kiss before getting back to his feet and pulling on his coat.

''Have to run gorgeous. See you tomorrow?'' Giving Paige his best puppy eyed look he waited patiently until she stopped sulking and looked at him while nodding her head.

''Eight, don't be two hours late again.''

''I never am. Just that once. Not my fault. It was -''

''Tim's. I know. No details. Go see your boyfriend.'' Paige offered him a genuine smile and a kisshand which Simon pretended to catch.

''Night. Love you.'' He smiled and walked to the front door, opening it with a swift movement.

''H – Oh.'' In front of him stood Cole's tall figure, his raised arm and fist making it obvious that he'd been about to knock. He seemed surprised to find another man standing there. Another man who'd visited Paige.

''Who are you?'' Cole let his arm fall back to his side and leaned against the doorpost as he took the guy in. Tall like him, broad shoulders and dark hair. Definitely Paige's type, but he wasn't her boyfriend was he? Something was just wrong about it.

''None of your business. Who are you?'' Simon shot back immediately being protective over his much smaller best friend who he didn't know was now standing behind him. He glanced over his shoulder when she spoke up.

''It's Cole, Simon. Go see Craig I can handle it.''

''You sure?'' Cole watched them patiently while he folded his arms across his broad chest. He couldn't help but feeling a slight pang of jealousy in the pit of his stomach. Even after being away for such a long time he still thought that she was beautiful and one of a kind. Yeah he still loved Phoebe, but he'd given up on her a long time ago. She had made it pretty clear that they were over and eventually he'd seen it to. But something about Paige was different. Something told him that he shouldn't give up on her just yet.

He knew for a fact that she and Henry were now divorced. Things just hadn't worked out, but he'd never known the real reason for them breaking up. Cole watched as Paige nodded in response as to reassure Simon that she'd be fine and the muscles in his upperarms flexed unconsiously when he saw her give him a quick peck on the lips before he orbed out, leaving just the two of them behind.

The red-haired whitelighter watched until the last blue lights had disappeared before turning to Cole and folding her arms across her chest, much like him. Being aware of this Cole changed his stance just to see what she would do, but she didn't copy him. She opened her mouth to speak, but he beat her to it.

''I know what you said, Paige. Please, I just want to work some things out. I know I've treated you wrong and I've had a couple of years to think about what I've done. I won't hurt you I promise.'' Cole knew he was almost pleading and knew that he usually didn't plead but judging by the change in looks on Paige's face it was starting to work. He almost had her.

Paige looked him up and down once more and opened her mouth to give in and invite him inside just as she heard one of her daughters call for her name, clearly frightened. Cole couldn't come inside as long as her kids were awake.

''I'll be right there, Sweetie!'' She called over her shoulder and looked back at Cole her hand was already starting to close the door.

''I'm working Friday night, I finish at 3. If you have the energy to stay awake that long we'll talk then.''

Cole nodded quickly in response and the door shut in front of him with a soft click. He could hear her feet walking quickly across the floor and eventually the noise died away making it clear that she'd left the livingroom.

To Be Continued...

Note; Ooooooh he's BAAAAACK. Big bad Cole. Oh oh I like the name of the next chapter.. I'll tell you what it is if you review.. it's... Tom Cruise Charms.. involving some cocktails.. and more Cole.. okay now you have to review HA! Hehe. Until next time! xx sas90