Chapter 4.3 – Happy and Free
"While they are up there, I was wondering if you wanted some help in the kitchen," Mary asked. "I appreciate not having to cook, but if you could use some help..."
Piper nodded. "It's always nice to meet a fellow cook. My sisters can't cook worth anything."
"Oh, I understand perfectly," Mary agreed. "Paige has her art and John has his spells, but neither of them has a clue on how to cook. My brother, Dave, can cook, but it isn't exactly on his top ten list of things to do, so that's usually a bust."
Piper laughed a little. "Well, you are welcome to help. Follow me." She stopped.. "Actually maybe I should point the way and get you to close a couple of windows blinds for me."
Mary stopped, a thoughtful look on her face. It was followed by a mischievous smirk that slowly spread across her lips. "I have a better idea. My husband may be the best spellwriter in our family, but that doesn't mean I can't cast one."
Piper waited, curious, as Mary considered her next words. Finally, Mary began to chant:
"From now until it's now again,
Keep unknowing eyes from peeking in
Let all who now believe them dead,
See through the glass like Superman through lead."
Piper burst out laughing at the end of that. "Superman?"
Mary shrugged. "Hey, it gets the point across. And as a kid, he was always my favorite superhero."
Piper smiled. "Mine, too. Only problem is it's so worded that we can't test it."
Mary shrugged. "I have enough faith in my spells to know that it will work. And besides, who is going to be in your backyard? Doesn't your kitchen face toward the back?"
Piper shook her head laughing. "Okay, fine. It should work. Let's go make breakfast."
A little later that morning, Phoebe woke up with the feeling of warm arms around her. She smiled and snuggled closer to Cole. This morning was so much different from yesterday, and yet it started so much the same with his arms around her. The difference, of course, was that yesterday those arms were cold and getting colder and her love was still a half-demon, one that she was certain would soon be a dead half-demon, something she would've never been able to stand the day they were going to bury Piper. As she turned her head enough so that she could see Cole looking down at her, she thought of the fact that Piper was alive and Cole was no longer a demon. Yes, this day couldn't have started better if it tried.
"Good morning, Beautiful," Cole greeted her with a big smile.
"Good morning," Phoebe responded in kind. He looks somehow more peaceful. I wonder if that has to do with him being mortal now.
"It looks nice outside," Cole commented, for some reason unsure what to say.
"You looked, did you," Phoebe retorted as she sat up in bed.
Cole shook his head as he too propped himself up against the headboard. "Not really. There's just a lot of sun coming through that window," he said pointing lazily at the open drapes.
Phoebe smiled. "A sunny day. This day just keeps getting better and better!"
"Are you sure you don't mind no longer being a witch?" he asked, concern in his voice.
She shook her head. "If it means you getting to always be Cole and not Belthazar so I no longer have to fear needing to vanquish you, and if it means getting to have Piper back, no, not at all." Then she sighed. "I should probably get up," as she looked out the window. It couldn't be that early, since as he said the sun was bright, so both of her sisters were probably awake. A warm feeling flooded her at the thought of both of her sisters. Piper was alive. After the horror of losing her, it still wasn't quite real, but Piper was truly alive, and considering no one could know it but them, somewhere in this house. She was now as eager to see her sister again as she was to see her beloved. "Yes, I should probably get up."
"Are you sure?" Cole asked, placing a kiss on her cheek.
Phoebe turned her head to receive the next kiss on her lips, and then nodded. "Yes, I'm sure. Piper needs a spell and, witch or no witch, I'm still the best spellwriter in this house." She shoved off the covers and climbed out of bed. She wiggled her toes as they hit the carpet and walked over to the dresser to get some clean clothes to change into. As she reached it, she turned around. "Are you coming?"
Cole grinned. "Well, since I can't get you to stay in bed, why not? Although at least I'm waking up to dry clothes and not wet ones," and Phoebe giggled. He climbed out of bed and went looking for the clothes he had discarded the night before. Not being able to shimmer over for clean clothes, because he hadn't prepared for this was a price easily paid for this feeling he had--a feeling of freedom, and the knowledge that he was no longer a demon.