Faded Fragments
part 15
"So. Planning on sleeping all day, or you still dead set on winning her back?"
The voice cut straight through Cole Turner's sleepless thoughts, his blue eyes struggling to open, as he ran a strong hand over his face, doing his best to scrub away the still pending signs of fatigue. He blinked when the blinds came up, and a profound blast of sunlight echoed throughout the entire room, bathing him in a surpisingly soft glow. "Um, Paige...is that little agreement about favors still ringing true between us yet?"
"Oh no. Here it comes. Nothing quite like a cranky Cole in the morning," she mused quietly, sarcastically offering a roll of her eyes.
"Yeah, and those favors just happen to include seeing what you look like without any makeup on again. Are you desperately trying hard to torture me, or not even trying at all?"
"Well, if you wanna be all mean and nasty about it, you can forget what I'm about to tell you right now. Because it could just have a very big impact on your life as it stands. But...well...far be it for me to do more damage than I already have, right?"
"What's the news?" he demanded rather sharply, his voice crisp and to the point.
"This is exactly what I mean. You go back and forth treating me like a-"
"Paige."
"I think Phoebe may be trying to make contact with Piper," she replied simply, crossing her arms over her chest, as a self satisfied smile presented its way onto her pretty face.
He looked at her for a full minute, an eyebrow raised out of instant perplexity. Scratching his chin in further puzzlement, he shrugged, suddenly narrowing his blues. "Please explain to me how that has anything to do with me. Because in case you haven't noticed, I'm currently not part of their sisterly Charmed...whatever. Okay?"
"No, you're not listening," she protested. "The point is-"
"There's a point?"
"Yes, there's a point. And if you'd just let me finish, maybe I could get to it sometime this century."
"Well, by all means then..." Gesturing a hand toward her, he couldn't quite supress a grin of his own.
"If she does go and see her, it would mean she's taking some steps to find out who she is again. This is good for us, bad for that sad excuse for a numskull she's already been seeing."
"Just because she's going to see Piper, doesn't necessarily mean it has any relevance to us, Paige. For all we know, it could be work related."
"And you're work related to her now, Cole. I mean, duh- okay? Wake up and smell the coffee beans. That's where she met you, and that's where-"
"So you think she knows Piper is letting us stay here?" he concluded, tossing his arms up in a fairly careless attempt. "That's ridiculous."
"You know, maybe Phoebe was right when she used to tell you how you knew absolutely nothing about women."
"Don't you ever get tired of nagging me?"
"Not in the least," she commented happily. "But you really should learn how to read between the lines."
"There are no lines to read between here. You're making something out of nothing that has a damn thing to do with why we were brought here. Let it go, and let me get back to sleep, alright?"
"Look, I know you're still trying to sweep her off her feet. But saving her from some stupid idiot that wanted to kill her at night on the sidewalk, is no way to even make friends. You have to approach this with a different kind of...it's just all wrong."
"Dare I even ask?"
"She doesn't want to know who she is, doesn't care. So naturally, by reminding her of it, you're only distancing her from you even further. She isn't the old Phoebe anymore, Cole. She's-"
"High strung and really intolerable. And yet, being the man I am, I love every second of her when she's in my presence. You can't sit there and honestly tell me that's a bad thing."
"It isn't."
"But?"
"What?"
"Oh, c'mon. There's always a but. You don't think it's healthy, and you don't think she'll ever see me as anything more than some annoying guy who's trying really hard to piss her off. Point taken. Doesn't mean I have to accept it as fact though."
"And I'm here because I still wanna help."
"And imitating Nancy Drew is child's play."
"You really think I would stoop so low as to follow them?" She offered a nervous laugh then, distractedly running her hands through her hair. "What kind of person do you think I am?"
He merely widened his eyes for a moment, quietly pursing his lips.
"Okay! Alright. But it's only because-"
"You want to help. Yeah. Getting that. But contrary to what you may think you already know, it didn't take you to help either of us fall in love with one another before, and it's not going to take you to allow her to fall for me again. Love doesn't work that way. I should know."
"If I'm not mistaken, you weren't exactly pushing her along to get romantically involved from the beginning," she calmly noted. "More like you wanted to morph into Mr. Big Bad, and kill her where she stood."
"See? This is why you seriously suck at helping two people find each other. You bring up my past, and I feel like decking you one because of it. All in all, I'd say it's a lethal combination- probably even hazardous to my health."
"And what about Alex? Hmm? Forget where she seems to fit into all of this?"
"Paige, this isn't about-"
"It's still killing you that Phoebe doesn't show any sign of her existence, doesn't it? And yet you think by supressing it now, it'll suddenly be easier to get by. Well, I hate to say it, but you're wrong. It's just as much an issue as Phoebe's not recognizing you."
"Is...anyone up for breakfast, or should I probably come back later?" a soft voice questioned at the doorway, as Piper carefully snuck her head in, glancing from one to the other, while she ran a hand absentmindedly through her tousled brown hair. "Because if you guys are in the middle of something, I'm sure the food can wait."
"No! No. Just in time. What are we having?" Cole asked her, eagerly shifting his attention from Paige, as he shot her a forced grin. "I'm starving."
"Eggs, toast, coffee, and your choice of whatever cereal I happen to have lurking in the crevices of the cupboards I have yet to visit again," she confirmed, laughing slightly.
"Sounds good! Paige?"
"Yeah, it works for me. Be right down," she managed, a frown creasing her face at her sister's departure, as she glared meaningfully at Cole, hands sliding angrily against her hips.
"Don't start with me," he warned, as he lifted himself slowly out of the bed, groaning, as he lightly stretched the muscles that had laid dormant during the night, skillfully craning his neck back, as he took a deep breath.
"Then maybe I should just tell you I don't get it."
"I'm sorry?"
"You go out and play Superman, and then you experience a change of heart."
"About what?" he snapped, becoming slightly irritated.
"You rescued her, and you've got this chip on your shoulders. Well, big spanking congratulations." She nearly smiled just to spite him then. "But it doesn't exactly count if the world we're in isn't even real."
"Yeah, and I'm through talking to you about this."
"Cole, you have to let me-"
"Do you remember back when Phoebe almost walked out on me before, Paige?"
"I don't see how that has any consequence-"
"Do you remember that?" he repeated.
"Yes. I remember it," she offered, rolling her eyes yet another time, as she paused a moment, her hands gripping the wooden door frame.
"Alex told me about it...she- reminding me," he added, his gorgeous face shifting into a lighter mood almost with the mention of her name, his blues brightening a shade. "I always thought the only problem I'd ever be facing was the use of my daughter's powers, Paige. I never thought I'd be trying to convince her she still has a mother."
"Well, despite what you might think, the ball isn't entirely in your court on this," she reasoned.
"How so?"
"Like I was saying before, it's also up to Phoebe to take the time to remember what she's left behind."
"So basically you're trying to turn this around to your advantage yet, so you can still beg me to let you help?"
"Is it working yet?"
"I'll let you know after breakfast."
"Now there's something I can't argue with you about," she offered, mockingly admitting a pout.
"Nag."
"Party-pooper."
"And I see the happy couple is at it again," Prue Halliwell remarked sarcastically, as she came out of the bathroom, gently shaking her hair lose from the bath towel that had recently held it, managing a fairly prolonged yawn.
"Another country heard from," Cole noted, failing to hold back a small chuckle, as he calmly brushed past her, his hand gripping the banister. "That look's actually kind of good for you."
"He just got up, so go easy on him," Paige told her, giving her brother in law a soft pat on the back, as she struggled to keep a straight face.
"And this is a startling revelation being introduced to mankind?"
"In other words, she really doesn't care, and if both of you don't mind? I'd love to get down there and get some food."
"See?" Paige continued.
"You didn't sleep well?"
Cole stopped, a part of him fighting to maintain his sanity, as he tried to work hard to preserve the control that was strangely slipping from him these days, a great deal more so than he was willing to admit. He shook his head, doing his best to fully keep the current composure as steady as possible. Tapping his slender fingers upon the slightly curved branch of wood, his decidedly shut his lids. "No, Prue, I didn't. Which is clearly out of your range of concern, anyway. So if it's all the same to you, I honestly don't feel comfortable discussing it."
"Naturally," she returned. "I mean, you're hurting. Anyone who's ever truly loved anyone, would be."
"Prue-"
"I miss Andy," she whispered, shrugging. "Was just starting to get used to having the guy around me again, and then he vanishes into thin air. Kind of makes you wonder why love always has to be made up of....these riddles we can't seem to figure out how to solve, you know? It's not easy. Far from it, actually. But we like to think it is, because it provides a comfort zone." She smiled painfully, considering a moment. "You wonder why Piper ended up with someone like Dan, when before she fought so hard for Leo. You wonder why Phoebe's with Clay, because he seems like the last person she'd ever go back to you, once she'd met someone like you. But maybe it's not all it's cracked up to be, because you know it wasn't meant to last."
"Well, she loves him on some level," he sided, his face drawing a blank now. "It may not be the kind of love that's made of romance novels, but it sure as hell keeps her going." He paused. "I used to do that do her once. I mean....make her forget she had problems, just because I was in the same room as her. She'd always say I was a damn good distraction."
"And each time she let you go," Paige added, "she always wanted you back. You can't deny it."
"I don't want to."
"Good. Because once I help you, then you can help me."
"Okay. Okay, wait just a minute now." He nearly laughed, tossing his head back. "Oh...this is rich. Are you telling me you were only doing all of this because there's now a catch involved?"
"Ooops?" she volunteered.
"Nope. No. There's no ooops. Try again."
"With Nick."
"With Nick," he repeated, clearly annoyed.
"Nothing big," she hinted. "Just want to see him become a better man in society, and I happen to think you're just the guy to do it."
"Paige, you're talking to a guy who spent the better part of his years as an ex-demon who once tried to eliminate The Charmed Ones. Matter of fact, you dutifully remind me of it each and every single day, so why should it be any different between us?"
"Cole, he's more content with pissing me off, than he is with being a better citizen."
"And I would know what it takes to automatically become a good citizen?"
"She's just upset, because she can't make him stop smoking on her own," Prue put in. "He's still into the whole macho man phase. Which isn't exactly a bad thing considering- because he did stand up to Kellerman."
"Gee, this morning is just turning out to be full of surprises!" he taunted, glaring at the two of them. "Tell you what. Why don't you both just distance yourself from me right now, or the two of you will succeed with flying colors in driving me crazy. Understood? Clear?"
"Cranky," both of them recited in unison, as they nodded toward one another.
"Pardon the pun, but if either of you ladies finds a nice big lump of coal in your stocking this Christmas, I really don't think there'll be any doubting who it's from now, will there?"
"Aw, now he's trying to scare us," Prue remarked casually, throwing Paige a small grin.
He lifted an eyebrow. "Is it working?"
"Hardly," she offered plainly, shrugging, as she turned into a bedroom.
"Daddy, Aunt Piper made me a smileyface with my oatmeal! You gotta come and see it!"
He couldn't help but wear a big smile, stretching from ear to ear, as he entered the all too familiar kitchen, his arms crossed lightly over his chest, as he leaned his strong frame against the entrance. Alexandra Turner sat eagerly at the table, scooping in a handful of food she wasn't likely to consume under the same conditions at home. He could only hope the smileyface was a push in the right direction.
"Isn't it cool?" she exclaimed proudly. "Mommy never used to make me one of these."
"Guess I had more than I thought up there," Piper commented, indicating the cupboard to her left, as she took a seat next to her niece, her eyes lingering briefly on Cole.
"Want to try some?" Alex asked him cheerfully. "It's strawberry flavored."
"Eggs and toast for me anyday," Paige countered, making a face at the substance on Alex's plate, as she reached for the coffeepot on the counter, her free hand snagging a piece of bread.
"Oh. Hey. I don't want you guys to be alarmed if Dan comes by," Piper added calmly, professing a small shrug," but he usually likes to see me before he goes to work. It's become habit."
"Might help if we knew what he looked like."
"Mmm, he's pretty much the only one that ever comes by these days," she murmured, taking a small sip of coffee.
"You really don't see Leo at all?" Paige pressed. "I mean, never?"
Piper sighed, as she gently cupped a hand beneath her chin. "Like I said, I can't make excuses that I was probably wrong about some stuff I did, but I also can't find any to make about the life I'm living now. It's just the way it is, Paige, and I still accept it as my own kind of truth."
"Daddy, will you have to accept that Mommy isn't a part of your truth anymore, too?" Alex beckoned, as she avoided his eyes, her spoon dipping in for another scoop of oatmeal.
"Truth is just a silly way of saying you can't change anything," he muttered. "Doesn't mean I have to pretend that myself, Ally."