Faded Fragments
epilogue
"Um...what are you doing?"
It was said so slow and yet so deliberate, that Phoebe Halliwell nearly jumped an inch or two in the air from the slight shock, as she placed a quick hand on her heart, quickly using her other one to shield the object she held in it from view. He wore just the faintest smile on his face- plagued with the slightest traces of both puzzlement and amusement, as he carefully watched her, clasping his own hands securely behind his back. "That's a nice look for you," she began, offering a nervous laugh on his behalf, as she pointed to the white bandana, her eyes growing wide.
"Phoebe."
"Notice anything different?"
"Well, for starters, I'd have to say that my wife is suddenly acting rather strangely, and I know I didn't do anything to piss her off."
She grinned, touching a strand of brown that nearly touched her shoulders, absentmindedly twisting the lock about her finger. "I cut my hair a little bit."
"And curled it," he observed, nodding at the way it hung loosely about her pretty face. "So I noticed."
"I was going to show you later," she murmured. "But since you're already here..."
"There's something else, isn't there?"
"What?" she questioned, giving him a quick pat on the chest. "C'mon, Cole. I'm not that inventive. I am thinking about doing my nails later though." She briefly examined one, as if to prove her point, a sculpted eyebrow raising itself rather slowly. "I just don't know which color I should pick."
"Do you still remember what we did when we weren't here?"
"I'm not sure I get what you're try-"
"The other plane. The one Seth sent us to in trying to make you forget who you were."
"He screwed with my head."
"Yeah, and he tri-"
"Didn't I tell you that I didn't want to talk about it?"
"Which is funny, because I'm usually the one who's in denial."
"Look, it has nothing to do with you. I just...I just need some time, is all." She quickly shrugged then. "I don't know if I ca-"
"We can't just pretend we were never there, Phoebe. That'd be like saying I was never evil." He smiled then. "And we both know that'd be one hell of a big fib. In fact, I think I'd still be considered the king of all evil with all that Source crap."
"Cole, I really don't think the guys in the Underworld are all that ready to build a shrine yet."
"Hey," he objected. "They just might surprise you."
"But trust me," she stated, on the verge of a slight chuckle, "there is no way I can forget this. In fact, it's...pretty much all I've been thinking about lately."
"Is something wrong?"
"I think it feels just a little too right."
"You lost me," he admitted. "Although, I'd wager a guess that the test wasn't to see how long Paige and I could last up there without starting a wrestling match. I was just about to proposition her with using our arms when..." He paused a moment, a single finger on his lips. "Our kind and generous daughter came up there with the little Oompa Loompa friend who decided she'd rather skip her own childhood altogether. In fact, I'd be willing to bet she does her own taxes now."
"Catrina," she reasoned, nodding. "Yeah, suffice it to say, she still knows where we live."
"And I can fix that, you know."
She raised a suspicious eyebrow at him. "By doing what?"
"Well, see, there's this little thing I like to call a spell. You and you sisters can say it, while I look on with a...big smile on my face, and if it works, there's that part where we never have to see her again."
"I think you remember what happened the last time I tried to send someone somewhere," she countered, a smirk crossing her pretty face. "Attic, getting a new sister, apples don't fall far from the forbidden tree- ring a bell?"
"I tried," he mused, shrugging.
"Anyway...I was going to save the news for Christmas, and it doesn't mean husbands are excluded at present time."
"Phoebe, c'mon."
"Nope," she added, pulling the object even farther from his reach. "This is very special to me, Cole, and I am not going to mess it all up. You can guess all you want to, mister, but this witch is not telling a soul."
"Mmm."
"Mmm, what?" she questioned, a bit of worry crossing her brow rather suddenly, her cheeks spreading just the faintest hue of crimson.
"And I helped create it, so I say we both tell them."
"What are you talking about? It?"
"Well, until we know whether or not it's a boy or girl, I'm content with just calling it Cole Jr."
"You're so sure he's going to be just like his father?"
"Of course, Colette also has a nice sound to it, don't you think?"
"I don't...why are you- dammit," she hissed, playfully shoving him forward now, her eyes lighting up, her lips forming a soft grin. "You get me every time. Just when I think I have you figured out, you...you get me like this, and I always end up losing to your-"
"Sorry ass?" he tried, clearly amused.
"Pretty much," she agreed, laughing.
"Hey," he protested, placing both hands up in a mock form of surrender. He then narrowed his eyes a moment, cocking his head to the side, as he studied her. "Just so we're...on the same page here, you and Clay didn't- I mean, do you recall doing with him what we...did there?"
"If you're asking if I had sex with him," she confirmed, her mouth offering a tiny smile, "the answer is no. Not that it would be any of your business since he came into my life before you did."
"Did you ever love him? I mean, I know what you said when we were there, but now that we're...here again, I'd- well, I guess I like to know...straight up."
"Straight up? That would be a big no," she sided. "I mean, you think you do sometimes, right? You think that you've finally found the one, and he doesn't end up being the one. Clay was always..." Her voice trailed off, as she took a breath and let it out rather slowly. "He never got me like you do. He would never spend hours with me, just laughing and discussing the prospect of marriage in a tub when I got possessed by Grams' ring. He would never go to hell and back for me, and say everything was just okay, and...and fine because he still loved me. He could never..." She glanced at him then, as a quiet tear rolled down her cheek, her hands tugging at the belt loops of his tattered jeans. "Touch me the way you do, Cole. In fact, he never even came close. And he'd probably never spend time giving this house another bathroom." She giggled then, shutting her lids. "I guess I always pictured myself spending my entire life with a man who could understand me- who could...understand what I'm about and what I do. A man who I could raise children with, and never have to question their safety, because I'd know he'd be just as protective of them as I would. I'm glad Alex had you when we were there. She needed that so much, Cole, and you were there for her, just as you've always been since the minute she was born. And now? Well...now we're going to welcome little Cole Jr. into this world and he's going to be yet another one of our children who has the best dad in the world."
"So we're sure it's a boy," he mused, grinning playfully once again.
"I've got a feeling," she admitted, grinning back at him.
"And just think. He'll probably be the only kid on this entire planet who was conceived on another plane."
"We'll just keep that between us then," she whispered. She stared up at him, her eyes full of warmth. "They gave us a miracle, didn't they?"
"Yes, they did," he confessed, as he lightly traced a thumb across her jawline, wiping away the tear that had trickled down. "Because they let you find your way back to me."
"You were pretty persistent," she pointed out.
"And you hit me."
"Twice."
"But I prevailed and I-" He craned his neck down to her level, bringing his face closer to hers. "You wanted me the whole time, didn't you?"
"You're awfully bold all of a sudden."
"The minute I walked into your office, I sensed you wa-"
"You sensed that I was both annoyed and intrigued, which hardly tells you anything," she retorted, smiling.
"You'd like to think so."
"Okay, you know what? Just because I'm pregnant, doesn't mean I can't still kick your butt from here to the next block."
"I'm well aware of that," he told her, as he gently pressed his lips to hers.
She reluctantly broke away as she tapped her fingers against the white fabric of his shirt. "But I don't wanna say anything to my sisters yet."
"Christmas," he whispered.
"Try New Year's. I more or less think it's the best time to inform them that someone's going to be packing. I mean we'll need another room, and-"
"And I'll help Paige find a place. In fact, you never even had to ask."
"Cole."
"What? She was the first person that came to mind. Can I help it if she also just happens to bug me from time to time?"
"Yeah, and I wasn't the only one who died back there."
"And you think I didn't grieve? I would have poured my eyes out in twenty minutes...give or take."
She just rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you would've."
"I can be a very compassionate man when the situation calls for it. But since I thought I was probably about to join her, I really wasn't living in the moment right then and there."
"You also thought Leo was no more than a domesticated house slave who was extremely whipped."
"I'm still not arguing that fact. What he did back there was a once in a lifetime heroic act, Phoebe. He's not going to turn into Superman and wear bright a red cape. If he did, I wouldn't blame Piper for using her powers on him."
"So now you think this is funny?"
"I didn't say that."
"Look, if it weren't for him, Rickman-"
"I'm not so sure Rickman's really dead," he pointed out.
"Wait. What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means Byron probably bound him to some plane out in the Goddamn middle of nowhere, because slicing and dicing is not going to stop a madman of his caliber."
"And you know this for sure?"
"I have my suspicions, and he's not volunteering anything at the moment. Either way, the Kellerman and Rickman firm has been temporarily put on hiatus with impending investigation."
"Which means you just put some innocent men out of a job."
"Yes, but they were unknowingly supporting evil, which automatically puts them at risk. I was saving them the trouble of...becoming evil, too."
"You'd like to think so."
"Oh, I would," he agreed. "But for the record? I can't help but wonder if I should start looking for a new job that doesn't bare any repercussions."
She just grinned at him.
**********
Christmas Evening, Turner Residence Piper Halliwell immediately turned her attention to the child below, her mind freeing itself of her previous thoughts, as she raised an eyebrow in question, her profile displaying a faint bout of confusion. "I'm sorry, sweetie, what did you say?"
Alexandra Turner lightly rolled her eyes, pointing her head to the right. "Santa. He's eating all the chocolate candy, and Melinda and I aren't getting any."
"And top it all off, he actually looks...really ridiculous in that outfit," a voice offered behind her, a sarcastic smirk filling his unshaven face, as he took a quick sip out of the beer bottle he held in one hand, a half open candy cane residing in the other.
"Dammit Leo!" The statement finally clicking in, Piper frantically ran to the far side of the family room, rapidly snatching away the dish that sat to the right of her husband's chair, clutching it to her chest, as she slung her remaining fingers across one of her hips. "Didn't I tell you this was off limits?"
"Piper, one or two isn't going to-"
"That's not the point," she hissed. "You're taking away the joy of the holidays, and that's not fair to them. We talked about this before we left, didn't we?"
"Yes."
"Well then, what's the problem? Is communication that lost on you?"
"Honey-"
"Look, I'm sorry, all right? It's just that...you know, they're counting on you to keep the spirit alive. They looked forward to this all year. They don't need to see Santa stealing, because it'll scar them for life. Santa doesn't steal. He gives to the children each Christmas. He's not a thief, Leo."
"And you think I wanted to do this?" He lowered his voice, as he pulled the fake beard from his face, his eyes carefully trained on hers. "Prue paid me twenty bucks."
"Wait, she what?"
"Well, that just screws Christmas in a nutshell, doesn't it?" Cole responded, rocking back upon the heels of his feet. "I can see the headlines now. Santa strikes on a bribe. Two small children of San Francisco were withdrawn and crushed when they tragically found out their Uncle Leo was raiding the sweets, and was in fact the big fat man from the North Pole- who is in reality...nothing more than a lazy little Whitelighter in a red and white replica suit. Shame."
"I'm not disappointed, Daddy. Just annoyed."
He laughed, giving his daughter a quick pat on the back. "Listen, what'd you say we go help your mom get ready for dinner in the kitchen?"
"We've having pizza," she whispered excitedly, rolling her eyes at him.
"I know we are, sweetheart, but it doesn't mean we can't still set the table."
"Can't I just watch Uncle Leo getting yelled at? Everybody's just gonna sit on the couch with their pizza, anyway."
"While it's awfully tempting, I think we'll stick with giving them a hand."
"Aunt Paige is baking cookies," she added. "Maybe I'll help with those." She thought about it for a moment, scrunching up her nose. "Hey, do you think they'll be any good?"
"It depends on how much you want your cholesterol to go up," he assured her, lazily following her across the hall, his crisp white socks sliding lightly across the bare floor.
"Catrina's parents decided not to let her come, you know. I asked Mommy about it and she said they had a change of heart."
"And I can't imagine where that came from," he responded nonchalantly.
"What time are Grandpa Ben and Grandpa Victor getting here?"
"When they get here," he told her, smiling, his blues traveling to the three witches who took up space in the room, as his daughter scurried off, gently setting his empty beer bottle near the sink. "And how are the women of the hour doing?"
"Think we could threaten the idiot with becoming Santa next year?" Paige tried, tossing him a brief smirk.
"In that case, maybe you'd do just as well playing my vertically-challenged elf."
"Funny."
"Don't suppose you could use my help?"
"Oh. No. You think?"
"Look, Leo is out there suffering right now, and all you can do is make jokes."
"You're unbelievable," she scoffed. "I already heard you badmouthing him like no tomorrow."
"And you're obviously still pissed at me for breaking your boyfriend's nose."
"He's afraid to come here anymore, Cole."
"Is that really my problem?"
"Okay, let me rephrase that- he was once a badass demon, and he's afraid to come here."
"Can I help it if I strike fear into the hearts of many?" he quipped, shrugging.
"You can take these cups," Phoebe instructed, as she shot him a small grin. "Set them up around the table and go find 'It's a Wonderful Life.' "
"I beg your pardon?" he returned, raising a brow.
"The DVD?" she suggested. "I think it's upstairs on our dresser. I took it out last night."
"Okay, are we going to have to pretend it's him?" Paige questioned, quickly making a face. "Because I'm not about to spend my Christmas having a Cole's 'what if' pity party."
"I'm not following," he reiterated.
"Oh, c'mon. Don't tell me you've never seen it. It's only, like, one of the greatest Christmas films of all time. Everybody who has ever been anybody knows about it. Mmm...unless of course you were a half demon who led a very sheltered existence, which...considering all things, I'd be willing to bet you probably were."
"Wait, is this one about the guy who had that guardian angel?"
"Uh huh, and the angel tries to get him to see all the good he's done, so he doesn't have to end his life." She shot him an amused expression then, as she placed a cookie cutter into the dough she had carefully laid out in front of her. "Sound familiar?"
"Yeah, as a matter of fact, maybe the world would be a better place without Nick in it."
"Cole," Phoebe warned, her brown eyes grazing his pools of blue. "Look, just go up and get it, all right? We'll watch it together as soon as the pizza gets here- immature comments aside."
"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings," Prue retorted, as she stole a glance at both of her sisters, her hands covered in flour, as she casually wiped them on the apron that sat around her slim waist. "Hate to break it to you, Pheebs, but I think we've all seen that movie enough times."
"But Cole-"
"Cole offered himself as a sacrifice to Byron, because he thought he lost you."
"Right, but I never really went anywhere."
"Try telling him that."
"Cole is still standing right here and he doesn't appreciate not being able to have a say in this conversation."
"Cole still needs to get a life," Paige clarified brightly, "because he's always being way too obnoxious for his own former half demon-y good."
"Can I see you out in the foyer a moment?" he asked then, sticking his hands into the pockets of his jeans, his bottom lip overlapping the top, as he widened his eyes ever so slightly.
"Me?"
"No, the other witch in this room named Paige. Although, given the fact that I only see one, it's going to be damn hard to locate the other one."
She just glared at him. "Hold on a second." Frowning, she quickly wiped her hands upon the dish towel to her left, choosing a cookie cutter in the shape of a small snowman, as she calmly placed it beside the remaining dough. Shooting a brief glance at her sisters, she followed behind his tall frame, her arms crossing themselves neatly over her chest. "What?"
"Do you always have to be this ungrateful?"
"That depends."
"If you looked closer, you'd see I'm not the bastard you always seem to make me out to be."
"I never said you were."
"Really? Because your intentions would clearly prove otherwise."
"Maybe you're just reading me wrong."
"Paige-"
"I don't have time for this, Cole. Unlike some people, I'm actually contributing and throwing myself at the holiday's mercy."
"And in all seriousness, maybe it's about time I help you get back on your feet financially for good."
"Oh yeah. Uh huh...sure. You know, come to think of it, we've had this talk a hundred times and nothing's changed. You can't ju-"
"I invited Nick for Christmas dinner."
It took her a few moments to recover, as she stood there, completed stunned, her pretty face still not fully registering the complete shock of his statement. She started to open her mouth, then quickly closed it again, her eyes reaching his in utter disbelief, her hands suddenly fumbling helplessly at her sides. "Come again?"
"I apologized to him and everything, which is...rare for me when I've had more experience pounding a man's face into the dirt at his feet. But with all due respect, I think I've grown, and I'm not about to regress into the...less responsive and violent me."
"Okay, where's my brother-in-law and when was he abducted?"
"Paige, I'm serious."
"But you can't just say something like that and expect me to take you seriously."
"What was wrong with it? Was the delivery a little off? You know, I knew I probably had to work on that, but I didn-"
"He's really coming? Here?"
"Unless he'd rather eat out on the front porch. I can make him up a nice little dish of dog food."
"Now there's the Cole I know and love." She grinned then. "Such a sweet talker."
"Yeah, and since you mentioned it, it really wouldn't hurt to say thanks."
"Oh, but I didn't mention it."
"I...I know how much he means to you. I can understand it. And if that means adjusting this house to fit that particular criteria, I guess we'll have to make do. I'm not saying I like the guy, but I did break his nose, and it kind of made me feel bad. I realize this sounds weird coming from someone like me, but if it's ever worth anything, I just want you to be happy, Paige."
"He makes me happy, Cole."
"All right then. "
"All right."
"Are we supposed to hug now? Because I'm really not sure about these talks and their aftermaths."
She carefully put out a hand, her fingers still covered in flour, edging it toward him with a faint uncertainty, a loose strand of dark hair falling down the side of her face. "I don't know about the hugging, but I'm okay with this."
He grasped her hand in his, despite the mess she'd offered him in it, giving it a good, firm shake. "Okay then. Uh...great."
"Thanks," she mumbled.
His blues brightened, his expression softening even more. "You're welcome." He broke away then, placing the same hand uncomfortably at his side, as he took a deep breath. "Guess I'd better go...check on the twins. I promised them they'd see Santa before the day was out."
"Hmm. I actually think Santa's about to get his butt fired," she pointed out, noting Piper's face, as her sister continued to bicker at the man dressed in red and white, her eyes cruelly burning into his. "Too bad you didn't make it to the mall this week before closing. It really doesn't pay to report to the Elders and still attempt a big jolly suit."
"But it goes with his personality, doesn't it?"
"Well, sure. He's not a world renown smartass like you."
"I was talking about the chocolates."
"What about them?"
"He's been hording them like no tomorrow. I'd be surprised if he can even lift himself off that chair in a few hours time."
"Morris, if you touch another slice, I'll be forced to take you in for questioning," a voice cut in, just as the front door was thrown open, the familiar figure's arms filled with three large boxes, just barely shoving his car keys roughly into the pocket of his jacket. Andy Trudeau carefully surveyed his surroundings then, his handsome face suddenly filling itself with a bright smile. "Pizza's here!!!"
Darryl Morris was right behind him, hauling in four large bottles of soda, gently kicking the door shut with his foot. "I was hungry, man. You try waiting two hours to get a take-out order on Christmas. It wasn't pretty in there. You had it easy. All you had to do was pick up the phone."
"The wife and kids?" Cole asked, clearly amused.
"They might be by a little later," he told him, shrugging. "I guess the toys took precedent over our plans."
"His stomach also apparently took precedent over his plans," Andy argued, making his way over to the kitchen, as he gently exhibited a great sigh of relief, setting the weight down upon the table. "Of course, we're also three slices short."
Cole smiled. "I think that's all you're going to get now, big guy."
"Look, Turner, don't start with me. I'm tired, I'm cranky, and I don't really feel like defending myself over processed food."
"Well, then. Maybe...just maybe, we've already got the perfect job in mind for you. You don't have to move much, you don't have to eat, and in the course of this evening, you only have to talk to a few very lucky children."
Darryl raised an eyebrow. "You're putting me in kindergarten?"
"No," Cole told him, a bigger smile tackling his face now, as he chewed off the remainder of his candy cane. "You've just become Santa Morris. Leo's retiring. Or should we say, he came to a very rough and rotten end with Mrs. Claus?"
"You're joking, right?"
"Not exactly."
"Oh, hey, listen. I didn't come here to get dressed up in a big red suit and say 'ho, ho, ho.' That's for amateurs."
"C'mon," he urged. "you'll be great."
"They'll know it's me."
"Not if you put on the beard."
"And just because I'm off duty, Turner, doesn't mean I can't still take your ass down to the station."
"What would you book me on? Over zealous Christmas spirit?"
"Try life without parole."
"It suddenly sounds less appealing."
Darryl raised an eyebrow, finally professing a small smile. "Thought you might say that."
"Look, all I'm saying, is I don't exactly think Leo's qualified for the job. He lacks anything those kids might still believe in."
"But they're having fun, man. I mean they're getting to tell him all their wishes. It's...it's what's Christmas is all about, right?"
Cole considered a moment, as he quietly shook his head, briefly widening his eyes. His blues watched Leo for a moment, noting the look of pure horror his brother-in-law was now displaying all over his face. "Okay, I need some pizza."
"Otherwise known as the easy way out," Paige chimed in.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"You're just jealous because Phoebe never asked you to be Santa," she pointed out matter of factly.
"And maybe you should get lost, before I reconsider our little deal."
"He did save us- no matter how you choose to look at. He came through."
"And you're just going to keep drilling that into my head all day and night, aren't you?"
"You haven't even acknowledged it."
"Yes, I have."
"When? I haven't seen you say two words to him tonight."
"Oh, I think Piper's saying plenty."
"C'mon, Cole."
"Paige, men aren't the type to...do that sort of thing. We don't openly voice our emotions to one another like the Lifetime channel. We don't even bond much through a manly hug."
"And I get that. But don't you at least think you could tell him you appreciated not dying out there?"
"Thereby watching it slowly transpire into a Kodak moment."
She walked over to the table, picking up a paper plate, as she reached for a slice of pizza, licking her fingers free of the sauce that had spilled onto them. She bit into the piece thoughtfully, her eyes widening as she reveled in the taste. "You know, maybe 'Miracle On 34th Street' wouldn't be such a bad idea."
Phoebe approached her, gently placing her hands on her hips. "Wait. What are you saying?"
"I'm not saying anything."
"Paige."
"Look, just because you want to sit and watch that other…movie this Christmas, doesn't mean I have to. I have morals. As it so happens, Nick bought me a nice little TV for the holidays, and I fully intend to put it to good use up in my room. Anyone who wants or wishes to join me, can."
"As opposed to the several hundred cans of discount shaving cream you and Prue delightfully filled my room with this morning, all wrapped with pretty little bows?" Cole added. "You know, I really don't think so."
"Hey, we meant well with that."
"And did you mean just as well with the card that came with it, pleading with me in several paragraphs to use it or else?"
"You can't take a joke."
"No, I just think you have a rather warped vision of what good cheer is all about. True beauty is on the inside."
"And guys that are too hairy? Look like cavemen. "
"You really know how to get on someone's last nerve."
She beamed. "Do I really?"
"Ally, Melinda!!! Food's here!" he shouted, brushing past her, as he tossed two slices on his plate, grabbing a can of soda from the counter. The doorbell sounded then, slicing clean through the commotion, as a brief knock quickly followed at the front door. Sighing, he calmly rolled his eyes.
"Nick," she whispered. "Be right back."
"Daddy, can I talk to you?" Alexandra Turner gently tugged at his jeans a moment, as she looked up at him, her green eyes quietly pleading.
"What is it, sweetheart?"
"I have to go up and get the twins," Phoebe spoke up, "I think Lizzy is probably awake, too."
"I'll be up for the DVD in a minute," he told her, as he turned back to their little girl, a slight grin filling his profile.
"Can we go over by the tree?"
"Ally-"
"It's important," she whispered.
He glanced towards the foyer, where Nicholas Merrick was now making his way inside, his nose appearing oddly normal, revealing absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. He figured it was yet another thing Byron had gotten to when he'd changed the course of time, and in this case, maybe it had all been for the best. "All right. You've got my full attention, young lady."
"I know I told you Mommy and I had put everything on," she offered, as she followed him to the far window, the large green pine lit up with various shades of lights and ornaments of all shapes and sizes, their colors blending together in a vast array of brightness that managed to brighten up the entire room without even trying. Crumpled wrapping paper law below it, fresh from the morning's revelations and gift giving traditions, a few small toys still strewn about on the floor. The petite girl carefully pulled an object from her pocket then, her fingers traveling over it quite lovingly, as she slowly revealed it to him, carefully holding up her palm. "But we didn't."
"Honey, what is th-"
"When we went to the store before, I told Mommy I wanted something that would mean something. You know, from the heart. I told her you deserved it, and I wanted it to be extra special."
"It's an angel."
"It's a gold angel," she clarified. "And I bought it with all the money in my piggy bank. All by myself," she added proudly.
"I don't understand," he said softly.
She shrugged, as if it didn't bother her in the least to explain, her brown hair moving slightly around her face, framing it with little effort. "You don't need something you can't use. You need something you can believe in- that will keep you believing, even when you don't want to. Byron made you believe. Angels do that, Daddy. He made you see that people get a chance to prove they can do good things. You've done so many of them since I found out your secret."
He leaned down to her level, his eyes troubling themselves with warmth, crinkling slightly, as a silent tear unknowingly rolled down his left side.
"Well, I've got one, too," she admitted, smiling mischievously, as she put a single finger on top of the small angel, the entire ornament encompassing itself in a vibrant glow of white, a small little halo emanating itself a few inches above her hand. "I still believe in you, Daddy. I hope I never stop. And everybody that's here tonight believes in you, too."
"Alexandra," he breathed, his gorgeous complexion already well versed in emotion, his hand literally shaking, as he hesitantly reached out to take the gift from her, watching as the glow in it slowly deepened in his grasp.
"Merry Christmas, Daddy."
He drew her close with his remaining fingers, giving her small body a tight squeeze. "Merry Christmas, sweetie. It's beautiful. It really is."
"And you and Mommy are giving me another little brother," she stated, her face completely expressionless, as she pulled back to look at him. "Aren't you?"
"A little brother?" he repeated.
"Mommy has a secret, too. She doesn't want anyone to know."
"Ally, you can't just go aro-"
"Oh please," she insisted. "Catrina explained to me about the test. She said she asked her mom about it and Mrs. Jenkins told her it was for having babies. Of course, I don't know if it actually makes babies or that happens someplace else yet. I keep getting it all confused. I think that was also when she told me Catrina couldn't come anymore."
Cole just stared at her a moment, fighting to hold back a smile. "Did she now?"
"She did."
"Did Catrina tell anybody else?"
"Mmm...I don't think so. But she also said Andy was thinking about proposing to Aunt Prue."
"Well, you're just full of fun things to tell me today."
"Catrina said she caught him looking at a ring the other day, and taking it in and out of his pocket."
"Yes, but that doesn't mean anything," he protested. "Maybe it was a present for someone."
"Catrina said it looked like the ring."
"And something tells me Catrina is going to be married at twelve."
She scrunched up her nose. "That's just weird, Daddy."
"My point exactly. We really should find you a new friend to hang around with."
"But she could just be right, don't you think?"
"I think that's Andy's business."
"He'd really be my real uncle though if it were true, wouldn't he?"
"Just between you and me, I wouldn't tell him that until it's actually happened, or he's liable to go into shock."
"But why? I mean he loves Aunt Prue, right?"
"Ally, some things are just better left unsaid."
"Is that why Mommy doesn't want to tell about her baby?"
"Your mom has her reasons," he pointed out, giving her a small pat on the back. "And it doesn't mea- you know...you're asking an awful lot out of me, you know that?"
She giggled. "What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing," he managed, fairly amused. "I just hope your...younger siblings don't pick up on it."
"I'm going to go have some pizza," she decided.
"You do that."
"Another day in paradise, huh, Turner? You know, the little wife's looking great, considering she almost bought it back there in Looney Land."
Cole groaned, reluctantly making the effort to turn around, as he carefully brought himself to his feet. "I don't owe you anything, Merrick- so if you think you're going to overlook my generosity for the holidays and play it cool, I honestly hope you're not still thinking about coming back next year."
"It's funny, isn't it?" the other man continued. "I mean Belthazor would have never approved of the festivities, would he?"
"We've both changed. I just chose maturity over nonsense and your typical helping of bull."
Nick quietly took a sip out of the wine glass he held in one hand, noting the tunes that began to fill the house, as Paige gently inserted a CD into the machine perched above the refrigerator, specks of 'Silent Night' filtering through the vacant air. "And...you still think I'm full of that bull, is that it?"
"I did this for my sister-in-law."
"And I'm thankful for it, believe me. Even if you did destroy my face back there."
"Try not to piss me off, and it'll no longer be an issue."
He ran a hand through his dark hair, struggling to hold back a grin. "Think we could try to get along, just for today?"
"Fine," Cole prompted. "But just so we're clear, you're not staying the night. I'm really not in the mood to hear any kind of...obscene disturbances that can still be heard in a quiet house filled with small children. If you want that kind of fun, you can find yourself somewhere else-"
"That's not the only thing Paige and I do. We're actually very-"
"I don't want to hear it, Merrick, all right? It's Christmas and I'm still trying to keep my last meal down."
"Fair enough."
"Okay everybody!!! Gather 'round!"
Cole gently ran a thumb over the angel he still held in his hand, smiling softly to himself and professing a quiet chuckle in spite of himself, his eyes watching as Andy Trudeau waved his hands briefly, urging guests and live-in residents into the living room. Phoebe had just reached the foot of the stairs, Abby and Ben very much awake in her arms, as Piper emerged with Elizabeth, a frown still clouding her pretty face, as she casually threw a single glare over at Leo standing at the far side of the room. The whitelighter had since removed his Santa hat and red jacket, complete with the large black belt, his gaze cleverly averting his wife's. Paige and Prue sauntered in behind them from the kitchen, Prue's hands still coated with flour, while Paige fought to wipe the pizza grease from her fingertips with a napkin. Nick slowly walked over to join her, whispering something inaudible in her ear. Alex and Melinda, pizza in hand, eagerly stole some space on the carpeting, as they calmly plopped themselves down. Darryl simply plunged his hands into the pockets of his slacks, as he leaned his tall frame up against the wall.
"Looks like dad and Benjamin are going to be a no show," Phoebe commented, as her husband approached her, easily taking Abby into his arms, while she used her now empty hand to further support their son, her wavy curls framing themselves beautifully around her face.
"After hours," he urged. "I mean, we saw them this morning for a few, right? They’ll probably stop on by well after midnight."
She just looked at him. "Well, drink or no drinks, they're definitely missing out."
"On what? Family arguments and illegitimate boyfriends with broken noses? Could have fooled me."
"Oh I'm thinking about it tonight," she whispered then, her lips forming a slow grin.
"Someone's been naughty," he murmured, as he bent down to gingerly graze his mouth with hers.
"I have an extra Santa suit upstairs," she reminded him playfully, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, if it's going to be for a good cause..."
"Gang's all here," Paige added. "So what's up?"
"I'd like to make an announcement," Andy sided, setting his flute of champagne down on the mantelpiece behind him.
"You got promoted?"
"Better," he told her.
"Oh?"
"Will Prudence Halliwell please step right on up here?"
"Andy..." The eldest Charmed One met his eyes, shaking her head. "Wha-"
"Prue, will you come up here, please?"
"What's going on?"
"Here," Andy repeated, raising his hand. "Over here, Prue. Yeah, hi. Come on up here."
Tilting her head at him a moment, she absentmindedly shrugged, taking a few steps, until she was nearly face to face with him, her eyes still trailing him with suspicion. "You already gave me your present," she confirmed. "We exchanged gifts earlier. So if this is some little joke to draw some attention to yourself tonight, I'm really not up for it, okay? How much have you had to drink?"
He didn't say anything at first, gently taking her hand into his, holding it there a moment, his expression full of warmth and love. "We've known each other a long time, haven't we?"
She narrowed her eyes, her lips slightly pursed. "Um...I would...I would say we have, yeah."
"And we've been through it all, right? Life, death, magic, the whole package?"
"Truth spells," she mumbled almost shyly then.
"But we still found each other again."
"And they gave you your job back," she pointed out, laughing.
"They did," he agreed, smiling.
"So..."
"So? "
"So what does this have to do with anything?"
"Throughout my life," he started, his voice soft, "I've only ever been drawn back to one woman. Everything I've ever done, everything I've ever...well, it...it just always seems to lead back to you. Maybe it always has. I may not understand why you have to do what you do, or why you were chosen to do it. But I respect it. It took me awhile to see that. I mean, I wasn't exactly what you'd call open-minded before, and I'm sorry. However...being able to be with you- being able to be right here with you..." He paused then, lowering himself on one knee, as he reached into the pocket of his jeans with his empty hand.
"Andy," she whispered, not quite sure what to make of it, a hand falling over her heart, clenching the fabric of her navy sweater, her fingernails nervously treading themselves through the material.
He opened the tiny black velvet box, whose contents were concealed only moments earlier, revealing a three stone diamond engagement ring, its color catching the light and tossing sparkles up toward the ceiling. He sighed, shutting his eyes, as he tenderly removed the object from its enclosure, holding it out to her with his thumb and forefinger. "Prue Halliwell, will you marry me?"
"Oh God."
He opened one eye, as laughter filled his voice, his chest rising and falling. "Not…exactly the answer I was looking for."
"You're really serious about this, aren't you?"
"Probably more serious than I've ever been about anything in my entire life," he conceded, offering a slight nod.
"Wow, I just...wow. I mean...I know what it means, but I - oh God what am I saying?"
"Yes?"
"Yes."
"Yes?"
"Goddamn it, Andy, yes!"
"Told you," Alex hissed, as she quickly elbowed her cousin. "Catrina got the whole thing right."
"Only now they're gonna get all mushy," Melinda countered, making a face. "Kind of like my mom and dad, you know?"
Andy slowly edged the ring onto her slender finger, as he brought himself to his feet. She quickly pulled him close, her lips touching his, as she threw her arms tightly around his neck, giving his body a tight squeeze. "Perfect timing, huh?"
"Pretty much," he whispered. "I don't need that white picket fence, Prue. The scary thing is, I probably never did. I don't want a perfect marriage- I want...maybe I just want you, all of our flaws...everything."
She smiled. "Well...I'm glad. I mean it's good to know what you want."
"It is," he confirmed. "And you know, we'll set a date when we get around to it, right? No rush?"
"No rush," she echoed, bringing him close for another kiss.
"Sure you’re okay? "
"I think so."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Well, damn," Cole mused, a hand grazing his unshaven chin, a large smile filling his generous mouth. "I guess stranger things have come to pass."
"Cole."
"Hey, I'm joking, all right? I'm really...very, very happy for them. There's someone out there for everybody."
"Yeah, and right now, this woman's looking for Santa," she confessed, tossing him a look.
"Is that supposed to be a hint? Because I haven't even finished my pizza yet."
"Thank you," she then added.
His brows sprung up, as he lightly touched her shoulder. "For what...exactly?"
"For this," she told him, indicating all the familiar faces who began excitedly chattering around them, wasting no time to mingle with the future Halliwell bride and her soon-to-be husband, as drinks were poured and toasts were made, the music transpiring into a rendition of 'Jingle Bell Rock,' happily combining with the voices to form a rather noisy, and yet somehow cheerful atmosphere. Piper was suddenly working on forgiving Leo, her anger having gotten the better of her prior to the news Andy had bestowed upon Prue, and she gave her husband a small kiss on the cheek, lovingly looking up at him, as he cautiously slung a protective arm around her slender shoulders. Nick was wildly gesturing with his hands, letting out a loud pea, of laughter much to Paige's dismay, as she playfully reached over to sock him in the stomach. Alex and Melinda still sat cross-legged on the ground, looking up at all of the adults around them, rolling their eyes at the commotion, their tiny faces glowing. "For bringing everybody together. For allowing us to be together."
His blues once again looked at the angel Alex had given him, smiling, his gorgeous scruffy countenance graciously admiring the carefully crafted figure. "Nothing's impossible when you believe."
The End
"Aunt Piper? Aunt Piper, Santa's stealing all the chocolates."