A Kind of Magic
part 1
"Mommy, Mommy! Aunt Piper is on the phone!"
Phoebe Halliwell struggled to fight the sleep that still consumed her, reaching out a tired hand. Squinting against the glare that had seeped through the blinds, she offered a slight groan. "Yes, what is it?"
"And a good morning to you, too," came the sarcastic reply.
"Piper, it's seven am."
"Melinda's first day of kindergarten," she noted carefully.
"Oh my God."
"You forgot, didn't you?"
"Well, it's only pre-school. I doubt it'll mean much later on."
The sound of the doorbell echoed downstairs, as Phoebe annoyingly rolled her eyes. The bothersome tone followed with a stream of repetitions, as they became extremely persistent. "Ugh. I have to go."
"What? Now?"
"You did call me to remind me, right?"
"Yes, but-"
"And I gotta go. I'll call you back, I promise!"
"Is it Daddy?" Alexandra Turner asked hopefully.
"Yes, it's your daddy. Go and tell him I'll be down in a minute, okay?"
Alexandra brightened, quickly nodding. Her padded feet scampered along the bare floor, as she rapidly descended the steps.
"And watch where you're going!" she yelled fretfully. Phoebe slowly got out of bed, stretching her arms high above her head. Pulling the blinds closed, she gently slid into the slippers perched next to the dresser. Briefly taking a brush stroke through her long light brown hair, she pulled her robe tightly about her petite frame, securing the sash around her waist. "Better late than never," she whispered.
She caught sight of him as he shut the front door behind him, an amused smile crossing his face. Cole Turner was always the epitome of gorgeous. With his dark hair, blue eyes, lean frame, and five o'clock shadow, he was no exception. Clothed in a pair of jeans and a comfy gray sweater, a pair of car keys jingled in his grasp.
They had been separated for little over a month. Every married couple had their disagreements, and their marriage wasn't any different. The fights, the screaming, the magical disagreements, they'd covered it all. Deep down inside, she knew she still loved him, and they would just have to keep trying to make it work. They chose to keep their magic a secret from their daughter, and it was probably the best decision they'd made together, even though she sometimes grew skeptical on it. Alexandra, quite the Wicca all on her own, had had her powers bound when she was just a baby.
"Daddy, guess what, guess what?" Alexandra beckoned to him excitedly.
"What?" he inquired, kneeling down beside her.
"I start school today," the petite girl gushed, scrunching up her nose.
"So you do," he sided, nodding.
"Mommy says being four is a big deal," she added.
"Well, your mommy's right," Cole told her, laughing. His gaze met his wife's, and held it. "Nice look for you," he offered sarcastically, gesturing to her pajamas.
"Funny."
"Is she ready?"
"No, Cole, she isn't. Because those are her-"
"I'm a little pressed for time."
"And why does that not surprise me?"
He stood up, running a hand through his hair. "I have to pick up the little nemesis at 1329 Prescott yet. Otherwise, you know I’d be more inclined to stay for a little chat."
"Melinda is like the sweetest-"
"Nope. The child is a terror," he objected. "Personally, I blame her mother."
"Am I a nemesis, Daddy?" Alex spoke up.
Phoebe laughed. "See what you just taught her?"
"Mommy says you're a bad influence," Alex then added.
"Really?" Cole asked, turning back to Phoebe.
"I never- can you go up and get dressed please, missy?"
"Okay!" Alex giggled, as she slowly began to fall into a small skip in climbing the stairs.
"Be careful!" Phoebe advised again.
"I see you're teaching her all of your bad habits," Cole observed.
"She was making that- I never said any such thing."
"So now our four-year-old is a liar?"
"You let her sit in on an office meeting," she pointed out.
"And that was a bad influence? We were discussing a case, Phoebe."
"A case that she needs to know nothing about."
"Oh, and I suppose 'help, my boyfriend's a cheat' really goes over well?"
"Don't bring my advice column into this."
"Look, I'm trying to be a good father. And I can't exactly learn what I'm doing wrong if-"
"Then why don't you just get a manual?" she quipped.
"I'm done, Mommy!" Alexandra called out cheerfully, as she made her way back to them.
"Um...that...doesn't match," Cole answered, his eyes settling on her chosen wardrobe.
"Very supportive," Phoebe hissed.
"Well, the pants are pink, and the shirt is orange," he protested. "What was I-"
"You look beautiful, sweetie," Phoebe interrupted, giving her daughter a kiss on the cheek.
"Well, I guess we'll be on our way then," Cole said quietly, lifting Alex into his arms. "And I think we're going to have to go over how to tie our shoes again."
"Have a good day, honey," Phoebe added.
"Thank you, dear," Cole said jokingly.
"I was talking to Alex," Phoebe said, a bit irritated.
"And the feeling appears to be mutual today," he quipped.
"Goodbye, Cole."
"Mommy, why are you always so mad at Daddy?"
"Because at times your daddy can be extremely intolerable," she answered honestly.
"And your mommy certainly has a way with words, doesn't she?" he countered.
"Do you remember how to get to the school?"
"Yes, I remember how to get to the school," he said lazily.
"And the school for Melinda?"
"It's all in here," he told her, indicating his head. He paused a moment. "You know, tell me again why Piper and Leo can't take their own kid to daycare."
"She's starting-"
"Same thing."
"I have to maintain a job myself, so..."
"Well, I already told them I'd be a couple hours late at work."
"Uh huh."
"What?"
"Nothing. You just go now...and I'll see you later."
"I don't get a kiss, do I?"
**********
Cole laid his hand upon the door of the Halliwell manor, gently rapping his knuckles against it. Piper and Leo were the only ones living here now. Even Paige had succumbed to the fact that sisterhood had fallen apart. She owned a quaint little apartment a couple of blocks away, still unattached. The Power of Three had pretty much come to a standstill, and the demonic activity was clearly non-existent.
"Oh, it's just you," Melinda Wyatt mumbled, as the surprisingly intellectual five-year-old let him in.
"And Ally," he brought forth.
"I'm in a grade higher than you," the mischievous girl sneered, meeting Alex's bleak stare.
"Yes, and you still build with blocks," Cole said sarcastically.
"Uncle Cole is here!!!" Melinda suddenly screamed, causing him to jump. Letting go of his daughter's hand, he threw both of them to his ears.
"Melinda, keep your voice down. There's no yelling in this house," Piper Halliwell hissed, emerging into the foyer.
"I'm here to-"
"Yes. And she's got everything. I mean, I think. I don’t- things have been a little hectic around here this morning, okay?"
"You think?" he asked worriedly.
"Well, it's kind of hard to keep track," she insisted.
"Really," he offered, somewhat amused.
"She says I'm a handful," Melinda echoed.
"Wonders never cease," he said quietly.
"Did you say something?" Piper asked, as she struggled to get a fairly light jacket on her daughter.
"Do I have to wear this?" the little girl moaned helplessly.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Sweetie, you're making me-"
"Your deadline at the club," she filled in, rolling her eyes. "I bet nobody else has to wear a coat."
"You can bet all you want, it's not going to change a thing." She turned to Cole, smiling apologetically. "Just make sure it stays on the entire way there."
"But Mom-"
"Melinda," Piper said more sternly.
"Okay."
"Good. Now give me a-"
Melinda gave her mother a quick kiss, already heading out the door.
"Oh, and please take your lunch," she added. When the girl showed no sign of a response, Piper heaved it into Cole's arms. "Make sure she gets that," she instructed.
"Is Leo not-"
"Leo is not your problem," she told him, sighing. "He's away. On a possible assignment." Directing her gaze upward, she forced a smile. "How very convenient of him."
He laughed. "So that probably means I'm elected to get them in the afternoon."
"Basically."
"All right. Yeah. Good. Well, I'll get out of your way, and head out," he sided, nodding.
"I really appreciate this, Cole. And I'm sure Phoebe does, too."
"Yeah, well, Phoebe doesn't exactly appreciate a lot these days," he noted, a bit hurt.
"I'll see you at two-thirty," she said, ignoring him.