South Attic, Wednesday Morning

[demonbelthazor]

Cole woke before Phoebe for a change. He quietly got dressed then headed out to the kitchen to make coffee. Eyeing the stove warily, he decided to attempt to make pancakes to surprise Phoebe.

Fifteen minutes later he had some lumpy pancakes on the griddle that were anything but round. And flour all over the counter and himself.

In theory, the pancakes were edible. In theory.

Comments

[demonbelthazor]

"One you shouldn't have been in in the first place," Cole grumbled. He bit his tongue to keep from saying more; the last thing he wanted now was another fight.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe stared down at her plate in silence. She bit her lip again, trying to figure out what to say without causing a fight.

"I was only trying to help," she finally said in whisper.

[demonbelthazor]

"I know," he sighed. "Let's just focus on fixing it for now, okay? You think Crowley will let you out of the contract for causing you emotional distress?"

[sensethevisions]

"I don't know... but I'm going to try."

[demonbelthazor]

Cole got up and moved to her side, crouching next to her. "Promise me you'll be careful."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe put her hand on his cheek, caressing him.

"I promise to be as careful as I can... but I will do my damnedest to get out of this wedding." She looked into his eyes. "You're the only one I ever want to have that with."

[demonbelthazor]

"Maybe I should just marry you first," Cole said, putting his hand over hers and leaning against her palm.

[sensethevisions]

"If you ever do marry me... I want it to be because you want to be with me like that... not because you think you can rescue me from a sticky situation."

[demonbelthazor]

"Your grandmother would probably want to kill me anyway," Cole sighed. "Can't have a demon in the Halliwell witches line, after all."

[sensethevisions]

"You're not dating Grams, you're with me," she pointed out.

[demonbelthazor]

"If I was she probably would've vanquished me already," Cole said. "From what you tell me. And she's got quite a rep in the Underworld."

[sensethevisions]

"If she knows that you truly do love me and you want to keep me safe, she won't hurt you..." Phoebe tilted her head in curiosity. "Grams has a reputation in the Underworld?"

[demonbelthazor]

"She's vanquished a lot of powerful demons," Cole said. "It's no surprise that the Charmed Ones came from her lineage. Your mom was pretty powerful, too."

[sensethevisions]

"That's our Grams." Phoebe's heart stopped and then started again. "Mom... they knew Mom?"

[demonbelthazor]

"She was a witch, too," Cole said hesitantly. "She vanquished demons, just like your grandmother."

[sensethevisions]

Tears filled Phoebe's eyes as she looked down at her hands.

"Mom was a witch... I guess that shouldn't surprise me. Grams said the Halliwells have always been witches."

No, she wasn't jealous at all that demons knew her mom... and she didn't.

[demonbelthazor]

"Halliwell is a feared name in the Underworld," Cole said, reaching up to wipe the tears from her eyes. "What's wrong, love?"

[sensethevisions]

"No wonder they want you to kill me," she said softly. She looked at Cole. "I... I never knew Mom. She dies when I was very young... an infant mostly."

[demonbelthazor]

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," Cole said, moving to wrap his arms around her.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe hugged him closely. "She was killed a long time ago," she said softly.

[demonbelthazor]

"I'm sorry," he said again, patting her back. He brushed an errant smudge of flour from her cheek.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe shrugged slightly. "Like I said, long time ago." She swallowed. "So, we're a famous name where you're from?"

[demonbelthazor]

"Halliwell makes demons quake almost as much as 'Charmed One,'" Cole said solemnly. "So Charmed One + Halliwell is double trouble. Or triple, as the case may be."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe didn't look impressed at that revelation, not at all.

"I guess I understand now why they want you to kill me before I ahve control over my powers."

[demonbelthazor]

"Yeah...." Cole said quietly. He quickly changed the subject. "More pancakes? Or coffee?"