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katleeptTitle: Stories
Author: Kat Lee
Dedicated To: With endless love always to my Cole, my Drew
Fandoms: Charmed with a cameo of Angel
Character/Pairing: Cole/Piper, Lorne
Rating: G/K
Challenge/Prompt:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
fan_flashworks #149: One Night Only
Warning(s): AU
Word Count: 1,8889
Date Written: 12 March, 2016
Summary:
Disclaimer: All characters within belong to their rightful owners, not the author, and are used without permission.
She sighs, taking her casserole out of the oven and sitting it on top. She glances at the clock, despite knowing already that Phoebe's a half hour late and Prue going over an hour. Nothing's wrong, she assures herself. They would have called. Leo would have called, and her beloved Cole has a wonderful sense about knowing when her sisters are in danger. It's just the travails of the real world, not any Demon attacks or anything.
Still, she sighs and can't help wishing that she could have at least one night in her life where she didn't have to worry about anything, not Demons, bills, or who she's going to get to sing Friday night at the club now that the last band she booked turned out to be Warlocks. For just once, even if it was for one night only, she'd love to have absolutely nothing about which to worry, but then, as Prue's told her time and again, she's always been a worry wart. She used to stay up more often than Grams waiting for her sisters to get home from another hot date, and she hasn't let up any now that they're the Charmed Ones. Prue may be the oldest, but she's definitely the most maternal by far.
She's just about to turn from the oven and her bubbling casserole when strong arms wrap securely around her from behind. She doesn't tense; recognizing their feel immediately, she leans into the embrace instead with a happier sigh. She closes her eyes, resting her head against her boyfriend's shoulder, then feels him reach around her. She's thinking he's only stealing a bite of dinner, but then the whole world shifts.
It takes a moment for Piper's eyes to readjust from the slight dizziness that always accompanies teleporting, regardless of rather it's orbing or shimmering. Then she gasps. "C-Cole?" she asks, looking at him from widened, brown eyes.
He smiles warmly at her. "It's fine, sweetheart. Lorne, be a dear and fetch us a couple of plates and drinks."
"Cole, you know I love you, darling, but you are not having a picnic in my establishment!"
Piper's mouth drops open at the sight of the green-skinned, swishing Demon who speaks so easily to her beloved. She raises her hands, but Cole, having set the casserole down on his usual table, gently catches her hands in his. "There's no need of that, sweetheart," he says, kissing her temple, but then looking back to the other Demon, he tells him, "unless of course he doesn't want to be the generous host he usually is."
Lorne's red eyes narrow at Cole. "You are so going to owe me for this one, big guy."
"How about I convince Angel to seek help elsewhere the next time he wants to sing Barry Manilow?" Cole suggests, bringing a grimace from his friend. He shrugs. "Or I could just let her explode you."
"Explode me?" Lorne squeaks, but then he dismisses the threat with an air of bravery. "Not in the walls of my Caritas, you don't." Still, he sashays away in search of the plates and drinks Cole's requested.
"Cole," Piper questions, trying not to show her frayed nerves show in her shaking voice, "where exactly are we, and what are we doing here?" Her back's pressed against his front, and her hands are still raised, though he still holds them firmly in his.
He brings her hands to his lips and kisses them reverently. "We're fine, Piper, I promise you. This is one of those places I wanted to share with you. Welcome to Caritas, where every one can coexist peacefully, Demon, Witch, human, or otherwise."
Piper's eyes are busily dating over the assortment of guests. Just from where they stand, she's already spied three Vampires, a couple of men dressed in suits, some kind of lizard creature, and no less than a half dozen Demons. "I'm not the only good Demon, sweetheart," he whispers against her hair, then kisses it, too.
She tries hard to relax against him. "I never said you were," she replies, struggling not to freak out. She pulls her trembling lips up into a smile that she aims at him. "You're just the best."
He chuckles, and the sound of his deep laughter begins to truly assuage her fears. "Flatterer."
She shrugs as he leads her to sit down at the booth upon whose table he's already set the casserole. "I call them as I see them."
He still hasn't let go of his hands. Now, he pulls them to him gently from across the table and kisses them again. "I'm sorry if it's not a nice surprise. I had hoped it would be. This is about the only place I know of where we actually can have a night without any attacks."
"You keep saying this place is so peaceful, but I don't see how it can be with this many different species in one place."
"It is," he assures. "Trust me. Lorne pays a good price for the spell that's weaved over this club. It won't let any violence happen here."
She's still looking around them. "How long has it been here?"
He shrugs. "A few years. Lorne built it from scratch after he got trapped here from another dimension."
"Another dimension?"
"Yeah. It was a war zone."
Cole looks up as Lorne begins to sashay back to their booth, drinks and plates in hand along with something else Piper can't quite make out yet. Her guard remains up, despite all of her boyfriend's reassurances, but as she watches him sashay, moving with a pace much like her younger sister's when Phoebe's locked her eyes on a new catch, she can't help but to consider what Cole's told her. "A war zone, huh?"
"Yes, and he's clearly no fighter."
She smiles openly this time as he nears their table. "Clearly," she agrees.
"For the lady," Lorne states, sitting Piper's drink down in front of her, complete with a tiny, plastic umbrella, "and the not-quite-so-much-of-a gentleman." He sits Cole's drink before him. "And despite my better judgement, sweethearts, this is on the house." He placed the cheese sticks and marinara sauce between them. "I've been waiting a long time to meet you, Miss Halliwell." He deftly dodges the kick Cole aims at him underneath the table.
"You have?" Piper asks, but Cole keeps her hands down.
"I sure have, sweet cheeks. Many a girl has tried to tame that Demon, but none of them succeeded until now. So when's the date?"
"Date? For what?"
"Ow!" Lorne's red eyes dart to Cole, whose booted foot just connected with his shin.
"Oh, he's a big fan of that band you've got booked for . . . What is it? Two weeks from this Friday?"
"Dingoes Ate My Baby?"
Cole grins. "That's the one. He wants to get the lead singer's autograph on his chest."
Piper laughs. "I can't promise anything," she says, grinning, "but I guess I can see what I can do."
Lorne bows. "It would be an honor, milady," he speaks suavely, but his gaze remains fixed on Cole. "Ask her," he mouths, backing away, when Piper's no longer looking.
"Not tonight," Cole retorts silently.
Piper waits until Lorne's gone and she's finished a cheese stick, which is about the best she's ever eaten, before turning her attention sharply back on Cole. He's busied himself with serving their casserole after finally releasing her hands. "So what was that about?"
"What was what about?"
She licks the marinara from her fingers, knowing the sight of her tongue drives him crazy. Cole's eyes follow every lick. "Oh," she answers in between licks, "that thing with Lorne where he was trying to get you to ask me something."
"Oh. He probably wants you to sing."
"Sing?"
"This is a karaoke club, and Lorne's kind of got a special thing for reading people when they sing."
"Was that what you were referring to earlier? About that Angel with the Barry Manilow fixation?"
Cole chuckles. Grinning, he says, "Yeah, but he's no Angel." He shakes his head.
"He's not?"
"No. His name's Angel. It's a . . . long story."
"I've got nothing but time tonight," she offers.
"I don't wanna bore you." Truthfully, he's not sure she's ready to know that one of his allies is the Vampire who was once the Scourge of Europe. He doesn't want to admit to her all the things Angel's done, because then, he knows,it will make her think about the things he's done.
"You won't bore me. Cole, I like hearing your long stories."
"You do?"
"Yes!" This time, she's the one who reaches over and takes his hand in hers. She squeezes him gently. "I do," she emphasizes. "I like knowing more about you. I love you."
He smiles, and its warmth goes straight to Piper's heart. "I love you, too, Piper. I just thought with -- with -- "
"With what? This place? I'll admit I was a little put off by it at first, but I'm glad you brought me here, and not just because you're giving me a Demon-free night." She glances around them again. Lorne's now on stage at the microphone. "Well, free from their attacks any way."
He smiles. "I was trying," he offers.
"I know," she assures. "But what I really like about it is that you're letting me get to know more about you. I want to know everything about you."
He frowns, and his eyes drop to his food for a moment.
"Cole?" She squeezes his hand.
"Are you sure?" he asks, big eyes slowly raising back up to meet her gaze.
"Yes. I love you, and nothing you can possibly tell me is going to change that. I want to hear all your long stories. I want to hear all about you and share whatever you want to share with me. Just don't try to make me get up there to sing."
"I won't," he promises, and as he moves forward a little, he feels a small weight in his pocket. He knows the gold band is glistening therein, but tonight's not the night. Piper's still not at ease here, and he wants everything to be perfect when he proposes.
"I love you," she says. "You know that, right?"
"Yeah. I love you, too. I just -- "
She squeezes his hand again. "I want to hear how you met these people. I want to hear all your long stories, and your short ones, too, not just tonight, but every night."
"Every night?"
"For as long as -- I live."
He knows what she almost said. There is an age difference between them that spans more than decades. He's over a hundred years older than she, and he'll live long after he's had to bury her. He doesn't want to think about it, not tonight, not any night, but getting to love her for only one night would make centuries of grief worth it. Piper is the most amazing woman he's ever known, and he's lucky to have her in his life.
"So how about it?" she asks, smiling that sweet smile of hers that makes him go weak in the knees.
Cole smiles back, still feeling that small weight in his pocket and promising them both he will pop that question soon, just not tonight -- or, at least, not yet tonight. He looks into the eyes of the woman he loves, and he begins.
The End
Author: Kat Lee
Dedicated To: With endless love always to my Cole, my Drew
Fandoms: Charmed with a cameo of Angel
Character/Pairing: Cole/Piper, Lorne
Rating: G/K
Challenge/Prompt:
fan_flashworks #149: One Night OnlyWarning(s): AU
Word Count: 1,8889
Date Written: 12 March, 2016
Summary:
Disclaimer: All characters within belong to their rightful owners, not the author, and are used without permission.
She sighs, taking her casserole out of the oven and sitting it on top. She glances at the clock, despite knowing already that Phoebe's a half hour late and Prue going over an hour. Nothing's wrong, she assures herself. They would have called. Leo would have called, and her beloved Cole has a wonderful sense about knowing when her sisters are in danger. It's just the travails of the real world, not any Demon attacks or anything.
Still, she sighs and can't help wishing that she could have at least one night in her life where she didn't have to worry about anything, not Demons, bills, or who she's going to get to sing Friday night at the club now that the last band she booked turned out to be Warlocks. For just once, even if it was for one night only, she'd love to have absolutely nothing about which to worry, but then, as Prue's told her time and again, she's always been a worry wart. She used to stay up more often than Grams waiting for her sisters to get home from another hot date, and she hasn't let up any now that they're the Charmed Ones. Prue may be the oldest, but she's definitely the most maternal by far.
She's just about to turn from the oven and her bubbling casserole when strong arms wrap securely around her from behind. She doesn't tense; recognizing their feel immediately, she leans into the embrace instead with a happier sigh. She closes her eyes, resting her head against her boyfriend's shoulder, then feels him reach around her. She's thinking he's only stealing a bite of dinner, but then the whole world shifts.
It takes a moment for Piper's eyes to readjust from the slight dizziness that always accompanies teleporting, regardless of rather it's orbing or shimmering. Then she gasps. "C-Cole?" she asks, looking at him from widened, brown eyes.
He smiles warmly at her. "It's fine, sweetheart. Lorne, be a dear and fetch us a couple of plates and drinks."
"Cole, you know I love you, darling, but you are not having a picnic in my establishment!"
Piper's mouth drops open at the sight of the green-skinned, swishing Demon who speaks so easily to her beloved. She raises her hands, but Cole, having set the casserole down on his usual table, gently catches her hands in his. "There's no need of that, sweetheart," he says, kissing her temple, but then looking back to the other Demon, he tells him, "unless of course he doesn't want to be the generous host he usually is."
Lorne's red eyes narrow at Cole. "You are so going to owe me for this one, big guy."
"How about I convince Angel to seek help elsewhere the next time he wants to sing Barry Manilow?" Cole suggests, bringing a grimace from his friend. He shrugs. "Or I could just let her explode you."
"Explode me?" Lorne squeaks, but then he dismisses the threat with an air of bravery. "Not in the walls of my Caritas, you don't." Still, he sashays away in search of the plates and drinks Cole's requested.
"Cole," Piper questions, trying not to show her frayed nerves show in her shaking voice, "where exactly are we, and what are we doing here?" Her back's pressed against his front, and her hands are still raised, though he still holds them firmly in his.
He brings her hands to his lips and kisses them reverently. "We're fine, Piper, I promise you. This is one of those places I wanted to share with you. Welcome to Caritas, where every one can coexist peacefully, Demon, Witch, human, or otherwise."
Piper's eyes are busily dating over the assortment of guests. Just from where they stand, she's already spied three Vampires, a couple of men dressed in suits, some kind of lizard creature, and no less than a half dozen Demons. "I'm not the only good Demon, sweetheart," he whispers against her hair, then kisses it, too.
She tries hard to relax against him. "I never said you were," she replies, struggling not to freak out. She pulls her trembling lips up into a smile that she aims at him. "You're just the best."
He chuckles, and the sound of his deep laughter begins to truly assuage her fears. "Flatterer."
She shrugs as he leads her to sit down at the booth upon whose table he's already set the casserole. "I call them as I see them."
He still hasn't let go of his hands. Now, he pulls them to him gently from across the table and kisses them again. "I'm sorry if it's not a nice surprise. I had hoped it would be. This is about the only place I know of where we actually can have a night without any attacks."
"You keep saying this place is so peaceful, but I don't see how it can be with this many different species in one place."
"It is," he assures. "Trust me. Lorne pays a good price for the spell that's weaved over this club. It won't let any violence happen here."
She's still looking around them. "How long has it been here?"
He shrugs. "A few years. Lorne built it from scratch after he got trapped here from another dimension."
"Another dimension?"
"Yeah. It was a war zone."
Cole looks up as Lorne begins to sashay back to their booth, drinks and plates in hand along with something else Piper can't quite make out yet. Her guard remains up, despite all of her boyfriend's reassurances, but as she watches him sashay, moving with a pace much like her younger sister's when Phoebe's locked her eyes on a new catch, she can't help but to consider what Cole's told her. "A war zone, huh?"
"Yes, and he's clearly no fighter."
She smiles openly this time as he nears their table. "Clearly," she agrees.
"For the lady," Lorne states, sitting Piper's drink down in front of her, complete with a tiny, plastic umbrella, "and the not-quite-so-much-of-a gentleman." He sits Cole's drink before him. "And despite my better judgement, sweethearts, this is on the house." He placed the cheese sticks and marinara sauce between them. "I've been waiting a long time to meet you, Miss Halliwell." He deftly dodges the kick Cole aims at him underneath the table.
"You have?" Piper asks, but Cole keeps her hands down.
"I sure have, sweet cheeks. Many a girl has tried to tame that Demon, but none of them succeeded until now. So when's the date?"
"Date? For what?"
"Ow!" Lorne's red eyes dart to Cole, whose booted foot just connected with his shin.
"Oh, he's a big fan of that band you've got booked for . . . What is it? Two weeks from this Friday?"
"Dingoes Ate My Baby?"
Cole grins. "That's the one. He wants to get the lead singer's autograph on his chest."
Piper laughs. "I can't promise anything," she says, grinning, "but I guess I can see what I can do."
Lorne bows. "It would be an honor, milady," he speaks suavely, but his gaze remains fixed on Cole. "Ask her," he mouths, backing away, when Piper's no longer looking.
"Not tonight," Cole retorts silently.
Piper waits until Lorne's gone and she's finished a cheese stick, which is about the best she's ever eaten, before turning her attention sharply back on Cole. He's busied himself with serving their casserole after finally releasing her hands. "So what was that about?"
"What was what about?"
She licks the marinara from her fingers, knowing the sight of her tongue drives him crazy. Cole's eyes follow every lick. "Oh," she answers in between licks, "that thing with Lorne where he was trying to get you to ask me something."
"Oh. He probably wants you to sing."
"Sing?"
"This is a karaoke club, and Lorne's kind of got a special thing for reading people when they sing."
"Was that what you were referring to earlier? About that Angel with the Barry Manilow fixation?"
Cole chuckles. Grinning, he says, "Yeah, but he's no Angel." He shakes his head.
"He's not?"
"No. His name's Angel. It's a . . . long story."
"I've got nothing but time tonight," she offers.
"I don't wanna bore you." Truthfully, he's not sure she's ready to know that one of his allies is the Vampire who was once the Scourge of Europe. He doesn't want to admit to her all the things Angel's done, because then, he knows,it will make her think about the things he's done.
"You won't bore me. Cole, I like hearing your long stories."
"You do?"
"Yes!" This time, she's the one who reaches over and takes his hand in hers. She squeezes him gently. "I do," she emphasizes. "I like knowing more about you. I love you."
He smiles, and its warmth goes straight to Piper's heart. "I love you, too, Piper. I just thought with -- with -- "
"With what? This place? I'll admit I was a little put off by it at first, but I'm glad you brought me here, and not just because you're giving me a Demon-free night." She glances around them again. Lorne's now on stage at the microphone. "Well, free from their attacks any way."
He smiles. "I was trying," he offers.
"I know," she assures. "But what I really like about it is that you're letting me get to know more about you. I want to know everything about you."
He frowns, and his eyes drop to his food for a moment.
"Cole?" She squeezes his hand.
"Are you sure?" he asks, big eyes slowly raising back up to meet her gaze.
"Yes. I love you, and nothing you can possibly tell me is going to change that. I want to hear all your long stories. I want to hear all about you and share whatever you want to share with me. Just don't try to make me get up there to sing."
"I won't," he promises, and as he moves forward a little, he feels a small weight in his pocket. He knows the gold band is glistening therein, but tonight's not the night. Piper's still not at ease here, and he wants everything to be perfect when he proposes.
"I love you," she says. "You know that, right?"
"Yeah. I love you, too. I just -- "
She squeezes his hand again. "I want to hear how you met these people. I want to hear all your long stories, and your short ones, too, not just tonight, but every night."
"Every night?"
"For as long as -- I live."
He knows what she almost said. There is an age difference between them that spans more than decades. He's over a hundred years older than she, and he'll live long after he's had to bury her. He doesn't want to think about it, not tonight, not any night, but getting to love her for only one night would make centuries of grief worth it. Piper is the most amazing woman he's ever known, and he's lucky to have her in his life.
"So how about it?" she asks, smiling that sweet smile of hers that makes him go weak in the knees.
Cole smiles back, still feeling that small weight in his pocket and promising them both he will pop that question soon, just not tonight -- or, at least, not yet tonight. He looks into the eyes of the woman he loves, and he begins.
The End
