Charmed. Cole and Phoebe Guardian Series.How quaint the ways of paradox?

Charmed. How quaint the ways of Paradox Chapter 11

Part 2: Promises,promises,promises

Chapter 11

"How quaint the ways of paradox; At common sense she gaily mocks" (Gilbert and Sullivan. Pirates of Penzance)

We must learn to endure what we cannot avoid. Our life is composed, like the harmony of the world, of contrary things, also of different tones, sweet and harsh, sharp and flat, soft and loud. If a musician liked only one kind, what would he have to say?

Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592), French essayist

.....

Cole was very glad for small mercies, at least the confrontation with Francesca had been on a Friday and it would be a full two days before he had any reason to see her. He and Phoebe spent Saturday on mundane things such as shopping and house keeping and spent the night at P3 with Leo and Piper while Paige baby sat. On Sunday Cole woke up at dawn to find Phoebe leaning back on the pillow staring at the ceiling.

"What's wrong?" he asked nervously wondering frantically if the time line had changed. Phoebe was not one to lie awake pondering. Phoebe was one to be sound asleep and almost impossible to get out of bed in the morning.

"Morning baby" she said distracted leaning over to peck his lips. She fell back on the pillow. "Baby have you got any time powers?" she asked trying to be casual.

"Why are you asking?" he asked carefully.

"I.. once when Tempus changed the time I got this really strong feeling of Déjà vu and you remember . way back before we got together again, you warned me about time changes and because Tempus was the leader of the underworld. Well" Phoebe said "I seem to have been getting some very strong time feelings for days"

"What sort of time feelings?" he asked even more carefully.

"Like I was being dragged back to places I don't want to go" she said. "Really strong no matter how much I resist."

" Are you sure baby" Cole said bending over Phoebe to kiss her lightly. He threw back the quilt and got out of bed reaching for the track pants that he kept close by, because Phoebe's sisters kept invading their bedroom and he had been caught huddling under the quilt to many times.

"I've just got one thing to say." he said pulling the pants on.

"Baby what are you talking about" Phoebe said getting annoyed.

He stood up "When you get mad at me because I didn't tell you just remember Piper wouldn't let me." he said gutlessly, then he stepped back opened the door and roared "Piper " at the top of his voice.

When Piper did not come immediately he went to Piper and Leo's room and opened the door. Piper was scrambling awake and Leo jumped up.

"What's wrong?" Piper said sleepily.

" Phoebe's getting time feelings" Cole said.

" I'm coming" Piper said.

Phoebe had jumped out of bed pulling a kimono around her and Paige appeared in the passage drowsily rubbing sleep out of her eyes. "Can't this wait?" she muttered shoving Cole away as he tried to make sure she was between him and Phoebe.

" I'll make some coffee" he said heading for the stairs.

"Gutless" muttered Paige.

"What's wrong?" Phoebe demanded watching him go.

"We know there is a time problem" Piper said "We've just been waiting for you to verify it. "

They sat around the parlour drinking coffee. Leo and Piper on the sofa, Paige in her favourite chair and Phoebe in the one opposite. Cole had decided to take the risk and sat on the chair arm beside Phoebe. He usually found it impossible to be in a room and not be in touching distance of Phoebe. He invariably sat on sofas so she could curl up against him or chair arms next to her. For a while when he first returned to the manor Paige took great delight in putting herself between him and Phoebe and watching the ways he found to get close to Phoebe.