Notes; 'Kay, this was just begging me to be written and I'm not sure why because I was kinda put off Charmed for a while, but I guess I'm starting to like it again.. mainly because of Julian McMahon, but anyway. Yep as you probably knew I'm a die-hard Paige/Cole fan and I just wanted to explore there relationship in a different way. Cause I think they should like each other, because it's soooo obvious that Rose wants Julian. Who wouldn't want him though? Yeah enough of my rambling, just go have fun and read this one-shot (? or not, up to you). Bye!
Disclaimer: Doooon't own Charmed. Nope.
Comfort.
Cole stared at the molten icecubes in his empty whiskey glass while a sigh escaped his mouth. This was the fourth time in a row that he had gone out. Not just to drown his sorrows with alcohol, but also in the hope that he'd meet someone who could take his mind off of Phoebe. If only for one night. He was actually surprised that he still hadn't met anyone yet. When he had been with Phoebe pretty women had occasionally flirted with him, but he had turned them down. And now he was single and alone.. no one. Cole placed his glass down on the bar and met the eyes of the barman who silently asked if he wanted another one. Cole gave a small nod of the head and ran his hand through his already messy hair.
I need to get laid.
''Can I have a mineral water? Sparkling please.'' The familiar voice made Cole raise an eyebrow and shift in his stool. Next to him sat a small woman; red hair, a well-structured body. He knew that woman.
''Paige?'' His voice was rough and slightly scratchy. She looked up at the sound of hearing her name and when she saw him she rolled her eyes, almost like a reflex.
''What are you doing here?'' Cole's fingers wrapped around his glass of whiskey and he lifted it from the bar.
''Nothing special, Cole. I'm young I go out too.'' She glanced at the barman and thanked him when he placed a glass of mineral water in front of her. Her hand found the pink straw and started twirling it around in the glass.
''I know that, but this is a bar. They serve alcohol here. You're like the first person ever who orders mineral water in a bar.''
She rolled her eyes again and Cole found himself clenching his teeth. He hated her doing that.
''Fine. If you must know. I have a blind date, this is the only place he knew in town. I'm just waiting for him to arrive and then we'll go to P3.'' She brought the drink to her lips and took a small sip. Cole put his glass back down.
''A blind date? How will you recognise him?''
''Blue eyes, dark hair, black shirt. And I have red hair, he'll recognise me.'' Cole smiled slightly and brought his glass to his lips.
''That's not a blind date, you already know what he looks like.'' He said more to himself than to Paige. She scowled.
''I'll go sit somewhere else.'' Cole looked at her and swallowed the swug of whiskey he just took.
''No, I'm sorry okay? I didn't mean that. I'll be nice.'' Paige gave a small shrug of her shoulders and let a small sigh escape her lips. A silence fell between them and Cole used it to observe her. She looked tired, but not bad. The top she was wearing highlighted her eyes and the short skirt she was wearing revealed a lot of leg. A lot of great leg. Cole shook his head, he had been drinking too much whiskey. They sat there in silence for a whole ten minutes, until Paige put her empty glass down and turned to Cole, her elbow resting on the bar.
''You never told me what you're doing here.'' She raised an eyebrow and waited patiently for him to answer. Cole licked his lips and stared at the bottles of different kinds of liquior that were lined across the wall in the cupboard on the other side of the bar. His shoulders tensed and he glanced at her sideways.
''I brought Phoebe back to Adam. He's taking her out to dinner.''
''Adam?'' Paige rested her chin in the palm of her hand, feeling slightly sorry for the demon when she saw his eyes stare down at the bar. She had never seen this side of Cole.
''A guy she met at the Bay Mirror. He wants to buy the paper, I'm his lawyer. He was under a spell and she thought he was evil, but he wasn't and I want her to see that.''
''Why?'' Cole bit his lip and rested his forearms on the bar after sighing once more. He searched for the right answer, but realised that it would sound selfish anyway, no matter what way he put it.
''I want her to trust me again.''
''Cole, she's not going to take you back. To be honest I doubt if she even wants to be friends with you. You broke her heart and I don't –''
''I get it. She hates me, never wants to see me again. Wishes I'd stayed dead. Fine Paige. There's no need to rub it in.'' Cole made a move to get up, but was stopped when Paige placed a slender hand on his bare forearm, the strange comfort that he found in her simple touch causing the hairs in his neck to stand up straight.
''Wait.''
He looked at her, his blue eyes stood tired and full of hurt. She held his look for a moment, before opening her mouth to speak.
''I know it hurts Cole. Breaking up hurts, but do you want to know what I think?'' Cole's mouth had already formed a silent 'no', but she ignored him.
''I think you should move on. You're not bad looking and if you can love once, you can do it again right? There's probably some pretty blonde out there who wants to be with you.''
''Easier said than done, Paige. Why do you think that I've been coming here for four days in a row? Nobody wants me, I guess I'm getting too old.'' Paige looked at him almost open mouthed. Did Cole just say that? Cole, the overly-confident demon that she knew so well? She had already opened her mouth to argue, when a deep voice behind her interrupted them.
''Excuse me, but are you Paige?''
Cole and Paige both turned on their stools and faced a middle-aged man, one that was wearing a black shirt and had piercing blue eyes in his hands he held a white rose. Paige felt her eyes grow wide and she stumbled over her own words. This she definately hadn't expected.
''I uh – you.'' The man smiled and she noticed that he had a few gold teeth. No, this so was not her type. Besides, on the internet he had told her that he was only 28. Not 50.
''What's the matter? I thought white roses were your favourite?'' Cole rolled his eyes and smoothly slipped his arm around Paige's shoulders, pulling her close. He felt her look, but chose to ignore it.
''What she's trying to say is, that you clearly have the wrong woman here. She's my girl.'' He gave the man his best charm smile, but his eyes silently told the stranger to fuck off. The man looked at him for a long moment, before glancing at Paige and giving her a dirty look.
''Fine, I get it. Your mistake, you don't know what you're missing.'' He put the rose down on the bar and then walked off, occasionally shaking his head in disbelief. Cole grinned and watched the man walk all the way out of the door, without realizing that his arm was still pressing Paige tightly against his body until she hit his leg gently. He looked at her and removed his arm.
''What?''
''I could've handled him, you didn't need to help me.'' Cole let out a small laugh.
''Right, what were you gonna tell him? You stuttered Paige, let me guess you didn't know that he was fifty-something?'' Cole shook his head and lifted his glass of whiskeyl to his lips, pausing before downing it until the last drop. He closed his eyes momentarily, relaxing as he felt the alcohol spread throughout his veins. He heard Paige huff and smiled slightly to himself.
''You're welcome.'' Paige just rolled her eyes and folded her arms on top of the bar, resting her head on them.
''How could I be so stupid, I should've known when he didn't want to show me his picture.'' A sigh escaped her lips and Cole gently patted her shoulder.
''Hey, not all men are bad you should get up and go party. I bet you could get a guy's number within no-time.'' She glanced up at him suspiciously.
''Cole, you're a demon. You can't tell me that not all men are bad that's just..hypocrite.'' He shrugged in response and removed his hand.
''I was just trying to help, Paige.'' He watched as she crossed her legs and straightened her back.
''I know. I'm sorry, I guess I was just hoping that I'd meet a nice guy, but not tonight apparently.'' She smoothed out the short flirty skirt that barely reached 10 centimeters above her knees and placed her elbow on the bar looking up at Cole.
''Wanna go to P3?'' The question had escaped her lips before she really noticed and Cole raised an eyebrow, an amused look in his eyes.
''Now?''
She gave a shrug of her shoulders in response.
''Why not?'' She wasn't sure why she had asked him, but she guessed that it was because of the small progress they had made tonight. A talk without annoying each other and she'd even felt sorry for him at one point when he had looked upset. They could both use some cheering up tonight and if one thing cheered her up then it was dancing. She just hoped she hadn't just totally embarassed herself in front of Cole.
''Alright. Lets go then.'' Cole took his wallet out of the backpocket of his pants and Paige followed suit, but Cole stopped her.
''I'll pay.'' She looked at him in surprise and a small smile crossed her lips.
''Thanks.'' He's not as bad as I thought he was.
He put some money on the bar and grabbed his coat, following Paige out of the small bar.
Several hours later Paige walked up the steps of the Manor, Cole followed her silently, his hands casually stuck in his pockets. Outside everything was pitch black and wrapped in darkness that and the fact that it was completely quiet, made Paige feel slightly uncomfortable. She fumbled for her keys for a moment before turning to Cole and offering him a small smile.
''You didn't need to walk me home, Cole, but thanks anyway.'' She watched as he took his hands out of his pockets and smiled back.
''Just making sure you got home safely, you thanks for dragging me to P3, haven't had fun like that in a while.''
''You just looked like you needed it.'' She licked her lips slowly and tucked her hair behind her ear.
''Anyway, I'm going in. If I don't get some sleep I'll be moody tomorrow.'' Cole nodded his head and watched as she turned her back to him and unlocked the front door.
''Goodnight then.'' Paige stepped inside and turned to him once more, her left hand resting on the doorknob. Her eyes met his and she gave him a genuine smile, revealing almost all of her perfect white teeth.
''Night.'' She held his gaze for a moment longer before closing the door in front of him quietly. Cole let a sigh escape his lips and watched the light being turned on in the hall. He shook his head slightly and turned around, making his way down the steps. Whitelighters aren't so bad after all. Especially half breeds. He smiled slightly to himself and glanced at the Manor one more time. The light in the hall was turned off again and the entire Manor now bathed in the pitch black darkness. Cole exhaled deeply and glanced around before allowing his demonic powers to take him back to his apartment.
Notes; Reviews are loved, send me one and I'll send you Julian McMahon in his swimmingtrunks.. if you can call them that. Remember he wears this really tiny swim thing that really shows his...ahem, legs. Anyway, yeah click the button!
Also this might become a series on oneshots because in series 5 Cole looks upset at the end of some episodes, like this was Happily Ever After but also in Sympathy for the Demon and more.. if he can fall in love he can get upset and he needs someone to comfort him and cheer him up (ME ME ME ME)