South Attic [After Period 6]

[demonbelthazor]

Cole walked in silence with Phoebe after leaving class. He didn't relish starting a fight with her, not so soon after last night, but there were a few things he had to set straight, and that had been made painfully clear after his conversation with Kiki.

Comments

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe's concern had done nothing but grow during class and then with Cole's silence on the way back to their dorm. There was anger radiating off of him and she didn't understand what had happened. He had been in such a good mood earlier in the day.

She sat down on the couch and looked at him in confusion. "Soulmate?"

[demonbelthazor]

"We need to talk," he said, stating the obvious as he paced. "I didn't want to do this this soon, but Kiki oh so nicely reminded me about this."

[sensethevisions]

"Kiki?" Okay, now she was even more confused. "We're going to fight, aren't we?" she asked sadly.

[demonbelthazor]

He sat down next to her and took her hands in his. "I don't want to fight," he said. "But I don't want you seeing Crowley again, either."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe looked down and then looked back at him.

"The stupid marriage contract?"

[demonbelthazor]

"Right," he said. "Kiki says you still think it's valid."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe nodded.

[demonbelthazor]

"And what are you going to do about it?"

[sensethevisions]

"I don't know, yet, but I'm certainly not walking down the damn aisle," she said softly. "There's only one I want like that."

[demonbelthazor]

"You don't belong to him, Phoebe." You belong to me.

[sensethevisions]

"You have to believe me when I say I didn't know it included marriage when I agreed to sign... when I asked for the contract to sign." I'll always be yours.

[demonbelthazor]

"Dammit, Phoebe, demons have no honor," Cole snapped. "Crowley's already broken the terms of the contract. You are not bound to it, why can't you see that?"

[sensethevisions]

"Because I do have honour," Phoebe snapped back as she got up and started pacing. "You act like... like I'm blind and stupid," she said in a hurt voice. "I was foolish in signing the contract, but I have honour. I may not be able to break the wedding contract, but I'm betting that there is something I can do to make him break it."

She looked at him. "You told me that you believed in me, Cole."

[demonbelthazor]

"I do believe in you!" Cole said. "But you don't understand that a contract takes both sides. If he's broken his side, then the contract is null and void. It has nothing to do with your honor, just your stubborness! I don't want you to go anywhere near him anymore!"

[sensethevisions]

"If I break my word, I'll know that I lost honour or grace. However, if I get him to break it... that would be different." She looked like she was thinking. "That could work," she said almost to herself.

She turned to him, and knelt on her knees in front of him. She placed her hands on his knees. "I'm going to need to have contact with him... but what if I made sure you were with me most times?" Her mind was spinning into gear and she was getting ideas. "I can talk to... to Marty I'll borrow one of his communicator thingies. That way if you can't be with me, you can monitor and hear everything going on."

Her eyes were begging him. "Please, Cole, trust me that I know what I'm doing... trust me that I'm nt just ging to give in... that I will fix this?"

[demonbelthazor]

"Why do you need contact with him?" Cole grumbled. "Think about it. Where were you when you thought I was trying to drive you to despair? Crowley's hotel. Where was I when I thought I was with you after Marty tranqed me? Crowley's hotel. He's trying to tear us apart, Phoebe, I know it."

[sensethevisions]

"He can't and he's not going to," she said fiercely, aware he hasn't answered her question. "You are mine as much as I'm yours. As long as we stick together and we trust and believe in each other, no one can tear us apart, Cole."

[demonbelthazor]

"Then give this up!" Cole pleaded. "You wanted me to choose, and I want you to do it, too. I can't handle you playing these games with Crowley. I need you to stay as far away from him as possible."

[sensethevisions]

"I wanted you to choose life over death, Cole," she said gently. "And I've made my choice, too. But in order to be faithful to that choice and to what I am, I have to get him to end the contract. I have to do this my way, but I also have to know I can tell you everything that happens, every move that I'm making without you getting all snarly on me." She looked at him. "I don't want this to be added to that list of secrets we have to keep from each other. I'm not asking yu to be happy with me endangering myself. I'm begging you to believe in me that I'll get this fixed."

[demonbelthazor]

"Fine," Cole said wearily. "Do whatever you want."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe dropped her head on his knee.

"I'll get this fixed... I promise you on my heart I will."

[demonbelthazor]

"Sure," he said bleakly. "Whatever you want to do."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe closed her eyes.

He didn't trust that she could do this. She had hurt him so much.

Tears filled her eyes and she got up on the couch next to him. She pulled him into her arms and held him against her.

Not even twenty-four hours and they were already fighting. So, did he want step by step information about her plans as she carried them out, or should she continue holding them close to her chest?

"I'll get it broken."

[demonbelthazor]

"I hope so," he said softly, "but I'll be here to pick up the pieces so long as there's something that's Phoebe left."

[sensethevisions]

She looked down at him in sudden understanding.

"You're scared... not just for us... you're scared something is going to happen to me that can't be fixed."

[demonbelthazor]

"He's a demon, love," Cole said. "He's thousands of years old. He chews witches up and spits the shells out. You're just a game to him and if you're going to play right into his hand, there's nothing I can do but watch and wait."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe bit her lip. He was worried.

"Would you rather I keep you informed... or would it be easier for you if I kept my plotting and planning a secret?"

[demonbelthazor]

He managed a weak laugh. "That sounds familiar. I think...I think I'd rather know."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe nodded. "I prefer it that way, too." She looked down at him. "Are you too angry at me for me to stay home tonight?"

She didn't want to leave. She wanted to lock the doors and just spend the night holding him and kissing him and showing him how much he meant to her.

[demonbelthazor]

"I'm not going anywhere," he said. He wrapped his arms around her and picked her up and carried her into the bedroom.