Suite 518/520, Saturday night - NFB

[demonbelthazor]

Cole shimmered into their room with Phoebe in his arms. He wasn't sure what she had done to get him out of the Wastelands, but that wasn't important right now. What was important was that he was alive. And with Phoebe.


[ooc: NFB and locked to future_visions. May get NWS for obvious reasons, but not 'til later since half of the reunited couple is going to sleep. ;) ]

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[sensethevisions]

Phoebe shook her head. "You're really alive, soulmate," she assured him. She placed his hand over her heart. "Does this feel like a dream, love?"

[demonbelthazor]

He kept his hand over her heart, closing his eyes and letting himself just feel her heartbeat. "I never thought I'd hold you again . . . I shouldn't be here, I should be dead."

[sensethevisions]

"No, Cole, you should be here. You should be alive." Phoebe's voice was soft, but there were tears in her eyes. "You didn't belong in the Wastelands. You belong here... with me."

[demonbelthazor]

"After the things I did, how can I face anyone?" Cole said, his voice filled with anguish. "I hurt so many people."

[sensethevisions]

"You can face everyone because they all know that it wasn't you that did everything. Sweetheart, James and Anders made me realize that when they came with the others into the Underworld to bring us home. The Source wore your face, but that was all. You didn't do any of those things and they -- and I -- know it. James and Aziraphale came with me to bring you back -- so did Anders and Bridge and Nadia. Anders and Bridge were not about to let me do this alone. They wanted you back. Alanna and Blair came, too. Do you honestly think they would have risked so much if they didn't still love you and know that you were not the one responsible for the evil done in your body?"

[demonbelthazor]

Cole twitched a little at the mention of Anders. "I should've fought harder," he said. "I could've stopped the Source."

[sensethevisions]

"Isabel said that you fought a hard as you could, love," she said softly. "You were no match for the Source of All Evil. No one alone is."

Phoebe pretended not to notice him twitch about Anders since that was a conversation they would need to have -- but at another time.

"Had it been me taken over and possessed, would you have blamed mefor not being strong enough against him?"

[demonbelthazor]

"No, but . . . I don't know," Cole said. He pulled away from Phoebe and sat down on the couch, his face in his hands. "I can't stop feeling like I should've been able to stop all this from happening. I could see everything the Source was doing, and I tried so hard."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe sat down next to him and ran a hand through his hair. "And that is why it wasn't your fault. You did fight back and you did try to prevent what was happening."

[demonbelthazor]

"You may believe that, some others might, but. . . ." He looked around the room helplessly. "I can't stay here."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe turned white. "Why? Why can't you stay? You're safe here. Damn it, love, we went there after you because we believed in you and the idea that you were..." Phoebe swallowed and tried to get him to understand. "Cole, when I thought you were dead, when I lost you, it hurt too much to breathe and to live. I wanted to curl up and just die. Others were hurt about the idea of you never coming back as well. Don't you see? You're wanted here, love. You're wanted here because of the man that you are." She looked at him calmly. "And, I can give you concrete proof that up until the end you were fighting the Source every minute -- and that everyone here knows that."

[demonbelthazor]

"I don't know," Cole sighed, leaning against Phoebe. "This is all just so confusing. One minute I was in the Wastelands and preparing myself to just give in and move on, and the next I'm back here with you. It doesn't seem possible."

[sensethevisions]

Phoeobe put an arm around him. "I know love. I don't know exactly how everything workedd, either, so I can only imagine how hard all of this must be on you to understand. But you are here." She turned his head gently so he would look into her face. "There is a lot about this that I do not understand, but there are a few things that I do. Your soul, the man that you are, you kept The Source from killing me every chance he had. Yes, he wore your face and your body, but he couldn't overcome or control your heart or your soul. I was vulnerable and never even realized it because that part of you kept protecting me."

Phoebe cradled his face in her hands. "You didn't belong in that place, sweetheart. You've been given a second chance to live and be the man you have been, Cole. Don't let shouldering the blame for deeds not yours to carry keep you from making the most of this chance."

[demonbelthazor]

"I don't know what I am anymore, Phoebe," Cole said hesitantly. "I don't think I'm human anymore. In the Wastelands, I absorbed powers to fight the Beast."

[sensethevisions]

"You did what you had to do to survive until help could come." She kissed him gently. "You're Cole, just like always. That is who you are andwho you have been. Human or demon, it doesn't matter. What matters most is what you do with the new powers you have been given."

[demonbelthazor]

"I missed you so much," Cole said, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "I love you, Phoebe. I even made the Source feel that."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe curled into him tightly. "I love you, too, Cole and I missed you so much. When I thought..." She sniffled a little. "I know you did," she finished softly.

[demonbelthazor]

"You don't know how good it feels to be here with you," Cole said, kissing her forehead. "And to really be me again."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe smiled at him. "I can feel you within me again, love," she nodded. "And I am so glad to have you... the real you... back with me."

[demonbelthazor]

He kissed Phoebe, softly at first, then growing in intensity. "I don't know what I'd do without you," he said.

[sensethevisions]

"Let's not try finding this out, okay," she requested as she kissed him deeply. "I have missed this..."

[demonbelthazor]

"Me, too," Cole said, gently pushing Phoebe down on the couch, dislodging the cats that had come to investigate what was going on.