The Mighty Belthazor

Phoebe was sitting on the arm of the couch, still in her dress.

"Relax, sweetheart." She smiled. "I could make tea or coffee?"

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"How about a beer?" Cole said, rubbing his hand over her leg.

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Phoebe nodded and hopped up. "A beer for you, water for me," she said as she headed into the kitchen.

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Cole gratefully accepted the bottle when Phoebe returned. "Thanks," he said, cracking it open. "He said he'd come by after prom."

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"I know, love," she said as she took a drink of her water.

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"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Cole said, playing with the bottle in his hands.

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"Won't know if we don't try." Phoebe shrugged her shoulder. "I can think of worse ideas... and keep in mind, I can read the emotions of both of you. If I think either one of you is not cool, I can always be the one who says I can't do this. Let's you both save face."

She definitely doesn't think about what Piper or Veronica would say to her about any of this.

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"True," Cole agreed. "But are you sure you are okay with it?"

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"Was my idea," she reminded him as she slid into his lap. "Don't shut me out and I'll be fine."

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"Never," Cole murmured, kissing her.

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Phoebe kissed him back. "I love you."

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"Love you, too," Cole said.

And then there was a knock at the door.

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It was pretty late by the time Anders had walked Parker back to her room, but as soon as he'd done his gentlemanly duty as her date, he made his way slowly but steadily up the stairs to the fifth floor, still in his tux.

Tugging at his collar, he knocked on the door.

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Cole walked over and answered the door. "Hey," he said quietly. "Come in."

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"Hey Anders," Phoebe called from where she was relaxing on the couch.

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Anders was still a little thrown by the total lack of animosity, but he nodded slowly and stepped into the room.

"Hey, Phoebe," he said with a hesitant but genuine smile. "Um. You guys have a good time tonight?"

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"Yeah," Cole said, sitting down by Phoebe again. He waved a hand toward the chair by the couch. "Have a seat."

And now for the uncomfortable silence.

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"I liked the gondola rides," Phoebe said with a smile. "How was your night?"

She poked Cole in the side gently.

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"It was good. Missed out on the gondola rides, though." Anders eased himself into the chair awkwardly and folded his hands in his lap. "Can't believe I got voted prince."

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"Congratulations," Bel said. "I voted for you," he added gruffly.

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Phoebe smiled at Cole's gruffness and then looked at Anders. "It just shows that sometimes the people of Fandom High have good taste." She shrugged. "I knew you'd win."

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"Thanks," Anders said, fidgeting a little.

He cleared his throat and lapsed back into awkward silence for a moment.

"So, um . . . what am I here to talk about?" Because the last time he'd gotten called up here for a conversation, it had ended kind of . . . interestingly.

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Cole glanced at Phoebe. "About, uh, us," he said.

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Phoebe nodded encouragingly at him and smiled. "Cole and I had a long talk the other night, Anders."

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Anders swallowed. "After you talked to me?" he asked, tugging at his collar again because wow, it got warm in here all of a sudden. He glanced questioningly at Bel, then back at Phoebe. "About . . . us?"

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"Okay," Cole said. "You can't be with me or Phoebe without the other knowing about it and being okay with it. No sneaking around. Any of us can call this off at any time."

Leave it to Bel to skip straight to the rules.

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Phoebe did not roll her eyes at her boyfriend. Really.

"We both care a lot about you, Anders," Phoebe said, watching his face. "We don't know how this is going to work out in the end, but we're willing to try... if you are."

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Anders went very pale -- and then very, very bright red; surprise, relief, and 'OMGWTFisthisreallyhappening' were all evident on his face.

"You're serious," he said faintly. "Really?"

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"We talked about it," Cole said. "We're willing to see what happens."

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Phoebe nodded at him.

"Really." She held up her water bottle. "Completely sober, too."

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Anders raised an eyebrow at Bel. "He's having a beer," he noted, "but I didn't touch the punch after they spiked it."

He ran a hand through his hair and blew out a long breath. "Holy frak . . . I don't know what to say. Other than -- well, you know how I feel, I guess."

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Bel had had a drink or two of the punch, but he didn't mention that. "Just don't do anything to piss me off," he said, all alpha-male and begging for a thwapping.

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Phoebe sighed and then thwapped him.

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Anders laughed softly. "I've done enough of that, haven't I? I should really start making up for it."

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Bel arched an eyebrow. "How do you propose to do that?"

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"I'm sure he has a few ideas, Cole," Phoebe said softly. "I have a feeling that anger is going to be the last thing any of us are thinking about."

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Anders blushed even more furiously. "I have . . . a few ideas in mind, yeah," he said, fidgeting a little more in his chair. And wow, this was so not how he had imagined his prom night going, but . . . wow. "If you guys are okay with that."

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Bel relaxed a little and cleared his throat. "We could, um, go to the bedroom to discuss this."

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"More room and more comfortable."

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Anders started hyperventilating just a little bit. "I could stand to get out of this tux jacket and bow tie at least," he agreed, fidgeting, but not quite willing to be the first person to stand up.

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Bel was willing. He stood up and reached for Phoebe with one hand, Anders with the other.

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Phoebe took Cole's hand and stood up beside him. She also kissed him when she did so.

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Anders took the hand Bel offered him and got to his feet, daring after a moment to sidle up close and rest his head against Bel's shoulder as he tentatively reached out toward Phoebe with his free hand.

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