Cole shimmered back to Burvjara and came out of the shimmer in an isolated part of the realm, where the explosion from his magic would not harm any of the beings there.

The earth in this part was newly scorched dark blue and what was left of the vegetation was still smouldering. The war had not died down in Cole's absence, which was cycles in this realm. The orange sky was sparkling red with what Cole recognised as  the remains of the demonic  power weapons, burning themselves out.

Cole pulled his clothing around him. He had a thick woollen coat Phoebe had bought at the used clothing  shop a month before and he could not find the last time he rushed out to this realm, and he pulled down a ski mask of Leo's he had pinched  to block some of the smell of death. He slung the small backpack in which he had put some food over his shoulder, and set off for a long walk across scorched earth to the place of the latest great battle.

To reach where he needed to go was a very long distance and it would take him some time to walk it, passing across burnt stony ground and climbing his way over a number of small trails and occasionally walking along side what had once been a highway but had long since fallen into a potholed impassable ruin. Its main function these days was to point the way between what had once been cities and towns. The highway was interspersed with wrecks of the vehicles that had once travelled the highways. Cole had been told they ran off the magic from the pole but like everything else, the technology had been lost in the desperate need to survive. With the places to make them destroyed and the places to use them impassable, the abandoned vehicles made of a non-destructible material refusing to rot seemed very symbolic of the whole of Burvjara.

He managed to avoid combatant patrols on the long walk, until not far from where he was going when he spied them about 500 strides away, and not wanting to start battle with this group that was an outer circle patrol he thought he could risk a shimmer. As he watched them in the distance Cole frowned, seriously disturbed because he realised this particular group of Burvjarians were accompanied by a demon. That the conflict in Burvjara had become so very bad that demons were openly joining combatants in battle made Cole understand just how grave the situation had become.

The shimmer made the whole area around him explode in a fiery ball, effectively announcing his presence. Cole took advantage of the shimmer, coming out of it, in an explosion of fire maybe a thousand strides away from where he was aware a large number of combatants were holding a position high on one of the cliff like structures that were typical of Burvjara. As Cole took in the situation he saw that this group of combatants were using the advantage of the high ground to hold an offensive position against a group of combatants who held what had once been a medium size town situated below on  the typical, once fertile plains of Burvjara. The combatants position on the cliff effectively prevented those below from advancing into the territory they held, and Cole recognised that as long as no other group was able to move up behind the combatants who held the high ground, they would be able to maintain a state of siege, for as long a their own supplies lasted. This gave those in the plain below a choice to retreat or defend the area they held. Cole had no doubt that should those below choose to defend the result would be bloody.

He also had no doubt, since seeing the demon on patrol that those combatants on the high cliffs success in maintaining the siege and protecting their rear, was in no small part due to demonic support and supplies. And he cursed the Geztalt for their canny ability to infiltrate the combatants and satisfy their needs.

Cole walked toward the cliff edge realising that approaching the combatants in the plain below would be useless unless he could do something about the demons supporting the combatants on the cliff. He knew by this time all of them, those combatants in the siege below and those holding the cliff position would be aware of his presence. He hoped the magic that exploded the air would give him an aura of power that could be useful.

Cole moved on toward where the siegers held their ground. He skirted some patrols so battle aware they were already seeking him. He passed several funeral pyres already waiting to be dealt with by the enemy as the siegers made their inevitable retreat. The evidence that despite demonic intervention a retreat was already planned, gave Cole a sense of relief. The condition of the dead  gave Cole some idea of the viciousness of the present fighting.

The violence of fighting for so little had, when Cole first came to Burvjara, left him confused. 

Glock had tried to explain it and finally concluded, "We fight because we can find no other way. We kill each other in these fights because we do not know how to fight and not kill each other. We fight so hard for so little because we have so little each fight is for everything we have."

 "How do you change this?" Cole asked seriously

"I do not know "Glock had answered just as seriously

As Cole moved forward skirting and ducking between rocks because there was almost no vegetation left on he battle scared cliffs he became aware of another patrol not far away and considered whether he could simply dispose of the demons without harming combatants. And then decided that destroying the demons, a lower level sect of mercenaries was irrelevant at this moment, and therefore unnecessary. Better to confront the combatants who were allied with them before he unleashed his wrath on them.

A few hundred strides on, Cole stepped from behind cover and faced a group of five combatants and 2 demons. The combatants held the gun-like weapons that blasted a power sourced from the magic pole that was typical of the Burvjarians.

The demons he could see clearly were of the yeoman warrior sects. Mercenary warriors of the lower order who were often owned by the great warlord upper level demons and hired out as mercenaries. Many Cole knew were mortals who had sold their souls. The demons, looking human, carried bows and arrows, demonic manufactured but not magical and a form of blaster that he had seen used before that blew apart all those in their paths with a form of air movement that could take on tornado proportions. Frightening weapons but not magical, clearly the demons also knew of the dangers of using magic in Burvjara's war torn atmosphere. He doubted they had any consideration for the Burvjarians so he concluded the demons were as vulnerable to the explosions their magic caused as the combatants.

The combatants with the demons had rough hoods pulled over their faces and pointed their weapons at Cole. He could not see their faces and he had never been able to master the complicated Burvjarian clan system that  enabled them to recognise allies and foes regardless of the fact their robes seemed to Cole remarkably similar. 

He symbolically raised his hands but these combatants knowing the magic they had seen were taking no prisoners and before he could say anything they  fired  their weapons straight at him.  Cole easily deflected their fire. When he deflected another burst he was attacked from behind by three more, one put his arm around Cole's throat and tried to crush his larynx . Cole flipped him away and resisted the instinctive temptation to shimmer or use magic to protect himself.

He pulled free and slammed the combatants to the ground, until finally strong armed by five demons  who must have been with another group close by. The demons flung him to the ground and  a combatant put his foot on Cole's  chest and fired his weapon point blank. It ineffectually passed through Cole and he jumped to his feet realising how damn futile this fighting was. A demon fired an arrow through him. Cole almost with irritation and pulled the arrow out of him then he was flung down by several of the demons.

Cole  lay still on the ground as several more combatants approached wondering how to end this more and more ridiculous game of push and shove. One of the later arrivals ordered Cole's maybe captors to stand away. He threw his hood back slightly Cole on the ground looked up to see the leader standing there.

Glock half raised his weapon.

"We tried to finish him" explained a combatant, awkward in the face of his failure. "Its one of the Others and we cannot destroy him"

Glock slowly put down his weapon "Then it makes no sense to keep wasting ammunition" he said reasonably.

Glock remained still and alert and the demons trained their weapons on Cole who with an irritated hiss of breath pulled off Leo's ski mask and still on the ground met Glock's cynical stare.

"Welcome friend" Glock smiled amused, his orange trunk like nose growing darker with his amusement.

"Pleased to see you…eventually" Cole answered. "You took your time coming."

After a small hesitation, Glock put his hand out and helped Cole to his feet.

"Not used to seeing you behind the action" Cole muttered as the other combatants stood weapons ready for more.

"I am older now" Glock commented, "I run more slowly. An acquaintance "he told the combatants. "Keep the circuits guarded and watch and if you see those who are not of us, any Others. Destroy them as you can."

"We tried to destroy this one "said a combatant suspiciously.

"You follow my orders well "Glock told him with a nod. "I am pleased. But this one is indestructible, those Others working with the enemy below are not."

Cole listened with a grim expression which Glock clearly saw.

Glock ordered the demons and combatants away. The combatants lowered their weapons, although Cole noticed several kept them cocked and  two actually hovered them mutinously in Glock's direction. Glock turned to them and held his stance and after a beat or two they lowered the weapons completely.

The demons held their ground and kept their weapons. 

"Go" Glock ordered them his voice calm and authoritative. As they still hesitated, Glock raised his hand an Cole knew the gesture as used by Burvjarians connecting with magic.

Even so the  demons looked set to argue and Glock with calm assurance met their hostility and something in the expression of an old warrior leader who had nothing left about which to be frightened, frightened them and they backed away.

Cole watched the combatants and demons move away "You keep dangerous company my friend" Cole told Glock.

"I keep the company I need to fight those who I must fight," Glock told Cole "for the moment it is in their interests to listen to me because I have the magic and their masters believe me to be an ally" he said. "And I need them because I fear the allies of those who fight me."

Cole sucked his lips together but said nothing.

 "When the Others come with their promises to defeat the enemy, and allow the victors to rule in their image" Glock snorted "as their puppets, I must find allies who will enable me to resist. Because I know this to be true. Others no matter who, do not care about Burvjara whatever they claim. They come to ensure they control the magic, or control those who control the magic.'

"It is my role to ensure they do not "Cole told Glock bluntly

"Then I am pleased to see you" Glock told Cole just as bluntly maintaining a hard eye contact., "Eventually. You took your time coming."

Cole met the stare "I am here now " he said.

"Then I have hopes this last battle of mine will be victorious or at least achieve what I set out to do" Glock answered "I run more slowly" he told Cole in answer to the unspoken question.

"You may find the price your allies ask too expensive" Cole told Glock grimly  'the usual price is your soul."

"My soul is my own" Glock answered unrepentant "I own so little I do not part easily with what I have" he explained. 

"There are others who have thought the same and now exist as demon slaves" Cole told Glock as bluntly as he could.

"I will consort with the devil if the need is great and I can find no other way to protect what I must. We have strong magic still." Glock answered meet Cole's grim hard and angry expression. "The Others who come, they do this to us, every time they have come. They force those who will not submit to their view of justice and governance to deal with the devil because even though they call it peace they act toward those who have a different view of peace as if they are the devil themselves."

"I know" said Cole quietly.

"The Others who come offer no justice or .. assurance to those who are not in their image." Glock told Cole with a bitterness that was rare for him "I have seen this before all in the name of ….peace. They call those who oppose their puppets, insurgents, and fight us as their enemy and define us as evil , when they have created us as their enemy" he added scornfully " This they call peace." he said "I call it theft and murder" he added, the calm in his voice more lethal than any anger. "And if they make me I will deal with the devil. "

"And when your magic fails and the demon masters no longer see you as an ally" Cole asked

"Then they will kill me, or if I am not as wise as I hope I am, they may own me. But I will have done what must be done and stopped what must be stopped with the only means at my disposal." Glock answered with a smile, only the darkening orange of his skin betraying the pain at he cost of the battle.

"How will you have won?" Cole asked in a weary voice because he knew this was an argument he could not win.

"I have already won" said Glock "I have held them off until the Great Ogre arrived to drive the Others away and my clan will have won another battle, and protected us from slavery to the Others ."

"Your clan will have survived" Cole told him bluntly "No-one has won."

"Then I will be satisfied with that" Glock answered refusing to concede.

"It is not enough" Cole told him, his voice rasping "You need to find a way to do more than survive. You need to find a way to live without having to consort with the devil, without having to risk you soul to exist."

"A pretty thought "answered Glock with a small laugh as the twitching of his trunk like nose gave away the real emotion he was feeling. "How do I do that?."

"I do not know "said Cole frustrated, angry, bitter.

The two were silent for a while and finally Cole needing to move walked to ward the edge of the cliff where he could look down on the combatants Glock's group held in siege. Cole bitterly thought if he spoke to any-one down in the sieged holding, they would give him the same answer as Glock to the reasons they had chosen to escalate the war with new allies, and justify it by the evil of Glock's allies.

"You hold a good position" Cole said finally, indicating the siege below.

"I have fought many battles "Glock answered. "Too many" he said.

"And when they kill you "Cole asked "what becomes of your clan?"

"I have faith the ogres will come and drive the demons away" said Glock

"Your faith is justified" Cole told him.

"I know this seeing you" said Glock.

Cole nodded then shook his head, not being able to find the words he wanted. He shivered as the Burvjarian wind swept across the unprotected cliffs. Glock did not seem to notice.

"Do you judge me Ogre?" Glock said to  Cole "Do not. You have walked no steps in my boots. When you have, I will talk to you of finding another way. If I have survived" he added grimly.

"I judge no-one "Cole said "But I go to rid those who have come to assist your opponents "

"Good "said Glock searching in his pockets for his pipe.

"Then I will rid your opponents of your allies" Cole told Glock watching him intently.

Glock's yellow eyes never wavered although his trunk like nose twitched slightly and his orange skin became dark enough to look burnt "Good "he answered calmly.

Cole nodded "I need you to something" Cole told Glock, "or not do something."

"Which is?" Glock asked lighting his pipe.

"There will be a time between when I drive out your opponents' allies, and when I remove the demons, where your opponents will be vulnerable. You must not fight during this time. If you will fight you will end up selling your soul" Cole told him "I know demons and  they plan on this."

Glock hesitated and for a second Cole bitterly wondered if he had come to late and Glock had already sold his soul.

Glock nodded clearly aware of Cole's doubts.

"The demons will not be happy about this" Cole warned Glock.

Glock shrugged "They are used to being unhappy" he shrugged unconcerned.

"True "said Cole with half a smile "I will return the balance to your people. Do not fight. Hold your line" he ordered.

"And then what?" asked Glock "Nothing will have changed."

"It is for you to decide" Cole answered helplessly, "You could negotiate," he suggested.

"With what do any of us have to negotiate?" Glock asked amused "I will hold my line my friend" he promised.

Cole jumped suddenly as a burst of light from the opponents below shot past his ear. Glock continued to smoke.

"It is dangerous for you to be so visible" Cole told Glock said "So near the front."

"It is dangerous for anyone to be near the front "said Glock "you think I should protect myself from a danger I ask those who fight with me to face. You think I should hide and not fight beside my compatriots."

"I don't" Cole replied "but there are many leaders who would feel their lives are worth more and hide behind their soldiers."

"Then they would have sold their souls" Glock answered drawing deeply on his pipe.

………………………………………………………

Back at work, after having once again told her sisters precisely what she thought of missing lunch with John Cotton to watch spites dance around like cut out gnomes,  Phoebe tried to concentrate on a letter from a man complaining about his wife addicted to soap operas in the afternoon. She won't miss an episode he complained and then she spends hours on the phone talking to friends about them like they were real people. She needs to get a dose of reality he wrote, but if I even say anything like that to her she gets furious and calls me self-centred bastard. She wasn't  like that when I married her. She said I was enough of man for her, now I think when we make love she is thinking of characters called Tray and Brock and Tagg.

"She likes talking about them because they aren't real people" Phoebe wrote "she likes talking about them because she can solve their problems, and somehow being able to solve those problems gives her breathing space to deal with mortgages, bills, kids in hospitals and injuries, parents getting old and difficult and husbands who get so involved with their work they are to tired to  spoil her."

Phoebe stopped to think of someone she was missing spoiling her rotten at the moment. She called Cole's cell only to have the call transferred to Eduardo who suspiciously told her Cole was working out the office and didn't think he would be back that day. Eduardo said a little pointedly he had cancelled two clients and he hoped the work Cole was doing made up for it. Phoebe assured him it did, thanked Eduardo and listened to two stories about his grandchildren, laughing at one in particular and thinking how much pleasure so many people got from grandchildren.

She put the phone down and let her breath out with a hiss. Cole was back in Burvjara she guessed and had decided not to tell her. If he thought that would keep her from exploding he had another thing coming. She glared at the phone as if it was something evil because he had not called her on it. Then she guiltily remembered he had come to take her to lunch and she had other things on her mind. So maybe he had been going to tell her then, and spoil her. Which did nothing to ease her annoyance. Just because it was hard was no reason for him not to find a way to tell her. Damn it he knew she was high maintenance.

She giggled to herself, at his reaction when she yelled at him for not maintaining her high enough. He would laugh, eventually, because he knew exactly what she was like. She let her breath out in a long, long sigh. God how she loved him, how she secretly gloated every time she saw some woman sigh over him, knowing he was hers. Her reality was the man of everybody's dreams, and then she got mad because HER true  reality was wondering where Cole  was and what he was doing.

She wished sometime she could make him into a fantasy again, one where he was so devoted to her that he cried when he left her side, and maybe didn't bitch. Then she giggled. Definitely fantasy. Not Cole. That she decided was her problem, Cole was not fantasy, he was real, hard as it was still to believe sometimes, and if she fantasised it wasn't Cole.  Phoebe was quite prepared to admit she was living her fairytale which was not quite what she had imagined when she dreamed of living her fantasy.

Cole told her she was beautiful but it was always things like you are always beautiful to me and the scary one for a pregnant women over thirty, you have a beautiful soul, and if he was really pushed " I will love you no matter what you look like." even when he knew better. Usually followed by "Cut out the chocolate" or "it was your idea to get pregnant."

"Bastard "Phoebe thought. Definitely not a fantasy man.

A fantasy man would be one who did not tap his watch when she was only a  teeny bit late. Then  Phoebe's conscience pricked. Cole only really did that when she was more than half an hour late. She sighed . Once that used only  to happen when she was an hour late.

A fantasy man was  Oh John Cotton telling her she was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen and touched and smelt. A fantasy man would be oh John Cotton taking one look at her and deciding he would risk anything to have her. A fantasy man would be John Cotton making it very clear that in front of oh EVERYONE that he desired her, wanted her more than ANY-ONE else.

Phoebe suddenly had a mental picture of John Cotton doing this, his muscular body rippling under his shirt as he moved, the bulge in his pants big and getting bigger, his eyes black with desire , his lips moist. Her body shuddered with excitement, the shivers went down her back, she swallowed once twice three times, she licked her lips.

She thought of the excitement of John Cotton seducing her. Cole never seduced her these days, Phoebe missed that excitement. These days what Cole did was called foreplay and always ended in endplay unless interrupted by kids, magic, family or as once had happened she was so exhausted from all the of the above she fell asleep. Now if it was John Cotton it would be a delicious seduction with a maybe she will and a maybe she won't, and everything about John Cotton bulging.

As Phoebe fanaticised she became more and more excited the shivers of excitement through Phoebe's body became violent uncontrollable, her brain was in over drive. She crossed her legs and stroked her arms and licked her lips. Her breathing became shallow at the thought of all those bulges and muscles.  She had to have him, she wanted to know he wanted her. He had to know he wanted her.

Vaguely somewhere at the back of Phoebe's brain, she wondered what in the hell was wrong with her. It was one thing to play games and joke around with the girls at he office and compete about fanaticising over John Cotton. It was another to just have,  to have to, have to, have him.

The phone rang and she picked it up hastily, almost coming back to reality, with slight ragged breathing and she fought back disappointment when it wasn't Cole but Elise telling her she had to be at the Bay Mirror cocktails that evening.

"I can't," Phoebe started to say.

"Just be at the Excelsior for a reception after the press conference "Elise ordered her "Management want all the well known names supporting the news about Cotton. You seem just as besotted as all the other ninnies around here, even if you are happily married, so what's your problem. Can't bear to be away from Prince Charming." she sneered.

Elise had never quite gotten over her belief that her there were some secrets about Phoebe's marriage that would cause her some grave issues if they came out. Elise hated Cole because he was good looking, because Phoebe had him and becausesomething about him scared the hell out of her and always had.

"Reception for John Cotton" said Phoebe breathing hard, "John Cotton " she repeated. And sighed, then she gasped as  vision of  John Cotton's bulges hit her. Then she giggled.

"Are you all right? "asked Elise "you sound drunk" she said suspiciously.

"I'm pregnant. I don't drink" Phoebe told her indignantly "I would not risk my baby."

"Whatever . Sober up before you turn up with all those snoopy press people around" Elsie said forgetting she was one.

"John Cotton" whispered Phoebe throatily  "he's hot, in a Neanderthal sort of way."

"I thought you were in love with your husband" snapped Elise.

"I adore Cole " breathed Phoebe "John Cotton is... Any-one would fancy John Cotton."

"Well a man like that would not fancy you Phoebe" snipped Elsie enjoying herself. "he won’t be interested in you, not when there are younger, taller chickie babes falling in his way. Ones who aren't pregnant, who have figures."

Phoebe snorted down the phone.

"He won't gave you  a second glance" said Elise.

"Huh" said Phoebe 'there are men who find pregnant women  highly erotic, it’s the fertility thing.. I know men" she added. "I know how they fantasise."

"So I hear" replied  Elise nastily  "I thought your fantasy was an ARSEHOLE lawyer" she snipped.

"No that's my reality "sighed Phoebe "And I will have you know that men like John Cotton are only off limits to me they are not unavailable."

"You  really do have an incredible fantasy life don't you" snarked Elise  "Be at that party and be nice to the press," she said "Oh and prove it" she added spitefully as she hung up.

"Don't think I can’t," muttered Phoebe

She guiltily glanced at the photo of Cole and Whosit Patsy on her desk.  "I love you Cole :"she told the picture, " And its not like I fancy sleeping with him, its just I want to know how real those bulges are." And she lifted  her hands up as she was imagined feeling John Cotton's backside. "Research baby" she told the picture and the shiver went up her back, and she giggled  "Anyway there are some things a woman has to prove to herself."

And vaguely at the back of he brain she wondered what was wrong with her. If she really wanted to feel a few bulges Cole would be happy to oblige. If he was there she thought annoyed.

Phoebe pushed down all thoughts of fantasy and finished her column, only glancing at the phone once every five minutes expecting Cole to call.  When it finally became clear he was not going to call, she pulled out her cell. She tapped out a message saying she was working late, and sent it to Cole.

She finished a few more things still glaring at her phone. She pulled out her cell again and tapped out another message she was working late at a reception for John Cotton, sent it to Cole then deliberately turned the phone off.

"Gee Cole isn't it a pity you couldn't contact me to say come home instead" Phoebe told his picture and then giggled as she thought of John Cotton's backside , and then she put Cole's picture facedown.

After finishing her column, Phoebe went over to her office closet and pulled out the emergency, black lace and beaded "after five" emergency wear she kept for the occasions when she had to go to receptions on short notice. She was wearing a scarlet bra that would show but what the hell she thought. She took the top and her repair kit to the washroom.

Five other  women who worked at the Bay Mirror were also involved in freshening up and four were changing to other garments, that were totally unsuitable for work wear and may have just passed as after five wear, as Phoebe changed her top.

"You know" said Ella the gossip columnist as she put on bright red lipstick "I heard from one of my sources, not that I could print it of course, that Natasha Charle., yeah the supermodel said after her affair with John Cotton, that he was the greatest thing in bed she ever knew. She said he found places that she didn't know she had, said that she had orgasms with him, she did not believe were possible and he could go all night and part of the day and keep her going too. She said he wasn't.. he ain't stuffing socks down his jocks ladies"

All the women in the washroom but one licked their lips.

"I didn't think he was "Phoebe said licking her lips again, her eyes bright. "But its nice to have it confirmed," she said huskily slightly thrusting her hips and Pookie forward, just thinking about it. She noticed in the mirror that her boobs were bigger than the last time she wore the black lace and not only did it show her boobs pushing out of the red bra, the amount of cleavage shown above the scalloped neck line was impressive.

"That's it" said Alison a photographer bitterly. She was scrunching her normally sensibly styled hair into loose sexy curls. Alison was a short girl, a little on the plump side but quite attractive in a girl next door way. "A man like that, all he's going to look at,  is supermodels and movie stars."

"I know "replied Jasmine, a tall thin highly credentialed arts reporter  who was on the wrong side of 40. "look at the list of woman he's dated. Everyone of them just gorgeous and some-one's dream."

"He says he's attracted to intelligent women" said Miranda wiping her glasses. Miranda was the finance reporter for the Bay Mirror.

"Hmm" snorted Libby who was a lesbian  and famous columnist and was just washing her hands" Either John Cotton is lying or he's been a long time between drinks. He's attracted to cunts."

"Only those attached to supermodels and movie stars" whimpered Alison positively shaking with regret.

"Oh I don't know "said Phoebe carefully redoing her eye makeup to make her big brown eyes look bigger , darker and more luminous, "I think he is telling the truth, he is attracted to intelligent woman."

"I think he means beautiful intelligent women" said Miranda sadly.

"I think he is attracted to intelligent beautiful women" said Phoebe pondering the question. "maybe I'll ask him at the cocktail party tonight." She trembled with anticipation at the thought and was joined in a collective sigh by all the women except Libby who threw her hands up in disgust.

"Well he won't be interested in you "  Jasmine told Phoebe bitchily

"What's that supposed to mean' demanded Phoebe angrily her blood reaching the boiling point of her hormones.

"well look at you honey" said Jasmine "You're pregnant, if you say you're 4 months you are but honey you look six to me, "

"I know men "said Phoebe  through gritted teeth "Many men find pregnant women irresistible. It the earth mother thing. Its their fantasy, the fertility thing is very sexy "she added " They just think it will get them into trouble if they admit it." She smirked

"They think there is no risk of a paternity suite" said Libby taking her time with the hand dryer.

"You're over thirty Phoebe "snorted Jasmine "Take it from me, over thirty means over the hill. They say attractive they mean young. "

"I know men," said Phoebe "they like women not girls"

The group collectively snorted.

"Anyway Phoebe," smirked Miranda "aren't you the one who claims to be happily married?   Aren’t you the one who had hubby bouncing around seducing the chief's wife with his smile just to prove you're happily married."

"I m not interested in  John Cotton that way" said Phoebe , flushing with hormones and aware of the shivers in her back, and unaware that she covered her mouth with her hand, the classic sign of lying "I'm just saying he's a discerning man who appreciates attractive intelligent WOMEN. What's wrong with that? " she demanded.

"Personally I find the tall dark dreamy sort attractive too" said Alison, thinking about it and shuddering "like that  dreamy hubby of yours Phoebe. At least you know whatever you are, that’s what he's attracted to "she said bitchily  "Or anyway can get it up for" she added glaring at Pookie.

"Stupid" muttered Libby under her breath  "although if I need to get impregnated" and she smirked at the expanse of Pookie "you know I think I would rather your hubby, than the sports iock "she told Phoebe "At least your hubby looks like he's got a  brain a s well as a dick. Good for the kid" she added as Phoebe put a protective hand across Pookie.

 "'What is he 6'4"?" Alison asked

"6'2","said Phoebe between her teeth "He's taken" she added nastily. "He loves me."

"Forgetting that for lust are we?" asked Libby very smug.

"Well "sighed Miranda "I could forget my hubby  for John Cotton. Did you see that bum, in those jeans."

"Me too "said Alison as Phoebe and all the women except Libby nodded.

"You realise you lot are going hormonally nuts" Libby said "and its worse since she came in" she added pointing at Phoebe. Then Libby cocked her head. "Though if I can find a bi girlfriend I suppose John Cotton would be okay to play with."

"Looks like hormones are catching "said Phoebe cattily as she applied more bright lipstick and smacked her lips.

....................................................................