Faithfully Yours Part 5: A Time in the Affairs of Witches   Chapter 33 "The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means."   Oscar Wilde

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple. Oscar Wilde"

For Cole the rest of the night did not improve. He went to fix his broken nose in the main bathroom and woke Melinda  who sleepily rubbing her eyes followed him in to see what was wrong.

She had tried to comfort Unca Cole by demanding he hug her. For a second he had to push her away while he stopped the acid blood and she had burst into tears and run to Unca Glock who was just coming upstairs.

Glock hugged her and it took Cole some determination to retrieve her from Glock who nose was twitching excessively. Finally Melinda hesitantly hugged Cole and he had swallowed hard choking down a sob as she touched the broken nose. He put her back to bed.

He stroked he face gently and she whispered "Wuv you Unca Cole."

Cole smiled in satisfaction.

"Wuv you Unca Glock" she said as Glock came over and stroked her hair, his large orange hand making her appear a fragile pixie.

"Yours is not a perfect world" Glock told Cole clearly recognising jealousy  "And I did not ask to be brought into it." He added.

Cole sucked his breath, swallowing down a bout of jealousy that he knew was totally unreasonable. It was just that every one in his life whom he was used to unconditional affection seemed to be relegating him to a far second.

Piper went to clean her teeth in the main bathroom before bed and found acid marks on the tiles. She yelled at Cole for healing his broken nose there, Glock watched with some amusement as Piper told Cole exactly what she thought of his inconsiderateness.

When he tried to start the argument again, claiming Piper was blaming him for being who he was she flattened his argument with a litany of all the problems being he was, had caused the family.

Cole turned to Phoebe for support.

Phoebe listened to the argument with amusement but was not in the mood to be supportive. "I warned you what would happen if another woman started after you." she said sweetly.

"How in the hell am I responsible for how women behave?" Cole demanded, but his eyes were soft as Phoebe sucked on her lips and blew him a kiss. "Did I send the damned spites? Did I spread the bloody plague?" he pushed

"When you were a demon did you ever seduce women to spread evil?" Phoebe asked nose in the air"

Cole flushed.

"You bastard" said Phoebe genuinely shocked, and then she shrugged. "It's your fault for letting women get besotted with you" she told him. "Retribution."

"So that's George's excuse" Cole snipped and knew he had pushed to far the second her face crumbled like her son's when he was upset. Before she could answer there was a wail from the boy's room.

"Patsy" she said sucking her lip even harder. Cole sighed as she rushed past him anxiously

Patsy was awake and very grumpy. Phoebe spent some time reading a story to Patsy to get him to settle, one he seemed to like when Leo and Cole read it to him. It was about mechanical things that made lost of noise. She had to make all the noises but she suspected male voices were much better for noises because Patsy pouted almost to the end before he fell asleep. She swallowed down a hard lump when she realised there were some things a mother could not do for a boy.  Wyatt was fortunately sleeping through when her cell phone still in her pants pocket, rang and she hastily answered whispering to George she would call him back. Unfortunately the whisper still woke Wyatt and caused him to wah very loudly..

Phoebe busied herself getting Wyatt back to sleep and forgetting George. She spent some anxious minutes hoping Patsy was not teething as he rubbed at his mouth and muttered in his sleep. She was sitting stroking Patsy's face and watching him sleep, still amazed he was her precious boy when Cole came into the room and stood behind her, rest his hand on her hair

"If he starts teething again, I don't think I could cope right now" she whispered to Cole "especially if you get anther call to Burvjara or Africa or something "I don't think I could cope with the teething on my own".

He put his arm around her and said "You'll cope." he said softly "You can cope with anything." 

"Easy for you to say" Phoebe muttered hoarsely. She stood and turned in his arms and putting her hand on his face. "You never have to deal with this stuff alone. I'm always here while you're off saving magic. There's a difference between being supportive and being patronising".

"That's not…"and he stopped and winced.

"What?" Phoebe asked biting her lip knowing the answer "Burvjara?" she asked in a terse voice.

"Africa" he said

"Isn't Burvjara enough?" Phoebe demanded as she observed, even in his sleep Patsy's irritable disgruntled face. It could have been because the teething was getting closer but it may also have been because he sensed his father's distraction and Phoebe in the mode she was in was inclined to blame it on the latter. 

Cole went back to their bedroom. Phoebe followed to find him pulling the closet apart looking for his red sweater. "It's cold in the South of Africa" he explained.

"Never think of that "Phoebe said nodding. She swallowed "You always look sexy in that sweater".

"That's why I wear it" he grinned. "I'm joking" he said as he saw here face.

Phoebe looked at him brown eyes wide "I hate it when those damn women fall all over you" she confessed. 'When they puff and pant and drool... like you weren't mine. Like they had a chance."

"They don't have a chance Phoebe "he said slowly.

"I get scared, they're all more ... better for you than me" she whispered catching his hand. "You know what I am. Contrary. Want what I want. A bit self centred" she confessed.

"I know what you are "he said the smile he saved just for her on his face "I gave up evil for it. It was worth that. You think I would give up evil for Mrs Taylor." He grinned "No-one else is better for me" he said "No-one else can hold me to account."

Phoebe shook her head disbelieving. "I didn't walk through the fire Cole" she said I'm not capable of trusting you like you do me, forgiving you like you forgive me."

"I know" he said evenly "that's why I can't lie to you. That's why I did it. "

"I know you're not evil" she said "but it is evil what happens, those women throwing themselves at my husband. And I hate it and I blame you for it"

'"That's honest" he said "What do you want me to do. Take a mortal form that isn't me so they won't be interested."

"That would help "Phoebe said chin coming up. She swallowed and smiled "As long as you can change it back for me" she added sweetly.

"You mean you won't love me no matter what I look like" he said grinning.

Phoebe swallowed "I'm being ridiculous and unfair and stupid aren't I?"

"Yes" he said just a little too quickly

"I'm still going to be not good about it" she said "Its evil" she said passionately "Trying to break up someone else's marriage, trying to take some-one away from some-one who loves them. Just because they fantasy someone."

"Spites are demons Phoebe, " Cole said in exasperation "Of course it's evil what they make those women do but the innocents are still innocent, until they fall anyway" he added.

"That's what frightens me. This seems like a plague to make innocents fall." Said Phoebe the truth speaker.

"I LOVE you" Cole said  "and I love YOU." He put his arm around her and hugged "And I have to go to Africa" he said.

"African women?" Phoebe asked pertly. She noted Cole did not answer as he shimmered and pouted.. She pulled her cell from her pants pocket and glanced at George's number before putting it back in her pocket just as she heard orbs downstairs.

Phoebe went downstairs to find Paige returned from taking Leslie home. Paige walked into the kitchen wordlessly, followed by her concerned sisters.

"How did it go?" asked Piper.

"It was okay?" asked Phoebe "Was…"

Paige held up her hand to stop the questions. She went to the refrigerator and pulled a Red Bull out, guzzled half of it, then helped herself to a large bowl of ice-cream full cream variety double strawberry because chocolate chip was off limits at the Manor at the moment, and then finished off with the remains of a cheese cake.

Piper and Phoebe hovering watched her eat and each time they tried to talk to her she firmly shook her head and kept on eating.

When she licked the last crumb of cheese cake off her plate, Phoebe snatched it away while Piper hands on hips demanded "What happened?"

Paige licked her lips. "No. It wasn't okay?" she said.

She stood up and walked out to the stairs.

Piper stared at Phoebe "What the hell is that about?" she demanded

"Book of Shadows" said Phoebe knowing the look. She followed Paige.

Piper raised her hands in exasperation and followed Phoebe.

Leo was sitting at the dining table, taking the chance for some light reading of Ayn Rand which he said allowed him to keep Marx in perspective.  As Paige stomped by him, he looked up and started to speak. Piper firmly shook her head and Leo nodded.

Leo sighed wondering how long it had been since he connected with Piper then bit his lip as he noticed her check out the conservatory door where a blue flicker of light could be seen. Glock was in the backyard smoking.

Piper and Phoebe arrived at the attic to find Paige flicking, her fingers moving frantically, through the Book of Shadows.

"What are you looking for?" Phoebe asked carefully

"What is it when people try to make you believe what they want you to believe, because it suits them?" Paige demanded

"It isn't magic" said Phoebe. "so the Book of Shadows won't help."

"Not good magic" Piper added as Paige banged the book shut.  "It's called propaganda" she said

"Yeah" said Paige. "What does war propaganda sound like?" she asked prowling around the attic while Phoebe and Piper exchanged concerned glances. "What does it sound like?" Paige insisted stopping to stare out the window.

"Don't know" said Piper finally "Ask Leo".

After a certain amount of yelling Leo grumpily made his way to the attic where Paige spun on him. "What does war propaganda sound like?" Paige demanded.

Leo half shrugged. "Propaganda sounds like Powers that Be not being certain enough of the justification of their case that they have to spin it" he said.

"Lie you mean" snorted Piper.

Leo shook his head. "Not completely. You need to remember that propaganda can be true or have some truth "Leo said "Only its twisted so the truth looks better for the argument than it may be. Simpler, easier to digest." He smiled wryly "Only..."'he shrugged "The truth is rarely pure and never simple. Oscar Wilde” he added.

Piper raised her eyes which Leo saw. "I suppose Wilde is better than Plato" she sighed.

"Why?" asked Leo a touch snippily. "If it is true, it's true no matter who says it."

Paige sucked in her lip and raised her eyes..

"How can it be true if they are trying to tell you a lie?" Phoebe asked jumping in before the conversation became about Piper and Leo.

´"Just selective enough with the truth" Leo told them "Propagandists use logical fallacies that can be very convincing. Use appealing, simple slogans. Try to make it easy for people to follow them without really thinking it through."

"Propagandists used words like negotiation" asked Paige rubbing her hands nervously.

"That means complete surrender" Leo explained, "in propaganda speak."

"Words like victory" suggested Paige  "Credible threat."

"They mean annihilation" said Leo

"If they just say credible "said Paige

"Credible means you take some facts and rationalise them into a feasible but simplistic scenario' "said Leo. "Sound like propaganda to me" he said.

"Use words like enemy, aggressive, bully, perpetrate, mutilate" Paige said slowly

"Slogans, stereotype " Leo said "just over simplified. You know makes the enemy faceless not real."

"Like the Geztalt" said Phoebe. "Only they chose to be "she added "Chose to be faceless" she explained

"What do the Geztalt get out of that?" mused Piper side tracked.

"Faces would not make them a feasible enemy" said Phoebe and swallowed.

"The Burvjarian aren't faceless" said Piper.

Leo made a small exasperated noise "What happened tonight Paige, when you took Leslie home?" he asked.

"That's what happened" Paige said catching her arms around herself protectively.

'"What do you mean?" Piper frowned

"What happened,' Paige said "What Leo said, happened."

"I don't understand" said Phoebe glancing at Piper who sucked her breath.

"They used words like negotiate, victory, enemy, decimate, destroy, willing, to fight for good" Paige said "The right thing" she said.  "Great responsibility" she said "Duty" she said. "Imminent danger. Our way of life"

"Propaganda" Leo suggested and Paige nodded

"What happened with Leslie?'" Piper asked, trying hard to be patient and not entirely succeeding.

"Propaganda" said Paige wringing her hands harder. "Only those witches were so intense… really pushing the party line, it sounded like... it sounded like it was true."

"Witches?" asked Phoebe

"That's why propaganda works" Leo explained to them

"And whitelighters" said Paige. "they were there."

"Whitelighters?" asked Piper feeling she was in another dimension. They were there?"

 "Witches and whitelighters" Paige nodded "They were there when I got Leslie home. With Ella and Charlie. Telling the girls things like that, telling the girls propaganda, and about witches calling and how they were willing to fight and die for good and… "

"The whitelighters are willing to die" asked Piper sarcastically. "It’s a wonder the Elders weren't there as well."

"Their father "said Paige "he was trying to kick the whitelighters and witches out and they sort of pounced on him. Calling him names and Leslie too when she said she was not sure she wanted to die even for a good cause."

"Wilde said “A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.” Leo told them. "Or a witch."

Piper rolled her eyes.

"So that's what happened" Paige said flicking pages in the Book of Shadows and not really looking for anything.

"Propaganda" said Leo.

Paige nodded.

"How come you know so much about propaganda?" Phoebe asked Leo suspiciously.

"I was reading up on it" Leo admitted.

"Why?" demanded Phoebe"

Leo glanced awkwardly at Paige "Mark was asking about it" he said slowly. "He was not there tonight was he?"

"No" said Paige "Mark isn't a hypocrite or a fool. He never believed the propaganda when he was mortal. He won't be converted." She said. Her expression softened. "Heaven help him at the moment" she added.

Paige looked at her sisters then flung herself on the sofa "Mark wasn't there but they sure had the whitelighter troops out. Caleb the girl's whitelighter was with a couple of reinforcements, what's her name we got rid of... the one who said she had been a Pakistani nun."

"I remember" said Piper "She was really disappointed in us wasn't she. We were not dedicated enough" Piper smiled, enjoying the memory.

"And Manuel, remember cried a lot " Paige said "Were really pushing at Charlie and Ella to do their duty."

"Duty is a bitch of a word" said Piper

"Girl's father was flatly refusing to let Charlie have anything to do with magic, threatening to lock her away if she even connected with It" Paige told them "A cousin of their mother's who Charlie had called was arguing with him about denying the girls their heritage and that the calling was glorious. Threatened some retribution if he denied his daughters their heritage. There were a couple of other cousins and that witch Matilda Riggs."

"The one who wanted to blow up demons a few years ago when we were trying to stop Lara going on with the vendetta?" Phoebe asked. "Prissy little blond who got all dewy eyed at the thought of blowing up demons in great numbers".

"Her "said Paige." she started some really hard core  raha rahing for the cause. I don't think the Charmed Ones will be considered good soldiers form now on" Paige informed her sister "I did some hard core pushing for the right to choose.'"

"When were we good soldiers?" asked Piper sweetly.

Paige smiled "I told them that the father's opinions were important and that the decision to follow magic was a very personal one. I told them that if it was not a true choice unless made by a responsible adult and I stressed the word adult. I said trying to talk some-one into fighting it was doing much the same as evil. Turning adherents into mindless minions."

"I am so proud of you sister" said Phoebe hugging Paige.

Paige sniffed. "I kept thinking of Cole as a kid being forced to kill.  And how in the end, to be the guardian thing Phoebe was not allowed to chose for him. How it had to be his choice or it wasn't a true choice. I told them" she said crossing her arms, "I told them that no-one had a right to deny a choice and even f the reason was good,  trying to raise army by lying was as evil as fighting an evil war."

Paige suddenly grinned ."Matilda was furious. Saying what she was asking of the girls was the same as evil."

"What a surprise": said Piper 

Paige sighed. "She spate out that witches had a duty to the greater calling for good

"That word again" said Piper "Duty" she snorted.

"Yes "said Paige "Whitelighter said how the realm was in danger. Told the girls they must not listen to Anti –good. I think that meant me. Said the whitelighters were truthful in their advice. That the danger to the realm was real, that this was a time that witches needed to defend themselves and the realm.

"I asked them to explain it" She said "they said I had to trust them. I said they could go die for me instead. I said witches are called to defend innocents" Paige told her sisters. She let her breath out "They said by being prepared to take action, ready to fight to defeat evil we are protecting innocents."

"They would say that "aid Phoebe.

Paige swallowed hard knowing "Sort of said I knew some good creatures who would dispute it., so they disputed that such creatures were good."

"That is propaganda" said Leo. "And on behalf of good creatures who would dispute it. I'm insulted."

Paige nodded "It sounded like the whitelighters had been convinced to... taught to say all that stuff. Like some-one had got to them, and converted them."

"How did it finish?" Phoebe asked.

"Badly" said Paige "Charlie nodded "I am prepared to fight evil' and her father says "Not while I'm above ground." Then the witches smiled 'you are a good and brave witch' they told her. 'You know how to do your duty' they said. "So Charlie's father says she is going over my dead body and the witches said they could arrange that.  They threatened the girls' father when he said no. So" said Paige "It ended with a group of good witches threatening an innocent because they believed the propaganda."

Phoebe and Piper caught there breath

"That's how propaganda works" Leo said.

"Then" said Paige "I told them I wasn't going to let a war happen where Good became the aggressor so they threatened me. They left but at the end what hurt was the girls' father. He's a mortal who has always supported magic and he just looked at me and said 'I don’t think I can trust anyone in magic any more'. I told him I did not blame him" Paige added staring at the floor.

Paige looked up at her sisters.

"I am vert proud of you little sister" Phoebe said beaming at Paige.

"God damned proud of you" said Piper nodding approval.

"I don't understand why they are so anxious to go to war" Paige said a little weepy after recounting the battle.

"As long as war is regarded as wicked, it will always have its fascination. When it is looked upon as vulgar, it will cease to be popular." Leo said.

"Oscar Wilde "sighed Piper.

Leo grinned.

Phoebe shook her head then blinked as the pages of the Book of Shadow moved and stopped at a page that  was decorated in an odd and unusual laurel pattern

"Nothing will end war unless the people themselves refuse to go to war." Phoebe read.

"I bet the elders did not send that" said Piper.

"So who" said Phoebe.

Paige and Piper looked at each other.

"Some-one up there who does not listen to propaganda'" Phoebe answered her own question.

"So it's someone saying we aren't joining in the war" Paige asked finally.

The wind flicked again and the pages in the Book of Shadows moved and opened at a darkly decorated page.

That wasn't there before?" said Piper. "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." She read out.

"Einstein said both of those" said Leo and earned himself an eye roll from the witches.

"Don't they contradict each other?" Piper asked. She shut the Book but it almost immediately opened, flicking two pages.

"Is that propaganda too?" asked Phoebe. "Maybe its some-one up there using different propaganda."

"Its true" said Leo.

"Didn't you just say" Piper insisted. "Propaganda can be true."

"I did" Leo agreed and caught his lip.

"So when does it stop being propaganda?" Paige asked.

"When does it start?" asked Piper.

"So which one do we believe?" Paige asked.

"Both" said Phoebe brightly.