Faithfully Yours Part 8: I'm always true to you darling in my fashion..   Chapter 62 "The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means."   Oscar Wilde

A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it. Oscar Wilde.

Phoebe sat on the sand at China Beach. The weather was warm enough to go in the water and she had supervised Patsy and Wyatt, letting them splash in the shallows and now Patsy was building sand castles and Wyatt was sitting on a large towel not doing much except singing happy wah wah's to himself. China beach was where she and Prue had once spent a day together just to give Leo and Piper some new married time alone. That day seemed like a long time ago. Phoebe remembered how Prue had hated the beach and how she had loved it. Loved it since she was a little girl. Phoebe smiled wryly to herself as she remembered the innocent Phoebe of that time, the Phoebe who built the sandcastles of her magic kingdom Phoebeville. That was a time when Prince Charming was still finding his way, when Prince Charming could merely look at a bed they had slept and put the princess on a throne to be worshipped. 

Phoebe kicked at the sand and wondered what the people of Phoebeville would be thinking of their princess if they had seen the way she had been behaving lately, if they had seen her with George, seen her with John Cotton, or seen her with Therold. Probably they would be thinking that she was an evil bitch who cared for nothing but her own fantasies or she was a stupid insecure girl who had it all and still could not trust her luck. They would think her a foolish girl who was driven by her doubts to make Prince Charming win her over and over. And when he did what she asked, usually with an amused smile on his face because he knew her and loved her for who she was, the stupid girl still became frantic when other women looked at him. But then Phoebe thought maybe though the folk of Phoebeville would understand that feeling because it was every damn woman who saw Prince Charming.

Phoebe frowned as she remembered how Prue had acted at the time of Phoebeville, fighting in the mausoleum beside Cole. Phoebe was not entirely sure that her beloved sister Prue had not been harbouring some fantasies of her own about Princess Phoebe's Prince Charming. Cole had never quite explained what happened in the mausoleum that night when he and Prue had fought the Seekers and Prue had been curiously unforthcoming. At times afterwards she had caught Prue sneaking a look at Cole. And as the girls at her office frequently said. Cole was very lookable. Poor Cole Phoebe thought then she took a deep breath and shut her eyes seeing him as they saw.

"God damn gorgeous." she said to herself "Definitely lookable."

Phoebe supposed that she could not really blame all those women for looking when he was so lookable. Then she thought of Margaret, her step mother and the way she had broken her father's heart ,using him just so she could get her claws into Cole. 

Phoebe decided she could clearly blame them for looking.

The sun on the beach was hot and as an antidote to the cold of Burvjara Phoebe enjoyed the feeling of sensuous warmth. The boys were both dressed in Piper approved suits that protected them from the sun and Phoebe had smothered their faces in sun cream to make up for them not wearing hats because Wyatt kept pulling his off and Patsy refused to let her get one near him.

As she carefully supervised Wyatt and Patsy, Phoebe kept looking around anxiously. This time she was not looking for a dark thingy, like Prue had seen at that beach, but for a husband. Every time a wave crashed and the water made a tinkling noise she kept hoping it was Cole. Because this time he did not have the excuse that Patsy's need was greater, to keep away. He had just better come. Or else.

Then she giggled, because that was unreasonable and the older and wiser Phoebe knew it. She explained to the boys that Cole was still in Burvjara and following his calling as he was supposed to, and just how proud of him when he did. Then the insecure Phoebe surfaced. If Cole was not in Burvjara surely he would come straight to her. He'd destroyed Therold's house to try and get her back. Surely getting her back would be the first thing he would think of when he left Burvjara. Especially when all he had to do was shimmer. Unless he had time to think about whether he wanted her.

Then the older and wiser Phoebe remembered the condition in which Cole returned from other trips. Maybe, she told the boys, the returning warrior would not be a welcome visitor on the beach. She might just forgive him if he took the time to shower…eventually. Although a true fantasy prince charming would not worry about a small thing like freaked out public.

Then Phoebe decided she would be much better occupied looking after Wyatt and Patsy than worrying about Prince Charming because he had promised he would forgive her anything, and Prince Charming always kept his promises…she hoped. Phoebe stood up and picking up Wyatt and taking Patsy's hand, she led them back to the water's edge.

Cole shimmered behind one of the dunes on the beach, where the beachgoers could not see him and for a few minutes was able to watch Phoebe, his Phoebe, playing on the beach with Wyatt and Patsy, a smile she would easily recognise on his face. Phoebe was wearing a very brief bikini bottom that was showing her slightly expanding rear to its best advantage. Her hair, long and blond streaked, was pulled back into a wild curling pony tail. She had on a sleeveless t shirt stretching out of shape as Pookie made her presence well and truly seen. Her face was hidden behind sunglasses and sun visor as she bent over to hold Wyatt’s hands and encourage him to stand and move his legs at the edge of the water.

Cole was not the only one watching Phoebe. A couple of guys further up the beach were not hiding their interest, much to the annoyance of the girls they were with.

Cole frowned and squashed down an impulse to be protective of his own. Phoebe as usual was right, there was something about the earth mother look of a pregnant woman, especially with children, that was downright breath taking. Cole understood a little why watching Piper with children had attracted Glock the way it did. But understanding why the guys looked at Phoebe did not mean he liked it. He slowly and deliberately moved toward her.

Phoebe, as she tried to get Wyatt to stand in the water, and supervise Patsy who was clearly unhappy with the disorder of the waves, realised at that point that she was being watched. She saw Cole standing on the water's edge, his hands in his pockets. She caught her breath, grabbed Patsy by the hand and clutching Wyatt close ran to him, and then stopped uncomfortably in front of him and just for a second was seriously worried at his studied calm. Cole calm was always dangerous.

"So don't I get a hug?" he asked as she stood looking awkwardly at him. Before he could add anything, Phoebe threw herself at him and he caught her, squashing Wyatt between them, as she kissed his face his lips and any part of him she could reach. Patsy sat on his bottom and studied the waves, a less than satisfied expression on his face.

Phoebe finally had to stop because Wyatt clearly did not enjoy the squashing he was getting and made his feeling known by punching Phoebe in the face and screaming his loudest 'WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

Phoebe stepped back. “I "she started to say and caught her breath as Cole moved in fast as if to grab her, and was disappointed when in fact he caught Patsy to stop him using his magic to put the waves into an order he preferred.

Phoebe took a deep breath. "There’s nothing sexier than a man who likes children" she thought. Then she amended that. A guardian with a sword, even when he was covered in a robe, using that sword to protect her was pretty damned sexy. Cole was her knight in a mock Burvjarian robe who just at that moment was losing the battle to stop Patsy using his magic.

"He's still pretty cranky "Phoebe explained as Patsy pulled his hardest to get free.

"Nothing like the family pleased to see me when I return from war" Cole said as a clearly pissed Patsy started to dig in the sand, then threw it at him.

"Do I count? I'm pleased to see you" Phoebe said. She plonked Wyatt on a towel and threw arms around his neck to which he responded with a passionate kiss.

"mmmmmmmmmmmmm" Cole breathed "You count. How come I had to ask for the hug?" he asked finally.

Phoebe sat down on the sand beside Wyatt.  She looked up at him sideways, "Wasn't sure you'd want to. You know. Maybe pissed about George and … things."

"Phoebe I saved you in Burvjara" he said planting his hands in his pockets, as he looked down at her "Even if I was still pissed. You know I love you."

"I know. You're my hero "she told him "But well with spites and everything…. before… we left " She smiled shyly. "We fixed the spites" she said.

"Good "he said keeping his hands in his pockets and looking down watching her carefully.

Phoebe shivered in relief. "Reversed the dance with the witches before we came back" she told him

“Good” he said

"I felt like a damned idiot dancing around up there" she said.

Cole took a deep breath "Good" he said and smiled.

Phoebe huffed up, then she caught his smile. She sucked her lip. "So "she said "I'm me again not so interested in chasing fantasies."

"Stop lying" Cole told her mildly.

She looked at him indignantly and he grinned and sat beside her, making sure Patsy was still within his reach.

"If you're you, you're always interested in chasing fantasies" he said "spites or no spites."

Phoebe who was Phoebe drew a hard breath "You don't know me that well" she pouted.

"Yes I do" he said.

She puffed herself up and turned away then turned back to touch his face. "Maybe" she said as he raised his eyebrows "I got over the spites" she said carefully, “I mean before Burvjara. You should know."

"Really" he said mildly "when or should I ask why?

"You have the right to ask both" she said carefully "reality hit in a big way. With the way the Powers that Be were behaving about Burvjara and George and… th…

"Things" said Cole dryly "So" he said "If we start talking about this you sure the bodyguards won't turn up?" he asked

She slowly shook her head "I don't need them" still feeling awkward with the distance he was keeping between them. "I just need you" she hesitated. "I need you calm" she said "Not to be.. "

"Not giving into the rash side of my nature?" he asked quietly.

"When you're calm you understand" She nodded then looked at him "Who talked to you about being rash?" she asked curiously..

He laughed suddenly "Who hasn't "he said. "I'm more or less calm "he told her "Burvjara got in the way of the temper." he smiled still but his eyes were cautious "I hate it when I feel fear screaming out of your aura" he said quietly.

Phoebe put her arms around her knees and looked at him sideways "Burvjara got in the way of a lot of things" she said. "I hate that place" she told him. She swallowed hard. "I'm not scared of you" she said. He watched her intently. "I get scared for you when you get…."

"Rash" he said.

She smiled and bit her lip.

“I don't like you being afraid of me, mad ,maybe okay. I like it only a little less when you're afraid for me" Cole looked at  her intently "Like you don't trust me…to do what I have to do.. ought to do.. do the right thing."

She laughed a little. "I trust you" she replied "to do the right thing …eventually." She smiled softly, a girl in love. "The getting to the right thing is a bit scary though".

Cole shrugged a little, nodded the slight smile still there, and he kissed her fingers hovering near his mouth.

"So where the hell have you been?" she asked conversationally

"Burvjara" he said

"All this time" she said sweetly

"I had a shower 'he explained "then came here."

"It must have been a long, long shower from the time you took getting here" she snapped at him and stopped as she realised he had a certain odd smile. "You knew that would piss me off."

"I do know you" he replied and grinned." About that night" he started to say.

A look of irritation flashed on Phoebe's face and Cole bit his tongue apprehensively then laughed as Phoebe jumped up to stop Patsy pushing Wyatt's head in the sand. Then she sat down again beside Cole again.

"So" he said "now I am not being rash are you going to tell me how reality hit?" he asked not succeeding in keeping the tension out of his voice

Phoebe gulped but met his stare "Things I need to say to you … would have if Therold had not interfered" she said. "So before we start though. You need to understand. Some of it was witches business" she said. "Not guardians … not yours."

Cole's expression hardened but he nodded

"I need you to understand" she said intently. "Because if you can't… we have no where.. I can't talk."She looked at him pleading, and was relieved to see his expression soften.

"Phoebe you went off pissed at me and came back stinking of demon and blaming me" he said catching her hands "I was pissed but I knew then it was witches business. I'm not stupid."

She squeezed his hands back "I love you" she said.

"Good" he said calmly but she noted it took some effort. "So how did reality hit."

Phoebe gulped nervously “I did go and see George" she admitted and sucked her breath as his face darkened "I get these crushes Cole. It's just me. I like men, so spites you know made me really like men. I was never a girl who didn't like men" She rushed out "I mean it wasn’t as if, you know you had to pull me out of a cocoon or a tower or anything. It wasn't as if you… were the first."

"Or even the 21^st "he said,

"You always said you didn't care" she bit out.

"I don't" he answered and she knew he wasn't lying.

"I like men and I get crushes" she said. ”Its who I am and spites ...well they amped it "

"Bloody spites" he said picking up a hand full of sand and studying it. "They certainly amped it."

“I didn’t screw the demon" she said. “I teased" she admitted.

He just looked at her shaking his head. "So I figured" he said. "You do know teasing demons isn't the best policy for long life planning?" he asked casually.

"You know me" she said flushing

“I do" he said  picking up another hand full of sand and concentrating on watching it fall through his fingers and she could not read his face.

“I know I was pretty...unreasonable that night but…I thought you'd come and be a bastard but…" her voice tailed off.

"But what?" he asked quietly.

She bit her lip "I thought you would come and …claim me "she whispered "I was sure you would. Only you didn't" she whispered "Made me think maybe you'd …given up on me, so I was pretty angry with you. You can understand why?" she said hopefully "I mean you haven't lately… been my knight in shining armour as much, well up to Burvjara" she said staring ahead "sooo….damn it, Cole I thought maybe you'd given up on me. So I got stupid."

“I think you got… stupid a bit before then" he said dryly. "I'm not forgetting the naked advertising campaign." he added as she winced. "Phoebe I was on my way but Patsy. You know with kids he needed me. You're a powerful witch and the kids come first."

"Cole" she said and bit her lip as he dived to stop Wyatt hitting Patsy over the head with a plastic spade. Patsy picked up a hand full of sand to throw at Wyatt.

"No" roared Cole and Phoebe while several people nearby glared at them with the "why can't people keep their kids under control" expressions on their faces.

Cole sat down again with a kid on either side "Kids come first" he said.

"I know that now" Phoebe answered sniffing slightly "But I wasn't thinking clear then. I mean until Burvjara" then she looked at him sideways. "You were wonderful in Burvjara "she said remembering he robe and the sword and the way he moved.  Her whole body shuddered which he noted.

Cole grinned a little demonically.

"All those witches in Burvjara thought you were pretty damned wonderful too" Phoebe accused him.

"Good" he said while she sucked her lip and waited. Finally he asked very calmly "How did it end, that night not Burvjara?" he asked calmly conversationally.

Phoebe buried her head against her knees "Witches business" she mumbled. "I'm a pretty powerful witch" she mumbled.

Cole said nothing and stood up and turned away while Phoebe watched anxiously. He was about to turn back when he had to rescue Wyatt from falling in a hole that Patsy was digging, then looked back at Phoebe and let his breath out.  "Phoe-be" he said in exasperation.

She met his eyes "George was the god damned honoured one of the Geztalt" she mumbled. Watching his reaction.

Cole just stared at her. "God" he said bending down to catch her arms, anger all over his face "You mean I was running round screaming in jealousy over a god damned , fucking little bastard Geztalt runt."

"You know what they look like under the robes" she asked surprised.

"I was the source, of course I know" he said through his teeth. Cole pulled her to her feet and then he shook his head and let her go. "Witches business” he said looking down at her.'

"Yes" Phoebe mumbled. “Getting the Geztalt is witches business. I didn’t do anything with him Cole. But you didn’t come so I am explaining I …teased pretty hard though." she confessed. "But only because I figured if I did something a bit…rash well you might feel it in my aura and come. But nothing happened and I'm … safe so that's all that matters. Isn't it?" she asked nervously.

"So its my fault" he said eventually. "Don't you ever dare lecture me about being rash again." he told her. He thought about it. "How did you get the bastard runt?" he asked then shook his head. "Witches business" he answered for her.

For a second Phoebe sucked her breath and shut her eyes then  let it out in a big gulp when she opened her eyes and she saw the smile on his face, the one that was hers as without saying anything bent down and kissed her hard taking his time and taking his ownership.

When he finally lifted his head she clung to him hard. "So" he said looking at her intently. I'd forgive you even if you had screwed the damned demon and I'm even willing to concede without you telling me it's my fault, I should have been around to look after you so I guess I have to trust you."

"Good" she said stretching her head back to look up at me.

"I wasn't there, I didn't come and whatever you did to get out of it I'm damned glad you did it” he said "and I'd have told you that at the time, well after I yelled a bit" he agreed as she looked at him with her eyes wide.

She smiled. "Good" she said.

 "If Therold had not interfered. I'm still pissed at Therold for taking you. Why did you go?" he demanded. He stopped "You think I wouldn't forgive you for screwing that bastard demon.

"I didn't screw him" Phoebe said "I didn't go. He took me and they wouldn't let me back. They don't trust you like I do."

"I guess I wasn't acting like they could" he conceded after considering it. "Why are all your fantasies demons?" he asked.

"One of them stopped being a fantasy and was the best thing that ever happened to me." Phoebe whispered and then ducked around him to pick up Wyatt before Patsy buried him under the sand.

"Why keep trying the fantasy then?" he demanded hands in his jeans pockets"

"Because I'm an idiot" she said and he grinned. "Never can accept that what I have is real because it's too good to be true."

"You’re an idiot" he told her. "And stupid and I love you."

"So if you believe me that I only teased will you trust me if I say everything else was witches business.  just like that” she said "you damned near… you did tear Therold's world apart  and then you say Okay like that.'

“I enjoyed tearing Therold's world apart" Cole said an ugly expression on his face "and I'll rip up anyone who tries to take you away from me because I would kill you before I let them have you” he added. "So probably better we have it clear you don't run off with anyone."

"You could just divorce me" she said archly.

"You divorced me last time and that's not an option" he said.

"So you'll rip them up and kill me?” she asked.

"I hoping it won't come to that "he told her, his voice almost demonic.

"You're a dangerous bastard Cole Turner” she swore at him.

“I know” he said "and you need to remember it when you want to go around trying to prove what I'll do to keep you. Trust me I'll do what it takes.

Phoebe nodded "'Kay" she said demurely.

Before Cole could reply a young couple walked by and indicated Patsy and Wyatt yelling at each other and smacking sand around. "Its disgusting how some people just make out on the beach and ignore their children. Shouldn't be allowed to have them" the girl said loudly.

Cole and Phoebe both guiltily reached for a child.

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