Faithfully Yours Part 8: I'm always true to you darling in my fashion..   Chapter 69 "The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means."   Oscar Wilde

Cole parked his car and walked through the door in his office building. A call from one of his more disreputable clients on the way back to his office had meant he dropped Erin so she could get a taxi and turned back to the courts. Cole had been less than supportive of a repeat client, picked up for hustling tourists and was in no mood to do more than ensure the man got a hearing.  He was feeling the aftermath of the battle in court that morning, the let down and the introversion.

Going back to court meant he was very late for a repeat of the meeting he had missed earlier in the week with Victor. As he walked into the building Cole thought he was in huge trouble for being late, if Victor was still waiting, or worse trouble if Victor was gone. Victor's divorce was a perfect example of why he hated lawyering, along with the writing of wills and contracts and the small court cases and the court cases with petty criminals. Then he remembered there were certain parts of lawyering he did enjoy, such as the real battles in the courtroom.  Not that he enjoyed this morning, that had been bloody justice, then he smiled with the self recognition that came to the guardian. Because Cole understood that hidden deep in him the demonic heritage enjoyed the battle, regardless of how bloody; revelled in the thrill of the danger and the ferocious rush of victory.

Cole walked through the nondescript foyer of his office building and wished the receptionist, a squinty eyed woman who was the sister of the building's owner and had been overly friendly of late, good afternoon.

She eyed him over her glasses and he wondered if some dubious petty criminal was up in his office, but then she looked away uncomfortably. Cole sighed "Bloody spites" he thought. The after effects were going to be around for some time.

As he waited for the elevator the middle aged heavily over weight marriage counsellor who had offices below him on the second floor, nodded, a harassed look on his face. The man grumbled about the slow elevator glanced at his watch and took off up the stairs.

"Spites were good for some-one's business" Cole thought.

The elevator came and a glance in the mirror reminded him his tie was pulled loose.

He pulled it into position and assumed the role of a suburban lawyer as he opened the door to his two room office with shared facilities with the other four offices on the floor.

As he entered the office Cole really frowned.

Eduardo was working, with one eye on Erin. She had a folder in her hand, and sat at her desk, legs crossed revealing quite an amount of thigh and smiling quietly at his father in law. Victor had an expression on his face that was the least miserable Cole had seen for sometime, even before the Margaret incident that ended his marriage.

Erin business like pulled her skirt down as Cole came in but he did not miss her push her hair back and smile at Victor shyly.

Cole groaned. He had had considerable experience over the last weeks observing female mating habits.

"You're late" Victor told Cole looking at his watch.

"I was just looking at the list of assets from the marriage, looking to see what the real ones are" Erin explained to Cole a touch breathlessly. "When you did not show."

"Good" Cole said trying to appear pleasant and failing as Victor narrowed his eyes. "I had to make a detour" he told Victor.

"You need to work out what's important?" Victor said, just avoiding snapping when he glanced at Erin. "How's Phoebe?" he demanded clearly connecting the two concepts.

"In love with me" Cole drawled a little too slowly and Victor huffed up "She's fine" Cole added hastily as Victor frowned.

Eduardo who deprived much pleasure form Cole's family relations smiled as Erin looked concerned.

Cole took the file from Erin and moved toward his office and Victor did not wait to be asked .He followed Cole into the inner office and sat down making himself at home in the most comfortable chair. The chair had actually been a throw out from a refurbishment of Victor's home office a year ago. Margaret had not liked the comfortable, not quite stylish chairs.

The dark expression on Victor's face indicated the chair clearly reminded him of his resentment of Margaret. Not the least for having made him replace the chairs with some very fashionable expensive and uncomfortable ones.

"Don't know why I let that bitch talk me into giving you these" Victor muttered.

"Neither do I" said Cole a little too dryly.

Victor snorted "That damn bitch is threatening me" he snarled at Cole. "Trying to say if I don't hand over the whole investment folder she is going to tell inland revenue about the investment funds I have in the Caymans. I want you to make sure if she does that she knows I know about her realtor licence and how she got it and what she said in her last tax return."

Cole sighed "Can't think why things went wrong between you" he said carefully.

Victor flushed angry, red "You think I'm going to let that bitch get one damned cent of what I worked hard for. To make sure my girls are not left destitute when some damned magic bastard think its okay for them to bear the cost of repairing the house or worse. I worked hard to make sure my girls, my grandkiddies are all right."

''Is that why you squirreled that money away for the 20 years you weren't in their lives?" Cole asked even more dryly.

"I love my family" Victor insisted belligerently. "And if you think that bitch is going to take away what I've done for them."

"California law is 50 percent of the assets of the marriage" Cole told Victor. "You should have asked me about the pre-nup "he told Victor "She really screwed you on that didn't she?"

Victor's belligerence turned nasty "You're enjoying this" he accused Cole "I made a mistake with Margaret. A man doesn't like to be alone" he said "A man doesn't like to be a burden to his family. A man likes to look after them."

"A man likes to get even with the bitch who is screwing him over." Cole drawled.

Victor puffed and let his breath out in a hissing anger.

"So "said Cole sitting on the edge of his desk "as long as we're both clear on what we're doing and why we're doing it, I'm more than happy to screw her. Screw her over." He repeated quickly as Victor's expression turned nasty.

Victor looked like he was gong to hit Cole again but before he could say anything there was a knock on the door and Erin come in.

"I just saw this" she said handing Cole a bit of paper. Cole did not miss the smile she sent in Victor's direction "I thought it might help."

Cole read the paper and smiled almost demonically "So the lady has been withholding" he said. "That 50 percent law may save you yet" he told Victor.

Erin eyed him suspiciously "You're not going after her like in court today?" She said. "This is not like ..." her voice tailed off

"No it's not like that at all" Cole said regretfully. "This is screwing over, not justice. More like vengeance. Or maybe exorcising evil." he said looking ironically at Victor who sucked his breath hard, "Think you could settle for annulment and a threat of fraud if she gets nasty" Cole asked. "Putting the fear of ..um god into her."

"And if the threat does not work?" Victor asked in a much less nasty voice after returning Erin's smile.

"I threaten pretty good" Cole said as Victor glared "Trust me" he added enjoying Victor's discomfort.

"You can trust him" Erin said "You can trust his evil side." She added.

Victor frowned then smiled "I know about his evil side." He said "Not sure how much I trust it." He said glancing at Cole sideways.

Erin shook her head then turned to go "I've been watching the evil side do some good" she said as she left.

"Does she know what you are?" Victor demanded.

"No" said Cole "she just knows I'm a litigious lawyer. Apparently she recognises that as close kin of demonhood. And fears it."

"If she knew you like I do" Victor said argumentatively. Then he caught Cole's expression which was turning demonic and knew he had pushed far enough.

"Paige was right about that girl. A nice lass" Victor said seeking safer ground "And she's damn good lawyer."

"Paige talked to you about it? "Cole asked belligerently. "Don't bother looking Victor "he said "You're not her type."

"What's her type?" Victor asked curiously. "Not women?" he asked disappointment in his voice.

 "No" said Cole " Dead men. As in the only good man is.'

"Just self defence" Victor said considering it "Nice girl "he said. He wagged his finger at Cole "You get that bitch I was married to. Make sure she can't hurt my family. You owe me" he told Cole.

Cole resisted asking why and spent the next 20 minutes listening to Victor complain about Margaret in between declaring how much he loved his family and wanted to care for them, praying for relief. It finally came in the form of the undeniable shrieking of children running amok in the outer office, so loud it filtered into Cole's office.

"Excuse me" Cole said far too hastily and opened the door to be greeted by a tornado as Melinda saw him "Unca Cole "she yelled happily. He caught her in a lift just before she levitate into his arms, and managed to squat down and catch Patsy as he toddled along behind.

Phoebe leaning over to adjust Wyatt in his pusher looked up and grinned "Good catch" she told him "I was just getting to know Erin" she said far too sweetly.

Cole watching Phoebe smiled at her, the one he saved just for his Phoebe.  Erin, sitting slightly awkwardly at her desk caught her breath at the expression on his face. She looked from Cole to Phoebe clearly uncertain and wondered what it would be like to have a man love you so much he could look at you like that and took a fraction of a second to swallow down a gasp of pure envy.

Phoebe caught the expression. She glanced toward Cole, returned his smile then nodded understanding to Erin and put a hand on her arm. "You need to know me" Phoebe told Erin "because Cole's such a reckless bastard sometimes I'm the only one he'll listen too."

"I've been learning that" Erin said smiling in response.

"You're not exactly the Angel of Sweetness and Light" Cole told Phoebe watching her intently.

Phoebe went over to Cole "You want me to be who I am" she told him and reached up so even with his arms full of children she got most of the kiss she wanted.

"No" Cole breathed.

Erin watched a sad and slightly envious expression on her face until she caught Victor's reassuring nod as he followed Cole from the inner office before he frowned with irritation at Phoebe and Cole.

Phoebe opened her eyes to see her father standing behind her at Cole's office door, with a less than thrilled expression on his face as he watched Phoebe with Cole.

"Daddy" Phoebe said delighted.

"Pop" squealed Melinda struggling to get to Victor so Cole hastily put her down, Patsy pulled free at the same time as Victor bent over to pick them up.

Erin watched Victor with the grand children and smiled to herself.

"Pop, wuv you" said Melinda who at three and a bit, already knew how to manage men She smothered Victor with kisses as Patsy demanded attention. "You got chocolate?" Melinda demanded.

"No" roared Phoebe and Cole.

"Candy?" Melinda asked pixie smile in place.

Victor shook his head regretfully.

Melinda shrugged "Next time" she said hopefully "Wuv you Pop"" she added as Victor put the children down, Patsy disappearing to explore the top of one of the desks and Victor picked up Wyatt.

"You finished with daddy "Phoebe asked Cole "I got a free zoo pass from work. We thought you could take us to see the baby giraffe and then sodas."

"Not chocolate" Cole said looking at Melinda who turned up her nose at he word not.

Phoebe visibly shuddered. "Can we talk for a minute?" she said and before Cole could answer caught his arms and dragged him into the office, a large envelope tucked under her arm.

Victor cuddled Wyatt. "My grand kids" he explained proudly to Erin as Patsy pulled the folders on the spare desk to the floor then began to sort the papers that fell out into a coloured system.

"Very sweet" said Erin managing not to wince.

"I worry about Patsy" Victor told her seriously "He's Cole's boy, very like his father.'

"Reckless" said Erin understanding. She bent over to pick up the folders off the floors. "Dangerous."

Victor smiled and nodded.

As Cole pulled the office door shut Phoebe flung his arms around his neck and he bent over her. Some time later she looked longingly at the desk. "I don't suppose we could use that at the moment" she asked with a cheeky grin.

Cole shrugged "Better not." he leant back a little to look at her face "so "he said "not that I don't want to see you but why the visit baby?"

She smiled a little shy "Because after …being a hero … this morning I thought you might want to just be with me" she reached up and touched his face.

"Just another battle for justice" he drawled. "Nothing much. Don't want to think about it. Don't even know why I do it."

"I know" she said "I came because… you remember when I told you to think of Burvjara when you were in Burvjara and me … family when you're here."

"Yes" he said a touch grimly "I remember."

"I'm here. We're here, so you don't have to think about anything else" she said simply and had her reward as he breathed hard. "So "she said before he could say anything "seeing I know you don't want to even think about…justice, I brought you a present. Something you can think about." She handed him the envelope.

"What?" he said suspiciously, taking the envelope.

"These are only proofs you understand. And one   just" She looked at him trusting "just to .see."

Phoebe hoisted herself and Pookie onto the edge of his desk arching as provocatively as she could, given the size of her belly while he opened the package and looked at the photographs. He was silent for a few seconds then let his breath out in along sigh.

"I can see you like them" Phoebe said grinning "That's why I thought we needed to be alone when you got them." she said.

"Who's seen these?" he asked darkly.

"Why you going to fry them?" Phoebe asked provocatively "Me the photographer. A woman who likes men, likes you actually. You and that's it.

"You know when Paige started looking at these things you told her she had a problem" he said looking hard at the pictures.

"It's all about the intent" said Phoebe the psychology graduate "which I'll explain to Paige when she's more willing to listen."

Cole picked up the full picture and examined it, very intently. "I like that one" he said. "You looked … like the girl I love…sort of vulnerable…exposed."

"I'm naked. I'm supposed to be exposed" Phoebe said with a pout as he laughed and reached for her. "You're really the only person I want to see me that…exposed" she said.

He smiled the one he saved for her, looking down at her as she looked up vulnerable trusting him, sucking her lip slightly.

Before he could say anything some loud screaming noise from the outer office interrupted them .Phoebe sighed "We better go rescue daddy. You fix his problems?" she asked

"It will take some work" Cole nodded "Seems Margaret did a pretty good job of looking after her interests when they got married".

"Oh god poor daddy" said Phoebe.

Cole laughed "Not to worry. She'll get what is coming to her. I'm going to enjoy screwing Margaret" he said.

Phoebe's jaw dropped and she sucked her breath.

"Screwing her over. Screwing her over" Cole said hastily.

They went into outer office to find Erin picking up her purse.

"Erin is coming out for a coffee with me" Victor told them.

Phoebe looked from Victor to Erin "Oh" she said. "Good" she said.

"What?" screamed Cole.

Erin coloured "Sorry" she started to say guiltily. "If it's a problem."

Victor started to bluster.

"Shut up Cole" said Phoebe before her father could say anything "Go enjoy your selves Erin/daddy "she said sweetly.

"If Cole doesn't want..": Erin started to say.

"No-one who knows Cole ever takes any notice of what he wants" Phoebe told Erin firmly. "It's a lot easier to deal with him if you don't."

Cole sucked his breath.

"My daughter is a smart girl" Victor told Erin as he took her arm and carefully guided her to the door. "You'll need all the support you can get to work for my bastard son-in-law.  The things I could tell you" he said as he shut the door.

Cole sat on Erin's chair disgust all over his face. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no" he moaned as Victor and a nervous Erin left " You can't wait until I finally get some-one I can trust, some-one I can work with, some-one who is just perfect. When I had to work so damn hard to keep her. Then just let Victor come along to screw it up."

Phoebe pulled out her cell phone.

"Who are you calling?" Cole demanded.

Paige" said Phoebe grinning "So you can tell her how good she is at her job."

Eduardo grinned and Cole rolled his eyes defeated.

……………………………………………

Because the conservatory was still basically wrecked, Cole was sitting at the dining room table working hard on some of the more mundane clients because he had been guilted into it after Eduardo gave him along lecture about how hard Erin was working. Eduardo was concerned about his job if Erin quit. Cole, however, was mostly concerned just how her presence was going to make it easier for him to pay the attention to Phoebe needed…deserved, to guard her.  And Erin had already been on two dates with Victor. As options appeared to be opening in her life, Cole regretfully concluded that it was clearly in his, Phoebe's and the rest of the realm's interest that he spend time keeping Erin happy by creating water tight contracts and read the find fine print on building regulations.

Every few minutes Cole looked up from long and tedious contracts he was reading, hoping for some distraction from kids, but they were safely in bed and even the cats could not be counted on to give him an excuse to escape. Big Cat was curled up on Melinda's bed and Little Cat was curled up on Piper's pillow. Even Phoebe had deserted him. When she saw Cole reluctantly settled at the dining room table working, she made herself scarce as a source of distraction by going in to the attic with her sisters to search the Book of Shadows for Brotherhood minions and where they were most likely to appear.

After finding himself hoping a creaking noise on the stairs that turned out to be just wind was a demon attack, Cole determinedly buried himself in contracts. He was actually becoming interested in an insurance claim which showed promise of giving him the opportunity to screw one of the larger insurance companies when he became aware of the familiar movement of the spirit winds as a guardian shimmered into the manor.

Cole frowned less than thrilled when he realised the guardian had shimmered into the attic. He took the steps to the attic two at a time, arriving at the door in time to see the Guardian Therold standing to damned close to Phoebe for his liking. Piper and Paige were hovering near her, seemingly smiling but clearly anxious.

Therold was very red in the face and his bald pate was crimson. He was nodding hard at the same time saying yes, yes, yes in the high squeak that his voice always reached when he was with Phoebe. Cole stood at the door leaning on the jamb as Piper and Paige saw him they moved between Cole and Therold.

Therold, aware Cole was there, turned to glower at him, while Phoebe swallowed hard and said nervously to Cole "Therold came to ...invite me ...us"' Cole rolled his eyes "Paige and Piper and me" she amended hastily "He came to invite us  to a party.".

Cole rolled his eyes again while Therold sucked his breath and caught his hands in a tight ball.

"A housewarming party" Phoebe explained awkwardly "which is really sweet" she added smiling at Therold "but of course…" she swallowed hard

"I am only inviting my special friends" Therold told her, first smiling besottedly at Phoebe. He then frowned nastily at Cole whose fingers were jammed hard in his pockets while he had an expression on his face that had terrified demon minions when the Source took him over. "Special friends" Therold repeated "Brother Proctor, your sisters " he nodded to Piper and Paige "and their partners of course." He glowered at Cole, daring him to say anything.  "A sage friend from India "Therold smiled at Phoebe all but turning his back on Cole, "a Buddhist monk, the things he can tell you about tea."  He promised

"Tea" squeaked Phoebe as Paige tried not to giggle.

Piper seeing the expression on Cole's face, planted her hands on her hips and spun at him "The damage downstairs is bad enough" she snarled "Don't you even think of doing anything in here."

Cole who was considering the cost of fireballing the attic suddenly laughed. "Pity Friend Proctor has accepted"  he drawled "I can't go." He straightened up slightly legs aparts, a little threatening.

"Such a pity" Therold squeaked. He puffed himself up "I have also invited two wonderful scholars from Oxford. Historians" he said as Piper made spluttering noises. "They can keep you enthralled about what really happened when William the Conqueror invaded England."

"Great. History Piper" said Paige before Piper could open her mouth "Sounds fun" she added brightly as Piper ground her teeth.

"And I'm going to miss it all" drawled Cole.

"All my friends" Therold pushed defiantly "and the ghosts." he added a little reluctantly. "It seemed better to invite them."

"What ghosts?" demanded Piper curiously.

"They haunt they house I now live in" Therold said sending a dagger glare at Cole who shoved his hands deeper in his pockets.

"Haunt the house?" Paige asked interested.

"The house is also in a magic nexus, on the York moors" said Therold "I asked them to stay. Francesca thinks, and I agree, that a change would be good… refocus. And being alone so much is not good for anyone not even a guardian. My brother Proctor agrees. I respect my Brother's words" he added glaring at Cole and daring him to respond.

Phoebe hastily went over to Cole and elbowed him before he could say anything.

"How many ghosts?'" asked Piper with just a smirk around her mouth while Phoebe sent her imploring looks to be nice.

Therold smiled benignly at her "Two aren't well known. One is just an old game keeper who was hung by the lord of the manor for poaching, beaten to death rather nastily...likes to show off his wounds. Pleasant enough chap though."

"Oh" said Phoebe

"The other one is a rather attractive young nun who died in childbirth after being seduced by one of the monks from the old priory that stood on the site. Her crying can be quite irritating" Therold sighed "But when she stops crying she has some quite interesting comments on the thirteenth century religious life. Very edifying."

"Only two" said Phoebe disappointed when Paige and Piper could clearly find nothing to say.

"The other is Guy Fawkes" Therold explained "Not his primary haunting. He as you know died in London. Very interesting man."

"Why does he haunt?" asked Phoebe genuinely interested.

"Well historically speaking "Therold started to say.

Piper ground her teeth to almost a crunching noise

"Piper hates history" interrupted Cole and winced as Phoebe elbowed him as hard as she could.

Therold shook his head in disbelief. He addressed Piper. "You have to learn to love history, to understand it. An understanding of history is the only way to understand the present "he explained to her in a squeak "Like understanding tea." He said in his guardian voice which did not squeak.  "Understanding the small nuances of seemingly unconnected phenomena explain the power of the whole."

Piper glanced at Cole who sucked back a grin and shook his head.

"Sure" Piper only just gulping down a tart response. "My husband Leo will enjoy meeting the ghosts" she said as politely as she could.

"So" said Therold rubbing his hands and looking with delight at Phoebe as Cole put a possessive hand on her shoulder. "You will come with your partners." With a menacing frown, he dared Cole to say anything.

"Mark would like to talk to the ghosts" said Paige sacrificing the absent.

Phoebe looked at Cole "It's very sweet. I'd love too but Cole can't come if Proctor is there." she said as Cole's hand tightened on her shoulder and he dared Therold to say anything. "I'm sorry" she said as Therold's face fell and he shuffled awkwardly "I'd love to but if Cole can't come."  She repeated, her hand resting on the bump that was Pookie and put her other hand on Cole's one as he held her shoulder.

"I only asked special friends" Therold squeaked his voice shaking with disappointment. He took a deep breath "Maybe I could ask Proctor not to come" he said "So at least you and… " he looked at Cole and shuddered.

"I'm sure Proctor would hate to miss such a special party" Phoebe said.

Therold stoically sniffed away his disappointment. With the best aplomb he could muster he walk to her, ignored Cole two feet away from him and took her hand from where it rested on her belly and kissed it.

He turned back to Piper and Paige "Of course you are very welcome without Phoebe" he offered sadly.

"I" said Piper.

"Thank you" said Paige as Therold manfully sniffed away his disappointment. She walked over to him and took his hand "Mark and I will be there" she said as he smiled wanly "Friend Therold" she said softly "I want to thank you for what you did for my Mark."

Therold looked at her severely "Guardian's business" he said with not quite a squeak.

"I'm still very grateful" Paige said firmly squeezing his hand.

Therold nodded and smiled prissily. "I'm glad. To be of service to Phoebe's sister" he said.

"I'm very glad you were too" said Phoebe, squeezing his other hand.

Therold flushed then remembered he was a guardian "A very pleasant young man that whitelighter" he said severely "But he needs to understand consequences. Healing the Burvjarian of all his ills in this timeline has had some serious consequences." He pursed his lips then frowned severely. "Serious implications."

"Mark is a pain in the butt" said Cole as Therold narrowed his eyes clearly wondering whether he was being baited. He frowned turned to Phoebe and nearly cried "Such a pity you cannot grace my small party" he said.

Cole catching Therold all but shaking with disappointment, shook his head and ignoring Piper's disgusted glare said a touch nastily "Why don't you go Phoebe, why don't you all go" he said "seeing its Therold's special friends, I can baby sit."

"What" Phoebe said stunned as a flash of sheer joy showed in Therold's face.

Cole looked at Therold and shrugged "Seeing its special friends" he said.

Phoebe bit her lip "We'll be there" she said as Piper made a hissing sound.

"Bless you my dear" Therold said kissing her had again and shimmered but not before glaring in Cole's face.

"You bastard" Piper screamed at Cole.

Cole shrugged "Well seeing he's having the housewarming because I destroyed the other house, the least I can do is let him share it with special friends."

"Thank you "said Phoebe hugging him.

"Never let it be said you did not do the least you can do" snarled Piper "When the hell are you going to fix the conservatory?" she demanded.

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