Friday Afternoon -- Suite 518/520 -- Packing

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe had spent the night with Lana, deciding that she should give Cole his space after what had happened yesterday. She had told both Lana and Blair that she had slapped him, and both of them seemed incredibly worried that she had lost her temper enough to slap Cole of all people. She had also told James, and he suggested that she not let this sit between her and Cole for too long or things would only get worse.

She wasn't even sure he'd want to talk to her or even if she should try right now. She had done her best to be invisible during Aziraphale's lab this morning and had instead focused on the project she and Nadia were going to be working on.

However, after Constant Vigilance, she found herself in their suite packing for her trip home for the weekend...there was some moping and some tears in there, too. She must have set the record for non-participation in a class as she just could not bring herself to take part in dating techniques when things were so bad in her personal life.

Everytime she heard a sound in the hall, she looked up to see if he was opening the door, but it was never him.

She stood in the middle of the bedroom, staring down at where her bag was. She really should pack. Really. She also needed to call Paige since it looked like she would need a lift from her sister after all.

Was she really going to have to leave for the weekend without speaking to him?

Comments

[demonbelthazor]

"You're moving out?" he said quietly.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe jerked her head up in shock. "I... do you want me to?" She tried to keep the hurt out of her voice, but she may have failed at that.

[demonbelthazor]

"Only...if that's what you want," he said, looking away.

[sensethevisions]

It didn't escape her notice that he wasn't looking at her.

"I don't want to," she said softly. "But if you want me to leave after I get back... then I will."

[demonbelthazor]

He turned his head sharply to look at her. "What makes you think I don't want you here?"

[sensethevisions]

"I lost my temper," she said in a choked voice. "I hit you."

[demonbelthazor]

He hung his head and shifted uncomfortably. "You must've thought I needed it," he said.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe shook her head. "There is never an excuse to hit someone, especially someone you love. Never." Phoebe was finding the comforter on the bed quite rivetting.

[demonbelthazor]

"It didn't hurt," Cole said. "I mean, I've been hit a lot harder before. You don't have to worry."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe looked at him.

"You don't.." she shook her head. "I shouldn't have... I HIT you." Her eyes dropped to the floor. "I had no right... there was no reason... to do that."

[demonbelthazor]

"You were mad at me," Cole pointed out.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe shook her head. "Cole... Love... no matter how angry someone gets with you, that doesn't give them the right to strike you."

[demonbelthazor]

"I almost hit you," he mumbled, looking at the floor. My, that shag was fascinating.

[sensethevisions]

"Yes, but you stopped yourself. You didn't hit me. And when you saw what you were about to do... it upset you."

[demonbelthazor]

"I was acting more like a demon than a human," he said. Whether that meant in general or just at that instant he didn't elaborate on.

[sensethevisions]

"Your human side is stronger and stopped you from hurting me." Phoebe looked back down at the bed, her shoulders slumped. "I have no excuse for what I did."

[demonbelthazor]

"I deserved it," Cole admitted reluctantly.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe looked at him. "Why do you say that?"

[demonbelthazor]

"I upset you," he said simply.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe sat down on the bed, staring at the ground as she clasped and unclasped her hands.

"It doesn't matter how much you upset me, I shouldn't have slapped you. It was wrong of me and I'm sorry."

She didn't think she should tell him that she's been beating herself up about it since it happened.

"People in love don't treat each other like that. You never hit someone you love in anger like I did."

[demonbelthazor]

"It's okay," Cole said softly. "I forgive you."

[sensethevisions]

"You do?"

[demonbelthazor]

He nodded. "Yeah, of course I do."