Wednesday Morning and Early Afternoon, Selkie Cove

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe had again wandered to Selkie Cove upon awakening. She sat on her usual set of rocks and watched the sun rise, still thinking about alot of things. She also had her crystal rose with her that she had retrieved back from Fandom High's resident kleptomaniac pink bunny. Anders would be happy to know that a couple of his cupcakes had gone to appease the thief and get her back the rose Cole had given her last year. The rose was important to her for many reasons -- and it was a symbol of just how much she and Cole had gone through in the time they had been together in order to stay together.

Speaking of which, she had a phone call to make.




Phoebe made sure to wait to make this call until she was sure that Veronica would be awake. She did have the concept of timezones down, after all. Once she was sure about times, she dialed V's number.

"Hey, Phoebes," Veronica said. She also happened to be at the beach, having picked up Backup from her dad's place for a morning walk. "You all ready for graduation?"

"If by ready, you mean nervous as hell about that and what comes afterwards, then yes I'm totally ready."

"Well, if your graduation is anything like mine was, you'll be celebrating the defeat of the giant gremlin," Veronica teased.

Phoebe laughed. "Grams is coming... as is dad. So there might be a death of a completely different kind."

"Death for Bel. And possibly Anders," Veronica said carefully.

Phoebe sighed. "There is that. The last time Grams met and accepted Cole, he was human. Piper may want to blow both of them up. But... Grams hates dad... like with a passion she normally reserves for demons."

"You can hide in my hotel room," Veronica offered.

"Won't Cameron be annoyed with that?" she teased her friend.

Veronica laughed. "He'll deal. You might have to make out with me to appease him, though."

Phoebe laughed. "Cole and Anders will be so sorry they miss that."

"I bet they will be," she teased. "So, what's up?"

Phoebe shook her head giggling. "I would never hear the end of it." She sighed. "Did you have a chance to look into what we talked about?"

"Yes," Veronica said. "In fact, I'm expecting a call from Cliff to stop by and pick up the paperwork later today, so I'll be able to bring it with me this weekend."

That would be a sound of relief. "Oh thank god, Veronica. You have no idea how much this means to me. Cole has been down because he doesn't think he has anything that he can do after graduation and he's been really down about it."

"He should have known better," Veronica chided lightly. "Between me and Parker? Come on. He can do anything he wants."

"I know," Phoebe agreed. "However, he apparently didn't think of contacting you guys or talking to Aziraphale." She shook her head. "I think he forgets that he has friends that actually give a damn and will help out."

"Can I smack him when I see him?" Veronica asked.

"I'm thinking no. I don't need him to become an emodemon you know."

Veronica sighed dramatically. "Ruin all my fun. Anyway, yeah, everything should be good to go this weekend. So I'll see you guys on Friday."

"Thank you so much, V," Phoebe said quietly. "Means a lot to me... and it will to him, too. When he finds out. I kinda didn't tell him I was setting this up."

"He better appreciate you," Veronica said.

Phoebe smiled into the phone. "He does, I know," she laughed. "Besides, he wouldn't want to piss you or Piper off by not appreciating me."

"Damn straight," Veronica said. "Listen, I have some things to do to get ready for my trip. So I'll see you this weekend, okay?"

"Yep. Thanks again, V, and I'll see you this weekend."

"Anytime, Phoebes. Catch ya later."

"Later, V." Phoebe hung up the phone and let out a sigh of relief. Cole wouldn't have to be so upset about graduation and their future now.




She would talk to Aziraphale and James and see if there was anything else that needed to be done after she saw Veronica over the weekend.

Now that she had that taken care of, she went back to staring at the water and thinking about other things.


[[OOC: Post is open. Phone call played via e-mail with the wonderful marsheadtilt.]]

Comments

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

It was afternoon by the time Anders finally got showered and dressed and left the dorms, but this was two days in a row that Phoebe had been gone when he woke up, and he was getting a little worried. So after a quick stop at the Perk for a couple of coffees, he headed straight down to Selkie Cove in search of her.

"Was hoping I'd find you here."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe looked up and gave him a tired smile. "Hey. You were looking for me?"

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Maybe? Yeah?" Anders fidgeted a bit and held up the coffee cups. "Brought you something to drink, even."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe was positive she no longer looked like she had been crying and she patted the rocks next to her. "Pull up a boulder, hun."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders climbed up and sat beside her, handing over one of the cups of coffee. "That's two days you've come out here, now," he said slowly. "Something on your mind?"

[sensethevisions]

She took a drink of the coffee and thought about his question.

"I don't suppose you'd believe me if I said that I was doing it to give you and Cole some private time together?"

Hey, he might go for it.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Which, while I appreciate it . . ." Anders peered at her thoughtfully. "I worry about you too, you know. And you've been kind of quiet the past couple of days, which makes me worry more."

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Phoebe looked down at the rocks for a long moment. "Last couple of weeks have been kind of rough in patches," she finally said. "Too many goodbyes, too many people hurting, too many problems caused by certain things." She shook her head. "My mind gets full sometimes and then my own worries and fears get all tangled up, too."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders thought about the awkward moment between him and Bel earlier. "I haven't been causing any of those worries, have I?" he asked hesitantly.

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Phoebe's jaw dropped and she looked at him. "Gods, no, Anders. If I made you think that I am so sorry, really."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders shrugged and sipped at his own coffee. "Don't know. Was just worrying that with graduation coming up and everything, you were maybe . . . wishing you hadn't gotten involved with me or something."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe shook her head, and then ducked her head to hide the tears that sprang to her eyes again. "Nothing of the sort," she said quietly. "In fact... I was afraid that you were regretting and wishing we had never and..." The coffee cup was fascinating.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders ducked his head again, then looked away. "Sometimes I almost do? Just . . . because I don't want this to have to end."

[sensethevisions]

Wow, that hurt, but she couldn't blame him.

"Not wanting this to end, either," she finally said softly.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

He reached out blindly for her hand, still not meeting her eyes to avoid showing her the tears threatening to form in his. "It can't last," Anders said, his voice rough. "Doesn't mean I don't wish it could. Love him, and . . . love you."

[sensethevisions]

She held onto his hand, also not wanting him to see that tears had formed in her eyes.

"I wish it could, too," she said softly. "I know you love us, Hun. I wish that it wasn't something that had to end..."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"But it does." Anders squeezed her hand tightly. "I'm sorry."

What he was apologizing for, exactly, he wasn't sure.

[sensethevisions]

"Not looking forward to the end of summer," she mumbled. She swallowed. "That is if you want to still be with us during the summer... if you don't I... I understand."

But it will hurt like hell, went unsaid.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Unsaid, but completely understood.

"I want to be with you guys as long as I can," Anders replied, shifting closer and laying his head against her shoulder. "If you want me around, that is."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe choked back a relieved sob. "Of course we do. I want to be able to..." she mumbled something under her breath as she took a drink of her copy to hide her words.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"You want to what?" Anders ran his thumb across the back of her hand reassuringly.

[sensethevisions]

"Have you with me.. with us... be with you..." She sighed. Her words weren't exactly coming out right.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"You do," Anders said, a little confused. "For now, at least . . . you've got that."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe bit her lip.

"I want to be able to be with you for as long as you'll allow it until I leave or you decide it's too painful with the end coming and..."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders turned to look at her this time. "You honestly care about me that much?" he asked, his expression hopeful.