Way Early Tuesday Morning; 518/520

[sensethevisions]

They had all been too tired to really talk much after Cole brought them back to the dorms from where they had tracked her down at Selkie Cove. So after getting in, they had pretty much collapsed in the aftermath of an emotionally intense day.

However, Phoebe couldn't sleep, and so, when she was almost positive the guys were sleeping, she had slipped from the bed and left the room.

She paced a little bit, and then she had curled up on the couch with her notebook for her workshop on Thursday.

However, she was spending more time staring down at the floor than reading.

Comments

[demonbelthazor]

He put his arm around her shoulders. "You didn't," he said. "I just know when you're not there."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe leaned into him, tears pricking her eyes again. "I couldn't sleep," she said softly.

[demonbelthazor]

"It's okay," Cole assured her, kissing her forehead. "Everything's gonna be all right."

[sensethevisions]

"I feel awful about what we did, Cole," she said softly. "Until you said it... I didn't realize I had done to you exactly what had been done to you before... I never..."

[demonbelthazor]

"I shouldn't have said it like that," Cole said, wincing. "I was upset. It wasn't the same, you weren't trying to hurt me. You were trying to help."

[sensethevisions]

"You had... have every right to be upset, Cole. I hurt you. I didn't mean to. I never would have purposefully hurt you. I just..." She sighed and ran a hand along his chest tentatively. "You know I would never have tried to hurt you... don't you?"

[demonbelthazor]

"I know," Cole said, holding her close. "I know you'd never hurt me. You're not that kind of person. Neither is Anders."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe relaxed against him, glad to be held so close. "We were dumb," she finally said.

[demonbelthazor]

"Me, too," Cole said with a half-smile. "I'm just not use to saying what I feel like that. It got beat out of me in the Underworld."

[sensethevisions]

She frowned. "No one will ever do that to you again. I'll kill them all first," she said fiercely.

[demonbelthazor]

"I know," Cole said affectionately. "You'll tear about the Underworld some day."

[sensethevisions]

"I love you, soulmate," she said softly. "I'm not going to let anyone hurt you... especially me."

[demonbelthazor]

He touched his hand gently to her face. "And I'm not gonna let anyone hurt you, Bright One."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe leaned into his hand and smiled. "You haven't called me that in a long time, love."

[demonbelthazor]

"I haven't?" Cole said. "Huh, I don't know why. Maybe the cats reminded me."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe nodded. "Yeah, it's the first time you've caled me that in a long time. I like hearing that from you."

[demonbelthazor]

Cole chuckled softly. "I didn't realize. I guess that's one of the things you need to tell me. I'm still new at this being human thing."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe smiled. "I guess I keep forgetting that I need to tell you some things. I don't ever see you as demon or human... I see you as Cole, so sometimes I forget that there are things you need to hear, too."

[demonbelthazor]

Cole hung his head a little and looked up at her. "Do you love me even if I'm dumb?"

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe lay her hand against his cheek. "You are not dumb and nothing will ever make me stop loving you."

[demonbelthazor]

"Just be patient with me," Cole said, putting his hand over hers. "I'll figure it out eventually."

[sensethevisions]

"Of course, love." Phoebe kissed him gently. "I'll also try to talk to you more about what I need or what I'm thinking..."

[demonbelthazor]

"Me too," Cole agreed, kissing her back then pressing his forehead against hers.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe smiled and then blushed. "Things like... you don't always have to handle me so gently when we're doing stuff?"

[demonbelthazor]

Blink.

"What do you mean?" Cole said, confused.

The boy was awfully slow sometimes.