fandomtownies | Causeway, late Friday night

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Causeway, late Friday night

It was close to midnight when three people and two cats made their way slowly through town. Sure, Bel could've shimmered them directly from the dorms to California, but this gave them an excuse to linger a little longer.

When they reached the causeway, Bel and Phoebe set down their bags (well, Anders set down Phoebe's bags, because he wouldn't let her carry them herself). The cats sprawled on a patch of grass as the three of them stood there in silence for awhile.

[For

futurebucs_star and

future_visions. Last post for Bel and Phoebe, but goodbyes can still be said here.]

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Phoebe was trying very hard not to cry. It was a battle that she was steadily losing. She had known this time would have to come, but she was still trying to fight it every inch of the way.

Anders had long since conceded the victory in that battle. Now that his hands were free again, he rubbed at his eyes quickly and reached out to take hold of their hands.

"So this is it, huh?"

Bel was trying hard to be all stoic and channel his inner Angel. "Yeah," he said quietly.

"Not goodbye," she reminded him, her eyes filling with tears. "You'll visit soon."

"Soon as I can," Anders promised. "I think I'm just going to refuse to ever say goodbye to you."

"See you soon works," Bel said. No, his voice certainly wasn't getting a little choked up.

Phoebe was squeezing Anders's hand. "We're not that far away... not comparitively," she sniffled.

"No," Anders said, trying to sound positive about it. "I . . . sleeping tonight's going to be rough, though. Don't know what to do without you guys right there, seems like."

Bel moved in and wrapped his arms around Anders. "Love you," he whispered.

Phoebe waited for a few minutes before moving closer and wrapping her arms around both of them. She had lost the fight with the tears as they slid down her cheeks.

Anders managed to wrap an arm around each of them, though he failed to choke back a fresh sob. "I love you too," he managed to rasp after a moment. "So much. More than I ever realized I would."

"Me, too," Bel said, his voice thick with emotion. "Phoebe gave me my soul back, but you've helped keep it there."

Phoebe nodded. "Love you, Anders," she said softly. "Never expected to feel any of this... to have any of this... and I am so glad you took a chance on us."

"We all took a chance," Anders said shakily. "And it paid off. Look, I know this isn't goodbye, but . . . well, I have things for you, if you want. Sort of to remember me by, but mostly just . . . so I can sort of still be with you in a way, too."

"We're not gonna forget you," Bel murmured. "But, yeah, having a piece of you would be cool."

"Your ours," she reminded him. "We talked about this... this morning." She was not having good luck choking back her emotions. "We could never forget you, never." She took a breath. "Having something of you with us... would make it not so unbearable."

Anders nodded and reluctantly released his tight hold on both of them long enough to reach into his pockets and pull out a small box (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/shaniezak/FHstuff/capnecklace.jpg) with Bel's name on it, and another one (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/shaniezak/FHstuff/amethystring.jpg) with Phoebe's, which he handed to each of them.

"They just seemed like the right things to get you," he explained as he pulled them closer again.

Bel opened his box and lifted out the amulet. "Wow, thanks," he said. He studied it for a moment. "It's the symbol for Capricorn, isn't it?"

Phoebe opened her box and stared at the ring in silence for a long moment. Words failed her and she just grabbed him and hugged him.

Anders nodded at Bel as Phoebe hugged him. "My planet's symbol, yeah. I was looking for a ring with that on it for you, but I saw the cord on that, and well, leather kind of suits you, so . . ." He reached over and pulled Bel closer against them. "These don't have to mean anything more than you want them to mean. Just . . . know that I love you both, and I'm going to be so damn proud of you no matter what you do."

"I was born under the sign of Capricorn," Bel mused. "Guess that means you were meant to be with us. Are meant to be," he corrected himself. He hugged Anders tightly. "Thank you," he said.

Phoebe took the ring out of the box and slid it on her right hand. It was opposite of Cole's ring that she never took off of her left hand.

"Meant," she whispered. "Like Cole said."

"I didn't even realize you were," Anders said, touching Bel's cheek. "That makes it kind of . . . wow. Yeah."

He ducked his head and kissed Phoebe gently, then turned to kiss Bel. His eyes darkened and grew serious, and he put a hand on the back of Bel's neck as he looked into his eyes.

"You listen to me, Belthazor . . . Cole Turner . . . I am damn proud of the man you are, and I believe in you, and I love you. Don't you ever forget that, okay?" Turning back to hold Phoebe's gaze the same way, he added in the same halting, broken way, "I love you too, Phoebe Halliwell, and I'll always believe in you and be proud of you too. No matter what happens, you remember that. Both of you. You guys are going off to do bigger things in the real world . . . and I know you can do it. I know you'll be amazing. And I promise you, I'll do my best here, too, and then next year, well . . ."

That was about when his voice gave out.

Cole swallowed and rubbed at his eyes. "Counting the days," he said gruffly. "You just enjoy the school year. Have fun, learn stuff, stay away from insane principals, and, umm . . . I'll miss you."

Phoebe made a soft sound. "Be careful and call and e-mail us a lot..." She swallowed and looked at him seriously. "Just as proud of you, you know. There's so much you can do and ... " Phoebe's voice faltered as she looked at him helplessly.

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