There and back again

'What was that?' Phoebe lifted her head from its comfortable place on Cole's chest and looked around. 'Nothing baby, it's just the wind.' Cole, woken in alarm, softly stroked her hair. Phoebe rested her head back on Cole's shoulder. 'I don't want another attack in the middle of the night. Last year was so nice with no attacks at all.' she mumbled. 'I know what you mean but we knew it would end after Vivien's decision.' He continued stroking Phoebe's hair. 'Yes but it seems that the attacks just never stop and they are heavy attacks. Today Leo had to heal Paige twice and Melinda got hurt too.' Phoebe said worried. 'I know, I was there honey. But it's 3:30 at night and as much as I love listening to your voice, I need my sleep. Who knows when those demons will attack again?' Cole hugged Phoebe to him and put the covers all around them. 'I'm sorry, I'm just worried.' Phoebe mumbled and closed her eyes. Her thoughts immediately were with her daughter, who was somewhere in Italy, human and vulnerable. Five month it had been since she'd left and Phoebe missed her terribly. At least Vivien didn't have to deal with demons in Italy.

'No professor, I told you I cannot come to the gallery today. I have work to do somewhere else. I will, however, send Vivien to help you sort the pictures. Ah, she's sitting here nodding. Yes, I know that this is my job and not my girlfriend's professor. All right. I tell her and I will see you tomorrow.' Jonathan Templeton hung up the phone and turned to his girlfriend. 'He's waiting for you. He's got new pictures in that he wants to have sorted out by 6pm tonight, so you'll be busy. Well, I have to go now, I owe you so I'll probably pick you up here at eight sharp and take you out. I love you so much. See you later alligator!' He dropped a kiss on Vivien's cheek and waved before he closed the door. Vivien sighed and put the magazine she was reading away. She loved working in the art gallery for the old and grumpy university Professor, Dr. Caruso. Jonathan, art student in Dr. Caruso's art class, worked at the gallery to pay for university but wasn't able to show up to work five days a week, for whatever reasons. Vivien gladly jumped in for him.

Before she left the house today, she put on her thick winter jacket and gloves. It was winter in Italy and it was cold. She dropped into the gallery with a load of snow half an hour later. 'Good god child, will you close the door behind you faster? This is an art gallery, not a ski resort!' Professor Caruso cried and clapped his hands together when he saw Vivien's arrival. She closed the door as fast as possible and shook the snow off her jacket. The professor took the jacket from her and put it in the back room. 'When I came here no one warned me about those nasty winters.' Vivien complained, rubbing her hands together in order to get them warm. 'Well, what can you expect, this is Italy! So what did this lazy Jonathan promise you today to make you work instead of him?' 'He promised me dinner.' 'You see, if it wasn't for you, Vivien Turner, I'd think all Americans are lazy.' The professor shook his head. 'But you only know two Americans. Me and Jonathan.' Vivien laughed. 'Well, if you weren't here I'd still think all Americans are lazy, the way Jonathan behaves.if he wasn't such a good artist.' 'Professor, you should come and visit my family in California with me one day.' 'Ha! Next thing I know you're inviting me to fly to the moon with you. No child, I'll stay here. Italy is much safer than this big continent you're from. Now come and help me with these drawings, they have to be sorted and on the wall by 6 tonight so we better get working.'

Shortly after six, when she was leaving the gallery and the Professor locked the door behind her, she inhaled the cold night air and thought for only a short second about California and the warmth, before she opened her car door and flopped on the seat. It was icy cold. 'Oh, how I wish for a little sunshine and warmth here.' she muttered and started up her car. There, a second thought.

Arriving home she checked the messages on the answering machine and cooked some tea. At eight sharp Jonathan came running in. 'Oh gosh I thought I was late.' he said, out of breath, before he gave Vivien a passionate kiss that left her kind of breathless. She smiled at his comment and the way he grabbed her hand and led her out the door. 'Wait, I might need a jacket don't you think?' She held the door open and grabbed her jacket. Jonathan led a crazy life, in a good way. She was happy to live with him, after all he wasn't as crazy as her family back in California. She missed them and wondered how they were. When she called, no one talked about demons and warlocks, they were asking questions about life in Italy and she asked about Melinda and the work everyone was doing. On the phone they sounded like a normal family but Vivien knew that this wasn't reality. 'Hey sweetheart is anything wrong? You're awfully quiet.' Jonathan stroked her cheek. 'No, nothing. I'm just thinking. Everything's alright.' Vivien shook the thoughts out of her head and enjoyed the drive through the pitch-black night. Being free was wonderful.