Note: Sorry for the long delay, no excuse except real life got in the way, for more info head to my profile, there's a longer explanation. But finally here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 8

Next day; Underworld

"Well?" Tally glared from her alter.

"They weren't in the office today." Mark reported back. "Cole called in sick. And Miss Parker had some appointments."

His demon master growled low in her throat. "I don't suppose you staked out the secretary's home? Please tell me you were smart enough to do that?"

Mark took a desperate step forward. "I did go there." She needed to know he could do what he had been tasked to do. Anything to keep her from abusing him more often than she already did. The pain and degradation he had to go through normally was nothing compared to what she inflicted on him when he messed up.

Tally finally took her gaze off her alter; a wicked gleam touched her black eyes. "And?"

Mark handed her the recorder. "Neither were sick." He pressed play. Immediately sounds of sex came through the small speakers. At first it could have been anyone losing themselves to pleasure but then distinct voices and phrases were heard. The secretary shouted 'Cole, please!' and 'how she'd vanquish him if he didn't stop teasing her', while Belthazor's human half chuckled sinisterly and told his "little witch" to be patient and when he finally allowed her release, along with his own, he growled out 'I love you Liz'.

Smiling happily Tally nearly kissed her slave. "One more brick to add to the pile." She was one step closer to paying back Belthazor for his treachery. No one made a fool out of Talinia and lived…well, lived pain free anyway.

Belthazor had been a sought after ally for many factions. She was leader of one such faction. Although half human he was vicious and took joy in the human and supernatural kills he made. He would have been a wonderful General and second in command for her army.

Tossing away the painful memories of the past before they overtook her Tally waved Mark away. "Put that recording into the Phoebe Halliwell file." She ordered.

"Yes mistress." Mark rushed to do what she asked.

As her slave left Talinia exhaled. Although she wanted to send that file off to the youngest Halliwell that second she couldn't. She had to bide her time. Although she was close to having everything in place she wasn't quite there yet and if she sent off the file too soon it would throw all that she worked so hard to achieve out the window. She could wait, she [i]would[/i] wait.

That night; Liz's Apartment

"This was a wonderful day." Liz snuggled up against Cole's side, her hand splayed on his bare chest, her tanned leg draped across his thigh, with his large warm hand rubbing her naked back both of them reveling in their closeness.

Cole kissed her forehead. "It was. Did you like playing hooky?" Wanting to enjoy their first day as an official couple, despite not being public yet, Cole called in sick and had his cases moved to later days in the week and into next week. While Liz only had to let him know and since he knew it was an easy call.

"I'll have you know I've played hooky before. I'm more of a rebel than you think." She spoke in a teasingly haughty tone.

Gently he kissed the top of her ear tickling the sensitive flesh. "I know you are. Nobody could do the naughty things you've done with me over these last few months without having some rebel in them." The husky timbre against her ear got her primed for another round with her boyfriend.

Boyfriend. That word seemed odd, almost too tame for what she and Cole were. They were lovers, yes. Cheaters, yes. Mortal enemies, technically. But boyfriend and girlfriend didn't seem quite right.

As she stared up into his wicked eyes she realized that the label of what they were now didn't matter. In the end they were Liz and Cole…or Liz and Belthazor. Lovers and friends and maybe more. That was all that really mattered right then. Everything else they'd figure out later.

Two Days Later; Halliwell Manor

"His things were gone?" Piper sat with Phoebe on the couch.

"Yea. I went to the penthouse to pick up some more of my stuff." Phoebe sniffed, wiping her nose with a tissue. "It was all gone, he didn't leave anything of his there."

Piper tucked her hair behind her ear. "I knew I should have gone with you." She mentally kicked herself for letting Phoebe talk her out of it.

Phoebe disagreed. "No, it was important I did that alone. You would have blown Cole up and Prue would have constantly made him airborne, throwing him into walls and anything else breakable."

"It's no less than what he deserves." Piper grumbled. "Did he at least leave a note?"

The youngest Halliwell shrugged her shoulders. "Kind of. He left me the Penthouse, a short note was with it. Cole wrote that the Penthouse is mine despite knowing I don't want to live there anymore. I can keep it, rent it, sell it, anything. Then he wrote that he was sorry for hurting me and he wished me happiness."

"Sorry? He wrote he was sorry? How about not screwing some bimbo with easy spread legs that would have been a better idea." Piper angrily scoffed.

"Whoa, I came in at the wrong time." Liz stood awkwardly at the entryway to the living room and cringed. If…when the sisters found out it was she who was the other woman with the 'easy spread legs' would they still think that unflattering description of her. No, they probably wouldn't, it'd be worse. Then she wouldn't be someone they didn't know, it'd be an added betrayal that they couldn't forgive.

Phoebe twisted her neck around and smiled sadly at their cousin. "Oh, hi sweetie. We're just…" Phoebe hesitated.

Piper sighed and spoke in a quiet and sensitive tone, "Cole and Phoebe broke up a couple days ago. She went back to the penthouse and all his stuff was gone." She explained not realizing that Liz already knew what happened and that she knew more than they did.

Liz glanced down at the floor and shook her head. "I am so sorry Phoebe." It broke her heart to see her cousin so heartbroken but she had no one to blame but herself and Cole. "Is there anything I can do?"

"No. I'll be fine. This is just a bump in the road." She wiped her eyes.

Piper stroked Phoebe's hair and smiled at Liz. "What did you need Liz?"

Seeing Phoebe in the room grieving her ended relationship almost made her chicken out but she didn't want anyone, especially the sisters coming unannounced to her apartment that weekend. Chris was next on her list of people to tell. "Just wanted to let you two know that I'm having company over on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, so please tell Leo no orbing in. My home and cell phone will stay on but any magical visitors coming in a magical way are banned for the weekend."

Phoebe showed the first truly happy smile since her break up. "A visitor?" She quirked an eyebrow. "One that requires privacy…who are you spending this weekend with? A guy? A romantic type guy?" She asked hopefully.

"Why are you so interested?" Liz perched her body on the arm of the chair. "Figured you'd rather keep men out of the conversation for a while." She gently questioned.

"No, not men. Just Cole. And since now I'm single I've got to live vicariously through other people." Phoebe reclined back and put her legs on the arm rest next to Liz's legs. "So who is he?"

Liz hesitated briefly; she realized that not answering would give the impression that she wasn't comfortable telling who she was seeing. She shrugged, "You know I told you about the guy from work?"

"Corset wearing guy?" Piper piped up.

"I hope you mean the guy I wore the corset for and not a guy who wears a corset? I prefer to be the one to wear the corset in the relationship." Liz joked.

Phoebe chuckled. "So it is him?" She deduced. "You've hardly told us anything about him."

Liz shook her head. "I don't think he's necessarily boyfriend material, more like I got an itch he can scratch." Instantly she felt guilty, not only was she lying to her family she also reduced her weekend plans with Cole to a fling when it was anything but.

Phoebe smiled, "There is nothing wrong with that kind of a weekend. Enjoy it. But don't be afraid to open yourself up for a relationship." She delicately advised Liz.

Liz stiffened her back and playfully asked, "That sounds more love columnist than loving cousin. Why?"

"It's been a while since I've seen you have a relationship. While there's nothing wrong with playing the field and getting a taste of the different flavors out there it can be lonely."

"Ok, yes. My last official boyfriend was a while ago. But that doesn't mean I'm not open to being in a relationship. I just haven't met anyone that amazing yet." Yet another lie to her concerned cousin, maybe she should make a spread sheet so she could keep it all straight. It couldn't hurt.

Piper got a questioning look on her face. "I've never seen you had an official boyfriend. Just a lot of dates. Who was an actual boyfriend?"

Clearing her throat Liz stood up and waved her hands in an 'I'm done' manner. "This is a conversation I don't want to be in anymore. I've dated, I've got some itches scratched, and that's how I want it to be for now. If I meet someone that I want to be more than I'll happily open my heart and hope they open theirs too. Until that time, I'm enjoying my life." She announced to the room. "With that being said, I'm going to go tell Chris about my no-orbing in weekend."

"Sweetie you don't have to go. We're just concerned about you." Phoebe leaned forward to take Liz's hand but Liz backed away quickly.

Hurt flashed over Phoebe's face but the last thing Liz wanted was for Phoebe to get a premonition of the upcoming weekend. Or anything else Cole related. Although it was difficult for her youngest cousin to get a premonition when touching members of her family, it wasn't impossible and Liz couldn't take that chance.

"I know you're concerned but you don't have to be." She kissed two of her fingers and waved to them. "See you ladies next week, unless an emergency makes me cut the weekend short." With that she hurried from the family home desperate to get away from her guilt and their worry.

TBC