Chapter 1. When Piper Met Jack

Piper looked over at her handsome Leo and wished they were still married. She felt so empty without him and she dreamt of being in his arms again. Every now and then she yearned to see his face. It was just as well that every time she yelled his name he orbed in. Paige walked in and found Piper looking at a photo of the man of her dreams.

        'I'm going to work now. Are you going to be okay on your own?'

Piper was still in a Leo daze. She nodded absently. Paige grew impatient. 'Piper? Hello? Anyone in there?'

        'Huh?' Looking around, finally noticing Paige with her hands on her hips. 'Yeah, I'll be fine. Just go.'

        'You sure honey?'

        'Yeah, I'm sure. Now go to work otherwise you'll be late again!' Piper turned her back to Paige and continued to study her photograph of the man she loved and lost. Paige stared at her sister's back for several moments, then tossed her hair over her shoulder and left the house for work.

Paige was temping at a dating agency for the week. Suddenly, reading through all the gorgeous men on file, she came up with a bewitching idea. She picked up the phone and dialled Phoebe's number.

        'Phoebe Halliwell?'

        'Hey Pheebs, it's me.'

        'Oh hey! How's the dating agency?'

        'Well it just gave me the greatest idea.'

        'Which would be…'

        'Well you know Piper is still moping over Leo?'

        'Sure,'

        'I was thinking we could set her up on a few dates to try and help her get over him.'

        'I don't know, Paige, do you think she'll ever get over him? He is her soulmate.'

        'Oh come on. He's an elder now! How unavailable can you get?'

Phoebe paused to think about the plan. 'I guess she hasn't left the house in weeks.'

        'See?' Paige urged. 'It's what she needs.'

        'OK. Go for it. Bring home the lists and we'll all go through them.'

        'You think Piper will agree?'

        'Nope. But we'll persuade her.'

        'OK, Bye.'

        'Bye, see you later.'

Piper sat at the table with her arms folded defiantly. She was almost completely against this crazy idea, but something in the way Phoebe and Paige were looking at her told her that they wouldn't let it go.

        'You guys, do I really have to?' She begged.

        'Look you won't regret it, I promise.' Said Paige. 'I have great taste in men.'

        'What and I don't?'

        'Well let's just say any guys you've dated have included a demon and an elder. Remember Jeremy?'

        'Unfortunately, yes I do!'

        'So we're agreed?'

        Piper's eyes widened. 'We're agreed? I'm the one that has to go through this torture!'

        'Oh come on!' Said Paige. 'How bad could it be?'

Piper sat in P3 anxiously awaiting her first date. She had read the information Paige had given her, about a Mr Jack O'Neill who had travelled all the way from Colorado just to meet her. Piper mumbled under her breath, 'wow he must be desperate.'

        The man wearing the combats and leather jacket, just like he said, strolled up to her. 'Are you Piper Halliwell?'

        'That's me. You must be Jack. Nice to meet you.'

        'And you too.' He took a seat.

        There was an uncomfortable silence.

Eventually, Jack spoke. 'Look, I really don't want to be rude or anything because you seem like a great girl, but I never wanted to come on this date.'

        'Oh god, me either.'

        'I'm in love with this girl, where I work.'

        'So why are you on a date with me?'

        'It's complicated. Basically because of our jobs we can never be together.'

        'I can so relate. My ex husband he, uh, got a promotion and had to work abroad. Not that we wanted to split up but…'

        'That's awful.' Said Jack. 'Any kids?'

        'Yeah, a son named Wyatt. He's ten months old.'

        'Cute.' Said Jack. 'I love kids.'

        'Pity we're both in the same position!'

They chatted all night, getting on great because they both knew it wouldn't go anywhere. They enjoyed each other's company because they both had the same sense of humour. At one point, one of them spilled a drink and they both jumped up, saying 'Oh for crying out loud!' Laughing at their similarities, they promised to keep in touch to see how their love lives worked out.

        'Good luck with this Sam girl.' Said Piper, kissing him on the cheek.

        He gave her a friendly punch on the shoulder. 'And you with Leo.'

        'See you around.'

Back at the Halliwell manor, Phoebe and Paige were waiting up in their pyjamas for news on Piper's date.

        'Well?' Said Paige. 'How did it go, sweetie?'

        Piper smiled. 'Not as I was expecting. Good, but not in a romantic way.'

Phoebe frowned. 'Well that was a waste of an evening.'

        'Not really! I made a new friend.'

        'Friend?' Paige didn't look impressed.

        'Night!' Piper said cheerfully to her sisters. Well, if the other dates carried on like this she'd have a dozen more friends and Phoebe and Paige would shut up about her moving on! Next! She thought to herself, slipping inside her bed knowing that her last thoughts before she fell asleep would be about Leo.