LONELY BUT NEVER ALONE

CHAPTER ONE .

Piper sat at the vanity table, twisting her wedding ring around her finger.

A pair of strong arms snaked around her waist. She rubbed her eye with her fist, wiping away the tears as she did so. She shook her head. Running her hand up and down his arm, Piper turned her face upwards, resting her head on Leo's shoulder. She looked into his green-blue eyes, tears falling from her own, fast and thick. He brushed them away with his thumb, softly stroking her cheek. They didn't need to say anything. They just sat there, wrapped in each others arms.

Leo was the first to break the embrace. He stepped back from the stool and Piper scrabbled to catch his hand.

'Don't leave'

Leo laughed softly, 'I'm just going to check on the boys.'

'Don't be too long.'

Leo smiled and nodded his head in agreement.

Piper crawled under the covers of her bed. It seemed huge and lonely without Leo next to her. Her body ached with tiredness, but she couldn't sleep when she felt like something was missing. Deep inside, Piper felt .. empty. She blinked slowly and before long her eyes were closed and she was carried into a restless slumber.

--

Piper woke the next day to find Leo lying next to her, propped up on his side smiling slightly as he watched her sleep.

'You came back.' Piper whispered, gazing up at him through half closed eyes.

'I promised you I'd be here when you woke' he said, stroking her forehead along her hairline, smoothing her hair behind her ear.

'Let's stay here' Piper smiled at the thought.

'Oh, honey. You have to get up. Face the day.'

Piper groaned at her husband's words and rolled out of bed. She put on her robe and was halfway out the door when she realised Leo remained on the bed, watching her gravely.

'Aren't you coming?' she asked him.

'Maybe a little later.' he smiled briefly.

Piper nodded and headed downstairs. Along the way she peeked into her sons' room. Wyatt's bed was empty and Chris had just begun to sleepily rub his eyes with his tiny fists. Picking him up, Piper settled Chris firmly on her hip and headed downstairs to the kitchen. There Phoebe sat, keeping an eye on Wyatt who was sprinkling copious amounts of sugar on his cereal. Phoebe looked up as Piper entered.

'Hi, honey,' she said softly, 'how are you this morning?'

Although Piper replied happily enough, she couldn't ignore the gnawing feeling in her stomach. She set Chris in his high chair and ruffled Wyatt's golden hair, before fixing the kettle to make herself a cup of tea. As the kettle whistled, Paige walked into kitchen, squinting in the bright light of the sunshine that reflected off the tiles.

'Hi guys' Paige too spoke gently; as if afraid her words might hurt.

She walked over to Piper and squeezed her arm reassuringly. Piper smiled up at her. Wyatt began to bang his spoon loudly against his empty bowl. Phoebe quickly hushed him, glancing over at Piper who was feeding Chris his breakfast. She absently stirred the green mush, looking at her youngest son. He had eyes like his father, she thought.

She remembered the apologetic look in Leo's eyes every time he was called away. She remembered waiting, unconsciously holding her breath every time he was gone. He'd always come back, though. Leo always came back, often with the same look in his eyes. Sure, a couple of times she got mad, but she understood. She remembered him saying to her: 'Just call my name and I will be there'. Piper remembered that moment so clearly.
It's funny the things you remember.

'Piper?'

Paige's voice brought her out of her reverie. Piper shook her head and smiled.

'Sorry. Was a million miles away.'

'Wyatt, sweetie,' Phoebe turned to look at Piper's eldest son, 'why don't you run upstairs and get dressed for Grandpa, okay?"

Wyatt nodded and disappeared in a blur of blue and white lights.

'No orbing.' Piper called out, half heartedly. For some reason, it didn't seem to matter anymore.

'Grandpa?' she asked, raising an eyebrow.

'Yeah,' Paige said, from behind her, 'Your dad is taking the boys to the fair, remember?'

'Oh .. sure.'

Paige and Phoebe shared a look.

'Well, I guess I better get the little man ready too.' Piper said, hoisting Chris out from behind the high chair tray.

'Piper?'

'Yeah?' she turned in the doorway

'You're gonna need time'

'Well, we have plenty. Dad's not coming until ten, is he?' Piper turned and left the kitchen.

Phoebe looked down at her hands.

'That's not what I meant' she said softly.

--

Piper had just packed the last few items in her sons' bag, when the doorbell rang. Downstairs, Phoebe ran to the door and pulled it open.

'Daddy'

'Phoebe' Victor pulled his youngest into a hug. He smiled at Paige, who had come from the lounge room to stand behind her sister. Paige nodded slightly to Victor and shut the door behind him as Phoebe pulled him into the foyer.

'How is she?' Victor gestured upstairs.

Phoebe shrugged.

'She's a little .. spacey' Paige waved her hand around, trying to find the right words. Victor nodded and turned to see Piper coming down the stairs, Chris saddled on her hip and Wyatt in tow.

'Dad.' Piper gave him a smile and he knelt down as Wyatt ran into his outstretched arms. Picking his grandson up, Victor smiled sadly.

'Hi, sweetie. How are you holding up?"

'Good. Yeah, good. We're fine' Piper said distractedly, fiddling with Chris' shirt.

'Here, Piper, let me.'

Piper passed Chris over to Paige's awaiting arms.

'Right. Okay, so I've put juice and cookies in here,' Piper said, sliding the bag off her shoulder, 'and remember no balloons for Chris and Wyatt hates clowns.'

She handed the bag to Victor, who had lowered Wyatt to the floor.

'I know, Piper. I know.' Victor interjected as Piper continued, listing the dislikes and needs of her sons'.

Phoebe laid her hand on Piper's arm, allaying her.

'Alright, buddy you ready to go?' Victor wiggled his fingers at Chris who giggled as he attempted to grab them. Victor took Chris from Paige's arms. Grabbing Wyatt's hand, he kissed Piper on the cheek. Smiling gently around at the girls, Victor left with Wyatt trailing behind him.

'Okay honey, I have to get to work. You call me if you need me.' Phoebe said, pushing Piper's hair behind her ear. Piper nodded.

'Yeah, if you need anything. At all' Paige added, nodding her head.

'What are you going to do today?'

Piper thought of her husband upstairs and smiled.

'I can think of something.'

--

Piper headed up the stairs, a cup of coffee in one hand and a plate stacked with waffles and pancakes in the other. She reached the bedroom and found Leo still lying in bed, his eyes now closed.

'He looks so peaceful.' Piper thought.

As she entered, Leo slowly opened his eyes.

'I have here your two favourite things' she announced.

'Oh?'

'Breakfast and me!' she replied, crawling beside Leo and handing him the plate.

'Thank you, honey' he said softly, before placing his breakfast on the bedside table next to him. Piper looked at him, her eyebrows almost hidden in her hair. Leo loved her cooking and breakfast; well, he'd eat it three times a day if she let him.

'So,' Piper smiled suggestively, 'what do you want to do today?'

Leo smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. Piper snuggled in close to her husband, resting her head on his chest and closed her eyes. Leo began to stroke her hair, running his hand all the way down her back. Piper titled her head upwards and began to place light kisses along his jaw line. A smile unfurled across Leo's handsome features. Piper groaned as the phone rang.

'Hold that thought' she said as she grabbed the phone off of the dresser. Piper sighed and hung her head as she listened to the person on the other end.

'Yes. No, it's okay. I'll be there soon'

'I have to go' she said, throwing an apologetic look at Leo as she pulled a blue t-shirt over her head. Leo nodded, his smile fading.

'I love you' Piper leant over Leo and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

Leo smiled gently 'I live only for your love and your kiss.'

Piper cocked her head to the side. Deciding that her husband had indeed said something sweet, she leant in and kissed Leo once more.

Authors Note : Is there something wrong in the Halliwell household? With Piper, in particular ? Find out next chapter!