Leo stood in the play ground of the nursery.
He was waiting for Natalie's cousin Jasmine; he'd agreed to pick her up as a favor to his friend.
Part of him was hoping he would see Piper.
Just her smile would do.
Or hearing her laugh.
He missed both those things.
Jasmine was 13 and a sweet kid from what he remembered of her.
They'd met once at Natalie's.
"Leo! Leo! Leo! Leo!" A small voice yelled. "Leo! Leo!"
He turned around slightly startled.
"Leo!" Cassy yelled.
Leo recognized her instantly.
"Hey Cassy." He said gently.
Cassy hurtled into him and hugged him.
"I don't think Piper would like you doing that." Leo said trying to ease him self out of the little girls grip. "We don't want you to get in to trouble."
Cassy clung to Leo's back.
"Don't wana." She said stubbornly. "Piper isn't here yet."
"Come on Cassy." He said. "Be reasonable. Maybe we can talk until she gets here huh."
Cassy let go of Leo but clung on to his hand.
"Why did you and Piper break up?" Cassy asked.
"I don't know Cass. You'll have to ask Piper why. I miss her a lot. Is she alright?"
"She missies you too." Cassy said. "She doesn't like having fun so much. We don't go shopping like we used to."
Leo laughed.
"I think Piper might have run out of money. Stopping our relationship wouldn't stop her from shopping. You know that."
"I know why she broke up with you." Cassy said very quietly.
"Why's that?" Leo asked.
"It's a secret. Piper said I can't tell any one."
"Well if you promised Piper. I'm meant to be picking up my friend's cousin, Jasmine. Do you know where she is?"
"Jasmine is one of Lilly's friends." Cassy said. "She's got pretty hair."
"Really?"
"Yup. She'll be out in a minuet she has club today. You're early."
"Natalie didn't tell me that. What time does that let out?"
"In about ten minuets."
"Cassy!" A woman's voice called.
It wasn't Piper's voice.
Leo would have recognized that instantly.
"Who's that?" He asked.
"Jessica." Cassy said. "She's Piper's friend."
"Cassy," Jessica walked over. "Honey your teacher's been looking for you."
"Hi Jessica." Cassy said with a small smile pressing closer to Leo. "This is my friend Leo."
"Hey." Jessica said to him. "Leo as in Piper's Leo?"
Cassy nodded.
"Nice to meet you." Jessica shook his hand.
She knelt down to Cassy's level.
"Sweetie," She said softly. "Piper called and said she's caught in traffic and is going to be a bit late. You need to go back in side until she comes."
Cassy looked to the floor and scrapped her feet.
"Come on." Jessica tried to take her hand.
Cassy screamed.
"I want to stay with Leo!"
"Come on Cass." Jessica said. "You're causing a seen. I've only got your teacher watching the baby for a minuet."
"She can stay with me." Leo offered. "I've got to wait for Jasmine any ways."
"Could you?" Jessica asked.
"Sure." Leo said. "I'd like the company."
"Yay!" Cassy clung to Leo's leg.
"Hey I haven't said yes yet." Jessica protested.
Cassy stuck her tongue out at her.
Jessica shook her head.
"Thanks Leo." She said straightening up. "Piper shouldn't be to long. Don't be a brat Cassy."
Cassy made a face as Jessica walked away.
"So is she a teacher?" Leo asked.
"Nope a nanny like Piper. She's funny."
"Do you like having Piper as your nanny?"
"We get to read lots of bed time stories. Dan's fun he comes over a lot."
"Dan?"
"He goes to your school. He comes to keep Piper company, when mommy and daddy are out. He lets me watch cartoons."
Leo felt a pang of jealousy and decided to integrate Cassy in the least suspicious way.
"Do Piper and Dan kiss and cuddle like Piper and me used to?"
"No. They don't. Dan likes a girl at school."
"Who?"
"Natalie. He says she's a babe."
"Oh really."
Cassy nodded.
"Does Piper have any other special friends she cuddles?" He asked.
"No, she doesn't want to kiss or cuddle any boys."
Leo kind of felt bad for Piper.
He missed her a lot but he did have his new girl friend.
"You know the ring I gave her." He said.
"The sparkly one." Cassy said nodding.
"Does she still wear it?"
"Nope she said she can't because it's not saying what it's meant to any more. Can I tell you a secret?"
"What is it?"
"It's a very secret, secret you can't tell any one."
"Okay."
"Do you swear?"
"I swear I will not tell a soul."
"Piper's going to have a baby." Cassy said.
"What?" Leo's voice wavered.
"Piper's going to be a mommy."
"Hello Cass." Jasmine bounded over. "Leo."
"Jasmine." Leo said. "We just have to watch Cassy until her nanny comes to pick her up."
"'Kay." Jasmine said. "Want to see what I made at club?"
Cassy looked in to Jasmine's bag and smiled.
"Cool." She said.
"What did you make?" Leo asked.
Jasmine produced the start of a patchwork quilt.
"It's going to be a baby blanket." She said. "It's a present for-"
Jasmine was cut off by Piper walking over to them.
"Cassy," She said a little breathless. "So sorry I'm late honey. Want to go for an ice cream."
Jasmine looked at Piper then at the blanket then urgently towards Leo.
"It's okay." Cassy said. "I was talking to Leo."
"Oh." Piper kept her tone even as she could and smiled at Leo. "Thanks for keeping an eye on her."
"She was no trouble." Leo said. "She tells me you're going to have a baby."
Piper laughed defensively.
Leo eyed her.
She didn't look pregnant.
Just as beautiful as she always did.
Radiant.
"Is she spinning me a tall story?" Leo asked.
Piper nodded.
Thank God Leo was the one who suggested it.
"Yes." She said firmly. "I've told you about making things up Cassy."
Cassy hung her head.
Piper was going to mad at her.
She knew she wasn't supposed to tell.
Her parents would be upset if Piper told them.
"Sorry." She said. "Didn't mean to."
"There's no harm done." Piper said scooping Cassy on to her hip. "Where's your kit?"
"Opus. I forgot it."
Piper put Cassy down.
"Go grab it and tell your teacher I'm here." She instructed.
"I'll come with you Cass." Jasmine said. "I'll be back in a minuet Leo."
"Jasmine's Natalie's cousin right?" Piper asked.
She wanted to keep things as friendly as possible.
It was so wearied seeing Leo like this.
"Right." Leo confirmed trying not to get lost in Piper's eyes.
"Sorry about you getting lumbered with Cassy." Piper said. "The story must have scarred you."
"No not really."
"She's desperate to get us back together." Piper said. "She'll try any thing."
Leo smiled.
All he wanted to say to Piper is I love you.
But he couldn't.
He could never say that again.
"It's been lovely seeing you." He said drawing out the phrase.
He wanted to spill his heart out to her.
Cassy and Jasmine came back too soon.
"ice cream." Piper said taking Cassy's hand. "Thanks again Leo. Jasmine tell Natalie I'll phone her tomorrow."
"Okay." Jasmine said.
Leo watched Piper and Cassy walk away.
"you want to stand here all day?" Jasmine asked.
"Come on." Leo said. "Don't want to miss the bus home."