March 13, 2003. 8:30am

I ran through the door, barely making it to work on time. I had a tough boss, and anyone even a minute late was dragged into his office to have their ear chewed off. I did not ever want to be one of those people. My life was already depressing enough. I didn't need another reason to give up.

I quickly made myself busy, immersing myself in the work. It was the only way I could get my mind off of her. For 8 hours, I had peace.

Well, almost.

A couple of the guys cornered me at lunch, trying to drag me out to some cheesy bar to ogle some women who no doubt had had plastic surgery. I declined, as I always did, and wondered why they continued to try.

After lunch, I go back to work, getting through almost twice as much as the other guys. They don't understand how I can be so dedicated. But they don't know the truth. They don't know that if I didn't work this hard, then I wouldn't work at all. I have no choice but to fill my entire brain with what sits before me. If I don't, she'll sneak back in, catching me by surprise, and pushing all other thoughts from my head.

Five o'clock comes, and I pack up my things, preparing to leave. One of the girls that works there walks up beside me, and makes an attempt at a conversation. I know she's trying to flirt with me, but I barely take notice of her. Not really. I politely bid her goodbye, and walk towards the subway, heading back home.

Tonight, I skipped dinner, instead grabbing a beer and going to sit out on the balcony. I pulled out my wallet, and opened it to see a picture of us. Both so happy, wide smiles on our faces. I pulled it out from behind the protective plastic, and ran my fingers over her face. I know I should be more careful with this picture. It is the only one I have. I thought back to when it was taken, shortly after a genie had arrived and granted the girls three wishes. I had taken Piper with me to see the Elders. Prue had been sitting in the sunroom checking her photography equipment when we had orbed back. She snatched up one of the cameras, and caught out attention. We still had our arms around each other, and we both looked over at the same time, just as a flash temporarily blinded us.

Prue had developed a few copies of that photo, it had turned out perfectly. I looked at the edges of mine, noticing how dog-eared the corners were now. How the surface was no longer glossy. I must have pulled it out of my wallet every night since the day I left. I started to worry that it would fall apart, so I gently placed it back inside the plastic. As I stared down at her smiling face, I started to think about my life, and what I've accomplished over the past two years. I tried so hard to come up with something significant, but the harder I tried, the clearer it became.

I have not been living. I have been breathing, eating and sleeping, but not once have I done anything that involved entertainment. Not once has my smile reached my eyes. Always polite, as is my nature, but never allowing anything to truly affect me. I asked myself what the hell I was doing. Why was I continuing like this? I know she's never going to turn up on my doorstep, she doesn't even know where I am, let alone if I'm still alive. What reason do I have for getting up every morning and going to work? I don't even enjoy my job, it's simply a distraction for my brain.

What am I waiting for? I asked aloud. I sat there, trying to figure it out, and when I didn't come up wit an answer, I sprang out of my chair and ran into the bedroom. I hurriedly threw my few belongings into a bag, and started to dash out of the apartment. Just as I got to the door, I remembered something, and ran back to my room, grabbing something off my nightstand.

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Once I was on the plane, I breathed a sigh of relief. I'd had to beg and plead with the ticket agent to get me on this flight. It was the last one before morning, and was already boarding. When I had pointed out that I had no bags to check, she decided to give me a break, and rushed me through. It was nearing midnight on the east coast, and after the long day I'd had, sleep was extremely enticing. I did my best to get comfortable, and then reached into my pocket, pulling out the item I had almost forgotten. I held it up in the dim light, a delicate gold chain, with a gold heart dangling at the end. Turning it over in my hand, I looked at the words inscribed on the back: Love always, Leo.

I bundled it up in the palm of my hand, and laid my head back, amazingly managing to fall asleep in the cramped space of my seat.

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I saw her standing by the bar at P3. the club was empty, since it was the middle of the day. I walked down the stairs, and she turned at the sound of my footsteps.

Hey sweetie. She said with a smile.

I walked up to her, draping my arms around her waist. I said, and leaned down to place a kiss on her lips.

What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be working? she asked, turning back to the bar to continue writing in her notebook.

I was, but I thought I'd take a long lunch and come visit you.

Leo honey, I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm really busy right now. I have to get this order done, and I promised the staff I'd have next week's shift schedule finished by tonight.

Aww come on. I have a surprise for you, I said, wrapping my arms around her from behind. I stroked her protruding belly and continued, Actually, the surprise is for both of you.

Piper finally stopped working and looked up at me. Something for the baby? she asked with a smile.

Uh huh. Come on, we'll be half an hour. Promise! I said, taking her hand and dragging her up the stairs to the car.

It only took us a few minutes to drive to the store. I had blindfolded Piper once we were in the car, so she had no idea where we were. I led her carefully inside the store, dodging the various items that cluttered the floor. We stopped near something in the back, and I removed the blindfold. She gasped in delight at what she saw before her. An antique crib, made of stained redwood.

Ohh Leo! It's beautiful. It will look beautiful in the nursery.

I know. I've been looking for something like this for weeks, scouring all the antique stores in San Francisco. I just found it yesterday, and I couldn't wait to show it to you.

Piper wrapped her arms around my neck. Thankyou, it's perfect. She planted a kiss on my lips and said, I love you Leo Wyatt.

I love you too Piper Wyatt.

I jolted awake at the sound of the flight attendant's voice, informing us that we were about to land in San Francisco. I rubbed my hand over my face, trying to shake off the remains of sleep. My pulse quickened as I realised that for the first time in two years, I was back in the same city as my heart.

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