The next morning it took Piper some time to recognize where she was.  The fact that Dan was sleeping beside her instead of Leo was a huge shock.  Once she had herself orientated her thoughts drifted to Wyatt.  It had been a whole day without seeing him and she missed him terribly.  Portia went through what Piper figured where her daily routines with Piper along for the ride.  Over the course of the day Leo had come into Portia's mind more times than Piper could count.  She could feel Portia's sense of guilt but at the same time she did not stop thinking about him, not that Piper minded.  By three o'clock the house was filled with again with people busy socializing and dancing.  Gordon was at the piano and Piper had to admit the man knew how to play.  Piper spent her time taking in every detail of the cousin's lives.  She studied Paris and Payton and the way the three of them interacted with each other and their guests.  They were certainly not as close as she and her sisters, family more than friends.  She tried to remember what had happened to Phoebe when she had traveled to her past life.  She had been evil but there were no signs of evil in Payton now.  Maybe she only turned evil after she fell in love with that warlock, Piper thought.  So Phoebe had always been the one to attract the demons.  Piper knew that Cole was long gone but the very fact she had loved a demon in each life made her wonder.  She wondered did Paris have a man in this time?  So far she hadn't heard anything about him but there was still the possibility he would show today.

The one man that did show up was Leopold Wyattson.  The second he walked in the front door Portia turned her head to face him.  Anticipation swelled up in her and Piper was filled with a sense of urgency.  She had to be next to him, with him.  Thankfully Portia was feeling the same way.  She scanned the room to find Gordon.  Still at the piano she would wait until Leopold made his way to the rear of the house before she approached him.  She quickly turned head in the opposite direction so he wouldn't think she had been waiting for him.  He had come.  He had found her.  She knew that Teddy would have given him the address had he asked but still the thought that he took the time to inquire made her heart jump.  Piper felt Portia's blood race as he moved closer to her.  She decided that what she wanted most of all, to jump into his arms, was eventually going to happen so she allowed let her mind go free and follow Portia's. 

'Well' he thought as the cab pulled up to her front door.  The doorman opened the door for him and Leo graciously paid the cabby.  'I can't believe I am here to see a married woman.'  He thought as he walked up the steps to the entrance of the home.  The night before he had decided that he wasn't going to pursue this but it was impossible for him to stop thinking about her.  His dreams through the night had been about her, what she would feel like against his body, the softness of her hair, the heat of touch, the sweetness of her kisses.  He had never before felt so instantly connected to someone.  Their encounter had only been a few short minutes but he felt more alive in that brief time than he had his whole life.  He knew upon waking this morning that he had to see her.  He was positive that she was going to make her position clear.  She was married and that was that.  But he had to know for sure.  He wondered had she thought about him?  Was the deepness of chocolate eyes his imagination?  Their gaze had only lasted seconds but he was sure she was looking into his soul.  She had awakened feelings in him that he never knew existed and all in mere seconds.  The power she had claimed over him was unmistaken.  So later that afternoon he dressed his best and set out to find if she was willing to risk her life, her marriage for him. 

He was now in the front entryway of the hall.  With a quick scan of the rooms he found her in the far corner of the house.  He also noticed the man from the previous day was sitting at the piano.  He was suddenly grateful that she was still so far away.  He casually made his way across the rooms towards her.  She stood still not noticing him.  She was confident and aware of her surroundings.  No doubt she would try to make each customer feel welcome and allow them to enjoy their time spent in her place.  She twisted her body around to face him when he was only a few feet away.  Her hair was up as it had been the day before but a few stray curls danced in the air as she turned.  He wondered how long it truly was and was it as soft as he had imagined.  With their eyes locked he noticed her take a step towards him.  His body was still moving forward although his mind was frozen in her stare.  He wanted so badly to take her in his arms and kiss her with all the passion and desire he could.  He also knew that if it were to ever happen the place would not be a room filled with dozens of strangers and her husband in the next one over.  For now he would settle for a simple handshake.  Reaching her side he slowly extended his arm and took her hand in his.  Her hand was warm and comforting.  He wanted to say something, anything, but he was tongue-tied.  It was her that spoke first.  Her voice rang in his ears like the sound of church bells on a foggy early morning.  The sound thundered in his chest but was as soft and gentle as a baby's lullaby.  Lost in her methodic tones he almost didn't register what she was saying. 

"Mr Wyattson.  Nice to see you again."  Her heart was pounding a thousand times faster than only moments before.  His hand held hers firmly but tenderly.  It was warm and the thought of him being so close sent shivers up her spine.  'You came, you came.'  Her body was screaming.  Oh how she wished she was anywhere but The Manor.  Here it would be nearly impossible for her to have any sort of conversation.  Desire and excitement filled her so full she thought she was going to explode.  She had only met him once before and only for a few precious minutes, how was it possible that he created such strong responses through her entire body?  Three years with Gordon and she had never felt such an overwhelming desire before.  With that thought reality set back in.  She was married and this longing was far from appropriate or faithful.  Her mind was filled with confusion as he slowly tightened his grip on her hand as if afraid that she would pull it away. 

"Yourself as well, Mrs Johnson."  'Mrs' he hated saying that word.  He wanted to call her by her first name and forget that she was married.  Forget the fact that even if they became entangle together it would be no more than a fleeting affair.  She could not commit her life to him and that knowledge made his heart ache. 

'Mrs' he had said Mrs.  Okay so he knew that she was married.  But he was still here.  A gutsy man he was indeed.  To purposely play with the heart of a married woman was not something that he looked capable to do.  He seemed honest and sincere not the type to sweep a girl off her feet after meeting her only once, but that was exactly what he looked like he wanted to.  Swing her up into his arms and carry her off to the bedroom.  Her mind raced with the very thought as did her blood. 

"I glad you came.  I want to thank you again for the help the other day."  The words poured out of her mouth without her even thinking them.  Small talk was second nature in her line of work.  "Do you live in the area?  I haven't seen you around before."  Oh how she wished he had entered her life before she had married.

"Actually I live on the opposite side of town.  I just moved in a few months ago."  His voice was as tender as touch.  She realized that they were still holding hands and regretfully released hers from his.  "This is a charming place you have here."

"Thank you.  Can I get you something to drink?"  She asked hoping that he would say yes and she could take a few minutes to gather her emotions back together. 

"A Brandy would be lovely."  How dumb was he.  'A brandy would be lovely?'  He sounded weak and feminine not determined and confident, as he had wanted to be.  Plus the order of a drink would send her away when all he wanted to do was pull her closer.  She nodded and moved towards the bar.  He wanted to sit and talk with her the whole night but he knew that sitting would be an obvious attention getter and make it clear that she was talking with him and only him.  If they stood her husband would be none the wiser.  It would appear she was just engaging the customers in conversation. 

His order spoke volumes of his background she thought approaching the bar.  Brandy was a drink of a well read man, confident in his is knowledge.  It was strong and passionate, full of body and colour.  A taste that few truly enjoyed.  She wondered what he did for a living.  She instructed her bartender to pour the drink from her very best bottle.  She got a glass of white wine for herself.  It was hardly polite to allow him to drink alone.  She gathered to two drinks and turned back towards him. He was still standing in very spot she had left him in. 

She slowly handed him his order and motioned that he should sit on the stylish couch at his side.  He mind raced, should he sit or not.  She had been the one to initiate them sitting so he nodded and upon seating himself she joined him.  She crossed her legs towards, effortlessly and took a sip of her wine.  His eyes fell to her legs.  The tops of her knees were barely visible.  They looked soft and sleek and he wanted so badly to reach his hand over touch her skin.  She started to ask questions of his background, where he was originally from, what he did for a living.  The conversation seemed typical to him yet he felt there was an underlying message.  She was gathering as much information about him as she could without seeming pushy.  He eagerly answered each question with vivid detail.  He wanted her to pause so he too could find out more about the woman that had heart racing.

The light in the room shifted.  The sun was setting and natural light that had filled the conservatory was dimming.  Her face glowed in the warm shades of the sunset.  Before they knew it the outside world was black and moonlight was inviting.  He wanted to leave the house and stroll down the street with her on his arm.  Soon he would have to leave for the evening.  Customers were starting to dwindle and she would be closing up.  He didn't want to leave.  He had learned so much about her.  Once she had stopped with her questions he managed to find out that it was he father's practice that he had taken over.  Of course there had been one other doctor to fill the position on a temporary basis but he had been the one chosen to replace the infamous Dr. Baxter.  Was this a coincidence or were they destined to meet?  He could tell from her descriptions that she had loved her parents dearly.  His heart ached that she had already been through so much pain in her young life. 

With the last few customers heading for the door he rose to his feet.  She instantly got up and noticed that the room was empty.  Her eyes darted around the main floor looking for her husband.  Thankfully he was nowhere in sight.  She had not realized the time and started to wonder if he had seen her spend the entire evening talking to Leopold.  She hoped not because she was unsure of how she could explain it.  She saw him to the door and he promised to return the next afternoon.  She wanted him to kiss her so badly but it was not the right time or place for that.  Her body slumped against the door once she had closed it.  It had been a simple evening but one filled a desire she yearned to fill.  Pulling herself together she went to find her cousins and husband. 

She found her husband in their room.  The cousins had offered to clean up.  When she opened the door to the bedroom Gordon was seated on the couch at the far end of the room.

"So you were busy entertaining the quests tonight."  He said. 

Damn he had seen her she thought.  "Oh I know sorry.  The man I was speaking with is the doctor that has taken over father's practice.  I was just inquiring how things were going." She hoped that he did not know the extent of time that she had spent with Leopold this evening. 

"I know."  She made a questioning face.  "I asked around.  That is why I didn't bother to interrupt you.  I figured you were just remembering your father.  So how was the rest of the evening?" 

"Fine.  I think we will be in a good place this year.  The Manor seems to be attracting many new faces."  She was relieved that he didn't push the topic any farther.

"The only face I was attracted to tonight was yours."  He stood up and moved towards her. 

Piper had thoroughly enjoyed the evening and allowed the events to take shape.  The only thing she missed was her good night kiss although she now feared she was going to get it anyway.  Gordon now had his arms wrapped around Portia's waist.  Portia welcomed the touch but the image that flew through her mind was of Leo.  Gordon sealed his intent with a kiss.  The movement made Piper want to cringe but she had no control over what was coming.  Portia didn't fight it and throughout the whole ordeal she stayed true to Gordon.  Leo briefly crossed her mind in the final stages but was gone as quickly as he had entered.  Once they were both lying still in each other's arms Piper had an overwhelming sense of quilt flood through her.  She knew now that she would truly never be able to enjoy another mans company if Leo never returned to her.  He was her one and only and she would never look for another if she ever returned to her time.