At 6:00 Phoebe headed back to the manor to make sure that Piper was up. The manor was silent when she entered the front door.
"Piper, time to get up." She said as she entered
Piper's bedroom.
"Uhh." Piper started to stir. "Phoebe, I don't feel like going out anywhere."
"Oh come on, Piper. Leo has been working on this all week. Here he asked me to give this to you." Phoebe placed a large box on the bed in front of Piper.
"What's this?" She asked. Piper undid the red ribbon that secured the lid to the box. "Oh my." She said lifting the top off. A stunning red dress was folded neatly inside. She lifted the dress from the box. The skirt of the dress flowed like feathers.
"Piper it's gorgeous." Phoebe said.
Piper stood up and draped the dress over herself. "I know and look at the cut. I don't even look pregnant." She looked down at her stomach again. "Well less pregnant." She said with a chuckle.
"So I take it that you are going out than." Phoebe said.
"I guess I can't let Leo down but I just feel, I don't really know, tired I guess. But I am dying to try this dress on. I'm going to get a shower." Piper said heading for the bathroom. Phoebe just smiled. So far Leo's plan was working.
Piper took a nice long shower taking in the heat of the water. The day had been very fun and draining but the thoughts of all that Leo had planned were waking her up. If the rest of the evening was going to be anything like the dress Leo bought than she was in for a wonderful night, Piper thought. Phoebe was ready and waiting when Piper emerged from the bathroom.
"So let's see." Phoebe said. Piper turned around to show off the dress to Phoebe. "Piper you look amazing."
"Thanks, Leo does know how to buy them." She said with a giggle. "Now will help me with my hair?"
"Sure sweetie. What do you want to do with it?"
"I was thinking down and curled. Leo loves it curled." She gave Phoebe a soft smile.
"Okay than." Phoebe set to work creating large luscious curls that danced along Piper's back and shoulders. Once she was finished they started on Piper's make up. Simple and elegant just like her dress. By twenty after seven Piper was dressed and ready to go.
"So is Leo coming back to get me or what?" Piper asked as the sisters waddled down the stairs.
"Actually I don't think so. All he said was to be ready for 7:30. You look beautiful. I should get going." Phoebe said heading for the door.
"Wait I want to come over for a second and say goodnight to the girls." Piper said following her out onto the porch. Moments later they entered Phoebe's house. "Girls come and kiss your mother goodnight." Piper called into the house. Three excited little girls came running around the corner.
"Mom you look so beautiful." Melinda said. Maddy and Makayla both slammed into Piper's open arms.
"You look pretty mommy." Makayla said.
"Thank you girls. Now you three will listen to Aunt Phoebe and Uncle Matt right?" The girls nodded. "Okay I will see you tomorrow than. Behave and Melinda, help your aunt out with these two please." Piper pulled her eldest daughter to her and kissed her forehead.
"I will mom. Have fun tonight." Melinda said.
"Thanks." Piper said as the doorbell rang.
A man in a tuxedo was standing at the door holding a stunning bouquet of red roses. "Excuse me, but is there a Mrs Piper Halliwell here?"
"Yes, I am Piper."
"Mr Wyatt has requested the pleasure of your company this evening, Ma'am. I have been sent to chauffer you to his side. These are for you." He said handing her the roses. Piper's eyes widened as the intoxicating scent of the blooms filled the air. "May I assort you to the limousine?" He offered his arm to Piper.
Piper looked to Phoebe and than to her girls. "Well than let's not keep him waiting. Good night girls. I love you." She said taking the drivers arm. She mouthed a quick thank you to Phoebe as she was lead off the porch. The Limousine was one of the nicest she had ever been in. It was fully decked out with the latest in entertainment equipment and more roses sat on the seat waiting for her. "How did I get so lucky with him?" She questioned herself. She rolled the window down in between herself and the driver. "Excuse me sir, but can you tell me where we are going?"
"I have been asked not to tell ma'am." He said glancing at her through the rear view mirror.
"That's okay, thank you. By the way how did you know I would be at my sister's?"
"That is the address I was told. We should be there momentarily." He smiled back at her.
"Thank you." Piper sat back into the soft leather seat. The car soon rolled to a stop. Piper turned to gaze out the window. "P3? Why would he?" Her door opened and the driver held out his hand for her. A red carpet lined the walkway to the entrance of her club. Finding her balance she headed for the door. She paused for a second and turned back towards the driver. "Thank you again." She smiled and turned back to doorway. She opened the door and instantly smelled a pleasing aroma of vanilla and sweet pea flowers. The stairway was lit with candles and decorated with flower petals. She looked up as she came around the corner of the stairs. Candles filled the room and the lights were low. A table was elegantly set in the far corner by the dance floor and Leo stood at the base of the stairs with a single rose in hand. Piper smiled from ear to ear.
"I hope you checked the fire codes before you lit all of these." Piper said gazing into his eyes with laughter.
"Piper you look amazing." Leo said in a soft voice as he met her at the bottom stair.
"Thanks to you. The dress is lovely Leo."
"The dress is just material, Piper. It's the woman that is wearing the dress that makes it unremarkable." He handed Piper the single rose. "That make's an even 3 dozen. One for each of our children."
"What about this one?" Piper said placing a hand on her belly.
"I have another surprise for that one." He said wrapping his arm around Piper. "Are you hungry?"
"Starving." She responded. He led her to the table. "Wow Leo this looks amazing." She wanted to ask who had cooked the meal but decided against it. He had put so much work into tonight. The food tasted as good as it looked. "Thank you for this Leo. I really needed to get out of the house."
"I know and I am sorry about being so protective. I just never want anything to happen to you. And I could hardly let a birthday as important as this one go by uncelebrated." He reached across the table and gave her a quick kiss.
"Leo."
"What it's not everyday that you turn forty. I have to say you don't look a day over 32." Piper started to blush. "And having another baby has made all my dreams come true." The smile never left Piper's face. "Come on. I feel like dancing." He stood and offered his hand to her.
"But there is no music." Leo smiled. He picked a remote up off of the counter and seconds later the room filled with the steady beat of Frank Sinatra. "You think you are pretty clever, don't you?"
"I still have a few tricks up my sleeve." He led her to the dance floor.
Some day, when I'm awfully low,
When the world is cold,
I will feel a glow just thinking of you …
And the way you look tonight.
Yes you're lovely, with your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft,
There is nothing for me but to love you,
And the way you look tonight.
Leo and Piper floated around the dance floor. Arm in arm he turned her in circles. They were like two butterflies floating gracefully in the wind. Piper's skin held a radiant glow and her smile never faded. Leo couldn't take his eyes off of her. Her eyes twinkled in warm candle light. The dress glided along the floor and danced across Piper's belly. They were in perfect sync with each other.
With each word your tenderness grows,
Tearing my fear apart …
And that laugh that wrinkles your nose,
It touches my foolish heart.
Lovely … Never, ever change,
Keep that breathless charm,
Won't you please arrange it?
'Cause I love you…Just the way you look tonight.
As the tail of the music played Leo swung Piper into a shallow dip.
Mm, Mm, Mm, Mm,
Just the way you look to-night.
"I love you." He said lowering his lips to hers. The kiss was as sweet as the air in club and lasted just long enough.
"I love you, tOOOO. AHHH, LEEOOO." Her breathing instantly quickened and become shallow. "LEOOO, what's going on?" He guided her up so she was standing upright again. She doubled over grabbing her stomach. "No not the baby. Not again." Tears poured from her eyes and she fell back into Leo's arms. "No, it's too soon. Leo stop her, fix this." Piper cried hysterically. He didn't know what to say or do.
"Hang on." And with that he orbed out.
