A/N: Hello everyone! I'm back, and so are the updates. Sorry for the delay, and I hope this chapter will make up for those few days, cause I think it's a good one. (At lease I hope it is!). Anyway, thanks for reviewing the last chapter so kindly, and I hope you enjoy this one. Here it goes...

Chapter 21

Even though the just thought of seeing Greg was suffocating, Piper managed to go through second period, in which he set only a few seats in front of her.

He kept sending these disturbing looks at her, angry once, but still seemed to enjoy the terror in Piper's eyes in a nasty way.

As soon as the bell rand, Piper grubbed her books, and escaped out of the room.

She kept walking fast, until she felt herself bumping into someone's chest, and immediately recognized it to be Leo's.

"Sorry." She murmured.

"Are you ok?" He asked with some concern, ignoring her apology.

"Fine." She answered, after checking that Greg is no where around.

"And what about Greg? Last period nothing happened..." Leo said, or rather asked.

"No." Piper said.

She didn't doubt Greg's abilities, but she did doubt he would do anything in a room full of people.

The next class was less tense because Greg wasn't there to send her frightening glances, but especially because Leo was with her.

Leo was like the light at the end of all the loneliness and darkness.

She started wandering if maybe she was too boring for him. She acknowledged that she was often very gloomy and not a great company, and that maid her wander if Leo stayed with her just because he felt pity, or maybe because he had hope that she would get back to be who she used to be when met.

Although when she saw him next at lunch, she realized that maybe there was some feelings involved too.

He surprised her by taking her outside to eat on the bench the way they used to do a lot up until about a month ago, and it was a bliss.

Her spirits lifted up enormously. They tried feeding each other their sandwiches ("just for the fun of it!" as Leo said), and realized after a couple of times that Piper missed Leo's mouth (some of them on purpose), that they better give up the idea.

They for once didn't talk about Piper, and about what Leo claim is depression, and spent the time talking about meaningless things, and laughing for no reason at all.

The rest of the day went by quickly, and Piper managed not to see Greg anymore, let alone face him.

Leo, who took Piper and Phoebe to school that day, was also the one to take them back.

"Thanks Leo!" Phoebe called, and headed to the manor.

When Phoebe was gone, Leo leaned forward and Gave Piper a kiss, then pulled back with a smile.

"Hey, you want to catch a movie today?" Leo asked.

"Sure." Piper answered with a mile as well, realizing that things are starting to get back to normal again.

Maybe life is not so bad after all.

"I'll pick you up at seven then."

"Great." She gave him another short kiss, then walked out of the car, and waved to him as he pulled away, and disappeared from her eyeshot.

She stood there for a few moments, a smile still on her face, already deciding what to wear tonight.

It's just a movie, she told herself, but didn't care.

Then, something wired happened.

She heard a scream from the manor, it was Phoebe.

She probably dropped something, Piper decided, and rushed towards the door, but knew very well that a broken glass didn't disserve a scream like that.

As she flung the door open, Piper realized the scream came from upstairs.

"Phoebe??" Piper called, as she hurried to check every room.

Even before she reached Grems's room, she knew what happened.

When she did walk in, she saw Phoebe flung on the floor, crying like Piper had never seen her sister before, and next to her, on the bed, was Grams's limp body.

As soon as Phoebe noticed her sister, which took a few minutes, she got up and ran up to Piper, then through her arms around her in despair.

Phoebe's wails and sobs filled the room.

Even thought almost all Phoebe's weight was on her, Piper hadn't moved a bit.

She just stood there, staring blankly at Grams.

Not even a single tear escaped her eye, even though inside, Piper was torn apart into little pieces like shattered glass.

She didn't know how long they stood there like that, but at some point Phoebe let go, only to drug herself to Grams's bed and set on it slowly, taking Grams's hand into both hers, and staring to cry even loudly and more breathlessly (if possible).

"She is dead..." Phoebe finally mumbled, stating the obvious.

Piper hardly heard her.

Her mind was completely blank, and she wasn't aware of where she was anymore.

She was dreaming, she finally realized.

That was the only possible explanation.

She will wake up soon, any minute now.

Only she never did.

This was real. Grams was gone. DEAD.

"I'll call Prue." Piper surprised herself by saying, but Phoebe didn't seem to hear her.

Piper walked out of the room, then down the stairs, and finally found herself dialing Prue's number.

"Hello?" She heard Prue say on her other side.

Piper wanted to say something, but no voice would come out.

"Hello??" Prue repeated.

After a few seconds, and some more hello's from Prue, Piper finally said; "It's me."

"Piper? Oh, Hi." Prue said calmly. She didn't seem to notice something was wrong, Piper's voice was clear and giving nothing away.

"Hi." Piper managed, and struggled to remember why she called Prue. Everything was blurry and confusing, and Piper's mind was still blank.

"What's going on?" Prue asked casually.

"Grams is dead." Piper suddenly said, remembering what Phoebe has said just a few minutes ago.

There was silence for a long, long moment.

Hearing herself say that was like hearing it for the first time.

"What?" Prue finally let out, although she whispered it.

Piper said nothing.

Then she hared Prue sniff, and crying followed that.

After what seemed like hours, Prue weakly mumbled; "I'm on my way." And hung up.

Piper hung up too.

A few seconds later, she felt her knees shaking. She was cold.

Piper didn't cry.

But why? She was ought to, she just found out that Grams was dead... but she still didn't cry.

Piper then sunk to the floor on to her knees, and suddenly was aware of Phoebe still crying hysterically from upstairs.

She wanted to get up, but couldn't. She was confused, very confused.

Everything happened so fast. Too fast.

Piper didn't know what to do. She was sitting on the floor, knowing that Grams was upstairs, dead, but not even a single tear would come out. She wanted it to, she wanted to cry as hard as she can, but nothing happened. Nothing.

NA: don't know if you guys expected this, and you might be a bit confused by what's going on with Piper and everything, but anyway, you'll have to wait and see. Review please.