TAG
"Wow, so exactly how much are they paying you?" Piper asked, as she walked into Dan's beautifully decorated and spacious hotel room. "Because this, I mean, wow."
Dan laughed. "Well, my company paid for this. They pay me... uh, not so much. But it's a lot better pay than before, and, well, I'm doing all right."
Piper turned to look Dan in the face. "I'm so happy that you're doing well."
"Yeah, actually, that's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about."
Piper noted the serious look on Dan's face. "Okay," she replied, slowly. She sat down on the sofa. "What is it?"
Dan sat down beside her. "Well, I just think that we need to talk about where this relationship is going. I mean, I know we've only been together for a short time, but it really feels like I never left San Francisco in the first place."
Piper smiled at him. "I feel like that, too."
However, Dan didn't return her smile. "There's a problem, though." He stopped.
Piper held her breath, waiting for Dan to continue. Finally, she asked, "Yes? What's the problem?"
Dan hesitated a moment more before saying, "I'm leaving for Portland in two days."
Piper's heart stopped. "What?" she asked. "But you just got here a couple of days ago!"
"Actually, I've been here for a week. It took me that long to work up the nerve to talk to you," Dan said with a slight chuckle.
Piper didn't respond as she stared at the floor; she felt like she had just been punched in the stomach. The strange thing was that something else was bothering her... something nagging in the back of her head...
"Piper?"
Piper looked at Dan and cleared her throat. "So, uh, what exactly does this mean?"
"Well, it means that we need to make a decision about us. Quickly. I need to know how serious this is... and whether we want to try and make this relationship work again. I know it's a lot to ask, considering the fact that I've been gone for over three years, but I need to know now."
"You're asking me to decide if you should stay or not?"
"Um," Dan stared at the floor, "that's not really what I meant."
"What then?"
"Well, I was thinking that you could move with me... back to Portland." Dan said slowly, hoping that Piper wouldn't blow up at him.
Piper stared at Dan, startled by his proposal. Move to Portland?
"I know it's crazy, and I know that it's really unfair of me to ask of you. I mean, you have P3 and your sisters here and... well, I understand if you need a little while to think about it."
"No, it's just..." Piper sighed and shook her head. "It's just so soon."
"I know, I know. It is too soon." Dan took Piper's hands in his own. "And I wish we could have more time just being together before we had to talk about this. I didn't want to just spring it on you."
Piper nodded, slowly. "I understand."
There was a couple moments' silence before Dan said, "Well, I know you'll need a little time to think about this. Phoebe told me that you're still getting over yours and Leo's divorce, so there's no rush... well, actually, there is a bit of a--"
"What?" Piper interrupted. "Mine and Leo's divorce?"
"Yeah. I know you're still getting over that so..."
Uh, Leo? Would you like to go out sometime? With me that is... I'd love to. Give me a call...
"...I want you to take the time..."
Leo, I love you. Can you hear me? I love you, Leo, please hear me...
"... make sure this is something you really want to do..."
What are we gonna do?... What we always do...
"... and no matter what you decide, I'll respect your decision..."
I guess we know now why witches and whitelighters aren't supposed to fall in love...
Will you marry me...
Leo, I'm sorry, but ... this is just the final straw. It's just not meant to be...
Here before witnesses, Leo and Piper have sworn their vows towards each other. With this cord, I bind them to those vows...
I don't wanna be complacent about my marriage. Neither he nor they are gonna find any fault in me...
We're in for a rough road...
I appreciate that you're very concerned, but I am still a witch, and we do still have innocents to protect and demons to fight...
Look what we did... I see...
As for my career, it's not as important to me as we are...
Leo is not -- he's not an Elder, OK? Because Elders don't live on earth. They don't have families... Piper, if I had a choice in any of this, I would choose you. I always have... Will I ever see you again?... I don't know... You're gonna miss so much... I have the power to take your pain away... You can't make me forget you...
Piper gasped for breath as all the memories flooded her brain. "Leo," she whispered.
Dan was confused. "Oh, I'm sorry. I know I wasn't supposed to mention him, but..." He trailed off as he noticed the look on Piper's face.
"Oh, my God..."
"Piper? Are you okay?"
Piper stared at Dan as if just seeing him for the first time. Then, she got up and ran quickly out the room door.
"Piper? Piper!"
"We need to tell Piper about this," Paige said. "If Chris has gone over to the dark side, then we should all figure out what to do together."
Phoebe and Paige sat across from each other, once again, at their kitchen table that Saturday morning, sharing a cup of coffee and discussing the dilemma with Chris.
"Yeah, I know. I looked in her room when I woke up, but she wasn't there," Phoebe responded.
"She went over to Dan's hotel room. He called early this morning and the first thirty minutes of their conversation was about the cereal they were eating. I wanted to gag."
"Hmm." Phoebe looked thoughtfully at her cup of coffee.
Paige eyed her. "What? You're not still upset over Piper and Dan, are you? Phoebe--"
"Wait, Paige. I know what you're about to say: Piper and Leo are through, Piper's happy with Dan, and we should all be happy for her. And you're right. We should be happy for her."
"Then, what's the problem?"
"The problem is that I can't be happy for her." Phoebe turned to look Paige square in the eye. "Paige... I love Piper and I think Dan is a wonderful guy. All want is for them to be happy. If Fate intended for her to be with Dan... then I guess I'll have to accept that. But... for five years, Leo has been there, helping us, guiding us. We didn't listen to him half the time, and we always took him for granted, but he was still there."
"I miss him, too, Phoebe," Paige said, softly. "But we can't--"
"That's not just it, though." Phoebe sighed. "All my life all I've dreamed about is having the type of love that Piper and Leo shared. I wanted to have someone look at me the way Leo looked at her. I wanted someone who loved me like Leo and Piper love each other." Phoebe sighed and turned to stare blankly in front of her. "What I went through with Cole... was awful. But the only thing that kept me going, that made me hope for love, was them. All that they've been through together... all the joy, all the pain, I can't believe that that was all for nothing. Because if it was... then, I don't think I can believe in love anymore." Phoebe turned back to Paige with a determined look in her eye. "I have to fix this."
There was silence for a few moments. Finally, Paige said, "Okay."
Phoebe looked at her in surprise. "What?"
"Okay," Paige repeated. "We'll find a way to get Leo and Piper back together. The first thing we need to do is try another potion. I know my last one didn't work, but--"
"Wait, a minute. I thought you were all for Piper and Dan!"
"And I still am. Piper wanted a normal guy, and Dan fits the bill. They seem perfect for each other to me. But you, obviously, feel very strongly about this. Besides, it would be wrong for us not to at least try to get Piper's memory back of Leo. If she still chooses to be with Dan, then, we both stay out of it. Agreed?"
Phoebe hesitated before nodding. "Agreed."
"Okay, then. Now what we need to do is..." Paige stopped, and her gaze moved to something behind Phoebe.
Phoebe quickly turned around in her chair. Piper was standing there, tears running down her face.
"Piper?" Paige asked, worriedly. "What's wrong?"
Piper just shook her head, more tears falling down her face.
Phoebe stood up. "Honey, what is it?"
"Leo," she finally croaked out. "He's gone." Piper started sobbing.
"Oh, honey." Paige got up and walked past Phoebe. She hugged Piper. "Shh," she comforted her. "Shh, it's okay. Everything's gonna be okay."
Piper sobbed bitterly into Paige's shoulder while Phoebe stared at the both of them, totally bewildered.
END OF TAG