Piper sighed happily. She was completely and totally fulfilled. She loved waking up under the covers with Leo, despite her sometimes feelings towards men. But Leo was slowly changing all that as he was so good. Piper scooted closer to her companion and rubbed her fingertips across his chest. "Good morning." She mumbled, pressing her body into his.
"Morning." Leo replied briskly, rolling away from her. Piper gave him a confused look.
"Honey, what's wrong?"
"Like you don't know." He muttered. He couldn't believe she'd kept up the charade this long. He couldn't believe that the woman he wanted to marry would be so…conniving and lie to him continuously. And it hurt even more because he loved her so much. Even now. Even now, he loved her. He loved everything about her.
He loved the way her soft breasts pressed into his back, the way her breath felt against his skin, the way her hands felt when she put them in his hair. Leo got up and started to dress.
"What are you doing?" Piper asked, wondering why he was suddenly giving her the cold shoulder.
"Getting dressed, Piper, what does it look like?" Piper looked taken aback as she pulled her knees up to her chin as she sat up.
"Why are you acting so weird?"
"I'm not acting weird." Leo replied, zipping up his pants.
"Oh" Piper replied slowly. "Do you want me to go?" Leo stole a glance at her.
"Maybe…that would be best."
"Oh." Piper dressed and left Leo's house.
-----
"I don't know Prue, he's been acting really…off lately." Piper said, looking out the window at the fast falling rain. Prue's voice came through the phone.
"Well, you say you don't think you did anything wrong, right?"
Piper nodded as she flicked on a light. "Unless he got mad at me for being drunk the night of the opening, but he left early. I don't know Prudie," Prue brightened at the old nickname, "maybe he's tired of taking care of me. I never asked him to but still, maybe I'm too demanding."
Prue got an exasperated look. "The Piper Halliwell I know never needed anybody. Especially a man. If you want him get him, if you don't, don't worry about it. Just don't fret around and waste your time."
Piper almost laughed. Prue was the only one she knew who would work the word "fret" into that. "Okay, Prue I've got to go, love you, bye."
"Bye."
-----
"Leo, honey, what's wrong?" Piper asked, looking up from an issue of Cosmo with the headline, 100 Foreplay Secrets.
"Nothing." Leo lied, taking a sip of his beer.
"Yes there is, talk to me." In truth, the silence was overbearing and was killing her. Besides, she hated it when she wasn't in the know.
"Piper, there's nothing wrong, would you shut up? I'm trying to watch the game." Piper resented the tone his voice took him and sent slit eyes of anger, but returned to her article. Leo wondered how long he would pretend that he didn't know. Maybe a while, after all, the sex was good.
Wait, this wasn't him. Maybe he was acting like this because he was so scorned. When Piper crawled over and started to whisper sweet nothings in his ear, he didn't whisper back, as was the usual way.
When Piper didn't get the desired reaction, she just huffed and turned away, towards the end of the couch. After a quiet moment, he let out a cheer. Piper rolled her eyes. This was proving her theory towards men.
They were all pigs, who couldn't figure there way around a corner. Why the hell did she think that anything could be different with Leo? Because he was sweet? Considerate? Nice? Jack the Ripper probably didn't come out of the wound with a knife in his hands. Maybe one day she find someone. But not likely. Piper was tempted to swear of men, but woman weren't her thing either.
Piper turned the page to her magazine. Hmm, she really did want to know what was going on with Leo. Maybe he wasn't as bad…No, he was like the rest of them. She stood and pulled her jacket on.
"Where are you going?" Leo questioned, tearing his eyes away from the conveniently enthralling game.
"Home." Piper snapped, pulling her sneakers on. Leo's temper sizzled inside and he jumped to feet. She acted as though she was mad at him!
"How the hell did you find the nerve to get snippy with me?!" Piper looked up at the man with crossed arms.
"Since you've been snubbing me, which has been about as long as its been raining, so for like 3 weeks, as a matter of fact, it was since the opening! I'll bet Beth convinced you to go back to her! Well, I'm not gonna be anyone's sloppy sides and—"
"WHAT THE FCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!! YOU'RE THE ONE THAT STARTED FOOLING AROUD BEHIND MY BACK!!!" For a moment, Piper knitted her eyebrows in confusion.
"What are you talking about?" Leo lowered his voice.
"You know damn well what I'm talking about."
"I don't know!" Piper said, stamping her foot.
This was it. This was the moment. There was no longer going to be a 'Piper and Leo'.
Leo licked his lips. "Piper, I think…maybe it's best…if you and I don't see each other anymore."
Piper was tempted to tear up. But no, this is what she wanted. But if this was what she wanted, then why did it hurt so damn much?
"Okay. I guess I'll see you around." Piper walked out his door, and she just knew, out of his life.
-----
Piper stood from her crouched position and walked to the window. She watched as the rain pitter-pattered against her window in an irregular way. So many things about life were unexpected, different…
Where you are, seems to be as far as an eternity,
Outstretched arms, open hearts,
And if it never ends then when do we start?
I'll never leave you behind, or treat you unkind
I know you understand
And with a tear in my eye,
Give me the sweetest goodbye, that I ever did receive.
God, she missed him, but why? But why, goddamn it, did he fill her thoughts so totally and completely?
Pushing forward and arching back,
Bring me closer to heart attack.
Say goodbye and just fly away,
When you come back,
I have something to say
How does it feel to know you'll never have to be alone,
When you get home?
Leo looked up from his book at the rain. He'd been trying to distract himself all evening, but he couldn't get Piper off his mind.
There must be someplace here that,
Only you and I could go,
So I can show you how I…
Dream away,
Everyday try so hard to disregard,
The rhythm of the rain that drops,
And coincides with the beating of my heart.
I'll never leave you behind, or treat you unkind
And I know you understand.
And with a tear my eye,
Give me the sweetest goodbye, that I ever did receive.
Piper leaned her forehead against the windowpane. I tear splashed against the cold, smooth, hard glass.
Pushing forward and arching back,
Bring me closer to heart attack.
Say goodbye and just fly away,
When you come back,
I have something to say
How does it feel to know you'll never have to be alone,
When you get home?
Leo walked over to the window and looked out into the dark, rainy, dreary night. After a pensive moment, he slammed his fist against the glass feebly.
There must be someplace here that only you and I could go,
So I can show you how I…
Feel, feel, feel…
AN: Yes, I know, depending on how sappy you are, that may have been one shitty ending. Well, as always tell me what you think. And, no! I cannot give you any clues to the next chapter. And even if it's all typed up I will not—I repeat—will not post it with out at least 2 reviews. Sorry, that's the way it has to be. Okay, so if you want to see what happens, hurry up and review!!