The Show Must Go On

Disclaimer: Still don't own them...but it is my birthday in three days.

AN: Hmm, I didn't mention what kind of show Leo is working in did I? I will in this chapter, don't worry and Piper and Leo will meet soon but they wont get together straight away. Oh and also, I'm looking for a beta, anyone willing to help?

Thank you to everyone who reviewed!

Chapter 2

Beginners

Leo glanced around the large hall. Five men were lined positioned in front of him, one to the front and the other four lined up behind him. Nervously Leo joined the row of men as the music started.

A steady beat emitted from a small stereo and the men around him began to shake their heads in time with the music. Following the others Leo too began bobbing his head in time with the beat.

The man in front began to move and the other's followed as if they could do this blindfolded, Leo however was a little less sure of himself.

All of a sudden the music stopped and Leo found five pairs of eyes looking at him.

"You haven't done this before heave you?" asked one of the men.

"Erm, no, I haven't no," Leo stammered.

"It's okay babe but you gotta feel the beat, remember it's all in the hips."

"Okay," he replied trying to sound confident.

"Okay," the dancers repeated before the music was switched back on.

About two minutes passed before the music was stopped again and this time it was the dancer at the front that spoke.

"No Leo sweetie, it's one, left turn, right turn, thigh shot, twist, left turn, spin, pose. Not, one, two, left turn, right turn, thigh shot, spin! It's twist always twist after a thigh shot, spinning makes you look cheap."

"Mmm hmm," the other dancers nodded in agreement.

Piper looked around the packed casino and wished the she was somewhere else. She had spent the entire day in her hotel room trying to find something on TV while Dan ran around throwing away all of his money. At the rate he was going, he'd have to claim bankruptcy before the fortnight was up.

Spotting a greasy head in the distance Piper made her way over to a table surrounded by cheering gamblers just as Dan arrived. He had a big grin plastered to his face and piper couldn't believe this was the same man she had actually thought of marrying. She cringed at the thought.

"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God! I can't believe I'm finally here. Quick Piper take a picture." He squealed.

"I never knew you were so into black jack," Piper said flatly as she searched around her bag for the disposable camera Dan had gave her.

She snapped him as he was putting his arm around a complete stranger only to be rejected.

"Right," Dan said enthusiastically, clapping his hands together and looking at the table. "How do we play?"

"Leo, your on in five!" Mr Garibaldi yelled at him over the hubbub of people running around trying to get ready.

"Okay," he shouted back but he didn't think he was heard.

He turned back to the mirror, it was one of those tacky things with bright bulbs sticking out of it. "Only in Vegas," he thought. Checking over his appearance one last time he was finally satisfied. He ran the bright red lipstick over his mouth one last time and headed for the stage.

As he approached he was greeted by his fellow dancers. They had been practising with him for five hours that day and he was getting better but he didn't know if he was up to their level just yet.

He heard Mr Garibaldi announce their act and he held his breath apprehensively.

"And now, the wonderful, the delightful, the damn right gorgeous, Wonder women!"

The crowd clapped and cheered as Leo followed the others onto the stage and took his place. The music they had been listening to earlier started up and Leo's heart started to beat faster and faster.

"This is it," he thought.

Piper looked at the stage in awe as Dan sat huffily beside her. She had finally dragged him away from he casino long enough to tell him that if he didn't come to a show with her she would dump him there and then. For some reason she had been quite disappointed when he agreed to go with her.

She looked up at the men on stage as they preformed their complicated dance routine while balancing in stiletto heels, she could never do that. She can barely walk in her one-inch heels let alone spin and kick like that.

She was pleasantly surprised to find that most of the men on stage were quite handsome, especially the youngest one. He may have been wearing a dress and sporting some sort of wig on his head but he certainly was a cutie.

Suddenly Dan whispered something in her ear about going back to the casino and meeting her in the hotel later. Angrily Piper spun around and looked as his pleading eyes.

"Why don't you ever want to do anything with me?" she whispered angrily.

"Why do you always want to do boring stuff?" he retaliated.

"Excuse me for not wanting to spend my vacation feeding coins into a slot machine."

"Oh yeah 'cause watching a bunch of poofs prance around on stage is so much better."

"I thought it was something that we could do together!" Her voice was louder now and she was receiving stares from some people but she didn't care. "This holiday was supposed to save our relationship, not make it even more unbearable."

"Oh you think I'm unbearable?" he yelled. "Well at least I don't go running to my sisters every time something doesn't go my way!"

"That's because you've got no one to run too!"

Dan turned and stormed out of the room angrily. Piper felt bad for saying those things but he just made her so mad. She sat down at the table and tried to enjoy the rest of the show, but it was no good.

Leo splashed the cold water all over his face. His debut had been a success, the only thing that went wrong was the couple at the back of the room who had a fight. He hated confrontations.

After he was fully changed he grabbed his bag and headed outside through the back exit. He turned a corner into the alley and he heard something. It was so quiet he could barely hear it but he immediately knew what it was. It was crying.

He found a pretty brunette sitting on a pile of boxes sobbing. She looked so sad, Leo just wanted to grab her and hug her. He refrained and instead tapped her on the shoulder and asked if she was ok.

"Yeah," she sniffed. "I just...I just...I hate fighting and tonight...it was so...so public."

"Hey I understand," he comforted, rubbing her arms softly.

"Hey Sparkle," a voice broke their silence. "Great show tonight."

Piper laughed and wiped her eyes. She looked up at Leo.

"Sparkle?"