Chapter 8

Grapes and Cheese

"I am so sorry," Piper said for what seemed to be the hundredth time that night.

Leo sighed and shook his head. Rubbing his eyes wearily he attempted to smile but it was no good.

"It's ok," he lied. "They were going to find out sooner or later."

"I just, I thought that they knew," she tried to explain but was cut off by Leo.

"Really Piper it's not your fault."

"But if I had just thought about it-" she began.

"Can we change the subject now?" It came out a lot harsher than he had intended it to.

Piper looked away, clearly offended. She looked over at the restaurant across the street and sighed. The once extensive queue of hungry diners had long since dwindled and now there were barely three people outside. She and Leo had been sitting in the diner for around an hour. Too shocked to move after his parents' sharp exit.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly and she had to strain to hear it.

"No, I'm sorry." She turned her body towards Leo but continued to look down. "What time is it?"

"Um," Leo pulled back his sleeve to look at his watch. "It's almost twelve."

"Oh. It's pretty late," she murmured. "Do you want to go out for a drink?"

Leo thought about it for a few moments. His parents had just interrupted his moment with Piper, found out he dresses like a woman and rejected him in one single night.

"Yeah," he replied smiling. "I think I will."

----

"And another thing! My dad always promised he would take me to see the big tent thingy," Leo slurred. "You know what I mean, the one with the lions and elephants and mice."

"The circus?" Piper asked.

"Yeah! That's it, the circus but he never did." He shook his head and moved his drink from side to side to emphasise his point.

"No?"

"No! He took Anna everywhere but me? Pff, I was cast aside like...something that has been...cast aside!"

"That's so sad," Piper murmured shaking her head and downing the rest of her drink simultaneously. "You know what you need?"

"What?" he asked solemnly.

"Another drink. Barkeep! Two more please." She pointed to the empty glasses.

"I think you two have had enough," he replied.

"Oh come on?" Piper pleaded.

"Yeah man, we're just trying to forget," Leo said sadly.

"Oh yeah?" The bartended asked coming over to stand in front of them. "Forget what?"

Leo thought for a moment before replying.

"I dunno, I forget." He and Piper collapsed into a fit of giggles but the bartender remained un amused.

"Ok, time to go. Let me call you a cab," he stated heading for the phone at the far end of the bar.

"Oh no! Just one more drink and we'll leave," Piper implored.

"Just one more?"

"Yeah, and then we'll be, phew." Leo responded making a motion for the door with his hands.

"Ok, but only one." He gave in and poured them both one more drink each. They weren't as bad as some drunks that he had seen and besides, the brunette was cute.

"Way hay!" Piper and Leo exclaimed in unison.

"Aw man, I just lost another twenty in the cigarette machine," someone cried from the corner of the room.

"Way hay!"

"Hey dude, one of the gents are blocked," came another call.

"Way hay!"

"Ok everyone last orders," the bartender called.

"Way hay!"

----

Piper stumbled into the room, followed by Leo who ran right into the back of her. They both tried to suppress their laughter as Piper put a finger over her mouth and made a shushing noise.

They staggered further into the room and Piper had to grab the arm of the couch in order to hold herself upright. Leo, however, wasn't having as much luck. He tripped over a lone shoe and went crashing to the ground; face first.

Piper burst out laughing so Leo tackled her to the ground. Taken by surprise, she screamed and fell backwards into Leo's arms. They rolled around the floor together, laughing hysterically until, finally exhausted; their eyes began to droop.

Leo groaned and somehow managed to clamber into a standing position. Reaching out his hands he helped Piper up and then let her cling to him for balance. He became aware that she had nuzzled into his neck and her breathing was becoming lighter. His arms encircled her waist and he lifted her feet off the ground.

After his initial struggle with the bedclothes Leo finally managed to pull back the sheets while still holding onto Piper. He laid her down as softly as possible so as not to wake her. Luckily she wasn't wearing a coat anymore, they must have left it in the bar, so all he had to take off was her shoes.

He tucked her in and kissed her softly on the forehead before going around to the other side of the bed and plonking himself down. Carelessly, he pulled off his own shoes and socks and threw them away into the darkness of the room before burrowing under the covers. Almost as soon as his head hit the pillow he was out.

AN: Well, I liked writing this chapter and I hope you enjoyed reading it.

Hmm, little insight into Leo's childhood there, more to come, and a bit of Piper and Leo fluff. I updated sooner than I thought I would but these chapters were written in the same day so that'll be why! Don't you just love weekends?

You know you want to