Chapter four: The Date

DISCLAIMER: I DON"T OWN CHARMED!

A/N: Ok well chapter four wow im surprised at myself I really don't know how I got this far so quickly. Well I'll thank my inspiration whether they knew they were doing it or not (my online buddies) and to everyone reading and reviewing my story, i am soooooooo grateful and amazed that people are actually reading and enjoying what i write. so THANKS!!!

Four words: "I'm a little teapot!"

The next day Piper spent most of the day shopping with Prue for clothes and make up even though she had a suitcase full of this at home and Piper would rather be catching up on lost sleep. She didn't want to be cranky on her big date. But Prue had promised Piper that she would help her to get ready and this was her way of sticking to her promise.

Obviously Leo had gained the approval from Piper's sisters, the most difficult thing to do when dating. This guy really had to be special. Not many guys actually managed to get through the Halliwell tests of suitablility. Prue was even giving her tips on what to do and not to do, this almost never happened!

Piper and Prue returned home laden with loads of heavy shopping bags more than anything Piper just wanted to jump in a hot bath and relax. They had been shopping for hours and Prue insisted on trying on practically every item in each store they visited and giving her demonstrations on 'The correct way to apply make-up'. Piper's feet were killing her and this was the first chance she'd had to sit down all day.

"Prue, I know your just trying to help and im so gratefull but please, this is my date can't you just let me relax for a bit?" Piper cried to her sister who seemed more enthusiastic about this date than Piper did!

"Fine you go and have a bath and I'll prepare your clothes and make-up down here for you to choose when you get out"

Piper was so relieved to hear this and ran over and hugged Prue before immediately running up the stairs two steps at a time. Until she realised the pain in her feet and had to slow down again.

Over an hour later Piper was getting ready with Prue doing her make-up and hair she couldn't understand why she was doing this for her it wasn't like Piper had never been on a date or never had a boyfriend before. What was the big deal now?

When Prue was finished she stood back to marvel at her creation.

"Wow you look so beautiful" she said gushing over her younger sister. "You'll take his breath away, as soon as he sees you!"

Piper was dressed in a long black, silk dress which went to about three- four inches below her knees, with off the shoulder straps and part of the back cut away. Her hair was just down but was smooth and shiny with a few kinks but looked elegant all the same. Her make- up was also simple, natural and sophisticated.

At that moment there was a knock at the door. Piper started to go to open it but Prue stopped her and told her to go upstairs. She thought this way it would be more graceful this way with her coming down the stairs to greet Leo like it was out of an old black and white romance movie where the woman always looked stunning. Prue opened the door and Piper walked down. Leo stood waiting and when he caught a glimpse of her in her attire for the evening, his jaw dropped.

"Wow" He said at the sight of Piper. It was the only words he could think of. She looked so beautiful.

Piper pushed a still beaming Prue out of the doorway and watched as she stumbled over to where Phoebe had been watching from silently. Piper gave them a look as if to say 'get out of here' they understood and walked into the kitchen staring back at Piper and Leo as they walked.

"I knew we should have met at the restaurant" Piper joked about her sisters interuptions.

Leo still looked at her speechless

"You look amazing Piper!" He finally spoke.

"You don't look too bad yourself" Piper replied her embarassment only hidden by the make-up, she didn't compliment well. Leo did look very handsome. He was wearing a smart deep blue shirt and a fashoinable suit jacket.

"So should we get going?" Leo said holding out his arm for Piper to take.

"Yeah hold on one second" she paused going to pick up her jacket and her bag. She returned a moment later and clung to Leo's arm as they walked out of the house together.

Once they were out Piper looked back to see Prue and Phoebe watching them out of the conservetory window. Piper rolled her eyes and looked back at Leo, giving him her full attention for the rest of the night.

The drive to the restaurant was pleasant Leo's car was a smart classic convertible, the type her father always used to talk about. Leo's family obviously had money, not that this mattered to Piper. The lights of down town San Francisco shone as they made their way through the dazzling sights. Piper wasn't all that familiar with this part of the city and was trying hard not to seem like the tourist that she was.

"The city's beautiful at night isn't she?". Once again Leo had read her mind. She was starting to think that he was psychic he always seemed to know exactly what she was thinking.

The drive was almost silent. Leo was as nervous as Piper about the date but knew that he wanted to spend as much time as he possibly could with this amazing woman. He was sure that the conversation would pick up once they reached the restaurant and when they were both slightly less anxious. He already knew that they got on great and it was probably only the tension that was holding them back.

A while later, they had arrived at the restaurant and Leo pulled the car up to park. Piper had filled him in on Prue and Pheobe and hoped that this hadn't put him off her too much.

They remained in the car for a while before going in to get their reserved table. Piper was telling Leo about her dreams to become a chef while he listened intently.

"Just be warned," she said "If I get too fussy over the food or start asking for secret cooking tips, its only the chef inside me talking"

Leo laughed and nodded showing that he accepted the idea.

"Ok, now I know" he said still laughing.

"It's not a joke you know" she continued while Leo exited the car and went to open her door.

"I'm sure it's not" He said softly wiping a strand of loose hair out of her eyes. "Damn wind" He was gazing into her eyes for maybe just a moment too long. He hadn't noticed before just how breathtakingly gorgeous they were.

"So. In we go." He said trying to hide the fact that he'd been staring.

The restaurant was flawless, it was huge and the marble floors gleamed. It was filled with couples dining and was cleary a very expensive, established place to eat. This made Piper realise even more that this was exactly what she wanted. Leo being there aswel was an extra added bonus.

They were seated shortly at a great table by the back of the restaurant close to the window where there were less people and they could still admire the sights. Including each other.

"I'm so glad you said yes." Leo said once they were seated. "For a while I was really expecting you to say no"

"Well I'm glad I said yes aswel"

As Leo had predicted, by the time they had actually sat down to dinner, both him and Piper, were much calmer and the conversation was flowing much mose easily, just like it had been on the plane when they had first met.

The restaurant had such a great atmosphere, it was hard not to feel the romance in the air. There was soft lighting and candles on each table there was even an accordian player walking amonst the table playing tender melodies to the adoring couples. Piper and Leo listened for a while, taking in their surroundings.

Dinner was going great. As of yet, Piper had managed not to make a fool of herself. It must have made a nice change for Leo not to be sitting there with an idiot at dinner trying to have a conversation. The food was delicious and the staff were friendly. Piper could see why Leo had chosen this place.

Before they knew it they were already being served dessert. This meant that the date was almost over. Piper didn't want it too end so soon, she still hardly knew anything about Leo. They had decided against the movie as it wasn't really a great first date place and they would much rather spend the time together by themselves, although Piper's excuse was that it was getting late. Now however she was having second thoughts.

The end of the date was approaching, Leo had already asked for the check . A man was walking around selling roses.

"I'll take one please" Leo said catching his attention and getting money out of his walet before handing the rose to Piper.

"A beautiful rose for a beautiful woman" Leo whispered to her.

"Wow you really do like the cheese don't you?" Piper joked taking the rose and smelling it's sweet scent. "I'm kidding it's beautiful thank you" she added feeling guilty about her last remark. That's just what she did, when she was nervous it was like a relflex to defend herself from showing hurt or her real emotions.

"And just because I only bought one, it doesn't make me cheap. I just thought it would be more classy!" Leo said defending his actions.

"I agree. One is definitely better" she spoke. "it's a thoughtful gesture"

Leo dropped Piper back at her house. She thought it would be safest for him to stop a few houses down where they had the shelter of a neighbouring bush to hide them from the dreaded spying sisters.

"Thanks for a lovely evening" Piper said getting out of the car and wrapping her jacket around her arms. "well I'm already starting to sound like an American" She joked. "But really, I had a great time"

"Me too" Leo agreed "I almost don't want it to end but I'm sure your family would never forgive me if I kept you any longer." Realising what this must have sounded like, he searched for the words to rescue his sentence "keep you out that is"

Piper smiled but looked at her feet, she wasn't used to compliments.

Piper could see Leo leaning in towards her, in the heat of the moment, she instinctivley closed her eyes but she didn't expect what came. Leo placed a gentle,affectionate kiss on her cheek before slowly pulling away.

"Well we should do this again sometime I'll call you" Leo said as he got back in his car and watched Piper walk up into her house he made sure she was in safely before driving off and waved as he caught her eye.

Piper walked into the conservetory and saw her sisters staring out of the window still, obviously the plan had worked, they clearly hadn't noticed Piper entering the house.

Piper coughed to let them know she was there. When they turned around there was an expression of shock on their faces, they knew they had been caught. Piper looked at them with her arms folded. A clear sign that she expected an explanation.

Prue looked out the window and urged Phoebe to follow.

"As I was saying, that flower there is known as 'oriental orchids' although the only real difference to normal orchids is that the stems are longer" Prue said even though she knew they had been caught.

"Hmm interesting." Phoebe played along trying to cover her tracks. "I never knew that!"

"Ha!" Piper said, it didn't take a genius to know what they had been up to.

"Okay fine. We weren't looking at flowers but is it really such a crime to care about our sister?" Phoebe wondered wrapping her arm around Piper's back. At this Piper calmed down at the attempt of an apology.

"So? How'd it go" Prue pushed sounding a little too curious.

"It was great actually. He said he's gonna call"

"OUCH!" Prue and Phoebe uttered simultaneously.

"What? What is it?" Piper was now getting worried.

"I'll call you?', that's like the kiss of death, guys say it just to get out of any actual commitements" Prue clarified while Phoebe nodded.

"Well Leo is different" Piper defended Leo's actions although she wondered if her sisters were right. 'No they cant be' she reminded herself 'Leo's not like that'

She thought about Leo briefly aware that a smile was playing across her lips.

"We'll see" she said as she walked up the stairs "Goodnight guys"

She had a feeling that she would be sleeping soundly tonight. It had been the perfect ending to the perfect day.

Well theres chapter four more fluff to come hehehe!