AN: Thanks for the reviews!!! I finally managed to clean my room -----smiles at her own sense of cleanliness----- and I'm here to update again!

charmed-aussie: I'd have to say that you guessed right, aren't I predictable? LOL!

PiPeRAnGeL39: It's okay, I have my moments like that too!

Magical Princess: Thanks!

amelia: Thanks!

halli-halliwell: What kind of writer would I be if I told you?? Humm???? All in due time, all in due time…

Alyssa Halliwell: Of course they're gonna see each other!

Charmboy4: Of course it's a big deal that he's going to San Fran! BTW, I know you were being sarcastic. But still, it's huge! And of course they're gonna have a fight, it'd be almost sacrilegious if they didn't!! Though I'm not sure to what religion…

LeoPiper-Forever: I wasn't too long…Was I?

scullymulder1234: Thanks!

Summer Lovin: I'm so sorry, I made a stupid mistake and replaced the chapter. :-P Sorry, it should be okay now!

Enjoy the chapter!!

Leo rubbed his eyes tiredly, a habit that seemed to have seeped into him over the past seven years, as he fell backward across his bed at the hotel. As his blonde head hit the red and gold comforter, his thoughts couldn't help but drift to his agenda.

"Talk with Beck, stay in the hotel as much as possible, though must go out for decent food, fly back to New York sooner rather than later." He said aloud, peeling his shirt from his body and throwing it into the counter. Finally, he undid his pants and slid them to his feet where he kicked them to the floor. It was early, not even 7 at night, but he was tired. How could he sleep at night when he was in the same city as her?

-----

Piper picked up the white cordless phone hesitantly. She hated to bother Candace when she wasn't at work, but what could she do? Piper curled her feet underneath her as she sat on the light blue couch. She watched her children as the phone hung idle in her hand. She bit her lip as Wyatt and Chris traded toy trucks. She brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes with her pointer and middle fingers. She dialed Candace's number and continued to watch her children play as the phone rang twice in her ear.

"Hello?"

Oh good, an answer. "Hey Candace, it's Piper."

"What's up? Is it something that can wait until you get here?"

Piper sighed. "Um…yeah, about that, see—"

Candace heard it in her voice. "Piper, no! Not again, we need you down here at Quake. You've got to come in tonight!"

Piper bit her lip harder, careful not to break the fragile skin. "Candace, I know, but the babysitter cancelled again. Plus, I think Chris and Wyatt are coming down with something…"

"Piper, I'm sensitive to your situation, I really am, but…Mike's not gonna be happy."

Piper's face flushed with worry and her breath rose in the same way. "Candace I know, but I can't get another sitter and—"

Candace sighed. "It's alright, Piper. I'll talk it over with Mike, everything'll be fine. Just so long as you come in tomorrow."

Piper nodded fervently, though she knew Candace couldn't see her. "I will Candace, I promise."

She could practically hear the other woman nod. "Alright Piper, you take care."

"You too. Thank you."

"Bye."

"Bye."

Piper hung up and put the phone on the coffee table. She put her hands to her face. She was twenty-five, wasn't she supposed to be putting her life together now? Instead, it was all falling apart. Her kids were in school, so that was good, but what the hell was she doing? What kind of mother was she, what kind of woman?

"Mommy?"

Piper uncovered her face to look at her children. "Yeah?"

"What's for dinner?" Chris asked. "Wyatt said that you said it was tuna casserole, 'cuz we all like it and…"

Piper smiled. "Yep, it's tuna casserole."

Chris let out a cheer, then coughed. So maybe he was coming down with something.

"Was that a cough?" Piper asked, as she took their hands and led them to the kitchen.

"No!" Chris exclaimed as he sat at the table, resting his elbows on the top.

"We don't get sick, Mommy." Wyatt said, letting out a cough.

Piper smiled knowingly as she started to serve up three helpings of casserole. "Oh, that's right. You don't get sick. Humm, so what happens when you don't get sick and you don't have to take any medicine?"

"We can go play outside!" Wyatt said happily.

Piper sat their plates in front of them. "Sure, sure…" She gave them each a kiss on the forehead to which they responded with disgusted sound. Piper smiled as she sat across the oak table from them.

-----

Piper shut the door to her car and turned to face her job. She was the manager/bartender at Quake, 3 nights a week. Of course, that was in addition to her regular job, but it got the bills paid, food on the table and clothing on her kid's backs. She pulled a lollipop—her latest addiction—out of her black purse and popped it in her mouth.

She walked in, greeting her friends as she made her way to her locker. She changed into her Quake t-shirt, leaving her jeans on. She walked up to the bar where she saw two business men.

"What can I get you?" she asked.

The first one turned to her. "Two whisky sours." Then he turned to his overweight friend. "And what'll you have, Manny?" Both men chuckled loudly and Piper turned to get the drinks. After serving them and others, drinks multiple times, the alcohol got the better of them.

"You interested in serving a little more than drinks, little lady?" The heavyset one asked, suggestively, leaning over the counter so she could smell the whisky on his breath. Piper made a face that showed she was clearly disgusted.

"No, thank you."

"Are you sure, there's a nice pay in it."

Piper rolled her eyes. Remember, it kept food on the table, clothes on their backs and the bills paid. Piper walked away and suddenly remembered she'd lost her ring there the night before.

"Hey Candace," she called as she walked to the back for her break. "is there a ring in the lost and found?"

Candace shrugged. "I think so, why is it yours?"

Piper nodded. Upon arriving at the cardboard box that the lost and found, she found her ring amongst a deck of cards, a bracelet, a wallet and a hat.

Piper slipped the ring onto her finger and walked back to the bar.

-----

Leo stood at the counter at 7-11, getting ready to buy a package of Twizzlers. Twizzlers were a Godsend. He reached in his pockets for his wallet to no avail.

"Shit…" he murmured, flashing the teenaged greasy faced cashier a nervous grin. "Damn it!" he mentally retraced his steps. Hotel, lunch at that restaurant…of jeez, what was that restaurant called…Quake, that was it, damn it, he'd left it there!Leo left his precious Twizzlers on the counter and called a cab to Quake.

-----

"Hey Piper, would you close up?" Candace asked, tossing her the keys.

Piper nodded. "Sure, you go on home. I've got to pick something up from the store anyway, and I've got the babysitter for a little longer anyhow."

Candace nodded her brown-haired head in thanks and quickly exited.

Piper walked the backroom to retrieve her things when the door opened. Leo walked up to the bar, and tapped his hands on the bar, keeping his eyes on his hands.

"We're getting ready to leave!" Piper called.

Leo's head shot up faster than lightning. That voice…Could it be her…After seven years? Leo shook his head. Couldn't be.

Piper still heard the incessant noise of hand against glass. "We're closing." She said pointedly. Leo shook his head. It was uncanny… Finally, he found his voice.

"I can tell, but I just wanted to know if you came across a wallet. I left it here earlier."

Piper's eyes widened as she pulled her shirt down over her head. Could that be…Nah. Piper walked out of the back, looking at her arm, where she was straightening her sleeve, as she joined his side.

Leo watched her bent head as she spoke. God, the resemblance…

"Look sir, I've got to get home to my kids and—" Piper stopped when she looked at him. Not after seven years. He wouldn't show up now, would he? It was like the moment would never end. They were suspended in time, her with her hand on her wrist, him with one inactive hand rested on the bar. Suddenly, feeling rushed her body as emotions churned her head and coursed through her veins.

"What are you doing here?" she whispered coldly. "What the fuck do you want from me?"

Leo's mouth hung open. "I…I—I…"

"Save it!" Piper yelled, turning away from him. In a brief moment where he was sure he'd lost his mind, he grabbed her wrist tightly, refusing to let her go. Again.

Once more, their eyes locked, but this time it was more of a knock-down-drag-out, who would back down first.

I know you think that I shouldn't still love you,

I'll tell you that.

But If I didn't say, then I'll still have felt it,

Where's the sense in that?

Leo gulped heavily. This was it. Why wasn't he saying anything? Hell, forget him, why wasn't she saying anything? Didn't she have anything to say…Anything at all?

I promise I'm not trying to make your life harder

Or return to where we were

I will go down with this ship

And I won't put my hands up and surrender.

There will be no white flag above my door,

I'm in love and always will be.

Piper couldn't help but stare at him, so many emotions flooding her at once. Anger, hurt, confusion, resentment and hardest of all to admit…Love, it still was in her somewhere.

Why wouldn't she say anything? Was she being so silent? Leo couldn't help but wonder if she was getting ready to pass out. He wouldn't blame her. But that didn't change how he felt.

I know I left too much mess and
destruction to come back again.
And I caused but nothing but trouble
I understand if you can't talk to me again.
And if you live by the rules of "it's over"
then I'm sure that that makes sense.

Well I will go down with this ship,
And I won't put my hands up and surrender.
There will be no white flag above my door,
I'm in love and always will be.

Piper's heart literally stopped for about 1 second, then resumed pounding in her chest. Shouldn't she have been yelling at him? Saying something? She wanted to…but her kids…Their kids…What would they do if she got distraught, then who could they rely on?

Leo couldn't imagine what was going through her head. Could he she possibly be considering forgiving him? No, of course not. He'd left her to raise a child in her own, who could forgive that? But the words he spoke then at that kitchen table had never been a lie. He did love her. And seeing her again only strengthened the fact.

And when we meet, which I'm sure we will,

All that was there, will be there still.

I'll let it pass and hold my tongue,

And you will think, that I've moved on…

Finally, one of them had to say something. Standing there with his hand wrapped around her slender wrist and staring at one another was getting them nowhere.

"I'm sorry." Leo said, the sadness written all over his face. At that moment the spell was lifted. Piper yanked her wrist out of his grasp.

"You should be."

I will go down with this ship,

And I won't put my hands up and surrender.

There will be no white flag above my door,

I'm in love and always will be.

AN: Okay, I know that that chapter wasn't the greatest and I'm sorry. But it's longish and at least they saw each other, right? Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it and please review!! BTW, Charmboy4, you'll get your fight, don't worry.