AN: Thanks for the reviews!! Sorry this took so long, I've been uberbusy and well…sorta lazy. Sorry. Anyhoodles, here you go!!
"Then we did you leave, Leo, I'd really like to know!! You've got me completely exasperated! Why the hell did you go?!"
"My mother forced me!"
Piper crossed her arms over her chest. "You mean to tell me, that you gave in to Mommy instead of being a man and helping me?"
That hit Leo like a brick. "I don't think you understand." He said. "My mother's not somebody to mess with—"
"Aww, fuck, Leo! Don't give me that bullshit!! Don't tell that!! You were man enough to have sex, you should have been man enough to help me raise them!"
He snorted and shook his head. "There's nothing I can say to you to make you listen to me!"
I'm full of regret,
For all the things that I have done and said.
And I don't know,
If it'll ever be okay to show,
My face, around here.
"You know, Leo you're probably right. There's nothing I want from you!" Piper glared at him angrily. She thought she had nothing left to give, she didn't think she could hate with such a passion, but here they were.
Leo knew why she was angry. Hell, he'd have been pissed too. But if she would just give him ten minutes…
Sometimes I wonder if I disappear
Would you ever turn your head and look?
See if I'm gone?
"Is there nothing I can say to you?" Leo said, all his pent-up frustration surfacing. "I don't know what else to do."
Piper just shook her head.
'Cuz I fear there is nothing left to say,
To you, that you wanna here, that you wanna know,
I think I should go,
The things I've done are way too shameful...
Leo sighed. "Piper, I just wanna talk for a little bit, I can't leave without saying goodbye."
Piper was surprised and it showed. "What? You're leaving?" she stumbled over her words, trying to keep her inexplicable panic hidden.
"Piper, I was out her on business. I'm leaving tomorrow."
You're just an innocent,
A helpless victim of a spider's web.
And I'm an insect, going after anything that I can get.
So you'd better turn your head and run,
And don't look back…
"Would we be having this conversation if you hadn't been here by chance?" Piper asked coldly, a sense of realization hitting her.
"I don't believe in chance, Piper." Leo began.
"Fuck that, Leo!! Tell me the goddamn truth!"
Leo sighed heavily, crossing his arms. "No. No we wouldn't."
Piper licked her lips, a small bitter smile gracing her lips. "That's all I need to know. I didn't think you could become any more cowardly. Any lower." She glared at him, hot, stinging tears fighting for space in her eyes.
Leo held his hands up in the air. "Piper, I surrender. I was wrong. There's nothing more I can say to you. I. Am. Sorry. I truly am."
And I have done you so wrong,
Treated you bad,
Strung you along,
Oh shame on myself,
I don't know how I got so tangled up…
"You just frustrate me so much!" he exclaimed. "I mean…Damn it, Piper!"
He grabbed her by her upper arms and pulled her to him for a kiss. It was electric. The energy charged through them, causing her to shiver in her place. In his arms. Touching him. Holding him. And much to their surprise, kissing him back.
Piper felt a surge of feeling overriding her. All she wanted to do was kiss him and love him and cuddle with him, and touch him with a gentle caress.
After a moment, she pushed him away. "You…I…I can't do this again, I won't!"
Leo licked his lips. "I'm not sorry." He mumbled flatly. "We met, we had sex and had two kids. But there's more to it than that. You know and I know it. I'll be on flight 673 to New York. At 3:10. Let's not make the same mistakes. Come with me." Leo just looked at her, the words pouring out of him and for once, she wasn't interrupting him. "Please."
-----
Piper could scarcely wrap her mind around herself. After having the pivotal conversation with Leo in the afternoon, she turned around that night and went out with Kevin. And despite her mind, body and soul, all worried and weary, she'd had a fabulous time.
"It was fun. I'd never been to a pool hall before."
Kevin smiled. "Yeah…But you play a mean game. How much did you win?"
Piper grinned knowingly. "516 dollars."
Kevin laughed. "Boy, you're something special."
"Thanks."
He leaned forward and kissed her full out on the lips. To which she replied to earnestly. And there they were, making out in front of her apartment building. She lowered down from her tiptoes, trailing her hand down his chest. "Don't think we should…" Piper breathed. "Not tonight."
Kevin smiled gently at her. "No rush. Really."
Piper smiled at him. They kissed goodbye and she walked into her building.
-----
At his hotel, Leo was busy throwing things into his suitcases. But he kept getting sidetracked.
That kiss. What was it about that woman? All he could do was replay the dancing tongues and groping hands…
"Leo…" Piper gasped, scratching her fingernails across his bare back. "Ohhh…"
Leo caressed her cheek, kissing her neck. "Oh God, you're beautiful."
Helplessly melting as I stand next to the sun,
And as she burns me,
I am screaming out for more.
Drink every drop of liquid,
Heap that I've become,
Pop me open, spoon me on to the floor.
What had possessed him to leave her? Oh that was right, his mom. He should have stayed with Piper, gotten married, gotten a job…But by now she'd hate him anyway.
He crossed the room. To painting sat side by side. He'd kept the one she said she loved, kept it all these years. And then the one he'd done of her. Why was she always coming to him…In his work, in his dreams. God, even in his nightmares! He rubbed his eyes.
-----
After putting the kids to bed, Piper called Phoebe.
"I've got a question." She said as soon as there was a pickup.
"Hello to you too." Phoebe muttered sarcastically.
"Pheebes, it's important."
"Shoot."
"Do you believe in love at first sight?"
"Ooo!!" Phoebe squealed. "Is this about that delicious Kevin?"
Piper sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Let's just say that it is."
"Okay, in that case, yes, I believe in love in first sight."
Piper nodded. "Okay. Do believe you can love someone who's…wronged you?"
Phoebe laughed. "Piper, don't tell me you've gone on some type of…12 step program. You know, forgive all who have wrong you."
"Just answer the questions."
"Well, sweetie, that's what love is sometimes. It's like cheesecake. It's really bad for you, but you can't help but eat a little sliver. And then another…and another. Until you've eaten the whole thing. And now you've got to burn off those calories."
"Phoebe…"
"Okay, okay, so I swung by the bakery. So sue me."
"Bye, Phoebe." She hung up.
AN: Well everybody, we officially have two more chapters. I hate to bring "Woman" to such and early ending and all (and here I am thinking it'll be longer than usual ;-P) but it's just the right place to stop. I hope none of you get mad. Please don't, movies that end like this always make me cry (Yes, I'm a sap) and I thought it would be perfect. Anyway, I've got a question. I've actually got two new ideas, but which would you like to hear first? A: A dramatic story with inner struggles and secrets and stuff. Or… B: A fun story where Piper and Leo are already together and it's time to visit the in-laws. I'll post whichever one gets the most votes. Please review!!