Chapter 12

Arriving at the restaurant and having the waiter showing them to their table, Dan behaved like the perfect gentleman, pulling the seat for Piper. "Thank you."

"It's my pleasure." Replied Dan as he sat back down. After a few moments of talking, the waiter came over to them to take their order, leaving the two of them to talk some more.

"Piper, about earlier on, in the kitchen..." He held her hand, his eyes shown genuine remorse. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have had a go at you, I shouldn't have grabbed you like that."

Placing her free hand on top of his, she threw a smile. "That's okay, just caught me by surprise that's all. But, that was lunchtime this is now." She leaned forward placing a kiss on his lips, which led to a more passionate one.

All through the dinner the atmosphere had been pleasant, no mentioning of Leo's name from either of them, Dan making Piper laugh, she was clearly enjoying herself. But, there was one thing that she was worried of. And, that was the way Dan was drinking.

On the table already laid an empty bottle of wine, Dan ordering a second. Whilst she was still on her first glass, working in a club seeing the effects and being on the receiving end on those effects when Prue went through her rebellious stage kinda put her off drinking too heavily.

She went to open her mouth to say something but thinking about what happen earlier on, she didn't want to cause a scene. So went back to eating whilst keeping a watchful eye on Dan.

Phoebe watched as Prue downing what looks like her fifth cup of coffee and deep in thought. "You should go to bed. Haven't you got an early start tomorrow..." She stopped and looked at the cooker's clock, it had just turned midnight. "...Well, today."

"I can't, I need to know that she's safe..." Prue replied without even looking up at her. "With him." The last part was mixed into a whisper and disgust.

Phoebe sighed; looks like nether of them were going to get any sleep. Pulling up a chair and cheekily stealing a swig out of Prue's coffee, she needed to make Prue understand that if she continues to do this, then it will drive a massive wedge between her and Piper. And she should know; it was one of many issues that they had that drove that wedge between them when growing up.

"Prue, listen to me. You keep this up with Piper and you will drive her away and resenting you. Believe me take it from someone that knows."

Prue looked at Phoebe knowing what she said was true, but couldn't get the confrontation she had with him out of her head. She had been there herself choosing the wrong man, in her case it was his wild nature that caught her heart, so she wasn't surprised with the way he treated her. To this day she hadn't told her sisters any of it. Instead just voiced her options about their boyfriends, which lend to arguments and tears.

'Maybe I should've told them.' But, she realised this was different. Dan was not the typical 'bad boy' type. One look at him you wouldn't think that he wouldn't hurt a fly. But, from what she witnessed and what he said to her she knew different. If he did start to lay a hand on Piper, she wouldn't see it coming it was her kind loving nature to forgive easily, making her blind of the fact that once started he will never stop and she will always forgive, but sometimes the gentlest of creatures can get pushed too far. And that what really worried her.

"Prue..." Phoebe again breaking her out of her thoughts.

"Sorry, was miles away..."

"So I see..." there was a short pause before Phoebe carried on. "Prue, Piper will be next door she will be safe with him. Dan is the perfect gent, she wants a normal life and this is about as normal as it will get."

"So what you want me to do? Stop worrying about her?"

"No, I'm not saying that, I'm just saying ease up on her, whatever issues you got with Dan I suggest you put it aside. Do you want her to end up hating you? Because you keep doing this and she will..." Standing up and pulling Prue up with her dragging her to the stairs. "...Now, go and have a few hours of sleep. You need it."

"Phoebe..."

"GO!" Holding her hands up in surrender Prue went up the stairs knowing that she will have a restless night.

What started out to be a perfect night had ended up a disater, they have been waiting for their dessert. And Dan was not best pleased raising his voice complaning about the service and yet again pouring another glass of wine.

Piper couldn't keep silent anymore. "Dan, I think you had enough to drink."

"You what? I'm fine."

"No, you're not. Your raising your voice and snapping at everyone. Please calm down. You not exactly drinking water."

"I'm raising my voice because of the DAMN SLOW SERVICE! IN THIS SHIT HOLE! I can handle my drink."

Once the dessert came and the waiter apologising proviously about the service as they were busy and short staff.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah just go." Piper mouthed an apology to him and he hurried off. She watched as Dan tucked into his dessert, Piper chewed at her bottom lip, she just picked up her spoon and ate quietly, This is the first time she had seen him in such a state and she might know why... Even though his name wasn't mentioned she knew he was still thinking about her 'friendship' with Leo. 'What was it going to take for him to trust me?'