TWO

"What do you really know about this guy?" Chris insisted the next morning at breakfast. "How do you know he's not a demon?"

"He's no demon," Piper insisted. "He owns an import/export business. And doing quite well, I might add."

"That doesn't mean he isn't a demon," Chris said. "Have you checked him out?"

"No, and you aren't going to, either," Piper insisted. "Chris, I know you're all bent on finding this demon after Wyatt. But if it were a demon trying to get to Wyatt through me he would have said something by now. He'd be trying to 'discover' that I had a son and would be insisting on meeting him. The subject of children hasn't even come up."

"Someone should check this guy out," Chris said.

"Check whom out?" Leo asked coming into the room holding Wyatt.

"What are you doing here?" Piper asked.

"Just spending some time with my son," Leo said. "I do have that right, you know."

"Yeah," Piper said, "I suppose you do. I was just surprised to see you, that's all. I figured you'd be off on Elder business or something."

"Plenty of time for that," Leo said, glancing suspiciously at Chris. "Who are you wanting to check out?"

"No one," Piper insisted. "I've been on a couple of dates with a guy and Chris thinks he's some demon trying to get to Wyatt through me."

"Oh," said Leo, wincing slightly.

The thought of Piper dating was still a sore subject with Leo. While he had come to accept that she would date, he still wasn't happy with the idea. Still, it was her life. He didn't have the right to tell her how to live it.

"I just think it's best to be safe, that's all," Chris said.

"Chris does have a point," Phoebe said. "We've had demons try some pretty elaborate plans before to get to us. What if this guy is a demon? When you find out it might be too late."

"Honestly," Piper said, "everyone we meet isn't a demon. What about Jason? Have you checked him out?"

"No," Phoebe said. "But Jason is not a demon."

"Neither is Darren," Piper said. "He's just a guy that happens to like being with me."

"I think it's sweet," Paige said. "Besides, if he does turn out to be a demon Piper can just blow him up."

"I'm not going to blow him up," Piper insisted. "Honestly, the four of you seem to have one track minds. Listen up and listen good. I don't want anyone - and I mean anyone - 'checking' up on Darren. He's the first decent date I've had in a long time and I won't have any of you messing things up. Am I clear on this, Chris?"

"Crystal," said Chris slightly dejected.

"I mean it," Piper said. "Don't do anything. Just stay out of it and let me handle it. Now if you'll excuse me I need to get to the club."

"I still think we should," Chris started after Piper had gone upstairs.

"Don't even finish that thought," Phoebe said. "If you do anything she's going to blow. And believe me, you don't want to get her temper up. I've seen it firsthand and it's not a pretty sight, not pretty at all. You should just stay out of it like she said."

"I don't like it," Chris said.

"Neither do I," said Leo, "but Phoebe is right. We all just need to stay out of it. If this guy turns out to be a demon, we can deal with that later. But she has enough to worry about right now without us adding to it."

"Promise you'll stay out of it," Paige said.

"Okay, I promise," said Chris. "But I'm going to keep an eye on her just the same. If this guy is a demon she may need some help."

"Just stay out of sight," Phoebe said. "If she sees you she's going to blow a gasket."

"I will," promised Chris.

"You think we can trust him?" Phoebe asked after Chris had orbed out.

"No," Leo responded almost before Phoebe had finished her question.

"He said he'd stay out of sight," Paige said. "I don't think he'll do anything that might annoy Piper. Besides, there really isn't much I can do about it."

"I can," Leo said.

"No, Leo, don't," said Phoebe. "It will just push Piper even farther away. I think all we can do for the moment is stay out of it and let her handle it like she said. I'm sure if she needs help she'll ask for it."

"Okay," Leo said handing Wyatt to Phoebe. "But I do have to get going. I have a couple of leads I need to check out."

"Persistent, isn't he?" Paige asked after Leo had orbed out.

"Can you blame him?" Phoebe asked. "Someone sent him to Valhalla where he was forced to fight to the death in an arena. Can't say I'd give up very easily if it were me, either."

"Well, if you can watch Wyatt, I think I'll head on over to Richard's for a while," Paige said. "If you don't mind."

"No, go on," Phoebe said. "Don't let me ruin your fun."

"Thanks," said Paige who immediately orbed out of the manor.

"Is it just me," Phoebe said to Wyatt, "or is there an awfully lot of orbing going on around here this morning?"

Wyatt just looked at her. Phoebe smiled and carried him into the living room to put him in his playpen.