AN: Hey guys… thanks for being patient; sorry it took me so long to update, I'll try to make it faster next time but I can't promise anything.
Thanks to all of you for the wonderful reviews! You know how much I like them.
Oh, I probably should clear one thing up… Brianna (Brie) is Tony's daughter, not Leo's, even though Piper had a few 'nights' with him (which will be explored more throughout the story). I know it would be perfect to say 'oh, she's Leo's daughter! Not that bastard's, what a relief', but I don't want to turn it into a fairy tale… lol I'm sure you'll like it anyways.
Enjoy this one!
Chapter 2
OoO A Call from HIM OoO
Leo Wyatt sat with his legs crossed, staring at the woman in the front of the courtroom.
Today was the day in which the jury would decide the final verdict for the Havana case.
Leo, not caring as much for the case or its results, watched as Piper Halliwell swayed towards the jury, her arms talking for her as they moved through the air.
He turned to look at the faces of the jury, and he clearly could tell they were already caught by her natural charm to make people think and act the way she wanted them to.
She must have said something amusing, because he heard the chuckles through the grand room.
A practical joke - nothing like it to break the tension of a hearing. Piper knew all the rules in the book, she always did.
Leo was sitting in the far end, watching as the final hearing progressed.
He couldn't bring himself to hear anything she or anyone else for that matter was saying, he could only concentrate on her elegant self; wearing that black miniskirt suit like no one else probably could, walking around and talking (which through his eyes looked more like dancing).
What a woman.
"We'll retrieve to this very room in an hour exactly in which the jury will conclude a verdict." The judge's voice announced, bringing Leo out of his sweet trance, and the crowd rose to leave for that hour of waiting.
Leo, suddenly more aware of his surrounding, rose up himself and made his way to where Piper was now sitting, tapping her pen on the table.
"You shouldn't be nervous you know," he said to her.
Her head shot up and her big brown eyes rested on him.
"I'm not nervous." Piper stated.
"Surely. Would you mind to switch a word?" Leo asked, gesturing towards a quieter spot.
She seemed to hesitate, but then stood up, straightened her jacket and followed him.
"Have you thought about my offer?" Leo opened as they walked side by side towards the way out of the courthouse.
"Yes." She said simply.
"Well?"
"Wait, let's stay in here." Piper said instead. "The reporters are waiting outside; don't want to disappoint them by telling the verdict isn't decided on yet." She explained.
"You won't need to; it's more then obvious that you've scored this one."
Piper eyed him.
"About you're offer…"
"- Right…"
"I can't." She said plainly.
"Why?"
There couldn't have been a better offer, he knew it. What could be better then going to Milan to win the biggest case of the year, going against your own ex?
"Because, Leo, I can't. I just can't take off for a week if not longer..."
"If it's about that, then don't worry. We can fly and stay there for a day or two, just to get Martini here and collect a few starting points, that's all; we can work on it from San Francisco if that's what will take for you to agree to this."
"Oh really? And what makes you think that Martini will want to come all the way here?" She asked, the moment her cell phone rang.
Leo looked at the time on the clock across the room. 11:10. exactly on time.
--OoO--
Piper eyed Leo suspiciously.
He seemed one bit too happy about her cell phone ringing.
"Hello?" She answered.
"Hello, Signora Halliwell, it's a pleasure." Said a voice with a severe Latin accent. Italian, probably.
"How flattering. Who am I talking to?" Piper asked, still staring at Leo's amused expression.
"James Martini, of course." He said with a chuckle.
Well, that explained Leo's reaction. He knew Martini will be calling.
"Mr. Martini… it's my pleasure then. How are you?" Piper asked, tuning lawyer voice on.
"Splendid. I hear you and my dear friend Leonardo are in agreement to represent me?"
Piper hesitated. This was it; either she was doing this thing and taking a huge risk of loosing her reputation if they don't win the case, and the even larger risk of finding herself being played by Leo Wyatt again; or letting it go and continuing to work on something smaller to relieve her headache after the huge Havana case.
But before she could decide properly, the words escaped her mouth;
"Yes sir, you've heard right."
Leo was now grinning from ear to ear.
"Oh, caro, how delightful I am to hear that! I cannot wait to meet the two of you next week here in Milano. I will have a proper talk with you then. Send my thank you to Signor Wyatt. I'll be waiting for a call from you about your time of arrival here in Italy. Arrivederci!"
"Ciao…" Piper said in a small voice, and turned her cell off.
Well, that was one interesting man. In fact, Piper realized she couldn't wait to meet him in person.
"Charming, isn't he?" Leo asked.
"You are such a bastard Wyatt. Always get what you want, don't you?"
"Yes I do. I learn from the best…" Leo said and winked. "I'll call you tomorrow morning. And don't worry, I'll talk with the boss today and let him know we got Martini covered. You've made the right choice Piper. Good night."
"Aren't you going to stay to hear the verdict?" Piper asked, already knowing his sly answer.
"You know I don't need to hear it to know. Good night, Piper." And with that, he opened the courthouse doors and walked out into the night.
She sighed, and turned back to walk to Mrs. Havana and give her a few last encouraging words, before sitting back down, waiting patiently for the jury to come out.
At 11:45, everyone was back at their places.
"Has the jury reached a verdict?" Judge Nelson asked.
The representative of the jury rose to his feet.
Piper was standing too, trying to keep her breathing at normal rate.
It's ok Piper… even if you loose, it's not the end of the world… it's just one case…
"Yes, your honor -" The man said, and Piper's heart stopped.
Alright, it's no time for a panic attack… Since when do I panic over a verdict?!
"- the ladies and gentlemen of the jury find Mrs. Havana…"
Breathe… In, our, in, out, in…
"Not guilty."
Cheers were shot through the room, and Piper felt Mrs. Havana's arms around her, hugging her tightly, chanting thank you's in her ear.
Ok. Not guilty. That's good. Thank god…
Finally, Piper let herself put a small smile on, and tuned back into her all-in-control self, ready for another hour of congratulations.
She got home late, it was way past midnight.
Grams was asleep on the couch, and Brie was asleep in her playpen.
Piper covered her grandmother with a blanket near by, and went to get her probably hungry daughter.
She settled down in a chair with Brie, and let her daughter feed.
Closing her eyes, Piper was finally able to relax after the stressful day. Her head was still nagging, but at least now she knew that the Havana case was solved and done with, no more worrying needed.
She then remembered what she'd agreed to that night.
As usual, Leo Wyatt tricked her into doing what he wanted. Although, maybe it was a good thing? She'd have a week of break before they would start, and she'll only have to leave Brie for no more then two or three days.
Then, the phone rang.
Piper looked at the time. 1:04 pm. Who'd be calling that late? It must have been one of her sisters… no one else would be calling her number at home.
She pulled the not-yet satisfied Brie away, and reached for the phone.
"Hello?"
"Piper… it's me."
Oh god. Tony?
"…Tony?" Piper echoed her thoughts.
"Yeah. Sorry I'm calling late." He said in his deep voice, just the way she remembered it.
"Wh-… Why are you calling?" She asked, feeling her lower lip starting to tremble. The last think she wanted was to start crying.
"How are you, Piper?" He asked instead. It was too awkward to hear him talk again. It's been about six months since he left, and they've been married for over two years.
"Great, actually. Couldn't be better." She answered stubbornly. "Why are you calling me Tony?"
"Ah… well, um… I've -eh- heard, something, and I think I should ask you about it. Is it true that you agreed to represent Martini?" He asked.
Oh, so that's why he called. That bastard will never change.
"Yes, actually, with Leo." Piper said, making sure he heard the 'Leo' part.
"Look, Piper, don't do this… why do you want to make things even more complicated then they already are?"
"Excuse me? I don't see any complications. In fact, this is none of your business. We're both simply… doing our jobs."
She heard him frown, probably knowing there was no use in arguing with her.
"How's my daughter?" He suddenly surprised her by asking.
"I'm sorry, but if I remember right, your exact words were, 'As far as I'm concerned, Piper, I have no daughter'. Or do you not remember that when you left me about six months ago??" Piper asked, trying very hard not to break down.
"Piper, please… let's not…"
"'Let's not' what? Tony, you have no fucking right to call me here and think you can change my decision, and if you think you do; then maybe you need a rain check." She hissed, her hands trembling with what seemed to be either great anger or just plain frustration.
He was obviously in a loss of words.
"Don't call again." Piper blurred out, and put the phone down.
Flashes of the day he left her were painfully coming back.
She was already six months pregnant back then, and she remembered well how she went to use his Mac since hers wasn't working… then, she accidentally opened a file, exposing pictures of her husband, with a woman. They were only from a week before, and Piper was in complete shock. She was so delusional; she decided he would have a good explanation, but as soon as she told him what she had found; he burst, and left her that very night.
He claimed that he wasn't ready for an 'addition' to the family, that he wasn't ready to be a father. Apparently the eighteen year old gal he found in San Diego fit him better then a pregnant woman.
That was the last she'd heard of him, until that night.
By the time Grams had woken up and ran into the room to see what the mess was about, Piper was already unable to stop the tears and desperation.
Grams's eyes settled on Piper, and she reached out to grab the now also crying Brie from her arms.
Piper covered her face with her palms, hating herself for crying over… her ex. She's already cried too much because of him.
"What happened?" Grams asked while shushing Brie, rocking the girl in her arms.
Piper pulled her knees up to her chest, and sniffed in loudly.
"Tony called."
And that was enough of an explanation.
It didn't take long for Piper to calm down. She took Brie back, and spent the next thirty minutes looking at the girl as she was falling asleep.
She looked nothing like her father, not even a bit. Or at least that was what Piper liked to think.
Her mind was set; she was going to go to Milan with Wyatt, and win the damn case.
Whatever it would take.
Even if it means she'd have to spend hours upon hours with Leo Wyatt, never giving in to any ridiculous womanly desires.
Oh my.
AN: And that was another chapter… You didn't see Phoebe or Prue in it yet, but they will come. Don't forget to leave those reviews I love so much…