Sorry for the wait. I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!!! I know this chapter may be a little dreary and slow, but I am building up to the climax, so just bear with me.

My Storybook Hero

Love and Marriage

Piper sat down in her booth. She surveyed her club's success. After two months of hard work, she had to say she had done a damn good job. She even got John Mayer to perform at her club's opening night.

John Mayer was singing "Your Body Is a Wonderland."

We got the afternoon
you got this room for two
One thing I've left to do
Discover me
Discovering you

Of course it had been two months since Piper heard from Cole. She had tried to move on. She moved in with Paige. Everything was settled. All except Cole. Piper felt empty and cold because Cole's wasn't there to hold her.

One mile to every inch of
your skin like porcelain
one pair of candy lips and
your bubblegum tongue

The last Piper heard from Cole was two days ago. She got an invitation to Phoebe and Cole's wedding. Of all the nerve. Piper couldn't believe that she would get an invitation to his wedding. She loved Cole. She had been hurting ever since he left. Did she have to go to his wedding and be broken hearted some more?


'Cause if you want love
we'll make it
swimming a deep sea
of blankets
Take all your big plans
and break 'em
this is bound to be a while

Piper thought about the time Cole and she had made love. It had been something words couldn't even describe. Even John Mayer's song couldn't compare.


Your body is a wonderland
your body is a wonder (I'll use my hands)
your body is a wonderland


Something 'bout the way the hair falls in your face
I love the shape you take when crawling towards the pillowcase
You tell me where to go and
Though I might leave to find it
I'll never let your head hit the bed
Without my hand behind it

Piper looked down at herself. She had to admit that she did looking stunning. Her nice slinky black dress had beautiful green flowers with a matching jewelry. With her silky brown hair placed in soft curls, Piper looked like the belle of the ball.

You want love?
We'll make it
swimming a deep sea
of blankets
Take all your big plans
and break 'em
this is bound to be a while


Your body is a wonderland
your body is a wonder (I'll use my hands)
your body is a wonderland


Damn baby
you frustrate me
I know you're mine all mine all mine
But you look so good it hurts sometimes


Your body is a wonderland
your body is a wonder (I'll use my hands)
your body is a wonderland
your body is a wonderland

("Your Body Is a Wonderland" belongs to John Mayer, etc.)

John Mayer bowed off the stage as the crowd erupted into cheers.

Piper looked over at the bar. Paige was hanging out with Richard. Another guy, Paul Stevenson—recommended by Richard was also working at the bar. With two hot bartenders and a nice sensual aura about the club, the women were going crazy.

Piper felt Dan Gordon slip his hand into hers. He started to nuzzle her neck, but Piper pushed him away gently. Piper couldn't stand being in his arms. All she ever thought about was Cole. Who could forget their true love?

After Cole left, Piper had called Paige. After talking, Piper realized that it was best to move on. She had made a wonderful life for herself. She lived with her sister and their bond was growing closer. She used to be a novelist and now she was running a club.

Paige encouraged Piper to go out with other men. Coincidently, the next person who asked Piper out was Dan Gordon. Apparently in his words, he "couldn't stand to see Piper with someone else and had to go out with this beautiful lady especially after working for her."

Piper gagged at the thought of Dan now. Piper scanned the crowds as she tried to ignore Dan's attempts to kiss her. In the two weeks that they had been going out, Piper had only let Dan kiss her once on the cheek.

As Piper scanned the crowd, she saw Andy talking to a really pretty blonde. Andy saw Piper looking and raised his glass to her with success on his lips.

"Hey, Piper? You wanna get away from here?" Dan asked seduction in his voice.

Piper just wanted to lash out on him. How could he ask her to miss her own club's opening night?

Thankfully, before she was given a chance to answer, Paul interrupted.

Dan looked furious.

"I'm sorry Miss Halliwell—

"Piper, please," Piper said.

"I'm sorry," Paul smiled shyly. He seemed to look even cuter. "Piper. Piper, there is some man waiting for you in your office. He said he wanted to talk to you and that it was important and that he needed to talk to you in private." Paul took a breath.

Piper couldn't help but smile. Maybe it was Cole.

"What did he look like?" Piper asked at the same time as Dan asking "Who is he?"

Paul ignored Dan and told Piper "He had blonde hair, I think."

Piper was disappointed. Who was it? Was it Leo? Piper looked out in the crowd. There was Leo at another booth with Ally in his arms. It couldn't be him. There was only one way to find out who this man was.

Piper stood up.

Dan stood up with her.

Piper smile at Paul and walked towards her office. Damn that Dan, she thought! When was he going to stop being an asshole and leave her alone?

Meanwhile, Dan was starting to follow Piper.

Paul intercepted. "He said he wanted to see Piper alone." Paul disliked Dan.

"I don't care what he said," Dan said. "You stay out of my way and you call her Miss Halliwell."

Paul shrugged his shoulders and went back to the bar. Dan followed Piper.

Piper walked into her office. A blonde-haired man turned to face her. Where had Piper seen his familiar face before?

"Nice place you got here," the man said.

"Thanks," another voice answered for Piper.

Piper turned around to see Dan.

"Dan?" Piper asked.

"I'm sorry, Mr…..

"Gordon. Dan Gordon," Dan answered.

"Mr. Gordon. I am sorry, but I need to talk to Miss Halliwell in private, unless Miss Halliwell minds," the man said.

"It depends on what it is." Dan once again answered for Piper.

"It has to do with a certain Cole business," the man said.

Piper at once realized where she knew this man from. Of course Dan couldn't understand what the man said. Dan translated 'Cole businesses as 'coal business.'

"Dan, if you don't mind, will you please step out?" Piper asked. Her tone of voice insisted.

Dan looked as if he was slapped. He turned around and abruptly left the office and closed the door. Piper knew he was listening from the other side, so she locked the door. Piper could hear a barely audible gasp from the other side. Piper was just in time, too. John Mayer was coming back on and the crowd was going crazy.

Piper turned back to the man.

"May I have a seat?" the man didn't wait for an answer. He sat down.

Piper knew this man even though they had never met.

"Nice place you got here," the man said.

"Thanks, but I don't think the Big New Yorker came out here all the way to tell me that?" Piper asked.

"Absolutely right," the man said.

"That still doesn't answer my question. What does Jason Dean want with Piper Halliwell?" Piper asked.

"Very good question," Jason said. "I want to discuss several issues that have arised in the last two months."

"And what do you get out of it?" Piper asked. Her voice faltered. She was remembering Cole.

Jason laughed. "Love and marriage.' He stated simply. "Love and marriage."