AN: Yay, another update! Well, this chapter isn't that good, and it's short, but it does lead up to the events of the next chapter, which lead up to the events of the next, and then the next. Okay, that's just a bit obvious with a story, but this chapter IS important, despite what you may think. You'll see why at the end, of course, but I just want you to read through 'til then! Please, please review at the end, please! I will grovel if need be, just please click the little button!
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Just as promised, Piper had arrived the day after Grams' death to help and comfort the sisters. She hadn't had the chance to meet Sam, as he was out on his whitelighter duties, but she had heard quite a deal about it, and about how much of a 'coincidence' it was that he had found his long-lost little girl on the same night her grandmother and sole guardian had died. Piper had been joyous at the announcement that her friends would not have any trouble with social services or trying to support themselves, but she was still grievous about Grams' death. She had felt Grams was her mother, as she had never had a strong female figure in her life. In fact, she had never really had a female in her life, being raised by the bastard that was Daniel.
The next few days after Grams' death, the Halliwell sisters had not been at school. To make up for their absences, Piper and Andy had come over to the Manor everyday, letting the three in on the latest gossip and other trivial facts about school, and had brought their homework and classwork, just in case they were up to working on schoolwork. The two friends had also helped Prue, Phoebe, and Paige back into their normal routines with little baby steps; not pushing thing too fast, but also not letting the girls sulk in misery.
Three weeks to the day after Grams' death was a Friday night, and the third straight that the Halliwell sisters hadn't been out of the house. That night was what the girls had proclaimed as a 'girls-only movie night'. They had sent Leo out with Andy, and had invited Piper over to watch some mindless comedies. This night was the most normal activity that the girls had done in the past few weeks.
Piper rang the doorbell at exactly six o'clock, carrying three boxes with extra-large pizzas inside. She was thankful that Daniel had extended her normal curfew or the second time, to ten thirty, so that she could fit in two movies with her friends AND get home in time. She hadn't had to do any groveling for the extension, though, and that worried her. But, she just shrugged it off as him being in a really good mood, despite the nagging feeling in her gut. She didn't want anything to interfere with the night she, Prue, Phoebe, and Paige had planned.
One of the beautiful, wooden, stained-glass, double doors of the Manor opened, revealing a smiling Phoebe behind it. Piper smiled as well, as the sight of Phoebe's cheerful grin had become a rare sight recently, so it was definitely progress for it to appear on the teenager's face. "Hey, Pheebs. Got pizza?" Piper asked, indicating the three boxes balanced gracefully on her right hand. "No, but apparently you do." Phoebe said, and the two burst out into laughter. That little switch-off had become an inside joke between the two after it had been done the first time Piper was in the Manor.
"Can I come in? These are getting heavy." Piper said after a moment. "OH, sure!" Phoebe said, just realizing that Piper was still outside, and still carrying the pizza boxes. Phoebe stepped to the side, allowing Piper to walk in. The latter headed towards the kitchen, and Phoebe began following her, but Piper said "NO, it's okay. I'll get the pizza for you, Prue, and Paige, and you guys can pick out the first movie we watch, okay?" The look on her face implied that what she said would go. "Okay." Phoebe said, shrugging, and headed into the living room.
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As Piper was getting the pizza ready, she was so preoccupied in her preparations that she didn't notice Leo and Andy orb in right behind her. Leo looked like his normal self, and Andy looked a bit disoriented. He was holding his head, and was about to say something when Leo nudged him in the ribs. Leo had just noticed his girlfriend was also in the room, and, luckily, with her back facing them. Andy noted her presence as well, and shut his mouth.
"Napkins, napkins, where the hell are the napkins? Piper whispered to herself, and began looking around the counter for them. She suddenly turned around, looking for the napkins, but found something else. She yelped, and put her hand over her heart. "Dammit, Leo, you scared me half to death!" she scolded, though it had a limited effect due to the fact that she was smiling the entire time. Piper couldn't help but smile when Leo was in the room. Her stomach would tingle and her whole body would warm whenever she even thought about him. "What are you guys doing here, anyway? I thought that this was a girls-only night, and I didn't even hear you come in." Piper added.
"I was here admiring your beauty." Leo answered, a smile on his face. He not only complimented his girlfriend, but he had dodged the subject of how they had gotten into the room silently. "You do know how corny that is, right?" Piper asked, grinning nevertheless. "I happen to know that one of your favorite foods IS corn, my sweet." Leo said, pulling Piper closer to him. "Really?" Piper asked. "I didn't think that you were listening." "I listen to everything you say." Leo said, and her grin grew wider. "That's so sweet." she whispered, and gave him a tender kiss.
The two pulled away when they heard Andy clear his throat. The looked over at him, and immediately noticed how uncomfortable he looked. "I hate to break up the romantic moment here, but it's still kinda gross. Since, you know, you've become, like, a sister to me, Lex, and I've known you all my life, Leo. It's pretty disturbing to see you two kissing." Andy said, looking anywhere but at the couple. "So the sisters say." Piper said, rolling her eyes.
"Lex!?! You comin' in here or what?" Phoebe's voice sounded from the living room. "I gotta go." Piper stated, immediately regretting that she had agreed for only the female gender to be present that night. Leo pouted. "Aw, do you have to?" he asked, his eyes pleading with her to stay. She placed her hand on his chest. "I don't wanna go right now, honey, but I gotta watch movies and pig out with the sisters." Piper stated. It was the first time in her life that she didn't want to do what the four girls had planned.
"You SURE that they wouldn't want me there?" Leo asked, still wanting to spend the night with his girlfriend. "I don't kn-AH!" Piper yelped in surprise. Leo had just lifted her up into his arms, one arm supporting her upper back, and the other right under her knees. He twirled around, and she giggled. She felt so safe in his arms; she knew that he wouldn't let her fall.
Just then, Paige walked into the kitchen, unnoticed by the happy couple, but greeted happily by the disturbed Andy. "Hey, Paige, nice of you to join us! As you can see, I am having a lovely time at your house, watching Lex and Leo make out!" Andy said sarcastically, a big, goofy grin on his face. He ran up to Paige, shook her hand, and showed her the delightful sight of Leo holding Piper, and the two lost in a passionate makeout session.
"But… this is girls-only night." Paige protested, and tapped Piper on the shoulder. Piper immediately pulled back from Leo, and Leo put her gently down on the ground. "Oh, hi, Paige." Leo said, wiping some lipgloss from his lips as Piper neatened the lipgloss on hers. After her lips were shiny again, Piper put on an I'm-so-innocent smile on her face. "Can the boys PLEASE stay tonight?" Piper asked, adapting a puppy dog look on her face. Leo and Andy did the same. Paige, looking around at everyone, caved.
"Okay, fine, they can stay. That is, if Prue and Phoebe want them to." Paige said, rolling her eyes. "Yay!" Piper said, clapping cutely. "Yah!" she yelped, as Leo had picked her up again. "Might I carry you into the theatre, ma'am?" Leo asked, in as gentleman of a voice as he could. "Of course, my fine man." Piper answered, adapting a British accent. Leo slapped a grin on his face, and carried Piper into the living room.
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"Hey, what are you doing here, Mister?" Phoebe asked as soon as the couple came into sight. "Why, I am carrying this fine lady into her movie-watching area." Leo said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. "But it's girls-only night." Prue pointed out, and then Andy walked into the room. "Nevermind." She quickly added, and ran over to her boyfriend. They hugged, and then they kissed on the lips.
"Okay, sorry to break this up here, people, but how are Phoebe and I supposed to have fun if you guys are making out the entire time?" Paige asked, finally making her presence in the room known. "Aw, Paige, do they have to go?" Piper asked, as she was on the ground again. "Is there any way that they can stay?" Prue asked. "There is one way…"
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About three hours later, all six kids were watching a movie. The two couples were together on the couch, while Phoebe and Paige were on the floor right in front of them. Prue was sitting in Andy's lap, hugging him tightly. Piper was sitting right next to Leo, her arms wrapped tightly around him. Her eyes were wide open, and she was staring at the screen. Phoebe and Paige were pigging out on their third bag of popcorn, as the group had finished the three pizzas during the first movie. Phoebe's left and Paige's right arms were intertwined, their hands holding each other at the end. The other hands were spontaneously grabbing popping the popcorn into their mouths.
Suddenly, all of the girls screamed. The psycho killer in the movie had just begun attacking one of the main characters, and it was really freaky. The six were watching a horror movie, as that was Phoebe and Paige's condition for allowing the boys to stay. The movie was scaring the bejeebies out of Piper, but she watched it with her boyfriend by her side. She could do anything when Leo was by her.
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After the last movie was over, Piper looked up at the clock. It was 10:05, leaving her just enough time for her to get home before curfew. "Oh, guys, I'm sorry, I gotta go." Piper said, looking at the grandfather clock. "Do you really have to?" Phoebe asked her friend. "Yeah, I gotta go. Curfew, you know?" she asked, and the three sisters nodded. They knew curfew too well. "Can I walk you to the door, then?" Leo asked, holding out his arm. Piper nodded, and the two headed into the foyer as the others headed off into another non-archway attatched room.
Right in front of the door, Piper and Leo turned to face each other. Leo reached up, and caressed Piper's cheek. She closed her eyes against his touch, feeling its warmth flow through her body. "Alexa?" Leo asked, after pulling his hand away. Piper nodded. "No one, and I mean NO ONE, has ever made me feel the way you make me feel. Everytime I see you, you just seem to make my day better. I have this feeling inside that I can't explain. I think… no, I KNOW, that I love you."
Piper stared up at Leo after his little speech. She couldn't help it. She couldn't think of anything to say. No one had ever told her that before. No one had ever said 'I love you' to her before. No one. Ever. Before she could stop them, tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her face. Leo, thinking he had offended her, started apologizing. "Oh, Alexa, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have sa-" Leo was then cut off, as Piper put her finger to his lips. Since she still could not talk, she just hugged him. A romantic, passionate embrace.
After a moment, Piper pulled away, tears still on her face. Leo reached his hand up, and tenderly wiped her tears away. "What's wrong, honey?" he asked, making perfect eye contact with her. She quickly averted her eyes. "It's nothing." she whispered. "You're crying, it can't be nothing." Leo persuaded. "It's just… I haven't felt this way before, either." Piper said, telling the truth. She had never felt the way she felt just then before, but that wasn't the reason that she was crying. Leo grinned widely. "Really?" he asked hopefully. Piper nodded. The two then headed towards each other, lips locking in the most powerful kiss either of them had ever experienced.
After a while, Piper pulled away, smiling. She was the happiest she had ever felt in her life. She and Leo made eye contact, and she pecked him on the lips again. She then made the fateful mistake of glancing at the grandfather clock.
It was 10:20. There was no chance that she would get home on time. Piper's smile dropped immediately. "Oh crap, I really gotta go, Leo." she said, regretting both having to leave Leo and the fact that she would be late. "Okay, bye, honey." Leo said, and opened the door for her. Piper hurried out of the door, and turned around in the middle of the lawn, blowing a kiss at him. He grabbed air with his hand, catching the kiss. Piper smiled, and jumped on her bike. She knew that she wouldn't be so happy in about twenty minutes, so she wanted to savour the moments while she could. With one last smile up in Leo's direction, she sped off on her bike, pedelling away.
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Unbeknownst to the two lovers, there was an ordinary car parked in front of their neighbor's house, the neighbors that lived across the street. Inside of that car, Daniel was sitting there, a beer bottle in his hand. He watched as Piper pedelled down the street, and started his car. "Lying bitch." he murmured under his breath. "You shouldn't have lied to me, nor been with your family. You're gonna pay, big time." he told himself, and sped down the street.
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AN: Now, that would not be good, would it? I didn't think so. Please, please review!