Chapter 9 – Surprise!

"Ready?" Leo asked brightly. I nodded uncertainly.

"Piper, go, have fun." Phoebe said brightly, practically pushing me out of the door. She told me yesterday that she's given up on Leo, as he's hopelessly in love with me – I protested, of course, like you do – and she's made it her mission to get us together.

It's been just under a week, and we've heard nothing from demons and Dan, thank god.

And now she's convinced me to go with Leo – and Patty – on a picnic. A picnic. Who goes on picnics?

Me, apparently.

I pick up Patty and follow Leo to my beat up car.

"Why do we have to take this?" I asked.

"We don't. I can orb us to any place you want." He said brightly.

Even though I suspect he isn't actually allowed to do that, I smile and say "Where did you have in mind?"

He grabs hold of me without replying and orbs us – which, I might add, is a sickly feeling – you feel as though you're falling, flying, and spinning all at once.

Finally we appear on a nice little beach, totally alone. I have no idea where it is, but I smile at Leo anyway.

"Looks perfect." I say quietly. He spreads out a blanket and starts laying the food out.

"So, how are you?" He asks me politely. Small talk. Don't you just hate it?

"Yeah. I'm great. I finally escape my boyfriend just to be thrown into a world of demons and warlocks. Fabulous." I reply, a little more sarcastic than I meant to.

"Piper -"

"I'm sorry. I'm just a little ... tense. None of this is your fault."

"It's not yours either." He says quickly, almost as if her knew what I was thinking.

"How do you do that?" I ask. I say it a little jokey, but I am interested.

"What?"

"That. Analyze me and make me feel ... better. I've never met anyone who knows what I'm thinking and can reassure me like you."

I know I sound stupid, and I have expect him to laugh at me.

He smiles at me, his eyes meet mine. I don't want to turn away, I could get lost in them.

They say the eyes are windows to your soul. Well, Leo's bright green eyes confirm what I already thought – he's a genuine nice guy.

I blush, realising I've been staring into his eyes for too long. I look away quickly, embarrassed, I guess.

"So," He said brightly. "How old is Patty again?"

"Two." I replied, looking up at him.

"When does she turn three?"

"'Bout seven months." Yes. Talking like this – light, upbeat conversation about my daughter – means I can look at him as much as I want.

And let's face it, there are worst ways to pass the time.

We had a great day, so ... peaceful. Almost like a family.

Eventually we make our way home, which disappoints me a little. Amazingly, I feel happy when I'm with Leo.

I do like him a lot, but I'm not ready for a relationship. I liked Dan a lot and look where that got me.

"Piper!" Phoebe said loudly when we orbed in. "You're home early." She said, looking at Leo.

"I am?"

"I mean, I thought – we thought – um -"

"Phoebe!" Prue scolded. She had her arms behind her back.

"Oops." Phoebe grinned apologetically.

"Well, you might as well give her it, Prue." Paige sighed.

"Give me what?" I looked at from them to Leo suspiciously.

"OK, well, remember a few days ago, when you said you used to want your own bisiness, a restaurant or a club?" Paige asked.

"Yeees."

"Well, we got talking, and -" Phoebe stopped as Prue held out a brown envelope. I took it gingerly and opened it.

"You bought me a club?" I gasped.

"Surprise!" Phoebe cried. "As long as you don't mind being partners with us."

"You get to run it and everything, though." Prue said quickly. "But we remortgaged the house, and that's in all of our names."

"That's ... amazing!" I gasped. "Where is it?"

"We'll take you tomorrow." Phoebe said brightly.

"Why tomorrow?" Paige saids suddenly. "Why not now?"

"Really?" I beamed at them all. My own club. A fresh break from Dan.

"I have to go." Leo said suddenly. "One of my other charges is in trouble. Big trouble."

"Anything we can do?" Phoebe asked.

"No ... Here." He held Patty out, and Paige took her.

"See you later." He said, then orbed.

I looked at the place he'd been for a moment, then urned back to my sisters.

Before I could ask when we couldleave - for my club! - a bang echoed through the house and I felt a sharp pain in my stomach.

A window in the conservatory had shattered, and through it I could see Dan.

"Surprise bitch." He mouthed. Something shiny glinted in the sun.

I looked down, sudden realisation.

Blood, blood is on my shirt.

My hands are shaking.

"Piper?" I fall into Prue's arms, shaking, pain, shock, whatever.

"Piper!"

"P-Prue?" I gasp. "I - I've been shot."

"I – I know, honey, it's OK, we're gonna get Leo."

As Paige screams for Leo, Prue and Phoebe lay me on the sofa.

"D-Dan." I croak. It's hard to talk, to breath.

"I saw him too, Prue." Phoebe said tearfully.

Prue nods.

"Leo!" Paige screams again. It's around the eigth time she's screamed his name, and any hope I had fades away.

"He's not c-coming." I whisper. "Leo. His other ch-charge -"

"LEO!" Prue screams. She's crying. I must be dying, Prue rarely cries. "Call an ambulance!" She yells at Phoebe.

Everything goes black.

When I come round again, I'm being rushed through the hall, Prue's explaining tearfully to a doctor.

"Her e-ex. Outside our house."

That's when it hit me. Dan's killed me. I'm gonna die.

"We're rushed into a room, a doctor barking things; '40cc's of adrenaline', 'pulse, weak.'

Doesn't sound great.

"P-P-" The word – make that the letter – dies on my lips. All three of my sisters crowd round me, I don't even know who's name I was trying to say. "I-I'm c-cold." I gasp.

"Piper, don't you dare die on me!" Prue cries.

"Prue I'm s-so cold. I can't feel my legs."

"Stay with us Piper." Phoebe sobs. "Patty – Patty needs you."

"We need you." Paige adds.

"I love you." I gasp, then all goes black.

Don't hate me! I though a Dan had to leave his mark, lol. Hands up, who expected Piper to gwet shot? Anyone?

Ha. I win.