Piper glanced at her watch. It was half past 5 and she really needed to stop by the grocery store on the way home. She was done with most of her paperwork at P3 and she wanted to make something nice for dinner. Actually, what she really wanted to do was stop by Cole's. She hadn't seen him in almost two weeks. He had shimmered in once the day after the incident to check up on her but that was it. Her sisters were being ultra protective of her and Leo was constantly orbing in to make sure she was doing okay. Normally, she would have loved the extra attention from her normally absentee husband but she really needed to see Cole. She missed him so much. They needed to talk. So far her sisters thought she had been kidnapped by demons. She couldn't bear to tell them the truth but she hated lying to them … well, not lying to them, omitting the truth. Still, it was essentially lying and she hated it. Slowly she got up from her chair and sighed. She was getting bigger by the day. Her pregnancy was the only thing that made her happy right now. Being with Leo only reminded her of how she was betraying him and she wasn't spending any time with Cole. Her sisters were treating her like she was made of glass. She felt very lonely. If only Prue was here. She'd understand. Maybe, maybe not. But at least Piper could talk to her. She collected her work from her desk and put it into her briefcase and started to lock up. Suddenly she saw those familiar blue sparkles and she smiled sadly. Leo appeared in front of her with a rose in his hands.
"Hey beautiful." He spoke to her softly. She couldn't help but smile at the silly grin on his face. Joking she turned around and pretended to look for someone behind her. He stepped directly in front of her so her belly was nearly pressed against him. She looked up into his wonderful loving eyes. Gently, he kissed her lips and handed her the rose. She smiled and smelled the crimson flower.
"Thank you." She whispered almost inaudibly.
"Need a cosmic lift home?" He asked her. She looked so tired and there was this sadness in her eyes. He wished more than anything that he could heal her emotional pain just like he did the physical. She had been acting a little off for months now but he had just though it was the pregnancy. Ever since that night she had been so distant and withdrawn. She refused to talk about what had happened and he didn't want to push it but he was worried. They thought that maybe she was being possessed or under a spell but Paige had subtly done a crystal test and she wasn't. Nor was she evil because she could still touch the book. Something was bothering her though. Something was wrong with his wife and it was tearing him up to see her like this.
"Uh, no thanks sweetie." She said stepping away from him. For a moment he thought there had been a spark between them, like they used to be but now she was cold and vacant again. "I need to lock up and go to the store." Leo looked crushed. She hated to do this to him. "But … uh, you could help me lock up." She said. He shrugged.
"Kay." He mumbled. He started off and then turned around. "Do you want me to come with you?" he asked hopefully. Piper sighed. She had really wished she could have stopped by Cole's tonight. She missed him so much. But that look in Leo's eyes was heartbreaking and she couldn't hurt him anymore. She forced a smile.
"Sure!" She said. "You can be my mule." She smiled. "You know, do all the heavy lifting." He smiled, she couldn't miss the look of relief in his eyes. They finished locking up and putting things away. She felt calmer somehow. Maybe she could handle this. Maybe it would work out alright. She would find a way to talk to Cole tomorrow for sure. In the mean time, Leo didn't deserve to be treated like a non-person. She loved Cole immensely but she still loved Leo as well.
"Ready to go?" he asked her.
"Uh yeah," she said scanning the club one last time to make sure they had gotten everything. "I just have to pee real quick." She rolled her eyes and smiled and gave him a quick kiss. Leo smiled back.
"I'll wait for you in the car." He grabbed her jacket and turned to go.
Piper walked hurriedly to the restroom. In addition to the headaches, nausea, swelling, fatigue, dizziness and back pain the constant need to pee was a big bummer of pregnancy. She peed as quickly as she could and hurried to wash her hands. Suddenly in the mirror's reflection she saw someone shimmering in behind her. Her breath caught in her throat. Was it? Could it be? Cole! It was. She turned around slowly. He was still there. It wasn't a dream. There he was standing before her. Tall and dark and oh-so-very handsome. He had a serious look on his face but she could see the love in his eyes. "Hey." She said softly. "Hey." He cracked a smile. She looked like a little nervous school girl. She was so tiny and she looked up at him with surprise and adoration. He loved the way she looked at him. No woman had ever had this effect on him. Not even Phoebe and he had really cared about her. He leaned down and gently but firmly kissed her. His arm held her back and brought her closer to him. He sucked on each of her lips gently and slowly. She tasted so good. It felt like forever since he had last seen her. Those two weeks had felt like an eternity. She closed her eyes and kissed him back. She loved the feel of his arms around her. She stood on her tip toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. His tongue licked her lips and slowly entered her mouth. She moaned as he roamed inside her mouth. Expertly flicking his tongue in and out seductively. She kissed him back harder. Her tongue danced with his. She went deeper. Their tongues began to gently caress each other. He slowed down and sucked on her lower lip gently nipping at it with his teeth. Piper was on fire. Why did he have this effect on her? She pulled his head closer to hers and kissed him with such fervor and passion. Their mouths meshed, tongues intertwined. Their hearts beating with equal intensity. Cole couldn't take it anymore. He was burning to have her. He scooped her up and set her on the marble counter behind her. Instinctively she wrapped her legs around him and pulled him as close to her as her budding belly would allow. Their passionate kiss continued. His hand began roaming her back and his fingers were intertwined in her hair. She could feel his hardness against her. He groaned as she pulled him tighter against her. She moaned softly as he pulled away from her mouth. He began to lay small kisses all along her jaw line and down to her ear. He licked the lobe of her ear and breathed heavily on her neck. She clung to his back and slowly her hands began to make their way to his waistband where his shirt was tucked in. As he sucked on her neck she struggled to free his shirt.
"Piper?" Their reverie was interrupted by Leo's voice calling her. Piper snapped her head away from Cole's. Her eyes widened. Leo. How had she forgotten about him? "Piper?" His voice was louder and closer. She could hear his footsteps rushing towards the bathroom.
Leo opened the restroom door, just in time to hear the toilet flushing and Piper, looking rather disheveled, walking out. Her hair was slightly tangled and her face was flushed. She didn't look great, but at least she was alive. Ever since that night when they couldn't find her Leo had been extra worried about his expecting wife.
"Hey." He said, with a worried look on his face. Piper wiped away at her mouth. Cole had shimmered out just in time. "You okay?" he asked concerned. Piper smiled at him softly and approached the sink. "Yeah," she said. "Just some morning sickness."
She cringed internally at the lie. She had enough morning sickness as it was. She knew Leo would buy into it but just the fact that she had flat out lied to him made her feel queasy for real. She swallowed, choking back guilty tears and her nausea.
'Focus. Just focus.' She thought to herself.
She washed her hands deliberately. Leo watched her from inside the doorway. She looked so sad. She stared absently at her hands and very slowly washed them. Back and forth. Back and forth. She looked dazed. Slowly he approached her from behind until he was standing directly behind her. She looked up in the mirror and caught his eyes. There was so much love and devotion in those green blue eyes of his. He gazed at her so lovingly. She felt like he was staring right into her soul. She couldn't take it anymore. She lowered her eyes. Leo leaned into her and lowered his head into her neck and kissed her cheek. She sighed softly and closed her eyes. Slowly she turned around. He lifted her chin slowly and she could no longer avert her gaze.
"You sure you want to go?" he asked. Loving concern laced in every word.
Piper sighed. No. She really didn't. She just wanted to crawl into bed. Suddenly, she was so tired. Tired of lying. Tired of sneaking around. Tired of everything. She just felt emotionally and physically drained. She shook her head slowly. She needed to go to the store. They were out of milk, eggs, cereal, juice, butter … but she couldn't do it.
"Okay." He spoke softly. "Come on." He put one arm around her waist and held her hand with the other. "I'll drive you home."
Piper leaned into him as he led her through the club. He smelled so good. Of gentle soap, clean, soft aftershave and something lovely but indescribable. Maybe it was just the smell of angel. She smiled at that thought. Leo, felt her relax against him as they walked and he breathed a soft sigh of relief.
