Disclaimer: I don't own charmed or any of the characters that were or are on the show. Only the story line and the characters that have not been featured on TV are mine.

This kinda counts as the first prequel to my other story 'Don't look back in anger' but it's set a long way before

Please R&R both. As before all reviews, criticism and ideas will be gratefully received and any ideas used credited

Thanks

Purple

I know it's a bit slower to get going this time but wait and see.

Spelt it right this time AnimeAlexis

Chapter 3

All's fair...

Kara showed up for work early again the next morning and worked in to find her new boss, Piper Haliwell, crouching in the back scrambling around trying to pick up the debris from a dropped box of mixing sticks.

Kara ran to help "Mrs Haliwell!"

Piper looked up an irritated look on her pretty face. Kara also dropped into a crouch and began to help with picking up the mixing sticks. Piper looked up, realised she was being helped and smiled.

"It's Marie, isn't it? she asked

Kara flinched, fully aware now, that the guy who had met her at the entrance hadn't mentioned her at all. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to smile. She dropped another handful of mixing sticks into the box and offered her hand to Piper to shake. "I'm Kara, the other new waitress."

Piper wrinkled her nose, puzzled, Kara spoke quickly to save them both embarrassment. "I'm just not as...out there as Marie."

"Sorry", Piper said quickly, "my sons just didn't mention you, but I didn't see them much yesterday" she said trying to cover. "Chris, my youngest son was the one who showed Marie... and you... around yesterday."

"Ahh I was wondering who he was. And the other guy?"

"My eldest Wyatt."

They dumped the last of the mixing sticks into the box and stood. At that moment Chris wandered into the back. His mother spoke first "Chris you've met Kara right?" Piper's tone was a little cutting.

Kara raised her head and she and Chris locked gazed and she raised an eyebrow, a playful smile playing across her lips as she read the thoughts flitting across his mind, even though they were broadcasting loud enough to bring a small smile to his mothers lips as well. "I'll try to be more memorable in future" she said.

Even in that moment as Marie appeared Chris' mind left Kara, and Kara switched her attention too.

The acknowledged each other coldly, but Kara was still unable to get a read from her beautiful new workmate.

Today officially speaking, Marie was wearing the uniform of P3 but she had slashed at the neck until it was barely covering her essentials and had tied the shirt into a knot above her navel. Marie sensed Chris' eyes on her and spun "What'd you think?" She giggled and Kara and Piper simultaneously rolled their eyes. "It's not about what you wear it's about how you wear it." She laid a hand on Chris' bicep, and dropped her hand a fairly convincing impressed expression on her vapid face, but the look in her eyes was calculating. "Unlike some" she threw a disgusted look at Kara, her eyes raking the other woman up and down.

Kara could stand it no longer, "Come on Marie, they pay us to work, and there's stuff to do", she strode across the room and grabbed the other girl by the arm and pulled her away. She could feel Marie seething at being interrupted in mid flirt.

Kara spoke in a low tone so only the other could hear her "Why are you doing this? I know you don't like him. And I don't think he'd be the type to go for demons."

By the fact that the other woman barely reacted, Kara realised she'd hit the nail on the head. "I know you."

Marie turned "No you don't witch, you have no idea, back away. Let me have him and I'll leave you be."

"Tell me why you want him? He's just a mortal"

The demon snorted, but realising the witch didn't know she let it run, "Because he's cute and you want him."

"I do not." she said, and then she remembered who she was talking to and her tone changed. "Raise one finger to anyone in this place and I'll stop you."

The demon smirked again. This was going to be fun.

In that moment, war was declared at P3 and all's fair in love and war.