Please Be Careful With My Heart
Disclaimer: 'Charmed' is not mine. I just love it so much so I did this. So, please don't sue me.
Hey, friends! Please take time to sing the songs or read them like a poem if you don't know them. They're really good. Fit Leo and Piper in my story so much! Go on!
Thanks to all those who reviewed. I love you all! I'm sorry for not updating so soon, I've been busy with school and all. Anyway here's another long chapter w/ 4,739 words. Coz for me, you all deserve more than a thousand-word chapter. Coz you're all so great!
Chapter 13 - Destined
The next day, Piper and Paige were walking down the stairs from their drama workshop.
"So… what happened to your so called 'snack' with Leo?" Paige interrogated her friend.
"Well… he took me home and we…" Piper was trying to decide whether or not she should tell Paige.
"You… what?" Paige urged.
"We kissed." Piper said with a sigh.
"Oh! So you're together? How was it? Was he a good kisser?" Paige asked excitedly.
"It was great. I loved it… the kiss. He was gentle. About the 'together' question… I don't know." Piper explained.
"What do you mean 'you don't know'? He kissed you, you kissed him." Paige said with exasperation.
"Well, it was just a kiss. Well, not just a kiss but one hell of a kiss. But still… that doesn't mark the 'togetherness' of two people, right?" Piper didn't even know where her statement was going. "How can I be sure that he loves me? What if he just wanted to kiss me last night because it's in the moment?"
"Ask him." Paige suggested.
"That's too direct. What if he couldn't tell it straight to my face that he doesn't like me and he's just being polite by saying 'Yes, I have feelings for you'?"
"Ok. What does it take you to consider Leo as your official boyfriend? How can he prove to you that he really loves you?" Paige challenged Piper.
"Well, one, he should make me say 'I love you, too'. Not just by saying any 'I love you', he should shout to the whole world that he loves me." Piper stated.
Paige started to shake her head, "You're unbelievable!"
Piper ignored her friend's comment. "Two, he should introduce me to his friends and other people as his girlfriend." Piper finished.
"You're crazy!" Paige said with a laugh.
They arrived at the cafeteria at the ground floor of the building, went to the counter to get some cappuccino, and sat by an empty table.
"Ok, let's say he did that. What makes you so sure that he's the 'one'? You know, you're destiny." Paige dared.
"Hmmm…" Piper thought deeply, then her eyes was caught by the swinging entry door. "Whoever the third person is who enters that door IS my destiny."
"Are you crazy?!" Paige exclaimed a little louder than she intended. The people in the place glared at them. "That's impossible, lots of people go in and out of this place, Piper. Leo, doesn't even know you're here." She said with her normal volume as she warned Piper.
Piper was still staring at the door, "One." She counted when a blonde woman entered. Piper didn't even know why she said that, but everything's going crazy, including her, she just hoped Leo would come.
Paige averted her gaze to the door. "Piper, this is crazy!" But she too, was keeping an eye on the door.
"Two." They counted in unison as a lady with eyeglasses who looks like a professor entered. After a few seconds, they saw a man across the street on his way to the cafeteria.
"Oh my god." They whispered slowly.
The man was old, fat, with a thick beard. He looked like he hadn't took a bath in five days.
"Piper…" Paige whispered.
"No way." Piper whispered, shaking her head.
The man was about 5 feet to the door, when a figure appeared from the left side of the door entered and beat the man to the handle of the door. When Piper looked up at the man's face…
Paige almost choked on her cappuccino.
"Is that… Leo?" Paige was too shocked.
Leo found them and was on his way to their table. Piper was staring at him.
"What?" Leo asked them, they looked like they have just seen a ghost.
"Uhh… nothing." Piper covered. "How did you know we were here?"
"I went to your house but you weren't there. Prue said you're here, so now I'm here." Leo explained. Then he looked at Paige.
"Paige, are you alright?" Paige's mouth was open and she was staring at Piper and Leo.
"Oh she was just practicing for our session next week, right Paige?" Piper covered for Paige as she closed Paige's mouth gently and put her arms around Paige, then she smiled at Leo.
"Uhh… yeah." Paige agreed with Piper. "It's about spacing out and disconnecting yourself from the world. That kind of stuff." She wondered how lame her excuse was.
Leo watched the two girls in front of him smiling widely with an innocent look. "What's gotten in to you?"
Piper and Paige looked at each other then to Leo.
"Nothing!" The girls said in unison.
"We're good!" Piper said smiling.
"Absolutely!" Paige added.
"So… why are you here?" Piper changed the subject.
"Well… I would like to make sure you get to your house safely." Leo said emphasizing on 'safely'. "Also, I need an explanation about what happened yesterday."
"Why are you so worried? I'm with her. And her house is just a walk away." Paige was confused. "And what do you have to explain to him?" Paige asked Piper.
"Well, that's umm…" Piper sighed and scratched her head. "I would like to talk with you two." 'They have the right to know, right?'
Paige and Leo were staring at Piper. Piper opened her bag to get her bottle of pills and sighed deeply.
"Remember this?" She asked Paige. Paige nodded, still confused.
'I think I don't like where this is going.' Leo thought as he narrowed his eyes.
"I was born with a heart problem." Piper said with a sigh. "There were three different cases of abnormalities present. I had a surgery right after I was born to cover the holes in my heart. These pills are for the vein that is not working properly." She paused to check if her friends could follow. She wanted to explain them all the details to receive no follow-up questions.
"Another defect is an abnormality between my heart and my lungs. That defect was never corrected. The only solution is a surgery, but I haven't decided yet if I'm going to undergo that surgery." Her doctor explained to her everything about her heart. Piper asked her all the details, she wanted to explain it clearly to her friends someday. 'This is the day.'
Leo was the first one to speak. "Well, why don't you let them do the surgery?" He swallowed hard. "I mean if it's the only way…"
Piper cut him off, "The surgery is fatal. I could have brain damage or be bedridden for life." Piper was trying hard not to cry, if not for those huge risks, she would have done it a long time ago. "Or I could die." she whispered the worse case scenario.
Leo and Paige were dumbstruck. That revelation, Piper's case was one of life's many injustices. Why does it always have to be the good ones to receive such illness?
"I'm sorry." Piper whispered. "Paige, I lied to you about these pills. Leo, I'm sorry you had to see me like that." She was remembering what happened at the park.
"Piper, you don't owe us an apology. We understand why you did that." Paige put her arms around her friend, "We also understand if you wouldn't agree to do that surgery."
Leo was watching Piper. 'She has a heart problem. That's my grandmother's problem and now she's in coma. What if that happens to Piper, too? I'll never be able to pull through. Please, don't take her away from me.' Leo pleaded to God.
Piper looked at Leo, 'What is he thinking? Oh please, now that he knows. What if he doesn't want me anymore?'
Then Leo said, "Thank you for letting us know. Just remember, we'll always be here for you, whatever your decision would be." Leo held Piper's hand tightly across the table and looked lovingly at Piper.
Paige stared at their hands and notice Leo's face as he looked at Piper with so much love and devotion. Right then and there, she knew, Leo will take care of Piper no matter what. 'My best friend will be just fine.' she smiled as she held Piper tighter.
When Piper got home, she went straight to her room to find Prue on her bed.
"Ready?" Prue asked, it was obvious, she too, was nervous.
"Do I have a choice?" Piper asked as she sat beside Prue.
"Come on, you'll be fine. I'll be there." Prue gave her sister a squeeze on the shoulders.
"What did you tell Grams?" Piper was nervous.
"I told her we are going to the mall for some sister time." Prue said.
She noticed Piper was quiet. Then Piper whispered, "I told them."
"What? Who?" Prue asked confused.
"Leo and Paige. I told them about my sickness." Piper continued in a soft whisper.
"And?"
"They said that no matter what happens, they'll always be there for me."
"See?" Prue smiled. "You have them and me and Grams to lean on, don't worry."
"But I'm afraid. I'm afraid of making the wrong decision and losing all of you in the process." Piper whispered.
"Piper, you'll never lose us." Prue assured her sister. 'But I'm afraid we might lose you.' Prue thought, but before she breaks again, she glanced at the clock. "Now come on, we are gonna be late for that appointment."
In the hospital, Prue and Piper got back from the coffee shop across the street. The doctor said that results would be available in a few hours so they decided to just wait for it.
They entered Dr. Lauren's receiving room, walked hand in hand, scared and eager at the same time to know the truth.
Dr. Lauren entered the room with a folder in hand and a big brown envelope obviously containing a chest x-ray result.
"Hey, Prue. Piper." He greeted shaking the sisters' hands.
"Dr. Lauren." Prue acknowledged. Piper was quiet considering that it was not her first time to be in this kind of situation. She's been doing regular visits to the hospital ever since she was born.
"Ok. Uh… The results…" Dr. Lauren stood up, opened the brown envelope and took out the x-ray result and put it against the light. Then she opened the folder and started explaining…
"With the chest x-ray, we found out that Piper has mediastinal emphysema, it refers to the presence of air in the central portion of the chest cavity that contains the heart. And because the air may create pressure and stretching of the structures and nerves within the mediastinum, that caused the chest pain." She explained as she pointed her pen to some kind of foggy part in the x-ray result.
"How did that happen?" Prue asked. Piper was staring at her x-ray result with watery eyes.
"Well, remember the heart defect wherein there is an abnormality with the arteries of the heart and the lungs? That caused this." Dr. Lauren paused to check if the sisters are taking it all in. 'They are so young to face this trial, they should be busy with boys and dates, not heart problems.' Dr. Lauren thought as she noticed Prue reached out to hold her sister and give her support.
Prue was on the verge of breaking down but warned herself, 'Don't. Focus your attention to the subject at hand. Don't breakdown now. You're not allowed to cry at the moment. Let your sister do that. She's the one having these different types of abnormalities. Not you.' she scolded herself.
"What are we gonna do? How are you - we going to treat it?" Prue wanted to be involved in every step of the way to help her sister.
"We have to treat the underlying cause. The defect. You have to decide as soon as possible. I know you know all the pros and cons of the surgery that we needed to do." Dr. Lauren revealed. He hated this, laying out the choices to the patients when obviously there is no choice. "Call me if you have decided. I'm sorry."
"Thanks." Prue led Piper outside the room onto the seats by the door. Piper sat and Prue knelt in front of her. Piper was looking down on the floor, not attempting to look at Prue. But Prue knew she was crying, she saw the fresh traces of teardrops in Piper's lap. She held both of her sister's hands then lifted Piper's face to look at her in the eyes. "Piper, baby, talk to me." Prue said softly.
"Prue, it's my fault." Piper whispered. Prue barely heard her, but she knew what her sister said, those words have come from her sister's mouth too many times.
"No. No it's not. Listen to me." Prue said sternly.
"Yes, it is. Because if I had decided a long time ago to do that surgery, it wouldn't have come to this." Piper reasoned, her tears streaming down her face.
"But with such huge risks?" Prue asked. "You are scared of the consequences of that surgery. We all are. Understand that. This is not a game where you can make a quick decision, this is your life on balance. Our life if we lose you."
"What am I gonna do?" Piper was downhearted by the result.
"What are WE gonna do? You're not in this alone. You have me, Grams, your best friend - Paige, and Leo." Prue was trying to lighten up the mood by mentioning Leo. "You'll be ok." Truth is she was freaking out. 'Why do you make the bad people always get the upper hand and you make the good ones suffer?' Prue asked God.
"I wish I have Phoebe like I have you." Piper whispered.
"You have her. She's just being her hard-headed self again. She's been like that ever since she was born. Like the head of a bowling ball." Prue joked.
Piper smiled slightly and hugged her big sister. But she's still worried. They both were.
In the car on the way home from the hospital, Piper was quiet again, just looking out the window and staring off into space. Prue didn't know what to do to get rid of the awkwardness, she already said everything to assure Piper but nothing was working. So she turned on the radio for some music and switched it to Piper's favorite station. After a few minutes, a familiar voice was heard, Piper suddenly looked at Prue and then stared at the car radio.
DJ: Ok, we have another caller, Leo of San Francisco. Hello?
Leo: Ah… Hello?
Prue pulled up on the side of the road and listened intently to the radio.
DJ: Leo, what song do you want to request?
Leo: Uhmm… 'You Were There'?
DJ: Hmmm… a romantic song. I think we have a hopeless romantic lover on the phone right now! And to whom do you want to dedicate this song, Leo? Tell her what you feel. Go on.
Leo: I want to offer this song to Piper Halliwell. Piper, when I first saw you, I never knew what hit me, but it feels right and destined. Before, I was on the verge of breaking down and just giving up. You don't know, but you pulled me up. When you told me about your… situation, I discovered how stupid and weak I was for almost giving up on petty problems in my life when here's a girl facing a more difficult ordeal than anything I have ever faced in my entire life. With this song, I want you to know how you changed my life in just a snap and how precious you are to me. And I want everyone to know that I love you. I love you so much, Piper! And I'll always be here for you.
'One, he should make me say 'I love you, too'. Not just by saying any 'I love you', he should shout to the whole world that he loves me' Piper thought, as her own statement rang on her head. She had tears in her eyes.
Prue was watching Piper cry, 'At least those tears are not caused by fear or sorrow.'
DJ: Wohoo! What a message! I think every girl who are listening right now have fallen for you. Too bad, girls, he's taken! Piper, if you are listening, you better not let this one go. He's definitely for keeps. Leo, thank you. Everyone! Here's "You Were There" from Leo to Piper.
I guess you've heard, I guess you know
In time I might have told you but I guess I'm too slow
That's overly romantic but I know that it's real
I hope you don't mind if I say what I feel
It's like I'm in somebody else's dream
This could not be happening to me
But you were there
You were everything I'd never seen
You woke me up from this long and empty sleep
I was alone, I opened my eyes and you were there
Don't be alarmed, no, don't be concerned
I don't want to change things leave them just as they were
I mean nothing's really different, it's me who feels strange
I'm always lost for words when someone mentions your name
I know that I'll get over this for sure
I'm not that type who dreams there could be more
But you were there
You were everything I'd never seen
You woke me up from this long and empty sleep
I was alone, I opened my eyes and you were there
Can I take your smile home with me
Or the magic in your hair
The rain has stopped, the storm has passed
Look at all the colors, now the sun's here at last
I suppose that you'll be leaving but I want you to know
Part of you stays with me even after you go
Like an actor playing someone else's scene
This could not be happening to me
But you were there
You were everything I'd never seen
You woke me up from this long and endless sleep
I was alone, I opened my eyes and now...
I opened my eyes and you were there
You were there
Piper was crying out of love for the caller on the radio and his dedicated song for her. Prue too, had tears in her eyes, she was so happy to know that there's someone out there who cares for her sister that much. Still teary-eyed, Piper reached for her bag, got her cell phone and dialed…
DJ: Ok, another caller! Uh… Piper of San Francisco! I think we know who this one is, right people? Ok, Piper, hello?
Piper: Hello?
DJ: Hi, Piper! What song do you want to request? I think I know to whom you would want to dedicate this song. Well, tell us anyway.
Piper: Well, ah… I would like to request for the song 'Please be Careful With my Heart' And of course, this song is for Leo Wyatt.
DJ: Hmm… I know. Ok. Now, everyone knows how he feels about you, what do you feel about him? Coz everyone is dying to know what his chances are to get to your heart.
Piper: Well… Leo. Leo, I've never felt this way before towards anybody. And you just don't know, but I almost gave up, lost hope but then I met you and everything just seems to be alright. There was a time when I wanted to end everything, but you came into my life and made me see how beautiful life is. God gave me a reason to fight and not let go. That is you. I would hold on for you. About what you said… I love you, too. With all my heart. Actually, you're already in it.
The DJ pressed a button and a wild applause sound erupted from the radio.
DJ: Wow! Everyone! That was one hell of a love message! Leo? That's the answer you've been waiting and wanting for. Everyone! Piper and Leo, the lovers of San Francisco! Yahoo! Alright! 'Please Be Careful With My Heart' from Piper to Leo.
Woman:
If you love me like you tell me
Please be careful with my heart
You can take it just don't break it
Or my world will fall apart
You are my first romance
And I'm willing to take a chance
That till life is through
I'll still be loving you
I will be true to you
Just a promise from you will do
From the very start
Please be careful with my heart
Man:
I love you and you know I do
There'll be no one else for me
Promise I'll be always true
For the world and all to see
Love has heard some lies softly spoken
And I have had my heart badly broken
I've been burned and I've been hurt before
So I know just how you feel
Trust my love is real for you
I'll be gentle with your heart
I'll caress it like the morning dew
I'll be right beside you forever
I won't let our world fall apart
From the very start
I'll be careful with your heart
Prue and Piper were smiling, laughing and crying all at the same time in the car. While Leo was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling with a dreamily smile, his radio by his bed.
Duet:
You are my first romance (and you are my last)
And I'm willing to take a chance (I've learned from the past)
That till life is through
I'll still be loving you (I'll still be loving you)
I will be true to you (I will be true)
Just a promise from you will do (Only to you)
From the very start (from the very start)
From the very start (from the very start)
From the very start (from the very start)
Please be careful with my heart (I'll be careful with your heart)
'I'm not going to tell him what I found out today. He doesn't deserve it. I won't hurt him like that. I've hurt so many people already including my family.' Piper reminded herself.
Monday arrived. Piper and Leo were walking hand in hand on the way to the school building. But Leo saw his friends and buddies by a tree.
"Hey!" Leo greeted them and gave each of them a high five, all the while his other hand holding Piper's.
"Hey Leo! Man! Long time, no see. How are yah?" His friend, Seth, asked.
"I'm feeling good, great actually." Leo smiled.
"Hi, Ms. Beautiful! I'm Drake." Another friend of Leo's, Drake, introduced himself to Piper in a southern accent and offered her his hand.
"Hi!" Piper smiled and accepted what she thought was a shake hand but Drake pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it.
"Hey! Hands off! She's taken." Leo pulled Piper to his chest, enveloped her in his arms and kissed her on the cheek. "By me." Leo added. And they both smiled.
"Oh! Sorry! No. 1 rule in friendship, don't snatch your friend's girl, even ex-girlfriends." Drake held up his hands.
"Now, for formal introduction. Piper, I would like you to meet my friends, Drake and Seth. Guys, this is Piper Halliwell, my girlfriend." Leo introduced. Then he lifted Piper's hand to his chest and looked at her with so much love.
"Oh! So, you're busy falling in love." Seth joked.
"Well, I enjoy it." Leo smiled. "Very much. I can do it forever."
Piper smiled at the thought of her condition, 'Two, he should introduce me to his friends and other people as his girlfriend'. 'Oh, nobody's perfect. But for me he is.'
Phoebe watched from afar how Piper and Leo looked lovingly at each other as if they're the only people in the world.
"Oh, Phoebe, you've got to do something about that." Missy said. "If I were you, I would've slapped Piper and kissed Leo in front of her."
Phoebe was quiet, just staring at the couple laugh.
"Phoebe, did you even hear what I said? What? You're just gonna sit there and watch. Go, fight." Missy was becoming really annoying.
"Yeah! Go there and show them what you've got. Come on!" Ashley urged.
"She's right!" Missy added and then they were both babbling at the same time and Phoebe was getting pissed off.
"WILL YOU BOTH SHUT THE HELL UP!!! It's irritating!" Phoebe burst.
Missy and Ashley quieted immediately.
'I will get you Leo. No matter what.' Phoebe whispered to herself.
Cole and James were hanging out in the parking lot smoking. They were watching Piper and Leo whisper sweet nothings to each other.
"First Phoebe, now Piper." Cole puffed smoke. "What a lucky player to catch the two hottest chicks in campus. What does he has that I don't?"
"Blonde hair?" James said dumbly.
"Shut up." Cole said. "He can't have them both. I will make sure of that." Cole watched how Leo touched Piper's long hair and rested his hand on Piper's waist. 'That should have been my hand.' Cole thought evilly.
Leo went to his room smiling widely. He didn't notice his cousin by the door.
"Where have you been?" Dan asked. "You look flushed, are you on drugs?"
"Shut up, cuz!" Leo said, still smiling. "What you see on my face? That's love. I have found my destiny, my goddess."
"Since when did you become so mushy?" Dan was watching his cousin glide his way to his bed. "Let me guess. Is this about the 'Care Bear' girl, huh?"
"Her name is Piper Halliwell and she's not the 'Care Bear' girl, she's Leo's girl." Leo said proudly.
"What?! The last time we talked, you didn't even know her name and now you're together already? Man, you're fast! I have to say I'm proud of my cousin."
"Well… she's just amazing. Beautiful. Heavenly." Leo sighed in content.
"I've never seen you this way. She must be something." Dan was so happy for his cousin.
"She's everything. MY everything." Leo was imagining Piper's smile and the sound of her laugh.
"So… when will I get to meet her? This girl is intriguing." Dan asked with excitement.
"You won't." Leo said. "At least not until we're married."
"What? Why?"
"Because how can I be sure that you won't fall for her? I know you, cuz."
"If you know me then you know that I don't snatch someone's girl especially my cousin's."
"Well… just wait. ok?" Leo gave in. "Why are you here again, anyway? No food in your dorm?"
"Yeah, that too. But, actually I want to convince you to join the frat. It's still open for newbies." Dan explained.
"I told you, I don't want to. Besides, I'm busy with you know who." Leo reasoned.
"Fine! Ok, I get it. Maybe you can join next year and by that time, I will train you." Dan said before leaving the room.
"Whatever Dan. Whatever." Leo tried to throw a pillow to Dan but hit the door instead. Then he took out his wallet, there a picture of Piper smiling at him. He recalled how he got that picture…
Flashback…
Earlier that morning before they started walking to school…
"I have something for you." Piper said as she took out something from her bag.
"What it is?" Leo asked.
"Here." Piper handed him her picture.
"What is this for?"
"So you don't miss me." Piper answered smiling. "And every time you see sexy and pretty girls, just look at that, it will remind of the person who will kick your butt if you even make a move to those sexy and pretty girls."
"I don't need this. You're face is already etched on my mind and I can't erase it no matter what I do!" Leo pretended to be bothered but then he kissed Piper on the lips. "But… oh well. There are lots of rats at home, I'm sure I could use this to shoo them away."
Then Piper hit Leo's arm. "Then give it back." Piper tried to reach for the picture but Leo hid it behind his back and just hugged Piper and whispered softly to her ear, "I love you."
"I love you, too." Piper was smiling. Then they kissed again and smiled at each other.
End of Flashback
Back to Leo's room
He gently kissed Piper's image and held it close to his heart.
The songs are from local artists here in our place
'Please be Careful with my heart' Jose Mari Chan and Regine Velasquez
'You Were There' - Regine Velasquez
I researched hard for those cases of defects and abnormalities so I can assure you that there are such things.
Anyway, there goes another chapter. Tell me what you think. Please
Thanks and God Bless.