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.

Chapter 20

halli-halliwell - thanks a lot! I hope you enjoy this one.

HalliwellWitch - here it is! you rock too!

ColleenietheBroadwayBaby - I will, don't worry! I love their relationship too.

Dark Halliwell - thanks so much for hanging on to the story! thank you!

PIPER LOVES LEO 1703 - you just have to wait and see! but I think you're gonna love this chap.

Alyssa Halliwell - yeah! it's back!

anonymous! - thanks! that's really sweet! thanks for understanding. enjoy this one!

heather1021 - yeah, I think it's time for leo to fight for love again. thanks for the review!

hmcdd-pileo-forever - sobra ha? ito na! enjoy!

charmedsoccerfanmich - my fave is piper, actually holly. thanks for the reviews. rock on!

In the Manor, Prue was about to call Paige when suddenly the phone rang.

"Hello." Prue greeted. No one answered her. "Hello?" she repeated. Then the line went dead.

"Uh! How rude?" She just dialled Paige's number.

"Hello, Paige?"

"Yes? Who's this?"

"Prue."

"Hey! What's up?"

"I just called to ask you about Piper. If you know something…"

"Don't worry. Leo's on it."

"My point exactly. What is 'it'? I mean, she's changed, she won't talk to me, she dresses differently. Last time I talked to Leo, I thought everything will be fine then, but now this. What's going on? And how did Phoebe get in the picture?"

And so Paige told Prue everything she knows, and from what Leo told her.

"And now Leo will fix it. And everything will be fine. And we'll get our Piper back." I hope. Paige thought.

"How?"

"I don't know. Let's just trust him, ok?"

"Well, he better do it fast. These are my sisters we're talking about and I don't want anybody messing with either of them."

"You're a really great sister, you know. Piper and Phoebe are lucky to have you. I wish I have a sister like you."

Prue remembered that Paige is an only child. "Oh, Paige. You're Piper's best friend. You're like a sister to me. So treat me as one, ok?"

"Thank you." Paige smiled on the other end of the line.

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Oh. My Prue. I miss you. I miss all three of you. How I wish I could turn back time. Back so I can change everything. Why did I leave you? I wish I could just come back into your lives, just as simple as that. But I know it's much more complex than that. I have missed almost a year of your lives, the most crucial of times, time when you just lost your mother-- I bailed out. I'm sorry, my girls.

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After class…

"So where do you wanna go? It's Friday! Ooh, how about we try that new club Ash was talking about or… maybe we could just stay at your place and watch some DVD. What do you say?" Phoebe asked Leo happily.

Leo was contemplating on how he would break the news to Phoebe. Well, it was not exactly news, he's been in love with Piper ever since the beginning but how is he going to tell it to Phoebe and clear himself?

"Earth to, Leo. Are you okay? You haven't been yourself lately. What's the problem?" Phoebe was concerned.

'I haven't been myself or I won't be here with you. I would be with your sister.' Leo thought. "Uhm… Phoebe we need to talk."

They walked to a nearby bench and sat. "Ok, talk." Phoebe's not liking the sound of this.

"Well… uhm." Leo swallowed hard. 'It's not easy to break somebody's heart. Especially when you're not used to doing it.' Leo thought. "There's no easy way to say this, but I have to. Phoebe, we have to end this. This relationship."

Phoebe's eyes narrowed.

"I mean… ok. I'll just start from the very beginning. I…" Leo closed his eyes to gather enough energy. "When I came to you that day, it wasn't because… I was…" He massaged the back of his head in frustration, looked at Phoebe and just said the very first thing that came to his mind. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry? Sorry for what? What did you do?" Phoebe was confused. "What did I do? Don't you love me anymore?" Phoebe asked frantically. Just 3 days ago, they were kissing and exchanging 'I love You's, and now this. What happened? Tears started to fall from her eyes.

Leo felt bad for Phoebe. "No, it's not you. It's me. You deserve someone who will love you and only you completely. I can't do that. I'm sorry."

"But… you said… " Phoebe couldn't think clearly, couldn't see clearly with her tears. "I want you, Leo. I like you. What's wrong with me? Why can't you love me?"

"There's nothing wrong with you. It's me… it's… You're a great girlfriend, you're caring and nice. But-" 'I just can't love you.' Leo added quietly.

"But I'm not Piper! You can't love me because I'm not her." Phoebe was pissed. 'Why does Piper have to be always in the picture? Why does she always get in the way of every relationship I want to build?'

"This is not about her. I just don't want you wasting your time and love on me, someone who couldn't give it all back to you." Leo explained. Truth was, Phoebe was right. It's because she's not her sister. But Leo couldn't hurt her anymore than he already did.

"And you couldn't give it back because I'm not her." Phoebe concluded angrily.

"I'm sorry." There was nothing Leo could do but apologize. "I'm really, really sorry. I never meant to hurt you in any way." He sighed, stood up and walked away.

"Leo, wait! Leo, come back! Please, come back." Phoebe pleaded the retreating figure but he never looked back. 'You can't do this to me. You can't keep doing this to me. You can't keep leaving me like this.' Phoebe thought of every single person that has left her. 'You can't keep hurting me like this.'

Her tears represented so many emotions. Anger towards the sister who had been the reason of every heartache. Longing towards the mom who left her and dad who walked out on her. Unrequited Love she has given Leo who has been the first person who gave her hope that maybe she's not a loser but then destroyed that same hope. Both Pity and Hate toward herself knowing that whatever she does, she wouldn't be loved.

'I'm sick of always being the one left behind. Now it's my turn.' Phoebe thought with determination.

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A/N: I know, it's short but promise, next will be a lot longer and more piper/leo. now, tell me. what do you think of this chapter?