Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed nor do I own anything related to Peabo Bryson's song, "If Ever You're In My Arms Again." This takes place sometime after the episode, "Animal Pragmatism," and before the episode, "Give Me a Sign."

Through the Years

Five: If Ever You're In My Arms Again

We had a once in a lifetime
But I just didn't know it
Till my life fell apart
A second once in a lifetime
Isn't too much to ask
'Cause I swear from the heart

If ever you're in my arms again
This time I'll love you much better
If ever you're in my arms again
This time I'll hold you forever
This time will never end

-Peabo Bryson, "If Ever You're In My Arms Again"

Working at P3 was a paradox. On one hand, it meant seeing Piper every day and knowing he didn't have her. On the other hand, it meant seeing Piper every day and hoping someday soon he'd be able to have her. It was infuriating and exhilarating, to say the least.

He dreamed about her a lot. Running his fingers through her hair; her small, strong hands on his body, everywhere; her eyes, shut in ecstacy or open and gazing at him; touching her; loving her. It couldn't be natural, how much his dreams revolved around her. In his dreams, Dan was never around. He simply didn't exist. Daily, Leo wished that was true while he was awake too.

Leo knew instinctively that he and Piper belonged together. But that wasn't the problem, it never had been. The problem was, of course, that he and Piper couldn't be together. He'd seen his past lives, most of which included Piper; not once had they been able to make it together, and not once had it been because they weren't meant to be. There were always extenuating circumstances, like family or spouses or death. In his present situation, this was somewhat comforting. He and Piper weren't together at the moment because of stubbornness and personal problems, and based on their pasts together, this couldn't be the true end of their relationship. No, if they were really going to be apart it'd be because of some higher power, like the Elders. It gave him hope that he and Piper would have a second chance, and that maybe this would be the lifetime they'd complete their destiny and end up together.

Waiting for her to catch up and realize all of this, though, was beginning to take its toll.

Last week, he'd been unloading cases of alcohol from the truck and bringing them into the club. Piper had been sitting at the bar, looking over the financial records, and he figured that as soon as he was done, maybe he could have her to himself, if only for a few minutes. Dan had come in, though, and spoiled the atmosphere entirely. Leo had really wanted to deck him.

"What does she see in him?" he asked Prue, later that same day. She had showed up to talk to Piper, and Piper had excused herself to show Dan to the door.

"He's a nice guy," said Prue. "And good looking. And right next door."

"He looks like he takes the leftover grease from a fast food joint and pours it in his hair," said Leo, knowing it was a petty point and not caring in the slightest.

Prue smiled, but at the same time looked even more solemn. As though she pitied him. "I wouldn't give up," she said. "Piper does still love you. She's just...confused."

Before he could respond, Piper came back down the stairs and walked over, seating herself next to Prue. The conversation, which was sisterly, not demonic, did not concern Leo in any way, so he left them alone.

Then there were days like yesterday had been. Together, they'd been closing up the club, an activity Leo liked immensely. There was an eerie quiet, after so much noise, the lights were dim, and the club echoed with the atmosphere of its previous occupants. For some reason, it was calming, and he felt more centered than he did during his other duties working for Piper.

While he was turning chairs up onto the tables, he kept sneaking glances at Piper, who was wiping down the counter. She had haphazardly tied her hair back, but was still wearing her nice clothes. He drifted off, wondering, would this be his life if he and Piper got back together? If he never got his wings back? It was such a normal, comfortable thing in their hectic lives, that he smiled at the idea of always being able to do it. A constant, it would be, in an otherwise chaotic life.

"What?" said Piper from across the room, and Leo realized he had been staring throughout his musing.

"Nothing," he said. "I was just thinking about how much I like this."

Piper raised an eyebrow. "Cleaning up the club?" she asked. "Why?"

"Not cleaning up the club. Being here with you, in the aftermath of it all. It's comforting, for some reason."

"Oh," said Piper. She finished with the counter and walked across the room towards him, helping him with the chairs.

Working their way around the room in silence, they came nearer and nearer to one another, traveling towards the same table. When the met at it, each taking a chair and turning it up onto it, Leo fought hard to quell his urge to touch her. She was in arm's length; it would have been so simple.

"I guess that's it," said Piper. She smiled weakly at him. "I should get going."

"Yeah," said Leo, watching as she walked away, grabbing her purse and jacket from behind the bar. "Piper," he said, stopping her as she headed towards the stairs.

"What?"

A million things flew into his mind. A million little things he wanted to tell her. That he could do better this time. That he'd try harder. That he wouldn't take her for granted. That he wouldn't do things behind her back. That he'd love her, no matter what. Instead, he said, "Get some sleep."

"I will," she said. "Goodnight, Leo." And she walked away from him. Always, she seemed to be walking away from him.

And that night he dreamed again, of love and of happiness and, always, of her.