With Aphrodite dead, Piper became the new cook. She had a book with many recipes passed down from generation, to generation. From then on, the
kitchen was filled with new flavors, smells, and textures so good, even Mama Hera couldn't resist.
But Piper was still sad over Aphrodite's sudden death.
"Why are you still mourning girl?," asked a indifferent,but still angry Mama Hera.
"Mami, Aphrodite was close to me, and I was to her. You can't just expect me to be over her death so soon, "said Piper trying to sound as nice as possible.
"It has been at least two weeks, long enough," Mama Hera said, as a fact, not opinion.
"But, Mami...,"Piper tried to protest. Did her mother seriously think Piper was like her? Never to cry after a loved one's death?
"Child, you are testing my patience. Now get to cooking, or I'll really give you something to mourn about," her mother proclaimed.
So once again they were at square one, where Piper had to keep her feelings hidden from her mom.
Leo, of course didn't like to see her unhappy. So he did the most dangerous thing ever.
Bought her roses.
He knew they were her favorite flower, but that didn't change much. Drew still insisted that he was her's. Not Piper's. Never to be Piper's.
To make it even more dangerous he gave them to her in front of Drew, Mama Hera and Hazel.
Hazel had always supported her sister in her love for Leo. In fact, she was upset at Drew for marrying him. She thought his little act of love was daring,
yet sweet. She wished so badly that she would find her own true love. She knew a man that she wished was her's though...
Mama Hera however, was furious. She had told Piper more than enough times to stay away from Leo.
Drew on the other hand, was more embarrassed than mad. She would not be made a fool of by letting her husband, and sister frolic around together.
Especially since Drew was expecting her first baby soon...
Piper was shaking so much when she received them, she was surprised she didn't faint.
But she was happy beyond words.
"I noticed that you've been feeling a bit down lately, so I got you these 'cause I know they're your favorite," Leo said with smug look on his face.
"Thank you so much. I love them," Piper responded truly joyful.
But like always, nothing ever lasts long at the ranch.
"Piper, dear. May I have a word with you?" asked Mama Hera innocently.
As soon as she said her name, Piper had goosebumps of fear.
"Coming Mami...", she slightly whimpered.
Her mother led her into the kitchen, with a stern said:
"This is unacceptable. I do not care for your tragic love story. You will not break the family tradition. I will not be held responsible for your actions."
"Mami, I don't think I've done any thing to har-,"Piper protested.
"Don't lie girl. We both know the real meaning of those flowers. Now, discard of them, and keep your sexual tensions under control. You hear?" her mother barked.
Piper had mixed feelings. She was incredibly grateful for the flowers, but greatly insulted by her mother. Who did she think Piper was? A prostitute?(She could use money...But no!)
In the end her happiness took over, but another problem arose.
She would have to throw the roses away. She couldn't.
However, Piper did have a special use for them.
She had once Aphrodite make a dish. She was little though, and all she had known about
it was that it looked very pretty (and she never pays attention to pretty)
Later, Aphrodite taught her what it was, Quail in Rose Petal Sauce.
It originally called for pheasants, but they didn't have any, so she would have to do the
best she could, and improvise.
While Piper getting ready to prepare the dish she got the quails.
Unfortunaly, they were alive, and she would have to kill them by snapping their necks.
How could she though, these poor inoccent creatures.
That's when realized, sometimes you have to stronger.
"Ugh, I can't kill them. It's just too horrifying," she said as she moaned.
Then, Piper remembered all those times in her life when she felt like quail.
That doesn't sound right, let her explain.
She thought of all the times when Piper was snapped.
Not her neck, everything.
Almost killed with a single blow, but left dangling during the wedding.
She suddenly started to take the quail, and...well, you know.
Piper pretended she was putting them out their misery, from a horrible life, like how her's
was feeling at the moment.
When she finished that she started preparing the dish.
Plucking, frying, rose petaling, they all seemed easy.
It was almost like Aphrodite had taken control of her body, doing everything.
Piper had a weird feeling while doing this, one she had never felt before.
It felt like love, but a love so deep, she could have literaly gushed into the food.
Yeah, that sounds gross, but romantic.
Drew never wanted to step foot in the kitchen again after the burning incident.
Then why was she in the kitchen cooking?
Drew may not have been the smartest, but even she could see what was going on
between Leo, and Piper.
And she defiantly was not happy about that.
So if she was cooking to impress Leo, or to compete with Piper, no one can say.
One thing they could all agree on, though was that she would never cook again.
The food was burned, dried, and scorched. How is someone even capable of doing that?
"For her first dish, it is not bad. Don't you think so Leo?" said Mama Hera
With her at the table, no one would even dare to make a face.
And Leo who was trying to be a supportive husband (not by choice) said:
"Yeah it's not bad. It tastes...nice?"
Everyone felt like someone had reached into their stomachs, twisted everything, thrown in
shards of glass, then added a bouncy spring.
Even Hazel, the nicest sister, couldn't make a remark.
Piper's dish came out great, like always.
This time was different though. Everyone could tell it tasted good, but there was
something else, like feeling.
Piper's feeling of love had been strong enough to be put in the dish.
No one had know at the the time, not even her.
All they knew was that they were overcome with this great feeling.
Leo, so astounded said:
"This dish belongs on Olympus to be served to the gods"
Even Mama Hera knew it was incredibly delicious, but wouldn't admit it.
"It tastes bland," she remarked.
Drew mumbled that she felt sick, and pushed the food away.
But Hazel had the strangest feeling.
She felt heat all over her body, from her toes all the way to the top of her head.
And was her head sweating. She felt pulsing, her heart beating so hard she shook.
The sweat increased when she begin to fantasize.
She imagined herself sitting on a horse, her arms around one of the men she, and Reyna
had seen in the plaza the other day.
She could tell he was a soldier, part of the revolution that was going on.
Many men that were on horses, but one in particular caught Hazel's attention.
One man solid black hair, and buzz cut. He looked so fierce.
"We better leave," said Reyna," I heard that they can get you pregnant by just looking at
you." Hazel laughed at that, and they left.
But now she really couldn't keep her feelings bottled.
She wanted to ask her sister for help, but Piper seemed preoccupied.
Piper's love had entered Leo's body, and he could feel everything.
All the sensuous feelings they had.
It was like a new way of communicating, but in three parts.
Piper the transmitter, Leo the receiver, and Hazel the medium, handling all those romantic
feelings, her body like a passage way.
It was said to be Piper's best dish ever.
When they finished eating they had to clean up. It was Hazel's job, but she couldn't.
Still feeling stricken, she asked if Piper could do her job while she took a shower.
"Of course," Piper said,"did you like the food?"
"Oh yes I loved it a lot, thanks."
"Your welcome, now go shower."
Piper made a mental note to keep a close eye on Hazel. She could tell something was up.
She had never seen that look on Hazel's face before, filled with lust.
Hazel ran outside to the shower. It was a small, wooden, private room.
There was a tank at the top that you filled with water. She had to climb up the ladder with
a bucket over, and over again to fill it up.
It was tiring, and she had to climb so many damn times.
But she knew it would be worth it to feel the refreshing water pour all over her.
Sadly she wouldn't ever be able to enjoy it.
Hazel took off her clothes, and the water fall. By then it was too late.
Her body had emitted so much heat that the water would evaporate before it reached her.
It was so hot that all of the sudden the wood burst into flames.
Alarmed at what had happened, she ran out from a small closing, still naked.
Her scent had traveled off far. All the way to the same plaza she saw that man.
He knew he smelled something delightful, but the soldier didn't know what.
Frank, was his name, got on his horse, and galloped to wherever the smell was.
He had gotten to the field, and literally swept her off her feet, onto a black horse.
He leaned over while galloping still, put his arm around her waist, and brought her up to
him, face to face.
Frank's escort hadn't been able to catch up with Frank, since he was going too fast.
Someone told the captain Frank had gone insane, and left galloping away.
Piper, and Leo would have said different.
They stood on the porch, and had seen the whole thing.
The two were moved by it, and felt happy for Hazel, but still couldn't get rid of the feeling.
They had witnessed everything, and were transfixed like zombie's.
Leo would have taken Piper's hand right then, and there, but-
"What's going on out there?" Mama Hera yelled
Piper, chocked up wanted to run away, with the bravery, and love her sister had.
But she couldn't, of course.
For her sister's sake, she would have to think of a story.
She told her mother the Federal troops set fire to the shower, and kidnapped Hazel.
It actually made Mama Hera feel sick, sick she felt sicker when she heard another version.
A priest told her they saw Hazel in a brothel across the border. A brothel, where
prostitutes go to do...stuff.
Mama Hera, furious, burned Hazels' birth certificate, and anything that had to do with her.
She forbade anyone from even saying her name.
That night in bed, Piper thought about what happened.
"Lucky Hazel for leaving. I wonder how she's doing. Wait! She left without any clothes."
It was March, still cold at night, even in Mexico.
She hoped Hazel was warm, and safe with her man.
Trying to distract herself, Piper grapped her cookbook. Earlier she wrote down the rose
recipe. She skimmed through it in case there were any mistakes.
It was fine, so Piper added:
"Today while we were eating this dish, Hazel ran away..."
