Disclaimer:

"Charmed" and all related characters and events are the

property of the WB television network, except for those characters specifically created for this story. This is a work of fan fiction and no infringement of copyright is intended.

Author's Note:

If you take the time to read and enjoy it please review it for me. If you take the time and don't enjoy it please tell me why.

Piper Halliwell rolled over in bed and was instantly grateful for being offered this luxurious suite by the director of the culinary academy. She couldn't remember the last time she had slept so well. There was a rather sketchy moment about last night that she wanted to ask her husband about, but since she could hear the shower running she figured it would keep while she ordered some breakfast for them from room service.

Getting out of bed she crossed the room to take a good look at the Paris morning that waited to greet her. Just then the water stopped and she heard Leo open the bathroom door.

"Sorry honey did I wake you up?" His hair was a wet mop mess and he was clad in a sumptuous robe courtesy of the hotel.

"Not at all, I was just, for once, completely rested.

Crossing the room to check out the awaiting Parisian horizon for himself, Leo placed his arm around his wife and inquired, "so if I had waited a few more minutes I wouldn't have had to shower alone?"

"See the early bird doesn't always get the worm." They both turn to each other and laughed realizing that she just referred to herself as a worm. Certainly not the best comparison Piper had ever come up with.

Pulling away and moving to the phone, "I was just about to order some breakfast. You have a taste for anything in particular?"

"Surprise me." And with that Leo went into the bathroom to dry his hair because his was not the kind to take on a natural finished look when left to its own devices.

His wife put through the order and then sat back in bed going over tour books attempting to decide how she would spend one of only a few days she would have to herself while here in Paris. Midway through her book on the Louvre she remembered that she wanted to ask her husband something about last night.

As she filled in the door frame he took notice of the chocolate haired beauty who still took his breath away. "Did you change your mind about the shower?"

"No, but I did want to ask you something and I almost forgot I must be getting forgetful in my advanced years. Last night at about three in the morning I got up and I don't think you were in bed. Did you have an emergency?" She didn't sound worried, but slightly annoyed and Leo knew if any part of what he said didn't ring true she would slip into a mood that would take hours to draw her out from.

"Sort of, but don't get upset it isn't what you think."

"I think it sounds like your bosses went back on their word and are calling on you even though you were promised this time off… uninterrupted I might add."

"Nothing has changed about that. When I said sort of I meant she isn't really my charge. She's the charge of a much younger white lighter who I helped train. He needed some guidance on how to approach the situation."

Piper just walked out of the bathroom. Leo opted not to follow because if she was willing to let this rest so was he.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Back in San Francisco Wyatt was explaining to one seriously ticked off Kayla why he was so late for their dinner plans and why he was rushing off to boot. Bianca had made what could be deemed one of the most interesting dinners the manor has ever hosted. Conversation was almost non-existent and the taste of the food was pretty much the same. He had spent majority of the meal having a telepathic argument with his brother and Marly sat glaring at everyone and everything. There was also a precarious and unannounced visit from Aunt Phoebe and frankly….

"Wyatt?!" Kayla was not happy with him at all. This was the third time in the last ten minutes that she'd pulled him from his own thoughts. "Is this date keeping you from something? Because I can just take a taxi home."

"What?" He was totally stalling and knew if he didn't get his head in the game so to speak he would be looking for a new girlfriend by sun up. He had to get back to the manor because according to Chris if he couldn't spend any time alone with his girlfriend then neither could Wyatt.

"Do you want me to take a taxi home? I mean I don't know the last time we could have the apartment to ourselves or the manor without your folks being there. We could have gone to the club tonight I mean your mom booked a kick-ass local band and instead we have a dinner that you hardly eat or speak to me during and then you offer to drop me off so I can study. Are you sick or just not interested?" Kayla's body language was drawn in close and had her in the front seat of Wyatt's car practically on the edge with her back turned away from him.

He leaned over and eased her around moving methodically so as to allow for more thought forming time. "Kay, baby, I'm so interested in you that I don't want to be with you unless I can give you a hundred percent of myself… body, mind and spirit. You're right I can't focus on us tonight, but I didn't want to break another date and I'm sorry for being so distracted." Thank the Goddess for a killer smile because Wyatt Matthew Halliwell had it to thank for what came next.

"Aw, love what's on your mind? I didn't realize you had so much going on. When you said you were working on something with your brother earlier and that's why you were going to be late I just thought it was something minor. I'm sorry."

How lucky was this he thought… she's apologizing to me. He should have felt guilty, but the only emotion that was coursing through his body right now was relief. Another fleeting emotion… relief was short term because out of the corner of his eye Wyatt saw the familiar blue orb lights beneath a doorway across the street. He made sure to pull Kayla into him and kissed her long and hard keeping an eye on that doorway to see who would be popping out from behind it. Oh, crap Wyatt thought, it's Captain Kill-Joy!

Chris headed straight for his brother's car and pulled the passenger door open. It was a good thing Kayla was wrapped in Wyatt's arms or she would have been sprawled out on the pavement.

"Hi guys. Sorry Kay, but Wyatt's gonna have to cut things short. He's needed at home."

"And you what walked across town to tell him this. Haven't you ever heard of the cell phone?" Kayla was seriously pissed and starting to get more than suspiciously annoyed. She reached back into the back seat and grabbing her purse pushed past Chris and started storming up the block. This was San Francisco after dark and she wasn't exactly isolated. Getting a taxi wouldn't be that difficult. Wyatt leapt out of the car and headed down the block toward the fleeing form of his probably soon to be ex-girlfriend. He wasn't even winded, but she was still quicker then him with the head start she got. By the time he reached the corner she was in the taxi and it was careening through the light. Damn it he thought I'm going to kill him.

When he got back to the car Chris was sitting in the driver's seat. Wyatt refused to get inside. He was banging on the roof of the car demanding that his brother get out of it too.

"What is this a little Wyatt temper tantrum? Well mom's not here big brother so grow up. You have a charge to find and an aunt to get off our backs. I am not taking this on alone."

"You couldn't wait? I was on my way. I can't afford the kind of sucking up Kayla's going to require." Chris' eyes held no sympathy. "Fine. What happened?"

"Get in the car and I'll explain on the way."

They drove for about ten minutes before either of them had cooled off enough to be civil to the other. As close as they were Wyatt and Chris Halliwell could be the bane of each others existence.

"I was working on my paper and Bianca was studying, so we didn't really think about it when Marly wanted to go upstairs and freshen up. Binks gave her something to wear and then when she went to check on her she was out the window and down the trellis."

"She's running around the city. Are you kidding me? We loose our first charge. Or should I say you lost her."

"You're blaming me? The girl is a regular escape artist. I told you not to go out. Actually I think dad's exact words were, don't let her out of your sight."

"Great. Did you call him?"

"No. I'm not crazy. I came and got you. Oh, yeah that's problem number two. She got hold of the phone book and a page was missing… the one with the address to the Bay Mirror."

"Oh, crap-on-a-stick. She's probably going to stalk Aunt Pheebs first thing in the morning. We're toast if Marly gets to her before we get to Marly."

"Now you see the urgency."

The brothers pulled up in front of the newspaper office and the boys parked in the alley next door. They were planning to scour the area and then fan out backwards to the Manor. This girl was more trouble than they bargained for.

Across from the building that housed the Mirror was a figure waiting in the shadows. She crouched down behind a dumpster and tried to become invisible. As her shoulders began to relax and it seemed that no one would find her here a hand reached around her and clamped down over her mouth. Before she knew what was happening she was being pulled to her feet and dragged backwards. Maybe staying at the Manor wasn't a bad idea after all… Marly feared she'd never get the chance to prove that one way or another.