"Thanks for helping me while I was recovering," Perry told Leo, the two of them sitting in the Halliwell Manor garage. The young Halliwell sister was finally given the all-clear by her doctor to get back to work, and she was eager to do just that. "I really appreciate It."
"Of course," her friend said, "I was happy to do it." After a few seconds he added, "Actually, I'd be happy to still come by and help you out sometimes now that you're okay, if that sounds good to you?"
"Like as a…? Partner? Employee?"
"Part-time assistant, I think?"
"So just when I need another set of hands, and you have the time? Sure. Works for me if it works for you."
Phoebe will definitely be happy to hear about this, Perry thought in amusement.
"Good morning," Phoebe cheerfully said as she walked into the kitchen the following morning, where Piper and Perry were preparing invitations to Prue's surprise party.
"What are you doing?" she told her sisters, "Prue's coming down, put those away!"
"Phoebe, you were supposed to send these invitations last week," Piper reminded her, "The party is Friday!"
"I figure Pe-"
"You figured Perry would cover for you, like usual?"
"Sorry," Perry told her twin, "I forgot to double check that you sent-"
"No-no-no," Piper reprimanded her, "You don't apologize to her for not doing what we agreed she will do. Everything you and I said we'll do, is right on schedule." Looking at Phoebe she asked, "At least tell me you managed to buy Prue something other than your traditional birthday gift."
"What's my traditional gift?" she asked innocently.
"A card. Three days late. Somehow, even when it's your own twin's birthday."
"I like Phoebe's birthday cards. They're heartfelt."
"Says the woman who handcrafted me a kit of chef knives for my last birthday," it was usually Prue who was annoyed by the Perry's twin loyalty, but right now Piper was definitely feeling it too.
"Yeah, anyway," Phobe declared, "I decided to break that tradition and start a new one."
"You bought Prue a gift?" Piper asked with a hopeful smile. And after a couple of seconds asked with a hint of suspicion, looking between the twins, "Where did you get the money to pay for it?"
Perry shrugged. Wherever that money was from, it wasn't her.
"Morning!" Prue walked into the kitchen a second later.
"Good morning," Phoebe greeted her, "Hey, I forgot to ask, how was your date with Andy?"
"Great…" their older sister answered, "Until he asked me to spend my birthday at a spa with him."
"Eww, I hate when they do that," Phoebe said sarcastically.
"For this weekend?" Piper asked nervously, "You didn't say yes, did you?"
"Well, my body did. Screamed it, actually. But… I don't know, I just have to think about it."
"A weekend of rest, rubdowns and room service? What's to think about?" Phoebe wondered out loud.
Piper banged on the kitchen counter with her notepad, trying to subtly remind her younger sister about the surprise party. "I mean, ah…" Phoebe tried to backtrack, getting the hint, "You could be right. Going away with a guy is like…"
"It's like bringing them home to meet the parents. It changes everything," Piper tried to assist, "And if you're not sure if you're ready to make a commitment or not, you know, you don't wanna send the wrong signal…"
"Unless you are," Perry interrupted her sisters, thinking it would be selfish to dissuade Prue from going with Andy just for the sake of a party. Especially a surprise party with no guests, for a woman who hates surprises, "I mean, you should follow your heart, you know? Right, guys?"
"Wow," Piper said quietly. She did not expect Perry to turncoat like this.
Looking between her twin and their irritated older sister, Phoebe wasn't sure whose lead she should follow and what to tell Prue.
Eyeing all three of her sisters with suspicion, the eldest Halliwell asked, "You guys aren't trying to plan another surprise party for me, are you?"
"No," Piper was quick to deny.
"Never," added Perry.
"We've given up on trying to surprise you, Prue," Phoebe sealed what was perhaps the most unconvincing the denial in history.
"That's good, 'cause you all know how much I hate surprises."
"Dammit, you two," Piper told the twins, after Prue was out of earshot "If you had sent Andy his invitation we wouldn't be in this mess, Phoebe. And what the heck were you doing just now?!" she angrily asked Perry.
"Okay, what are you talking about? You heard Prue, she doesn't want a party," Phoebe defended herself.
"And besides, she should go away with Andy," her twin added, trying to convince Piper that they shouldn't intervene, "That's probably why Phoebe forgot to send the invitations, because it's meant to be."
"Yeah, you should be glad I flaked. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a present to pay for. Which means I have a job interview."
"Excellent," Vanessa Blunt said as she examined the sword, "Truly, it's just as I imagined. Marvelous work, Miss Halliwell."
Perry blushed with pride, enjoying the beautiful woman's praise probably a little more than she should.
They were in Vanessa's penthouse. If you could even call it that when it was bigger than the Manor. "Thank you, Miss Blunt," Perry told her client, "I'm glad you're satisfied with it."
The witch immediately regretted her choice of words, as she was sure her blushing was now visible from the way Vanessa looked at her.
"Very satisfied," the tall blonde assured her. A second later, however, she asked sharply, "But you made it alone, yes? No one else worked on it?"
"Of course not, Miss Blunt," Perry assured her, "My… assistant helped me with some other projects while I was injured, but you've made it clear you preferred to wait until I could finish this one myself. So that's what I did, as soon as my doctor allowed."
"It's not a preference, Miss Halliwell. It's a requirement. That you crafted it alone, is as important to me as the sword itself."
"Of course. Sorry. It was a bad choice of words," Perry didn't mean to upset Vanessa. And not just because she wanted to keep her as a client.
"No, I…" Vanessa softened, "I'm sorry I've lost my temper and overreacted. It's just… this colleague of mine, someone that I need something important from, seems to be avoiding me. It's frustrating, clearly, but I shouldn't have taken it out on you."
Her hand lightly brushed Perry's arm, sending goosebumps, and she flashed a beautiful smile and said, "Forgive me?"
Swallowing nervously, trying not to savor that touch as if it's water in the desert, the black-haired witch answered, "Don't worry about it. I just hope you find them."