Author's Note: Sorry for taking so long with the update. I've been busy. I'm on Spring Break now so I'll see what I can do about some more updates. Thanks for your patience.
…--…--…
Piper opened her eyes, expecting to be in her room as usual but she wasn't, this wasn't her room at all. It was still familiar though. She sat up in the bed and rubbed her eyes then looked down to see that she was still in her black dress from yesterday. Her heart sank as the harsh reality of Jenny actually being gone hit her like a ton of bricks; knocking the air out of her lungs.
Suddenly the door opened slowly and Leo walked in, carrying a tray with food and juice on it. A small rose sat in a tiny vase. He noticed her sitting up and smiled sweetly.
Piper smiled back but on the inside her heart broke. Here Leo was being a complete angel to her while she had been nothing short of a total bitch since Prom.
"Morning," He said quietly and set the tray next to her but didn't sit down himself until Piper nodded in validation.
"Morning," She replied and looked down at the breakfast sitting in front of her. Her stomach grumbled loudly as the wonderful aroma of pancakes, eggs, and bacon filled the air.
"Leo, you didn't have to." She insisted.
Leo shook his head and smiled. "It's no problem. Besides, I needed to spruce up on my cooking and you're the only one I know brave enough to stomach my meals."
Piper giggled. "Wow, don't I feel special?"
Leo nodded. "Well you should, I've never cooked pancakes before." A look of accomplishment spread across his face which sent Piper into another fit of giggles.
"Let's see how you did then." Piper grinned and lifted the fork covered with a syrupy piece of the pancake and popped it into her mouth and chewed gingerly before swallowing. She nodded in approval before taking another bite.
"So, do I pass?" Leo joked.
Piper gave him the thumbs up then swallowed another piece. "Yes you do-- An A!"
Leo smiled.
After Piper had finished her breakfast Leo left her to freshen-up. Neither of them talked about what happened the previous night, but Piper had every intention to because to be honest; she didn't remember much that happened other than showing up on his doorstep crying.
About an hour later Piper walked down the stairs feeling somewhat better and more awake. She found Leo sitting in the front room watching TV. She sat down next to him on the couch. Not as close as she normally did, but still pretty close.
"TV rots your brain Leo. You don't wanna end up like Phoebe, do you?" Piper raised an eyebrow.
Leo quickly shut off the TV, instantly answering his question. "Guess not." He turned and faced her.
"Umm," She started. Not really knowing what to say or how to say it. "Uh, what happened last night?" Not exactly what I was going for. She mentally kicked herself for sounding like a complete idiot.
"You don't remember? You weren't drunk were you?" He scrunched up his face.
Forget looking like an idiot, he thinks I'm a drunk! She lightly recoiled at the question. "No, of course not. I just had a lot going through my mind at the time."
Leo nodded slightly. "Well, you showed up here crying, so we came and sat down in here and I held you until you fell asleep…" He glanced at her briefly to see any of this rang a bell. She just muttered 'yea'. "…Then I carried you up to my room, because you looked uncomfortable on the couch." He quickly added. "And when I laid you down on the bed you screamed that you didn't want me to leave—that you wanted me to hold you. So I did." Leo's cheeks turned a light shade of red at saying this. Piper could feel hers doing the same.
When she didn't say anything he looked into her eyes. "Why me Piper? Why'd you come to me and not Jeremy, or Dan, or even one of your sisters? It doesn't make sense." He sounded so hurt. Like he couldn't actually believe that Piper could ever love him again.
Piper shrugged. "I'm not sure. It was kind of instinctive. Like, I dunno, I couldn't control where my feet were taking me because I'm so used to coming over here." Leo tried to hide a smirk.
She moved closer to him and put her head on his shoulders. She sighed and grabbed his hand.
"Thanks," She muttered.
He looked down at her. "No problem, you know I'm here for you Piper, I always will be. I love you."
"I know, and I'm so unbelievably sorry I lost sight of that." She looked into his eyes and touched his cheek lightly with the pads of her fingers. "I know you'd never kiss another girl willingly. I love you Leo."
Leo smiled and kissed her softly causing her lips to tingle. She hadn't realized how much she missed the feeling of Leo's lips on her own. It was amazing. He wrapped an arm around her and both let out a content sigh.
…--…--…
Later that night Piper sat in the Conservatory with Prue. Piper was reading and her sister was flipping through a magazine when the doorbell rang. When Prue didn't even look up Piper coughed to get her attention.
"What?" Prue demanded, annoyed.
"The door. You're closer to it. Get it please." Piper replied simply and turned back to her book.
"Yes your Majesty." Prue mocked and bowed lightly before walking to the door, muttering under her breath. She walked back a second later with Dan next to her.
"I'll leave you two alone." Prue excused herself from the room.
"Dan, what are you doing here?" She asked and stood up.
"Oh, um, my parents and I are leaving tomorrow morning. Just thought I'd come to say good-bye." Dan said uncomfortably.
"Oh, ok." She nodded slowly. The two stood there in silence for a minute before sharing an awkward hug. "See ya Dan…" She whispered in his ear. He pulled away and walked back to the door.
"Yea… see ya." Dan repeated and headed out. Just as she shut the door Phoebe and Prue walked back in.
"What'd he want?" Phoebe asked. The three of them sat down next to each other on the couch.
"To say good-bye. Him and his parents are heading back home tomorrow morning." Piper answered and looked down at her hands blankly.
There was an awkward silence before Phoebe couldn't take it anymore. "So- I heard that you and Leo are back together. That's cool."
"Phoebe, we were never technically broken up." It sounded a little harsher than she intended. But at this point in time she didn't really care. She just wanted to be alone with her thoughts.
"Whoa, excuse me for trying to say something positive." Phoebe said defensively. "I mean, you couldn't have saved her Piper, you need to get that through your head. You-couldn't-have-helped her."
"Phoebes," Prue warned.
"Shut up Phoebe," Piper ordered a little louder than Prue.
"No, you need to stop blaming yourself. It was no ones fault! Not Jeremy's, not Dan's, and especially not yours! "
"What makes you so sure I blame myself?" Piper screamed and stood up, her hands on her hips.
"I'm not as stupid as you and Prue might think you know. I remember when our dog was hit by that car because you let him out without his leash, you blamed yourself. You wouldn't admit it, but I saw it in your eyes and it's the same exact look as the one you've had since the accident. I don't mean to sound rude Piper but c'mon! You hated Jenny! Admit it!"
"Phoebe, shut the hell up!" Prue shrieked and stood next to a trembling Piper. She wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Not until she admits it!"
Piper gulped. "Okay, yes, I hated Jenny. I thought she was one of the most annoying people to ever walk this earth—but that doesn't mean she wasn't a human being! And sure- maybe you're right about me blaming myself for what happened. But that's what people with souls tend to do! They feel! You outta try that sometime Phoebe." She pulled out of Prue's grip and ran out of the room.
Prue and Phoebe stood there with their mouths hanging open.
"Good job," Prue finally managed and went after her.
Phoebe fell back onto the couch and pouted. Good job Phoebe. You sure got a mouth on you. You should be an advice columnist someday. Screw up the whole city's lives'.
…--…--…
Prue knocked on Piper's door but didn't get a reply. She opened it and stepped inside to find Piper lying on her bed staring up at the ceiling. She laid down next to her.
"Don't let her get to you Piper. Phoebe doesn't know how to think before she speaks." Prue assured her.
Piper shook her head slowly. Her gaze blank. "Just because she doesn't do that doesn't mean a word of it wasn't the truth. She's right, I blame myself. I don't know why because I know it was pretty hopeless. And I sound like a total nutjob worrying about it, but…I dunno…at the funeral Jeremy barely looked at me, and when he did, it was the coldest look I've ever seen before. It scared me Prue. I think Jeremy blames me for Jenny's death, but I'm afraid to talk to him about it." She turned her head to look in Prue's eyes.
"Piper, I seriously doubt Jeremy, your best friend mind you, is mad at you for something no one could've prevented."
Piper didn't look convinced. "Will you come with me to talk to him tomorrow?"
"Of course, that's what big sisters are for." Prue smiled and kissed her on the forehead as she stood up and turned towards the door.
"Prue?"
"Yea?"
"Will you stay with me tonight? I mean, I don't wanna sound like a complete baby but I want someone next to me in case I have a nightmare tonight." She asked in her quiet voice. Prue turned laid back down.
"No problem…"
"Cuz that's what big sisters are for?" Piper finished her sentence as she pulled the blanket over both of them.
"Exactly."
TBC…
OK- I know that was short, and I'm sorry for that, but I'm not up for writing atm. Next chapter Jeremy spills his guts about his and Missy's plan. Will his and Piper's relationship ever be the same again? Review and I'll tell ya. ;)
Nicole
Peace and luv to all who are brave enough to still watch this show.