web hosting short URLs photo sharing

  Leo orbed in excitedly; he had been busy the past few weeks and wanted to surprise his wife.  It was late, but he knew she would still be up. He had orbed outside the bedroom door-something different as he normally went straight in the room.  As he got closer to the door, though, he heard a familiar voice.
  ìYes, my darling, I think you should.î
  ìI know, Grams, I've tried  really I have, but they're never home!î
  ìThis is important, honey.î
  ìGrams, I bet they won't even notice, they've been gone so much.  Prue hasn't been home for more than five minutes at a time, and Pheebs has class and... Cole.î
  ìWhat about Leo?î  Grams asked.
  Piper laughed.  ìLeo doesn't even know about this.î  She pointed to her stomach, but Leo, still standing outside, didn't know what she was talking about.
  ìI have to go soon, my darling, before ëTheyí realize I'm here. Remember, not a word to anyone about how I come visit you-especially to your sisters!î
  ìWhy is it that you come visit me and not them?î Piper questioned.
  ìBecause you need me,î  Penny answered.
  ìI always was the clingy one.î
  ìNo, Piper, if your sisters need someone to confide in, or talk to, they come to you.  You feel like there's no one to really talk to, so I'm here for you to confide in.î
  ìThat's not true, I can talk to Leo, Prue, or Phoebe!î
  ìBut you don't.î
  Piper sighed.  ìThank you for everything, Grams.î
  ìIíll bet you they notice!î  Grams replied.
  ìHow ëbout for every day Prue misses, you come visit me.  Same for Leo and Phoebe.î
  ìDeal.  I love you sweet girl, and you'll be beautiful with short hairî
 ìI love you, and thanks for being there when no one else was.î
  Leo heard shimmery sounds, and gathered that Penny Halliwell left.  He decided to wait a few minutes before entering so Piper didn't think he had been eavesdropping.  He heard a radio playing S Club 7ís I've never.
 

  I've never had a dream come true
  ëTill the day that I found you.
  Even though I pretend that I've moved on-

  The music was changed to another song, by Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey.

  There are times, I swear I know your here,
  When I forget about my fears,
  Leaving you my tears.
  Watching over me,
  My hope sees,
  What the future will bring,
  When you wrap me in your wings-

  Leo heard the music click off.  He slowly turned the doorknob and found Piper piling through a stack of papers.
  ìPheebs, please!  Fine, you can have my car!î  She looked up, visibly annoyed, but broke into a huge smile when she saw it was Leo and not her sister.
  ìWhy did you use the door?î  she questioned.
  ìTo surprise you.  And it worked!  Was Phoebe bothering you?î
  ìYeah, listen, I'm beat now, but in the morning we really need to talk.  If you have to orb out, can you meet me at the club?î
  Her eyes held sadness, like she expected him to say no.
  ìOf course, anything for you.î She looked relieved. ìPiper, if you ever want to talk, I'm always here, and if I'm not, just call my name and Iíll come orbing!î
  Piper smiled.  ìThank you!î  She hugged him tight, as if she would never let go.  Leo held her until she fell asleep.
  ìI'm so sorry,î he whispered to her sleeping form.  ìI promise to be here from now on.  I wonder what you were telling your Grams, though?î

 *****

  Piper awaked to an empty bed.  She wasn't disappointed; it had happened before.  She got up and showered and dressed before departing to P3.

  He was mad at himself- he should have been there.  ëTheyí had called, though, and he couldn't ignore ëthemí again.  He orbed in to P3 as they had planned last night.  She was sifting through papers, and had a bandage on her arm that had not been there before.  ëProbably another broken bottle,í he told himself.  He approached her.
  ìPiper-î he started.  Piper jumped a mile.
  ìLeo,î she sounded relieved. ìI didn't hear you orb.î  She smiled-a sad smile?
  ìI'm sorry I had to go-î
  ìIt's fine, I understand.î  She smiled again, she was so understanding.

  Now he felt really guilty.  ìWhat happened to your arm?î
  ìOh, you know, just another demon, don't worry, we got him.î
  ìWhat?!î
  ìPrue and Phoebe are fine don't, worry,î she gave him a reassuring smile
   ìWhat about you?î  he asked, concerned.
  ìOh, I managed to get away with a tinsy little cut!î
  ìAre you sure you're okay?î
  ìPositive.î
  ìDouble ex-î
  ìDouble extra promise, I've taught you well.î
  ìWhat did you want to talk about?î
  ìOh!  Um, Leo, you might want to sit for this.î  He took a seat at the bar.  ìUh, well, I wasn't feeling very well lately, so I went to the doctor.î
  ìWhat!  Piper!  Why didn't you tell me?î
  ìI didn't want you to worry.  Anyway,î she held up a hand to silence Leo, ìShe ran some tests, and... I'm pregnant!î
  Leo was in shock.  Was this what she was talking about with Penny the other night?  What did that have to do with short hair?  He looked at Piper's expectant face and broke out into a smile.  ìA baby?î  he questioned incredulously.  Piper nodded.  She walked around the bar and Leo grabbed her in his arms and held her for a long time.
  ìHow long have you know?î  He let go of her.  Piper looked visibly uncomfortable.
 ìPiper?î
  ìTwo weeks.î
  ìWhat!  Why didn't you tell me before?î
  ìI tried, I'm sorry, Leo, I really did, but you weren't home for awhile and...î  she trailed off.
  ìDo your sisters know?î
  Piper laughed.  ìI haven't seen either of them for more than five minutes these last two weeks.î

 *****

  Leo orbed outside the door for a different reason tonight.  If Penny Halliwell was in there again, he didn't want to interrupt.  Sure enough, he heard voices in the room.
  ìYes, I told him, but I haven't told Prue or Phoebe yet.î
  ìDid you say anything about your hair?î
  ìNo!  You haven't forgotten our deal, have you Grams?î
  ìOf course not, child, but I just thought he might want to know if it would be the last time he sees you with long hair.î
  ìI'm not going until Thursday, that's three days away.î
  ìWell, Iíd better get going.î
  ìSay hi to Mom for me, will you?î
  ìOf course, precious.  I love you, and you'll make the best mother!î
  ìI love you, Grams.  I miss you!î
  ìOh, sweetie, don't get all emotional on me!î  Leo heard the familiar shimmery sound, but decided to orb in tonight.  When he got in the room, he saw Piper with sad tears spilling down her cheeks, a scene that broke his heart.
  He rushed to her side.  ìWhat's the matter?î
  ìOh, you know, pregnant women are emotional,î she joked.
  ìHoney, you can tell me, that's what I'm here for,î  he coaxed.
  ìOh, Leo, I just miss her so much,î  she broke into sobs.
  ìWho?î he asked as he rocked back and forth with her even though he knew the answer.
  ìGrams,î she straightened up and moved out of his tight embrace.  ìI'm sorry, I was just thinking about how great it would be if she were around all the time.î
  ìShe still comes to visit you all though,î Leo reasoned, trying not to give away too much of what he knew.
  ìOh, I know, but sometimes I just really need her.î

 *****

  Prue and Phoebe were sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee when Piper and Leo came down the stairs the next morning.
  ìWhoa!î Piper said, stepping back a little.  ìWhy are you both here at the same time?î
  ìWe figured we'd spend the day together, seeing as lately we've all been so busy,î Prue explained.
  ìThat's an understatement,î Phoebe put in.
  ìWell, yeah, that's why we're doing today, Pheebs.î
  ìAre you sure you guys can take the day off; you're not busy?î  Piper was sure if she could spend the day alone with her sisters, she could tell them about the baby.
  ìíCourse, we're sure, aren't we Pheebs?î
  ìOh, good!î  Piper was instantly excited.  ìWe have hardly seen each other lately!î  Leo knew she needed to talk with her sisters, so, for the first time in a long time, he didn't mind when the Elders called him away.  When he left, the trio was still giggling over something or another.

 *****

  At lunch, the girls were still laughing.  Soon though, they quieted, and Piper decided to tell them.
  ìGuys, I have something important to tell you-î she began.
  ìWhat?  What?  What?î  Phoebe was practically jumping out of her seat.
  ìPheebs, calm down and let the woman finish,î Prue joked.
  ìWell,î Piper restarted.  ìA few weeks ago I wasn't feeling so well-I thought it was just a bug, but decided to have it checked out anyway. And, it turned out that I'm pregnant.î  She waited expectantly for the reactions to her news.  Phoebe automatically jumped up and screamed, then came to squeeze Piper.
  ìAir, Pheebs,î Piper laughed.  Prue giggled, also, and came to join in the hug.  After a few minutes, they all sat down.
  ìHow long have you know, Pipe?î

 *****

  After going through the whole thing with Phoebe and Prue, the sisters decided to get back to the Manor.  They found themselves some coffee, and they all sat down in the sun room.  Soon after, Leo orbed in.
  ìHey, Leo, business or pleasure?î  Phoebe asked the usual question.
  ìActually,î Leo looked disappointed.  ìThere's a new demon on the loose.î
  ìFigures, we haven't had one for a while.î  Prue stood up.
  ìShe-demon or he-demon,î Piper asked as she went to kiss her husband.
  ìHe.  His name is Padoth.  Heís attacked only powerful witches before, and none have survived, so the Elders sent me on high lookout.î
  ìBooks of Shadows time,î Phoebe said, almost excited.  She ran up the stairs to the attic, and came back minutes later with it in her hands.
  ìHere... we...go..î she grunted as she set it down on the coffee table.  Leo stood over it and, using his powers, skimmed through it until it flips to a page.
  ìHere he is, Padoth,î Piper read from the pages of the old book that had been passed down the Warren line.  ìIt says he uses a witch's power against her, so we can't use our powers.  It does have a vanquishing spell, though, and a potion.î
  ìSo, piece of cake, we just throw the potion on him, say the spell, and get on with our lives, right?î  Prue inquired.
  ìWell, except I usually freeze the demon, then we say the spell.  For this we won't be able to.î
  ìShe's right,î Leo said.
  ìSo then we'll have to take him by surprise.î
  ìExactly.î
  ìLet's do this.î

 ******

  ìWell, not as easy as I first thought,î Prue said later that night.
 ìHow's you arm?î
  ìFine,î Piper answered weakly.
  ìHere, let me.î  Leo took her into his arms and held his hands over her.  They emitted a golden glow, and in an instant, Piper was healed.
  ìThanks, Leo.  Hey, Prue, what does your watch say, mine's stopped.î
  ìEight-thirty.î
  ìOh!  I have to go, um, take a shower and get to bed.  You know, early day tomorrow!î
  ìOkay, sweetie, see you in the morning.î
  Piper raced up the stairs to her room.  If she didn't hurry, she'd be late for meeting with Grams.  She ran into her room.
  ìGrams, hi!  I'm so sorry I'm late, there was a demon-î
  ìNo need to explain, child.  I understand.  So it looks like you've gotten closer with your sisters.î
  ìOh, yeah!  We spent the whole day together.î
  ìTomorrow's the big day huh?î
  ìYep, take a good look, this is the last time you see Piper Halliwell with long hair for a while.î
  ìSo you listened to me about keeping your last name, huh?î
  ìYep.  Grams, how much do you think they'll have to cut off?î  she asked with a hint of worry in her voice.
  ìWell, to make a good sized wig they'll need seventeen inches.  I'm so proud of you, doing this selfless act to give away your hair.  Do you know where you will send it yet?î
  ìWell, there's this place that would make a wig of my hair that cancer victims would use.  That's where my hair's going.î
  ìYou're not going to tell them are you?î
  ìWhat?î  Piper was confused.
  ìWhy you're cutting you're hair.î
  ìThey don't need to know.î
  ìUh, oh, I sense a being, not a human, though, near us.î
  ìProbably Leo.  Iíll see you tomorrow, right, Grams?î
  ìRight, Precious.î
  Leo entered the room right after Penny Halliwell had gone.  He went over to his wife who was sitting on the bed with her back turned to him.

  ìHey, honey,î he said. Piper jumped a mile.  ìLeo, I didn't know you were here.î
  ìObviously.î  He sat down next to her and took her hand in his.  He then glanced upwards before turning back to Piper.
  ìSorry, Honey, ëtheyí say it's urgent.î  He gave her a quick kiss before orbing out to meet with the Elders.
  ìIt always is,î she muttered before falling asleep.

  The next morning, Piper woke up early for her appointment.  She sneaked out of the house without anyone noticing her.  Leo still hadn't returned, so that wasn't a problem.  By the time Prue and Phoebe woke
 up, she was home.
  ìPiper, your hair!î  Phoebe shouted.  So much for being subtle, Piper thought.
  ìPiper, what happened?î  Great, now Prue was awake.
  ìI, uh, just decided to cut it.î
  ìYou were never a good liar, now fess up.î
  ìReally, Pheebs, no lie, I just needed a change.  Well, see you guys, I'm heading to P3.î  With that she was out the door.
  ìWhoa!  What was that all about?î
  ìI don't know, Pheebs, I really don't know.î

  Back at the club, Piper was stacking boxes when she heard a familiar sound.
  ìHey, Leo, business, or pleasure?î
  ìJust stopped by to see my favorite girl.î
  ìOh.î
  ìWhat?  You sound relived.î
  ìNothing.  I'm glad you're here.  Can you help me stack these boxes, I can't reach that high.î
  ìAnything.î
  ìHey, Leo?î
  ìYeah?î
  ìI love you.î

 *****

  Piper ran into her room.  ìGrams?î
  ìRight here, child!î
  ìHow do you like it?î
  ìIt's beautiful.  Piper, I won't be coming over as often, now, you know.î
  ìWhat?!  Grams, Prue and Phoebe noticed, but not Leo!î
  ìHoney, you know he knew.  He must have found out about us, and wanted you happy, so he pretended not to know.î
  ìBut, Grams, Iíll miss you.î  Leo heard from outside the door.
  ìDarling, you don't need my anymore- you've refound your relationships with you sisters and Leo.î
  ìPlease don't go.î  Piper was begging now.
  ìI love you.î
  ìI love you, Grams.î  Piper was sobbing now.  Leo walked into the room.

  ìI'm sorry,î  he whispered to his wife.
  ìThank you.î  She stood up and hugged him, hard and long.  ìYou're the best anyone could ask for.  It was so hard saying good-bye again.î
  ìYou'll see her soon, she never could stay away for long.î  Piper laughed through her tears.
  ìSee you soon, Grams.î