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Born To Be Wild

by Catheryne


DISCLAIMER: The characters are property of WB and Spelling Inc.

The door of the manor opened and Piper stepped out, wearing tight black leather pants and a plastic maroon bikini style top. Slung over her shoulder was a black leather jacket emblazoned with the words 'Out of Control' at the back. She wore fire engine red lipstick, and her brown hair caught up in a ponytail on the top of her head was streaked with blond.

The stiletto heeled boots sounded on the pavement as she hurried to meet the man waiting for her on the Harley. "Scram, Kit." The black cat gave a snarl and ran inside the house.

Phoebe ran to the door. "Piper!"

"What do you want now?"

"Come home before midnight."

Piper began to laugh. She slapped the back of her cyclist, who began snickering too. "Yeah, Phoebe, right! Midnight! Come on, Danny boy. Let's party!" The motorcycle growled ferociously before it sped away down the street.

They arrived in P3 in time to see the live band performance. Piper danced like a maniac, screaming over the din to be heard. From behind the bar he watched her, frowning at what he saw.

Piper walked to the bar. "Give me the usual."

"You've had enough, Piper."

Piper glared at the bartender. "What do you care? Just give me the damn drink."

He shook his head but he knew he had no choice. She still owned the club. He gave her the glass. She wrapped her fingers around the stem but he didn't let go until she looked at him with those beautiful brown eyes. "Take it easy," he cautioned. "It's not water."

"What? You think I'm stupid?" She walked away from the bar after giving him a withering look. She then returned to partying with her date.

A couple of hours later she sat on the bar, dead drunk. Her date shook her. "Come on, baby, let's hit the sack at my place."

"Leave her alone. Her sisters called. They'll pick her up later."

The biker shrugged and left without much of a fight, since a vivacious blonde was hanging on his arm.

The bartender cleaned up and closed the club. "Piper." She didn't stir. "Piper, I need to get you home now." She was too drunk to care. He grabbed his sweater from the counter and made her wear it. "Can you stand?" Her legs were like jelly. After several trials he gave up and lifted her up. He took her to his truck and drove her home.

"Piper!" Phoebe cried when she opened the door to find him carrying her sister. "Again?"

He nodded. "Again."

Phoebe massaged her temples. "You know the drill."

He carried her to her room and tucked her in bed. Carefully, he disentangled her hair from his arm and cut the rubber band that held the hair so tight on top of her head. She was punishing her scalp. He looked around and saw that Phoebe was still downstairs, probably trying to contact Prue. He went to the closet and pulled out a face towel. He washed it with soap and water and began slowly removing the heavy makeup from the smooth skin. When this was done he washed the towel and hung it to dry. Before leaving, he touched her face again. She would never change. He was only kidding himself with this adulation. It had always been unrequited, always will be.

When he turned the key on the ignition, he heard Phoebe's familiar goodbye. "Thanks again, Leo!"

Piper arrives in the club the next afternoon looking harried. She checked the books, listing down what to order and tallying the needed amount.

"Do we have an aspirin around here?" she asked Leo in a raspy voice.

"Hold a minute." Leo checked the drawers for a bottle. Finding none, he lifted a stool and climbed on to open the overhead cabinets.

Piper's lips formed into a smile. She hadn't noticed before, but her bartender did have a magnificent body. She grabbed her bag and glanced up at him. He was busily moving things about in search of the medicine. She quickly snapped open her compact and grimaced. She looked like a woman with a hangover, which she was exactly. She dabbed on the foundation. Still staring intently at her reflection, her hand moved to get the black eyeliner and dark eye shadow. She couldn't grope for her lipstick so she put down the compact and moved to search for it.

"You don't need to put those on. They make you look old."

Piper's left eyebrow arched. "You're pretty confident, aren't you, to insult your employer?"

He shrugged. "I'm merely stating a fact." He took her make up set and inspected the contents one by one. "Black eyeliners. Silver eyeliners. Brown blush. Brown lipstick. Dark shadows. You have a thing for dark stuff huh?"

She found herself answering him, although he didn't deserve any explanation. "Dark is classic. It's elegant."

He shook his head. "Not in the way you wear it, it's not."

"How dare—"

"You only succeed on making yourself look like a slut."

Her eyes widened. "You self-absorbed bastard," she whispered, not believing her ears.

The phone rang, and Leo moved away so she could have some privacy. Several seconds later he heard her shrill voice yelling, and the sound of glass breaking. He winced. The door to her office slammed shut.

He resumed working in the bar. It wasn't until about half an hour later that he walked towards her office, because she still hadn't emerged. He knocked, but there was no answer. He did hear muffled sobbing. He entered the room to see the mess she had created. Papers were strewn over the floor. The sheets of her makeshift bed were undone and flung at the side of the room. Chairs were overturned and her phone was off the hook.

"He wasn't meant for you, you know."

"You think you know so much."

"I do."

"Then tell me why even the most pathetic and unworthy men don't want me."

"Because they are pathetic and unworthy. They don't deserve you. You're looking at the wrong place when all along, what you're trying to find is right in front of you."

Piper looks at him and smiles lopsidedly. "You've wanted me all along, haven't you?"

"I've loved you all along."

"Crap! You want me. Well," she wipes her tears away. "This may just be your lucky day, bartender." She takes his hand and presses a kiss against his palm. She touches it to her breast. "I hope you bought a lottery ticket. Your fortune's suddenly turned." She pulled him down to her and they faced each other, kneeling. "Kiss me. I'll fulfill your wildest fantasies. You don't need to just imagine. This is your chance, Leo."

Leo felt the softness beneath his hand. He caught his breath. She knelt there, before him, offering him his greatest fantasies. She pulled his head towards hers, and kissed him softly.

"You hit the jackpot," she whispered, kissing him deeper and harder.

Leo seemed to have no control of himself. His hands rose to hold her head steady. For years he'd thought about nothing but this. He moved his hands down the length of her back to cup her bottom. Her right hand touched his cheek, feeling the stubble on his chin. He needed to shave already.

In response, Leo's hand moved to touch her face. This was his dream, and she was giving him the chance to fulfill it. When he felt the tears on her cheek, he snatched his hand away. Immediately he pulled away, breathing harshly.

"I can't do this."

She too was breathing hard. "What do you mean you can't do it?"

"You don't want this."

"Do I look like someone who doesn't want to?"

Her face was flushed, and her lips looked like they've been ravaged. Leo's face flamed. And they have been. "You really don't want to, Piper. I won't let you use me to forget about your own failures. Face them. Learn to stand up for yourself. You don't need a man but you insist on making do with whomever is available."

Piper furiously gets up, humiliated at the rejection. Angrily she pulls open her blouse and flings it at the floor. "You don't want this? You can't fool me, Leo. You've wanted this since the moment you saw me."

Quietly Leo bends down to pick up her discarded blouse. He inspects it and, seeing that the buttons were already torn out, he folded it and places it on the desk. He opens Piper's mini closet and takes a red shirt. It was one of her skin tight tops. He puts it back and reaches to the bottom for a more conservative polo. He strode towards her and put it on her, buttoning it up.

He gets his handkerchief from his pants pocket and wipes her tears away. "Wash your face. We're opening in an hour."

Piper watches him go. She closed her eyes at the sound of the door slamming shut. The tears began to flow again. She walked to the bathroom and did as she was told.

The music blared loudly at P3. Phoebe arrived with Kit.

"Hey, Leo!"

Leo smiles at her. "They've learned not to ban the cat, huh? What're we having tonight, Pheebs?"

"Just a soda." Her eyes moved around. "Where's Piper?"

Leo motioned to the far side of the room. Piper had changed into one of her body fitting suits. She'd put on her thick make up again. Four men surrounded her, vying for attention.

"I envy her sometimes you know. She has the best powers."

"She has the worst."

"Does she know?"

"That I know? No. I thought it would be best if she didn't."

Phoebe sipped her soda and looked at Piper again, stroking Kit's fur. "Still, she's the only one of us you'd least suspect. Here I am, not able to leave the house without a black cat. And Prue can't go anywhere without dark gloves. Piper's the only one among us who can function like a normal human being."

"It's her powers that are driving her to this. Pain is everywhere, Phoebe. You and Prue have to help her. This will drive her insane."

Prue arrived and sat next to Phoebe. "I see she's at it again."

"Yes. She's never been very responsible, but this. This is utterly mad." Phoebe glances down on Prue's hands. "I can see them peeping out."

Prue's hands were glowing. She immediately pulls up her gloves. "I hate this. Leo, didn't they tell you to give me a hint of how to control this?"

"You'll all find a way. You've had your powers for what—two months—of course—"

"You may be right, Leo. Piper's been like this for just that amount of time."

"Speak to her about it. She has the one that's hardest to manage."

Phoebe stroked the cat. "Like mine isn't?" She whispers to the cat and lets it go. The cat ran to Piper. They saw Piper visibly cringe at the sight of it. Nevertheless, she picks it up and lets it whisper Phoebe's message.

Piper says something to the men around her. They move away and Piper walks towards them. Leo saw that she kept her eyes from meeting his. "What do you people want? Couldn't you see I was having fun?" She hands Kit over to Phoebe. "And next time get some cute little animal to do your tricks with you, ok? Not this furry black ball. Gives me the creeps."

Piper parked her car in the hospital lot. Taking the key off the ignition, she breathed in deeply and looked at the imposing building with apprehensive eyes. She looked around to make sure that nobody she knew was around to spot her. She grabbed the coat from the passenger seat and got out. She walked towards the entrance.

The moment she stepped in, she sharply caught her breath. This may not be the best place for her, but she resolved that she would be of most use here. Her knees were about to give way. The pain came at her full force from all direction. Although the hall was quiet, screams rang in her ears, and she winced to keep from screaming out herself.

She leaned against a wall, forcing down a groan. She must not be ready yet. She looked at her hands. She was the only one among the three of them who has not practiced her new abilities. Phoebe had almost perfected her skills and Prue, although sometimes bungling a little, could control the otherwise lethal power.

A gurney went by Piper, and she glanced away. The moment it passed in front of her, she sucked in her breath. Piper gritted her teeth, releasing a relieved breath only when it was already far from her. She inhaled deeply and ran out. It was too much too soon.

The car sped away and Leo materialized on the parking lot. He had followed, watching her every move. Perhaps he should tell her what he was, so he may guide her. Deciding on a hospital visit was definitely the wrong move for an amateur to take. He shook his head and vanished in swirling blue lights. Lunch break's over.

Phoebe was carrying several bags of grocery into the house at the same moment Piper arrived.

"Thank goodness you're here. Help me take these in, will you?"

Piper frowned, reluctantly taking two bags from her sister. She made a disgusted face when she saw that Phoebe took Kit with her to the grocery again. "You weren't thinking again. What do you suppose you'd have done if I didn't arrive?"

"Pray that you will?" Piper put the groceries on the table and sat down heavily on a chair. "There's more outside you know."

"I helped you with two already. Handle the rest yourself!"

Phoebe bit back a retort and went outside for the rest. She returned to the kitchen to find Piper asleep, her head resting on the table. "Don't tell me she's drunk again. In the middle of the afternoon!" Phoebe bent to smell her breath. "What have you been doing then?" She shook her awake. "Piper. Piper, honey, you go sleep upstairs."

"Later," she muttered.

Phoebe figured that at least Piper was asleep. It doesn't matter that she'd have one heck of a crick when she woke up. She took out a can of cat food. She began opening it and pulled open the cover. Kit jumped onto the sink and Phoebe jerked in surprise, cutting her hand.

"Ahh!" The cut was long and shallow, but it hurt a lot. She washed her hand with running water and soap, and then grabbed a towel to press against it. "Piper. Piper, come on go upstairs."

Piper blinked several times. "What that?"

"I cut myself on the cat food."

Piper took a deep breath. She held out her hand and Phoebe gave her hers. "This isn't going to heal, ok? I'm just taking the pain away." The cut was still bleeding, but it was no longer hurting. Phoebe thanked Piper and wrapped the bandage around the wound again. She then fed Kit.

With Phoebe's back on her, Piper covered her unhurt hand with the other, tamping down the stinging feeling. Phoebe and Prue thought this was all great. She took away the pain. What they didn't know was that no pain leaves so easily. No pain fades. Everything has repercussions.

The band was preparing for the performance in P3, so the people were still milling about. Some were around the bar, and Leo kept them entertained with his deft hands on different bottles, mixing up concoctions that came out to be instant hits with the customers.

Someone pierced the air with a whistle, and all heads turned towards the stairs leading into the club. Some of the regulars greeted her as she slithered her way to the crowd. "Hey, Piper! Nice dress."

"Come home with me, Piper!" someone else yelled.

Piper grinned at the man. "You wish!" She made her way to the bar and asked Leo for her regular. Leo shook his head as he prepared her drink. He couldn't keep his eyes from stealing glances towards her. She had on a peek-a-boo black lace that covered her until the wrists, and coming mid-thigh. She'd curled her hair, and on her feet were black sandals that were strapped crisscrossed to her calves. She looked wonderful, he thought. But it was too much, even for her. If he had any say, she'd never wear those clothes outside the bedroom.

"Careful, Leo. I may melt," she taunted him. "And the night's just begun."

The band began playing and the crowd immediately went towards the stage. Someone laid a hand on her shoulder. "Come on, hot lady. The dance floor's burnin' for us."

Piper smiled seductively and waved a small goodbye to Leo. "Have fun tending now!"

Leo nodded at Piper and watched her move against the man. He would never understand her. One moment she'd appear as an angel, and the next she'd be a bitch. One instant she's the victim, the next she's the predator. That afternoon, as she stepped into the hospital, Leo knew her intent. He wanted to scream out to her not to even try, but he couldn't. He needed to find the right time. He had thought she had come to some sort of realization then, but he was wrong. Piper was still the same Piper she was last night.

He gripped the bottle tightly as he saw the man's hand moving down to cup the very same bottom he had cupped last night. He wanted to jump over the counter and tackle the man right then and there, but he didn't dare. He smiled in triumph when he saw Piper slap the man's overconfident hand away. Piper pushed away and walked towards Leo.

"Where's my drink?" she demanded. Leo handed her the glass he had put in the shelf. She took it. "I'll be in my office. You look at things here for me." With the sharp command, she walked away.

What was it really that made him fall in love with her? She was nothing but a self-centered bitch who cared about nothing but getting the men to sniff around her. The cyclist from a couple of nights ago sat at his bar. Leo fixed his drink.

"Seen Piper?"

"She doesn't want to be disturbed. She's resting."

"The slut owes me a night."

"What?"

The cyclist sneered. "She's a fake. I've talked to the others. She's nothing but a come on over bitch who never follows through with her promises." The cyclist downed the scotch in one gulp. "She'll lead you on but will always find a way out. So I figure she owes me a night."

Leo took the empty glass and placed it at his shelf. He cleared all the other glasses and bottles on the bar counter.

"Would you two mind moving several chairs away?" he asked from a couple sitting there. The two moved away when they saw the look in his eyes.

"What's the matter with you, man?" the cyclist demanded.

"The matter…well, the matter is…" He leaned forward and grabbed the lapels of the leather jacket and pulled it to him so that the cyclist was lying half across the bar. "I want you to walk away from here right now and never show your face in P3 again." He threw the man back in his seat. "Your attitude's pretty unpleasant, and I don't want anyone badmouthing my employers."

The cyclist sneered, but knew that there were other men hired in the club. He threw several bills to pay for his drink and stalked out. "What," Leo said, "no tip?" He saw that the band had stopped and the people were looking at him strangely. Bet they didn't expect their happy bartender to go off like he did. He waved at them, "As you were, people." Nervous laughter filled the room. The tension slowly faded as the band began to play though.

Leo surveyed his bar from the customer's viewpoint. Nothing looked wrong. He had to warn Piper about her ex's though. If what the cyclist said was true (and the very prospect filled him with such tenderness) she had to watch her back from now on. He raised a finger to catch Sam's attention. "I'm going to Piper's office. Tend for me here, will you?"

"Sure, man."

Leo walked towards the door leading to the quiet part of the club. The moment he opened the door, he heard her scream. He furiously ran to the direction of her room and tried to pry open the door. He could hear her terrified yelling and the sound of heavy furniture falling. She must have been screaming for help for a while and the noise of the band drowned it.

Leo decided to ram the door in. He shoved at it with his shoulder, but he remembered that Piper had had it made with the strongest materials and the best locks and hinges. He had no choice now. He orbed into her office and was surprised to see the man dancing with her earlier attacking her.

He had pushed her against the wall. Her dress was torn at the shoulder, and she was vainly trying to push him away. He was suddenly filled with an uncontrollable rage. He held the man by the back of his collar and flung him away. Piper collapsed on the floor, sobbing hard.

Leo saw everything from behind a red haze. He pummeled the man to the floor, unable to stop himself or control the force of his blows. When the berserk rage ebbed, he stopped. The man lay unconscious on the floor, his bloody face turned away. Leo moved to check his pulse. Still alive, the scum bag. He'd deal with him later.

He looked at her, crying there, curled on the floor. He tamped down the fury rising within him again. A tenderness filled him. He knelt next to her and wrapped her in his arms. She winced and pulled away.

"Where do you hurt?"

She shook her head. She was more ill at ease with being touched again than hurt by the cuts and bruises.

"Did he—" He looked her over and breathed a sigh of relief. He would have killed him if he had. He knew she needed comfort, but he also understood that she was afraid of him because of the attack. He didn't move to touch her, only opened his arms to see if she would come to him herself.

After looking into his eyes for long moments, she burrowed into his embrace and breathed his scent in.

"Leo! Leo! Crap, man. What happened here?"

"Call the police, Sam."

Sam nodded and ran out.

Piper sat on her chair, wrapped in Leo's jacket. Leo handed her a glass of water. Darryl was sitting before her, asking Piper several questions. Leo just stood with his back against the wall, watching the two of them talk.

Darryl nodded. "Look, Piper, we're gonna need you down at the station."

Leo immediately stood behind Piper. "I don't think so, Darryl. She's pretty shaken up. I'm going to bring her home and we'll see if she's fine in the morning."

Darryl looked Piper over. As far as he was concerned, she asked for it. Piper Halliwell had always been the least controllable of the sisters. She was cunning and manipulative, and this must just be one of her boyfriends finally getting full of it.

"Fine. But if you're not at the station by nine, I'm personally coming over to the manor."

Leo saw Kit run inside the office. "Your sisters are here. So we'll see you tomorrow, Darryl?"

"You'd better." Darryl left, nodding to both Prue and Phoebe as they got in.

"Piper, are you all right?"

Piper stiffened when she saw Prue and Phoebe come in, looking concerned. She wasn't ready for this. She forced herself to stand up, but would have stumbled if Leo didn't support her.

"Where are you going? We just got here," Phoebe demanded. Piper couldn't bear the negative forces emanating from her sisters. She had to get away from them. Fast.

"Leo's taking me home. You two stay here and look after the place." Prue nodded and moved to hug her.

Piper warded her off. "Just…stay away from me please!"

Prue looked hurt, and Piper just ignored her. Her sisters were emotional people. Why can't they understand that she was an empath? They had to control themselves.

Leo opened the door to the manor and motioned her in. "I'll lock the door before I leave. You go on upstairs."

Piper turned to look at him with her soft brown eyes. She looked so fragile in his big jacket. "Are you going to leave me alone in the house?" she asked softly. Leo stared intently into her eyes. He felt her sucking him in. "I wish you wouldn't," she whispered.

Leo took a deep breath. "Why don't I take you to your room and wait until you fall asleep? And then I'll leave."

She smiled. "I'd like that." He leads her upstairs and opens the door for her. They step into her room. "Sit there," she indicated. "Thank you for coming when you did," she said, taking off the jacket. Leo swallowed. The tear in the dress showed off one creamy shoulder perfectly. She moved towards him and he caught his breath. What was she doing? He realized that she was handing him his jacket. He took it. He didn't know if he imagined it, but he thought he saw her smile. "I'll just have to take a bath. I have to take out the feel of his hands on my skin."

"Sure."

Piper went into the bathroom, and the sound of running water reached Leo's ears. A little while later, he heard her call for him. He opened the door and saw her in the tub, the thick bubbles covered the water but he was tortured by the very fact that only soap separated them.

"Leo, I think I strained my arms too much tonight. Would you mind washing my hair for me? There's my shampoo over there. Thanks, Leo. This means so much to me."

"No problem," he answered. He massaged her hair and she leaned her head back, closing her eyes. He quickly rinsed it so he could leave. "I'll wait for you outside."

She walked into her bedroom again to find Leo sitting on the chair. "I'll wait outside so you can dress up."

"No, Leo! Please I don't want to be left alone here."

"You want me to stay?"

"Just close your eyes. No peeking." Leo heard the scuffle of cloth and the sound of feet. She may not know it, he thought, but she was driving him insane. "Okay you can open your eyes now."

Leo opened his eyes and sucked in his breath. Where were the clothes that made so much noise? More importantly, where was the towel?

She held out her hand to him and whispered, "Please, Leo, for just a few moments, I need to feel like I mean something. I need to know I'm worth more than—than-- Tell me again you love me, even if you have to lie. It's the greatest gift you can give me now."

He stood up and took her hand.

Piper stands beside the bed, watching him sleep. He looked so peaceful, and last night, he'd taken her to heaven. She's never forget it. It was the most intense and moving experience she's ever had. For his gift, she thought she'd give him one back. She walked to her dresser and pulled out a tube that she had reserved for this day. She took a towel and went to the bathroom.

Leo knocked on the door some ten minutes later. "Piper, Darryl's waiting for us."

"Yeah, honey, be right there!"

Leo smiled. She sounded so different, so carefree. The door opened and she emerged from the steam. He smiled. She pulled off the towel that covered her hair.

"Ta da! What do you think?"

Leo stared at her hair, which had no trace left of the blond streaks that highlighted it last night. It was back to the same brown hair she had before. Freshly washed, without that heavy make up plastered on her face, he saw the same girl Piper was before she discovered her powers.

"I love it. You look wonderful."

"Thanks." She pulled him down to kiss him. "You're dressed already? Disappointing."

"I can always dress again later."

"Nah. I don't want Darryl darkening my door. You know, I don't think he likes me at all."

"Who wouldn't like you?" Piper turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "Well, yeah, you're not instantly liked, but when they get to know you…" The eyebrow arched higher. "Ok, so you were a bitch."

"But I'm yours to tame," she grinned. "Ok, give me ten minutes and we'll be off."

Five minutes later the car pulled away to go to the station. Prue and Phoebe looked at each other in amazement.

"Was that Piper?"

"Were those my clothes she was wearing?"

They chuckled. Leo must have done some heavy hocus pocus last night. "So who tells her about the warlock?"

"The moment she steps in, I will," Phoebe said. She walks towards her pet fish. "What's wrong, Dylan?" Phoebe stares intently at the goldfish. "Strong?" Phoebe shook her head. "Not again. Okay, thanks for the info." Phoebe gets the flakes from the table and feeds it.

"What is it, Pheebs?"

"Dylan thinks there's gonna be an earthquake. I hope Piper arrives here soon. I don't want to have to worry about her."

The lights flicker out. "Blackout? The earthquake hasn't even occurred yet!"

"Prue, come with me to the basement. We have to look at the switch. The neighbor has power."

Prue took off her gloves and her glowing hands lighted the way. "I'm pretty handy, am I not?"

"Yes, Prue, you are." Phoebe made a purring sound and Kit jumped into her arms. "You go check downstairs first and warn us if there's something suspect, baby." A few seconds later, Kit jumped back to Phoebe's arms and meowed in her ear. "All clear, Prue."

"I'll have to be there by, say, seven?"

"I can take care of everything. You can sleep the day away. No worries."

Piper smiled at him. "Nah. I'll come." She suddenly pointed to a building on the other side of the road. "Oh Leo, let's stop there! I've always wanted to look at those!"

Leo glanced at the shop. Le Cucine Italia. He grinned. It was the classy kitchenware shop that opened a few weeks ago. The loveliest designs of plates and cups bought at the price of a car. But she looked so excited and Leo had never seen her express domesticity before. He turned the car in the shop's direction.

He watched her inspect the porcelain designs with avid fascination. She was taking particularly long on one set. He stood beside her. She held it up to him, and he was struck by the leap they've taken last night. This morning they were suddenly looking like a real couple.

"It's pretty, isn't it?"

He shook the thoughts away. "Yes. Very elegant."

"I think I should buy a set of these when I have a family."

"The kids will just break them."

"I was thinking the same thing."

"Oh, Leo!" she pulled him to the kitchen showcases. "Look how lovely this is. I always thought this would be a great design for a kitchen."

"You can't even cook, Piper."

"That's what you think!"

He touched her cheek. "I know nothing about you huh?"

"Well, maybe something," she teased.

A sales representative greeted them. "I see you're looking at some of our best displays. Getting married soon?"

Piper burst out laughing, and Leo chuckled with her. "Yes," he told the woman. "We're canvassing for our new home. We'll come back some other time when my fiance isn't overwhelmed by hilarity." The woman smiled at their departing figures.

"Why did you tell her we're engaged?" She slapped his arm playfully.

"We may well be someday," he answered.

Piper grinned at him. "You wish!" She leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek.

Leo dropped Piper off in front of the manor. "I gotta check how they did without either of us at P3."

"Ok." She kisses him. "I'll drop by later."

"Want me to pick you up?"

"No," she smiled. "I'll manage."

She was the most beautiful creature in the world. "I'll be waiting." He stayed parked there until he saw her get inside. Only when she'd been in the house a few minutes did he see it safe enough to leave.

"Piper! Piper, is that you? Get down here!"

Piper hurried down the stairs and saw the man standing before her sisters. "Where did you come from?"

The warlock turned to look at Piper. "A new one. The Charmed Ones huh? I like you three. At least in this plane, you're not so scary at all."

"We're never scary."

The warlock snorted. "I encountered you once in some other dimension. You thought you vanquished me, but you only exiled me to this place. I've vowed to hurt everyone you love. But I'm starting with you three." Flames burst from his fingers and he threw them at Piper's direction.

Piper screamed and scampered down to Prue and Phoebe. They were panicking, and Piper was again attacked by the rush of their feelings surging into her. "Calm down, you two!"

The demon threw flames at them, and Phoebe's arm got singed. "Talk about passive powers! Prue, try using yours?"

"What are you talking about? I light up!! I throw uncontrolled flares!!"

Piper felt her own arm burning from Phoebe's wound. She closed her eyes and kept herself from crying out. Phoebe stared at the warlock in wonder. "It doesn't even hurt. What sort of flames did you use?"

Piper gritted her teeth, wanting to hit Phoebe. She kept her hand to herself though, because she'll most likely absorb any pain she inflicts on her sister. "Prue, focus. One of us has to have an active power. Throw the lights at him. Try to turn the light into hit and throw it full force at him!"

Prue breathed in deeply and did as Piper told her to. Soon, a blaze of energy shot out from her hands. She felt the power in her arms. Prue grinned and began shooting sparks of heat at the warlock. He blinks away.

Prue hugged Piper, jubilant at having been able to release her real powers. Piper hugged her back. The joy in Prue was making the pain worthwhile. This was what she needed. She had to surround herself with happiness and stay away from pain as much as possible. Maybe she could control this cursed power.

"Kit? Kit, honey. Where did you go?" The cat rubbed its body against Phoebe. "There you are! What? Okay," faces her sisters, "upstairs, you two. Now. It's the earthquake." The three girls run upstairs. Almost immediately the ground shook. It was only for several seconds, but it seemed like a lifetime.

Piper's heart was pounding. She had to know if they were all right. She looked over to her sisters. They were both fine. Nothing was broken in the house. They've earthquake-proofed it a year ago. She grabbed the phone and dialed the number at P3. It was busy. Her heart pounded harder. How was he? She felt the force of her own panic crushing her. She must have dialed ten times. She couldn't control herself anymore. She was hearing all the voices of people in pain around her. This was definitely a curse.

She slammed the phone down. A half-second later it rang. She picked it up.

"Piper, are you ok?"

"Leo! I've been trying to call you. I was so worried!"

"I've been dialing since it stopped."

"That's why. How are you?"

"Nothing broken. Maybe you should just stay there. The aftershocks will still come. The roads may not be safe."

A few moments later she hung up. Her sisters were looking at her. Suddenly she remembered the warlock's words. They didn't kill him. He blinked away. He'd be back soon, and Piper knew she had to be ready for him.

Piper arrived at P3 wearing a green tube top and silver tight pants. She grabbed one of the men and pulled him over to the bar. She was flirting with him when Leo turned to her.

"What do you think you're doing, Piper?"

"Having fun," she grinned at him. "Why the look? Leo! Did you actually think—I don't believe this." She turned to the man she'd grabbed. "Shoo! I need some privacy to speak with my bartender." The man left, shaking his head. "Leo, I pity you. Last night was a desperate woman's act. I was shaken and you were there. I thought you understood that this is who I am."

"I don't believe you. Last night, this morning, what I saw was genuine."

"Fine. If you want to delude yourself into thinking that, go on. Leo, I'll never fall in love with you. I was teasing you, and you fell right into the trap." She laughed.

Leo's jaw clenched. Did he really think she'd magically change after one night? He was even sorrier than he had first thought. She was Piper, always will be. He would not fall into her web again. Never. He leaned to whisper in her ear. "If that's true, Piper, you're even more pathetic than I thought."

Piper left him looking at her. She joined the dancers. When he wasn't looking anymore, she left the club and got into her car, sobbing out loud. She was struck by the intensity of the pain he exuded when he thought she had fooled him, used him. But it was for his own good. And she didn't want herself exposed to any more pain. The world had enough for her to handle.

Piper held her head in her hands. No! She breathed deeply. Crap! Complications again. She picked up the box and checked the back. 98% foolproof. She hoped she was one of the 2% getting fooled. This can't be happening. She threw the test away and left the indicator on the sink.

Leo had spoken to her of nothing but the club and ingredients missing for the last two months. It hurt her whenever he came near, because Leo has not let even an ounce of pain go. In fact, it just got deeper and it was festering right now. Piper was sorry she was causing him this much pain, and she had no idea how she would take it away from him without his knowledge.

Piper walks to the stage and looks over the sound system. She suddenly felt that familiar clenching pain in her heart. He was coming.

"Piper, I need to get some supplies."

She turned around and saw him standing quietly there, not even moving. "You know where the money is."

Piper watched him go. Sometimes she just yearned to wrap her arms around him. Leo strode out of her office. "When were you planning to tell me?"

Piper closed her eyes. How could she have forgotten? "What were you doing in my bathroom?"

"Don't change the topic, Piper. Didn't you think I had the right to know?"

"Why? How can you be sure you're the father? We've done it once, Leo. Who knows how many others I've been with? You know me."

Leo wanted to shake her. "I know you don't sleep with them. I talked to the last ones remember?"

"Those were before we made love. Let's say I changed my mindset after my night with you." Piper turned her back on him. "And don't go anywhere near my office again, Leo. You had no right to intrude on my privacy. All you had to do was look in the desk, but you knew that, didn't you?"

Piper walked out of the club. Leo knew, and soon, Prue and Phoebe will too. She drove around, tears falling down the sides of her cheeks. She hated having to paint herself as someone she's not. But it was the only way to keep Leo from the truth of what she really was. She had to veer away from the path of pain even before entering it.

Piper slowed down as she saw the chaos in front of her. She had not taken a busy road, so she was surprised to see a six car crash in the middle of the street. She got out of her car and immediately fell to her knees. "Aaaaah!"

Of course, it was an accident scene. There was panic, fear and pain. A lot of it, from the looks of things. She looked around and saw that no help was coming. Nobody knew about the accident yet, she imagined. After all, how many cars pass through this deserted road in the evenings? She heard a child's scream, and she felt again the intense pain filling her. She had to do something about these people. She grabbed her phone and dialed 911.

Help was coming, but that didn't mean these people were not suffering. Piper took a deep breath. This may be the biggest challenge she's had to face since the failed hospital attempt.

Piper walked to the car nearest to her, and saw that the driver was unconscious. She breathed in relief. It was a good thing. At least he wasn't in any pain. She followed the sound of crying, and saw a little girl with a bleeding arm.

"Shhh. Honey, don't worry. I'll take a look at it." Piper went to her car and grabbed one of the clean linen cloths she bought for P3. She tore at it and wrapped the little girl's arm on it. The girl cried louder.

"It hurts!"

Piper looked at the girl and felt the pain she was feeling. "Ok, honey. I'll take it away." Piper seeped the pain from her young body into hers. Dull. It was dull and throbbing. "Stay here, ok?"

Soon, Piper had given most of them first aid. She had also taken away most of the pain of all those conscious.

"How about you, miss? You need to go to the hospital?"

"No, no," she assured the paramedics. "I wasn't in the accident. My car's parked there."

The paramedic saluted her. "Good job with the tourniquets. You'll be visiting them I hope. I'm sure they'll be thankful to you for calling for help."

The rescue team sped away, leaving the wrecked cars for clean up tomorrow morning. It had been Piper's most grueling night, but she felt exhilarated. She had finally seen a purpose to her powers. She was so tired, and her body was throbbing all over. Her head ached, and she thought that Mr. Fenmore would be okay now. His hit on the head was no longer killing him. Her entire body ached, as though her car had crashed six times. Come to think of it, it well could have, because of everyone she'd helped.

She walked slowly to her car, wincing at every step. She pulled open the car door and then she felt herself falling…falling. And then oblivion.

"Oh, Phoebe, don't watch the news. It's too gory."

Phoebe raised the volume. "Ssshh! Look at all those poor people. Just think. They were just driving by when slam! I can't believe this. Ten people seriously injured and three people dead."

Prue shook her head and dialed the number to P3. "I hope Piper heard this so she'd stay away from that road, or else she'd not arrive until midnight. You know she likes taking those out of the way roads. Oh hello, Leo. Is Piper there? What? What time? I see. There was an accident. No. No. Okay that would be the best. Thanks."

"What is it? Phoebe demanded.

"Piper left the club hours ago. Phoebe, was Piper's car there?"

"I don't know!" She turned up the volume again.

"So far, only those who were conscious have been IDed. The casualties will be identified within the next half hour as volunteers try to retrieve identification papers from the crushed cars. We have the following names ready. The injured are Thomas Clark, John and Gwen Owens, the Newton family. Also injured were a young woman and her two little girls. They haven't regained consciousness yet, so we don't have names yet. Unfortunately, two women and a man perished tonight. No information about them, except that one of the women was in her mid twenties and the other in her fifties. Back to studio."

"Don't look like that, Phoebe."

"Are you ready to orb?"

They turn around to see Leo standing there grim-faced. "Did you see?"

"Yes. Now come on." Phoebe and Prue gave him their hands. "If she's there, no matter how critical she is, insist on taking her home. I'm more worried about Piper staying in the hospital than her being injured."

"What do you mean?"

Leo stiffened. "You haven't talked about her powers yet, have you?" They shook their heads. "Come on." He orbed them to an isolated portion of the hospital.

A man on a gurney was being rolled into the operating room. He was conscious and didn't seem to have any trouble. "I'm telling you, I don't feel any pain."

"That's impossible, Mr. Clark."

"I really don't. First I was feeling like I wanted to die then and there. But then this angel just soothed the pain away."

"I'm sure he did, Mr. Clark."

"Oh, it was a young woman."

The doctor shook his head. "He must be pretty bad to be having delusions already."

"Hey guys. I don't want to appear overeager but is that kid's tourniquet familiar or what?"

They approach the girl. "Hi. Nice job on the arm."

"Yeah," the girl answered shyly. "The woman made it."

Prue caught her breath. "It is P3's. See the pencil scribbling at the edge? That's in Mrs. Wallace's hand."

"Ok, honey, we need you to tell me about the woman who wrapped you up. What did she look like?"

"Brown hair. Brown eyes. She massaged the pain in my arm away. Like she did with my sister and my mom and the other people too."

"Thank you, honey." They left the girl and went to a vacant spot in the hospital.

"Dammit!" cried Leo.

"We'll find her, Leo."

"I should have explained everything to her!"

"What is it?"

"She's going to kill herself sooner or later." Leo looked at the two with troubled eyes. "She doesn't take away pain, Phoebe. No pain vanishes. Everything she takes from you, she absorbs. And now she's struggling with ten people's agony."

"We have to find her."

Prue's phone rings. "Quick, it could be her!"

"Yes. Oh, Darryl. It is? We'll be right there." She hangs up and faces Phoebe and Leo. "Orb us home, Leo. We have to get a car and drive to the accident scene."

"Why?"

"Darryl called in that Piper's car was a few yards away from the accident scene."

"I'll orb us there."

"We have to get a car. How would it look to the police if we just appeared out of nowhere with no means of transportation?"

A half an hour later Prue waved at Darryl. Darryl motioned to the parked vehicle. "I take it this is Piper's?"

"Yes." They walk forward, but Darryl stops them.

"What's going on? We just have to see."

Darryl shakes his head. "We only needed your ID. You can't touch anything or go near it until we've finished."

"Darryl, what's going on?"

"Your sister's car was found with the driver's seat open with your sister nowhere in sight, Prue. And you see that?" He pointed to the long mark on the dry ground. "That usually indicates something heavy has been dragged. Now I don't want to scare you, but in these cases, it's most often a body."

"He's not getting killed, you guys!" Phoebe screamed, running to the attic. "BOS! BOS!"

Piper shakes her hands at him. "What monster are you? Why don't you just freeze?" She runs after Phoebe.

Prue tries flinging him away. "Nothing's working, you two!" She throws different stuff at him. Seeing that he seemed unhurt. "What do we do?" She runs after her sisters.

Phoebe is rifling hurriedly through the Book of Shadows. "If we can't destroy him, just send him away! Here! Read! It's Send to Another Plane!"

The sisters are in panic. The demon just entered the attic. They recite the spell. "Send me from this time and space. The world is not enough for you and me. Zap me from here where I stand into another place. Give me my wish so I may see what I must see."

"What did we just say?" Piper yelled. They found themselves in the attic, the demon gone.

"Well, it may be the wrong spell but at least it worked. The demon's gone!"

"But we have to know what that was supposed to do. BOS. Where's the Book of Shadows?" The girls look around. "Umm, guys. I don't think we're still in our world."

"Phoebe…"

"Hey I saved us! At least I found something to get us away from there!"

"The demon's probably helping himself to our fridge now."

The girls stood on the second floor of what they now called Other World Halliwell Manor. "What now?"

"We find out as much as we could until we can find a way to get us out of here. Look through our alter ego's stuff so we know how we're supposed to act. And stay away from them as long as we can. Now in to the rooms!"

"Prue! Phoebe! Come in here, you guys."

Prue and Phoebe comes running. Piper is standing in front of her closet. "What on earth are those?"

Prue lifted the black gloves. "I found a thousand gloves in my room. Well, maybe just a few dozen. But hello!"

"Don't laugh. But this is a bag of cat food. My room is filled with pets."

"Really? Let me see! You have a rabbit?"

"Hold it! What had you screaming? You scared the daylights out of me."

Piper flung open her closet and motioned for the two to look. "I'm a bitch."

Phoebe took out one of her skirts. "Oh man, you're a bitch witch!"

Prue grabbed one of Piper's revealing leather tops. "I like this one. Can I borrow it?"

The sisters hire a cab and get down at P3. Prue was wearing Piper's top. She also borrowed one of her shiny tight pants. Phoebe and Piper didn't bother to change though. Phoebe was wearing the spaghetti strapped blouse she went to school in and Piper had on her purple turtleneck and black slacks.

The customers, most of whom waited night after night to see what scandal Piper would be wearing next stopped dancing and stared at the three sisters climbing down the stairs. Leo, in the bar, turned to look and returned to work.

His head snapped back to the three. "What the—"

Piper walk towards Sam. She sure hoped this guy's name is still Sam in this world. "Sam, hi! Hand me my regular, will you?"

Sam looked at her strangely and handed her whiskey straight up. Her eyebrow rose, but since he was staring at her, she decided that if this was her regular here, she'd drink it. She raised the glass to her lips. The whiskey spilled on the front of her blouse as a hand jerked it away from her mouth.

"What do you think you're doing?" He takes the glass from her.

"Leo!" she exclaimed. She immediately embraces him. "I'm so glad you're here."

Leo pulls away from her. "Whiskey? You're really selfish, aren't you? And you and your sisters didn't even bother calling me to tell me they found you."

"What are you talking about Leo. And will you give me that? I'm thirsty."

He grits his teeth. "Sam give her some water or Coke." Prue and Phoebe walk towards them. "Prue, what happened to your hands?"

Prue looks at her hands, turning them over. "Why, what's wrong with them?"

Leo suddenly looked as though he was being called. "You three go to Piper's office. Something's going on in here, and I am getting to the bottom of this." He strode to an isolated portion of the club. A blue light appeared and Leo materialized. "Well, well. Welcome to my reality. I thought we weren't supposed to visit our alter egos?"

Leo nodded curtly to the man who looked exactly like him. "It's official business, Leo."

"Let me guess. Your witches have gone missing."

"So you've seen them. They haven't really been careful, have they? I need to take us all back to our world before they disrupt yours more."

"Well, we've been disrupted enough since the powers popped up. I don't think they can handle them."

"May be there's some purpose to this visit then. Let me help you straighten this out. But for the moment, I think we should take my witches and hide them before yours stumble on them."

Leo and Leo turn suddenly at the sound of screaming. "Too late."

Prue and Phoebe were tired. They've been staying at the police station with Darryl, waiting for news about Piper. But hours have passed and Darryl's men came up with nothing. He promised to call them at home or at P3 if they get any clues.

They walked down the stairs. The people all stopped and stared at them strangely. "Hey everyone. Just me and Prue stopping by!" Phoebe said nervously, Kit cradled on her arm.

Phoebe and Prue walks towards the bar. "Hey, Sam. Where's Leo?"

"Hey, didn't you two just come from here with Piper? And why'd you two change? Those were hot outfits!"

"Sam, what are you talking about? We just arrived. And don't joke about Piper. She's still missing."

Sam chuckled and waved them off. "You girls! Leo's back out there, I think." He pointed to the direction of Piper's office.

"Okay, thanks." They went to the back and opened Piper's office. "Aaaaaaaaah!"

The three witches in the room turned to the door. "Aaaaaah!"

The two Leos ran and were greeted with five stunned witches. "Leo! You're here! What's going on?" Piper ran towards him and embraced him.

She felt strong hands pull her away and arms wrap around her. "Nah, Pipe. Wrong Leo. You belong here."

"Oh sorry. I'm so embarrassed."

Leo stared at this other Piper and Leo from a reality different from his. She looked more manageable than his own Piper, the missing Piper, but strangely enough, the emotions she stirred in him could not compare to what his own Piper did.

"It's all right."

"What's going on, Leo?"

"Any news of Piper?" They shook their heads. "Don't worry. I'll find her."

"Sit down, girls." The five girls sat down on the couch in the office. "First of all, you three have been sent to an alternate reality."

"An alternate reality?"

"Yes," Leo answered. "You see," he positions his arms to form parallel lines. "Lives are like this. A thousand alternate realities for everything happening. I've talked to Leo here, and we've already figured out what difference this life has to ours."

The other Leo took over the explanation. "Alternate realities are actually answers to your what if questions. Our world—mine, Prue and Phoebe here, and Piper somewhere we hope safe—is the answer to some of your little questions. What if white lighters were not forbidden to fall in love with their witches? What if Prue didn't have control over her powers? What if Piper were bolder? What if Phoebe didn't have premonitions?"

"When did Piper disappear?"

"Right after we fought that warlock. Nasty thing, threatening to hurt our loved ones. Like we had any!"

"This was when?" Leo demanded.

"This morning." Leo cursed under his breath.

"So our finding the spell that sent us here wasn't an accident?"

"It may have been. But as long as you're here you have to help us." Leo coughed. "Look, I need a drink. Stay here, you two. It's a treat to see an alter ego."

"Piper, I think you should stay with your sisters for a while here. Something's troubling him, and a troubled white lighter doesn't function well."

Leo looks for his alter ego at the club. "Hey man, didn't you say you were going outside?" called Sam.

"Oh yeah. Thanks, man." Leo ran up the stairs and opened the door. "So what's the problem? You know I understand the way I think. And I know something's wrong."

"I've been trying to connect to her since she disappeared, and for some reason, her mind's shut me out. Now I'm helpless. This is all my fault." Leo didn't interrupt. "She's proud, you know, my Piper. I should have told her everything. She should have understood that there was no need for her to protect me."

Piper's eyes fluttered open. She blinked at the bright light of the lamp.

"Good evening."

Piper tried to sit up. "Ouch!"

"No, you just lie back down. I found you unconscious on the road and took you back here in my cabin. Here. I prepared some hot soup. I knew you'd wake up sometime."

She looked around and saw that it was a clean little cabin. And then she touched her clothes. She was no longer wearing the trashy outfit she was wearing when she had to tell Leo off. She was wearing a dressing gown instead.

"Did you—"

"Oh no, don't worry. I have a cleaning woman who comes here afternoons. She was here when I brought you in and she took care of you."

"Thank you. I can't think of what would have happened to me out there. My name's Piper."

"Hello, Piper. I'm Jeremy."

They've all gone to the manor after P3 closed. Of course, it was pretty hard to sneak out the two extra Halliwells while there were still other people who can see, so they had to wait very late and make sure everyone had gone home.

"So underneath all the differences we see between the two versions, we are all basically the same, no matter what reality you're in."

"Yes. I see. Now I know. I'm here so I can tell you how I was able to master my powers."

While Prue and Prue were off mastering control, Phoebe and Phoebe sat in front of each other. "Well it looks like you're adept enough with yours."

"Yeah. My power. Great, great, great power. I talk to animals. My sister Prue shoots out these intense bolts of energy and Piper takes away any pain, even feels other people's emotions. And I talk to animals."

Phoebe smiled. "You know I've always been insecure about my powers too. But then I realized, if I wasn't the one having premonitions, there would be no one to see all those important things we had to know. And I learned to appreciate it." Soon, Phoebe was psyching her alter ego to be thankful of her power.

After a while, their conversation turned to general storytelling. After talking about themselves, they began laughing at Phoebe's stories about Piper's supernatural boyfriends.

"You mean Mark, Jeremy and Leo?"

"A ghost, a warlock and a white lighter!" Phoebe laughed. "Oh Phoebe, you make me laugh! I've forgotten all my worries now." At this the other Phoebe laughed too.

"Looks like everyone's figured out why they were sent here, except me," Piper said. She pulled out quick cookies from the oven.

"Ummm, honey, it's delicious. I still can't believe how lucky I am." Piper pressed a kiss on Leo's lips. "I have the most beautiful—"

"Hey, I heard that," Phoebe yelled.

"Talented witch of all!"

The other Leo still watched them. He knew why she was there. He was being shown what Piper really was like underneath all the show she'd seemed fit to put on in their reality. Something inexplicably radiant blossomed in his heart. They had to find her, and he will tell her she had nothing to fear about involving him in her life. He was meant to be involved.

And it hit him only then. Their fight. He hadn't thought about it exactly. He must have been so insecure about her words, but deep down he knew he was the only one. He was going to be a father!

He closed his eyes and to his surprise and satisfaction, he connected. "I found her!"

Leo turned his hand and a piece of paper appeared. "Girls, you were right. You were sent here to help them, and now that you have, we have to go. It's the spell."

"What? We don't want to leave without seeing the hot Piper they're talking about."

Leo shook his head. "I'd dearly love to see hot Piper too." Piper elbowed him in the ribs. "Ouch!" He pecks her cheek. "But you've been sent the spell, which really means you have to."

"Oh okay, honey."

The girls say goodbye to each other. Piper faces the other Leo. "Goodbye, Leo. Be careful with hot Piper, will you?"

Leo grinned. "It's going to be just plain Piper soon. Thank you. You've helped me a lot."

"Oh so I've been of use after all."

"Goodbye, Piper." Leo leans down and kisses her lips.

"Okay, that's enough! Break it up. I know you're me, man, but this is still weird."

They watch them as they disappear. "I'm going to miss them."

"We have to go to Piper now."

"Piper, there's a car that just parked outside. Why don't you look and see if they're the family you're waiting for."

"Thanks, Jeremy."

Piper padded to the living room. "Dizzy!"

"Oh, careful now!" He supported her as he pulled open the door.

"Hi, guys," she smiled weakly. "This is my family. My sisters Prue and Phoebe, and my—a friend—Leo. Guys, this is the man who helped me. Jeremy." She turned to Jeremy. "Jeremy, I think I was too quick getting up." She fainted.

He picked her up.

"Guys!" Phoebe hissed.

"What is it, Phoebe?"

"It's Jeremy! The warlock from Phoebe's stories."

"How do you know it's the same one."

"Isn't it too much of a coincidence if he wasn't? Piper missing for a day and him being the one who finds her—without calling the police!"

Prue's eyes narrowed. "Yes, I see what you mean. It's a good thing Prue taught me how to target well with this thing."

"Leo, you stand back. You're the white lighter and this is our fight. Prue take the left side of the room." Phoebe whispers to Kit. "Kit will jump on him the moment he steps out."

A few minutes later, Jeremy goes to the living room. "Piper will be going out in a few minutes. She's just recovering. She's much too tired." Kit jumps onto his shirt. "What!" He shakes off the cat. "What is your cat—" Prue targets him with small shots of heat. "What are you people doing?!"

Piper runs out. "Hey! Phoebe, call Kit off! It's my friend Jeremy. Prue, you might hurt someone with that!"

Phoebe and Prue calms down.

"What were you thinking?"

"We came to save you from this warlock!"

"Jeremy is a good man and a seminarian."

"But—"

"No buts! Apologize." They did.

"Thanks for taking care of me, Jeremy. Sorry for my sisters."

Jeremy waved them off and shook his head. "You're not the first witches who came to attack me. Funny thing in this world, you accept them into society and they turn on you. A few weeks ago, someone taught I was the demon in their other planes." He saw the stunned look on their faces. "I'm a wide reader," he said, as though that explained everything he knew. Maybe it did.

"I am going to kill Phoebe!"

"Honey, that's you."

"No no no. These people from our other reality came and taught us what we needed to learn. The other Phoebe told me about their Piper's warlock boyfriend who tried to kill her."

"Phoebe, there are certain people who are very different from their other reality. Ever considered if out reality was an answer to their What if Jeremy wasn't a warlock?"

"Could be. Now all our training's going to waste."

"Not true. You're the Charmed Ones. Of course there'll always be the bad to defeat. Especially now that you've perfected your powers. Piper, we'll work on yours too. Don't ever do that crazy thing again. Use it a little at a time. Don't overdo it."

"Yes, Leo," she answered meekly.

"Welcome home, Piper."

"So are you going to leave me here?" she asked, smiling shyly at Leo at the door of her bedroom.

"I'm having a deja vu."

Piper grinned. "Are you?"

"I'm not going to follow through though. You need your rest." She looked crestfallen. "I'll be back tomorrow afternoon though. Be here okay?"

"We'll tell them about the baby tomorrow night. You may not believe it, but I can cook."

"I know," he smiled. "I know a lot of things about you now."

"By not seeing me for an entire day?"

"You can say that. Goodnight."

"Piper, Leo's here."

"Make him come up to my room!"

Leo knocked on the bedroom door. "Come in."

"Hi," she smiled. She was in her bed robe.

"Hi."

Leo lifted the heavy box from where he'd put it on the floor and placed it on the dresser. "I brought you a gift."

"Oh really! I have something for you too." She hands him the small box. She then walks forward to tear the wrapping away. "Oh, Leo!" she exclaimed when she opened it. It was a set of one of the porcelain dishes she fell in love with at Le Cucine Italia. "You remembered."

"We'll look so domestic and tame now."

"Open your gift." Leo tore off the wrapper and opened the box. It was a pair of shiny new handcuffs. He turned questioning eyes at her. Piper smiled wickedly. "That's half a gift. Here's the other half." She pushed him back on the bed and deftly maneuvered his arm as she snapped him cuffed on the bedpost. She shrugged off the bathrobe. "Tame and domestic. Posh! Don't forget, Leo. I was born to be wild. You can never change that."

"And I am grateful for that, honey," he murmured, as he pulled her to him with his free hand.