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Chapter 6 - Constant Craving ~*~*~*~ Always someone marches
brave ~*~*~*~ Phoebe saw Andy outside the hospital room, "Hey Andy!" she called. He smiled and stood up, "Hello Phoebe." he greeted as she gave him a hug. "Don't they let you take a break?" she joked. "You know Prue." he joked back. Phoebe laughed, "Are they all in there?" "Against the hospital wishes." She nodded and walked in. "Hey guys!" she greeted. "Aunt Phoebe!" Paige called out and slipped down to the floor where she ran over to her. Phoebe reached down and picked her up, "My goodness you're getting big!" Phoebe exclaimed while tickling her. "Stop Aunt Phoebe, Stop!" Paige cried out. Phoebe let up and sat in the chair next to Piper and Leo. "You're a very pretty girl Paige did you know that?" Paige shook her head, "Well you are. Very beautiful." Paige smiled and wrapped her arms around Phoebe. "I love you Aunt Phoebe." "I love you too Paige." Leo wrapped his arms around Piper's waist, "So what are we going to do?" he asked the sisters. "I don't know. But there isn't anywhere we can go with out them following." Prue said. Phoebe smiled, "I think I know of a place." "And where is that?" Piper asked. "Anyone up for some sight seeing in San Francisco?" Piper and Prue laughed, "The manor. How could we forget?" Prue asked, "That's perfect Phoebe." Phoebe smiled, "I know." "So the Halliwell's are going to San Francisco. This should be interesting." Leo said. Leo stood up and went to get Andy. They were going to need help. Andy came in and they locked the door, "What's going on?" he asked. He had observed the smiling faces. When all three Halliwell sisters smiled it meant trouble. And some how he always ended up in the thick of it. "Right now our houses, Leo's and mine, are being watched by reporters. Which is normal, but Prue needs to recuperate and we want some privacy." Piper began the explanation. "So we decided to go back to San Francisco and the manor. The only problem is that we can't all leave at the same time. I have a Revlon shoot on Thursday and if they saw all of us at the same time people might become suspicious." Phoebe explained. "So we need to come up with a plan to get us out of here without anyone knowing." Leo summed up. "Uh huh." was Andy's response. "I think I got it." Prue crowed. They all turned their attention toward her. "Piper and Leo can leave tonight. You know different airlines, different time. You two can get the manor ready. Phoebe will stay here until Friday and then she can fly. And since I can't fly in my condition Andy and I can drive there on Wednesday." "I want to go with Aunt Phoebe!" Paige announced. She loved her mom, Aunt Piper, and especially Uncle Leo, but she missed Aunt Phoebe and wanted to spend time with her. Prue cocked her head to the side trying to tell her daughter that she couldn't, "Great. We can get you made up and all pretty." Phoebe answered happily. "Wait a minute. I don't want her picture taken Phoebe." Prue warned. "Don't worry about it. I hired Cole Turner to do the pictures and I will make sure that her's aren't taken." "Cole Turner, why does that name sound so familiar?" Piper asked. "He took a picture of you years ago. He also is a very successful and wonderful photographer." Phoebe replied. "Cutie?" "Oh yes." Phoebe laughed. "Well I think it's a plan." Leo said to Andy. "I don't think we have a choice." Andy shot back. "We never do." Leo replied. "Aunt Phoebe guess what!" Paige demanded. "What?" Phoebe asked playing her game. "Aunt Piper is gonna have a baby!" she exclaimed. Phoebe looked over to her sister and brother-in-law and saw sheepish looks. "Is it true?" she finally asked. "Yes." Leo confirmed. Phoebe jumped with Paige in her arms and went to give Piper a hug. "I'm so happy for you!" she exclaimed. "Thanks." Piper said. "Um, I guess congratulations are in order." Andy said shaking Leo's hand. "Thanks." ~*~ The suitcases were ready to go. Leo's flight was first on Delta at 5:00 that afternoon. Piper's was on American Airlines at 9:00. Phoebe was staying at Prue's house with Paige and Andy had already rented a vehicle for the long trek. Darryl had been informed of the plan and would be up there around the same time that Phoebe and Paige would get there. Piper curled up next to Leo as Darryl drove them to the airport. "Piper what's wrong?" Leo asked. She looked up at him, "Nothing. Why do you ask?" "First off, you've been clinging to me since you found out about being pregnant. Not that I mind at all. I love it in fact, but you don't normally do that. Secondly you haven't said much these past two weeks." Piper didn't reply. He was right. She had been bothered greatly since she found out she was pregnant. She didn't really want to address it, but if Leo brought it up it meant that she hadn't concealed it as well as she would have liked. And now looking up at him, she decided to let him know. "I'm scared. My mom died before I ever really got to know her. Died giving birth to Phoebe. And that fact terrifies me. Not only that but I could die and never meet my child, and to leave you behind terrifies me just as much. " She looked up at him and the tenderness and compassion she saw there made her want to cry. He didn't say anything to her, but took her into his arms and held her there. He had a feeling that this was what was bothering her, but until she came out and said it he wasn't going to intrude. However the fact that she was terrified to leave him behind made his heart swell, right or wrong in that thought. Piper was reluctant to let him go, but knew that they would be back together tonight. "I promise I'll get the manor aired out and get it ready. I'll be there to pick you up at 10:15. I promise." He leaned down and kissed her. "I love you." she whispered. "I love you too." he whispered back. Darryl had gotten out and gotten his luggage, "Thanks Darryl. I really appreciate your help and support. Keep her safe and I'll see you on Friday." Leo stuck out his hand and the two shook. "Not a problem Leo." ~*~ She was tired. Piper hated flying and now she couldn't sleep in her own bed. However as soon as she stepped out to the terminal she saw him. And all of the stupid stuff that had her cranky faded away. It truly boggled her mind that she could miss him that much in four hours. Of course she knew some of it came from hormones, but the other part was from the simple fact that she missed him. She wasn't dependent on him. She didn't 'need' him for everything. She was simply a woman deeply in love with her husband. Of course after their almost divorce she realized how she had almost lost him and together they had made steps to insure it didn't happen again. Yes, they still fought and sometimes marriage was the hardest thing she ever had to do, but with their commitment to one another for eternity it was much easier to get through the rough times. "What are you thinking?" he asked when he walked up to her. He took her bag and hand and walked back to the parking terminal with her holding his hand. "Nothing. Just how much I missed you." she answered. And he smiled, "You know Piper I was thinking the same thing." She smiled at him and he leaned down and kissed her. Always mindful of prying eyes they quickly got in Leo's rented black Ford Expedition. ~*~ They drove through the city looking at their old hangouts. Remembering how in the first year of their marriage, before either was really famous, they would come up to San Francisco for long weekends. Finally they came to Piper's childhood home and once Leo looked over he noticed that Piper was fast asleep. He got out and opened her door. He slid her out and into his arms. This woke her up. "We're home?" she whispered. "Yep, and if you'll lean on me I'll walk you up to the bed." She shook her head, "Too tired." He smiled at her, thanked God that he had been bulking up, and picked her up. She slid her legs around his waist and he carried her into the house and up to her old bedroom. "When I said I was too tired, you know I was lying right?" Piper whispered as Leo lowered her to the bed. He looked down at her and shook his head. She nodded her head and grabbed hold of his shirt bring him down to her. "We have the whole place to ourselves until tomorrow night. I say we make the most of it." she suggested while kissing him and unbuttoning his shirt, "You're on." he whispered back. ~*~ End of Chapter 6 * "Constant Craving" by k.d. lang. |