vocab_drabbles | 41. Dilatory - Charmed

Title: Last Minute Shoppers
Fandom: Charmed
Author: Apache Firecat
Rating: G/K
Word Count: For this version, it's only 500 -- but the full version (I added to it) is here.
Characters/Pairings: Leo/Piper
Warnings: None
Summary: Leo gives Piper the break she needs from work, so she can finally go shopping.

She hated being dilatory in anything, least of all in her caring for her family. Piper was fuming inwardly yet, as almost always, she had managed all day and well into the night to maintain a calm demeanor. There had actually only been one Demon attack today, and that had happened way earlier in the day, long before she'd ever come into P3. It was this place, her business -- her family's livelihood, that had her long, dark hair turning gray already at her age and had her ready to blow her top. She'd had three people call out with no notice, the stand-up comedian who had been supposed to be the entertainment while the band warmed up not even show, and the new guy, as usual, kept breaking dishes.

"Justin, just ask Maria out already!" Piper exclaimed. "She thinks you're cute! She'll go out with you!" She whirled around as Maria giggled and stomped away, but even as she walked away before she could explode on the kid who she knew needed the job for his sickly mother and little brother, she heard the girl saying, "Si! Si!" She was good, Piper couldn't help thinking with a grin. There were times when she could matchmake with only a few glances even from miles away.

Suddenly, she felt arms wrap around her, but she'd heard the telltale, quiet jingle right before her husband had appeared, which was the only thing that kept her from slapping him. Instead, she leaned back into Leo's arms with a sigh. "I love you, but I really don't have time for this."

Ignoring her protest, he pulled her into a dance in tune to the band's remix of an traditional, holiday sweetheart song. "Yes, you do," he said, pressing a kiss to her cheek and another to her temple. "You need a night off."

"I can't take a night off, Leo -- "

"Wanna bet?" he whispered into her ear. Then, louder, he called out, "Hey, Prue!"

Prue and Phoebe walked up. Both were grinning, but her elder sister looked like the cat who had eaten the proverbial canary. Leo swung Piper around and kept her in his arms as he slid against her back side, slowly waltzing cheek to cheek with her.

"We've got this tonight, Piper. Go home. Go rest."

"But -- "

"Go," Phoebe insisted, draping her sister's purse over her shoulder. She grinned. "We won't ruin the place in one night!"

Leo needed no more encouragement. Swinging her around again, he kissed her, but when they re-materialized, they were nowhere Piper recognized. She frowned as she looked around at all the strangers bustling from shop to shop. "Where are we?"

"Holiday shopping."

"What?!"

He bowed. "Welcome to Paris, France, mademoiselle."

"I can't afford Paris prices!"

"We're not actually in Paris. I think you'll find their prices not too bad."

Piper studied him. "How -- How did you know I was behind on Christmas shopping?"

He grinned. "You were talking in your sleep last night." He kissed her.

The End