Disclaimer: These characters are pretty much all copyright in one form or another, with the exception of a couple of minor characters who are my own. All honour due to the creators is given.

Sequel Warning: This story is a follow on from Lela Kaunitz's Buffy/Charmed crossover story called "A Slayer At My Table". I suppose you could read this one without having read that one, but none of the references in here to that story would make any sense to you. I recommend reading it first, if for no other reason than it is a damn fine story!

F/F Warning: If the idea of two women being attracted to one another bothers you, please leave.

Small Steps
by Poto

The air swirled thickly around her as Piper took a few small, hesitant steps into the bar.

It's not that much different to P3, she thought, only the atmosphere seems a little different. Or maybe it's because I'm nervous.

Gathering her failing courage around her like a cloak against the cloying, smoky darkness, she took a few more steps. The sensible, organised part of her mind fought for control against her instinct to panic.

Project casual. Unaffected. Enthusiastic!

She caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror on the wall as she rounded a corner into the main part of the bar.

OK, Piper, that's scared witless. We don't want that.

"Can I get you something?" Without realising that she had been moving, she found that she had somehow gravitated towards the bar. A tall, woman with long, lustrous red hair looked over at her expectantly. Piper smiled, thinly, in that practiced smile she kept for situations when she had absolutely no idea what she was doing.

"Excuse me?"

"You want a drink?" The bartender gestured towards the bottles stacked neatly behind her in colourful rows. Looking at Piper again her eyes glinted knowingly, as if something in the brown haired woman's obvious wide-eyed terror rang familiar.

Piper felt absurdly like her tongue was glued to the inside of her mouth.

Am I able to freeze my own tongue?

Come on! Drink. Alcohol. You run a bar, remember? You know alcohol. This you can handle. It's not like she's hitting on you.

"Vodka tonic on the rocks. With lime."

The bartender nodded. "Coming right up. Why don't you grab a seat? There's a spare over here."

Chair. Good plan. That way I don't have to worry about my feet.

Moving woodenly around to the other side of the bar she gratefully accepted the opportunity to sit. Piper slipped her black denim jacket gracefully off her shoulders, placing it on the high back of the bar stool. Her drink arrived and she sipped at it gratefully, wondering how much more of this punishment she intended to inflict upon herself.

Remind me why I thought this was a good idea again?

You have to be sure that the thing with Faith was just some kind of...aberration.

Piper remembered suddenly the smooth feel of Faith's cheek against her own as they kissed, gloriously stubble free and warm. The hands of the slayer were quick, confident, insistent...

She took a long swig of the drink and reached the bottom of the glass. "Excuse me, could I have another one of these?"

The bartender grinned, seeing the first drink flush rise to her new customer's cheeks. "Sure." She took the old glass away and pulled out a fresh one, topping it up with ice and splashing in the strong spirit.

Piper watched as the woman sliced the lime and twisted it for effect, finally dropping it into her powerful concoction and sliding it back across the bar. "You wanna start a tab?" She inquired, businesslike.

Piper shook her head. "No, thanks. I'll just pay as I go. I don't know how long I'll be staying." She slid a few bills across the bar with one hand and took a slug of her drink with the other. The liquid went down smoothly.

Not until the third or fourth sip at her drink did Piper get up the courage to look around her. The bar was about half full, dimly lit, with tables and chairs scattered in seemingly random patterns around the room. A stylish jukebox stood against the far wall, with a woman in a black leather jacket leaning over it, studying the available selections intensely. The furthest corner of the room seemed the most crowded. About ten woman stood and chatted around a large pool table, their faces lit with the reflected glow from the fluorescent hanging light.

She stared down at her jeans and buttoned shirt, knowing she'd worn exactly the right clothes for the bar, and yet she still felt like she'd crashed a private party.

She sighed deeply. What the hell am I doing here?

"Piper? What are you doing here?" A familiar voice from behind her made Piper's heart lurch.

Oh no, not now. Please not now. "Leo! Hi. How'd you find me?"

"Whitelighter power, remember? I can find you any time..." He looked around the bar, a perplexed look spreading over his face. "...anywhere."

She shrugged. "Well, if you're just going to drop in unannounced, you have to take what you get." Taking another big swig of the drink, she gestured for another, already feeling the effects of the first two spreading through her limbs. As the bartender came over, she leaned up over the bar to talk to her. "I've changed my mind, I will start a tab."

She was rewarded with a broad, welcoming smile from the bartender. The woman shifted her gaze and stared over at Piper's new companion, looking him up and down blankly. "Can I help you?"

"No, thanks." Leo replied politely, turning his attention back to Piper. "You're here alone?"

"I thought you knew everything." Her voice caught in her throat, and she let her eyes roam around the bar, looking at anything except Leo's confused face.

"Well, I..." he caught the look of annoyance on Piper's face and stopped, the bartender fluttered by, giving him another sideways glance.

Oh for crying out loud.

Piper flicked her fingers, freezing the room. She held her head in her hands for a few seconds, then looked up, took a sip of her drink, took another long wistful look at Leo, and attempted to compose herself. With a flick of her wrist Leo un-froze. The bartender was stuck, mid scowl, loitering just within earshot.

I've heard of friendly bartenders, but this is ridiculous.

"W...What's wrong?" Leo stammered.

Timing Leo. Really bad timing.

"I'd just like to have some privacy from time to time. Is that too much to ask?"

He flushed. "Of course not. I'll get out of your hair."

"That would be really good. Thanks. Come see me tomorrow, if you have time."

Leo nodded, and the edges of his form began to shimmer.

Nutcase! "Leo. She's watching you! You can't just disappear..."

He was gone.

He certainly didn't pass whitelighter school with his brain. What'd he do, sleep with one of the whitelighter council? She sighed, and twisted around in her chair, waving as if to say goodbye. Wiggling her fingertips, she unfroze the room. Finishing her wave casually, Piper turned back around to the bar, eyeing her almost empty glass uncertainly.

What's that? Three in ten minutes?

The bartender tried and failed to hide her shock at Leo's disappearance. She looked casually over her shoulder to the door. Nothing. Piper nearly threw up her hands in frustration, stopping herself before she accidentally froze the room again.

"Where's your friend?" The woman enquired in passing.

Piper smiled, feigning innocence. "Gone. It wasn't exactly his scene." The bartender chuckled, and Piper joined in nervously.

Shit. That still leaves me with one problem. I'm still in a gay bar. What the hell do I do now? If I stay at the bar I won't be walking in half an hour.

The bartender winked, and carried on her work, stopping to serve another woman who had sauntered up at the other end. Piper squirmed as the new customer gave her a once over.

Ick! That happens here too? Guess it happens everywhere.

She exchanged looks with the bartender, and felt a tingle down her spine as the woman smiled reassuringly. Finally, Piper allowed herself to look at the woman closer, inspecting the loose red braid that fell down her back and the wisps of curly hair that gathered around her eyes in approximation of a fringe.

She remembered Faith's predatory stance, the unconscious curl of her lip, the sleekness of her muscled body. This woman standing before her was almost Faith's antithesis; a mild mannered gaze, relaxed easy stance, wide, open face. Her smile lit up bright green eyes that set off coppery curls brilliantly. Everything about her seemed soft, and gentle.

Then again, compared to Faith a razor blade is cuddly and harmless.

Aware that she'd caught Piper's gaze, the bartender flushed slightly. Piper looked down, embarrassed, hoping that she hadn't come off as rude and assuming as the woman who been checking her over.

She sipped at her drink a little while longer, until a song came on that she liked, and she began to sway softly in time with the music, closing her eyes momentarily in an effort to relax.

"Would you like to dance?" A voice asked.

Piper's eyes popped open. While she wasn't looking, the bartender had emerged from behind the bar, and was now standing in front of her, shoulders slightly hunched, hands shoved nervously into jeans pockets.

Yep. If there's anything I'm feeling right now it's relaxed.

She squirmed, pushing a stray piece of hair that had escaped from her ponytail behind her ears. "I thought you were working?" She replied, lightly.

The red-haired woman shrugged. "I own this place. I can kinda do whatever I like."

Nice coincidence. I own a club. You own a club. Very cosy.

"That's funny. So do I. Own a club I mean." Piper said, leaning back against the back of the stool, attempting to distance herself a little from the figure standing in front of her. Yeah, five more inches puts a whole new perspective on things.

"Really? Which one?"

"P3." Piper answered, casually.

"Oh, I know that one. I've been there actually."

Piper blinked. "You have?" The woman smiled at her surprise, and Piper fumbled to explain herself. "I mean...I don't mean to sound surprised. It's just that I don't tend to go to other clubs besides my own place. It seems like that would be kind of sending a weird message. You know, like, 'Don't come to my club, even I won't drink there' type of thing." She took a sip of her drink to stop herself from babbling, noticed her hand was shaking, and abruptly sat the glass down again.

"So what are you doing here?" The woman asked softly, indicating to her replacement bartender for a drink.

"Oh...well...you know. This place is...it has a whole different atmosphere than my place."

The woman smiled. "It's a gay bar."

"That too." Piper could feel her insides churning.

"Something tells me you don't go to gay bars that often."

Piper shook her head. "This is the first time I've ever done it."

"And you came here alone? That's pretty brave." A beer arrived for her and she took it, dragging a stool over from along the bar. "Do you mind if I sit down?"

"No, please..." Piper replied.

Too quickly! What are you trying to say? Come over here and take me?

No, that would be Phoebe's approach. I think I can be a bit more subtle than that.

The other woman took a sip from her beer, never losing her easy going smile.

How does she do that and not dribble?

"Well..." Piper muttered. "I guess it's brave, but hey, it's not like there are any demons or anything hanging out in your bar. Are there?"

"Not that I know of." The woman grinned.

They sat in silence for a little while, enjoying the sound of the music as it washed around them.

"So...you never answered my question."

"Hmmm...?" Piper replied, around her drink straw.

"About that dance?"

Oh help.

You can do this.

No I can't.

Yes you CAN. She's cute.

Where the hell did that come from??

Piper looked up sheepishly, aware that a pair of brilliant green eyes were focussed on her. "I don't know...I've never done this type of thing before."

The woman looked bemused. "What? Dance?"

"No!" Piper replied. "You know, with a...with another..."

"Woman?"

"Yeah."

"Don't worry, it's exactly the same, I promise you." She pointed to the floor. "Look, two feet."

Seconds later Piper found herself being led onto a half-filled dance floor, pulled into a light embrace, and a pair of soft arms being wrapped around her waist. The woman was slightly taller than her, with a similar, if slightly larger, build. She began to sway along with the music and Piper followed, trying desperately to loosen the tension in her arms, legs and stomach.

"By the way, my name is Therese. Terry for short."

Piper smiled back at the woman held in her arms. "Piper. Halliwell."

Terry chuckled. "Well, Piper...you're a pretty good dancer for someone who has never tried this before."

Aware she was being teased, Piper's resolve strengthened.

You have two sisters. You can handle a bit of good natured barbing.

"Well, you know, you promised me that this would be exactly the same as dancing with a man."

"And it isn't?" Terry asked, amused.

Piper shook her head. "Not a bit. You haven't stepped on my toes once, you haven't complained about the music and your hands are still on my waist."

They both laughed, the sound serving to break some of the tension.

This isn't so bad. In fact, she's really nice.

Piper leaned forward. "There's one thing the same though."

"And what's that?" Terry asked.

Piper grinned, mischievously. "You have beer breath."

Terry threw her head back a little and laughed, her eyes sparkling under the coloured lights of the dance floor. As they grew quiet again, Piper leaned into the embrace, enjoying the sensation, a new person, a new feeling...a different life. The adrenaline of doing something no one ever dreamed she would do rushed in on her and she smiled broadly. Terry cocked her head, curiously.

They locked eyes, each woman leaning forward, and trying not to appear like she was leaning forward. The distance between them closed slowly. Piper became fully aware of the moment as their breasts touched fully, the contact, the connection between them undeniable.

Oh my god, what am I doing?

Her head screamed at her. She dropped her arms suddenly, flushing bright red and turning away, flustered.

"I'm so sorry, I really...I have to go."

"What?" Terry's eyes were incredulous. "Piper, I'm sorry. Listen, we were moving too fast. Let's just sit down and have a drink, talk..."

Piper was already moving for the door. "Terry, wow...Terry, I really need to..."

"Run away?"

A group of woman rushed onto the dance floor as a faster song came on the jukebox, separating the two women from each other's sight for a moment. It was all Piper needed.

In panic, she threw up her hands, and the bar froze.

I need to leave. I have to get out of here.

You're just going to leave her standing there? Wondering?

That's exactly what I'm going to do. I shouldn't even be here!

She turned for the door, one foot pounding in front of the other in an effort to stop herself from breaking out into a run.

Then suddenly, as she turned to unfreeze the room, she stopped.

Terry stood there, the frustration and confusion showing clearly on her face, frozen and helpless to hide her reaction from Piper.

Oh God. She's really beautiful.

Piper walked back into the room slowly, avoiding the women frozen in their tracks, some in hilarious, gyrating positions that would have ordinarily struck her as funny. Covering the distance quickly she placed a hand on Terry's cheek, cupping her face with her hand, staring into luminous eyes.

"I'm really sorry. You are...you would be...wonderful." She whispered softly, leaning down to place the smallest of kisses on the woman's cheek. She reached out a hand and touched Terry's mouth, tracing the outline of her upper lip gently with her fingertip.

Guilt at leaving Terry so long in such a vulnerable position overcame her, and Piper turned quickly, this time running to the door, flicking her fingers behind her at the last second before exiting the room and racing down the stairs as fast as she could go. Her ponytail whipped at her face as she emerged into the night, the San Francisco wind attacking her. She felt the chill through her t-shirt and scowled.

Dammit! I left my jacket inside!

I'm not going back in there to get it. No way.

She ran for her car, not caring that she was probably in no fit state to drive. Reaching into her pocket for her car keys, she shoved them into the ignition and turned the engine over.

As she drove away she saw Terry emerge from the club. She stared at her retreating form in the rear view mirror all the way down the street, until she turned the corner and the car park was no longer in sight.

Drive. Drive. Drive. Red light! Drive.

Piper pulled her 4WD alongside the curb outside the manor and took a huge, sobbing breath. Tears rolled unbidden from her eyes, but the blind panic was gone. All she was left with was what felt like an aching hole in her chest, and a not altogether unpleasant tingling between her thighs.

She sat back and exhaled slowly, trying to get a grip on her jumbled thoughts. The drive home had a been a blur. The whole evening had been a blur, what there was of it.

You are never, ever, EVER doing that again!

She didn't want to think about what she would tell Leo. She didn't want to think about Terry. She didn't want to think about Faith.

She just didn't want to think any more.

THE END (for now)

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