Dinner and a Show, Tags; Open, anyone

[Leo Wyatt]

It wasn't often Leo found himself in his wife's restaurant, which seems odd enough on its own. He loved to come here, especially in the early afternoon. People were coming in for lunch, and he could smell the delicious cooking his wife and the workers were preparing. Leo could always tell a dish from Piper's hand rather than another cook. It had more love in it, as cheesy as it was. So when he did come to the restaurant, it was to eat. And this time, he was going to eat the place to the ground.

He was hungry, to say the least. Hungry for a kiss and spaghetti. Working so hard lately, his poor stomach hadn't been full in days. A little snack here and there. Others urged him to take a break, but he could not. Whitelighters can't just take a break in the middle of saving someone's life. It seems potential whitelighters had skyrocketed in the past couple weeks. He wasn't sure why, but he had asked. No answers as of yet, which worried him. Something was coming, he just wasn't sure what. He was trying to prepare himself, but how could he if he didn't know what was coming? All this worry made his stomach growl further. Leo shook the thoughts from his mind, tousled hair settling around his face.

"Piper?" he called, stepping into the kitchen with a quick glance. He didn't see her, and frowned. She may be off collecting more supplies or something; it was always hard to tell what she was up to at any given time. Nonetheless, he decided to stay. This time another cook's food would have to satiate him; the love from his wife could be given to him later, when she returned. Leo shut the kitchen door and walked back to the main room. Not many tables were taken, which was normal for a Tuesday. The weekends it got busier. He sat at his usual place, sitting back comfortably with his eyes closed. A waiter would come to him soon, but in the meantime he sat and relaxed. Soft breaths came from his nostrils, and a small smile formed on his lips.

He began to think of his first charge. Ah, wasn't that fun. Difficult of course, but fun. Then he thought of when he had the sisters as charges, and not family members. The smile shifted to a grin quickly. He'd never forget the moment of Phoebe walking in to find him levitating to fix a lightbulb. A light chuckle, and Leo was opening his eyes. "So much has changed," he sighed, the smile still upon his lips, "and yet, some things are the same." Such a philosophical man, he was. But when the waiter came, his stomach showed his childishness, and so did the grin upon his face. "I want spaghetti, please. And a really big sundae."

[Melinda Halliwell]

Melinda was busy at work. She spent her days in school and the afternoons working as a waitress in her mother's restaurant. Walking through the restaurant Melinda heard a familiar voice calling her mother's name. Walking over to the table she spoke "mom stepped out for a few minutes, she should be back soon." she said as she pulled out her paid and pen and began to write her father's order down.

Melinda smiled softly as she thought about her rising career as a model. "What can I get you to drink?" she asked as she stood and waited for her father to make up his mind about what he wanted to eat and drink. She sighed knowing that she was lucky to have a job at her age especially since most kids her age wasn't allowed to work until they were older.

[Leo Wyatt]

Leo blinked softly at his daughter, then remember she was working here for extra bit cash. He smiled at her, recognizing his wife's eyes in his daughters. She was so like Piper, it was amazing. But she had his attitude at times, and he loved to see it. "Aha, I see. Well, I'll wait until she gets back then. How late are you here?" he asked, curious if he would need to pick her up. "What about your homework?" That was certainly one of the many things Piper had urged him to wonder about. Their children were smart, he knew this already. Homework to him had been useless, but he knew now, in this day and age, it was of vital importance. So Piper picked at him to keep an eye on the girls especially, checking their work every day. Leo would let most things slide, but he had to be careful of this or Piper would blow him up, so he asked like a good little boy.

"Hmm..." he sounded, looking over the menu quickly. The spaghetti thing wasn't calling to him now; he wanted something meatier, heavier. Especially if he didn't get the chance to eat again for awhile. "Steak, gimme a steak. And a beer, please." It wasn't often Leo dipped into the alcohol, but in times of stress he turned to a beer or two, to calm his nerves. It's not like alcohol really affected his system anyway, being technically dead and all. It was more a mind over matter thing. A fresh, cool beer would relax him enough for the night, to ready him for the morning of work.

[Melinda Halliwell]

Melinda wrote down the order as she listened to her father speak. Melinda rolled her eyes slightly at his question about her homework. "Oh dad you know I always do my homework before I do anything else. I'll be here until mom closes up for the night so she's bringing me home when she gets off." the sixteen year old said knowing how her mother was about her homework. The young girl was alot like her mother in some ways but she knew better than to do anything to get on her parents bad side. "So whats with the beer dad?" you don't usually drink unless there is something on your mind.

[Leo Wyatt]

Leo sighed softly, looking toward the window beside him for a moment. "Yeah, I usually do. But, it's been really stressful lately." The place was rather empty, but he still did not discuss the magic part of his stress. Better safe then sorry. "Work..." he stated, knowing she would understand the reference to his work being a whitelighter, "...has been tough. Lots of new 'employees' lately. Many to keep an eye on. And no one will tell me why." He patted the seat next to him, inviting her to sit beside him. He knew she would not be able to stay long, what with working now, but it wasn't too busy. Besides, she needed a break every now and then too.

To change the subject, he smiled and gently patted her shoulder. "How is school lately? I haven't been hearing from you much. You're either working, studying, or with friends. I miss my little girls, you know." Leo chuckled.

[Serena Halliwell]

Serena was lucky, today was probably one of the few days that she didn't have detention for failing a quiz or falling asleep in class. Molly had gone home to do her homework, something Serena didn't do, and Serena was all out of money, so blowing it at the arcade or singing at the karaoke place wasn't going to happen. She was so close to getting the high score on Sailor V too. Everywhere she went, she saw posters for Sailor V, it made Serena envious, she wanted to be like Sailor V too, for at least a few minutes. Serena hated fighting, often calling it senseless, which in turn made her mother angry and then Serena got yelled at, although by now Serena was used to being yelled at.


Serena had her headphones in and was listening to Mina Stanton's new CD. She was a huge fan of Mina's and loved to sing her music down at Crown Karaoke. Mina was rather popular around the world, and Serena adored her. Humming along to the music, Serena walked in her mother's restaurant. At least she hadn't taken any quizzes lately, so Piper couldn't yell at her, at least not for that. Her mother always found a way to yell at her for something, usually her laziness. It seemed that all they did was fight, and unless Piper needed a taste tester, they didn't really get along. Serena knew her mother loved her, but she wished that she'd lay off. At least Serena wasn't forced to fight demons.


She boredly thought of what to do and saw her sister. There was no way that Serena would be put to work, there were child labor laws and since since Serena was only fifteen while her sister was sixteen that meant Serena only had to do what she was forced to do at home. 'This is probably the reason Melinda has practically no friends...does she even have any friends? I've never even seen her hang out with anyone.' Serena thought as she saw her sister work. "Wow Melinda, you really have no life..." she said to her older sister jokingly. She never did understand how Melinda wanted to be near their mother all the time, then again, Melinda actually did what she was told while Serena usually slept or ate sweets or something equally lazy.

[Melinda Halliwell]

Melinda nodded and took a seat as she knew exactly what her father meant. She knew that he had been very busy as a whitelighter and she barley got to see him because she was usually, working, in her room doing homework or out with a few friends. "Its good dad, but I do have a chance to do this upcoming photo shoot in New York but I still have to talk to you and mom about it before I give them my answer." she said referring to her rising career as a model.

She looked up as her sister entered. "As a matter of fact Rena I do have friends and we are going out to the mall to do some shopping later as soon as I get a day off from work." Melinda said knowing that she couldn't sit and talk for too long since she was still clocked in.

[Leo Wyatt]

Frowning at Serena, Leo shook his head. "That's not nice, Serena. She has a life, otherwise she would be dead!" At the rather awful joke, he laughed to himself, thinking it was absolute gold. When his laughter was over, a serious expression came onto his face. New York, that was a long way. "Yes, we have to talk to your mother about this. You know she's going to say no right away, like I did. But maybe Paige can go with you. Or one of your brothers. Anyone with an orbing power. I can't, as much as I'd like to."

His stomach growled quietly, and he blushed. "You better get back to work, Melinda. People over there are getting a little angry in their face. Plus Piper would get mad if you took too long of a break. Besides, my stomach is ready to eat me alive." Leo smiled, picking up the salt shaker and fiddling with it like it was the greatest treasure in the world.

[Serena Halliwell]

Serena rolled her eyes at her father's lame attempt at humor. "Yeah that doesn't mean anything, she doesn't have to be alive...I mean well...you aren't...or something...I wasn't paying attention during the whole explaining thing. Mom bored me after five seconds..." Serena said as she sighed. Piper had this natural ability to make everything really boring, and Serena usually tuned her out within five seconds of a lecture. Serena had this amazing ability to tune anyone out whenever she felt like it, that's probably why she got failing marks in class. Serena dropped her backpack on the floor and sighed. She didn't even do her homework. In fact she left it in her locker at school. This of course didn't surprise anyone. Serena just didn't care about school. It was boring, besides that she couldn't eat in class and every time she tried to eat her lunch in homeroom, her teacher Miss. Patricia Thomas got on her case about it.


With her music still playing, it was amazing Serena could hear anything. That was one of her other talents, she could listen to music and other people at the same time. Hurray for useless talents that will never be used in real life. "Eh, mom goes insane whenever there is a speck of dust on the table...I wouldn't worry too much. Take a lesson from me and just learn to tune her out." Serena said to her sister. Yeah that lesson was trouble, even for Serena, that's why she was constantly yelled at and thrown out of the house for hours on end. "I mean, don't you get paid to be a model anyway? What do you need to work here for?" Serena added.

[Melinda Halliwell]

Melinda rolled her eyes slightly at her sister I learned to tune people out years ago. Why do you think I have gotten so far in life? I've learned to tune the outside world out and do what I think is right." Melinda said as she stood up and headed towards the back to turn in her fathers order. Melinda then returned out to the front of the restaurant to take the other customers orders. She knew that if she had sat a little longer her mother wouldn't bee too pleased and she would probably refuse to let her go do that photo shoot in New York. Melinda figured that she could sweet talk her parents into letting her go if she kept her grades up and promised not to get behind in any of her classes in school.