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jesterladyficChapter Thirteen
An uneasy feeling was growing over him. They couldn’t just wait anymore. That was one thing he’d learned the hard way. You couldn’t sit and wait for the enemy to come to you. You had to do drastic things.
Piper swallowed and put her hands out to the sides so she wouldn’t accidentally hit the doctor while he examined her. It wouldn’t do to get her hands cut off for assault while she was trying to have a baby.
“Does it hurt when I touch here?” he asked, poking somewhere very unpleasant.
“Yeow!” she said. “Boy, that smarts.”
“Huh,” he said. “Well, we might be looking at a c-section here, Piper. Might be the only way to get the baby out safely.”
“Safely?” she questioned.
“Oh, let's get another ultrasound, shall we? I'll be right back.”
He left and Piper took a deep breath. She put her hands on her stomach and tried to rein in her natural proclivity for worrying. It wouldn’t do, it wouldn’t do. Besides, she had other things to think about. Like her sisters, weren’t they acting so strange earlier? They were her support in this world, especially with Leo gone so much. She knew he’d said he’d choose her over the Elders, but what if he didn’t? Then it would be her alone with two boys. And the girls, they had been acting so terribly earlier. What if something happened to them? Surely something would with the way they were acting. One had to be perfect to live in this world unscathed.
There was a whisper of cold air at her cheek but she wasn’t paying attention to anything other than her fears. Paige and Phoebe needed to remember how to be happy. They were spending too much time expending wild thoughts about Gideon hurting Wyatt.
Phoebe and Paige burst into the room suddenly and Piper shrieked.
“Gideon is trying to kill Wyatt. We have to stop him,” said Phoebe.
“No, no, no, no, no. Stop it,” Piper said, holding her hands to her head. “He's an Elder.”
“No, Piper, he's evil,” said Paige.
“No, he's not. Now, shush, before someone hears you.” Just then three Elders orbed into the room. Piper gasped in fear. “No, no, no. Don't hurt them.” She shook her head violently. “They didn't mean it.”
She couldn’t move very easily but before she could do anything the Elders raised their hands and brought fire out of them, consuming Paige and Phoebe entirely and then the Elders vanished.
Piper cried out in horror and began to sob then quieted when she raised her head and saw nothing. There were no ashes, nothing. She had imagined the whole thing through her fear.
But, said the worry in the back of her mind, it could happen. Something could happen. Something would happen if she didn’t stop it.
Piper’s stomach shot another jolt of pain through her and she whimpered. She couldn’t lose anyone and be alone with this, she just couldn’t. She had to save Phoebe and Paige from themselves.
A blank hospital notepad lay beside the bed and Piper picked it up, her brain working overtime.
She spoke as she wrote, sounding it out.
“Call now…the powers blessed be, to make my sisters hap- happy,” she finished.
Immediately the paralyzing fear that had gripped her vanished and she relaxed. Everything would be okay. Everyone would obey the rules and that would make everything fine. Her baby was coming and Leo would come home and her sisters would stop saying such horrible things.
***
Every time he thought he had something it vanished. They were running out of time. Something had to go down. Hopefully nothing else would go wrong. Knowing him, it would.
Leo sensed it when Paige and Phoebe went to Magic School and that caused him to worry. They were supposed to be taking care of Piper while he and Chris found Gideon. But they were only there for a short time and then returned to the manor.
“What are you doing here? Is Piper okay?” he asked.
“She’s tripping on Pleasantville vibes,” said Paige. “But she will be okay, thanks to us and our evil twins.”
“Wait, you saw them?” Chris asked. “Where?”
“In Gideon's office. Talk about your vanity mirrors,” said Paige, flipping through the Book of Shadows.
“We have a plan,” said Phoebe. “We're going to shift the world back from Gideon so he can't use it to his advantage.”
“How?” asked Leo.
“We're going to use a spell to…” Phoebe trailed off when a glow suddenly swept over her and Paige and they didn’t speak.
“What just happened?” Chris asked Leo.
“I don't know,” he said. He turned to the girls. “Are you guys all right?”
“Yeah. Yeah. I've never felt better,” said Paige.
“Okay…” said Chris, “so back to the plan. You were saying?”
“Yeah, the plan was just to go see Piper in the hospital,” said Phoebe.
“That's a really good plan,” said Paige, grinning from ear to ear.
Phoebe giggled.
“I know.”
They smiled brightly and started to leave the attic.
“Uh-oh,” said Chris.
Leo and Chris followed the girls down the stairs.
“No time to dawdle. There's a baby on the way,” said Phoebe.
“This is crazy. You can't leave like this,” said Leo.
“Well, we can't very well ignore this boy’s birth,” Paige said, pointing at Chris. “We have to celebrate.”
“I'm the baby. I give you permission not to,” said Chris.
“What?” Paige said enthusiastically. “And miss all the excitement? Seeing you for the first time, burping you, picking out a name?”
“I already have a name,” he said.
“Oh, gosh,” said Paige. “You do, don't you?”
“How did you get your name? It doesn't start with a ‘p,’ ” asked Phoebe.
“It was Leo's father's name,” said Chris.
“Aww…” they said in unison, “that’s so sweet.”
“I can't wait to tell Piper,” said Phoebe, reaching up to Chris and pinching his cheeks while he stood there in absolute shock. “Oh, you are going to be so cute! Yes, you are. Ooh! Yes, you are.”
Leo had to admit, it was pretty funny.
When she walked away Chris looked at Leo and looked very frightened.
“Okay. We need to snap them out of this fast.”
“Piper must have cast a spell. She's the only one who could do this to them,” said Leo.
“Why would she do that?” asked Chris.
“She wouldn't…unless…Gideon wanted her to, to distract them like he did before, so he can go after Wyatt.”
Phoebe and Paige walked in with all their stuff, ready to go.
“All set!” said Phoebe, holding up her car keys.
“You guys can't leave yet,” Leo said. “Gideon might be coming for Wyatt any minute.”
“Oh, is he baby-sitting?” asked Paige innocently.
“No, he's trying to kill Wyatt,” Chris said. “Don't tell me you don't remember.” They started to laugh and Chris looked at them exasperatedly. “You're laughing. That's great. Your nephew's almost killed, and you're laughing.”
“You're silly,” said Phoebe. “Yes, you are. Ooh, yes, you are.”
“Like an Elder would ever, ever do that,” said Paige.
“It must be the spell,” said Leo. “They don't remember because Gideon doesn't want them to.”
“A spell? What spell?” said Phoebe.
Leo was about to try and explain it again, to no avail, he knew. His best bet would probably be to try and find a cure in the Book of Shadows, but without knowing what Piper did, that would be hard.
There was a knock on the door before he could do anything.
Phoebe answered it and Leo ducked out of sight with Wyatt, but where he could hear and see everything.
It was Darryl and he was wearing the same grin everyone else in the world appeared to be wearing.
“Well, hello there,” Phoebe said.
“I hope you’re having a super day,” said Darryl.
“We are! What can we do for you?”
“I need to arrest Chris,” Darryl said, like it was the best thing anyone had ever said.
“That’s right, there’s a warrant out for him,” said Paige. “Well, he’s right in there. We’re going to the hospital now.”
“Gee, thanks,” said Darryl. “Give Piper my best.”
“Will do,” said Phoebe cheerfully and the girls left.
Chris looked at Leo helplessly.
“We gotta get rid of him,” said Leo. “Do what you have to do.”
Darryl moved into the living room.
“Darryl, you don’t want to do this,” said Chris.
“I don’t understand,” said Darryl. “Of course I do. I always arrest people.”
“It wasn’t my fault,” said Chris. “Besides, I’m leaving to go back to the future. Wyatt’s in danger.”
“Why would Wyatt be in danger?” Darryl asked.
Chris sighed.
“I don’t have time for this.” Chris flipped his hand and Darryl started moving telekinetically toward the open door and out onto the porch and then Chris set him down on his back.
“You’re resisting arrest,” Darryl said, still smiling. “I will have to come back.”
“Have a nice day,” said Chris and slammed the door shut with another flick of his wrist.
“That was dangerous,” said Leo. “But I’m glad you did it.”
Chris smiled.
“This world is getting on my nerves, let’s fix it.”
“Oh, I’m all over that,” said Leo. “I’m thinking though, if Gideon did something to Piper to get her to do the spell, then maybe he left a trail I can follow.”
“You better go,” said Chris, holding out his arms for Wyatt.
Leo deposited Wyatt into his brother’s arms.
“Will you be okay?” he asked.
“I’ll be fine. Just get back as soon as you can. I’ll look for a way to snap Phoebe and Paige out of it. Mom too.”
“Just be careful. Darryl will be back and if I don’t get to Gideon in time…”
“I’ll be fine,” said Chris. “Just go.”
Leo orbed to the hospital and asked after the maternity ward.
Everything was so topsy turvy here. No matter what time it was, night never fell, and so he felt extremely off as to times. Apparently now was a good visiting hour time.
On his way to the elevator, Leo saw Paige walking past with a large, stuffed animal and some balloons.
“Paige,” he said.
“Leo,” she said brightly. “Well, it's about time the nervous father made an appearance.”
“Where's Phoebe? Is she with Piper?”
“Of course. We would never leave Piper alone at a time like this.”
“I want to ask Piper if she's seen Gideon.”
“Gideon? No, silly, not with the complication.”
“Complication?” he asked.
“Oh, dear. You don't know?” asked Paige.
“Know what? Is something wrong?” he asked, anxiety growing every second.
“Well, I'm sure the doctors are going to find out any minute, and everything is going to be just peachy,” she said.
“I gotta go see her,” he said, guilt pounding inside him with every word.
He’d been so focused on their sons and Piper was in labor and in pain and even if she was affected by this crazy world, she needed him and he wasn’t there.
“That's against the hospital rules,” warned Paige.
“Screw the rules,” he said and walked away.
As he walked down an almost deserted hospital corridor, he felt fear growing inside him with every step. There was something very familiar about the emotion, but he didn’t stop to analyze it in his rush to get to Piper. He had to make sure she was okay and find out where Gideon was and save everyone. If he couldn’t, he didn’t deserve the title Elder or husband/father.
There was someone sitting in the hallway and he squinted because it looked like...
“Wyatt?” There was something wrong, Wyatt grew and suddenly became an adult. “Wyatt?” Leo asked again.
What was going on?
“What's the matter, Dad?” asked the adult version of Wyatt, slowly walking toward him. “Don't you recognize me? I'm the Wyatt you're trying to save, the one from the future.”
All of a sudden, Wyatt flung out his hand and Leo slammed against the wall.
Fear gripped Leo hard and he wondered if he was too late, if there was any way to save Wyatt. Maybe Wyatt was lost to evil forever.
“No,” he said, trying not to believe it.
Something was wrong, something was happening to him. This wasn’t real.
“Excalibur!” called Wyatt and the sword orbed into his hands.
It would be Leo’s fault if this was real, his failure as a father making it possible.
“This isn't right. You're good,” Leo pleaded. “I'm here to save you.”
“I don't think so,” said Wyatt and brought the sword down.
A phantom pain slipped into Leo’s body but an even greater pain filled his heart.
A voice seemed to whisper in his ear.
Someone else was hurting, someone very close to him. It wasn’t Piper, though he could sense her very close. It was someone in terrible pain and grief. It was Chris. He was crying out, calling for Leo, calling for his father.
“In trying to save one son, you have lost both sons.”
“No!” cried Leo.
“Dad!”
The adult Wyatt vanished and Leo’s head felt clearer. He stood up and orbed.
***
His every sense was on alert. This was his moment. Everyone else was lured away or working elsewhere. He knew it would come down to this moment, to what he could do. He held his charge in one arm and looked for answers with the other. Every sound became an attack and every slight movement out of the corner of his eye set him on edge. Something wasn’t right. He could feel the enemy and it wasn’t paranoia. His awareness was how he’d survived so long. He turned around nonchalantly and then quickly turned his hand, spreading his power. There was a thud across the room as someone invisible was flung against the wall. He orbed his charge away and then put himself on the defensive.
His enemy appeared, de-cloaked from both lies and magic. The enemy spoke to him, telling him not to fight. But this was his fight and he was finally going to get it. He squared off with the enemy who appeared ready to retreat seeing as how he’d orbed the enemy’s object away.
But he wanted more than just to stop the enemy from winning; he wanted him dealt with for good. His long, arduous training suited him well against the enemy’s superior power. But not for long. The enemy vanished one more time and suddenly his charge orbed back in, shield up. He cried out, yelling for his charge to leave again. But while he was doing that, the enemy appeared again, behind him, and stabbed him. Both the enemy and his charge disappeared and it was his fault. He’d finally fully failed. He fell to his knees and called for the one person he knew could help him.
Piper was finding it increasingly harder to stay positive. The pain was immense and the doctors kept smiling and telling her everything was fine and dandy and whatever other words they wanted to use. She didn’t want to complain and she didn’t want to appear ungrateful but she was in so much pain.
Sheila had been very helpful, holding Piper’s hand and telling her all about Darryl and their kids and what the new baby would be like. But then visiting hours had ended again. Sheila was going to come back again, though not if Piper went into surgery, cause that would be against the rules.
Phoebe was with Piper now and was normal again. She wasn’t saying nonsense about Gideon hurting Wyatt or anything like that. Of course, the longer Piper was in labor, the more it seemed like what Paige and Phoebe had said wasn’t nonsense.
But it wouldn’t do to think like that so Piper kept a cheerful smile on her face.
Paige had been there earlier and had since left to find some gifts for the new baby. Which was awfully nice of her, especially considering the complication.
The doctors didn’t say it like there was a problem. They just kept talking about a complication and ordering more tests and discussing surgery options, but they didn’t appear concerned so Piper wasn’t either. After all, that was just the way the world worked.
At some point the doctors said they were going to take her in for surgery but they couldn’t until Piper had talked to the police. She wondered what she’d done. Perhaps she’d have to go to jail and have the baby there. Well, that would be hard.
Darryl came in to the room and he had a stuffed teddy bear in his arm. Sheridan was right beside him.
“Hi, Piper,” Darryl said.
“Hi, Darryl.”
“Are you excited?” he asked, putting the teddy bear down beside her bed.
“You bet,” said Piper as another contraction hit and she suddenly wished she could hit someone.
But that wouldn’t be good.
“I have to ask you about Chris,” said Darryl.
“What about him?” asked Piper.
“He’s under arrest,” said Darryl.
“Why?” asked Piper, gripping the sides of the bed.
“Well, for grand theft auto,” said Darryl. “And he resisted arrest just now. We have to arrest him.”
“Well, he’s not here,” said Piper.
“No, but we’d like to bring you along when we do. It will help him see what needs to happen.”
Piper’s brain seemed to flash through several points of bright lights and everything became crystal clear.
“Are you crazy?” she said. “I’m in labor. I’m about to get surgery. I can’t go home.”
“But it’s in pursuit of the law,” said Darryl.
“You have to help the law,” said Sheridan.
“That’s true,” said Phoebe. “I’ll go tell the doctor.”
Phoebe left and Piper stared after her, nonplussed.
“Go to hell, you and your law,” said Piper.
It was all so clear now. What on earth had she been thinking? Oh, this hurt. This hurt way worse than what she remembered with Wyatt. Wyatt! He was in danger; he’d vanished from her room. Where was Leo? What were her sisters doing? What the hell was going on?
“Darryl, listen to me,” she gritted out, “I need to have a baby. Chris is in trouble, but he’s not your issue. He’s innocent. He’s trying to help Wyatt. Wyatt’s in danger.”
“Wyatt’s fine, I just saw him at the manor,” said Darryl. “You need to come with us or I’ll have to arrest you.”
Piper cast her mind about blankly. What could she say to this maniac?
“Sheila!” she blurted out. “Think about Sheila. What if this was her baby? What if she was in labor? Would you ask her to do that? What if your son was in danger like mine?”
Confusion played over Darryl’s face and he blinked at her.
“That’s not the point,” said Sheridan from behind her. “It’s the law. Come along now.”
“It’s not the law,” said Darryl quietly, slowly. “It was my idea, remember?”
“Yes, that’s true,” said Sheridan.
“We- we can go get Chris ourselves,” said Darryl, looking pleadingly at Piper.
She shook her head.
“Please,” she pleaded herself.
“I-I have to,” said Darryl. “Something’s going on, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” she said. “None of you are thinking clearly.”
“I- I have to do this,” said Darryl. “Arresting Chris is the law and I can’t stand in the way of that. But you can stay here, Piper.”
“Is she under arrest?” asked the doctor, coming in behind them.
“No,” said Darryl. “No, she needs that surgery.”
“Okay then,” said the doctor and started to wheel Piper out.
“Please don’t, Darryl!” cried Piper. “Please remember.”
“I have to,” he said, “I’m sorry.”
Piper closed her eyes.
“Tell my sisters what happened,” she said to the doctor.
“Sure thing,” he said. “They have to wait outside, but we always notify everyone. It’s in the rules.”
Piper felt a needle slip under her skin and then there was blackness
***
This was too much. He felt too much. He’d failed and now he wasn’t ever going to get home. He called out, called out, he needed help, he needed specific help.
“Chris!” Leo called as he orbed. “Chris!”
“Wyatt,” gasped out Chris, bleeding on the floor of the attic.
Leo turned him over and bit his lip. Chris was bleeding very badly.
Leo put his hands over him and started to heal him while Chris kept squirming.
“Hold still, buddy,” he said, continuing to heal.
It wasn’t working.
“Wyatt, he’s got Wyatt,” said Chris.
The healing wasn’t working. Leo started to panic, picking Chris up and orbing downstairs to his and Piper’s bedroom. He lay Chris down and tried to heal him again.
“No,” said Chris, pushing Leo’s hands away. “You have to get Wyatt.”
“We’ll get him together,” said Leo.
“That won't work,” said Chris. “You've already tried. Gideon's magic did this to me. It won’t end until he’s dead. Just stop the bleeding.”
Leo did the best he could, sealing the wound as much as it would allow and orbing in bandages to put on top.
“I don’t know if that’s enough,” Leo said.
“Just…go,” said Chris weakly. “Saving Wyatt saves the future. You know that.”
“Gideon doesn't know how to kill Wyatt, remember? We still have time,” said Leo.
“Only until the trauma turns him,” said Chris.
“I am not going to choose between you and Wyatt, Chris. I can't,” Leo whispered.
“You don't have to, Dad,” said Chris with difficulty. “Find Gideon and you save us both.”
“All right. All right, but I'm not leaving you alone. I'll be right back,” Leo said.
“Where are you going?” asked Chris.
“To get one of your aunts to watch over you. You're going to be fine. Okay? I promise.”
“I-I believe you,” said Chris, then his eyes closed softly.
Leo orbed to the hospital again. Spell or no spell, he had to make the girls see reason.
They were outside the waiting room.
“Hi, Leo!” said Phoebe.
“Gideon got to Chris. He's hurt bad,” Leo said without any preamble.
“Now, why would Gideon want to hurt Chris?” asked Paige. “He’s the paragon of all good.”
“But he-he's not good,” Leo said harshly. “He's trying to kill my sons, your nephews. How can that be good under any circumstances?”
“Oh, I don't know,” began Phoebe.
“You don't understand. Chris is dying!” Leo almost yelled.
Thankfully they were in an almost deserted section of the hospital. Phoebe and Paige stopped smiling.
“What?” asked Paige.
“I have to find Gideon, but I can't leave Chris alone,” Leo said. “Somebody has to be with him. Come on, I know deep down inside family matters to you more than this…twisted sense of right and wrong. You love him, I know you do. And that's gotta trump everything, even this stupid spell that you're under. You have to help me save him. You have to help me save Wyatt, please. Gideon has him.”
Leo sighed in relief when they started to glow as they had before.
“What just happened?” asked Paige.
“I think we were under a spell and he took us out of it,” said Phoebe slowly.
“Okay, we gotta go,” said Leo.
“We can't all go. Uh, Piper's being prepped for surgery,” said Phoebe.
“Surgery?” Leo asked. “The complication? What happened?”
“They're not saying,” said Paige. “Don't worry though; we're not going to lose either Chris. I'll come home, Phoebe, stay here.” She turned to Leo. “And, you, you go find Gideon.”
Leo wasn’t exactly sure how to do that. But somehow Gideon had help and was hiding. The only thing Leo could think of was to find whatever that was. Phoebe and Paige had gotten help by talking to their evil twins in Gideon’s office so that’s where Leo was going to start.
Leo orbed there and starting searching, but he kept hearing that echo, like he’d heard before. He ripped open a curtain and found his evil self looking back.
“He’s got to be hiding in the Underworld,” the evil Leo said without ceremony.
“I agree. It's the only place he can go to avoid being sensed,” said Leo.
“Which means he must have both of our Wyatts there too,” said the evil Leo.
“Still, it's too vast. We have to narrow it down.”
“It is too vast. For Gideon too.”
“Somebody's got to be helping him. Whoever it is helped him get to Piper in the hospital. I went to the hospital and tried to pick up a trail…”
“But I was overwhelmed with…hope,” said the evil Leo.
“Barbas,” said Leo.
“So, if we find Barbas…” said evil Leo.
“We'll find Gideon,” said Leo. “For both of our sons.”
“Right, but once we find him, how do we get the worlds back in order?” asked the evil Leo.
“Well, too much good in your world tipped the balance,” said Leo.
“So too much evil in yours will put it back,” said the evil Leo.
“I…I have to,” said Leo. “Just me.”
“I’m envious,” said evil Leo.
“I’d let you if I could,” said Leo. “You know what to do.”
“Just try and stop me,” said the evil Leo.
***
He was holding onto something, he wasn’t even sure what it was anymore, but he knew he needed to keep living. He had something to live for, something to do. Someone was counting on him. It just hurt so much.
Piper fluttered her eyelids open and wished she hadn’t. She was hooked up to the monitors and felt woozy. A gentle pulsing pounded in her head, but there was sharp pain further down and her stomach hurt quite badly.
There was a gentle pressure on her hand and she tried to turn her head and couldn’t.
“Hey there,” said a soft voice.
Piper turned to see Phoebe.
“Hi,” she said, and her voice didn’t work very well.
“I know you must be in pain,” said Phoebe. “Can I do anything to make you more comfortable?”
“No,” Piper said. “What’s going on?”
“You’re just out of surgery,” said Phoebe. “The baby was delivered by c-section.”
“Is he okay?” asked Piper, Phoebe’s tone sending alarm through her.
“There was a complication,” Phoebe said. “The doctors are working with him. But they’re working with you too, sweetie, you’ve got some internal bleeding.”
“Hang my internal bleeding, where’s Chris? What about adult Chris? And Wyatt? Where’s Leo? Where’s my husband?”
Piper was starting to feel panicked. The monitors next to her started beeping more rapidly.
“Sweetie, you’ve got to calm down,” said Phoebe. “I promise, we’re doing everything we can to protect both boys. Leo’s finding Gideon right now.”
“I hate this,” Piper said, tears leaking from her eyes.
She truly did. She wanted Leo so badly it was like a physical ache. But he was out saving people again, even if they were people she desperately wanted saved. But what if something happened and she didn’t get a chance to say goodbye? She felt helpless and weak, secured to the bed, bleeding inside, not at all like a powerful Charmed One. Come to think of it, she really liked feeling like a powerful Charmed One, even if it wasn’t normal. It beat this helpless feeling, where magic wasn’t helping.
“I know, I know,” said Phoebe.
The doctor came in, that stupid grin still on his face. His gloved hands were covered in blood.
“Well, let’s take a look at you then,” he said. “Those monitors don’t sound good. We should fix that.”
“Do all you can, please,” said Phoebe.
“Some things just happen,” he said. “But I’ll do my best until my shift ends in about half an hour.”
“Half an hour!” said Phoebe. “Piper’s in trouble, she needs your help.”
“I can’t work longer than that,” said the doctor.
“Oh brother,” said Piper, laying her head back on the pillow.
The world needed to pay for this. Somehow.
***
He didn’t know how much longer he could hold on. He was fighting for clarity. Somewhere just outside of his vision there was shouting. Someone he knew was telling people to leave him alone. They were saying something about arresting him. But there was so much pain he couldn’t really tell. It was starting to go black.
Leo was searching fruitlessly. He couldn’t find any trace of Gideon. It was the most infuriating frustrating activity. The Underworld was too big and there was only one of him. In this world anyway. He couldn’t use a lot of his powers down here and it just meant he was wasting time.
He popped back up as he did every ten minutes or so and heard Paige shouting for him.
He orbed into the manor and took one look at her panicked face.
“What’s wrong? Chris?” The door behind her opened and SWAT team members came out, followed by Darryl and Sheridan. “What are you doing here?” he demanded.
“Nothing,” said Sheridan. “Case closed. We didn’t have to do anything.”
She smiled brightly at him and continued downstairs.
Darryl bit his lip and Leo could tell Darryl wasn’t under the same spell as the rest of the world anymore.
“I’m sorry, Leo,” he said, then followed Sheridan down the stairs.
Leo rushed into the room, expecting the worst.
“Chris,” he said.
“Hey,” said Chris weakly.
Leo knelt down by the bed.
“Hey, I'm here now. You can…hold on, okay? Hold on…hold on. I'm here. You can hold on, okay? Don't give up, okay?”
Leo babbled in his fear.
“You either,” Chris said. “You’ve gotta go.”
Chris closed his eyes.
“No!” Leo said.
He held his hands out, pouring life and energy, all that he had.
Chris opened his eyes again.
“Don’t do that anymore,” he rasped out. “Keep your strength for Gideon. I’m gonna pass out now.”
“Chris!” Leo said urgently.
Behind him, Paige tugged on Leo’s arm.
“You have to find Gideon now,” said Paige. “This doesn’t go away until he does. So stop feeling sorry for yourself.”
Leo felt anger course through him. He knew Chris would have died just a few seconds ago if Leo hadn’t given him some of his own energy.
“I promised him I’d get him home safely,” Leo whispered.
“You can still save his future, and you can still save Wyatt,” said Paige. “We just have to hurry, and you have to focus. Okay?”
He nodded, taking a deep breath.
“I’m looking in the Underworld. Trying to find Barbas.”
“Barbas? What's he got to do with this?”
“He's working with Gideon. That's how I think he got to Piper. That's…how I think he got to me.”
“Gideon teamed up with a demon for that?”
“No,” Leo said, shaking his head. “I’m pretty sure that an act of great evil in our world restores the balance. That's what I think he’s using Barbas for.”
“So, they're working together. That means they must be in contact with each other, right?”
“So?”
“So, that means maybe that's a way to find Gideon. The next time they try to contact each other, you just intercept it.”
“Okay, okay,” said Leo. He turned back and looked at Chris. “Keep him alive. I know you can’t heal yet, but try. You know what to do, just keep him alive.”
“I will,” said Paige. “Now go.”
Leo orbed without further words. He went to the Underworld and concentrated on listening for communication, people calling.
It didn’t take long for him to hear Gideon calling to Barbas. There was only one thing to do. Leo glamoured himself as Barbas and went to Gideon.
“Finally you're here. I’ve found him, it's time,” said Gideon.
"Took you long enough," said Leo, trying to imitate a demon. "What happens now?"
“Your impatience is growing tiresome." Gideon held up an athame. "I've blessed this already, now it's your turn. Neither of us can do this alone, but together…”
“Together, we can kill him,” said Leo as Barbas.
Wyatt was standing there, his shield up, crystals locking him in place, looking way too young and innocent and Leo’s heart broke for what Wyatt had gone through.
“Yes, his shield is too powerful. He’s already escaped twice, once thanks to you.”
“Well, how was I to know? So, give me the athame.”
“This is not a joyful act,” said Gideon sternly.
“Yeah, yeah,” said Leo, practically brimming with anger.
Gideon passed over the athame that he’d blessed and Leo moved lightening quick to stick it in Gideon’s ribs.
“Why?” asked Gideon, his breath coming out sharply.
Leo let his glamour melt away.
“Because you tried to murder my sons.” Leo hit Gideon and sent him flying across the cavern. Leo looked at Wyatt and smiled reassuringly. “I’ll be back.”
Leo followed Gideon’s path and found him on the floor.
“Leo, please, you have to understand,” said Gideon, “I am only doing this for the greater good. I swear.”
Gideon materialized an athame in his hand. Leo knocked it aside and grabbed Gideon by his robe.
“How is killing a child ever for the greater good, huh? Who the hell are you to decide that?”
He threw Gideon again and Gideon grunted as he slammed against the rocks. Leo strode over and picked Gideon up again.
“I'm an Elder! So are you! It's what we do,” said Gideon.
“I'm not one of you anymore,” said Leo.
“Leo, listen to me. You know what happens. You know what Chris came here to stop.” Leo threw Gideon onto the floor. “Let me finish what I started. Let me save the future, the only way it can be saved.”
“You're the reason the future's threatened, Gideon, not Wyatt,” said Leo.
“No,” said Gideon.
“What did you think would happen?” Leo asked. “You take a sweet child, assault him, take him away from his family, what do you think that will do to him? I'm about to make sure neither one of you get the chance again. Mirror!”
Leo flicked his hand and brought Gideon’s mirror from his office into the Underworld. The evil Leo stood in its reflection, the evil Gideon at his feet.
“You ready?” he asked.
“Remember,” Leo said, “you can't do anything. I have to do this alone.”
“I know,” said the evil Leo.
“Do-do what?” asked both Gideons.
“A great evil,” Leo replied.
He lifted Gideon high into the air telekinetically and brought forth all his lightening. It burned brightly in the dark cave, crossing through the mirror and wrapping around the evil Gideon as well. They burned together, both bright spots turned dark in their respective worlds. Leo felt a lot of anger and fear and hate pass from him and it made him sick inside, but this was necessary, not just for himself or his family, but for the world.
They died and the Leos were left staring at each other.
“Didn't know you had it in you,” said the evil Leo.
“Our worlds can never cross over again,” said Leo.
“Take care of your family.”
“You, too.” They blasted their mirrors and they exploded into shards of glass and then dissipated. Leo went to Wyatt and knocked the crystals aside. Wyatt took his shield down and Leo picked him up. “I got you. You're safe now. I have you. I have you.”
Leo orbed to the manor immediately. Paige was leaning over Chris, her hands stretched over him.
"Leo, thank God," she said, jumping up and taking Wyatt, her words spilling over themselves in her haste. "You found Wyatt. Hurry."
Leo knelt over Chris and put out his hands and let the healing come. This time it flowed naturally, nothing hindering him. The golden light ran over Chris, filling him with life. For one paralyzing moment of fear it seemed like Leo was too late and then Chris coughed and sat up weakly.
"Chris!" Leo said, practically crying with happiness.
"I'm taking it you kicked his ass," said Chris.
"Yeah," Leo said.
"That's my dad," said Chris, holding his side and wincing.
Leo grinned, turning to Paige who smiled back at him.
Leo sobered in the next instant.
"We have to get to the hospital and make sure your Mom's okay."
"What happened?" asked Chris.
"We'll explain later," said Leo.
He helped Chris up and then Paige and Leo orbed to the hospital with Chris and Wyatt respectively.
Phoebe was pacing outside the waiting room. When she saw them she ran toward them and hugged Chris, then took Wyatt from Paige.
"Thank God you two are safe," she said. "Is Wyatt okay?"
"Yeah," said Leo. "I don't think he was with Gideon long enough to do any damage. We'll keep an eye on him; give him everything he needs to be sure."
"What did happen to Gideon?" asked Paige.
"Well, there's an open position at Magic School and I think I know someone perfect for the job," Leo said, winking at her. Before Paige could say anything, Leo turned to Phoebe. "How's Piper?"
The doctor interrupted them.
"She's resting comfortably."
"Is she okay?" asked Phoebe.
"We stopped the bleeding after the c-section, but I think she's going to be okay," said the doctor. “Thanks for reminding me of that earlier, don’t know what I was thinking, about to go home.”
“It’s okay, I think that’s going to be a common issue today,” said Phoebe, looking very pleased with herself.
"And the baby, is he all right?" asked Leo.
"You tell me," said the doctor, pointing to the nurse walking toward them with a wrapped bundle in her arms.
"Now that's just weird," said Chris, looking down at himself.
Leo took his son in his arms and looked down at his new face.
He was perfect.
***
It was so hard to believe it was gone. Such a weight, such a responsibility lifted, and he was starting with a clean slate. He had a family, people who loved him, he could go home with a clear conscience and the satisfaction that everything he'd longed for was accomplished. And so much more than that. He'd set out to save the world, but he'd saved himself instead.
Piper opened her eyes again and blinked at the fluorescent lights above her. A nurse was standing beside her bed, adjusting some equipment.
"What happened?" she asked.
"You had a beautiful baby boy," said the nurse, smiling. "You're both going to be just fine."
"Where is he?" asked Piper.
"Getting washed and cleaned up. He'll be in shortly. I think your family's waiting as well."
"Leo?" Piper asked.
"I'm not sure," said the nurse.
Piper tried to hold down her emotions, but she was feeling pretty vulnerable.
Just then the double doors at the end of the room opened and Leo stepped through, holding something.
Paige, Phoebe, and Chris were with him. Piper felt her face light up. Exactly who she wanted to see.
Leo put baby Chris in Piper's arms and she felt an instant thrill of recognition looking down at him. That was her baby boy, her brave boy.
"Oh, look…he’s beautiful," said Phoebe. "Baby Christopher. That's your brother," she said, bending down so Wyatt could see.
"He's all ours," said Piper. "What happened? Is everyone okay? Leo, is Wyatt safe now?"
"Gideon will never bother him again," Leo said firmly.
"Thank you," she said firmly, her look saying everything she couldn't say in mixed company. "Chris, are you okay?"
"Geez, Mom, I'm fine," said Chris. "Both of me. How are you?"
"I'll be fine too," she said.
Paige started crying and everyone looked at her.
"Well, it's just so beautiful," she said. "Everyone together. I need to go call Richard."
Phoebe laughed and put her arm around Paige. She suddenly went rigid, just like she used to back in the old days.
"Phoebe, did you?" asked Leo.
Phoebe smiled and grinned.
"Yes, yes, yes! I just had a premonition! Oh glory! I’m back!"
Piper raised her eyebrows.
"Magical crisis at hand?"
"No," Phoebe said, nudging Paige and looking very smug. "Nope, I think this was of the personal future variety."
"What'd you see?" asked Paige anxiously.
"That would be telling," said Phoebe.
Wyatt stretched out his arms while Paige badgered Phoebe and Leo took him from her.
"You okay, buddy?" Leo asked.
Piper looked at Leo with Wyatt and smiled. Chris stood there, looking slightly awkward and she beckoned to him.
"How's my son?" she asked quietly. "What happened?"
"Dad saved the day," Chris said. "I think you would have been proud of him."
"I'm proud of both of you," she said.
"I was worried about you two," Chris said, gesturing to her and the baby.
Piper could barely keep her eyes off her newborn son herself. It was weird to have him talking to her and in her arms, but probably no weirder than having him inside of her and also talking to her.
"You're perfect," she said, taking in everything.
His eyes, all crinkled and squashed looking, with a tiny nose and red, red face. A little stocking cap covered his head, but she could see bits of brown hair sticking out. His fingers curled into her and he pursed his lips every so often.
"I'm tiny," Chris said.
"You're amazing," said Leo, leaning over them.
"Is this it now?" Chris asked. "Are we a family?"
"You bet your ass we're a family, young man," said Piper. "As soon as you both get a stern talking to for keeping me in the dark."
They both squirmed and she inwardly grinned.
"Sorry, honey, I just- well, we-" started Leo.
"Quiet now," said Piper. "I want to look at my son."
"I can't think of a better thing to do," said Leo, looking relieved.
Phoebe and Paige stopped bickering and leaned their heads over.
"The doctor said you need rest," said Paige. "We'll go now and take Wyatt home."
"I'll stay," said Leo.
"I'll go home too," said Chris.
"But you can't go yet," said Piper.
"Not home home," said Chris, smiling, "just to the manor. We can try the potion again when you get home."
"Good," said Piper.
“Don’t we need to get you home as soon as possible so that the timelines get all sorted out?” teased Paige, nudging Chris.
Chris flushed and glared at her.
“Yes, it would be good for me to get home, but, like I said before, nothing catastrophic will happen. I just want to make sure I fixed everything and that nothing gets overlooked.”
“Yes, O Master of Time,” Paige said, slinging her arm around his shoulder. “Now, let’s go. I meant it; I really do want to call Richard.”
They left, each saying goodbye to little Chris before they went. Piper gave Wyatt a good long squeeze before letting him go.
The orderlies wheeled her into her room shortly after that and Leo sat down beside the bed.
"I'm getting sleepy," she said. "Silly when I just woke up."
"You've been through a lot," Leo said, smiling.
There was something about his eyes, a darkness that hadn't been there before. Some great sad mystery she wanted to unravel.
"Are you okay?" she asked. "Leo, what happened?"
He shook his head.
"I'll tell you all about it later. You should rest now."
"I'm not some shrinking violet, I'm your wife," she said, though a yawn escaped her.
There was a knock at the door and Leo opened it to reveal Darryl and Sheila standing on the other side.
Darryl was shifting nervously from foot to foot and Sheila wore a determined look on her face.
"Come in," said Leo after a short awkward pause.
"Thanks," said Sheila. "I hope we're not disturbing you. How's Piper?"
"I'm fine," said Piper, smiling. "Come see the baby."
Sheila went over immediately and cooed over baby Chris.
"He's beautiful, you two. Are you both doing okay?"
"All three of us are good," said Leo.
"Look, I'm sorry," Darryl blurted out. They all turned to look at him. "I got home after Chris… and I told Sheila everything. I felt terrible. I never wanted that. It was like watching my own son die and I just couldn't, couldn't face it. I was worried for my family, but…well, you're, you're pretty much part of it and I can't turn my back even if I'm afraid."
Piper didn't really understand any of that.
"What happened to Chris?" she asked, her voice shrill.
Darryl turned to Leo.
"She doesn't know?"
"Know what?" Piper asked sharply.
"He's fine," said Leo, more to Darryl than to her. "I healed him, he's fine. He's going back to the future. But I hope you're not planning on making more trouble."
Darryl shook his head, sinking down into a seat.
"He's okay?"
"He's okay."
"When was he not okay?" asked Piper.
"I'll explain later," said Leo, giving her a pleading look.
She was not satisfied, not by any means, but she let it go.
"I know you must be exhausted," said Sheila to Piper, "but we just had to come and see Chris and we felt bad. But I'm glad both Chris and Chris are fine. You call me if you need anything."
"I'm still under investigation," said Darryl, his voice hoarse, but he stood up straight. "I-I can't do much anymore, but I'll do my best. When it comes to real problems."
"We'll do our best to keep anything else out of your way. I’m sorry myself about not trying to make it easier for you," said Leo. “I could’ve handled the car salesman and used memory dust on him to have him drop the charges, but I was trying to walk on tip toe around the Elders at the time and so I just…depended on you. But it’s not your fight, so I’m sorry too.”
Leo extended his hand to Darryl.
Darryl shook it after a second.
"I’m sorry," he said. "When I looked at him…I just, well, I just…"
"I know," said Leo.
“It is our fight,” said Sheila, coming closer and wrapping her arms around Darryl. “We both know that, it’s just a little harder to fight right now.”
“Yeah,” said Darryl dryly.
“Thank you both for everything,” said Leo.
“We’ll let you rest now,” said Sheila, waving goodbye.
“Bye,” said Piper, waving back and trying to contain her curiosity.
She was really going to grill her husband after this was over.
Darryl and Sheila left and Leo sank down into the chair again, rubbing his eyes with his hands. He looked exhausted. Elders didn't really get tired like people did, but Leo had adjusted himself to almost an entirely human pattern of existence and right now he looked like he'd been awake for about a week.
"I love you," she said suddenly, watching him, holding the evidence of that love in her arms.
He lifted his head and looked straight into her eyes and then smiled his gentle, pure smile.
"I love you too," he told her.
She was feeling tired herself, barely able to keep her eyes open, and they started to flutter.
He reached over and softly took Chris from her. He scooted the chair closer to her bed and began to rock Chris back and forth. Piper let her eyes close on that scene. Oh, she had plenty of questions, but right now, she just wanted to sleep. But she wasn't worried anymore. No, somehow it felt like things were going to go her way. She had a gut feeling and she was pinning it all on the guy sitting next to her. Her husband, her angel, the father of her sons. Yeah, she was pinning everything on him. And that wasn't as scary as it normally was.
***
This was it, the big moment, the one where he figured out exactly what happened, exactly what he’d changed. He was restless, anxious to go, but a part of him was sad too, because he knew that he was never going have this kind of a relationship with everyone ever again. They’d remember him as a separate person, which was okay, but it was just a little sad.
Leo carried a grumbling Piper in from the car and grinned the whole way. She had been mad enough when they’d made her exit the hospital in a wheelchair, but now he wasn’t even letting her walk. But that was okay, he’d take her being irritated with him over a lot of things.
“Put me down,” she insisted.
“We’re going to the attic, remember?” he said.
“Oh fine,” she said.
They’d kept her in the hospital for a few days to watch her. Piper hadn’t been thrilled about that idea either, but Leo thought it had really helped her to rest.
Phoebe and Paige had spent those days cleaning the house from top to bottom and taking care of Wyatt. Richard had returned in the meantime and had helped Chris whip the nursery into shape. Sheila took care of Wyatt whenever the girls were busy.
Paige had also been spending a lot of time at Magic School helping them cope with the loss of Gideon. Leo was very satisfied with that. He knew Paige would be excellent for the position and, oddly enough, it was perfect for Richard too. Richard had been floundering a bit ever since his family feud had ended, and, apart from a new relationship with Paige, was still putting his life back together. It made sense for the two of them to start over together at Magic School, giving Paige a chance to really spread her wings and letting them have some privacy that this past year hadn’t afforded them.
Phoebe was throwing herself into her work with enthusiasm, buoyed by the return of her premonitions. She was still set on finding the literal man of her dreams and having that child she’d seen in her vision, but she appeared content to wait until it actually happened. In the meantime, she was trying to get back into the magic side of things, since she’d largely abandoned it due to Paige’s enthusiasm and her own search into her personal life. Leo was happy for her contentment and grateful for her help, since it took pressure off of Piper, especially when Phoebe took over a lot of the responsibility of taking care of P3 until Piper recovered.
Piper and Leo had had a lot of talks together in the hospital. He’d given her the full story of everything that had happened and she’d been equally angry and ecstatic with him on almost every point. But there was a new sense of trust and acceptance in her face and voice, and the knowledge that he’d quit being an Elder, had cemented it.
They’d talked a lot about how they wanted to raise the boys and how they needed to work their marriage around the magic. Leo hadn’t fully discussed it with the Elders as he hadn’t been back Up There since he’d quit, but he was planning on being the Charmed Ones’ Whitelighter and no one else’s. It just wasn’t fair to Piper otherwise. Her own magical duties were immense and now she was adding a new child to the mix and Paige would be gone. It just made sense.
The only time Leo had left her side during that time had been when he’d spent a few hours scouring the Underworld for Barbas. Leo hadn’t been successful in his search and it appeared that the demon of fear had gone very far underground to avoid the wrath of the Charmed Ones. A wise move, Leo thought, because Leo was having a hard time keeping his murderous feelings in check once they’d been let out, which was another reason he should probably not be an Elder anymore. As it was, Piper herself was raring to go hunting for him as soon as she could. Leo was willing to let it go until then.
Today was a big day for everyone, not just because Piper was coming home, but because Chris was going home as well.
He’d said he’d wait until after Piper was settled in, but Leo could see how anxious Chris was and Piper had agreed with Leo that Chris should go now. None of them wanted him to go, but it was time. Baby Chris needed his powers and adult Chris needed his life.
Leo entered the attic and set Piper down on the settee. Paige straightened up from drawing the chalk triquetra on the wall. Chris was putting a stopper in a bottle of potion. Phoebe came behind Leo holding baby Chris. Wyatt was in his playpen, looking more happy and contented than Leo could wish for. Wyatt hadn’t shown any signs of being stressed or victimized since Gideon’s kidnapping and all Leo could hope for was that the natural forgetfulness of childhood would wash away the memory due to the shortness of its duration.
“Are we ready?” Leo asked.
“It’s time,” said Chris.
It was a little bit weird to be saying goodbye again, but this time it was real. Leo swallowed all of his fear and guilt and rested in the knowledge that Chris was going home.
“Come here, you,” said Paige, hugging Chris. “Thanks for everything.”
“I’m really glad I got the chance to know you,” said Chris, hugging her back.
Phoebe stepped forward and hugged Chris.
“I can’t wait for you to see everything the way it should be,” she said.
“You know something I don’t?” he asked.
She winked at him in response.
Chris patted Wyatt on the head on his way to Piper. He bent down and kissed her forehead.
“You don’t get anything emotional since you wasted it all on your fake goodbye,” said Piper, but Leo could hear the emotion in her voice.
Chris grinned and kissed her again.
“Never change, Mom.”
“I certainly hope not,” she retorted, hugging him tightly.
Chris straightened and stood next to Leo a little awkwardly.
“So,” he said.
“So,” said Leo.
“Uh, thanks, I guess.”
“No problem.”
“Oh, for crying out loud,” said Piper, rolling her eyes. “Just hug or something.”
Leo grinned and beckoned with his head, scooping up several more bottles of the potion.
“Come on, I said I’d get you home and I will.”
“You sure?” asked Chris.
“Absolutely,” Leo said without hesitation.
Chris threw the potion and a portal opened up in the wall. Leo smiled reassuringly at Piper and then walked through with Chris.
They walked into the empty attic. It looked basically the same, though there was a lot more junk than Leo remembered. Chris spoke a few quick words, a spell they’d worked up to figure out what year it was.
Bright numbers flashed through the air in front of them and it was more or less correct. Getting an actual time was still a bit of a guessing game.
“It worked,” said Chris, “I’m home.”
His head was cocked like he was figuring things out. Leo thought it was probably the amalgamation of all the memories.
“Enjoy,” said Leo, trying to hold back his tears. “Now, just in case something goes wrong, here’s the potions, so you can come right back.”
Chris nodded and took them from Leo.
“Safe trip back,” Chris said.
“Take it easy, buddy,” said Leo. “You feeling okay?”
“I’m better than ever,” said Chris, hugging Leo. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too,” said Leo, hugging him back.
Leo stepped back through the portal and back into his time and his attic.
“Well?” asked Piper.
“It worked,” said Leo. “He’s safe.”
“Makes you feel like dancing,” said Phoebe and threw her hands up, knocking her fingers against the low beam behind her. “Ow!” she said, bringing her finger back to her mouth, a few droplets of blood coming with it.
“Let me get that,” said Leo, laughing.
But before he could there was a gold glow coming from the bundle of blankets in Piper’s arm and Phoebe took her finger from her mouth, completely healed.
“I guess Chris doesn’t have to worry about being second best anymore,” said Paige.
“God help me, there’s two of them,” said Piper.
After that, they got back to the business of settling Piper in, Paige went back to Magic School, Phoebe went back to work, and Leo put Wyatt down for a nap in the nursery and then sat next to Piper sleeping on the bed, rocking Chris in his arms.
When Piper woke up, Leo examined the surgery incision.
“You okay if I heal this a bit?” he asked.
“I told you, no complete recoveries,” she said.
“I know,” he said, “but you’re the one that doesn’t want to be carried up and down staircases.”
“Fine, Mr. Technical, do it,” she said.
Leo bathed her skin with the soft and golden glow of his power and made sure everything was healed and well on the inside. Her incision was still there, and the layer of muscle underneath it was still being held shut, but he made sure everything else was completely healed.
“How do you feel?” he asked.
“Like I could take on the Underworld,” she said. “Not that I plan on it.”
“Good,” he said.
“So, when are you going to go Up There?” she asked.
He lay back; Chris nestled in between them, Leo's hand idly stroking her arm.
“I don’t know. Maybe after Phoebe gets back.”
“Get it over with,” said Piper.
“I couldn’t agree more,” he said.
“What are we going to do with our lives?” she asked lazily.
“Whatever we want,” he said.
“Magic isn’t done with us yet,” she said.
“No,” he said, “but I’m done taking it on their terms.”
“Good,” she said.
They were silent for some moments, just basking in each other’s presence. It had been a long time since they could simply be.
“Can you forgive me?” he asked after a short time.
“What have you done now?” she asked lightly.
“Well, I left you, alone and pregnant, I ignored you for months before that, and then I almost lost both of our sons, now I’ve- well, I don’t really deserve the position I have.”
Piper turned fully toward him, a fierce look on her face.
“Leo, don’t do that to yourself. Gideon chose his fate the minute he tried to hurt Wyatt. If you hadn’t done it, I would have.”
“I’m glad you didn’t,” he said.
“It doesn’t feel good, does it?” she asked, concern for him now predominant in her voice.
“I feel…wrong,” he said. “I know I had to do it, but there’s a reason that what I did put the world back into balance. Saving Wyatt isn’t a justification for murder. It goes against everything I believe in. Piper, helping people is what I do and Gideon wasn’t just an Elder, he was my friend.”
“I know, I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m so sorry.”
“But I’d do it again,” he said, trying to rid himself of the feelings of grief that had been edging their way into his mind ever since he’d killed Gideon.
“I know you would, and that’s why I’m not mad or sad or anxious,” she said. “I mean, don’t expect me to become Miss Serenity or anything, but so much has happened this year and I had to do a lot of it on my own.”
“I’m so sorry,” he said.
“I know,” she said, poking him. “But it made me realize I can do a lot of things on my own. But the good news is, you proved to me that I don’t have to. No matter what happened this year, you kept your promise to stay my husband and I love you so much for that.”
“You’re a special woman, Piper Halliwell,” he said, kissing her lightly over Chris.
“Don’t you forget it,” she said.
Despite the healing he’d given her, she was still exhausted from the normal wear and tear after giving birth and she soon fell back asleep. Phoebe arrived home shortly after that and slipped into their room.
Leo held up his finger to his lips and then picked up the sleeping baby and came out of the room.
“Let her sleep all she can,” he said, handing Chris off to Phoebe. “Are you okay to watch him while I do a formal resignation?”
“Of course,” Phoebe said, softly kissing Chris on the cheek. “Are you okay?”
“I am,” Leo said. “This is the right thing to do. I had to be an Elder this year because my circumstances needed me to be, but I’m ready to be a husband and father again.”
“You never stopped being that,” said Phoebe.
Leo smiled and orbed Up There.
Immediately he was bombarded by a crowd of Elders all asking questions of him one after the other, about Chris, about Gideon, about Wyatt, about Leo.
Finally Roland stepped forward and hushed them all.
“Leo, what do you need?” he asked.
“Well, we have unfinished business,” Leo said calmly. “First and foremost, let me apologize for my behavior when I was last here. I was distraught and understandably so, but I realize that you were only trying to help. Secondly, I’d like to reiterate that I no longer want to be an Elder. If that means you have to clip my wings entirely, I understand, but I’m fully ready to relinquish my grace to someone else and retain a Whitelighter status, though with the stipulation that my only charges be the Charmed Ones.”
“This is very irregular,” said Roland.
“Life is irregular,” said Leo. “It doesn’t always work out the way we want it to. I never wanted to be an Elder, I never thought I’d get married, I never believed I’d know my son as an adult before I knew him as a child. We never thought the Titans would wipe out more than half our number. We can’t predict the future, for all our power.”
“Leo is right,” said Orlando, speaking up, Leo noticed, for the first time in such a public forum. “I have long foreseen he would take this route and have done research and made preparations.”
“Such as?” asked Roland, looking a little miffed at the temerity of such a junior Elder.
“It is possible for Leo to transfer his grace to another Elder until it can be bestowed upon a deserving individual,” said Orlando.
“On you, I suppose,” said Roland.
“No,” said Orlando, smiling, “on you.”
Roland looked startled.
“Me?”
“I do not desire more power,” said Orlando. “Leo has more grace than any of us; you all know it to be true.”
Leo was a little surprised at that.
“Why me?” asked Roland.
“You have the capacity for change and still know the merit of tradition,” said Orlando.
Leo smiled, yup, Orlando was the best choice to replace him.
“Shall we all confer?” Leo asked. “I believe Orlando has made a wise decision.”
A conference was held and Roland universally acknowledged as the right person to hold Leo’s grace.
Leo closed his eyes and released his hold on the gift granted to him. A golden light enveloped him and he felt warmth gather from his center and flood out of him and into Roland.
It left him a little bereft, but even if he couldn’t shoot lightening from his hands anymore, he could still do everything a Whitelighter needed to do, orb, heal, seek, and love. He’d rather not have such destructive powers anyway, because he never wanted to be tempted to do what he’d done to Gideon ever again.
“Are you at peace, Leo?” asked Orlando.
Leo nodded.
“Thank you, my friend. I trust you will look well after things here?”
“I look after everyone,” said Orlando.
“Then the world is in good hands,” said Leo.
He bowed to his former colleagues.
“The Charmed Ones and I are ready.”
“Bless you, Leo,” said Roland, who looked a little dazed. “Thank you.”
Leo smiled and orbed back home.
When he got back Piper was up and cooking, a meek Phoebe helping her in the kitchen while Richard and Paige entertained Wyatt and a sleeping Chris in the sun room.
“How goes it?” he asked.
“Look at that,” said Paige, tossing Wyatt in the air, “Daddy’s home, Wyatt.”
Piper came into the doorway, a bowl stuck under her arm, her eyes tracking movement the way they always did. Her eyes softened when she saw him.
“I am home,” said Leo.
He was home.
