Prologue

"I'm here to see Christopher Halliwell please."

The nurse looked up at the voice. "Certainly sir – are you family?"

"He's my son," Leo said, the quiet pride he had for his son noticeable.

The nurse smiled gently, "Congratulations, sir. I think he just woke up from his nap. You can have a seat in our sitting room, I'll go get him for you."

Leo watched as the nurse left her desk and bustled through the glass doors to the main nursery, he then stepped into the sitting room to the left. Circus animals paraded around the room. Smiling tigers, laughing monkeys, blushing giraffes all watched as the new father made himself comfortable in the available rocking chair.

"Here you are Mr. Halliwell," the nurse said quietly, "Here's your Christopher."

Leo held out his arms to accept his 8-hour old son, "Thank you. Actually, it's Mr. Wyatt – but you can just call me Leo," he said to the nurse.

The nurse's cheeks slightly tinged with pink, "I'm sorry sir – I mean, Leo." She smiled as she noticed the man hadn't even heard her apology. He was too focused on the new life in his arms. Before she shut the door, she heard the man begin to talk to his son in soft, hushed tones.

Leo gazed at the little man in his arms – Piper and I created you. "Hello Christopher – Chris. I want you to know your mom and I created you out of the love we have for each other. That love encompasses you. I don't know what's going to happen next, but I do know that I will always be there for you. I'll protect you Chris." Hazel eyes blinked back tears as Leo's thoughts flew back to his youngest son – not the few hours old baby in his arms, but the twenty-something adult that had come back from the future, sacrificing everything to save his family – including himself.

The small newborn gurgled gently and grabbed his father's finger with his tiny fist, letting him know he loved him and needed him too.

Suddenly, it was all too much for Leo. His mentor betraying him, his family jeopardized, his youngest son dead, the murder that was on his hands. As he blinked back his tears, Leo made a promise.

I'm so sorry Chris – I don't understand why you were taken away from us. I don't understand why Gideon would betray me – us like he did. I want you to know he's dead Chris. I killed the man who took you away from us. I killed him with my bare hands. He will never harm our family again and I'll make sure that no one ever harms you or our family ever again. I swear to you Chris…

It was another endless night in the Underworld. The burning smell of brimstone poisoned his nostrils as the blue orbs faded and he arrived. He hated the smell, hated everything that was connected to this place, but that didn't stop him from spending most of his days and nights down here. You had to go where the demons were in order to vanquish them.

He hadn't been there for five minutes and already his short-sleeve shirt was damp with sweat. It was the stale heat that saturated the air that made the place unbearable.

There was no specific target that day. He just orbed to a spot and waited. Waited for demons to come along. It didn't matter if they were low or high level demons – they would all disintegrate once he fired his energy bolts at them.

His wait was not long. Two demons entered the cavern he was sitting in. There was no hesitancy in his actions, he stood and immediately shot the demons with energy blasts. There was no mercy. His soul demanded revenge for the betrayal of his family. Nothing could soothe the pain in his heart – not the touch of his wife, not the sounds of his sons playing, he had been betrayed. All of demondom would pay.

Chapter 1

"Leo! Leo!" Piper called out, her tone of voice was clearly marked with exasperation, her legs pacing the conservatory in an effort to dispel extra frustration. If Leo doesn't get here soon, I'm never going to be able to go over inventory and place the supply order this afternoon, Piper thought. He's never around anymore, he's always too busy.

Suddenly, little Chris' wails distracted Piper from her train of thought. She walked to her youngest son's bassinet and noticed immediately his favorite stuffed animal, a hippo Leo had left in his crib for him last week was missing. Looking around, she noticed the animal was being held by Wyatt.

"Wyatt – you need to give Harold the Hippo back to your brother." Piper told the blond little boy as she tried to quiet Chris by picking him up and bouncing him on her hip. Piper knew the attempt was useless, this was the fifth time Wyatt had orbed the animal from his brother and each time Chris' wails intensified until he was cuddled up next to his daddy's present once more.

Six months had passed since Piper and Leo had brought home the youngest edition to their family and Wyatt was still getting used to the fact that he wasn't the only growing witch seeking his mommy's attention.

The toddler half-witch, half-whitelighter blinked at his mother's request. Not sure he was willing to part with the animal and be nice to his little brother. Piper pleaded as the wails jumped an octave, "Please Wyatt – you can play with the fire truck Daddy just gave you. We'll even build a house for the truck to live in, okay?"

A swirl of blue and white orbs placed the purple hippo into Piper's outstretched hand. "Hey peanut," she said to Chris, using his special name. "Quiet down now – Harold's here – see?" Upon seeing the hippo, the baby's wails immediately ended and he threw out a tiny fist to grab his favorite thing to cuddle.

Piper gently lowered her youngest son and the animal into his bassinet to resume his early afternoon nap. She was thankful the little guy could go to sleep at the drop of a hat, it made parts of the day much easier. Piper turned on the baby monitor and slipped the other one in her back pocket as she made her way over to Wyatt. "Come here little guy, what do you say we go have a snack in the kitchen and play fire truck there?"

Wyatt blinked and pulled himself up slowly. As he stood, he flung one hand in the air, waiting for his mother's hand to catch his. A beat later, his mother's warm hand gently wrapped itself around his and together, with his new fire truck, walked into the kitchen for a snack.

Piper smiled as she watched Wyatt happily zooming his fire truck back and forth on the kitchen floor. "Leo! Leo!" she called.

Where is he? He barely comes when I call anymore. The boys miss him so much, they need him – I need him. Piper knew Leo hadn't been the same since the betrayal of Gideon and their son's death. Something had happened to him during his visit with Chris in the nursery – something in him had changed. She had tried to get him to talk, but Leo refused, insisting he was fine. There were weeks when they saw him for only a few hours, he would orb into their bedroom in the middle of the night, when she and the boys were fast asleep. He would kiss the boys, take a shower and then climb into bed with her. The two of them would have a sleepy conversation about the boys and then, in the morning, before she woke, he would leave. At first, Piper thought he was always "Up There," but even if he was with the other Elders he would come when she called for him. There was only one place Piper knew of that Leo could not hear her calls – the Underworld.

"Le-" Piper's call was interrupted by the swirling of orbs. As the orbs faded away they revealed not Leo, but her younger sister Paige. "Oh." Piper exclaimed, somewhat disappointed.

" 'Hello Paige, it's nice to see you today – my do you look lovely, is that a new top?' 'Why thank you Piper, and yes, it is a new top – I got it last week at that nifty little boutique in the Embarcadero.' " Paige mimicked a conversation between herself and her older sister.

"I'm sorry Paige – I was calling for Leo. He's supposed to spend some time with the boys this afternoon. They were going to go to the park with him while I placed orders at P3."

Paige half-smiled, her eyes giving away her concern for her sister and brother-in-law. She and Phoebe had talked about Leo's recent disappearing act and were concerned, but neither wanted to mention it to Piper – they knew she was worried about her husband enough without their adding fuel to the fire. "Well, I'm done at Magic School for the day, I can take the boys to the park," Paige offered, kneeling down next to her nephew and his fire truck. "Wyatt – you want to go to the park with Chris and your Auntie Paige? On our way home we'll stop and get ice cream, does that sound like fun?"

Wyatt's blue eyes lit up with the words ice cream, he immediately abandoned his truck and clapped his hands together in anticipation of an ice cream.

Piper sighed with relief, it looked like she might be able to get some things done at the club yet today. "Thank you Paige – that would be terrific," Piper said gratefully as she gathered up her bag, car keys and day planner, "Chris is in the conservatory finishing his nap. You can wake him up anytime. Their toys and jackets are already packed in the diaper bag." Piper bent down and picked Wyatt up, carrying him into the conservatory on her hip. "You're going to be a good boy with Auntie Paige at the park today right Wyatt? No orbing your brother or his hippo away from him, okay?" Piper gave her son a squeeze and a kiss and passed him off to Paige who had followed them from the kitchen. Gently, Piper leaned over the edge of the bassinet and gave her baby boy a kiss on the forehead, "I'll see you soon peanut."

Piper turned around from the bassinet and addressed Paige once more, "Don't forget Harold – Chris' hippo, he doesn't want to be without it. Wyatt kept orbing it from him today and trust me, you don't want to hear the wailing that is incurred."

Paige nodded, barely keeping up with the whirlwind Piper had become in an effort to get out the door. She balanced Wyatt on her hip and followed her sister to the front door. "Have a great time with the boys Paige – I'll see you later!" Piper exclaimed as she shut the door behind her. Paige looked at Wyatt, "Whew! Your mommy is –" she began, only to be cut off by Piper sticking her head back in the door, "Oh, and Paige, no ice cream. We don't want to spoil anyone's dinner." With a quick smirk, Piper once again shut the door behind her and was off.

Paige looked down at the nephew in her arms, "Your mommy is such a spoilsport Wyatt. What do you say we split a two-scoop sundae? You want hot fudge, sprinkles, nuts and whipped cream too?" Wyatt just giggled at his Auntie Paige, he loved going to the park with her.

He orbed into their bedroom hungry and tired. He had tracked down several vulture demon packs and destroyed all of them. He had even managed vanquish a group of power brokers who had been trading demonic powers.

Leo sighed and sank into the rocking chair Piper used when the boys couldn't sleep. A slight smile haunted his face as Leo saw within his memory images of Piper rocking each of the boys to sleep, reading to them, nursing them, and singing lullabies to them. He slipped off his boots and out of his clothes heading to the shower, he didn't want Piper to smell the brimstone on him.

Once in the bathroom, he flicked the light switch and turned the shower on. He stepped into the steaming shower – the hot water felt good on his muscles – it had been a long day – long week even. Leo strained to remember when he was last home with Piper and the boys. Was it three days ago? Or four? No – wait, it was seven. Piper's going to kill me – or worse, blow me up.

Piper heard the shower running and knew Leo was home finally. For a moment she debated on going back to sleep, Chris had just begun to sleep through the night and it was going to take the next year for Piper to catch up on the sleep she had lost in the last six months. Instead, she pushed back the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. As she was pulling on her robe, she noticed the pile of Leo's clothes on the floor in front of the rocking chair. Piper smiled lightly, some things never change, she thought, remembering over the last five years how many times she had picked up his clothes and put them in the laundry basket. He knew where it was, he just never managed to get anything in it. There was a faint smell of burning on the clothes – it was familiar to Piper, but she couldn't place it. Knowing that it had to do with where Leo was spending all of his time nowadays, she made a mental note to discuss the smell with Phoebe and Paige the next day.

By this time the shower had stopped and Piper could hear Leo moving around the bathroom softly. She moved towards the bathroom and watched him from the doorway. Leo had wrapped a dark blue towel around his waist and was shaving in the mirror. Half of his face was covered with shaving cream the other half was clean and slightly reddened. She watched as he rinsed the shaver in the half-full sink.

Leo knew Piper was watching him, he could feel her eyes following his motions with the razor. He had felt her wake when he was still in the shower – her presence was potent, it took extra concentration to finish shaving.

As he dried his face, Piper walked over to Leo and came up from behind him, wrapping her small arms around his waist she placed her cheek on the smooth skin of his back. "Hey," she murmured.

For a moment Leo relished the smallness of her body pressed against his. God, how he hated leaving her and the boys, but he had made a promise to Chris and he was going to keep it. "Hey," he replied softly.

"You were gone a week this time, you know."

"I'm sorry Piper – I know I was supposed to be back last week to find out how Chris' check-up went."

"Where do you go Leo?"

Leo pulled Piper's arms open and turned around to face her. She still did not look up, her gaze captured by the tile pattern on the floor. Keeping his hold on one of her hand's, Leo reached out and delicately took Piper's chin between his thumb and forefinger and pulled her gaze from the floor to his eyes. "I want you to know that even when I'm not here, I think about you and the boys all the time. I'm trying to protect our family, make this world safer for all of us. I'm going to do my best to come home more often Piper – for you and the boys, I promise."

Piper just nodded. It was a promise she had heard before. It was a promise Leo just couldn't seem keep. "You didn't answer my question Leo. You were supposed to take the boys to the park this afternoon. I called for you – why didn't you come?"

Leo closed his eyes, silently berating himself for forgetting his park date with the boys. "I'm sorry Piper – I'll make it up to them tomorrow. I'll make it up to you tomorrow – I promise."

"Really? Are you going to stick around for us long enough to talk? Or are you going to orb before the sun comes up again?"

"I will stay around here tomorrow – the whole day. We'll talk and then together we'll take the boys to the park."

And Piper was relieved. She knew no matter how distracted Leo would not lie to her. He would not leave in the middle of the night. The two climbed into bed. Both were exhausted, both restless.

Leo sighed, tomorrow he would tell Piper where he spent his time. Tomorrow he would tell her of the promise he made to Chris. Tonight, though, tonight he would simply hold her.

"I just want to know where you're spending all of your time these days Leo! I'm tired of never knowing where you are or when you're coming home. I'm tired of the boys not having their father around – did you know that Wyatt's working on running? You're missing so much by not being here. What's more important than your family?" It was eight o'clock in the morning and already the Manor was vibrating with Piper's anger.

"Piper – please listen to me – I'm trying to protect our family. Nothing is more important to me than you and the boys. I'm trying to make the world safer for them."

"How Leo? Where do you go? What do you do?" Piper demanded as she slammed another cupboard door shut. She was getting breakfast ready while trying desperately to understand.

"I spend my time in the Underworld Piper. I go there to vanquish demons. To try and make this world a safer place for our sons. I will protect my family – I will protect you – I will protect our sons! I refuse watch any of you die at the hand of a demon!" The anger haunting Leo's voice slammed into Piper with a coldness that took her breath away.

She knew Leo wasn't angry with her – he was still angry at what happened 6 months ago. A trusted friend, a fellow whitelighter – a mentor – had betrayed him, jeopardized his family and killed their youngest son in an attempt to kill their first born. Piper herself had barely gone outside for the first two months of Chris' life – in fact, the only place she and the boys saw outside the Manor was the doctor's office. But through holding her two sons everyday she had slowly been able to deal with the pain of the betrayal. It seemed as if Leo hadn't even begun to deal with it. His desperation clung to him as if it were a shadow. She watched as he sank into a chair at the kitchen table and buried his head in his hands.

"Leo," Piper said softly, approaching him, "It's okay to be angry. It's okay to be hurt. Gideon did an awful thing to all of us – but Chris is here, alive and happy."

Leo looked up from his hands and met the warm cinnamon eyes of his wife. She was kneeling next to him, both hands on his knee. "I made a promise to Chris – and I'm not going to break that promise Piper – I can't."

Piper sighed, she knew there was nothing she could do or say to convince Leo that his love as a father guaranteed his promise already fulfilled. She knew that Leo had to work through this in his own way, and one day, he would at last come home to stay. At least the boys would have today with their father.