Okay
Sometimes when Leo was going out shopping with Piper or going to a parents meeting the elders would call him. Leo would look at Piper and give her an apologizing look. Sometimes Piper would just look at him and he would orb away. Later when he returned he would apologize to Piper for leaving like that. He would promise her not to do it again and she would forgive him. Although she and he both knew that he would do it again. Maybe not tomorrow or the day after, but he would some day leave her again.
Sometimes when the elders called Piper wouldn't just look. She would yell at him. Tell him that the elder didn't have first priority, she did, she would tell him that he had promised to go with her today and she would tell him that if he orbed away he shouldn't orb back tonight. And he would stay with her. They would go to the parents meeting and he would ignore the elders. Later he would orb up there. He would apologize to the other elders and he would argue that his wife, who was a charmed one, needed him. And the elders would forgive him if he promised not to ignore them another time. And he promised knowing that he would ignore them again and again for Piper.
Sometimes when Leo was playing ball with Wyatt, or helping him with his magic the elders would call. Wyatt would hear it too and look at him. "They're calling aren't they?" he would ask, and Leo would nod. Then Wyatt would start to yell at him. Tell him that his son was more important then any elders. Tell him that he had promised to spend the day with him. Tell him that he hated him. And Leo would stay with Wyatt and play with him. Later, when Wyatt was asleep he would go to the elders and explain. He would tell them that his son, the twice blessed, needed him. That he needed both his parents. "After all" he would tell the elders "You won't want his mom to pass on her temperament and feelings towards the elders to him." And the other elders would agree. It was surprisingly how much they feared Pipers wrath. No, they wouldn't like Wyatt to be the same way. So they would agree that he had to spend time with the twice blessed. To guide him, and teach him about good and evil, and teach him not to hate the elders.
Sometimes when Leo was playing with Chris, or when he was going to take Chris to the zoo the elders would call. He would kneel down and explain to Chris that he had to go. That someone needed him. Just like he had explained to piper many times, and Wyatt too. And Chris would look at him with big eyes and the nod his little head and say "OK". And Leo would leave him and go to the elders. When Chris was older and the elders called Leo he would tell Leo "its Ok dad, I understand" and Leo would orb up there. When Chris was seven he could tell when the elders called Leo, he could see it in his eyes he said. And Chris would tell Leo to go and offer a sad little smile, indicating that he still understood. In the end Chris didn't even say anything, he would just give a short nod and Leo knew it meant that Chris understood and gave his permission for him to go.
Sometimes when he returned late at night after leaving Chris Piper would still be up, waiting for him. And they would fight. They would always start the fight the same way.
"Leo, you can keep leaving him like this. He was looking forward to spend time with you today!"
"Piper, they called, it was important, it was"
But he would never get a chance to explain, she would interrupt. But the fight would always end the same way.
"Piper, Chris understands why I had to go, he okay with it."
"Just because he understands doesn't mean he likes it. Be careful Leo, he might not understand one day, and then it will be too late!"
But he would do it again and again, telling himself that Chris understood and that it was okay.
TBC
