Chapter Two: Echoes from the Past.

"But the bullets cried with laughter,

the shells were overcome with mirth,

plunging their heads in steel and earth-

(the air commented in a whisper" ( Keith Douglas, Gallantry)

The Manor

"I do not want to discuss this! " Piper slammed the door behind her, almost breaking Phoebe's nose who walked straight into it.

"Oh yes you do" Phoebe said irritated while pushing the door open and rubbing her nose.

"I think I deserve an explanation. I don't understand why you are so agitated. I only kicked a demon's butt."

Piper turned, eyes burning with indignation.

"No Phoebe, you almost got killed by a demon. Big difference. You've got lucky. You didn't know anything about it. It could have been way stronger than us."

Phoebe put her hands on her hips. "Hello, I remember a time when you were vanquishing every demon you came across without bothering to ask for its M.O. Hell, you even scryed for them."

"That was different, and you know it is" she hissed.

"Please explain how that is different," responded Phoebe.

Piper took a deep breath and lowered her voice.

"Phoebe, we have to be more careful, now Leo is mortal. We do not have an in –house- healer anymore. "

"Oh, if that's what you're worrying about, Paige can heal."

Piper threw her hands up in despair. "Paige is not free to orb in and out as Leo was, and she is only half whitelighter. Her healing powers are not that strong."

"I know" said Phoebe "but I'm sure when the time comes…"

"No" interrupted Piper. "I do not want you to risk your life in the hope that when the time comes Paige will know what to do. No, not a word," she said when Phoebe attempted to object. "Will you please, for once, listen to your big sister!"

"Ladies," Leo's head appeared above the banister of the stairs.

"Could you keep it down? I've just put the boys to bed."

"Leo" Piper began "could you please tell your sister-in-law that she cannot attack a demon without knowing anything about it."

Leo frowned "Isn't that what you normally do?"

"Thank you Leo," said Phoebe.

"Not any more" said Piper. "Not know you're mortal and can't heal us any more."

"Speaking of which" said Phoebe "how is it, being mortal again Leo?"

"Don't change the subject."

Leo smiled. "Well, the great thing about not being your whitelighter anymore is that I can withhold myself from any opinion about your sisterly quarrels."

"No, you can't" said Phoebe and Piper in choir. "Your family. Family is supposed to have opinions and meddle, so start meddling! That's what family does."

""Yes, and if you have a family dispute I will happily say something about it, but this is a witch thing."

Upstairs Wyatt started to cry.

"Saved by the baby. I will go and check" said Leo and hurried upstairs.

"Coward!" Piper called after him.

""He does that a lot," said Phoebe while laying her head on Piper's shoulder. "I think we scare him. So, you think we can talk without you trying to bite my head off?"

Despite herself Piper smiled. Phoebe always could make her smile.

"Come, I make you a hot cocoa and we talk."

"A hot cocoa?" said Piper.

"Yes, I find that hot cocoa can solve many, many problems. For women anyway. I strongly suspect that a magical, very good, wise witch has created it. Why not devour a chocolate cake while we're at it?"

Piper and Leo's Room

Leo looked a Piper brushing her hair.

"What are you looking at?"

Leo shrugged. "Well, a beautiful woman. I sometimes find it hard to believe that you're really my wife." Piper turned and kissed him. "You better believe it. And I'm here to stay."

Leo lied back on their bed. "You and Phoebe worked things out?"

"Yeah, I guess I got a little overexcited. But only little. I'm still getting used to this new situation. I kind of got used to the fact that you were only a call away. I actually tried to call you today, you know, when we we're battling that demon. When you didn't show I realized how vulnerable we are without your healing powers to back us up. How vulnerable you are now."

She slipped into bed next to him and he pulled her close to him.

"I'm fine. We will get used to it. Stop worrying."

Piper sighed. "I hope your right. Sometimes I just feel I have to explode or I will go mad."

"Well, you're a very passionate woman."

She smiled. He always knew when to say the right thing. "Wright now I'm a very tired woman. Goodnight Leo, I love you."

…sound of exploding grenades around……screaming men…… ruptured aorta……amputate……last letter home……more pressure……soldier down……Leo, tell her I love her……guts faling out ……can't hold on..…I'm scared……situation normal, fucked up……It's a goner…burst open…Elizabeth, help me……can't see……help me, Mum, help me……too young to die……Eliza, more gauze……not our war……promise me to write……promise me to…promise…sharp pain … bright white lights…

"Elizabeth!"

Leo woke up with a start. The sheets were damp and he noticed that he was breathing heavily.

"Leo, honey, you're okay?" asked Piper drowsily.

"Yeah, just a bad dream. Go back to sleep. I just go downstairs to get some milk."

Piper already slept before he had finished his sentence.

The rest of the night Leo sat at the kitchen table, afraid of going back to sleep again.