Chapter 38

Leo stood in the mouth of the alley facing outward toward the light. He stood still, his eyes closed as he concentrated and meditated. Piper sat slumped against the wall, her jacket around her as a blanket. She awoke suddenly. "Leo?"

He turned around and smiled at her. "Hi."

"What are you doing?"

"Just trying to sense them."

"Any luck?" Piper finally got a good look at Leo. "You don't look so good."

"I know. Listen, about what happened…."

"I don't have any regrets if that's where this is going."

"It's not. But I'm glad you said that. Because I don't either. I just want you to know that I don't have any expectations. Because I know everything that you went through when I became an Elder, and it just…. It wouldn't be fair to put you through that again."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"Neither one of us wanted me to become an Elder, but I did anyway. I was supposed to go up there right away, but I-I didn't."

"Because you wanted to find out who Chris was…. And to protect Wyatt."

"Those aren't the only reasons I didn't go up there, Piper. I was holding on to you. And because of that, I've put you at risk, and I've put my son at risk. I can't let that happen anymore. I won't let that happen."

"Well, fortunately, you won't have to worry about that for much longer." The Darklighter that started all of the mess walked into the alley. Leo stood up to face him, placing himself between the Darklighter and Piper. "I'm a little surprised, actually. Didn't really think you'd come back here. Thought I knew you better than that. Oh, well." He raised his crossbow.

"Let her go. You don't want her." Leo said.

"No…. But I can't pass up my opportunity, can I? It's in my nature. Besides, I wouldn't want A Charmed One coming after me when this is over."

Suddenly, things started to shift and change. Busy sounds burst through the thick silence and various colored items in the alleyway appeared as if by magic. Leo and Piper looked around as the sounds of traffic and sirens and people rushing by filtered into their world. The Darklighter lowered the crossbow, confused by the alterations.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you 'cause this time I'll vanquish you for real." Paige said behind them.

"Well, it's about time." Piper said.

Phoebe stepped out from behind the Darklighter, surrounding him. "Who sent you?"

The Darklighter stood there stunned. From somewhere up above, a Darklighter's arrow hit him in the chest. He staggered back at its impact. Piper looked up to see another Darklighter peering down at them from the rooftop just as the first Darklighter exploded. The one of the roof orbed out.

Chris appeared and solidified suddenly in the alley. He raised his arms high above his head and gave a triumphant shout. "Yes! I'm back!"

"Wait. How is that possible?" Phoebe asked.

"Don't ask me. Ask…." Leo sighed, his strength giving out on him as he slowly collapsed to the ground. "Them."

"Paige, come on, quick. We got to get him to Gideon." Piper said.

Paige stepped forward, grabbed both Piper and Leo and orbed them out of the alleyway. Phoebe grabbed Chris. "Come on. We've got to get back to Buffy."

Buffy took the bundle from Piper as she placed Alexis in her mother's arms. "Congratulations, mommy." Piper said.

The Slayer was sweaty and tired and sore, but completely in awe of the tiny baby in her arms. Paige stood behind Angel and dabbed at her eyes. Phoebe cleaned up as best she could through her tears. Angel sat next to Buffy, his arm around her shoulders so she was cradled in the crook of his arm, and stroked his daughter's cheek. She was absolutely perfect with almost white blonde hair and fair skin and when she opened her eyes, they were the color of the sky on a clear, sunny day.

Phoebe finally finished and went over to stand with Piper. They wrapped and arm around the other's waist and looked at their new born "niece". Leo knocked on the door and walked in with Chris right behind him. "Man," Chris said. "She's so adorable." He looked at Buffy. "Don't let it fool you. She's going to be a handful when she gets older."

Phoebe smacked Chris on the arm. "Don't ruin the moment."

"She's ok?" Leo asked.

"She's flawless." Buffy said.

"And she's got a set of lungs on her." Paige said. "You should've heard her!"

Leo laughed. "Congratulations, Buffy. Angel."

"Thank you." Angel said, not looking away from his daughter.

Paige smiled. "I'll go call Joyce and Victor." She walked out of the room just as Gideon walked in.

"Is everything ok?" He asked. "She's been born?"

"Yeah." Piper said.

"Congratulations, Buffy. And congratulations to you Angel."

"Thank you, Gideon." Buffy said.

"I'd like to extend a blessing from all of the Elders and from everyone here at Magic School. She will be a special and loved child through all of her days."

"Yes." Chris said. "She will."

Buffy smiled. "Thank you."

Piper shut the door to Wyatt and Alex's nursery where Buffy and Angel were working on changing their newborn. She rounded the entry to her bedroom to find Phoebe and Paige waiting for her. "Hi."

"Hi." Phoebe said.

"What's goin' on?"

"Maybe…. Maybe you should sit down for a second."

"Oh, that doesn't sound good."

"No, no! No, it's good. It's good. I mean, you know, it's not bad." Piper sat down reluctantly. "It's a…. It's a really good thing. It's not a bad thing. I think it's a really good thing. Don't you think?"

"Yeah! I mean, it depends." Paige said.

"Uh-huh. That sounds worse." Piper said.

"No, it's just, uh, just complicated."

Buffy walked in. "Did I miss it?"

"No." Phoebe gestured her in. "You didn't miss it."

"Ok, so why don't you guys just tell me what's going on?" Piper said.

"All right. Uh, Paige, Buffy, and I know what happened between you and Leo the other night." They looked at Piper with suppressed smiles on their faces.

Piper stared at them and chuckled, slightly embarrassed. "Wait. Excuse me?"

"Not because anybody told us or anything." Paige said.

"It's just…." Buffy said. "Because of Chris."

"Chris? Why…. Why would Chris know what happened last night?" Piper asked.

"Well, because he wouldn't be here if it didn't." Phoebe said. "Yeah, see, we've known for a while. We just didn't know how to talk to you and Leo about it."

"Talk to us about what?"

Phoebe sighed and looked at Paige. "Is it my turn?" She asked.

"Yeah."

"Yeah. Uh…. Chris is your son." Paige said.

"Wyatt's brother." Buffy added.

"Look, I know this is huge." Phoebe said.

"No, it's…." Piper shook her head and got to her feet. "It's not huge because it's not possible. It's crazy 'cause I'm not pregnant." Phoebe glanced at Piper's stomach, then back up to her face.

"Yeah." Buffy said.

"No, I'm not. I mean, how could that happen? I mean, I know how that could happen, but it…." She stopped and suddenly accepted the possibility. "Oh, what am I gonna do?"

"Maybe you should talk to Leo about it." Phoebe said.

"No, I can't."

"Why?" Buffy asked.

"Well, because…. Because…. Because I can't."

There was a light knock on the door and Chris appeared in the doorway. "This a bad time?"

Piper turned around and stared wide-eyed at Chris. He swallowed nervously as she stared at him. Buffy walked over to Chris. "What's up?"

"Your mom is here." She ushered him out of the room and down the hall. "You guys told her, didn't you?"

"Yeah."

"Is she ok?"

"She will be. She's just gotta get used to the idea. I mean, we're just your aunts. She's your mom. Kinda different perspectives there."

"Yeah." Buffy headed for the nursery.

"Oh, Angel's not in the nursery. He's in the kitchen."

"Is Alex with him?"

"No. She's sleeping in her crib."

"I'll get her and take her downstairs. Can you tell your mom and your aunts that mom and uncle Victor are here?"

"Uh, sure." Chris reluctantly went back into Piper's room.

Buffy gently picked up her daughter and carried her downstairs. Her mother was standing in the sitting room admiring a new framed photo Buffy, Phoebe, Piper, and Paige were in with Wyatt in Piper's arms. "We've got a couple more from Wyatt's birthday party and Alex's baby shower that we're going to frame."

Joyce turned. "Where's my granddaughter?" She gently took the little bundle from Buffy and rocked her, tears starting to fall. "Oh, Buffy, she's absolutely gorgeous."

Victor walked up behind Buffy with Angel. "And how is the mother this afternoon?"

Buffy turned and hugged her uncle. "I'm great. Tired, but great."

"Get used to the tired part." Joyce said.

"What's her full name?" Victor asked.

"Alexis Prudence Summers." Angel said.

"I figured Prue would like that." Buffy added.

"I know she would." Victor said, leaning over Joyce's shoulder to look at Alex. "Hi there Alexis. I'm your great uncle Victor and this is your grandma. You are just the prettiest thing."

"Dad!" Phoebe rushed down the stairs and hugged Victor. "Isn't she just the most beautiful baby?"

"She is beautiful. She comes from good genes."

"Thanks." Angel said with a slight smile.

"Where're Paige and Piper?" Buffy asked.

"Piper's laying down." Phoebe said. "And Paige headed out. She said she didn't want to intrude on family time."

"She's family. What is she thinking?"

"She said it's not really her side of the family."

"Oh, she's being silly."

"Don't worry about it, sweetheart." Joyce said. "You've got other things to worry about now."

"Phoebs, can you summon Grams for me?"

"Uh, sure. Why?" Phoebe asked.

"I have something I need to ask her."

"Ok."

A few minutes later, Phoebe walked down the stairs with Grams. "Where is she?" Grams walked over to Joyce and gently took Alex. Joyce excused herself to the bathroom as Grams rocked Alex gently. "Finally, a girl is born to this family."

"Actually…." Victor started.

"Don't start with me. This child is more of a Halliwell than she is a Bennett. She was born to a Slayer and to one who shares Charmed blood."

"She does not share…."

"She and Phoebe were twins in a past life and that echoes in their lives today. And the Powers That Be granted this child to Buffy to stand by and protect this family and the future of the world."

"Word really gets around." Buffy said.

"Tell me about it." Phoebe said.

"You wanted to ask me something, dear." Grams said to Buffy.

"Yes, I did. Grams, Angel and I would like to have a Wiccaning for Alex."

Grams smiled. "Oh, my darling." She kissed Buffy's cheek. "I would be more than happy to perform a Wiccaning for you. As long as I can call on the matriarchs of the Halliwell line."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Buffy took Angel's hand. "We wouldn't have it any other way."