***
Because there has always been heartache and pain
When it's over you'll breathe again
You'll breathe again
When you feel all alone
And the world has turned it's back on you
Give me a moment please
To tame your wild wild heart
***
Dear Piper,
I can't do this any longer, can't keep living this life which I hate. It is killing me, waking up every morning, knowing you won't be there beside me, knowing that I can't lean over and stroke your hair until you wake up, or sneak downstairs to make coffee for us before you wake. Your sisters are okay, because they have each other. But I can't talk to them, knowing it was me who did this to you, knowing if I wasn't here you would be. My heart left when you left, and I will only be whole again if I am with you. It hurts too much to live each day, to know when I come home it is no longer home because you are not here. We were one, and the only way I can be whole again is by doing this. By doing what I have to do so we are together again.
We'll meet again so soon my love
I'll love you forever
Leo
***
Dear Phoebe,
I am so sorry to do this to you. You know I love you like a sister, and I know this will hurt you the most. I'm so sorry to have not been able to save Piper for you, and I know that me leaving too will only hurt you more. But I have to do this, I can't live without her, knowing I have infinity to grieve but never to find again. Live your life as Piper would have wanted, and look after Prue. The Power of Two is still alive. I know we'll see each other again one day.
Love Leo
***
Dear Prue,
I think you have suspected this was coming, even if you didn't want to admit it to yourself. Don't blame yourself for this, because it is in no way anyone's fault, least of all yours or Phoebe's. This is something I had to do for me, for me and Piper. I know you know more than anyone how hard it is to lose someone you love as much as I love Piper. I am only amazed at your strength. If your love for Andy was only a fraction of mine for Piper, I do not know how you have coped. This is the only way I can stop the constant ache in my heart, the torment and torture I feel every day. It is killing me inside, I love her too much to ever express but I know this is the only way for us to be together. Please look after Phoebe, look after each other, and continue with the extraordinary good you do.
Love Leo
***
Leo sealed the last envelope, and wrote 'Prue' on it, placing it beside the other two on the mantle. He picked up the vial of liquid that sat beside them, and swallowed the lump in his throat. "I'm coming Piper" he whispered as he felt the poison seep down his throat. Stumbling, he fell hard against the bed head and crashed to the floor. As he stared at the smiling faces from their wedding photo, his eyes flickered slowly shut and his heart ceased to beat. The world had suddenly changed, and no one even knew.
***
The old picture on the shelf
Well it's been there for a while
A frozen image of ourselves
We are acting like a child
Innocent and in a trance
A dance that lasted for a while
***
3027
"Woah!" Her groceries came crashing to the floor as she rounded the corner. "Oh no..." she surveyed the damage. Oranges rolled into the road. Milk flowed down the sidewalk. "I don't need this..." she murmured as she bent down to gather the remains of her shopping. A voice spoke from high above.
"Oh, jeez, I'm so sorry." It lowered itself and Piper found herself staring into the eyes of perhaps the most gorgeous man in Los Angeles. "I wasn't looking...." He attempted to pick up a carton of juice, but failed until he finally tore his eyes off her. Leo glanced at his watch. Damn meeting! "Look, I've really got to run, I'm sorry, this is so....." She cut him off.
Piper cleared her throat. "It's okay, really. My fault."
"No, it wasn't, really. Look.." the stranger reached inside his jacket pocket and brought out a piece of card, scribbling quickly on the back. Here's my address and phone number..." Leo handed her the note. "Call me tonight, send me a bill, whatever." There was something about him, something........familiar? Piper couldn't quite put her finger on it. Without realising what she was saying, she blurted out what she had been thinking.
"How about you take me out to dinner to...uh.... make it up?" She blushed a deep red, the words sinking in. "Oh, god, I'm sorry, I don't know why I......" Piper looked up at his tall frame and glanced down at the card.
Leo grinned. "I'd love too, um, ...."
"Piper." she smiled back. He stared long and hard into her chestnut eyes. "Here's my card...." she fumbled about in her bag. Finally she pulled out a very squashed, torn and battered card. Leo looked at it. "You're a chef?" he asked. She nodded shyly.
"Uh, yeah, just opened my own restaurant actually....."
"Well that's perfect!" Leo exclaimed. "Let me buy you dinner there tonight." He couldn't explain this...... connection? he felt. The meeting! He could hear them calling. He pulled himself out of this trance. "I'm sorry..." he mumbled hesitantly, looking at his watch. "I really have to..." he started to back away from her, not wanting to.
"It's okay. I understand." She picked up the one remaining bag of shopping. "Meet me there tonight at 8. It's in the phone book."
Leo dragged his eyes off her. They were calling again. Shut up! "What's it called?" he cried after Piper, as she retreated, walking backwards so to get another glimpse of him.
"Melinda's."
***
The soft piano music floated though the air, filling the room. Couples at two seater tables chatted comfortably, their hands intertwined and faces close enough for breath to warm each other. Food was forgotten, plates pushed aside and waiters passed by unnoticed. Piper smiled, watching the serenity of the room. The atmosphere was calm, tranquil. Leaning against the bar, surveying the room, she felt completely out of place. Her stomach was doing somersaults as she tugged selfconciously at the hem of her dress. Looking down at the knee length burgundy dress, butterflies in her stomach multiplied. Was this too dressy? Not dressy enough? Was this a date to Leo? Was she simply a way to fill an otherwise empty evening?
Suddenly there was no time left to worry, as the head waiter came up behind her and whispered that he had arrived in her ear. Attempting to swallow the nervous feelings, she whirled around from the bar to face the door. In a gorgeous black suit with his blonde hair spiked up with gel, he took her breath away.
***
He hurriedly walked down the street, checking his watch every five seconds. What if it had stopped? What if he was late? What if there was more than one Melinda's in Los Angeles? Was this suit too casual, too formal? The nervous questions drummed through his head with every heart beat. He rounded the corner and then suddenly there it was, Melinda's, in front of him. Immediately Leo was impressed. This looked like a popular joint. He felt his shirt pocket self consciously. Was this enough money? He hadn't been on a date in three years, had prices changed? His frantic worrying was halted by the door opening.
"Good evening, sir. Table for one is it?" the friendly balding gentleman at the front desk asked.
"Um, no, I'm meeting someone. Piper.... Piper Hall? She owns this place?" The man nodded.
"Of course, I'll just tell her you're here." the man gestured for Leo to step more fully into the restaurant. His stomach flipped. Was this a date? Was that what she had implied, or had it been his imagination? He cleared his throat and glanced around the room. It was packed, though didn't look overly full. The atmosphere was pleasant and immediately calmed him. There she was, leaning against the small bar, fiddling nervously with her hair and dress. He was captivated and this was only the back of her. The head waiter whispered in her ear and she hesitantly turned around to face the door. Everything seemed to go in slow motion as her hair swished lightly around her shoulders, those beautiful eyes caught the light, her dark red dress sparkled in the nearby candlelight. With her make up perfect and captivating smile, she took his breath away.
***
"It was not!" she cried, teasing him. Piper's voice echoed through the now empty restaurant. She smiled at the young waiter as he swept up their empty plates with one swift action.
"Oh yes it was!" he retorted. "You bumped into me, I don't know why I'm even paying for this meal in fact." He joked, and her whole face lit up in mock disbelief.
"Well, since neither of us were looking where we were going, it was both our fault, and you've repaid me more than enough by this lovely evening. So..... " Piper grabbed his hand as he reached for his wallet. "It's on the house." She nodded to the waiter who had brought the bill and he picked it up again. "I'll settle it up later." she whispered, and he hurried away.
"Piper, you can't...." Leo stopped as his hand tingled. Her hand rested lightly in his, comfortably.
"Oh, sorry!" she cried as she noticed the direction of his gaze. She tried to pull her hand free, but he grasped it lightly in his own and stared deeply into her beautiful eyes.
"Don't be." Silently asking to go one step further, Leo leant forward over the table until he could feel her breath mixing with his own. He closed his eyes and breathed in that scent that had held him captivated for over four hours. Their lips teased each other, bare millimetres apart. Leo opened his eyes once more and his met hers, just as their lips found each other and fused.
Passions welled up, emotions overcame each other, a perfection sought was found. He pulled her closer, the inches between their bodies too much even, and hands net cheeks and stroked hair and shoulders. Shivers ran down Piper's spine as his lips found hers once more. They could have been kissing forever for all she knew, for all of eternity. Tingles ran though her body and she lightly rested her hand on his cheek so he couldn't pull away.
A comfortable silence was found when they finally parted. No embarrassed grins or eyes on the ceiling. Brown eyes met green and hands intertwined. "Well," Leo began. "I've never been quite so happy I bumped into someone." Piper smiled and pushed her hair back over her shoulder.
"I couldn't agree more. Especially as it was you who bumped into me." her eyes danced playfully.
"Was not!"
***
Months passed and the two became inseparable. Leo met Piper in her lunch break, took her out to dinner every Friday, woke her up at four in the morning so they could watch the sunrise. Each day spent it felt more right, and the only thing between them now was Leo's secret. How could he tell her when everything was so perfect? How could he ruin it? Would she even believe him or just think he was crazy? The questions rolled over and over in his mind until finally The Elders called him one day as he and Piper packed up their picnic basket in the park opposite Melinda's. He looked momentarily towards the heavens and knew it was urgent. Now for the ploy again, pretending he had a meeting, looking at his watch. She as ever was fine with him rushing off and her kind face only wanted Leo to tell them to sod off and leave him be. But as Leo leaned in to kiss here once more, their calls became more urgent.
He bid her goodbye and promised to call later in the day. Once safely round a corner he orbed away, the blue lights lingering, watching her walk across the park, hamper in hand.
***
Leo stormed through the pearled doors, full of rage. They had promised him the time off, they had granted him that. Who were they to determine when that leave ended? Who were they to interrupt him?
"Mr Watts."
"Don't you 'Mr.Watts me!" he cried. "You promised me three months leave. God, you can't even stick to simple promises now!" He was furious.
"I assure you, Leo, there is a very good reason and if you perhaps listened to us, you would understand." They all sat before him, in a circle around him, all ten of them. The Elders. His bosses. He relented.
"Fine." he muttered, sitting down too. He shrugged off his jacket.
"It has been brought to our attention that you have been seeing a mortal on Earth."
"Yes, that's right, so what? Since when were there rules about that too?" The elder he was facing shook his head slightly, indicating that was not the problem.
"You have heard of the ancient prophecy of The Charmed Ones." Another stated. Leo nodded, intrigued now. What did this have to do with anything?
"They were formed over a century ago!" he cried, confused.
"Indeed, the sisters known as the Charmed Ones did pass away at the latest a century ago. However.." the man cleared his throat. "there has been a development, one that was not foreseen, one that was not told in legends. The Charmed Ones have now evolved into the Charmed One."
"There's one witch out there?" With all those powers?"
"Well, not yet. She has not yet been granted her powers. Her mother will pass away in three day's time. This is irreversible. Only then will she be granted her powers. We want you to be the one to train her."
Now Leo was excited. This was huge. A witch? With all those powers? She would be a wonder to train, to watch grow stronger. "Well, where is she?" he asked, his face lighting up.
"Los Angeles." And suddenly he understood.
***
***
Hold on to your love,
but don't hold on too tight.
And death is just a word we use to counter life.
We blame it on the dove,
when we cannot be free.
We curse the stars above and say the rosary.
So take her by the hand,
tell her truths and lies,
and love her while you can, before she learns to fly.
***
"Oh...... oh my god!!!" A horrified scream filled the room. Her heart thudded, the pressure was too intense.
"I'm so sorry, Miss Hall, we did everything we could, but her injuries were too severe." Piper's screams echoed through the room, hating the nurse, hating the words, hating herself for having survived the accident. "Your mother was in no pain."
"What do you know?" Piper roared, standing. "She was in pain, of course she was in pain."
"I can assure you, Miss Hall......" The look the young intern received from Piper was enough to quiet him. "Would you like to see her?"
Piper sat back down, her back slamming against the wooden chair. Oblivious to any more pain, she shook her head dumbly. How could....how could she be dead? How could this happen? Just this morning.... The mere memory of her mother smiling was enough for Piper to break down in tears. She buried her face in her hands, the tears spilling from a place inside herself she didn't know existed. The grief and disbelief welled up inside her released themselves as more tears, and she sobbed herself slowly to sleep, her dreams filled with too many memories for her conscious to handle.
***
And for the million hours that we were
Well I'll smile and remember it all
Then I'll turn and go
While your story's completed mine is a long way from done
***
"Piper." he shook her softly and whispered again in her ear. "Piper." She stirred slowly and one red rimmed eye opened gradually, as the light and the pain and the grief flooded back in and filled her very soul.
"Leo," she sobbed. "She's gone, Leo, she's gone."
"I know. Ssshhhh." He held her tightly in his arms, cursing himself for not disobeying the Elders and saving Piper's mother. She could barely deal with this, let alone what he was about to tell her. He hated them, he hated himself, he hated fate. He drew breath in slowly, not wanting the next few minutes to happen. Not wanting to turn her world upside down, not wanting to tell her what he had to.
"Piper." he lightly pulled her up, letting go of her slightly. "Piper, I have to talk to you. It's important."
"I can't let them have her organs, Leo.... Please, don't let them."
"It's not about that." he whispered, not wanting to break the kind of silence that had surrounded them. "It's... it's about your mom." How could he explain this? Would she even understand? "Piper, your mom was special." He tried to explain it simply to start with, and she nodded reassuringly up to the point he mentioned witchcraft. Her face suddenly grew dark and she drew sharply away from him.
"What are you talking about, Leo?" she questioned him hesitantly. "Mom was a witch? Is that what you're trying to tell me? Leo, I ..... I don't understand. Why are you doing this now?"
Because they made me. He wanted to shout it, shout at them, shout at anyone but her. Her eyes searched his for an answer, and he knew he had reached the point of no return.
"Piper ... your mom ..... was a witch, yes." He watched her carefully, unsure if this was registering. "But..... different from your average witch. She had powers, magical powers. Piper nodded, still unsure but willing to let him continue. She lay in his arms and looked up at him.
"Okay."
"She fought...... things." He couldn't bring himself to say it, to open her innocent eyes up to a world in which she didn't belong. She belonged right here in his arms, not fighting creatures of the night.
"Things?" Somehow she believed him. Leo had never lied to her, and she saw no reason for him to do so now.
He nodded. "Demons and warlocks." It sounded pathetic, like a bad children's story book. Demons and warlocks. He'd been fighting them for three years and it sounded stupid to him.
"What?" she stood up sharply. Leo continued, trying to explain himself.
"For centuries, women in your family have fought the underworld. They have conquered and fallen and lost and grieved. Since the start of your line, they have all had special powers. Powers to help them fight the evil. You..... you have powers, Piper."
"Leo, what are you speaking about?" She was getting angry now and backed away from him. Where was Leo, to hold her and comfort her and hold her hand as she grieved for her mother? "What powers? I don't have any powers. Mom didn't have any powers. Don't you think I would have noticed?" The anger welled up inside her more. Who was he to do this is to her now? Was this some kind of sick joke? She flailed her arms out to the side, anger winning over grief. "Go away!" she cried, as a lamp to her left exploded and crashed noisily to the floor, breaking the dusky silence.
Her eyes widened in shock, fixed on the lamp on the floor, dancing between her hand, still outstretched, and the broken lamp. She attempted to open her mouth, attempted to speak, to form any words at all. Speechless, her eyes settled finally on Leo. He nodded, confirming her worst fears.
"I.... I did that?" she whispered quietly. He made no movement, but those green eyes said it all. She shook her head, backing away from him, away from this new life she didn't want to know. "No..... no no no no......" and then his arms were around her, and all she saw was him, all she needed was him. He allowed him to take her back to the room, back to the chairs. But they both knew that things would never be the same again. Questions ran through both their minds, each one adding ten more. Each one more frightening than the last.
How does he know all this? Who is he really? Does he love me? What am I what are we what is he? What does this mean? Why did mom never tell me? Despite the multiple questions about Leo, she clung on tightly to his flannel shirt and sobbed her tears into him.
Will she be okay? Will she ever trust me again? What does this mean for her, for us? What do I tell her next? Will she cope? His grasp on her tightened, not wanting it to be her, not wanting to let her loose to a world she didn't know or understand. He wanted her here forever, safe in his arms, not fighting a demon three times the size of her in a darkened alley. He pressed a kiss into her hair and let her scent wash over him.
***
Won't you sing to me your poetry
Won't you take me to your home
Won't you be for me forever
So I'll never be alone
***
Days passed and with them the necessary funeral arrangements made. Her eyes no longer met his, their comforting shine was now that of tears and not happiness. The day of the funeral arrived and she shrugged herself out of his hold, only allowing his arm around her shoulders as the coffin was lowered slowly into the ground and earth scattered upon it marking the eternal resting place. Tears welled up in her throat and overcame her, a torrent spilling over her cheeks, her grasp on his shirt tightening.
The wake was private and only a few family friends attended. Seeing the state Piper was in, they bid their farewells quickly, and offered their condolences to Leo before quietly departing. Finally, Leo thought, as the last of the kindly women left, her mascara running. However nice they were as people, Piper needed to be alone now, to have grieving time, to come to terms with a huge change in her life, and not just that she was motherless. He wandered slowly back into the living room at the back of the grand old house, where she sat, crumpled on the smaller sofa, face hidden behind layers of hands and blanket and woe. He leaned against the doorframe, not wanting to go any further, not wanting to test her before he knew her strength.
"Piper, do you want to know who I am?"
A movement, a twitch. Recognition. She nodded. If he could only answer that question, she'd feel better. Her tear stained face peeked out from behind the layers, eyes red rimmed and heart thundering. She wanted to hear the truth, she didn't ... two trains of thought collided and met head on. The former won. A whispered reply.
"Yes."
Leo walked over and sat in the chair opposite hers, so their eyes met and truth could be recognised. "I swear, I knew nothing of this when I met you that first time. I had no idea who you really were." His eyes told the truth, she searched them for an answer. I'd never lie to you, they whispered. She gave her silent consent for him to continue.
"I'm a ...... a whitelighter." There, he'd said it. Half the battle was complete. He continued, knowing the point of no return was far behind them, a mere speck on the horizon and growing smaller with every breath. "I guide witches."
Piper goggled. "You guide me?" Leo nodded.
"You.... you are the most powerful witch to ever live. To demons, you are the bounty. The prize. But now you are at your most vulnerable. They know that. I need you to let me train you, you need to perfect your powers."
She stood up, her arms flying up beside her face. "What powers? Leo, I don't have powers! I'm just an ordinary...." Suddenly Leo stopped moving. She looked around. The cars outside had stopped. The birds in the sky flew, but were motionless, halted. Had she ... stopped time? Was that possible?
"Leo...." she walked over to him, waving her hand in front of his eyes. "Leo!" she cried more desperately, shaking him, tugging at his shirt and jacket. Then, suddenly, as if he was in a trance, he unfroze and looked straight at her.
"You froze me." he told her simply. "Piper, I know this is strange. I've seen this a thousand times before. You think I'm joking, or lying, or just a sick person who wants to screw you around and make you think you're crazy. I'm not. This is real."
Piper nodded, believing him, believing what his words. "Okay, so what? What do we do now?"
Leo smiled despite himself and brushed his lips against hers, loving their softness, loving the feel of her next to him
"Now? Now we train."
***
You read my eyes just like your diary
Oh remember, please remember
Well, I'm not a beggar, but what's more
If I hurt you, then I hate myself, don't wanna hurt you
Why do you chew your pain?
If only you knew how much I love you
***
Because there has always been heartache and pain
When it's over you'll breathe again
You'll breathe again
When you feel all alone
And the world has turned it's back on you
Give me a moment please
To tame your wild wild heart
***
Dear Piper,
I can't do this any longer, can't keep living this life which I hate. It is killing me, waking up every morning, knowing you won't be there beside me, knowing that I can't lean over and stroke your hair until you wake up, or sneak downstairs to make coffee for us before you wake. Your sisters are okay, because they have each other. But I can't talk to them, knowing it was me who did this to you, knowing if I wasn't here you would be. My heart left when you left, and I will only be whole again if I am with you. It hurts too much to live each day, to know when I come home it is no longer home because you are not here. We were one, and the only way I can be whole again is by doing this. By doing what I have to do so we are together again.
We'll meet again so soon my love
I'll love you forever
Leo
***
Dear Phoebe,
I am so sorry to do this to you. You know I love you like a sister, and I know this will hurt you the most. I'm so sorry to have not been able to save Piper for you, and I know that me leaving too will only hurt you more. But I have to do this, I can't live without her, knowing I have infinity to grieve but never to find again. Live your life as Piper would have wanted, and look after Prue. The Power of Two is still alive. I know we'll see each other again one day.
Love Leo
***
Dear Prue,
I think you have suspected this was coming, even if you didn't want to admit it to yourself. Don't blame yourself for this, because it is in no way anyone's fault, least of all yours or Phoebe's. This is something I had to do for me, for me and Piper. I know you know more than anyone how hard it is to lose someone you love as much as I love Piper. I am only amazed at your strength. If your love for Andy was only a fraction of mine for Piper, I do not know how you have coped. This is the only way I can stop the constant ache in my heart, the torment and torture I feel every day. It is killing me inside, I love her too much to ever express but I know this is the only way for us to be together. Please look after Phoebe, look after each other, and continue with the extraordinary good you do.
Love Leo
***
Leo sealed the last envelope, and wrote 'Prue' on it, placing it beside the other two on the mantle. He picked up the vial of liquid that sat beside them, and swallowed the lump in his throat. "I'm coming Piper" he whispered as he felt the poison seep down his throat. Stumbling, he fell hard against the bed head and crashed to the floor. As he stared at the smiling faces from their wedding photo, his eyes flickered slowly shut and his heart ceased to beat. The world had suddenly changed, and no one even knew.
***
The old picture on the shelf
Well it's been there for a while
A frozen image of ourselves
We are acting like a child
Innocent and in a trance
A dance that lasted for a while
***
3027
"Woah!" Her groceries came crashing to the floor as she rounded the corner. "Oh no..." she surveyed the damage. Oranges rolled into the road. Milk flowed down the sidewalk. "I don't need this..." she murmured as she bent down to gather the remains of her shopping. A voice spoke from high above.
"Oh, jeez, I'm so sorry." It lowered itself and Piper found herself staring into the eyes of perhaps the most gorgeous man in Los Angeles. "I wasn't looking...." He attempted to pick up a carton of juice, but failed until he finally tore his eyes off her. Leo glanced at his watch. Damn meeting! "Look, I've really got to run, I'm sorry, this is so....." She cut him off.
Piper cleared her throat. "It's okay, really. My fault."
"No, it wasn't, really. Look.." the stranger reached inside his jacket pocket and brought out a piece of card, scribbling quickly on the back. Here's my address and phone number..." Leo handed her the note. "Call me tonight, send me a bill, whatever." There was something about him, something........familiar? Piper couldn't quite put her finger on it. Without realising what she was saying, she blurted out what she had been thinking.
"How about you take me out to dinner to...uh.... make it up?" She blushed a deep red, the words sinking in. "Oh, god, I'm sorry, I don't know why I......" Piper looked up at his tall frame and glanced down at the card.
Leo grinned. "I'd love too, um, ...."
"Piper." she smiled back. He stared long and hard into her chestnut eyes. "Here's my card...." she fumbled about in her bag. Finally she pulled out a very squashed, torn and battered card. Leo looked at it. "You're a chef?" he asked. She nodded shyly.
"Uh, yeah, just opened my own restaurant actually....."
"Well that's perfect!" Leo exclaimed. "Let me buy you dinner there tonight." He couldn't explain this...... connection? he felt. The meeting! He could hear them calling. He pulled himself out of this trance. "I'm sorry..." he mumbled hesitantly, looking at his watch. "I really have to..." he started to back away from her, not wanting to.
"It's okay. I understand." She picked up the one remaining bag of shopping. "Meet me there tonight at 8. It's in the phone book."
Leo dragged his eyes off her. They were calling again. Shut up! "What's it called?" he cried after Piper, as she retreated, walking backwards so to get another glimpse of him.
"Melinda's."
***
The soft piano music floated though the air, filling the room. Couples at two seater tables chatted comfortably, their hands intertwined and faces close enough for breath to warm each other. Food was forgotten, plates pushed aside and waiters passed by unnoticed. Piper smiled, watching the serenity of the room. The atmosphere was calm, tranquil. Leaning against the bar, surveying the room, she felt completely out of place. Her stomach was doing somersaults as she tugged selfconciously at the hem of her dress. Looking down at the knee length burgundy dress, butterflies in her stomach multiplied. Was this too dressy? Not dressy enough? Was this a date to Leo? Was she simply a way to fill an otherwise empty evening?
Suddenly there was no time left to worry, as the head waiter came up behind her and whispered that he had arrived in her ear. Attempting to swallow the nervous feelings, she whirled around from the bar to face the door. In a gorgeous black suit with his blonde hair spiked up with gel, he took her breath away.
***
He hurriedly walked down the street, checking his watch every five seconds. What if it had stopped? What if he was late? What if there was more than one Melinda's in Los Angeles? Was this suit too casual, too formal? The nervous questions drummed through his head with every heart beat. He rounded the corner and then suddenly there it was, Melinda's, in front of him. Immediately Leo was impressed. This looked like a popular joint. He felt his shirt pocket self consciously. Was this enough money? He hadn't been on a date in three years, had prices changed? His frantic worrying was halted by the door opening.
"Good evening, sir. Table for one is it?" the friendly balding gentleman at the front desk asked.
"Um, no, I'm meeting someone. Piper.... Piper Hall? She owns this place?" The man nodded.
"Of course, I'll just tell her you're here." the man gestured for Leo to step more fully into the restaurant. His stomach flipped. Was this a date? Was that what she had implied, or had it been his imagination? He cleared his throat and glanced around the room. It was packed, though didn't look overly full. The atmosphere was pleasant and immediately calmed him. There she was, leaning against the small bar, fiddling nervously with her hair and dress. He was captivated and this was only the back of her. The head waiter whispered in her ear and she hesitantly turned around to face the door. Everything seemed to go in slow motion as her hair swished lightly around her shoulders, those beautiful eyes caught the light, her dark red dress sparkled in the nearby candlelight. With her make up perfect and captivating smile, she took his breath away.
***
"It was not!" she cried, teasing him. Piper's voice echoed through the now empty restaurant. She smiled at the young waiter as he swept up their empty plates with one swift action.
"Oh yes it was!" he retorted. "You bumped into me, I don't know why I'm even paying for this meal in fact." He joked, and her whole face lit up in mock disbelief.
"Well, since neither of us were looking where we were going, it was both our fault, and you've repaid me more than enough by this lovely evening. So..... " Piper grabbed his hand as he reached for his wallet. "It's on the house." She nodded to the waiter who had brought the bill and he picked it up again. "I'll settle it up later." she whispered, and he hurried away.
"Piper, you can't...." Leo stopped as his hand tingled. Her hand rested lightly in his, comfortably.
"Oh, sorry!" she cried as she noticed the direction of his gaze. She tried to pull her hand free, but he grasped it lightly in his own and stared deeply into her beautiful eyes.
"Don't be." Silently asking to go one step further, Leo leant forward over the table until he could feel her breath mixing with his own. He closed his eyes and breathed in that scent that had held him captivated for over four hours. Their lips teased each other, bare millimetres apart. Leo opened his eyes once more and his met hers, just as their lips found each other and fused.
Passions welled up, emotions overcame each other, a perfection sought was found. He pulled her closer, the inches between their bodies too much even, and hands net cheeks and stroked hair and shoulders. Shivers ran down Piper's spine as his lips found hers once more. They could have been kissing forever for all she knew, for all of eternity. Tingles ran though her body and she lightly rested her hand on his cheek so he couldn't pull away.
A comfortable silence was found when they finally parted. No embarrassed grins or eyes on the ceiling. Brown eyes met green and hands intertwined. "Well," Leo began. "I've never been quite so happy I bumped into someone." Piper smiled and pushed her hair back over her shoulder.
"I couldn't agree more. Especially as it was you who bumped into me." her eyes danced playfully.
"Was not!"
***
Months passed and the two became inseparable. Leo met Piper in her lunch break, took her out to dinner every Friday, woke her up at four in the morning so they could watch the sunrise. Each day spent it felt more right, and the only thing between them now was Leo's secret. How could he tell her when everything was so perfect? How could he ruin it? Would she even believe him or just think he was crazy? The questions rolled over and over in his mind until finally The Elders called him one day as he and Piper packed up their picnic basket in the park opposite Melinda's. He looked momentarily towards the heavens and knew it was urgent. Now for the ploy again, pretending he had a meeting, looking at his watch. She as ever was fine with him rushing off and her kind face only wanted Leo to tell them to sod off and leave him be. But as Leo leaned in to kiss here once more, their calls became more urgent.
He bid her goodbye and promised to call later in the day. Once safely round a corner he orbed away, the blue lights lingering, watching her walk across the park, hamper in hand.
***
Leo stormed through the pearled doors, full of rage. They had promised him the time off, they had granted him that. Who were they to determine when that leave ended? Who were they to interrupt him?
"Mr Watts."
"Don't you 'Mr.Watts me!" he cried. "You promised me three months leave. God, you can't even stick to simple promises now!" He was furious.
"I assure you, Leo, there is a very good reason and if you perhaps listened to us, you would understand." They all sat before him, in a circle around him, all ten of them. The Elders. His bosses. He relented.
"Fine." he muttered, sitting down too. He shrugged off his jacket.
"It has been brought to our attention that you have been seeing a mortal on Earth."
"Yes, that's right, so what? Since when were there rules about that too?" The elder he was facing shook his head slightly, indicating that was not the problem.
"You have heard of the ancient prophecy of The Charmed Ones." Another stated. Leo nodded, intrigued now. What did this have to do with anything?
"They were formed over a century ago!" he cried, confused.
"Indeed, the sisters known as the Charmed Ones did pass away at the latest a century ago. However.." the man cleared his throat. "there has been a development, one that was not foreseen, one that was not told in legends. The Charmed Ones have now evolved into the Charmed One."
"There's one witch out there?" With all those powers?"
"Well, not yet. She has not yet been granted her powers. Her mother will pass away in three day's time. This is irreversible. Only then will she be granted her powers. We want you to be the one to train her."
Now Leo was excited. This was huge. A witch? With all those powers? She would be a wonder to train, to watch grow stronger. "Well, where is she?" he asked, his face lighting up.
"Los Angeles." And suddenly he understood.
***
***
Hold on to your love,
but don't hold on too tight.
And death is just a word we use to counter life.
We blame it on the dove,
when we cannot be free.
We curse the stars above and say the rosary.
So take her by the hand,
tell her truths and lies,
and love her while you can, before she learns to fly.
***
"Oh...... oh my god!!!" A horrified scream filled the room. Her heart thudded, the pressure was too intense.
"I'm so sorry, Miss Hall, we did everything we could, but her injuries were too severe." Piper's screams echoed through the room, hating the nurse, hating the words, hating herself for having survived the accident. "Your mother was in no pain."
"What do you know?" Piper roared, standing. "She was in pain, of course she was in pain."
"I can assure you, Miss Hall......" The look the young intern received from Piper was enough to quiet him. "Would you like to see her?"
Piper sat back down, her back slamming against the wooden chair. Oblivious to any more pain, she shook her head dumbly. How could....how could she be dead? How could this happen? Just this morning.... The mere memory of her mother smiling was enough for Piper to break down in tears. She buried her face in her hands, the tears spilling from a place inside herself she didn't know existed. The grief and disbelief welled up inside her released themselves as more tears, and she sobbed herself slowly to sleep, her dreams filled with too many memories for her conscious to handle.
***
And for the million hours that we were
Well I'll smile and remember it all
Then I'll turn and go
While your story's completed mine is a long way from done
***
"Piper." he shook her softly and whispered again in her ear. "Piper." She stirred slowly and one red rimmed eye opened gradually, as the light and the pain and the grief flooded back in and filled her very soul.
"Leo," she sobbed. "She's gone, Leo, she's gone."
"I know. Ssshhhh." He held her tightly in his arms, cursing himself for not disobeying the Elders and saving Piper's mother. She could barely deal with this, let alone what he was about to tell her. He hated them, he hated himself, he hated fate. He drew breath in slowly, not wanting the next few minutes to happen. Not wanting to turn her world upside down, not wanting to tell her what he had to.
"Piper." he lightly pulled her up, letting go of her slightly. "Piper, I have to talk to you. It's important."
"I can't let them have her organs, Leo.... Please, don't let them."
"It's not about that." he whispered, not wanting to break the kind of silence that had surrounded them. "It's... it's about your mom." How could he explain this? Would she even understand? "Piper, your mom was special." He tried to explain it simply to start with, and she nodded reassuringly up to the point he mentioned witchcraft. Her face suddenly grew dark and she drew sharply away from him.
"What are you talking about, Leo?" she questioned him hesitantly. "Mom was a witch? Is that what you're trying to tell me? Leo, I ..... I don't understand. Why are you doing this now?"
Because they made me. He wanted to shout it, shout at them, shout at anyone but her. Her eyes searched his for an answer, and he knew he had reached the point of no return.
"Piper ... your mom ..... was a witch, yes." He watched her carefully, unsure if this was registering. "But..... different from your average witch. She had powers, magical powers. Piper nodded, still unsure but willing to let him continue. She lay in his arms and looked up at him.
"Okay."
"She fought...... things." He couldn't bring himself to say it, to open her innocent eyes up to a world in which she didn't belong. She belonged right here in his arms, not fighting creatures of the night.
"Things?" Somehow she believed him. Leo had never lied to her, and she saw no reason for him to do so now.
He nodded. "Demons and warlocks." It sounded pathetic, like a bad children's story book. Demons and warlocks. He'd been fighting them for three years and it sounded stupid to him.
"What?" she stood up sharply. Leo continued, trying to explain himself.
"For centuries, women in your family have fought the underworld. They have conquered and fallen and lost and grieved. Since the start of your line, they have all had special powers. Powers to help them fight the evil. You..... you have powers, Piper."
"Leo, what are you speaking about?" She was getting angry now and backed away from him. Where was Leo, to hold her and comfort her and hold her hand as she grieved for her mother? "What powers? I don't have any powers. Mom didn't have any powers. Don't you think I would have noticed?" The anger welled up inside her more. Who was he to do this is to her now? Was this some kind of sick joke? She flailed her arms out to the side, anger winning over grief. "Go away!" she cried, as a lamp to her left exploded and crashed noisily to the floor, breaking the dusky silence.
Her eyes widened in shock, fixed on the lamp on the floor, dancing between her hand, still outstretched, and the broken lamp. She attempted to open her mouth, attempted to speak, to form any words at all. Speechless, her eyes settled finally on Leo. He nodded, confirming her worst fears.
"I.... I did that?" she whispered quietly. He made no movement, but those green eyes said it all. She shook her head, backing away from him, away from this new life she didn't want to know. "No..... no no no no......" and then his arms were around her, and all she saw was him, all she needed was him. He allowed him to take her back to the room, back to the chairs. But they both knew that things would never be the same again. Questions ran through both their minds, each one adding ten more. Each one more frightening than the last.
How does he know all this? Who is he really? Does he love me? What am I what are we what is he? What does this mean? Why did mom never tell me? Despite the multiple questions about Leo, she clung on tightly to his flannel shirt and sobbed her tears into him.
Will she be okay? Will she ever trust me again? What does this mean for her, for us? What do I tell her next? Will she cope? His grasp on her tightened, not wanting it to be her, not wanting to let her loose to a world she didn't know or understand. He wanted her here forever, safe in his arms, not fighting a demon three times the size of her in a darkened alley. He pressed a kiss into her hair and let her scent wash over him.
***
Won't you sing to me your poetry
Won't you take me to your home
Won't you be for me forever
So I'll never be alone
***
Days passed and with them the necessary funeral arrangements made. Her eyes no longer met his, their comforting shine was now that of tears and not happiness. The day of the funeral arrived and she shrugged herself out of his hold, only allowing his arm around her shoulders as the coffin was lowered slowly into the ground and earth scattered upon it marking the eternal resting place. Tears welled up in her throat and overcame her, a torrent spilling over her cheeks, her grasp on his shirt tightening.
The wake was private and only a few family friends attended. Seeing the state Piper was in, they bid their farewells quickly, and offered their condolences to Leo before quietly departing. Finally, Leo thought, as the last of the kindly women left, her mascara running. However nice they were as people, Piper needed to be alone now, to have grieving time, to come to terms with a huge change in her life, and not just that she was motherless. He wandered slowly back into the living room at the back of the grand old house, where she sat, crumpled on the smaller sofa, face hidden behind layers of hands and blanket and woe. He leaned against the doorframe, not wanting to go any further, not wanting to test her before he knew her strength.
"Piper, do you want to know who I am?"
A movement, a twitch. Recognition. She nodded. If he could only answer that question, she'd feel better. Her tear stained face peeked out from behind the layers, eyes red rimmed and heart thundering. She wanted to hear the truth, she didn't ... two trains of thought collided and met head on. The former won. A whispered reply.
"Yes."
Leo walked over and sat in the chair opposite hers, so their eyes met and truth could be recognised. "I swear, I knew nothing of this when I met you that first time. I had no idea who you really were." His eyes told the truth, she searched them for an answer. I'd never lie to you, they whispered. She gave her silent consent for him to continue.
"I'm a ...... a whitelighter." There, he'd said it. Half the battle was complete. He continued, knowing the point of no return was far behind them, a mere speck on the horizon and growing smaller with every breath. "I guide witches."
Piper goggled. "You guide me?" Leo nodded.
"You.... you are the most powerful witch to ever live. To demons, you are the bounty. The prize. But now you are at your most vulnerable. They know that. I need you to let me train you, you need to perfect your powers."
She stood up, her arms flying up beside her face. "What powers? Leo, I don't have powers! I'm just an ordinary...." Suddenly Leo stopped moving. She looked around. The cars outside had stopped. The birds in the sky flew, but were motionless, halted. Had she ... stopped time? Was that possible?
"Leo...." she walked over to him, waving her hand in front of his eyes. "Leo!" she cried more desperately, shaking him, tugging at his shirt and jacket. Then, suddenly, as if he was in a trance, he unfroze and looked straight at her.
"You froze me." he told her simply. "Piper, I know this is strange. I've seen this a thousand times before. You think I'm joking, or lying, or just a sick person who wants to screw you around and make you think you're crazy. I'm not. This is real."
Piper nodded, believing him, believing what his words. "Okay, so what? What do we do now?"
Leo smiled despite himself and brushed his lips against hers, loving their softness, loving the feel of her next to him
"Now? Now we train."
***
You read my eyes just like your diary
Oh remember, please remember
Well, I'm not a beggar, but what's more
If I hurt you, then I hate myself, don't wanna hurt you
Why do you chew your pain?
If only you knew how much I love you
***