Chapter four: Feeding on insecurities.
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, I love your opinions and ideas.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the charmed characters.
Cole and Phoebe are alone downstairs. Phoebe is staring into space.
Cole: Penny for your thoughts.
Phoebe: I was just wondering who Ann was.
Cole: Well we can be sure that she isn't one of our kids. Did you hear how posh she spoke?
Phoebe: She didn't speak posh.
Cole: Yes she did. Like when she said "Take me back to the time where I belong." Anyone else would have just said "Take me back to my time."
Phoebe: That doesn't make her posh.
Cole: Whatever you say. I've learnt that it's no use arguing with a Halliwell.
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Leo and Piper are alone upstairs.
Piper: Do you think you know who Ann was?
Leo: What?
Piper: You have been really quite since she left, are you trying to figure out who she might be?
Leo: Well I just had a thought, I'm not sure if I'm right but I think Ann might be Melinda.
Piper: I suppose she could be, it would make sense. But is there anything in particular that makes you think it could be Melinda?
Leo: Well like you said all the pieces seem to fit together; there's that feeling of a connection and it would make sense for her to come to help. But also that person that was with her when she was leaving.
Piper: Okay now you've lost me, how did he make you think it was Melinda?
Leo: I think it might have been the future me.
Piper: What, why do you think that?
Leo: His cloak had an E embroidered on it at the bottom, I do that it's the first letter of my mothers name, Eleanor. It was also in the same style and colour I usually use.
Piper: Now that's interesting.
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Night, Piper and Leo's bedroom.
Fade into Piper's dream: She is alone in a room that is completely white, she is sitting on a white stool and playing a harp. The only other piece of furniture in the room is a similar stool that stands in the centre of the room it is a little higher than the stool she is sat upon and it is golden. Upon it is the lamp that the whitelighters gave her and Leo for a wedding present. Suddenly the walls start echoing Leo's voice saying: "It is symbolic of the flame of our eternal love." It sounded just like Leo had when he said it. Then Leo entered the room and gently pushed the lamp off the stool it fell to the floor with a crash. "You put out the flame" he said to Piper and then vanished. Piper noticed that she was still playing the harp but sound was no longer coming from it, then she noticed an inscription on it. It was written in blood red letters "If music be the food of love, play on."
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Next day about lunchtime. Leo has gotten a call from the elders and has just orbed out.
Phoebe: Okay Piper spill.
Piper: What, what are you talking about Phoebe?
Phoebe: You've been on edge and miserable all day, not to mention you have been acting extra weird around Leo.
Piper: It's probably nothing and I have not been acting weird around Leo. (Phoebe gives her a look) Okay maybe a little weird, but I'll be okay tomorrow I promise.
Phoebe: Okay but you better be okay tomorrow, if you're not you are gonna have to tell me what's wrong.
Piper: It's a deal.
(Time lapse of about ½ an hour.)
Piper: Hey Phoebe, could you make me a cup of tea.
Phoebe: You never drink the tea I make and you haven't been able to hold a conversation for more than 10 seconds in this past half hour. We are talking about what's wrong now.
Piper: (Sighs) I think maybe the elders are trying to take Leo away again.
Phoebe: Why do you think they will take Leo away; they let you get married didn't they.
Piper: I don't know maybe they just changed their minds.
Phoebe: But what has happened to make you think this?
Piper: I had this dream.
Phoebe: You're getting this worked up over a dream, it was probably just totally random just your subconscious remembering other times.
Piper: I suppose you are right.
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Next night, Piper and Leo's bedroom, Fade into Piper's dream: She is in the front part of the manor it's decorated the way it was for her wedding and she is wearing her wedding dress. She is in her body but has no say over what it does it is merely reliving the days events. Then the bike crashed through the wedding and before she knew it she had said it "We're not meant to be." But this time instead of running out the door Leo held her back, all others seemed to be frozen in time. "You were right, I should have listened but I was too busy watching my heart being ripped out." Then to her utter horror she saw him holding his heart in his hand, blood was streaming down his arm. Blood was streaming down everywhere, even his face.
Leo: You don't get it do you? (His voice was so spiteful Piper felt her blood freeze.) This isn't about the elders taking me away or anything like that, it's about me wanting to leave you!
Piper: Why do you want to leave me? (She said in a quiet whisper.)
Leo: That doesn't matter now, it's the end.
With all the blood loss he falls to the floor.
Piper: (Crying.) Leo, no Leo, I love you, don't leave me, I love you Leo.
Leo: What you feel for me isn't love it's dependency, shallow pathetic dependency, you don't care about me at all, only about you being happy.
Piper: What are you talking about?
Leo: Everything always has to be the way you want it.
His breath was getting erratic; she could tell he was going to die soon.
Piper: (Not knowing what else to say) Leo, I love you.
Leo: And I despise you, I might act all happy on the outside but I despise you remember that.
Then he died and the dream ended. Piper woke she was shivering in pain and panic, she was drenched in sweat and was sobbing loudly. This woke Leo.
Leo: Hey what's the matter? (He said gently. He put his arms around Piper and held her.)
Piper: It was only a dream. (She said quietly to herself.)
Leo: Yes, it was only a dream.
Piper: It was only a dream. (She said trying to reassure herself but it seemed as if the "Only" didn't fit in that sentence. She wanted Leo to tell her he loved her, but she didn't want to ask him to because what if he said no? She knew it sounded silly but she couldn't help think it. What if he said no?)
Leo: Calm down Piper, sh, sh. Come on honey, calm down.
Piper tried but she couldn't calm herself at all, she tried to talk but all that came out were choked sobs.
Piper: Leo
Leo: What is it? (Leo was really worried now, maybe the dream was supernatural.)
Piper: Tell me you love me.
Leo: I love you more than you could ever imagine.
Piper: Tell me again.
Leo began whispering, "I love you" over and over in Piper's ear like a mantra, he could tell it was calming her greatly.
Piper smiled lovingly at Leo and closed her eyes, it was amazing how he could always make her feel better. With the words still being whispered in her ears she slipped into a peaceful sleep.
Leo was still whispering, "I love you" when he fell into a dream world. Piper's pain had given Cyonique more power, so she could send a dream to Leo as well. Fade into Leo's dream:
He is still whispering I love you, the room is completely white, another man is standing in the middle of the room. His back is facing Leo so he can't see his face.
Man: But she no longer loves you, that's why she cries. She realises what she is missing out on.
Leo: Daniel.
Dan: (Turning around.) Leo.
Leo: I am very sure that Piper loves me and we are destined to be together.
Dan: Oh really are you sure?
Leo: I don't feel the need to prove our love to her ex boyfriend.
Dan: You know she was my wife in many past lives.
Leo: Well this was the first life where she had real choice in the matter, and look who she chose.
Dan: Just because she married you it doesn't mean she chose you.
Piper walks over from somewhere. She kisses Dan on the cheek.
Piper: You know he's right Leo.
The dream ends.
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Next morning, Leo and Piper are in the kitchen having breakfast.
Leo: You will tell me if anything is wrong right?
Piper: Leo nothing is wrong okay.
Leo: Okay but if something, anything, comes up.
Piper: I told you Leo I will tell you.
Leo: Okay then.
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Piper and Leo had many dreams over the next few days, several of them recurring. Here are some of them:
Piper's dream: She was sitting in the manor she knew it was about ten years later. Leo had clipped his wings so he could spend more time with her and their children.
Leo came in and she could see his misery in his eyes. And a version of herself that looked ten years older came through the door. They were arguing.
Piper: I know there is a lot wrong with our marriage, what I can't understand is why you are so reluctant to work through things.
Leo: I am willing to work through our problems but I can't help the way I feel.
Piper: And how do you feel?
Leo: Lost.
Piper: (Annoyed) What are you talking about now?
Leo: Clipping my wings.
Piper: Why do you always go back to that in every argument, just because you are upset about that it doesn't give you an excuse for every argument. Especially when it was your decision.
Leo: I go back to it because it's the cause of most the arguments. I'm a little more than upset over it, being a whitelighter was my entire life for more than sixty years. It wasn't my decision I had to clip my wings; I had to spend more time with the children especially with you off with business all the time.
Piper: How dare you say this is my fault! (She has her hands raised in anger and frustration and before she realises it Leo has blown into a million pieces, blood has flown everywhere and there are streams of blood on the walls.)
Piper: (Kneeling by the scattered remains of her husband.) Leo, no I didn't mean to, come back you have to come back, no…
Dream ends.
Leo's dream: Leo and Piper are fighting a demon. Leo thrusts a dagger towards the demon but the demon pulls Piper in front of himself as a shield and the dagger impales Piper in the stomach and she falls to the floor.
Leo: (Kneeling next to Piper trying to heal her.) No, Piper you have to stay awake…
Unnoticed by Leo the demon has picked up the dagger and swiftly decapitates Leo. The dream focuses on the dagger and we see there is a message carved into it, "You shall lead to each others destruction."
Dream ends.
Piper's dream: Piper is standing outside a school with a little girl.
Girl: When is daddy going to be here?
Piper: He's not coming sweetie; he's busy.
Girl: But he promised he'd come I've been practising real hard for the play. He always misses everything.
Piper: I know he misses a lot but you know he can't help it; demons don't exactly work on a schedule.
Girl: I know but he is never ever here. (Tears stream down her cheeks.)
Dream ends.
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It's one week later after all the dreams Leo and Piper are a bit on edge with each other they both feel something is wrong with the relationship. Piper is really worried and concerned but Leo has faith that they will pull through whatever is going on. They have had a few small fights because of the dreams but neither has told each other –or anyone else- about the dreams they have been having.
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A couple more days later: The small fights are getting bigger, they have just had one huge fight and Piper has stormed out of the house.
Prue: (After a couple of minutes.) I know you are angry but I still think you should go after her.
Leo: I'm not angry with her, I'm angry at the whole situation. I hate these fights we've been having.
Prue: Well I'm sure fights are all a regular part of marriage.
Leo: I know, I'll go after her in a while to give her some time to cool off.
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Piper is sitting on a park bench thinking:
Why hasn't he come after me? He doesn't care about me anymore. (The dreams had brought back all the insecurities, inadequacies and inferiority she had felt in high school. A couple of the dreams had even been set in high school. Of course she hadn't realised it was these that was making her feel this way.) Maybe all these dreams I've been having are warning signs that the relationship is not going to work. Of course it isn't, he doesn't love me anymore.
(Leo orbs in.)
Piper: (Annoyed) What do you want?
Leo: I want to sort this mess out.
Piper: I think there is only one way of doing that.
Leo: What?
Piper: I want a divorce.