Chapter 3
" No! No way! " Prue as she enters the living room, angry.
She can't believe that the only way to save Piper from those damned voices is to kill her.
" Prue! " Phoebe calls her as she follows her in the room. " Let me finish at least! "
Prue turns to her youngest sister, still angry.
" I don't care what the rest is, Phoebe! " she exclaims herself. " We won't kill Piper! "
" That's not what I was going to say either. " Phoebe replies.
Prue looks at her without understanding. At the same moment, Leo and Piper also enter the living room. All her discouraged by the situation.
A few minutes sooner, Leo stated that the only way to rid Piper of the voices is for her to die. Of course, the sisters didn't accept that, no more than Leo himself, anyway. Once the initial shock is over, all four of them tried to find another solution, without any success.
A few second sooner, Phoebe finally said: " Apparently, we have no choice. To get the voices out of Piper, we'll have to -"
That's when Prue ran out of the parlor screaming.
" What are you saying, Phoebe? " Prue asks.
" If you'd let me finish, you'd know. " Phoebe replies, a little angry at her sister.
" Tell us now, Phoebe. " Leo intervenes, not wanting to waste time in fighting.
" Okay. " Phoebe accepts, momentarily forgetting her anger. " What I was saying is that we could make the voices believe that Piper is dying.
Phoebe knows what she just said is dangerously close to being insane but since it's the only solution possible (besides killing Piper, which she refuses), she says it anyway. Prue, Piper and Leo keep silent, contemplating Phoebe's suggestion.
" And how do you suggest we do this? " Prue finally asks.
" I don't know. " Phoebe honestly answers. " I haven't thought about it yet. Maybe we could use the same potion we used to get rid of the ghost. "
" Which one. " Prue sarcastically asks.
" The one from Alcatraz. " Phoebe answers. " We could make her drink it and then reanimate her like Andy did for you. "
" That seems like a good idea. " Prue agrees.
Leo, him, doesn't. At first, he hesitates to give his opinion to the girls, knowing what it will imply for Piper. But he is a whitelighter and it is his duty to let the Charmed Ones know when they're wrong.
" No. " he says. " It won't work. "
" And why not, Leo? " Phoebe wants to know.
" Because it's in their victim's last breath that the voices exit. " Leo explains. " To have their last breath, their victim has to die. "
Prue can't understand why Leo wants them so much to understand they have no choice to let Piper die. He should be the first one opposed to Piper's death if he loves her as much as he says.
" Why are you so intent into throwing our ideas away, Leo? " she asks him, slightly angry.
" Maybe because it's is job. " Piper answers, opening her mouth for the first time since she understood how to get rid of the Trions.
Piper fells their gazes on her. She feels they worry and their opposition to her death. Even Leo is opposed to it. She knows him. She knows him well enough to know it. But they have to face reality.
" What are you saying, Piper? " Prue asks, afraid she knows exactly what her sister means.
Piper keeps her mouth shut but looks at her sisters and Leo with a look that speaks for itself. There's only one solution from her problem and she knows it.
" Piper, you. No, we can't do that. " Phoebe reacts stubbornly.
" We can't kill you, Piper. It's. we can't. " Prue adds.
" Prue, you read it yourself and you heard Leo: it's the only way to vanquish them. " Piper counters.
" No. " Phoebe refuses. " There's certainly another way. I'm sure if we keep looking in the Book of Shadows, we'll find something. "
" No. We won't find anything, Phoebe. " Piper says.
" Come on, Piper. " Prue says. " I'm sure Phoebe's right. "
" Damn it, guys! " Piper exclaims. " Don't you think that if there was another way to do this, it would have been written on the same page? "
All this time, Leo is silent. If he doesn't enter the discussion, it's because he doesn't know what to think. A part of him refuses to let Piper die and wants to find another solution. But the other part of him knows Piper is right and that this cannot end any other way than by the death of the one he loves.
Suddenly, Phoebe growls and raises her hands to the sky, discouraged by Piper's attitude, and turns to Leo.
" Leo, will you tell Piper that her death isn't an option? "
Surprised by the question, Leo doesn't know what to say. He looks at Phoebe then Prue and, finally, Piper. The latter crosses her arms and looks at him straight in the eyes. " Tell them the truth, Leo. " he can read in them. He slowly looks away and looks at Prue and Phoebe again. He hesitates still, unable to repeat what he said before, this death sentence for Piper.
" I can't. " he almost whispers.
Prue turns away from Leo's gaze and looks at Piper.
" I won't do it, Piper. " she says. " I won't kill you. You can't force us to do it."
" I know. " Piper answers in a trembling voice. " I had no intention of asking you to do that. I'll do it myself. "
" No! " Phoebe and Prue do at the same time while Leo closes his eyes to keep from crying.
" There has to be a way to keep you alive! " Phoebe exclaims.
" Yes, that we don't vanquish the Trions and that I spend the rest of my life hearing them! " Piper retorts, beginning to lose her calm.
" At least, you'll be alive! " Prue says.
" Yeah, and that way, they'll be able to make me kill you! " Piper screams then turns around and runs up the stairs intending to hide in her bedroom.
Leo moves to follow her but Prue stops him, saying:" what is wrong with you?!"
She's angry, it's obvious. Leo knows why and can even understand her.
" Prue. " he starts.
" Why didn't you say anything? You could've helped us! "
" No, I couldn't, Prue. " Leo tries to explain to her. " And she knew it. "
" You could have tried to convince her that as long as she's alive, we still have a chance of finding a way to save her and to destroy the Trions. " Phoebe tells her.
" Phoebe, even if we looked for years, we wouldn't have found anything. " Leo answers.
" So, you give up, don't you? " Prue says, unbelieving. " And I thought you'd do anything to save her because you love her. "
Leo knows that Prue and Phoebe's anger is only directed toward him because they feel helpless. But Prue's last words hurt, hurt a lot.
" Lord, Prue! Don't you think if I had any hope of finding another way, I'd do everything in my power to save her?! " Leo screams. " I love her, Prue! More than anything. I don't want to lose her now. "
The last words were spoken in a trembling voice. Leo looks at Prue and Phoebe, tears in his eyes, than looks away and climbs the stairs. This time, Prue and Phoebe say nothing. They know they hurt Leo and they feel guilty.
In her bedroom, Piper is laying on her bed and cries. She doesn't hear the fight between her sisters and boyfriend, no more than she hears Leo opening her bedroom door and closing it behind him. He stays next to the door a few seconds then he slowly walks to the bed. Piper finally feels her presence and raises her head to look at him. Silently, Leo climbs on the bed and lays down next to her, hugging her. Piper cuddles against him and cries on his shirt. After a moment, Piper raises her head again and realizes that Leo is also crying.
" I don't want to lose you, Piper. " he whispers in her ear.
Piper closes her eyes as she remembers another time when he spoke those words, in that place between life and death where he finally healed her from the Arroya fever. He gave her back her life and let go of his immortality for her. Since then, Leo got his wings back but Piper never forgot he did loose them for her. If Leo has no solution to offer her, then no one can save her.
" It's not fair, Leo. " she finally tells her guardian angel. " We were finally starting to be happy. "
" I know, Piper. " Leo does holding her tighter.
There is a long silence during which Leo and Piper calm down a little.
" If I die now. " Piper starts.
" Piper. "
" No, let me finish, Leo. If it happens today, at least, we had these moments together. "
" Don't talk like that, Piper. "
" Leo, it's the truth. Unless you found another way. "
Leo doesn't need to answer, Piper knows there is no other way. He simply pushes back the strand of hair on Piper's face then he lets his hand move to her cheek. Gently, he brings her face to his and kisses her.
" We'll have to convince your sisters. " he says when their kiss ends.
" I know. But I also know Prue and Phoebe. They know they have no choice. Give them a little time and they'll convince themselves. "
" And you? Are you really sure this is what you want? "
" Of course not. What I want is that everything goes back the way it was. But that's impossible. And then, and don't want to risk hurting the ones I love. "
Piper doesn't finish her sentence. There is another long moment of silence while Piper and Leo are deep in their thoughts.
" Leo, can I ask you something? " Piper does.
" Anything, Piper. " he answers.
" Stay with me nothing. If this is really the last night of my life, I want to spend it with the man I love. "
" I had no intention to go anywhere, Piper. There's nowhere else I'd rather be tonight. "
Piper smiles at him and kisses him with all the love she has in her heart. Leo kisses her back and, gently, he brings Piper over him, intending not to let her get out of his arms until tomorrow morning.
In the kitchen, Prue is sitting at the table, gazing at her now cooling coffee cup.
After Leo went up after Piper, Phoebe and her stood there, not knowing what to do. Then they both went back to the parlor where the Book of Shadows was still resting. Prue went near it and gave it a long glance. Leo's words still echoed in her head. It reminded her that not so long ago, when her sisters had to choose between saving her or the world. Yes, the stakes were different than today's but the heart of the problem was the same.
Prue then realized that she knew what decision to take from the beginning. Sighing, she closed the book and picked it up to bring it to the attic.
" What are you doing, Prue? " Phoebe asks.
" I'm going to bring the Book back in the attic, Phoebe. " Prue answered her. "We don't need it anymore, I know the spell to vanquish the Trions by heart. "
Phoebe opened her mouth to reply something but she knew her big sister was right. Without a word, she took the Book from Prue's hands and went upstairs. Prue didn't follow her. They both needed some alone time. And so, she went to get a coffee in the kitchen.
She still hasn't touched it. All Prue can do is think. She tries understand how she could've let such a thing happen to Piper. She keeps reliving the last few days in her mind, trying to figure out what she could've done to prevent this.
After a while, Prue starts doubting she made the right decision. Didn't she just sentence her sister to death by choosing not to keep looking in the Book of Shadows? Maybe Phoebe and her could've found something. Maybe she should've forced Leo to go sees his bosses so they could've given them other solutions. Maybe. Maybe.
And the waltz of guilt and regrets go on in Prue's head while her coffee is getting colder in front of her.
Sitting in the corner of the attic, Phoebe is crying. She cries for her sister's life. She also cries because she is angry. Angry towards Prue because she convinced her. Angry towards Leo because he's right, as always. Angry towards Piper because she chose to die. Angry towards the Book of Shadows because it doesn't give them any help. Angry towards life that keeps throwing punches at Piper. But, mostly, angry at herself because, in spite of all her powers, all her knowledge of witchcraft, she can't save her sister.
For the first time in two years, Phoebe regrets her sisters and her are witches. If they weren't, maybe Piper wouldn't have to die today.
Tonight, Phoebe Halliwell, ever the optimist, able to see the good side of everything, of hoping against all hopes, cannot find a single reason to smile. Piper will soon die and she can't do a thing about it. Worse, she'll have to help her to do so.
And Phoebe keeps crying, hidden in a corner of the attic.
A lot later in the night, Piper slowly wakes up. The first thing her senses register is Leo's body next to hers and his arms around her. Piper has a sad smile. Usually, that is all she needs to feel safe, protected from the world. Nothing can get to her when she is in Leo's arms. But not this time. Because this time, evil doesn't come from the outside but from the inside of her.
She finally opens her eyes and watches her angel sleeping next to her. She loves him so much! And the most wonderful is that he loves her in return. How many women can say the same? Piper knows she's lucky. That's what makes what is coming tomorrow so difficult. There are so many things she'd like to say and do with him. But it's too late now.
Slowly, so she won't wake Leo, Piper gets out of his arms. She needs to get up, to go downstairs. She pushes back the sheet covering her and walks to her drawers, looking for her pajama pants, which she puts on. She starts looking in the drawer to find the shirt that go with it when she sees the T- shirt Leo was wearing on the floor next to the bed. Smiling, she closes the drawer and picks it up.
Wearing Leo's T-shirt to sleep or the morning when she wakes up is an habit she picked up since Leo and her got back together. And so, it seems natural to spend her last night wearing it, remembering all the memories that go with this habit.
Before leaving the room, she gently kisses Leo on the cheek. Then she goes to the bathroom.
Then, she goes down to the kitchen and finds Prue, sleeping on the table in front of a cold cup of coffee. Piper looks tenderly at her big sister before picking up the cup and emptying it in the sink. Then, deciding she wants to eat toasts, she takes out the utensils she'll need. That's when the voices come back, trying to force Piper to use her knife to kill Prue in her sleep. Fighting against the Trions, Piper runs out of the kitchen to keep herself from hurting Prue.
At the same instant, In Piper's bedroom, Leo is waking up, hesitating between going back to sleep or waking up completely, until he realizes Piper isn't there. He completely wakes up and takes a look around the room, looking for his girlfriend. Noticing she is absent, he gets out of bed to try to find her. He puts on his pants and tries to find his shirt but there is no trace of his T-shirt. He smiles. Once again, Piper stole his T-shirt from him. Leo puts on his shirt without his T-shirt and exits the room.
Seeing the bathroom door closed, he tells himself that's where Piper went and knocks on the door.
" Piper? " he says in a low voice so he won't wake up Prue and Phoebe.
" Go away, Leo. " Piper answers him. " They're here again. "
" Open the door, Piper. " Leo asks, worried.
" No, I don't want to kill you. "
Suddenly, Leo remembers that Lucy killed herself in this bathroom. " No, not like this! " he thinks. If Piper has to die, he doesn't want her to be alone in the bathroom, terrified she'll hurt the ones she loves.
" Prue! Phoebe! " he screams at the top of his lungs.
Not waiting for an answer, Leo orbs in the bathroom and discovers Piper sitting next to the bath, holding a razor next to her wrist, apparently unable to cut it. Seeing the blue lights that accompany his arrival, Piper tells him: " Leo, no. Go away. "
" No, Piper. Not like this. " Leo says going near her and gently taking the razor from the young woman's hand.
" You don't understand, Leo. " Piper softly protests. " They won't me to kill you. "
" Piper. " Leo does, taking her in his arms.
At the same moment, he hears someone try to open the door then knock violently on it. He then hears Prue's panicked voice.
" Leo? Piper? What's happening? "
" It's alright, Prue. " Leo answers to calm her. " She's fine. "
However, he doesn't move to open the door. Making sure Piper is really fine is his only priority right now.
" I almost did, Leo. " Piper cries. " I almost killed Prue in the kitchen. "
" But you didn't. That's good. "
" I can't do this anymore, Leo. I can't fight against them. I'm tired of it. "
" I know, Piper, I know. " Leo tells her.
" It has to stop now. "
On the other side of the door, Prue and Phoebe, worried, are impatiently waiting for Leo and Piper to open the door. Finally, it opens to let the couple out. They're holding hands and Piper looks determined.
" Go get the spell, guys. " Piper orders as she looks at her sisters.
They look at her, refusing to obey at first. Then, remembering she doesn't really have a choice, Prue tells Piper : " We don't need the Book, Piper. We know the spell by heart. "
Phoebe nods before saying : " You're sure this is what you want? "
Piper nods and presses Leo's hand a little tighter.
" Yes, I'm tired of worrying I'll hurt out. " she states. " Like I said to Leo, it has to end now. "
Without a word, everyone follows Piper in the attic, except for Leo, who goes down to the kitchen to get the object Piper asked him.
In the attic, Piper opens the Book of Shadows at the right page, in case her sisters don't remember the words when the moment comes.
" Piper. " Phoebe begins, a big lump in her throat.
There are so many she would like to tell her sister and so little time to do so.
" Hey, come here. " Piper, who also has a big lump in her throat, does as she brings her little sister in her arms.
That is all Prue needed to join her sisters in their embrace and all three of them start to cry. Piper tries to comfort her sisters by saying: " Tell yourselves that, at least, I'm not going down alone. I'm bringing those stupid demons with me. "
" What are we gonna do without you, Piper? " Prue asks, in tears.
" You two will be fine. You're strong. "
" Not that strong without you. " Phoebe replies.
" Phoebe. " Piper stops, the lump in her throat now making it difficult to speak.
She swallows and goes on.
" Prue, Phoebe. I want you to know. if I had the power to choose my sisters, I would still have chosen the two of you. You're the best sisters someone can have. I love you. "
" Oh, Piper. " Phoebe does.
" We love you too. " Prue says.
The sisters embrace one last time, knowing it is the last time the three of them will be together.
In the meantime, Leo has come back from the kitchen with a knife. That is the object Piper asked him to get. She decided that was probably the quickest way to die. But that still doesn't make things easier for Leo.
When he enters the attic, he sees the sisters together. He watches them silently, waiting for them to finish their good-byes. When Piper steps away from her sisters, he walks to them. Just before he gets to his girlfriend, Prue stops him by putting a hand on his arm.
" Leo, I want you to know, what I said sooner. "
" I know. " he says as he hugs her. " I'm sorry, Prue. For everything. "
Phoebe also goes to hug Leo and says: " We're sorry too, Leo. " Then, they let Leo join Piper.
She watches her boyfriend come to her, tears still running down her cheeks. Without a word, because he cannot speak, Leo gives her the knife. She takes it and bends down to put it near her. Leo also bends down and takes her in his arms.
" It shouldn't end like this, Piper. " he finally says.
" I know, Leo. But I have no choice. "
" I should. I should be able to save you. "
Leo is now crying.
" Not this time, Leo. " Piper cries. " Please, don't blame yourself for this. "
Leo doesn't answer. He may be a whitelighter and know they're doing the right thing, he can't help refusing Piper's death. He now knows what Sam felt when he lost Patty. He takes Piper's face in his hands, trying to imprint her features into his memory for all eternity. Piper tenderly wipes the tears rolling down Leo's cheeks. She brings her face closer to his and they share a long kiss.
" I love you, Leo. " Piper whispers when their lips part.
" I love you too. " Leo answers back.
Then, Piper looks one last time at her sisters, picks up the knife and, closing her eyes, plunges it into her heart. Prue and Phoebe cry their hearts out as Piper lets go of her weapon and falls in Leo's arms.
He is also crying, holding in his arms the woman he loves as her life slips away with every drop of blood that stains her shirt. Leo feels as if his heart as been pierced too. He cannot believe this is how their story ends. Now that she finally came back to him, now that he knows he's the one she loves and not Dan Gordon, he must loose her again. Piper is his soul mate, he is sure of it. And as he watches her die, feeling her breathing getting harder every second, Leo knows a part of him is dying with her. His whole being tells him to use his powers and to save her, but he can't.
" I'm so sorry, Piper. " he whispers to his beloved when he feels the last beats of her heart. " I love you. "
He turns to Prue and Phoebe, who are crying together, and tells them: " Do it, say the spell. "
Prue and Phoebe nod and, holding ands, they say the spell in one voice as Piper draws her last breath. Prue, Phoebe and Leo see a strange mist come out of Piper. It takes three human forms for a few seconds evaporating with a scream of pain.
" I hope it hurts. " Prue whispers before kneeling next to Leo.
Phoebe does the same and both sisters cry near Leo, who is holding Piper's now lifeless body. In tears, the angel raises his eyes to the skies in a silent prayer. " I beg you. " he thinks. " Give me the power to save her. She died for magic, I should have the right to. " He looks at Piper's face and suddenly remembers something she told him just before they left the bathroom. " You know, I heard that the brain can live up to four minutes after a respiratory arrest. " What if.?
" What are you doing, Leo? " Phoebe asks between two sobs when Leo puts Piper on the floor and places his hands over the wound.
He doesn't answer Phoebe. Rather, he concentrates on Piper, knowing there is a slight hope he can save her, but it's still a hope. Before Prue and Phoebe' surprised eyes, Leo's hands start to glow and Piper's wound heals. Suddenly, the long woman takes a deep breath. Eyes wet, Leo slightly holds her up and calls to her.
" Piper? Piper, can you hear me? "
Slowly, she opens her eyes and looks at Leo.
" Leo? " she does. " Am I. Am I dead? "
" No. " Leo smile as he hugs her.
" Did it work? Are the Trions vanquished? "
" Yes, Piper. " Leo answers. " We did it. It's over. "
Piper smiles at him, relieved. Then Prue and Phoebe jump on Leo and her, happy to find their sister alive and free from the voices.
" No! No way! " Prue as she enters the living room, angry.
She can't believe that the only way to save Piper from those damned voices is to kill her.
" Prue! " Phoebe calls her as she follows her in the room. " Let me finish at least! "
Prue turns to her youngest sister, still angry.
" I don't care what the rest is, Phoebe! " she exclaims herself. " We won't kill Piper! "
" That's not what I was going to say either. " Phoebe replies.
Prue looks at her without understanding. At the same moment, Leo and Piper also enter the living room. All her discouraged by the situation.
A few minutes sooner, Leo stated that the only way to rid Piper of the voices is for her to die. Of course, the sisters didn't accept that, no more than Leo himself, anyway. Once the initial shock is over, all four of them tried to find another solution, without any success.
A few second sooner, Phoebe finally said: " Apparently, we have no choice. To get the voices out of Piper, we'll have to -"
That's when Prue ran out of the parlor screaming.
" What are you saying, Phoebe? " Prue asks.
" If you'd let me finish, you'd know. " Phoebe replies, a little angry at her sister.
" Tell us now, Phoebe. " Leo intervenes, not wanting to waste time in fighting.
" Okay. " Phoebe accepts, momentarily forgetting her anger. " What I was saying is that we could make the voices believe that Piper is dying.
Phoebe knows what she just said is dangerously close to being insane but since it's the only solution possible (besides killing Piper, which she refuses), she says it anyway. Prue, Piper and Leo keep silent, contemplating Phoebe's suggestion.
" And how do you suggest we do this? " Prue finally asks.
" I don't know. " Phoebe honestly answers. " I haven't thought about it yet. Maybe we could use the same potion we used to get rid of the ghost. "
" Which one. " Prue sarcastically asks.
" The one from Alcatraz. " Phoebe answers. " We could make her drink it and then reanimate her like Andy did for you. "
" That seems like a good idea. " Prue agrees.
Leo, him, doesn't. At first, he hesitates to give his opinion to the girls, knowing what it will imply for Piper. But he is a whitelighter and it is his duty to let the Charmed Ones know when they're wrong.
" No. " he says. " It won't work. "
" And why not, Leo? " Phoebe wants to know.
" Because it's in their victim's last breath that the voices exit. " Leo explains. " To have their last breath, their victim has to die. "
Prue can't understand why Leo wants them so much to understand they have no choice to let Piper die. He should be the first one opposed to Piper's death if he loves her as much as he says.
" Why are you so intent into throwing our ideas away, Leo? " she asks him, slightly angry.
" Maybe because it's is job. " Piper answers, opening her mouth for the first time since she understood how to get rid of the Trions.
Piper fells their gazes on her. She feels they worry and their opposition to her death. Even Leo is opposed to it. She knows him. She knows him well enough to know it. But they have to face reality.
" What are you saying, Piper? " Prue asks, afraid she knows exactly what her sister means.
Piper keeps her mouth shut but looks at her sisters and Leo with a look that speaks for itself. There's only one solution from her problem and she knows it.
" Piper, you. No, we can't do that. " Phoebe reacts stubbornly.
" We can't kill you, Piper. It's. we can't. " Prue adds.
" Prue, you read it yourself and you heard Leo: it's the only way to vanquish them. " Piper counters.
" No. " Phoebe refuses. " There's certainly another way. I'm sure if we keep looking in the Book of Shadows, we'll find something. "
" No. We won't find anything, Phoebe. " Piper says.
" Come on, Piper. " Prue says. " I'm sure Phoebe's right. "
" Damn it, guys! " Piper exclaims. " Don't you think that if there was another way to do this, it would have been written on the same page? "
All this time, Leo is silent. If he doesn't enter the discussion, it's because he doesn't know what to think. A part of him refuses to let Piper die and wants to find another solution. But the other part of him knows Piper is right and that this cannot end any other way than by the death of the one he loves.
Suddenly, Phoebe growls and raises her hands to the sky, discouraged by Piper's attitude, and turns to Leo.
" Leo, will you tell Piper that her death isn't an option? "
Surprised by the question, Leo doesn't know what to say. He looks at Phoebe then Prue and, finally, Piper. The latter crosses her arms and looks at him straight in the eyes. " Tell them the truth, Leo. " he can read in them. He slowly looks away and looks at Prue and Phoebe again. He hesitates still, unable to repeat what he said before, this death sentence for Piper.
" I can't. " he almost whispers.
Prue turns away from Leo's gaze and looks at Piper.
" I won't do it, Piper. " she says. " I won't kill you. You can't force us to do it."
" I know. " Piper answers in a trembling voice. " I had no intention of asking you to do that. I'll do it myself. "
" No! " Phoebe and Prue do at the same time while Leo closes his eyes to keep from crying.
" There has to be a way to keep you alive! " Phoebe exclaims.
" Yes, that we don't vanquish the Trions and that I spend the rest of my life hearing them! " Piper retorts, beginning to lose her calm.
" At least, you'll be alive! " Prue says.
" Yeah, and that way, they'll be able to make me kill you! " Piper screams then turns around and runs up the stairs intending to hide in her bedroom.
Leo moves to follow her but Prue stops him, saying:" what is wrong with you?!"
She's angry, it's obvious. Leo knows why and can even understand her.
" Prue. " he starts.
" Why didn't you say anything? You could've helped us! "
" No, I couldn't, Prue. " Leo tries to explain to her. " And she knew it. "
" You could have tried to convince her that as long as she's alive, we still have a chance of finding a way to save her and to destroy the Trions. " Phoebe tells her.
" Phoebe, even if we looked for years, we wouldn't have found anything. " Leo answers.
" So, you give up, don't you? " Prue says, unbelieving. " And I thought you'd do anything to save her because you love her. "
Leo knows that Prue and Phoebe's anger is only directed toward him because they feel helpless. But Prue's last words hurt, hurt a lot.
" Lord, Prue! Don't you think if I had any hope of finding another way, I'd do everything in my power to save her?! " Leo screams. " I love her, Prue! More than anything. I don't want to lose her now. "
The last words were spoken in a trembling voice. Leo looks at Prue and Phoebe, tears in his eyes, than looks away and climbs the stairs. This time, Prue and Phoebe say nothing. They know they hurt Leo and they feel guilty.
In her bedroom, Piper is laying on her bed and cries. She doesn't hear the fight between her sisters and boyfriend, no more than she hears Leo opening her bedroom door and closing it behind him. He stays next to the door a few seconds then he slowly walks to the bed. Piper finally feels her presence and raises her head to look at him. Silently, Leo climbs on the bed and lays down next to her, hugging her. Piper cuddles against him and cries on his shirt. After a moment, Piper raises her head again and realizes that Leo is also crying.
" I don't want to lose you, Piper. " he whispers in her ear.
Piper closes her eyes as she remembers another time when he spoke those words, in that place between life and death where he finally healed her from the Arroya fever. He gave her back her life and let go of his immortality for her. Since then, Leo got his wings back but Piper never forgot he did loose them for her. If Leo has no solution to offer her, then no one can save her.
" It's not fair, Leo. " she finally tells her guardian angel. " We were finally starting to be happy. "
" I know, Piper. " Leo does holding her tighter.
There is a long silence during which Leo and Piper calm down a little.
" If I die now. " Piper starts.
" Piper. "
" No, let me finish, Leo. If it happens today, at least, we had these moments together. "
" Don't talk like that, Piper. "
" Leo, it's the truth. Unless you found another way. "
Leo doesn't need to answer, Piper knows there is no other way. He simply pushes back the strand of hair on Piper's face then he lets his hand move to her cheek. Gently, he brings her face to his and kisses her.
" We'll have to convince your sisters. " he says when their kiss ends.
" I know. But I also know Prue and Phoebe. They know they have no choice. Give them a little time and they'll convince themselves. "
" And you? Are you really sure this is what you want? "
" Of course not. What I want is that everything goes back the way it was. But that's impossible. And then, and don't want to risk hurting the ones I love. "
Piper doesn't finish her sentence. There is another long moment of silence while Piper and Leo are deep in their thoughts.
" Leo, can I ask you something? " Piper does.
" Anything, Piper. " he answers.
" Stay with me nothing. If this is really the last night of my life, I want to spend it with the man I love. "
" I had no intention to go anywhere, Piper. There's nowhere else I'd rather be tonight. "
Piper smiles at him and kisses him with all the love she has in her heart. Leo kisses her back and, gently, he brings Piper over him, intending not to let her get out of his arms until tomorrow morning.
In the kitchen, Prue is sitting at the table, gazing at her now cooling coffee cup.
After Leo went up after Piper, Phoebe and her stood there, not knowing what to do. Then they both went back to the parlor where the Book of Shadows was still resting. Prue went near it and gave it a long glance. Leo's words still echoed in her head. It reminded her that not so long ago, when her sisters had to choose between saving her or the world. Yes, the stakes were different than today's but the heart of the problem was the same.
Prue then realized that she knew what decision to take from the beginning. Sighing, she closed the book and picked it up to bring it to the attic.
" What are you doing, Prue? " Phoebe asks.
" I'm going to bring the Book back in the attic, Phoebe. " Prue answered her. "We don't need it anymore, I know the spell to vanquish the Trions by heart. "
Phoebe opened her mouth to reply something but she knew her big sister was right. Without a word, she took the Book from Prue's hands and went upstairs. Prue didn't follow her. They both needed some alone time. And so, she went to get a coffee in the kitchen.
She still hasn't touched it. All Prue can do is think. She tries understand how she could've let such a thing happen to Piper. She keeps reliving the last few days in her mind, trying to figure out what she could've done to prevent this.
After a while, Prue starts doubting she made the right decision. Didn't she just sentence her sister to death by choosing not to keep looking in the Book of Shadows? Maybe Phoebe and her could've found something. Maybe she should've forced Leo to go sees his bosses so they could've given them other solutions. Maybe. Maybe.
And the waltz of guilt and regrets go on in Prue's head while her coffee is getting colder in front of her.
Sitting in the corner of the attic, Phoebe is crying. She cries for her sister's life. She also cries because she is angry. Angry towards Prue because she convinced her. Angry towards Leo because he's right, as always. Angry towards Piper because she chose to die. Angry towards the Book of Shadows because it doesn't give them any help. Angry towards life that keeps throwing punches at Piper. But, mostly, angry at herself because, in spite of all her powers, all her knowledge of witchcraft, she can't save her sister.
For the first time in two years, Phoebe regrets her sisters and her are witches. If they weren't, maybe Piper wouldn't have to die today.
Tonight, Phoebe Halliwell, ever the optimist, able to see the good side of everything, of hoping against all hopes, cannot find a single reason to smile. Piper will soon die and she can't do a thing about it. Worse, she'll have to help her to do so.
And Phoebe keeps crying, hidden in a corner of the attic.
A lot later in the night, Piper slowly wakes up. The first thing her senses register is Leo's body next to hers and his arms around her. Piper has a sad smile. Usually, that is all she needs to feel safe, protected from the world. Nothing can get to her when she is in Leo's arms. But not this time. Because this time, evil doesn't come from the outside but from the inside of her.
She finally opens her eyes and watches her angel sleeping next to her. She loves him so much! And the most wonderful is that he loves her in return. How many women can say the same? Piper knows she's lucky. That's what makes what is coming tomorrow so difficult. There are so many things she'd like to say and do with him. But it's too late now.
Slowly, so she won't wake Leo, Piper gets out of his arms. She needs to get up, to go downstairs. She pushes back the sheet covering her and walks to her drawers, looking for her pajama pants, which she puts on. She starts looking in the drawer to find the shirt that go with it when she sees the T- shirt Leo was wearing on the floor next to the bed. Smiling, she closes the drawer and picks it up.
Wearing Leo's T-shirt to sleep or the morning when she wakes up is an habit she picked up since Leo and her got back together. And so, it seems natural to spend her last night wearing it, remembering all the memories that go with this habit.
Before leaving the room, she gently kisses Leo on the cheek. Then she goes to the bathroom.
Then, she goes down to the kitchen and finds Prue, sleeping on the table in front of a cold cup of coffee. Piper looks tenderly at her big sister before picking up the cup and emptying it in the sink. Then, deciding she wants to eat toasts, she takes out the utensils she'll need. That's when the voices come back, trying to force Piper to use her knife to kill Prue in her sleep. Fighting against the Trions, Piper runs out of the kitchen to keep herself from hurting Prue.
At the same instant, In Piper's bedroom, Leo is waking up, hesitating between going back to sleep or waking up completely, until he realizes Piper isn't there. He completely wakes up and takes a look around the room, looking for his girlfriend. Noticing she is absent, he gets out of bed to try to find her. He puts on his pants and tries to find his shirt but there is no trace of his T-shirt. He smiles. Once again, Piper stole his T-shirt from him. Leo puts on his shirt without his T-shirt and exits the room.
Seeing the bathroom door closed, he tells himself that's where Piper went and knocks on the door.
" Piper? " he says in a low voice so he won't wake up Prue and Phoebe.
" Go away, Leo. " Piper answers him. " They're here again. "
" Open the door, Piper. " Leo asks, worried.
" No, I don't want to kill you. "
Suddenly, Leo remembers that Lucy killed herself in this bathroom. " No, not like this! " he thinks. If Piper has to die, he doesn't want her to be alone in the bathroom, terrified she'll hurt the ones she loves.
" Prue! Phoebe! " he screams at the top of his lungs.
Not waiting for an answer, Leo orbs in the bathroom and discovers Piper sitting next to the bath, holding a razor next to her wrist, apparently unable to cut it. Seeing the blue lights that accompany his arrival, Piper tells him: " Leo, no. Go away. "
" No, Piper. Not like this. " Leo says going near her and gently taking the razor from the young woman's hand.
" You don't understand, Leo. " Piper softly protests. " They won't me to kill you. "
" Piper. " Leo does, taking her in his arms.
At the same moment, he hears someone try to open the door then knock violently on it. He then hears Prue's panicked voice.
" Leo? Piper? What's happening? "
" It's alright, Prue. " Leo answers to calm her. " She's fine. "
However, he doesn't move to open the door. Making sure Piper is really fine is his only priority right now.
" I almost did, Leo. " Piper cries. " I almost killed Prue in the kitchen. "
" But you didn't. That's good. "
" I can't do this anymore, Leo. I can't fight against them. I'm tired of it. "
" I know, Piper, I know. " Leo tells her.
" It has to stop now. "
On the other side of the door, Prue and Phoebe, worried, are impatiently waiting for Leo and Piper to open the door. Finally, it opens to let the couple out. They're holding hands and Piper looks determined.
" Go get the spell, guys. " Piper orders as she looks at her sisters.
They look at her, refusing to obey at first. Then, remembering she doesn't really have a choice, Prue tells Piper : " We don't need the Book, Piper. We know the spell by heart. "
Phoebe nods before saying : " You're sure this is what you want? "
Piper nods and presses Leo's hand a little tighter.
" Yes, I'm tired of worrying I'll hurt out. " she states. " Like I said to Leo, it has to end now. "
Without a word, everyone follows Piper in the attic, except for Leo, who goes down to the kitchen to get the object Piper asked him.
In the attic, Piper opens the Book of Shadows at the right page, in case her sisters don't remember the words when the moment comes.
" Piper. " Phoebe begins, a big lump in her throat.
There are so many she would like to tell her sister and so little time to do so.
" Hey, come here. " Piper, who also has a big lump in her throat, does as she brings her little sister in her arms.
That is all Prue needed to join her sisters in their embrace and all three of them start to cry. Piper tries to comfort her sisters by saying: " Tell yourselves that, at least, I'm not going down alone. I'm bringing those stupid demons with me. "
" What are we gonna do without you, Piper? " Prue asks, in tears.
" You two will be fine. You're strong. "
" Not that strong without you. " Phoebe replies.
" Phoebe. " Piper stops, the lump in her throat now making it difficult to speak.
She swallows and goes on.
" Prue, Phoebe. I want you to know. if I had the power to choose my sisters, I would still have chosen the two of you. You're the best sisters someone can have. I love you. "
" Oh, Piper. " Phoebe does.
" We love you too. " Prue says.
The sisters embrace one last time, knowing it is the last time the three of them will be together.
In the meantime, Leo has come back from the kitchen with a knife. That is the object Piper asked him to get. She decided that was probably the quickest way to die. But that still doesn't make things easier for Leo.
When he enters the attic, he sees the sisters together. He watches them silently, waiting for them to finish their good-byes. When Piper steps away from her sisters, he walks to them. Just before he gets to his girlfriend, Prue stops him by putting a hand on his arm.
" Leo, I want you to know, what I said sooner. "
" I know. " he says as he hugs her. " I'm sorry, Prue. For everything. "
Phoebe also goes to hug Leo and says: " We're sorry too, Leo. " Then, they let Leo join Piper.
She watches her boyfriend come to her, tears still running down her cheeks. Without a word, because he cannot speak, Leo gives her the knife. She takes it and bends down to put it near her. Leo also bends down and takes her in his arms.
" It shouldn't end like this, Piper. " he finally says.
" I know, Leo. But I have no choice. "
" I should. I should be able to save you. "
Leo is now crying.
" Not this time, Leo. " Piper cries. " Please, don't blame yourself for this. "
Leo doesn't answer. He may be a whitelighter and know they're doing the right thing, he can't help refusing Piper's death. He now knows what Sam felt when he lost Patty. He takes Piper's face in his hands, trying to imprint her features into his memory for all eternity. Piper tenderly wipes the tears rolling down Leo's cheeks. She brings her face closer to his and they share a long kiss.
" I love you, Leo. " Piper whispers when their lips part.
" I love you too. " Leo answers back.
Then, Piper looks one last time at her sisters, picks up the knife and, closing her eyes, plunges it into her heart. Prue and Phoebe cry their hearts out as Piper lets go of her weapon and falls in Leo's arms.
He is also crying, holding in his arms the woman he loves as her life slips away with every drop of blood that stains her shirt. Leo feels as if his heart as been pierced too. He cannot believe this is how their story ends. Now that she finally came back to him, now that he knows he's the one she loves and not Dan Gordon, he must loose her again. Piper is his soul mate, he is sure of it. And as he watches her die, feeling her breathing getting harder every second, Leo knows a part of him is dying with her. His whole being tells him to use his powers and to save her, but he can't.
" I'm so sorry, Piper. " he whispers to his beloved when he feels the last beats of her heart. " I love you. "
He turns to Prue and Phoebe, who are crying together, and tells them: " Do it, say the spell. "
Prue and Phoebe nod and, holding ands, they say the spell in one voice as Piper draws her last breath. Prue, Phoebe and Leo see a strange mist come out of Piper. It takes three human forms for a few seconds evaporating with a scream of pain.
" I hope it hurts. " Prue whispers before kneeling next to Leo.
Phoebe does the same and both sisters cry near Leo, who is holding Piper's now lifeless body. In tears, the angel raises his eyes to the skies in a silent prayer. " I beg you. " he thinks. " Give me the power to save her. She died for magic, I should have the right to. " He looks at Piper's face and suddenly remembers something she told him just before they left the bathroom. " You know, I heard that the brain can live up to four minutes after a respiratory arrest. " What if.?
" What are you doing, Leo? " Phoebe asks between two sobs when Leo puts Piper on the floor and places his hands over the wound.
He doesn't answer Phoebe. Rather, he concentrates on Piper, knowing there is a slight hope he can save her, but it's still a hope. Before Prue and Phoebe' surprised eyes, Leo's hands start to glow and Piper's wound heals. Suddenly, the long woman takes a deep breath. Eyes wet, Leo slightly holds her up and calls to her.
" Piper? Piper, can you hear me? "
Slowly, she opens her eyes and looks at Leo.
" Leo? " she does. " Am I. Am I dead? "
" No. " Leo smile as he hugs her.
" Did it work? Are the Trions vanquished? "
" Yes, Piper. " Leo answers. " We did it. It's over. "
Piper smiles at him, relieved. Then Prue and Phoebe jump on Leo and her, happy to find their sister alive and free from the voices.