Three weeks later the manor was starting to get back under control.  Melinda was a quick learner with her powers.  Of course she didn't have much of a choice.  Piper kept her home from school for a few weeks and she, Phoebe and Paige helped her to work through the pain and focus on the joy of feeling the pregnancies.  Melinda grew closer and closer to Piper over the weeks.  She now had an understanding of what her mother was going through.  Likewise it made Piper sad to see her first little girl grow up so fast.  This power had accelerated Melinda's maturity and she was miles ahead of her class.  The night time seemed to be the worst for her.  While asleep she was unprepared for the babies moving around and the shock of feeling it often translated into pain.  With time she would adjust and it would only be another four months.  Piper tried not to think about what was going to happen to her after they were born.  At least Melinda would not be feeling a daily assault on her body.  But the pain that could come when one of the newest generation was hurt was too hard to think about. 

Helping Melinda handle her new power gave Piper a distraction from her constant battle with Leo.  However over the last week without Melinda home Piper had broken down three times.  Her emotions were on the edge and the slightest look of disprovable from Leo sent them flying.  Why she was putting up with his rules and demands she wasn't exactly sure but she figured that subconsciously she must agree with him.  Truthfully she was scared to death that she would still lose this baby.  Five months was usually past the time of real danger in high risk pregnancies but she still couldn't bring herself to tell him to lay off.  After all he was just looking out for her.   So most often it was her sisters that had to deal with her emotional highs and lows.  Except today, today while out in the garden she bent over to pick up a fallen flower and Leo was right there to get it before she could move. 

"I told you not to pick up a thing, Piper."  Leo said offering the flower to her.  "That is why I am home.  To do and get everything for you."

"Okay that is it, Leo.  I am not dying, crippled, sick, or in any pain.  I am pregnant.  I understand that this is a delicate pregnancy but a flower Leo, a flower.  It weights all of a tenth of a pound.  I can still reach my toes, this belly is not that big yet.  Why, just tell me why I can't pick it up myself?"  She could feel her face heating up and the tears that were always so close to the surface, start to form. 

"Piper I just don't want you to reach for anything.  Any extra strain on your body is not good.  Here sit down before you fall."  He said trying to guide her to the chair behind her. 

"Don't touch me.  I can stand just fine.  This is exactly what I am talking about, Leo.  You have to stop treating me like porcelain doll."

"Piper I'm just . . ."

"Worried I know Leo.  But I can't take it anymore."  The tears were streaming down her face.  Leo tried to hug her but she stepped back out of his hold. 

"Piper I'm sorry.  I didn't know.  Why didn't you tell me?  You never let things go for this long without saying something."  His face looked a hurt by her brush off.

"I know Leo.  The truth is I am just as scared as you are so I let you keep going but I just can't take it anymore.  I need some room, Leo."  She turned and headed towards the door.  Leo didn't want her to stay angry but he also knew if he followed her it would just make things worse.  He paused a minute more and than took a step after her. 

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."  A voice said behind him.  He turned to see both Paige and Phoebe walking towards him.  "She meant it Leo.  Give her some space."

"But . . ."

"No buts Leo.  You need to lighten up on her.  She has been caged in the house for months now.  Let her cool down."  Paige said. 

"So what do I do?  I mean I can't let this go."  Leo sat down feeling like a failure. 

"You have to Leo.  She doesn't need much.  She is too scared to do anything that would risk it herself.  She just feels . . ."

"Useless."  Paige finished Phoebe's comment.

"But how do I, what do I do?  She can't go to work.  It creates too much stress."  The thought that she had been unhappy throughout the whole pregnancy was breaking his heart and the fact that he was too bull headed to notice hurt even more. 

"I know Leo and so does she.  Let her go shopping or clean or cook more.  Give her the option to do what she wants.  She's won't be dumb about it.  She just wants to live."  Phoebe said seating herself beside her brother-in-law. 

"Well her birthday is in a week.  What do you have planned?"  Paige offered.

"Nothing yet.  She doesn't seem to be in a celebrating mood."

"She's not.  She has made it very clear that we are not to throw her any big parties.  I think it's the turning forty and being pregnant combination. But that doesn't mean that you two shouldn't or can't do something together."  Paige and Phoebe had both been told to keep any party plans low key and only family. 

"Yeah, but what?  If I do something romantic she may think that we were going . . ."  He paused embarrassed to be talking about that with her sisters. 

"Going to do what, Leo?"  Phoebe said with a smirk.  He could tell that they already knew that he and Piper hadn't done anything in the bedroom since that last night almost two months ago. 

"Phoebe."  He said embarrassed. 

"What?  It's not like we don't know?"  She answered. 

"Leo you have done 'IT' while she was pregnant before.  What's the difference now?"  Paige asked.

"The difference is that the last time she got sick.  Her whole body cramped up."  He blurted out before he knew what he was saying.  Both Paige and Phoebe's mouths dropped.  Piper obviously hadn't shared that fact with them yet. 

"What do you mean she cramped up?"  Phoebe asked after a moment of silence. 

"Exactly what I said.  I was scared that she was going into labour again or miscarrying.  I just can't risk it.  If she loses that baby because I couldn't contain myself I would never forgive myself and she would never forgive me."

"Leo lots of women get cramps afterwards, especially when they are pregnant.  It's a natural release and has nothing to do with the baby."  Phoebe wrapped her arm around his shoulders. 

"That's what Piper said.  But I still can't."

"So then plan something nice for evening.  It doesn't have to end in the bedroom.  We are planning a picnic at Golden Gate Park for the afternoon and we can watch the kids for you in evening.  Just take her out and get her to relax."  Paige said looking from Leo to Phoebe. 

"I'll think about it."  Leo stood up and moved towards the door. 

"Leo, give her another few minutes.  She's not angry just upset."  Phoebe said. 

Leo nodded.  "Thanks you two."  He said and went into the house. 

"I guess we better get planning that picnic you just suggested than, huh Paige?"  Phoebe said pulling herself to her feet. 

"What?  I was winging it.  Besides we were going to have to do something, weren't we?" 

"Of course, I'm just bugging you."  Phoebe wrapped her arm around Paige and they headed back to Phoebe's house to plan Piper's birthday party.