Title:  Deeper Into the Light

Author:  sbender333 (sbender333@yahoo.com)

Rating:  PG-13

Summary:  Leo disengages himself from the Elders.  Chris opens up to his aunts.  Leo and Piper bond over their two sons.  Chris finally cracks and opens up to his father.  Piper plans to go off to Magic School until the birth of their child.  Chris reminisces about the past and his anger at Leo rises once again.

Spoilers:  "Spin City"

Author's Note:  My god, it has been a while, but I got slammed.  I do however, have the next part written and I will get that up this weekend, because I want to let this one soak a bit.  Ah, and this installment is another transitional chapter to meld it into the events of "Spin City", but it's filled with a lot of conflicted and confusing emotions of who else, but Piper and Leo.  So read on and review. And to those who have already done so, thanks so much for the feedback, guys; I appreciate it so much.  Feedback is an author's inspiration.  You've already done the hard part by reading it, so just leave a minute-long message and tell me what you think because it means a lot.

~*~

            Leo orbed in with Wyatt in his arms, the bags at his sides.  He glanced around the entrance hall and saw Piper waiting.

            "Already check out your room?" he asked her with a smile.

            "No.  You were gone for a five minutes max and I couldn't find anyone to carry my bags," she answered.  "So, I think you're just going to have to carry them for me."

            "Ah, how much stuff does this little kid need?" Leo bantered playfully, glancing down at his son.

            "I didn't pack it.  Phoebe offered to"

            "Well, that explains it."  Leo said this, looking backing up at Piper.  She held his gaze, allowing for a moment of silence to fill the high cathedral ceilings.

            "So…maybe we really should put up the bags," she said, the silence now becoming stifling.  "I want to see my room—the one I'll be spending three months in." 

            Leo was shaken out of his daze, for he had once again gotten lost in Piper's face.  He sighed and tried to regain his train of thought.  "Piper..." he started, know convincing her wouldn't be easy.  He decided to try a different tactic instead of simply flat out telling her.  "Let me show you something," he said, turning her to face the hallway leading toward the classrooms.

            "We can't just leave the bags…" she stated, a little befuddled by Leo's actions.

            "Ah, don't worry about it.  No one's going to take a couple of bags, Piper.  Besides, we have to go.  Afternoon classes are almost over."  Leo replied, knowing the reaction his last statement would provoke.

            "What do you mean 'afternoon classes'?" she asked threateningly.

            "Piper, let me just show you," Leo responded.

            "Whatever," she said in resignation.  They walked down the hall as Piper looked back, unconvinced, at the bags lying in their lonesome at the center of the hall.

~*~

            "Leo…"  Piper stared through the class window, looking at the toddlers levitating objects, telekinetically spinning tops, and orbing balls to each other.  "I don't think so-"

            "I really think this is a good idea.  I talked to Gideon about it this morning, and he agreed wholeheartedly."  Leo was trying desperately to reason with her, understanding it would take a lot to get Piper to do this.  "Wyatt is really, really powerful; you know that."

            "Of course I know that.  He conjured a dragon at the age of one.  Chris has told us of what he apparently does," Piper retorted, feeling a little defensive and as if Leo was patronizing her about her son's abilities.

            "Piper, I know you know, so you should know the good this school can do.  It could help Wyatt channel his powers for good, help him control them, let him live without worry and be with witches his own age…the benefits are countless, Piper."  Leo turned to face Piper, looking into her eyes.

            "I don't know…"  Piper realized the truth of Leo's words but something was keeping her from acting:  mother's intuition maybe.  Or maybe she just wanted Wyatt to have the most normal life she could provide.  She looked up at Leo and saw him waiting patiently.  Her eyes then shifted to Wyatt and fingered a lock of his blonde hair.  It was getting a little long; maybe she should get it cut—non-magically, like a normal child.

            "I just want him to have a normal childhood," she said without taking her eyes of Wyatt.  She verbalized one of her great fears to Leo, as tears slid down her cheek.  'Damn hormones,' she thought, now having the luxury of blaming her emotions on the pregnancy.

            "But he's not normal," Leo said soothingly.  He wiped a tear of her face with his thumb, furthering the degree of comfort he offered.

            "I know…I know you're right," she sighed.  "It's just…"

            "I know," Leo assured.  Piper met his gaze once again.  God, how much she missed this, having a husband to whom she didn't need to explain her every thought.

            Breaking into Piper's muse, Leo gently said, "Hey, let's see if you can talk to one of the teachers.  Maybe she can ease some worry."

            Piper nodded and allowed herself to be led into the classroom by Leo.  There, as she continued to observe the children with whom her son would spend his time, Leo spoke with a woman.

            "Hey," Leo said, diverting her observations off the children.  "This is one of the nursery teachers.  I'll let her talk to you and Wyatt, and she can show you guys around."  Leo handed the child over to the woman.

            "You aren't going to stay?" Piper asked.

            "No, I can't…I have to get back to the Elders," Leo replied, not wanting to elaborate.  He had promised Piper in a moment of passion and desperation something he hadn't thought through thoroughly.  He had attempted to talk to Gideon this morning about spending more time at home, but he had backed out, remember the what had happened when he had tried that before.  And he just didn't know how to tell Piper that he had made such a false promise.  And he didn't even want to think about how this would go over with the Elders Up There.

            "Right," Piper said as Leo orbed out.  He was gon1e….  How could she have kidded herself!  She had let herself get caught up in her emotions, but her initial thoughts had been right.  Keeping in touch with the reality that Leo was probably not going to get away from being an Elder should have been the way to go, but she had let both Phoebe's and Leo's assurances sway her.

            "Ms. Halliwell?  Would you like me to introduce you to the others?"

            Piper nodded as she was brought of her thoughts and walked in a trance-like state after the woman.

~*~

            Hours later, the duo emerged into the looming hall, Piper truly feeling much better after getting to know the staff.  She had received a tour and was able to participate in some activities with Wyatt.  The fact that she could keep an eye on her son because of her residing at Magic School aided in the pacification of some of her tension.  Also, she had learned that the children did indeed spend time in "normal" children's activities, such as snacking, napping, and even finger-painting.  Apparently art was an emotional outlet.

            "It wasn't that bad was it?" Piper heard a voice ask.  She looked up and saw a smiling Leo standing in front of her, leaning on the door opposite the class she had just departed.  "I just got here and saw you guys leaving so I thought I'd wait," he explained, picking up Wyatt of the ground.

            "Yeah, I guess.  And if it gets to bad I can always pull him out."  Piper replied to his original inquiry, lighthearted pessimism in her tone.

            Leo chuckled at this as they continued to walk toward the main hall.

            "Did you like it?"  Leo questioned Wyatt.  A smile on the boy's face seemed to answer.

            "So I heard you got to Chris…" Piper questioned, after a moment of silence had taken over.

            "What?  Oh, Chris…so you heard?"  At Piper's nod he went on, "Well, I think so.  I really hope so.  He was so angry that day, in the lair.  I don't think one night is going to wash it away.  But it's a start."

            "Yeah, that's great," Piper put forth enthusiastically.

            "Yeah, I hope so," he said, though with a hint of doubt.  "But you know how Chris is," Leo sighed.  Then as the bags came into view, Leo added, "See, they're still here, safe and sound."

            "Yeah, yeah; you were right," Piper said mockingly.  "But Leo-" She pulled his eyes to her and referring to Chris, she said, "Make sure you talk to him.  You'll get through to him."

            Leo nodded, and after a pause, as he put Wyatt on the floor, said, "Yeah, well I should go; we spent all day here," At this statement Piper lost all hope.  He really was going.  Had he just forgotten that conversation they had had merely a day ago?   Piper once again berated herself for holding onto that false glimmer of hope:  'You told yourself he couldn't possibly stay, but you didn't really believe it…now look how much it hurts.'  She diverted her eyes from Leo, glancing at the floor.

            She brought her eyes back up as she heard Leo say, "Ah, here's Sigmund."  Clad in robs, just as they always saw him, Sigmund strode in.  "Can you set these in Piper's room?"

            "Sure Leo," Sigmund flustered as he carried the first set down the hall.

            Pained to leave his son again, Leo bent down towards Wyatt's level saying his goodbyes.  "Hey, buddy.  Don't give Mommy such a hard time okay?  You got to eat all your vegetables and brush your teeth everyday.  Don't forget to play a lot," he crooned, stroking his son's hair.  Through the corner of his eye he saw Sigmund return.

            "Are these the last of them?" Sigmund inquired.

            "Yeah, thank you," Piper said gratefully, as Sigmund rolled the last batch out.

            Piper glanced down and witnessed Leo holding his son in a tight embrace.  How could she stay angry at a man who was so obviously hurt at leaving his son…even if he had promised her that he would stay?

            "You're suffocating the boy," she said to stop Leo, in part because her words might have had some truth to them and also because she wanted to see him leave as soon as possible, knowing he wouldn't be here in the future.  It hurt to the core.

            Leo released his son, who immediately returned to his mother, and rose at her words.  "It's just, you know…"

            "Overcompensating?"  Piper supplied.

            "No, I…I just...miss him a lot," Leo countered.

            Piper nodded, knowing that was the truth, no matter what Leo did, "I know."

            Leo changed tracks as he asked once again, "So, you sure you're going to be okay here?  I mean until the baby's born."

            "I haven't seen my room yet, but, yeah, I think so. Gideon's right -- I'll be safe here, and that's the most important thing, isn't it?" She replied.

            "Yeah, I think so," Leo said in response.

            "Besides I'm just an orb away if the girls need me," Piper added quickly.    She attempted to soothe some of her pain at realizing Leo would not be here by taking comfort in the fact that her sisters were an instant away.

            "No, I…already talked to them, they're supposed to call me first," he said tentatively.  He had firmly decided that afternoon in the clouds that he would stay on Earth until the baby was born, despite what the Elders said.  It was up in the air after that, but at least he was here now.

            Piper was shocked at the revelation but kept her composure, not wanting to let Leo know that she had doubted his word, so she simply said, "Yes we do."  After a beat she said, "Keep trying to get through to him, Leo.  Don't give up."  Taking a different route in their conversation, she managed to suppress her emotions.  Grateful to the fact that Leo had fought to stay, she added, "Remember, he's just as stubborn as you are."  She held his gaze for a minute and then to Wyatt said, "Come on, Pumpkin.  Wave 'goodbye' to Daddy."  She helped in this motion and then walked into a hall, leaving Leo staring at them. 

            As they walked off into the distance, Gideon approached Leo.

            "Take care of them, Gideon, will you?"  Leo asked, without taking his eyes off the rapidly disappearing figures.  He knew he and Piper really did need to talk about reality…but he couldn't bring himself to tell her how unlikely it would be to get their wish granted.  So much had changed in six months.

            "Absolutely," his mentor said, replying to Leo's request.  At his smile, Leo orbed out.