Ch. 3- Broken Family

Piper's POV

I hoped Phoebe was right about confronting our feelings. I so badly wanted to talk to Leo, but I was afraid of what his reaction might be. He had been through a lot the past few months, and I feared this might push him over the edge. But my boys needed their dad, and for them I would do anything.

"Leo, I need you," I yelled. I knew he would come if he thought I was in some sort of trouble. Sure enough the blue orbs appeared and there he was. For a second I just stood there and stared at him. He looked tired, and somewhat older.

"What is it?" he asked, looking around trying to see what the trouble was.

"Leo....we need to talk," I said drawing in a deep breath.

"I have to go," he said and began to orb out.

"No!" I yelled. "Leo don't do this!"

To my surprise he orbed back in. "Piper, I don't have time for this," he said.

"You don't have the time for your family?" I asked him. "You don't have time for those two boys downstairs?"

"Are they okay?"

"They miss their daddy. Wyatt keeps looking at your picture and asking where his daddy is. Do you think that's okay?" I asked him.

"Piper, we've been over this. I can't be their father right now."

"You can't just quit being their father Leo. They need you."

"They have you and your sisters. They'll be fine," Leo said looking down at the ground. The truth was, it killed him not to be with his boys, but he didn't trust himself.

"What about me?" I asked him. "What if I need you?" Leo looked a little surprised by my words, and to be honest, I was too.

"You don't need me. You need to move on with your life. You deserve better."

"I deserve a family. A family with you and our boys. Leo, I can help you but you have to let me in," I said, urging him to confide in me.

"Piper I can't," Leo said.

"Dammit Leo! What happened to you? You used to be my best friend. There was nothing we couldn't tell each other. Just let me help you," I was starting to get aggravated with him. How could Leo just walk away from us?

"Don't you think I want to let you in? I want to have my life back. I want my family back, but it can't happen Piper!" Leo yelled.

"Why? Tell me why you can't come back to us," I asked.

"Piper, I killed an Elder! I can't trust myself around anyone, but most of all around the boys or with you. I'm afraid I'll hurt you guys and I could never live with myself if that happened."

"You're hurting us by not being with us. Just try Leo, please come back to us," I pleaded as I wiped a tear from my eye. Leo's eyes were also filled with tears.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I just can't."

With that, Leo orbed out, leaving me alone.