Chapter 10
"Whitelighter Wyatt," Elder Arcan's usually serious face now looked even more solemn, "We summoned you to announce important news. Elder Simon has resigned his position of Head Elder. He felt that he wanted to spend his last years serving the good in a more...er... face to face way. He relinquished his powers and asked to be sent to the mortal realm as a priest and an empath. It is needless to say that his wish was granted."
The Elder paused as if honouring the decision of his ex colleague and Leo had to work really hard to make his face look equally grave since it was a complete opposite of his true feelings. He also knew that it was not only him who was secretly celebrating this departure though maybe due to different reasons. Elder Simon was the most stubborn and conservative member of the whole Council. And that was saying a lot since all the Elders were not known to be the most open minded people. But Elder Simon managed to annoy not only the other whitelighters but the rest of the Council and not once or twice Leo was a witness of heated arguments and fights between him and some of the younger Elders.
"Anyway," Elder Arcan continued and Leo snapped out of his thoughts, "We need a new Elder to join the Council and after discussing it we decided to offer this position to you. You showed yourself a great whitelighter during the last five years working with the Charmed Ones. And recently you proved your ability to think strategically with the whole Grimoire affair. So we feel that you deserved the honour of becoming the Elder."
Leo fell speechless, their plan worked! After he tipped Cole and Nicole about Elder Simon being the most fanatical member of the Council determined to fight evil to the end, they used their mind manipulation skills to convince the old man to retire. Leo was impressed of how easy they achieved the result and a little scared because it showed him how powerful they were. But he still had doubts that they would be able to make him a new Elder and now it looked like they did not even have to do anything.
The Council understood his silence differently and one of the younger Elders spoke up, "We know, Leo, that you have some personal commitments but we would like you to think about the bigger picture. With all the brewing going on in the Underworld your experience would be invaluable for the Council. And this is the best way for you to protect your family and your charges."
The whitelighter lowered his head to hide the glimmer of triumph in his eyes. He thought about being away from Piper and not being there when their son was born. It would be incredibly difficult but if being away from them now was going to save his family in future than it was absolutely worth it. Leo lifted his head and faced the Council, "I want to thank the Council for this honour," he said firmly, "it means a lot to me." He paused and then continued, "I also would like to thank you for understanding that it's a difficult decision for me since it would mean leaving my family." The Elders eyes expressed concern and several of them shook their heads in defeat. Leo hold a long pause and then said calmly, "At the same time I know that my destiny is to serve the Powers to Be in any way they deem fit and therefore I accept your offer and swear that I would do my utter best serving the forces of Good as a member of the Elders Council."
The sheer relief was obvious on the faces of the Elder's Council as they welcomed their new member. When the details of the move were discussed Leo orbed out to break the news to his family and to spend the last evening with them.
He found Piper in their bedroom. She was taking a nap before dinner. He did not want to wake her up and just lied down on the bed looking at her peaceful face trying to memorize each line. He did not know how long they stayed like this. Piper stirred slightly and opened her eyes. She saw Leo's face just a few inches away and smiled at him. It was a long time since she woke up and he was next to her.
"Hi," she greeted, "how long have you been here?"
He smiled back at her, "Not very long," he said, "at least I did not notice, time just flew by as it always does when I am with you."
Piper smiled at him warmly and moved closer so she could kiss him. They pulled away and she looked at her husband's eyes and immediately became alert. She knew him too well not to notice the sadness in his eyes.
"Leo," Piper put her hand on his chest, "What's going on? What's wrong?"
He hesitated for a moment but then decided to dive into the deep end. "Elder Simon has left the Council," he said quietly, "And they offered me to replace him."
Piper's eyes widened as she worriedly searched her husband's face, "What did they say when you refused," she asked urgently, "did they clip your wings? Is that why you are so early?"
Guilt shot through Leo's heart and his face reflected this feeling, "I did not refuse," he said quietly. "I accepted their proposal."
She could not believe what she'd heard. She set up on the bed and stared at her husband in disbelief. "You accepted," she repeated slowly, "what do you mean you accepted? What about me, us?"
Leo sighed, "I know it is difficult to accept Piper, but I have to do it. It's my destiny. I swore to serve the Powers to Be and now they require me to become the Elder. I can't refuse."
"You can't refuse?" Piper yelled, "Oh, yes you can. We are a family Leo, we are expecting a child. That must mean something, even to Them." She looked up and then fixed him with a glare. "Now you get your butt up there and tell them that you are going to stay here."
Leo shook his head, "I am really sorry, Piper. I can't do this, I have already promised."
"But you can do this to me?" she shrieked, "After everything I've done for you. For years I've been a patient wife, living with your constant orbing out at any time of day and night to see your Elders and your charges, coping with not having a normal life. And now you are going to just leave me and our child so you can fulfil your bloody destiny?!"
Her words hit Leo hard, it was painful to see how hurt she was and was even more painful to be unable to tell her the truth. "Piper, please," his eyes looked at her pleadingly, "try to understand, I am not leaving you. I love you more than ever and I love our baby. But I have to do this for your safety, for the safety of our baby and your sisters. I will be watching over you and our child every day and every minute. As an Elder I will be able to protect you much better than I can now. And one day, maybe, when the time is right I will be able to return to you. But in order for this times to come I need to go now and fulfil my destiny."
He spoke with passion hoping that his words would reach her heart but he was mistaken. Piper seared him with a deadly glare and climbed out of bed. "Don't you dare talk about your destiny," she hissed angrily. "What about my destiny? Or the destiny of our child? What am I suppose to tell our baby? That dad dumped us to fulfil his destiny? Jeez Leo, what did you think before? You told me you wanted children. And now you are just going to turn your back to us and leave me to be a single mother?!"
Her accusations were like arrows flying into his body and the stress of the last months spilled out. Leo lost control, "Do you think I like that?" he yelled, "Do you think that I enjoy not being here when my son is born? Not being able to see his first smile? Not being able to share this happiness with you? I will give my life to be able to stay, but I can't. I have to do this. I don't have a choice, Piper."
"Or yes, you do," she shouted back, "Go to the Elders and tell them that you are not doing this. And if they clip your wings - fine. We'll manage without them. I will strip my powers and we can finally lead a normal life."
Leo's shoulders sagged and he silently shook his head, "I can't do it, Piper," he whispered, "I just can't."
Her brown eyes sparkled with anger, "Than it means you don't love me," she said in a steely voice, "At least not enough."
Tears stood in Leo's eyes, "I love you more than the words could say," he said in a choked voice, "more than life itself. And that's why I have to go."
The knock on the door interrupted them and Paige's head picked in, "I am sorry, guys," she said guiltily, "but you were yelling so loud that me and Phoebe heard everything."
Phoebe's head appeared behind her, "Yes, and we think we deserve to be a part of this conversation, it concerns all of us."
"How does it concern you?" Piper was not in the mood for sisterly moment, "is it your husband who's leaving you seven months pregnant so he can fulfil his destiny?"
"He is our whitelighter," Paige answered," our lives depend on him so it concerns us if he's not going to be here."
Leo raised his hand interrupting her, "You'll get a new whitelighter. It will be the first thing to be arranged. The Elders already have some candidates and tomorrow when I arrive there I will make the final choice."
"Tomorrow," Piper repeated in disbelief, "you are going tomorrow?"
Leo squirmed uncomfortably, "Yes, I am starting tomorrow morning."
"For how long have you known?" Phoebe asked suspiciously.
"I just found out an hour ago," he answered simply. "I came here to explain everything and spend the last night with Piper and you guys. We probably would not see each other for a while."
A bitter laugh interrupted him, Piper's eyes sparkled furiously, her lips twisting into an angry smile, "How touching," she hissed, "you came to spend the last night with your wife. Maybe have some sex as well? I don't think Elders get a lot of that. But let me tell you, honey, I am not in the mood." She raised her hand and Leo exploded in a shower of blue swirls. He rematerialized on the same spot a minute later and looked at her in shock.
"Piper..." he started.
"Don't piper me," she yelled. "It won't help. Not now when you chose your destiny over me and our baby."
"I am not choosing anything over you," he shouted back, "Don't you understand that leaving you tares me apart? I am doing this to safe you, to prevent horrible things from happening. I can't tell you what they are but can you please just trust me on this one?"
She did not say anything and hope flared at Leo's heart. "Please Piper, just trust me," he repeated looking at her pleadingly.
"What are those horrible things?" Paige piped in.
Leo swirled around and shot angrily, "Paige, it's none of your business. Can you please just leave me and Piper alone?"
"Don't lash out on my sister," Piper glared at her husband. "She had all the rights to ask this question. And I have all the rights to demand an answer."
Leo shook his head, "I can't tell you," he said. "I am sorry."
Piper snorted, "One of the Elders' secrets. I am so sick of it."
"Come on, Leo," Phoebe urged. "You can tell us anything."
Leo heaved a frustrated sigh, "I can't," he said shaking his head. "Can't you guys just trust me?"
"Hey," Piper cried out, "Don't put this on us. You are the one who says he has to go and does not even want to tell us why."
"But I told you I can't," he yelled totally frustrated. "If I could I would but it's not up to me. You are the most important thing in my life. I risked my life for you, I broke rules for you, I went against my beliefs for you. Don't you know me well enough to accept that I don't have a choice?"
"There is always a choice, Leo." Piper answered coldly. "You are just not willing to take it."
It was now his turn to stare at her in disbelief. He then turned around and saw Paige and Phoebe. They looked at him with accusing eyes and he realised that he was not going to get the understanding he was hoping for. Tiredness and despair hit him. He turned back to face Piper again, "I am sorry I hurt you," he said slowly, "God is my witness I have never meant to. You are my life, Piper, I love you with all my heart. But I have to do this so that all of us here have a future. In time you will be able to understand and, hopefully, forgive me." He looked at her, hope still flattering in his heart but there was nothing but sheer anger in her face.
"Get out, Leo," she said coldly, "I don't want to see you ever again."
The hope was squashed and his shoulders sagged in defeat. Leo lowered his head and orbed out. The moment the blue swirls died down Piper collapsed on the bed crying, her sisters rushing to comfort her.
Leo orbed outside the Manor. He stayed there for a few moments to make sure that Piper and the baby were okay. Sitting on the pavement he waited till she fell asleep and then shot a long look at the manor before orbing away.
The knock on the front door made Cole put his papers away. He went to the door hoping it was Nicole, though his mind told him that it was unlikely. She had her own keys and plus most of the times she did not use the door at all. He looked through the peephole and was surprised to see Leo standing in the doorway.
"Hi," his voice sounded unusually flat and the way he looked reminded Cole of zombie he once had to fight.
"Hi," Cole replied, "What's wrong?"
Leo's lips twisted into a bitter smile, "I have been promoted," he said slowly, "I am now an Elder."
"I see," the half demon shot him a weary look, "Piper did not take the news well."
Bitter smile returned to Leo's face, "No, she did not."
Cole nodded, "Do you want a drink?" he asked.
Leo hesitated for a minute, "Is Nicole home?"
"No," now it was Cole's turn to frown, "She had to go...um," he hesitated, "to meet some acquaintance of hers." He moved away allowing his unexpected guest to come in.
Leo plopped into the comfortable chair and watched Cole pouring a generous dose of scotch into a whisky glass. "Thanks," the whitelighter took a large sip and grimaced not being used to such strong alcohol.
Cole returned to his own chair and they sat in silence for a while. Leo was thinking about what unexpected twists the life could take. His own house was now off limits to him and he was sitting in the living room of the man whom he once considered to be his greatest enemy. Sitting opposite him Cole was desperately wishing that Nicole would come home. She was gone now for a while and he as always was worried. Earlier this evening she had to go to see her warlock relatives and Cole was called in into the meeting with the vampires, so he could not accompany her. Now he was impatiently waiting for Nicole to get back. Leo sighed and Cole snapped out of his thoughts. Leo looked so unhappy and lost that pity touched Cole's heart.
"She'll come round to it, Leo," he said finally, "Just give her time."
The whitelighter smiled sceptically, "You think so? It did not sound like she was ever going to forgive me."
"It was a big shock for her," Cole explained patiently, "She is pregnant so her hormones are going haywire. When you tell her the truth she'll understand."
"You sure?" Leo's voice was full of doubt. "Truth did not help you much with Phoebe." When he realised what he had just said, Leo chocked on his drink and quickly looked up at Cole expecting to see that distant blank look, which in Cole's case always indicated that he was angry.
The half demon stiffened but then shrugged his shoulders and took a sip of his scotch, "It's a different situation," he answered calmly.
Leo looked up at him and the thoughts which were brooding in his head for the past months spilled out, "I am really sorry for what we did to you, Cole," he blurted out. "I wish I could turn back the time but I can't. And I am not asking you for forgiveness here. I just want you to know that I am very sorry and that if I ever can do something for you..." he paused unable to find the right words.
Cole was taken aback by Leo's outburst. He never thought that anyone from the Halliwell household would ever even acknowledge that they were wrong; no matter apologise. He could see in Leo's eyes that this confession got a lot out of the whitelighter. The latter finished his drink in one gulp and got up.
"Thanks for the drink," he said and added quietly, "and support."
He headed to the door when Cole spoke up, "Don't think about it too much, Leo. What you've done is in the past. Present is much more important, you will need all your concentration to fulfil your task, don't let the guilt drug you down." He paused and added with a light smile. "Plus it all ended for the best at least for me."
Leo looked at him in surprise a clear thought forming in his head. He would never be able to understand Cole Turner but would always envy and secretly admire him. Cole's eyes twinkled slightly and his lips twisted into a wry smile as if he had read Leo's thoughts. The half demon lifted his glass, "Good luck, Leo."
The whitelighter nodded and disappeared in a swirl of blue lights.
"Whitelighter Wyatt," Elder Arcan's usually serious face now looked even more solemn, "We summoned you to announce important news. Elder Simon has resigned his position of Head Elder. He felt that he wanted to spend his last years serving the good in a more...er... face to face way. He relinquished his powers and asked to be sent to the mortal realm as a priest and an empath. It is needless to say that his wish was granted."
The Elder paused as if honouring the decision of his ex colleague and Leo had to work really hard to make his face look equally grave since it was a complete opposite of his true feelings. He also knew that it was not only him who was secretly celebrating this departure though maybe due to different reasons. Elder Simon was the most stubborn and conservative member of the whole Council. And that was saying a lot since all the Elders were not known to be the most open minded people. But Elder Simon managed to annoy not only the other whitelighters but the rest of the Council and not once or twice Leo was a witness of heated arguments and fights between him and some of the younger Elders.
"Anyway," Elder Arcan continued and Leo snapped out of his thoughts, "We need a new Elder to join the Council and after discussing it we decided to offer this position to you. You showed yourself a great whitelighter during the last five years working with the Charmed Ones. And recently you proved your ability to think strategically with the whole Grimoire affair. So we feel that you deserved the honour of becoming the Elder."
Leo fell speechless, their plan worked! After he tipped Cole and Nicole about Elder Simon being the most fanatical member of the Council determined to fight evil to the end, they used their mind manipulation skills to convince the old man to retire. Leo was impressed of how easy they achieved the result and a little scared because it showed him how powerful they were. But he still had doubts that they would be able to make him a new Elder and now it looked like they did not even have to do anything.
The Council understood his silence differently and one of the younger Elders spoke up, "We know, Leo, that you have some personal commitments but we would like you to think about the bigger picture. With all the brewing going on in the Underworld your experience would be invaluable for the Council. And this is the best way for you to protect your family and your charges."
The whitelighter lowered his head to hide the glimmer of triumph in his eyes. He thought about being away from Piper and not being there when their son was born. It would be incredibly difficult but if being away from them now was going to save his family in future than it was absolutely worth it. Leo lifted his head and faced the Council, "I want to thank the Council for this honour," he said firmly, "it means a lot to me." He paused and then continued, "I also would like to thank you for understanding that it's a difficult decision for me since it would mean leaving my family." The Elders eyes expressed concern and several of them shook their heads in defeat. Leo hold a long pause and then said calmly, "At the same time I know that my destiny is to serve the Powers to Be in any way they deem fit and therefore I accept your offer and swear that I would do my utter best serving the forces of Good as a member of the Elders Council."
The sheer relief was obvious on the faces of the Elder's Council as they welcomed their new member. When the details of the move were discussed Leo orbed out to break the news to his family and to spend the last evening with them.
He found Piper in their bedroom. She was taking a nap before dinner. He did not want to wake her up and just lied down on the bed looking at her peaceful face trying to memorize each line. He did not know how long they stayed like this. Piper stirred slightly and opened her eyes. She saw Leo's face just a few inches away and smiled at him. It was a long time since she woke up and he was next to her.
"Hi," she greeted, "how long have you been here?"
He smiled back at her, "Not very long," he said, "at least I did not notice, time just flew by as it always does when I am with you."
Piper smiled at him warmly and moved closer so she could kiss him. They pulled away and she looked at her husband's eyes and immediately became alert. She knew him too well not to notice the sadness in his eyes.
"Leo," Piper put her hand on his chest, "What's going on? What's wrong?"
He hesitated for a moment but then decided to dive into the deep end. "Elder Simon has left the Council," he said quietly, "And they offered me to replace him."
Piper's eyes widened as she worriedly searched her husband's face, "What did they say when you refused," she asked urgently, "did they clip your wings? Is that why you are so early?"
Guilt shot through Leo's heart and his face reflected this feeling, "I did not refuse," he said quietly. "I accepted their proposal."
She could not believe what she'd heard. She set up on the bed and stared at her husband in disbelief. "You accepted," she repeated slowly, "what do you mean you accepted? What about me, us?"
Leo sighed, "I know it is difficult to accept Piper, but I have to do it. It's my destiny. I swore to serve the Powers to Be and now they require me to become the Elder. I can't refuse."
"You can't refuse?" Piper yelled, "Oh, yes you can. We are a family Leo, we are expecting a child. That must mean something, even to Them." She looked up and then fixed him with a glare. "Now you get your butt up there and tell them that you are going to stay here."
Leo shook his head, "I am really sorry, Piper. I can't do this, I have already promised."
"But you can do this to me?" she shrieked, "After everything I've done for you. For years I've been a patient wife, living with your constant orbing out at any time of day and night to see your Elders and your charges, coping with not having a normal life. And now you are going to just leave me and our child so you can fulfil your bloody destiny?!"
Her words hit Leo hard, it was painful to see how hurt she was and was even more painful to be unable to tell her the truth. "Piper, please," his eyes looked at her pleadingly, "try to understand, I am not leaving you. I love you more than ever and I love our baby. But I have to do this for your safety, for the safety of our baby and your sisters. I will be watching over you and our child every day and every minute. As an Elder I will be able to protect you much better than I can now. And one day, maybe, when the time is right I will be able to return to you. But in order for this times to come I need to go now and fulfil my destiny."
He spoke with passion hoping that his words would reach her heart but he was mistaken. Piper seared him with a deadly glare and climbed out of bed. "Don't you dare talk about your destiny," she hissed angrily. "What about my destiny? Or the destiny of our child? What am I suppose to tell our baby? That dad dumped us to fulfil his destiny? Jeez Leo, what did you think before? You told me you wanted children. And now you are just going to turn your back to us and leave me to be a single mother?!"
Her accusations were like arrows flying into his body and the stress of the last months spilled out. Leo lost control, "Do you think I like that?" he yelled, "Do you think that I enjoy not being here when my son is born? Not being able to see his first smile? Not being able to share this happiness with you? I will give my life to be able to stay, but I can't. I have to do this. I don't have a choice, Piper."
"Or yes, you do," she shouted back, "Go to the Elders and tell them that you are not doing this. And if they clip your wings - fine. We'll manage without them. I will strip my powers and we can finally lead a normal life."
Leo's shoulders sagged and he silently shook his head, "I can't do it, Piper," he whispered, "I just can't."
Her brown eyes sparkled with anger, "Than it means you don't love me," she said in a steely voice, "At least not enough."
Tears stood in Leo's eyes, "I love you more than the words could say," he said in a choked voice, "more than life itself. And that's why I have to go."
The knock on the door interrupted them and Paige's head picked in, "I am sorry, guys," she said guiltily, "but you were yelling so loud that me and Phoebe heard everything."
Phoebe's head appeared behind her, "Yes, and we think we deserve to be a part of this conversation, it concerns all of us."
"How does it concern you?" Piper was not in the mood for sisterly moment, "is it your husband who's leaving you seven months pregnant so he can fulfil his destiny?"
"He is our whitelighter," Paige answered," our lives depend on him so it concerns us if he's not going to be here."
Leo raised his hand interrupting her, "You'll get a new whitelighter. It will be the first thing to be arranged. The Elders already have some candidates and tomorrow when I arrive there I will make the final choice."
"Tomorrow," Piper repeated in disbelief, "you are going tomorrow?"
Leo squirmed uncomfortably, "Yes, I am starting tomorrow morning."
"For how long have you known?" Phoebe asked suspiciously.
"I just found out an hour ago," he answered simply. "I came here to explain everything and spend the last night with Piper and you guys. We probably would not see each other for a while."
A bitter laugh interrupted him, Piper's eyes sparkled furiously, her lips twisting into an angry smile, "How touching," she hissed, "you came to spend the last night with your wife. Maybe have some sex as well? I don't think Elders get a lot of that. But let me tell you, honey, I am not in the mood." She raised her hand and Leo exploded in a shower of blue swirls. He rematerialized on the same spot a minute later and looked at her in shock.
"Piper..." he started.
"Don't piper me," she yelled. "It won't help. Not now when you chose your destiny over me and our baby."
"I am not choosing anything over you," he shouted back, "Don't you understand that leaving you tares me apart? I am doing this to safe you, to prevent horrible things from happening. I can't tell you what they are but can you please just trust me on this one?"
She did not say anything and hope flared at Leo's heart. "Please Piper, just trust me," he repeated looking at her pleadingly.
"What are those horrible things?" Paige piped in.
Leo swirled around and shot angrily, "Paige, it's none of your business. Can you please just leave me and Piper alone?"
"Don't lash out on my sister," Piper glared at her husband. "She had all the rights to ask this question. And I have all the rights to demand an answer."
Leo shook his head, "I can't tell you," he said. "I am sorry."
Piper snorted, "One of the Elders' secrets. I am so sick of it."
"Come on, Leo," Phoebe urged. "You can tell us anything."
Leo heaved a frustrated sigh, "I can't," he said shaking his head. "Can't you guys just trust me?"
"Hey," Piper cried out, "Don't put this on us. You are the one who says he has to go and does not even want to tell us why."
"But I told you I can't," he yelled totally frustrated. "If I could I would but it's not up to me. You are the most important thing in my life. I risked my life for you, I broke rules for you, I went against my beliefs for you. Don't you know me well enough to accept that I don't have a choice?"
"There is always a choice, Leo." Piper answered coldly. "You are just not willing to take it."
It was now his turn to stare at her in disbelief. He then turned around and saw Paige and Phoebe. They looked at him with accusing eyes and he realised that he was not going to get the understanding he was hoping for. Tiredness and despair hit him. He turned back to face Piper again, "I am sorry I hurt you," he said slowly, "God is my witness I have never meant to. You are my life, Piper, I love you with all my heart. But I have to do this so that all of us here have a future. In time you will be able to understand and, hopefully, forgive me." He looked at her, hope still flattering in his heart but there was nothing but sheer anger in her face.
"Get out, Leo," she said coldly, "I don't want to see you ever again."
The hope was squashed and his shoulders sagged in defeat. Leo lowered his head and orbed out. The moment the blue swirls died down Piper collapsed on the bed crying, her sisters rushing to comfort her.
Leo orbed outside the Manor. He stayed there for a few moments to make sure that Piper and the baby were okay. Sitting on the pavement he waited till she fell asleep and then shot a long look at the manor before orbing away.
The knock on the front door made Cole put his papers away. He went to the door hoping it was Nicole, though his mind told him that it was unlikely. She had her own keys and plus most of the times she did not use the door at all. He looked through the peephole and was surprised to see Leo standing in the doorway.
"Hi," his voice sounded unusually flat and the way he looked reminded Cole of zombie he once had to fight.
"Hi," Cole replied, "What's wrong?"
Leo's lips twisted into a bitter smile, "I have been promoted," he said slowly, "I am now an Elder."
"I see," the half demon shot him a weary look, "Piper did not take the news well."
Bitter smile returned to Leo's face, "No, she did not."
Cole nodded, "Do you want a drink?" he asked.
Leo hesitated for a minute, "Is Nicole home?"
"No," now it was Cole's turn to frown, "She had to go...um," he hesitated, "to meet some acquaintance of hers." He moved away allowing his unexpected guest to come in.
Leo plopped into the comfortable chair and watched Cole pouring a generous dose of scotch into a whisky glass. "Thanks," the whitelighter took a large sip and grimaced not being used to such strong alcohol.
Cole returned to his own chair and they sat in silence for a while. Leo was thinking about what unexpected twists the life could take. His own house was now off limits to him and he was sitting in the living room of the man whom he once considered to be his greatest enemy. Sitting opposite him Cole was desperately wishing that Nicole would come home. She was gone now for a while and he as always was worried. Earlier this evening she had to go to see her warlock relatives and Cole was called in into the meeting with the vampires, so he could not accompany her. Now he was impatiently waiting for Nicole to get back. Leo sighed and Cole snapped out of his thoughts. Leo looked so unhappy and lost that pity touched Cole's heart.
"She'll come round to it, Leo," he said finally, "Just give her time."
The whitelighter smiled sceptically, "You think so? It did not sound like she was ever going to forgive me."
"It was a big shock for her," Cole explained patiently, "She is pregnant so her hormones are going haywire. When you tell her the truth she'll understand."
"You sure?" Leo's voice was full of doubt. "Truth did not help you much with Phoebe." When he realised what he had just said, Leo chocked on his drink and quickly looked up at Cole expecting to see that distant blank look, which in Cole's case always indicated that he was angry.
The half demon stiffened but then shrugged his shoulders and took a sip of his scotch, "It's a different situation," he answered calmly.
Leo looked up at him and the thoughts which were brooding in his head for the past months spilled out, "I am really sorry for what we did to you, Cole," he blurted out. "I wish I could turn back the time but I can't. And I am not asking you for forgiveness here. I just want you to know that I am very sorry and that if I ever can do something for you..." he paused unable to find the right words.
Cole was taken aback by Leo's outburst. He never thought that anyone from the Halliwell household would ever even acknowledge that they were wrong; no matter apologise. He could see in Leo's eyes that this confession got a lot out of the whitelighter. The latter finished his drink in one gulp and got up.
"Thanks for the drink," he said and added quietly, "and support."
He headed to the door when Cole spoke up, "Don't think about it too much, Leo. What you've done is in the past. Present is much more important, you will need all your concentration to fulfil your task, don't let the guilt drug you down." He paused and added with a light smile. "Plus it all ended for the best at least for me."
Leo looked at him in surprise a clear thought forming in his head. He would never be able to understand Cole Turner but would always envy and secretly admire him. Cole's eyes twinkled slightly and his lips twisted into a wry smile as if he had read Leo's thoughts. The half demon lifted his glass, "Good luck, Leo."
The whitelighter nodded and disappeared in a swirl of blue lights.