Once More Before Closing
Piper and Leo talk at P3 following the events of "Once in a Blue Moon". One shot. Possible spoilers for those who haven't seen up to 7x06
Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed. If I did, well, then I'd own Charmed! ------That was a good one, wasn't it? haha
Chapter 1
Piper finished wiping down the counter at P3 at closing time, the events of that day heavy on her mind. Leo had left her again, his one desire to protect her from whatever demons, both physical and emotional, that he was fighting. Every day, Piper could feel Leo slipping farther away from her. He was stuck in his own world of murder, confusion, and insanity. Oftentimes, Piper would try to wonder how it had come to pass that her once pacifist lover and best friend in this world had become so lost.
Piper shook the thoughts from her mind and continued cleaning up. It was getting late and she didn't want to keep Paige and Phoebe busy watching the kids. She was so engrossed in her cleaning that she didn't hear the door open and the footsteps on the stairs. Until she turned around, that is.
"Oh my God. Leo,you scared me!" she exclaimed, dropping her rag.
"Oh, sorry," Leo said. "I didn't mean to."
"What are you doing here?" Piper asked.
"I thought maybe we could talk," Leo said.
"And I thought you were leaving," Piper said, turning her back to Leo.
"Yeah, that's what I wanted to talk to you about," Leo said sheepishly. "We weren't really on good terms when I left."
"That was your decision," Piper said. "I was ready to get my family back and maybe have a small semblance of a life, but then you leave me again."
"It's not like I have a choice in this," Leo said. "I'm looking out for you and the boys. I don't know what I'd do if something were to happen to any of you."
"You're not in this fight alone, Leo," Piper said. "I've been trying to save you from this hell you've created for yourself."
"Have you ever considered that maybe you're not supposed to save me?" Leo asked. "Maybe this isn't about you and your sisters, for once. This is my fight. You have your demons, I have mine."
"What happened to us?" Piper asked, walking over to him. " Even when 'They' tore us apart, things kept forcing us closer and closer together, but now, you drift away every time it seems we might get close again. You're lost. I get that. But you've got someone who loves you and two little boys who look up to you for guidance. Isn't that enough to keep you with us?"
"I don't know where my place is anymore," Leo said. "Good, evil, it's all just a big haze now."
"Your place is with me," Piper said. "We belong together."
Leo put a hand to Piper's face and stroked her cheek. He looked in her sad eyes and saw all that he'd missed of his old life. All the emotions from that past came flooding back as their lips met in a soft kiss, the first they'd had in what felt like forever. When they separated, Piper gave Leo a small smile.
"Why don't we go for a walk?" Leo asked. "Give us a chance to talk a little more."
"Okay," Piper said. "Just let me lock up first."
"Alright," Leo said. "I'll meet you outside."
Piper watched Leo walk up the stairs and went to get her jacket and keys. As she turned off the light and walked up the stairs, she thought that perhaps she'd gotten a little farther on the road to reconciliation and acceptance. Only time would tell.
The End