The praise and good wishes were pouring in from all sources now, as grateful elders, who yesterday barely dained to remember his name, seemed to be queuing up to mentally express their thanks. It felt good. But more importantly it felt right

Chris had told him to act like an elder and he had. It had come so very naturally, wearing the robes, conferring with the various magical leaders, arranging the safe houses, devising protection, organising resistance, all so very easy and natural. Unrestricted by petty whitelighter rules and family ties he'd soared, fulfilling a potential to do good on a level he could have never before imagined and a part of him recognised that he was born for this. He loved his family and caring for Wyatt was a joy, but he now knew how much he missed this other magical life independent of the Manor. A life where he was not Piper's husband, Wyatt's father or even the Charmed One's Whitelighter, he was simply Leo and for the first time he appreciated exactly how big his career sacrifice had been.

Yet despite this, throughout everything, he remained aware of Piper, her racing mind and anxieties, the hurt she felt was a constant ache. Her hold over him never wavered and every time she called his name he had to fight the urge to drop everything and run to her, but fight he did, believing in the sisters totally he thought it was the one place he was not needed but time was running out and they had still not faced the Titans.

Something had to be done. He sent instructions down to Chris and watched with anxiety as the sister's went to save Roland. They could do this; if they focused and used their powers they could do this. Now if Piper just channelled her emotions to…… "NO!"

"LEO!"

Terrified he orbed them to safety. Hell, that was close. One second more and he'd have lost them again, with no second chances this time. He sat down, feeling sick. Should potential elders feel sick? What the hell were they playing at? Why couldn't they see how important this was? He was furious now, what stupid, pointless, reckless danger they were putting themselves and everyone else in by refusing to take this seriously. He listened to their exchange in the Sanctuary and Piper's demand to talk to him.

Didn't she realise how much he wanted to, how hard this was for him. Frustrated he shouted back. Then staggered as her returning roar shook the heavens. Why did she have to make it so hard? Why wouldn't she see that he couldn't just drop everything and come running because she demanded it, he was needed here. There was so much at stake and he was doing everything that he could, why couldn't she just help him?

Was he conscious? How far had he come from the future? Whitelighters spent so little consecutive time on earth that they rarely aged, but this one could have been 90. Gideon looked compassionately at the gaunt, drawn face and noticed him stir.

"My boy, good to see you. Here, let me help you up."

"No. I'm fine, leave me alone. I SAID I'M FINE!" Gideon found himself flying backwards through the air before he crashed, winded, into a bookcase. He lay there for a moment fighting for breath, defenceless as very old and very heavy volumes rained down on him. Too shocked to be angry, all he could think was, this can't be Leo?

Still dazed, he struggled to his feet, roughly assisted by the slightly shame faced whitelighter. "I said I was fine. We don't need anyone's help."

Gideon was struck by the lack of apology and the alarming use of "we". Was there someone else here or was Leo….?. Anxious, Gideon looked closely at his old friend's face, relieved to see only exhaustion there. "Leo are you OK, has anything…its Piper isn't it…Is she, is she dead?"

For some reason this touched a nerve and Leo flared up instantly, rage filling his face. "WHO TOLD YOU? The sneaky conniving bastards, they've sent someone else haven't they? I told them I would handle this. I even came to see you first as a show of good faith. This is nothing to do with them or you. Its our problem, mine and Piper's and we will sort it out."

"Leo, calm down. Its me Gideon, I'm not the enemy. I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about but no one has been here, I merely guessed. I., well lets just say I'm recognising a pattern here."

Leo, slightly embarrassed by his over reaction, made an effort to become more composed and in doing so looked much more like the man Gideon knew. ""Right….right. I'm sorry Gideon its, well its just things have been a bit hard."

Feeling things were on a slightly less rocky ground Gideon took a chance and continued; " Is that what you're here for, to save her?"

"No…yes …no sort of…its….well its.. Its just complicated."

He sat down wearily. "Things are bad Gideon, really bad and….look I can't tell you everything, I'm just here to see Piper. If you really want to help all I need you to do is to contact my present self and keep him away until we're done talking." He got up suddenly. "Why doesn't he just answer her fucking call already?"

"Who?" Gideon looked around, now totally confused.

"Leo….me…past me. The Jerk. Can't he tell how worried she is? She's been calling him all day and its killing me. What the hell is wrong with him?"

Gideon was far from convinced that allowing his obviously emotionally volatile friend from the future to wander around in the present would be in anyone's best interests. Trying hard not to provoke him more he said in his most placatory tone "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

To his relief Leo remained calm and said with a tired smile, "I know what you're thinking and I realise how this must appear to you, but I'm here with yours and the Council's support. Look, I even have a letter from you. You said that you wouldn't believe that if I didn't have proof. Looks like you were right."

"Actually, after the events of today I'm finding it increasingly difficult to be surprised by anything I do or will condone." He took the envelope, immediately recognising his own rather elegant copperplate writing. Breaking the seal he read the contents and became lost in thought. He didn't speak for some time, causing Leo to become increasingly suspicious, unable to restrain himself any longer he blurted, "What does it say? Does it mention Wyatt? Because it was an accident, he didn't…"

Gideon interrupted quickly before Leo could work himself up again. "Its fine, it just mentions that Wyatt is causing some difficulties in the future and you've returned, with the Council's blessings, to try and prevent this. It says I should make this my top priority. Given the current situation here I was merely pondering the best way to go about that." He carefully folded the letter up and put it in his jacket pocket then in a unperturbed manner continued,

"Unfortunately, you can't see Piper at the moment, quite apart from your current attire, which may I say is unlikely to make a favourable impression on her."

Leo looked down uncertainly at his scruffy clothes. He smiled. "No, it won't." then glamoured into something more respectable.

"Much Better." Although privately Gideon was thinking that it had done nothing to remove the bloodshot eyes and haunted demeanour. "However, that does nothing to resolve our other problem namely, Piper is currently a goddess."

"She's a what!" To Gideon's surprise Leo was obviously amazed.

"A Goddess." He paused before adding slowly "Don't you remember, you made the Charmed Ones goddesses…..to defeat the Titans….When you were an elder."

"An elder? Me? No, no you've got it wrong this never happened, non of it."

"But it has happened, is happening." Realising that the conversation was going no where Gideon stopped and tried a different tack "So the Titans didn't attack in your past?"

"No they did and the Charmed Ones vanquished them, well sort of, but no one was made a Goddess.. After the elder massacre we regrouped for a while. Then using glamouring and shape shifting spells we managed to exploit their divisions, in the end they destroyed themselves".

"Then this is serious. Your presence here must have changed things. When did you arrive and with whom have you spoken?"

"No one. I've been here a few hours, but I haven't seen anyone, I've been on the bridge, thinking things through. I was alone the whole time."

He was so obviously sincere that Gideon believed him. "Well it can't be helped now. Until this is resolved you cannot see her and if I may suggest Leo you might best serve your cause in the mean time by getting some sleep. Your usual room is available." Expecting this to end the matter he turned away.

"No."

"I beg your pardon?"

"No. I will not go nicely to my room and wait until the Elders tell me that I am allowed to see my wife." This time his tone was calm but there was no mistaking the cold fury that bubbled inside him.

But didn't you hear me? Piper is a goddess. She may well be instrumental in vanquishing the Titans. It's a threat that affects thousands of lives, the very magical world as we know it, for you to distract her now could well jeopardise all of that."

"I don't care. The Titans are your problem. They are not mine and not Piper's, or won't be, not when I've explained things to her. I think you will find from now on OUR only problem will be OUR family. You people are unreal. This never stops. The world ending threats just keep on coming and you just keep on taking until there is nothing left for you to take. Well it stops now. Not after this disaster or the next one, now. You might as well find some other family to destroy because nothing will ever come before US again".

Hetried to orb out, but instead fell lifeless to the floor, blasted by an electric bolt from his mentor. Gideon quickly checked his pulse and was relieved to find one."I'm so sorry Le."

Miserably he pulled out the letter and re read it.

"Oh no, Gideon no surprises there at all."