A/N: I didn't run through this one, so I apologize beforehand for any spelling and/or grammar mistakes. Anyway, here's Chapter 6. Enjoy.
Piper placed the candles in a circle in the attic and stepped back after lighting them. She recited the usual spell to bring her sisters to earth and waited a moment.
Prue and Phoebe appeared and looked around. "Thank you."
"Fine, fine, 'cause I'm going back tomorrow."
"What? Why? For how long?"
"Um... Yeah, because you guys are here, and they need me over there, and for a week," Piper said. She nodded.
"We've only got a week?" Prue protested.
"No, you've got a month here on earth," Piper said.
"Oh, good! We've been gone long enough. Only here--"
"Prue, we all know. Only here for long enough to keep our jobs and to go to work everyday."
Prue glared at Piper, who hugged her and left. "Hmm..."
"What's with you?" Phoebe asked.
"Nothing," Prue said quickly.
"Oh, Prue, we've got a month! Please, please, please lighten up!" Phoebe said to her sister.
"It's not me..." Prue said slowly. She snapped out of her trance and looked at Phoebe. "So where do you want to go first?"
"Um..."
Piper walked along the bicycle path in the park. Looking to make sure no one was watching, she called quietly, "Leo!"
He orbed in, noticing worry in her voice. "What is it?"
"I'm going back tomorrow."
"For how long?"
"A week."
Leo thought about it. "It's fine. Go. I'll see you in a week."
"Thanks." Piper smiled. "So... would this mean we're friends?" she asked timidly after a short silence between them.
"Yeah... I guess so."
"I can see the headlines already... 'Witch from the First House of Good and evil whitelighter from the First House of Evil become friends.'" Piper smiled, emphasizing on the words 'evil whitelighter' to inject more drama into the words than necessary.
They both laughed.
"I'll see you in a week, okay?"
"Ten months, Leo," Piper reminded him.
"I know." Leo looked at Piper, as she stared back at him. They held the gaze for a long minuet before Leo orbed out quickly.
Piper cursed herself. She was letting herself like Leo. He was doing the same. That couldn't happen. It just couldn't. If it did, they would be in a world of trouble.
The next day, Piper said goodbye to her sisters and was sent back to her House. Chris, Brooke, Faith, Nicholas, Patty, and Penny greeted her.
"Hi, honey," Patty said.
"Hi, Mom. How've you all been?"
"We've been getting by."
Piper hung out with her friends and family, enjoying their company. They talked about the marriage, and what could be done. Piper hardly said anything about it. She could blow up about it on Leo.
"Any news from the other side?" Piper asked.
"Well, Leo's been gone a lot from his House, but they're not too concerned."
"...Why not?" Piper asked Chris cautiously.
"Well, because every time he comes back, he's got a story. And it checks out every time, too."
"Oh..."
A week later, Piper's sisters summoned her. In her seven days, there hadn't been much time for training, but she had enough training with Leo, so the lost time in her House would definitely be made up for on Earth.
Piper said goodbye to her mother and Grams, Chris and Brooke, and Nick and Faith.
"Hey!" Prue called, coming up to the bar.
"Hey, Prue. What're you up to?"
"Not much. Think I could get a drink?" Prue asked.
"Yeah, hang on a sec." Piper turned away for a second and turned back around with two drinks. She handed one to her sister and kept the other. "Where's Phoebe?" Piper asked.
"At home. Still studying."
"Another all-nighter?"
"Yeah..." Prue sighed.
"She wants the degree. Don't worry, Prue."
"Worried? Who's worried?" Prue asked.
"Hey, Prue, got a date here?" Piper teased as someone came down the stairs and into P3. Piper had just been guessing. She figured if he wasn't Prue's date, she'd take him.
"Huh? Oh! Yes, yes I do! Excuse me, please..." Prue smiled and went up to the man, who then seemed to be looking for her. Piper couldn't believe she'd been right.
Piper locked up late and headed home. She crawled into bed and fell asleep quickly. The next morning, she woke late. Noticing her sisters weren't home, Piper checked for notes. Prue was at work and Phoebe was in class.
Taking advantage of the time alone, Piper decided to call Leo. See what he was doing.
"Leo!" He orbed in, looking a little tired. She, despite her best efforts to push her feelings away, was immediately worried. "What's wrong?" she asked instinctively.
"Nothing," he answered quickly.
Piper wasn't convinced. She moved forward a step toward Leo. His shirt was dirty and looked as if there were tears from numerous energy balls hitting him. "Leo..." Piper started.
She reached out and took his hand to pull him away to the couch. She sat next to him. She'd been holding the top of his hand, and when she put her hand under his, she noted how rough it was. From working and training, Piper told herself.
Leo leaned against the back of the couch and sighed. His hands hurt from the fireballs and energy balls he'd been throwing. Dodging and diving from the same things while throwing them made it hard to move, he was so sore. And getting hit by them wasn't any help, either. A power Leo had learned over the years was how to absorb powers, and he could do the same with energy and fireballs. But it went into his hands sometimes, and sometimes scorched them. To top it off, sometimes it didn't heal magically, either.
"Are you okay?" Piper asked cautiously.
"No," Leo answered, instead of the quick "yes".
"You wanna tell me?" she asked quietly.
"...Anackalen and Decima... But it's nothing, really..."
"What is it, Leo?" Piper asked, firmer this time.
"They're a little suspicious... Had me training and fighting them all night and morning..."
"Why don't I think that's it?"
Leo took a breath. "...I uh...Killed a couple of demons a few days ago... No one's connected me, and I really didn't want--" he stopped short. "Um... Didn't have a choice... I'd known them for so long..."
"Leo, it's a sacrifice. I've made them, and now it's your turn."
"It's hard."
"It gets worse," Piper assured him.
"Gee, thanks."
But Piper's expression softened. She knew it was hard for him. It'd been hard for her, too, to stay good. It was a never-ending battle
Instead of pursuing the issue though, she pulled Leo up in a hug. Not an unthinkable move; she was comforting a friend.
After a moment, she pulled away, a little hesitantly, and very slowly. Her face turned red.
"I..." she started, not sure what to say.
But Leo saved her the trouble of apologizing and orbed out.
A/N: Seven is about the same length, so if you didn't like how long this is, then poo poo for you. I liked it, and that's enough for me. Eight, however is short, and I haven't started Chapter Nine yet. I'm beginning to catch up with myself! Oh no, I think!