Disclaimer: Just an update for you…I still don't own Charmed!

A/N: Sorry it's been so long since the last update…and sorry if this is not what you expect…but I really can't be bothered with all the slow day-to-day crap…so I'm mainly just gonna write what I need to write to get the point across. Okay?


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"Leo's here?" Prue said, after Phoebe had just told her and Paige about what had happened.

"Yes…"

"You mean Leo, Leo? As in…Piper's husband…our brother-in-law, Melly's father…"

"Yes Prue I do mean that Leo."

"Whoa…" Prue said as she collapsed onto the sofa, she was already meant to be sitting on.

"No, no, no, no, no, no…you can not just tell us that Leo is here, and we just so happen to be witches…" Paige fumed getting up and pacing back and forth.

"Hate to break to ya…but I just did honey."

"Phoebe!" Paige snapped. "What the hell have you turned us into?" Paige yelled as she stormed up the stairs to her room.

&

A couple of months later the girls were getting used to the idea of being witches, and were actually comfortable with the thought of living with their dead brother-in-law. So far the four sisters had vanquished a few demons and were just about getting the hang of it.

"Hey baby," Piper said softly as she lifted a fourteen month old Melinda out of her crib.

"Mamma!" The toddler grinned smiling and hugging her mother.

"Hey beautiful, how are my two girls?" Leo said wrapping his arms round Piper.

"Dadda!" Melinda greeted her father.

"Hey there daddy, we're good." Piper said handing her daughter over to Leo so that she could get ready.

When Piper returned from getting ready for the day, Leo had that look on his face, saying he'd just been called.

"I'm sorry honey," Leo said handing Melinda over and kissing Piper's forehead before orbing away. Piper sighed as the last of Leo's orbs disappeared.

"Mel, it's unfair, I know…he always does that," Piper said holding her daughter close, before leaving her room.

Piper and Mel arrived in the kitchen to see all three of her sisters in there.

"Morning all." Piper said before collapsing onto one of the chairs. Phoebe instantly took Melinda from her and started cooing over her niece.

Piper sighed and then put her head onto the table in a frustrated way.

"What's wrong sis?" Prue said realising Piper seemed less happy than usual.

"I wish I had a normal life!" Piper complained, "It's not that I don't like my life…it's just UGH!"

"Aww, honey-you have the most normal life out of all of us." Paige said.

"Leo?" Prue guessed.

"Yeah," Piper paused, "It just feels like he's never here, and he's only ever here for not very long…is it really too much to ask to want just one un-interrupted day with him? I feel like one of these days, he's not gonna be here when we really need him…or not until it's too late. I just want it to be like it used to be, when we were normal…when he was by my side…where I need him…" Piper said as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Aw Piper, have you talked to him about this?" Prue asked as she moved to hug her sister.

"No…I don't want it to push us apart anymore…"

"Piper honey, if you don't talk to him about it, it'll probably get worse…just talk to Leo. He'll understand, probably feels the same way." Phoebe said sympathetically.

"Okay, I'll try talking to him tonight…if he gets home…" Piper said taking a sip of the coffee placed in front of her.

Later that night:

"Leo?" Piper whispered as they lay on the sofa.

"Yeah?"

"Umm…I think we need to talk…" Piper said nervously.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I dunno…It's just…is it really to much to ask to have a normal family? I feel like, you're hardly ever here, and when you are you're always being called away…I just wanna spend ONE un-interrupted day with you. I want things to be like they used to…"

"You think we're drifting apart?" Leo asked

"No…yes…maybe, I don't know. It's hard…"

"Piper honey, look at me…" Leo said. There was silence for a moment as the couple looked into each others eyes. "We are not drifting apart, life's tough, my job's hard, I know I'm often getting called away but I can assure you 99 of the time I never want to leave you, not for a moment. It would be nice to just have one more day like it used to be, but that's not going to happen, it doesn't matter how much we want it to, but it just won't happen." He kissed her forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too." Piper said just as they hear a clatter and crash from above them. "Oh crap! See what I mean about an un-interrupted day…" Piper said as the couple stood up and raced up the stairs.

"Yeah," Leo sighed unhappily.

&

Months passed, but no matter how hard they tried, neither Piper nor Leo could manage to get their relationship back to how it used to be. The last thing either of them wanted was to lose each other, or Melinda. However, Piper realised there was no way round it this time. How much longer would it take? She couldn't just sit and wait for Leo; she loved him with all her heart, but it just doesn't work like that.

In the end, she came to a decision. A difficult one, a painful one…but one that she knew she had to do. There was no other way. Yes, it would hurt everyone in the short term. It would save them all from so much pain in the future, especially Melinda. Piper was determined, and no-one could change her mind.

&


A/N: Okay, so I'm a bad author…I know, I leave you guys hanging for…months, but I've had writer's block and been dealing with a load of other stuff. Amazingly I managed to find the time to finish this off, and with the help of an old notepad will get started on the next chapter right away. Prepare to be shocked and bring a tissue with you to the next reading session:P