"Come on." He said. "You need to rest." He began to gently and unassumingly unbutton Piper's top. They were at home in their bedroom.

"Leo" Piper whined slightly. She needed to get more work done.

He finished unbuttoning her shirt and slowly slipped it off. She stood there sulking at him while he fished for one of her nightgowns in her drawer.

"Come on." He smiled and laid a small kiss on her lips. "Arms up." She grinned at the parental tone in his voice and dramatically raised her arms up.

Leo smiled as he pulled her nightgown over her head. It was moments like these that she acted normal. As she adjusted her gown and began to take off her jeans he gazed at her: his beautiful wife. Her hair fell over her eyes as she sat down on the bed and leaned down to take her heels off. As she leaned forward his eyes drifted down her loose top. Her abundant breasts peeked at him through the thin cotton. Piper had never been quite as well-endowed in the bust as her sisters (not that he cared) but this pregnancy had changed that. They were full and firm and he was definitely not complaining. She looked up at him as she finished taking off her shoes. He was staring at her. She smiled.

"Hmm." She moaned slightly as she rubbed her feet. Already, this early on her feet had started swelling. She had been on her feet too much this week and her ankles were beginning feel the strain.

"Here." Leo said and kneeled on the floor in front of her. Piper smiled as Leo took her foot in his hand and began caressing and massaging her sore arch and ankle. His fingers gently pressed against the strained muscles and he carefully eased the tension in her foot. Piper found herself closing her eyes and enjoying the moment. His hands were working wonders on her discomfort and she could feel herself relaxing under his touch. He slowly gave his attention to her other foot. He looked up and saw her, her chin slightly tilted upwards and her eyes closed, a very slight smile on her face. She looked serene. So beautiful. Finally, after he had worked his non-magical healing touch on her he slid his hands up her legs and hooked his fingers inside the waist of her jeans. She lifted her hips off the bed and he slid her jeans down off of her smooth thighs, her shapely calves and off of her aching feet. He stood up, reached for her hands and pulled her into a standing position in front of him. Without shoes she was even tinier. She looked up at him. He leaned down and kissed her softly on her lips. He breathed in her scent. She was amazing. Her eyes fluttered open as he broke the languid kiss and she half-smiled up at him. She loved him. She truly did. No matter how she felt about Cole, and she felt a lot, she knew it didn't diminish her love for Leo. He led her to edge of the bed, pulled back the sheets and guided her under the covers. As she lay down on her side he sat on the edge of her bed and held her hand. He gazed down at his beautiful wife and kissed her on her forehead.

"Sleep tight." He whispered in her ear. "Don't worry about dinner." She smiled as his warm breath stroked her cheek. He started to get up and she clung to his hand.

"Stay with me?" she asked softly. Her big golden-brown eyes lovingly asking him for his company. Leo smiled sadly. He wanted to. He wanted to stay with her more than anything. To hold her as she slept. To feel her warm body next to his. He shook his head.

"I can't baby." He whispered painfully and motioned towards the ceiling to indicate a call from the Elders. They'd been 'jingling' all the way home and he had been ignoring them all he could but their calls were getting more persistent. She nodded her head. This was how it was with Leo. She knew it wasn't his fault. It was his job. His incredibly important job but that didn't mean she had to like the fact that he was constantly being called away. He lovingly brushed away a lock of glossy hair away from her forehead. She closed her eyes.

"I love you." He whispered, as he orbed out. She wrapped the covers around her tighter. "I love you too." She breathed as she drifted off to sleep.