A/N: I know, I know I haven't updated like I promised I would. But I am now and I hope all of you will enjoy this delayed but final chapter. You all have been just wonderful sticking with this especially with all the delays. So my special thanks goes out to: heather1021, Dream.of.Rainy.Days-X,foureverCharmed,halli-halliwell,Lamarquise,HollyShadow,Kcdancer,xXxGemzxXx,PiperandLeoFan101,de-anneiapurplemonkey,cheese and nicole812us.

Side notes/ Lamarquise to your question about the Elders forcing Leo and the whole Free Well thing….I struggled with that but I figured they went against his free will when he wanted to date Piper to begin with so I figured the Elders are a fickle bunch and will dictate what Whitelighters can and cannot do when they choose to. Hope that clears things us.

Chapter Eight

The girls had stationed themselves behind one of the large marble columns which filled the main hall. They were back far enough to hide in the shadows but able to see everything. The room was filling up fast with the wedding guests and they were amazed to see all that had been done in a relatively short period of time. There were flowers everywhere and a long red carpet had been placed on the floor leading from the doorway to the far end of the room. There a makeshift alter had been constructed. More flowers where placed on white pedestals and large swatches of brightly colored silks were used as a backdrop. However considering what was about to take place, the sisters could not appreciate the effort.

When all the guests had been seated soft music began to play and all heads turned as Leo entered the room. Many guest curious about the man who was to wed what many considered their princess. Keeping his eyes trained ahead of him, Leo made his way down the red carpet toward what would be his new life. As he past where the girls were hiding, he paused just a moment as if he knew they were there. His eyes briefly searched the area as he continued on his trek.

Piper pressed deeper into the shadows as Leo went by. He looked so handsome all in white. The temptation to go to him and relieve his anxiety was so great, but they had to wait for the right time. Instead she silently watched his retreating back, secure in the knowledge that her and her sister's would prevail.

The music changed as it announced the arrival of the bride. Dressed in a beautiful white gown with tiny pearls threaded through the full skirt. The whiteness of the dress contrasted starkly with Nala's dark complexion. Her dark hair had been pulled up and delicate gauze veil covered her face. All in all she presented a lovely picture, but the Charmed One's knew what lie beneath the beauty and planned to expose it soon.

Nala's eyes never left Leo's as she approached, however his stayed fixed on the front of the alter. As the ceremony proceeded the sister's were surprised it would be a wiccan wedding. Not that they should have been after all it was a magical community. There was a short pause in the priestess words and this is when the Power of Three made their move. Coming out of their concealment, they silently took out a piece of paper, and whispered the spell.

The Power of Three will find the proof

To save an innocent we do seek.

The one who lied tell only truth

Honest lips must only speak.

A soft glow encompassed Nala s the spell went into effect. It was so subtle the girls were confident they were the only ones to have witnessed it. It was now time to end this farce. Walking as one, the three made their way to the front of the room.

Prue spoke first. "We're sorry, but we're really going to have to put a stop to this."

Nala and Leo's heads swung around at her words. The former glaring daggers the latter with cautious hope.

"What do you think you're doing?" Nala hissed with venom.

Prue cocked her head to one side. "Making things right."

The governor stood up. "What is the meaning of this? You three will leave immediately or I will have you forcibly removed."

"I don't think so." Phoebe said. "We have business to conduct and an innocent to save." Her gaze fell on Leo as she tossed him a smile.

"This is an outrage. Guards!"

"I wouldn't Rhaid." Piper warned. "Prue can dispose of them with a flick of her hand, literally."

"We tried to do this the easy way, but you refused." The eldest sister noted. "Now we'll take care of it our way."

Nala felt a small ball of panic form in her stomach. What did these witches have planned. "Father!"

Piper's eyes briefly flickered to Leo's before moving the outraged bride. "Save it Nala, we so have your number."

Nala's apprehension grew because the middle sister sounded so confident. Could this woman ruin all her well thought out plans? Could she cause Nala to loose Leo?

After the initial chatter from the wedding guests had died down, the sisters took advantage. Prue turned to Rhaid. "Ask her what really happened that night."

"I will do no such thing!" The governor spit out. "Guards!"

Prue raised her hands ready to do battle if necessary while Phoebe stepped in. "Ask her."

Under extreme protest, the governor reluctantly faced his daughter. Nala was relieved. She had nothing to worry about, all she had to do was stick to her story and everything would work out. What did bother her was the Charmed One's audacity to order her father about.

Her eyes narrowed as she glared at the sisters. "You will regret treating us so."

Piper's eyes hardened even more. "I doubt it. Rhaid?"

"Daughter, please tell them once again what happened so we may get on with the ceremony."

"Of course father." In a firm voice she spoke. "First I put a small dose of a sleeping draught into Leo's drink at the celebration." When she realized what she had revealed, she clamped a hand over her mouth.

Her father swallowed hard before saying, "Then what happened?"

Unable to stop herself, Nala blurted out more. "It was enough to put him in a deep sleep. Then I went into his room and climbed into bed."

Phoebe took it from here. "Did anything happen?"

"No. I fell asleep, but I knew when we were discovered in the morning it would seem as if we had spent the night making love. My father would have no choice but to have us marry."

Piper nodded her head. "So it was all a lie." It was more of a statement than a question.

"Yes!" The other woman cried out totally humiliated.

Leo had been taking it all in silently letting the girls do their thing, but here he finally spoke up. "But why Nala? I don't understand." The hurt of betrayal thick in his tone.

Tears filled her eyes as she looked up at him. "Because I love you. I've loved you since the moment I saw you. I waited and waited for you to see me more than a friend. I got tired of waiting."

"So you tricked him along with everyone else. You don't do that to someone you love." Piper stated without sympathy.

Nala turned on her, venom threading her tone. "What do you know! You have his love yet you spurn it!"

"This isn't about Piper, Nala." Leo interrupted. "I thought of you as my friend and I can't believe you would do something so awful to me."

"Leo please." Her plea fell on deaf ears. None of them could muster an ounce of sympathy for her only pity.

Rhaid for his part could not believe what he was hearing. Could not believe this of his beloved daughter. Clearing the emotion out of his throat he said, "Under the circumstances I believe we shall call an end to all of this. Nala you will go to your room."

"But father."

His eyes turned to ice and his voice just as hard. "Now!" To the girls he said, "We greatly appreciate all your help but I think it best you leave as soon as possible." His next words were to Leo. "I'm not sure if you can ever forgive me. We have betrayed you beyond words. My only defense is I acted as a father."

Leo, ever the good soul attempted to reassure. "I do Rhaid, but I cannot say it didn't hurt that you thought so little of me. That you would think I would behave the way you accused me of."

The governor lowered his head in shame. "All you say is true. I can only offer my sincere apology and my heartfelt regret. We so value your guidance and friendship and we've repaid it most shabbily."

Leo's heart was incapable of holding a grudge. "I accept your apology, however I think it best I stay away. I will see that another Whitelighter be assigned."

Almost forgetting they still had an audience, Rhaid with a few curt words dispersed the crowd as he also took his leave. Suddenly the girls and Leo found themselves alone. The latter feeling like a huge weight had been lifted from him.

Eyeing the sister's his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you. I should have never doubted you."

"You got that right. We kicked some ass." Phoebe preened.

"Beside," Prue joined in, "we protect our own."

His smile broadened and his heart filled with love. It was good to know they felt about him as he did them. He let his eyes touch on Piper, but as always when in his company her words were sparse. It was okay. He understood and promised to himself he would do whatever he could to help Piper have her normal life with Dan. Knowing it would mean never seeing her again. It was something he would do for her.

"How about a lift buddy?" Prue joked wanting to get back home.

"You got it." In a flurry of white lights they were gone.

Two days later found Prue and Phoebe sitting in the conservatory debating how to spend some unexpected although well-deserved down time. They were leaning toward staying home, ordering pizza and renting a sappy movie. Piper had gone over to Dan's a short while ago and they did not envy the task. Since returning from their trip Piper had not changed her mind about what man she wanted in her life, the hard part was letting one of those men know it would not be him. A soft blue light glowed inside the doorway revealing a subdued Leo.

Both girls jumped at his arrival. No matter how often he orbed in they would never get use to it. "Sorry." He automatically apologized.

"It's okay Leo, so how's it going?" Phoebe asked.

"Fine. 'They' were very pleased with your success in saving a whole magical community."

Prue tucked her legs under her on the wicker couch. "Hey all in a day's work, or few days work anyway. What about you? How are you doing after all the drama?"

His eyes took on a distant look. "Okay, I really just want to put it behind me. If it wasn't for the three of you I'd be married to a woman I didn't love and my calling dramatically reduced."

Phoebe sent him an indulgent smile. "We wouldn't let anything bad happen to you, you know that."

"Well thanks again. Now to why I am here."

Prue sat up straighter. "Not another issue already."

"No, no. This is more personal than professional. I just wanted to let you know I am going to talk to 'Them' about reassigning me as you Whitelighter."

"Leo no." The youngest Halliwell protested.

Leo's eyes, full of sadness shook his head. "It's for the best Phoebe and I promised Piper that when we were done with this assignment I would get out of her life. I plan to keep that promise. I'm really going to miss you guys though."

"Leo I think you should wait and talk to Piper first." Prue tried to stall, hoping her sister would return soon so she could clear things up.

"We've talked plenty Prue. I know exactly how Piper feels. She is trying to have this normal life with Dan and me being around is messing that up. I won't be the cause of her unhappiness. You'll tell her goodbye for me?"

"Maybe you should tell me yourself." Piper's voice entered the conversation. She had just returned from a very uncomfortable meeting with Dan. Hearing the last of Leo's words, her heart stopped for a split second.

His gaze swung to hers, surprise evident in his features. He had hoped to avoid another encounter with her. He planned to say his goodbyes to Prue and Phoebe and be on his way, thus avoiding a painful exchange with Piper.

"Pi…Piper. I."

"You what? Planned to leave without telling me?"

Prue and Phoebe realizing it was time for them to make a strategic retreat silently left the room allowing the two some privacy.

Once they were alone, Leo's uneasiness increased as he tried to get a read on Piper's mood, but was failing miserably. This was not the way he had hoped this would go. His plan was to orb in tell Prue and Phoebe that he was leaving and avoiding Piper all together. Seemed fate had other plans.

Piper watched as the various emotions played across his face. Leo was never good at hiding anything. She wanted to smile, but refrained knowing it would only cause him more unease, instead she said, "We need to talk." Moving to the wicker sofa she sat down.

Moving from one foot to the other, Leo hesitated then followed and sat as far away from her as he was able on the small piece of furniture. Clamping his hands together he waited for what was to come next, figuring another tongue lashing was in the works. Let's face it, he had kissed her a few days ago without her consent and was once again at the manor, something she made clear time and time again was a nuisances. Oh yeah he was in trouble big time.

Trying to save himself from the worst of it he started to speak rapidly. "Listen Piper don't worry this is the last time I'll be showing up. I'm going to talk to 'Them' and I'll get reassigned I promise."

"What if I don't want you to be reassigned?"

The question brought him up short and his brain froze for a moment as he stared at her totally confused. "Huh?" He finally managed to say.

She repeated the question. "What if I don't want you to be reassigned?"

Shaking his head his forehead furrowed in a frown. "Of course you do. This way I won't be interrupting the normal life Dan and you have going. Remember?" How could she forget something so important he asked himself?

Smiling, she looked right at him. "What if I don't want a normal life or a normal guy like Dan.?"

Okay obviously she had hit her head at some point or maybe she was under some spell. It was the only explanation. "Piper, I think maybe something magical is going on here and you've forgotten what you wanted."

"Oh something magical is most definitely going on here, but it's not what you think." Now she became a little nervous. This was Leo for goodness sake, why should she feel nervous. "Leo, I've done a lot of thinking and after what happened when we were away with Nala and everything I've realized something." When he continued to stare at her with that confused look she explained further. "I realized that as much as I want a normal life, I want a life with you more. I thought Dan and the normal life he could give me was what was important, but it isn't. A normal life with a man you don't love with all your heart is not as important as a supernatural life with a man you do."

Leo couldn't believe what he was hearing; she couldn't be saying what he thought she was saying. This was like some kind of dream. Did she just tell him she loved him? He needed to clear up to confusion. "I don't understand Piper. Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

Moving a little closer, she put her slim hand on his knee. "I love you Leo. I always have and I always will."

There was so much emotion coursing through his body he had trouble speaking. "Piper." He finally chocked out.

The emotion mirrored in his eyes was almost her undoing. Her own eyes began to swim with unshed tears. "So what do you think? Think and witch and a whitlighter can make a go of it?" She held her breath here, not really sure what his reaction would be. Maybe he didn't love her anymore. Maybe she was too late. His next words put all those doubts to rest.

"I think we can. I know I love you enough to see what happens next." Scooting closer, he cupped the side of her face and looked into her eyes.

'Oh boy' she thought, as she felt herself being pulled into their green depths. She couldn't catch her breath and her stomach was doing flip flops while the rest of her body began to tingle. As his head lowered and his lips met hers, her insides slowly melted.

Gently his mouth caressed hers and when she responded he let his own emotions take the lead. His lips parted and nudged hers to do the same. Slipping his tongue inside, he allowed himself the joy of exploring the sweet recesses of her mouth. Piper pressed herself closer to him feeling as if she could not get enough of him. Leo was about to loose control if he did not end this. With great reluctance he pulled away leaving both of them breathing hard.
"Whoa." Piper finally managed.

Leo thought she was putting it mildly, but didn't argue. "Yeah." When he got his brain functioning again he went on. "I love you Piper Halliwell with all I am."

Snuggling into his arms, she smiled; confident she had made the right decision. Never had she felt more complete than when in his embrace. She truly believed they were destined to be together just as he had always felt. They were soul mates now and forever. "I love you too." She finally responded.

Prue and Phoebe peeked into the room a while later to find the pair still cuddled on the couch wrapped in each other's arms. They let themselves enjoy the moment. Not only had their sister found true happiness but it gave them hope they too would find someone special as well. With all the magic in their lives when it was all said and done true love proved to be the most magical of all.