Chapter 8 - Never Alone

Piper finished putting the last of the ingredients away, and turned back to her sisters. "All done." She smiled brightly.

"Great. OK." Prue nodded. Piper knew it was because she was so cheery, but Piper wouldn't allow herself to think Leo might not be back... Wouldn't allow herself to fall apart...

Paige made a noise half-way between a yelp and a cheer as bright white lights lit up the corner. White orbs to be exact. Piper held her breath, hardly daring to believe... and there he was, smiling widely, alight with happiness, moving towards her... As her sisters cheered, Piper wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tightly, assuring herself her was really here. He was back, and at that moment, nothing else mattered.

----

The next few days passed far from smoothly. Despite her joy at having Leo back, Piper somehow managed to start several small arguments, getting angry at Leo for the least little thing.

"I told you to tell me when you're just going to orb out and leave!" Piper was yelling.

"I told you that when a charge needs me I don't have the time to find you and let you know!" Leo replied. This, it seemed, was Piper's favourite argument, and it always went the same way.

"But when I'm looking all over the house for you, what am I supposed to think?"

"That I'm off doing my job!" Leo snapped.

"Job, right, that's what they tell you it is. But tell me, Leo, how much does this "Job" actually pay?"

"Piper, we've been through this." He cried.

"Yes, it pays nothing. So its not actually a job, it is?"

"No, it's a duty, it's who I am, now, I'm a whitelighter."

"I know what you are!" Piper yelled. At this point, she usually stormed off, but before she could he started talking again.

"Why don't you admit why you're really so mad at me?" He snapped. "Its not because I'm orbing out, or because I don't get paid, or even because I leave wet towels on the bathroom floor, is it?"

"Oh, isn't it? Why don't you tell me why I'm mad at you then, Leo?" Piper yelled.

"OK, how about this? You're mad because even though I'm back, I still left you." He said, his voice still raised, but his anger gone. "You think I abandoned you, that I left without fighting it, that I didn't care enough to stay. That if I did it once then I'll do it again."

"Well, will you?" She said angrily. "You left me, you promised you never would but you did. What if you leave, if you go again? What if you meet someone else while you're orbing all over he place? How do I know you even want me anymore?" Her voice cracked. "You left me... how do I know you wont do it again?"

"I didn't want to leave." He said quietly. "I had to, I was meant to, meant to die, to become a whitelighter... But I'm meant to be with you, I promise you I'll never leave you, ever again." He wrapped his arms around her and held her. "OK? Are you OK? Do you trust me?"

"Yes..."

"I promise you, nothing can keep me away from you, ever."

"You promise?" She whispered.

"I promise." He said. Then, after a long pause, he muttered two more words: "Marry me."

She drew back from him so fast she almost fell. "What?"

"Marry me." He repeated, beaming at her. "I love you, I want to marry you. Will you?"

"I... I... Leo, I want to, but... I'm only seventeen."

"So? Does it matter? We love each other, we want to spend the rest of our lives together... what's the problem?"

"I... well, if your only doing this to reassure me, then - then - do you really want to marry me?"

"Yes, you know I wouldn't have asked if I didn't. I wouldn't do it just to prove we can stay together... my parents did that and look waht happened. I'm asking you because I love you."

She chewed her lip, looking at him intently.

"You're sure?" She whispered. "You really do?"

"Yes." One word, that was all, but she believed him.

"Then... then ask me again."

"Piper Halliwell, will you marry me?" He asked.

"Yes."