Disclaimer: I do not own Charmed, doo dah, doo dah. I do not own Charmed, oh the doo dah day.

A/n: I really, really appreciate the feedback on this story. I was nervous about how the plot would be received, so I'm very happy to know that you all are enjoying it. This chapter isn't too long. I'm back to writing and posting instead of just posting what I already have written, so updates might take slightly longer. I really want to get this story done before the new year, but we'll see how it goes. Anyway, thank you all again!

Katie

Setting: November/December 2006

Coming Home

"You can never go home again, but the truth is you can never leave home, so it's all right."

Maya Angelou

Ten: Reconciliations

"I know you're upset," said Piper calmly. "But you can't take it out on me. This is not my fault."

"You didn't have to tell her," said Leo. "Why didn't you call? Phoebe had her cell phone. If you had it all figured out then why didn't you warn me. I would have just gotten on a plane back home."

"Oh sure," said Piper. "Just run away. I never knew you to be so cowardly, Leo."

"Did you hear what happened down in that hall?" Leo demanded, his voice rising despite the fact that the boys were napping a couple of rooms away. "She's furious! There's a reason Whitelighters are supposed to give up their old lives and this is why! Family can't handle this kind of information!"

"You're overreacting. I think she handled it fairly well. You just can't handle that you suddenly have to deal with your past."

"That's what it really comes down to, right, Piper? You just want to know all about my past! You always have! And lucky you, here it falls right into your lap!"

"Don't be irrational!" said Piper, her voice rising too. "I was scared out of my mind when I realized the truth! You know I hate telling people about magic! I felt nauseous the entire time!"

"Yeah. Sure." Leo threw up his hands. "I'm getting out of here," he said. "I'm on the next flight back to San Francisco."

"You can't just leave," said Piper. "What about the boys?"

"I can't stay here, Piper! Don't ask me to do it. I don't want to be here. Ella doesn't want me to be here. So leave it alone and don't try to guilt me into staying!"

The fight continued in this manner for another twenty minutes when they were interrupted by a sharp knock on the door. Piper was never so relieved for her sisters' interference; the circular, stupid fight was frustrating and going nowhere. When Piper opened the door, however, she found Mariella there instead of one or both of her sisters.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," said Mariella. "Can I come in? I'd like to talk to Leo."

"Good luck," said Piper, and she left the room, closing the door behind her. Miraculously, the boys hadn't woken up during the fight, so Piper headed downstairs. She found everyone else in the living room

"Are you okay?" asked Paige. Piper hadn't bothered to stop moving when she came into the room; she was now pacing the rug.

"I'm just great," said Piper.

"I talked to Grammy," said Paige. "I think they're going to be able to work it out."

"I hope she can work a miracle," said Piper. "She's dealing with the world's most stubborn man!"

"It's Leo. He'll come around."

Piper grunted in response and continued her pacing. After a few minutes of relative silence, Phoebe said, "So, does this make you Paige's great-aunt?"

Henry laughed and trying to turn it into a cough. Piper stopped pacing and turned to her family. Paige was grinning and even Coop looked amused. After a moment, Piper couldn't help but laugh and soon they were all laughing.

"I can't wait for my uncles to get here," said Paige in midst her giggling. "You can meet your nephews. They're only thirty-some years older than you."

Slowly, they all stopped laughing and Piper looked at Paige, concerned. "Oh no," she said. "What are we going to tell your uncles?"

Mariella entered the room cautiously. Leo was standing near the bed with his arms crossed defensively over his chest and Mariella felt overwhelmed by nostalgia; Leo looked just as he had when he was a little boy and he hadn't gotten his way. For a moment, she felt as though she had time traveled, but then Leo said, "I was just getting ready to leave," and the feeling passed.

"I don't want you to go," said Mariella.

"You could have fooled me," said Leo bitterly. Mariella quelled the urge to throw something at him, still marveling in the fact that it was so easy to fall into the sibling tendencies she hadn't experienced in sixty years.

"Will you stop sulking for a minute and listen to me?" she asked more harshly than she intended. Leo looked at her, half-amused, half-angry and she took a deep breath to calm herself. "I talked to Paige. And even though I still don't entirely agree with what you did, I realize that there is validity to your side of the story."

"That's big of you, Ella," said Leo; to Mariella's relief, he mostly sounded sincere.

"I also decided that I just want to be happy about whatever brought us back together after all of these years. I don't want to spend the rest of my life knowing that you're alive and not acknowledging it. I want to get the chance to know you again. A few more years with my brother are better than none, right?"

Leo's eyes flitted from one spot in the room to another, not able to settle on any one object. "Leo?" said Mariella. Finally, he looked at her with large, sad eyes. Mariella swallowed hard, suddenly feeling vulnerable; maybe she had put herself on the spot for nothing.

"I'm…afraid," said Leo finally.

"Afraid of what?" asked Mariella. The statement was the last she expected; what was there to be afraid of?

"I'm afraid of…I don't know, Ella! Of being overwhelmed by regret over what I missed out on. Of thinking about who I was before and if I've changed for the worse. Of having to lose you again…"

Unwillingly, Mariella felt her eyes fill with tears. She fought hard not to let them fall. "Isn't this worth those risks?" she asked. "Those fears. Leo, I know I said some hurtful things before, but I don't want to let you just walk out of my life again. Please. Can't we just try?"

There was a terse silence that Mariella wasn't sure would ever end, but finally Leo said, "I'll stay," and Mariella breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you," she said.