Well guys, this is the last chapter...
Chapter 8 - One Day
The next day was bright and sunny, one of those days that happened so often in California, and yet somehow Piper felt it was different to all the others. The bright, warm sun represented her new life...
"When did I get so poetic?" She muttered to herself as she lifted Gracie out of the cot. Piper was smiling. Not looking nervously around her, but smiling. In the last twenty four hours she had talked so much her throat hurt. It had taken a long time, a lot of coffee and a long heart-to-heart, but Piper had accepted that she was a witch, she was born to be a witch, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. So, at Phoebe suggestion, she had agreed to just "sit back and enjoy the show".
Gracie wasn't just a witch, but half demon. And o one seemed to know what that would mean. Piper knew it would be different, but - after her daughter had saved her life - she knew they didn't have to worry about her being evil. Not really.
The heart to heart had done more though. She had finally talked to them, really talked, about everything, about all her fears, that, now he was gone, she didn't have to worry about anymore. Except... she couldn't stop worrying about that other demon, the one that had been helping Zander. He was still out there, and although she was sure he was just Zander's lapdog, she couldn't help but fret.
But she was happier, than she had been in a while, and she felt so much like her old self again. Now she could just enjoy life, enjoy being a mother.
And, finally, she could ignore it no more. Leo. So much had happened in the time that had passed after his little revelation, but now she had to talk to him. Had to. She'd tried to plan what to say, but nothing sounded right. In the end, she decided that when the moment came, she'd know.
She put Gracie in her high chair in the kitchen, accepted Paige's offer to feed her, then went back upstairs. And waited. He knew they needed to talk too, he was bound to orb in soon... she knew he would...
Barely ten minutes past before he orbed in, with a soft "hi".
"Hi." She murmured shyly, and for the first time appreciated how hard this would be for her, too. "We... we need to talk..."
"I know." Strangely, she got the impression he knew what she was going to say, too. But she had to say it anyway...
"Maybe we could go back to that cliff." She suggested.
"Sure." He reached out and took her hand, and a second later they were there.
The sun wasn't setting this time, it was high in the sky, shining brightly on them. But she sat on the grass anywhere, and turned to face him.
She felt strangely free now she knew Zander wasn't able to hurt her or Gracie. Different. More like she used to be, before him, more herself. But she was still getting used to it, to being able to trust her sisters, not look over her shoulder...
She told all this to Leo, then trailed off. How could she say it?
"When you told me - you thought - you know -"
"I don't just think it anymore." He admitted. "I know it. I love you."
"I... I love you. I do, and believe me, it scares the hell out of me that I let it happen. But I'm not sorry..."
"So where does this leave us?" He asked her quietly. He knew, he understood. She didn't have to worry about his reaction. He was good guy, she knew that.
"I'm just not ready." she whispered. "I just can't be in a relationship right now. I need to spend some time with my daughter, my family..."
"I know." He whispered. He kissed her lightly, then nodded.
"One day... We will be together." She promised. "I can feel it..."
"I know." He repeated. "Come on..." He pulled her to her feet, then into hug. While she clung to him, he orbed them home...
The End.