Kent Farm

Mid-Morning

Clark walked inside the house, carrying groceries. It had been a busy few days, helping Paige move her stuff from the hotel into the house. While she stayed here, Clark had given her his parents room to stay in.

Currently, they were getting ready for Thanksgiving. Seeing Paige wasn't ready to head back home, Clark had invited her family to spend Thanksgiving at the farm, which they had agreed to. Clark had just gotten the last of the food from the store for dinner.

"Paige? I got the corn from the store," Clark called out as he headed into the kitchen to see Paige put something in the oven.

"Well I just put my cheesy potatoes in the oven, so perfect timing. Although knowing Piper, she'll show up with a whole dinner," Paige said, only half joking.

"Sounds like a woman after my mother's heart," Clark said with a grin.

"She stress bakes, or cooks in this case. And she's been stressed for the last month," Paige explained, taking the corn from him.

"Just because you moved out?" Clark asked in surprise.

"No. Leo, her husband is in trouble with the Elders. Uh, basically his Jor-El. They're trying to find a punishment for him and they haven't handed down a sentence. All the waiting is getting to Piper," Paige explained and Clark nodded.

"Leo must have really crossed these Elders then?" Clark asked.

"You have no idea," Paige muttered, not even knowing how to begin to explain to Clark about the Avatars.

Clark then heard a familiar jingle he'd grown accustomed to over the last few weeks followed by the sounds of adults talking outside.

"That was fast," Clark said as he turned towards the front door.

"Travel by Orbing, my preferred method," Paige joked before they heard a knock on the door.

Shaking his head in amusement, Clark walked over to the door and opened it, revealing the entire Halliwell family on his front porch. While Leo had Chris in a carrier in one hand and held Wyatt's hand with the other, both Piper and Phoebe were carrying plates of food.

"Sorry about this Clark. Piper…stress bakes," Phoebe said apologetically.

"Paige forewarned me," Clark said, trying not to laugh at the awkward looks on their faces. "Let me help you with that."

Clark took the turkey from Piper before letting them all inside.

"It's fine, really," Clark assured them. "My last girlfriend moved in and told everyone we were getting married under the influence of meteor rock. This is hardly on the same scale."

Clark paused briefly, realizing he had just casually mentioned Lois to them. And there was no pain on his chest that he expected. He wasn't forgetting her. But, perhaps, like Lois, Clark was beginning to move on with his life.

"Nice place," Phoebe said as she looked around, breaking Clark out of his thoughts.

"Thanks. I know it's not much compared to Metropolis or San Francisco, but its home," Clark said with a smile.

"It's nice. It reminds me of home," Leo said, wistfully thinking of his childhood home.

"Wow, you actually made a turkey," Paige said as she walked in, seeing the turkey in Clark's arms.

"You know I'm a stress baker," Piper said defensively as they all laughed.

However, Leo stopped short, looking up at the ceiling sharply. As she saw the look on his face, Piper's heart sank.

"The Elders?" she asked uneasily and he nodded.

"They're summoning me. I have to go," Leo said as he looked at Piper regretfully.

"Now?" Piper asked in dismay.

"Piper, this isn't goodbye, I'm just going up there to find out what my punishment is," Leo pointed out.

"What do you mean 'just'? You make it sound like it's no big deal. What if it's bad?" Piper worried.

"Well, then we'll deal with it," Leo said as he saw the worried look on Piper's face. "Come on, you're the one who said the Elders couldn't yank me away, remember?"

"Well that was before I had all this time to stress out about it," Piper said.

"Well at least now we're finally gonna know. And that's a good thing, right? All the waiting's been killing us," Leo pointed out.

"I know. I just…I have a bad feeling," Piper admitted.

"Me to," Leo admitted. "But we've been through worse."

Leo kissed Chris on the forehead before handing him to his mother and kneeling down in front of Wyatt.

"Daddy's gonna be right back, okay buddy?" Leo asked and Wyatt nodded. "That's my boy."

Leo then stood back and faced Piper, taking her face in his hands.

"We just have to have faith, okay?" Leo asked before kissing her. "I love you."

"I love you to," Piper said as Leo let go.

"Good luck," Paige said as she and Phoebe watched uneasily.

"If you don't come back, I will come up there and kick some Elder ass," Phoebe warned and Leo smiled weakly.

"I don't doubt it," Leo said before turning to Clark. "Sorry to bail on you like this."

Leo then Orbed out, leaving Clark and the sisters wondering what would happen next.

Golden Gate Bridge

Later in the morning

Leo, dressed in his Elder robe, stood across from Sandra and Odin, ready to face his judgment.

"Unfortunately, the council has been unable to decide your fate Leo," Sandra told him.

"So that's good right? I'm not gonna be punished?" Leo asked, although the words sounded hopelessly naïve even to his own ears.

"We didn't say that," Odin said.

"We understand and fully accept how being betrayed by an Elder, by Gideon led you to the Avatars," Sandra told him.

"Still, that doesn't excuse you betraying us," Odin said sternly.

"The council has come realize that the central problem is your efforts to balance two distinctly different worlds: yours with us, and yours with Piper," Sandra explained.

"So the only solution is to find out which world you truly belong in once and for all," Odin explained and Leo frowned.

"How?"

"A test if you will," Odin said.

"You'll be made mortal, stripped of your powers and your memories, and then you'll be relocated," Sandra explained.

"If the love you share for Piper is so strong you're drawn back to her despite all odds, then you will live with her forever," Odin continued.

"To live fully as a human, without any further interference from us ever again," Sandra added.

"But what if I never find her? Then what?" Leo asked, not sure he wanted to know the answer.

"Then it means your destiny is with us, and we will welcome you. Although you'll never see your family again," Odin said, horrifying Leo.

"Are you out of your mind? I won't do that," Leo said hotly.

"You have no choice," Odin said coolly.

"You have to know Leo this is not about punishing you. It's about helping you find your way," Sandra attempted to sooth him.

"Okay, but if I end up with Piper, how do I know you won't eventually butt in again? Or if I end up with you, how do you know I'm not gonna leave? By falling from grace?" Leo challenged and Odin straightened.

"No Elder has ever done that before," Odin said.

"You take away my family and I will," Leo said in a tone that left no doubt he would back up his words.

"We aren't taking away anything from you Leo. This is about you making a choice, not us. Don't you see? This is the only way. Your heart will guide you to your true destiny, be it love or the greater good. Whatever way it turns out, we will honor it, as you also must," Sandra said sagely.

"Alright, fine, I'll do it," Leo said, finally giving in. "But first, I'm gonna say goodbye to Piper."

"It doesn't work that way," Odin informed him.

"Look, I said I'd take your damn test. I'm gonna say goodbye to my family," Leo stepped as he took a few steps forward.

"No, the test begins now," Odin declared; placing his hands on Leo's chest before Leo disappeared in a sparkle of lights.


Leo then appeared on a road, looking around in confusion as he wondered how he got there.

Kent Farm

Afternoon

"How long does it take to hand down a sentence?" Phoebe complained as Paige put her cheesy potatoes on the stove.

"Phoebe's right, shouldn't he have been back by now?" Paige wondered.

"I thought waiting for them to decide on Leo's punishment was torture," Piper grumbled.

"Well, this is ridiculous," Phoebe said before she looked up at the ceiling. "Hey! Listen, what the Hell did you do to Leo?"

"I'm not gonna tell you what to do, but are you sure challenging the Elders is a good idea?" Clark tried to caution.

"They have put us through Hell the last five years and I'm done. I'm not saving another innocent until I find out what happened," Phoebe said as she looked up at the ceiling. "You hear me? I'm not saving another innocent until you tell us what's going on here."

Clark wished he could say he wasn't surprised when a blond woman in robes Orbed in, but his threshold for what he expected was getting a lot smaller the more he got to know Paige and her sisters.

"Don't worry. Leo's fine," Sandra said and the sisters turned towards her.

"So then where is he?" Piper demanded.

"Piper, the Elders came to the consensus that Leo has lost his way, so we've sent him on the path towards following his destiny," Sandra explained.

"Wow. You sound exactly like my father," Clark noted and Sandra turned towards.

"I assume you mean Jor-El," Sandra noted and Clark started.

"How do you know about Jor-El?"

"The Elders have kept an eye on you for a long time Kal-El," Sandra told him, surprising Clark that she knew who he was.

"Uh, you know what? This Elder-speak is not working for me. I need some straight answers. What exactly did you do to Leo?" Piper demanded.

"We erased his memories and put him back on Earth as a mortal, somewhere you'll never find him," Sandra explained, horrifying the sisters and Clark.

"What? He doesn't remember anything? He doesn't remember Piper or his sons – nothing?" Phoebe asked in shock.

"Not even having been an Elder," Sandra confirmed.

"I was wrong. You are exactly like Jor-El," Clark said and Sandra turned to him. "You make snap judgments, claim to love Leo yet you treat him like the enemy. What right do you have to play God in their lives?"

"This was not an easy decision for us. We love Leo up there as much as you do down here," Sandra said as she turned back to Piper. "He wasn't killed or recycled. I hope that you can find comfort in that."

"I'm sorry. You just lobotomized the love of my life, and you want me to take comfort in what?" Piper asked as she stormed over to Sandra. "You've got a lot of nerve, lady. Now, I don't want to see you again or any of your kind ever again. We're done with all of you. Now, please…go."

"Don't give up hope," Sandra told her.

"You really need to stop talking now. Just go," Piper snarled and Sandra stared at her for a moment longer before Orbing out. "That's ridiculous."

Piper all but collapsed into a nearby chair, putting her head into his hands as her sisters rushed to her side.

"Okay, Piper, I know this seems really bad, but we can't give up hope. Leo is out there somewhere, and I'm sure there's lots of ways we can find him," Phoebe tried to assure her

"There is," Clark said as they looked at him. "A few weeks ago, you all brought me into your world in order to help me. Let me return the favor."

Watchtower

Later in the afternoon

After having left Wyatt and Chris with Phoebe at the farm, Clark led Paige and Piper into Watchtower. Paige and Piper looked around in a bit of awe. It certainly made the attic look unimpressive by comparison.

"So now we're bringing in random civilians?" Tess asked from where she stood by her desk, Oliver sitting down without a shirt.

"They're not random. You alright?" Clark asked as he noticed the bruises on Oliver's back.

"A lot better than you're about to be. Hey," Oliver waved at Paige and Piper. "Good to see you again. Why are they here?"

"Piper's husband is missing and we have reason to believe that he has no memory of his life. I figured Watchtower could help us find him," Clark explained, looking over at Tess.

"He have a name?" Tess asked as she walked over to her computer.

"Leo Wyatt. I'm Piper Halliwell; we've been married for the last four years," Piper explained and Tess nodded as she began typing.

"Okay, I have a picture, now let me do a worldwide search for any John-Does who have turned up without memory," Tess said and paused. "There's a John-Doe who saved a man's life in Texas."

"That's him. I know it is," Piper said with certainty.

"Tess, where was Leo found?" Clark asked.

Texas

Not long after

In a diner, Leo stared down at his hand, at the impression of a wedding ring on his finger when the door to the dinner opened.

"LEO!"

At the sound of the voice, Leo turned around to see a dark haired woman had walked into the dinner, staring at him. Although he didn't know her name, he instinctively knew her.

"Leo," Piper said as she stared at him, Clark and Paige entering behind her.

"Leo…yeah, I think that was my name," Leo muttered to himself.

"Do you remember me?" Piper asked as she walked over to him.

"No," Leo said and Piper was crushed. "But you seem…very familiar. I just can't place it."

"Well maybe this'll jog your memory," Piper said before pulling the surprised Leo into a kiss.

As Piper's lips touched his, the sensation was familiar. Then, Leo's mind was flooded with images.


Being assigned as the Halliwells Whitelighter.


Falling for Piper.


Ending their relationship.


Orbing to the attic, revealing his secret to Piper and Prue.


Once more ending their relationship as Piper started something with Dan.


Saving Piper followed by being made mortal.


Piper choosing him over Dan.


Regaining his powers.


The Elders telling him and Piper to end their relationship.


Proposing to Piper.


The Elders forcing him away from his and Piper's first wedding.


Visiting Piper in her dream.


Being allowed to return to Piper.


Finally marrying Piper.


Trying to help Piper through Prue's death.


Piper falling pregnant with Wyatt.


Piper giving birth surrounded by him, her sisters and father.


Being made an Elder.


Saying goodbye to Piper.


Spending months trapped on Valhalla.


Spending months investigating Chris.


Learning Chris came back to save Wyatt.


His last night with Piper in the Ghostly plane.


Learning Chris was his son.


Holding Chris in his arms as he died.


Killing Gideon.


Being made an Avatar.


Convincing the sisters to help the Avatars.


Joining forces with Zankou.


Odin putting him through this test.


Piper pulled back to see Leo looking at her in shock and reverence.

"Piper," he breathed and Piper beamed.

"Leo," Piper said emotionally.

A few feet away, Paige smiled before she, Clark, Piper and Leo vanished in white sparkles.


The four reappeared on the Golden Gate Bridge, Odin standing a few feet away, looking displeased.

"Destiny has spoken. Leo is mortal now," Odin said, looking like he'd swallowed a lemon. "As we agreed, you shall have no more interference from us."

"You bet we won't," Piper grumbled, looking cross.

"Be careful in the days ahead," Odin warned, confusing Leo and Piper.

"You mean the darkness, don't you?" Clark realized and Odin nodded.

"This darkness, is that why you assigned me as Clark's Whitelighter?" Paige asked.

"You were not assigned," Odin said, surprising Paige. "Your father Sam was to be Kal-El's Whitelighter, but he requested it be you."

Odin then Orbed away, leaving them alone on the bridge. For a moment, it was silent.

"You guys head back to the farm. I need to go see Oliver and Tess," Clark said.

Watchtower

Not long after

Oliver watched as Tess ran a scanner on Clark's back before pulling it back, the same image that was on Oliver's back shown on the scanner.

"Oliver was right, Flag is tracking you to Clark," Tess said.

"Which is a bit surprised given your impermeable skin," Oliver noted.

"He must have used blue Kryptonite," Clark realized.

"But why track us?" Oliver wondered.

"To recruit you," Tess said and the pair looked over at her. "Flag spent so much time on the front lines with people with superpowers he identifies with them. To him, you're all freedom fighters and he would attack anyone that threatens that. Presidents, senators, the military, it doesn't matter."

"Guess that explains why he tried to recruit me, but why now?" Oliver wondered.

"Because there's about to be a new law. The Vigilante Registration Act. Cat told me about it," Clark remembered.

"Flag would take that as a declaration of war. I'm not sure what he'll do, but it won't be good, whatever it is," Tess said uneasily.

Kent Farm

Late afternoon

"So how does it feel?" Piper asked as she pulled the turkey out of the oven, placing it on the stove. "Not having powers?"

"Great. It's everything I've wanted since the day I met you," Leo said with a smile.

As she and Phoebe played with Wyatt and Chris in the living room, Paige smiled before hearing the front door open. Looking over, she saw Clark walk in with an odd look on his face. Muttering an excuse to Phoebe, she made her way over to him.

"You okay?" she asked.

"Not really. I'll tell you later," Clark promised and she nodded, resisting the urge to prod. "How's Leo?"

"Good. I think it's gonna be an adjustment for Leo not to have powers, but he can handle it," Paige said and Clark nodded, eying her.

"Are you okay?" Clark asked, sensing something was off.

"Not really. Sam, my father, he made it sound like it was coincidence that my Whitelighter powers kicked in. But he made me get assigned as your Whitelighter. Why?" Paige wondered.

"I don't know. But I'm glad he did," Clark said and she smiled weakly.

"Thanks. And thank you for what you did today, helping us find Leo," Paige said gratefully.

"It's what we do, right?" Clark said with a smile.

Paige smiled before hugging him. Clark returned the hug, but after a few moments, it started to feel awkward. They pulled back, a strange feeling coming over them before they let each other go, awkwardly avoiding looking at each other.

A few feet away, Phoebe watched this and smiled. Paige so had a crush on Clark. And it seemed like Clark might have one on Paige to. Oh she was so going to tease the Hell out of Paige later. But first, it was time for Thanksgiving dinner.

Unspecified Location

Not long after

Rick Flag was reading a newspaper on the Vigilante Registration Act.

"No more hiding in the shadows. That's a declaration of War," Flag said before pulling out a radio. "Go."


In Metropolis, a man was walking out of a headquarters of the Restructuration Act when he pulled out a trigger. He activated it, teleporting away before the building blew up.

With Clark involved, it would not be so difficult for the sisters to find Leo during his test.

The Rick Flag plot didn't happen because General Lane wasn't in Smallville, but Flag has declared war on the government.

Next few chapters will be a mix of Charmed and Smallville events, so keep an eye out.