Leo wanted to orb out after Penny accused him of hurting Wyatt, of thinking Gideon was right, but he was seeing red and had to defend himself first before he figured this situation out. "How dare you," he hissed.
"How dare you!" she shot back.
Leo leaned forward and glared at her. "Go fuck yourself," he snarled. He was teetering so far off the ledge he couldn't control himself at this point.
Victor's jaw dropped in shock - this was not the mild-mannered Whitelighter they were used to. Meanwhile, Penny huffed. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Gideon came after my family and brutally murdered my son. Chris died in my arms, faded away, and you think that deep down I think he's right? Honestly thought you of all people would understand, empathize with how I'm feeling but clearly I was wrong. I'm going to solve this because it wasn't me. I'll get you proof as soon as I possibly can." His voice breaking, he orbed out and left Victor and Penny standing there in stunned silence.
"Didn't know Leo had it in him," admired Victor. He laughed when his former mother-in-law glowered at him.
Penny apologized right before Chris' Wiccaning but she stuck around for a little while afterwards to talk to Leo in private. "You were right to call me out on knowing what it's like to lose a child. I shouldn't have gone straight to accusing you of trying to hurt Wyatt," she admitted.
"Thank you. And I'm sorry too - I was out of line earlier," he apologized.
"Don't apologize," Victor hissed as he followed Patty out of the attic. Penny side-eyed them but said nothing about the hand holding.
"You're forgiven, despite the fact that you were out of line. You might not have been, actually." Penny laughed. "I hate to admit this but Leo, you had every right to tell me to fuck off. But holy shit, what language from an Elder."
He glanced down at the floor. "I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to be an Elder," Leo admitted. He wanted out so badly but there were so many variables he could hardly think straight at the moment. He felt out of sorts in a way he never had before.
Penny's heart clenched as she stared at the heartbroken man in front of her. The grief and anger hung over him like a cloud. "We'll see. But you'll work through this and watch that little boy grow up to be a hero. Now, I have to go say goodbye to my granddaughters and great-grandsons. I'll see you soon."
"Thanks, Penny." Leo briskly hugged her before she departed the attic to say goodbye to the rest of the family.
"Victor and Patty better not be in a closet, I swear to God," Penny muttered as she started the trip down the stairs.
She left in due time but kept an eye on Leo and the rest of the family, not at all stunned when shit really hit the fan, finally came to a head, and he became mortal. Penny had been expecting it for a while, glad he had finally pulled himself out of the hole with the support of Piper and her sisters. She also never underestimated the man again after he stood up to her that day in the kitchen.