Title: The Lucky One
By: Bridget McKennitt
Leo stared at his left hand, watching as the light reflected off his
wedding band. About a year ago he had married the woman of his dreams, Piper
Halliwell. His past life was in love with her past life, and he was her
whitelighter in this life. He had been with her through the good times and
the bad, whenever she was injured, whenever she was pained; he was there.
He supported her and loved her as she decided of her own free will that she
loved him. Him, not a mortal who could not understand her witch duty or a
man who would use her. No, she picked him and they married.
But was he in wedding bliss? He certainly thought so. Their wedding
ceremony, the five minutes of it, was heaven and he fell in love with Piper
all over again. But the next couple of days after the wedding, Piper began
to grow cold towards him. She did not want to go Up There to see his
whitelighter friends with him. She wanted her sisters to come. She did not
love the present they gave them, a lamp that symbolized the light of
eternal love. It accidentally broke and she was thrilled.
Leo shrugged it off though. Piper was Piper and he loved her. But
the seeds of doubt were in his heart. Did she love him? Maybe she still
blamed him for not healing Prue in time. Piper loved her big sister and
at night, would still cry out her name. Maybe that's why she did not kiss
him often or hold his hands or smile, really smile at him. Sometimes he
would lean in to kiss her just before he orbed out and she would move so
his lips would touch her cheek instead. It took magic, he knew it had to
be, to get her to practically ravish him at p3. Maybe that's why she opted
for them to visit a luau instead of make love. Tired perhaps? Yes, she was
tired. It had to be.
Throughout the year he desperately wanted a child. He always wanted
a child and had thought Piper wanted one as well. She did not at first but
as their discussions went on, Piper desperately wanted a child too. Well,
they tried but it was not enough. At least Piper thought so when she got
her test results back. But miracles happen and the Angel of Destiny revealed
that she was indeed pregnant.
Piper was pregnant. The thought should have had him jumping for
joy but it didn't. Not really anyway. He loved Piper and he was sure Piper
loved him. But every time he saw Phoebe and Cole together, he would tense
up. They loved one another and were not afraid to show it to anyone. Every
time they glanced at each other, it was like they were caught up in their
own little world. It made his own relationship with Piper seem so pale in
comparison.
No, Phoebe and Cole's relationship was not better than his with
Piper's. Those two had too much struggles and besides, Phoebe lost her own
child. Ah, not her child. It was the Source and thus of no concern. He and
Piper had a baby on the way and Paige approved of their relationship. Paige
did not like Cole and did not approve of him with Phoebe. Yes, that's better.
He and Piper were the perfect couple. They were stable and safe. Who needs
fireworks when you are just going to get burned?
"Leo, I have a problem. Can I talk to you for a second?" Leo glanced
up from his ring and saw Phoebe heading his way.
"Sure." It would take his mind off of issues that he did not want to
think about. "What can I do for you? Any problems with Cole?"
She tilted her head to the side. "No problems in that corner. We've
decided to take things much slower now and slow is very very good," she said
as images of Phoebe and Cole danced in his head with her words. "Why would
you think I had a problem with Cole?"
"Well, he has been your concern for the past year and nevermind.
What was your problem?"
"It's not really a problem but I need your help. I want to plan
something romantic for Cole. And since you and Piper have a love that knows
no bounds, I decided to come to you for help. So any ideas on what I should
do?"
Yeah, do not ask me was his first thought. When was the last time
he and Piper did anything besides fighting the good fight? Well, there was
their honeymoon to Hawaii but Cole paid for that. Then his mind drifted into
things that he always wanted to do with Piper. "Something out of the ordinary
and memorable. Something that would pique his interest. Set up a treasure
hunt for him starting at your bedroom. Leave a note to pick up wine at a
store that's already paid for. Make him do several of these errands, leaving
a note at each destination until the last note is a map to a secluded cabin.
He'll meet you there with the goods and you'll have a romantic weekend."
Phoebe gasped and hugged Leo. "That's brilliant! Cole would definitely
go for something like that. Thanks a bunch, Leo. Piper's a very lucky gal to
have you as her hubby." She grinned and ran upstairs to make the arrangements.
Piper glanced at Phoebe as her sister passed her by. "What's the
hurry?" she asked aloud. She saw Leo and smiled. Her hand automatically
moved to her stomach, protruding just a little. "Leo."
"Piper." He met her at the end of the stairs and kissed her lightly
on the lips. "Feeling better?"
"Much. The baby is agreeable nowadays. So where's Phoebe off to in
a rush?"
Leo led his wife into the living room so she could rest on the couch.
"Oh, she asked me for help on how to plan something romantic for Cole and I
told her to plan a treasure hunt that led to a secluded cabin and a weekend
getaway. She loved the idea and knew Cole would love it. Isn't that sweet?"
"I guess so." Piper shrugged one shoulder. "I don't think it's very
romantic. Cole will be running all over the place, sweaty and tired. You know
Phoebe. It's just an excuse to make love to him. It's disgusting how they
can't keep their hands off each other."
Leo suppressed a grimace. He knew Piper would never go for something
like that, even though he wanted to do it. "Of course." He laid a hand on
hers. "That's why I love you, Piper. We understand each other perfectly. A
marriage like ours could not have lasted so long if that was not so. And now
our dream has come true, we're going to have a baby. A baby. A part of me
that's made better because of you."
She smiled. "True. But we'll have to discuss names. I'm sure we'll
have a girl. After all, I saw her in our future. Though I don't know about
the name Melinda. She's the first of our line and a great person to be named
after, but...I really want to name her Prue. Don't you agree?"
He understood immediately why she would suggest the name change.
"I fully agree with you. Prue is a fine name. I'm sure your sister would love
it. Besides the future is always in motion. We don't have to name her Melinda
if we don't want to."
"I know you'd understand. We are soulmates. Much more than Phoebe
and Cole." She shuddered. "I hate to put this into words but that is not
love. Sometimes I wish Phoebe had never met Cole. I talked this over with
Paige and she agrees. Once people are dead, they should stay dead." Piper's
eyes got misty. "Unless it's Prue. I would love to have her alive again."
Leo nodded but felt that Piper was not being fair to Phoebe or Cole.
No, that's not right. She'd had to go through sitting on the sidelines watching
her sister get hurt. Yes, Piper was right. Though technically he himself was
dead. Ah, but he was good and thus of far more importance than Cole.
Footsteps thumped down the stairs and he saw Phoebe carrying several
pieces of paper in her hands. "I'll be out all day so don't wait up for me.
Thanks again Leo for the idea. I love it." She waved at Piper and left the
house.
"Well, I better go. I really want to talk to Paige and bond some more.
She may not be Prue, she won't ever be as great as Prue, but she is my sister
and I love her too." She kissed Leo lightly on the cheek and walked away.
He watched her leave and gazed at his wife with fondness. She was
his everything. Their love would last forever. Why was he borrowing trouble
in thinking about Phoebe and Cole? He glanced out the window and saw Cole
kissing Phoebe with passion and fire. Leo laughed as all her papers scattered
around them as Phoebe got into the kiss. That was something very different
and foreign to him. No, it was better this way. He was the lucky one.
DISCLAIMER: Charmed and company are owned by Aaron
Spelling and other companies. They are used here
without permission, and for entertainment purposes
only. No challenge or infringement upon the
copyright is intended, nor should any be inferred.
