reading Black Orbs by Dream.Of.Rainy.Days-x

Chapter 22: Making Descisions

"

"I've found something…"

Piper's heart trembled inside her chest, slamming against her ribs. She was almost afraid to ask, but she had to.

"What?" It was meant to come out casual and easy, but it sounded hastened and desperate. She felt Leo's warm hand rest on her leg, soothing her.

"I had to use one of my charges…" he started, Piper felt Leo's hand grip onto her leg more and when she looked at him, she could she he was getting agitated by waiting.

"What is it?" he asked, almost threateningly

"Well, I don't know for certain it'll work. I've been told it will but…" Darryl stopped to look Leo straight in the eyes, "A potion to strip your powers."

Leo and Piper stared at Darryl in shock. A potion to make Leo normal. No more darklighters trying to kill them. No more worry over being exposed. No more powers. Just a normal guy. He smiled a little. Normal. With Piper. Nice thought.

"So…what d'ya think?" Darryl asked carefully, he knew Leo had a temper. But he saw no fire in Leo's eyes.

"Let me think." He told Darryl, but all the while staying focused on Piper. Darryl nodded and orbed out, leaving the two lovers to discus the issue.

-oxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxo-

"What you gunna do Leo?" Piper asked, Leo just shrugged

"I don't know." He answered honestly

"How can you now know Leo! Human! It's all we've wanted since I found out about you!" She told him, trying to keep her voice calm, but wasn't quite managing to.

"I know Piper! It's just…" He trailed off; he didn't want to tell her the next bit.

"Just what Leo?" She was yelling at him now, Leo hated it when she yelled at him.

"I wouldn't be able to protect you!" Leo yelled back and instantly regretted it. He hated showing weakness.

Piper's anger melted away and her face softened.

"Is that it?" She asked

"Yeah." He looked at the floor in front of him, avoiding her gaze.

"Leo…"

"It's not stupid Piper!"

"I never said…"

"Your still a future whitelighter, they're still gunna try and get to you! Without my powers, they could! And then you'd be gone! And then…" Leo traqiled off again, quickly wiping away the single hot tear trailing down his cheeks.

"Leo, I'd be fine. I know they're gunna try and get to me. But, that's why I've got Darryl." She looked over and saw the scowl across Leo's face, "I know you don't like him Leo, but he's guna protect me. It's his job!"

"But were was he when Alec had you?"

"One off Leo, but that is no reason for you to keep your darklighter powers, which happen to be evil!"

"But I'm not! Not anymore…"

"But your powers are Leo. I need a normal boyfriend. I need a normal life. Please. For me Leo." She kissed him quick, to help change his mind.

Leo thought about it for a second. If he took the potion, he would be normal. No powers, no evil in him. He could have everything he wanted right now. A family, home, a normal life with Piper. And just with that he'd made up his mind. He slowly nodded and felt Piper's lips pressing onto his.

"I love you." He murmured against them and flipped them over, sinking into the bed…

-oxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxo-

Darryl handed him a small vial. Inside it was a blueish colour liquid. A power-stripping potion. This was it. Normal. He held it up to his lips, he saw Piper watching him with a happy look in her beautiful eyes and any doubt in his mind melted away. He was doing this for her. For them. He swallowed the liquid in one gulp. For a second he felt nothing.

"I don't think it wor…" And he felt a excruciating pain rip through his chest.

He fell to the floor, paralysed with pain. Piper rushed to his side.

"Leo? Leo?"

He tried to answer, but when he open his mouth to speak it came out as a scream. And then he couldn't stop. He screamed and carried on screaming.

"It's hurting him!" a furious Piper yelled at her whitghighter.

"Look!" He told her and she turned back to Leo. A white light was now circling around him.

"What are you doing?"

The light circled faster and faster around him and then faded away, and so did his pain.

"Leo?" Piper asked, scared that something had happened.

"I'm ok." He told her and she threw her arms around him, crying tears of relief.

-oxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxo-

It had been two weeks since Leo had been made fully human and things had been great. That had even been looking at house for them to live in, she had been speaking to her Lawyer about divorcing Jeremy. Perfect until Paige handed her a letter one morning. Piper opened it and read.

Leo walked in to see his girlfriend's face white as a ghost and trembling. He went over to her and picked the letter up off the bedroom carpet and read…"