Faithfully Yours Part 7: There are no strangers..   Chapter 59 "The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means."   Oscar Wilde

Leo returned to the manor to discover that his journey had taken longer than he expected. He orbed into the hallway with the remains of the wrecked bomber jacket falling off him and his best hiking boots ripped open beyond repair which he had done as he climbed to the caves where he could safely orb home. The next day in his realm was well on its way and as he came out of the orb he could see Phoebe in the lounge was dealing with some very cranky children. Not only was Patsy still bashing irritability away on his drum, at the same time he was slamming toys in the air and destroying them with a lightning power. Wyatt had apparently decided cranky was the way to get attention because Phoebe was walking the floor with him rocking him and trying to hush him as giant wahhhs added to the noise Patsy was making.

Paige was sitting at the dining room table typing frantically on her rather ancient notebook.

She saw Leo orb in and raised her eyes as he looked at her quizzically. "Never know I still might have a job and the archbishop needs the monthly stats" she explained. "Looking good actually. Damn I'm good at this job. Piper's on the kitchen" she added.

Piper was staring at a depleted grocery cupboard and making notes. Her hair had a fly away look as if she had been running her hands through it and her face was pale and drawn.

Melinda sat at the kitchen table, both cats in her lap. As Leo went over to kiss her, he notice she was staring at a book on spiders she had shown Glock at length. Melinda looked at Leo her eyes big, more pixie than ever, filled with silent tears.

Piper looked up sucked her breath "Still missing Unca Glock" Piper said now uncomfortable with Leo. “To young to understand sudden departures."

Leo took a deep breath and went to Piper. He pecked her on the cheek and he felt her go rigid. "Still can't understand he's gone" Leo said awkwardly.

"She understands he's gone" Piper said putting her hands on his hips. "She does not understand that he can be gone and alive and not want to be with her." She looked up at Leo "She doesn't understand that he has a life without her. That some-one she loved could do that." She pushed her hand through her hair again. "She'll get over it."

Leo frowned

“Glad you're back" Piper said, swallowing hard as if she was trying to get herself under control. So" she said brightly "Now spites are gone, Geztalt gone. Everything back to normal."

Leo frowned.

"I have to go to the club. Haven't been paying attention to it" Piper said watching Leo carefully. "Now everything is back to normal" she added.

Leo nodded glanced Melinda and still frowned.  

Piper noticed and sucked on her lip, then ran her hand through her hair. "You lose people" she said "You love them and you lose them." Her voice broke "and you have to move on.'

Leo nodded. "I was thinking" he said "That being a witch. She's going to lose people she loves .All her life. It’s the nature of witches' lives.  Like you lost Prue and Grams. And Pattie."

"At least I know they aren't really gone. That they are never really lost" Piper said keeping her voice flat, neutral "That is a blessing being a witch. And she'll learn that. And she has people who love her… here.'

"You lost Pattie when you did not know that" Leo answered carefully "And It left you.."

“Screwed" said Piper hands on her hips. "Glock wasn't a mother, just a friend. And he wasn't here that long."

"Your father left, then you lost Pattie" said Leo carefully '"It was all to fast. Same with Glock. He was there and she loved him and then he was gone."

“That's how it happens sometimes" Piper said, and her voice caught. "You get over it.'

"Losing Pattie, losing Grams" Leo insisted "Losing Prue. You didn't get over it so well. Even knowing. And Melinda's like her mother."

Piper looked at him and flicker her head, hair flying. She half turned away then turned back.

 "You've lost a lot of people you've loved Piper" Leo told her as gently as he could and it tears you apart even knowing what you know.” He sucked his lip “But I think if she could learn .. Maybe she would understand if she saw his life" Leo said slowly. He took a deep breath "Like her mother, may understand Glock going if she saw his life.".

"Leo" Piper gasped "I didn't. I don't.'

Leo caught her arms "Piper "he said slowly "you lost some-one you… cared about deeply. Too quickly without a proper goodbye." He bit his lip as Piper's lower lip trembled. Then continued. "If someone you... cared about died you could mourn them and then move on. But if you can't say goodbye properly and you can't mourn them, you never can accept them going. You can't move on and...You can't look back." He turned away "I don’t want that for my daughter ... I don't want that for anyone I love."

Tears were falling from Piper's eyes as she stared intently at his back. She wiped them away from the back of her hand." He's gone. Beyond reach and needs to stay that way."

"Has not gonebeyond reach for me" Leo said not quite looking at her.

Piper glared at him. "What if Melinda can't understand?" she said "what if she can't accept saying goodbye?'

Leo took a deep breath "I think Glock is decent enough, kind enough… noble enough to say it so she understands. And if she understands and still can't accept… then its better we know." he said but his voice trembled as he said it.

"Seeing Glock again" and Piper's voice broke slightly as she thought about it and Leo did not miss it. Then Piper swallowing hard shook her head, "Maybe we just need to move on" Piper said "I don't want to take her to Burvjara. It’s no place for a child. Leo "she said a; mother "We could not take her there, put her through that place."

"Tell that to the Burvjarian children" Leo said as Piper realised the state of his clothes.

“Where have you been?" she demanded.

“Burvjara" he said defiantly "I went to see Glock" he said. He saw the expression on Piper's face, as she went red then white "I went because I want … things to be normal around here."

Piper put her hand to her mouth then tossed her hair.

"And they won't be normal" Leo pushed "until you and Melinda can say goodbye to Glock."

Piper pressed her hand hard against her mouth.

Leo came over and stood close to her "And I'm frightened if you don't say goodbye, things will never be normal again. Normal is you and me loving each other,” he said.

"I love you Leo” Piper whispered.

"Normal is wanting each other "he said "Being lovers , husband and wife, not just parents. You need to say goodbye Piper, Melinda needs to say goodbye because damn it Piper I want normal.”

Melinda looked up "Unca Glock?" she asked in a husky little voce "where?"

"They won't want us there" Piper said her voice still a whisper. "We can't take Melinda through that place. It would kill her."

“Glock said he would meet us" Leo said. "Close to where I could orb you." he shrugged "Glock is a decent person."

"You went" Piper said astounded, then falling back on the safety net of anger You went… you asked him."

"I want us back to normal Piper " Leo said his voice cracking a little.

Piper stood silent, Leo nervously watched her as she processed many thoughts and he did not miss the glimmer of excitement at the prospect.

"You can keep Melinda safe?" she asked carefully.

"I can" Leo said "Glock can."

"What about her trying to use magic?" Piper demanded as if she was trying to find a reason not to go..

"We can guard her." Leo insisted "She understands about not using it out now. She listens to Glock." He stood watching Piper. Waiting.

Piper's lip trembled then her whole body shook "Kay" she said holding out her hand.

"You trust Glock?" he asked trying to keep the bitterness from his voice.

"I trust both of you" Piper said as he took her hand.

……………………………………………………………………………….

Leo, with Piper tightly clutching Melinda, came out of an orb in a cold dank cave. Melinda immediately began to cry as the stench hit her and Piper pulled her hard against her so Melinda buried her face in Piper's shoulder. Melinda was dressed in the warmest clothes she had, quilted pants and sheepskin jacket with a big hood and fur fringe. She had thick mittens and sheepskin boots and as an extra precaution Piper had wrapped her in a big quilted rug. Piper was also rugged up in 4 sweaters, and a huge thick woollen coat as well as thick woollen cap, mittens and two pair of pants and she still shivered in the darkness.

Leo felt the shiver and kept his arm around her. He shone the torch he had brought and taking Piper's hand they carefully picked their way over the rough stone ground while Melinda only stopped crying when Piper assured her Glock was not far away.

“You sure he is?" Piper asked Leo nervously.

"He said he would be" Leo answered.

“He will be "said Piper confident "we'll see Unca Glock soon" she promised Melinda who sniffed and buried her face harder against Piper.

When they came out of the cave, it was just turning dark. They found themselves on a cold wind bitten stretch of ground, high above a valley. Behind them the hills towered above in dark ugly shapes. The air felt almost crisp and only faintly tinged by the smell of destruction.

They could hear the water trickling somewhere. And as Leo flashed the torch to show the ground around, they could see the area was covered in blue soil and some rather ugly orange grass type weed were growing around them.

"Its better even than before" Piper said. "In such a short time.”

"Its cycles here" Leo answered "Not days."

"It’s still a short time" Piper insisted, defiant.

Leo just stopped himself shining the torch in her face, hesitated and then said "You're right."

Instead he shone the torch where the ground seemed to form a reasonable track which was in fact the remains of one of the old highways. Below them they could see some lights shining and hear the murmur of voices carried in the cold night air.

“Glock will be there.” Piper promised Melinda who was whimpering a little as the cold hit her. Piper pulled Melinda's scarf over her face but Melinda pulled it off

 "Unca Glock" Melinda said brightly

With Leo shining the torch they made their way down the relatively short path to where the Burvjarian encampment was. They had not gone far when two Burvjarians met them.

Leo started to say they were expected but the Burvjarians simply waved them forward, but not before all three had taken keen look at Melinda. As Piper walked, Melinda became curious enough to look over Mom's shoulder. She suddenly laughed and Leo turning to see why just caught the two Burvjarians pulling faces at her, their noses twitching as she laughed.

Very soon they approached an encampment. Not far away Piper could make out the figures of Burvjarians huddled round the warming stones that Glock had talked about. Her heart jumped as without difficulty she recognised Glock's tall figure. He was standing in a group of four Burvjarians and Glock was carefully examining something that looked like a twig. Piper as she strained her eyes in the dark wondered if the twig was green.

Piper caught her breath when she saw him and Leo let his out. Glock immediately looked up and for a second his nose twitched violently. Then Glock nodded to where she could just see Cole huddled, cold and miserable as he pulled his mock Burvjarian robe around him, despite the warming stones. Cole was a little way from the Burvjarians, still apparently watching the course of justice because he was intently listening to what was clearly a volatile argument and his body language was showing a certain exasperation at what was being said.

Leo moved forward with Piper nervously clutching his hand and Melinda looking curiously around her. Melinda was neither nervous nor afraid. She had been in some odd realms when Daddy was supposed to be baby sitting and had seen some places and magic creatures that Piper still did not know about. Melinda looked around expectantly until she saw Glock. She tried throwing the quilt that Piper had wrapped around her off and  from Piper's hold then she struggled to get herself free calling loudly "Unca Glock, Unca Glock."'

Every Burvjarian around the warming stones looked up at her shrill voice. Glock moved toward them while Cole also stood up and followed staying just behind him. Piper put Melinda down and Melinda not caring about the tall Burvjarians, ran to him calling Unca Glock Unca Glock, a small of figure rugged in thick ski suit and the hood flying. And every Burvjarian moved closer to stare at her. Glock bent down to catch Melinda before she could be tempted to levitate up to him and she flung her arms around his neck.

"I luv you Unca Glock "she told him confidentially while Piper standing beside Leo just looked at him her eyes big and sucked her lip.

"I love you Melinda and I am very pleased to see you too" Glock told her. And his nose twitched as Melinda went off into a long and complicated explanation of how she had come and how she and her cats had missed him and how fast her bicycle could go.

"Melinda just came to make sure you're okay” Leo said carefully making sure Melinda heard him “she knows she can't stay.'

"No. This is not a safe place for little magic witch" Glock agreed carefully keeping hold of Melinda ready to stop her magic.

Behind them Cole watched, ready to step in as Burvjarians were moving forward. she just spied Unca Cole standing watching her and happily waved to him. "Unca Cole" she called "here I am."

Melinda watched the Burvjarians with fascination. Glock turned around and without asking her parents, took her over and carefully introduced her to them. They all looked at her curiously and several put out hands to touch her fair skin.

Melinda had seen to many odd magic creatures in her life time to be concerned. A number of Burvjarian offspring in rough looking small robes pushed their way through the adults. They too stood looking curiously at Melinda and Glock glanced back at Piper who nervously nodded.

He put Melinda down and she plonked herself in the blue ground and examined it, putting it to her mouth to test it then spat in disgust. The offspring moved around her while suspicious females and warriors watched. Three of the ragged offspring finally came over and one of the offspring kicked some blue earth at Melinda. Piper caught her breath. Melinda with two boys in her house knew what to do. She picked up a handful of dirt and threw it back while Cole, Glock and Melinda's parents all got ready to jump in before she used magic.

The Burvjarian offspring spat the dirt out, looked at Melinda suspiciously and picked up a stone, while Melinda's parents gasped and started to move but the offspring rolled it at Melinda and she rolled it back, and before long the four of the children were playing with the stone.

The Burvjarians, and Piper and Leos stood carefully watching the group, even the ones who had been arguing violently with Glock stopped to watch them.

Cole moved over to Glock “You were right my friend” he said

“About what?" Glock asked not in his most friendly voice.

"You told me once better than using wars with words even when you put the weapon down, your realm would be better served taking the time to watch the offspring play.”

Glock snorted and shook the twig with green leaves in Cole's face. "You have a point any friend but this still annoys me."

Cole grinned “Deal with it" he said.

Cole stayed close to Melinda so Glock finally moved over to Leo and Piper. He looked at Piper and his nose twitched violently.

“It is offspring always who know the answers, at least until they are old enough to learn to fight" he said. "Maybe we can find a way:" he added as Piper never took here eyes off him.

"What’s that?  Leo asked indicating the twig.

"It seems someone, an Other, an Ogre, was careless where they discarded their rubbish when they walked through our land" Glock said his voice still annoyed. He nodded toward Cole "It is green" he said twirling the twig.

Piper took it from him. "It’s a peach tree" she said.

"We were discussing whether the green should be destroyed" Glock explained “There are those who feel that all traces of the others should be removed" he said.

"Oh'" said Piper looking at Glock and then Melinda.

“And those of us who know that the orchards of long ago are gone know the fruit of these trees is sweet" Glock added. "Even if the trees are green" he added his nose twitching in irritation.

"Peaches are orange" Piper said carefully. “The fruit is orange.'

"So is the fruit of the other one they found" Glock said "Oranges you call the fruit” he said. "But the trees are green."

"Is it possible to wipe away the traces of the Others?" Leo asked.

“No and probably, regrettably, not even desirable.” Glock replied watching Piper carefully “I believe familiarity with Others, observing their weakness makes them...less dangerous to… we become less susceptible to their ambitions." he said. “Damn it." he added glaring at the twig.

Piper smiled "Some things will change no matter what you do" she said "and the fruit is sweet."

Glock's nose twitched. "The trees are green" he said glaring in Cole' direction.

They all watched Melinda playing in the dirt with the Burvjarian offspring. Cole twice stepped in to stop her using magic. Melinda making it very clear what she thought about his interference which earned her a special cuddle from one of the Burvjarian females. Offspring of any form who could put Ogres in their place were clearly welcome. Piper awkwardly huddled against Leo kept glancing toward Glock, occasionally catching his eye.

"So she came all this way to see me" Glock said “And now she plays ion the dirt with the offspring.'

"All is right with her world. She knows where you are" Leo explained.

"It means… much to me that it matters to her." Glock replied

The night became very dark and finally the Burvjarian females removed their offspring. Cole picked Melinda up, complaining her game had been stopped and brought her to her parents.

 “Melinda wants to say good bye" he said in his guardian voice and Leo and Piper both looked surprised. “She really needs to go" Cole said. "Before she does something." Leo flushed, defensive "and I'm not arguing about bringing her" Cole added "I'm just saying you need to know when to go. Others coming in the past never knew that" he said in his guardian voice.

Leo nodded "We have to go honey" he told Melinda "Unca Glock has work to do."

Melinda looked mutinous.

"Just like mommy and daddy go to work, and Unca Cole and Aunt Phoebe an Auntie Paige go to work. Going to work is normal to her" Leo explained.

Melinda frowned.

Glock picked her up "I have to work" he said "and I can't come back and visit you for a very long time because my work means I must stay here."

"Can I come visit?" Melinda asked.

"Not for a long time" Glock said.

"Can I come visit?" she insisted, her head on the side.

Glock touched her face gently. "You can" he told her "But not until you are a very big girl." he added.

“'Kay" she said “You’ll be here?” she asked.

Glock’s face flashed with pain. “I will Melinda” he said and Piper reached her hand toward him.

Piper pulled a small parcel out of her pocket and gave it to Melinda. “Melinda really came to give you a present" she told Glock.

 Melinda carefully handed Glock her present, two bars of chocolate "I didn't eat them." she explained very good girl "Mommy says I shouldn’t eat chocolate for a while" she told Glock .She also gave Glock a book, the one about spiders.

“Open it” Piper told Glock aware of the Burvjarians in the background never taking her eyes off them.

Glock opened it to find the picture of Melinda in it

"Now you won’t forget me" Melinda explained.

“I could never forget you, Melinda" Glock told her and she hugged him.

Melinda stayed with Glock for a few minutes, Piper awkwardly watching until Leo finally took Melinda in his arms clearly at a loss to know what to say.

Finally Cole said very carefully. "Why don't you take Melinda home Leo? Its not a good place for witches.'

"She needed to say goodbye to Glock" Leo said but looked toward Piper.

"Not arguing" said Cole "but there's no place for witches her. I'll bring Piper" he added.

Lei hesitated.

"I'll bring Piper" Cole said "there's no place for witches here Leo".

Glock sucked his breath and so did Piper.

Leo explained to Melinda he was taking her home "Mommy is coming soon" he told her not entirely convinced.

"Mommy is coming back with me" Cole said firmly.

Glock touched Melinda. "I love you too Melinda" he said "and I will never forget you and I will never see a small creature without thinking of you and you passion" he hugged her. “Live well Melinda.”

Leo who determinedly walked away while Melinda waved madly over Daddy’s shoulder and called out “Love you Unca Glock ". Happy now she had placed him with friends.

Cole watched her Leo walk away "I guess Leo was right Melinda needed to say goodbye" he said. He put his hand out and half touched Piper who nodded. Then deliberately Cole walked away to huddle over some warming stones while the Burvjarians suspiciously made room for him.

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