Faithfully Yours Part 7: There are no strangers..   Chapter 60 "The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means."   Oscar Wilde

Piper was left standing looking at Glock while the less than friendly but clearly curious Burvjarians watched her. She defiantly flicked her hair, her pony tail flying out behind her and her eyes lit up as Glock's nose twitched.

"It was good the children...offspring and Melinda played together" Piper said awkwardly. "The children…aren't that different" she said.

"No" said Glock "not so different when they know today they will survive the day."

Piper glanced at several Burvjarian females who were busy with offspring.

"I don't think I could bear that" she said passionately. "Being a mother and not knowing … if my children would survive the day. How could your …females live like that?"

“They had no choice" Glock said not without bitterness "These are the first of generations to have gone …cycles without fighting." His eyes flashed bright yellow, lion-like "and I notice they wake with the light and they make noise… like your children.“

"I hope they say your name with reverence in gratitude for the peace" Piper said softly "Because they owe you a great deal."

"Don't" Glock interrupted harshly "Don't talk destinies and heroics."

Piper put her hand to his face and smiled softly "You shouldn’t be frightened of your destiny. Its who you are and why I… care about you. You’re a special person.”

Glock nodded almost wistfully "I am glad to see you again" he said. "I am grateful to Leo to allow me this privilege.”

Piper sucked her lip. "I didn't want to intrude…I mean…Leo thought  ...I should say  ...goodbye. Not just Melinda” she looked up at Glock "I know …was not.. I'm glad to have a chance to say goodbye though" she rushed out.

"I know. I told him to bring you" Glock said his skin flushing dark orange. "And I am truly grateful that he has … generously given me the chance… to say goodbye to you." He raised his hand toward her.

Piper smiled and took his hand "You... you look like the first time I saw you” she said" the robe; I mean, it makes you look alien but.. "

Glock looked down at her his yellow eyes darkening.

"The first time I saw you I thought you looked noble, a hero from a ... fairytale… Someone I dreamed about." Piper whispered.  "The spites sort of made it… amped . Did I really scare you then?" she asked looking up at him with a soft smile. 

"Yes. You terrified me" Glock admitted his nose twitching and Piper laughed “I felt very alien and very unsafe that night. Am I safe now?" he asked.

Piper smiled “Yes" she said "We fixed the spites" then she took a deep breath "only it wasn't all spites. Not hardly any of it. Just I… l…like you" Then she shook her head "I love Leo” she said,

"I know" Glock replied and glanced over his shoulder at the watching clansmen He put his hand on Piper's arm and steered her away behind some rocks hidden from prying eyes, safer to talk in the dark. Piper was aware Cole stood up and frowned as he watched them go.

"So" said Glock looking down at her, his skin still flushed dark orange. "Your friendship was because I was…alien."

Piper shook her head "No it was because you were ...special" She too flushed in the dark "I didn't make you into a fantasy hero Glock "she said. "You let me see who you were and …" she caught his hand tightly again. "I'm honoured. I respect you…You're a special person. Your people would call me stranger, alien" she told him. “An Other.”

He laughed softly "There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven't yet met " His nose twitched as she frowned "I listened to Leo's quotes" he said and reached toward her and then stepped back.

Piper put her hand on his arm not able to say any more. "So how .. is it "she asked "When I saw you fight the demons. I was frightened for you." she said.

"I thought when I left here I had fought my last battle "he told her "I was wrong but the truth is I feared to fight another battle. You helped me find the courage to fight again.”

"Sometime you have to fight” Piper whispered. "Some wars are good wars."

“You told me that before" Glock replied. His nose twitched "You also told me that the trick we as to know when to stop fighting."

"Can you stop fighting now?" Piper asked quietly.

Glock’s skin flushed dark orange. "I can stop fighting because I have known you and known real peace. Now I need to convince my brethren they can also stop. So far I have convinced them not kill each other when they do fight" he said.

“That is good start” Piper smiled “How do you do that? '

“A very good start” Glock’s nose twitched "I do what I learned in your house. Learnt from a vey special lady. Crash their head together" he said "Or cross my arms and glare at them so fearfully they will shrivel away."

“I don't do that that much' Piper said blushing. "Maybe a bit but my family need it. But its just family stuff, nothing special.”

"It’s special when you can convince your powerful sisters and guardian not to fight with a glance.” Glock told her. He took a deep breath ”If I can keep the peace here it will be because of what I have learned in your family, what I learned from you" he said "what I learned sharing bread with your family."

"You're not going top tell me you learned all the answers to Burvjara living with my family; Piper asked him smiling slightly tears forming in her eyes.

Glock nose twitching slowly shook his head "I did not learn the answers.” He touched her lips gently. “I learned to ask the right questions” he told

“Oh” said Piper.

Glock's nose twitched "There was one answer you told me" he said. "You said to me when wars never stop it is because people don't understand they have won all they can win. They do not understand they can stop fighting when the battle isn't worth the cost.”

Piper nodded tears silently rolling down her face. She and Glock stood quietly in the dark, slightly apart just touching fingers.

Finally Piper said "When Leo came to see you about bringing me here what did Leo ask you to do?"

Glock took a deep breath but did not answer.

"What did he ask you?" Piper repeated “Glock I need to know" she said tremulously.

Glock nodded “Leo asked me to tell you the truth" he told Piper. "Leo asked me to tell you that I can face this accursed destiny, this destiny I fear so much  because I knew you, because I know somewhere in the realm you are with your children and you are happy” His nose twitched violently “I saw you" he said "that first morning with your children. I saw you happy. It is a vision I will never forget. I fell in love with that vision" he said.

“Oh" said Piper “Oh" she took a deep breath. “I’m not only that" Piper said. "I’m other things too.” she confessed.

"I know" Glock whispered his fingers touching hers. "And I love you for all those things, but I fell in love with you then."

He waited.

Piper caught her lip and finally squeezed his fingers "Thank you” she said simply. "I am beholden for your…kind words.” She looked up at him and then deliberately wiped away the tears from her face. “Glock there are words I cannot say to you because I… love Leo and I … I must be loyal to him."

"I know” Glock said softly, "and that I love about you. But I need once… in my life to say such words with no conditions. Simply to say it because I … I never dreamed I would… there are many things I have done because of you that I never dreamed I would… saying that is the most important to me."

Piper nodded understanding as she and Glock stood close to each other silent.

Finally Piper said "Its funny it was the mother thing, you fell in love with when I scared the hell out of you with the spite stuff. Phoebe says that the earth mother image, it’s pretty seductive"

"Phoebe is too damned right about too many things" Glock growled.

"She doesn't understand it always. Well she blurts it out. The truth I mean” Piper explained “What she said about your calling ..I… she just blurts things out" she said.

"Phoebe knew what it meant and said it to hurt" Glock said "And it did.” His eyes glowed yellow, pained “I confess to you I am afraid Piper. But you give me the strength...I lived a fantasy with you, of waking up and seeing  a beautiful female with her offspring smiling at me, of not fighting and now perhaps because I carry with me…that memory I can face the future I must. But Phoebe was being a bitch to tell me of that future.”

“If its any consolation Phoebe is getting really pissed and angry about being called a heroine, cramping her style no end"' Piper explained

“Good” said Glock with a maliciousness he could only have learnt at the manor.

Piper laugher throwing her head back and he sucked his breath. She looked around her "This land …" she said. "it is …” she looked around at the rocks.

"Not green” Glock said.

"No” Piper agreed "That is green though" she said indicating the twig he still held.

"When I find green here” he said “I feel I touch you soul.”

She sucked her breath “I love Leo” she said. “But I have known you and it has helped make some sense of things"'

“Knowing you has made living possible for me" Glock said simply.

Piper took a deep breath and standing as high as she could she kissed him as he bent forward to her. He returned the kiss with an ardour and passion, then he stopped. With a deep hard breath she pulled free and walked away from him.

She stopped and turned "Goodbye Glock" she said simply.

"Farewell" he replied standing still as a statue.

She walked toward Cole who was waiting near the warming stones watching them a wry expression on his face.

“I'm ready to go "she told Cole "and I saw the house and I'm pissed as hell at you."

“I figured you would be" Cole said grinning as he glanced at Glock whose nose twitched.

Glock slowly followed Piper a few steps behind. "You depart now" he said to Cole.

“I will return when it’s necessary" Cole told him "alone" he added looking at Piper.

"Only if there is a call for justice.” Glock warned him

Cole nodded "This is just the start of what you have to do. It won't get easier.” he said.

“I saw your history on your TV" Glock said “I am warned how difficult and dangerous a road I walk."

“I hate history" muttered Piper.

Glock's nose twitched.

“We must go'" Cole said catching Piper’s arm

"Take care of your imperfect love" Glock told Cole. "And thank her for what she did for Burvjara."

"I will” said Cole with a smile. The one he saved for Phoebe. He held out his hand to Glock who stepped close and shook it.

“You will return” Glock told Cole “I regret to say.”

“I know” Cole said then holding onto Piper’s arm firmly he walked away.

Piper glanced backward to see Glock watching them go then he raised his hand slowly before turning back to the Burvjarians.

“Do you think he will make peace in Burvjara?” Piper asked Cole as they climbed the ridge to the caves where he could shimmer.

"Ye " said Cole. “A form of it.”

“It won’t be easy for him" Piper whispered.

"Not if history is any judge" Cole agreed.

“I hate history'” Piper muttered.

"So do I Pip "Cole said “because it tells you just how bad things can be before they get better.”

“It’s going to be a hell of a life for Glock” Piper said tears in her eyes.

"Take a hell of a lot of courage to even think he could live through what he'll have to” Cole replied.

"Glock has the courage” Piper answered slowly. She glanced back at the Burvjarian camp, the lights from the warming stones only just visible and then walked forward almost pulling Cole after her.

“Hey” he roared “Slow down before you break both out necks on the rocks.

Piper ignored him and stalked up the track to the caves where she suddenly stopped and turned away from the entry.

"You're not going back" Cole said in his guardian voice. "Glock's walking a different road to you.”

“I understand that" Piper snapped "Cole I have to face Leo" She said and her voiced shook "Cole I'm frightened. To … have someone else love me.. to feel that ..I could …respect some-one else. I love Leo. But.." She stood still “Phoebe says its Leo’s fault I was …looking for a…few things…elsewhere but Cole what will I say to him. I’m scared“ she said.

“Phoebe knows a thing or two” Cole said "Pip, Leo bitches because he's just as scared as you about managing magic kids. It's a guy thing" Cole explained. "Easier to bitch at the nearest and dearest than admit how scared you are. We expect you to figure it out."

"Well I just feel like shit when he does it" Piper insisted.

Cole laughed “Piper Leo loses the kids too” he said.

"What?” screeched Piper.

"Loses them all the time, or gets his nose in a book and doesn't see them wrecking the house around him" Cole said.

Piper caught her lip "That...Why are you telling me now?" Piper demanded.

"Because maybe you need to know that you aren’t  ... neither of you are perfect parents” he said.

"Leo gets so damned prissy” Piper interrupted.

“I was going to say sanctimonious" Cole grinned

"Thank you.” she replied with a tight smile “I’m still scared". She added. Then she crossed her arms. “I’m still pissed about the house too." she said

“I know" Cole grinned. "That was the voice you used when you had Melinda's power to challenge me as the source” he told her.

Piper grinned "I was scared to death about the future then too" she said.

Cole half laughed and put his arm around her. Piper leant back against him then she pulled herself away. "Its time to go" she told Cole.

He nodded and walked into the cave pulling her after him, holding tightly to her hand, he shimmered before she think about not coming.

Cole came out of the shimmer in the hall of the manor and immediately ducked out of the way as Piper glared in the direction of the conservatory. However she was distracted from yelling at him, when Leo he came out of the kitchen. She nervously smiled at Leo.

"Everything okay?” Leo asked quietly and Piper hanging back against Cole for support, nodded. "Say goodbye to Glock?” Leo asked carefully and Piper nodded again.

Before she could say anything Melinda came bouncing out the kitchen. She had a large piece of bread in her hand covered in hundreds of thousands and huge bits of butter and was busy stuffing another piece in her mouth.

"Leo" said Piper forgetting to be nervous when she saw her daughter.

"My mother used to make us fairy bread" Leo explained as Melinda levitated to smother her mother in a buttery kiss and then gave Cole a buttery huge.

"Can’t stop her eating since she got back" Leo said still awkward.

"There's fruit in the house" Piper crossed her arms as Melinda stuck out a tongue covered in hundreds and thousands.

“She said she would not eat chocolate if I gave her something nice" Leo explained. "She was good in Burvjara. She deserves something nice.'

“That's bribery Leo" Piper roared catching Melinda's hand "Would you like a nice banana?" she asked Melinda.

“Yes mommy” said Melinda stuffing the rest of the fairy bread in her mouth.

Leo looked at Cole who was leaning on the stair support. Cole noted that Leo's eyes were suspiciously damp.

"Feels good to be yelled at doesn't it?” Cole asked sardonically.

Leo nodded, sucked his breath and then grinned "Hope so for you sake. Erin and Eduardo have been taking it in turns calling you every half hour."

"Damn. What day is it?" Cole asked tired almost beyond caring.

"Sunday" said Leo "But you're wanted in court tomorrow, first thing with contempt being threatened if someone from the firm does not show up and Erin is getting scared she'll have to go."

Cole winced "One battle ends" he said.

"This one isn't the same as Burvjara" Leo pointed out

“No, the ones in Burvjara were … honest" Cole answered the weariness showing in every word. “You okay?" he asked.

Leo shrugged. "I guess Glock really said goodbye?” he asked nervously.

"He did "Cole answered in his guardian voice. Leo nodded as Cole looked around. "Where's Phoebe?" he asked. “At Therold's?" he said in a soft dangerous voice.

"She's at the beach with the boys. Patsy is still pretty grumpy. She thought the sea air might help" Leo explained quickly. “She hasn't been back to Therold’s since the girls came home.”

Cole scowled "Figured she has to face me did she? Eventually?”

“Sooner or later she has too” Leo agreed putting his hand out "Let her... trust her. Spites are gone. Girls fixed that.  Phoebe wouldn't... Just trust her. I hear you saved her…in Burvjara."

"I love her" Cole shrugged "And I will trust her…because if I don't, well its not there is it."

Leo looked at him quizzically. “Burvjara sure calmed you down” he said.

“I was told" Cole explained "I was told good, but I have a strong feeling I will be told again before long.”  He shrugged “I listened enough to figure not to destroy the good stuff between Phoebe and me .. out of … spite, anger. Its worth better than that. But it still pisses me of when someone tries coming between my love and me."

"Me too" said Leo sucking his breath and then flushed uncomfortably because Piper  was standing in the dining room and clearly heard what he said.

Piper glared at Cole and he looked at her apprehensively"I need to go shower and then find Phoebe" he said swallowing again.

Piper nodded then glared past him at the mess behind him.

"I'll fix it" Cole said waving his hand in the direction the conservatory.

"How?" Piper tapped her foot and Cole shuddered then turned and ran up the stairs.

“He's going to be shit scared of you for months" Leo told Piper.

“I know" She said smiling in some satisfaction. She looked at Leo and bit her lip.

“I wasn't sure that you would come back" he said slapping his hands awkwardly by his side, keeping the distance between them.

“I couldn't stay" she said "I mean… I couldn't survive in Burvjara and... my kids and.." her voice tailed off.

“So” Leo said curling his lips and with is effort restraining himself. "Have you come back...to me?"

“I love you" Piper whispered.

"And you fell in love with him" Leo pushed. "Don't deny it."

Piper took a deep breath "I'm not denying it". .

"And" Leo pushed harder "Even before he came you were looking for  ...something different to me.”

Piper started to shake her head then nodded. She held her hand out to him "Leo" she said her voice shaking.

"I don't want seconds" he bit out. "I gave up everything for you, I gave up being a whitelighter," he said, his voice shaking. "I thought it was for life. I thought what we had...

"Once, you gave it up for me, then you gave it up the last time for you" Piper interrupted "Honestly Leo..."

"By all means be honest" he snapped. 

“Leo" she said shuddering half extending her hand. "I thought you understood" she whispered. "You took me to see Glock" she said "You did the angel thing. You didn't... damn me. But I need to be honest" she said turning away.

"If we have a hope in hell" he said finally giving into bitterness.

Piper shook her head "Honestly Leo. You did the angel thing when you took me to Glock. You didn't fight for me" She wrung her hands "You had to make it all better... Like an angel. You didn't fight for me."

"Í took you to Glock so he could say goodbye to you" Leo said bitterly "because if he didn't you were never going to…love me again.”

“Oh" she said. She sucked her lip "What were you going to do if he didn't... say goodbye?" she asked.

"Honestly "said Leo. He looked at her wryly "Fight for you" he said "only he's so damned honourable I didn't even get to do that. At least Cole got that in Burvjara. He got to be a damned hero to Phoebe. I just get to be an angel and you hate me for it."

"I don’t hate you Leo I love you and there are lots of ways of being a hero. Want to blow up the house to prove you love me?" Piper asked.

Leo gave her a ghost of a smile. “I do you love you”' he bit out "But it's not enough is it?".

"Honestly" said Piper

“Being honest would help" said Leo angrily catching her arms

"It's not enough" she said as she looked up at him.

"I need to fight for you” Leo said angrily. "I need to be the god damned hero. How do I do that Piper when the only …enemy I have is too honourable to fight?"

"If you don’t fight you need to want me bad enough to fight for me" she said and pulled away then she turned back to meet him. "I guess you do" she added awkwardly “If that is why you took me to Glock."

Leo half shrugged "What the hell did Glock have I don't?" he asked in pain.

"Well the spites" She said.

“It wasn't the spites and you know it" he snapped.

“Honestly” Piper said. “He was magic and special" she told him her voice faltering "Like you…. Especially when you .. we first met. Only" she added.

"Only what?" he demanded.

“He thought I was … special” Pipe said. "He respected me." she said "he helped me because I was special not because I was weak.'

"I respect you" Leo whispered.”

“Do you" she said. "You left me to lean up the mess in Phoebe's room, you let me go out and get bananas for Patsy. You made it harder when I was struggling and suddenly worrying how you will react makes you the problem because its the problem. Glock solved the problems and thought I was special when he did, didn't blame me and he …listened to me even when I .. said things that well were stupid."

"Stupid "said Leo

She looked at him. '"He understood about how I hate history" she said.

“It always feels like you a re bitching on my dreams when you say you hate history" Leo said his voice tight.

"So you… got back at me bitching about the kids?" Piper asked sadly.

"I worry about the kids" he said shaking his head. “I worry about you not coping with the kids.”

“Leo Glock saw me with the kids and  ... it I was something he could live  ... a life time remembering just seeing me. He knows I'm not perfect… God knows he saw us all enough to know that but he saw something in me that was special. He saw…"she sucked her breath "Phoebe's Madonna thing. Some one worth fighting for, being better for, fighting when he was tired beyond caring, because I… I inspired him" she said. "I just make you …bitch" she said

Leo winced "I'm only trying to..."

“Guide me. I know" she said "Leo I don't think you have the right. You think  you know more than me” she said "Leo you lose the damned kids too. You want to teach me ... well I know as well as you... they're magic... when" she softened "when you bitch about ...little things... it frightens me... you  ... won't be there for the big things. It frightens me you're not there for me" she said. "Glock thought I was…wonderful and he was there for me."

"I’m there for you. I'm prepared to say anything. Do anything" Leo bit out his voice harsh with pain. "I love you, I would protect you. I would fight for you. Anything. After everything we've been through, I have to keep proving that." he demanded

“Maybe" Piper said "If you really want me, I need to know you would do anything" she said "I call you when I really need you and get a...lecture. Glock climbed out on the roof."

“I would have" he said.

"You didn't come" she said. "He was there. And he didn't blame me."

They stood uncomfortably staring at each other

“I get frightened" Leo finally admitted. "and I.. sort of blame you".

Piper sucked her lip.

"Where do we go now?" he said bitterly. "Do I have to go kill a few elders to prove it" Leo said. "Just like Cole. Phoebe told me."

Piper looked at him intently then smiled a little, tears in her eyes. "You need to kill a few of my demons, take the risks, be there willing" she said.

"You what a fantasy hero" Leo snorted “Not a husband.”

“I live in the world of magic. I want to believe you could be a fantasy hero. I want to one say my hero to you. I want to say you make me easier, you make it better you know me" she said.

"You're being unreasonable" Leo bit out. "You fell in love with some-one else and I have to … give ..do …be a fantasy to make it work again

“I know" she said simply. “But I’m talking about how I can be in love with you, not Glock.”

“You think it’s honest I should just think you're perfect" Leo asked bitterly. “Even when you're bitching about what I do… about my dreams

"You could pretend "she said slowly. "So I know you love me when I'm not, when I .. lose the kids" she said.

Leo took a deep breath. “I lose the kids "he said "Cole bitches like hell at me for not paying as much attention as I could.'

"He told me" Piper said. “ But I’m glad you told me too.”

"Have we got a hope?" Leo asked sadly.

"Do you think we could talk like this if we didn’t.” Piper answered stepping so close she had to look up to see his face. “You gave up everything for me"' Piper said. "I fought the damn elders for you.”

Piper choked back a sob and then she wiped her eyes again. She put her hands on Leo's shoulder. He looked down and took a deep breath.

"There's something I want to say" she said "I… it's been... about me... something I discovered. You were watching me when I fell in love the time with Mark, the Chinese guy" she asked.

"Yes" Leo answered shortly

"What I admired about him "Piper said slowly" there was something noble about him, the way he was concerned for his mother.”

"So" said Leo tightly.

"And you remember Dan" Piper said as Leo frowned “He was good he was nice  ...but he wasn't"... noble. So I choose you."

Leo looked down at her very pale.

"Its.. I couldn’t someone who isn't... noble " Piper said. She looked down then up at him. “I love you" she said. “ And I want the rest to just… oh… work.”

“Me too” Leo nodded then caught her in his arms and gently kissed her.

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