Chapter 15: Dreams

"All I have are dreams of you…"

Selena, "Dreaming of You"

Phoebe refused to let her sister move back to her apartment. After all the manor was as much Piper's as it was hers, and they could decorate a room for Wyatt, and she and Leo could have their own room and they would have a bigger kitchen.

But most of all, Phoebe wanted her sister back.

It was huge effort to get Piper, Leo and Wyatt all moved in. Before Piper was released, Leo and Blake set about packing up and moving the apartment. It was two days before she was released that they were done setting up. Then, they went out and bought everything you could ever imagine a newborn baby might need in preparation for kick starting life at home.

Even though they hadn't managed to totally redecorate in time, it did look like the room of a child by the time they were done.

As it would happen, Piper and Wyatt were released on the same day. It was a show getting them out of the hospital--where they'd garnered many a fan--and into the house were the careful removal of both mother--who refused to let go of Wyatt for even a half of a second--into the house.

So, by the time everyone was settled, it was five-thirty, Piper and Wyatt were asleep in their bedroom, dinner was almost done and Leo, Blake and Phoebe sat, exhausted, but ecstatic. This is the stuff dreams were made of.

"I'm so glad you guys came to stay here!" Phoebe said jovially.

Leo smiled sideways. "I'm glad to be here, Phoebe."

Before she could reply, the phone rang. Phoebe placed her glass aside, "I'll get it."

As she picked it up, Leo slanted a glance at his worn out friend. "You look tired. Maybe you should just head on home."

Blake stretched and yawned. "Maybe you're right." He stood.

Leo followed him to the door. "Thanks a million, Blake, I mean it."

The evening air was clean and fresh and crisp and the house was cool as the temperature outside increased. He could go in and eat a good meal, then go to bed with the woman he loved. Leo felt better than he had in a long time. Leo and his friend parted ways, and Leo went back into his home.

"Hey, Phoebe, I'm gonna go see if Piper wants anything!" He shouted as he mounted the stairs.

"Okay!" She called back.

Leo opened the door to the bedroom slowly. Piper was asleep, with Wyatt nestled against her side. Both were breathing so softly, lips slightly parted. He smoothed his hand over Piper's forehead.

"Hey, baby," he said softly.

She murmured and her eyes fluttered open. "Hey," she said quietly.

"Are you hungry? Thirsty?"

"No, just tired." She patted the spot in the bed next to her. "Lay down."

"Are you sure I can't get you anything?"

"Lay your ass down." She was smiling as her eyes closed again. She felt his weight as he settled in, Wyatt between them. There was a part of her that missed this. A part of her that ached for this. But she couldn't let herself feel this hope yet. Not when there were so many unanswered questions, so many what ifs to explore.

If Leo's theories were right, then they had a lot more to worry about than the immediate things. If the Elders were purposely screwing up people lives, if the Elders had caused her to loose her child…

If these things were true, then Piper felt lost. She'd dedicated such a large part of her life to protecting people, and the Elders were supposed to be in the fight with her, guiding her, as much as she occasionally hated them.

Had she really dedicated years of her life to a cause lead by betrayers?

Leo's hand found hers across the bed, grasping it tightly and she chanced a glance at his face. He smiled weakly. "Makes it all worth it, huh?"

She didn't even have to ask for an explanation. "I've dreamt about this."

He lifted her hands to his lips. "Have you?" he murmured against her skin.

"Yup. I used to dream of us and this and you as the perfect father and me as a great mother." Her breath caught. "But that's not it, is it?"

Leo still didn't open his eyes. "It could be."

Piper smiled sardonically. "That's why they're called dreams, Leo. They're a nice diversion from everyday life."

"Technically, your dreams are something you're not reacting to during consciousness, and it manifests itself during the time when your subconscious is in control." She didn't miss the quirk in his lips. He might have been playing around, but she wasn't.

"Leo, you know that's not what I mean."

"I don't know anything until you tell me. I'm not a mind reader."

"You certainly pretend to be."

He moved around a little. "I don't do anything. I don't expect to be great by the same things when I'm with you. You're always knocking me around. It kills me, your impulsiveness."

Piper licked her lips. She could feel the spark of a fight in the air. "I didn't crawl into bed in the middle of the night."

"And if I hadn't?"

"We wouldn't have Wyatt," she answered honestly.

"Case closed."

"This case is not closed!" Piper exclaimed.

Leo was obviously very close to sleep. "Shut up for a second, you'll wake the baby."

Piper was quiet for a moment, contemplating her reply. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"About where you went…that day."

It was so long before he replied, she was certain he'd gone to sleep. "Because. It wouldn't have changed the way you felt about me. It still probably doesn't. You were better off not knowing."

Piper swallowed. "You're right, you're not a mind reader. You don't know anything about me at all."

"Don't," he replied sharply, so sharply for a man to have so little facial reaction.

"Don't what?" She demanded. "Don't point out the truth? Don't force you to realize how bad this all is? How much this situation has changed?"

"Don't go there, Piper. Leave it alone."

"You don't know me. You don't know a thing about me."

Leo's eyes opened suddenly and she was drowning in aqua whirlpools. "I know how your heart aches when you look at Wyatt. I know that you stay away from art museums because they remind you of Prue--"

"Stop."

"I know how much it hurt when Billy Jacobson stood you up for senior year homecoming--"

"Leo--"

"And I know how alone and afraid you felt the day your mother died." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I don't need to be a fucking mind reader, Piper. I've been with you, guiding you, from the moment you drew your first breath."

And if that wasn't love…

"I don't want to talk about this anymore." She was wounded in a way she couldn't pin down, and as such, couldn't continue arguing.

"Sweet dreams," he murmured, squeezing her hand tightly and seconds later, was snoring softly.

XxXxXxXxX

The next morning, Piper was in an irritable mood. Nothing could help but her son's placating coos. She'd spent half the day pretending to watch soap operas while actually watching Wyatt sleep, before Leo came home from his job hunt.

Fortunately, he was ecstatic. "I did it!" He shouted. "I found a job! It's construction, you know, not much but the pay is decent and there's room for growth."

Piper smiled then, happy for him if nothing else. "Leo, that's great."

His eyes twinkled. "You really think so?"

Piper stood and hugged him. "Of course I do. I'm proud of you."

Leo grabbed her hands. "Let's celebrate. You, me. Phoebe and Blake if they wanna go?" Piper gave him a look, but he was too happy to be beaten down. "Yeah, I know, our last night out didn't go so well--" This comment was punctuated by a snort, "but this could be different. I mean, we'll get the biggest meals at the very best restaurant in town. We'll get all gussied up and have a grand ole time!"

And off he was, with a proverbial kick of his heels.

XxXxXxXxX

At first, Piper considered feigning illness and staying home with Wyatt. But Leo, Blake and Phoebe had been infectious with enthusiasm, and she'd found herself excited in a breathless, anxious, first-date kind of way.

There was also this subject of clothing. If giving birth had occurred under normal circumstances, she'd probably be at least twenty pounds heavier. But she hadn't eaten for so long in the hospital, she felt weird in different places and small in some and heavier in others. All in all, she felt sort of awkward and wasn't sure she'd be pleased with any clothing she had.

However, Leo had squashed these worries, and in the end was quite pleased with himself.

It had been a great pleasure that snuck through him on many different levels, watching her come down the stairs, her hair in soft waves, her skin glowing and lips pink. She wore a simple black dress with thin straps and a modest neckline. She wasn't all exposed, but she wasn't all covered either.

Not only that, but she had this wonderful accessory of their child, nestled safely in her arms, and he knew he was making the right decision.

Blake and Phoebe rode in his car while Piper, Leo and Wyatt took the Jeep. Dinner was a lush affair with good seafood and steaks and pasta. Piper was a touch peach in the cheeks, maybe from contentment or too much wine, and Leo did care which, so long as she was happy about it.

Towards the end of the meal, Leo stood, touching his knife to his glass to gain the attention of his table, and apparently, that of the remains of the restaurant.

"I'd like to make an announcement." He gazed down at Piper's face and had the courage to move on. "I love this woman. I always have, and I always will. Until the moment she draws her very last breath I will love her. I could only hope that she feels the same for me. I want her for my own. I want to know that will always be there for each other."

Piper's eyes darted around in embarrassment. "Leo--"

He turned to her. "Piper, I can't go on another day with out you has my wife. I dreamt of us too. I want you to be the last thing I see before I go to bed and the first thing I see when I wake up because I want to be dreaming of you all day and into the night."

Piper grabbed his hand, "Leo, I don't think--"

"Don't think," he smiled. "Do you dream of us too?"

Tears began to roll down her cheeks and as second burned into one another, Leo had to wonder if they were having the same dreams.

AN: Thank you so much for all of your reviews!! I loved them to bits, but didn't have time to do this chapter and do personal responses, even with the handy dandy reply thingy. Ah, real life keeps me busy, busy, busy.

I'm trying to decided how to wrap this story up. I'm thinking at least six more chapters, and I'm gonna try to get those rolling out so I can concentrate on the sequel.

BTW, she hasn't said no, but she most definitely has not said yes. Thank you, and as always, please review!!