One autumn night

 "One autumn night, after a cozy dinner, Leo sat in the Halliwells’ living room. The fire was glowing in the fireplace. Chris and Wyatt sat on either side of him, each with a cup of hot chocolate in their hands.

Chris looked at his father and asked,

“Dad… when did you know you loved mom?”

Leo smiled. His eyes softened, as if looking back in time:

“The first time you met my mom, she was… blowing up a microwave.”

The two children burst out laughing.

“Really?!”

Leo nodded, trying not to laugh:

“My mom was a great cook—later. But that day, she was extremely confused when she found out she was a witch. And then Dad walked into the house—as the newly appointed Whitelighter.”

He paused, his eyes warm:

“Piper looked at me… and froze the whole room.”

Chris rolled his eyes.

“So you’re stuck?!”

“Yeah,” Leo laughed, “but I think… she didn’t just freeze the room. She froze my heart.”

Wyatt leaned his head on his father’s shoulder.

“Did she like you right away?”

Leo shook his head, a little confused.

“Not really. She was very cautious at first, very rational. And you… just quietly fixed the pipes, installed light bulbs, and disappeared into the white light.”

Chris laughed.

“That’s so romantic, Dad.”

Leo smiled, looking into the firelight.

“I love your mom not because of her magic, but because she’s brave. When everyone else is scared, she steps up first. When everyone else wants to give up, she finds a way to save everyone. And when I fall — she’s the one who holds my hand and gets me back up.”

He looked down at his two sons:

“You are the most beautiful proof of that love.”

Wyatt and Chris looked at each other, then hugged their father tightly.

That night, there were no demons, no Book of Shadows, no magic — just the three of them sitting together, telling the story of a love that began with an exploding microwave… and grew into an invincible family."