A/N: Uhm, Whoa. Guys, I'm SO sorry! I can't believe so many days have gone by since I last updated this! I've been super busy with LOTS of stuff and I'll keep this short and get right into it.

GirlOnFire33: Guess you'll see soon! ;) So glad you're enjoying!

CharmedOpal: You'll find out soon!

Semper Fi Witchlighter: You're welcome :)

ObsessedwReading: Thanks! Glad you're enjoying!

Joy: We'll see, won't we? –evil grin –

Enjoy, guys! And so sorry, again, for the delay!

...

Piper skidded to a halt before the portal. It still swirled with varying shades of blue. She hesitated, looking around for Phoebe and Paige, but she didn't see them, and she didn't have a lot of time.

She paused for a heartbeat longer before stepping through the portal in search of Marni.

...

"Piper?" Paige called, as she and Phoebe orbed into P3. "Piper, where are you?"

Phoebe came half-walking, half-running from the back, shaking her head at Paige. "She's not in her office."

Phoebe motioned for Paige to follow her as she ran up the steps and outside, scanning the parking lot. Piper's car was still parked in the front row.

"This is not good," Paige said with a sigh, looking around. "Where could they be?"

"I don't know," Phoebe replied grimly. She looked around, trying to spot any clues that might lead her to her sister and the young witch. "They couldn't have gone far, though. We didn't take that long to get here."

Paige chewed on her lip for a moment before turning to face the alley. She frowned, taking a step closer. She wasn't sure why, but she felt a strange pull coming from the narrow space. She took another step, almost without realizing what she was doing.

"Paige?" Phoebe asked slowly, stepping up beside her sister.

"Remember that spell Chris used?" Paige asked, stumbling a little over his name; she was having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that he was Piper's son. She glanced at Phoebe. "He drew the Triquetra on the wall of the attic."

Phoebe nodded and followed Paige down the alley, not needing Paige to explain any further. About halfway down, they stopped, staring at the chalk-drawn Triquetra on the brick wall of the building.

"They were definitely here," Phoebe said, reaching out for the wall and praying for a premonition. But nothing happened.

Paige gave her sister some space, walking further into the alley to search for clues. She had no idea what she was searching for. All she knew was she had to find Piper and Marni.

From behind her, she heard Phoebe's sharp gasp, followed by a thump. When she turned, Phoebe was on the ground, struggling to get up. Paige ran to her, grabbing her hand and helping her to her feet.

"What was it? What did you see?"

Phoebe couldn't find the right words to explain. She simply stared at Paige, a look of fear and sadness on her face.

...

"Where the heck are we?"

Marni jumped, startled, spinning around. When she spotted Piper, her eyes widened in stark terror. She hurried to Piper's side, gripping her arm painfully tight. Piper winced.

"What are you doing here?" Marni snarled. "How did you find me? That portal should have closed!" She was babbling, she knew, but this was bad. This was so, so bad.

"I followed you," Piper snapped, "Because you're being stupid. What the hell were you thinking, coming back here?"

Because, even though Piper hadn't recognized their location before, she now realized that was where they were. Phoebe had suspected this was where Marni was headed, but Piper hadn't been prepared for what she now saw.

Even from deep within the alley, she could tell her beloved San Francisco was a mess, devastated and ruined. It broke her heart.

"This is my home, Piper," Marni explained through gritted teeth," and I couldn't stay in your time. It's not home." The venom Marni put behind the word 'home,' the disgust in her eyes, made Piper wince.

"We were keeping you safe though," Piper snarled.

Marni laughed bitterly. "And asking too many questions. And betraying my trust."

Piper frowned, startled. "What do you mean? We didn't.."

"No," Marni agreed, "Not you."

Piper frowned, vowing to have a little chat with Phoebe and Paige when they got home. Just when she was about to demand Marni re-draw the Triquetra and get them back to the past, Marni gasped and yanked Piper behind the Dumpster, putting a finger to her lips.

Heavy footsteps clomped just outside the alley, crunching glass, rocks and dirt beneath their soles. They seemed to come to a stop on the other side of the Dumpster.

"I could have sworn I heard voices," a male voice snarled.

"Maybe you're going deaf," another male voice joked, snickering.

There was a loud smacking sound, a thud, and then gagging.

"Don't ever speak to me that way again," the second voice snarled. There was a choked gasp, and then panting, as he released the other demon – Piper was convinced they were demons, at least.

"He said he felt Good Magic being used in this area," the second voice continued, un-phased by what he had just done. "We need to check the whole area, carefully."

"Does he really think the girl would be dumb enough to show up here?" the first demon asked, sounding hoarse. He cleared his throat several times.

"She is dumb," the second demon sneered.

Marni clenched her fists, knowing they were talking about her.

"That dumb witch should have stayed in the past. And Chris," the second demon spat, as if Chris's name was a curse word. "He'll get what's coming to him. No one betrays Him and gets away with it."

Marni's eyes widened in fear. She felt faint, and Piper grabbed her to steady her.

"What do you think He will do to Chris? For his betrayal," the first demon questioned, sounding eager – as if he hoped it was a fate worse than death.

"I don't know," the second demon said, pausing for a long time. Then he chuckled. "I hope it hurts." He paused again. "And I hope He lets me do it. I haven't been able to torture someone in soooo long."

Boiling with rage, Marni could no longer control her actions. Piper grabbed at her, tightening her grip on her arm, trying desperately to hold the young witch back. But with a determined tug, Marni broke free and charged at the two demons.

They stared at her in shock, as if they couldn't believe she was actually, honestly there. And neither missed the very obvious bump to her belly. They sneered at each other, grinning lasciviously at Marni.

"I'm going to love vanquishing you," Marni snarled softly, flames dancing in her palms.

Both demons chuckled, staring her down. "Little girl, you've come home."

Marni snarled, letting a stream of fire arc from her palm, hitting the first demon – the weaker one – in the chest. He screamed in agony for a long time before bursting into flames. One down, one to go.

But the second demon back-handed her across the face, sending her flailing into the brick wall. She grunted, hitting the ground hard. She struggled to stand, but the demon stepped on her arm, crushing it into the asphalt and preventing her from standing. She shrieked, using her other arm to punch at his knee.

Piper came barreling out of the alley. "Hey!"

The demon looked up, annoyed at the interruption. But then his eyes widened in shock. He let up on Marni's hand, just a little, too dazed by the sight of Piper to realize.

"But... But..." the demon spluttered.

Talking her opportunity, Marni shifted her weight and kicked out, sending the demon sprawling to the ground. She summoned her fire power and was about to vanquish the demon when something in the air shifted.

Marni froze, eyes wide. "No..." She cried, quickly running to Piper's side and shoving her back down the alley.

"Hide," she said urgently. "And no matter what, don't come out!"

"But-." Piper argued, but Marni cut her off with a stern look.

"I mean it, Piper," Marni snapped. "No matter what happens to me, don't come out." She turned to walk back out of the alley. But, as an afterthought, she reached into her pocket and shoved two small items into Piper's hands. Then, with one last glance, she walked back to where the demon stood – now accompanied by another person.

Another demon.

He frowned in disgust at the demon on the ground, as it begged him for forgiveness. He shook his head, wrinkling his nose in contempt. With a flick of his hand, the demon became dust.

And then he trained his eyes on Marni. And a slow, evil smirk appeared on his face.

"Marni," He said softly, nodding to acknowledge her presence.

Marni's heart pounded in fear. She took a step back, away from Him. But she knew it was futile; now that he had her in his sights, there was no escaping. Regret sat in her stomach like a brick. She had been so dumb to come here, to risk this.

But it didn't matter now. Piper was in the alley, and she wouldn't be safe until Marni got Him away from her. So, in a voice that was calm and smooth, despite her whole body shaking like a leaf, she looked Him in the eyes and spoke one word: "Wyatt."