A/N: Ah, back to being strangled.

wyatt333, Ha! I'm evil. And yeah, Piper's funny when she's evil!

Charmedluver, (Reading review of Ch 15) - healed, then strangled again. – Geeze, make up your mind. Lol. (Reading review of Ch 16 -) Uh-oh! – Runs for cover – No, he didn't. Instead of being exiled, he was made mortal and his memories were taken away.

storyreader14, Damn it, three people are trying to strangle me at once! And I'll have my computer for a few more days don't worry! Lol.

Leigh1986, I'm glad you like it! I'm glad it's so unpredictable. The cool thing: It's just as unpredictable to me as it is to you and the other readers. Lol. I'm just writing as it comes; I have only a couple things planned out. Most of it is just a sudden thing. As to your question: No reason. I just had them each do something different.

Kay, lol. I have several people wanting to strangle me, probably more after this chapter. So all I'm gonna say is please enjoy and please review!

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"Leo?" Phoebe cried, shock hitting her hard and fast. She couldn't believe it! All this time, he'd been living in San Francisco, not some weird otherworldly dimension that she and Piper had assumed the Elders had sent him to. He was here!

Leo scrunched up his face in confusion. "Sorry, have we met before?"

Phoebe frowned, a lump forming in her throat. She should have known; he'd seen her face long ago, yet hadn't said anything to her; and she'd mentioned Piper and Melinda several times, to no shocked reply from him. He didn't know who she was and, for all she knew, he was mortal and had no wings and no idea who he had been in his previous life. He didn't remember Piper, her, his family, or anything to do with magic.

"No," Phoebe replied hesitantly. "No, but I knew someone named Leo. He was really nice, just like you. And he was a doctor."

Leo nodded, looking confused and suspicious. "What a coincidence. Uhm, you should get some rest. You had a pretty rough accident. You're lucky I wasn't going any faster, otherwise you would have suffered worse injuries.

"I really can't stay," Phoebe said, shaking her head. "I appreciate your gesture, I really do, but I have to go help my sister and daughter – and my nephews."

"Are they in trouble?" Leo asked. "If they are, we need to call the police."

"No- the trouble they're in- the police can't help. I-" Phoebe paused, torn. "Leo, do you have a nice life?"

Leo nodded. "I do. I work as a doctor to some of the local neighbors who can't afford to pay for a real doctor. I double as a handyman, which makes up for not charging my patients for doctors visits. My girlfriend works for a law firm down town. We're planning on getting married next summer and maybe having some children. She's great." Leo smiled, almost seeming to space out for a few seconds as he thought of his girlfriend and their life together.

Phoebe nodded gently, trying to hold back the tears forming in her eyes. She had found Leo and she was thrilled. But she couldn't drag him back into the world of magic. It would be unfair to him, to his girlfriend, to her, to the kids, and – especially – to Piper.

"Good," Phoebe said, smiling. "I'm happy for you."

Leo nodded. "So, uhm, how are you feeling? I'm so sorry for running you over-"

Phoebe shrugged it off. "I'm sore, but I feel fine otherwise. And please, don't be sorry. I ran out into the road like an idiot. I appreciate what you've done for me, but I – well – I really have to go."

Leo shook his head. "Are you crazy? You can't get up yet. You're still hurt."

"Leo," Phoebe said gently. She licked her lips. "I really appreciate you caring for me like this. You could have easily driven off and left me to die, but you didn't. You're a good person and you have a happy life. And I really need to go. I really do. My sister might be in trouble, along with my daughter and nephews. I really, really need to go. Please, understand."

Leo, somewhat reluctant, finally nodded.

Phoebe got out of bed, buttoned her shirt and, wincing slightly, walked to the bedroom door, Leo close behind. They walked through the house, Leo now leading, and went outside to the driveway.

Out in the driveway, Phoebe hugged Leo, thanked him again, and set off.

She arrived back at the cemetery several minutes later, tired and sore. She snuck in, careful to make sure no demons were lurking around. It took forever, but she finally found the area where the demons and Kirkus were lurking. She hid behind a tombstone so as not to be seen. She saw Kirkus addressing the group of demons, the Children of Darkness standing beside him. However from this distance, she couldn't make out what he was saying to them. She could only see the hungry glint in his eyes, and the anticipation radiating off the demons and the cool, calm, collectiveness of the Children of Darkness.

Phoebe, however, realized right away that Piper was not among the group.

Fear gripped her as she moved closer, trying hard to stay hidden and not be seen. If she were found, her plan would surely fail.

"Phoebe will be back. She will try and rescue Piper and kidnap the Children of Darkness. However, she is one and we are many and we can easily outnumber her. We must force her to take the Blood Oath and become one of us," Kirkus told the group. "Phoebe is confused. She doesn't know what she's doing and we must not hard her. She must be brought to our side so she can see things clearly. If any demons harms her in anyway, they will have to answer to me – and trust me, you do not want that." He glared evilly at the group and Phoebe knew right away that he wasn't one to mess with. She also realized that he would be hard to beat.

She cursed sharply under her breath. Her plan wasn't going to work too well after all. She had to go back to the Manor and get some spells and potions prepared. Then she'd come back and rescue her loved ones. If she went in there now, she was likely to fail. She was unprepared and running blind.

So she turned to leave – and found herself staring at a pair of legs in black leather pants.

Phoebe, shaking slightly, looked up slowly to see who was standing before her. – and saw Piper towering over her.