28 TSoT/MMW: Marmalade & The Morning After

"Knowing me it takes some time/Diamonds are a little shy/But wait and see, I'll hit some gold/And I'mma be a sight to hold…" -Daniela Andrade, song "Genesis"

8:30 pm, Burn by Rocky Patel, 346 N Shore Dr., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

On a whim (was it the alcohol?), Matilda strode to the nearby dance floor, hearing the beginning beats of Jasmine Ying Thompson's cover rendition of Ed Sheeran's "I See Fire."

She turned to face him. "Wyatt Halliwell Jr., will you get your ass over here and dance with me?" His face tilted in an inscrutable expression. "Please?"

Upon hearing those words, Wyatt subtly smiled, as he rose from his seat and walked toward the lovely lady that had beckoned him forward, who had finally claimed his heart for her own.

8:50 pm, Burn by Rocky Patel, 346 N Shore Dr., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

"Wanna head out? Go someplace quieter?" Matilda murmured in Wyatt's ear as the music finished.

He lifted her chin and kissed her. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Your place or mine?"

"Not Halliwell Manor—my Gran checks rooms, has been ever since my dad was nearly abducted from his crib." Well, that settled that then, Matilda thought to herself as she whispered the exact address of her Azores home, down to the exact specifications of her bedroom.

12:50 am Azores/8:50 pm EST, Matilda's Bedroom, Madalena Village, Azores, Epicenter Pico No. 23

They landed with a soft thump onto Matilda's queen-sized mattress. "Wow…everything smells so…nice," Wyatt remarked a couple of seconds later.

Matilda lit a nearby candle with a twist of her wrist and turned to face him, an eyebrow raised, then she realized what it was. "My gramps grows jasmine, mint, basil, and comfrey—has been for a while, and I usually keep my balcony door cracked open to let the aroma in. It's what makes this place feel like home."

"Cool," replied Wyatt. "My gran and great-aunts just light vanilla Yankee candles and call it a day," he laughed. "Or incense sticks. Or whatever."

1 am, Matilda's Bedroom, Madalena Village, Azores, Epicenter Pico No. 23

Suddenly, the two found each other kissing with greater munificence, as if to absorb the other's soul in whatever way they could. Matilda reached for her phone, turning on Daniela Andrade's song "Genesis," a soft, sultry song, its crooning melody permeating the room as they helped each other shed their garments, raining kisses onto the other. After Matilda unbuttoned Wyatt's shirt, he bade her to turn around as he nipped at the base of her neck with his teeth, unzipping her dress with a torturously slow pace, which tumbled to the floor in a heap.

And here they were, once more. Not aggressively fucking on a doorway, the epitome of a trashy Harlequin novel, but in each other's arms amid tender caresses as they gingerly explored the other's body. Matilda could feel his hardness bump against her thigh and she welcomed the feeling, as it had been so long since their earlier rendezvous. The two situations couldn't have been more different. Instead of amplifiers and frenzied staccatos, their evening began with a fire-shooting lesson, continued with dinner and a dance—as normal as could be for two magical beings.

After unwrapping a foil packet from Matilda's drawer, the pair commenced their languorous movements; Wyatt positioned himself outside her petaled folds once more, entering her slowly as they gasped aloud at the tantalizing sensation, as the bare physicality of their sexes became reacquainted once more in the unembellished surroundings of Matilda's flame-proof bedroom.

Several minutes of sensual movements led to a gradual crescendo, culminating in a passionate arc as the two came together, silently screaming the other's name.

11:45 am, Next Morning, Kitchen, Madalena Village, Azores, Epicenter Pico No. 23

Harry poured his cup of freshly-brewed tea as he surveyed the English language Diário dos Açores newspaper in front of him. "Love," he called to Macy who was making herself a berry smoothie, "have you seen Tilly this morning?"

Macy frowned. "No…" she answered slowly. "She was supposed to come back after a late dinner with a colleague…"

11:46 am, Matilda's Bedroom, Madalena Village, Azores, Epicenter Pico No. 23

"Just where do you think you're going?" Matilda murmured after Wyatt, who was already dressed.

He moved toward her and kissed her on the forehead. "Home, duty calls—" but his last words were cut off as Matilda sprang toward him and pinned his wrists to the wall, causing a large bang to echo through the room. Neither took any notice as they commenced where they left off last night, round 2, Matilda finding herself straddling Wyatt's muscular form, moaning breathlessly into his ear—

11:50 am, Spiral Staircase, Madalena Village, Azores, Epicenter Pico No. 23

Harry and Macy pried open the walled door and traversed the wrought-iron spiral staircase. "Matilda!" they shouted. "Are you ok?"

11:51 am, Matilda's Bedroom, Madalena Village, Azores, Epicenter Pico No. 23

The pair sprang apart. "Shit, my parents—" whispered Matilda. "You gotta leave now—front door—"

Do I have to? Wyatt's expression pleaded.

"Let. Me. Go." Matilda hissed, and without another word, Wyatt orbed outside just as Harry and Macy burst in.

"Uh…hey!" Matilda crossed her legs from where she sat on the edge of her bed, attempting to appear as innocent as possible, as Macy bit her lip and hid a smirk, staring at the brown leather loafers that had been left behind.

Harry met Macy's eyes as it suddenly dawned on him. A generational déjà vu if there ever was one.

12:10 pm, Front Entryway, Madalena Village, Azores, Epicenter Pico No. 23

Matilda heard a faint knock at the door and opened it to usher Wyatt in once more, this time shoe-less. She turned to her parents, maintaining her composure all the while. "Uh, mom, dad, meet Wyatt, he's a friend from work." Macy and Harry gave each other knowing looks. Right.

"Wyatt, why don't you sit down and grab some breakfast with us," Macy spoke up, deciding to relieve her daughter of the awkwardness of the morning "walk-of-shame."

Is that ok with you? Wyatt turned to Matilda, who nervously nodded.

12:30 pm, Kitchen, Madalena Village, Azores, Epicenter Pico No. 23

"Would you like some marmalade with your sweetened roll?" asked Harry politely.

"Sure, that'd be great," Wyatt responded, as Harry passed him the jar.

"Please pass the scrambled eggs and ketchup, mom," Matilda called out, and Macy did so, using her telekinesis as Wyatt gaped in wonderment.

"Wow, Dr. Valensi," he exclaimed. "That's really neat!"

Macy grinned. "One of the perks of being a Charmed One," she remarked as she took a sip of her smoothie. "It never gets old."

1 pm, Kitchen, Madalena Village, Azores, Epicenter Pico No. 23

"Mom, what do you and dad know of the Portender? All I know is it's Parker, Aunt Maggie's ex." Macy swallowed hard as Harry's fists clenched beside him. They knew it was a matter of time before their daughter attracted nefarious attention.

"Has he—" Macy gulped. "Has he—accosted you?"

"Twice," Wyatt interjected. "Once, he was friendly, the second time, I kept a close watch, and he didn't get the hint—"

"When was this?" Harry asked in a dangerously low voice.

"Yesterday," Matilda half-whispered, staring at what remained of her scrambled eggs.

"We need to go to Vera Manor ASAP," spoke Macy suddenly, and Harry jumped up to help clear the dishes from the table.

2:30 pm Azores/7:30 am, Living Room, Vera Manor, Seattle, Washington

"According to this encrypted magico-psychology webpage compendium," Maggie began, "the Portender is Parker Caine, notorious for collecting four fire souls voluntarily but needs the fifth to complete "The Portender's Pentacle"—a source of unbridled power," she ended, to Wyatt, Matilda, Macy, and Harry's horror.

"I'm the fifth?" murmured Matilda faintly. Why do I have all the shit luck in this family, she couldn't help but wonder. "How do we defeat him?" Matilda finally asked.

"We can't," Maggie whispered as she fought back the urge to cry. Or scream. At first, she was confused when the group had orbed onto the carpet just as she was trying to get her beauty sleep. And now, the sudden bombshell that her youngest niece was part of a diabolical power grab by none other than her evil ex-boyfriend. Somehow, she herself felt responsible, for introducing this creep to Vera Manor and her sisters, all those years ago…

"What do you mean, we can't?" responded Macy sharply. "This is my daughter we're talking about!"

"I mean," said Maggie, "the only day the Pentacle can be defeated is when there is a loosening of magical force on the next auspicious date in April of this year—"

"Meaning?" Matilda asked.

"Meaning, that you, Tilly, must be at Vera Manor on 4/6/46, face-to-face with Parker, and must kill all four fire souls—fire people—whatever—to ultimately vanquish him," stated Harry, as Maggie nodded in agreement.

"I know some folks who can help," Wyatt spoke up suddenly, as the rest of the room turned toward him. "My Great-Aunt Paige, my Grandma Piper, Great-Aunt Phoebe, Gramps Leo, and my dad, Wyatt Senior, or Wy."

"Look, Wyatt," began Matilda kindly, "I know you mean to help, but this is serious shit—"

"I know," he said, finally deciding now was the time to tell them. "You see, Paige, Piper, and Phoebe—they're the former Charmed Ones," he said, to the astonishment of all present.