Summary: Everyone heals differently. Sometimes it's in helping others heal.

Disclaimer: I do not own Charmed or any affiliated, just the idea.

Chapter 1: The Unexpected Visitor

Halliwell Manor

Outside, it was cold; a vicious wind prowled looking for its next victim. The rain played the old roof of the Halliwell manor like a drum. The luminous clouds hovered over the home of the Charmed Ones. Such dreary weather would make any normal person depressed or lethargic, but to Piper Halliwell, it was a day to stay in her pajamas, be with her husband, Leo, and play with their kids.

However, Piper wasn't doing either, spending time with her husband or playing with her kids. She sighed, not sure why she was even considering this proposal. She grimaced, feeling out-numbered and abandoned by her sisters. The pounding of the rain outside was the only sound that penetrated the small front hall. As angry as Piper was with her, she had to admit, she even felt bad for the girl.

In the middle of her front hall, stood Billie Jenkins, the Ultimate power, standing in her doorway, a charmed sister flanking the blonde on each side. Soaked all the way through that her clothes clung to her, Billie shifted her weight from one foot to the other, unsteadily.

Piper knew that Billie would not dare step foot back at the manor on her own accord, unless a certain two pushed her to. The eldest witch knew those two people who had the gall to cross Piper like that . . . Phoebe and Paige, her sisters.

Piper crossed her arms in defiance, staring down her sister's pleading, but firm looks, and Billie's ashamed face. The eldest Charmed One watched Billie struggled to stop her chattering teeth. Her sunken-in eyes, dark from lack of sleep and a lingering cold, roamed the floor, looking anywhere, but at Piper. It proved her guilt, even more.

"Close the door. You're letting in a draft," Piper chided.

Phoebe complied, shutting the door then quickly returning to her post next to Billie. "We need to talk, Piper," Paige said.

"Stay there," Piper ordered the young witch.

The three charmed sisters burst into the kitchen. Phoebe was the first to speak. "Piper, she needs a place to stay."

"I suppose neither of you have room," Piper countered.

"We do and certainly she is welcomed, but it's tight for both of us, not to mention it would be better and safer for her here. You know that, Piper," Paige pressed further.

Piper knew this day would come; she didn't need Phoebe's power of premonition to know Billie would somehow end up at her doorstep again looking for help. Piper shook her head vehemently. She refused to open herself up just to get hurt again. She couldn't understand why she allowed herself to constantly let her guard down; she only got hurt in the end.

"Piper!" Paige hollered. Her face was turning the color of a rose from her obvious anger at her older sister's stubbornness.

"Are you listening?" Phoebe asked sweetly, even though in reality, the middle sister was exhausted. It was like talking to a wall sometimes.

"We found her fighting a demon and losing," Paige continued. "She's too weak to carrying on by herself."

"Mentally or physically, she needs our help, Piper," Phoebe added.

Paige took a deep breath, her tone much softer, "Piper, you – we know what it's like to lose someone close to us. She was badly hurt when we found her. The demons are picking on her like scavenger birds to a half-dead animal. If we don't help her, her future, well, it's bleak."

"Piper, come on," Phoebe said more firmly than she had been speaking this whole time. "I know it's a lot to ask, but the past is the past."

Piper arched an unimpressed eyebrow. It had only been three months since the big battle had gone down. The newspaper columnist and white lighter exchanged looks, their sister wasn't budging and they were starting to lose hope.

"Phoebe, Paige, I'm sorry that I still have common sense left in me, but I don't trust her," Piper said sarcastically.

"Before everything happened, you considered her family – a sister!" Paige fired back.

"Yes, just to have the little witch betray us, use my son, and then try to kill us! Or did you two forget that?" Piper brought her hand to her forehead, so much for having a civil and quiet conversation. No doubt Billie could hear them.

"We all make mistakes, honey, trust me. I have made my fair share plus some: I married Cole, became Queen of the Underworld, and mother to the source of all evil," Phoebe urged. "Still, you didn't give up."

"That was different. Phoebe, you and Paige are my sisters, you –" Piper was cut off unexpectedly.

'Since when does family need to share DNA?'

It was a voice that sounded so familiar, but which she hadn't heard in a while. "Prue?" Piper breathed, only loud enough for her to hear. Was she so furious that she was delusional?

"Piper?" Phoebe said, inching forward, both sisters exchanged worried looks.

"No, no, no," Piper resigned to herself. Piper closed her eyes tightly then stared at the floor in deep contemplation.

The eldest Halliwell darted out of the kitchen back to the front hall where Billie was still standing, a small puddle collecting under her feet.

Phoebe and Paige chased after their fiery sister, almost bumping into her when she stopped short, feet in front of the very tired, broken, and scared witch. Positive Piper was going to blow her up; Billie cringed for the eminent pain.

"Piper," Phoebe tried to stop her older sister, reaching for Piper's hand, but was too late.

"Three rules if you want to live here," Piper began, pointing her finger at the tall blonde. "One, you are to keep away from my boys, Wyatt and Chris. Two, you will stay the hell out of trouble. Three, you are under my house, so you will follow my rules, both magical and non-magical, got it?"

Phoebe, Paige, and Billie stared dumbfounded at the eldest Charmed One.

"Piper, I . . ."

"Got it?" Piper persisted, pointing at her.

Paige and Phoebe waited with baited breath for Billie's answer. The tension in the air couldn't be cut with a butter knife . . . or a machete, for that matter. "Got it," Billie agreed, a smile appearing on her face. Although, against her pale complexion, matted hair, and grungy clothes, her smile was nothing compared to the brilliancy it had been.

Piper took a calming breath. "Now . . . I guess . . . you can take Phoebe's room, since we haven't converted it into a study . . . or a gym," she said with a sly smile toward her two glowing sisters.

Billie nodded. "Now go!" Piper ushered, shooing the girl up the stairs with her hands. "I believe Phoebe's still got clothes up there, go put some on, you're soaking wet. You know, get yourself cleaned up and all. When you're done, come down to the kitchen, you look as if you haven't eaten in weeks." Billie, who was using the railing to hold herself up, didn't have enough time to make any type of reply before Piper turned around and headed back into the kitchen to start making lunch for her. Piper rambled as she left. Billie didn't care though; Piper could call her all the names she wanted. Billie knew she was safe now: safe from demons, safe from the elements and hunger, but more importantly, safe from being alone.

Phoebe and Paige smiled, rushing to hug Billie and help her up the stairs. The two sisters helped the young witch find some clothes. They chatted with her like the Ultimate Battle never happened. It touched Billie to see her white lighter and friend go so far to help her. How would she repay them? She guessed one day at a time.

Alone in the kitchen, Piper leaned against the island and exhaled loudly. She looked up toward the ceiling. "Okay, Prue, I hope you know what you're doing . . . I trust you."

~End Chapter 1