Authors Note: For real this time. It will be updated. I know I tend to start things and not finish them, but...I'm working on that. I think. Or, hope. So please, stick with me guys. Oh, and I know Billie seams a bit OOC, because she wouldn't put up with some jack ass abusing her. But I think she'd be in a really hard palce after all she's been through, and quite possibly her confidence as a witch, and as a woman would be shot.

Warning: In the future, this will be slash. Just so you know. If women loving eachother is something that bothers you, than I suggest you seek help.

Rating: T for now, but may become M for Violence, Language, and..teehee...other stuff.

Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Billie Jenkins, The Halliwell Sisters, Leo, Wyatt, or Chris. Or anything else associated with Charmed. I do own Jude, sadly.

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A crisp gray fog hung thick throughout the busy city streets, washing in from the bay. The luminescent sun was lost in it's cover, causing jackets and thick wool caps to be pulled on with haste while rushing out the door. The mist was so dense, that simply stepping outside was enough to soak multiple layers clear through.

Kids bundled in scarves and mittens followed along behind their rushing parents, hands gripped tightly around gloves and purses as to not get lost. Their tiny red noses stuck out from beneath their giant hoods, making it look like an invasion of Rudolph's minions.

The small cafe on the corner was salvation for many, the cozy atmpsphere making a small sanctuary in the fog. Hot lattes and warm muffins were ordered left and right, men and woman moving as far back from the constantly opening door to avoid the bursts of cold outside air. Under a giant hanging fern, in the very back corner, a young blonde woman sat alone.

Billie Jenkins sighed, leaning even further over her cup of coffee, staring into its murky black depths intently. Loose strands of her blonde hair dangled into the liquid, and she didn't even bother to pull them out. She grabbed another generic sugar packet from the holder on the end of the table, ripping it open too forcefully and making the tiny white crystals cascade like the fog outside onto the dark wooden table.

"Shit!" She mumbled as she brushed the sugar onto the floor, ignoring the scathing look that the young boy doing the sweeping sent her. Finally sitting up, she pulled her hair from the cup, dabbing at the dripping blonde mass with her already soggy napkin.

This had not been her day. Since she'd taken the job as a secretary at one of New York's many law firms, she'd been treated like nothing more than a work horse and a slut. Guys continuously hit on her, that is, before they made her get the copies, coffee and phone calls. Today, one of the head lawyers had gone as far as to pinch her on the backside, and when she'd said something to one of the other women, she'd been instructed to keep her mouth shut if she wanted to keep her job.

Then the dry cleaner had lost her most expensive suit, claiming that "Once the garment is dropped off, and the fee paid, they are not responsible for any losses, damages, or defects." Ass holes. She thought bitterly, thinking how she'd have to dip into her rent money to replace the suit.

The day had progressively gotten worse after that, including a bad hair cut, her purse strap braking, and not being able to get a cab for fourteen blocks.

"Had a bad day?" A smooth voice whispered into her ear, making her jump. The frown that had been stapled onto her face spread into a smile as she looked up into the seas green eyes of her boyfriend. His rough chin scratched gently at her cheek as he leaned down, giving her a light peck.

"Not anymore." Billie cooed, as he slid around the table to sit across from her. When she'd first left San Francisco after the 'Big Battle', she'd had never felt more alone. Not when Christy was kidnapped, when her parents neglected her, when she thought the Charmed One's were out to get her. She'd graduated from school, and declared to the sisters that she wasn't ready to take over all of their demon duties on her own.

"So what do you want to do tonight?" She asked him, going to move her hand into his on top of the table. As she did a bright flash caught her eye from the otherside of the window, and she gave an involuntary jerk, knocking fer coffee over and right into Jude's lap. Flashes of demon battles seared across her mind. Energyballs. Fireballs. Christy going up in flames after Billie murdered her.

"WHAT THE HELL?" Jude yelled, leaping from his seat, bringing her back to reality. People turned to look but just as quickly went back to their coffees, leaving the two of them ignored.

"You stupid bitch." He hissed, brushing the liquid from his khakis with a napkin. Billie just stared at him wide eyed, nervously biting her lips together. This wasn't the first time he'd said that, and she knew for sure that it wouldn't be the last.

"Jude...I--I'm sorry." She stammered, pulling more napkins from the holder and handing them over to him. He snatched them from her so quickly that the ring on his right knuckle scratched her palm. I deserve it. She thought sadly, sitting back down in her seat, now as jumpy as a baby deer. I am stupid. I should have known that would happen. God, why am I such a klutz? I'm not good enough for Jude. He deserves so much better than me. Everyone does...I'm pathetic.

"Not yet you're not." He growled, his green eyes dark with anger. Ignoring her fearful wimper, he glanced around to make sure no one was watching. "But you're going to be."

Billie just nodded dumbly, ignoring the pain that coursed through her arm as he grabbed her roughly, jerking her up from her seat and practically dragging her out to his car. The parking lot around the back of the cafe was practically empty, accept for an old beat up van, and Jude's BMW.

He released his bruising hold on her arm, shoving her forcefully into the side of the car.

"Get in." He snarled, and she obeyed without thought, willing herself not to cry again. Everytime she messed up he seemed to get angrier and angrier. I deserve it. She thought again as she quickly got into the car, turning it on and speeding out of the parking lot. I deserve every bruise he's given me.

Later that night, Billie dabbed a cold wash cloth at her cry-swollen eyes, before holding it firmly against the giant welt on her right forearm. She hissed sharply as the pressure caused paid to surge through her nervous system, right down to her toes. She sniffed, forcing herself not to cry anymore.

After they'd left the cafe, Jude had driven her recklessly back to her apartment, dragging her inside and throwing her against the wall. She'd cried out loudly, not expecting the shove, and that had just made him more angry.

"Trying to draw attention from the neighbors, are you?" He'd asked angrily, dragging her up and slapping her sharply across the face before shoving her back down. "They don't care you know. No one cares about you, accept me. I'm the only one who loves you."

As he said this his fingers worked at the buckle of his belt, loosening it before whipping it out of the loops so quickly she heard it snap.

"No one is going to notice you for the rest of your pitiful life. No one has the time for little ol' Billie." He preached, acting like a minister giving sermon to all the lost souls. He took the buckle of the belt in his hand, snapping the two sides together menacingly.

"No..no." She whispered, backing away from him. Her ankle was twisted badly from the first push against the wall, and she weakly attempted to crawl away from him, dragging her lame foot behind her as she elbowed down the rough carpetted hall.

"Think you can get away, do you?" He asked with a harsh laugh as he quickly closed the gap between them. "Ah, ah, ah. Don't run from me." And with that, he raised the leather belt, bringing it down with a snap against her back. Her arms. Her legs.

Remembering the things he said brought fresh tears to her eyes, and she collapsed on the sofa, sobs wracking through her already worn out body. No one cares about you, accept me. She rested her head against the rest of the couch, trying to calm her racing heart, trying to get control of her crying. I'm the only one who loves you.

"P--Paige." She cried out, her voice horse from crying. "Phoebe? Please, some one help." She saw a swirl of beautiful white blue lights fill the room, seconds before the world faded away, and she gave into the weakness, blacking out on the couch.

----

The two witches had been sitting in the solarium, relaxing for what felt like the first time in weeks. Between Phoebe's column, Paige's whitelighter duties, Piper's Mommy complex, and the demon fighting that Billie had left them once again responsible for; the three hadn't had a second to themselves. Since it was near impossible to get Piper away from the byos or work or Leo, the two youngest were enjoying some bonding time together.

"Got any sixes?" Phoebe asked with a smirk, and Paige mock glared at her, handing over two bright red cards.

"Cheater." Paige pouted as Phoebe happily paired the two up with her own and laid the set down. The older sister already had five pairs, and Paige only had one.

"Prove it." Phoebe said, sticking out her tongue playfully.

As if she'd been struck by lightning, Paige had jumped up from her wicker chair, her handfull of cards fluttering to the floor like so many dead leaves. Chris, who had been sitting in her lap, squeeled loudly, at the ubrupt disruption, and the brunette carefully set her into his playpen. The baby, who was now almost a toddler, had been joyfully pulling on her braided pigtail for the last hour, and she had to fight him to let it go.

Phoebe set her cards down slowly, standing and walking over to her sister, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Paige? What is it?"

"Billie." Was all she needed to say before Phoebe had grabbed her hand, and they'd dissapeared through their mystical taxi service.

---

"Oh my god." Phoebe breathed, releasing her hold on her younger sisters arm and rushing over to the side of the unconscious blonde. Gently she took the younger womans hand in her own, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Lightly she ran her fingers over the welt mark on her arm, and the bruising up and down the left side of her face. They hadn't seen Billie in months, the witch having severed all ties. She'd even stopped using her powers so that demons couldn't track her down. Phoebe knew that it was nothing to do with magic. Something completely and disgustingly human had done this to the blonde.

"Who would do this?" Paige whispered, her voice weak as she kneeled down next to her sister. Gingerly she brushed some hair out of Billie's face. "If it were demons she'd be dead right now, no question." Phoebe mearly shrugged, tears stinging in the corner of her own eyes. There was a time, when she was in grade nine and Piper in grade eleven that some of her friends had gotten out of control. Piper had come to pick up Phoebe from a house party, the younger sister smashed beyond belief. When she'd tried to drag her passed out sister out of the arms of three high and horny boys, they'd turned on her, beating her up pretty badly.

Images of her sisters face the next morning when she'd finally woken still haunted Phoebe to this day.

It was what Billie looked like now.

"Paige." Phoebe said softly, a lump in her throat. The whitelighter held her hands over Billie's body, her left hovering just over the blondes face, and the other over her ribs. Soon a golden glow emenated from her hands, giving off a soothing heat that usually made Phoebe feel so safe. As if being erased by a giant pencil, the wounds and marks on Billie's body started to evaporate, until finally they were gone all together.

"Nrmm." Billie groaned, as her consciousness came crashing back. It felt like there were a bunch of tiny emo kids, moshing inside of her occipital lobe. She tried to sit up, but the sharp pain in her head forcing her to lay back down, the muscles in her neck tightening and relaxing as she did. Slowly she opened her eyes, seeing the worried faces of Phoebe and Paige looming over her. She tried to smile, but it came out as more of a wince. Whitelighter powers couldn't heal everything, and she didn't want to bother Paige, so she toughed it out. I'm not worth her healing anyway.

"Hey there, pretty girl." Phoebe smiled gently, rubbing her thumb comfortingly over Billie's palm. "You had us scared there for a minute."

"Sorry." Billie whispered. Streaks of jet black mascara cascaded down her face, making her usually rosey cheeks look deadly pale. Her eyes didn't quite meet Phoebe's as she spoke, and that sent the brunette into determined mode. Billie always looked her in the eyes, ever since the first time she'd met her. That was one of the things she respected so much about her, her confidence. But now, lying on this couch like a rag doll, she could feel that the confidence was diminished. Weakness was rolling off of her in waves; weakness, and loss of hope.

'I'm going to find who did this to you.' Phoebe promised silently, sharing a quick glance with Paige. 'I'm going to find them, and I'm going to make them pay.'

tbc...for real.