Chapter 2:

Disclaimer: I forgot to do a disclaimer in the first chapter…but yeah, I don't own Charmed. Duh! But it would be awesome. I only own my stuff…barley.

My body turned cold and my breath soon became short. Melissa on the other hand, became someone I never knew she could be. Her eyes seemed to burn with such a fierce anger. She picked up the phone.

"Brandy. Leave my baby alone. She's mine now, and nothing you will do can stop that. So do yourself a favor and get out now before things get worse for you." Melissa ordered protectively

"Ah contraire. She's mine." Brandy argued

"No, Brandy, she's not. She's mine. You lost your chance the first time you hit her, and I'm not going to let you get to her again. It's taken a long time for her to get over you and what you did, but now she's finally been able to live her life again. She is finally able to walk outside without looking over her shoulder. And there is nothing, nothing you will do to stop her from doing what she wants. Understand?" Melissa said forcefully.

"Why don't you let me talk to her and let her tell me what she wants?" Brandy sneered

"Because she doesn't want to talk to you. She doesn't want to hear your voice, see your face, or have anything to do with you. You know what she's like right now? Right now, she's in a trance. She's in a place where I can't get to her. And you know what, that's your fault. Because hearing your voice did that to her. You've scared her into a shock." Melissa fumed over the phone.

"I'm glad I can still have that effect on her." Brandy replied gleefully.

"That's not a good thing Brandy. Now, I'm going to hang up. And if I ever catch you calling my baby again, or even breathing in the air she breathes, I will go out and make you wish you were never born." Melissa threatened.

"Did you just threaten me? Because I can have you arrested for that." Brandy said

"Ah but you won't because you know you are not supposed to be calling Payton in the first place. Goodbye Brandy. Have a nice life." Melissa replied, and hung up.

I was still in shock. I thought I had been able to get away from it all. But it looks like my past has come back to bite me in the ass.

Not saying anything, Melissa got up and went around to my side of the table. I stood up, mesmerized. She just wrapped her arms around me. I hid my face in her chest.

"I know, baby. I know." She soothed and started rocking me. "It's okay. It's all going to be okay."

After five minutes, she let go. She tipped my chin up so our eyes could meet. "Sweetie, I'm going to call you out sick for work today, okay? I think you need some time at home." Melissa said gently. I just nodded. "

"Why don't we get you upstairs and back in bed. I'll call the school." She said, and took my arm and helped me up the stairs. Then when we got to our bedroom, she put me on the bed.

"You stay there. I'll be right back."

Lying on the bed, scenes were flashing through my eyes from my past. I shivered, thinking of the countless times I had been beaten by Brandy. Running up the stairs to get away with her. Hours on end I had spent locked in the basement for not doing as she pleased. Starving, cold, beaten down. She had knocked the soul of life right out of me.

Until Melissa rescued me.

Melissa is a case manger at the school we work at. She works with problematic kids who seem to not have the greatest home life. She wound up coming home with Brandy one night on a date, as Brandy lived a free life and cheated on me often.

Kristen had been very worried about me, but I had called her enough to convince her I was okay. She had let me live with Brandy when I turned 18 because I had said I was in love with her that much. It took me a lot to convince her. Before that, when I was 16 and especially at 17 she would just abuse me when she could, but not enough so Kristen would get suspicious. She often said I was just plain clumsy.

I don't blame Kristen at all, because Brandy was very manipulative and conniving. She was also a very good actress. She would say I was sick and that Kristen couldn't come up to see me because I was contagious. Things of that nature. Kristen still blames herself for the hell I went through, but I don't blame her at all. Kristen is the best thing that ever happened to me, and I love her. Well, maybe tied with Melissa.

Anyway, Melissa had come home with Brandy that one night. Brandy had forgotten to lock my door when she left to go on her date. Brandy had shown her around the house and just sort of waved past the basement.

Melissa was actually going undercover. The school I had been attending had gotten very suspicious that I was missing so much school. Melissa offered to go and check things out.

Brandy had had to take a business cal, so went upstairs to do some work. Melissa knew that it was the golden opportunity to check things out.

The first thing Melissa did was check the basement. She turned the door and ta-da! It swung open, revealing me. She hurried down the stairs and grabbed me as fast as she could. Brandy knew something was up so she came downstairs to see what was going on.

Melissa grabbed a kitchen knife to protect herself with. Brandy fought ferociously t get me back, but Melissa (in self defense) slashed her enough times to leave Brandy bleeding on the floor, too weak to move. That's when Melissa called the police, and it was all over. I was free.

After that, everything was a dream. Kristen and I were reunited and I lived with Kristen for the next two years. Melissa and I got really close, even though it took a lot for me to get to trust her. I moved in with Melissa when I turned 22, ready to try love again. It's been one of the best things that has ever happened to me, and I couldn't be happier.

Melissa came back into the room. She lay down on the bed with me and rubbed my back soothingly.

"Baby? You there?" She asked finally, trying to get me out of my trance.

I sighed. "Yeah…just…scared." I let out.

"I know, baby. I know." She said, and engulfed me into a hug.

A/N: So, hope you've enjoyed this so far. Questions? Comments? Please PM or REVIEW me! No flames, please.