The door slammed open with such force the doorknob lodged itself into the wall with a loud crack. The room was so dark all I could see was the rough outline of the large figure standing in the doorway. The sight of the shadowy figure sent chill running down my spine and filled me with sheer terror. I already knew who it was and what was coming next. I looked around the room but it was completely empty leaving me nowhere to hide. The looming figure stepped into the room flipping the light switch as he did.

"I told you I would be back you little piece of shit," he sneered shortening the distance between us, "and now I am going to make you pay for it like never before."

"I didn't do anything I swear," I cried out backing myself into a corner in my attempt to flee his advancing body.

"You talked, you showed them the scars, showed them your bruises. This is all your fault," he yelled so angry that spit flew from his mouth with every word, "And then when I am finished with you, I am going to pay a visit to those sisters of yours and teach them the same lesson."

"Please don't hurt them," I cried, "it was all my fault not theirs. Please."

"I will do as I damn well please you little piece of shit," I could feel his hand closing around my neck as he pinned me against the wall my feet leaving the floor," and I am going to enjoy every bit of it."

The first punch connected squarely with my jaw followed by another to my eye. I struggled as it became harder to breathe. My face met the floor followed by punch after punch. After a few minutes he stood and I could hear the rattle of metal. The belt stung even more that I remembered as it connected with my back. I screamed only to have a boot connect with my mouth.

"I taught you better than that," he remarked finding my back with the belt again.

I could hear someone screaming but it seemed so far away. I hear it again but this time it was louder.

"NOOO," the voice screamed.

"Shhh….hey honey come on wake up," I heard the voice whisper in my head but this voice was different it was soft and comforting.

The belt struck my back again and I could feel my skin split beneath the buckle causing me to unleash another scream.

"Paigey baby come on wake up. Its just a dream baby. Shhh I am right here it's not real baby girl. Come on honey," I heard the voice say a little louder this time.

I opened my eyes to see Piper concern and worry spreading across her face. She pulled me into her arms kissing my forehead and I buried my hear into her and sobbed. We sat in silence Piper slowly rocking me back and forth in her lap and I continued to sob. She didn't need to ask what the dreams were she already knew and she knew there was nothing she could do but hold me close. I heard my door creak open and felt Piper move slightly to give whoever it was the sign that everything was okay and the door creaked close again. Piper shifted her body into a sitting position crossing her legs as she did so and pulling me onto her lap. I could feel her brushing my hair out of my face and planting a kiss on my forehead before resting her cheek on my head. She continued to rock but had now started to hum. I slowly and eventually drifted back to sleep. When I woke up that morning Piper was still laying next to me. I had lost track of how many times I had woken up screaming but true to her word Piper had stayed with me all night.

"Good Morning honey," Piper sighed ruffling my hair, "what do you feel like for breakfast this morning?"

"Nothing I'm not hungry," I replied rolling over hiding my face in the blankets.

"You have to eat something baby. Come on….I'll make you anything you want," she coaxed poking me.

"Anything," I asked smiling

"Yes baby anything," she laughed returning the smile.

"Okay then I want your vanilla cream strawberry stuffed crepes and fruit salad," I said grinning, "oh and some bacon and eggs and hash browns."

"You are a pain in the butt," she said smacking me lightly with the pillow and getting up to leave.

"Oh and some eggs benedict and fresh orange juice too no wait coffee," I added as I got up to get dressed.

"Ugh…child your pushing it," Piper giggled turning to roll her eyes before closing the door behind her.

Prue and Phoebe were standing around the coffee maker when Piper walked in to the kitchen.

"You look exhausted," Phoebe said as Prue handed Piper a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

"I wonder why," Piper replied sarcastically smacking Phoebe in the arm.

"There back?" Prue questioned though she already knew the answer.

"Yeah but they are worse this time I think," Piper answered.

"How many?"

"I think 6 was my last count maybe 7."

"How much sleep did you guys actually get," Phoebe asked refilling Piper's mug.

"She didn't get more than a few hours."

"Well things around here are going to be a little different until we get this all sorted out. Let's just hope the nightmares don't get worse," Phoebe explained making another pot of coffee.

I forced myself out of bed and started to get ready for school. I am not sure how I managed to do anything in my state of exhaustion but a few minutes later I grabbed my backpack and headed downstairs. Melinda and most of the other kids were already nearly finished when I made my appearance. I made my way to the coffee pot in an attempt to sneak a cup before anyone noticed. I had the cup half-filled before Prue appeared behind me.

"No Ma'am, you know that is not allowed in this house. Grab some real food please."

"UGH, come on Mom please," I begged giving her my best pout "I am running on empty here. I need something to keep me awake during class."

"Nope now hurry up Phoebe is taking you and Melinda to school today."

"What! Why?" I said with a little more sarcasm than I intended and was immediately met with a look from Prue letting me know it was pushing it.

"First of all, young lady you better fix that attitude before I fix it for you. Second there are going to be a lot of changes around here until we get the situation under control. One of those changes is that Phoebe was able to get a temporary reassignment to the school for security purposes. You will ride with her to and from school and she will be on campus all day."

"Seriously," I sighed with an accompanying eye roll that I regretted as soon as I had done so. Prue set the coffee cup down on the counter and leaned in close to whisper in my ear.

"I know you are tired and scared but that is no reason to have an attitude with me. This is all to keep you and everyone else safe. Lose your attitude or lose your ability to sit comfortably. Do you understand me young lady?"

"Yes Ma'am," I nodded and headed out the door with Phoebe and Melinda.

Later that night I was trying to get some homework done but it was almost impossible for me to concentrate on anything. I threw on my sweatshirt, grabbed a blanket and headed out the window. I wrapped my blanket around my shoulders and sat down on the roof to watch the sunset over the ocean. When the darkness had made it impossible to see I crawled back through my window to find a tray on my desk with cookies and hot chocolate. After finishing the cookies, I put in my earbuds and curled up on my bed with my book in hopes of avoiding sleep.

"Come on baby girl you need to get some sleep," I could hear through half open eyes as Prue pulled the book from my hands.

"I don't want to," I yawned

"I know baby but you need to sleep or you will make yourself sick. Now come get in bed," Prue instructed pulling the covers over me.

"Mom?"

"Yes baby?"

"Will you stay with me?"

"Of course baby girl, I had already planned on it," she admitted as she climbed in the bed sitting with her back against the headboard and pulling me close to her chest, "Now close your eyes and get some sleep baby girl."

"Mom?"

"Yes baby?"

"Will you sing to me?"

"Of course baby," Prue said adjusting her position and giving me a kiss on my forehead as she started to hum that all too familiar tune.

Goodnight, my angel, time to close your eyes,

And save these questions for another day.

I think I know what you've been asking me,

I think you know what I've been trying to say.

I promised I would never leave you,

Then you should always know,

Wherever you may go, no matter where you are,

I never will be far away.

Goodnight, my angel, now it's time to sleep,

And still so many things I want to say.

Remember all the songs you sang for me,

When we went sailing on an emerald bay.

And like a boat out on the ocean,

I'm rocking you to sleep.

The water's dark and deep, inside this ancient heart,

You'll always be a part of me.

Goodnight, my angel, now it's time to dream,

And dream how wonderful your life will be.

Someday your child may cry, and if you sing this lullaby,

Then in your heart there will always be a part of me.

Someday we'll all be gone,

But lullabies go on and on,

They never die, That's how you and I will be.