Chapter 19: Benedict Arnold

For Beatrix and Jeff there was, for a few weeks, some idealistic view of happiness. They could be normal dating people, well as normal as assassins get that is. For Beatrix, Jeff was a safe bet, for Jeff Beatrix was something he'd only dreamed of.

But, like all things this little fantasy had to come to an end. The ending came quickly and with swift brutality due to the fact that Bill had something to do with it.

It was mid afternoon when Beatrix's phone rang. Her and Jeff were supposed to go out tonight, but it was not Jeff...it was Bill. He didn't sound even remotely happy. "Kiddo...get over here now." With that he hung up.

Beatrix had recently gotten out of the shower and was applying make up when she received Bill's unexpected and unwelcome phone call. Lips were parted as if she were about to say something into the phone when she heard the familiar click of being disconnected. "Fuck," she muttered and slammed the phone back on the receiver.

She slipped on a pair of sandals that were the color of the sky which clashed with her navy green skirt, that came down just past her ankles, but was more of a tight and slimming fit, and the khaki color long sleeve shirt. Not that she cared, nor did she ever really care about her appearance. Perhaps the unconscious feeling that she knew for a fact she looked good in just about anything.

Besides that, Bea was in the car and on her way. This time she managed to arrive at Bill's in ten minutes, a new record. Bill didn't sound happy at all. He had that tone which made the blonde uneasy. Something certainly wasn't right.

The car was driving down the road to Bill's at a speed of 70. She passed by the sand lot which resided next to the hacienda...and...She blinked hard and did a double take. She jammed on the break and did a quick 90 degree spin back around. There were cars in the sand lot. There were never cars at the sand lot. She parked the car and jumped out.

There were three cars in the lot. One which was obviously one of Bill's many cars. The other was Elle's red Corvette. The third was an unknown black sedan but it notably had blank license plates. The cars were parked in a circle formation...their main function?...block passers by from viewing what was about to happen.

In the middle of these cars stood Bill. Nobody else was present, or at least visible. Bill stood unmoving as Beatrix got out of her car and approached. He looked stoic, dressed in his typical black jacket and slacks...hair blowing in the soft breeze. It was very obvious he was wearing a pistol at his side under his jacket. He squinted at Beatrix for a few moments. He looked angry, but it was didn't appear to be directed at her nor was it a fresh anger. It seemed as if he had fully accessed and picked apart the source of his anger and now there remained nothing but cold decisiveness. This was Bill at the point of no return. He had made up his mind and he there was no going back on it.

"Kiddo...," he began, a little hesitantly, "...I want you to listen to all of this before you react. I realize that you may have some difficulty doing this...but," he paused, searching for the right words, "...believe me...just...hold back." He held her gaze for a second longer, then turned towards the unmarked car and nodded.

A moment later, the side door opened and Elle stepped out. Her blouse was spattered in blood and her expression was difficult to ascertain. She reached into the car and dragged out a body. The bruised and bloody form of Jeff fell onto the sand, dust kicking up around him. He was alive...but it looked like he had just had the shit beat out of him for a good long time. His leg was bent funny, obviously broken. He laid there in the sand and tried to pull himself up into a sitting position. His face was almost unrecognizable as he lifted it up to gaze in Bill's and Beatrix's direction, a train wreck of puffy eyes, cuts and a large split lip. There was something else as well...he looked pretty drugged out...his head kept lolling around against his will. His clothing was covered in blood and torn in a number of spots. He opened his bloody mouth to say something, but instead he bent over and coughed up a smattering of blood on the dusty ground.

Bill looked at Jeff, a disgusted expression on his face. "Don't fucking say a word until I tell you to," he hissed.

Beatrix had been standing behind one of the cars that were blocking her entrance to the circle. Locks of dampened blonde hair whipped against her face as she stared in a silent horror. She only took on this shocked appearance for a few seconds before rage took over. She effortlessly leaped over the car that was blocking her pathway with an angelic grace. It took only three big steps for the tall blonde to come and kneel down to Jeff's side. Blue eyes burned with anger and tears but she refused to shed as she took a quick examination of the extent of Jeff's injuries. He looked like hell. Beaten to a pulp and by the looks of it he had been easily out numbered. She didn't hold back as Bill had instructed. Did he expect her to cooperate with her stubborn personality? A hand cupped to Jeff's cheek, blood smearing on to her fingers as she stared down at him. Lips were parted as if she was to speak but she hesitated. "Jeff.." She whispered softly. Bea watched as Jeff swayed his head away from her with not much recognition to her words.

She removed her hand and gulped down the lump in her throat. Her facial features went hard and cold. Compressing all emotions and only allowing rage and hostility to take over she sprang to her feet and turned on Bill. "What the fuck did you do!" Her voice came a fraction below screaming at him.

Bill made no move to stop Beatrix, he had expected this. He simply stood there looking as cold as a December morning. Even her nearly screamed words didn't even cause him to blink. "I did to him what he deserved...no less," Bill replied flatly. He gave Beatrix a few more moments to comfort Jeff...he was unmoved by the kindness...besides, he was in no hurry...the end was already written.

Jeff stared back up at Beatrix with just the faintest hint of recognition. "Bea...," he managed, through cracked lips, "I'm really sorry..." his eyes widened in horror as he looked over Beatrix's shoulder.

There was the distinctive sound of leather creaking behind Beatrix as Bill removed his pistol from its holster. The pistol was a hefty 45cal Magnum. It was all chrome and pearl handle, looking like something right out of a Dirty Harry movie. He flipped open the chamber, "Now...Jeff," Bill began slowly, sounding like the very epitome of a sadistic bastard. "...since you have already so kindly begun your little confession..." He slowly and methodically began loading bullets in the chamber, "why don't you tell Beatrix everything you just told me." After two bullets he stopped, "Tell her nice...and clear so she can fully appreciate what you have to say." With a vicious flick of his wrist, Bill closed the chamber on the pistol.

Jeff's breathing was rapid and frantic, his eyes wide as he stared up at Bill. After a moment, he licked his bloody lips, eyes flicking to Beatrix. He looked hesitant despite the drugs.

"Tell her Jeff," Bill said softly.

Beatrix remained kneeling to the side of Jeff. She took a quick glance over her shoulder at Bill as he loaded the magnum before turning full attention back to Jeff. Her expression was void but blue eyes were flooding with confusion, anger, and most surprisingly sadness.

She clenched long fingers into two separate fists on either side of her body. Knuckles turning white without rage. She was walking on a very unsteady line and soon she was going to fall. She tilted her chin up and to the side. Her voice took on a calmer but no less collected level, "It's..okay...Jeff. Just tell me." Obviously Beatrix had no idea what she was about to be 'shot' with.

Jeff took a deep breath, which turned into a bloody cough. After regaining some control over himself, he licked his lips again."I...I...had no intention of joining the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad," he began, "...for the past two years...I've been working for CLIP," this was a well known rival association of Bill's, "...I was sent here...to steal information...I was told to fraternize if all possible...to gain whatever insight I could," he paused to cough again, but the words starting coming easier, "...I did know Bill...that part is true...we did meet in Chico...and I did train with him...but what he didn't know was that I was passing on information about him and his organization to CLIP."

He smiled a bit, a bloody smile, "You guys are a joke over there...but a...joke that they want to get rid of...Bill in particular." His gaze focused back on Beatrix, "I needed a female in to you guys though...and you were it Bea...it was...easy...for me to get you Bea...too easy...I had a good time getting that information though...a real good time..." his head bobbed back a little,"...best damn mission I've ever had," he smiled again at her. "I was even starting to really like you Bea...Bill...I never liked him...fucking asshole...a relic of the 70's..." he coughed harder, "All of that was an act...he never scared me...you...you never charmed me Bea...well..not that much...maybe a little...But...looks like Bill got tipped...fucking CLIP...," he looked like he was going to say more but was interrupted by another spasm of bloody coughing.

Staring had become a dwelling trait for the past few minutes. It was all Beatrix could do as Jeff explained everything. When he appeared to be done she stared longer. In all her life she had never felt so betrayed, well, there would be a time worse than this but at the evident moment, this was ranking number one. Why did she always get herself into these situations? Why was she so stupid? She wasn't her mother's daughter. She was no slut looking for a cute guy to pin whenever one passed by. Yes, she wanted a normal relationship but she had to stop trying. All it was doing was breaking her ego. She felt faint and dizzy. A hand raked through blonde locks as legs gave way and she fell to her knees beside Jeff. Sadness and betrayal became a more prominent glint in blue hues. But, she had to remember, she was Beatrix Kiddo. Black Mamba. And, in this case she didn't act like any normal woman. A normal woman would run off crying and screaming. No, she wanted revenge. Bloody revenge, preferably.

Fists still clenched at her side, lips that were parted came together in a tight line; she rose a fist and punched Jeff in the face. By the sound of it she broke a bone. Beatrix quickly sprang to her feet and took a steady step back. She glared down at the 'Benedict Arnold' with hot fury. She blinked and instantly pulled a hand up to wipe away the tear that trailed down her cheek before anyone could notice. That same hand than wiped out at Bill, palm open. "Give me the gun."

For a moment Bill was startled, at Beatrix's request, but his expression quickly changed to a smirk. For some reason he really wanted to kiss this woman right now. He wasn't exactly sure why, but he couldn't deny it...maybe it was because she looked so damn good so pissed off...but it was probably mostly because, deep down, he wanted her to know that besides his sadistic exterior...this had all been for her. Sure Jeff had betrayed him as well...but that didn't mean shit to Bill when he thought of Jeff's betrayal to Beatrix. Funny, how life could be so ironic in the end. "Gladly my dear," Bill set the huge weighty magnum in her outstretched palm. At close range, a gun like that could easily blow a man's head clean off.

"Oh god...shit," Jeff groaned, wide eyes now turned on Beatrix, "Look...Bea...fuck...I'm sorry...I know I didn't say that before..." he coughed, looking pathetic...nothing like the gleaming attractive man he had been before. "I liked you...I did...but...shit...you've gotta understand...I had loyalties...Don't shoot me! Jesus!"

Bill crossed his arms, the smirk evident on his face.

Jeff tried again, "Bill...I didn't mean it...well..I did...but...fucking shit man!"

Beatrix wrapped fingers against the cold handle of the Magnum. She cocked back the hammer. Blue hues glared fiercely at Jeff. She listened to his pitiful words but that inspired no sympathy from Black Mamba.

Long arms extended and head tilted down just a little as she stared down the barrel of the gun. Her aim poised and ready to shoot. "Here's a tip for ya Jeff," she began in a bitterly chilling tone. "In the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad ninety-nine percent of the time when one say's thery're sorry...they never mean it."

Her finger tensed on the trigger. "I'm sorry." And she shot him point blank between the eyes. She should have backed up a few feet before she shot for now her blouse was splattered with blood as well as her hard facial features. Hands still tight to the Magnum, her body noticeably shaking with fury, as if she wanted to shot the already dead body again for reassurance. She blinked multiple times either to clear her head or the tears threatening her. Either, or.

She dropped a hand and numbly held it back out to Bill. Revenge felt surprisingly...good.

Bill almost cringed...that was fucking nasty. Jeff's body lay motionless...now nearly headless. Blood and bits of brain matter lay all around him. It was a grisly sight. Bill took back his Magnum and holstered it. He sat down on his haunches, hands coming to rest on Beatrix's shoulders. He could feel her shaking with anger. Her face was turned away from him, but he knew she was trying her best to hold it together.

He spoke in her ear in his soft tone of voice. "Let it go Kiddo. He's wasn't worth it. I know that's easier said than done." He wiped away some blood off her blonde locks, "You did the right thing."

Beatrix exhaled an unsteady breath and gave a tight nod to Bill's words. She didn't feel any guilt about killing Jeff. He deserved every bit of it. But, she still felt sad. Sad that she had so easily let herself fall into his trap and allowed herself to get hung up. Cold fact, something she really had to come to terms with. Something she had to tell the truth about, to herself. She 'belonged' to Bill. No way around it. They didn't have a normal relationship but that was it, she had to give up on trying. Reality sucked. Even still, she could come to terms with it right then but it wouldn't last. All her life she'd keep on denying the truth to herself. A habit she couldn't break.

Nonchalantly Bea let her head fall back to stare up at the sky and lean on Bill's shoulder. She looked stoned but in actual fact she was just numb and void.

Bill let her sit like that for sometime, while he nonchalantly ran his hands through her hair. She was a bloody mess...but he didn't really care. While he didn't feel how she felt, he could understand what she must feel like...he wasn't that void of human emotions.

It was only when his legs started to go numb, that Bill moved. "Come on Kiddo," he helped her stand up, "Let's go inside." He turned his head towards Elle, who had been obediently quiet and to the side this entire time. "Bury that thing," he said to her. Elle nodded silently and got to work. Obviously Elle was under heavy threat to behave herself.

Once inside, Bill let Beatrix sit while he went and started a shower. He returned with a towel over his arm. Despite Bill's "dirty" line of work he was always a stickler for cleanliness. "Trust me, this helps..." He handed her the towel, "Take as long as you want." In a way, perhaps Bill was being figurative to cleanse the physical self was often a ways to cleanse the mental self. Well it didn't always work that easily, but Beatrix looked like she needed something.

Figurative or not Beatrix was thankful for it and her eyes showed it. She rose to her feet, took the towel, and retreated to the bathroom. She disposed of her bloodied, never to be worn again clothing before slipping under the warm water.

Water steadily enveloping her body, began to wash away the blood in the seclusion of the bathroom. Perfect. She began to cry. Tears shed for the betrayal of someone she cared about. She cried for the fact that she was played and so easily. She cried because she needed to. A perhaps degrading and highly unappealing way to wash feelings away but even the deadliest woman in the world had her breaking points and the shower was the perfect place of seculsion to do so.

The shower took an hour and twenty minutes. She had scrunched up like a prune but it did help. Bea came out of the bathroom, steam trailing behind her form that was secularly wrapped in the towel. Bare feet padded against the floor as she came into the living room to spot Bill lounging on the couch. She looked a little more a live but her eyes were puffy and her skin was clammy. The wet blonde hovered.

Bill had told Beatrix to take her time and she damn well did. He was glad that he had a hot water tank the size of a swimming pool. But he was also thankful for the reclusive time that her marathon shower allowed. Elle had buried the remainder of Jeff and had stopped in briefly to get a drink before leaving. She didn't say much to Bill, besides the necessities. He was sure that she was a little sore about doing the dirty work...but he honestly didn't give a shit.

While sitting there, Bill had turned on the TV...but he didn't really watch it, he just stared at moving colors and shapes, while his mind whirled in many directions. Originally, when finding out about Jeff, he was just going to kill the fucker right then and there...but after hearing Jeff's full confession he changed his plans. Bill had wanted Beatrix to see it and hear the words out of Jeff's mouth himself. If he had just killed Jeff right off, it was likely that Beatrix would not have believed him...and any small amount of trust that they had built up between the two of them would be instantly crushed to dust. It had been important to him that Beatrix witness that...for a number of reasons.

Of course, he had not planned on her shooting Jeff herself...Bill had planned on shooting the man in the gut...just to be sadistic, and then finish him off. But Beatrix's ending was far more fitting and Bill adored fitting endings. Sure, Bill felt betrayed...Jeff had led him to believe he was a friend for seven years. A good enough friend to allow Bill to train him and offer him a position within his organization. Bill was more than just a little mad at himself for not catching on to Jeff's act...he usually caught that sort of thing right away. Just another testament to how good this Jeff guy had been actually been. Bill wanted Beatrix to know that she was not the only one who had been led on. Hell, at times Jeff had even felt like a son to him. If Bill hadn't been so hard and jaded he might even have been hurt by it. He knew that Beatrix had been hurt and that's what pissed him off the most. She hadn't deserved that.

He was sitting pensively when Beatrix padded into the living room. She looked water logged and puffy eyed but still beautiful and far more alive than before. He turned a soft gaze on her, patting the cushion next to himself, "This is the couch for the betrayed,sit with me?" Not a demand...a rare request.

Beatrix obliged to the request without a second thought. She padded over to the couch and sat down beside him. An even rarer sight occurred. The blonde had effectively positioned herself on the cushions so that her dampened body was pressed against Bill's side and her head nestled against his shoulder. She had an instinct that this time he wouldn't mind that she was getting him a little wet. If he was, he'd have to deal because she had no intention of moving any time soon. She chose this position for numerous reasons. The evident ones being; it gave her a sense of protection, not that she couldn't protect herself but in this case she felt her mind to be exceptionally vulnerable. Another; Beatrix needed to know he still cared, even if it was in Bill's own unique twisted ways it supplied a comfort. The last; she wasn't alone. This 'was' the couch for the betrayed.

Beatrix remained silent, blue eyes distant. She wanted to speak. She wanted to ask him if he'd ever do that to her. Betray her in such a foul and dirty manner. No, he'd never do that to her...

She shifted one arm to tuck against her side and the other draped over his lap haphazardly. She did speak but it wasn't the question stinging her mind. Her voice was low, "Am I charming?"

Seeing her like this only made Bill want to kill Jeff again. Fucking asshole. Beatrix had been guilty of nothing more than being a woman, a quality that should not be punished but should be cherished. Instantly Bill regretted getting so angry those couple days ago but he didn't say anything.

Bill wrapped an arm around her damp shoulders, pinning her in even tighter. He didn't mind the fact that she was getting him and the couch slightly wet. Half of the time he was usually just joking about that anyways. "Oh Kiddo," he smiled down at her, "...of course you are charming." He brushed some hair out of her face. "If you weren't so charming how could you have reeled in such a jaded bastard as myself," he smiled again for good measure, "Believe me, that takes some serious goddamn charm...and you have it."

He looked a little more serious, "What the rest of the world says about you is unimportant...and rarely true. What matters is that I think you're charming. Isn't that enough?" He kissed the top of her head, the hand on her shoulder giving it a little massage. "Fuck them Kiddo...you have to believe what you think is true...and what those who really care about you know to be true." He gave her a little squeeze for emphasis.

"That's more than enough," she replied gently. Receiving compliments from Bill were one of a kind because Bill, himself, was one of a kind. Lids came half lidded over blue hues. She wanted to cry again but she knew she could never ever cry in front of Bill. She had too much self control and moral to do that. Besides, she figured she cleared the water works in the shower so that now there was nothing left. From now on Beatrix made a promise to herself that she would be more devoted to Bill. No scavenging around for the life she couldn't have. No more wishing for a normal life because wishing was only wounding her heart. She had Bill and their complex relationship and that was all that should matter. "I'm..sorry...about the other day," she whispered. A way to discretely drop the hint of her blooming devotion.

Bill looked down at her, somewhat surprised by her confession. He hadn't expected that. He shook his head, "There's nothing to be sorry about Kiddo, you did nothing wrong," he paused considering his next words, "I...I...shouldn't have said that thing about you and your mother. That was...extremely inappropriate and untrue. I was...angry."

The word 'sorry' had not been included...but it was still an apology and a sincere one at that. A Bill rarity, especially when pertaining to one of his 'low blows.' For some reason it felt good to have just said that to her. Normally such conscious ridden guilt never did much for him...but this time...it was different, somehow. Bill realized that what he just transpired between the two of them was sounding. He furrowed his brow, looking back down at Beatrix. He desperately wanted to know what she was thinking, but he knew from experience that she was apt to cling onto that information with steel resolve. Instead, he gave her shoulder's another squeeze...feeling...well rather content in the moment.

Blue hues didn't turn up to look at him but remained to watch the flickering colors and images on the television screen. She knew in Bill's own discrete and selective way he had just made an apology. The 'I was angry' statement translated to 'I am sorry' or a way to mask over true explanation to his actions. She didn't forgive him but she did consider his apology.

"Accepted," she replied quietly and sincerely. Bea tilted her head so that her cheek was nestled against his shoulder. She was feeling just as or close to content as her companion was. A feeling she could get use to. If Bea took the time to calculate, which she did, she could recall more hostile moments between herself and Bill than moments such as this. A silent wonder as to why but in actual fact she knew exactly why just unwilling to face it. Complex relationship. But, she'd make an effort for more.

Bill nodded, satisfied with her reaction. No doubt she was still pretty pissed at him about that comment...but he couldn't really blame her nor expect her to get over it that easily. Beatrix wasn't that type of woman...she carried a torch for anger. He found it enduring.

He wanted to pull away and ask her how she was doing, but sitting like this just felt too damn good to interrupt...besides, he knew she'd just say she was fine anyways.

Beatrix was beginning to dry off, her hair an odd mixture of dark and blonde...wet and dry. He fiddled with a few strands of it. Bill loved her hair and he made no effort to conceal that. Is this the type of thing he had missed out on when he chose to lead the life he had? Then again, had he even really had a choice to begin with? Still, had to wonder about moments of contentment...and the rarity of them in his life. His life had been a myriad of violence, dust, smoke, self gratification and endless viciousness. He'd of had it no other way...but one always had to wonder what the grass was like on the other side. "Tell me Kiddo," he mused, "What makes you happy? And I don't mean just sort of happy...I mean really fucking happy..."

That was an odd question and it was evident in her eyes as she tilted to look at him. Slender brows furrowed into a deep meditation of thought. Beatrix hadn't been asked such a tough question in some time and the context it was brought up in made the answer much more difficult. This, sitting with him, made her happy but it didn't make her really fucking--Fucking...fucking made her...No, scratch that thought. Beatrix tilted her chin down and continued to wheel through answers. She had to answer it thoroughly and accurately. If she said something wrong their moment of being content could be shattered. Killing made her happy but that was too simple. What else? Chocolate made her happy. Especially the ones with the whipped center. But, no.

Had Bill purposely asked her this question to get her aggravated? Probably not, seeing that for anyone that was not Beatrix Kiddo would find the answer easily. Than it hit like a ton of bricks. Blue hues steadily came back those brown. "Nothing." She decided to elaborate finding that too blunt. "There's a fine line between happiness and unhappiness and I always managed to weaver myself in the middle. I'm never truly fucking happy. I never have been and I can't say I never will be...Someday I'll find it...gotta be patient."

Bill looked down at her, perhaps even with a bit of sadness. No one he had ever known had ever answered that question like that. Every day he learned something new about Beatrix...she continued to become more of a complex and enigmatic person. Perhaps, she was also something of a tragic person. "Hrm...I agree with you on that fine line...I think we all walk that line...," he paused in thought. "I look at it this way...if I allow myself to be really fucking unhappy, then in turn, I can allow myself to be really fucking happy. It's a matter of extremes."

He leaned back a little, "I'll tell you what makes me really fucking happy...well maybe just happy...I haven't actually quite specified what the fucking part meant anyways," he smirked a little.

"Knowing that I am in control of everything around me...that makes me happy...knowing that I am the person I am because of me...my choices, even my mistakes...that makes me happy. Resolve makes me happy," he shrugged, not even entirely sure if those things made him all that happy...maybe Beatrix had just made a very good point.

"To be petty...," he gestured at his gun holster on the coffee table, "...that fucking huge Mangum makes me happy. The desert makes me happy...Just...taking off when I feel like, that makes me happy. Beautiful women make me happy...cars," he laughed, realizing he was sounding like a real misogynistic bastard, "...well...what can I say..." Of course killing made him happy...but that was far too cliché to even mention. "I guess," he said after a moment, "...for me..being really happy doesn't have to be anything earth shattering." He looked back down at Beatrix. She'd truthfully answered his question...but he wasn't entirely sure he had truthfully answered his own question. He frowned, realizing he had just created his own trap. "You'll find it Kiddo...I may be a lost cause, but I have hope you will..."

His last set of words may have been comforting but she couldn't leave his trap unattended. Beatrix was slowly coming a live again and she had Bill to thank for it. She was still void in numerous areas but feeling was coming back. But, feeling better wasn't necessarily a good thing. She had to purse her lips to keep from saying anything relatively offending or hostile approaching; in other words she tried not be a smart ass. Bill had answered the question with answers that Bea had avoided as she found them to be too much in the norm. She was a unique person and she tried to steady that trait. Course Bill's answer were amusing.

She had felt sincere before, she had to keep it. "You'll be really fucking happy one day. Maybe we'll find it...together...but besides that, I'll list what just makes me happy. For the sake of amusement."

She turned her head to him, a smirk tugging at her features. "Chocolate makes me happy. Nice, long baths with kiwi scented bubbles makes me pretty damn happy...Knowing I can piss the hell out of Elle with my mere presence." Blue eyes twinkled but it settled quickly. "Revenge. It's really cool. That made me happy. And, for the sake of being corny, you, you make me happy. But," she raised a finger. "Only on occasions such as this. Any other time I'd more than 'happily' rip your fucking head off."

Bill laughed, "That's comforting news..." he smiled, finding her list very amusing. He knew that she knew that he had completely half assed his own question. Why? Maybe it was because like Beatrix, nothing really made him that happy...or maybe it was because he was too much a bastard to really tell the truth. "Maybe we'll find it together...maybe not..." he mused. He had never pictured being really happy with somebody...he far too self concerned...but life was damn weird like that.

"Well Kiddo," he chuckled, "You make me very happy when your not being a vindictive bitch," he teased...but the smile became serious...Bill could now recognize a sappy comment coming on before he said it, "But...you make me happier than any other person I've ever known...," a soft smile, "...when your not being a vindictive bitch that is."

He quickly changed directions, "Chocolate and kiwi scented bubbles...sounds kinda kinky to me..." he gave her an amused smirk.

Beatrix flashed a salutary facade in his direction. "Oh, it is," she cooed. Her face had leaned close to his in that moment but it didn't last. She settled back against the cushions. "You should try it some time. Course you'd have to let me sneak a peak so I could laugh." She smirked gently.

Her facade than came serious. That pretty blonde head that was frizzy in multiple directions canted down, her hair never air dried accordingly. Blue eyes leveled. "I'm a vindictive bitch? You must have me mixed up with another blonde that works for you. Because I am nowhere near as vindictive as she is." She planted a mock glare in Bill's direction. "That's saying; you make me happy when you're not being a moron. Which is mixing you up with your brother."

Bill laughed, she had got him good on that one...damn good. After a few moments, he quieted down, "Ok...ok...point taken..." he pressed a finger to his lips in dramatic thought, "Very well...you can be far less of a vindictive bitch than the other blonde that works for me." He raised an eyebrow at her, "Fair enough?" He settled back down, letting her little sneaking a peak and laughing at him comment go for the moment.

"You know I mean vindictive bitch in an enduring way of course...," he smirked, "...just like you find me an enduring bastard..." He leaned his head back on the couch...bantering with Beatrix was like...well somewhat like bantering with himself...it required much more thought than he usually used with others. She had a way of draining his mental resources...he liked that, but it was also daunting at times. If there had been a rulebook on how to manage with women...there would not have been a chapter for a woman like Beatrix. At times, with her...it was like walking across a minefield.

He closed his eyes, "You're making me feel old Kiddo. Let me just sit here and scavenge up some more witty repor...your showing me up far too much right now."

Beatrix felt more than satisfied when she could out do Bill when it came to witty repors. She never intentionally meant to out wit him. Unlike, Bill she didn't have to put too much thought into coming up with a reply, it happened naturally.

She turned to her side and stared at him with a masked fondness. A single digit came up to idily trace at his hard chisheled features. "It wasn't my intention...to make you feel old," she assured quietly. If this had been any other day and what had happened earlier did not, Bea would have most likely played a game. But, she was too worn down to start. "You are old-er..." She traced a long white finger against the bridge of his nose.

"But.." she trailed off unsure where she had planned to go with that. She poked his nose and dropped her hand to her side. "Do you have anything I can go home in besides a skimpy towel?"

Bill watched her intensely as she began a thought as she traced his face...and then ended it. He offered a small smile, brown eyes searching her face.

"Of course," he said softly, "Although...I was hoping you'd not ask that and end up having to strut around in that thing for awhile," he smirked. "What a let down," he teased her, a hand coming up to stroke her hair fondly. "Let me see what I can find," he stood, a hand grasping on to hers for a brief moment.

He disappeared down the hallway, once again finding clothing for Beatrix. Now he understood how couples ended up with so much of their stuff at the other person's place. He returned a few minutes later. "I haven't worn this stuff in...probably twenty years," he chuckled. He held out a pair of black workout pants and a grey t-shirt that read "Master Yen's Kung Fu Club" in bright red oriental letters on it..a fierce looking tiger in mid leap underneath. "I hate t-shirts," Bill commented as he handed them to her. "Feel free to just keep those..." he waved a hand.

Beatrix was thankful for the generous offering of clothing. She really didn't want to drive home in a towel, it was hard enough keeping it up. She rose to her full height, the bundle of clothes tucked beneath her arm. A cross between a smile and a smirk graced her facial features as she brushed by. "I'll be back shortly."

Shortly being a good ten minutes. Kiddo couldn't say she liked wearing Bill's clothes but they held a degree of comfort inside and out. She padded back out of the bathroom, the shirt and pants were baggy to her form but that was how most clothes of that style fit. Loose and comfy. Within those minutes it took to change she ran a brush through her hair to defrizz as best she could.

Her blue eyes sparked with amusement as she approached Bill. "The t-shirt is cute." She made a sore attempt at modeling the outfit for him. "But, you're right. I just can't see you in a t-shirt. Maybe twenty years ago but even than I'd be subject to protest."

Bill chuckled, "Believe me, it looks far cuter on you than it did on me." He nodded, "Yeah, you'd probably have a good laugh over pictures of me in t-shits...which," he added with a raised eyebrow, "...are all safely locked away." He smiled, picking up one of her hands and studying it for a few moments. He looked at her long white fingers over his large weathered ones...it was an interesting metaphor.

He tilted his head to the side, eyes still downcast, "You make me very happy Kiddo," he admitted after a moment. He wasn't entirely sure he deserved that happiness...but then again, why not? He looked like he was going to say something more, but he simply gave her a quick tight smile and let her hand drop. "It's getting late...and I know you have allot to work through...best I let you get going."

Beatrix took on a bewildered facade but it didn't last. Instead she smiled knowingly. "Give me at least three days to recope," she instructed quietly. Three days was more than enough. It gave her time to lounge around at home and do nothing but think. It also allowed training that helped release anger and hostile feelings that were put into actions. By the third day she'd be back to normal. Well, as normal as she could get.

She remained in her spot opposite him in the hallway. She could feel the heat sparking from their bodies and this time it wasn't because one was pissed at the other. So, Beatrix went on instinct and that a simple good-bye wouldn't pull it off. A hand cupped to his cheek gingerly as she leaned in and placed lips to his. It was a short but meaningful enough kiss to fill the gap.

She pulled away. Hidden devotion among other things were more effectively masked with a weary smile. "Good night Bill."

Bill more than willingly leaned into the kiss...but it was over with quickly. "Goodnight Kiddo..." he said softly as she pulled away. He returned her weary smile and watched her leave with an intense gaze that spoke more than simple good-byes.

Beatrix would go home and beat the shit out of boards of wood and Bill would go back to setting up assassinations. Such were their "normal' lives.

To Bill, Jeff was just another causality fallen in his path...their seven year friendship nothing but a wisp of disappearing smoke. Bill knew that for Beatrix it would take longer to let it go...but he know that she would, eventually. Once again, Bill considered himself untouched by a seemingly tragic turn of events. In many ways, he felt far more effected by the short time he had just spent with Beatrix then he had when beating the utter shit out of Jeff. Somebody, once..., who was no longer living, had called Bill a devoid of any real human attachments or deep emotions. But he was resigned to disagree...

He shook his head with fatigue and picked up his Magnum from it's holster..admiring the weapon. For some reason that sappy Byrd's song...eh..what the hell was it called? To Everything There is a Season...came into his head. Damn hippies. He pulled the hammer back, the trigger clicking with a blank chamber.

Well, maybe there was a time to love and a time to hate...then again, for Bill those two swung on a short pendulum.