Then and Now

"I suggest…we get down to business." Bill pointed towards the kitchen. "You remember; I'm quite sure, Vernita… your way around the kitchen…" he stepped over to the bar. "Feel free to fix yourself a sandwich, a drink, whatever you like…would you like some coffee?"

"That'd be fine."

Bill went into the kitchen to prepare the coffee. Vernita remained silent and didn't bother to exchange small conversation with Elle. She had enough of that on the way to Bill's hacienda. Bill returned with a lighter, an incense stick, and a holder for it. He sat down on the couch and rubbed his head as if feeling the onset of a migraine.

"I'm going to explain to you…what Sofie already told me…Elle, you know about it already, but Vernita does not…I don't want to keep you longer than necessary." Bill straightened up on the couch. "I know you have a family to tend to…so I'm going to get right to the point of the matter."

Vernita heard Elle flick a lighter, and then snap it shut. Fumes of smoke filled the air. Vernita wrinkled her nose and turned towards Bill. No doubt he would say something. Back in the day, smoking was strictly forbidden in his hacienda. Bill stared at Elle, who smoked in the room.

"I'm going to let that slide for today Elle…but you know the rules of this house."

"'No smoking in the hacienda.'" Elle whined, bobbing her head up and down as if she'd heard it all before. "Alright, I'll put it out just for you."

"No…just…stop and listen to what I have to say." Bill took a moment to place the incense in the tiny ceramic square holder. It was pearl white, O-Ren's favorite color. He lit them and a faint jasmine scent filled the air as if competing against Elle's fumes.

Or was it Elle's fumes that competed against the incense lit to honor O-Ren?

"This is in memory of O-Ren…she loved incense…and especially the scent of jasmine."

Vernita watched as the incense began to burn; the top of the stick glowed red. She could hear the pain in Bill's voice, even though he struggled against it. His voice carried a matter-of-factual tone even though he was obviously upset. The last time Vernita had heard that odd-even tone was when Bill had told them his plan against Beatrix and what he wanted him and the Vipers to do to her once he found out she was alive and pregnant. She forced herself to focus on what he was saying now.

"O-Ren…as I'm sure you figured out by now…is no longer alive. Beatrix…however… is very much alive. She went after O-Ren… but not before she mutilated Sofie Fatale by chopping off not one…but both her arms…I came in from seeing her just the other night…and I knew right then…that I had to call you Vernita…and let you know that Beatrix Kiddo is coming and she is coming to kill you." Bill turned to Elle, who smirked. His piercing glare zeroed in on her. "She's coming to kill you too, Elle, so wipe that fucking smirk off your pretty face."

Vernita sat in a hushed silence. She and O-Ren had been close during their squad days…and now she was gone? They had done numerous assignments together and it seemed as if their targets always underestimated O-Ren to be fragile and easily broken. They were sadly mistaken. O-Ren might have appeared like a cherry blossom, lovely and harmless, but as an assassin she possessed the strength and fury of a dragon. She didn't always reveal these traits as outwardly as Vernita, who tended to be vicious and strike without warning, true to her namesake, Copperhead. Instead, O-Ren's codename, Cottonmouth, fit her perfectly since the viper she was named for wouldn't attack first unless threatened. But once she was attacked—she would play with her prey, biting, but not injecting venom until it was time for the kill. They were a good team together on assignments due to their different styles. Vernita always loved watching her take down a target. After it was over, O-Ren would kneel to the ground as if in some form of warped respect and then they would return to Bill to let him know the mission was accomplished.

O-Ren was gone…

She had overheard Budd on the phone when he mentioned it, but now it seemed too real since it came from Bill's mouth. It was impossible to believe that a woman as deadly as O-Ren was now a cold corpse in the ground, worm-meat. And she hadn't been killed off by rival gangs in Japan. No, she had been killed by a former colleague, a Deadly Viper.

Mother-fuckin' Black Mamba, Vernita thought.

Bill caught the empty look in her eyes. "I'll spare you the details, Vern…but I'll say that she died 'honorably'. She didn't back down from Beatrix, she fought her head on, that is…after her bodyguard and personal army were dismantled. She gave it all she had…and lost in the end. She will not be easily forgotten."

Vernita nodded and felt a tear sting her eye. She refused to let it come down. Bill continued talking. This time the subject was Beatrix.

"It's like I told Elle before…her heart just kept on beating after I busted a cap in her crown."

She had it in her to react explosively, but she remained subdued. She wanted to make sure she had enough anger to put to deadly use against Beatrix Kiddo when they came face to face again. Vernita could already feel the rage boiling in her body. It wasn't the same rage that had made Beatrix kill O-Ren. That type of rage was off the meter. However, Vernita did feel angry and it was mixed with the shock that Beatrix had woken up from her coma. Her being in a coma was disappointing since they had thought they finished her off four years ago in that tiny chapel in El Paso. Now she was wide awake and thirsty for blood. Especially blood from the Deadly Vipers.

Vernita's eyes narrowed to black slits. Sure, she and Beatrix had been friends once—but now that 'friend' was coming to kill her and Vernita's vicious side that she had kept well-hidden from her family for the past four years resurfaced.

"Some bitches just don't stay dead," she growled.

"You can say that again," Elle said. "We didn't kill her then, so we'll do it this time. Shit, I'll be the one to do the honors."

Vernita shook her head, as emotions ranging from anger and fear rushed through her. It was going to take time to process all this, she knew. She shouldn't have fucked Beatrix over, but it was too late for regrets and apologies, no matter how sincere and heartfelt.

And if O-Ren was gone, then who was next? She wondered, but didn't voice her question. She wasn't afraid…she had no reason to be…or did she? She hadn't forgotten how to wield a knife or any edged weapon for that matter. Knives ranging from pocket to butcher, daggers, bayonets, sogs, cleavers—it didn't matter the type or size, Vernita was skilled in each one and if she had to use it against her former friend, then so be it. It's about self protection and self-preservation at this point. No fucking way is she coming after me, Vernita thought, her dark eyes narrowing as she stared at a point in the wall. She may have to practice for a day, go outside of Pasadena to brush up on her skills, but she still had it in her. Copperhead still knows how to wield a knife…come see me…bitch.

Meanwhile, Elle smoked her cigarette as if she didn't have a care in the world. As if the fact that Beatrix Kiddo—formerly known as the 'deadliest woman in the world' —coming to kill her was a mere fantasy or a joke, entertaining and laughable.

"What about Budd?" Vernita asked, remembering the heated conversation between him and Bill.

"Who gives a bowl of cherries about him," Elle said, puffing on her cigarette. "He didn't come when Bill called him, so let her off that bushwhackin' scrub…" She stopped when she saw Bill's heavy glare. "What Bill? You called him and he didn't have the decency to come here and hear you out. It's his fucking fault if Bea cuts his pathetic life short."

Ignoring Elle, Bill said, "I'll have to tell him in person. That's the only way I'll be able to tell him…is if I go out to his trailer in El Paso, Texas… knock on the door and tell him face to face that Beatrix is coming to kill him. It's the only way to get him to really understand the extreme seriousness of the situation that he's in…that we're all in, if you want the honest… unadulterated truth."

"When do you plan on seeing him?"

"Next week possibly. I'll figure it out."

Elle said, "Maybe we'll get extra lucky and Bea will take care of him before you reach him."

Vernita blinked at her words. Two words found its way to her lips. "My baby."

O-Ren didn't have family…there was no one to mourn her save for Sofie Fatale…and maybe other crime bosses in the Tokyo Underworld. Vernita, on the other hand, had a family to worry about…and this fact frightened her now. Suddenly she wasn't worried for her life, but the life of her daughter. Who's to say that Beatrix wouldn't try to kill her daughter too—like an even exchange for Vernita beating her up when she was pregnant?

All this stemmed from Beatrix's rage. Beatrix was hell to deal with when she was angry, Vernita knew. She could be irrational and go over the top just like Bill tended to overreact. And Beatrix wasn't just angry or irrational; she was wrapped in rage like a mummy layered in his bandages. She knew this by what Bill said next.

"She went through all of O-Ren's bodyguards…don't know if there was really eighty-eight like the name implies. The point is…she went through them using the sword that Hattori Hanzo made for her…he vowed never to make another sword…"

"That lousy fucker," Elle muttered, shaking her head.

"She used it against Sofie and O-Ren…" Bill said. He shook his head and sighed. "She's back…Christ; I can't believe that she's alive after all this time…" He got off the sofa and headed to the kitchen to get Vernita's coffee.

Elle leaned against the leather couch, apparently untouched by everything that had taken place. Still smoking on her cigarette, she poured Bacardi into a plastic red cup. After taking a drag, she gulped down the drink and slammed the cup on the table. Vernita watched her, disgusted and not the least bit surprised.

"You want some?" Elle said, holding the bottle up.

Vernita shook her head. "Coffee suits me just fine, thank you."

Bill came back with a steaming mug of coffee. He left and came back with a carton of cream and sugar packets. "Add whatever you wish, Vernita."

Elle glared at Vernita, scrutinizing her with her one blue eye. The other eye was concealed by a flaming red eye patch that she had changed earlier from the black one. "What's a matter, girlie? You too good to drink now?"

"No. Elle, once you have a child of your own, you change."

Vernita met Bill's tired brown eyes. She saw that he totally understood. There was a brief warm expression on his face as if he had just stepped onto a bright sunny beach. Such an expression was rarely seen crossing Bill's older worn features, especially as the man he used to be—a brutal vicious killing machine in charge of an assassination squad. But this was now and she took it to mean he knew where she was coming from. Bill wasn't the only one who had changed.

Vernita Green, known as Copperhead while affiliated with the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, was no longer Vernita Green. She was Jeannie Bell, mother of beautiful, innocent, and sweet four-year old Nikkia Bell, and wife of the handsome and intelligent Doctor Lawrence Bell. However, in the end, to the two people in the room, it didn't matter who she gave birth to or who she married, or what she changed her name to. They would always know her as the knife-wielding Vernita Green who stabbed and gutted her victims during her assassin days under Bill's leadership.

"You know something…you're the best woman I've ever seen with an edged weapon," Bill said, leaning back, and throwing his arms around the couch. "Those were the days…weren't they?"

"Damn right, they were." Vernita forced herself to flash a proud grin. "Thanks Bill."

"Remember the days, Vern?" Elle asked, pouring herself another cup of Bacardi. It was obvious that she was the only one enjoying the drink. "Every time after an assignment, after an oh-so-satisfying kill, you had to have a drink. Beer, gin, rum, scotch, vodka, whiskey, tequila, Bacardi—you'd drink like a fish in the sea and get fucking wasted." She puffed on her cigarette. "Uh-huh, don't think I forgot, because I sure as hell didn't."

"You have a good memory," Vernita said stiffly.

"Of course, I do! Hot damn, I'm the only one who still hangs around, keeping the memory of the Deadly Vipers alive—"

"Elle!" Bill sent her a furious glare. "That's enough!"

He didn't want to be reminded as to the reason he called Vernita down to Mexico. O-Ren Ishii had been murdered by Beatrix Kiddo using a Hanzo sword no less, and here Elle was rambling on about keeping alive the memory of his now collapsed organization. Shit, at times, Elle had no sense or tact, Bill thought as he folded his arms across his chest, his angry glare still focused on her.

Elle got up and sat next to him, moving close to his body like a kitten cozying up to her mother cat, seeking warmth and love. "I'm sorry, baby," she cooed.

"Fine." Bill closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Just…back up for a moment."

"Sure thing, honey." Elle gave him his space and resumed her conversation with Vernita. "So when was the last time you got shit-faced and woke up with a hangover, Vern?"

"Before Two Pines."

A heavy uncomfortable silence exploded in the room. Bill felt it like a blast of frigid air, but said nothing. Elle's one eye blinked and Vernita stared at the floor.

Vernita had stopped her late night binges, nights at the bar drinking shot after shot the same day of the massacre at Two Pines. It was strange and funny, she thought. One would think that she would've got drunk as a daily habit after the massacre. That would've been the natural order of things. Instead, it was the complete opposite. Vernita never knew why it happened. She was exhilarated when she had participated in beating up Beatrix, and even more thrilled when Bill performed the coup de grâce.

Soon, that thrilled feeling would leave her when she realized what she had done…but that wouldn't come, at least, not for awhile.

She had her final drink the night before they headed out to the tiny quiet chapel in El Paso Texas. Vernita remembered toasting with Elle, O-Ren, and Budd. They had gotten themselves drunk, for what, she didn't know. They had toasted to the fact that in less than twenty-four hours they would wipe that bitch's existence from the planet and their memories. Beatrix Kiddo rose to the top of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad and Vernita knew she wasn't the only one who was sick of Bill doting and favoring her. She was happy to have decimated her, but she couldn't bring herself to drink a drop of liquor after that day. It was her last assignment as a Deadly Viper. Of course, no one knew at the time that by ending Beatrix, or at least trying to, they would also inevitably end the squad's existence. Vernita sighed, as she remembered those days.

Seeing it was quiet, Elle took the opportunity to hog the limelight. She poured herself another cup of Bacardi, the drink spilling over, and gulped it down like a thirsty man in the desert who hadn't sipped water in seven days. Elle was never one to hide how she felt—except for when absolutely necessary, so that she could achieve her twisted goals. She was abrasive and obnoxious on her own, but when she got drunk, she was ten times worse. It's often said that when a person's drunk, they become extremely honest and right now, her drunken state along with her lively personality (if it can be called that) combined together to make her even more atrocious.

"Kids." She snorted. "I have none of my own. Don't want a stinkin' rug-rat either. Ugh, can you imagine changing shitty diapers and toilet-training them to pee in the porcelain throne and not on the fucking floor? I wouldn't be caught dead doing that shit." She took one last puff on her cigarette and then stubbed it in an ashtray. "I have no patience for whiny brats." She shook her head. "Oh yeah, I just don't have those motherly instincts, Vern. I'd be forced to smother them in their sleep for waking me up at all hours of the night."

Bill's face tightened as if his skin had been stretched taut across his muscles and pinned down with needles. Vernita knew from previous experience and the many years she'd known him, that it wasn't what he said that mattered, but rather, what he didn't say. After all, before he gave the parting shot to Beatrix, he was eerily silent when watching the Vipers beat her up those four years ago. He just stood in the entrance of the chapel next to Sofie Fatale. He didn't utter a single syllable while Beatrix was punched, kicked, and spat on from all the Deadly Vipers. Vernita had always wondered what he was thinking that day, but she never worked up the courage to ask him. Even now she couldn't work up the nerve to ask him what was on his mind.

Elle's too comfortable and thinks she can say whatever she wants in front of Bill, Vernita thought. She's babbling because she's drunk.

"I'm inclined to agree with you," Bill said.

Vernita blinked. She didn't realize she had voiced her thoughts aloud about Elle being too honest when she was drunk.

"Is there an order she's going down?" Vernita asked, ignoring Elle's glare. Elle obviously heard her, but whatever. It didn't bother her, since Elle had only one eye. Damned if she wasn't glaring at her like she wanted to murder her and accomplish Black Mamba's goal ahead of time.

"I honestly don't know…but I'm sure she's saving me for last…I'm not too worried about it…not for right now." Bill poured himself a shot of brandy and gulped it down thirstily. "I'll be ready when she comes…that you better fucking believe."

"I hope I'm next on her list so I can kill her ass," Elle said. Then she turned to Vernita, paying no attention to Bill in the room. "Girl talk, Bill. So leave."

Bill didn't budge. "I'm staying right here…" he snatched the bottle of Bacardi from Elle's grip and slammed it on the table. "You've had more than enough to drink tonight." Then he got up. "On the other hand, I'm locking this up. I don't need you wasting my drinks…" He turned to Vernita. "I'll be right back. Gotta go check up on my B.B."

Bill left the living room and Elle watched him, looking as if she were going to pounce on him from behind. Then she turned to Vernita who sat poker straight in the sofa.

"Awww, party-pooper. So, V…"

"Yes, Elle."

"Are you afraid of her killing your little girl? What's her name again? Nicole? Natalie?"

"Nikkia." Vernita spoke through clenched teeth. She was losing her patience with Elle's drunkenness and she wished she had this conversation with Bill one to one.

Elle waved her hand and flipped her long blonde hair. She was trying to appear sexy, but all she did was clumsily fall back against the couch.

"Yeah, yeah, you know what I meant—so what will you do when she blasts a hole through your little girl's brains?"

Vernita's jaw dropped. That—shit, that bitch—how fucking dare she! She didn't ask "what if," but posed the question as if it was a definite possibility without any gray shades of doubt. She rose, her chest heaving, and her dark brown eyes took on a murderous gleam. Vernita pointed at her as if she were an assigned target.

"Fuck you, Elle."

"What?" Elle suddenly bolted to her feet. The slurred aspect of her speech suddenly disappeared as if she had sobered up in a nanosecond. "What's your problem? I'm just asking you a simple question. What would you do if you saw your girl's brains spa-lat-ter-ing all over the family room?"

"Bitch." Tremors of rage overcame Vernita. "You know what you just said isn't fucking funny."

"I didn't…I wasn't…" Elle stopped, her blue eye staring at the floor. Then she looked up and grinned cruelly at Vernita. "That'd be something wouldn't it? If she came in your house, killed Nikkia right in front of you. Or she can do one better and murder you in front of your precious little Nikkia, then slash up your beloved Dr. Bell." She busted out laughing, her tall frame towering over Vernita's shorter stature. "That'd be even, wouldn't it? You shot up her nerdy little shit of a groom at Two Pines…" Elle paused briefly, her blue eye fluttering. "Or was it O-Ren who did it? No wonder that half-breed bitch got knocked off first."

Vernita was speechless. How dare this bitch go on and on? Elle's taunts about her future death affected her, but not as much as the other bullshit she spouted out. Not only did she joke about her little girl being murdered, but she totally disrespected the memory of O-Ren. She talked crassly about O-Ren as if she were a hated enemy and not a loved friend. Elle might as well have snatched the incense lit in her memory and douse it in water. She had continued to smoke as if trying to drive out the incense's scent; that was a thought that had ran through Vernita's mind earlier, but she tried not to think of it like that. Now she realized how true it was. Elle's smoking was her warped way of competing against O-Ren, who had never harmed her. If Bill's attention wasn't one hundred percent focused on Elle; then an ugly jealous streak as bright as an emerald would emerge, and Vernita was beginning to see this now.

She even wished death on Budd in a roundabout way. What the hell was that! Vernita thought. She couldn't believe that Elle had the nerve to bash Budd right in front of his brother. And how come Bill didn't stop it? Didn't he have boundaries? Even if he was angry at Budd from their last conversation—blood was thicker than water, it was supposed to be like that. Elle wasn't even pure water, she was contaminated, dirty and tainted.

Vernita felt nauseated from the way Elle's hatred and jealousy manifested itself towards other people in Bill's life. Her comments about Budd and O-Ren were revolting and drenched in hatred. B.B. wasn't exempt from her insanity even though she was an innocent little girl. Now she knew why they had never been able to work together on assignments. Elle always had to have the credit even if all she did was provide transportation to get to the target and let Vernita do all the work.

Elle Driver truly was a psychotic bitch.

Her intense jealousy was most likely the main reason she killed Pai Mei! Vernita had always suspected that Elle had done something to the elderly man after she had returned from training, with one eye missing, and claiming that he had died of...mysterious causes. It was all starting to make sense now.

Then what she said about having children. Didn't it register in Bill's mind that Elle hated the child he had conceived with Beatrix? It was plain as day to Vernita, and she couldn't comprehend how Bill allowed Elle that—Vernita couldn't even think of a word to describe her at this point—how he allowed Elle to be around his daughter, B.B. She was jealous of an innocent child and Vernita wouldn't put it past her to actually murder B.B. because of what she represented. Of course, Elle was pretending as she had always done. She was more of a liar than Bill thought Beatrix was; Vernita knew that for a fact. She's saying all this bullshit now and carrying on worse than before because Bill's not in the room. All these thoughts ran through Vernita's mind.

Elle was oblivious to her stunned silence.

"So first she sheds Mama V's blood—wait; it's 'Jeannie Bell' as in I-dream-of-fucking-Jeannie—that's what we're calling ourselves these days, right? Ha-ha! Fucking Jeannie! Get it? It has two meanings." Elle saw her stabbing glare and took it as her cue to continue. "Afterwards, she slits little Nikkia's throat while Mommy watches and then BOOM! She shoots up your little hubby, the good doctor Bell who can't even save himself!" Now Elle roared with laughter, not even realizing the muddled way she described the order in which Beatrix might come after Vernita and her family.

Vernita's dark eyes widened and her hands balled into tight fists. One image flashed in her mind: that of a sharp shiny silver knife…sticking out of Elle's one intact eye. She'd blind the bitch and then tear her open and gut her like a fish. Or she'd just impale her and pin her to the ground like an insect in a display case.

Without hesitation, Vernita dashed into Bill's kitchen searching for the largest and sharpest knife she could find. She opened drawers and slammed them shut in frustration. She spun around looking for a knife holder; Bill had everything in his kitchen, so he had to have one of these. Suddenly she saw it: in the corner on a high shelf as if Bill was keeping it out of B.B.'s reach—which he most likely was, now that he had a young child to protect and look out for—was a red plastic voodoo knife holder. The knives were placed in the holder shaped like a person so that they appeared to be stabbing them. Wonderful, Vernita thought, as she snatched a knife out. Eight inches of sliver steel flashed before her eyes. Perfect. She rushed back to the living room, her heart slamming against her ribcage.

Soon Elle would resemble that voodoo knife holder.

In the living room, Elle wasn't fazed by the fact that Vernita returned, carrying a knife with deadly purpose. In fact, she was excited to see her, which was strange considering she knew what she said would infuriate Vernita. But that's what Elle lived for: to push people's buttons.

"YEAH!" Elle shrieked. "That's what I like to see. Not that demure Jeannie Bell-I'm-a-lonely-housewife-living-a-boring-life-who-never-gets-fucked-anymore-unless-I-use-my-vibrator—but Vernita Green! I love you, Vernita! Copperhead! Woo-hoo! GO COPPERHEAD!"

Vernita took slow steps, as she calculated how she'd make the kill. The sharp edge of the knife pointed towards Elle and the silver glittered under the lights in the room. Vernita always loved the way knives sparkled in light. It was why she had used them in the past. In a few minutes the silvery blade of the knife would be drenched in Elle Driver's blood, a much prettier sight to behold.

"Good-bye California Mountain Snake," Vernita whispered.

Elle was in front of her, standing with her arms folded across her chest, not the least bit afraid of what Vernita had planned for her.

"Let's see if you've lost your touch or if you've kept up your knife play."

Vernita licked her dry lips. "You won't be alive to tell." She took one more step towards Elle, the knife gripped in her hand, bringing it to Elle's neck, when suddenly her wrist was grabbed and held in a tight iron vise grip.

"Drop the knife, Vernita."

Bill.

He had come back from putting away the drinks and checking up on B.B. She hadn't even heard him enter the living room, but here he was, stopping her from killing Elle. He still knew how to sneak into a room without making the slightest sound. Now he stood next to her, his fingers wrapped around her wrist like a vine attached to the side of a house. Vernita tried pulling her wrist out of Bill's grip, but he clamped down harder and twisted. She met his brown eyes and saw he was deathly serious. Bill was a master in a variety of kung fu techniques and martial arts. If anyone knew how to break or snap a wrist in a single swift motion, it would be him. And she knew Bill wouldn't hesitate to do it. It didn't matter that he was her master at one point. She had a knife aimed at Elle and Bill wasn't taking chances.

"Drop it. Now."

Steel was present in his voice. His grip tightened until she couldn't move her wrist at all. If he squeezed her wrist any tighter, he'd crush it. Her fingers finally gave way and she released the knife. It fell to the rug making a soft thump. Bill bent down and quickly grabbed it before Elle could get any ideas. Bill shoved her wrist away and turned away, disgusted.

Vernita backed off and plopped down on the leather couch. It took her a few seconds to collect herself and realize what she came close to doing. Then she knew why Beatrix left the squad. It wasn't just because she was pregnant with Bill's baby. She was running to get away from being an assassin. She was sick of living a life that involved taking other people's lives. Vernita felt the same way too, which is why she was content to live as Jeannie Bell, as a supportive wife to Lawrence Bell, and as a loving mother to Nikkia Bell. Elle made fun of her for her new life, but it was what Vernita wanted. And no one, not Beatrix Kiddo, nor Elle Driver, would snatch it from her. Sighing, Vernita wiped away a single tear that made its way down her cheek. She heard Bill moving around and then felt his presence next to her, his hand rested on her knee.

"Take a deep breath…relax…" Was this the same Bill she once worked for? She couldn't bring herself to look at him. Bill pointed at Elle accusingly. "Elle, go to bed."

"But—"

"Get out. Now. You've acted like a drunken fool for long enough tonight…just get the hell out my sight…and sleep through your fucking hangover…I know you're gonna have one tomorrow morning."

Elle frowned and made a hissing sound. Vernita looked up and met Elle's furious stare. Then to her surprise, Bill left her on the couch and went to Elle. He gently massaged her shoulders and kissed her sweetly on the lips.

"I'm sorry, baby…I didn't mean to cause so much trouble tonight."

"Elle…just…go to sleep. We'll talk tomorrow…over breakfast."

What the hell! Vernita mouthed, this time making sure she didn't voice her thought aloud. One minute, Bill was tearing Elle to shreds, the next he was talking lovey-dovey to Elle as if they had made up after a huge fight. It was sickening and she wanted to vomit right there in the living room.

"Good luck fighting off Bea. I hope she tears your fucking head off," Elle said, as she sauntered out the living room, grinning.

"Bitch," Vernita growled after she had left the room. "I hope she rips your eye out."

Elle was already gone and didn't hear her.

Bill came back to the sofa. "I prepared a bed for you in one of the guest rooms…that's what took so long…I see that you and Elle…got along quite well in my absence."

Was that supposed to be a joke? Vernita shook her head. "I'd rather spend the night in a hotel, Bill. If I stay here, there's no telling what I'll do to her."

Bill sighed. He closed his eyes and then opened them and realized how weary he was.

"Fine…you can do whatever the hell you want…thought you'd want to save some money. Aside from that, you're one of my own and I was willing to show hospitality considering it's been awhile since we even…" Bill clenched his fist, searching for the right words. "I thought it'd be a nice gesture…since you're leaving for California tomorrow and you don't have much time left—" He suddenly broke off when he realized the weight of his words. She didn't have much time left, but then again…neither did he. "The choice is yours, Vernita."

Vernita had a sudden change of heart. It wasn't Bill's fault that Elle was Elle and would always be Elle. And she appreciated the gesture, she knew he meant well. "I'll stay."

Bill nodded, his lips perked up into a tiny smile. It looked more like a frown fighting off becoming a smile.

"What about the incense?"

Bill titled his head thoughtfully. "Leave it there for now…it's for O-Ren."

"May I take it to my room?"

Bill blinked as if surprised. "Yes, you may. I'll light another one for her before the night is over."

Vernita picked up the incense and followed Bill upstairs. They walked down the lighted hallway similar to the one she had walked down earlier. He stopped at a cream colored door and opened it with a key. Opening the door, he gestured for Vernita to go in first.

"Thanks," she mumbled. Vernita walked into the bedroom and realized she had forgotten her bags and was about to leave the room when Bill pointed behind her at the bed.

"I took the liberty of putting things away in the dresser…another reason it took me some time to get back to you and Elle." At the mention of her name, Bill continued, before Vernita could say anything. "She's not always like that…she has a really good side to her…sounds hard to believe I know. When she's drunk she acts like a damned juvenile delinquent with too many fireworks on the Fourth of July."

"Has she been good to you?"

Bill nodded. "Yes, as a matter of fact, she has…I know based on what happened tonight that it seems impossible…but I love her."

Vernita placed the incense on the dresser. The jasmine scent was soothing and she was confident that O-Ren would've appreciated the gesture. She turned around and saw that Bill stood in the doorway watching her. There was a warm light in his eyes that she had never seen in all the years she had worked for him. A questioned burned on her tongue and her curiosity wouldn't be extinguished until she asked it.

Love. Did he even know the meaning of the word? And how could he use "love" and "Elle" in the same sentence? That was almost as impossible as Beatrix waking up from a coma, but in the end, both things had happened, and were evidently…possible. But did he really love Elle? Vernita wondered. She knew she shouldn't ask, but…

"Do you love her more than Beatrix? Because at least she had a sliver of decency. She may have fucked you over when she went to marry that jerk in El Paso…" she paused, glaring at Bill, holding his eyes, "but she never would've made jokes about killing a child in front of her mother."

Bill simply stared at her for a long time. Finally, he spoke, his voice tight with anger, but calm and smooth. "Good night, Vernita. I'll see you off to the airport tomorrow morning."

He slammed the door, leaving her alone in the room to ponder her own question.