Thank you to everyone who reviewed. And the person who said there's too many stories like this about Piper (I can't remember your name) that's because it works so well. You have Piper and Leo, the ready made love-story, and Dan's already there as the baddy.

So, yeah, on with the story.

Chapter 2 – Confessions of Piper Halliwell

It grew dark, and he still wasn't back. I put Patty to bed, then I laid on the floor next to it. He wouldn't notice, or care, if I was in our bed or not. And I much preferred to be in here, on the floor, and near him.

When I got up in the morning, he didn't mention last night, didn't meantion where he'd gone, even though I'd lain awake until he returned, in the earlier hours of the morning. I didn't ask - questions caused bruises - or mention my suspicions that he was with another women. I've thought he was cheating for a while, but it doesn't matter to me. Why would I care?

"We've barely got anything to eat." He grumbled in the morning, the hangover making him moody, but, thankfully, not violent. Unless provoked.

"I'll go shopping." I replied quickly.

"With my money." He snapped.

I bit back an angry retort, and nodded. It shocks me that sometimes I have to stop myself saying things back to him. I should've learned by now.

"Sorry." I said quietly. It's the old Piper, that young, hopeful girl that wants to fight back.

"You should get your own bloody money." He muttered.

This annoyed me - her wouldn't let me get a job. But he didn't like me spending his money. Were Patty and I supposed to starve?

Before anymore could be said, Patty began crying.

"Get her, will you?" He said loudly, and I ran into her room.

"Shh, baby, please." I pleaded. I didn't want to make him mad.

"I was, uh, thinking of going to my sisters' for a bit today." I said, walking back into the main room. Always better to let him know, than to just go off. Always.

"Right." He said.

"So, um, I'll be back before you get home, from work."

"Make sure you are. Don't forget the shopping." He tossed a handful of money on the counter, then left. The relief was immense, with him gone. How can I live like this?

Finally, making sure there was no 'evidence' of last night, I set off, walking to the manor, ignoring the pain where Dan had stamped on my ankle the night before. I'm used to the pain, used to fighting it back, ignoring it. Afterwards. Somehow, I can't ignore it while it's happening.

"Hello!" I called, walking in. "Oh -" I muttered, when I saw the blond guy stood on a step ladder in the hall.

"Hi ..." He said uncertainly, stepping down.

"Ah…" I can't think of a single thing to say. Instead, I'm just a little nervous, because we're alone in the hallway, maybe in the house, with this man. It would be cowardly, stupid to run, but that's what I want. To grab my daughter and run.

"I'm the handyman. I'm Leo." He spoke quickly, as though sensing my fear. Or seeing it. I probably look as nervous as I feel. "You must be Piper, right?" He said, offering his hand out.

"Yeah ... how did you -"

"Recognised you from the pictures." He replied, gesturing the photos decorating the house.

"Oh. Right, yeah, I'm Piper."

"And she's yours?" He asked, indicating Patty.

"Yeah. Patty." I told him.

"Right."

"Piper!" Phoebe said, coming down the stairs. "Hi! I see you've met Leo?" She smiled, touching his arm.

I nodded. It was obvious she liked him.

"Damn, I have to go." Phoebe said, looking at the clock, then walking towards the door. "Prue and Paige are at work, but you're welcome to stay." She told me. I knew she didn't just mean for today. She, more than anyone, suspects. Even she doesn't know the full extend, though. Phoebe suspects that it's all mental, emotional, abuse. She wanted me to leave Dan, move back home. And tempted though I was that wasn't going to happen.

"Bye Pheebs." I said.

"Bye." She replied, then with one last long look at Leo she left the house.

"So, um, do you want some coffee?" I asked eventually.

"Sure. I mean, I guess I can take a break..." He said, putting down his tools and following me into the kitchen.

"Mummy?" Patty said sleepily as I began to make the coffee.

I stepped forward to get her, but Leo picked her up instead. I tried not to be afraid, seeing my tiny little girl held by this big, strong man - he could snap one of her delicate bones so easily - but I still watched, ready to react.

"Who you?" Patty asked, looking at Leo with interest.

"I'm Leo." He told her.

Then I had to smile at the way he handled her. Dan had never held her like that, talked to her like she was human being.

To him she was a 'thing' just something that was there. Something he had over me.

"Aren't you pretty?" Leo asked Patty, and she giggled and nodded.

"Mummy pretty too." Patty added, and this time Leo nodded.

"Yes, I think so too." He replied, giving me a sideways look and a smile. I blushed, and turned away.

"Daddy doesn't." Patty told him, and I froze. "Daddy shouts and sometimes hurts -"

"OK, Patty why don't you see if there's anything in here!" I said quickly and loudly, holing the biscuit tin out to her. Completely forgetting what she was saying, Patty grabbed a biscuit and began to eat.

What was she saying? She had never said anything like that before, not to my sisters, anyone.

"Piper -" Leo frowned.

"Kids, huh? They say the strangest things." I said, forcing a smile.

"Are you saying she'd lying?" He asked.

I shook my head. I couldn't let anyone think my baby was a liar. Tears began to fall, and the next thing I know, he'd put Patty down and enveloped me in his arms.

And I felt safe. I shouldn't, but I did.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked quietly. I shook my head.

"I can't." I told him. "If Dan found out -"

"Dan's your boyfriend?" I nodded.

"What will he do?" Leo asked. It was obvious he knew.

"He'd lose it." I said quietly.

"Like he has before?"

I looked up at him. "How did you -"

"Well, Patty pretty much told me, and then I saw these ..." He traced the bruises on my face and arms.

"I ... fell." I said weakly.

"Piper, we both know he did them." He said softly. "Please, talk about it."

"You want the entire confessions of Piper Halliwell?" I scoffed.

"Yes." He said simply. And, God, I believed him. I believed, for a moment, he could help me. Stupid, because no one can. I've gotten myself into the mess, and no one can get me out of it.

"Yes, Dan hits me, yes, a lot. Yes, I'm terrified of him, and I can't leave, and -" I broke down, chocking on my own sobs.

"Shh. It's OK." He said, pulling me back towards him.

"No, it's not because in a few hours I have to go back to him, and make sure I don't say, or do, anything wrong -"

"So leave." He whispered.

"I can't." I sobbed. "I just can't."

"OK." He said, sympathetically. "But if you ever want to talk, I'm right here." He handed me a card, with his name and number on.

I nodded, pocketed it.

Who knew? Not all guys are monsters after all.