Fine… it was Greg. I feel like I'm locked in a room without windows
or a door... I just… I feel trapped; I don't know what to do."

"Piper, you can come and stay with me. I'll call Darryl, and he'll
take care of this. I promise you, I won't let him hurt you, Mel or the baby
again," he said lovingly, stroking her hair.

"Leo, can you do something for me?" Piper asked hesitantly.

"I would do anything for you," Leo nodded honestly.

"Can you hold me 'till I fall asleep?" she asked, looking deeply into
his eyes.

Leo smiled, getting under the covers with her. He wrapped his arms around
Piper, cocooning her in safety – even if only for the moment, "How did we
ever drift apart?"

"I don't know, Leo. We just never found the time to work on our
relationship. When we had little fights or problems we never talked about
them. It was also stressful with all the demons, and Melinda's health
issues as an infant and a toddler. I guess everything built up to such an
extreme, that we didn't know how to fix it at the time. I really do love
you, Leo." Piper answered, sighing as she traced a heart on Leo's hand
with her featherlight touch.

Piper was released the next day, she was happy to go home. The doctors told
her to stay off feet for a couple of days. Leo was out picking up dinner and
Melinda was sitting next her in bed, watching a movie.

"Mommy, how did the baby get inside of you?" Melinda asked, making Leo
who just walked in stifle a laugh and Piper have to answer the awkward question by herself.

"Uh… well… a stork comes and lays an egg. It takes the egg nine months
to hatch into a baby…" Piper quickly answered, thinking up the old
'stork excuse' instantly.

"I hope the stork brings me a sister. I don't like boys, expect for
Daddy…" Melinda giggled.

"Keep it that way, kiddo," Piper mumbled with a laugh.

She smiled just before hearing a loud 'thud' in the living room.

"Leo, what was that?" she called out starting to feel the panic set it. Piper
immediately heard footsteps and the door swing open. She felt a shiver run
down her spine at the sight of Greg.

"Melinda, go to your room now." Melinda ran off, Greg walked closer to
and, without hesitation, jumped onto the bed and pinned Piper down. He used
his force to keep her firmly against the headboard, holding her wrists with
his hands and forcing her legs down with his knees.

"Greg, you're hurting me." Piper started to whine.

"Shut up, you little whore. I know all about the baby and your little how you
cheated on me" Greg spat, still holding her down, "Now, you're gonna
pay…"

Piper closed her eyes and felt him take one hand off of her body to touch
her face. Piper knew it was now or never. She lifted up her knee giving him a
good hard kick in the groin. Greg doubled over in pain falling off the bed.
Piper tried to make a run for it, but he grabbed her by the foot, causing her
to fall to the ground. Melinda was who watching everything from the doorway of
her room screamed. Greg moved closer, she could smell the alcohol in his
breath. Piper didn't care what happened to her at this point. She just
wanted both Melinda and her unborn child to be safe.

"Greg, please don't do this…" she pleaded, feeling his body looming over
her own.

"Piper, I wouldn't do anything to hurt you. I just want you back,
baby." He started to kiss down Piper's neck to her chest and teasingly
further, getting sick pleasure from her disgusted response to his touch. Piper
felt an uneasy sensation come to her mouth and immediately vomited.

"Piper, are you okay? You have been sleeping for the past few hours."
Leo asked worriedly, coming into the room turning on the light.

"It was just a dream," Piper nodded, blinking a few times while
adjusting to the light, "Well… more of a nightmare…"

"I have to go help Melinda with some Math. How about you draw up a nice
bath and I'll join you as soon as she's done," Piper nodded getting off
the bed and heading to the bath. He soon heard the sound of running water. Leo
quickly helped Melinda and soon joined Piper in the tub. He was sitting behind
her, holding her close. They had candles and soft music playing. It was the
first time in years that she felt safe.

They soon got out the tub, and went to the bedroom. Leo changed the linens
and sat down next to Piper on the bed.

"I want to clip my wings, Piper…" he said quietly.