Prue walked into the gallery that her daughter owned and managed. Pier was only twenty-four years old, but from the instant she was born had been determined, and strong willed. She was a woman who knew what she wanted, when she wanted it and how she wanted it. From the time Pier was three she knew what she wanted from life and she set out to get it. She was in every way, shape and form her mother's daughter.
At 5'4'' she was taller than her mother and sisters by a good two inches, and had stunning wavy black hair that cascaded down her back to her waist. Pier was the definition of beauty itself and with her milky white complexion and cobalt blue eyes could make any man worship at her feet. Prue's mother, Phoebe, had claimed that their looks were a throwback from their late aunt Prue.
In fact, Phoebe's eldest daughter and granddaughter had inherited many features from her dear sister including their artistic creativity. Aunt Prue was also a photographer like her namesake, and had worked as a curator for a museum and later at an auction house. But while Prudence Hart Halliwell was a photographer just like her aunt, Pier loved to paint like her aunt Paige. Pier had known, since the age of three that she would someday own a gallery and trade in art collections ever since she had attended one of her mother's shows, of which there had been many.
Prue heard the giggling of her first grandchild and made her way to the office her daughter had converted into a nursery so that she could bring Pearl to work. As she entered the door, she saw Pier kneeling down over Pearl, who was lying on a silk lined blanket that Phoebe had made during one of her rare craft moods. It was a square of white silk material in the middle that had a country rose pattern on it, that was lined around the edges with an orange cream silk lining, with the letter P caddy cornered in one of the edges. Then, she saw her granddaughters array of toys begin to float in the air.
"Hey, I thought you weren't going to use magic to soothe her," Prue exclaimed.
Pier glanced over her shoulder and said, "Who says I'm the one doing it?"
Prue raised her eyebrows in surprise. "My grandbaby has telekinesis?"
"Yep! I was hoping for something a bit milder, like premonition so that I wouldn't have to worry about exposure, but she's only used her powers in front of me so I think we're off to the right start."
"She's only four months old," Prue said. "You were six months old before you ever showed signs of freezing time."
"Well, you're always saying how each generation is stronger than the last. She may not be as strong as any of Wyatt's, Chris's or Mel's kids and grandkids but she's almost there. It's weird to think that she'll be stronger than you or me someday."
"It's so amazing to see our family grow," Prue said. "There was a time I never thought I'd see it happen."
"We inherited them from Mom and Grams," Prue heard her past life saying.
"So when you have kids…" the man she assumed was Andy responded. There was a familiar gleam in his eyes. Prue knew she recognized those eyes staring back at her but she couldn't place them.
"If they're girls…yes."
"Andy, no. If I come inside we'll have drinks, there'll be small talk and precious minutes will pass. I need to know now. Can you or can you not accept that I'm a witch?"
"If I have to answer right now... I don't think so, Prue. I mean, there's nothing wrong with it I guess. It's just not a future I envision having."
"Andy, I don't want anything bad to happen to you. You know how much I still love you."
"No, I didn't."
"That's right, Phoebe. It's my responsibility, isn't it? The oldest sister, always supposed to be able to figure things out. Well, if that's the case, then how come I couldn't save Andy? If I'm supposed to be so powerful, how come I couldn't save him? I mean, my god, don't you understand? Andy died because of me, it doesn't matter what he said, it was my fault. How could it be good to be witches if all it does is get the people we love killed?"
"Phoebe, where are you?" Her other incarnation asked. She felt her rise from the ground and push the innocent out of the way shortly before being blasted through the conservatory wall.
"Prue," Paige said when she noticed her niece begin to wake up. "What did you find out about your past life?"
Prue looked from Mel to her aunt Paige. "I'm Prue."
"Of course you are," Melinda said unsure of what her cousin meant.
"No, Mel you don't understand. My past life was aunt Prue."
The three Halliwell women looked from one to another.
"What do you mean, mom," asked Pier. She had notice her mom withdraw from the conversation. It almost resembled a premonition, which Pier hadn't seen her mother have ever since Prue had reached Seer level almost fifteen years ago.
"Nothing, honey. I was just remembering a time when your father had broken up with me."
"Oh, you mean when grandma wanted you to stay home for college."
"Yeah. Anyway, I need to get going if I'm going to pick everything up for Porter's bridal shower. So give me Pearl, and I should have her back in time for the family dinner."
"Thanks, mom."
Prue looked at her daughter with pride. She had been the dream, the goal that had forced her to live for herself first. All those years ago, maybe as selfish as Patty and Penny had once accused her of, Prue had known that the prize at the end of the road would be the family she would finally get to have one day with Brody.