PRESENT 2005

Piper was right about one thing, she had no where else to go. Pier was huddled in the shadows in an alleyway under leaves and old debris. Pier wished that her mom had taught her magic as she grew up, but ever since her dad disappeared and her brother died, her mom never wanted anything to do with magic again. Pier had been twelve when it happened, and she remembered it like it was yesterday.

Her dad and mom had just gotten back from their anniversary dinner. It was twelve years ago on September 12th 2017. It was Pier's birthday too. She babysat her little brother, Pete for the first time. She heard the car pull in the driveway and seconds later; her very pregnant mother waddled in the door. Pier jumped on her dad, a tall man with blue eyes and a rough beard, and yelled in his ear.

"Dad! Pete is being a bad boy. He won't go to bed!" The twelve-year-old yelled. Her father just laughed at her, his blue eyes shining. Her mom suddenly fell on the ground, in pain. Water was running all over the floor.

"I think I'm in labor." Was all she said.

"I'll call the hospital." Her dad responded, running into the kitchen. Out of nowhere, a demon shimmered in. He smirked evilly, and summoned an energy ball in his hand, all the time, staring at her mom. Her dad ran back into the room and saw what was going on.

"Pier, take your mother into the other room. Use your powers if you have to!" He yelled, squaring off with the demon.

Pier hadn't even taken the chance of normal dragging her mom into the living room. She ran into the living room and yelled for her mom, sticking her hands out in front of her. Her mother appeared on the sofa, and Pier ran back into the front hall.

"Get Pete out of here!" Her dad yelled again. The front door opened and her aunt walked in. Seeing what was going on, she called her sister into the house. Suddenly, the demon's facial expression changed from smug to worry. How was he going to take on 3 of them? But, the demon threw the energy ball. It hit her little brother straight in the chest. He collapsed to the ground. The demon threw another energy ball, and this time, her aunt dropped. Pier threw her hands up and the demon went flying against the front door.

"What's this? They can't take care of themselves, so they send the baby in to do the work? How touching." The demon said, conjuring another ball, this time fire. He aimed at Pier and threw with all his might. Her aunt jumped in front of her as she braced herself for the impact. The fireball hit her aunt and the weight of her aunt's body brought her down too. Pier shoved her aunt, who died instantly, off of her and looked at her father. He had been sobbing over her brother's body. Her brother's face was sweaty and his hair was matted down on his forehead. He was speaking, but dying at the same time.

"Pier." He whispered softly. Pier scrambled up to his side and gasped his hands.

"Just hang on Petey Pie. Just hang on." Pier whispered back, looking into his eyes, which were also hazel. He looked just like Pier, and he could have been her twin. Although he was 2 years younger than she was, he was as tall as she was, maybe taller.

"Pier. I love you. You're the best sister anyone can ask for, and I know that our little brother is going to be so happy with you." Pete said, almost inaudible as his eyes started to glaze over.

"It's going to be a girl, so it won't matter anyway." She said back.

"Where's that stupid whitelighter of yours?" Her father yelled, calling his name again.

"Bye Pier. Tell mom I love her. And check under the loose floorboard in my room." Pete said, closing his eyes. He gave Pier's hand one last squeeze as he slowly drifted away. Pier stood up as her mom's whitelighter orbed in the room. She saw the damage the demon had caused. She felt hot breath down her neck and turned around to see the demon still standing there. Full of rage, she threw her hands up in the air.

"This is for my brother!" She screamed, chucking him against the wall. "And my aunts! And this," She yelled as she telekinetically threw him against the sharp coat hooks on the wall, " is for ruining my family!"

"Ahhhhh!" The demon screamed as he was vanquished.

The whitelighter reappeared in the room and told her father that they couldn't bring Pete back. Her dad rounded on her.

"If you had gotten him out of there, he would still be alive!" He father's voice shook with anger. Pier turned and ran into the living room and saw her mom. Her whitelighter orbed her to the hospital, and 7 hours later, her baby brother Parker was born. When she got back from visiting her mom, her dad was gone. Pier slowly made her way up to Pete's room. With a hammer, she pried open the floorboard and found an envelope with her name on it. She held onto it and fell asleep. She didn't move until her mom came home 3 days later.

Pier pulled that letter out of her coat pocket. She always carried it, just in case. She opened it and just by looking at the state of it, realized that she had read it more times than she would like to admit.

Dear Pier,

Happy 12th birthday. I was going to bake you a cake, but I decided not to kill you on your birthday. I was thinking about you the other day, and a rush of memories came into my head. I was 2 years old and it was my birthday. Mom got me a shovel and pail thing. I was wicked excited. But remember that jerk, the kid who stole it. I think his name was Bobby or something and he was year older than you were. Anyway, he took it from me and broke the shovel in half and then stepped on the pail, crushing it into little pieces. You saw what happened and as soon as I started to cry, you gave me a hug. You were only 4 years old. You stood up and gave that bully the best left hook I have ever seen in my life. Remember the look on his face when he found out there was blood coming out of his mouth? He looked like he was going to cry. And you did that for me.

Or that time when we were at Interskate? I fell down and you told me that was okay. The very next day you taught me how to roller-skate. And you helped me with my homework. I can't ever repay you for all the times you took the blame for me or helped me out. I can't even count the times when you were just the best sister on the face of the earth.

For your birthday, I got you that CD that you liked. I am really sick and tired of going to the mall with you, just to listen to that old Wallflowers CD. I am really tired of spending hours in that store; in the oldies section listening to you sing the words. So, I just bought it, with my own money. I hope you love it, because you deserve the best. Happy Birthday big sis. I love you soooo much.

Love,

Petey

Pier pulled another item out of her coat pocket. The CD. She listened to it whenever she could, because it reminded her of her brother. Pier wiped a tear rolling down her face and realized she was crying heavily. She laid her head down and fell asleep. She wasn't awake when Paige orbed in with Piper and Phoebe to bring her back to the manor.