PRESENT 2005

Piper put her hand to her lips as Leo orbed into the room. He was confused, as he was seeing all 3 sisters staring at the couch. The wall blocked his view, and so he moved to see what was going on. That's when he spotted Pier. She was fast asleep and she looked like an angel. That when everything clicked for him. He realized who she was. That face, and her eyes. The anger that she had when they started taking about the Elders. He understood now. Even though the Elder's hadn't told him anything, he knew more than they did now.

Piper was watching Leo as his face changed expressions. She glanced at Phoebe and Paige who were watching Leo in their own amazement. Pier stirred on the couch and everyone looked at her. She opened her eyes and grinned sheepishly at them.

"I'm really sorry for before." She said as she felt in her pocket for the CD and the letter. Her hands frantically searched for them, until she saw the items on the coffee table. She grabbed for them, but another hand got there first. She looked up into the flashing green eyes of Leo.

"What's so important about these?" He asked, taunting her by waving just out of her reach.

"Leo give them back to her." Piper said.

"Not until she answers my question. Come on Pier. It's just one question." He looked at her, expecting an answer.

"They were a gift from my brother." She replied through clenched teeth. Her eyes flashed angrily as she stood up and thrust her hand out. He pulled them out of her hands before she could reach it once more.

"So what? Was your brother a saint or something?" Leo was being a jerk and he knew it.

"My brother is dead." Pier said, tears once again forming in her eyes.

"Oh. Well in that case. I don't suppose you'd mind if I read it, right?" Leo didn't wait for an answer, and just opened the letter. In an instant, Pier was on top of him, punching him and kicking him. She ripped the letter out of his hands and the CD out of his pocket. She felt hands pulling at her, taking her away from his cringing body. She continued to kick and punch out at him.

"PIER!" Phoebe yelled in a loud voice. Pier stopped kicking and calmed down. Her chest rose up and down as she breathed heavily in anger. Piper was helping Leo off the ground, while Paige and Phoebe held onto either side of Pier. She managed to get out of their grasp and kicked Leo once more in the side. He dropped again in pain. Piper helped him up once more.

"Alright! Leo go to Elderland or wherever it is you go, and do something. Heal yourself or whatever. Paige, go boil some water and get some tea bags out. Pier sit down." Piper yelled out orders. Everyone stared at her for a second. "Go!" She yelled again. Leo disappeared in orbs, Paige practically ran into the kitchen and Pier dropped soundlessly onto the couch. Paige reappeared in the living room and took a seat on the arm of the couch. Piper sat on the coffee table and Phoebe sat in the armchair. Piper opened her mouth to speak and then hesitated.

"I really have no idea what to say. How about why you attacked my husband?" Piper finally said.

Pier wouldn't respond, and looked away, out towards the window. Piper crouched down in front of her.

"Pier, we can't do anything for you if you don't tell us what's wrong." She said calmly, as if talking to a small child.

"Piper, Phoebe? Why don't you guys go do something for a couple of minutes? Pheebs, you can check on the tea, and Piper see how Leo's doing." Paige said as she put an arm around Pier, who just continued to stare out of the window. Reluctantly, Piper and Phoebe left the room, and it was only Paige and Pier. Paige slid down onto the couch and sat Indian – style facing Pier.

"Hey there. You want to tell me what that was all about?" She asked, reaching across the couch and grabbing Piers chin, forcing their eyes to meet.

"That's my letter. No one reads that letter but me. And especially not Leo." Pier said as she caught her own tears in her hand.

"Why not?" Paige simply asked.

"My brother gave me that letter on my 12th birthday. He died that very day." Pier tears were flowing uncontrollably, and she made no move to stop them.

"What happened to him?" Paige asked cautiously.

"It was my parents anniversary. They went out and I was baby sitting Pete. That's my bother. My mom was pregnant with my little brother Parker at the time. Anyway, When the got home, my mom went into labor and a demon attacked. My dad didn't have powers because he stripped himself of the, and so he couldn't do much. I orbed my mom onto the couch and ran back into the front hall. My dad yelled at me to get Petey out of there, but I didn't listen! It was my fault! Then my aunts came home and the demon killed one of them on the spot. Then he…he killed Petey. And just when he was about to kill me, my other aunt jumped in front of the way and the fireball killed her. My dad was so ticked at me. He yelled and everything. He called my whitelighter, but he couldn't do anything. Then I went to the hospital with my mom and when we got back, my dad was gone. Petey was his joy, and when he died, my dad had no reason to be there anymore." Pier was shaking all over when she finished telling the story. But then, she continued.

"I went upstairs and underneath one of the floorboards was this letter and my present. I haven't left home without them for the last 6 years."

"Why do you hate Leo though?" Paige asked.

"What makes you think I hate him?" Pier asked.

"I've seen the way you look at him. Why do you hate him?" Paige asked once more.

What Pier said next stunned Paige. It stunned Piper and Phoebe who were listening in the doorway.

"Wouldn't you hate someone who refused to try to heal your little brother. Wouldn't you hate a whitelighter who failed to protect you?" Was all Pier said as she wiped the tears from her eyes.