The Untitled Piper Watson Project

Family

Piper's POV~

"He's your...what?" I couldn't believe my ears. Mack told me about his messed up past but didn't bother to mention he had a brother. "Hard to believe, right?" Shane agreed. "Turns out little Mack isn't the only Gibbons who ended up fucked." "Shut up." Mack snapped. "You can either tell me what you're doing here or you can get the hell out of my house." Shane shrugged.

"Is missing my baby brother a good enough reason?" "No." "It's funny really." Shane went on. "That Mom and Dad pretend I don't exist when you're the one who tried to kill an innocent woman." "Piper, call the police." Mack said with his eyes still glued on Shane's. I went to do what he said but then Shane held up his hand. "That's unnecessary, sweetheart. I'll show myself out." Mack shoved Shane out of the doorway and pointed his finger at him. "You stay away from me. And my fiancee or I swear—-" "What, Mack?" Shane challenged. "After all the harm you've caused, you'd hurt me too?" Mack said nothing, his face pale. Shane gave me one last smirk before turning away and getting into a black van and driving off.

Mack closed the door, with his eyes not meeting mine. Jen and Rose hurried to the front of the house, clearly looking concerned. "Is everything alright?" Jen worried. "Yeah." I replied, Mack still looking sick. Rose frowned. "Well, breakfast is ready." We all sat at the kitchen table, silently eating. Mack's head was down as if he would rather study his eggs than tell me the truth. I dropped my pancake dramatically on my plate, which caused Jen and Rose to look up from their food. "Why didn't you tell me you had a brother?" I demanded. Mack finally looked at me, his blue eyes resembling melting ice. "It wasn't something I wanted you to know about me." I took an angry bite of my pancake. "So what? Your brother's an ex-con or something? You think you're worse than him and you don't want that life for yourself anymore? How can I marry you when you kept this from me?" Jen and Rose took this as their cue to leave and let me and Mack have this private discussion. "He is an ex-con." said Mack. "He was in prison when all that stuff was going on with me. He got out awhile ago and wanted to see me, but I...I couldn't do that. I couldn't let him into my life again."

"Why not?" I pressed. "Did he do something to you?"

Mack shook his head. "Shane got into drugs and eventually got charged with possession; he went to prison when I was 15." I nodded, urging him to go on. "He got out a few months after I got out of Boston. He sent me a bunch of letters saying how sorry he was that he wasn't there for me, but Mom threw them away. I probably would've done the same thing." He fiddled with the ring on his finger. "It doesn't surprise me that he found out where I was. I just didn't think he would show up here like this..." I stared at him. "But how did he know about me? About us? And what has he been doing all this time? You got out of Boston over a year ago—-" "I don't know, okay?" Mack snapped. "He has connections or whatever and I didn't want to deal with him ever again but how can I not when he comes to our house? I don't know what he's gonna do next—-" "Mack, you can't run from this." I said gently. "I think...I think you should talk to Shane. Let him at least explain himself. I know he's done bad things in the past, but...you never turn your back on your family."

Mack's POV~ 

"I thought I'd find you here." I straightened up my posture as I addressed Shane who was in a group of intimidating-looking guys. He was hanging out in an alley in downtown Boston which is where we used to play as kids. He excused himself from the group and led me away from the alley. "Didn't think I would see you again." Shane said. I grabbed his arm. "You shouldn't be hanging out with those guys, Shane." I warned. "They're not helping you stay out of prison." He shrugged. "I've stayed out long enough, brother. I'm not going back." He kept walking and I followed him. "I can't just turn my back on you." I continued. "Even after everything that's happened, I won't do it." Shane chuckled. "You were always soft. Saw the good in everyone, even me." I shook my head. "You're wrong. That's Piper, not me. She saw the good in me when I couldn't see it in myself. I don't wanna give up on you, Shane, so please don't make me have to."

At first I thought he was gonna hit me, but I tensed in surprise when he pulled me into a hug. "I didn't think you'd ever forgive me." he admitted. "You never answered my letters." "Mom threw them out." Shane pulled away from me and rubbed his eyes. "How are Mom and Dad?" "Okay." I lied. Shane doesn't know about all the recent family drama surrounding me and Piper's engagement. Since I might finally get my brother back, I'd rather leave him out of it. "Will you come to my wedding?" I asked. Shane ruffled my hair affectionately. "Is that even a question? The real question is, will Mom and Dad kick me out of it?" I shoved him, laughing. "Probably."

***

When I got home, Piper was sprawled on the couch, her eyes heavy. "You coming to bed, babe?" I called. "Depends." she replied. "Did you talk to Shane? Because if you didn't and you spent all this time strolling downtown then I'm going to bed and you're sleeping on the couch tonight." I chuckled lightly. "I did talk to Shane. He's coming to our wedding." Piper got up and groaned. "Good, I'm glad you managed to sort things out with your brother who I just met today." I kissed her and followed her up the stairs. "I love you." "Sure you do."