P. Baxter

P. Johnson (née Baxter) (September, 1897 - December, 1970 ) was a witch of the Warren line who inherited the power of molecular immobilization or deceleration. She was born to Philippa and Redmond Baxter in the September of 1897, and presumably lived in San Francisco. Later in life, Baxter met a mortal man, whom she fell in love with. However, she eventually broke up with him to be with another mortal named Gordon Johnson. The two lived together as a married couple at 1329 Prescott Street, a magnificent home built by her parents also known as "the Manor". Her cousins, P. Russell and P. Bowen, also lived there, presumably in order to vanquish demons and warlocks.

When the Prohibition took place, Baxter held several speakeasies at the house, while her husband would play the piano in the parlor, Bowen would take photographs and Russell worked as a fortune teller and potion-maker. However, Baxter and Bowen soon came to learn that Russell's boyfriend, Anton, was an immortal warlock and had turned her evil. Despite several attempts to talk, Baxter and Bowen decided that they had to kill her, and curse all of her future-lives to die at exactly that same age. Baxter herself obtained the spell, and they cast it on her during one speakeasy that she and Anton attempted to kill them. It is unknown what the two good cousins did with Russell's body.

In later life, Baxter and Gordon had two children; firstly, a daughter named Penelope Johnson, and secondly, a son named Gordon Johnson II. Baxter died in December, 1970, and was reincarnated two years later as Piper Halliwell, her second great-granddaughter.

Early life
P. Baxter was born to Redmond and Philippa Baxter (née Warren) in the September of 1897. She was their first and only child.

Baxter possessed the power to either seemingly stop time, or slow it down. In reality, whichever power she possessed was controlled by slowing down molecules. She activated her power by flicking her hands at whatever or whoever she wished to freeze or slow down.

In 1898, Baxter's parents built what was referred to, by Beth Whittlesey, as "a masterpiece" of a house on Prescott Street in San Francisco in order to keep evil from taking control of the Nexus located underneath the building. As the house was completed when Baxter was one, she presumably grew up in it.

At some point in her life, Baxter met a man whom she fell in love with. However, she eventually broke up with him in favour of another man named Gordon Johnson. She and Gordon married, though Baxter had a brief affair with her former lover before their marriage. She and her new husband lived in her parents' house.

At an uncertain time, Baxter's maternal cousins, P. Bowen and P. Russell, moved into the house, where they lived for several years. They presumably fought demons and warlocks together, as did the rest of their family.

Speakeasy
"Hurry up with that giggle water, Jake. We have thirsty people waiting."

- Baxter speaking to the bartender at the speakeasy.

In the 1920s, alcohol was prohibited in the United States of America. Disagreeing with it, Baxter held a speakeasy at her and Gordon's house. She employed Jake Larson as the bartender, while her husband entertained the guests by playing the piano in a small band, Russell divined the future and made potions, and Bowen made use of her career as a professional photographer.

Magic appeared to have been practiced openly at the speakeasy, as Russell made potions and cast spells for other people, and even offered to curse people for others. Baxter also used her power in the open at least once, though in a life-threatening situation.

Bowen and Baxter soon came to learn that Russell's boyfriend, Anton, was an immortal warlock who had turned her evil and fallen in love with her, and hoped to steal the other two cousins' powers. Initially trying to get her to talk, Baxter and Bowen planned to kill her and curse her future-lives to die aswell, as they could not risk her and Anton joining forces in any life. Baxter was charged with obtaining the spell.

Fighting Anton
"I'm gonna love having that power."

- Anton after breaking out of Baxter's power.

On February 17th, 1924, Baxter gave the spell to Bowen, and the two planned to use it on her. The same day, Russell refused to talk to them, saying that she was "done talking". Later on, Baxter was watching Gordon play when she saw her ex-boyfriend in the hallway. She told him that she was married and could not be with him anymore, but he continued to grab her sexually. After saying that that was not like him, he answered "you're right. It's not" and revealed that he was Anton in disguise. He put his hand over her mouth to stop her screaming, but she managed to. After he pulled her to the ground and began to choke her, she tried to use her power on him, but he broke free. Finally, she kicked him in the groin, incapacitating him, stood up and dropped the Grandfather Clock on him.

Killing Russell


Baxter then went into the other room, where she saw Bowen wrestling with Russell on the floor. Baxter got down to help Bowen, and began to strangle her evil cousin. However, Phoebe Halliwell then came into possession of Russell's body and escaped their grip using martial arts before running upstairs. Baxter believed that she was luring the two of them into another trap, but they went upstairs anyway after Bowen's cryokinesis power missed.

After going upstairs and finding nothing, Baxter and Bowen doubled back downstairs and found "Russell" stood there. Baxter began to strangle her again and the good cousins recited the curse, which killed her. However, Phoebe had left the body and returned to her own just in time. What the cousins did with the body, or what they said to cover it up, is unknown.

Later life
Baxter went on to move from San Francisco to Boston, at least temporarily. In a hotel room on June 23th, 1930, she gave birth to a daughter, Penelope Halliwell, through a breach-birth. Penny was, like her mother, a witch, and possessed the power of telekinesis.

In 1943, thirteen years later, Baxter had a son who was named Gordon Johnson II in honour of his father. Unlike his sister, he was non-magical, and later married Francine Bowen.

Baxter died in December, 1970, meaning she may have met her eldest great-granddaughter, Prudence "Prue" Halliwell. She was reborn not long after as Prue's younger sister, Piper Halliwell. It was said that Piper's half-sister, Paige Matthews, inherited Baxter's eyes and good-looks.

Physical description
"She was a real looker..."

- Penny on her mother.

To Phoebe Halliwell, Baxter looked exactly like her sister, Piper. She had brown hair and eyes, and wore black clothes. According to Baxter's daughter, Penny, she looked just like Paige Matthews, her youngest great-granddaughter.

Personality and traits
Baxter did not seem very happy during the 1920s, when she held a speakeasy as a protest. She was not completely faithful to her husband, either, as she had an affair with another man before they were married, and ended the affair after the wedding. Baxter did, however, seem to love her husband, as she stood, smiling, watching him jut before Anton attacked her, and Gordon attacked him back afterwards in retaliation.

Powers and abilities

 * Molecular immobilization/deceleration: Baxter's active power was either to slow down particles to the point that time appeared to freeze, or only to slow them enough to make time seem to slow down. She used this on Anton after he attacked her, but he fought through her power and proceeded to strangle her before she could escape.

Behind the scenes

 * Baxter was portrayed by Holly Marie Combs in Pardon My Past.
 * It is unknown what Baxter's first name is, other than that it begins with a "P".
 * In the Spanish dub, Bowen referred to her as "Piper". However, this cannot be considered canon, as it was most likely a mistake.
 * Penny mentioned in Happily Ever After that Paige looked just like Baxter, which is ironic as she was Piper's past life.
 * It is uncertain as to what power Baxter possessed - either molecular immobilization or molecular deceleration. As immobilization is a Warren power, and Anton mentioned fighting through her power, it is likely that it was immobilization that she possessed. However, warlocks are usually shown to freeze before adjusting, not immediately slow down.
 * Baxter's running of her speakeasy was likely what influenced her future-life to work at Quake and P3.

Appearances

 * Season Two
 * Pardon My Past


 * Season Five
 * Happily Ever After