After Rain’s Only Friend, Caine brings Peter mooncakes from the bakery for a night of reunion, honoring both the boy Peter used to be and the guarded man he has become.

On Groundhog Day at the Blaisdell breakfast table, teenage Peter learns another strange family tradition while quietly missing the world he lost. Between teasing, bad hockey jokes, and found family warmth, he wonders if he will ever stop feeling like a guest in someone else’s calendar.

Halloween
Peter survives his first Blaisdell Halloween, complete with costumes, teasing, and the strange comfort of being included in family chaos.

Thanksgiving
A crowded Blaisdell table teaches Peter that gratitude can hurt and heal at the same time when you are still learning how to stay.

Christmas
Holiday photos, family traditions, and Annie’s warmth bring Peter closer to accepting that the Blaisdells are not just shelter, but home.

New Year’s
One reckless mistake leads to consequences, discipline, and the hard lesson that being in trouble does not mean being thrown away.

The first story in the Phoenix Rising trilogy. When a murder investigation leaves an orphaned child behind, Peter is forced to confront his own childhood trauma, nightmares, and unresolved grief. But as exhaustion gives way to a leukemia diagnosis, the case becomes a fight for healing, recovery, and the family support he keeps trying not to need.

Peter is kidnapped by a rogue Shaolin seeking revenge against Caine, forcing both fathers into a desperate rescue mission. But after captivity, torture, and psychological manipulation, survival does not end when Peter comes home. With trauma counseling, recovery, and the support of those who refuse to let him face the aftermath alone, Peter begins the hard work of healing.