The next morning was chaos, like always someone was running late. Today it was Prue. "You girls get out of here. Piper take my car, and drive Phoebe to school. I'll take Prue over, or better, I'll make her work. Piper, take Prue's car." Grams instructed.
"Grams, me and this other girl need to work on a school project. Could she come over after school?" Phoebe asked, referring to Paige. She took a bite of a bagel, and poured herself a cup of coffee. But Grams took the coffee from her. "Hey!" Phoebe said, but Grams took it and drank it. Telling Phoebe no.
"Piper, will you watch them?"
"We don't need sitters." Phoebe whined. Piper gave her a quick nudge to shut her up.
"Sure." Piper said.
"Then fine. Now go before you're late!"
"Bye Grams!" The girls called as they walked to Prue's car. Before leaving the kitchen, Phoebe grabbed Grams' coffee and ran out the door.
"Go Piper!" Phoebe said, jumping into the car. Piper stared at the cup of coffee, and left. On the ride over to Phoebe's school, Piper and Phoebe were able to talk.
"We need to act our physical age around Prue and Grams." Piper said.
"I agree with you 50%. We need Grams' help to get home. And if she knew that I'm really 28 she'll stop yelling at me all the time."
"Ok, so we gotta tell Grams. Do you think she'll believe us?"
"Maybe, but doubtful."
"Here we are; school."
"Joy."
"I'll see ya at 3:30. Avoid detention please. We have a lot of work to do."
"That's the old me."
"And the new you isn't all that different."
"Ha ha. I'll see you later." Phoebe got out of the car and made her way to the front door.
"Phoebe!" A familiar voice called. Phoebe turned around to see an old boyfriend calling out to her. Phoebe turned quickly, and scanned her memory for a name and other useful stuff. She went out with him when she was 14. Were they friends first? She wondered.
"Phoebe, I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me on Friday?" Phoebe froze. What could she say? She couldn't say she was married. And she didn't know how long she'd be there. Plus, junior high relationships consisted of very little. After being spoiled with guys with money and cars, she wasn't sure about doing the junior high thing.
'This Friday is bad for me. How about asking me next week? Sorry Derrick."
"It's cool."
"Really, I'm sorry. How about you call me. We can talk."
"Ok." The bell rang and the two ran off to their separate classes. Over at the high school, Piper was remembering how little she liked high school. Finally, at 3:00 Piper got out and practically ran to her car. Phoebe got out ten minutes later than her, and she wanted to pick her up early. When she arrived, it was only 3:15. 15 minutes early. But Phoebe was waiting for her. Excitedly, she ran to the car.
"My guess is I just broke up with someone. If you call going out in junior high going out." Phoebe said, closing the door.
"Why do you say that?"
"3 different guys asked me out today. And stupid me told them all to call me."
"You told them all no?" Piper asked surprised.
"Yes, I just got married!"
"That's what we should have tired!" Piper said.
"Get married?"
"No. Leo! I'm his wife, we should have thought of him. Well I did, I miss him. Bit not as a whitelighter."
"Understandable actually. You think of Leo as your husband. And your quest for a normal life has led you to sometimes forget that he's a whitelighter."
"Do you think it will work?"
"I dunno… let's wait until we get Paige."
"Ok."
"Do you remember what time Prue got home?" Piper asked as they walked through the door.
"I remember it was a good hour after us because of cheerleading."
"And she has to walk." Piper said. The phone rang; it was Paige, calling to see if they were home yet."
"She's on her way." Phoebe announced.
"Good, what do we have to do?"
"Immediately, I'd say convince Grams, see about Leo, and get into the attic. But ultimately, get home, and vanquish who ever did this to us. Not necessarily in that order."
"Even if it's the elders?"
"Yes, especially if it's the elders. They should warn us first."
"Somehow I think you're joking." Piper said, she herself joking.
"I'm going to start my homework so I can work longer tonight." Phoebe said pulling books our of her book bag.
"That alone will convince Grams." Piper joked.
"Just tell me when Paige gets home."
"This isn't her home."
"Yeah it kinda is." Phoebe absorbed herself into her work. Not more than half an hour later, Paige was ringing the door bell. Piper went to answer it. "Phoebe's in the kitchen." She told Paige.
In the kitchen Paige found Phoebe working. "Hey." She said.
"Thank God!" Phoebe said standing up. "We have soooo much to do."
"Like what?"
"There's the attic issue, and we're going to try to convince Grams who we really are, and we're going to see what we can do about Leo."
"Paige, your mother's coming to get you at seven. That's the latest she'd let you stay." Piper said, joining the two in the kitchen.
"That gives us three hours to work." Phoebe said, looking at her watch."
"Where do we start?" Paige asked.
"I saw calling Leo." Piper suggested.
"How?"
"What do you mean? Like we always do."
"He's not our whitelighter yet, we have no powers, so he can't find us."
"It's worth trying."
"Ok."
"Then on three. One, two, three."
"LEO!!" The three cried. Nothing happened. They tried again. Still nothing.
"We knew this could happen." Phoebe said.
"So what's next?" Paige asked.
"The attic, we'll find a spell there." Phoebe said.
"Problem… we can't get into the attic." Piper pointed out.
"We have to try." Phoebe said. "Come on, let's go." She charged up the stairs, where she first tried the door knob.
"It won't work, you spent your childhood trying to get in, remember?" Piper reminded.
"Yes, but now I know what we're up against."
"What are we up against?"
"Probably some sort of magic. A spell most likely."
"So we're doing this in reverse order because?"
"Explain."
"We started off calling for Leo, but we can't get him until we get the book. We can't get the book until we get into the attic. But we can't get into the attic until you guys convince Grams. I think the order of priorities is a little messed here."
"You're right, but Grams won't be home for another hour." Piper pointed out.
"Phoebe, has your obsession with getting into the attic now spread to Piper and your friend?" Prue joked.
"Ha ha. I just wanted to know what is in there."
"Give up Phoebe!" Prue said. She began to walk away. "But, if you do get in, give me a yell." She called over her shoulder.
"That was Prue?" Paige asked.
"Yup, she sure is."
"Wow, I didn't know… anyway, what do we do now that we know that we're at a dead end for the next hour?" Paige asked. She followed Piper and Phoebe down the attic stairs.
"Um, we compile everything we know that might help us." Phoebe said. The phone rang as they were passing it in the hallway. "Hold on, meet me in my room." Phoebe picked up the phone. "Hello?... Oh hey Allen. Listen I can't talk right now…. Sorry… I'll call you later… K. Bye…" She hung up the phone and ran into her bedroom. "I am such an idiot!" Phoebe said, plopping her self onto her bed.
"We knew that. Somehow I don't think that re-establishing that you're an idiot will convince Grams of anything." Paige said sarcastically.
"First call?" Piper asked all knowingly.
"Yes, I told Allen I'd call him back too!"
"What are you guys talking about?" Paige asked.
"I must have recently broken up with someone because three guys asked me out today. The only time I got that many guys asking me out in a day in junior high was right after I broke up with someone. I turned them all down, telling them to call me tonight."
"You're thirteen and guys are all over you like that? I'm impressed." Paige said.
"Don't be. I didn't have a good reputation. As a wild slut. Which I wasn't, but the guys thought I was. Anyway, now focus here. What have you thought about?"
"Not much, pretty much that we're witches." Paige said.
"Wow great list." Phoebe remarked. "Maybe we should say something about the book?"
"If we mention the book, Grams might think that we got into the attic and stumbled on it that way." Piper said.
"That is how we did though!" Phoebe said.
"Um… in like 11 years!" Piper said.
"What about me?" Paige asked. "She knows of my existence… maybe if we bring me up…"
"That is the best idea yet!" Phoebe said. She got up and hugged Paige.
"Our powers, the prophecy, the future…" Paige continued.
"Maybe I should throw down my crown as the brains of the family and hand it to you." Phoebe joked.
"You? The brains? I don't think so!" Paige retorted. Phoebe and Paige began to laugh. As people have said for years, laughter is contagious; Piper began to laugh as well. Their concentration was gone, and they weren't able to continue the list.
"Girls! I'm home!" Grams called.
"Show time!" Phoebe said. The three girls looked at each other with uncertainty, and left. "Hi Grams!" Phoebe said, skipping into the kitchen.
"Hi to you too!"
"Grams, we got something to tell you." Piper said.
"Go on."
"We know about your secret."
"What secret."
"We know that you're a witch." Paige said.
"And how do you think you know?" Grams said, glaring at Paige.
"That's part of what we wanted to tell you." Phoebe said, averting Grams' threatening glare from Paige.
"Phoebe, this crazy. What are you talking about? Magic exists, but I'm no witch."
"Yes you are! And we'll be one too!" Piper insisted.
"You too?"
"Phoebe, this isn't working. Where's the list?" Paige asked.
"Paige, Piper or I should read the list."
"Why?"
"Grams don't know you."
"You're right I don't!" Grams interrupted.
"There's the Book of Shadows." Phoebe said.
"The Book of What?"
"And Mom's affair with Sam. And that Sam was a whitelighter. And there was a love child; in fact Paige is that girl.
"Couldn't have flattered me any less, could ya Pheebes?" Paige said.
"Sorry, I have to be blunt. Grams still doesn't believe us."
"I have the ability to freeze time, or I will."
"Premonitions and levitation here."
"You're talking nonsense."
"If you let us into the attic…" Phoebe stupidly tried.
"Ah so this is another one of schemes to get into the attic. That door doesn't open for anyone. I knew you were making it up!"
"The only reason for me to get into the attic is to get the Book of Shadows so we can vanquish some demon asses and get back to the present!" Piper yelled.
"You're serous about this, aren't you?"
"Yes, somehow we were transported to our past bodies and you're not believing us. And you're not helping us get home!"
"What about Prue?" Grams asked. "Shouldn't se be here? I mean, you guys are here." The three stood quiet.
"No comment." Phoebe said, but Grams got the point.
"How long have you known?"
"About 4 years." Phoebe and Piper said in unison.
"Less than a year." Paige added.
"And you're just coming to me now?"
"Did we forget to mention that we time traveled?" Phoebe innocently asked.
"You should have mentioned that at the beginning, it would have been easier."
"Told you so." Paige said.
"You girls need into the attic then."
"Yes! But you need you get Prue out of her room. You can here people walking around in the attic from her room." Piper said.
"You can?" Grams exclaimed. "How did you know that?"
"I have Prue's room in the future." Piper said.
"How does Chinese food sound for dinner?" Grams slyly asked.
"Good."
"Prue, will you come down here for a minute?" Grams called. Slowly, two feet could be heard coming down the stairs.
"Yeah Grams?"
"Could you go to that restaurant in Chinatown? The one where they know us pretty well, and pick up some Chinese for dinner?"
"Ask Piper, I have a lot of homework."
"She cooked yesterday. It's your turn. I'd have Phoebe do it, but she can drive yet."
"Fine, I'll be back soon."
"Bye Prue!" Everyone called.
"Ok, let's get you girls home." Grams said, leaving for the attic. Grams said a quick spell under her breath and the door sprung open. Paige peered in, expecting to see something similar to the present day attic. She was surprised to see it cluttered and duster. There were trunks, and boxes all over the place. The couches and other familiar things weren't there. The pedestal where the book normally was was buried in the corner, and there were no evident signs of witchcraft. Her face must have shown her surprise because Phoebe felt that she needed to pointed out that Grams didn't use the attic as much as they did. Grams walked over to a trunk covered with a blanket. As if it was about to break, she gingerly opened the lid. Buried beneath some blankets she took out some white candles. The very carefully lifted the very old Book of Shadows out of the trunk. She handed it to Phoebe. "Do you need any help?"
"No, but try to keep Prue out of her room."
"Ok."
"Oh, I have to leave at seven. My mother is coming to get me then." Paige said.
"That's good; it gives you two time to do your homework."
"We still have to go to school!?!?!?!" Phoebe whined.
"Yes, and it should be easier the second time around."
"Fine."
"Found him!" Piper said pointing to a demon in the book. "That is the guy from yesterday."
"Name?" Paige asked. Piper looked at the page.
"Wilder. Eww. Burns flesh with eyes, and got this magic powder. But it doesn't say what the powder does. Just that the witches were able to avoid it. Oh… but he's lower level."
"That doesn't help us now!" Phoebe said. "We don't have powers, so we can't vanquish him."
"I can make potions to substitute my power."
"But orbing, healing, calling, premonitions, and levitating, and your freezing power can't be replicated by potions." Paige said.
"But if we all had exploding…" Piper started.
"He would still have the upper hand." Paige finished.
"So we need a second plan." Phoebe said.
"We need Leo." Piper said.
"He exists now, but he can't be any help to us. As a whitelighter, he is still young."
"Oh yeah! Paige, he died in World War Two! He's 42 years dead!"
"Rather than 60!"
"Hey cut it out you two! We need the future Leo. He knows us better."
"I know a spell that could summon him." Grams offered.
"How fast can you do it?" Phoebe asked urgently.
"You set up the candles, the five pentagram points. I'll find the spell." Grams ordered.
Ten minutes later, the candles were lit, the spell was said, and Leo was standing in the center of the pentagram.
"Found you." He said, looking at the four familiar faces.