ONE

"Oh, this place is a real mess," said Phoebe as she, her sisters, Leo, and Victor entered the manor. "That explosion did more than just destroy the Nexus. It must have rattled the entire manor to its foundation."

"I'm just glad the three of you weren't killed, Piper," said Victor. "I'm not sure I could take loosing all three of you."

"I'm Phoebe, dad. That's Piper. I know it's going to take some getting used to but all you have to remember is Jenny is Piper, Jo is Paige, and Julie, that's me, is Phoebe."

"Well, I know you're all still you. But looking at you is almost like looking at strangers. Even Leo looks completely different from what he used to look like."

"That's the whole idea, dad," said Piper. "With that explosion we get what we've always wanted; a normal life. Now, are you sure you have the cover story straight?"

"Absolutely," said Victor. "Maybe I can't tell you apart, yet, but the story we've come up with is very easy to remember. According to your wills, I inherit the manor and all of your property. And I am to get custody of Wyatt and Chris. Because it's such a big job I've asked some of my nieces to come and help get things together."

"Good," said Piper. "That should answer any questions anyone may have about why we're here."

"I don't see why I have to use a spell," said Paige. "I can just glamour into whatever form I want."

"Because," said Leo, "if you use your glamour ability the Elders might sense it."

"But won't they sense the spell we're using to make ourselves look different?" Paige asked.

"They'll just assume it's from residual magic left over from when you lived here and when you destroyed the Nexus," said Leo. "Remember, every time you use magic there's a residual left behind. The spell you're using is using very little magic. It won't be enough to alert them that you're still alive."

"What about the Book of Shadows?" Phoebe asked. "They aren't going to just leave it here in the manor unprotected like it is. Won't they send someone to get it?"

"I don't think so," said Leo. "They know that Victor inherited the manor and everything in it. And they know that he's going to be taking care of Wyatt and Chris. They'll just assume that Victor is holding it for them until they grow old enough to use it. It does belong to them after all. Unless there's a problem with it I don't think they'll send anyone to get it."

"Well," said Piper, "I guess we should get started cleaning this place up. It's going to take a lot of work."

"Too bad we can't use any magic to clean it up," said Paige. "It would go a whole lot faster."

"And it would alert the Elders and even the Underworld that we're still alive," said Leo. "I'm afraid we'll have to do this the old fashioned way."

"Well, I suppose it could have been worse," said Piper. "It looks like mostly minor damage even considering how widespread it seems to be. I don't think there is any structural damage so there shouldn't be too much repairing to do. Just a whole lot of cleaning up."

"Well," said Victor, "why don't you, Leo, and I start down here. Phoebe and Paige can check upstairs and see what needs to be done and start up there."

"Good idea," said Leo. "I'll do a quick check and see just how much structural damage was done. We might have to shore up a few places until we can get them repaired."

"What about the basement?" Phoebe asked.

"We'll worry about that when we have the rest of the house cleaned up," said Piper. "I have a feeling it's going to take all of us to take care of the basement."

Piper, Leo, and Victor began to clean up the first floor as Phoebe and Paige headed to the second floor. As they began to sort through the debris they discovered that very little had really been destroyed. Mostly just items that had been shaken off the shelves and out of the cabinets. And it was mostly glass and equally fragile items that had been broken. Most of the furniture appeared to be virtually unscathed.

Victor had started cleaning up in the living room as Piper began in the kitchen. A lot of the dishes had been broken which saddened Piper. Some of those dishes had belonged to Gram's. As she was cleaning up the mess on the floor she heard Phoebe call to everyone. There was a note of urgency in her voice and she immediately headed for the second floor meeting Victor at the foot of the stairs.

They ascended to the second floor fully expecting to find a demon attacking. As they entered the second floor they found Paige standing at the stairs to the attic. Again they heard Phoebe call to all of them just as Leo reached the top of the stairs with Piper and Victor.

"Phoebe said she was going to check the attic," said Paige.

"Let's get up there," said Piper, ready to explode whatever demon dared attack the manor.

They all ran up the stairs to the attic and found Phoebe standing at the podium where the Book of Shadows was kept. A podium that was conspicuously empty.

"The Book of Shadows," said Phoebe. "It's gone."