Disclaimer: I do not own Wizards of Waverly Place. This is my first fanfic ever. I know that most aspects are out of character, please forgive me. Also, if Jalex type stuff offends you, I am sorry ... but I couldn't resist trying my hand at it.

Coming Home

Chapter 1

Justin Russo walked into the restaurant lobby feeling an overwhelming sense of dread. It was the evening of his mother's 40th birthday and she had called him in California weeks earlier and begged him to fly to New York to attend the party. He hadn't wanted to come initially, but after he heard the desperation in his mother's voice he knew that he had avoided the past for too long.

"Good evening, sir," the young hostess said from behind her podium, "how can I help you?"

Justin wet his lips and swallowed the lump of fear that had formed in his throat, "I'm with the Russo party." He finally managed to say.

"Ah yes, they mentioned that they were waiting on a couple more guests." She replied and motioned for him to follow her. She led the way toward the back corner of the restaurant. His palms were suddenly damp with nervous sweat and he did his best to appear relaxed and casual, though his insides were screaming for him to turn around and leave. It had been five years since he had seen his family. Five years since he had seen Alex. Their last encounter played over in his mind like a scene out of a movie on repeat.

Alex had always been an impulsive person, but he always thought that there were limits to a person's actions. Even hers.

"Alex, give it back." Seventeen year old Justin demanded of his younger sister as he burst into her bedroom. The door slammed shut behind him but she didn't look up. She sat cross legged on her bed reading one of his collectible comic books with a black marker in hand. Without looking up to acknowledge him, Alex laughed as she flipped through the pages. He was furious that she had been in his room and positively livid that she had removed the collector's edition from its protective plastic packaging.

"I can't believe you read these things." Alex scoffed as she finally looked up at him. Her eyes sparking with that sense of mischief and mocking laughter that Justin had come to expect. Justin could feel his temperature rising as his rage built up. He stormed toward her bed to grab the comic when he suddenly stopped in his tracks and gave a choked sort of gasp. His eyes settled on the open page. Alex had drawn black mustaches and devil horns on each of the characters.

"Wha- what did you do?" He stammered as he gingerly picked up the book and flipped through the pages in a slow daze.

"I made it more interesting." Alex replied cheekily leaning back on her hands as she looked up at him. She knew that he had planned to sell it to a collector and have enough money to pay for his first year at university.

"Alex," he could barely bring himself to look at her, "I can't believe you'd do this to me." He felt a heaviness inside that he couldn't identify. It was as though someone had rested a truck right on his chest. Justin was hurt. He felt betrayed.

Alex had done a lot of crappy things to him in the past, but this time he was furious. Nothing was more important to him that his future and she knew that. She knew that and still she ruined his only chance. Their parents hadn't saved up for him to go away to college; they barely had enough money to break even with the sub shop. Finally, looking over at Alex, with all the hurt he felt showing in his eyes he said, "I hate you." And he meant it. Her smile faltered "Oh come on, you don't hate me" she replied with a confidence that only Alex could feel. Justin didn't even bother to argue with her. He just turned to leave when suddenly she was in front of him. He'd never seen her move so fast. Her face was softer, her eyes no longer laughing. Instead they were searching his face for his true feelings. She must not have liked what she saw because he saw a thin veil of tears gloss over her eyes. She may have finally learned how far she could push him, but it was too late.

"Move," Justin mumbled as he pushed her aside.

"No, Justin," she said as she pushed back in an attempt to keep herself between him and the door, "look at me." And he did. Then her lips were on his. Warm and soft and pleading. It was as if electronic sensors in his brain were shooting in different directions. He dropped the comic as his heart jumped into his throat and before he could think he gripped her upper arms and shoved her away. Her body hit the door with a soft thud. Tears were etched down her cheeks like two glistening rivers. His fingers clutched her arms and his anger spilled over like boiling water.

"What's the matter with you?" He asked through gritted teeth. She didn't answer and refused to look at him. She sniffed and gave a choking sob. Justin shook her then. He didn't mean to.

"What the hell, Alex? Are you crazy?" She looked up at him then.

"Don't hate me, Justin… pl- please don't. I love you."

A small part of him wanted to believe her. He wanted to forget all the horrible things she'd done to him in the past. He wanted to pull her close, stroke her hair and tell her that it was okay and that he loved her too. But he was still furious with her for spoiling his future.

"Please?" Alex asked as she reached up to touch his face with her fingertips. Her eyes flitted down to his lips and she made like she was going to kiss him again. Justin couldn't take this. He shoved her aside and burst out of her room into the hallway, slamming the door behind him. Raking his fingers through his dark hair he stalked up and down the hallway. He heard Alex fall heavily against the door and slide down as she sat on the other side sobbing.

That was the last time he saw Alex. He had applied for student loans to pay for school, changed his decision from NYU to UCLA in order to be as far from her as possible and he never looked back.

Until now. Five years is a long time to go without seeing your family. Theresa and Jerry had often tried to convince Justin to come home for holidays, but he refused. He had a job in California that he insisted he couldn't leave, but the truth was that he didn't want to see Alex. That day in her room played in his mind repeatedly and he often wondered what would have happened had he not stormed out. What if he had forgiven her? The comic had been ruined, but he could have fixed it with magic. He knew that even then, but it was the principle of the thing. She always destroyed what was important to him. Of course the other aspect of that day played on his mind as well. She kissed him. Alex had kissed him and told him she loved him. Even then Justin knew that it wasn't like a regular love between a brother and sister. It was deeper. He found himself wishing that he had returned her kiss instead of getting angry and deep down he knew that the anger he had felt wasn't just about the comic. He knew that he shared her feelings and it was wrong.

In the short time that it took Justin to get from the door of the restaurant to the far corner he had worked himself into a panic over what was awaiting him. He spotted his younger brother Max before anyone. He was sitting next to a cute redhead (who Justin could only assume was his girlfriend) and he was making her laugh by putting two long breadsticks by his mouth like walrus tusks. Good to know that some things don't change. Next, he saw his father devouring what appeared to be the remains of some sort of calamari appetizer. His mother was glancing down at her watch. His eyes quickly scanned the table for Alex, but she wasn't there. He didn't know whether to be relieved or disappointed. No one had seen him yet. In a moment of weakness Justin turned as if to bolt and was suddenly face to face with her. Alex.