Elizabeth is dealing with the loss of her husband and being a single mom when her sister's bad choices put the entire family in danger. Her whole world is turned upside down again and she has to learn to trust Jason when she's not sure what is even real anymore.

A/N - This is loosely based on the movie Practical Magic (in the very beginning) and then it takes on a life of its own. It won't be really heavy on the magic. It's more about their love story so please give it a chance. After the very beginning, most of the parallels from the movie will end.

Chapter 1 - Heartache

Elizabeth Webber Falconeri laid in her bed pretending to be asleep. She could hear her five year old twin girls giggle as they neared her bed. She was a rotten mother. For the last seven months, she had mainly stayed in bed every day after she got them ready for school or day camp during the summer. She barely ate and was having a hard time coping without her husband.

She had "met" Dante five and a half years ago. They had fallen madly in love with each other and married quickly. Later, her aunts confessed to her that they had used a love potion on them both and she was devastated. The thought that his love hadn't been real almost destroyed her as much as his death did. But she would never regret her girls. They were everything to her.

Lily and Addie jumped onto the bed and attacked her. "Mommy, please get up."

Liz rolled over. "You know I love you both right?"

They nodded.

"Why don't you go downstairs and have your aunts get breakfast started. I'll be right there okay?"

They smiled and then giggled before running out the door.

She threw the covers back over her head. Thank God for her aunts. They had helped so much with the girls. At first, they were quiet and cried a lot, but they were finally acting more carefree and happy again. Dante had been so good with them. She knew that they missed him a lot. They didn't have a male presence in their life anymore.

"There is no way in hell that you are wallowing away in this bed any longer. Get up." A voice demanded from the doorway.

Elizabeth yanked the covers down. "Sarah?"

Sarah grinned. "In the flesh… Jesus, what is that smell?"

"Shut it," Liz said sitting up.

"Go take a shower before you permanently destroy my nostrils. I'll wait for you here."

Liz got up slowly and grabbed some things from her dresser before going into the bathroom. She did stink. Somehow, personal cleanliness wasn't that important to her at the moment. Getting into the shower, she closed her eyes as the water flowed down her body. She jumped when she felt Dante put his arms around her and kiss her neck. "Dante," she whispered before a cold spray of water jerked her back into the present. "Damn well," she muttered as she quickly washed and got out. She distanced her memories by concentrating on getting dressed. Grabbing a scrunchie, she put her hair up and looked into the mirror. "I look like shit," she muttered before opening the bathroom door. "Happy now?"

"Very, you were making my nose hairs curl. We'll burn your sheets later," Sarah said as she finished making the bed.

Liz plopped down next to her sister. "I miss him so much. I'm so mad at them Sarah. How could they?"

Sarah pulled Elizabeth into her arms. "I'm sorry Lizzie. They didn't mean any harm. You are so beautiful and you deserve to be loved, but you were so against it."

"Because I'm cursed."

"You're not cursed Elizabeth. Sometimes shitty things happen."

"I cursed myself and mom cursed the whole damn family and you know it Sarah."

"No man could live up to that curse. Besides that, are you going to spend your whole life alone and miserable because of a stupid childhood game?"

"Magic is not a game and you know that," Liz said seriously.

Sarah sighed. Elizabeth had way more powers than her but she refused to use them; pretending that they didn't exist. She used the girls as an excuse, swearing that she didn't want them to ever do magic. But the truth is that her powers scared her. It was bad enough that everyone in the town thought they were witches and not in a good way. People scurried out of the way to avoid being near them and they had been the subject of town gossip for years.

"Liz, your girls need you and they need the Aunts. You need to find a way to forgive them if you're going to continue to live in this house with them."

Elizabeth wiped the tears from her eyes. "Fine, I'll pretend everything is great and that I didn't lose the one man who at the time I thought was my soul mate."

Elizabeth noticed a mark on Sarah's back when she got up. "What's wrong with your back?" she asked curiously.

"Nothing," Sarah said spinning around.

"Who keeps calling your phone? I heard it vibrate three times already."

Sarah smirked. "His name is Carlos Rivera. He's beyond hot and I think I'm in love."

Liz narrowed her eyes. "You always think you're in love until they do something stupid to you."

"I'll probably only stay a few days. He's really jealous and things are good between us right now."

"You said now."

Sarah sighed. "Like I said, he's a little intense. We just can't get enough of each other. Sometimes, I just don't get a lot of sleep."

Liz shook her head. "Sarah….."

"It's okay, I figured out a way to make him go to sleep so I can get some rest."

"Do I even want to know?" Liz asked suspiciously.

Sarah grinned. "Belladonna."

Liz's eyes grew big. The nightshade could be really dangerous. "Sarah, what do the Aunts always say? Don't dabble."

"I'm not dabbling. I'm just helping him rest."

Liz rolled her eyes. "You're crazy you know that?"

Sarah grinned. "Crazy in love…."

"Yeah—well, I hope that works out for you," Liz said standing up. "Let's go."

They went downstairs and their Aunts watched them both carefully. They knew Elizabeth was mad at them. But, they just hoped that she'd understand some day.

"Mommy," Lily said smiling. "Come sit with us."

Elizabeth smiled and sat down in between them. Sarah grabbed them some juice and her Aunt Alexis dished out some pancakes shaped like cactus.

"Thanks," Liz muttered.

"You're welcome."

They ate and the girls ran out to play.

"Elizabeth," her Aunt Diane said slowly. "We should talk."

"I don't know if I can handle anything else you have to say," she said sadly.

"Please Elizabeth, we love you. I know we made a mistake but honestly, we just wanted you to be happy. The love you had for Dante wasn't all because of the magic. I swear it."

Liz wiped her eyes. "I killed him," she said softly. They all started to protest. "It was my fault. I should have never allowed it. Somewhere deep inside of me, I knew that it couldn't be real. I just can't do this," she said standing up.

"Stop," Sarah yelled. "I will not allow you to bury yourself in grief. Let us help you Elizabeth, please." Elizabeth started to cry and they all gathered around her and hugged her until she was calm again.

"Come on, let's go take a walk with the girls. You need some fresh air," Sarah said slightly smiling.

She dried her face and went outside. It was a beautiful day out. There was a nice breeze coming off the ocean.

"Mommy," Addie said smiling. "Come play jump rope with us."

She dragged her mother to the driveway and Liz and Sarah turned the rope as the girls jumped inside of it. It brought back so many memories.

Flashback

An 11 year old Sarah walked onto the porch. "What are you doing?"

"I'm making up a spell," Liz said.

"For what?"

"It's a love spell," Liz said smiling.

Sarah frowned. "But you don't want to fall in love."

"Exactly."

"I don't get it."

Elizabeth sighed. Their mother had cast a curse that any man who loved a Webber woman would die because of the heartache she was suffering. That is how they had lost their father. And she didn't want that to befall anyone else she cared about or would care about in the future.

"I am asking for someone that can never exist."

Elizabeth picked a few flowers for the spell. "He will be tall, blondish/brown hair, and his eyes will be cerulean blue."

"What kind of blue is that?" Sarah asked frowning.

Elizabeth smiled. "It's hard to describe but it's my favorite shade of blue."

"Go on."

"He'll be loyal to fault and a star will be his insignia."

"I really wish you'd stop using such big words," Sarah said rubbing her head.

Liz smirked. "He'll know how to make chocolate chip pancakes."

Sarah rolled her eyes.

"He'll like to go fast and when he's frustrated, he'll pinch the bridge of his nose." It was something she saw her teacher do all the time.

"I think you've officially lost it," Sarah said looking at Elizabeth like she was crazy.

Liz chuckled and mixed all the ingredients together. "There," she said taking the bowl and walking to the edge of the porch. She lifted the bowl and said a few words and the petals floated into the air. "It is done," she said softly not realizing just what she had conjured.

End flashback

The kids and Sarah stood looking at Elizabeth who appeared to be coming out of a daze. "What's wrong?" Liz asked.

"Girls, why don't you go inside? We'll be right in and we'll play dress up."

The girls squealed and ran into the house.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Liz asked.

"Where did you just go?"

Liz rubbed her face. "The spell."

"Elizabeth…."

"I know…I know. Let's just go inside."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

A few days later, Sarah solemnly walked into the living room. "I have to go back."

"Why?" Elizabeth asked. She was loving having her sister around; someone who understood her so well.

"He needs me."

Liz sighed. "Sarah…"

"Please Elizabeth, I love him. But, you always come first. I won't go if you need me."

Elizabeth stood up and walked towards her. "I'm fine Sarah. If this is what you need to do, then go. But, I have a bad feeling about this."

Sarah hugged her sister tightly. She had a bad feeling as well, but she'd never admit it out loud. "I'll be back soon. I promise."

Liz watched Sarah walk out the house and get into a cab. Diane walked into the room. "You alright?"

"Yeah, I just don't think that she should go."

"Don't forget, we leave for the retreat in a few days."

"I won't," Liz said.

"Come on, let's have some lemonade and talk," Diane said.

Liz nodded and followed her into the kitchen.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Two Days Later

Elizabeth picked up her phone. "Sarah?"

"I'm in trouble."

"What happened?" Liz asked backing out of the girl's room."

Sarah was crying softly, "He hit me. I need to get out of here."

Liz gasped. "Dammit Sarah."

"Are the Aunts gone?"

She knew if they were, she was on her own because there would be no one there to watch the girls.

"No, they leave early in the morning. Where are you?"

"Not far, we're at a hotel about a half hour away," Sarah said. "We were going on a road trip."

"Text me the address. I'll call a cab."

"Okay, thank you Lizzie," Sarah said ending the call and then texting her sister the address.

She looked behind her. Thankfully, the belladonna had worked and Carlos was sound asleep.

About a forty minutes later, she heard a car outside and she opened the hotel door.

Elizabeth got out of the cab. "Here, can you wait? I'll only be a minute."

She shut the door and the cab took off.

"Dammit," she said turning around and seeing her sister on the second floor. "Sarah?"

Sarah grabbed her bag and Carlos's keys and ran down the stairs. "Here, we'll take his car. I'm too nervous to drive."

Liz followed her to the car and slid inside. Sarah got in the passenger side.

"I'll never be able to repay you for this."

"Just choose better men next time," she said grimacing at the bruise on her sister's face.

"I'll try," Sarah said.

Liz started the car and they both jumped when the back door opened and Carlos got inside.

"Hello ladies. Where are we going?"

Sarah was shaking. "You were out of beer."

Carlos grinned and held the tequila bottle up before taking a big swig. "Why do you think I'm drinking this? Who's the bitch?"

Sarah glared at him. "This is my sister. She was in the area and agreed to drive me since we've been drinking."

He tilted his head and stared at her. "You expect me to believe this shit?" he yelled making both women jump.

"I—I'm not lying Carlos."

"You were going to leave me weren't you?"

Sarah shook her head. "No, I wouldn't do that."

He growled. "Drive bitch and you, get your ass back here."

Liz looked into Sarah's eyes which were now full of tears. She put the car in reverse and backed out of the spot and pulled out onto the road.

As Sarah climbed into the back she discretely dropped a baggie and Liz grabbed it. Carlos roughly pulled her onto his lap and kissed her. "I should take you right now," he said grabbing her ass.

"Carlos, please….."

He looked up at Elizabeth and moved forward pushing the bottle. "Drink," he demanded.

"No, I'm driving."

"I said drink," he yelled.

Elizabeth grabbed the bottle and put it between her legs and took the top off. She used her knee to steer and poured some belladonna into the bottle and then shook it. Looking in the rear view mirror, she saw him mauling her sister and then pretended to take a drink and held the bottle out.

Carlos took it and drank some more. "Keep driving until I tell you stop. We're going to have a little fun."

He directed them to an area in the woods. Elizabeth was scared to death. She couldn't understand why he wasn't passed out yet.

Carlos started slurring and finally put his head back much to Sarah's relief. She took the bottle from him when he passed out and she climbed into the front.

"Are you alright?" Elizabeth asked.

"I'm fine. What should we do?"

Liz shrugged. "We could dump him here and leave."

"That might really piss him off."

Liz got out of the car and Sarah followed. Liz took his pulse. "He's still alive but he's weak."

They dragged him outside and got back in the car.

Liz started it back up and took off and they never looked back.

A/N – Jason shows up next! Please let me know what you think!