Legacy: Star Crossed Lovers

by Lady Dawson

Chapter One: A Romeo and Juliet World

Brooke Murphy walked through the living room of her apartment, picking up various books that were lying around and shoving them into her bag before glancing towards one of the bedrooms. "Come on, Susan!" she called. "You can make-out with Ethan later, right now I got to get school and I need you to drive me because my car's in the shop!"

"Yeah, it's too bad that you don't have a mechanic of a boyfriend to fix those breaks for you," Susan Dawson commented dryly as she came out of the apartment, brushing out her hair. "And for your information, we were not making out."

"If that's your story," Brooke said dryly. Susan glared at her. "Could you hurry up, please? I need to get to the library before class and do some research for a paper. I know, it's odd, coming from me, but that doesn't mean that I don't need to get there."

Susan heaved a sigh. "Can't Wyatt drive you?" she asked. Brooke pierced her lips together, folding her arms across her chest. "Are you two having problems again? I thought you two settled this the last time."

"No, we aren't having problems," Brooke said sourly. "We happen to be very happy, not that it's any of your business."

"I get best friend privileges," Susan countered as Ethan Hale, Susan's half-demon boyfriend, came out of the bedroom, still dressed in a T-shirt and boxers, and ambled into the kitchen. Brooke didn't mind that the two of them were basically living together; in fact, she thought it was rather romantic and was glad that Susan finally decided what she wanted and was going for it. But she did think that things between Susan and her ex-boyfriend Chris Halliwell, her boyfriend Wyatt's younger brother, were about as destructive as they could get, especially after he cast that spell to make her forget about Ethan.

"Could you hurry?"

"I'm hurrying," Susan assured her as she disappeared into the bathroom and Brooke shook her head, taking a seat at the table.

"So, did you have a fun night?" she asked brightly to Ethan, who only gave her a wry smile in return. "So are you ever going to tell me why exactly Chris cast that spell? Because we all know that you know."

A pained expression crossed Ethan's face and he looked towards the bathroom, where the love of his life was. "Let's just say that things could have ended up a lot differently, different circumstances," he replied. Brooke frowned at his cryptic message.

"What does that mean?"

"Means that nobody's perfect," Ethan murmured. "And while I might be angry with him for trying that spell, I can understand why he was doing it. But I'm not giving her up. I know when I've been lucky enough for a second chance."

"Yeah, well, you two have the forbidden love of all time," Brooke pointed out cheerfully. "Not even Romeo and Juliet had anything on the two of you."

"Have you even read that play?" Susan asked as she came back into the kitchen, her bag slung over her shoulder.

"No, but I've seen the movie."

Susan shook her head in half-exasperation as she stood up on tiptoes and kissed Ethan passionately. "We still meeting for lunch?" she asked him and he nodded, his arms going around her waist to kiss her more fervently. Brooke let them go at it for a few seconds before she grabbed Susan's arm and pulled her away from the half-demon. "Brooke!"

"Come on, you can kiss each other later, right now, I have to go," Brooke whined and Susan rolled her eyes but blew Ethan a kiss before she was pulled out of the door by Brooke. "Bye, Ethan!"

"Bye," Ethan said with a wry smile, watching the two girls go before he headed over to the coffee machine and making some coffee.

Only when he was pouring himself some coffee did he heard the distinct sound of orbs. He glanced up, half-expecting it to be Susan, even though she'd only left a few minutes before, or even Wyatt, looking for Brooke.

"Hey, Brandon," he said as Susan's Whitelighter appeared in the room. Actually, Brandon was her brother in disguise, but Susan and Ethan were the only ones who knew that. "If you're looking for the girls, they just left."

"Actually, I was looking for you," Brandon James told him. Ethan raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "The Elders have been going over the information that you gave them when they were here and what they've been finding isn't pretty and even more, it's not much."

Instantly, Ethan was on alert, turning to look at Brandon. "What have they got?" he asked.

"Unfortunately, not much, like I said. What they do know is that this demon that is coming to earth that Susan and the others are supposed to stop is supposedly one of the most powerful demonic forces in the universe."

"Yeah, a lot of demons stretch the truth about their power," Ethan pointed out. "Most of them like to brag that they're more powerful than they actually are. Take my family, for example. We might be invincible and immortal, but our powers are actually pretty limited. Plus, if we wanted to get rid of the immortality, we'd turn to dust."

Brandon paused. "Let me guess . . . you've tried?"

"What, you think I haven't been rational about my relationship with your sister?" Ethan countered. "I know the risks and I know that she would willingly be with me until she dies, but I don't want to watch that. I don't want to watch her grow old while I'm still young. I'm two hundred and forty-three years old, Brandon. And I don't look a day over nineteen. It might not seem like much, but I want to grow old with her, not just cast a spell so it'll appear like I'm aging."

"That's not selfish, Ethan," Brandon pointed out. "I'm guessing that you weren't just out hunting demons that your dad sent during these past couple of years that you've been apart."

"Nah. Spent a great deal of time trying to figure out how to get rid of my immortality. Found a couple of demon priests who could do it, but unfortunately, the only way they had would take away the one thing that's kept me alive this long."

Brandon let out a low whistle. "Man, I'm sorry. I may not act like it sometimes, but I do think you're good for my sister. She might be emotional, sensitive, and crazier than anyone I've ever met, but she does make pretty good choices when it comes to love."

Ethan was highly amused by this. "Really? You think a half-demon is a good choice?"

"Well, besides that, you're actually a pretty decent guy and you take care of her." Ethan still was amused. "No, you want to know why I trust you with my sister? The real reason?" Ethan nodded, no longer amused, sensing Brandon's seriousness. "If it was a choice between her and the world, I know that you'd pick her. I know that you would do anything to prevent her from sacrificing herself, even giving your own life, if it meant that she could survive and have some happiness in her life."

For a moment, Ethan just stared at Brandon, unable to speak. While the words were true, every single word, he could never have imagined that he would have heard them spoken.

"That's why I never particularly trusted her with Chris," Brandon continued, "but I had to let her learn the lesson that she wasn't over you the hard way. I didn't trust her with Chris because I knew that, when it came down to it, he would pick the world over Susan. Doesn't mean that he's not a good guy or he wouldn't feel guilty for the rest of his life for it, but that's the choice he would make."

Ethan considered this, but nodded. Chris might be in love with Susan, but if it really came down to it, Ethan could easily see him sacrificing his lover in order to save the world.

"Well, not that it has anything to do with the subject, but has Susan had any premonitions lately?" Brandon asked. Ethan shook his head.

"Not that she's told me about. Why?"

"Just a feeling. I've got this really bad feeling that . . . something is about to go very wrong."

--

Peter Connelly looked at the demon sitting across from him with a small, sadistic smile on his face. "You're certain that you'll be able to do it?" he asked, malice written in his voice. "After all, I've had many demons fail me when it comes to destroying these witches before. I will accept no failures this time."

"I assure you, my lord, I have killed countless witches like this," the demon known as Bran said smoothly. "But I do wonder as to why you're still recruiting demons to eliminate the witch. Rumour has it that your son is now in charge of assassinating the witch."

"A little test of loyalty," Peter replied. "I'm not entirely sure as to whether or not my son can be trusted. He has been spending too much time with that Halliwell witch and my sources tell me that he may or not be involved with helping his sister and her friends."

Bran considered this; he wouldn't be surprised. After all, Bobby Connelly was a full-fledged witch, even if his parents were one of the dark. It would not be utterly impossible that he would choose to side with his sister, a witch of the light. "Then why not get rid of him?"

"Because I have no proof that he has actually betrayed me and if he hasn't, then I do not want to lose my heir. And one more question out of you will result in your death." Bran swallowed, but nodded obediently. "Now, when can you perform the spell?"

"Immediately, my lord." Bran pressed his fingers to his temple. It was no secret that he could alter realities and change people's lives to fit the new one. And this particular scenario he had done all too often, for it was one of his favourites to perform, especially for two lovers.

Deidre Connelly stood outside her husband's office, listening carefully, her heart beating with anticipation. She had heard of this Bran before; he often created scenarios to fit in the Romeo and Juliet world. And she had a feeling that she knew exactly who he wanted to portray the two doomed lovers. After all, it would be all too easy to have them in the roles, as they were already had a forbidden love.

Susan Dawson and Ethan Hale.

Slowly moving away from the office, Deidre closed her eyes and materialised to where her stepdaughter was already at college and headed towards her, where she was talking with a blond that she immediately recognised as Wyatt Halliwell.

"I swear, Wy, I don't want to hear about it," Susan was saying in annoyance. "I've tried with your brother, all right? It's not like I haven't tried, but when he cast that spell to try and make me forget about the love of my life, that's when he crossed the line. So I'm sorry, but I'm not going to talk about this anymore."

"Susan," Deidre said quietly, interrupting their discussion. Wyatt immediately took a defensive stance while Susan eyed her carefully.

"Deidre," she answered softly. "Are you yourself?" The blonde dark witch nodded, her face strained. "What's wrong?"

"It's Peter," she replied quickly. "He's going to try and cast a spell on you and your friends—actually, he's on his way to working it right now. He's going to put you in—"

Before she could finish her warning, a blue light passed over Susan and Wyatt, causing them to start in surprise before an odd light passed through their eyes and then they continued talking as though Deidre wasn't there.

"My brother truly has fallen for you, Susan," Wyatt told her. "A marriage between the two of you would be extremely beneficial to combine our two magics. After all, the Cromwell and Warren lines are of some of the most powerful magical lines in all of history."

"It's not that I am not flattered by your brother's love, Wyatt," Susan told him. "But I cannot make myself love him. He . . . he is not in love with me, much as he would like to claim so and I cannot love him. The way that he looks at Faith . . . I know that he's in love with her, truly so. And I do not want be in love with someone who is clearly in love with someone else."

"Faith means nothing," Wyatt insisted. "She's just a lowly bartender and only of miniscule power herself. She cannot be my brother's wife."

"And nor can I," Susan replied quietly. "Forgive me, but I must get to class. I will not marry your brother, not in this life or any other."

As she walked away, leaving Wyatt standing dumbfounded on the sidewalk, Deidre inwardly groaned. Now it was up to her to figure out a way to break the spell off them. And she'd better do it fast, before Peter caught wind of what she was doing and recast the controlling spell.

--Opening Credits--

Title Song: "Chariot" by Gavin Degraw

Drew Fuller as Chris Halliwell

Wes Ramsey as Wyatt Halliwell

Michelle Trachtenberg as Susan Dawson

Anne Hathaway as Brooke Murphy

Hayden Christensen as Brandon James

and Shawn Ashmore as Bobby Connelly