Roommates

After BMS, Oliver reneges on his promises, and Rachel, despite her best attempts, has failed to get the coven off her back, moves in with Al.

Small note, I refuse to write Pierce unless he is dead or dying (I seriously doubt I could write his dialogue anyway!), so I'll lose some realism with that, but he will not be in this fic, only mentioned for credibility's sake. Simply assume Al has whored him out elsewhere since he is no longer needed to babysit Rachel.

Spoilers: Everything is fair game

Rated a hopeful M for eventual hell yeah moments

Chapter One: It's Only Temporary!

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Oh god. I still don't know what was going through my head. Of course, Jenks and Ivy both thought it was a terrible idea. I did too, I wanted to stay with them, in my church, my home for these two crazy years, but I knew I just couldn't risk them anymore. The last attempt had been bad enough, and now that Oliver was certain he had to take me out before the witches' meeting, it was only going to get worse.

I really thought I'd taken care of it that day in the FIB office, and my confidence had cost me. I had nearly kicked it when that human assassin got into the backseat of my rental car, well, Ivy's rental car since my license was revoked. Dumb luck on his part he even got that close, but I couldn't afford to make any more mistakes like that.

Only Pierce agreed with my decision, which oddly enough made me even more nervous about it. It was discomforting to think I trusted the man even less after I had slept with him, but there is was.

My overnight bag was already packed. Another backpack as well, since I couldn't convince myself to use my suitcase; it would seem too permanent. And a bag of groceries and snacks since I wasn't sure I could stomach grilled cheese and rancid coffee for days at a time.

My chest heaved in panic. I knew it was temporary, that Ivy or my mom could always summon me back if Al got pushy and kept me from jumping the lines of my own. But the witches' meeting was almost three months away. Was I really going to stay that long? Could my sanity stand it?

Guilt followed panic closely. Jenks was still getting over Mattie's death, and Ivy was Ivy, they both needed me, though both were too strong to admit it.

And there was another frightening possibility to consider. I had bet Al my stake in reality that I could get the coven off my back and my shunning removed. If I came crying to him now, he could take it as understanding that I'd lost the bet, and try to keep me with him, in the ever after, permanently?

I had taken my summoning glass out to contact Al, but it sat untouched on the counter. Jenks was nowhere to be seen, and Ivy was still trying to get the stains out of the rental car. They knew I planned for it to be today, but I didn't know how to do this. A clean, quick break seemed best, and I would be back. I would, damn it! But if I disappeared without a final goodbye, would they assume the worst? Ivy had helped me pack, but was the assumption there that it wasn't yet time?

But we really didn't have time to spare. I shuddered at the thought of the rental car, and seriously thought Ivy wasn't getting her security deposit back. The bastard Oliver hadn't even left me a vaguely threatening message, it had just happened, and I'd been shocked enough to even hesitate telling Glenn to file my blackmail trial paperwork.

But if I went into the ever after, then arrived, safe and whole at the witches' meeting…would it be enough? Or would I simply have put myself back into the coven's fanatic and increasingly inept hands?

God damn it, I didn't know. I'd thought I had it all fixed, would finally get my life back, but now I wasn't sure, and it scared me enough to…well, enough to think that the ever after was beginning to sound like a good, albeit temporary, escape plan.

Just get it over with, I told myself, and clenching my teeth, I picked up the mirror and focused, calling for Al.

He picked up immediately, and the vaguely ill-formed fear that he'd refuse me entirely evaporated at the eagerness he couldn't keep from his "voice".

Itchy witch?

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my frantic mind and keep my many worries to myself. Al, crap's starting up again, I managed to get out before his elation nearly drowned me out entirely.

The coven is still after you? You're shunning is still in effect? He asked, and didn't bother to wait for my reply, reading my bitterness and worry clearly from out connection. He laughed delightedly, and I thought about hanging up on him.

Get your stuff, Rachel. I'll be there for you in a few minutes.

I didn't lose! I shouted at him, continuing before he got a chance to argue. I'm still getting the shunning revoked, just not right now! It's just one dumb coven witch screwing this all up for me. I'll have it all under control when I go to the witches' conference. I didn't lose the bet! This is only temporary, damn it! I was practically screaming at him, and took a deep breath, annoyed when I noticed my hands were shaking.

Al's cultured calm flitted back into my mind, radiating smugness, You failed, and I won. Get your things, I don't want to make more than one trip.

"Bullshit!" I screamed out loud. Not wanting to worry Jenks or Ivy, I returned to thoughts, though if Al was really going to try and claim me, I wanted my roommates here with me. You're taking things out of context, and you know it!

It was like I could see his red goat-slitted eyes narrowing at me. You agreed to the terms. Now try to act like an adult and don't welsh on your bet.

"Forget it, I'm staying here. I won't accept you changing the game when I've already won," I said with more certainty than I felt.

Fine, two trips. But don't bother with many clothes. I've a closet-full just for you.

Oh god, why the hell did he have clothes for me? This was all going downhill faster than a toboggan of dead vamps.

Get it through your thick skull, I "yelled" at him, and kept going with my momentum before he had a chance to get pissed at my less-than-respectful tone. It's not permanent, just until this all blows over and I can get my shunning officially revoked at the witches' meeting. On second thought, I added just to be safe, You fricking offered in the first place, and you took back Pierce.

He was silent for long moments. Yeah, I realized I would be getting smacked around a bit next time I saw him. I glanced guiltily towards my bags, not really wanting to know what it said about me that my safest bet still was in the ever after with my now thoroughly pissed-off demon teacher.

We'll talk about it later. Get your things, I'm not going to wait around all day. Al said with a tone of finality I knew it wouldn't do any good to argue with. Without another word, he hung up and I was left alone in my kitchen, shaken and pissed with the situation in general. But I guessed that was as good an answer I was going to get from him for now. I'd worry about details later. I put down my mirror hurriedly on the counter and went to find Ivy to let her know about the change in plans.

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Chaptered fic in progress, but don't get your hopes up too much! I'm damn slow at chaptered fics, and 1/3 of them I fail to finish entirely. Though I have much love for the fanfiction, I have my real writing to do and go fricking crazy when fanfic plot bunnies take away from it. When this occurs, I then banish the fic from my mind a little too effectively. The best way to combat this is with lots of loving reviews so I finish quickly and don't get feeling guilty about how much time it's taking me.

I'm planning to do one update a week for a total of five chapters, wish me luck!