It's My Quinceanera, I'll Switch If I Want To

Summary: An AU version of Quinceanera. When Alex first casts the body switch spell on her and her mother, her powers don't switch with her. Can Theresa cast the reversal spell before they're trapped in each others' bodies forever?

A/N: I loved the episode, but I was somewhat disappointed since the writers took the easy way out at every turn. This is how I would've written the episode, startng from the first dressing room scene.

And, yes, the first section of this was dialogue lifted right from the episode. The AU starts shortly after. Also, I'd like some feedback on characterization. This is one of my first attempts at a WOWP fic, and as I would like to write more I want to know how I'm doing. Thanks!

Part I

Alex stared at the reflection of herself with disgust. Was this really her? The puff, the beaded top, the slippers on her feet…she felt like a princess, and that wasn't a good thing. The reaction stemmed from when she was little, and she and her brothers played while they watched Disney movies. Her brothers would of course try to make her be Cinderella or Snow White since she was the girl, but in the end she'd always get her way and force one of them to act the part while she got to have the adventure.

Yet here she was, ten years later, in a dress just as puffy as Cinderella's ball gown. And at least Snow White didn't have to wear pink.

Her mom better appreciate this.

Because that was the only reason she'd agreed to put the dress on in the first place. If she hadn't just conveniently learned the body switch spell, over her dead body would she have allowed this Quinceanera to happen.

As if the dress wasn't enough, her mother came behind her and stuck a pink tulle veil in her hair. "You look beautiful!" Theresa said, fixing the tulle around Alex's dark hair.

The effect was stunning, but all Alex could see was more pink puff. "Yeah, pink and puffy…" Alex replied, trying to sound optimistic. "Really pink and puffy." Unable to stand the itchy clip in her hair, she took out the veil.

While her mother gave her a disapproving frown, Alex decided that right then was as good a time as any to cast the spell. "But it's okay," Alex said, "Because I'm not going to be the one wearing it – you are."

As her mother stared at her with confusion, she began the spell, "Alex, Theresa, Cambia Corporum…"

"Wait a minute, are you doing magic?" Theresa exclaimed, recognizing the sound of a spell. She tried to hold out her arms to stop her daughter…

…but Alex was already done. "…Meum Corpora Sua Nominavi!"

Alex brought her hands together and felt the familiar tingle of magic leaving her body for a spell. By the time she pulled her hands apart, the spell was cast and she was looking at herself. The sensation was odd, but her plan had worked. Satisfied, she crossed her arms and grinned at her stunned mother.

"Wha…" Theresa, in Alex's body, sputtered once the spell was complete. "Why am I looking at myself?"

Unable to help being a little smug, Alex replied, "Well, you may be looking at yourself on the inside, but it's me on the inside!" And then…she waved. She had to do it. "Hi mom!"

Shocked, Theresa replied, "Y-you're…you're in my body?"

"Yep. And you're in my body," Alex answered, relaxing in the dressing room's chair. This was actually kind of fun. Too bad the spell couldn't last past sunset. It'd be awesome to be the one handing out the punishments, for once, Alex thought, feeling some remorse for the fun she could've had with this spell. But she was enjoying the moment too much for the thought to bring her down.

Pointing for emphasis, Theresa yelled, "You are grounded as soon as you get back in this body because I am not…grounding…myself…" She trailed off, realizing how odd the words sounded. Throwing up her hands in frustration, she began pacing the room. "Alexandra Margarita Russo, you promised you wouldn't do magic while your grandmother's visiting!"

When in doubt, go for the full name use. Very effective, Alex thought, feeling her heart speed up like it usually did when she was first in trouble. But she got over it since this time she had an excuse. "But Mom, I know you're mad, just hear me out! This is the only way you can enjoy the quince-noma you always wanted! And then if you're mad, punish me, it's okay." Alex was banking on the guess that her mother would be so overwhelmed for her Quinceanera that she'd forget all about punishment.

Theresa let out an exasperated sigh. "It's quinceanera!"

For a second Alex thought her plan had backfired, but then her mother turned around and looked in the mirror. "Oh my gosh, I love this dress, I'm so pink and puffy! I'm fifteen again!"

"That's right, Mom! You're fifteen again!" Alex paused at that. "Oh, I'm sorry…"

Much to Alex's surprise, Theresa replied, "Don't be sorry! This is fantastic! I'm having a Quinceanera…you think we can pull this off?"

"Trust me, it would not be the first time I got away with magic," Alex scoffed, picking at her now-long manicure, forgetting for the moment that she was talking to her mother. When Theresa turned around and raised an eyebrow, Alex quickly said, "I mean it would totally be the first time."

--

Theresa chose to ignore that and went back to the mirror. "This is amazing! You know, when I was fifteen I was so upset that we couldn't afford a Quinceanera. I sulked through my whole fifteenth birthday even though my parents had given me a small party for me and my friends in the backyard. I wish I could go back and tell myself that everything will work out…" she paused, then glanced back at Alex. "That does not give you permission to cast a time travel spell."

"Eh, don't worry about it. We haven't even learned long-range time travel yet," Alex answered, getting up to stand next to her mother. "And I highly doubt thirty seconds would do anything for fifteen-year-old you…hey, you know what, I look pretty good." She titled her head, looking at herself wearing the formerly repulsive dress. "I mean, it was totally too girly when I wore it, but you can pull it off."

"You do realize that this is the same body, right?" Theresa asked, still looking in the mirror. She grabbed the tulle veil from a nearby table and began reapplying it to her hair. "Anyway, you do know that this is just a one-time thing, right? Don't think this means that from now on you can use magic whenever it suits you, because your father…" She stopped fixing the veil as her eyes widened. "Oh, your father. Jerry is not going to be happy about this."

Alex waved a dismissive hand. "Please, he's so upset over me 'becoming a woman' and all that he'll barely notice. And if he says you're acting too mature, just…say you're 'embracing your womanhood' or something like that."

Raising an eyebrow, Theresa replied, "You came up with that a little too fast, Alex."

"I know, it's a talent," Alex said, grinning.

"Very funny. I don't know, on one hand I know you weren't supposed to do this, but on the other, it's just so wonderful being fifteen, I just feel…" Theresa hesitated, putting her hands on her hips. "You know, I feel strange. I mean, there's the expected shock of being in your body, but then…there's something else that I can't put my finger on."

Alex was barely listening, trying to stretch the fabric of her blue…note, not pink, thank goodness…dress to make it a little more comfortable. "Hm?"

Thinking Alex was listening, Theresa continued, "I don't know, it's…it's like there's this energy going through my body, like an electric current only…more subtle." Offhandedly, she remarked, "Maybe it's what being a wizard feels like."

Her hand on her dress strap, Alex froze. What did she just say? "Huh…I'm sorry, what?"

'Well, I am in your body, right? It makes sense that I would get your powers," Theresa reasoned, turning away from the mirror to face Alex.

"No no no no no, that doesn't make sense! It makes…no sense! It's a no sense maker!" Alex exclaimed, her heart beginning to pound with panic. And the plan was going so well, she thought. "Y-you…you're not supposed to have my powers! That's not how it worked when I switched bodies with Dad!"

Putting reassuring hands on Alex's shoulders, Theresa said, "Honey, calm down. Maybe it's just a side effect of the spell." She paused as Alex's words sank in. "You really switched places with Jerry? When? Why didn't I notice?"

"It was only for like a half hour and I went shopping," Alex explained in a normal voice. Then it became high-pitched again and exclaimed, "What are we going to do now? I need my powers to reverse the spell! If we don't switch back by sundown we'll be stuck like this for the rest of our lives!"

Theresa crossed her arms. "Alex, whatever happens, panic won't do any…did you just say for the rest of our lives?" When Alex nodded, Theresa began to panic. "You've got to switch us back!"

"But I can't because you have my powers!" Alex repeated. Then she made a concentrated effort to take a few deep breaths. "Okay, you know what, you're right, panic won't get us anywhere. Like you said, maybe you don't even have my powers. Try a spell."

"You want me to cast a spell?" Theresa asked.

The effect was almost comical, since Alex couldn't imagine herself ever saying those words in that manner. "Yeah. Let's try something simple, like… Edgebonoutoosis."

"Edge-what-o you sis?" Theresa asked, not used to pronouncing spells.

Alex sighed. "Edgebonoutoosis. It's the spell to duplicate stuff. I used it a while ago, when…" she trailed off, realizing she'd been about to tell her mother about the very punishable act of duplicating herself. "…when Dad asked us practice it in class. You know, maybe we should stick to make-'em-up spells for now." After thinking for a few seconds, she said, "Okay, repeat after me: Since I care about my daughter, in my hand I want a cup full of water."

Nodding, Theresa held her hands out in a dramatic fashion and chanted, "'Since I care about my daughter, in my hand I want a cup full of water.'" She gasped in surprise when a cup of water appeared in her hand. "Wow! That was amazing! How…wait, what does caring about my daughter have to do with water?"

"It rhymed, and I'm thirsty," Alex said, grabbing the glass from her and taking a long sip.