Title: Nothing Gold Can Stay

Author Name: TrueLoveFan

Rating: PG-13

Warnings for: None (for this chapter)

Notes:

- The title "Nothing Gold Can Stay" comes from the poem by Robert Frost.

Disclaimer:

All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of TrueLoveFan. TrueLoveFan is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Real parents… Real parents… Real parents… Real parents…

The words kept repeating themselves in Alex's head. They were spinning around making her dizzy. "It's true?" She thought. She'd figured it after seeing Fred and Lauren but she'd hoped she was wrong. If she had been wrong about Justin, though, that would have meant they would have been here for Max. Neither option was very appealing in any sense of the word. She closed her eyes hoping that when she opened them Fred and Lauren would be gone and the four other Russo's would be looking at her funny for falling asleep during dinner. No such luck. When she opened her eyes again Fred and Lauren were still there though a bit blurred by the tears in her eyes.

She felt Max's hand in relax in hers when Justin's name escaped her mother's lips and Alex wanted to shout at him, "How dare you be relieved! ", but she knew deep, deep, deep down that just because he was relieved it wasn't him didn't mean he was happy Justin wasn't their brother.

"What-I mean how-I mean-"Justin stumbled over his words and Alex gave his hand a light squeeze.

"One day, a little over sixteen years ago, the magic council contacted us stating that a happy, healthy baby boy wizard had been left at a human adoption agency. They asked us if we would consider caring for the child and as you know you do what the council asks. So we went to the agency and inquired after you. We met you and we fell in love. You were the cutest baby we ever saw. We filled out the foster parent forms right away and brought you home." Theresa's eyes glowed with joy as the memory played in her head.

"Foster parent? Why didn't you just adopt Justin?" Alex asked tilting her head to the side.

"We wanted to, but the magic council wouldn't let us. They said it would interfere with destinies if we did. I even had your uncle try casting a spell for it. The first time he tried it, Justin was our biological child, but that meant Alex was our foster child." That thought only added to the coldness in Alex's stomach. "So he erased that reality and came back here. He tried it again changing the words so all three of you remained our children, but it didn't work. The magic council said it didn't work because the three of you weren't meant to be related." Jerry informed them from his seat.

"What does foster parent mean?" Max asked speaking up for the first time since the doorbell rang.

"It means they are my babysitters. The state pays them money to take care of me. My whole life I have been babysat." Justin told Max with a biting edge to his words. He turned in his seat and glared at the two set of adults. "So, why did you give me up, huh?" He asked his biological parents. He stood up angrily dragging Alex up with him by her hand still clutched in his. He looked down at their hands. He stared. He dropped her hand angrily and stormed out the front doors of the shop.

"Justin!" Theresa shouted. She started after him, but Jerry grabbed her elbow.

"Let him go. We just dropped a huge bomb on him. He'll be back when he's ready." He told her softly.

Justin snuck back into the sub shop in the wee hours. He normally wouldn't have stayed out this late, but he didn't want to chance meeting his, apparently, foster-parents or biological parents. He shut the door softly and headed upstairs to his bedroom. He made sure to step around the creaking floorboards and quietly opened and shut his bedroom door behind him. With a sigh of relief that he hadn't had to face any parents he sat down on his bed. He flopped down on it and was greeted with "Mmphf!" Startled he sat up and flipped his bedside light on.

Alex sat up and swung her legs over the edge of his bed. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She hadn't meant to fall asleep, but the evening had been very tiring and she been crying and she stayed up as late as she could waiting for him to come home. She'd come upstairs as soon as she could get away. She'd known that when he came home, whenever that was, that he'd skip over the parents and head straight to his 'thinking chamber'. So that was where she waited. She was worried about him. It wasn't like him to run.

"Alex? What are you doing in here?" He whispered harshly and she flinched, but did not move toward him or away from him. She didn't take offense in his tone. She knew he was hurting. He had to be. She knew she would be if she found out her parents weren't actually her parents.

"I thought you might want to talk." She interlaced her fingers and placed her joined hands on her knees.

"I don't, Alex. Now go away." He said and opened his door gesturing out of it. She sighed. She wasn't letting him lock everyone out. She was nothing if not stubborn.

"Rant, rave, whatever; Justin, just don't…don't close everyone out. Don't close me out. Please." She pleaded with him. If he didn't get it out he'd keep it bottled up forever and that wasn't healthy…for anyone. She shot him her infamous puppy dog face.

"Alex! Don't do that!" He whined and she increased the pout. He sighed and slowly closed the door. She smiled.