I've decided that I did want to continue it. Here's the next chapter guys. Hope you like it. :) :) :)
A month had passed and Justin was happily dating Juliet. Juliet wasn't quite as happy, but she was glad she could stay with the Russos. Miranda had moved in with the Russos because she was now dating Harper and Riley was living close-by after telling the Russos that he was an elf anyway. Dean had Justin flash him back to the place he'd moved to. Things were settling down slowly as the family adjusted to not having Alex anymore. Juliet spent most of her time at Alex's grave and at night, she would cry when Justin fell asleep. Mason had found another werewolf to hang out with, though he still lived with the Russos.
The Substation had been reopened so that Theresa and Jerry could support all of the children around them and Juliet and Miranda went to work for Juliet's parents at the Late Nite Bite. Justin worked in the Substation as normal, while Harper earned money from school dealings, like selling different types of cool clothing she makes. They seemed to be getting along a little better than in the beginning when Alex died, but they kept expecting little things from her.
Jerry would expect to see her sitting in her seat between her brothers during Wizard lessons, Justin would be expecting to bail her out of trouble whenever he heard his mother burst out in Spanish. Theresa always expected to see Alex sitting on the couch when she walked in. Max always thought Alex would be there with an answer when he needed to know something and Justin wasn't around. Harper kept expecting to see her at school, as did Miranda. Juliet was always looking forward to seeing Alex on shift in the Substation and was always crushed when she never saw her. Mason always thought Alex would be there to scratch him behind the ears.
It was a normal day a month after Alex's death, so Miranda and Harper went to the park. As they sat under a tree, Harper cuddled into Miranda and Miranda wrapped her arms around the redhead. They sighed and stared up at the clouds together. At that moment, Alex was racing along the corridors of the palace to Hades' throne.
She stopped in front of him and said, "Hades, I've changed my mind. I want to go up and see my family again."
Hades nodded with a smile and waved his hand toward her. As smoke began circling Alex he said, "Remember, if I see you down here again, you have no choice but to stay."
Alex nodded and let the smoke engulf her. The next thing Alex knew, she'd awoken in a closed space. Feeling around, she found that she was in some sort of heart-shaped box. She felt around and found that her favorite pillow, favorite blanket and favorite stuffed animal, Mr. Stripes, were all in the box with her. Alex sighed and began kicking at the box. She raised her hands and shoved against the box. Not getting a reaction, the young wizard started clawing at it. By the time she felt the earth above it give out, her hands were bruised and badly cut. But Alex didn't let this stop her and she began clawing her way up through the dirt. As she dug, Alex kept thinking of her family as motivation.
Miranda pulled away from Harper with a shocked cry. Harper looked at her in worry, wondering if she'd done something wrong during their make-out session. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"It's Alex," Miranda said. "Her essence is back in the world. It's saying that she's alive. She must have gotten out of the Elysian Fields and come back to earth as a ghost. She'll be here in a matter of minutes, I think."
Harper's expression lightened and she pulled Miranda into another kiss, this one even more passionate than the ones before. Harper was extremely happy that she might be able to see her best friend again.
Alex managed to get her hand through the dirt and soon she was inhaling fresh air. She stood and looked around. She saw the inscription on her tombstone and the statue above it and smiled. She began walking home as quickly as possible.
When she made it to the Substation, she opened the door and called out, "Mom! Dad! I'm home!" Theresa and Jerry ran into the main part of the station and cried out in surprise.
Theresa recovered first and said angrily, "You have no right, whoever you are, to come in here and act like our daughter. Alex died a month ago! If you're going to insult us like this then you are no longer welcome at this restaurant."
Alex looked at her in surprise. "No, Mom, it's really me. I was knocked out remember? I was pushed off a building and knocked out when I hit the ground. I think I went into a coma and I'm just now waking up."
Theresa opened her mouth to say something, but saw the girl's eyes flicking down to her boot and Theresa glanced down, seeing the wand. She glared at the girl and pulled both her and Jerry Behind the counter, shutting the hatch to the customers for a moment.
"Alex?" she asked incredulously.
"Hey Mom. Hades told me that I wasn't supposed to be there so I decided to come back."
Theresa embraced her and began speaking rapid fire Spanish as tears slid down her cheeks.
Jerry patted his wife's shoulder and said, "I'll take care of the restaurant. Go tell the rest of the family that our girl is home."
Theresa nodded and led Alex upstairs to the loft. "Everyone!" she called loudly. "Alex is home!"
Harper and Miranda stopped their make-out session and Miranda stood. "So, the ghost has arrived."
Alex's eyebrows furrowed. "Ghost? I'm not a ghost."
"Oh yeah?" Harper said. "Then tell me if this hurts." She punched Alex in the jaw, making the wizard stumble backwards.
"Ow!" Alex squeaked, clutching her cheek and letting a few tears fall from pain. "Harper!" Alex spat out some blood as she slowly stood straight, glaring at her best friend.
Harper turned to Miranda. "Do ghosts have blood?" she inquired softly.
Miranda shook her head and Harper looked at Alex guiltily.
"Damn," Alex mumbled sourly. "I've been alive for ten minutes, and already you guys don't want me here. Shit, I'll go back to dead."
"NO!" Harper lunged forward and engulfed her in a hug.
"You'd better not, little vampire." Miranda added, hugging her as well.
Alex squirmed until they let her go and smiled at them. "So, you two got together? When were you going to tell my corpse?" The two blushed and looked at the floor. Alex hugged them both with a chuckle and said, "Congratulations."
Just then, Justin and Juliet walked through the door, kissing each other steadily. They stopped when they realized who all was in the room and Justin blushed as Juliet ducked her head in embarrassment. Harper and Miranda both felt Alex tense up and looked up in time to see the pain that flashed across her expression before she made it carefully nonchalant. She stepped forward slightly and Juliet caught the movement. Juliet's eyes bugged out and she fainted. Alex ran to her and shook her gently.
Juliet awoke with a groan. "I just had the worst dream ever." She said with her eyes closed. "Alex was standing in the living room as though she hadn't died."
"Open your eyes baby," Juliet's eyes popped open and she stared at the smiling brunette above her.
"A-A-A-A-A-." she stuttered. Alex smirked down at her and waited until Juliet took a deep breath, swallowed and tried again. "A-A-A-Alex?" the vampire finally squeaked.
"That's right, Fangs," Miranda called. "Your girl's back. And Harp here has demonstrated that she is not a ghost."
Alex unconsciously touched her cheek while looking at the blushing Harper. Juliet's eyes widened and she growled at Harper. "You punched her in the jaw?" she snarled.
"It was an accident," Miranda intoned quickly, stepping in front of her girlfriend protectively.
Juliet glared at her for a moment before nodding. She turned back to Alex and grinned with complete joy in her eyes. "Alex, I can't believe your back. Are you ok? How did you get out of the coffin? How did you come back to life?"
Alex looked down at her hands and everyone saw that they were still bleeding from her efforts to get out of the coffin. Juliet's face dropped when she saw the blood and she quickly stepped away. Alex looked up at her and she said, "I forgot to feed yesterday and I have yet to feed today."
Alex nodded and said, "Hades told me that I wasn't supposed to be down in the underworld just yet, and so he gave me a choice between staying in the Fields and coming back up here. I told him I wanted to be with you guys and he put me back into my body. But if I die again, I'm down there for good."
Juliet embraced her, blood or not, and cried into her shirt for a moment. "We missed you, Lexy," she said softly, using the pet name she had for Alex during their relationship.
Alex smiled and hugged her back tightly, only letting go when Justin cleared his throat. He was giving off bad vibes, Alex could feel them soaking through her skin. He obviously wasn't happy that she came back, but he smiled anyway.
"Hey sis," he said, stepping forward.
Alex hissed as he got closer and Justin froze. "Don't come near me." She snarled. "I forgave you but I still hate you for what you did to me."
Justin nodded and backed away from her. "Well, Juliet and I are going-."
"Actually, I'm going to help Alex get her sleeping things from her coffin and get Mason to put the coffin and tombstone in the basement. Come on Alex." Juliet pulled Alex out the door as she called for Mason.
Justin watched them go and shrugged as the rest of his family stared at him. "What?" he asked.
"No offense, J, but you didn't look all that happy when your girlfriend hugged your sister." Miranda said. "You think Alex is going to take her, don't you?"
Justin shrugged and asked, "Can't you see the future? Tell me if she is."
Miranda shook her head and replied, "I can't do that, J. You know I'll mess up the fates if I do."
Justin shrugged again and headed upstairs. The family went about their business. That night, everyone finally got a decent sleep. They hadn't slept right in a month and for the first time in a month no one had nightmares.
Alex sat up in bed, leaning out the window and felt the warm breeze on her skin. She slowly began singing softly under her breath.
"My friends say I'm a fool
to think that you're the one for me.
I guess I'm just a sucker for love.
Cause honestly the truth is
that you know I'm never leavin'
cause you're my Angel sent from above.
Baby you can do no wrong.
My money is yours;
give you a little more because I love you.
With me girl is where you belong.
Just stay right here, I promise my dear,
put nothing above ya.
Oh, oh, oh.
Love me, love me,
say that you love me.
Fool me, fool me,
oh how you do me.
Kiss me, kiss me,
say that you missed me.
Tell me what I wanna hear.
Tell me that you…
Love me, love me,
say that you love me.
Fool me, fool me,
oh how you do me.
Kiss me, kiss me,
say that you missed me
Tell me what I wanna hear.
Tell me that you love me…"
"You have a beautiful voice." Alex looked up startled to see Tina watching her from not too far away.
"Thank you," Alex replied with a smile. "Considering it's sung by a guy with a deeper voice than me, I think I did good. How did you know I was here?"
Tina shrugged. "You're my Guarded, I know everything you do. Even while you were dead I kept tabs on you."
Alex nodded and opened her arms for the smaller girl. Tina ran into them eagerly and hugged her tight; letting a few tears escape onto the t-shirt Alex was wearing to bed.
"I missed you, Lex." Tina murmured softly.
Alex shushed her softly and replied, "I know Tina. I know."
The two sat down on the bed and Tina asked Alex to sing for her again. Alex thought a moment before shrugging. Opening her mouth, she began singing.
"¿Di que sientes
cuándo pienso en ti?
Una y otra vez
cada instante,
Que no estas junto a mi.
Me mundo esta al revez
Camino en un desierto
Cuando tu te vaz.
No se si es un espejismo,
te siento tan real. Bébé.
Quiero volverte a ver.
Para calmar mi sed.
Un dia sin ti es como un año sin ver llover.
Si escapas otra vez
no sobreviviré.
Un dia sin ti es como un año sin ver llover."
Alex smiled at Tina and the two turned when they heard clapping.
"Alex, I didn't know you could sing like that." Harper said happily.
"Yeah, little vampire, you have quite a voice." Miranda added beside her.
Alex grinned. "What are you guys doing up?" she asked curiously.
"We heard you singing through our sleep and woke up to find you." Harper replied in one breath.
Alex nodded and turned to Tina. The Guardian Angel was yawning softly and laying her head on Alex's chest. Alex smiled down at her, picking her up easily.
"Come on," Alex said softly. "Let's get back to bed."
Alex laid Tina on one side of the bed before climbing in beside her. Harper and Miranda went to sleep on Alex's half bed half couch and soon the room was filled with soft snoring. In the morning, Justin summoned the whole family before Alex woke up.
"I know Alex, ok?" he started. "We have to act like we weren't too depressed over her dying or she's going to think we're all weak. Let's just act nonchalant about her death and she'll be happier to know we were doing pretty good."
Everyone eyed him skeptically and suspiciously but went along with the plan. Everyone dispersed and Harper went upstairs to wake up Alex. Alex smiled up at her through bleary eyes and stretched.
"Ok, so, I'm gonna go downstairs and work in the Substation while you do whatever you do."
Harper nodded and left. Alex got dressed and grabbed an apple for breakfast before going down to the Substation and began going to take orders.
Theresa came out as she was getting to the last man and asked, "Alex, Honey what are you doing?"
Alex turned to her after taking the man's order. "I'm getting customer orders so I can make sandwiches." She replied slowly.
"I know, but why?" Theresa continued. "You don't have to work in the Substation anymore. We have a nice system all worked up so that you don't have to do a thing."
Alex looked at her in surprise and murmured, "Oh. Ok then, I'll go see about working with Juliet." Theresa nodded and took over the orders. Alex hung her apron and headed down to the Late Nite Bite where Miranda and Juliet were busy making and taking orders.
"Hey Alex," Juliet called.
"What do you need, little vampire?" Miranda asked as she put ham onto a sandwich."
Alex shrugged. "I was wondering if you guys needed any help with taking orders or making sandwiches."
Miranda and Juliet glanced at each other and shook their heads quickly. "That's alright Lexy, we can handle it." Juliet told her.
Alex's shoulders slumped and she sighed. "Ok." She went back to the Substation and waited for Harper to get home from school.
When the redhead walked through the door, Alex jumped up with a smile. "Hey Harp," she greeted her. "Need any help with homework or something?"
Harper looked at her strangely. "No Alex, I'm fine. I think I can do it on my own."
Harper went down to the basement and Alex looked downcast. She went up to the loft and sat down on the couch. She slowly laid out and sighed again. Justin came down the stairs but Alex didn't even bother paying him any mind because she knew he would be just like the others.
"Hey, Alex," he said with a huge grin.
"Hey," she replied dissatisfied.
He quirked an eyebrow at her but shrugged it off and went on down to the substation. When the family closed up the Substation, everyone came in and began talking excitedly about their day. Alex just stayed on the couch, reading a magazine while her family chattered around her. When Theresa began making dinner, Alex looked up and opened her mouth to ask if she could help, but Juliet and Harper were already at her mother's side. Alex sighed and headed upstairs, not coming down to eat when her mother called everyone for dinner.
That night, Juliet was sitting up in bed, looking out the window, when Justin came up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and began placing gentle kisses along her neck, nipping slightly before each one. Juliet moaned and put her head a bit further to the side to allow him more access. Justin slid his hands up her sides and laid her back in bed. As the two kissed passionately, Juliet thought briefly of Alex in the next room over and hoped that she was asleep.
In Alex's room, Miranda was asleep on the floor with Harper wrapped around her, but Alex was wide-awake staring out the window. She was just lying down for bed when she heard Juliet moan. Her senses had somehow been heightened once she died and undied. She heard the rustle of clothing and a soft thump. She slowly laid down and tried to ignore the sounds from her brother's room. The effort was futile, so the young wizardess slipped out of bed in her partially naked state and went down to the loft. She sat on the couch and curled up in a ball.
"I shouldn't have chosen to come back." She sniffed. "She's still hung up over him." Alex glanced around and sighed. "Plus they're all much better off without me. I don't want to die yet, so I'll just go off on my own for awhile."
Sighing again, Alex went upstairs to her room and began writing. She left the note tacked onto the refrigerator and slipped silently out of the house. An hour later, Miranda woke up with a scream. Everyone rushed inside and saw her looking around frantically.
"Where's Alex?" she asked almost hysterically. Everyone began searching the house and Theresa came across the note on the refrigerator. She called the rest of the family into the living room. Everyone sat down or leaned against something as she began reading.
"Dear everyone, I guess it was a bad idea for me to come back after all. You guys were getting along just fine without me. I don't want to mess up your pattern by coming back, so I left. I don't want to die again just yet, so I've decided to live out on the streets of New York. See you around. Alex."
Theresa looked up with tears in her eyes and saw everyone staring at her in shock. Juliet was the first one to recover and she slowly stood. "There's nothing else?" she asked in a monotone.
Theresa shook her head and Juliet nodded. She walked up the stairs and everyone heard a door shut. In the next second they heard screaming and objects shattering.
Harper sighed. "Well, she took that well."
Jerry and Theresa began crying as they became aware that they had, once again, lost their only daughter. Miranda, Harper, Mason and Max went outside for a bit before coming back inside, realizing it was still dark. Justin just sat on the couch trying to cover his smug grin. When Miranda saw it, she slapped him across the cheek.
"This is all your fault," she growled. "If you hadn't proposed we acted like we'd been happy before she came back, she would've stayed. Now she's gone again and we're all feeling just as horrible as when she died."
Justin glared up at her while rubbing his cheek. "This isn't my fault!" he snarled.
Miranda returned his glare ten-fold and spat, "Yes it is. I don't care what you say, I'm going after her." Miranda paused. "And I'm taking Fangs with me." She ran up the stairs and knocked on Juliet's door.
"Go away!" Juliet yelled between sobs.
Miranda stared at it for a moment before saying softly, "When you're ready to come find Alex, I'll be waiting. Alright Fangs?"
She heard sniffing through the door and took it as a confirmation, walking down to the basement room she shared with Harper. Lying on the bed, she began tracking Alex's essence and deduced that for now, the undead wizard was alright.
Darn, Alex left again. Don't worry, I'll give it some thought as to if they should find her or if she should come back.