Chapter title and lyrics from Yokan by Heidi.

Chapter 13: Just stay in my heart

"I grabbed your hand tightly

and started running,

without anywhere in mind

Please just stay in my heart,

Because I will always be watching over you…"

One month later

Rhythm. She realized that was what was missing from her life all these years that she spent alone, now that everything was back in rhythm, back in perfect sync with his every move. She had never loved her daily routine more.

5 a.m. Wake up to the sound of Justin calling her name, groan, grumble, curse whoever's name popped into her mind, sneak into her own room, fall asleep again.

7 am. Wake up for real, head down and eat the break fast that he fixed for her, all the while talking to him, and watching him work.

7:30 am. Iron his clothes for the day, because again, she forgot to do it the night before.

8 am. Wake Jonathan up and send him to the bathroom. Groan and whine while Justin watched the morning news.

8:30 am. Wake Amelia up and send her to the bathroom.

9 a.m. fix the kids breakfast.

9:30. Say goodbye to Justin as he heads off for work. Drive the kids to school.

10. a.m. Pick up groceries on the way back, get distracted on the way, and start buying chocolates for self.

11 a.m. Eat the lunch that Justin made for her.

12 pm. work on her art studio.

4 pm. Pick the kids up from school.

5 pm. Be a perfect hypocrite, or in Justin's words, a good mother- lock the kids in separate rooms, take their wands away, and force Amy to do her homework on her own.

6 pm. Call Justin and shout at him for not calling home enough times, even if he called her n times every hour.

7 pm. Start dinner when the kids finally start grunting about how late she always was.

8 pm. Make the kids eat.

9 pm. Sit in front of the couch with a vow that not even apocalypse can move her. Finally move when Justin comes home and fix dinner for him and self. Eat.

Sometime during midnight: sneak into his room and…

Life was perfect. Too perfect.

"I hate my new High school", Amelia grumbled, biting on the sandwich that her mother made for her, which tasted suspiciously similar to her favorite sandwich from the shop two blocks away.

"Why?" Jonathan raised an eyebrow, "Nobody bullies you."

"They better not! But they bully you", She rolled her eyes, deciding that Jonathan's sandwich tasted better than hers, and switching midway, ignoring his protests of how unhygienic this was and how this was becoming a routine. "I don't like defending you. It makes it seem like I actually like you! Ew!"

Jonathan scoffed, glaring at Alex when she tried switching sandwiches with him as well. "No one thinks you like me."

"Good", Amelia mumbled, rolling her eyes again, a habit she picked up from her mother. "If Justin teaches me to teleport, I'll make sure I send you away."

Justin chuckled. "I'm not teaching you then."

Amelia whined, but didn't speak anymore. She just kept stealing secret glances with her mother and Jonathan, waiting for them to signal when the right moment came. Today was the day when they were going to fight for their freedom to walk to school. For Amelia, it meant freedom from her mother's constant teasing and sarcastic comments. For Alex, it meant freedom from doing some useful work and more time to be lazy. She could drive to the grocery with Justin and fool around on the way. For Jonathan, well, let's just go with he didn't have a say in the matter.

"This tastes so good Alex!" Justin commented, taking a big bite off his sandwich.

Alex finally nodded her head at her daughter.

"So….. Justin…. do you mind if we walk to school on our own?" Amelia began, her voice dripping with deceptive amount of sweetness, her eyes fixed straight on his face in a way that made him squirm in fear. "You guys used to walk to school when you were our age. It's only fair we get to do the same!"

"That's because we didn't have a car." Justin reasoned, turning his head to look at Alex, seeing through the plan crystal-clearly, knowing very well that she was the master-mind behind this. "What can possibly be more important than driving the kids to school?"

Alex shrugged. She knew that she'd be making Justin drop her at the grocery on his way to work. A drive with him would be fabulous. But she grinned playfully. "Sleeping?"

"TV!" Amelia added through a mouthful, her words half-coherent.

Justin glared at both of them, until he found Alex glaring back at him, and gulped, wiping his mouth with a tissue, this throat dry with fear of her. "I d-don't think I'll l-let this happen." he stuttered the words out.

The orbs behind her dark eyelashes darkened, and her evil laughter filled his ears. "So cute! You think I can't get something I want!"

"What makes him think I'm asking for his permission?" Alex fumed, pacing from one side of the room to another, while Amelia fumed on the bed. "Like I care about what the fuck he thinks! It's my life, I get to decide!"

"Calm down now", Jonathan tried reasoning. "This is not such a big deal! I don't think it's something you guys should get into a fight about….."

"No one asked your opinion!" Amelia snarled, instantly throwing a pillow in the direction of his face, and bull's eyes! She didn't have to see his stupid face anymore, not that it was covered with the pillow. "Like I give a damn about what the hell you think!" Then she sighed, looking at her mother with puppy-dog eyes. "So… are we giving up the fight?"

"Oh no, we are still winning", Alex replied, her eyes twinkling mischievously as she crossed her arms and instantly got an idea. "You just relax. Leave it all to me."

And the idea was perfect. She stopped sneaking into Justin's room at night, and kept waiting patiently for her plan to play itself out.

On the first night, he ignored it, angry and stubborn himself, not willing to give in to her demands so easily, especially when she was employing unfair means like this to get what she wanted. On the second night, he squirmed and squirmed in his bed, having an irresistible urge to slip into her room and end this, failing to get any sleep in the process. On the third night, he had to take care of himself, and now he was getting more and more desperate for Alex.

"I've gotta admit, your lair's pretty cool!" Amelia gushed, her eyes scanning through the books arranged so neatly on the shelf. What was the name of that book mom once told me about? Forlorn spells? Nah… Forgiveness spells?... pssh, of course not, it's mom…right! Forbidden spells! Where is it?

"Shhhh!" Jonathan scolded, trying to focus on the spell he was trying to get right. "Edgebono utosis", he muttered, multiplying his pen. He grinned at her smugly. "Now I'm 101 spells ahead of you."

She scoffed, joining him on the couch. "So what? It's not like we're gonna have a wizard competition! I'm the only child, I keep my powers. Why should I learn up spells?"

He opened his mouth to begin lecturing on how improper knowledge of spells was dangerous, but she shut him up by covering his mouth with her hand. She grinned sneakily. "Zip it, or I'll tell your dad that we snuck here at midnight."

He tried to protest, but his breath hitched at the feel of her palm on his lips. Gosh! She will turn me crazy!

On the fourth night, Justin couldn't take it anymore, he crawled into her room.

"This is so wrong, Alex!" he growled, slipping into bed beside her, getting angry again when she didn't move or didn't acknowledge his presence, even though he could see it very well that her eyes were open. "What does this have to do with driving the kids to school?" He waited for an answer, but when he got none, he continued ranting. "This is ridiculous! This is so silly, so childish! You are such a fool, you know that? When I suffer, you suffer too. Don't tell me you're not… Alex!" she grinned to herself, loving the sound of desperation growing in his voice. It was like chocolate ice-cream with chocolate cookies and chocolate milk-shake. She had to admit she was suffering too, but like her annoying P.E teacher kept telling her- no pain, no gain! Finally, her victory was announced when he sighed. "What do you want Alex?"

It was hard to keep the smile off her voice, but she managed to sound annoyed. "You know what I want."

He swallowed hard, still wanting to refrain himself from giving in, but finally, ended the fight within himself. "Fine, you get what you want. Now stop this!" he ordered, shaking her arms with force.

She grinned, finally turning around and looking at him, batting her eyelashes, pouting sweetly. "I had no idea you wanted me this bad Justin… Honestly, I thought you'd last a week at least."

He let out a low whine. "You don't need to tease me about this!"

"I know Jonathan knows the road well, but remember if you get lost, or get into any trouble," Justin began repeating his lecture, but Amelia cut him off, "-We'll call 911." she retorted sarcastically.

Justin blinked, "Ummm, I was going to say call me or your mom, but okay…."

"Ugggh!" Alex groaned, shoving Justin out of the house, into his car, getting inside herself, slamming the door in the process, ignoring his panicked gasp. "Okay kids, you can go now. Have fun."

And so they went their separate ways. But this just the beginning of the collision of their paths. If only they knew how twisted the facts of life were, how simple things could lead to things so complicated. This was the moment when the spark for the fire was ignited, a fire that would engulf all their lives soon…..

A/N: Thanks for all the lovely reviews. I hope you liked this chapter. I have the next chapter ready, with jalex and Nathamy (dontcallmesweetie came up with this name). So review up, and I'll post it :D

Off-topic: I was so shocked to hear about the Tsunami in Japan. I'm so sorry for anyone who lost their loved ones! But be strong, and keep your faith in God (whichever religion you belong to). Life has to go on, no matter how hard it seems… My prayers go out to all of you.