This is one long ass chapter lol. Enjoy! I'm soo happy to be posting these chapters finally. I've had a lot of breaks from this story, going at a slow pace. I have chapters up to 50 done on my computer. I'm editing them currently and posting as I go on. So the story Ive started on 2010 will finally conclude soon enough *bow down* I know it's a little dead on the wowp side, show being dead and all, but I hope my readers who originally started reading back in 2010 some magical day remember this fic and decide to come over and read it to the end. Anyway I will be posting shortly again! Cheers xoxo

Juliet twirled her wedding ring vigorously between her thumb and her forefinger. She moved the square diamond back and forth on her fingertips. She couldn't help but glance down at it for the briefest of seconds. So beautiful. She hadn't even realized she'd slipped it off her ring finger, but now that she had her entire hand felt bare without it, like it was naked.

Her husband was so kind, so loving, always had been- Now every moment she was with him it felt like such a struggle.

They were actually home- the home she thought she would have abandoned for good. Things were awkward for both of them when he opened the door and let her in. Thankfully Emma didn't comprehend what was going on with her parents. She simply ran to her room excited to get her dolls out and play with her daddy. She watched them play for awhile from the doorframe and smiled. If anything was genuine it was his love for his daughter. But then- the phone rang and the way his posture changed and his lips tightened she knew exactly who it was or who it was about. Alex.

He looked up at the sound of her clearing her throat. She was leaning against the door and hoped the steely gaze would be a clear message. It was time for him to prove himself to her.

Part of her, that oh so tiny piece, wanted to cut him a little slack, that part softened her, but only for a split second of time.

Justin quickly ended the call and they put their daughter to sleep.

"I guess I'll take the guest room."

She looked at him coldly, "Why would you do that? You are my husband aren't you?"

So they slept next to each other, not even toes touching.

Juliet sipped her water and watched the pool on their yard glisten, not wanting to dwell on what had happened and what Alex had said, but it haunted her. Haunted her enough to make her change the sheets on her marital bed before even considering sleeping there.

"Do you mind if I join you?"

Juliet looked up and smiled, wide, "Harper." She hurried to hug her and squeezed her gently, "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry."

The red head with a big bruise on her face smiled back and looked at her, "I'm glad to see you too."

"Harper really," She squeezed her hand, "I wouldn't have left if…"

She stared at her, silent and unsure of what to say. What was she supposed to say? Somehow she sensed that anything she said would only make Juliet feel worse. There was no way around it. Harper knew what was going on, sort of, anyway she could understand why it was uncomfortable for her because inside Juliet knew Harper knew, but neither wanted her to know.

Finally, Harper nodded, "We don't need to talk anything you don't want to talk about."

"I don't mind ," she said gently. "We're just. . .trying to sort everything out."

"I'm glad you're helping him through that." She smiled back.

Juliet stared at her amazed by the strength of her, not understanding how someone who had lost a child could be there to sympathize with her, "How are you?"

I—,"She began, and felt her heart break inside her chest, not really sure where to start, "We scattered Maddy's ashes in the garden by the lilies a few days ago, just the two of us."

Her friend looked confused.

"Madison, "Harper explained, "Maddy for short- that was her name. Was since the beginning. I always knew my first daughter would be Madison…I didn't think I wouldn't hold her or smell her, but I knew she was Maddy."

"Harper I'm so sorry," There was anguish in her voice, "I can't even imagine what you and Zeke are going through."

Her eyes were glassy with emotion, "The same afternoon we finally sent in the papers," She expelled a short breath, "For adoption."

Her friend turned to hug her again, "That's great."

"I know, I know I'm just a bit unsure," Harper mumbled, "It hasn't been long since she left us and Zeke really didn't want to wait any longer, neither do I, it's just odd that we are giving her a sibling possibly during this year. She could have been a big sister."

"She is going to be a big sister," Juliet smiled, "No matter what, she was here. You're not replacing her in anyway, I'm sure she would hope to see you happy and whenever you miss her you just think of her when she was in your stomach that's a bond that will never break."

A single tear rolled from her eye and she swallowed her fears, "She can laugh at me and Zeke. I mean imagine the two of us changing diapers." Her lips curled slightly, an attempt to lighten the situation.

"That's unfortunately part of the deal." Juliet laughed, thinking back at the times Emma was a newborn.

They stared at the glistening pool, this time together, seeking serenity. Harper didn't have to look at her twice to tell she hadn't slept well.

"Is Emma with Justin?"

"Yeah,uh they went to see Max," Her smiled disappeared, "He wants to try if she can reinforce his process of waking up somehow. I told him it's no use. Emma's not- She isn't like them. Of course he wouldn't listen."

Harper had noticed it before, but never quite as clearly as in that moment, that Juliet carried with her the same sadness that she had seen in Alex. It was remarkable. How two women who were at their core very different people, and who had taken different paths in life, could end up in the same place. And because of the same man.

"Maybe… but it doesn't hurt to try," She tried to be neutral in her opinions, "You need to remember that Justin loves you no matter what."

She chuckled softly and shook her head, "I don't know about that."

"Juliet…" Harper sighed, "It's Justin and Alex- they're… dysfunctional. You own his heart, you have Emma together."

She never pushed her to talk or do things when she wasn't ready, but this was a subject she needed someone else's opinion on. Someone who knew what she was talking about.

"I'm sorry." She continued hesitantly, "I should have warned you."

Juliet eyed her suspiciously, "About what?"

"Alex," She gave her a weak smile, "I knew when she came back that she didn't have good intentions. It has been complicated for a long time with her. You never know what's on her mind, but I do believe right now she is genuine… I talked to her and even though she is at a weird place in her life she doesn't seem so… selfish."

"I don't believe that for one second. Alex is obsessed with Justin. It has always been odd and disturbing. You don't think I haven't noticed over the years the way she looks at him and touches him. It makes my blood boil. That is why I will make sure she is out of our lives for good and this madness can end."

"You will push him away if you control him too much."

"I'm not going to be a fool again." She held up her hands fiercely.

"Then stop acting as though Alex owns him. You need to take clear stance and be his wife. You are his wife Juliet. Don't let him forget that. Support him."

"Harper… People will talk."

"Let them." She said simply, shrugging her shoulders.

"I don't want people to think that they're… I don't know. What am I supposed to say," Juliet shook her head, "Everybody knows who we are. This whole kidnapping fiasco is one thing, but imagine people finding out what happened. My own husband went for comfort to his little sister."

And there it is. Out in the open.

"But that's what it exactly is- comfort."

Her breath caught in her throat, "I feel like I'm losing myself."

"You're not," Harper gently squeezed her hands, "You just need to stop thinking about them like that. They are siblings, nothing more, end of discussion. You have to believe in Justin. He won't let her swallow him into a rabbit hole."

"Why do I feel like she already has?"

"...and den, and den, I painted with grandma." Justin couldn't help but smile down at his four year old's enthusiastic retelling of spending time with his mom earlier, despite the night from hell he'd just had. "That's great sweetie! I can't wait to see your picture. I'm so glad you had fun, I told you that you would huh?"

"Uh huh!" Emma agreed clutching his hand tightly, "Daddy where is auntie Alex?"

"Auntie Alex is busy hun." He sputtered stupidly, "You'll see her when the time is right."

He hadn't reached her when he tried to call earlier which made him sick with worry. The worry has always been there when Alex goes out of his radar for a long period of time. She once told him, long time ago when they were teenagers walking from school that she would die for him out of nowhere. She insisted that he was her brother. The part, hers, sticking out from that sentence thickly. That life would be colorless without her brother. Justin had scowled her to shut up with the nonsense because it wasn't a joke in his book. She went on to repeat what she had said. Announced without embarrassment that she couldn't live without him because he was truthfully the only person she knew would never fail her. He laughed her off and told her to remind him someday.

Today he didn't want to be reminded.

She frowned sadly, "I miss her much."

"I know me too."

He could spend hours watching her, and nearly felt like he had. Juliet reminded him constantly that he should take advantage of the time she slept with a nap of his own, but he just couldn't tear his eyes away from her face.

"Hi." Her voice was soft from the doorway.

His expression turned dark, not ready to face her after what happened exactly two weeks ago.

"Juliet let me in," She stared at him with a hard glint through her glossy eyes, "Is she sleeping?"

"Yeah." He returned to Emma's peaceful face, but was too agitated to pretend everything was okay, "Alex I don't know what to say anymore."

She walked further into the room to stand beside him and peek a look at the gorgeous little girl wrapped in a pink blanket, "She is perfect."

Alex grinned at her brother as she ran her hand over the soft, downy hair of Emma's head.

"Alex…"

"Let's not."

It always bothered her. That he seemed to know, and wouldn't say it. That he so determinately dodged her actions and questions. She had kissed him openly, told him how he was like toxic to her, but he didn't run away scared. He wasn't disgusted. He probably figured she was herself scared, and confused maybe. She was just looking for comfort because of the changes. He did the silence treatment first, and then the lecture- she would listen and then cross another line and it all would restart next time.

"We need to Alex." His face was hard, his voice crumbled, "It has happened twice already. It isn't right."

Alex came closer to him, "Can I hold her, please?" She was trying to fend off the onslaught of emotion that was taking her over, "You trust me don't you?"

It was more than a question about permission to hold his child.

Justin was caught between a rock and a hard place. He could choose to ignore everything and let this be or stop this before everything got out of the hand in the future.

He handed Emma to her. Everything ached. Every fiber inside of him, but it won't change the fact that she is Alex. He can't turn his back on her, not even after what she has started.

"Hi there…" Smiling somewhat weakly at her niece, she slowly rocked the baby, Emma's eyes looking up curiously at her,"Hi baby girl."

She's the strongest of them, always has been and it made him jealous because he can't fathom what this is. He can't push it aside like her and be normal about it. He felt the need to address it every time, but it did no good.

"She…she's really here…" The expression of amazement and disbelief on her face, Alex couldn't move a muscle. It hit her finally, that the change would happen and she would be the sister seen on holidays and birthdays. She wouldn't be the sister he just chilled out with every weekend doing nothing and laughed until his stomach hurt. It wasn't the same anymore.

The sight of Alex holding his daughter close, the daughter who was not in his plans, but who was there now living, breathing, innocent and counting on him it broke him. How was he supposed to do that when he couldn't even protect his little sister from himself?

Looking up from Emma, she smiled at him, noticing the way that he was staring at the two of them.

"It will still be us," Justin said it so naturally it surprised even himself, he didn't know he was sealing his faith deciding he didn't want to live without her, "You know that."

She took a deep breath. "I know that."

"You have to pinky promise that I see auntie Alex soon daddy!" She was staring up at him outside of Max's hospital room where they currently stood.

It caught him off guard, this little girl was the same baby Alex had been holding years ago, but the memory was so vivid in his mind it felt like yesterday.

He kneeled in front of her and smiled, "Of course princess, I promise."

They hooked their pinkies together and he kissed both her cheeks. They entered the room Jerry already waiting there impatiently by Max's side.

"Grandpa!" Emma squealed and ran to his lap. He hugged her tight and told her how pretty she looked like she always did, the little princess of the family. She went to her uncle and hugged him too the best way she could with Jerry's help. Justin meanwhile couldn't tear his eyes away from his little brother who laid there peacefully while the machines beeped around them.

"How do we do this?" Justin asked his father quietly.

He casted a furtive glance around them to make sure the door was closed so nobody couldn't hear them, "I've spoken with Kelbo, everyone- they all have tried to do their part by casting spells for him to wake up, but nobody has felt a connection to Max enough to get inside his head and actually wake him. It's like there is a wall in front of him and nobody can get through it. Kelbo thinks it's the trauma. That's why Max's own powers are going wild. He could have pulled himself out of this long time ago, but it's like he is blocking himself."

His father's explanation made a lot of sense and Justin nodded, "So because Emma is closest thing to him who may have abilities she could get him out of this."

"Justin she has abilities- it's in her genes," Jerry paused, "Besides Alex told me she saw her move objects without actually doing anything. So it's proof enough that she is magical."

He stared at him. His jaw might have been even be a little bit open, "When did she tell you that?"

"Way before the accident," He explained, "But beside the point. What's important is that we get her to try. The fact that she has moved something like it was nothing makes me think she has stronger feel for magic than we ever would have expected."

"Let's hope that for Max's sake."

They both looked at the little girl and swallowed nervously.

Alex finally gasped awake, but not fast enough to keep her from stumbling to the edge of the bed, clinging to the sheets around her. Her eyes darted back and forth, searching for familiar shadows. Her mind cleared, she realized her surroundings were unfamiliar. Her mind reeled. Where the hell was she and what the hell was going on?

Shit. She had no idea of where she was. The fog lifted and the brain engaged.

She pushed the sheets away, and looked at herself confused; somebody had dressed her in silk pajama top and shorts. Her head pounded from the booze, her arms bruised probably from stumbling the night before. Trouble. She was definitely in trouble. Alex looked around. The big king size bed was in the middle of the room with everything surrounding it white, modern touch showing through the decorating. The windows were big and as she peeked outside she realized she was not in the city anymore. There were big trees surrounding the house and her mind wasn't ready to process. She didn't want to think too much about life right now. She's alone, again, and the thought made her heart hurt and she found that it was hard to swallow the lump that formed in her throat. The tears ended up pooling in her eyes, threatening to spill over. She could call him, tell him she needs him, beg him, plead him to come and get her.

Then she heard a voice, someone walking outside the room coming closer and closer to the door. Not knowing who or where she was, she clutched to the sheet she had discarded earlier and covered herself while looking for something to protect herself with. Before she knew it the door had flown open and he stood there staring at her.

"Well hello sleeping beauty."

"What are you doing here?" Alex asked in a tiny little voice,"What am I doing here?"

Dylan smiled wryly at her, "Apparently your brother ditched your sorry ass and so yes, I drove two hours to get you out of trouble. You could have woken up in jail so you're welcome."

"Shut up!" She suddenly shouted at him, "Shut up! You had no right! you fucking asshole! It's awful at home already and now I'm middle of fucking nowhere!"

He rolled his eyes exaggeratedly, and turned to address her like he was addressing a child. "God look who woke up on the wrong side of the bed," he said, enunciating each syllable as if he didn't think she'd understand otherwise, "If you can't handle your liquor don't drink."

She swallowed, but she didn't say anything. She just looked desperate, like she'd abandoned all hope.

"We're alone here, you don't need to worry about anybody intruding, and that's always been a problem with you if I remember correctly. Other women, though I still think it's quit pathetic considering how we met-"

"Stay away from me," Alex spat, "I'm gonna leave now."

He looked annoyed, "You realize how stupid you're acting right now? You don't even know where you are hun."

Pissed at him, at the situation Alex pushed him away with force, "What do you think you're doing?"

"I did this to help you out! You're the one who is pathetic with this cry for help. Little Alex didn't get her big brothers attention so she got pissed, seriously." Dylan Fired back at her, "It just seems real fucking sad that you would pull this stunt off when there is all of these other things going on with your family. Can't handle not having all of the attention? Boo-hoo!"

Alex stood back, at a loss as to what to say next. She didn't even know where to start. There seemed to just be no fucking way to penetrate his thick skull. He had nothing to do with her family, "Where are my clothes?"

Dylan laughed softly, "In the dryer. Don't worry I didn't look when changing you. Not that there is anything new to look at."

"Please just leave me alone," She felt the tears stream across her cheeks, fighting the need to release the pent-up emotions, the exhaustion, the anger, and the feeling of utter helplessness that she had never known before, "I need- I need to get out of here."

He hadn't realized how lost she was. Sure he had firsthand witnessed how she could lose control, but this was more than that. She always held her back proud and straight. Steel in her spine. It was easy to forget that there was more to her than her strong personality. Dylan had thought he didn't need to deal with the Russo's anymore, but this week had proved to be more than uneventful.

"Hey, calm down," His tone was cold, he closed the distance between them not caring about invading her privacy, "I'm going to drive you back soon as you clear that bloody head of yours. They don't want to see this mess- believe me for once."

"Justin doesn't-," Alex said quietly, rubbing her tears away, "I mean they don't know where I am. They'll be worried."

"And now you think about that," The blonde man growled in frustration," Last night before you downed that bottle of vodka you could have stopped to think before doing it, 'hey I should probably be there for my family and stop being selfish' but you didn't Alex and there is a reason for that. Your folks are good people don't go there causing more worry. Be responsible and sort yourself out so this won't happen again! "

A slap across her face would have hurt less than the sting of his verbal anger. She thought when they last time saw each other there was no bad blood left between them. There was a flash of fiery emotion on his face which quickly diminished when he saw the shattered look in her deep brown eyes.

"I do not know who you are angry with Dylan, but why am I being punished?" She spat in response, "I didn't ask for your help! You could have distanced yourself and never came for me!"

They stared at each other for a timeless moment trying to communicate what they couldn't say with words. He drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. He needed to keep his temper very tightly under control. He was tired. He had no idea what else they could possibly want from him. He had very little left.

"I care about you believe it if you want to. I wasn't leaving you behind like Justin did," He'd have to be cautious, very cautious not to say anything wrong, "Listen, I'll make you breakfast and we will drive back to the city okay? I'm done with this shit! we are not eighteen anymore Alex. Let's not behave like it."

Alex took a deep breath. She was definitely upset, more or less confused by all of it, but decided to take a chance, "I'm down if you still make a mean cup of coffee."

They looked at each other and the tension broke. They laughed

"So how did it go?" Theresa basically attacked them when they stepped outside of Max's room, "Did he- Is Max-"

Jerry shook his head, disappointed, "Nothing."

Justin had never seen his mother so shattered. She had probably genuinely believed this would be it. Emma stared at the adults not sure what it was they were so upset about.

Justin rubbed his temples, "Well we tried."

"I don't understand because what Alex told me made think she was really had stronger powers at this point." His dad was struggling with understanding how Max could be so strong and weak at the same time, Emma clearly couldn't reach him so his magic was stopping her, but his body was failing him. He was deep in sleep.

"Mom could you…" Justin said flatly and looked at his daughter, not wanting her to stay there for the conversation.

"Sure," She smiled sadly, taking her hand in hers,"Come on Emma- let's go buy something nice for Uncle Max's room." Emma followed her gladly.

Jerry looked at his phone and sighed gravely, "Where is she? "

"Alex?" His face was unreadable.

"Why is it that somebody disappears in our family constantly," His dad's voice was flat, annoyed, "We really need her here if we want to understand how to guide Emma's strengths towards Max so her powers manifest. She is the only one who has seen how she does it."

"What if she just moved fast?" Justin looked at his dad, mildly quizzical, "It's possible isn't it? Alex could have thought she moved something when in reality she moved so fast to our eyes she just picked it up."

"Juliet," Jerry muttered. Taking a deep breath, "It's possible."

"Because it wouldn't make sense for her to have powers like that without me knowing dad," He was distressed, "It isn't possible for magic to be so controlled at that age right? I mean Alex would break everything made out of glass when she cried at five."

"Yeah I remember that, we lived with plastic tableware for a good year," He chuckled a bit, "You got a point there. It's very much a possibility for Juliet's qualities to be more dominant. You were both still… well your ownself's when she was made so-"

"I get it- I get it." Justin grimaced not wanting to talk about the past. The past five years of his life had been full of ups and downs. Did he think he would get Juliet pregnant and marry her, give his powers away and realize his feelings for his sister during the same year? No. Not really.

"I guess we have to trust the universe to work this out itself."

"Max is strong. He'll wake up dad. We have to let nature take its course."

He managed a smile for his son's sake and shook his head. "I'm sorry. I'm not in much of positive mood at the moment." What his pain must be was not something that Justin could imagine: even imagining it seemed inadequate compared to what the reality would be.

"I'll find her too." Justin hoped his face didn't give away so much. He saw Matt walk in the hallway, "Dad, I need to sort something out. I'll pick Emma up in a couple of hours if that's okay?

"Sure son." He nodded and waved him goodbye.

Justin picked up his pace charging after Matt.

He panted out, mentally reminding himself to pick up jogging again after reaching his friends sleeve, "Hey man."

His arms were crossed, "Dude you have no idea what kind of mess you almost got me into last night," He didn't sound pleased, "I don't like being in the middle of whatever it is."

"I know, I'm sorry about that," Justin said quickly, "Was she bad?"

"Yeah she was. I wouldn't have called if she was only tipsy," He didn't say anything straight away, and there was an unspoken question that kind of hung in the air: Justin wanted to know where she probably was, but Matt knew he wouldn't like the answer, "I mean she had vomit on her shirt, her other shoe was who knows where, her legs and arms were bleeding with scratches. She could only clearly say your name. So yeah I called you and you hang up on me. That's your sister man."

He made pained noise, "I would have been there, but last night with Juliet it was impossible," he said in his serious voice. "Is she alright? I'm sorry if she was a bother really."

"There is a lot going on with your career and family I get it. Don't worry about it."

"Thanks, I'll make this up to you someday," Justin sighed internally, relieved, "Can I have your keys? I figured I'd go pick her up from your apartment-

"Yeah about that…"

Alex grimaced at the smell of bacon and eggs in front of her, holding her mouth as to stop from hurling on the table right there and then.

Dylan observed her face, "Should I go and get the bucket?"

She shook her head determined, "Nope. It's fine."

He gave her a cheeky grin and said through his mouthful, "It's not that bad."

Alex leaned back in her chair, "Say that to me again and I'll punch you," She made a face, "You couldn't cook anything more disgusting and greasy?"

"Best cure to a hangover is a big fat breakfast with double bacon, "He laughed bleakly, changing the subject, "Why did you drink then? I've never seen you that bad. I mean and I saw you in Cancun remember that? Shit what a week that was."

She didn't like the memory, not many memories of their times together were fun and happy. More like dark, sad and plain- well sad.

"I just had a moment." She said flatly, and took a deep breath.

"Fine, don't tell me."

Finally getting the courage to eat as well as figuring out she wouldn't have to talk to him if she was chewing on something she carefully took a big bite from the bacon he had made for her.

Her already pale and unwell face contorted into disgust and it all felt like it would come out NOW.

Dylan jumped up, "Bathroom! Left from the hallway!"

She was one step ahead already barging into the bathroom slumping over the toilet, vomiting profusely, occasionally pausing only to swear. Her stomach flipped million times during and finally after it felt like she had vomited out her guts. She leaned back against the cold tile wall. Her vision got blurry and the room was spinning. Alex closed her eyes for a good minute and then opened them again, her eyes hitting the edge of the bathtub.

She got up, leaning against the wall, looking more closely at what she thought was…

Her heart stopped.

She picked up the very familiar stuffed monkey, little ripped from the right hand and with the collar on its neck with a name tag Chip.

Chip the chimpanzee. The laughter from her little body that had erupted when they had picked it out together with Emma was unforgettable.

She squeezed the toy, anger blinding her vision this time.

She had been there. Fuck. Fucking hell. Juliet Fucking Russo had taken Justin's daughter there and let her bathe in his bathroom.

There was hand on her shoulder, "I can explain."