Satan's Betrothed
Takes place after "Haunted" but only by a few weeks.
Summary: Suze finds out her parents made a deal with Paul's aunt and uncle and she's betrothed to him!
Rating: PG-13 for language, and possibly violence.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone you recognize. I do own Martha and Wyatt Slater.
NOTE: I was reading a Harry Potter fanfic and someone had the whole 'betrothed' idea, so I'm borrowing that aspect of it and adding my own twists and turns. One that will be appearing at the end of this chapter...
Suze's POV:
"I'm home! Mom, I saw your car, why are you here so early?" I yelled, slamming the front door behind me. Mom never got home from the news station before 5, and it was only just 3:30.
"Susie, I'm in the kitchen. We need to talk!" Mom called. Confused, I went in the kitchen, hoping this wouldn't take too long because I was due to meet Jesse in my room for a little K&R- Kiss and Relaxation. And hopefully, I wouldn't tell him the wacked up things Paul had done that day.
"Hey Mom, what's up?" I asked, grabbing a small green apple and biting into it. I pulled myself up onto the counter and swung my legs.
Mom looked frazzled. "Sweetie, I have some good news and some bad news." Uh oh. The last time she said that, I gained a stepfather and three stepbrothers- but lost my New York life.
"Ok." I said around a mouthful of apple. "Spill."
"Susie, I'm not sure how to say this..." Mom took a deep breath. "Do you remember Martha and Wyatt Slater?" I nodded. They'd been friends of my parent's when I was little, but had drifted apart. The last name didn't scare me- surely, Slater was a fairly common last name? "Well, before your father died, the four of us sat down and did a very silly, old fashioned thing."
I nodded, to show I was still listening, and took another bite of my apple.
"Well, Martha and Wyatt were estatic that they were getting custody of little Paul- you remember, Paul, don't you sweetie?- when his parents divorced. They wanted to show the court that they could properly provide for him, and when we sat down, Wyatt and your father decided that it would a good idea to secure a wife for Paul- oh dear, Susie, are you alright?"
I had begun to choke on my apple at the mention of Paul's name. "I'm f- fine, Mom. Water, please?" I sputtered as Mom brought me a glass of water. I drank thirstily.
"Mom, we're talking the Paul Slater who ruined the house, right?" With the help of my ghostly boyfriend, I didn't add. Mom nodded. "But last summer, he was with his parents. And now he lives with his grandfather!"
"Sweetie, let me explain." Mom took a deep breath. "Martha and Wyatt passed away, and Paul's father recieved custody of him after proving that he had become sober for 5 years, and was out of rehab. His father had already remarried as well, and had a small son. That's why Paul is now with his parents and grandfather."
"Ok. Now what's this 'secure a wife' business?" I asked, clutching the glass of water and apple. I was afraid to take another bite or drink.
Mom looked guilty. "Susie, I know you don't get along with Paul, after the party business, but I'm afraid there's nothing we can do. The contract is iron-clad."
"Contract?!" I screeched.
"Upon your 18th birthday, you and Paul will be married." Mom said. Without warning, the glass slipped from my hands, followed quickly by the half- eaten apple. I sat in shock.
My 18th birthday was in a year and a half. "What?" I choked out. "No. No, I won't do it! I refuse to marry that- that- el bastardo!" I swore in Spanish, something I blame Jesse for. Mom looked shocked, but it could have been either from my swearing, or what language it was in. I jumped down from the counter, avoided the broken glass, and raced to my room, slamming the door behind me.
I threw myself onto my bed, not bothering to look around the room to see if Jesse was present as I usually do. I burst into tears against my pillow, crying until I felt myself drop off into sleep. I was close to sleep when someone knocked on my door.
"Suze? You wanna come down for dinner?" It was Andy, using a very kind voice. I got up and opened the door. "Yeah, I'm coming." I choked out.
Andy looked at me symathetically, and said, "I heard about your upcoming marriage." He said. This only made me break down harder. If I'd been thinking clearly, I probably wouldn't have started sobbing on Andy's shirtfront. He hugged me and said, "Suze, you can stay up here for dinner, if you want. You're probably not too happy with your mother right now, huh?"
I shook my head and thanked him. A few minutes later, Doc appeared with a tray holding a plate of Andy's homemade lasanga, garlic bread, and diet coke to drink. I nodded at him and picked at the delicious food.
"Querida?"
Dammit. Should have known Jesse'd show up eventually. Or maybe he was here all along, and I just didn't see him. I turned to the window seat, and said, "Hey Jesse. You been there the whole time?" I asked, keeping my tone light and breezy. "Sorry if I didn't see you, I got a lot of stuff on my mind."
Jesse smiled at me, and I wanted to rip my own heart out and throw it against the wall. "Susannah, are you alright? You came in, quite upset today. Did something happen at school? And what did your stepfather mean by 'upcoming marriage'?" Jesse asked, moving next to me and wrapping an arm around me.
"School was fine. I mean, Paul was being a cryptic little freak, but it all makes sense now." I sighed, remembering how Paul had started humming "Here Comes The Bride" every time I walked past him. Taking a deep breath, I said, "There's no easy way to say this."
And then I lost my nerve. "Yes, Susannah?" Jesse prompted me, drawing my downcast face up by the chin with his finger.
"WhenIwaslittle,mymommadeadealwithPaul'srealativesandnowheandIarebetrothed." I said in a rush.
Jesse started laughing, and said, "Querida, will you ever learn to speak slowly?"
"This isn't funny, Jesse!" I yelled, jumping off my bed and crossing the room. "I just found out that my parents made a deal with Paul's aunt and uncle when he and I were babies, and now I'm supposed to marry him the day I turn 18! Pardon me if I speak a little fast!"
Jesse looked murderous. No, he looked beyond murderous. Words couldn't describe the hatred radiating off of him. He stood, attempted to pull me into him and dry my tears because I was crying again, but I wrenched myself free and took refuge on the roof.
I heard a thud while I was out on the roof, but I assumed it was Spike or something. When the sun had gone down, I returned to my room to see Jesse lying on the floor beside my bed on his back, apparently asleep. The steady rise and fall of his chest was comforting, and I wanted to curl up next-
Wait a minute.
Steady rise and fall of his chest?!
"Christ on a cracker!" I said frantically. I dropped to my knees next to Jesse and pressed my ear up against his chest, over his heart.
Which was beating unnaturally fast for someone who was dead.
"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God..." I repeated until the words had lost all meaning. "Jesse! Jesse, wake up!" I shook him until Jesse awoke, mumbling, "Querida? Susannah?"
I just back on my feet, in disbelief. How the bloody hell did Jesse become alive?
Takes place after "Haunted" but only by a few weeks.
Summary: Suze finds out her parents made a deal with Paul's aunt and uncle and she's betrothed to him!
Rating: PG-13 for language, and possibly violence.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone you recognize. I do own Martha and Wyatt Slater.
NOTE: I was reading a Harry Potter fanfic and someone had the whole 'betrothed' idea, so I'm borrowing that aspect of it and adding my own twists and turns. One that will be appearing at the end of this chapter...
Suze's POV:
"I'm home! Mom, I saw your car, why are you here so early?" I yelled, slamming the front door behind me. Mom never got home from the news station before 5, and it was only just 3:30.
"Susie, I'm in the kitchen. We need to talk!" Mom called. Confused, I went in the kitchen, hoping this wouldn't take too long because I was due to meet Jesse in my room for a little K&R- Kiss and Relaxation. And hopefully, I wouldn't tell him the wacked up things Paul had done that day.
"Hey Mom, what's up?" I asked, grabbing a small green apple and biting into it. I pulled myself up onto the counter and swung my legs.
Mom looked frazzled. "Sweetie, I have some good news and some bad news." Uh oh. The last time she said that, I gained a stepfather and three stepbrothers- but lost my New York life.
"Ok." I said around a mouthful of apple. "Spill."
"Susie, I'm not sure how to say this..." Mom took a deep breath. "Do you remember Martha and Wyatt Slater?" I nodded. They'd been friends of my parent's when I was little, but had drifted apart. The last name didn't scare me- surely, Slater was a fairly common last name? "Well, before your father died, the four of us sat down and did a very silly, old fashioned thing."
I nodded, to show I was still listening, and took another bite of my apple.
"Well, Martha and Wyatt were estatic that they were getting custody of little Paul- you remember, Paul, don't you sweetie?- when his parents divorced. They wanted to show the court that they could properly provide for him, and when we sat down, Wyatt and your father decided that it would a good idea to secure a wife for Paul- oh dear, Susie, are you alright?"
I had begun to choke on my apple at the mention of Paul's name. "I'm f- fine, Mom. Water, please?" I sputtered as Mom brought me a glass of water. I drank thirstily.
"Mom, we're talking the Paul Slater who ruined the house, right?" With the help of my ghostly boyfriend, I didn't add. Mom nodded. "But last summer, he was with his parents. And now he lives with his grandfather!"
"Sweetie, let me explain." Mom took a deep breath. "Martha and Wyatt passed away, and Paul's father recieved custody of him after proving that he had become sober for 5 years, and was out of rehab. His father had already remarried as well, and had a small son. That's why Paul is now with his parents and grandfather."
"Ok. Now what's this 'secure a wife' business?" I asked, clutching the glass of water and apple. I was afraid to take another bite or drink.
Mom looked guilty. "Susie, I know you don't get along with Paul, after the party business, but I'm afraid there's nothing we can do. The contract is iron-clad."
"Contract?!" I screeched.
"Upon your 18th birthday, you and Paul will be married." Mom said. Without warning, the glass slipped from my hands, followed quickly by the half- eaten apple. I sat in shock.
My 18th birthday was in a year and a half. "What?" I choked out. "No. No, I won't do it! I refuse to marry that- that- el bastardo!" I swore in Spanish, something I blame Jesse for. Mom looked shocked, but it could have been either from my swearing, or what language it was in. I jumped down from the counter, avoided the broken glass, and raced to my room, slamming the door behind me.
I threw myself onto my bed, not bothering to look around the room to see if Jesse was present as I usually do. I burst into tears against my pillow, crying until I felt myself drop off into sleep. I was close to sleep when someone knocked on my door.
"Suze? You wanna come down for dinner?" It was Andy, using a very kind voice. I got up and opened the door. "Yeah, I'm coming." I choked out.
Andy looked at me symathetically, and said, "I heard about your upcoming marriage." He said. This only made me break down harder. If I'd been thinking clearly, I probably wouldn't have started sobbing on Andy's shirtfront. He hugged me and said, "Suze, you can stay up here for dinner, if you want. You're probably not too happy with your mother right now, huh?"
I shook my head and thanked him. A few minutes later, Doc appeared with a tray holding a plate of Andy's homemade lasanga, garlic bread, and diet coke to drink. I nodded at him and picked at the delicious food.
"Querida?"
Dammit. Should have known Jesse'd show up eventually. Or maybe he was here all along, and I just didn't see him. I turned to the window seat, and said, "Hey Jesse. You been there the whole time?" I asked, keeping my tone light and breezy. "Sorry if I didn't see you, I got a lot of stuff on my mind."
Jesse smiled at me, and I wanted to rip my own heart out and throw it against the wall. "Susannah, are you alright? You came in, quite upset today. Did something happen at school? And what did your stepfather mean by 'upcoming marriage'?" Jesse asked, moving next to me and wrapping an arm around me.
"School was fine. I mean, Paul was being a cryptic little freak, but it all makes sense now." I sighed, remembering how Paul had started humming "Here Comes The Bride" every time I walked past him. Taking a deep breath, I said, "There's no easy way to say this."
And then I lost my nerve. "Yes, Susannah?" Jesse prompted me, drawing my downcast face up by the chin with his finger.
"WhenIwaslittle,mymommadeadealwithPaul'srealativesandnowheandIarebetrothed." I said in a rush.
Jesse started laughing, and said, "Querida, will you ever learn to speak slowly?"
"This isn't funny, Jesse!" I yelled, jumping off my bed and crossing the room. "I just found out that my parents made a deal with Paul's aunt and uncle when he and I were babies, and now I'm supposed to marry him the day I turn 18! Pardon me if I speak a little fast!"
Jesse looked murderous. No, he looked beyond murderous. Words couldn't describe the hatred radiating off of him. He stood, attempted to pull me into him and dry my tears because I was crying again, but I wrenched myself free and took refuge on the roof.
I heard a thud while I was out on the roof, but I assumed it was Spike or something. When the sun had gone down, I returned to my room to see Jesse lying on the floor beside my bed on his back, apparently asleep. The steady rise and fall of his chest was comforting, and I wanted to curl up next-
Wait a minute.
Steady rise and fall of his chest?!
"Christ on a cracker!" I said frantically. I dropped to my knees next to Jesse and pressed my ear up against his chest, over his heart.
Which was beating unnaturally fast for someone who was dead.
"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God..." I repeated until the words had lost all meaning. "Jesse! Jesse, wake up!" I shook him until Jesse awoke, mumbling, "Querida? Susannah?"
I just back on my feet, in disbelief. How the bloody hell did Jesse become alive?