A/N: In memory of Ian Abercrombie, who passed away recently. RIP "Professor Crumbs."

Epilogue

"Juliet!"

"Mason!"

Almost as soon as Gorog was gone, the two older Russo siblings ran to find their respective partners. Alex didn't have to go far, since the thirteenth floor tenants began to stumble downstairs in a confused daze. Mason was one of the first to arrive, and got ambushed by his overjoyed girlfriend. "Alex! What happened? You defeated Gorog?"

"Did you think I wouldn't?" Alex remarked with a sly grin.

"Thank you for saving me. All of us," Mason said, kissing her. "You're a hero."

Delighted Alex replied, "That is my title these days. I like it!"

Meanwhile, Justin went into the lair, then emerged soon after...holding hands with young Juliet. Everyone clapped at the vampire's permanent return. Justin smiled a genuine, happy smile for the first time in months. "Gorog must have lied again," he explained, putting his arm around his girlfriend.

"Yeah, I guess once Gorog was destroyed, I was freed too," Juliet added.

Trailing behind them, Felix remarked, "Yeah, I never want to be evil again. So gross. Anyone else feel like they need a really long shower?" The others all nodded.

Standing off to the side, Max abruptly remembered something. "Oh! Mom and Dad!"

Alex laughed. "Yeah, I guess someone should clue them in. Go ahead Max."

Within minutes Max had sprinted down to the basement and brought up the Russo parents. They were followed by Harper and Zeke. Hugs were given all around as the thirteenth floor residents left to rejoin their own families. "We called Harper and Zeke to tell them to get out of the apartment," Jerry said in response to his kids' questions. "Magical floors disappear once their creator can't maintain them."

Harper nodded. "Yeah I grabbed all our stuff, Alex. Although we do need to buy new beds."

"Who cares?" Alex exclaimed, hugging her best friend. "We're all okay. That's what matters."

That night Justin sat on his teacher's desk in the lair, absentmindedly holding his wand. Everyone had wanted to celebrate with a victory dinner and night out. But that was before they all realized just how exhausted they were. Promising to celebrate another night, everyone went to bed super early after Zeke, Mason and Juliet went home. Left alone, Justin knew he wouldn't be able to sleep, and the lair would be a great place to hide out for a while.

Part of him wished Juliet was there to distract him from troubling thoughts. But, understandably, Juliet had to track her parents down and would be gone for a little while. The Van Heusen parents had been taking care of her in old age, but were undoubtedly worried about her when she agreed to the dark angel's proposal. It was still hard for Justin to believe that he and Juliet could finally be happy after they had been through so much.

Still, Justin couldn't fully appreciate his family's victory. Not when he thought about everything he'd done. And the question of his morality still remained.

"Do I really deserve this?" he whispered quietly, looking at his wand. "What kind of wizard turns evil so easily? Twice?"

"One who's had a rough few years. And needs to give himself a break."

Startled and humiliated, Justin glared at his sister. "I wasn't talking to you."

"Yeah, because muttering crazy stuff to yourself makes you look much better," Alex retorted, sitting on top of the student desk in front of him. Becoming serious, she gave him a concerned glance. "Justin...what's this about? We won! Why are you so upset?"

Justin lowered his eyes. He didn't want to spill his guts to his sister, who would probably use them against him. But it might be nice to have someone else's opinion. "Alex...do you think I'm evil?"

"What? Justin, you were under Gorog's influence, it doesn't count!"

"Doesn't it?" Justin retorted. "It's one thing to do what Gorog tells you because of his control. Alex, what I thought, what I felt...it wasn't the same as everyone else. It was...more. All I could think of was how much I deserved this new power since the Council treated me so unfairly. And then when Gorog attacked my family...I...I..."

Surprised Alex raised an eyebrow. "You what, Justin?"

"I didn't snap out of it right away," Justin answered with disgust. "It didn't register until seconds later...until I convinced myself that you all were more important than Juliet."

Alex didn't reply for a long moment, her eyes also lowered, staring at the floor. "Justin...it's okay." At his incredulous stare, she explained, "Look, we're all a little messed up, aren't we? And I don't really blame you for being angry with the Council. I am too after that joke of a test they pulled on us. But we can't really do anything about it, can we?"

"No, we can't," relieved Justin answered. "But what about..."

Alex shook her head. "Don't think about it too hard. Gorog really did a number on you, bringing Juliet back like that. What you and Juliet have...it's special. I can see why you wouldn't want to give her up, no matter what the cost."

Speechless Justin had no idea how to reply to his sister's unusually kindhearted acceptance. Finally, he sat on the desk next to Alex and hugged her. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." She hugged back and they broke apart, both lost for words. Then Alex grinned. "Hey, wanna steal the big containers of ice cream out of the freezer while Dad's sleeping? That always makes me feel a lot better."

"Sounds good, let's do it."