A/N: Brownie points to whoever catches the Doctor Who ref in this chapter. Also notice two very subtle Jalex hints, one that revolves around the Doctor Who ref and the other takes place during the cab ride.

Also, rejoice! Some actual jalexy moments this chapter! I hope you like it! Also, forgive any weird spelling issues. My keyboard is broken and spews out ooooooo's like they're mating. So anyway, before they take over permanently, let me just say I don't own Wizards of Waverly Place.

Chapter Four:

Thanksgiving passed and Alex spent it with Zeke and Harper. Justin took his annual trip to CowCon, the annual Captain Jim Bob Sherwood convention. Theresa and Jerry went to Puerto Rico and Max was busy studying for finals so the family wouldn't be getting together until Max's graduation.

Alex found her dress for the potluck. The dress was purple with bell sleeves and came to the knee. It had swirling purple and blue bursts all over and blue piping on the collar with tiny rhinestones dancing across the hem. It was a DeLuca, of course, and she'd 'found' it in the design closet at work.

She even bought new shoes for the occasion, a pair of designer boots in 'Deep Russet'. They had cost her a pretty penny. She was going all out for her brother so he'd better appreciate it, she thought as she slipped into her oversized DeLuca peacoat in turquoise plaid. (She loved working at a clothing label. No one noticed if you took something home to 'work on it'.) She rushed out the door, pining her chandelier earrings in as she hailed a cab. It was getting rather chilly, she noted.

She gave the cab driver the address for the Firestone Plaza and sat back, rifling through her purse to see if she'd brought mints. She popped one in and thought how silly she was to go along with this charade. It wasn't like she was really getting much out of this, either. The old Alex might have blackmailed Justin into paying her to take her out and pose as his fake girlfriend but she'd grown up, darn her. She wasn't even getting a chance to make Grady jealous since he wasn't likely to attend a Firestone company function.

The cab pulled up to the front entrance of the Plaza and Alex hurried inside.

"There you are!" Justin said, coming up to her. He leaned in close to speak to her without being overheard. "Thanks so much Alex. I owe you huge time for this."

"Eh, what else am I good for?" she whispered. He laughed quietly. "Can I take your coat?" he asked. She looked good, her hair was curly and hung loose down her back, pinned with a beaded headband. He helped her out of her coat and handed it to the coat-check girl.

Alex looked really good, he noticed when he turned back around. She was stunning in the purple and blue dress. It struck him just how grown up the two of them were now. She was definitely not his silly little sister anymore.

He blushed at the thoughts he was having and shook his head to clear them. Alex gave him a curious glance.

"You look...you ah, look good Alex," he said, swallowing nervously. She beamed.

"Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself." He was dressed in a deep red shirt and black vest. He looked rather dashing. She could see what girls had seen in her brother; despite the teasing to the contrary, he was quite the ladies man.

"Shall we go in?" Alex nodded and took Justin's offered arm. Inside the ballroom it was decorated up in cheesy but expensive looking Thanksgiving themed decorations. There was a big table set up with food. Justin whispered he'd bought a pie from Mama Joy Bakery and told them all Alex had made it and she laughed, thinking of her own dismal cooking skills.

There was an open bar in the corner of the spacious room and a DJ playing Christmas music near the back. There were absolutely dozens of people milling around, chatting and some were eating at the round tables set up around the room. The tables were doffed up in cream linen tablecloths with red runners on each and a cutesy horn-o-plenty as a centerpiece.

"Justin!" He turned, spotting Fred and his wife approaching them. "You remember Maisie?" he asked.

"Great to see you, as always," Justin said. Maisie hugged Justin and turned to Alex.

"I'm so excited for you Justin! Fred told me all about your engagement! Is this your fiance?" Justin glanced from Alex to Maisie for a second before letting out a quick cough and grasping Alex's hand.

"Uh, yes, this is my fiance Alex. Alex, this is Fred Bayer and his wife Maisie." Alex felt a tingle in her palm where Justin's hand touched hers but she ignored it and nodded to the couple.

"Nice to meet you," she said.

"Tell us how you met!" Fred pressed. "You were supposed to give me the details over lunch, you!" He gave Justin a playful shoulder punch. "Maisie was dying to know everything once she found out."

"Uh..." Justin stammered, looking at Alex and wondering why they hadn't gotten together once in the entire week before to go over those kinds of details.

"We've known each other forever," Alex lied smoothly. "We're old family friends. But we decided to go out on a date one night a month ago and it just seemed to click for us and now here we are." She smiled and squeezed Justin's hand. "It's like we were meant to be." She gave him a look full of fake adoration that unsettled Justin. His stomach clenched and he felt vaguely ill.

"Yes, that's right," he added. "I didn't say anything before this because I didn't want to spoil anything that was happening uh...between us."

"Well it's just so romantic," Maisie gushed. "I love a good romantic story." Alex excused herself to get them drinks. Her stomach was feeling odd and she found Maisie's perfume a bit strong.

"Gin and tonic and a Sonic Screwdriver," she told the bartender. He handed her the drinks and she clutched the cold glasses and made her way back to Justin. Fred and his wife had moved on but there was another couple in their place. Alex handed Justin his drink and he looked oddly at her before taking it.

She tried to keep up with remembering everyone's names but there were so many. After a while, Justin led Alex to a table where Zeke and Harper were sitting.

"How's it going?" Harper asked.

"Ugh, there are so many names to remember," Alex complained.

"Well you're doing awesome," Justin said. "Thank you so freaking much, you have no idea."

"At least you have a break now," Harper consoled her friend.

"Want me to get you a plate?" Justin asked. Alex nodded.

"I'll get yours too, honey," Zeke stood up and left with Justin. Alex sighed and sipped her gin and tonic, playing with the tiny straw in her drink.

"I think I'm not feeling good," Alex said. "My stomach feels all weird and wobbly. And I feel clammy."

"You look alright," Harper said. "When did you start feeling sick?"

"When Justin grabbed my hand. I started feeling all dizzy and weird."

"Hmm. Maybe you're just really nervous," Harper suggested. She leaned in and squeezed her best friend's hand. "Just relax. It'll be over soon." She sat back and sipped at her martini and hoped deeply that Alex's symptoms weren't a sign of a far more problematic sickness.

Justin and Zeke returned with plates piled high with food. The four of them ate and chatted amiably about work and life in general. Harper complained that her parents had stopped returning her phone calls and Zeke made them all laugh at a joke he'd heard from his buddies in IT.

Just when Justin thought he might have made it through the party unscathed, his boss showed up at their table.

"Russo!" he cried. "Just the man I was looking for! I was hoping to meet your fiance. I've heard so many great things about her from everyone here." He held his hand out to Alex and she took it, giving it a firm shake, sizing his boss up. He was a dignified looking man with silvery streaks in his dark hair and pleasant crinkles in the corners of each eye. He was dressed immaculately in a three-piece suit. It reminded Alex of an old-fashioned banker.

"I'm Jim Dawson," he introduced himself. He smiled brightly at her and seemed to be sizing her up as well.

"I'm Alex. Uh..." she hadn't thought about the last name thing.

"Beakerman," Zeke interjected. "She's my cousin. That's how we all knew each other."

"Yes, I'm a...Beakerman," Alex nodded. "Zeke's my...cousin. Yup."

"Tell me about yourself," Mr. Dawson pressed. "Justin hasn't said a word to us at the office. He's kept you all to himself!"

"Uh..." Alex cast about trying to decide what to share. "I work for DeLuca as a fashion designer," she said. "I design young adult clothing."

"Does your family live here?"

"Yeah, I have a mom and dad who own a...shop and my brother is in graduate school at Columbia. I grew up right near Justin. In fact, Harper here and I were best friends and Justin and Zeke were friends so we all hung out together a lot," she smiled.

"So you've known my boy longer than I have," Mr. Dawson looked delighted with her. "You must have known he would grow up to be a remarkable man."

"Something like that," Alex said with a cheerful grin, trying to hide her laughter. "He is...something all right."

"Enchanting," Mr. Dawson said. "I'm so happy for you and Russo. Justin here has been like a son to me these last ten years. He's been invaluable to me both in the office and as a friend. I was worried he might not find anyone before I retired and I'm glad he found you," he said to Alex. "You're just the sort of girl for someone like him. Someone fun and spontaneous to bring him out of his workaholic shell."

Alex barely managed to contain her laughter at his comments but continued to smile and nod along.

"So when's the wedding?" Mr. Dawson asked, leaning in towards Justin.

"Uh...next year," he said.

"New Years," Alex added.

"So soon? Well I guess when you've known each other for as long as you have, it makes sense not to wait any longer."

"Nuh, no wait...uh..." Justin stammered, trying to stop Mr. Dawson's mistake.

"Where are you having it? You know what, don't you even worry about that. Let me go make a phone call!" He turned, hurrying off and left Justin and Alex staring at each other, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

"Okay, remain calm. The important thing is don't panic," Justin said. "Just because he thinks our 'wedding' is going to be on New Years Day doesn't mean anything!" Alex looked nervous.

"Do you really think so? You know your boss, how bad is this?" Justin paled.

"Bad. This is bad. This is very, very 'we-should-have-quit-while-ahead' bad." They sat at the table, wondering what to do and whether to make a break for it when Mr. Dawson got back.

"Great news Russo! I have just gotten off the phone with my sister Marissa. She found an opening at the Gardens on New Years Eve," he said, referring to the largest of the Firestone Hotels. "You wouldn't mind pushing the date up by a day, I'm sure, since you're so eager to get hitched. Now, don't even bother to protest. It's not going to change my mind. It's not too much to do for the man who's been like a son to me. It's the least I can do before I retire. I'd like to see the new Director of Advertising married before I jet off to retirement!"

"D-d-director?" Justin stammered. He gulped.

"Yes. I can see now that I was mistaken to assume you aren't family-minded. Now that you're getting married, you'll be perfect to head up Firestone advertising. You're a brilliant man but I was worried you didn't have the family-mindset we need. Now I can go to retirement knowing I'm making the right decision. Consider this my parting gift. I'm paying for everything. Not going to change my mind on this Russo. Not one little bit!"

"Oh. Great," Justin said. He tugged at his collar and looked helplessly at Alex.

"And I've gotten Marissa to agree to do the planning. She's famous, you know," he chuckled. "Lucky for you she just had a last minute cancellation and her next event isn't until February so she's free to do this for you. It's all coming together splendidly!"

"Mr. Dawson I have to tell you something. You see..." Justin sputtered out. He wasn't going to put Alex through this now, no matter how badly he wanted a promotion. No need to drag her through the whole ordeal just to get him what he wanted.

"We're so thrilled and humbled by your generosity," Alex said, cutting Justin off. "It means the world to Justin, I know. And I'm honored you think so highly of me."

Justin shot Alex a Look, trying to silently ask her what the WizTech she was doing but she took his hand in hers, giving it a squeeze. Mr. Dawson was so excited about the turn of events he gave everyone at the table a hug before setting off to find his wife.

"Are you crazy?" Justin demanded as soon as his boss was out of earshot. "We can't go through with this for a multitude of reasons, starting with we're not really engaged and ending with you're my sister!" he hissed. Alex looked calmly at him and shrugged.

"We'll have to think of another way out. But this is too important to you to give up on now. I know you, I know you wouldn't ask me to help unless it was a matter of urgency."

"Alex..." Justin sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"You'll think of something," Harper tried to assure them. "Both of you are great at fixing up weird situations. Somehow you always pull through."

"Yeah, and I'm sure Mr. Dawson won't really be paying for the whole wedding, will he?" Zeke asked.

"We're doomed." Justin put his head down on the table, feeling helpless.

"Can I be your best man?"

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