I don't own anything.

Persistent Dreams

After explaining to J.R why the shop was in such a mess, they went back to cleaning, hoping to finish by noon. Alex just wanted to finish as soon as possible so she wouldn't be late for her date with Riley. Besides looking forward to her date, she was enjoying watching Justin clean.

I bet he's wishing he was back in his room right about now, hehe.

Just as she was about to start cleaning again, she sees Harper coming in.

"Hey Alex." Harper said in her usual cheerful voice. "Hey Harper." Alex said continuing to mop the floor. "So are you excited about your big date?" Harper asked. "Yeah, I can't wait. That's why I want to get this cleaning over with." Alex said tired. They just started a couple of minutes ago and she was already tired of it. Before they knew it, they were sitting talking about Alex's date and what she was going to wear.

Justin saw this and came over. He cleared his throat to get their attention. "Alex what are you doing?" Justin said with his arms crossed. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm taking a break." Alex said going back to her conversation, but couldn't because Harper was staring at Justin with love sick eyes. "Alex, we all need to help clean up." Justin said grabbing her arm, making her stand up. "Justin quit your whining. I wasn't complaining last night when we were cleaning in the dark." Alex said getting her arm back. Justin gave her a look. "Ok maybe I was, but that's not the point!"

"Alex do what he says, we're almost done anyway." An emotionless voice said. They all looked to the person behind Justin with surprise. When did he get here?

Alex and Justin stared at J.R frozen in place, not being able to say anything. It was going to take some time to get use to having a person like J.R around. Alex sighed and grabbed the mop. "Alright let's get this over with." She started to clean the floor again. Justin and J.R left to there places.

"Alex, who is that?" Harper asked looking at J.R who was cleaning the kitchen. "That's J.R, the guy I told you about." Alex said mopping. "The guy you took to the hospital." Harper said still staring. Alex nodded. Harper kept on staring with a fixed gazed.

"I don't know why, but… there is something about him that feels very strange." Harper said rubbing her arms; she felt a chill run up her spine. "You feel it too huh." Alex said also looking at J.R. "And his eyes, there…there so empty. They give me the creeps."

While J.R was cleaning the kitchen, he was thinking about what Theresa told him earlier. When he did all the research for time traveling, he didn't go through all the specifics. He only read it for a short time. Afterwards the Museum then John happened; he didn't have time to go through all of it. He barely skimmed it. Also, the book didn't mention all the side effects the present would have. All the damage that was done to the city was because of his time traveling. When he went through the portal he expected to land on the water, but didn't. Why did he appear on Waverly Place? He wondered what other side effects the spell had on the present.

Damn it! He wished he still had the Macuros.

He'll have to keep his eyes open for any strange things. He looked at the three young wizards from the kitchen.

Well, the strange things that are from my part anyway. J.R thought with a small smile.

When they finally finished getting everything cleaned up, which Alex was thankful for, they opened the shop. There weren't that many costumers, but for a good reason. They were either fixing their own homes or attending injured family members.

Just as Justin planned, J.R's cooking was a big hit with their few costumers. To say the least, they were impressed. Alex had never seen someone order the same order three times in a row.

"No need to thank me." Justin said behind the cash register with his hands in the air like he was being cheered on.

"Oh don't worry, I won't." Alex said standing next to him.

"Would it kill you to thank me once in awhile?" Justin asked.

He was surprised when she hugged him. "Thank you." Alex said sincerely. She was thanking him for making their dad let J.R stay. She knew Justin wanted to help J.R as much as she did even if he didn't show it.

Justin smiled and hugged her back with one arm.

It was around eight when they closed. Alex was the first one to go to get ready for her date. She was supposed to meet Riley at the movies at 8:30. Right before she left Jerry and her had the 'date talk' which Alex felt very uncomfortable with.

"So, what are we going to eat?" Max asked sitting in the couch next to Justin who was watching T.V. "Since J.R has been cooking all day, I'll be making dinner." Theresa said going to the kitchen. "Oh that's bunk. I really wanted to eat J.R's food."

"Can you believe how many orders we had with just a few costumers?!" Jerry said as he came from downstairs. "Imagine how much more business we're going to have once we have the normal amount of costumers back." Jerry said very excited.

"I can't believe how fast J.R learned the name's of the sandwiches, let alone make them." Theresa said. "I know, we only showed him the recipes once, yet he made them like he has been doing it his whole life." Jerry said.

"Maybe he has photographic memory." Justin said with his eyes glued on the screen.

"You mean he has a camera on his head?!" Max asked very…Max-like.

"No Max, it means he can remember things just by looking at them for a couple of seconds." Jerry explained.

"Speaking of J.R, where is he?" Justin asked looking at Jerry. "He's still downstairs, finishing closing."

When J.R was done locking the door, he went near the stairs to make sure no one would come down. He turned off the lights and quietly snuck inside the lair.

J.R slowly walked into the middle of the room and closed his eyes. He let his body relax and stood completely still. He let his mind wonder back into the past. He remembered all the enjoyable times he spent in this room when he was younger, the times when he didn't have a care in the world, when he was naïve and oblivious to the world outside his home. All he cared about back then was learning everything he could and be ready for his wizard competition against his siblings. The times his spent with his family before everything happened, these times he would have treasured if he knew what was going to happen. His mind was to absorbed reminiscing about the past; he didn't noticed when his body fell on the small couch and slowly went asleep.

"Justin, what did you do to Jason!?" A 19 year old Alex asked with a lot of anger. Justin stared at Alex with bewilderment. "I don't know what you're talking about." Justin answered calmly. "Oh don't even play that." Alex said narrowing her eyes. Justin stayed silent. "Well!?" Her anger wasn't lighting up. "I just had a small talk with him." That just made her angrier.

"What's your problem anyway?" She said. "You keep treating me like a child."

"Why do you always do this every time I meet a guy that's interested in me?" Justin remained silent.

"What? Are you jealous or something?" Alex asked raising her voice. Justin couldn't take it anymore. "Maybe I am!"

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Justin backed Alex against the wall, staring at her intensively. Alex couldn't move, her body wasn't responding. Her eyes were glued to his. Behind those eyes she could see the familiar storm that she saw every time she looked at his eyes. To anyone else it would blow away, but to her it drew in.

Justin raised his hands and gently held her arms. His face inched closer to hers. She put her hands on his chest trying to push him with little force. She was barely trying.

"Alex" He whispered. Their faces were only a couple of inches apart.

"Justin, we…we ca...can't." Alex said with her eyes half closed. The closer he got the more unsteady her breathing became. All Justin could feel was her breath on his face. He couldn't hold it anymore, he closed whatever space was left and kissed her.

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"Justin, where are you going?" Alex asked.

"I have to go somewhere." Justin said not looking at her. If he turned around and faced her, he knew she would see right through him. Alex stared at the closed door he just walked out with a depressed look on her face. "Why do you have to keep doing everything by yourself?"

J.R slowly opened his eyes and sat up. He must have fallen asleep because he was still inside the lair. He wished he would stop dreaming about her. It was just a reminder that she was just that, a dream.

He needed to get out of here right away. He wasn't supposed to be here. J.R thought things would go a lot smoother if they didn't know he was a wizard.

It was Sunday that meant they wouldn't come down to open the shop until eleven. What time was it now?

He looked at the old fashion clock on the wall, 11:23.

Damn!

He stood up and walked over to the door. He slowly opened it as quietly as possible, enough so he could see. Only Theresa and Jerry were working. Theresa was preparing sandwiches while Jerry was on the register. Alex, Justin and, Max were nowhere to be seen. Well, it was the weekend after all. J.R closed the door as quietly as he opened it.

How was he supposed to get out now? He looked around the room and then remembered something. It was a spell their dad taught them long ago, the ten feet away spell. This place brought back a lot of memories back. Alex would have loved being here again. He shook his head.

He didn't have to say the spell, but he was in nostalgic state at the moment, for all times sake.

"Cashmearus Appearus."

Max and Justin were upstairs on the couch, both with a bored expression on their faces. The moment they woke up Alex told them to wait there, it seemed she had something planned. Whatever it was, it must be good to make her this happy. Speaking of the devil, here she comes.

"Where is he?" Alex asked as she stood in front of them.

"Alex, can you tell us what were doing here?" Justin asked in a dull voice. "I told you guys I would tell you once I find J.R."

"Maybe he went out." Max suggested. Just as Max said that, J.R came through the front door. "There you are." Alex said with excitement. "Now will you tell us what were doing here?" Justin said standing up. Alex smiled. He immediately didn't like were this was going. "Well I noticed that J.R has only one set of clothes and-" Justin cut her of.

"Oh no, I am not going to the mall with you. Last time I went with you I had to carry thirteen bags." Justin said. "It wasn't that bad." Alex argued. "I had to carry three of them with my mouth!" Alex rolled her eyes. "Quit being such a baby and besides we're going for J.R."

"I don't-" Alex interrupted J.R. "Are you seriously going to tell me you're going to wear those same clothes everyday." Alex said crossing her arms. J.R didn't say anything. "Thought so." She said with a triumphant smile.

"Alright let's go." She said opening the door for them. The three boys looked at each other and sighed, they reluctantly walked out the door.

"And maybe I'll get a few things for myself." Alex said as she closed the door.

"I knew it!"