Disclaimer: I don't own Roswell or Charmed or anything linked to them.
Rating: ADULT
Pairings: Liz/Chris, Piper/Leo, Wyatt/?, Phoebe/Coop, Paige/Henry, Michael/Maria.
Summary: Liz is the twiced-blessed heir to the Murray-Parker coven. When Liz's parents are killed by demons her powers are unbound and Paige is assigned to be her new whitelighter. It is decided that Liz will attend magic school where the next generation resides and sparks between the Parker and Halliwell lineage will ignite.
Chapter Eleven
Three weeks passed by from the night Chris orbed into her room, and things had matured greater between them. Classes were advancing in tasks and skill, but as they did Liz gained more control over her powers, working harder to improve her abilities and testing her boundaries. The mirror was an active part of her day and she felt like a housewife addicted to her soaps; and slightly voyeuristic. Alex had made their TV nights a weekly thing and Liz still pursued Tektra, his whereabouts still unknown. Paige had turned into a great support system, Wyatt a kind spectator of her relationship with Chris, and Patricia was enthused about Liz and Chris being a couple.
Chris had progressively courted Liz with romantic gestures over the past three weeks: the flowers first; then a case of portal potion to see the stars from her room; followed by a telescope; another time he sent her a bookcase with Egyptian hieroglyphics etched into it for her books- after she complained about feeling like she lived in a hotel; a week later her furniture arrived and he took hours out of his time to set it all up in her room- just the way she wanted it; and her most recent gift consisted of buying and setting up a potions lab in her room so she could “explore the science of potion making”, a phrase he had put air quotes around.
Outside of her relationship with Chris and his family, Liz had come to find a place for herself at Magic school. Melissa was a constant source of gossip and well-placed confidence while Jordan proved to be a sweet friend, always walking with her to first hour and making her laugh during their ritual breakfasts. Even Gianna, a Amazon in Coop’s class, had formed a bond with her. Gianna had recently been assigned her partner on a comparative history project and the two had been cautious at first, but when Liz found out that Gianna had a love for Egyptian art, they had made fast friends.
Liz yawned as she sat up in bed and clicked on a nearby lamp. It was early in the morning and Liz’s internal clock estimated at least two hours before classes. Staring at many hanging lamps and desk lamps around her Liz focused her telekinesis and channeled it through her eyes, lighting up her room as bright as daylight. Dressing was a fast task and then Liz washed up in one of the school bathrooms.
Hurrying back to her room, Liz took out her mirror and situated herself on her bed. Placing her fingertip on the mirror, Liz whispered Maria’s name.
“Look Michael I’m not in love with him, alright! I just can’t sit around waiting for you to wake up and see that I’m more than a sometimes girlfriend. I want affection and closeness and I want to feel as if I am somewhat important to you. Billy was a bump on the road, a friend and someone to feel good with; I dropped him and came clean. Why? Because I’m in love with you and I made a mistake, just like you have. Or have you forgotten Courtney your slutty skin defect. I know you had sex with her. I saw. Did you ever tell me? No. Did I ever mention it? No. Why? Because I believed she was a bump on your road and I honestly thought that you loved me back and it was a moment of-”
Michael cut her off, “The difference between me and Courtney is that it was a one time thing. With you and Billy it was, what, a month?” The scorn in his voice was a defense and Liz knew it.
“One or a million- you still did the same thing. And another difference? I came clean. And another? We weren’t even an official together couple, we had some unspoken thing going on, and to be honest you never clarified our relationship since the last time you left me high and dry.” Maria had tears streaming down her face and was throwing her hands around in the agitated manner she took to when she was on the verge of a breakdown.
“So it’s my fault you fucked Billy for over a month?” Michael barked.
“No! I’m not saying it’s your fault. I’m saying that I love you, Michael. I just don’t think you love me the same.” Liz watched as Maria collapsed on Michael’s sofa.
“If I didn’t love you I wouldn’t have bought this.” Michael yanked at his Meta Chem jacket and threw the velvet, black box on the sofa next to Maria. Liz’s eyes misted a bit, and she watched avidly as Maria picked the box up with trembling hands; then heard the click as the ring box opened.
“Michael.” The gasp was full of shock and awe and regret.
“I’m in love with you, Maria Deluca. You frustrate me. You make me insecure. You cheated on me and I still feel it. You make me angry. You make me human, Maria. I stayed here on Earth to be with you.” Michael was down on one knee in front of Maria, prying her hand open, removing the ring from her fist, and slipping it on her finger. “I can forget what you did with Billy; I can forgive what this last month has been like. Marry me.”
The vulnerability shining in both their eyes had Liz praying one of them would say something. Finally, Maria spoke up; pulling Michael onto the couch.
“I’m am so sorry. I was stupid and Billy means nothing to me. And I’m willing to forgive the Courtney thing too. Michael? Will you marry me?” Liz cheered when Michael shut them both up with a passionate kiss.
Moving on from the touching, if not ridiculously dramatic, scene; Liz touched the glass and said Isabel’s name. Isabel had been the only one who hadn’t changed much over the last three weeks. The grief wasn’t ebbing as it should have with normal people; Isabel seemed to be clinging on to Alex with an inhuman grip.
“Max, I want to leave.” Isabel’s strong, Ice bitch tone had Liz brightening, hoping she had found some kind of back bone or solace.
“Isabel you know the rules. We stay together. Me, you, Michael, and Tess. We can’t leave.” Max was rocking baby Zan in his arms- cuddling him close to his neck.
“Liz left. Kyle left. Michael has Maria. You have Tess and baby Zan. I have nothing here. Mom and dad don’t know what to do with me since you moved into this hell hole with Tess, and I’m not content becoming some never-was nobody working as a local waitress.” The venomous side of Isabel had Max’s face growing cold. Zan began crying and Max was unable to soothe him, his ire too strong.
“Give him here.” Isabel snapped. Max passed Zan to Isabel and an immediate transformation overcame the two: Isabel was doting and Zan was adorably, giggly.
“What about Zan? You just going to abandon your nephew?” Max tried.
“I’m not his mother, Max. I’m his aunt and me leaving isn’t going to effect that.” Isabel said, her icy anger a soft whisper.
“You can’t leave. I won’t let you. We’ve already had this discussion. Go to community college. Find a job at the bank or something.” Max blew off her concerns and Liz rolled her eyes and mentally accosted his stupidity.
“I don’t want to stay here. You aren’t my king anymore, Max. We are on Earth now. You want us to be normal, what’s more normal than college?” In a sweeping motion, Max took Zan back and placed Zan in his crib at the other end of the room.
“You listen to me. I have given up a lot to be king; to follow my destiny.” Max spewed bitterly. “It was you and Michael who refused me my relationship with Liz, then pushed me to Tess. That eventually worked out when Liz cheated on me with Kyle, but that resulted in my accepting that heartless, alien, bitch into my bed and heart. I was then betrayed again and royally FUCKED when she murdered and killed Alex.
“My ignorance to that nearly cost me all contact with Liz, and then Tess left the planet carrying my baby. Mom and Dad put me through hell and back and only when I left the house to live in this “hell hole” did they back off. You and Michael give me shit for being in charge and demanding- wake the hell up and realize you got exactly what you wanted and now you don’t want it! I have Tess? Joy me, a malicious, inhuman whore lays in the next room from me every night and I live with the knowledge that she killed one of our best friends, and I can’t do anything about it. My life’s a piece of cake. And now you want to walk out on me?” By now Max’s tone was dangerous.
“You want to leave so bad? Get the fuck out! But don’t you ever talk to me again. I won’t be able to handle another self-absorbed whiner without loyalty.” Isabel was in tears now and Liz wanted to smack Max. He may have it tough, but he had done some bad things even before Tess killed Alex and Isabel had always stood by him. He wasn’t even considering her feelings.
“I-” Cascading tears choked Isabel’s throat and Liz wanted to be there, to comfort her. Running out of the apartment, Liz following her progress. The cemetery wasn’t far and Liz knew that was where she was headed. Nothing seemed to be going right for Isabel and Liz knew that even with all the bad karma she had amassed, Isabel didn’t deserve the hand she was being dealt.
Falling, gracelessly, onto the ground before Alex’s grave, Isabel sobbed outright and mumbled nonsense at the soil and ripped at the grass. Liz’s eyes widened when she caught the phrase “with you” and “love” muttered in Isabel’s crazed ravings. Gasping in horror, Liz reached out to Isabel in the glass and a sudden sucking sensation had Liz screaming out in surprise as she fell.
Liz landed with a thud four feet to the grassy field of grave plots. Isabel’s hysterics were interrupted with by her coughing gasp. In a moment, Liz rolled to her side groaning. The fall had been a solid hit and the pinched feeling of being pulled through the mirror was uncomfortable and harsh.
“Liz?” Tremulous hands helped Liz to her feet and Liz noticed her shirt was covered by the dirt on Isabel’s hands.
“Hi Isabel.” After saying the words, Liz realized how normal it sounded and wanted to laugh at how odd it was.
“Where did you come from? What just happened?” The tears were still breaking from Isabel’s eyes, but she had a steady hold on her voice.
“That’s a long explanation.” Liz met Isabel’s eyes and then decided she would have to confide in the other girl. Isabel seemed to have lost weight and gained a disregard for makeup and a pension for sweats. “Let’s go to the Crashdown.”
The walk was about half a mile and they made it their in about ten minutes, neither really speaking. When they entered, the Crash was bustling with activity and some of the new waitresses were bobbing in and out of the back room. Tara, a newbie, greeted them at the door and Liz explained who she was and that she wanted a table. They were seated right away and given the customary menus. Isabel tried to abstain, but Liz rebuked that answer and ordered a double on her own order, with a bottle of Tabasco sauce, and thanked Tara- dismissing her.
“You’re a mess.” Liz stated, giving Isabel the once over.
“So says Perfect Parker.” Isabel sneered.
“So says your friend.” Liz replied. Isabel shrunk down in the booth at Liz’s statement and Tara arrived with the Tabasco and drinks.
“How did you get here Liz?” Isabel asked again, not meeting her eyes.
“Let’s not talk about that yet.” Liz put off. They waited till their food arrived and when Isabel fell on her food ravenously, Liz was proud of her insistence.
“I know you haven’t been handling things well, Isabel.” Making conversation was hard and Liz was still muddling through how she was going to get through the freak show that was her life.
“Well, Dr. Parker, try having the love of your life die, brother turn into and ego-centric jerk, and best friend become a total stranger; then we can have a tête-à-tête about how well I’ve handled things.” Liz tried to ignore the bit to Isabel’s words, but the blond was making it more difficult to feel sympathy for her.
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too.” Her admission had Liz back on track and finishing out her meal in silence. Both girls sat quiet once the plates had been whisked away and Liz offered for them to go upstairs to the apartment and Isabel readily agreed.
Liz used the spare key to get in and then locked the door behind them, leading the way into the living room.
“Is it weird being here?” Isabel asked as they sat down.
“Yeah. I mean I lived here my whole life and then suddenly it’s not home anymore.” Melancholy settled around them, but Liz shook it off. “How I got here is a bigger explanation than answering just that.”
“So spell it out for me.”
“I’m going to tell you something that you can’t tell anyone: not Max or Michael. You can’t even whisper it to Alex’s gravestone.” Liz knew it was overly dramatic of her, but had to know Isabel wouldn’t say anything.
“You know my biggest secret, I think it’s save to say your secret’s safe with me.” Isabel rolled her eyes at Liz.
“Fine.” Liz launched into her heritage, her parents death, her powers, and then Magic school after a brief hesitation. Isabel asked for a demonstration and Liz moved a few DVDs back and forth on the shelf before continuing her tale. The enwrapped expression mixed with sympathy and then kindness and surprise when Liz mentioned her relationship to Chris. Throughout the recount, Liz never mentioned Alex- unsure how he would feel about it.
“So you are a witch?” Isabel had to reiterate.
“Well a witch/alien hybrid mix.” Liz said, moving her hands in a “kind of”, “sort of” manner.
“And I thought reborn alien princess as a weird title.” Liz laughed out loud, Isabel joining in.
“I think they need to remove normal from the English dictionary because I don’t think that anymore is normal, anymore. I mean when Little Lizzie Parker turns out to be a gawk-worthy sight, the world has gone nuts.” Isabel laughed again and Liz enjoyed the fact she had done that for her. “I am sorry about your parents though.”
The sobering comment had Liz nodding and smiling out of appreciation and mechanism. “It is something I’m learning to accept.”
“God this Magic school place sounds awesome. But I guess anywhere that isn’t Roswell would be amazing.” The pang of desire in Isabel’s tone brought back Max’s words from earlier and Liz’s reason for being there.
“I’ll be right back.” Liz excused herself to her room and called out to Paige.
Her white-lighter appeared and Liz cut off Paige’s confused triad. “Listen, I was working with the Mirror of Fate and things got out of hand and I was not sure how to get back.”
“I’ll take you.” Paige reached out for her, but Liz jumped back.
“Not yet. I came here to help someone. Her name is Isabel Evans. She’s one of the aliens that I have been friends with for a few years now and…she’s really lost, Paige. Alex’s death practically killed her and now she’s suffocating in this town, under Max’s control. I can’t do anything for her. But…Maybe you can?” Liz whispered the last, pleading for Isabel’s sake.
“She doesn’t even know me, Liz. I’m your white-lighter. I’m supposed to help you.” Paige was already shaking her head and Liz was getting desperate.
“I told her, everything except Alex. She was digging into the ground, into his grave. Isabel has lost herself, and she’s an innocent- alien, or not. I can’t walk away from her.” Liz begged.
“Everything? Liz what did I tell you about keeping this a secret? What do you expect me to do for her?” Paige questioned, exasperated.
“Help her. I don’t know. Maybe she could come stay with me? I know she’s not “magic” magic, but she’s got powers. Isabel was DIGGING into his GRAVE.” Liz stressed.
“I have to talk to the Elders. No one is permitted to enter Magic school without their permission first. But Liz if she’s a danger to herself she could be to others.” The thought had crossed her mind and then been quickly dismissed.
“I can help her, Paige. I know it. Isabel has a heart of gold when you give her the chance to warm it. Please. I will go with you, I’ll beg on her behalf. You and your sisters fought for me to have an opportunity to make a difference and be a witch; to protect innocents; to care about the greater good- is that not what I’m doing right now?”
“I’m going, I’m going.” Paige sheeshed and orbed out.
Liz returned to the living room and Isabel was flipping through the TV stations, eyes still worried.
“I’m back.”
“For how long?” Isabel said, eyes diverting from the Starz movie channel.
“What?”
“I mean you came back because you were upset for me, and by accident, but you have to go to school and stay there, right?” Something in Isabel’s question pleaded for her to say no, that she could stay as long as she needed, but Liz knew that was a fallacy.
“I’m not sure. I’m working on that.” The answer was less than satisfactory, but both girls nodded in silence agreement before tuning out reality to watch “A Walk to Remember”.
By the end of the movie, Liz and Isabel sported sad smiles, and Liz’s thoughts wandered to all the sweet gestures Chris had went out of his way to make. Glancing at Isabel, Liz acknowledged the absence of love, and happiness in her life. Paige just had to get the Elders to agree- Liz would take care of Max.
Swirling orbs heralded Paige’s arrival, and Liz felt Isabel tense beside her. “It’s alright, this is my white-lighter, Paige.” Liz said.
“Hi.” Paige gave an unsure wave and meager smile.
“Hello.” Isabel had slipped into her Ice Princess routine.
“What did they say?” Liz asked, eager.
“If they allow her entrance, Isabel would be your responsibility, and as she doesn’t have the powers you, or the students are gifted with- she would have to have something to do during the day. Possibly be a teacher’s assistant.” Paige informed Liz and when Liz broke into a dazzling smile and exclaimed in excitement while hugging a confused Isabel; Paige laughed at the genuine gratitude.
“What’s going on?” Isabel said, squeezing Liz back slightly; attempting to return the affection.
“Isabel, you have been so unhappy here; and Alex would never want you to live the way you are now. I’ll take care of Max, but…How would you like to stay with me at Magic school?” The enthusiasm became contagious and soon Isabel was nodding, and though happiness and excitement didn’t light her up as it had Liz, the shift from desperate and destructive turned to willingness and hope.
“How exactly are you going to handle Max? You aren’t even supposed to be here.” That was the question Liz had been dreading.
“I’m not sure. I’ll figure something out. For now let’s figure out what you are going to say to your parents.” Together, Liz; Paige; and Isabel fashioned the story that Isabel had been accepted as an intern for a university as an activity planner on the East Coast, and that while she loved her parents very much this was an opportunity she would hate to give up. They made a fake email address, and Liz went into the workroom downstairs to type up a fake letter from the administrative office of Lockland University in Ellsworth, Maine.
“Mom will love it; she’s always wanted to travel the US.” Isabel smiled dimly and Liz smiled back brightly.
“Liz you have to get back for classes. Isabel, I’m sorry, but until you have everything squared away I can’t do anything for you.” Isabel received the other woman’s pity with an icy façade, and abrupt nod.
“I’ll be fine.” Isabel stated, voice strong.
“I promise to come back tomorrow and talk to Max, and then we can square everything away, okay?” Isabel nodded, her eyes gentling a touch when Liz hugged her and told her she was welcome to stay in her room, and order anything from the diner for free- Liz threw out that she would call Jose and tell him to watch for anything Isabel ordered. Isabel tried to resist, but Liz shook her head and said she was going to do it whether Isabel decided to, or not. With one last hug, Paige and Liz orbed away leaving Isabel to rationalize where her life was going, and the options now afforded her.
Author's Note:Thank you to all who reviewed- they all just made my day. I always thought there should have been more depth to Isabel's relationship with Liz. And to oOIceBubblesOo who made the joking suggestion that Michael and Isabel sudden appear at Magic school- I laughed when I read your review because I already had this chapter written and the fact that you guessed part of it was ironic. I hope everyone enjoyed the update. Let me know what you think. EK!
