Disclaimer: I don't own the Mortal Instruments. Because you know what would happen if I did? MAGNUS AND ALEC WOULDN'T HAVE BROKEN UP! And do you all KNOW what Cassie Clare said responding to a fan tweet? WHAT IS THERE TO RESOLVE? THEY BROKE UP. NO! You do NOT say that they just broke up! Malec is… They can't… OK, I'm gonna try and calm down now, OK? OK. I'm calm. Sorta. I can control my murderous rages. So, I have decided to do one of those "Five Times" thingies, because there aren't enough Malec ones, as far as I know. So, this fic will include the one person every Malec shipper doesn't like: Robert Lightwood. Asshole. But, maybe it's just me. I hate the guy, deeply. OK, so I hope you all like this. Read, review and enjoy.

Alec had decided it was time to take his stuff. He hadn't gone the day Magnus had told him he should. It was his own little petty revenge. Although he wasn't sure WHY he wanted revenge. He had made the mistake, not Magnus. He was the one who betrayed his boyfriend, not Magnus. He felt the silver key in his hand, the familiar outlined ridges of it. This was the key that Magnus had given him after they had watched Heart and Souls. Magnus had shown him the movie because of one of the last lines, the one where Robert Downey Jr. had talked about people he loved going away. Alec had caught Magnus's hand in his own and pressed it to his lips. Alec remembered the way Magnus had smiled at him, as if he was the only thing that mattered. Alec shook himself out of the memories. It was over. There wouldn't be any more movie nights at the apartment, no tiny cat climbing on them to sleep during the most inopportune moments. No more times spent snuggling in the warmth of the brightly colored bedroom, no more reassuring each other after nightmares. No more wild adventures that left them exhausted and slightly annoyed at the friends that dragged them into it, but still happy they were each alive. Alec barely noticed that he had reached Magnus's door until he heard a very familiar voice.

"Alec? What are you doing here?" He had expected those words, but they were coming from the wrong person.

"Dad?" Alec asked, his stomach clenching slightly. Robert was the last person he wanted or needed to see. Not after what had happened. And not here, at Magnus's. "What are YOU doing here?"

"I need to discuss some things with the warlock," Robert said, saying "the warlock" like an insult.

"He has a name," Alec snapped involuntarily. He turned to the door and unlocked it. He was about to enter the apartment (he couldn't call it his anymore, when the apartment's real owner wanted nothing to do with him) when Robert's voice stopped him cold.

"Why do you care?" Alec stopped dead, and turned slowly to face his father.

"What do you mean?" He asked in a low voice. Robert backtracked, although he didn't seem very regretful.

"I only assumed," he said neutrally. "Considering what he did to you?"

"Did to me?" Now Alec was genuinely confused.

"You needn't take it so personally," Robert said. Alec stared at his father. Was he COMFORTING him? "Warlocks, they're all the same. Greedy, vain, cruel, selfish. They aren't human…" Alec cut him off angrily.

"Stop Dad, OK!" He snapped with a wave of his hand. "Not all warlocks are like that." Robert rolled his eyes.

"Oh please," he snorted derisively. "I've been around longer than you have. I know what's good and what's evil."

"Do you?" Alec asked nastily. "Because I'm thinking that, if you did, you wouldn't have joined the Circle and tried to murder hundred upon thousands of Downworlders just because a guy told you to." Robert blanched and his eyes hardened.

"Alexander, you will not…" He began angrily, but Alec cut him off again.

"Yeah, I will!" Alec snapped. "You're so full of bigotry and hatred towards people you don't even know!" Alec knew then that he had said too much, Robert's face was red, the way it only got when he was furious.

"You dare!" He roared. "After all you've done to this family!"

"Me?!" Alec gasped. "I'm not the one who cheated on Mom!"

"Anyone!" Robert continued, as if he had not heard his son. "You could have been with anyone, but you chose a Downworlder! A horrid, damned, evil plague upon the earth! A filthy, disgusting half-breed!"

"Magnus isn't like that! He's the one who helped me when Magnus died, he's the one who understands me!"

"You should have thought of your mother and I! How could you do this to us?" Robert shouted angrily.

"I can date who I want!" Alec yelled back. "I don't care about what you think! I KNOW you can't stand me being gay, or me dating a warlock, but I DON'T CARE!"

"If only you were straight, there wouldn't be this rift in our family!" Robert spat out venomously. Alec reeled back as if his father had struck him. Robert's face paled as he realized what he had said.

"Oh Alexander, I didn't mean…" He trailed off helplessly, and reached out a hand towards his son. Alec flinched violently, and turned.

"I think you should go Dad," he said, his voice soft and hoarse.

"Alec, please, I…"

"GO!" Robert quickly scuttled out as Alec fought for his breath. He felt as if someone had punched him in the gut. This hurt more than the break up, more than even Max's death. His eyes were stinging. He blinked, but he couldn't see; there was thick veil across his vision. His throat hurt as he took a deep breath. He stumbled blindly towards the already open door, hoping that Magnus wasn't there. But the film over his eyes prevented him from seeing, and he didn't realize the doorjamb was occupied until he collided into a very real and very solid form of a slender man. Arms wrapped around him to prevent him from falling, and suddenly, Alec was clinging to him tightly, sobbing as if his heart were breaking, tears soaking the shirt, as he took deep shuddering breaths, locking his arms around his waist so that he knew that he wouldn't leave. A hand ran through his hair, while the other stroked his back soothingly, tracing small patterns on his spin. Lips pressed against his forehead as a cool breath touched his cheek, murmuring words in a voice Alec loved more than his own life.

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Magnus had been cleaning when he heard the door open. He walked toward it, expecting Alec to come through, just as he had on his first night here, the night of their first kiss. But instead, he heard voice talking indistinctly. He quietly opened a door, and was treated to Alec's back to him as he spoke to his father, Robert Lightwood. Magnus was all ready to clear his throat when Robert's words made his own die in his mouth. Greedy, vain, cruel, selfish. Magnus couldn't deny that, but it still hurt. And then, he heard Alec's response. Alec, whom he had hurt grievously, was still defending him against his father. The argument quickly escalated as Magnus watched, completely and utterly dumbfounded. Robert said hurtful things; Alec hurled equally cruel words back at him. Finally, Robert said that one sentence. Magnus had seen Alec reel back, and flinch away from his father. He heard Robert attempt to backtrack; attempt to apologize, and he heard Alec's order to go. As Robert left, Magnus stared him in the eye, raising an eyebrow coldly. Robert swallowed and quickly ran away, tail tucked between his legs like the dog he was. And then, Alec ran into him. Magnus subconsciously wrapped his arms around Alec to prevent them both from tumbling to the ground. And suddenly, Alec was clinging to him as if his life depended on it. Magnus heard the boy's ragged sobs, felt the water on his shirt. The stuttered gasps and fierce trembling and the desperate grip of a broken man. Magnus rubbed Alec's back with one hand, tracing it in the absent patterns that Alec always said made him feel safe. He ran his hand through Alec's hair, pressed his lips to the Shadowhunter's boyfriend.

"Shhhhh, darling," he murmured softly, hugging the crying boy. "It's all right; I'm here; don't cry; don't worry Alec; I'm here; shhhhh, it'll be all right." They were empty promises; nothing would be all right. Robert had said something cruel and he was unable to take it back. The words would scar Alec more than the runes; they would be a burden and a brand he would have for the rest of his life.

"Magnus!" Alec gasped brokenly, tightening his hold. Normally, Magnus would have winced at the strength of the grip. But now, his Shadowhunter needed him.

"I'm here darling," he soothed, his lips in Alec's hair, kissing his forehead, rubbing his back.

"Don't go!" Alec begged, and Magnus felt his heart break for him. His poor Shadowhunter. He swallowed, and pressed his lips to Alec's forehead again, hugging him with all of his strength.

"I won't go anywhere," he swore as Alec cried into him. "I promise.

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Alec didn't know how they had gotten onto the couch, or how long the had been intertwined as Alec wept his heart out. Finally, he took a deep, shuddering breath, his tears spent. He was curled in a ball, his head on Magnus's lap as the warlock played his hair, stroking his cheek, his neck, his chest. He slowly sat up, and Magnus didn't try to stop him.

"Are you…?" Magnus asked, trailing off. Alec nodded.

"I'm fine now," he said. "I'm sorry you had to see that." Magnus wiped his thumb tenderly across Alec's cheek, catching a stray tear.

"I am so sorry you had to go through that," Magnus said.

"I know you told me not to bother you," Alec began. "I was just coming to pick up my stuff, I swear."

"Alexander, stop." Alec bit his lip in order to stop the flow of words. He waited for Magnus to agree with him, that Alec wasn't his problem any more. Instead, Magnus's hands cupped his face as he kissed him. Alec let out a small noise of astonishment before winding his arms around Magnus's neck, kissing him back. Finally, they broke away, solely because they needed air.

"I heard everything your father said," Magnus said, twisting his long fingers together. "You defended me against your own family. Your father said very cruel things to you, things he wouldn't have said if he hadn't been angry. And I know you wouldn't have made him angry unless there was something more important to you than that. That got me thinking, Alexander. I love you; you know I do. More than my own life. And I know you didn't mean to hurt me with the business with Camille…"

"I didn't, I swear!" Alec blurted out. "I didn't mean any of it. I don't know why I did Magnus, please, believe me." Magnus placed a finger on his lips, his cat eyes soft.

"I believe you," he said. "I do Alexander. I can't trust you fully, not yet." Alec nodded, fresh tears in his eyes. Magnus tilted his face up so they stared at each other, blue meeting green-gold. "But," he said, a hint of a grin on his face. "Maybe I will. Of course, it will take a lot. Extensive time together…"

"Wait!" Alec cried. Magnus continued as if he hadn't spoken.

"…Flowers, chocolates, massages…"

"Are we back together?" Magnus smiled at him. It wasn't his trademark, devil-may-care grin; it was soft, full of love.

"Of course, you stupid Nephilim," he said before kissing him again. Alec could taste his own tears on his lips. But these tears were different than the ones he had shed a little while ago. These were tears of pure, unaltered joy.