Something Old

"Clary, if you put that stele anywhere near that table I'll tackle you."

Clary looked at Alec, eyes narrowed. Then she looked at Jace, the golden boy nodded at her to keep going. She shrugged apologetically at Alec and then placed the tip of the stele to the ground.

"Clary, I mean it."

He knew Clary could tell that it was an empty threat. It wasn't as if he couldn't take her, she was at least half his size, it was the fact that if he raised one hand against the red head, Jace would break it.

And he really didn't feel like a broken hand.

"Do you realise the implications this could have?" He lectured, "It's meddling with time, you could change the future and the present" Jace shot him a cocky smile.

"It's the past, Alec, it's already happened. Besides, it's not like we're going to run around killing people, it'll be fine." Alec had to exert a large amount of effect to not roll his eyes.

"Think about it, Jace," He told his adoptive brother, "This is you we're talking about. You always end up wrestling lycrapothes or tackling demons, who's to say that you won't kill someone's great grandmother?"

"Me." Jace said, as if it was an actual reason, "I won't kill anyone, Alec, I swear."

"By the angel?" Alec questioned. Jace hesitated. "God," Alec mumbled, running a hand through his tangled hair, "why did I ever like you?"

"Pardon?" Jace inquired.

"Nothing." Alec replied. Jace grinned. A grin that sent sane people running.

"Excellent," He looked at Clary, "Draw the rune."

Instead of inking the rune that would enable them to travel time, Clary stood up, green eyes angered.

"Was that an order, Jace Lightwood?" she asked him, her hands on her hips, "Because I'm not doing this for you."

"You are, a little bit." Jace said, "Everyone's reasons always come back to me."

"No they don't." Alec said, rather bluntly, "What are you talking about?" Jace sighed exasperatingly.

"Time travel, brother."

"No you weren't."

"I was before."

"But you're not now."

"Touché"

Clary cleared her throat. They both looked at her, their bickering forgotten.

"Are we going to do this or not?"

"No." Alec said, at the exact same time Jace cried; "Yes!" The eldest Lightwood turned around, hands spread out at his sides.

"This is big," He told them, "If you do this it will have consequences."

"I know," Jace said gravelly, "If we don't tell Isabelle she'll scream us to death."

It was if Isabelle knew they were talking about her, for it was at that exact same moment that she chose to walk into the study, adorned in one of her usual glamorous outfits.

With one sweeping glance she surveyed the room. Alec could see her dark eyes take in the situation. He knew how this would look; Clary torn between pressing the stele to the table or just bolting for it, Jace, a dangerous gleam in his eyes and him. Exasperated and desperate.

"Hi." She said carefully, "Am I interrupting something?"

Before Alec could cry out 'nothing' Jace spoke.

"Yes. Me and Clary are trying to time travel here, while Mr 'I have no dreams' is lecturing us." Alec frowned at the insult but said nothing. To Isabelle's credit, she only took a moment to process this.

"Time travel?" She asked, "That's awesome!" Alec couldn't help but sigh. Was he surrounded with lunatics?

"See!" Jace cried triumphantly, "That's three against one, I win." Alec folded his arms over his chest.

"But I'm the adult. I overpower you." His younger brother frowned at him.

"No you don't."

"Yes I do," He said, "Do you attend Clave meetings?"

"Nope," Jace replied swiftly, "But you hardly ever go. You're too busy canoodling with Magnus." Alec blushed fiercely.

"I am not," He whispered defensively back to Jace, afraid that the others had heard, "Shut up Jace." Alec could not keep the embarrassment out of his voice, Jace could hear it.

"You are so, Alec." He smirked, not bothering to lower his octave levels, "Admit it."

His already dark blush deepened further. Jace sensed his insecurities and continued.

"Wouldn't you like to know Magnus' past?" He inquired, "Know what Magnus has experienced, what he must have felt-" "Jace!" Isabelle cut him off, seeing her brother's anguish on his face. But it was too late. Alec was already in his own thoughts…stuck in memories…

It was as if the space between Mangus' shoulder and his arm were made for Alec. The shape, the heat…everything. That is where Alec was snuggled now, comfortable and happy just to be with his boyfriend. He didn't mind that his leg was going to sleep, or that Project Runway was on. It was more than enough to simply be in Magnus' arms.

"Are you comfortable sweetie?" Mangus asked, his hand draped over Alec's shoulder, "You're starting to look a little dazed." Alec looked up at his boyfriend to see a small smirk on his face.

"I was thinking."

"Really?" Magnus questioned, "Nephlium think?"

"My name isn't 'Jace'" Alec shot back.

"I know that." Magnus pouted, "That arrogant fool doesn't snuggle with me."

"And I do?" Alec asked him playfully.

"Well what are you doing now?"

"Sitting." The shadowhunter replied.

"Ha. Ha. Very funny. Maybe if I just move..." Magnus started to shift, causing Alec immediate discomfort.

"No!" Alec protested, "Please don't." The warlock smiled playfully, eyes alight.

"Well," He replied, "If you insist."

Mangus' arm went back around Alec, both of them back in their comfort of each other.

When Project Runway finished, Mangus got up to get something to eat, leaving Alec alone to sink into the ridiculously comfy couch.

He managed to stay there for a whole three minutes until he wandered what was taking Magnus so long. It surely couldn't take that long to microwave a meal; which is what he had presumed his boyfriend to be doing.

But obviously Magnus had something else in mind, which made Alec nervous. He hoped it didn't involve glitter.

He moved off the couch, which was a feat in itself. Then he carefully padded down the hall in his socks, feeling the light chill of the air conditioner. He would have made it to the kitchen too, if he hadn't stubbed his toe on the leg of the elegant side table.

"Ow!" Alec hissed, hoping lightly up and down on his right leg.

He could hear music drifting from the kitchen, which would explain why Magnus hadn't rushed to his aid in all his high warlocky-ness.

His toe was still throbbing, even when he had stopped hopping.

It was then when he noticed a single framed picture, one he had not seen before. It was of an elegant blonde, smiling at something someone said.

Camiele.

Why did Magnus still have picture of her?

"Ale-ec," Magnus sung from the kitchen, "Alec, dear, I have worked tirelessly over that awful stove and, like a good boyfriend, I present you with something to eat." He held a bowl of soup that held a terrible resemblance to one if Isabelle's creations

Alec looked up at him, blue eyes wide. Magnus saw what he held in his pale hand; the picture frame.

Alec could see the surprise on Magnus' face, the hurt and the sadness. He could only make a pathetic whimper before tears leaked down his cheeks, and Magnus' arms engulfed him in a warm embrace.

"Baby, it's okay, shh, shh." His consiliences did not calm Alec's fears. If anything they made him more panicked. His thin hands soothed small circles in his back, while Alec buried himself in the scent of Magnus.

"It's okay Alec honey," Magnus whispered, "I love you."

Then why does he still have a picture of Camiele?

Alec looked up at his siblings and Clary. Something new in his eyes.

Magnus can't hide everything from him.

It was with that thought in mind that Alec slowly made eye contact with each of the room's occupants. His blue eyes meeting gold, black and green.

"Okay," Alec said, "Let's do this."