Magnus was curled up on the couch awaiting Alec's return from the mission he, Jace, and Isabelle were currently on. He was currently thinking about getting up and actually going to bed for once, like Alec asked him to every time he had to spend all night out on a mission. The only reason he was considering this, however, was because that particular night, he was curled up on the couch in one of Alec's sweaters, and he didn't relish the idea of Alec seeing this.

The only thing keeping him from getting up was the fact that there was currently a slightly drunk Catarina passed out across his bed, as well as the fact that the Chairman was sprawled across his chest. Chairman Meow somehow always seemed just as nervous as Magnus when Alec went on missions, and Magnus's only explanation was that the cat's love was less of a cat's love and more of a human's.

Just as Magnus could feel himself falling asleep, he heard an ungodly noise from outside the apartment. At first, he thought of leaving it alone, knowing that the only person in the universe how could ever break through his wards would be his own father. Then, his head began racing as he heard Jace's voice just outside the door, all but screaming, "Magnus, let us in. Now!"

Ignoring Catarina, who had just rushed into the living room at all of the noise, Magnus sprinted for the door as quickly as possible. His worst nightmare seemed to come true as he opened the door to see Jace and Isabelle barely holding up a clearly unconscious Alec. For a moment, Magnus stopped short at the sight of Alec, completely pale, covered in blood, limp in his siblings' arms. Then, Catarina pushed past him, any sign of her earlier drunkenness completely gone.

All Magnus could do was slowly turn around, watching as Catarina made a table appear out of thin air, motioning for Jace and Isabelle to place Alec on it. The only thing that made Magnus move was the fact that, once placed on the table, Alec turned his head, moaning in pain. What made Magnus move was the fact that Alec's moan of pain sounded vaguely like his name.

"Magnus, I need you to let go of Alec," Magnus heard Catarina's voice, he realized that she was only asking him because she needed him to do something to help Alec, but he couldn't seem to make himself do what she was asking. "Jace, get Magnus out of this room, please." Magnus considered fighting this, but he allowed Jace to pull his hand out of Alec's and lead him out of the room, knowing Catarina wouldn't let anything happen to Alec if she could help it.

It was until Magnus found himself out of sight of Alec and alone with Jace that he thought he was calm. Once he could no longer see Alec, however, he found that he was suddenly screaming at Jace. "What the hell happened? You're his parabatai. Aren't you supposed to be looking out for him? Why is he in there dying? What have you done?"

For a moment, Jace remained silent, looking at him as though he was in shock himself. "Is that Alec's sweater?" was all that he said, his voice much lower than it typically was. This only seemed to enrage Magnus more.

"That is very far from the point, Jace. What the hell has happened to Alexander? If you don't think I won't hurt whoever is at fault for this, you're deadly wrong." Magnus could hear the ice in his voice, but he was far from caring.

Inexplicably, Jace chuckled slightly before responding, making Magnus all the angrier. "That would be pretty counterproductive, Magnus, considering the fact that what happened was ninety-nine percent Alec's fault. He tripped over his own two feet. Izzy and I simply couldn't reach him fast enough; it was an accident, Magnus. Accidents happen, so please sit down and breathe."

Naturally, this only made things worse in Magnus's mind. Of course he had chosen the world's seemingly clumsiest Shadowhunter to call his own. "Accident?" He heard his own voice raise a few octaves, but he kept speaking anyway. "There aren't supposed to be accidents; you're Shadowhunters. You should have been by his side; you should have covered him. The last thing that should have happened to him was him ending up in that room dying."

For several long moments, Jace simply stared at him, head cocked to one side, an unreadable expression on his face. "Magnus," he began speaking again slowly, as if carefully picking his words. "You know you're being slightly ridiculous. You know I did everything I could to protect him. You're just angry because you're afraid Alec doesn't know how you really feel about him."

At that, Magnus sat down on his bed, the weight of Jace's words hitting him full force. "What do you mean?" was his only response, although he knew exactly what Jace meant already.

"I mean that you're afraid that he has no idea that you're in love with him, and you're scared that he's going to leave you without ever knowing that." As Jace finished speaking, he moved to sit on the floor near the bed, a smug smile on his face.

Magnus could hardly admit to himself that what Jace had just said was true. The terror in his voice, the terror that had taken over his heart when he saw Alec wounded, he knew it was all due to his love for Alec, a love that still remained unspoken.

"I won't say anything else, Magnus, I'll just sit here until we can go see him. But before that, let me say that you need to tell him. Tell him you love him because he deserves to know that." Magnus slowly shut his eyes as Jace finally finished speaking. He leaned over, burying his face in his hands, hands that were covered by Alec's sweater.

Just as he did so, just as he was about to relax for a few seconds, he heard the door creak open. "Magnus?" an all too familiar voice asked from the doorway. "Is what he just said true? Do you love me?"

Magnus looked up with weary eyes to see a slightly weak looking Alec leaning on the doorframe, looking at him with a lingering question in his eyes. Standing up, Magnus walked slowly toward Alec, taking his hands and allowing the other man to use his weight for support.

"Of course it is, Alexander." When Magnus spoke, he heard how soft his voice was, he recognized how vulnerable he was about to become, but as he looked into Alec's eyes, he felt himself relax in a way that only Alec was ever able to make him, and he continued anyway. "What he said was far too correct. I'm desperately in love with you, and I am nowhere near ready to lose you. Now, please, sit down, you're weak."

To his surprise, Alec allowed himself to be lead to the bed, and Magnus sat down beside him, keeping hold of his hands the entire time. When Magnus looked into Alec's eyes, everything seemed to melt away, making him feel as though the only people left in the world were himself and Alec.

"I should have told you before now, Alexander. But I am so in love with you it often takes my breath away." He paused for a second, considering his next words very carefully. Before he could speak again, however, Alec spoke instead.

"Magnus, I'm fine. I'm honestly fine now; Catarina fixed me. It was an honest mistake, and I'm sorry for it. But I need you to know that I'm in love with you, too." At that, Magnus found a smile on his face for the first time that night.

Softly reaching over, Magnus wiped the hair out of Alec's eyes. "I have a question for you, though, if you don't mind, that is." Magnus simply nodded, suddenly afraid of what might be asked of him. "When did you first realize that you were in love with me?"

Smiling softly, Magnus responded with a gentleness that seemed distant from his usual self. "I fell in love with you by accident, Alexander. You caught me by surprise; not that I mind." He leaned over to quickly and gently kiss Alec before continuing. "I think the moment I first realized it was about a month ago. There was nothing particularly special about the moment. We were cooking dinner together, and you were laughing about something I had said, and I began thinking about how breathtaking your smile was. And things just went from there."

Alec squeezed Magnus's hand and looked as though he was about to speak, but before he could, Jace began laughing. When they both turned to look at him, he stared back with a terribly amused expression. "I'm sorry," he said, holding up his hands. "It's just that I really want to respond, 'I thought there weren't supposed to be accidents, Magnus,' but I'm trying horribly to refrain."

Even as Alec looked at him in confusion, Magnus reached over to pick up a pillow and chuck it, albeit lovingly, at Jace, a smile adorning his own face.

Haley here! Feel free to leave reviews (or send messages) as to what you want to see for the 'B' chapter!