Chapter 1 – Cecily Lightwood-Bane and her Teddy Bear
"Dadddyyyy!"
The cry echoed off the walls in the living room all the way to the second-floor landing where Alec currently stood with Magnus and Raphael. Raphael had a fever and wanted to stay home from school, the problem being Magnus had court and Alec had a meeting with his boss about his interview for Division Chief, it was a horrible day for either of them to stay home.
"Paappaaa!"
Cecily's voice rang in Alec's ears as he looked down at her, she was on the couch with Max sitting in the oversized armchair, Alec's recent furniture upgrade. Max had a sheepish look on his face and Cecily had tears on her cheeks.
"Go." Magnus groaned while kneeling on the floor to get a good gage of Raphael. He had a mental note to call Clary, she was home on maternity leave but did she really want a sick eight-year-old at home with a newborn. He would have no choice but to call and ask.
Alec made it down the stairs and in a flash, Max tried to make a run for it. He pointed at his son with a frown, "Don't you move." He picked Cecily up and tucked her into his side, "What's wrong?" He used his right hand to try and wipe away her tears. She snuffled and pointed at Max. Alec looked over to him, "Just come clean. I don't have time for this right now. We are already running late."
"It was an accident." Max looked at his feet, swinging out in front of him. He was way too short to reach the floor, none of the kids were tall enough to sit in the chair and reach the floor. There was a small thud every time his feet hit the chair.
"Max." Alec bent down with Cecily in his arms, she had stopped crying but she looked like she was going to burst any minute with fresh tears. "What was an accident?"
"I was showing Cece that Berry could fly but he hit the wall and went behind the couch."
Alec looked over to the couch as if willing the worn-out stuffed bear to magically appear from its hiding spot behind the couch. She had this bear since her birth and it went everywhere, and he meant everywhere with her except daycare. "Get your shoes. Get your backpack. Wait by the front door and don't say a word." He growled out in a stiff voice. He went over to the couch and bent over to look behind it. Sure enough, the bear was back there hiding and wedged towards the bottom. He didn't have time for this. "Alright, baby girl, I'm on the rescue mission." He sat her down on the edge of the couch and knelt as far into the back of the couch as he could to reach the bear. He got it by the hairs on her little foot. He pulled and got the bear from its wedged in spot. He held the bear out to his daughter and watched her smile with glee and hug the bear to her chest, she added a giggle when she finally got him squeezed in tight to her. She sent a glare to her brother who had taken up post against the front door.
Magnus made it down the stairs with Raphael close behind. Since his fever wasn't too high, he was going to try him in school first to see how long he lasted. Alec's meeting was at nine and Magnus should be out of court around eleven so he was hoping Raphael could make it to lunch. He would take the rest of the afternoon off and pick him up early if he could just try to make it. Raphael agreed. "Shoes and backpack. Go." He pushed lightly on his back. "What happened?"
"Max sent Cecily's bear behind the couch and it needed to be rescued." Alec was standing up straight and watching Cecily continue her glare at Max. "Baby girl, pick out your shoes. We have to go."
"No." She snuggled her bear, flipping over on the couch and tucking her head into the arm of the couch.
Alec groaned and picked her up, which led to a squeal from her, "Listen to me, we have to go to daycare. Pick out your shoes or I will." He set her down and she walked over to the shoe rack and pulled out her pink Barbie shoes that lit up when you wanted in them.
"And I want another one?" Alec whispered when Magnus leaned in for a kiss.
Raphael rejoined them.
"Well, we missed the bus." Magnus looked at his watch. "I'll take the boys; you take Cece."
Alec plucked the bear out of her arms and set it on the chair while he put on her shoes. The one place the bear was not allowed was daycare except for show and tell days. She reached out for the bear with a fresh set of tears but Alec held firm on her to keep her in place. "You know Berry can't go with you to daycare. She'll be sitting right here waiting for you when we get home." That didn't sit well with her and Alec had to take her out to the car while she cried.
Magnus looked at Max while helping Raphael with his shoes, they were new and the laces were still wax covered and came undone, so he gave up and began helping his son with them, "Max, we will be talking about you picking on your sister tonight."
"It was an accident. The bear was flying and it was an accident."
"You know better than to mess with her bear, accident or no." He stood up, "Let's go." He rushed the boys outside to his car.
Happy Monday was the only think Magnus could think of in that moment.
…
Alec was holding onto the bridge of his nose as tight as he could so he didn't feel the screaming pain currently going on in his brain. Between the boys this morning, Cece, her bear, and the issue with his client he was ready to bail. They had a client refusing to work the account manager assigned to him because she was 'too young for the position'; given this was her first solo client. The account manager wanted to file an official complaint against the client and she did so, behind Alec's back. The HR lead was currently in his office with Carol, the team chief, and Jessica, the one filing the complaint. Unfortunately, there was no proof to back up her claim and they were stuck in a spot they didn't want to be in. The email proof from the client was more than enough to hurt Jessica's complaint and now they were stuck with who to believe and who to protect.
The HR rep was sighing and shaking her head. Jessica had a tear-stained face. And Carol was stoic as always. The pain the three of them was giving was enough to make him want to quit.
"The Division chief needs to be involved at this point." Alec finally said, he looked over at Jessica. "Jessica, please wait outside."
"No, this is about me. I'm staying."
"Okay," Alec looked her in the eyes, he didn't like her much and her review was the year was poor at best and Carol did not like her. She was always trying to have private meetings with him and he called him cute to the other staff members. He ended that real fast as he refused to have a repeat of the last time an employee thought he was cute. He went her to the same HR rep who was currently in his office for a meeting and told her to stop or she would be removed. She stopped but she wasn't handling her career at the company well. This client was a long time client and an easy project for her to prove herself, or so he thought.
"Carol, you have worked with this client, you have seen the emails, and you are Jessica's direct line supervisor. If you would like to would you please share your opinion. You don't have to right now if you don't want to. We can have a private meeting later if you don't want to speak in front of Jessica."
"This is bs." Jessica yelled, "You should have my back. I'm your employee."
"Kaley, would you please?" Alec pointed to Jessica.
"Jessica, let's go." She stood up and held out her hand. "You have to leave, or we'll just talk after you are gone for the day."
Jessica glared at everyone and stormed out of the room, slamming the door as hard as she could on the way out. Thankfully, the door wasn't glass or Alec was afraid it would have broken.
"I would have spoken in front of her." Carol looked between the two, "She's a horrible employee. She hasn't done anything well. She barely got a 3.0 on her grades for school. As an intern, we were given her records and she was fighting with the client by an email. I don't know how to protect her even if she's an employee."
"I would agree, her permanent file has two counsels in it already. Both inappropriate behavior against male employees. This would be her third time." Kaley frowned, "I'm not even sure how she made it past the internship."
"Carol, call the client tell him you will be taking over their contract for now. Kaley, speak to your boss on the actions needed at this point. This is her third strike and I will speak to my chief but I would recommend letting her go. She has shown no remorse and she's swearing at us has been nothing but inappropriate and I'm putting up with that. If she isn't let go, Kaley, I wasn't her removed from my team."
"We will also be sending her home for the week without pay. She can use her PTO but normal pay will be withheld." Kaley groaned, "This is going to get ugly."
"She swore in an email the client; she should be fired on the spot." Carol spoke up, "I'll call her back in Kaley are you staying."
"No, I'm going back to my office. I'll call you with anything new." She stood up, grabbing her files and left.
"Carol, call Jessica in. I need to break the news to her and I need you to stay."
She nodded, "Alec, good luck on your interview."
"Thank you." He smiled, "It was rescheduled to next week due to travel issues."
Carol smirked at him and went for Jessica.
Alec put his head down on his desk, hitting his forehead more than once for good measure. Today was a nightmare and he internally begged for this day to be over.
…
Alec held on to Cece as tight as he could with her screaming in his ear, the worst thing on the planet could have happened. Max and Raphael had broken Berry beyond repair. The kids were fighting and Max tried to take Berry out of Raphael's hands and the bear ripped. Cecily witnessed the whole thing and the scream of bloody murder she let out had Alec thinking someone had died. He was shocked the neighbors didn't run over to make sure they were all alive. He went into the living to find Cecily bawling her eyes out, red ugly crocodile tears streaming down her face with a piece of Berry in each of his son's hands. If this Monday could get any worse; he asked himself. He picked her up and pressed her head into his neck while patting her back. He looked at the boys and they froze in place. By the time lunch had come Raphael was feeling much better and actually stayed in school all day.
"What happened?" He couldn't help but feel like that was all he asked anymore when it came to the boys and their treatment of their sister. He was getting weary with it and his voice was getting louder, "Speak now."
"Raph had Berry and I went to take it back from him and she ripped. It was an accident, dad."
Alec took a deep breath. Then another. After the horrible start to the day and a terrible afternoon at work, he was hoping to come home and relax. That was not the case, "Both of you sit on either end of the couch and don't move, or so help me god, you will both be grounded until you leave for college." He didn't like getting loud or being that type of father but he really couldn't stay quiet with Cecily crying in his ear. The trail of tears were making their way through his shirt and on his skin. "Give me the bear." He held out his hand and each piece was given to him as the boys went by for their side of the couch. "I don't want to hear a single peep out of either of you until your father comes home, do you understand me?" He waited for each to nod before carting his daughter into the kitchen.
He sat her on the counter to get her a juice box; he kept his eyes on her while she cried, softer now that she had her favorite juice in hand. He set the bear on the counter next to her, looking it over. He could try to sew the bear back together but it was basically a lost cause.
Magnus chose that moment to come home, coming in from the side door, "What's up?" He asked, kicking his shoes off and loosening his tie.
Alec held up a piece of the bear whose head just flopped to the side with a sigh, "Your children are in the living room awaiting punishment for killing their little sister's bear. They say it was an accident."
"They did that." He came over and kissed Cece on the forehead. "Time for a new bear?"
Cecily grabbed the bear piece out of Alec's hands and tucked the bear to her chest, some of the stuffing came out and floated to the ground. She let out a fresh set of tears looking at the floor.
Alec frowned at the sad sight before him. He took a deep breath and picked up the other piece. "I'm going to take her upsides to see if I can sew it back together until we can go to the store." He picked Cecily up, "You should have heard her scream; it would give you nightmares."
"Where-"
"Living room couch." Alec eyed Magnus, "I can't handle them today. I'm sorry to make you the bad guy right now but you didn't hear her scream. I literally thought someone was dying."
Magnus leaned over and gave their daughter a long kiss on the cheek, "You listen to me, little one, I'll handle your dorky brothers. You go with daddy. We will find you a new bear if we have to."
Alec nodded and carted her off, not looking at his sons as he went by. He was afraid he would yell at them and he didn't want that. Magnus would handle them. He bounced Cece a little more than usual to entice a giggle from her. It was a little giggle and it was strained with tears but it was there.
"Alright, you two, follow me." Magnus pointed at them from around the corner, causing them both to jump. He stopped long enough to pull out two trash bags from under the skin; he handed one to each of his sons. "You took your sister's favorite toy away from her, so I'll be taking yours. Let's go. March it downstairs." He didn't plan on throwing any of them away but packing them up and setting them off to the side for them to stare at and not touch would be a substantial punishment.
Max gapped at him with an open mouth and wide eyes, "Max, if you fight me on this then all of your toys will be gone and we won't replace them." He saw the look then move to Raphael's eyes, "The same goes for you. Right now you have both also lost the use of the PlayStation. I can give that up too if you like." They both shut their mouths and marched downstairs. "I'll be down after I change."
This was not the first time they were too rough with Cecily's things and broke something she loved. And he knew it would not be the last. They were boys, they were rougher on their toys than girls typically were but they needed to learn to leave their sister's things alone. He was going to start by having the boys each pick out a stuffed animal to give to their sister in a peace offering then they were going to pack up the rest of their stuffed animals and other toys. Accident or not they needed to learn a few lessons. Toys didn't grow on trees and making their sister cry was unacceptable.
…
Clary was sitting on the grass with Chris, Charlotte, and the latest two children; her daughter Ave and Izzy's son Michael. She was watching Max and Raphael climbing the slide backward and Cecily was sitting on Magnus' lap. She was surprised that Max and Raphael were allowed to play after the week they had, Alec had called her in annoyance two days ago not knowing what to do with the boys right now. They were trying everyone's patience.
Cecily had not left Magnus' arms except for when Alec walked into the room then she had to be in his arms, or she would cry. Clary watched as Magnus and Alec both tried to get her to calm down but the loss of her teddy bear had seemed to take the toll on the little girl. She was taking it harder then she should have but Alec and Magnus were at a loss on what to do for her. They tried to buy her a new bear but she wouldn't have any of them. Magnus was getting annoyed at the situation without meaning too and Alec had just put up with it. He sewed the bear back together but it wasn't holding up well. Magnus had gone tough love but Alec was still giving in to her whining.
"Cece, come play with us," Clary called out to her.
Cecily looked over at Clary then back to Magnus, "Papa?"
"Yes, princess." Magnus went to ignoring Jace and looking at his daughter.
"Papa put me down." She gave him a look of 'or else', it screamed pure Alec from her black hair and blue eyes.
Magnus smirked, "I'm not sure." He wrapped her up in his arms and squeezed her tight to him.
"Papa!" She let out a squeal and giggle so loud almost everyone turned to her. She pushed on his cheek when he went in for a kiss. "I want Aunt Clary."
He sat her down and watched her run off to Clary with a sigh. He grunted and groaned when Alec flopped down on his lap, sideways. The chair he was in had high armrests and not made for someone to sit sideways without their legs going high in the air. "Ouch." He groaned again, "You are not as light as our two-year-old."
"Yeah, but I offer more then she does." Alec whispered to him while standing up, "Come with me." He picked up Magnus' hand and pulled him towards the house. "I need to speak to you about something."
"Oh, I'm sure you do." Jace snickered.
Alec ignored his brother and dragged his husband inside, once they were in the house Alec turned and quickly wrapped his arms around Magnus' neck tugging him into a kiss. Along, drown out kiss that he hoped would last for a while.
Magnus bunched his hands on Alec's side and walked him back into the nearest wall. The tilt of his head allowed him to suck on Alec's bottom lip with added pressure.
Alec pushed off the wall and stepped up the two steps from their back door into the kitchen. Never pulling his lips away he continued back until his back hit the countertop on the far side of the kitchen. The blinds leading to the backyard had been closed earlier when Alec thought of this plan to make out with his husband while their children were being watched. He would have pulled him inside ages ago if Cecily hadn't been whiny all morning.
Magnus shifted his hands down to the back of Alec's hips, bending slightly he picked Alec up and pushing him onto the countertop. He pulled back with a smirk, "We're going to get caught."
"I can live with the thrill," Alec smirked, going in for a kiss to Magnus' neck.
"Alec," Magnus let the warning in his voice hang in the air, he was getting weaker and weaker as Alec changed to the other side of his neck, hooking his legs around Magnus' back, and dragging his hands through Magnus' hair. He had lost his willpower this morning and left his hair down; no spikes and no hair product were stopping Alec from running his hands through his hair and tugging on the ends. It was a rare sight and Alec was going to make full use of it. The tug was enough for Magnus to throw caution to the wind. "Come on." He pulled back and held onto Alec's hand as he came down off the counter. He pulled him until they made it to the living room and pushed him onto the couch. It would be too much to drag him upstairs to their bedroom but here they would hear if someone came in.
Alec smirked, bringing his hands up to Magnus' hips as he came down to straddle his waist. "We need more of this." He lifted his hips up to grind against Magnus, loving the sound they brought out in each other.
"Alone time in the daylight. We were getting good for a while then Cecily came along." Magnus nodded in his response. "We need to fix her whining, I don't want to do it again after the boys." They already had enough problems with Max and Raphael when they were younger.
Alec nodded, "Stop talking." He went in for the kiss and Magnus let him lead the kiss.
They were given almost ten minutes on the dot of alone time before Clary came in with Cecily, who wanted to know where her parents had gone. She caught them making out on the couch. Alec had his a hand on Magnus' lower back with his shirt bunched up to show off the skin Alec was currently touching while his other was hidden in the back of Magnus' pants. Alec's shirt was pulled to the side with the tell, tell sign of Magnus' kisses. It was a small bruise but one Alec would be sporting for a few days at least. They pulled apart slower than Clary would have thought with them getting caught.
Magnus moved over to sit alongside Alec with a leg still laying across his lap. Clary didn't want to know more or look anywhere else except for their faces, she put Cecily down on the couch and bolted back outside.
Alec pulled their daughter over to him, where she was nestled into their sides between her dads. She started speaking about how she wanted Berry back and other things involving her teddy bear. Alec and Magnus just listened to her talk. Magnus leaned over to rest his head on Alec's shoulder, listening to every word.
Moments like these were the reasons he loved his family.
