Author's Note: Well, I asked for five reviews, and you guys gave me ten! Thanks a million to each and every reviewer! This chapter might not be what you expected, but it was what came to me after writing the original. This was what inspired me to write the story of their romantic vacation...

Anyway, enjoy!

One Month Ago

"I want you to go on vacation with me."

Alec looked up, surprised. Since returning from Alicante the day before, he had been spending his time almost exclusively at Magnus's flat. His family hadn't questioned this decision–none of them particularly wanted to be at the Institute for a while, where Max's possessions still sat, as if waiting for his return. While Alec was shaken by his brother's death, the real reason for his absence was more personal: after all that had happened in Idris, he'd found he somehow couldn't bear to be apart from Magnus so soon.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, looking into the warlock's eager green-gold eyes. They were currently tangled in each other's arms, kissing lazily, a phrase Alec had never imagined before his very-public coming-out in the Accords Hall. Since then, it had just been so...easy between them. Like breathing.

"Exactly what I said," Magnus replied, raising an eyebrow. Alec always received a little jolt whenever he did that. "I want you to go on vacation with me."

"You just got back from a vacation," Alec pointed out. Indeed, in the thirty-six hours he'd been at Magnus's apartment, he'd had only a few outside of sleeping to really enjoy his boyfriend's presence. The rest had been filled with irritated and impatient clients, calling on him so incessantly Magnus had finally been forced to turn off the doorbell in order to get some sleep.

Magnus rolled his eyes.

"I meant a real vacation. One involving air travel, hotels, sightseeing–the whole bit."

Alec frowned. It seemed like an awful lot of effort for a few days off.

"I don't know if my mother would allow me–"

Magnus waved his hand, sweeping away his argument.

"You're of age, now. Your mother can't expect to control your life anymore."

"The Clave–"

"–won't mind if you take a break for a while. With the Accords newly-signed, they'll be in a good mood, anyway. What do they care if one Shadowhunter takes some time off?"

Alec was still adamant.

"I can't possibly leave my siblings–"

Magnus leveled his gaze.

"Now you're just being difficult. Jace and Isabelle will be just fine without you. Plus, they'll have Clary around to train. I doubt Jace will even notice you're gone." When Alec looked hurt, Magnus mended his argument. Ordinarily he'd be irritated that the blond pretty-boy's attention was so important to Alec, but he was pleased with Alec's defining him as a sibling. "Besides, I already talked to Isabelle. She's all for it."

"You talked to Isabelle?" Alec looked stunned. "How?"

Instead of answering, Magnus just pointed to the side table, where his cell phone rested.

"Practically shrieked my ear off with joy, as a matter of fact. Travel brochures kept appearing via fire mail, to the point where I had to actually sweep my closet floor to make room for them."

"...Oh."

Alec was silent for a few minutes after that, mulling the idea over in his mind. Magnus, who was neither a patient person nor a mind-reader, cut in when his amusement with Alec's contemplative face ran out.

"Do you want to go or not?" he asked, his words blunt enough to make Alec sputter. It took him a few more seconds to calm down again, and then he asked:

"What would this vacation...entail, exactly?"

Magnus's heart lifted. He sat up, an impressive feat considering he and Alec were still entwined.

"That's entirely up to you. I was thinking something exotic, you know, with white beaches and you in a grass skirt…"

Alec blushed at the image. He wasn't a big fan of beaches, in general–they tended to require a lot less clothing than he was comfortable with. Knowing Magnus, though, that was exactly what he was going for…

"Could we maybe go somewhere...older?" he asked, looking down at his lap. Magnus cocked his head to the side, curious.

"Like where?"

Alec blushed even further. He wasn't really sure what he meant by that–it had just slipped out.

"Never mind. We can go to the beach, if you want. But I'm not promising any...grass skirts." Whatever they were.

But Magnus wasn't satisfied.

"I don't want to go to the beach if you won't be happy."

Alec turned away.

"I never said I wouldn't be happy. I don't know what I was thinking when I said–"

"Do you want to go to Europe?"

Alec looked up at him, surprised. It was odd, but he could see it already–France, England, Germany, Italy. He could vacation with Magnus and still be near an Institute, in case an emergency popped up…

"That would be nice," he whispered, still staring at his lap. Magnus tilted his head up to meet his.

"You mean it? That's where you want to go?"

Alec swallowed.

"If...If my mother–"

Magnus cleared his throat.

"–sorry, if the Clave doesn't have any work for me, then…" He glanced away, briefly. "...I'll go."

"And you want to, right?" Magnus asked, moving to meet his eyes again, this time seriously looking for confirmation. "This is where you want to go?"

Alec mumbled something under his breath. Magnus raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry, what was that?"

Alec turned even redder. He whispered something, almost as quietly as before. Magnus crossed his arms, impatient.

"You're gonna have to speak up if you want me to–"

"I said, 'Anywhere's fine as long as I'm with you,'" Alec said, rather loudly. Magnus's eyes popped. Alec looked away again, his sudden rush of confidence gone.

Then Magnus seemed to come down from his stunned state, and he drew Alec back again, this time capturing his lips.

"You just said the magic words, baby," he growled, throwing his arms around Alec's neck. Alec whimpered and buried his hands in Magnus's hair, taking back his earlier position with gusto.

Author's Note: There you have it! I kind of threw this together after writing the first chapter, but I like it, anyway. Of course, I already had this written, so the next one might be a little slower unless inspiration strikes me out of nowhere. So, if you liked this (or if you didn't like it,) click on the little button below and leave a review!