"What the hell?" Jace turned around looking confused, and almost shouted at Isabelle and Clary. Wait….he turned around and said it to Clary. Where was Isabelle?

"Whaaaa…." said Clary, "she was just here…." They both turned around stupidly looking around.

"Wow. Now that was fast," commented Jace, amazed, "I've never seen her run that fast except for Black Friday sales-never, EVER, get in between Isabelle and her 50% off shoes…I still have scars."

. The door to Alec's room opened with a creepy noise to revel a pair of dark, merciless eyes.

-(a few minutes later-the events in between are much too scary to mention, much less type)-

"What can I get him?" Alec pondered out loud as he paced the room. Occasionally, Alec would pause; looking like he had an idea; but, resume pacing instead. Held hostage by Alec: Jace and Clary merely watched in fear.

This time Alec stopped, he actually started pulling the hair out of his head. Clary watched the short black strands fall to the floor.

Nervously, Jace inquired, "This seems like a private moment so...I'll just leave then, give you some time..." Jace started to stand up, but stopped at the look Alec gave him.

"No," Alec said, "Not until you help me figure out what to get Magnus for Christmas."

"Something sparkly," suggested Clary. "Magnus also likes clothes."

"Sparkly...clothes... Got it. You can go."

"Can-can Jace come?" Clary asked.

"Not until he comes up with an idea," replied Alec.

"I refuse to help you," said Jace loftily, "only partly because I have no idea."

"I'll leave you two then..." said Clary, and then hustled out of the room.

Jace and Alec were in full showdown mode. Imagine Alec and Jace in the old west facing each other on an empty, dirt road. Their eyes burned with the same intensity, trying to stare each other down.

In his most calm professional and hypnotic voice Jace said, "Alec Lightwood, you will let me go."

Alec just looked at him like he was crazy.

"Are you trying to hypnotize me?"

"No. Of course not." Jace scoffed and after a few seconds added, "Did it work?" Alec just sighed, exasperated. "

"You know what Jace. That is it. You are no help AT ALL. I have NO IDEA what to get for Magnus and you sit there trying to HYPNOTIZE ME! What on earth am I going to DO? What if he doesn't like what I get him? What if I can't decide and don't get him anything? What if he breaks up with me? What if I DIE?"

Jace, for the first time, felt truly frightened. Not for himself, but for his friend. Would this really kill Alec? What kind of insane mental issues could this cause if not handled with proper care? Jace had never seen Alec have a full-scale mental breakdown and it was really freaking him out.

Then, Jace had an idea. The answer to all problems, and could fix anything-Google.

"Alec, why don't you just Google it?"

"GOOGLE IT! WTF? THIS IS MY FIRST CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR MAGNUS AND YOU WANT ME TO GOOGLE IT? WHAT DO I TYPE IN? 'WHAT TO GET YOUR GAY BOYFRIEND WHO IS A SPARKLY WARLOCK FOR CHRISTMAS'. WHAT KIND OF STUPID IDEA IS THAT?"

"It's worth a shot," said Jace with full confidence in Google. He went over and got Alec's computer while Alec resumed pacing. Jace typed in, "Christmas present for gay bf and warlock-shiny clothes".

Jace stared at the screen in utter horror. Alec, seeing Jace's face, rushed over and slammed the computer shut, fearing there had been scarring pictures.

"What was it? What happened?"

"Google...Google failed me."

Alec laughed. And laughed as he felt he never would again. It started off as a fun laugh, but soon dissolved into hysteria.

"Alec…I know someone who may be able to help us."

Approximately 20 minutes later Jace and Alec were standing outside Simon's door. Simon opened the door and looked at them in surprise.

"Can I…help you?"

Being ever so direct, Jace cut to the point, "I thought you might know what Alec can get Magnus for Christmas. I hate coming to you for help, but I was out of options."

"Excuse me?"

"Wow, wow. I thought it was common knowledge we do not like each other!"

"No, not that. You think I know what Alec should get his boyfriend for Christmas?"

"Ummmm. Yeah."

"ARE YOU CALLING ME GAY?"

"Well…..not directly."

With that, Simon slammed the door in Jace's face. "Well that went well," Jace muttered under his breath.

"I know where to go," said Alec with a feverish light in his eyes.

Another 20 minutes later, Alec and Jace stood in front of another door. "Alec," Jace said, "You don't know what you're getting into. I think it's a bad idea."

"I don't have a choice," said Alec, and with that he knocked on the door.