Disclaimer: Of course I don't own this, I barely own the laptop I'm writing on...

Amor verus numquam mortuum

True love cannot die

Chapter IV

A loud cough caused the two of them to separate hastily, and they turned to see Maryse and Robert standing at the door, with sour expressions. Alec jumped up from the sofa, still feeling like he did something wrong, as whenever his parents saw him and Magnus together. Somehow it was a lot easier to defend their relationship to his parents when Magnus wasn't around,

"Mum, dad, I thought you went back to Idris..." He breathed out, hoping he didn't look too messed up and tried to smooth his hair without being too obvious. Magnus wanted to roll his eyes, seriously, how could Alec who was so suave and in control of himself in any given day turn into such a... a Simon the second his parents walked into the room?

"We are about to leave." Robert said, looking sadly at his son. Though he still didn't fully understand why his son would chose a downworlder as a lover- after all, if men was what Alec preferred he was pretty sure there were enough shadowhunters to choose from, and it would cause quite fewer problems in the long run. But he knew how much Magnus meant to his son, and he did see how much happier Alec was these days and he truly resented Maryse for doing this to them. But he messed up by having an affair, and now he was paying for it, in the worst possible way- turning against his own son.

"Mr. Bane," Maryse stated coldly, and Magnus raised an eyebrow, clenching his jaw with anger. Taking a deep breath he leaned back against the sofa, crossing his legs and projecting an air of nonchalance to the room, and in general looking like he belonged there, far more than Maryse did as a matter of fact,

"Maryse," He replied, he was not about to give this woman the respect of calling her 'Mrs. Lightwood', she did not deserve it!

"I'm sure Alec informed you of the latest Clave decision." She said coldly, her dark eyes locked with Magnus', both trying to undermine the other with baleful glares,

"He has."

"Then I fail to see what you are still doing here." Maryse's voice was dripping with venom and Alec felt like all the air was sucked out of the room by the sheer hatred in her eyes, all of it directed at Magnus,

"Mum, enough!" He cried, raising his hands as if to physically stop her verbal attacks on Magnus. This was truly unfair, after all Magnus' only crime here was being with Alec. If she wanted to be angry at someone it should be him, not Magnus.

"Alec, what's that on your finger?" Robert asked surprised, and Alec realized he forgot about the ring. And now his parents saw it, and put two and two together and… "Are you two…" Before Alec had time to react Maryse shook her head, her long ponytail swishing,

"Absolutely not!" She cried, crossing her arms over his chest, causing Alec to bristle like an angry cat,

"How interesting that you chose to use mundane engagement symbols… Is that how warlocks do it?" Robert said softly, almost to himself as neither his wife nor his son were listening to him, their eyes locked in a staring match- Alec's face stormy while his mother managed to keep her stoic expression, years of dealing with the Clave allowing her to win this one over her son.

"Excuse me?" Alec's voice dropped dangerously low, "You can't tell me what to do. I'm old enough to make my own decisions!"

"Clearly not." Maryse snapped and Alec was floored. After everything he's been through it came down to this? Taking a step back he folded his arms over his chest, finding his ground once again, planting his feet firmly on the floor as if that was what was going to stop his mother, because it did feel to him like he was fighting a tidal wave and he was trying his best not to let that wave of hatred wash him away.

"But I was old enough to marry Lydia?" He really didn't want to bring Lydia into all this, she was too good to be having her name tainted by Maryse, but Alec had no choice, his mother was way out of line.

"I never wanted you to marry the Branwell girl." Maryse said flatly, and Alec bristled even more. It took all his effort to stop himself from trying to slap his mother, because he sure as hell wanted to!

"No, you wanted me to marry anyone who could restore the Lightwood name," He spat venomously, "A name you two dragged through the mud to begin with!"

"Alec…" Robert said softly, not sure how to defuse the situation. It was always a risk when Maryse and Alec clashed heads because they were so alike and Robert, who always found himself playing peacemaker, learned a long time ago he really wasn't much good at it. Alec snapped out of his staring contest with his mother and looked at his father,

"You both need to leave." He said quietly, executing all the authority he had as the head of the institute although his jaw was clenched tight and he refused to look directly at either parent. Robert nodded and put his hand on Maryse' elbow gently, but his wife pulled her arm away in anger, turning on her heel and striding out of the office, her back ramrod straight. Robert briefly closed his eyes, bracing himself before he left as well.

As soon as the door closed behind his parents Alec stumbled back, all fighting spirit gone. He felt like he was pushing against an unmovable rock with all the strength he had and suddenly someone removed the rock and he was left stumbling. Magnus jumped up to catch him, knowing how much Alec hated fighting with his parents and how much it hurt him. He carefully led the stunned man to the sofa, sitting him down softly. Alec let his head drop on Magnus' shoulder; feeling completely drained of energy all of a sudden and closed his eyes.

"Hey," Magnus said softly, almost whispering in Alec's ear, "Let's go get lunch." Taking a deep breath Alec lifted his head and looked at his boyfriend,

"Can you take me somewhere nice?" Magnus looked at Alec frowning a little, he wasn't sure if Alec was trying to play coy or if he was too confused by the whole fight with his parents to think straight,

"That's kinda the idea…" Alec shook his head softly,

"No, I mean…" Rubbing his forehead he got to his feet, holding his hand to Magnus, "I'm not coming back here today." He said with a tone of finality. He could handle whatever paperwork that came his way tomorrow and if there would be an emergency he could portal from wherever he was so there was no need for him to be in the institute, and he really, really didn't want to be in the institute right now. "Can we go someplace and just… do something fun?" Magnus gave him one of his soft, highly amused smiles, coming to stand in front of Alec and adjusting the collar of his jacket lovingly,

"Well, I'm glad you weren't vague about what you want…" Alec let out a soft chuckle, feeling better already, and Magnus placed a soft kiss on his lips, before turning and brandishing his hands,opening a portal in the middle of Alec's office, "Let's go." He said, offering Alec his hand.