Author's Note: So, I INTENDED to make this a longer chapter, especially after the ridiculous shortness of the last chapter, but...well...as you'll see in the note below...I'm having a bit of trouble at the moment. But, that aside, I hope you can find it in your hearts to put up with somewhat shorter chapters until I get my groove back. And let me tell you, when that groove finally arrives...WATCH OUT!

Despite his brief nap on the plane, Alec hadn't actually managed to get much sleep during the trip. Instead, most of the ride had been spent talking to Magnus, who had tortured his younger boyfriend by speaking loudly about Clave and Downworld issues before finally revealing, an hour later, that he'd set up a spell around their seats so that everyone around them heard boring discussions about the weather. Alec was still doubtful, thinking the warlock had just said this to make him feel better, until he got up to go to the bathroom and a neighbor asked him if his friend was a meteorologist. Magnus, with his perfect hearing, naturally picked up on this question and shot back a remark, which came out as, "Nice day for flying, huh?"

When they finally arrived at their destination, after at least three movies Alec could have done without, he was exhausted. It wasn't easy sleeping on an airplane. The whole process of flying terrified him. Using a portal was just so much more stable. He didn't understand how Jace could steal a vampire motorcycle and fly off into the distance so easily.

"What time is it?" he asked, looking out the pitch-black windows of the airport.

"New York or Paris time?" was Magnus's reply, as he checked the gold pocket watch he'd called his "flying companion." The only time Alec had glanced at it, he'd been so utterly confused by all the symbols and extra hands that he'd had to turn away to avoid a headache.

"Whichever one your watch is set to."

"It's set to both, my love. Along with the other thirty-eight time zones of the world."

Alec stared at him.

"There are forty times zones on your watch?"

"Well, technically sixty-five, if you include nautical time zones…"

"What's a nautical–?"

Magnus shook his head.

"Not important. Anyway, it's two o'clock in the morning Paris time, though to your body, it's only eight."

"Eight? Then why am I so tired?"

"Air travel is very draining, love. Check-in, security, horrible excuses for snacks…"

"I thought they were good," Alec offered, thinking back to the salad and grilled chicken he'd received. But Magnus made a disgusted sound.

"Atrocious. Honestly, first class food has really gone down in the last few years…"

Author's Note: Okay, I was REALLY trying to get more out of this chapter, but writer's block has hit me hard in the last week and this is as far as I can go. I hope you enjoyed it, anyway! I'll be sure to update as soon as I can, and in the meantime, please review! They're the only things that get me through these rough patches! Honestly, I don't think I'd ever be able to update without them (at least, not at a completely erratic and mood-driven pace.) Thanks for reading!