Chapter 9 – Day One
(Jace forces Alec's hand into a date with Magnus.)
Magnus smiled at his colleague, "Thank you." He was holding up a packet of paperwork. It took a week but they finally got what they wanted a restraining order and upheld the full custody ruling against Camille, calling her dangerous to her child. It was at this hearing that Camille showed up, but she wasn't alone. She had a fiancée in tow. Magnus couldn't help but frown; he looked embarrassed and sad for his future wife.
"No problem, Magnus. You'll love my bill." She patted his arm and walked away with a wink.
There would be no bill; each lawyer had an allotted amount of times they could use other staff members for free that included legal fees for minor infractions; getting a restraining order and a new ruling was one of those minor infractions. It was Friday and he took the entire day off which was a good thing because the cases were a little backed up and their time before the judge. His lawyer did get a fast docket, many lawyers with good reputations usually got that privilege without asking for it. He booked it out of the courthouse, he wanted to leave before Camille and her party left.
He had to get Raphael from daycare, it was already almost 4 and he needed to get there soon. He was unprepared for the scene in front of him when he got to daycare. Alec was sitting on the floor in his business casual work clothes, black dress pants, button down shirt, and a tie with a book open on his lap. Max was on one side while Raphael was on the other side both listening so intently. He instantly fell in love with the sight before him. He would love to come home to that sight every day. They must have gotten to a funny part because Alec got animated and both boys laughed.
"Alec came late to get Max and when he saw Raphael was going to be alone, he stayed with Max to keep him company. He has been reading to them for about a half hour." The room teacher came up to Magnus with a smile. "Max and Raphael have gotten really close."
"We live next door to each other; I found this place because of Alec." Magnus never took his eyes off them. He could feel his breathing coming in short. "Thank you." He went to his son then, "Hey, Raph." Magnus went down to his knees, reaching out to run his fingers through his son's dark hair. "Hey." He looked at Max then Alec.
"Dad, Alec and Max stayed with me."
"I know I was late, I'm sorry. I was in court." Magnus smiled at his son, "Tell them thank you." Magnus stood up, helping his son up, "Go get your things." Max went off with him to his bin to collect his things as well.
Alec stood up with the boys. They hadn't spoken since last Saturday when Alec practically forced himself on Magnus to kiss him. He seemed willing enough but Magnus called it a mistake so it appeared they both had that going for them now. "Sorry if I overstepped. Max didn't want to leave Raphael alone and I couldn't say no."
"No, god no, I appreciate it. Today was my case with Camille; I couldn't leave."
"Oh," Alec looked down, "Hope it went well."
"It did. Even the state of Michigan says she can't be around." Magnus picked Raphael up when he came up to him. "In a strange twist of fate, her fiancée showed up to the court hearing."
"Well, I did not see that coming." Alec pushed on Max's shoulder to get him moving; he waved to their teacher as they went out. As soon as they were outside, he picked up Max's hand to walk him to his car.
"Yeah, he announced he would be taking her back to New York and I wouldn't have to worry." Magnus smiled, waiting at the end of the walkway to the parking lot. When he thought about it now, he didn't remember seeing Alec's car in the parking lot. "An excellent outcome."
"That's very good to hear. Congratulations." Alec felt this ping in his chest, that was good for Magnus but something just hurt. He didn't know how to end the conversation but he was already running late and Jace was going to kill him. Jace's car was in the shop and he was going to pick Jace up from work until Clary could come get him after her night class, she had an offsite class which was over an hour away and she wouldn't be able to get Jace and make it to school on time.
"Thank you." Magnus shifted Raphael to his other hip.
"It was good seeing you." Alec bent down to pick up Max, "Bye Raphael." God he felt like an idiot, he didn't know what to say so he came up with that crap. He groaned internally at his stupid response. He kept overthinking everything and it hurt like hell in the center of his chest.
"Alec!" Magnus called but Alec was already close to his car, he was parked on the other side of a big truck and that's why he didn't notice his car. He sighed, he couldn't get the picture out of his brain of Alec looking down at him before kissing him. It was sexy as hell having his blue eyes staring down at him. Now he was going to be stuck with the image of Alec being amazing to his family and watching his son when he was late. They would need to talk; they couldn't go on like this. They lived next door to each other; their kids were practically best friends at this point; they couldn't stay this awkward forever. He was going to go home and corner him. They only problem was Alec turned the opposite way from their neighborhood.
Alec dropped Max back first onto his couch and was rewarded with a giggle, one that Jace enticed by moving in for the tickle. They stopped on the way home for pizza, it was just a hot-n-ready but it was doable, they were already behind on dinner time so Alec did what he had to. Max already asked to eat outside which Jace agreed to before Alec could get a word in. Jace had also climbed in the backseat and sat with Max the entire way home. Jace left the pizza and breadsticks on the coffee table to attack Max which left Alec to do the work of getting paper products and drinks for outside. As soon as he stepped outside he heard it; Magnus and Raphael seemed to be playing outside as well. Neither looked over at him; they must not have heard him. He really regretted Jace speaking for him now. It was going to be a nightmare to get Max back inside the second he saw Raphael was outside. But he was also thankful he got two pizzas because he knew Max was going to invite them to eat. His child was sometimes too kind for his own good.
"Alright, outside." Alec saved his son from the tickle war, "Jace, go ahead. I'll be out in a minute." He didn't wait for an answer; he just headed up the stairs. He really was going to use the excuse that he wanted to change but really he needed to breathe, he felt like such an idiot. How had he gotten himself into this mess? He lost his mind over a boy and his own scared nature. He didn't know how to be a father and be in a relationship. He didn't know how to keep both sides of his life in check. He didn't even give himself or Magnus a chance; he ran from the first second. This whole mess was all his fault. He saw no way to fix it. He would have to figure out a way to get over it.
Alec sat on his bed with his head down and his hands in front of him; he was twisting them around. He didn't know how long he sat like that but he knew when Raphael was over, the little kids screaming and running started. He just brought Max a new backyard wooden play set and it arrived yesterday. He knew, without looking, the kids would be all over it. He finally changed and went downstairs; he could see Magnus sitting next to Jace outside through his kitchen window.
Thankfully he was saved from having to go out there when his work phone rang from his briefcase. Usually, he had a strong no work calls after hour's policy but today he welcomed the call. He picked up the call and spent a few minutes putting out a non-important fire with a client, who felt Friday night at 6pm was the perfect time to talk it out. He heard his door open but he didn't look up, just assumed it was Jace and continued on. He needed pen and paper so he went into the kitchen to grab some and froze; it wasn't Jace, it was Magnus. Magnus held a beer in his hand and stared at him, he was leaning against the counter and Alec had a quick flashback to the last time he was leaning there in the same spot.
"Yeah, sorry. I'm here." He sighed then, he was missing too long and he had to deal with his family. "Sir, I'm really sorry, but it's Friday night." He paused, waiting for the response on the other end, he hated doing that since he was the one who picked up his phone. "Yes, I will work on these ideas on Monday and get a report back to you then. Have a good weekend." Alec hung up; he had his eyes on Magnus the whole time. "What's up?"
"Stealing another beer." Magnus held it up.
Alec put his work phone down, "You don't like beer."
"I don't like it or hate it; I just don't prefer it." Magnus opened the bottle but handed it to Alec. "You coming outside?"
"Work." Alec took a drink while Magnus went for another one.
"That wasn't an answer." He went back to his spot.
Alec nodded, he knew it wasn't. His work phone decided that moment to go off; he looked at the screen; it was his boss. "Sorry, I have to take this."
"You're missing all the fun." Magnus didn't say anymore just went back out the side door to join in the fun.
Alec answered his phone with a frown, he ended the call quicker this time and mustered up a deep breath. Max was up next to him before he even stepped in the backyard. "Dad!"
"Yeah, I'm here." Alec went around the table to put his warming beer down. "You having fun?"
"Yeah, I like it." He pointed to his new playset, "Come play with me."
Jace stood up then, "Let me play with you guys; dad needs to eat." He was up and picking Max up before he could whine, putting him up over his head then back down.
"If he throws up on you I don't want to hear any complaints," Alec yelled after Jace who was already across the yard with the boys. "You would think he would have learned his lesson the last time Max threw up on him."
Magnus titled his head to stare at Max, "Thanks for dinner. Raphael is in heaven. Towards the end of our time in New York, it was so hard for him. I've never seen him so happy."
Alec sat back, holding his beer but not touching the pizza. He wasn't hungry anyway. "I'm glad. He's a good kid. You've done a good job."
The silence lingered on between them. It had was a deafening sound but Alec didn't know what to say, he was lost in his own thoughts but Magnus' voice kicked his brain back into gear.
"So, is this how it's going to be forever? Awkward, meaningless small talk. Only talking about our kids."
Alec looked at Magnus then; he didn't know what to say. "I'm sorry about everything. I shouldn't have done that." They both knew what the 'that' stood for; kissing and beyond. Neither of their two kissing sessions had been tame.
"Was it really all a mistake for you? Two very lengthy mistakes?" Magnus couldn't take this anymore; he would rather move then deal with this. He would still keep Raphael close to Max but seeing Alec or not seeing Alec every day wasn't going to work for him. Not if this was how it was going to be. "One brought on by a good time. Another brought on by too many drinks and sad stories."
Alec took a minute to think about what he wanted to say; this was the conversation he didn't know how to have. What could he say about any of it? Magnus clearly knew what he wanted to say and how to say it, it left Alec feeling even more lost than before. "No, I lied. I have no idea what I'm doing."
"What?" Magnus sat up straight to stare at him but Alec had broken eye contact and he was sure he wasn't getting it back any time soon.
"Since I was 17-years-old my life had been about my siblings, then I got Max at 18 and it has been about him ever since. I had one steady relationship before that happened and everything after was a disaster. Seeing Camille was too real, too soon. I just had my hands in-" he stopped himself there as he looked to Magnus who gave him a very pointed look to shut up, "Then your wife was there and I panicked."
"Ex-wife. And I'm aware you panicked. It was written across your face." Magnus sat back again. "Can you just look at me while we have this talk?"
"No, I can't." Alec was being honest with both of them now. "My life has been very routine for the last three years."
"And I'm outside that routine?"
"This wasn't my plan for my life. But it is my life now. It was a willing choice I made and I love Max but the rest of my life is up in the air. He's the only thing that stays center. Work helps but even that changes. Max stays in that center comfort zone, that's what I know." Alec kept his eyes down; he was leaning forward now, much like he was earlier in his bedroom. "I feel like my relationships outside of Max don't work. I don't know how to make them work. I barely got my sister to speak to me again; that only happened a week ago. And it took three years."
"All relationships take two people. Izzy has to share some of the blame for it taking so long. I'm what? Five, six years older than you? I only have slightly more experience and most of that was spent with a woman who I hated. All relationships take effort from both sides." Magnus was internally begging Alec to look at him. He wanted to see his eyes while having this conversation that they really shouldn't be having so close to Jace and the kids.
"I can't stop thinking of you." Alec finally looked up to him. "Everything is just replaying in the back of my mind. I hate what I said when I was scared, I was stupid. I can't take it back, none it. And only some of it would I want to take back."
"Go on a date with me." Magnus smiled at the look of surprise that flashed across Alec's face. "Tonight, I'll call a babysitter and go out for drinks with me."
"We're already drinking." Alec held up his drink.
"This doesn't count." Magnus leaned a little forward in his seat to really look at Alec, "Jace already told me he's here for the long haul tonight. You have a babysitter, let me find one and go out with me."
"I could watch Raphael."
Alec jumped from the fact that Jace's voice rang out so close to them. He was so focused on Magnus that he didn't notice Jace coming over. Magnus had seen Jace moving but didn't pay attention to him so he was less shocked at his voice but he did stare up at him.
"Alec, go change and I mean go. I got them. I promise lots of ice cream and late night ghost stories."
"I will beat you." Alec stared up at him.
"Yeah, yeah, as if you could." Jace took a seat, almost out of breathe, "Go. Change. And wear that damn blue shirt before Izzy and Clary kill both of us for you not wearing it on a date."
"Blue shirt?" Magnus questioned.
"Something about my eyes." Alec frowned at Jace.
"Then, you have to wear it." Magnus stood up, "I'm going to tell Raphael and Max."
It was settled and Alec had no choice.
"I think you've done enough," He smacked Jace upside the head as he walked by, as hard as he could. "Stop helping me." He hissed at him while marching in the house.
Jace just laughed at and went in for another slice of pizza.
Alec sat across from Magnus at some bar he had never heard of but one of Magnus' client has suggested, it was crowded and loud but tables were small so they weren't that far apart from one another. Alec hadn't said much on the ride to the bar, Magnus drove and he wore his blue shirt. When he came out of the house to say goodbye to the boys, he noticed Magnus got a big smile on his face. The shirt was a hit with everyone except himself.
Magnus reached across the table and took Alec's hand in his; he used his other hand to lock him in his hold, not that he needed to; Alec wasn't going anywhere. "Alexander."
Alec locked on his favorite pair of eyes, "Why do you call me that? No one has called me that since I was a child."
"I don't know. I feel moments when I need to say it."
"Intimate moments," Alec answered for him.
"Yeah," he confirmed, "Listen, today is day one."
"Day one?" Alec kept glancing down at their hands then back up to Magnus' eyes. He couldn't place what he saw in them but it was something special.
"Yeah, you know." Magnus sat back but still held onto Alec, "Day one. Our first date."
Alec frowned, "That's a thing?"
"Yeah. Actually our day one should have been weeks ago but that didn't end so well for all of us." Magnus moved his chair then; he didn't want to yell so much. "It is now our thing. Along with me calling you Alexander when I want or you having your way with my abs."
Alec turned beet red; it went from his neck all the way up to his cheeks. "Magnus!"
"I'm sorry. My stomach. It was my stomach you left your mark on." Magnus tilted his head with a smile; he wondered how many shades he could get Alec to turn before their drink was over. He ordered a martini and Alec had his usual beer.
"I don't know why I did that."
"I do, but going into that type of detail should be done in private." Magnus arched an eyebrow to remind him where they were. "And we have to wait at least an hour before going home. I would like the kids to be asleep before we sneak into my house."
"Magnus, you are way too open with your thoughts." Alec groaned.
"You were stupid and panicked and now I have teasing time to make up for." Magnus leaned in closer to him. "No, really, we both made some panicked decisions and I'm just as sorry as you are. But thinking on them after we have talked about them isn't going to help. It happened, let's move forward. Does that makes sense?"
Alec nodded, "I want to say I need some time to think but I'll do what I normally do. I'll overthink it then the moment will pass me by."
"So stop thinking." Magnus stood up, "Come on." He stopped the waitress and handed her some money but pulled Alec out of the bar. "Coming here was a bad idea. I want to talk and I want to hear you talk."
"Magnus?"
Alec pulled back on his hand but Magnus couldn't let go. "Walk with me." The bar had been in what was a fake looking downtown area; they could walk up and down the street and do circles if they wanted. It was a small city block of a bar and shops; all the shops were closed or nearly closing. It was still a little early for the bar crowd; they had about an hour before this area would be filled with those drinking or looking for a drink.
"How do you do this? How do you date with a kid?" Alec asked, he didn't want to overthink it but he had these questions and he needed answers to.
"I don't know, I've never done it before." Magnus kept his firm grip on Alec's; he didn't want him to let go. "You're the first person I've decided to date since my divorce and before that, I was married. So I have no idea."
Alec stopped, dead in his tracks. He didn't even think of that. It made perfect sense if he spent time thinking on it but he never stopped to think about Magnus, he always seemed so confident. Alec assumed and now he felt like an ass.
Magnus jerked to a stop when he didn't realize Alec has actually stopped. "What?"
He couldn't help but stare at Magnus; his hair was all black, the deep red tips were gone. He searched his eyes; they were the same as before just a flash of confusion at his sudden stop. He sighed and looked at the ground. He tried to pull his hand away but Magnus wasn't letting him go. "Please." He whispered into the night air. "Please." Magnus must have understood him because he let go but Alec didn't step away, he stepped closer. They should have been touching but they weren't. "I made a mistake."
"Again?"
They were whispering; there was a car horn that blared but neither paid it any mind, there was a couple walking by them. The world slowed down for a moment. "It didn't cross my mind for a second that you might be as lost as I am in navigating a new relationship with a child. You have this air about you, this confidence, that just takes over."
Magnus smiled at him, "I am. I am just as lost as you. Camille and I dated for two years before Raphael was born and we were married for two years after. During the next two years leading up to you, I never dated. I went on a few dinners, some of them ended at their place but nothing like what I want from you."
"What do you want from me?"
Still, neither of them was touching, just staring in the middle of the sideway.
"Today when I walked in the daycare and saw you reading, very animatedly, to the boys. I knew before the teacher told me. You stayed because you didn't want my son to be alone. Jace mentioned during dinner that you were over an hour late to picking him up and you wouldn't say why. You spent time reading to my son because he was alone and you did that because that's the type of person you are. I had never been so in love with a sight then I was watching you and the boys. That's what I want from you. I want you. Just you and everything that you are. Everything else is just extra."
