Hopefully there'll be some cute Magnus in this, and then some much anticipated drama!
I've actually made my way through a few glasses of wine and it's now the early hours of the morning. I remain hopeful that my current state will have no effect on my writing ability. I've written over 2000 words though, so love me.
And dear Guest- I hope this chapter is what you were looking for!
Magnus woke up bright and early on Saturday morning. He was meeting Anna and Elysia in town, and honestly he couldn't wait. He washed and dressed quickly in the quiet flat. His mother was in her room, where she'd been since he'd returned last night. The mess the flat was in had been a damp stain on Magnus's mood, but he'd still felt like he was walking on air. He'd refused to clean up last night, instead retreating to his room to think about Alec and remember the feeling of his lips on his own.
Now he had to face the music. The flat had to be safe for Elysia. His daughter was starting to crawl about, and he didn't exactly want her playing with the empty glass bottles on the floor. Once the flat was clean and tidy, Magnus collected his keys, phone and skeletal wallet and locked his flat, beginning the walk into town.
They met in one of Magnus's favourite coffee shops. He spotted his daughter in her pushchair where she was was waving her little hands at him, and swept down to pick her up. He happily swung the little girl into his arms, kissing her forehead with a smile. Elysia seemed just as happy to see him, resting her tiny head on his shoulder. Magnus always worried that she'd forget him each time they were apart, but she hadn't yet.
Anna stood up to hug Magnus in greeting, gesturing to the mocha she'd already ordered for him.
"You're a star," Magnus grinned, sitting down with Elysia in his lap. Anna knew Magnus struggled with money, but she also knew better than to mention it. Instead she just quietly helped, by buying him the occasional coffees and never asking for anything for Elysia that she knew he couldn't afford. Anna had finished school the previous year, and had a full time job plus the support of her parents. She was much better equipped to look after and fund a child.
However, Magnus couldn't wait until the end of sixth form, when he could finally leave school too and they could split Elysia's care more evenly, even though she'd be almost three by then. After a catch up over the drinks, talking mostly about Elysia, Anna handed over Elysia's big bag and a few last comments, and Magnus took hold of her buggy.
Before anything else, Magnus desperately needed to get some food. His wages had finally appeared in his bank, and he thanked the Lord that his boss paid him weekly, so now he could afford to eat. He'd worked less shifts this week because of not working at the weekend and Elysia was also his main priority, so he made sure to buy enough food for her first, only buying a few little things to keep himself sustained. Magnus was sure that how little he ate was bad for him, but it wasn't like he could do anything about it, and anyway at least it kept him thin.
Afterwards, they headed back to the flat. Magnus knew that Elysia would want a bottle and a nap soon and she was already grizzling in the pushchair. Navigating the flat stairs was no easy task, but Magnus carried Elysia, folding the pushchair with practised ease and managed to keep a hold on all the shopping as he climbed the steps.
Magnus's mother was nowhere to be seen, and Magnus was glad. He wanted Elysia to have a proper family, but he'd rather she had no grandparents on his side than his mother. He loved his mother, of course he did, but she hardly provided a healthy environment for his child. He hoped that she'd be away all weekend, so that he could have some peace with his daughter. Sometimes she'd be away for days and days, and Magnus had stopped worrying about her. She was like a cat- she'd always come back. She also chose her moments to show any affection, and Magnus wished he had a real cat instead.
In the corner of the main room of the flat, Magnus kept an old wooden box full of toys. The box was worn and chipped, and a lot of the toys were too young for Elysia now, but when Magnus put her down she crawled carefully over, pressing her tiny hands against the lid. Magnus laughed, putting the shopping in the adjoining kitchen, and walked over to her. He opened the heavy lid, pushing it right back so that it didn't fall and hurt her. She attempted to peer in and Magnus chuckled again. He sat down on the worn carpet and reached in to pick out her favourite toy.
Magnus was sad to hand Elysia back on Sunday evening. He'd only had one night with her, and he missed not having her as much. So he was delighted when Anna asked if he could look after her after school finished on Wednesday so that she could go into work overtime. Magnus readily agreed, happy that he was going to be able to see his daughter again this week.
Alec's weekend was fairly uneventful. He did his homework and helped out Maryse, but all the time his thoughts were on Magnus. Isabelle had noticed and was teasing him mercilessly, much to his annoyance. By Monday, he was far too excited to see the other boy, but still a little apprehensive. There'd been no mention of what would happen now, and Alec was so new to this. He couldn't shake the worry at the back of his mind that Magnus was much more experienced.
It didn't seem to bother Magnus though, who was leant against a sign in front of the parking space Alec had claimed as his own.
"Good morning Gorgeous," He sauntered over as Alec turned off the engine and Alec caught Jace and Isabelle sharing a look of raised eyebrows.
"Hey Magnus," Alec locked his car and watched his siblings walk over to their various friends without so much as a goodbye. He sighed.
"They should appreciate you more," Magnus slid is hand into Alec's as they walked towards school, "I do," The look that accompanied his last comment was entirely predatory and Alec flushed. He'd never been so entirely attracted to someone like this before.
It soon became clear to Alec that Magnus had previously been holding back on his full flirting capacity, and as a result he spent a lot of the day blushing and slightly dazed. Just a wink from Magnus across the crowded corridors could send his head reeling and cause him to loose any concentration, and Magnus clearly knew.
They continued to talk all the way through French, and most of lunch too. Alec worried that he was neglecting Emilia and Aline, but his best friends seemed immeasurably happy for him.
On Wednesday afternoon, Maryse had a rare work meeting, and so Alec was in charge as soon as they reached home. Maryse handed Joshua over to Alec, promising that Robert would be back by nine o'clock, and herself not much later. Alec waved her off as she rushed to her car, only just running on time. Maryse usually worked from home, but occasionally had these meetings meaning Alec had begun babysitting all of his siblings from the age of fifteen. Although, with Jace and Isabelle being almost his age and Eva turning into a teenager he only really had Joshua and Max to look after.
"How about we have a treat tonight?" He asked Max, joining the younger boy on the sofa, "Do you want to go down the park for a while? We can maybe get a takeaway afterwards,"
Max's small face lit up, "Even on a school night?"
"I'm sure one time won't matter," Alec reassured, "why don't you run upstairs and check if anyone else wants to come?"
Max scrambled up and ran up the stairs shouting excitedly to his older siblings. Alec heard a muted thud from Eva's room, Isabelle shouting something back and Max screaming 'Jace Jace'.
"We live in a mad house, Joshie" Alec told Joshua, who simply blinked back at him, smiling.
"What takeaway are we getting?" Jace asked, letting himself be pulled down the stairs by Max. Alec knew that Jace had a real soft spot for the younger boy, and it pleased him. Jace needed to remember that there were people who needed him.
To Alec's surprise, all of his siblings decided to come along. He was unsurprised that Eva wanted to come, for she was still really just a child and still enjoyed the park even if she wouldn't admit it. But Jace and Isabelle would usually make their excuses until Alec returned with food. Today they made it a family outing, which was entirely hectic, as was everything in the Lightwood house.
The six siblings finally locked up the house and stepped into the sunlit neighbourhood as Alec hung the bag with the essentials for Joshua on the back of the pushchair.
The biggest park, and Max and Eva's favourite, was closer to town, which was a substantial walk, but could keep them entertained for hours. As they walked, Alec realised they were coming closer to Magnus's flat and he absently wished that he could just go and see Magnus.
They finally reached their destination and Alec knew that on the way home when Max was less excited he'd start complaining that his legs ached.
"Come on Jace," Max was now jumping up and down, "race you,"
"Don't go too far," Alec warned them as they started running off, Jace jogging so that Max was ahead. The park was mostly a wide green space with trees dotted around. It had football goals down one end, and play equipment spread around. It was fairly busy, mostly with young children and their parents, but there was also a few groups of teenagers in school uniforms lounging on the benches and the grass, catching the last few rays of summer.
Watching as Eva ran over to the metal bars and began climbing, Alec bent to unstrap Joshua from the pushchair. He wasn't quite yet walking, so Alec pulled him up into his arms and pushed the buggy one handed towards the swings.
"Hey, isn't that Magnus?" Isabelle nudged Alec a little while later. Jace was still playing with Max, and Alec had been too busy watching all of his siblings to look over to where Isabelle's gaze was now.
It was unmistakably Magnus- even from a distance his hair and clothing stood out. Alec and Isabelle watched as he carried a small child closer to the play area. He was holding her in the air and she was waving her arms around in amusement. Alec tried to think if Magnus had mentioned any younger siblings but he was sure he hadn't. Perhaps he was babysitting?
Before he could think any more, Isabelle was shouting 'Magnus!' and the other boy looked over startled. He clearly hadn't noticed them, and began slowly making his way over. He didn't look particularly happy, Alec worried.
"Hey," Magnus's smile wasn't the beam Alec has gotten used to, and it also wasn't his usual smirk.
"Hey, you okay?" Alec asked, voice full of concern.
"Mmhmm," Magnus sighed, distracted briefly by the child clinging to his neck. She watched Alec with careful eyes that Magnus knew were altogether too close to his own.
"What's your name, beautiful?" Alec asked, smiling at the little girl. She smiled widely in response, waving an arm at him.
"This is Elysia," Magnus told him, voice guarded, "Elysia this is Alec, one of the most wonderful people on the planet," She laughed, delighted, and Alec chucked lightly.
"Is she your sister?" Alec asked, without really meaning too.
"Um, no," Magnus looked away, biting his bottom lip, before looking back into Alec's honest blue eyes, "She's my daughter,"
CLIFFHANGER CLIFFHANGER SORRY SORRY :D
This can go two ways now- what do you all want to/think will happen? I'm still deciding between ideas so review and see if you can sway my decision!
I appreciate every single one of you!
Love Xena x
