A/N: This scene is VERY important to me. Catarina Loss is in it and she is one of my favorite characters of all time. Magnus talked to Alec's closest friends, why shouldn't Alec do the same?
"So..." started Alec, awkwardly. "What," He cleared his throat, "Why-"
"Magnus told me you were shy. You need to relax, Alec." Cooed Catarina.
They were sitting in the middle of Magnus's living area. They sat on separate chairs and both had a cup of honey sweetened tea in hand. Alec hated sugary tea but he felt obliged to accept it.
She was wearing a long blue dress that was much lighter then her skin tone. Alec couldn't help his staring but she seemed to welcome it. Her blue complexion stretched over her entire body. Every part of her was the same shade of blue except her dark blue eyes and startlingly white hair. Her legs were crossed in an old fashioned, proper manor.
Alec knew she was old, older then Magnus though she appeared the same age, but everything about her seemed elegant. Her Ivory hair was long and flowed down past her shoulders. It was confusing as to why it was her hair that reminded him of the rolling waves of the sea but not her blue skin tone.
"I'm sorry. So, why did you want to speak with me?"
She brought her glass up to her lips, sipping it, and setting it back down onto her tea saucer, smiling.
"You are engaged to my best friend, are you not? I wished to become more acquainted with you now that you are a larger part of Magnus's life." Her voice reminded him of a soft wind blowing in from the ocean.
"Of course. What would you like to know?"
She laughed in a way that could be compared to a chiming bell.
"I'm not here to interrogate or intimidate you. You probably know fully well how capable Magnus is of taking care of himself. I just wish to have a nice conversation, to get to know you as a person. Will that be acceptable?" Alec nodded. "Tell me about your sister. What was her name? Elizabeth?"
"Isabelle."
"My apologies. Tell me about her."
"She is a piece of work and tends to be a hot mess. She is terrible at cooking and amazing at fighting. She and Jace, my adoptive brother and Parabatai, get into arguments all the time. They both have egos the size of the Empire State Building, so you get what I mean by clashing personalities."
"I can tell that you care about her from how many insults you put before your compliments."
Alec smiled. "I do."
"What about your Parabatai, I've heard gossip about him. The one with the heavenly fire? The Herondale?"
"Yes, I've known him since I was eleven. He's like a brother."
"Magnus tells me you fancied him?" Alec blushed.
"Not in a long time. He was the only guy I knew who payed me any attention and he is fairly attractive-"
"I wasn't accusing you of anything! Just making small talk."
"Oh." He said sheepishly.
"Do you have any other siblings?"
Alec ashen skin paled, coming alarmingly close to the shade of Catarina's hair.
"I did. His name was Max."
Catarina's face fell. "Ah, yes, Magnus mentioned Maxwell's passing. I am sorry you had to go through an impossibly difficult loss at such a young age." Alec was surprised to hear empathy in her voice instead of the usual sympathy.
"Me too."
They launched into a conversation about what happened on Alec's journey, since Magnus had been reluctant to talk to her about it. She gasped and nodded in all the correct places. Alec felt extremely comfortable in her presence and had no idea why he'd felt nervous before. He could definitely see what Magnus liked about her. He noticed that she cringed when he mentioned Magnus's father but swiftly recovered.
Then Catarina asked him about the engagement.
"I need details! Magnus refuses to tell me much these days. Too busy for little old me, it appears."
"Well, I can tell you it was a surprise... And that was after I found Magnus and Jace hugging in a closet."
Catarina's grin bloomed. Her face looked like a blue iris, interrupted by a perfectly even set of frosty white teeth.
"This I must hear."
Alec told her all about the frankly shocking scenarios he had run into in the past two weeks. How Magnus had seemed to make it a mission to hug both his siblings in the same week. She laughed when he told her how he'd thought Magnus hugged his parents.
"You should have seen Jace's face when-" Alec was interrupted by Magnus walking in through the front door, his smile dropping with the same momentum of the groceries that fell onto the ground.
"Oh no." He groaned. "I've walked in on a gossip session haven't I."
To Alec's surprise, Catarina's glare was filled with raw intensity. It was an abrupt change to the look she had on moments ago.
"Do you care to explain why you didn't tell me you met your father on your excursion into the depths of Hell?" Her voice was full of stinging, icy, betrayal and heated, fiery, rage, both at the same time. Alec felt his heart leap into his throat. Magnus cringed.
"Catarina-"
"The fact that I had to find this out from Alec, hurts me, Magnus! You promised that the next time you encountered him you would tell me! I know how he gets to you and I can't take it when you hide your pain from me!"
"I'm sorry."
"You ruined the perfectly lovely time I was having with your most delightful fiancé." She said, throwing Alec a sincere smile, before scowling at Magnus. "I am a healer, Magnus, that is what my powers specialize in. Why wont you let me heal your pain? Talking about this will make you feel better."
"I don't need to feel better. I'm fine." He said through gritted teeth, though he seemed more ashamed of himself then angry at her.
"Now you're lying to me. I see. If you want to bottle this up then thats fine. I shall be taking my leave now. Thank you, Alec for the riveting conversation." She set her glass on the table and drifted towards the door so gracefully that Alec had to stare.
Magnus grabbed her arm. His earthy tones making her blue skin much more noticeable and exotic.
"Catarina, I'm sorry. Will you still come to the wedding?" His voice portrayed how contrite he was. Catarina scoffed.
"Of course I am! What kind of best friend do you take me for? I wouldn't dream of missing you and Alec's big day." Her voice and features were soft for a moment before she tugged her arm away and sauntered out the door.
Alec was stunned. He hadn't expected such a huge performance. Catarina had seemed so peaceful and kind, it was extremely frightening to see her bad side. Unfortunately for Magnus, he seemed agonizingly familiar with this side of her.
"Wow." Alec breathed, setting his own tea down on the table.
"Wow, indeed." Magnus agreed, picking up his groceries and bringing them into the kitchen. He didn't bother to put them away with anything more then a snap of his fingers. He walked back into the living room.
"I'm sorry I told her that. I didn't know-" Alec stammered.
"Its quite alright. How could you have known? I've never mentioned it."
"That's why I should have known not to say it. You talk about everything. When you start avoiding a subject that means you don't want it to be mentioned."
"Its fine, Alec. I was going to tell her eventually. I'm glad you confided in her. Its better for her to like you, I think, then for her to be happy with my behavior. Want to watch some American Idol?"
"No." Alec said nervously as Magnus sat down on the couch. "We need to talk about this." Magnus nodded solemnly, knowing this would happen.
"I understand your concern."
"She seemed pretty upset about your father. She said It affects you?"
"Yes, that probably has to do with the last time I saw him. I refused to join him in Hell so he killed the girl I'd fallen for and burned down an entire city. I was devastated for a long time. Not just about the girl, but about all the innocent lives I could have saved If I had just agreed. Catarina helped me through it. She was worried that old memories would resurface the next time I saw my father. She was right, but I dealt with it and focused on the positive things. That is why I am not affected now. I'm fine."
"Magnus, I'm an expert at being 'fine' when people ask me. You know you can tell me anything right? You're my fiancé, if you feel any pain I want you to tell me so I can try to help you. Okay?"
"Yes... Can we watch American Idol now?" He whined. Alec sighed.
"Fine." Alec moved to sit down next to him but Magnus tugged him down on top of him and kissed him gently.
"I'm going to be your husband very soon, Alexander, and you are to be mine." Magnus breathed against his lips as if he couldn't believe it.
Alec just kissed him and didn't reply, because neither could he.
A/N: Aww poor Magnus. This is the kind of thing couples have to go through together.
Take a moment to mentally prepare yourself because the next chapter is the moment you've all been waiting for...