A/N: I am a terrible person and I am SO sorry for not updating sooner. I finished my first semester of college with pretty good grades and kept all of my scholarships. I hope everybody had a great holiday season! Consider this an early New Year's present! Please review!
It had been three weeks since Alec had undergone the ceremony which stripped him of his marks. The first few days had been incredibly difficult, Alec being in immense pain and severely weak yet refusing any medication. Sometimes he was just too proud for his own good. Once Alec had finally caved and allowed Magnus to help him, things had significantly increased. The mood in the small apartment seemed to brighten as Alec got better and Magnus found that he could now easily fall asleep without worrying that his boyfriend would stay in a haze of pain all night.
About a week and half after that Friday, Alec was up and moving around, able to keep down solid food and lounge on the couch during the day instead of being confined to the bedroom. He had requested the presence of his siblings one morning as he munched on plain toast and Magnus just couldn't refuse. However, by the time their meal was finished Alec was listing in his seat and the little reunion had to be postponed.
Now though Alec was feeling back to normal, albeit being in a small amount of pain still, he was stronger and able to move around without any assistance. Magnus phoned Isabelle and was barely able to get the words out to invite them over before she hung up. Not even ten minutes later a knock on the door signaled the group's arrival.
"It's open!" Magnus called from his seat on the couch next to Alec.
The door opened and in came Isabelle followed by Jace, Clary, and Simon.
"Hey," Alec called out, sitting up a bit straighter at the sight of his family.
"Alec!" Isabelle exclaimed, rushing forward to throw her arms around her brother before thinking better of it.
Alec smiled softly before initiating the hug, reminding her to be easy with him. She pulled back and then Jace took her place followed by Clary. Simon reached over and gently squeezed his shoulder before they all piled into the loveseats around the living room.
"So how are you doing?" Clary asked, her hand in Jace's and eyes sparkling with concern.
"I'm getting better. Still a bit sore but I'm managing." Alec answered truthfully, settling himself into Magnus' side.
"So when are you going to be able make him immortal?" Isabelle asked, once again not beating around the bush.
Magnus sighed before looking down at Alec who was staring up at him. He brushed a strand of black hair off his forehead before turning back to his boyfriend's sister. This had been a conversation the couple had had just the night before.
"I'm still a little concerned with Alec's health so I'm gonna give it another week before I attempt anything. I've already started preparing everything though so it'll be ready whenever we are." Magnus said, tightening his arm ever so slightly around Alec's body.
Isabelle nodded once, seemingly satisfied with the response. Magnus glanced over at Jace who was staring at Alec, his face an open book for once, concern clear as day on his face. Magnus gently nudged Alec to turn his attention over to his adoptive brother.
"I'm fine Jace." Alec stated, giving the boy a slight smile.
"I know it's just…" Jace trailed off as his hand absentmindedly rubbed over the spot where his faded parabatai rune was.
Magnus felt Alec stiffen beneath his hold and he knew exactly what Jace was talking about. About a week back Isabelle had called to talk to them, Alec was still not up for visitors but he wanted to talk to everyone. Jace had explained that while Alec was being stripped of his runes, Jace had felt all of Alec's pain. Once the parabatai rune was removed Jace had described it as feeling as if a chord that had tied the two together had suddenly been snapped in half. He had felt lost and devastated, a wave of grief crashing over him as if Alec had really died. Alec had only commented that he really didn't remember a lot from the ceremony, just the after effects of the pain.
"I know." Alec mumbled, trying to stifle a yawn.
"I hate to be a mother hen but I think we should cut this reunion a little short. I promise to call and invited all of you back over when we perform the immortality ceremony. For now however, Alec needs rest." Magnus said, a note of finality in his voice as he kissed the top of Alec's head.
"Okay. Why don't we go get dinner from Taki's?" Isabelle suggested.
The group nodded as they all stood and stretched.
"Would you like us to bring you guys anything back?" Clary asked.
"No thank you," Alec kindly declined, "Magnus has been cooking for us."
"He's good on the eyes and he can cook? What a package!" Clary smirked making Alec blush and Magnus chuckle.
"I only got half the package." Simon mumbled.
Everyone bust out laughing except for Izzy who mock glared at Simon.
"I'm a great cook!" She exclaimed.
"You're a great shadowhunter Izzy. Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Jace said between laughs but froze once he processed what he had said.
The room became tense as no one knew what to say. Mentioning shadowhunting around Alec had inadvertently become a bit of a taboo subject.
"Guys. Stop walking around eggshells around me. I'm fine." Alec sighed.
The atmosphere didn't get any less awkward as Jace apologized and everyone quickly said their goodbyes before walking out of the apartment. This just left an anxious Magnus and frustrated Alec.
"I'm going to bed." Alec said as soon as the door shut.
"Aren't you hungry?" Magnus asked, standing up at the same time as his boyfriend.
He knew what Alec was doing. He was upset so he was shutting him out and Magnus hated it when Alec got into such depressive moods. Sometimes not even Magnus could coax him out of bed.
"No. I'm tired." Alec said, moving towards the bedroom.
"How about I bring you some dinner when I make it." Magnus suggested, trying to get Alec to eat something.
Alec turned in the doorway of the bedroom, his eyes searching Magnus' face and Magnus watched as his expression softened.
"I'd like that." Alec mumbled, a small smile quirking up on his lips.
"Okay." Magnus said as his own smile began to spread across his face.
Alec turned to go to bed.
"I love you." Magnus called out as he headed to the kitchen, determined to make something Alec would eat.
"I know." Alec yelled back as he wrapped the warm blankets around himself and nestled his head into the pillows.