A/N I haven't gotten any reviews for chapter eleven, yet. Better hurry! If I haven't gotten any by tomorrow lunchtime, I might take it back. There's a bit of tension in this chapter...

"Tell me a story."

Magnus looked up at Alec across the table at a coffee shop three blocks away from the apartment.

"A story about what?" Magnus sipped his mint chip frappuccino.

"About you. Someone you met. Something you did."

The warlock considered. There were so many, many stories. He picked one that Alec might know something about. "Have you read The Lord of the Rings?" The boy nodded. The simple silver ring on his finger glittered. "Well, in 1952, I happened to be in Baltimore, Maryland. I went to a convenience store, to do something – I don't remember what, anymore. When I went outside, I was hot, so I summoned a cup of ice water, like I can get coffee, now.

"A man walking by stopped and stared. He must have been able to see through glamours. He sat down at a picnic table across from me. He seemed harmless enough, so I stayed. He introduced himself as John.

"I put up a glamour so that we wouldn't be eavesdropped on. He asked me who I was. I couldn't tell him my real name, of course, so I made one up – Gandalf. We talked for quite some time, and he got a sense that I wasn't really human. In the late afternoon, he thanked me for my time, got up, and left.

"For many years, I forgot about him. He didn't seem remarkable in any way. Then, in 1954, a book came out, called The Fellowship of the Ring. I read it, as I had more time back then. Imagine my surprise when I opened it up – and there was Gandalf."

Alec laughed. The sound was sweet in Magnus' ears. "So you're Gandalf. Who would have guessed?"

"Well, I wouldn't put it quite that way. More like Gandalf was modeled after me, because J. R. R. Tolkien and I had a little chat. I was here first, you know."

Rit lay with her head against Sebastian's chest, breathing in the spicy scent that clung to him. His had was absently stroking her hair. Their legs were entwined as they filled up the couch in the living room, jeans against jeans.

"Rit?" Sebastian opened his eyes.

"Hmmm," she mumbled against his shirt, not really listening.

"Rit, you know you don't really have to live with Magnus forever, especially once Alec lives there. When you're done learning from him, you can . . . you can come live here with me." Rit could hear a blush in his voice.

"I can? Really?" Sebastian was relieved that she hadn't laughed at him. "Thanks." Rit tilted her head up and kissed him, a long, slow kiss, Her warm brown eyes softened. He reached out and touched the tip of one of her pointed ears. She smiled and nestled closer as the sun went down.

"You know, Rit, the first time you said you loved me, I didn't believe you. I thought you were just trying to make me feel better. But, you know, I love you, too."

"So, when's the wedding?" Clary asked.

Magnus' voice came scratchily through her cell phone, held between her shoulder and her ear. "Maybe in March. We haven't finalized yet."

Clary nodded. Three months seemed about right. She snapped the shirt she was folding in the air, sending dust flying.

"Clary? You there?"

Belatedly, Clary realized that Magnus couldn't see her nod. "That sounds reasonable."

"Yeah. Does… does Maryse know yet?"

"You'd know if she knew, Magnus. Anyway, she's finishing up today and Portaling back around two."

"Only three hours? Shit."

"Yeah, well at least you have that long. Hey, how's it going with Rit?"

"She's doing much better. I'm going to teach her how to summon a demon next week."

"Wow. She learns fast, then?"

"Yeah. Listen, Clary, I have to run. We'll talk later."

"Bye, Magnus." Clary hung up and resumed folding the laundry.

Izzy walked into the kitchen, hand in hand with Simon. "Hey, Clary."

"Hey."

"Simon was just about to make some soup."

"Cool. Jace will be back from Jordan's in a few."

Simon grabbed a few pots and pans, setting them up on the stove and pulling various items out of the fridge.

Izzy leaned against the counter next to him. "Simon?"

"Yeah?" He paused his preparations to turn and look at her.

"Can you teach me how to cook?"

"That is an excellent idea, Isabelle. Please commence the lessons immediately," came Jace's voice from the doorway. Clary's heart lightened just by him being in the room.

Izzy stuck out her tongue at him, turning toward the stove. Before the war, she'd attempted to cook several times, and there were a few possibly fatal recipes, like peanut butter-fish-olive-tomato soup.

"Jace, be nice," scolded Clary, pairing two socks and setting them on a pile. "Not all of us are like you."

"None of you are, in fact, like me-"

"Has anyone seen Magnus?" Rit, the warlock girl, burst into the kitchen, breathing hard.

"I think he's at his apartment, with Alec. Why do you ask?" Clary inquired.

Rit just shook her head, wide-eyed, then turned and sprinted down the hallway and out of sight, leaving the Shadowhunters staring after her.

"I'd better call Magnus," Clary said, punching his number into her phone. He picked up on the third ring.

"What is it now, Clary?" He sounded as if she'd interrupted something important he'd being doing.

"Are you decent, Magnus? Because if you aren't, you might want to be. Soon."

A/N What do you all think happened to Rit? Please read and review! Thanks!