It wasn't easy, but by some miracle they won the case. Alec had spent many a sleepless night trying to find loopholes inside of loopholes to keep Magnus out of jail. If he had let the case get personal, well, he was to focused to notice. He spent night after night with Magnus, getting the whole story. It was tiresome, but the way Magnus broke down into tears of relief after the final court session made it worth it.
Alec doesn't think he'll ever forget the look that Jonathan gave him as he was being dragged away by the guards. It was deranged, with fear and hatred and anger laced in it, and it made Alec feel a surge of both panic and pride. He'd managed to make Magnus safe, and that was the main thing.
Magnus hugged him a lot that day, and Alec memorized the feel of Magnus' body against his, preparing himself for when he would have to go back to Florida. Preparing himself for when he'd finally have to leave Magnus. Again.
He was sat on Magnus' couch. Magnus was in the kitchen making coffee, and humming the tune to a song Alec didn't recognize. That didn't matter. Magnus was happy, and it felt like Alec could breathe again. That's when he decided to do it, despite how there was a voice in his head telling him that he was making a terrible decision.
Magnus walked into the room and passed Alec a mug of coffee. Alec thanked him politely, and then watched as Magnus eyed the couch before choosing to instead sit on an armchair across from it.
"My flight leaves at eleven tomorrow." Alec explained, catching Magnus' eye.
Magnus nodded. He knew. He didn't need to be reminded. When he'd called Alec, he hadn't expected Alec to catch the next flight to New York, but he had. Because Alec is the embodiment of rainbows and sunshine. Keeping it all secret from Jonathan had been a nightmare, but watching the guards drag him away had made it somehow better again. Spending three months with Alec hadn't been a total chore, either.
"Come with me?" Alec requested, and Magnus spat out his coffee.
"What?" He cried, wiping the arm of the chair where the coffee had been sprayed.
"I...I didn't...It's just..." Alec stuttered, looking down at his feet in embarrassment. He took a deep breath before trying again, "I love you, okay? I've loved you since I was 16. And we've said goodbye to each other so many times, but we always come back to each other, don't we? That has to mean something! You can't honestly say you don't love me back!"
"Alec, I-"
"I don't want to leave you again Magnus. Mimi broke up with me that night in London because she could tell that I was still gone for you." Alec interrupted, shifting to the end of the couch.
"I didn't want to break up with you." Magnus admitted, "Remember that night your dad caught us making out in the hallway?" Alec nodded. "Well, he told me that night that just by being with you, I was
stopping you from getting what you wanted. That Idris wouldn't accept you if they knew about us. So I broke up with you to give you what you wanted."
Alec sat in a stunned silence. He had always known Magnus had lied about why they couldn't be together anymore, but he had never expected his own father to be part of the reason why.
"Alec, I love you. There isn't a day gone by that I haven't wondered if I hadn't had broken up with you, if we would still be together. I'd planned out our wedding. We were going to run away together and elope, and then we were going to have a massive party when we got back." Magnus laughed at himself, a light breathy laugh, before continuing. "I thought we were going to be forever, and sometimes I still let myself hope that you'll take me back."
Then they were kissing. Neither knew who started it, only that they both met in the middle, straightening up with their lips joined. It was deep and passionate. Magnus remembered to kiss back this time, his hands buried deep in Alec's hair. Alec's hands were wrapped tightly around Magnus' waist, pulling their bodies as close together as they could possibly be.
"Come with me to Florida." Alec mumbled into the top of Magnus' head.
They were both in Magnus' bed, Magnus laid half on top of Alec, his head pressed onto the crook of Alec's neck. Magnus didn't remember ever feeling so relaxed before, had never been anywhere that felt so safe. He pressed himself further into Alec, sighing contently.
"C'mon," Alec muttered, "There are so many good hospitals in Florida that'll hire you easy. I think there was one a few minutes drive away from my law firm that's hiring pediatricians. Rent'll be easier to pay with two of us. Come back with me."
"Asking me to move in already? You don't think it's moving too fast?" Magnus whispered back, his breath tickling Alec's neck.
"Honestly, I don't think we can go too fast." Alec laughed.
Magnus stayed silent for a minute, and dread pooled in Alec's stomach. He'd not meant to be quite so forward, but Magnus' heat was intoxicating, and the words came spilling out of his mouth before he could stop them. He didn't blame Magnus for being so skeptical. He wasn't sure whether it was too fast or not either, but he knew he couldn't leave Magnus behind. Not again.
"Okay." Magnus breathed, "I'll go back to Florida with you."
"Yeah?" Alec asked, straining his neck to look Magnus in the eyes.
"I'll have to sell this place first, and find a job there, and pack. And probably a million other things," Magnus replied, meeting Alec's gaze, "But yeah, I want to move in with you!"
Alec laughed, joy taking over all of his senses. He leaned down and captured Magnus' lips with his own, kissing around his grin. It was fine, though, because Magnus could hardly contain his smile either. And it felt like coming home.