I know it's been a while, I'm sorry. And I know that with this story I've been terrible with updates, so if you're still sticking with the story and reading it, you're amazing and I love you. I haven't been able to update because I had problems with my internet, then I was so busy with college coursework (and it was my 18th birthday in February, woo) so I didn't really have time to update.
I hope you like this chapter! Please leave reviews if you're still reading and enjoying the story, it means so much to me xo

For a moment, Alec was speechless. His mum had left his dad? It just didn't seem real. Of course he was aware that people split up and got divorced all the time but he never even considered the possibility that his parents would be in that percentage of people. His parents were the sort of couple that were always 'him and her' not 'just him' or 'just her'. They were the sort of couple that you imagined would always be together, would stick by each other's side through everything, and you simply never thought about the fact they might split up.

Alec gulped, his palm sweating in Magnus' hand as he looked up at the woman who looked like a stranger but was actually his mother. He couldn't comprehend the thought of his parents not being together, so to make sure he heard correctly, he asked, "you've left dad?"

"Yes," Maryse said sadly, nodding her head slowly. "I gave him a choice: either stop being homophobic, or we were finished. He told me that he didn't think he could ever get past yours and Max's sexuality's, so I made him move out."

Max, who until that point had remained silent without giving any indication as to how he was feeling, said, "but you're homophobic too, mum. You hate us as well."

"I don't hate you, Max. I could never hate you," her voice shook with emotion. "Neither does your father, he just doesn't understand or want to change. I'll admit that at first I wasn't okay with Alec being gay and you being bisexual, but I'm willing to change and I hope you'll give me the chance to. I would rather change my ways and opinions than lose all of my children. I've had time to think and get used to it, and I accept you for who you are now."

"But dad doesn't?"

"I'm afraid not, Max. I don't know if Robert will ever change, he'll always been such a stubborn man used to getting his own way. He never likes to admit that he's in the wrong and this is a prime example of that. He loves you and he doesn't want to lose any of you, but he's strict about his opinions and I don't think he can ever accept that you're different to how he wanted you to be."

"Are you getting a divorce or do you think you'll be able to forgive him and give him another chance?" Alec asked. Right now, he hated his dad and he knew that hate was a strong word but that's how he felt. But even with that in mind, he still couldn't believe that his parents were splitting up. They were his parents, they were supposed to be together! People weren't supposed to be married for this long, and then get divorced. What was the point? "If he changed his opinions about us, by some miracle, would you give him another chance?" He hoped and he prayed that his mother would say yes, simply because he was struggling with the idea of his parents divorcing.

Maryse hesitated, clearly seeing how much this had upset her son and wanting to protect him from the truth. But she knew that honesty was the best policy, so when she answered, all she gave him was the truth. "No, Alec. I'm sorry but I don't think I can give him another chance. Truthfully, things haven't been well between your father and I for a while now but I've stayed with him and tried to work at the marriage for as long as I can... Sometimes people just aren't supposed to be together, no matter how much they love each other. Sometimes it's healthier for both of them if they go their separate ways. I know that isn't what you want to hear, but I just don't think Robert and I can make it work anymore. Him rejecting Max was the last straw for me, I couldn't handle it anymore. I tried to be a good wife, be the kind of wife he wanted me to be: which was to agree with most things he said, which is why I was so quick not to accept Max as being bisexual. But when Jace and Isabelle were so angry it made me realise that my children are more important than anything else and I am so sorry it took me so long to realise that."

"But what's going to happen now?" Alec asked dejectedly.

Maryse smiled a little. "I have no idea. And that's strange for me- normally I have everything planned out right to the very last detail, but this time I have nothing. It's an unusual feeling. The first thing I'm going to do after leaving here today is go and visit both Jace and Isabelle and tell them everything I've told you. After that... Well, who knows? I was hoping Max would move back home, but I understand if he doesn't want to just yet." She looked at Max hopefully.

Alec looked at his little brother, who was looking back at Maryse with a silent, almost scared, expression on his face. Alec knew Max well enough to know that expression: he wanted to say no, but was worried about upsetting his mother. So Alec answered for him. "I don't think that's appropriate right now. We're still hurt over everything that happened, mum, so I think Max should stay here with us a little longer. It was only supposed to be a temporary stay anyway - although we didn't mind how long he stayed - but I think you need to be patient with us. If in a few weeks or so we feel like we're building a proper relationship with you again, I'm sure Max would certainly reconsider moving back home."

Max gave Alec a thankful look and nodded his head. "Yeah, I don't want to yet. But maybe in the future."

"I understand," Maryse nodded, smiling at her sons. "It's so lovely to see you both so close to each other, just like brothers should be. Does this mean that you're going to give me a chance to prove how sorry I am and to be in your lives again?"

Max and Alec shared a look and in unison answered, "okay." Alec then said, "but I mean it when I say that this is your last chance, mum."

"I understand," she repeated, tears welling up in her eyes as the smile grew on her. "Thank you."

In bed that night - wrapped up in bright sparkly yellow sheets seeing as the usual ones were in the wash - Alec and Magnus were laid on their sides, untouching. From the moonlight streaming in through the windows, they could just see each other and were laid looking at each other, both silent. Like he had been plenty of times before, Magnus was struck by Alec's beauty and thought that it just wasn't fair for one person to be so good looking. He was vain enough to admit that he was rather good looking himself, but knew that he had nothing on Alec. In his opinion, Alec was the most beautiful man in the world. No scratch that, the most beautiful man in the universe- if there were aliens out there, ones from monsters to some of the amazing ones you'd see on Doctor Who, they still wouldn't be as beautiful as Alec. And he reckoned it should be illegal for anyone to think otherwise.

"What are you thinking about?" Alec whispered into the otherwise silent bedroom.

Magnus, who also didn't talk above a whisper because it felt like it might ruin the moment, smiled. "Just about how beautiful you are." When Alec rolled his eyes, he said, "I'm being honest, Alec. That's what I was thinking about."

"Whatever," Alec smirked. "Today was... Eventful."

"Yeah, it was," Magnus agreed. "I never got a chance to ask you how you felt about your parents' divorcing because of Max being there..."

Alec sighed. "Well, I'm not thrilled about it. And my mum clearly isn't either; she looked like a trainwreck. I can't imagine them not being together anymore, it's just weird."

"But you can't force them to be together," he replied softly.

"I know. I know. And I know that it's probably for the best because they obviously weren't happy together anymore, and everybody deserves to be happy. It's sad that they can't work things out in their marriage, that this is the only option left for them, and it's horrible that my dad still can't see past my sexuality and just love me for who I am... But I'm also happy in a way, because I've got my mum back and I think things will be okay now, I think that for once I might be able to be close to her again."

"That makes sense. Having your mum back in your life is better than having no parents at all."

"That's true."

They fell silent for a moment again, but it wasn't awkward, more just a silence caused by none of them not knowing what to say exactly. Magnus decided to change the subject by saying, "I was thinking, that because things have been so hard recently, we deserve a break from it all and we should go away for a few days." This was something Magnus had been thinking about a lot quite recently, and he had decided that when they went away, when they were separate from the rest of the world and were in a more relaxed environment, he would tell Alec the truth. About everything. He didn't want to and he was scared of losing Alec, but he knew it was something he had to do.

"Where to?"

"Remember the house in the countryside we went to when we were younger? The one both of our families went to five years ago, where we fell in love with each other and found our friendship again?" Magnus smiled.

"Yeah, but things also fell apart there," Alec reminded him.

"So? The good memories outweigh the bad, Alexander. I think it'd be nice to go there for a few days."

"So my parents still own the place?" Alec raised his eyebrows. "Huh. I didn't think it'd even still be standing considering how old it is."

"Well, it's still in quite good condition actually," said Magnus. "But no, your parents don't own it anymore. We do."

"What?"

"Yeah," Magnus chuckled. "Robert decided to sell it because him and Maryse never went there anymore- they didn't take any holidays there again after what happened five years ago. Both you and me couldn't stand the thought of somebody else living there and taking away our memories there, so we bought it off your father and we go there for a mini-break at least twice a year."

"Wow," Alec smiled. "Well I'm glad we decided to buy it. You're right, I wouldn't want anybody else living there."

"Exactly. So, what do you say? A few days away, just me and you?"

Alec hesitated, then sighed. "I don't think we should, not right now anyway. We're supposed to be meeting Elias tomorrow, and I don't want to go away as soon as we've made up with my mum. And where would Max go? I don't think he'd want to go back to my mum's house."

"Well, I thought about that. He could just stay with Jace and Clary for a few days until we get back," Magnus pointed out.

"Mmm, I guess," Alec said slowly. "How about we stay here for another week, just while things settle down, and then we'll go?"

"I can settle for that," Magnus smiled. "One week. And then it'll be just the two of us."

One week, Magnus thought to himself. I have one week left before Alec will probably decide to break up with me because of my secrets. Only one week.