The Family Dinner From Hell

Alec was at the bistro with Luke, and his designer, Alaric, going over some changes and approvals that needed to be made to the restaurant. The demolition process of the bistro was complete, but they ran into a few design flaws that needed fixing. It took the contractor's a little over a month to start the demolition due to hang ups in acquiring the permits they needed, because the city decided to take their sweet ass time approving them. Now that they needed to make changes, Alec feared how much longer they'd have to wait before they can start the remodel.

"If we just flip the layout of the kitchen," Luke started. They were currently in the back of the hollowed out building trying to decide what they could change. "We can put the stoves and ovens on the far wall, and run the ventilation system right out of the back of the building. The city just wouldn't approve the system running out to the side over here." Luke then gestured to the wall that was facing the side street.

"Yeah, but that would mean that the dish washers would be on the same wall as the back of the bar. Wouldn't the sound of the washers become too loud in the dining area?" Alec questioned, his tone sounding slightly irritable. He'd never seen a kitchen that had a layout that was backwards like that. "And not only that, but wouldn't we have to run new water lines to put them there?"

"He's got a point, Luke," Alaric responded.

"Fine," Luke said with a sigh. "Let's go back to the drawing board then."

With that, they walked back towards the front of the building to sit at the card table and chairs that made up Luke's makeshift office space. On their way, Luke opened up a cooler and took out three bottles of water. It was the beginning of August, and to say that it was hot would have been an understatement. Not only was it hot, but the humidity level was so high that you started sweating as soon as you stepped outside.

"So," Alaric started, pulling something up on his tablet. "Let's look at a few options that'll work for you."

He placed the tablet down, and started drawing rough draft options with a stylus. They hashed out details, changing the entire layout of the kitchen, and some details of the dining room. It only took about an hour - which was a lot less time than Alec would have thought it'd take - but Alaric finally figured out the approved changes.

"Okay," Alaric said, packing up his things. "I'll finalize these plans today, and get them to the inspector by Monday. Hopefully they'll approve the new layout and we can start getting to work within the week."

"Thanks, Alaric," Alec stood to shake the man's hand. "I'm sorry for being a pain."

"It's fine, Alec. It's your restaurant. You should want it to be exactly the way you need it to be," Alaric reassured Alec. "I think the changes we made today actually improved the aesthetic of the building. And with the placement of the washing stations in conjunction to where the restrooms will be located, it'll be cheaper for you as far as not having to reroute the plumbing."

"Well, let's just hope the building inspector agrees so we can get this project started," Luke laughed as he and Alec walked Alaric out.

"I'm sorry for being so irritable, Luke," Alec sighed, turning to face Clary's stepfather. "I'm just frustrated about the delays, and stressed out over the timeline. I need to start making money off this place soon or I'm going to be in debt up to my eyeballs by the end of next year!"

"Hey, it's okay, Alec," Luke smiled, slapping a hand on Alec's shoulder. "I get your frustrations, I really do. But I've been in this business for many years now, and even though we've hit a few snags, I'm still projecting that this place will be up and running in January. When I give my client's an ETA, I do take into account for delays."

"Oh, thank God," Alec sighed in relief and nodded gratefully at Luke.

"Now," Luke said, guiding them back over towards the table. "How have you been holding up, kiddo?"

"Uh… good?" Alec didn't know where that question was coming from. He'd been the exact same as he'd always been since this project started.

"Alec," Luke gave a sceptical look. "We haven't had the chance to talk about the engagement party. Jocelyn and I have been worried, but we've never brought the topic up with you."

It was true that Alec had seen Luke and Jocelyn on multiple occasions, but Alec didn't think that they'd be willing to talk to him about the incident.

"Ah," Alec resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Luke and Jocelyn have always been there for all of the Lightwood kids. He loved them both like they were second parents to him, and could easily bring out the inner teenager in him. "There's nothing really to tell, Luke. After Jace said what he needed to say, I promised him that I'd stay out of his and Izzy's lives. I'm keeping that promise."

"I'm not buying that line of bullshit one bit," Luke said. "You and Jace have always been so close, closer than brother's. You were always each other's best friend, so you can't possibly be okay with what he said to you."

"It doesn't matter, Luke," Alec huffed. "He's made it perfectly clear that we're not nearly as close as what I've always thought we were. I'm not going to try to convince him otherwise."

"And what about Isabelle?" Luke asked.

"What about her? She clearly feels the same way Jace does, and if she doesn't, she certainly didn't stick up for herself - or me - so she doesn't have a leg to stand on," Alec shrugged. His brother and sister dug their own graves so they need to lie in it.

"I'm just having such a hard time accepting that you're okay with everything," Luke groaned as if he were just as frustrated as Alec. "I watched you guys grow up, and I just can't believe that you three have grown so far apart in the last few months. It's heartbreaking."

"It is what it is, Luke. I can't change how they feel about me, nor would I want to. They have their own opinions, and they're entitled to those opinions," Alec stated. He'd had a lot of time to think over the last few months, and was reasonably sure that pretty much summed up how he felt. He's learned to accept that he would no longer be an important part of Jace and Izzy's lives.

"I guess you're right," Luke said, sounding quite dejected. "Well, I won't keep you any longer kiddo. Give me or Jocelyn a call soon so we can set up another dinner date, okay?"

"Will do," Alec smiled, and even though it was hotter than the seventh level of hell, he pulled Luke into a hug. "I'll talk to you later Luke."

~oOo~

After Alec finished his work at Magnus' house, he went home and showered again before heading over to his parents house for dinner. He asked his mom why the change of venue - they usually went out to dinner on Friday's - and Maryse said that she just missed cooking for Alec. He didn't really question the decision, deciding to go along with it. Alec hadn't been to the house that he grew up in since the weekend before Jace's engagement party. Maryse promised to make her homemade spaghetti, which had always been Alec's favorite meal growing up.

Maryse would never forget her children's favorite foods; for Jace it was always her chicken pot pies; Isabelle was ratatouille, and Max's favorite had always been, and always would be mac and cheese. Even though his parents weren't around during the week, or on Saturday's while they were growing up, their parents made sure they were home on Sunday's to spend quality time with them. Maryse would rotate cooking their favorite dishes from scratch every Sunday, just to make sure all of her kids felt loved. And when it was someone's birthday, she and Robert would take the day - or evening - off work to spend time with them and make the meal of their choice. If one of the kids decided they wanted to go out to dinner, they'd get their wish.

Alec stepped up to the brownstone and rang the doorbell. Maryse answered the door with a smile that Alec recognized as one she reserved for her children.

"My sweet boy," Maryse greeted. Alec bent down, pulling his mother into a tight hug, while kissing her on the cheek.

"How's your week been, mom?" Alec asked. He spoke to his parents daily, but he much preferred hearing about how they were doing, face to face.

"Oh, the usual. Pushy clients, whiney employees, nothing's changed," Maryse said laughing. "Your fathers in the library. Go ahead and visit with him until dinner's ready."

Alec nodded and started walking towards the library, knowing better than to ask his mother if she needed help in the kitchen. He may be the professional, but when Maryse Lightwood was cooking, no one else was allowed in there with her.

Alec reached the entryway to see his father sitting in an armchair; Jace and Isabelle were there as well. Instantly, Alec started to fume. Without a word, he turned around to find his mother standing resolutely in his path. Shocked and angry, Alec went to move around Maryse, only for her face to darken, her brow furrowing as she tilted her head slightly. Uh-oh, he thought. He'd seen that look only a few times in his life. It was the 'do not test me' look. His mom's anger matched his own.

"Alexander Gideon Lightwood, you get your ass in that room, right now. Jonathan and Isabelle wish to speak to you, and you alone. Exactly one thing is going to happen at this very moment. You are going to turn around and listen to what they have to say. There is no second option. Do you understand? Nod your head, and say yes!" Maryse intoned forcefully. Alec wondered if his mother had even taken a breath during that order.

"Yes, ma'am," Alec said, feeling like he was a child again.

"Good," Maryse then looked towards their dad, pointing behind her. "Robert, in the kitchen. Now."

Robert stood up, arms up in surrender. As he passed Alec, Robert gave him a sympathetic smile, and an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

"Give 'em hell, son," Robert whispered in Alec's ear before closing the French doors, and leaving with his wife.

Alec reluctantly walked farther into the room, glaring at his brother and sister as he went. Isabelle jumped up from the love seat she was sitting in, and ran over to Alec.

"I'm sorry," she flung her arms around Alec, and whispered the 'I'm sorry' mantra into his shoulder - over and over again - as she began crying.

Alec proceeded to gently pry her arms from around his neck, and took a step back.

"Sit down, Isabelle," Alec said coldly. "Let me guess. You're about to apologize for the fact that you never once spoke up about the way we've grown apart over the last three months. You're going to apologize for not speaking your mind, and being a wimp about it. That about sum it up?"

Isabelle's eyes widened, and face paled. She nodded her head and walked, shoulders slumped, back to the love seat and sat down. Alec continued eying his brother and sister before he took the seat that his father had previously sat in.

"Listen, Alec-" Jace started, but Alec interrupted him.

"Shut up, Jonathan!" Alec shouted, standing up in the process. "You had quite a bit to say at your precious engagement party, now it's my turn to speak."

"Please don't call me Jonathan," Jace said flinching, causing Alec to inwardly grin. He knew that Jace hated anyone in his family - and tight knit circle of friends - calling him Jonathan, but Alec wasn't going to hold anything back tonight.

"First of all, you only let your family and close friends call you Jace. And you've made it pretty damn clear at the engagement party that you didn't invite me to, that you wanted to 'enjoy a meal with your family', which made it perfectly clear to me that night that I'm not your family, " Alec said, looking Jace directly in the eye. "You know, I really feel sorry for you. You're at the very top of my 'Pity List'. You've got a home on each side of the country, a skyrocketing acting career, and the opportunity to have more success than anyone else in this family. Yet you're still concerned that I just might be doing better than you. This isn't a competition. I've never even hinted at wanting to compete with you. You're a famous actor who has the tiger by the tail, yet you fail to see it because you're so caught up with me.

"Because you're apparently so interested in what's been going on in my life, here's the deal; come January, my bistro will be opened. I've already got a general manager lined up, along with a sous chef," Alec stated, then continued. "Am I still a fucking coward, brother dearest?"

"Wh-" Jace said, giving Alec a confused look, which only pissed Alec off even more.

"Oh, you don't remember?" Alec said, tilting his head mockingly at his brother. "You called me - and I'm quoting here - a 'fucking coward for not taking a risk'. So I'll ask again, Jonathan. Am I still a fucking coward?"

"N-no, Alec!" Jace exclaimed, eyes wide as saucers. "I-I never thought that about you!"

"Well, that's not what you said! You said that right before you made a dig at my lack of love life!" Alec knew he was yelling, but he'd kept all of this shit bottled up for too long. It was time he finally spoke his mind. "And that remark about me being why my relationships don't last… you can kiss my ass. You know full well that the reason humans date is to find a compatible person. You've got yours. I'm still looking. I can't help the fact that my love life doesn't meet your expectations, and I'm not happily settled down with a husband and 2.5 kids in a quaint little house with a fucking white picket fence!"

Alec finished his tirade, breathing so heavily he felt he had just completed a marathon. It felt good to get all of that off his chest, but he still needed to find out what Izzy's deal was.

"Jesus, Alec," Jace said, standing as he ran both hands through his hair. "I never thought that… any of that stuff, okay. Please, please, just let me explain. I need to tell you what happened."

Alec sat back down in the chair and made a hand gesture for Jace to continue, then crossed his arms over his chest as if that could protect him from more emotional abuse.

"Look," Jace said sitting back down, elbows resting on his bouncing knees. "My last publicist… manipulated me. He started asking all these questions about all of you guys. Then he kept going on about you. He would ask question after question about 'my chef brother', and then started saying things along the lines of 'well he seems like he's the most successful, I'm sure your parents are so proud'. Then Victor started saying things to me like you seemed to be the favorite. Victor asked me why you weren't pursuing your career, and when I told him that you're working to try to afford it, Victor said that you were just waiting to see how big of a name this movie would make me, and use that to your advantage. He also told me to distance myself from you. He even threw a fit when I told him that I asked you to be my best man. He pretty much just wanted you out of the picture - for a reason that I still don't know - and I let him manipulate me into thinking that the lies that he was 'whispering in my ear' were true.

"Then," Jace sucked in a breath, closing his eyes as if he were trying to concentrate or something. "He brought up Izzy's wedding. He told me that you would end up taking all of the attention away from Clary and I, like you seemed to have done at Iz and Simon's wedding. So I talked to Isabelle, and I took what Victor said to me and altered it a little to make it sound like you actually were the villain here, and got her to be on my side in all of this."

Alec's blood instantly started boiling again listening to Jace. He could feel his face heating up.

"So, what you're telling me is that you let some publicist twist your mind into thinking a bunch of shit that clearly wasn't true. Wow, Jonathan… just, wow," Alec shook his head in denial. There was silence for only a moment before Alec spoke again.

"You know what really pisses me off about all this?" Alec continued. "You clearly let what this douche said get to you, and you believed it. You may say that you don't believe all of that shit you told me, but if those thoughts had never crossed your mind at all, you never would have let that Victor guy get to you the way he did! This is just an excuse."

"Alec," Izzy spoke up.

"Don't you even dare speak right now, Isabelle," Alec turned sharply towards his sister. "I haven't even gotten started with you yet. You, dear little sister - the one person who'd always spoken their mind - suddenly became silent in this whole debacle. Please tell me what made 'The Great' Isabelle Sophia Lightwood become a mute. I'd really love to know."

"I don't know!" Isabelle said as tears ran down her face. "Jace would call me, asking me questions about the wedding, and every once in a while he'd talk about all of the attention you were getting on my wedding day. At first I didn't think anything of it because you just weren't home very often, but the more Jace prodded, the more annoyed I got… Jace made it seem like you took all of the attention away from me and Simon on our day."

"And why didn't you talk to me?" Alec asked. "You've always talked to me in the past, why not now?"

"I didn't want to cause a fight. You were staying with Simon and me, and I didn't want us to fight and end up tip toeing around each other," Isabelle replied giving Alec her pleading, puppy dog eyes.

"See, that's the thing about you and me," Alec responded, rubbing his temples because of the stress headache he was getting. "We always talked to each other about what was bothering us in the past. So, instead of you acting like an adult and communicating, you decided to act like a petulant child and make snarky remarks that made me feel like you didn't want me around. You know, you're a grown ass married woman who's about to start a new career. You need to start acting like the fucking adult that you are, and not the high school bitch that you used to pretend to be!"

Alec knew that was a low blow. He'd referenced a point when Izzy was in high school, and she decided to hang out with all of the popular, rich brats who treated everyone like trash. It inevitably caused Simon to briefly break up with her until she got her act together. Isabelle had been so ashamed of that time in her life, that she tried to block it out, and act like it never happened.

"I know," Isabelle lowered her gaze, staring at her hands that were sitting in her lap. "Simon told me the same thing."

"Well, listen to my best friend. He's a smart man," Alec sighed.

"So," Jace spoke up. "Are we okay?"

"Far from it," Alec said, giving a self deprecating laugh. "You say that you were manipulated, and in turn, you did the same to Isabelle." Alec paused, then looked them each in the eye. "But the thing is, you can only allow yourself to be manipulated if deep down you felt that the things that were said were true. So to answer your question, no Jonathan, we're not okay. At least now I know exactly what you and Isabelle truly think about me."

"Alec, no! That's not true at all," Isabelle exclaimed. "We don't think those things about you, you have to know that."

"Jace said that you and he were tired of playing second fiddle to me. I've told him once, and I'll say it again. Our relationship is done! I will be courteous, clean, and reverent… I'll be a goddamn Boy Scout in social and family settings, but we will not have the relationship that we used to have," Alec gave them both a hard look, then continued. "And because mom apparently seems so adamant on us 'fixing' our relationship, I'm willing to play nice, if only for the sake of our parents."

Alec paused and looked at his siblings, both of whom looked thoroughly chastise; as well as they should.

"Do you have anything else to add, Isabelle?" Alec asked, praying that she would speak up, and at least say something. Her silence was what hurt Alec the most. He could handle anything she wished to say to him, but his heart was breaking at her silence more than anything else.

"Only that I'm sorry. I would do anything to make up for my behavior," Isabelle mumbled while shrinking in on herself.

Before Alec had a chance to respond, Jace spoke up.

"I'm sorry, too, Alec. Just like Izzy, I'm willing to do what I can to make up for this," Jace looked at Alec pleadingly.

"Honestly," Alec looked at each of them. "I don't think there's anything you can do."

With that, Alec purposefully turned his back and walked out to search for his parents. It didn't take long to find them, as they were sitting in the front sitting room - Maryse reading a book, Robert the newspaper - they both glanced up as Alec entered.

"How did it go?" Maryse asked, getting straight to the point.

"That was dirty, mom," Alec said. "If you wanted me to talk to them that bad, all you had to do was ask. I would have done it, if only for you and not myself."

"I know, and I'm sorry," Maryse replied. "But I was just tired of seeing you hurt."

"And I still am. Just because you stuck us in a room, doesn't mean things magically got better," Alec said groaning. "But, since this is so important to you, I'll be back for Sunday dinner."

"Oh," Maryse said, sounding disappointed. "You won't be staying tonight?"

"No, I'm tired and I just want to go home," Alec kissed his mothers cheek and hugged his dad. "Tell Max I'll see him tomorrow. Where is he, by the way?"

"He had his senior orientation tonight. He should be home soon," Robert said, which Alec nodded.

"Well, I love you both. See you on Sunday," Alec said before leaving.

~oOo~

As emotionally and physically exhausted as he was, Alec decided to make a detour and go to a bar. The Hunter's Moon wasn't the type of bar Alec would have frequented, but considering the fact that he didn't want Jace or Izzy to try and find him, Alec decided that it was the best place for him. The bar itself was tucked away in an alley, and if you weren't looking for it, you'd never would have found it. Alec only happened upon it by chance. The outside of the bar had a few windows with bars over them. There was a sign above a single door with a small diamond shaped window in the center. The sign was of a moon with a wolf howling at it.

Inside the bar were very few patrons sitting at various tables, and one person sitting at the end of the bar. Alec took a look around; it was your typical dive bar with skuffed up wooden floors, exposed brick walls, a bar, a few tables and bad lighting. He decided to take a seat at the other end of the bar, and waited for the bartender to take his order. It wasn't like he was looking for conversation, so there was no need to sit next to anyone.

"Pick your poison," the bartender said as he walked over.

"Scotch neat," Alec sighed out. That was his favorite afterall.

"Wanna start a tab?" the man asked, sliding the drink over to Alec.

Alec just nodded and handed over his credit card. Alec sat at the bar drinking, and thought about what he'd said to Jace and Izzy. Had be been too hard on them? Had he gone too easy on them? Had he said too much, or not enough? Those thoughts played a constant loop inside his head as he sipped his drink. If someone told him a year ago that he would have had a falling out with his brother and sister, he would have laughed. Now, he couldn't help but wonder if they'd always thought so low of him. They were once his best friends for Christ Sake! But who knows, maybe they weren't meant to be friends? Maybe what he thought he had with them before was just a fluke? Was there some written law stating that siblings couldn't be friends as well as family?

"What seems to be troubling you?" the bartender asked as he set down Alec's fourth - sixth - drink? He'd lost count.

"Family ssuuuccksss," Alec slurred. "Mom loves meeeee, dad lovesss mee toooo. Sissster and brroverr, not shoooo mucch. Bebe breover looovesss me though." Alec's head was nodding up and down. He felt like he should stop, but his brain wouldn't cooperate with his head.

"Ah," Mr. Bartender said, nodding his head. Then Mr. Bartender started taking Alec's napkins.

"Heeeyyyy!" Alec said, snatching the napkins away. "Yoouu gave me those! Shorry, Mister Bartending-type-dude, no takebacksies."

"Okay, buddy," Mr. Bartender said, Alec was wondering who Buddy was? "I think you're cut off for the night. Is there anyone you can call to get you home?"

"Ummmm," who could Alec call? He couldn't call his stupid Isabelle and his stupid Ja- no no no - his name's Jonathan. Who could- "Magnus! Lub my Magnus! Yep, yep, yep."

Alec smiled, pulling out his phone. It took him two - three tries? But he finally unlocked his phone, and he felt his smile widen when the phone started ringing, and his love answered.

"Maaggnusss!" hic

~oOo~

AN: So… that happened. Let me know what you thought of the chapter, and maybe give me your thoughts on what Alec was thinking about when he was in the bar. I don't have a sneak peek for you guys, because, well… I kinda haven't had the chance to finish writing the next chapter yet. Work is still kicking my ass, and I'm working too much overtime. Also, last weekend we had a hurricane and lost power multiple times on Thursday night, and our internet didn't come back until Monday morning, so writing really wasn't an option for me. I'm hoping to get more writing done this weekend.

As for the Thursday evening update, instead of the (early) Friday morning update, I got a review from a guest reviewer this afternoon asking me if I am going to update. Please don't forget that my update schedule is every other Friday, but since your review made me laugh, I'm updating a few hours earlier than I normally do. Also, I'm not planning on making Magnus act like a douche… for a while at least? I'm not sure yet ;-)

So, Guest reviewer, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! :-)