Catarina sent Magnus a text the next day saying she was free on Sunday after her shift. When she arrived at their door she was still wearing her scrubs and Magnus suspected she had come straight from the hospital.

"It's nice to finally meet you," Alec said holding out his hand to the blue skinned women standing in front of him.

"You as well," she said, taking the handshake he offered. "I have heard a lot about you."

"What have you heard?" Alec said looking over at Magnus dubiously.

"All good things promise," Magnus said, waving his hand.

"Mostly I have heard Magnus fretting about you actually," Catarina said as she entered their loft, closing the door behind her.

"Is that so," Alec said. He gestured for her to follow him into the kitchen and she did. Magnus trailing behind, watchfully. "And what has he been fretting about?"

"Oh all sorts of things," Catarina said, sitting in a chair at the breakfast bar Alec had indicated. "Calling to pester me at work mostly. Please help I need a fake emergency in case my date with Alec goes horribly wrong. Please help me I don't know what to get Alec for his birthday? I can't do that job without seeing Alec could you please do it for me? But I am going to show up anyway cause I'm Magnus. I don't want to go to Alicante cause I might see Alec so can you go instead? Nevermind I have to go cause, Alec."

Alec started laughing before she finished speaking. He couldn't help it. Magnus sounded like a teenage girl the way his friend described him.

"Would you like something to drink?" Alec asked once he had his laughter under control.

"An iced tea?" Catarina said. "If you have any?"

"We do," Alec said, pulling a glass down from the top shelf. "I had no idea my relationship had affected you so much." Then after a moment's thought, he added. "Wait so he did have a plan for getting out of our first date then?"

"He never told you?" Catarina grinned. "He called me in hysterics. Telling me you were a dating hazard who was into blondes and he needed my help." She chuckled.

"Dating hazard?" Alec repeated. Pouring Catarina's iced tea.

"Yep," she said, taking the drink from him. "I made him call in all his dating favouring for a century."

"But since there was a real emergency," Magnus said. He was standing in the kitchen doorway. Alec had almost forgotten he was there since he hadn't spoken a word throughout their conversation "I don't think you can hold me to that."

"And why not?" Alec teased. "Planning some dates I don't know about?"

"I am starting to rethink this whole 'Alec should meet Catarina thing,'" Magnus said.

"My dear friend," Catarina said, but she couldn't keep the humor from her voice. "This was your idea."

"Yes but I suddenly feel outnumbered," Magnus said. "Which is strange considering I know both of you but you two just met." His eyes were narrowed like he was accusing them of something.

Catarina got a glint in her eye had made Magnus nervous.

"Since it all worked out so very well," Catarina said, to Alec. "I think I should inform you, I expect to be best women at your wedding."

Magnus remembered Catarina saying this before when she had agreed to help him with the fake emergency. He hadn't taken it seriously then. Now was different.

Alec watched as Magnus sputtered.

"Sure," Alec said. Magnus's gaze snapped to Alec. His eyes going wide. Alec's tone was so casual. Like he was talking about the weather. "I think you will have to share that honor with Izzy though."

"Oh Izzy yes," Catarina said. "I met her at the wedding. She is your sister, correct." Alec nodded. "Just give me enough warning to get my shifts covered and I am there. Any particular time of year in mind?"

"I am thinking fall," Alec continued. "Or early spring." Magnus stopped breathing. Were they joking? It wasn't possible that Alec was serious. The whole thing wasn't possible. A warlock and a shadowhunter couldn't get married in the eyes of the Clave. Magnus found himself leaning against the wall for support.

"Lovely time for a wedding. Fine weather. Do you have a venue in mind?"

"Outdoor park," Alec said. "Or maybe a destination wedding. I mean with a portal it wouldn't even be hard to transport guests right?"

"Portals are convenient," she said sipping her tea. Alec glanced at Magnus. He stood frozen. Alec wasn't even sure Magnus was breathing. He was so still.

"How long do you think we can keep this up before he actually faints?" Alec asked her, grinning from ear to ear.

"Oh I don't know," Catarina said. "Not long. He isn't made of very sturdy stuff." She laughed.

"I can see what you meant about this one, Magnus," she said, turning her gaze to the slightly traumatized warlock behind her. "He is rather brilliant."

Magnus mumbled. His legs gave out, and he sank down the wall to the floor. Alec thought maybe he had gone too far.

"Magnus," Alec said, leaning down next to him. "Are you okay?"

"So you were joking the whole time then?"

"Yeah," Alec said. Alec decided not to tell Magnus that he was only half joking, that he had wanted to see how Magnus would react to the idea.

Magnus took a deep breath and got up off the floor. He was relieved but also somehow felt diminished. No one had ever wanted to marry him before. No one had teased him about it before either.

"This place does look different I have to say," Catarina said, changing the topic. "More homey. Less bachelor pad." Alec laughed, pulling Magnus up off the floor and depositing him in a chair.

"You think?" Alec said. "I was going for food in the house, and you know clean."

"Well you have succeeded in that," Catarina said.

Mangus put his hand in his hands. "Just please don't become pen pals that talk about be when I'm not there," he said barely loud enough to be heard.

"Magnus," Alec said, his hands going to massage the warlock's shoulder. "Relax." Magnus moaned, but it was a happy sound from the motions of Alec's strong hands.

Magnus's phone rang, and he reluctantly got up and went into his room to answer it.

"That was too fun," Catarina said. "He just reacts so well."

"I owe you one," Alec said. "Anytime you want to tease Magnus just let me know."

"Owe me for what?"

"For talking sense into Magnus for me."

"Oh that doesn't count," she said, laughing. "I called you a helpless bunny rabbit."

"I am a shadowhunter," Alec said firmly, rethinking this whole debt thing. "Not a rodent."

"Well Camille was a manipulative woman," Catarina said. "As far as messing with people's emotions in evil ways she is definitely the python to your bunny rabbit."

"Is that the argument you used to talk sense into him?"

"Basically," Catarina said. "He is usually miserable when he's in love, you know. He had such lousy luck. All his friends hated Camille, and he still dated her."

"When you say usually…" Alec began. "You don't mean with me right?"

"That was my other argument," Catarina said. "He wasn't miserable with you. I could tell. Actually, I have never seen him so happy."

"Never," Alec said, his face lighting up.

"Never," Catarina said. "But surely he has told you that."

"He has in his way," Alec said. "But it means something different coming from someone who has known him for so long."

"Sometimes it's not the length of the relationship that matters so much," Catarina said. "But the power of it."

"What are you too gossiping about now!" Magnus said coming into the room, his posture defensive.

"Nothing," Alec said. "Who was on the phone?"

"No one important," Magnus said, then rounded on Catarina, his expression suspicious. "What have you been telling him?"

Catarina laughed. "Don't worry Magnus. I won't corrupt your adorable bunny rabbit." Alec blushed.

"I am not a bunny!" he said. Magnus relaxed. Laughing, he came over to Alec and kissed him on the cheek.

"You are adorable enough to be a bunny," Magnus said.

"I am a shadowhunter," Alec said. "I am not adorable."

"I will have to agree with Magnus on this one," Catarina said. "You are kinda adorable."

"He is taken," Magnus said gleefully wrapping his arms around Alec. Alec's blush deepened.

"Oh Magnus," Catarina said, rolling her eyes. "That is not what I meant."

"I know," Magnus said. It had been a great excuse to hug Alec, however.

"Who was the not important person on the phone?" Alec asked, clearly getting uncomfortable with the PDA in front of company despite his history of making out with Magnus in front of the Clave.

"Oh, just some shadowhunter asking if I would lecture for them at the academy."

"And what did you say?"

"I said I had better things to do," Magnus said kissing Alec's neck from where he stood, arms still wrapped around his boyfriend from behind. Magnus felt the shivers his kissed created as they run down Alec's spine.

"Magnus!" Alec said, his face very red now. "We have company."

"I have already agreed to teach there," Catarina said, ignoring the PDA. She had know Magnus a long time. "You know Ragnor would have wanted you to."

That ruined Magnus's mood. He let go of Alec and turned to Catarina. "Guilt really Catarina?" he said. "Low blow."

"You might enjoy it you know," Alec said his face returning to normal now. "What topic did they want you to lecture on?"

"I-," Magnus said. "Didn't really listen to that part. I was worried about what you were up to all alone." His eyes narrowed.

"I will come with you," Alec said. "If you go teach. It might be fun." Magnus groaned.

"Oh all right," Magnus said. "If you are both going to gang up on me."

"It's settled then," Catarina said. "You should call them back."

Magnus went back to his room grumbling.

"He is quite the character," Catarina said, as Magnus closed his bedroom door.

"He is," Alec said, adding to himself. He is all mine.

"I am so glad he met you," Catarina said. "It is wonderful to see my friend happy again." She beamed at Alec.

"Thanks," Alec said. "That means a lot."

"Though if you break his heart again, I will have to have words with you," her tone was still teasing.

"You don't have to worry about that," Alec said.

"I know," Catarina said. "I see the way you look at him." Alec blushed.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Your emotions are written on your face you know," she said.

Alec sighed. "I know," he said. "Sometimes it's really annoying."

Magnus's door opened, and he walked out with a sullen expression.

"There you happy now," he said. "I am going to be lecturing at the Academy for weeks!"

"What's the topic?"

"I-" Magnus started. "Nope wasn't listening."

"How are you going to plan lessons if you don't know what you're teaching about?"

"I will just wing it." Magnus shrugged.

"You are crazy," Alec said. "I could never do that."

"I know," Magnus said. "You would have every lesson planned well in advance and hand back everyone's homework early. They should ask you to lecture not me."

"It must be a topic they want your perspective on," Alec said. "You really should find out what it is."

Magnus just waved his hand, dismissively.

"So what's for lunch?" Magnus said, looking at Alec.

Alec cooked while Catarina and Magnus sat at the breakfast bar watching. It was a pleasant afternoon. Catarina ended up staying for dinner as well.

"I know you would like her," Magnus said, once the door closed behind his friend.

"She is an amazing person," Alec said. "So dedicated to her work."

"She is that indeed," Magnus said. "I have never seen healing magic to match hers. I would never have been able to wake up Jocelyn without her."

Alec turned away from the door and looked at Magnus.

"I am glad you have at least one person you love that you won't lose."

"Oh Alec," Magnus said. "It doesn't work like that. She is immortal but so were Ragnor and Raphael. There are no guarantees in life."

"I guess," Alec said. He forced himself back into the present. "Are you going to go find out what topic you are supposed to be teaching?"

"Oh that," Magnus said. "I would rather not worry about that." He pulled Alec closer, kissing his neck. A soft moan of pleasure escaped Alec. "There are so many other things we could be doing."

"Is that so?" Alec murmured into Magnus's ear.

"Indeed," Magnus purred as he moved his hands up under Alec's shirt pulling it over his head. Magnus felt Alec's grin under his kiss. Lips pulling tight over his teeth.

"If you keep smiling like that it is going to make kissing you rather difficult."

Alec's grin didn't break. Magnus started kissing Alec bare chest. Alec's hand had found his shirt now, and Magnus was forced to abandon Alec's perfect chest when his shirt came up over his head with lightning speed.

Alec seemed to have gotten his grin under control now as he spun them around with shadowhunter speed and pressed Magnus against the door, kissing him on the mouth now. The bare skin of Alec's chest pressed against his felt warm. Magnus could feel Alec's chest rising and falling fast and knew his breathing was just as erratic.

"Not that the door isn't lovely," Magnus breathed as Alec released his lips for a moment to caught his breath. "But we have the whole apartment to work with. The bed."

Alec answered the way he usually did, with action rather than words. Magnus felt Alec's hand just slightly graze the skin on his stomach as Alec grabbed hold of the fabric at the top of his pants. Alec pulled him, not breaking the kiss. Magnus' hands were in Alec's hair and the small of Alec's back as they moved through the apartment. Reaching their room Alec flung him onto the bed.

Alec was so different now than he had been. So much more confident. Alec knew what he was doing. And Magnus love it. Loved that Alec could be forward and commanding. He had loved Alec's shy innocence as well it's true but one of the beautiful things about a once in a lifetime love is that it changes. It grows with time and experience.