October 16, 2030 (Alec, 41; Ellie, 14)
The Portal closed with a snap behind them as Alec, Magnus, and Ellie stood, brushing sand off their knees. As Magnus had promised on their first anniversary, he and Alec had spent every anniversary on a beach. Their anniversary was one of the few times they let Ellie stay with family, usually Maryse or Jace and Clary, but this year was different. Today was their twentieth anniversary, and Magnus had something special planned.
They were standing on a beach in a small town on the island known as Outer Banks, North Carolina. The waves were lapping the beach, just out of reach of where they stood. The white sand was beginning to warm under their feet as the bright rays of the October sun beat down.
Magnus had reserved an enormous three-story beach house for the weekend. Alec had no idea why he had been so extravagant. There were only three people staying in the house, which had enough space to sleep fifteen comfortably.
A massive, sweeping staircase led to a full, wrap-around porch, complete with a hanging wooden swing and several wicker Adirondack-style chairs with floral print cushions. The exterior of the house was a pale blue with white trim.
Magnus let them in through double front doors, which opened into a huge living space. Ellie leapt into an overstuffed couch and snatched the TV remote from the glass coffee table. The remote, as it turned out, controlled the TV, multiple gaming consoles, the various pieces of equipment that would play movies, and the sound system. There was a vast library of movies and books lining either side of the mounted TV.
Ellie whistled her appreciation of the available entertainment.
They went through a doorway which opened into a game room, complete with a pool table, an air hockey machine, a dart board, and numerous board games and puzzles. Along one wall was a collection of surfboards and several floatation devices. At the far end of the room was a garage that concealed a set of jet skis. Ellie's eyes lit up at the sight of those.
On a far wall in the living room, was a staircase that wound around, with landings on each of the upper floors. There were five bedrooms in all, divided between the second and third floors. Ellie selected a bedroom on the second floor clad with pink and white furnishings. Magnus and Alec took the master suite on the third floor, affording them a little privacy, since there were celebrating their anniversary.
The master suite was astounding, taking up the majority of the upper floor. A king size four-poster bed was the centerpiece of the room, and Alec noted Magnus glancing slyly between him and the bed, but he would have to wait. They had things to do before they would get the chance to enjoy it.
A door leading off the master suite revealed a deep, octagonal Jacuzzi tub. Alec chewed his lip, thinking of how much fun he and Magnus would have later that night. They unloaded their belongings and met back in the open kitchen.
The first thing on Magnus's itinerary was visiting the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, one of the most well-recognized lighthouses in America. The picturesque lighthouse reached nearly two hundred feet high with wide spiraling black and white stripes. On this day, it was set against a clear blue sky, making it stand out regally.
The trio climbed the nearly two hundred and seventy steps to the top of the lighthouse, where they were rewarded with a breath-taking view of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding island. Just off the coast was a shallow area known as Diamond Shoals, the extent of which was easily seen from such a height.
Alec was immediately reminded of their trip to Cape May, all those years ago. He squeezed Magnus's hand as he thought about how they had kissed, so passionately, until they were interrupted by the young family joining them on the balcony. Had that really been so long ago? Sometimes it hardly seemed like any time had passed since their wedding day, but here they were, honoring the twentieth anniversary of the event.
Magnus made eye contact with Alec, and Alec could read in his expression that they were sharing the same memories. Alec wanted to push Magnus against the wall and kiss him thoroughly, like they were a couple of teenagers. But he would never do something like that in front of his daughter. He was older, wiser, more mature now. He would have to settle for undressing Magnus with his eyes, right there at the top of the lighthouse.
Magnus glanced at Ellie, who was busy looking over the edge of the balcony and not paying attention to her dads. He then leaned into Alec, placing a hand on Alec's waist and whispered in his ear, his warm breath stirring Alec's hair and making him sigh, "I love you." He kissed Alec gently on the lips, stealing a moment when their daughter wasn't watching.
Next, Magnus Portalled them to the northern tip of the Outer Banks island. It was a secluded area with sand dunes and brush and little scrub trees. It was also an area that was famous for having wild horses. In fact, there were currently six mustangs standing approximately fifty feet from where they stood, watching them with wide, curious eyes. Apparently, the horses were not used to humans magically appearing in front of them.
Alec glanced at Magnus, wondering what his husband had planned. Magnus grinned and said, "Watch this."
Alec and Ellie watched as Magnus's hands lit into blue flames. Magnus was chanting a soft, soothing mantra, which seemed to be lulling the horses. As Magnus approached the closest horse, a bay mare, Alec wanted to shout out a warning. He didn't know much about horses, having never been around them or learned how to ride properly, and he feared for Magnus. But he was more afraid of startling the large animals, so he quietly watched as Magnus reached out and patted the mare's neck.
In an instant, Magnus had swung his leg over the back of the horse and seated himself on her. To Alec's surprise, she did not protest. Magnus walked the horse around the beach a few times before dismounting and returning to his family.
He was beaming at the identical looks of astonishment on Alec's and Ellie's faces. He looked back over his shoulder and saw the beautiful horse shake her head, breaking free of his spell. She nodded a few times in his direction, bucked and kicked out behind her, and trotted away. Magnus raised a hand and waved goodbye.
"You are insane," Alec said, hugging his husband. Magnus chuckled. "Where did you learn to ride?"
Magnus gave him the look he reserves for when people ask stupid questions and said, "I'm four hundred years old. Cars are one hundred years old. You do the math."
Alec grinned sheepishly at his stupid question. Sometimes it was easy to forget how old Magnus really was, especially when he wrangled a wild horse and took her for a stroll on the beach.
As the sun dropped low in the sky, they traveled, via Portal, back to their beach house. The beach appeared abandoned, with not a soul in sight. Magnus built a fire on the beach and they roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, laughing and talking, enjoying being together as a family.
When the sun was just a crescent on the horizon, and the sky danced with patterns of red, gold, pink, and purple, Magnus turned to Ellie.
"Ellie," he said. "We invited you with us this year because it's a special year for us. Your Dad has agreed to renew our vows, and since you weren't here for our wedding, we wanted to share this special moment with you."
Ellie grinned. She knew her parents loved each other, it was plainly obvious. They were usually careful about exuberant displays of affection, especially in front of her. She was glad they included her in this special moment for them.
Magnus turned to Alec and took his hands.
"Alexander Gideon Lightwood, twenty years ago, at this very moment, you and I became magically and eternally bound in love and matrimony. I have never known happiness as I have known it with you. You are the great love of my life, and I wouldn't change one second of the time I have had with you. I carry the fire of our binding spell within my heart, each and every day that I love you, and I will carry it forever."
Magnus produced an anniversary band, similar to their wedding band. It was marked with runes of love, life, and happiness. He slipped the ring onto Alec's finger, nestling against his wedding ring.
"Magnus Bane, I am eternally grateful for your love and patience, and for the life we have created. I never thought I would find someone who makes me feel the way you do. I never thought I would get to have a marriage and a family. You have single-handedly made every dream I've had come true. I love you, more than words can say, and I will always love you."
Alec placed a similar band on Magnus's finger. As he took Magnus's hand again, they both felt the warm flame that had resided within their hearts since their wedding flare up, consume them in it's fiery magic, encompass them in a haze of blue. Magnus felt his arms trembling slightly with the force of the spell, and the strength of their love. With a final burst, the flames disappeared, coalescing again within their hearts.
Magnus leaned in and kissed Alec, gently on the lips, completing the renewal of their vows, replenishing the strength of their binding spell.
They turned, together, to see Ellie watching them, a smile plastered to her face. "Is that what your original wedding was like?" she asked.
"Not exactly," Magnus said, "The original was much more spectacular."
"Does everyone renew their vows?" Ellie continued, curious about the whole affair.
"No," Magnus said. "It's not really necessary to renew your vows. The marriage is binding without needing renewal, as is the spell. I just thought it would be really romantic. Plus, we wanted to share this with the most important person in our life…you."
Magnus tapped his finger softly against her chin, and she grinned.
They spent the next few hours on the beach, warming themselves next to the fire as a cool breeze blew inland. The soft sound of the waves crashing onto the sand was a peaceful, serene backdrop for their happiness and joy.
Magnus became quite the story-teller, sitting around the campfire. He told Ellie stories about dating Alec, the clean versions of course. Alec's face was in a constant blush throughout the evening, which Magnus thought was endearing, and was something he hadn't seen much of recently. As Alec had matured, and become more comfortable in his own skin and with the life he led, there had been fewer and fewer opportunities to make the Shadowhunter blush. Magnus was thrilled to have finally found a way to make it happen again.
Alec, for his part, attempted to embarrass Magnus as well, but he was not very successful. Magnus rarely blushed, rarely became embarrassed about anything. He certainly wasn't embarrassed about shamelessly pursuing Alec, especially not with how that pursuit had turned out.
Ellie giggled at her dads and their escapades. She was now old enough to understand how special her dads' relationship really was, how many obstacles they had overcome to be together, to be married and to be her parents. She couldn't imagine having better parents than Magnus and Alec, even if they were a bit too overprotective at times.
The story-telling continued long into the night, until the fire was dying and the chill October air was becoming unpleasant. At long last, the family retired to their beach house. Magnus and Alec said goodnight to their daughter, who decided to sleep in the first floor living room so that she could play video games until she fell asleep.
Magnus and Alec climbed the two flights of stairs to their master bedroom and softly closed, and locked, the door behind them. Neither felt tired, and neither wanted the night to end yet. There was something about renewing their wedding vows that made them feel alive, that set there blood on fire, and made their need to be together that much stronger.
Magnus drew a bath in the oversized Jacuzzi tub in the master bathroom. He added some flowery-scented bubbles, and let the aroma fill the air. Then, finally, he allowed himself the thing he had been patiently waiting for all evening. Alec.
He closed the distance between him and Alec in one long stride, and wasted no time wrapping his arms around his husband. He smiled and whispered, "I love you," before brushing his lips against Alec's and feeling the shudder that ran through Alec's body.
Alec's arms wound around Magnus's neck as their lips met over and over again. Magnus felt no need to rush things, taking his time, teasing his lover. He ran his hands up and down Alec's arms, inciting friction, but not to the extent Alec wanted. His hands gripped Alec's shoulders, moved up to his neck, then back down his arms to his fingers. Magnus could tell it was driving Alec crazy by the way Alec's body was moving against his, pressing, begging for more.
Another trip of his fingers back up Alec's arms, and he could feel the Shadowhunter tremble with anticipation. Magnus finally relented. He let his hands slowly fall down Alec's back, pressing against the small of his back, rubbing lazy circles. Alec actually stomped his foot in frustration and Magnus smirked against his lips.
Magnus found the edge of Alec's long-sleeved t-shirt and ran his hands underneath it, his skin touching the fiery, demanding skin of Alec's back, sliding up his back and pulling the shirt along with them. Alec sighed as Magnus pulled the shirt over his head, then resumed caressing his naked upper body.
Alec did not bother putting his arms around Magnus's neck this time, instead wrapping them around Magnus's waist, pulling at the hem of his shirt, attempting to move the process along. Magnus's body melted into Alec's touch as he quickly relieved Magnus of his shirt. Pressing their bare chests together elicited a guttural moan from both Magnus and Alec, as warmth seeped into the other's skin, approaching an equilibrium.
Alec's lips moved from Magnus's, along his cheek and jaw line, gently taking the shell of his ear into his mouth and sucking. Magnus was losing the fight. He knew if Alec continued doing what he was doing, he would not maintain enough control to take things slow.
Magnus broke away, shaking his head to clear it and remembering that the heady, intoxicating aroma in the room was not just his and Alec's scent, not just the smell of love and lust, but also the smell of a warm bath waiting for them. He quickly finished undressing himself and Alec, eliciting a triumphant grin from his husband.
They climbed into the massive tub, and lowered themselves into the warm, fragrant water. Magnus turned on the jets and Alec leaned back, closing his eyes as the wonderful sensation hit him. Alec relaxed his body, floating on the current created by the jets. Magnus caught his feet, placing them in his lap and massaging his soles. Alec moaned in delight as Magnus worked his way up Alec's legs, his body putty in Magnus's capable hands.
Magnus pulled Alec's flaccid, malleable body to him, continuing his seductive massage, working on the knots in Alec's back and shoulders. Alec moaned even louder at that.
Magnus turned Alec to face him, his husband straddling his lap. He pressed their bodies together, finally resuming the kiss he had interrupted earlier. The bath had been relaxing, and Magnus had planned to conjure a bottle of champagne to elevate the experience that much higher, but he was quickly realizing neither he nor Alec had the patience, or ability, to wait much longer to be together. Their need for each other was growing with every kiss, every touch, every motion of the water surrounding them.
Magnus rose, pulling Alec with him, and wrapped an oversized towel around their bodies. They stumbled from the bathroom, their bodies tangled together in a melee of arms and legs, lips and tongues. They toppled onto the bed, losing the towel in the process, and not caring one bit about it. Nothing existed in that moment but the two lovers, the two men who had, just hours before, professed their unwavering love for each other on a secluded beach.