Help Wanted

by Shin Sankai

Answering an ad in the paper, desperately in need of money to pay the rent and also several other debts, Alexander Lightwood never would of thought he'd be sitting in front of the most beautiful man he'd ever seen in his life and being advised just what the job entails which is far from the private tutoring he thought he was applying for. AU-none Shadowhunter-verse (MALEC)

14. Chapter 14

Help Wanted

By: Shin Sankai

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Author's Notes: So, personal plug here. I've no idea the nationality of anyone who reads my little stories, but this is a personal shout out to any Aussies and their families doing it tough with the devastating bush fires that are ravishing our beloved country. Its heart breaking to see our beautiful country up in flames like this. My little state has had a few fires, blanketed in smoke from other states, but my family and I are very lucky that we are not directly affected. Please do as many rain dances as you can (or pray) for it for all the affected areas of our country!

Moving on from that, this chapter may have been a bit harder then I thought. I seem to be saying that rather frequently now, which I don't like. I want the chapters to flow with ease and yet... It is NOT happening.

On that note, there is some Lightwood sibling tension (and awkward explanations abound) as Alec had to go and confront his 'demons' of facing them and what he'd been hiding all this time. Its been done as past tense, so forewarning there.

There was also the fact this chapter took me awhile to put together because of other distractions as well. Work is a pain, no shock there, but worst of all, I freaking thought up another Malec story! Technically two oneshots! That now totals three stories I have to now, one day, work on. Plus, I seem to be addicted to 'Legendary – Game of Heroes' which I'm really bad at, and its become ridiculously hard as of late which I hate, but I can't seem to uninstall the app. Argh! :/

Anyway, a welcome relief from trying not to think up any other stuff as my brain is seriously going to explode, was finally tackling some of my notes, actually working out the ending (and an epilogue) for this saga. Why do I find it easy knowing how its going to end and yet getting there is a damn struggle. Though I am not sure when that will happen since I keep thinking about stuff to throw in! I also started expanding on some notes/ideas about Robert's family which Alec and his siblings know nothing about, but mainly started to develop some steamy scenes between the boys, so look out for that!

I know I promised more Jace and Asmodeus, but in this chapter it is only a bit more Asmodeus. As for Jace, whilst he was there, he wasn't there to say much at this stage. I need to still develop what's up with the blonde and then have him and Alec reconnect on their own in the next chapter. Hopefully... Actually, I'm pretty sure I've got it flagged there. Along with Alec and Magnus going further too. :D

And with that, if you have even read that far in my dribble of notes, here is the next chapter up for grabs. Enjoy!

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Chapter 14: Its cold outside, but things are heating up!

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Alec unlocked the door to the apartment and slid inside, arms practically overflowing with grocery bags as he kicked the door closed, it auto-locking behind him.

"Alexander, you could have sent me a message and I would have come down to help." Came the concerned voice of the older man further in the apartment. "Or more importantly you could of told me you were going to restock the pantry and fridge so enthusiastically and I would have come along."

Magnus always left money in a little pottery dish on top of the fridge for Alec to access for his usual grocery and takeaway runs which he generally did once or twice a week, depending on what was going on.

Since he'd been out of commission for the first two weeks in hospital and then this past week and a bit he was pretty much being confined to the house, and mainly his bedroom (thank you Magnus) the fridge and pantry were looking pretty low in certain items, fresh fruit and veg being a main thing which Alec didn't like.

Not that Alec had had much of an appetite, but there were three growing children to feed so of course the moment Magnus wasn't eyeing him like a hawk, he'd sneak away to go run errands as per what he normally did prior to the accident. The first time he had done it, he really had overexerted himself and was downright sore and tired for the next couple of days. Magnus had not been impressed, hence the almost 'house arrest' he'd been under.

Alec had finally placed the bags on the ground, sliding several off his wrists which now had 'bag mark straps' on his pale skin due to their heaviness and finally shifted his gaze over to a slightly put out and worried Magnus.

Magnus who was gorgeously dressed in silver skinny jeans, which seemed to shimmer in the sunlight streaming through the large windows and balcony glass doors as there appeared to be diamonte's sewn into the material running up the sides of the man's insanely long legs. The jeans were clasped low against Magnus' prominent hips and were held there by a studded black belt. The photographer had complimented the skin tight jeans with a silky black shirt, tucked into the waist band but the buttons were shockingly undone, right down to his very navel! Alec had to quell the desire to lick his lips as he gazed right back at Magnus and the two silver and gold chains around his neck, the shiny metal practically pouncing off his taut and muscular golden-bronze skin rather alluringly.

"Its alright, I'm..." Alec lost his train of thought in being able to respond to Magnus as the man had walked on over, tilting his head down and planted a gentle kiss on his lips in a sweet gesture of greeting. "...fine." Alec mumbled just as Magnus backed away, presenting him with his dashing smile and of course making him blush.

Alec was dating Magnus. Officially. It was something the younger man had actually been pinching himself over for the past couple of weeks now.

"Welcome home." That very greeting, whether it was said by Magnus or his children, or all four simultaneously together, it never ceased to amaze Alec at how it always placed him at ease. Hell itself could be waging war within Alec, making him doubt himself (which of course he usually did) but here, with Magnus and his children, Alec's body and mind calmed. This place, this family, it truly felt like nothing else to him. He felt grounded here. He felt he belonged.

Of course once he thought of that, came to that very conclusion, Alec was pretty damn embarrassed and squashed it immediately. Shoved it deep down into the dark recesses of his shy inexperienced heart. There was just no way he would dare confess something like that aloud. After all, he didn't want to scare Magnus off.

Magnus who was his very first boyfriend. For a whole two weeks now. But what a couple of weeks it had been! Alec was constantly greeted with sweet and gentle kisses like that when he came home or when Magnus came back. And when the kids were finally tucked in bed, angelic slumbering faces buried into pillows and cuddly toys, Magnus would draw Alec to the couch and cuddle together whilst watching some random fashion show or even the home shopping network.

It was a guilty pleasure of Magnus' since several of his kitchen appliances had been bought from there at ungodly hours of the morning. Even if Magnus contemplated on buying that latest coffee machine, or the pasta roller, or that vegetable chopper, never mind the fact he had all those things already, his attention would always be stolen by Alec's fluttering fingers dragging up and down his bare forearm. It was something that Alec had started to do, shyly trying to get his attention and when their eyes met, their lips drew together soon after. Magnus would bestow the adorable man with multiple lazy kisses, pulling Alec further over his body, never wanting his own to loom over the young man since he thought maybe that would scare Alec off and so he would loosely wrap his arms around Alec's waist, being ever so patient to see what the blue eyed beauty would do.

Which adorably so, wasn't very much from his younger boyfriend. The lazy kisses and the tiny caresses didn't advance much over the coming days, but Magnus was fine with that. He could go slow because he enjoyed these moments. He thoroughly enjoyed the sighs and the moans, even the tiny chuckles and downright adorable bursts of a giggle every now and then if his lips or fingers fluttered over Alec's skin, at particular sensitive places, that even he seemed surprised at realising just how ticklish he could be.

Though really, ever since becoming boyfriends, not much had changed. Alec still pretty much ran the home, collecting the children from school and day care, running various errands, grocery runs, park and arcade adventures, cuddles, baths and storybook time. All these things Alec really loved to do. He was trying to get back into his cooking and loved baking with the kids once more. He was always on hand to entertain and care for the residents of this apartment. Alec almost felt like he was born to do it. Born to look after the Bane family.

Life, right now, for the most part, was pretty bloody fantastic for Alec. He got to be part of three adorable children's lives and he had a very sexy boyfriend which always made Alec pause and take a moment for that to sink in.

'You're dating Magnus!' His inner voice would scream in delight, making Alec grin like a fool every time that thought hit him. 'Are you even boyfriend material? Especially for someone as amazing and experienced as Magnus?' The little voice would soon place doubt in his head, ever the pessimist that it was. It clawed at his happiness, trying to drive the darkness into the tiny bit of light in his life. Alec was sure it probably would have won, back when he thought nothing like this could ever happen to him, but lately he'd been getting better at fighting off his doubts and low self esteem. Or so he thought. And all it took was to think of Magnus and what had been happening constantly now.

At first when Magnus had asked him to be his boyfriend, Alec of an evening couldn't dare venture into Magnus' bedroom. It almost seemed easier to rest in bed with the gorgeous man at his side when they weren't officially together. Now that they were indeed boyfriends, there were so many more 'what if' situations that had actually been doing Alec's head in.

What if he laid beside Magnus and the man forced himself on him when he wasn't ready? What if he forced himself on Magnus and he wasn't ready? What if it started nicely, just some kissing and caressing which Alec really did enjoy, but then what if Magnus brushed his hand further down his body and made him freeze? Made him afraid to be touched? What if, at the end of the day, if they did begin to remove their clothing more and more and Magnus saw him, saw his body up close and personal and became repulsed by it? Repulsed by him? What if Alec wasn't attractive enough for Magnus?

Oh how such thoughts kept him tossing and turning for hours on end. So much so, on the third night it had happened, his third night out of hospital, and Alec was not venturing into Magnus' bedroom yet again. On that third restless night Alec finally had enough of his racing thoughts and rolled out of bed and ended up in the lounge room, placing on Magnus' stereo system and shifting it to some sort of relaxation radio station for the insomniacs of the world and listened to the waves crashing softly through the speakers. Alec had closed his eyes for a moment, soaking up the sounds of the waves on the shore and was suddenly consumed by the soft noise and slowly began to move, arms and legs fluidly moving with the rest of his body. His bare feet glided over the rug as Alec drifted into an easy kata he'd watched years ago on the internet and had perfected.

Alec had no idea how long he'd been at it, but when the crashing of the waves shifted to a light piano tune, Alec stopped his movements, drawing in some deep breaths. His eyes snapped open when there was soft clapping from behind him and spun around to find Magnus sitting cross legged on the floorboards, dressed in silk black and gold pyjama bottoms, hair messy and falling to his shoulders and seemingly, completely, enraptured by him of all people.

'I had no idea how graceful and beautiful you were. I had suspected, from the moment I met you, but now this is proof.' Of course Alec blushed in the dim lighting. He was just gliding around by moonlight streaming in through the large windows which Magnus never covered with blinds or curtains and hoped he really hoped the older man couldn't see it.

'How... How long have you been there?'

'Since I heard your door creak open about an hour ago.' Alec gulped down the lump in his throat as Magnus had been watching him all that time!

'You could have called out to me.'

'And ruin my free show, not a chance.' Magnus quipped softly back and rose fluidly to his full height, drifting over to Alec's prone form and gave him a tiny grin. 'What is on your mind Alexander?'

'I...' Magnus watched those troubled pretty blue eyes drop to the floor. It pained him that Alec seemed to be filled with jumbled thoughts and didn't think he would listen to them. Magnus placed his hand under Alec's chin, drawing his face and eyes up towards his own.

'You know you can tell me anything.'

'I don't want to scare you away.' Magnus arched an eyebrow at that. He'd hardly think anything Alec could do would scare him away. This young man was utterly precious. He on the other hand... 'Can I... Can I sleep with you?' Of course Magnus arched an eyebrow at that and yes, this close to Alec he watched his cheeks flush red in the darkness. 'I... I mean... next to you. In your room. Your bed.' Oh how Magnus had to hold his tongue from teasing the young man before him. Because in that moment, in those pretty blue eyes, he understood.

'Are you restless if I'm not near you?' The tiny nod of the head melted Magnus' heart.

'Maybe its because you stayed with me in the hospital.' Alec tried to reason. 'Or maybe its just because I like having you close to me now.' There was a pause as Alec's words finally sunk in. He frowned at his own ludicrous observation. 'Never mind. Please forget I said anything. I'll just...go back to my room.' His shoulders slumped as he tried to make his escape.

'Have you thought to ask why I'm also up at this ungodly hour?' Magnus softly questioned, and of course he hadn't let Alec escape, his firm grip already around one of Alec's wrists, keeping the man close.

'Wh-Why?' The adorable stutter was back.

'I cannot seem to settle without you beside me too.' Blue eyes darted up, seeing the truth within Magnus' weary brown-golden orbs. Alec observed a tiny little smile reach Magnus' lips, like he were a little surprised at his own revelation just then. 'Come on, lets go to bed.' Magnus squeezed Alec's hand before turning off his stereo and then pulled the quiet young man into his room and into his bed. Their body warmth enveloped each other, soft sighs drifted through the darkness and heavy eyelids finally closed.

That had been Alec's first night back in Magnus' bed after having become official boyfriends.

The very next morning, and the others after that, Alec had been roused from slumber by lips fluttering over his forehead, down to his eyelids and then a couple kisses to his warming cheeks, before a tiny little peck to his slowly grinning lips.

Alec was usually an early riser, but these days he didn't want to wake from the best sleeps he'd had in forever. Plus there was the part where he got to wake up to Magnus' kisses. And then there was the fact he was generally tucked into Magnus' side, the man cocooning him in his warmth, even if Magnus only went to bed half clothed. His skin was smooth and warm and golden and Alec liked it. A lot.

On a couple of occasions, Magnus dared to take the morning kisses a little bit further and his teeth came into play, nipping at his neck, it making Alec giggle, his blue eyes snapping open to stare up at wondrous brown-golden orbs, Magnus smiling wide at having elicited that sort of noise from him. Alec had never thought of himself as a giggler, but some things Magnus did to him and got out of him, surprised them both. And he wasn't going to run away from it.

Turns out, Alec had a pretty sensitive neck and any form of kissing, sucking or nipping at his fleshy skin had him giggling most times before Magnus awarded himself with some little moans from Alec's lips too, deciding to lean over Alec a little more, placing more feelings into their morning kisses. When that happened, Alec would begin to squirm about, feeling nervous energy pool within the pit of his stomach.

And as if Magnus could feel it, sense it, the man would graciously pull away.

'Morning, Pretty Boy.' Magnus' grin would widen as he continuously blushed at the endearment which was always bestowed on him of a morning. Though they had been tittering so close on that line of going way too far in such a fake relationship, now that line didn't matter at all. He and Magnus could do whatever they liked since becoming boyfriends, but Magnus was so wonderful to him, not forcing anything on him. And usually with morning greetings like that, Alec didn't bother to respond to Magnus(these kisses had pretty much tuned into a ritual for the older man) and instead shifted onto his side and buried his head into Magnus' bare chest. 'Oh... Are you being my shy boy today?' Magnus' deep rumbling voice fluttered into Alec's ear, a chuckle on the tip of his tongue, making Alec blush harder as the older man's fingers caressed through his messy hair soothingly. 'Do you not want to get up this morning?' Alec's answer to the question was to wind his left arm over Magnus' narrow waist and hold him close, it bringing more delightful chuckles from Magnus' lips as his warm breath fanned over the back of his neck, pressing lips to the crux between his neck and shoulder region which made him shudder every single time. The moment usually lasted for all of ten minutes until adorable voices were calling out to Alec for breakfast.

And so the morning ritual would end and the days events would begin with Alec showering, door locked as he just wasn't ready for that sort of thing with Magnus just yet. He pondered long and hard as he knew he and Magnus really needed to communicate more and not just fall innocently into bed together of an evening. Alec for the most part, even if only having a boyfriend officially for a couple of weeks really wanted to try things. He wasn't sure what things, but he knew he wanted to try them with Magnus. He didn't know the first thing about flirting and making moves on someone, but he did know what he wanted. Magnus.

But alas, Alec hadn't worked up the courage to ask the man anything (or try anything more) and instead remained content with the kissing and the light caresses. As a week passed, Alec began to wonder if Magnus was becoming impatient though he never once appeared that way on the outside.

"What's going on in that head of yours?" Alec snapped from his past thoughts to blink at Magnus who had an all knowing smile on his handsome face. "Are you over thinking in there?" Magnus tapped the side of his head with one of his delicate index fingers.

"N-No..." Brown-golden orbs narrowed slightly, a calculative expression on Magnus' beautiful face showing before he gave him a little slack and beamed him a smile before smacking his lips back against his for a few moments. When Magnus was satisfied, he effortlessly scooped up all the bags and headed off towards the kitchen.

Alec allowed him to go, to dumbfounded since he was still reeling at how much Magnus was coddling him.

As Magnus sauntered off to the kitchen, a man on a mission, and of course completely overloaded with bags of heavy groceries but had a grace and poise which was so very him, Alec took a moment to get his heart rate in check whilst also removing his jacket and shoes.

"Magnus, you don't have to constantly hover around me and think I'm going to strain myself. I'm fine. And I'm sure you have a lot of work to do with the renovations having started now too." Alec blurted out, hoping Magnus could hear him from the entranceway. "Dr Hill cleared me as well." Alec called out again, unsure if he was miffed by Magnus' over protectiveness or whether he was just insanely touched by it. Alec had never had anyone worry about him the way Magnus did. Oh sure his siblings loved him, even if two were upset at him nowadays and he'd seen the worry in their faces and voices over the years, but Magnus' worrying was like nothing else.

What Alec spoke of, about being cleared by Dr Hill, his local GP, was true. One of the last check-up appointments he had booked, Magnus had actually escorted him to the clinic, calling Clary to advise her he would be late in at the gallery that morning because of wanting to take him to the appointment. Alec had truly thought Magnus was just dropping him off, but he had sat beside him in the waiting room and when his name was called, Magnus came into the consulting room with him! Alec wasn't sure how he felt about that, but when he took a seat on the examination bed and Magnus sat in a chair, one leg crossed over the other, it did make a goofy grin form on his lips.

He now had someone who was changing their entire morning routine for him. The emotions bubbled within Alec that day were indescribable.

That day Alec had even found it particularly cute the way Magnus pulled a little notepad – metallic blue with purple glitter on it – from inside his inner jacket pocket and then clicked a pen and began taking notes of what Dr Hill was saying about his recovery! Alec was utterly bewildered as Magnus asked a few questions, nodding here and there as his GP was answering all of them and observed Magnus jot down dot point notes whilst he was at it too!

Alec's superficial bumps and bruises were long gone, any lacerations which were stitched up and healing under bandages, which had covered his arms, legs, torso and of course the one on his head had all been removed, only faint traces of scars littered Alec's body now. The major surgery done to him, where the neurosurgeon had to drill the burr hole in his head, was now infection and swollen free and most of his hair had pretty much grown back and covered it up nicely these days. So much so, Alec wasn't too self conscious to leave the apartment without his beanie now, but Magnus had said he looked cute in the grey beanie with his hair poking out the end of it and some of his bangs curling over his forehead in the dewy cool air. Of course, thanks to that compliment, Alec may have decided to wear it more often and just mumbled he was cold and trying to keep his body heat from escaping the top of his head even if Magnus was giving him a shit eating grin, the older man knowing better.

Alec's ribs were what were taking the longest to heal, which was a pain for Alec since he really wanted to get back into some form of exercise, but Dr Hill had advised him to give it one more week. He was going to protest until Magnus turned to look at him, giving him those pouting and frowning brown-golden orbs and there was no way Alec could argue anymore. He lost the battle before the fight could even begin.

'Can I at least get stuck back into some chores around the house? I feel like such a slob just being confined to the bedroom and not being able to help out with the kids or anything around the house. Can I at least start truly cooking again?' Hope shone in Alec's eyes as he gazed over at his doctor. As much as he loved being snuggled in bed, with Magnus' adorable cherubs curled around him when they were home from school and day care (and on the weekends) he also hated being cooped up so much at the same time. The instigator of that was of course the very gorgeous man sitting on the chair across from the examination bed, Alec's legs swinging in boredom as he had breathed in and out as Dr Hill was checking his heart and lungs and also popped a thermometer between his lips as he wanted to check his temperature too.

'Whilst you have been in quite an accident, and are very lucky to be alive, you should have been perfectly fine to continue with such things without delay, as long as the chores aren't too strenuous on your body.' Alec shifted his slightly narrowed and pointed gaze over at Magnus. 'Light chores should be fine. Anything too strenuous will place a strain on your healing ribs and any sort of over exertion could delay the healing process. You are fine to do all the above, but you still need to listen to your body. If it aches, you stop and take a rest. You don't keep powering through alright?'

'Yes Dr Hill.' Alec mumbled since he still had the thermometer between his lips.

'So strenuous activities like running or going to workouts at the gym are still a no go and I'm afraid that also includes bedroom activities too. Its best to keep sex off the tables until I give you a full clearance.'

'Wh-What?' Alec turned beetroot red as the doctor had shifted away from him and was clacking on his keyboard, placing notes into his medical file and was also in the process of refilling one of Alec's prescriptions for another week. Just a minor pain relief for his mending ribs.

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When Alec first returned home and was doing several things, too many things, he was taking quite a strong pain medication. And a lot of them too. When Magnus found out what he'd been up to, over exerting himself far too much, he'd laid down the law and hadn't ventured off to the gallery and pointed stubbornly to the bedroom and made Alec go lie down. Magnus had even taken his pain medication from him too. Alec blinked owlishly at that since they felt nice and his ribs didn't hurt so much, but the stubbornness of Magnus knew no bounds.

'Pain medication can be like alcohol Alexander. You can become too dependant on them and its hard to break free.' And that was enough for Alec to release the bottle and Magnus took it away, out of his line of sight. Alec wasn't sure if he flushed them or locked them away somewhere and had decided to monitor his pain threshold. In the end when Magnus returned to his side, he helped him into bed and brought him a nice cup of tea and biscuits. They weren't as good as the ones Alec usually baked, but they would do. Emergency supply until you are better is what Magnus had muttered.

After about an hour Alec had called out to Magnus saying he was bored. The grinning man came back in with a handful of sketchbooks and Alec returned the happy grin as he was allowed to, once again, flip through Magnus' amazing drawings once more, the very man making himself comfortable above the covers next to him and was clacking away on his laptop and taking a few phone calls too.

Somewhere along the line Alec had fallen asleep leaning against Magnus' shoulder, but he was only out for about an hour and got back into looking through the mountain of sketchbooks Magnus had loaned him. Another fresh cup of tea and some Chinese herbs were mixed in and Alec sighed as the ache in his ribs seem to lesson. He wanted to ask Magnus what they were, but the man looked busy and so he continued to gaze through the fourth sketchbook.

Again, time passed and Alec had to place the sketchbook down and had pushed the covers off his legs.

'And where do you think you're going?'

'Bathroom...' Alec pouted as he eyed Magnus. Surely the man wasn't going to stop him from going to pee?!

'Alright.' Alec rolled his eyes as he thanked the angel Magnus let him go and headed out the door.

'I saw that look, Blue Eyes.' Magnus mumbled before picking up his phone as he took a call from Clary. Alec found the coddling from Magnus equally annoying and sweet.

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The consultation room had grown awfully quiet and when Dr Hill turned to look back at his patient, he found a very red faced Alec. 'Oh, my apologies, I thought the two of you were... Please forget I said anything as I've clearly upset you.' Magnus himself was finding this all quite amusing.

'He's not upset, just a little skittish around such open talk like that.' Eyes shifted over to Magnus. 'And your assumption of us is correct Dr Hill, but we are not...at that step in our relationship.' Magnus delicately responded whilst he placed his notepad and pen away and got up and moved over to Alec, placing his hand against Alec's right knee and gave it a light squeeze as though that very notion would calm the fire-engine red faced young man down. Magnus had hoped Alec wasn't about to go into a panic attack. But if he did, well, at least they were in the right place for it.

'Well, when you do get to that step, whether you decide to use condoms or not, make sure to get thoroughly checked before going further.' Magnus watched Alec's cheeks darken as he ducked his head adorably. How could one man be so darn endearing?

'I assure you Dr Hill, I am regularly checked and I am clear.' Magnus confessed, trying not to pay attention to Alec's head jerking up and his wide eyes were looking over at him.

Dr Hill moved back over, the thermometer from between Alec's lips was removed from his mouth, Alec still blushing sweetly, possibly even a little mortified as some spit went with the thermometer, dribbling out of the corner of his mouth. Dr Hill, without blinking an eye had passed him a tissue to mop it up. Even that was cute to Magnus.

'Your heart rate and temperature is perfect. Your lungs seem clear too so your cracked ribs haven't caused any further damages or punctures to them.' The doctor muttered as he slid back over to his desk on his wheeled chair. 'Any headaches? How about a loss of vision? What about your appetite these days? Are you keeping your meals down?' When there was no response, Dr Hill shifted his gaze to a very nervous and lost in thought Alec. 'Alec?'

'Oh, um, what?'

'Shall I answer for you since I was paying attention to Dr Hill?' Magnus teased a little and shifted his gaze to the doctor. 'He did have a slight dependency on the stronger pain medication, but that has since stopped, as it is no longer being prescribed and he rarely takes the low dose of pain medication these days. Though I have had him under house arrest so he hasn't had a chance to over exert himself like he did before.' Magnus gave a small grin. 'I'm also pleased to report that Alexander hasn't experienced any headaches or loss of vision either. Well, unless he's been lying to me?' Alec found Magnus' slightly narrowed gaze on him and he shook his head, his indication that no he wasn't lying to Magnus.

'Good, good. That is what I like to hear. Now, the appetite, how is that?'

'We've been sticking to soups, sandwiches and salads mostly since his appetite was not that great when he was in hospital and also when he was discharged. Alec was still fairly weak since he was over exerting himself. I figured going straight back into heavy foods or foods rich in acidity, creams or spices wasn't a great idea even if he does need to put on some weight.'

'Magnus...' Alec hadn't realised, though he should have, how much Magnus had been paying attention to him, worrying about him.

'Perhaps yourself too?' Dr Hill wisely quipped. Magnus gazed down at himself noticing his shirt did seem a little looser then what it usually was on his lithe and muscular frame. 'When a loved one is injured or sick, it is very easy for the partner to become stressed and loose their own appetite when worrying about the welfare of someone they care about.' Alec watched a tiny smile shift onto Magnus' lips. Alec hadn't the guts to ask Magnus if everything the doctor said was true. Was he someone Magnus cared about? Had he stressed the man out so much that he'd lost weight because of it too? Although that very thought was making Alec feel rather guilty. 'I'm sure the two of you will continue to support each other through this.'

'Of course.' Magnus confessed with his smile growing on his lips.

Alec decided to believe that there was 'care' there between the both of them. After all, you didn't ask someone out, for real, if their were no feelings there right? It might be only a week from when it happened, but it all still counted. Not that a lot had happened since Magnus officially asked him out though. Yes he got kisses and caresses, even persuaded to sleep in Magnus' bed again, and just to sleep too, and because of those rather innocent things, Alec was literally on cloud nine, mind going a hundred miles an hour as he got to kiss Magnus everyday and would ponder on what he should do for the man now that he was his boyfriend. And even though Alec floundered around about that, contemplating whether he should google 'what to do for your new boyfriend to make him feel special' or perhaps spend a day in the public library huddled in a corner and reading dating books, but either way, nothing could get better then how he'd been feeling since Magnus became his boyfriend.

Well, until Dr Hill brought up sex that is!

He and Magnus may not have been going out for very long, but ever since they met, Alec felt their was an attraction there. And in some almost frightening way, and yet it didn't seem frightening in a sense to Alec at the same time, if Magnus wanted to take that next step, well Alec was sure he'd be happy to fall into it. Or so he hoped. Though he would have to warn the gorgeous man that he was a virgin. Alec frowned at that. He'd never been embarrassed or ashamed or even remotely affected by never having had sex before, but now he was with one of the most experienced (and gorgeous) men on the planet! By the angel if he told Magnus he'd never had sex before, and that Magnus was his first boyfriend, would be his first sexual partner, would the man be horrified at having to take on the emotional baggage (and inexperience) of a virgin and just ditch him!?

'Alright young man, you're free to go.' Alec jerked back to attention and slid off the bed, eyes shifting to Magnus as he shook the doctor's hand and then headed for the door, twisting the handle and prying it open.

'Alexander? Everything alright?'

'Um, yes, I just need to...um...do you mind?' Alec fumbled through his muddled words, gesturing if Magnus could wait outside for him for a few moments. When Magnus gave a nod and a sweet smile, he left Alec to it. When the door clicked closed, Alec shifted his gaze to the GP. 'Dr Hill, how did you know?'

'Know?'

'About me and...Magnus?'

'Its the way you look at each other.' Those words seemed familiar to Alec, like he'd heard something like that before. 'Plus I have an openly gay son, so I can also pick up on such things too.'

'Oh...'

'Now, was there something you wanted to ask me without your boyfriend here?' Someone else referring to Magnus as his boyfriend made Alec's heart flutter and butterflies swarm into his belly.

'Um, these...err...check-ups...before...you know...' Alec gestured vaguely with his hands and was sure he was blushing bright red. 'What do they entail?' He quickly finished off before he chickened out.

'Well...'

#

After another twenty minute consult, Alec finally left Dr Hill's office with his hearty blush on his face and feeling ever so awkward. It faded to the background when Alec's eyes sought out Magnus as he was sitting in a waiting room chair, one leg elegantly crossed over the other and tapping away on his phone. The man didn't even take notice that an attractive young woman, with golden blonde hair and bright blue eyes, and quite a bust on her too, was eyeing him like he were a piece of meat!

Since Magnus hadn't seen him yet, Alec quickly made another, final, medical appointment for next week and then shuffled over to his boyfriend.

'Sorry to keep you waiting.' He mumbled quietly, not wanting to disturb the quiet hum in the waiting room which contained that young woman eyeing Magnus off. There was also a young couple quietly talking, a mother rubbing her rather pregnant belly whilst talking to her other child who was downright bored and wanting to leave and then there was an elderly woman who was smiling fondly at two children playing with building blocks, they clearly being her grandchildren.

'Not at all Alexander. Everything alright?' Alec gave a jerked nod of the head, heart fluttering when Magnus rose with the grace of a model (or god) and effortlessly slipped his hand into his as he pulled him towards the door so they could leave the clinic and head for home. Well, Alec could head for home and Magnus needed to get to the gallery as the renovations were under way and with him under house arrest, Magnus really hadn't left his side and was doing things over the phone and Alec knew the man really wanted to be in the thick of things.

Alec couldn't help but give a sideways glance to the woman, her look of shock only lasting a few seconds as she respectfully dropped her gaze from Magnus and gave him, of all people, a sheepish smile like she were apologising for eyeing off his boyfriend! To think Alec wasn't being scoffed at or being looked up and down at for having such a hot man like Magnus attached to his hand when he was his usual plain (and unfashionable) self.

A tiny bit of confidence grew in Alec that morning.

#

"Magnus, did you hear what I said?" Alec stopped all his previous thoughts and went after the man, finding Magnus placing the last of the canned and packet items in the pantry. "Dr Hill cleared me a few days ago. I can even start going for runs now." He best not make the mention of the whole 'sex situation' as that was still something they really hadn't talked about, even though whilst Alec had gone to his last check up to get the all clear about his ribs, he'd also had some rather thorough checks and blood tests run too. Alec was indeed, disease free, which was good to know.

You know, just in case...

"Yes I heard you Alexander." Magnus closed the pantry and folded away the reusable bags and placed them in a drawer where Alec usually pulled them from and took them with him trying to be friendlier to the environment. "If I'm being a worrywart, its because you've no idea what it was like seeing you and Sweet Pea covered in blood and unresponsive to the paramedics. What the boys and I saw..."

"Magnus..." Alec's annoyance in his voice disappeared, a frown on his lips as Magnus could not or would not reach his gaze as he decided to click on the coffee machine, it bubbling to life.

"You had to have emergency surgery and then you were placed in an induced coma for five days. Those five days felt like an eternity as I wasn't allowed to see you, and neither were your family. Goodness knows what Maximilian was going through. He idolises you so much." Alec knew if anything happened to his kid brother he would be an absolute wreck too. "We didn't even know if you were going to pull through..." Alec chewed on his lip as he finally realised that Magnus was not over the accident at all. He'd recovered well, had the all clear, but Magnus was right. He didn't know what it was like. He wasn't a witness to the aftermath. The thought of anything happening to his family scared Alec immensely, but it also went for Magnus and his children too. He would have gone into sheer bloody panic mode, which in fact he had when he knew the car was going to hit, and most definitely kill, Madzie. He reacted on instinct, protecting his little princess and Magnus' darling daughter without a second thought for his own life.

"Sorry..." What else could Alec say? Brown-golden orbs shot up and over at him.

"What are you apologising for?"

"For making you feel the way you are feeling." Alec chewed on his bottom lip. "Did you...want to talk about it? Or maybe talk to someone about it?" Within seconds Magnus placed out his hand and Alec took it, fingers lacing together and they each gave each other a gentle squeeze.

"I'm alright. Its a slow process but I'm accepting it for what it was. An unfortunate accident that really could have happened to either of us." Alec nodded his head. "Just promise me, if you ever feel light headed or you feel like you cannot breathe, you tell me straight away and we'll get you to hospital in a flash."

"In New York traffic?" Alec questioned sarcastically and grinned as Magnus rolled his eyes.

"You know what I mean." Magnus let out a frustrated sigh. "I hate the thought of something else happening to you."

"Thank you Magnus."Alec was truly touched by this man's open feelings about what had happened weeks back. "Thank you for worrying about me. And spending these past two and a bit weeks looking after me."

"Its my pleasure." Magnus took a step closer drawing lips down to Alec's, relishing in the feel of Alec's slightly chapped lips against his own smoother ones. "You know what would make me even happier?" Alec felt his heartbeat quicken as Magnus mumbled his question against his mouth.

"Wh-What?"

"Pasta."

"Pasta?" Alec repeated, that definitely not what he'd been thinking, though he flushed when his stomach grumbled. "I haven't thawed any mince though."

"I highly doubt that will stop you." Magnus traced Alec's jawline with his thumb. "Why don't you experiment? Throw stuff together and see what comes of it?" The sparkle in Alec's eyes was lit at the very thought. It was breathtaking to Magnus. Alec always seemed at ease and alive in the kitchen.

"Take a seat." Magnus got comfortable as Alec rolled up the sleeves on his sweater and then opened the fridge to gaze at the ingredients Magnus had placed in from his morning shop. He pulled things from within and placed them on the island bench, lost in his own little world as he began chopping vegetables whilst a pot of water began to boil on the stove. Magnus grinned when a a tiny hum echoed through the kitchen. It coming from Alec of course.

Magnus hunched over the bench top, dropping his head into his folded arms and could not take his eyes off Alec as whatever he was thinking in his head was now coming to life before his very eyes. And yes, he loved the adorable little tune Alec was humming too.

#

Twenty minutes later Alec had a vegetable pasta dish ready to devour. Magnus had watched him saute mushrooms, zucchini, onions, broccoli, tomatoes and some bell peppers together. He seasoned and tasted as he went along, threw in some crushed garlic, salt and pepper and splashes of olive oil for extra taste and moistness. The last to be thrown into the wok style pan he'd been using was the drained penne and then everything was tossed about.

The pasta was divided into two large bowls and then Alec sprinkled some grated cheese, mozzarella being a favourite of his, over the top.

It was now right on lunch time, and Magnus had the boys at day care for a full day today and of course Madzie was in school, so Alec still had a few hours and needn't go out just yet. He sat down at the kitchen island with Magnus right beside him and placed some of his experimental pasta dish into his mouth, Magnus doing the same.

"This is delicious Alexander."

"I feel like its missing something." Magnus chuckled as Alec never seemed satisfied with his dishes though he couldn't hide the happy sparkle in his blue eyes when his food was being praised by him.

"You are still getting your appetite back, which in turn means your taste buds too. This is the first 'heavy meal' you've had in weeks."

"Maybe..." Alec pondered as he rolled some of the vegetables and pasta around in the bowl, not really all that hungry. Magnus grinned as he ate with his left hand, and without a single ounce of effort he entwined his right with Alec's left which had been all on its little lonesome sitting on the bench top. Of course he didn't miss the jolt from the young man next to him. Blue eyes drifted down to their hands, Magnus hiding the grin on his lips behind his coffee mug as he felt Alec's grip tighten adorably so, and that tiny little grin form on his lips too. It looked like a cross between bewilderment and goofy. Magnus liked it.

Magnus also realised in this moment that Alec was still getting used to the fact they were official boyfriends now and any form of kissing and caressing Magnus bestowed on Alec, he still made sure to do it with an air of caution. He didn't want to rush Alec into anything.

"Is this what its always going to be like?" Magnus had no idea what Alec was really asking him and placed down his mug, giving him his full attention. "Dating you I mean. Were you like this with...the others?" Alec wasn't sure if this was now a good idea once those words slipped out. Especially when Magnus' grin ceased. "Um, I mean, this...touchy..." Alec wanted to literally smack his head against the wall when Magnus unlinked their hands. His stomach began to churn, the loss of Magnus' touch made him ache inside.

"If there is something I am doing which you are uncomfortable with Alexander, you have to tell me. I am not a mind reader." Alec could feel the slight strain in Magnus' voice, hating how he had placed it there.

"No, its not that. Its just..." How the heck could he explain that every little touch Magnus gave him made him feel like magic existed in the world? Like magic existed between the both of them? Oh how lame Alec felt. "I'll just shut up now."

"Alexander, you can tell me anything, you know that." Magnus watched him chew on his bottom lip. "I want to know what you are thinking and feeling. It will help me to better understand you. It'll help us become closer. Don't you think?"

"I guess..."

"And if you really want to know, no, I don't think I was like this within any of my relationships."

"Really?"

"My past relationships were based solely on the sexual attraction we felt." Magnus watched Alec blush cutely at his blunt and crass words. "Catarina and I aside, since she knew my life story, but still, we mainly spent a lot of time, when she wasn't working and the same with me, in the bedroom."

"Oh..."

"And as much as I like spending time in the bedroom, I want to do it right this time." Magnus placed his hand back over Alec's. "I want to do right by you."

"Me-Meaning what?"

"Meaning, I want us to get used to kissing and touching and sleeping beside each other, having our personal spaces tested as we each grow closer together." Alec felt his mouth drop open. Magnus was seriously a magician in his explanations. "I want to be a good boyfriend Alexander. One that makes sure you are happy and comfortable with everything we do."

"Magnus..."

"I know what Dr Hill said was shocking to you. And I'm sure it has been playing on your mind." Magnus watched Alec blush harder, hitting the nail on the head. "I didn't want to push the topic on you, but maybe its time we have that talk?" When Alec gave an adorable nod of the head, voice lost, Magnus was sure he fell harder for the young man. "Alright... So that 'next step' we'll only move to that when we are ready." Magnus linked their hands once more. "There is no need to rush alright? We haven't even really gone out on our first date." Magnus watched Alec's eyes dart up to him, slightly wide and there was just something there that Magnus finally understood. "Unless you want Hunter's Moon to be counted as our first date?"

"Hell no!" Alec was quick to blurt out, flushing as Magnus chuckled heartily at his quick response, giving his hand a tiny squeeze.

"It was a bit of a disaster wasn't it?" Magnus chuckled a little.

"Please don't remind me. There was a lot I'd rather forget about."

"Was there anything you liked at all?"

"Being with you." Alec was quick to respond and it made Magnus' heart flutter. "And...And when you held my hand. That was...nice." By the angel how on earth did Magnus score such a shy and sweet young man like this? It shouldn't be possible, but he was certain he fell a even harder (again) for Alec in that moment. Magnus scooped up Alec's hand and effortlessly brought it to his lips, watching his cheeks brighten once more.

"I know things have been insane around here and you've been recovering too, but I promise, soon, I will take you out on a wonderful date."

"Magnus..."

"And when you're ready for the next step, I'm ready too." Magnus wanted to punctuate to the young man that he was going to try his hardest not to rush this. For as soon as things moved to the bedroom, from Magnus' past relationships, after a good couple of months of hot sex, the excitement would fade and then he would find himself alone again.

The only one that had really stuck around was of course Camille, but everything was on her terms. She didn't know Magnus' back story and he knew she didn't want to know either. She had literally sucked the life out of him, almost turning him into a pet that she could beckon when she felt like and then tossed him away when he wasn't needed. When he was with her, he felt like he couldn't breathe at times, but she was so superficially beautiful that Magnus pretty much lost his mind at being able to be with her. Truthfully, having been with Camille, and on and off for so long, it had pretty much nearly ended the three friendships that meant everything to Magnus. That disastrous Christmas he had finally seen the light. It took Magnus a long time to value himself after that and understand just how much damage Camille had done to him emotionally. Magnus also realised that rushing into sex, not only with her but with other nameless faces and of course Catarina and Dot, never ended well at all. He never truly got to know them like he should have. And they him.

He didn't want that to happen to him and Alec. This was so much different then how he had ever felt with anyone. It was scary and electrifying and Magnus hated the thought of Alec ditching him like all the others had.

Magnus quickly kicked such thoughts from his mind as he observed Alec's blue eyes drifted down to his forgotten lunch. "Unless you want to move onto that next step now?" He quietly teased, wanting to gauge Alec's reaction and also lighten the sudden heavy mood in the air.

"U-Um..." Oh! Magnus hadn't seen that shade of red before. He knew it was slightly mean, but he loved to tease this pretty boy before him. He took it so well.

"Its alright Alexander." He fluttered his fingers down Alec's cheek, watching him chew adorably so on his bottom lip. Magnus wondered if Alec realised he actually did it, but either way, it was just so him. So cute. "You're not the only one that can feel vulnerable, so please do not feel pressured into doing anything." Alec jerked his head into a nod, not for the life of him thinking that someone as experienced as Magnus would ever feel nervous or vulnerable about anything! "Just promise me you'll let me know if a kiss or touch makes you uncomfortable alright?" Alec jerked his head into another nod once more, the ability to talk lost to him again. "Lets also go at our own pace and just enjoy ourselves in the here and now as is." Those very words soothed Alec's muddled thoughts.

"Will you... I mean, even though I'm not...at that stage yet..." Alec blushed. "Will you still want to kiss me knowing that?" That had to have been the single most adorable question Magnus had ever been asked. Coupled with the fact that Alec had his head slightly bent and was looking up at him through his messy black hair, those blue eyes shining through the tangled and slightly curled mess. Magnus was unsure how he even lasted as long as he did without stealing this young man's lips as he leaned forward and captured them.

The lip-lock of course brought a delicious gasp from Alec, but he didn't jerk away. In fact he leaned in, taking everything Magnus was giving him and trying to repay him in kind. The notion made Magnus' heart skip a beat.

When they finally ended the kiss, Magnus' hand had been cradling the back of Alec's neck, pretty much holding him in place so he couldn't break contact with him until he was satisfied. Quickly Magnus let go, seemingly only now realising just how much he was loosing himself when he was able to kiss this man. Magnus shifted slightly away from Alec and maybe subtly adjusted himself in his jeans as well. They had suddenly felt a little tight. Or tighter then usual.

It was then Magnus recalled Alec having asked him that oh so adorable question.

"Oh I intend to keep kissing you." He sultrily muttered. "More then ever in fact." There was a tiny up-tick in Alec's lips. "As long as I get kisses like that back." The blush was back. "Only if you're brave enough though." The up-tick dropped.

"Are you challenging me?" Blue eyes slightly narrowed and Magnus was sure a pout was fast forming.

"Maybe..."

"Close your eyes." There was a slight hint of authority in Alec's voice which sent a tiny thrill down Magnus' spine.

"Why?"

"Its the only way right now."

"Only way?"

"Magnus..." Alec all but drawled a little impatiently.

"Alright, alright." Magnus closed his eyes and began to count. He got to twenty when there was a tiny bit of pressure against his thigh, Alec having placed one hand there, closer to his knee then further up towards his groin, of course. He felt Alec exhale against his lightly parted lips before he softly brushed his own against his. It was almost child-like it was that innocently sweet and chaste. It even brought tears to Magnus' closed eyes if he were being honest. He was just about to deepen it when Alec broke contact, almost sending a whine spilling out of Magnus. Brown-golden orbs snapped open to look over at sparkling blue. "I think we can do better then that Alexander."

"H-How so?"

"Close your eyes." Magnus found it sweet Alec didn't even hesitate as he snapped his eyes closed. He watched as Alec wet his own lips with his tongue, the notion insanely innocent, yet to Magnus, it was completely obscene.

Magnus upped the anti, stepping over the 'innocent line' in a sense and stepped between Alec's spread legs, feeling the jolt the man gave at having him so close and then threaded one hand into Alec's hair whilst the other curled around the side of Alec's neck, holding him possessively close.

"Ma-Magnus..." Oh what that stutter did to him...

Magnus leant in, tilting Alec's head slightly up and then swooped down and stole the younger man's lips, delighting in the jolt and the gasp at the back of Alec's throat that burst into the relative quiet of his home. Of course he held him there, completely dominating this kiss and unleashing everything he felt in this moment on Alec, possibly – no, most definitely – overwhelming the poor man. Magnus felt hands grip his forearms as Alec tried with all his might to keep up with his rather passionate, tongue-laden kiss.

'Slow down or you'll scare him off Bane.' Magnus' rather serious internal voice warned him.

Quickly his hazy brain calmed slightly, slowing the kiss down which earned a tiny lusty groan from Alec, which of course did wonders for Magnus' groin area.

For once he heeded his internal voices advice as he drew back, finally retreating from the depths of Alec's mouth and took in some deep breaths before drifting his eyes open and dropping his hands.

By the angel Magnus had to hold himself back from once again launching himself at Alec as the blue eyed beauty was still leaning forward, having lost himself within their kiss as his cheeks were flushed, lips swollen and red and so damn hypnotic as they were still quite moist from when he had run his tongue over them, having coaxed Alec to open up for him. It almost felt like a millennia ago from when he kissed Alec when ludicrously it had only been seconds. His hair was messier and Magnus hadn't realised during the heated lip-lock but he had placed four small crescent moons against Alec's pale skin at his neck, where his nails had dug in a little at how very turned on this young man made him with just a kiss!

Tiny little pants echoed in the quiet of the kitchen and then that sinfully tasteful tongue glided over Alec's bottom lip, as though he could taste the strawberry lip-gloss that Magnus had been wearing. When winter hit, his lips became chapped quickly so he always made sure to have them moist and protected. And he always chose different fruity flavours and today's was ironically called 'strawberry kisses'.

"Wow..." Alec muttered as he felt his own heart thundering in his ears, he taking in several deep breaths to try and calm it down. "I want one of those everyday." When he heard chuckling, Alec finally snapped his eyes open, they growing a little wider as Magnus was grinning widely at him. "Oh shit, I said that aloud didn't I?"

"Very much so." Magnus cupped his chin, elbow on the bench top and felt his smile widen further as Alec flushed in mortification, pushing his half eaten pasta away and instead thumped his head on the granite, trying to hide his blushing face in his arms. "Oh Alexander, you are just too adorable for your own good."

"Shut up..." Magnus chuckled heartily as he shuffled closer to Alec, one hand gliding through his hair, smoothing out some strands and then glided his fingers down his back, Alec's muscles shuddering under his ministrations. Of course Magnus couldn't stop there and leaned forward, planting a kiss at the back of Alec's exposed neck, nipping at the skin a little. The darling man did jolt, but not enough to jerk him from his hunched over adorable hiding spot.

"You have so many openings I cannot wait to explore." Magnus moved away as he cleared up their mess, knowing Alec couldn't eat any more of the pasta and was unsure if it was because he was full or the pasta was too heavy for his sensitive stomach at the moment. Magnus placed some cling wrap over it and in the fridge it went whilst his empty bowl was placed in the sink to be washed later tonight. If Alec didn't want the pasta he had not eaten, well Magnus was more then happy to gobble it down later on. When Magnus shifted his gaze back to Alec, it was then he realised that the blue eyed beauty had been silently watching him and there was a weird look on his handsome face. "What is it?"

"That sounded a lot dirtier then it should have." Magnus barked off hearty laughter as Alec's blush darkened at his own words and where his mind lead.

"Oh Alec, you have NO idea just how dirty I can be." Magnus teased as he planted a kiss to Alec's cheek, mentally reminding himself to fulfil Alec's wishes of smothering him in sensual and hot kisses on a daily basis. He peppered kisses of a morning on him, innocent ones, but he could turn up the notch and make them a little heated. Not like it was going to be hard for Magnus to achieve. Just look at who he got to wake up to in his bed of a morning. It was then his phone interrupted the moment as he pulled it from his pocket. "Oh darn, its James."

"Go do your job, gallery owner." Alec grinned as Magnus bent down once more and quickly pressed his lips against his neck tattoo. The notion sent a jolt to Alec's groin area which he would rather not think about right now, but thank the angel he was still hunched over and its not like Magnus was looking there. At least Alec hoped he wasn't looking there.

Alec's muscles shuddered under Magnus' light touch as he glided his left hand down his spine once more before he drifted off to answer the call from the construction company manager.

Alec was fast coming to the conclusion that Magnus really liked to touch him. Especially around his neck as soon as he had discovered just how sensitive he was there. Alec began to wonder if he would ever find a particular sensitive spot on Magnus' body and began to blush just thinking about it.

#

(A couple hours later...)

"What do you think of these patterns Alexander?" Magnus held up some wallpaper samples, wanting each floor to have a feature wall, and Alec had a pretty good eye for detail, and he had wanted the younger man's opinion since he had ten patterns at the moment and really needed to dwindle it down to his top three and then see what Clary thought of them.

When Magnus didn't get a response from the young man, he shifted his gaze and found Alec standing by the balcony glass door and not paying attention to him at all. He knew he'd been off, after having gone to see his family, to face his demons about the secrets he'd kept and he'd been gone for so long that Magnus had fallen asleep waiting up for him that afternoon/evening.

The next morning Alec acted like nothing was wrong even if Magnus saw the tension in his shoulders and the bags under his eyes. They suspiciously seemed a little red too. He had clearly not slept well, which for Magnus possibly meant the chat did not go as he hoped. Magnus wanted to ask, truly he did, but he remembered the last time he pushed Alec and the man became upset, along with himself. He didn't want to add to the turmoil that Alec was probably already feeling and let the moment go.

"Alec…?" Again nothing. Magnus had given Alec over a week to get his emotions sorted and come to him to talk. After all, Magnus would never judge him. He did what he did at the time because it was all he could do. How could one burden an 8, 14 and 15 year old with mounting problems like mortgages, business loans and everyday stresses of life in general. Its not like Alec could ask his siblings to go out and get jobs to help save the family home, pay off their parents debts, buy groceries, pay the utilities, schooling fees, legal costs, funeral costs and oh yeah, still attend school.

Magnus made his way over to Alec's stone like posture, rigid and yet seemingly ready to crumble at any minute too. Carefully he placed his hand at the small of Alec's back, watching him leap out of his own skin as he jerked his troubled gaze to him.

"Sorry, what were you saying?" Wallpaper was forgotten.

"I didn't want to push you, but I know since you spoke to your siblings, you've been bottling up what happened." Magnus needn't even explain as understanding flashed in those blue eyes. "Are you ready to talk about it?" Magnus' soothing touch brushed up and down Alec's back.

"Your work..." Alec mumbled and watched as Magnus moved over to the couch, laptop being shut down and his phone being turned off. Alec observed as Magnus pat the spare spot on the couch next to him and he stiffly moved over and sat down. "They're upset with me, which I totally understand. It is all my fault. I deserve this." The flood gates opened.

"Alec..."

"Jace was there too, which I was surprised about. I could feel him sitting in his bedroom and he refused to come out and face me. I deserve that too. So I sat down with Izzy and Max. Some time during my apologies and fumbled explanation he did come out of his bedroom, but he only sat in the hall." Alec let out a shuddering sigh. "I've never seen Izzy so upset before and the fact I did it... How can I face her ever again? Or more importantly, will she let me see her again?"

"I'm sure she's just confused."

"Its been a week Magnus. Izzy and I barely go a day without communicating in some form." Magnus could tell Alec was on the verge of breaking.

"Would you prefer I speak to her?" Blue eyes darted up at his question. "I can let her know that its very hard opening up when you aren't just protecting yourself but protecting the ones you love. I can advise her that you're not looking to make excuses, the choices you made are yours to bare, but all you ever wanted was the happiness and safety of your family. The family you love so very dearly."

"Why would you do that?"

"I'm your boyfriend Alexander. I'm here to support you any way I can and if I can be of some help to get your siblings to understand the choices you made..."

"NO!" Magnus was taken aback by the abrupt response, the panicked look in Alec's eyes.

"No?" Magnus repeated.

"Don't tell them anything about us!" Alec abruptly voiced once more and immediately regretted it as soon as it passed his lips. The look on Magnus face tore at his heart.

"You're ashamed." Alec's heart pounded in his ears at how softly Magnus had whispered that. This is not how Alec thought this talk would go. Why did he always mess things up and in the process upset Magnus at the same time?

"Magnus..." Alec reached out but watched horrifyingly as Magnus shot to his feet.

"I'm not some dirty little secret or some pet for you to keep Alexander." Alec's mouth dropped open at the pain in Magnus' beautiful voice. "I will not be used again." Magnus shifted his angered gaze to the clock noting the time. "You stay, collect your thoughts on whatever you don't wish to share with your family when it comes to me, I'm going to get the kids."

"Magnus... Magnus please! Don't..." Alec sucked in a deep breath as the door opened and closed with a defiant slam and echo throughout the apartment.

The quiet of the home practically consumed Alec as he curled into a ball on the lounge, drawing in deep rugged breaths.

#

When Magnus and the kids got home, Alec was all smiles for Magnus' little cherubs as he entertained them, fed them, bathed them and then read to them before watching their sweet faces slacken and they each dropped off to sleep, he carrying Madzie to her own bedroom and tucked his little princess in.

Alec shuffled back into the living room, taking a deep breath as he moved over to the couch which is where Magnus was currently sitting, one leg elegantly crossed over the other, foot tapping to an unknown beat and a glass of scotch in his hand which was resting on his knee. Alec slowly sat down, giving Magnus enough room so he didn't feel like he was invading his personal space, but after several long minutes, Alec couldn't take it anymore and shuffled a little closer.

"Magnus..." His heart clenched when Magnus placed down his untouched drink and promptly stood up, shifting away from his outstretched hand, just like he had done earlier. "I'm sorry!" Alec blurted out, making Magnus freeze in his escape, he slowly turning to look over at Alec who had his head bowed in deep regret and apology, hands fisted in his lap. "I shouldn't have said that."

"Then why?" Alec jerked his gaze up, thanking whatever was out there as it looked like Magnus was giving him half a chance to explain his appalling over reaction.

"I panicked." Magnus arched an eyebrow at that. Alec's voice got stuck on the whole 'you're my first boyfriend and I don't really know what I'm doing' confession and he let out a frustrated breath and raked his hand through his hair. "I'm not ashamed of being with you Magnus. Believe me when I say that, because I'm so ridiculously happy that I'm constantly smiling like an idiot just thinking about us being together. I have been since you officially asked me out."

"Continue..." Magnus felt his defensive walls come down a little.

"I definitely don't want you to be a secret. For us to be a secret. I'd never forgive myself for hurting you in such a way like that. Like you don't matter, when you totally do. Everything about you matters to me Magnus." Magnus shifted back over to the couch and took a seat. His defences were pretty much obliterated. "I just... I want to keep this to myself. Keep this between you and me. Experience all this myself, and with you, before telling my family. I mean, Max already suspects. He made that assumption even before you asked me out and, well, my family have a lot of opinions about everything and they would totally interfere."

"Really?"

"Maybe not Max, he already thinks your cool so you've pretty much won him over." Magnus grinned at that. He really liked the kid too. Almost felt protective of him like Alec did. "I know Jace thinks we're together, since we argued at our parents graves and such, but if I told him about us, in an official capacity, he'd totally want to put the hard word on you. He'd act like such a dick, try and size you up and maybe even make you detest him, even if that is his way of making sure I'm picking a decent guy to go out with." Alec rolled his own eyes as he could totally see Jace doing something like that. "Truthfully, I really want the two of you to get along."

"As if he hasn't been a bit of a tool already." Alec frowned at that even though he knew it to be true. At the cemetery and then when Magnus had saved Jace from possibly going to prison and his brother hadn't even thanked him! "We have exchanged heated words with each other already, so I am sure his opinion of me is not the greatest as is mine of him." Magnus watched Alec frown deeper at his truthfulness. "Sorry..."

"Its alright. I hope, you know, one day I can introduce you without snide comments being exchanged. You know, when he actually starts communicating with me and all." Magnus watched the weight of the world drop onto Alec's shoulders once more. "If he ever does talk to me again."

"He will."

"How do you know?" Alec's voice was so small, so doubtful that it broke Magnus' heart.

"I just do." Magnus gave a small grin as he slid his hand over Alec's, entwining their fingers. He watched Alec sigh the tension out of his body. Magnus for his part was still getting used to the fact that his mere touch seemed to ease Alec. It was quite a powerful feeling to have discovered, but he was certainly not going to abuse it.

"Actually, the one you really need to look out for is Izzy. She is nosy and scheming and a whole lot of trouble."

"Sounds like my kind of girl." Magnus watched Alec frown at that, blue eyes pouting over at him. Magnus was sunk and those were definitely not the right words to have said to this delightful young man whose self esteem was terribly low.

"Alexander, your sister, whilst very attractive, is not who I have my eye on." Cheeks blushed pink. Now that was more like it. "So you just remember who has caught my attention, Pretty Boy."

"O-Ok..."

"And your sister and I have already had some words exchanged between us as well." Alec turned his confused gaze back to Magnus. "When you were in hospital." Magnus watched Alec slouch into the couch and tilt his head back so he was gazing up at the ceiling.

"First impressions of my siblings are certainly not winning you over." Magnus let out a chuckle.

"Maximilian won me over. He's an amazing kid."

"Only one out of three..." Alec mumbled and let out a defeated sigh. "You're lucky you don't have siblings."

"Well..."

"Oh, actually, I take that back. Technically you do have three." Alec mumbled out remembering Raphael, Catarina and Ragnor were as close to Magnus as family could ever get. "I've met two so I guess that's something."

"Do you think they like you?" Magnus found worried blue eyes looking over at him. Alec had only met Catarina for all of five minutes and been introduced to Raphael just recently and Magnus wasn't sure when he'd be able to introduce the young man to Ragnor since he did reside in Chicago. "Don't you worry your petty little head over it. They'll learn to like you."

"Th-Then my siblings will learn to like you too." Magnus bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from swooning.

"Your sister is just trying to look out for your best interests, making sure you aren't being taken advantage of and such. Though I have to confess, she was quite scary and I completely believed the bodily harm threat."

"She threatened bodily harm?!" Alec lurched up at that, Magnus' placing his index finger against his lips in an instant.

"You'll wake the kids." Alec simmered down though he was both worried and embarrassed at whatever the hell Izzy had said to Magnus.

"I'm sorry about her behaviour." Magnus shrugged because he understood it. If he had an adorable brother like Izzy did, he'd be the same. Magnus never had to worry about Raphael because he had a chip on his shoulder and quite the attitude and could very much look after himself. Not that Magnus didn't think Alec couldn't look after himself either. He seemed to know how to hold his own, but Isabelle Lightwood was awfully protective of those she loved with all her heart it seemed.

The room fell quiet as Alec continued to gaze up at the ceiling before finally shifting his eyes over to Magnus as he was sitting in the same slouched position as him, head tilted back. "Magnus?"

"Mm?"

"Was that our first real fight?"

"I think so." Magnus softly voiced back.

"It sucked." Magnus couldn't help but lightly chuckle as he knocked his head against Alec's.

"Indeed it did." He mumbled as he shifted his head and pressed his lips against Alec's temple before curling his arm around the adorable man and cuddling him to his side. It was so sweet how Alec practically melted and moulded into him, left arm curling around his narrow waist to cling sweetly to him.

"I don't like fighting."

"It can sometimes have its perks."

"How is that possible? Having the person you're going out with, upset at you, is the worst feeling ever." Could this man get any cuter?

"Well there is the make-up s... kissing!" Magnus blurted out. He felt Alec tilt his head up, since he was still leaning on his shoulder and after a few extra seconds to calm his mind, Magnus finally shifted his brown-golden orbs to gaze down at Alec and to the silly little grin on his lips.

"I like kissing." Magnus had to stop himself from cooing at how insanely adorable his boyfriend was and titled his head down, pressing his lips over Alec's. It didn't take long for Magnus to bring up his right hand as he cupped Alec's face, brushing his thumb over his pink cheek before ending the kiss. Alec didn't open his eyes and instead they fluttered behind his eyelids as a content sigh escaped his parted lips just as Magnus pressed his own against Alec's forehead.

"So cute..." Magnus felt a jab at his side, jerking at the poke and pinch given and frowned as Alec finally opened his eyes to look up at him once more. "I was paying you a compliment Alexander."

"Yeah, yeah..." A slight snort burst from Alec's lips as he had been shifting away from Magnus, but the older man had wrapped his arms effectively around his waist and pulled him back down, his back slamming into Magnus' chest as the man had gotten himself comfortable, with a mountain of cushions behind his lounging form and Alec sitting between his spread legs. "Magnus..."

"Shhh..." Alec felt lips press at the top of his head and he made his body relax, head tilted as he looked over towards the kitchen archway to see Chairman looking back at them, tail swishing.

"I feel like he's judging us." Magnus followed Alec's gaze to the tiny little cat that they had adopted.

"Or he's insanely jealous he doesn't have an amazing warm and comfy body pillow like I do."

"Magnus!" Alec yelped, a tiny giggle bursting from his lips, when the man's teeth nipped at his neck, just behind his ear. Alec felt his breath instantly hitch in his throat when those long arms and legs locked him in place tighter. Of course Alec blushed harder. They both watched silently as Chairman walked off, heading towards the hallway and probably going to snuggle with either Madzie or the boys for the night.

"I'm going with jealous." Magnus' voice fluttered into Alec's ear as the younger man tried to comprehend what it was like having Magnus pretty much wrapped around him from behind. It sent a tiny twitch to an appendage Alec DID NOT want to think about. "Oh!" Alec held his breath. Did Magnus just figure it out? Alec began to panic. "Is that heartbeat racing due to shock...or excitement?" Magnus teased as one of his hands was pressed over Alec's heart whilst the other was still possessively wrapped around his waist, the tips of his fingers cheekily dipping under Alec's shirt and caressing his shuddering side. Alec bit his lip, thankful Magnus hadn't felt anything else as that would probably scare the man off and quickly ducked his head and hid it and his blush into Magnus' bicep. And though it was at his expense, he loved listening to Magnus' deep throaty chuckles.

After a small bout of silence between them, Alec finally collected his thoughts.

"I was so nervous I thought I was going to be sick." Magnus instantly knew Alec was beginning his tale of telling him what went down when he visited his siblings. "I didn't know what I was going to say to them..."

#

(A couple weeks back...)

Alec felt panic form deep within the pit of his stomach as he knocked twice on a very familiar apartment door. Merely seconds passed and it opened before him.

'Alec!' He was greeted so sweetly by his kid brother and wrapped his arms around the boy, holding him tight as he pressed his lips into the top of his head. His ribs ached, but it didn't matter, because he got to hug Max for all he was worth. 'How's your ribs doing?' The youngster quickly asked and let go of him, fear in his eyes that he had been hurting him with his tight embrace.

'Not great, but not that bad. They're healing slowly and its good to be out of hospital.' Alec muttered softly and then tapped his grey beanie. 'I should have the stitches out this week too.' Alec watched Max grin happily at that news. 'You home alone?'

'No...' Alec watched Max look over his shoulder down the small hallway towards the bedrooms. 'Izzy's in her room doing whatever, probably getting ready for her night shift in a couple of hours.'

'I see...' Alec could see the hesitation in his brother, watching his brown eyes flick over his shoulder once more for a split second. 'Jace is here too isn't he?'

'Yeah...'

'He probably won't want to see me, huh?' Alec could see Jace's bedroom door was slightly cracked open and he would definitely be able to hear him, but the blonde refused to emerge.

'Jace is being...Jace...' Max pouted, hating his siblings fighting. They were all they had and the tension between them all could be cut like a knife.

'Don't be mad at him Buddy, what's happening between Jace and I is my mess.'

'But...'

'Do you think Izzy will want to see me?'

'Why wouldn't she?' Max squeezed his big brother's hand and drew him into the apartment, the door clicking closed behind him.

'Magnus told me.' Alec softly voiced. 'He told me you all know about...my debts.'

'You mean mum and dads debts.' Alec jerked his head up, eyes darting over to Izzy as she was moving into the lounge room and straight past him and Max still near the entranceway. A deep frown set on Izzy's ruby lips, her eyes shifting over to him before she turned her head away and moved right past him like he weren't even there. Alec's heart ached at that. He watched, along with Max, as their sister began banging around in the kitchen cupboards.

'She's been doing that a lot.'

'Iz...' Alec and Max watched on, Max's shoulders hunching as she slammed a chopping board onto the small island bench. 'Izzy...' Alec called again and watched as she swung the door open on the fridge and pulled out half a watermelon from within. A massive cleaver knife glinted in the sunlight and she smashed it down over the watermelon, splitting it in half, the knife making an almighty thunk sound as it connected with the chopping board. Alec was surprised she hadn't lodged it in the wood or even split the chopping board in half at her force.

'She's been butchering fruit lately, and experimenting in the kitchen doing some weird fruit stir fry with oil and soy sauce and packet rice.' Max shuddered. His sister was a god awful cook. 'You've got to put a stop to it.' The plea in Max's voice wanted a smile to flutter across Alec's lips, but now was not the time for it.

'Isabelle!' Alec placed authority and sternness into his voice, shifting towards (albeit cautiously) his sister. She stopped at the tone he had, at the way he spoke her full name. He never called her that. Alec observed as Izzy huffed, the cleaver being placed down on the bench top and her narrowed eyes gave him a sideways glance.

'What do you want?' The tension in her voice ate at his insides. He never wanted to put that sort of tone or these sort of feelings, whatever his sister was feeling, in her.

'I want to talk.'

'Do you really though?' The cleaver was picked up again and she brutalised the poor watermelon as juice, flesh and seeds flew about the place. It actually looked quite nice to eat if Alec were being honest. 'Sure you didn't want to wait another ten years?' Alec flinched. It was a low blow, but he accepted it.

'Iz, come and sit down.' Alec took a seat at the head of the table, Max to his left and Izzy begrudgingly flopped down into a chair, arms folded over her chest and she glared down at the table. Alec's heart pounded as out the corner of his eye he could see Jace sitting on the floor, down the hallway near his bedroom door. That was as good as it was going to get at having his three siblings, his family, within hearing range of him.

'Speak, I've got stuff to do.'

'Izzy, stop...' Max frowned at his sister, big brown eyes shifting over to Alec as he placed his hand over his, giving it a squeeze in thanks for sticking up for him, but also not wanting him to get between the issues he was having with their brother and sister. Alec wasn't sure where he should start, but everything began to flow, even if he felt like it was a jumbled mess. Much like his emotions right now.

'I'm sorry for the secrets I've kept from you. The lies I've told. I never meant to keep things from you, from any of you, but you were all so young. I couldn't place any of that on any of you. How could I tell you something like that when I was struggling to understand it all myself. Our parents had a debt. Of over a million dollars. How could I place that on your shoulders when you all lost mum and dad.'

'They were your parents too.' Izzy muttered out.

'I know, but I was the disappointment of the family. I was the son they were ashamed of. The son that was not as loved as the rest of you.'

'Alec...' He shifted his blue eyes to his baby brother.

'I didn't need their love. I mean I hoped for it, prayed for it even, but I knew in the end, I just wasn't good enough. I tried everything to live up to their expectations, but it consumed me so much that I finally broke. I finally decided to open up and be myself for once in my life. Confess to them about my sexuality and once that happened, I knew, no matter what, I was never going to be a son they would be proud of. Its taken me a long time to accept that, but in the end, I don't need or want their love anymore. I only ever need yours Buddy.' Alec shifted his blue eyes over to Izzy. 'And yours.' Alec dare not adjust his gaze in case Jace ran back into his bedroom. 'And I need yours as well Jace.' Out of the corner of his eye he watched the blonde jerk in his seated position. He was hunched on the floor, legs drawn to his chest and forehead resting on his knees. He hated how small and tiny Jace seemed in that moment. His blonde brother was the cockiest man he'd ever known and Alec wouldn't have his brother any other way and yet now, he was barely a shell of himself.

'I love you Alec.' Alec felt a tiny smile reach his lips as big brown eyes were gazing up at him. 'I always have and always will.' Max's confession warmed his heart like never before.

'I love you too Buddy.'Alec squeezed Max's hand before shifting his gaze to his very rigid sister. 'Izzy, I know this apology is ten years too late, but I truly am sorry for causing the rift between you and dad. I know you still hurt for having yelled at him, for never picking up your phone again when he would call you. I know you did that for me, and I can never thank you enough for choosing me over him, but I also know you still listen to the very last voice message he ever sent you.' Alec watched Izzy's eyes go wide.

'What are you talking about?' Max questioned and Alec gave a nod as Izzy placed her phone on the table, not taking long to sift through her phone to play the last voice message she ever got from their father.

'You are too young to understand these things Isabelle. Too young to understand the wrong choices your brother has made. He will see the light. He will see the error of his ways and not dishonour my name. I forgive you for siding with Alec at that moment. It was a rash decision and your emotions flared. Know this, you are still daddy's little girl. We'll talk soon.'

They didn't talk. Because not long after Alec's confession, the family fight and Izzy siding with him, their parents died in that car crash. No heated words, or no words exchanged at all, could ever be taken back.

Even after all these years, and the amount of times Alec had heard that message, without Izzy realising on most occasions that he was close by, it still cut deep. He'd no idea what he'd done to ever warrant such disappointment, almost hatred it seemed from his own father. From his own flesh and blood just because of his sexual orientation.

'I'm not daddy's little girl. He didn't know me at all.' Izzy softly murmured, Alec watching in slight disbelief as she suddenly deleted the message which she'd been listening to on and off for an entire decade. 'I'm not his little girl.' Alec found angry brown eyes looking over at him. 'I'm your little girl.' Alec felt his breath hitch in his throat when tears formed in Izzy's beautiful soulful brown orbs. 'You're my brother, mother and father. You're all of that to all of us.'

'Iz...'

'Dad didn't know me at all. If he knew me he should have always known I would side with you. I would always do whatever I could to try and protect you. Even from him.'

'No, he didn't know you like he should have, like he should have known all of us, but no matter how much you hated him in that moment, for scorning and rejecting me, his love for you never wavered. You were everything to him.'

'You're everything to me!' Izzy pretty much shouted, brushing a tear furiously off her cheek. 'And you hurt me.' The squeeze on Alec's heart was almost making it hard to breath right now. 'You kept secrets from me. You lied to me.' Alec chewed on his bottom lip at the crushing look on Izzy's sweet face. 'Me, Alec. Me!' Alec felt his own blue orbs tear up immediately.

'I never meant... I never meant to hurt you...' Alec tried to reach out, but his little sister turned away from him. Rejected him.

'Its not fair.' Izzy mumbled as she pretty much wrapped her arms around herself. 'I tell you everything. All the problems I've ever had, I've always come to you. You have never shown me the same courtesy, the same love, by opening up to me in these past ten years.'

'No. Please Iz. I love you. I love you so much that all I've ever wanted to do is protect you. Protect all of you.' Alec was sure he was going to vomit, and as though reading him like an open book, Max jumped out of his chair and quickly got him a bottle of water that he could chug down.

'Here Alec.' Max handed it over and Alec tried collecting his thoughts as he gulped the contents down, hoping the churning of his stomach would settle. Vomiting in front of his family like a pathetic loser would so him no good.

'I'm sorry that I've upset you like this. It was never my intention to make any of you feel like this. I'm sorry I didn't think I could depend on you, any of you. I wanted to be better then what mum and dad thought I was. I wanted to not be like them. I wanted you to be able to depend on me like we couldn't truly depend on them. I just never realised in my desperation to do better and be better then them, that I forgot the most important thing of all. Talking to you. I was just so consumed at wanting to be a better parent and made sure I always came to every sports meet, every parent-teacher meeting to discuss your futures. I always made sure to be there for all of you if you ever wanted to talk to me about boys or girls or any other problems you might be having. I wanted, needed, to be there like they were never there for me. And in that obsession to not be like mum and dad, I did end up being like mum and dad. I didn't communicate enough with you all. I just never wanted you to doubt the love I have for all of you.'

'We don't doubt it Alec.' He shifted his gaze to Max who took hold of his hand. That simple touch, which he was desperate to have from both Izzy and Jace was a beacon of hope for him in this moment. 'Never in a single moment have we thought that your love wasn't enough for us.'

'But I've still failed you.'

'Alec...'

'I've failed as your big brother, as your parent. I'm such an idiot!' Alec squeezed his eyes shut, trying to calm his erratic emotions down. 'I'm sorry everything became so fucked up. If I had done better, none of this would have come out as it had.'

'And how is that any better?' Alec snapped his eyes open as he gazed at Max. 'You've kept things hidden from us, things we had a right to know for ten years Alec. How is that fair to us and more importantly, how is that fair to you? You've carried our family's problems for ten years. Of course it was going to explode in the end. You just didn't know when.'

'Max...' That strangely sounded like what Magnus had said to him awhile ago.

'We deserved to know. Even if we couldn't help or more like maybe I couldn't help, I was only 8 years old back then, but I would have given you my hand, given you my hugs if only those could make you feel a little better.' Alec felt his heart tug for his baby brother. 'Even though I probably wouldn't have understood anything about financial debts and the likes, I would still have listened to any of your problems. We all would have listened. We aren't fine china Alec. You can depend on us. Right Iz?'

'…' She didn't comment.

'Iz...' Max painfully called out to his sister, hand reaching out to her over the table but she refused to even grab his hand.

'I can't take back the past ten years or the tightness in my chest as I felt like I failed daily on not being able to provide for the three of you. I wasn't even good enough to keep our family home.'

'Alec, you worked three jobs!' Max protested. 'You worked yourself to exhaustion!'

'It wasn't good enough. I failed.'

'This is not your fault!' Max snapped, hands banging on the table as he shot to his feet. 'Jace, Iz, come on, this is Alec we're talking about!' The room fell deathly quiet. 'If it wasn't for Alec who knows where we would be.'

'Buddy, its alright.'

'No! You could have run away.' Alec watched as Max shifted his glaring gaze to Izzy and then jerked his head over to where Jace was sitting on the floor. 'Alec stayed! He didn't leave us to fend for ourselves after mum and dad died. He stayed with us.'

'Of course I did. I would never abandon any of you.'

'If mum and dad were better at looking after their financials, better prepared for the unknown, then we'd never have been placed into such hardship.' Max hated how divided his siblings were. 'This is not your fault Alec. Its mum and dads.'

'Yes mum and dads debt is not directly my fault, but it became my responsibility to pay it back. That is the life I have been dealt. I was the adult in the family. The next 'head of the family' so to speak and all responsibility sat on my shoulders. So if I could take all that pressure so the three of you could begin to heal, begin a life without our parents around, and hopefully start to become happy once more, then I was prepared to do anything for that to happen.'

'I hate this! I hate this!' Max shouted, tears pouring from his eyes. 'I hate how divided we are. I want my family back! I want it back!' Alec was out of his chair and pulling his kid brother into his arms listening to his gut wrenching sobs. He was almost looking at his little 8 year old brother when he had to try and explain to him that their parents were no longer alive.

'Sorry Maxi, I'm so sorry for messing everything up Buddy.' Alec mumbled his apologies over and over again into Max's fluffy brown hair.

'Why aren't we close like we used to be? What went wrong?' Max mumbled tearfully into Alec's chest, clinging tight to his brother. 'I don't want us to fight.'

'Families fight Max, its part of life.' Puffy eyes glared over the table at his sister.

'I know they fight, and we aren't immune to that, but we always stuck together. Through thick and thin we promised we'd always be strong together.'

'Max...'

'Don't give me this nonchalant crap Isabelle!' All eyes, including Jace's shot to Max. He never, ever, called his beloved sister that. 'I know you're hurt, we all are, but this isn't just about you. We're all hurting, Alec included. We've been given the chance now to listen and try and understand the choices he's made. He's opening up to us now. We might not have ever had that chance.' Alec continued to rub his hand up and down Max's shuddering back. 'We nearly lost him! We nearly lost Alec and what would you have done if all these mean things you were thinking and possibly saying were the last things you ever thought about him? What if they were some of the last things you ever said to him?' Alec heard the sharp intake of Izzy's breath. 'Alec lied. He kept secrets. I'm sad and hurt, but I love him. I love him for everything he's done for us. Everything he still does for us. Alec is our rock. And we've done nothing to help him! Nothing!'

'Maxi, you've all done plenty. Shh...' Alec murmured as Max hiccuped into his chest, leaning heavily into him whilst shouting at his sister. 'Its alright Buddy. I know you were scared when I was in hospital, I'm sorry about that too, but I'm alright now. I'm on the mend and from now on, I'll work harder to be more open and honest with all of you.' The apartment fell quiet for a few tense moments, until...

'Alec...' Blue eyes shifted to his sisters puffy ones.

'When mum and dad died... Did you...cry?'

'I did.'

'B-Back then? All on your own? Without us around to offer support?' Alec knew Izzy was remembering when they all clung to him back in that hospital and also over the next weeks and months and even at the funeral when he had organised it all on his own and ensured his parents were buried side by side. That had been a weird notion for Alec, since his father was openly having an affair and yet he still had them buried beside each other.

'I couldn't cry back then.' He watched her mouth drop open. 'I wanted to be there for all three of you. I needed to be strong and ensure that the three of you were going to be alright before worrying about my own feelings.' Alec gulped down the lump in his throat. 'I have shed my tears and my frustrations. Recently though. The dam walls opened and it came pouring out.'

'With Magnus?' Alec was sure he blushed a little at Max's obvious response.

'Yeah...' Alec dropped his eyes to his folded hands in his lap as Max had finally calmed down and they had both sat back in their respective seats. Alec couldn't believe just the mention of the man's name made a sort of calmness wash over him, his thundering heart settling a little.

'You care about him.' It was voiced as a statement as Alec darted his wide blue eyes over to his sister.

'I...I look after his children. Living under the same roof, we've become close friends and...well...he's had problems of his own and suddenly we were talking and it just happened.' Alec was sure he broke out in a nervous sweat. He didn't want his family reading into things. 'I'm still embarrassed by how I was but he doesn't hold it against me.'

'Alec...'

'A-Anyway, we're not talking about him, we're talking about us. About all the pain I have caused.' Alec wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans. 'I know I should have been honest. I should have told the truth. But I didn't. That was the choice I made from the very beginning. I'm not proud of it and I can't change it. Please just know, I've only ever wanted what is best for all of you. It's my job to protect you.'

'We didn't need protecting!' Alec's blue eyes frowned at Izzy's snappy response. It was so like Jace. And yes it stung.

'Yes you did.' He reached out his hand, heart aching when Izzy turned away from him at the table, once more, her hands retreating from his touch as she folded them back over her chest. 'Iz, you know I'm right about this. And do you know how I know that?' Of course he didn't get a response. 'Because your my baby sister. My little girl. I know everything about you.' He watched her eyes dart over to him and then retreat once more. 'I know, if you were in my shoes, everything I've done you would have done the same.' Izzy shifted her gaze back to his pleading face. 'Please Iz, ever since I was fifteen you've been acting like the big sister around the house. Ever since I opened up to you with my deepest darkest secret of being gay, a protectiveness surged within you from when you were 11 years old and its only gotten bigger and stronger from that day forward. Thank you for always being there for me, for trying to stand up to mum and dad that day, but I'm the big brother. Let me be your big brother. Let me take this burden. Let me protect you and your brothers.' Alec watched tears spill down Izzy's face.

'I hate you right now.' She sobbed out and Alec took that as her acceptance to shift out of his chair and kneel at her side, arms moving up and wrapping around his sweet, head strong, stubborn and insanely beautiful sister.

'I know you do. And that's okay. It hurts like a knife to my heart, but I deserve it. I'm sorry for being too frightened to tell you of the constant struggles we were facing and what we still face. Of keeping my emotions passive and neutral and my heart closed off. I just wanted, needed, all three of you to be happy, to smile and laugh and think everything was fine because your smiles, your laughter, your love, is what fuelled me to keep going. To keep struggling to keep us afloat.' Alec gave a jolt when Max had come around and gotten in on the hug as well. For Alec, even if tears were falling down all their faces, his heart swelled at these embraces. All that was missing for him was Jace, but he knew that would be asking too much.

'I'm so sorry for everything. I love you all so much.' Alec pressed his lips to Izzy's temple as her arms wound around his shoulders and clung to him. He didn't know how long they hugged it out for and when he felt Izzy shift, and sniffle, a 'tsk' coming from the back of her throat as she knew her crying had ruined her perfect make-up.

'You know, saying your sorry doesn't mean everything is going to be alright. You've kept so much hidden from us. Ten years Alec. Do you know how much that hurts?'

'I don't.' And he didn't. He hadn't been the one kept in the dark.

'Forgiving you for what you've kept from me, from us, isn't going to make the pain go away.' Alec chewed on his bottom lip to stop it from trembling. 'You've hurt us Alec. All you've kept from us, it makes me think that we are not dependable enough. That I'm not dependable enough.' Alec's lips parted, but Izzy placed up her hand not allowing him to speak. ' I...need time to think. Need time to process everything you've kept from us. I don't think... I don't think its a good idea for you to come around for awhile.' Alec let out a shuddering breath as tears formed in his eyes once more. The knife was slowly being pushed and twisted into his heart.

'I know the secrets I've kept hidden has damaged our relationship. I've damaged my relationship with all three of you. I made it so hard for you to try and ask me questions. For that I'm truly, deeply, sorry. You should have felt like you could have come to me when you saw that paperwork Max. I made it uncomfortable to talk about any such matters like finances, emotions and relationships. I just got so lost in my own head that our parents debt was mine to take on. I was the son they loathed. I almost felt like it was a test for me, to see whether I would fail them again or finally succeed. Ten years later and I've done neither. I'm stuck in the middle, but I won't let this debt drag any of you down. You have my word on that.' A sudden fierceness consumed Alec then and there. 'You take all the time you need. I deserve to suffer every day until you tell me its alright. Until you tell me that I can start to earn your forgiveness, to regain your trust, your love once again. Until that day comes, I will never forgive myself.' Alec got up and headed for the front door, eyes shifting to Jace who would have totally denied it, if he pointed it out, as there were tears silently falling down his cheeks.

'Alec...' His hand paused on the doorknob when Max called out to him. Alec took in a deep breath and turned his teary gaze to look at his family. He hoped not for the last time.

'I love you.' Alec stepped out of the apartment, listening to each sob that was ripped from Izzy's lips, and every single one of them was a punch to his gut.

He was on autopilot as he reached the lobby and a fight or flight situation consumed him and Alec bolted. He ended up in some random park, knowing it was not good to be on his own this late of an evening and in this part of the neighbourhood, but right now a mugging would have probably made him feel better then what he was feeling right now with how much he had hurt his family.

Alec collapsed to the ground, into four inch snow and sobbed so hard it ended up being hard to breathe.

#

(Back to the present...)

"Oh Alec..." Magnus' heart was pounding as Alec relayed it all to him. "You've kept this bottled up for too long." Not that Magnus wanted to make the young man feel any worse then what he was. Magnus knew there wasn't much he could offer and do except hold the young man in his arms, nudging Alec as he shifted him around to face him and saw the silent tears falling down his face. "Why didn't you come to me sooner?"

"I didn't want to admit it to myself." Magnus cupped his face, thumbs brushing away the tears. "I didn't want to admit that I've lost my family."

"No Alexander."

"Because of that choice I made, to hide our parents debts from them, since I didn't want my siblings to hate our parents, I've lost them! I lost them Magnus..."

"No!" Alec jerked at the force in Magnus' response, his blurry eyes focusing on the man for a moment. "I promise you, you have not lost your family. They just need time. And as much as it pains me to say this, its what you are going to have to give them." Magnus watched Alec's face scrunch up, more tears beginning to form in his eyes.

"It hurts Magnus. It hurts so much." Alec squeezed his eyes shut feeling like such a loser in front of this beautiful man. "I don't know if I can do this."

"You can Alexander. You are so strong. You can do this. You can wait for them. You love them with all your heart and they will understand what you have done for them."

"How can they ever place their trust and love in me again?"

"By remembering who you are to them. Their brother and their parents. The very man who has looked after them his whole life, even before your parents met an untimely death. Ever since you held Izzy and Max in your arms when they were babies. Ever since Jace was adopted into your family and you gained another brother, another precious sibling to protect and love. They will remember that. You are the one, no matter how much they stuff up in the world, that they can always lean on. No matter how many mistakes they make, how hard it is to see the light at the end of the tunnel, you will still love them regardless. The one they could always come to for a scrape on the knee, guidance in homework, the latest gossip of what was going on in school, that fight with the school bully or the school jock which you would back them up in, that cheer they can hear faintly in the grandstand at all their sports carnivals, the praises over horribly done projects and terrible cooking abilities." That seemed to crack a tiny smile on Alec's lips, like his words were actually forming memories, good ones, within Alec. "That very hand, this oh so strong hand, which always held theirs if they were sick or upset. These arms which would hold them tight and never let go when all they needed was a hug to make them feel a bit better. They will realise that whilst the secret has been protected from them, it cannot erase all that you have done, all the love you have for them. You could have run, they could have ended up in foster care, but you are you Alec and that was never going to happen. You would sacrifice yourself before ever letting that happen. Jace, Izzy and Max will understand that. One day, they will."

"P-Promise?" Those sad midnight blue eyes broke Magnus' heart as he pulled Alec back into his arms, placing his ear to his beating heart.

"I promise Alexander. Even if I have to make them see it myself." Broken sobs echoed through the living room and Magnus could do nothing but hold the young man tight.

#

(A couple days later...)

Ever since Alec had cried on Magnus, and fallen asleep on him for that matter, Alec had wanted to apologise and thank the man at the same time. He just didn't know whether he should just blurt the words out or whether he could possibly cook Magnus a nice meal and then say it.

Alec was fast realising that relationships of the romantic kind were hard work. Maybe that is why he never bothered to find one before, because he had so much baggage and was sure his potential partner would flee before he'd even get a chance to blink.

Magnus didn't flee though.

A pleasant tingle trickled down Alec's spine whilst his heart fluttered in his chest. Magnus was amazing. Alec wondered if maybe, just a little, he was becoming a bit obsessed with the gorgeous man. Alright, maybe a lot obsessed. Though Alec had never had anyone, of the romantic kind, pay him so much attention. Actually, Alec was so far stuck in the shadows most of his life, he was too scared to take a step out of them. Well, until Magnus came along. He was enthusiastically bringing him out. It was all a little weird for Alec, but he truly was drawn to Magnus like no other.

Plus the way the man handled himself, Alec seriously should try and take notes from the man. He totally handled himself like an absolute pro. Especially the 'caring boyfriend' side. Always being patient with him and letting him speak his troubles aloud and nowadays not forcing them out of him too. He was giving him his space, but also making sure that he knew Magnus was also close by if he needed him. Alec was realising how much Magnus disliked and worried over him keeping quiet, keeping things from him, but the man had been doing his best not to pressure him and Alec wanted to thank him for being patient and now having listened to his woes about his current issues with his family. After all, Alec had learned what it meant when one kept things from people. It never ended well. He had first hand experience at that now. Twice in fact. He didn't want to do that to Magnus too.

His phone still did not have any messages or missed calls from his family. Magnus had tried to assure him that all they needed was time, but what Magnus didn't explain was how time worked. It was infinite. And it was crushing to Alec, even if he knew he deserved it all. Nothing good came out of lying to those you loved.

As much as everything that was going on about his family was worrying him to no end, there was something else that was also troubling to him too.

A sudden change in Magnus had happened. It was subtle in some of the things he did. He didn't think it was because of him unleashing all his pent up feelings about how he went to see his siblings and what came out of it, and began to ponder on whether he had upset Magnus again in some other way. They had already had their first fight and Alec hated it to no end and began to worry about whether he'd said or done (or not done) something that upset Magnus.

Alec desperately wanted to be the caring and understanding boyfriend too. Magnus could absolutely rely on him, but getting that across to the man was proving difficult.

What Alec was picking up on, with Magnus' subtle changes, was it had everything to do with his vibrating phone. Not that he was spying on Magnus or anything when he was pottering around the house doing his usual chores and Magnus was generally on the couch or at the dining table clacking away on his laptop, and beside him, his vibrating phone would be going off.

At the back of his mind, Alec wondered if it was possibly Mercedes Guy. His stomach had lurched when the thought struck him and he quickly squashed the horrible and doubting thoughts he had for his boyfriend. Magnus did not seem like the cheating kind. Yes he knew of how 'loose' he was in the past, but Magnus was his boyfriend now. He wanted to do things right, which for Alec meant being exclusive to him and him alone. So no, he was absolutely certain Magnus wasn't seeing anyone else, even the Mercedes Guy or some other nameless and faceless man...or woman.

What truly kept Alec's thoughts shifting was how to approach Magnus and ask him if everything was alright. Magnus had given him space with his problems and now he had done the same for Magnus. Now he wanted, needed, to know. He needed to help the gorgeous man like he helped him.

When Alec had thought he'd gotten his thoughts in order, finally ready to call out to Magnus and offer his support, he faulted when he saw the glare on Magnus' face, the thin line of his lips which were set hard as stone. This morning his phone was turned off and thrown across the room. Alec blinked and backed away, needing a moment to reassess the situation and got stuck into doing some other chores. Magnus rarely turned his phone off. He was a busy man after all. And yet whoever was messaging him was upsetting him.

As soon as that hit Alec, that someone was upsetting Magnus, a protectiveness began to flare within him and his mind was set. Lunch time was fast approaching and that was going to be his chance. He wanted Magnus to open up to him.

#

(A couple hours later)

"Magnus," Those mesmerising brown-golden orbs shifted to look over at him as Magnus had been clacking away on his laptop, curled into the corner of his plush lounge. Alec placed down a plate of sandwiches and a platter of slices fruit, cheeses and a packet of crackers. "You know, when you tell me that I can tell you anything that is bothering me, that its a two way street right?" He watched Magnus tilt his head at his words. "I want you to know that you can tell me anything too."

"Why would you..."

"Talk to me Magnus." Alec sat down on the lounge facing the man, hands shaking as he clenched them in his lap. "I want to help. I want to take the hurt or annoyance from your eyes."

"Alec..."

"Whoever is doing this to you, tell me who it is and I'll...I don't know...tell them to piss off." Alec offered with a shrug. He wasn't sure if he would actually say that, he wasn't really a disrespectful person, but he could at least tell whoever it was that they were upsetting his boyfriend and they needed to stop.

"Even if its my father?" Alec gulped down the lump in his throat when that reached his ears.

"Is it your father?" Alec watched Magnus sigh heavily.

"It is." Magnus placed his laptop on the side table and then shifted his body to face him. "I'm sorry I've been off lately." Alec gave a tiny grin as Magnus' hands searched out his and he instantly linked their hands together. He totally could be the caring boyfriend too.

"You don't have to apologise Magnus. Just know, when you are ready to talk, I'm here for you." Alec watched Magnus close his eyes for a moment, probably to collect his thoughts about what had been going on with him over the past couple of days.

"I never told you my father visited the hospital whilst you were there." Alec felt his eyes widen at this. "Raphael rang him, so I didn't have to, and advised him about Madzie's accident out of courtesy since he is her grandfather." Alec nodded at that, completely understanding it and was glad Magnus had someone like Raphael looking out for him. "When he showed up, you'd just woken from your induced coma, but were sleeping and he found me not far from your room. He claimed he was coming to see how Madzie was, a few days late mind you, though I knew, just by the look in his eye, he'd been digging up information."

"About me?" Magnus gave a curt nod of the head.

"I mean I have no proof, but the fact he found me and you, in quite a massive hospital, speaks for itself in my books." Magnus huffed out, taking in a deep breath as he shifted his gaze to look into mesmerising blue ones. "I was not expecting him and when I'm near him my emotions flare and fluctuate so much that somewhere along the way I confessed we were together and you lived with me and the kids. I lied to him saying we'd been dating for six months and he wasn't allowed to meet you yet because you were very shy and being 'out' was very new to you and I didn't want him scaring you off." Magnus blurted all that out in one breath, eyes closing as he waited his fate.

"So I take it he wants to meet me?" Magnus snapped his eyes open, almost expecting Alec to walk away, but he was still sitting in front of him.

"I told him not to show himself until you were fully healed. I guess he thinks its time now as he insists on taking us out to dinner." Magnus huffed as he folded his arms over his chest. "He's been very persistent these past couple of days, but then I have been avoiding him since you found us arguing on Halloween."

"Magnus..." The older man was sure there was possibly a lecture on the tip of Alec's tongue.

"I know we were initially putting up an act to lie to my father so he didn't try and take the kids from me but..."

"Its different now." Alec softly voiced. "Because we're dating for real now."

"Yes..."

"Should I be offended?"

"What?" Magnus' eyes darted up and over to Alec.

"You were prepared to introduce me as a fake partner and yet when I am your real partner you don't want to introduce me."

"That's not... Alexander, you don't know my father."

"So let me get to know him. I can't size him up and he can't do the same to me if you keep ignoring him. Maybe ignoring him is making the situation worse."

"I don't... I don't want him saying anything that will upset you. I hate the thought of him frightening you away." Alec melted at Magnus' softly spoken confession. By the angel he was falling harder for this man each day.

"I'm ready for this Magnus. We're ready for this." Alec placed out his hands and smiled when Magnus took them again. "I'll give you all the strength I have so you can face your father. We'll face him together. You aren't alone in this Magnus."

"You continue to surprise me." Alec beamed a smile and expectantly leaned forward. He was getting better at being a little forward, especially when it came to kissing Magnus. He loved kissing this man and of course was rewarded with the man's lips falling softly over his, peppering him with sweet kisses until they pulled away.

In this moment, regardless of what had been going on, Alec felt happy. This smile was the first one in what felt like forever since he'd had a few rough weeks since leaving hospital. For a split second he almost thought maybe it was better in the induced coma, where he didn't have to think about anything, but knew that just wasn't him. After all, if he remained in his coma he'd never get to look at this beautiful man again. Alec hated that very thought.

Alec watched Magnus shuffle about, his grin widening as Magnus had forgotten where he had hidden his phone. Alec effortlessly lifted Chairman Meow who was sprawled on a stack of magazines and newspapers and pulled it from underneath and handed it wordlessly to the sheepishly grinning Magnus. That was such a cute look on the usually dashing and over confident man. Alec liked seeing a vulnerable Magnus. It made him so much more human then he seriously seemed to be. He doubted there would be many who got to see him like that too. It made him feel special.

When Magnus' phone turned on, it beeped multiple times for missed messages and calls.

"You sure you want to do this?" Magnus was giving him an out, but Alec was no chicken. Well, for the most part.

"Lets do this." He sat back in the lounge, delighting in Magnus leaning into him so he could see what he was messaging his father, which held no greeting to the man just a simple, short, sharp message stating Alec has recovered and that the both of them could do dinner with him the next time he was free.

They both jumped as a message came back within minutes. It was short and sharp too.

'Asiate. 7pm. Tonight.'

"Tonight?" Alec felt nerves kicking in already.

"Too soon?" Alec pushed the nerves away.

"No, lets do this." Magnus gave a nod and a quick reply before shoving his phone off to the side.

"Tonight it is then." They both stayed slouched on the couch, leaning against each other for several long minutes.

"Let me take a guess and say that I won't be able to wear my jeans and sweater combo tonight?" That made Magnus chuckle as he turned his head, pressing his lips to Alec's pink cheek.

"Not a chance. Especially if you want to impress my father, Pretty Boy."

Alec clucked his tongue. "The things I do for you." He delighted once more in Magnus' soft chuckle before slipping his hand under the older man's and holding it tight. Their eyes met. "It's going to be alright Magnus." He watched those mesmerising brown-golden orbs slip closed and Alec so wished he had the confidence to lean over and press his lips to Magnus', but all he could do was hold the man's hand tighter and rest his head against the man's shoulder instead.

#

(Later that evening...)

Alec and Magnus were in the back of a private car, a black BMW to be exact, and they weren't far from the restaurant now, hands locked together and looking quietly out their respective windows as they had both fallen quiet about ten minutes ago, loosing themselves in their own thoughts.

#

They had been standing out on the street, trying to hail a cab when the sleek car had pulled up at the kerb as if by magic. Alec watched a man in a suit exit the vehicle and came round to open up the back door.

'George?!' Alec heard Magnus exclaim a little in shock. 'What are you doing here?'

'Good evening Mr Bane. Your father requested I pick you up this evening.'

'Of course he did.' Magnus voiced back with little emotion. Alec assumed he'd never received a message about being collected for this evenings dinner. He watched Magnus move over to the car and pulled the elderly gentleman into a hug. It appeared, whether there was friction between father and son, Magnus seemed to have a little bit of a relationship with one of his father's employees. Alec picked it up, not only by the hug, but by the way Magnus gifted him with a smile too. 'It has been far too long, how have you been George?'

'I am well Mr Bane.'

'George, Mr Bane is my father. Please, call me Magnus. You've known me since I was 8 years old.'

'Whatever you say Mr Bane.' Magnus rolled his eyes and silently waved Alec over, pulling him into the back of the sleek car and then they were slowly heading towards Manhattan.

The car was quiet for a good ten minutes before Alec glanced down at himself and then shifted his attention to Magnus at his side.

'Magnus, is what I'm wearing alright for the restaurant?' Alec had softly asked, trying not to pay attention to the pair of eyes that were glancing at him and Magnus through the rear view mirror every now and then. Alec found Magnus' brown-golden orbs looking him up and down and knew his boyfriend had read his hidden question of whether his attire (and him) would be good enough for the man's father.

'You look positively dashing Alexander.' Alec wasn't sure though. He was only dressed in pressed black trousers and a silk black shirt. The only tattoo on view was the one on his neck. He didn't want Magnus' father having an opinion about him, because of his tattoos, without knowing him first. 'My shirt looks positively amazing on you. Quite tight against your broad chest and I absolutely approve.' Alec was hoping Magnus hadn't realised, since the man did have a lot of clothing, but he indeed had borrowed Magnus' shirt (without asking too) since he didn't have a lot of dressy ones himself. He had a silk blue one, but was wanting to save that for that supposed first date he and Magnus had yet to go on. Alec had teamed his black attire with his black business jacket that he reserved for interviews. His trousers were held to his waist by a silver buckled belt and he wore boots, but not the scuffed ones he usually did. Alec, as per usual, hadn't done a thing with his hair, it never sat right and it looked silly combed neatly anyway. When Alec had seen himself in the mirror, he almost thought he was going to his own funeral, all in black with the only bit of colour being his startling sapphire blue eyes. 'I totally have a new appreciation for black clothing when being able to see it on you.' Magnus sultrily murmured against his ear before pecking his cheek, which of course made Alec blush.

'Y-You look nice too.' Alec adorably mumbled as he shifted his appreciative gaze to look at Magnus once more as the man was in shiny black shoes, pressed black trousers and a silky looking greyish-black shirt with silver flat buttons that were done all the way to his neck. He'd teamed his rather subtle attire with a velvet maroon jacket and some pinkish-maroon highlights in the tips of his perfectly styled hair. His make-up was just that of black eye-liner and he only had two rings on his fingers. The chunky silver ones with his initials on them. To Alec, subtle Magnus was still utterly breathtaking.

'Thank you Alexander.' Magnus effortlessly took his hand and brought it to his lips to place a kiss on his palm. It got Alec's heart all aflutter. Though seriously, when didn't Magnus set him off?

'Do you think the kids are alright? This dinner was organised pretty suddenly.'

'Thankfully for us, we have Raphael on hand. And they love spending time with him, especially when they also get to have a sleepover too. Raph would deny it, but they all sleep in his bed with him, snuggled so close together like peas in a pod. Its adorable.'

'You make it sound like you've seen it or been in it too.'

'I have.' Alec didn't know how to feel about that. 'Seen it that is.' The slouch in Alec's shoulders ceased at that. 'And I may have taken a picture too. I do have a key to Raphael's place for emergencies and became worried when he wasn't answering the door or his phone and that is when I let myself in and found them all in his bed. Lets just say, I have leverage on him in striped pyjamas, drool forming at the side of his mouth and three angelic cherubs sprawled all over him.' Alec chuckled at the image forming in his head of Magnus' stone-faced brother looking all sleepy and unkempt. 'Besides, you also promised them an afternoon in the park and also that you would bake treats.'

'I did.'

'So there is nothing to worry about. I'm also going to do exactly what Raphael suggested I do tonight as well.'

'And what's that?'

'Try and calm my stress levels down, since we are having dinner with Asmodeus Bane after all, and remember we are at a swanky restaurant with an amazing view and that I should order the most expensive meal on the menu.' Alec tilted his head at that. 'According to Raph, if the evening sucks, which my expectations for that happening are pretty high, I've at least made him fork out several hundreds of dollars for it.' Magnus delighted in Alec's laughter.

#

"We are here Mr Bane." Alec jerked from his thoughts as he focused his gaze out the window as they were pulled up in front of a hotel. The men got out, Alec not really needing George to open his door. That just made him feel weird. "Please give me a call when you wish to head home this evening."

"We won't be doing that George. Alexander and I will take the subway." Magnus watched George frown at that. "Don't worry, I'll tell my father. It was wonderful seeing you again." The men shook hands and whilst George drove off, Alec was gazing up at the Mandarin Oriental.

"You alright there Pretty Boy?" Magnus quipped as he stood by Alec's side.

"We really going up there?"

"We are." Magnus confirmed and slipped his hand into Alec's. "The restaurant has a wonderful view, and knowing my father, he would have booked one of the private but still sort of open plan rooms which would be completely excessive since its just the three of us." Magnus gave Alec's hand a squeeze. "Try not to let my father get to you this evening."

"Easy for you to say..." Doubt was a bitch and it was creeping into Alec's stomach. He promised Magnus that they would be alright but now that he was that much closer to actually meeting Magnus' father, nerves began to play in his head and heart.

"I'll protect you from the big bad wolf." Alec rolled his eyes as he gripped Magnus' hand tighter and then they stepped inside and went up to the 35th floor.

#

(Asiate)

"Good evening gentleman, how can I help you."

"There should be a booking under 'Bane'."

"Oh yes, Mr Bane is already here. Please come this way." They both followed the young woman further into the restaurant and towards the massive floor to ceiling windows. Magnus had not dropped Alec's hand for a single second as they weaved their way to their table and Alec saw several people glance their way. "Mr Bane, your guests have arrived."

True to what Magnus believed, they were indeed sitting in one of the private dining sections, which of course could sit 12 people. The view was amazing and there was an impressive wine rack which was technically a full wall and then there was a swarovski crystal ceiling just to add in some extra flair. You know, just because.

When the woman left them be, Asmodeus drifted his eyes up and over his son.

"You're late."

"Yes, because I cannot control New York traffic." Magnus rolled his eyes before finally settling them on his father. "George did the best he could." Asmodeus was dressed handsomely in all black with a gold vest poking out from beneath his jacket. It really set the gold in his irises off. His shoulder length hair was neatly groomed and the man was a picture of sophistication. Naturally. This was Asmodeus Bane and Magnus knew this restaurant was one he frequented. "Father..." Magnus finally greeted rather neutrally. And possibly a bit stiffly too.

"Sit down Magnus." Asmodeus waved him to the seat opposite him, it facing the amazing view of the city skyline. Alec, without a thought, pulled out Magnus' chair and then watched the older man rise from his seat when he finally decided to take notice of him.

"You must be Alexander Lightwood. I'm Asmodeus Bane."

"Alec," He corrected the older gentleman and tried not to show his surprise that of course Magnus' father knew his name. Magnus warned him that he would be investigated. "Its a pleasure to meet you." The handshake was over in seconds and both men sat down. Magnus was hiding his face in the extensive wine list on offer. Alec couldn't help but naturally lean towards the man, hand moving seamlessly over the backing of Magnus' chair. "What looks good?"

"I'm going to start with a scurvy sailor."

"Yeah, because that sounds SO enticing." Alec dryly muttered as he shifted over the cocktails page. "Can I have that?" He pointed to one of the non-alcoholic cocktails on offer.

"Of course you can." Out of the corner of his eye there was a waitress hovering about so he raised his hand and waved her over. They ordered their drinks, Asmodeus going for a martini which did have Alec raising an eyebrow since it appeared Magnus and his father did have similar tastes when it came to drinks. Though he thought it best not to point that out.

"I have already ordered a selection of dishes for us."

"But of course you have." Magnus dryly voiced, because his father always had to be in control of the situation. Magnus' eyes dropped below the table when he felt a sudden pressure against his thigh, Alec having gripped his leg, as though hoping to keep his stress levels down. Brown-golden orbs met blue ones and Magnus gave a tiny grateful smile.

"I hope you don't mind Alexander, I ordered some starter dishes which are scallops, grilled quail, heirloom beets and spanish octopus. They are positively delicious. Have you ever eaten here before?"

"No Mr Bane, I have not. I'm looking forward to tasting some high quality seafood though. And my name is Alec." He softly responded and corrected the man at the same time. He really didn't like anyone, other then Magnus, calling him that. He also knew the man was trying to see if he would take offence to anything he said. On the inside, of course Alec was. Asmodeus Bane was being a bit of a pompous rich asshole to him. It made Alec wonder if the man knew of his financial situation, knowing he wouldn't be dining out at places like this, though he really hoped it would not come up in conversation tonight as Alec was sure he would honestly walk out and maybe even in the process upset Magnus too. That very thought made his stomach churn as he fidgeted in his seat.

"If you don't like anything this evening, we'll stop at Taki's before going home for burgers and fries." Magnus piped up, giving him a lovely smile which settled Alec's nerves a little.

"I do owe you burgers and fries since my last failed attempt." That earned a chuckle from Magnus and Asmodeus blinked quietly at the interaction between the two men.

"Gentleman, your drinks." A young man voiced as he placed down the ordered drinks and not long after that the starter dishes Asmodeus had pre-ordered were placed down. Just looking at the current dishes on offer, Alec knew Magnus' father wasn't shy of shelling out money. And it was all well and good to do that, especially at restaurants to look good, but for Alec, a down and out diner with a ten dollar pasta dish seemed way more appealing right now, but he was not about to pass up an opportunity to eat some high end food. Or at least taste some high end food, in case none of it was to his liking.

#

The evening started off slow and awkward, not much conversation being had as Magnus and Alec broke into light conversation between themselves, since at this stage Alec wasn't being grilled by Asmodeus. Perhaps the man was just biding his time. And truthfully, for Magnus and Alec, only time would tell.

When the starters were done, Alec not really into the scallops or octopus, Asmodeus went about asking for their next course to start being prepared and had decided to order a bottle of champagne, made in France – naturally – and expensive too, which Alec wasn't surprised about.

The cork was popped, the liquid was poured into flute glasses and Asmodeus raised his in the air.

"A toast to us, for our very first dinner together. One of many, I hope." Magnus had to bite down the sneering remark on the tip of his tongue as he clinked his glass with his father's and then Alec's.

"To us..." He begrudgingly echoed and really hoped dinner with his father wasn't going to be a frequent occurrence.

When the main courses came out, once again Alec was advised what was on offer which of course was ora king salmon, long island duck, market carrots and also prime black angus beef. Because this was Asmodeus Bane and he could order whatever the hell he liked.

About ten minutes into the main offerings, the champagne was quickly going to Alec's head and he pushed the flute glass away, cutting himself off.

"Not a fan?" Asmodeus questioned.

"I am not."

"How about something else? Scotch, whiskey or perhaps a beer?"

"Well, I'm not really much of a drinker, but I guess a beer would be fine." Again the waiter was called over and Asmodeus ordered a Brooklyn Lager for Alec.

Even as pompous as all the food seemed, paying insane prices for such tiny portions, Alec had to admit most of it was delicious. He was almost envious of the flavours that were assaulting his senses. He hadn't realised he let out a tiny hum, lost in thought as he tried to think of the name of the spices that had been used.

"You thinking about the flavours?" Alec jerked his blue eyes to Magnus as the man wasn't even eating his meal and was just watching him.

"How did you know?"

"You have this little adorable hum, when you loose yourself in your thoughts, especially when you are in the kitchen." Alec felt warmth rush to his cheeks. He really hadn't realised just how much attention Magnus paid him, and watched him. So much so he was figuring out his character and little traits that even Alec didn't realise he did. Of course he knew Magnus watched him closely in the beginning, because he was a stranger in his home and looking after his three adorable children, but nowadays...

"So, Alec, what is it that you do?" Alec jerked his attention back to Magnus' father.

"I work for your son."

"Isn't that a little awkward?"

"Why?"

"Because you are romantically involved."

"So?"

"I just thought..."

"Wouldn't it be more weird if Magnus wasn't paying me a wage for my services of looking after the children and pretty much running the house? Wouldn't that almost make me seem like a live-in slave?" The table of three fell quiet at that.

"So tell me about yourself." Both younger men were pretty damn sure that Asmodeus knew a bit about Alec as it was, but he decided to indulge the man, after taking another bite of the beef since it melted in the mouth.

Alec began to real off a bit of his background, talking about where he went to school, which was a petty prestigious one, nothing but the best even for the "let down" child in the Lightwood family. Not that Alec talked about his parents. Actually he mainly spoke of his siblings and how he'd been looking after them since he was 18 years old but never delved much further.

"That's rather admirable of you."

"We only have each other. And I would never abandon them." Alec was pretty passionate about that. Even if things were strained as they were, and by the angel it still cut Alec deep, but he would never regret the choice he made. He'd just regret not telling them.

Magnus for his part just sat in silence as he listened to his father being rather civilised to Alec. Though he suspected the man wasn't going to cause a scene in a restaurant that he was a regular at. So they were safe. Well as safe as one could be when facing off against Asmodeus Bane that is. Magnus' father had a reputation of being quite the ruthless man business wise when he was growing up.

It wasn't long before Magnus picked up on Alec's shift in behaviour, really not wanting to delve into his life story about his deceased parents and the financial issues he now took on, even if there was the possibility of his father already having investigated that. Even if it was none of Asmodeus Bane's business, it wouldn't stop him from getting to the bottom of things. Quickly Magnus picked up his empty flute glass and held it out to his father who poured him another champagne.

"How goes business?" Magnus quipped as a diversion away from Alec, allowing the younger man a breather from his father as he listened to the man talk about his company like Magnus was actually interested. He wasn't.

When Asmodeus began to talk about a problem in his company, which did surprise Alec because he didn't think he would be this open and honest about what went down in his company, not that Alec knew what the man did, but he couldn't help but offer up his two cents worth of knowledge.

"Find the weakest link and neutralise it before it does more damage." Alec found two pairs of brown-golden orbs blinking quietly at him. "You know, treat it like a bug in a computer software program. Isolate it, neutralise it. You don't want it affecting the rest of the system so..." The Bane men continued to eye him quietly and it was starting to make Alec a little nervous as he fidgeted in his seat and then took a gulp of his beer. "My parents were business consultants with backgrounds in computer technology and law and such." Alec shrugged his shoulders.

"Maryse Lightwood." Alec jerked in surprise and blinked quietly at Asmodeus voicing his mother's name and noticed Magnus did the same. "Your blue eyes are not as cold and calculating as hers, but there is a familiarity there. I thought 'Lightwood' sounded familiar to me as well."

"Father..." Magnus gave a slight warning.

"How are your parents these days?" Asmodeus ignored it.

"Dead, next question." The table went silent as Alec picked up his glass of water and gulped it down. His gaze drifted to Magnus' apologetic one.

"Oh, hence why you are looking after your siblings."

"Father!" Magnus grit his teeth when the older man waved him off.

"Oh relax Magnus, I'm not here to fight. I'm just trying to get a feel for young Alec here. And also to advise him that I've been associated with his parents in the past."

"Small world." Alec muttered mainly to himself, albeit a little sarcastically.

"They assisted me with some embezzling in my company years back." Both Magnus and Alec glanced at each other. That had been the time when Magnus' relationship with his father had spiralled downhill.

"Should I apologise to you Magnus?" The man in question raised an eyebrow at Alec. "Why if my parents were smarter and quicker in their investigations, more competent, then perhaps this..." Alec motioned between the two men. "...would be a much better relationship." Magnus cracked up, delighting in Alec's dig at his own father, since he was being a pretentious ass right now. Asmodeus had no comment as Alec sat back in his chair, swiping up his beer whilst his other hand not so subtly took hold of Magnus' free one and rested it against his thigh, locking their fingers tightly together.

He could totally play up the cocky and bad ass boyfriend.

Well... Maybe...

#

As the night drew on, it ended with a dessert which was maple almond gingerbread with nutella ice cream and poached pears along with a single malt 18 year old scotch from Orkney. Alec nearly spat out the smooth scotch when his eyes glanced over the price, $48 to be exact, and seriously thought he might have a heart attack when Magnus' father was trying to convince them to try the 30 year old one like him. He made mention it was much smoother then the 18 year old one, never mind the fact it was $250!

He was certain this evenings dinner and drinks was clocking well over $500!

#

"You really remind me of her." Alec jerked from his thoughts as he suddenly found Asmodeus sitting next to him. Magnus had gone to the bathroom, muttering into Alec's ear that he would be as fast as he could be so he didn't leave him alone with his father for too long. It'd already been a minute and Asmodeus seemed to be making his move, which was sitting right at Alec's side and eyeing him a little...weirdly. It was all Alec could think to call it. "Your mother I mean. You have the same...complexion." Alec tried not to shudder uncomfortably as Asmodeus drifted his index finger under his chin. "You have spunk. Just like she did." It only took seconds, but for Alec (and for Magnus who had returned to their table at this time) it was several seconds too long as Alec slapped Asmodeus' hand away.

"Don't touch me." Alec warned and Magnus came storming back over.

"What is going on?" He tried to keep his voice as low as possible so as not to disturb the other customers.

"Nothing, Alec and I were just chatting about his lovely mother is all." Alec frowned at that. "She was quite...alluring."

"Please tell me you didn't sleep with her." Magnus was first to blurt it out as he pulled up a seat, squishing himself between Alec and his father and placing distance between them. He did not like his father touching Alec at all. Then there was also the very thought of his own father and Alec's mother together. It was just...

"Well..."

"She wouldn't do something like that." Alec quickly snapped up. "She was devoted to my father, even if he didn't return the faithfulness." Magnus jerked his gaze to Alec, this the first time he had heard something like one of Alec's parents having an affair.

"Alexander..." Blue eyes shifted over to brown-golden orbs.

"It was a long time ago." Magnus squeezed Alec's hand before watching him turn his hard stare back to his father who was sitting on his right side. "Don't think what you say is going to make me react like you hope and cause a scene." Asmodeus arched an eyebrow at that. "Maybe you are hoping I will, which could then potentially damage what Magnus and I have together, but guess what, your little stunt won't work." Alec had no idea where he was getting all this courage from, but the glint in Magnus' gaze, the proud grin on his lips, apparently he liked seeing this assertive side to him. Alec kind of liked it too. It made adrenalin buzz throughout his veins. He wondered, almost a little abashedly if Magnus would reward him later on for standing up for himself, for the both of them, against his father. "How about we shift to more neutral territory, say for instance, your grandchildren?" Asmodeus eyed Alec critically before picking up his glass and clinking it against Alec's before taking a sip of his whiskey, leaning back in his chair, one leg crossed over the other and a quiet stare about him. Alec hated to admit it, but he could so see Magnus in this man.

Both young men had no idea what kind of game Asmodeus was playing, but they picked up their drinks and sipped quietly.

The evening rolled along.

#

(Outside the Mandarin Oriental)

"Will you be needing George this evening?" Asmodeus questioned as the three of them were standing on the street, Asmodeus placing a trench coat over his attire as a gust of wind blew about the lively city.

"No thank you. Alexander and I are going to take an evening stroll and then head home afterwards."

"It was good seeing you Magnus." The photographer didn't know what to say to that and only gave a jerked nod of the head. "Alexander, a pleasure." Asmodeus shook his hand and then watched his son and boyfriend head off down the street, hand in hand.

Asmodeus slid effortlessly into the black BMW.

"How was your evening Mr Bane?"

"Interesting." Asmodeus commented back as George did a u-turn and then his brown-golden orbs glanced out the window just in time to see Alec unbutton his black jacket and drape it over his son. In the split second the car drove past, he could almost see the argument on Magnus' lips, trying to tell Alec that he was fine when it seemed the young man knew better. Magnus always did feel the cold more then others. And he never seemed to dress appropriately enough. Always siding with fashion then using common sense. "George, keep an eye on him."

"Yes Sir..."

#

(Back in Brooklyn)

Magnus and Alec were curled up on the settee, fire ablaze and logs crackling away, all other lights in the apartment were off. Alec had his back to Magnus' chest and the older man's arms wrapped around his shoulders. Alec had never felt so comfortable in all his life, being able to lean heavily against someone who would hold him, support him, and embrace him like he were the most precious being on this earth.

"Alexander, about what you said this evening..."

"Which time?"

"About your father and his...affair." Magnus listened to Alec sigh.

"I caught him and ended up telling my mother. I'd never seen her so quiet before. She just looked at me and then told me to go to my room. I thought telling her was the right thing to do. I just wanted to protect her."

"Oh Alec..."

"To this day I still don't understand why she stuck with him. He was unfaithful. He broke their vows and yet she just stayed with him. Allowed him to stay. Always sided with him no matter what." Alec growled out.

"Sometimes to love is to forgive, even in such times of unfaithfulness."

"He didn't even stop though. Maybe if it was just once, then I could understand, but he never stopped seeing that woman." Alec felt one of Magnus' comforting hands brush through his hair. He loved the carding feeling of those long nimble fingers scraping against his scalp. It was very soothing. Alec felt his tense muscles ease when Magnus' thumb, on his other hand, brushed softly, lazily, against his cheek. "Even when I threatened him that I would tell mum, even though I'd already told her initially what he was doing, my father scoffed at me, saying I was imagining things. I was pretty vocal back then, telling him I knew what I saw. That was the one and only time my dad actually hit me." Alec felt Magnus' arms strengthen around his shoulders.

"I'm sorry he did that to you Alexander." For Alec it was all in the past, but he knew if there was someone who knew about domestic violence, it was the very man cuddling him close.

"I might have been young, but I knew what I saw. He was...kissing her. And he never kissed mum like that. I knew then and there, he liked that woman better then mum. I stood up to him that day, even if I was hit for it. I stood up not only for mum, but for all of us. If he didn't love mum, love us, then he should leave. We didn't need him. And that is when he hit me, told me not to speak so disrespectfully to him and when I did try again, he did raise his hand once more, ready to backhand me again, but I finally kept my mouth shut. It was the last time I ever spoke my mind to him. Well, until I finally told he and mum about my sexuality that is."

"I know a thing or two about having a hand raised to you and I'm sure it would have been quite shocking at the time, but you did what you thought was right. You wanted to protect your mum. You wanted to protect her and your siblings. Even from such a young age you were already a protector." Magnus softly voiced into his ear.

"Still, mum stayed with him. And in the end, they both died together, even if they weren't truly together anymore."

"Alec..."

"I...never let that lady come to the funeral. She came to me to offer her condolences and I saw red. There was no way I was having her at the funeral where Jace, Izzy and Max could see her. I couldn't let them know how unfaithful dad was to our mum. Especially Izzy. She was dad's little girl. She loved him so much. It would have torn her apart. I was prepared for a fight, because to me she was nothing but a home-wrecker, but she quietly walked away and never came back." Alec closed his eyes, drawing in some deep breaths as he felt like all his feelings were threatening to consume him. Again.

However, after several long minutes, the panic never came. Alec was sure it had everything to do with Magnus' presence surrounding him.

"Even after telling mum, I don't know if she had it out with dad at all, but they kept the marriage going purely for business purposes, but privately, they had their own rooms in our house."

"Alec..."

"Mum cried once. I saw her. She was on the edge of her bed, looking down at her wedding rings and then she started to cry. I wanted to go in and hug her but I didn't. I was too afraid she might hit me like dad had."

"You were just a little boy Alec, so of course you would hesitate."

"I often wondered if mum ever regretted meeting dad and marrying him."

"Unfortunately, marriage is not all sunshine and roses." Magnus whispered into Alec's ear, his right hand still carding sweetly through Alec's unkempt hair.

"Have you ever thought about marriage?" Alec felt Magnus stiffen behind him. He wanted to kick himself. "No, don't answer that."

"Alexander..."

"Its not my business to pry just like that." Alec quickly fumbled through his words. "I just know I could never do that." Alec quickly forged on, rambling away to try and get the dark thoughts (or possible happy thoughts) of marriage out of Magnus' mind. "I could never stay in a relationship, a marriage, if their were no feelings involved. I would want my partner to be open and honest with me. I'd want to know if they fell out of love with me. And even if it broke my heart, I'd still want them to be honest with me, and I'd still wish them happiness."

"You truly are one of a kind Alexander." Magnus mumbled into Alec's hair and pressed a kiss there.

"Its all just words anyway. In truth, I've never been in love, as you know, so I wouldn't have a clue if I truly would be like that. I'd like to think I'd never do something like that, never be like my father, but truth is, I can't predict the future."

"And that's a good thing." Alec shifted and turned slightly, craning his neck to gaze up at Magnus. "Life is way more exciting when we can venture into the unknown and see what comes of it." Alec just continued to gaze up at Magnus for a few moments before turning over fully, making himself as comfortable as he could be with two grown men sprawled on the settee, Alec tucked between Magnus up-drawn legs and trying ever so hard not to think about it, about how close their groins were, though right now that didn't matter. What mattered was for the first time in what felt like forever, Alec boldly initiated a kiss with Magnus. It seemed to delight the older man as he pulled him even closer, tongue slipping effortlessly past his lips and Alec felt like a drowning man never wanting to surface.

#

(The next morning)

Alec snapped awake, feeling slightly disorientated until he realised he was still in his clothes from last night, just no jacket and boots, and was tucked into Magnus' bed with the very gorgeous man sleeping beside him.

"Morning..." Or was meant to be sleeping beside him.

"Morning..." Alec mumbled back as he tried to fight the blush from his cheeks.

He was just realising he pretty much had fallen asleep on Magnus after their kissing marathon and hadn't even woken when the man had clearly carried him to bed. Alec felt a little sad he'd missed the notion of Magnus picking him up as though he weighed nothing and carting him off to his bed. The image sent a tingle through his body, as well as the thought of it being a little funny too, since he was bulkier then Magnus, but clearly the older man had a strength about him that Alec was not fully aware of.

"I didn't have the heart to wake you." Magnus softly voiced into the top of his head. "I'm sure the ordeal of officially meeting my father was quite draining." Alec couldn't deny that. "Your little snores were also insanely adorable too."

"I don't snore."

"Of course not my darling." Alec stiffened a little at the endearment, shifting his eyes to Magnus to see if he realised he'd said it. The slight widening of his orbs meant he had. "I... sorry Alexander. That just slipped out and I..."

"It alright." Alec really liked that endearment slipping from Magnus' lips and being directed at him of all people. They may not have even said 'I love you' let alone an 'I like you' for that matter, and yet Alec was overawed at the prospect of being Magnus' darling. He couldn't recall the man saying it to him before, but then he'd been called many nick name, pet names and/or endearments by the man like blue eyes, pretty boy, shy boy, even sweetheart a little teasingly too. Alec realised he liked them all. He'd never been anyone's...anything. Alec cuddled deeper into the winter blankets, placing them half over his face as he shifted on his side to face Magnus. "I don't mind what you call me." He watched Magnus' grin widen. "Within reason of course." He quickly added.

"Of course." Though Alec hadn't not liked anything Magnus had called him yet. They all made him feel special. He'd never felt special before.

"What time is it?" Alec stretched a little, body arching and curling this way and that. He'd felt like he'd had one of the best sleeps in his life, but capped that off to the fact he was always beside Magnus these days, and so sleep to him came easily as long as Magnus was beside him. It truly was the best feeling in the world.

"Early."

"How early?"

"Around eight."

"Eight?!" Alec darted up. "Eight is not early Magnus! I should have at least gone for a run, been back already and taking a shower and then started on breakfast for the kids. I also need to do quite a bit of washing and..." Alec let out a gasp as he was yanked back down into the bed and more importantly his back connected with Magnus' bare chest, arms locking securely around his waist.

"You forget the kids are not here. They are still with Raphael and are probably having breakfast with him and complaining that it isn't your pancakes." Magnus was sure there would be a silly little grin on Alec's lips even though he wasn't facing him to see it. "Why not stay in bed with me a little longer? We don't often get a chance like this and we aren't meeting them until noon, in the park, like you promised." Alec's heart was thundering in his chest, and he was sure Magnus could probably hear it, and feel it, under those gorgeous splayed hands, but at such a sultry request, who was he to reject such a rare offer of lounging in bed with Magnus.

Both men lost themselves within their own thoughts, but relished the closeness, the lazy caresses and every now and then, since Alec did shift around to face Magnus, the soft sensual morning kisses they shared together. This mornings cuddling in bed was a welcome reward as usually it did only last about ten minutes and then Alec was heading off to appease very hungry children.

This Sunday was a blessing to Magnus and he began to ponder if he could make it a regular occurrence and have his children with Raphael on Sunday's more often, just so he could get his pretty boy all to himself.

#

(Later that afternoon)

When Raphael dropped the children off, Alec greeted him kindly and then left Magnus to it as he chatted happily with his brother and decided to also fill him in on how weird last nights dinner was with his father.

Alec for his part accepted the adorable hugs he got from Magnus' children and then asked them how their sleep over with Uncle Raphael went as he waited for Magnus to come back over so they could decide on what game to play together. He'd asked whether the kids wanted to start with the swings but they hadn't wanted to do that.

"So, have you decided on what to play yet?" Magnus had gracefully strolled over, boots crunching in the snow as he headed on over.

"Tag!" Max piped up at his brilliant idea and then poked his father's thigh. "You're it Papa!" And the kids scattered, squeals of delight on their lips as Magnus went charging after them. It was such a delight for Alec to see Magnus this free. He knew how tense he'd been last night and would have done anything to take that feeling away from him, but luckily it had only lasted a few hours. Now he was free and at ease and back with his adorable children and chasing them around the play equipment and really, the only stressful thing that could possible happen to him right now was slipping and falling into the snow. Not bad considering...

#

After about ten minutes of Magnus chasing after his children and they him, Alec was finally coaxed into the game of tag by his adorable princess and when Raphael had tagged his father once more, blue eyes watched mesmerising brown-golden orbs lock onto him, a wide smile brushing across Magnus' lips instantly. Alec knew then that Magnus had set his sights on him and was too darn slow to get out of the way as Magnus suddenly grabbed him, an adorable snort breaking from Alec's throat as he became a bit clumsy with Magnus' arms slightly around him and his warm breath rushing down his neck as Magnus was laughing.

His children were telling him to tickle Alec and of course the said father did as his children requested of him and nimble fingers met warm pale skin as Alec's shirt had risen up slightly, a burst of laughter escaping his lips as Alec hadn't realised just how ticklish he truly was, especially around his sides. That of course made his knees quiver slightly and unfortunately for Alec (and Magnus) their legs got tangled and down they went.

"Oof!" Magnus exerted, not expecting to be in the dewy grass in their usual neighbourhood park with a man practically lying on him with his kids and other park-goers looking on as well. Alec's left elbow had ended up knocking the wind out of him, along with the fall as well.

"Shit, Magnus, sorry!" Alec blurted out, scrambling off the man and resting on his left side facing Magnus who was bringing in some deep breaths.

"All good, but I hope you haven't jarred any of your injuries either."

"I'm fine Magnus. Remember, Dr Hill has cleared me. Sometimes there is a dull ache, but nothing I can't handle. Though I think I've winded you."

"I just wasn't expecting you to trip and fall all over me." Magnus gave him a wink but froze when his other senses finally came back online.

Alec was indeed pressed up against his right side, warm body flush against his. His right hand was resting against his chest and those piercing blue eyes were gazing brightly, warmly down at him, slightly crinkled at the sides as he burst into delightful laughter once more. It actually made Magnus shudder a little at. He was finding it harder and harder to resist this man.

"Your back is going to be saturated, just like my side." Magnus furrowed his eyebrows at that. "We landed in a fast melting patch of last nights snow."

"Oh..." Magnus sat up to try and inspect the 'damage' before he was tackled by his overzealous children, they pushing him and Alec back to the ground in an instant. "Stop!" Magnus called out, breathing hard as tiny cold fingers were tickling his warm skin since his jacket and top had ridden up. "I surrender to all four of you!"

"Do you now?" Magnus felt his breath falter at the sudden heated look in Alec's blue eyes. At least that is what it looked like to him. Magnus hadn't misread that had he?

"Do you promise to get us pie and ice cream?" Magnus jerked his gaze to his cheeky son, Raphael cheering happily along with his twin and their big sister when Magnus nodded his head multiple times at their request. The three children rushed to go play on the swings until they would be called to head off for pie and ice cream.

"Man, you are quite the pushover." Alec teased and he was just getting up when a gasp escaped his lips, as arms had wound around his waist and pulled him back down to the ground, only this time he went chest and face first into a soft mound of snow! "MAGNUS!" Alec yelped as it was downright freezing! Alec's breath hitched in his throat suddenly, face turned to the side to see what Magnus was doing and found the man straddling his hips and sitting rather triumphantly on his butt!

"Just who is the pushover now Alexander?" Alec felt a full body shiver rush through him and this time it had nothing to do with the snow.

"I'm wet."

"From the snow or..."

"Magnus..." Alec growled lowly, face flushing as he totally got Magnus' teasing innuendo. This one a lot faster then the last one so Alec had to give himself some props for that.

"Just letting you know I'm stronger then I look." Alec's face was still flushed, and even more so when Magnus innocently man handled him as he turned him back over on his back, this time not sitting on him, thank goodness, and he gripped his hands and helped him to stand up. Being manhandled by Magnus made him feel a little bit...hot.

"I...I can see that." Alec stuttered out, trying to shove his previous thought to the back of his mind whilst observing Magnus do up his jacket to try and hide the wet patches in the front of him for him. "Thanks..." Alec mumbled as Magnus finally took a step back and once again was inspecting his own wet ass, a slight scowl on his lips.

Just as Alec started brushing some snow from the back of his soaked jeans, frowning as the chill and wetness began to sink through the denim and dampen his boxer briefs, as well as the chill he felt on his torso too sent a shudder through him. Then there was the fact that Magnus stepped closer once more, right into his personal space and his fingerless gloved hand brushed trough his unruly and slightly damp hair, ridding it of clumps of snow too.

"You're such a mess Alexander."

"Like you can talk." Alec childishly replied back which earned a tiny grin from Magnus before the two of them began laughing. Magnus soon stole his lips in a sweet gentle kiss before shifting his eyes over to his children to ensure everything was alright with them. They were generally careful on play equipment but sometimes his boys did become overzealous, usually coming home with Alec with some sort of scrape on the hands or knees. "Can we get the pie as takeaway, I need a shower." Alec requested and Magnus gave him a grin before clapping his hands and heading over to his three children.

"Kids, lets get going, Alexander is a little cold now." His brood leapt off the play equipment and whilst Madzie went straight for Magnus, his boys each took hold of Alec's hands and the 'family of five' headed off to the pie shop.

#

(Back at the Brownstone)

"You three need a bath."

"Allie wanted a bath too." Max piped up as beanies, gloves, coats and shoes were removed.

"I do, but you three need to have one first. You need to get all warmed up and into your pyjamas and then I have spaghetti and meatballs for dinner tonight and then we can have pie and ice cream afterwards and watch a movie together before bedtime." Squeals of delight echoed through the apartment as Magnus and Alec watched the children stampede down the hallway.

"You put the pie and ice cream away, I'll get their bath started." Alec nodded his head and headed for the kitchen placing said dessert away. Alec then made his way to Magnus' fireplace and lit a hearty fire, wanting it desperately to warm the house and also himself. Though what he really needed to do was get out of his wet clothes. His shirt was practically sticking to him and sending a chill down his spine.

Alec pulled his sweater and long sleeved muscle shirt from his body, making his way back down the hallway to place them in his hamper he had in his bedroom when Magnus was just coming out of the bathroom, his eyes locking with his half clothed self.

A sudden shudder rippled over Alec's body as he was certain there was lust as clear as day flashing within Magnus' beautiful orbs.

"Kids, when you are ready to get out, make sure to yell alright?" There was three voices of 'yes Papa' and before Alec could even blink, Magnus was in his line of sight, lips hungrily seeking out his own and the man's hidden strength had him up against the opposite wall, his back slamming against it, ratting the hanging pictures and making him gasp.

Magnus quickly stopped the onslaught of kissing he was bestowing Alec at his sudden and rather desperate and heated move and pretty much once again manhandled Alec by shoving him up against the wall opposite the main bathroom, the kids not being able to see them, thank the angel, since the door was mostly closed, but still ajar so Magnus and Alec could hear them playing games in their shallow bubble bath.

"Alexander..." Magnus felt breathless just looking at the blue eyed beauty. "I didn't mean to..." He truly was trying to apologise for just throwing himself at Alec, since they had only recently spoken about the whole 'sex step' and that he would wait patiently for Alec to be ready and yet here he was, with a half naked Alec and was pretty much salivating at the mouth and not being patient at all!

What Magnus wasn't expecting in this moment was for Alec to push him back, his lips desperately, hungrily falling over his once more and then suddenly they were stumbling towards his bedroom.

Even in their stumbling, they did make is safely inside and Alec kicked the door closed before Magnus once again had him pinned, pressing his back against the door, the knob jabbing him in the side which was a little annoying to Alec, but when Magnus' lips nipped at his neck he all but forgot about it.

"Magnus..." Alec moaned aloud, lost in his heated lust when suddenly a snort broke from the back of his throat as arms lock around his neck and suddenly they were falling.

The next time Alec blinked, he was flaked out on Magnus cushy bed with the gorgeous man above him. And not just that, but Magnus had lost his shirt too. His knees were bracketing his hips as Magnus was currently hovering over him, his delicious golden-bronze skin on offer. Alec couldn't help but lift his left hand, mesmerised, and traced the phoenix tail around Magnus' side and down the curve of his hip, slightly over his abdomen which shuddered at his soft ministrations. He was practically lost in his ministrations and truthfully would have loved to trace the tail feathers even more, as they dipped below Magnus' waist band, but Alec wasn't quite that brave to dip his fingers into Magnus' jeans and boxer briefs. The mere thought already had him blushing as it was.

"Alexander..." The breathy way the older man mumbled his name, it immediately set Alec on fire! And with that, a sudden impulse overwhelmed Alec, so much so he didn't realise what he was truly doing as he sat up slightly, craning his neck as he felt his moist lips connect with Magnus' intoxicating skin, tongue dragging over one of the thin tails at Magnus' side. Dear angel, the man tasted divine! Almost chocolate-y. "A-Alec..."

The low mumble and slight stutter of his shortened name finally kicked his brain into action and that is when the rational side of Alec tore through the lustful haze and he snapped away from Magnus' taut and addictive skin, cheeks flaming red as he tried to stammer out an apology, flopping back onto the bed.

"Magnus... Sorry... You probably didn't want..." He never did get much further as Magnus caressed his face tenderly with one hand whilst the other curled around the back of his neck, holding him in place as Magnus dropped his lips lightly over his own. The sweetness of it made a moan burst from Alec's lips, again making him blush. His fingers itched to touch the man above him, but he was afraid he would do something wrong.

As the kiss grew hotter, Alec's short nails placed tiny crescent moons against Magnus' sharp hips. Magnus' tongue brushed over his bottom lip, coaxing him to open up as he shuddered heatedly as Magnus slipped his tongue inside, playing expertly with his own. Alec was lost in the moment, but seriously could just kiss Magnus forever...

However, the kiss ended, Alec certain a whimper was on the tip of his tongue, but quickly held it in check as Magnus finally ceased the onslaught on his lips. Alec licked his lips, savouring the taste of the experienced man above him, like he always did these days.

"I quite enjoyed what you were doing Alexander." Alec's eyes widened at Magnus' softly spoken confession. "Was I surprised? Of course. Did I want you to stop? Not at all."

"It was...enjoyable?"

"Very much so."

"Do you think... Do you think I could..." Magnus felt a smile tug at his lips as Alec gestured with one of his hands at Magnus abdomen area. Never in all his life did one Alec Lightwood think he was going to be this bold!

"You can do whatever you desire Alexander." Magnus felt his skin shudder as Alec sat up straighter, hands feathering down his sides, making his skin shudder and then plump lips began to pepper kisses adorably against his taut golden-bronze skin. When Magnus noticed Alec was paying close attention to the phoenix tails, he felt his lips turn into a knowing grin. "Did you want to see it?" Sparkling blue orbs, which seemed a little darker then usual (and half lidded – which was very sexy indeed) looked up at him through messy black bangs. The combination was an absolute killer to Magnus. "This..." Magnus reiterated as he picked up Alec's hand, allowing his fingers to trace the phoenix tail at his side once more. "Did you want to look at it closer?"

"Y-Yes..." Magnus felt his grin widen. When he'd 'accidentally' come out without his robe on and had gauged Alec's reaction, he was certain the young man liked his rather large tattoo. Every time he decided to see what little reactions he could get out of Alec, he had felt those intense eyes always on his back. It practically scorched his skin, making Magnus hum with excitement and the possible thought of those long pale fingers ghosting over his skin just made goosebumps form instantly.

Slowly, ever so slowly, Magnus shifted away from Alec, away from hovering over his hips and sitting on his thighs and moved to the middle of his bed, back now facing Alec and rested his head on his forearms which was placed on his up-drawn knees, legs tucked towards his chest. Magnus placed his very important tattoo on full display. As he had already explained to Alec before, no matter how many times he falls, he always rises from the ashes...

"Beautiful..." Magnus heard Alec mumble, his own eyes drifting down to the man's legs as Alec decided to shift impossibly closer, decided to sit spread legged behind him, pretty much bracketing his sitting form between his legs now, Alec's clothed crotch at the small of his back, poking at him a little. Not that Magnus thought much on that when soft smooth fingers began to ghost over his shuddering skin, making his brown-golden orbs drift closed at the soft ministrations.

Magnus didn't know how long Alec paid such attention to him, lost in the light and sometimes tentative but oh so lovely touches Alec was bestowing him, until his fogged mind realised that lips had begun to trace over his shoulders! Magnus' eyes snapped open instantly.

"Alexander..." A shiver ran down Magnus' spine as Alec sucked rather hard, and rather surprisingly for that matter, against his neck. So much so his hands flew to Alec's thighs, gripping them a little hard. When he began to nibble at his skin, like Magnus' very own flesh was the best thing Alec had ever tasted, he needed to slow things down. "Alec...stop...please..." That request practically burned as Magnus felt all ministrations halt and Alec froze behind him.

"S-Sorry... I just... I thought you wanted..." Quickly Magnus got his breathing under control and hoped a certain appendage was easing as he quickly manoeuvred around to face his rather red face boyfriend.

"You've done nothing wrong Alexander."

"Then why..."

"Papa!" Magnus watched Alec fumble adorably around, pretty much leaping off his bed, looking around for his shirt only to then suddenly realise he didn't have a shirt when he came in here. It was in the hallway, having been dropped there when Magnus had pushed him up against the wall. "We're ready to get out of the bath now!" Madzie shouted as Magnus always made sure an adult was present to help his children out of baths as he hated the thought of any of them possibly slipping and falling.

"Well, that right there is a pretty good reason why we shouldn't go any further." Alec flushed at Magnus' words. He had totally lost himself in everything that was Magnus and guilty forgot all about the man's children! He felt his breath hitch in his throat as Magnus got off his bed and glided over to him, completely invading his personal space, lips ghosting over his and a hand slinking around his waist, making him shudder once more. "There is no need to rush. You can explore my tattoo as much as you want, and whenever you want too." Alec shuddered again as Magnus' fingers glided up and down his shuddering back. "You don't have to go so fast thinking I'm going to disappear."

"Well..."

"And trust me, if anything were to happen, I will be taking the lead." Magnus sultrily grinned as Alec blushed bright red. "So I need you to be well and truly ready, in your head and in your heart, before we get to the next step." Magnus never thought the pretty man could blush even brighter then he already was. "I'll let you know when the roles can be reversed." He winked.

"M-Magnus..." Alec groaned both in embarrassment and also because of all the images that were suddenly plaguing his mind. Magnus couldn't help but laugh as he leaned forward, drawing his lips to Alec's for a quick heated kiss, delighting in Alec's tiny moan and when they separated, the little pants were quite the turn on, which was Magnus' queue to break away or else he was seriously going to throw Alec back on his bed and have his merry way with the rather intoxicating beauty.

"I'll get the kids out of the bath and get them into their pyjamas. Once that is done you can have the bathroom all to yourself and then we expect your delicious pasta and of course pie and ice cream for dessert." Magnus was almost tempted to tell Alec that his dessert was going to be him, but thought better of it.

"O-Ok..." He loved the blush and the stutter from Alec who was probably still reeling at what had just gone done on his bed merely minutes ago.

"Try not to do anything naughty in the shower Alexander." Magnus winked and then quickly ducked out the way of a cushion being thrown at him as he slid out the door, laughter on his lips.

#

Dinner and dessert and the movie finished off the evening splendidly, never mind the fact that both Magnus and Alec were exchanging looks throughout the evening. It was almost like there was an unreadable notion between them, filling them both with desire and excitement for what was soon to come.

The 'sex step' wasn't far away.

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To be continued...