The Engagement Party Do-Over

Alec was running around frantic. Today was the day of Jace and Clary's 're-do' engagement party, and Alec was trying to make sure everything was perfect. Between Jace getting another movie deal, and Clary starting a big project at work, plus the bistro never hitting that supposed low period that most restaurants go through after the opening, this engagement party had been pushed back four months. Alec had hoped the delay would mean everything could be set up and perfectly organized come the day of the event, but he couldn't have been more wrong. Alec was busy as ever and nothing was as finished as he wanted it to be. Hell, even just trying to figure out advertising for the bistro was becoming a problem. It seemed like no matter how much he got the information out there that it was closed Sundays and Mondays people kept standing at the door waiting to be let in when they were closed. It somehow didn't even matter that their hours of operation were posted on the freaking door! Hoping his sign was just too small, Alec had made a new one with a bigger font, but it hadn't made a difference. It turned out people just didn't like reading signs in general.

The decorations were a whole other problem entirely. Alec tried his hardest to keep them within the theme of the wedding, but Fall decorations were hard to come by in June. Thank God for Amazon! On the bright side Alec planned to save the Fall decorations to reuse this autumn at the Bisto.

But even with the decorations purchased and the bistro basically set up, Alec was still determined to make sure this day went off without a single hitch. It was like he was getting a do-over on being a brother, and he didn't want anything to mess it up.

"You need to breathe," were the first words out of his boyfriend's mouth when Magnus joined him to help set up.

"I am breathing," Alec objected.

"No I mean you need to take many breaths, and sit still for at least five minutes," Magnus explained.

"There isn't time for that!" Alec exclaimed. "Here put this up there will you, and I think the string fall leaves thing will look best over that cabaint there."

But Magnus didn't move an inch. Instead he walked over to Alec and put a hand on each of his shoulders. "Breath," Magnus said slowly. "I'm anxious just looking at you right now."

Alec didn't want to make Magnus anxious, and really would five minutes ruin the day? Alec closed his eyes and focused on the touch of Magnus's hands and his breathing. As he calmed down, Alec felt his heart rate slow to a more normal rhythm.

"Do you feel better now?" Magnus asked. Alec nodded sheepishly. He hadn't realized how bad the world had been spinning until Magnus had fixed it.

"Good," Magnus said, kissing Alec lightly on the forehead before moving away to get to those tasks Alec had assigned him.

With a more level head Alec got back to work. Guests wouldn't start to arrive for at least another hour. There was still time.

"We are out of time," Magnus's voice said in a flat tone after another hour of decorating.

"What no," Alec jumped. "But maybe that over there instead-"

"The decorations look perfect, darling," Magnus said with great certainty. "Now shouldn't we change before greeting the guests?"

"Right yeah," Alec replied. Together they went into the office where Magnus had hung the suits he'd brought from home. Once changed and ready the two of them headed back out into the now beautifully decorated room.

The first to arrive were the guests of honor themselves. Clary and Jace walked in looking like they were made for each other. Clary was dressed in an emerald green lace dress that fell just above her knees with gold jewelry, and shoes to pair with the dress. Jace, however, had on a slate gray suit with an emerald green vest and tie.

"Just cause you're hosting doesn't mean we shouldn't be here to greet people too," Clary had explained with a smile when Alec asked her why they were so early.

Next family started to pour in along with friends from all walks of life. Once a sizable crowd had gathered, Alec went back into the kitchen to make sure the food was ready. Eronte, Julian, and a few others had volunteered to cook the 'Thanksgiving in June' dinner, while Lindsay and a couple of servers had volunteered to serve the dinner to the guests tonight. They were previewing what the dinner at the wedding would be like from the turkey all the way down to the stuffing. When Alec approached the idea to Jace and Clary a few months ago, they were both on board with the idea of having a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for their engagement party.

Before long Alec got so distracted by the work being done around him that he almost forgot he was supposed to be a guest at this party, but his brother didn't forget.

"What are you doing back here?" Jace's voice travelled somehow quickly through the noisy kitchen.

"Table three is out of-" Alec began, but he was cut off.

"I mean what are you doing working this event?" Jace explained, getting closer. "You are a guest, remember?"

"Well this is my bistro," Alec reminded him.

"And my engagement party at which my brother is a guest. Your staff can handle this without you hovering over them like some kind of helicopter boss," Jace stated firmly. "Come, people are missing you out there."

"Really?" Alec asked.

"Of course!" Jace smiled, guiding Alec away from the kitchen.

"And by people you mean more than Magnus, right?" Alec said, his eyes narrowed, but Jace just laughed and doubled his efforts to get Alec out of the kitchen.

And Alec had to admit he was glad. Even if it was his instinct to be in the back with his staff, it felt wonderful to be part of the event itself. With Magnus on his arm, and Jace at his side the world felt right.

As the event progressed Alec found himself surrounded by Isabelle, his cousin Aline, and Lydia all talking about what their predictions of the wedding will look like, leaving Alec and Max bored to tears.

"Did Clary say where the venue will be?" Aline asked Izzy. "I always pictured Clary wearing this huge ball gown with a Cathedral style train walking down the aisle of a church."

"Ew, no!" Alec recoiled when he realized that he was in fact the one who said that, earning a glare from his cousin, and a chuckle from Max.

"Well 'Mr. Know-it-all', how pray tell, do you see them getting married?" Aline questioned with a glare.

"You're on your own there bro," Max said, probably noticing the sudden tension, and bolted away from the conversation.

Alec just shook his head and glanced over to where Jace and Clary were moving from guest to guest. They were all smiles, and looked like they were performing an intricate dance with the way they so easily moved around together. Alec knew that Jace had found his one and only in Clary back when they were still in high school, but looking at the two of them now Alec just prayed they would spend a lifetime making each other smile the way they were at that moment. He'd been so happy and relieved when they sorted out their differences. Alec still held himself partially responsible for their brief split, no matter how many times Clary and Jace told him otherwise.

"As most of you know Jace would be more than happy with all of the elaborate pomp and circumstance, but we all know that isn't Clary's style. Clary would much prefer to go to the courthouse to get married, so their compromise would be a garden wedding of some sort," Alec explained, still having his eyes trained on the happy couple.

"Plus I already know that Jocelyn and Clary booked one of the gardens in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden," Alec winked at the stunned faces of his friends.

"How the hell did you know that and I didn't?" Izzy exclaimed causing Alec to laugh.

"Because according to Clary, Magnus is the 'Izzy replacement' while you've been dealing with medical school. She said that she wasn't going to call you constantly to bug you about various things when you should be focusing on your school work, and not helping her with wedding plans," Alec easily replied.

"Well damn," Lydia chuckled. "Any chance you know what color dresses we're wearing? Clary said she hasn't decided."

"As a matter of fact I do," Alec said proudly. "You're wearing yellow, Izzy's going to be in burgundy, and Aline's wearing burnt orange."

Alec had actually been the one who helped Clary out with that just last night. She wanted her bridesmaids to be in different colors, but couldn't decide which colors would go better on each woman. The colors also went with the Fall theme Clary wanted. The colors - combined with the garden - had smoothed out Clary's planning. She would even save on the floral arrangements since she really only needed the bouquets and boutineers. The wedding itself was being held in the Atrium, but the person Jocelyn spoke to promised that there would be plenty of greenery and flowers with Autumn colors in November to where they wouldn't need more than what he and Magnus suggested last night.

"Okay then," Izzy shrugged. "I can live with those choices."

Lydia and Aline both nodded in agreement. They then said their goodbyes and went back to their dates. Aline and Helen were still going strong, and Lydia had met a man named John who she seemed to be smitten with. She'd been seeing him for a few months now.

"I'm gonna go say hi to mom and dad," Alec announced to his sister. "I haven't had the chance to speak to them yet."

"Jeez Alec!" Izzy said, eyes wide in what Alec was sure was disbelief. "I'm surprised they've let you get away with that. What are you still standing here for? Go talk to mom and dad before they do something to embarass you!"

"Oh we were planning to, but Max talked us out of it," Robert's voice said from behind Alec.

Alec quickly turned, not even realizing his parents were no longer in the direction Alec had been previously looking.

"Sorry guys," Alec hugged both parents before continuing. "I've sort of lost track of time."

"Yes, Jace told us that he had to pull you out of the kitchen," Maryse laughed. "But it's nice to see you socializing."

"Well, I didn't want to disappoint Jace so I sucked it up and left the food prep to my staff," Alec said sheepishly.

"As you should," Robert chuckled, then asked. "Where is that boyfriend of yours?"

"He actually got a call from Ragnor about an emergency with one of his artists," Alec glanced down, pulling out his phone to check if there was a text from Magnus. "According to his text he should be-"

"Right here," Magnus said, snaking his arms around Alec's waist. "Sorry that took so long. Apparently none of the other senior executives could handle it."

"Is everything okay?" Alec whispered after turning in his boyfriend's embrace.

"All fine now," Magnus smiled. "Sorry I wasn't here sooner."

"Work stuff, can't be helped," Alec shrugged Magnus' comment off. "Just glad you're here now."

"Wouldn't want to be anywhere else," Magnus replied.

"Blah!" Max feigned puking, poking his head between the two of them. "You guys are so lovey dovey. I love it!"

Everyone around chuckled at Max's obvious jest. Alec couldn't help but look fondly at his baby brother.

"Max I haven't had the chance to talk to you tonight. How was your first semester of Columbia?" Magnus asked.

"Nothings changed since you asked me that same question last night, and last week, and the last day of my finals…" was Max's smart ass reply.

"Yeah yeah," Magnus playfully pushed Max away by his forehead. "I'm just making sure. I remember the end of my first year at Harvard I started questioning everything I'd done for the entire year. I thought everything was great until it was time to get my final exam results, then I just flipped! I couldn't even look at my results, in fact, Cat had to look at them for me."

Everyone laughed as Max and Magnus continued their banter. Alec was so happy with the relationship those two had. It was very brotherly, and Alec knew that Magnus had always wished he had a younger sibling. For the rest of the evening Alec and Magnus made their rounds, people complimenting Alec on the party, as well as the food. Alec of course gave a great amount of credit to the happy couple, as well as his staff for their help in putting everything together.

~oOo~

"Thank you for today," Alec said as they both sat together in Alec's office with their shoes off marveling at how great their feet felt without them.

"Whatever do you mean?" Magnus asked kindly.

"I like," Alec began, but then suddenly became shy and had to really work to get the rest out. "I like having you to show off," he said, feeling the blush overtake his face as he spoke. "You on my arm. It's a good thing."

"Ah, I know that feeling well," Magnus smiled, leaning his head back to address the ceiling as he added. "Whenever I take you to events I feel the same way. Still, you don't have to thank me."

"I just wanted to, I guess," Alec mumbled, starting to wish he'd kept the embarrassing thought to himself.

Magnus turned in the chair, moving quickly he planted a kiss on Alec's lips. The kiss was deep enough to make Alec's stomach flip, but still quick enough to be over in a flash.

"You don't have to thank the one who loves you for being at your side," Magnus whispered in Alec's ear. "For there is nowhere else my love will allow me to be."

At that, a fire lit inside Alec, and before his brain caught up to him Alec was pulling Magnus out of his chair. Closing the office door Alec shoved Magnus up against it, giving him a bruising kiss.

"Alexander," Magnus moaned when Alec's lips moved down his neck. "What's gotten into you?"

"I've always wanted to do this, but never had the balls to do it with all of my employees in the building," Alec said after detaching himself from Magnus' neck, deftly working his fingers to unbutton Magnus' shirt. "Are you complaining?"

"Oh, God no," Magnus groaned as he started removing Alec's clothes.

Once they were both naked Magnus moved Alec towards his desk, bending him over which gave Alec the perfect position to reach into his desk drawer and pull out a bottle of lube.

Magnus quickly took the bottle, and got down on his knees. Magnus spread Alec's ass cheeks and dove in, nipping and sucking on Alec's puckered hole, his tongue along with fingers probing his boyfriend, and prepping Alec for the impending intrusion.

"Magnus! Please stop teasing me," Alec all but begged.

Magnus stood while uncapping the bottle. "Patience darling, one would think that you've gone months without sex instead of just hours," Magnus teased while lubing his member.

Alec turned to the side and glared at his boyfriend. It was true that since last Valentine's Day they'd been going at it like rabbits, and they had made love earlier that morning. Magnus leaned over and kissed Alec while slowly sliding inside him. Groaning once Magnus bottomed out, Alec started shifting, letting his boyfriend know that he was ready. Magnus set an agonizing pace, pistoning directly into that special bundle of nerves that turned Alec into a panting, moaning mess.

"Oh god baby!" Alec groaned, and without any warning came with a shout.

Just a few thrusts later Magnus followed suit.

"Come darling," Magus said once they were dressed and cleaned up. "Let's go back to your place so we can have round two in the shower… and possibly round three in your bed."

Alec chuckled, but complied. He was thanking any higher being out there that the bistro was closed tomorrow.

~oOo~

Sorry about the wait guys. I'm not even going to lie, but I actually had most of this chapter outlined for what felt like years, but I was struggling with balancing Malec with the event. I didn't want to make this chapter all about Clace since it's a Malec story. Then, just for full disclosure, I had most of this chapter written for a few months. I ended up putting it on the back burner for a while because of work… as always. It wasn't until a few weeks ago when my beta asked about it that I remembered to finish writing it. As you all know, work takes up a lot more time than I would really like it to. My average work week is 60-70 hours per week. Anyway… the next chapter is the last chapter of this story. It's been a long time coming. I can't believe that I published the first chapter in December 2018. That was back when I was working a job that had little to no responsibilities and I could pump out chapters within days lol. I even had an update schedule, and had about ten chapters banked in my laptop just waiting to be published! Now I'm lucky if I can open my laptop up once a month. For those of you who have stuck with me since the beginning, I thank you so much for your commitment to this story and for your patience. For everyone who's read this story - no matter where I was in publishing - thank you for picking my story to read. All of you guys mean the world to me. From the bottom of my heart, I thank each and every one of you.