Despite what people would have you believe; the creation of the Grand Canyon was not a one time event. It did not suddenly burst into being overnight, no, everyone forgets that the landmark was once only just a river. Over time that river, telling little white lies, chipped away at the ground beneath her feet. And so, Camille took her chisel to Magnus' heart.

~~!~~

They were on a date when Camille ran into an "old friend".

"Louis! What a surprise to run into you. What are you doing in London of all places?" She said as she kissed both of the Frenchman's cheeks.

"Oh you know this and that," he said while waving a hand nonchalantly. "And who is your friend?"

"Oh Magnus is just a friend." She said with a flirtatious smile.

Just a friend? We're out on a date and you introduce me as 'just a friend'. Magnus blinked resignedly. He was so caught up in his own mind that he almost missed when Camille started to speak again.

"Why don't you join us. It would be such a shame if this was all I got to see of you." She winked and smirked, as her eyes traveled down then up Louis' figure suggestively.

"If it's alright with your friend I don't see why not." He looked expectantly at Magnus, eyebrow raised.

Magnus had to hold back a flinch at the word friend. Instead of what he really wanted to say, "The more the merrier" slipped out. And so the three of them went about the rest of the evening that Magnus had planned as a date. His heart breaking at every little wink, smirk, and joke that made him feel like a third wheel on his own date.

~~?~~

Magnus stared at the bouquet of flowers in his hand. Little white orange blossoms paired beautifully with the pale peach tulips and the fiery reddish coral of the teuilas. A sunrise in a vase. Magnus thought with a smile. He had to portal to get the teuilas, but it was worth it to add that little extra pizzazz to the arrangement.

Camille was out "eating out" with the London Clan. Magnus knew that they weren't just getting blood together. Well that was a lie, he didn't know he just had a hunch that she was cheating on him. He couldn't prove it,hence why its still a hunch

Maybe if I show her how much I love her she'll actually stay and love me back. Magnus sighed forlornly as he set the flowers down on the table in front of him. Yeah right, in the five minutes between each time she leaves. Magnus wiped his sweaty palms on his pants. One more time to get her to love me, one last try. ...I hope. He let out one long breath before picking up the flowers again and left to find the vampire in question.

He finds her in the bedroom, getting dressed after getting out of the bath.

"I got you something," He said, the flowers hidden behind his back.

"Oh?" she threw over her shoulder, more focused on her outfit than what he said. "Just set it on the table. I'll look at it when I'm done getting dressed."

His face falls, heart on the floor. She didn't even turn around. Do I mean so little to her that she won't even look at me as she talks?

"Okay," he whispered, and did as she asked. The flowers suddenly didn't look so vibrant and full of life. They looked like he felt, a little wilted and in need of some love.

~~!~~

Magnus was staring at a ring but not just any ring, the ring. The ring he was going to propose to Camille with. The ring had a cluster of diamonds in the shape of a flower and a gold band. The diamonds sparkled under the light, even brighter than normal because of the darkened silver settings. Nine stones in total. The center gem of which is a little over a carat. The surrounding gems glitter as Magnus twirled the ring back and forth between his pinched fingers.

"It's perfect," Magnus whispered to himself as he put the ring back in its hiding spot. He had everything all planned out. They would go out and see a play then have dinner, and whilst walking home Magnus would get down on one knee. The perfect plan for the perfect woman with the perfect ring. Magnus mused.

The door opened with a bang as Camille stormed in, furious enough that Magnus could almost make out flames.

"If I have to sit through one more play, I'm going to kill someone. What was he thinking? He knows that I hate theater." she groaned, not seeing Magnus in the bedroom. "Walter's an idiot, of course he took me to a play."

Walter? Who's Walter? Magnus was standing like a deer in headlights as his mind reeled at the revelation. Was she? No, of course she wouldn't cheat on me. She said she loves me. He quickly sat on the fainting bench, fearing that if he didn't he would fall instead. Does she? Magnus thought as he searched through his memories, looking for proof, any proof at all, that Camille was telling the truth.

A tear slipped from Magnus' eyes as he realized that, no, Camille didn't love him, she loved the power he wielded. And so the Grand Canyon, a million miles away, grew larger at the heartbreaking revelation.

~~3~~

Many years later, Magnus would open his heart to a certain nephilim, his future husband. He would look back at this time in his life with a bittersweet smile and think "That was not love. Love wasn't selfish and left you wondering if you made the right choice. It doesn't have you walking on eggshells constantly." He would smile at his sleeping husband, sun barely coloring the sky, as he ran his hand through Alec's hair. " Love was the willingness to risk everything in a single magnificent kiss. Love was changing the world to spare you an ounce of pain. Love was also the little moments just like this, doing nothing but enjoying each other's company together for hours."

In that moment, Magnus came to, not a heartbreaking conclusion, but a heartwarming one. Even after years of heartbreak all it takes is love to fix a broken heart. Granted there will always be scars, for even hearts will never be perfect again after breaking. Love did not mind the scars; Love painted them gold and called you a masterpiece. Love would also be there, cheering you on and handing you tools, as you work to better yourself. Love is even there on the bad days, the days when you just want to shut the world out to stop the pain. Love will pull you close without a word, to shrink the world until it's only the safety of their arms. And if the pain is still too much, Love will whisper reassurances and adorations into your ear.

And so concludes the story of the Grand Canyon: a tale of heartbreak, love, and new beginnings. While heartbreak can be devastating, just remember that even the most scared of hearts will find the perfect love for them.