Okay, here's the new chapter! i'm sorry i was late again, but i finished ALL MY HOMEWORK! So now i can update regularly. Enjoy!

Chapter 8

Dinner is Served

"Alec?" Magnus asked as he opened his front door. He was in suit with his blue tie hanging loose around his neck as if the stress was strangling him and he needed to breathe. His hair was mussed and his makeup was smeared around his eyes as if he had rubbing them in exhaustion. Alec stood out in the cold, wearing the scarf Magnus just bought him, carrying plastic bags in his hands. "What are you-"

"Did you eat yet?" Alec felt like every date he had with Magnus was somehow ruined by him, so he wanted one date that was perfect; just the two of them and no interruptions or distractions. Which was why he showed up unexpectedly in front of Magnus's door.

"No, not yet, why?" Magnus said in confusion.

"Good!" Alec beamed and strode inside the house.

"Alec, dear, not that I'm not glad that you're here, but why?" The green-gold eyed boy asked closing the door. Alec dropped the bags onto the nearest table, stalked over to Magnus and pulled him into a fierce kiss that for a moment Magnus stood there frozen. Alec pulled away looking at his partner.

"What has gotten into you?" Magnus breathed. As if Alec woke up from a spell, his passion, dominance vanished in his eyes and he blinked. He was so caught up in proving that he loved Magnus and he desperately wanted that love returned that he just acted without thinking.

"N-nothing, I just wanted to do that." He said shyly his cheeks burning red.

"Well, I liked it." Magnus hissed and pulled Alec back onto his lips. Alec wrapped his arms around the other boy running his hand through the gel and taking it out. His mind became fuzzy and he couldn't think straight and he was about to fall under when he forced himself away.

"Dinner, that's why I came here, not this." He protested. Magnus smirked and led Alec to the common room where to his surprise; someone was sitting on a red sofa that was beside the fireplace. He was wearing a grey T-shirt with a suit jacket over it. In the pocket was a golden chain that Alec must have guessed was a pocket watch. The man looked up from the paper he was reading and a smile spread across from his face.

"Why, if it isn't the waiter boy." Alec looked away remembering the party.

"Hi Woolsey." He said sheepishly.

"I've heard you spilled yet again, at your own restaurant for that matter." He beamed.

"I-it was…" Alec turned to Magnus. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you had company, I can go if you like." He said pointing to the door.

"That's not necessary." Magnus said taking his hand. "Woolsey was here on business and we just finished."

"Business is difficult to run in this bloody economy." Woolsey said standing up and throwing the paper onto the seat. Alec nodded in agreement.

"What have you brought us?" He asked looking at the plastic bag in Alec's hand.

"Oh, uh I was going to make Italian Pasta." He said almost forgetting the main purpose he was here.

"Italian?" Woolsey said raising his eyebrows. "Magnus, I do think I would like to extend my stay a little longer?"

"Even if I said no, you would stay." Magnus said flatly crossing his arms over his chest.

"Are you going to make it from scratch?" Woolsey asked.

"I don't see any other way." Alec said momentarily wondering if he had enough for three servings.

"I'll help" Magnus smiled. Alec looked at him in surprise.

"Are you sure? I wouldn't want you to dirty your hands." He said with concern. Magnus tilted his head down and glared at the boy.

"What's life without a little whimsy?" He cooed raising an eyebrow. Alec grinned.

"Let's go," Magnus said pushing Alec towards the kitchen. "Are you coming?" He asked Woolsey. The man hesitated and bit his lip.

"If you don't work, you don't get to eat." Alec said. Woolsey shot him a look and sighed.

"Fine, but if we're working, let's set the mood." He said going over to the stereo and turned it on. Currently playing was rock and Woolsey turned it up then joined them to the kitchen. Alec took everything out of the Plastic bags and laid them out on the counter. Magnus went over to the closet and pulled down three white aprons and handed them out.

"Let's get started." Alec said clapping his hand. He ordered Woolsey to boil the noodles and ordered Magnus to dice the green onions, grate the cheese, and make the sauce.

"How do I know when to put the noodles in?" Woolsey asked looking into the pot.

"When the water boils. Haven't you ever cooked before?" He asked as he was slicing the boneless chicken breast.

"I have, but I've been so busy I haven't the time. And it's no fun cooking when you have no one to share the meal with."

"Couldn't agree more Woolsey" Magnus said. Alec put the meat into a pan and began to fry. About a few minutes later he observed Woolsey pour in the noodles then start the time to five minutes. To pass the time, he took out three glasses and poured them all white wine.

"I say, this is the most fun I've had in years." He said leaning against the counter. Alec smiled taking a sip of his drink. He looked at Magnus and found himself fondly admiring the way Magnus handled the knife and diced the green unions. It had taken Alec a few tries to get the dicing perfect but Magnus did it so effortlessly. As if sensing being watched, Magnus glanced from his work and looked at Alec. The boy quickly looked back at the pan, mixing the chicken. Alec looked at Woolsey who was grinning in his cup. Of course he knew Alec thought. Luckily he was saved by the timer and Woolsey went over to look check the noodles.

"Does it look ready?" He asked as Alec stood beside him and gently pulled out a noodle with tongs and tilted his head back to taste the noodles. He nodded and took out two more pieces and gave on the Woolsey and Magnus to taste.

"Drain the water out." Alec told Woolsey. He poured the pot into the sieve then put the noodles back into the pot. Magnus joined Alec and dumped the green onions and the parmesan sauce into the pan and Alec began mixing again. He noted that Magnus had not left his side and was standing fairly close to him. He tried to ignore the quick beating in his heart but it was hard to do when he could feel Magnus' eyes on him. When it was done, he took out three plates and divided the noodles and then he lightly poured the chicken over the center of the noodles. Magnus sprinkled the cheese over the dish and placed the parsley on top. The three sat at the dinner table tapped their drinks together before starting to eat.

"Are you sure it's your sister who wants to be a chef?" Magnus asked. "Because you sure know how to cook."

"I learned a few things from working in the kitchen." Alec said. "Beside, you guys helped me make the pasta." He rolled his noodles onto his fork and popped it in his mouth.

"Indeed we did." Woolsey said. "We had a good teacher." Alec smiled with satisfaction before going back to his meal. Woolsey brought up Alec's kitchen life wanting to know why he was working as a waiter and Alec retold the whole story explaining his sister's goal to become a chef. Then Alec took the liberty of asking what the two did for work and Magnus explained that he dealt antiques and sold sports cars for a side job.

"Well boys, thank you for the delicious meal, but now I must be on my way." Woolsey said pushing his chair back and standing. Magnus joined him and walked him out while Alec took the plates to the kitchen. When he finished, he found Magnus in the living room sitting beside the crackling fire, opening another bottle of wine. Alec smiled and joined him on the couch.

"Alec, you still never told me what you wanted to do." Magnus said. Alec had nearly forgotten that.

"Well, as kid, I used to draw a lot. I'd fall asleep with my sketch pad on my lap and my hands covered in led dust." Alec smiled to himself remembering how much he wanted to become a famous artist. "I took the art class every year until I graduated from high school and my teacher entered my work into every competition and I won a few. Some of my drawings were placed in calendars, magazines and one was put in a gallery." He boasted, proud of his own accomplishments. "When I told my parents I wanted to peruse art, they weren't too keen on the idea. They said there was a lot of down time and I wouldn't make good money out of it so they told me to be realistic." Alec looked down at his glass and began twisting his wrist in circles so the drink stirred. "At first, I called them dream killers, because I told them I could do whatever I wanted during those times. I'd go explore the world, visit every city, I don't know." He laughed, but there was little humor. He looked at Magnus who was sitting sideways, his arm rested on head of the sofa. His eyes were sad and for a moment, Alec saw something like admire.

"Your parents had no right to say that to you." Magnus said his voice sympathetic.

"But they were right and I stopped drawing. I see how difficult it is for mom and dad to work and have to take care of us. As the oldest, I should know better, and it's my job to make life easier for them. I started studying law and it was okay, not something I'd study if I had a choice, but they made good money." He took a sip of wine, his voice getting dry. "Anyway, my sister had always wanted to become a chef, it was absolute. When we were little, she and mom would cook all these fancy dishes and I'd walk past the kitchen just to smell the food. Then high school came and we were busy with homework, studying for exams and getting into college and she stopped cooking with mom. But now that she's in college and studying culinary she wants to peruse her long lost dream. She'd cook for us every Sunday to show what she learned. One day, she came home saying her teacher wants her to apply to a culinary school in France. It would be a good experience for her and she could get the best teacher. Of course, our parents gave her same speech as mine. Where would she get the money to go, how will she make a living, and so on. She explained that the school would pay for the first year of tuition and she would find a job to pay for the rest. It was a long shot, but she wanted this so I offered to help her." Alec took a breath and laughed. "I'm sorry, I'm rambling." Magnus simply shook his head.

"I like it. You gave up everything to help your sister, I don't think I could do that."

"Well, I didn't really like law, so I wasn't giving up much." Alec said shrugging. Magnus took Alec's hand in his and Alec looked at him on confusion.

"Don't think that what you did wasn't a big deal Alexander. You are really throwing yourself out there to help your sister. It's not my place to say this, but I'm proud of you." Magnus' voice was certain and strong that Alec didn't know what to say.

"I don't remember when the last time my parent told me that." Alec said. Magnus leaned in and kissed Alec on the forehead and there came a flutter feeling in his stomach and he closed his eyes. Then he felt Magnus's sweet lips on his. It was either the wine that made his head buzz or it was Magnus himself being there and touching him with his slender fingertips. He played with the other boys' hair and lightly tugged at it while Magnus wrapped his arms around Alec's waist pulling him closer. Alec straddled his lap and Magnus trailed his hand under Alec's shirt and lightly scratched at his back. The blue eye boy moaned deep in his throat to the pleasure, cupped Magnus' neck feeling his pulse beat in the palm of his hand and began kissing him eagerly. Unfortunately the sound of the twelve 'clock chime echoed in the quiet living room. Alec pulled away and looked down at Magnus and the two were breathing heavily.

"I should go…" he whispered. Magnus only looked at him with solemn eyes and Alec stood up. "I-It's getting late and Isabelle will be worried." He said getting his belonging and headed towards the door.

"Alexander" He heard Magnus call after him. Alec ran a hand through his hair and spun around facing his friend.

"I'm sorry, Magnus, I-I-I- I can't do it, I can't do this." He stuttered motioning between the two of them. He felt his heart racing in anger with himself, he was furious that he couldn't face a simple relationship without anyone or anything getting in the way. He hated that he couldn't be okay with his feelings for Magnus. He felt Magnus approach him and he back away.

"Alec, what are you afraid of?" He heard Magnus plead. Alec hesitated before answering.

"I've been tricked before you know, Jace wasn't the first one who used me then left me." He felt the tears crawl through the back of his eyes and he willed them back. "They thought I was a joke!" He raised his voice. "They thought-" He took a ragged breath trying to calm himself. "I. Can't. Trust Anyone." He whispered between his teeth. He saw the way Magnus looked at him, with pity, sympathy and something else he couldn't decipher.

"I promise; I won't do that to you." Magnus reassured reaching to take Alec's hand. Alec looked at the other man wishing he could believe him, but this man was rich, he had everything in the world and Alec was just a kitchen boy. He could have anyone girl or other boy in the world and somehow he chose him. Alec shook his head.

"It's too complicated." He whispered. Magnus closed the gap between them and he rested his forehead against Alec's.

"What's complicated?" For a moment, Alec considered telling Magnus about Camille; tell him the things she said to him and about her threat but he was too scared. He couldn't risk hurting Magnus. Instead he chose a fairly broad answer.

"Everything," he choked, finally allowing the tears to fall down his blue broken eyes. Magnus reached out and lightly brushed the tears away with the back of his hand. Alec rested his head on Magnus shoulder and took in his scent recognizing it immediately as Sandalwood. He felt Magnus's hand stroking his silk hair and for a moment everything was perfect.

"Stay with me Alec, please?" Alec could hear the desperation in his voice and for a moment he badly wanted to walk away from all of this; just end it right there so that his heart would stop beating like thunder in his chest. If he walked away, he wouldn't have to worry about Camille tailing him over his shoulder, Magnus could go back to his own rich life, and Alec could focus on getting Isabelle into culinary school. Instead, he leaned forward and placed a tender kiss on Magnus knowing he was getting in over his head doing this.

I hoped you guys enjoyed it! Please REVIEW and let me know how you guys like it!