Jace couldn't really figure out why Alec had suddenly called a family meeting. The only "meetings" they had ever had arose from situations in which someone was trying to kill them and they held a meeting to attempt to avoid that death. It had been the better part of three months since Clary had revealed the immortality rune, and Magnus and Alec had seemed to be doing pretty well, but Alec had yet to give a definite answer.

Everyone Alec had asked to come was there, including both of his parents, and they were all waiting for Alex to begin the conversation, confusion clear on everyone's faces. When Jace looked toward Magnus with questioning eyes, the warlock just gave him a shrug as if to say that he was just as lost as everyone else.

Just as Jace was about to speak up and ask why they were all there, Alec finally stood up and cleared his throat. "I know that none of you can really figure out why I've called a family meeting," he chuckled before continuing. "I can literally hear you all thinking 'we've never had a family meeting about anything other than war.'"

Jace could clearly see the amusement in Alec's eyes, the pure joy, and he had never felt so good for Alec in than in that moment. He couldn't help but smiling as Alec continued. "Some would argue, however, that love is a war of sorts. So I have asked you all to be here so that when I make this announcement, an announcement made out of love, that everyone I love would be here to hear it." Jace rolled his eyes when he heard Clary sniffle beside of him, then he thought he was going to kill Simon for speaking up.

"Everyone, huh? Thanks, man." Jace tried to tell himself that Simon was simply stupid and should not be held accountable for his actions but that was not very comforting when Alec began staring at his shoes.

"No, Simon. Not everyone; not Max." Jace was ready to get up and strangle Simon, but in the name of love, as Alec would have said, he refrained from doing so.

No one seemed to want to break the silence, but just when Jace thought it was going to become unbearable, Magnus finally did the deed for them all. "So, Alexander. What did you want to talk to us about?" It was a miracle when Alec's face lit up again and Jace's homicidal urges retreated.

"Alright, so I'm just gonna cut straight to the point on this one," Alec began, his voice cheerful once again. "All of you know that a few months ago Clary was sent the immortality rune." Jace had never seen Alec smile this widely as he motioned for Magnus to come stand with him.

"I asked you all to be here while I give Magnus my official decision on the matter. And yes, Jace, I know; it took me long enough." Jace only flashed a smile, not a bit surprised that Alec had known exactly what he was thinking.

They all watched in anticipation as Alec turned to Magnus. "The fact of the matter, Magnus, is that I am desperately in love with you. I realize now that no matter what ever happens to me, I always will be so immensely in love with you that my heart can hardly stand it. That is why I have decided that no matter what the cost may be to me, I am going to use this rune. On our wedding day."

Everyone in the room was smiling, except for Magnus. And Jace suspected that this was because he was already too deep into shock to properly react just yet.

Jace took that thought back when Magnus regained control of himself and took Alec's face in both hands, immediately beginning to kiss him.

Once they broke apart, Jace could see the tears in the eyes of both of them. Before Magnus could respond in any way, Alec continued speaking. "Oh, and you should probably know that I made up my mind on this decision months ago. I simply waited until today to tell everyone because it's your birthday."

Magnus began furiously wiping the tears out of his eyes when he finally became composed enough to speak. "Alexander, I really don't think you have any idea of how happy you have just made me. But there's something else I need to say."

Alec suddenly looked concerned, "What's that?"

"I think I need to have a seat." Alec laughed as he took Magnus by the hand and lead him to the couch. Jace was both shocked and terrified as Robert Lightwood began to stand up as his son took a seat. There was no way he could ruin this moment, or at least Jace hoped.

Robert cleared his throat, and when he began speaking, everyone in the room was more surprised than ever before. "Well, I for one have never been happier about this situation. And I know, all of you are shocked that I am saying this. But I want to give a mini speech of my own, as a gift to Magnus. If, however, that is okay with him?" The question came out a bit weak on the end.

Magnus gripped Alec's hand so hard his knuckles began to whiten, but he nodded and gave Robert a weak smile nonetheless.

"Magnus, I know you're terrified by what could possibly come out of my mouth at this point. But I'm only standing up here to simply say thank you. You have made my son happier than I ever imagined, ever hoped, he could be. Not only that, but you have also done so much for my entire family. Even when I wasn't here for them as I should have been, you were helping to keep them all safe. And I will never be able to repay you for all that you have done for every single person here today, including myself."

They were all taken aback by the ending of that speech, but Magnus was the first to find his voice. "What are you talking about, Robert? What could I have possibly done for you?"

Robert's smile was filled with a touch of sadness, as though he knew something none of them knew. "You, along with Alec, taught me right from wrong more than anyone else ever has. You taught me that I truly needed to reevaluate myself and change the parts of me that were hurting those around me. You both made me a better man. And I will forever be thankful for that."

Alec immediately rose from his seat and strode across the room to his father, hugging him before the other had time to react. Jace watched as Robert relaxed into the hug, and he had the feeling that Alec had been waiting a very long time for this moment. What none of them had been expecting was that Magnus quickly joined the hug.

When they had finally pulled apart, Alec turned back around and began talking to them all once again. "Lest any of you think that I am completely selfish, or selfless depending on how you see the situation, let me continue explaining myself. Sure, this decision has been primarily about Magnus and I, about the love I have for him. But there was something else that caused me to choose this way, even if only slightly."

Jace leaned forward in his seat, it was his turn to read Alec's mind. "Let me guess, this has something to do with the reason it was sent to Clary in the first place, doesn't it?"

Alec's eyes were smiling when he turned to Jace. "Naturally, it does. The rune was sent by an angel, made specifically for me. Now, I would love to believe that this was sent in the name of love," Jace chocked back a laugh, thinking back to what he had thought about Simon earlier. "But I have to look at the bigger picture here, and I simply cannot believe that this would be sent simply because I am in love with Magnus."

Alec slowly looked around at each of them, as if savoring the moment. "There is a bigger reason that the angels want me to be immortal. And I intend to stick around and figure out exactly what that might be."