Chapter Two

It was a sunny Monday afternoon, the perfect time to take the boys out for a picnic. Magnus wanted the boys to get out as much as possible, as them running around the flat always ended up with something breaking. Magnus, Alec and Izzy sat on a white blanket under a large tree, they had eaten half of the food they brought with them and Clary and Jace were playing with the boys out in the sunlight. Every now and again, Max and Rafael would look over to Magnus and Alec to make sure that they were still there, as if they would ever leave them. It was a regular thing for the boys to become paranoid about being left alone- they'd sometimes wake up in the middle of the night, walk into Magnus and Alec's room, check that they were still there and then go back to bed. Magnus knew how hard it was to accept that you were wanted when you had been left alone with no one to care for you or tuck you in at night, which made him even more determined to make sure that the boys had the best life possible.

"Oh, I was meant to thank you, Izzy," Alec said,

"For what?" Izzy asked as she adjusted her sunglasses,

"For getting Rafael a damn violin."

Magnus laughed while remembering Alec earlier that morning trying to look impressed at Rafael's unfortunately awful violin skills. It reminded Magnus of when he attempted to play the charango and the amount of insults Ragnor threw at him.

"He can't be that bad," Izzy began to giggle,

"The demons I have killed made better noises then that bloody thing," Alec showed no sign of amusement,

"We'll get him a good teacher and then you'll eat your words," Magnus kissed his cheek and took a slice of cake.

The boys charged at them giggling and Jace and Clary followed looking absolutely exhausted. Max instantly sat between Alec's legs while Rafael took Magnus's cake out of his hands, sat next to him and began munching away.

"I was enjoying that Rafe," Magnus looked at him,

"Now I am," Rafael giggled.

Clary and Jace lay next to each other as the panted like dogs. Jace got a bottle of water out of the cooler and before he could take a sip, Clary took it from his hands quicker than lightening and began to take in the entire contents. Rafael and Max were probably the most energetic children on the earth, especially Max. You could put Max in an empty room and he'd most likely find something to do that would keep him hyper for a good twelve hours. Rafael was usually only hyper when with his brother; when on his own, he would blast music out from their stereo while catching up on reading or attempting to make cookies.

"You boys need water," Magnus said as he took out two bottles.

Max being an experimental warlock child reached his arms out and the bottle of water slowly floated into his hands.

"That he can do, but when I ask him to clean up his mess, it's impossible for him," Jace sighed,

"You don't clean up when with uncle Jace?" Alec looked at Max as he drank,

"I do sometimes, but it hard," he said with a cute voice,

"Just be glad he cleans his room," Magnus said as he gave Max some apple slices.

After a brief break, the boys were ready to play again and this time they wanted Alec and Izzy to play with them. They took a ball and went back into the sunlight as Clary moved next to Magnus and ate a sandwich. Clary was one of the most helpful when it came to looking after the boys; she knew exactly how to calm them down when they had had too much sugar, she'd draw them things to colour in (even if they did mess up her great drawings) and would even sometimes take them to get ice cream if Magnus and Alec needed a break. Rafael warmed to her the most, probably because they both had a love of art.

"Could you do us a favour?" Magnus asked,

"What day do you want me to look after them?" Clary smiled,

"Wednesday evening so I can surprise Alexander,"

"What you gonna do?" Clary grew a cheeky smirk,

"Candlelit Italian dinner and then dessert,"

"Even that was too much information," Jace said as he sat up,

"Why don't we ever have candlelit dinners?" Clary looked at him.

It was clear on Jace's face that this was one of those questions that he dreaded and was never prepared for. Magnus had to admit, he was quite the romantic when it came to dates and surprises for Alec, but that was because he felt the need to show how much he loved him at every moment which resulted in movie scene worthy memories.

"Because I have other plans for us," Jace came up with his best excuse,

"Those plans better include a candlelit dinner," she looked at him,

"We don't need candlelight when I am all the light you need,"

"Were all the Herondales like this?" Clary turned to Magnus,

"Yes, but with better hair," Magnus laughed,

"Leave the hair out of this," Jace kissed Clary's cheek before lying down again.

If you told Magnus a few years ago that he would be in a relationship with a Shadowhunter with two adopted sons and having picnics as one big happy family, he'd probably tell you that only the relationship bit was possible. He didn't see himself as much as a family guy, most likely because he tended to care about his cat more than any human, but he was pretty damn thankful that he was given this family. He took out his camera and took pictures of the boys playing with Alec and Izzy, Jace sleeping with a squirty cream moustache courtesy of Clary Fairchild and when the sun began to set, he got a photo of all them in front of the beautiful scenery.

When they got back home, Magnus put all the picnic stuff away while Alec got the bath ready for Max and Rafael ran straight to his beloved violin. He made sure that the whole neighbourhood could hear how bad he was by playing near the window.

"How about you take a rest from playing," Alec suggested,

"But I want to be really good," Rafael replied,

"Well, then just don't play until we get you a teacher,"

"Si," Rafael put the violin down and sat on the sofa.

Magnus sat next to him and gave him a bowl of his favourite ice cream. The need for something creative to do was something Magnus loved about Rafael, especially when it meant him doing something that got on Alec's nerves. He sat with Rafael talking about the time he learned the charango when Alec called them both into the bathroom.

"I don't want to see Max naked," Rafael complained,

"It will be worth it," Alec called.

They both went to the bathroom to find Alec on the floor in hysterics and Max in the bath with white frothy bubbles on his head in the form of a Georgian Period wig and a mound of bubbles creating a beard and moustache. Max looked so happy with his new look and giggled and splashed in the bath while they all laughed.

"He is the strangest brother ever," Rafael laughed, "but he's the best."