Thanks to all of the lovely reviews :) They mean so much to me. Hope this isn't a dissapointment and the next chapter will be very coupley.

To Jace's credit, he didn't make Alec wait long for a reaction. To his discredit, however, his reaction was hardly a reaction at all, in Alec's opinion.

"I know," Jace said his voice stony and emotionless.

Alec blinked and while his reaction wasn't quite as quick, it was maybe even a bit slow, it was much more of one compared to Jace's.

"You- you know? How? When? How long have you . . . what?"

Okay, it wasn't the most coherent question, but it was one nonetheless. And at Alec's jumbled stammering, Jace's face broke from the unfamiliar cold hard stare into a much more familiar smirk.

"I would answer all of your questions and more if you could actually properly asked one."

Alec glared, still feeling shocked and the slightest bit relieved. Sure, he wasn't getting hugs and understanding words of wisdom, but he never expected that anyways, not from Jace. But at least he wasn't getting abandoned or attacked like he had feared might happen.

Alec looked at his brother, who was still wearing his trademark smirk, and sighed, running a hand through his messy and sweaty hair.

"How long have you known?" Alec asked his voice low and a little shaky.

"For about two years," was Jace's answer and his voice lost its amused tone.

"How? I mean . . did I . . do I make it obvious?"

"Well you're going to have to be specific. As I am much more perceptive than my peers therefore what's obvious to me is not so to others," Jace joked, but his expression sobered when Alec didn't so much as crack a smile.

"No, it's not obvious."

Alec looked up. "Then how did you know?"

Jace shrugged nonchalantly as if this was the most normal conversation in the world. "You're my brother, I notice things."

"There are things to be noticed?"

"Some."

"Like?" Alec asked, feeling slightly impatient. Jace had to be drawing this out on purpose. It was Jace's version of punishment for waiting so long to tell him. The gleam in his eyes made that much obvious.

"Should I do it in list form or. . ." Jace trailed off as Alec glared.

"One, you never look at girls, like at all, even if they flirt with you all the time. Two, your one relationship with a girl, if it could be called that, was Aline Penhallow, who came out of the closet over the summer. Three, Dylan Thompson. And four, the guy at the party. The real reason for those hickies. There are many more, but those are the main ones and judging from your face, they're all the reasons I needed."

"You knew about Dylan? And . . . and the guy at the party?"

Calling Magnus 'the guy at the party' just sounded all kinds of wrong but Alec figured right now wasn't the best moment to tell Jace he also had a secret boyfriend.

"Well the guy at the party was pretty obvious. You two did make out in the middle of the party and I saw him drag you off to his room. You weren't nearly as sneaky as you thought you were. I just had to play dumb for your sake. And Dylan. . . well that wasn't so obvious but I know you Alec and I know had sad you were when you two broke up. I mean, sure I was an innocent freshman at the time," and Alec scoffed at Jace referring to himself innocent, "but I still noticed."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"What was I supposed to say? I wanted you to come out to me on your own."

Alec gnawed on his lower lip, feeling immensely guilty for not telling his brother this for so long.

"Is that why you were so mad earlier? Because it took so long?"

Jace shrugged. "I was more annoyed at your horrible lying. I mean you've never been a great liar but this morning you sunk to a new low, it was actually sort of insulting. I mean you were still in your clothes from last night, your bed was made, your face flushed and window open and you expect me to think you were hot because you're sick? Come on Alec, that's just embarrassing."

Alec chuckled. "It was pretty bad, wasn't it?"

"It was worse than pretty bad. I was actually going to suggest lies for you to tell me, but I figured that would give too much away."

Alec shook his head, still laughing and he looked to his feet.

"His name's Magnus," Alec stated suddenly, looking Jace in the eye.

Jace just gave him a confused look so Alec elaborated.

"The guy from the party, his name is Magnus. He's who I've been sneaking out to see. He's my boyfriend."

"You're dating the uh . . . colorful guy from the party?"

Alec nodded thinking colorful was an accurate description of Magnus.

"Wow. I actually didn't see that one coming. How long has that been going on?"

"Um, since the party I guess? I mean we've only been out on a few dates since then . . . but yeah he's my boyfriend."

Jace just seemed unsure of what to say, which was a rarity and it made Alec slightly uncomfortable.

"Yeah, it's been hard since only Iz has known about us," and Alec felt a bit bad saying this out loud because it was like admitting he and Isabelle had been keeping a secret from Jace.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Alec said quietly.

"Why didn't you?"

"I thought. . . I thought you'd look at me differently. You're my best friend Jace; I don't ever want that to change."

Jace actually looked touched at the explanation.

"Your being gay doesn't change anything. Our friendship isn't hinged on what gender we're attracted to. It's actually probably better this way because let's face it, any girlfriend you'd have would inevitably fall for me and that would be all kinds of awkward. Actually it's best if I never spend too much time with this Magnus guy. Can't have my brother's boyfriend falling for me, it'd be bad for the family dynamic."

Alec laughed despite himself, moving to take a seat beside Jace on his bed.

"I doubt we'll be together too long anyways. I'm keeping a mental calendar counting down the days until he breaks up with me."

Jace jerked to face Alec, cocking an eyebrow.

"What makes you say that?"

Alec shrugged looking to his feet. To him, the answer was obvious. He wasn't even sure why he had said that out loud honestly. He hated talking about his feelings it made him feel uncomfortable. And he never could talk to Isabelle about anything because she was his little sister and felt it was her duty to say whatever made him feel good. With Jace though, Alec knew Jace cared about his feelings and whatnot but Jace cared about honesty first and foremost. It was probably why the betrayal seemed that much worse in his eyes.

Besides, it was kind of nice to get this off his chest. Okay, it was really nice because these thoughts had been haunting Alec since he and Magnus had started seeing each other.

Running a hand through his still sweaty hair, Alec explained himself.

"It's just. . . Magnus is this fun, outgoing, worldly outgoing guy and I'm well . . . not. He's great with words and people and just . . . everything. I play soccer and read for fun . . . two things I doubt Magnus wants to spend his weekends doing. And I'm still in high school, not to mention a boarding school which only allows us out on weekends so it's only a matter of time 'til he finds someone . . . better suited for him."

Jace blinked when Alec was done, actually looking a little stunned.

"Alec . . . you can't possibly think that lowly of yourself."

It was Alec's turn to be confused. "What do you mean?"

"I mean you're great Alec and if any guy doesn't realize that then . . . well fuck him. But not in the way you have been fucking him."

"Jace!" Alec reprimanded, his face warming with the blood flooding to his cheeks. He would never feel comfortable enough to discuss that with Jace.

Jace smiled, but his voice was serious when he put a hand on Alec's shoulder and forced Alec to meet his gaze.

"Alec, I mean it. Stop being so hard on yourself, this Magnus guy obviously likes you. Sure, the only seeing each other on weekends thing will suck but he knows what he's getting into and besides," Jace's smile turned mischievous, "now that you've got me by your side the not seeing each other on week days won't be a problem anymore."

Alec raised a brow, normally when Jace got that look on his face he would do anything to dissuade his plans, but this time Alec was invested. This time it was for Magnus.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that sneaking out of here on any day is a mundane task for me."

Alec ignored his older brother instinct to scold Jace and went right into questions mode.

"Really? How? Because as of right now with the soccer tournament coming up I won't see him for two weeks and it sucks."

Jace's smile widened and he pulled Alec closer to him.

"Oh little brother, there is so much to teach you."

Alec scowled and shoved Jace's arm off of him.

"Shut up and I'm not your little brother. Jesus, why do you and Izzy keep saying that?"

"Social years," Jace answered simply.

Alec just shook his head, "Anyway you can help me sneak out tonight?"

Jace smirked. "This day just keeps getting better and better."

/

"How many times have you done this to sneak out?" Alec asked, crouching in the window.

Jace glared at him, "Go be a good boyfriend now, pain in the ass older brother later."

Alec scowled but obliged, dropping down to the ground with ease. He bent down behind the bushes, looking up at Jace, who was holding binoculars as he scanned the area for any of the schools' guards. A moment later he gave Alec the signal to go and Alec whispered his thanks before taking off across the schoolyard, thinking coming out to Jace is the second best thing that's happened this year. Dating Magnus had the number one spot, obviously.

/

Alec was slightly breathless by the time he was at the subway but it didn't matter because he was going to see Magnus for the second time today and that just made it worth it. Even if his ankle still hurt a bit from the drop from his window.

On the subway Alec racked his brain with what he should bring when he arrived at Magnus's. He vaguely wondered if it's creepy that he was going to Magnus's unannounced. He would text but he spoke with Isabelle earlier (she was needed for the sneaking out plan much to Jace's dismay who wanted it to be" a brotherly bonding experience". Isabelle thought it was more Jace's way of leaving Isabelle out this time as he felt left out for two years) and she said this was much more romantic.

Alec finally decided as he exited the subway to pick up Chinese food for the both of them. He remembered the place they ordered from was just give minutes away from Magnus' flat. Alec also remembered that Magnus' favorite meal was Sweet and Sour Pork so that's what he got for him.

Ugh, he really hoped this wasn't too creepy.

The food is ready in no time (and Alec made sure to get a set of plastic silverware for himself as there's no need to embarrass himself again) and before he knew it, Alec was in front of Magnus' building.

Taking a deep breath, and really wishing he had texted Magnus earlier, Alec pressed the buzzer to Magnus' flat. It's over a minute later, though the minute feels more like ten to Alec as it's been raining for the past half hour, when Magnus answered it.

"Ragnor," Magnus sounded exhausted and Alec wondered if he caught him at a bad time, "did you lose your key again?"

"Uh . . . no. It's me . . It's Alec . . . Alec Lightwood. Your boyfriend?"

He didn't know why he said boyfriend like it's a question but he did.

"Ragnor if this is some sort of joke it's not funny."

"It's not. I mean it's not "Ragnor or a joke," Alec replies and he gets buzzed up before he can even finish his sentence.

Smiling so widely it hurt his face, Alec made his way up to Magnus' flat.

"It's really you," Magnus said in absolute aw when Alec reached his doorway.

Alec let out a shaky laugh and rubbed the back of his neck, the take-out bag in his other hand.

"Yeah, who else would it be?"

"I thought it might be Ragnor playing a terrible joke. Never mind that, come here."

Alec wasted no time in falling into Magnus' embrace, noticing he's a bit sweaty but he stills smells of sandalwood and the scent comforts Alec in ways he could never explain to anyone. Probably because even he doesn't get it either.

Magnus stared at him a moment before they go into his apartment, looking at him like he can't believe he's real. Alec knew that look because he's pretty sure it's what his face looks like the entire time he's with Magnus. It's a bit weird to know Magnus might feel the same way.

"Alec," Magnus said once he shuts the door behind them. "It's a school night."

"Err, yeah . . . it is." Alec stammered.

"I mean obviously you know what. What I mean is, and not that I mind at all, what are you doing here?"

Alec can feel his face warming by the second.

"I um. . . I didn't want to wait two weeks to see you and the way we left things this morning. . . I mean this morning was nice . . . but not enough to hold me for two weeks. So Jace helped me sneak out and he said he can help me with it more . . . I mean it can't be an everyday thing but . . . I just don't want to only see you two days out of the week."

Magnus looked at Alec as if he was part angel.

"Let me get this straight. You snuck out of the school to see me, came out to your brother, and brought Chinese food?"

Alec looked at the almost forgotten bag which he hadn't mentioned but the restaurant's name is plastered on the plastic bag and well it does reek of Chinese food.

"Yeah . . ."

"Come here." Magnus said, beckoning Alec forward with his finger.

Alec complied quickly and was rewarded for his efforts with a deep kiss.

"Can you pinch me?" Magnus asked when they pulled apart.

"What?"

Alec cocked an eyebrow, looking a bit like a confused puppy.

"I just want to make sure this isn't a dream."

Alec snorted. "Cheap Chinese food and kissing on a couch is dream material?"

"Making out with you and having delicious Chinese food to eat is a dream come true. Besides, anytime you're around I'm not quite sure anything is real. You are too good to be true Alexander Lightwood."

Alec blushed. "I bet you say that to anyone who delivers you good food."

Magnus smiled, delighted Alec was finally loosening up around him.

"Nope," Magnus kissed Alec on the nose before opening up his carton of food. "Just you."

And really, that was all Alec needed to hear to know this whole sneaking out on a school night thing was completely worth it. Then again, he always knew Magnus was completely worth it.