"That love is all there is, is all we know of love." -- Emily Dickinson

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"He's late."

Maryse was scowling. Alec tugged his fingers through his hair with more force than intended, wincing as his scalp protested.

"Maybe the rest of us are just early." He turned to face his mother, whose icy stare was second only to his own. She just pursed her lips and knotted her arms so tightly that it seemed unlikely she would ever untie them. Beside her was sat Alec's father; a leather-bound menu was propped up in front of him, but his eyes were flickering anxiously from side to side - and besides, the menu was upside down.

"Look," Alec hissed at his parents, levelling his gaze at them both. "Be nice, okay?"

Maryse's reply was to sniff disdainfully. Robert said nothing. Alec silently despaired.

"Why did we have to come to a mundie restaurant anyway?" Isabelle was whining from the other end of the table. She had typically ignored the 'no dates' rule and dragged Simon along - and so, of course, Jace had felt the need to bring Clary, to whom he was now tenderly feeding croutons. Alec felt somewhat like the seventh wheel - odd, because it was his nineteenth birthday.

Maryse fixed her daughter with a stern look. "Because, Isabelle, we can't eat at Taki's or get a take-away every night. And anyway, as it's Alec's birthday" - this she punctuated with a pointed glance at the clock on the wall, which read quarter-past-seven - "I thought we should go somewhere nice."

Alec had omitted to mention that he would really just prefer to stay at home and eat leftover pineapple pizza.

Isabelle rolled her eyes and went back to playing footsie under the table with Simon. Alec massaged his temples fervently. Where was Magnus? Surely he wouldn't miss Alec's birthday celebration... unless it was going to be like that time when he turned up spectacularly late on New Year's Eve, which was really New Year's Day by then-

"Hello, gentlemen. Ladies."

Alec looked up and had to blink several times before he could take in what Magnus was wearing. Dark coloured jeans, a standard-issue white shirt, a sombre black tie and neatly tied-back hair? Was this some sort of joke? Alec mentally searched every part of his boyfriend's ensemble for even a trace of glitter to no avail. Was it...? Could it be...?

"I know," Magnus said under his breath, folding himself elegantly into the chair beside Alec and flashing him a grin. "Monotone."

"I never thought I'd see the day," Alec remarked.

"Hello, Magnus," Maryse interrupted coldly, handing him a menu. "How are you?"

"I'm dandy, thank you," Magnus replied. "And yourself?"

"Fine. We've been waiting to order..."

Alec glared at his mother. Magnus, however, simply smiled radiantly and winked one of his brilliantly green cat's eyes.

"Oh, yes. Dreadfully sorry... I had to go all the way across the city to find some, ah, suitable attire."

Alec felt a rush of affection for Magnus, more so because he knew that the warlock could have simply summoned some clothes with one snap of his fingers. Not when it came to Alec. Maryse looked faintly abashed, and dropped her gaze to study the menu in front of her.

"Thank you," Alec said, indicating Magnus' plain clothes.

"No problem." Magnus found Alec's hand and squeezed it.