After some wonderful writer's block, here we are! It's a little bit longer than I was expecting, but I hope you guys like it.


Magnus woke up, nestled into Alec's chest and wondering if life ever got better than this. Their legs were tangled together, one of Alec's hands resting gently on Magnus' back and the other clutched in Magnus' hand, squished between the two of them in a way that was somehow comfortable. He wanted to go back to sleep, just close his eyes and pretend that this moment never had to end. But he knew that they'd have to get up at some point, face the music as it were. Yet, Magnus would have given the world to stay right there.

He would swear he'd said 'I love you' a thousand times, to his parents, his friends, ex-boyfriends. But Magnus knew that this was different. Because this 'I love you' rolled off the tongue with ease, it left a sweet flavour in his mouth and forced a smile onto his lips. It sent a shiver down his spine and set him on fire, from his head to his toes. It didn't feel like he had to say it to keep their relationship alive. It felt like he had to say it because it was bursting within him, dying to get out, like if he didn't say it he would explode.

It wasn't long before Magnus realized Alec was awake, looking back at him with those blue eyes Magnus adored.

"I love you." Alec said softly, echoing himself from last night. "Jesus, that feels good to say-"

Whether or not Alec had anything else to say, they never found out. Magnus couldn't stand it any longer and pressed their lips together quickly, savouring the feeling of Alec and the notion that he was totally and completely his.

Alec laughed into the kiss but responded with enthusiasm, biting Magnus' lower lip and making him want to melt.

It didn't feel real. There were so many times over the summer that Magnus had had to pinch himself, to remind himself that he wasn't dreaming and that this - whatever it was - was completely real. This was because being with Alec, being this happy, felt like a dream. It felt like a state of pure bliss that was going to come crashing down the moment that Magnus stepped foot in New York again. It should have crashed down last night, when Magnus received news that almost killed him.

But it didn't.

It didn't because of the Alec of it all. Alec, who was so sweet and amazing and perfect that he put up with all the ridiculousness of Magnus. Alec, who really was a phenomenal kisser.

They separated and Magnus sighed. "We do have to get up."

Alec groaned. "For once, I'm goin' to say that we should sleep forever."

"Your mum is going to kill us."

"Well, if she doesn't I'm sure there will be a long line of other family members that would be willing to do the job."

Magnus sighed again, although it was almost a groan at this point. "I've changed my mind." He said, curling into Alec and resting his head in the curve of Alec's collarbone. "We should sleep forever, you were right."

"I was wrong." Alec pressed a kiss to Magnus' forehead and started to pull away, making Magnus cling to him helplessly.

"I don't want you to go."

"We have to face them at some point." Alec said, in what Magnus thought he'd have to start referring to as Alec's 'maturity voice'. He supposed that if he was going to deal with Alec's 'maturity voice', Alec could deal with Magnus' 'bitch-please voice' - something that even Jem said was insanely annoying and made him want to burn villages and kidnap children. Even Jem. Magnus however, was quite fond of it and liked to use on every possible occasion, whether he was talking to a teacher or a friend or even people on the subway. It was a miracle he hadn't been murdered.

"I don't think I'm ever going to be ready to face them." Magnus said, surprised that he was so skittish about this. He'd faced his own parents thousands of times about sneaking out of the house and not coming back at a decent hour. But this was different, maybe it was because it was Maryse and Robert, or maybe it was because he was terrified to tell them where they'd gone. Magnus had by no means forgotten about his father, but Alec was able to block all of the negative feelings out with one smile. The memory of his father's face in the window lingered in the corner of his mind, but it was driven there by the bright sunshine of Alec, trapped in the corner by his brilliance. Asmodeus wasn't important to Magnus in the moment because he had Alec, and somehow his father's disappointment was nothing more than a shadow to Alec's sunlit smile and all light casts a shadow.

"C'mon." Alec said, finally pulling himself away completely and making Magnus feel cold and hollow in the span of a second. "We'll get dressed and go down together."

"Okay."

"They're not goin' to be mad." Alec said, looking at Magnus. There was a hint of worry in his eyes and Magnus could tell that he'd come off as too small and nervous. "We don't really have to tell them where we went."

"You don't think we should?" Magnus raised an eyebrow. It was a very un-Alec-like idea that Magnus was worryingly attracted to.

Alec shrugged. "I think it's up to you. It was your father, they'd understand. But they also don't need to know, we can make something up if you want. Keep this between the two of us."

"Can I think about it?"

"Of course."

Just before Alec could leave the room to get dressed, Magnus caught his hand. He looked into Alec's blue eyes and smiled.

"I love you."

Magnus had a lot of belongings, he had treasures from childhood and things that he'd simply collected over the years. Things that he would swear meant the world to him, things he could never give up in a million years. But the look on Alec's face, the smile that he gave Magnus? Magnus would have given anything for it, anything to have it in a box to lock up and keep for himself.

With that one sunlit smile, Alec pressed a gentle kiss to Magnus' lips and whispered back. It wasn't so much spoken as it was mouthed, Magnus just close enough to him to hear the words.

"I love you more."


"So what's the plan for today?" Magnus asked, stretching over Alec's bed with a lazy grin. The sunlight was reaching its peak, filtering in through the windows and cutting through the darkness in shafts of golden light. Dressed and yet still tired, Magnus had wandered over to Alec's room and immediately occupied the bed, like he hadn't just left his own.

"No idea." Alec said, flopping next to him and groaning. "We've barely even been up and I want to go back to sleep."

"Oh yeah." Magnus said, rolling over and mushing his face into Alec's pillows. "That sounds like the most wonderful idea. Let's just live here. Never move again."

Alec laughed. "Have Isabelle bring us food?"

"We'd have to get a bedpan, like those people in the hospital." Magnus mused, getting another laugh out of Alec. He found himself grinning, looking over at Alec and having to squint in the sunlight. Alec was a dark silhouette against the bright light, looking up at the ceiling with a smile just starting to slip away from his lips.

"I'm beginning to think we shouldn't live here." Alec sighed softly, his tone almost wistful. "The bed pans would be gross."

"Those words have never been said in a more melancholy way." Magnus snorted, reaching over to thread his fingers through Alec's. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing?" Alec said, still not looking at Magnus, but gripping his fingers tightly. "Everything? I'm not sure."

As the boy to whom Alec had just professed his love, Magnus wasn't exactly a big fan of this answer. It was weird, that everything was the same between them and yet completely different. Magnus wanted to say it again and again, to hear the same three words fall from Alec's lips, just the way they had for the hours it took them to get home. Those three words made Magnus feel like he was going to burst, like he was a balloon on the verge of popping.

"I have no idea what that means."

"I can't believe any of this is real." Alec said, finally looking over at Magnus and bringing up one hand to gently brush his collarbone. "I'm happy that I'm with you but part of me is just waiting to wake up."

Magnus didn't say anything, because he knew what Alec meant. This kind of thing didn't happen, especially like this where it was almost no strings attached. Magnus had yet to be faced with the horrible reality or the painful truth that he couldn't have this, he couldn't be happy without their being a cost. And maybe he'd already paid it. Magnus wondered for a moment if this was some kind of trade off - If he could have Alec or his father, but not both - whether this was the case or not, Magnus was certain that he would pick Alec every time. Because Magnus had found his fairytale and he was never going to let it go.

"Wow." Isabelle said, peaking her head in the door. "First of all, you disappear all of yesterday - don't think you're not goin' to get reamed out for that - and secondly, you sleep basically all day."

"It's ten o'clock in the morning." Magnus said slowly, looking at the clock to make sure he wasn't going crazy. "What is with you country people."

"Up with the sun! Up with the farm animals!" Isabelle screamed, slamming the door and still hollering something about getting up when God felt like it was time.

"She's losing it." Alec said, stretching his arms over his head. "I think you're onto something. This - sleeping in and all that - is wonderful."

"Are your parents going to murder us?" Magnus asked, trying not to sound too timid.

"Probably not." Alec shrugged, getting up off the bed and holding out his hand to Magnus. "But it's time to find out."

When Magnus finally dragged himself up and the two of them wandered downstairs, they were met with silence.

Maryse had a coffee cup pressed to her lips, Robert standing next to her with an empty glass dangling from his fingers. Jace, Isabelle and Max all looked from the parents to Magnus and Alec, and then back. There was a heartbeat of completely uncomfortable everything, before Isabelle grabbed Max and Jace by the hand and dragged them upstairs. They were only gone a second when Maryse spoke.

"Where the hell were you?" Her voice was cold, bordering on deadly. She didn't seem to want to dance around the subject. Alec didn't say anything, meeting his mother's eyes with far more courage than Magnus had. Maryse raised an eyebrow and repeated the question, looking more and more furious as the time went on. And Magnus didn't blame her. He imagined how terrifying it would be to have your son run off in the middle of the day, knowing that he'd be coming back but not knowing when. Maryse was smart, she knew that Alec wasn't going to just take his truck and leave - he would return at some point. But she'd had no idea when they would be coming back, no idea how to reach them. Magnus wasn't even sure he'd had his phone on him.

"It's my fault." He admitted, feeling like he at least owed Maryse the truth for all the things he'd done. "I-" He couldn't get the words out, could feel them in the back of his throat but couldn't make them pass over his lips.

"It's a long story." Alec said softly, grabbing Magnus' hand and giving him a look that was so full of support and love that Magnus thought he was going to cry. "I think that it's up to Magnus if he wants to tell it or not."

"I'm not sure." Magnus said, wondering if he could get the words out even if he wanted to. "I just-"

"Okay." Maryse said, holding up a hand and stopping Magnus. "I just don't want you to do that ever again. I was terrified. Isabelle was the only one who saw you leave and she vouched that neither of you looked drunk or anything like that. All she said was that she bumped into you on the stairs." Maryse's angry act had dropped quickly, replaced by the mother that Magnus knew her to be. There was a certain regal quality to her that kept her from seeming like the average Texan housewife, but it was easy to see how much she cared for her children, in her eyes and the way that she gently brushed hair out of Alec's eyes.

"Mum, I'm sorry."

"I remember a time when you told me everything." Maryse shook her head, pulling her hand back quickly. "I have no idea what happened to that."

Alec opened his mouth, but Maryse shook her head again, lowering it and leaving the room. There was something fragile about the moment, Alec looking like there was nothing more he wanted than to follow his mother. But there was something holding him back - what was he going to say? There was nothing to say, the damage was done and there was no hope to pursue the past.

"You know what I'm going to say." Robert sighed.

"It was dumb?" Robert nodded and Alec continued. "Don't do it again? Or at least tell you before we do?"

"Bingo." Robert ruffled Alec's hair and clapped Magnus on the shoulder. Magnus tried not to wince, thinking of how Asmodeus had done that not twenty-four hours ago and how Magnus had been so excited that he had. It showed, Magnus supposed, how awkward his relationship was with the father who raised him. It was one thing to be happy to have a father that was interested in you, but to be excited over something so simple, so common, it was almost sad.

"That wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be." Alec said slowly. "My parents just keep surprising me."

"Same." Magnus snorted.

"You're taking this awfully lightly." Alec said suddenly, looking at Magnus with something that could almost have been annoyance. "Yesterday it was the end of the world, but now it doesn't seem to mean anything to you."

"It doesn't mean anything." Magnus said firmly. "I'm going to put this behind me and forget it happened. It was a mistake. It's not going to happen again."

"Magnus-"

"I know you don't get it." Magnus said, looking away from Alec and staring at the floor. "You have these awesome parents and they love you so much. But it's never really been like that for my parents and I-, I've always been a disappointment, a disaster. I wanted to find something that was even a tiny little bit like what you have with your parents."

"Wasn't it?"

"Yeah," Magnus snarled, unable to keep the venom from his voice, "until my father turned out to be claustrophobically narrow-minded. And I feel like that somehow I should be more upset than I am, but all I can tell myself is that I should have seen it coming."

"Magnus-" Alec's voice caught and he reached out gently to take his boyfriend's hand. Magnus pulled away and Alec made a noise at the back of his throat that was somewhere between a gasp and a whimper. "I love you. I don't want you to be upset."

But Magnus was upset. A dam in him had broken and he felt like screaming. A part of him wanted to set the world on fire just to watch it burn, but another part of him crumbled, brought to his knees by the weight of everything that had happened. He loved Alec, he really did. But Magnus wanted to be alone in that moment, to wallow in his own self-pity and be allowed to explode without catching anyone in the crossfire.

Alec reached out again, this time taking Magnus' hand in his own. "Please don't shut me out of this. I know that you're hurt and you're trying to play it off, but you don't have to go through this alone."

"I don't want to drag you into this." Magnus admitted, wanting to pull his hand away, knowing that he should and finding himself unable to. "I feel like I'm slowly poisoning your life piece by piece."

"That's not true."

"You were happy before I got here." Magnus bit out. "You were happy and you were close with your parents and now I'm actually being awful and sucking all the good out of your life."

"You are the good in my life." Alec said firmly, squeezing Magnus' hand harder and pulling him into his chest. Magnus melted in his grasp, though he was unable to get the inkling of guilt out of his mind. "I will tell you everyday until you believe me." Alec promised, his voice so soft that Magnus had to strain to hear it.

Magnus didn't say anything else, just drew Alec in for a kiss, wanting the moment to last forever and allowing himself another moment of pure selfishness - a moment of love with a boy he knew he didn't deserve.

"Ew. Do you mind?" Isabelle crossed her arms, leaning against the doorway. "The PDA needs to be stopped. We eat in here." She pushed past them, making sure to go in between them and force them apart. "I see that our wonderful mother didn't murder you slowly."

"No," Alec frowned, "I'm still not quite sure why. She wasn't that mad, just a little… sad. She made this speech about times when I told her everything, like I was growing up too fast or something." He wandered over to the counter and leaned on it, Isabelle sliding into a chair and holding out her hand. Alec pointed at a few things on the counter before she nodded and he handed her an orange.

"She can't be feeling the empty nest thing already." Isabelle scoffed. "We're all still here." She dug into the orange, struggling to get it started.

Alec shrugged, taking the orange out of her hands gently and peeling it. "I think she misses us sometimes, like she wishes we were still babies toddling after her." He handed it back to her and she sent him a grateful smile.

"You okay?"

Magnus was jolted out of his own head, where he'd been mulling over his own relationship with his parents, and nodded. "Yeah, just a little confused I guess."

"Sounds like you could use some alcohol." Isabelle remarked. "There's a party tonight at Aline's house. I'm guessing you two will be there? I need a ride you know."

Alec looked at Magnus anxiously, gauging his reaction. "Sounds great." Magnus said, hoping he didn't sound too choked. Going to a party was probably just what he needed, something familiar and mindless to get all of the clutter out of his brain.

Isabelle licked the juice from her fingers, putting the last wedge of orange into her mouth quickly. "Great. Get ready for nineish?"

The boys nodded and Isabelle skipped away, taking the stairs two at a time and sang Jace's name on her way up. There was an unintelligible response and a slamming of doors before Isabelle was gone.

"What do you want to do now?" Alec asked, walking back over to Magnus.

"Wii?"


"You cheating bitch!" Magnus exclaimed, clenching his controller tightly. "You did that on purpose."

Alec dissolved into peals of laughter, whooping and dancing around the room. "You can't deny it!" He boomed, vaulting himself up onto the couches and out of Magnus' reach. Magnus dashed after him, arms outstretched. They raced around the room, Alec yelling the whole while. "I'm the master!"

"What the fuck are you two doing in here?!" Jace cried, sticking his head in the door - Magnus had no idea why these people had never heard of knocking or actually coming in a room.

The door swung open enough that Alec had to throw himself away from it, bouncing off the couch and rolling onto the floor with a groan. Magnus glanced at him to make sure he was still alive and then sent Jace the most innocent look he could. "Wii Tennis?" He offered, before starting to laugh. From the floor, Alec was laughing too, rolling over onto his back and heaving an arm over his eyes.

"You two need some serious help." Jace mumbled, slamming the door and leaving.

"He's right." Alec said, not bothering to pick himself up off the floor. "We really do need help. That last match was horrific. It shouldn't have been that close, we both played terribly."

They didn't manage to keep a straight face for long before they started laughing again. Magnus couldn't breathe, hunched over and clutching his stomach. "God, I love you." He said, kissing Alec breathlessly.

Alec tugged Magnus down onto the floor so that Magnus was straddling his hips, their game long forgotten and the controller slipping out of Magnus' hand. Magnus groaned and cupped Alec's cheek, his tongue slipping into Alec's mouth. Alec made the most delicious noise, one of his hands sliding under Magnus' shirt and rubbing circles into the small of his back. Forcing Alec to sit up a little, Magnus took Alec's shirt off completely, rubbing his hands over Alec's abs and thanking whatever god had created this perfect boy. Magnus started running out of air, choosing to pull his lips from Alec's and kiss his neck gently. He sucked the spot just below Alec's chin and drank up his boyfriend's moan, glad his years of goofing around with people at parties had taught him something about making out.

"Why are you still wearing a shirt?" Alec said, breathless and pouting at the same time. Magnus laughed, sitting up and pulling his shirt over his head while still comfortably resting on Alec's hips. He looked down to see his boyfriend poring over him and moved back down to capture his lips once more.

With Magnus' shirt out of the way, Alec didn't waste a second before devour his boyfriend. Alec's mouth sucked on the hollow of Magnus' collarbone, a spot that he seemed to favour, and his fingers slotted into the subtle hollows of Magnus' ribs.

"Jesus Christ." Magnus hissed. "Where have you been all my life?"

Alec chuckled, his lips moving from Magnus chest to meet his lips again. Magnus was just wondering if he could simply kiss Alec for the rest of his existence when they were rudely interrupted.

"Holy mother of god!" Jace yelled, throwing himself to the floor. "My eyes!"

Contrary to what he might have done early in their relationship, Alec didn't move or throw Magnus halfway across the room. He just sighed and told Jace to leave. "I'm trying to be with my boyfriend over here."

"You have to stop!" Jace cried, flailing on the floor and almost knocking himself out of the door he'd neither fully opened nor closed. He was sitting in the doorway with his arms and legs flying around like a helicopter. "I can't ever live in a house where I know you got deflowered on the floor!"

Alec flushed and Magnus laughed. Shamelessly, he ran his hands over Alec's chest again and moaned loudly - just for Jace's sake. He pulled Alec back in for a kiss, making sure that he pulled away just enough for Jace to see their tongues collide. For the cherry on top of the sundae of 'make Jace really uncomfortable', Magnus reached up and yanked on Alec's hair, pulling a soft whimper out of his boyfriend, who seemed to have forgotten his brother was even in the room. Call Magnus an exhibitionist, but there was something truly delicious about ravishing Alec right in front of Jace.

"Okay!" Jace said, marching over and trying to pry them apart. "That's enough of that." Perhaps it was that Jace was too scandalized to notice, but the two were at this point laughing far more than they were kissing. He continued to yell and they kept laughing, Magnus clinging to Alec's shoulders and Alec having one hand on Jace's face trying to push him away.

"Okay." Alec snorted, finally shoving Jace away with one hand. "That's enough we'll stop as long as you do. Now what's up?"

"I was just going to tell you that we were leaving in like an hour." Jace waved his hands around again and Magnus got off of Alec's lap. "I thought you two might want to get ready, but apparently not, no apparently you two decided now would be a good moment to get your freak on."

"Get our whatnow?"

"Freak on." Jace responded, giving Magnus a look that clearly said he should know what that meant. Magnus looked over at his boyfriend, who was practically sawing through his bottom lip in an attempt not to laugh. Alec tossed Magnus his shirt, pulling his own over his head and depriving Magnus of his favourite view.

Jace huffed, turning around and leaving the room mumbling to himself. "I think I have the weirdest siblings in the world." Alec stated, watching his brother go with something that was vaguely reminiscent of disbelief.

"I think that might be true."

Laughing, the two of them went upstairs to get ready. Isabelle gave them suspicious looks from the kitchen counter, where it appeared she'd returned for another orange, but they ignored her.

"So who's house are we going to for the party?" Magnus asked, trailing after Alec on the stairs.

"No idea." Alec shrugged, before looking over his shoulder and screaming back down to the kitchen. "Izz! Where's the party?!"

"Aline's!" Isabelle belted back, her mouth half full and her words slightly muffled. "Her parents are going out and said she could have some friends over!"

"There you are." Alec concluded. "The party shall be at Aline's house."

Magnus snorted, loving the way the Lightwoods never noticed anything odd about the way they screamed at each other from different parts of the house. "Thanks."

"Anytime."


"So what are you guys going to be wearing to the wedding?" Magnus asked, turning around in his seat to talk to the two who were sitting in the truck bed. He was in the passenger side next to Alec, who like always was driving the truck - Jace had tried to drive, but Alec argued that it was actually his truck.

"Something normal?" Jace sighed. "Probably some black, maybe a tie."

"Wow." Magnus said, making no effort to hide the sarcasm. "Thanks for that riveting description."

"What about you?" Jace asked, raising a brow in Magnus' direction. "Are you going to wear something neon? The dress code for these things isn't like the one at raves you know."

"Why are you all snippy?" Alec asked, looking at his brother in the mirror. "You've been prickly all night. Is something wrong with you and Clary?"

"Did she finally realize you're a dick?" Isabelle teased, her tone full of mocking pity. "We all knew it was going to happen, but even I didn't think it was going to be this soon."

"Shut up Izzy."

"Seriously," Alec said, trying to meet Jace's eyes in the mirror again. Jace avoided him pointedly and Alec frowned. "Man, what's up? You can tell us anything, we're here to help."

"It's nothing, I'm just pissed that Sebastian's going to be at the party and that he's giving Clary a ride."

"Where did he get a car?" Isabelle asked, raising an eyebrow. "Isn't he staying with the Penhallows."

"Hell if I know." Jace scowled. "God, he's such a dick. Can he go home yet?" Alec snorted and Jace sent him a glare. "What are you laughing at?"

"You're an interesting candidate for calling someone a dick. I mean, you're my brother and I love you, but you treat many people like shit."

"Many?"

"I was going to say most but I was worried you'd get offended."

"Yeah, because that was the offensive part of that statement."

Isabelle giggled, a hand over her mouth and the other keeping her from flying out of the truck - this really wasn't safe and Magnus found himself looking back partially for the conversation, but mostly to make sure they were still there.

"I'm kidding." Alec sighed. "I know he's a dick, but he's only here for a while. We give him the big country welcome and then do the normal thing and bitch about him behind his back." Jace made a small noise that was either agreement or annoyance, but he didn't argue.

"So, any idea what you're wearing?" Magnus said, resuming the topic where they'd left off and looking at Isabelle. "A fashionable girl like you should have some ideas."

"I have none." Isabelle sighed. "No one in this town makes anything original, so I'm stuck ordering online. Even then, I have no idea what I'm going to wear."

"It's not that big of a deal, it's one party-"

"It's a wedding."

"Same deal." Jace huffed, giving Alec an exasperated look. "I can't believe you're with them on this."

"There will be lots of photos." Isabelle informed him, her tone high and mighty. "This means that as a gorgeous person I must look completely gorgeous in all the photos that are taken or could possibly be taken of me. It is law." She sighed again, in the same fed up way. "Also, if I do decide to go into fashion one day, I want people to look back and think 'yeah, I saw that coming' and not 'really? She always looked frumpy to me'."

"I cannot see anyone calling you frumpy." Magnus told her, getting a beaming smile in return for his efforts. "And you want to go into fashion too?"

"It's a wistful dream," Isabelle shrugged, "but yeah. I didn't know you were hoping to model. You've got the body for it, like jesus, you're skinny."

"You're a doll." Magnus laughed. "But I'm not pretty enough to be in front of the camera. I want to be a designer."

Alec pouted. "I think you're pretty enough."

"Yeah, yeah." Jace waved his hands around and made false cheering noises. "You're very happy and wonderfully together and gloriously homosexual. I understand your happiness and I reject it on accounts that it's interfering with my moping."

Rolling his eyes, Alec nodded. "I'm so," he dragged it out for a few thousand years, getting a huff from his brother, "sorry that I'm 'interfering with your moping'. I'll stop now."

"You better."

"Anyways." Magnus chuckled, running a hand through Alec's hair. "You can be my first model."

"Really?" Isabelle's eyes lit up. "You mean that?"

Magnus shrugged. "Yeah, why not? I mean," he turned around completely in the cab and looked at Isabelle. "Have you seen your face? It's kind of gorgeous. Now, shake my hand and agree to model for me." He stuck his hand out and Isabelle shook it, sealing their sort of real deal.

They dissolved into meaningless chatter again, Magnus tuning out all the small town gossip about who was going to be at the party and grabbing one of Alec's hands instead. Alec smiled softly and let Magnus play with his fingers.


The party at Aline's house was different, there were less people and it seemed more friendly and less rowdy. There were maybe twenty people, less than half of the amount that there'd been at Kaelie's party. The people there all seemed to be locals.

As they pulled up to the house, Magnus could already see the embers popping in the sky. The bonfire radiated heat, perfect for what was a surprisingly cold Texas evening. They wandered over to it, Isabelle gravitating towards Simon fairly quickly and Jace scouring the place for Clary. Alec and Magnus walked together, not holding hands like Magnus wished they were. He wasn't sure who they were worried about offending, considering Helen and Aline were cuddling next to the fire and one of them was the host. But he didn't push Alec, figuring it was about time he cut his boyfriend a break. As they got closer, Magnus couldn't help but smile when he saw a familiar face sitting alone by the flames.

"Well if it isn't my two favourite gentlemen." Maia slurred, sending them a lopsided grin.

"Why is it that every time we show up to a party you're already wasted?" Alec chided, making no attempt to hide his smile at he gently moved her shoulders so she wasn't in danger of falling off the small chair. Alec gently pulled Magnus over so they could sit on a log near Maia.

"I'm alive!" Maia told them, her grin still strong. Her beer splashed on the ground as she hoisted it into the air. Alec snorted and handed a plastic cup to Magnus, offering Maia a toast. She accepted shakily, taping her cup against Magnus' and Alec's.

"To the best damn summer of my life." Magnus said happily, downing his beer in one go. Maia hollered and followed suit.

"I'm with you on that one." Alec murmured, admiring Magnus fondly. He only took a small sip of his beer, looking into the flames and pulling Magnus closer by the waist. Magnus raised an eyebrow, but didn't protest when Alec's hand curled around his hipbone and stayed there.

Before they could even slightly enjoy the moment, there was a commotion on the other side of the yard.

"What the-"

Alec didn't really get the words out before the source of the problem made himself known. Illuminated in the fire, Sebastian almost looked like a villain. The planes on his face were harsh, the angles caught in the flickering light.

"God," He snarled, his voice sending a chill down Magnus' spine, "I'm so goddamn sick and tired of this town. Why the hell there are so many faggots here I have no idea." He was wearing a black jacket that made his hair seem white and his eyes were like pits, boring into the people sitting around the fire. His hands were deep in his pockets and as he pulled them out, the people near him scrambled away. It took Magnus, Alec and Maia a second to realize why.

"Gun!" Jace yelled, ushering someone with hair so deeply red that could only be Clary closer to the house.

There was instant panic, some people screaming and a chaos as people started to stumble drunkenly around the yard. Sebastian watched the frenzy with a smirk. After assuring that Clary was crouched far away from the action, Jace started to come back. Alec did the same, moving slowly away from Magnus and pushing him to go towards the house.

Sebastian raised the gun, holding it with a confidence and comfort level that made it very obvious this was not his first time holding a weapon. "Now, who should I shoot first?" His eyes darted around them hungrily, his voice a haunting, carrying whisper. "The city boy?" He levelled the gun with Magnus' head. Alec moved to stand in front of him and Jace was quick to put himself between Magnus and Sebastian as well.

This seemed to entertain Sebastian, who gave them a grin that was as sharp as broken glass.

"The dyke?" He moved the gun to Aline, who stood her ground and stared him down. His grin only spread when he looked at Clary. "The little bitch?"

"Seb-"

"How about the unwanted boy?" He said mockingly, cutting Aline off, turning the gun on Jace and cocking his head to the side. "What? Mummy and Daddy didn't love you enough. Oh no, they died didn't they? They passed on," Sebastian's tone was simpering, "Daddy was a drunkard in a car accident and Mummy put a bullet in her head."

Jace looked stunned.

"Did no one tell you?"

"Enough!" Aline said, stepping forward. Sebastian chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "Oh Aline," he tsked, "my sweet little cousin. Maybe I should shoot your dyke friend." Helen quaked. "No, let's go for the pretty one, stir ourselves up a nice little tragedy. Don't worry honey, every girl's beautiful when she's dead." Isabelle met his eyes. Magnus could tell she was scared, but she barely let it show, brave enough to look down the barrel of a gun without flinching.

"No one has to get hurt Verlac." Jace said firmly, putting his hands up, there was fury in his eyes but he was smart enough not to pick a fight. His eyes flashed to where Clary, Isabelle and Simon watched anxiously.

"I know that." Sebastian snapped, lowering the gun slightly but not moving his finger from the trigger. "I want to hurt them. I want them to grovel, to be at my mercy. I want them to know how it feels." Magnus had no idea what he meant, but it wasn't the first thing on his mind, in fact he'd only think about what Sebastian had said when he looked back on the moment. He wasn't terrified to die, but he wished in that moment, that he'd made peace with his parents. That he hadn't left things the painful mess that they were.

"Sebastian-" Aline started, reaching out towards him. She looked pitying, but also nervous. Helen was just over her shoulder, clinging to one of her girlfriend's hands tightly.

"I want them to know how it feels!" Sebastian yelled, levelling the gun with Magnus' head and pulling the trigger.

Magnus closed his eyes for a moment, too paralyzed to move and simply waiting for the impact that never came. He opened his eyes quickly to see everyone frozen, watching the two figures that were grappling in front of the bonfire.

Clary was clinging to Sebastian, her arms around his neck. She looked fierce and determined, her hair a blaze of fire in the low light. "Little bitch!" Sebastian roared, dropping the gun in favour of clawing at Clary's arms.

Jace took this moment quickly, snatching the gun off the ground and pointing it at Sebastian. It didn't take the other boy more than a minute to throw Clary off of him. She was flung from his shoulders - thankfully away from the fire - and she rolled onto the grass, motionless. Isabelle dashed over to her, falling to her knees and giving Jace a nod that Clary looked okay, she was alive.

"Surrender." Jace said, sounding like a character from a movie. Alec was still in front of Magnus, reaching back and grabbing one of his boyfriend's hands. "Give in. The cops are coming. You're done Verlac."

"Whatever you say Herondale."

The Lightwoods all froze, the only sound the crackling of the dying fire. "What the hell did you just say?" Jace whispered, the gun almost slipping from his hands. He was staring at Sebastian like he'd never seen him before, like he'd simply dropped out of the sky.

"Hands above your head!" A disembodied voice yelled, headlights moving into the drive and the accompanying flashing lights turning the world blue and red. "Put down the gun!"

They moved towards Jace and Sebastian, their own weapons raised. Jace dropped the gun to the ground and stepped away from the other teenager. Alec let go of Magnus' hand to rush over and explain to the police, who quickly cuffed Sebastian and hurried him into the back of a car. He didn't fight them, letting the whole thing happen with a wide smile on his face.

"Are your parents home?" They asked Aline, who shook her head numbly.

"They're having dinner at a friends house, so they said I could throw a party."

"And how do you know," The officer looked down at his pad where he'd written down what Alec had already told him, "Sebastian Verlac?"

"He's my cousin." Aline said softly. "He's always been sort of off. A little on the harsh side."

The officer just nodded. "We'll hold him tonight and talk to your parents in the morning. But this was his first offence and he didn't hurt anyone, nothing bad should happen to him."

"If only something bad would happen to him." Simon hissed, sending a dark look at the car where Sebastian was. "It would be a fucking miracle."

"Your parents have all been called and are on their way to get you." The officer continued, ignoring Simon entirely. "You're going to be just fine."

The kids didn't say anything, watching him walk back to the car and pull away in silence. Other members of the police team lingered, talking to the various kids and taking seemingly useless pictures of the dark yard. Magnus had no idea what they were hoping to find out by looking at pitch black pictures of Aline's bushes, but he wasn't going to tell them how to do their job.

Luke came for Clary and Simon at the same time that Robert arrived. He ushered them all into the car, they mumbled goodbyes to Clary and Simon and piled into Maryse's SUV. Robert told Alec softly that they'd come back for his truck in the morning and Alec just nodded and held Magnus' hand.

"I spoke to some of the officers and it looks like they're sending Sebastian home with nothing but a warning." Robert said after they'd been driving for a while, his jaw tight. His hands gripped the steering wheel. "But we're not going to worry about it, we're going to put this whole thing behind us."

The kids all nodded, Alec tightening his grip on Magnus' hand. Magnus looked out the window and watched the houses fly past.

"I can't believe he's only getting a warning." Jace bit out, his shoulders tense. "That's ridiculous."

The car was silent the rest of the way home, no one dared to say anything else. There was a certain level of insanity to what had happened that no one really knew what to say. It had felt like years, felt like a decade that Sebastian had stood there with the gun pointed at them all, but the blinking clock on the dashboard insisted it hadn't been more than fifteen minutes.

When they reached the house, the kids all piled out of the car and trouped upstairs, Robert stopping Alec before they got up the stairs. "Alexander." Robert said, his voice flat and toneless. "I need to speak to you."

Alec stiffened but nodded, pressing a gentle kiss to Magnus' lips and following his father into Robert's office.

Magnus debated going upstairs, but figured he didn't want to go to bed along after everything that had happened that night. So he sat on the steps, listening to the muffled conversation between his boyfriend and Robert and waiting for Alec to return.

"I don't understand what you're saying." Alec's voice was loud enough to come through the wall and it didn't take long for Magnus to recognize the tone in Alec's voice. He was hurt, offended.

"I'm saying that I don't think he's good for you." Robert's voice was level and firm, and something in it made Magnus' stomach turn.

"And I'm saying that you don't get to decide something like that."

"Alexander, I almost lost you and your siblings today. I can't imagine what would have happened if Sebastian had hit any of you. You never used to go to parties this much and I know the history he has. I'm just-"

"You don't want me to be with him? You want to send him home?"

Magnus' heart fell into his stomach. Of course, how could he not have figured it out right away? They were talking about him. How Alec should break up with him. And Robert was right too. It was something that had crossed Magnus' mind a lot in the last few days, how he was slowly drawing Alec further and further from a bright future. Magnus was easily tempting Alec with all sorts of vices. Alec would be right to dump him.

"I'm not sending Magnus away, but I do think that you should think about this. Alexander, yesterday you ran off with him, driving to some place you still won't tell us about. You were gone the whole day and then went out again tonight. You've barely been around, your mother and I don't see you anymore-"

Getting up from the stairs, Magnus went to his room, unable to listen to his boyfriend and his father talk for a moment longer. Every point that Robert made was like a slap in the face, a reminder that Magnus wasn't quite good enough for Alec and everyone seemed to know it. Magnus spent a long time sitting on his bed staring at the carpet and debating sending himself home for the benefit of everyone involved.

There was a knock on the door and Magnus looked up. He didn't answer and it slowly swung open, revealing a tired Alec.

"Magnus," Alec said, his tone sad and serious, "we need to talk."

"You don't have to tell me." Magnus said softly. "I heard him and I understand."

"Understand what?" Alec looked surprised, one eyebrow raised. He reached out to grab Magnus' hand and Magnus pulled away, not wanting to look at the hurt on Alec's face. "Magnus? Understand what?"

"That you have to break up with me." Magnus said, inhaling sharply and trying to ignore the way that his breath caught. "I understand. I'm not exactly the best influence, your dad's right." Magnus could feel the tears pricking the corners of his eyes and wondered when he'd gotten so emotional. Magnus was usually unmovable, always feeling, but never at the extremes he was now.

"Magnus." Alec's voice was almost amused now and Magnus stared at his hands in his lap and tried not to cry. "Magnus," Alec repeated, "I'm not breaking up with you."

"What?" Magnus' head shot up. "But you were talking to your dad. And he was right… about everything. I'm a terrible influence."

Alec sighed. "I'm not going to break up with you because my dad thinks you're not right for me or you're not going to be good for my future. I'm going to keep you because I love you. Nothing that he says is ever going to change that."

"Oh." Magnus stuttered. "I was convinced that you were coming in here to dump me. Can we just go over this one more time? The words 'we need to talk' are probably not the ones you want to use to open up a conversation."

"Am I the only one who didn't know that was a thing?"

"Probably? I'm guessing you never had to really end your fake relationship with Maia?"

"Not really," his boyfriend grinned and shrugged, "it was more like 'I don't really want to fake date you anymore' and 'okay, friends?'"

"So," Magnus said, laughing slightly, "ignoring my minor freak out - I'm having a lot of those lately. What did you want to talk about?"

"Oh, yeah." Alec grinned. "I was actually going to tell you to call your parents."

"Really? Why the hell would I do that? I haven't talked to them since, you know."

"I do know." Alec nodded, running a hand through his hair. "I also know that they need to hear about what happened tonight and you need to talk to them about this."

"Why?"

"Magnus, if you had - God forbid - died tonight, you never would have made this right. They would live with this regret forever. If your mother was to get into an accident or something, you would have to live knowing that you and she never made up." Alec frowned, cupping Magnus' head in his hand. "You need to do this for your sake and theirs."

"I just-" Magnus shook his head vehemently. "I don't know what to say. Can't I call them later?"

"Well, my mum plans to call them in the morning and tell them what happened with Sebastian."

"So this is my last chance to talk to them before she does."

"Bingo."

"And you think I should do this? Really?"

"Really, because if I were them, I'd want to know you were alright." Alec paused, his voice soft. "And I'd want to hear it from you."


"Hello?"

"Dad?" Magnus said, his voice suddenly very quiet. He hadn't talked to his dad in weeks, and with everything that had happened, Magnus wondered if he could still call him his dad. "Where's Mum?"

"She's asleep." Magnus' dad spoke slowly. "How's Texas?"

"Good." Magnus said, wanting to laugh at the sheer awkwardness of the situation. The words 'I'm not actually your son' lingered on the edge of his tongue. "I have a boyfriend here. You'd like him, very manly."

Magnus' dad laughed. "I'm glad you're happy. You're careful as well? Not doing anything weird?" Deciding that this wasn't the moment to mention the Sebastian incident, Magnus mumbled a soft 'yes'.

"Alec's wonderful." Magnus said, deciding that talking about his boyfriend was a fairly safe topic and that launching out of the worrying disasters zone was a good plan. This father would hold nothing against him. "He's been helping me deal with," he paused, "everything."

"She said that you know now." Magnus' dad kept his voice soft and Magnus was comforted by the voice over the phone, remembering all the times when he'd felt so lucky to have the dad he did. If only he'd known. He could remember all the times he'd whined to Camille, saying that his Dad was distant or never there for him. But even in the times when that was true, there were worse things.

"Yeah." Magnus felt impossibly small, like he could feel his father's knowing gaze on him and even though he was alone, Magnus found himself withering slightly. "I know."

"And?"

"I don't really know what to do." Magnus admitted. "I met him."

There was silence on the other end, before Magnus' dad spoke, sounding as small as Magnus felt. "How was he?"

"Awful." Magnus blurted, closing his eyes. "He seemed nice at first but he wasn't exactly on board with me and Alec and our, well, gayness."

"I'm sorry."

Magnus bit back a sarcastic laugh. "It's not your fault, it's most definitely not your fault. And for the record, I'm sorry too." Magnus said, feeling the tears start to run down his cheeks. "I'm not even your son. I can't believe all these years I've gotten so mad at you for the stupidest things and I don't even have the right to."

"Magnus, don't say that."

Magnus shook his head, though his father couldn't see him and he found himself sobbing. "I'm so sorry." Because everything had changed. Magnus had always wondered why his father was so distant, why he'd always been hesitant when he talked to Magnus. Now he knew the answer, it was because Magnus was never his. He was the product of an affair and nothing could ever change that.

His dad sighed. "Magnus. I never want you to apologize for things that are entirely out of your control. When your mother told me that you weren't my son, she lied. I choose to raise you and that makes you mine. I could have never wished for a better son and I never would. I don't care if you're mine by blood, it doesn't matter to me."

"But we've always been so distant, we've always struggled to have things to talk about."

"Magnus, that's never been because of who your father is." He sounded surprised. "That's because I can't honestly think of anything to say about your fashion stuff that wouldn't make me sound like a complete moron."

Magnus laughed, the tears continuing down his cheeks. "I kinda think the same about sports, if I'm honest."

"I figured." Magnus' dad laughed too. "You're always so confident it throws me. I was never sure how to handle anything, I needed my parents constantly. But you never seem to need your mother and I at all, you're ready to handle it all on your own."

"I don't think I'm ready to be on my own."

"We'll be here as long as you need us."

"I like that." Magnus said, sniffling and wiping a hand across his face. "When I get home can you tell me about that team you like? The hockey one?"

"The Rangers?" Magnus' dad sounded surprised. "Yeah, of course." There was a pause and Magnus could hear the smile in his dad's voice when he said. "Maybe you could show me some of your drawings? The clothes your planning on making?"

"Yeah." Magnus smiled. "That would be awesome."

"I was thinking that maybe we could look into getting you some supplies so you could start the whole process."

"Yeah." Magnus said, still kind of in awe that he was having a conversation with his Dad that was more hopeful than it was hopeless. They talked a little while longer, before Magnus figured he should mention the reason he called. "Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"There's actually something I need to talk to you about." Magnus gnawed on his lower lip, glad that he didn't have to do this in person. "There was an accident tonight. No one got hurt, but it was pretty serious and I thought you should know…" Magnus gave his Dad a summary of what happened, leaving out the biting insults that Sebastian had thrown at them and choosing instead to assure his father that Sebastian was gone and that Magnus and everyone was alright.

"I'm just glad you're safe." Magnus' dad said, letting out a long breath. "That must have been terrifying. Are you sure you're alright? Did you want to come home?"

It took Magnus a moment to weigh that. There was a small part of him that longed for home, in a way that every child does when they're away from their parents. A part of him that wanted to hug Camille and listen to his mother hum while she cooked. But there was a larger thing holding him back - Alec. To leave Alec now would be torture and Magnus wasn't sure he'd every get more time with him.

"No." Magnus said finally. "I mean, there is a part of me that wants to, but I need to stay here. Alec," he paused, trying to think of a way to sum it all up, "he means the world to me. I love him, and I know that it's soon-"

Magnus' dad chuckled. "Honestly Magnus? I was in love with your mother the first time I ever saw her. I'm not one to judge. I whisked her away from her homeland, begging her to leave with me because I could bear the thought of being without her."

It was a different story than the one that Magnus had heard from Asmodeus. But it made Magnus smile, thinking of his parents young and desperate like he and Alec. To think of his stoic father begging his mother to stay with him.

"Hey," Magnus said, noticing the time and wishing that the clock would change for him, just this once. "It's getting pretty late. I'll talk to you soon?"

"Yeah," Magnus' dad agreed and Magnus could hear the smile in his voice. "I love you."

"Love you too."

He hung up the phone, staring at it for a moment and biting his lip. He felt himself start to cry, the tears hot on his cheeks. Magnus made no move to wipe them away, letting them trickle down his face.

Because for some it was just a conversation with his father, but for Magnus it felt like the start of something. It was the promise of more conversations, of trying to connect and make this work. Magnus was still sitting there, staring at the phone and openly crying, when Alec came back in a few minutes later.

"Are you okay?" Alec asked, gently rubbing a thumb over Magnus' cheeks. He wiped away the tears gently and going by the look on his face, expected that the phone call hadn't gone very well. But he was so wrong, because Magnus felt lighter than he had in weeks. Everything was out on the table and he still loved his parents more than anything. And they still loved him. Magnus wondered when everything had gotten so dramatic and yet had had such a perfect happy ending. He looked up at Alec and smiled through his tears. Because he'd spent all this time thinking that Alec was so much luckier than he was, to have parents who were so loving - even if they felt distant at times. He'd spent so long jealous, searching for that relationship. Magnus wasn't sure, but he thought he might have just found it.

"Yeah," Magnus nodded, laughing slightly, "I think I am."


Alright! For once I don't think I really have anything to add here...So, review? Let me know what you thought?

xx