Magnus's Point of View

I followed Alec through the throng of people trading marks, many of them oblivious to us even passing by. I must have stopped in my distraction, because Alec had to tug on my arm rather forcefully to jostle me from my thoughts. I gave him a glare, but it was ruined when I couldn't keep the smile off my face.

"Hey, cut that out. I'm rather fond of that arm." I said, trying not to laugh. He looked back at me smiling, rolling his eyes as he pulling me forward. I followed, eager to finally meet his parents not as the warlock that periodically saved his life, but as his . . . boyfriend.

The idea was still sinking in and I guessed it just hadn't hit me yet, how far we had come from Chairman Meow's birthday party when I had slipped him my number asking him to call. Alec had just looked down and blushed, but taking the slip of paper none the less.

In all my years I hadn't seen such an addicting display of embarrassment. The light flush on his cheek inspired many the fantasies I indulge in, waiting for him to call, and it had become somewhat of a trigger for me to see that blush. Reminding me of all the things I wished to do, steps I couldn't take yet. But, this was one I had wanted and waited for and it gave me a high to think its time had come. I put my thoughts away as we neared the darkened arch that hid Alec's mother and father.

As the shadows enveloped us as well my eyes adjusted easily and quickly, but Alec slowed and I saw him squint his eyes for focus. A sign that he needed to update the forever seeing runes behind his ears. I lengthened my stride to pull in front and smiled at him, which he most likely didn't see from the bemused expression he gave to my general direction.

"Cat Eyes." I whispered in his ear as explanation. I decided to leave out the part where I was impatient with his slow pace and was laughably excited about "Meeting Mom and Dad". He laughed in a hushed tone as if he could read my mind.

I led for a short time until his pupils dilated and he was able to see just as well as I could. I slowed my pace to match his so we could walk side by side. As we neared I began to break his hold on my hand, but he squeezed my fingers lightly and reaffirmed his hold on me, peeking up, one eyebrow raised in challenge.

"Well aren't we all Mr. Confident today." I teased. But, secretly I was internally singing with joy at the small gestures of affection.

"I'm tired of hiding Magnus," he affirmed, turning his head so that he could look at me. "I tried so hard to be someone I'm not. So I quit." He finished with a shrug turning back to look ahead of us, but I could see the smile creep onto his lips. It wasn't as wide as it used to be, but certain things would never be the same with the death of his brother.

"I always thought quitters never win though?" I couldn't keep from pestering him tonight, my mood was far too good for the solemn temperament around us.

"I think I won." Was his whispered reply as we passed though the archway to face his parents. His appearance changed into a closed mask as we turned the final column to find his family.

Robert was leaning against a wall, relaxed, his head tilted up to stare at the curve of the vaulted ceiling. Mayrse was talking with Isabelle, but the conversation stopped as we came into view. I turned to look at Alec when his hold on my hand constricted almost painfully. He was scared. Even though his face didn't show the emotion, the tightening of his shoulders and the death grip on my poor fingers gave him away, but he only stared ahead with a schooled expression that falsified relaxed calm.

I looked up from my attempt to read Alec's expression to see Alec's Mother. From the face she was making she was either trying to pass a kidney stone or she didn't approve of me holding hands with her son, with is most likely being the later to my aggrieved annoyance. Her eyes were trained on the connection of our hands and I felt as if I should start to feel physical pain from the intensity of her gaze. Alec's dad turned to look at him and then followed Alec's gaze to stare at his wife. Upon seeing her practically mad expression he walked over to her, clearing his throat rather loudly and gave her a meaningful glare when she looked at him. When he stood at her side his hand went to her wrist, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on her pulse. She sighed and nodded.

Alec gave Isabelle a questioning look. Many emotions flashed across her face, like she was trying to make up her mind on what to say in silent communication. Finally she came up with a look of frustration, striding over to Alec. Clasping his ear firmly and cupping her hand to hide her lips she whispered to him what she presumably couldn't say without actual verbal communiqué. Alec grimaced and I looked down at him, an eyebrow raised in question. He turned to me, looking almost pained.

"Mom doesn't like me dating a warlock." He replied in a heated whisper, hardly moving his lips as he did so. I rolled my eyes letting out a sigh. If it's not one thing it's another. With that knowledge in mind I strode forward with purpose, breaking my contact with Alec, to stand in front of the Lightwood's. Putting on my most gracious and courteous smile I could muster, I stuck out my hand.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Lightwood, I believe we've met before. Magnus Bane." I said in what I hoped was a polite greeting. Robert extricated his hand from his wife's grip, which had tightened when I neared, shaking my hand firmly.

"Call me Robert, it's good to see you again, this time in better circumstances than the last." He answered in a deep, but pleasant baritone that matched his large exterior. He looked down at me with a small smile. It was odd, most people were far shorter than my six foot one, but he had at least two inches on me. As he let go I passed my open palm to Mayrse. Alec's mother looked at my hand as if it was a poisonous snake coiled to strike. I recognized that look, it was blatant an undisguised disgust, born of fear and misunderstanding. Prejudice was a deep rooted disease among the Shadowhunters it seemed. But, with a tentative hand she shook mine rather lightly, ready to snatch it away at the first sign of danger. I sighed internally, greeting her in a polite fashion as if she had not treated me like a notorious pariah. She attempted a smile, it looked forced and unhealthy as it pulled at her face unnaturally. I was getting annoyed with the pleasant façade.

I felt a presence at my right and behind me on my left. I looked over to my right to see Alec standing at my side, and with a slight turn of my head I could make out a clip of a figure that I presumed was Isabelle. I turned back to face Mayrse, not wanting to give her an opening, she was completely equipped for war and I wasn't taking unnecessary chance with my life. The silence stretched and I was not going to stand here forever, so with three snaps in quick succession, a modern circular table appeared, with matching chairs for each of us, though I was sorely tempted to leave out Mayrse who jumped at my sudden show of magic. I sat pulling my chair in, sweeping my hand out in a flourish to invite everyone to sit. Alec and Isabelle sat without hesitation, But Alec's father took a step back. I was about to say something, tired of the bigotry, but he went behind his wife, pulling out her chair for her and my brain switched gears quickly, as I mentally kicked myself for not doing the same for Alec. Mayrse turned to her husband scowling then back at the chair, looking at it disdainfully. She finally sat with a pointed look from her husband.

I waited till Alec's father took his seat, steepling my fingers I prepared to talk to his parents about everything, well, not everything. But, the things they would want to and should know. I was about to speak when Mayrse spoke up for the first time since I had arrived.

"How long?" she asked in threatening tone that would not be swayed. I wasn't surprised at the angered tone.

"Excuse me?" I asked in a lost manner trying to suppress the childish answer of nine inches, I tried really hard not to laugh, but a smirk must have escaped because her scowl deepened in its intensity. How long what? I was a warlock not a mind reader. I couldn't be expected to fish answers to questions that open. She sneered at me, it was to be expected from her with the way she had reacted so far. Now I was merely bored with her constant malevolence, but Alec seemed to be bothered as he took my hand under the table and squeezed lightly. I used my thumb to rub reassuringly on back of his hand, and he seemed to relax minutely.

"Do not play dumb with me downworlder. How long have you been with my son." She asked again, adding in the pleasant derogatory term for added zest. Alec and his Father spoke up, both giving her a reproachful look and hissing out simultaneously a mixture of 'Mom' and 'Mayrse'. I looked over at Alec who had a pained expression on his face, I was getting pissed, and fast. I looked back at Mayrse, my previous kindness gone.

"It's been a little over four month's Mrs. Lightwood, and if you can keep the insulting labels to a minimum it would be greatly appreciated." I mocked in a jaded tone, I was sick of playing nice with this woman. I now knew that the yelling Alec had mentioned from before come from her.

"Don't preach to me warlock, I know what you are capable of." She all but growled at me. It took me a moment to understand what she was trying to get at, but when I finally realized what she was insinuating my anger rose to new heights. It wasn't because I was a warlock that she didn't want me dating Alec, it was because I was that warlock.

"Oh. My. God! You have got to be kidding me. That happened almost sixteen years ago Mayrse, and I was under orders upon pain of death to do so! Do you think I wanted to? Hell no! It just happened out that way, I was new to the job so I got the work no one else wanted! It's not like I volunteered to play prison keeper." I was now standing, my chair toppled on the floor behind me. The air was thick with tension and blue sparks. I felt a hand at my elbow tugging me down, I looked over to see Alec staring at me in undisguised shock and a tinge of fear, his eyes pleading with me to calm down. I took a deep shuddering breath, letting it out with apologies for my outburst twisted in. With a nod of my head my chair righted itself and tucked in under me as I sat down again. I looked up to see everyone, but Alec staring at me in alarm.

So much for that good impression.

Robert recovered his composition first and offered an apology for his wife in answer to mine. I nodded to silently show him I accepted it. He didn't need to know I thought his wife was a bitch on a stick and any apology from her would be a sign of the god damn apocalypse.

Mayrse just stared at me with hateful eyes, but the anger wasn't as strong as before. Her fear was now justified in her eyes, but her cause behind her malice was gone since I explained myself.

"It's in the past Mayrse. I can't undo my actions anymore than you can yours." Was the last word I was going to offer on that subject. I was tired of the electric glares and I wasn't going to say sorry about what I had done, setting my jaw and crossing my arms I leaned back to wait for her to reply. Alec placed his hand on my thigh, rubbing soothingly.

Mayrse looked at me, then her son, then back at me. Her eyes calculating as she set her mouth in a contemplative look. Everyone was silent as this went on, all of us tense, even I could feel the pressure. I had won over Alec's Father within the first minutes, but his mother was the deciding factor. She crossed her arms, her pose matching mine. Her eyes cleared as she came to her decision. Leaning forward she pointed at me.

"I'm going to allow this," She said her finger going between me and Alec to represent our relationship. "But I don't want any funny business, and no more overnight trips." She said the last pointing at Alec, Alec protested with a childish whine of Mom. I struggled to hide my smile, but I conquered it with effort.

"I know that you're eighteen Alec, and you think you know almost everything. But, there are things in this world you just don't understand yet." Alec just rolled his eyes at her condescending tone. I unfolded my arms letting out a breath of relief, nodding to Mayrse to let her know I agreed on her terms.

"Not going to happen warlock. I don't want some silent agreement you can weasel out of later." I scowled at her for even suggesting I would do so. "I want you to swear. On your name and on your magic." I looked at her in shock my eyes wide and my mouth agape. Oh shit, this could not end well.

Oh thank god this is finally done, yes I know that last line is cheesy and yes I know it took me forever to get this up here. So I am alive and well, and working to get you some more Alec on Magnus action or vice versa. Anyways this chapter is super long, it's over 2,000 words. Oh and sorry I lied, I started out with Alec and ended up deleting it all and switch it to Magnus. I just couldn't let go of his cocky and colorful attitude. So here is some more cute and fluffy stuff for you to read.

Yes I know Mayrse is acting like a total bitch, but I can't seem to write her any other way. Her and Magnus have history so it only makes sense that she would not like him. And Remember Reviews are Love. (:

Love and Sloppy Kisses,
Eli Jones

P.S. If you could tell me of any out of characterness or spelling errors, or whatever it would be greatly appreciated. Please and Thank you ~ Love