It's tomorrow, time for Robert and Maryse to see Alec's new rune.

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Alec and Magnus are eating breakfast. Magnus took a quick trip to La Bagel Delight. He picked up bagels and coffee. He usually only gets bagels but figured that Alec needed something stronger to drink than orange juice when his parents saw his new rune.

Alec takes an immediate liking to coffee.

They finish breakfast and clean up.

Alec walks through the living room and goes outside to the balcony. Magnus follows him.

Alec looks in the direction of Manhattan and the Institute, "I'm not looking forward to this, Magnus."

Magnus stands at his side and nods, "I know, Alexander."

Alec sighs, "What if they take me away from you?"

"They can't. I haven't revoked the order, I'm still your Protector."

Alec faces him, "But they can say that you revoked it."

Magnus smiles, "They can say whatever they want, but they need proof that I said it. And since I never said it, the Clave will give you back to me and reprimand them."

Alec bites his lip, "Are you sure?"

Magnus kisses Alec's forehead, "I am positive."

Alec smiles, "Okay."

They walk back into the loft.

Magnus squeezes Alec's hand, "You'll be fine."

Alec nods, "Okay then, I'm ready." He kisses Magnus' cheek and smiles, "Is it okay if I say I love you?"

Magnus laughs, "You just did. And I love you."

Alec giggles, "See you later Magnus."

Magnus creates a portal and smiles, "Bye, Alexander." Alec leaves.

Magnus sighs. He walks over to the bar, he's going to need a few martinis today.

He is on his third one when a portal opens by the door and Catarina walks into the loft.

She sees him drinking and laughs, "I take it, that Alec is at the Institute?"

Magnus nods, "Yes, I'm wondering how long to give him until I text and ask how it's going."

She sits in a chair, "How did he take it?"

Magnus sips his drink, "He took it fairly well. He was more concerned about if his parents had seen it. Which they didn't because he was sleeping on that side when they dropped by in the morning."

She nods, "Good. How is he feeling?"

Magnus takes another sip, "I put magic into the rune and it healed him 100%."

"You put DownWorlder magic into a ShadowHunter's rune? Magnus, you might be the High Warlock of Brooklyn, but how is that possible?"

"No idea. But I did."

"Wow."

Magnus nods. He takes a sip of his martini and stares into the glass, "He kissed me."

Catarina smiles, "He loves you, Magnus, of course he kissed you."

Magnus takes a sip of his martini and shakes his head, "He kissed me on the lips, and I pushed him away."

Catarina's eyes narrow. She gets up without a word and walks to the bar. She grabs a glass, the bottle of scotch and pours two fingers of the liquor. She closes the bottle and walks back to the chair. She sits down and drinks it in one gulp.

She holds the empty glass in both hands and says calmly, "And?"

Magnus had watched her in silence. He answers, "He was upset."

She nods, "And?"

Magnus finishes his martini, "He told me he loved me and I told him that I love him, but that he was only fifteen and that we have to wait before we did anything physical."

She nods, "And?"

"And that was it."

She puts the glass on the coffee table, "Magnus, that was your one and only time to hurt him."

Magnus laughs, "Catarina, you're going Mama Bear over a ShadowHunter after all these years?"

Catarina nods, "This "ShadowHunter" is very special to you, Magnus, that makes him very special to me. So not even you are allowed to hurt him, do we have an understanding?"

Magnus nods, "Oh yes we do."

Catarina nods, "Good."

Magnus smiles, "Why didn't you drop by yesterday?"

"I was exhausted when I left the Institute. I got into bed and slept until almost five in the afternoon. Which wasn't that bad because I had a overnight shift that started at nine. I'm off today and tomorrow, so if you need back up, you better call me."

Magnus smiles, "Back up for what?"

She sniffs, "I know you are itching to show up at the Institute and see how the parents are taking Alec's new LOVE rune."

Magnus nods, "It's not really Maryse I'm worried about."

"Yes, you never liked Robert."

"Yes, there was always something off about him that irritated me even before I met Alexander."

Catarina nods, "I mean it, Magnus. You need me, I'm there." She stands up.

Magnus stands as well, "Thank you, Catarina. For everything."

She smiles, "You're welcome." They hug and she leaves.

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Alec walks down the hall with Jace. Classes are over. He wants to go back to the loft and do his homework, but first he and Jace are going over last minute details for tomorrow's parabatai ceremony.

Robert walks out of his office, "Alexander, a word please."

Alec sighs, the only time his father uses his full name is when he's in trouble, one guess as to what the problem is, "Yes, Father?"

He walks over to them and looks at Alec's neck. He nods, "Raj told me that you had a LOVE rune on your neck, I didn't believe it. When were you going to tell us about it?"

Alec shrugs, "I was in class."

"And you were at the loft all day yesterday. Were you avoiding us?"

"No, I wasn't avoiding you."

"Then you should have made time to show it to us. A love rune doesn't belong on a fifteen year old."

Jace rolls his eyes, "Robert, it's not that big of a deal."

Robert glares at him, "Jace, this doesn't concern you. You can go."

Jace looks at him coldly, "Alec is my parabatai, therefore it does concern me."

"You are not parabatai until tomorrow, now leave."

Alec grabs Jace's arm and says, "It's okay, Jace. I got this."

Jace glares at Robert as he asks Alec, "You sure?"

Alec nods, "Yes, I'm sure."

Jace nods, "Fine." With one last glare at Robert, he walks away.

"Alexander, I think it is time for you to return to the Institute."

Alec cringes at his father's continued use of his full name, "I'm here now."

Robert's eyes are cold, "You know what I mean."

Alec takes a step back, "Magnus says that unless he revokes the order, I'm to stay with him."

"I don't give a goddamn what that DownWorlder says."

Alec's eyes widen.

Down the hall, one of the elevators opens and Maryse steps out. She runs to her son and husband, "Robert, what is the matter with you?" She steps in between them and pushes Alec behind her.

"Maryse, this is between me and my son."

"Oh really? Alec is my son as well. Don't I have a say in this conversation?"

Robert takes a deep breath, "Fine, what do you think of our FIFTEEN year old son getting a love rune by a DownWorlder?"

She glares at him, "As you say, Magnus IS a DownWorlder, so there is no way that he can 'give' Alec a rune of any kind. Izzy tells me that the rune popped up on its own."

"Izzy told you?"

"Yes, she did."

"Why did I then have to hear it from Raj?"

"Maybe because our children knew how you would react. And guess what, Robert, they were right."

"Doesn't change anything. It is time that Alec returns to the Institute permanently."

Alec walks around his mother and tells his father, "Magnus won't allow it."

Robert sneers, "I don't care what that warlock allows or doesn't allow. I am still your father and if I want you to live in this Institute, then by the Angel, you WILL be living here and not that loft of his."

Maryse shakes her head, "Magnus and Catarina are the reason WHY Alec is alive today. If it weren't for them, we would be preparing for his funeral and not his parabatai ceremony. Robert why can't you see that?"

Robert glares at his wife, "Maryse, what happened to the woman who was disgusted that a warlock declared himself Protector of her seven year old son?"

Maryse's eyes stare coldly at her husband, "That woman saw how protective that warlock has been over her son. That woman is thankful that her son is alive today BECAUSE of that warlock. That woman won't let you take her son away from his Protector."

Robert sneers, "That woman has no choice." He reaches for Alec's arm. An energy ball hits him in the chest, sending him to the floor. Maryse steps in front of Alec.

Robert quickly gets to his feet and glares as Magnus and Catarina walk towards the Lightwoods.

Robert's eyes are cold, "Magnus Bane, how dare you attack me."

Catarina says coldly, "I'M the one that attacked you. You try to hurt Alec, and I'll do it again."

Catarina stands beside Maryse as Magnus steps toe to toe with Robert, "Understand this, Order 144.45 is STILL in effect and if you try to harm Alexander Lightwood, I will make damn sure that the Clave knows about it. You will be bought up on charges and placed in the City of Bones. You are his father, but I'm his Protector and right now he needs protecting from you."

Robert glares at him, "Maryse, what are you going to do about this?"

Maryse smiles, "Nothing."

He looks at his wife, "Nothing? You are going to let our fifteen year old son continue to live with this DownWorlder?"

Maryse nods, "You really do not get it do you, Robert? Because of this DownWorlder, our son will live to see his sixteenth birthday."

Robert looks at his wife with disgust and walks into his office. He slams the door.

Maryse sighs, "That went well."

Alec giggles as he hugs Catarina. Catarina holds him. She takes his face in her hands and gently kisses his forehead. He smiles at her.

Alec runs over to Magnus and hugs him. Magnus holds him tight, mindful that Maryse is right there, "You okay, Alec?"

Alec nods as he lets Magnus go and runs to his mother. Maryse holds him tight. She takes his face in her hands and looks at the love rune, "Never heard of a rune just appearing, but obviously it does happen."

Alec nods and kisses her cheek.

Jace comes around the corner, "What the hell was up Robert's ass?"

Maryse shakes her head, "No idea."

Magnus nods, "It's a good thing, Jace called me."

Alec smiles, "I figured he would."

Jace smiles, "Robert should have realized that as well."

Maryse shakes her head, "I don't think he saw anything beyond his own hatred. Once again, Magnus, Catarina, thank you so much for everything that you've done for Alec."

Catarina smiles, "Maryse, you are welcome."

Magnus nods, "Yes, Maryse."

Maryse glances at the closed door of the Head's Office, "I think the Clave needs to know about this. Robert is starting to make me uneasy."

Catarina nods, "He has serious problems with us."

Magnus nods, "And those serious problems may get him killed."

Jace nods.

Magnus looks at Alec, "Ready to go?"

Alec nods, "I think so. Mom?"

She smiles, "You and Jace ready for tomorrow?"

Jace smiles, "Oh yes, Maryse."

Alec nods, "Yes, Mom."

"You have homework?"

Alec nods, "I have to grab my books from my room."

"Then I will see you tomorrow."

Alec hugs her and kisses her cheek, "Bye Mom."

She holds him tight, "Bye Alec."

Alec smiles at Jace, "Tomorrow's the big day."

Jace smiles, "Official parabatai."

Alec walks to the elevators with Magnus and Catarina. They take an elevator upstairs. Alec goes to his room and gets his books.

Catarina smiles at Magnus, "This was fun."

Magnus laughs, "You coming back to the loft?"

"No, I have laundry to do."

Magnus laughs, "You like doing laundry?"

"Yes I do. This parabatai ceremony, is it family only?"

Alec giggles as he walks over to them, "No, you can come if you want to, Catarina."

She smiles at him, "Thank you, Alec. What time does it start?"

"10."

She takes his face in her hands and kisses his forehead, "Then I shall see you tomorrow morning."

He smiles, "Cool."

She says 'goodbye', creates a portal and leaves.

Magnus eyes the books in Alec's arms, "You need help?"

Alec giggles, "No thank you, Magnus."

Magnus smiles. He creates a portal and they walk into the loft.

Alec drops his books on the kitchen table. He gets a bottle of water from the fridge and watches Magnus walk to the bar. He watches Magnus make his martini, then sit down on the sofa.

Magnus glances up, "Something wrong, Alexander?"

Alec shakes his head, "No, Magnus. I was just wondering if I would feel different."

Magnus raises an eyebrow, "Feel different, about what?

"About you."

Magnus takes a sip of his martini, wondering what is going through his favorite ShadowHunter's mind, "Me, Alexander?"

Alec nods, "When I saw the love rune in the mirror yesterday morning, it made me realize that what I was feeling for you was real. I've loved you for so long, Magnus, and I was scared that you didn't love me that way. But a freaking love rune appeared because of YOU, so it meant that you did love me that way. That is why I kissed you..."

Magnus interrupts him, "Alexander.."

Alec puts up a hand, "Please, Magnus let me finish." Magnus nods and takes another sip of his martini. Alec blinks back tears and continues, "I kissed you because I wanted you to know that I belong to you. Then you pushed me away and I thought you were rejecting me and that scared me because if you didn't want me than what was I supposed to do with these feelings for you."

Magnus puts his glass down on the coffee table and stands up. He walks towards Alec.

Alec continues, "But you said that you loved me and your eyes were sad and you were talking about stuff that confused me because if we love each other than I don't see what the problem is. This morning I told you I loved you and you said that you loved me and nothing seemed to have changed. I spoke to Izzy and Jace and they explained why me kissing you might get you in big trouble and I don't want you to go to jail, Magnus. You said to wait and I'm okay with that because I love you."

Magnus holds his face and gently wipes away tears with his thumbs and gently asks, "What does this have to do with 'feeling differently' about me?"

Alec smiles, "Because I don't. I still love you as much as I did last week but now I know that you love me too and it makes me happy. Mom seems okay with the rune and hopefully she will be okay with you as my boyfriend." Alec giggles. He looks up at Magnus, "Would boyfriend be considered an upgrade from Protector?"

Magnus smiles, "I would say so." He gently kisses Alec's forehead. "Then again, I will always be your Protector, no matter what our relationship will grow to be."

Alec blushes, "Relationship. I like the sound of that."

Magnus hugs him. Alec rests his head on Magnus' shoulder.

"I love you, Alexander."

"Hmm, I like the sound of that as well."

Magnus laughs, "Don't you have homework to take care of?"

Alec giggles, "Yes."

Magnus smiles, "It's early. Do your homework, then we can get take out from that Chinese place you love so much."

Alec smiles, "Cool."

Magnus nods as he lets Alec go. Alec sits at the table and opens his books. Magnus walks back to the sofa and sits down.

Magnus doubts that Robert will ever accept him being a big part of his son's life, but with Maryse on their side, he and Alec should be okay.

Magnus sips his martini and smiles.

-the end-

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No matter how angsty (it is so a word) the journey is, I will always end with fluffy fluffiness. \o/