Okay so I'm going to keep this short.

Thank you so much for all the kind words!

I hope you like this chapter as much as the last one.

(Disclaimer~I don't own Reed or Shane. CP Coulter does)

Oh and the first song last time got cut up somehow in translation but it was "We Are Young" by Fun

Happy trails Readers & Reviewers

~L.C

_xxXxx_

Song for this Section~ Dark Side by Kelly Clarkson

"Well fuck that was hot." My face flushed even brighter and I took a quick step back as I heard my sister's cat call from the other end of the mat. She had to have been snooping behind the curtain in the way that only little sisters could. I audibly groaned and threw my face into my hands as she sashayed her way over, now changed out of her costume and into a too short dress with lacy tights and her favorite pair of brown moccasins hugging her ankles, to where Magnus was gracefully untangling himself from the silk and then jumping down. I let out another set of exasperated sighs as I heard, "For heaven's sake tell me he hired you. I'm Isabelle by the way. I happen to be that idiot's sister."

I slowly peaked out over the top of my hand from where it still covered my mouth to see Magnus let out a deep, rumbling chuckle that sent his head flying backwards and his straight, shiny hair flying out behind him in a shoulder length curtain of black silk and stick out a caramel hand before dropping a glittering wink and saying, "I'm Magnus Bane. I happen to be the guy that that idiot just hired." At this he glanced over at me quickly before returning his gaze to Isabelle who had started talking again.

"That's great, really! You're really good and I would have slapped him if he had turned you down like all the others. I mean it might be because he thinks you're hot and you can't blame him with that ass of your-"

That really was my limit on chatty Cathy so I quickly walked over and clamped a hand down on Isabelle's mouth and dragged her away. As I started walking toward the exit and the solace from being out of Magnus's presence, I thought of something so I turned around and said in his general direction, "After you finish the paperwork with Luke come by my tent and we can discuss practice schedules and get you a tent set up."

This got me another smile and a tiny wave from Magnus and a small giggle from Isabelle but since my hand was still covering her mouth, it sounded like a chicken clucking. Leaving Magnus and Luke discussing pay roll and other things, I dragged Isabelle the rest of the way out into the field and over to the large tent that housed Luke's wife Jocelyn, our resident chef.

Entering the khaki tent that was a larger replica of the other ones sitting around the 16 acre lot I was instantly enveloped in the heavenly aroma of tonight's mix of potatoes, ham, gravy, and onions. At this point Isabelle was attempting to bite my hand and so I quickly let her go, wiping my slightly slick hand on my tights, still having not changed out of my costume. As I turned my head back up to face Isabelle with her smug smile, cheeks blazing, I hissed out, "Is it your life goal to embarrass me! God Iz, I've barely known the man for an hour and how can I expect to have a professional working relationship with him if you keep doing stuff like that!" I jabbed an accusing finger at her in the middle of my tirade but it was slapped away quickly with a manicured hand.

Her voice was just as smug as her grin when she replied, "Oh come on Alec, cut the crap. I'm your sister and I saw the way you looked at him. He's gorgeous and totally into you. Besides who says," she lifts her hands and adds air quotes to, "professional working relationship? It is 2012 if you didn't know. He's sexy Alec and I say you should go for it! You deserve to have a little fun and not be so uptight." Her voice had been slowly increasing in volume and by now almost the entire food tent was staring in rapt attention at our little argument.

In an attempt to deflect attention to us I pulled Isabelle back out onto the field. I covered my blushing face with my hands, and let out a soft cry of desperation before muttering quietly, "Izzy I love you but if I strangle you right now, no one would blame me. I don't know the guy, okay. Yes I will admit it, he's attractive but that's it! At least give me some time to get to know him before you push me to jump on him, okay."

Delicate hands pulled my own from my face and I stared down at Isabelle from the few inches I still had on her. She gave me a small smile before patting me on the shoulder, a sad little shimmer glinting in her beautiful coco brown eyes, and saying with a gentler tone than she had been using the whole conversation, "I'm sorry if I'm pushing you. I just don't want you to not let yourself be happy because you're scared. I guess I don't want our past to affect your future ya know. You deserve to be happy Alec."

I returned her smile and gave her a small nod. The fact that she was worried about my happiness was slightly ridiculous but still touching. I smiled a little bigger and pushed her toward behind the flap again and into the line of4-5 people still waiting for a scoop of comfort on a plate before joking around and saying, "God Isabelle when did you become so soft? That Seth kid is having an effect on you."

This apparently deserved a gentle slap on my arm and a light laugh, the previous sadness now having disappeared. Rolling her eyes, Isabelle said as one of Jocelyn's assistants dropped a thick spoon full of buttery mashed potatoes and then Jocelyn herself, with her fiery red curls that were so similar to her daughters blazing under the hair net, poured rich, thick brown gravy and cut a slice of the moist ham onto her plate, "His names Simon, dick head. You're just lucky it was me watching you have a visual orgy with Magnus and not Jace. He would haven't have let you up so easy. He'd probably be giving you a talk on safe sex."

I downright laughed at this while I received the safe treatment on my own orange plate. What the hell did 17 year old Jace know about safe sex? What did he know about sex? Everyone knew Clary hadn't put out yet and wouldn't any time soon, which was fine by me because I honestly didn't need to figure out how to hide the bodies after Clary got knocked up and Luke and Jocelyn went on a murdering rampage, killing everything with a pair of balls that wasn't gay.

At least I was safe.

As if she had read my thoughts and knew they were about her in that way that only mothers could, Jocelyn tapped on my shoulder when I turned to follow Isabelle over to a large cafeteria style table filled with Jem, Tessa, Will, Jace, Clary, and a bunch more of our friends. I turned to face her and was surprised by the sad softness in her green eyes, again almost identical to her daughters.

"Alec, can I speak to you?" Setting my plate down on a nearby counter and praying the no one would snatch it I gave her a unsure nod before watching her walk back behind the small table where all the food rested and then around several microwaves and grills to a back doorway and disappearing out into the night. I scuttled after her and then let out an almost silent, "Holy mother of fuck," when my still bare feet hit a patch of mud on the opposite side of the flap of fabric, nearly falling on my ass. I shot an apologetic look over to Jocelyn a few feet away, soft disapproval coloring her pale face before saying, "What's the matter Ms. Fray?"

She gave me a look that Isabelle would have been proud of at me calling her "Ms. Fray" but quickly it deflated like a soufflé and changed into almost pity. I stared at her for a second, just trying to figure out what that was about but I realized the second she said, "Alec, you know where we are going to be in a week right? You know we're stopping in New York?"

Oh, it all made sense now. Jocelyn calling me out her, out of ear shot from Isabelle and Jace and the sad look. I hated her pity and I had to swallow heavily to keep the bitter malice out of my words but I couldn't keep the defensiveness out of my voice as I said, "I know. Isabelle and Jace do to. It's not a problem. Last time I heard from Aunt Amatis, she said they had moved out of the house with the kid. I'm not worried about it and Jace and Isabelle agree. They made their choice a long time ago and they were very firm when they said they didn't want to see any of us again." Her eyes softened even more, an almost sure fire sign that I was right. I wanted to bolt and get away, away from my past and the nearness of everything that I had left behind. I wanted to run away and hid from the pain and the salty tears that threatened to prick my eyes.

"Alexander Lightwood. I get you have to be the big brother but if you're lying to me and you're really not okay, I need you to tell me right now. Luke said that we can hold them off property and we can even pull your guys' acts. I care about you and Isabelle and god knows I'm not getting rid of Jace anytime soon even if he annoys the shit out of me. If you need anything, I'm here. I get that you are strong and are an adult. I'm not trying to baby you I just want to hel-"

She was babbling so I cut her off with a smile that didn't betray the inner turmoil that was going on in my head. I had to keep up the inner mantra, 'you are fine. You are Alec lightwood, you can do anything and you won't break down. You will be strong. You have too," that pounded like a war drum in my head, a brief exercise that had held me up in the past and it seemed to be working like a charm. Even my heart increasing and that little dimple in my chin that only came around when I was upset forming, I said in a clear and steady voice, "Ms. Fray, Jocelyn, I'm fine. Like I said, I made peace with this a long time ago and going back to New York isn't going to change that. There's really no need to bar them from the property. Like I said, they aren't going to show up."

That apparently convinced her because she just gave me a nod. We stared each other down for another second but with a shrug of her tiny shoulders she walked up to me and gave me a hug, her warm chin resting on my shoulders, before turning and walking back under the flap and into the makeshift tent.

Song For This Section~ I Dreamed a Dream by preferably either the original cast or Anne Hathaway has a wonderful rendition

I waited a long moment to make sure she wasn't coming back but I couldn't wait much longer and then I bolted, bare feet slapping the wet grass with no direction or plan but get away. Tripping once or twice but regaining my balance quickly, I ran, hot tears creating crystal tracks down my face. A choked sob tore through my throat but I kept moving, silent and quick in the humid august night, all the while swiping furiously at my cheeks.

After about two minutes I spotted a huge willow tree. The long wisp of green offered a hiding spot until I could smooth over my façade again and be able to go back and face my friends and family. Pulling up on a sturdy looking branch and swinging my feet into a fork, climbing up and up until I was sure I was so deep that no one would ever find me. Then I let another sob escape me only I didn't even try to hide it. The sound tore out of me, breaking whatever hold I had held on my control with it as it disappeared.

Memories from when my dad kicked us out played like a movie behind my eyes. Each one causing more salty tears to fall.

"I refuse to have a disgusting faggot under my roof! Get out! I don't know who you are but you are not the son I raised for 14 years, and you two, I thought I raised both of you better than this! I adopted you when no one else wanted you Jace and I turned a blind eye to you while you ran up and down the street acting like a whore, but I won't let this slide. Hiding him is like hiding a rat in your bread basket. I want you to gone with-with that! I don't want to see any of you again. Ever!"

My mother's screams and the clap when my dad slapped her ringed through my ears just like they did when I heard them fourteen years ago.

I had caused so much pain for others and I called myself their protector? I had ripped their home away and given them a life of constant traveling. A life of uncertainty and I had stolen their family, all because I couldn't keep a secret.

"All my fault, all my fucking fault." Muttering the words under my breath helped the ache go down a little bit and I kept them up, getting absorbed into my own little world of pain.

"You know, usually when hot guys have told me to come by their tent, their actually there, not incidentally in a tree. The change was unexpected and quite refreshing I must say."

"Holy mother of god!" I jumped and would have fell out of my soft haven of moss covered branches, had a strong, smooth hand not caught my upper arm and hauled me back up into where I had previously sat. I tried to wipe furiously at the tears still flowing down my face but the hand that had stopped me from falling was now stopping me from swiping at my face.

"Stop-stop! Alec your rubbing dirt all over your face and you're gonna get it into your eyes. I don't know bout you, Blue Angel, but I think that I wouldn't be too happy if I ruined my money makers." He let my hands ago with a reassuring squeeze. The whole comment about my money makers confused me but I ignored it, choosing to wipe my face with my elbow instead.

"I'm sorry, god, I ugh… Well…"

Magnus waved my stuttering mess of words away with a swipe of his hand and said, "Alec you don't have to explain to me, but you can if you need to. In my experience a sympathetic ear can work wonders for ruined mascara."

Now I was really confused, "But I'm not wearing mascara?"

"Oh shit. You're one of those literal bastards aren't you? Ah well it's okay. All I'm trying to say is that if you do want to talk about the reason you're crying up here alone in a tree, and you don't have to, but I'm saying I'll listen."

I finally understood fully at what Magnus was getting at and I looked at him for a long moment, considering his offer. His angular, caramel face showed nothing but earnest worry, the green gold eyes that were lined with the tiniest bit of black liner holding the same, and eventually I broke down. Spilling my every secret and worry turned out to be as therapeutic as Magnus had said it was. He never interrupted to apologize or made unnecessary hubbub over any of the messier details. A sympathetic expression covered his face and once my sad tale was over he took a deep breath and grabbed my hand before saying, "Alec, thank you for trusting me with your past. I know how hard it can be but you can't blame yourself. Your dad's prejudice is horrible and hateful but it doesn't affect you now and look Isabelle and Jace are sure as hell happier than they were back in that house. They have friends here and people who love them. They have you. You want to know why I came here?" I gave him a small nod and he continued, "My mom died when I was eight. Cancer and she went peacefully in her sleep. My dad was always bitter after and when I came out he beat me. I'm still black and blue. This circus is a restart for me and it was for you. Like you said, why live in the past when your present is so fucking awesome? Alec, you're also easy on the eyes. Here take a deep breath and just let it all go. Feel all that negative energy and feel it leave you like a cloud."

I took his advice because so far it had helped and as I let go of my puff of air, I felt it. I felt the blackness that had been plaguing me just leave. It was uplifting and I gave him a bright smile before saying. "Come on; let's go see about that practice schedule and your tent."

Magnus gave me a large, white smile and I marveled at how his green-gold eye lite up even in the darkness of the night. His voice was as bright as his smile, all traces of the sadness that he had seemed to carry when talking about his father gone, when he said, "Okay but I already got my tent set up. Some guys named Reed and Shane helped me?"

Laughing I replied, "Oh those two. Shane works at the sound booth if you remember and Reed works in costumes and advertising. The kids a wiz with painting too and does most of the artsy stuff for us. The rainbows are attached at the hip and if you see one, the other is close by. Everyone is just waiting for Shane to pop the question."

"So they're-"

I gave Magnus a small nod, "Together? Yeah for as long as they've been here I think. I remember when they first came they were a couple but tried to hide it. We figured it out real quickly after the scratches incident."
The question was obvious in Magnus's voice as he said, "Scratches incident?"

Now the small shake of my head was a warning. "You don't want to know. So how bout we go and get that schedule done?" I offered my hand as then marveled at the feeling of Magnus hand as he placed it in mine. It was smooth but hard and so warm.

Jumping down was no problem for two aerialists and as we hit the ground, I heard Magnus's low rumble of a laugh and turned to look at him.
"What?"

He waved his hand at me but continued to laugh. After a long moment he regained control and said, "It's just like Fifty Shades Of Gay around here."