"There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment." – Sarah Dessen

Chapter 27

Alec walked quickly along the streets of Brooklyn, making his way back to the Institute. He had left not long after the others, slipping away unnoticed while Amatis and Luke were deep in discussion. He had only been gone for a couple of hours, so it was unlikely they would have missed him, especially as he could have been hidden away anywhere in the vast New York Institute.

Alec let himself inside and moved quickly into the library and picked up a book on demonology and started to read it, about a third of the way in. He had only been settled in for fifteen minutes before he heard the sounds of his siblings and the Morgensterns enter the quiet Institute. So, he had got away with his secret expedition, and rather easily. He doubted it would continue to be that way, Jace in particular was gifted in sensing concealment and secrecy. Still, they were rather distracted by Simon and their own personal lives, so hopefully they wouldn't pay much attention to him, and chalk it up to the fact that he was focusing on his responsibilities as the eldest. If only they knew.

"Alec! We're going to see Simon's band practice tomorrow afternoon," Isabelle announced cheerfully.

"When she says 'we' she means herself and Clary," Jace clarified. "I'll be here throwing knives or something enjoyable like that."

Alec closed his book and gave a small grin. "What happened to the girls needing bodyguards? Or do you think Simon and his band geek friends will be enough?"

"I nominate Jon for that task," Jace said serenely. He looked at the volume on Alec's lap and asked in amusement, "Just some light reading in preparation for tonight?"

"Never can be too prepared," Alec replied nonchalantly.

"Aren't you going to ask how talking to Simon went?" Clary asked impatiently.

"No, but you're welcome to tell me, I can see you're dying to," Alec said blithely.

Clary glared at him, but replied anyway, "Simon is interested in Ascension. He understands the seriousness of the matter, in fact, he's asked for some time to consider it, and what it would mean for him and his life."

"Good for him, he's not as naïve as I thought," Alec retorted. "Now, we've got about an hour before we head out. Let's have some food and get into Gear and get Marked."

Alec smiled to himself as they trooped out of the library. They were so wrapped up in their own lives that they didn't even bother to ask him what he'd done while they were gone. The simple ruse of being found reading in the library was enough. Was he that boring and predictable to them? Well, it just made it easier for him to conceal what he was doing.

"So, you came," Magnus said in quiet surprised.

"I thought you wanted me to," Alec said, uncertain.

"I did, I just didn't think you would," Magnus replied, gesturing that Alec should enter his home.

Alec looked defiantly at him, blue eyes blazing and said, "Well, if you think that little of me I might just leave."

Magnus chuckled and said, "Oh Alexander, don't take such offence. Besides, it took you long enough to make up your mind to come, you won't leave that easily."

Alec frowned, but walked in, knowing he was right.

Things had picked from there, but it hadn't exactly been smooth sailing. Magnus had suggested that Alec bring the others to see him while they were there, even if he didn't want to tell them they were dating. It was early days after all.

"They might as well see us as friends to start with," Magnus pointed out. "Besides, you know you'll all need my help sooner rather than later, and it would be a bit of a shock to them to run into trouble, turn up on my doorstep and find you here if they didn't know we were friends. Sure, conceal the extent of what this is, until you're ready, but don't hide it entirely. I know the customs of your people, so I understand that secrecy is important to you, but your friends and siblings are a nosy bunch. Better to tell them part of the truth and make things simpler for yourself."

Alec had resented the implication that he could not successfully hide his relationship with Magnus from Jace and the others, but part of him did acknowledge that there would be a high likelihood of them being found out, no matter how secretive he was. Still, Alec had been annoyed. He did not like the superiority that Magnus's age and life experience gave him. The time they spent that afternoon had alternated between arguing and animated discussion. Alec had sensed that Magnus had wanted to kiss him, and Magnus was so confident and flamboyant that he probably would have had he not sensed how sense Alec was.

All the same, Alec had promised to make up some reason for them to visit Magnus some time during the day on Tuesday or Wednesday. It would make a nice difference from a trip that promised to revolve around Simon and his potential Ascension.

The five of them hit the Brooklyn streets a little later and spent an uneventful evening monitoring demon activity and killing those they came across. Only Shadowhunters would ever class an evening of demon hunting uneventful, but this one was, with the exception of a few faeries they noticed keeping an eye on them. A glaring, resentful eye. They did not try anything though, the warning sent by Clary and Jace in Taki's earlier in the day must have been effective.

In the early hours of the morning they returned to the Institute, took quick showers and fell tiredly into bed. Jace gave Clary a lingering kiss goodnight, but neither bothered trying to turn it into anything more, both being sure Luke would have heard them come back and be along shortly to check they were in their own beds, at opposite ends of the hall.

The next morning Alec texted Magnus, using the cell phone supplied to him by the Institute, to let him know that he'd steer their little group to his house after lunch that day.

According, he suggested they eat out at Taki's, so that he could casually suggest dropping by Magnus Bane's on their way back.

"Are you sure eating at Taki's is a good idea?" Clary questioned. "They were pretty hostile when Jace and I went in there yesterday?"

"That's why we should eat there," Isabelle decided firmly. "We need to show them that we couldn't care less if they're pissed off with us. They'll be pretty intimidated by the five of us anyway."

With that it was decided and they left Amatis and Luke to fend for themselves for the noon meal.

"Is this the only Downworlder restaurant in New York City?" Jon asked as they entered.

"It's the only one I know of, and the food is good, so why go anywhere else?" Clary replied, unperturbed.

"There's a bar, called the Hunter's Moon, which is run by a Brooklyn werewolf pack," Jace supplied. "Not really suitable for us to lunch at though."

"Trust you to know that," Isabelle teased with a snicker.

Jace just grinned and slipped into a seat next to Clary.

"Why does Simon's band's name always change?" Isabelle asked Clary.

"I can't quite explain, I just know that they never agree on a name for very long, and the names are always ridiculous, and usually hold no meaning," Clary replied.

"Mundanes," Jace said with a disdainful snort, and for once neither Clary nor Isabelle contradicted him.

They fell to discussing their demon hunting of the evening before.

"Never pleasant running into a Shax demon," Jon agreed.

"And how many have you run into, brother dear?" Clary asked sweetly. "I mean, being raised in Idris and having only made less than ten trips out to Institutes would only put you in contact with so many Shax."

"I just meant that, in accordance with what we've been taught they're nasty customers," Jon said defensively. "I guess that's why warlocks like to use them to do their bidding, no one would interfere."

"Except Jace, single-handedly," Alec remarked with wry affection and pride. "I wonder what one was doing in the area. Magnus is the closest warlock, and the High Warlock of Brooklyn at that. I doubt he'd be using a Shax for anything, but maybe he'd know who could be."

"It could have just been taking an evening stroll," Isabelle said drolly.

"Very funny Izzy," Alec retorted. "Seriously though, we should probably speak to Magnus about it. If anyone in the area was using that Shax it's up to Magnus to investigate."

"Yes, let's visit Magnus," Clary agreed quickly.

"I don't suppose you'd like to speak with him about acquiring his help in Operation Simon?" Jace asked dryly.

"Oh that's a good idea, isn't it Iz?" Clary said, pretending to be surprised and impressed. "I had just wanted to see Magnus' place, to see if it matches his personality, but you're right Jace, it would be good to talk to him about that. You're so thoughtful. I'm sure Simon will feel comforted to know that you're on board with him Ascending."

"Two words. Pot. Kettle," Jace said pointedly.

"Huh?" Alec, Jon, Isabelle and Clary said as one.

"Clary knows, it's to do with our chat yesterday," Jace added.

"Oh right, well in that case. Pot, kettle, to you too," she retorted. "You made a joke about Project Simon, its Project, not Operation, thank you very much, so I will turn that into a joke."

Jace looked irritated, but didn't want to continue the discussion in front of his siblings and her brother.

Alec noticed the awkward silence and decided to help everyone out by suggesting that if they were done eating that they head to Magnus'.

Alec led the way, trying not to appear too familiar with the route, as he really should have not been there before, and be going off directions.

"Do you think Magnus is going to hit on you again?" Isabelle asked her brother with a giggle. "I think he's got a crush on you."

"He's eccentric, who knows what he'll do," Alec said, brushing her comments off uncomfortably.

"I wonder how old he is. I mean, he hasn't aged past much more than twenty, but he could be 500 years old," Isabelle mused. "You never know with warlocks."

"Why, are you planning your next conquest?" Jace needled. "I thought you were focused on mundanes at the moment?"

"I'm not looking for my next conquest, and Magnus would not be on my list if I was," Isabelle said haughtily. "I mean, he's okay and whatever, but just not my type."

"I thought inappropriate was your type, and he's certainly that," Jace continued.

Clary happened to look at Alec as Jace said these words and she watched him go a little green, and she began to wonder if there was something Alec was concealing from them about his relationship with Magnus Bane.

"But he's nice, and he's been very helpful to us," Clary added. "Hasn't he Alec?"

"Yeah, sure," Alec agreed.

"Are there any other warlocks we should discuss in depth, or perhaps we should talk about the history of Demon Pox?" Jon joked.

"Oh, you really shouldn't mention that around the Lightwoods, they had an ancestor die of it," Jace said in a dramatic whisper, causing Alec and Isabelle to glare witheringly at him.

"If you didn't have extra Angel blood I think their looks could have killed you," Clary said with a giggle.

Alec heaved a huge sigh. It was a much longer walk to Magnus' than he remembered, and it had seemed pretty long the day before, filled with nerves as he had been.

Not too far away Magnus was rather occupied as he awaited the planned casual visit from Alec and his siblings and friends.

"Tessa, you should meet him, he's your blood," Magnus told the brown haired girl in front of him. "He's the last Herondale."

"You know why I don't live among that world Magnus, it's too painful watching people I love die while I go on living, never aging, never changing," Tessa told Magnus sadly. "I'm sure if I meet him I'll love him, he'll remind me of my children, or Will, and it will just hurt too much."

"I know you still hold on to Jem," Magnus persisted.

"That's different. Jem doesn't exist anymore, or not really. He's just a Silent Brother, he's like me, stuck, never changing. All we have is the work we've dedicated ourselves to," Tessa replied.

"Because there's no chance of being hurt that way," Magnus said knowingly. "I don't how you do it. I can't help falling in love, and with the wrong people. I'm in love with a Nephilim boy. I don't know what our relationship means to him, but I know he's keeping it a secret from everyone he knows."

"Can you blame him, really?" Tessa asked softly. "You know how Shadowhunters react to homosexuality. Times may be changing in the modern world, but the Nephilim can take a while to catch up. Plus, you know you won't age, and he will."

"I don't care about that, you know that," Magnus told her forthrightly.

"But he might," Tessa pointed out. "Look, I should go. I don't want to be here when your Shadowhunter children show up. I appreciate the idea, but I just can't meet him Magnus. Goodbye."

Magnus watched her go, his mind busy thinking over the questions their conversation had raised. His relationship with Alec was new, but he was already head-over-heels in love with the complex boy and there were a lot of problems to face along with that. He knew if he told Alec of his true feelings that Alec would run for the hills, but Magnus was old enough to know his heart, and with every moment he spent with Alec he knew he wanted to spend as many moments with him as possible.

The doorbell rang, and Magnus answered the door, Chairman Meow swarming around his ankles.

"Oh, it's you lot. I didn't realise you were in town. What's wrong? Is there Drevak trying to eat your pet mundane? Or perhaps he's stuck in a vampire nest?" Magnus asked drolly, picking up Chairman Meow.

"No emergencies," Isabelle said cheerfully. "But we were actually worried about you. We bumped into someone leaving as we arrived, and she was, dare I say it, normal. It concerned us."

"You're very funny," Magnus said, his face blank. "Do come in, I dare say you would anyway, so better to invite you."

The five of them followed him in.

"So, to what do I owe this dubious pleasure?" Magnus asked, curious to know what reason Alec had contrived for their visit. "Or was it perhaps that Alexander just wanted to see me?"

Clary expected Alec to blush at this, but he didn't. In fact, he looked impassive and disinterested which made her very curious. Her brow furrowed and an idea crossed her mind. But no, Alec wouldn't do that, it wasn't in his nature. Well, stranger things had happened. She'd just have to keep an eye on him and confront him if necessary. She wouldn't tell Jace. If Alec was ready for anyone to know, if there was anything to know, he would have told Jace, and Jace would have told her, or at the very least made leading remarks in front of her so she'd have been able to guess. No, she'd keep her silence and bide her time.

Jon proceeded to explain about the Shax demon, thinking he was sparing Alec from Magnus' attention, and then Isabelle followed up with their plans for Simon.

"And you want my help?" Magnus asked, after Isabelle had made leading suggestions about mind alteration for Simon's friends and relatives.

"Oh, sure, if that's alright and you're free when the time comes," Isabelle said casually.

"You know the chances of the Clave being on board with this are slim, right?" Magnus said, looking incredulously at them.

"We've done our research," Clary said firmly. "You leave that to us. Although, if we were to mention that we already had your support for any magic involved that might be a bonus."

"And once again you want me to pledge my support to your cause," Magnus said in amusement. "You figure that if you've already got a yes from almost everyone involved, so much so that everything is practically in action, the Clave will just allow it?"

Clary and Isabelle looked guilty.

"It's a bold plan, and that does hold attraction for me. You two might just get away with it, owing to who you are, which I'm sure you're counting on too," Magnus said astutely. "You should remember who I am, the High Warlock of Brooklyn. My services are in fact rather costly, which you all seem to forget."

"Money isn't an issue," Clary said quickly.

"Oh I know, and I know what I'll want. I'll come to collect when I'm ready," Magnus said with a meaningful look at Alec, which he managed not to squirm under, though he did flush.

The interaction did not go unnoticed, but every except Clary chalked it up to his crush on Alec and the warlock indulging himself. For Clary it only added to her theory.

"Well, thank you for your time," Clary said, standing from the seat she had been sitting in over the course of the discussion. "We've made plans to see Simon's band rehearse."

Magnus chuckled and said, "I dare say some of your party would like to skip that. Alec, you're welcome to stay. Jace too, he's rather pretty, when he's not speaking sarcastically."

"We'll all be going, we need to stick together," Jon said firmly.

Jon led the way out and Magnus closed the door behind them, returning to only he knew what.

"I guess you're not pretty enough to warrant an invite," Isabelle teased, causing much laughter at Jon's expense.

"Come on, let's stop by the Institute before we head to what promises to be an afternoon of torture," Jace said, and they set off for the Institute.

AN: I know it's been such a long time since I updated, so thanks to everyone for your patience! I'm very grateful to everyone who's still interested in this story. It is not abandoned, and it will be finished, and I'll do my best to update more regularly. My life is pretty full on these days, but I'm doing my best to make time for this. So thanks for reading!

Please review, I'd love to know your thoughts, especially with Tessa's cameo and the Malec focus this chapter. I'll do my best to answer any questions, or work any suggestion or requests you might have content and relationship wise.