Hey people! Happy New Year! :D

Thank you all for your wonderful reviews! I can't believe we've reached the 411 reviews :') You guys make me the happiest girl alive! :D
So here's a new chapter and I really hope you like it! :D (first chapter of the year! *happy dance*)

I own nothing!

Alec was released from the hospital the next day. Alec had wanted to go back to his life as it had been before Max's death anniversary, but none were letting him do it. All he wanted was to go back to his apartment, go back to work on the magazine, and keep updating his blog. The others did not agree with him and refused to let him be on his own. Magnus had insisted Alec stayed with him in his apartment. Alec had fought at first, not wanting to bother Magnus, but the designer had none of it and in the end Alec had no other option but agree to stay at Magnus's apartment. Everyone (except Alec) had agreed that they could not let him be on his own. They all feared Alec would hurt himself again and they couldn't let that happen. So for now on, Alec had to be with either Magnus, Isabelle, Clary or Simon and the four of them had to look out for him. Alec was frustrated to no end about this new arrangement. He did not liked having people worrying about him so much, and he definitely did not like being followed around wherever he went.

Isabelle and Clary had alerted Jace of what had happened who in turn told Maryse. Their mother didn't get all the details, only that Alec had been hurt and had to stay on the hospital to get some stitches. Jace had been unable to reach them any time soon. He was still filming his newest movie and wouldn't be done until Christmas week. But he had promised he would take the closest plane to New York as soon as he was free to go. At least they all knew the actor would be able to spend the holidays with them.

Already a week had passed since he was released from the hospital. Christmas was only a week away and he still needed to get all of his Christmas shopping ready. Unfortunately not being able to get some time on his own made it difficult for him to buy something for everyone. Izzy had been going shopping nonstop since December started, so had Magnus. He had have the argue of going with them on one of their many shopping trips, but he knew shopping with Magnus or his sister (or worse, both of them!) would be a total nightmare and so he had refused to go with them.

Now, however, he needed to get some shopping done. He wanted to get Magnus's gift first because it was the hardest and once he was done with it, he could get everyone else something much easier. And so he found himself walking down the mall with Clary and Simon by his side. Clary had told him she was going Christmas shopping with Simon and had asked Alec if he wanted to go with them. Knowing Alec wouldn't get another chance, he had agreed to go with them.

"So what exactly are you looking for?" Clary asked as they walked past many different stores.

"I really don't know" Alec sighed frustrated "It's so hard shopping for him…I know It'll be a complete failure if I buy him clothes, so I need something else"

"Just buy him more glitter" Simon suggested "He'll be happy with that"

"It's too simple" Alec said "He can get glitter from anyone else or he can buy it himself…I need to get him something special"

"Do you have any idea what he's getting you?" Clary asked "Maybe you can get an idea from that"

"He refuses to let me know" Alec said shaking his head "He wants it to be a surprise…it's impossible to get anything from him"

"Well…then I guess we should just window shop until you see something you like" Clary said.

They agreed since there was nothing else to do and so they continued walking down the mall looking into stores and trying to see something they liked. Clary and Simon were also buying something for their significant other. Simon had already said he knew what he wanted to get for Izzy, but he refused to talk about it. He seemed nervous with the idea and didn't want to talk about it. Clary was just like Alec – clueless about what to get her boyfriend.

Clary was just looking through some clothing stores when Simon pulled Alec aside to talk to him privately.

"Is there something wrong?" Alec asked frowning. He and Simon were never the best of friends. They got along well enough. It had been a bit bumpy at first because of how protective Alec was of Izzy and he thought no one was good enough for his little sister. But Simon was nice enough.

"No…nothing wrong, per say" Simon said nervously. He was looking down at his shoes and he refused to look up at Alec "T-There is…There's something I need to tell you"

"Ok…" Alec said suspiciously "What is it?"

"W-well…it…it's more like a question" Simon said with uncertainly

"Just spit it out Lewis" Alec said frowning and crossing his arms across his chest.

"Well…you see, Izzy and I had been together for a long time" Simon started quietly "And…well, she's having my baby…"

Simon kept rambling on and on and it just confused Alec even more. The photographer frowned more deeply when Simon started to rub his hands against his jeans. The musician really seemed nervous about what he was telling Alec, but the photographer couldn't make sense of it all.

"Simon" Alec interrupted him "Would you just tell me what it is that you want to ask me?"

"I guess I just wanted to know if I could…marry her?" He said the last part so softly Alec had a hard time figuring it out. But when he did, he stopped all together and just stared at Simon for a moment.

"Are you…asking me for her hand in marriage?" Alec asked uncrossing his arms

"Well…I guess" Simon said looking back towards the floor "I just want to know if you would approve of us getting married"

"Have you asked her yet?" Alec asked confused as to why Izzy hadn't said anything

"Not yet" Simon said "I wanted to do it at Christmas…but I wanted to ask you first to know if you were okay with it"

"You know Izzy would kill you if she knew you're asking for my permission, right?" Alec asked with a small smile forming on his face "I'm just her brother. I can't tell her what to do and what not to do"

"I know, but you're really important for her" Simon said finally looking up at Alec "She once said you were much better of a father figure than your own father"

"What?" Alec asked in disbelief "She…she said that?"

"She did" Simon nodded "I just…she admires you a lot, and it would destroy her if you didn't approve of this"

"There's nothing to approve" Alec said after a moment of silence "You're practically part of our family already. As long as you don't hurt her, I have no problem with you being together"

"Really?" Simon asked his face lighting up with a huge smile "Thank you man!"

Just then Clary approached them a small bag from the store in her hands. She smiled at them politely and they all walked out of the store together. Clary asked where they should go next and Simon informed them that he wanted to buy the ring to purpose to Izzy.

Clary looked shocked for a minute and turned to look at Alec nervously. Alec just laughed at her reaction and told her Simon had already talked to him. Clary visibly relaxed and they made their way towards the jewelry store.

"Clary is a better help here" Alec asked "I seriously have no idea about jewelry"

"Come on!" Clary said happily "We'll find the perfect ring"

While Clary and Simon looked at all the engagement rings, Alec started to look around the store. There were some really fine stuff, beautiful were they all. But none caught the attention of Alec. He had started to give up on the idea of finding something for Magnus when he came across a display. And the perfect gift for Magnus was right in front of him.

Not the best chapter so far...but I needed to make that happen :) Please tell me what you think with your reviews!

So...I wanted to clear out some stuff here. Your reviews on the last few chapters are by far my favorites. Really, you guys are awesome and I will always love you! So I thought that you deserve to know some stuff about me...Some of you pointed out how I had described the self-harm as 'real' and 'captured it perfectly' and well, it really made me happy that you think that way! I was actually afraid of making it too superficial and I'm glad to see you guys don't think that way of my work :) Some of you said that you've gone through that or at least a bit of it. And I know that most of you have gone through some self-harm or know of someone who does/did. There was this one person who thanked me for addressing the subject the way I did...and I want you to know that I've gone through all that. Just 6 months ago I stopped self-harming. This past two years had been hard for me and I made some wrong choices. I have stopped now, but I know there's the chance I go back to that. I guess I just wanted you to know so you understand why I was able to understand and explain it the way I did...and I would also like to say that if any of you need anything, don't be afraid to send me a PM. If there's anybody who needs someone to talk to, someone who understands, I'll be more than glad to help you out. Because I know how it feels and I guess I'll try to make it all easier :)

So yeah! I'm always here for you! You have supported me so much with this story and some of my other stories, and I would like to return the favor. I want to help you as well if you need it, so yeah! Don't hesitate to send me a message if you ever need something :)

Thank you all, again!
Have a great year!

Xxx