Hi. I hope you like this chapter. Thank you to the three of you who reviewed, it always nice to hear from you lot so I know if it's okay.

Enjoy

Lu xxx

A harsh wind ripped across the street, blowing icy air around Alec. Piles of snow had been shoved hastily off of the road, leaving small mountains littering the sidewalk. The air was entirely white, the sky like a blank canvas above him and the buildings around him as if they had been wrapped in paper. Only a single colour remained in the landscape, the red brick warehouse that loomed in front of him. He would recognise it anywhere. In that building was the apartment he used to share with Magnus Bane.

His mind was screaming at him to stop, to halt his feet and go no further, but his legs refused to obey and within seconds he had dashed in through the glass door and was making his way up the staircase. It glittered in the sharp contrasting darkness to the white outside, and was yet another reminder of Magnus that stabbed him in the heart. He reached the loft apartment, and was reached out to the door handle...

Alec's eyes snapped open and took in the only reminder of Magnus that didn't pain him. The boy stared down at his father, giggling and prodding his nose until Alec sat up and pulled him into a hug, ruffling his inky hair affectionately.

"Morning Daddy!" Alec kissed the top of his son's head and drew back, his gaze on the boy that of pure love. He stared into the golden green eyes and smiled.

"Hey Max!" Alec hadn't been able to help naming his boy after his younger brother, who had died at the age of nine after an awful car accident. His son had all of the qualities of his younger brother - he was kind and very loyal, always bubbly and keen about everything. Max was probably the reason Alec had been able to survive the awful break up eight years ago. Well, nearly eight years ago. Eight years ago in two days. Today was Max's eight birthday.

"Happy birthday!" The little boy jumped off of the bed and tried to drag his dad out from under the sheets, excitement now plastered all over his face.

"Presents! Come on Daddy, hurry up!" Alec laughed to himself and scooted out from under the thin comforter. He was only wearing pyjama pants, but he wasn't cold - it was summer in California and it was baking. Despite this, Alec's skin remained as pale as white porcelain - it sucked. His son, however, had beautiful tanned golden skin peeking from underneath his Spiderman pyjamas. Some things in life were so unfair.

"Okay sweetie, but you know what we have to do first." He put his arm around the child's shoulders, leading him to the chest of drawers in his room. On it stood a picture, the only picture Alec had taken on that awful day. It showed Magnus, face hidden in the shadows, only his smile visible, in his arms a tiny baby with Alec's fair skin, eyes squeezed shut. Alec had made sure that Max had known everything about Magnus and the kid's brother right from day 1 - Alec's sexuality, the surrogate mother, the break up. He had kept the names out of it though, because he had no idea what his other boy was called, and Magnus... Well his name was too painful to even think, even after all these years. Every year, Max would wish his brother a happy birthday too. It was Max's way of connecting with his twin back in New York.

Alec reached up and pulled down the frame so that Max could see it properly, placing it in his hands. The kid dragged a finger across his brother's face and his other father's smile, a grin of his own playing about his small lips. The other half of his family always fascinated the boy.

"Happy Birthday, big brother. Hello, Daddy." Max looked a bit sad, probably because he had never met his brother, so Alec took that as a hint to pluck the picture back out of his hands and replace it on the furniture.

"Shall we go open your presents and then go out for breakfast? Your pick." Max nodded enthusiastically, any hint of sadness gone immediately. He grabbed his dad's hand and pulled him into the kitchen, where Alec had lain out the heap of gifts on the table the night before, a tradition Alec had maintained from when he himself had been little. Max looked back up at Alec for confirmation. Alec nodded and smiled, pushing the boy forward ever so slightly into the mountain of toys and other gifts.

A short while later, a heap of wrapping paper and toys lay scattered around Max. He looked thoroughly impressed, especially with some of the Lego sets, but Alec wasn't done yet. He reached down into the pocket in his pyjamas and drew out a small envelope. He handed it to Max who looked a bit confused at it.

"It's a special present from me." Max seemed reassured by this, and quickly ripped it open. Out fell two plane tickets. Max gasped.

He had been desperate to go to New York, his dad's birth city, for a while now. Alec had been hesitant - the place held so many bad memories - but he had eventually given in and organised the trip.

"We leave tomorrow." Max screamed in delight and grabbed Alec in a teddy bear hug. Alec lifted him up and spun him around as the boy giggled happily. He set him down and looked into those pretty eyes.

"Now why don't you get dressed, and we'll go have pancake somewhere."

"Dorothea's!" Alec laughed.

"Dorothea's it is!"

Alec smiled and sipped at his coffee - black with sugar, the way he liked it - as he watched Max dig into the mound of coconut pancakes that the waitress had just brought over. They were Max's favourite, and Dorothea's was the only place near to the luxury apartment that did them. Just looking at them sprung up memories of Taki's and dates there with Magnus, but Alec suppressed them. Now was not the time. Now was the time for Max, and Max alone.

Max finished up his pancakes, wiping his mouth with his sleeve in a childlike gesture. He looked up at Alec happily, and almost expectantly.

"Thanks Dad!" Alec grabbed his son's hands and rubbed the backs of them idly.

"No problem. Anything for you on your special day. Now tell me, what would you like to do next?" Max looked deep in thought for a few seconds, and then grinned up at Alec.

"Ice cream on the beach!" Alec grabbed his hand and pulled him up - he has already paid.

"Okay, let's go!" Alec was grinning maniacally as th two of them walked out of the small cafe hand in hand. Max made everything right in the world - he was Alec's everything, and Alec was his everything too. In that blissful moment, Alec almost forgot Magnus back in New York, and his other son who remained nameless to him. He almost forgot the dread he was feeling at the thought of having to fly out to New York in a matter of hours, at facing a place that had been too painful for him to remain in. He almost forgot. But not quite.

Magnus stirred the frothy hot chocolate one final time before covering it in marshmallows and cream. His son had been brought up to appreciate the art of a good hot chocolate, and Magnus had taught him well. He picked up the mug, careful not to spill a drop - well the carpet was new, and sparkly at that - and made his way into his son's bedroom.

He walked in to find the boy fast asleep - he had also been taught excellently by Magnus to sleep in - despite the excitement that the day would inevitably bring. Magnus sighed happily and deposited the drink onto the bedside table before slumping in the cushy armchair next to the bed. He reached out, pushing the boy's hair back from his face, and whispered quietly into his ear.

"Wake up, sweetie. It's your birthday." The child's brilliant blue eyes flickered open sleeping, looking up at Magnus. He smiled down at the boy.

"Happy Birthday Will." The boy slowly sat up, blinking slightly as he struggled to wake up fully. Magnus swiped the hot chocolate off of the side and thrust it into the boy's hands. He took it gratefully and took a long sip, resulting in some of the cream coming off on his nose. Magnus flicked it away lazily, eating it himself.

"Is the beverage suitable young man?" Will giggled.

"Yes Dad, it's great, thank you!" He took up lapping up the cream and any marshmallows that hadn't melted into the drink yet. He looked adorable. Magnus sighed, thinking about his twin brother. He had not a single picture of Alec or the other boy, he hadn't even been able to say goodbye to his other son. He had never told Will either - he was too concerned that the truth would be too painful to be brought to light, whether for himself or the child he wasn't entirely sure. Anyways, Will didn't know the truth, and he didn't need to. Not yet, anyway. The only thing he did know about was Magnus's sexuality, because him knowing that when he was young avoided awkward questions when he was older.

When Will had finished the drink Magnus left to clear it up and so the boy could get dressed. Then the boy would decide whether he wanted presents or breakfast or anything really - when he was five Magnus had let him bathe in spaghetti when he had asked. It was all very laid back and calm, and Magnus had the money to do most things - he was the chief editor of a major fashion magazine - so it was normally a bit crazy later on. It was great fun, a day for just the two of them. Just the two of them. The way it had always been and the way both of them liked it.

Magnus smiled to himself as he washed up the mug almost subconsciously. The past memories of this day, the happiness and excitement the two of them had shared. Magnus didn't find himself thinking of the awful first year, he had learnt to lock that away. He had learnt to live for the happy memories. They were all he wanted to have, and so was Will. Will was more than he could ever have dreamt of. He was so lucky to have him. Speak of the devil, at that moment he appeared from his bedroom in skinny jeans and a black riveted top - he had definitely inherited the fashion taste of Magnus. The man chuckled to himself.

"So whatcha wanna do today then?" Will went around and slumped on one of the bright pink couches. Magnus came and joined him, coffee in hand. He ruffled the boy's hair affectionately. He looked thoughtful.

"Would you mind if we did presents this evening and just sat here with movies and popcorn all day?"

"Absolutely not, anything for my boy. Now, what do you want to watch first?" They sat like that all day, laughing, (almost) crying and wincing on the sofa as the movies took them to multiple different worlds that they loved to live in together.

I know, I know, it's short, but I wanted to give you something at least as I may not be able to update for another few weeks. :( so, what do you think of the names? And the story? Do you think it's a good start?

Thank you for reading!

Lu xxx