A/N: Yeah, I have no idea what's up with my updates. This is literally my fastest update. Not the happiest with this chapter, so it may get redone later. Enjoy, guys!

16: Magnus

Alec's still holding me when I finally wake up. I'm so hungry my stomach hurts. The fact I dreamed about food didn't help. He wakes up when I pull away.

"You okay?" he mumbles sleepily.

"Yeah. Just hungry," I reply.

"I'll see what I can do."

I try to follow him. I don't wanna be alone in a vet's office, no matter how nice Catarina has been. Plus, being alone hasn't ever worked out for me since he adopted me.

"Are you feeling any better? You really slept," he remarks, offering me one of the high-calorie drinks and a straw.

"Walking sucks, but I'm okay," I reply, slurping the drink eagerly.

"Izzy texted me last night while you were sleeping the first time. She wanted to know how you were doing. And she wants to visit you."

"Okay. You're not gonna leave, right?"

"I thought you liked Izzy?"

"I do. If you're here, I'm safe."

I hate admitting to him I'm afraid for him to leave me right now. Even though he's my boyfriend, part of me still recognizes him as my master, and I was taught to never be weak in front of my master.

"Then I'll have Izzy go by the apartment to get you some books," he tells me.

"Thank you," I murmur.

The bed feels lumpier than it did yesterday. And harder. I'd rather lay on the floor.

"Are you gonna get behind?" I ask.

"If I do, I'll catch up. You're more important," he replies, stroking my hair gently.

"This wasn't what I had in mind when I thought about spending more time with you."

He kisses me gently.

"Not what I had in mind either," he agrees.

It doesn't scare me this time when someone knocks on the door. It's Catarina.

"How're you feeling?" she asks.

"Okay. I'm just really hungry," I reply.

"That's to be expected. You'll need to consume a minimum of 5,000 calories while you recover. You can use either a spoon, straw, or a syringe. And Alec can blend up regular food so you can eat it."

"Will I get fat? Ragnor decided I was once and starved me for over a week. I ate my own w-w-waste."

"You shouldn't. You'll be given four or five meals a day. Weight loss, not gain, is actually very common with jaw fractures."

"Magnus, even if you do get fat, I wouldn't starve you," Alec tells me.

"I wasn't fat when he did it. I weighed 125," I mumble.

"That man deserves much worse than prison. How old were you when he adopted you?" Catarina says.

There's anger in her blue eyes. I'm not used to anyone outside of Alec and his family caring about how Ragnor treated me.

"I was eight," I reply quietly.

She barely masks a look of horror.

"Magnus, you're a lot braver and stronger than people think hybrids are. May I give you a hug?" she murmurs.

I nod shyly in response.

She doesn't hug me for very long. But it's enough for me to see I can trust her.

"Where's your pain at today?" she asks.

"About a four or five," I reply.

"He has a high pain tolerance," Alec tacks on.

"I'd say so. If you need a painkiller, just ask, okay? You'll be on antibiotics for about two weeks, so I'll go ahead and give you one of the pills now. If you feel up to it, you can have a bath today."

"Can I do it myself?" I ask.

"You can. Alec would have to keep an eye on you, however."

"Is it okay, Alec?"

"Of course. Is it a sponge bath or is there somewhere for him to shower?" Alec replies.

"Whichever he prefers. He'd need his IV port covered up," Catarina replies.

Ten minutes later, Alec and I are in the small bathroom down the hall from my room. Alec has to help me with the hospital gown. I don't particularly like needing him to help me undress, especially when some of the ties are to cover my butt.

"I had no idea you were so bruised," Alec says.

My entire body is a mess of bruises. For the first time, I notice how short my poor tail is. It came to my calves before. Now, it falls just below my butt. I miss my tail. I liked tickling Alec's feet with the soft fur, but I can't do that now.

The warm water feels amazing to my aching body. I wish I could stand under the warm spray forever. There's a shower curtain, so I feel a lot better about being naked around him. I know Alec would never do that to me, but it still makes me feel better.

"Feel better?" Alec asks, offering me a towel.

"A lot better. Thanks," I reply, leaning in to kiss him lovingly.

Once I'm dry and dressed, we go back to my room.

"I can't believe they actually gave me a gown. And let me have a warm shower," I tell him.

"I was surprised about the gown too. I asked her for it, though, because I figured it'd make you more comfortable," Alec replies.

"Thanks. It does, actually. I trust you."

He sighs when his phone buzzes angrily.

"Everything okay?" I ask, touching his arm lightly.

"Jace. He wants to know if you're okay with him visiting. It's your call," he replies.

"He saved my life. I guess it's okay."

"Magnus, do you really want him here or are you saying it to be nice?"

"He saved my life, Alec. It would've been easy for him to help Ragnor hurt me. But he didn't. I wanna at least say thank you."

Twenty minutes later, Jace walks in the room.

"Hey, cat," he smirks.

"H-hi. Um, thanks for saving me from him. You didn't have to," I mumble timidly.

I still don't trust Jace. Judging from the way Alec's watching him tensely, he feels the same.

"I wanted to. If it wasn't for you, Alec'd probably just wither away in a corner somewhere," Jace replies.

"Izzy said things are bad at home. How bad is bad?" Alec says.

"I'm moving out. Izzy's considering it."

"What happened?"

"Mom turned on me more than I ever thought she would. Does that answer your question?"

"I'm sorry."

"Same. If she screams at our sister again, we're gonna have real problems."

"Why'd she yell at Izzy?" I ask.

"For helping you. We're traitors to her," Jace explains.

"Is she ever gonna leave?" Alec asks.

"No. She said you can't, and I quote, 'Sully our home with that filthy animal.' So we're basically screwed."

"She realizes I'm part cat, right? And take baths? I enjoy being clean," I tell them.

"It's the part cat thing she has the problem with," Jace replies.

"And the fact I'm gay," Alec adds sullenly.

I hug him gently. I want him to feel better.

"When's he getting out?" Jace asks.

"Tomorrow or the next day," Alec replies, petting my hair gently.

Alec's phone vibrates against my jaw from it's home in his pocket. I don't like it because it means I have to move.

"It's Mom," he sighs angrily.

He doesn't look a bit happy as he answers the phone.

"Can I sit?" Jace asks, gesturing at the bed.

I nod reluctantly. I don't trust him. The only reasons I want to make amends are because he's Alec's brother and he saved my life.

"Say what you want. I don't care. He's not a whore! Don't you dare call him that. Since you like him so much, why don't you adopt him? He wouldn't be a disgrace," Alec snaps, shoving his phone in his pocket.

He takes my hand gently as he sits down.

"So you do have a temper, Mr. Stoic," Jace remarks.

Alec looks like he wants to punch something.

"I won't be home Christmas. Or ever. She wants to get him out of jail. She said Magnus was standing on the street corner while I was at work. I'm past done," Alec replies angrily.

"The only time I stood on the street corner was when I was waiting until I had an all-clear to cross the street. I'm sorry, Alec," I murmur.

"Don't apologize, Magnus. It's not you. It's me."

"Can Izzy and I come to Thanksgiving and Christmas?" Jace asks.

"Thanksgiving is in three days. I haven't even bought a turkey."

"Iz and I will take care of it."

"I've never celebrated Thanksgiving," I tell them.

"You're gonna get your first real Thanksgiving. And your first real Christmas. I love you," Alec promises.

I finally have the chance to have something I never had. I have the chance to celebrate holidays normal people celebrate with my boyfriend and his family. I finally have a chance for a normal life.