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17: Alec
Magnus has been out of the hospital for two days. He's doing a lot better; he's only needed pain medicine once. He hasn't had any nightmares.
He's still sleeping when I go to let Jace and Izzy in.
"How is he?" Izzy asks.
Izzy looks undeniably stressed out. If things don't calm down soon, she, and, as much as I hate to think about it, Jace will be moving in with us.
"He's still sleeping, but he's doing really good," I smile.
"Ready to get started?" Jace yawns.
"Ready when you guys are. What'd you get?"
"Biggest turkey we could find. Potatoes. Stuff for noodles and dressing. Izzy's making mac and cheese. And I'm gonna do pie."
"I'll do the mac and cheese. Magnus doesn't need food poisoning."
"What am I, chopped liver?"
"What am I doing?" Izzy asks.
"Mags is my main concern. Izzy, you can blend Magnus' food for him if you want," I reply.
Magnus stumbles in sleepily. He's still in the orange PJ bottoms I got him with the dancing kittens on them. He's leaning heavily on the wall.
"What's goin' on?" he asks groggily, his voice raspy from sleep.
"Happy Thanksgiving. I'm sorry if we woke you up. How're you feeling?" I reply.
"Happy Thanksgiving. Sore, but I'm okay. You didn't wake me up. I'm gonna go get dressed. I'll be right back."
While he dresses, I help Izzy and Jace put everything but the turkey away. I help Jace butter it and put it in the oven.
After we put the turkey in the oven, Jace, Izzy, and I settle on the couch to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. I know we could go to it since we live in New York, but I don't wanna drag Magnus around crowds after what just happened.
Magnus limps in ten minutes later and makes himself comfy between me and Izzy.
"I like your nails," Izzy tells him, examining his fall-inspired nail polish.
He smiles shyly at her words. He admitted to me while I was doing them last night that he never got to do them before I adopted him; when he tried before Ragnor beat him and called him names. Some people are still very judgmental about it and make snide comments about it. I always defend him when it happens; he deserves to be able to be himself. If it makes him happy, who cares?
"Alec did them last night to make me feel better," he tells her.
"He does a better job than I do," I tell them.
"Still. It was nice of you to do it."
"You did a really good job, Alec," Izzy informs me, smiling.
"Thanks. I'll do anything if it helps him."
Magnus smiles at my words.
"And you have no idea how much I appreciate it," he says, kissing my cheek.
"Are you guys staying the night?" I ask, entwining my fingers with Magnus'.
"Is that okay? I mean, we're not gonna be drinking or anything," Izzy replies.
"I'm fine with it. Um, can I help cook?" Magnus murmurs.
"Baby, you don't need to help. We can do it."
I know he doesn't like sitting on his butt while I cook or anything. But I really don't want him overdoing to the point where he throws up.
"Can I sit and talk to you then?" he asks.
"Of course you can," I reply.
He smiles happily at this as his attention turns to the parade for the first time. It's adorable seeing how engrossed he is with it.
After the parade's over, Jace and I get started on the rest of the food. Izzy and Magnus sit on barstools and talk.
"Are you guys gonna start new traditions?" Izzy asks.
"I didn't know you guys had any," Magnus tells us.
"We used to play football in the park, watch the parade, and we'd usually either play games or watch horror movies all night. The day after Thanksgiving was always when we put the tree up," I explain, mixing the noodle dough.
"Were you good at football? What games did you play? Um, I was never allowed around the Christmas tree,"
"Not really. Usually, it was either Monopoly or Scrabble. Why weren't you allowed around it?"
"They thought I might mark it. I don't do that. What do you wanna do?"
"Remember listing off everything we were thankful for? Do you wanna do that? What traditions do you want?"
"I remember that. We haven't done that for a while," Jace says, dicing celery and onions for dressing.
"I like that idea. I've never had traditions before," Magnus tells us.
"I know you haven't. Are there any you want?" I reply.
"Probably just yours."
Once the prep's done, the four of us settle around the coffee table to play Scrabble. I know it's one of Magnus' favorite games. It makes me feel good for everything to be going so well.
"Before we eat, we'll take turns saying what we're thankful for," I say.
"Can I go last?" Magnus asks.
"Whenever you want."
By eight, everything's done but the turkey. It's refusing to cook, even though it's been on since eleven.
"Do you wanna just chop it up so it'll cook?" I suggest.
Jace is glaring sullenly at the turkey through the oven door.
"I don't care as long as we can eat," he replies.
A half-hour later, we're all settled on the couch with our food.
"You first. You're the oldest," Izzy tells me.
"I'm thankful I got to adopt Magnus and show him what a normal life is like. And I'm thankful I fell in love with him and that he wasn't creeped out by me asking him out. And that I got the job at the bookstore. I'm thankful we could afford this apartment. I'm thankful we were able to get together like this," I say, staring uncomfortably at my food.
"Why would I have been creeped out? I'm the one that was ogling you after your shower," Magnus remarks, smiling.
"Because I thought you'd think it was weird."
He shakes his head.
"I'm thankful Alec didn't kill me for what happened with Magnus. And I'm thankful I was able to stop Ragnor. And I'm thankful Magnus has finally stopped growling at me," Jace says.
"I can go back to growling at you if you want," Magnus tells him.
"You're supposed to be nice to people who save your life."
"Boys, it's my turn," Izzy tells them.
They both stop talking.
"I'm thankful Alec finally got a boyfriend, especially a cute one like Magnus. And I'm thankful Simon finally got the nerve to ask me out." Izzy states simply.
"Simon as in Clary's best friend?" Jace and I ask.
"Yeah. We've been going out for three weeks, but it's still just casual."
"What's he like?" Magnus asks.
"He looks like a weasel," Jace tells him.
"Be nice, Jace," Izzy warns.
"He's nice, Magnus," I say.
He relaxes at this.
"Um, the thing I'm most thankful for is Alec adopting me. Out of all the other pets there, he chose me. I'm thankful he's been amazing to me and decided I'm worth dating. I'm thankful he loves me, even though I have HIV. I'm thankful he defends me," Magnus says quietly.
"You have HIV?" Izzy asks.
"I thought Alec told you. I'm on medicine for it."
"No. It's your decision on who knows," I tell him gently.
"Did you have it when I made an idiot out of myself?" Jace asks.
Magnus nods slowly. The shame is clear on his face.
"So you probably have it too. I'm sorry," Magnus mumbles.
"It's okay. It wasn't your fault," Jace tells him kindly.
I know it probably will help if Magnus has the acceptance of someone besides me. And I'm very glad they're being kind to him about it.