A/N: What's up, guys? Sorry this took so long to post, but it was not being cooperative. I have a quick, random-ish question for y'all. Are there any other firsts from this story you'd like to see, like with Sweeter Than Cotton Candy? The poll on my profile is still up if y'all wanna check it out. I know it doesn't say on the poll, but it's for the trial.

24: Magnus

Before Alec, I thought 'I love you' meant sex. That's what it seemed to mean to Ragnor and his boyfriend, Raphael. I know what Alec and I have doesn't mean that, which is nice since I can't even think about him touching me down there.

"Can I leave you two alone long enough to get a drink? Without needing to bury a body when I get back," Alec says, moving from the arm of my chair.

"We'll be fine," I tell him, squeezing his hand lightly.

"You want anything while I'm up?"

"I can get it."

Jace stretches out on the couch with Alec's laptop.

"Does the medicine make you sick too?" I ask.

"Yeah. Seriously, why don't you hate me?" Jace replies.

"That's reserved for the psychopath."

I really do hate Ragnor. I wish someone would make him feel the way I felt for ten years.

"Do you want a milkshake or something? I don't like owing people," Jace says.

"I'm good right now," I reply, going back to my book.

"Dude, I'm offering you servitude. Don't waste it."

"I'm not. I just don't want anything right now."

Alec comes in with coffee for himself and Jace.

"I can get you a mug if you want it," he offers.

"I'm fine," I reply.

"Can I sit here?"

He sits back down on the arm of the chair.

"You can sit on my lap if you want. I'm comfier than the chair arm," I murmur, touching his thigh gently.

He gives me a surprised look. I try to keep my hands away from anywhere below his hips because I don't want him to feel like I'm molesting him. I move my hand quickly.

"You sure? You weren't bothering me," he replies, smiling.

"When's the trial? He is having a trial, right?" Jace asks once Alec's settled on my lap.

"January 3rd. I hope the demon spawn gets put away forever," I mumble.

"Do you know what you wanna say to him?" Alec asks.

"I wanna throw it all back in his face. I want him to know how much everything he did hurts. I don't want an apology. Apologies aren't gonna fix anything."

If I can even speak, I add silently, resting my forehead against Alec's shoulder.

"You don't have to testify. If they use the videos, you might not have to," Alec murmurs.

"Is the entire courtroom gonna see them? I don't wanna see them. Living them once was bad enough. What if I can't say anything?" I reply.

"I don't know. They may. Write everything you wanna tell him down and I'll give it to Jia in case you can't. I won't let him touch you."

"You saw how Alec freaked out on me. He did the same to Ragnor when he saw what happened to you. He turns into a Tasmanian Devil when someone screws with you," Jace tells me.

"You beat the crap outta Ragnor? I thought Jace did that."

"Jace helped," Alec says.

I jump when I hear the wind beginning to howl outside our apartment. It's starting to rattle the windows.

"It's just the wind, cat," Jace informs me.

"I hate storms, okay? You try being alone, locked in a cage, and in the dark during them because I didn't deserve being with the normal people if it was tornado or a blizzard. Because I didn't deserve to live," I reply, pinning my ears back.

"Magnus, you're not going in a cage. And I'm not leaving you alone," Alec murmurs.

By four, it's horrible out. I'm really glad we aren't going anywhere. So far, the lights are still on.

"Wanna make a blanket fort and watch scary movies?" Izzy suggests.

I've never seen, much less heard of, a blanket fort. I like building one with them. It turns into a pillow fight after just a few minutes. I've never been in a pillow fight before, but I like it. While Alec's occupied, I swat his butt with my pillow. He yelps in surprise, making me laugh.

"I'm gonna get you for that!" he growls playfully, turning to face me.

"Bring it, darling," I reply, grinning at him.

He lunges for me, catches his toe, and ends up tackling me instead of smacking me with the pillow.

"You know, being tackled isn't usually thought of as romantic, but I guess this works," I whisper.

"Did I hurt you? I'm sorry. Magnus, you are one love-sick kitten, aren't you?" he replies.

"I'll be fine. I stopped being a kitten when I was five. I am, however, love-sick."

He rolls off of me carefully.

"If you're done making out, can we build the fort?" Jace asks.

"We weren't—There was no—Build the fort," Alec replies, flushing.

"I love when you blush. You're so cute!" I whisper, kissing Alec's cheek.

After we get the fort built, we put air mattresses inside it along with more blankets and our pillows. I feel safe lying here with my family.

"How long until Christmas?" I ask, rubbing Alec's back gently.

"Twenty-five days. We usually give one present apiece out on Christmas Eve," Alec replies.

"Will I have my wires off by then?"

"It'll be a month on the 23rd, so you might."

I'm really looking forwards to being able to eat solid foods again. I miss biting into a cheeseburger.

I fall asleep with my head on Alec's shoulder after a couple movies. For the first time since I came home from the vet, I have nightmares all night. I'm grateful when morning comes. It's freezing in the apartment by morning.

Jace is cooking when I crawl out of the blanket fort. Whatever it is smells amazing. Lit candles line the counter.

"Do you want help?" I ask.

"No. You're gonna have to get one of your drinks; there's no electricity. I had to use matches to light the stove," he replies.

"Great."

"I know about the papers Alec got for you. I've never seen my brother this happy, so you better not break his heart."

"I have his and he has mine."

"You have whose what?" Alec asks, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"Your heart. You have mine," I reply, leaning back against him.

He squeezes me gently.

"You're shivering," he murmurs.

"I'm freezing. Do we have any hot water?" I reply.

"No. We have no running water because there's no electricity to pump it up here," Jace informs me.

"So we're gonna be reeking in a few days," Alec remarks.

"I'll love you even if you turn into a stinky hobo," I murmur, kissing his jaw.

"We're inside, cat. We're not gonna be hobos," Jace says.

"We're still gonna smell like them."

I get a protein drink from the fridge and mix my pills in it. I'm gonna be so glad to be done with the pills.

I love watching Alec and Jace together when they're getting along. They remind me halfway of an old married couple and halfway of siblings. Alec's clearly the voice of reason.

"What's your favorite Christmas memory, Alec?" I ask.

"I don't really have one yet. Unless you count trying to fish Church out of the tree. He knocked it over on Jace," Alec replies.

I find this extremely amusing.

"What about you, Blondie?" I ask, biting down my laughter.

"Toss-up between convincing Alec to play truth-or-dare and the time I spiked the eggnog without telling him or Izzy," Jace tells me.

"I'm never drinking again. What were you even thinking? Oh, wait, you weren't." Alec says.

"I thought it'd be funny. And it sorta was until you puked on Church."

"Drunk Alec sounds very fun," I remark.

"No. I'm not even going out for my twenty-first," Alec informs me.

"Drunk Alec isn't as fun as it sounds. He cries. A lot," Jace tells me.

"I wasn't that bad."

"Yes, you were. Plus, you puke easy."

"Shut up, Jace."

"I was sober that night, so I remember the embarrassing stuff you did."

"Do you have any self-preservation? You're annoying someone who has a knife."

"Could we play truth-or-dare?" I ask.

"Maybe later," Alec tells me.

For once, I'm enjoying the aftermath of a storm. As long as we don't freeze to death.