Chapter Thirty Two – Anywhere Else.

It was the early hours of the morning by the time Magnus got back to his flat, the sun was just beginning to rise tingeing the sky with a shade of lilac that was gradually turning blue with each inch the sun crept upwards. He quietly unlocked the door and stepped into the living room, he was cold but happy. He glanced around the room and decided he'd decorate it later for Alec's birthday. He glanced over at Alec who had fallen off of the sofa while he'd slept and was now curled up on the carpet, still fast asleep. Magnus smiled and moved over to stand in front of Alec, lifting him into his arms, he sat down on the sofa with Alec's head in his lap again and soon fell fast asleep.

Alec woke to a loud knocking on the front door; he was still stretched out on the sofa with his head in Magnus's lap. He stood up and stretched, listening as his stiff muscles cracked from being curled up on the sofa all night. He glanced over at Magnus and smiled, the warlock was fast asleep with his head resting on the arm of the sofa. Another loud knock snapped Alec out of his reverie with a sigh, if they didn't shut up they were going to wake Magnus. Alec stepped towards the door and swung it open. "What?" He snapped with a yawn.

"Happy birthday!" Jace and Isabelle yelled from the doorway, Alec hurriedly shushed them pointing over his shoulder at Magnus who was still asleep. "You'll wake Magnus." He whispered staring between the two of them, "Why are you here anyway?"

"Alec, it's your nineteenth birthday. Why would we not be here? We have to get you ready!" Isabelle replied, a wide grin on her face.

'Oh God.' Alec thought, 'I'm for it now.'

Jace grinned, "It's your birthday!" He said.

Alec suddenly remembered. "You have to dress like Isabelle!" He said with a wicked smirk, Jace nodded, "I was thinking leggings with one of Izzy's pink shirts. What do you think?" He asked.

"Great," Alec replied, "but not here. Let's go to the Institute."

Snow had fallen overnight, Alec realised, as he, Jace and Isabelle returned to the warmth of the Institute. Isabelle disappeared, claiming she was going to get Jace's clothes from her wardrobe and Alec grinned over at Jace. "Are you really going to wear pink?" He asked seriously.

"Do you think Isabelle would let me wear one of her pink shirts?" He asked, still grinning. Alec wondered how much caffeine he'd had that morning to make him so hyper. "Yes Jace, I would." Isabelle said as she returned with the clothes for Jace and two colourfully wrapped boxes which she handed to Alec. The first one had a label which read: 'To Alec, happy birthday. Love Jace and Isabelle.' Alec opened that one first to find that they had brought him a blue shirt with a black waistcoat and some new jeans to go with it. Alec was certain that Isabelle had been the one to pick it out for him. He smiled and quickly hugged his siblings, "Thank you." He said, holding the second box in his hands, it was a lot smaller than the first one, he searched for a label. There wasn't one. "It's from mom we think." Isabelle stated as Alec started to open the box.

Inside the box was a small silver chain with an angelic rune attached to the end and an envelope. Alec grabbed the envelope in his hand and sat on the floor to read, Jace and Isabelle sat opposite him. The card read:

'To Alexander,

Your father and I have decided it's time. You are old enough and mature enough to be able to take care of yourself, Jace and Isabelle, and your other friends. Therefore we have the decided and your father - being the Inquisitor - has allowed it, we've decided to allow you to run the New York Institute by yourself. This does mean however, that we will be staying in Idris.

Happy birthday.

Love,

Mom.'

Alec closed the card and set it down in his lap. He couldn't believe it, he was now running the New York Institute? He was only nineteen, they'd deemed him responsible enough for that challenge without even consulting him first to see if he wanted the position? "Alec?" Isabelle and Jace said in unison as they stared at him, "Alec, what is it?" He handed the card to Jace so he could read it aloud, barely trusting himself to speak. "What are you going to do?" Isabelle asked after Jace had finished speaking, Alec shook his head. He had no idea what he was going to do. An idea popped into his head, "I'm going to forget about it for today and enjoy myself." He grinned, pushing the thoughts from his mind. This news was not going to ruin his birthday. He picked the chain up out of the box and slipped it around his neck, he grabbed the clothes that Isabelle and Jace had brought him and smiled, "I've got to get dressed."

Magnus woke, glancing around his flat he realised that Alec had gone and he was alone. Grabbing his phone from his pocket Magnus looked to see if he had a text. It was from Alec's mobile but it had not been sent by his boyfriend. Instead it had been sent by Isabelle through Alec's phone, it read: Alec is with me and Jace at the Institute. He's getting dressed and then we'll be back around yours for the party with Clary. Magnus smiled, wondering how Isabelle had managed to get Alec's phone off him without him noticing. Standing up, he remembered that he still had to get his flat decorated and he had to get dressed himself. Using his magic to put up the decorations, Magnus left the living room for a shower and a change of clothes.

"Alec! Hurry! We're going to be late!" Isabelle called up the stairs as she wrapped her silver snake bracelet around her wrist. Jace was stood beside her dressed in her clothes with Clary holding his hand dressed in an emerald green dress, in her free hand she held a small box for Alec from her and Simon. She had shown it to Jace and Isabelle, it was a silver watch and Isabelle knew that Alec would love it when he saw it. Alec hurriedly ran down the stairs dressed in his new clothes and came to a halt in front of them. Jace wolf whistled. Alec grinned, his cheeks scarlet as he noticed that everyone was looking at him, "I wish I could say the same thing Jace." He laughed, Jace replied with a shrug. Clary moved forward with the box and handed it to Alec, "Happy birthday," She said, "it's from me and Simon." Alec smiled at her, "Thanks Clary. You too Simon." He opened the box and his eyes widened at the watch, he slipped it onto his right wrist; hugged Clary. The three of them headed towards the front door to meet Simon who was stood outside waiting for them, unable to enter onto sanctified ground. As soon as they stepped onto the front step of the Institute, Isabelle tied a blindfold tightly over Alec's eyes. "Ow! Hey!" Alec exclaimed as his vision suddenly went dark, "By the Angel, Isabelle!"

"Sorry," She said, "but the surprise can't be ruined!" She led Alec down the stairs before handing him over to Jace to guide.

The five of them reached Magnus's apartment in a manner of minutes, Alec turned his face in every direction trying to shake the blindfold free but Isabelle had tied it so tight that it couldn't move, "Where are we?!" He demanded, "I can't see!"

"You're not supposed to see." Jace replied from beside him, shoving Alec's hand away from the blindfold and back to his side. "Watch your head." Jace ordered, pushing Alec's head down slightly to duck under the string of glowing lights. Jace led Alec through the doorway and up the stairs of Magnus's flat right into the warlock's home. Jace ripped the blindfold from Alec's head and yelled, "Happy birthday Alec!" Along with everyone else in the room, Alec's eyes flicked from Clary, Simon and Isabelle to Jace, Chairman Meow - who looked annoyed at being woken up - and finally settled on Magnus. Alec grinned. "You guys did all this for me?" He asked, indicating the decorations that were hung around the room.

"Of course." Magnus said, joining Alec at his side wrapping an arm around Alec's waist. "You deserve it, handsome." He kissed Alec's cheek and Alec felt the blood rush to his face. Isabelle and Jace were smiling over at them, happy to see him happy, Alec guessed. 'I wouldn't want to be anywhere else for my birthday but here.' Alec thought happily as Magnus clapped his hands and the music started blasting loudly through the room causing Chairman Meow to run into Magnus's bedroom. "Oh dear," Alec toned as Magnus sighed.

"The Chairman has never liked my taste in music. I just don't understand him."

"I like it." Alec smiled turning to face Magnus.

"Well that's good, you're the one who…" Magnus gasped stopping himself just in time, Alec frowned. "Magnus? What is it?" Magnus didn't reply, instead he headed straight into the kitchen. Alec didn't follow him at first. Instead he just glanced around the room, confused. Jace and Isabelle joined him, "What happened?" Jace asked.

"I d-don't kn-know." Alec stammered, tears already welling in his blue eyes as Isabelle clutched his hand tightly. "I… don't… know…"