Magnus so wished he was somewhere else, and if not for Alec's pleading he would be. Magnus just couldn't understand why Alec was so set on him accepting his sire as a father. Sure, DNA proved they were genetically related, but family wasn't all about blood, and his aunt had been all the parent Magnus had ever needed. Getting his mother pregnant did not give John the right to all of a sudden show up and demand entry into Magnus's life. Besides, it was the 'all of the sudden' nature of it that Magnus didn't trust.

"See aren't we having a nice time?" Alec smiled at him.

"Oh yes," Magnus replied back tonelessly. "The best time."

"Just drop the sarcasm when John gets back from the bathroom would you," Alec sighed.

Magnus had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. They were in a restaurant celebrating Alec's sudden return to the land of unlimited credit cards. Magnus had hoped they could have had a nice dinner without a third wheel, but Alec had insisted on inviting him.

"Sorry about that folks," John said as he returned and sat down. "Where were we?"

"You were telling us about your newest entrepreneur adventure," Alec replied.

"Oh yes I'm working with a new start up," John continued. "For building self help courses online."

"What exactly does that involve?" Alec asked.

"Research for starters, building powerpoints and doing voice overs," John explained. "Also some marketing and promotion. Little bit of everything really. When a company is made of only three people everyone has to be multiple departments."

"I can imagine," Alec smiled.

"Were you still interested in joining now that you've graduated?" John asked.

"Yeah," Alec replied, making Magnus tense. He didn't want Alec anywhere near John's so called 'start ups'.

"Don't you think you should focus on building your career?" Magnus offered, trying to remain civil.

"I majored in business," Alec reminded Magnus. "I can pretty much do anything so why not start ups?"

Magnus could think of about a million reasons why not, but didn't want to make a scene.

"Exactly the energy I was hoping for!" John exclaimed. "Do you wanna maybe get together this weekend to get started?"

"I work weekends so how about during the week," Alec countered. "With classes over my days are wide open."

"Perfect," John smiled.

Magnus refused to join in the conversation, and thus was silent for the rest of dinner, though it took most of his self control to manage. He just couldn't understand why Alec was so trusting of this man simply because he was Magnus's genetic relative.

When the check came Alec paid it without blinking, using one of his parent's shiny credit cards with a smile on his face. John and Alec were talking of their plans later in the week, and Alec listened with great attention to every word John said as if he were expert at starting companies or something.

Finally, as they left the restaurant, the crisp night air broke over Magnus's face. It was almost over.

"So I'll see you Monday then," Alec was saying as they bid goodbye to John near the subway station.

"Ten sharp," John agreed as he waved goodbye, thanking them once again for dinner before moving out of sight down the stairs and into the station.

Magnus breathed a sigh of relief that his husband didn't seem to clue into.

"Wasn't that a lovely evening," Alec smiled.

"It was definitely a long evening," Magnus sighed.

"I thought it passed rather quickly," Alec disagreed.

"I'm not so sure you and I were at the same event," Magnus almost laughed.

They stopped walking, having reached the bus stop that would take them home.

"What do you mean?" Alec asked, turning to face him.

"I'm just not comfortable with the idea of you working for him," Magnus said.

"I don't understand why," Alec said. "It can't hurt. Besides this way I can get to know him a little better. Maybe ease your worries." Alec reached up a hand to touch Magnus's face softly. Magnus couldn't help closing his eyes at the touch.

"And I wouldn't be working for him, but with him," Alec's voice whispered. "Please don't worry."

And Magnus couldn't help it. He relaxed. Alec knew how he felt. There wasn't much else to be done. It wasn't like Magnus felt comfortable forbidding Alec to see John or anything. Alec was his own person and there was only so much Magnus could do.

"Alright, but if he does so much as put one toe out of line you tell me okay?" Magnus smiled.

"I tell you everything," Alec reminded him before kissing his hand and leading him over to wait for the bus.

By the time they got home, Magnus was too tired to disagree with his husband anymore and thus decided it was best to go to sleep smiling rather than fighting. This was a promise he'd made to himself the day he'd married Alexander. Magnus wasn't going to let this relationship fall apart like so many others he'd endured. Alec meant too much to him so it didn't matter that Alec was wrong. What happened was their marriage. Magnus had promised himself never to go to sleep mad over something petty or small.

Magnus woke with one of Alec's arms draped over his hip. Gently, he disentangled himself so as not to wake Alec. It was Saturday which meant he was due at the Museum early, but Alec didn't work until later so he got to sleep a little more.

Lunch packed, breakfast consumed, and in the proper attire Magnus was just about to leave when by chance he checked his phone. There he found a message from one of his colleagues at the museum.

'I hope this isn't reaching you too late,' the message read. 'The Museum is dead today. People have been calling in all day to cancel their events. We haven't had weather like this in months. You are of course welcome to join us but I know how much you need a day off.'

Magnus stopped at the front door. What should he do now? He didn't really fancy spending the whole day looking for pointless tasks to do at the empty Museum, and it wasn't like he got paid for his time there for anything so if it was that dead they wouldn't really need him.

For the first time that day Magnus turned to look out the window. The July sun was shining bright and high in the beautiful blue sky as far as the eye could see. No wonder no one wanted to be indoors today.

Looking back down at his phone Magnus sent a reply thanking her for and taking her up on her offer, ending with a 'see you next Saturday.'

Putting his lunch back in the fridge, Magnus stood at the window. Opening it, he breathed in the beautiful summer air. It was so strange as the weather forecast had predicted rain for today which was probably why the Museum had been so booked up the last time Magnus had checked.

Whatever was he going to do with this whole new day all to himself? Smiling, Magnus absently checked the time and immediately knew what he had to do first.

"Oh Alexander!" Magnus called as he approached the door.

"Hmmh," Alec mumbled. "Sh-sleep."

"It's time to get up," Magnus called again. "You have work today."

"You still here," Alec mumbled into his pillow. "Still got time."

"It's a quarter after nine," Magnus said in that kind yet teasing voice he revolved in.

"What!" Alec said bolting up in bed. "But you usually leave at eight thirty for work."

"I volunteer on Saturdays," Magnus corrected. "And I'm not going today. Last minute text, but you my love have to be at work by ten."

"I know, I know," Alec groaned as he jumped out of bed and started rummaging around for clothes.

Magnus couldn't help it. As Alec was bent over looking for his pants, Magnus reached out and lightly pinched his bum.

"Hey," Alec said standing up quickly and spinning around. "Now none of that. I'm gonna be late."

"What ever would you have done if I'd actually gone out this morning," Magnus said dramatically, with a hand over his forehead.

"Been even later to work," Alec replied honestly. "I have no idea why my alarm didn't go off."

"Oh, but I do," Magnus said as he tilted his head to get a better view of his frantically dressing husband. "The universe has conspired to make today my day."

"How wonderful for you," Alec grumbled. He was so cute when he tried to be annoyed, Magnus observed with a smile.

"Shit! I didn't pack lunch last night. I'll just have to buy something," Alec groaned. Magnus knew how much Alec hated all the places to eat around his job, and he knew too that Alec knew too much about those pre-made sandwiches in the deli to ever want to eat them.

"You can have mine darling," Magnus replied kindly. "It's in the fridge."

"Thanks," Alec exclaimed with genuine gratitude before moving forward to kiss Magnus on the check and run out of the room.

In the next ten minutes Alec went from a half asleep mess to almost respectable enough for employment.

"See you when I get home then," Alec called as he was leaving. Magnus replied in kind, while marveling at the speed at which Alec could go from unconscious to out the door.

And now the question returned to what he was going to do with this beautiful day. Looking out the window again, Magnus decided this was not a day to be spent indoors. Collecting his keys, Magnus headed for the door, but before he could do more than reach it there was a knock behind it. Magnus pulled it open to see one of the last people he'd expected.

"Jace," Magnus said with surprise. "To what do I owe the pleasure."

"Oh, hey Magnus," Jace replied, clearly just as surprised. "Is Alec around?"

"You just missed him," Magnus explained. "He's on his way to work."

"Oh," Jace said, looking disappointed. "I thought he worked close today."

Magnus shook his head. "A floater shift. He started at ten." It was clear by Jace's expression that this wasn't a simple social call. Jace had needed Alec's advice on something.

"I'll just have to come back later then," Jace answered, and was about to turn away when Magnus realized he'd rather have the company.

"Can I help you instead?" Magnus asked. "Alec's told me most of what's going on."

"He has?" Jace replied, sounding surprised.

"That man couldn't keep a secret if his life depended on it," Magnus laughed.

"Oh yeah that's true," Jace laughed.

"I was just on my way out for a walk in this lovely weather," Magnus smiled. "Would you like to join me?"

"Sure," Jace replied, and the two of them headed out of the apartment together.

They walked in silence for a while. Magnus felt sure he could help with whatever Jace had been seeking Alec for, but he was also sure Jace didn't know how to start.

"Just because Clary is one of my best friends doesn't mean you aren't my friend as well," Magnus began, hoping to jump start Jace into talking.

"Thanks," Jace replied, then was silent. It was gonna take more than that.

They'd been walking absently towards the school grounds even though neither of them were technically students anymore.

"It's funny isn't it," Magnus began. "How the past never really leaves us. How two alumi can walk towards a school they no longer call home without even thinking."

"Yeah," Jace agreed. "And how a person you once called home can become… I don't know what's the opposite of home."

"Work," Magnus offered.

"Yeah, you know what, that makes sense," Jace replied. "It's so much work avoiding her. It hurts. Like today I only came over once I checked in with Simon to see if Clary was at his place - which she was - so I came over to see Alec, but missed him because I was waiting on a text from Simon." He sighed. "All her stuff is there, but not her, and not us."

"It's hard, I know," Magnus smiled. "You can't do this forever. Neither of you. You'll burn out."

"Which I can't afford to do because school is over," Jace said. "Real life is here and like what am I gonna do now?"

"Whatever you want to do," Magnus replied simply.

"Easier said than done," Jace scoffed.

"True," Magnus smiled.

"I know what I thought I'd be doing now," Jace began. "I thought I'd be building a life with Clary after graduation, and yet here I am." He paused for a moment, and Magnus decided it was best to give him space to speak.

"And now Jordan's moved in with Maia," Jace continued. "Jon's always out with Paige, or Paige is over there now that Jordan's gone and I just-" he stopped as if holding back tears. "I don't know where that leaves me."

"It would seem that leaves you all alone in your apartment," Magnus surmised.

"Thanks," Jace added sarcastically. "That's a great help."

"I didn't mean it like that," Magnus replied. "It's just you have to ask yourself, is 'alone in your apartment' where you want to be?"

"No," Jace said.

"You know if I asked real nice I'm sure Paige wouldn't mind having Clary move in with Alec and I," Magnus offered.

"Yeah that might help," Jace sighed. "Still makes me feel like the bad guy."

"Might I offer you a little advice," Magnus smiled. "From one once broken hearted man to another rather more recently shattered one."

"Shoot," Jace shrugged.

"Don't worry so much who was the bad guy," Magnus offered. "Don't stress about how you got here or why. Don't mull over the same thoughts over and over again about what you could have done differently. Instead, look forward. What do you need? What do you want? How can you recover? These are the questions you should ask yourself."

And for a while longer they walked in silence. It seemed to Magnus that Jace was actually taking his advice to heart.

Finally Jace stopped under the shade of a maple tree. It was a beautiful spot. The gentle breeze was just strong enough to keep them cool while the sun blazed down on them. Magnus noticed how much he'd needed the shade after the cool air touched his skin.

"I think I need time," Jace said. "And space."

"Very reasonable," Magnus replied. "And what do you want?"

"Apart from a time machine?" Jace added.

"Ah, but that is not as useful a device as you'd imagine," Magnus replied. "If you really think about it, how would the time machine help?"

"I could go back to when things were good," Jace smiled. "Back to just after we got together, when my worst problem was being bad at cooking for her."

"And what would happen next?" Magnus asked. "Time would continue, and soon enough you'd be back where you are now."

"I suppose," Jace sighed. "I mean some part of me hopes with better forethought I could have stopped her from going to Paris, but-"

"But you know she would have gone anyway?" Magnus finished. Jace nodded.

"See what I mean," Magnus smiled. "Time machines, useless things really. It's always best to look forward rather than back. So apart from the time machine…"

"I want not to be alone," Jace said.

"Ah, but do you mean that romantically or platonically?" Magnus asked. "For one can never be truly alone among friends."

"Good question," Jace sighed.

"In regards to time and space," Magnus smiled. "I will ask Paige tonight if she'd be okay sharing a room."

"Thanks," Jace smiled. "And thanks for this today. I needed it."

"What are friends for?" Magnus smiled back.

"I'm glad it was you here today," Jace offered after a moment's silence. "I don't think I would have gotten such advice from Alec." Jace laughed. "All he seems to be doing lately is telling me to spend more time with Annika."

Magnus chuckled. "I do believe I know how you feel in that regard. Alec won't stop bothering me about being closer with my sire."

"Urg," Jace groaned. "Where does he get off being so whole and well adjusted. How dare he have two functional and loving parents."

Magnus couldn't help but laugh a little again. "But we wouldn't have him any other way," Magnus reminded his husband's best friend.

Jace sighed. "You're right," he said, reluctantly.

What do you guys think of the Jace/Magnus friendship so far? Any thoughts on John? And yes thanks to all this extra Covid free time I am writing more. :) Hopefully I'll get ahead enough that I'll never go 2 months without an update again!

Sneak Peek Chapter 165

"This is your stop," the bus driver said. Tessa looked up from her book to smile at her.

"Thanks," she replied and got up.

Walking into the library Tessa waved to Sophie who stood behind the counter. Sophie waved back, though she seemed distracted.

"Anything the matter?" Tessa asked.

"Just can't seem to get my bearings today," Sophie sighed. "I'm glad you're here."

"Me too," Tessa smiled. "It's so wonderfully quiet here."

"I know what you mean," Sophie laughed. "I can't wait for school to start again. Then I might get my house back."

"How old are your two girls again?" Tessa asked.

"Barbara is seven and and Eugenia is nine," Sophie replied. "In grade one and three, respectively."

"Wonderful ages," Tessa smiled. "I'm quite looking for Lucie being school age myself."

"Yeah," Sophie said though again her mind seemed to be elsewhere.

"I'll get to work then," Tessa said, and then asked where she should start. Sophie assigned her a section and Tessa moved away to start shelving.