If Magnus hadn't heard the words come out of his husband's mouth with his very own ears, he never in a million years would have believed them. It still felt so unreal to him, that Alec didn't care where he came from. For so long Magnus had held the belief that he no longer deserved Alec, but without skipping a beat Alec had fiercely disagreed with him.
Even so, Magnus knew he didn't deserve such devotion, especially from someone so angelic as Alexander, but the universe seemed to be on his side today because whether he deserved Alec's unconditional love or not he had it.
They spent the rest of the day in each other's arms. Magnus listened to Alec's heartbeat, thankful like he'd never been before for this man's beautiful biases. He told Alec everything, and explained the events of going to see John in detail. Alec listened calmly enough, occasionally offering a hug or light squeeze of comfort, but never judgement. When he was done Alec only had one question.
"Have you asked your aunt about any of this?" Alec asked.
Magnus shook his head. "I was trying to ignore it."
"And since that worked so well," Alec chuckled. He sobered then and tightened his grip on Magnus before whispering. "I've missed you so much."
"I've been right here this whole time," Magnus explained.
"No you haven't," Alec replied. "You've been in sight, but never in reach."
"I'm sorry I upset you so much," Magnus sighed, feeling bad. "I didn't realize you were so worried."
Alec must have heard the guilt in Magnus's voice because he sat up in bed and turned to look right at Magnus before he spoke. "I'm sorry for dragging your father into our lives," he replied. "I guess I can be kinda naive."
"But that's one of the things I love about you," Magnus smiled at him, reaching forward to touch his husband's face. "The way you see the world is so hopeful. I would never want you to lose that because of me."
"I will have hope so long as you are with me," Alec replied with a smile and a kiss.
Magnus felt in his chest how Alec's words affected him. The warmth his man had created in his heart was like nothing he'd ever known. There was something about Alexander, something about the way he loved so completely, so honestly and openly, something that had the power to heal any wound and mend any hurt.
"I am yours," Magnus answered sincerely. "For as long as I live."
"No more silly thoughts about not deserving me?" Alec asked with raised eyebrows.
"Oh, I definitely don't deserve you," Magnus chuckled. "But that is not my decision to make, it's yours."
"I can live with that compromise," Alec replied cheerfully.
The look on his face made Magnus smile a simple genuine smile, and yet it felt like everything. He'd been going through the motions for so long it felt strange to smile naturally, strange and wonderful.
When the girls came home again some hours later, Magnus and Alec were still shut up in their bedroom. Alec, it seemed, was unwilling to let him go, and Magnus didn't mind. He too had missed his husband, though as he'd been so preoccupied with work and trying not to think, time had not felt so slow to him as it seemed to have felt for Alec.
"You should talk to your aunt," Alec said again when they returned to the topic. "Don't just take his word for it. For all you know he was lying. Call her and talk it out, or better yet use those vacation days and go see her."
"Yeah you're right," Magnus said with a deep exhale of breath. The idea had occurred to him before, but he'd been too scared to do it before. He'd known rationally that it could all have been lies, but even the lightest chance that it was true had held him back, but not anymore. Knowing that he had Alec no matter what made all the difference in the world.
"I'll come with you!" Alec offered. "I'm sure I can get the days off work especially with me working so few hours in January."
"Alright," Magnus agreed firmly. "I'll call and tell her we're going to go visit."
"Don't look so worried," Alec smiled back at him. "You just want to know one way or another so you can put it out of your mind. Nothing's gonna change, no matter what the answer is."
Magnus nodded, comforted by the firm look on his husband's face.
"Excellent!" Alec said jumping up. "I'll go check flights."
"Oh finally willing to let go of me I see?" Magnus chuckled.
"Good point," Alec said, turning back to grab Magnus's hand before swerving towards his laptop again. Magnus couldn't help but laugh at Alec's adorable neediness.
Alec did, however, allow Magnus his freedom long enough to collect his phone so he could call his aunt. She picked up on the second ring.
"To what do I owe this lovely surprise call?" Aleida's voice came through his phone speaker.
"Alec and I are planning a visit to come see you," Magnus explained.
"And so you should," his aunt said sharply. "Working through Christmas like that - I mean really!"
"Oh my god, thank you!" Alec's voice jumped in.
"I think Alec heard you," Magnus added. "Anyway, just wanted to check if there was a day that was better for you. Alec is looking at flights right now."
"Why would you fly?" Aleida replied. "The bus rates are much more reasonable."
"Don't even get me started," Magnus sighed, looking fondly towards his husband.
"Who wants to spend a day on a bus when you can spend an hour on a plane?" Alec called cheerfully towards Magnus's ear.
"That's it," Magnus said. "I'm putting you two on speaker." Aleida's laughter was suddenly quite loud as Magnus clicked the speaker button.
"The answer to your question, Alec, is someone who wants to save a bunch of money for something more important," Aleida said.
Alec shrugged and then must have remembered it was a call, not a video chat, before saying casually, "My parents gave me back my credit cards."
"Don't even bother," Magnus interjected. "I'm caving on this one. Just wanted to check if this weekend was alright?"
"Bit short notice, but sure!" Aleida replied eagerly. "I'd love to see you guys. It was a strange Christmas without you."
"Okay so I'm booking a flight Friday morning, and another monday afternoon," Alec said. "Before I hit yes, does that work for everyone?"
There was a general consensus in the room, and a second later Magnus's weekend was set in stone.
In what felt like no time at all, Magnus was boarding a plane and an hour after that he was getting off one. Walking hand in hand with Alec, they headed to the baggage claim. With their trip being only four days, neither of them had bothered checking in baggage, and had instead packed all the essentials into their carry ons. Still, it was the usual place disembarking passengers met up with locals and sure enough, as they turned the corner, there she was. His aunt was standing a little to the left of the baggage claim beaming at them. As they got closer to her she opened her arms and forced a hug on both of them.
"It feels like ages since I saw you both!" Aleida exclaimed, squeezing rather tighter than usual Magnus thought.
"Can't breath," Alec gasped. She chuckled, pulling out of the hug to give them some space.
They exchanged light pleasantries, which included explaining that they had no baggage to wait for before walking together towards Aleida's car.
One short, pleasant ride later, filled with cheerful small talk, they arrived at their destination. Though he hadn't been back for almost two and a half years - having spent the last two Christmases at the Lightwood's mansion - it was just as he remembered it. His aunt's small expertly maintained car pulled into her bumpy driveway and parked alongside the house under a makeshift carport.
The driveway was clear of snow with piles on each side. Magnus remembered when they'd shoveled together before Aleida had bought the snowblower. Magnus knew that under all that snow was an unkempt lawn nothing like Alec's family house with it's perfect landscaping. Walking up to the house, Magnus noticed that same old screen door surrounded by peeling yellow paint. Once inside Magnus recognized the fireplace, unlit as always, in the corner. That fireplace had never actually worked. The floor under his feet was even more worn out in high traffic areas as it had been the last time he'd been here. Magnus smiled down at it, feeling like he'd gone too long between visits.
"You two owe me a Christmas I'll have you know," Aleida said firmly as part of their continued conversation. "Two Christmases in a row it was at that mansion! I haven't had Magnus here for a Christmas holiday since before you two got your shit together."
"Auntie!" Magnus exclaimed.
"Yes the woman who raised you is a grown up who sometimes says shit," Aleida explained calmly. "It's time you figured this out." Then she laughed and hugged them both again.
The atmosphere continued to be light and wonderful as the evening went on. Aleida made a casserole for dinner which completely blew Alec away just as the homemade stew had the last time they'd been here.
"It's just a perogy casserole," Aleida chuckled. "Super easy. You just need frozen perogy, can of soup or some kind of sauce, frozen peas and chopped onions, maybe some cut up ham or bacon bits… whatever is in the fridge really. Baked at 375 for an hour, sprinkle shredded cheese. Bake for another 10-15 minutes to melt the cheese. Serve."
"How is that a recipe?" Alec asked. "Nothing about that is exact in any way."
"That's the point," Aledia explained. "It's more of a 'what can I make without going shopping on a Tuesday because payday isn't till Friday' kinda dinner."
"I hope that's not still why you make it?" Alec asked.
"Well it's still cheap to make, but it's also delicious so..." Aleida said, leaving the thought hanging in the air with a smile on her face.
They had long since finished dinner, but despite Alec's pointed looks Magnus still hadn't gotten up the nerve to bring up the topic of his origins with Aleida. He knew this was why they'd come, but now that it came down to it, he felt scared again.
"No matter how glad I am to see you, I can't imagine you came all this way just to spend a few days catching up," Aleida said suddenly after a moment of silence in their casual conversation.
"Magnus has some questions about his parents," Alec replied, to which Magnus was grateful. Getting started on this topic had blocked him, but now that the ice was broken he thought maybe he could do this.
"I take it this means something happened with John?" she asked.
Alec nodded. "Magnus was right all along," he explained. "I shouldn't have pushed. John wasn't interested in being a father."
"I can't say I'm surprised," Aleida sighed. "Though I had hoped for your sake he was."
Magnus still hadn't spoken, but he knew it was his turn. His aunt turned to him with a calm but resigned expression on her face as everyone in the room waited for Magnus to speak.
"When John felt sure he'd never get Alec's money through me he dropped the act," Magnus began slowly. "And in showing his true colours told me things I haven't been able to let go of. I just- uh… it's just that either way no matter what it is… I need to know the truth of it."
"I hope you know that I have never lied to you," Aleida continued. "When you were little I may have hidden certain hard truths from you, protected you from the world, but I know that time is over. I promise to answer everything as completely and truthfully as I can."
"Where was I born?" Magnus asked.
"Oh diving right off the deep end there, huh?" Aleida said, clearly taken aback. But true to form she answered with the very words he'd hoped weren't true. "In prison."
"Why?" Magnus asked.
"Because Dian was pregnant with you when she got arrested," Aledia replied.
"Why was she arrested?"
"Drug trafficking," Aleida stated. "I never did get confirmation, but I think John was the one who got her into it. They were together back then when Dian was first out of high school, not even nineteen yet."
"You told me before that her death was a cold case, unsolved. Is that true?"
"Yes it was, though I did leave a lot of details out," Aledia explained. "Dian was murdered while in prison. They never figured out which inmate killed her or if it was self defense or premeditated, so it did become a cold case and sat on a shelf somewhere never to be looked at again. When prisoners die the police don't really bother looking into it too deeply."
"Why haven't you told me any of this before?" Magnus asked.
"I was trying to protect you," Aleida said calmly, though Magnus could see tears pooling in her eyes. "When my sister called to ask me to take you in I didn't understand what it was to be a parent. Over the phone, she pleaded with me, telling me you'd end up in foster care if I didn't take you in. She told me that when she got out she'd come back for you, but like all her promises, that day never came. Then when you were five I got the news that she'd died. The courts gave me full undisputed custody, and suddenly I was more than a related foster parent. I was a mother, and once I loved you I wanted nothing more than to shield you from their mistakes. To let you grow into the person you could be instead of being held back by how you got your start in this world. Though you may hate me, looking at who you are now, I don't regret it. Just look how far you've come! How extraordinary you are. You are who you are today because of you, not them. Don't worry about where you came from, just be proud of who you are."
"That's what I told him," Alec said cheerfully.
"Oh, and last piece of motherly advice," Aleida smiled. "Listen to your husband."
And just like that Magnus couldn't be mad at her. For all he knew she was right, and telling Magnus this before today would have messed him up far more than he could imagine. She was the only parent he'd ever known, the only parent he really needed, and he could forgive her for anything because he knew at her core she always wanted what was best for him.
If someone told me back in Sept 2016 that I'd still be writing this story in freaking 2021 I would not have believed you. Almost 5 years and we are still here people! Like WTF! How?! Taking a step back on this blew my mind the other day, so I thought I'd share. Hopefully it's still entertaining after all this time and thank you so much to everyone who has stuck with me through the years! I'm curious if anyone reading this remembers when "Roommates & Soulmates" was called "University Human AU Clace-Malec" aka when Chapter 15 was new.
How many chapters did this story have when you first started reading it?
Special thanks to Connie for having an excellent memory because I couldn't even remember if Alec had been to Aleida's house before. Alot of re-reading and word search hunting is why this chapter made any sense at all. Sigh. Keeping track of the past parts of this story is getting insane! I'm surprised you guys don't point out my horrible continuity errors more often, to be honest. If only new plots for this story didn't keep trying to pop into my head maybe I could actually give it the ending it deserves… but alas I just keep thinking of more shit for them to do!
Sneak Peek Chapter 186
If Jace was surprised to see her he didn't show it but rather started blurrily at them for a moment before walking forward. To Clary he actually looked a little green and she suspected he'd been sent home sick from work.
"What you all doing here?" Jace mumbled as he made his way to the couch and sat down, making the whole effort look like it took an enormous amount of energy.
"Packing," they all said together.
"Right," Jace replied, his voice so low Clary always did catch what he said.
"You two go on ahead," Clary whispered to Paige and Jon. "I'm gonna make sure he's okay."
"Thanks," Jon said. From the look on her brother's face she knew he'd been conflicted about leaving with Paige or staying and helping his friend.
The door closed behind Jon and Paige and then they were alone. The first thing Jace did was ask in a weak voice why she was still here.
"Are you okay?" Clary asked, ignoring his question.