Magnus started every school year with the thought 'Thank god summer vacation is finally over.' He knew this wasn't the usual way students approached September, but summer to Magnus meant working two jobs, so the start of the school year was always a welcome relief. Classes didn't give out too much homework for at least a few weeks which meant he got to relax. He usually kept a part time position at the museum doing tour guides during the school year, but his shifts were so rare. Besides, he quite enjoyed them since it was about history.

Though he was glad to be back in school, Magnus had to admit, this last summer had been his favourite by far. Having Alec to come home to had made all the difference, just having someone happy to see him. Though the many friends Magnus had lived with over the years were also happy to see him at the end of a long day, it was different with Alec. Not only because he came home to kisses, but because everything was different with Alec. Even if Alec had gotten understandably bored, and spent the last month of the summer holidays with his family, Magnus had still been so glad to have him there. He would miss living with his boyfriend, but Alec and Jace were getting a small apartment nearby. Magnus was sure it was a bit too early for them to live together anyway, and he had hopes that Alec would still be over here often, or maybe Magnus could even visit Alec for a change.

The lack of Alec was somewhat reduced by Clary moving in. Magnus was so excited to be living with his best friend, though he was also sad to see Tessa leave. This year seemed to be the year of change, and Magnus was trying to be okay with that. Given the circumstances, he understood why Tessa needed to leave. If she'd decided to raise the baby here, Magnus wasn't sure what he would have done. He had never really been good with kids, and infants were breakable!

The last day Tessa came to collect her stuff, she brought Jem with her. Tessa was showing quite significantly now, her pregnant belly obvious at six months. Tessa was very cranky, and Magnus was sure she yelled at Jem at least a dozen times while the two of them were packing. Jem didn't seem too bothered by this however. He just smiled through her irritation and anger, and tried to stop her from exerting herself.

"I'm pregnant," Tessa had snapped at Jem, seizing the box out of his hands. "Not crippled."

"And I'm right here so just let me carry it," Jem counted.

"No!" Tessa yelled, holding the box away from him and storming off. She stopped halfway to the door and swore loudly. "I have to pee," she remarked putting the box down, and turned toward the bathroom muttering something about how this was all his faught.

"It's Will's actually!" Jem had yelled back at her, grinning from ear to ear before he collected the box she'd left behind, and took it to the car before Tessa returned to try and carry it again.

Magnus wasn't quite sure what to make of this exchange, but he wasn't going to pry. His friend was clearly well loved, and though hormonal, very happy. Magnus didn't care about the rest.

It was Magnus's fourth, and if he didn't mess it up, last year of university. He'd lived with Tessa for three years, and it was going to be very strange living without her, even if he was looking forward to living with Clary.

"Where should I put this?" Clary asked holding up a painting of hers from last year. They were unpacking. Magnus's living room was full of boxes and bags of clothes.

"That one I quite like," Magnus told her. "Why don't you put it on the wall behind the tv?" Clary moved across the room and stuck her painting to the wall with tacts while Magnus opened another box.

"So have you heard from Alec since he's been back?" Clary asked while she put her books on the empty shelf that Tessa had left.

"He texted me," Magnus answered. "We are going to meet up later. Have you talked to Jace?"

"No," Clary sighed. "But I saw him today, just around the school."

"Why didn't you say hello?" Magnus asked confused.

"I-" Clary stared. "It was kinda weird so... maybe I'll see him later in classes or something."

"This isn't like you, Biscuit," Magus stated. "Did something happen over the summer? Did Jace do something?"

"When you call me Biscuit in that serious tone, it does rather ruin the effect," Clary smiled at him, but Magnus raised his eyebrow at her. "And no Jace didn't do anything."

"So why didn't you go talk to him then?" Magnus asked.

Clary shuffled her feet, looking down as she spoke. "Not sure what to say," Clary mumbled.

"I know you," Magnus observed. "What are you not telling me?"

"Jace's friend," Clary started. "Remember the blonde one?" Magnus nodded. "He never liked me, or maybe he liked me too much. I don't know. But he tried to hurt me again over the summer."

"Again!" Magnus gasped.

"Oh," Clary said softly putted a hand over her mouth.

"Last year," Clary mumbled. "He tried- but it's fine- Jace stopped him. It's just that the look on Jace's face when we told him." Clary paused as if searching for the right words. "I just don't know why Jace is with me?"

More energetically she added, "And all summer, sure his mom was great and all, but every woman I met there seemed to be Jace's ex. And even last year! Every woman hits on him. It makes me so mad and so scared at the same time, Magnus. I mean look at me!" Clary gestured to the baggy t-shirt and comfortable jeans she was wearing. "What do I have that could keep a guy like that?"

"He's stuck around this long hasn't he?" Magnus smiled. He wanted to help her, but he didn't know enough about Jace to really know how valid her concerns were. He thought Alec might know.

"Yeah but why?" Clary cried. "Why did he pick me?"

"I can't tell you that," Magnus whispered, trying to comfort her.

"I just feel so-" she broke off then exclaimed, "Frumpy! All the time. Like a old lady or something."

"You aren't an old lady," Magnus smiled at her. "But if you'd like, I could give you a makeover? Make you feel super pretty."

"It's not just that," Clary said. She hesitated for a moment then added. "With all those other girls he has to choose from, I worry that he thinks I'm boring… you know in bed."

"Too much information!" Magnus exclaimed with his fingers in his ears, as if that could stop him from hearing that his little Biscuit was having sex. Magnus had often thought of Clary as a little sister in a lot of ways.

"Oh come on!" Clary grumbled at him. "Like you and Alec didn't enjoy the perks of living together over the summer. Cut it out."

"Alright alright," Magnus sighed, taking his fingers out of his ears and trying to calm his over-protective mind. "If you are worried you are boring - and remember you didn't get this advice from me because I don't give you advice about this - you could try talking about... fantasies."

"That's a good idea," Clary exclaimed, grinning. "Like naughty nurse or something"

"Just talk to him," Magnus sighed. "And not to me, ever again please."

Laughing, Clary pushed her half unpacked box aside. "I say we leave this all till later and slack off." Magnus couldn't say no to the smile on her face.

He made popcorn while Clary choice something on Netflix, and in no time they were curled up on the couch, their eyes fixed on the screen.

"I think it was the crazy lady with the cane," Clary said thoughtfully as the crime drama came close to revealing the killer.

"Nah, too obvious," Magnus argued. "It's the shy awkward kid who's barely said a word for the whole episode."

"Na uh, it's the old lady," Clary disagreed.

"I bet you a latte it's the shy kid," Magnus replied.

"Deal." They shook on it and the next day after class, Magnus cashed in his debt at the little coffee stand on the campus.

"It should have been the old creepy lady," Clary said firmly, as she handed him his free latte.

"Thank you," Magnus beamed, smugly.

"So when are you meeting Alec?" Clary asked, sipping her drink. The weather was crisp, the fall wind outside was making the trees dance. Magnus could see leaves of all colours scattering the ground outside the window.

"We are meeting here actually," Magnus answered.

"Great," Clary grinned. "'Cause I have things to buy." Her voice was higher than usual, and had a bit of a mischievous note to it.

"What things?" Magnus narrowed his eyes at her.

"Things you made me promise not to talk to you about," Clary giggled as she skipped away. "Have fun with Alec."

While he waited for his boyfriend's arrival, Magnus tried very hard not to think about what in the world Clarissa was talking about. He was quite exhausted from the effort by the time Alec entered the cafe.

"Oh thank god," Magnus sighed as he hugged Alec. "Please distract me."

"From what?" Alec laughed, taking the seat opposite Magnus.

"From whatever Clary is planning to ambush Jace with," Magnus groaned.

"She isn't breaking up with him is she?" Alec asked.

"From the sounds of it, she's buying skimpy sexy things I'd rather not picture my adorable biscuit within a mile of," Magnus shivered.

"You know you're crazy right," Alec chuckled at him. "She's a grown up."

"Yes, but I remember her when she was little," Magnus pouted.

"Clary is the same age as me," Alec reminded him.

"No," Magnus said stubbornly. "Biscuit is an adorable little girl with pigtails, and you're sexy." Alec was laughing at him in earnest now, and Magnus couldn't blame him. "Okay yes I know she's a grown up, but that doesn't mean I don't get to play the concerned older brother not brother person."

"Jace will sure be happy," Alec smiled, reaching out to take Magnus's hand. "Buying skimpy things doesn't sound like a break up to me."

"Let's let them work that out," Magnus sighed, trying to think of Alec only and not Clary in a sex shop. "How was the end of your summer?"

"Good," Alec smiled. "Went out on the lake, water skiing with Max. Got dragged to meet relatives I've never heard of and treat them like close family. Same old summer really. Though Dad did help me with apartment hunting, which turned out to be really useful because Jace was no help at all."

"Sounds way more interesting than waiting around for your workaholic boyfriend," Magnus smiled at him. "I am glad you had a good summer, but I am also so grateful you stayed with me first." Magnus squeezed his boyfriend's hand in his. "Thank you Alec. For being something wonderful to come home to." Alec's eyes softened as he reached forward slightly, his other hand moving up to always hold Magnus's.

"I didn't realize it meant so much to you," Alec whispered, holding one of Magnus's hands in both of his and looking affectionately at him. "If I had, I would have stayed."

"Now, it's good that you spent some time with your family too," Magnus replied. He'd noticed that sometimes when Alexander didn't know what to say, he'd choose to act instead. It felt like this was one of those times, when Alec leaned a little further across the table and kissed Magnus quickly on the lips in the corner of the coffee shop.

"I missed you," Magnus whispered as Alec pulled away.

"I know the feeling," Alec replied easily. "It was a strangely long summer for me." He paused then raised an eyebrow at Magnus before adding. "Jace is a grumpy lump on my couch at home. If Clary is out… your place is wide open right?"

Magnus laughed, but quickly got the hint, standing up and taking his boyfriend's hand. Together they walked the short distance to what had been their place, and was now just Magnus's apartment with a roommate.

As they walked, they talked more of what they'd done that summer, and how their classes for this year were laid out. Alec shared more about apartment hunting with Jace, and Magnus talked about unpacking with Clary, and how strange it was not living with Tessa. Upon arriving home, conversation was quickly forgotten in favourite of kissing. As their embrace became more passionate, Magnus thought about how lucky he was to have Alexander in his life. He'd given up on love once before, and Magnus was sure somehow that this would be the last time he tried it. Whether they were together or apart, Alexander would be his last great love


As a treat for all you patient people who waited over two week for an update I give you another update just days since my last one. You are welcome. And this one is a little more fun than Simon's sulking.

Oh and with the addition of this chapter Roommates and Soulmates is officially my story with the most chapters! Innocence Corrupts being a close second with 56 chapters. The plan is to make this my most everything story: views, review, favs, follows, and words. (Update: I definitely accomplished this.)


Sneak Peek Chapter 58

When he spotted Clary in the halls, Jace had frozen for a second, unsure what to say to her. Should he do the right thing and make this easy on her or should he beg her to stay? Before he could do more than stare, Clary turned and walked away. Jace's heart sank.

He went home to the apartment he hadn't selected and collapsed on his bed. What would his life be without Clary? He wished now that he'd just given up on working over the summer and gone to visit her family instead. What did it matter if he was totally broke all year? If he hadn't taken Clary home with him she wouldn't have had to face Sebastian again. Heck, it would have been better even if they'd spent the summer apart. At least maybe then she'd be happy to see him when he got back.

Listening to Alec talk about the problems of his summer was Jace's only respite from his own pain.