"I just sunk your battleship!" Simon boasted, raising his fists in triumph. Jace was sitting across from him, staring at him like he would at a demon he was about to kill. Alec had no idea what game they were playing, but apparently it was very serious.

"What's going on?" Alec asked, walking back into the room as casually as he could. Simon was sneaking glances at him, trying not to be obvious about it. But Alec knew his protective streak was still alive and well. He gave the barest of nods, assuring him that he was okay. Simon read the move correctly and Alec could see a bit of tension leave his shoulders.

"Simon is cheating," Jace huffed, crossing his arms and leaning back in his seat.

"How? I can't see your side!" Simon denied incredulously.

"Vampire senses. You could hear the pegs of my ships going into the board."

"Wow. That's insane! All the holes sound the same."

"But you could tell by the volume where they were placed!"

"Jace, I don't think it's that serious," Alec sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Jace's competitiveness was no secret. In some instances, Alec appreciated that part of him. It meant that he was too stubborn to give up in a fight, doing anything he could to win and come back home alive, just to prove to his enemy that he couldn't be bested. But it also meant that Jace tended to reach levels of accomplishment so much faster than Alec, if he even managed to reach them at all. And while he was beginning to accept that different people had different strengths, it was still hard when they were compared to each other for so much of their lives. Being parabatai meant they were side by side for everything, so any shortcomings would be highlighted.

"Why don't you play me?" Jace challenged, raising a cocky eyebrow at him.

"I don't even know the rules."

"Even better for me," Jace smirked.

"It's pretty simple. You just put your boats where you want, then guess where he put his boats," Simon explained, standing up and gesturing for Alec to take his spot. Alec shrugged and sat down, before shooting Jace a worried look.

"Uh oh, I might be able to see over onto your side," Alec gasped, grinning at the petulant look on Jace's face. Good natured teasing felt like old times.

"Whatever. Just put your boats on the board," Jace grunted, bending closer to his side. Alec could see his eyes roving back and forth over the pieces, like this decision was the most important thing.

"You don't plan half this much when it comes to missions for the Clave," Alec snorted, picking up one of his boats and jamming it into a spot. It seemed as good of a place as any. He was about to put in another one when Simon made a quiet noise of discouragement behind him.

"Cheating!" Jace accused again, pointing an angry finger at Simon.

"I didn't do anything!" Simon squeaked, raising his hands in innocence.

"I can't play with him giving hints."

"I can't even see your side!"

"Come on. Let's leave the boys to their toys," Izzy sighed, walking back into the room and linking arms with Simon. Alec couldn't even tell that she'd been crying a few minutes ago. Those makeup skills would've helped when Alec was walking around the institute looking like one of the forsaken. He brushed that thought away quickly, since musing about ways he could get away with not taking care of himself wasn't very productive.

"This isn't a toy. This is a strategy game," Jace grumbled.

"Uh huh," Izzy replied placatingly, rolling her eyes before pulling Simon in the direction of the bedroom. Alec wasn't sure what they were going to do in there, but they'd always gotten along well. Izzy had a soft spot for the vampire since the moment he and Clary burst into their lives. For a long time, Alec couldn't even begin to figure out why. Now he regretted waiting so long to give him a chance.

"You know, not everything has to be about something else. A game can just be a game. For fun," Alec murmured.

"I never thought I'd hear that coming from you," Jace snorted, placing one of his ships before shaking his head and picking it up again. "Even something like making the bed was a training opportunity."

"You never know when you need to turn a bed sheet into a weapon," Alec pointed out. "But you're right. I've come to realize recently that I don't know how to relax."

"I could've told you that. I probably should've told you that."

"And I probably wouldn't have listened."

"Things got complicated, didn't they?"

"They always have been. I think we were just better at hiding or ignoring it," Alec said, leaning back and disregarding the game completely. "I've always been so jealous of you."

"What? Why?" Jace asked incredulously.

"You excel in everything you try. And everyone is naturally drawn to you."

"That's not true."

"And you're fearless. You make a decision and go toward it with everything you've got, no matter what."

"That isn't always a good thing."

"But you are good. Even when we don't see eye to eye, your heart is always in the right place."

"That doesn't mean I don't make mistakes. Sometimes I feel like you've put me on this pedestal that I don't deserve and it's too much pressure," Jace confessed. "Like I have to live up to this impossible standard you have for me."

"I'm sorry," Alec replied, feeling stricken. That sounded a lot like how he felt about the pressure his parents put on him and the thought that Alec made Jace feel the same made him sick.

"I'm not mad at you for it. I just wish you didn't use me to put yourself down."

"That's- yeah, that's exactly what I've done," Alec admitted. "I am always so proud of your accomplishments, but with each one, I wonder if that'll be the thing that does it. If that'll be the moment you realize."

"Realize what?"

"That you made a mistake when you chose me to be your parabatai," Alec whispered. Jace lurched forward suddenly, grabbing Alec by the collar. He thought for a second that Jace was about to hit him, but instead Alec was pulled into a crushing hug. Alec fell into it like he had in the kitchen with Izzy, appreciating being in the arms of his brother and best friend.

"Why on earth would you ever think that?" Jace growled in his ear, trying to sound angry, but only sounding heartbroken.

"I feel like I've always needed you more than you needed me," Alec sniffled, pressing his forehead into Jace's shoulder. "Just being around you felt like a gift. And I thought everyone might start seeing me as more like you."

"Alec, I have loved you since the moment we met."

"I almost shot you with an arrow the moment we met."

"That doesn't make what I said any less true. Alec, when I'm around you, I feel whole. I feel at peace. No matter what happens, no matter how much time has passed, you are my home."

"Shit," Alec choked out, fully crying now. That was how he felt about Jace as well, but he could never truly convince himself that it went both ways. Like the love that he felt was too big that it could never be matched, especially for someone like him. But to hear his parabatai, one of the best people he'd ever known, say these words to him meant everything.

"I've never questioned my decision to become your parabatai and I never will," Jace said quietly, clearing his throat as his own emotions caused his voice to shake a little. They stayed silent for a few minutes, just holding each other. Alec didn't think he'd been hugged so much in his entire life than he had the past couple of weeks. The thought was equal parts heartwarming and depressing.

When they finally broke apart, Jace's face was splotchy and red. Alec was pretty sure he didn't look much better, but he felt better. Who knew how much talking things out could actually help? Maybe if he'd tried it years ago, things wouldn't have gotten so bad. But there was no going back now. Alec would have to make sure he remembered this and didn't slip back into old habits in the future.

"I feel like it's been forever since we talked like this," Alec sighed, digging the heels of his palms into his eyes. All these emotional moments were making him tired. Hopefully that meant it would be easier to fall into a dreamless sleep. "Maybe since my pathetic bachelor party."

"Or before Clary," Jace said carefully. Alec winced, thinking of all the things that had transpired since that fateful night. It had brought on some of the worst moments of his life, but also some of the best. He really didn't hold it against her anymore, but back then it was easy to blame her, since she showed up when shit started hitting the fan. But she was just as much of a victim as any of them.

"Jace, I-"

"I think I can explain part of the reason why I bonded so fast to Clary," Jace said quickly, holding his hand up to stop Alec from speaking. At Alec's nod, he continued. "She sort of reminded me of myself."

"Stubborn and bull-headed?" Alec deadpanned, flashing a teasing smile so Jace wouldn't take too much offense.

"Besides that," Jace grumbled good-naturedly. "She was alone in a new place, just like I was when I met you. And I remember how great your family was at welcoming an outsider. How great you were. And I wanted to be like that for her."

"That makes sense, I guess."

"But I still went about it the wrong way. I should've talked to you more, instead of getting swept up into wanting to be the hero. I didn't consider the situation I was putting you in with the Clave."

"I should've listened to you more, instead of trying to be the Clave's perfect leader. There were times when I wanted to throw caution to the wind and follow you wherever you went, but I knew that that would leave you too vulnerable. I had to do what I could to keep my position, so I could protect you."

"I'm sorry I didn't understand that then, but I do now. That's why you're the best of us when it comes to being a leader."

"I wouldn't go that far," Alec huffed. He trusted both Jace and Izzy to lead everyone into a better future. Even when he was hurt when Jace was made head over him, it wasn't because he thought Jace was an inadequate choice.

"I would. You lead with your heart and your head. You make the hard choices when you need to, because it leaves you in the position to make the good choices. The choices that are gonna make the Clave into something better than it ever was," Jace said sincerely. "From now on, I'm gonna do anything I can to help make your load lighter. I'm gonna listen when you tell me to do or not do something, instead of going off and doing what I want anyway. And if I have a problem with what you're telling me, I'm going to talk to you about it."

"And I'll listen to your input," Alec promised.

"And if I can't help with the official stuff, I'll help with the personal stuff. You can come to me with anything," Jace said, staring at him seriously. Alec's mind flashed back to when he was standing in the middle of empty buildings, waiting for death to finally take him. He'd been convinced that he was alone in this world and had no other options, but that wasn't true. Even when things weren't perfect, if Alec had gone to one of his siblings and told them the truth of how he was feeling, they would've listened. Alec had mastered putting up a front so well that he'd even convinced himself of something that wasn't true. Alec was never alone.

"So, who won?" Simon asked, popping his head into the room. Alec glanced around at everyone. At his parabatai, who was looking at him with so much understanding and determination. At his sister, who had a look of overwhelming affection. And at Simon, who looked like standing in the loft of a warlock and surrounded by shadowhunters was the most natural thing. Alec knew who the winner was.

"I did."

"I have never seen someone get that piece out without making the buzzer go off," Simon said in wonder. Forget magic and runes, this was the most incredible thing he'd ever witnessed. "We'd always leave it out."

"It's all in the wrist," Isabelle smirked, holding up the little horse in the pair of tweezers.

"I have terrible wrists."

"Who is Charlie and how did his horse end up in someone's body?" Jace questioned, growling when the wishbone fell from his grasp with an accompanying buzz.

"It's just another name for a cramp. I'm not sure where it came from," Simon shrugged.

"Leave it to mundanes to nickname pain," Jace snorted, tossing his tweezers onto the table. "This game sucks."

"Or you just suck at it," Isabelle teased, easily grabbing the piece Jace had just been struggling with.

"We all bow down to the queen of Operation," Simon said seriously, bowing as best he could from where he was sitting on the floor around the table with Jace and Isabelle.

"Alec, do you want a turn?" Isabelle asked, turning to look up at where her brother was sitting on the couch. The tiny snore she got in response was answer enough. Alec had his head tipped back over the back of the couch and he was completely out. Simon stared at him fondly, glad that sleep was finally starting to come easier to his new friend. He was worried that the incident with his parents would've kept him up all night. Simon was prepared to stay up with him, but Alec getting rest was always best.

"You really care about him, don't you?" Jace asked, staring at him with a calculating look. Simon and Jace had had a complicated relationship from the beginning. It was mostly in connection to Clary, but Simon recalled calling Jace out on his relationship with Alec as well. It made sense that Jace would be cautious about someone getting closer to one of the most important people in his life.

"I do," Simon confirmed.

"I have to admit, I'm wildly curious about how this all started," Isabelle said, flashing him a friendly smile. "No offense, but I didn't think you and my brother particularly liked each other."

"I mean, I always thought he was cool. In that intimidating, closed-off, watch him from afar kind of way," Simon chuckled. If Alec had approached him in a less dire circumstance and asked him to be friends, he would've immediately jumped at the chance. He wasn't the type to write people off unless they'd done something completely unforgivable and Alec hadn't been anywhere near that point. Especially after getting to know him better, his prickly exterior was mostly a defense mechanism. When he let his guard down, he was just as mushy as the rest of them.

"That doesn't really answer how we got to this point," Jace pressed. Simon sighed, staring at the floor as he thought of the night he found Alec in his lowest moment. It still made him sick to think of how many things had to happen for Simon to be there at the exact right moment. If he'd walked down a different street, or stopped at a store, or even walked a little faster or a little slower. If Alec hadn't shot that arrow, he wouldn't be snoring a few feet from him in the safety of Magnus' loft.

"I don't think it's my story to tell," Simon replied, glancing at both of them regretfully. Even if he could argue that they both should know what happened, it wasn't his decision to make. If Alec wanted them to know, he could tell them. Or give him permission to tell. But Simon wouldn't push or break his confidence.

"Come on."

"I ran into him, we talked, and that's all I'm gonna say. The rest has to come from Alec."

"But you were with him, right? When he left us in charge of the institute?" Isabelle asked.

"I was." It probably wasn't that hard to figure out, since they both disappeared and reappeared around the same time. But Simon was still hesitant to say more. Especially with Alec sleeping only a few feet away. If he woke up in the middle of Simon talking about their time together, he might never trust him again. And Simon cherished that hard earned trust more than he could explain.

"Thank you."

"What?" Simon asked, staring at Jace in surprise.

"Thank you for being there for him when I wasn't," Jace said sincerely.

"We owe you a lot for helping him and we won't forget it," Isabelle added, reaching over and squeezing his arm.

"You really don't owe me anything. I- Alec's a good guy and spending time with him was never a hardship. I'd do it all again." While some of the conversations he'd had with Alec while he was at his lowest were emotionally taxing, he'd have them all a million times over if that's what Alec needed. A particularly loud snore from Alec broke the emotional tension in the room and the three of them grinned, looking up at him.

"We probably shouldn't leave him like that. It'll be terrible for his neck," Isabelle said, stretching and hiding a yawn in her fist. Now that Alec had succumbed to his tiredness, Simon was starting to feel it too.

"Sleepover rules dictate that we should draw on Alec's face or play some sort of prank on him, since he fell asleep first, but we'll let it slide this time," Simon chuckled.

"Remind me again how these things are supposed to be fun?" Jace grumbled.

"Are you still pouting about a boat game?" Isabelle snickered.

"I don't pout!"

"You do pout," Alec's tired voice murmured. "And I'm not asleep."

"You were snoring," Isabelle pointed out.

"I don't snore."

"Jace pouts, Alec snores, and they are both in denial."

"Someone has to be the perfect sibling. I guess it has to be-"

"Max," Alec and Jace interjected at the same time.

"Fine," Isabelle conceded, standing up and stretching again. "We should all go to bed."

"Not tired," Alec mumbled, even though he hadn't opened his eyes once through the whole conversation.

"Right," Jace smirked, slapping him on the leg. "Is my room still set up?"

"You don't have a room," Alec grunted, scrubbing a hand over his face. "I can't believe you lived with my boyfriend before I did."

"It was a good way to vet him and make sure he was worthy of being with my parabatai."

"Right," Alec snorted, before forcefully levering himself off of the couch. He was still half asleep and didn't have his bearings yet, so he started to list a little to the side. Simon used his vamp speed to spring up next to him, settling himself under Alec's arm before anyone could react. Alec quirked his lips gratefully, leaning a bit of his weight on him.

"I didn't bring anything to sleep in," Isabelle said around a yawn.

"Borrow whatever of mine you find in the closet," Alec replied, waving his hand in the direction of the master bedroom. They all shuffled into the room, with Isabelle and Jace branching off to look at their options. Alec stopped short when they got to the bed, but before Simon could ask what was wrong, he saw Alec gently poke at the little plastic Life car with his finger. He didn't say anything, but Simon could see the appreciative smile on his face.

"You're not changing?" Simon asked, grinning as Alec climbed into the bed and burrowed under the blankets. He looked so relaxed and young that it almost made Simon forget the reason they were all in Magnus' loft.

"Don't want to wake up," Alec mumbled, grabbing one of the pillows and pulling it to his chest.

"I get it. It's like when you wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, but you leave the lights off and try to keep your eyes closed to trick your body into getting back to sleep quicker."

"Why are you talking about going to the bathroom? Do vampires even go to the bathroom?" Jace asked, walking back into the room with clothes that were obviously a few sizes too big. It was nothing compared to Isabelle, who looked like she was swimming in her outfit.

"Big Brother, do you really have to be so tall?" Isabelle grumbled, kicking at the pant legs that were fully covering her feet. The shirt she was wearing looked like a dress.

"I guess I took the title too seriously," Alec joked, yawning into his pillow."Move over. This bed looks so comfortable." Isabelle wiggled her way under the covers, pushing Alec into the center.

"Iz!"

"I was right. This is so much better than the mattresses at the institute. Do you think Magnus would get me one?"

"There's a perfectly good mattress in the guest room for you to try out," Alec grumbled.

"Come on. There's plenty of room," Jace laughed, flopping onto the foot of the bed and laying across it. "We used to squeeze onto the bed in your room and pass out after going through tons of rune books."

"That was a few years and a few feet of growth ago," Alec argued half-heartedly. Simon could tell he was starting to fall back to sleep, even though he was trying not to. But he didn't think it was like it was before, when he was afraid to go to sleep. If he was feeling the way Simon was right now, he wasn't ready for this night to end.

"Come on, Simon. There's room for you too," Isabelle said, patting the bed on the other side of Alec. He hesitated, feeling a bit on the outside. Simon didn't have the history the siblings had. And while he'd grown close to Alec over these last weeks, it didn't compare to a lifetime.

"I don't know. Maybe-"

"I can sleep in your bed, but you're too good to sleep in mine?" Alec's sleepy voice asked from where it was muffled in his pillow.

"Pardon?"

"What does that mean?" Isabelle and Jace asked simultaneously.

"Forgive me for the lack of boats and mildew," Alec snorted, waving his hand toward the empty section of the bed, before it flopped back down onto the mattress.

"I guess I'll let it slide this time," Simon smirked, cautiously climbing onto the bed. If he and Alec could share a couch in the cabin, this wouldn't be too bad. Jace laying across their feet like a pet dog was a little weird, but he'd get over it. "This bed is so much better than mine."

"I bet we could convince Magnus to let us all move in. Especially me. I am his second favorite shadowhunter."

"How do you know he didn't mean I was his second favorite and you were the fourth?" Jace huffed. Simon and Isabelle let out twin laughs of amusement. "Hey! Alec, help me out here." The only response he got was a snore. If Simon thought Alec was doing it on purpose, he'd commend his comedic timing.

"He's always looked so much younger when he sleeps," Isabelle whispered, carefully brushing a lock of hair off Alec's forehead. "Like all the burdens he carries are just gone."

"I'll make sure he starts looking like this when he's awake too," Jace promised, nodding in determination.

"We all will," Simon agreed. Isabelle snuggled down next to her brother, grabbing his hand and lacing their fingers together. Alec made a little noise of contentment, before settling again. A sleepover wasn't a bad idea after all.

Magnus let out a sigh of relief as the portal disappeared behind him. It was still early in New York and the sun hadn't even risen yet. He'd been eager to get back home, so the second his business was concluded, he was summoning a portal and going back home.

Even though it was only a day in the end, he still hated leaving Alexander alone. He hated leaving Alexander in the best of times as well, but even more so when things were shaky. If it were up to him, they'd spend every second of every day together. Some people might worry that it would lead to annoyance or boredom spending that much time together, but it wouldn't for them. Magnus had centuries of time to prove he knew what was in his heart. And his heart was distinctly Alexander shaped.

There hadn't been any communication while he was gone, which was expected. They were both busy men and Alexander wouldn't want to do anything to distract Magnus or make his trip longer. He appreciated the consideration, even though he would always make time for his love.

Magnus crept toward the bedroom, hoping that Alexander had chosen to sleep in the loft and was still asleep, instead of sleeping at the institute or leaving for work early. He wouldn't begrudge him either of those choices, as long as he made them happily. But there was something special about Alexander making the choice to stay in their home, even if Magnus wasn't there with him.

He stopped short with a gasp when he finally got to the bedroom. He felt like the character from a mundane Christmas show he'd watched years back, when the green thing's heart grew three sizes with love.

Alexander was home and he was still asleep, but he wasn't alone. Simon's back was pressed firmly against Alexander's, while Isabelle was curled into his chest, with their hands clasped together. Jace was haphazardly flopped on the end of the bed, but his hand was tightly gripped around Alexander's ankle. Magnus hadn't needed to worry at all, did he?

Reluctantly, he backed out of the room, leaving the pile of young Nephilim and vampire to their slumber. While he still ached to be with his love again, he could wait and let them have their rest. He glanced around the living room, now noticing the mess of food and games left behind. Magnus was looking forward to hearing the story behind what went down the night before, but again, he could wait.

He went to the kitchen, deciding to pass the time by making breakfast for everyone by hand, instead of portalling something in from a random restaurant on the other side of the world. Magnus felt content and relaxed, like things were finally settling into what they were always meant to be. There would still be bumps in the road, but neither he nor Alexander would have to weather them alone.