Conditional Love

Chapter 20

Alec is over the moon happy. Ever since he and Magnus have gotten back together, they've spent every waking moment with each other. Of course, Alec has his alone time with his family, same as Magnus, but for the most part they haven't been apart for even one full day. Each morning before work, the two of them would meet up and go to the gym together, then have lunch together. And since his birthday weekend - the first weekend Alec spent at Magnus' place - he's been staying at his boyfriend's place every weekend. Alec loves going to bed and waking up next to Magnus each day. It's even gotten to the point where he doesn't want to go back home the night before work starts.

What this really all amounts to is that Alec can no longer deny that he's in love with Magnus. The problem is when to say it out loud. Alec wants to do something special for Magnus, and he's been racking his brain trying to figure out how to go about doing so. He's considering asking his siblings for help. And he doesn't make much money, so if he wants to take Magnus to a nice restaurant, he's going to have to save up the money for it.

Today Alec is going to introduce Magnus to Izzy. He's so nervous, even though he's sure Izzy will love Magnus just as much as he does. They are going to help Izzy and Sheldon move into their new apartment. Alec confirmed about a thousand times that his parents would in fact not be there. Izzy said that once they got back to California, she met their parents for lunch since they were still there on business, and cussed them up one side and down the other. Then she told them that she wanted nothing to do with them anymore. She even changed her cell number, and refused to give them her new address. Alec isn't sure that his siblings will be able to hide from their parents forever, but they're both making the effort. He still feels guilty that they are writing off their parents, just for his sake. Alec hadn't asked them to cut all ties. He'd have been fine with Izzy and Jace maintaining a relationship with mom and dad. He just won't be around when they were. The door chime goes off, interrupting Alec's thoughts. He buzzes Magnus in, then waits at the door for his arrival.

"Someone seems eager to see their boyfriend," Jace says as he sneaks up behind Alec, scaring the ever living crap out of him.

"What can I say, he just does things to me," Alec responds with a smirk once he's done with the shock of Jace's arrival.

"Ew, dude! I don't want to know about your sex life," Jace exclaims with a shutter, causing Alec to laugh.

"Hello, darling. What are you laughing at" Magnus asks as he approaches the door.

"Oh nothing. Just making my brother uncomfortable," Alec teases, glaring at Jace. "I'm still trying to pay him back for making me see him and Clary naked in my bed. Are you guys ready to go?"

"Ah yes. Jace, you really did a number on Alec," Magnus snickers. "He was traumatized that whole weekend."

"Yeah, and Clary and I have apologised about that. Let it go," Jace whines.

"No dude! You are my brother! And she may as well be my sister. I can't unsee that!" Alec exclaims as he ushers Jace out of the apartment.

"So, how are things going with you and biscuit?" Magnus asks.

Jace gets a dopey, love sick smile on his face, "Great! I really think she's the one, and I feel like I've known her my whole life. When I'm with her, I can't concentrate on anything other than her, and when we're apart, she's all I ever think about."

"Since when did you turn into a sap?" Alec looks at Jace incredulously, "Whatever happened to the 'I'm never going to settle down with one person, all of this awesomeness should be shared', mentality you had in high school?"

Alec loves to tease his brother and there hadn't been this perfect an opportunity to do so in a long time.

"Hey! I grew out of that man. College was all about grades and cooking, so I didn't bother looking for a relationship." Jace says. "Now that I'm done with school and have a great job, I can put the effort into a real relationship. Plus... there's just something about Clary, you know?"