Magnus feels bad about lying to Alec this morning. Ragnor asked if they both wanted to have lunch with him today, but this morning after their mind blowing sex, Magnus had an epiphany. As he was trailing kisses down Alexander's torso, he realized that he wants to wake up with Alexander by his side for the rest of their lives. The thought freaked him out momentairly, but the more he thinks about it, the more he wants it.

Magnus walks into the restaurant and immediately sees his Cabbage. They greet each other, and Magnus sits down. The server immediately comes to take their food and drink orders, and Magnus is glad that Ragnor has chosen a restaurant they frequent so much that he doesn't even need to look at the menu.

"Where's pretty boy today? Usually you two are attached at the hip." Ragnor says.

"I kind of lied to him and told him that you were having a crisis, and needed to get some advice from me." Magnus says, looking down at his hands in shame. He truly didn't want to lie to Alec, but he didn't know what else to do, and he needs his best friends advice right now.

Hearing Ragnor's sigh, Magnus looks back up at his friend. "Magnus, what on earth is going on? You two seem so happy, in fact, you two are sickeningly sweet with each other to the point where it's almost nauseating for everyone else."

"No, no! We're fine... great actually, but I realized something today and it scared the shit out of me." Magnus says, Ragnor nods his head, encouraging Magnus to continue, "I want to marry him!"

If the shocked look is anything to go by, Ragnor also thinks it's insane so Magnus clarifies, "I'm not stupid enough to ask him to marry me after only six months together, but I at least want to ask him to move in with me."

Opening and closing his mouth repeatedly, Ragnor finally finds his voice, "Okay. Yes, I do believe that you would scare Alec off if you were to propose, but asking him to move in is a reasonable request."

"But how do I ask him? I don't want to come off sounding too clingy, and I sure as hell don't want to push him into doing something that he may not be ready for." Magnus' voice seems to be getting higher and higher as he speaks. He takes a few deep breaths, calming himself down, "I just don't want to freak him out. What if me asking him to move in, pushes our relationship to a breaking point?"

"What do you mean, 'breaking point'?" Ragnor uses air quotes when asking. "Do you think that living together will be such a bad thing? You're pretty much living together now. And I should remind you, before Alec was injured, you two were spending every weekend together, as well as working together. I don't see the problem here."

"No." Magnus shakes his head, "I don't think that him moving in would be a problem. I'm saying that me asking might be. What if he isn't ready for that next step and it breaks us up?" Magnus tries to rephrase his concerns.

"Then let him know that it's okay if he's not ready yet. Reassure him that if he doesn't want to take that next step, nothing in your relationship has to change. You two can go back to how things were before the shooting." Ragnor says like it's the simplest solution.

"But when should I ask him? I don't want to ask him too soon, just in case he isn't ready yet. I don't want him to feel awkward around me for the next couple of weeks if he says no. And I don't want him to go back home yet either. I'm just stuck on when the best time would be." Magnus says. He's sure that he's overthinking the whole thing, but he can't help but worry.

Ragnor gives a contemplative look, then his face lights up, "Do it at your dad's launch party!"

"What?" Is the only thing Magnus can think of to ask.

"You said you didn't want to do it too soon, and your dad's launch party is in about two weeks. That's roughly at the same time Alec should be getting his medical clearance to go back to work. It's the perfect time to ask him!" Ragnor exclaims.

"Damn it, Cabbage! You, my dear friend are a genius!" Magnus says, elated that his best friend is able to help him out with this, "I'll do it at the party! It's perfect!"

"Great! Now we need to set up a plan. All of our friends are going to be there, but I don't suggest you ask him in front of everyone. You don't want him to feel pressured to make his decision go one way or the other." Magnus nods in agreement, "Your dad has an outdoor eating area correct?" Magnus nods again, "After dinner, take him out there. Tell him how you feel, then ask him. But make sure that you emphasis that he doesn't have to feel obligated to say yes. Reiterate that your relationship can, and will stay the same no matter what his decision is."

"Okay, I can do that. I'll do it at the launch party." Magnus breathes deeply to calm his nerves. He knows that he's going to be nervous when the time comes, but at least now he has a solid plan.

"Good. Buck up old friend. I think everything will turn out to be fine. Alec is just as crazy about you as you are of him. I don't see any reason why he would say no." Ragnor pauses as their food arrives, "As far as this whole lying thing goes, I will cover for you just this once. I love that kid, and I don't want you lying to him again. We can tell him that I wanted some advice on Catarina or something." Ragnor waves a hand in the air as if to save the problem with magic.

"And how are things going with you and the lovely doctor Loss?" Magnus inquires. Wanting to take his mind off of the events that have led up to him meeting with Ragnor in the first place.

Ragnor's eyes light up, his smile is gentle, and a blush forms on the apples of his cheeks. Magnus has never seen his grumpy ass best friend look like this before.

"We're doing very well. She's my plus one to the launch party. She made sure that she gave herself, as well as Clary and Helen the night off for the event. From what I've heard, Clary's boyfriend, aka your boyfriends brother, is to be the head chef at that location?" Ragnor says.

"That he is. You remember Jace, don't you?" Magnus asks.

"Yes, he's the blond one, right?"

"That's right," Magnus confirms. "He was at our loft last weekend. Dad finally gave him a night off so he could unwind. Dad constantly sings Jace's praises, but don't tell Jace that. His ego is big enough on it's own. Dad said that he can't believe that no one was willing to hire him, and he's glad that he was the one to be able to give Jace this opportunity."

"He held himself like he was an asshole, but once you talk to him, he's a great guy" Ragnor continues. "His girlfriend, Clary, she's a true gem." Magnus is elated that Ragnor likes his friends, especially because they've become so important to Magnus.

"Biscuit truly is wonderful. She's fiercely protective of those she cares about, but wouldn't hesitate to put you in your place when needed. She's actually perfect for Jace. Keeps him grounded." Magnus praises, then thinks about something. Ragnor is a sneaky mother fucker, "Hey! Don't change the subject. Tell me how things are going with you and Cat, and don't just say 'good'."

"Fine! Fine!" Ragnor chuckles, he almost got away with changing the subject, "Things are still very new between us, but she is the kindest woman I have ever had the privilege of dating. We only get to see each other once a week due to her schedule at the hospital, but we text and talk constantly. She's very..." Ragnor waves his hand, seemingly trying to come up with a proper word to use to describe her, "refreshing."

Magnus blinks, surprised. That's the word he wants to use to describe the woman he's so smitten with, refreshing!

"Okay then." Magnus says, coming out of his haze, not sure what else to say to that.

Sighing, Ragnor gives Magnus a pointed look, "You know I'm emotionally stunted. But Cat makes me actually feel. I honestly don't know how to describe how I feel when I'm with her." Magnus understands. That's the same indescribable feeling he gets when he thinks about Alexander. It's even worse when he's with him.

They chat some more while finishing their lunch. Ragnor telling Magnus about his work, Magnus giving way too much information about what he and Alexander have been doing. Then they part ways.

As Magnus is heading out the door, he gets a phone call from his mother asking him to stop by and help her with something she needs done in the house. Magnus sends her a text letting her know that he's on his way, then sends Alexander a text letting him know where he's going.

~oOo~

Arriving at his parents house, Magnus notices the living room full of fabric swatches, tables set up with different styles of cutlery, plates and glassware. He chuckles, knowing that his mother wants his help in deciding what to use for the new restaurants launch party. Whatever they choose for the launch party will indeed end up being the decor for the restaurant itself when it officially opens two weeks after the party.

"Mags!" The familiar voice comes from right behind him. Magnus turns, a curse about to slip through his lips.

"Ow," Magnus whines as his mother smacks him on the backside of the head for almost swearing.

"My baby boy, how are you?" Annisa pulls him into a hug and kisses his cheek. Then she looks around, "Where's Alec?"

"He is at home spending some one on one time with Clary. I was out having lunch with Ragnor when I got your text." Annisa nods, looking like she wants to ask him something.

"Is everything okay between you two? I know for a while you were getting frustrated that he wasn't coming around here with you. I thought things were better?" She asks.

"Oh, no! Everything's great with us. He just hasn't been able to spend alone time with his siblings and friends for a while, and I needed to speak to Ragnor alone about something. But I assure you, Alexander and I are perfect." Magnus quickly explains.

"Good, good." She says, "Is it too soon to say that I love that boy, and I hope and pray that he becomes my son-in-law?"

Magnus chuckles, "It's not too soon to say that to me, just don't say that to Alec. He might freak out. We've only been together for half a year."

"Fair enough. I wouldn't want to scare the poor boy away." Annisa laughs as she leads Magnus into the living room, "I'll just get down to business. I want your opinion on all of this." She gestures towards the different place settings around the room.

Magnus walks around the settings, and visualises how the restaurant is set up, and what the color scheme is. He knows from potos, and the many debates he's witnessed his parents have, that the carpets are a deep maroon, dark mahogany wainscoting paired with maroon paint for the walls. Dim lighting throughout the dining room with crystal chandeliers and wall sconces. The tables are the same dark mahogany as the wainscoting. The entire restaurant reminds Magnus of what the New York elite would dine in during the late eighteen hundreds or early nineteen hundreds. Needless to say, the restaurant is gorgeous!

It takes Magnus all of fifteen minutes to choose the perfect place setting. He clears off one of the tables, replaces the black tablecloth with a cream colored one with gold threaded paisley pattern throughout. He then grabs a matching set of crystal glassware, maroon linen napkins, and gold cutlery. He sets the table up, and grabs crystal salt and pepper shakers and a small crystal vase that is filled with red and white roses. The centerpiece is low enough that it doesn't obstruct the view of multiple guests sitting at the table.

Stepping back, Magnus turns and looks at his mother. She's staring that the place setting with a look of amazement. "Magnus, this is beautiful! I've been working on these for days, and you come in here and find the perfect setting in just twenty minutes! How do you do it?"

Chuckling, Magnus shrugs his shoulders, "I'm not the one who ordered the samples. You just needed a second opinion, and I was here to provide it."

Sitting down on the couch, Magnus looks at his mom, "How's the guest list coming along?"

"It's done." Annisa says with what Magnus thinks is a relieved sigh, "Of course there's you and all of your friends, The Morgenstern's, Penhollow's, and Blackthorn's - all of the Blackthorn's - your father's new attorney's, a few government officials, and a few chef's that your father knows. There will be roughly a hundred people at the launch party."

"I always thought dad's attorney's was the Blackthorn's?" Magnus says, sounding more of a question than anything else.

"No. They offered but your father knows how busy they are. Plus they mostly handle the LGBT community, more than anything else." She says, "His last attorney retired, and he referred your father to his old partners."

"Fair enough." Magnus shrugs, "Does dad like them?"

"He's only spoken to them on the phone. They'll formally meeting them at the launch party. He gets to spend his time out in the dining room evaluating the wait staff for the first time in his life. He loves Alec's brother. He says that the kid shows great promise and is fully confident that he won't need to check on the kitchen at all." Annisa says, there's a bit of pride laced in her voice. Magnus is a slightly shocked because every restaurant opening he's ever been to, his dad has always stayed in the kitchen, letting his restaurant manager handle the dining room. His father must have a lot of faith in Jace if he's considering letting him handle things on his own.

"Well, I'm glad he's already comfortable with Jace." Magnus says with a smile, "I remember in the past, whenever dad would open a new restaurant, we wouldn't see him for at least the first three months of the opening. Maybe he won't be like that this time around."

"Who knows, maybe you're right son." Annisa laughs along with Magnus.

Magnus then explains that he needs to head to the store and buy Alec's sugar free maple syrup before he goes home. Magnus kisses his mother goodbye, then lets himself out to go home to his boyfriend.