Magnus was working on his mid-morning duties alone in the servant's dining hall when the bell to the library began ringing, requesting service. He looked around. The only signs of life were the clanging of pots and pans from the kitchen.

He rose, leaving the sewing that had to be done on the table. He really wasn't qualified nor in the position to be seeing what needed to be done in the library but the masters didn't like waiting either.

Magnus climbed up to the living levels, finding his way through the halls to the library.

He knocked before entering. Mister Lightwood's voice rang through first, ordering him to enter.

"Good morning, sir," Magnus said, giving a little bow.

"Mr. Bane," Alexander and his father said in unison. The elder of the two was seated at his own desk, the younger standing over his shoulder. Alexander took a step back, giving his father room to speak.

"Alexander is insistent on traveling to north of the city."

Magnus knew better than to ask.

"When?" Magnus asked.

"Tonight. I've been invited to dinner at a friend's," Alexander said. His father seemed skeptical but wasn't protesting.

"Are we going to be away awhile? Should I pack--?"

"Yes," Alexander said. "For three nights, at the most."

"I still disagree with the idea," Robert Lightwood announced. "You do not need to travel right now."

"Miss Emma will not be here while I am gone. I will be home in time to receive her this Saturday--"

"And if she comes early?"

"I trust Jace and Isabelle will be just fine," Alexander said, bitterly. He motioned for Magnus to follow as he strode out of the room.

"May I ask where we're going?" Magnus asked as they climbed the stairs quickly.

"Use your imagination, Mr. Bane," Alexander said, glancing back. "You're a smart man; you'll figure it out."

.......

"Can I have permission to speak freely?" Magnus asked as the car pulled up the long drive.

"No, I know what you'll say," Alexander said. "I do not need you to say it."

"As long as you know," Magnus said, sitting back in his seat. Magnus and Alexander exited as the car pulled around to the carriage house.

The doors to the house were opened by the butler and a doorman. A man stunningly similar to Alexander started descending the stairs. His hair was flecked with white, and his clothes were starched and ironed to perfection.

"Mr. Lightwood," the man said. "You presence is unwanted."

"We need to speak," Alexander said in the short way he always seemed to speak.

"Absolutely not," he countered.

"There's no need to make this a show."

"Funny, I was about to say that as well."

"This isn't funny," Alexander pressed. "We can settle this civilly inside."

"I don't recall you being the stubborn one." The man smiled in a cold way. But he had obviously given up protesting. He turned back around and Alexander followed. Magnus ascended the stairs, following them.

Magnus stopped outside the doors the two had gone into, unsure of what to do.

The butler of this house approached him.

"You must be Mr. Lightwood's valet," he said.

"Yes," Magnus said.

"Is your master insistent on staying the night?"

"I never quite know what his plans are," Magnus said.

"Then I'll have a place made for both of you," he sighed.

.........

"We're not staying," Alexander muttered as he threw the library doors open an hour later. Magnus had them keep the luggage in the car on the chance Alexander's meeting did not go as planned.

As Alexander charged for the front door, Magnus thanked their hosting butler and scrambled to keep up with Alexander.

"Where are we going then?" Magnus asked.

"A hotel, I don't care," Alexander hissed.

Magnus had the car pulled around and five minutes later they were back in the heart of London, on their way to an unknown hotel.

Alexander didn't stop seething until they were behind closed doors, Magnus arranging the luggage in the suite.

"If you keep pacing, you'll fall through the floor," Magnus commented.

Alexander froze, frowning.

"That's what my mother used to say," Magnus said.

"What did you have to pace about?" Somehow, he'd managed to remove any aire of contempt from the question.

"Finding a job. Moving out of her house," Magnus said.

"Well you succeeded," Alexander said, falling back on the bed.

"And so will you," Magnus said.

"I am set marry within the year," Alexander said. "And I have never looked at woman and found her appealing."

"It's not something you learn," Magnus said. "Your feelings are your feelings."

"And how do I explain that to Miss Emma?" Alexander asked.

Their sad faces matched. Magnus was sad for Alexander, and Alexander was sad for himself, as the rich had been raised to be.

"You could run away to America," Magnus proposed. Alexander laughed, startlingly abruptly.

"I'd rather hang than declare myself an American."

"And if you can't produce an heir?" Magnus asked.

"Watch yourself," Alexander warned.

"First it's 'I don't want you' then it's 'watch yourself.' I just want to be your friend, Alexander," Magnus insisted. "If you don't want me as your valet, fine. But if you insist on carting me around and making me pretend, let me help you in other ways."

"And how does your friendship help me?" Alexander asked.

Magnus turned his back on Alexander, annoyed yet again.

He fumbled with the locks on the luggage for a moment until he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"I fired all of the valets because I couldn't have them know this," Alexander said. "I can't trust anyone with this. My life cannot be ruined because of this."

"I'm not going to tell anyone," Magnus said, turning around.

Alexander's face was horribly shattered. It was then that Magnus finally realized the gravity of it all.

"I'm not going to tell a soul," Magnus repeated. "I promise."

"Thank you," Alexander said. His hand slid up Magnus' neck, his fingers running along each bump of his vertebrae.

Magnus was frozen. He was allowed to resist, he was allowed to say no. But he didn't want to. He wanted Alexander to kiss him like he wanted to breathe.

Alexander leaned in, slowly parting Magnus' lips with his.

"We shouldn't," Alexander mumbled, his forehead pressed against Magnus'.

"Why not?" Magnus whispered. Magnus stepped even closer to Alexander, wrapping his arms around Alexander's waist. He pressed his lips to Alexander's, begging him for more.

Alexander pulled Magnus towards him, stepping back towards the bed. Alexander ran into one of the bed post, and Magnus kept going, letting his fingers run through Alexander's hair. Alexander sighed into Magnus' lips.

"Alexander," Magnus growled. Alexander twisted them, pushing Magnus onto the bed.

"We shouldn't," Alexander repeated, as he hovered over Magnus.

Magnus put a hand on Alexander's cheek.

"Why not?"