January 29th, 1912.

Magnus was certain it had been the dreariest winter on record. Or perhaps he was just finally noticing how dark and damp winters were upon his return to London. Alexander had decided to take an impromptu solo holiday to the French countryside and brought Magnus along with him. It had been just them for a little over two months and those days had been amazing. When Alexander received word that he was to come home immediately, Magnus' heart had broken. Reality had returned once again.

Catarina was leaning on the wall outside the servants' entrance, arms crossed and horrible grin on her face.

"I've figured it out," she said triumphantly.

"It only took you two months," Magnus said, dropping his suitcases.

"No, it took you two months," she said, rushing into Magnus' arms. "We've missed you."

"Only you missed me, Catarina," Magnus said. "And you could have written me the answer."

"It was the maid, correct? You can't clean the corners of a round house," she said.

"The maid indeed," Magnus said.

"There's something you should know though," she said. "Lord Lightwood wants to speak to Mister Alexander as soon as he's settled."

"Mister Alexander has been asked not to be disturbed," Magnus said, sticking his hands in his pockets.

"He won't have a choice."

"What do you know?"

........

Magnus had been tossing and turning in the squeaky bed all night. He had gotten himself used to a far more comfortable bed in Alexander's room in the little cottage they had stayed in. He'd also gotten used to someone else beside him every night.

Now he was alone.

He was just finally getting to sleep when a hand covered his mouth and Alexander's eyes appeared over his, just barely glowing.

"Don't scream," Alexander whispered. "This is what they do in all the novels."

Magnus pulled his heavy hand away.

"What novels are you reading, Mr. Lightwood?" Magnus asked. "And what are you doing in here?"

Alexander had never come into his room, let alone in the middle of the night.

"No one saw me," Alexander said. He poked Magnus' side and Magnus rolled over into what space was left in the bed. Alexander crawled under the covers. "You sleep on this every night?"

Magnus nodded, moving closer to Alexander.

"This is horrid."

"Why are you here, my dear?" Magnus asked.

"My father asked me into his study the second I arrived."

"And what did he want?"

"The wedding date has been moved up--"

"What?" Magnus shot up and Alexander pulled him back down, instinctively turning around and watching for any movement under the door.

"Emma's parents are insistent. Apparently my trip was not appreciated," Alexander said. "This will be my punishment."

"How soon?"

"The end of April, I'm afraid."

"Why don't you sound afraid?"

"Because I cannot stop the inevitable." Magnus saw the smallest sliver of a self-loathing smile as Alexander put his hand on Magnus' cheek.

"Let's run away then," Magnus said.

"You already--"

"Months ago," Magnus said. "Now you have actual reason."

"I have no reason but you to go."

"Aren't I enough?" Magnus asked. Alexander tightened up and relaxed in the space of a second.

"You are more than enough. But I have a greater loyalty to my family than to myself."

"I want to go back to France," Magnus sighed.

"Me as well."

.........

"Mr. Bane!"

Someone came sliding into Magnus' room, where he was folding his own clothes.

"Mr. Bane," Raphael said.

"Hello--"

"Come quickly please."

Raphael started running again and Magnus had no choice but to follow, matching the boy's speed.

"What's going on?" Magnus demanded as they ascended the stairwell.

"Mr. Sebastian Moran died in an accident and Lord Lightwood-- he made a comment that made Mr. Alexander furious and--"

Raphael threw open the door and skidded into the library. Alexander was shouting at his father and Raphael was looking at Magnus to fix the situation.

"You didn't even know him," Alexander growled.

"And for good reason!" Robert Lightwood shouted back. "I cannot believe you defend him."

"He was a good man."

"He was a cheater and the proof is here!" Robert slammed the newspaper to the floor.

"In your paper of lies?" Alexander laughed. "Please, Father, I'd expected better from a failed law student."

Magnus crossed the room in a single second, pulling Alexander back, away from his father's incoming fist.

"Ma--" Alexander struggled against him.

"Your friendship with Sebastian Moran has always disgusted me," Robert hissed. "And don't think for a moment that I didn't know it was something more. I hear the gossip, Alexander, and you shame this family every time you look at a man wrong."

"You--" Alexander went limp in Magnus' arms. "You know?"

"Of course I know. I'm your father," Robert said. "Unfortunately."

Magnus tried to intercede, "Mister--"

"You know and yet you insist on me marrying Emma?" Alexander shouted, straining against Magnus suddenly.

"You're lucky I haven't had you locked away," Robert said.

"Alexander," Magnus whispered as Robert spoke over him.

"You should feel indebted to me, Alexander, for even trying as hard as I have!"

"Alexander, please," Magnus begged softly.

"I feel nothing towards you except disgust," Alexander said. He shook Magnus off of him and stormed out.

Magnus followed.

"Don't," Alexander said, whirling around, the coat of his suit flying with him. "I don't want to hear you."

"Then I won't speak," Magnus said, taking a step back.

"No. You'll return to the servants' floor and remain there for the rest of the day, do you understand, Mr. Bane?"

"No."

"No?" Alexander laughed just like he had laughed at his father, bitterly and sarcastically.

"No. I'm not leaving you alone," Magnus said.

Alexander crossed his arms, challenging Magnus' newfound boldness with his stance.

Magnus didn't even consider backing down. Alexander finally turned back towards the stairs, climbing them with dignity. Magnus followed until Alexander had shut his bedroom door behind him.

"And what's your grand plan to fix this?" Alexander asked. Magnus kept his lips shut. Anger grew on Alexander's face, surpassing a new level of rage.

"I told you last night," Magnus said quietly.

"We cannot run away from all of our problems!"

"And you cannot live unhappily for the rest of your life!" Magnus shouted. "Of course we cannot truly be together but at least it will be better than you trying to please Miss Emma for the rest of your life, when you can't. You are foolish in believing this, Alexander, but you don't want to admit it. But I can't stay here and watch you suffer every day. Yet I cannot leave your side."

Alexander scrubbed at his face with the heels of his hands.

"Go," Alexander ordered.

Magnus opened his mouth to speak.

"I won't do anything stupid. I only need time to think and you are distracting me," Alexander sighed.

"Of course," Magnus said, slipping out the door.

He spent a long moment in the hallway, leaning on wall. There was too much to think about.

And all of it was like a massive rock in his brain, weighing him down.