Alexander refused to see anyone, Magnus included.

The young man had locked his door, and hid the key. When the spare key was found in Mr. Davies' office, he resorted to barricading half of his ancient, solid wood furniture against the door so it was impossible to reach Alexander.

Magnus paced the dining halls, occasionally interrupted by Mr. Davies who was always at the ready with little odd jobs to be done. He allowed his mind to be strayed for a few moments at a time but he always returned to worrying about Alexander.

It was in the middle of the fourth day when a parlor maid said she heard the shuffling of furniture in the room below Alexander's.

When Magnus made it up there, running up the servants' stairs, the door was open and the room empty.

"He's going to be gone for awhile."

Magnus turned around to find Jace in the door way.

"He went straight to Robert's study," Jace said. "I tried to stop him."

"Well, it's none of my business."

"Oh please," Jace said, stepping in. He shut the door, and sat. "I know you've been with him."

Magnus' heart skipped a beat.

"He's going to tell Robert that he'll marry Emma. He's going to fix everything," Jace said.

Magnus dropped his eyes. This wasn't ideal, but it was the best they could do.

The door opened, and Alexander was frozen where Jace had once been standing.

"What are you doing?"

He looked thin, paler than usual.

"One of you answer me," Alexander ordered.

"We were talking," Jace said. "And now I'm leaving." He stood, slipping past Alexander.

"You should eat," Magnus mumbled.

"Do you not want to know what I told him?"

"I can guess," Magnus said, walking past. Alexander caught his wrist and pulled the door shut.

"I don't want you to be mad at me," Alexander said softly.

"I'm not mad--"

"Disappointed then."

"I'm not angry with you," Magnus said. "But it pains me to see you have to lie."

"I'll work it out," Alexander said.

"You'll have me," Magnus added.

"No, I won't," Alexander said. "You've been dismissed."

"I--"

Fired?

"What?"

"Mr. Davies was supposed to be looking for you," Alexander started.

"You couldn't let me go yourself?" Magnus snapped.

"Magnus--"

"You're insufferable," Magnus said, shaking Alexander's grip free.

"Please don't make this a scene," Alexander mumbled.

"I'll make a scene if I wish," Magnus said.

Alexander pulled an envelope out of the deep pocket of his trousers, offering it to Magnus.

"Use it to pay for board until you find a new place. There's a letter of recommendation in there as well--"

"How long did you know?" Magnus asked, hurt etched across his face. "Is that what you spent so long in here doing? Trying to figure out to make everyone happy and deciding you couldn't save everyone so you'd toss me onto the streets."

"Take the money. Open it once you're outside of the gates. And be gone by dinner," Alexander ordered.

"You can't order me around. I don't work for you anymore, or have you moved on already?"

Alexander stepped aside, casting his eyes down as he opened the door for Magnus.

Oh, he'd make a show.

........

The show involved slamming doors and making sure all of the Lightwoods knew he was leaving.

Suitcases and his heavy winter coat thrown over his arm, he walked down the long front walk.

The envelope was heavy in his pocket.

He pulled it out as the guards opened the gates for him.

He carelessly ripped the envelope open, a letter threatening to fly away in the spring breeze. Magnus caught it, leaning against a tree, to read it.

M,

Thank you for your show. I'm sure it was quite thrilling.

I needed my father to believe I had followed through with his terms. I've spent the last few days trying to find a way to make this work, and this is the only way.

I have written to my uncle in America and I think he may be sympathetic to our situation. Yes, I will be honest to him. After this ruse is over, I believe I will be tired of lying. If he can offer me a place in America, that I feel comfortable with, then I am going to New York City.

And I'd like you to come with me.

I won't go on blind faith, which means you must be patient with me until I am sure of a job. I beg you to be patient with me.

By April, my dear, I hope we can have a new start.

Until then, the innkeeper at The White Horse Inn by the harbor has a room reserved for you under your name. Do not worry about the finances.

I will keep in contact, though I won't risk visiting you. My father must believe all is well.

But I assure you, every second we spend apart is not well with me.

~A.G.L.

Magnus looked back at the house, the towering stories visible between the iron bars of the fence.

He could have sworn a figure in a window on the third floor was watching him.

Or maybe he was just paranoid.

Or in love.

Then again, the two went hand-in-hand.

........

April 10th, 1912.

"Good morning," a breath rasped in his ear.

He almost shot straight up, but he fumbled for the source as his eyes adjusted to the morning light. His fingers knotted around a necktie, and he pulled Alexander into his view.

"You're early," Magnus sighed.

"You sound disappointed," Alexander said, smiling.

"Of course not," Magnus said. "I just thought I'd be able to look a little more elegant."

"You look great," Alexander insisted. Magnus tugged him down by the tie, kissing him the way he had been picturing for the last lonely three months.

"I've missed you."

Alexander shook his head but couldn't shake the smile away.

"Get dressed, Mr. Bane. We've got a ship to board."

.........

They could see it from blocks away, as their taxi approached the docks.

It was a massive hull, and the size terrified them both. Magnus quietly reached for Alexander's hand in the back of the taxi. It was odd to be riding in the back of a car but Magnus wouldn't have to play the part of servant any longer.

He was Alexander's best friend in the public eye. People could suspect all they wanted, their gossip wouldn't hurt them now.

"This is far as I go. Too much traffic," the cabbie said as they approached the final stretch of the block.

"Fair enough," Alexander said, leaning over the seats and paying as Magnus climbed out and unloaded their trunks.

Alexander was there within seconds and the cabbie was gone within a minute, disappearing into the thick of cars and people.

A boy with a dolly came running up to them within seconds, taking some of the load without asking. He was guaranteeing himself a tip.

Magnus took deep breaths of the heavy London air, knowing they would be his last.

"The RMS Titanic," Alexander sighed as the bold white lettering on the side of the ship came into view. "Our ticket to a new life."

Magnus nodded in agreement, his eyes shifting to Alexander, who stared up at the ship like a mesmerized little boy.

Alexander snapped back, and Magnus raised a fake-glass.

"To a new life."

Alexander echoed him, "To a new life."