Considering how much Alec sucked at fishing, he was surprised that Max asked him to teach him how.

But Max had muttered something about "Dad" and "conference call," after he popped the question on Alec.

Alec, on the other hand, was staring out the window as the mysterious Magnus Bane walked in front of the Lightwood's beach house, kicking something along the side walk. So obviously he was distracted.

It was Monday and Alec's only day off. The weekend tourists were leaving so Monday was the day to relax and repair the damage they had done.

Alec agreed anyways and an hour later he was knee-deep in the Gulf of Mexico, teaching Max how to cast his line.

"Really, this is more of Jace's forte--"

"Alec," Max whined. Even the twelve year old hated Alec's self-pity.

"Okay, okay," Alec sighed. "So just hold the rod behind you."

He jumped out of Max's way before giving him the next instructions.

"Press the trigger-thingy and throw it."

For his first time, Max managed to cast the rod pretty well.

Alec looked back to the house, searching for someone on the porch. In a normal family someone would be back there taking pictures.

No one was there; just white sand and an occupied house filled with otherwise occupied people.

On the beach, however, there was Magnus, sucking on a lollipop and watching in way that was most definitely creepy.

"Reel in the line a little, Max," Alec said, wading back to shore.

"'lec! Wait!" Max shouted.

"You'll be fine; I'll be right back," Alec called behind his shoulder.

"'Trigger-thingy?'" Magnus scoffed as Alec approached. He had popped the sucker out of his mouth and held it in an entirely pretentious manner.

"What's it called then?" Alec countered.

Magnus smirked, trying to cover up the fact that he knew nothing about fishing.

"What are you doing out here?" Alec asked.

"Trying to escape my house," Magnus said, sticking the lollipop back in his mouth.

"Do you want to fish?" Alec said. "I have another rod--"

"No thanks," Magnus said. "I'll just walk. Who's the midget?"

"My brother, Max," Alec said, looking back. Max was doing fine; he was a fast learner when people actually gave him a chance. As the youngest of four, opportunities just didn't come for him.

Alec looked back at Magnus, who was watching Max.

A second later, he grinned, though.

"Well your brother just caught a fish, Alec."

Alec could hear him smack the stupid suckers as Alec ran into the water in a desperate attempt to save his brother from a fish.

...........

Thursday was food truck day in the city square. Alec had found an amazing Asian place and sat on the front steps of the book shop, eating spring rolls.

Tourists melted by, their weekends just beginning.

It was always entertaining watching them come in with such high hopes for their vacation and watching them crash and burn as they realized the Florida's heat wasn't comfortable: it was scorching.

The heat was beginning not to bother Alec, which was something he both feared and appreciated. It meant he had been here too long.

"Did he get the fish?"

Alec looked up, shading his eyes from the sun. Magnus was wearing a horrid shade of burnt orange today, paired with black skinny jeans.

"No," Alec said. "We reeled it in. He was holding it and it started moving again. It hit us both."

"I know," Magnus said, a smile creeping across his face. "I stayed and watched. I just wanted to hear you say it."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Tootsie Roll Pop-- orange.

"What's with the lollipops?" Alec asked.

"It's supposed to help ease the symptoms of withdrawal," Magnus said. "I'm playing mindgames with myself and I'm losing."

"Not that I support smoking, but you obviously got a pack before so why can't you get one now?" Alec asked.

"Excellent question," Magnus said.

He apparently took that as a sign of conversation and plopped down next to Alec.

"I just moved here because my mother found a boy toy down here. My supplier was up in New York," Magnus said.

"In the city?" Alec asked.

Magnus nodded.

"I live in Manhattan," Alec said. In an over-dramatic gesture, Magnus grabbed Alec's arm, clinging to it.

"Take me back with you," Magnus begged. "I'm not joking."

"My parents already adopted one kid," Alec said, pushing Magnus off. "They won't do it again."

"Handful?"

"Um--" Jace wasn't a handful as much as he was-- well, he was Jace and his ego was bigger than Queens. "--sure."

Magnus stood back up, unwrapping the lollipop.

"See you around then," Magnus said.

Alec finished off his spring rolls, then got back to work.