CHAPTER ONE

(Alec and Magnus announce their engagement.)

"Max Lightwood!" Alec yelled from the top of the stairs, "If you don't come up here and clean this room, you'll be eating it for dinner." Alec had just gone with Max and Magnus the day before to buy him a new toy chest for his room; they spent two hours after that cleaning out the old toys so they could donate some as a learning project. It had been less than 24-hours and his room was a mess already. He was going to explode if he didn't come upstairs and clean his toys. "I will throw away every toy in this house." He stared his child down who looked up at him from his place on the couch. He was playing with one of the many toys in the downstairs area, which Alec hated as well. There seemed to be a mess everywhere.

Jace and Clary moved out over a month ago.

Magnus already cleaned out their old room since it was the smallest and started turning it into a den. They all own a lot of books and he wanted to make it into a library which Alec had no problem with but now that Magnus was targeted onto a project he had eyes for nothing else. Max was in love with the idea and kept demanded they needed to buy him new books for the room, which meant the library was no longer good enough. Alec had to put his foot down and Max had been annoyed with him ever since. He instantly became the bad parent.

"I agree," Magnus spoke on his way out of the kitchen, "And we are going to start with Rex."

"No!" Max was up in a heartbeat and up the stairs, the toy left on the couch without much regard.

"I swear to god." Alec made it halfway down the stairs and met Magnus halfway, who had a huge smirk on his face, "What's up with the look?"

Magnus went up to the stand on the same stair as Alec, "Oh nothing." He put his hand up and twirled a finger around the ring laying on Alec's chest. It had come out from his t-shirt while he was cleaning and didn't notice. Usually, Alec would have hidden it by now. It was their secret, one that was going to end later that day. They finally agreed tonight was the night to tell the family. It felt like the right moment for both of them, and they were going to talk to Max right before everyone got there. Magnus tugged on the chain, pulling Alec to him for a kiss.

"Careful." Alec grabbed Magnus' shoulder to steady them.

"We should tell the prisoner now." Magnus licked his lips; the kiss wasn't long enough for him.

Alec couldn't stop himself from leaning in for just one more kiss. They were a couple who always ran hot, which was a problem sometimes now that they only had Max in the house. When they had a house full of people it was hard to sit on the couch and make out during a movie, it was easy until your ten-year-old comes running down the stairs at such lightning speed that you can't break apart in time. Or when your in the kitchen leaning against the sink and he wants a glass of water when he should be in bed. It was those moments Alec had to remind himself on a daily of why he couldn't make out with Magnus on the stairs.

"Come on." Magnus started up the stairs, tugging Alec along with him by his chain. It was actually quite useful to Magnus; he pulled Alec around all the time. He was sure Alec was getting sick of it but he never stopped him, so Magnus continued with it. The most successful time was during one fantastic round of sex when Magnus had pulled him hard and it was an instant turn on, from that moment on, it was just his thing; if the ring was available, Magnus would use it against Alec.

"Magnus, I just got him to start cleaning. Do we have to stop him?"

Magnus laughed at the pleading in his voice but he smiled anyway, a small burst that did all kinds of things to Alec's insides. "Listen, I'll help with the cleaning but we have to tell him before anyone shows up for dinner and they should be here soon. It's now or wait for another Sunday."

"You've done your waiting; I got it." Alec pulled his chain away from Magnus and tucked it back in his shirt, "I don't think you could send me any more memes of Harry Potter to get the point across. Although, 12 years is a bit excessive."

"Oh, shut up," Magnus smirked, "I'm going to send you, even more, Harry Potter memes just for that comment." Alec groaned as they reached Max's door. "Smart, are you cleaning?" Magnus smiled when he went into the room and Max, sure enough, was cleaning.

Once they were done with the den, they had planned to move Max into Alec's old room that was bigger since his current room was the same size as the den and he was grown up enough that could use the larger space. Alec wanted him to have a desk in his room, so the boy didn't always have to study at the kitchen table or the living room coffee table. Magnus had already picked out the contractor that would build floor to ceiling bookshelves along two walls and then it would just be painting and a few pieces Magnus had already picked out. There was no stopping him.

"Yes," Max answered from his place on the floor, he was throwing his stuffed animals into their bin from across the room.

Alec looked at Magnus, "Basketball star?"

"Nah, too short."

"Max," Alec went to his bed and lounged back to the wall, it wasn't a problem to reach the wall and the floor on his small twin bed. Magnus mimicked his pose with just enough space between, "Take a break and come here."

Max threw another stuffed animal before picking up Rex and climbing on the bed and taking his place in the center. It was a pose they had done many times.

"I got a question for you?"

Magnus' phone rang then, "Sorry." He pulled the phone out to see the caller ID. He sighed, "I have to take this. Continue without me." He answered the phone in a deadpan matter that Alec didn't hear very often.

"Alec?"

"Yeah, sorry, buddy." Alec returned his attention to Max, "I wanted to ask you how you would feel if Magnus and I got married?" Alec had mixed feelings about having this talk with Max alone. On the one hand, he felt he should have been just the two of them but on the other hand he wanted Magnus by his side.

"Married?" Max questioned then he paused and thought about it. "You aren't already?"

Alec let out a short laugh, "No, we aren't. We are a couple who lives together and would like to get married, but you are my son and I want you to be okay with this."

"Are you going to have a wedding like Jace and Clary?"

"I don't know. We haven't talked about it." Alec smiled at him. "I wanted to get your approval first then we wanted to tell everyone else but I want you to be okay with this."

"Can I bring Rex to the wedding this time? You made me leave him inside last time."

And Alec had not heard the end of that since it happened. He just wanted him inside for the ceremony well he forgot to bring it back out for the reception and Max had been bringing it up ever since. It didn't matter that he didn't even notice that he wasn't there the entire night. He remembered the next day and every day since.

Max went back to playing with Rex in his arms; he always had the stuffed animal with him for the last three months unless he was in school. If they wanted him washed, they had to do it while Max was in school or he would have a heart attack. All because Alec had forgotten him one time. He didn't know of many ten-year-olds that carried around a stuffed animal everywhere but Alec wasn't going to stop him. If that's what made him happy, then that what's important.

"Yes, I promise you can have Rex with you the whole time no matter what we do."

"Where's your ring? Clary got a ring." Max was a very straightforward child and it was rare when something slipped by him. He had a lot of questions and that was usually what got Jace in trouble over the years with his answers.

"Magnus gave me a ring." Alec pulled the chain and ring out of his shirt to show him. "I can't wear it until after the ceremony and that's when I will give Magnus a ring as well."

Max took the ring in his hand, turning it this way and that to inspect the entire band.

"Look here." Alec tipped the ring and tapped it with his finger. "It's hard to read but in there is an inscription and it reads 'Bane'."

Max smiled, "I like it."

"Tell you what, when I go shopping for Magnus' ring I will take you with me and you can help me pick it out."

"Are you going to put 'Lightwood' on his?"

Alec hadn't even thought of that before. He really had to love this kid and his ideas, "Yeah, I think so. You okay with this?"

"Yeah, I'm okay."

Alec put the ring back in his shirt as Magnus reentered the room. "How'd it go?" He sat on the bed as Max got up and went back to throwing his stuffed animals across the room, making every shot. "He really needs to grow; we could make so much money off his basketball career."

Alec snorted, "As if you need money." He shifted and put his head on Magnus' shoulder and put his hand on Magnus' thigh, face up.

Magnus got the picture and intertwined their fingers together; they sat like that for a few minutes in silence just watching Max. He moved onto his toys in the new chest, oblivious to being watched. As if perfect timing right before Max got his last toy in, the front door slammed and Jace yelled a welcome.

"Jace!" Max went running downstairs for the playful brother.

"Time for dinner," Magnus announced but Alec didn't move, he twisted their hands and brought it up for a kiss, that got Alec to look at him. "You okay?"

"Yeah, time for dinner." Alec stood up with Magnus their fingers still wrapped around one another. Alec wanted to ask about the phone call and why it was so important that he missed the entire conversation with Max but he knew if Magnus felt it was important to talk about then he would.

By the time they made it downstairs the entire crew was there. Jace had his phone out to order pizza, they spoke earlier in the day and Clary wasn't feeling well so they were going to order since it was their Sunday to cook.

Max was standing next to Izzy who was just over six months pregnant; she had a small stomach she still got tired quickly.

Clary and Simon were on the couch with Jace propped up on the arm with his hand absently drawing circles on her shoulder.

"Sissy, guess what?"

"What?" Izzy had been paying more attention to Max then the rest of the group since he became so sensitive over her being pregnant, he was still her little man she wanted him to be okay with it.

Jace hung up, "Pizza will be here in an hour."

Alec is not paying attention to Jace because he was leaning back against Magnus who was leaning against the wall.

"Magnus gave Alec a ring that he hides under his shirt."

"Max!" Alec stepped off the wall and went to grab him but he ran towards Jace who wrapped an arm around him to protect him. "Ma-"

"He also said I could have Rex at the wedding." Max giggled when Jace snuggled him closer.

"Oh my god." Alec sighed, Magnus stepped forward, wrapping an arm around Alec and pulling him back. "Max, that was our story to tell."

"What?" he asked from Clary's lap that he just climbed into, everyone in the room had huge smiles on their faces as Alec and Max went back and forth. "You said it."

Magnus laughed out loud then, pulling the chain around Alec's neck, so the ring came out.

Max caught onto this and pointed, "See its right there."

All eyes were on Alec as he just realized what Magnus was doing to him. He looked down and saw the ring on Magnus' pointer finger up in the air still attached to the chain.

"You're getting married?" Izzy stood up then and went to her brother to kiss his cheek and look at the ring. Jace still rubbing his wife's shoulder, who held Max in her arms. Simon was up as well, standing behind Izzy, "When did this happen?" She wanted to know all the details.

When it was clear that Alec wasn't going to speak up, Magnus did for him, "The night before Jace and Clary's wedding."

"And you didn't tell us?" Clary spoke up this time, "Why?"

"We wanted you to have your special day. Then we wanted the family to have time to celebrate Max's official adoption, so we waited." Magnus spoke up again.

Izzy had taken the ring from him and pulled on it slightly, a little too much, and Alec had to lean forward, "Izzy, do you mind?" Alec finally spoke up.

"Oh, I bet this is fun." She pulled on it again causing Alec to step forward this time.

Simon smirked, "I bet."

It was Jace's turn, "Yeah, I bet the bedroom is extra fun now."

"Why?" Max looked up to Clary who just had to laugh at the redness of Alec's face.

"Wow, Alec I didn't know you could turn that shade of red," Simon spoke up again, causing the entire group to burst out laughing.

Magnus had to cut in then, "Hey." He pulled his boyfriend back to him. "He can go much redder than that."

"Oh my god." Alec made a break for it then, heading into the kitchen escape his family. The laughter could be heard all the way in the kitchen. He didn't need to feel his cheeks to know they were bright red, Magnus has been the only person who could even make him turn that color.

Jace and Izzy followed Alec into the kitchen.

"Pretty ring."

"Oh, shut it, Izzy." Alec went to the fridge and pulled out a beer. Usually, he didn't ever drink when Max was awake but today called for it.

"I'm sorry, but it is pretty. It seems old."

"It is. Magnus said it was a century old." Alec took the ring up to his finger, "He said I'm not allowed to wear it yet."

Jace slapped his hand on Alec's back and took the beer out of his hand, "Congrats, brother."

"You stole my beer," Alec moved to steal it back but Jace was too fast, he sidestepped him and Alec was stuck getting a new beer. "Thank you." He popped the led off and threw it in the trach, he went to the sink and stayed there.

"Are you also going to get married before me, even though I was engaged first?" Izzy sat at the table and patted the chair next to her. "Come sit with me." Alec and Jace both comply, there wasn't a damn thing they wouldn't do for her at this moment or any other. She was the baby sister and she was pregnant. She reached out a hand to each of her brothers. Alec and Jace both took her outstretched hand. "My brothers." Her smile was massive, spreading across her entire face, "What would we do without each other?" She thought of Max for a moment but he always didn't count in the trio, he had always been more of Alec than anyone, it almost made her sad to think that way but it was true. Legally and before.

Jace seemed to sense her need for honesty and didn't joke for the first time in a long time, "Iz, no crying." He reached over and wiped the single tear that ran down her face.

Alec shook her hand slightly in his. "We've all grow up."

"We're always going to be this close, right? Babies and marriage aren't going to change us?" She knew it was the hormones but the words just kept slipping out.

"They haven't yet." Alec smiled at her, "Clary, Simon, and Magnus have only ever added value to our lives. Max as well, and this new baby will do the same."

"Ah, Iz, listen." Jace squeezed their joined hands, "We are Lightwoods. Clary, Simon, and Magnus are a part of this family. And we will always be strong together. It doesn't matter what life throws at us; we will be stronger together. There is nothing we can't face."

"I cry all the time." Izzy started crying on the spot.

"Is this when we get Simon?" Jace was back to the jokes, causing Alec to strike him on the shoulder.

"Simon, we made Izzy cry," Alec yelled to the living room which earned him a glare from Jace and Izzy. Max came running into the kitchen first, jumping straight into Alec's lap, he had to drop Izzy's hand to catch him and pick up his beer at the same time, or it was have slipped from where he had sat it on the table. Magnus took the beer out of his hands as he walked by, drinking it causing Alec to send him a glare. "Seriously that was my second one stolen."

Clary came in and claimed her spot on Jace's lap with a little less drama then Max.

Simon pulled out a tissue from his pocket. When Jace and Alec gave him a look, he just nodded. "She cries a lot; it just got easier to carry them in my pocket."

Magnus set a new beer down in front of Alec, "Be nice." He whispered as he went back to stand over by the sink.

They were all in their spots, where they would typically be and it felt beautiful to Alec.

"Alec?" Max bounced on his lap, "Alec?"

Alec was trying to listen to why Izzy was crying this time but he was forced to look at Max, or he would have bounced right off his lap. "Yes, child." He focused on him then, the conversations around the room just died away, it felt amazing to just stare at him, his entire family in the same room. Max started playing with the ring at his neck. He didn't see the reason for hiding it at home anymore, so he didn't bother to tuck it away again. "Max?" Alec raised his knees to get Max to focus on him again. Alec reached a hand up and pushed Max's hair out of his face; it wouldn't matter that they went to the mall yesterday and got him a trim, it still fell on his face. Max followed Alec's movement to look up at him. "What's up, buddy?"

"Rex is upstairs." He whispered.

Magnus spit out the drink of beer he was drinking to threw his head back and laugh, causing everyone in the room to turn at look at him. No one had entirely known the nightmare that Alec was living with the stuffed toy and the amount of time he spent cursing the stupid thing every night after Max went to bed.

"It's not funny." Alec huffed, standing up, bringing Max up with him, which he quickly passed the child off to Magnus who took him and allowed him to hang in the air for second before dipping him down to the ground.

Jace laughed when he heard Alec muttering on his way through the house. The words sounded like 'god damn stuffed freaking animal,' but he couldn't tell. "What was that?"

Magnus took a seat in Alec's chair and started the story of how Max has been terrorizing Alec with the stuffed animal. Izzy laughed along when she realized that was the reason they always made her wash Rex on her days off while Max was at school. The jokes of the ongoing war of Alec vs. Rex went on for the rest of the night. Alec spent the entire night trading states of a shock either by a joke of his upcoming marriage or on a stuffed dinosaur.

Turning many different shades of red.