Malec Moments

Paradise: Part 4

A ten-foot-tall bonfire was blazing just beyond the reach of the tide. Nearby was a table displaying a roasted pig, a selection of tropical fruits, and glasses of wine and champagne. An old boom box radio, with no visible electrical supply, belted music into the still night air.

As the moon began its ascent across the darkening sky, Magnus, having already shed his cloak, held Alec in his arms, gently swaying to the diverse selection of ballads that he had magicked the radio into playing. Everything from classical to pop-ballads, from oldies to modern ballads bellowed from the speakers. Alec didn't recognize most of the music, and he didn't care. They were married, and he was in Magnus's arms, and that was all that mattered. He was vaguely aware that their guests were milling around the beach, chatting merrily, eating, and dancing. He was lost in the moment with Magnus.

Somehow, the chorus of the song that was currently playing reached him in his haze of happiness. He focused on the lyrics for a moment, and couldn't help thinking they fit him and Magnus perfectly right then.

        "Could I have this dance for the rest of my life? 

        Would you be my partner every night? 

        When we're together, it feels so right. 

        Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?"

Alec's arms tightened around Magnus, almost involuntarily, and he pressed his cheek deeper into Magnus's chest. Magnus kissed Alec's forehead, the only part he could reach the moment, and Alec wondered if he, too, was feeling the words of the song.

As the moon continued its trek across the sky, Magnus and Alec continued to dance. A new song started, this one tickling the edges of Alec's memory. He'd heard this song before, he knew it, but it took until the second verse for his memory to click. Magnus had played this song at a bar once, and they'd danced to it then, too.

        Trying hard to control my heart

        I walk over to where you are

        Eye to eye we need no words at all"

Alec pulled back a little to look into Magnus's eyes. "Madonna?" he said, as the music continued to play.

Magnus's face lit up. "Oh, Alec! I love that you are finally recognizing mundane music!" he exclaimed joyfully. Then added, his expression thoughtful, "Of course, Madonna isn't, strictly speaking, just a mundane."

Alec smiled at him. He never knew, at times like this, if Magnus was being serious or just playing around. Magnus winked at him.

        "I'm crazy for you

        Touch me once and you'll know it's true

        I never wanted anyone like this

        It's all brand new, you'll feel it in my kiss" 

Magnus sang the next line, "I'm crazy for you," along with Madonna. Alec didn't care that Magnus's voice was slightly off-key, he thought it was the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard. His heart swelled with love for his warlock. He was just as crazy about Magnus as Magnus was about him.

As the song ended, Isabelle shouted, "Come on, Magnus! Enough with the sappy love songs! I want to dance! Give me a beat!"

Magnus looked at Alec, who simply shrugged. They had been slow dancing for quite a while. Slowly, a wicked grin spread across Magnus's face. Isabelle's words had triggered something in Magnus's mind, and he was going to have a little fun with her.

He flicked his finger in the direction of the radio, and the words "Give me a beat!" rang throughout the beachfront. Alec recognized this song immediately. He looked at Magnus, his mouth is slightly agape.

"She's going to kill you," he said, attempting to stifle a grin.

Alec glanced at his sister, who had immediately dragged Simon into the designated dancing area when the song started up. Simon was staring at Magnus, not even bothering to conceal his grin. Of course, Simon, being a musician, would be familiar with many different types of music, and knew this song.

Alec and Magnus resumed dancing but were mostly just watching Izzy for her reaction. As the words "Oh you nasty boys" reverberated through the clearing, Izzy froze, mid-dance, her arms above her head, and glared at Magnus. Magnus and Alec erupted with laughter, as Izzy regained her composure and continued dancing with Simon. Alec noted Simon also laughing as he and Magnus left the noise behind, taking refuge by the water.

They dropped onto the sand, at the edge of the tide, letting the cool water wash over their feet and ankles. The feeling was soothing after all the dancing they had done.

Alec glanced toward the bonfire and noticed Jocelyn and Clary huddled together, appearing to be deep in conversation. Jace was sprawled out between them and the fire, looking relaxed and content. He was watching Clary, a crooked smile on his face. He looked up and caught Alec's eye, inclining his head in greeting.

Magnus excused himself, saying he wanted to check on their other guests for a moment. His departure left a cold, empty feeling next to Alec, and Alec's eyes followed Magnus's progress across the beach. A moment later, Jace threw himself onto the ground next to Alec, in Magnus's recently vacated spot.

"Congratulations," Jace said, not for the first time. A smile was playing at the corners of his mouth.

"What are you smiling about?"

"It's just hard to believe," Jace replied.

"What's hard to believe? That I was the first to get married?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, you never even dated anyone before Magnus. And, well, you did just marry a four-hundred-year-old warlock!"

Alec grinned, and was surprised when Jace didn't remark on the stupid, giddy expression he was sure was on his face. But Jace wasn't looking at Alec's face. He was concentrating on Alec's hand, at the firelight dancing on the surface of Alec's wedding band.

"Can I see the ring?" Jace asked. Alec slipped the ring off, a little reluctantly, and dropped it into Jace's open palm.

Jace examined the ring thoughtfully. Alec and Magnus decided on titanium for their rings, not wanting to risk injury to any of the Downworlders they frequently came in contact with their lines of work. The band was engraved with the traditional Shadowhunter wedding runes, alternating with a warlock word for marriage. Alec couldn't begin to pronounce the word, but it spoke of love, commitment, and happiness.

The firelight caught an inscription on the inside of the ring. "Aku cinta kamu, MB + AL," Jace read. "What does that mean?"

Alec smiled. "It means 'I love you' in Indonesian, Magnus's native language," he said. What he didn't tell Jace was the reason they had decided to use those words. The only time Magnus had ever spoken those words to him was in that subway tunnel, on the day they had broken up. They decided to use the phrase, not just as a reminder of their love, but also that a relationship needs more than just love to be successful. A relationship requires commitment, honesty, trust, compromise. The words were a reminder of all that they have, and how easily it can all slip away if they let it.

"It's beautiful," Jace said, handing the ring back to Alec. Jace's gaze, as it so often did, was trained on Clary.

"This could be you, you know," said Alec, watching his parabatai.

Jace's eyes darted to Alec's, a grin spreading across his face. "No thanks. I don't want to be married to Magnus."

"You only wish you could be married to Magnus," said Alec. "But I was referring to you and Clary. You want to marry her, don't you?"

"Of course I want to marry Clary!" Jace said.

"Well?" Alec said, gesturing toward Clary as if to say 'what are you waiting for?'

Jace looked startled. "What? You want me to ask her now?"

Alec studied his friend. "What's holding you back? The romantic beach wedding? The firelight? The sound of the ocean waves?"

"But, it's your wedding day," Jace said like he couldn't do such a thing as propose to his girlfriend on his best friend's wedding day.

"So? Let me guess, you think you and Clary getting engaged would ruin my wedding day? That's ridiculous, Jace. That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard."

Jace glanced back at Clary as if searching for some way to bring this conversation back to a sane level. "She's busy right now anyway," he said, unconvincingly.

As if on cue, Clary and Jocelyn stood, hiding something behind them, and started toward Alec and Jace, motioning for the others to join them. "Not anymore," Alec said with a smirk.

---------------

Magnus found Tessa and Catarina reclined in a few of the half dozen beach chairs that littered the beach. He dropped onto the sand in front of them, stretching out his long legs, and propping himself up on his elbows.

"Your wedding was beautiful, Magnus," said Tessa, by way of greeting. Catarina nodded her agreement.

"Thanks. I'm glad you could make it," Magnus replied.

Tessa giggled. "Do you think I would have missed Magnus Bane's wedding? Knowing you as I do, wild hellhounds could not have kept me away!"

Magnus chuckled and said, "I suppose not."

"I still can't believe it myself," said Catarina. "Well, I have no trouble believe that you love Alec enough to marry him, I just didn't picture you the marrying type," she amended.

Magnus's face split in a wry smile. "If not for the two of you, I may never have gotten the chance to marry Alec," he said.

Tessa tilted her head, looking at him uncomprehendingly. "Whatever do you mean, Magnus?"

Magnus sat up straight and took one of Tessa's hands in his own. "You taught me there are loves worth the pain of losing, loves worth dying for," he said.

Tessa drew in a sharp breath and covered her mouth with her free hand. Her gray eyes were bright in the dim light, and she struggled to regain her composure before speaking. She took a deep breath and said, "And what did Catarina do?"

Magnus's face broke into a true grin. "She reminded me," he said, glancing at Catarina. "And then she told me how stupid I was for not being with Alec. I owe you both a debt I can never repay."

Tessa patted Magnus's hand. He then withdrew it and leaned back on his elbows again. "What is it about Nephilim that makes them so irresistible?" he said to no one in particular.

"It is the angel blood. No one is strong enough to resist it," said Jem, who had arrived just in time to hear Magnus's comment. He was grinning in that sweet Jem way that was so infectious. Magnus hadn't know Jem as well as he had known Will and Tessa, of course, but having listened to the pair talk endlessly about Jem, he had always felt as if he knew him well. And he had always liked him.

"Yes, I suppose that's what it is," Magnus said.

His eyes roamed across the beach to rest on Alec. Alec and Jace had just risen and were facing Clary and Jocelyn, who was motioning for everyone to join them. "Wonder what that's all about," Magnus said.

"I guess we should go see," said Jem, and the group agreed.

Magnus wrapped his arms around Alec's waist, and Alec leaned back against Magnus's body, as everyone gathered around Clary and Jocelyn. Clary was grinning proudly. She looked at Jocelyn, who nodded her head for Clary to speak.

"Magnus, Alec, since you guys didn't give us a chance to shop for wedding gifts…" Clary trailed off as a chorus of laughter ran through the gathering. "My mom and I, with a little help from Catarina, decided to make something for you." Catarina emitted blue sparks from her fingers in response.

From behind her back, she drew a large canvas and presented it to Magnus and Alec. The couple separated enough to hold the canvas between them. On it, Clary and Jocelyn had captured the image of the wedding ceremony. Alec and Magnus's faces were perfectly captured, down to the finest detail of their clothing, their rings, and the blue flames between their hands. The circle of blue flames that had surrounded them was drawn, covering the lower parts of their legs. The attendants were painted with lesser detail, their images recognizable but not clear, as the focus on the piece was Alec and Magnus. The brilliant sunset was used as the backdrop for the painting.

Magnus and Alec were surprised, and touched, by the beauty of the painting, and the thoughtfulness behind it. They hugged Clary and Jocelyn and thanked them profusely. The painting was passed through the crowd, eventually landing with Luke, who stowed it in Magnus and Alec's cabin for safekeeping.

Alec saw Jace tap Clary on the shoulder, take her hand, and lead her toward the far side of the bonfire, out of view of the other guests. Magnus slid behind Alec, wrapped his arms around Alec's waist, rested his head on Alec's shoulder, and whispered in his ear, "What's going on with them?" He nodded toward the disappearing Jace and Clary.

Alec grinned. "I think he's going to ask her to marry him," he said in a low whisper so only Magnus could hear.

Alec felt the vibrations of Magnus's laugh as he leaned back into the embrace. "Are they going to announce the engagement tonight?" Magnus asked.

"I don't think so," Alec replied. "I think he's afraid of taking the spotlight away from us at our reception."

Magnus grinned as he spoke, low and seductive in Alec's ear. "Then we'll have to make sure he makes that announcement. I'm ready for the spotlight to be off of us. I want you all to myself."

Alec could not control the emotions that flared up in him at these words, or the grin the spread across his face.

To be continued...