Chapter Text
Magnus hung a small bundle of mistletoe on the ceiling, looking outside of the coffee shop as he got off the ladder.
It was snowing, huge snowflakes falling mercilessly. The windows looked frosted and the frames like they were covered with icing. He saw people passing by, smiling happily, enjoying the first snow of the season.
The characteristic smell, a pleasant mix of Christmas cookie and spices of the holidays filled the whole coffee shop. Magnus had already hung the Christmas lights across the ceiling, also some lanterns hanging here and there—Magnus wondered how many lanterns they still had from Jace and Clary’s wedding—and garland ran above the main counter, along the front of the pastry display and around the huge windows.
There were a couple sitting at the table in the corner, drinking their hot chocolate.
The coffee shop were closing soon, so Magnus took the ladder and carried it to the supply room.
On the way back he stopped in front of the next door by the storage and sighed then went to turn the closed sign on the front door, leaning forward to have a better view of downtown Maysville, looking to the left and then to the right.
He couldn’t help the feeling in his chest... Alec was out of town and hadn’t arrived back yet. He knew that he shouldn’t have been so worried—there had been plenty of times when this had happened before—he just… it had been snowing so hard. Alec was a good and experienced driver, he did this on daily basis, and the Ranger was a safe and well-equipped pickup. Yes, Magnus knew it. He just couldn’t help the thoughts that filled his mind.
It had been months since he moved back to Maysville and moved in with Alec, and most of the time it felt like he hadn’t even left his hometown.
Once he stopped the train of thoughts in his mind, he turned away from the door and walked back to the main counter. Seeing Daisy finished cleaning the coffee machines, Magnus sat on the top of the counter, looking over his shoulder out of the window again.
“Do you want me to help carry those boxes back to your studio?” Daisy asked without looking at Magnus, her hands now busy with refilling the sugar holder.
“Nah, thank you,” Magnus waved with his hand, “I can manage.”
Daisy turned her head to Magnus. “You sure?” She asked.
“Yeah,” he assured her.
“Okay,” she muttered and rounded the counter and went to the table where the couple was sitting, mumbling something that Magnus didn’t hear clearly.
Daisy was back in less than a minute with the cups and was about to go to the sink but Magnus hopped off the counter.
“I close up, you can go home, darling,” Magnus said and Daisy raised her eyebrow.
“I can stay till he’s back,” she said and placed the mugs into the sink, “if you want me to,” she added.
Magnus forced a smile and Daisy’s expression gave away that he failed. “He should be back in any moment,” Magnus lied.
He had no idea when Alec was going to be back. They had only talked in the morning after Alec had kissed Magnus awake and had said his goodbye, wishing Magnus a great day. Magnus hadn’t wanted to bother him during the day, he knew that this time of the year was always busy for the Lightwoods. Especially for Alec.
“Okay,” Daisy said, untying her apron behind her back.
The barista and Magnus were still in the phrase of getting to know each other. Even though they had been getting along well, Magnus didn’t know how much she already knew about him and Alec, about their history and how much he should have share with her. She was a nice girl in her early twenties and she had asked Magnus for fashion advice a couple of times. They got along well in the times like this when Magnus had nothing to do at his studio or home—Alec and his apartment above his studio next door—his heart still warmed from the thought of home .
Once Daisy went to the back office—to get her belongings, he assumed—Magnus did the dishes and wiped them dry, putting them back in their places.
Couple of minutes later Daisy appeared in a blue puffy jacket, white knitted pompom hat on her head and scarf around her neck, and a brown leather backpack hanging loose on her shoulder.
“You have a good night, Magnus,” she said her byes, smiling while she made her way toward the front door.
“You too, darling,” Magnus mirrored the smile and waved to her.
The couple who had been sitting in the corner of the coffee shop had left later and Magnus decided to carry the boxes to his studio.
He turned the main lights off, only the one above the counter was on and the Christmas lights softly lit the place.
After filling the boxes he carried them next door, chills running through his body as the cold winter air hit him. He should have put on his coat, he thought.
Only one box remained on the floor next to the counter and he puckered his brows when he noticed that he hadn’t even opened it.
The decorating had been done. He knew he couldn’t have used anything else. The coffee shop looked perfect as it was but his curiosity made him open the box.
He still had this weird feeling in his stomach every time he opened one—and he had done that a lot in the last months. Somehow their content—even a simple note on a worn-out paper—always brought some memories back, making his heart ache and reminding him of what he had done ten years ago.
Since it had turned out just a couple of days ago that Alec and Magnus’ best friend’s paralegal, Lydia had been friends and Magnus kind of knew everything about Alec’s life—more or less, mostly about his love life and still trying to process the whole thing—in the whole time Magnus had been away, there hadn’t been a single day he didn’t think about the ‘what if’s.
What if Alec would have settled down with—
Magnus quickly pushed the unwanted thoughts deep into the back of his mind and tried not think about how stupid he had been ten years ago.
Magnus quickly ripped the tape off the box and moved the top off.
Swallowing the knot that had grown in his throat, and ignoring his hammering heart in his chest, Magnus leaned aside, checking the tag on the box again before looking into it. Christmas stuff, he read.
Magnus felt like he was kicked in the stomach, the air left his body the moment he saw the very first thing in the box.
It was after dinner on a Saturday and Magnus was sitting at the table in Jocelyn’s craft room, sewing by hand when he heard light knocks on the door.
“Come on in,” he answered without looking up from his task.
“Hey,” he heard Alec’s voice from behind and turned around on his chair, “your mom let me in,” Alec said and walked toward Magnus, books in his hand. His nose was red from the chilly weather outside and Magnus thought that the heating wasn’t working properly in Alec’s car. Again.
“Hey,” Magnus greeted and smiled at him, “I’ll be done with this in ten minutes hopefully, then we can go up to study,” Magnus turned back to continue the sewing.
“What are you doing?” Alec asked and Magnus heard his footsteps coming closer.
“Sewing,” he answered, biting on his lower lip immediately when he heard Alec’s snort. That was what he had expected anyways.
“Yeah, I guessed,” Alec said and leaned down to press a kiss on Magnus’ cheek, his cold nose brushing Magnus’. “What is this?” He asked, pulling away. Magnus couldn't help it; he looked up at his boyfriend, seeing him frown, tilting his head to the left then to the right, then to the left again. Could Alec Lightwood ever stop being so adorable? That was quite unfair, Magnus thought.
“I’m sewing a Christmas sweater for you,” Magnus said and he didn’t have to wait for Alec’s reaction for long.
Alec’s eyes widened and he blinked a couple of times before he cleared his throat and started to talk, “this is the ugliest sweater I’ve even seen,” then he laughed.
“What?” Magnus tried to sound offended even though he wasn’t really. He knew the sweater wasn’t his best work he had ever done, but still.
Alec still laughed while he placed his books on the table.
“You hurt me, just saying,” Magnus pouted and turned away from him.
“Nah, I hurt your pride,” Alec said back and pulled the sweater on the table in front of him to take a better look but said nothing. Magnus couldn’t really read his expression.
“You have no idea how hard it is to sew your favorite animal onto a sweater,” Magnus pointed to the piece of clothes.
“You are right. I have no idea but the penguin isn’t my favorite animal. Second favorite,” Alec informed him and Magnus rolled his eyes, standing up from the chair.
“I know the giraffe is your favorite but they aren’t that winterish,” Magnus explained, placing his tool case back its place on the shelf, “and a penguin is cuter,” he added and went to fold the fabric that was on the table.
“Well, this penguin looks anything but cute. Like he got shocked, to say the least,” Alec tried to mirror the penguin’s face and Magnus couldn’t help bursting out loud with laughter. The penguin really looked like he’d seen something shocking. Poor thing.
“Fine,” Magnus said after they both calmed down, “I guess I’m gonna redo some parts of it,” he added and saw Alec took his books from the top of the table.
“Shall we?” Alec asked, still smiling broadly, gesturing toward the door.
“Yeah,” Magnus turned the lights off and they headed upstairs to his room to study for their upcoming tests in high school.
They had studied a lot for the tests. Alec had been busy helping his father—Robert had been still in town back at the time—and Hodge at the same time while Magnus had needed to be around his family.
Christmas had rolled by, the sweater had been forgotten and Magnus remembered that Alec had worn a red and black check flannel shirt on that Christmas Day when he and Jace had come over to have dinner with Luke, Jocelyn, Clary and Magnus.
“You know you’ve already given me the most precious thing you could have”, Alec said in a low voice as Magnus handed him a little box, wrapped in gold and blue Christmas paper with white ribbon around it.
They were sitting nearby the Christmas tree, his parents on the couch, chatting with Clary and Jace about something Magnus hadn’t really felt like to listening to. His full attention was on Alec who only smiled softly at him—probably noticing his questioning look. Alec licked his lips and shook his head slightly before starting to talk again.
“No gem, no expensive watch nor a first edition of a book,” Alec leaned closer, hazel irises looking deep into Magnus’ eyes, blush coloring his cheeks, “there’s nothing that I could treasure more than your invaluable heart, Magnus,” Alec’s spoke still in a whisper, reaching out to take Magnus’ hands between his. Magnus felt that everything went silent around them, as if just the two of them existed then. Only the sound of his hammering heart could be heard.
“Alexander,” Magnus only breathed, entirely lost in the moment.
“Your heart, your love… you’re the greatest thing that has ever happened to me in my life,” Alec spoke before leaning forward to Magnus, kissing him on the cheek then pulling him into a hug.
Magnus’ heart was drumming the same way it had done thirteen years ago as he looked down at the photo in his hand. It could have been taken five or six years ago—according to Max’s height—in the Lightwood family’s living room. There was a huge Christmas tree in the background, with Jace with Clary and on their left Isabelle and Simon, and in front of the four of them, Alec and Max sitting on the rug. All of the faces wreathed in content smiles.
Magnus couldn’t help but examine Alec in the photo—his face, crinkles next to his eyes as the broad smile hovered over his lips—, wearing that sweater Magnus had sewn thirteen years ago.
For the cost of his own life, Magnus couldn’t even imagine how the hell Alec had gotten that sweater. He didn’t remember that he had ever given it to him. Maybe his parents had found it when they had renovated, he thought.
It was the very last Holidays Magnus spent in Maysville—he hadn’t known that back at the time though—he just walked Alec out, standing next to the old pickup Alec loved so much.
Magnus crossed his arms on his chest, pouting as he looked at Alec.
“I can’t tell you enough times that I only want you,” Alec closed the distance between them, wrapping his arms around Magnus, “and since I already have you, you really shouldn’t buy me a gift,” Alec touched their foreheads together.
Magnus had tried to get what Alec wanted for Christmas out of him for hours. That had been the very first time Magnus didn’t have a single idea how to surprise his boyfriend, and Magnus Bane had always been good when it came to give or to surprise. And truth be told it was driving him crazy.
“I’m happy to buy you gifts,” Magnus answered coyly, closing his eyes and brushing their noses together, “and I’ve a pretty decent, well-paying job, you know?”
“Yeah?” Alec pulled away just to look at Magnus.
“Yeah,” he nodded.
“You’re crazy,” Alec laughed.
“Duh, just tell me what do you want for Christmas,” Magnus demanded.
“God, I love you so much,” Alec said just before bringing his hand up to Magnus’ face, pulling him into a kiss. Chaste, soft, lips brushing lightly. It only lasted until Magnus started to feel the snowflakes melting on his face.
“I love you too, Alexander,” Magnus whispered when Alec opened his eyes.
Alec smiled and pulled away entirely, Magnus missed the warmth immediately. “Seriously, Magnus, just wrap some paper around you,” Alec gestured with his hand and winked at Magnus, walking backwards.
“Hm… aren’t you afraid that Santa will leave your presents underneath someone else’s Christmas tree,” Magnus shot his tongue out and Alec laughed out loud while he rounded his car.
“I’ve been a good boy all year, Magnus,” Alec said before opening the door, “Santa knows that,” he added before getting into the car. Magnus didn’t comment, only shook his head, smiling contentedly.
Magnus blow a kiss to Alec, watching him drive away.
By the end of the next summer Magnus had moved to New York and hadn’t come back—not even for the Holidays—to Maysville until summer this year.
Magnus knew he shouldn’t think about these memories, even though they were heartwarming they just brought the guilt out of him.
The bell above the door rang, making Magnus startle and bringing him back to the reality. He quickly put the top of the box back on it, standing up and seeing Alec walking towards him.