COMPLETED - Malec: A Love Like No Other

How I Met Him

A/N In this one-shot, Rafe is a teenager and Max is around 7. Hope you enjoy! All characters belong to Cassandra Clare.

It was a nice day and the Lightwood-Bane family had decided to go to the park. Max was on the swings, asking Alec to push him more and Magnus leaned against the leg of the swing, keeping an eye on Rafe. Rafe was with Dru, laughing and talking. It was obvious that they liked each other but them being teenagers,- wouldn't admit it. "Slide! Slide!" Max called and jumped off the swing, skipping his way over to the slide. Magnus and Alec took their time, leisurely strolling across the sea of kids and parents and older siblings.

"I think Rafe likes Dru," Magnus commented. Alec grinned. "Yeah, me too," he said. At that moment, Rafe flooded towards his parents, past them, and towards their loft. "I'll get Max, you check on Rafe," Magnus suggested and with a nod, Alec took off in the direction of their oldest son.

Alec caught up easily and when he managed to make Rafe walk and breathe, Alec asked, "What's wrong, Rafe?" In the way only teenagers can grumble, Rafe said, "Nothing." Alec placed a gentle hand on Rafe's shoulder. "I'm your father, you can talk to me," Alec said softly. "You won't understand," Rafe groaned, "You have the perfect relationship!" Alec's eyebrows shot up. "Anything wrong with you and Drusilla?" Alec inquired. Rafe went a bright shade of red before nodding. In ways, Rafe reminded Alec of himself.

"What happened?" Alec asked, keeping his voice low and soothing. "She asked for my number, I completely weirded out and bolted," Rafe explained as Alec opened the door to their loft. Rafe made a beeline for the couch, curling himself into a ball. Alec sat down beside him, and brushed Rafe's hair back. "You have no idea how weird I was when I met Magnus," Alec said. As if on cue, Magnus entered the loft, Max clinging to his hands. "Yes, your dad did do some very weird things when he met me," Magnus confirmed and got the pleasure of seeing Alec turn a soft red. "Can you tell me how you two met and stuff?" Rafe asked curiously. "Yes, yes, yes!" Max cheered and Magnus and Alec could not say no to that.

The whole family was now on the couch, Magnus on one end, Max in his lap, Alec next to him and Rafe at the other end of the couch, his feet on Alec's lap. "So how did you two meet for the first time?" Max prompted and Magnus began. "It was at a party. I was hosting a grand party; your dad, uncle Jace and Simon, aunt Izzy and Clary decided to crash my party and that's when I saw your dad for the first time," Magnus explained, eyes looking dazed. Max was looking on curiously and Rafe remained grumpy, showing signs of his teenage. 

"And at the end of the party," Alec started, prodding a finger in the direction of Rafe, "Your dad asked me to call him and I weirded out, uncle Jace had to drag me away." Magnus laughed and said with a grin, "I remember, Alexander." And then Magnus gave Rafe a wise look and whispered loudly, "If you want Dru to call you, go to her, wink and then ask sassily 'Call me?''' Alec smiled sheepishly. And as if finally getting excited, Rafe exclaimed, "You asked dad that didn't you... With the wink?" Magnus nodded, grinning widely. "Did it work?" Max asked. 

"Well... I did weird out and -" Magnus cut Alec off. "And after I saved his life, he came up to thank me and whilst going an array of different colours, he asked me out," Magnus finished. "Are you suggesting I should somehow save Dru's life and then she'll ask me out?" Rafe asked with a lopsided smile. "Fabulous idea!" Magnus announced, "I'll pretend to be a mugger, and you can chase me off, Rafael!" Alec shot Magnus a murderous glare. "No, Rafe, just be yourself and she likes you as well so it's a win-win," Alec said. 

"But I keep messing up!" Rafe groaned. "Your dad did too," Magnus offered, "He spilt wine all over my carpet on our first date and he a was a stuttering mess, but that's what I liked about him: his innocence and how he said what he thought, so go to Dru, tell her that you  like her and you two will make an amazing couple," Magnus finished. He realised everyone was staring at him. That speech came off more serious than he intended it to. 

Rafe looked thoughtful, Max stayed quiet, as if understanding a big decision was going to be made, and Alec gave Magnus' hand a squeeze and whispered, "That was one hell of a speech," and Magnus whispered back, "It's true." And the finally, Rafe said, "I'm going to Dru's house." Magnus and Max whooped and Alec smiled at his son. "You'll be great," Alec said and with a wary smile, Rafe took off, hoping.

An hour later

Max had gone off to his room to draw and Magnus occupied Alec's lap on the couch. Alec was curling Magnus' hair in between his fingers and Magnus had his eyes closed. "I really hope Rafe and Dru get together," Alec commented. "They will," Magnus murmured, eyes still closed. "You know, Alexander," Magnus said, popping one eye open, "Everything I said about you was true; all  the blushing and stuttering was and is adorable." Alec smiled a little shyly. "I'm so glad I met you, Alexander," Magnus whispered, "I'm so glad we met the way that we did." Alec smiled and said quietly, "Me too, Magnus," and then kissed Magnus' forehead.

Another ten minutes passed when the loft door was thrown open and Rafe walked in, grinning brilliantly. "I take everything went well?" Magnus asked, getting up from Alec's lap. "Yeah!" Rafe exclaimed, "She asked me to be her boyfriend and I said 'yes'!" Alec smiled, Magnus gave Rafe a happy nod and Max bounced down the stairs, throwing himself into his older brother's arms. "Am I going to have a sister-in-law?" Max asked and Rafe went red. Magnus and Alec laughed heartily whilst Rafe swung Max onto his back and walked towards the kitchen, talking about chocolate.

Magnus fell back onto Alec's lap and Alec leaned down, just about managing to kiss Magnus on the lips. Magnus tried pulling him down but Alec broke away, grinning. "The kids," he said and Magnus faked a groan. "I expect a good night then, Alexander," Magnus warned and Alec chuckled. "A good night filled with sleeping?" Alec inquired. Magnus rolled his eyes. "No, a good night filled with... Other things," Magnus smiled wickedly, taking Alec's hand, kissing his knuckle. "Okay then," Alec whispered, kissing Magnus' forehead one last time before Max and Rafe came in from the kitchen, carrying two chocolate bars each. Max offered one to Alec and Rafe offered one to Magnus. Both Alec and Magnus accepted and Max and Rafe seated themselves next to their parents, smiling and humming happily.

A/N I hope you enjoyed this one guys! Please comment, vote and share; it means so much!

Lots of love, IC XXXX