Chapter Text
Magnus’ chest was a swirl of emotions on his first flight back to New York.
He was partly elated - he was going home, properly home, to the city that took him in and gave him a life he loved. He was going to be able to see all his friends again.
Catarina and Raphael had both visited him separately in Edom when they could get the time off work, Raphael just after Christmas and Catarina later in the spring. But Magnus hadn’t been able to see all his friends and family together for almost a year, now, and his heart was aching in the best way for him to just get back.
But he was also sad to be leaving Edom and all the new friends he’d made there. Dot had promised to video call him, as had Tessa and Will and Jem, and all the kids from the children’s centre had sent him goodbye and good luck cards. He had Madzie’s and Zoe’s in his hand luggage on the royal family’s private plane; the others would be shipped over with the rest of his stuff when he had sorted accommodation for the new school year.
He wouldn’t be returning to Edom now until winter break, having decided to pick up his deferred year at NYU. His father had allowed him to return to New York to finish his studies, but Magnus would have returned in time for June anyway, even if he hadn’t.
The early summer marked a year since his mother’s funeral and he was going to visit her grave, even if he now needed a security detail to do it. Asmodeus couldn’t stop him.
Their relationship had been teetering on the cliff’s edge between civil and incendiary for months, but ever since the official ceremony where Magnus had become the Crown Prince, Asmodeus had - slowly, grudgingly - started listening to him.
The ceremony had been a grand affair. Magnus had been more nervous than he could ever remember being, but it had been a jubilant celebration, too. It wasn’t quite a coronation, because Asmodeus was still the king, but it was a binding agreement wherein Magnus had accepted the role officially.
Magnus relaxed back in his seat, glancing to the chair beside him, where Chairman Meow was reclining regally on a cat bed. The little crown Izzy had gifted him was perched crookedly on his head and Magnus had to snap a picture to save the moment.
“We’re going home, baby,” he said to the cat, scratching him between the ears. Magnus looked out over the Atlantic, eager anticipation and nerves warring in his stomach.
Another bonus of going to New York was that he’d planned to meet Alec there.
Alec had made good on his promise to show Magnus around Idris and Alicante, and he’d spend a whirlwind two weeks with Alec and the other Lightwoods back in April. Maryse and Robert avoided them as much as possible and so they avoided them right back, but Magnus was more than content to spend time with Alec, anyway.
It had been almost impossible for Magnus saying goodbye to Alec, knowing that they wouldn’t see each other again for another few months. Even in the short time they’d known each other, they’d become very close, and Magnus was so relaxed and safe in Alec’s company that he felt blessed.
Fully - if reluctantly - prepared for the long wait before he'd see Alec again, Magnus had hardly been able to believe it when, a day after he’d called Alec, frustrated, angry, ready to tear his hair out at his father’s behaviour, Alec had turned up at the palace in Edom. He’d come with a grin and roses, and Magnus honestly thought he was dreaming until he felt Alec’s lips on his own and Alec’s warm hands gripping his hips.
Alec had only been able to stay for a couple of nights, but it was a gesture that meant so much to Magnus. They’d video called and spoken on the phone since then, but they hadn’t seen each other in person. Magnus was buzzing with excitement about having Alec in his arms again and being able to show him around New York.
It was a few hours after the jet touched down before Magnus finally made his way into the arrivals area of the airport. He scanned the faces waiting for his friends, but in the end he heard them before he saw them. Five people cheered his name and Magnus spotted them - Catarina, Clary, Ragnor, Raphael and Simon.
Laughing, he’d barely made it two paces before Clary was bulleting towards him and hugging him tightly. Catarina had slightly more dignity and refused to run to him, but he pulled her close when he reached them, arms around both women.
Simon was next to hug him, followed by Raphael, and then Magnus was faced with his oldest friend.
Ragnor merely appraised him, then his lips twitched.
“It’s good to see you,” he said, holding out his arms, and Magnus hugged him tightly.
They eventually made their way out the airport, congregating in Raphael and Simon’s apartment. The only new addition was Magnus’ security detail; aside from that, Magnus was warm with nostalgia and familiarity as they laughed the night away.
Three days later, Magnus was back at the airport, waiting for Alec to appear. As soon as Magnus saw him he couldn’t help grinning, his whole body feeling lighter. Alec was beaming back at him, looking absolutely gorgeous, and Magnus drew him in for a kiss as soon as he got close enough.
“Missed you,” Alec mumbled against Magnus’ lips, still smiling.
Magnus hummed, holding Alec tighter. “I missed you, too.”
They spent the next couple of days together, going all round New York. Magnus took Alec to his favourite haunts, places that were quieter and had special meaning to him, as well as all the famous tourist destinations.
Their third day was balmy and bright, the perfect summer’s day for exploring the city. Before they made their way to Prospect Park, though, they stopped at Green-Wood Cemetery.
It was a year to the day since Magnus had last been there, but it remained unchanged. The gothic arch over the entrance was the same: a grand, stately monument to the souls resting within. Sunlight dappled Alec’s cheeks as they walked to the spot where Magnus’ mom’s grave was; their hands swung loosely between them, a point of contact and reassurance.
It wasn’t long before they reached her grave. Alec hung back, allowing Magnus a moment of privacy, and Magnus squeezed his hand before dropping it and taking a step forward.
He found it hard to believe he’d been without his mother for a year. He could still hear her laughter and see the way her hands danced in the air as she talked, and he still thought of things he wanted to say to her everyday. The loss was less raw now, but no less painful, and he felt tears prick at his eyes as he drew nearer to her grave.
He brushed some twigs and other debris off the grave and then gently laid the sunflowers he was carrying down. The golden yellow bloomed magnificently against the slate grey behind, a bright pop of colour that reminded Magnus of the vibrance his mother brought to his life.
“Hey, mama,” he said, crouching down beside the tombstone. Magnus brushed his fingers over the engraving of her name, throat thick with emotion. “I miss you.”
He sat down on the grass by her grave and started talking. It took him a moment to be able to speak, lost in a haze of memories, but Magnus told her all about the letter from Asmodeus and going to Edom and becoming the crown prince, about the ball for his birthday and how he’d met Alec and how he knew he was falling in love.
Magnus wasn’t sure if Alec could hear. When he glanced back, he saw Alec watching him with a soft smile. That delighted, joyous thing Magnus always felt around Alec spread out from behind his ribs all the way to his toes, sweet like honey.
“I wish you here,” Magnus said, turning back to his mom's grave. He curled one of the sunflower petals gently between his thumb and forefinger, smiling sadly. “I love you, and I think about you everyday.”
Magnus drew in a breath and stood up, brushing down his pants. His heart was heavy, but he knew he would be okay. The last year had proved that.
“I won’t leave it so long next time,” he promised, and then added, with one last glance at her grave, "Goodnight, sunlight."
Alec smiled as Magnus approached, his bright hazel eyes regarding him warmly. He reached out to take Magnus’ hand in one of his own and cupped Magnus’ cheek with the other.
“You okay?” Alec asked, stroking his thumb along Magnus’ cheekbone.
Magnus nodded. All around them, the sun was shining, nature bursting to life, even in a cemetery. A sense of peaceful calm draped itself over Magnus’ shoulders like the comfort of his mother’s arms; he was ready to go on without her, but she would always be there, in his heart.
He laced his fingers through Alec’s and inhaled, taking a final moment to silently send his love to his mother.
Alec watched him closely, smiling. “Ready?”
“Yeah,” Magnus said, squeezing Alec’s hand. “Let’s go.”