Answer: Cry. Die. Fight. Live. It's something that I came up with with I was like 12 as a sort of motto to remind myself that it was okay to cry and feel like you were dying but then you had to get up off the ground and fight until  you have nothing left. And then go back to living your life. 

"I never want to sit down again." Alec complained as he got up. His arms were wrapped and Magnus helped him into his shirt.

"Same." Magnus rubbed his butt. "If I had known it would take this long I would have made Jace come instead of me."

"You wouldn't." Alec smiled.

"No, Jace is an idiot. He would have talked you into getting a teddy bear or something else.

"And he wouldn't have gotten a matching tattoo on his chest." Alec reached up and traced around the tape holding the plastic to Magnus's new tattoo. Magnus had a couple tattoos already but Alec knew this would always be their favorite.

"Well, I couldn't let you have all of the fun." Magnus shrugged. "Plus, with a black heart I can always think of you when I look in the mirror."

"Dick."

"Truth." Magnus smirked and caught his reflection. The black heart looked like it had been shattered then stitched and glued back together just like his own heart.

"Now for the not so fun part." Magnus pulled out his wallet, but Alec stopped him.

"No, this was for me. I'll pay." Alec pulled out his own wallet.

"Neither of you is paying me a fucking cent." Dyson declared and crossed his arms. His fingers were aching and his arm was dead, but it was worth it. Not only did the ink look like his best work yet, he had never felt so at peace with a job. How in the hell could he charge these boys for doing something they had to?"

"No, you did too much." Alec said. "And I don't just mean the ink."

"I did, but the world owed you this one. I'm not taking your money and that's final. But I would love if you can send me a picture and remember if you ever need touchups let me know. And believe me I'll charge you for those and I'm damn expensive." Dyson squeezed Alec's shoulders.

"I can send you pictures," Alec paused and they all heard the but that he hadn't said.

"Don't worry." It would be for my personal collection.

"Thanks." Alec smiled. "Maybe one day I'll be okay with sharing it, but for now I'm not even ready for my friends to see."

"Gee thanks." Magnus scoffed to keep it from getting too serious.

"I don't think of you as a friend." Alec rolled his eyes and the room instantly cooled.

Magnus's heart stopped. After all of that, was Alec still not okay with them being friends?

"Mags, you're more than a friend. Like I said, I'm pretty sure you're an alien." Alec cupped his chin and then pulled back.

"Alexander Gideon Lightwood you have got to figure out how to say things like a normal human being! I mean, damn it, do you want me to die from a heart attack?" Magnus shouted and clenched his fits in Alec's face before laughing.

"I think I'll let you two go." Dyson shook their hands. "Thank you again for letting me help you."

"No, thank you." Alec said and he and Magnus left.

"Alec, you will work on how you suck at saying things, right?" Magnus asked as they hailed a cab.

"Right." Alec snickered as a cab stopped in front of them.

"You did that on purpose didn't you?" Magnus glared.

"What?" Alec snorted. "I would never."

"You are dead to me." Magnus tried to sound angry, but his smile made it impossible. "You hear me? Dead."

"Are you going to get in the cab?" Alec laughed and held the door open for Magnus.

"Yes, but if you don't think you're paying for dinner then you're sorely mistaken." Magnus crossed his arms once he was in the taxi.

"I am sore." Alec rubbed his wrist.

"Good." Magnus pouted.

"Are either of you going to tell me where you're going?" The cab driver glared.

Magnus said the hotel's name then was about to say something snarky to Alec but then Alec leaned his head against him.

They sat like that in silence until they got to the hotel which took a very long time because of it being night in Vegas.

"Alec, we're here." Magnus nudged Alec awake.

"Oh, sorry." Alec got up and slid out of the cab and Magnus followed.

"Did you still want to wander around?" Magnus asked him as they walked into the hotel.

Alec rubbed his eyes and yawned. "Of course, do you want to?"

"Alec, this has been a long day. I'm fine if you just want to go back up to the room." Magnus rubbed Alec's back and felt a pang of pain when Alec stepped away from him.

"Yeah, sorry. I'm exhausted." Alec yawned again and headed towards the elevator.

"I can only imagine." Magnus smiled sadly. As they made it up to their room Magnus wondered if they would be able to act like a couple again. He knew that Alec would act different after they left the tattoo shop, but he didn't think it would happen so fast. He wondered if he should offer to get his own room, but stopped himself. There was no way that was happening. He could sleep on the floor if Alec wanted space, but he wouldn't leave him alone.

"Mags, are you coming in?" Alec asked him while holding the door open. Magnus shook his head and walked inside.

"Wow, you smell terrible." Alec laughed.

"Excuse me?" Magnus touched his chest.

"We both smell, I'm sure." Alec laughed. "We've been wearing the same clothes since Friday."

"True. Why don't you take a shower and I'll go grab us some clothes." Magnus offered and saw the fear in Alec's eyes. "It'll take me ten minutes, tops."

Alec smiled, of course, Magnus thought he was afraid of being alone, and sure he was but he was more afraid of what Magnus would pick for them to wear. He decided that it didn't matter. He'd wear whatever the hell Magnus wanted him to. Magnus deserved that and so much more. And Alec promised himself that he would spend the rest of his life paying him back for what he had done for him.

"Magnus," Alec whispered.

"Alexander."

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

Magnus wiped away the tears in his eyes and smiled. "You know I'm still going to make you wear a super glittery and colorful outfit right?"

"Damn. It was worth a shot at least." Alec smiled and pulled off his shirt. "Oh, I probably can't shower with these, can I?"

"Oh yeah, that wouldn't be a good idea but you can use a washcloth to wash around them." Magnus offered. "And it's probably our clothes that smell more than anything."

"Okay, thanks." Alec closed the bathroom door and Magnus practically sprinted to the little store on the main floor.

A/N 50 votes and 70 comments. The next part will be the last chapter in this book and it does have a happy ending but I'll also do an epilogue. So we have 2 parts left.

Question: What are some fluffy one shots we're wanting for when this is over?