Silently, with our hands buried deep in our pockets, we walk side by side. The sun is shining, thick cumulus clouds are drifting across the blue sky. A light wind blows through our hair, a pleasant coolness settles on my warm skin. The last fog in my head has cleared, my thoughts are clear and yet they do not stand still. Alec's first question hits me hard. Actually, I don't have to think about it. But I'm too shocked right now, I didn't expect this.

"Why do you think that?", I ask quietly.

"Because that's how you act. You take, but you don't give", Alec answers honestly. I have nothing to say to that. It's the truth.

"Are you going to tell me where that scar on the back of your hand came from?", I ask, hoping very much not to scare him off. Ever since our meeting at Hunters Moon this question has been burning under my nails.

"That's very private Magnus. And you haven't answered me."

"I don't hate you. I understand why you think that. But you don't", I say placatingly. Alec is silent and I don't ask him another question. I get the feeling that he doesn't want to talk anymore. That this isn't going the way he thought it would.

"I'll be honest. I imagined this day differently", Alec breaks the silence between us.

"We should just pretend that none of this, the sex, our adventure happened." It would be best for us. He's right.

"We can't go on like this Magnus. We just can't."

"Okay. Let's start off innocently enough. A proper get to know you?," I ask and Alec nods.

"I had a picnic planned after the zoo visit."

"Really?"

"Hmmm. Over there. See that big oak tree?" I see the oak tree. And his brother's shock of blond hair. We have already moved quite a distance from the zoo. I only notice that now. Was I so deep in thought again?

"That's really sweet of you. But you shouldn't have", I say.

"But Magnus does. Are you hungry?" And as if Alec and my stomach had colluded, it begins to growl loudly. The roar of the sea lions from the zoo wouldn't have been nearly as loud.

"And how. I think my stomach has settled down again."

"Come on then. Let's go see what delicacies Jace has packed." Beaming with delight, Alec holds out his hand to me. I take it and the warmth of his skin immediately settles on mine.

"Hello you two", greets Jace joyfully. He pulls Alec into a stormy hug, followed by pats on the back. There is talk of settling a debt, knowingly the two look at each other with serious expressions. I feel like a stranger, or at least a clueless one. For I was not present at the 'debt' in question. Suddenly they burst into peals of laughter and I catch a drop of jealousy trickling into my heart.

Alec and Jace are talking to each other. Wedding, Izzy stressed, only two weeks to go and Simon almost losing it. These are the snippets of conversation that waft over to me. Indecisively, I stand a few steps away and knead my hands. My gaze wanders over the scenery that presents itself to me. A meadow, lush green grass, freshly mown, it smells of summer and the wind blows through the leaves of the big old oak. A boulder blocks my view of Jace's arrangement. Moss-covered, angular, it looms before me. My fingers graze over the rough cold surface of the boulder. Grey with dark furrows and criss-crossed with light lines, silent witnesses of a long forgotten time. Dust particles deposited on the ground and millions of years of pressure covered by a soft and slightly damp layer of moss contrast with the hard rock. An interplay of green tones, dark and strong interspersed with yellow-green and lush. An important component for our ecosystem, shelter, food source and tree material supplier.

On the other side of the rock, a red-checked picnic blanket with a classic clichéd picnic basket. Brown wicker with a sturdy leather carrying handle. Lined with the same red checked fabric, the basket holds everything your heart desires. Plates, cutlery and glasses for two. Cloth napkins and a bottle of red wine. Cheese, ham, pâtés and olives. Plus fresh fruit and baguette.

"French picnic. I hope you like it", Alec murmurs in my ear. Again his hands are on my hips, again his lips are close to my ear and again a warm shiver runs down my spine.

"We were going to leave that, weren't we?", I say quietly and Alec chuckles. His lips brush my cheek and with one smooth movement he drops onto the blanket. Grinning, he looks up at me and I swear he does it on purpose. He lies stretched out, supported by his forearms, his legs crossed. The shirt lies tightly across his chest, accentuating his strong arms that bear witness to hard physical work. The muscles of his well-defined body press out hard and my fingertips begin to tingle as I look at his hair, which is swept by a gentle cool breeze. Fine strands fall into his forehead and I have to force myself not to put them in place.

Jace has left. Alec and I are alone. Just us and a bottle of red wine. We both know how this can end.

"So", I say long-drawn out and lean my back against the boulder. The rough stone presses hard into my skin. Cold spreads and I enjoy the feeling. It cools my heated body, the warmth of the sun tickles the skin on my arms and face. Cold and hardness from one side, warmth and the beauty of summer from the other. I love strong contrasts and just now the text of a poem I had to analyse in my final year of high school comes to mind.

But now is not the time for that.

"What do we start with?", I ask and Alec sits up with a groan.

"With the food. We'll talk on the side." Alec hands out the plates and cutlery and I open the bottle of wine and pour us both some. The dark red liquid flows into the glasses, the sight always reminding me a little of blood. Fascinated, I watch Alec fill our plates with the delicacies of French cuisine.

"Is there anything you don't like?", he asks and my answer follows promptly.

"Olives. I don't like olives."

"Then I'll have yours. And you get my ham."

"You're a vegetarian", I conclude.

"For six years." This is going great. I've just learned that my husband is a vegetarian and apparently has a fondness for cheese. For there is plenty of it on his plate. As well as grapes, strawberries, cherries and apple slices.

"Anything else you don't like?"

"Not at the moment", I reply, handing him his glass.

"Honesty Magnus. Can we manage that?", he asks seriously and I nod. Clinking, our glasses clink together, a sealed alliance. Honest and open conversations are important in a well-functioning relationship. Even if we are not a couple, we will live together for the next few months. And inevitably have to get along with each other. Without falling directly over each other every time. Because that is clearly not good for us. It confuses and hurts.