I don’t know if anyone else agrees, but I like have an irrational need for Malec ensuring that Rafael has like a connection to his birth place of Argentina. Like I know that they are Nephilim over all else…But just imagine it!!
•The Lightwood-Bane’s take an annual trip there every spring after Rafael asks if he could see his old friends who are still ravaging the streets of Buenos Ares, and being the sweet, empathetic child that he is, Rafael wants to ensure they are all right.
•Magnus and Alec have really long talks for every night for over a week about whether or not it was a smart idea to visit the place that had brought Rafael such pain only a year prior. Both truly worried over the possibility that wandering those streets again would perhaps once more bring about the nightmares that they had so forcefully staved off from their eldest child.
•Eventually it’s Max, in the devastating simplicity of a five year old, who informs Magnus and Alec that “If I didn’t see Aunt Izzy or Uncle Si for a year, I think I’d cry.”
•So with an exchanging of a glance, the pair finally resolve that they as his family should help Rafael with whatever kind of closure he desires.
•When the little family of four finally get to Buenos Aries, Magnus immediately flourishes in the hustle and bustle of the cosmopolitan city, leading them to the Mundane Hotel that they will be staying in.
*•It doesn’t take long for them to decide that Rafael would act as the translator, due to neither Magnus nor Alec being versed in the unique inflection of Argentinian Spanish. (Both having been taught the language in Spain’s dialect.
•For the first few days they take part in all the touristy adventures that is basically required. From savoring a helping of Argentinian stakes, to taking photos by the Botanic Garden. But it’s on their fourth day in the city, while walking through the lively streets, when Rafael leads them to his favorite refuge when he was an orphan.
•”It’s called *El Ateneo Grand Splendid*” Rafel jovially tells his fathers and brother as the four sum step into the artfully designed baroque theatre, one which Magnus is positive they would have walked right past if Rafael hadn’t insisted upon their stopping.
•Once they walk indoors, the family, save for Rafael, have to catch their breath at the beautiful sight of people meandering around the imposing stage, freshly brewed coffee, and newly bought books clad in each of their hands. And suddenly Magnus and Alec realize the reasoning behind their son’s partiality towards reading novels.
•They end up staying there for the entire evening, throwing Alec’s carefully crafted agenda to the wind. They revel in the warmth which seems to exude from this place,
•Rafael shows them all his favorite nooks to read in silence, and how he’d tuck away the particularly interesting reads, because, “I had no money to buy it, but I was afraid that someone else would before I finished.”
•That explanation may or may not have evoked a sudden need for Magnus to extend their already vast library within the loft, and fill it to the brim with texts that he thinks his eldest son would enjoy.
•Max loves seeing the happiness on his big brother’s face when he’s recalling memories he had within the confines of this wall. And even he can recognize that this place symbolized one of the safe places for Rafe.
•By the time they finally walk out, newly purchased books in a bag that Alec carries, and warm hot chocolate placed firmly in the boys’ clasps, the sun begins to dip into the horizon, casting away fleeting rays of light to pan across their faces.
• Rafe tells them that, “It’s not far from here.”
•Magnus and Alec don’t need another moment to comprehend the meaning behind his words, and allow themselves to be led to the one destination that Rafe wanted to see most of all.
•Alec couldn’t tell if it was the alleyway that he first found Rafe warding off a demon, or if they simply all look the same…But either way, the boy walks in with ease, and calls names unfamiliar to anyone else in the family.
•With a tentative stumbling out of the shadows, three terribly gaunt faces emerge. Brightening considerably once spotting the dark haired boy.
•”Rafael!” they exclaim while tackling into a group hug.
•”Where have you been?” is the most prominently spoken question asked within their rapid tongue.
•With a step back, Rafael gives a prideful flourish of the hands, and introduces them to, “Mis padres y mi hermano.”
•The children give the three strangers wide eyed stares, disbelieving that Rafael had truly found a family of his own…One which each and every one of them yearned to have.
•After a substantial amount of time passes with Rafael answering all the inquiries his old companions of the streets have, Max bursts into their chatter. A tiny, toddler finger pointing to a bundle of withered blankets, knitted together from their frayed edges, which creates a pitiful simulation of a tent, in attempts to protect them from any on coming weather changes.
•”Oh awesome! Is that where you live!”
•They all give a shy nod of the head, not expecting the pleading by the little boy to his fathers.
•”Can we go camping too dads! PLEASE!”
•Magnus and Alec just give in, knowing that Max won’t relent in his begging, and that he’d most likely forget by the time they get back to New York.
•Another hour passes until Magnus and Alec can lead the children, willingly, to a near by orphanage, telling them that, “You’ll be safe here.”
•All and all, it was an amazing trip, and Rafael seems more content than they’ve ever seen him.
•So the night after they get back, Izzy of course insists that the whole gang have dinner in her and Simon’s cramped apartment.
•So while Simon helps salvage the three course meal his beloved wife had asserted in making, and Max is dutifully playing a game with his Uncle Jace and Aunt Clarry, Rafael squirms himself between his dads who are slumping against each other on the sofa. Both yet a bit jet legged…(Or is it portal legged? :S)
•”Thank you guys for everything,” Rafael tells them, a gentle smile on his face. “It was awesome.”
“Of course my dear,” Magnus yawns with a smile of his own as he snuggles closer to the boy. “But you don’t have to thank us.”
“Yeah Rafe,” Alec runs a hand through his son’s thick locks. “It was a fun family trip. Maybe we’ll do it next year.”
•A sudden warmth blossoms in Rafael’s chest, because yes! Yes, they were his family. He actually had a magical warlock, and courageous Shadowhunter as fathers. And he even had a baby brother who mimicked his every movement just because he actually looked up to Rafael.
•They end up actually going the next year, joined by their newest addition to the family, Gigi. And Rafael is as excited as last year, because now he also gets to show off his baby sister too.
•But Rafe is only slightly disappointed, and mostly elated when he gets to the orphanage and finds out that two of his friends have been adopted, and the third is in the midst of paper work.
•Because now they might be able to have their own family. And maybe even they had the chance to experience the immense amount of raw joy he has when waking to his spectacular family each and every morning.
•They end up going around the same time of year for the third time in a row, and have all silently settled to the fact that it has become their own kind of tradition.
•Of course, Magnus insists upon the requirement for them to take a family portrait in the traditional Argentinian garb for their family portraits. Because seriously, “Look at my boys dressed as little Gauchos.”
•Gigi loves any opportunity that she gets to put on a dress and get a dolled up.
•“She gets that from you darling,” Alec states matter-of-factly when their only daughter demands upon a gem incrusted cowboy hat for the photo.
•surprisingly, Alec holds out until their fourth trip until Magnus finally convinces him on taking Tango lessons with him. Because seriously, “Darling the locals describe it as sex while standing, and if you give a fraction of your talent in bed. I’m sure we’ll be the most brilliant students there.”
•With a very reddening face, Alec clambers out a few “Your unbelievable,” “I can’t believe I’m engaged to you.” Until he finally gets to a resigned “Fine, but I’m not dressing up in that ridiculous attire.”
•And OMFG can you just imagine a little Rafe dressed in a Messi Jersey<3<3
•And I have wayyyyy to many feels about this, and this has become to long already. I”M SO SORRY
