Chapter Seven - This = Love.

Alec shot Magnus a grin as Jace parked the car right in front of the doors of the airport. "Last stop lovebirds. Enjoy the flight." Jace said with a smile.

"You know... chauffeurs are supposed to help with the bags." Magnus commented, Jace replied with a carefree shrug. "You get what you get. Besides you don't have bags." Jace said. Magnus slid out the car and opened Alec's door for him, Alec blushed scarlet. "Thanks." He murmured as he clambered out of the car. "Remember what I told you!" Magnus said sternly to Jace.

"Yeah yeah." Jace replied before releasing the clutch and heading off. "What?" Alec asked, "What did you tell him?"

"Nothing," Magnus said, "come on. We'll miss the flight." He entwined his fingers with Alec's and together they entered the bustling airport.

Soon the two of them were seated side by side in the plane destined for France. Alec stared out of the window, his blue eyes glittering in excitement but his face was pale and his expression nervous. "What's wrong?" Magnus asked.

"I've n-never been on a plane before." Alec replied, gripping Magnus's hand tightly as the plane started to move. "Really?" Magnus asked.

"Really really."

"Interesting." Magnus sighed, Alec stared over at him, "If you say so." He yelped, burrowing his face into Magnus's shoulder as the plane reached the end of the runway and took off. Magnus chuckled and rubbed Alec's back reassuringly. "It's okay. It's okay." He whispered into Alec's ear kissing the top of his head gently. He helped Alec to sit back up in his chair and told him to look out of the window. Alec did, even if he was hesitant about it; his eyes widened as he took in the sight below them, his mouth dropped open in amazement. "Wow." Alec whispered and Magnus smiled, "I told you, you'd enjoy yourself." Alec nodded and yawned, he attempted to hide it behind his mouth but he failed. "Get some sleep," Magnus whispered, "we have a long flight ahead." Alec nodded again and curled up on the chair to sleep.

*****

'Alec's eyes opened to find himself back in the apartment he shared with Magnus in Brooklyn. The bedsheets were tangled around him and his dark hair was fanned out on the pillow. He rubbed his eyes and smiled as Magnus walked into the room with breakfast. "Hi handsome." Magnus said placing the tray down in front of Alec and kissing his lightly. Alec smiled slightly and began to tuck into his breakfast, listening as Magnus spoke and occasionally nodding in agreement. "Are you feeling okay today?" Magnus asked cautiously, his eyes wide with concern. Alec nodded, feeling confused he watched as Magnus played with the long sleeves of Alec's shirt.

"Magnus? What's wrong?" Alec whispered, although he had no idea why he was whispering. Tears shone in Magnus's cat eyes as he muttered, "You don't remember, do you? They said that might happen. That you'd block it out because it emotionally hurt you badly."

"Who said? What are you talking about Magnus?" He grabbed at the sleeve of his shirt and although Magnus tried to force his hand away, he gripped it tight and pulled the fabric back to reveal the scars that slashed across his wrists. "What happened?" Alec questioned, tears dripping onto his cheeks; Magnus brushed them away with his thumbs. "You cut your wrists open," Magnus said, finally letting his tears fall, "your parents came around here and said something to you - something bad - about us and our son and when I came home I found you slouched on the floor in the kitchen." Magnus sobbed, "I-I th-thought you w-were de-dead at first."

"I'm sorry Magnus." Alec whispered, cupping one of Magnus's cheeks. "It's not your fault." Magnus whispered back, kissing Alec's forehead lightly. Suddenly there was a loud cry, "Daddy!" Alec glanced up and Magnus smiled as a young child stumbled into the room. He clambered up onto the bed and sat in between Magnus and Alec. Alec grinned staring down at the little boy. His hair was a murky brown colour and his eyes were blue cat's eyes. He scrambled along the bed, closer to Alec and grinned. "Now, Max. Remember what I told you." Magnus said gently but in a firm tone, "Daddy needs to rest he's not feeling well." Max nodded and crawled right beside Alec and lay down beside him, holding out a piece of paper. Alec took it and looked at every inch of the drawing on the cover. "It's a card." Max said, "For you daddy. Do you like it?"

"I love it Max." Alec whispered, hurriedly making sure that the scars were hidden, he played with his son's hair smiling contently as Magnus watched them.'

Alec woke with a jolt which also jarred Magnus - whose head was on Alec's shoulder - awake. "Alec?" Magnus asked, "What is it?"

"Nothing." Alec replied, turning his face to the window so that Magnus wouldn't see the tears that were threatening to overwhelm him. He couldn't get the image of the boy, Max, out of his head: his blue cat's eyes and his dark hair. Magnus wasn't fooled. "I don't believe it was nothing Alec."

"Believe what you want." Alec muttered, breathing a sigh of relief when he saw that the signal which allowed him to take off his belt was still on. He unbuckled the belt and stood, stretching. He headed past Magnus and didn't even look back when the warlock called his name. He needed time to himself, time to think things through clearly and rid himself of the images of his dream: scarred wrists, a son called Max, his parents. All of it.

He headed down the main aisle of the plane, ignoring the strange looks he got from people, who had obviously seen him with Magnus. Right now he couldn't care less what people thought about him. As he reached one of the doors a huge muscled guy shoved past him, stepping deliberately on Alec's foot. "Hey!" Alec yelled, the guy whirled and shoved him back into the wall. Alec winced as his shoulder began to burn with pain. The guy leaned close to Alec's face his dark eyes glaring, fixed entirely on Alec. He kicked Alec's shins, hard. "What are you going to do about it. You're gay. Go back to your boyfriend and tell him? 'Cause I'm really going to be scared of him I don't think!"

"Look I don't know who you are or why you have a problem with me, but seriously..." Alec said, trying to reason with the guy.

"I have a problem with all people like you."

'Oh great!' Alec thought sarcastically, 'He's homophobic. Just what I needed!' Alec didn't even bother replying instead he pushed past the guy and limped back to his seat, throwing himself back which was a big mistake as his shoulder burned with pain again.

Alec bit his lip to stop himself from crying out in pain, a action that didn't go unnoticed by Magnus and neither had the limp. "What happened?" He demanded, Alec shook his head as he didn't trust himself enough to speak. "Alec, don't you dare tell me it's nothing or I will hocus pocus this plane back to New York!" Magnus snapped, "Now what is it? What happened?"

"Just some guy." Alec ground out between gritted teeth as he clutched one hand to his shoulder as he checked both his shins. Already, bruises were forming on his pale skin. He sighed, "Just voicing his opinions on how he hates people like me." Magnus leapt to his feet, a fierce scowl on his face, "Where the hell is this guy?! I need to talk to him about the way he treats my husband!" Alec tugged on Magnus's arm, "Magnus!" He hissed, "Sit down! People are staring!"

Magnus returned to his seat reluctantly, a motion Alec was grateful for. "Are you okay?" The warlock asked, brushing his thumbs across Alec's cheekbones. Alec blushed, "I'm fine." He lied, buckling his belt shut as the sign finally clicked off which indicated that they were now about to touchdown in France. Magnus refused to look away from Alec's face, Alec smiled, "Magnus," He laughed, "I'm fine!" The plane started to dip downwards. "On second thoughts! I'm not fine!" Alec yelped, clutching onto Magnus's arm for dear life. Magnus laughed and held onto Alec reassuringly in an attempt to comfort him.