Chapter 36

The Claiming Part 3

WARNING - SEXUAL CONTENT

Not Intended for readers under the age of 18

WARNING - THIS CHAPTER IS NOT INTENDED FOR READERS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 - I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR READERS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 WHO READ THIS!!!!!!!

A/N: Just a heads up to make reading easier, some of the more intimate parts of this chapter switch back and forth between Alec and Magnus' perspectives.

PS: All music credits go to Jewel Newton

HIGHLY EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT

ALL SMUT WILL BE IN BOLD

Luke rubbed his temples as he sat up. This is why he hated benzos. They always left him with a nasty headache. He hadn't wanted to take the valium Cat had left but after a few hours of asking him to take it his wife had used the 'please, for me' card, so he'd taken it. Had he slept? Yes. But it hadn't been restful sleep. It had been plagued with nightmares. He'd heard and seen so much of what he'd never wanted to hear or see again. He'd heard the screams, demonic and human alike. He'd heard the shrill alarm of heart monitors that had flatlined. He'd seen the gaping wounds that he had been able to repair, and the ones he hadn't. He'd smelled the pungent stench of venom and blood. He'd seen children die again and again. He didn't think it would matter how long he lived. He would never forget a single moment of The Dark War or the days after.

He flipped the bedside lamp on when he heard the front door open and close, immediately regretting it. The light had seared his eyes shooting fresh pain through his skull. Although the voices that he heard through the closed door were hushed, he recognized Robert and Cat. While a part of him wanted to stay in bed and hide away from the world, he didn't want to hide from them. Not from such good friends. Not from family. So, with a sigh he climbed out of bed and made his way to the door.

"Is daddy sleeping?" Came Ziva's soft voice from the next room. Luke stopped at the door when he heard his baby's sweet voice. While hearing her always worked to soothe his soul, a ball of lead suddenly settled solidly in his belly. 'Does she know?' He thought.

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"Grandma said he's not feeling good and that the medicine that auntie Cat gave him might make him sleepy." Ziva said. She'd been at her grandma's almost all day. She didn't know what was happening, what was wrong, only that something was. Grandma hadn't told her what, only that he didn't feel good. But she knew there was more, she could feel it in her tummy.

Her and Madzie had to stay inside that day, they couldn't go out to play 'cause of the rain. But when it finally stopped raining grandma told them that they still couldn't go outside because everything was all wet and then that her mommy had taken daddy home because he still wasn't feeling good and needed a good nap. That was when she was sure that something wasn't right. Her tummy had been telling her all day, but then so was grandma's eyes. She could see it there. Daddy had told her once that the eyes say it all. She hadn't understood what he'd meant, not then. But now she does. So, since she hadn't known what else to do, she'd stayed inside and played with Madzie until Uncle Robert and auntie Cat came to get her to bring her home.

'Grandma. That's new.' Luke thought.

"No, baby." He said, reaching for his baby girl. She moved smoothly from his best friend's arms into his. "I'm awake."

Dot was surprised to see that her husband was up and out of bed. While he still looked tired, he also looked pale, and she didn't like it. She'd thought that he'd still be sound asleep, so she couldn't help but think that if he was awake that it had to have been bad dreams that had woken him. Being reminded of the war always brought back memories of it and that's exactly what Stephanie had done. Only, that wasn't the worst of what she'd done.

"There he is." She said, all smiles for their baby girl's sake. So far, their daughter didn't know what had happened and they weren't sure how to explain it to her in a way that she would understand, in a way that wouldn't hurt her once she found out. If there is one. 'How' is still a lingering question.

"Daddy!" Ziva said, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Are you okay now, daddy? Are you still not feeling good? Are you better?"

"I'm getting there, Sunshine." He said, holding her close. He hadn't realized how badly he'd needed her in his arms until that moment. All he wanted to do is hold her and never let go. And his precious Dorthea. But he'd have her in his arms too very soon.

"Then I'll take care of you, daddy." She said. "I'll be your nurse. A good nurse like Ms. Sarah and Ms. Emily. I'll take care of you until you're all better." She said, giving him a tight hug. He had been giving her and Madzie nursing lessons and telling them all about his nurses at the 'Tute. He said that they were really good nurses and really nice ladies. She couldn't wait to meet them. But for now, she just wanted to be a really good nurse for him.

"You're going to be my nurse, huh?" He asked, unable to help but smile. He knew that she was enjoying her 'nursing lessons'. And in giving her those lessons she'd asked a lot of questions, including questions about Sarah and Emily, his nurses at the Institute. He'd never been able to really tell her anything about his life at the Institute when they were in New York, but they were far away from there now. They were far away and safe so he could tell her of his friends, his unofficial small family. Stanley, Emily, and Sarah.

"Yep." She said, nodding yes.

"Well then, with you taking care of me I'm sure I'll be feeling much better very soon." He said. And he thought he would feel a lot better, physically at least, if his head would stop pounding. Maybe he could sneak into the medicine cabinet for some aspirin without being seen by his little nurse. If she saw him, she'd want to give it to him again and again based on the instructions on the bottle like cold medicine and he didn't want to tell her that he didn't need it on a routine basis. He didn't want to deny her anything in her nursing duties. He knew that if he did, she would think that he didn't either need or want her as his nurse. It's very easy to hurt a little one's feelings.

Cat was surprised to see that Luke was awake. When Dot had messaged her telling her that he'd finally relented and had taken the valium she'd left she'd been certain that it would knock him out for several hours. It had been a hard and strenuous day, and from how pale he still looked he looked like he didn't need to be out of bed. She was hoping that he wasn't getting sick. He'd been out in a hard cold rain for several hours and nephilim immune system or not that can most definitely make one sick.

She was trying hard to keep her anger in check if anything for his sake. But as angry as she is, she also felt guilty. She hadn't known who he was or what he'd done for her people any more than the rest of them had and had only trusted him, a Shadowhunter, herself because those she loved so dearly did. And she was angry with herself for not seeing what was happening right in front of her. It wasn't until the night before when her fiancé had voiced his concerns after what he'd seen that afternoon that she'd even picked up on that something was wrong.

Setting that aside, Stephanie needed a bit of a talking to. She didn't know it yet, but they'd be having a conversation very soon. She intended to send her Shadowhunter back to the house to the kids before paying the young werewolf a visit. While she wasn't going to out Luke to the rest of the people of their army as they hadn't decided how to handle this situation yet, she would make sure that the woman knew who had saved her life.

She'd tended to Stephanie in the days after the war once she'd gone home to follow up on her recovery, and from the moment she'd first laid eyes on the wound that should have been in every way fatal she'd thought it was a miracle that she was alive. From the size and location of the wound, it should have killed her within minutes. It had taken great skill to tend to such a vicious wound especially in a triage tent on a battlefield. With the additional demon poisoning it truly was a miracle that her name wasn't on the list of casualties. And that miracle had a name, Dr. Lucas Greymark.

Had she thought that her family had been exaggeration his abilities at one point in time? Yes. But with what she'd learned of the good doctor over the last couple of months from both her family and best friend in addition to what she'd seen firsthand those days had long since passed. And Stephanie needed know who she owed her life to.

But it was after what had happened that day with Stephanie that Dot had finally told her of her husband's concerns, his fears, and how long he'd had them. She'd also told her of how she'd been certain that things would change, that the people of Haven and their army would come to love him. Then she'd told her of how and when she'd realized that she had been wrong.

She knew that Dot was angry as well and was trying to keep it in check for his sake too. Losing it wouldn't help anything. They'd already suspended the remaining training lessons for the day under the guise that concerns for her son could be a distraction which is true. The kids have been concerned and struggling to focus. Their leader was going through an incredibly difficult heat and had already had a few complications, so what they'd told their army hadn't been a lie. As for tomorrow, tomorrow's training is still up in the air.

Her Robert and the kids aren't certain that they will be able to work with the people that had hurt the man they all loved so dearly while their anger is still so fresh. Not without going off on someone who may accidentally say or do the wrong thing, a someone that could very well be completely innocent in all of this. As of yet, they had no idea of who had a problem with Luke and who didn't, only that he'd been hearing whispers everywhere he went.

She had a feeling that she would be hearing from Magnus very soon. Knowing her son she was almost certain that he knew that something is amiss. He somehow always manages to know things that he shouldn't, Dot's pregnancy being the most recent thing he'd somehow known about. She just couldn't help but think that if he can know something like that, that he would somehow know that something is seriously wrong with someone else that he loves. And she didn't think it would be long before she would have to confirm that.

She hoped that when the time came that she could delay answering the expected fire message for at least a little while, but the more she thought about it the more she wasn't sure if she really should. While she knew that Magnus wouldn't want to leave her sweet boy alone for a second, if putting his mind at ease meant making a quick trip home to get answers, she thought that he would make it. And he would make it if she didn't answer any message he might send.

While her son didn't need to be worrying or stressing about anything she knew that if he had even the slightest inkling that something's not right, she thought that it would do more harm than good keeping it from him. She thought that it would stress and worry him more not knowing for certain, assuming that he did know. She could only pray that he's oblivious. But she wasn't holding her breath.

"You know what would be good for your daddy?" She asked little Ziva.

"What?" Ziva asked. She wanted to know everything that would be good for him. She's his nurse and she was going to take good care of him just like she said.

"The soup your grandma sent." She said, smiling. She'd been there when Izabella had finally let it be known to the little Greymark that she isn't just Ms. Izabella, she's also grandma. And she didn't think it would be long before Luke knew that she isn't just Izabella to him, but that she's 'mom'. When Izabella had taken another son and granddaughter into her heart, she didn't know. But having thought on it she realized that it had really only been a matter of time. If there's one thing that Izabella Lightwood has it's a never ending supply of love, and if there are any two people deserving of a little extra love, it's the two Greymark's. Well, three and a half with Dot and the soon to be addition.

"Momma made you some of her famous chicken soup." Robert said as his beautiful fiancée handed the container of his favorite soup to Dot. He had fond memories of it from his childhood. His mother always made it on cold winter days and when he or his brother weren't feeling well. It's something that had always brought him comfort and he thought it might bring that same comfort to his best friend.

Dot peered through the plastic of the clear container. From what she could see it was chocked full of chicken and vegetables. But it looked good and hearty, and she thought that it might do her Shadowhunter a lot of good if she could get him to eat it. This whole deal with Stephanie wasn't in any way going to help his constant lack of appetite. But she was hopeful that nurse Ziva might be able to help her persuade him to eat it.

"Daddy. Can I ask you a question?" Ziva asked. She'd been waiting all day to ask her daddy if it's okay.

"Of course, Sunshine." Luke said, his stomach clenching. As far as he knew she hadn't heard about what had happened, but that could have changed. Sure, she'd been with Madzie playing at Izabella's all day. Izabella had intentionally kept the girls inside once she'd heard what happened, so he could only hope that for the moment that she's oblivious. "You can ask me anything. You know that."

Ziva looked at her Uncle Robert and saw his nod yes.

Robert knew what the little Greymark angel baby was about to ask. His mother had discussed it with him a few days ago, but with everything that had been going on they hadn't had a chance to talk to Luke and Dot about it. But today his mother had finally run out of patience and had taken matters into her own hands by talking to Ziva herself.

"Ms. Izabella said that she would be my grandma if I want. Is it okay for her to be my grandma?" She asked. "Please, daddy. Please let it be okay. I want her to be my grandma."

Luke saw Robert's small nod 'yes' and his smile which eased his sudden tension, and what he'd just heard warmed his heart. His question about 'grandma' had just been answered.

He'd felt so cold all day, chilled to the bone, but his baby's simple question and his best friend's smile had gone a long way in warming him up.

"You do, huh?" He asked, looking at his wife. Her smile told him that it was okay with her, and it was certainly okay with him. Until recently their baby hadn't had family outside of them which is something that they'd hated but at the time there hadn't been anything they could do about it. His wife's mundane mother had died more than two centuries ago and neither of his parents would come within a thousand mile radius of his baby, a million if he could manage it.

But since coming to Haven things had changed. So much had changed. Some good, some not so good. But this is good. Just a few months ago it was just the three of them but now their baby had an aunt in Cat and an uncle in Robert, well, two uncles counting Magnus. It would be hard to call him a cousin when he's Izabella's 'Uncle Mag's'. But there are six others that were now cousins. So, why not a grandma?

Would it hurt when she lost most of them to old age one day? Yes. But he and his precious Dorthea agree that it's better to love even when it's lost than to never have loved at all. And the love they would all give her and the memories they made would last forever even if they didn't.

"Mm-hmm." She said, nodding yes. She really wanted him to say yes. She really wanted a grandma.

"Well then, if it's what you want and it's what she wants, then I guess you have a grandma." He said, smiling at the happiness he saw in her soft green eyes.

"Yea!" She said, hugging him tight. She was super happy. Her family was getting bigger and bigger. Now she didn't just have an aunt and uncles and cousins, she has a grandma. And soon she would have a little brother or sister.

She would be a big sister like Alec is a big brother and she would love her little brother or sister just like he loved his brothers and sisters. She would love and teach and protect 'baby' just like he does her cousins. And as soon as he gets back, she's going to ask him all about it, all about how to be the best big sister ever.

Did she like it when she'd first overheard her mommy and auntie Cat talking about baby? No. She didn't. And she'd cried. She'd wanted her mommy and daddy all to herself. She hadn't wanted to share. But after seeing how much her Alec loves her cousins and how much they love him, and how Uncle Robert and auntie Cat love them all bunches and bunches and bunches, she'd decided that she would be happy about baby, not sad that she would have to share. She knew that her mommy and daddy would still love her just the same. She just didn't know why they haven't told her yet. But if they didn't tell her soon like she'd heard her mommy tell auntie Cat that they would, she'd be a big girl and just ask about baby.

"Apparently, momma being momma decided that since she has plenty of grandma love to give that she wants to give some to Ziva. According to her a grandma can never have too many grandbabies." Robert said. 'Or children.' He thought. But he didn't say that. Luke wouldn't learn from him that his momma had taken him into her heart as a son some time ago just as he'd taken him into the Lightwood family years ago. Those were things for him to find out for himself.

Luke nodded yes.

"Well, since grandma sent her famous soup for daddy, I think we should go heat it up, right nurse Ziva?" Dot asked. While today had been a horribly hard and painful day, she thought that by the happiness she saw shining in his soft green eyes at having heard of this new growth in their family that it might go a long way in easing at least a little of his pain.

She didn't know what had happened between him and his parents, but whatever it was had done a lot of damage. Enough damage that they would never be 'grandma and grandpa' to his baby girl. And if she was right, if he had his way, they'd never so much as lay eyes on her. She just hoped that one day he would open up to her about it so she could help him work through it. So she could help heal wounds that she knew ran deep.

"I'll come with you." Cat said as Luke sat Ziva on her feet. It was time she had a talk with Dot about Shadowhunters and their diets, a talk that Luke should have had with her some time ago but hadn't. Why he hadn't, she didn't know. If she'd known that he hadn't, she would have had this conversation with her best friend sooner.

Dot had finally expressed her concerns about his lack of appetite and weight loss, and it hadn't taken her long to realize what the problem was. Not once Ziva had told her how her daddy didn't seem to like any of her favorite treats. Treats that were foods full of sugar and carbs. But now that she knew the remedy to Dot's concerns, she needed to give it to her before lack of nutrition made the good doctor sick, not just stress and hard cold rain.

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Four Years Ago

Magnus watched as Jia Penhallow walked away. Counsil Jia Penhallow. It had surprised him to see her here, and it had surprised him more to see her dressed as a Shadowhunter. Being a Counsil member, she was one of the last people he'd expected to see on the battlefield. He'd thought she'd be hiding out in Alicante with the rest of the Shadowhunter World's officials. But here she was and wearing a weapons belt no less.

He'd been annoyed when she'd first approached. He'd been busy talking with his second in command about which of their people, the people of the downworld, would be where during the battle. The vampires with their speed and agility, not to mention their immortality, were mostly on the frontline. There were a few scattered around to cover the warlocks who would be fighting with battle magic. They would mostly be using windblasts unless they had a clear shot at whatever it was coming at them so as to not harm the Shadowhunters fighting at their side. It wouldn't do them any good to burn up their allies with fireballs, especially when those allies knew far more about how to kill whatever demons they may encounter than all of his people combined.

While there were more than a few werewolves and Seelies in the middle ranks, the youngest of both species were located more towards the back with the Shadowhunters who didn't look old enough to shave much less fight in a war against Lilith only knows what Morgenstern might throw their way. While he was grateful for the Shadowhunter help, he didn't like how young some of the Shadowhunters looked.

While he'd first been annoyed at Counsil Penhallow's interruption, he was glad that she'd come and made her request. He had to admit that it was something that he wished he'd thought of himself. One more warlock off the battlefield opening portals for the wounded was a very easy request to grant, especially since the requested warlock was for the triage tents the commanding physician had set up outside the city gates for his people. They did need to be able to transport the wounded not just to the tents but those transporting them needed an efficient way back to the battlefield to retrieve more of the wounded.

He'd taken a look at the tents outside the city and had been impressed. He'd half been expecting a few cots and a couple of boxes of band-aids, not the well staffed and stocked tents that he'd seen. And he'd been even more impressed with what had seen set up for his people when he'd peeked into one of the triage tents here on the battlefield. They were just as well staffed and stocked. The only difference between them is that the tents here are a lot bigger than the tents outside the city. He'd found himself pleased by the fact that the tents for the downworlders and the tents here on the battlefield were of the same quality. Excellent quality.

If what he'd been told is true, all of the wounded would pass through one of the seven tents here before being moved either to the treatment tents outside the city or to the infirmary at the Idris Institute.

Looking out at the army gathered before him now, he had to admit that what was before him is something that he would never have dreamt of seeing and he was certain that he would never see anything like it again. An army of as many Shadowhunters as downworlders, if not more Shadowhunters, were standing together to take on a threat to the downworld. Was the threat a Shadowhunter? Yes. But the threat wasn't to them. So, why fight? Lilith only knows how many times Shadowhunters had stood back and done nothing while innocent people were being killed, a great many of those innocent people being their own kind.

He did a double take when he saw a figure out of the corner of his eye, a man walking side by side another in front of the triage tents. Even in the dark and from this distance he recognized Robert Lightwood. A part of him was surprised that he wasn't in Alicante with the rest of the Institute Heads, but another much larger part wasn't. He is a Lightwood after all, and Lightwood's had never been known for standing back and doing nothing when others were in danger.

The Lightwood's. Out of five generations of Lightwood's dating back to Robert's great grandmother he'd known all but two. Alexander and Isabelle Lightwood, today's generation of Lightwood twins. He knew that they were somewhere amongst the Shadowhunters who'd joined them for this fight but where they might be or if he might see them, he didn't know.

He was certain that being only fourteen that they were in the very back, or more likely working in one of the triage tents, probably the tents outside the city. It's not like an Institute Head's children would be out on the frontline or anywhere remotely near it no matter how talented they might be. And from what their grandmother had told him of them from her son's letters, they are definitely talented. The world just wouldn't see that talent tonight.

He knew when he felt the ground tremble beneath his feet that there was no time left for thoughts of the two young Shadowhunters he'd probably never know. He knew exactly what he felt was. He didn't need to hear the first roars of every demon known to Edom to know that they were rising from the depths of the earth. Scores of them. The fight for the lives of his people had just begun.

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Through the darkened forest between the old tall, tall trees he ran. Branches bent and broke as he moved through them. Leaves crunched beneath his feet. With each step the forest grew darker and denser. There was no moonlight to see by. But that was okay. As a nephilim he could move easily through the dark.

All he could do is run. He couldn't stop. He couldn't look to see where he was. He could only do what everything deep inside was screaming at him to do. To keep going.

An owl hooted loudly overhead. It sounded like a warning. Like it was saying 'go back'. But he couldn't. He wouldn't. He's a Shadowhunter. A Lightwood.

Lightening cracked overhead. Thunder crashed, a near deafening boom reverberating throughout the forest that seemed to shake the ground beneath his feet.

Off to the side a tree fell sending the birds who'd just lost their homes screeching up towards the dark canopy overhead. Lightening cracked again and with it another loud boom of thunder shook the world.

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Alec's eyes snapped open pulling him out of a hard sleep as the last of the reverberations of the thunder that shook the cabin faded away. He felt cold. So, so cold.

Magnus looked up from his chair in the corner and saw that his Shadowhunter was awake. While the thunder had been loud enough to wake the dead, he hadn't expected it to wake him. He'd been so exhausted when he'd fallen asleep and had been sleeping hard. Snapping his fingers, the fire simmering in the hearth leapt into bright flames that worked to light and warm the darkened room. There was a sudden chill in the air.

"It's alright, sweetheart. Go back to sleep." He said as he climbed out of his chair and took his usual seat beside his love. He'd been watching him as he slept trying to figure out how to tell him what he'd learned when he'd portaled to Haven. And in trying to figure it out he'd gotten a bit lost in his thoughts, in memories of a night that should have been a turning point for the Shadow World. But it hadn't been.

Alec sat up, what must have been his dream playing out before his eyes. Running. Running through the forest.

"No. I'm awake." He said softly, thinking it through a second time.

"What is it, angel?" Magnus asked, concerned. He'd only ever seen this look in his young love's eyes when he was trying to remember something, a dream that was almost always a vision.

"The dream." He said. "I think I had it again."

"The one from yesterday?" Magnus asked, remembering how he'd woken up during a storm the day before after a dream he couldn't remember. A dream he thought might have been important.

Alec nodded yes as he thought it through one more time. While he hadn't remembered much of it before, he did now. It had been storming in both of his dreams with thunder just as loud as what he's hearing now. It had him wondering if it truly is just a strange dream or if it's something important. Why a dream of running through the forest would be important he didn't know. But he'd had it twice now, so it had to mean something, didn't it?

"You're cold." Magnus said when he saw his sweet angel shiver, and his chill bumps. He realized then that it was colder in the room than he'd first noticed. Bone chilling cold.

"A bit." He said, realizing that he wasn't just cold but that he was shivering. And that he had been since he'd opened his eyes. He'd been cold when he'd woken up, but he'd gotten distracted thinking through his dream. "You could come keep me warm." He said, wanting to be in the safety and security of his warlock's arms. For some reason that he didn't understand he felt vulnerable.

Magnus smiled. He was more than happy to give his precious Alexander what he's wanting. What he's seeking. He's wanting the safety and security that he always found in his arms, and he would give it to him gladly. There was little he loved more than holding him in his arms.

Pulling up the extra quilt he'd laid out at the foot of the bed he pulled it over them as he climbed in beside his one true love and pulled him into his arms. He'd thought they might need it.

"Would you like to tell me more about your dream?" He asked. If his husband remembered more, he wanted to hear it.

"I'm in the forest running. Just like before. I didn't remember last time that I was in the forest, but I was." Alec said. "And it's storming. Hard. But the storm isn't phasing me. All I know is that I have to get there. Where that is I don't know. Or why getting there is so important. It doesn't make any sense."

"And that's it? Just running through the forest?" He asked, thinking through the possibilities of what the dream could mean. It's entirely possible that the meaning is very simple. A message from his unconscious mind that he needs an escape. He's had so much on him every moment of every day with his visions and this war.

While he wasn't back out training with their troops yet because of everything that had been going on with his visions and his rest period, he was still doing a lot rather he realized it or not. He was planning out rescue missions for the new omegas, creating battle plans for the battles he'd seen, putting units together and so much more.

It wouldn't surprise him in the least if now that his love is away from Haven and the daily stresses of it all that his mind is revealing that he needs a true break from it, a break that isn't for his heat. Maybe it's telling him that he needs a little time away, maybe a little time at home.

"Yeah." Alec said. "Like I said, it just doesn't make any sense."

"Maybe, maybe not." He said.

"You have an idea?" Alec asked.

"I do. Maybe you don't know where you're going because you don't know where you need to be. Or want to be." He said. "Maybe it's your mind telling you that you need to get away, at least for a little while.

Maybe we should think about going home for a bit after your heat while you're recovering. You'll need at least a few days. And a little time away from Haven just to rest could do you some good, especially after everything that happened before we left."

"I can't be away. I've spent too much time away from things already." Alec said, thinking of the weight of the training that was resting on his family's shoulders. And it's a lot of weight. He knew it from firsthand experience. He'd trained Shadowhunters for years. But nowhere near as many as over a thousand at one time.

While he'd been hurt when he'd found out how his brothers had felt about it all, he understood it. He'd left his family to do it all and that wasn't fair. And while he had no choice but to be away now, he did have this choice. He could choose to go back as quickly as he could or to stay away a little while longer and he couldn't do that to them. He wouldn't. He had to get back and do his part.

"Not really, sweetheart." He said. "I've said it before. You've been doing a lot more than I think you realize. There's more to planning a war than just training the troops and you've been doing that more. And a few more days won't make much of a difference."

"Yes, it will." Alec said. "Even if I don't go back and train there are mission plans that have to be finished. We have ten missions to execute in less than a month and those plans are time sensitive. Especially for Sam Redwine and Jaxon Blackwell."

"Okay." He said, knowing that he wouldn't be able to talk him into taking the break he was almost certain that his dream was telling him that he needed right now. Having thought it through he thought that it had to be the message even if his husband didn't see it yet. He'd just have to try again later.

"Just okay?" Alec asked. He was surprised that his warlock was willing to let this go so easily especially when he'd been wanting to take him home for more than a week before they'd left for his heat. He'd been wanting to get him away from Haven since after his last vision. Well, visions. And the mess with Gideon.

"Just okay." He said, pulling his love closer and pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.

Alec was skeptical, but he wasn't going to say anything. He knew his alpha and knew that once he had an idea planted in his head that he never let it go so easily. He thought that this wasn't actually the end of this but merely a pause. But he'd take it. And he would avoid telling him if he had the dream again despite the discussion they'd had the day before. While he wouldn't lie to him if he asked, he wouldn't volunteer the information until there was more information to volunteer. But he was glad that the man that he loved had pulled him closer. While he was warming up, he was still cold. And as always, the soft kiss was sweet.

"I miss our duvet." He said. While he understood the need for the lightweight breathable sheets and the lighter quilts during the day, he missed the feel of the cool satin against his skin and the warmth it provided especially at night.

"That's an easy enough fix." Magnus said. Snapping his fingers, one of his love's favorite duvets covered them. A gold duvet. The first time he'd tucked his precious Alexander into his bed the night of his first heat he'd had an identical gold duvet on the bed. And that was the night that his precious Alexander fell in love with this small 'luxury'. He by no means saw it as a luxury himself, but his Shadowhunter did, and it's one he'd have whenever he wanted it. But this time he'd keep it around instead of sending it back like he did last time. If his husband had missed it twice already, he thought he might miss it again before his heat is done.

Alec smiled, snuggling into his warlock's arms under their duvet. The duvet that felt so good against his skin despite his rising temperature. But they had a little time left.

"So, what did you find out?" He asked. "What's happening at home."

Magnus sighed. He'd been hoping that his sweet angel had for the moment at least forgotten about his quick trip to Haven. But he should have known better.

"You were right that there's a problem." He said.

"Okay." Alec said, the ball of dread he'd been carrying in his belly turning to a ball of lead. "How bad is it?"

"Very." Magnus said. He didn't want to tell him this. It's something that for the moment they can't do anything about so all telling him would do is upset him. But he didn't have a choice. "Luke was doing a few house calls for Catarina. He went to check up on a prenatal patient and a couple of injuries and he was turned away.

The prenatal visit, Anne-Marie, she's close to her due date and he needed to check her dilation. According to Catarina, Luke understands and respects why she didn't want him. She was born in Haven and Catarina is the only doctor she's ever known. She's also a woman. While the women from our world are used to being treated by male doctors, she's not. Catarina said that Anne-Marie believes that Luke is as great a doctor as you said and that she would have no problem with him treating her for most things, but he's a man who's not her husband and she just isn't comfortable being exposed to him."

"Okay." He said. Anne-Marie's feelings he understood. But he didn't think that he was going to understand or like what he's going to hear next. "What else?"

Magnus sighed again.

"There's a young werewolf, Stephanie." He said. "She was injured a few days ago during training. When Luke went to follow up, she turned him away because he's a Shadowhunter."

Alec's blood flash boiled. After their conversation before his heat started, he'd been afraid that something like this would happen. That this is their army's problem. But thinking it might be and hearing that it is, is two entirely different things.

"Apparently, there's been some suspicion and concern that this was an issue, but until now it hadn't been said." Magnus said.

"What do you mean there's been some suspicion?" He asked, sitting up. Now he was really angry. Not just with Stephanie, but with himself. If there's been some 'suspicion' this has been a known problem for a while. And he should have known about it. He should have seen it.

"Up until the last couple of days only Luke and Dorthea had concerns." Magnus said. He could see the fury burning in his favorite crystal blue eyes and understood it. Now, anyway. Not too long ago he might have felt the same way Stephanie did. But Luke's been in Haven for a while now and everyone has had the chance to see that the good doctor isn't like the Shadowhunters they've always been so leery of.

"Why didn't they say anything?" He asked.

"That I don't know." Magnus said.

"How did we not see this? If this has been a problem...I don't understand." He said, at a loss.

"Sweetheart." Magnus said, sitting up beside his precious Alexander. "You've been fairly isolated the past couple of weeks. That's not your fault. And we've all been a little distracted with all that's been going on with your visions and the days leading up to when we left."

"So, what do we do?" He asked. "If anyone's proven themselves to the people of the downworld it's Luke."

"Well, like I said the other night." Magnus said. "If Catarina and I didn't know who Luke is, I'm sure very few others do. And I told you before I went that there wouldn't be anything we could do right now. This is something that we're going to have to deal with when we get home."

Alec sighed. He knew that his alpha's right. There isn't anything they can do right now.

"How's he taking it?" He asked.

"Not well from what I was told." Magnus said. "He's home with Dorthea and Ziva. From what your father said the words were said right around the time you started having your bad feeling.

I think right now he's more hurt than anything. Sure, there's anger, but I think right now pain is taking the emotional reins. Dorthea's angry as I'm sure you can imagine. And Ziva doesn't know. She won't understand. Her daddy's her hero. To her he's a good Shadowhunter so hearing that people don't like him because of what he is, it's going to be hard on her."

"I believe it." He said softly.

"We'll figure this out, Alexander. We will." Magnus said. "We've faced some pretty big obstacles so far and we've found a way to resolve them. We'll resolve this too."

"We have to." He said. "If we don't, everything I said the other night will be true. This war will be lost."

"Let's not think about that right now. Come here." Magnus said, wrapping his Shadowhunter in his arms and pulling him back down on their pillows. He wanted to hold him and comfort him in some way. And distract him if possible. This is too big a problem to try and tackle right now.

"I'll try." He said. "No promises though."

"Trying is all I can ask. Now, how are you feeling?" Magnus asked. His next cycle would be starting very, very soon and while he knew that he'd gotten some sleep while he was in Haven, he could also see that he's still drained.

"You want to forego and use magic." He said.

"Yes. Magic." Magnus said. "Please, sweetheart. You could use some more sleep."

"You could use some yourself." He said. He was tired. Bone tired. And he knew that his alpha was tired too. He didn't have to ask him if he was when he could see it. And if going the very pleasurable magic way would help him get some sleep too then he wouldn't deny him.

"Don't worry about me, love." Magnus said. "I'll be fine."

"Oh, no." He said, looking up into his favorite chocolate brown eyes. "You're not the only one that has a claim on worry. We have to take care of each other. You can burn out too."

"Fair enough." Magnus said. But he didn't want his sweet angel to worry. He was already worried enough hearing about Luke.

"But there is something that I'd like." He said.

"And what's that?" Magnus asked. He would give his precious Alexander whatever he wanted if it meant distracting him from all that's on his mind including worry for him. It didn't matter what it was.

"Touch me." He said. He was craving his alpha's touch. No, not craving. Needing. He was needing it anywhere and everywhere. And in needing it this badly he knew that he was much closer to his next cycle that he'd realized. "I need your hands on me."

"I can do that. With pleasure." Magnus said. Pressing a soft kiss to his Shadowhunter's lips he grazed his fingertips down the length of his side and back up again stopping only to trace the rune on his hip with his fingertip. He loved tracing his angel's runes both with his fingers and his tongue, but this time it would just be gentle touches with his fingertips. He'd trace each and every rune he could reach before he rolled his sweet omega and filled him, as he slowly and gently eased into him. He'd hold him close as he pleasured him again and again with his magic and as his knot formed. And when they came, he would fill him with his seed. The seed that would hopefully plant the first of their children in his empty womb. Then he'd hold him flush against him as they rested.

Pressing another soft kiss to his love's lips he grazed his fingertips up and down his side again stopping at the next rune. He smiled when his angel shivered, and his breath caught. Yes, the next cycle would be starting very soon.

"Breathe, sweetheart." He said.

Alec savored the sweetness of his alpha's soft kiss as his belly clenched. The pleasure of his fingertips grazing down his side, just a brush across his skin was heavenly. The intensity of it surprised him. He hadn't been expecting so much from such a simple touch, a gentle touch.

His husband's fingertip as he traced the rune on his hip had more pleasure humming beneath his skin. Beautiful pleasure. His alpha loved his runes, thought that they were beautiful marks made by angels. He loved to explore them, and they both always thoroughly enjoyed his explorations.

Still, more pleasure followed the path of his warlock's fingertips as they grazed up and down his side again, as another soft kiss was pressed to his lips. He shivered and his breath caught when his husband reached the next rune.

"Okay." He said, pulling in a breath. "Um...we're closer than I thought."

"I know. Me too." Magnus said, pressing a tender kiss to his Shadowhunter's forehead. "Roll over."

Alec frowned. In all there time together this is a request that he hadn't gotten before. But a memory flashed before his eyes. A memory of a dream of a future heat. And in remembering, he knew what was coming next.

"Okay. Clothes first." He said.

Magnus had seen the second of confusion before it had been replaced by undeniable desire in his love's crystal blue eyes and didn't think that he'd need to give further instruction. With as much as his precious Alexander had seen in his dreams of future heats and undoubtably numerous intimate times to come during his naughtiest dreams, he was certain he knew what was about to come. But he would oblige this simple request. Pushing himself up he pressed another kiss to his sweet angel's forehead before pulling his shirt up and over his head, tossing it aside. He smiled at the lust that joined the desire that was already swirling in the breathtaking crystal blue he loved so much. And enjoying it he watched the need grow as he shed himself piece by piece of his clothes, the same need that he was in every way quickly coming to share.

"You'll have to get dressed and undressed more often just so I can watch you undress." Alec said, unable to tear his eyes away from his alpha's muscled chest, from his firm abs, and his gorgeous caramel-colored skin.

"Watching me dress and undressed daily isn't enough?" He asked, climbing back in bed beside his husband. But he knew it was a silly question. He'd could easily spend the rest of his days happily watching as his precious Alexander dressed just to undress again and again or for him to dress for the sole purpose as for him to undress him. Undressing his beautiful angel was always like unwrapping a wonderful gift.

"Not even close." Alec said.

"Well, if I have to dress just to undress more than once a day then so do you." He said, brushing a lock of soft raven hair out of his love's eyes. "Now roll over."

Alec didn't need to be told a third time. Rolling onto his side he waited as his warlock positioned himself behind him, his hard cock pressing into his ass. They had never used this position before, not yet, but he was looking forward to trying it. Looking forward to it immensely.

Magnus waited as his Shadowhunter rolled onto his side before positioning himself behind him. His hard cock pressing into his ass had him aching to fill him, to knot him, and he would very soon. While this was a new position for them, one he was sure they'd use several times when his husband was heavy with child, he was certain that they would enjoy it now.

"Come here, sweetheart." He said softly as he wrapped his arm around his precious Alexander's waist and pulled him close.

Alec went easily when his alpha pulled him close. He didn't need to be told to bend his knees. He knew exactly what to do having seen this again and again in his memories. He almost sighed with relief when he felt the warm gush of slick. The wait to try this something new was over.

"Now listen to me, angel." Magnus said, relieved when he felt his angel's warm gush of slick. The alpha in him was aching for his omega, a sensation that not too long ago had been foreign. Just as foreign he was sure as it had been for his sweet omega aching for his alpha. But not anymore. And never again. "I want you to stay right where you are. Don't move." He said, pressing a soft kiss to the rune on the back of his love's neck. He smiled when he shivered in his arms. Laying his hand on his Shadowhunter's firm flat belly above his empty womb he waited until he stilled.

"Okay." Alec said. He would agree to anything right now if it meant that his husband would fill him. He didn't care how he did it. Hard and fast or soft and slow. Not so long as he did it soon. No, not soon. Now. He didn't think he could wait a second more. The need to have his alpha's thick cock buried deep inside him, to have his knot linking them was bordering on painful. The soft kiss to the rune on the back of his neck and the shiver of pleasure from it had distracted him for a few seconds, but he needed more. So much more. Laying his own hand over his warlock's on his belly he waited with baited breath for what would come next.

Pulling his omega as close as he could Magnus eased the head of his cock through his slick soaked entrance. The tightness of his channel as he eased into him was magnificent.

He took his time easing his cock further and further into his love, savoring every second of the delicious pleasure. He stopped when his angel cried out when his cock grazed his prostate.

Alec almost sighed with relief again when his warlock eased the head of his magnificent cock through his rim and into his channel. Beautiful pleasure washed over him as his alpha filled him oh so slowly inch by glorious inch. He'd seen this and for a moment had felt it when his memories of the future had flashed before his eyes. And in that moment, he hoped that the next time he closed his eyes and fell into dreams that he would dream of those memories and not of the past or present or the immediate future. He didn't want to dream of the war or of running through the forest. He didn't want to dream of all the obstacles and horrible things that they will soon face. He wanted to dream of this. Of his husband filling him just like this during future heats and when he was heavy with child. He cried out when his alpha hit his prostate, sinful pleasure lighting up every nerve.

"Breathe, love." Magnus said when his precious Alexander lost his breath. It was a struggle to focus through the pleasure of his sweet omega's tight channel clamping down around him, but he had to help him. To coach him the way he once had when he was still so new to intimacy.

Alec drew in a stuttering breath while pleasure pulsed in his veins. It was moments like this that reminded him of the not-so-distant past, of when he was still so new to intimacy. While he was no longer new to it, he was glad that they could still have these moments during his heats at least. He wanted his alpha to see just how much pleasure he gave him. He just hoped that he could give him this same pleasure from time to time.

"Are you ready?" Magnus asked when his love caught his breath.

Alec nodded yes. He was more than ready for more. More, more, more. That's what he needed.

Pressing another kiss to the rune on the back of his precious Alexander's neck, Magnus eased just a little further into him, watching him closely for any sign of distress. He'd already lost his breath once and probably would again, so he had to be careful.

"More." Alec pleaded when his alpha eased just a little further into him, the best possible pleasure coursing through him. "Please."

"Shh." Magnus soothed. Holding his Shadowhunter close he gave him what he was needing, easing the rest of the way into him until he bottomed out. He held him flush against him as he rode out the pleasure, the magnificent pleasure that came with being fully sheathed inside his one true love.

Alec felt himself getting lost in the decadent pleasure as his alpha eased further and further into him. The continuous scrape against his prostate as his warlock filled him had him teetering on the edge. It wouldn't take much more for him to get fully lost in it all, but he couldn't. He had to be there to tell his husband if he was okay or not.

"Alexander. Talk to me." Magnus said. He knew that his love was getting lost in the pleasure, but he had to know that he's okay. He couldn't overwhelm him the way he had so many times before. Did he want to give him magnificent pleasure? Yes. But he had to keep him safe.

"I'm okay." He said. "I'm okay." He said again, turning his head to look into his favorite chocolate brown eyes. He knew that his alpha was needing the assurance.

Gazing into the crystal blue eyes he loved so much Magnus saw it there, the truth of his young love's words. He was okay.

"Are you ready for more?" He asked, thinking about how much magic he could use to get them to their release.

"Please." Alec said.

"Alright, sweetheart. Take a deep breath." He said.

Alec did as he asked. He drew in a deep breath but lost it when his warlock's magic shot into his empty womb. He couldn't help but cry out and grip his husband's hand on his belly. He knew then that this wouldn't take long. He could already feel his alpha's knot forming.

Magnus waited while his Shadowhunter drew in a deep before pushing a soft burst of magic into him, into his empty womb. He knew when his love cried out and gripped his hand, as his knot started forming that this cycle would end quickly.

He waited again until his sweet angel drew in an easy breath before pushing a harder but still gentle burst of magic into him, listening to his whimpering moans while watching his breathing.

Again and again, he pushed gentle bursts of magic into his omega, knowing that he was getting closer and closer to his release by the second. His knot was forming quickly, the definitive sign that they would cum very soon. And he needed to cum just as much as his love did. The heavenly pleasure that would come with it and the sleep that would come after were both very much needed.

Once, twice, three more times was all it took before his knot fully formed and his precious Alexander came, as he came, and he filled him with his seed. The exquisite intensity of his release had his belly clenching and the room tilting.

Alec felt the room tilt as burst after burst of his warlock's magic shot into his empty womb. All he could do is whimper as it pulsed through every fiber of his being.

Before the room could right itself, he felt himself fall over the edge when they came, when his alpha's cock erupted deep inside him. The decant pleasure from it had him seeing stars.

Magnus held his precious Alexander close as he trembled in his arms, as aftershocks rocked through them both. He'd been right. The pleasure that had crashed down on him was heavenly. It didn't take long for the room to right itself, and when it did, he prayed to anything and everything that would listen that this time his seed would take root. That he'd just planted the first of their children in his love's womb. He would know if it had if his angel's heat pheromones faded after his knot when down if he was still awake, but he didn't think he would be. He was so tired and wanted to simply hold his love in his arms as they slept.

"Sweetheart." He said.

"Mm-hmm." Alec mumbled sleepily. Sleepiness seemed to set in just as the pleasure from his release faded. "Sleep with me?"

"I will, angel. Just rest." Magnus said. He waited and watched as his precious Alexander relaxed in his arms and his breathing grew deep and even as sleep quickly claimed him. Once he was certain that his beautiful angel was sound asleep, he pulled the duvet up and over them before wrapping his arm back around him. He gently caressed his husband's belly above his womb as he pressed a kiss to his shoulder. Taking a deep breath in of his favorite scent he closed his eyes and fell hard into his own sleep.

Alec barely registered his alpha's words as he slid quickly and easily into an exhausted sleep. His last waking thought was simple. 'Please. Please let this be it.'

____________________

Four Years Ago

Alec looked around at the faces of the Shadowhunters who'd been assigned to his squad. While there were a few older Shadowhunters that would be on the frontline with him, most of the faces he saw were of Shadowhunters his own age and not much older.

He'd already laid out his line formation and told each of them where they were to be during the battle that would be starting very soon. How soon he didn't know. He only knew what his gut was telling him and that's that they wouldn't be waiting much longer.

They'd received word from The Seelie Queen and knew where to be and when. Watching through the eyes of birds high in the sky she'd been following Valentine's movements for days as he made his way towards where they're lying-in wait. And in knowing they'd been able to put plans in place to intercept him.

They'd known this day was coming for weeks. While Valentine had gone underground and they hadn't been able to follow his movements until now, they'd known what he was planning when he'd gone for the first of The Mortal Instruments. He wanted to use them to summon The Angel Raziel and use the one wish Raziel had promised their people should his aid ever be needed to wish the people of the downworld dead.

Valentine hadn't hidden his hatred of downworlders or his belief that there was no place for them in the Shadow World. He'd made it clear to anyone and everyone who'd listen that he believed that they should all be exterminated. And two days ago, he'd gotten all the closer to his goal when he'd gotten his hands on the second Mortal Instrument.

Several Shadowhunters had died protecting The Mortal Sword when he'd gone for it. They'd thought that they were protecting it from just him, but it hadn't just been him that had attacked the convoy that was on its way to the Silent City. It was attacked by his followers and a score of demons too. But now, tonight, they were waiting for him, his followers, and his demons. They were blocking his path to his final destination, to Lake Lynn. And to get there, he'd have to go through not just an army of Shadowhunters, but also the downworlders fighting at their side.

They knew that traitors were standing within their ranks, they just didn't know who they were. Not yet. But they would soon enough. They would know when they turned on them during the battle.

Looking at those that he would give his all to protect again he tried to see if anyone looked suspicious, if any of them looked out of place. But all he saw is what one would expect from someone about to go into a battle against evil. Determination in the eyes of the veteran Shadowhunters who'd been fighting demons in the field for years, and fear in the eyes of those who'd spent little to no time doing what they'd been born and trained to do, the Shadowhunters that were far too young and inexperienced to be here.

While he and his team were also young, barely over fourteen, they were good. Damn good. It's why they'd been made squad leaders. A lot of people, both Shadowhunters and downworlders alike, thought that they were too young to be leading squads on the battlefield, too inexperienced. But they were wrong and would see that very soon.

He turned when he heard new voices coming his way, the voices of the downworlders who would be joining his squad and fighting beside them. Looking back at the Shadowhunters he'd just surveyed he no longer saw what he'd seen barely a minute go. All he saw is the classic stoic Shadowhunter expression that gave nothing away.

Looking to his left down the frontline his eyes met his parabatai's. His Clare-bear was leading the squad next to his. He saw that she was ready. She'd done the same thing he had. Her squad's formation mirrored his own as did the rest of his team's. They'd put those who shouldn't be here in the back and the more seasoned Shadowhunters in front of them positioned by what they knew of their skillsets. And they all had the same goal. They were going to do what they were there to do while doing everything they could to protect those fighting beside and behind them.

He gave her a small nod before turning to talk to the downworlders who just arrived. It was time to put them in position too.

____________________

Luke stared at the clothes in his drawer. He didn't know what to wear. He knew that his Sunshine would want him to wear his Shadowhunter black. But he didn't think that he could. Not today. Not yet. That left him with scrubs. While he'd never had a problem with scrubs before, he'd worn them most every day for more than twenty years, he wasn't sure how he'd explain to her that he would rather wear them because he didn't want to wear his Shadowhunter black. He wanted to wear his 'doctor' clothes today. But to her, his modified Shadowhunter black was one and the same. They were 'Shadowhunter doctor' clothes.

For the first time in his life, he didn't want to go to work. He didn't want to go to the clinic. He wanted to stay home with his girls and pretend that everything is fine. But it isn't, and he couldn't. He wouldn't. Aline needed him. He'd given her his word and he wasn't going to break it. He'd never broken a promise before and he wasn't going to start now.

"Need help?" Dot asked from the open doorway. A part of her had been hoping that he would stay home today, that he'd take the day to rest both his body and mind after the day before. Both had been under a lot of strain lately whether he realized it or not. But she knew that he wouldn't, not when Aline needed him. And the fact that he would set his own problems aside to be there for her regardless of how hard it would be on him made her so incredibly proud.

"I don't know what to wear." He said. He was truly torn. While he'd spent most of his life not feeling like a Shadowhunter, he realized that he'd come to accept that he is one. After spending time with the blades Isabelle had crafted for him and how using them had made him feel, he'd finally come to accept Robert's words as truth. He'd come to accept that just because he hadn't been in the field in a long time, he wasn't any less of a Shadowhunter. He'd simply spent his time fighting different battles than those who spent their days and nights out hunting and killing demons did.

It was odd. He'd been told for years that he's not a Shadowhunter by his parents but after hearing that he is from Robert for just a few weeks, he'd come to believe him over them. He supposed that it was because his best friend meant so much more to him than they ever had and because what he thought meant more. He just prayed that Robert never found out all there is to know. That no one ever found out. If they did, they would all see him differently and not in a good way.

But that wasn't a worry for today. For today, while he realized that a part of him wanted to be what he'd come to accept himself as today the other part just wanted to be what he's always been. A doctor. Yet, neither side of him was accepted which pained him deeply.

"Ziva won't understand why I don't want to wear the Shadowhunter black." He said. "And I can't think of a way to explain it to her, not without telling her the truth which she won't understand either."

"I know. Maybe this will make deciding easier." She said, opening one of her drawers and pulling out what she'd stashed inside. She'd known that the time would come when wearing his Shadowhunter black just wouldn't an option, not when he was working with patients. So, she'd wanted to be prepared.

Luke smiled at the black scrubs his wonderful warlock sat on the dresser. He had fond memories of wearing black scrubs. Until you learned to not get covered in ichor tending to patients, for a time you had to have a way to hide it and black scrubs always did the trick. And it was a trick that every member of his staff learned early on.

"That works." He said.

"Good. Now get dressed. Breakfast is ready." She said. She wanted to be mad at him, but she couldn't be. She didn't have the heart. Not when he was already dealing with so much. Yes, he should have told her why he hadn't been eating. It shouldn't have come from Cat. But hearing the differences between a Shadowhunter's diet and what most would consider a normal diet, she thought she understood his line of thinking. He hadn't wanted to change what their baby girl is used to, what she's used to especially now that she's eating for two, not because of him. Not when the differences are so extreme. But it isn't just their needs that mattered. His does too.

He's always been one to put everyone else's needs first, but that's something that has to change, it's not something he can keep doing. And after what she'd learned the day before of what happened after the war, it's something she's going to make sure he stopped doing. She'd be damned if she let him hurt himself again.

Had she known that something had happened? Yes. But he'd never told her what and she hadn't pushed. She'd figured he'd tell her when he was ready. But he hadn't and now she would push, she would push him to take care of himself. And she thought that sitting him down to eat the high protein low carb breakfast that she was sure he'd enjoy would be a good start in making sure that he did. Thankfully, Cat had given her a few menu ideas having been feeding a Shadowhunter herself.

"Okay." He said, wrapping her in his arms and pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "Are you still mad at me?"

"No. I'm not mad." She said, wrapping her arms around him. "But you can't keep stuff like that from me. If there's something that you need, you have to tell me. Promise me."

He sighed. It was going to be hard to break a lifelong habit, putting himself before others. But for her, he would try.

"I promise I'll try." He said. That was the best he could do. "But you may have to be a little patient with me."

"Fair enough. But no protests if I get pushy." She said. And she wasn't just talking about eating. She needed him to try with everything. She'd had to push Cat's valium on him the day before so he could get some rest. But he hadn't told her that those kinds of meds left him with a nasty headache until she'd caught him discreetly seeking out aspirin when nurse Ziva wasn't looking. If he had maybe Cat could have given him something else. If not a medication, then a potion. Or she could have used a little magic. She'd long since learned Cat's 'magic sleepy touch'.

But she was cutting him some slack on that too. Yesterday hadn't been a good day by any means and his mind had been scattered. He'd been lost in so many ways. He'd been lost in memories and hurting not just because of yesterday's events, but because of the past too. And it wasn't just The Dark War that had been on his mind. The past twenty years had been too.

Thankfully, he hadn't fought her on Magnus' dream suppression potion and in taking it he'd gotten good sleep, a deep sleep that wasn't filled with screaming demons and dying patients. Dying children.

"Fair enough." He said, mirroring her words. "You and Ziva are staying home today, right?" He asked. He didn't want their baby girl to go into the village and hear what they weren't ready for her to hear just as he didn't want his wonderful warlock to go out and go off on anyone. He knew that she was fighting to keep her anger in check. But she had a bit of a temper and while she could hold it in for a while, if hit the wrong way, she could and would lose control of it. And of the demon that lived inside her, the demon that lived locked in a cage that was hidden away. Magnus isn't the only one that's half demon. Cat and her both are too just as every other warlock is.

"Yes." She said. "We are. Izabella's going to bring Madzie over so they can play here for the day assuming that she doesn't know. Izabella's going to feel her out. You know how much she hears and if she's overheard anything about this, Izabella will let me know and I'll go with my backup plan for the day."

"Backup plan?" He asked. He was afraid that Madzie may have already heard about what happened too. While no one intentionally tells her things that innocent little girls shouldn't know, she is a Lightwood, and as a Lightwood she tends to hear far too much. Well, overhear. And there's only so much one can do to keep things from an intelligent child.

"Mm-hmm." She said. "I haven't told her that Madzie's coming over yet, so she won't be disappointed if she doesn't come. Does she want to go play with her best friend like she always does? Yes. But I think I can talk her into wanting to stay home with the promise of a mommy/daughter day.

I'm prepared for a 'mommy and me' tea party and for the mess we'll make with the fingerpaints I bought. I've also mentally prepared myself for dress-up and makeovers. She really enjoyed that at the sleepover. And I have every animated Disney movie under the sun. But I'm hoping a few of those can wait until you get home. Until after we have the special dinner that we're going to make for daddy."

"A special dinner, huh?" He asked. But he couldn't help but smile. While he wasn't crazy about having food pushed on him and never had been, the thought of his girls making him a 'special dinner' warmed his heart. He'd rarely been able to stay for dinner when they were in New York. He'd almost always had to head back to the Institute before dinner time.

"Yep." She said again. "Your Sunshine wants to make you a special Shadowhunter dinner. There was no keeping this from her. She'd noticed that you weren't eating much too, babe. She thought that it was because you didn't like any of her favorite foods. Her favorite treats that she wanted to share with you.

Now she understands that while you do like her treats you can't eat much of them because they're hard on your tummy, your Shadowhunter tummy. And now that she knows that you have a tummy that needs foods that are good for Shadowhunters she wants to learn all about them because you're her very own Shadowhunter and she wants your tummy to get what it needs."

"A Shadowhunter tummy." He said, chuckling. But he loved hearing that he's his baby's 'very own Shadowhunter'. He loved it just as much as he loved hearing those same words from his beautiful wife.

"Mm-hmm. Now get dressed. Breakfast will get cold." She said, giving him a quick peck on the lips. But it really didn't matter if it got cold. She could reheat it easily with a wave of her hand.

"Okay." He said. He would put on his black scrubs. And in having spent a moment in his fond memories of wearing black scrubs he'd figured out a way to explain why he was wearing them instead of his Shadowhunter black. When he had a patient that needed more extensive tending to like Aline would he had to wear doctor clothes and that's just the way it is. It's how it's always been. It's how it worked.

Stepping out of his arms Dot pulled the door shut behind her as she left so he could get dressed. She'd known that hearing that his Sunshine wanted to make a special dinner for him would make him smile but she didn't think that now is the right time to tell him that their baby girl wants to be like him when she grows up. A Shadowhunter doctor. Well, a Shadowhunter/Warlock doctor to be exact. Not with all the heat he's taking for being what she wants to be. But she supposed he'd find that out soon enough and when he did, he wouldn't just smile, he'd be happy. So very happy. No, he wouldn't just be happy. He'd be thrilled.

____________________

Day Four

Alec was captivated. He couldn't take his eyes of the little white rabbit. He smiled when its nose twitched as it sniffed his strawberry before taking a nibbling bite. Then another. He was feeding a rabbit a strawberry and it thrilled him.

When he'd first seen it, he'd thought of the wards around their strawberry patch at home and of how Thumper couldn't have any. So, he wanted this Thumper to have one. His alpha had been sure that the cute little rabbit wouldn't take it from him, but it was.

Looking up he saw what he thought must be its babies just inside the trees waiting for its mommy and wondered if they were hungry too.

"Are you going to share?" He asked softly, watching his new friend munch on the red ripe treat he was giving it.

Magnus smiled. He'd been watching his Shadowhunter from the shade of the tree he was sitting under. He'd thought that the little rabbit wouldn't eat the strawberry that his love had wanted to feed it, but it was. He'd heard of pet rabbits taking pieces of lettuce and such from their owners, but not of a wild one taking food from a stranger. But his love seems to have a way with animals so he really shouldn't be surprised.

"I think Thumper likes you." He said.

"Maybe." Alec said. "But he seems to like my strawberry. Can we try to get some to the little ones?"

Looking over to the tree line Magnus saw the baby bunnies and smiled again. It didn't surprise him that his sweet angel wanted to give the little ones a treat too.

"Of course." He said. Snapping his fingers a few strawberries appeared on the grass in front of the small rabbits. He didn't want to approach them and risk scaring them off.

Alec sighed when his little friend turned and hopped away, quickly making its way back to its babies. Feeding his bunny friend had served as a good distraction from the dream that had been plaguing him all day, a dream that's in every way a memory. A horrible memory of a night that he never wanted to think about much less remember so vividly. And it had also been a distraction from his thoughts of the fact that there isn't much time left in his heat. They had less than a day to conceive, something he was fearing more and more wouldn't happen.

"How do you do it, sweetheart?" Magnus asked when his angel sat back down on the blanket beside him. "First a bird, now a wild rabbit."

"I don't know." He said, shrugging. He was enjoying his time outside. He was enjoying sitting on a soft blanket under the shade of a tall, tall tree with the man that he loved. But he knew that he didn't have much time left before his next cycle. They would have to go back inside soon, and he hated it.

"I guess they can sense that you're not a threat. You have a gentle soul, Alexander." Magnus said.

"You think so?" He asked, laying down to rest his head in his warlock's lap. "There are plenty of people who think I'm a bit scary. That's what I've heard anyway. I mean, I did spend a lot of time hunting down and killing demons and I wasn't exactly gentle about it.

And when I was training people, I was in no way gentle. They pretty much thought that I was a hard-ass who was constantly busting their asses. At least until I presented. Then they started looking at me differently. Like I wasn't who I was the day before. Like I wasn't the same hard-ass Shadowhunter who had been training them for weeks and sometimes months. Like I had somehow changed overnight." He said. He'd said all of this before, they'd talked about it several times. But sometimes his mind took him back to the past, back to his life at the Institute. Not just to the good times with his family and the not so good times out in the field or in the infirmary, but to the times when he'd worked hard to help other Shadowhunters reach their full potential. He'd worked them hard and even if they were a bit unnerved or even afraid of him, they had respected him. Then one destined day it had all changed.

It was something he tried not to think about, but sometimes remembering other parts of the past reminded him of this part too. He'd stood in front of them as the first line of defense in a war zone. He'd shielded them as much as he possibly could and despite it all they'd turned on him. In so, so many ways they'd turned on him all because he'd presented as an omega.

"I know, sweetheart." Magnus said, running his fingers through his Shadowhunter's silky raven black hair, pleased when he sighed and relaxed. "Omegas are considered the weakest race in the Shadowhunter World, and I'll never understand that. I know I've said that before. But it's true. It really does take a great deal of strength to go through heats and carry multiple children. And I'll keep saying it to whoever needs to hear it for as long as I need to."

"You really weren't kidding about the heats." He said. He'd known that his heat would be hard. Everyone who knew about heats had told him that it was going to be hard, so he'd been expecting it to be. He just hadn't expected it to be this hard.

"Well, I'll refrain from saying I told you so." Magnus said, chuckling when his love groaned. "But honestly, while your heat has been in no way normal, undoubtably harder than any other I've ever heard of, I don't think anyone else would be handling this as well as you are.

As for the Shadowhunters, I'm sure they were right in their thoughts that you're a hard-ass in training and it doesn't surprise me that there were some that found you to be a bit scary. And I have no doubt that you did bust their asses every chance you got. But everything you did for them, whether they know it and whether you see it, you did what you did out of love.

In the war you fought as hard as you did not just to take down a monster, but to save lives. It was your love for people that drove you to do that. Where you sent into that war at the Clave's orders to save the downworlders you didn't know that you now call friends? Yes. But it wasn't just a task or a mission for you like it was for so many others.

And you didn't just save the people of the downworld. You saved a lot of Shadowhunters too. The young ones who you were trying to protect and those fighting around you. You fought with passion to save as many as you could. A lot more people would have been lost if you hadn't been so driven.

You may not see it, but it takes a kind and gentle soul to carry that much love. As for training, it takes that same drive to teach others how to save as many lives as they can while protecting their own. But when you're not fighting demons or training young Shadowhunters your love shows. Everyone around you sees it and feels it. Do you think that the angel babies would love you so much if you were the least bit scary? Just like little Thumper over there doesn't think you're scary." He said, nodding towards the rabbit and its babies that were munching on their strawberries. "Most wild animals fear people. They see them as a threat. But not you. So, I guess it doesn't surprise me that this Thumper picks up on your gentle nature. A nurturing nature. And it's that nature that will make you such a great father."

Alec didn't know what to say to his husband's words. He'd never heard anything like them. Well, most of them. He'd heard a few of them before from the man that he loved. And their family. Especially his Izzy-Diz and Clare-bear. But not the rest.

"You're pretty full of love yourself, you know." He said, sitting up to look at his wonderful warlock. "It takes a lot of love to do what you do. And what you've done. You took in a nephilim child without a second thought and raised her as your own. The child of two Shadowhunters and you despised Shadowhunters." He said, speaking the same words he'd said to Luke not too long ago. "And you've watched over the people of the downworld for centuries like a big brother would." He said, thinking of how he watched over his family, his siblings. "If you didn't love them the way you do, you wouldn't give them so much of yourself. And they wouldn't love you the way they do. I guess all that love is just one more reason why I love you."

His husband's words warmed Magnus' heart. He'd never heard anything like them before. Not all of them anyway. He'd heard a few of them from Catarina over the years. But his angel was right. He did love his people and always had. He loved them all as if they were a family because they were.

"You're right. I do love them and always have. There isn't much I wouldn't do for them. But you know what? I love you more." He said, cupping his Shadowhunter's cheek. It still amazed him that his one true love is a Shadowhunter and thought it always would, that it wouldn't matter how much time passed. He had despised his young love's kind for centuries for their cruelty and hatred. But he'd learned that not all Shadowhunters are cruel and hateful. Just misguided and misunderstood.

"I know." Alec said, leaning into his alpha's touch. He could always feel his warlock's love in his gentle touches. His heart swelled whenever he felt it. And he felt it now. He also felt how cool his hand was against his skin. His temperature was rising.

"Sweetheart." He said. He could feel that his sweet omega's temperature was rising and that they needed to get back inside. "We should go in."

"I don't want to." Alec said. "Can't we stay here? We do have privacy after all, and I doubt we'll get this chance again."

Magnus couldn't help but think that he was right. They did have absolute privacy which was very rare outdoors. Well, almost absolute privacy. While The Seelie Queen was keeping her eyes and ears away, she was letting her furry friends scamper about and play.

"What about Thumper?" He asked, glancing over at the little rabbit and its babies still munching on their treat.

"Who's she going to tell? Besides, being a rabbit I'm sure she'll understand." Alec said, trying not to smile. "Don't the mundanes say something about rabbits going at it all the time? Or people going at it like rabbits I should say." He said, pressing a soft kiss to his alpha's lips.

Magnus laughed. His love's right. The mundanes did say that people go at it like rabbits.

"They do." He said. "I guess we can stay out here if you want."

"I want." Alec said.

"Come here." He said, pulling his angel close. "I love you, Alexander." He said softly, pressing a tender kiss to his lips. Then licking his bottom lip, he gained quick entrance. Beautiful fireworks went off in his head when their tongues brushed. He couldn't help but think that his Shadowhunter tasted so, so sweet.

Alec went easily when his alpha pulled him close. Excitement hummed across his skin when his warlock pressed a soft kiss to his lips. They were about to have another first. They were about to make love outside in the warm sunshine. He didn't hesitate when his husband licked his bottom lip. He gave him easy and quick entrance. The most beautiful fireworks went off in his head making it spin when their tongues brushed, when they danced the sweetest dance.

"I love you more." He breathed when he broke the magnificent kiss only to claim his alpha's lips in another more passionate kiss. He didn't give his precious warlock the chance to seek entrance this time. He sought his own. He demanded it. Within seconds he wasn't just lost in the intensity of the kiss, he was lost in the man who was the other half of his soul.

He didn't know when or how he made it onto his back. But he didn't want to be. He wanted his alpha beneath him. He wanted to ride his magnificent cock.

With the speed and skill of a strong and well trained Shadowhunter he rolled with his hips, easily flipping them and coming to rest on his husband's hips right where he wanted to be. He laughed at the amusement he saw in his favorite chocolate brown eyes.

"I love it when you do that." Magnus said, not for the first time. Not by any means.

"So, you've said." He said. Gazing into his wonderful warlock's eyes he undid the top button of his shirt. Then the second and third. He watched as the amusement he saw there faded into lust, his pupils dilating more and more with each button he undid.

Magnus hadn't been expecting it when his young love broke the sweet kiss for another more passionate one. A demanding one. But demanding or not, it was magnificent. Within seconds he'd gotten lost in it, in the man who was the other half of his soul. He should have expected it when he rolled them and settled himself on his hips, but for some reason he hadn't. It was something his angel loved to do, and he loved it when he did it, so he should have seen it coming. But that didn't matter. It was the mischievous glint in his beautiful crystal blue eyes that did, and seeing it thrilled him. But the confidence he saw with it thrilled him more.

Not too long ago his angel had grown insecure with his magnificent body. He'd thought that he had changed. That it had changed. In the past he'd spent hours every day for years working and training hard to do what he was born to do. To hunt down and fight the demons that would terrorize mundanes if they were left to roam free. To protect those who had no idea what lived and lurked in the dark.

But despite his lack of training his beautiful body hadn't changed in the least and he didn't think it ever would. Except when he was carrying their children. Then it would change a little more every day. It would change beautifully. But for now, the confidence he saw in his sweet angel's eyes is exactly what he wanted to see.

He almost lost his breath when his love undid the first button of his shirt. Then the second and third. With each button he undid his shirt parted more and more revealing his muscular chest and decadent abs, his smooth porcelain pale skin, and beautiful runes.

"You are breathtaking, Alexander." He said, awed as the last button was undone. As he reached up to unbutton his own shirt.

Alec blushed at his warlock's words. He always did. But he wasn't about to let him unbutton his own shirt. Not this time. This was his show.

"Na-ah." He said, playfully knocking his hands away. "I want to do it."

Magnus smiled. He was more than happy to let his beautiful Alexander undress him. And his smile was also for his playful mood. He loved it when his Shadowhunter was playful.

He saw his husband's breath quicken and his pupils grow wider with lust as each button was moved out of his way. In that moment he couldn't be more thankful for the deep shade of their tree. Any more light would hurt his eyes.

"So beautiful." Alec said softly as he studied the beauty that is his alpha, his smooth caramel colored skin, his firm belly, and decadent well defined abs.

He could feel his husband's hard cock pressing into his ass and wanted it. He wanted to fill himself with it. He wanted to ride it the way he had ached to the night before. He could also feel his own cock aching between them. And in that moment, he had an overwhelming need to be touched. A very specific touch. He needed to feel his alpha gripping and jerking him. He needed it desperately and he needed it now.

Magnus' cock was throbbing. The feel of it pressing into his young love's ass had him aching to fill him. And he could see the need to be filled in his eyes. He didn't think that his sweet angel realized that his cycle had started. Had the gush of slick he felt soaking his pants not told him, his precious Alexander's very flush cheeks and the spike in his pheromones would have.

"I think it's time to take these off now." Alec said, guiding his alpha's hands to his hips, to his pants.

Magnus snapped his fingers, shedding his angel of his slick soaked pants. The sight of his naked form above him and his hard cock, the cock he was aching to touch was beautiful.

"Now yours." Alec said, running his hands up and down his husband's chest.

Magnus snapped his fingers again, shedding himself of his own pants. He almost groaned when his cock nestled between his Shadowhunter's cheeks.

"Touch me." Alec said, guiding his precious warlock's hand to his hard cock. He wanted him to jerk it. He needed him too. While the thick cock nestled between his cheeks had a desperate need to be filled coursing through him, he wanted this first.

His head fell back, and his eyes closed from the beautiful pleasure when his husband gripped his length and gently jerked it, a lovely but intense tingle from the simple touch running down his spine.

"Harder." He demanded. While his warlock jerking him felt good, he wanted great, and he knew that his alpha wouldn't disappoint. He never did.

Magnus didn't hesitate to grip and gently jerk his young love's cock when he guided his hand to it. He loved pleasuring him this way. It brought back wonderful memories of his first heat. Of when he touched him for the first time. And of when his angel had touched himself in front of him for the first time. Both were memories he would always cherish.

He knew when his love's head fell back, and he demanded that he jerk him harder that it wasn't just his husband wanting it. It was the omega in him needing it. Whether his sweet omega knew it or not it wasn't just a want, it was a need. And he would gladly fulfill as many of his needs as he could.

"Yes. Just like that." Alec breathed as his warlock jerked harder on his length. It was perfect. Exquisite.

He loved being pleasured this way. He loved it when he was touched like this. With each hard jerk he felt himself getting closer to his release. He didn't hear his chorus of breathless 'yes'.

His love's breathless chorus of 'yes' told Magnus that he was getting close. Gripping his length just a little harder he jerked faster. He wanted him to get the release he was needing.

When his husband's words changed to soft whimpers, he knew that he was almost there. Within seconds his beautiful cock erupted in his hand, coating his belly with ropes of his warm cum.

Alec's head snapped up when his alpha gripped his cock harder and jerked faster. He whimpered from the intensity of the pleasure that was pulsing through him. That's all he could do. His head spun when his cock erupted in his warlock's hand, his cum coating his belly. The intensity of the decadent pleasure from his release had him trembling and the world tilting.

Panting for breath as the world righted itself, he looked down at the man he loved. He thought his cum coating his flat belly was a beautiful sight. It had him hard again in an instant. It had him aching for more. For more pleasure.

Magnus could see in his precious Alexander's crystal blue eyes that he needed more. The omega in him was craving more. It didn't surprise him that he had gotten hard again in an instant. While he was aching with a desperate need to fill his Shadowhunter and fuck him, he had to wait. If the omega in him didn't get what it was needing, there would be no rest for him. His husband would be pushed to keep going until he got what his body was craving.

Alec knew what he wanted. What he needed. His body was screaming it at him and if he didn't get it, he thought he might lose his mind.

"Suck it. Please suck it." He pleaded. He needed the hot wet heat that was his beautiful husband's mouth taking him in. He needed the feel of it. He needed it desperately. He needed to be sucked then fucked.

"Alright, sweetheart." Magnus said, gently massaging his husband's hips. He hadn't known exactly what it was that his omega was needing, what he was craving, but now he did. He needed to be jerked, sucked, then fucked. He was sure of it. "Come here." He said, guiding him up and forward by his hips.

Alec did as he was told without question. He let his alpha guide him to where he wanted him.

"Stay right here. Don't move." Magnus said when he stilled him. His cock was right in front of his mouth, but his angel couldn't do what he always did. He couldn't trust. Not at this angle.

"Okay." He said, nodding yes. He couldn't take his eyes off his warlock as he gripped his aching cock again. He wanted to watch as he took him into his mouth.

He sighed with relief when his alpha flicked his tongue across the head of his cock, tasting him. The pleasure was beautiful, just as beautiful as the pleasure of the tingle running down his spine.

Magnus gripped his young love's magnificent cock and flicked his tongue across the head, tasting him. He tasted divine. Flicking his tongue across it again he sucked the head into his mouth and swirled his tongue around it before taking him in as much as he could. He wouldn't be able to take him down his throat like he always did this time, but he could still give him what he was needing.

With one hand still planted firmly on his precious Alexander's hip, he bobbed up and down on as much of the beautiful cock in his mouth as he could. He lifted his head each time while jerking what he couldn't take in. Again, and again he jerked and sucked his love's length, hollowing out his cheeks for greater suction.

Listening to his Shadowhunter's beautiful moans as he pleasured him had his own cock aching near painfully. He loved hearing his angel's moans, but he wanted to hear them while his cock was buried deep inside him. He wanted to hear them as his sweet omega rode him and as his knot formed.

The best anticipation was coursing through Alec. He knew that he was about to be pleasured again and pleasured magnificently. He moaned softly as his warlock sucked the head of his cock into his mouth and swirled his tongue around it. Then he moaned louder when he took it further into that sinfully wet heat. He couldn't help his moans of pleasure as he got what he had been so desperately needing.

His husband bobbing up and down on as much of his length as he could and jerking the rest had delicious pleasure pulsing through his veins. Again, and again his alpha bobbed up and down, the pleasure getting better and better with each rise and fall. How that was possible he didn't know or understand, but it was.

He wanted to trust, but he knew that he couldn't. Not without hurting the one he loved. It took every ounce of restraint he had to keep skill, but he wasn't sure how much longer he'd be able to.

"Alpha, please." He panted. He was almost there, but as great and intense as it was, it wasn't enough. He needed something. He just didn't know what.

Magnus knew that his young love was struggling. His trembling thighs told him as much. He was trying to hold himself still, but it was getting hard.

Jerking a little harder on his length on the next bob he pressed his tongue hard to the sweet spot on the underside of his cock and pushed a burst of magic into it. It took both hands to still his angel as he came, his cock erupting in his mouth. His husband's thick cum tasted wonderful as he swallowed every drop.

When he felt his sweet omega's legs start to give, he held him firmly as he released his cock and guided him back down to his hips.

When his precious alpha had jerked his cock harder and pushed a hard burst of magic into his sweet spot, Alec had seen stars. The pleasure was beyond words. He'd filled his alpha's mouth with torrents of his cum, knowing that he'd savored every drop. But he was relieved when he settled him back on his hips. As strong as they were his thighs needed the break.

"Catch your breath, sweetheart." He said, rubbing soft circles into his love's flat belly with his thumbs.

"Okay." Alec said, nodding yes. He hadn't realized that he'd lost his breath. But his warlock rubbing soft circles into his belly was helping to ground him.

Once he was fully back on the planet earth, he registered his alpha's cock still nestled between his cheeks and his own rehardening. It brought back an incredibly intense need to fill himself with it, a need that needed to be fulfilled now.

"I need you." He said. "I need you in me."

"I know. Just take it slow." Magnus said. He knew that his angel needed to be filled and knotted just as much as he needed to fill him and knot him. The alpha in him had needs and cravings too. And in that moment the need to fill his omega and knot him was almost painful.

Alec nodded yes. He would take it slow. Very slow. He would take his time taking his alpha in. He would savor every second of it as he took in every delectable inch.

"No magic." He said. While he loved his warlock's magic in bed, and they had been using it frequently lately to get him through cycles as easily as possible, sometimes he just didn't want it. And this is one of those times. He wanted to fuck them, to fuck them both until they came, until they found what he was sure would be an utterly majestic release.

"Alright, sweetheart." Magnus said. If this is how his sweet angel needed it to be, it's how it would be. They had been using magic a lot lately to get him through some of his cycles without mating, so he understood the desire to mate without it, to mate the old fashioned way.

Leaning forward Alec claimed his husband's mouth in a sweet kiss. Licking his bottom lip, he sought entrance. A soft sigh escaped them both when their tongues brushed and danced. Lifting his hips, he lined his alpha's thick cock up with his still wet entrance. He moaned low in the back of his throat from the pleasure as he lowered himself and took in the head of the magnificent cock he was craving.

Tilting his head, he took the heavenly kiss deeper as he took in another inch. Then another. The stretch was exquisite, the sense of fullness pure bliss. It had wonderful pleasure lighting up every nerve one by one.

Magnus opened easily when his Shadowhunter licked his bottom lip, a soft sigh escaping him when their tongues brushed. The sweet kiss was heavenly. The best anticipation was coursing through him as his love lifted his hips and lined him up with his entrance. His cock was aching and desperately needed attention. The kind of attention that came with easing into his husband's decadently tight channel. The kind that came with filling him. It was with great regret that he had to break the kiss to draw in a stuttering breath.

He almost lost what little breath he'd drawn in when the head of his cock eased through his beautiful omega's tight rim. The pleasure of the tight muscles of his precious Alexander's channel clamping down around him was bliss. Holding his young love close he pressed a tender kiss to his forehead as he fought for breath.

Alec fought for breath when the exquisite kiss broke. He thought his alpha's kiss was sweet, so very sweet, but breath or no breath he didn't want to stop. He couldn't. Ever so slowly he lowered himself further onto the cock he'd been craving as he claimed his warlock's mouth again, as their tongues danced another beautiful dance.

Little by little he took more in. The pleasure of the beautiful intrusion had him moaning low in the back of his throat, his moan mixing with his husband's as he finally settled flush on his hips. The pleasure of having him fully sheathed inside him felt like both heaven and sin.

Magnus felt the world tilt when his love lowered himself further onto his cock as he claimed his mouth in another beautiful kiss. The pleasure had his head spinning. The most majestic pleasure was lighting up his nerves as his Shadowhunter took more of him in. He couldn't stop his low moan from the pleasure and didn't try. And the pleasure of being fully sheathed inside him felt like both heaven and sin.

The magnificent pleasure of finally being fully filled had Alec's belly clenching. He didn't know that he was trembling from the intensity of it all. All he knew as he rested with his forehead pressed to his warlock's is that exquisite pleasure was crashing down on him in beautiful waves.

"Sweetheart." Magnus breathed, moving enough to press another soft kiss to his angel's forehead. It had been a fight for breath when the beautiful kiss broke, but it was a fight he'd finally won. Pleasure was pulsing through him from head to toe, but he had to focus. His precious Alexander was trembling hard, and he didn't know if it was a good trembling or bad trembling.

"I'm okay." He breathed, finally drawing in an easy breath. He'd finally registered that he was trembling. It was a good trembling, but he was still trembling hard and with everything bad that had happened he was sure that his husband was worried. "Just need a minute."

"Okay." Magnus said, relieved. His sweet angel was breathing easily, and that gave him a little peace of mind. "Take your time."

Nodding yes Alec took his precious warlock's hands in his own and pinned them beside his head as he sat up, intertwining their fingers.

"I'm going to have my way with you now." He said softly, taking in the beauty that was his alpha. The light sheet of sweat, his flushed cheeks, and the lust the saw in his chocolate brown eyes was breathtaking. He was breathtaking. But there was something else he saw there. Need. And he was going to meet that need.

"You do that." Magnus said, smiling. He loved it when his Shadowhunter had his way with him.

Leaning forward Alec pressed a soft kiss to his warlock's lips as he slowly lifted his hips, rising up the magnificent cock filling him. He gazed into his husband's eyes as he lowered himself slowly back down. He moaned softly from the delicious pleasure. The scrape against his very swollen prostate had been exquisite.

Unable to tear his eyes from his mate, his fated mate, he lifted his hips again and fell a little faster, his back arching from the incredibly intense pleasure. The world tilted. The stretch, the sense of fullness, and this new scrape against his prostate was beyond words.

Beautiful anticipation was humming beneath Magnus' skin. His love's soft kiss as he rose up his length was sweet. He couldn't pull his gaze from his crystal blue eyes. He almost lost his breath when his precious Alexander lowered himself back down. His channel was so tight, and the pleasure of the muscles clamping down around him was in every way majestic. Again, and again his sweet omega rose and fell on his length, each rise and fall faster than the last. He knew then that his angel was going to fuck them hard.

He had a near overwhelming need to touch him. To touch him anywhere. But he couldn't. His hands were pinned tight to the soft blanket. He loved being at his young love's mercy. But at the same time, he wanted to touch his soft skin and knead it beneath his hands.

His panting breaths came faster and faster with each magnificent rise and fall. He wanted to thrust up. He wanted to fuck up into him, but he didn't. This was his Shadowhunter's show.

"Lilith, you feel good." He breathed.

Alec smiled. Again, and again he rose as fell on his alpha's length. The pleasure was intense. Beautifully intense. His warlock hadn't been kidding when he'd said that he would be more sensitive during his heat. In the back of his mind, he knew that it was too much at times. As good as it all was, he could see and understand now how it could overwhelm him.

For a time, he'd somehow forgotten how horrible things had become after his first heat and the fallout. How he'd been weak and out of commission for weeks after. How, he didn't know. Especially when it was what he'd been afraid of leading up to his heat.

But while those thoughts were in the back of his mind, they were quickly slipping away. He was getting lost in the moment. The heavenly pleasure was stealing his ability to think. But he felt himself starting to get weak.

"Help me." He panted, releasing his alpha's hands.

Magnus was getting lost in the moment, lost in the pleasure of being sheathed in his love as he fucked them. But his words snapped his mind back into focus. He realized then that he had to be getting tired. His body had gone through a lot this cycle.

His hands went immediately to his young love's hips, guiding him with each rise and fall, supporting him. When his angel whimpered, he knew that he needed more than just support. Holding his precious Alexander above him he did what he'd been wanting to do. He thrust hard up into him. Then again and again, listening to his cries of pleasure through his panting breaths.

Alec had been afraid that he would give out. When he'd gotten so tired, he didn't know. He barely registered his alpha's hands on his hips guiding him as he rose and fell on his length. He didn't hear himself whimper through the pleasure, a wordless plea. He'd wanted to do this. To ride his alpha to their release. But he couldn't. He wasn't able to. Not this time.

He cried out when his alpha thrust hard up into him after stilling him. The pleasure of the hard scrape against his prostate had his head spinning. Since his heat had started it always seemed to be spinning.

Again, and again his precious warlock thrust up into him. He knew that he was almost there. That they were almost there. He felt his alpha's knot forming more and more each time it pushed through his rim.

"That's it, sweetheart. Let yourself feel. Let go." Magnus said as he felt his knot forming. It was taking everything he had to focus through the most exquisite pleasure. But he had to. This was his job as his sweet omega's alpha. To help him get through his cycles, through his heat. He felt his knot forming more and more with each hard thrust up into his love and knew that he was almost there.

Alec could only do as his alpha asked. He felt the sinful pleasure of each hard thrust as they pushed him closer and closer to the edge. He had let all desire for control go because he couldn't have it. And that was okay. He closed his eyes as he fell over the peak, as the earthshattering pleasure had his cock erupting between them. His cum coated his husband's belly again as his filled him. He didn't hear himself whimpering or feel it when his alpha lowered him to his chest as they fought for breath.

Magnus knew that his precious Alexander had let go when he felt him relax. When his muscles stopped straining. He had to ignore the earthshattering pleasure when he found his release, as his cock erupted when his beautiful angel's did. He still had to focus.

His Shadowhunter whimpering told him that once again he had been overwhelmed. Very carefully he lowered his again trembling love to his chest, listening as he panted for breath. He held him close as his breathing evened out and slowed, mentally kicking himself. This is something they would have to work on. They would have to learn to recognize the signs. But that would take time and he knew it.

Alec didn't feel himself trembling. But he did feel his warlock's arms around him holding him close and it was wonderful. Being in his strong arms was one of his favorite places to be. As he rested there all he could do is fight for breath until his breaths came easily.

"Alexander." Magnus said, softly rubbing his back. "Talk to me, sweetheart."

"Thumper's watching us." He said, watching his little friend. They apparently had been entertaining the cute little rabbit. He'd noticed his little friend watching them from the tree line as he rested. He was just glad that The Seelie Queen wasn't watching through the rabbit's eyes. Their next meeting with her would be very awkward otherwise.

Magnus looked over at the little white rabbit that was nibbling the remnants of a strawberry and laughed. It did seem to be watching them rather intently, perhaps enjoying the show.

"So, it would seem." He said, thankful that it wasn't The Seelie Queen. At least he hoped that it wasn't, that she'd stayed true to her word. Otherwise, their next meeting would be more than a little awkward. "Do you think your new friend enjoyed the show?"

"I don't know." Alec said sleepily. "I know I enjoyed putting on the performance."

"Good. I'm glad. Sleep now." He said. He knew that he would sleep soundly. He was exhausted. And he would hold him as he slept under the shade of their tree until his knot went down before carrying him inside.

As much as he hated it, he would have to wake him before his next cycle early enough for him to eat and for them to get cleaned up. They both needed a good shower.

____________________

Robert tightened the last screw on the new cabinet door. Having emptied it to clean the broken glass and blood out he saw how well stocked it had been. He'd known that the clinic had been well stocked, he just hadn't realized how well. Luke had filled it with everything one could possibly need to tend to any patient of every race of every species. And in seeing just how much the good doctor had put into it, how well thought out it was, he better understood the anger that had caused his best friend to put his fist through the glass.

He'd been so, so, angry when he'd heard what Stephanie had said. It was an anger that he'd only ever felt a few times in his life, but it in no way compared to what he knew Luke had felt when he'd stepped foot in the clinic after their hours long walk in the rain. After looking at it all, he thought he understood the pain and anger that had driven him to lash out. Thankfully, he hadn't seriously damaged his hand in the process. It would have been a tragedy if he had. In so many ways, it would have been a tragedy.

"I was going to do that." Luke said. He'd been watching Robert silently replace the cabinet door he'd shattered when he put his fist through it, and in watching him he thought he could see anger humming in the air around him.

"Hey." He said, turning to his friend. He'd been so caught up in his thoughts he hadn't realized that he had an audience. "I didn't hear you come in." He said. A part of him was surprised to see him leaning against the back wall, but another part, a much larger part wasn't.

"I came in through the back." Luke said, shrugging. He'd portaled in right outside the clinic's back door. He hadn't wanted to see the stares or hear the whispers that came with walking through Village Square. He didn't think he could handle it just yet. "When did you get so handy?" He asked, eyeing the tool belt slung low on Robert's hips.

"I may have had repairmen available at the snap of my fingers in New York, but I wasn't always in the position to have someone else fix what was broken." He said, shrugging himself. "Growing up here you learn early on that if it breaks you fix it and how to fix it. Believe it or not, momma taught me a lot about repairs and general maintenance as a kid."

"I believe it." Luke said. He didn't think that there was much that Izabella Lightwood couldn't do, that there wasn't much that she couldn't find a solution for or fix even when that fix meant rolling up her sleeves and getting her hands dirty. Did she come to Haven knowing the solutions and fixes to anything and everything? No, he didn't think so. But he could see her throwing whatever she had at it until what had to be done was done. And from what he'd seen of her oldest child that's a mentality she instilled in him.

"How's your hand?" He asked.

"It's healing." Luke said, grimacing as he eyed the bandage wrapped around his hand. He still couldn't believe that he'd put it through a glass cabinet. He'd always been very, very careful with his hands. But he couldn't deny that it was healing quickly. Whatever it was that Cat had put on it was working wonders. "Whatever Cat put on it, it's healing much quicker than I would have thought."

"That would be one of her holistic remedies." He said. "A potion of sorts made into an ointment. She's been using healing magic for more than 400 years and has a bit of a knack for it."

"Makes sense. She is The Healing Master after all." Luke said. He'd heard that most everyone has a title. Alec is The Archer, a title he'd been given by The Shadow World after the war. Magnus is The Potions Master. Jace is The Sword Master. Clary is The Rune Master. Isabelle is The Weapons Master. Simon is The Warrior. And Cat is The Healing Master. He thought each and every title had been well earned. "Dorthea told me." He said, trying his best to ignore the knot in his belly and the stab of pain in his heart. He couldn't help but think again of how no one needed him, of how no one wanted him when they had her and her 'holistic remedies' in addition to her skills in traditional medicine. Nothing he'd ever done could heal a wound as quickly as her 'potion of sorts' was healing his hand. From what he could see, she could do it all.

Robert internally winced. He'd seen the flash of pain and what he could only describe as helplessness with a bit of hopelessness in Luke's eyes when he'd spoken of his Catarina. But that wasn't all he'd seen. He'd seen just how useless his best friend felt. He hadn't meant to remind him of his fears, fears that after the day before he now understood were in every way justified. Well, to a degree. Luke was by no means useless.

For some time now he'd been trying to get it through his soon to be parabatai's thick head that he's important. That he matters. That what he can do matters. He'd told him, his son had told him, that he isn't just a great doctor. They'd told him that he could do things that no one else could. That he could do things that his Catarina couldn't despite her centuries worth of experience treating patients. And that is in every way true. They could both look at the same thing and see something different. He just needed to figure out a way to remind him of how special he is, of how important. He truly hated that his feelings were no longer in regards to simply being a Shadowhunter. Now he felt it in who and what he is and has been for more than twenty years. A doctor. And for that he wanted to strangle Stephanie. She'd done more than hurt him, she'd stolen something from him none of them knew how to get back.

"I wasn't sure if you were coming in." He said, wanting to change the subject. "No one would blame you for taking the day off."

"Aline might." Luke said. When he'd gotten up that morning, he hadn't wanted to come in today. But Aline needed him. Could Cat handle her presentation? Without a doubt. But he'd given her his word that he'd be there holding her hand and helping her through it, and he was going to be. "She'll be presenting in a couple of hours and I'm not bailing on her because my feelings are hurt. So, I came in early to get things ready."

"Right. Aline." He said. He'd forgotten that she would be presenting today. But as hard as her presentation would be, having Luke at her side watching over her would help. Did the young Shadowhunter like his Catarina? He thought she did. But Aline knew Luke and trusted him. He'd watched over and tended to her before and having him there now for something that would be incredibly difficult he was sure would mean a lot to her. "Have you seen her yet?"

"I have." Luke said. "I stopped by her place on my way here. Grandma was there giving her a pep talk."

"That sounds like momma. And about that." He said, leaning against the now glass free counter. "Momma wanted to talk to you and Dot days ago. But there's been so much going on and she got tired of waiting. Are you really okay with it?"

"I am. So is Dorthea." Luke said. "We didn't think Ziva would ever have extended family, but she does and she's loving it. We're kind of enjoying it too."

They both looked over when the front door opened.

"I know I'm early. I hope that's okay." Rebecca said as the door fell shut behind her.

"Early?" Robert asked.

"Aline's presenting today, right?" She asked. She was hoping that Luke would still accept her help, but after the day before and what had been said, she wasn't sure. She'd laid into Stephanie for being a hypocritical bitch, one who's all for talking the talk but won't take the first step in walking the walk.

She also took the time to point out that she hadn't had a problem with Shadowhunters when they were fighting for the people of the downworld during The Dark War, something they hadn't had to do. Just as she hadn't had an issue with the Shadowhunter doctor who'd patched up the gaping hole in her chest. It had been a wound that according to Cat should have been in every way fatal.

She couldn't deny that there was a time when she herself had been wary of Shadowhunters, a time when she struggled to trust them. But those days were long gone. That wariness and distrust vanished on one horrific night four years ago. Had that not been enough, she'd known the moment she'd met Luke that he was everything their leadership team had said he is and more. And from what she'd seen during the times she'd helped him tend to Alec she knew that he's a great doctor who can be trusted. Shadowhunter or not, he's one that she'd trust to tend to her if she needed tending to.

"She is. And you're not too early." Luke said. He couldn't deny that he was relieved. She'd offered to help him set up and tend to Aline weeks ago, but he hadn't known if she would show. Not after the day before, especially with Stephanie being both a fellow werewolf and her friend. But she was here, and it gave him hope that at least not every downworlder in Haven had a problem with him.

"Well then, now that my handyman work is done, I'll leave you two to do what you do." Robert said, secretly pleased. 'Early? More like right on time.' He thought. He didn't know who stood where on the Shadowhunter issue yet, but it would appear that the young werewolf nurse had no issue at all working with a Shadowhunter doctor. If she did, she wouldn't have come. And he truly didn't think that she could have come at a better time. She and Luke needed each other whether they knew it or not. Luke needed her to see for himself that not everyone has a problem with him, and she needed him to help her show the people of the downworld that Shadowhunters are people that she trusts and will stand beside like they can.

Luke nodded yes. He'd gotten out of bed with a heavy heart, a heaviness so great he'd thought it would crush him, and while it was still rather heavy it wasn't quite as heavy as it had been not ten minutes ago. In being here Rebecca had unknowingly just taken some of the weight off.

____________________

Robert whistled as the clinic doors fell shut behind him. He wasn't happy, not by any means, not with everything going on with his best friend and son. But Rebecca turning up at the clinic did make him feel a teensy bit better. While Luke hadn't had a chance to say so himself with her there, he knew that it had made him feel a teensy bit better too. And like there was maybe a little hope.

He didn't know Rebecca McCoy well, but from what he did know of her she seemed like an overall good woman. She'd been a OR nurse in the mundane world and had a decade's worth of experience under her belt. She been a mundane herself until five years ago when she'd been attacked in a parking lot on her way home from work and bitten by her attacker. The doctors in the ER of her very own hospital couldn't fathom why a mugger would bite their victim, but they'd cleaned her up and another nurse friend had driven her home.

What she hadn't known at the time is that from the moment she'd been bitten, her life had forever been changed. After speaking to Magnus at the time when he'd learned of it in his official capacity as The Head of The New York Institute as it had happened in New York, he'd been assured that the matter would be addressed and handled quickly and efficiently.

But before either the warlock or the Shadowhunter World's officials had been given time to locate Rebecca's attacker and seek Shadow World justice for the now former mundane the Praetor Lupus had stepped in tying their hands. Where the werewolf had come from and who had sired it, they didn't know. They weren't known to Magnus, and he knew them all. But they thought the Praetor knew. However, in the end they'd been unable to give Rebecca any real assurance that justice had been served or offer her any closure.

As for Rebecca herself, after seeing her tend to his son when he'd found himself in the clinic, he'd quickly come to feel comfortable with her and confident that she could be trusted. It also helped that his Catarina trusted her and always had.

"I knew you enjoyed rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty, my sweet, but I didn't realize that you enjoyed it this much." Cat said, making quick work of the stairs and stepping into his arms. "Who would have guessed. The big bad Institute Head can not only don a toolbelt but actually knows how to use the tools in it. But I'm thinking that the lift in your mood has more to do with Rebecca showing up to help Luke set up at the clinic than actually using your momma's tools."

"Your line of thinking would be correct." He said, wrapping his arms around her. "You knew Luke's there?"

"Of course, I did." She said. "I'm his wife's best friend. She messaged me to let me know and asked me to keep an eye out. She actually requested that I disembowel anyone who tries to hurt him, but I made no promises on that.

I was actually about to head over to help him set up when I saw Rebecca going in. Seeing as she was in her scrubs, I didn't think that she was there to cause trouble. So, since my presence isn't needed just yet I thought I'd check on you and the kids."

"Are they still refusing to train?" He asked. As much as they might not want to train with their army today, they had to. There were several reasons why training needed to continue as usual, but the biggest reason is simple. As leaders in this army, as members of what's been dubbed the 'leadership team' they can't step back from doing what they'd sworn they'd do because they're angry or upset. They can't ignore their responsibilities because one member of their army hurt another member, a member who happens to be someone they care deeply about. And he thought he knew exactly how to get through to them.

Their leader and commander, their big brother, wouldn't want them to step back from training today because of what happened between Stephanie and Luke. Would it be easy putting such intense emotions on the back burner? No. It wouldn't. Just as it hadn't been when he'd had to put his emotions on the back burner and train the Shadowhunters who'd turned on him at the Institute after he'd presented as an omega.

In the blink of an eye, people he'd thought were friends, people he'd known for years and had trained with, people he had trained and fought beside in the war had come to despise and loathe him simply for being who and what he is. Day after day for months he'd had to overcome the pain that came with verbal attacks and emotional abuse to continue doing his duties. He'd had to look past all of the negative and nasty that was being thrown his way to help people who only wanted to hurt him because whether they liked him or not, they needed him. They're lives could very well depend on what he'd thought them during those lessons at some point and giving them what they could use to survive is just something that he couldn't deny them. He wouldn't. So, if he could do it despite his anger and pain, they could too.

Their leader had always put the needs of others first both in training and in the field. That's part of what makes him such a great leader. None of them could deny that even though it would be hard, if he was here today, he wouldn't step away. He wouldn't punish the many over the actions of a few. If he was here, he'd already be out on the training grounds doing what he was certain is right. And Luke, he wouldn't want them to step away from training today or tomorrow or the next day because of this either.

"They are." She said, sighing. She understood their anger. She was angry too. There had been moments when that anger had wanted to consume her. Several moments. But if Luke could put his pain and anger aside to be at the clinic today, they could do what they'd sworn they'd do for this army.

"Well, it's still early." He said, looking at his watch. Training didn't start for another hour. "There's still plenty of time for this to be worked out."

"You have a plan." She said, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"I wouldn't call it a plan. It's more like a gentle reminder." He said. "Any word from Magnus?"

"Yes." She said, sighing again. "Alec's wearing out faster with each cycle which has him worried and they only have four left. So, he's worried about that too."

"That's understandable." He said. He hadn't said it out loud yet, but he was worried too. Not just about what his son's going through physically but because they were getting down to the wire. If they didn't conceive soon, soon as in during one of the next four cycles, the beautiful babies his precious boy had seen in his most wonderful dreams wouldn't come to be, and it would break his heart. And he'd believe that it was his fault.

He would blame himself by assuming that they'd missed the most important cycle. That was a bad habit of his, blaming himself for everything even when what he was blaming himself for is well beyond his control. "But there's still time. All it takes is one cycle and they have four."

"I know. And I'm sure that he's been telling Alec that." She said. "Apparently, he's been worried about it for the past few days. From the moment he missed those two cycle it's been on his mind."

"Well, all I can say is that it will happen when it's meant to happen." He said, trying to reassure not just her but himself too. "Some things are well beyond our control and the making of our children, that's beyond our control and he may need to be reminded of that.

This war, aren't we fighting this war now because if it had been attempted before people who are alive today, people who are here and ready to fight now would have never been born? They were born when they were meant to be born just like he and Isabelle were, and he knows that."

"You're right." She said, because he was. Each and every word is true. And it's a truth they needed to be prepared to remind their sweet boy of. If everyone else's children are born when they're meant to be born, if he and his twin were born when they were meant to be born, why wouldn't his children be? "I'm going to head over to Izabella's to see where things stand with Madzie. If she's still in the dark I'm going to take her to play with Ziva. You go talk to the kids. We need to get this day going."

"Okay." He said, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "Let me know if you hear anything else?"

"Of course." She said, pressing a soft kiss of her own to his lips. She was hoping that the little Lightwood hadn't come to learn what they were doing their best to keep from Ziva. Was the little Greymark going to find out eventually? Yes. But it didn't need to happen right now. Not when everyone's emotions were still running so high.

____________________

Alec was resting comfortably in his alpha's arms, well, as comfortably as one could be while knotted. He couldn't help but think that the sound of his husband's steady heartbeat beneath his ear where his head rested on his chest was soothing. He should be sound asleep. His cycles were draining and he'd long since been running on empty. He'd been tired before. He was always tired after what felt like never ending days and missions. He'd been exhausted before. But not like this. This is a whole new level.

Normally he would crash immediately after a cycle and be out cold until he had to wake up to eat before doing it all again. His next cycle. They have a few hours left before his next cycle; the cycle he was hoping never came. If it came it meant that they hadn't just conceived and if they hadn't conceived, they only had three more chances. They were running out of time.

It was getting harder and harder to not let his worries and fears consume him. He was trying not to think about the worst, about if they didn't conceive. He was trying to think of positive things, happy things, and when there was nothing else productive things. Anything and everything he could put together in his mind to chase away the things that he didn't want to think about.

"You're quiet." Magnus said, gently grazing his fingertips up and down his Shadowhunter's back. He was surprised that his love wasn't asleep. He should be. He was in every way exhausted and needed as much sleep as he could get.

"I know." He said softly. "Too much on my mind I guess."

"Oh, yeah?" Magnus asked. "Care to share?"

Alec wasn't sure that he wanted to discuss his fears again just yet, he was half afraid that if he said it all again that he'd jinx them. But there were plenty of other things that he'd had on his mind that they could talk about.

"I had a dream." He said softly. "About the war."

"When was this?" Magnus asked, thinking of his thoughts after returning from Haven, his memories of that retched night. It was a night he never wanted to think about but did from time to time. There was always a trigger, and this time the trigger had been the situation with Luke. But he'd been lucky enough to only end up lost in his thoughts for a little while. He'd been spared seeing it all again in his dreams.

"After you got back." He said. "We were on the battlefield before the battle started. Maybe an hour or so. I'd already put my squad into position and was waiting for the downworlders to arrive so I could put them in position too and brief them on some of the more common demons. There are too many to go over in an hour. There are too many to go over in a week, but you know that." He said. While his husband wasn't an expert on demons, he is the son of the Prince of Edom and knew that there were more than a few vile creatures that roamed Edom's realm freely that managed to make it into their world. "Anyway, I was looking out at my squad, looking at each face. All I saw is what you'd expect to see before battle. No one looked out of place."

"You mean no one looked like a traitor?" Magnus asked. They'd all known that Valentine had followers standing amongst them that night, waiting for the right time to turn on those around them. And they had, just not all at once. And each time one turned good people had been killed. It was a pity none of them had survived to stand justice before the Clave.

"No." He said. "I thought maybe I'd see something. That something about them would have stood out, but nothing did. And because I couldn't I missed nine in my squad."

"It's hard to identify a traitor on sight, sweetheart." Magnus said. "They mask their intentions well, and those who turned on us that night had plenty of time to prepare their game face. So, there's no blame there. Not on you or on anyone else.

We'd known what was coming for weeks and during that time those people had been in your Institutes and in training. They had been in the field fighting beside you as if they were all just as pure and selfless as you are.

If they were going to be identified beforehand, angel, it would have been in the light of the days leading up to the battle, not in the dark of night in a very large crowd. Not unless they'd done something that stood out. And if I recall, there were a hundred and fifty people in each squad. That's a lot of people to get a good look at and I seriously doubt that you'd had a chance to thoroughly look at everyone. I know that I looked at a lot of faces that night before the battle started and I didn't see anything either." He said, thinking of the faces of the so very young Shadowhunters he'd seen, of the young faces that sometimes haunted his dreams. "All I saw that night was a lot of strong, brave warriors who were willing to put it all on the line to save others, warriors who did put it all on the line despite knowing what the cost could be. And far too many paid it.

I remember thinking that I'd never thought I'd see anything like it. Shadowhunters and downworlders standing together. And I was sure I'd never see it again. I had forgotten until I'd gotten lost in my own thoughts that Jia had been there that night. And your father. Both dressed for battle no less."

"Yeah. They were there." He said. "So were a few other Institute Heads. Most decided to stay back in Alicante where the Clave wanted them. Jia and dad, and the few others, they defied orders to fight. They weren't willing to let their Shadowhunters go into that kind of battle without going with them."

Magnus didn't know what to say to that. He knew that there were a lot of Institutes in the world, therefore a lot of Institute Heads. And he'd thought all but Robert and Jia had stayed behind in Alicante. He'd never given any thought to that there might have been others. Or why there might have been others. Others that were honorable. Honorable enough to fight beside those they were forced to send in to fight.

"I remember the first time I saw your father." He said, still unable to think of what to say to what he'd just heard. "A part of me had been surprised to see him there, but a bigger part wasn't. It wasn't because he's a Lightwood and Lightwood's don't stand back and watch when others are in danger.

It also had me thinking of you and Isabelle. I was shocked when I heard you were both there, on the frontline and leading squads no less. Izabella had told me you were good, that your team was good, but I didn't think it would matter how good you all were. Being the children of an Institute Head, a prestigious one at that, I assumed that you'd be as far away from the fighting as your father could get you. I never would have expected that you'd be front row center.

I suppose the reason I remembered that part of it all is because when I'd seen him that first time, he was walking with someone, someone I now know was Luke. That was the first time I'd seen him that night. But not the last. And every time I saw him, he was tending to someone. Sometimes it would be a Shadowhunter, others a downworlder. But he was tending to them as if there wasn't a thing in the world different about them."

"That's because in his mind there wasn't anything different about them." He said, looking up at his husband, his warlock, his downworlder.

"I know." Magnus said, pulling the soft quilt up over them. It was getting cold and his Shadowhunter didn't need to catch a chill. "I remember the last time I saw him too. It was actually the first time I'd ever seen you. Outside of Izabella's photos. I remember thinking that the photos didn't do you or your sister justice."

"When?" He asked, honestly curious as to when his alpha would have seen them both. They weren't together on the battlefield, not once they split off into their squads and he didn't remember seeing her again until days later in the infirmary. But he had been hit in the head a couple of times so at a certain point, things got a bit fuzzy.

"I opened the portal for you all to get back to New York." Magnus said. "I was anxious to see you both. I didn't think I would ever meet you, so I was anxious to at least get a glimpse of you.

I saw Isabelle with Simon and Biscuit with Jace. I remember thinking that Isabelle looked so much like Bella. And not long after they passed through your father and Luke came along with you. You were asleep. I'm guessing that was Luke's doing. He seemed pretty focused on you and getting you where you were going. I don't know that he ever really noticed that I was there. But I don't fault him for it. I barely registered him once I caught sight of you.

I remember thinking of how youthful and innocent you looked. And after, for days after I couldn't get you out of my head. I didn't know why. I knew there was something, I just couldn't put my finger on it. Now I know. Had you been any closer I think I would have caught your scent."

"That would have been awkward." He said, smiling. He may not have had a great relationship with his father back then, but he was fairly certain that there would have been bloodshed had he discovered then that his fourteen year old son was the fated mate of an 800 year old warlock. Not because his father had a problem with his husband. He didn't and never had. It was the age gap that he'd first struggled with.

"I have to agree." Magnus said, pulling the quilt up just a little higher around them. "You should try and sleep for a bit." He said. He could only hope that he'd been able to steer the topic away from memories of the actual battle, to distract him with a few less haunting thoughts. He was certain that the dream he'd had was a direct result of what was happening in Haven with Luke. His other dreams of that night came at random. This dream coupled with recent events couldn't be random. And it's not something that he needed to be thinking about. Not right now. There would be plenty of time for that once they returned to Haven and began to try and fix this mess.

"Okay." He said. He was suddenly sleepy. Not long ago he'd been wide awake, not tired in the least, but now he could barely keep his eyes open. He just hoped this sleep wouldn't come with bad dreams. "Sleep with me?"

"Of course." Magnus said, pressing a soft kiss to his precious Alexander's forehead. "Rest now."

Alec nodded yes. He felt warm and safe despite their conversation resting on his precious warlock's chest, his steady heartbeat soothing him again. With a soft sigh he closed his eyes and slid quickly into sleep.

While Magnus fully intended to sleep, and with his sweet angel in his arms, he had a lingering thought. He'd always remembered the few minutes that it had taken for his Shadowhunter to move towards him in the corridor and past him into his portal and the few words he exchanged with Robert clearly. But now he remembered something else. He remembered how tired Luke had looked when he'd first seen him coming down the corridor with his love. No, not tired. Exhausted. Completely and utterly exhausted. Now he knew why. He just never would have thought that the good doctor had been in danger. No, he'd passed the point of danger.

If what he'd learned from Robert is true, and he had no reason to doubt it, it wasn't a half hour later that he and Luke's second in command had ambushed him after settling his precious Alexander into a room in the infirmary. And had it taken an hour longer, just one more hour after returning to New York to get Luke off his feet and start treatment Dorthea would be a widow, Ziva would not have her father, and the man who'd been responsible for saving so, so many lives would not be here now to save so, so many more. And that's something that the people of their army needed to know, understand, and acknowledge. It wasn't just the Shadowhunters fighting on the battlefield that had put their lives on the line. It was Luke too.

And while a heartbreaking number of deaths had occurred that night and during the days after from injuries, another almost occurred that very few knew of that wasn't fighting demons. It wasn't from wounds sustained in the battle. It from pushing too hard for too long, for putting the people of what is now One Army first in every way. In working so hard to save each and every life that had come his way, Dr. Luke Greymark had almost lost his own.

He couldn't help but think that perhaps in knowing the truth about Luke that they could right a wrong. It hadn't taken him long to realize that the people of the downworld have done something that he and Catarina both hadn't believed possible, what they too were guilty of. They'd forgotten. They'd forgotten all of the men and women, several merely children, who'd fought and died for them. For them. And those weren't the only ones who'd been forgotten.

All of the brave and valiant men and women who'd tended to the wounded, who'd saved lives just like Stephanie's, they'd been forgotten too. And in remembering, in writing the wrong of forgetting, he couldn't help but think that they would see that it's more than the five heroes who stood out so clearly that they could trust. There are others. Others who worked behind the scenes. Others like Luke. And in remembering them perhaps they would remember that Shadowhunters had stood beside them before as allies. As protectors. Because that's what they'd done the night of The Dark War. They'd stood beside them and fought for them not just to save them from one monster, but to protect them from Edom's worst until the threat that wanted to end them all could be eliminated. Until the leader of today could take the shot that had ended the reason for that war. Until The Archer had killed Valentine Morgenstern on the shores of Lake Lynn. They just needed to remember what never should have been forgotten.

____________________

Luke pulled the door to Aline's presentation room softly shut behind him. She'd just nodded off and he didn't want to wake her. According to Cat, her presentation had gone perfectly. 'In all my years I've never seen a painless presentation.' She'd said. Apparently, his drug cocktail was the perfect formula for getting an omega painlessly through their presentation, well, a female omega anyway.

Had it not been for the first release of her omega pheromones they wouldn't have known that she'd presented without a physical exam. He'd been surprised by how strong they were. He'd been in Alec's chambers at the Institute after his first heat had started and while his pheromones had been strong, they hadn't been as strong as Aline's had been during her presentation. But he also hadn't been with Alec during his presentation or when his heat had started. So, by the time they'd learned that he was gone his pheromones had already started to fade.

He hadn't known it until Cat had educated him, but male omega pheromones are much stronger than a females. Female omegas are born with a uterus so during their presentations they just produce enough pheromones for the uterus to expand which is a far cry from growing one.

For a male omega in a matter of minutes their body has to produce enough pheromones for a new organ to grow. And in knowing that he thought that he would need to work on a stronger med cocktail for them. Was what he'd formulated enough to see a woman through their presentation without pain? Yes. But in having this new knowledge he didn't think that what he'd already created would be enough for a male omega.

He stopped when he heard hushed voices from the main treatment area. Rebecca's voice he recognized, and Tessa's, but the other two he didn't know. He could only assume that they didn't want him to hear them. But he's a Shadowhunter and has the hearing of one.

He debated on whether or not he should slip quietly into his lab to work on his current project or if he should go find out what had brought three unexpected people into his, correction, into Cat's clinic. As he wasn't needed or wanted by most of the people in Haven, he'd decided that it would be best for him to hand it back over to her.

He made his decision quickly. He'd never been a coward before, and he wasn't going to start being one now. Taking a deep breath, he turned the corner and laid his I-pad on the counter. He wasn't surprised when the hushed conversation stopped. He'd been expecting it.

He thought he recognized the man and woman with Rebecca and Tessa. Yes, he'd seen them before. He'd seen them on the battlefield during the war and in passing here in Haven.

"Hey." Rebecca said. "Aline settled?"

"She is. She's asleep." He said.

"I was expecting that to be worse than what it was. I'm glad it went so well." She said. She'd heard a great deal about omega presentations from the original inhabitants of Haven, both male and female. And she'd heard of Alec's and Lydia's. From what she'd heard they were excruciating. "Um...a few people stopped by. They'd like to talk to you."

"Okay." He said, leaning casually against the counter. "What can I do for you guys?"

"Before they start, there's something that's been on my mind for a while now if I could go first." She said.

"Okay." He said, mentally frowning. He'd worked with her a few times now and thought that they'd worked well together. It had him wondering if he'd been wrong.

"We've worked together a few times now and while I didn't like the circumstances of why we were working together I really enjoyed the work. Working with you I mean. And during that time, I also overheard a few things. Conversations between Robert and Cat.

It wasn't my goal to eavesdrop, but we were here with Alec, and it was kind of hard not to overhear when we were working in a smaller space. Before the expansion I mean." She said, wondering why she was nervous and rambling. She'd thought through what she wanted to say a hundred times. "I already knew that you are a great doctor just from what Alec said. People only speak with that much passion when they're speaking the truth. And then after I saw it firsthand, I had no doubt that you really were the best in the Shadowhunter World and that they were lucky to have you. That a lot of people were, are, lucky to have you.

I heard Robert when he was telling her that you had mentored a lot of people in New York and that all of them really excelled in the fields they went into. He also said that your nurses are the best. Emily and Sarah, I think he said?

He said that they both asked to come to New York to learn from you. Not because they wanted to work with the best, but because they wanted to learn more and that you agreed to teach them. He said that because of that they knew more than most nurses and could do more, that they could do a few things that nurses wouldn't typically do.

You already know that I'm an OR nurse. David here is an anesthesiologist and Harmony is an EMT.

I was hoping that maybe you would mentor me the way you did your nurses in New York. When you're in the mundane world you really don't get a chance to expand on what your job description entails. When you're a nurse, you have a nurse's duties and nothing more. You're limited to what you learned in school, and I'd really like to expand on what I can already do. And David and Harmony are hoping that you might work with them too.

We don't want you to think that we're coming to you now because of what happened yesterday with Stephanie. Well, I guess part of why we're here now is because of what happened. Because of it we didn't think that this conversation could wait anymore. We've been wanting to talk to you for a while, but we've been tied up in training and you've been tied up with Alec a lot and with all of the leadership team stuff so we've kind of been ships passing in the night so to speak and in our minds it's time that the ships docked.

We know that you're probably having a hard time after what happened and the fact that you're here today for Aline just goes to show that regardless of what's happening with you and around you that your patients come first, and we admire that. I know that if my skills were rejected, if I was rejected because of my species, well, I wouldn't take it very well and David and Harmony feel the same way.

We know that right now everyone is seeing you as just a Shadowhunter. Be we don't. I've seen you with Alec and his family. Now I've seen you with Aline. And we've all seen you around. We've seen how you treat people. We've seen that while we know you're a great doctor that you're more than that. You seem like you're an overall great guy. And if we're right with what little we have seen of you we're pretty sure that we haven't seen half of what you can do and half of who you are."

"Rebecca and I both have spent a lot of time in OR's, so we've seen a lot when it comes to doctors." David said. Rebecca had said enough on his behalf. It's time he spoke for himself. "I can't tell you how many doctors I've seen over the years who have cared more about their successes than their patients. For the most part from what I've seen for them a patient isn't a person, they're a procedure and something tells me that it's not like that with you.

Just from what Rebecca has said from what she's seen you do with Alec and Aline you really seem to care about your patients. You care about them as more than just patients but about them as people too. Sure, they're both Shadowhunters and they're from your world, but I don't think that has anything to do with how you treated them when they needed you. I don't.

Patients aren't just patients for you. Unlike the arrogant doctors in the mundane world, the people you treat aren't just another chart to go over or a procedure to be done. And they're really not just people. They're friends. I can't help but feel like you make your patients your friends. That's probably another reason you're the best. You're the best because you love your patients and because they love you the way Aline and Alec do.

And I really don't think that Alec and his family would speak so highly of you if you aren't everything they say you are. Or that Cat, the one who's been providing medical care for the downworld for a really long time would speak so highly of you too. I mean, she has enough faith in you to give you this clinic.

Like Rebecca said, we've been wanting to talk to you, we just haven't had the chance, and this just couldn't wait anymore."

Luke didn't know what to think, but he knew what he felt. Relief. The same relief he'd felt earlier that day when Rebecca had come in. And it reinforced that not everyone seemed to see him as just a Shadowhunter. There really are at least a few who seem to see him for who he is. And if those few saw it, maybe some other people were seeing it too and maybe a few more will start seeing it.

"I'm not a doctor or a nurse." Harmony said. "Like Rebecca said, I'm an EMT and being an EMT I don't know anywhere near what they do. I just keep people alive long enough to get them to a hospital. But like them I'd like to know more. I'd like to learn more. I have for a long time. It's just that in the mundane world it's really hard to find the time to go to school for something beyond what you're already doing when you're working full time to pay your bills and pay off the debt that you already have from what you went to school for in the first place.

And for me, with my job I was always on call. I had no set schedule that I could plan around so I could go to school even if I could afford it.

I know that working with you wouldn't be anything like what I could learn in the mundane world. It would be more. A lot more. More than anything taught in any mundane school."

"I'm not a doctor or a nurse or an EMT. You know that." Tessa said. "I don't know a thing about traditional medicine, but I do know a little healing magic. Catarina's been teaching me when we can both find the time for a long time now and while I want to work with that more, I would also like to learn a bit of what this lot can do too. I don't want to rely solely on healing magic to help someone who needs help." She said, thinking of a young boy she'd happened across so many years ago, a young Shadowhunter who'd been hurt badly in the field.

All she'd been able to do that night was offer comfort while she waited for help from his Institute to arrive and she couldn't help but feel that if she'd known anything at all that maybe she could have done more for him. Maybe his life wouldn't have ended on that cold, dreary night.

"All we're asking is that you consider it." Rebecca said. "But we're hoping you'll say yes."

Listening to the people before him now Luke knew then that in a way, he would be able to help the people here. While they didn't want him, there were people that he could teach that they would let help them. Like with Sarah and Emily, even his second in command, Stanley, he could teach them more. A lot more.

"I'll need to know your training schedules and have to talk to Alec about working some time in, especially for you, Tessa. Since you'll be doing both battle magic and combat training your schedules going to be tight. But if I can't work with you together, I can work with you one on one. And with a lot more Shadowhunters coming in, you'll need to know how to work with them as well.

They're not like any patients you've ever worked with before. Shadowhunters, they're harder. They'll fight you. Not because they want to, but because of what's been ingrained in them. They start their training at nine and are taught from day one to get up. To always get up because out in the field a lot of times that's what keeps them alive.

So, it's hard for them. It's hard for them to stay down even when they need to because it goes against everything they know. It doesn't matter if they're hurt or sick, it's in their heads to always get up. Alec wasn't kidding about that. And it's worse if they're in any way altered. When they're altered there's no getting through to them. You can try, but it usually just doesn't get through. Rebecca saw that firsthand with Alec. Had I been able at the time to pin him I would have because pinning them down, sometimes it's the only way. It sounds harsh, I know. But nine times out of ten it's the only way that you can take care of them without them hurting themselves or you. But I'll talk to Alec and Cat, and we'll go from there."

"So that's a yes?" Rebecca asked.

"It's a yes." He said. "I've never turned anyone away who's wanted to learn. I'm not going to start now."

"Great." She said, all excitement. She was going to learn from the best. She was going to work with the best doctor the Shadowhunter World has ever seen, and she knew that she was going to learn so much. He's going to teach her so much. "Just let us know when."

Luke looked over when the door opened, his beautiful Dorthea walking in. He didn't have to ask what was in the bag she was carrying. He already knew. He had the sense of smell of a Shadowhunter too.

Dot stopped the moment she'd stepped through the clinic doors. She was expecting to find her Shadowhunter and maybe Rebecca. Robert had told her that she'd come to help with Aline's presentation. But she hadn't expected to see David, Harmony, or Tessa. A dangerous glint flashed in her eyes. She'd come to bring her Luke lunch, to make sure he ate and check on him. She'd stayed home most of the day with their baby girl because she was still angry, she didn't want to risk going off on someone. But she'd come out to see him and friends or not she wasn't about to let him be hurt again.

"Hey, you." She said, moving quickly towards her husband. She'd stand as a shield if she had to. She might not be able to stop any hateful or hurtful words, but she could spit out a few of her own if need be. And she wasn't above wind blasting anyone out the door.

"I think we're going to head out. We'll get you our schedules." David said, ready to flee. He knew that Dot was angry about what happened with Stephanie and by the look he saw in her eyes he knew that he didn't want to be in her line of fire should someone accidentally light a match.

"I'll see you guys later. I'm going to look in on Aline." Rebecca said. She really wanted to run for the hills. The look in Dot's eyes promised murder to anyone who crossed the line Stephanie had already crossed and until Luke could explain why they'd all gathered here, she wanted to be out of the line of fire and Aline's room is as far as she knew she could get.

Dot watched as David, Tessa, and Harmony practically ran, the door falling shut behind them and as Rebecca fled down the hall towards the presentation rooms.

"Everything okay?" She asked her Shadowhunter as she sat his lunch down and wrapped her arms around him.

"It is." He said. "I thought you were staying home with Ziva."

"Robert's at home with her and Madzie." She said. "He said he'd watch them while I brought you lunch. What was that all about?"

"Lunch, huh?" He asked, wrapping his arms around her. He wasn't surprised that she'd brought him lunch. He knew that she'd be pushing breakfast, lunch, and dinner on him until he regained the weight he'd lost over the past few weeks and was satisfied by how much he was regularly eating. "Did you bring enough to share?"

"I did." She said, relieved by what she saw in his beautiful soft green eyes. Relief and just a touch of happiness. She could see that whatever she'd just walked in on is a good thing. "And as I have a babysitter for a bit in Robert, we can take our time and you can tell me what's made you so happy."

"Sounds good." He said, holding her close. He was glad she'd come. He wanted to share everything he'd just heard with her before hunting down Cat for an update on Alec. An update he hoped would be a good one.

____________________

Alec's nerves were humming. He usually didn't have a problem with nerves, but he was struggling with them now. One more cycle. That's all they had to conceive, just one more. He was well past the point of trying to ignore or hide his fears. There was no point. If they didn't conceive in the next four hours, then he'd know that because of him and how he'd screwed up that their beautiful babies wouldn't come to be. And the thought of them not coming to be, was almost more than he could bare.

"Sweetheart." Magnus said, wrapping his arms around his Shadowhunter's waist. He'd been staring out the window at the forest for the past hour, his nerves humming in the air around him. He knew that his love wasn't seeing the forest that was right in front of him, he was too lost in his thoughts, in his fears. Fears he'd come to share. But he couldn't tell his angel that. Not and get him through this.

"There's only one more cycle." He said softly, finally seeing the trees of the forest in front of him for the first time. All he'd been able to see through the glass was a reflection of his thoughts, of his memories, all memories of what he'd seen in his most beautiful dreams.

He'd spent the past four days ready for his heat to end, waiting for the moment when it would stop when they conceived. But now he didn't want it to end. He wanted there to still be cycles left because cycles meant that they had more time, more chances. Now there was just one.

"I know." Magnus said, turning his precious Alexander in his arms and holding him close. He wanted to comfort him. He wanted to wash away the worry and fear that had been lingering in his crystal blue eyes all afternoon, he just didn't know how. "But it's not over yet. There's still time. Come on. Come sit down." He said, taking his husband by the hand and leading him over to the bed he knew he'd come to despise. "I have news from home." He said, pulling his Shadowhunter to sit beside him. He'd reached out to Catarina for an update on anything that might be remotely positive. He thought good news on any front might make his sweet angel feel better about at least one or two of his worries. And that hearing about it would work to distract him.

He'd been hoping for good news about the Luke situation, but he hadn't been holding his breath. And he'd been right not to. But hearing something good is better than hearing nothing he supposed, and he'd at least heard one something good.

"Leenie?" He asked, hopeful. He knew that she was due to present today and her presentation was just one more thing that he'd been worrying about. He'd wanted so badly to be there with her but with the timing of his heat it just hadn't been possible.

"Yes, Leenie." Magnus said. "Catarina said her presentation went well. Perfectly, actually. With the drug cocktail Luke cooked up she had no pain and has been resting comfortably."

"That's a relief." He said. Even though he felt like he was suffocating under the weight of a thousand worries this one bit of good news had the load feeling just a little bit lighter. He'd been terrified that she'd go through the same pain that he had, that Lydia had, but she hadn't, and he was grateful. He'd known that Luke had some plans on how to get her through it, he just hadn't known what all they entailed. And as much as he despised mundane drugs, if this 'drug cocktail' spared her the horrific pain of presenting he was all for it.

"He was going to keep her at the clinic tonight, but she wanted to go home with her mother. She felt well enough, just a little sore, so he agreed on the condition that they would send for him if there's a problem." Magnus said. "And he's not anticipating that there will be any."

"Good. And how is he?" He asked. The situation with his favorite doctor is another worry, a massive one that had been eating at him. And try as he might, he just couldn't think of the answer. It was out of his reach.

"I don't know." Magnus said. "She didn't say. I'm not sure that she actually knows. Obviously, yesterday was hard on him. Hard and painful. But he set his own pain aside to be there for Aline."

"Of course, he did." He said. "Luke wouldn't bail on someone whose counting on him, not if he could in any way avoid it. Short of being literally taken out of commission there's not much that will stand in his way, I don't think. Not when it comes to his patients."

"I think you're right about that." Magnus said, thinking again of what he'd learned during his trip to Haven, the secret that only a few people in Haven had known until now. Robert and Jia Penhallow had from his understanding been keeping it pretty hush-hush. Not even Dorthea had known all there was to know. Why, he didn't know. But he intended to find out as soon as he could.

At the time, he'd had no knowledge as to what had happened to the commanding physician or any of the other Shadowhunter doctors and nurses after the war. While it shamed him thinking about it, he'd never thought about them after leaving Idris and didn't think that anyone else had either. The furthest his thoughts about any of them had gone were in the days after the battle before returning to New York. He remembered discussing a few theories surrounding the treatment of their people that he and his oldest and dearest friend had, but that's as far as it had gone. But his thoughts should have gone further if for any reason to extend a proper thank you to the men and women who'd done so much while tending to the wounded. Not just to their wounded, but all of the wounded. And he'd hadn't. He'd been too caught up in other thoughts, thoughts of the people they'd lost and of arrangements that had to be made. But more than anything he'd been caught up in his thoughts of his precious Alexander and what he was going through with his injuries and recovery.

Looking back he'd remembered how little Ziva had fussed and fussed ultimately for days. At first Catarina had thought it was from teething, but after looking in on the little one she'd thought that it was more than that, she thought that the little Greymark, then known as a Rollins, was somehow missing her father. And she'd later told him that Dorthea had been afraid that something was wrong with her fated mate, that something had happened to him. As it turned out, she'd been right.

He'd done so much for so many, he'd spent so long tending to anyone and everyone else that he'd ignored his own needs to a point that it had almost killed him.

While he knew that this was no longer a secret at least amongst their family, he knew that his Shadowhunter didn't know about it yet and now isn't the time for him to know. He's angry enough about this mess without hearing more that would only add fuel to the fire.

"Anything else?" He asked.

"Other than Chairman wandering around looking lost, not really, no." Magnus said, relieved that he could answer honestly. Had what he'd learned about Luke been in Catarina's update he would have had to tell him. But it hadn't been, so it technically wasn't 'news from home.' "Apparently, he's missing a certain someone and doesn't want anything to do with anyone else."

"Awe." He said, his heart clenching. The thought of his kitty wandering around distressed was painful. He'd never had a pet before Chairman, a pet who's really just a furry person, and he didn't like the thought of his cranky furball being upset.

"I thought maybe he could meet us at The Manor. I know you don't want to go home, that you want to get back to Haven, but you need some recovery time." Magnus said. "At least a few days worth. And having kitty cranky around always seems to make you smile."

"Kitty cranky?" He asked, arching his brow. While Chairman Meow had once been his alpha's cat, his very cranky hissing cat, he'd quickly abandoned his warlock in favor of him. It was something he found more than a little amusing as the cat had never hissed at him and he thoroughly enjoyed teasing his warlock about it.

"Yes, kitty cranky." Magnus said, rolling his eyes. It hadn't taken long for the furball to snuggle up to his Shadowhunter after his first heat which he hadn't minded. Having him close seemed to bring his sweet angel comfort during a time when he'd been incredibly vulnerable. And they'd bonded.

He hadn't particularly wanted another cat after losing Church to old age, but something had told him to take Chairman in. He realized now that it was because he was meant to tend to him until the cat's true person had come along. And that person is his precious Alexander. He'd just been a kitty sitter.

"You really want to go home after this, don't you?" He asked softly. He'd known that this was going to come up again. Yes, the topic had been dropped previously, but he'd known that it was only a matter of time before his precious warlock tried again.

"Yes, sweetheart." Magnus said. "I do. I know you don't think that you'll need the time, but you will. Every omega needs downtime after their heats. It's just part of it, like the rest period. It's important."

Alec sighed. He knew there was no winning this argument now. Not after being reminded of how important his rest period was, a rest period that hadn't really happened. So, with that in mind he had no choice but to relent.

"I guess a couple of days won't hurt." He said.

"Really?" Magnus asked, relieved. He'd thought that convincing his love that he'd need time at home would be a lot harder than this especially after their last conversation about it.

"Really." He said. "I know it's important to you."

"Thank you, sweetheart." Magnus said, gently cupping his young love's cheek. He smiled when he shivered at his touch. His temperature wasn't rising yet, but he was still extremely sensitive.

Alec shivered at his husband's gentle touch, a beautiful tingle running down his spine. He loved this. He loved the sweet pleasure that came with these touches. But it always reminded him that while these touches always brought pleasure, since his heat had started the pleasure was more intense. Much more intense. It was all so much more. Every touch, every taste. Every kiss. It was utter bliss. Was it sometimes overwhelming? Yes. But it was wonderful it when it wasn't. And right now, it wasn't.

Leaning in he pressed a tender kiss to his alpha's lips, just a soft brush. Then another slightly firmer brush.

Pulling back, he gazed into the eyes he loved so much, the words he'd been trying not to say on the tip of his tongue. But he couldn't hold them back anymore. And he didn't want to.

"Tell me it's going to be okay." He said.

Magnus didn't want to say the words. He didn't want to say them because he didn't know if it would be.

Alec's heart constricted in his chest. It didn't matter what words came next. He already had his answer. He could see it in his husband's eyes. He didn't know if it would be. He saw the same doubts and fears that he had.

"Sweetheart..." Magnus started.

"It's okay." He said softly, cutting him off.

"Come here." Magnus said, pulling his sweet angel into his arms.

Alec went easily when his alpha pulled him close, resting his head on his shoulder. Taking a deep breath in of his favorite scent, chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and musk, he couldn't help but relax a bit as it wrapped its way around him, through him, and into him. Being in his husband's arms and surrounded by the scent that was all his own he felt a comfort that he was desperately needing. Coupled with his gentle touch when his precious warlock ran his hand through his hair, something else that always relaxed him, he felt the rest of the tension he'd been holding fade away. Was he worried about what may happen next? Or what may not happen, he should say? Yes. Was he worried about that and a thousand other things? Yes. But this, this helped.

Magnus took a deep breath in of his husband's scent, his favorite scent. Fresh peaches, strawberries, and cream. It was the scent that always worked to soothe his soul and with all of the stress and worry and fear during the past five days it desperately needed soothing. Regardless of what happened next, he was glad his love's heat was almost over. It has proven to be a lot harder than anything he'd expected, more than anyone had anticipated, and they needed it to end.

He couldn't help but run his hand through his Shadowhunter's soft raven black hair, pleased when he felt him fully relax in his arms. That's what he needed. To relax. He was wound up too tightly and if he could do anything that would help him, anything that would get him through this final stretch, he would do it.

Pulling back, he pressed a soft kiss to the rune on the side of his love's neck, then another before sliding his hands beneath the soft cotton t-shirt he wore. Gently he caressed the firm abs that he loved so much before moving lower, moving to circle his thumbs over his sweet omega's empty womb.

"Lift your arms, love." He said, taking the hem of his angel's soft t-shirt in his hands, pulling it up and over his head.

Alec's belly clenched as beautiful pleasure skittered down his spine when his precious warlock pressed a soft kiss to the rune on the side of his neck. Then again at the second kiss. Wonderful anticipation filled him when his alpha's hands slid beneath his shirt, intensifying more and more as he caressed his abs. The pleasure of the gentle touch was wonderful. He hoped with all he was when his husband circled his thumbs above his empty womb that it would no longer be empty very, very soon. That his mistake wouldn't have unthinkable consequences. But he couldn't think about that anymore, not now. He wouldn't. He needed to think only of the now.

He didn't hesitate to do as he was asked, to raise his arms so the man he loved could pull his shirt over his head.

"Lie back." Magnus said softly, pressing a tender kiss to his young love's forehead before watching as he did as he was asked. He couldn't help but take in the beauty that is the man he loved as he moved. His toned abs and firm flat belly, his porcelain pale skin marked with his runes. It was always a beautiful sight. But in the flickering light from the fire like so many times before he found himself captivated.

From the moment he'd first laid eyes on his Shadowhunter on a cold, stormy winter night he'd thought him beautiful. So beautiful. And in this moment, he thought it again.

"You are so beautiful. So very beautiful." He said as his husband settled himself against the soft pillows. Leaning forward he pressed a soft kiss to his angel's perfect lips. Soft and tender. Gentle and sweet.

Positioning himself beside him he leaned in and pressed another kiss to his Shadowhunter's lips. Once, twice, three times before moving on to his cheek, down his jaw and chin, leaving a trail of sweet kisses in his wake. He wanted more than anything to show him love just as he had when his heat had started. He wanted him to feel it. Whether they conceived during this final cycle or not, he was determined that his heat would end the same way it had started.

He didn't have to nudge his husband's chin for him to turn his head. He did that on his own. As he had with his cheek, jaw, and chin he pressed soft kisses down his neck and throat to his collarbone, savoring the soft sigh that left his precious Alexander's lips.

Alec waited anxiously to see what his alpha was going to do, but he didn't have to wait long. His heart fluttered when he pressed a tender kiss to his lips, and it fluttered again and again with each kiss that came after. On his lips, his cheek, down his jaw, and chin. He couldn't help but think that the kisses were so sweet. Just like when his heat had first started, his alpha was being so very sweet.

He didn't need a nudge to turn his head to give his warlock access to go where he knew he wanted to go. Beautiful pleasure was left in the wake of the kisses that his alpha trailed down his neck and throat to his collar bone. He couldn't stop his soft sigh and didn't bother trying. And in that moment just as he had when they'd started this journey, he felt so incredibly loved.

Pressing soft nibbling kisses down his love's collarbone Magnus didn't miss a beat when he worked his way back up to his beautiful neck and throat. Trailing his soft kisses up his neck he stopped at the rune there, giving it extra attention. He smiled when his Shadowhunter shivered beneath him. Once his sweet angel stilled, he continued up with his soft kisses moving over his other chin, jaw, and cheek.

When he looked into his favorite crystal blue eyes, the Lightwood omega eyes, he smiled. He saw what he was sure was shining in his own. Love. Pure, sweet, love.

"I'm going to make love to you, Alexander." He said. "This time it won't be hard and fast. It will be soft and slow. It will be sweet. You will feel how much I love you with every touch and taste."

Alec nodded yes. He didn't think that he could form words for a response. His mind had gone fuzzy as his alpha had made his journey across his collarbone and up his neck and throat. The soft kisses to the rune there had his mind going from fuzzy to blank. His worries and fears had been washed away and all it had taken was sweet kisses. While he'd felt beautiful pleasure as his warlock continued up with his kisses, all he felt when he'd finally come to a stop at his cheek is their love. Pure, sweet, love.

Reaching up he undid the top button of his husband's shirt. Then the next and the next. He watched with bated breath as the fabric parted revealing his alpha's smooth caramel colored skin and firm muscles.

"Beautiful." He said reverently as he pushed the soft black shirt off his warlock's shoulders. He wanted nothing more than to touch him. To feel his soft skin beneath his hands. To trace his well-defined abs with his fingertips. So, he did. His hands roamed and explored without thought.

Magnus shivered from the pleasure of his love's gentle touches. His fingertips moving softly over his sensitive skin had his belly clenching. In all his years no one had ever given him the kind of pleasure that his Shadowhunter did. The simplest touches, the gentlest, the most innocent brushes of his hands or lips always gave him more than any other ever had. They always undid him in ways he'd never thought possible.

Leaning down he pressed a kiss to his sweet angel's lips, just a brush. Then another firmer kiss. His hand slid into his precious Alexander's silky soft raven black hair as he licked his bottom lip. He was pleased to get such quick entrance. He wanted to taste the one he loved on his tongue as he pleasured him, as they pleasured each other. No matter how this cycle ended, there would be nothing but pleasure. He'd make sure of that.

He was sure his heart skipped a beat when their tongues brushed, just a tentative caress. Then again when they began to dance a long and languorous dance. He only had one thought. His angel tasted divine.

It took a moment for Alec's mind to focus through the beautiful kiss. Well, several moments. He hadn't hesitated to give his alpha entrance when he'd licked his bottom lip. He'd wanted the kiss. He just hadn't expected so much from it. That seemed to be happening a lot lately.

From that first brush when he'd let his husband in, he'd been lost. Lost in the man, in the love, in the pleasure. And as their tongues had danced a familiar but somehow still mysterious dance everything but the man he loved had disappeared. Now, in coming back to himself a bit he felt his warlock's magnificent body beneath his hands again as he touched him. He felt him just as strongly as he felt his warlock's hands on him. Roaming, touching, exploring. It was perfect. No matter how this ended, whether they conceived their beautiful babies or not, this moment as they touched and tasted each other couldn't be more perfect.

He didn't know how long they'd been lost in that beautiful kiss. A while for sure. But he knew what had brought him back into himself. The warm gush of slick that told them that it was time.

"I know, sweetheart." Magnus said before his Shadowhunter could speak the words when the kiss broke, a kiss that had been in every way transcendent. He'd been so lost in it, in the man, in the pleasure, and in the love that he hadn't registered anything else. He hadn't registered that his sweet omega's temperature had been steadily rising. He supposed that it was ultimately the alpha in him that had registered his angel's slick, that it's what had pulled him back into himself.

"Look." He said softly. He was captivated. He knew what it was that he was seeing. He knew the color of his warlock's magic. He'd seen it before. Now he knew the color of his own.

Magnus turned his head when he saw swirling colors out of the corner of his eye, swirling green and crystal blue that was encircling them. The green he knew. The green he'd always known. And the blue, he'd seen this blue before during his Shadowhunter's transition. It's the blue that is his magic. The crystal blue that matched his breathtaking eyes. They'd been so lost in each other in love so deep that what's almost always an invisible part of themselves was showing through.

"Beautiful." He said as he watched it swirl and shimmer around them.

"Just like you." Alec said as he leaned up and pressed another kiss to his husband's lips. Reaching down he easily found the buckle on his warlock's belt and with deft fingers made quick work of it, then his button and zipper.

Magnus waited patiently as his precious Alexander freed him, as he made quick work of his belt, button, and zipper before easing his pants and shorts over his hips and ass. Sitting back, he returned the favor by gripping the waistband of his love's soft cotton pants and eased them down. But he didn't stop at just freeing him. He took his time moving the slick soaked cotton down strong muscled thighs, over just as strong knees, and well-toned calves. He wanted his angel bare for him when he took him.

Alec waited and watched. He watched the magic of two souls shimmer in the air around them as his alpha undressed him, as they prepared to take the next step in their destiny. It was time they made the first of their children. He didn't know why this time felt different. But it did.

They'd mated through a lot of cycles, a lot of cycles, working to conceive their beautiful babies. And so far, they hadn't. But this time would be different. He knew it. He could feel it. In every part of him, he could feel it.

"Are you ready, sweetheart?" Magnus asked.

"Almost." Alec said. With only the thought of having his one true love bare with him he snapped his fingers and froze.

Magnus was stunned for a moment. As he'd gazed into his young love's eyes, he'd seen lust and need. But there'd been something else he hadn't had time to identify. It was there and gone too quickly. But with a snap of his precious Alexander's fingers his pants were gone, and he was just as bare as his sweet omega. Without instruction, his Shadowhunter had used his magic for the first time.

"Did I just...?" Alec started.

"You did." He said, smiling as he pressed another soft kiss to his love's lips. "You most certainly did."

Alec was stunned. He didn't know why he'd snapped his fingers, he'd just done what everything inside him was telling him to do. He'd thought 'nope, no pants', and with that simple thought and snap they were gone.

"Teaching you will be easier than I thought." Magnus said. He was pleased. So very, very pleased. For most young warlocks it took time and training and a lot of focus to do what his love had done. And he'd done it with what he was sure was barely more than a thought.

"I could have hurt you." He said, the realization hitting him like a ton of bricks. He didn't know a thing about magic. He didn't know how to use it or control it. Anything and everything could have gone wrong.

"No, love." Magnus said, raising his angel's hand to his lips for a kiss. "You couldn't have. It's your thoughts that matter. Your intent. And control. Magic requires all of those things. And focus. You we're focused. You wanted something specific, and you made it happen. I have no doubt, Alexander, that you will learn to use and control your magic quickly and easily."

"I didn't..." He started.

"Magic is instinctual, sweetheart. It's reactive." Magnus said, cutting his warlock off. He was getting distressed and didn't need to be. Not now. And not over this. "It's okay." He said, leaning in to press another kiss to his Shadowhunter's lips. His Shadowhunter/Warlock. "Now, where were we?" He asked, gently caressing his love's flat belly as he leaned in for another kiss.

Alec's mind went blank the second his warlock's lips pressed to his. The fear and panic that had set in so quickly once he'd realized what he'd done vanished. The feel of his husband's soft lips against his own coupled with sweetest pleasure of his hand gently caressing his belly ignited fresh need inside him. All he wanted in that moment is to be touched. To be touched and touch. To be tasted and taste.

He opened easily when his alpha licked his bottom lip. The taste of him when their tongues brushed was heavenly. His breath hitched in his lungs when his warlock's hand moved lower to grip his aching cock, an avalanche of beautiful sensation crashing down on him. He wondered for a second if he would ever get used to this, to being this sensitive during his heats. He didn't think he ever would which was in every way fine by him.

"Breathe, sweetheart." Magnus soothed when he broke the kiss. He'd hoped to distract his angel, to get his mind off the panic and fear he'd seen in his eyes. He understood it. He'd been new to magic too once. He'd been pleased when he saw the fear vanish when need replaced it at his soft kiss. But he was concerned by how easily he'd lost his breath.

In the past five days his precious Alexander's system had been running near nonstop for the most part in high gear. Sure, he'd gotten a few hours of sleep here and there, but nowhere near enough to balance out the physical strain of his cycles. And he'd been burning a lot more fuel than he'd been taking in with the little bits of food he'd managed to get him to eat. Yes, his heat needed to end, and soon. While he couldn't deny that he was worried about what may happen next, well, about what may not happen next, this couldn't continue.

"I'm okay." Alec said as he drew in an easy breath. "Promise."

Magnus studied his Shadowhunter closely. His cheeks we're flush, but with his high temperature that was to be expected. He was alert which offered some comfort. But he had to be sure.

"Promise me you'll tell me if you need help." He said.

"I will." Alec said. Reaching up he wrapped his arms around his alpha's neck and pulled him down to him, pressing a soft kiss of his own to his lips. This time he sought entrance when he licked his warlock's bottom lip. His heart leapt when his husband let him in without hesitation. Beautiful pleasure hummed across his skin when their tongues brushed again.

All Magnus could do is take his angel at his word and do his best to watch over him while they completed this last cycle. He didn't resist when his love wrapped his arms around his neck and pulled him close. Why would he? And he didn't hesitate to give him entrance when he licked his bottom lip. His head spun for a moment when their tongues brushed again.

While he wanted to savor this, to savor the sweet kisses and soft touches, he was afraid to linger on any one pleasure for too long. With each passing second his sweet omega's temperature was inching ever higher and there was only one thing that would stop it from getting too high, that would keep it from getting too far out of hand. Shifting himself he laid beside his love, his hand gently caressing his hardened length.

Alec was glad that his alpha had laid down beside him. It would make doing what he wanted easier. While his warlock gently caressing his length felt good, very good, he needed more. More than the beautiful kiss. More than the simple touches. He needed his husband filling him. That was the only way. Tilting his head, he changed the angle of the kiss as he moved, as he straddled his warlock. For this cycle, this last cycle, he would take the man he loved into him. He would take the thick cock pressing into his ass in and when they came his alpha would plant the first of their children in his empty womb.

Magnus didn't resist when his love shifted, when he changed the angle of the heavenly kiss and straddled him. He realized when his cock settled in his angel's crack that this would be the best way. He could still make love to his precious Alexander, the gentle love he'd vowed to make, then hold him close while he slept. He would hold him in his arms while he was knotted for the last time and until his knot went down. And then he would hold him forever long it took for his pheromones to either fade or change before fading. If they conceived his pheromones would change just a bit before fading, and he didn't want to miss it. Then he would hold his hopefully pregnant love close while they both slept.

"Sweetheart." He said when the kiss broke. "Look at me."

Alec looked up into the chocolate brown eyes he loved so much as he caught his breath from the magnificent kiss. Well, kisses. He didn't want to stop, but he could see that whatever his warlock wanted to say was important.

"We're going to take this slow." Magnus said, running his hands up and down the length of his Shadowhunter's strong back. "But I need you to remember your promise. If you need help, tell me. I'll get us through it."

"I know." He said, suppressing the shiver that wanted to come with the pleasure of his alpha's hands moving up and down his back. He had to focus.

He hated the worry he saw in his favorite chocolate brown eyes, but he understood it. He was carrying his own worry for the man he loved. The last five days hadn't been any easier on him. He hadn't slept much or eaten much either. He was sure that his warlock thought that he'd been hiding his exhaustion well, but he saw it. He'd seen it every hour of every day when he'd been awake and had always hope that when he slept, they'd both sleep. And sometimes they had. But more often than not his alpha had stayed awake to watch over him.

Soon though, soon they could both sleep and get real rest. After this cycle, and they would have to help each other through it he knew, they could rest.

"But together." He said. "We do this together. We'll help each other. Okay?"

"Okay." Magnus said.

Leaning forward Alec pressed a kiss to his warlock's lips as he lifted his hips and lined his thick cock up with his wet entrance. Taking a deep breath, he lowered himself just a bit, the head of his husband's magnificent cock easing through his rim. The room tilted from the pleasure. The stretch was perfect. But he was thankful for his alpha's hands on his hips steadying him. Yes, they would have to help each other.

"It's alright. I've got you." Magnus said. While his love's soft kiss had distracted him for a second, he'd forced himself to focus through the pleasure that came with it and his bone deep need to fill his omega as he lined his aching cock up with his entrance. And he was glad he had. While the decadent pleasure of his Shadowhunter's channel clamping down around him as he took him in wanted to swallow him whole, he needed to stay focused. He didn't think his husband realized that his hands on his hips is all that was keeping him upright.

Little by little, inch by inch, he fought to keep his focus through the pleasure as his precious Alexander slowly took him in. He listened to his panting breaths and felt him trembling beneath his hands. He unknowingly gripped hard enough to bruise to steady them both when his love cried out and stilled knowing that his cock had hit his prostate.

"Just breathe, sweetheart. Deep breath." He said.

Alec nodded yes as he pulled in the deepest breath that he could. He felt like he was under water. The pleasure was so much, so much more than anything he'd ever felt. The weight of it was almost smothering. He felt it pulsing in him. In his blood. In his bones. In every fiber of his being. He had no words to describe it.

"I can't do it." He finally said. He'd known that this might happen. He'd feared that it would be too much. He was so tired yet so keyed up. It reminded him of his first night at the clinic. Everything felt on edge. Not in a bad way. At least not yet. But they couldn't stop. He wouldn't. Good or bad, they would finish this cycle. They had to.

"It's okay. Come here." Magnus said, guiding his Shadowhunter down with one hand to rest on his chest, the other still on his hip. He could feel his precious Alexander's exhaustion as strongly as he'd felt his nerves humming in the air around them all day.

"We can't stop." He said, sniffling. It felt so good resting his head on his alpha's chest, the sound of his steady heartbeat soothing him once again. But as soothing as it was, tears still wanted to fall. The tears of failure.

"Shh." Magnus soothed, pressing a tender kiss to the top of his angel's head. "I'll get us there, Alexander. Just rest." He said. He knew then without a doubt that his love was in every way spent. The strain of the week, the physical, mental, and emotional had finally caught up with him and they had to tread carefully. The last time his precious Alexander had been this keyed up it had been after two back to back visions days after a near death experience with plenty of exertion in between. But this couldn't end the way that had. And his Shadowhunter would never forgive him if they didn't complete this cycle. So, he'd get them through it. Then, he'd send for help if they needed it.

"Okay." Alec said softly. It was out his hands now and he knew it. So, he did the only thing he could do. He put all of his faith, hope, love, and trust in his husband's hands.

Putting his hand back on his beautiful angel's hip he held him securely as he slowly lowered him down his remaining length until he rested flush against him, listening to his whimpering moans and panting breaths.

All Alec could do as his warlock took the reins is brace himself for what would come next. With each inch he took in as his alpha lowered him down his length more and more pleasure washed over him. The scrape against his prostate and the pressure against it along with the stretch and sense of fullness brought wonderful pleasure, pleasure that had him whimpering and panting for breath, but he knew that it wouldn't take too much to bring pain. He almost sighed with relief despite the pleasure when his hips settled flush on his husband's when they bottomed out.

"What now?" He asked.

"Just relax, love. I've got this." Magnus said. He knew what he had to do and would be as gentle as he could. While it would still be overwhelming in the end, he had a goal. Get them to their release without hurting the one he loved.

Gently caressing his precious Alexander's back and sides he lingered at his waist. There he circled his flat belly with his thumbs. He would use magic here. Soft, gentle magic. He'd focus it into his empty womb and once they'd cum he'd ease his love to sleep if necessary just as he had when he'd claimed him.

"Are you ready?" He asked.

"Mm-hmm." Alec said, trying to ready himself for what was about happen. This was it. With his warlock's magic they would cum, and their children would be conceived. Yes, he was ready.

"Just breathe, sweetheart." Magnus said as he pressed another kiss to the top of his husband's head. He waited as his sweet omega drew a breath in and let it out before pushing a gentle burst of magic into his empty womb, and another when his love cried out.

He felt the base of his cock thickening almost instantly. This wouldn't take long. Again and again, he pushed burst after burst of magic into his Shadowhunter, listening to him whimper and cry out as his knot formed more and more. But none of what he heard sounded like a cry or whimper of pain, so he kept on. One, two, three more bursts and he came, his cock erupting deep inside his one true love. Wrapping his arms securely around his beautiful angel, he held him close as he trembled in his arms and panted for breath.

"Alexander. Sweetheart." He said.

"Mm-hmm." Alec mumbled. That's all he could manage at the moment. He'd been expecting pleasure from his warlock's magic. Wonderful pleasure. And he'd gotten it. With each burst of it that had shot into his womb he'd seen stars. He'd felt it wash over him. First, a magnificent crash before a gentle tide of sensation that spoke only of love. He was trembling from it. He was humming with it, every nerve. What had been fraying was now soothed by the sweetest pleasure. "I'm okay." He said, having finally caught his breath. He didn't know how long it had taken for them to cum. He didn't know how many bursts of magic there'd been, how much it had taken. He'd been too lost in the wonder of it to know. He been too lost in majesty of it all. But he'd known the second his alpha's knot had fully formed and he'd filled him with his seed, when his own cock had erupted between them. And he only had one though. 'We made it.' They'd just made the first of their beautiful babies. He was sure of it. "Are you okay?"

"I'm okay." He said. He was relieved. While his angel was still in every way exhausted, he seemed okay. He was breathing easily, and they'd finished his last cycle. Whether or not they'd conceived, he would know that soon enough. But his omega's first heat was at its end, and they could rest and recover. "Just rest."

"Okay." Alec said softly. He was tired. So tired. He wanted to stay awake. But he couldn't. His warlock's magic hadn't just given him pleasure, it had relaxed him in every way. His mind and body both were spent. "Sleep with me." He said, barely more than a whisper. He was on the brink of darkness, of oblivion. And he wanted his husband there with him.

"Soon. Just close your eyes now." He said. Snapping his fingers, he had the soft satin duvet in his hands. He pulled it up over them, tucking his Shadowhunter in. His angel would sleep for a while, he knew. And he would join him in sleep as soon as he could. But he had to know. So, for now he would watch over his young love as he rested. He would watch over him until his knot went down, until his pheromones either faded or changed before fading. Then, in knowing one way or the other he'd close his eyes and sleep himself. He was exhausted too.

'Okay.' Alec thought as he registered his husband's words. As he barely registered them. He was too far gone to actually speak them. And before another thought could form in his mind, he fell off the edge into oblivion. He fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.

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