a/n- To all my readers. Chapters 2 - 6 part 1 have been modified to enhance this story. A great deal of time and effort has gone into these modifications. If you have already read these chapters, you may wish to read them again. If this is your first time reading, enjoy!

Warmth. That's the first thing Alec felt as he drifted up towards consciousness. A comforting warmth that wrapped around him like a cocoon. Not the heat he remembered from the last time he slept. Was he sleeping? Or floating? He honestly couldn't tell. The only thing he was sure of was that he felt content, relaxed, and at ease. He had never felt this way before. The closer he came to the surface of what must have been sleep the more intoxicated he felt by the most glorious scent wrapping its way around him, through him, into him. It had him stirring. It was a deep, rich scent. A potent blend of vanilla, chocolate, coffee, and musk. It was the most delicious scent he had ever known. Slowly his senses were returning to him. He could feel the soft mattress he lay on, the warm blankets warming him and the silky sheets against his skin. A part of him wanted to just stay where he was. He felt warm and happy and safe with that wonderful scent surrounding him. But he couldn't. He was a Shadowhunter. With a great effort he pushed to open his eyes.

Magnus sat beside his sleeping Shadowhunter, watching as he began to emerge from the sleep spell he had cast as he had pulled him back from certain death. He had been watching him for hours. The instant he had returned to his loft with the young nephilim in his arms he set straight to work tending him. His Alexander was in very bad shape. He had pushed past the clamoring Shadowhunters awaiting his return with their friend and brother without a word, carrying him straight into his bedroom and magically sealing the door. He had dried Alec instantly with a snap of his fingers, shedding him of his dripping clothes as he laid him as gently as he could on his bed. His omega didn't know it, but he was very, very close to death. If that almost fall hadn't killed him first the young Shadowhunter would have died in less than an hour. Despite his heat, the young omega was critically hypothermic from his time out in the cold, rain, and icy winter wind. He had scratched the back of his beautiful neck raw, having scratched through the skin, muscles, and tissue, almost to the bone. His body was in shock.

The first thing Magus had done was heal the horrific wound on his new mate's neck and sent a pulse of warmth through him with his magic, pulling him back from the brink by a few breaths. He had gently tilted Alec's head back and poured his heat suppression potion down his throat, ensuring that he didn't choke. The potion calmed the symptoms of Alec's heat almost instantly. After that it had taken him almost two hours to stabilize his mate before he went to speak to his sister and parabati. He had explained to them how he had found Alexander and about the condition he had been in and was in now. They were worried for him, begging to see him, but Magnus had refused. He had only met his mate a few hours ago and was already extremely protective of him. He had insisted that they wait until Alec was awake. Reluctantly they had agreed.

During these past few hours, Magnus continued to tend to his young omega. He sent periodic pulses of warmth through the thick duvet with his magic, working to warm him, as well as administering more potions periodically for pain and another dose of his heat suppressant while his Alexander slept. He wanted to keep his mate as comfortable as possible as he began to recover. While his brain had registered the fact that Alec was his fated mate the instant he had caught his scent, the rest of his mind was still struggling to process it. He was elated that he had finally found his mate. He had spent more than 800 years looking for him or her, eventually giving up hope just over a century ago. But in all his years, in all his fantasies, and dreams, he had never imagined that the other half of his soul would be a young, eighteen year old omega Shadowhunter. He had waited 800 years for the angel sleeping peacefully beside him. An angel that, had he arrived mere minutes after he had, would have been lost to him for eternity, and he never would have known.

As he sat beside him, admiring the soft curves and hard angles of his mate's beautiful face and the flawless perfection of his porcelain cheeks and skin he couldn't help but be captivated by his angel's beauty. It felt as though all the time he had spent waiting was nothing more than the blink of an eye now. He had found that his Alexander's hair was as silky and smooth as it looked as he had run his fingers through it. His skin was so unbelievably soft and smooth, despite his battle scars. And his runes were breathtaking, a dark contrast to his pale skin. He felt a deep swell of anger rise in him whenever he thought of what Clary had said about his mate's parents and his treatment at the Institute before he had gone in search of him. The only thing that stopped his rage from consuming him was the delicious, mouthwatering scent coming from his sleeping omega. A scent that seemed to be wrapping around him, through him, and into him. That beautiful scent was all that was holding him back from the havoc he would unleash should his anger fully consume him.

He could almost taste his mate's scent on his tongue, fresh peaches, strawberries, and cream. He knew that when the time came, his angel would taste divine. Magnus watched with bated breath as Alexander's long, dark lashes started to flutter open.

Alec blinked once, twice, three times, taking in the dimly lit room around him. Wondering where in the angel's name he was, he turned his head to see the most gorgeous man he had ever laid eyes on sitting by his side on the bed. He had the most beautiful caramel colored skin and the darkest chocolate brown eyes, eyes he thought he could fall into and get lost in forever if given the chance.

Magnus lost his breath as he stared down into his mates stunning crystal blue eyes. Eyes so deep and blue they were almost luminescent. He knew that he could drown in the depts of those eyes if he looked long enough and be forever happy.

Neither knew how long they gazed into each other's eyes. It could have been seconds, minutes, or hours. With great effort Magnus found his voice and said, "Welcome back, beautiful."

'Welcome back, beautiful?' Alec thought, staring up at the beautiful stranger with the amazing scent he seemed so oddly affected by. He felt a blush blaze across his cheeks as his dick twitched. Wait. What? Who was this breathtaking man with the most delicious scent? Where was he, and more importantly, where were his clothes?

"Um, hi." Alec rasped out, his throat as dry as the Sahara Desert. Before he could utter another word, the stunning man was holding a straw to his lips.

"Drink." Magnus said softly. He didn't want to frighten the young Shadowhunter. Shadowhunters may be trained from a young age to be fearless warriors, warriors who lived each day knowing that it could be their last. But this one was special. For all the Shadow World this one was a hero. He was the best Shadowhunter the Shadow World had ever known. But to Magus he was special for a very different reason, so very, very special. He was his Shadowhunter. His omega, who, just a short while ago had had his heat suddenly suppressed after trying to jump off a bridge because his omega hormones had sent him careening out of control when there was no one there to keep him grounded, to protect and look after him, to give him the physical and emotional comfort and support he had so desperately needed.

This pained Magnus greatly. Afterall, it was his job to do those things. And while his Alexander's heat symptoms were currently being suppressed by his heat suppression potion, he was still actively in heat. His condition was still delicate, so he had to be gentle with his young mate.

Alec took a tentative sip through the straw. As the icy cold water hit the back of his throat, he took larger slips, drinking so fast Magnus gently pulled the glass away.

"Slow down. It's alright". He said. "There's plenty more where that came from. Don't make yourself sick. You've been through quite enough already."

Alec cleared his throat, looking back up at the breathtakingly beautiful man by his side. He seemed so familiar, but he wasn't sure why.

"Um, thanks. I don't want to be rude, but who are you and where am I? And why am I naked?" Alec asked, trying not to stumble over the words. His shyness was getting the best of him. A crimson blush flamed across his cheeks and down his throat.

Magnus smiled. His little Shadowhunter was absolutely adorable, and shy.

"My name is Magnus Bane and you're at my loft. And your naked because your clothes were soaking wet and nearly frozen. But if your uncomfortable I can easily dress you." He said.

"Dress me!?" Alec squeaked, the color blazing across his cheeks again.

Hearing the distress in his mate's voice Magnus frowned, snapping his fingers, dressing Alec in his softest cotton sweats, thick wool socks, and a loose soft cotton t-shirt.

"Better?" He asked.

"Um, yeah. Uh...who...who undressed me?" Alec asked, obviously embarrassed, cheeks still pink.

As Magus opened his mouth to answer, Alec blurted "Magnus Bane! Your Magnus Bane? The High Warlock of Brooklyn? How? Why am I here?" He asked, trying to push himself up in the bed. By the angel, his body had never felt so weak. Or sore. It was unlike any other pain he had ever known.

"Relax, Alexander. Everything is alright." Magnus said softly, gently pushing Alec back into his small mountain of fluffy pillows. "I know you have a lot of questions, and I promise, I will answer each and every one. Let's just take them one at a time, okay?" He asked, voice calm and soothing.

Alec nodded, laying back but not relaxing. Magnus sighed.

"Relax. It really is ok. Your ok now. Your safe." He said, injecting a touch of alpha into his tone to try and soothe his Shadowhunter. Alec felt Magnus' alpha tone caress his skin and visibly shuddered. It sent goosebumps skittering down his spine, something that had never happened to him before. His dick twitched again.

Magnus frowned. He saw his omega shudder, but his alpha command hadn't had any other effect on him. He was still tense, holding himself almost rigid. He should have yielded to his alpha tone.

"Interesting." He mumbled to himself.

There was a sudden pounding on the door.

"Let us in, Magnus. We know he's awake!" Clary shouted through the door.

"I want to see my brother, damn it." Izzy shouted.

"Clary and Izzy are here?" Alec asked, bolting upright.

"Yes, Alexander. Their here. They've been here since they came to me to find you." He said with a sigh. "I told them they could see you once you were awake. Are you ready to see them?" He asked.

"Yes. Please. I need to see my family." Alec said desperately.

Magnus waved his hand and the door swung open. He jumped out of the way just in time as the two girls barreled in.

"Oh Alec, thank the angel your okay!" Clary said, wrapping him in a tight hug.

Magnus didn't miss Alec's wince. He must still be in pain, he thought.

"By the angel, Alec, you had better not ever do anything like that again. You scared the shit out of us! How could you be so stupid?" Izzy exclaimed, pushing Clary away. She wrapped her arms tightly around Alec's neck, holding on for dear life.

"It's ok, Iz, Clary. I'm okay. I'm sorry I worried you." He said, giving his little sister one last squeeze before gently tugging her arms from around his neck.

"Worried us? You more than fucking worried us, you dick. You scared us to fucking death, we didn't know if you were alive or dead." Izzy scolded, sitting beside Clary on the bed. "When we couldn't find you in the Institute and Clary couldn't track you, we were frantic." She said.

"Why did you deactivate your tracking rune?" Clary asked. She was much calmer than Izzy.

"I didn't want to be found." Alec said flatly. "When I realized I was in heat I knew I had to get out of the Institute as fast as I could. I had planned to find a place to wait it out. I don't know what happened." He said, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"You should have told someone. Either me or Iz. We would have helped you." Clary said, her tone almost reprimanding. "I'm your parabati for the angels sake. And she's your sister."

"I know. And I'm sorry. I guess I just panicked." Alec said, looking each girl in the eye. "Forgive me?" He asked.

Magnus thought his mate had the cutest puppy dog eyes.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but Alexander needs another dose of his potion." He said, trying to position himself beside Alec.

"My potion? What potion?" Alec asked, eyeing Magnus skeptically.

"Your pain relief potion." Magnus said, holding out a small dark vial.

"Clary, Izzy, what in the angel's name is going on?" Alec asked, looking to them both for answers. Clary looked up at Magnus.

"You haven't told him, have you?" She asked.

"I haven't had the chance. He had barely woken when you two started beating down the door." He said, obviously irritated.

"Explain what?" Alec asked, looking at his parabati.

"Um...I think you and Magnus need to talk. We didn't mean to interrupt. We just needed to see you." Clary said, climbing up from the bed. Izzy followed her lead. "Take the potion, Alec. It's okay. It'll help with your...discomfort." She said, obviously uncomfortable. "You and Magnus need to talk. You have a lot to talk about. We'll just be in the other room if you need us." Clary said, backing towards the door. "Take the potion. You'll feel better. You'll understand why after you do." She said before ducking out the door, Izzy hot on her heals.

Magnus closed the door with a wave of his hand, snapping his fingers to lock it. "Their right. We do have a great deal to discuss. Please, drink this." He said, holding the potion out to Alec again. Alec eyed it for a moment, then looked into the warlock's eyes. What he saw there made the decision for him. He took the vial and downed it.

"Good. That'll help." Magnus said, taking the vial and his place beside Alec on the bed again.

"Help with what?" Alec asked. An instant later he knew. The foreign soreness and pain started to ease.

"Better?" Magnus asked, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Yeah. Thank you." Alec said, his brow furrowed again.

"Somethings troubling you. You've furrowed your brows. Care to share what it is?" Magnus asked.

"Honestly, there are a lot of things troubling me." Alec said. "Like, why am I in The High Warlock of Brooklyn's apartment? How did I get here? Why did I need that potion?" Alec ticked off.

"You're here because I brought you here. Tell me, do you remember the bridge?" Magnus asked.

Alec paled and looked down, unable to meet the warlock's eyes. He was embarrassed and ashamed. Horrified at the memory of what he had done. Wait. What?

"I do remember the bridge." He said, voice barely a whisper. "I don't understand how I'm still alive. I stepped off the ledge." He said, a tear sliding down his cheek.

"Sort of." Magnus said, lifting Alec's chin with a perfectly polished finger. With his thumb he wiped the tear away. "I tracked you to the bridge. You were on the ledge. Do you remember talking to me?" He asked, looking Alec in the eye.

"I remember talking to a man. He wanted me to climb down. He said that he could help me. But I just couldn't. It was like I had no control." He whispered. "But I remember taking that last step."

"You did. You did take that step. It was my magic that pulled you back. I had to sedate you when I did. You were in pretty bad shape, Alexander. Had I not, you would be dead." Magnus said gently, still holding Alec's chin.

Alec remembered the voice of the man on the bridge. The beautiful, melodic voice, trying to talk him down. And the pull he felt. The same pull he felt now, only much, much stronger. An almost overwhelming pull.

"The man that I was talking with. I felt a kind of pull towards him. That was you?" Alec asked.

"Yes." Magnus said, finally releasing his mates chin. His Shadowhunter was beginning to put the pieces together.

Alec closed his eyes, obviously working something through in his head.

"I felt a pull towards you on the bridge. And I feel it a lot stronger now." Alec said, eyes still shut.

Magnus waited, giving him time to process what he had experienced.

"And when I was starting to wake up, I smelled the most amazing scent. Chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and musk. I smell it stronger now. And the scent of alpha under it. That's you, isn't it? That's your scent?" He asked.

"Yes." Magnus said.

"Why is it that I can smell you, your scent, so overwhelmingly strong, over your alpha sent when that's never happened before?" Alec asked, opening his eyes to look at Magnus.

"I think you already know the answer to that, Alexander." Magnus answered, wanting Alec to work it out for himself.

"When I was waking up, I felt so relaxed and at ease, happy and safe, even though I had no idea where I was." Alec said. "What happened to my heat? Did it pass?" He asked.

"No." Magnus said. "I've been giving you heat suppressants to halt your symptoms. The itchy neck. The increased body temperature. The emotional overload and overwhelming ache and need you felt. The pain. I created it to prevent omegas from going into heat, unless they wanted to. It's not designed to stop a heat, but it can suppress its symptoms. But you are still in heat, which means your still in a delicate disposition."

"What does that mean? Delicate disposition?" Alec asked, trying to take it all in.

"It means that for the next few days you won't be your usual self. You will be mentally and emotionally vulnerable. Your emotions will run high and you can become easily distressed. You will have to keep taking the potion, along with the pain relief potion, every few hours to keep your symptoms suppressed and keep you as comfortable as possible. But it won't fully take it all away."

"And if I stop taking the potions?" Alec asked.

"Then your heat will return full force." Magnus said.

Alec bit his bottom lip as he thought.

"That doesn't explain why I can smell you the way I do. Or the way that I feel when I'm around you." He said.

"How much do you know about being an omega?" Magnus asked gently.

"Nothing. Just that at some point I was going to go into heat. And all of the horrible things my parents said to me and what the other hunters told me. About how I was nothing but worthless whore now." Alec said.

A flare of anger lit inside Magnus, but he quickly forced it down. He was making great progress with his Shadowhunter and didn't want to frighten him now. There was much his Alexander didn't know about him. In due time, he thought to himself.

"Would you like me to fill in some of the blanks?" Magnus asked. Alec nodded.

"Okay. Well, first, an omegas first heat cycle is always the hardest. In your case it was particularly difficult because you were unmated and unclaimed. When an omega goes into heat, it's their mate's job to look after their omega. Omegas develop the physical symptoms first. The overwhelming heat as their body temperature rises, the production of slick, the itchy neck. And an almost painful need to be touched by their mate as well as an intense craving for sex. When denied the touch of their mate, it eventually becomes an overwhelming physical pain. In male omegas as they crave sex, they crave their mates knot."

Alec blushed furiously, but Magnus didn't comment.

"It's also a mate's job to make sure all of their omegas needs are met. Be it physical, mental or emotional. Omegas become extremely emotional during heats. They get clingy and emotionally needy with their mate, needing constant emotional and physical support. Omegas also become completely overcome by their base instincts, which is to mate. So it's up to their mate to make sure that they eat, sleep, and are properly cared for in every way. For those five days every three to four months, an omega will go through their heat cycle until they either conceive or the heat cycle ends. Do you know anything about omega pregnancies?"

"No." Alec said, barely loud enough to hear.

"Do you remember the pain you went through when you presented?" Magnus asked.

"You mean the gut-wrenching, someone's ripping my insides out, just want to die pain?" Alec asked.

"That's the one. While it may have felt as if someone was ripping your insides out, you were actually growing a new organ. A uterus. That's what gives you the ability to bare children." Magnus said.

"Is that why my parents called me a filthy omega whore and said I was only good for breeding?" Alec asked.

Another flare of anger flashed through Magus. He wanted nothing more in that instant than to burn the NY Institute to the ground. With great difficulty he pushed it back.

"Yes." Magnus said. "From what I've heard your parents aren't very nice people. At least, not towards omegas. Did you know that there was once a time when omegas were revered by the nephilim?" Alec nodded, he didn't.

"Every alpha wanted an omega to bare them many alpha children. Omegas can produce more children than both alphas and betas. While alphas and betas usually only carry one child at a time, rarely two, an omega often carries multiples. Twins or triplets at the least. The alphas felt that the more children there were, the more Shadowhunters there would be." Magnus said.

"What happened?" Alec asked.

"That's a story for another time." Magnus said. "You asked why you can smell my scent, over my alpha scent, when you've never been able to do that before. Do you know why?" Magnus asked.

"Because you're my alpha." Alec answered softly.

"When did you realize it?" Magnus asked gently, brushing a lock of raven hair out of Alec's eyes.

"When I looked into your eyes before I drank that potion. When did you know I was your omega?" Alec asked.

"The moment I took you into my arms on the bridge. The instant I felt your skin against mine and smelled your beautiful scent." Magnus said, almost reverently.

"Is there something wrong with me? Do you not want me?" Alec asked, eyes cast down again.

"What?! No. Of course not, darling." Magnus said, lifting Alec's chin again. How could his beautiful mate possibly think that he didn't want him, he wondered. "What would possibly give you that idea?" He asked.

"You're my alpha and I'm your omega and I'm in heat and you haven't touched me...." Alec stammered.

"Stop right there, my sweet." Magnus said, looking Alec straight in the eyes. "You are beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous. It's taking every ounce of willpower that I have to not take you, to not claim you and mate you. As much as I may want it, maybe even need it, I've waited a long time for you. But you don't know me yet, and I don't know you. Once we get you through your heat, we can decide what to do next. I'd love to court you, Alexander. To shower you with all the love and adoration you deserve. While I may have only realized that you were my mate on that bridge, it wasn't until I looked into those breathtakingly stunning blue eyes for the first time that I fell utterly in love with you. One look. That's all it took. And I was yours. Understand?" Magnus asked.

Nodding Alec said "It's going to be really hard, you know. I was already a gay omega Shadowhunter. Now I'm a gay omega Shadowhunter with a warlock for a mate. My people aren't going to be happy that my mate is a downworlder."

"Does that bother you, Alexander? One can always deny their mate." Magnus said, his heart halting in his chest.

For a moment Alec was silent, still.

"No. It doesn't. I don't care that your a warlock, or a downworlder. We're all equals in my eyes. And it helps that you look really yummy and smell even better." Alec said with a blush.

Magnus laughed, his heart beating again.

"Well then, we'll get you better and back on your feet. Then we'll take it from there. Now, you've had a really hard day and are still weak and probably exhausted, but you need to eat. Is there anything specific you think you might like? Omegas usually crave something specific while in heat." Magnus said.

"Burger King?" Alec asked. "I love their bacon burgers with onion rings and barbecue sauce on top."

Magnus smiled. With a snap of his fingers he conjured two bacon burgers with onions rings and barbecue sauce with two large fries and strawberry milkshakes. They ate together in silence, sneaking quick glances and peeks at each other, taking each other in. Once Magnus was sure his Shadowhunter had had enough to eat he gave him another vial of his heat suppressant and another vial of the pain relief potion.

"Try and get some sleep, my love. I'll make sure your friends are tended and comfortable. You need to rest." Magnus said, tucking Alec under the soft duvet.

"Ok." Alec said around a yawn. He really was exhausted, his heavy eyelids fluttering closed. Unable to resist, Magnus gently pressed a soft kiss to Alec's forehead, sending a wave of magic through Alec, pushing him into a much needed, deep sleep.

Standing beside him, he watched his sleeping mate, listening to the cutest soft little snores he had ever heard for a moment before turning to leave. They had so much more discuss, but his angel needed to rest first.

Comments, suggestions, and feedback are always welcome!