Alec awoke, his boyfriend's arm thrown across his chest, quick, short breaths coming from Magnus' lips. Magnus must be having another nightmare. He was tempted to wake him, but remembered the last time he tried that (he was punched in the face). Alec softly moved Magnus' arm and brushed his cheek with his thumb, trying to comfort him, before getting out of bed. He walked to one of the apartment's old spare rooms, the one that had been made into a kids room for Magnus and Alec's two adopted sons; Max and Rafael. Alec loved them both dearly and would protect them at any cost. Max being a warlock and Rafe being a Shadowhunter, it was expected that they wouldn't get along well, but they were as close as parabatai, even with their age difference. Young three year old Max could already talk and was always getting himself into trouble, and five year old Rafe always got him out of it. Alec noticed that they both looked like they were still sleeping soundly, so he closed their bedroom door quietly and walked into the bathroom. In the bathroom mirror, he saw that his tousled black hair was covered in glitter. Magnus, he thought lovingly. Alec found he often woke up with glitter in his hair ever since he moved in with Magnus. Five years ago, Alec would have minded, but now Magnus' strange sense of style had become endearing to him. He still wore his worn sweaters, no matter how much Magnus begged him to wear something like leather pants. He smiled at his reflection, noticing the dimples that Magnus always said he loved. He brushed as much glitter as he could out of his hair and walked into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. As the smell of the coffee began to fill the air, he heard the soft patter of feet running down the hall. He then saw a small blue toe peek around the doorway.

"Max?" Alec questioned quietly. The young blue warlock walked into the kitchen, hands behind his back, a guilty look on his small face. "What is it?" Max moved his hands from behind his back, producing the bag of sugar Alec had been looking for to put in his coffee.

"I didn't eat it!" Max promised, handing the sugar to Alec. Alec crouched down so he could be eye level with the boy. He put his finger to Max's lip, wiping sugar crystals off of his face. Max looked like he was going to cry. "Sorry, daddy. Practicing magic." Alec gave him a hug.

"It's okay, Max. Just ask next time, okay?"

"Ok, dad. Mwah!" Max gave Alec a big kiss on the cheek and ran off, probably to wake Rafe. Alec poured two cups of coffee; sugar in one, cream in the other. He had always loved Magnus' collection of mugs and he always gave Magnus the mug that said 'BETTER THAN GANDALF' on it. He found it oddly funny. Alec was about to go to wake up Magnus when he walked into the room, rubbing his eyes. He grabbed the coffee mug out of Alec's hand and drank greedily.

"Good morning." Alec said raising his eyebrows.

"Morning. I have a job to handle at nine, so can you take the boys to the Institute?"

"Yeah, sure." Alec responded. "Busy, busy." He kissed Magnus on the cheek and went to go wake up Max and Rafe.

As soon as they arrived at the Institute, Alec texted Magnus. Magnus always wanted to know if he was okay, whenever he left to go somewhere with the boys. He picked up Max and Rafael walked beside him. As soon as he opened the door, Isabelle was there.

"Alec! Max! Rafe!" She cried, giving big hugs to everyone.

"Aunt Izzy!" Rafe said, hugging her around the waist. Isabelle was always his favorite, teaching him about fashion (which Magnus had gotten him into) and practicality mixed together. "Can I train with Aunt Izzy today, dad?" He pleaded.

"Yeah, sure." Alec gave in. "Be careful with him, he's only six." He reminded his sister.

"Yeah, yeah. I know." She took Rafael by the hand and they ran off towards the training room."

"Where's Uncle Jace?" Max asked. Like his namesake, he had an obsession with Jace and thought he was the coolest thing ever.

"Probably with Clary training." Alec said, picking Max up. "Wanna go find him?" Max nodded his head, so they set off to go find Alec's parabatai.

Magnus' POV

Magnus really didn't have a job to handle at nine, he just needed everyone out of the house. The first time he had a nightmare, he told Alec about it. Alec always got that adorable crease between his eyebrows when he was worried, but Magnus' didn't like to be worried about. Now, with the nightmares coming almost every single night, he thought that he might need to be worried about. He had called Catarina and asked her to come over and see if she could help him. With the nightmares getting worse every night, he didn't even want to sleep anymore. Suddenly, his phone began to ring. It was an unknown number so of course, he picked it up.

"Hello? Magnus Bane, High Warlock of Brooklyn and Scrabble Champion, at your service, but you'll have to pay. "

"No, Magnus, it's me." Catarina's anxious voice sounding through the speaker. "Look, I can't come over, Tessa's orders. There's a small... Problem with warlocks around the world, apparently having nightmares like yours. The warlocks of the Spiral Labyrinth are looking into it, but for now, if you are experiencing the symptoms, you have to call.."

"Whoah, whoah. Slow down there, tiger. What are you talking about? I just had some bad dreams, and now the Spiral Labyrinth is looking into it?" Magnus said, eyebrows raised although Catarina couldn't see him. Catarina sighed.

"No, Magnus. You've contracted some type of disease that only warlocks can get. Other warlocks have been experiencing this as well. But it's contagious, so other warlocks cannot come see you from now on. Tell Alec to keep Max at the Institute."

"Last time I checked, nightmares aren't a disease." Magnus said.

"Magnus, this is serious! You need to call the Spiral Labyrinth so they can tally the number of warlocks affected. The first warlock that told them what was going on has already reached what Tessa is calling stage two. After the nightmares, the warlock began to become paralyzed, and then his body began moving without him telling it to. He knocked out his nurse. Finally, they got him tied up, but he began... What is it the teenagers say these days... Spazzing out. But in all seriousness, Magnus, I want you to be safe, and I want Max to be safe. Call the Spiral Labyrinth. Please."

Catarina never pleaded. Ever. And by now, Magnus himself was beginning to get a little nervous.

"Alright." Magnus amended. "Do the Shadowhunters know about this? If they did, I'd imagine they'd try to take control of the situation."

"No. Tessa told me they were afraid the Shadowhunters would hurt the sick warlocks. Anyway, I have work. Call the Spiral Labyrinth, Magnus." Catarina said, and hung up. Magnus huffed.

"In all the years I've been alive, I have to get a disease in the years I'm happiest? Of course." Magnus said to himself. Now, until he was healed, he couldn't even see his youngest son. He didn't want to tell Alec; he didn't want him to worry. Alec, his sweet, strong Alec, was indeed a worrywart. Magnus decided he would tell him only when it was absolutely necessary. Instead, he called Tessa and told her the situation. She was more worried than Catarina.

"Listen, Magnus. If anything changes, anything at all, you are calling me. Got it? I'll call you if we find a cure or get more information on this disease."

"Alright. You do know it's not that bad, it's just nightmares." Magnus soothed.

"It may get worse. Just be prepared, Magnus." Tessa said gravely before hanging up. Magnus walked over to his couch and fell on it, Chairman Meow (who had become awfully fat since Alec moved in) leaping onto his lap. He looked at a photo that hung on the wall. One of him and Alec, 5 years ago, about a month after the Dark War. Alec had his arm around Magnus and was smiling his gorgeous smile, showing off his beautiful dimples. Magnus had his arm around Alec's waist. He remembered that day. They had walked around Central Park together all afternoon, holding hands. One man walked up to them, saying very offensive things about homosexuality, and Alec had kissed Magnus, full on the mouth, before breaking the man's nose. Never before had Magnus seen Alec so happy with himself and okay with his sexuality. Just when he was drifting back into the happy memory, a voice in his head spoke.

You can finally join me, my son. You know you cheated me when you told the mundane about the Shadow World. This disease is of my making, to take our disgusting half-breeds off of all of the worlds. I thought you had made me proud, Magnus. I thought you made me proud.

Magnus shook his head violently, almost slapping himself. His father was angry that Magnus had helped to get Simon's memories back. Magnus had convinced himself that the voice wasn't real, his father had more important things to do than bother his warlock son. Also, his father could only control Edom. But now, considering the circumstances, he wasn't so sure.