Our Baby Girl
A Malec Fanfiction
Chapter One; A Dream Shattered
Magnus sat on a cold, hard stone bench outside of the Council Hall. He twiddled his thumbs nervously, his cat eyes taking in every detail of the hallway for the hundredth time. Alexander Lightwood was in the Council Hall, asking the Clave a very important question. Magnus hadn't been allowed to accompany his husband, because Downworlders weren't allowed into the room.
Suddenly the heavy oak doors to the Council Hall opened. Magnus stood up hurriedly as Alec appeared in the hallway. His heart pounded in excitement.
Alec looked up at him, and tears filled his blue eyes.
"Darling," Magnus gathered Alec into his long arms and turned his head up so their eyes met. 'What's wrong?"
"They said no," Alec said, burying his head in the crook of Magnus's neck Magnus's excitement vanished. "They said they won't let us have a child."
They weight of his words settled onto Magnus's heart. The Clave had forbidden them from adopting a Shadowhunter child. He slowly ran a trembling hand through Alec's black hair.
They stood in silence for a moment. Alec's tears soaked into Magnus's silk shirt. Their hands were clasped together tightly. Magnus's chin rested on his husband's head – his eyes were closed, holding back tears, but a few slipped through anyway. Alec didn't see.
The oaken doors opened again, and the Council members filed out. Magnus opened his eyes to watch them go. He hadn't bothered to glamour his eyes today, knowing that most of the Council would hate him whether he looked human or not. Many of the older Council members ignored the presence of the couple, walking away down the hall with their arrogant heads held high. A few shot him and Alec looks of disgust. Several, however, gave them looks of sympathy.
At the end of the line of Shadowhunters was Consul Jia Penhallow, a slender woman wearing red robes and a sad expression. Of the group of twenty-five Nephilim, she alone approached Magnus and Alec. Magnus squeezed his husband's hand, and Alec lifted his head. He wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his horrible gray sweater when he saw the Consul. He didn't let go of Magnus's hand.
Jia opened her mouth to speak. "I just wanted to say that I am sorry," she said, looking from Alec's red eyes to Magnus's tear-streaked face. "You saved my life once. If there was anything at all that I could do," she cut off as tears filled her own dark eyes. "They rejected my daughter's request too, you know," she said sadly. "It's an injustice, that's what it is."
Alec reached out a shaky hand and put it on the Consul's shoulder. "Thank you," he said softly. Jia looked up at him, and pulled him into a swift hug. When she let go, she turned to Magnus. Magnus was shocked when she embraced him as well. "My deepest condolences, Magnus," she said, before releasing him and turning away. She was the first Shadowhunter on the Council who hadn't called him 'warlock.'
A few minutes later, Magnus had successfully created a Portal to take them home. Alec went through first, squeezing Magnus's hand as he said, "I'll wait for you on the other side." The warlock stood alone in the hallway, or so he thought.
The last thing he saw as he stepped through the Portal was Robert Lightwood, dressed in his blue Inquisitor robes, scowling at him from the doors of the Council Hall.
~0~0~0~0~0~
The Portal brought Magnus and Alec into the courtyard of the New York Institute. It was about nine o'clock when they started home in Magnus's new gray Mazda. Neither of them spoke as they drove over the Brooklyn Bridge. Both had managed to stop crying with some difficulty - Alec's shaky breaths could be heard over the low hum of the heater.
They pulled into the driveway outside of their loft and got out of the Mazda, shutting the doors quietly. Magnus opened the front door. He took Alec's hand again, and they walked up the stairs together. Alec searched his pockets for a house key to no avail, so Magnus simply unlocked the door with a little magic. The lights were off. Magnus reached for the switch to turn them on when,
"SURPRISE!" Alec jumped and Magnus started as the lights suddenly brightened and people popped out of hiding spots all around the room. Simon and pregnant Isabelle appeared from behind the counter – Jace, Clary, and their three-year-old son Stephen came out of one of the spare bedrooms. Alec's mother Maryse stepped out from behind the living-room curtains. Tessa and Jem popped out of the linen closet – Tessa was holding their two-year-old daughter Lizzy. Clary's parents, Luke and Jocelyn, appeared from behind the couch. Finally, Catarina Loss un-glamoured from her spot on the rug.
Magnus's heart plummeted when he saw what was going on. The pile of large presents on the coffee table, the pink-and-blue cake on the counter, the 'Congratulations' banner hanging on the wall – their friends and family had thrown a surprise baby shower.
Beside him, Alec once again burst into tears.
He threw himself into Magnus's arms in an instant. The joyous look on Isabelle's face fell. She ran somewhat awkwardly to Alec's side, with Jace right on her heels. "Alec?" she cried, grabbing her brother's hand. "Alec, what's wrong?"
Jace, who had a hand on his parabatai's shoulder, looked over Alec's head at Magnus. Their eyes met, and Magnus could tell that Jace knew exactly what was going on. Alec's distraught blue eyes flicked from Stephen to Lizzy to Isabelle's stomach as he sobbed. Jace squeezed Alec's shoulder affectionately before turning to Clary. "Sweetheart, I think we should take Stephen home," he said softly. Clary nodded in recognition. She picked up a diaper bag and took her son's hand, before slowly walking out of the apartment. She shot Magnus a look that was full of sadness.
One by one, all of the guests left the loft. Luke, Jocelyn, and Catarina filed out the door soon after the Herondales. Maryse departed next, after giving her son a long hug and giving Magnus an apologetic glance. Tessa and Jem left a little while later. Lizzy's cries of, "Why's Uncle Alec cryin'?" carried up the stairs from the floor below.
The last to leave were Izzy and Simon. By that time, Alec had shakily sat down on the couch. Isabelle and Magnus sat on either side of him.
"Isabelle," Simon said, walking over to her. "Maybe we should give them some time alone."
"What? No! I'm not leaving my brother right now!" said Isabelle indignantly, gripping Alec's hand. But after a little while, she agreed to give the two some space, and left with Simon.
Magnus wrapped an arm around his husband and pulled him close. They sat there for a while as Alec cried; until Magnus suggested that they get some sleep. Alec grudgingly agreed, and they headed to bed.
They didn't sleep; just lay under the green blankets side by side in silence. Magnus's hand was in Alec's. He listened to the sound of the wind. Chairman Meow was curled up at their feet. He didn't purr or move around like he normally did. Even the cat could sense that something was wrong.
Eventually, Alec spoke. "You weren't upset," he said quietly.
Magnus turned his head. "What?"
"You weren't upset," said Alec, looking up at the ceiling. "You didn't cry. You haven't shown the tiniest shred of emotion this entire time." He paused, and then said, "Did you even care about us adopting?"
"Did I even care?" Magnus said, sitting up. Alec let go of his hand. "Did I even care? Of course I cared! I still care, Alexander! Why on earth would you ever think I didn't?"
"If you care," began Alec, still looking up at the ceiling, "then why aren't you upset?"
Magnus lay back down. "I am upset, Alexander," he said. "In fact, I feel like my heart has been crushed."
Alec said nothing.
But he took Magnus's hand again.