Finally, Alec thought. Date night, well, really just a night without screaming children. Not that Alec didn't utterly love his children, but lately the twins had been driving him insane, not to mention that he and Magnus rarely had any alone time anymore. Tonight the kids were staying at the Institute with Clary and Jace so that alone time would actually become possible. He and Magnus had rescued the twins, Maggie and Max, from a Shadowhunter's raid on their parents' house. From what Alec could discern, the raid had happened simply because their parents were warlocks, meaning that the twins had been adopted once already because they were warlocks as well.
They had been walking past the house when the raid occurred simply by chance. Magnus had warned Alec to not get involved, but as soon as he had realized there were children inside, he could not be restrained. To his slight surprise, Magnus had not simply stood by, but rather barged into the house after Alec, wielding his powers as sharply as any weapon Alec had ever touched. Alec remembered that he had been prepared to fight with all he had, but in a matter of minutes the other Shadowhunters were so terrified of Magnus that they had all but run from the house, leaving them alone to care for the children left behind in the wreckage.
When they had rescued the twins, they had been three years old, and although the name Max had killed Alec at first, he grew to love it more and more every day. In the beginning, his son had reminded him so much of the Max he missed every day that sometimes so much as looking at him had caused Alec pain. Yet the more he had grown to love the children, the more he adored how similar Max was to his little brother.
The rescue mission had been two years ago, and Magnus and Alec couldn't be happier about being parents. Every time Alec heard "Daddy" from either of the twins, he thought he was going to burst with happiness. The first time they had called him that, he had been so excited Magnus had later made the comment that he looked as though he were going to spontaneously combust.
Alone time, however, was very valuable to both of them. Magnus had planned this date, and so far it was going fabulously. They were currently out to dinner, nothing too fancy, but one of their favorite places. Magnus had apparently planned something special for when they got home, and Alec was all but buzzing with anticipation throughout the dinner.
"Alec?" Magnus's voice was drowning with love and amusement. Alec jerked out of his thoughts as he realized that Magnus had probably been telling him something, but he had no idea what.
"I'm sorry, what were you talking about?" He replied, but Magnus couldn't help it, he was too curious to continue their earlier conversation. "Not important," he waved it off. "What were you so deep in thought about?"
Magnus felt his heart skip a beat when Alec's face lit up. He knew he would never get used to being so in love. "A couple of things, really. I was thinking about the twins for one." At that, Magnus sighed.
"Alexander, they're fine, I'm sure. They adore Jace and Clary. You can stop thinking about them for one night; you're not going to lose your "Father of the Century" title for it."
Alec snorted, he couldn't help it when Magnus said such things. "If I'm "Father of the Century" then Jace is set to become the next Pope." Magnus answered with a hearty laugh, earning some glances from the other patrons.
"Oh, Alexander," Magnus began between spurts of laughter. "When are you going to realize just how much our children love you?" Alec smiled even wider; Magnus's yellow-green eyes always sparked with joy so immense Alec had never seen the likes of it. "You're their hero; they idolize you."
A low chuckle emitted from Alec's smiling mouth. "Oh, like you aren't their hero, too, their all-powerful dad who has taught them how to use their powers and pretty much saves the day every time they so much as get a 'boo-boo.'" Magnus leaned back in his seat and spread his hands, indicating that was indeed the case and causing Alec to shake his head in amusement.
"I wouldn't dare argue with that, Alexander, but what else were you thinking about?" As he finished speaking, butterflies began crowding his stomach at the sly smile that clothed Alec's face.
"I was simply thinking about what you could possibly have planned for when we get home. You know that I'm simply dying with anticipation. That's why you planned it; you know I can't stand surprises, that they drive me nuts." Alec was tempted to smack the smirk off of Magnus's face when he finished, but he couldn't help but adore it when the spark in his husband's eyes came back.
"You know I couldn't help it, Alec," his smile only grew, something Alec had previously thought impossible, as he continued speaking. "But if it's really killing you that badly, then we can go ahead and make our escape."
Alec's stomach began somersaulting with anticipation when Magnus gave him a none too innocent wink while he was paying their bill.
The majority of their apartment was ever-changing. Aside from the twins' bedroom, every other part of the space was subject to change in whatever way Magnus saw fit. So stepping into their apartment shortly after leaving the restaurant, it was not shocking to Alec that the apartment looked different than it had when they had left.
What was shocking to him was that the apartment seemed to be one big room, completely void of furniture. He paused in the doorway, attempting to comprehend what was going on.
Magnus, however, continued walking, and as he turned to face Alec, his clothes began to change. Where he had been wearing a tidy button up shirt with designer jeans, he was now dressed in an elegant suit that had obviously been tailored for him. His undershirt was a rich blue, and Alec smiled when he realized it was the exact color of his own eyes.
That's when he had the thought to look down at himself and saw that Magnus had also replaced what he had been wearing. He was also in a suit, his own undershirt a deep red.
His confusion was cleared when soft, light music began playing and Magnus extended his hand. "May I have this dance?" His voice was of a cool, smooth tone that always drove Alec mad with love.
Alec stepped forward and gently took Magnus's hand. He immediately found himself surrounded by Magnus, and he sighed with contentment at the feeling of peace that washed over him. Stepping into Magnus's arms always had that effect. He felt safe, content, overcome with joy and love, and a hoard of other emotions he couldn't quite put into words.
He leaned in and rested his head on Magnus's shoulder, closing his eyes and letting the music fill his senses. For what seemed like hours, he let Magnus lead him around the room, speaking his love through their dancing. Eyes still closed, he smiled as Magnus began softly humming along with the music, a classical piece that Alec had never heard himself but that was very beautiful indeed.
Alec felt the music swell over him, and along with it came the thought of just how perfect his life with Magnus had become. That was, however, until it hit him. A sudden wave of dizziness so strong it made him nauseous. He forced Magnus to stop dancing, grabbing onto each of his hands for support, worried that if he let go he would end up on the floor.
Magnus's face was suddenly riddled with concern. "What's wrong, Alexander?" His voice was frantic. "You're terribly pale."
It was a sickeningly long moment before Alec was able to speak, confident that he would not lose the contents of his stomach as soon as he opened his mouth. "I'm extremely dizzy, Magnus. I think if I just sit for a minute I'll be fine." To his relief, the apartment immediately changed back to the way it had been when they had left that evening. Before he had time to think, Magnus had seated him on the couch.
"I should call Catarina," Magnus began, his voice was strained. "This isn't just dizziness from dancing, Alec; you look ill. She is much better equipped to heal diseases than I am. Catarina deals with the sick; I deal with the injured."
Alec tried to wave him off, giving a weak smile as he did so. "Oh Magnus, don't fret so much. I'm fine, just give me a second and I'll be good to go." Yet even as he finished speaking Alec could tell that it did little to relieve the worry in Magnus's eyes.
A few minutes later, after being brought a glass of water despite his protestation, the dizziness had faded and Alec concluded that it had just been a fleeting feeling. When he relayed so much to Magnus, he was only met with a curt nod.
He looked up, gave Magnus a sly smile, and attempted a wink of his own. "Come on, Magnus. I promise I feel absolutely fine now. Let's go ahead and call it a night. After all, the kids are gone, let's make the most of it."
He was rewarded with the first smile Magnus had given him since they had stopped dancing. "Sounds like heaven to me, Alexander," he replied, reaching out his hand to help Alec up.
As soon as Alec stood, he realized he had made a grave mistake. But it was too late to take that back, and the last thing he heard was Magnus screaming his name before he hit the ground.