I know you might not believe this, but I do not enjoy hurting/killing Alec.

Nor do I enjoy making Magnus and Max(ine) cry.

But...

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It's Maxine's eleventh birthday. Magnus picked her up from school and now they are in the Institute's lobby, waiting for Alec to come downstairs. They're going to eat dinner then see Beauty and the Beast. Maxine loves the Disney and live action movies and for her birthday, her fathers are taking her to see the Broadway version.

Maxine is talking to Izzy, Clary and Jace as Magnus keeps an eye out for Alec.

Alec steps out of the elevator and walks towards his family. Raj is standing to the side and as Alec passes him, Raj pulls out a blade and stabs Alec in the heart. Alec's eyes roll back as Raj pulls the blade out. Alec collapses to the floor and Raj lets the blade fall next to him.

Raj runs away but is tackled by two ShadowHunters. They drag him away.

ShadowHunters rush to Alec's side, but the Head of the Institute is dead.

Jace screams and grabs his side. Clary reaches for him, as Jace falls to his knees. His Parabatai rune is gone.

Maxine screams, Izzy grabs her and presses Maxine's face against her stomach. No child should see her father murdered in front of her eyes. Maxine holds her tight as both of them start to cry.

Magnus stands there paralyzed with shock. The boy that he followed through Central Park, the teenager that he fell in love with, the man that he married, Alexander Gideon Lightwood, is dead.

Magnus watches as Alec is placed on a stretcher and taken to the elevators. He looks at the blood on the floor and tries to think, but he can't.

Clary helps Jace to his feet as they walk to the elevators.

Izzy keeps Maxine close as they walk over to Magnus. Izzy gently touches his arm, "Magnus, let's go."

He looks at her with tear filled eyes, "Isabelle, how am I supposed to go on?"

"Magnus, you have Maxine to take care of."

Maxine looks at him with terrified eyes, as tears run down her face. Magnus gently touches her face, "I'm sorry Maxine."

Izzy squeezes his arm, "No, Magnus. Maxine needs you."

He lowers his head and walks to the elevators without a word.

Maxine looks up at her aunt. Izzy kisses her forehead, "Give him time." They follow Magnus to the elevators.

The three of them get into an elevator and ride in silence. They get out and Maxine stays close to Izzy as they walk into the room. Jace and Clary are sitting on a bench against the wall.

Maxine looks at her father laying on the bed and starts sobbing. She clings to Izzy.

Magnus stares at Alec and tries to think. He knows that there is something he can do but his mind is a blank. He looks at his daughter crying her heart out and knows he should be the one holding her but he feels that after all these years, when Alec needed his Protector the most, Magnus failed him.

He glances at Clary and Jace holding each other as they cry. He wonders why HE isn't crying.

He looks back at Alec. He wonders how can he live without the man that he has loved all these years. Even before he became the 'man' that he loved with all his heart, Alec was the teenager that captured it. A love so strong that a rune appeared because of it.

Magnus looks at Alec's neck. How did he forget about the Love Rune?

Swallowing hard he walks to the bed.

Izzy looks at him, "Magnus, what are you doing?"

Magnus ignores her as he traces the love rune. Nothing happens.

Magnus takes a deep breath and rubs his fingers together, bringing some magic to his fingertips. He traces the rune again. Nothing happens.

Magnus closes his eyes and whispers, "Please, I need him." He snaps his fingers and magic crackles from his fingertips and palm. He traces the rune a third time. The top of the rune slowly glows blue. The body of the rune starts to glow.

Alec's deflect/block rune glows blue. His wedding rune is the next to start glowing, then his other runes are glowing bright enough to be seen through his shirt.

Jace gasps as he pulls up his shirt. His Parabatai rune has not only returned but it's glowing blue as well. It slowly goes the familiar black, as Jace looks at Magnus with wide eyes.

Clary points at Alec, "Look."

Alec's runes have gone black again as his chest rises and falls. He gasps as he starts breathing again. He slowly opens his eyes and looks around the room. He whispers, "Magnus?"

Magnus sits on the bed and pulls Alec into his arms. He gently kisses Alec.

Alec tries to pull away but Magnus holds him tight.

Maxine looks at Izzy with hopeful eyes. Izzy smiles and lets her go. Maxine runs to the bed, climbs up and holds her fathers. Alec's arm goes around her and brings her close. Magnus holds her as well.

Izzy smiles, "Group hug." She sits on the bed and wraps her arms around the Lightwood-Bane family.

Clary and Jace stand up and walk over to the bed. Clary goes to the right side and hugs everybody as Jace goes to the left side.

Maxine giggles, "I'm getting squished." Clary, Jace and Izzy laugh as they let go and take a few steps away from the bed.

Alec wipes the last of the tears from Maxine's face. He looks at Magnus, "What happened?"

Maxine wraps her arms around Alec, as Magnus holds his hand, "Raj stabbed you."

Alec nods as he remembers Raj walking towards him and briefly seeing a blade, "Then why ain't I dead?"

Maxine buries her face in Alec's chest as Jace whispers, "You were dead, Alec. My Parabatai rune disappeared."

Alec looks at him confused, "And?"

Magnus kisses him, "The Love Rune bought you back."

"By the angel."

Magnus nods, "THANK the angel." He holds Maxine and Alec tight.

-tbc-

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Details, you want more details? Stay tuned.