Chapter 3: Adventures in the pillow fort.

Magnus Pov- My favorite nights are the ones where it's quiet and everything just seems to be in peace. This night in particular was a night of sitting on the couch with Alec reading under the dim light of an oil lamp. Alec didn't need to go patrolling tonight which meant he got to spend all his time with me and Max who was entertaining himself in his room.

"Do you think we should go check on him" Alec asked biting the bottom of his lip. Recently we had decided it would be best to take off Max's magic restrictions. Five was the time most Warlocks started getting used to having his powers. He needed to learn how to use them and he couldn't do that restricted.

"I think you worry too much Alexander. I'm surprised you don't have worry lines." Alec touched his face "I'm only twenty five, can you get worry lines at twenty five?" I smiled kissing him on the forehead "you don't have worry lines darling."

Alec wasn't one to care about outer beauty but I've noticed over the years that the older Alec got the more he seemed to care. I knew it was because he was getting older and I wasn't. I closed my book, putting it on the coffee table, before grabbing Alec's hands squeezing them tight "you don't need to worry darling. You are as beautiful as the day I met you and even when your hair turns white and you do end up with worry lines, cause let's face it your siblings make you worry way to much; you will still be the most gorgeous person I know."

Alec met my eyes before opening his mouth to speak. He didn't get a chance to talk though because Max came out of the room yelling excitedly "Daddy, father, come look at my fort." We both looked at him blinking. "Fort" Alec asked turning his head to the side confused.

Max bounced on the balls of his feet "I'm playing Shadowhunter and I made a fort out of pillows. Come look come look." He grabbed Alec's hand trying to pull him off the couch and Alec laughed standing up "fine we will see this amazing fort." I stood up shaking my head not able to fight a smile from spreading on my face. It was obvious that Max admired Alec but it was also adorable how he tries to be just like him.

He 'plays Shadowhunter' which is a fun game where Max pretends to be A Shadowhunter and he fights off evil. Half the time either Alec or I play the demon he must kill while the other dad is Max's Parabatai fighting alongside him. I always find it interesting when I'm playing the Parabatai. I'm a warlock not a Shadowhunter, even with the world and rules changing I still won't be able to be considered equal to them.

Max wasn't old enough to understand things like that though. He saw both his daddies the same, the people he loved above all else and knew they loved him. There was no equal and unequal in that boy's sweet little world.

We entered Max's room and like promised there was an interesting little fort on the floor made up of his pillow and blankets, Alec's and my bedding, and also some couch pillows. The fort was supported up by a long stick with one of Alec's sweaters tied to it to make it look like a flag. Max must have been using magic on his 'flag' because it was waving like it would in the wind. "How did you get our bedding without us noticing" Alec asked but it was obvious how.

When Alec and I get alone time we tend to get lost in each other. Max uses those moments to get into trouble or do secret stuff. I could just imagine little Max carrying our huge comforter out of our room and maybe falling over in the proses making him get tangled in the blanket. It wouldn't be the first time it happened.

Alec looked at the flag and sighed under his breath "That's my favorite sweater." I got a closer look at it and couldn't help but smile. It may have been Alec's favorite sweater but it was one that I absolutely hated. It was frayed, stained, and had so many holes it was practically revealing every part of Alec's body.

"I think it's in a better place now" I said patting Alec's shoulder and walking more into the room. Max's room had changed over the years. His once sky with clouds walls were now covered in runes made out of paint. He was obsessed with Shadowhunters the way some boys were obsessed with Batman. Alec was Max's Batman and it made Alec beam with pride, though he won't admit it.

"I love your fort Maxie really but…" I looked at the tiny fort that looked as though it was barely large enough to fit me let alone Alec and myself. "How about we play Shadowhunter in the living room" Alec suggested coming to the same conclusion as me. Max made a mad pouty face that made his cheeks puff out in the most adorable way. "I want to play Shadowhunter in my fort. Go in it pretty please."

Alec and I glanced at each other before I sighed and decided to give in first. I made my way to the fort and got on my hands and knees crawling inside. Once inside I looked up expecting my face to hit a blanket but I gasped loudly, shocked at all the space. The outside may have been small but the inside of the fort was huge, almost the size of an actual battle field.

Alec crawled in mumbling something under his breath and when he looked up his jaw fell open in shock. "How… how is it so large in here?" I looked around still a little shocked myself "Magic… though this takes a lot of control and talent." I couldn't help but feel some pride for my son. It had taken me some time to gain control of my powers. I'm sure Max will have his moments of trouble with it but it seems like he already has such great control.

Max crawled in and stood up smiling "let's play. I want daddy to be my Parabatai." I smiled at my son before standing up "we better go make a plan then to defeat the evil demon Alexander." Alec made his hands into claws and growled trying to look scary. I for one found it extremely adorable.

Max did a combo Laugh and scream before grabbing my hand and pulling me away from Alec. We got a good distance away and ended up at another fort! A fort inside a fort! This one was actually small though. As we sat in it I had to hug my knees to fit.

"What's the plan oh great Shadowhunter." Max reached behind some pillows and pulled out his toy Nerf bow and arrow he got for his birthday. He said it made him as cool as father. He put his back pack of toy arrows on before grabbing the bow.

"I'm father, you're uncle Jace." That made me lose my smile "I am?" he nodded "That's right." I pretended to stroke my imaginary thinking beard which always made Max laugh.

"I don't know Maxie. Uncle Jace's ego may not fit in this fort." This made Max laugh so hard he snorted. "Be uncle Jace daddy."

I smiled and walked out of the tiny fort, back on to the battle field. "I'm Jace Herondale and I'm going to go do something completely reckless and stupid that will get me in trouble there for making my brave and amazing Parabatai come to my rescue" I said in my best Jace voice. Max laughed before getting his bow and arrow ready getting in front of me "Don't worry Jace I got your back. Alec Lightwood is the greatest Shadowhunter in the world I can protect you."

I smiled watching Max as he maneuvered around the 'battle field' swiftly. Well, I assume it was supposed to be swift. He lost balance a couple times and almost fell over. "Come out demon" he yelled looking around. I looked around as well wondering where Alexander could be hiding.

Being an actual Shadowhunter Alec was always amazing at this game. He knew how to maneuver in ways that make him almost invisible and when he played the demon he was good at hiding. "This calls for a sight rune" Max announced before reaching in his pocket and pulling out a washable black marker. He scribbled a poorly drawn rune on his arm smiling. He thought he drawn the sight rune but in reality it was the silence rune.

Even so I wasn't going to crush his little spirt so I kept that information to myself. Alec must have heard him say sight rune because the moment Max stopped drawing Alec jumped out of hiding, giving Max the illusion that his sight rune indeed worked. Max pointed at Alec, his face full of determination "prepare to die at the hands of Alec Lightwood monster." Alec's lip curved up a bit into a small smile before he went back to being menacing.

"Come and get me if you think you can." Max looked at me "Jace you fight him. I'll go to higher ground and see if I can get a shot at him." He ran away before I could ask how the heck he could make 'higher ground' and I watched him go before looking back at Alec. Alec smirked, his eyebrow rising slightly "Jace huh?"

I shrugged smiling "The greatest Shadowhunter in the world Alec Lightwood was already taken. Those were Max's words not mine." Alec smiled "So you going to fight me 'Jace'?" I pulled out a toy seraph blade smirking at him "I'll take you done no problem."

I ran at him swinging the blade to slice at his chest but he just moved out of the way and crouched kicking me out from under my feet making me fall on my back. Alec got on top of me pinning me down smirking "That ego gets you in trouble 'Jace'." I laughed "I believe I already said it can't fit in this fort." Alec laughed shaking his head before leaning down and kissing me softly.

I kissed him back and smiled up at him "My, my, what would Clary say if she knew I was with you tonight?" Alec rolled his eyes smiling "shut up Magnus." I laughed shaking my head and Alec laughed to before something hit his back. He looked behind him to see that one of Max's toy arrows stuck to his back.

Gasping dramatically Alec grabbing his chest and fell on his side "Oh, you got me! It hurts so badly!" he fake cried. Max jumped down from his hill of pillows and ran to Alec pulling out a toy Seraph blade. "In the name of Alec Lightwood I shall punish you." I raised an eyebrow at that. Maybe I shouldn't let Max watch reruns of Sailor moon after all.

Max drove the blade down 'stabbing' Alec. Alec cried out in fake pain before closing his eyes and dying. Max cheered excitedly jumping up and down "yay I did it, I beat the demon." I nodded picking him up and spinning him "You're the greatest Shadowhunter ever!"

Alec sat up watching us and he smiled tenderly looking at Max. "You would make a fine Shadowhunter Max." I put Max down and he jumped into Alec's lap hugging him "Nothing like you father. You're the best ever."

Alec wrapped his arms tightly around Max, tears forming in his eyes but he didn't shed them. They were happy tears I was sure about that. "Now that you saved the world it's time for bed" Alec said smiling. Max pouted "but I'm not tired." Alec thought for a moment before smiling "I may have an idea."

Alec, had Max take down his fort and the three of us made one together that we were going to spend the night in. By time we finished Max was so tired that he fell asleep in Alec's arms seconds after laying down. Alec watched him sleep rubbing his head gently. "You were so worried that he wouldn't look up to you. Look at him now, he thinks you're amazing."

Alec smiled "for now at least. He'll get over the Shadowhunter thing and move on to something soon. Maybe he'll embrace his inner warlock and will pretend to be the High Warlock of Brooklyn."

"He does that during lessons but unlike with you I'm pretty sure he's mocking me. Five year olds shouldn't be able to mock." Alec laughed at this and laid his head on my shoulder. "I want moments like these to last forever." He looked up at me "promise that when I die someday you two will always stay together. I need to know that my boys will be okay without me."

I cupped Alecs face in my hands, pressing my forehead to his. "Don't talk like that. We still have a long way to go before that day comes. Right now you're alive and I'll soak in every single moment I have with you. I love you Alexander." Alec smiled sweetly looking into my eyes "I love you."