Robert's eye immediately drifted to his son's protruding abdomen.
"By the angel, it really is true." He whispered in an intensity that was never heard before by the man's children. Out of instinct, Alec wrapped his arms around his stomach and took a step back. He knew his father wouldn't hurt him physically. He was above that, and purposely causing pain to other adult members of the clave, without probable cause, was a dishonor to himself and his family. Jace moved to his brother's right side, still a little mad at himself for doing nothing the first time with Mayris, and put his hand on Alec shoulder. Izzy on the left of a shocked scared Alec." How is this even possible?"
"You didn't believe mom when she told you?" Said Isabelle, taking a step closer to her father."
"Why are you here, Alexander?" He said ignoring Isabelle's question, "I thought your mother told you never to come here again."
"I-I-" Alec started.
"He came here to be with me and Iz. He at least cared enough to be here with us, even though it risked the life of his baby… your grandchild."He heard Alec hiss and hug his stomach tighter, but ignored it thinking he was just overreacting to his own blunt statement.
"And what is it that you think I would do?" HE looked to his pregnant son's face but his eyes were closed and twitching, like he was trying not to winch in pain. He looked toward the golden boy.
"I don't know maybe stab him in the stomach, or tell the people you're oh so loyal too, and watch as they experiment on your son."
"Jace." Whispered Isabelle, noticing her brother discomfort, "Jace." She repeated when he wouldn't answer her.
"What!" Said teen snapped still holding his part of the stare down between Robert and him.
"It's Alec. Look at him." He reluctantly did. His brother was now grimacing and trying to breathe deep, even breaths, but obviously failing, "Alec, What's going on "What's going on? What's ha-OH. MY. ANGEL. You're in labor!" She was franticly moving her arms around trying to figure out what to do, "Ok…um…breathe." Alec opened his eyes and gave her a glare that would make any other person quiver in fear." Right you're already doing that…um"
"Isabelle I'm not in labor." He took a breath through clenched teeth, "It's just braxton hicks. It's too early for the baby to come. I just need… to move to another position." With that his siblings, slowly and carefully, helped him to Jace's bed, and laid him down. Completely forgetting the older man standing stiff and awkwardly in the doorway, watching his children taking care of their own.
"How do you feel now?" Asked Jace.
"A lot better, I guess it just had to pass, but I need a second to regain my composer here." Alec responded a bit out of breath, as he pushed himself up very slowly." See nothing to worry about. It's not due for another couple weeks." His sibling looked unconvinced, but knew not to question it. Alec pushed himself up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed.
"Good, I love you, man, but you are not having a baby on my bed. I'd never be able to sleep there again." Commented Jace. A smirk painted clearly on his face. Both Isabelle and Alec punched an arm.
"I think it's best you leave." Said the deep voice in the doorway. All three teenagers looked away from each other realizing he was still there. Alec stood up and walked toward the doorway, still guarded from behind by his sister and brother. Robert moved from the door letting them pass.
"Alexander" He heard his father say when he was walking down the hall. Alec stopped, but didn't turn around. "Congratulations." The young man spun around but all he saw was his retreating figure turn the corner. Alec felt Jace place a hand on his shoulder.
"Let's go take a walk." Recommended the golden boy.
"um…yeah." He was still looking where his father had been. Robert hadn't been overly happy or bitter, just his normal monotone self. The thing that confused Alec was that he actually wished him congrats. He knew that his dad had probably said it because it was common courtesy, but Alec wasn't a total failure to his dad. He also knew that his mother had over reacted- that didn't take any of the pain away- even for her standards, but she wasn't going to repent. She was too stubborn for that- A characteristic her children had also inherited.
It wasn't like he was going to tell her he had a right to be there if he wanted, and she couldn't really kick him out. The only thing staying around would do is draw attention to him. The expecting teen also knew that he hadn't really done anything wrong. It wasn't like having unprotected sex with your boyfriend, when you also happened to be a boy was something you worried about. The shadowhunters all knew that Alec was gay. There wasn't many who didn't. Iz had told him that he and Magnus had been the biggest gossip Idris had seen in a long time. Alec walking around with a baby in his arms that either looked like him, Magnus or both, would only draw unwanted attention. "How about we get something sweet to eat like candy, or maybe some chips. Is there such a thing as sugary potato chips?" He turned back to look at them.
"So it is true that pregnant woman-"Jace received a glare from his brother and a soft laugh from his sister. All the tension of the previous scene seemed to dissipate. "-Really have food cravings. What's your worst?"
Alec thought about this as they made their way to the elevator. "I once wanted macaroni and cheese ice cream. It sounds really gross now, though… but seriously is there such a thing as sugary potato chips?" The sound of laughter rang in the now filled elevator.
"There are chocolate covered chips at this cute little shop not too far from here. My treat." Both men nodded their agreement and thanks, and enter the ground floor.
"Ew, fake Armani." Commented Isabelle as they pasted a questionable pawn-shop.
"You know its fake just by glancing at it. How is that possible?" Asked Jace.
"Magnus can do the same thing. He said you can usually tell by looking at the material and pattern." Alec said when they turned to short-cut thru an alley
"You still wouldn't be able to tell the difference if I held two shirts up for you."
"Good, no man should be able to." Jace remarked before Alec could answer. He was about to kick a red bull can when Alec grabbed his arm in a vice like grip. "Ooww," He drawled, "I was just messing arou-"A jolt of pain lashed-out inside the ebony haired man. It worked its way down from his stomach to his nether regions causing him to crumble in pain. "Alec!" Jace, now in shadowhunter mode, kneeled down, and check if anything else was wrong. Even though he could figure what was happening, it was shadowhunter instinct to make sure your comrade didn't have any other injuries, and watch to see if there were any other danger lurking in the shadows.
"Isabelle, call Magnus. I think Alec's in labor.
"Finally, I finished." Magnus said to his cat. "And I did it with no magic." He held his little project out to Chairman Meow, who looked at him skeptically. "Ok, fine I used a little, but the majority I did by myself." He brought it back to his face. Magnus had finished the nursery a few weeks back, and felt like he wanted to make something by hand. He had worked on it when he didn't have any clients, and when his love was sleeping. Magnus had figured that was what he was doing before he left. Alec hadn't gotten much sleep the night before. He had been tossing and turning all night. Magnus stifled a yawn. He hadn't gotten much sleep either.
"Well I think I'm going to get a cappuccino, and wait till Alexander gets home." He got up from the rocking chair, and picked up his cat. "I bet you'd like some milk. How does that sound?" Meow purred in agreement, and snuggled into his owner's chest."Suck-up." Magnus mumbled as he walked to his bar/counter and sat on a bar stool. He snapped his fingers and a cup filled with foaming liquid laid in front of him. A bowl filled with milk appeared on the floor. He let the cat jump down off his lap so they could enjoy their drinks.
Just as he was about to put the cup to his lips, his phone rang, causing him to spill his drink on his shirt.
"WHO THE HELL DESTURBS MY PEACE AND QUIET, AND IT BETTER," He seethed that word, "BE GOOD ENOUGH TO GET CAFFINE OUT OF MY SHIRT!"
"It's Isabelle, and it better be good enough. While you're there bitching about shirt the love of your life is here having your baby." Her worked up voice came from the phone.
"He's having the baby?" He jumped out of his seat. His heart rate twice of what is considered a healthy rate.
"Yes, Alec's in labor."
"Are you sure? It could be Braxton hicks. That's happened before." He was trying to sound calm, but any once of calm left him with the word baby.
"Yeah we're pretty sure. They've got to be about 10 minutes apart. He looks like he's in a lot of pain." The worry and fear were evident in her voice. Magnus didn't blame her. He was having the same feelings except intensified.
"Where are you?" He was now looking for his shoes while half concentrating on opening a portal on the wall. Inwardly grimacing at what it was going to do to the paint.
"Uh we're in an ally about five minutes away from the institute. It's in between a pawn-shop and…" He could hear her heels clicking fast on pavement, "a Jewish deli called Don's. You know it?"
"Yeah I know it." Alec and he had eaten there before. The sound of arguing between Iz and Jace about what they should do emanated from the cell phone. He hung up without saying good-bye, and opened the portal. He redialed his phone before walking through.
"Damn it, Jace, don't do that!"
"Well what in the name of the angel am I supposed to do then."
"I don't know, just not that!"
"I'm still here you know. I haven't… gone anywhere."Alec said a out of breath. "Help me up." Jace slung Alec's arm over his shoulder, and stood him up.
"Alexander!" All three of the Lightwoods' heads snapped up to find a panicked warlock, holding a cell phone to his ear, running toward them.
"Magnus." Alec sighed. Relief flooded threw him with the sight of his boyfriend. He was always slightly calmer when his love was there. He shook off his brother right before Magnus' hands grabbed his face.
"Does anything hurt?" Magnus moved his hands all over the boy's body, as if looking for something broken. Phone squished between his head and shoulder. He rested his warm hands on the protruding stomach. Alec could feel the magic filling his body. Magnus lifted his golden eyes to the blue ones, and smiled, "It's really coming." He crashed his lips to the others in a quick but passionate kiss. Alec smiled at the joy in his lover's eyes. "OK I got Catarina on the phone; let's get you back home before the next contraction."
"I'm still waiting for an answer to my hello."Rang Catarina's voice from inside the phone, now being held in the right hand of the high warlock. The said warlock rolled his eyes, and grabbed Alec's hand leading him and the other two nephilim to the portal at the end of the ally.
"Hello, Dear. Alexander is in between contractions right now, and I was wondering if you could be at my loft to help birth the baby. I'm about to step into a portal. Could you wait to answer anything for a second?" The party of four walked into the portal. Magnus held on to Alec's hand for dear life, not wanting them to be separated and ending up God knows where. Isabelle landed on the couch, and Jace in front of her on the floor. Somehow Both Alec and Magnus still remained hand in hand sprawled out on the floor. Magnus, first checking on Alec and sitting him up, quick looked around for his cell phone, and crawled over to it.
"Ok were through." He said a bit breathlessly into the phone.
"I'll be there in fifteen minutes top. Lay some towels on the bed, dampen a washcloth, snap him into a hospital gown, and get him ready. If he has another contraction just keep telling him to relax and breathe. It'll annoy the hell out of him, but it will keep him focused, and if anyone is there with you don't let them in the room. The last thing we want is him panicking; if he isn't already."
"Alright. Good-bye." Magnus hung-up the phone and put it in his pocket. Isabelle came over to help up her brother stand up, when Magnus went off toward the bathroom.
"How are you feeling?" She asked Alec.
"I feel fine right now, but another one should happen pretty soon." He was shaking slightly with a mixture anticipation and fear. He wouldn't admit it to anyone, but he was scared of what he knew was going to happen any minute now. Another contraction wait a few minutes, then another one, then wait some more, then he'd have to push, and he'd be holding his baby in his arms. As much as that thought excited him, it scared the hell out of him. It was coming two weeks earlier than expected. It's not like it was that early, but even a couple days would still make him uneasy.
"You're shaking, Alec." Observed Jace, who was looking with great distain at the messy loft.
"I am not." Alec clenched his fists, but to no avail. All that did was make his arms shake more.
"Yes you are. You're shaking like a Chihuahua on steroids." He put his hand on Alec's shoulder. "There's nothing to worry about. It's a rare chance that you and the baby are going to die in childbirth."
Alec turned to him with a face of one who was close to tears. "I'm going to die?" He whimpered.
"What the hell, Jace!" Izzy and Magnus' voice sounded through the room. Iz hit him hard in the arm, causing him to curse loudly.
"Shh don't cry, love. The only person who's going to die is Jace when this is all done."Said Magnus, who was now hugging hormonal Alec's head to his neck, and rocking him slightly. He gave a glare to Jace that clearly read this is not over and one more remark out of you, you're dead. He kissed Alexander's crown. "Come on, let's get you to bed." Alec sniffed and nodded. Magnus lead him toward their bedroom. The two other Lightwoods started to follow. "You are not coming in yet. Let Catarina in when she knocks. I would say make yourself comfortable, but you're not allowed to." He directed that to Jace, then shut the bedroom door.
AN- I'm so damn sorry it took this long. It was really hard to write. This is the first part the second is over twice as long, and I have 80% done. I really did make Mayris a little nuts, but It has to do with the plot. Robert, even though he's a cheating bastard (I don't blame him, though.), is a nice guy.