Magnus had stopped keeping track of time as hours became days. Max's sleeping schedule was so erratic that it hardly seemed to matter what time of day it was anyhow. Magnus tried to think of Max and only Max so the hole in his heart where Alexander had been was easier to bare. Magnus's life had somehow become that of a need filler. His waking hours were donated to feeding, clothing, changing and comforting the small blue infant in his arms.

"One day I shall teach you all kinds of magic tricks," Mangus told the baby. "We shall be quite the team you and I." Max giggled reaching up at Magnus with his little fingers. "But no matter how much time passes, in a hundred or two hundred years I will always be able to say I once changed your bottom." He chuckled, magically wrapping the baby back into a clean cloth.

"Oh, don't you give me that look," Magnus said as he scooped Max into his arms. "It's the truth."

Catarina popped by a few times a week to make sure all was well. He'd already told her to stop looking for another foster parent for Max and just as he'd known she would Caterina had been thrilled.

"I am so glad," Caterina had said. "This little baby couldn't have a better home."

"Max," Magnus corrected her as he placed his sleeping son in the crib.

"So you are keeping the name?" Catarina inquired.

"Of course," Magnus said, as if she were speaking nonsense. "It's a great name."

"Yes, but that is not why you've decided to keep it," Catarina replied knowingly. "Are you going to admit it now?"

"Admit what?" Magnus asked. "That I love Alexander? That he awoke something in me I thought long dead? That when I'm with him, or even think of him, the world finally makes sense? That every horror and pain in my life is eased by his presence? That even if I never see him again I will be counting the days until his mortal heart stops beating? Is that what you'd like me to admit?"

"Oh, Magnus," Catarina sighed, pulling him in and letting Magnus cry on her shoulder. "I had no idea."

"Neither did I," Magnus choked, feels as if he could cry and like the amazing friend she was, Catarina let Magnus sob in her arms until he couldn't cry anymore. Then she spent the day with him, saying it was to keep an eye on Max, but Magnus knew better.

He was glad when she already refused to leave the next day. Never before had Magnus needed company so badly. Catarina did have to leave eventually, but she said she'd come by again soon.

The day Tessa dropped by Magnus braced himself for another tiff but either she could sense the change in him or Catarina had said something because Tessa appeared in a great mood, and was eager to see the baby.

"He's so adorable," Tessa smiled picking up the baby and touching his nose with hers. "I remember when Will's kids were little. I used to play with them. They called me Auntie Tess."

"Well, consider yourself Auntie Tess once again," Magnus said. "I shall need babysitters."

"Count me in," Tessa said, throwing a giggling Max up in the air, before catching him.

Magnus tried not to think about how he'd talk about Alec in fifty years time. He tried not to see Tessa as his future, while he spent the day with her and Max. This was impossible, however, because Tessa was his future. The heartbreak in her eyes, his destiny. Magnus knew Tessa often helped the nephilim, especially those of Will's line. If she heard about a fight she'd appear and help without being seen. Magnus wondered if he, too, would one day do that. Keeping watch over Alexander's children and grandchildren, trying to keep them safe.

"You really loved him, didn't you?" Tessa said softly. Magnus didn't speak, but his silence seemed to be all the answer she required. "I am sorry I thought you were using him. It's just that you care so little for the nephilim, Magnus, you always have."

"It's only that nephilim," Magnus whispered back. "Just him."

"One is all it takes," Tessa smiled at him. "In my case, two, but love is what pulled me into their world. The love of an individual."

For once, Magnus actually understood what Tessa meant. He asked her to stay for dinner and she was more than happy to agree.

Catarina and Tessa's visits kept Magnus sane over those first few weeks without Alexander. Without them and Max, Magnus was sure he wouldn't have gotten out of bed. Lucky for Magnus, infants needed constant care which kept him busy.

Magnus was watching his son sleep having just put him down when he heard someone banging desperately on his door. Quickly casting a monitoring spell on his child, Magnus got up to prevent the noise from waking Max. Tessa and Catarina knew to just walk in without making such a ruckus that could wake the baby.

Magnus opened his front door, and what he saw nearly stopped his heart. Alexander was standing there in the rain, beaming at him like a crazy person. Those beautiful blue eyes alit with joy and relief, his face bright and rosy.

"Magnus," Alec gasped, before flinging himself into the warlock's arms, and pressing his lips to Magnus's. Magnus kissed him back, unable to do anything else. Just seeing Alec again was a joy he hadn't expect, though there was a little voice in the back of his mind, warning him that something was wrong.

"I figured it out," Alec exclaimed as he walked into the house. Rather than telling Alec to keep his voice down, Magnus quickly cast a spell to muffle any sound from entering Max's room.

"I found a way," Alec repeated. "For us to be together."

And Magnus froze. Had Alec gotten out of his responsibilities? Would his domestic dream become a reality? The hope rising in him scared the warlock silly as he hung on Alexander's every word.

"You can come live in the Palace with me," Alec said. "I told my parents everything. They are on board. We'll have to lower the shield so you could get inside, but it'll work."

Magnus's heart sank, his hope crushed as he realized what Alexander was asking of him. "Trapped in the Palace," Magnus stated unsure what else to say.

"If you need to leave we could lower it," Alec offered. "It's the only way we can be together Magnus."

"I have a feeling your parents conditions included you still getting married," Magnus stated more than inquired.

"Yeah," Alec said. "But she's not interested in me. She's going to keep a lover in the Palace too. It's a political marriage. I want to be with you."

"And you think I don't!" Magnus snapped. "Alexander, it's all I want, but to be just your- just kept for you- trapped and hated by all around me except you, I just- I can't." His voice was hoarse with emotion, braking. Saying though words felt like a knife to the heart, but still he knew them to be true.

"You will live forever," Alec reminded him, suddenly angry. "Have already lived for hundreds of years. Is it so much to ask for you to spend just this short time with me?"

"It doesn't work like that," Magnus said, sadly. "Just because I don't age doesn't mean I want to spend the next fifty years of my life trapped in a Palace as your mistress, Alexander." Magnus spat the word mistress out like a poisonous snake. The word was so accurate in describing the deal Alec offered and yet it felt like a shallow way to describe their love.

"You wouldn't be my mistress," Alec said desperately. "You'd be my guest. My-"

"You're pet warlock," Magnus replied coldly. The whole idea made him sick to his stomach. Though he now understood why Tessa had agreed to this. She'd been so young, so naive, and hopeful. Magnus wished he could be so, but he wasn't. Also, Magnus couldn't just think of himself. Even if he was willing to condemn himself to a life trapped with those who hate him, how could he subject Max to such a life? Max, who would suffer more since his curses was so much easier to see?

"At least we'd be together," Alec cried. "It's the only way we can be, don't you see?" Magnus could see the desperate need in Alexander's eyes. He could tell that this was Alec's only hope and he was truly sorry that it was a false hope.

"Don't you think that is the problem?" Magnus sighed, his face in his hands.

"If my brother was still alive I would have gladly given him the throne in my place to be with you," Alec sobbed, his hands reaching out to touch Magnus's face. "To live here with you."

"And I would gladly welcomed you," Magnus replied with a smile. "So why can't we do that? Why does it have to be a brother? What about your sister?"

"A nephew could work, though there is no guarantee she'd have sons and it would be decades before her kids come of age," Alec explained.

"Ah, but I was speaking of Isabelle herself," Magnus said. "Why you let your women fight, but not rule is beyond me. As someone who has been watching your family for centuries I am uniquely qualified to tell you that your system is broken." Magnus placed a hand on either side of Alec's face, leaning forward to gently kiss Alec before speaking. "I love you, Alexander, but I will not become a trapped mistress of the royal household," Magnus whispered. "Not even for you. My answer is no."

"Fine," Alec snapped, tears running down his face as he pulled away sharply. "You stay here then. Be sad and lonely. See if I care!" But Alec did care, it was written so plainly across his face he might as well have shouted 'I love you too.'

Magnus watched the nephilim turn and ran back out into the rain, feeling somehow more broken than he had before setting his eyes on his soulmate again. Slowly, Magnus closed his front door and returned his attention to his son.

Max was still sleeping soundly, ignorant of the turmoil around him. Magnus envied Max his innocence, as he sat down and cried over the baby's crib.

Magnus fell asleep, the salt from his tears dried to his face as he woke to the sound of his son's cries. After feeding the hungry infant, Magnus held Max and walked around the room, rocking him. He couldn't help but picture the life he'd just given up. It didn't matter that Magnus knew he'd made the right decision. It didn't matter that just hours ago he'd had hope, if only for a moment, and that hope had crushed him still more.

At some point in the next few days Ragnor graced Magnus with his presence. It seemed Catarina had told the old warlock about Max.

"I myself have raised many orphans," Ragnor told Magnus as he rocked the crib. "Thought not for centuries, but I remember it fondly. I am sure the child will greatly add to your happiness, my friend. No more wild parties, huh?" Ragnor laughed. Magnus tired to laugh too, but the chuckle died in his throat.

"What's wrong with you?" Ragnor asked. "It's like someone has pulled all the fun out of you. I know my friend is in their somewhere."

"Your friend is nursing a broken heart," Magnus explained with a sigh. "He will be back eventually."

"Is it that nephilim boy Catarina told me about?" Ragnor asked. Magnus nodded. "Why did he leave? Surely if he cares for you too there is no need for broken hearts?"

"He is the heir to the throne," Magnus explained. "He has a country to run, children to father. Alexander lives in a different world from me. It's a broken world, but it's the world we live in."

"For those who remember the world before," Ragnor sighed. "It seemed even more backwards, I promise you."

"Thanks," Magnus sighed.

"There was a time when warlocks and nephilim were friends who relied on one another," Ragnor explained.

"I can't imagine a world like that," Magnus said wistfully. "But it sounds nice."

"It was," Ragnor replied. "Though so long ago now that even I have a hard time recalling it. That's the problem with an alliance of mortals and immortals. Over many generations the mortals tend to forgot who is a friend and who is a foe." Magnus didn't reply, but kept his eyes on his sleeping son who was started to wake up. "If there is anything I can do to help," Ragnor continued. "Let me know." Magnus turned to smile at his friend, before picking up Max who had started fussing.

"I'm a little rusty," Ragnor said, his warm tone instantly lightening the mood as he rubbed his green fingers together. "But it's see if I remember anything." He took Max as Magnus handed him over and lifted the baby up in the air. Max then proceed to throw up all over Ragnor's face.

"I think I'd leave it for another century," Ragnor laughed, as he handed Magnus's son back to him and cleaned away the mess with his green magic. "Clearly children don't like me."

"Actually, he needed to burp," Magnus said, bouncing Max up and down while he spoke. "So you did a good job."

"That was a burp?" Ragnor said shaking his head. "Geez."

Slowly, Magnus adapted to his new life. It amazed him how much had changed since he'd met Alec. Magnus's whole way of looking at the world seemed to have shifted. His life of parties felt empty and pointless while the occasional nuisance of people showing up on his doorstep begging for help was no longer an annoyance. Instead, it felt meaningful. He had always valued his friends, but now he craved their company more and, of course, the biggest change in his life was Max. Magnus tired to stay busy. He tried not to think of Alexander, but he failed often.

What to say here... not sure... I had such an epic writing binge but now chapters will probably slow down. Please leave a review and tell me what you think. I know this story is sad guys but I promise a happy ending. :)

Sneak Peek Chapter 11

Alec made the trip home slowly, trying to put off the inevitable. He thought of just giving up, saying goodbye to all common sense and turning around to run into Magnus's arms and never let go. Surely Magnus could portal them somewhere remote so no one could ever find them. The world didn't need another king right? In this moment Alec wanted tell the fools to figure it out themselves and run off into the sunset with his love.