Chapter 11
Alec drifted slowly back to consciousness like a swimmer struggling to break the surface of the water after a particularly deep dive. He felt warm, protected and safe something he had not felt for quite some time, and it made him think he was still dreaming. He smelled the spicy scent of Magnus and magic in the air around him and his heart skipped a beat, if this was a dream he didn't want to wake up.
"Morning beautiful;" Magnus whispered as Alec's blue eyes fluttered open. "How are you feeling?"
"Oh God Magnus, you're really here! I was so afraid I was just dreaming." Alec breathed as Magnus tightened his arms around the boy's trembling body.
"Hush my love, I was foolish enough to let you go once, I promise it will never happen again;" Magnus whispered softly in Alec's ear. The boy nuzzled into Magnus' neck in response, and Magnus ran his fingers through Alec's soft, black hair, something he knew would help the boy relax.
As Alec drifted back to sleep, Magnus wondered how he could have been so blind. His focus on the present and preserving his secrets had been developed over years to cope with the heartbreak and loss immortality inevitably brought. He hadn't even considered how that coping method would affect Alec, that his reticence would be perceived as shutting Alec out, trivializing him. It would not be easy to change such long standing habits, but Alec was everything to him and Magnus knew he had to try.
The next time Alec awoke, it was to the soft rattle of dishes as Magnus brought him food and helped to prop him up against the headboard of the bed. "You need to eat if you are going to get your strength back;" he said when Alec looked like he might protest.
"Why are you so good to me? I messed everything up Magnus, though God knows I didn't want to." The evident distress on Alec's face made Magnus' heart tighten in his chest, and though he had hoped to give Alec more time to rest and recover before they talked about their recent problems, he knew it couldn't wait.
"Alec, when I told you I didn't want to see you again, I was angry, believing first that you had tried to shorten my life and then that you never truly trusted me. I did not see the ways in which I contributed to your lack of trust; even though you tried often enough to tell me. If I had been more open with you, you never would have sought Camille out, none of this would have happened. Now, no more talk, you need to eat and then rest."
After Alec had finished eating, Magnus snapped the tray back to the kitchen and climbed on to the bed wrapping his arms around the boy. Alec nuzzled into him, craving the warmth and contact. They stayed like that for what seemed like hours, alternately kissing and slipping into a light doze.
Magnus was the first to wake, tightening his grip on Alec just a little as if to ensure himself the boy was really there. Alec stirred slightly and murmured "I love you;" softly as ne nuzzled into Magnus neck. Magnus leaned down, tilting Alec's head up and capturing his lips in a gentle kiss. The kiss soon deepened as they both felt the fire of their passion and longing overwhelm them.
Last chapter for this story will be posted tomorrow!