A/N So first off I owe a big apology to Nellie2011. I promised a chapter by the end of last week and didn't deliver so I'm really sorry about that! Second, thanks for all the reviews I've received over the last few chapters and the whole story really. Your guy's response to this story has made it super fun to write.

Alec was awoken by shafts of light pouring in from in between the curtains, he rolled over onto his back and immediately regretted it. The pressure on his spine was awful and he could barely breathe as he struggled to roll onto his other side. When he finally managed to do so he was startled to find two golden-green cat eyes staring at him.

"By the Angel, Magnus!" He exclaimed in surprise.

"What?" The warlock asked sleepily.

"How long have you been laying there staring at me?" The dark-haired boy inquired.

"An hour or so." Magnus replied with a shrug.

"Do you watch me lot when I'm sleeping?" Alec asked.

"Define a lot."

"That's creepy." Alec told him.

"It is not. You were asleep and I was bored." Magnus protested.

"Then go watch T.V." Alec laughed. "Don't just stare at me like a creeper!"

"It is not creepy!." Magnus insisted. He too was laughing now. "You are adorable when you're sleeping."

"Don't call me adorable." Alec said pulling a face.

"Cutie?"

"No."

"Sweetness?"

"No!"

"Lovely?"

"Magnus."

"Yes darling?"

"Absolutely not."

"You're no fun." Magnus informed him. He climbed out of the bed and went around to the other side of the bed to help Alec climb out of the bed.

"I don't want to get up." Alec protested when the warlock offered his hand.

"I know, but you have to." Magnus told him sternly. "Izzy is going to be here soon."

"Can't we cancel?" Alec groaned. He shifted uncomfortably in the bed, feeling the stress knots in his sore back and neck.

"Unfortunately not."

"Why?"

"Because it's rude to cancel a party being thrown for you three hours before it happens." Magnus explained.

"Magnus, I hurt though." Alec moaned.

"Baby, I know you don't feel well but you know what Catarina said."

"Staying in bed will only make things worse." Alec mumbled.

"So get up and stretch a little honey." Magnus implored gently. Alec sighed but allowed his boyfriend to help him climb out of bed.

"You are so giving me a back rub when I get out of the shower." Alec informed him before giving him a sweet kiss.

"Whatever you want, love." Magnus agreed as Alec shuffled into the large bathroom. After taking a few minutes to straighten up the bedroom Magnus went into the bathroom and perched on the countertop. Sitting on top of it he could see Alec through the glass doors of the shower. The boy looked over and rolled his eyes at Magnus. Alec thought it was dumb the way his boyfriend watched him. If only he knew how beautiful he was. The hot water eased most of his pains, relaxing his face from it's near constant mask of discomfort to an almost angelic serenity. Dark hair, in need of a cut, stuck to his pale cheekbones as he leaned over the little shower caddy to find his shampoo. He looked sharply over at Magnus, which the warlock took as a cue that he'd overstayed his welcome and crossed through the doorway back to their bedroom.

Ten minutes later Magnus looked up from a book at the sound of footsteps. Alec stood there in only his boxers, pulled down low on his hips to accommodate his pregnant stomach. In his hands were two bottles which Magnus took from him. Alec settled on the bed, sitting back against the headboard as Magnus opened the first small bottle and squeezed some of the lotion onto his fingertips. Gently, the warlock worked it into the shiny red stretch marks on either side of Alec's stomach for a few minutes. He then reached for the other bottle while Alec moved forward to sit indian style in the middle of the bed. Magnus sat the same way behind him and rubbed his back between the shoulder blades with the sandalwood oil he loved.

"Baby." Magnus said gently after a few minutes.

"Yeah?" Alec replied drowsily.

"If you really don't feel well enough I'll call her and cancel."

"It's okay." Alec said. His voice was choked.

"Alec honey, what's the matter?" Magnus asked urgently.

"Nothing." The boy insisted, even as he began to cry.

"Oh sweetheart, shhh, shhh." Magnus said, moving to sit next to his boyfriend and wrap his arms around the boy.

"I'm such a bad parent." Alec cried.

"Oh love, no you aren't. Why would you say that?"

"I'm so tired of being pregnant. I just want him out."

"Honey, you're tired. You've been so strong, it's okay to feel that way."

"There are so many people who can never have children. Carter is a miracle!"

"That doesn't mean you don't have a right to be tired of being in pain." Magnus insisted.

"I just don't know if I can take all the awkward happiness while I'm so miserable."

"We can cancel."

"Yeah, but on the other hand if Izzy's going to keep being so annoying I think I deserve a party to make up for it." Alec said seriously.

"Yeah, you do." Magnus laughed. Sometimes mood swings were kind of life savers.