Magnus wakes up for a few minutes. Alec and Magnus talk before Max wakes up, needing his parents and maybe Rafe too.

Chapter Thirteen.

Magnus Bane is a very caring man. He's so caring in fact that when he wakes from his very deep and tired slumber, he rolls his head to the side to attempt to ask his lover if he is okay. He remembers Alecs pain, his fear and all of the horror that comes with it. Magnus pushes himself up in a sitting position, attempting to get up when he realizes just how tired he really is. His body is so sore and broken that he can hardly sit up. He falls back against the pillows, giving himself a long moment to attempt to get up. He has to find Alec. He has to make sure he is okay and heal him if he is not okay. Just then the door opens and Alec comes in with a shocked expression on his face.

Alec rushes to the side of their bed and kneels down, putting his hands to his lovers and giving him the best smile he can muster. While he feels tired, like the fear is still deep down in his bones, he is relaxed, better now that his lover is awake and the worst is over. Magnus sits up for Alec though it is clear that it requires a lot of effort.

"How are you feeling?" Alec asks at the same time that Magnus asks, "Are you okay?"

They both give a small laugh and then look into each other's eyes for a long moment. It is a peaceful moment where they both realize that they have the answer to their questions in the others eyes. They can see each other like no one else. They stare deeply into the other until Alec lifts up to sit at the edge of the bed, never leaving their connection. Magnus's long fingers trail against his boyfriend's cheek and down his face.

"Is the fear still with you?" Magnus asks in a deep voice that makes it clear he is still afraid for his lover, even if Alec is not afraid himself.

"Just a little," Alec says.

"What can I do?" Magnus asks, feeling afraid again. Alec gives him a squeeze of the hand and then raises to his feet.

"Let's go to bed. I think we both need sleep."

"What about the kids?" Magnus asks.

"Max has been out since his magic depletion. He's okay but I put him to bed. Rafe is asleep too. They're both fine," Alec says as he slips out of his shirt and pants, laying down beside his lover. He reaches across the space between them to pull Magnus over. They lay together until Magnus has his hand on his lovers chest and they are holding each other closely together. Alec can still feel the slight tremble in his hands, remember the horror in his gut that buzzed all over his body.

"Tonight if something happens…if I see it in my sleep and I wake up, just wake me up. Okay?" Alec says in a tone that is some what uncomfortable. It's as if he doesn't really know how to explain what he is feeling anymore. After trying to hide everything from his family and then having everyone watch him when he was crying and writhing in pain, he really does not know what to think. He just wants everything he can think of to be as private and alone as possible.

"Okay my love," he assures. "I'll help you if you need it."

"No I meant—"

"I know what you meant and I know what I meant. I am going to help you," Magnus says with assurance, giving him a quick squeeze. "Are you sure you feel alright?"

"Well sort of."

Alec takes a long breath before deciding that maybe talking about it would not be the worst idea. After all, he had not talked about anything that he felt other than with Jace and really that was mostly Jace talking and Alec listening. Jace was so scared. He could feel so many problems inside of his parabatai that he did not know existed. But after being together like that, it made them both feel better.

"Talk to me," Magnus begs, feeling more caring than ever.

"The kids…I know Rafe is a Shadowhunter and he'll train and I know I'd freak out if something ever happened to him. But he's a kid so I never really thought about what it would be like when he gets older and he has to fight. When I saw him like that it really scared me, Magnus," Alec gets out. "I also had no idea how much Jace knew and didn't know. But after we talked, it felt better."

"Rafe is still so young. That is not something you need to worry about now. He will be a great warrior one day but that will be because you give him great training. With Jace, Izzy, Clary, Simon and you all helping him to grow, he will be okay. We will help him, Alec," Magnus assures. "Right now, he's safe. Everyone is safe."

"Thanks to you," Alec says. "You put so much effort into this. You are so sick and tired but you helped me anyway. You made yourself sicker than you have been in a long time to help me."

"I feel okay," Magnus says.

"Do you?" Alec says, looking down at him. Magnus rests his hands on his lovers chest to look up at his gleaming face.

"I feel really tired," Magnus admits. "But I am okay."

"Let's sleep," Alec decides, reaching down to give Magnus a long, drawn out kiss before resting his head back on the pillow. It is just seconds before they are both asleep. It is just two hours before Alec is throwing Magnus off of him, sitting straight up with a shout of horror. The nightmares are vivid and come to him in long waves, shuttering Alec down to his deep core.

"Alexander," Magnus says, reaching out to throw his arms around his boyfriend. "What is it?"

"The kids. I need to see the kids." Alec rushes up in a panic, about to run out of the room when there is a knock on the door. Alec opens it without thinking to see Max standing with a blanket in one hand and his fist rubbing his other eye. He looks tired but also a little sad. In Alec's panicked state, he reaches down to grab his son and holds him in his arms. He hugs him tightly to his chest and brings him back to the bed. If this were any other day, Magnus would tell him that Max needs to go back to his own bed but tonight both of them want him close.

"Are you okay, Max?" Magnus asks as Alec sets him down between them.

"Okay, Papa," Max says and nuzzles into his Dad's arm, falling almost immediately back into slumber. Magnus reaches across them and squeezes his lovers shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

"It was about them," Alec says. "I'm fine. They're fine. Just…" Alec gives a long breath, seeming like he can't get the words out. "Hold my hand."

Magnus does just that, petting down his lovers dark hair with his free hand as he slowly puts his boy to sleep.