I wanted to revisit Mikey's bad dreams but I got distracted by Mikey being a badass little boy. Until now.

Enjoy.

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Alec's eyes open when he hears a screamed "Daddy". He leaves his seraph blade on the nightstand as he jumps out the bed then leaves his and Magnus' bedroom.

Mikey has been with them just over a month, but he's still having bad dreams two or three times a week. He's moved on from Emil's "training" but his subconscious is another thing. At night he's haunted by dreams of losing his fathers and sister.

Alec walks into Mikey's bedroom and smiles at his son. Mikey is sitting on his bed, facing the door. He looks at Alec with tear filled eyes as his arms open wide, "Daddy's here."

Alec scoops Mikey up then sits on the bed. He puts Mikey on his lap. He gently wipes away his son's tears then kisses Mikey's nose, "Yes I am."

Mikey presses his face against his father's chest, "Daddy." He wraps his arms around Alec.

Alec rubs Mikey's back for a few minutes.

Mikey suddenly tenses and turns around. His left hand's fingertips are ablaze with red flames even though his eyes are half closed. His right hand has a tight grip on the back of Alec's tshirt.

Magnus stops walking into the bedroom and raises an eyebrow at his son's show of power. Alec gently kisses the red mark at the top of Mikey's head, "It's okay, raspberry. That's Poppa."

The power disappears as quickly as it appeared, as Mikey closes his fist and turns back to Alec. He mumbles, "Poppa loves Daddy", as he presses his face against Alec's chest.

Alec nods as he rubs Mikey's back, "Exactly." He stands up holding Mikey.

Magnus relaxes. Alec walks away from the bed. He kisses Magnus on his way out the bedroom, "Mikey and his quick trigger."

Magnus nods, "It's scary."

Alec chuckles as they walk to their bedroom. Maxine is waiting for them, "What's funny?"

Alec smiles, "Poppa thinking that Mikey would hurt him."

Magnus sniffs, "I was more concerned with that much power near your face."

"As if Mikey would hurt me."

Maxine giggles as she holds Magnus' hand, "Silly Poppa."

"Whatever Maxine." Magnus and Maxine follow Alec into the bedroom.

Alec holds Mikey close as he lays in the bed. Mikey seems to be sleeping as Alec gets comfortable. Magnus feels Mikey's power slowly fill the room.

Maxine giggles as she gets in the bed next to Alec, "Poppa trying to save face."

Magnus rolls his eyes as he lays next to his daughter, "Not arguing with you, Maxine."

"Because it's true."

"Whatever."

Maxine giggles as she puts her head on Alec's shoulder, "Big comeback, Poppa."

Alec shakes his head, "Enough you two."

Magnus sniffs, "Whatever, Alec." Maxine giggles.

They lay in silence for a few minutes.

Maxine turns to Magnus, "Poppa, will Mikey always have bad dreams?"

Magnus kisses her forehead then smiles, "No, eventually he'll be able to figure out what to do if we are not with him."

"Good."

"With all his power, Mikey is still a four year old little boy. Last year when you needed help what did you do?"

"I went to Max, even though I don't remember why."

"Exactly. Mikey doesn't know how to open portals yet, so he can't go to the Institute or to Max's world. That's why he's terrified when we aren't there in his dreams."

"But he's so powerful, Poppa."

"That he is, but his power is of no use to him if he can't figure out what to do with it."

Alec nods, "Power isn't all there is, blueberry. You have to have the knowledge of what to do with it."

Magnus nods, "Exactly. When he's awake, Mikey loves us and knows that we love him. He has control over his magic. But in his dreams, he doesn't know where we are and that confuses him. He's also probably confused as to WHY he's upset about losing us. That's based on his training with Emil, and the inborn hatred that warlocks have for Shadowhunters."

Her eyes widen, "Inborn hatred, Poppa?"

"Of course. Warlocks are part demon and demons hate Shadowhunters."

She stares at the ceiling in the dark bedroom for a few seconds then looks silently at Alec. He smiles at the seriousness in his teenage daughter's eyes. He leans close and gently kisses her nose, "Love you."

She continues to stare at him for a few more minutes, then turns back to Magnus, "Nope. I look at this man and I don't see 'nasty Shadowhunter'. I see only the 'Daddy' that I love."

Magnus laughs, "Well, I didn't say ALL warlocks hate Shadowhunters. You have been surrounded by them since you were a baby so of course, you have no ill will towards them."

"Max too."

Magnus chuckles, "Yes, Max as well, but we are talking about you and Mikey. Now, your brother spent the first four years of his life with a warlock that hated Shadowhunters. Hated them to the point were he wanted to start a war with them by killing..."

Magnus realizes his mistake when Mikey suddenly sits up and looks around the room. Even in the dark, Magnus can see the coldness in his son's eyes.

Alec sighs, "Really, Magnus?"

"I thought he was sleeping."

"You thought wrong."

Maxine giggles, "Mikey's always in 'protect Daddy' mode."

Magnus sighs, "That's true."

His silent scan of the room complete, Mikey looks at Magnus. His father smiles at him, "Nothing to see, just me talking."

Mikey silently turns to Maxine. His sister giggles, "Nobody's here for you to attack."

Mikey turns his attention to Alec. His father kisses his nose, "Go back to sleep, raspberry."

Satisfied that his family is safe, Mikey puts his head back on Alec's chest and snuggles against his father. Without looking, he puts his right hand on Alec's deflect/block rune. His left hand reaches for his sister. Maxine holds his hand. As his eyes close, Mikey smiles.

A few minutes later, Maxine whispers, "Poppa, what's that?"

Magnus quickly looks around the bedroom, "What's what?"

"There's a strange feeling in the room now."

Magnus nods, "That, my darling, is your brother's power. It's a bit stronger than it usually is."

"Oh. Why do I feel it now?"

"I guess he got a bit spooked by what I was saying and amped it up a little."

"Oh."

"Your brother doesn't think my wards around the building and the loft are good enough, he has to put up his own."

Maxine giggles, "It's not just Mikey's wards, that the bad guys need to worry about."

"Oh yes, there's also three powerful warlocks and an armed and dangerous Shadowhunter ready to kick butt." Maxine nods. Magnus kisses her forehead, "Go to sleep, blueberry."

"Okay, Poppa." She looks up at Alec, his eyes are closed. She turns back to Magnus, "Daddy's sleeping."

Alec whispers, "I'm trying too, but certain people are still talking."

Maxine giggles, "Sorry." She kisses his cheek, "Night, Daddy."

"Good night, Maxine."

Magnus leans over Maxine to kiss Alec, "Good night."

"Good night."

Maxine snuggles against Alec's side and rests her head against his shoulder. She's still holding Mikey's hand. Magnus gets comfortable behind her. He reaches across her and rests his hand on Mikey's back. Alec holds his hand.

The Lightwood-Bane family fall asleep.

tbc-

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Maxine needed Max and his fathers' help in Friends in Other Worlds.