Alec pushed open the door to Magnus's apartment and was instantly greeted by a delicious smell coming from the kitchen. He leaned against the door frame watching his boyfriend. "You are cooking? With your own hands?"

Magnus turned around and gave him a quick kiss. "Yes, I am cooking, Alexander. Actually, it's an apology, because this job took me so long to finish and now it's already late. I hope that's alright."

"I really don't care as long as we can spend some time together now." Alec took out two plates and set them on the table.

"Have I told you lately that I love you?"

"Well, not today no", answered Alec grinning.

Magnus filled up their plates with a spicy Indish dish. "How was your day?"

"Good. Nothing special", he said while digging into the food. He had spent most of the day training, trying to shake the remnants of his nightmare. "What was that job about again?"

Absent mindedly Alec listened to Magnus going on about his day, knowing that he was distracted for the moment. His thoughts went back to his dream and he could feel his heart rate increasing.

"Alec, what is going on in that pretty head of yours?"

"What?" Alec blinked confused. "Nothing."

Magnus frowned at him. "Are you alright? You look a little…shaken."

"No, I'm good."

"You are a terrible liar, Alexander." Magnus leaned back in his chair, studying Alec from across the table. "What is it?"

"I've told you it's nothing", Alec replied slightly annoyed. Somehow, he didn't feel ready to tell Magnus about his dream, yet. And what Shadowhunter was afraid of stupid nightmares anyway?

He got up and turned his back on Magnus starting to clean up the kitchen. Suddenly he felt two gentle hands on his hips and a familiar body pressing against his back. A light kiss on his neck.

"Why don't you go over and pick a movie to watch, while I clean up the rest?"

Alec smiled and turned around to face his favorite warlock. "But no remarks on my choice."

When Magnus entered the living room his boyfriend lay on the couch curled up in a fluffy purple blanket. His black hair was ruffled and chaotic, barely poking out under the blanket. Magnus frowned. Alec was sprawled motionless on the couch. His eyes were only half open and the dark circles beneath them told of a restless night.

"You look tired. Maybe we should just go to bed." Magnus reached for the remote to turn off the TV.

Startled Alec grabbed his hand. "No! I mean… uh I really want to watch this. Just a little longer. Please."

"Yeah I can see how attentive you were following the movie. So concentrated even that your eyes were closed for the most part." Magnus smirked and gently ruffled Alec's hair as he flopped onto the couch.

Tired Alec slumped into Magnus lap facing away from him. "I don't want to go to bed just yet."

Magnus gently rubbed his back. "Do you realize that you sound like a 5-year-old, Alec?"

Alec gave a grunt and when Magnus leaned forward his eyes were already closing again.

"Alright, little shadowhunter, that's it. Bedtime. Come on."

Alec shot up and was on his feet in a second. He rubbed his eyes and swayed a little, reaching out for the sofa for support. "No, I'm… I can't go to bed. I forgot that there's something that I have to handle."

"It's the middle of the night. What could you possibly have to do right now." Magnus grew concerned. Alec acted out of character. Obviously he was tired, but refused to admit it.

For one moment Alec seemed eager to protest, but then his shoulders slumped and he sank back into the couch. "Nothing," he mumbled. "I don't want to sleep."

Magnus sat next to him, one hand rubbing circles on Alec's back as he tried to look into the dazed eyes. "Please tell me what's wrong."

Alec shot a quick glance at him before directing his gaze at the floor. "It's really stupid."

"How about you tell me and then I will decide if it is stupid."

Alec sighted and rubbed his aching head. The lack of sleep was giving him a headache. "I had a nightmare last night. It still freaks me out." Frustrated Alec punched one of the fluffy pillows. "It doesn't make sense. Hunting demons is my job, but it was so … so real. And I knew it was a dream. I knew it, but I just couldn't wake up. I couldn't get away. I couldn't escape."

Alec's posture had become rigid, every muscle in his body tense and ready to react. He was staring at the wall with unseeing eyes, in his mind replaying the dream. The terrible but familiar voice and the fire. The pain that had consumed his body. He shook his head with a quick motion and rubbed his arms. The skin prickling with intangible pain.

Without a word Magnus pulled the young man into his arms. Alec relaxed into the welcome embrace emitting warmth and comfort. "Do you think that is stupid?", he mumbled.

"Of course not. Who says that shadowhunters are not allowed to be afraid of nightmares?" He placed a kiss on top of Alec's head. "What exactly was the dream about?"

Alec sighed and closed his eyes. "I woke up in my bed and realized that there was someone…something next to me. It told me that I couldn't escape even when I realized that it was a dream. And then…then I was suddenly in flames and the next moment I woke up."

"That definitely sounds nightmarish. And that is nothing to be ashamed of."

Alec just shrugged.

"Do you have any idea why you would dream something like that? Was it something you saw on a mission lately? And do you somehow recognize this creature? Maybe you saw something like it before."

"Actually…it was you."

Startled Magnus let go of his boyfriend. "Alexander do you think I would ever hurt you?"

"No, of course not. It's just…we have seen so much fucked up stuff. Maybe my brain was thinking about something that took on your face. I don't know, ok." Exhausted he ran a hand over his face, then looked up at the shocked warlock.

"I know you would never hurt me, And I'm really glad that you are here right now." The last part was drowned in a yawn.

"I might have something for you. Wait here." With that Magnus vanished and the next thing Alec heard was the busy clinging of glass bottles. Drained of all energy he laid down and pulled the blanket closer around his body. He didn't dare to close his eyes, so he remained staring emptily at the wall until Magnus returned.

"Here, this will help you." The warlock helped him sit up and pushed a cup of dark liquid into his hands.

"What is that?" Alec mumbled.

"Do you trust me?"

Alec only raised an eyebrow to indicate an answer.

"Just say yes and drink it."

In one sitting Alec drowned the liquid then frowned. "Ok, so what was that?"

"A sleeping potion." Magnus raised his hands to hush Alec as his boyfriend was about to protest. "You have to go to sleep, Alexander. You look terrible and I can see that you are in pain. This potion will guarantee you a restful and dreamless night."

"I hate you." Alec sank into the arms of his warlock, eyes closing and tense muscles finally relaxing.

"I love you too, Alexander"