31. Broken Wristwatch

"Ok, Alexander. I give up!" Magnus exploded at breakfast, his outburst so sudden and forceful that Alec almost slipped off his chair in surprise.

"What-?"

"What goes backwards instead of forwards, counts up instead of down and makes your days longer?" Magnus repeated patiently.

The riddle had been plaguing him for days, ever since they'd started this stupid game. He'd spent hours pondering it, even lost sleep - not that he'd admit that to his boyfriend, of course.

"Oh, that," Alec grinned. "Do you really want to know?"

"Alexanderrr," Magnus groaned.

The Shadowhunter looked smug. "A broken wristwatch," he said, simply.

"But..." A look of wonder came over the warlock's face. "That's… not clever, it's terrible," Magnus said, his eyes widening with the accusation.

Alec shrugged and took a bite of his toast. "Doesn't matter," he said around his mouthful. "Rules are rules - I get to choose the movie tonight."

32. Maiden Name

Alec hadn't wanted to put any extra pressure on Magnus, so he tried his best to act like he didn't mind either way. But when his fiance casually announced one morning that he would like to take Lightwood as his surname after they got married, he couldn't help but smile.

Of course, Magnus would still be Bane professionally, but that didn't matter to Alec. When you were in love with someone who had lived for so long and experienced so much, it was impossible to stop yourself from wondering what more you could possibly offer them. But a name, his name. Now that was something Alec was pretty sure no one else had ever given Magnus before.

Magnus Lightwood.

Yes, that was perfect.

33. Teenager

"Round two?"

The Shadowhunter was staring shyly up at him from beneath his thick dark lashes, with a glassy-eyed expression. His rune-covered skin was slick with sweat, gleaming like intricately carved ice in the evening light and he was still panting slightly, his pink lips parted.

"Teenagers," Magnus said, shaking his head slightly in wonder. He sighed happily and leant down to kiss him.

34. 3:28am

"Ok, I'm calling it."
Alec watched helplessly as the female paramedic leant back from the body, carefully removing her hand from the crook of his neck.

It wasn't supposed to happen like this, he wasn't supposed to die. Not now, not ever.

"Sir?" the male's voice sounded like it was coming from the end of a far off tunnel, although in reality, he was standing right next to Alec, uncomfortably close.

It had just been a routine hunt.

"I'm sorry Sir, we need you to move away from the body."

He wasn't supposed to be there, but Alec had forgotten his phone. Magnus hated not being able to contact him.

"Sir?"

Alec stared down at the gadget in his palm, noticing for the first time the splashes of red that coated the silver case. The same red that marred the warlock's chest.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

The female paramedic stepped away from the body and looked over at her colleague. He was still trying to get the attention of the dark-haired teenager. He must have been the one who'd called in the accident, the poor kid looked shell-shocked.

She sighed and pulled a notepad and pen from her belt, sparing a final glance for the young man who lay at her feet.

"Time of death, 3.28am."

35. Lucky Rabbit's Paw

"Why, Alexander. For me?" Magnus asked as Alec offered him the shiny gold gift bag. He reached inside and his fingers brushed something soft. "I hope it's fluffy handcuffs." He winked.

The Shadowhunter rolled his eyes and blushed in an adorable way that made Magnus want to drag him onto the nearest flat surface.

"No. It's a rabbit's paw. It's fake, I think - but the woman in the shop said it's enchanted to bring you luck. I thought it could help protect you. You know, when I'm not around."

Magnus peered at the tiny fluffy keyring in his palm. He blinked a few times and swallowed.

After a moment he heard the sound of a throat clearing and he looked up into the blue eyes before him. Alec looked worried. He was chewing his bottom lip as he waited for a response, no doubt trying to work out whether he'd offended the warlock in some way.

He yelped in surprise as Magnus reached forward and pulled him into a hug.

"Thank you, Alexander," Magnus whispered against the Shadowhunter's neck, "I love it."

36. Sunburn

"Oh, Alexander," Magnus bit back a chuckle as he took in the Shadowhunter's pained expression. Now would not be a good time to laugh.

"It really, really hurts Magnus."

"I know my love, just try and stay still. I can't heal you if you keep moving around."

Alec grimaced, "I know, it's just so uncomfortable."

"What I would like to know," Magnus said, trying to concentrate as he directed the blue sparks dancing from his fingertips, "is how you managed to get sunburn in such a … sensitive spot."

Alec's blush turned his cheeks a matching pink.

"Jace told me sunbathing naked was the best way to avoid tan lines." He confessed in a quiet voice.

When Magnus didn't respond he looked down, to where the warlock was hovering near his midriff. The older man's shoulders were shaking with silent laughter.

"Shut up," Alec groaned. He reached over to grab a pillow and hastily buried his face in it. "Just shut up."

37. A Thousand Memories

Alec knew that Magnus didn't like to talk about his past. At first, he thought he was being difficult, distant. Keeping some part of himself hidden. But when the nightmares started Alec realised that the warlock wasn't avoiding the subject so he could hide from him, he was doing it so that he could hide from himself.
And so when he woke up shaking in the middle of the night, screaming or sobbing names that Alec didn't recognise, he didn't ask questions. He just held Magnus tight until the trembling stopped.

38. I Told You So

"I-" Magnus began.

"Don't."

Magnus smiled sweetly at his boyfriend. Alec was currently glaring at him from his position on the catnip-covered floor, one of Chairman Meow's mangled chew toys tangled through his legs.

"What? I was only going to say I to-"

"Don't." Alec interrupted. He pulled himself to his feet and stalked off.

Magnus smirked as he heard the cupboard door slam open, followed by what sounded suspiciously like the hoover.

Well, he thought, if Alec insisted on getting all of Chairman's toys out at once, accidents will happen.

39. Insomniac

Magnus wasn't happy when he awoke to the smell of cooking in the middle of the night.

"You might be hopped up on demon-fighting adrenaline, Alexander," he yelled as he stormed out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. "But this is the fifth night this week and some of us need our beauty sleep!"

Alec froze, spatula in his hand, as the warlock entered the room.

"But you're already so beautiful," he said pathetically.

Magnus sighed and rubbed his face tiredly before walking over to the cupboard and retrieving a second plate.

"You sweet, stupid Nephilim." He muttered as he sat down at the table.

40. Magic

Alec thought he would die laughing when their son Max came home from school and requested a magician for his sixth Birthday party.

After ten minutes of watching the little boy explain to Magnus why what he did wasn't really magic because it didn't involve pulling bunnies out of hats, and how he needed a proper, professional magic person, not just Papa, Alec took pity on his husband.

"Don't worry," he said, curling his arms around the warlock's slumped form after he'd sent their youngest to his room. "I still think you're quite magical."