Summary:
Alec woke slowly, his body aching as it always did lately, his heart heavy and broken in his chest, even as it beat to keep him alive.
'A few months more.' Alec thought, 'Just a few months more, then I can let go.' He promised himself as he sat up.
In a few months the Clave would finalize their Marriage Equality Law allowing Shadowhunters of the same sex to marry under their Laws as well as Downworlders and Shadowhunters to marry eachother, Shadowhunter and Mundane marriage had been petitioned as well but that had been shot down immediatly as Alec had thought it would. But Izzy would have the option to marry Clarry and Jace could marry Simon and maybe Simon could help stabalise Jace when Alec let himself go.
Alec looked around and realized that he was not in the room he shared with Lydia, for one the sheets beneath his fingers were red silk, for two the room was larger than their quarters even with the added nursery for the baby.
"Maggie!" Alec cried and stumbled from the bed.
"Alexander?" Magnus' voice called questioningly.
Alec knelt on the floor beside the bed and calmed his racing heart.
"Alexander." Magnus said as he looked at the man on his bedroom floor, "What happened?"
Alec shook his head and clutched at Magnus.
"Maggie is fine, she's sleeping in the guest room. I've also called Lydia to let her know that you were staying here, she seemed quite releaved that you were sleeping and promised to keep the families away fro another two days." Magnus explained as he helped Alexander up.
"How...how long have I been asleep?" Alec croaked.
"So far?" Magnus asked, "About twelve hours."
"By the Angel." Alec scrubbed his face with his hand, "I have to go. I have meeting with the Clave and I need to make sure the right people are patroling the right areas."
"You need rest, Alexander." Magnus said loudly.
'I'll rest when I'm dead.' Alec thought but didn't dare say aloud.
"The Shadowhunters know that you became a father yesterday, according to Lydia your parents arrived to not only see the baby but to run the Institute while you two have 'Baby bonding time' they called it."
"They'll ruin eveything I've been working on." Alec said in horror.
"What do you mean?" Magnus asked as Alec started towards the guest bedroom, "Alexander?"
"I've been working on a tolerence campaign." Alec admitted as he collected Maggie's things into her diaper bag.
"What?" Magnus asked.
"Only Shadowhunters who have proved to be neutral in their dealings with Downworlders have been allowed to patrol where Downworlders live or are present, the rest I've been giving rather shit assignments. Izzy, Clary ad Jace handle the Downworlder cases, not that they've noticed." Alec muttered.
"My parents won't care, they still hate Downworlders and I doubt that will change." Alec sighed, "I'm sorry, but I have to go."
Magnus watched Alec collect his daughter and head to the door.
"Alexander?" Magnus called, "What is Maggie short for, I refuse to believe you named your daughter just Maggie."
Alec glanced back at Maguns, "It's short for Magna."
Magnus' eyes teared up, "You named her after me?"
Alec nodded, "Lydia suggested it and I couldn't say no."
"Alexander." Magnus put his hands on ALec's cheeks, wiping the Shadowhunter's tears away with his thumbs, "You and Magna are always welcome here if you need a break or just to visit, do you understand?"
Alec took a shaky breath and nodded.
Magnus pulled his hands away and chose to ignore the way Alec tied to follow them before stepping back.
"Would you like a portal?" Magnus offered.
Alec nodded, "I- We snuck out to see you."
Magnus smiled softly, "Lydia had to collect a payment from your rooms, so I know where it is."
Magnus created the portal, "Be safe, Alexander."
Alec tried a smiled, "I'll try, the portal won't effect Maggie, will it?"
"She'll be fine." Magnus assured him, and stepped closer to coo at his goddaughter, "I'll see you soon, you little cutie, be good for your mother ad Daddy."
Alec stared with an aching heart as the High Warlock cooed at his daughter.
"Goodbye." Magnus said as Alec stepped through the portal.
Lydia looked surprised when he entered their rooms through the portal, "I thought you'd stay longer." Was all she said as Alec handed Maggie to her.
"I have things I need to take care of."
"Your parents..."
"Don't care about what is right or the Downworld." Alec interrupted. "Take all the time you need, Lydia, I've got everything under control."
Lydia looked after Alec with sad eyes as he left before looking at little Magna Lightwood.
"You should have been theirs." She whispered, "A little Lightwood-Bane, or just Bane, there's every chance Mayrse and Robert would refuse to give the Lightwood name to a Downworlder. I'm sorry your Daddy is broken , I'm sorry his people broke him before you could see what a great man he used to be."