Magnus watched the blue eyed boy resting peacefully (that had a lot to do with the whole unconscious thing), occasionally stroking his hair or one of his cheeks. Magnus had always loved Alec's sharp features, if it were possible Magnus would just sit there and stroke the conscious Alec's face all day, and if Alec would ever let him do such a thing while conscious. Doubtful.

He was about to check for demon poison one more time. Normally he probably would have nearly depleted his magic making sure Alec was poison free and okay but now he knew he had to keep his magic on reserve to protect this institute, to protect Alec. Suddenly Alec was shifting in his sleep, peaceful expression gone and pained sounds escaping his throat. Blue eyes opened, and Alec jerked awake, the way one woke from a dream when they were falling.

His face was tired and oddly content, he stared up at the warlock and Magnus was relieved to see that there was no anger in his face at the realization.

The boy snorted, a small laugh escaping his lips that were dry and cracked from blood, "Ha, even in death I dream about you. How pathetic am I?"

Magnus stared at the boy, he had felt all off of Alec's hurt and pain and loneliness when healing him, and he knew he would do anything to take it away. However it was a lot easier to hurt someone than to heal them, Magnus knew this all too well.

He slowly caressed the boy's face, loving the way Alec seemed to just automatically lean into him, with his guard down he still leaned into his touch the way he used to. This warmed Magnus's heart in ways he couldn't explain.

"You're not dead, Alec, a little sore maybe and you should probably lie in bed the rest of the day, but you'll be fine."

Those eyes snapped open, looking cold and had and confused. He jerked away from Magnus's hand and scooted backwards into a sitting position and his back against the wall as if he was afraid that Magnus would attack him or something. As if he would hurt him again.

Magnus felt disappointment wash over him, more so disappointed in himself than Alec's reaction. He had broken Alec's heart, how else did he expect Alec to react to him? Of course, hopes and expectations are two completely different things and Magnus had hoped that this would be easier on the both of them. His expectations were much closer to what was happening now, in that Alec wanted nothing more to do with him.

He noted that Alec seemed to wince as he steadied himself against the wall, pulling the ragged blanket to his chest, covering himself. Alec sent a glare his way, and the weariness behind his eyes made Magnus suspect he may have a concussion.

"You healed me?" Alec questioned with his voice hard as stone.

Magnus looked down and nodded, hating that Alec was using that tone with him, hating even more that it was his entire fault.

"That I did, and I also cleared up a few marks on your stomach. They, however, didn't look like they were made by a demon of any sort, at least none that I have run into."

He felt another spasm of jealousy, though to a lesser degree than the one he had first experienced when inspecting Alec's wounds. Magnus had been around for over 800 years, and been with lots of people, and he and Alec had been broken up for around three, which was more time for a mortal than an immortal like Magnus. How could he expect Alec to not move on?

Maybe it was because he hadn't moved on from their relationship himself?

He watched as Alec glanced down, eyebrows knit together in confusion as if he was wondering if he had been attacked by something else while unconscious. Magnus just stared, as was habit for him when Alec was around, but it had been a while since he really got to look at Alec. He was just as beautiful and endearing as ever. Also still a bit slow to catch on if you were anything but straight forward. Those blue eyes were on him now; face a bit flushed, and he gnawed on his lower lip.

The little things Alec could do to make Magnus's heart stutter in his chest astounded him.

"Thanks for healing me." Alec said finally, sounding equal parts grateful and awkward.

Magnus shrugged, he had always found it strange when Alec thanked him. Most people just paid him and left, as if it was just his job and regardless of whether if it was fixing a hangnail or saving a life he didn't deserve thanks, he was half demon after all.

Alec wasn't like that; he had never been like that. It was part of what drew Magnus to him, how sweet and empathetic the boy was, from the very first night when he spoke about his parents, not only was Alec exceptionally kind for a Shadowhunter, but as a person in general.

Magnus couldn't look at him as he spoke up next; if he did Alec would see the jealousy and anxiety in his eyes. It was almost too painful to ask, and he knew the answer, if Alec gave him one at all, would be just as, if not more painful, to hear. He smoothed out the edge of the blanket, running his hands over it and straightening out the corners, a nervous habit that Alec was more prone to, but Magnus needed somewhere else to look, something else to do.

He decided to keep his tone casual, doing his best to keep Alec from being overly defensive.

"So where did those marks come from, if you don't mind my asking? Seeing as two of the three available men in this institute are taken, by women I might add, that leaves only one candidate of which I am aware. That would leave Jake? Jeremiah?"

"Jasper," Alec growled defensively. "And that's none of your business."

He must have really liked this Jasper, though the way he had talked to him earlier confused Magnus. Alec had definitely shown a nonchalant attitude towards this Jasper when they were outside the institute, but maybe that was what Magnus had done, caused Alec to shut down even more.

Magnus looked up, hoping the hurt didn't show but Alec was way too perceptive to not notice. It was more a question of if he still cared? Did he matter to Alec the way Alec still did to him? Probably not after what happened, what Alec thought happened at least.

"Alec, I was just trying to start a conversation-" Magnus started, but was quickly interrupted by an emotionally charged Alec.

"Start a conversation about my new relationship? Because that's not suspicious at all! You don't get to do that Magnus. You don't get to do this to me, Magnus not after what you've already done."

Magnus felt his chest tighten, as Alec looked near tears during his speech. He hurt Alec and Alec was still hurting, and now he used the word relationship to speak of himself and another man. Everything hurt more than he had ever thought possible, and it was all because he was trying to keep Alec safe. Instead Alec was in the same danger Magnus had been trying to protect him from and was emotionally distraught at the same time. It was his entire damn fault.

"Alec, I didn't mean to upset you, I just don't know what to say."

Alec's eyes narrowed and he looked as if he was about to say something, but instead inclined his head for Magnus to continue.

"I want to speak with you, to explain everything and I have no idea quite where to start."

"Three years ago would be nice," Alec suggested with bitterness in his voice. "Or maybe it was a longer time ago than that, because I really don't know what happened at all. All I know is one day you loved me and the next you broke up with me Magnus and"

Magnus desperately wanted to tell Alec that he had loved him, and had never stopped, that what Alec remembered wasn't true and it was all a spell but suddenly all his thoughts were shifted to the present as Alec hunched over in pain.

Alec sucked in a breath and clutched his side a shooting pain went through it. He leaned back, eyes screwed shut and he made a small hissing sound and clenched his first.

"Alec!" Magnus called, leaning into the boy, not caring if this was probably the last thing Alec wanted.

"There's still a bit of poison I much have missed," Magnus explained, trying his best to look Alec in the eyes but the Shadowhunter was squirming in pain.

He knew he should have gotten rid of all the poison in the beginning, but Alec waking up had distracted him thoroughly.

"I'm going to have to put you under," Magnus explained while gripping Alec's shoulders firmly, his eyes boring into those deep blue ones he loved so much, "but when you wake up I promise I will explain everything, and I hope you can find it in you to forgive me."

Alec just hunched over in pain, not able to respond, and Magnus, who was unable to bear the sight of Alec in any sort of pain, promptly snapped him into unconsciousness.

Magnus took the chance to admire the boy, as his face was no longer contorted in pain. He traced the sharp outlines of his strong jaw, his cheeks softer than nearly anything he had ever touched, the hair a messy disarray of raven locks that just somehow worked, and the well-muscled chest now rising and falling peacefully and also no longer adorned with the hickeys that had made Magnus feel the sharpest ping of jealousy.

"I truly do hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me darling," Magnus whispered, placing a light kiss on the Shadowhunter's forehead before getting to work on him.

The blue sparks escaped his fingers, lighting his eyes and glowing against Alec's pale skin as he worked his magic to eradicate any of the remaining poison. It took a lot less time than he had thought and he leaned back, watching Alec's breathing return to normal, his expression even seemed to soften marginally. The sight brought him back to just three years ago . . .

Flashback

It's around 6:20 when Magnus hears the familiar buzzing of his speaker, exhausted and annoyed he gets up to respond.

"WHO CALLS UPON THE HIGH WARLOCK, AND AFTER OFFICE HOURS I MIGHT ADD, THIS WILL COST YOU EXTRA!" Magnus shouts, hoping he may scare off whoever is buzzing, sure it's less money, but Alec should be here at any moment, and that's more important.

A chuckle is heard through the speaker, "Oh, Mr. Bane how on Earth do you expect to keep business with an attitude like that? I'll tell you when I was High Warlock I was always most welcoming to customers, no matter what the time. Though I do suspect this may have a bit to do with that pretty Nephilim boy you've been seeing, I could wait for him out here if you-"

Magnus, who had up until that point been frozen in a state of shock at the familiar voice, interrupted.

"Get up here, and so quickly." Magnus demands, trying his best to keep his voice solid but he knows that voice and knows that nothing good comes along with it.

He buzzes him up, not even a millisecond later there is a knock on his door and he opens it up, seeing the man to whom the voice belongs standing there, a smug smile on his sharp face.

"Donavan," Magnus greets stepping aside as if the man is more than welcome into his home.

The man floats, not walks into his home, and this puts Magnus at ease. He isn't real; this is a projection, because Magnus only with three other warlocks all made it that way. The man, who Magnus once considered a friend, had gone mad with power and Magnus along with Rangor Fell, Kita Redling, and Jeddah Iredell. All three of those who had assisted in the spell trapping Donavan between the two worlds: of the living and the dead, had now perished themselves.

Immortal did not mean unkillable, and all of them, except Magnus of course, had learned the hard way. It wasn't uncommon though, they were all half demon after all and when that's in you, you tend to get involved in things one shouldn't. You tend to overestimate yourself after so much time alive, and in most cases, you have found that death is not the worst thing and don't care if you do die in the end.

"So, you must be wondering how I could possibly be here, I can see the question in your eyes Bane."

Magnus shrugged, and leaned against the doorway, closing it in case anyone walked by. He crosses his arms across the chest, "I am curious as to how you are here, yes, but by no means will I lose sleep if I don't find out."

The man chuckled, disbelieving, "I'm sure you wouldn't not with that Shadowhunter boyfriend of yours."

"Leave him out of this." Magnus demanded, cat eyes narrowed and blue sparks escaping his fingers.

Donavan's smile faded, and he got serious, "The way you left Kita out of it? You, and those other two turned her against me, Magnus, and I had to watch her from where I am now, I had to watch her grieve over me, watch her move on from me, I had to watch her die."

Magnus's heart clenched, Kita had been a good friend, as Donavan had been once, and while he had no sympathy for the man who had been killing his own kind in a quest for power, he had sympathy for losing a loved on. No one questioned the love Donavan had for Kita, she was probably the only person he ever had loved, and the look on his face when she was on their side . . . he barely put up a fight. Not to say there was no fight, and Donavan, who was much older than all of them, even putting up a small fight, was an incredible adversary.

That was hundreds of years ago though, Magnus was actually 300 at the time, young and naïve, if it had happened today, Magnus would have killed him, and he knew what the craving for revenge did to people. Valentine was just the most recent in a long line of examples of such actions.

"I'll ask this once, since you apparently want me to do so, what do you want Donavan?"

"Revenge, of course" Donavan replied, almost sounding casual about it.

Magnus rolled his eyes, "What do you want, my head on a platter or something? You got what you had coming to you, the only regret I have is not using a stronger spell to keep visits such as this one nonexistent."

Donavan smirked, "Oh, Magnus, it has nothing to do with your spell, it was actually quite powerful, but as you well know by now every spell has its counter, and I'm working on finding this one's, I'm incredibly close as a matter a fact."

"Well then," Magnus replied, opening the door, "feel free to stop by when you do find it, but I am expecting someone."

"The Lightwood boy? I'll wait along with you." Donavan taunted.

"As I said before, leave him out of this. Kita assisted us on her own accord, these are two completely different situations."

Donavan shrugged, "Do you want to know what I've heard can reverse this spell?"

Magnus rolled his eyes, "Not really-"

"Shadowhunter blood," Donavan interrupted with a sneer, and Magnus froze at his words, the familiar clunking of boots coming up the stairwell.

A deep, victorious laugh and a 'poof' sound and Donavan was gone, the last thing Magnus saw was his triumphant smile.

"Magnus?"Alec called, reaching his door, "were you waiting on me?"

Magnus unfroze, and flashed Alec a smile, pulling him into a needy kiss, "Of course darling. I know I had suggested going out tonight, but what do you say about us just staying in? I'll order take out, we'll watch movies, one thing will lead to another . . ."

Alec flushed, and made his way into the apartment,

"Oh, you know how badly I wanted to go out," Alec replied sarcastically, of course all too content to stay indoors.

Magnus smiled, checking the stairwell once more before shutting the door behind him.

"Excellent!" Magnus cheered, following Alec to the couch.

Several hours later, after dinner, a movie and lots of heavy petting and kissing(had they gone any further Magnus knew he wouldn't bring himself to do what he had to do), Alec had fallen asleep, dead tired as Magnus lay awake next to him, wide awake. He traced the sharp features of Alec's face, placing light, feathery kisses on his cheeks and forehead; he then placed his head down on the boy's heart, listening to its steady beat and feeling the slow rising and falling of his chest. He then just stared at Alec, memorizing every detail of his boyfriend, knowing he could never bear to have something bad happen to the boy, least of all because of him.

"Alec, I promise when this is all over, I'll explain everything," Magnus whispered, a lump in his throat making it hard to continue, "but for right now, this is something I don't know how to protect you from. This is the only way I know how to at least do something, make sure you don't get hurt. I hope you understand."

Magnus swallowed the huge lump in his throat, lifting himself up as blue sparks escaped his fingers. He placed his hands on either side of Alec's head, whispering the spell, unweaving and weaving Alec's memory of that night.

When it was all over Magnus placed his foreheads to Alec noting that even while asleep Alec seemed a bit uneasy, probably due to the memories now on his mind

"I will love you more than I have ever loved anyone, Alexander Lightwood, and I hope somewhere deep down you know that."

One more kiss and Magnus left his loft, escaping in order to give Alec a clean break in the morning. Alec awoke the morning, memory a bit blurry, but then everything came back and his body felt like lead. It was as if some sort of poisonous ivy had been planted in his stomach, making him queasy, and it wrapped around his heart making it hard to feel, wrapped around his lungs making breathing difficult, his throat was closed up and he knew he was close to tears. He didn't have time for that though, he knew Magnus would be back soon, and as his memory told him, he was given time to pack his things and go, as it was best for the both of them.

For you see, instead of remembering the sweet cuddles, affectionate kisses, whispered 'I love yous', Alec remembered a distant Magnus, few kisses, and the 'I love yous' were replaced with 'we need to talk'. After that, Magnus had broken up with him, told him things weren't what they used to be, and he had to end it. Magnus then left, saying he had an appointment but would understand if Alec stayed to gather his things. The last thing Alec remembered was passing out on the bed, to emotionally exhausted to do his packing then. He quickly packed, and knew right then, what he had to do, he had to get out of New York, away from everything that would remind him of Magnus.

So that morning, Alec packed his things, both at Magnus's place and the Institute, and left New York for California. Just the way Magnus had wanted him to.

NOW:

Magnus still watched Alec, now just waiting for him to wake up, knowing it would be one of the few opportunities he would get to explain everything to the boy. The buzzing of his phone caused him to start; he had been gazing at Alec for some time now, willing him to wake soon.

It was an alarm, the time 6:20. Magnus bit his lip, not wanting to leave Alec but knowing he had to, he placed a kiss on his forehead and grabbed his coat, a silent promise to be back as soon as possible.

0o0

I hope that was worth the wait, and I'm sorry if it took too long, school has been pretty insane lately. If there is any confusion, just let me know, I've been writing a lot between classes so grammar and spelling is probably all over the place.

Basically what happened was an enemy from Magnus's past is back, he threatened Alec, and the warlock being older and very powerful was capable of doing terrible things. Magnus doesn't know how to protect Alec except to break away from him. While their last night together was full of love and affection, Magnus changed his memory to that of a breakup, and planted the idea of Alec changing institutes in order to keep him safer. It would also be close enough (for a warlock) to still watch over him and keep him safe.