Poor Alec, he loves Magnus. Magnus loves him. But he is only 15 years old and doesn't understand why that would be a problem.

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Magnus slowly opens his eyes.

Izzy is standing there. "Finally, Magnus my parents are on their way."

Magnus blinks, not understanding. He looks around and sees Alec curled up against him, his head resting on Magnus' chest. Magnus' eyes widen, "Oh shit."

Izzy nods, "Quickly."

Magnus untangles himself from the teenager and gets out of the bed. He flicks his hand and he is in fresh clothes and make up. He watches as Alec moves, into the space that he vacated, with a sigh. Alec is on his right side, so the new rune is hidden from view.

Izzy runs out of the room as Magnus sits in the chair.

Maryse and Robert walk in five minutes later. Magnus nods at them.

Maryse smiles, "Morning, Magnus. How's Alec?"

Magnus smiles, "Morning. He woke up last night, didn't know what attacked him but he seems to be healing nicely."

Maryse nods, "That's good news. This is a school week, but if he doesn't feel up to it, I guess it is okay for him to go back to the loft and he can make it up tomorrow."

Magnus nods, "I'll let him know when he wakes up."

Robert nods, "You do that."

Maryse glances at her husband and smiles at Magnus, "Robert and I have business in Idris today, but if something comes up, do not hesitate to send us a fire message."

Magnus nods, "Okay."

They leave. Magnus runs his thumb over Alec's knuckles. Eight years and he still gets itchy when Robert is around.

He is distracted from his thoughts by somebody trying to hold his hand. Alec is awake and smiling at him, "Good morning, Magnus."

Magnus smiles, "Good morning, Alexander. How are you feeling?"

Alec slowly sits up, holding Magnus' hand, "My chest hurts."

Magnus nods, "Can you get to your Iratze rune?"

Alec sees his stele on the nightstand and picks it up, "Let me try."

Magnus gets up and goes around the bed to help him reach the rune. Alec passes the stele over it and relaxes a bit.

Now that Alec is sitting up, Magnus can stare at the love rune. Alec asks, "Magnus what are you looking at?"

Magnus smiles weakly, "You have a new rune."

Alec giggles, "How could I have gotten a new rune?"

Magnus shrugs, "It appeared last night after Catarina and I healed you."

Alec gingerly gets off the bed. He walks slowly out of the room and goes into the bathroom across the hall. Magnus follows close behind. He stands by the doorway.

Alec looks in the mirror and sees it, "By the angel."

Magnus nods.

Alec looks at Magnus' reflection, "It's a love rune."

Magnus nods, "Yes Izzy told us."

"But how?"

Magnus sighs, "I begged you to open your eyes and it appeared. But at first I was the only one that could see it. Izzy passed her stele over it then she and Catarina saw it."

"A love rune that only you could see, that you made happen?"

Magnus shrugs, "Seems so."

Alec turns around and looks at Magnus, "Did my Mom and Dad see it?"

"No, you were still sleeping when they dropped by."

Alec nods, "Good."

"Maryse said that you can skip school today."

Alec nods, "I just want to go home."

Magnus smiles, "Okay." He creates a portal and they go through it to the loft.

Alec walks to his room. Magnus asks, "Aren't you hungry?"

Alec shrugs, "Not really, I'm more tired than hungry."

Magnus nods as he watches Alec walk into his room and carefully get into his bed.

Magnus goes to the bar and makes a martini. He sits on the sofa and takes a few sips. He is exhausted. Between the magic drain of healing Alec and lying awake most of the night stressing over the love rune, he didn't get that much sleep last night. No wonder he woke up with Alec in his arms. Lucky for him, Izzy was able to wake him up in time to avoid a scene with Alec's parents. Order 144.45 or no order, having their fifteen year old son in his arms would have gotten him either thrown in a mundane jail or a cell in the City of Bones.

Magnus puts the glass on the coffee table and closes his eyes. Maybe he should go to his room and take a nap as well.

.

.

.

Magnus opens his eyes and hears a noise in the kitchen. He looks over and sees Camille sitting on the table.

Magnus stands up, "Camille, what the fuck are you doing here?"

She laughs, "Hello to you too."

Magnus glances at Alec's room and sees the teen sleeping, "Camille, you are not welcome here, leave."

She smiles, "A ShadowHunter? Really, Magnus, I thought you hated ShadowHunters. And a Lightwood at that."

"Leave."

She swings her legs, "Magnus, I thought you were smart."

"What are you talking about?"

"Hmm, ShadowHunters get their power from their runes."

Magnus rolls his eyes, "Yeah, so?"

"You have power."

"Yes, and you enjoyed keeping me around for that very reason until you found somebody else."

She smiles, "Poor Magnus, still holding a grudge after all these years."

"Yes, Camille, I am, now get to the point."

"This ShadowHunter that you are fond of, now has a rune because of you."

"Yes, and?"

She laughs, "Magnus, do I need to spell it out for you?"

Magnus is about to yell at her when it clicks. He glares at her instead, "Fine, now you can go."

She smiles, "You could at least say 'thank you'."

.

.

,

Magnus opens his eyes, he is on the sofa. He hears a noise in the kitchen. He looks over and sees Alec holding his side with one hand as he rummages through the freezer with the other. Magnus gets up and walks over to him.

He gently guides Alec to a chair, "You should have told me you were hungry."

"I didn't want to wake you. Sorry."

"Frozen waffles? Alexander you haven't eaten since yesterday afternoon and you were going to settle for frozen waffles?"

Alec shrugs with a wince, "We're out of bagels."

Magnus gently asks, "Your Iratze rune wore off?"

Alec nods, "It's not that it wears off, it takes some of the pain away."

Magnus nods, he eyes the love rune, "Alexander do you trust me?"

Alec giggles, "Is this a trick question? Of course I trust you Magnus."

Magnus nods. He gently tilts Alec's head so he can get to the love rune easier. Alec looks at him with trusting, but curious eyes. Magnus rubs his fingers together to bring up some magic. He traces the rune with his pointer finger and watches as the rune glows blue, then return to black.

Magnus asks, "Did that hurt?"

Alec shakes his head, "No, not really. It kind of was a bit cool but wait a minute..."

Magnus looks at him alarmed, "What's the matter?"

Alec stands up, "It's gone."

"What's gone?"

"The pain." Alec pulls off the bandages, the wounds are not only healed, but his chest and stomach are unmarred. Alec steps closer to Magnus and kisses him on the lips, "Thank you, Magnus."

Magnus gently pushes Alec away. He tries not to look at Alec's naked chest, but Alec's eyes are worse. They are full of tears.

Alec blinks, as some roll down his face, "Magnus, I love you."

Magnus closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, "I love you too. But Alec you're 15."

Alec wipes away the tears and looks at Magnus confused, "Yeah, so?"

"Alexander, I do not want to go to jail for statutory rape."

"But..."

Magnus cuts him off, "Alexander, there are no buts about it. I love you. I will always love you. But we have to wait."

Alec bites his lips, "Okay, but is it okay if you just hold me?"

Magnus flicks his wrist and Alec is wearing a shirt. He tries not to see the hurt in the teen's eyes. He pulls Alec into his arms and holds him, "I'm sorry, Alec."

Alec nods.

Magnus asks gently, "You want to order pizza?"

Alec nods.

Magnus takes Alec's face in his hands, "Alec, I promise you, I feel the same way. Our love is strong, that rune is all the proof we need. We have plenty of time but we have to wait for the right moment. Do you understand?"

Alec shakes his head, "Not really, but I trust you. If this is a 'not now' type of thing and not a 'never' type of thing, then okay."

Magnus smiles, "Yes, it is." He gently kisses Alec's forehead, "I love you Alec, never think that I don't."

Alec smiles, "And I love you."

Magnus nods. He lets Alec go and orders the pizza.

Magnus gets his martini from the coffee table.

Alec wrinkles his nose but says nothing as he gets a bottle of water from the fridge.

The pizza arrives and they sit down to eat.

Magnus finishes and goes into the living room. He grabs a book from the shelf and sits on the sofa.

The doorbell rings as Alec is clearing the table. He runs to answer it.

It's Jace, "I was on my way back to the Institute and I wanted to see how you were."

Alec lets him into the loft and smiles, "All better."

"Hi Magnus."

Magnus looks up from his book, "Jace."

Alec and Jace walk to the kitchen table. Jace sits down as Alec finishes the dishes. Jace says, "That is definitely a love rune."

Alec glances at Magnus, he is reading. Alec finishes at the sink and sits down across from Jace, "Izzy told you."

Jace nods, he glances at Magnus, "Did Maryse and Robert see it yet?"

Alec shakes his head, "I'm kind of scared how they will react."

They both glance at Magnus as he turns a page, Jace whispers, "They can't do anything about it. Izzy said it just appeared so they have to accept it."

Alec whispers, "That is what Magnus said, but still."

Jace shrugs, "It's a rune. A pretty rune but one with no power of its own."

Alec bites his lip as he shakes his head, "This one has power."

"How can it have power?"

"Magnus put magic into it and it healed my wounds. They are completely gone."

"By the angel."

Alec nods, as he glances at Magnus, "This is serious shit, Jace."

Jace glances at Magnus, "What about Friday?"

"What about it?"

"Are we still parabatai?"

Alec giggles then quickly looks at Magnus, but his attention is solely on his book, "Of course, this has nothing to do with us being parabatai."

Jace smiles, "Good. I better get back to the Institute."

Alec smiles as they stand up. They walk to the door.

Jace says, "Bye Magnus. See you Friday?"

Magnus glances up and smiles, "Yes you will. Night Jace."

Alec lets Jace out and locks the door. He walks to the sofa and sits next to Magnus, "How much of that did you hear?"

Magnus smiles, "All of it, Alexander. I'm old but I'm not deaf."

Alec giggles. His smile fades away as he asks, "I'm scared, Magnus."

Magnus tosses the book on the coffee table, "Your parents can't do a damn thing about the rune. They can try to take you from me. They can even take you to Idris, but until I declare that the Order is no longer needed, the Clave will hand you back to me. The law is the law."

Alec nods and rests his head against Magnus' arm. Magnus debates with himself and with a sigh, puts his arm around Alec and holds him close.

Alec isn't looking forward to tomorrow.

-tbc-

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Poor Alec. :(