Time for the bad guys to get their punishment.

And for me to stop hurting poor Alexander.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The next morning, Alec and Magnus are eating breakfast that Magnus got from Sunset Bagels. He figured it was safe to portal over there and back. Alec needs his morning coffee.

As they are finishing up, Alec's phone rings. He finally remembered to put it on.

Robert

Alec narrows his eyes as he looks at it.

Taking a deep breath, he says "Hello."

"Good morning, Alec, how are you?"

"Do you care?"

"Of course, I do, you're my son."

Magnus slowly counts backwards from 1000 as he walks away from the kitchen table.

"Right, what do you want?"

"I want to meet and explain my actions to you, Alexander."

Hearing his father use his full name, bothers Alec, but he tries to keep the irritation from his voice, "Explain? How do you explain kidnapping me? How do you explain beating me? And I'm not even going to touch all the shit you piled on Magnus. What makes you think, I want to hear what you have to say?"

"Because you want to know why I did what I did."

Alec takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. His father is right, he needs to know why his father betrayed him.

Alec feels a gentle hand rub the back of his neck and he relaxes. He slowly opens his eyes and looks up at Magnus with a smile. He mouths "I love you" to his fiance. Magnus leans over and kisses him.

"Fine, where?"

"Where it all began, Central Park."

Magnus' eyes narrow as Alec glances at him, "What are you talking about?"

"Oh I knew about your walks through Manhattan late at night and I made sure that you had protection even though you were glamoured from the eyes of the mundanes. Can you imagine my surprise when it's reported to me that a DownWorlder was stalking you. Lucky for him, he didn't try to follow you into the Institute. The same DownWorlder that marched into your wedding. The same DownWorlder that kidnapped you from the Institute. The same DownWorlder that thinks he is going to be your husband."

"Fine, when?"

Robert laughs, "You have nothing to say about me knowing all about him lurking around my underage son?"

Alec glances up at Magnus. Magnus' cat eyes look back at him. Alec stands and gently kisses him. Magnus closes his eyes and rests his forehead against Alec's.

"When?"

Robert laughs, "Alright, noon, the Great Lawn. Oh and come alone." He hangs up.

Alec ends the call and puts the phone on the table. He puts his arms around Magnus. They hold each other. Their foreheads touching.

"I love you Magnus."

"And I love you."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"He knew."

Alec puts a hand under Magnus' chin and forces him to look at Alec, "And?"

"This 'protection' he had on you, I never sensed them."

"And?"

"They could have hurt you and I wouldn't have known it."

"Yes you would, because in order to get to me, they had to get past you. They were far enough behind you, to be of no threat to me."

Magnus sighs, "Whatever. Time to end this."

"Yes."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Robert watches Alec walk towards him, "Hello son." He tries to hug Alec, but Alec keeps his distance.

Alec shakes his head, "Let's get this over with. Why?"

Robert looks around, "Where is he?"

"You said come alone."

"Right, but he seems to never leave your side, so where is he?"

Alec rolls his eyes, "You called this meeting, now why are you working with Valentine?"

"Let's walk."

Alec sighs, "Fine."

They walk down a path. Mundanes are all around them.

"When you kissed that warlock at your wedding, I was livid, but I had to be the 'understanding' parent, since your Mother was more pissed than I."

Alec interrupts him, "Mom is okay with Magnus now."

"Right, because she doesn't understand the big picture. She is thinking like a mother and not like a soldier."

Alec shakes his head and says nothing.

Robert continues, "But your face, when I asked if the two of you were in love, gave me hope that this was just a phase you were going through. Then he had to spoil it by coming to your side. He always seems to be coming to your side and that worried us. Valentine and I needed to get him out of the way, in order to make our plan work."

Alec looks at him, "What plan?"

Robert ignores the question and continues, "That rune showed up on your neck and I knew that warlock was more of a danger than we had originally thought. Especially when I remembered your walks through this park and your 'companion'. Oh if only we had eliminated him back then, the plan would have been easier to implement."

Alec stops walking, "What plan?"

Robert smiles, "Always wanting to skip to the good part. Humor me."

Alec sighs, "Fine."

Robert glances at the mundanes that walk past them.

"Yes, the bond between you and your warlock friend got stronger and Valentine got more desperate. He had Aldertree limit the ShadowHunters access to DownWorlders, but that turned out to be a mistake. Especially for Aldertree and Raj. They were only to get you out of the way, so that he could be dealt with. But they took out their frustrations on you and pissed off your warlock friend."

Alec says coldly, "Magnus isn't a friend."

Robert glares at him, "Oh yes, you think you are getting married to him."

"I don't 'think' it, we are getting married."

Robert laughs, "Believe whatever you want, but that is a marriage that is never going to happen. Anyway, with Aldertree and Raj dead, Valentine tried a different approach. He thought if you saw how dangerous your friend could be, you would end your involvement with him. Your warlock friend killed two of his men, in a blink of an eye."

Alec looks at his father with wide eyes, "When I was attacked walking to Magnus', that wasn't random?"

Laughing, Robert says, "No. In the infirmary, the warlock looked defeated, and even though I didn't know why, it filled me with hope that he was going to be out of your life. That is why I let your mother talk to him, just to make him feel even more worthless. If I had spoken to him, I would have laughed in his face."

Alec stops and looks at him coldly, "I'm done walking, get to this plan."

Robert smiles, "Fine. The Clave saw you as the future of the Institute and had high hopes that you would become the Head one day. When you proposed to Lydia, they saw that as a step towards that goal. And even after you ended your wedding with that kiss, they still thought that, but I convinced them that Aldertree would be a better choice. You see, we wanted to get Valentine in charge and that couldn't be done if you were there. Like I said, Aldertree got sloppy and ended up dead. The Inquisitor named Jace as the Head, then he gave it to you and Valentine needed to get you out of the way. And here we are."

Alec looks at his father in shock, "I still don't see how he gets to be Head."

Robert smiles, "With you dead, and your mother and I divorced, I will go to the Clave as a grieving father and offer to return as Head. The Clave will thank me and I will then name Valentine as my successor. By the time the Clave realizes what is happening, he will be in charge and the Clave will have no power to change it."

Alec shakes his head in disbelief, "And if Lydia and I had gotten married?"

"Oh then you and your bride would have met with a deadly accident a week or so later."

"I can't believe you can so coldly talk about my death. I'm your son."

"Yes, you are, but the DownWorlders need to be put in their place and Valentine is our best shot at doing so. That is why we came up with the idea of killing you and blaming him for your death. I can be the grieving father, the ShadowHunters have a reason to go after him, and the DownWorlders have a reason to give him up."

Alec shakes his head and walks away from his father, "This is madness."

With his son's back turned, Robert pulls out a blade, "Not madness, but a means to an end." He walks towards Alec, the blade aimed at his back.

A fireball hits him in the chest just as he is ready to attack Alec. He slams into a tree.

Alec turns around.

A female mundane in between them snaps her fingers, her glamour disappears, revealing Magnus.

Magnus runs over to Robert and pulls him to his feet, "You bastard."

Alec takes a step towards them, but his arm is grabbed from behind.

He looks to see who it is, "Valentine."

Valentine smiles, "Hello, Alec."

Before Alec can call for Magnus, a portal opens up and Valentine pulls Alec through it.

Magnus turns to see them disappear, "NO! Alexander!"

Magnus runs over, but they are gone.

Izzy and Jace come out of the bushes and run over to Magnus.

Jace looks around, "Where's Alec?'

Magnus shakes his head, "Valentine took him."

Izzy asks, "Where's my Dad?"

Magnus waves, "Over there."

"There's nobody there, Magnus."

Magnus sees that Robert is gone. He rubs his thumb over his fingers, and tries to stay calm, "All for nothing and I lost Alec."

Catarina walks over, "No, he isn't lost."

Magnus nods. He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. He shakes his head, "Catarina, I ..."

She looks at him gently and takes his hands in hers, "Concentrate, Magnus."

He nods and closes his eyes again. He thinks of Alec's warm eyes, his bright smile, his sexy lip biting, "Got him."

Catarina smiles, "Good, let's get him back."

Jace nods, "Yes, we need to end this."

Izzy says, "I'll update Mom and the others, go get Alec."

Magnus takes a deep breath, creates a portal, and he, Jace and Catarina walk through. They find themselves in a warehouse.

Magnus looks around, "I've been here before."

They walk down a hall. Magnus nods to himself, "Yes, this is where Aldertree bought him."

Jace says coldly, "Valentine must own it."

They hear somebody walking towards them and hide inside a room.

As the man walks past, Catarina grabs him, "Where's Alec?"

He points down the hallway. She nods and breaks his neck without a word.

Jace says calmly, "I thought you were a healer?"

She smiles, "I am, but these men are standing between me and my favorite patient."

Jace nods, "Duly noted."

Magnus walks down the hall and they catch up.

They look into a room and see Alec slumped over in a corner. He is handcuffed and his left ankle is shackled to the floor.

Magnus takes a step into the room, but Catarina grabs his arm. She says gently, "It may be a trap, let me go to him, wait here."

Magnus' cat eyes stare at her, but he nods. He and Jace stay in the hall as she walks over to Alec.

She kneels by him and gently touches his face. He pulls away from her with a whimper.

She says gently, "Alec, it's me. It's Catarina."

He looks up at her with dazed eyes, "Catarina?"

She smiles, "Yes, my dear boy." She snaps her fingers and the handcuffs and shackles disappear. "Can you stand?"

Alec blinks at her, confused, "Stand?"

Before she can respond, she sees Robert coming at her from a side door. But a fireball from Magnus sends him flying across the room.

She stands up, and waits to see if he is foolish enough to come at her again.

He gets to his feet, glares at Magnus, who has entered the room, and tells her, "Get away from my son."

She sneers at him, "You gave up all rights to call him 'your son', when you kidnapped him yesterday and left him bleeding by Magnus'."

Jace tells him, "Robert, stand down, and let us take Alec."

He glares at Jace, who is standing at Magnus' side, "Fine, take him, as long as he stays far away from that warlock, otherwise I will kill him myself."

Magnus swallows. He looks at Alec who is safe behind Catarina.

Catarina, doesn't like the look on Magnus' face, says coldly to Robert, "What kind of father are you? You come near him and I will kill you."

Magnus tells her, "Catarina..."

She shakes her head, "No, Magnus. Do not make me send you away. What would Alec say, if he knew what was going through your mind right now?"

Robert smiles, "Oh how noble of you warlock. Tell you what. I'll let you have one last goodbye kiss and then that's it. Take the ring off his finger and leave. Not only this room, but New York. I want you out of my city."

Magnus nods and walks toward Catarina and Alec. Jace gets in his way, "Magnus, you can't do this."

Magnus pushes him and continues walking. He looks at Robert and whispers, "Do you have somebody who can wipe his memory of me?"

Robert nods, "Zachary has pledged his loyalty to Valentine."

Magnus nods, "Good, then I know who to kill."

Robert realizes his mistake and pulls out a blade, but Magnus is faster and hits him in the chest with a fireball. Robert bursts into flames and is dead before his corpse hits the floor.

Magnus looks at him coldly then walks the rest of the distance to Catarina and Alec. He stands in front of Catarina.

She eyes him, "You had me convinced."

Magnus shrugs, "I had myself convinced until I realized that this was a way of finding out what warlock was helping them."

He kneels down in front of Alec, "Alexander?"

Alec looks up with half closed eyes, "Magnus?"

Magnus nods and holds him. Catarina smiles at them.

"Why isn't that touching."

Magnus and Catarina look up and see Valentine standing by the doorway. Jace, who was pushed to the other side of the room away from Robert, stays hidden from his view.

Valentine walks into the room, as Catarina and Magnus get to their feet. Valentine looks at Robert's burnt corpse and sighs, "He was loyal."

Magnus says coldly, "And now he's dead."

"Warlock, you have been a major pain in my ass."

"Right back at you."

Valentine laughs, "Zachary said that you were not to be underestimated, and he was right. But the time for fun and games is over with. I'm done playing with you."

Magnus nods, "I agree."

Jace throws his blade, but Valentine gets out of the way, "Son, I taught you everything you know."

Jace glares at him, then smiles coldly as Magnus magically redirects the blade through Valentine's heart.

Valentine turns toward Magnus with a stunned look on his face, as he falls to the floor dead.

Jace stands over Valentine and looks at the two warlocks, "Is it over?"

Catarina sniffs, "I have a patient to take care", as she kneels by Alec and checks his pulse.

Magnus nods, "I do think it's over", as he also kneels by Alec.

Alec rests his head against Magnus' shoulder as Jace walks over to them. He takes out his stele and passes it over Alec's Iratze rune.

Alec looks up at him, "Hey Jace,"

Jace smiles, "Hey Alec." He looks at Catarina, "Is he going to be okay?"

She nods, "They put a lot of drugs in him, to make him untrackable." She glances at Magnus, "That's why you needed my help."

Magnus kisses her cheek, "I owe you big time, Catarina."

She nods, "Oh yes you do, especially for almost giving me a heart attack, thinking you were going to leave him. Let's get him into a warm bed."

Magnus nods as he gently picks Alec up.

Alec looks at him, "Hey Magnus."

Magnus smiles, "Hey Alexander."

Alec puts his head back on Magnus' shoulder.

Catarina asks, "Loft?"

Magnus nods, "I think it's safe to go back there."

Jace says, "If not, then I'm sure you can make it safe."

Magnus nods. Catarina creates a portal and they walk into the living room of the loft.

Magnus takes Alec into their bedroom and puts him to bed. Alec curls on his side and falls asleep. Magnus traces the love rune with a finger and smiles as it glows blue.

He walks back to the living room.

He sees only Jace, "Where's Catarina?"

"She said something about a wedding gift."

Magnus smiles, "It's been a long day, Jace. Do you need a portal to the Institute?"

"I would appreciate it, thanks."

Jace leaves.

Magnus goes back into the bedroom. Alec is asleep but his arm is across the bed, scratching at the mattress. Magnus kicks off his shoes and lays down. He slides close to Alec and puts Alec's arm around himself. Alec snuggles close with a sigh. Magnus kisses his head.

Magnus falls asleep.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Magnus wakes up. It's dark out and his arms are empty.

He sits up quickly and listens. He can hear voices. He gets out of the bed and runs into the living room. Catarina is sitting on the sofa, next to Maryse and Alec is sitting in a chair.

Alec stands up and walks over to Magnus, "Were you really going to sacrifice our love for my life?"

Magnus looks at Catarina, "You told him?"

"Of course I told him. He needed to know."

Magnus whispers, "Alexander, I couldn't let him kill you."

Alec shakes his head, "Magnus, for my life, you would give up us?

Magnus blinks at the tears in his eyes, "For your life, I would give up mine."

Alec kisses him and pulls him close.

Catarina and Maryse both stand.

Catarina calmly says, "That is our cue to get out of here."

Magnus pulls away from Alec, "Maryse, sorry about Robert."

She shrugs, "Not only was I clearing your name, but I was making our divorce final, just as you were killing him. Could have saved myself the trouble." She pulls a gold envelope out of her pocket, "This is for you."

Magnus takes it and pulls out a piece of parchment paper. It's an official Clave Wedding Contract for Alexander Gideon Lightwood and Magnus Bane.

Magnus looks at Alec, who is smiling at him. Alec kisses him, "Mom already showed it to me. We just need to sign it and pick a date."

Catarina smiles and kisses Magnus' cheek, "I took care of Zachary, but I'm in a generous mood, so I'll also get you a cookware set."

Alec giggles as he hugs her.

Magnus hugs Maryse, "Thank you."

She smiles, "Magnus, I should be thanking you. You make Alec happy and that is all I want for my son."

She hugs Alec, "Izzy is waiting on a date."

Alec nods and kisses her cheek.

Catarina creates a portal to the Institute and she and Maryse leave.

Magnus stares at the paper in his hand. Alec stands behind him and holds him. He rests his head against Magnus'.

"Magnus say something."

"October 8th"

"What's that?"

"The day I want to marry you."

"Okay, I'll tell Izzy."

"Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"Tell her tomorrow, now we need to celebrate."

Alec smiles, "Celebrate how?"

Magnus doesn't answer, instead he kisses Alec as he runs one hand through his hair and his other hand cups Alec's ass. They walk into the bedroom kissing. Magnus lays on the bed and pulls Alec on top of him.

THE END

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A/N1: To the Robert fans out there, I'm sorry.

A/N2: Not sure if anybody caught it, but in Nightmare, I actually called out Robert as a bad guy. May I suggest reading that fanfic (again) with this one in mind.

A/N3: A hint for the next (last) fanfic in this series? Wedding and a (blue) baby.