Malec One Shots

48. Christmas

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Song ~ Billie Marten - Milk and Honey
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"Morning, angel. Merry Christmas." Magnus whispered warmly as he rolled Alec over by his shoulder. Alec peeled an eye open, groaning, and closed it again. Magnus chuckled at the murmured 'no' Alec breathed out, and kissed his temple with a sort of tenderness Magnus never knew he had in him at this hour, before pushing the bedcovers aside and swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He walked toward the door to the kitchen, and turned around at the doorway to see Alec looking at him with an utmost fondness in his eyes. He pulled his robe off the hook on the door, and slid it on. Making his way to the kitchen, he stopped to look in the gilded mirror hung on the wall. The emerald eyeshadow he had on the previous night was smeared all over his cheekbones and temples, and as he picked over the array of children's toys littering the floor, he smiled to himself. He had what he wanted most. He had his husband, his children, and his cat; it was paradise. He flicked the coffee machine on, and magicking a packet of wipes he started to clean his face.

He leaned against the counter, hearing footsteps and muffled voices and then more footsteps, and watched as Alec, Rafe, and Max walked into the space. Max was in the process of glamouring his skin, and Rafe was angrily rubbing his eyes. Magnus eyed the massive, elaborately decorated fir tree in the lounge, and nodded at Alec. "We're having breakfast, then presents." He said calmly, watching a now pale skinned Max pout up at him. Rafe was twelve now, and Max ten, and both had seemed to reach their angsty teenage years a little earlier. "Go on." Magnus chuckled, watching his children go to the living room to sort gifts out. He turned to put the wipes in the bin and take two mugs from the cupboard. He poured both he and Alec coffee, and magicked up two plastic cups of bubble tea from their favourite place in London. He also conjured up four bacon and cream cheese bagels from a cosy, family-run business right at home in Brooklyn, put everything on a tray, and took it into the living room with Alec. It turned out the kids had peeked at one or two of their gifts, and were attempting to hide it. "It's alright." Magnus laughed. The kids rejoiced, before starting to tear open their presents. Rafe pulled the lid off a box Magnus had wrapped elegantly, and shouted in triumph as he pulled out the crystal tipped daggers he'd seen in Diana's weapon shop in Idris one day. There were four of them, agate tipped, and extremely sharp. Rafe flipped one in his hand. "Put it away, you can play with them later on, with Jace, okay?" Alec coaxed, and Rafe slid the dagger back. Then it was Max's turn.

He ripped the paper off his gift, and let out a choked sob of happiness. He sat holding one of Magnus' spellbooks he'd asked for a while ago. He peeled the cover back gingerly, flipping through the worn pages with care. Alec smiled softly at his carefulness, and glanced at Magnus who had his bagel in one hand and the mug of coffee in the other. "Your turn, dad." Rafe nudged Alec by his knee, and handed him a gift.

It was from him and Max, and as he tore the tape and paper off he knew exactly what it was. He laughed, holding up a badly knitted Christmas jumper. Rafe had taken the hobby up a few months prior, and even with Max's sarcastic comments about it they'd joined together to make something for Alec. He laughed, hugging his two children and thanking them, pressing a kiss to Rafe's black strands and Max's black curls. Then Alec passed one of Magnus' gifts over, taking his food and drink in return. He watched as Magnus tore into the packaging, not a care in the world, and saw as his expression of uncertainty changed to one of glee. (Ha) His gift was from the kids too, and they'd made him an equally cringy jumper as well. Where Alec's had the image of the angelic power rune, Magnus' had the picture of a blue fireball on it. He did the same as Alec, passing out kisses and hugs, before giving the kids their bubble tea and bagels. They wolfed their food down like they belonged in the New York Pack, and Alec grabbed hold of another gift.

That one was from Magnus. He tore it open, and as he unfolded it he let out a gasp. His old leather jacket had been destroyed on a demon patrol previously, so Magnus had bought him a new one. It was expensive, Alec could see, and as he looked at the price tag he felt a bit dizzy. "Magnus!" He exclaimed, placing it aside to lean over and kiss his husband right on the mouth. "I'm glad you like it." Magnus looked esteemed. Then it was Magnus' turn. He opened his gift from Alec and pulled the lid off the box he'd unwrapped. He pulled it from the box to inspect it, and as he closed a hand around the item it glowed strangely. Magnus knew what it was. It was necklace he held in his palm, with a pale blue spherical crystal pendant dangling from the middle. As soon as Magnus let go of the crystal a projection showed up on the wall. The four looked over at it, just as the door swung open to reveal a bunch of shadowhunters and downworlders alike.