A Day with Malec

Max

(Magnus)
"Daddy's!!!" Max screamed as Alec and I entered the Institute to find our son covered in paint and holding a plastic sword.
"What have you got there, my son?" I asked, trying not to sound to alarmed by the sword that I now noticed was real.
"Jace I told you, he's a warlock not a shadowhunter therefore no real swords until he's 13." Alec said sternly. Jace made a pouty face.
"He asked if he could play with it, what was I supposed to say, no?" Jace asked while grinning at my tight and firm expression.
"Yes you were!" I yelled starting to lose my cool, why couldn't my boyfriend have normal family? I had started to march up to Jace and give him what he deserves when Alec gently moved his arm in front of me, blocking my path.
"Jace, if you want to be able to have Max spend the night again you can't let him have potentially dangerous objects." Alec replied in a cool voice. How could he be calm right now?! Our son was trying to swing the much to heavy sword at his aunt! But as he gave me a knowing glance I relaxed some and let him take over the situation. He moved his arm from in front of me to holding my hand for reassurance.
"But it's not THAT dangerous Alec, plus this kid needs to learn to defend himself." Jace said soothingly.
"Maybe when he's older but for now he has me and Magnus to take care of him so he doesn't need to defend himself." Alec reassured Jace.
"Well, I guess you have a point." Jace sighed unenthusiastically. I breathed a breath of relief as Clary came out with a wet rag and change of clothes.
"Sorry he looks like this, he had more fun with tempera paint than I thought!" She exclaimed.
I smiled as Max let Clary scrub the paint off his hands and face.
"Ready to go buddy?" Alec asked as Max pulled on his coat, now clean from all paint.
"Where are we going daddy?" He asked excitedly.
I glance at Alec who shook his head no.
"It's a surprise my little one." I reply mysteriously and let a little blue flame leap from my hand towards Max in effect. He giggles and looks at Alec with loving eyes and my heart melts.
As we head to the zoo with Alec driving in New York traffic Max goes on and on about exploring the institute with aunt Clary and finding cool stuff. I smile to myself as Alec glances in the rear view mirror and tells Max different stories from the different places he visited.
"Hey dad?" Max asks suddenly.
"Yes my little one?" I reply.
"How come my friends at school have mommies?" Max asks, looking sincere.
I glance at Alec for support who leans toward me and whispers.
"We knew this was coming, might as well tell him the truth?"
"I guess, no point in lying he'll find out soon enough anyway." I whisper back.
"Well little one, you see your daddy and I love each other in the same way your friends mom and dad do. We adopted you, and don't know who your birth parents are. Those are your parents that are actually related to you by blood, ok?" I ask, afraid of what he'll say in response.
"So, my really mom and dad gave me to you?" He asks thoughtfully.
"Yes, in a way." Alec replies trying to make things easy for a two year old to understand.
"Ok, are you and dad treated the same as people like aunt Clary and uncle Jace?" Max asks, filling my heart with dread. Alec nods encouragingly at me.
"No my son, some people don't like daddy and me because we love each other like aunt Clary and uncle Jace." I reply fearfully.
"Because you're both boys?" He asks earnestly.
"Yes my love." I answer, dread filling inside me. What if he thinks Alec and I are wrong, he'll get older and only want Alec to go in public with him so that it looks like he has a father and mother and eventually disown me after Alec passes.
"That's not fair to you and daddy. You're just like everyone else." Max says curtly. I sigh in relief as Alec loosened his grip on the steering wheel, clearly thinking the same thing.
We arrive at the zoo in our happy little trio. Max laughs at any animal that makes a noise when we pass and then mimics it. Alec and I take each of Max's hands and swing him in between us as he cackles and squeals higher! In all my time on this earth, I had never felt this way before, protective, loving and so proud. I guess that comes with being a father.