Two Dads, One Family

9

Camille.

Even now she still haunts Raphael's nightmares.

He can't always remember her face though.

So when he has a nightmare of a faceless monster with big hands that have sharp claws chasing after him for being bad and giving him big and painful spankings, he wakes up screaming.

Alec runs into the room and kneels next to the spare bed that Raphael is sleeping on. He instantly brings the boy into his chest, ignoring the flinch for now and rubbing small circles into Raphael's back when he clings to him.

"Shh, it's okay. You're okay. You're safe, it was just a bad dream." "I-I-I-I'm sorry!" Raphael continues to cry into Alec's chest and grip his shirt. The Lightwood hears footsteps behind him and turns to see Magnus carrying an upset and scared Max out of the room, gesturing that he can handle him while he handles Raph. Alec nods gratefully and turns his full attention to the scared kid, now noticing why he's apologizing.

"Don't apologize for that. It's okay, accidents happen. Tell you what, the way i help Max when he wets the bed and needs the extra comfort is a quick bath and some cuddles to settle down. How does that sound?" "B-bubbles?" "We can do bubbles. You're comfortable with me doing this?" "Mhm. Max says you give the best cuddles and I wanna see if it's true." "Alrighty." Alec lifts up Raphael and carries him to the bathroom, not reacting to the feeling of the wet clothing on his skin in fear of Raphael getting more upset when he barely managed to stop crying. The Lightwood rubs the boy's back soothingly and starts the bath, helping him take the wet pajamas off and get into the bath. Alec adds the promised bubbles and lets Raphael just sit there for a minute and play with a rubber duck, rubbing his back a bit still to help relieve some of his tension.

Meanwhile, Magnus is sitting on his and Alec's bed with Max in his lap. He gets the boy to calm down and holds him close.

"Magnus?" "Yes, Max?" "Is Raph okay?" "Yes he is. He has Alexander to help him feel better." "Good, daddy is good at helping. What made Raph act like that?" "I think because he had a nightmare and a wet bed that it made him very upset. He's going to be fine." "We need to go clean up so Raph can get more sleep!" "Excellent idea, Max." "You get the bed, i find clothes." "Sounds like a plan." The two high five and Magnus gives Max one last squeeze before letting him run to his room. Magnus quickly peeks into Madzie's room and is pleasantly surprised to see that she's still out like a light. He then enters Max's room and strips the sheets, cleaning off the mattress cover before grabbing a new set and putting them on the bed. Magnus grabs the currently empty hamper and puts the wet sheets into it, stopping by the bathroom to get the wet clothes before putting everything in the laundry room of the house. When he returns to the child's bedroom, Max has pajamas out for Raphael with a pull-up on top. Max still has wet nights so Alec always makes sure to have a couple packs in the closet. Magnus smiles and sits on Max's bed, pulling him into his lap for some cuddles while they wait for the other two.

Alec starts to clean Raphael when he notices that the boy won't let him see his bottom or the backs of his thighs. The Lightwood manages to finally see the area after about two minutes of coaxing and is furious at the scars he finds. He quickly cleans the boy up and lets him sit in the bath while he goes to grab his clothes. He enters the room to see a sleeping Max cuddles into his boyfriend's arms. Magnus smiles at him tiredly and points to the pajamas and pull-up on the end of the bed. Alec grabs them and takes a deep breath before looking at the man he loves.

"Who hurt him? Who left those scars- WHAT left those scars?" "His mother, he was two. He had an accident, didn't tell his mom, had another which caused his diaper to leak, her friends saw, she forced him into his room and spanked him ruthlessly. The scars are because her wedding ring was on and the repeated slapping with the ring mixed with the rashes on his skin caused the ring to cut him repeatedly." "And she..." "Camille was imprisoned for nine months though it should've been longer and is no longer allowed anywhere near Raphael. She also still pays me monthly." "Should've been imprisoned for life. I'm going to go get him dried and clothed, be back in a moment." Magnus nods and happily accepts the peck given to him by his boyfriend. Alec walks into the bathroom and smiles when he sees Raphael yawning.

"Alright, sleepy boy. Let's get you dried and all cozy again." "And cuddles?" "You bet." Raphael lets Alec lift him out of the tub as the water drains, the father of the two drying him gently before helping him put pajamas on. The child of the two doesn't protest when being helped into a pull-up, not minding them as much as Max does still. He then hoists Raphael into his arms and cuddles him close to his chest as he walks slowly back to the room. The boy melts into Alec and cuddles further into him.

"Was Max right?" "Mhm..." Alec smiles and kisses the top of Raphael's head as he continues to cradle the small boy close to his chest. The five year old yawns and cuddles further, breathing beginning to even out by the time Alec walks into the boys' room. Magnus smiles at the duo and finds himself cooing at the combination of his sleepy and snuggly son cuddling into his boyfriend and seeing the hem of a pull-up sticking up from the dinosaur pajama pants. Alec winks at his boyfriend and very gently lies Raphael on his bed, cradling the boy's head and lowering him how he would lower a sleeping Madzie into her crib. The five year old doesn't even stir as he's tucked in. Magnus watches his boyfriend, very impressed. Alec kisses the older male's forehead and takes his hand, leading him silently back to the bedroom. Magnus lies down first while Alec closes their door.

"You truly are an amazing man, I feel inadequate." "Don't say that. You were there for Max and took care of him for me. I bet you even checked on Madzie." "I did." "And helping with dinner and just everything with the kids, don't call yourself inadequate. I think you're pretty damn amazing yourself. Now, into bed. I want to be asleep again before the sun rises." "Sounds like a plan." Alec gets into bed beside Magnus and kisses his boyfriend, gladly cuddling the man as he falls asleep.