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Malace || Shadowhunters || Jimonael || Husbands-in-Law || Malace || Shadowhunters || Jimonael

Title: The Alphas of Jace Herondale – Husbands-in-Law

Fandom: Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments

Disclaimer: All rights to the Shadowhunters show reserved to Ed Decter, the books the show is based off and its characters belong to Cassandra Clare. This fanfiction on the other hand is entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.

Tags: polyamory (m/m/m), alpha/beta/omega dynamics, courting, mate-bonds

Main Pairing: Raphael/Simon/Jace & Magnus/Alec/Jace

Shadowhunters Characters: Jonathan 'Jace' Herondale, Magnus Bane, Alexander 'Alec' Lightwood, Simon Lewis, Raphael Santiago

Summary: [Prompts: metamours + growing old] Being mated to one immortal, Alec did no longer have to worry about growing old. It also gives Alec the opportunity to adjust to Jace's other mates.

Husbands-in-Law

The Alphas of Jace Herondale

Alec had been in love with Jace since he had any concept on romantic love. But Alec was a beta and Jace was an omega. If Alec were an alpha, maybe, despite them both being boys, the Clave would have tolerated an alpha and an omega together. As a beta and a boy, Alec ought to be with a nice beta girl, have a bunch of children, don't cause waves.

Alec proceeded to cause waves, many waves. Because his first boyfriend was Magnus Bane, a powerful warlock, a Downworlder, a man, an alpha. But Magnus was what he had needed. Magnus coaxed him out of his shell, helped him be true to himself and seize what he wanted.

Being mated to an immortal was the one way to achieve immortality. It was a fact that stood between them, that had Alec anxious. On the one hand did he love Magnus like he thought he would never love anyone aside from Jace and the idea of spending eternity with Magnus sounded wonderful. On the other hand did Alec also still love Jace – and even if he wouldn't be in love with Jace, how could he live in a world where Jace would grow old and die one day. A world without his parabatai, with half his soul gone, it was terrifying, Alec couldn't do that.

So a part of Alec was genuinely relieved when Simon Lewis started courting Jace. Because Simon was a vampire. An immortal. As much as it broke Alec's heart to think of Jace with someone else, someone who wasn't him (someone who wasn't him and Magnus, his mind whispered), at least Jace would be immortal, at least the two of them would be able to stay together.

"You're looking cutely happy," commented Magnus with a small smile.

Because Jace was still living with them, at the loft. Even though the war was over. Even though Aldertree had long since been gone. But by then, Alec and Magnus were already serious and Alec was halfway living at Magnus' loft. The parabatai wanted to be close, that was just natural.

"Si got me this," replied Jace, showing off a bracelet.

Alec grunted unwillingly impressed. "Who would have thought the nerd has taste?"

"That's not from Simon," argued Magnus gently. "That's from Raphael."

"Raphael?" echoed Alec surprised and perhaps a little confused.

He knew factually that Raphael and Simon were already a mated pair, but somehow, the two of them had some sort of arrangement that Alec didn't want to know more about. Now, however...

"Yes, Raphael showed it to me the last time we met," Magnus smiled slightly. "He asked me if Jace would like it. It seems that he was aiming to impress you."

"Oh," Jace blinked repeatedly, his cheeks flushed. "So Raph was... serious about that, huh."

"Serious about what?" wanted Alec to know, his body tensing.

He loved the way Jace smelt, so happy and content right now, because an alpha he liked was apparently courting him. What Alec disliked was that someone else made Jace smell that way. This omega was supposed to be his. Glaring, Alec reached out for Magnus' leg, grasping his knee for support. After a moment, Magnus rested a hand on top of his, caressing it gently. Soothing.

"The arrangement Raph, Si and I have is... of a sexual nature, mostly," started Jace slowly. "Raph's asexual, he doesn't do sex, so him and Simon had been looking for someone pretty for Simon to have sex with and then... feelings happened and Simon decided to court me. Raphael said, the other day, that they want me to be a part of them. I didn't... I thought he just meant for Simon. But I guess he might have... meant for himself too..."

"And what about you?" wanted Magnus to know. "Do you have feelings for Raphael too?"

The omega tensed, biting his lip thoughtfully. "I... think I might, yes. We've been spending a lot of time together, because of Simon. Sometimes, Simon runs late and we'd just... talk. Also... He... Raphael's been taking care of me afterward. Aftercare, is what he calls it. He's... gentle. I... yes."

"I'm happy for you then, sweetheart," Magnus smiled warmly, reaching his free hand out to pat Jace's thigh. "You deserve to feel loved, Jace, you know that, right? After everything..."

The smile on Jace's lips was slightly twisted as he nodded. "I'm... getting there. It's hard, unlearning everything Valentine taught me, but... I think I'm making progress."

"That's good," Magnus looked so proud of him.

It made Alec's heart feel warm and full. His Magnus – his lover, his husband, his alpha – understood what it was like to love Jace, because after Jace had moved into the loft, Magnus himself had started to develop feelings for Jace. It felt good, that he didn't have to hide his feelings for Jace, that Magnus knew and understood, because he loved Jace too. Alec just wished they hadn't missed their window of opportunity to Simon. And Raphael, apparently.

/break\

Raphael smiled to himself as he ran gentle fingers through Jace's hair. The Shadowhunter was asleep with his head in Raphael's lap. He was still naked, after a very delightful night with Simon, who was currently in the shower. Like this, all peaceful as he was asleep, Raphael thought he looked the most like an angel. Though he was supposed to only be a means for sexual relief for Simon, somehow Jace had become so much more. There was so much more to Jace than the cocky facade he put up in a professional setting and Raphael found him incredibly intriguing.

With a small smile did he reach down to trace the bracelet around Jace's wrist. Naked aside from the jewelry. The bracelet, a pendant hanging from the same chain around his neck as the Herondale family ring did. Gifts he had gotten from Raphael and Simon. Courting gifts.

"Is our angelito still asleep?" asked Simon as he exited the shower.

He was ruffling his hair with one towel, the other towel wrapped around his waist. Raphael smiled at him and nodded. The other alpha walked over to the bed to lay down behind Jace. Simon wrapped his arms around the omega's waist to pull him closer and bury his nose in Jace's neck.

"You really managed to tire him out," commented Raphael amused. "That's a rare sight."

"It is," agreed Simon, sounding quite proud of himself.

"Stop talking about me like I'm not in the room. Also, stop talking, I'm trying to sleep here."

"Sorry if we woke you, solecito," Raphael twirled a strand of golden hair around his finger.

"It's okay," Jace sighed and stretched. "But will there be any kind of breakfast?"

"Of course. Since you became a part of our life, we always keep our fridge stocked. Why don't you stay right here and I'll go and make you something? Some blood for you too, Simon?"

"Ye—es. I am starving," confirmed Simon delighted.

Carefully did Raphael get out from beneath Jace and make his way into the kitchen, leaving his lovers alone in the room. Jace slowly turned in Simon's arms to face him instead. He offered the alpha a small smile before stealing a kiss. Both got more comfortable and Jace rested his head on Simon's chest, enjoying the scent of both his alphas. The look on his face turned more troubled at that thought. The thought of his alphas, because it made him think about the fact that they were not all he had feelings for. He shouldn't have. He had two alphas who loved him enough to court him.

"What's on your mind, babe?" asked Simon concerned.

"Nothing, it's just... It's nothing," Jace turned to bury his face in Simon's neck.

"Nonsense. You... You look troubled. Hey, what is it?"

Simon sat up some and thanks to his vampire-strength, he easily manhandled Jace to sit on his lap. Jace both loved and hated that vampire-strength and the manhandling. Frowning frustrated, Jace rested his forehead against Simon's shoulder. Damn that thoughtful and caring vampire, who noticed when something was off about Jace. Had they really formed such a bond of trust already?

"The atmosphere was much better when I left," noticed Raphael as he entered.

"I don't know what, but something's on Jace's mind," stated Simon determined. "I want to figure out what it is but he is just being cute while ducking me, which makes it harder."

"I'm not cute, Lewis," Jace looked up to glare at his alpha.

"Yes, you are," disagreed Raphael as he approached them to sit down next to them. "You're our cute omega and if you glare like that, you actually look even cuter because you're pouting."

Jace narrowed his eyes at Raphael, just to receive a kiss on the cheek from the clan-leader. Both Raphael and Simon looked at him patiently. Waiting for him to be ready to talk. Talking was important. To make an actual relationship work, talking was important, even though Jace hated talking about his feelings. He wanted this, wanted them, and he couldn't do that if he lied.

"I love you," whispered Jace softly. "And I'm... so happy that you're courting me. I want to be with you. But I can't help but sometimes... feel... sad. Because... there's someone else I love and... Even though I'm happy with you and wouldn't want to give you up, I can't stop thinking about them too."

"That's okay, babe," assured Simon, his voice warm as he cupped Jace's cheek. "When Raph and I got together, I still had feelings for Clary. And some also for Maia. Being polyamorous means feeling love for more than one person. And dating doesn't put a lid on that potential. As long as you are honest with us and don't go behind our backs, there's nothing wrong with feeling that way."

"And we can talk about it too," offered Raphael with a patient smile. "You entering this relationship was the outcome of Simon and me talking about his desires. Admittedly, I had no intentions of falling for you, I simply wanted for Simon to have what he wanted. But that's the point here; I was okay with Simon having you for himself. So if there is someone you want, then talk to us."

The thought hadn't even crossed Jace's mind yet, mostly because there was no way it was happening. "Thank you. For... saying that. But it's okay. There's no way they'd want me back so I'm just... sometimes sad and missing them, even if I can't have them."

"Who is it?" asked Simon curiously. "You can tell us."

"It's..." Jace paused, not looking at either of them. "Alec and Magnus."

"Oh. So actual plural them, not just not wanting to be too specific or liking a non-binary person. Huh. Two then. Wait, Alec?" Simon blinked repeatedly. "But... Uh... So you've been liking him since... before we started courting you...?"

Jace heaved a sigh and pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes for a moment. "Honestly, I don't know. I've always loved Alec. Loving Alec is a part of me. I only started... wondering about the nature of that love when I started having feelings for you. Because I've never experienced romantic love before, I never really felt it before. Now, I'm wondering... because it's what I feel for Alec. And lately, I've been falling for... Magnus too. It's hard to live together with a charming and gorgeous alpha like Magnus Bane and not fall for him, as an unmated omega."

With another sigh did Jace collapse backward onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. He felt strangely light, now that he had this off his chest. He'd carried this for months now, all to himself.

"It's okay that you have feelings for them," assured Raphael. "But if you change your mind, tell us. We're not against you taking other lovers, but you have to talk to us beforehand, okay?"

"That's not going to happen, but yeah, I promise," Jace smiled thinly. "I love you guys."

"Aw, look at our omega being cute again," Simon grinned teasingly, following Jace to lay next to him and kiss him. "We love you too, babe. No—ow, that breakfast?"

"Oh. Yes, breakfast," Jace's eyes wandered to the tray Raphael had been carrying.

/break\

Raphael considered if he should bring it up. He knew it was none of his business, technically, because Jace needed to know for himself when to tell others. However, he also knew Jace still struggled with his self-worth – with the fact that he was worth loving. So Jace's perception on whether or not he had a chance with Alec and Magnus was most likely off and on his own, nothing would move forward on that front. Then there was the fact that both Jace and Magnus meant a lot to him personally. He wouldn't want for Magnus to miss out on someone as special as Jace.

"How do you feel about me courting Jace? Honestly?" asked Raphael after a moment.

Magnus looked at him, mildly surprised. "I'm... happy for you, my boy. You seem much brighter, both Simon and Jace seem to make you happy and that is what matters to me."

"Is there... anything else?" asked Raphael with a serious look. "Do you have... feelings for Jace?"

The look on Magnus' face changed into something slightly guilty. There was a small smile on his lips, but it was more sad than happy. Slowly did he shake his head and lift his drink up.

"I do not wish you and your relationship ill, my boy," assured Magnus in a soft voice. "My feelings for him do not mean that I'll get in your way. I can see that you make each other happy. And I love Jace enough to want him happy. Though you should keep a slight distance to my husband, he is not entirely a fan of this, as much as he wants Jace to be happy, he also wants Jace to be his."

A small smile spread over Raphael's lips. "So I didn't misread Alexander's hostility toward me and Simon. I thought it might be about... other things. But it's jealousy, mh."

"It is," confirmed Magnus with a wince. "Give him time, he'll get... over the jealousy."

"But not over Jace," noted Raphael curiously.

"He doesn't just love Jace, he shares a soul with Jace. That kind of thing... it intensifies such feelings in a manner that we others can't grasp," replied Magnus. "I don't think he'll ever stop loving Jace. We both love him. And we both want him to be happy. As long as you make him happy..."

"I think he could be happier," offered Raphael after taking a drink. "Because he loves you too. He's had this distant, sad look on his face on occasion and at first, I thought it was because he didn't think he deserved this. Now, I've come to realize that he doesn't think he deserves you."

Magnus paused surprised at that. "Are you... sure about this? Why are you telling me?"

"Because Jace does deserve you. He deserves whoever he loves," replied Raphael. "And so do you. I'm... fairly sure that we can find a good arrangement that will work for all of us, if we talk."

The smile on Magnus' lips was warm as he gently touched glasses with Raphael. "I'm sure we will."

/break\

It had taken Magnus a lot of convincing, to make Alec believe that Jace might want him, and even more convincing to have him agree to sit down with Jace and talk about their feelings. Sadly, Jace proved to be as baffled and disbelieving about it. They talked for actual hours, before they got to kiss Jace and take him to bed with them – just to sleep, together, in each other's arms.

"Good morning, parabatai," whispered Alec softly, smiling at their blonde.

Magnus liked waking up like this, his omega tucked under one arm and his beta tucked under the other. While Alec was wide awake and had already stolen more than one kiss from Magnus, Jace had been asleep until moments ago. Now, those heterochromic eyes were staring at them in wonder.

"Good morning, parabatai," replied Jace, tentatively kissing Alec. "...Good morning, alpha."

He turned toward Magnus and also placed a kiss on Magnus' lips. The warlock smiled, feeling more happy than he had in a while. Yes, he had meant it, he had wanted Jace and Raphael (and Simon, too) happy, but a part of him had been sad that he wasn't the one to make Jace happy.

"Look at me, aren't I a lucky alpha?" asked Magnus pleased. "The most gorgeous beta and omega. And they're all mine. Yes, yes, I know, I'm sharing, but still. Mine."

He smirked, lazy and pleased, as he kissed Jace more passionately, flustering the blonde.

"I love you both so much," whispered Jace, voice heavy with emotions. "I just didn't..."

"Hey, no. We know," Magnus smiled kindly, kissing Jace's temple. "But it's okay now, mh?"

"Okay doesn't even begin to cover it," Alec looked so in awe as he stared at Jace, in their bed. "I have always wanted you, Jace. I just never knew I could... since I'm just... a beta."

"You're not just anything," argued Jace with a frown. "You're amazing, you're so strong and such a good leader. I just... I'm sorry I didn't realize my feelings, or yours, sooner."

"That's not your fault," Alec shook his head and leaned in, resting his forehead against Jace's. "And whatever time we lost, we still have eternity with each other now, my parabatai."

Jace made a curious little noise in the back of his throat at that. Eternity was a long time, Magnus knew that from experience. It felt less heavy knowing he would get to spend it with the two men he loved, and that was saying a lot, because eternity had been weighting him down for centuries.

/break\

"Good morning, husband," Alec's voice was a pleased, dark whisper.

Even after decades, he never tired of calling his parabatai that. His mate, his omega, his husband. Over the years, their arrangement had adjusted some. Once the mate-bond was sealed, Alec's jealousy eased off, because Jace was now also his. Simon and Raphael weren't someone who took Jace away from him anymore, they were just Jace's other husbands, the other men making him happy. Though there was never any romance between Magnus, Alec and Simon and Raphael, they became close friends, bound together by Jace, until the five of them ended up living together. They shared the Herondale Estate in Idris – Simon and Raphael leading the clan they established there, Magnus working as the High Warlock and Alec as the Inquisitor. Clary and Isabelle led the New York Clan together by now and they regularly visited for dinner.

"Morning," Jace smiled lazily. "Where's our other husband?"

"I think he's downstairs in the kitchen, with Simon and Raphael," replied Alec. "Come?"

Humming in agreement, Jace got out of bed. They both changed into something comfortable and made their way downstairs. It was always lively around here and Alec didn't mind living with the vampires either. He smiled as he spotted Magnus, sitting down on his alpha's lap to kiss him.

"Good morning, hubby," Simon grinned as he pecked Jace's cheek before turning toward Alec. "Good morning, husband-in-law. I made breakfast, I hope you're hungry."

Alec rolled his eyes just a little at that, smiling to himself. Husband-in-law. That was what him and Magnus were with Raphael and Simon, because all four were married to Jace. It was a fitting enough term, but that Simon always had to actually use it. Such a dork. Alec watched with a fond smile how Jace leaned against Raphael, closing his eyes and enjoying his alpha for just a moment, while Magnus and Simon finished setting the table. He loved their unorthodox mate-bonds.

~*~ The End ~*~