One

Veronica Lightwood stared up at the ancient and rundown church in front of her, her hands gripping her suitcase handle so tightly that her knuckles were turning white and her hands were aching. After a few more deep breaths, she took a few tentative steps forward before walking through the doors. The welcomed noise of the busy Institute made a small smile cross over her painted red lips. It had been years since she last walked through the New York Institute doors. She didn't walk through the foyer far before the loud calling of her sister broke through the noise.

"Ronnie!" She screamed happily as she nearly ran towards her older sister. Ronnie dropped the suitcase in her hand before opening her arms.

A small sense of relief and calm washed over her body as her little sisters arms wrapped around her slightly taller frame. Ronnie stepped back and smiled down towards her sister, looking into the eyes that mirrored her own. Both girls an almost exact replica of their mother; both with long wavy ebony hair, dark eyes framed by long lashes, and voluptuous frames that seemed to get Isabelle into more trouble than Ronnie.

"You have been gone for too long, next time the Clave asks for you to return to Idris, suggest they take Alec instead. You're more fun." Isabelle smiled.

"I'm gonna take that as a compliment." Ronnie laughed softly before reaching down for her bag. "Wanna show me our apartment, roomie?"

Isabelle reached and grabbed her sisters hand, leading her down the long corridor to their left. The girls didn't walk far before Isabelle unlocked the door to their apartment, before closing the door tightly behind her.

"You know I thought it would feel weird to be back here, but it actually feels more like home than home does." Ronnie chuckled before walking over and taking a seat on the dark couch that sat towards the center of the room.

"That's because you don't have moms watchful prying eyes on your back every second." Isabelle laughed before plopping down beside her older sister.

"True." Ronnie laughed "Where's Alec? Thought he'd be with the welcoming committee and would wanna see me first."

"He's in training with Jace, they should be wrapping up soon." Isabelle shrugged her shoulders.

Before she could speak, the door to their apartment opened revealing Alec behind it.

"Ronnie." He sighed in what seemed to be relief before rushing towards his twin sister and pulling her into his arms. She buried her face into her brothers neck and tightened her hold on him as they embraced.

"Don't you ever stay away for that long ever again," Alec whispered softly before pulling back and caressing her cheeks softly, a small smile on his lips. "I don't care if I have to fight the Clave myself."

"It wasn't all that bad," Ronnie teased before stepping back out of her brothers arms. "But I'm here permanently, you don't have to worry about me leaving any time soon."

Alec walked over and took a seat on the small chair across the couch in the living room, of the now shared apartment, of the Lightwood sisters. The smile on all their faces were causing their cheeks to ache, but neither of them faltered. It had been almost five years since all three of the older Lightwood siblings have been in the same room. The missions of the Clave always keeping Veronica – Ronnie – Lightwood away from her family for long periods of time.

"You guys have a mission?" Veronica asked. "Or can we spend the night together? Maybe head out for a family dinner? Spend some time together before we have work?"

"Not currently." Isabelle answered "Maybe we can head down to Half Moon. Small little bar that serves amazing pub food."

"Werewolf bar?" Ronnie asked.

Alec nodded his head slightly "With the Accords in action no one really bothers anyone. Alcohol kind of helps as well."

Ronnie tightened the string of her knee high leather boots before walking over to the full length mirror to check on her outfit. Her hands tugged gently on the hem of her dress before brushing off her long hair off her shoulder.

"You look good." Isabelle smiled as she stepped out wearing all black like her sister, but in the form of leather leggings and a cropped shirt that was tied in the front as a knot. Isabelle sat on the edge of the couch to slip on her red leather pumps. "I'm gonna go and find Alec, I'm sure he never knows what to wear for these kind of things."

"I'll meet you in the lobby I'm almost ready, just need to touch up my make-up a little"

Isabelle stood and grabbed her handbag before walking out of the small apartment, leaving the heavy dark wood door open as she left. Veronica sighed softly and walked over to Isabelle's vanity and started to touch up on her makeup. It wasn't long before she looked up towards the mirror, her eyes connecting with a set of blues that stood in the doorway. She could feel her heart stop for only a beat before speeding up quickly. Veronica turned around in her seat to face him, her brown eyes wide with both shock and a little fear as she stared towards Jace.

"W-What are you doing here?" She whispered softly.

"Alec told me you were back." Jace stood tall in the doorway, his blue eyes glaring towards her as he arms crossed at his chest. "Unlike you."

She sighed softly "I-I was gonna come and say 'hi'."

Jace scuffed and shook his head. "Let's not continue the lies, Veronica. You kept this from me, just like you kept you leaving from me. You know I was hoping that after all these years you would've changed."

"Jace," Ronnie took a step forward and took a deep breath. "I had to leave quickly and you know that. I tried staying in contact."

"Save it." He rolled his eyes before taking a step back and walking out of the room, leaving her standing there with tears welling in her eyes as she fisted her hands tightly.

Ronnie sat and slowly stirred her straw as she looked across the bar and watched as Jace flirted with a random blonde that sat perched at the end of the bar, batting her false lashes as she flirted and touched him. Isabelle couldn't help her smirk as she watched her sister watching Jace, it was funny to her how they both danced around their feelings for each other. Ronnie reached for the glass tumbler and took a large gulp as she watched Jace lean forward and whisper in the girls ear, his hand moving up her thigh slowly.

"Why don't you go and pour a drink over the girls head or something. It's better than sitting here and glaring holes into the side of her head" Isabelle laughed.

"And why would I do that exactly?" She averted her eyes away and back towards her sisters face. "I don't care what Jace does with this free time."

"Right," Isabelle laughed and shook her head before she sips lightly on her martini. "Well then you might wanna change your facial expression."

Ronnie sighed softly and ran her finger through her hair as she took another drink of her glass and finished it off.

"Let's get something a little stronger." Isabelle reached over and grabbed her sister's hand and lead her towards the bar. "You're back and we should be celebrating."

"You're right. I'm sorry." Ronnie stood up straighter and waved down the bartender before ordering two drinks. Ronnie sat down on the bar stool, conveniently with a direct view to Jace and the new friend he had made. Isabelle handed her sister her drink, before taking a few sips herself. Alec walked back over from the back of the bar where he was once playing pool before sitting beside his twin sister. His followed her eyes and frowned when he saw Jace. When he looked back to his sisters face and could see the heartache on her face.

"Hey," He whispered catching her attention. He gave her a sympathetic smile and moved to rub her back gently. "You wanna head somewhere else?"

Ronnie shook her head and looked down towards her drink, before taking a small sip again and turning towards her siblings.

"I wanna have fun tonight. The Lightwood's are back together and I'm with my family." Ronnie smiled between her siblings before raising her glass. "To the Lightwood's"

AN: Please leave a review. Would love to know thoughts about the story as it continues. Have been a fan of The Mortal Instruments since the books first came out, and now with the show I have ventured with this story idea. Thank you for reading! ~CB