Title: Heron

Rated for: Still not sure yet, so far its been easy going here.

Genre: Family, Adventure and more later.

Fandom/Universe: The Mortal Instruments and all related characters are copyright of author Cassandra Clare. Buffy The Vampire Slayer and all related characters are copyright Joss Whedon. No infringement intended.

Characters: Ok, in this one I have Maryse Lightwood. Still not sure who else is showing up from both fandoms.

Pairings: Still not sure

Spoilers/Warning: Still not sure

Disclaimer: Not mine, just playing make-believe in the sand box.

Summary: Will and Tessa had a family. A second son, decided to leave the Shadow Hunter world when he fell in love with a Mundane.

Status: In-Progress

Author's Note: I felt like posting this since it was only going to be a one-shot but now I have an idea for the 2nd chapter.

Chapter: How curiosity is always a pain in the ass.

Welcome To…

Liåm wasn't having it. First off, his little sister came back with a story about how she met these two guys in the park while on patrol. Said two guys took down… whatever, because they weren't able to identify the freaky bird thing, and - this is the part that really pissed him off - they tried to rob her of their family heirlooms. But he's told her plenty of times, its not and shouldn't be part of her patrol gear anyway. Of course, she usually ignored him.

"You are not going, Driss."

"Oh come on." Åudrys rolled her eyes, sighing. "I kicked their asses. And if they're lying to me, which I didn't get the feeling they were, I'll break a few bones on my way out." She shrugged while trying to hide the little smirk he caught.

"No." he shook his head, super Slayer strength or not, he wasn't about to let her walk into their clutches. William didn't trust the S&M dudes, as she dubbed them. From the pictures Åudrys brought back, he ran the search but there was no match and no record of the guys in any database they had access to. Nor the ones they didn't. But that was something kept between them, there was no sense in upsetting the brass when he'd already been asked to keep the hacking within the confines of NWC business. Governments tended to get paranoid about their 'national security' and the last thing the NWC needed was a distraction from the mission at hand.

"Liåm," Åudrys placed both hands over his crossed arms and smiled up at him. "You don't have to worry about me so much. Active here. Super Slayer strength and heightened senses. Plus, a very strong sense of self preservation. I like breathing and don't plan on stopping any time soon."

"I can name more than a handful of girls that said the same thing." Liåm frowned. It didn't matter how careful he knew she was or how focused, because her 'job' came with an expiration date and most of the girls that had trained with Åudrys were dead not even a year in. "They're six feet under." He couldn't forget the months on the run, hiding from the Bringers and the law because they were 'persons of interest' in their Father's murder. He'd been lucky to find Åudrys, too lucky and he was right to fear that luck was going to run out.

"They aren't me." Åudrys stated pushing away from her brother. "I told you, when I was activated, it felt… right. Like this is what I'm meant to be." She had tried her best to explain what she'd felt and though she'd heard some of the other Actives describe their own experience, it wasn't close. The best she had been able to describe it was as if the light had been turned on. As if she'd been awakened…

"You're not going. End of -."

"Let's compromise." Åudrys cut in. "I let you walk me there. You get to see where I'm going and if I don't come out you send the cavalry for me." she winked and grabbed her coat from the chair where she'd tossed it.

"Åudrys Hēron!"Liåm hurried to grab a jacket as well, watching his sister skip out the front door of the townhouse.

"I'll walk real slow so you catch up." She called over her shoulder just as the front door closed.

The rain splattered on the umbrella Liåm took from his sister. He kept his arm draped over her shoulders, both staying in step as they walked down the block and away from the subway. He was scowling the entire way, which she teased him would wrinkle up his face and then he'd get old a lot faster. He ignored her attempt at levity and stared at his rain boots. Åudrys had picked them out for him; simple black boots with a soft fluffy interior to keep his toes from freezing. He had to admit, they did keep his feet dry and warm. Åudrys had gotten a pair as well, the very girly, charcoal gray with a red ribboned bow neatly tied behind her calf. A two for one, she said. But he knew better. William was four years older, he was her big brother and he protected her. Åudrys took care of him in her own way. She was always thoughtful, concerned for others more than herself and now that they were the only family the other had… William was sure the transfer to New York had been for him. Because it was NYU he'd been accepted to and then had to leave just before the end of his second year.

"Classes start soon." Åudrys chanced a peek up at her brother who still hadn't said a word since she'd tried getting him to talk on the train. "We could pick up a schedule on the way back to the town house. See what's available…"

"Don't even." He warned because changing the subject wasn't going to alter their destination or what she planned to do. "Unless you want to start walking there."

"They weren't … giving off the demony vibe, Liåm." She sighed. "Yes, they were stronger than you but they weren't Slayer strong. They didn't expect me to take them both down and they really didn't expect to see me there." What she hadn't told him was how interested in her pendant and bangle they had been. Or that they had left her with the invitation to find out more about the Herondale line once she met with the Head of the New York Institute.

"You're leaving out part of the story. No, I can tell so don't bother lying to me." He huffed. "You get ten minutes before I come in for you."

"Come on now." Åudrys sighed. "I've been in worse situations since we joined up. A couple of guys in S&M gear … what's the big?"

"That thing." William pointed to the hazy shadow he could make out from where they stopped across the street from The Institute. He could see the outline of the building and it was huge, it was nothing like the fenced off, crumbling building that kept superimposing itself.

"Its…" Åudrys was at a loss. She couldn't begin to describe the place or the feel of it. "I can feel it, Liåm. There's magic here."

"Yeah," he agreed. It was stronger than anything he'd felt before with the NWC. He took pictures of it with his cell phone, moving closer so that she could also see the blurry image on the screen. "Some sort of cloaking spell. It has to be strong. Why wouldn't we be told about this place?" he looked at her, frowning. "Willow would feel this-."

"You think she hasn't?" Åudrys wondered. "She's barely been here, actually, she only opened the portal to get the main group here."

They looked at the building across the street. "She would know. She has to know this is here." William assured.

"Liåm?" Åudrys looked at him once more, her eyes searching his. "You lived here almost two years. Didn't you feel the magic? Something…"

"Nothing." He shrugged shaking his head. "I…" he looked around, half turning. "I don't think I've ever been this side of the city. There really wasn't time, Driss. I had class and a lot of studying. Never really got the chance to explore." He ended on a sigh.

"Get a coffee. Keep warm while I'm exploring." Åudrys squared her shoulders and took her first step towards The Institute.

"Woa! No." Liåm grabbed her arm. "There's no way you're going in there. Not alone." He looked up at the vines covering the dirty façade as they faded and blurred before solidifying again over the castle-like structure in the middle of the city. "We need back-up."

"Jeez! Back-up?" Åudrys scowled. "It's a couple of dudes slaying monsters in the park. And yeah, okay they got heavy mojo cloaking their bat cave. Doesn't mean I can't handle it. Do I have to keep repeating myself? Slayer. Uber strong and agile."

"You're not invincible, Åudrys." He snapped. "I'm not going to let you-."

"Let?" Åudrys growled. She yanked her arm out of his grasp. "I'm trying really hard to remember you're overprotective because we're all we have left. But don't push it, William. I'm not 3 and there's no bully around for you to beat up for me." She stepped away, out from the shelter of the umbrella and yanked the hood of her coat over her head to protect from the rain. "Trust me enough to believe me when I say I've got this."

He watched her in silence as she hurried across the busy street. She had a point but he didn't have to like it and it didn't stop him from worrying about what she would find inside. The mirage of the one story, overgrown vegetation and boarded up fencing only added to the concern.

Åudrys stopped at the gate and looked up. Rain pelted her face but squinting her eyes she could make out the angel staring down at her from the façade. There was too much to look at that she didn't think there would ever be enough time to take it all in. She grabbed her cell phone and snapped some pictures while using the key she was loaned to open the gate. The next part was just as grand, the courtyard and as she made her way to the front door she took more pictures to show Liåm once she returned. She paused at the double doors, slipped the phone into her pocket and slowly placed both hands on the wood. She felt something click more than heard and then the doors slid open. Åudrys had barely put any weight on them, just touched her palms to the wood which she realized had been just a tad warm. She frowned, studying her palms but there was nothing different.

The hall was lit dimly by the light coming from the windows. There wasn't much because of the rain and the sconces on either side didn't offer much. Åudrys turned, kinda debating walking right out and forgetting all about this long lost relative-.

"You know," his voice echoed. "Soren didn't think you'd come. I said you would." Balen skipped down the stairs, still in black but this time in regular jeans and shirt. He smiled, green eyes crinkling at the corners. He walked past her and closed the doors.

Åudrys watched as the circles spun into place and secured the door.

"Wouldn't want you running out before all the fun starts." he coked his head towards the stairs, waiting.

"So you're not always in your S&M gear." Åudrys quipped. "And your fancy lock wouldn't keep me from busting out. If that's what it takes." She smiled and walked past him up the steps. They met another black clad guy with a head of wavy red hair. He glanced up from his book but otherwise stayed where he was and Balen didn't stop to make introductions. He led her through another corridor with windows that shimmered with rain drops. There were no lit scones and what light did get through was enough to make out the floor until the next window provided another patch of light.

"Keleigh thought you might show up with your own band of warriors." Balen glanced at her, his green eyes curious as he looked her over. "Are you hiding more daggers under your coat?"

"I can kick your ass again without them." Åudrys glanced at him then turned her attention to where they were. "And I gave my amazons the night off." She pointed behind them, the way they'd come. "Red head, nose in the book, that Keleigh?"

"…book." He hesitated to say what book Keleigh was reading. Balen supposed she would get all that once she spoke with their Institute head. "Yeah, that's him." He skipped down a set of steps, pointing ahead. "This is where I leave you."

"Oh goody." She smiled with heavy sarcasm. "I get the 'join us or else' speech in private."

Balen laughed. "We've had the 'or else'. But you'll hear all about the Herondale's from her." He pulled the door open and stepped aside.

Åudrys walked past him without hesitation though she had Liåm's often repeated words in her ear, telling her not to jump without looking. Either way, she was in The Institute, on their home turf but she wasn't getting any evil vibes. At least, not the kind that meant her harm so she went in, her mouth slightly doing that 'o' as she looked up and around at the library. There were books on every shelf, winding staircases on either side of her and steps leading down into the main room. It had a huge fireplace and cases with stuff she couldn't begin to guess at. Down at the center of the room, Åudrys spotted the woman in all black, waiting just in front of a desk.

Åudrys glanced overhead again, admiring the ceiling and making sure there wasn't something they could drop on her. She headed down the stairs and towards the woman; her dark hair was streaked with gray, her eyes didn't mirror the smile on her face and something about her seemed sad.

"Hello, I'm glad you decided to come." She walked forward and met Åudrys halfway.

"Curiosity." Åudrys shrugged. "Killed the cat but I'm a different kind of animal."

"I've heard. Soren -."

"S&M Indiana Jones? And his boyfriend." Åudrys hooked her thumb towards the double doors she had just walked through. "Guy that walked me to your … 'office'?" she ignored the slight scowl on the womans face and feigned innocence. There was no doubt her words had been taken in offence.

"I'm Maryse Lightwood. Head of the New York Institute." Her tone was frosty though it didn't affect the girl at all.

"Åudrys Hēron." She moved towards the chair Maryse pointed at.

"Herondale." She corrected as she took the seat opposite.

"Actually, its Hēron. Has been for the last three generations and since its my name, I get to keep it as is."

Maryse sighed. She sat staring at Åudrys and thought of her adopted son and his … unique … ability to be infuriating while maintaining a pleasant demeanor. "Its almost as if I'm looking in a mirror." She murmured. Her lips quirked up in a smile and shook her head. "Of course, it wouldn't be the first time a Shadow Hunter has left and changed their name."

"About that," Åudrys sat forward, her eyes didn't stray from the womans face. She wanted to catch any lies as they appeared. "Who was it? The one that left your neat club."

Maryse bit down her chuckle at the colorful description. She was getting the feeling dealing with Åudrys wouldn't be so different from Jace.

"We should start with Theresa Gray and William Herondale."

᠅

Liåm paced the length of the block, his eyes always on The Institute. He was worried and didn't trust whomever was in there would allow his sister to leave. She was an activated Slayer, she wasn't just a normal, run of the mill girl. There were all sorts of monster that would take her, kill her, eat her, sacrifice her - whatever! And the more he stood out in the rain, waiting for Åudrys to come out, the more he wondered why the hell he wasn't going after her.

"Screw this." He checked the street and quickly made his way across avoiding traffic. At the gate, he stopped and glared at the lock. "Of course." He smacked it and the resounding dull thonk of the metal turned into a slight screech as it swung open just a little bit. "Ha! This is one time I'm not mad you can't close a door behind you."

He hurried inside completely ignoring the awesome courtyard in his haste to find the front door. Of course, running in the front door to rescue his sister was just dumb. He knew that, and once he found Åudrys she would tell him the same thing.

Liåm hurried up the front steps, he dropped the umbrella and shoved on the door. It held for a moment before gliding open. He almost fell in but caught himself and stumbled into the hall. "Oh…" he turned slowly, spotting the stairs in the dim light that spilled in from the open doors. He hurried up, careful to be as quiet as he could.

"Hey!"

Liåm flinched. "Son of a bitch."

"Who are you?"

Liåm turned to face the guy; red hair and freckles dressed in all black. He sort of wondered where the S&M came into it because the guy just looked like some Goth teen.

"Where is she?" Liåm demanded. He wasn't armed thanks to his sisters dash out of the house but he wasn't completely useless. Training with the Actives and the other Watchers had sharpened his skills thanks to their grandfathers insistence they should all know how to defend themselves.

"How did you get in?" Keleigh demanded.

"Front door was open." Liåm snapped. "I want her back." The implied 'and I'm not leaving without her' didn't have to be said. It was very clear.