Hello, Dear Readers. It's that time again. Thank you guys so much for reading, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

A shout out to my new, and incredibly wonderful beta reader- HeronFrayWood - You're the best!

Disclaimer- I realized one morning when I woke up, that I had only dreamed that I owned The Mortal Instruments. Sigh...

Tessa Gray/Herondale

A small girl, with bright red hair opened the doors of the Institute. Her arms were littered with the scars of runes and she was wearing some kind of black, stretchy trousers and a loose blouse that was splattered with paint. Even though she was slight of frame and obviously pregnant, she gave off the air of power. It also helped that in her right hand she held a graceful yet deadly looking sword, and had a steele stuck in the waistband of her pants. It was clear that despite her condition, she was ready for a fight.

Her green eyes darted from face to face, pausing on Tessa and Will's for a moment, before landing on Magnus. Posture relaxing slightly, she flashes a small smile and leaned her sword against the door frame. It shocked Tessa, that she would be so relaxed in the presence of a downworlder and a huddle of complete strangers. Resting a hand on her hip, the girl raised her other in greeting. "Hey, Magnus." And to her great surprise the girl looked right at her. "Tessa, it's great to see you again. Where's Zachariah? Last I saw you both, you were heading off to tour Greece together." She smiled at the group in whole. "And who are your friends?"

Tessa just stood there in shock. How did this girl know her? They were hundreds of years in the future and Zachariah…Her mind halted and it hit her like a sword to the chest. After spending so much time in the institute, it was easy to forget that she was part warlock. Immortal. Never dying. This girl probably did know her, yet not exactly her, but the version of herself that she would be in the future. What did she mean about Zachariah, though?

Tessa stopped herself there. It was not a good time to go down that road. Jem was a silent brother and that is irreversible. Condemned to a life a runes and shadows, with only occasional excursions into the sun.

The girl seeming slightly perturbed at Tessa's response, turned the fullness of her attention back to Magnus, lips turned down in a frown. "Is everything alright? What's going on?"

Magnus took a step up to meet her in the doorway and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, Biscuit. You look absolutely stunning. The little angels' getting bigger I see?"

The girl's face darkened. "I literally just saw you the day before last, I'm not that much bigger. What's wrong?"

He cleared his throat, actually looking a bit nervous, his cat eyes stayed solely on her. "Well, it's a bit of a long story. I promise to explain everything to you in just a moment, but first, would you mind hosting a few friends of mine until I can get everything sorted out?"

"The Institute is obligated to house any shadowhunter who needs it. You know that, Magnus. Besides, Jace and the others don't get home until Wednesday and I could use some company." Her expression softened again. "Though I do expect you to come inside and tell me what's happening. I hope you know that. Also, don't you dare for one second to think of lying to me."

"Of course," Magnus's eye brows raised and he gave her a serious look. "All of them are in Idris? I know Alexander and Jace went, but not even Stewart stayed behind with you? You are completely by yourself? Clary, I find it hard to believe they would be willing to put you in that position."

So the girl's name was Clary. It was different but seemed to suit her well. Tessa felt like she was intruding on a private conversation, but her curiosity was definitely peeked. She glanced at Will, and he was avidly watching Clary's and Magnus's exchange, not even glancing in her direction.

"With the Clave trying the sort out the faerie situation, we needed as many voices on the council as possible. Someone had to stay behind with the Institute, though, and seeing as I probably couldn't make it through all of the meetings, I was the best candidate. Besides, my mother and Luke have been stopping by so I haven't been completely alone and it was only for the week."

His eyes squinted. "Still… It's not entirely safe. Anyways, we should head inside so I can explain everything and get to work. First, though, let me introduce you to your new house guests." Magnus made a grand gesture with his hands in their direction, "Clary, these are my friends from the London Institute of the mid 1800's." He swept his hands toward Clary. "Friends, this is Clarissa Herondale, head of the New York Institute."

Everyone excluding Magnus was in shock. Tessa swiveled her head around to look at Will, only to find him looking like he had been punched in the throat by a ghost. No one seemed to know what to say, so they just stood like ice sculptures in the brisk New York wind.

Clary blinked out of the stupor first. She shook her head and pulled the Institute's door open further with a paint smeared hand. Giving a look to Magnus that made him know she meant business, she pointed a finger inside. "Come in, we need to have that talk now."

The inside of the Institute was strikingly different, but still carried the air of longevity that her home always seemed to have. They had gone up something Magnus called an "elevator." It was a carpeted metal box that was supposed to save them the effort of going up stairs, by raising them to the next floor mechanically. According to Clary, theirs was in desperate need of repair. She had explained this to them while aggressively hitting the button panel a couple times to make the elevator keep moving. By the time they got upstairs, Tessa was feeling woozy from the shaky ride.

Arriving at the second story was more relaxing. It had lost the cold vibe the lower floor had carried and felt more home like. It was a circular carpeted room with a few couches, a fireplace, and stained glass windows. Directly in front of them was the entrance to a kitchen, and on either side of that were two separate staircases. This room seemed very unlived in, but warm nonetheless.

"This is the foyer," Clary announced. "We don't really spend much time in here. Usually we drift between the training room, kitchen, library and each other's personal rooms."

"We?" Charlotte asked.

"My husband and our family," she explained. "My husband and I run the institute and his sister, and my parabatai live here with us. They should be back in a couple of days, a situation has come up and a meeting was called in Idris to find a resolution. That should give us enough time to get you settled in, before you're hit with the wave of excitement that tends to come when our family is together." Clary gave them a wink. "To the right up the stairs, are the bedrooms. Feel free to go and pick anyone that doesn't look lived in. Up the stairs to the left, is the training room, weapons room, and the library. Last but not least, in front of you is the kitchen, where Magnus and I will be talking. Feel free to wander and explore at your leisure, no one is here but us." She gave them one last small smile, before grabbing their warlock companion by the wrist, and dragging him into the kitchen.

As soon as the last flittering of glitter, and wisp of red hair vanished from eye sight, it felt like a silence rune had been taken off. "Herondale. Little Lady Ginger, is a Herondale." Will put a hand to his head like he was feverish. "Which one of my grandsons became mentally ill and fell for a leprechaun? There's no other explanation for such a strange creature."

Gabriel scoffed. "She's married, you fool. Herondale is her taken name, she's not a blood relative. Though it alludes me as to why anyone would want to be associated with that blood line. No offense, Tessa. It's not hard to fall for the charm of those no better than demons."

"Insulting my family's blood line? Is that the best you could do? You must have quite a lot to say on that matter, Lightworm. I will let your insults go this one time, because it is not only my pride that has been insulted, nor my own folly that I have assured. On the other hand, I would move if I were you." Gabriel turned just in time to get a face full of Cecily's fist. His nose, which Magnus had only fixed a small while ago, cracking on impact and dripping beads of scarlet onto the burgundy rug. Cecily opened and closed her mouth as if to speak, but instead turned on her heel and raced up the right hand staircase. Tessa's hand flew to her mouth and Will stifled a chuckle.

"You should feel my pride. It's overwhelming. I taught her how to throw a punch you know? How'd I do?" Gabriel gave Will a seething look, before chasing after Cecily with a hand clutched over his bleeding nose.

Will had a grin that could make the devil seem humble. "I fear for my sister sometimes, but I feel that proved to be useless. Hard to believe though that he forgot Cecily is my sister…" He shook his head in utter enjoyment. "Now I believe that we should go see what the others are discussing. It looks important." He said gesturing to their companions that had been so deep in conversation, that their scuffle had gone un-noticed. Will offered Tessa his arm and she gladly took.

"Oh, William,"

As it turned out, that said conversation had been important but ended up going nowhere quickly. All of their problems, and they had many, were completely out of their control. Basically, the only decision they had been reached was that putting their faith in Clary and Magnus was the best chance they had at getting home.

"So, we are just going to do nothing?" Gideon spoke seemingly despairing.

"Quite the contrary." Charlotte raised both her hands in surrender. "We are doing the only thing we can do at the moment. They may need our assistance sooner or later and when that time comes, we will be ready. Until then, we wait."

Henry rested his hand on her shoulder. "Charlotte and I are going to go find rooms for everyone. We want everyone to stick as close together as possible. You can all explore while we do that. Get an idea of our temporary residence." It was very odd seeing Henry in an authoritative position and not wrapped up, tinkering with some new device. It was both pleasant and unnerving. Like watching a shadow dance without its owner. It wasn't something you ever thought you'd see.

After talking about a few more trivial matters, Charlotte and Henry departed, while Gideon went off to find Gabriel, leaving Tessa and Will to explore. They ventured up the stairs opposite to the ones Cecily stormed up, not wanting to find the mess they were sure she left Gabriel in, to find several hallways. Tessa picked one at random and William followed her, after opening more than a few closet doors, they stumbled across a beautiful set of intricately carved French doors.

Will pushed them open and held it open after giving her a steep bow. "After you, Tess."

"Ever the gentleman, William. If only it weren't an act or you may be a functional member of society yet." She smiled and grabbed his arm, taking Will through the door with her.

Inside was a library, not as large and grand as the one in London, but beautiful nonetheless. There were two levels, tall cathedral ceilings and stained glass windows. Flush against the walls were shelves of books and dancing through the air was the hum of piano music. In the center of the room was a small seating area. Three pale gold couches sat facing each other and a beautiful but cluttered mahogany table made was the center piece.

They both wandered off in different directions, and Tessa was running her fingers over the spine of a book in the demonology section when Will called her over.

"Tess, come look at this." In his hand was a leather bound book that he had picked up off the mahogany table. It was flipped open from the top and he was running his fingers across the pages tenderly before carefully flipping to the next. Will slumped into one of the padded yellow seats and motioned for him to join her.

She sat next to him, as he ran his long fingers down one more page before closing it and pressing it into her hands. The cover was a soft, worn leather and the rings holding it together at the top were thick. On the front was the Herondale family crest and the name, Clarissa Herondale.

"Will! This is Clary's and it looks personal, you shouldn't be looking through it." Tessa stood to put the book back where it had originally been. He stood up as fast as a flash and grabbed her before she could go any further.

"Yes, it is personal, but not the kind of book you think it is, though. Believe me, I would have no interest in reading some girls diary." Tessa gave him a very dry look at that. "Well, not anymore. Just look in the bloody book!"

Tessa ran a finger across the monogram, then flipped the cover open to the first page. In a sharp elegant script was a note scrawled down the first page.

Clary,

A gift for our anniversary. That we may never get so caught up in the politics of our world, that we forget the small things we love.

Forever and until the life after,

JACE-

So her husband's name was Jace? Tessa took a mental note and stored that in her head for later. It seemed that both Will, and his many greats grandson, shared a similar gift for words. Gently thumbing to the next page, the sight that caught Tessa's eye took her breath away.

It was a drawing. A man with golden hair that curled around his face, sitting arched over a grand piano obviously immersed into the music that he was playing. Black runes were painted on his arms so numerously it looked like lace, and the way the sunlight was hitting him from the stained glass window, made them stand out in a harsh but beautiful way. Along with the obvious marks of a shadowhunter, were white wings sprouted from the player's back and framing him as if her were an angel in full glory. Tagged under the amazing portrait, was obviously a note from Clary herself.

I promise I won't, if you promise me too-

Forever and until the life after….

I apologize to anyone who tried to read this chapter and found it all coded. I have no idea why it was doing that, but hopefully I've solved the issue. If it spammed your email while I was trying to fix it I am SO sorry!

Thank you guys so much for reading! I can't believe all of the Favorites/Follows I've gotten on only the first two chapters! I hope this lived up to your standards (another shout out to HeronFrayWood for without whom this would never have been as good as I hope it is. :D Seriously, guys, she's great!) The note Jace left Clary was a reference to COHF when they were discussing how Clary had stopped her art in midst of all the chaos with Sebastian. Sorry if that was a little confusing. :P

To the Wonderful People Who Left Comments On the Precious Chapter~*

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