Magnus opened his eyes and listened hard, maybe it was just his imagination that someone had knocked on the door, he listened closely and it came again. Magnus got up from his chair and walked to the door, as he opened it he tried to look like he hadn't just been sat around for days. He was surprised to find Isabelle stood there, a sheepish smile on her face.

"Can I come in" she asked

"Of course" Magnus said a little to quickly "take a seat". He opened the door further to let Isabelle past. She walked in and sat in the leopard print chair. She was wearing a close fitting, black t-shirt under a faded leather jacket, her blue jeans were tucked into a pair of heeled black boots. Her black hair was tied up at the back of her head and her red pendent hung around her neck Magnus closed the door and walked over to the chair opposite Isabelle.

"You look terrible" Isabelle said as she regarded Magnus's dishevelled appearance.

"you don't look to great yourself" Magnus replied.

"I'm sorry to intrude your probably way to busy to have time to talk to me. I just really need to talk to somebody, Jace wont even say a word"

"what did you want to talk about?" Magnus asked

"I don't know" Isabelle admitted "ever since Alec died nothing has been the same. Jace wont talk to me, neither will mum. Clary just try's to comfort me every time I see her, she acts differently around me. But I new you wouldn't because you have seen so many people die that it mustn't have such a devastating effect on you like does on us"

Magnus looked up at Isabelle to see her looking at him expectantly at him for an answer.

"That's not always true" Magnus answered in a defeated voice.

"what do you mean?" Isabelle inquired. She looked at him with searching eyes.

"you have seen many people die, probably more then any man on earth, why was Alec different. Many you have loved have died"

"Its nothing…you wont understand"

"don't treat me like a little child Magnus" Isabelle said sitting up straighter.

Magnus looked at her hard. She had a bullying look on her face. One thing he admired about her was that she was stubborn and went to any length to get her own way. And Magnus new he wasn't going to win.

"I have loved many that have died. I have had many friends that have died but also many enemies. You may think that seeing 90% of the people I no die is going to change the way I view death, will make me accept it and not think twice about it but that's not true." Magnus took a deep breath and continued "every death I have witnessed makes me weaker. Like it chips a piece of me away every time it happens. And Alec was the last stand. I have never loved anyone as much as Alec. You may think I am lying to you because you are his sister but its true. I loved with my whole life and that's a lot of life." Magnus felt his eyes start to fill with tears and had to stop. He turned his face to the window and breathed in deeply willing the tears away. Suddenly he felt a hand touch his shoulder and then Isabelle was suffocating him in tight embrace.

"Oh Magnus I never new you felt that way I'm sorry so so sorry"

"its ok Isabelle I shouldn't of hidden my true feelings. I have realised by doing so I have now condemned myself to an eternity of sadness and loneliness as I can never love again"

"but you will find love again Magnus"

"but what if I don't want to"

"Magnus you may not want to now but what about in 5 years or 10 even 20. You always do find love." Isabelle replied braking the embrace and looking Magnus in the eye.

"Alexander was my last love and that's final" Magnus stood up and walked to the window. He stood there for at what seemed like an eternity and when he finally turned around he saw that Isabelle had fallen asleep on the chair. She looked so peaceful curled up on the chair her chest slowly rising and falling. Magnus went to the cupboard and retrieved a green blanket which he put over the sleeping then went to the table and scribbled a note or Isabelle for when she woke which read

Isabelle

I have gone to see an old friend and will not be back for some time. Please leave the key to my apartment under the plant pot when you leave.

Magnus Bane

p.s please don't tell anyone about our talk last night

And with that he left his apartment. Making sure he closed the door quietly so as not to wake Isabelle.