"Should we pick this spot?" Isabelle inquired, pointing at a spot in the shade under a massive oak tree. "Sure, I don't see why not," Jace said, walking over and placing the heavy basket on the floor. "Jesus, Clary, what did you put in there?" Alec opened the basket, only to see it crammed with so much food. Fruits, sandwiches, crisps, chocolates and drinks were squashed together weirdly, and it became difficult to take anything out. "Let me do it," Simon said, walking over to the guys and smirking. "I've had more mundane picnics than all of you, so I should be the expert around here." Isabelle got up and gave him a kiss on the cheek, then embraced him. Simon had been in Idris for the past week; training to be an agile shadowhunter. He often spent weeks at a time in Alicante, but made sure to portal back to New York and check on Isabelle and everyone else. Carefully, Simon took out each individual item and placed it on different plates.
"Well, who's up for some squished sandwiches?" Clary said, grinning.
"No wonder Magnus had that 'meeting'," Alec muttered under his breath, picking up a tuna sandwich, disgruntled, and took a bite. Jace raised an eyebrow at Isabelle, who was happily sipping away on apple juice, even though her favourite bottle of rosé was sitting in front of her. Jace glanced at Clary and Alec, who were both thinking the same thing; Isabelle would never turn down her favourite rosé.
"How's shadowhunting going for you, Simon?" Clary quickly said, breaking the silent tension. "They told me you might be sent over to our Institute in New York."
"I'm not sure I'll be entirely happy about that," Jace said, smirking. Simon rolled his eyes. "I was going to be sent over to the Los Angeles one, but I convinced them to let me stay here."
"You convinced the Clave? You said something and they listened to you? That's a first," Jace raised his eyebrows; he wasn't lying. The Clave had become even more stricter than usual, although relaxed most of the time on small matters. Clary was staring at Isabelle, who was coincedently scrolling on her phone, obviously trying to stay out of the conversation. Isabelle looked up to see four pairs of eyes looking right at her, Jace smirking; Alec's eyebrows raised; Clary vaguely amused; and Simon, who just looked utterly helpless.
"Fine. It's a girl," Isabelle smiled and pointed to her stomach.
"And I hope to God she isn't anything like her mother," Simon grinned as Isabelle punched him in the shoulder.
"I second that motion," Jace said, taking a bite out of a green apple. Isabelle simply rolled her eyes and looked over to Alec, who hadn't said anything. Isabelle smiled at him, trying to get a response, but Alec just stood up and left. Clary reassured Isabelle that it was nothing; he was just surprised, that was all. But when they all realised that he wasn't going to come back, all they could do was watch him fade into the distance.