Chapter Six

Alec sipped his water, listening to Magnus detail the visit from the Clave. "I can't believe they're going to just let her come stay with us like that. I mean, they don't even approve of us being together."

"I know." Magnus beamed brightly over his lo mein noodles. "We got lucky, that's for sure." He took a large bite. "The visit has to happen in the next 24-hours so we'll have to leave as soon as possible. Do you think she'll be okay?"

"I don't see why not." Alec frowned. He wasn't sure what would happen once they reached Alicante. Marlie was such an anomaly, they had never dealt with a situation such as this. "Jace won't be happy."

"Attached to her already, is he?" Magnus wiped his mouth on a napkin. "That's good, at least. Maybe it will help him when it's his and Clary's turn to have a kid." There was a mischevious glint in his eyes. "We should probably explain things to her as best we can..."

"I'm not sure how we can prepare her for this. It won't be easy. You know how the Inquisitor operates. I can't imagine that they'll be any easier on her just because she's a child."

"That's why I'm not leaving her side." Magnus' tone was suddenly more serious as he rummaged in his pockets.

Alec watched him curiously. "What are you doing?"

"There's something I've been meaning to ask you. Now is just as good as any." The High Warlock put a ring box on the table, and raised his eyebrow at Alec. "Marry me?"

Alec almost choked on the water he was sipping. "W-what? Are you serious?" He picked up the box, and opened it. The ring was made of gold that Alec didn't want to think about the price of. "Of course I will... h-how did you...?"

"I'm the High Warlock. It pays halfway decently, you know." Magnus winked at him, before reaching over and plucking the box out of his hand. He took the ring out. "May I?"

"Y-yeah..." Alec gave him his left hand. "Magnus, I don't know what to say..."

"That's alright. It will come to you in time." Magnus slipped the ring on to his finger, and then turned his attention to getting the bill. "In the meantime, I'll go back with you to the Institute, and we can talk to Marlie together."

"Yeah... I like that idea." Alec said. He suddenly felt the phone in his pocket vibrate. "Hold on." He checked the caller ID. "Oh... it's Jace." He answered. "What?"

"Uh, Alec, your mother's looking for you. She has Marlie."

"Damn it, Jace. I told you to keep her out of sight. What happened?"

"Hey, don't blame me. Isabelle came home, and she started following her all over the place. Guess she's not used to have girls around or something. When your Mom asked to see her, Isabelle didn't get the memo..."

"Alright, I'm coming, and I'm bringing Magnus."

"You sure that's such a good idea?" Jace asked.

"Yes." Alec hung up, and sighed. "My mom has Marlie in her custody. We need to go."

Magnus sighed. "Yeah, I figured. Let's get out of here." He stood up, and dropped a twenty dollar bill on the table. He turned to their waitress. "Keep the change, sugar." He led the way out.

Marlie was happy to see Magnus when he walked into the Institute's Sanctuary after what seemed like hours. She raced to his side. "I don't like her!" She pointed at Maryse accusingly.

"I did nothing to her." Maryse Lightwood said, raising her chin. "I was trying to keep her from being in pain. If you two had been smart, you'd have realized that she was in pain just roaming around here because of her... power."

"So you just took her away from Jace?" Alec unbuttoned his coat as Magnus sat down with his soon to be adopted daughter, and tried to comfort her. "You could have at least let him stay with her here,Mom."

"Jace is with Clary and Jocelyn." Maryse said calmly. "I'm glad you brought Magnus with you..." Maryse stopped mid-sentence. "What's that on your finger?"

"Magnus and I are engaged." Alec said. "He asked me tonight."

"How convenient." Maryse said. She turned her attention to Magnus then. "I suppose you think you're being clever?"

"I don't think it. I know it." Magnus quipped. "So are we going? I would like to get Marlie into bed at a decent hour." He scooped her up, and Marlie laid her head on his shoulder.

"Yes, let us go." Maryse turned as footsteps came from behind them. Jace and Isabelle stood with gear on, ready to leave. "You two stay here. I don't need more people to look after."

"Jace..." Marlie reached for the blonde shadowhunter.

"Ah, Marlie..." Jace ignored the eye roll Isabelle gave him, and moved to take her from Magnus. "You're going to my home country. Your home country. But we'll see each other again soon, okay?" He hugged her gently. "Come on. Where's that smile I like?"

The seven-year-old gave it to him, and then went back to Magnus. "Bye, Jace."

"Hey, not bye. See you later!" Jace went back to stand with Isabelle. "Make sure they don't hurt her." He said to Alec.

"Of course not." Maryse sniffed. "This is a highly unusual situation, but she is a child. They'll show some kindness and restraint, I think."

Magnus wrapped his arms around his child more securely. "It's alright, sweetie. I'll be with you every step of the way."