Chapter Ten: I will Catch You, I'll Be Waiting

Song Companion: Time After Time by Quietdrive

"You're her parabatai?" The Inquisitor asked. Alejandre raised a brow. "Didn't I just say that?" he asked, dismissing him. He looked at Helena and smirked. "Hey, Hel. How's your back? Didn't go in too deep did it?" he asked as he walked closer.

Will stood up and glared at Alejandre, who he was now standing toe-to-toe with. "What the hell are you doing here?" Will growled. Alejandre glared right back at him. "I've come for my parabatai." Alejandre said before pushing past Will. He gave Consul Wayland a small bow. Helena narrowed her eyes at him. What was he up to? She could tell he was working his charms.

"My name is Alejandre Hawthorne and I have come with a proposal regarding Miss Shadowhunter." He said. Helena shared a wary glance with Will. Consul Wayland raised a brow. "Continue." He said. Alejandre nodded and leaned against the Inquisitor's table, pulling out a ring from his pants pocket. Helena saw that it was made to look like silver tree branches wrapped around your finger and she realized it was the Hawthorne family ring. Alejandre twirled it around in his hand as he spoke.

"I have been unfrozen and around London for about a year now, I have gotten to know the city, this time, the whole works. Helena, on the other hand, does not. She has been sheltered in the Institute around people she doesn't know in an unknown time filled with unknown customs."

"Please get to the point." Consul Wayland said warily as he rubbed his temples. Helena stood and picked up the sword and let it rest on one of her shoulders, her free hand on her hip. "Yes, Alejandre. What's the point?" She asked him. He smirked at her as shocked Shadowhunters stared at her.

How was she able to just take the sword off? Will wondered as he stared at Helena, who was impatiently drumming her fingers on her hip and the hilt of the Mortal Sword. Alejandre smiled at her and turned to the Consul.

"My plan is to take her in and show her how things work. I think it would be easier for her to adapt if she was around someone she knew," he paused and turned to her, a sweet smile on his face. "Someone she trusts and loves." He turned back to Consul Wayland. "Don't you think? It'd keep her out of trouble and out of your hair…especially with all of this business about the Magister." He said.

Helena froze as she stared at the ring. He was going to try to take her hand in marriage…? This was bad, if the Consul and the rest of the Enclave thought this was beneficial, she wouldn't have a choice in the matter. She let the sword fall from her hand, the clattering on the floor being the only sound in the shocking silence.

"So you intend on marrying her?" The Consul clarified. Alejandre nodded. "Of course, she's my friend and I care deeply for her. Her father entrusted her safety to me, and I believe this will keep her as safe as could be, from whatever harm comes her way." He said.

A soft murmur broke through the crowd. Helena fell into her chair, her knees giving out. She looked over at the other Shadowhunters from the London Institute. Henry and Charlotte were too shocked to say anything and Will…Will was livid. He looked like he wanted to strangle the first thing his hands could find.

Consul Wayland nodded slowly. "That would be helpful…" he murmured, mulling it over. Will clenched his fists and bit his tongue. He could taste the blood as anger grew in him. How could the Consul agree to this? Alejandre couldn't have her! He was despicable and Helena would be miserable for the rest of her life! "No!" Helena blurted. Will relaxed slightly and felt pleased at the fact that she had taken a stand for it. The Consul looked at her, surprised, as Alejandre gave her a cold look.

"I…I mean, I can't." she said, suddenly very self conscious. Will watched as she played with her raven locks, a nervous habit. "And why is that?" The Inquisitor asked her. She bit her lip. "Be-Because…I…um, I…uh…" She shot Will a look, begging for help. Will looked down at his fists and froze. That's it!

"Well, if you don't have a legitimate reason…" the Consul trailed off, turning to Alejandre who had a slightly smug look on his face. "Wait." Everyone turned to Will. Helena stared at him, grateful for the rescue. "She can't go with him." He said. The Consul looked annoyed. "Mr. Herondale, I would appreciate it if you would sit down and remain silent, this has nothing to do with you. And since she doesn't have a reason—"

"She's already engaged." He said calmly. The room fell silent. Helena stared at Will, confused. She was? Since when? And who was this allusive fiancé of hers? "To who?" The Inquisitor asked, shocked, as Will walked up to Helena. He took her hand and gave her a reassuring look before turning to the Enclave.

"To me."

Shocked gasps and murmurs rang through the crowd. Will looked up at Helena and gave her an amused smirk as her cheeks turned a beet red. He had seen his family ring and thought, why doesn't he just step in and marry her? She was beautiful, they had a connection, and he could protect her.

"What?" Alejandre hissed. Helena looked at him and felt her face become pale, he looked livid. He walked up to them slowly, deliberately. Will stood in front of Helena. "That's a lie." He growled. Will stared at him, dead in the eye. "It isn't, she's my fiancé and we're getting married." He said coldly.

"You've only known her for a week, why would you marry her?" Alejandre pushed. "He asks a very good question." Gabriel's father mused smugly. Will glared at him. It was obvious that Hawthorne and the Lightwoods were in on this, they'd do anything to keep Helena out of this place, but that must mean that Hawthorne has something they want…but what?

"It was love at first sight." Helena said quietly, stepping out from behind Will and standing next to him, holding his arm and hand as she meekly stared at Alejandre. He glared at her. "With a Herondale, Helena? Unlikely." He sneered. She glared at him. "And? Who cares? They're different now, Alejandre… and who am I disgracing? They're all gone now…" She said quietly.

Alejandre was not happy…and this pleased Will immensely. It was like baiting Gabriel Lightwood, only better.

"Well if that's the case, then so be it. Mr. Herondale, I trust you will let her ease into our society without causing us worry?" Consul Wayland said. Will nodded. "Yes sir." He answered politely. The Consul nodded and looked to his wrist watch. He sighed. "We will continue the investigation tomorrow, dismissed." He said, standing up. Will glared at Alejandre as Helena walked away. He then turned and followed her, keeping a hand on her lower back protectively. When the four Shadowhunters reached the safety of their carriage, Charlotte leaned over and smacked Will on the back of his head.

"Will, are you crazy? I cannot believe you just lied to the Consul! This is serious!" She seethed. He sighed as she went on. "What do you think will happen when you don't get married, huh? They're not just going to leave you alone and assume you did it Will, especially because it's about you! They are going to be keeping tabs on you and I can't believe you just lied!" She said angrily. He leveled his gaze at her.

"I wasn't lying, Charlotte. I know what that entitled; I'm going to marry her." He said as he slid his family ring onto her left ring finger. Helena gasped and stared at the ring on her finger. She covered her mouth with her other hand as she looked at the ring. Will watched as she started crying. He winced on the inside. Was he that bad…?

Charlotte took Henry's hand and smiled slightly as the married couple watched the engaged couple. Poor Will, he thought the girl was horrified, it was obvious to Charlotte and Henry that the girl was quite happy, but she just couldn't say it. Charlotte leaned her head on her husband's shoulder and the pair shared a secret smile.

Will looked up when he heard a knock on his doorframe. He looked up to see Jem leaning in the doorway, his brows raised. "When were you going to tell me?" he asked. Will sighed and sat up as Jem walked in. "Soon, I didn't think anyone would know by now, to be honest." He said, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, Helena came to Tessa and asked her to be her maid of honor." Jem said. Will nodded. "How was she when she asked…?" Will asked, unsure. Jem raised a brow. "Like any woman would be upon getting engaged." He replied. Will frowned.

"She cried the whole ride home when I told her I was serious about marrying her." He said. "Why are you marrying her? Your relationship couldn't have progressed that much already." Jem replied. "Alejandre was trying to marry her and she said no and couldn't think of an excuse, so she turned to me…she was depending on me to come up with something, so I did." He muttered. Jem nodded, taking this in.

"So, will you be my best man?" Will asked his best friend. He grinned. "What are best friends for?" Jem laughed. Will grinned and was going to ask Jem a question when he heard a sneeze in the doorway. The boys both turned to the door way to see a sleepy Helena, wearing nothing but Will's shirt and a pair of socks.

Will stared at her, the carriage ride coming to mind again. She just couldn't stop crying and when they got to the Institute, she ran off. Will hadn't bothered to try and find her; he figured he had upset her enough for one day.

"Did I interrupt something?" She asked quietly. "Not at all, I was just leaving." Jem said, smiling at Will before he left. Will sighed on the inside. It was now or never…

"I'm sorry." They both said at the same time. Helena blushed a little. "What for?" she asked quietly. Will looked at her, confused. Why was she apologizing? He was the one that practically forced her into a marriage. "For making you my fiancé…I didn't think you would be too opposed to it since it was that or Alejandre but…" he trailed off. Helena smiled softly and sat next to Will on his bed.

"That's why I'm sorry, Will. Charlotte told me that you thought I was upset with you, and for that I apologize." She looked at Will, marveling at his blue eyes. "I was crying because I was so relieved and so happy." She paused and looked down to her feet. "And because I felt guilty." She murmured. Will blinked.

"Guilty?" he asked. She nodded. "I've taken away your future; you won't be able to be with the one you love when you find her because of me." She said quietly. Will stared at her for a long time. "I don't think that'll be much of a problem." He said quietly.

She blushed lightly and curled up into his side. "Thank you, Will. You've done nothing but protect me all this time that we've known each other without expecting anything in return." She said. "Let me guess, that's different from the other Herondales you've met?" he asked. She laughed softly. "No, that's different from anyone I've met, period." She said with a smile. Will found that he smiled, too.

"Can I…?" she trailed off, her unspoken question hanging in the air. Will smirked. "I don't see why not, we'll be doing it for the rest of our lives anyways." He said. She smiled and burrowed into his blankets against his side as he blew out the candle. When Will laid back down, he wrapped his arms around her and remained silent, listening and watching her sleep until sleep finally claimed him as well.