Standing at the lake's edge, Alec looked at Magnus, the black sky above blending seamlessly with his sable hair and military-style coat. His handsome face was grim, wrought with emotions Alec understood very well, and his hand was so tight on his, the circulation almost gone. They were standing a line, a line that once crossed, they could never go back. After they went further, not going wasn't an option, they would come face-to-face with Dae-Jung, Devon's husband and Nexus' biological father... But when that happened, what would happen next is anyone's guess...

"Ready?" Alec smiled at Magnus, squeezing his hand to comfort the warlock.

Grinning at his little Shadowhunter, Magnus took the the first step, striding into the water, "Always."

XxX You Think You Love Me XxX

Nexus looked at Ash for several minutes and she stared back, neither moving an inch. Ben was behind Nexus, Max backing his sister, their faces grim as the girls eyed each other. The tension was thick enough to cut, Seraph blade not required to do so. Isabelle was between the two girls, looking back and forth between the two teenagers.

Having enough of their ridiculous games, and still frazzled at her niece's vanishing act, Isabelle snapped at them, "Oh, for the love of! Just do it already!"

They looked at the adult Shadowhunter in split-screen, each grabbing an end of the sandwich left over from dinner, "It's mine!"

Max and Ben held the girls' shoulders, causing them to stop the struggle for the lukewarm turkey long enough for Izzy to cut it down the middle so they could share it. The girls gulped, each grazed by the knife as it slid down the meat and bread, hitting the plate underneath. They took their share, taking a large bite and watching each other with distrust. Izzy groaned, throwing her hands in the air and leaving the kitchen.

"I do believe she's angry." Ash watched her mother's retreating back with a frown.

"Quite," Nexus agreed, "Though I haven't the vaguest idea why."

Ben snorted, "The possibilities are endless."

Nexus shot him a dirty look, sticking her tongue out, "Fuck off."

"I didn't know you were so kinky," He pushed her against the kitchen counter, both arms blocking her off, "But if you want to give the twins a show, who am I to stop you?"

Max spun around, pretending to vomit while Ash feigned a heart-attack, "Oh, Ben! Promise me that we can give them a show?"

"Why not?" He shrugged, leaning in for a kiss.

Nexus smirked, jerking her knee up and winding him, "Sucker."

The twins ceased their acts, applauding Nexus, "Brava, brava!"

Ben pointed at Max, falling dramatically to the floor, "Traitor!"

Max grabbed Nexus, planting a kiss on her check, "The act ends now: Now we can let the world know of our love!"

"Your love?" Ash clung to Nexus' other side, wrapping her arms around her waist, "What about our love?"

"Did your lesbian love affair kill my brother?" Clary asked, walking into the kitchen with her hands on her hips, "Honestly, we were only gone for a few hours!"

"Oh, so she's back..." Ben sat up, looking around at his sister.

Ash and Max let go of Nexus, Ash hugging her aunt, "So, did Jace behave himself?"

"I'll have you know, I was on my best behavior." Jace followed into the room after his wife, a person half his size holding the back of his shirt.

Nexus knew that Stacy was shy, even around family, so she was always trying to be extra friendly to him, "Hey Stacy. Did you have fun today?"

Jace snorted, "We where shopping, something you wouldn't have the luxury of understanding."

Clary had to partially agree with Jace, becuase Nexus was a warlock, she only had to snap her fingers to get anything she wanted, "Let Sterling answer her."

The boy had blonde hair just like his father, but if you looked closely, there were more than hints of strawberry, and his eyes were hazel, capturing the best of both Jace's gold eyes and Clary's green orbs, "Uh-huh."

Nexus smiled at Stacy, "Why don't you come tell me about it?"

"Sterling Anthony Morgenstern, you had better not steal my girlfriend!" Ben ordered his nephew, shocking everyone in the room when he called Nexus his girlfriend.

Nexus was more surprised than anyone else however, so she blushed, grabbing Stacy and caring him out of the kitchen. Clary and Jace turned to the twins, telling them about something Shadowhunter related. They were very watchful of their son, but they knew that Nexus wouldn't do anything to him, and that the social interaction was a good thing. Ben lingered in the kitchen for a moment or two before following after Nexus. She was already half-way to the library, so he decided to just leave her alone for the moment.

XxX You Think You Love Me XxX

Siting in one of the chairs closest to the door, Nexus bounced Stacy on her knee. Her mind was reeling with what had just happened in the kitchen, but she forced herself to focus on the child. Listening to him read a Mundie book for children, she helped him pronounce words correctly. When the story was finished, Stacy settled in her arms, falling asleep. She barely noticed as she pet his fair head. She even missed the door open and Ben approach her.

"You look comfortable with him." He looked at Nexus holding the sleeping toddler, wondering if she was sad about being sterile.

She nodded, kissing the top of his head lightly, "He's a good child."

"Nexus, I'm sorry about earlier - "

"It's fine. I mean, it makes sense, doesn't it? It was just different hearing the words out loud. Good different." She smiled at him.

He shook his head, "I should have spoken to you about it first though, not just blurt out some assumption of mine..."

"No, you just said it first was all. If we had to be labeled, we probably would have been dating a lot sooner than just tonight, or even before we had sex." She wasn't wrong about that.

He walked over to her, kneeling at her side, "So, will you be my girl?"

Nexus used the hand that had previously been on Stacy's head to take Ben's hand, "Idiot, if I can't learn to accept your wet dog stench, who else will?"

"That could be a little more convincing," He frowned.

She rolled her eyes, "Yes, alright? I'll be your girlfriend."

Ben shook his head, still not sold on her sincerity, "Jesus, woman. You'll sure make an excellent actress someday."

Seeing that the only way to convince him was to lower her defenses, Nexus held his hand to her lips, "I want to be your girlfriend... becuase... I think I might love you."

"You think you love me?" He looked at her as if she were sick, "Are you sure your feeling alright?"

She frowned, "If you're going to be a butt about it, then we can just - "

"Alright." He looked at her begrudgingly, "I might love you too."


A/N:

Actually, the "fuck off" part was inspired by Laffy-Taffy0401's awesome fic "Because of a Pink Crayon". If you haven't checked it out, you should!