This is the epilogue, and thus marks the ending. :) As epilogues usually do...

I hope it was as nice to read as it was to write, and I would greatly appreciate reviews!

I do not own Magnus nor his story.

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Maryse Lightwood stepped through the portal from Idris with her lips pinched into a line worthy of McGonagall. She hadn't been back to the New York Institute for years, and she hadn't seen Alexander nor the woman he did not marry, Lydia Branwell, more than a handful of times, mostly only distantly, in all that time. It had almost always been Isabelle representing the New York Institute when there were meetings in Idris.

She had very firm expectations of this visit, and it was not what she found, as there were several children playing to the side of the room as she stepped towards the center of the Institute. Joining their game, was Jace. So naturally, he was the one she questioned about whose they all were.

"Maryse!" Smiling and giving her a hug, Jace gestured to three boys, identical in features and age, all with dark skin and flaming red hair. "These are the Fairchild triplets: Clary's little brothers. Jocelyn works here now, sometimes, and mundanes marry much older than we do, so I help with them while Clary gets her art degree... the rest are the Branwell-Lightwoods." He made a wide gesture towards the other two children playing nearby, and a two further away in the hall. They all had black hair, but their eyes were light and gorgeous, moving in different nuances between grey, light brown and hazel, green and even a sort of mild golden colour.

As if summoned, Alexander Lightwood stepped through the hall, causing one of the children to jump into his arms with a call of "dad!" which made Maryse go pale. It only got worse as the other child playing at a distance made a dive for the Warlock - clearly Bane - who seemingly just finished adjusting wards and picked up the little girl who called out "daddy!" in turn. But the greeting of "Mrs Lightwood, you are expected," didn't come from either of the two men, but from Lydia Branwell, who was smiling politely, a small, sleepy child on her hip: the only blond one.

"I thought Alexander married the Warlock. Has he been unfathful to his marriage vows?" Maryse's voice was thinner than she'd like. "No, he is just a Warlock. It gives a rather disconcerting insight to their... personal life, as I can feel the spell and that's the moment when Alec..." Lydia smirked, "but that's worth it, don't you think?"

"Could we stop this thoroughly mortifying conversation or at least not have it in front of the children? Or my mother?" Alec demanded as he reached them, setting the child -their child- he'd been hugging down. Lydia merely smiled and handed him their youngest instead. "Of course. I have work to do. See you later? Magnus," she greeted the Warlock who smiled and nodded in reply before going to join the children's game, to their loud excitement.

Maryse was reeling, as she followed the blond woman, only able to ask one, simple question. "How many?" How many grandchildren did she not even know she had, because she had assumed and judged her son? "Five," was Lydia's very simple answer. "Two boys, and three girls. Magnus wants more, but Alexander thinks five is great. I am inclined to agree. For now." She smiled warmly, and invited Maryse into her office. She had a feeling they'd see more of her in the future.

Outside of the office, the three men gathered up their charges and brought them to an empty training room for a game of catch out of range of disturbing those who attempted to work at the Institute, Alexander playfully teasing his brother in every way which counted that parabatai-nieces and nephews wasn't actually a thing, while his husband since years cheated in a multitude of interesting and creative ways when the children chose him to catch. The children's delighted laughter rang out in the room, and Alexander and Magnus did not stop holding hands as they watched Jace and the children run around. Life was perfect.