I'm baaack! lol. school has been a nightmare, i'm so glad it's almost over! and here, is the latest chapter! i'm so, so, so, so sorry it's so late but life just sometimes gets in the way, but no fear I will never give up on this story! it's still on-going until the very end :) anyways, I hope this chapter flows well with the rest, there's some funny moments and some Sizzy time too which I hope everyone enjoys. :) so i'm going to shut up now and enjoy it, remember to comment, follow, etc etc and tell me what you think! trust me reviews motivate me to keep going! this is for you guys! :)

all characters belong to Cassie Clare and the poem to who it states below. Enjoy! :D

Now at last I have come to see what life is,
Nothing is ever ended, everything only begun,
And the brave victories that seem so splendid
Are never really won.

Even love that I built my spirit's house for,
Comes like a brooding and a baffled guest,
And music and men's praise and even laughter
Are not so good as rest.

'At Midnight'

by

Sara Teasdale

"We'll have to walk back." Magnus announced to Isabelle as they walked away from the club toward the side of the city Magnus lived on, Isabelle smirked and looked to the taller warlock walking next to her and said simply,

"Oh?"

Magnus chuckled once and looked at her, "What do you mean oh?"

"Why is that?" she asked, staring straight ahead, "Why not just take a taxi?"

Isabelle watched as Magnus straightened up and with a stern look Isabelle felt the small smile that played upon her lips disappear when he answered.

"The taxis won't run on that side after dark."

Isabelle remained silent as they continued to walk on, crossing the street after a lone passing car zoomed by them, the water from the afternoon rain splashing against the tires as the car passed and Isabelle watched as it turned to disappear from view around a corner up the street a ways, as she thought about what Magnus had spoken.

It was true, however, what he said, there were some places in every city that people weren't likely to travel to after dark, but she knew that while the mundanes thought it was because of vandals and other criminals, she knew the real culprit they saw but didn't truly see were in fact demons.

Demons.

Isabelle surprised herself as she flinched at the word, as she repeated it in her mind, she knew that demons were almost everywhere, and more came every day, but it was something about what had happened only moments ago at the DaemonNite with her own demons within, she guessed that made her flinch when she thought the word out in her mind.

Letting out a collected sigh, Isabelle watched as the breath she exhaled swirled around her in an easy to spot puff of white cloud. She was even vaguely aware of Magnus watching her carefully out of the corner of his eye.

Isabelle ignored Magnus's prying eyes and focused on the dark road ahead of them. Unsure how long it would actually take to walk to Magnus's apartment all the way, from having found a stray taxi before to take to DaemonNite, she figured she might want to either get used to the awkward silence, or start a conversation for the walk back, since Magnus made it clear, finding a taxi this time of night that would take them to their destination wasn't likely.

"How'd you know that demon back at the Chinese restaurant?"

Isabelle saw Magnus stiffen, even if slightly as she asked the question, which made his answer even more suspicious to her ears.

"I didn't know him."

Isabelle smirked again and stopped and glared at Magnus, crossing her arms.

Magnus paused too, turning to see Isabelle's intense glare and shrugged,

"Why the death look?"

"Why don't you just tell me? I already know what I am now. What it meant by Zaiphien, why won't you just tell me the connection?"

Magnus snorted. "Because there is no connection."

"Well there seemed to be to me,"

Magnus raised an eyebrow, "Oh? And how is that?"

Isabelle stepped a few steps closer and looked at him, "By how you easily spoke, how the next time you meet, will be the end of it."

Isabelle carefully watched Magnus's expression for any change, but it was completely unreadable as he answered as calmly as he could, in a tone that was so Magnus that Isabelle wanted to scream.

"Well, meeting the amazing invincible me, of course it will be the end for any demon that tries to harm me when we meet."

Isabelle rolled her eyes as Magnus chuckled and they began to walk again, Isabelle dropped the subject of the demons, knowing she wasn't likely to get anything else out of Magnus now, but that didn't mean she wouldn't try again at a later time. She just had to think of a way to get the information she sought out of him, somehow.

The uneasy silence crept over them again, as they walked closer to the darker side of the city, the side Magnus lived.

Of course there were streets lights, but there was just something about the area, Isabelle knew that made even the streets lights seem dimmer in comparison to the lights around them.

Isabelle also knew they still had a ways to go before they found themselves back at Magnus's apartment, but she wasn't sure what other topic would be important to talk about, of course she had heard of Magnus's love triangle that he had spoken about twice, giving her a feeling of déjà vu, and although she knew it would probably be full of Magnus-worthy humor, she was unsure if she really wanted to hear about a love triangle involving Magnus.

Not that she had any doubt that he was involved in one of course, but she wasn't so sure her emotions would appreciate hearing of the past love lives of Magnus Bane. After knowing how heartbroken her brother was and he was certainly still not over Magnus's breaking up with him but also coping with her supposed to be being dead as well, and Isabelle knew for a fact that her mind would only start over thinking and the last thing she needed was for the demon blood in her to try and manifest a form again if her emotional state got to be much too high as it had only moments before they left the faerie bar.

Sighing and pushing all thoughts of what had happened at DaemonNite aside, Isabelle decided on just looking around herself at her surroundings hoping that if she kept herself distracted it might be effective in helping her keep a clear head. So she looked around at the street lights around them that shone down dimly upon the shadowed ground, even seeing faint shadows of Magnus and herself walking side by side toward the shadowy buildings coming closer into view from the distance. As they walked closer toward them and Isabelle couldn't help but to compare the shadowed dark buildings, somehow, to herself.

Or rather her former self, the darkened buildings before them of the city around seemed like only shadows of the lights that illuminated the streets they had left only moments ago. Making her realize that in a way she truly was only a shadow of her former self, just as the buildings they approached were only shadows of the fully lit city all around beyond the street in which they stood, that they walked upon.

It was a conflicting thought to Isabelle, thinking of living life as something other than a Shadowhunter; living as something other than her former self she was thinking on. Being a Shadowhunter, it was all she had ever known, all that she wanted.

Isabelle held her head down, against the cool air as she tried to push all thoughts from her mind, and she was vaguely aware of Magnus's eyes on her, no doubt worrying of her emotional state. She wanted to turn and tell him she was fine, but she thought against it knowing the warlock was unlikely to believe her if she had told him the words she wanted to say.

So keeping her head down, and eyes straight ahead Isabelle walked on closer and closer to the darkness…

Suddenly, she froze, unsure at first as to why she had stopped, her feet involuntarily freezing up on the pavement, refusing to continue forward.

And that's when Isabelle heard a noise, it was a faint noise but a noise she recognized before and wondered how she hadn't noticed it before.

It was the sound of footfalls, close behind her and Magnus.

Isabelle turned her head slowly, just as Magnus stopped noticing her tensed body, as she saw out of the corner of her eye a shadow rush by in a darkened blur behind them, within a nearby alleyway.

Isabelle set her mouth into a hard line as she turned around fully, to gaze into the darkness they had just walked through.

Scanning the night, Isabella saw nothing, but she knew whatever was there was still watching them; she could feel cold eyes watching her, mocking her, laughing in the dark.

"Don't you even think about it…"

Isabelle froze as Magnus's voice cut her out of her thoughts, and she became suddenly aware of his hand on her shoulder.

She froze and glanced over at him as he gazed straight ahead just as she had into the dim lit streets they had just left.

Isabelle raised her eyebrows at Magnus, as he glanced down at her, his eyes unreadable as his mouth twitched slightly with amusement.

"What?" Isabelle demanded, not unkindly.

"No going off half-cocked into unknown alleys, it's what it wants."

Isabelle looked away and kept her face as expressionless as possible.

"I wasn't going to," she said, her eyes still scanning the night,

"Mmhmm." Magnus replied, in an unbelieving tone, as he moved his hand off Isabelle's shoulder and turned to begin to walk away.

Isabelle turned her head slightly just in time to see him stop and turned back to her with a slight grin.

"Are you coming? Or going to stand there and play peek-a-boo all night?"

Isabelle frowned, and looked away from Magnus back to the darkened alley, before she decided that it probably would be better if she went with him, although she wanted to find out what was following them, and what had blurred into the dark alley. But the feeling that she wanted to get back to Magnus's and make sure Simon was alright won out above exploring the dark alley and what was hiding deep within the shadows there.

Without any second hesitation, Isabelle turned away from the darkness, aware that the presence she felt from their invisible dark friend was disappointment and a feeling Isabelle couldn't quite describe. Could it have been the same feeling they had felt at the club they had left? Was whatever there watching them following them?

Isabelle wanted more than anything, other than checking on Simon, of course, to find out, to turn around and face the dark figure that followed closely behind, and to give chase if that's what it took.

But she knew Magnus would catch her before she would have time to act, she was nearly certain he could handle the demon in her, but she didn't want to find out or take the risk even if she doubted that she could hurt Magnus, demon or not.

Isabelle knew that out of everyone he was the least likely she was worried about harming, she wasn't entirely sure why, other than age and power, there was just something in Magnus, that she somehow knew, could stop her if he needed to.

Isabelle glanced over at Magnus; he was staring ahead, not looking at her in that moment, as she glanced away as fast as she had looked.

Even with the revelation she had had Isabelle hadn't felt any better as she'd hoped she would've with the thought.

So instead of dealing on such thoughts, Isabelle turned slightly toward Magnus when she noticed him glancing behind them.

"Who is it?"

"Not a who…a what." Magnus whispered back,

Isabelle immediately understood,

"A demon? What kind?"

There was a pause, and then Magnus shrugged slowly beside her.

"I'm not sure."

Isabelle groaned silently to herself, Damn demons she thought to herself bitterly, as they continued walking, picking up only a small pace as they walked closer and closer to Magnus's building.

As they walked on, Isabelle saw as Magnus glanced behind them a few times, just as she could feel the presence of the demon not far behind them, following them.

Isabelle tried her best to block the presence of the demon from her mind, fighting the urge to turn and take a stand, although she felt within herself that it was what was right and what needed to be done, she focused her mind on remaining calm and getting back to Magnus's apartment, and checking on Simon.

Isabelle took a deep breath, and kept her head level, as she left the thoughts of the demon following behind fade to the back of her mind and let thoughts of Simon come forefront.

She hadn't meant to be that hard on him before she had stormed out; if only she had known what he had felt what he was thinking before she might not have run out to begin with.

Isabelle shook her head to herself; she knew if he had tried to explain it may not have done any good to the situation, she may still have run off, she wouldn't have listened.

"Shouldn't be long now…"

Isabelle looked up, her dark eyes focusing on Magnus as he spoke, his words bringing her out of her thoughts. She gazed up at him before turning her gaze back to the darkness in front of them, she thought his eyes looked to narrow, his jaw clenched, had he known something that he wasn't telling her?

Frustrated at the thought, Isabelle sucked in another breath trying to calm herself, and push all thoughts of anger away with not much luck.

Finally, several minutes later, they made it up to the door of Magnus's apartment building as Isabelle heard the jingling of keys being pulled out of Magnus's pocket, as he searched around for the right one and she gazed around the dark surrounding them for any sign of the demon that had been following them moments before.

"It's still out there." Isabelle whispered, as she stuffed her hands in her pockets trying to keep herself from being to fidgety.

"Yes. What it wants is clear, but luckily for certain magic wards it can't enter here, unless it somehow… takes them down." Magnus chuckled as he tried different keys.

Isabelle smirked, "How comforting to know."

She heard Magnus chuckle once more, as she gazed around them again, her breath visible as she breathed, causing the air around them to take on a smoky appearance.

"How is it that the High Warlock of Brooklyn can put wards around his home to keep demons out, heal people, and live through so many lifetimes you've lost count, but you can't somehow conjure up the key to your own apartment building?"

"Just because I am the High Warlock of Brooklyn and have powers beyond mere mortal understanding doesn't mean that my side job is being a locksmith," Magnus remarked,

Isabelle smirked again, as she tried not to laugh at the aggravated expression crossing Magnus's features in the dim light of a nearby street lamp.

Uneasy as she waited for Magnus the non-locksmith to get the door opened, Isabelle couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, she knew the demon was still nearby, and no doubt watching them. But she couldn't shake the feeling of cold dread that fell about her, dread that something wasn't right or something was about to go horribly wrong.

Her thoughts immediately went to Simon, was he still upstairs waiting for them? Or had he taken it to himself to go out looking for her also?

Anxious to find out, Isabelle stepped closer to Magnus as an eerie wind blew by, making her shiver, and making the cold feeling that had fallen on her worse in the pit of her stomach.

"Finally, I knew that was the right key but for some reason it wouldn't turn, I might have to get someone to fix this," Magnus said, halfway to himself, Isabelle supposed by how he shook his head pondering the lock on the door.

She quickly slipped by Magnus and into the dim hallway, wanting to get inside and wanting to find Simon before something did happen.

"Maybe we can figure out how to fix it later?" she suggested, as Magnus looked up at her, his eyes holding a hint of an unknown emotion, confusion, curiosity? Isabelle couldn't tell and at that point she wasn't sure it mattered.

Magnus smirked and slitted his eyes slightly, as he stepped in behind her, the door closing with a soft creak behind him as it shut with a click.

"I suppose we can take a better look at it in the daylight," he said, as he spun the keys on the key ring around his finger and moved passed Isabelle toward the stairs.

Isabelle took one last look at the door and shuddered inwardly, although Magnus had said there were wards on the building, or at least his part of the building that certain demons couldn't get through didn't mean that the thought of a demon outside somewhere watching still didn't make her uncomfortable.

"You coming or going to stand there all night?"

Isabelle turned her head slowly and looked up the stairs to find Magnus glancing at her, a smirky smile playing across his lips, his cat eyes gleaming as if he were amused by something.

Isabelle frowned, and turned toward the stairs as she walked slowly up them.

"Yes, of course I'm coming, that was a silly thing to ask."

"Was it?" Magnus grinned, as Isabelle rolled her eyes, making him chuckle lightly as he leaned toward the door, a key in hand.

"Going to lose the key to your apartment door as well?" she asked,

"Oh of course not, this one is a special key, see?" he held it up showing her the palm tree design that said Aloha! in red letters across it.

Isabelle shook her head that would defiantly be one trip she would certainly skip if it ever came to be, she wouldn't for anything get stuck with Magnus for any amount of time in Hawaii.

"Ever been?"

"What?" she asked, looking directly at him,

"Hawaii?" Magnus asked, as he took in her expression and laughed again,

Isabelle shook her head and bit back the urge to say something sarcastic, "No, I've never been to Hawaii."

"Well that was expected," Magnus began, as Isabelle raised her eyebrows, about to ask what that was supposed to mean when Magnus began to talk again, "You should go some time, it's fantastic."

Isabelle crossed her arms lightly and looked at him, "No surprise you've been there,"

"Of course I have! Many times in fact, I'll tell you about them sometime,"

"I'm sure it was a blast."

Magnus grinned as the door swung opened, "Anywhere I go is a blast, in more ways than one."

Isabelle had no idea what to make of the last remark, so she took it to herself to walk through the opened door before the conversation went from talks of Hawaiian vacations to Magnus's specific Hawaiian vacations.

Standing in the small familiar hall of Magnus's apartment Isabelle looked around herself before her gaze rested back on Magnus who turned away from her to hang up his coat before he turned back toward her, Isabelle shifted uneasily, and pushed her hair back behind her ear, as she looked around the room awkwardly, the new silence that crept into the room after the conversation and the thought of the demon still being out there in the night somewhere was making her uncomfortable, so as calmly as she could despite feeling restless she asked Magnus the only question she cared about in that moment.

"Where's Simon?"

Magnus turned to look at her and then looked around the room, "I'm not sure, he must be here somewhere…at least I believe he is he was when I left."

"What?" Isabelle couldn't hide the worry that had crept into her voice and the thought she had just moments ago about Simon going out on his own to search for her, "What do you mean he 'must be here'? Did he say anything about leaving before you left?"

Magnus looked back at Isabelle, his expression unreadable, but his eyes held a hint of amusement that Isabelle knew he meant something he wasn't telling her, just like moments before when she caught the same look of amusement crossing his expression, she fought the urge to hit him, she wasn't in any mood to play his games.

"Well he did want to go find you… But I went instead." Magnus shrugged slowly, as he moved away from the doorway toward the door leading to his room. "Are you sure you don't want to hear about this one party I found myself at on the big Hawaiian island?"

Isabelle watched him in disbelief, "What does that mean?"

Magnus sighed but didn't reply, "I guess that is a no."

Isabelle shook her head in disbelief and began to move toward the hallway, toward the rooms beyond the hall.

"Simon could be out there, where that demon was following us, and all you care about is Hawaii?"

She felt Magnus's eyes on her as she turned from him and hurried down the hall, trying not to move to fast, as to not amuse Magnus more than he already appeared to be.

"Well it will make for an interesting story to tell your children!" Magnus chuckled, Isabelle ignored him not even paying attention to what he said, and not caring at the time either.

"Simon?" she called, as she looked in a few rooms as she continued down the hall, finally opening the door to the bedroom they were last in before she left, her panic fully manifesting as she glanced at the bed about to shout for him, when she paused and just stared.

There on the bed lying motionless and completely still, his hair ruffled and eyes closed, his pale skin shone in the dim light.

Isabelle blinked several times, her eyes adjusting as she realized what she was seeing, Simon was there, unharmed, but just asleep.

He's okay, he's here, he's just sleeping he's okay… she thought, telling herself as she released a deep breath she hadn't even realized she was holding, and as she stood in the doorway she watched him sleep, and watching how at ease he seemed how unknowing that she was there watching him, and she began to realize why it was mesmerizing to watch another in their dreaming state, and she fully understood why most say that when your asleep you look peaceful. Simon did look peaceful, at ease, and much to her surprise the word cute came to mind, and involuntarily the corners of her mouth quirked up into a soft smile.

"Aww. Isn't that so cute."

Came a soothing nearly sing-song voice, from directly behind her.

Still watching Simon sleeping soundlessly, Isabelle rolled her eyes to herself, so much for a good uninterrupted moment, and slowly tearing her gaze away from Simon's sleeping form she turned her head to see Magnus standing behind her with a grin, as he looked at her, devils of amusement dancing in his tired eyes.

"I'm just glad he's here…" Isabelle began as she glanced back at Simon, "And okay."

"Yes," Magnus began his voice sounding more tired than moments before as he agreed, "That is one of the important things."

Isabelle nodded, halfway to herself and halfway to Magnus, as she turned slightly back toward Simon, and noticed he moved slightly parting his lips in his sleep to let out a tired sigh.

But the sound echoed as Isabelle turned her head back to Magnus realizing he had sighed as well, as she saw him turn slowly and begin to walk back down the hall toward his own room.

Izzy looked back toward Simon, who had rolled over in his sleep, and quickly turned her attention back to the hallway.

"Magnus." She called, as quietly as she good, so not to wake Simon, she watched as Magnus paused and turned to look at her, his expression shadowed by the dim light of the hallway, but Isabelle could see him just as well, as she stared trying to find the words she wished to say, but finally settled with a quick and simple,

"Thank you again." She paused, as Magnus took in her words, and opened his mouth to answer when she added with a small sigh, "For everything."

Isabelle watched as Magnus paused for a few seconds before grinning at her tiredly,

"You're welcome."

Isabelle returned the smile softly, as she watched Magnus shaking his head slightly turn from her again and walk back toward his room, Isabelle thought that was going to be the end of the conversation, as she began to turn her attention back to Simon, when Magnus spoke again, his words coming to no surprise to Isabelle.

"Oh and Isabelle," he said, a hint of playfulness in his tone, as she raised an eyebrow and turned back to him,

"Yes?"

"You should really let me tell you about Hawaii, it is amazing, the beaches the water, ah! It's wonderful!" Magnus grinned with a tired chuckle, as Isabelle rolled her eyes again.

"Okay, but not tonight," she called, as Magnus laughed, and turned from her, as he called,

"Goodnight," from over his shoulder.

"Goodnight," Isabelle nodded, as she called back to him, as she watched him disappear behind the door still chuckling quietly.

Isabelle shook her head and rocked back on her heels, as she turned back toward the bedroom in front of her and moved silently forward through the doorway, where she stood quietly for a few moments, taking in the sight before her, the peace and beauty she saw, that she never thought she would associate with Simon, but somehow did in those moments, something about the look on his pale face, the way his dark hair fell around his head, like a darkened halo, made Isabelle unsure of why she couldn't look away, but it didn't matter, all that did to her was that he was okay, and he was still there and he was still safe.

"For now," Isabelle reminded herself, as she turned to change into the t-shirt she had been wearing before she left the apartment, as she began to think of what exactly she would tell Simon of the nights events, how she would explain to him what her and Magnus had found out about her emotions, and how she would truly find the words and way to tell Simon how she felt.

Izzy wasn't sure how she would pull it off, but all she knew was that she would, she wasn't going to give up on what she truly felt, and she wouldn't give up on finding a way to explain to Simon what she truly felt, because for Isabelle, she knew it was only a matter of time before Simon moved on, she knew somehow that he would only take so much of her not knowing her own heart and mind, that he wouldn't stay around forever unless she made some sort of indication that she wanted him too in all ways possible, and as she changed out of the clothes she wore, into the old t-shirt of Simon's that's exactly what she vowed to do the very next morning, she knew she had to tell him something, at least get some of her emotional distress out to Simon, if only she could trust him somehow, she knew it would be easier that way but she also knew that she hadn't advanced to that stage yet.

She couldn't trust anyone yet with her heart, or all her thoughts, but she certainly could try to tell Simon some of them.

With her mind wandering and her heart fluttering, Isabelle silently moved toward the edge of the bed, and quietly crawled in under the covers, and slowly scooted over toward Simon, and although hesitant at first, finally wrapped her long arms around him, however the next reaction Isabelle hadn't expected,

Slowly releasing him from her grasp, slightly startled Simon moved and shifted to roll back around to face Isabelle.

His dark eyes now opened, and watching her, as they locked gazes, Isabelle swallowed hard as she watched him.

"Hey." He whispered his voice thick, husky from sleep.

"Hey…" Izzy repeated, her voice equally as quiet, and shaky,

Isabelle watched as Simon smiled, and brought his hand up to caress her face, she could tell he was half asleep, but she didn't mind, it felt nice despite all that had happened, and she found herself leaning into his touch.

"So beautiful…" Simon murmured as he slowly closed his eyes again, as Isabelle lifted her hand to his, their fingers locking together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Perfectly fitting.

Isabelle leaned forward, and kissed Simon gently on the lips causing him to smile before she whispered to him quietly,

"Sleep now, I have to talk to you in the morning…"

She let her voice trail off, as she saw Simon nod slowly as he mouthed the word 'Okay' but didn't quite get it out before he was drifting back to sleep.

Isabelle felt his free arm go around her and pull her closer, as she looked to him with a stern look, before realizing he was still asleep.

Isabelle watched Simon some more, as she rested her head on his chest before sighing and glancing out the window at the distant moonlight and stars, the feeling of being watched still all around her, just as the feeling that she couldn't seem to shake that something bad was going to happen, even with as perfect as the moment felt.

Finally, ignoring all negative feelings, and all negative notions of bad feelings, Isabelle pushed them away, as she closed her eyes, hoping to drift to a faraway peaceful sleep, however, even as strong as she was, Izzy still didn't know of the dangers and restlessness that the feelings she felt would bring soon enough.

so how was that? I hope everyone likes it, I've rewritten this chapter at least 4 times to get it to how I liked it and how I thought everyone else would like it, so please tell me what you think! it helps me keep going when I feel hopeless on writing which has happened a lot here lately, which I hope soon will go away with school ending. YAY!

Lol. So, please review, all that I can't believe how much everyone is loving this story it makes me feel all happy inside :) I know that sounds hokey but, whatever, okay going to shut up now and I really hope the next chapter is out quick, but if for some chance it isn't just know that new chapters will be about if not soon sometime lol :D