Hey guys, thanks for the feedback. I'm sorry for the wait, I was having some bad anxiety issues last night and that put me off writing.

To Guest: Robert is still a free man, he couldn't keep his position as inquisitor but he still has a good position on the Clave. He stays in the institute and Maryse avoids him at all costs.

*Disclaimer* I only own Alli, Sam, Zavier and the kids. All other rights go to Cassandra Clare

Chapter 24

*EMMA'S P.O.V.*

Julian and I have been sleeping together since Uncle Jem and Tessa got married. After they went home, Jules showed up at the institute. I didn't want to talk to him at first, but Alli encouraged me too. So I did, and we made up, but there was still sexual tension between us. We began flirting and toward the end of the night, he kissed me and I kissed him back and neither of us wanted to stop, so we snuck off upstairs and had sex, and ever since we've been meeting in secret every few days and hooking up. I know we shouldn't, we really, really shouldn't, but I just can't resist the temptation to sleep with him. Jules broke things off with Cristina after the second time we had sex. He didn't tell her why though. I don't know what's going to happen between us long term, but for now, I'm enjoying our little 'affair.'

"What time do you have to be back at?" Jules asks a while later, as we lie in bed, in each other's embrace.

"I told Uncle Jem I'd be back by seven." I say.

"I wish you could stay the night..." Jules trails off, pulling me closer to him.

"Mm, me too, but I can't. Uncle Jem would go insane with worry; I wouldn't do that to him."I say.

"Does the baby cry much at night?" He asks, referring to Esther.

"Not really, Uncle Jem says she wakens a lot but since she's right beside the bed in her bassinet, he gets her before she starts to cry." I reply.

"That's good... how's Tessa?" He then asks. I don't think Tessa's doing too well. She's still recovering from the birth and she seems distant and worried a lot. I'm no expert in this area, but I think she may have a touch of postpartum depression. I've heard her saying things about being afraid to hurt Esther. Which is obscene as she is the best mom I've ever seen. I can't even remember my own.

"I don't know to be honest, she doesn't seem too good."I say, not wanting to discuss such a private-family matter with Jules. Regardless of how much I love him.

"I hope she's okay." He says. I do too; I hope I only think she has postpartum depression, and that it's not a reality.

"Me too."I quietly say.

A while later, I get up and get dressed and head home, but not before arranging another 'Meet up' with Jules.

*At the house*

"How's Tessa?" I ask Uncle Jem, as I hang my jacket up by the front door.

"The same as usual Emma, she told me she loves Esther with all her heart and soul but she's terrified she'll destroy her life, with her constant grieving for everyone from our past." He answers, lifting Esther up from the blanket on the floor, where he was changing her diaper.

"Uncle Jem, don't get mad at me for saying this, but do you think Tessa could have the baby blues? Or a touch of postpartum depression?" I ask in a worried tone.

"I think so Ems, I'll talk to her and see if she tells me herself, that she feels she has postpartum depression, then the only way from there, I suppose, is either talk to a professional or talk to Magnus." He answers, sounding more worried than I've ever heard him.

"Well... if there's anything I can do around here to help, I'm more than happy to do it." I offer.

"Thank you Emma, that means a lot to me. Would you mind watching Esther for a few minutes while I go talk to Tessa?" He asks. Once Uncle Jem and Tessa are still here, I'm perfectly comfortable looking after Esther. That way if anything goes wrong, I don't have to panic.

"Of course not."I lightly answer.

"Thank you." He says, quickly kissing my forehead before going into the bedroom where Tessa is.

"I hope your mommy's gonna be okay Es, out of all people, she's the least deserving of this."

*MAIA'S P.O.V.*

"Come on Jonathan! You've only got three weeks left until the fight, you need to be back at the standard you were, by then." Clary firmly tells John, as she helps him train and get in shape for the fight. She's been training him for the last week or so, and due to it, he's now quiet muscular and I am not complaining. It adds to his already strikingly-good looks.

"Can't I have a minute to catch my breath?" He pants out, looking at Clary, who for a mother of four, is in amazing shape.

"Do you think Maia's pack will give you time to catch your breath?" She asks, quirking an eyebrow at him.

"She's right John, they're not going to be easy on you at all." I tell him, rubbing my swollen stomach. It's hard to believe, but I'm now six months pregnant and I've already had enough of it, with the twins kicking all the time and my back constantly killing me, and the constant hip pain I have, which according to my doctor, is due to my hips and abdominal muscles stretching, due to the pregnancy.

"Exactly, so come on." Clary says.

"I'm tired of wrestling you, you always hit me in the balls, I may want more kids someday." John says, causing me to laugh lightly. I wouldn't be opposed to the idea of having another baby.

"Okay... then let's go for a run, you like running."Clary says.

"I do but not when you're behind me shouting at me the whole time." John grumbles.

"I won't go with you if you don't want me to.

I don't like this anymore than you do, John. Don't you think I'd rather be with my kids right now? I'd much prefer to be helping Lucy and Jack with their schoolwork and playing with Max and Charlie. I'm doing this for you, because I love you and I don't want you to be killed." Clary calmly says. She's right, John needs to stop complaining and be a little more grateful. I understand why this is getting on his nerves, but Clary wants to help him in every way she can.

"I'm sorry, there's the old me again, you're right Clary. You don't have to do this and I'm grateful that you are. I like the sound of that run." John says. He really is trying so hard to change for the better, and he is changing, which makes me so happy and proud.

Whilst John and Clary go off on their run, I head downstairs and make my way toward the library. When I get in, I see Alli sitting on the couch, just looking out the window. When my eyes travel downward, I see she has a bump. She's pregnant... I knew she looked different!

"Are you okay?" I timidly ask, walking over to her, slowly.

"Um... I don't know..." She answers, in a taught tone of voice.
"Wanna talk? Pregnant lady to pregnant lady?" I ask, which gets a smile out of her.
"I'd like that." She quietly says.

"You must be excited about the baby." I gently say, after sitting beside her. Alli looks at her bump, which her left hand is resting upon, and says

"Yeah... I am, it's just... well I don't want Eric wasting his life on me and the baby, when he has so much potential. I broke up with him so he could have the life he wants. And... I did have a trial with the social work side of the Clave, as an adoption consular, but they know I'm pregnant and my social worker thinks they won't keep me on because of that." Can Alli ever get a break?

"I'm sorry Als... how are you going to get money for the baby, if they don't keep you on?"I ask.

"I had a job for the last good while, a mundane one. I was a waitress at a hotel and the pay was quiet good, I started to save up and by now I have a lot, and Magnus and Alec insist on helping me financially. Even though I've told them they don't have to." She says. Well that's good, at least she can support herself and the baby.

"Things will get better."I softly say, squeezing her hand gently.

"Yeah... I know... I know when I hold my baby I'm going to fall head over heels in love with her and she will be my sole focus, but for now... I don't know..." She quietly says, rubbing her bump.
"Are you having a boy or a girl?"I ask, trying to get her to get excited about the baby.

"Well nobody has confirmed it, but I think I'm having a girl."She says.

"Do you have names picked?" I ask.

"Kind of, if it's a girl, I've always loved Rose and Madalynn, and if it's a boy... Gabriel Hodge Starkweather." She says. Those are gorgeous names.

"Those are gorgeous names, Al." I say.

"I just hope things are better by the time she's born." She replies.

"They will be Alli, I guarantee you."

*TESSA'S P.O.V.*

I'm awoken in the middle of the night to cries coming from the nursery. I almost forgot that Church knocked Esther's bassinet over and then curled up on the mattress and slept on it. I almost killed him. It was late when we found him, so we couldn't get a replacement one, so for tonight Esther is sleeping in her crib.

I stumble out of bed and head into the nursery, turning the dimmer switch just enough so I can see what I'm doing.

I'm almost afraid to lift Esther, in case I drop her or something horrible like that.

"You're okay Esther, mummy's got you."I quietly say, lifting her up and holding her to me. When I do, I notice the horrible smell coming from her.

"Oh angel, it's all up you're back and you're legs... I'm gonna have to give you a bath..." I sigh, a few minutes later, as I see that a wet wipe isn't going to get Esther clean. I'll need Jem to help me, because there's no way I'll be able to hold Esther and wash her at the same time.

Just as I lift a now naked Esther up, I hear a faint whisper, so faint I think it's in my head, so I ignore it and begin to walk out the door.

"Mum!" A voice I would recognize anywhere in the world, calls.

I turn around, to see a boy of about 16, who looks almost exactly like a young William, except for his tawny gold eyes and his eye shape and bone structure. There's also the fact that he's transparent.

"Jamie..." I whisper, looking at my son in disbelief.

I really hope you enjoyed. Please review and let me know what you thought. Feedback is greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading.