I had plans to finish this story in May, but that is now changing because I've decided to upload shorter chapters, probably until the last one!

Sorry for this chapter being so late...

Enjoy!xxx

...

"Nobody can hurt me without my permission."
― Mahatma Gandhi

...

Isabelle had fallen asleep on Simon again. The two had woken up at around six in the morning and were starting to plan out their day when Isabelle's breathing turned heavy and Simon looked down to find that her eyes were closed. She was almost completely on top of him, one leg thrown over his waist, one arm around his chest. Her breath came out in soft wisps against his neck and he couldn't help but smile at how peaceful she looked. It lasted only a few minutes, which Simon savored, but he always loved the first few moments of peace and quiet with his wife when they woke up in the morning before any of their kids did. It was rare and cherished.

"What time is it?" Izzy mumbled, lifting her head off of his chest.

"Almost seven o'clock." Simon replied softly. He brushed hair out of her eyes and pressed his lips to hers, which made her smile, "We've got around two or two and a half hours until Layla and Kaden wake up-but I wouldn't do that." He breathed out when she straddled him. She was wearing a gold slip and the lace hem rode up around her thighs, "Why not?" Izzy whispered seductively, "I know you think we shouldn't, but I can feel-" She giggled, adjusting her position on him, "that you are most definitely excited."

Simon couldn't help the blood that rushed to his cheeks, "Well how else am I supposed to feel when my beautiful wife is sitting on top of me?" He pushed her back onto the pillows and hovered over her, "You're amazing, you know that?"

Isabelle wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him in for a long kiss. When his lips began to stray to other parts of her body she sighed with content and closed her eyes as bliss took her breath away, "I love you."

...

"Does this milk smell funny to you?" Before Simon could even protest against smelling the liquid, Isabelle had shoved the carton up to his nose and all of the scents of spoiled dairy with it.

"Oh, God." Simon coughed, waving her away, "Yes, it smells awful."

Izzy screwed the cap back on and tossed the milk into the nearest trashcan, "And to think I was about to give that to my children." She leaned over the kitchen counter and smiled at her husband, who was busy trying to find another carton of milk in the fridge, "Simon, we don't have anymore milk." Isabelle pulled her hair into a high ponytail and moved around to hug him from behind, "After breakfast, I'm going to go to the Silent City to see Liam and Emilia. I have a lot of work to do around her place in the Institute-"

Simon turned around and frowned, "I thought she wanted to stay in New York-I thought you wanted her to stay in New York?"

"I don't know," Izzy backed away and folded her arms across her chest, "I guess we'll see when I talk to her."

"Can't Jace and Clary take care of her?" Simon closed the fridge behind him, "I mean, she is a Herondale."

Isabelle shook her head, "Blood doesn't always mean love, Simon. And that little girl needs a lot of love. The only time they've even been in the same room was when we went to find Stephen."

He passed his hands over his face and sighed, "What about you? You love her, don't you?"

"Maybe," Izzy closed her eyes, sighing and when she opened them they were weary, "But I can't do anything with that unless you do, too."

...

"So you could magically make a kitten appear if you wanted to?" Emilia asked, a smile finally pulling at her lips.

Magnus's hands wrung together and he grinned, his cat eyes flashing golden sparks, "Of course I could, but why would I when I already have a perfectly perfect cat."

Emilia shrugged, "Maybe Chairman wants a friend. You know, somebody who can worry about him and keep him company when you and Alec are away..." Her eyes went dark with hurt and she looked down, trying to avoid his pitying gaze, "I'm just saying. Not everyone does well by themselves."

Magnus sat back in his chair beside her bed, looking up at the ancient walls of the Silent City, "Maybe I could get you a kitten." He smiled when she looked at him again, "Then you wouldn't be so lonely."

Emilia folded the blanket up to her neck and sighed, "Kittens can't talk to me and make me feel better. They can cuddle and purr, but...they can't..." She turned away from him so that he wouldn't see her cry, "Nevermind."

Magnus rested his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it, "How has your walking been?"

"There's nobody to help me try and walk, so I don't know." She mumbled.

The warlock stood up and held his hand out for her, "I'm here. I can help you."

Emilia turned towards him again and sat up, pushing the blanket back off of her legs, "Really?"

Magnus nodded and rubbed his sparking hands together, "I am a magical man." He grinned, "I can help you walk, too."

She nodded enthusiastically, her newly shortened hair bouncing around her face and shoulders, "Thank you."

"Come on." He let her squeeze his hands as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and slowly applied her weight to her legs, "It doesn't hurt, does it?" Magnus asked calmly.

Emilia shook her head and laughed with excitement when she stood up straight, barely holding onto Magnus, "It feels amazing."

"Good." His hands, glowing blue traveled down her legs until they, too glowed and she took a steady step towards him.

Her eyes lit up and she smiled, brightening her entire face, "I'm walking!"

Magnus chuckled as he watched her take step after step until she reached the other end of the room, "Yes, you are." He came up beside her and placed a gentle hand on her back when she reached for the door handle and sighed, "When can I leave?"

Magnus breathed in and held his breath for a moment before letting it out, "When the Brothers clear you."

She turned around and stepped closer to him, "When will that be?"

"That's hard to say-"

The door slid open and in stepped Isabelle Lightwood, dressed in tall leather boots, a tight leather skirt and a fiery red sweater with matching red lips. Her hair was brushed out and swung down her back in a long, glossy, black waterfall. She looked surprised to see Emilia up with her old friend and her eyes widened on the young girl standing before her, "Hi."

Emilia stumbled backwards, tripping and falling into the warlock's arms. Magnus righted her immediately, but was caught off guard when she turned around and buried her face in his neck and shoulder, "Tell her to go away." Emilia whispered so only he would hear. Her voice was shaking, but the message inscribed with pain was clear enough to Magnus. He looked up at Isabelle, who folded her arms across her chest and frowned, "Is she alright-"

"Isabelle, I think you should leave." Magnus said softly but sternly. He lifted Emilia up and carried her back to her bed, pulling the blankets over her again.

Izzy couldn't help but stop the wave of hurt that crashed over her, "You're telling me to leave?"

"No," Magnus shook his head, "She's asking you to."

"I am the closest thing she has to a family...a mother-" Isabelle protested.

But Magnus shook his head and turned on her, "Not the kind of mother she wants."

"Excuse me?"

"I am her new mother." The warlock said indignantly.

Izzy opened her mouth then closed it, her cheeks growing red as laughter bubbled out of her, "You? Her mother?" She pressed her fingers to her temples, smiling with great amusement. When Isabelle looked up at him and saw his face, void of any humor, the smirk fell right off of her lips, "Wait...you're being serious?"

Magnus rolled his eyes, "Of course I'm being serious." He lowered his voice and moved closer to his friend, "The moment I saw her, I knew. I knew that she would have a place in mine and Alec's life. She belongs with us."

Isabelle dropped her gaze, "What are you saying-"

"Admit it, Isabelle." His eyes eyes were hopeful, "You know it is uncomfortable for her to be around you and it will never be the same. You can't have her, not with a new baby-"

She whipped her eyes back up to his, "Emilia is not an object; of course I can't have her-"

"But time is something you can spare and you don't have enough of it for her." Magnus's voice was rising, "Her entire life has been wasted on people who don't care about her. Why the hell would she want to go into a home with parents who barely have enough time and energy for their own kids-" His eyes widened and expression softened when Isabelle breathed in sharply, "Iz, I'm sorry-I didn't mean-"

"No," She held her hands up, "You're right. I'm only fighting you on this because I want her to be safe. I failed at making sure she was the first time and I don't want to put her through that again." Izzy blinked back tears, "Just please don't ever bring my own kids or Simon into this." She looked over Magnus's shoulder and briefly met her gaze with Emilia's, "I'm going to bring you to the Institute so that we can discuss your new living arrangements." Isabelle nodded at Magnus, "You should probably tell my brother about your decision because the fact that he isn't here right now tells me that you haven't mentioned Emilia to him."

Magnus sighed, "Do you think he'll be upset?"

She smiled tightly, "I'm sure he will be elated to hear that he won't be the mother in the relationship."

...

"I don't deserve this." Isabelle groaned, "What the hell have I ever done to that asshole?"

Simon rubbed his chin and sighed tiredly, looking up from the sleeping baby in his arms, "I think you're forgetting that he delivered our twins."

Izzy stopped pacing their kitchen to glare at her husband, "I think you're forgetting that he only delivered Kaden; and who's side are you even on?"

Simon blinked, "Is that a trick question?"

"I am your wife." She said, sounding lethal.

He narrowed his eyes at her and nodded, "Magnus is an asshole." Simon lowered his gaze back to his baby, who was smiling up at him, "But you're an angel, Liam."

Izzy smirked, seeming to have completely forgotten about her previous rage, "Wait until he's a teenager."

"You're being mean." Simon mumbled, amused.

"I am being pessimistic like a mother should be." She said simply, "It's what catches the rebellious years early."

Simon scoffed, "I think the word you're looking for is 'careful'." He stroked a finger over Liam's cheek, "And he's only eight weeks old; the only thing you're going to catch early for him is colic."

Izzy cringed, "Oh, God, colic. I totally forgot about colic. Layla had it so bad around two months and if Liam is the same as she was then, I am going to-"

"As our last baby, he has to be perfect. No unnecessary crying, no late night feedings, no clinginess-"

Izzy frowned, "What's wrong with our baby being clingy? I like clingy. It makes me feel important. Like my babies need me."

Simon chuckled, "You do realize that you only have one baby, right?"

Izzy rolled her eyes, "Layla and Kaden will be my babies until they grow up and move out."

"Now you sound like the clingy one."

She smiled, "I thought you liked it when I was clingy?"

Simon laughed, "I never said that-"

"In bed." Isabelle finished. She marched up to him and held her hands out, "Give me my baby."

"No."

"Excuse me?"

Simon cradled Liam against his chest, "I am holding him."

Izzy placed her hands on her hips and scowled, "He's hungry and your nipples are no use to him."

Simon gasped, "How dare you insult my nipples."

"I didn't insult them; only spoke the truth." Isabelle took Liam into her own arms and kissed his nose, "Well look who's happy now to be with Mommy." She teased lightly

"He was happy with me," Simon insisted, "Smiling and everything."

Isabelle smiled, "He'll be smiling in his sleep when he gets done nursing." She opened her jacket and pulled her shirt up so that Liam could eat in some privacy.

Simon cleared his throat, "You know I've seen you naked before-"

"This isn't about modesty, Simon. Liam does not have enough body fat to keep himself warm, so I need to cover him up." Izzy turned away from her husband and padded towards the stove, "What do you want for dinner?"

Simon stood up and walked across the kitchen to the pantry, "Let's have cereal."

"What?"

He reached into the cabinet and pulled out an unopened box of the breakfast food, "I would rather not have you stand over a flame with our baby under your shirt...on your boob."

"Yeah, well, I am going to because you have an inability to bottle feed your child and I need to make dinner." She replied calmly.

Simon closed the cabinet and headed for the kitchen doorway, "I am going to go get the twins washed up for dinner-"

"Simon," Isabelle turned away from the stove and smiled, "I love you."

Simon couldn't help but grin at the sight of his son's little legs sticking out from beneath her shirt and he smiled at his wife, "I love you more."

"Yeah?" Izzy raised an eyebrow at him, "Maybe you should show me. You know...let me feel your love."

Simon groaned as he turned on his heel and walked out of the room, "My words are never going to be enough for you, are they, Isabelle Lightwood?"

...