Chapter 36

It was Shivvy who saw the portal magic begin to swirl on the stone wall at the back of the Institute's garden. She tore down the hall and out of the building at break neck speed praying that everyone would return safely. By the time she reached the wall, Jace, Clary, Alec and Magnus had tumbled through the portal and were in the process of dusting themselves off.

"You're alright! You're alright!" Shivvy squealed as she threw herself into Alec's arms. It took all of Alec's strength and a little help from Magnus to prevent them from over balancing and ending up on the ground.

"Where are Catarina and Richelieu?" Shivvy asked once she'd calmed down enough to look around her.

"Richelieu is dead." Alec said quietly; "Catarina has taken his body back to Mont Saint-Michel for burial."

"Oh no!" Shivvy cried her eyes shining with tears she refused to shed. "I'm so sorry Magnus, I know you were old friends."

"I'm sorry too pumpkin;" Magnus said.

"Pumpkin?" Shivvy asked her face clearly expressing distaste for this new term of endearment.

"Well, I can't call you biscuit, that's taken." Magnus said with a grin spreading across his face.

"Shivvy, where's the baby?" Alec asked, anxious to hold his son, now they were back.

"Oh, he's fine, he's with Isabelle and your ahhh ... mother? Shivvy said finishing her sentence just as she realized that Alec had no way of knowing that Maryse was at the Institute.

"Mom!"

"Maryse!"

Alec and Magnus shouted at the same time and grabbing each other's hands they raced toward the Institute desperate to find out what Maryse knew about the baby, and what she was going to tell the Clave. Jace and Clary exchanged worried glances as they watched Alec and Magnus disappear into the dark, imposing building. This was not the homecoming they'd expected, Jace knew the Clave would have to be told something, but he had hoped they would have a few days to sort things out, decide on a course of action. Heaving a sigh and hoping his parabatai would be able to work something out with Maryse, Jace put an arm around each of the girls and headed into the Institute. Despite all the uncertainty, this was home and part of him would always be glad to be here.

Hearing a commotion in the hallway, Isabelle stepped out of Alec and Magnus' private quarters intending to give Ian and Josh a piece of her mind if they woke up the baby that she and Maryse had just managed to get settled. The words, however died on her tongue when she saw Magnus and Alec running towards her. She only had time to place one finger against her lips, in the ages old signal for quiet when they reached her. "Baby's sleeping!" She hissed quietly as they drew near.

"What about Mom?" Alec responded fear making it difficult for him to keep his voice down.

"I'm awake Alexander;" Maryse responded coming to the door with her grandson wrapped securely in her arms. "I'll put the baby in his crib so we can talk more freely;" Alec and Magnus exchanged worried glances as they watched Maryse Lightwood walk back into the room softly humming a song that Alec remembered from his own childhood. It was difficult to reconcile this softer side of his mother with, the stern shadowhunter who had run the New York Institute for so many years. Pulling Magnus behind him, Alec hurried after Maryse only to stop short as he gazed at the beautifully designed nursery in cream and blue that had been installed in a small room next to their bedroom.

"Do you like it?" Izzy whispered excitedly. "Mom and I worked on it all day!"

"It's absolutely beautiful;" Magnus breathed softly as he took in the cream coloured change table, chair and crib accented by soft blue bedding, floor length drapes and cushions. Everything that a newborn could need or want had been provided. Alec nodded his agreement, still too caught up in the scene before him to put his feelings into words.

Maryse gently laid the sleeping baby in his crib bundling him in the soft blankets to ensure he felt warm and secure. Alec and Magnus stood beside the crib for several moments, their hands clasped tightly together looking down at their beautiful baby boy.

"We should talk;" Maryse said reluctantly. She did not like to intrude on this special moment, but there were important things that needed to be said.

"We'll join you in the lounge in a moment;" Alec said continuing to stare down at his small son and give silent thanks for his safe return.

Magnus slipped an arm around his husband and whispered; "Our lives will never be the same, sayang, and I can't wait to start this new adventure with you;"

"I suppose we'd better go find out what mom plans to do, I don't want the Clave involved in the raising of our son, that's our job;" Alec said a little grimly.

"I'm onboard with you there, darling, besides our little man might want to be a warlock;" Magnus replied with a soft smile. "Let's go see what your mother has to say." And without another word they quietly joined Maryse and Izzy in the lounge.

Without the baby in her arms, Maryse seemed once again to don her usual stern manner. "Alexander, I was very disappointed that I had to come to New York to hear about this situation, not from you, the head of the Institute, but from your sister. I expected better from you;"

"Did you mother?" Alec said just as sternly. "And why is that, because the Clave has been so supportive of my connection with Magnus?"

"Alexander, don't forget you are a member of the Clave and owe your allegiance to them."

"I don't ever forget that mother, but I am also a husband and a father and I will not let anyone, the Clave included, interfere with that." Alec's arm tightened around Magnus' waist as he faced his mother. To his surprise, Maryse began to smile.

"Good for you Alec!" She said nodding her approval. "I think the New York Institute is in very good hands my son. I will tell the clave that you and Magnus have decided to adopt a warlock child, and that I am thrilled about it. It should forestall any uncomfortable questions that might arise about a baby at the Institute. Now let's talk about some really important issues. Have you decided on a name for my new grandson?"

Alec was both shocked and pleased by his mothers acceptance of the situation and for her support in helping them keep the origin of the child a secret from the Clave. It was more that he'd dared hoped for.

Isabelle and the others had all joined them in the lounge and were a little too helpful in offering suggestions for the baby's name. Everything from Augustus to Xavier was tried and rejected by the new fathers. Finally however, after much wrangling, and just before the young person in question woke wanting his bottle, a name was selected, Aiden Maxwell Lightwood-Bane. Magnus brought Aiden from the nursery and proceeded to feed him as Alec looked on fondly. Once the baby had been fed, he was handed around, everyone wanting some personal time with the new arrival. It was a peaceful, joyous family gathering around the fireplace, and if there were sinister shadows gathering around those assembled, they did not see them...

To be continued...

(in The Devil's Crucible)

The End