A slow clap was audible and broke the tension in the room. This caused everyone to turn to face the woman hiding behind a blanketed mask, standing in the middle of the group of shadowhunter representatives. "Well, Mr. Lightwood. I must say, there were doubts, but I had hope." a frail voice was heard from the individual.

"And you are?" Imogen questioned.

"Oh I apologize," the lady took off the veil covering her face, "Tessa Gray, head of the London Institute and some to believe the founder of it all."

"Oh! -" Imogen started.

"No need for formalities, may I?" Tessa asked to speak, and Imogen didn't wish to disrespect her and only nodded. "This case was brought upon me when it first was initiated and I insisted someone look into it. That's where we had made contact with Mr. Lightwood. Of course, we also didn't know that he was a Lightwood at the time. But in light of recent events, Ms. Catarina Loss had informed me last week that she hid some information from her reports. I won't ask her why, but we did a little digging for ourselves. After All, trust has to be earned.

I was hoping when we went to trial it would ease some of our uneasiness. And I must say, Mr. Crowmaw you did very well." Brain nodded in approval, "Alexander Gideon Lightwood, it is time to redeem yourself."

Alec was staring at her with a confused look and was then directed back to Brian. Brian had a cheeky smile on his face, "But I love it when people squirm in their seats. But anyway…" the screen that once had faces of children changed back to pictures of the Massacre in Cairo. "Although many lives were taken from the events in Cairo, many women, elderly, and children were found in Ramadan City. From a refugee, they said that a man came to them a week prior to the event to warn them. Apparently, he had guided them to a safer location, to seek refuge. They were all hesitant because the scroll had not foreseen the event until a few days later.

Although some were reluctant to leave because of their greed and fear of leaving their own homes and fortune, a few thousand people left with the directions a man had provided and guided them to. A man that matched Alec's description.

Of course, we can't go off description alone." Brian played a video of the massacre but it was a video of Alec and Chris raiding homes. But when Alec went into one of the larger homes, there were around fifty individuals hiding in a large room and the children were hiding underground the house.

"What are you all doing here?" The video recording of Alec was in shock.

"Please! Don't take the children!" one of the women cried out.

Alec observed with sad eyes, "Don't make a sound. I'll come back for all of you." Alec destroyed the walls caving them in, to make it look like no one lived there, but made sure no one was injured.

"Is everything alright?" Chris had asked watching Alec exit the building.

"Yeah." Alec glared at the warlock.

Chris scoffed, "you didn't have to destroy the house."

"What's the point if I can't destroy things?"

The video then skipped ahead, to after Jonathan got his hands on the Mortal Scroll.

Alec's hand glowed in the video, a rune present on the destroyed house from earlier, which levitated the rubble and moved somewhere. And there showed the faces of the adults from earlier, "Get the children." the adults quickly got up and ran down to the lower level to get to the children in the lower bunker.

"Did you get everyone?" Alec asked one of the men who seemed to understand english.

"Yes, sir." he responded.

"Try to find any food and water. The trip will take a couple of days. If you find any more survivors bring them here, we'll leave in the morning." the man nodded and quickly took some people with him.

"The refugees are still in Ramadan City because the damage hasn't been fixed yet." Brian stopped the video and turned to pictures of the refugees, "But those refugees you had saved after the massacre had all reached Ramadan City safely and have reunited with other family members."

"It was the least I could do. I took away their homes." Alec commented.

Brian continued, "I don't know anything about the incidents that had occured in the Barren. We have no jurisdiction there, neither do we want any part of the demon world. So, that is your secret to keep." Alec nodded, "However, in the case with the Bethlehem Catholic Church. Priest Harry Christoldoulos was actually not someone we had our eyes on because we shadowhunters don't deal with the mundane. It is left to the mundane's department of defense, and so we did overlook this case. However, you did provide Catarina Loss with the details regarding this case and we were informed that you were ordered not to kill the man. Am I wrong?"

"No, you are not wrong."

Brian motioned for Ragnor to bring someone in. "If you don't mind, I'm gonna bring someone to the stand." he directed to Imogen and she nodded. Ragnor came in with a little girl around the age of 10. "Hey there," Brian greeted, "can you tell them what you told me?"

The girl was shy but slowly nodded her head and looked around the room. She saw Alec from where she was standing and greeted him with a small smile and ran up to the podium he was seated at and greeted him, "Alec!"

Alec was only shocked from the sudden encounter of the child, "Madzie?!"

Brian smiled at the encounter, "Madzie, how did you meet Alec?"

At the orphanage ...

At this time, murders of children were being heard that the staff warned the children to not leave the premises. Therefore, the kids played in the backyard of the orphanage, but Madzie was always left alone because she knew she didn't fit in and no one really wanted to talk to her. So she always sat beneath the tree and watched the kids play. But today, it was raining and all the kids were inside but Madzie didn't like it when the priest came for a visit so she went out under her tree because she felt safer there.

"Aren't you lonely?" a voice was heard from beside her and Madzie had a look of surprise for a split second but because of her lack of emotion she was able to appease it in seconds. She looked up at the stranger and tried to distance herself from him. He simply smiled at her behavior, "It's pouring outside, you should head back in." She simply shook her head. "Do you not like it here?" she didn't respond and silence continued, "May I sit next to you?" she looked up at him and tried to analyze why this man was here, "I'm lonely too." She didn't know how to respond to that, but she thought about it and scooted over a little bit for the man to sit next to her. He took that as a yes and sat down next to her.

They sat in silence and watched the rain fall. Madzie thought it was odd and thought maybe he was the "snatcher" everyone's been talking about but something about the atmosphere calmed her and let her guard down for a little bit, thinking it wouldn't hurt.

"Is it the priest?" The man broke the silence and shocked the child once again with her head and hands on her knees and shrugged her arms, because ... it was a lot of things. Silence spoke again and they returned back to the rain.

The man sighed, "Me too." Madzie turned to look at the man tilting her head to the side as if she was asking a question, "I live in a bad life, but … I want to live a good one. I'm hurting the one good thing in my life, and I feel like a bad guy. But... there are some things ... you have to let go." Madzie listened to the man roam off and answered him with more silence. But she glanced at him and felt a lot of sadness emanating from him and had the urge to comfort him. But she had never done so and didn't know what to do. But she unconsciously reached her hand over to the man's hand. He looked down at the gesture and turned to face her, she gave him an "it's okay" look. He gave her a genuine smile and let their hands hold each other and watched the rain continue to fall.

A few minutes passed and he stood up, "Well, I better get going." he smiled down at her, "I'm Alec."

She watched him get up and quietly whispered, "Madzie."

Alec chuckled and rustled her head, "You're a good listener Madzie. Don't stay out too late, you could catch a cold."

Madzie blushed from the warm hand in her hand and was about to ask him something but when she turned her head he had already disappeared.

…

The next day Madzie went back to the tree and was gently moving her head in small gestures, as though she was looking for someone. She sat there for a while until someone stood behind her, "You looking for someone?" She turned to face him and greeted him with a bright smile and nodded her head.

They met like that for a few days until Alec had to part. Alec was teaching Madzie how to make a flower crown. "I used to do this with my sister." He smiled at fond memories, "Heard she got way too aggressive for this." He chuckled at the behavior he saw in the beginning of the recruiting session.

Madzie looked at him curiously and asked quietly, "You don't know?"

Alec shook his head, "Haven't seen her in fifteen years." he finished up his flower crown with a smile still plastered on his face and laid it on Madzie's head, "There. Well aren't you a princess."

Madzie grinned and finished up her flower crown that Alec taught her and gave it to Alec, "And you're a prince." Alec chuckled and they both sat there in comfortable silence until Alec had to leave.

"Madzie," she looked at him, "today will probably be the last time I see you." She turned her head quickly with sadness and fear plastered on her face. "Hey," he patted her head trying to comfort her, "It's going to be okay, I promise."

Madzie's eyes went wide. She heard a lot of adults tell her that it was going to be okay but never has she ever felt like it was going to be okay, and when she heard it come from Alec's lips, she felt empowered and most importantly...comforted.

Alec was about to walk away, when Madzie abruptly stood up and for the first time in her life yelled. "Alec!" Alec was shocked from the voice and stopped to face her, "Don't let go." She said, "Be happy." she smiled at him.

This caused Alec to stay in shock and they both stood there watching the other. And all Alec could do is smile back and nod his head. And he disappeared.

Madzie asked, "Are you happy?"

Alec's eyes went wide, not expecting that question. He quickly got his bearings straight and looked over at Magnus and saw the worried and nostalgic look on his face and sent him a reassuring smile which Magnus blushed, "Yeah, yeah I am." he replied looking back down at Madzie.

Brian coughed, breaking the sweet atmosphere. "Madzie here is a warlock. Not only her, but a few other children were actually downworlders that were misplaced and mistreated in this orphanage. But we would have never found them, because they were placed in a mundane orphanage. So therefore, it would have never landed on our desks as something to look into.

But with the events of Priest Harry Christoldoulos' death, we were allowed access into the orphanage to take a look around and found a handful of downworlders. They have been relocated to remaining families or sent to a trusted downworlder orphanage and foster care system.

If this was brought to light in the midst of shadowhunter intervention, then we would have taken similar actions. Because the Priest was selling children on the blackmarket, which did include some downworlders and started a murderous agenda, Alec made a justified action in which he saw fit…" Brian smiled at Alec, "However, some may see it controversial." he observed the room and did notice some skeptical looks. "In addition, The Rogue Nation case would not have been made easy without the aid of Alec Lightwood. Because of his support we were able to receive Jonathan Morgenstern's agenda and were able to mitigate some of his actions. Of course, without his help we wouldn't have been able to safely return some of our own colleagues.

Catarina Loss reported that in the first month she had seen symptoms of Mr. Simon Lewis display symptoms of a bond collapse because of the distance and lack of contact between him and his soulmate. Therefore, Alec had instructed Ms. Loss to prepare a means of escape for the daylighter. Initially, it was only to be Mr. Lewis but he was able to take his companion, Ray Williams, because of Alec's plan to attack one of his own comrades.

In addition, he managed to keep Clary Fray, Jace Lightwood, Isabelle Lightwood, and Magnus Bane from harm's way and kept their undercover secrets...a secret and even gave them advice and information that would aid them in their search. Making sure they were able to leave the premises safely." Brian closed his lecture and walked over to Alec, "I find you honorable." he complimented.

Alec grimaced, "I find it treacherous."

"I don't see why you should feel guilty."

Alec shook his head, "You don't get it. I'm still insecure." Brian gave him a confused look, "The home I was born into, abandoned me. The home I was given, I betrayed. It might've ended rough, but it began with fond memories. In the end, they were the family I grew up with. Now I'm back where it all started, and I don't fit in."

Brian nodded in understanding, "I see. I would bet that a handful of people would disagree." Brian sighed and leaned against the table with his notes, "We dug up your files, and like I said...it was a tough one." Brian fluttered the papers he had in his hand into view.

"You have no right to those!" Robert stood up from his seat, anger clearly written all over his face.

"It pertains to the case, so yes...I have every right to these." Brain answered not warning the man to keep quiet knowing it wouldn't do anything plus it might give him an advantage to woo the crowd in a way.

Robert gritted his teeth, "Even if you did somehow gain access to them, there is no evidence that this man is who he says he is."

One of Brian's eyebrows rose from the man's ignorance, "Where have you been this entire time? The Silent Brother has not said anything that claimed Alec's words were anything but. Plus, Ms. Loss is a doctor. She has patched up Alec in many instances and I'm pretty sure she has samples." Brian informed, "Unless, you are absolutely certain that Alexander Gideon Lightwood is dead, we can start the DNA test right away. And let me just say, it won't take long."

Robert shut up, gritting his teeth and sat back down quietly. However, Maryse sat through the entire trial with clenched fists and eyes icy cold. With a barely audible sound she said, "I buried him." This had caught the room's attention and waited for anyone to say something. "I buried him." she repeated with a stronger tone, her eyes portrayed betrayal, fury, and sadness. She gave Alec a look for the first time since he had announced himself and her mouth was slightly parted in a small amount of shock.

Brian gave her a minute to process, "I know this might be hard for you and if you like, we can administer the test."

"No," Maryse had her eyes locked on Alec's, "I know a Lightwood when I see one." Robert gave his wife an incredulous look which she quickly shut down.

Brian had a small smile, "As I was saying, someone went to great lengths to have you disappear. I would actually like to know why...and if I had known the Nights Children leader, Raphael Santiago was involved, I would've asked him to stand." Alec was thinking about it, and knew if he said anything it would make Robert look bad and possibly bring shame to the Lightwood name. Which was one of the reasons why Robert was so hard on him when he was younger. Brian noticed the hesitancy, "I would ask your father but I know he will not be willing to do so."

"There's no need." Alec sighed, walking down memory lane. "I was weak. I would come back from training all banged up and bruised and … " Alec trailed off not knowing what would be safer to call him. Thinking it would be validating some information that doesn't feel right right now. "Wanted me to carry on the family name, but that required me to become the best Shadowhunter out there. So when I came back from training and cases, and found me bruised or bleeding he would say I'm not strong enough or I'm not ready or that I'm weak and need more training.

But on days training was too much and tiring, I went out on the streets at night and took a breather. That's when I bumped into Raphael Santiago. He was the first friend I made and someone who I considered a brother. But of course… he found out and told me to stop seeing downworlders and that it would contaminate our blood."

"He?" Brian asked, interrupting Alec. "Your father?"

"Umm…"

Brian sighed and felt a headache coming along, "Why are you so keen on defending him? If it were me, I would've come for my revenge and he wouldn't be sitting here at this moment. He took everything away from you….How big is your heart?"

Alec was taken aback by the question, "Brian, I haven't used my heart in 15 years."

Brian shook his head, "I disagree." He simply stated, "But I'm assuming you still went out to see Raphael Santiago." Alec nodded, "Isabelle Lightwood." Alec gave Brian another confused look. "You said earlier, Isabelle Lightwood would've been the reason you were sent away."

Alec shook his head, "No, it would've been what I had done to Isabelle that would have impacted the decision to be sent away."

"Would it be the case of the vampire bite?" Alec didn't respond and Brian just decided to continue anyway, "You and Isabelle had decided to sightsee around Brooklyn one night and ran into a feral Vampire, is what is written here."

….

Isabelle was shocked and unconsciously had her hand wrapped around her serpent bracelet that hid her scar from that accident. "I don't know anything about this." Jace turned to look at his sister.

And Isabelle looked up at Jace with shock still imprinted on her face, "This was technically before you became part of the family. But, I always thought it was you." Jace gave her a confused look.

…...

"Isabelle was feeling down that day." Alec clarified, "I thought I would show her around Brooklyn to cheer her up. Everything was going fine, until we came face to face with the Vampire. But before I could chase it away, he had already bitten Isabelle."

"Poison was found in her body." Brian read off the doctor's report. "I'm assuming, the Vampire's fangs produced toxins which had infected Isabelle's health."

Alec nodded, "When Vampire's go feral, they have no control over any of their strength which can have a high probability to inject toxins into someone's body. And to have a high chance of survival or suffer through less pain, you have to bleed it out of one's system."

"And if you wait any longer, the more the person will suffer if the toxins aren't ridden of." Brian added and Alec nodded. "The doctor's notes say that it was an easier surgery because of the quick decision to bleed the toxins out. It's quite impressive to know that at the age of eight."

"My parents weren't too keen on the decision I made. Thereafter, I was told to keep my distance from her."

….

Isabelle whispered to herself, memories reawakening. "That's right. I thought I did something wrong to push him away and he distanced himself from me." Jace heard everything his sister was saying and was observing everything she was saying, "Then one day he disappered and they told me that he had to go on a long trip and wouldn't be coming back. But…" Isabelle turned to face Jace, "When they introduced you as my brother I always assumed that that brother was you and decided to come back from your long trip."

"They were probably talking about his death." Simon commented.

….

Brian turned to face Robert with an incredulous look. "But you saved your sister's life."

Alec shook his head, "I put her in danger."

Brian gave Alec a neutral look, "You aren't quite the optimist."

"I wasn't raised as an optimist." Alec countered.

Brian sighed for the thousandth time since the trial has started, "So, being an unfit shadowhunter and placing your sister in danger has brought you to the Rogue Nation."

"You forgot about my infatuation with men." Alec smirked.

"Ah yes, I almost forgot."

"You remembered me dropping Isabelle's name but you forgot about me being gay."

Brian grinned, "I wanted to hear you say it… it's not my coming out party." Alec scoffed at that comment but chuckled at the man's antics.

Brian was getting ready to finish this trial, "Alec, you have proved that you were advanced in your studies as a Shadowhunter at a very young age and only experienced pain and suffering as you trained for it. Yet, you forgave.

When you were unfairly placed in a slave market, you learned to be persistent and preserved in harsh environments. When adopted into Valentine's wicked agenda, you learned to keep a tender heart and reasonably take just actions in order to protect the ones around you.

And in the face of adversity, when all past actions and judgement were pinned against you, you still took responsibility."

Brian walked up to face Alec in front of the Podium. "You are a survivor, Alexander Lightwood. One of the best Shadowhunter's I've ever met. I am proud to call you my brother." Alec was shocked still, he was too moved by the statement and didn't know what to say. He was holding back tears, never thinking that words like these would move him so. "Earlier, you mentioned that you didn't have a home...a family. A home is where your family is. A family is anyone you love and trust." Alec looked over at Magnus, "And you only need one of those." Brian smiled at them.

Tessa stood back up from her seat and walked over to the middle of the trial, "I hope this eases everyone's nerves." she walked up to Imogen and handed her some papers. This caused some curious stares at the scenario. "If you could take a look at these, Inquisitor." Imogen glanced over the papers and hummed in approval, "Is there anything you disagree with?" Tessa had asked.

"I don't. However, you have already signed these papers so there isn't any room for me to object." Tessa chuckled, "Very well." Imogen banged her mallet against the wood. "Alexander Gideon Lightwood, you are found innocent from the events that led you up to this trial. And hereby reinstated to the Brooklyn Institute as one of our own Shadowhunters. This trial is dismissed."

Alec gave her a shocked expression and quickly looked over to the head of the London Institute and gave her a curious look trying to figure out what those papers said. The Queen walked over to Alec and said, "You're an honorable man Mr. Lightwood. I pray you learn to live and receive the love that you have lost."

"Thank you." Alec responded and she gave him a smile and turned to plan her departure.

Lydia came by and uncuffed Alec from his cuffs. She gave him a look when she undid them and said, "My apologies."

"It's nothing."

Alec walked down from the podium and came face to face with Brian. They both observed the other, but Brian made the first move and stuck his hand out. "Welcome home." Alec stared at the hand for a long minute still not believing what had just happened and took the hand and smiled.

.

.

.

.

.

However, as the trial ended, none of them noticed the sinister grin of a man in the corner who had watched the entire event unfold.