Jace and the others ran to Hodge's call, hoping that Jocelyn would be okay. At this point, all Jace could hope for was her being as normal as she was before.

Clary got their first. Despite her short legs, she could run when she really wanted to. And because she wanted to get to her mother, she tore through the hallway so fast she looked like a blur.

"Oh, Clary!" Jace heard a voice that sounded like Jocelyn's say. "Oh, I missed you so much. I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you."

Jace finally made it, and there was Clary, being embraced by her mother. Hodge was standing uncomfortably near the doorway, and Alec and Izzy were waiting patiently outside the door.

Clary looked so happy, being there with her mother. Even though Jace never saw Clary wither Jocelyn, he knew how much they loved each other.

"Hi, Jocelyn," Jace said. "I have to apologize, but we kind of forgot about you. But we still care about you."

"That's good, Jace," Jocelyn said. "Look, we need to tell you something-"

"I'm not your son," Jace said. "I know. Clary explained it to me. Eventually."

"Sorry about all that," Jocelyn apologized. "I should have explained that to you. But everything was so busy. You ran off to fight Jonathan, and we couldn't tell you. It must have been misery until Clary explained it."

"You tell me," Jace said.

"But everything's okay now," Clary said. "Um . . . Jace and me are dating."

"Well, as long as you're not related, it's fine with me," Jocelyn said. "I'll do anything to see my little girl happy."

"Mom!" Clary whined. "You're embarrassing me!"

"It's not the worst I've done," Jocelyn said. "Who else is here? I see Hodge, Jace, and Clary. Anyone else?"

"Alec and Izzy," Clary said. "Magnus was here, but, uh, we don't know what happened to him. We're still trying to figure out what happened to him."

"I could help," Jocelyn pointed out.

"No, you need to rest," Clary insisted. "Look, there's a lot we have to deal with. We have Asmodeus, we have Lilith, and then there's good old Valentine."

"What did you get yourselves into?" Jocelyn asked.

"We're not entirely sure," Clary said.

Magnus didn't want to see any other visions his father had for him. So despite how tired he was, he didn't sleep. The visions apparently didn't really give him any sleep.

"Look, I don't care about your stupid visions," Magnus said, telling off his father. "I just want find some people I know, and hang out with them for a while. It's better than you, you son of a bitch."

Magnus stalked off before his father could say any more, but he smiled, thinking of the look on Asmodeus's face. Priceless.

There were a few people he recognized in the crowd of Downworlders. He did see a few of his friends, along with a few his enemies. Magnus made sure to stay far, far away from them and very close to his friends and acquaintances. In these close quarters, making anyone angry at him except for Asmodeus would be dangerous. His father could probably we reasoned with. Warlocks weren't.

"Hey, Magnus!" he heard a voice call. Magnus turned his head, and was looking into wise grey eyes. Tessa.

"Hi, Tessa," Magnus said. "Did they take you into the City of Bones?"

"Nah. Apparently since I'm part-Shadowhunter, I got exempted. Asmodeus snatched me from my home the middle of the night. Besides, Jem would never let me into that horrible place."

"True enough," Magnus replied. "Look, what do you know about this place?"

"Not a lot. I know we can use magic in here without anyone detecting it. I haven't found an exit. It's warded against anyone getting out while the big guy's still alive, or at least still hanging out in this realm."

"So if we kill him, can we leave?"

"Maybe. I'll try. But he can just come back, you know."

Magnus thought for a second, and the pieces were falling together in his mind. He just needed to check something.

"Tessa, if someone goes through a portal unconscious, they get stuck in limbo, right?"

"Yeah, Magnus. What are you thinking? Is it bad?"

Magnus smilied. "Depends on if you consider killing someone who deserves it 'bad.'"

Alec was at least happy to see Clary and her mother reunited. He was sorry he'd been so mean to poor Clary. She always saw the best in people, even in the worst of people.

Izzy and Alec hung out on the sides of the rooms while Clary, Jocelyn, and Jace had their moment. Hodge was on the other side of the room, and he did not look comfortable about all that. He must have still been weirded about the whole Magnus thing. But they had years of trust between them. They could work through this, right?

"Maybe we should leave?" Izzy whispered to Alec. "It's getting really emotional here." She motioned to the happy reunion, where everyone was crying.

They left the room, and Hodge left soon after them. He was still trying to stay away from Alec. Izzy poked Alec in the arm.

"Maybe you should talk to him?" Izzy asked.

"I know," Alec responded. "But he is really weirded out by me. I don't know what to do."

"Alec, we've known him for a long time. A little thing like this shouldn't get between us. Try to explain the fierce love you have for Magnus, and everything that's happened. He's been away from us for so long. We at least owe him that."

"Fine," Alec muttered. "Here goes nothing."

Alec walked forward, towards Hodge. He stood next to him, trying to make Hodge look at him, at the very least. He waited there for at least ten minutes, but couldn't take it any longer. Alec had to say something.

"Hodge," Alec said. "I need to talk to you."

"Sure," Hodge said awkwardly. "Whatever you want to talk about."

"Hodge, I've known you for years. I met you when I was little, and I don't even remember it. But the one thing I know is that you care for me, so please tell me what's going on here."

"I'm uncomfortable with you dating a Downworlder," Hodge said. "Not the fact that he's a guy; I made my peace with that a long time ago. I don't know why you chose Magnus Bane, of all people."

"I really love him," Alec said. "I fell for him in the time you were gone, and he means so much to me. You haven't really met him, but once you know him, you'll love him too. So please give him a chance for me."

"Okay," Hodge said. "Just one chance. And then I'm going to have to abandon him."

"Thanks, tutor," Alec replied, and smiled.