Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Twilight or Shadowhunters/Mortal Instruments. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer and Cassandra Claire. I do own the original characters made up for this storyline. Thank you.

Writer's Notes: Thank you Roxhall for your lovely review! Simon is…Simon. He cares about his best friends, Clary more so. The is the friend that is like a brother to Clary, and that makes him family in a sense. Alec is handling a lot. The pressure of his parents, the Clave, and now to add a random girl in the mix. There's a lot to juggle. He's only human…ish. Bella can be stubborn sometimes too. Alec is also strongwilled, and a little bit more mature in the sense that he does have all these responsibilities. Jace doesn't have too many consequences when something goes wrong, because ultimately it will be Alec that has to deal with that. Overall, I hope that everyone is enjoying the story. I appreciate all the support I get. Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review! See you at the next chapter.

"Do you have any other clothes?" Bella whined, looking at herself in the mirror in her room.

Izabell was sitting on Bella's bed. "Why? You look hot."

Bella sighed. "I don't like to have my boobs on display all the time." She said and turned and looked at Izabell.

"I really don't have anything less revealing," Izabell said with a shrug. "I love my body. You should too. You're really hot Bells."

Bella sighed, giving up. She turned and looked at herself. The leather pants seemed to be a bit much, but she didn't mind the pants as much as she did for the shirt. It was a black spandex-like tank top that hugged her like a glove. Her cleavage was more than what she wanted, but again, she had the bigger bust, even in comparison to Izabell. "I want my own clothes." She said with a sigh.

"We'll go shopping during the day, when we have time." Izabell said with a shrug.

"You really go on shopping trips?" Bella asked, curious.

Izabell nodded. "Yeah, we have to have clothes, and food. We go in pairs, and we stick to warded areas. Pandemonium isn't a warded area, and neither is your apartment or Simon's." She pointed out.

"Oh, that makes sense." Bella said, not surprised by anything. For now, she would just have to endure the pain that was Izabell's wardrobe. Clary didn't mind it so much, and she assumed neither did any of the men.

They walked to command, Bella sitting on a table. She started twisting her hair up into a ponytail, and Alec walked in, glancing up.

"Leave it down." Alec muttered.

"What?"

Alec blinked, looking at her. He had said it out loud. "Looks nice down." He said, and then changed the subject. "Okay, Counsel Aldertree said that he wants the blocks removed from Bella and Clary's minds."

Bella let her hair fall back down, and just sighed. "I do too. So, we have to find Magnus Bane."

Clary blinked. "Wait, Magnus Bane?"

Bella turned and looked at her sister as she strode in. "Yeah."

"Magnus Bane, he's the guy who owns that one house, the one that has the weird parties." Clary explained.

"Weird parties?" Alec asked.

"Yeah, he does artist parties. I've been wanting to go." Clary said. "He advertises at the University."

It clicked in Bella's head. "Oh, you know what. I have been to one of those parties. I went with Jess. That's the nude portrait I painted remember."

Clary blinked a few times. "Oh! That's right. I forgot about that portrait too."

"Wait, are these nude parties?" Simon asked.

"Well, the party isn't completely nude. There are rooms. He has models, and the artist can go and sit in the room, and do their painting." Bella explained. "Why didn't the name click before…" she muttered. "I'm not sure I even met him." She said.

Clary shrugged. "I don't know. That was when you and Edward broke up remember."

"Oh. Maybe. I was sort of in a…. I wasn't myself. I tried drowning myself in painting then." Bella said. "I do know where his house is though. I do remember where it was hosted."

Alec nodded. "Okay, so we'll go, and see if he can't unblock your minds." He said simply.

Clary took her phone out. She sent a quick text. "I just text Jess to see if she can find out when the next party is." She said with a smile, and then Jess text back. Jess was Jessica Stanley. She was the same age as Bella. They graduated together, but they were all in the same portrait class, so they had exchanged numbers a while back.

[Jess:] There's one Thursday. You going?"

[Clary:] Maybe, don't know yet.

Clary looked up. "Thursday."

Alec nodded. "That's in five days. We can do some other things, training, studying over the runes." He said and looked at the tablet he was holding in his hand. "Counsel Aldertree also wants you two to have your angelic runes."

Bella and Clary exchanged a look and then nodded. It was smart. Bella already had one rune on her body, the healing rune on her side. It was nearly faded now. The healing rune was one of the runes that had to be reapplied as a Shadowhunter was injured.

Jace walked in when Alec said that the girls needed their Angelic Runes. "I was wondering when that was going to happen."

"I needed to make sure that's what the Clave wanted." Alec said, and then set the tablet down and took out his stele. He went to Bella. "Where do you want it? You don't get to choose again."

Bella nodded. "It doesn't matter I suppose. Whatever is easier."

Alec sighed and looked down at her. He grabbed her left arm, and turned it over, showing the inside of her bicep. "Hold still." He murmured, and then he drew the rune. It burned into Bella's skin. She bit her lip a little, but she didn't move or make a noise.

Jace looked at Clary. "Preference?" He asked, taking out his stele.

Clary shrugged, and pointed to her chest, on the right side under her collarbone.

Jace smiled a little, and then moved his stele up and drew the rune carefully where she indicated. It was right over her breast, and he figured she was being cheeky. He gave her another smile. "All done."

Clary winced a little as the rune burned into her skin, but she sucked it up. "Thanks," she said and Jace nodded to her.

This world was starting to become oh so real for them, and Bella was taking it in full stride.

[Thursday: 6pm The Institute]

Bella tugged at the hem of her dress. It was skintight. Izabell said that they needed to look the part, and she wasn't so sure she could take much more of this wardrobe. The dress she was wearing was a skintight, black leather dress, with no straps. There was a diamond shape missing around her belly button, and the back dipped in the back just a little. Enough to where wearing a bra with this dress was not going to work. Then there were the stockings. They weren't exactly fish net, but they felt that way, they came up to her thigh and stopped midway, and then the other part of the stocking was more see through, and she was wearing high heels, simple black and elegant. She didn't have a problem wearing high heels, she had to wear them from time to time, but she wasn't the heel wearing type of girl.

Then came hair and makeup. Bella didn't wear a lot of makeup, so she felt weird. Izabell went light on her, after much begging. So she only got mascara, and a light smoky eye. Her hair was swept to one side, stapled in place it felt like to Bella, but she had to admit she did like her hair. Her hair was long down her back like Izabell's and with the use of a curling iron, Bella had very beautiful waves, comparative to her sisters.

Clary was wearing some skintight clothing too, but Clary didn't mind as much. At least she had straps on her dress, Bella had been jealous, and she was starting to think that Izabell was doing this on purpose.

"I swear you're going to be the death of me Iz." Bella whined as the walked down the stairs. Clary already went downstairs and was waiting with Simon. Izabell and Simon were staying behind at the Institute while Jace and Alec took Bella and Clary to see Magnus Bane.

Alec was talking to Jace, when both looked up when Bella descended the stairs. Alec did a double take. He looked her over, the dress fit entirely too tight, and he found himself speechless as she reached the bottom stair.

"Close your mouth brother," Izabell said with a wink.

Alec blinked a few times, and cleared his throat. "Okay. We're not going to an actual party. We're there for Magnus. Let's get him to undo the blocks and get back. I don't want to hang around too much. Keep alert. Demons are drawn to gatherings like this." He said, trying to avoid staring at Bella.

Jace on the other hand, enjoyed watching Bella walk down the stairs. He was not speechless about Bella's appearance as Alec had been. "You look amazing." He commented.

Bella smiled. "Thank you." She looked to Clary, "you ready?"

Clary gave a nod, smiling at the fact that Bella managed to draw attention by two men, one of which was usually uptight. She thought it was good for Bella's self-esteem. "Let's go do this." She said, coming and looping her arm with Bella's.

[Magnus Bane's Loft Party]

Alec and Jace stayed on alert as they followed Clary and Bella up to the door. The door had a lion head on it, with a ring in it's mouth for them to knock. Bella looked around the building, seeing how hidden it was. The whole building was a loft building, which Magnus Bane clearly owned the whole thing. She reached up, grabbing the ring and knocking it against the wooden door, and it swung open. A woman answered, wearing tight, plastic looking clothing.

"Welcome." She said to Clary and Bella. They were toting art supplies. Jace and Alec followed the girls in.

There was some music playing, and people were grinding together in various areas of the house. Bella wove through people, Clary right behind her, until she found someone at a bar that was installed. A bar tender was behind the bar. Bella smiled, and then put on her best seductive look. "Hey there." She said, leaning on the bar.

The man stared at her, smiling after his eyes raked over her body. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm looking for Magnus. I wanted to chat with him really quick. About a project." Bella blinked her lashes slow, and seductive.

The man smiled. "Yeah, he's in the blue room. Need a drink?"

Bella smiled. "Couldn't hurt," she winked.

The man fixed her a purple looking drink and handed it to her.

"Thank you love." Bella said, and turned, a little slow, letting him take a good look at her, and she walked over to Clary.

"Damn Bella…"Clary murmured. "Who are you and where is my sister?"

Jace and Alec enjoyed that display a little too much, but Alec was the one to recover first. "Okay, do you know where he is?"

"Yeah, blue room. This way." Bella said and once out of sight of the bar tender she dumped the drink in a plant, and set the glass on a table and walked through more crowds of people grinding against each other.

The blue room was exactly, that. A blue room. There was a stage in the room, lit up blue, and there were half naked dancers on the stage that were dancing slow, and seductive on the stage. A large oval couch, a white leather was situated in the center, and there was an Asian man sitting on the couch, with some women surrounding him, a few men as well. His eyes glanced up at Bella and Clary when they came in.

He stood, the kimono silk that he wore was open in the front and billow behind him. It was a silky black, with silver swirling designs, and he wore tight black pants. His eyes were a chocolate color, that was lined with dark charcoal liner. His hair was spiked carefully on his head, and perfect in every sense. "Hmm. I figured I would be seeing you girls." He said, and stepped forward, his hand going to Bella's waist, and he drew her in close. "You are intoxicatingly beautiful." He murmured, his eyes staring into Bella's.

Bella blinked up at him. "Well, you're not too bad yourself." She said, winding an arm up to slip around his neck. "You know why I'm here."

"I do." Magnus murmured, nodding, and then dipped his head in slow, and towards her face. His lips brushed her lips softly, and then to her cheek, and to her ear. "Follow me, don't draw attention, there are a few demons here." He murmured. He leaned back smiling.

Bella grinned up at him, her face not showing the shock. His hand slid around her waist securely, and Bella's around his.

"Follow me." He motioned to Clary, Alec, and Jace, who were all confused from the display.

Magnus brought them to a room, shutting the door, and then waved his hand, the glow of magic, seemingly doing something, to the door, or the room. He turned and faced them all. "My apologies. We were being watched. Bella, Clary. It's been a while since I've seen you two. Well, I saw Bella six months ago, but she was very much still under the influence of the last spell I did. Your mother has been taken. News travels fast, and when she missed the last appointment, I figured she told you girls about your history."

Bella shook her head. "No, she didn't. We're having to learn on the fly. I don't remember seeing you six months ago."

"Of course, you wouldn't have recognized me, the spell I use works that way." Magnus said and sighed. "Your mother being kidnapped presents a problem in the downworlder community. Your mother knows where the cup is, and if he gets that cup, it can mean bad things for this world." He explained.

"So you know about Valentine?" Alec asked.

Magnus looked at Alec, studying him. "Hmm. Bella, you have very attractive friends." He smiled. "Shadowhunter, I know everything. I'm the high Warlock of Brooklyn."

"Okay, but there are blocks in both our heads. We need to remember Magnus. Can you remove them so we can?" Bella asked.

Magnus studied Bella. "If I remove the block in your mind Bella, there may be things that you don't wish to remember…"

"I need to remember Magnus." Bella's eyes were pleading.

Magnus sighed, and nodded. He reached up, his hands framing her on either side of her temples. His eyes flickered into a green cat like appearance.

Bella's eyes focused on his, and then flashes came pouring in. She remembered Idris, she was little, and her mother was pregnant.

"Bella, you have to be quiet. We have to leave now." Jocelyn's voice was low. She was packing a few things. A cup was placed in an intricate looking bag, and sealed.

"Mommy, what about daddy?" Bella's quiet, sweet voice asked, her voice was lilted with the accent of Idris.

"Daddy can't come. We have to-" Jocelyn looked around. There was spoke billowing. "Oh no. He knows." She said in a rushed whisper. She handed Bella the bag that held the cup. "Jonathan!" She called out, and rushed through the house, Bella following her. She saw Jonathan standing in the doorway, flames licking up around. "Jonathan!"

The flames licked up, blocking their path.

"Mother!" Jonathan cried out.

"Jonathan!" Jocelyn cried back out, she looked around for something that she could use to get to him. Valentine suddenly appeared behind Jonathan.

"You have betrayed me Jocelyn." Valentine's voice boomed.

Jocelyn's wide eyes held fear, and she looked to Bella. She scooped her up and turned and ran. Jonathan cried out to her, but Valentine's voice shut him up.

"Mommy, my brother!" Bella yelled, panicked.

"We can't. I have to get you out of here Bella. You and your baby sister in my belly. I can't…I'm not strong enough." Jocelyn choked out a cry.

Bella's face streamed with tears, as they fled. The flames tasted the night sky and the farther they traveled, the smaller it got. A portal suddenly was opened, and Jocelyn stepped through it. Magnus steadied Jocelyn and bent to calm Bella.

"Oh biscuit…" Magnus murmured. "Everything is going to be okay."

"Did Luke give you the- "

"He did. Jocelyn. Calm down. I've talked to Luke, and I've talked to Victor. Everything will be okay. We're going to hide you and your family. Where is the boy?"

Jocelyn shook her head, tears exploding. "Valentine…he…set the house on fire. I couldn't get to Jonathan." She sobbed.

Magnus closed his eyes and then nodded. "Alright. Let's move you. We don't have much time." He said.

The memory shifted, changing. Bella continued to stare into Magnus' eyes.

"Bella, careful!" Jocelyn said, and caught the bag containing the cup that she stashed before it fell off the desk.

Bella frowned. "I'm sorry mommy." She said in a small voice.

Jocelyn was very pregnant now, and Luke was staying there to help protect her, and Bella. He walked in and smiled at Bella and looked to Jocelyn, who was looking very tired. "I think I need to have Magnus-"

"Jocelyn," Luke frowned. "You can't do that to her. She should be training to-"

"No! I don't want her or her sister to live that life." Jocelyn's voice was hushed, but Bella could still hear her.

Luke sighed. "She's going to eventually find out."

"I'm not ready." Jocelyn murmured, and looked at her beautiful, young daughter. She couldn't let anything happen to her or her sister. She looked at the container holding the cup. She looked around. She had painted a painting, a beautiful one. She had been in the Mundane world four months now, and she had all the time to paint while she waited, and tried to stay hidden from Valentine, if he was alive. She was cut off from the Clave, and everyone she knew.

Luke's radio crackled. "I've got to go. Jocelyn. Think about what I've said." He said and left.

Jocelyn looked at Bella. "Bella."

"Yes mommy?"

"I love you. More than anything."

"I know."

"Do you miss your daddy?"

Bella thought about it. "He was hurting you. I…don't think so."

Jocelyn teared up. "And your brother?"

"I miss Johnny. When I grow up, I'll be a strong Shadowhunter mommy. I'll be able to save my brother, and you." Bella vowed, her little five-year-old self.

Jocelyn nodded, wiping away some tears. She picked up the bag with the cup and opened it.

"What's that?"

"A very important cup. It's used to create more Shadowhunters." Jocelyn explained.

"It's very pretty."

Jocelyn nodded. "It is. Your daddy can never get this back. He will do bad things Bella. Do you understand?"

Bella nodded her tiny head. "I do."

"Good." Jocelyn said, and then she walked over to the painting. It was a painting of her and Jonathan, and Bella. They were in a field of beautiful flowers. There was another small child, a red-headed girl, that Jocelyn was sure going to be her next daughter, Clarissa. She looked at the cup, and then she took a breath and then stared into the painting, and reached the cup through into the painting. The cup was placed in Jonathan's hand. It was small, a detail that only she would be able to see. She pulled her hand from the painting.

"Can I do that?" Bella asked.

Jocelyn turned and looked at her daughter. "Someday." She smiled.

The memory morphed again, and then she was a little older, around seven, when she was standing before Magnus, Clary was just a small toddler, two years old.

"Magnus, please I need you to do this." Jocelyn's voice pleaded.

"Jocelyn, if I do this, I have to place the block every year." Magnus said.

"I know." Jocelyn said.

Magnus nodded, and with that, he bent to Bella's level, his hand glowing as he brought it up to her face. "I'm sorry Bella." He murmured, and then her memories of Idris, and the cup vanished.

Bella gasped, stumbling back. Tears were streaked on her face, and her eyes were wide. "I know…. I know where the cup is…" she murmured, but she sobbed. The painful feeling of losing her older brother. Valentine had killed him in the fire, had purposely kept him from getting to her and her mother. There was no denying that.

Alec looked at her, his hands steadying her. "Bella, look at me." His voice was stern.

"I…" Bella shook her head. "I need to go. I need…"

"Okay." Alec said it simply. "Jace, stay here with Clary." He looked at Magnus. "Can you undo Clary's block?"

Magnus nodded. "I can. Bella…I am sorry."

Bella nodded, wiping at her face, but she was silent.

"Is there a back way?" Alec asked.

Magnus nodded, going to the other side of the room. It was his office, and there was a back door. He opened it, and it led out into an ally behind his loft.

Alec took the exit, taking Bella with him. They were quiet as they got to the Institute.

[The Institute]

Bella wasn't sure what to say. She felt exhausted, like the energy was drained from her. They walked into the foyer, and Alec shut and locked the door behind him.

"Bella. Tell me what you saw." Alec said, trying not to sound too brash.

Bella looked at him. "He killed my brother. Valentine. He set the fire in the house, and Jonathan was trapped." She said. "He's dangerous, and I'm going to kill him."

Alec nodded. "One step- "

"No. Every moment I stand here, wallowing around in pity that my mother has been taken, I lose that time. The time to save her from a hellish man that only cared about himself, and his own power and control." Bella's voice shook as it rose. She was being irrational.

"Bella but- "

"It's not fair to drag any of you in. This is my problem. I need to handle this. I need to-"

Alec's mouth covered hers, shutting her up. Bella's mouth moved under his, parting as their tongues collided against each other. He didn't know why he did it, he just knew that watching her, so vulnerable, yet so defiant, fired up, did something to his brain, and he just kissed her.

Bella was shocked to say the least, as Alec kissed her, but she responded, her actions automatic.

Alec's arms wound around her, pulling her against him, her body pressed against his, as he continued to kiss her. His heart slammed hard in his chest, and he struggled to get his brain to work right. One of his hands reached up, wounding in her hair, undoing the pin that kept it swept to the side.

Bella felt the intensity of the kiss, the situation, and she wanted to move from the foyer, from people being able to look at her. She broke the kiss, her eyes staring up into Alec's confused blue ones. "Not here." She murmured, and grabbed his hand, and tugged him with her towards the hall with her bedroom. She opened her door and pulled him in, closing it behind him.

"Bella I-"

Bella kissed him, she just wanted to let the pain slip away. She needed the distraction.

Alec was stunned at her forwardness. He thought he was shocked by his own abrupt kiss to her, but she was far more aggressive than he had been. Her hands moved up his chest, winding up around his neck, her body against his, her breast pressed to his solid body. He felt the arousal grow in him, and this confused him more. His hands moved to her hips, sliding to her back. He paused, breaking the kiss to look at her. "What are we doing…" he murmured.

"I don't care." Bella said. "Alec, I just…don't think. This is okay."

"I've never…"

"Me neither, it's okay."

Alec stared down at her. "Bella, you're emotional right now."

"I don't care Alec, don't think about it." She said and leaned up, kissing him again.

Alec pulled away again. "Bella, we need to talk about what happened tonight. A lot of memories came back, you're…"

"You kissed me."

"I know…. I…you were increasingly getting upset, and I couldn't talk because you wouldn't let me, and I…I don't normally do that. I'm not Jace," He said with a sigh.

Bella blinked a few times. "I know. You're Alec."

He looked at her. "You know what I mean." He murmured.

"You don't want me."

"No. It's not that. You're…very attractive, probably the only woman I've ever found attractive, and I just…uh. I'm not experienced in this area, and I don't want to take advantage of you in any way considering…how you're feeling right now and- "

"Take advantage of? Alec, I'm not drunk. I know my own mind. I'm capable of making my own decisions." Bella said. "If you don't want to…"

Alec looked at her, how amazingly beautiful she really was. He was an idiot, but even a bigger idiot for letting it get this far. He reached out for her. "I'm not…saying that I don't want to. I just…" he sighed, struggling to find the right words. "You don't want this… not with me. I haven't been exactly, the best."

"So? Alec, this isn't about any of that."

Alec nodded. "I couldn't in good conscience, let you make a mistake. I would be a mistake. You know that deep down."

"I don't believe that it would be. It's…" she trailed off. What was she doing? She wasn't this girl. Her emotions were getting the best of her, and she realized that, but this feeling she was having, she couldn't help but to feel like this. "I can't explain how I feel right now." Bella said then, looking up at him. "I just don't want to feel this pain I'm feeling…if that's scary for you, then I'm sorry. I didn't mean…to make you uncomfortable." She dropped her hands to her sides. She wasn't going to press the issue. "Thank you bringing me back here. It was a lot so fast." She admitted.

Alec nodded, swallowing a little. He shoved his hand in his pocket, forcing himself not to touch her. "I'm not uncomfortable." He blew out a sigh. "Damnit." He cursed at himself, and then he abandoned his own reserve, and reached for her, and kissed her again. "I don't know what you're doing to me." He murmured. His mouth drunk her in, the inner struggle consuming them both. His hands moved around her again, his hands moving to her hips and to her back, the zipper of her dress dangling there. He used one hand to pull the zipper down, the dress seemingly melting from her. She didn't stop him, she let him remove her dress, her bare breast pressed against him now, and his hands slid over her bare back. It sent little thrills through her, and through him.

They moved towards her bed, and the collapsed on it as Bella tugged Alec's shirt up and over his head. His body glistened with the runes, and his hardened abs were definitely something to look at.

Bella arched up against him as his hands traveled over her, to her hip again. He hesitated, leaning his forehead against hers. "What's wrong?" She murmured.

"I've never…I'm not sure, I'll do this right."

Bella nodded. "I know, me neither, but we can learn together, yes?" She felt extremely aroused, and the need for a release was surfacing. She had touched herself before, so she started with that. She knew how to show him that at the very least. Her hand grasped his and guided him, his eyes stayed on hers as she pushed his hand over her heated center over her panties. They were already damp. She showed him where to touch, and he nodded. "Like that." She murmured, and kissed him. "It feels good."

Alec was nervous, he had never imagined anything like this ever happening. He was never attracted to women, or at least the ones he met. The confusion swirling around in his head was more than he anticipated, but he kept going, trying to not think about it too much. "Bella…" he murmured against her lips, his erection was straining in his pants, and he had never wanted so badly to feel that tension release.

Bella reached for his pants, unbuttoning them. He paused long enough to get his pants off, his boxers, until he was the naked one. He was vulnerable to her, and he trusted her enough to handle him. Her hands ran down stroking him gently, and he moaned. "Show me." She murmured.

Alec guided her hand, showing her good placement. "This isn't weird?" He asked her, looking at her.

She shook her head. "It's not…" She murmured, and she leaned up, kissing him.

His hands moved to her panty line and she lifted her hips, letting him slip her panties away. He went back to touching her, and she gasped with small pleasure, and he smiled against her lips and then groaned, pushing into her hand as she stroked him in fast even strokes.

"Alec…" She murmured and guided him towards her entrance. He looked down at her.

"Are you sure?"

Bella nodded. She kissed him as she felt him push just the tip in. "I'm okay." She reassured him, and he slid in halfway. The small twinges of pain were ignored as she moved her hips to his, pulling him all the way in.

Alec moaned. "God." He didn't think he could last long like this. "Bella…you feel so…amazing." He murmured. It was a lame thing to say, he knew.

Bella smiled. "I'm okay. You can move."

Alec nodded, kissing her again as he rocked his hips into hers, her tight walls clenching around him, making it impossible for his concentration.

Bella felt the build, the pressure in her belly as her orgasm was on the rise. It was a different feeling than when she pleasured herself. She felt the release as she melted under him, her fluids washing around him as she moaned.

Alec kissed her again, moving a bit faster, feeling himself swell tight inside her. Her explosion against his tip pushed him over the edge until he was spilling over, thrusting forward a few hard times, emptying himself. He was panting when they were done.

"That felt so amazing…" she murmured, feeling the orgasm roll over her still, from head to toe. She felt light, like she was just floating, and she wondered why she was afraid of this before? She blinked her eyes open to look up at Alec's blue ones. There was a swirl of something there, pleasure, but also confusion. She reached up, stroking his face. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm just. Wow." Alec took a deep breath in. He was afraid to move, not having any real strength, but he did so anyways. "Are you okay?"

"I am. More than okay." She purred.

Alec watched her stretch in the sheets, and he smiled. This was an experience that he didn't see himself having. Not ever, but he was glad that he did this, despite what his head was telling him. His smile faltered though.

"You're not okay…"she murmured.

Alec shook his head. "Uh, I'm fine. It's just. I don't do stuff like this, and I'm…I'm not sure what to do next."

Bella nodded, sitting up. "It's new to me to. I know you don't want Jace, or your sister knowing. So it's okay. If you have to leave, it's okay."

"Isn't that something girls hate? For the guys to ditch right after sex?" Alec asked raising a brow.

Bella smiled. "I'm not just some girl Alec. I understand the situation all too well, and I'm not going to cling to you. I've been through enough heartbreak to put myself through that again. I…enjoyed this. It was nice, and I'm not regretful at all. Thank you."

Alec studied her. She was something else. At first, he was angry that she waltzed into their lives, but he was starting to see Bella for who she was. She was stronger than she realized, and she was going to be a great Shadowhunter. He picked up his pants, his boxers, and smiled at her. "Well, I suggest you get dressed as well, meet me in command." He said and then he leaned down, kissing her briefly. It was a gesture that he felt, seemed appropriate. He pulled his clothes on, and then he left her room, heading to command.

Bella sighed, getting up and going to the bathroom and cleaning herself up. She was thankful that she was on birth control. She had the rod in her arm, she got it put in last year to help with some cycle issues she was having, and the pill didn't work. Despite her pain tolerance, she had an aversion to needles, so she opted to have the rod put in so she wouldn't have to go through the shot thing repeatedly. She pulled on some more of Izabell's clothes, still too tight, but at least her legs were covered now. She washed her face of the makeup, so she felt better, and went to command.

Alec was standing with Jace, looking at the tablet. They weren't talking just, reading. Bella's entrance caused Alec to glance up at her.

"Where's Clary?" Bella asked, rubbing her hand over her arm.

Jace looked over at her. "Changing."

"How is she?"

"She's okay. Her memory block didn't reveal much, just that she randomly remembers more runes, and seeing you paint them and asking you about them. Pretty much it." Jace said and then turned towards her. "Hey, are you okay?"

Bella blinked. "Hmm?"

"Earlier, you were…how are you?" Jace's voice dropped, soft, comforting. He reached a hand towards her, setting it on her arm.

"I uh…just memories of my brother. He was killed in the fire. Valentine purposely kept him there so mom couldn't get to him. She had to force herself to leave with me, and she was pregnant with Clary. We went through a portal, to Magnus. She didn't put a block in my memories until I was seven. She hid the cup." Bella explained.

"I'm sorry…you lost your brother, and you're remembering that pain now, right?"

Bella nodded. "Yeah, but I'm okay."

Jace reached a hand up, and stroked her face gently. "You should rest."

"Later." She said and took a step back. Her eyes cut over to Alec, who just looked way, clenching his jaw a little. "So, what do we do about the cup?"

Jace looked over at Alec. "I don't know. That's Alec's call. He's team leader."

"We leave it for now. We don't want to draw attention to it. Unless the Clave says otherwise. I'll contact them, let them know that removing the block let Bella remember where the cup is located. With that being said, it means that Bella should be protected heavier."

Bella frowned. "What? Just because-"

"It's not a discussion." Alec said, shooting her look.

"Alec you can't-"

"Bella." Alec warned.

Bella shut her mouth, glaring. "I'm not going to sit on the sidelines. I told you that already."

"I heard you."

"Did you?" Bella snapped back.

Alec closed his eyes, reigning in his own temper. "Bella. Can you please stop being so stubborn and listen to me?" He opened his eyes, looking at her.

Bella shook her head. "I am listening to you Alec. There are too many things at stake for me to just sit here and twiddle my thumbs." She was close to him now, staring up at him.

Alec crossed his arms. "I'm not letting you go out by yourself. It's too dangerous for you to get yourself killed."

"I'm not completely helpless!" She argued.

"I didn't say you were."

"You implied it."

Alec pursed his lips, nodding slightly. "You're barely a Shadowhunter. You don't have proper training. You've gotten lucky with the demons so far. I can't risk you out there because of your personal vendetta."

"IT'S MY MOTHER!" Bella threw up her hands. "Of course, it's personal Alec. Of course, it is! If it was your mom, wouldn't you-"?

"I wouldn't." Alec snapped.

Bella looked taken back. "I don't know how you were raised. How being raised as a Shadowhunter…what it does to someone. But my mother raised me to care, and love, and to respect. I am not going to let Valentine just do whatever the fuck he wants to do with her because he hates that she defied him! That he thought he owned her, and that she should just do whatever he wanted because they were married, because she was carrying his child, and because those children were his experiments." She said, tears breaking to the surface, but they did not fall.

Alec stared at her, seeing her tear up. "Damnit." He cursed, and he fought himself to reach out to her. He ran hands over his face, and turned away from her.

"Alec, don't turn away from me!" Bella said and reached for him.

"Bella. Don't." Alec warned, his voice like ice.

Bella dropped her hand. "Why can't you see how I see?"

Jace stepped in. "Bella, maybe you- "

Alec turned. "I can see how you see Bella. But it's my job to ensure your safety, this entire team's safety. That is my responsibility. I understand that you're hurting, and that it is painful for you. I wasn't raised like you, I don't know what love is. Is that what you wanted to hear?" He was animated now, his voice raised a little.

"No." Bella admitted.

"You are such an infuriating girl." Alec said, his jaw clenched. "You infuriate me. You're driving me insane, and I don't…" he let out a frustrated sigh.

A few tears escaped the corner of Bella's eye, the tears rolling down her cheek.

Alec couldn't stop himself this time. He reached out a hand, wiping the tears off her face. "Don't…don't do that." He said, his voice sounding defeated.

Jace didn't know what he was witnessing. Alec's behavior was concerning. He thought that maybe Alec would actually hit Bella, with how angry Alec was feeling.

"I can't help it." Bella bit out. "My mother is missing. I just want her back." Her voice shook.

Alec swallowed, staring down at her impossible eyes, the dark depths that swallowed you whole. He moved, his hand going to her arm and he jerked her towards him, his arms coming around her in a hug. "I'll find her. Bella, I will find her, but you have to listen to me." His voice was calmer now, deflated. "I told you…one step at a time, and if you would have let me finish earlier, you would have heard me tell you everything was going to be okay." He sighed. "I don't do the hugging thing for long. So," he released her. "Don't cry." He said and turned his back, not looking at the shocked Jace. "Go get some food. I know you're hungry." He said, and Bella wiped her face, nodding.

"Thank you." She muttered, and then she walked away, going to the kitchen.

Jace crossed his arms, looking at Alec. "What the fuck was that?"

"What?"

"That!" Jace gestured to the spot Bella had been standing.

Alec shook his head. "I don't know." He muttered.

"Do you have feelings for her?" Jace asked.

"I barely know her Jace. She just walked into this place what? Three days ago?"

"You never hug Iz." Jace said.

Alec sighed. "I'm trying here. I have to keep her happy, and I'm not doing a good job of it. She's irritating, and doesn't listen. I don't want her to be sobbing all over the floor. I did what I had to. I don't do it often, there won't be another time."

Jace nodded. "Keeping her happy for the Clave. Are they afraid she won't tell them where the cup is?"

"They don't know she remembers." Alec said. "They know it's a possibility she knows."

"Right, so if it hurts her in the long run?"

"The cup belongs in Idris, Jace."

Jace shook his head. "You don't even care what happens do you?"

"I didn't say that. Stop trying to make this something it's not. Why do you care so much?"

"Because maybe I care about her."

Alec shook his head. "Right. Well, I'm not going to let her get hurt. That's me caring Jace."

Jace just shook his head and left command to cool off.

Izabell walked in. "You know you're an idiot, right?"

Alec didn't look at his sister. "I didn't ask you Iz."

"You don't think I didn't see you in the foyer earlier?" Izabell crossed her arms.

Alec sighed, closing his eyes. "Iz I- "

"Hush. I'm not going to tell anyone. Luckily, Simon was in the shower when all that went down, and Hodge was in the library. So did anything happen?" Izabell asked.

"No. It was to shut her up. She wouldn't let me talk." Alec said, denying that anything else happened. He did that to protect Bella, and himself.

Izabell didn't believe the lie. "Alec. You can't lie to me. I know your tells."

Alec sighed, and turned and looked at his sister. "Iz, drop it. I don't want the entire institute to know. It's not good for Bella, and it's not good for me. It was a one-time thing. Not happening again."

"So, you did sleep with her. Let's clarify that." Izabell said, her voice was low.

"Yes. Iz," he warned. "I'm not going to discuss the intimate details of what happened between me and her. I'm not going to do it again, and neither is she. So, drop it."

Izabell smiled. "You're not a virgin anymore." She teased.

"Good god, Iz. Seriously?"

"Okay, okay, I'll stop." Izabell said. "Well since I know your secret…I slept with Simon."

Alec sighed, closing his eyes. "How did I know that you would."

Izabell shrugged. "He's quite cute."

"I specifically told you not to molest him."

"He wanted it."

Alec shook his head. "You are too much sometimes, you know that?"

In the kitchen, Bella got herself some grapes. She was hungry, but she wasn't starving, and well, grapes sounded nice. She sat at the table, eating when Jace walked in. She looked up.

"I'm sorry." Jace said.

"For what?"

"For this." Jace said and went to her, getting her to stand, and then he covered her mouth with his.

Bella was a bit shocked. The men around her just liked kissing a lot. She kissed him back slightly, not wanting to take it farther. When he pulled away, she looked at him. "Why?"

"I don't know." Jace said and took a step back. "I don't know. You're just…different."

"Jace…" She murmured.

"I care about what happens to you. I know that right now, it seems like there's just too much going on, but I want you to know that I will help you. I'm not going to give up on finding your mom, no matter what." Jace vowed.

Bella looked at him, how determined Jace looked, how caring he was, and she nodded. "Thank you." She said, and eased back in her chair. Jace made her heart ache a little, and she wasn't sure how to handle that feeling.