Chapter 6

Revelations

Part 4

Izzy anxiously paced outside the bedroom door. It had been three hours since her brother's mate had carried him inside. It broke her heart seeing her brother this way. He had always been the strongest of the strong. Before his presentation he was everyone's go-to guy for everything. He knew everything, he could do everything. He was who she wanted to be when she grew up, well, the girl version. Even though they were only separated in birth by a few minutes, it had always felt as though he was so much older than she was, that he could do so much more. Overtime, as children, she started noticing why. She didn't notice at five what she started to notice at eight, before their formal training had started nine. At five, she was playing with dolls and with the children of the other Shadowhunters at the Institute, not knowing that while she played, her big brother was sitting at a desk in the library memorizing and practicing runes from the Grey Book at their fathers insistence. Or studying demonology, whatever else their father had wanted him to learn. While she was having tea parties, he was practicing tumbling with their then training master, Hodge, in a make-shift training room in the Institutes basement. He was never able to play when she had asked. His days were full. But she didn't know that then. The only reprieve he had ever received as a child from his constant early morning training and daily studies was sleep, yet even then she didn't know that he was being woken up hours before her for breakfast. During those early morning hours was when he had released his first flimsy arrow into a soft target twenty feet away, where it had struck home. But by eight she began to notice things, like bruises on his forearms and knuckles. Little nicks on his hands and arms. She didn't know that he had already long since started his weapons training. Back then he had always been mostly closed off and shy, but little by little, over time, she had slowly started to get him to speak. Then one day while she was trying to get him to talk to her it just all came flooding out, like a dam had burst in him. All of the things that she didn't know, all of the things that she should have noticed, came gushing to the surface. She was so angry. At herself, at their parents, but more so at herself. She was his twin. She should have known. She was so mad she wanted to punch someone; and she did actually; Jen Havens, breaking her nose. So the next day, even though she was grounded, she was outside her brothers bedroom door at 5:05 am, waiting. She knew their father would be inside, waking her brother. So when her father hustled her still sleepy brother out into the hallway from his room for his daily tumbling and weapons training, she was there. Their father had tried to shoo her off, to tell her to go back to bed, that it was too early to be up; that was the first time that Isabelle Lightwood had fully put her foot down, laying the foundation for the badass woman she would come to be. By the time she had finished her rant at their father, he finally just agreed to let her come along. And it was the same the next day, the day after that, and the day after that, until their father had just come to accept her accompaniment, muttering under his breath about 'female stubbornness'. It wasn't long after that it wasn't just her waiting outside the door anymore, it was the team, the friends that she had played with at five. Alec had always been friendly towards them, but he had never had the chance to get to know them. But that day, that was the day he made his first friends. And they had been inseparable ever since. The Institute had tried a few times after their 'official training' started at nine to split them into other training teams 'so they could share their skills and knowledge", the things that her brother had taught them, with the other kids in their class. But her brother had, in no uncertain terms, refused. He had gotten nose to nose with Hodge, and whoever else tried again later, and said 'no, they stay with me', despite their alpha commands. They had made a pact the year before to stick together, no matter what, and her brother never broke a promise. Her brother didn't become their commander at fifteen like he was supposed to, he became their commander at nine when they had needed him to, to keep them together. At twelve he had fallen ill with severe pneumonia. He had trained everyday as usual for days, despite our protests, until he had started coughing up blood. That was when Hodge had carried him to the infirmary where he had spent six days receiving around the clock intensive treatment. When he was released on the seventh day with orders of bedrest and no exertion by the doctors, he was pulled back into training on the eight day by their mother. 'He's had a week' she had said, 'that's more than enough'. That was the day she had come to truly hate their mother. They had tried to go easy on him in training that day, but her brother wasn't having it. If he was going to train, he was going to train, and so where they. It might have taken him three times longer to fully recover than it should have, but he was there, each day, to train with his team. And it had been that way ever since.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Simon asked, startling her. In her surprise she spun around with a quick roundhouse that he barely dodged, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Sorry. You startled me." Izzy said.

"So I see. I didn't think that was possible." He said, pulling her into his arms, nose to nose. "Your worrying about Alec?"

"Yes. And remembering." Izzy answered softly, eyes sweeping the closed door again. "How much longer do you think they're going to be in there?"

"I don't know, babe. As long as he needs to be, I guess. I don't think Magnus is going to take 'no' for an answer." Simon said, arms wrapped tightly around her trim waist.

"He'll be the first." Izzy said, her head on Simon's shoulder.

"You were remembering when we were kids, weren't you?" Simon asked, planting a soft kiss to the top of her head.

"Yeah. He was always there for us, Simon. Always. In training, while hunting, in battle. He always had our backs, no matter what. And now, he's going through all this and there's not a damn thing any of us can do to help him." Izzy said, sniffling.

"Hey, don't cry. The only thing that's really changed is that now he has a mate. And a good one. One who obviously adores him and wants nothing more than to look after him. Has this omega stuff thrown him through a loop since his heat started, yes. And have we all been snowballed by what Magnus has told us about the past and the Clave, most definitely. But this is Alec were talking about. Nobody holds Alec down and lives to tell the tale. Especially with a badass, sexy little sister to beat the ever-living shit out of them first." Simon said softly.

"Well, I did learn from the best." Izzy said, smiling up at her mate. "Maybe Magnus can teach Alec a few things that he doesn't already know. He's only got 800 years on him."

"I don't know about that. Didn't you know? Alec knows everything." Simon said, making Izzy laugh. "There. There's that beautiful smile. I'm sure Magnus will tell us something soon. If not, then you can beat down the door. Deal?" He asked, holding up his pinky.

"Deal." Izzy said, taking it with her own.

Magnus gently brushed a lock of raven hair away from his sleeping angels eyes. It would be time to wake him soon. He wanted more than anything to just let his little Shadowhunter rest. While his mates family couldn't hear what was going on in here, he could hear everything that was going on out there. Finally, Isabelle's heals clicking outside the door had stopped. He might not be a mind reader in the traditional sense, but her thoughts had been so loud it had seemed as if she were screaming them at him. Hearing about his loves childhood through her minds-eye had angered him. It had made him dislike Shadowhunters even more, if that were even possible, which apparently it was. While he had come to both like and trust his mates team and family, the one he trusted most was his Shadowhunter. The sweet, shy angel that he absolutely adored. But in hearing Isabelle's thoughts, he felt as though he had learned a great deal about his young omega and a great deal about the foundation on which his wonderful personality was built. The true reason behind his adorable shyness, the protective nature for his team, and his dedication to protecting others. Did he get a childhood? No. Did he know now the origins of how his love came to be the commanding hero that he was known to be in the Shadow World, yes. And to think that the Clave may try and harm him. After all of his hard work, his dedication to his team and to the wretched Shadowhunters he had trained and led into battle. The same Shadowhunters that had later turned their backs on him. And to think that they could completely dismiss his extensive and exceptional skills as a Shadowhunter, all because he was an omega? It was absolutely, positively, unacceptable. It was not going to happen. Even if that meant raising The NY Institute to the ground and wiping the sacred city of Idris off the face of the earth, so be it. His mate would remain safe and unharmed. He would make sure of that.

With a deep sigh he gently stroked is young hero's cheek. At his touch his Shadowhunter stirred.

"Alexander, sweetheart, it's time to wake up." Magnus said softly. "Come on, love. Let me see those gorgeous blue eyes." He said, leaning down to kiss his mate softly on the forehead.

A pleasant tingle passed through Alec's body. Slowly his eyes fluttered open at the contact.

"There you are. Feeling a bit better now?" Magnus asked.

Alec nodded, yes. He had already begun to surface when he heard Magnus' wonderful voice and felt the soft kiss touch his skin. He felt calmer, relaxed. His mind was no longer racing with horrible thoughts, although his head felt a little fuzzy.

"What did you give me?" Alec asked.

"Just something to clear your mind help you rest for a bit. Did it help?" Magnus asked.

"I think it did, actually." Alec said. "Can I get up?"

"Sit up slowly, love. You might feel a little dizzy or light headed." Magnus said.

Alec pushed himself up slowly, Magnus helping to support him as he sat. Magnus was right, he did feel dizzy.

"You okay?" Magnus asked.

"You were right. I am a little dizzy." Alec said.

"Do you need to lie back down for a bit longer?" Magnus asked.

"No, I'll be fine. It'll pass." Alec said, sitting up fully.

"You'll have to be careful when you stand up. You'll probably be a little unsteady on your feet until your body catches up and you adjust." Magnus said, brushing another lock of hair out of Alec's eyes.

"How long was I out?" Alec asked.

"About three hours." Magnus said. "But it was worth it. You needed it."

"Are the others still here?" Alec asked.

"They are. Your sister has been driving me nuts pacing outside the door. Her heals clicking against the floor for the last three hours made me want to turn her really awesome boots into fuzzy kitten slippers." Magnus said.

Alec laughed. "You know, she's the only Shadowhunter I've ever known that can hunt and fight in stiletto heels. But what can I say, she's a badass. But then again, so are the rest of my team. She just does it and makes it look sexy, according to Simon." Alec said.

"She does have style." Magnus said with a smile. "Do you want to try getting up?"

"Yeah. I know this makes me sound like a wimp, but will you make sure I don't fall?" Alec asked.

"Of course. I would never let you fall. No matter what." Magnus said, pressing another kiss to Alec's forehead. "Never."

Alec looked his mate in the eyes as a another tingle ran down his spine at the soft kiss. He knew, in that moment, that his alpha loved him, truly, madly, deeply, and completely, and that he would never leave his side. And he knew that he loved his alpha truly, madly, deeply, and completely, and that he would never leave his loves side.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Magnus asked, concerned by Alec's sudden silence.

"Nothing." Alec said. "It's just…I was thinking…I wanted to tell you….that I love you." Alec stuttered, cheeks blushing crimson.

"I know, sweetheart. Just as I love you. But thank you for saying it." Magnus said, cupping Alec's cheek. Alec shuddered at the contact, making Magnus smile.

Robert Lightwood sat behind an ornate antique desk in The Head of the NY Institutes office, a bottle of scotch at his side. In his hand he held a photo. A photo of Alec and Izzy, laughing on their presentation day. The day that everything changed. The day his precious boy's life had changed forever. His Alexander has been missing for three days, and his hope of finding him was waning. He had yet to hear back from The High Warlock of Brooklyn. The Shadowhunters under his command had barely found a trace of his son, only his stele. He knew his sons team were searching around the clock for their leader, his brother, his sister, his parabati, and his daughters mate. He knew his daughters mate was the only thing keeping her grounded. His Alexander had taught them so much. Out of the hundreds of Shadowhunters he had dispatched, searching around the clock, none have searched harder than his sons team. They loved him, just as he loved them. He wished that he hadn't treated his son way he had. He regretted every hateful and hurtful word he had said. Because he didn't mean a single one of them. He was proud of his boy, and always has been. Did he push him too hard? Maybe. But he knew that there was a chance, and he wanted him to be ready. He pushed him because he loved him. He loved him fiercely, as he did his baby girl.

"You're not still moping, are you Robert?" Mayrse asked, irritation obvious in her voice. "When are you going to accept that he's gone?"

"You may have given up hope, Mayrse. But I haven't. As long as Clary can feel him, there's still a chance." Robert said, voice laced with despair.

"He should be gone. He's nothing more than a worthless omega. What's he good for now? Being someone's whore?" Mayrse asked.

"Don't you dare speak of our son that way." Robert raged at his wife. "He's not just an omega. He's still the son we raised. The warrior and hero he came to be. Don't you ever speak of him like that again."

"Fine. Go on. Keep wasting vital resources in this quest to find your precious omega, a disgrace to our family name. He doesn't deserve to be a Lightwood and you know it." Mayrse said, her voice laced with venom.

"Get out. Get out of my office, you hateful bitch." Robert commanded, full alpha. He was shaking with rage. She had no idea just how wrong she was.

Mayrse was taken back by her husband's words and his command. Without another word she turned and left, slamming the door behind her.

Robert was boiling with rage. 'The only disgrace to the Lightwood name is you, you wretched bitch.' He said to himself, sitting back down. Picking up the photo again he sighed. His children had looked so happy. They had spent that morning goofing off. Alexander had let his walls down, in front of others, which he never did. Only his team truly knew him. They had been thick as thieves since he was eight years old, and he knew his son would protect each and every one of them with his life.

He picked up the short glass of scotch on his desk and threw in back in one go, then poured another before tucking the bottle back into his desk. Pulling out a pen and paper he began to write.

'Dearest Mother,

There is no new news of Alexander. I had hoped

that once we recovered his stele, that we would have

had better luck finding him. I'm worried, mother.

He could be anywhere. His parabati still says that she's

still feeling anxiety and pain through their bond. I'm

starting to wonder if we're ever going to find him. As

long as Clary can feel him, I know that he's alive. But

what if someone or some 'thing' has him? What if that's

the cause of this constant pain she feels? I'm trying to

hold out hope that he's just holed up somewhere riding

out his heat. I just wish that I was there to hold his hand

and coach him through it. I never should have agreed

to this charade of a marriage when I married Mayrse. But

I did what had to be done. I wish I could be there for him.

Even the strongest of the strong sometimes need their

father. I should have gone to him immediately after his

presentation to comfort him. To tell him that is was going

to be okay. But I didn't. What kind of father does that

make me? We both know that I never loved Mayrse. But

I do love our children, unconditionally. It eats at me that

they don't know that. Especially now, when my son needs

me the most. I hate the lies that I must tell every day to

keep up this farce. But until I know what the Clave intends

for him, I must continue this horrid charade. I don't know

what I would do if something were to happen to him. He

would leave this world believing that his father didn't love

him. I'll update you as often as I can. I will send word

immediately should we find him.

Your loving son,

Robert'

Robert folded the letter and tucked it with a few pictures inside an envelope and sealed it. Picking up his stele he drew the fire message rune on the front. The envelope vanished in flame. Robert took a sip from his glass of scotch, memories of his children dancing in his head.

Finally the door to Magnus' room opened, Magnus and Alec stepping out.

"Alec! Thank the angel." Izzy said as threw herself at her brother, almost knocking him down. Magnus jumped to steady him.

"Be gentle, Isabelle. Alexander is a bit unsteady on his feet." Magnus said.

"Why?" Izzy demanded, wrapping her arms gently around her brother.

Magnus' eyebrows rose at her tone.

"It's okay, Izzy-diz." Alec said. "I'm just not fully awake yet. That's all."

Izzy punched her brother lightly in the shoulder.

"You know I hate that name." Izzy said, trying, and failing to scold her brother.

"And that's exactly why I use it." Alec said, an amused glint in his eyes.

Izzy just folded her arms and huffed out an indignant breath, making Alec smile.

"Come, sweetheart. Let's find you someplace comfortable to sit." Magnus said, taking Alec's hand and leading him into the living room.

"Can I sit with you?" Alec asked softly.

"Of course, darling." Magnus said, leading them towards an oversize loveseat with cozy looking cushions. Alec tried and failed to stifle a yawn. Seeing this, Magnus snapped his fingers and a steaming hot cup of tea appeared in his hands. "Here, honey. Sip on this. It's really hot and kinda strong, but it'll help you wake up a bit."

"Thank you." Alec said, taking the steaming mug from his alpha.

"Is everyone ready the hear the legacy of Gideon Lightwood?" Magnus asked.

A chorus of 'yeses' filled the room as everyone settled into their seats. Alec leaned over to whisper in his Magnus' ear.

"This isn't going to be like the last time, is it?" Alec asked so softly only Magnus could hear.

"No, love. It's not." Magnus said, kissing his precious mate on the forehead. The usual pleasant tingle ran down Alec's spine and he visibly shuddered. Magnus smiled at his mates reaction. They were going to have so much fun together, he thought.

"Okay, on with the story then." Magnus said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "As I said before, Gideon's 5 year old daughter, Arabella, fled into the forest. The last words her father had said were ringing in her ears, her father telling her to run. She knew that she was being followed by the same Shadowhunters that had just murdered her family. She ran for miles, tears streaming down her cheeks, but she wouldn't stop, she couldn't. She had to honor her dying fathers last wish. So she kept running. Once she could no longer hear the pursuing Shadowhunters behind her she stopped to catch her breath. The only reason that she had made it as far as she had was because of her nephilim blood."

"Question." Simon said, interrupting Magnus' story.

"Yes, Simon?" Magnus asked, annoyed.

"Where does all of this information come from? I mean, I know facts are facts, but the details? Where do they come from?" Simon asked, a bit intimidated by the look Magnus' was giving him.

"From the seelies. You know that the Seelie Queen has eyes and ears everywhere. Be it through the eyes of a butterfly or bee, or a bear stalking the woods. They are everywhere. A great deal of the information that we have regarding the 'details' as you put it came from reports from her court. The only reason we accepted them as truth is that, as you all know, seelies cannot lie. There was once a time when the seelies were actually allies with the rest over the downworld. We don't know when that changed exactly, or why. But the rest came from personal accountings. Anymore questions? I prefer not to be interrupted. It's rude." Magnus said, daring anyone else to speak. Alec just smirked at his mate. They were going to have so much fun together, he thought.

No one had the nerve to say a word. Simon looked as if he just wanted the couch cushions to swallow him whole.

"Good. Back to the story then. What young Arabella didn't know was that the murderous Shadowhunters had not stopped chasing her, but that they had been 'derailed' if you will. The Seelie Queen had seen what had happened and saw young Arabella's plight and decided to act. Using her magic she willed the vines of the trees to ensnarl the Shadowhunters chasing Arabella while she built a great wall of thick branches from the trees surrounding them to block their way. By the time the Shadowhunters managed to free the themselves of the vines holding them captive, the wall was so thick and high, filled with vicious looking thorns, they knew there was no way through it. The wall stretched for miles on either side of them, shielding Arabella from additional pursuit. Part of that wall still remains. Once Arabella had caught her breath she continued on, her heart breaking. After several more miles she finally collapsed by a small stream, where she laid, unconscious throughout the cold winter night. During an early morning walk Arabella was found by a warlock friend of mine, near death from her previous exertion and her time out in the bitter cold. Catarina had smelled Arabella's nephilim blood and followed it to where Arabella laid, unconscious on the cold stone of the streams bank. Word had already reached the warlocks so she already knew what had happened to Gideon Lightwood and his family, and that one of his daughters had escaped into the forest. Taking the small child in her arms she carried her to her home, putting up protective wards to block Arabella's location from detection. Once that was done, Catarina began to tend to Arabella. Catarina is an excellent healer and Arabella regained consciousness rather quickly. For weeks Arabella wouldn't speak. Exasperated, Catarina sent word to me, asking for my help. Apparently, I have a way with children, or so I've been told countless times throughout my long life. I still remember the first time I laid eyes on Arabella. Arabella was the first known surviving omega born child in a century. She was a bit small for her age but had the most beautiful raven hair and crystal blue eyes, Gideon's eyes. I took an immediate liking to her and she seemed to take a liking to me. I told her who and what I was and asked her if she could tell me what happened, asking why Catarina had found her at that stream. With tears streaming down her cheeks it gushed out of her, like a dam had burst in her. I held her in my arms as she recounted everything that had happened and sobbed her heart out. By the end she was mentally and emotionally exhausted, so Catarina and I tucked her into the bed that Catarina had made for her, giving her a weak sleeping draft, and left her to sleep. Together, Catarina and I watched over her throughout the night in case Arabella woke. Up until that night Arabella had been plagued with nightmares, the screams in her sleep being the only sounds she had made since Catarina had brought her home. While Arabella slept, Catarina and I discussed our options for Arabella and decided that we should give her a choice. The next morning when Arabella woke, we all sat down for breakfast and I presented to her her options. She could either stay with Catarina in the forest, or she could return home with me. According to Catarina, it was the first time she had seen Arabella smile. So gathering Arabella's meager possessions, including the doll that Catarina had made that never left her side, we portaled from Catarina's cottage in the forest outside of Idris into my small country manor.. Arabella was the third omega born child I had taken in. From the moment she arrived she was like the child I never had. I came to love her and see her as if she were my own, just as she came to love me." Magnus said.

"You took her in?" Alec asked softly, tears welling in his eyes. "You took her in and raised her?"

"Yes, my love. I did. She was a light in my life that I had never had before. Even with the other children I had brought into my home. She was a light of my life, a light that I haven't seen again, until you. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that the love of my life would be her great, great grandson." Magnus said, wiping the freshly fallen tears from Alec's cheeks.

The room was silent as everyone processed what they had just heard. Magnus Bane, The High Warlock of Brooklyn, the leader of all downworlders, had taken in the only surviving child of Gideon Lightwood, the great, great grandmother of his fated mate. And that Alec's fated mate had raised his great, great grandmother as if she was his own child.

Alec was stunned speechless.

"Alexander, honey, breathe." Magnus said gently. Alec blinked at Magnus' words. He took a breath in, not having realized he'd been holding his breath. "Are you alright, my love?"

"I think I need a minute." Alec said, climbing from his seat. Quickly he made his way to the kitchen. With his back against the wall he took several long, deep breaths. 'Magnus knew my great, great grandmother. He raised her as his own'. He thought. Silently Magnus stepped through the kitchen doorway.

"Alexander?" Magnus asked softly.

"You should have told me." Alec said. "You should have told me before."

Magnus stepped in front of Alec, looking his angel straight in the eyes.

"I'm sorry, love. Your right, I should have. I just didn't know how you would take it. Or maybe that was just an excuse I told myself. I'm so sorry, love." Magnus said, pressing his forehead to Alec's. "Can you please forgive me?"

"How many more? How many more Lightwood's did you know? How many people, my family, have you known that you haven't told me about?" Alec asked.

"A lot of them." Magnus said, truthfully. "But I didn't know. I didn't know that one day I would find my fated mate, my other half, in one of their descendants, and I didn't know how to tell you."

"What else have you kept from me?" Alec asked, a tear streaming down his cheek.

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Alexander. Things that I haven't told you yet. Things that you're not ready to hear. But I will tell you everything I know about where you came from." Magnus said, gently wiping the tear away.

"Why? Why am I not ready to hear them?" Alec asked, voice barely above a whisper.

"There are several reasons why, my sweet." Magnus said. "You've just come to realize today that you love me. Has that changed?"

"No." Alec breathed.

"You mean everything to me, Alexander. I would do anything for you. Give anything for you. And when you're ready I will tell you everything there is to know about me. But you have to know, you have changed not only my life but my entire world. I have spent centuries searching for you. I had given up hope of ever finding a mate. I thought I was destined to spend eternity alone. And then you happened. You, Alexander. The bravest, strongest person I have ever known. Every day you take my breath away." Magnus said.

"How can you say that? I've been nothing but weak since the moment you first saw me. I haven't been strong or brave. There's nothing special about me, I'm just a weak omega." Alec said.

"Your wrong. You're so very wrong, sweetheart. You've been so strong. So very strong, and brave. Having gone through all that you have. Even now, when you're at your most vulnerable, when your emotions are beyond your control, you've been so strong. No other person could have done as well as you have. The amount of inner strength you had to last as long as you did that first day, before you even got to that bridge, just goes to show how very strong you are. And having so much thrown at you in the past few days, you've lasted longer than any other omega I have ever known, and I've known more than you can possibly imagine. And you are special. So very special. Not just because you are the best Shadowhunter the Shadow World has ever seen. Not just because you're a hero. But because of who you are, inside. That's what makes you special. The love and dedication you have for your team. The lengths you've gone through to provide them with the skills they have. Skills no other Shadowhunter has, except you, their leader. You are special to them. And most of all, your special to me. More than you could possibly imagine. Please don't doubt yourself, my love. Please don't let what others have said make you feel like you are less than you are. Because you are amazing. In every way. I feel blessed that you're my mate. You've pulled me out of the dark and into the light, just by being who you are." Magnus said. "Don't let what you're going through now change the way you feel about yourself, because it will pass. In just a few days you will be your normal self again. I know that heats are hard. But being an omega doesn't make you weak. Trust me, love. You are special, and wonderful in each and every way."

Alec closed his eyes, tears streaming down his cheeks. Dozens of thoughts and emotions were running through his head. He knew he loved Magnus, and that Magnus loved him. He knew he loved his team, and that they loved him. They were his family. The only family to ever accept him for who and what he was. It was unconditional. If he could only hold on to that. If only he could only anchor himself to that, then maybe, just maybe, he could push back the turmoil running rampant in his head.

"Tell me what you're thinking, love." Magnus said, wishing his mate would open up to him.

"There are so many things. So many things running through my head. I don't know how to make them stop." Alec said, opening his eyes.

Magnus's heart broke at the pain he saw in his loves eyes. The hurt and confusion there.

"Do you need another rest, darling? I can give you another draft." Magnus asked.

"No. No more drafts or potions or anything else. Just tell me how to make it stop." Alec begged.

"I don't know how, sweetheart. The only thing I know is to sleep it off and rest. But you won't let me help you with that." Magnus said.

"Can you just hold me then?" Alec asked.

"Of course, honey." Magnus said, gently pulling Alec into his arms. Alec's head came to rest on his shoulder, Magnus' one arm holding him firmly around the waist while the other gently rubbed soothing circles into his back. Alec took a deep breath, comforted by his mates embrace. In that breathe he took in his alphas soothing scent, vanilla, chocolate, coffee, and musk. Within seconds he felt himself relax in his mates arms, his mates scent calming him, a sense of peace and safety wrapping around him. "That's right, baby. Just breathe." Magnus' soothed, realizing that the best way to calm his Shadowhunter was with his alpha scent. He held his angel in his arms, holding him close as his love calmed himself.

"Feeling better now?" Magnus asked softly.

"Mm-hmm. Can we just stay like this?" Alec asked, finally calm.

"We can. But wouldn't you like to hear the rest? About your family?" Magnus asked.

Alec pulled back at Magnus' words, his pupils blown wide from his alphas scent.

"I don't know if I can." Alec said. "Please tell me there's no more surprises."

"I can't do that, love, because there are. Some important ones. And if after you need to rest, you know you can. And you can scent me anytime you want." Magnus said, cupping Alec's cheek. He had seen the blown pupils in his Shadowhunters beautiful blue eyes and wondered if now was the time to tell him anymore. But it wasn't his decision to make.

"Are they going to break my heart?" Alec asked.

"They might." Magnus said truthfully.

Alec took a deep breath, standing up straight. He was a Shadowhunter, an exceptionally trained warrior. If he could battle demons and fight in demon infested wars, and win, then he could handle a few painful words, he thought to himself. He might not be his normal self right now, but he was a Shadowhunter and he was going to prove it, even if that meant only proving it to himself.

"I want to hear it. I want to know it all." Alec said, voice strong.

Alec and Magnus walked back into the living room, hand in hand. Izzy stood, approaching her big brother, with tears in her eyes. Reaching out Alec pulled her into his arms, wrapping her in a warm embrace.

"It's alright, Izzy-diz. Everything's going to be okay." He said softly, planting a gentle kiss on the top of her head. "I promise."

"This is so screwed up, Alec. Why did no one ever tell us? Why did they keep this from us? Especially after you presented. I know our parents are awful people, but I never thought they could be this cruel. We had a right to know. You had a right to know." She said, tears streaming down her cheeks, smearing her makeup.

"Your right. They should have told us. The important thing now is that we do know. And we're going to know it all. And when we face them, we will face them with the truth." Alec said, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "So no more tears, okay?" He asked, the strong, confident, comforting big brother.

"Okay." Izzy said, giving her big brother one last hug. Pulling back she sat back down with Simon, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Come sit down, love." Magnus said from the loveseat.

Turning from his little sister Alec took his seat beside his mate. Like his Izzy-diz, he made himself comfortable beside his love.

"Are we all ready to hear the rest of Gideon Lightwood's legacy?" Magnus asked.

There were nods and murmured yeses from the still stunned Shadowhunters.

"Okay. As you all know, I raised Arabella as my own. I kept her within my wards leading up to her presentation date. Since I didn't know her birthday, I could only estimate when she might present. Arabella loved to play in the gardens. When she wasn't in the library that's where she generally went. One day we were out in the garden clipping roses together. She always kept red roses in the house. That was the first thing that Gideon had taught her to grow. It was then that I first scented her omega pheromones and knew that her presentation wasn't far off. Many don't know this, but warlocks can scent an omega up to a week before they present. I wasn't sure if I should tell her or not. I struggled with it for a couple of days and ultimately decided she should know. So I called her out to the garden and asked her to sit with me by her roses. That was our spot. At first, we sat in silence. She didn't know why I had called her out to the garden, and I didn't know how to start. I started to notice her getting anxious. She asked me if everything was okay. I remember it like it was yesterday. I remember thinking to myself 'my baby girl is all grown up'. I took in her long raven hair, her pink cheeks, her youthful innocence, and those breathtaking, beautiful blue eyes. I plucked one of her roses of the nearest bush and handed it her. 'Everything is fine, my Belle. There's just something I wanted to talk to you about.' I said. 'What is it? You seem troubled.' She said. 'No, not troubled. I'm never troubled when I'm with you. But I fear I may not have you much longer.' I told her. 'What do you mean?' She asked. I could hear the fear in her voice. 'You're going to present soon, Belle. In a few days time. As an omega.' I told her. 'How do you know?' She had asked. I told her 'I can scent your pheromones.' I could see the fear in her eyes when she asked 'So you think the Clave will come for me?' 'No, no my Belle. Not at all. I would never let them hurt you. Never. Your going to grow. Your going to find your mate and have children. You're going to make your papa a grand papa. It's just, once you've found your mate and start your own family, I won't have you to myself anymore.' I had said. 'Do I have to leave here? Once I find my mate? I don't want to leave you.' She told me, a single tear running down her cheek. I couldn't help but smile, even though inside my heart was breaking. 'Once you find your mate, and if you both decide that here is where you want to be, then you never have to leave. I'll build you a cottage of your own so I can see you every day. And we can teach your babies to grow red roses.' I'd told her. She had been so happy when I told her that, a red rose materializing in Magnus' hand.

Magnus held it gently as he brought it to his nose, eyes closed as he smelled it's beautiful scent.

"I keep them all the time. The roses." Magnus said, opening his eyes, taking in the tear streaked faces of his mate and the girls. "In the winter I grow them in the atrium. But no matter where I am, or where I go, her roses always go with me. This very rose grew from a cutting I took from my garden all those years ago. And each year as they wither and die, I take a fresh cutting and plant them all over again."

Magnus didn't know it, but tears were streaming down his cheeks as well.

"There are only a handful of people who know of this. Of what happened to Arabella Lightwood. Where she went, or what became of her." Magnus said.

"Do we need to take a break, Magnus?" Alec asked softly, taking Magnus' free hand.

"No. No, my sweet, we don't. This is just something that I haven't spoken of in a very long time." Magnus said, offering the rose to his beautiful Alexander.

Alec took it gently, not wanting to harm it in any way. He understood now why there were red roses all over the loft. They were a piece of the child he had raised.

"What happened, Magnus? Can you tell us?" Izzy asked.

"Of course, Isabelle. Of course." Magnus said. "As I had predicted, three days later, my sweet Belle presented as an omega. Her presentation was much different than Alexander's." He said, raising Alec's hand to his lips for a soft kiss. "She already had all she needed to bare children. The only real change was the increase of her omega pheromones and her scent. So I adjusted my wards, to hide her new scent and we waited. Three months later her first heat set in. I tended to her as best I could. I would have suppressed it if that were an option. The suppression potion can only be used after an omegas first heat to determine their natural cycle. Some omegas go three months between heats, others four. I had to know when to give her the potion before her next heat. And that is what we did, every three months, for two years. Then one day everything changed. She was out in the garden, clipping roses when the most wonderful scent filled the air. She looked up, and through my wards saw a very hansom man on horseback. You must understand, my manor was glamoured and my external wards were twice as thick. No one could see through, not nephilim, not downworlder, not mundane. But he did. I stood on the porch and watched as their eyes locked. Him on his horse on the road and her in the garden fifty feet away. He immediately came down off his horse and walked towards her. He couldn't see my manor, he shouldn't have been able to see her, there was only one reason why he could. He was her fated mate. A Shadowhunter. His name was Robert Lightwood. A shock, I know. But he wasn't a Lightwood by blood, he was only given the name at birth. Belle was both awed and terrified. It was Shadowhunters that had murdered her family and chased her through the winter woods, where she would have died if not for Catarina. But she couldn't tear her eyes from his. He reached out a hand, right outside my ward, and I watched as she did the same. I knew that she had met her other half, and while part of me was thrilled for her, another part was grieving because I knew that I was no longer her one and only. Selfish I know. I couldn't hear what she said to him, but he nodded and she came racing up to me on the porch. I already knew what she was going to ask. She wanted to invite him in. And she wanted me with her, just in case. I agreed to allow him passage through my wards, but warned her, should he make a single move that I perceived as a threat he would not live to see another day. She assured me that he wouldn't and with my heart breaking I allowed him into my home. When I heard his name I was just as shocked as you, but held my tongue. I wanted to hear what he had to say. He introduced himself to me as Robert Lightwood, born to Izabelle Lightwood. He explained that his mother's name had been Izabelle Branwell. Her mate had died in battle, along with her father and brother, while she was with child with him. The Lightwood's in still in Idris had taken her in and adopted her into the family. So at birth, as she was now a Lightwood, he was given the Lightwood name. For two years they met in secret, whenever they could. His love was so great for her, he wouldn't risk her safety, so they always met at the far end of my manors grounds. Although I liked him well enough, as he always seemed to treat her well and made her happy, I guess she didn't want her papa too close by while they had their brief amounts of time together. I knew that they had mated at some point, but had no idea when. He could mate her but couldn't claim her. Had he done so, his scent would have changed and everyone would know that he had found a mate that he couldn't reveal. Another year passed when she came to me and asked me to build her the little cottage we had discussed in the back gardens. She told me that she was ready to bare children, she wanted to be a mother. While I was overjoyed that she was going to make me a grandpapa, another little piece of my heart broke. She truly was growing up. It's every parent's dream to watch their children grow and find happiness and love and build a family of their own and live out their lives, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt a little. With each step they take, move further away from you. So the next day we went out onto the grounds and she picked the spot where she wanted her cottage to be. And with tears in my eyes I raised it from the ground for her, every detail exactly as she had asked. I could never deny her anything. When Robert next came, he fell in love with it, as much so as my Belle did. There was two months left before her next heat cycle and that night she told him why the cottage had been raised. She told him of her dreams. He was beyond ecstatic. He had wanted nothing more than to marry her then and there. But that, in the traditional sense, wasn't possible. While her skin could easily bare the mark of the wedded union rune, as she was a nephilim, he couldn't be marked without risking putting her and their future children in danger. And that was when I truly came to accept Robert Lightwood into my little family. So we had a simple ceremony at which I presided, marrying my only daughter to the man that she loved and that I had come to trust, despite the transgressions of other Shadowhunters of the past. I was honored to call him my son. It took three heat cycles before she fell pregnant. Once she did, he was at her side as much as possible. When he couldn't be, I was there to tend to her instead. The further along she got the bigger her belly became. She had always been petite, and her small frame gave her great pain with the weight of the children growing inside of her. It was obvious to me that she was carrying multiples by the size of her growing belly. So as her pains increased, I called Catarina to examine her and asked if she would midwife the children's births. Happily she agreed. She was both thrilled and honored at my request. Since the day I took my Belle away from her cottage in the forest we had remained in touch. I kept her up to date as Belle grew up so she was well aware of Robert and their relationship. Catarina immediately put Belle on bedrest, insisting that she shouldn't spend too much time on her feet. She could easily injure herself as her small frame was not accustomed to bearing so much weight. Three months later my Belle felt her first labor pain. Robert and Catarina were both away. I sent a simple fire message to Robert that just said 'It's time' and another to Catarina. She arrived long before Robert as she was only a portal away. Robert arrived in half the time that I had expected it would take. He must have rode hard and fast to get to his love. My beautiful Belle was in labor for thirty-six hours before the first child began to crown, Robert having held her in his arms the entire time. I knew by the look on Catarina's face that something was wrong. I still remember the feeling of dread that filled my stomach as Belle's first child came into this world. It was a baby boy, stillborn. Belle wept for her child but wanted desperately to hold it. To memorize his little face, but there wasn't time. The second child quickly followed the first and Belle had to push. Before the child was out, Catarina looked at me with tears in her eyes. The baby girl was stillborn. At this Belle and Robert both wept, great, heaving sobs. But there was no time for that. There was still one more to go. I murmured as many sweet nothings in her ear as I could and held her hand, pressing soft kisses to her hair. I knew what was going to happen to my Belle. She had lost so much blood and her breathing was strained. I could see that her once brilliant blue eyes had turned to a softer, duller hue. She didn't have much time. The look on Catarina's face confirmed my fears. When the final moment came, as the last child began to crown, Belle gave one final push, giving birth to a beautiful baby girl who's cries filled the small cottage. The child had survived. As weak as my Belle was she wanted to hold her daughter in arms. With one last look at me, then Robert, and finally her baby girl, she took her last breath as her child cried in her arms. That was the moment my heart shattered completely, despite the beautiful baby girl Catarina laid in my arms. She had her mother's raven hair and Robert's eyes. Robert, as you can probably imagine, was devastated. He had just lost two of his children and his fated mate. For two hours he wept over her, never releasing her from his arms. Once Catarina had finished cleaning and tending to the baby, it took both of us to pry my Belle from his arms. As we sat together by Belle's side we wept in each other's arms. It was the sound of the babies cries that pulled us apart. Robert ached to hold the only tiny piece of his little family that he had left. And once he had her, he wouldn't let her go. For two days he carried her in his arms, feeding her, bathing her, and holding her while she slept. He held her close during Belle's burial and those of his first two children. On the third day I had to intervene before he fell ill and his daughter lost both of her parents. It was hard for him to let me take her, but he knew that I was right. So I tended to my granddaughter while her father ate and then slept. He only had one more day before he was due back in Idris. He had left under the guise of a hunting trip so we had to make a plan. Once he awoke we sat down to plan things out. Robert was unwilling to leave his daughter behind, even knowing that I would provide her with the best of care and that he could see her anytime. My heart was still in pieces as we discussed my granddaughters future. We finally decided that Robert would return home with his daughter under the guise that he had found the newborn child abandoned by a stream while hunting and brought her home. He told his family that we wanted to keep her and raise her as his own. They were hesitant, afraid that perhaps he had stumbled across an abandoned mundane baby. But once the Silent Brothers confirmed her nephilim blood it was decided that he could keep her. As far as his mother knew, Robert had never found a mate and was getting older. It wasn't uncommon back then that Shadowhunters didn't always find a mate. Destined mates could have easily passed on due to illness or injury before they had ever had a chance to cross paths with their mates. The Lightwood's used what little influence they had managed to rebuild with the Clave after Gideon's betrayal to push the adoption through quickly. Belle and Robert's surviving daughter was officially recorded in the Clave's records as Bella Sophia Lightwood, born in 1929, date unknown."

The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. Magnus looked drained. Alec leaned into his mate.

"Magnus. Are you alright? Is there anything I can do?" Alec asked softly.

"No, love. There just old memories. Do they hurt a bit, yes. But I'll be fine. But thank you for asking." Magnus said, giving Alec a weak smile.

"Would it help if I told you I loved you again? Even more now after hearing this, which I didn't think was possible?" Alec whispered softly.

"Yes, angel. It does." Magnus said, pressing a soft kiss to Alec's forehead. A small sob came from across the room.

All heads turned to Izzy, sobbing in Simon's arms.

"Isabelle, what's wrong, honey?" Magnus asked.

"Sophia is Izzy's middle name." Alec said softly.

"Oh Isabelle. I'm so sorry. I didn't know." Magnus said, climbing up and crossing the room to her. She stood up immediately and leaned into Magnus' arms, allowing him to hold her in a fierce hug.

"So let me get this straight." Simon said. "Alec was named after Gideon and his fated mate Alexander. And Izzy was named after Robert's mother Izabella?"

"Actually, no." Magnus said, releasing Isabelle to take her seat by her mate. "Alexander was in fact named after Gideon and his fated mate, Alexander. It was assumed that Robert name his daughter after his mother, when in all actuality she was named after her mother. But Isabelle's middle name did come from my Belle's daughter."

"Then were did Izzy's first name come from? It seems odd that Alec would be named after two ancestors and Izzy just one." Jace asked.

"Your right. It would be odd. But I haven't finished my story." Magnus said.

Comments, suggestions, and feedback are always welcome!