Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Shadowhunters or Twilight. Those rights belong to Stephanie Myer and Cassandra Clare. I do own the original characters made up for the purpose of this story. Please support the original release.
Writer's notes:I am mobile today! Hope everyone had a great weekend and their summer is going great! Here is the next chapter, hope everyone enjoys!
Jace looked at the papers in front of him. Bella had written out all the new runes that Caius had passed on to her. When he woke that morning for patrol, Alec pulled him to the side and told him what happened to Bella in the middle of the night. Bella's condition was also shared with him. It came as a surprise, but now that she was with child, that meant that she wouldn't be allowed out of sight for any reason. It was already pushing it, letting her go to Pandemonium tonight, but Magnus put up wards around the club so Bella could safely work there without demons showing up.
"Alright, so we're going to run a tighter patrol at Pandemonium tonight." Alec said as he entered command. "Bella wants to take the time to tell Magnus, Clary, and Simon that she was going to be missing for longer."
Jace blew out a breath. "Okay. So, these new runes, they're amazing. Most of them are used for combat. The way she explains them that is."
Alec nodded his agreement. "We'll have to study them more for whenever the war takes place."
Bella walked into command dressed for the club for the night, her tight black pants and then her tight tank top, also black that had ties in the front, and she wore a purple plaid shirt that draped over her shoulders with black flat combat boots. Her hair was in a braid that she had pulled over her shoulder. "So, I promise not to work so late tonight. I already text Magnus and told him I couldn't either."
Alec looked up at Bella when she entered. "Ready to go?"
"Yeah. The club will open soonish." Bella said and looked at Jace. "Where's Iz?"
"She's already at the club doing a pre-patrol of the area." Alec said. "Alright, just a normal night." He said and then he made sure his weapons were on him and he activated the cloaking rune that would change his appearance to the club goers.
[Pandemonium]
Bella poured drinks as the club filled with patrons. Magnus cooed over her when she first got there. He loved that she was pregnant and expanding her family. He really liked Alec and wanted nothing more than to see Bella happy. His worry was Valentine, but he reassured Alec that there were wards up around the club that would protect her while she was there. He also agreed that she needed to take some time off, but she shouldn't hide the fact that she was having a baby from the two people that cared about her the most. Clary and Simon would be excited that she was taking the time to do for herself and to welcome a child into the world. Alec was wary of telling Clary and Simon, but he agreed in the end.
"Gin and Tonic." Clary's voice rang out, bringing Bella out of the baby cloud that she was enveloped in. She was thinking about what the Clave would say about her being pregnant, since that was the biggest worry of Alec's right now.
Bella looked up at her friend and smiled. "Hey, you're early. Where's Simon?"
"Backstage. New bass player tonight, so he wanted to make sure everything was good to go before he took the stage tonight to play." Clary explained while Bella fixed her drink. She leaned on the bar. "So, your text said you needed to talk tonight. What's up?"
Bella set Clary's drink in front of her. "Yes, I do. I'm uh… going to be gone for a while. Taking some time off from work."
"How long is a while?" Clary asked, frowning as she lifted her drink to her lips.
"Well, like six months or so."
"What? That's a long time. How will I survive not seeing you for so long?" Clary didn't like this.
Bella blew out a breath. "Well, I kind of have to. I need to be in a stress-free environment. Take some personal time because… I'm having a baby." She said, her nerves alive like fire.
Clary's mouth dropped open as she stared at Bella. "Get out! Are you serious?"
Bella smiled. "Yes, I'm serious. I'm pregnant Clare."
"That is amazing!" Clary nearly squealed with excitement. "I didn't know that you were serious about the guy from a couple weeks ago. This is huge!"
Bella chuckled a little at her friend. Clary was always so excited about these things. "I know."
"Where is he?" Clary asked, looking around.
"He'll be up here in a bit. He's helping Maggie with something." Bella said and right on cue, Alec showed up at the bar.
Clary looked at Alec, taking in his appearance. He was hot, with a capital H. His dreamy blue-grey eyes, his dark hair and he seemed in good shape. "You mister… better not let my girl here down. I don't know you well, but Bella here, is a big catch. So, treat her like the Queen she is."
Alec smiled at Clary. If only Clary knew how close to the truth it was that Bella was a queen in her own regard. "Of course. I love Bella, very much." He said then looked at Bella and at how her cheeks were tinged pink from the slight embarrassment.
Bella just smiled at Alec and looked back at her friend. "He treats me amazing Clare, I promise."
Clary took a big drink of her drink before nodding. "Good." She glanced up at Simon as he came over. "Get things in place with Ed?"
Simon nodded. "Sure did." He said and looked at Bella. "Tequila please."
Bella nodded and moved around the bar and grabbed what she needed for Simon's drink.
"Mmm. Where's Maggie?" Clary asked Alec.
"In his office." Alec said with a nod. "He's doing some last-minute paperwork for something."
Simon took the drink when Bella returned with it. "Thanks Bells." He said and lifted it, taking a quick drink. "So, what did you need to talk about?"
Clary smiled, waggling her brows. "Good stuff. Don't look so petrified Simon."
Simon rolled his eyes. "I'm not petrified, I'm just worried about things. I can't help I'm an anxious person."
Bella smiled and then started to say something when Jace walked up, placing a hand on Alec's arm.
"Hey, need you for a moment." Jace said, his accented voice catching Clary's attention.
"Oh, hello. The cute guys multiplied." Clary said out loud.
Jace flashed a quick smile at Clary, before he looked over at Bella. "I'm borrowing him for a second love, I'll bring him right back."
Alec nodded and looked at Bella. "I'll be back, babe." He said and left with Jace.
Simon would never get used to seeing Bella in a relationship with someone. "So, uh, Alec seems nice."
"He is." Bella said with a nod. She was worried now. She knew that Jace would only pull Alec away if it was necessary. "Um, so. I'm leaving for six months or so. I wanted to let you and Clary know that because I didn't want to disappear on you guys again."
"Something wrong?" Simon asked, worry flashing over his face again as he set his glass back down on the bar.
"No, nothing is wrong." Bella said and watched Maise, the other bartender shows up. "Hold on a second." She said and went to tell Maise that she needed a small break. She left the bar, going around to Simon and Clary. "Sorry."
Simon shook his head. "No, it's fine. But why is it you have to leave for such a long time? You're not sick, are you?"
"Well, no. But I am leaving for medical and personal reasons." Bella explained and paused. "I'm having a baby… and uh, I need to be somewhere where I don't have to stress so much." She said quickly.
Simon looked stunned. He wasn't sure what to even say to that. "You're pregnant…"
"Yes."
"Alec and you are…."
"Alec and I are very serious about each other. We love each other, very much and the baby…well, it just sort of happened, but we're excited about it." Bella said and then something caught her eye. She glanced over and frowned. "Oh no…" She murmured.
Clary frowned. "What? What's wrong?"
"How…" She murmured, feeling her anxiety spike.
Simon looked where Bella was looking. "What? Ed? He's the new bassist. Is something wrong?"
Bella swallowed. Her eyes didn't leave Edward's only because Edward was staring right back at her. "I uh, need air." She said and moved away from Clary and Simon quickly, going out the side exit to get away. She stepped outside into the city air and she took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. It was the wrong thing to do, step outside the walls of Pandemonium, because shortly after stepping outside, darkness fell over her.