EDITED 5/30/2020
The morning had gone relatively well thus far. Alec had woken up clutched in his husband's arms, head tucked under Magnus' chin and strong arms wrapped around his shoulders and waist. Madzie had not climbed into bed with them, which was an accomplishment on her part as since they had moved into the new house she often snuck in and wedged herself in between the two men in the middle of the night.
Alec struggled against Magnus' hold for a moment before his husband let him go with an irritated grumble and Alec rolled over to see Azazel watching him intently.
"You stayed awake all night?" Alec had asked, a hand dragging down his face as he woke up.
"I promised I would watch over you." Azazel told him. "Although I do admit that it was more for my own benefit. I wanted to ensure your safety for my own sanity."
Alec had given Azazel a small smile, stood up, patted his shoulder and disappeared into the bathroom with an armful of clean clothes.
Now the entire household and Catarina, Lily, Maia, Luke and Meliorn were in the kitchen. Alec had called the other five forty-five minutes prior to the gathering and asked them to come over. They were all sitting and standing around, watching Alec inquisitively.
"Last night after I was arrested by the former Inquisitor Horace Dearborn. The Consul Jia Penhallow interrupted my execution, brought me back to her office and offered me a position. She reversed my exile and asked me to become the Consul of the United States. I am now in charge of the Shadow World in the United States, I make the rules, I control the government and I take care of the Institutes. I have selected Lydia Branwell as my Inquisitor, Aline Penhallow will be the Head of the Downworld Cabinet at the New York Institute. Isabelle will be Head of the New York Institute. Every Institute in America will have a Downworld Cabinet policy implemented. They will meet biweekly to discuss issues within their territory. In addition, as Consul, I want to start a Downworld council. A representative from each species will be needed. I was hoping that Raphael, Maia, Meliorn and Tessa would be willing. Magnus and I already discussed, and we would rather one of us be home with our younger children."
"I'd be honored." Tessa agreed.
"Thank you, Consul Lightwood-Bane." Meliorn nodded.
"Sure." Maia shrugged.
"Okay." Raphael deadpanned.
"In addition to that," Alec continued. "I also want each representative to have two advisors. I had suggestions, not demands for these. Raphael, I thought perhaps Simon and Lily. Maia, Luke and someone else."
"Bat Velasquez." Maia offered.
Alec nodded. "Meliorn, I thought Helen Blackthorn."
"I'll appoint my friend Rose as well." Meliorn told him.
"Tessa, I thought Wesley and Catarina."
Tessa nodded, as did Wesley and Catarina.
"There is one more thing you all should probably know." Meliorn said slowly. "Jonathan Morgenstern was welcomed into the Seelie Court a few days ago by the former Queen. He killed her and left. I was elected King of the Seelie Court."
"Congratulations." Magnus told the new King. Everyone repeated the sentiment and Meliorn almost seemed to smile.
"Alright." Alec sighed. "With that out of the way, I need to get to the New York Institute. I'm making an address there in a few minutes."
Alec made a portal and took off, coming out at the steps in front of the Institute. Lydia and Jia were waiting for him there. He closed the portal behind him and walked up the few steps that it took for him to be standing in front of the two women.
"Alec!" Lydia grinned, stepping forward into his arms. He hugged her close for a moment before pulling away. "It's so good to see you!" She said, smile not lessening as her golden hair swished behind her.
"It's good to see you too, Inquisitor Branwell." He said, making Lydia's smile widen.
"I'm so honored that you chose me." Lydia admitted. "I won't let you down, Consul Lightwood-Bane."
Alec laughed and turned to Jia. "Are we ready?"
Jia nodded. "Are you?"
"I am."
With that, Jia turned and led the way into the Institute, the doors slammed open, startling everyone in the ops room. Together the three of them marched in towards the raised platform that Alec always used to make his speeches on; Jia in front of them and Lydia and Alec slightly behind her on either side of her.
The Shadowhunters present looked shocked to see their former leader entering. Isabelle and Underhill looked hopeful, as they immediately started following the trio, standing front and center as they positioned themselves on the platform.
"Nephilim of New York!" Jia silenced the whispers in the room. "The Clave is making changes, the first of which is that the United States is the first of every country in the world to separate from Idris and gain their own Consul. Alexander Lightwood-Bane has taken up this position, naming Lydia Branwell as his Inquisitor. Starting from this moment forward, Consul Lightwood-Bane is in charge of the United States, the Institutes, the government and the laws. Consul." She gestured for Alec to switch places with her.
He moved to the front middle of the platform and addressed the crowd. "The New York Institute was my home for as long as I could remember. I was eager to make the announcement here that my exile was reversed and the exciting new changes that will be taking place in the coming weeks. I understand that in the wake of the news of my exile, there has been no official leadership in this Institute. That is why I have taken it upon myself to appoint several new leaders. Isabelle Lightwood is the new Head of the New York Institute. Aline Penhallow is the new Head of the Downworld Cabinet. Andrew Underhill is the Head of Security, taking up his old position after stepping down in protest of my exile. Helen Blackthorn is the new weapons master. Congratulations to you all. In other news, every Institute in the United States will now have the same Downworld Cabinet that I started after becoming Head of the Institute several months ago. In addition to this our country will also have a Downworld Council. Leaders have already been elected. Raphael Santiago Lightwood-Bane, Simon Lewis and Lily Chen will be the Vampire Leaders. Maia Roberts, Luke Garroway and Bat Velasquez will be the Werewolf Leaders. Tessa Gray, Wesley Thomas and Catarina Loss will be the Warlock Leaders. Meliorn, Helen Blackthorn and Rose Gonzales will be the Seelie Leaders. I know this is a lot of change very suddenly, but I promise that we will get through it together and that your leadership will make it as comfortable as possible for you. You're dismissed."
He turned his back on the crowd and smiled at the women standing behind him as the crowd began to clap and cheer. He moved to stand closely by Lydia, glancing over at the crowd once more. Everyone there wore big smiles as they dispersed from the area and moved along. Isabelle and Andrew stayed behind, and Alec moved closer to them, standing right at the edge of the platform.
"I've missed you so much, Big Brother." Isabelle told him, stepping up onto the platform and throwing her arms around his neck. "I'm so glad you're okay."
Alec clutched her back just as tightly and whispered in her ear. "I've missed you too. You'll have to come by and meet Magnus and I's new son, Max."
"Max?" She pulled back. "You adopted another kid?"
"He's eight months old and a warlock. We named him Maxwell Jace Lightwood-Bane. He's amazing." Alec was grinning, eyes shining as he spoke about his youngest son. "All of my kids are just absolutely amazing."
Izzy smiled, teary eyed. "I'm so happy for you, hermano. I'm so happy that you are happy."
Alec had tears in his eyes as well. "I am happy." He told her. "I'm married to the love of my life, my soulmate, I have four beautiful children, amazing friends, and someone else you need to meet. I have my dream job, now and I have my little sister back."
Izzy placed her hand on the side of his face and just smiled at him. When she pulled away, Andrew stepped up.
"I'm so glad that you are alright, Sir. I'm so glad that you are back." He told Alec earnestly.
"Thank you, Andrew." Alec smiled, holding out a hand for his friend to shake. "Thank you for your loyalty. Magnus told me how you stepped down because of what they did to me."
Andrew shrugged, suddenly bashful. "Your arrest, derunement and exile was unjust. I did what I felt was right."
"Why don't you two come over?" Alec asked. "You too, Lydia." He looked over his shoulder at the blonde. "I know Clary misses the two of you. All she does is whine about how she misses spa and movie night."
Isabelle laughed; head thrown back. Andrew looked slightly disturbed. Two months ago, he had been forced to participate in girl's night with the two then-sisters. Alec had apparently refused to join the girls and when Andrew passed by, they had begged him to join them.
He had hesitantly done so, allowing the girls to file his nails and give him a facial while they watched chick-flicks. It had become a weekly thing up until Alec was arrested and he and Magnus had removed their daughter from the Institute.
Clary and Isabelle had grown very close to the blonde man and considered him a cherished friend. So, Underhill jumped at the chance to go home with Alec and see Clary again.
Alec opened the portal on the platform and the four Nephilim walked through it, coming out into his living room where Jem, Tessa and Wesley were lounging.
"Hey mate." Wesley looked up. "And Izzy, and company."
"Hey, Wes." Izzy smiled. "This is Andrew Underhill and Lydia Branwell."
"Lydia Branwell?" Wesley demanded as Jem and Tessa looked up with wide eyes. Wesley looked over at Alec. "This is a whole new level of crazy, Jay. Bringing your ex-fiancé to the home you've made with your husband and children."
"She's a friend, Wesley." Alec said, tone annoyed. "It isn't like we were ever romantically involved."
"Besides." Magnus said as he walked in Clary right behind him. "How insecure would I have to be to believe the man that I have spent nine lifetimes with is cheating on me with a woman? Alec has never been interested in women, for four centuries he has only ever been with men, namely me." Magnus greeted Isabelle, Lydia and Andrew warmly before leaning up and kissing Alec chastely on the lips.
Clary said hello to Lydia before embracing both Isabelle and Andrew before going to give Wesley a kiss and Alec a hug.
Raphael came in a moment later, Max perched on his hip. He gave the little blue boy to Alec and left the room quickly, presumably uncomfortable around Izzy. Their new guests were allowed time to fawn over the baby while Clary curled up next to Wesley who wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close, placing a kiss on her hair.
Izzy had taken Max hostage over by the bar, sitting cross legged on the ground, setting him in front of her and cooing down at him. Lydia was chatting with Magnus and Alec and Underhill had wandered on over to Clary and Wesley. Wesley looked up at Andrew as he sat next to Clary and struck up a conversation, seemingly giving him a once over before deciding that he wasn't a threat to Clary or to their relationship. He did, however, tighten his arm around her shoulders before looking back down at his phone.
He half listened as Clary and Underhill prattled on about some movie that Wesley hadn't seen and just based off of what they were saying he was going to try and avoid seeing it for as long as possible, but he knew if Clary asked, he wouldn't hesitate to sit down and watch the whole movie with a smile on his face and in his heart. He'd do anything to make the woman tucked against his side happy.
He listened contentedly as his girlfriend talked on happily and scrolled through his phone mindlessly when someone let out a strangled gasp. He looked up, letting his phone fall to his lap as he looked to figure out who had made the sound.
Isabelle was looking up at Azazel who had just walked into the room and looked surprised by the additional people present.
"Azazel!" Isabelle spat, getting up and unraveling her whip. She moved fast, but so did Alec who jumped in front of his father as Isabelle struck out. Her whip curled around her brother's wrist and Alec cried out.
Magnus and Azazel both moved quickly. Azazel caught Alec as his legs buckled and he started to fall and Magnus used his magic, unraveling the whip from his husband's wrist and throwing it away from him.
"Alec?" Isabelle cried out as Magnus gripped Alec's hand in his and sent magic into his wrist, healing the electrum burn there.
His husband and father helped him stand up straight and Alec addressed Isabelle. "Azazel isn't here to hurt us, Iz. Azazel is my father. He was my father when I was James and when I underwent the ritual to become a warlock again, I got James' magic back. I also became Azazel's son again. He's here to help us with something, and he has become family. He's my family."
"He's a greater demon." Isabelle was still glaring at Azazel.
"And I'm part demon." Alec told her. "It's that kind of narrow-mindedness that got me arrested, deruned, exiled and nearly executed last night when I was arrested again. The only reason I'm not dead right now is because Jia Penhallow was able to look past that, see past blood and parentage. Azazel has been here for almost a week now, he has not hurt me, my husband, my children or the people here that I consider family. He has not left here to hurt anyone else. He is my father and he is under my protection as Consul. Stand down, Isabelle."
Isabelle looked Alec over warily. "You've changed."
"I've been through a lot."
Isabelle frowned. "I don't agree with this, Alec. I don't agree with you keeping a greater demon here with your children. You're making a mistake."
"Then there are eight people here with impeccable judgment, five of which are over a century old, that are making a mistake." Magnus replied, clearly irritated. "Isabelle, you know how I feel about Alec. You saw me when I thought that I had lost him. Do you truly believe that I would allow Azazel to stay here if I hadn't been sure that he would never harm a hair on his head? Not to mention my four children. Do you really think me so careless?"
Isabelle hesitated visibly. "I think that Azazel is a greater demon, a Prince of Hell. I think that he has ways to trick you or maybe he's cast some sort of spell on you."
"I think that today's visit has ended." Alec spoke up, glaring at his sister. "And Isabelle, like I said, the entire reason that I was exiled was because of prejudice and ignorance. If you continue to display that kind of attitude, I can't have you representing one of my Institutes, much less leading one. Think about that."
Isabelle looked properly chastised and opened her mouth to say something when Azazel spoke up from behind Alec.
"Son, you do not have to send your friends away on my behalf." He said kindly, placing a hand on Alec's shoulder. Alec turned to his father, he looked troubled, conflicted. Azazel smiled at him softly and framed his face with his hands. "I don't care for anyone's opinions other than the ones of you, your husband and your children. No one else matters to me."
Alec leaned into his father's touch. "I'll just go retire to my room. Don't send them away."
"No, you don't need to go hide in your room." Alec shook his head. "This is your home too, Dad."
Azazel lit up at Alec's words. Alec had yet to call Azazel 'Dad', having stuck to not addressing him at all.
Alec turned back to Isabelle, Andrew and Lydia. "Why don't you guys head back to the Institute?" He asked. "You can come back another day."
Alec conjured a portal and the three Shadowhunters walked through, Isabelle looking quite upset.
"Thank you, dear son." Azazel sounded grateful. "You did not have to stick up for me."
"Yeah." Alec said. "I did."
Hours later Alec and Jem were sitting in Alec's office talking when Alec got the phone call from the Los Angeles Institute. Robert Lightwood frantically relayed to Alec what Jonathan Morgenstern had told him. How he was going to take down every Institute in the world so that Clary could watch the world die. He told him how Jonathan had moved on to Washington and was going to work his way up.
Alec was ready for it all to end. He was ready for his daughter to be safe from that homicidal maniac once and for all. Not to mention that now as the Consul, solving this sort of problem was his job.
"Jem." Alec hung up. "Want to go on a field trip with me? I know where Jonathan is."
"Let's go." Jem nodded.
The two of them left the office and sought out Magnus.
"Hey, baby." Alec said when he finally found his husband. "Jem and I are going to head to the Institute and take care of a few things. We'll be back in a few hours."
Magnus cut his eyes between the two men before nodding. "Be safe, Sayang." He kissed Alec quickly and nodded at Jem.
Alec smiled at Magnus before opening a portal to Washington where Jonathan was last spotted, and he walked through it with Jem.
The scene that they came out of the portal to was horrifying. People littered the streets and sidewalks, dead. Jem and Alec stood a couple hundred feet away from Jonathan, Alec's hands shimmering slightly with magic, Jem's hand on his seraph blade where it was sheathed on his hip.
Jonathan looked different, draped in black with white hair. He stood tall and stiff with his back to the two men. Alec took a step forward and called out.
"Jonathan!" The man in question turned and Alec saw his eyes were completely black. "Stop this now."
"I don't think so." Jonathan replied.
Suddenly Jonathan was right in front of Alec, thrusting his arm out in front of him to strike out at the warlock. Alec put a hand out in front of him, his arm stopping Jonathan's and his hand producing a blast of magic that shot Jonathan backwards, sending him sliding against the concrete so hard that it left dents in the road. Alec fell over with the force of the blast from his hand.
Jem ran forward, unsheathing his blade going to try and stab Jonathan but the man on the ground kicked Jem in the gut, throwing him backwards. Jem landed on the ground with a thump and a rush of air that exited his lungs at the force.
Alec stood up again, moving forward to help his friend. His knees protested greatly, and he was knocked down once more before he could even try and strike out at Jonathan again. His head bounced off the ground as he fell and cried out. He could barely see Jem standing once more, slicing through the air with his blade, cutting Jonathan's face.
It wasn't a large or deep cut; it just barely broke the skin and a tiny trickle of blood made its way down his pale cheek. Jonathan twitched an eyebrow and the cut disappeared. Jem stumbled backwards in surprise and held his blade out once more, trying to keep the distance between the two of them.
"Jonathan, stop!" Alec begged, pushing himself up and swaying slightly. He'd hit his head hard. "Just stop this, all this killing, all this destruction. Clary doesn't want this. She believed that you could be good."
Jonathan smirked and held out a hand; it was curled as if he were holding a cup in it. Alec felt his lungs constrict as something invisible closed around his throat. His knees buckled and he felt something crack in them as they painfully made contact with the concrete.
"No," Jem called. "Jonathan, if you kill Clary's father, she will never forgive you. She'll never love you the way you want her to."
"Clary will never love me the way I want her to." Jonathan growled, tightening the magic grip on Alec's throat and Alec tried to suck in a breath but it came out as a shallow, rasping gasp.
"Please, let him go." Jem asked Jonathan desperately as Alec fell forward onto his hands and knees. He couldn't breathe.
Jem slashed out at Jonathan again and Jonathan easily dodged. Alec looked up as black dots swam in his vision, tears were running down his cheeks, he was sweating profusely, his head was pounding, his ears were ringing but he still knew that he had to save Jem.
As Jonathan went to strike down at Jem, Alec took the last of his energy and shot all the magic that he could muster at Jonathan. He saw the man fall as he did, his eyes slipped closed and his last thought was that so long as Magnus was safe, he could die in peace.
Jem stared down at Jonathan's lifeless body for a second. Alec had done it. He was dead, Alec had killed Jonathan. Jem then turned, fearfully, to Alec. He was laying on his right side, eyes closed, not breathing.
Jem rushed over and pushed Alec onto his back. He felt for a pulse and couldn't find it. Jem pulled his phone out and quickly dialed Tessa's number, putting her on speaker.
He started compressions and rescue breaths trying to bring Alec back, but fearing the worst.
He heard Tessa answer the phone but didn't really register it as the tears fell down his cheeks, staring down at Alec's rapidly palling face, felt his cooling lips against his own as he blew his breath into Alec's lungs.
"Jem?" Tessa asked from the phone. "Jem, are you there?"
"Tess?" Jem sobbed as he pushed against Alec's chest, desperately trying to restart his heart. "Tess, I need you to track me, and portal here and bring Wesley and Catarina. I don't know if you should bring Magnus or not. Just please please hurry."
"Jem what's going on? What's wrong?" Tessa asked, concerned. Jem could hear her calling to Cat and Wesley.
"Alec." Jem cried. "His heart stopped. He's not breathing!"
Tessa screamed for Magnus and the line went dead. Dead like Alec, Jem thought.
What felt like hours later, a portal opened just to the side of Jem and four warlocks were rushing to push Jem away from Alec's lifeless body. Catarina was rubbing her hands together and placing them on Alec's chest making his body jump with electricity. Wesley and Tessa were waving their hands in the air above Alec's body. Magnus, Jem noticed, was not crying. He was sitting by Alec's head, staring down at Alec's face with a look that there was just not a word for.
He supposed it may have been a mixture of heartbreak, hope and desperation. His eyes were so wide, like he couldn't believe what he was seeing. His husband lay pale and unmoving on the ground.
Catarina had to shock Alec three more times before Alec drew a sharp breath into his lungs. Jem sobbed in relief as Alec's chest began to move up and down, unsteadily.
It was a few seconds more before Alec's eyes opened, automatically finding Magnus' face. "Magnus?" Jem thought there was something off about Alec's voice but just wrote it off as the fact that it was very hoarse from being strangled to death.
Magnus sobbed in relief and leaned down to capture Alec's lips with his own. He pulled back and fixed Alec with a stern glare. "Never do that again, you hear me?"
Alec laughed and it threw him into a coughing fit. "I can't exactly stop summoning demons, Magnus. I have clients, it was just a freak accident, I'm fine."
Magnus seemed to stiffen just the slightest bit before he fixed Jem with a look that seemed almost scared. "You two were out here summoning a demon?"
Jem shook his head. "We came after Jonathan. Robert Lightwood called Alec and told him where he was. Alec killed him just before he . . ." Jem gestured at Alec on the ground.
Alec looked over at Jem before looking at the other three people crouched around him. "Cat, Wes?" He asked, confused. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting either of you." He addressed Tessa and Jem.
"Darling?" Magnus drew Alec's attention to himself. "What's your name?"
Alec looked baffled. "You know my name, Magnus."
"Humor me, my love."
"James." He blinked up at Magnus.
"Oh my God." Magnus breathed, looking up at his companions in shock.
"He has amnesia?" Catarina asked. "I've never seen it in a case of reincarnation, but he's forgotten his entire current life, and thinks he's his past life."
"What?" Alec asked. "What are you talking about?"
"Al - James." Magnus sighed. "The demon, the freak accident, it killed you. Raphael and I found your body in our loft thirty-nine years ago. You were reborn twenty-three years ago as Alexander Lightwood, a Shadowhunter. We've been married for about two months now, we have four children including Raphael, and you've forgotten it all because you were strangled to death, we resuscitated you but . . . " Magnus sighed again, helpless.
Alec, James, looked stricken. "Let's just get him back to the house." Catarina suggested.
"What?" Wesley asked. "So, he can be bombarded by his children who won't understand why Daddy doesn't know who they are, Simon I-talk-all-the-time Lewis, and Azazel? Not to mention the screaming baby."
"Catarina, do you mind staying with him at the old loft for a bit?" Magnus asks. "I have to see to my children, we left so quickly that they must be worried. I'll come relieve you as soon as I can."
"You're leaving?" Alec asked timidly.
Magnus frowned and kissed Alec again, a little longer this time. "I have to check on our children, I'll come to see you as soon as I'm finished, I promise."
Alec hesitantly allowed Wesley to pull him into his arms, held bridal style against the warlock's chest but still staring intently at his apparent husband.
"You'll be there soon?" Alec asked for confirmation once more.
Magnus nodded; his eyes soft. "As soon as I can be."
"Okay." Alec said softly. Catarina conjured a portal and she; Wesley and Alec went through.
Magnus conjured another as Cat's portal disappeared. "How permanent do you think this is?" Jem asked the two warlocks.
"I have no idea." Magnus sagged. "I've never seen this situation before. I have no idea if we are ever going to get Alexander back."
Jem sagged as well and followed his wife and friend through the portal back to the house.
How did things go both so well and so horrible in one go? Jonathan Morgenstern may be dead, but it is possible that Alexander Lightwood-Bane is dead as well.