John visited Lydia in a dream, told her she had done well uniting Lightwood and Bane. He had a message for her but as he was about to tell her what it meant for them, the alarm went off and she lost whatever else he was telling her. She got out of bed and got ready for the day. She wanted to meet up with Isabelle and learn what happened between Alec and Magnus.
Once she was dressed, she made her way to the cafe style eating area of the Institute. It accommodated all supernatural beings in which ever form they desired. She put together a simple breakfast of fruit on a waffle, she put syrup on the side and grabbed a coffee.
Lydia sat down next to Isabelle, they smiled at each other in a knowing way. They both knew that Alec had not come home and that he was most likely was with his Warlock. "When do you think we'll see him?" Lydia was genuinely intrigued by the events.
Izzy laughed, "like he'll tell us anything, he's annoyingly secretive, but in an adorable anyway." She began her breakfast of oatmeal and toast and couldn't wait to see her own magician later in the day. Simon was an easy going Warlock, more-so than most which made him popular because his off the wall ideas actually helped, they may be unconventional but he got results. When his clients became too much, his familiar Izzy kept him from getting too absorbed with his tasks and it was good for them both.
They sat in comfortable silence eating, when it occurred to Lydia maybe she wasn't making the Institute as useful as it could be, she had resources and John was keeping her company spiritually. She planned on using her crystal ball again. There had to be more than just getting Alec and Magnus within range of each other.
Alec walked into the cafeteria, he spent the night at Magnus' place but he knew he could not stay for breakfast. They spent the evening getting to know each other, while he had not meant to fall asleep on the couch, he couldn't be parted from the warlock. He had waited too long to find him. He was pleased that they were not rushing into this relationship due to their attraction they had for each other. They exchanged numbers and committed to dating. He grabbed what he wanted to eat and joined Izzy and Lydia at their table.
"So?" Izzy couldn't contain her excitement for him.
"So? What?" Alec gave her a glare stating that where ever this conversation was going. it was none of her business.
Izzy rolled her eyes, her brother could be a gigantic pain in the butt when he wanted to be, "I want details, you were gone all night. I'm certain I know where you were."
This caused Alec to roll his eyes and Lydia laughed. She wondered if the two siblings knew how similar they were to each other. Alec glanced at Lydia briefly in acknowledgment of her presence, then began his breakfast. He didn't owe anyone any explanation as far he was concerned.
"I'm not letting this go Alec." Izzy smiled, she had her suspicions but wanted the truth from him.
"Yes, you are." Alec focused on his breakfast and did his best to ignore his sister.
"No, I tell you everything. Especially when it came to finding my warlock. You don't have to be so secretive. Everyone will be happy that you've finally found your mate."
"Let it go Iz." Alec was more than tired of the interrogation.
"Lydia practically helped you find your warlock, at least tell her how it went?" Lydia stared at Isabelle, she did not want to get into the middle of a sibling debate. They were difficult on their own, no need to interfere with what was clearly something private to Alec. While she knew that she understood his sister's curiosity, and she did share some of that. Lydia didn't need more details, she would let it play out as she knew it would.
Alec sighed, his sister could be a pain when she wanted to be. It sometimes drove him nuts but he knew she meant well and cared about him deeply. "He's beautiful, inside and out." It was all he could think of to say.
Lydia would have swooned, what a sweet thing for Alec Lightwood to say, and she was surprised because he didn't come across as a romantic. He clearly had some romantic tendencies.
Izzy did swoon at her brother, smiling widely. "Good, I'm so happy for you."
Alec mumbled a thanks, then cleared away his breakfast dishes and left for his office. Leaving the ladies to talk amongst themselves. While he wasn't a fan of being the topic of discussion, he did know without them, he might not have met Magnus.
##
Magnus was in a word ecstatic, he found his familiar. He was tall, dark and handsome with warm hazel eyes and very kind. While he seemed shy, he handled himself with honor and grace. He knew already how settling and peaceful this male's presence would have on him. He couldn't wait to get to know him better. They left the club to get to know each other better at his loft. They had a few more drinks and his familiar fell asleep on the couch. Magnus took the time to admire him, falling asleep himself on the opposite couch. When they woke, Alec needed to get back to work. They exchanged numbers and with a promise of a date later on in the week. Magnus couldn't wait, he would woo his familiar and spoil him.
Catarina and Ragnor both called him to see how the rest of the night went with Alec. He explained they were going to take their time, to get know each other better. He couldn't contain his enthusiasm, he waited so long to find his familiar who would be his mate too. He gushed over his looks, and personality, that he couldn't wait to see his animal form. At this point Ragnor huffed in boredom, it was a bluff. Ragnor was very happy for Magnus, and that Magnus was embracing this change after being alone for so long made his own heart feel warm. He couldn't be happier for the warlock. Catarina was also happy for Magnus, she was more amused by Magnus and his antics than Ragnor but she also knew that this would be good for her friend.
Magnus was having the best dream, he was with Alexander and they were in Tokyo. They were shopping and had purchased several items when his familiar spotted an heirloom. He watched Alec pick it up, then buy it. Magnus now tried to pay closer attention to the scene in his head. As he was about to look more closely at the item, he was jolted awake and sat up quickly. It wasn't unusual for a Warlock to have prophetic dreams but usually they were more of a warning. This one seemed so mundane. He was confused but didn't want to dismiss this dream. Magnus got out of bed and went to a journal he kept for when dreams surprised him and wrote down everything he could remember. He knew they would be in Tokyo, he would have to pay closer attention to his familiar.
##
Tokyo was one of their best dates. Magnus was flying high on his emotions, holding hands with Alec. The had shopped earlier in the day, while he tried to keep up with Alec. There were a few times his companion disappeared on him, only to surprise him with a kiss once he returned. The dream came back to him from time to time. It wasn't until he felt déjà vu in a market square they had entered, Alec had released his hand and walked to a vendor with antiquities. He watched in slow motion and was frozen as he watched his familiar pick up a pentagram necklace. Magnus watched Alec examine the item, as if his cat eyes were seeing something. Before Magnus could worry if it would hurt his boyfriend or not, Alec bought the item. The vendor wrapped it in an ornate box with gold ribbon. Alec put the box in a pocket and walked back to Magnus. He smiled at his Warlock and kissed him to snap him out of his stupor. Magnus shook his head to clear it after the kiss. Alec questioned him to see what was wrong and he didn't know. All he could tell his familiar was that something odd happened and then it was gone. They continued their date oblivious to the magic surrounding them.
Once they got home, Alec presented Magnus with an omamori charm. It meant luck and protection and Magnus' heart skipped a beat. His familiar was a romantic. He couldn't remember when he was given a gift and he soared with affection he was feeling. Magnus forgot about the pendant that Alec bought, he was too lost in his lover's eyes to care.
##
Alec took the pendant to the Institute. He was drawn to it but he wasn't sure why. All he knew is when he saw it he needed to have it. While that didn't quite feel right, he couldn't leave it behind. He knew it was a sign but wasn't sure what it meant. He placed the wrapped up pendant on the corner of his desk. His feline instincts told him to wait, and watch.
Lydia walked into his office to give him the morning reports, between her and his new security chief Underhill, the Institute was running far more smoothly. It also allowed his siblings more freedom to be with their mates. They didn't slack at their appointed tasks but he now recognized you have to make time for your significant other. If that meant making adjustments at positions to accommodate change, then so be it. He planned on making time for his Warlock.
Lydia walked to the desk and dropped off a couple of files, she was at the side of the desk where the boxed pendant was lying. She looked at the box and before she could ask Alec about it, it glowed. The color of gold surrounded the box and both Alec and Lydia stood back. They weren't sure what was going on but after a minute, they settled down to take a closer look.
"Why is it doing that?" Lydia was fascinated by the aura and magic given off from the pendant.
"I don't know," Alec was confused, he wasn't sure what he was seeing. "It wasn't doing that before, and it definitely didn't do that when I bought it."
"Besides being a necklace, pentagram with lettering, what else is it?" Lydia knew magic and could see it without opening it, wanting her to look or to know, almost from a dream. It was in her being to magically see but she had not seen something like this before. Since she starting working with the Institute, she had learned more but she was still learning new things everyday.
"A pendant," Alec shrugged, he didn't know. All he knew was it caught his eye and felt compelled to buy it. "Well, specifically its a pentagram on a chain. I was sort of drawn to it and bought it. I don't really know why." Then he remembered it had odd markings yet they seemed familiar and cat like on the pentagram itself.
"May I?" Lydia looked at Alec, she wanted permission. He did buy it and she didn't want to ruin any magical item that could be helpful to him.
"Yeah, sure." Alec didn't think anything more of it other than he bought it.
Lydia carefully unwrapped the glowing box. She pulled the top off and set it on the desk. The foam insert was next and set that aside. The pentagram was gold as was the chain and it was alluring sitting on the foam insert on the bottom of the box. She placed her hand gently over it to caress it. All at once a force hit her strongly, and she could place that presence anywhere. It was John and he was telling her how he could come back to her. She held the pentagram pendant until all of the information was ingrained. She looked at Alec with watery eyes. "Please, help me. I can have the love of my life back if you and Magnus help me."
Alec was shocked at her words but knew from the look on her face this was very important, he nodded he would help but still had to ask, "will he be okay, or how you knew him."
"Yes." Lydia was confident, she had felt it through the magic. Alec wasn't sure but he owed Lydia and he would do whatever it took to make her whole.
Alec put the rest of his work schedule aside. He had Underhill take over for him. He was efficient and would be great at delegating. He knew he was good with reports already. Alec would not have to worry with Steve in charge.
Holding the pentagram tightly in her hand, she waited for Alec to finish his delegating and they went to the loft to find Magnus. If she was right about her feeling, she would need the High Warlock of Brooklyn to help her retrieve her love.
##
They entered the loft and Magnus was finishing up with a client. While surprised at seeing Lydia with Alec, he knew his familiar was wise and always had a reason for the things he does.
"Hello darling," Magnus kissed his man. Lydia smiled at their affection. Once they had greeted themselves properly according to Alec, they separated to address whatever issue.
"Magnus, Lydia has gotten a magical impression with the pendant I bought in Tokyo. She needs your help." Alec gestured to Lydia to show him the pendant and explain further.
"Interesting." Magnus was reminded of his dream but kept it to himself. "Okay, tell me." The warlock wasn't sure what he was inquiring about, being vague at this time was the best option.
Lydia explained she felt John through the pendant and that with a powerful spell with two warlocks and a familiar present, he could return to her. While those words were not used it was the feeling conveyed when touching the pendant. She did know the pendant was key to the spell. She was certain that by bringing Magnus and Alec together, this was how she could get John back. He had been showing her all along with the crystal ball and many other smaller magical impressions.
"Okay, we'll do this. I need to look through a few spell books to make sure we're doing the right thing." Magnus didn't want this be messed up. "Are you sure," he paused, "you want to do this? It might have consequences or unexpected problems."
Lydia assured him that John leaving her was more that suspect, that it was possible he was taken from her instead of merely killed. Perhaps it was a limbo of sorts. She went into great detail about all of the odd occurrences of John's presence with her, most of which were with her crystal ball. That he drew her to them to help.
"The crystal ball may have been the only portal he could use. We'll need it." Magnus wanted everything and anything that connected to John if this was to work for Lydia. She opened a portal to her room at the Institute, grabbed the ball and went back to the loft.
When she arrived back, Magnus and Alec had a space set up for all of the magical items they'd needed. Magnus had found a spell. He had to pluck some of Alec's cat hair, while his Alexander was annoyed with the process. Magnus kissed him to sooth him, and it had the desired effect. A happy cat was a good cat, other cats sensed when there is an attitude problem and it would set the tone. They would need Alec's good mood to help the other familiar.
The three of them stood around a pentagram that looked exactly like the pendant. Magnus added the symbols that was etched on to the necklace onto the one he re-created. He told Lydia to hold the necklace in the hand she would offer to Alec to hold. He was certain that his familiar would help in calling the other one. Once they joined hands, he recited the spell nine times, the myth of the number of lives of cats. Once he was done, they waited and within a minute Alec felt a shiver but not from anticipation but from a kindred spirit. He knew or could feel John's presence and held both Lydia's and Magnus' hands tighter. When Alec thought he couldn't take the tug on his soul any longer, a bright gold light circled around inside the pentagram. It swirled for a few seconds and then John Monteverde was standing in the middle naked.
John had vertigo, he stumbled but didn't leave the pentagram until he was certain he was home with his witch, Lydia. He waited so long to be reunited with her and it took him so much effort to find the right pairing to help him come home. He wanted to cry but wasn't sure of his surroundings. It wasn't until Lydia embraced him and kissed him, that he knew he was finally home.
"How?" Lydia was in tears but needed to know. She wasn't going to let go him, she held him tight in her arms.
John cupped her face, "later my love, later. I'm here now." He looked at Magnus and Alec, "Thank you."
They acknowledged the comment with a nod of their heads, Magnus used his magic to clothe John. Alec and Magnus walked away from the room holding hands, leaving the two re-acquainted pair to discover themselves again.