There was no possibility that Isabelle could have gone on the hunt. No, not with her sprained wrist (which she had acquired from the previous days unusually brutal demon attack). After many failed iratzes, Alec had become beyond persistent that his sister would take a rest day.

"You could clean out the institute?" Jace had suggested, his tone solemn but his eyes wicked.

"No, she should take a day off. Maybe study your demonology books in bed?" Alec instead had tried.

Isabelle just groaned and dramatically gave a loud huff of discontent.

"Fine. Whatever. But I am not doing either of those things. I'll just make dinner for you guys, you know, so when you are out you will have something to look forward to."

The horror on her brothers faces was a sight she was sure she would never forget. Both of their eyes, one set brown, one set gold, had blanched unanimously into pain.

"On second thought, maybe it would be good as Alec says-", Jace attempted but Isabelle cut him off with one sharp noise.

"No, no, no Jace. Anyways, toodles!"

That was the reason why she was standing in the kitchen of the institute, an apron around her waist, and a vast selection of ingredient spread out around her like some sort of heist.

She got to work, chopping and cutting until her wrist ached and her head pounded. God, cooking was hard work. Every now and again she gave a little prayer to the angel that her brothers would be safe. Sometimes she felt like without her, Alec wouldn't be able to control Jace's insane urges to fling himself into the path of any type of danger. He had got worse since Clary had gone, more reckless, less caring of the consequences that he posed to himself.

There had been a time when he had been daring yet conscience of what he had to lose. But that had disappeared like sand through fingertips.

A sharp bell cut Isabelle out of her thoughts. The cookies were ready, but they looked odd.

"Maybe I did need butter after all?" Isabelle exclaimed in fury.

But she knew what that meant, it meant she would have to trek all the way to the shops to find some. All she knew for one thing was that her brothers better be grateful for her slaving away.

After quickly grabbing her keys, and a Prada handbag, and a quick check in the mirror, she was good to leave the institute. But it seemed that everyone had the same idea to make cookies, as none of the local shops had any sort of butter. Isabelle contemplated about buying milk instead (it was a similar colour so it would probably do the trick?) but moral obligation made her grumpily board the bus to get to the next biggest supermarket. All she could think about was that they better have butter there, or she might accidentally kill someone.

[]

Clary didn't know what to do. She was right in the middle of one of those situations that you never want to be in, one of those situations where your stomach is twisted in nauseating pain, wondering how she got into this position. Standing in the middle of a busy and crowded station, a suitcase and bag strapped around her stomach, and a little girl looking nervous next to her. Clary held out her hand, Ariana took it gratefully.

"Where are we going mama?" she asked in an absent-minded way. Her tone almost made Clary smile.

"I don't know baby."

That's all she could reply. She couldn't lie to her. It wasn't fair.

"Why don't you ring Sebby mama? He would help us, right?" Ariana asked sweetly, her eyes bright and hopeful.

Clary's stomach twisted even further; the air being pushed out of it like a rubber balloon. Yes, she could ring her boyfriend. But some part of her was reluctant, she just did not want to be reliant on someone like that all over again. That's why she had loved having that apartment with Ariana, it gave them a little bit of freedom and independence, no matter how cramped it had been.

"I don't want to worry him, but don't worry I will find us somewhere."

"Will we see him soon? He owes me a card."

The card she was referring to was a Disney princess collecting set. It was something Sebastian and her daughter had loved to do together, and it had always made her heart glow watching the pair sticking in the cards together.

Something inside of Clary suddenly clicked. What was she doing? Standing in the middle of the train station, with her pride stopping her from calling the only person she knew that might be able to help them.

She picked up her phone.

[]

"Do you think Iz will be alright?" Alec asked Jace for what felt like the tenth time. Jace smiled inwardly at Alec's worry. He was always worrying about his siblings, and Jace the same about them.

"Yes, she will. She's strong. Stronger than both of us."

They were just finishing cleaning their weapons, as a very messy Raux demon had left them covered in ichor. A comfortable silence fell between them as they finished polishing their weapons. Jace had always found it incredibly satisfying to clean up his blades, especially watching the black coal like ichor drip off like treacle, leaving shiny material in its place.

"God help us if she cooks though", Alec said with a laugh. Jace just grinned at him.

"Whatever she makes, it is my turn to play the allergy card."

"No, you had that last time. Remember? When she made hummus."

"What? No you did, remember she made that awful quinoa with that toxic salad dressing. I brushed my teeth for thirty straight minutes after that abomination."

"Oh yeah, I forgot about the quinoa", Alec said, a disheartened look falling over his features.

Jace was about to say something about how they could say they were both allergic (as coincidently as that would be) when a demon flung itself over the roof of the building they were under.

All thoughts about food and Isabelle's cooking escaped his head. Jace pulled out his weapon, his heart beating with adrenaline from the incoming battle. He always looked forward to moments like this, when the world with all its problems just fell away like leaves in autumn. It was just him, Alec, and the feeling of the fight about to commence.

He raised his sword in the air, and swung it down.

[]

Isabelle had never seen the Avenue so crowded. She guessed some big event must be on, something that she had no doubt involved fire breathing or under water tricks. New York could be pretty wacky. But she loved it, loved the energy in the place, the thrumming of hope and opportunity that came from the streets. Another part of her also loved New York because the bagels were good, but that didn't sound as poetic. A phone call coming through on her hot pink cell made her lose track of her absent-minded thoughts.

"Are you okay Iz? How's the arm?"

"Wrist, Jace", Isabelle replied pointedly. Why were boys always so forgetful?

"What is all that noise around you?" Jace said, ignoring her remark, his tone nothing but confusion.

"I'm buying butter. When are you guys back?"

"We're nearly done now. You're not baking are you?" Jace questioned, his tone now anxious. Isabelle would have smacked him if they had been facing one another.

"I'll have you know Jace that –", Isabelle started but someone barged past her with a lot of bags, a little girl and a phone strapped to their ear.

Isabelle was about to shout after the person, as they had clipped the side of her wrist as they had pushed past, but suddenly she felt the air leave her lungs and her legs began to shake.

"Are you ok?"

"Yes, great. See you soon", she said, taking the phone away from her ear in a trance like state.

Jace made a noise of annoyance but hung up. Isabelle blinked, shoved her phone into her pocket, and took off after them.

[]

Clary had never felt so hot.

The train station seemed to be getting smaller and smaller around her, as more and more people began barging past her and Ariana. Ariana's face was a picture of mere horror, she was not used to this level of busy New Yorkers and their hostilities. Yet, Clary new the real reason why she felt so hot and bothered. It was because she had called Sebastian in a very sporadic act, and had felt so hopeful as she listened to the line ringing out. But then it rang and rang, until the automated voice cut through her like glass on skin.

He hadn't picked up.

The rational part of her knew that he was probably at work (he helped train younger shadowhunter students at different locations), but the far less rational side of her felt as if she had been betrayed, and that he had purposely ignored her call. That this was what you get for trusting someone all over again.

No, she told herself sternly. You have learnt to trust again, and love.

A picture of gold eyes flooded her vision, and the room began to spin. Her daughter's hands in hers were suddenly not enough to pull her back to earth. Nothing would ever be enough. Just as she thought the floor was about to swallow them both whole, a sharp unforgettable voice hit her like a tonne of bricks.

"Clary?"

[]

Oh no…. what will Clary say to this unexpected surprise? Will she accept any kind of help?

Also, little side note, Jocelyn and Luke are not actively present in this story (you will find out in later chapters why!) Also, Simon will also be a character in later chapters!

I hope you liked this chapter :) Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed, and new followers of the story. You guys are lit.

Till next time

Heartshade