Guest: Thank you for your review :) I have to agree, Will should be more protective. In the last chapter, he is trying to work out how to have a positive relationship with people again. He knows there was no curse so doesn't have to push people away. I've started this chapter with him realizing that he shouldn't have said what he did. Yes he spoke Welsh, but he still said what he did. We get to see his protective feelings for Sophie in a conversation between him and Gideon. Even though it's not mentioned, he keeps a watchful eye of the pair as the relationship develops to make sure that Sophie doesn't get hurt.

I'm continuing with the creative license that I really began using in the last chapter, meaning that I won't be using certain points from the books the main characters in this story are involved with. I will also be merging two points into one as I feel it would be better suited to the story more that way. It does mean that certain things happen here sooner than how they did in the books.

Like I said in the last chapter, I own nothing but the plot. This chapter does include a certain incident with a worm, so I used some of the conversation used in the book for the simple reason I found it amusing. That belongs to the author. Onto the chapter:

***Will P.O.V***

Having spent five years having to control my emotions, knowing how to feel, the events of the last few weeks had left me feeling very confused. Firstly, with the help of Magnus, I realized that the curse wasn't real. When I admitted this to Tessa and declared my feelings towards her, putting my heart very on my sleeves she told me she didn't return my feelings and she was engaged to Jem. I had never felt so crushed in my entire life as I did in that moment. If the situation couldn't get any worse, it seemed as though everyone in the institute seemed adamant on reminding me on what I could never have, as they were falling I love and were showing this through public displays of affection.

One such case involved me walking into the dining room, to find Sophie and Gideon kissing. As Sophie didn't appear to be pushing Gideon away I can only presume that she was enjoying it. In my anger and the situation, I found myself saying something unreasonable. It may have been in Welsh, but Sophie hadn't deserved it. Gideon maybe as he was a Lightworm, but Sophie had been through enough without my comments adding to it. I'd hurt her enough and I was determined to make sure Gideon didn't hurt her. The institute already had one heartbroken soul moping about, it didn't need another one, and I was determined to make sure it didn't happen to Sophie.

After we had finished eating, I asked Gideon for a word in private. He seemed reluctant but eventually agreed. We had found an empty corridor when I turned on him. I decided that I wasn't going to waste any time and cut to the chase. "Do you love Sophie?" I asked. Gideon's face just seemed to light up when I said Sophie's name, but it quickly changed to one of slight embarrassment. "Is it that obvious?" he asked. I found myself rolling my eyes. "Well you were kissing in the dining room earlier so I'd say yes. If you love her, you shouldn't be embarrassed. Hurt her on the other hand and I will make sure you will never live it down." I said firmly. My words seemed to cause a mixture of emotions from Gideon: relief that I seemed to accept his feelings for Sophie but confusion when I talked about him hurting her.

"You have to trust me when I say I have no intention of hurting her, but I'm not sure why you care so much. I thought you didn't like her" Gideon replied. It was a fair point, seeing as I had spent so much time pushing people away and hurting them in the process. "Sophie has been hurt enough. Some of that hurt I am ashamed to admit came from me, but there was a lot of hurt that didn't. I hurt Sophie because I thought I was cursed. Unfortunately not everyone has that excuse. I don't want Sophie to suffer more than she needs to" I responded. Gideon looked horrified. "Who hurt Sophie?" he asked. I shook my head, I knew what had happened, but I also knew it wasn't my story to tell, but Sophie's. She would tell him when she was ready. "It's not for me to say. Sophie's past is her own, she'll will tell you when she feels the time is right" I said, and with that, I walked off.

***Gideon P.O.V***

It had been a few weeks since my conversation with Will about Sophie. His comments about her past pain kept going round in my head. I knew, without asking, he had been referring to the scar on her cheek. I hadn't questioned Sophie about how she had got it, as, like Will said, she will tell me in her own time. Not that it mattered to me, the fact she had a scar. She was still the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on, scar or no scar. What did matter however, was that someone had intentionally hurt her. If I ever found out who it was, I would make them suffer.

We had been surprised when one day Will's younger sister had shown up. The resemblance to her brother, I have to admit was slightly unnerving. She was a shorter, female version of Will. Will, it seemed hadn't been too happy about Cecily's arrival. Actually, that was an understatement, he had been furious, and demanded she go back to Wales. Cecily, had refused "Efallai eich bod wedi gadael i mi, ond nid fi wedi fwriad i wneud yr un peth i chi" (You may have deserted me but i have not intention of doing the same to you) she'd snapped. Not having the ability to speak Welsh, I had no idea what she had said, but I doubt it had been good. Will then shouted "peidiwch â siarad am yr hyn nad ydych yn deall. Os ydych yn gwybod y gwir ni fyddech yn fan hyn" (do not speak of what you do not understand. If you knew the truth you would not be here) and with that he had stormed out of the room. Cecily hadn't returned to Wales as Will had hoped, much to his annoyance.

As time had gone on, everyone at the institute had realised something was going on between me and Sophie. At the start, Sophie had assumed that, once people found out, they wouldn't approve. As it turned out, quite the opposite had happened. They had completely and utterly accepted it, with Charlotte saying it was nice we had a positive person who cared about us in our lives. Sophie and I had been talking in my room when Jem had come to my door and informed me my Brother had arrived, and was in quite a state "he won't leave until he has spoken to you" Jem had said, in a tone that indicated it was a matter that urgently needed dealing with.

I had gone charging off to where Jem had said Gabriel was. I heard him before I saw him. Jem had been right, he had worked himself into a state. When he realized I was there, he seemed to calm down somewhat but was still all over the place. Rather than giving me a normal greeting, the first words were to me were "Father is a worm" which confused me. Will had entered by this point and laughed, actually laughed. "We know, so glad you have finally come round to our way of thinking" he said, which only worked Gabriel up more, he looked at me, his eyes begging me to understand "You don't understand father is a worm" he said again. I shook my head. "I know Gabriel. He was responsible for our mothers death and was sleeping around with demons" I replied, confused as to why Gabriel felt the need to tell us something we already knew and why he was so worked up about it. Gabriel on the other hand, just seemed upset that no one was understanding "why aren't you listening to what I am saying. Father is a worm" I was about to tell him repeating what he was saying wasn't going to help matters when Charlotte spoke "Gabriel, it seems that you aren't calling your father a worm in a manner to insult him, might I ask instead if you mean to tell us he has, quite literally turned into a Worm?" she asked.

The relief on Gabriel's face than finally someone seemed to understand was obvious to all who saw. "Yes Charlotte that's exactly what I mean. My father has turned into a giant demonic worm, he had been getting progressively worse then one day he was no longer a Shadowhunter but a worm" he said. I stormed over, took my brother by the shoulders and shook him "If he was getting worse why didn't you say anything? We could have helped. Why did you stay with that monster que niño tonto (you stupid boy)" it was Charlotte that spoke next. "Gideon now is not the time. You and Gabriel will go over to Chiswick with Henry, Will and Jem and deal with the matter in hand" she said, clearly not wanting me to do any damage to Gabriel. It was probably for the best.

At some point we had been joined by Cecily and Tessa. Tessa bless her had been trying on a wedding dress when Gabriel had turned up, and as she had wanted to know what all the fuss was about, so had ended up showing us, meaning she couldn't wear it to the wedding, which was a shame, it really did suit her. Had Gabriel not had his attention caught by Cecily, and insisted that he just stare at her, I wouldn't have realised she had entered. I realised that the pair hadn't actually met, so took it upon myself to do introductions. "Gabriel this is Will's sister Cecily. Cecily this is my brother Gabriel. I apologise that you had to meet in such circumstances as this." I said. Gabriel seemed to recoil slightly when I mentioned Cecily was Will's sister, but surely he saw the resemblance as we all did. Also, did it mean what I thought it did? But now was not the time to ponder on such matters as to whether my brother may or may not have taken a sudden liking to William Herondale's sister.

It was Cecily who spoke first "If you're going on a demon raid I want to go" she stated. Tessa nodded "I'm coming to" she added. Unfortunately, if what Gabriel said was true, and I had every reason to think it was, we didn't have enough time to argue against the pair. Which was how we all managed to end up going on a worm hunt at Chiswick. At first, there didn't seemed to be anything obviously wrong. The Blackthorn carriage as outside, meaning that my sister, Tatiana was about. Things had suddenly, somehow gotten worse.

Henry and Tessa had taken it upon themselves to search the manor and the rest of us had taken on the job of hunting down and killing the demonic worm that was roaming the property. I have no idea who spotted it first, but before I knew it we had engaged in a fight with a monster. Gabriel hadn't been lying when he had said it was giant. We really needed all the people working together to defeat it. Despite having practically no training, Cecily I had to admit (though I wouldn't say it to Will) proved her worth. She had jumped on the Worms head and distracted it long enough for Gabriel to fatally shoot the beast in the eye. It seemed that I had so much adrenaline in body that I hadn't realized I had seriously injured my leg until we were half way back to carriages and my leg gave way, causing me to fall to the floor. As Jem had taken ill, Will had to carry him back to the carriage, and I ended up being supported by Cecily and Gabriel.

Tessa and Henry were helping Tatiana into a carriage when we came into sight. Tessa, as expected ran to help Will with Jem, whereas Henry help me. The injury was losing a lot of blood, so not only had I lost the ability to walk, I was also struggling to stay awake. A struggle I ultimately lost. When I woke I found myself in my room with Gabriel and Sophie. I'd been out for a couple of hours apparently. Realising I had come round, and was on the mend, Gabriel promptly left, leaving me alone with Sophie. She was sitting by my bedside and could see the pain on my face when my brother left. "Let him have his space. He lost his father and for a brief period thought he was going to lose his brother. He's been excessively applying you with runes for healing and blood loss, he's been that scared for you, as have I for that matter, but unlike Gabriel there was nothing I could do" she whispered. I could hear the fear in her voice like an ache in my heart. Cupping her face in my hand I said softly "Lo siento por usted asustar a mi amor" then kissed her. Despite not speaking Spanish, she seemed to understand what I had said.

I suddenly remembered that I had not been the only casualty "how is Jem?" I asked, then regretted it. Sophies face fell, she had always thought highly of Jem. "He's bad. The worst he's been since he got to the Institute actually. We think this might be it" she said. Bad things like an addiction to yin fen, which killed you at 17 years of age shouldn't happen to good people like Jem. If he died, it would affect us all. Will and Tessa in particular. "Lo siento" (I'm sorry) I found myself saying. Benedict Lightwood had been my father, and in a battle to end his life, Jem was now in a battle for his, and I felt to some extent responsible.