"Ugh"

"Magnus?"

"Yeah"

"Hey Magnus it's Tessa"

"What?"

"It's Tessa – I got a missed call from you, so just ringing to see if everything is ok?"

"What time is it?"

"Well it should be 9am where you are. It's 10pm in Beijing."

"Tessa?"

"Yes Magnus, it's Tessa. Do try to keep up. Did I wake you?"

"Yeah"

"Sorry. Although, really, 9am is a totally acceptable time to be calling you. Why aren't you up?"

Magnus rubbed at his eyes and stretched. He yawned loudly down the phone and faintly heard Tessa 'tut' in annoyance. "I'm up now," he told her. "And I was having such a lovely dream too."

He was lying. He had made sure he didn't dream last night, which was probably why he slept so late. He had taken a potion that blocked dreams, knowing that as soon as he closed his eyes he would see those images from Camille's memory. He didn't usually do this kind of thing, being a Warlock his dreams were sometimes prophetic and helped serve as an early warning system for anything particularly bad that was looming. But he hadn't been able to face it. He would, in time, but not yet.

"Well you woke me and Jem at 6am a few days ago, so you don't get to complain."

"I have already apologised for that – It was the time difference and I didn't know you were flying out so soon. You should keep me more up to date."

Tessa laughed her light, musical little laugh that could lift the spirits of even the most depressed. "Sorry Dad, next time me and my husband go on holiday I will make sure you are aware of every single detail."

"That sounds weird…"

"What?"

"Calling me 'Dad'."

"Well you had better get used to it, hadn't you?" she said brightly.

Magnus groaned in response.

"You're not getting cold feet?"

"No, of course not. This is something we both want…"

"But? I can tell there is a but there Magnus."

"I just keep wondering if this is the right time. There's so much going on right now and Alec is so pre-occupied."

"Well maybe you should talk to him about it. I cannot believe I still have to give you that little piece of advice."

"Older doesn't always mean wiser," he reminded her.

"True. So, what is the matter this time that is stopping you living your life and following your dreams and being who you want to be?"

"Wow – don't mince your words Tessa. Say what you really think."

"You taught me that," she told him warmly.

"I created a monster."

She giggled and he off-loaded entirely about the Camille situation. He had always been able to do this with Tessa, she was easy to talk to and a great listener. He sometimes felt bad for burdening her, especially nowadays when she was so happy, but it was habit now.

"Oh my goodness, that's so awful Magnus," she sympathised.

"So now you understand. How can we possibly bring a child into a world like this?"

"Magnus." She sounded firm and he found himself involuntarily sitting up with unwavering attention. "Alec is Nephilim. You are a Warlock. Any child you will have will be a part of our world, whether you like it or not. And, unfortunately, ours is a world that is very awake when it comes to encountering the danger and the evil that seeks to destroy it. It is not selfish to bring a child into a world full of danger Magnus. What is important is that you give them the tools to fight it."

"Tessa, I meant no disrespect," he told her softly. "But this isn't the same thing as when you had Jamie and Lucy. Asmodeus has made a move that could threaten everyone in this world – granted, we don't fully understand his intentions yet, but a threat is a threat. And though it pains me to admit it that demon is my father. He has a claim over me. It may not be safe…"

"Sounds to me like you're scared."

"Scared?" He gave a short, derisive laugh. "I am bloody terrified."

"Look – I have to go. Jem just got back…"

"Hi Jem," Magnus said weakly.

"Magnus says hi," he heard Tessa say, a hint of impatience in her sweet voice. Magnus could just about hear the muffled reply of Jem Carstairs, who sounded annoyingly jovial.
"Magnus – I love you. You are my friend. So it is my duty to tell you to stop being a coward. Do not let him win, Magnus. Don't let Asmodeus stop you from living your life. It is far too precious to waste now it is a mortal one. Besides, how do you think Alec will react if you tell him you don't want to go through with having a baby anymore?"

Magnus shrugged, before remembering he was on the phone with Tessa. "I don't know," he admitted dryly.

"Well I don't think he will be pleased. Plus, didn't you mention that the insemination has already taken place? What if Helen is pregnant already?"

Magnus sighed heavily. "I know you are right. I know Alec would never forgive me if I took it all back now. But it still doesn't stop me wanting to pull the plug because I am so scared. Clary invented a fearless rune. Surely we have a spell of some kind…"

"It's called 'Single Malt'. Though do try not to start drinking until after lunch. You don't have the benefits of immortality anymore and I hear Scotch gives you wrinkles."

"Looks like I am going to be a Dad then."

"Try to sound happy. For Alec's sake?"

"I am happy Tessa. I really am. It just isn't coming through at the moment on account of the crippling fear."

She laughed softly. "You sound like a parent already,"

"So what do you think lesbians go for, in terms of décor? I guess they will be sticking around here for a while and I needn't let my superior interior design skills go to waste."

"I really have to go now," she giggled.

"Thanks for waking me up," he told her sternly, though he genuinely meant it.

"You are most welcome, as always."

Alec had never really been very good at socialising. He blamed a lot of his awkwardness on hiding his sexuality when he was growing up, but he didn't really have that excuse anymore. He rubbed the back of his neck in a nervous way.

"I am sure Magnus will be along any second," he told them.

The four women all smiled pleasantly back at him.

This had been an awful idea. And it had been Magnus'. Why the hell wasn't he here? After all these years did he still not know Alec well enough to realise how uncomfortable he would be trying to entertain a room full of women by himself?

"Well I am starving – I could eat a horse!" Helen proclaimed over-enthusiastically.

"It could be hormones!" Aline exclaimed excitedly at her wife. Alec wanted to run away.

"I'm not hungry," Isabelle stated grumpily.

Everyone stared at her, startled by her mood.

"Are you alright?" Alec whispered as he leaned over to her.

"You said Magnus was getting take out. You never said we all had to sit around the dining table and socialise. I don't feel much like socialising right now," she hissed at him. Her words were probably not audible to the others but they could all tell Isabelle did not want to be in their company and suddenly the atmosphere turned even more awkward.

"Um – is Jace not joining us Clary?" Aline asked, trying to alleviate the tension.

"Uh –what?" she asked, clearly a million miles away.

"Where's Jace?" Alec asked her, hoping the whereabouts of his parabatai would calm him.

"He went out," Clary informed them breezily – too breezily.

Alec looked at her with suspicion and gulped down half his glass of water. His throat was incredibly dry.

"He went on that mission," Isabelle informed him pointedly. He saw Clary visibly flinch at Isabelle's attempt at subtlety.

"Ah yes, ok," Alec murmured, hoping Helen and Aline wouldn't notice anything suspicious in his sister's tone. He had no idea what the girls were up to or what 'mission' Jace was meant to be on, but he was pretty sure Helen and Aline were not meant to be privy to it either.

"Sounds mysterious," Aline observed with an awkward smile. "Hope it is all above board and The Clave know about it," she half-joked. Alec caught Izzy's murderous expression and tried a small titter in hopes his sister would take a hint and understand Aline was only speaking in jest.

Disastrously, Aline took Alec's small recognition of her joke as encouragement.

"Well, knowing Jace," she continued, much to Alec's horror, "he is breaking the Covenant in as many inventive ways as possible."

There was an awkward silence. In reality, it only lasted about three seconds, but to Alec it felt like a few hours had rolled past.

"How dare you," Isabelle hissed. Alec dropped his head into his hands and groaned, which he felt was almost customary in these situations.

Aline looked thoroughly taken aback by his sister's outburst.

"Izzy –" Clary began.

"How dare you speak about Clave Law," Izzy cut in, louder this time. Alec's face remained glued to his palms. He didn't want to see this fall-out.

"Don't speak to Aline like that," Helen chimed in firmly. "What is up with you Iz?"

"How dare you speak about up-holding Clave Law when the Clave is nothing more than a bunch of corrupt morons; repeatedly breaking The Covenant and The Accords for their own twisted ends."

Alec had to hand it to her. That was possibly the most offensive thing anyone had ever said about The Clave in front of the Consul's daughter in the History of Shadowhunters.

Helen gasped.

"How dare you, Isabelle Lightwood! We are guests in your home!" Aline fumed. Alec could feel her gaze turn on him. He could almost feel the heat on the side of his head.

"Are you going to let her speak to us like that Alec?!"

He shuddered when his name was yelled. But he looked up nevertheless.

"Isabelle," he spoke up. She looked at him in shock, either not expecting him to address her, or perhaps not expecting him to speak at all. "That's enough," he told her sternly.

"I can't believe you would side with them!" Isabelle shrieked at him. She seemed to have lost it completely. Clary looked like she was holding on to a weapon underneath the table. That wasn't a bad idea.

"I'm not siding with anyone," he argued.

"You're not married to Helen, you know, just because you're trying to knock her up. You don't owe her anything." Isabelle looked murderous. He could tell from the position of her shoulder that she was holding her whip, poised for an attack. Alec just hoped she wouldn't go that far.

"Helen and Aline are my guests. You shouldn't be so rude, especially to guests of The Institute." He could feel his own blood begin to boil now and wasn't sure at this stage if it was all going to end up in a physical fight. The last time that had happened he had been eight and Izzy had broken a toy horse he had loved playing with. So it wasn't impossible.

"Oh, I'm sorry I forgot. You own the Institute. Us mere mortals have to heed your every order!"

"That's not what I meant," he said exasperatedly.

"What are you going to do Alec? Just because you don't like me telling the truth for once. We can't all be compulsive liars like you!"

That one hurt. But he couldn't think of anything to say. Even Clary looked like she was struggling for words to help diffuse the situation. Helen and Aline both looked utterly horrified.

"Well? What are you going to do?! Kick me out of the Institute? Are you going to kick Simon out too? You siding with the Clave – how unoriginal."

He saw Clary look around tentatively at the mention of Simon, but Helen and Aline just looked confused and, quite honestly, upset.

"Isabelle –"

"And yeah, go tell your mother that he's here." Izzy had rounded on Helen and Aline again, who were trying to maintain a safe and stoic distance. "Me and Clary helped him escape and I do not care what The Council will do to me. Just let them try to hurt me or Simon ever again and I swear I will see to it that Alicante burns all over again!"

A rather polite and yet noticeably loud cough was heard, resounding around the room. Magnus haunted the doorway, looking dark and vengeful and a bit dangerous, as he often did when he was in full on High Warlock mode. Alec had to snap himself out of staring at how sexy his husband appeared.

"What's going on?" he asked sweetly, just the tiniest hint of menace in his silky voice.

"We were just leaving," Helen bit out as she and Aline stood up with a flourish. Magnus raised his hand and they both yelped as they found themselves sitting down once again. Blue sparks crackled lazily around the Warlock's magenta-varnished finger tips.

"No one is going anywhere," he informed the room, his voice soft and oddly comforting. "Until we sort this out."

Isabelle made a move to get up herself. "You too Isabelle," Magnus told her firmly as he twitched his hand threateningly.

"You wouldn't dare," Isabelle warned him, narrowing her eyes.

"You want to try me?"

Isabelle sat back down in a huff. It was like they were fifteen again. Oh the happy happy memories. Alec subconsciously blushed when he remembered all the fights they'd had with their parents all those years ago.

Magnus took a seat at the table, in between Aline and Clary and he laid his hands out deliberately on the table top. "So, shall we all try to talk calmly together like adults?"

Alec looked around – no one seemed to want to say anything anymore.

"What did Isabelle say to you?" Magnus asked Aline politely.

"Enough," Aline bit out in Isabelle's direction, in response to which Isabelle shot her a withering look of contempt.

"And are you going to take this information to your Mother and to the Clave?"

"Give me one good reason why we shouldn't!" Helen asked enraged.

"Because we are family," Alec said. He blushed as everyone turned to look at him.

"Magnus, you won't hold us here against our will. It contravenes Clave Law and the Accords. We will leave if we wish." Aline looked calm on the outside, but Alec could tell how furious she was.

"No, you won't," Magnus said simply. "Because the lives and safety of my family comes first. I'm not sure you know me at all if you think I would be intimidated by the threat of the Clave. The Clave holds no sway over me, and the only ones who have broken The Accords are the Clave itself."

Helen squeezed Aline's hand visibly, a comforting gesture that Alec recognised. He wished Magnus was sat on his side of the table.

"They are scared because they know you're right," Isabelle gloated. Alec looked at her in disbelief.

"Shut up Isabelle," Magnus told her without looking at her. He fixed his gaze first on Helen and then Aline. "We are friends," Magnus continued. "And as your friend I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt. I am going to ask you a question and you are going to give me a truthful answer."

Alec flopped his head onto his hand again in despair. This was just going from bad to worse.

"What do you know?" Magnus asked them.

"We know that she has actually lost it. Completely bonkers," Helen scoffed, looking at Isabelle with a good deal of fear in her eyes.

"What does she mean about Simon?" Aline asked, her expression a mix of confusion and trepidation.

"So you don't know?" Clary asked them.

"I'm afraid the quiet rule applies to you too biscuit," Magnus told her with a small smile.

"She's lying," Isabelle spat. "Don't tell me the daughter of the Consul didn't know that they were keeping Simon prisoner."

Magnus turned and faced her. "Be quiet," he told her darkly.

"Prisoner?" Aline looked utterly taken aback.

"He died," Helen whispered softly, tears welling in her vibrant blue-green eyes, making them sparkle. She was looking at Isabelle with an expression of deep sympathy.

They think she is completely nuts, Alec thought.

"We all thought he died," Clary interrupted. She wrung her hands and sighed deeply. Alec wanted to hug her.

"But he didn't!" Isabelle shouted, tears streaking down her face, despite the clarity and strength of her voice. "They were keeping him prisoner for all this time underneath the City. All these years and – and he's alive."

Magnus now had his eyes shut, trying to steady himself against the tidal wave of revelations that was hitting. Alec wanted nothing more than to reach out and hold his husband's hand. Magnus always seemed to have an endless strength that Alec felt he might absorb through physical contact. It sounded stupid when he thought about it, but it did honestly work.

"Ok so that is definitely out in the open now," The Warlock muttered.

"Magnus? What's going on?" Helen asked him.

"Ok firstly, can we all please put our hands on the table – it would make everyone feel a lot more comfortable if we all knew no one is reaching for a weapon." Everyone did as he told them, without hesitation. Clary placed her stele delicately in front of her before splaying her palms out in something that resembled surrender. Isabelle managed to make putting her hands onto the table top as threatening as possible. She was now staring into space, her tears still flowing.

"What Isabelle said is true," Magnus informed the group. Helen and Aline gasped in unison. It was so comic book that Alec almost giggled. "Simon Lewis is alive and – weirdly – well. He is here at the Institute but has, obviously, been keeping a low profile. Clary and Isabelle rescued him from the cells beneath Alicante. He has no idea how long he had been there or why he was being held there."

"Was it something to do with him being a Vampire? Had he done something?" Aline asked, trying to put it delicately.

"Let's remember that this particular Vampire saved all of us. You can argue all you like that Vampires are not really alive, but what Simon did changed the course of that battle and he was remembered by all of us as a hero. He was awarded posthumous honours by the Council and the Night's Children have an extra seat on the council in his memory." Magnus almost sounded touched by the memory.

Aline nodded slowly and blushed. She and Helen had both been there. And they had both spoke up in the Hall of Accords on behalf of the Night's Children.

"So if you have any idea why the Council imprisoned him rather than heralding the return of the valiant hero then do tell us."

"I – I'm sorry, but I don't know anything," Aline told them, her brow knitted in confusion. "Simon was my friend too. I can't imagine why my mother wouldn't tell me something this… huge." To be fair, she did look genuinely upset.

"You can't ask your mother," Helen told her.

"I can handle her – we need to find out what is going on. This is so worrying!" Aline argued.

"I agree with Helen. If you tell Jia that you know then Simon could be in danger and we could all be in a lot of trouble," Clary told them.

"I think we need some answers," Isabelle said quietly. She was now hugging herself and looking like she was barely keeping it together.

"I agree with Isabelle." Aline's expression looked adamant and focussed.

"What do you think Alec?" Magnus asked him. He suddenly found himself the object of five separate, appealing stares.

He didn't like being put on the spot, but he supposed it was to be expected.

"I think you should let me handle it."

They all – including Magnus – looked extremely concerned and puzzled. He huffed a little at their reactions. He was the Head of the New York Institute, not a shy kid who didn't know what he was doing.

"Let me talk to Jia about this. I am the Head of the Institute and so Clary and Isabelle were under my jurisdiction when they found Simon. I agree we need answers. But accusing the Consul of kidnap and wrongful imprisonment may not be the best way to go about it."

Magnus smiled at him. "I think that's an excellent idea."

Everyone took a breath of relief and now Alec's stomach was rumbling – he really hoped Magnus had remembered to go and pick up food.

His thoughts did not dwell on food for long, however, when Peter walked into the room. Alec didn't see him at first, he had been checking his phone for messages from Jace as he tried to remember what secret mission his parabatai was meant to be on, but Isabelle's very loud "What is he doing here?" ensured everyone was immediately made aware of Peter's presence.

Isabelle had gone very pale. Aline and Helen both got up to greet Peter and give him a hug.

"How's it going?!" Helen enthused. "How is London?"

"I've been in Idris actually," Peter responded tersely. "Where's my brother?"

Alec was about to respond when Izzy cut him off.

"I can't believe you would do this!" she screamed. Everyone turned to look at her, including Alec. He had thought she was calmer now, but had clearly been mistaken.

It took a good few moments for Alec to realise her outburst was directed at him. "Do what?" he asked with concern.

Isabelle launched herself up threateningly. "I can't take this. I cannot cope with this. I knew you weren't happy with what I was thinking, but you didn't need to drag Peter here to pressure me!"

Alec looked at her dumbfounded.

So did everyone else. Except Magnus, who was now emulating Alec with his head in his hands.

"Nothing to say?! You always have an opinion Alec!"

"Izzy, calm down," he told her, rising to his feet – more so that he could block properly if she took a swing at him. He could feel everyone staring at him, waiting for an explanation.

"I will not calm down! How dare you!"

"I have no idea what you are going on about!" Now he was yelling back.

"Ok you two that is enough," Helen suddenly bellowed. It wasn't that she shouted, she was just louder than everyone somehow. "Isabelle, please try and calm down and tell us why you are shouting at your brother."

"Because he brought Peter here!"

"Wow…" Peter piped up but immediately shut up when Helen shot him a look.

"No I didn't… Wait, I did but –"

"There you go again! You can't help lying Alec it's in your nature! Poor Magnus knows what I mean!"

Magnus held up his hands in surrender. "Leave me out of this," he said.

"All because you don't respect that I am adult enough to make my own decisions. This baby is my choice! Not yours!" she pointed at Alec with fury, "not his" pointing at Peter. "Not anyone's except mine!" And with that she ran from the room in a flood of frantic sobs.

The room was dead silent. Alec knew he hated awkward silences and this was the most awkward silence he had ever found himself in the middle of. He sank back into his chair forlornly and sighed, awaiting the onslaught.

Peter, who had seemingly been rooted to the spot suddenly sprang to life. "Isabelle," he breathed and ran from the room, most likely in pursuit.

"I am assuming we were not supposed to know about that then," Aline said quietly.

"Shall I get us some drinks?" Magnus announced brightly.

"You understand this mustn't go further than this room," Clary said glumly. "Izzy hasn't decided what she wants to do yet."

Both Helen and Aline nodded sagely.

Glasses and a bottle of very expensive looking scotch appeared on the table and Alec looked at Magnus disapprovingly.

"Oh come on, the occasion demands it," his husband countered. "I'll pay tomorrow, promise," he added, for Alec's benefit.

"Why would you do something like that Alec?" Helen asked him, sadness in her voice as she very pointedly got up and poured herself a water.

"Excuse me?"

"Why would you bring Peter here so he finds out like that? Poor kid must be in a whirlwind."

"I brought Peter here because I needed his help with Paul. Not that it is any of your business. Is that the kind of person you think I am that I would do that to my own flesh and blood?" He drained his glass in one gulp. "If that's what you think of me it completely baffles me why you would want me to be the father of your baby."

And with that he got up and left. No one tried to stop him. He was boiling with rage and needed to calm down. Maybe he would take a stroll outside – the fresh air may help dissipate how wretched he felt.

By the time Alec reached Izzy's room, via lengthy detour to calm himself down, night had enveloped the Institute. The corridors were stiflingly dark and even switching on the lights didn't chase away his gloom. He paced around outside his sister's door for a few moments, biting his cheek and wondering what he should say to her. She had been so angry with him for bringing Peter to The Institute, wrongly believing he had done so in order to pressure her into keeping the baby.

"Alec!"

At first, he thought someone had followed him out to check he was ok. Likely it was Magnus. His heart gave a tiny flicker, but when he turned around he saw Peter bounding down the hallway at him, looking wild and panicked.

"Alec!" he repeated. He stopped just in front of Alec, slightly out of breath, and he could see the fear in Peter's eyes.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

All of the anger dissipated in a moment, in Peter's frantic gaze. He handed Alec a folded sheet of paper. He unfolded and read as quickly as he could.

"Have you tried calling him?"

"It's going through to voicemail," Peter told him, close to tears.

Isabelle came out of her room with a huff. "What is going on?" she said, sounding annoyed. He didn't say anything to her, just passed her the note and watched the expression on her face change in confusion.

"There is no time to explain Iz – sound the alarm. The Institute is on alert. Gather in the Hall to mark up. Come on," Alec told Peter with a reassuring squeeze of his shoulder. "We need the others."

They raced together back towards the kitchen, no hesitation in their footing. As they burst through the kitchen door in a frenzy, Alec was relieved to see everyone was still there, apart from his sister, looking even more shell-shocked then when he had abruptly left them.

Magnus stood up, his magical energy faintly crackling in the air.

"Paul is gone," Peter told them, beating Alec to it.

"Magnus," Alec said, and his husband came to his side and took Peter's note from his outstretched hand. They didn't need words to communicate. He and Magnus had a silent connection that only people in love seem to have. It was similar to the connection he had with Jace, as parabatai, but deeply different on so many levels.

"We need to act quickly," Magnus said quietly to Alec.

"Paul has run away with Mathieu," Alec informed the room.

AN: Ah, lovely readers, it has been too long! I feel like all I do is apologise for taking an age to post a new chapter. Of course, you deserve an apology, but you would rather I posted more frequently I think!
Well, I will strive to do that! Promise!
For now, remember your 3 'F's! Follow, Favourite and Feedback. Follow of Favourite me/ this story to receive notifications on when I update and post new chapters and stories. And please do feedback and leave a review, letting me know what you think!
Much love,
Laubie xx