Hello, my name is Alice J. Nightshade, and this is not my original idea! No, sadly I adopted this story from the very talented SarahHeartsCatz who's allowed me to continue it. So, I f you haven't already, read the first three chapters on her account then read this, because this is really Chapter 4.

That sounds a lot more complicated then it needed to be. Anyway, I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, so don't think I do!

"Men can do a lot of things," Tessa explained to Clary leading her down the corridor of the Institute and turning into the room that was where the visitor from another time would be staying. "But lacing corsets are not one of them,"

Clary tried to take another deep breath, but it was a hard tedious process. "I-….see….that…"

"Let me," Tessa pulled her newfound friend into the room and brought her over to the Chinese screen where they could de-lace Clary in private. After a second thought Tessa turned on her heel and brought over a chair that stood next to a small matching table. She directed the red haired girl to kneel on it then set to work quickly untangling the laces done up tight enough that would make Camille Belcourt, who was a vampire, gasp for breath.

"Thank you," Clary gasped, as soon as she could breathe, her small frame shaking with every quick intake air . She reminded Tessa of Charlotte faintly, with her small but sturdy stature, but she had bright wild curls of crimson almost like Henry's. Could it be….

Clary gathered her breath for a few more moments before starting allowing Tessa the processes of tightening the corset just enough that it would be deemed presentable but not tight enough that it would kill her. "I do not suggest you let Mr. Heron- Oh, I mean, Jace lace your corsets any time soon,"

"Never," Clary smiled. "I don't think he's ever tightened something like this without intending to strangle someone."

"Although," Tessa snorted, her gray eyes bright. "It would be something to see a demon destroyed with a lady's corset,"

Neither of the girls could contain their laughter after that, rallying wild fantasies of shadow hunters fighting monsters with corsets and other unmentionables back and forth. They must have been so loud that neither of the heard the knocking at the door until it was hard enough to make the room shake.

"Come in," Tessa called, moving from behind the screen and trying to hold her laughter while Clary just covered her mouth in an unsuccessful attempt to quiet her giggles.

The door swung open and they saw Sophie standing in its wake holding a tray with a smoking pastel colored tea pot, two matching tea cups and a small plate of biscuits that still steamed from the oven.

"Sophie," Tessa smiled and turned her body the entire way to face the servant who seemed to be more of a friend then a servant. Over her brief stay at the Institute Sophie had become a familiar and welcomed face to Tessa, and she'd even begun to see past the long scar that ran from the side of her mouth, pulling it into a permanent grimace to her hairline seeing the beautiful girl that Sophie really was. "I'd like you to meet one of the guests who will be staying with us at the institute for the time being, Clary. Clary, this is our maidservant, Sophie Collins."

Sophie placed the tray down on the small table where Tessa had taken the chair while Clary emerged from the screen. "It's very nice to meet you, Sophie."

Sophie turned and gave Clary a deep curtsy, her dark head bobbing and hiding the scarred face, but when she stood again Clary saw it in the full light. "It's lovely to meet you, Miss Clary."

An awkward silence befell the trio of girls while Clary dropped her gaze in an attempt not to stare at Sophie's beautiful face that was tragically harmed and Sophie stared back with cold resentment before finally addressing Tessa. "Will that be all miss?"

"Yes, Sophie. Thank you." Tessa responded awkwardly, and then with another quick curtsy Sophie disappeared into the hallway to do more of her daily chores.

"I'm sorry," Clary blurted, looking up at Tessa with wide green eyes. "I didn't, mean to-"

"Its fine, Clary," Tessa reassured, even though her hand flew to the angel made of clockwork around her neck. It was a nervous habit, which she' d grown so accustomed since she was a girl, but the sound of the faint familiar ticking of the angel pendent always brought a sense of ease to Tessa. "Sophie's come accustomed to it, or I'd assume. I didn't mean-"

"No, I shouldn't have stared." Clary promised, wiping her hands nervously on the dark green dress. She wasn't sure who'd it belonged to exactly, it could have been either Jessamine's or Tessa's who were both taller than she was, but she suspected Jessamine because it seemed to be much too intricate and, frankly, ostentatious. With its wide heart neckline and lace running along the bodice and the skirt, it was something Izzy would have felt more comfortable in, with a pair of heels of course. "I do that to people sometimes."

Tessa's eyes widened slightly, her pale pink lips puckering in confusion. "What?"

"Well, I'm an artist," Clary explained, clasping her small freckled hands in front of her. "And, I would love to draw her. Maybe use some of my darker pastels as a backdrop like she's incased in shadow or-"

"Wait a moment," Tessa interrupted, holding up her hand. "You would like to draw Sophie?"

Clary nodded. "She'd be interesting to try to capture. I've tried drawing Jace a bunch of times but I just can't get him right, and Sophie looks so different, it be kind of fun."

Tessa grinned madly at Clary. "You are wonderfully strange, Clarissa Fray."

. . .

"We've been this way before, Jace." Isabelle reminded her adopted brother, wrapping her arms around her chest. Charlotte had given her a long dress that ended at her ankles made of dark velvet and that clung to her body in a way that defiantly would have made Simon sweat if he could. With a low plunging neckline and ending at her elbows the dress allowed her runes to show proudly, seeming to say, I am a shadow hunter, mess with me and it'll be the last thing you'll ever do.

"You'd think at least one of them could know where we're going," Jace pointed out, giving Jem and Will a withering look. "Come on, Gramps,"

Will rolled his eyes, his fists clenching at his sides. "By the angel, there is no way you can be my grandson."

"Technically, Will." Jem's silver eyes were alight with amusement. "He'd be your great grandson and you two are very much alike."

Isabelle snorted. "I'll say. Both of you are sarcastic demon hunters who probably make questionable choices."

"I do not!" They cried in unison and then shot each other the same dirty look.

"I can say one thing," Jem promised Isabelle with a sideways glance. "Since these two are so very similar, it be best to keep Jace locked up at night. Wouldn't want him to get acquainted with six fingered Nigel on some drunken escapade as well would we, William?"

Will looked furious at his parabati and his cheeks turned crimson, reminding Izzy o much of her shy brother, while Jace's eyes sparkled with delight. He moved next to Jem and gave him a sly smile. "Who is, pray tell, this six fingered Nigel that my great grandfather has acquainted himself with?"

"Don't you dare, James." Will commanded, pointing a stern figure at his friend.

"Oh, do please go on," Jace persisted, grinning like a fiend.

Izzy rolled her eyes and kept walking down the hall, leaving the trio along and deciding she was going to find the sanctuary on her own. Boys, she thought to herself with a smile. What can you do with them?

"Isabelle?" Clary called, seeing her friend walking down the hall. The taller girl turned, her dark eyes finding Clary's bright hair and her face broke into a warm smile as Clary and Tessa caught up with her. "What are you doing here? Where are the boys?"

"They were talking about getting drunk and hanging out with multi-limbed men," Isabelle told them coolly. "I didn't think it was my place to interrupt them. So, I'm trying to find the sanctuary so I can tell Simon about our plan."

Tessa rolled her eyes heavenward as if to seek an answer to tell with rowdy male shadow hunters and sighed. "Well, we are almost there anyway. I'll take you there,"

"Thank you," Isabelle liked Tessa. She obviously knew how boys could get, so maybe she'd found her own way to deal with them. Izzy's was plain and simple, don't let them control you, you control them.

"Where is everyone else?" Clary wondered, as they turned around a different hallway. This institute was slightly similar to their own New York City, tall winding ceilings and cold stone walls, but there weren't any light fixtures and there seemed to be torches lit only by witchlight. This is the 1800s after all.

"Charlotte had some Clave business to attend to," They were getting closer to the end of the hallway and a large door waiting for them. "Henry I think went down into the basement and Jessamine didn't want to come," Izzy shrugged halfheartedly. "Not that I can blame her. Growing up with all boys sucks."

Tessa opened her mouth about to ask but what exactly meant when a trinity of very familiar, and very male, voices echoed down the hall.

"I'm just curious, gramps," Jace promised sincerely. "I just want to know what you're like at my age."

"Jem, I swear I'll strange you if you ever bring up my time at night again." Will swore angrily. "I'm still thinking about doing it now.

"You were determined that this boy couldn't be your great grandson," Jem pointed out in his calm voice. "This proves it more than anything, he's just as determined as you are."

"Jem-" They appeared from behind the same corner the girls had just passed looking very opposite from each other. Jem, silvery and white, Jace, blazing gold and Will, dark and blue. "Leave Nigel out of this,"

"Oh, dear," Tessa gasped with a smile, making the boys stop bickering and turn. "Has William finally declared his intentions to six fingered Nigel?"

Will's blue eyes were blazing. "Can we just tell the vampire our plan and leave my intentions with six fingered Nigel alone?"

"So," Jace smirked playfully. "You do admit you have intentions."

The teenagers started to laugh, except Will who still looked furious with the lot of them as they made their way into the sanctuary. Even with over one hundred years difference between them, unrequited love between a shadow hunter and a multi fingered midget was still pretty funny to everyone.

And that is the end. How did I do? Please be honest and give me a review to show your support, because I am not letting this story die yet!