Hey guys, I know it has been a very long time since I updated, February to be exact, and I'm sorry. Hopefully this chapter was worth the wait x

It was also pointed out to me that I had not told youthatin this particular fanfiction that I have created Tessa has the same power over runes that Clary has.

Thank you again for Crazycuz for being my beta for this story :)

It was then recognition hit him like a sledgehammer. He heard his own voice murmur dazedly, "Jem."

Jem saw Will's look of utter shock before he embraced the other man with so much strength that the latter had half a mind to joke that he would be snapped in half.

They stood there in the embrace for what felt like hours, until they reluctantly let go of each other.

Will opened his mouth, probably to ask a long list of questions which probably required long complicated answers, as expected of Will, but Jem spoke hurriedly, cutting him off.

"Will, wǒ de xiōng dì, I know you do not understand the current situation that you have been suddenly introduced to without any explanation of any sort but you must understand that there is no time to lose."

Will nodded resolutely and asked, "You are well?"

Jem smiled sadly even as he felt his heart mending and breaking once again at the very place where their parabatai bond had been in his heart, "More than ever."

Will broke into a relieved smile. "Then there is no cause for me to worry about anything else, is there? What do you need?"

The two men had still been holding tightly to the other's shoulders, but now Jem slowly lowered his hands.

He took a deep breath before letting it out. "I will need Lucie."

Will looked shocked but still nodded reluctantly in understanding and after a moment's hesitation, he turned around to look at his daughter.

"Will you be ok?" he asked, concern painted all over his features.

Putting on a brave face and straightening her shoulders Lucie replied, "I will be."

Jem turned his head to face Jace and continued, "I will also need Clary's assistance"

"Why do you need- " Jace started, but Clary shushed him, to which he looked outraged, and after touching him reassuringly on the arm she left with Lucie out of the door.

Will turned back to face Jem. No words were spoken in this goodbye nor was there any need for them, for there had always been a connection between the two of them that far surpassed words.

With a final smile that was more sorrowful than tears, Jem walked away from his parabatai knowing once more what it was like to have your soul ripped in two.

Out in the entrance hall Jem was glad to see a note which was still smouldering with electric blue smoke and thoroughly covered in glitter, letting him know that Magnus had taken Tessa back to his flat and that he would be returning as soon as possible.

"What do you need?" Clary asked tentatively.

Jem looked up trying to wipe his face clear of the pain that was undoubtedly the reason for her tone.

"It was Tessa who originally created the rune that brought both Lucie and Will here." He had meant to sound nonchalant but his voice had instead betrayed him and broke upon saying his parabatai's name.

"Your eyes look very different when they're open," Lucie said loudly and suddenly, which made it seem a bit like a declaration of sorts.

Jem found that a laugh burst from him and Clary grinned; both of them had considerable experience with dealing with the unusual and - more often than not - unpredictable outbursts that seemed to run in the Herondale family.

Looking down at her, smirking, he replied jokingly, "All the better to see you with my dear."

Lucie rolled her eyes at his joke but treated him to a rare smile nonetheless.

Suddenly, the doors of the Institute opened and a gust of freezing air blew into the room before the doors shut loudly with a snap of Magnus' fingers. He had entered the Institute dressed in a different outfit that was still as flashy and stylish as the last.

Magnus patted his hair to make sure that it was still in its carefully fashioned spikes before looking at them seriously with his cat-like eyes. "Is everything ready?"

The meagre amount of peace that had been present in the air disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, only to be replaced by tension..

It was time.