"Isabelle?" Simon continued to run his hands through her hair, but she froze.
"Yes?" She asked.
"When were you going to tell you I had a daughter?"
"At some point."
"So...never."
"Not exactly."
"But why did you leave?"
"I had to hide her, before telling anyone I was even pregnant."
"It would've been nice to let me know."
"But then you wouldn't have let me leave. I had to hide her, because of what we are—and in turn what she is. I'm a Shadowhunter, you're a vampire, and she's part both, if I'm correct. You know how the Clave was—is. They're paranoid. You see what they did to Helen. I couldn't let anything happen to any of us."
Simon sighed. "I know, but a text would've been nice."
"Believe me, I wanted to, but that wasn't an option."
Simon nodded. They lay there for a minute, and then there was a small knock at the door. "Mommy?"
They both sat up.
"Hide!" Isabelle said.
"Why? She's a five year old!"
"A five year old that doesn't need to know how she was made!" Simon rolled his eyes but had his jeans on in record time and threw his shirt to Isabelle. He hid in the bathroom just as the door opened, revealing Alexia holding her teddy bear by its arm. "Mommy? Aunt Clary says it's time for dinner."
"Okay. Just let mommy get dressed."
"What were you doing?"
"Taxes."
"What are taxes?"
"Grown up things."
"Okay..."
Clary, thankfully, showed up then. "Come on, Alexia. Let's let mommy to finish her...taxes." At that the redhead winked at Isabelle but took the five years old away, shitting the door behind them. Isabelle sighed and dropped her face into the pillow.
"Is the new word for sex 'taxes'?"
"Shut up."
She heard his laughter before she lifted her head. "You should probably get out before anyone gets any ideas."
"So I'm just a booty call then? I knew it."
"You're different." She observed.
"Good different or bad different?"
"Good different."
"I guess that's good. So, I hate to sound cliché, but where does this leave us?"
"I don't know." Isabelle admitted.
"Let's just decide after the awkward dinner that awaits."
She nodded. "Yeah." She agreed softly, watching him leave. She had to make herself remember that it wasn't permanent, not like last time. She threw her clothes back on and was running a brush through her unruly hair when there was a knock at the door. When she opened it she saw Jace standing there, still in his gear. He looked out of breath and disheveled, as if he had run for miles. He looked at her with wide eyes, shaking his head. "I'd heard, but..." She threw her arms around him, squeezing tightly. Not a moment later, she felt him do the same. "We thought you were dead, Iz." He said into her hair. "We all did, except blo—Simon. You really know how to hide yourself."
Isabelle pulled away, nodding. "Yeah, well, I had reason."
"Yeah, I heard. Apparently Alec and I have a niece."
"Yep."
"Wow. This is one of the weirdest and most awkward conversations I've had lately."
After that, Isabelle finished with her hair and headed down. Now everyone but her had to be down there. When she walked into the institute's huge dining room, her worries were confirmed.