(A/N) Welcome back readers, to the next installment of The Ascension. Not much to say, but I would like to thank those of you who have reviewed so far, the response I got was positive, and it's awesome to read about what you guys think about the story. So thanks to all those who read and/or reviewed the story, I write for you guys. On to the story!

Isabelle walked out of the Institute, now fully awake. She recognized exactly what it was that she was doing, and parts of her mind were telling her to stop, to turn around and head back to the institute. These parts of her mind were very small compared to the parts that screamed at her to move forward and go to Simon. She listened to the parts that were screaming, and moved through the dark New York streets at a pace that was near running.

She had been telling herself to stay distant from Simon, but she knew even before Clary had talked to her that she would only be able to hold onto that for so long. Clary only accelerated the process. Izzy had a feeling that in the next day, she would be thanking Clary for doing just that.

She had only been to Simon's house once or twice, and she was a little sketchy on how to get to it from the Institute. She came to the corner of 42nd and Washington (Made up, never been to NYC), and she wasn't sure whether she should turn onto Washington or continue up 42nd for a few more blocks. Taking a guess, she turned onto Washington, hoping it was the right way.

As she walked down the street, she had a weird feeling that she was being watched. Her Voyance rune on her right hand twitched, but it was different than what she always felt when demons were close. Allowing her ever-present whip to uncurl from her wrist, she stopped and turned around where she stood on the sidewalk. Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw something moving in the dark, and she called out, "Hello?"

She spotted someone moving out of the oppressing darkness, and she studied his form as he approached. He was a large man, likely early to mid 30s, with a body that showed a fairly impressive physique, as though the man worked out fairly regularly. Impulsively, Izzy took a step back, then realized that she shouldn't show weakness, and took a step forward.

At this, the man laughed, a rough laugh that didn't sound mirthful at all. He spoke, "Now what could a beauty like you be doing wandering the streets of New York City at this time of night," a devilish grin on his face.

"That would be none of your business," Izzy responded, "and I would appreciate it if you would return to whatever hell it is you came from," she said, trying to solve this conflict without needing to fight this man, though she knew she could if she needed to.

"Now, that's not a way to speak to a man, is it, especially one that is stronger than you," and he took another step towards her.

"Strength isn't everything," Izzy responded, then vaulted over the now close man, and turned, ready to fight."

The man looked surprised by her show of athleticism, but didn't rethink his plan to straight up overpower her, and ran straight at her. Her battle instincts setting in, she sidestepped the man, and brought her electrum whip down over him as he passed, slowing it enough that it would not sever any limbs. It still hit the man with enough force to draw blood through his t-shirt, and he yelled out in pain.

Still, he got up from the blow, and returned to have another round at her. He was more cautious this time though, and didn't run right at her. Instead, he inched his way closer, his fists out to block any attacks Izzy were to try. She lashed out with her whip once more, this time at his legs. He jumped back in time to avoid the whip, which surprised Izzy a little. While she was recovering, the man once again ran at her. Seeing that she had no time to dodge, she spun into a roundhouse kick that landed right into the man's side. She felt bones break under her foot as the man collapsed with another cry of pain.

"Why don't you try on someone your own size next time, you stupid scum," she spat at his form lying on the sidewalk, blood beginning to soak the back of his shirt. He gave no response, and Izzy didn't wait around to see if he got up, instead continuing her walk up Washington towards Simon's as though nothing had happened.

Seeing his apartment ahead, Izzy opened the door and walked in. It was then that she realized that she had no way to get into his apartment, she had never gotten a key or been given any kind of code. She pulled out her phone, deciding that hopefully Simon would either still be awake, or that she could wake him with a text message.

She sent the message, and decided to wait on the bench outside the door for a response, since it was still warm outside. She sat on the bench for about ten minutes before a reply came.

Who is this?

It's Isabelle, I thought you had my number.

No, I don't think you ever gave it to me.

Well, now you have it. Can you buzz me in, I'm downstairs.

What? Why are you here, it's after 1 AM.

Just buzz me in. I want to talk.

Fine, come on up. Stay quiet though, my mom and sister are sleeping.

Okay.

Happy that she had been able to wake him up, Izzy walked inside and waited at the elevator for him to buzz her in. The elevator doors opened, and she stepped in.

As the elevator went up, she thought of what she wanted to say to Simon. Coming up with nothing, she decided to just talk and go where the conversation took her. It took about another 15 seconds before the elevator dinged and the doors opened on Simon's floor. Looking around at the couple of doors on his floor, she noticed one door was slightly ajar. Assuming that Simon had left it open for her, she walked over to it and walked into his apartment, closing the door behind her. There wasn't much light on in the apartment, save for a lamp in the corner that looked very old.

Sitting on the couch next to the lamp was Simon, playing some game on his phone with squares and numbers (Couldn't resist the 2048 reference), presumably passing the time until Izzy came up. When she closed the door, he looked up.

"Hey Isabelle."

"Hi Simon," she replied, feeling a little awkward already, and hating it. There never used to be an awkwardness between them, but ever since Asmodeus had taken him memories, there had been. She had none but herself to blame for that though, because she was the one to push him away.

"So what's up," he asked, obviously trying to break the tension, and succeeding only somewhat.

"Not a whole lot, I beat a guy's ass on the way here, but nothing else very interesting."

"Wait, what?! Did you just say that you beat someone up on your way here?"

"Yes Simon, that's exactly what I did. He tried to stop me right after I turned onto Washington, but I proved to him that I wasn't one to be messed with," she replied, a proud smile gracing her face.

At her smile, Simon laughed a little, "You never were one to take any shit, were you Iz."

"No, I guess I never was was I. But look, Simon, that's obviously not why I came here."

"No, I didn't figure you strolled about the City at night, just picking fights with every guy who's stupid enough to try and challenge you," Simon said with another laugh.

Izzy felt the awkwardness melting a little, and decided that it was time to really talk about why she was there. "Simon, look. I talked to Clary tonight, well, more like Clary sought me out and forced me to listen to her. But anyway, she wanted to talk to me about you and I -"

"Us, what about us?"

"Would you let me finish, it'll be easier that way," she said, trying to sound agitated, but she could never do that when it was Simon. "Anyway, I guess it was more about my idiocy when it came to you. I've been pushing you away whenever we are together, and it's not right. Shit, you are getting your memories back, something I had never even hoped for, only dreamed of. And for some reason, I decided to push you away, maybe because I was afraid of getting hurt again. If you had chosen to stay mundane, we could never have been. The Clave just wouldn't have it. But then, you agreed, and I still decided that I needed to stay away. I was worried that they wouldn't let you ascend, or that something would happen before that. I'm still worried about that, but I'll just have to get over it, because I can't bring myself to stay away from you anymore. You had better Ascend, because if you don't, I don't think I'll be able to continue. Not without you." Finished, she looked back up at him, tears gracing her eyes for the second time that night.

She blinked, and looked again, making sure she was seeing what she thought she was seeing. And it was, there were tears in his eyes. She had never seen Simon cry before, and it was an odd sight.

"Are you okay, what did I say," she said, worried that she had angered him, or saddened him for something.

"Absolutely nothing Iz, you said everything right," he said, his beautiful smile gracing his handsome face again.

He leaned in, his eyes closing, and she leaned right in with him, ignoring the small part of her mind that was telling her to stop. Her eyes slipped closed, and finally, their lips met. Her heart soared, it had been far too long since she had been able to do this, and even longer since she had allowed herself to do it.

Eventually, she pulled away, breathing hard, just as Simon was.

"Izzy, I -"
"No, not until you Ascend. I want you to remember everything before you say it. And I want you to know what it means when Shadowhunters say it to each other. It's a little different than the mundane meaning."

"Fine, for you, I'll wait. Anything for you Iz, and I mean that. Anything."

"I just want to sleep, Simon. In bed, and definitely with you."

"I have school tomorrow Iz, you can't stay the night."

"I don't care Simon, I want to be with you, right now."

"Fine, but promise me that my mom won't see you."

"She won't have any idea."

"Ok, my room's back here," he said, leading the way towards the back of the apartment.