Author's Note: Okay, guys, i don't think I ask for a lot. This might be my favorite chapter, so can you lease, please, please let me know what you think of it? It would mean a lot to me. Remember, I own none of these characters. Enjoy!

Chapter 11

After a few minutes, Will dressed in the clothes he had arrived in, and was released from his cell. His wrists were placed in tight shackles for the walk out of the Silent City.

"It's just until we get above ground," Magnus said. He dropped a cloak over Will's shoulders, and then hooked his arm around Will's elbow as they left the lonely prison cell behind.

"You just wanted me in handcuffs," Will mumbled.

"I just wanted you warm and comfortable," Magnus replied.

They began up a set of steps and kept going up until Will finally saw light. When they climbed out of the exit to the Silent City, Magnus reached over and unlocked the wrist shackles. Will shivered and drew the cloak tighter around his body, then looked around.

It was snowing some, much like it had been when they first arrived home from Shanghai. Many strange grey shapes surrounded them, as did several small stones houses with names over them, which were all covered with a few inches of snow. Will realized that he and Magnus stood in the middle of a cemetery. The mausoleum they had made love in several long months ago sat in the distance.

There were an infinite number of entrances and exits for the Silent City. The fact that Magnus had brought Will out of this particular exit was no coincidence. This had been all part of the plan. Will opened his mouth to protest, but then he remembered an emotional confession and rainstorm that had come out of nowhere which had soaked them both to the bone.

There had been a cold marble bench beneath a stone roof, and a frenzied kiss that told Will that Magnus had been unable to wait any longer to press his lips to Will's. Will recalled that his hands had been shaking as he removed Magnus's shirt and unbuttoned his pants. He never had to worry about showing too much emotion before. That time, the love and lust had been spilling out of his body.

They had taken forever to begin, enjoying one another's bodies and watching as they became aroused for one another. They had made love once on the bench, and then waited a little while until they were ready once again.

Magnus wanted Will to remember all of the amazing times they had together. He wanted Will to forget that he had ever seen Magnus with Camille.

"I could run away, right now," Will said. "There's nothing holding me back."

Magnus turned to Will, his pupils dilated into tiny slits in the bright whiteness surrounding them. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets.

"You could run," Magnus said, "but then you would never see Jem's son, and I would be arrested by the Clave and charged with some sort of crime and I might never see the light of another day for the rest of eternity. So yes, Will. You can run. Be my guest. Just keep in mind, you're going to leave a lot more behind this time."

Magnus tied a scarf around his neck, pulled his coat tight, and began to walk down a hill to the front gates of the cemetery. He never looked back. For a long while, Will watched the dark shape that was Magnus get smaller and smaller until Magnus reached the bottom of the hill. Then, finally, Will walked down after him. Magnus gave Will a nod and pushed open the cemetery gate. They walked out into the street.

"We could Portal, but…" Magnus began.

"I like the walk and the fresh air," Will said. He thought about how alone he had felt in the Silent City and was quietly grateful for Magnus's company.

After spending most of the walk in near silence, they arrived at Magnus's home. Magnus unlocked the door and went inside, with Will following. The house was cold, as if no one had been home for some time.

"I'll light a fire in the parlor and get the soup started. You can get cleaned up while it's cooking," Magnus said. "Come along, I'll show you were you're staying." Magnus began to walk up a flight of stairs and Will followed.

Magnus and Camille had owned the house together, but he had lived on the ground floor while she had the second floor all to herself. They shared a bed only when Camille wanted them to. Otherwise, Magnus stayed downstairs while Camille entertained guests upstairs. Will had only been up to Camille's quarters once, when he and Magnus had jumped on her bed until it broke.

"I took some liberties with the upstairs. I hope you don't mind," Magnus said. He pushed open a door at the top of the steps. "Go ahead." Will walked in before Magnus and smiled.

Camille's red and black décor was gone and had been replaced with soft blue furnishings and clean, white walls. Bright sunlight filled the room. There used to be heavy curtains on the windows to keep any light out, but now, the room felt airy and open. The upstairs was no longer three separate rooms but rather one large room separated into three sections. The first section, by the door, contained a fireplace, chairs to sit in, and tall bookshelves which were all covered with books, except for one, which remained empty. There was also an entrance to a bathroom. The second section of the room contained a massive bed covered with pillows and thick quilts. The last section contained a desk, a piano in the corner, and several floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the Thames.

"I told you I was thinking pastels," Magnus said shyly. "What do you think?"

"It's… wow, Magnus. You've out done yourself," Will said. He turned around, taking everything in, a smile on his face. "But why?"

"I wasn't sure of your situation at the Institute, given all things considered. I knew you needed to stay in town, at least, so I thought that… if you wanted… you could move in with me," Magnus said. "We wouldn't have to be together. That's still up to you. But you could bring Sophie and the baby. If you need a place to lay your head, you're welcome here."

Will nodded quickly and looked around. He could see himself living here, and enjoying it. Will ached to go to the bookshelves and look them over. He thought about all of the books he had stacked haphazardly in his trunk. Maybe now they could have their own bookshelf to sit on. He and Magnus could live together. Their lives would comingle as he and Jem's once had. They could be together and everything could be perfect.

Will's heart throbbed a little. When he laid a hand over it and took a few breathes, his palms began to sweat.

"I know you're scared," Magnus said. "I've frightened you."

"That's preposterous," Will snapped. He walked over to the bed, where a single suitcase sat on the floor. Knees unsteady, he knelt down to open it.

"I'll leave you to be scared and get washed up. We'll talk more about everything over dinner," Magnus said. "We'll talk, Will. We'll talk about things you might not want to talk about, and maybe I'll give you some answers. But we are going to talk, because I'm not holding back anymore."

Will opened the suitcase and looked down to see the ring box nestled in among his clothing. He opened the box to see the ring still nestled tightly in the red velvet folds. He sensed Magnus in the room still, watching him.

"Why?" Will asked. "Why the ring? Why the upstairs? Why do you care?"

"Because I do," Magnus said. "Because I love you, Will. I wanted you to have a place to stay. You can decide what the ring means. I've told you enough times and now I thought I might show you. I'm with you, Will, no matter what. And when I'm not with maybe you can look down at the ring and be reminded that I'm with you for as long as you need and want me to be."

Will nodded quickly and snapped the ring box closed.

"I'll see you downstairs," Magnus said. He turned to leave the room.

"Magnus," Will said. Magnus stopped, his hand on the door frame. "I'm sorry I told you to burn in hell. I'm sorry I called you a soulless demon."

"I accept your apology," Magnus said. "I'm sorry I kissed Camille. From now on, the only lips I kiss will belong to you." Will took a quick breath. Magnus gave him a little smile. "Told you I'm not holding back." Will blushed and looked back into his suitcase.

Magnus left Will to his thoughts.

After a very long bath in which Will turned the water black from the soot he had brought from the Silent City, he dressed in clothes Charlotte had sent from the Institute. There was a pair of wool slippers beside the bed and Will put them on to find that they fit him perfectly. Then, Will went downstairs and slipped into the small, warm kitchen. Magnus was standing at the stove, frying bacon and stirring potato soup.

"Better now?" Magnus asked.

"Warmer, at least," Will said. He sat down at the table and Magnus walked over to pour tea into a teacup. "So why did you save me from the Silent City? How did you even know I was there?"

Magnus offered some sugar and Will put two heaping spoonfuls into his cup.

"Tessa contacted me and told me all that happened, and then I went to the Silent City to plead your case. I told the Brothers all that Gabriel had put your through, including last summer's little stabbing incident. They lessened your sentence to four days of house arrest, provided you spent at least 24 hours in the Silent City," Magnus said.

"Tessa?"

"She cares more than you expect. Don't worry, she doesn't love you, at least, not the way I do," Magnus said.

"Too much," Will said. Magnus smiled and nodded.

"She cares about you, Will. She only wants what's best for you," He said. "Soup?"

"I'll get the spoons," Will said.

"That drawer right over there," Magnus said, pointing to a cupboard. Will stood up and went to get two spoons as Magnus ladled soup into two bowls. "Do you want to smash the bacon?"

"Sure," Will said. He went over to the counter and began crumbling the bacon and putting it into another bowl. Magnus walked behind Will, brushed his hand across Will's lower back, and picked up the tea kettle to refill his cup. "Why?"

"Why what?" Magnus asked.

"You said you weren't holding back anymore," Will said. "You used to hold back. You would have never told me before that the only lips you would kiss belonged to me. You would have…" He had always noticed it but never appreciated it. Magnus would tell Will things he wanted to hear, and nothing more. They had played a game of opposites. Magnus had never said what he wanted to say for fear that he would push Will away.

Magnus leaned against the counter and held his tea cup in one hand, his right arm crossed across his stomach. He was dressed in black pants that fit tighter than Will would have liked, and a thick white shirt. His hair skimmed his collar and curled slightly in the warmth of the room. Will recognized the tea cup Magnus was holding as one of two that he had brought back from Shanghai.

"I've got you for four days," Magnus said. "If you leave this house, you'll be thrown into the Silent City for who knows how long. This might be my last chance to make a lasting impression, so I'm going to give it my all. If, at the end of four days, you never want to see me… at least I'll know I did my best."

"You're arrogant," Will said. "You think I want to love you."

Magnus walked over and touched Will on the cheek. He gently kissed Will on the lips and smiled.

"I think you want me as bad as I want you," Magnus said. "I think I can be who you need. That's all. It's not worth holding back anymore. Life is short. You might as well enjoy yourself." Magnus pulled out Will's chair before he sat down across the table.

Will had other questions he wanted to ask, but then he sprinkled bacon bits on his soup and began to eat. Magnus had provided freshly baked bread as well, so Will alternated between using a spoon and dipping the bread in. When he had consumed three bowls, Will sat back in his seat and rested his hands on his stomach.

"Cookies for dessert," Magnus said. Will moaned and Magnus refilled his tea cup. He cleared the table and then sat back down. "So. Go ahead. Ask me anything."

"Camille is never coming back?" Will asked.

"She is gone for good. There are charms around all of the doors and windows to keep her out," Magnus said. "If she knows what's good for her, she'll never be back. There's something nicely conclusive about a restraining order that lasts a hundred years." Will nodded.

"And so you expect me to move in now?" He asked.

"You're expected to take four days, read books, eat as much as you like… indulge in whatever activities you might find to indulge in… and to spend this time deciding what to do next. You need to think about what is best for you and your family," Magnus replied. "Next question?"

"You never told me you knew my parents," Will said.

"You never asked," Magnus said pointedly. "I always thought your parents were a sore subject with you. I didn't want to bring it up and I wasn't sure how to."

"Benedict said that my mother was a witch and my father abandoned the Clave. And it's clear that he hates Jem's father as well," Will said. "I want to know the truth as to why."

"That's your right," Magnus said. He got a plate of cookies and set them on the table. "Benedict, your father, and Jem's father were the best of friends. I don't even know how they managed it, because Benedict was older, but they all grew up together. Your father had no brothers, and neither did Benedict, which explains why the Lightwood family is so large. Benedict has always felt obligated to… further the Lightwood line."

"That was why he was so concerned with my father tainting the Herondale line," Will said. "I'm the last Herondale able to further the line."

"Precisely," Magnus said. "Did you want to hear about Jem's parents as well?" Will nodded quickly. "Very well, then. Listen carefully. I'm only telling this story once."

"Your father and Jem's father were born within a few months of each other and grew up together. They swore their parabatai vow when they were fifteen and went on to Shadowhunter Academy when they were 17. While they were there, Jem's father, James, met Jem's mother, Jia. She was the only girl in their class, and she was an amazing Shadowhunter. She was braver than most of the men and she fought with deadly strength, but she was a wonderful soul. Everyone loved her, some more than others. James found her to be attractive but he was certain she was out of his league. As it was, she made the first move. She went over to him at a ball and told him that he was a damn fool if he didn't ask her to dance, so he asked her to dance. They courted for most the Academy session, and the night before gradation, James asked for her hand in marriage. She said yes."

Will had expected this. Jem's parents had always seemed like the star crossed lovers type.

"Of course, your father, William, had his eyes on Jia, but she was James's girl, fair and square. There wasn't a whole lot William could have done anyway. Your grandfather was close friends with Benedict's father, and just before William left for the Academy, he was betrothed to none other than Benedict's youngest sister, Genevieve Lightwood," Magnus said. "You can imagine how your father took that news."

"How?" Will asked.

"How would you take being caught in an arranged marriage with a Lightwood?" Magnus asked. Will shivered. "Exactly. But Benedict's father and your grandfather agreed: with your father marrying Genevieve, there was hope that their offspring would be strong and worthy as a Shadowhunter. His, or her blood, would be better than most, because their child, or children, would have come from two strong families."

"Their blood would be pure," Will said. Magnus nodded.

"There was talk around that time that some relative of your's had contact with the Angel, and that you still carry evidence of that encounter on your body," Magnus said. "I've seen it. It's the star shaped mark on your lower back. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

"Will you please stop thinking about my lower back?" Will asked.

"I can't help it," Magnus said. Will scowled and Magnus continued.

"The point is, your father was a highly sought after bachelor. No one knew what contact with the Angel meant, but it was clear that your father wasn't an ordinary Shadowhunter, but rather, someone extraordinary," Magnus said. Will pictured his father back in Wales, spending long days sitting in his study, staring out the window, squinting at the horizon, and saw nothing extraordinary. "William and Genevieve got along well, but it wasn't love. More like measured tolerance. But, it was the best case scenario for all. Genevieve would have a husband, your father would have a wife, and they would be able to continue to bear acceptable Shadowhunters."

"After graduating from the Academy, William and James returned home. James and Jia married quickly and began trying to have a baby. Your father was to marry Genevieve in the summer of that year, until fate intervened," Magnus said. "Around the time your father was at the Academy, a young girl came to me with a most mysterious story. She was a mundane as far as anyone could tell, but she had the ability to perform spells. She was a witch. At the time, witches were dealt with in two separate ways: they were prosecuted and drowned, or held captive and studied. This girl, of course, would one day become your mother."

"After Tabby's death, I stayed far away from mortals, but by the time your mother came to me, I was with Camille. I decided to help your mother refine her powers. There were people, your father and I included, who believed that witches, not entirely mundane but not supernatural either, could help aid the Clave. I planned to train your mother, bring her along in the Shadow world, and perhaps show the Clave that women like her could help the Cause. This was before the Accords were signed, and the Clave needed all the help it could get."

"Your mother was living with Camille and I when your father attended one of the many parties we had. It was here that he met your mother, and little by little, he found reasons to visit her. It was obvious what was going on," Magnus said. "I told you father to stop… messing around. He was practically a married man! But you know what happens when you tell a Herondale to stop playing with fire. They burn the house down to spite you." Will shrugged.

"Your father was falling in love with your mother, and there was no way anyone could stop it. James even tried talking sense into them, but it never worked. James always insisted that it was hard to keep two people who truly loved one another apart," Magnus said. "Regardless, a month before your father was to marry Genevieve… your mother discovered that she was pregnant."

"I was conceived out of wedlock?" Will asked. Magnus nodded. "Just like… Jem's son. Jem and Sophie were together, not married… Sophie was a mundane with the Sight…" Magnus nodded again.

"Oh, Will, the scandal that ensued!" Magnus exclaimed. "Your father broke off his engagement to Genevieve. The fact that your mother was a mundane, and yet pregnant with a Neplilim, proved problematic. The Clave refused to make your mother a Shadowhunter and they also refused to recognize your parent's marriage. James and I were the only people that came to your father's defense. James had always believed in the importance of love and family. He thought, if you father loved your mother and wanted to have a child with her, it was wrong to stand in their way. It was James's idea that your father abandon the Cause in the name of family, and so your father did. He walked away from his parabatai, the Clave, and his entire reason for being… for you."

"Benedict only lost a friend, not a parabatai. James should have been bitter, but not Benedict," Will said. "So Benedict's sister was upset, yes? There wasn't much she could have done about it." Magnus smiled.

"Genevieve loved your father, even if he didn't love her back," Magnus said. "When your father broke off the engagement and married your mother instead… Genevieve hung herself in the Lightwood manor house. Benedict was the one who found her, but by then your father was long gone. Some people say Benedict hasn't been right since." Will's mouth fell open as he sat for a minute in stunned silence.

"Somehow what I've done to the Lightwoods pales in comparison to what my father did to them," Will said.

"You just might be right," Magnus replied.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Give me your thoughts and feedback, please? Here is a teaser:

Magnus breathed softly and looked into Will's eyes, waiting for him to make the next move.