Author's Note: Well… here it is. The real, true, ending. Thanks to everyone who read and enjoyed this story. I don't want to put all of your pen names down so I'll just say a big, big thanks to those fearless few who reviewed every chapter faithfully. Thank you for being an audience I loved writing for. Pretty please review this and let me know what you thought of the story. Please? It would be wonderful to hear what you have to say.

Feel free to check out my new story which will show up in about a week. Click forward for the teaser for it. And as always, please enjoy this last chapter! You've all been wonderful readers! Thank you!

Epilogue

The Shanghai Institute was built into the side of the mountain. Charlie Carstairs knew this, had heard about it, and had even seen pictures, but that didn't prepare him for the sight that greeted him when he arrived in Shanghai and saw… nothing.

When Charlie turned six in April of 1885, his father announced that they were going to take a trip to Shanghai, China. Charlie was thrilled. He had only been out of London once, to go to Idris. Shanghai seemed to be so far away. It truly was on the other side of the world. Just a few weeks later, Charlie traveled by Portal for only the second time in his life, and arrived in China one brisk afternoon.

"Da?" Charlie asked. He was walking up a path between Will and Magnus, who each held one of his hands. They walked this way often. It was Will's way of holding hands with Magnus in secret, or so Will claimed. Charlie was the glue between them that kept them together. He was the honey to their slices of bread.

"Yes, Charlie?" Will asked. He stopped walking and knelt down, so he was face to face with Charlie.

"Where is it?" Charlie asked. Will grinned. He always acted happy whenever Charlie asked questions like this. It was like Will had all the answers and loved giving them to Charlie one by one. Charlie was inquisitive and found most everything regarding Shadowhunters fascinating.

Will took Charlie by the arm and turned him to the mountain they were approaching.

"Right there," Will said. "Look carefully, and forget everything around you. Concentrate. You'll find it when you aren't looking for it." Charlie squinted his eyes and stared at the mountain. The air seemed to shift, and then a doorway materialized, leading right into the mountain. There were steps all the way up to a large wooden door, and even a woven mat with letters lying in front of the door. Charlie knew from his lessons in Chinese that the letters spelled "welcome." He grinned. "See?" Charlie nodded. They continued walking.

"Do you remember, before?" Magnus asked. Will bit his lip and nodded. Every once in a while, Will got quiet, the same way Charlie did when he was concentrating on a big word in a book. In those times, Will's eyes stared into the distance; almost like he was trying to remember where he put something that he lost. Then Charlie would ask a question, and Will's lost look would disappear.

"It's been a long time," Will said.

"Not that long," Magnus said. "Not that long at all." He looked down at Charlie and winked. Magnus's eyes looked just like Church's, however, for as many times as Charlie asked, Magnus insisted he and Church were not related. "Hardly any time has passed at all."

Will shrugged. He was beginning to like he misplaced something again. Charlie squeezed Will's hand a little tighter. Will looked down and smiled.

"I miss Tess," Charlie said. "Why couldn't she come with us?"

"She wanted us to take this little trip on our own," Will said. Charlie nodded.

When Charlie had been old enough to understand that Tessa wasn't married to Will the way Aunt Charlotte was married to Uncle Henry, Will sat him down and told him all about his real parents. Charlie's father, Jem, whom Charlie was named after, had died fighting a demon and protecting Will. Will only said that Charlie's mother, Sophie, loved him very much and wanted what was best for him. She was still alive and sent letters often. Charlie didn't wish for her. Tessa was the only mother he ever knew.

As he grew, Charlie asked Will more questions which Will answered. Charlie's real father, Jem, was from Shanghai. He moved to London to be closer to his family's friends. Will and Jem had been parabatai. They had been closer than brothers, and most definitely best friends. Charlie's best friend was Ben, so he understood the feeling of being inseparable with someone.

"Da?" Charlie asked. He never called Will "daddy." He began calling him "dada" very early on and now shortened it. "Da, what was my real father like?"

Will stared off into the distance. Charlie thought he might not answer, but then Will knelt beside him once more and took his hand.

"Your father was incredible," Will said. "Everyone loved him, including your mom, and Tessa, and especially me. He was a good, loyal friend. He wanted the best for everyone. He wanted your mother to find love, and for me to as well. He wanted his family and friends to be happy. He wasn't selfish, Charlie. He loved everyone."

"Even Magnus?" Charlie asked. Will shook his head and smiled in the way that told Charlie there were more things to be said, that would need to wait until Charlie was older.

"Yes, Charlie, he would have loved Magnus, not before, when your father was still alive, but after he died and I was alone," Will said. "Your father wanted me to love someone. I have to believe, now, that your father would love Magnus because I love Magnus, and so do you. Do you understand?"

Charlie nodded. Magnus looked like he was going to cry. Charlie squeezed Magnus's hand to distract him.

"And he was strong and brave?" Charlie asked. "That to?"

"That and more," Will said. "Come along, now, Charlie. We're late for dinner." Will stood up again and took Charlie's hand.

The sun dipped low on the horizon as Charlie walked into the Shanghai Institute with Will and Magnus. A small part of his heart quivered as he stepped over the threshold. Somehow, Charlie knew he was home.

The End