I am back with an update for you.

Three the next day found Alec slumped into the hard bench seat at Taki's again, waiting for Clary to arrive. He had dropped Max off at the Institute about half an hour previously – this was hopefully going to be a private chat. Alec's worst fear was that Clary would bring Jace along because he really didn't want to see his brother again, but… well, who knew. Alec had just decided to go with it, which wasn't working. He was nervous and jittery; waiting for half an hour could do that for you, especially for Alec. And naturally, Clary was late.

Alec looked out of the window, at the oranges and yellows on the trees and the faint trace of damp in the air, and took it all in. It was New York, home and memories and just everything. Alec honestly didn't know how he had been able to leave all of it, but then again, he didn't quite know how he had managed to survive here either. He was just glad to be back, to have the chance to start again in the city that he loved and just… live. Magnus all those years ago had taught him to live a little, and although he wasn't with the man anymore he still remembered some stuff. Well, a lot of stuff. The memories, especially the really old ones, had become faded with time, and when Alec recalled what they had done together when they were fifteen the images were happy rather than holding pain.

Suddenly the image was broken by a figure walking unhurriedly down the sidewalk in a beautiful emerald green summer dress that shimmered slightly in the sun and massive black combat boots. No normal person could pull it off but then again Clary was one of those epic people that could. Clutching firmly to her hand was a small girl, a waterfall of curling golden-blonde hair falling down her back almost to her waist. She looked so cute in her little denim shorts and white button-down vest top it was unbelievable. It was clear that she had Jace's charm and Clary's stubborn uniqueness and spark. It was also clear that she had inherited Clary's height – the girl was sturdy but tiny; she looked as fragile as a porcelain doll, breakable if you so much as touched her, yet as strong as titanium. She was precious. Alec knew that. She was his niece, Tessa. Wow.

Clary beamed as she walked into Taki's and waved a little at him as she walked over. Tessa was clinging onto her nervously, latched onto her side like a limpet, her hair waving around her as she tilted her head slightly forward and partially hiding her from view. She looked a little like Alec then, very subconscious and willing herself to be hidden from the world. But then any thought Alec had on the parallels between himself and the girls disappeared when the two of them shuffled a little clumsily – some things had obviously not changed – over to the booth and slid in opposite him. The little girl twirled a lock of hair around her finger and looked up slightly. She had dazzling green eyes, the colour of spring grass in Central Park. Just like Clary's. Just like Clary's, they would grow up to show every inch of her soul in a single second.

"Hey Alec. How are you?" Clary hugged him across the table. Alec hugged back. He didn't care if people were staring.

"I'm good, thanks. I see that you have brought someone else along." Alec smiled gently at Tessa, who shrank back. Alec didn't blame her. He probably looked terrifying. It was a miracle that Max wasn't scared stiff of him.

"Yeh, this is Tessa, my little girl." She turned to Tessa. "This is your Uncle Alec, Tessie." She shrank back a little further. Clary sighed. "Sorry, she's a little shy."

"No problem, I wouldn't let anyone but Maryse near me at that age."

"Mom wouldn't let me near anyone, was terrified. I thought you should see her though, because I am not overprotective and… well, she is your goddaughter." Alec felt his eyes go wide.

"By the Angel we are on the same wavelength!"

"I know right!" Clary giggled. "Jace was hesitant, he complained about you not being here, but I told him to stop being stuck up. You had every right to leave, but that didn't mean that I didn't hold you in my heart. I still do. Secretly I think that he does as well." Alec's respect for Clary rocketed instantly at that.

"I'm glad that someone feels that way," He said, his smile suddenly faltering, "I didn't exactly enjoy that attack from my dear brother and sister yesterday." Clary's smile faltered too. Tessa was leaning against her mom with her eyes flicked shut and her thumb stuck in her mouth. Alec strongly suspected that she was asleep.

"Yeah, Jace told me about that. I was absolutely furious with him, he had no right! He was in half a mind to come today but I was having none of it. I thought you needed time to recover." His respect with her was through the roof and probably in the upper atmosphere by now. He half nodded at her.

At that moment the waitress came to take everyone's orders. Alec looked up and noticed that it was a small girl who looked about sixteen with dyed blonde hair (the roots were horrific), a small white blouse and pencil skirt, blue slippers and an almost feral smile plastered on her face. She must have been new in Taki's because Alec didn't recognise her and she didn't recognise him. Instead vision skated over him to Clary, who gave her a quick smile. So they must have known each other, as least to some extent.

"Heya, can I take your orders?" She said, notebook poised at the ready. She was holding the pen almost like a dagger over it. It was a little unnerving.

"Yeh, can I have the usual please Dolly?" Clary asked with a smile, not even touching the menu. Dolly nodded and scribbled something down. Then she turned her attention to Alec.

"For you, Sir?"

"Oh, just a mocha please." Normally he wouldn't touch the stuff but he was in a sweet mood. The waitress – Dolly – nodded again as she took it down. She looked a bit like her head was on a spring.

"Anything for the little one?" She directed at Clary. Clary turned to Tessa, who appeared to have woken up.

"Want anything sweetie?" Tessa shook her head nervously. Clary rubbed her back slightly. It looked so natural and caring it was almost unbelievable – but not quite. Alec had always known that Clary would be a brilliant mother. She was looking back up at Dolly.

"She's fine thanks."

"Okay." Dolly sauntered off back to the counter with notebook in hand like she was strutting down a catwalk. She was an odd one for sure, but at least she wasn't Kaelie. That bitch was yet another one on the list of people that he needed to avoid, that he could do without in his life.

"So how had life been Alec? Where have you been?" She didn't sound harsh or demanding. She just sounded curious. Alec could deal with that.

"It's been good. I've been in California for the past eight years, basically. Thought about coming back a few times, but I never felt ready, and then I got offered a job and… well, it was a big job, as you can tell by the apartment. So I had to come." Clary nodded. What was it with people nodding today?

"So, what did you do whilst you were there?"

"Well, I worked in an architects firm, helping out. I got quite high up, but what I really enjoyed was writing columns – I used to for all of the local newspapers. I applied for a job with Idris Times and they accepted me. I'm now their main columnist." He smiled a little at that. Well, it was his dream come true.

"That is awesome, Alec! I am so happy for you!" Clary smiled as him reassuringly.

"Thanks. How's life been for you?" Clary sighed.

"Eventful. Obviously there has been Jace and Tessa, but… well, I've lost Luke and Mom, and there has been a massive fight between Izzy and your parents, so we've had to deal with that, and… well, everything has fallen apart since you left. Without you Jace and Isabelle have had strained relationships with your parents, Magnus – we haven't heard from him at all, and… yeah. Sometimes it feels like you were the only thing holding us all together."

"What happened to Luke and your Mom… are they?"

"They aren't dead. They moved to Azerbaijan. One of Mom's weird things. Haven't heard from them since. That was what, five years ago? Something like that."

"Oh, I'm sorry Clary."

"Don't be." She waved him off. "I got over it. If they really cared about me they would have got in touch." She saw the look on Alec's face. "Oh, God, Alec, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that, I know you cared, I know it was different…"

"As long as you know that I still care deeply about you all." Clary took Alec's hand in hers.

"Of course I know that, Alec. You… well, you did just pack up and leave one night, but you had genuine reason too. Mom and Luke literally went with no word except a note which says 'we are off to Azerbaijan'." Alec nodded.

"It's okay."

At that point, Dolly came up and deposited their drinks. Alec took a sip, so did Clary and Tessa ate the little biscuits that came on the side slowly and methodically. Alec watched as she wiped a crumb from the little girl's mouth, remembered doing the same for Max all of those years ago. He was just growing out of that stage at the moment, getting to the point when it was embarrassing when his dad did that rather than normal. Clary noticed him smiling at her and laughed.

"What?" Alec shook himself out of his memories and thoughts.

"Nothing. I was just remembering things, that's all." Clary looked at him questioningly, and then it clicked.

"Oh, right, Max! Yeah, how did that happen?" Clary glared at him. "Come on, Alec." He gulped.

"Well, basically Magnus and I got totally pissed on my eighteenth in his gin stash, and we decided we wanted a kid. The next morning, we went and got a surrogate mother. Nine months later, Max and his brother arrived. Two days later, I was off with him. And now, exactly eight years later yesterday, we are back. That's it. Well, it's a lot more complicated than that, but it's the gist." Clary was gaping at him.

"Wait, he is Magnus's kid? And there were two?" Alec blushed.

"Yeah, and yeah." She gasped at him.

"Who is the other one? What is he called? Why did you leave when you had only just got them?" She seemed almost angry.

"Okay, for starters I tried to fix things between Magnus for the boys, but he insisted that the best thing was for us to be over, told me we were over and told me to leave. And I have no idea. We had just brought them home. I don't know if Magnus kept him, whether he gave him up for adoption, what. Hell, I don't even know his name. All I know is that I argued as much as I could to give them stability and two parents but Magnus refused to believe that we could fix things, refused to believe there was any other option. Maybe it was the best for them. But I can never know if it would have worked out any other way, and I can never know, because I can't change the past. I can regret why we broke up though." Clary had put a hand over her mouth.

"I seriously should keep my mouth shut, shouldn't I?" Alec laughed, eager to lighten the mood.

"Maybe you should. Can we just move off of the topic now, just have fun?" Clary smiled.

"Sure."

Okay, I know that it is short, but I think enough said for the moment.

Lu xxx