Far too soon they broke apart, having realised that they were surrounded by their friends and family, and that what they were doing was probably a bit much for company – even if it was their wedding day. They shared a slightly abashed smile, which widened as they registered what had just happened. They faced the audience, who continued clapping and cheering for a moment longer, before surging up to congratulate the couple.

Jace turned to his parabatai, receiving a slightly unexpected hug from the usually introverted Alec Lightwood. His sister was embracing Clary, until her boyfriend Simon joined the pair and wrapped them both in a hug together. 'My two girls,' he grinned, earning himself a thwack on the arm from each. Clary heard a high-pitched squeal and felt something smash into her. She looked down to see Val clinging onto her legs, grinning with her entire being.

'Cake time!'

Clary laughed. 'Soon. We have to see everyone first, then we can go get cake.' At the sight of her sister's pouting face, she carried on. 'Why don't you go look for Raphael? He's probably about as bored as you.' Val released her legs and ran off with renewed energy to find Alec and Magnus's adopted son, named for Magnus's friend Raphael Santiago, who fell in the Battle of Brocelind Plain, the culmination of the Mortal War against Hodge Starkweather. The same battle Clary and Jonathan's father had fallen in. Clary felt a pang of sadness at the memory of her father, but quickly regained control as she noticed Jace being embraced by Jocelyn and Luke.

'Congrats, Clary!'

The redhead turned and saw a pretty blonde girl of around sixteen, slim and athletic in a simple lilac frock. She was followed by a handsome boy of the same age, tall and brown-haired, with blue-green eyes the colour of the sea on a sunny day.

'Thanks Emma.' Clary smiled, reaching out to hug the girl. Despite the younger girl being six inches taller than her, Clary felt a surge of protectiveness towards her friend. Emma had become thinner and seemed older than the last time Clary had seen her, barely a few months before. Emma released the bride, replaced quickly by Julian Blackthorn, who enveloped her in a bearhug. As he stepped back, looking instinctively for the rest of his family, Clary noticed how Emma stood slightly closer to Julian than you normally might a friend, and internally raised an eyebrow at how they both seemed oblivious to how they were unconsciously giving themselves away.

Emma glanced up at Julian and bit her lip, eyebrows drawing together as she somehow registered something was wrong. Julian gave her an apologetic smile, and with a quiet 'Congrats' to Clary, turned towards his family. Emma grabbed Clary's hand and dragged her along with them to greet the other Blackthorns. Mark was chatting animatedly with Jonathan and Simon, while Helen Blackthorn and Aline Penhallow stood with fingers entwined speaking to Catarina Loss, a warlock with startling blue skin who worked as a nurse in a hospital in New York. Andrew Blackthorn, Julian's father, was balancing a six-year-old Octavian on his hip while twelve-year old Drusilla held his hand as he caught up with Jia Penhallow, the Consul, and her husband Patrick.

Julian stopped in front of Tiberius and Livia, both fourteen. Ty looked confused and on edge, staring at the ground, while Livvy prattled on about anything and everything in the soft voice she knew soothed him. Julian's forehead creased as he realised just how uncomfortable Ty was – all the noise and the people everywhere set him on edge. He leaned down to whisper in Ty's ear. The younger boy seemed a lot happier at what his brother had told him, and slipped his hand into his pocket, taking out a small set of headphones and putting them on. Ty then looked up properly and noticed Clary standing back with Emma. He shot an uncertain look at Julian, then stepped up to the two girls and shook the bride's hand.

'Congratulations, Clary. Thank you for inviting us to share in your joyful day.' Ty spoke solemnly, as he normally did when he wasn't totally at ease, although he did look a lot more relaxed having put on his headphones.

'The pleasure is all mine, Ty. I'm just glad you could all make it. Truth be told, I wasn't sure I could make it without seeing Emma do something insane at some point, so it's almost her fault you're here!'

Ty gave a shy half-smile as the others laughed. Clary was distracted by her delight that Ty felt sufficiently content with her that he could let his mental barriers down enough to even smile, so failed to notice that her husband had sneaked up behind her.

'Hey, Mrs Herondale.'

Clary shrieked as his arms wrapped around her waist. Seeing the surprised looks on the Blackthorns' faces, the pair burst out laughing at her overreaction. Clary leaned back against Jace, turning her head to kiss him on the cheek. Then his words finally sank in.

'Mrs Herondale… That makes me sound so old.' Clary sighed.

'You wouldn't be the first to think that!' The newlyweds grinned as they saw a slim, brown-haired girl move gracefully towards them, a boy of the same age in tow. Jace dropped his arms as Clary went to hug the newcomer. 'I was married at eighteen, and had the exact same reaction.'

'Did you get used to it?' Clary asked.

Tessa Gray thought for a second. 'Thankfully Nephilim don't normally call each other by their surnames, even in my time, but I didn't mind. Will was all I cared about – not the name.'

Clary smiled. 'You aren't the only one to think that about a Herondale either.' The girls laughed at Jace's slightly embarrassed expression. Then his face cleared, and he waved to Alec and Magnus, who had just passed Val and Raphael off to Jocelyn and Luke. The pair came over holding hands, Alec looking mildly uncomfortable at holding hands in public, tracking the judging glances that followed them. They joined the small circle that was forming, and Magnus went to greet Tessa and her companion.

'Tessa, biscuit, it's been a while! Last I heard you were in the Spiral Labyrinth, doing some research on the wards in South America.' Magnus's sparkling hair caught the sun as he faced the boy standing by Tessa, who had started smiling dreamily, like he was remembering something from a long time ago. 'Is that… James? Is it really you?'

'Hello, Magnus.' James Carstairs had a low, melodious voice, with an accent that sounded English. 'I'm back.'

'What… When… Wh–' Magnus stuttered. He took a deep breath and tried again. 'How?'

Jem smiled. 'When Valentine Morgenstern fought Hodge Starkweather in the Battle of New York, his sword was imbued with the power of the angels. Starkweather was stabbed with the sword, but it didn't kill him – he was too well protected by his demonic runes, as well as having possession of two of the Mortal Instruments. When Starkweather retreated to prepare for a more significant battle that he knew was coming, the Silent Brothers were alerted to the many wounded Nephilim around Brooklyn. I was sent there, along with several of my brethren. I found Valentine, who was suffering from several broken bones and numerous cuts – too many simultaneous injuries to heal immediately with iratzes. He told me of his sword as we returned to the Silent City. See, I had done much research over my years in the City, and had read an old passage saying that only the power of the angels could reverse the runes of the Silent Brothers, and release them from their vows. He had lost the sword over the course of the battle, but I vowed to find it and try to regain my old life.

'It took me several weeks to find it, after the war was over. The battle had sprawled over a large part of Brooklyn, and Valentine hadn't been sure where he'd lost it. Mundanes had mistaken it for various things, so it had been moved and binned and all sorts. It took ages to track it down, but when I found it... Well…' Jem slid his sleeve up to his left elbow. The group saw a white scar stretching across his forearm. 'It felt like I was burning on the inside. I lost consciousness a few times, but when I came around properly, I realised I could see. Not like the Silent Brothers – properly. After a hundred and thirty years, I was human again.' Jem glanced at Tessa, whose expression softened as she reached for his hand, twining her fingers with his.

Magnus still looked shocked. 'How did you find each other again? I mean, regular Nephilim can't simply summon a warlock from the Spiral Labyrinth, and news doesn't reach the Labyrinth often either – even something as abnormal as this.'

Tessa laughed. 'We had a standing meeting in London every year in early January. This year, when he arrived for it, to my surprise, he was mortal.'

Clary suddenly spoke: 'And you didn't know before he just showed up? I would have killed him.'

Tessa grinned. 'Well, that would have somewhat defeated the point.'

The group laughed. Tessa and Jem exchanged a fond look as they unconsciously mirrored each other's body language. Clary marvelled at how young they looked, and how easy it seemed for them to fall back into the relationship they had apparently had over a century previously. They appeared totally comfortable with each other, no barriers, as though they each told the other everything. As though the other was someone they could rely on completely. Clary only wished she could have the same – that every secret between her and Jace could be stripped away, that every fear became inconsequential when they were together. Never mind, she chided herself. It will all be over soon.