Izzy's POV

Even since I was born, Alec has been there for me. He's always made sure that I was looked after, that I was happy. He's caring to the point that he will sacrifice himself to protect those he loves. He's an amazing big brother and an amazing person. It doesn't matter if he can be a little bit too strict or grumpy.

Alec just never learnt to live for himself. He was too concerned about being the perfect son, the perfect brother, the perfect soldier. Through all that he never found time to be himself. He didn't even have hobbies, I think the closest thing he got to them was when he was trying to improve. Trying to get better so that our parents would finally be proud of him. He excelled in reading and writing because he spend hours teaching himself. His hand to hand combat is something he was never great in so he spend hours obsessing over ways to improve at it. With a bow and arrows he's the best, it was the only sign of rebellion he showed while growing up. I remember the day he chose them, our parents were furious.

However, he didn't show how much they hurt him and became the best. He taught me to be brave and to follow my dreams, he just never did it for himself.

Alec is a natural born carer but his need for perfection came from years of emotional neglect. He loves very few people but he does it fully; once he loves someone he'll go to the ends of the earth for them. Although me and Jace can be a burden and hold him back, he still loves us. He still covers for us when we sneak out and looks after us when we're sick. Alec is the best person to be loved by. He even trained us what he learnt in his lessons and missions when we weren't allowed to tag along.

To me Alec has never had any flaws, i always saw him as my hero. When our parents were away, Alec would look after me. He'd hold my hand when I couldn't sleep or was scared and he'd make me laugh when I needed it. I never noticed when my parents went just too far. When things sank a little bit too deep. But he never let me see that because he took his role as big brother seriously. I'll always love my big brother, even if he can be grumpy.

Jace.

Alec is the best Parabatei anyone could ask for. Even before the ceremony he was there for me. At first I was reluctant and refused his help but he continued to try. He would wake me up when I was having a nightmare and would sing me back to sleep. He never commented on how I cried and never complained when he sat awake all night. He barely even knew me but treated me like we had been brothers since birth. I'll always be grateful for that.

Alec used to help me train, he even cheered me on when I managed to beat him in sparring matches. He wasn't upset or jealous he was proud. Everything he did made me feel comfortable and allowed me to recover from my fathers teaching methods.

When we had the rune ceremony, we became even closer. Alec always came to me when the rune felt just slightly off, he calmed down a bit

after a while and came when he began to feel something stronger but he still cared.

Even when I neglected the bond, put it on the line, Alec was still there for me. At a young age, Alec also managed to block out most his emotions from the rune. He mentioned once that it was to protect me, allow me to be the best. I'll always be in debt to Alec.

He became much happier when Magnus came. He spent less time blocking his emotions from the bond and allowed his happiness pour through. I was shocked when I first felt it because it was never something I felt. Me and Magnus may not be the best of buddies but I'll always be grateful for how he saved Alec.

Alec has cared for so many people, even those he doesn't know. He's saved me too many times, allowed me to be reckless with no consequences. Taking the weight of the eldest with no complain, not a single whisper. He's a soldier, dedicated to caring for those around him. He's managed to change relations with the entire downworld, created something new, something outstanding. He's gone above and beyond once again, and will continue to do so. He's dedicated his entire life to those around him, no matter how little he knows them. He spends hours working through the downworlds problems and concerns and gets through all the mountains of paperwork. On top of that, he still takes Max out to eat every other Friday, helps Izzy do her hair and makeup when she's not feeling up to it, takes shopping trips with her and Magnus. He sees Magnus every chance he gets and sneaks into my room at night when he can feel discomfort through the bond. Hell he's even started to train Simon and Clary, giving them tips on both their fighting and life.

Alec Lightwood is an amazing brother and Parabatei.

Maryse

Alec has always been a caring person. He used to sit next to Isabel's crib during the night, holding her when she cried so that me and Robert wouldn't be awoken. The next day he would go to training exhausted, only managing to get a couple hours of sleep. I didn't even notice until he collapsed one day during training, that was the day I first reprimanded him. I shouted at him for hours in my office until Robert struck him across the face. The moment tears began to fall, I dismissed him, refusing to accept the fact that my son was weak. Even though we did that, Alec still snuck into Isabel's room at night, caring for her.

When he got older, Alec's punishments became more severe. Having to do long tedious jobs or train for hours upon hours. Eventually, me and Robert decided on the agony rune, a quick and easy method for us both. Ever since then, Alec worked harder in his training and spent longer hours studying. Even though the agony rune was more or less torture, he still protected his siblings, took their punishments. I was so proud of him for doing so.

Once when he was 12, he took the blame for Izzy and Jace trashing the kitchen after a food fight. Before I carved the agony rune into his arm, I told him I was proud of him. His eyes lit up when I said it, I pushed the feeling of guilt aside and continued my actions.

Now that i've been deruned, i've been left to consider my past, my children. I taught Jace that he's the best soldier, the best son. I was so proud of him when he excelled in him combat training, when all he used was his raw talent. I was proud of Izzy and her natural genius, but still to this day I am ashamed of the words of disappointment I threw at her. How I shamed her into becoming a version of me, a leader. However, now I've realised that Isabel isn't a leader, she's a warrior and a strong one at that. Alec was where I failed the most. I put the burdens of the world on his shoulders and punished him when he let it tremble. When he met my expectations I built them higher, impossible to reach until he did. I shamed him for everything even though he exceeded expectations in almost everything. He gained the responsibility of an adult when he was just a child. Forced to slave away just to make me proud, I will always regret the way I raised him.

When Alec kissed Magnus at the wedding, that's when I first saw it. He looked calm and relaxed, stress free. He didn't listen nor accept my judgement but also didn't push me away. Alec looked after me during the divorce and the deruning, forgave me without me even asking.

I love Alec, and i'm glad he's the caring, loving man he is now, I just regret how he now has his own demons lurking. The agony rune still carved into his shoulder, hidden by his clothes.

Magnus

Alec was a broken man when I first met him, haunted by his Shadowhunter expectations. Forced to deny his homosexuality and to carry the burdens of the world. It was clear that he was protective of Izzy and Jace, irritated at Clary's presence. However, he held an unexpected caring nature for others, giving me strength when I needed it, helping Clary when she was so clearly struggling. He was quiet but helped in more ways he should've managed too. He allowed Jace to abandon him for Clary and got lost in his role as a leader, lost without his Parabetie at his side. He never forced Jace to stay thought, allowed himself to endure the pain while Jace perused the girl.

Things began to change a little when we dated, he seemed lighter. The pain of the burdens of life was still there, but he was happier. He still sacrificed too much of himself to the shadowhunters, focusing so much time on everyone's issues and neglecting his own.

I remember seeing him laugh for the first time, it caught me off guard because it was something I had never heard from Alexander. It was so honest and light, full of the laughter stolen from him as a child.

He was insecure, inexperienced and unsure. He was always anxious, something that his mother most liked caused. He never made a move since the wedding, never wanting to push and go outside the boundaries because he was scared he would make a mistake. It was obvious. However, he also took all of the first steps, surges of confidence and pure love energising him. Our first kiss, first date, first "I love you", even our first time. He protected those around them with a fierce determination that was fuelled with his love for them. He would go out of his comfort zone just to accommodate others, like all the times I managed to drag him out to a club or bar.

Alexander managed to change from a sad, lonely boy to a brave, strong man. Even though parts of that lost child still lingered, still haunted him on his darkest days, not once did he stop caring. Stop loving. He poured all of his time and energy into protecting those he loved and it was always a selfless act. Alexander Lightwood is like no one else. He goes above and beyond any expectations, regardless of the consequences. I love him all the more for it.

Alec

Ever since I was old enough to talk, i've been expected to work hard. Forced to train too long, study too often. Pushing my body to the limits with so little sleep or rest. It got worse when Izzy was born, I immediately decided that I would do anything for her, be anything for her. The same feeling of dedication later came when Jace and Max came into my life. I took their punishments and spent most my hours caring for them. Tucking them in, sparring with them, giving them the love my parents never quite gave. My childhood was a mess but I had my siblings, that's all I needed.

It got bad during my teenage years. The expectations grew higher and I was forced into being a leader too soon. At age 13 I was reading through reports and making decisions I was too young to make, scrutinised by the older shadowhunters. I was targeted in practices by those who were mad that I was a Lightwood, bullied and ganged on for something I had no control over. I was harshly punished when I made mistakes, never praised when I exceeded expectations. I didn't have time to find hobbies or to sneak out. I was too busy being an adult at 12. On top of all my responsibilities and duties at the institute, I also had to look after my siblings. I spend hours comforting Izzy, training with Jace. I allowed them to crawl into my bed at night and steal my clothes when they wanted to. I covered for them when they snuck out, and took all the punishments for them. I wasn't happy.

Magnus was different. He made my head spin and my heart panic. I just knew he'd change the course of my life, no matter how reluctant I was. I was glad I kissed him at the wedding and I was glad I stood up for him afterwards. Despite our breakups, Magnus has never made me happier. Now I know that I love reading books, no matter the genre, that I hate movies but love how Magnus lights up at certain scenes, I love walks and picnics and pretty much anything with Magnus. Magnus is the love of my life and regardless of all the bad that's happened, i'm happy.