Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Clary took a deep breath looking in the mirror and ran a hand over the Iratzi on her neck. She can’t remember missing it when it was gone but now that it’s back, now that they’re all back she never wanted to lose her runes again.

There was a knock on the door “come in” she called.

The door creaked open and Isabelle popped in “hey, how are you feeling?” She asked. “Heard you got smacked on the mission today”

“Good, nothing an iratzi couldn’t handle.” Clary explained, glancing back at her mirror.

Izzy gave her a knowing look taking a seat on the bed “are you sure you’re okay? More than physically?”

“Yeah honestly. I feel better than okay. I’m whole again.” She turned and headed toward where Isabelle was sitting. “I have my memories back, my runes, my family.” She extended a hand to the other girl who happily took it. Izzy smiled up at her and Clary took a deep breath “but there is something still missing” she took a seat next to Izzy.

The head of the institute smiled in understanding “still missing a rune?”

Clary sighed “Listen I understand if me being gone for a whole year has changed how you feel about all this but… if you’ll have me I still want to become your Parabatai.”

Izzy smiled lovingly “Clary, the year you were gone was hard but it showed me just how much I need my parabatai, need you, by my side”

Clary smiled letting off a slight laugh as tears welled in her eyes and Izzy pulled them into a tight hug.

Chapter Text

Izzy was buzzing as she sat in her seat next to her mother at Taki’s. Alec and Jace were bickering about something with grins on their faces. Magnus was telling Maryse a charming story causing her mother to laugh. She couldn’t wait till Simon got here with Clary and Luke. This was going to be a crazy evening. Honestly Isabelle didn’t know how their family was going to react to the news. Still, she reached a hand down to her stomach. She was so happy to have this news she wasn’t going to let anyone make her feel sad for it.

“Hey, Iz. Izzy” Isabelle blinked and turned to Jace who had been trying to get her attention as she unknowingly spaced out.

“Hmm?” She looked at him questioningly.

“What do you want to drink?” Jace asked, gesturing with his head to where the waiter was standing expectantly. Izzy hadn’t even noticed he was there.

“Oh, uh, just water please” she told him. The waiter nodded with a smile jotting down the order and heading for the kitchen.

“What? Not going to drink with the rest of us?” Magnus asked.

“Uh no I can’t-” Izzy cut herself off slightly trying to keep herself from saying she couldn’t drink while pregnant she needed to keep a lid on this until Simon got here.

Maryse however, picked up on the cut “is everything alright?”

“Yeah fine,” Izzy smiled in a way that she hoped was encouraging as all four sets of eyes at the table were on her.

“Then why can’t you drink?” Jace pressed with a joking scoff. “It’s not like you’re pregnant”

Isabelle hesitated in finding a reply to what her brother meant to be a harmless joke just long enough for all four of them to get the answer they hadn’t even been looking for.

“Wait, you’re not pregnant are you?” Alec was the first to question as Izzy bit her lip, her hand going to her stomach instinctively again.

“By the angel” Maryse breathed out a smile already coming to her face.

Isabelle finally sighed her own smile spreading “yes” immediately Jace and Alec’s faces lit up in shock decorated with big grins. While Magnus was beaming similar to her mother “Me and Simon were going to tell everyone together when he got here with Luke and Clary.” she explained.

“Well you kinda failed there” Jace scoffed.

“Only because you and your stupid jokes” Izzy shot back with a giggle in her voice.

“Congratulations sis” Alec said, reaching across the table to take her hand.

“Thank you” Izzy smiled at her brother as her mother pulled her into a side hug.

“I’m going to be a grandmother,” Maryse exclaimed.
__________
“Simon, are you sure you’re okay?” Clary asked for probably the millionth time as the trio walked to Taki’s.

“Yes, Fray I’ve told you that” the vampire insisted.

“She has a point son, you do seem a little bit more jittery than normal” Luke agreed with more amusement than concern in his voice.

“I’m fine, I’m just excited for dinner is all” Simon explained.

“Why? Is it special somehow?” Clary inquired leaning into the boy slightly. “Are you planning to propose to Isabelle?”

“What? No, why would you think that?” Simon scoffed anxiously “Not- Not tonight”

“Meaning you do plan to propose sometime” Clary exclaimed giddily.

“Well yeah, there’s no one else I’m going to spend my life with” Simon spoke with a large smile and a swelling joy in his chest “especially now”

“Especially now?” Luke questioned and Simon’s eyes widened realizing he’d said too much.

“What’s going on?” Clary pressed, stepping out to stand in front of the vampire making him stop.

“I told you nothings up I- I just uh-”

“Simon Lewis you are a horrible liar” Clary declared, crossing her arms and giving Simon her best friend interrogation look. “There’s something going on with you and Izzy.”

Simon tried to stammer out a response or an excuse when Luke began to chuckle “relax it’s okay” he said placing a hand on Simon’s shoulder “I don’t know what you’re so worked up about it’s not like you could have knocked her up or anything”

Simon’s mouth flopped open like a fish and his hands went to his hips. He cleared his throat and shifted on his feet “actually fun fact about being a daylighter as it turns out-”

“Oh my god” Clary cut the vamp off. “You got Izzy pregnant!”

Simon let off a light chuckle “we were going to make the announcement at dinner to everyone” he admitted.

“Oh my god Simon!” Clary hurried forward and wrapped her best friend in a tight hug.

Simon smiled into the hug. As the redhead pulled back he turned to Luke who was looking down at him with an odd expression. “You know I’ve always thought of you as a son Simon” he finally voiced “and now you’re going to be a father yourself.” he shook his head obviously getting emotional “congratulations”

“Thank you” Simon smiled back at the man.

“God Simon, you're going to be a dad!” Clary finally exclaimed the fact just hitting her.

“Yeah I know it’s kinda crazy right?” the vampire said as they continued walking.

“How do you feel?” Luke inquired.

“Terrified” Simon admitted quickly as a smile came to his face “but excited in a way I never even knew existed.” Luke nodded and clapped Simon on the shoulder again. “But you can’t tell Isabelle I told you yet. You have to act surprised when we announce it at dinner. Swear.”

“Don’t worry Simon we got you covered” Clary agreed leaning into her best friend happily as they approached the restaurant.
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“Hey!” Simon exclaimed in greeting as he entered the restaurant. Izzy immediately turned to him with a grand smile. They hugged quickly and shared a chaste kiss as he took the seat next to her.

Clary greeted Jace and took the seat at his side. Meanwhile Luke got the seat at the head of the table between Magnus and Maryse. There was a moment of anticipatory silence where the members of the table exchanged expectant looks and the couple felt the immediate pressure on them.

“You told didn’t you?” Simon accused Isabelle in realization.

She grimaced “sorry, they got it out of me” Izzy giggled slightly.

Simon shrugged, resting an arm on the back of her seat. “Don’t feel bad I failed my interrogation as well” the vampire admitted sheepishly.

Isabelle looked around in shock “so everyone already knows?” There were exchanged smiles and laughs in confirmation. “Dios mio” Isabelle mumbled putting her head in her hands still smiling while Simon gave her shoulders a squeeze.

“Actually, I already figured it out before tonight even” Clary admitted and the couple gave her a shocked look.

“You’re my parabatai” the redhead explained “I could sense the change”

Isabelle sighed, reaching a hand out to her parabati. “Sorry I didn’t confirm your suspicions but we really did want to tell you all together”

“We just really suck at keeping a lid on things apparently” Simon chimed in and a round of laughter went through the table.

“Well at least now we can properly celebrate the announcement” Magnus voiced “as we are all happy for you”

“Thank you” Izzy smiled and looked to Simon whose gaze showed he thought the world of her; they shared a quick happy kiss as Luke called for a round of mocktails so Izzy could share in their toast.

Chapter Text

Izzy rolled over in bed cuddling closer to Simon next to her. Her hand resting on the small bump of her stomach. She smiled having the two most important people in the world to her so close, one of which still hadn’t gotten to experience the world yet.

Simon shifted next to her curling and arm around her to pull her closer and rest his hand atop hers on her stomach. She hummed and looked up at him. He smiled down at her and she could tell then that he’d been awake for a while.

“For a daylighter you don’t seem to sleep much at night” Izzy murmured “at least you haven’t been. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah,” Simon said softly “everything’s perfect I’ve just been thinking about something and I don’t know how you’re going to feel about it”

“If this has to do with baby names I am open to reconsidering Harrison as a first name but I want to pick the middle name” Isabelle replied drowsily. Shifting up to lay more on her boyfriend’s chest as he was leaning on the headboard.

“No, no, it's not- really? You’d reconsider”

“Simon” Izzy looked the man she loved in the eye “what is it? Talk to me.”

Simon sighed looking at the woman before him with a kind smile. “Isabelle, I love you” Simon said and Izzy shifted up to face him directly. “I love you so much and I’m am beyond amazed at the idea of starting a family with you” he paused brushing a hand over her stomach “and- and I don’t want you to think I’m just asking this because you’re pregnant Izzy I actually was planning to ask you before we even found out I-“ he sighed taking a deep breath and sitting up a bit more he took Izzy’s hand in both his own “Isabelle Lightwood would you marry me?”

Izzy gasped at the proposal and smiled fondly squeezing Simon’s hand with her own “Simon Lewis I want nothing more than to be your wife” Izzy told him leaning in to give the man a kiss.

Chapter Text

“Honestly it’s nice to be back in the field” Alec sighed scanning the street for any signs of the demons that were said to be active in this area.

“Yeah I can imagine paperwork must be far more stressful than nearly getting your head taken off by a ravener demon” Jace scoffed and Alec chuckled slightly too.

“It’s far less exciting,” Alec muttered.

“Wow if this patrol is exciting then you must really hate that paperwork” a new voice came and the pair turned to see Clary approaching them from further down the alley.

“Speak for yourself we already faced a couple monsters tonight” Jace replied with a grin.

“Yeah that’s why I got told to meet up with you two my sector was completely quiet but yours seems to be abnormally active” the red head explained as the trio kept moving “Lydia wanted more bodies there’s another team a block or two over”

“Smart, but we could handle whatever's out here” Jace said with a shrug.

“You know I’m surprised that one of you didn’t take over when Izzy went on maternity leave” Alec spoke up.

“Been there, done that, not doing again” Jace quickly objected “not my skill set”

Alec’s eyes swiveled to Clary she raised her hands defensively “hey I tried for a day and even with my memories back I was not prepared for it. Besides we all trust Lydia she’s a good leader and I’m sure once the baby’s here Izzy will gladly be running things again”

“Yeah last I heard bed rest was slowly driving her insane” Jace chuckled.

“And Simon,” Clary added with a giggle as they turned the corner onto the street.

“Hey speaking of which” Alec gestured with his head and sure enough the vampire was stepping out onto the New York City sidewalk from a small grocery shop looking through a grocery bag.

It took each of them a minute to orient to the fact that his apartment was only a block down from here. “Whoa that is a lot of peanut butter” Jace was the first to speak as they approached.

Simon looked up at them in surprise and then looked back at the bag which had to be carrying at least five of the jars and Simon had another bag on his other arm. “Yeah, Izzy’s cravings” he explained “she’s going through at least one of these a day at this point.”

“So late night grocery stop to restock?” Clary guessed.

“Yup, especially since the last jar we had at the house is currently splattered on the wall” Simon informed with a slight grimace remembering the mess.

“Oh please tell me that wasn’t aimed at your head” Jace muttered.

“Oh no” Simon objected “I tactfully avoided that by not telling her that she was turning the lid the wrong way for fifteen minutes. The wall didn’t get spared the same fate once the jar refused to open”

The others hummed acknowledgement and could easily picture the pregnant woman hurling a jar of peanut butter across the room. Isabelle’s mood swings had been legendary. Simon’s ability to handle them being just as legendary if not more so.

“So what are you guys doing out here anyway?” he asked, quirking an eyebrow “patrol?”

“Yup, there’s been some increased demon activity around here tonight so be careful on your way home alright” Clary said, slight concern in her voice.

“Don’t worry Fray I’m a badass deputy downworlder remember?” Simon grinned.

The red head rolled her eyes but it was Jace that spoked “you’re not that badass”

“Hey, a-” whatever witty retort Simon was going to come up with was cut off by his phone ringing. He fished it quickly from his pocket and answered immediately upon seeing the caller ID. “hey sweetheart I’m on my way home no need to worry I actually ran into- hey belle there’s no need for that it’s okay” Simon spoke sweetly into the phone with an easy soothing tone as he turned slightly away from the trio “it’s just a wall no need to get so worked up-” he held the phone away from his ear and cringed. It didn’t take super hearing to hear Izzy yelling something on the other end. When it quieted Simon placed the phone back to his ear “Iz I’ll fix it when I get home okay?” there was a pause and Simon’s mouth quirked into a light smile “hey, hey, there’s no need to cry, you’re alright, I’ll be home before you know it, I love you too, bye”

Simon hung up and turned to his friends “I need to get back before she spirals” he explained quickly. Then paused, giving Clary a wary look and the other two men turned to her as well. “You good Clary?”

“Yeah” the red head muttered, blinking out of her dazed state a bit, reaching her hand up to rub her parabatai rune “I just felt that whip lash, it's been getting stronger lately.”

“Welcome to life with a parabatai” Jace sighed, giving his brother a slight shove.

“Yeah well I’d expect to keep feeling it” Simon scoffed at his best friend “but I gotta go see you all. Good luck on the hunt”

“Good luck yourself” Jace called after the vampire as he sped off down the street.

Chapter Text

Family dinners started as a tradition not long after Clary lost her memory. It was a way for all of them to stay connected while their lives took on so many new responsibilities and they moved to different places. Once a month everyone would gather at Maryse’s apartment and have a meal together. Some would try to bring their own dishes or show up early to help cook. Isabelle would be kept busy during that time to keep her from venturing into the kitchen. It was a constructive time for them all and even after Clary was returned to them they continued the tradition.

“Ow hey watch it” Jace snapped with a laugh as he gave his Parabatai a slight shove. The taller man gave a shove back, keeping the pot in his hand (that he may or may not have intentionally bonked into the blonde’s head) steady.

“Boys behave yourselves” Maryse warned stepping into the kitchen.

“We are,” Alec replied, exchanging a mischievous look with his parabatai as he took the dish out to the dining room.

Maryse sighed “you may have all grown up but you’re still children at heart I see” she chuckled brushing at Jace’s hair.

“Yeah well we had some good role models on how to stay young” Jace pointed out and Maryse hummed with a smile.

“Hey, sorry to interrupt,” Simon said, popping his head into the kitchen with his baby in his arms. “Me and Iz were wondering if we could lay Roman down in your room for a nap? We brought the baby monitors”

“Of course,” Maryse agreed, coming over to coo at her grandson. “Someone a little sleepy after being fed?”

“Yeah,” Simon agreed, looking down at his son lovingly.

It was a side of the vampire Jace hadn’t seen that much but seemed so natural now that he was presented with it. He was a great father. Simon and Maryse left out of the kitchen before Jace realized he was lost in thought.

The shadowhunter took a deep breath and grabbed the last dish heading into the dining room where Clary and Izzy were setting the table. Magnus was hanging around watching. The warlock had long since stopped pestering the shadowhunters with the fact that he could magically set the table. The family liked the mundane habit of setting the table together.

Jace watched as Alec came around the table to hook Magnus into his side how his husband naturally leaned into him. Simon reappeared from the back with Luke and Maryse fiddling with a walkie-talkie device that had been introduced to Jace as a baby monitor. Izzy came over and helped her husband adjust the device to the right setting.

Jace smiled watching the couples interact. Suddenly the content of his pocket felt a lot heavier and something like fear began to creep into his chest. “Hey you alright?” immediately the feeling left chased away from him as he looked down at Clary’s shining eyes.

“Yeah” Jace smiled wrapping an arm around his girlfriend “just happy to be here”

Clary smiled at him but as always she could tell that he was holding back. He gave her a kiss on the head to help soothe her fears before pulling out a seat for her. The family gathered around the now fully set table happily. Luke at the head with Maryse on his right next to Izzy and Simon. On Luke’s left was Magnus and Alec then Clary and Jace took his seat at the other end of the table.

He wasn’t sure how he ended up one of the heads of the table. When family dinner had first started he’d been sandwiched between his siblings in the unofficial seating chart. Luke and Simon had clung close to each other while Magnus and Maryse worried about everyone as a collective, favoring their significant others mostly of course.

Then when Clary came back there’d been some shuffling. No one knew exactly where to sit anymore. Luke seemed the most comfortable taking the head of the table from Magnus who happily relinquished the seat so he could sit next to his husband. Everyone wanted to sit by Clary at some point, all of them feeling the need to hold her closer now that she was back.

Jace always was allowed to be at her side though. The others knew he needed to be there the most. Clary was just happy to be back; she didn’t care who she sat with though sometimes when conversation shifted to a story of what happened during that year Jace would feel her reach under the table and take his arm or hand. She needed him there too.

Eventually with the addition of Roman and the comfort of Clary being permanently back in their lives the seating solidified into their current configuration and Jace just happened to be at the end. The perfect vantage to watch his family eat, laugh, and talk with each other. With Clary in reach and oftentimes his nephew on his other side.

Dinner began how it always did with more eating than talking then someone made a joke. Roman woke up causing Simon to race to the bedroom real quick for a diaper change. Conversation was light and happy and slowly a metaphorical hole began to burn into Jace’s pocket.

Finally during the small pause between the main course and desert Jace cleared his throat and got to his feet. “I- uh there’s something I’d like to say. Or ask really. Ask Clary” He fumbled and immediately cleared his throat as his family looked at him expectantly with compassionate smiles which were almost worse than if they had teased him.

“Well?” Izzy prodded him to continue and he gave her a look laced with gratefulness as he took a deep breath.

“Clary” he locked eyes on the woman this was all about. His hand clutching the small box in his pocket. “Since the day I met you we’ve been connected. There’s something about you and me that was always meant to be. And I can’t imagine living a life without you especially after being faced with a year without you so-“ Jace took a deep breath and pulled the little box from his pocket as he bent down on one knee before the love of his life. “Clarissa Adele Fairchild, will you marry me?”

Clary sucked in a breath covering her mouth with her hand as her eyes shined with tears of joy. “Yes” she finally declared “I love you Jace”

Jace felt like his heart might burst. Clary wrapped her arms around him as he stood lifting her with him to spin her around.

The rest of the family cheered in excitement. Izzy and Alec were on their feet in a second coming to hug their parabatais’. Luke had a proud smile as did Magnus. Maryse looked teary eyed and Jace swore Simon was too.

After the round of congratulations and drinks and finally getting the ring on Clary’s finger. Jace felt like the luckiest man alive and every piece had finally fallen into place as he looked into his wife-to-be’s eyes.

Chapter Text

“Come on Izzy you know you don’t have to be working everyday with a two year old” Clary encouraged her parabatai as they sat in the woman’s office. The two year old in question was playing with some toys on the floor before them.

“Don’t worry Clary, I'm just finishing some paperwork while Simon is out in the field with Jace.” Isabelle assured.

“You three going out tonight?” the redhead asked, looking down at her nephew.

“Yup Simon’s sister got in this afternoon and we’re going out for dinner.” Izzy said.

“That should be fun,” Clary smiled. “You should be getting ready for that instead of doing paperwork.”

“Clary, I'm always ready. And the inquisitor is visiting tomorrow so I need to have everything in order for inspection” Isabelle stated with a mocking edge.

“Ah I see” Clary replied with the same joking tone and the two shared a laugh.

“Actually, the inquisitor arrived early” the women turned at Jace’s announcement as the blonde walked into the room. Followed by Simon, Alec, and Magnus.

“Someone wanted to visit Madzie and Caterina while we were here.” Alec explained as his sister hopped up to greet him with a hug and Simon went to pick up their son.

“And by someone he means himself” Magnus teased his husband who gave him an annoyed look in response.

“It’s great to see you, big brother,” Izzy said with a smile.

“You too sis” Alec agreed as Izzy pulled back to hug Magnus who Clary had already embraced.

Simon then approached with Roman in his arms. “And I’m sure this little one is excited to see his favorite uncle” Magnus greeted the two year old happily.

“Hey who says you’re the favorite uncle?” Jace asked incredulously.

Magnus gave the shadowhunter a duh look “because I have magic.” the warlock declared creating little rainbow streaks out of his fingers that made Roman giggle with joy.

Jace opened his mouth to object further when Simon intervened. “Wait, wait, wait, why don’t we let Roman decide who his favorite uncle is?” the vampire suggested turning to his child in his arms “hey so who is it who’s your favorite?” he asked in a baby voice as Roman eyed the men.

“Alec” the toddler proclaimed, reaching his arms out to be taken into the inquisitor's arms who happily accepted the offer with a smug smile. Both Jace and Magnus seemed offended and betrayed.

“The toddler has spoken” Simon proclaimed as the women laughed.

“Well I’m certain that I will become the favorite uncle of the next child to enter this family” Magnus declared, raising his head high. The adults shared a round of laughter as Clary crept over into Jace’s side and the two exchanged a look with a silent conversation.

“Actually Jace won’t be able to compete for best uncle with the next member of the family” Clary announced, turning to the others and placing a hand on her stomach.

“I knew it!” Izzy exclaimed immediately, going to wrap her parabatai in a hug.

“Wait, you’re pregnant like actually pregnant?” Simon questioned in shock.

“Yes Simon” Jace replied with resigned annoyance and light smile “we’re having a baby”

“Congratulations” Alec smiled at his parabatai placing a hand on his shoulder with the hand not holding his nephew. “But I’m still the best uncle”

“For now” Simon spoke up quickly “because now I get to compete to”

“Boys and your competitions” Izzy sighed as they all laughed.

Chapter Text

“You have a face” Jace accused giving his brother a side look.

“Everyone has a face, Jace,” Alec replied dryly.

“Yeah and yours looks like you're constipated” Jace pointed out receiving a look from his brother as Izzy choked on a laugh “what’s on your mind?”

“Nothing,” Alec objected.

“You’re so lying” Izzy spoke up finally “somethings been on that mind of yours all day now spill”

Alec sighed stopping in his step on one of Alicante’s streets he turned to the pair. “You know that warlock baby that was left at the academy?”

“Yeah the one with blue skin?” Jace clarified, giving his brother a confused look.

“Well, Magnus has been taking care of him since they found him- we’ve been taking care of him and- well we’ve been talking about seeing whether or not we can adopt him” Alec confessed.

Izzy’s mouth fell open as her eyes shined brightly and a smile spread on Jace’s face. “That's amazing man,” he congratulated, patting his parabatai on the arm.

“Oh, Alec you Magnus will make such great dads” Izzy said her voice higher pitched with joy.

A soft smile came to Alec’s features as he thought of his husband who was home with the little baby boy right now. “Yeah, nothing is finalized though so we don’t want to get any hopes up okay” he warned them “so no telling mom”

“Don’t worry lips are sealed” Jace assured.

The trio continued to walk down the streets of Alicante. Jace and Izzy had been visiting for a meeting with the Consul about a rogue warlock summoning hordes of shax demons into New York City. Which the institute had dealt with finally capturing the warlock and bringing him to the guard.

“So if I’m going to be interrogated, why don’t you tell us what has you all worked up? '' Alec challenged his parabatai.

Jace opened his mouth to protest but after seeing the looks on his siblings’ faces he huffed a breath in quick defeat. “It’s about Clary”

“What? Being in the house with a pregnant woman too stressful for the legendary Jace Herondale?” Izzy teased with a giggle.

“No Izzy,” Jace quickly objected, taking a deep breath. “Actually we went to the doctor the other day because there were some complications” he informed. Both Alec and Izzy became serious quickly at their brother’s tone of voice. “When we got there the doc did an ultrasound and found something” he paused, biting his lip.

“What did he find?” Isabelle asked worriedly, stopping in her step prompting the men to do the same.

“Well, it turns out we’re not having a baby” Jace paused as a somber expression fell on Alec and Izzy’s faces “we’re having two” Jace’s face curled into a smirk at the shock on his siblings’ faces.

“What? No!” Izzy exclaimed a smile returning to her face as she socked Jace in the shoulder “you’re having twins!”

“Yeah, yeah we’re having twins” Jace laughed rubbing the shoulder Izzy had punched.

“That’s amazing Jace” Alec encouraged “but also sounds terrifying”

“Oh don’t I know it” Jace scoffed as they returned to walking “I nearly passed out when the doctor told us. Clary started laughing hysterically” he scoffed “we’re so screwed.”

Chapter Text

Magnus was more than a little distracted. This became clear when placing the ingredient in a potion caused a loud pop and puff of smoke to come from the cauldron. The elixir was ruined.

The warlock sighed, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his temple. There was a small cry over the baby monitor and Magnus realized the small explosion from his potion had woken his sleeping son.

He quickly rose from his seat and headed to the nursery. The baby was wiggling in his crib, seeming quite perturbed at being awoken from his nap early.

“Oh hush my dear little blueberry, Papa is here, no need to fuss” Magnus spoke soothingly, taking his son into his arms and rocking him gently.

Max’s distressed whine slowly faded into a light babble as he snuggled into Magnus’s chest hand grasping at the necklace he wore. Magnus watched his son with a fond smile.

The warlock had admittedly been nervous when Alec suggested they adopt little Max. They’d had the conversation before about raising kids of their own but then it’d been far more hypothetical than having the infant warlock laying in bed two feet away from them.

Magnus was worried what kind of father he’d be. After having Asmodeus as his own paternal figure. This didn’t mean he didn’t want children. Being barren like all warlocks had always been something that disappointed him about himself. Many downworlders saw their infertility as a blessing; they didn’t have to worry about being tied to children as they ran about their immortal lives.

Magnus, however, lamented not being able to start a family of his own. That was why he mentored so many downworlders in need because they were like the family he never had. However, helping already adult downworlders navigate the shadow world was far different than caring for and shaping an infant's entire formative years and being their primary influence in life from the beginning.

Alexander was the one who finally gave him the confidence to take this step. His dear husband who looked at him like he was the most incredible person in the world. It was his unwavering faith in Magnus, despite knowing how much darkness was in his history, that convinced the warlock that he really could be a good father.

So they’d to adopt the infant child placed in their temporary care. To name him their son and work to make sure he had all that he would ever need in this world. Love him like no other.

Now only a month later he was holding his son and considering having a whole other conversation with his husband as a result. He wasn’t afraid of what Alec would say to the proposal but more concerned with how the clave would treat his husband as a result.

He thought over the details of his plan. It wasn’t explicitly forbidden within the clave rules, but it wasn’t exactly something he knew the clave would support. Still he felt the need to ask. Especially as he saw little sparks come from Max’s little blue hands.

He smiled, chuckling lightly as he began to sing a soft tune to the child wandering out into the living room of the loft. Max let off a stream of baby babbles at the song smiling back at his Papa. Magnus would do anything for his son.

As Magnus swayed and sang he heard the door to the apartment open and looked to see Alec sticking his head around the door as he came in. The Shadowhunters' eyes lit up upon seeing his husband and son in such a beautiful moment.

“Hey” he greeted, keeping his voice soft as Max had closed his eyes and seemed to be drifting into a doze.

Magnus hummed and lifted his head to accept a sweet kiss. “You’re home early”

“Jia cancelled our meeting this afternoon,” Alec explained, setting down his briefcase. “Something came up with Aline”

Magnus nodded in understanding “well I won’t protest the extra time with you” he smiled fondly and they both looked at their now sleeping son for a moment before Magnus realized that if he was going to have this conversation now with Alexander this would be the time. “Actually there’s something I’ve been meaning to speak with you about”

“Okay” Alec said with only mild curiosity on his face.

Magnus nodded and walked back to the nursery, laying Max delicately on the bed before rejoining his husband in the living room. Alec had shed his coat and was sitting on the couch waiting. Magnus sat down and leaned into his husband. Taking a moment to process his thoughts and grateful for Alec patiently waiting for him.

“Alexander, I’ve been thinking.” he began “with using having Max, I want him to grow up with others like himself. Like me, other warlocks and the community here in Alicante for downworlders is still so small. Normally I’d want to stay and build it but that would make things far harder for Max and I don’t want to do that. So I wanted to talk with you about the three of us moving back to New York City” he looked over at his husband.

Alec had a thoughtful expression on his face not one of positive or negative alignment “my family is also in New York so I understand what you’re saying Magnus but we do have responsibilities here, we can’t just walk away from them”

“I know, I’ve been thinking about that too. There’s another warlock here in Alicante that I know would make a great head for the city and have the devotion needed to help the community grow. As for you as the inquisitor, well, being married to a Warlock does have its advantages. I could create a standing portal between your office and our apartment putting in place necessary safeguards of course.” Magnus explained his thinking “you’d have a shorter commute than some even living in the city.”

Alec nodded, his head turned away slightly as he processed the request. Magnus wasn’t sure how he was taking the idea and waited with baited breath for a reply “I’ll speak with Jia about it during our meeting tomorrow. Get the ball rolling.”

Magnus was surprised by how easily Alec took the suggestion not that’d he’d expected an out right negative answer just perhaps some more consideration. “You’re okay with all this?” he asked, needing to hear the reassurance.

Alexander turned back to him an easy smile coming to his face “of course, honestly I’ve been missing the city as well. My home will always be wherever you and Max are but New York is where my parabatai is and my mom and sister. It’s where I grew up. I can’t say I haven’t missed it” Magnus smiled softly glad that they were of the same mind with this “but Magnus moving back would mean you wouldn’t be High Warlock anymore and I know when Lorenzo took over in Brooklyn that was a difficult transition for you. Are you sure you’ll be okay now?”

Magnus sighed “actually yes.” he revealed “I enjoy being High Warlock, leading my people and making sure everyone is okay has always been a position that I naturally fell into. But,” he took a breath looking to where the nursery door was “now that I’m a father, I want to be able to focus on that. I want to be there for him. I want to be able to spend as much time as I choose with him, not have to worry about everyone else's problems and just look after him and you.” he gave Alec a smile “once he’s grown-up and off having his adventures I’ll have plenty of time to get another High Warlock position but for these few years of his childhood, I don’t want anything to pull my attention away from raising him.”

Alec let off a sigh pulling Magnus in for a delicate kiss the warlock savored. “You’re an amazing man” the shadowhunter whispered on his lips “I love you”

Chapter Text

Jace was pacing anxiously up and down the hall outside the infirmary. It’d been hours since Izzy had felt light headed and they’d run into the library to find Clary passed out on the floor. Catarina and the institute doctor had been called immediately. Now Clary and his unborn babies were in the other room and Jace was out here unable to help them in whatever was going on.

As he turned to stride back down the hall again his arm was caught and he turned to see Alec looking up at him from his seat next to Maryse.

“Jace, you need to sit down, you're just working yourself up more. Breathe” his Parabatai instructed his eyes staring at Jace in concern and he could feel the calming waves Alec was sending his way. Jace huffed a breath falling into the seat across from Alec.

Izzy immediately snaked her arms around his shoulders to hold him causing Simon to release his hold on her other side. She was shaking, Jace realized. Of course she was, she was Clary’s Parabatai she was feeling this just as strongly as his wife.

After a moment Magnus and Luke came around the corner “anything?” The Shadowhunter asked, placing a hand on Maryse’s shoulder. She shook her head in the negative.

Magnus walked past them to crouch at Alec’s side. “Andrew and Lorenzo are watching Roman and Max” he informed.

“Thank you” Simon whispered, relieved his son was at least in a safe location considering where his best friend was currently.

Just then the door to the infirmary opened slightly, Jace was immediately back on his feet. Catarina stepped partially out. “It’s going to be awhile for the second baby but-“ she paused exiting the room fully showing the bundle in her arms. “I thought you’d want to have her to hold in the meantime”

Jace’s breath caught in his throat as he looked down at the little baby girl in Catarina’s arms. His baby girl. He scoffed, sniffing back tears he hadn’t realized were there as he took the bundle delicately.

She was small and light. Her head turned to the side and she stuck out her little tongue. Jace chuckled slightly looking down at her as he began to rock his body a little on instinct.

He turned to the others, his eyes still on the baby. She was beautiful. “She’s amazing” Maryse spoke first clearly among all the cooing.

“She looks just like her mother” Luke voiced, smiling fondly at the baby remembering when Clary was born and holding her in his arms.

“My little girl,” Jace breathed. And as if responding to his voice the baby peaked her eyes open staring up at him with a crystal blue gaze. “Hey, Evangeline,'' he called her by name. Receiving a wiggle in response.

“Evangeline” Izzy repeated the name breathlessly. Meanwhile, Maryse guided Jace to take a seat.

Jace felt like his heart was about to explode. After all the fear and worry now he was here looking into his daughter's eyes and she was instantly the center of his world. He felt such a strong compulsion to protect her and guard her from anything and everything that would seek to make her sad or in pain. She was his baby.

The door opened again Jace realizing that Catarina had disappeared while his eyes were transfixed with his daughter. She held another bundle in her arms.

“Clary is resting, this took a lot out of her but everyone is okay.” She explained coming over with the second child who was being far more vocal.

Maryse went to take the second child but Jace was already standing. He slowly handed Evangeline to his mother, almost wishing he had more arms so he could continue to hold her safely along with her twin but that wasn’t the case.

After Evangeline was settled he turned to Catarina accepting the second baby. “Your son,” the nurse informed as the baby continued to whine.

Jace rocked him gently feeling his smile grow as he looked at his son. “Shhh shhh it’s okay Arc daddy’s got you” Jace comforted the newborn and the baby’s cries slowly quieted.

“Arc?” Alec questioned the name lightly.

“Short for Archimedes” Jace informed.

“The philosopher? Fine choice” Magnus said.

“Actually, the inspiration came from a movie Clary loved as a kid,” Jace explained, eyes still on his son.

“The Sword in the Stone” Simon said knowingly and Jace nodded.

“Did you choose middle names?” Luke asked, eyes flicking between his two grandkids. As Maryse began to hum a small tune to Evangeline.

“Yeah, we actually chose the middle names first before settling on their first names” Jace informed his eyes moving from his son to his daughter briefly when she let off a small sound close to a laugh in response to Maryse’s humming.

“How’s that?” Simon questioned.

“Well, we wanted their first names to be unique to them but their middle names to be after those we loved.” Jace explained “so that they’d have real meaning.”

“What’d you choose?” Isabelle asked, as she lightly touched Arc’s little hand.

“Evangeline Jocelyn” Jace looked to his daughter as he said her name then turned back to his son “Archimedes Alexander”

Alec’s head snapped up to look at his parabatai “really?”

Jace looked up into Alec’s grinning face “yeah, who else would I want to name my son after?”

Alec looked close to tearing up at the sentiment. “I’m honored” he placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder.

The family spent the next hour with the children. Everyone wanting a chance to hold the twins, Jace always had one of them in his arms though. At one point when the twins were in Alec and Jace's arms as they stood next to each other. Evangeline reached her arm out for her brother and Arc reached back both of them letting out happy noises as their hands brushed. 

Eventually Magnus and Simon went to reclaim their sons from Lorenzo. Isabelle gasped shortly after her hand going to her left arm just below her Iratze where her parabatai rune was. "Clary's awake" she informed. "she's worried about them" 

Jace turned to the door and Luke opened it allowing Jace in first who was holding Evangeline again and then Alec who had Arc. Clary was awake and sitting up in bed talking with Catarina when the others entered she immediately turned to them her face lighting up. She reached out her arms for her babies. Jace delicately placed Evangeline in her arms and since she was laying down she was able to adjust her arms so Alec could also lay Arc down with her in her other arm. 

"they're beautiful" she said tears brimming her eyes. 

"Luke says she looks just like you" Jace informed gesturing to Evangeline. "Arc's got your eyes, Evan's are blue" 

Clary smiled looking between her children happily as Jace kissed the top of her head. She loved her family.

Chapter Text

The first time Alec got sick it was barely morning and he woke up with an uncomfortable feeling. Magnus was curled into his side as normal. Alec shifted trying to get the feeling in his gut to settle and felt his insides lurch immediately. The Shadowhunter flung out of bed startling his spouse as he bolted for the bathroom.

Magnus was quick to follow grimacing slightly as he saw his husband throwing up into the toilet. He snapped his fingers, summing to his hand a cool damp rag kneeling to dab Alec’s forehead.

“Alexander,” he spoke softly “it’s okay let it out”

Alec took a couple deep breaths cringing at the smell of his own breath and vomitus. “I’m fine now I think” he mumbled leaning slightly on the cool porcelain.

“I didn’t think Shadowhunters could get stomach viruses” Magnus voiced just as another wave of nausea hit Alec and he aimed his face again at the toilet bowl.

It took the second for the wave to pass but nothing to come up for Alec to respond. “We don’t uh I hope this isn’t anything bad”

“Food poisoning?” Magnus suggested thinking of what could affect his husband like this.

Alec only groaned in reply, reaching up to flush the toilet and taking another deep breath. Just then there was a small knock at the door.

“Dada, Papa” Max’s small voice came through.

Both men turned and Magnus gave Alec a wary look. The Shadowhunter nodded and waved his husband away to go check on their son. Magnus sighed, giving Alec another worried look before going to see what their three year old needed, hoping Max hadn’t caught this bug as well.

The sickness continued the next morning and the one after. Alec ended up taking the next couple days off. Which was rare for the inquisitor to do even after moving to New York and portalling to another country each morning. His assistant forwarded him some of his materials so he could look them over throughout the day.

Honestly he felt fine. Once the nausea of the morning passed he was fine. Well, mostly fine working from home proved to be a tad more challenging than Alec expected. With Max running in and out Magnus’s frequent interruptions.

At one point Alec snapped off to Magnus he quickly caught himself though once he saw the look in his husband’s eyes. “Sorry” he said quickly taking a deep breath “I didn’t mean that and you didn’t deserve that”

“It’s okay” Magnus assured, he glanced out at their son who was curled on the couch watching a show on Magnus’s IPad. The warlock slid the office door shut and walked over to his husband kneeling beside his chair and reaching up a hand to caress his face. “Are you sure everything is okay Alexander?”

“Yeah, yeah I think it’s okay, I’m okay” Alec replied “it’s just the stress of working from home and being sick and everything.”

“Yes I suppose this isn’t the most work conducive environment” Magnus agreed, eyeing his office which he hadn’t used as much since they adopted Max and moved back to NYC. Alec hummed rubbing his temple “you know Alexander if you need some quiet to work and recover I’ve been meaning to take Max to the spiral labyrinth to introduce him to the elder warlocks”

“Magnus I don’t want to kick you all out of the house just because I’m not in a good mood” Alec objected.

“Alexander, you’re stressed and sick and exhausted. Having a three year old with magic buzzing around isn’t going to help you feel better” Magnus voiced wisely “everyone needs a break sometimes. It’s no trouble and the sooner you’re well the sooner Max can play sharks and minnows with his daddy again hm?”

Alec sighed, putting his hand on the one Magnus still held to his cheek. “Thanks I love you”

“I love you too,” Magnus grinned “and because I love you I am going to tell you that sending a note to Catarina wouldn’t be a bad idea. She knows far more about the healing arts than I”

Alec let out a huff “maybe you’re right”

“I tend to be good at that” Magnus teased and received a fondly annoyed look from his husband.

“Papa! My show stopped!” Max called from the other room and both men sighed.

“We’ll be back this evening” Magnus told Alec “if you start feeling sick again don’t hesitate to send a fire message”

“I won’t” Alec assured him and Magnus gave him a nod and smile before leaving the office.

After Max and Magnus left Alec tried to focus on his work however, he found his brain ending up roped into a fog. After about two hours he finally gave in and sent a fire message to Catarina. It was swiftly replied to and soon the nurse was portalling into the apartment.

When Catarina saw Alec a concerned look came over her face. “Alec you don’t look well”

“That’s why I called you, Magnus is worried since Shadowhunters don’t really get sick and wanted me to speak with you while he took Max to the spiral labyrinth” He explained.

Cat nodded and directed Alec to lay out on the couch. “Shadowhunters falling ill is rare and typically cause for concern but I don’t want you getting too worried. It could just be a simple case of ichor poisoning or something like that”

Alec nodded the best he could, laying down as Catarina ran her magic over his body asking him about his symptoms as she worked. At one point while Alec was speaking she stopped and stared down at his body with a look of shock on her face.

“What? What is it?” Alec questioned as she focused her magic in on his stomach.

“By the angel” she murmured then took a deep breath to calm herself. This however, did not calm Alec. The warlock took a seat on the coffee table as Alec sat up on the couch across from her. “Alec I need to ask you some things” she began “Magnus told me a little about your dealings with Gabriel” she prompted.

Alec nodded “yes we saved him from a greater demon and in response he told us he’d be giving us a gift but never clarified what it was and we still don’t know if we’ve received it. Magnus says it could just be a time of good fortune but this would suggest otherwise” he muttered the last part dryly. “Why? Do you think the angel has something to do with this illness?”

“Alec, I think I know what the angel gave you,” Catarina explained carefully. “Gabriel is the angel of fertility and in the past there are records of him blessing male shadowhunters so that they could bear children. As I’m sure you’ve heard before”

Alec felt his breath catch in his throat “Catarina are you say that I- it’s not possible I mean not that I haven’t heard of those blessed by Gabriel but Magnus he’s- he can’t have kids no Warlock can”

“I know Alec” Catrina quickly replied giving the panicked man a look “but you are pregnant. More so the child within you is part warlock. It’s magic is nearly identical to Magnus’s. The baby is your and Magnus’s child”

Alec leaned back into the couch in shock. “I’m pregnant.” he voiced in astonishment “I’m pregnant with Magnus’s baby. Our baby” a smile had grown steadily on his face.

Catarina held one of her own when he looked back at her “congratulations”
_____________
Alec was practically buzzing when Magnus got home that night. He was positively still in some state of shock at the news and the medication for his pregnancy ailments Catarina gave him might have also had a hand in it but when Magnus entered the loft holding Max’s hand he immediately pulled his husband into a kiss and picked his two year old up to spin him around. Magnus was experiencing some whiplash with his husband’s sudden mood change but didn’t question it. He was glad Alec was feeling better.

The family sat through dinner and a Disney movie during which Max fell asleep and finally after laying they’re baby boy in bed and tucking him in, Magnus thought to address Alec and his mood swings.

“Darling, not that I’m complaining but your mood seems to be quite different then I was expecting” the warlock began carefully as they sat on the couch.

“Magnus,” Alec sat up and took a deep breath, a smile unable to leave his face. “I called Catarina and she looked me over and- and you know how Gabriel said he’d be giving us a gift.”

Alec took his husbands hand who was giving him still a concerned look “yes Alexander but what does that have to do with you being sick?”

Alec bit his lip “part of me wanted to wait and tell you in some special way but I- I can’t Magnus. I’m pregnant” Alec announced taking Magnus’s hand and putting it to his stomach “Gabriel blessed us and I’m pregnant with our baby”

Magnus took a whole five seconds to process this information, his eyes jumping between Alec’s stomach and his beaming eyes. He opened his mouth to respond and a smile spread on his face words failed him though and he simply pulled his husband into a strong kiss and when they parted he wrapped him in a hug.

“I- I never thought this would be possible” Magnus admitted “I mean I-“

“I know” Alec breathed into his shoulder “it’s a miracle”

Chapter Text

Clary paced anxiously at the door to the institute while Underhill stood with his arms crossed tapping a foot. She hoped her fire message had reached them out in the woods. Hoped they could get out quickly and be here soon.

Luke and Simon were with the kids in another room and Maryse was by Alec’s side. Part of Clary wanted to be there too but she needed to be here ready to lead Magnus to his husbands side the moment he entered the institute.

There was a noise at the door and it opened with the glow of a portal. Izzy, Jace, and Magnus all came practically running in. “Thank the angel I didn’t know if you got my fire message” Clary quickly exclaimed upon seeing them.

“Fire message?” Izzy asked her with a perplexed look. Clary quickly realized her message hadn’t made it through the forest's anti-magic wards.

“Clary where’s Alec I sensed something was wrong” Jace spoke up, placing a hand instinctively to where his parabatai rune was.

“Alec went into labor a couple hours ago” Underhill said quickly when Clary stumbled on her words. Magnus’s eyes went wide “he’s in the infirmary with his mother”

Magnus didn’t wait another second before practically sprinting through the institute to the infirmary. Clary, Izzy, and Jace were close behind him. As they turned the corner to the infirmary and Magnus reached for the door knob they all froze hearing a baby crying on the other side.

Magnus took a deep breath to calm his racing heart before turning the door knob and looking into the room. Alec was laying on the medical bed straight in front of him under a blanket, wearing a hospital gown. His hair was mussed and he glinted slightly with sweat revealing how much he’d exerted himself. On his face was a wide grin Magnus had only ever seen when looking at him as he looked down in his arms. Maryse sat at his side beaming as she brushed Alec’s bangs out of his face. Cradled in Alec’s arms was a small bundle of blankets whose cries had calmed into little babbles at Alec’s cooing.

Magnus only had a moment to take in the sight as opening the door had alerted his husband to his presence. “Magnus” Alec breathed, smile still wide, eyes shining. “Come meet our daughter”

Magnus’s heart leapt in his throat at the words he walked to his husbands side and looked down at the little baby held in his arms. Their baby. He felt tears brim his eyes and his mouth pull into an impossible smile as he sank down to sit next to Alec on the bed. He was aware of Isabelle, Clary, and Jace filtering in after him but he only had eyes for his daughter.

“Hello princess” he greeted her. She let off a small baby babble in response.

She was so small, so fragile looking. Her mouth moved but her little noises only sometimes came and her little pink tongue poked out every now and then. Her arms wiggled around seeming to grasp out for something. Magnus happily obliged, extending his hand she immediately latched onto his finger with both her small fists. They didn’t even wrap fully around his finger and Magnus realized how truly small she was. Though he supposed it made sense she was quite early.

“She’s completely healthy” Catarina informed from near the foot of the bed and Magnus nearly chuckled to himself. How well his best friend could read his mind. “She’s small but not too small for how early she is but other than that she a perfect little darling”

“She’s amazing,” Alec whispered.

“Have you decided on a name yet?” Clary asked softly.

Magnus finally looked up from his child to exchange a look with Alec. “We have.” he answered “Diah, it means beautiful young woman in indonesian”

“What a lovely name” Maryse cooed, brushing her granddaughter’s cheek lightly.

“And her middle name is Isabelle,” Alec said looking up at his sister with a smile.

Izzy gasped slightly “really?” she said her voice choked with emotion at the sentiment.

“Of course,” Alec told her.

“It’s perfect,” Jace agreed.

Izzy smiled looking down at her niece “well Diah Isabelle Lightwood-Bane when you get older your aunt Isabelle is going to proudly teach you how to kick butt in heels”

The family laughed at the joke and Diah squirmed when the chest she was cradled to shook. Her eyes finally blinked open for the first time to observe the world. There were a couple gasps from those gathered.

Alec almost laughed though as he turned to Magnus beaming “She has your eyes” the warlock only glanced at his husband briefly before looking back at the yellow cat eyes of his daughter. Eyes he’d never thought he’d see reflected back to him in such a way.

There was a knock at the door and Simon poked his head in “hey sorry but there are a couple boys out here that really want to meet their sibling”

“Bring them in,” Magnus said, nodding.

Rafe came walking in holding his toddling brother’s hand. Both were looking around the room in slightly concerned seeming wonder. Jace picked up Max handing the three year old to Magnus while Rafe climbed up onto the bed on his own and crawled to Alec’s side.

“Rafe, Max this is your new sister Diah” Alec introduced as Magnus withdrew his hand from the baby to adjust Max on his lap causing the girl to release a little whine.

“Her eyes” Max quickly said in awe pointing between the baby and his Papa with a smile on his face.

“That’s right” Magnus grinned “we have the same mark your sister is going to be a warlock like me and you” Max looked very excited at that as he turned back to his baby sister.

“She’s so tiny” Rafe muttered looking at the girl with apprehension.

Alec felt a small amount of worry creep into the euphoric feeling he’d been having for his daughter's birth. They’d adopted Rafe six months ago and at that point had already known they were pregnant. Rafe seemed to be having a hard time adjusting. Though he and Max were good together and he seemed to enjoy living with them. He’d always given Alec the feeling that he was just waiting for the shoe to drop and to be all alone again. Like they didn’t really want him. It’d been Alexander’s main goal to convince him otherwise and the man feared that maybe having a new baby would worsen Rafe’s insecurities.

After a moment of watching the five year old carefully Alec was shocked to see the boy lean down and place a light kiss to the baby's head. “Hello little sis” he murmured and reached his hand out to her. She happily grabbed onto his finger and he giggled a little at her touch. Alec exchanged a look with Magnus as his heart melted at the sight of his children’s love.

Chapter Text

Maryse sighed as she knocked on Alec and Magnus’s door. There was only a moment’s pause before Magnus answered and they greeted each other with smiles and hugs. “Maryse, you’re here for Alexander?”

“Yes, we’re going to get brunch” the woman explained following the warlock into his apothecary.

“How lovely,” Magnus replied, his voice a little tense. Maryse gave him a confused look but didn’t have much time to question as Alec came in with their almost two month old just then.

“Mother,” he greeted brightly giving her a kiss on the cheek “it’s good to see you but I think we might have to reschedule brunch”

“No Alexander it’s fine” Magnus objected quickly.

“What’s going on?” Maryse inquired, glancing between the pair.

The husbands exchanged a look before Magnus finally answered “there’s been a slight issue with Diah and the adjustment of Alexander leaving the loft”

Maryse nodded, because of the unique nature of her birth and strain it put on Alec’s body both dad and baby had pretty much been on bed rest and minimal duty in the loft for the last six weeks. Alec had finally regained his strength back enough for Magnus (and Jace) to feel comfortable letting him exert himself by going out, it’d still be another two weeks before he was back to work though.

“What kind of issue?” Maryse asked.

The men exchanged a look again. Alec sighed, handing Diah over to Magnus, the baby made slight noises of protest but snuggled happily into her Papa’s arms once she was settled. “Watch” Alec sighed and he began to back out of the room. The second he was past the door frame and out of view Diah left off a loud wail that startled Maryse slight. Alec stepped back into the room and toward his daughter she immediately stopped and snuggled back into Magnus’s chest. Alec repeated the action again with the same result.

After his demonstration he went back over to take Diah from Magnus so the warlock could continue the work he was doing before they’d interrupted. Magnus kissed the top of Diah’s head fondly though once she was back in Alec’s arms.

“She’s been like this since day one but it wasn’t as noticeable since we were together everyday anyway. Now,” Alec sighed “it’s become a bit of a problem. She won’t let me out of her sight, even with Magnus. We left her and the boys with Catarina last night so we could go out and apparently she didn’t stop wailing until I was back, it even worried Cat”

“My dear,” Maryse voiced, baffled. She began to think and a thought came to her “I have an idea” she told them before turning and walking out of the room. She headed into their bedroom and found the laundry basket taking out one of Alec’s recently used sweaters and bringing it back with her. “Give her to me” Maryse instructed and Alec agreed with mild confusion on his face. She gently wrapped her grandchild in the sweater before handing her to Magnus. “Alright now go” she told Alec gesturing to the door.

He hesitated glancing at his daughter before following the instruction. Once out the door he braced for the wailing that never came and leaned back to look through the door frame. Diah was completely content in her Papa’s arms wrapped up in the shirt. Maryse was beaming proudly and Magnus held nothing but relief in his eyes.

“It smells like you” she explained “it should hopefully sooth her enough for you to get away every now and then until she grows out of it.”

“Thank you” Alec sighed leaning in the doorframe.

“Yes” Magnus sighed smiling down at his girl “it looks like your brunch is back on”

“Right,” Alec agreed “I’ll try not to be too long just in case she realizes” he advised pecking his husband on the cheek and baby in the head quickly before again leaving the room with the slightest hesitation in his steps. The crying did not return again to his relief.

Chapter Text

“So I heard Roman was wanting to go ahead and have a rune ceremony” Jace chuckled as he walked with his sister.

Izzy sighed “he’s eight Jace he’s not ready for that”

“Good scores from what I hear and his mother’s charms” Jace grinned.

Isabelle smiled fondly thinking of her son “even Max didn’t have his rune ceremony until he was nine. Me and Simon agree we want Roman to take his time be a kid for a little while”

“That’s sweet” Jace sighed as they reached the penthouse level of the building. “But you know he’s a Shadowhunter one day just like our brother Max you’re going to have to let him grow up”

“I know” Izzy sighed “but today is not that day”

They reached Alec and Magnus’s door and knocked. There was the sound of shuffling inside and the door opened. A disheveled and pajama wearing Alec answered. “Hey you guys are early” he muttered.

“Figured you’d want to solve the demon problem quickly” Jace muttered looking at his parabatai with slight concern. “You good?”

“Yeah. Magnus got called to the spiral labyrinth last minute last night and I have to get the kids off to the sitters” Alec explained opening the door more. “Come on in”

Just then a nerf suction cup arrow stuck to the door jam between them. “What the-“ Izzy breathed out as Alec sighed and removed the toy.

“Rafe what did I say about shooting those inside?” Alec called as his eldest son came running up. The adults looked to the eight year old who was talking frantically but no words were leaving his mouth. “Max give your brother back his voice!” Alec ordered down the hallway.

“Do I have to?” Came Max’s reply. Both Izzy and Jace were working to keep the amused grins off their faces.

“Now” Alec insisted.

There was a flash of blue that hit Rafe in the face “I’m gonna kill batboy!” The eight year old declared racing down the hallway.

“No murder!” Alec called with a stern look and Rafe huffed and stormed into his own room rather than his brother’s.

“Eventful morning” Izzy giggled giving her brother a look. Alec simply answered with an annoyed look as they turned to go further into the main room of the loft.

“Ready to go!” Max declared walking into the room only to be grabbed by the collar by his father and turned around.

“It’s the middle of winter go put pants on” Alec instructed as his son trudged back to his room in pastel shorts.

“Magnus’s magic normally helps” Alec admitted as he and his siblings finally reached the couches.

“Daddy! Daddy!” Alec took a deep breath at the call of his daughter.

“What is it Diah?”

“I think I broke the toilet” the three year old called.

Alec’s eyes widened “that’s not good” he turned and hurried off into the other room however on his way he accidentally stepped on a stray toy in the living room he grimaced hopping on one foot as he rubbed the other “Max! Come clean up your toys!” He yelled as he disappeared toward the bathroom with a slight limb.

It was only a second before Max appeared now wearing pants. “This will be easy!” The six year old declared. Raising his hands with little blue sparks.

“Max are you sure about that you-“ Jace didn’t finish before Max had snapped his fingers and his toys were gone along with the coffee table.

The adults looked at him in shock and the boy grimaced before retreating to his room. A moment later Alec appeared with his daughter being carried under his arm and her bag in his other hand.

“But I don’t want to go” Diah was whining. “I’m sick” Alec plopped her on the couch next to her uncle and sighed.

“Well if you’re too sick to go to the sitters I guess that means you’re too sick to go to dance practice”

“I’m all better!” Diah declared recovering quickly and sat up to beam brightly at her father as there was a knock on the door.

Alec straightened and went to the door opening it. “Hey Jenna” he greeted the babysitter. “Boys it’s time to go”

“We’re here” Rafe replied, coming over giving his younger brother a shove in front of him.

“Ow!” Max whined.

“Hey don’t push your brother” Alec scolded checking the boys over before ushering them out the door.

Diah hopped off the couch and scurried over as Jace and Izzy also got to their feet. “Hey” Jace called to his parabatai tossing him Diah’s backpack which Alec caught and placed on her shoulders.

“You all be good. Love you three” Alec told them. They were almost out the door when Diah turned back and ran over to her dad to give him a hug.

“Have a good day daddy” she told him.

“You too princess,” he replied, giving her a kiss on the cheek. She giggled and waved to Izzy and Jace before following the sitter out the door.

Alec stood and closed the door behind them. He turned back to his sibling who both held fond smiles tinted with amusement. “The joys of parenting” Isabelle voiced.

Alec scoffed then noticed there was something off in his living room “where’s the- you know what I don’t want to worry about it” he sighed “coffee anyone?”

Chapter Text

“Meow!” Diah exclaimed, jumping into the kitchen in her little costume which consisted of black pants and a long sleeve shirt, black sparkly cat ears, and fake tail. Magnus had painted little whiskers on her face as well.

“Ah what a cute Kitty” Isabelle complimented as Diah ran over to Alec’s side and he scooped her into his arms.

“Where are your cousins and brothers? We ought to be leaving soon,” Magnus said.

“The twins are arguing over part of Arc’s costume” Roman informed coming in dressed as Dracula. Which made Clary chuckle a little.

“Alright the Lewis kids are ready” Simon declared, following his older son in, his two year old in his arms wearing a baby yoda costume with little green ears.

“Ah so cute” Izzy cooed at her two year old.

“What is he? A gremlin?” Jace asked.

“He’s baby Yoda,” Clary corrected.

“Clary, have you still not had your husband watch Star Wars?” Simon gasped.

“It’s a work in progress” Clary said quickly “I’m trying”

“Just don’t show him the prequels” Magnus quickly voiced. “Not worth it”

Jace was about to speak when there was a crash from the other room. “It wasn’t my fault!” Evan immediately called.

Clary and Jace both sighed “I’m going to go see what that was” the man declared heading out of the kitchen.

“Thanks for taking them with you guys,” Clary said, looking to Magnus and Maryse.

“Of course, any time to spend with my grand babies” Maryse replied. Tickling Diah a little causing the girl to giggle turning into her father’s chest more.

“Hey, Papa” Diah turned to Magnus with realization. “Can I show my eyes?”

Magnus hesitated replying looking to Alec. This was the reason they’d chosen the costume they did for their three year old but still the warlock was hesitant letting his daughter show off her mark in public. However, with a reassuring nod from Alec he sighed “of course Princess”

Diah smiled and lowered the glamor on her eyes revealing the amber cat eyes beneath. “Papa what about your eyes?” She asked.

“I’m not going to be showing mine off tonight dearest” he explained lightly adjusting her cat ear headband.

“It was an accident I swear!” Evan was saying as Jace and the twins marched back into the kitchen. Jace holding the pieces of a shattered vase.

“Evangeline” the blonde said scoldingly as Jace handed Magnus the shards.

The girl huffed “I’m sorry I accidentally ran into the table with the vase Uncle Magnus and Uncle Alec” she mumbled.

“It’s alright Evan” Magnus assured, snapping his fingers and putting the vase pieces back together on the table like nothing happened. “Nothing a little magic can’t fix”

“Evan, what did me and your father say about running indoors?” Clary chastised, crossing her arms and looking at her daughter who was dressed like the bride of Frankenstein. Arc dressed as Frankenstein’s monster to match.

“Not too” Evan grumbled.

“You look fine Max” Rafe was saying as he walked into the kitchen with his younger brother who was deglamored to show his blue skin and budding horns.

“Are you sure people won’t stare?” The younger brother asked.

“That’s the joy of Halloween Max” Magnus said, coming over to his younger son, “the downworld can be as free as they want for a night. If people stare it’ll be because they think you look cool”

“That’s what I said” Rafe stated, crossing his arms in his Peter Pan costume.

“Hey suns about to go down means it’s time for us to head out” Simon announced looking out the window.

“You all have fun,” Isabelle told them, kissing her husband on the cheek.

“You be safe,” the vampire replied.

“It’s Halloween patrol, it'll at least be interesting” Jace commented with a smirk.

“Why can’t you come trick or treating with us Daddy?” Diah asked as Alec sat her back on the ground.

“I have to go to work Princess, and keep the city safe for you all.” Alec replied looking into her sad cat eyes “but your Papa, Grandma, and Uncle Simon are going to take you and your cousins out for some fun”

“I can’t wait till I’m all grown up and can go on missions to kick some really demon butt not just stupid simulators” Evangeline voiced.

“Yeah grow a couple more feet then we’ll see kid” Jace replied, using the headpiece of her costume to rock her back and forth jokingly.

With that the family dispersed Simon, Magnus, and Maryse taking the kids out to the rest of the Halloween bustle for candy, meanwhile the four Shadowhunters took to the back alleys making sure no demons were going to ruin the fun.

“I still hate Halloween” Jace was insisting after the four finished off their third group of demons for the night.

“Says the man who took the kids costume shopping” Clary scoffed.

“Well, I said I hate Halloween, not that the kids did” Jace replied.

“I just hope they all have a good time” Alec stated as they started walking toward their next patrol zone.

“Worried about Max and Diah?” Isabelle deduced.

Alec sighed “part of me going on patrol tonight is to help with her separation anxiety” Alec explained. “That and their marks”

“Diah and Max have every right to be proud of their warlock marks” Clary voiced encouragingly “and I think it’s really good of you and Magnus to be making sure they are”

“Yeah and Rafe seems to be helping too,” Jace added.

“True, sometimes I think Max listens to him more than me,” Alec stated.

“Well, older brothers have a way of bossing people around,” Jace teased, giving his Parabatai a slight shove which caused them all to laugh lightly.

Meanwhile not too far off the children knocked on a door and it opened to a kind old couple “trick or treat!”

“Well aren’t you just the sweetest little things!” The woman exclaimed, holding out a candy bowl.

“What a fun tradition this is” Maryse voiced. Observing all the kids along the block. “I never quite understood it though”

“Well it’s just really about having fun,” Simon explained, eyes on the kids who had Magnus with them at the door. “Dressing up in fun costumes you normally couldn’t and getting a bunch of candy you normally wouldn’t and connecting with the community and people around you.”

Maryse nodded with a smile “well, I quite enjoy it and I think the kids do as well” laughing lightly as Evan held the candy bar she’d gotten up in joy.

“Next house! Next house” Diah cheered, buzzing with excitement and sugar.

The adults laughed as Magnus handed Maryse the squirming two year old and then the three year old bolted off into the crowd. “Diah wait for us!” Magnus called as their small herd of children followed in the girls path.

Shuffling after the kids in the small sea of people on the street the trio finally caught them at the next house. Magnus huffed a breath as the kids came off the stoop ready to scold his daughter however as he scanned over their heads he didn’t see sparkling cat ears. “Where’s Diah?” he asked.

The children looked between each other, noticing the girl's absence. “She was ahead of us,” Rafe informed.

“Diah!” Magnus called looking around the crowd as fear began to pump through his veins.

“By the angel” Maryse breathed looking around the crowd for the girl.

“Relax guys we’ll find her” Simon tried to assure the others as they began their search.
___________
Clary let out a sigh of relief as the last shax demon disintegrated into a pile of ash. “That all of them?” she asked, turning to Izzy who was also breathing heavily.

“I think so,” her parabatai agreed. Just then an arrow came whizzing past the two of them taking out a pouncing demon.

The women sighed and looked to the arrow's origin where Alec was lowering his bow. Jace standing next to the archer smirking “missed one” the blonde scoffed.

Clary opened her mouth to fire back a response as the pairs met in the middle however Alec’s phone going off interrupted. He pulled it out with a sigh. “Please tell me someone doesn’t suddenly need backup” Isabelle sighed.

“It’s Magnus” Alec informed answering and turning away from the other shadowhunters slightly “hey babe, what’s-”

“Diah’s missing” Magnus spoke quickly and Alec could hear him take a deep breath on the other line.

“What? What happened?” he asked quickly, his heart beginning to race.

“We were trick or treating on a crowded street and she ran ahead we went to follow and she wasn’t there” Magnus explained quickly “we’re looking but we can’t find her and I don’t have anything on me to track her with”

“Alright where are you?” Alec asked. After getting the information he assured his husband he was on his way before hanging up and turning to the others “Diah’s missing, she got separated from Magnus and the others and they can’t find her”

“By the angel” Isabelle breathed out in worry.

“Let’s go” Jace said, immediately starting to walk out of the alley the others quickly going with.

They’d been pretty close when Magnus called and quickly weaved through the back alleys to where they needed to be. Then Isabelle spotted something “Alec!” she called bending down. The others turned to see the sparkly cat ear headband she had in her hand.

“Oh god” Alec murmured, taking deep breaths to try and get air in his lungs and forcing his brain not to go to a worst case scenario.

“Hey at least now we can track her,” Clary encouraged, coming over to Isabelle with her stele to take the cat ears.

Just then a high pitched scream echoed down the alley. “Diah!” Alec called racing after the source his companions hot on his tail however, they all froze when they turned the corner.

Diah was there facing a shax demon “back” she was saying her arm stretched out in front of her but what was shocking the shadowhunters was that the demon was obeying her. It backed away almost cowering and letting off little hisses.

“Diah” Alec said softly and the girl turned to him with her glowing cat eyes. The shax demon hissed loudly and Isabelle quickly grabbed it and finished it off with two flicks of her whip. Diah turned and ran to her father as he bent to pick her up. She held onto his jacket tightly “hey it’s alright I got you”

“I got lost” Diah murmured “sorry daddy”

“Hey it’s okay” Alec assured her “you’re safe now”

Meanwhile Izzy, Clary, and Jace exchanged startled looks. What exactly had they just witnessed?

Chapter Text

“Okay that should be everything” Maryse murmured to herself looking around the room she’d set up for her grandchildren. It had formerly been a theater for the last residents of the home. It still had the large screen and speakers as well as a row of big plushy theater seats. Behind the seats was a slightly raised level where Maryse had put a shelf full of board games and a chest of toys. On the floor of the lower level she’d also laid out some blankets, floor pillows and bean bag chairs.

Luke had done his part as well by constructing seven fold out bunk beds three on one side wall and four on the other with a ladder on the side. Each was made up with the favorite colors and interests of one of the kids and labeled with their name. The youngest on the lower beds and the older on the top.

“It’s perfect” Maryse turned at the voice to see Luke smiling at her from the doorway.

“I hope so,” Maryse sighed “I want them to love it”

“And they will” Luke advised coming over to give his wife a kiss on the lips. “You put your heart into every piece of this. Now come on they should be here any minute”

Luke went to lead Maryse out the room but the woman paused, “oh, wait” she grabbed the remote on the shelf nearby and pointed it at the ceiling. The black out screens that blocked the two skylights in the ceiling pulled back letting the room fill with natural light. “Perfect”

Luke chuckled lightly watching his wife beam at her work. He knew she was trying extra hard with their grandchildren to show that she cared. After all the pain she put her own children through with her rigidity in their childhood she never wanted her grandkids to question whether she loved them. Sometimes Luke worried about her guilt and feared she might think of this as her atoning for her failure as a mother. But when he saw the genuine light in her eyes when she saw her children and their families he knew that they were her world.

Luke was just considering pulling his wife into a kiss again when the doorbell rang. He sighed “the kids have impeccable timing”

Maryse not privy to his line of thought gave him a perplexed look. He settled for giving her a quick peck on the lips before they headed down the stairs. The doorbell rang two more times in quick succession and he heard faint scolding as he approached the door.

“But I don’t hear anything” a little red haired girl was exclaiming as Luke opened the door.

Clary was looking down at her with a mildly amused expression while Jace who had been doing the scolding looked exasperated. “Hi Grandpa!” The little boy of the family was the first to greet Luke as he had actually been looking at the door.

“Luke” Clary exclaimed happily, coming forward to give the man a hug. “It’s so good to see you”

“I know it’s been too long,” Luke agreed, pulling back and giving Jace a hand shake just as his granddaughter wrapped her smaller arms around his waist.

“Grandpa!”

“Evangeline” Luke cut his and Jace’s handshake off to reach down and pick up the girl. “When’d you get so big?”

“I’m eight now Grandpa that means I’m a big girl” Evan replied tilting her chin up in pride.

“Oh I see” Luke chuckled and then reached down to ruffle his grandson’s hair “and you big man how you been?”

“Good, grandpa” Arc giggled.

“Well come on in” Luke stepped inside allowing Jace and Clary in with the bags.

“Jace, Clary” Maryse greeted coming in from the kitchen where Luke imagined she was making everything look perfect as always.

“Maryse” Clary greeted the woman with a smile giving her a hug before stepping back to let Jace embrace his mother.

“Grandma!” Evan yelled, wiggling free of Luke’s arms and jumping to the floor where she went to hug her grandmother around the middle. Arc followed swiftly behind her.

“Oh well hello you two!” She said brightly, embracing her grandchildren.

Just then there was more noise at the door. Luke turned and opened it just in time for a tiny blur to come racing in. “Elijah Simon Lewis I said no vamp speed inside!” Isabelle yelled, stepping into the doorway. Simon and their elder son Roman shuffled in behind her with the bags.

Eli came skidding to a halt in the middle of the foyer “but mom this place is huge!” he exclaimed, holding his little arms out to his sides for effect.

“I know right!” Evan agreed, bounding over to her cousin. Izzy sighed exasperatedly.

“Relax, sweetheart, I've already taken precautions for speeding four year olds” Maryse assured, coming over to give her daughter a hug. Izzy sighed and visibly relaxed in her mother’s embrace. Meanwhile Simon was receiving a hug from Clary.

“The house is awesome though” Simon agreed with his son looking around the foyer.

“He’s right, you all did great,” Jace said.

“Well thanks to Lucian’s salary from the clave and my booming mundane business we’re certainly blessed” Maryse hummed looking around her home fondly.

They had just bought the property a few weeks ago and finished moving in with the magical help of Magnus of course and the other less magical family members coming in shifts to unload boxes. Luke had been the one to suggest that to celebrate the move they host the large family for a weekend of relaxation. At first everyone was unsure they could get off for the staycation as Izzy was head of the New York Institute and Jace and Clary were her main leadership team. Not to mention Alec being the Inquisitor and though he was no longer a high warlock that didn’t mean Magnus didn’t have numerous clients too tend to. Simon was even getting more involved with vampire politics regarding deputy downworlders. That said everyone was able to alter their schedules to make room for the weekend of rest.

“Is Rafe here yet?” Roman asked, looking around the room.

“Not yet, Alec texted and said they might be a little late” Maryse informed.

“In that case why don’t we show you all around?” Luke suggested. “Starting with the kids room”

“Kids room?” Arc questioned excitedly.

“This way” Luke nodded with his head toward the stairs and all four of the kids followed him eagerly. Roman tried to act like he wasn’t as excited as his younger cousins. However, all the adults could see right through him.

Luke led the family upstairs to the door to the kids room. Then he stepped back to let Maryse be the one to show it off as it was her pride and joy.

“Alright this room is just for the seven of you” she told the kids. Opening the door the four children shuffled in each letting off an exclamation of joy.

“This is awesome!” Evan cheered, running to the bunk bed with her name on it, Arc following eagerly behind her and going to climb to the bed just above hers.

Eli began to zip around before plopping into one of the bean bags giggling. Roman was looking through the board games and movies on the shelves by the door.

“I’m glad you all like it,” Maryse smiled proudly.

“I love it!” Evan proclaimed jumping off her bed. Maryse was practically glowing with the joy of her grandchildren.

“Alright now it’s your turn” Luke said, turning to the parents of the rambunctious children.

They headed only down the hall slightly to where two doors sat facing each other. The door on the wall across from the wall with the kids room was the first Maryse approached. “This is Simon and Isabelle’s room” she informed, opening the door and allowing the pair in, it was decorated in a modern black and white with a small couch below the main window and a private bathroom and walk-in closet.

“We even got you a mini fridge Simon” Luke said gesturing to the piece of furniture in the room for Isabelle and Simon. “Figured it might be better than keeping the blood in the fridge with the other food”

“Probably more sanitary yeah” the vampire agreed with a smile “thank you”

Luke nodded in response as Izzy tossed one of her suitcases on the bed. “Is this ours?” Clary asked, pointing to the door across the hall.

“Nah that’s Alec and Magnus’s” Luke replied “has the biggest closest”

“I thought Magnus might appreciate it,” Maryse explained.

“Oh I’m sure he will” Clary chuckled and followed the other woman further down and across the balcony that crossed the foyer on the other side was another door.

“This is yours” Maryse opened the door and let them in. The space was beautifully decorated with a soft blue on the three of the walls and the door to the large private bathroom was open showing the large tub and space. “I decided to leave this wall blank for you” Maryse said gesturing to the white wall of the room. “I thought you’d might like to paint it yourself”

Clary smiled up at the large canvas “thank you Maryse that’s really thoughtful”

Maryse smiled lightly and the pair hugged while Jace sat down their bags. Just then the doorbell rang again. “Ah they’re here” Luke exclaimed, turning and leaving the room, the others eagerly following.

They met up with Simon and Isabelle on the balcony and descended the steps into the foyer. Luke went to open the door. As soon as he did however, a large bat went flying in. “Max! What did I say about transforming in other people's houses?” Alec called as he stepped into the doorway.

In a puff of blue the bat turned into a boy on the balcony. “To ask permission first” Max mumbled “but it’s grandma and grandpa”

“That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t follow your father’s rules Max” Luke told him then looked to Alec “don’t worry about it. It doesn’t hurt anything”

Alec sighed with a nod turning as Magnus and the other two children reached the doorway. “Sorry we're late” the warlock said, coming in with his daughter on his hip. “There was a small incident with an attempted spell cast at the loft” Maryse was already pulling her oldest son into a hug.

“Batboy turned my entire room pink” Rafe grumbled in annoyance.

“I said it was an accident” Max defended.

“Don’t call your brother names Rafe” Alec scolded lightly, seeming to be running out of steam.

“Kids, your cousins are upstairs in the special room I prepared for you all, why don’t you go see” Maryse suggested “it’s the second door on your left upstairs.” she called but Max was already heading that way and Rafe swiftly followed. Diah however, was still sitting in Magnus’s arms.

“Brothers are annoying,” she declared, causing most of the adults to look at her in amusement.

“Oh trust me, that doesn’t change” Isabelle advised with a smirk.

“Hey”

“What?” Alec and Jace both feigned offense as the former pulled Izzy into a side hug around her neck.

“I’m doomed” Diah exclaimed dramatically leaning back in her Papa’s arms as the adults chuckled.

Magnus sat her down and she hooked to Alec’s leg right next to her “You want to go see the playroom with the others?” Alec asked, looking down at her.

She nodded and he picked her up to take her with him heading up the stairs. Magnus snapped his fingers and their bags were transported up to their room which Magnus had helped Maryse set up. Then he joined the other adults heading for the kitchen where Maryse had wine and a cheeseboard waiting. Soon Alec returned with a sigh, taking the glass offered to him by his husband.

“I see Diah is as clingy as ever” Isabelle voiced with a smile.

“Yeah we’ve been trying to figure out ways to help her but it’s been a challenge” Alec explained. “Being with her brothers has helped though”

“Do you think it’s part of that whole Gabriel thing?” Simon inquired.

“Maybe, but it’s been centuries since the last shadowhunter blessed by Gabriel so there’s not much of a reference point” Alec replied.

“Either way this weekend is meant to be a time to be away and relax from stress” Maryse spoke up and raised her glass in a toast with the rest of the family.
______________
The house was quiet. Everyone was tucked in bed asleep. Diah laid in her bed tossing and turning. “Come to me. Child of my blood. Save me” the voice whispered. “You’re my only hope. Child of angel and demon. You can save me. We are blood”

The little girl startled awake, her cat eyes flashing glowing dimly in the nightlight. She could hear her brothers and cousins sleeping in their bunks around her as she sat up. The voice echoed in her head calling to her. Slowly she slid from her bed onto the floor walking to the door and out of the room. She walked down the hall pausing at her fathers’ door considering going inside.

“Diah, save me. You can help me” the voice called again and Diah continued down the hall heading for the stairs.

Max shifted in bed, eyes looking around the room he saw that the door was ajar. Curious, the young warlock looked across the room at his cousins. They were all still here and he could hear Rafe snoring above him so he looked down. Diah was gone. Worried he climbed onto the ladder and down to the floor heading from the room.

He walked down the hallway to the balcony. There he saw Diah standing in the foyer. He was about to call to her when she raised her hand and summoned forth what almost looked like a portal in the room. But this wasn’t a normal portal, it was black and grey instead of shimmering gold like the ones his Papa made. Then a man walked out of the portal. Tall with dark clothing, long dark hair, and in his hand was a cane.

Diah gasped, stumbling back at his appearance. “Dad!” Max yelled almost involuntarily. “Papa!” Both the man and Diah turned to him and he was startled to see they had the same cat eyes.

When they heard their son scream both Magnus and Alec hopped out of bed. The other residents of the house were also stirring and coming out. Alec saw Max standing on the balcony and ran to him kneeling at his side then he looked where Max was looking and his blood ran cold.

“Asmodeus” Magnus was the first to say standing next to his husband. Jace and Clary had exited their room and the blonde was half way down the stairs, but he stopped when the demon placed a firm hand on the five year old girl next to him. The dark portal faded and Diah looked up at Asmodeus with worry in her eyes.

“Let her go” Luke ordered, having come out of his room with Maryse below the stairs, his seraph blade in hand.

“No I don’t think I will,” Asmodeus replied with a sneer.

“What’s going on?” Evan asked, appearing as the first of the curious children who’d been awoken.

“Stay back.” Isabelle quickly told her as Alec guided Max back to his vampire uncle. “Just take your cousin and go back into your room.” the red head hesitated as Max reached her “go Evangeline” Isabelle insisted and the eight year old complied.

“How did you get here?” Magnus asked tensely “I banished you to-”

“Limbo?” Asmodeus cut him off “yes a horrible place. But you see my dear granddaughter here saved me” he said looking down at Diah who was shaking slightly “I called to her through our blood connection and she opened the doorway.”

“She did what?” Clary gaped, exchanging a bewildered look with her husband. “I didn’t think it was possible to bring someone back from limbo”

“It’s not” Jace affirmed looking back at the demon.

“Quite a gifted child isn’t she? And powerful.” Asmodeus said “you know my son, I was wary of you bonding yourself to a nephilim but, for your union to create such a powerful creature as this” he looked down again at Diah. “well, I suppose it happened for a reason”

“Let her go Asmodeus” Alec ordered, standing now that Max was safe.

“No,” Asmodeus replied glaring back at the shadowhunter “I think I’m going to be spending some quality time with my granddaughter” he said then looked to Diah “open a portal”

Diah, still looking at Asmodeus, reached her hand up and opened a portal. This one glowed gold as any portal should. “No!” Alec yelled as the shadowhunters rushed forward but it was too late. Asmodeus grabbed Diah’s arm firmly and took her through the portal. Luke stumbled as it closed before him, Jace froze at the foot of the stairs.

“By the angel” Isabelle breathed leaning into Simon.

“She’s gone” Alec murmured leaning on the banister.

“My god” Magnus flared with anger. As the family sat shattered.

Chapter Text

Two weeks had passed. Two weeks of Alec and Magnus staying up late into the night pouring over books and trying tracking spells. Two weeks of Alec using his stamina rune and Magnus downing an excessive amount of coffee and any time they did sleep darkness filled their dreams.

Magnus dreamed of the horror that was his father twisting and manipulating his dear princess. His nightmare mixed with memory of his own dark past and the horrendous atrocities he witnessed under his father’s guidance. But instead of his own hand being stained red it was Diah's, his little girl ravaged by a dark and cruel world his father dragged her into every shadowy corner of. Her heart stained black and her eyes cursed to always remind her of the darkness within her soul, of what horror her own hands had shredded into the innocence of the world.

Alec’s dreams were more lucid and startling. He dreamed of running through a park dark and haunting swings squeaking their chains glinting off the sparse street lamps. He heard his daughter laughing distantly and joyfully like it was an echo. He ran toward that sound desperately and always ended up in a dark room. Soft carpet under his feet, a bed tucked in the corner and a small vanity with nothing to decorate it. Light would filter in through the open doorway and he’d hear voices whispering and when he’d turn Diah would be there. First smiling her gold eye glinting greeting him as she always did in the morning “hello Daddy” . Then like the snap of a rubber band that image would change and his daughter would be sobbing covered in blood her eyes still a sharp glow in the room now shining with tears as she’d wail “Daddy!” . She reached for him and he’d reach for her but he could never reach her before she was pulled through the door by a dark demonic hand and he was startling awake.

The rest of the family wasn’t much better. Max was handling it worst of the children. Alec or Magnus would often have to scour the rafters of his room to find the little bat curled up in some corner sniffling. Roman was approaching all of it with a methodical numbness that worried Izzy and if he was half in his right mind would have seemed all too familiar to Alec. While Rafe saw to almost a caretaker's role comforting his younger brother and cousins better than the adults were sure a ten year old should be able to. Eli, too young to quite understand what was happening but knowing something was very wrong seemed to seek him out a lot. Arc was quiet, clinging to his sister's side who was the most volatile of the children, storming into conversations and asking blunt questions and raging when brushed off. The way she crossed her arms and held her head high with her chin tilted in the air giving Isabelle and Alec flashbacks to a young blonde boy.

The adults weren’t having better luck dealing. Maryse was left to watch the children after Magnus surrounded her and Luke’s house with his strongest and most powerful wards. It was swiftly decided after Evangeline’s fifth tantrum prompted a sharp word from Jace that the kids should not be kept at the institute with tensions so high.

Jace was anxious, feeling every bit of his parabatai’s helplessness and fear and anger. Clary didn’t leave his side a resolute statue of compartmentalization. Isabelle fed that energy with her own, the pair acting as a lifeline for the men. Simon and Luke were pulling every downworld resource they had, Luke still having connections with the praetor and Maia more than willing to help. As were many vampires that Simon had befriended.

It was at the end of these very long two weeks that the family’s pain and distress was met with a result. A huge spike of energy unlike anything they’d seen before and reeking of Asmodeus’s signature. They didn’t hesitate to head to the location. A park in a small town miles outside the city.

Magnus, Alec, Jace, Clary, Izzy, Simon, and Luke exited a portal into the park. What they saw made them sick to their stomachs. Simon gagged unconsciously and Clary muffled a scream. Isabelle was close to tears. Jace and Luke attempted to turn into icy statues but their facades were cracking. Magnus and Alec were devastated.

Chapter Text

Diah wasn’t quite sure what was happening as the portal closed behind her and she looked up at the man with her. She wasn’t sure why she had listened to him or why he seemed so familiar to her. She wanted to help him and she didn’t know why. Back at the house everyone had been really loud and really worried and she didn’t know why. He had eyes like her and Papa and he’d needed help. So she helped him. He’d smiled at her and been nice. So why was everyone so mad?

Diah wasn’t sure why the adults were behaving so oddly or why she was behaving so oddly. One thing she did know though was that now she was scared. The portal was closed and she was alone now with the cat eyed man and her Daddy wasn’t there or her Papa or her brothers. She wanted her Daddy, she wanted to latch onto his leg and have him pick her up in his arms. She wanted him there, she needed him there.

“Diah” a soft voice spoke and she looked up at the cat eyed man. “That’s your name isn’t it?”

Diah nodded mutely. She was scared and she was shaking and she wanted her daddy.

“Why so frightened my dear girl?” the man asked, kneeling down so his figure was less looming over her.

“I want my daddy” she mumbled, her voice squeaky tears coming to her eyes.

“Oh my dear, you don’t need him. You have me” the man smiled “your grandfather”

Diah sniffed “what?”

The man’s eyebrows creased together in confusion. “Did your fathers truly not speak of me? My dear, where do you think your Papa got his eyes and his power from. He has the blood of a demon flowing through his veins. My blood, the very same blood given to you. The same blood that makes your eyes shine and you so very powerful”

Diah didn’t quite know how to respond to this so she didn’t. Asmodeus didn’t seem to mind that very much and he rose back to his full height.

“How about we get you some new clothes and food and find ourselves a place to stay and I’ll show you all that power” he suggested, extending his hand to the girl.

After a moment Diah nodded, taking the man’s hand and looking into the eyes that matched her own. The pair walked down the street together toward an unsuspecting world.
______________
Diah was enjoying her time with her grandfather. He got her all the toys and treats she wanted. He’d asked some nice people if they could stay in their house and though they seemed hesitant, after Diah went outside to play and they’d talked to Asmodeus for a while she’d come back to find the couple had left and her grandfather had gotten her two fish to watch in an aquarium.

She got new clothes all sparkly like she liked. Asmodeus wasn’t as hesitant with his magic as Papa; he'd conjured whatever she asked for and taught her how to do the same. Soon she didn’t need to ask him before making her own treats and toys. Then one day they went to play at the park.

Diah was playing with some of the kids with a couple dolls she had made. Then a boy came over and shoved her to the side, grabbing the toy. “What’s this?” he asked with a laugh. Diah glared at the boy, he was about Max’s age and his nose was all crinkled “this is a soldier toy only boys can play with these” he sneered.

“Give it back!” Diah demanded.

“No!” The boy objected laughing and holding the action figure in the air as she reached for it.

“Is there a problem here?” Diah turned as Asmodeus walked up eyeing the boy.

The kid blinked up at the adult. “We were just playing,” he told Asmodeus.

“I don’t think my granddaughter liked your playing, boy” he said with a voice that made Diah suddenly feel very cold.

“No, no, I-” the boy was cut off as he began to gag. Diah looked to see little sparks of magic coming from her grandfather’s hands.

She looked between Asmodeus and the boy in shock as the kid fell to his knees. “What’s going on! Johnny!” a woman cried running over. Asmodeus turned his gaze to her and she suddenly began to gag as well, putting a hand to her neck and staggering on her feet. Diah was aware other people around her were screaming, the kids running away. Then the screams began to get cut off as more coughing and choking filled the air.

Diah looked around at the people collapsing all around the park. “Stop!” she finally snapped running forward and grabbing Asmodeus’s arm. The choking stopped for a moment but not many of the people moved as they struggled to regain their breath.

Asmodeus turned his sharp unglamored eyes onto Diah. “It's alright my dear, this is what it means to have power” he said with a thin smile coming to his face “they’re just cattle we are the higher beings here. Their lives don’t matter” he turned back to the crowd and the choking began again.

“Stop!”

Asmodeus froze, a ringing filling his ears and his body coming to screeching halt as if he was suddenly a stone statue. His magic dissipated and his hand refused to move at his instruction. He then turned to the girl at his side. Her eyes were a mirror to his save for a red tinge at the edge of her irises. Her hand was outstretched toward him and all around her waves of red magic were flowing off her body in all directions growing and growing. One of the waves lashed out at him burrowing into his chest.

He gasped looking down at the tendril of power and then up at the child that emanated it. Her face was set in a look between rage and horror. He began to laugh “so the legend is true” he breathed before the entire park erupted in red light.

Chapter Text

The adults were all settled in Luke and Maryse’s foyer. No one was really speaking, still reeling from what they’d just witnessed. Clary was leaning heavily into Jace as he was clutching her to his chest. Isabelle was sitting in Simon’s lap, her head buried in his chest. Luke sitting in a chair with Maryse perched on the arm of it holding his hand. He was clinging to the touch like a lifeline. Alec sat with his head down in his hands, Magnus sat next to him stiff in shock rubbing comforting circles on his husbands back to attempt soothing them both.

Coming out of the portal had been like stepping into a horror movie. The grass of the park was washed red with blood. What had once been human people were torn apart pieces scattered and unrecognizable. What had once been a playground was a jumbled tangle of metal completely disfigured and torn into monstrous angles, sharp metal pieces sticking out violently. Trees were knocked over or otherwise torn to pieces. What once might have been pieces of a bench or two were scattered over the ground waiting to impale someone not paying attention.

In the center of the massacre was a single figure shaking. Red pulses of magic were still radiating off her as she sobbed. She was looking down at a small stone on the ground, a patch of dirt where all the grass had withered and died and left it looking grey and dark. The stone was pulsing with a heartbeat. Asmodeus’s demonic core. All that remained of him.

“Diah” Alec had been the first to speak. As he stepped toward his daughter who was staring at the stone sobbing in a red dress. She turned to look at him and the shadowhunter sucked in a sharp breath. She wasn’t wearing a red dress. Her entire body was covered in blood, her face only slightly washed by the tears streaming from her eyes.

She’d collapsed after that. The family had retreated to Maryse and Luke’s house, Magnus locking Asmodeus’s core in an enchanted box sealing what was left of the demon inside. Alec had washed Diah off and laid her to sleep in Luke and Maryse’s room. Now they all sat wondering what exactly had happened.

A knock at the door made them all jump and Luke got to his feet. He opened it and Cleophas stepped in gazing around the room. “Cleo, thanks for coming”

“Of course,” the iron sister said breathily. “But I fear the answers I have for you are not comforting”

“What do you mean?” Alec demanded bounding to his feet “what do you know?”

Cleophas turned to him with sad eyes “the legend is true” she breathed.

“Legend? What legend? Which legend?” Simon asked in quick succession as Cleo and the others came back toward the sitting area.

“An old legend” Cleo began “back from a time before Raziel made the first shadowhunters it was foretold that one day a child of both an archangel and a greater demon would be born that would hold the power to rip the very world apart”

“What? What does that have to do with Diah?” Jace asked first, glancing at his parabatai who was clutching desperately at his husband.

“Diah was born under the blessing of the archangel Gabriel” Cleo explained “that means she possesses his blood within her and she is the granddaughter of a greater demon. She is of both their blood”

“You’re saying Diah is the child of the legend?” Izzy gasped.

Cleophas took a deep breath “so it is written that the child of the greatest forces of heaven and hell shall be born. Bearing into the mortal realm all the powers of the instruments: Their will shall create new Shadowhunters. Their voice shall control demons. Their touch shall compel the truth. Their glare will destroy those of demon blood. Their blood shall cause those who taste it to see visions. And they shall shred the veil between the angelic, mundane, and demonic realms. For they are the bringer of all destruction”

“Wait,” Clary spoke shakily, “those people who died at the park.” she choked slightly on her words “that wasn’t Asmodeus”

Cleo shook her head and Magnus nearly collapsed in Alec’s arms “she likely didn’t intend to, provoked by Asmodeus and with her powers unleashing with such ferocity…” she shook and ducked her head.

Everyone was silent for a moment as they processed “what are we going to do?” Alec finally spoke in a voice so fragile and small if it weren’t so quiet no one would have heard him at all.

“You cannot let the clave know” Cleophas spoke firmly “they will kill her”

Alec and Magnus both flinched drawing into each other. “We’ve lied to the clave before we can do it again to protect her.” Luke assured firmly. “We can keep it a secret”

“It won’t be that simple Lucian.” Cleo objected “her powers are weak now as she is still a child but as she grows so will her power and before long it will be too strong to hide”

“What if-” Magnus said, his voice hoarse with emotion. He swallowed the lump in his throat and took a breath “what if we locked her power away. Few outside this house know Diah is capable of magic or the situation around her birth. She may have been born in the institute but Catarina was the only one present for the birth and knew what Alec was actually experiencing. Of the staff Underhill and Lorenzo are the others. I trust them” he spoke resolutely now “we can simply say Diah was a shadowhunter child we adopted.”

The room was quiet for a moment “Magnus, if we take her magic she’ll never forgive us” Alec turned to look at his husband “she loves her magic, her eyes”

Magnus sucked in a breath he went to speak but stumbled on the words “not if you take her memories of having magic” Maryse was the one to say it but Magnus nodded in the resolution that it was what he also thought.

Alec turned away taking deep breaths. “You’d have to alter the other kids' memories too” Simon said “they’re kids they can’t keep a secret this big. Not with Diah’s very life hinging on it”

Isabelle looked at her husband in shock for a moment before pulling him into a hug. Jace sucked in a shaky breath. Clary was staring off at a point on the floor. Her mind all but crashing in on her.

“I don’t want to do this” Alec voiced “take so much from them, from her but-”

“We don’t have any other choice” Maryse affirmed coming to her son's side to comfort him. Alec stared at her for a minute before looking to Magnus who nodded firmly though his hands were shaking. “Okay” he breathed out.

Clary shot to her feet at that her mouth opened and closed as to say something but in the end she simply turned and bolted toward the kitchen. No one was surprised by her emotion at the situation. It was so much like hers that she perhaps understood the stakes of what this would do to Diah the most.

The red head paced back and forth in the kitchen taking deep breaths. Trying to calm her thoughts and emotions. She was being selfish, she told herself, thinking of what happened with her own childhood and the secrets her mother kept and memories stolen. This wasn’t the same thing and she didn’t want to stand in the way of protecting Diah.

She heard someone enter the kitchen and she expected to have her husband grab her hand and make her stop. “Clary”

She stopped and turned to Alec. He looked so small standing in the kitchen with his shoulders hunched and his eyes watery and his hands shaking. She still couldn’t find words to say to him in all of this.

“I know how you feel about memory spells,” he spoke carefully “and I know asking you to allow your childrens’ memories to be altered is something impossibly hard to do but please Clary, I can’t risk losing my little girl” his voice choked at the end.

A fresh wave of tears came to both their eyes. Clary took a deep breath “I know Alec and I’m not going to object to it. It- it is the only choice but-” she took another shaky breath “I need you to promise me something” she stepped closer to the man and he stared back at her resolutely “secrets like these rarely stay buried forever and if it does resurface, you need to be the one to tell her the truth. You need to be the one to guide her into it. Whatever happens don’t let it be too late” she pleaded.

“I won’t” Alec vowed, voice full of emotion “I promise” the pair pulled each other into a tight hug.

That night as the children slept Magnus altered their memories. Diah had been adopted and she didn’t have magic and she was just a shadowhunter with normal mundane eyes. Then he went to Diah and used an ancient spell from the book of the white to seal her magic away inside of her. He locked it away deep in her soul so that she wouldn’t even know it was there.

She would be safe.

Chapter Text

“Well, well, well” Jace said with a grin as he and Clary walked into his sister’s office at the institute. “To what do we owe the visit of the inquisitor. I swear if it’s something I did I have a good explanation”

Alec scoffed and shook his head pulling Jace into a brief bro hug. “I’m not here as an inquisitor.” he explained “it’s my day off and I was planning to take Izzy out to lunch”

“But the Clave has me very busy with another report on our progress with the recent uptick in Drevik attacks” Isabelle said standing behind her desk.

“It is a fairly odd trend” Clary pointed out. “We killed two queens this week”

“And there’s probably another one still out there considering Underhill ran into a worker bee last night” Jace added.

“Exactly which is why I am going to be stuc-” Izzy was caught off by a sudden scream down the hall.

“Mom! Dad!” Arc yelled his voice shrill with panic as he slammed into the open door frame. He was breathing heavily and tears wet his cheeks.

All four adults were on edge immediately. “Arc what is it?” Jace asked, kneeling down to his nine year old son’s level as the boy charged into his mother grabbing her and dragging her toward the door.

“It’s Evan, she- she collapsed!” he shrieked and the adults exchanged worried looks as they quickly followed Arc toward his cousin’s room. Fear bubbling up in Jace and Clary as they went.

When they got to Roman’s room the door was still flung open from Arc’s frantic departure. Roman and Rafe were there kneeling by their younger cousin. Evan was sprawled out on the ground. Blood was coming from her nose and a splotch of red was on the carpet next to her mouth where she'd coughed it up.

“Oh my god! Evangeline!” Clary cried while diving to her daughter's side.

“Izzy go get the doctor!” Alec ordered as Jace and Clary narrowed in on their daughter and he held the boys away, Arc sobbing into his uncle's arm.

Isabelle hesitated for only a second before sprinting down the hall toward the medical center.

Two hours later the four shadowhunters and Simon sat in the hallway outside the medical room. Arc cradled halfway into his mother’s lap. The other children were being watched by Maryse and Luke, they tried to get Arc to go as well but he refused to leave the building with his twin in distress and began screaming when pushed to do so.

When the door to the medical room opened everyone got to their feet quickly, Clary grabbing Jace for support. Magnus and the clave doctor stepped out both with somber expressions. Clary tried to stifle a sob and Jace pulled her in tighter to him.

“I’m sorry Mr. and Mrs. Herondale but I’m afraid Evangeline is very sick” the doctor began when Magnus failed to muster the courage.

“What do you mean? What is it?” Jace asked, cradling his wife and son close to him. “How can we treat it?”

“It’s a type of nephilim illness.” the doctor explained “it operates similarly to mundane cancer and can spread throughout the body. It seems Evangeline has been living with it for a time without realizing”

“Can it be treated?” Clary asked desperately.

“Yes” Magnus voiced quickly “there is a treatment via magic but this will be a long process” he explained somberly “and there’s no guarantee Evan will make it through”

Jace sniffed the normally stoic shadowhunter shedding a stream of tears as he pulled Clary and Arc closer to his body as if he was trying to protect them from the very air in the room. No one spoke for a moment as they processed the information. Alec stepped around to place a hand on his parabatai’s shoulder, the other being claimed by his husband who was shaking slightly. Simon was holding Izzy close to him who was crying, her eyes fixed on her parabatai attempting to send comfort through the soul bond.

“Uncle Magnus” Arc suddenly spoke up, his eyes sharp as they looked at the warlock. “Is my sister going to die?” he asked.

The air went stiff in the hallway and Magnus visibly flinched “I- I don’t know Arc” the warlock admitted.

Arc took a deep breath before ripping out of his father’s arms and dashing past the doctor and Magnus. He burst into the medical room and climbed onto his sister's bed taking her hand. “You’re not leaving me Evan. I’m not letting you”

“Arc?” the girl questioned lazily, her eyes half lidded and her skin pale.

“You’re not going to leave me,” the boy sobbed.

“Never” Evan breathed out drifting into sleep but still holding her brother’s hand as he cried.

Chapter Text

Clary sniffed and wiped her already puffy cheeks with her sleeve as she opened the door. “Alec, Magnus hi” she greeted with what energy she could muster for a smile.

“Hey, my mom made these for you fresh tamales” Alec offered and Clary happily accepted the dish smiling at the gesture.

“Thank you and thank Maryse for me” she said.

“Of course the last thing you need to be worrying about right now is cooking,” Magnus assured her as she stepped aside to let them into the house and closed the front door behind them.

Arc came trudging down the stairs to see what was happening and barely gave his uncles a glance as he went to his mother. “Hey sweetheart” Clary greeted her son with a smile running a hand through his hair. “Can you take this to the kitchen for me” Arc gave no reply other than taking the dish and heading for the other room. Clary sighed, crossing her arms over her chest “he’s barely said a word since we brought Evan home” she explained and Magnus reached out to rub comforting circles into her back. “Uh, Jace is upstairs with her now”

“I’ll go check on them,'' Alec offered, heading up the stairs to his parabatai.

Meanwhile Magnus guided Clary over to the couch conjuring them both some tea. “Everyone processes these types of things differently” Magnus advised “have you looked into having Arc speak with someone?”

Clary nodded “I set up an appointment for him with that child therapist you suggested”

Magnus smiled sadly “that’ll be good for him. What about you and Jace?”

Clary shook her head looking down into the warm tea cup in her hands “I can’t I- I have so much to worry about with Evangeline I need to be with her I can’t worry about that”

Magnus reached out a hand, setting it gently on Clary’s forearm. “You can’t be there for Evangeline if you’re not there for yourself first, biscuit. Evan needs her mom at her best”

Clary nodded and took a shaky breath as tears pricked her eyes and Magnus returned to rubbing soothing circles into her back.

Meanwhile, Alec climbed the stairs and went to his niece's room, the door of which was cracked open some. He peeked his head in to see both Jace and Evan laying on the bed, the former sound asleep. While Evan was sitting up next to him reading a book to herself.

She looked up at Alec and put a finger to her lips. “Shh dads tired” she whispered.

“I can see that,'' he whispered back. Coming in to crouch by the bed “how are you feeling?”

“Tired of people asking how I’m feeling,” the girl muttered in annoyance.

“Yeah that makes sense,” Alec sighed.

Evan turned to Jace who was still sound asleep. “He fell asleep while reading to me” she explained “I know him and mama haven’t been sleeping right. Arc either because I’m sick”

“This isn’t your fault Evan” Alec assured the girl.

“I know but I still feel bad making them worry” she murmured.

Alec reached up a hand and brushed her bangs out of her eyes the way his mother always used to do for him. “They’re your family Evan, they'll always be worried about you. It’s their job.”

Just then Jace stirred sucking in a deep breath and shifting. He looked around and spotted Alec who was rising back to a standing position.

“Alec? When’d you get here?” Jace asked, still obviously groggy, “did I fall asleep?”

“Yeah, me and Magnus just got here a few minutes ago,” Alec explained.

“I’m sorry. Why didn’t you wake me up sweetheart?” Jace looked to his daughter as he sat up in the bed.

“I wanted to let you sleep,” Evan said. “You looked tired.”

“Nah I’m alright Evan you don’t need to worry about me” Jace objected.

“Yes I do” Evan replied firmly giving Alec a look before continuing “we’re family it's my job”

Alec smiled lightly to himself as Jace gave him a suspicious look as he hugged Evan tight. “Thanks sweetheart” he kissed Evan on the head with a sigh.

Chapter Text

“Jace, Duck!” Alec yelled, drawing back his bow. The blonde shadowhunter didn’t even hesitate before complying with his parabatai’s order. Two arrows went whizzing over his head embedding in a pouncing Shax demon.

The demon writhed and then vanished in a ball of fire. “Thanks” Jace muttered as Alec jogged up to him and with the announcement of a click of heels Izzy appeared from the shadows.

“I think that was the last of them here” she informed. “But there's a tunnel back that way. I think it’s where they came from”

“Let’s go check it out,” Jace declared, already heading in that direction past his sister.

“Jace wait” Alec called after exchanging a look with Isabelle. Jace halted in his step but didn’t turn to them. “You were distracted. Normally a demon would never get a jump on you like that.”

“Well that’s what I got you for isn’t it?” Jace scoffed over his shoulder. The other two didn’t reply. “I’m fine, Alec”

“No you’re not” the other man immediately protested.

“I’m fine enough to get through this mission” Jace insisted, turning back to his siblings finally a fiery resolve in his eyes. Izzy turned away looking to Alec as she conceded. Alec didn’t falter under the gaze but let out a long breath through his nose and then began to follow Jace to the tunnel.

The siblings did manage to defeat the horde of shax demons on the other side. It was a hard fight and they were all drained as they got back to the institute and dropped their weapons at the armory. Alec hooked Jace’s arm then and guided him to the kitchen Isabelle followed. The younger two sat as their older brother brewed them some tea to calm the adrenaline in their veins.

It wasn’t until Alec was pouring the hot water into their mugs that one of them finally spoke “Roman tried using a whip today in training” Isabelle explained.

“How’d that go?” Alec asked, setting the kettle down now that the mugs were steeping.

“Gave himself a bloody lip.” she sighed “I’m just glad he didn’t take his eyes out”

“Don’t be too hard on him remember the first time you used a whip it didn’t go so well” Alec reminded with a soft grin.

Izzy gave him an annoyed look while holding her warm mug in her hands “How about Rafe how’s he doing with the bow?”

Alec couldn’t stifle the proud smile that came to his face and he was about to answer when Jace got to his feet. It wouldn’t have felt as abrupt if his siblings weren’t so sensitive to his movements right now. The blonde paced softly through the kitchen going to the counter by the sink. Alec and Isabelle’s eyes trained on him from where they still lingered at the island.

“It’s Evangeline isn’t it?” Alec murmured after a moment. “Somethings happened”

Jace scoffed bitterly, his breath shaky “something happened, somethings been happening for the last couple months and it’s not getting better and she’s not getting better and I can’t do a damn thing about it” he exploded, shocking both him and the other two. He sighed leaning back on the counter facing them.

“The other day I took her for a walk in the park” Jace explained his voice still choked with emotion “she hasn’t gotten out of the house a lot lately and I thought this would be good for her and we were walking and there was a bush of flowers in this reddish pink color and she ran over to them looking at them she was so happy and then she turned to me and said ‘hey dad if I die can you make sure these are at my funeral’” the man choked on his words slightly as tears now came to his eyes and he looked to the floor “I didn’t know what to say. I mean what nine year old thinks like that, what nine year old is thinking about what flowers she wants at her funeral” his body shook with a sob.

Alec crossed the kitchen in two stripes wrapping his Parabatai in a hug and holding him tight. “My baby girl is dying Alec, what the hell am I supposed to do?”

Isabelle soon joined the hug and the pair held their brother as he sobbed into them. Supporting him, when there was nothing else they could do.

Chapter Text

Diah woke up with tears in her eyes. She couldn’t remember the dream, only the fear it caused in her. She looked around the unfamiliar and far too large room. It was quiet, too quiet. She felt her heart racing as more tears came to her eyes. The institute wasn’t like home. It was colder and darker, even with her night light glowing over her head, and it was far too quiet.

She couldn’t hear the squeak of Rafe’s bed as he moved in his sleep or Max’s occasionally bumping the wall they shared. The sounds of the city out her normally cracked window or even the soft hum of her Papa’s wards. Everything was quiet.

Diah crawled out of her bed and ran to the door, a small sob escaping her lips. She pulled the door open and looked down the hall. It was dark. She didn’t know what time it was but it was still nighttime. It all looked the same she suddenly couldn’t remember which door belonged to either of her brothers or her cousins. She knew Papa and Dad’s room was further down by Aunt Izzy and Uncle Simon’s. She wasn’t sure how to get there though.

Diah sucked in a shaky breath and whimpered into the dark quiet hallway. She walked forward and thought to knock or open the door next to hers but stopped. Evan was sick. That’s why they were here in the first place and she didn’t want to wake her up, or Aunt Clary and Uncle Jace. She backed quickly away from the door and looked around more. There were so many doors and it was so quiet and dark and she didn’t know which was the right door and she didn’t want to choose the wrong door. She sobbed softly as more tears spilled from her eyes. She didn’t know what to do.

“Diah?” the six year old turned to see Roman standing at the end of the hall a few feet away from her with a glass of water in his hand. He was looking at her with worried eyes. “Are you okay?”

Diah was so relieved to have someone else there that she didn’t really think to speak before she barreled into her cousin wrapping her arms around him and sobbing into his chest. Roman was startled. He nearly dropped his glass of water and didn’t really know what to do about the girl sobbing into his shirt. After a moment though he recovered enough to pat her on the head, almost petting her before rubbing what he hoped were soothing circles on her back like his mom did when he was having a bad time.

After a moment her crying quieted and he took the chance to get some answers “what happened Diah?”

The six year old sniffed and pulled back slightly to speak but still clung to him. “I woke up and I was alone and it was too quiet and dark and I got really scared”

Roman remembered what Rafe had told him during training the other day. That Diah had just started staying in her own room a month ago, before that she’d shared with Max because she was too scared to sleep alone. Even though she never really said it, Roman knew Diah didn’t like being alone. If they talked about games Diah wanted to play games with teams. She hated hide and seek and would normally hide with someone else if she could, probably one of her brothers. When they had meals together at their grandparents, the institute, or someone’s house, Diah always sat next to someone even if there was room for them to have space. She’d cling to her dads, follow them and her brothers around, sit in the corner of a room coloring or practice her dancing completely on her own but never staying in a room that was empty for long.

Roman had gotten used to being there. If the person she was sitting next to ended up moving, Roman would take their spot. If Diah was trying really hard to get a dance move right he’d hang around in the room to make sure she didn’t have to stop to find another filled room. During hide and seek if he wasn’t the one searching he’d take her hand and hide with her and they’d partner together in games. He’d let her be his shadow around the institute when she came over and he always tried to at least make sure if he wasn’t around she was with someone else so she wouldn’t be scared. This was no different.

“Do you want me to stay with you?” he asked.

Diah nodded into his shirt and gently he took her hand prying her off him and led her back down the hall to her still ajar bedroom door. They walked inside and Roman wasn’t surprised to see one of Uncle Magnus’s magical night lights hovering near the ceiling. All the cousins had made use of them one time or another.

He closed the door softly and walked to the bedside table setting down his glass of water. Diah was still trailing behind him and sniffling. “Come on” he lifted her up slightly into the bed and she crawled under the covers. Roman laid down as well and looked to her as she rubbed her eyes. “Are you feeling better?”

Diah nodded and took a breath “it’s scary”

“What’s scary?” Roman asked after a moment when Diah hadn’t elaborated further.

“Being alone,” Diah sniffled.

Roman knew that would be her answer but it still felt strange to hear it come out of her mouth. “You aren’t alone Diah. We have a huge family to look out for us.” Diah sniffed again, burying her head in the blanket. “Why didn’t you go to Rafe or Max’s room when you were scared? Or Uncle Alec and Uncle Magnus’s?”

“I didn’t know which door was theirs” Diah explained softly “I didn’t want to accidentally wake Evan. She’s sick”

Roman frowned, Evan being sick was why the whole family was staying in the institute tonight to begin with. She’d been sick for awhile but today had been really bad when she passed out in the middle of lessons. She’d coughed up a lot of blood and though they didn’t tell them anything Roman was old enough to know that all the adults were on edge about the situation. Uncle Alec had been so worried about Uncle Jace and Uncle Magnus so worried about Uncle Alec that they’d decided to stay the night despite their apartment not being that far away. Still, Roman felt kinda bad for Diah’s worry.

“Diah, Evan is staying in the infirmary with Aunt Clary and Uncle Jace. You couldn’t have woken them up. Arc is probably there too” he informed her. Diah looked up at him with her big brown eyes that started watering again. “Don’t cry it was an honest mistake and made for the right reasons” it was no use Diah was crying again. Roman sighed again, rubbing what he once again hoped were soothing circles on her back.

“I don’t like being so alone” Diah cried “I don’t want to be alone again”

Roman looked down at her sadly. He didn’t want her to be alone again either. Then a thought came to him “hey, Diah I have an idea.” he told her and he waited for the watery brown eyes to look at him again before he continued. “When you get older and have your rune ceremony if you want we could become parabatai that way no matter where you go part of me will be with you so you won’t be alone”

Diah sucked in a tight breath and Roman thought for a second that this might have been a bad thing to suggest. “Really?” she finally voiced “you want to be my parabatai? Like Daddy and Uncle Jace?”

“Yeah and like my mom and Aunt Clary.” Roman agreed, a smile coming to his face. “Whither thou goest I will go. It’s in the oath. You won’t be alone Diah”

The little girl started to cry again but she was smiling as she latched onto Roman’s shirt again and cried into his chest. He held her close and eventually her crying faded and her breathing evened out. That night Roman went to sleep happy thinking about his little cousin and their future as parabatai. Diah wouldn’t be alone again.

Chapter Text

A year and a half after Evan’s original diagnosis the Herondales sat in the institute infirmary with anxious energy. Evangeline laid out on the exam table Magnus waving his hands over her with his magic.

When Magnus pulled back Evan sat up and they turned to the warlock eagerly to hear what he had to say.

Magnus gave a soft smile. Clary and Jace both let off audible sighs releasing the tension in their bodies slightly.

“Now, I want to start off by saying that there is still some recovery that needs to be done and I want to retest Evan regularly just to be certain” Magnus prefaced with all the wary information before telling them the real news “but as of today Evan is free of her illness”

Clary began to cry immediately and though Jace tried to not show it his eyes watered as well. Evan was stunned in a state of shock as she was squished into a hug by her family. Arc held tightly to his sister even as their parents managed to pull away he refused to let go and she would never make him.

Chapter Text

“I want to come!” Eli demanded and Roman quickly covered his younger brother’s mouth with his hand.

“Shut up Eli! You’re too little” he told him “you haven’t even had your rune ceremony yet”

“The twins just had there's two days ago,” Diah whined.

“Which makes us qualified,” Arc muttered.

They were all talking in hushed voices in one of the institute corridors. “Just go back to bed. Come on guys we need to go” Evangeline rushed her cousins bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement.

“Hey you know some of us want to sleep” came another whisper as a door further down the hall opened.

“Hey, Max we’re sneaking out, want to come with?” Rafe asked his brother.

“You ask Max and not me?” Diah complained.

“Why would I want to go sneak out and hunt demons with you stupid nephilium” Max muttered. “Just go to bed”

“Come on” Evan again whined.

“Alright let’s go. You two to bed. You can come when you’re older” Roman ordered turning and leading the other young shadowhunters through the institute. Eli and Diah huffing in annoyance in their wake.

The cousins had all been left at the institute for the night while their parents went out. Normally they would stay with their grandparents but Luke and Maryse were on vacation leaving the seven kids under the institute supervision. This in hindsight probably was a bad idea.

The four easily snuck their way through the corridors of the living quarters and to the roof access door. From there it was a couple agility and jumping runes off the roof coupled with silencing runes. Soon they were home free.

Evan was the first to kick off into a run at being released like she was some wild creature breaking from a cage, her wild red hair whipping behind her. Arc has only a heartbeat behind her instinctively sensing his sister's need to let off her cooped up energy. Rafe and Roman were a few paces behind.

“Wahoo!” Evan cheered kicking off a tree to do a little flip.

The boys laughed and Rafe jumped up into another tree nearby swinging off it in a back flip. They all continued to race through the park before heading toward the bustle of the city to have some real fun.

“Wait! Make sure we’re glamored” Roman instructed, activating his own rune which prompted the others to do the same.

Now disguised from mundane eyes they headed down into the subway and then the tunnels beyond. “Let’s go find some demons” Evan encouraged her hand already on her blade.

“That is what we came down here for” Roman scoffed “but that doesn’t mean we can be reckless”

“Oh, but reckless is fun,” Evangeline replied. “And I’m finally ready for some action”

This wasn’t Rafe or Roman’s first time hunting demons. They’d both had their rune ceremonies three years previous when they were ten. The twins on the other hand hadn’t had the privilege being only eleven now themselves. This was however, Rafe and Roman’s first time hunting without adult shadowhunters watching over them, determining what was too dangerous, and guarding them.

Rafe wasn’t sure whether he was glad for that or not. Roman however seemed to be filling the role instinctively. Arc was his normal stoic self, a stark contrast to his twin who seemed to crave the adrenaline like a junkie.

It was only about ten minutes before they heard a distinct hissing and clawing sound coming from down a side tunnel. Evan immediately drew her dagger and started that way Arc was at her back keeping a hand on the hilt of his sword but not drawing it. Rafe notched an arrow and Roman took one of his hatchets off his back, spinning it in his hand.

The group headed down the tunnel carefully scanning the area. There was a scuttling and hissing noise to their side and Rafe fired into the shadows. His arrow hit the stone as something scurried away. More hissing and scuttling was heard around them and the shadowhunters circled up. As all the shadows began to swarm.

“I thought you said there wouldn’t be that many?” Rafe murmured to Roman as he tried to train an arrow on one of the moving shadows.

“I didn’t think there would be” Roman replied, “this location was listed as low priority, I thought we’d be fine”

“Come on we’re shadowhunters this is fine” Evan objected as she raised her dagger at one of the shadows leaping for her.
___________
“God, I hate vamp dens” Jace murmured as he stood with Clary, Izzy, and Simon out on the sidewalk. They’d just finished rounding up all the vampire’s from the rogue den they’d busted. Magnus was off to the side monitoring the portal that was being used to transport the prisoners to the Gard. Alec was by his side talking with the shadowhunter that’d been running the operation.

“Yeah me and you both” Simon agreed shifting uncomfortably.

“I heard they had kids in there,” Clary said, rubbing her arms. “That’s sick”

“At least most of the mundanes will survive” Isabelle tried to be at least a little positive in the wake of the tragedy. The others nodded but were less consoled as they were all still mentally processing. Just then Izzy’s phone went off and she pulled it from her pocket. Her eyebrows knit together at the caller ID before she answered “Underhill what-” she cut off listening to the man on the other end. “We’ll handle it thank you” she replied firmly before hanging up obviously upset. The others looked at her in concern “Roman, Rafe, and the twins snuck out of the institute.” she explained. “Max told Underhill they went after that horde of Shax demons in the subway tunnels”

“The one that you said was too big to go after without more info?” Simon questioned anxiously. Izzy nodded.

“By the angel” Clary breathed out.

“I’ll get Alec, we need to go get them before they get themselves hurt,” Jace said, already walking in the direction of his Parabatai.
_____________
“Didn’t you guys say that you snuck out all the time as kids?” Clary asked as the four shadowhunters snuck through the tunnels in search of their children.

“Yeah but we never said it was a smart thing to do” Jace replied.

“We also never went against an entire horde of shax demons” Alec added, eyes scanning the tunnels.

There was suddenly a scream that echoed down the tunnel. All four adults started running in the direction of the scream. They came around the corner to see Roman and Rafe up on a ledge near the tunnel ceiling. Rafe firing arrows from a sitting position as his leg was bleeding, Roman was digging for his stele while swiping at any demon that got too close with his axe.

Jace and Clary went charging in while Alec started firing. Izzy snagged the demon closest to the boys with her whip and dragged him back to be disintegrated by Clary’s blade. Soon the tunnel was clear and they ran to the teens. Roman finally applied Rafe’s iratze and the archer let out a deep sigh of relief.

The parents helped them down from the ledge Izzy and Alec looking over their sons. “What were you thinking!” Alec snapped.

“We just wanted to go fight some demons” Roman replied “we didn’t think there’d be so many”

“Dios mio Roman you could have gotten yourselves killed” Izzy sighed.

“Where are Evan and Arc?” Jace asked quickly looking up and down the tunnel.

“We got seperated.” Rafe informed “they were down that way” he pointed further down the tunnel.

The adults exchanged a look. “I’ll stay with them go” Izzy told them and the others nodded Alec notching another arrow. They hurried down the tunnel.
____________
Evan let out a breath as she stabbed another demon with her daggers looking over her shoulder she saw Arc doing battle with a pair and went to go to his side. One of his swords was knocked from his hand. “Arc!” she yelled, tossing one of her blades. He caught the dagger and brought it down on one of the demons. The other reared at him but Evan was quick. She ran forward grabbing Arc’s dropped sword and slashing it to dust.

The twins paused taking deep breaths looking at each other. They each had a dagger and sword dripping with ichor and with only a look they knew this was how it was supposed to be. There was another hissing down the tunnel and they turned ready to face their new adversary.

After taking down a trio of demons the twins thought they might finally be done. Evan even paused to apply an iratze to her brother who was bleeding from a cut just above his eyebrow. Then there was an exclamation that sounded distinctly human from further down the tunnel. It was the direction Rafe and Roman had been. Without hesitating the pair raced off to find their cousins.

Evan was ahead of Arc as they rounded the corner. It wasn’t their cousins before them but their parents and uncle fighting in expert formation against the horde of demons. At first the pair were awed but then Evangeline saw it, a demon creeping in the shadows. It hunched ready to lunge at her mother’s back while she was distracted.

“No!” Evan cried and it was like the world stilled, her stele was still in her hand and as if on instinct went to her other. Tracing a design she’d never felt or seen before and she raised it at the demon who had taken to the air. A blast of light came from her palm like a laser of sun burning right through the demon.

She felt Arc run past her at a speed he could only have managed with a rune and his blades made contact with the remaining two demons. With the tunnel clear the adults turned to the children as the light from Evan’s rune faded.

Clary’s voice caught in her throat and Jace sucked in a breath. Both Evan and Arc’s eyes were glowing golden and the sun rune was fading from the girl's palm. “By the angel” Jace whispered.

“Whoa!” Evan exclaimed, snapping the tension with a wide grin and a child's innocence “that was awesome!”

“No!” Clary snapped before she could get the thoughts in her mind straight. She charged forward grabbing her daughters shoulders firmly “No, Evan you can’t do that. You can’t draw your own runes!”

“What?” Evan responded in shock at her mother’s reaction. “But it’s so cool I just-”

“It’s dangerous!” Clary didn’t mean to yell and the widening of her daughter’s eyes began to cool her temper but not the fear hammering in her chest. The same fear and despair she’d felt the moment her own mother told her the tragedy she’d face herself at drawing her own runes anymore. The agony of believing she’d never be a shadowhunter again, that she’d forget Jace and Izzy and their family and her children would never have been born “It’s dangerous. Just promise me Evangeline you’ll never draw your own runes again. Ever”

“Clary” Jace’s voice was soft in her ear and his hand timidly rested on her shoulder.

“I promise,” Evan murmured back. The fear and confusion still swimming in her crystal blue eyes. Clary let off a breath pulling her daughter into a tight hug. Holding her close feeling like if she let her go she’d lose her, have her slip away from her memory never to be held again. But she wasn't, Clary reminded herself. Her daughter was here in her arms, she was safe and her son was standing behind her with Jace, her beloved husband. They were all safe. Clary was safe and she was with them and she wasn’t going anywhere.