Chapter Text
The shrill laughs echoed through the front hall of the Institute, bringing a bright grin to Clary’s face as she turned her head from where she was speaking with James and Tessa Carstairs to see her littlest son - Jonathan- running from Simon who was yelling something to the extent of the “Clawwww”.
She always loved how even after all these years these were the small things that connected her Parabatai. The inside jokes from their lives as mundanes that left the others just shaking their head in ponderment. Over the years she had managed to teach Jace some of the things that brought the duo to laughing jegs and he at times even indulged her by participating. Mostly however her blonde husband just shook his head at them and let them have their fun.
Today however Jace laughed as Jonathan b-lined to hide behind his daddy’s leg. Calling out that he would defend his son to the death against all monsters as he playfully drew a seraph dagger and faced off against Simon. The laughter that filled the hall was a brief relief to the sober conversation they had been having previously.
Jem and Tessa telling Isabelle that when they had gone to visit Alec at his loft they had not found him there even after multiple phone calls to confirm they would be there. Their concern had only heightened the worry that surrounded the institute. As it had only been a week since the anniversary of Magnus’ death, and a week since Max Lightwood-Bane had started frantically calling them worried that his father had done something stupid because of his summoning his father.
The fact that none of them had been able to reach the black haired man since then was what had led them all to visit the loft two days prior only to find that it was perfectly normal, except for the two places that something had happened that none of them knew how to read. In Alec’s study the many boxes that they had piled there, the black haired man not allowing a single box of Magnus’ things to be taken from the loft, were gone. As were the dozens of Magnus clothes and knickknacks that had always filled the closet in Alec’s room.
All of them were gone… every sign other than the many photos and the gifts that had been passed between the two over the years of their relationship were stripped from the loft, as was Alexander Lightwood himself. The brief text that they had received from Catarina Loss had come to inform them that Alec was alright but that he would be unreachable for a little while… and this was the only reason a full expedition to find Alec had not been made.
That and the fact that Jace could still sense Alec, it was distant, as if the other was far away at the moment, but it was more present than it had been over the last five years. Clary had been woken up to find Jace sitting up in bed holding his hand over his heart and his eyes had been wild. For a brief moment she had panicked as she assumed the worst, leaping from the bed to grab for her clothes until she suddenly had a hand gripping her wrist and pulling her to himself, clutching at her and trembling. Still she had assumed the worst until he had whispered in her ear that he felt him… for the first time in so long he felt Alec’s bond flaring to life once more.
Smiling now as she watched her husband and Parabatai Clary could not help but laugh as the blonde managed to get Simon in a headlock and the two playfully wrestled for the amusement of her son, her oldest son, the birthday boy Joseph was grinning as he told Bella very loudly that ‘his daddy was gonna beat her daddy”, the black haired girl scowling at him as she folded her arms over her chest and shaking her head with a loud “nuh uhhhh”.
Clary tensed as she heard Isabelle gasp to her right and she turned instantly towards the open doorway to the institute that they had left open to allow the breeze of the afternoon in. They had hoped to have the party outside but it had been too cold for the kids… however now Clary saw the folly in doing so as she could see three year old Jonathan heading for the stairs, seemingly distracted by something he saw. Moving forward with a shout as she saw the red haired boy topple forward she only barely registered that half a dozen eyes and bodies all twisted towards the stairs simultaneously rushing towards the boy.
What she did register however made not only her but everyone freeze in shock. As Jonathan toppled over it was someone from the outside that managed to catch him, an all too familiar head of black hair appearing as the red haired toddler was tucked up in the arms attached to that head of hair. Blue eyes seeking hers out as soon as the owner straightened up to see her and looking somewhat… bashful.
“ i...know I've been out of it...but this isn’t Joseph… he’s too young?!” Alec murmured shyly, all too aware of the eyes all locked on him as he carried Jonathan up the steps and into the institute towards his parabatai.
The silence that followed continued on for a long time, no one daring to move or say anything, almost as if a wild deer had wandered into the institute and they were all afraid that any sudden movements would break the spell that fell upon the front hall and Alec would flee again. Finally it was Jace who stepped forward, reaching out to pluck Jonathan from his best friend’s arms and hugging the boy briefly nodded to him.
“This is my second son...Jonathan… I’ve invited you to a few of his birthdays...but you never came… “ the hurt in that tone was well masked but still brought a flush to Alec’s pale cheeks as he nodded his head.
“ I...know. I’m sorry!” Alec murmured gently, his eyes wandering over the faces of everyone that was there. Momentarily looking lost… as if he was regretting coming there today.
“ Maybe i should have...called first?” Alec asked just as quietly his body already seeming to teeter towards the entrance as if he was preparing to leave.
“ Don’t be silly!! This is your home Alec! You’re always welcome here!!! “ Isabelle gasped as she rushed forward to hug her older brother smiling at him as she finally pulled back her eyes almost gleaming with tears...almost...if it was anyone other than Izzy Clary would have been sure they were…
With that the silence was broken and many more moved to greet Alec, some having not actually seen the other that much, like Bella, she had only seen her uncle a few times when he had come to the institute and Joseph as well as Max who raced forward to grip his father’s body in a massive hug. That was the one that shocked Clary most of all, it had been five years since she had really seen Alec and Max at the same time, and the blue skinned Warlock really had grown up in the last few years, he now towered over his father and his frame was a little broader than Alec’s now.
“I”m so glad you’re okay! When Catarina called me I was about to portal to your house!” Max sighed looking his father over before looking suprised. “You...look...better!”
And it was true, from the description Jace had given her, Clary had imagined Alec having an overly thin frame and an almost sickly complexion. He was however somewhat less palled and he in fact looked like he had recently begun putting on weight again. His sunken cheeks not quite as hollow and his eyes not quite as glassy.
“I realized something recently…” Alec replied with a faint shrug of his still lithe shoulders as he glanced between his son and parabatai, both leaning forward as if to coax the rest of his words from him without the use of words. It would seem they did not need to as he continued without any prompting. “ I realized that by living the way i was… I was denying every part of what i had with him… And that… is more painful than losing him…”
Sighing gently Alec looked around at the others and then smiled faintly. “ i have lost out on so many memories that I cannot get back. I want to start making up for that… I want to start making memories with all of you!” Alec promised gently as he reached out to run his fingers down Jonathan’s nose gently as he smiled.
We’re so glad to have you Alec! That will never change!” Clary promised lovingly as she reached out to hug him tightly.
~~~
Alec felt his body slowly relaxing as he stared around at those who made their rounds to see him and were now settling into the party. The institute was so foreign for him to be in, having not come here much in the last five years.
Looking up to see Jem and Tessa coming towards him Alec did his best to smile apologetically as he saw how worried Tessa looked. He jumped ever so slightly as his phone buzzed in his pocket and as he pulled his phone out of his pocket he noticed subconsciously how Jem and Tessa tensed in front of him, staring over his shoulder towards the door to the entrance.
Looking down at his phone he froze as he saw the name that popped up and he stared at the text that was staring up at him from the screen. His hand was trembling as he clicked on the text pulling it up and reading it.
Magnus:...Thank you my love! I am so proud of you!
Glancing up at Jem Alec finally allowed himself to follow the older shadowhunter’s gaze, turning around and growing still as he stared at the entrance. His eyes wide and filling with tears, subconsciously he was aware of the silence that fell over the institute, much like it had when he had arrived.
Everyone was staring at the transparent image that stood leaning in the doorway, his eyes sparkling happily and glowing as the sunlight hit the glitter that always marked his cheeks and eyes. Magnus bane staring only at Max and Alec, his arms folded over his chest and his hip popped against the door frame.
“ Ma..gnus!” Alec gasped his eyes wide as he stepped forward but then stopped. He could tell what this was, this wasn’t a chance meeting, after all the time that they had been separated Magnus had never once appeared no matter how much Alec had wanted him to. This was Magnus saying one last goodbye now that he was sure that Alec would be okay.
“I love you!” Alec called with a gentle smile, behind him he heard Joseph asking clary “who that is” and the red head explained that that was “uncle magnus” the surprised and happy sounds that came from the boy led Alec to believe that they had heard of Magnus.
The smile that spread over the apparition's face was heart warming as Alec watched him nod his head and mouth the words back as he stood up. Alec heard Tessa gasp as two more apparitions appeared behind magnus. A tall, green skinned male with long curled horns resting his arm upon the cat eyed warlock’s arm as he leaned in towards him, speaking into his ear. Behind the two warlocks stood a male with wild black hair and bright blue eyes, his hands tucked into his trouser pockets as he leaned in to bump his shoulder against the warlock’s and together the three disappeared off out of the institute, leaving behind the mortals that loved them.
“Good bye my love” Alec sighed gently as he stared after the disappearing form of his lover and as he felt a warm hand upon his shoulder he knew without looking that it was Jace at his side and he felt a lightness in his chest that he had not felt for years…
“Unkie alec!!”
Alec turned around to smile gently at Jonathan, reaching out to pull him into his arms.