Chapter Text
1. Present Day...
After a couple of hours of hauling boxes and unpacking, their progress was finally visible. Empty boxes were stacked against the wall, the provided bed was dressed in star-patterned blankets and fluffy pillows, the shelves were lined with schoolbooks, the dresser was filled with freshly washed clothes, and a desk was adorned with a sticker-covered laptop and even more books.
There were a few personal touches such as a couple of picture frames of her and her family, an old and worn sweater her brother had given her years ago was hanging over the back of the desk chair, and there were glow in the stark stickers of stars scattered across her ceiling.
Isabelle had gotten a single room in the dormitory, tuition largely covered by scholarships and the rest by Magnus, and they had all helped her move in a week before school started.
She was already feeling homesick.
2. A Year Ago...
The portal lead straight to the Morgenstern manor which had been claimed by the Clave. There had been plenty of evidence for his crimes as well as his unconscious wife and furious daughter.
Clary Fairchild was hot-headed and refused to speak to anyone until her mother was well. Valentine had done little to create a relationship with her in her time with him; she had been tainted by mundane morals and he'd been unable to convert her to his side. She would only shout and stay vigil by Jocelyn's side.
Imogen introduced her to Magnus and she warmed instantly, eased by the bond of being different from everyone else.
Magnus insisted on privacy and he was left in the room with Clary and the unconscious Jocelyn. She was laying on the bed and only appeared to be sleeping, her breaths even and her body receiving nutrition from the spell.
"How are you, dear?" he asked, kindly. Standing by Jocelyn, he opened his spellbook and flipped through it in search of the counterspell.
"I'll be better when she's awake. She's been like this for months! Do you think you can help her?"
"I'm certain of it."
The reunion between mother and daughter was heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once. Magnus left them alone to talk and cry and reassure each other. He stayed in Alicante for a while longer, wanting to ensure Jocelyn was in good health before leaving.
She was looking forward to returning to New York to see Luke and be back in her own home. Imogen advised she would be welcome to do so, after going through her own trial, of course.
"He asked me if I knew where the cup was and I told him I didn't," Clary recounted, "he had me hold this truth sword and everything. He never asked me again though," she met Magnus' bewildered look with a grin, "I remembered a few months ago. Should I tell the Clave people?" This she asked her mother.
"If Valentine is really dead, and I believe Mr. Bane when he says so, then the Clave will need it to rebuild our numbers. I'll let Imogen know where to find it."
Magnus could only shake his head. The knowledge Valentine had wanted for so long was under his own roof; if only he could have managed to build some form of relationship with his daughter she might have been willing to tell him.
3. Present Day...
Isabelle sat down on her bed and looked around her room in wonder.
When she'd been younger and in her brother's care, she had dreamt of going to University. Considered it a privilege she'd never get to see, no matter how hard Alec worked. Then the years moved on and she had her own little family, nothing to hide from, and dreams that were no longer out of reach.
They'd arrived at the campus in a rented car packed with boxes. Magnus had insisted on tradition.
"I think that's about it," Jace said, folding one of the few boxes left untouched and stacking it against the wall. "I'll go take these out to the car."
He was dismissing himself. After all these few months Jace was starting to learn his place in their family, though at times he still seemed to feel like an outsider. Isabelle stood and gave him a long, tight, hug. She never had anything bad to say about the man who made her brother happy and who filled the cracks of their family with melted gold like old china.
"I'll see you soon, yeah?"
"Of course," he agreed.
Alec and Isabelle refused to go too long apart, not so soon after their world had flipped upside down, and Magnus had agreed to portalling her home every other weekend. She needed some uninterrupted study time, and then she had her family time.
"And you take care of my big brother, alright? Make sure he eats and gets his exercise. And let him take care of you, too."
Jace laughed softly, "It'll be tough without you to keep us in line, but I'll try my hardest."
"Good," she sniffed.
She pulled back and smiled brightly. He returned it and then resumed his task. He grabbed the pile of boxes and left the room and its three occupants.
4. A Little Less Than a Year Ago...
'On behalf of the Clave and all Shadowhuters, we extend our sincerest apologies for the crimes that have taken place against Downworlders by the Circle over the past two decades. From this point onward, we will be looking on how best to rebuild our relationship and to prevent another such tragedy from taking place.
Valentine's murderous claws dug deep and wide, and many of our own have been corrupted, but you have been the true victims. We know this.
Please forward this letter and our words to all under your leadership. Should anyone, for any reason, wish to speak to the Clave on behalf of themselves or someone they deem a victim, submit a reparations request and we will put these amongst our top priorities.
A council meeting will take place on September 16th, we request that one delegate be named for each race; vampire, werewolf, warlock, and faerie, to speak on behalf of their people. Decide and vote amongst yourselves who this should be and let us know so that we may extend to them an invitation to the meeting.
Regards, Inquisitor Imogen Herondale.'
Magnus read the letter he'd received that morning with the Herondale wax seal across it in silence. With nothing to say, he passed it on to Alec, with Jace and Isabelle reading over his shoulder.
They had actually done it. They had taken responsibility for something and apologized. Magnus couldn't believe his eyes and had needed to read over the words several times for it to sink in.
None of the Shadowhunters surrounding him could truly know what it felt like to have gone from being regarded as literally nothing to suddenly getting an apology for horrid crimes against his people. It was the strangest feeling, but he couldn't feel happy about it. Too much had been lost in the in-between.
As High Warlock, Magnus was in charge of passing the notice to the other warlocks in his area and a meeting was soon held to appoint a delegate.
By unanimous decision thanks to his already infamous status and then with his role in Valentine's death, Magnus was selected to speak for the warlocks.
The wheels of change were spinning and even with all the time in the world at his disposal, Magnus wished for more hours and days to settle down and process what was happening around him.
5. Present Day...
Magnus waved his hand in a sparkle of blue magic and a small brown pot appeared on her desk. Sprouting from the dirt within it was a round and prickly cactus. Isabelle was allergic to most flowers, and this plant would prove hard to kill. There was already a lot of life spread across the room with her knick-knacks, but a little more wouldn't hurt.
"I don't trust Jace not to get himself roped into some stupid college kids stuff, so I'll take my hug before I leave you too."
She giggled and wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest. He held her closely. His heart felt heavy; he was going to be an empty-nester soon. He never thought that would be a feeling he'd ever experience and now he understood the ache and longing he'd only ever heard and read about previously.
He would stay home with only a cat for company while his youngest was off to college and his eldest would be leaving to teach and learn.
And to think, all of this had started in an alley in New York City.
"I'll be seeing you soon, darling. Labour day weekend isn't far."
"I know."
"And you'll be back for good before you know it. You'll be at the Institute, of course, but it'll be closer and we'll be able to see each other whenever we like."
"I know," she said and rolled her misty eyes though he couldn't see it, "I miss you already, too."
He pulled back and shrugged in surrender, "I'll call you tomorrow. I'm not wearing waterproof mascara, so I'm leaving before I start crying. Take care, Isabelle."
He pressed a kiss to her forehead and left her and Alec alone.
6. Eleven Months Ago...
On a Wednesday they were all standing in the Institute for Maryse Lightwood's burial. There wasn't anything to recuperate from Puerto Rico, as Alec told them solemnly, and so they all stood before a rectangular stone table with a white cloth draped over it on which sat a framed portrait of a young Maryse.
In it, she was smiling and glowing from her first pregnancy. Magnus had gotten the image from one of Luke's memories, as Alec's and Isabelle's were too hazy, and it was a proper testament to the woman that she had truly been outside of the Circle.
A couple Silent Brothers handled the ceremony and had arranged to put her name in the Silent City, although there was no body to lay at rest.
There weren't a lot of people there as most of those who had been close to her now were imprisoned or long dead.
Alec had put up a fight for Magnus and Luke to be allowed to join them, as Downworlders were generally barred from partaking in Shadowhunter funerals. That was a battle he'd won after a lot of talk of tradition. They were both standing tall and somber behind him, dressed in white as per their customs.
Isabelle and Jace were by his sides, each holding a hand. One to take comfort and the other to offer it.
As he so often had growing up, he wondered what she'd say if she could see him now. If she would be proud.
"Ave atque vale."
7. Present Day...
Alec had only spoken to Jace on the matter, but despite his proud words and reassurances, he could hardly bear the thought of leaving his sister.
He would, of course, but there was no part of it that would be easy no matter how hard Magnus was trying to help. Weekends, holidays, vacations; they would be spent as a family. Isabelle would return from college and Alec and Jace from their own duties.
"How are you feeling?" he asked her.
She looked around the room and then met his gaze, "Good, I think. Kind of scared, too."
"You'll do great," he said, knowing it for a fact.
"So will you," she said and smiled.
He and Jace had spent several months training with the Whitelaws at the Institute and eventually the Shadowhunter Academy had been rebuilt with a wing designated solely to the Praetor Lupus, a proposal and peace offering the Downworlders had readily accepted. They had both been invited, or more precisely ordered, to go there to teach.
There were only so many people to spare and Jace was known as the greatest Shadowhuter of their generation for a reason. Alec wasn't sure why he'd been asked to join, though they had also offered him the opportunity to continue his training and education at the same time.
He had asked to start in September, which was hardly a delay, so that he could stay with Isabelle as long as possible and they had begrudgingly accepted. He and Jace would be leaving in a few days and Magnus would be on his own again. Despite the love they'd been given over the years, he couldn't help but wonder if he'd be glad to have his home back after the kids he'd taken in on a whim so many years ago would finally be moving out.
Alec held his arms open and she fell into the open space. He was the first to shed a tear, which only set her off. Neither of them spoke, letting themselves feel and cry while they still had each other in arms reach.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I love you too, big brother."
8. Ten Months Ago...
On a Monday, Robert Lightwood was deemed guilty on all charges and sentenced to death.
Neither of his children were present.
When asked for his thoughts with an inquisitive stare, Alec had nothing to say. He was indifferent to the man that was biologically his father; he had enough loyal and loving family members that he felt no need to have a connection with him.
Isabelle had a sad look in her eyes but didn't have anything to say either.
9. Present Day...
They took their time, as neither Jace nor Magnus would expect them to hurry, but eventually, Alec had to take his leave too. If he didn't, he might never manage to tear himself away.
"Be good. Call me if you need anything or if you need to talk."
He gave her one last quick hug and kissed her cheek before turning around and leaving her room. He refused to look back.
Jace and Magnus were leaning against their rented car, a black Toyota Camry, and were chatting softly. They stopped when they spotted him approaching. Jace pushed off the car and pulled him into an embrace.
Alec knew his eyes were puffy from crying and his cheeks were stained red from tears, but Jace was kind enough not to point it out.
"I've never been apart from her for anything more than twelve hours," Alec said, voice strained.
"I know," Jace said because they'd spent the last couple of weeks talking about this day in a seemingly never-ending cycle of pride and sadness. He caressed his face in his hands and kissed him gently, "Let's go home. We have our own adventure to prepare for."
"We do," Alec agreed, "I know I've been... you know, but I'm looking forward to this. With you."
There was a loud beep, suddenly, and Alec looked over Jace's shoulder at a laughing Magnus. His finger was hooked in the car's keyring and he raised an eyebrow at him.
"Sorry to break the lovely moment, boys, but shall we?" He gestured towards their awaiting vehicle.
"Yeah, yeah, let's get going."
Alec took Jace's hand, pressed another kiss to his lips, and lead them to the car.
He was right, they had another adventure waiting for them.