Alec placed a steaming mug of hot chocolate on the coffee table in front of Elizabeth and she stared up at him.

The head of the New York Institute just made me a hot chocolate, she thought, marvelling at how bizarre that was.

"Thank you," she managed to say with uncertainty.

He nodded to her with a slight smile, which did nothing to change her puzzlement. When he walked away to go into another room, she felt like she had to tell someone about the weird thing that had just happened. So, she turned to Magnus who was sitting next to her, hand on her back.

"The Head of the New York Institute just made me a hot chocolate."

Magnus gave her a smug smile. "He also does the dishes sometimes."

She shook her head. It had been a strange day. A horrible day. Closing her eyes, she tried to focus instead on Magnus' hand rubbing her back comfortingly.

"If you want to talk about anything, I'll listen," he told her. "Or not. We can just sit here, and you don't have to say anything."

After a few moments, with a shuddering breath Elizabeth opened her eyes. She wanted to tell him what happened earlier.

"There's a spell, Lorenzo tried to use on me," she started.

Alec emerged from the other room then, a blanket in his arms.

Elizabeth stopped, watching as he crossed the room and offered it to her. She thanked him, still unsure about him being so nice to her, and opened out the blanket. Draping it over her still quivering shoulders, she felt more comfortable, touching the soft black fabric.

"A spell?" Magnus asked, bringing her back to what she had been saying.

Alec took a seat opposite them, as Elizabeth continued.

"Some kind of healing magic," she said. "He wasn't able to do it anyway, because I-," she cut herself off, resting her elbows on her knees and leaning forwards, covering her eyes with her palms. "My magic stopped him from using it, and I can't control my magic while I'm like this, and I can't not be like this unless I control my magic. So that's it. I just feel," she paused, trying to think of the right word. "Trapped."

Elizabeth held her ears, tugging on them a little. "If I could use only my magic again... I'd be able to hide these ridiculous things."

"They're far from ridiculous."

She looked up at Alec, his words having been completely unexpected.

"They're great. And they're a part of you," he said.

Studying his face, she tried to find a hidden falseness behind his words. He was looking at her with a soft, yet serious, kindness and she could only find honesty in what he was saying.

A shadowhunter.

And not just any shadowhunter - one of their higher ups. A leader.

She was touched, but also confused. "I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but why are you being so kind to me?" she asked him, straightening back up on the sofa.

"It's my duty to protect downworlders."

"From demons," Elizabeth retorted.

Alec shrugged. "Sometimes the demons are inside us. Besides, more than that, you're important to Magnus, and therefore important to me."

"Alexander's right," said Magnus, drawing back her attention. "As our friend, you're important to both of us. And we're both here for you whenever you need." He gave her an encouraging smile. "We need you here. With your intelligence and your sweet laughter. My dear, you'd leave a crater behind in the world."

Elizabeth thought about this for a minute. The corners of her mouth turned upwards slightly before melting back down.

"Thank you," she said in a small voice. "I really appreciate that."

Magnus placed a hand above the blanket on top of her forearm. She met his eyes.

"The best thing for now I think is a distraction, " he declared. "Perhaps we could all watch a movie?"

"Thanks, but maybe I should go home," said Elizabeth. She felt that she'd already taken up enough of their evening, and Magnus had told her only the night before Alec worked long hours. This seemed like one of their only evenings off together.

"I don't think that's the best idea," Magnus replied. "Of course, I won't keep you from leaving, but I don't think you're safe right now. You shouldn't be alone."

Frowning, she slowly nodded. "OK, what movie did you have in mind?"

"It's wingardium leviosa!" Elizabeth mimicked Hermione Granger's voice, "Not wingardium leviosaarr."

Magnus and Alec both laughed.

Alec snorted. "How many times have you seen this?"

The three of them were sitting on the sofa, Magnus in-between Elizabeth and Alec. A bowl of half-finished popcorn sat on the coffee table, along with a couple of empty glasses and Elizabeth's empty mug of hot chocolate.

She hummed, "A few dozen, probably. I watched a lot of films with my ex. Especially magical ones."

"The mundane take on magic in movies..." Magnus chuckled. "Just the idea of wands..."

"Let's use magic sticks. It's not primitive at all." Elizabeth giggled.

"What I've never understood is, if the magic is inside the user, then why do they need these 'sticks'?" Magnus pointed out.

"Exactly," she said, reaching for a handful of popcorn.

Distantly she thought about earlier, how differently she'd felt. Elizabeth munched on her popcorn, glancing sideways as Alec and Magnus. There was a warm feeling in her chest, and she felt lighter as she thought of them and what had been said before. They wanted, no needed, her there. She was important to them. She was their friend.

Elizabeth couldn't help the smile spreading on her face as she looked at the TV, glowing with what could only be happiness at her new friendships.

Later, Magnus showed her the guest room. She held the blanket in her arms, watching as he summoned her pyjamas and dressing gown. With a snap of his fingers, they appeared nearly on the bed.

Depositing the blanket in the bed next to them, Elizabeth wasn't sure what to say, overwhelmed with gratitude. So instead she gave Magnus a tight hug.

"Please don't kill yourself, Elizabeth," he said, hugging her back. "This will change, I promise you."

She wanted to believe him. She really did, but it was so difficult to imagine.

When they pulled apart Elizabeth spoke, "you know what I'm going to ask." She looked away, embarrassed that this was the third time she was asking.

"You need a potion?" he questioned, taking her silence as a yes.

Magnus touched her shoulder. "Give me ten minutes. I'll see what I can do."

While he was gone, Elizabeth took the time to get changed and settle in under the covers. She was sitting up in bed, looking around the room when he returned with a glass of purple liquid.

"One order of dreamless ten-hour sleep," he chimed, placing the glass in her hand and sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Thank you so much, Magnus," said Elizabeth.

She downed the potion and almost instantly felt her whole body relax. Magnus took the glass before she could drop it, and she melted down, blinking heavily before shutting her eyes and sleep overcame her. With her features finally softening out and upon seeing the dark circles under her eyes, it was clear how much see needed a good night's sleep. But he'd be foolish to think that the next day wouldn't be just as difficult a struggle for her. At least for now, she could have some peace.

Magnus stood up. "Goodnight, my dear." He turned off the light and quietly slid the door closed behind him.

He found Alec on the balcony getting some fresh air and looking at his phone. When Magnus approached him, he slid it into his pocket.

"How is it possible," Magnus came up to his left side, placing his left hand on Alec's forearm and leaning his head against his shoulder. "That you've got me to love you even more?"

Alec glanced down at him with a smile. "What did I do?"

"The way that you're just... Yourself." Magnus smiled back. "Being so accepting and friendly to other downworlders. I don't think I'll ever get used to it."

Alec looked down, seemingly pleased at the compliment. "Just trying to do the decent thing."

"But you aren't trying," Magnus replied. "You don't need to, Alexander. Not at all."

Alec reached down slightly to kiss him, putting his hands on his boyfriend's waist. Magnus slid his own hands around Alec's shoulders.

"I hope you had a good evening. I wasn't expecting to have a guest," said Magnus.

Alec shook his head. "I enjoy every evening I get to spend with you. I just hope she's OK." He glanced over Magnus' shoulder at the guest room door.

"Me too," Magnus sighed. "Well, she's sleeping now. This is something that might take a long time, depending on a number of things."

Alec frowned. "And what's Lorenzo's part in this?"

"You and I have the same concerns, Alexander." Magnus touched the ends of Alec's hair. "For now, I think I hear the bed calling for us."

Alec's frown turned into a soft smile. "We'd better not keep it waiting, then."