Chapter Songs:

Crimes~Damien Rice

Almost Lover~A Fine Frenzy

Holding Out For A Hero~Ella Mae Bowen

^Isabelle^

Mommy, wake up!" Whined the little girl in protest, jumping up and down on her mothers bed. "Alexia, stop it!" Isabelle grumbled, burying herself deeper into the pillows. "But momma, someones here! They wanna see you!" Isabelle shot upright in bed, heart pounding. They'd found her. "Where?"

"Out here! He has weird tattoos on. I want one! Can I have one?"

"No." She grabbed her daughter and slowly walked out of her bedroom in the apartment, her heart in her throat. There was a form on the couch, and for a moment, a blaze of ice cold fear shot through her, but then she recognized it as her brother. "Alec." Isabelle whispered, eyes wide. He stood up, lightning fast, and she barely had time to put Alexia down before she was wrapped in a tight embrace. "Where the hell have you been?" Alec asked into her shoulder, but she didn't respond. Couldn't, with the tears clogging her throat. And then something extremely rare happened. Isabelle Lightwood cried.

`-_Simon_-`

Simonhad never been so anxious his entire life, both human and downworlder. The words kept echoing in his head. They've found her. She's on her way here. "Stop it!" Clary commanded, putting her hand on his knee to make it stop bouncing. "Sorry." He said, crossing the leg over his other. "I'm just…nervous."

"Really? I never could've guessed. Si, just…stop freaking. It'll be fine."

The diamond ring on her left finger glittered as she gestured to his now drumming fingers. A few weeks ago, she and Jace had announced that they were engaged. He was happy for them, no mistake, but Simon couldn't help thinking what might've been. What olive-skinned finger could've been wearing a ring like that. A door slammed, and Clary and him both stood up at the same time. "Let me go." She said softly. It took everything in him not to throw caution into the wind and race into the corridor right that very moment. But all he did was nod, digging his fingers of the soft velvet lining the armchair as she left. "Hey I—Oh, hi there. I don't believe I've meet you before." Clary's voice said.

And then a tiny, little kid voice, "Hi! Mommy says you're my aunt Clary! I'm Alexia."

That was it. He couldn't take it anymore. He bolted into the corridor. Then he just sort of…froze. Isabelle looked up, and also froze. Her lips were parted, words on the edge of them. He took a step forward, but then his legs were tackled. A little girl was hugging his legs and giggling, all while grinning up at him and bouncing. "Hi! Hi! Hi!" She looked just like Isabelle. With her long black hair, and…and…and eyes that looked back at him in the mirror everyday. She had Isabelle's mouth, but a nose just like his. "Hello." He smiled down at the child softly, ruffling up her hair. "Okay, Lexi, let's go put up our stuff."

"Okay! I'll see you later, Mommy's friend." She showered in his ear when her bent down at his level. He nodded, and then caught Isabelle''s gaze. His look promised questions later.