Disclaimer: I don't own TMI. –shrug–

I wanted to thank everyone who has read "Names" so far. I didn't expect to be expanding it this far! So thank you –
K Annie M, Magickless Sorceress, magic_noctum, Hanna, s.n.p., Her Ghost Eyes, Emily, serenity12345, Rosa Le Barge, Izzy, nic807, Random, Immortal42, Hecticness, Jexyna, ortonga99, Mad Ink, Her Ghost Eyes, jensonluvsu, Miss Troll Queen, , MagMarie

The puns from the last chapter are "clarification" and "frayed" – Clary Fray. Both were unintentional, haha. Random and Jexyna pointed out both correctly, and Immortal42 and Mad Ink each got one. Whoot!

This chapter is meant to be more lighthearted/fun than the others :)

Lightwood.

Jace.

In your mind, the Lightwood siblings were divided and labeled in this fashion: Alec, the biggest boy; Isabelle, the center stuffing; Max, the afterthought. Or more politely put: the oldest, the middle(-est?), and the youngest.

You had considered yourself the spare, the extra. Even saying you were the "other one" wasn't fit, because that would mean you did belong with them though it didn't seem like it. No, no. You were never to blend in with the other Lightwoods… or so you always thought.

Between then and now, you've had quite the change of mind. A nice taste of optimism and insight for once in your life. Now you've come up with a better label for yourself: the super special surprise inside the box.

Clary catches your thoughtful expression and asks if you're thinking angsty thoughts again.

You deny it.

Alec.

You ask Simon to repeat what he's just said.

He taps a few buttons on his magical box-shaped device – something called an eye pod? – and he repeats: Max, Isabelle, and Alexander happen to be on the top 200 most popular baby names of 2009. It would've been top 10, but Max was 180.

You want to ask if this information is supposed to be some sort of compliment or supposed to be interesting, but fail to see how it could be either… or really, how relevant it all is.

Of course, this is Simon Lewis. You have long given up on hoping he'll ever say something of interest to you. Those mundanes.

Isabelle says something coyly as she throws an arm around Simon in praise. Jace mocks the pair by throwing his own arm over Clary, though you believe he secretly wanted to hold his girlfriend for a while now.

You roll your eyes, separating yourself from the chattery crowd as you always have. You were never meant to be the center of the buzzing. Just the sidelines and the support, watching from afar but always ready to fight.

As the oldest, you've had to stand your ground not just for yourself, but the three others after you. Duly and solely responsible for the munchkins. You are to their strength, power, and source of wisdom. Shield and sword.

Their own Yoda or Dumbledore, so to speak. You hope that you don't wrinkle quite as much, though.

…but now that you think about it, that was a poor analogy. Something that Simon would've come up with. In fact, it's Simon's fault for making you watch so many of those darn mundie movies.

A-anyway, you've realized that it isn't all about being alone after all. One blade of grass bends easily in the wind… or wait, er… what was it? One blade of grass…

It was then that the said annoying mundie noted that Alexander means "defender of men."

The others find this funny, but, again, you have failed to see the amusement.

Isabelle.

Being in the middle, sandwiched between the golden boy Jace, perfect student Alec, and needy baby Max – there was never Isabelle time.

What is there to say about you? The middle child. The girl. The flighty one. (Though the latter can't be helped. Alec doesn't know how to have fun, so clearly you have to show him how.)

You're the one who has to prove something, because you're standing among people who already have importance.

Perhaps that's why you brand a whip, because it is a whip that commands for power and attention. It is a whip that snaps at people, making them look your way. You gaze over at Simon, and you're sure there's one thing you've got whipped.

You ask him what the definition of Isabelle is.

He replies, "My God is vow."

You contemplate this for a moment.

…

Then you shrug it off, waving to Magnus who is waiting by the portal.

Max.

You are the youngest. The baby. The one who is always shoved behind your parents legs or told to stay in your room until the blood and gore are over. You would, reluctantly so, lying upside down on your bed as you read Naruto. Surely the blood and gore going on outside can't be nearly as bad as the blood and gore in your manga.

Still, you are always told to be here. Stay here. Wait here.

Sit, boy, sit.

Alex bends down, placing flowers on the grave. Isabelle and Jace are with him, standing behind. Their expressions are sad, and probably will be for a long while. Time shall pass, and pass it shall…

Until then, you will always be here.

For your family.

Maryse. Robert.

Young Alec is attentive, his eyes wide as he stares up at the chalkboard. The pencil in his hand is being held so tightly you imagine he'll break it. He was always the most studious one.

Isabelle looks bored, doodling on the corner of her paper and yawning.

Jace, who is lessons ahead of his siblings, sits in the corner reading.

Max is drooling on his desk.

"Well," you ask, "what do you think the name Lightwood means?"

Max continues drooling.

Isabelle continues doodling.

Jace continues reading.

Alec launches into a long-winded analysis on each word – how the woods represent a long, strenuous journey and light being enlightenment and insight. Strength and valor. He babbles on, bringing up literary references from his readings in the library.

You look at each other, smiling.

Well, maybe they'll get it when they're older.

This one is a bit different from the first two since we see the characters actually doing something – visiting Max's grave in Idris. It also relies more on action to define the characters, unlike the other chapters.

I didn't mean to bring up Simon so many times in Alec's part, but I guess it show how annoying he can be (KIDDING.) I mean, it goes to show how Alec has come to like all beings the same, mundanes alike!

The last line in Max's part totally isn't a reference to my one-shot "I'm always here."

Originally, I hadn't been planning on putting Maryse and Robert in here… but I'm glad I brought them in.

I don't know if I'll be writing any more of these (though I would like to. Clary isn't the only one who has Magnus' signature scorched in her brain.) We'll just see if I get inspired!