***Alec's POV***

Normally he didn't sleep late into the day, but after the stress he was going through lately, it was understandable that he slept in until lunch. Alec could not describe what had woken him up. Sunlight streamed through the parted curtains, heating up the bed with a warm glow. Magnus's side was cold, but he still had someone snuggling with him. Chairman Meow was snoozing away on his chest. Alec awed internally over the kitten. He was curled up in a cute little ball, pink nose pressed against Alec's skin. Carefully he picked up the Chairman and set him down on Magnus's pillow. His husband never minded, and he had learned from experience this was the only place he could set the kitten without waking him up.

Sleepily, he got out of his sleepwear to change into and shirt and sweats. As it was the weekend —and one of his few days off— Alec was going to make the most  of it by wearing some comfy clothes. He brushed his teeth and then headed out into the living room with the rumbling in his stomach driving him forward.

His wings dropped behind him in solid form. The feathers on them were in no better condition then what Magnus called his 'bed head' look. The primaries especially would need some grooming at a later time when he was feeling more awake. The hardwood floor creaked under his footsteps as he moved. There was a time when he did not make a single sound as he moved across the wood. Nowadays he made his footsteps loud on purpose; Magnus did not like being surprised. Alec endeavored to stop startling his boyfriend (at the time) after their first month of dating, during which he had almost been blasted with magic a total of three times.

"Alexander, glad to see you've rejoined their waking world." Magnus's voice lilted through the room. The sound of sizzling could be heard from the kitchen.

Alec found his husband poised over the stove. The warlock looked to be frying some sort of fish, steam wafting into the air. Other pots sat at the other heated stoves, lids covering their contents. His stomach rumbled even more. Yawning, he wrapped his arms around his husband, burying his face into Magnus's back.

"What are you cooking?"

"Just a salmon recipe Catarina sent me years ago. Lunch should be ready in a few more minutes. Would you mind setting the table?" Magnus kept his attention on the stove while he talked, adjusting one of the heating knobs to turn down the intensity.

"Not at all."

They shared a kiss before Alec headed off to do his assigned task. Because Shadowhunters were often out in the night slaying demons, this made them rarely morning persons. And even though he had woken up late, Alec still felt as though he was moving mechanically through the motions of setting out plates and silverware and cups. Chairman Meow woke up somewhere along the line. The little kitten was peeking his head out from the top of the couch, watching his Daddy at work. Alec pictured one of his and Magnus's own children joining Chairman someday behind that couch.

Though I guess I should hope they would want to help and not just watch. Emma's question yesterday had seemed to come out of the blue for Magnus, but not for him. I really do need to bring it up to him at some point. It was true they both now had eternity to spend together. The same could not be said for Izzy, Jace, Simon, Mom, Dad, Max and Clary however. Alec hoped he and Magnus would have several children together throughout the ages. But I want at least one of them to grow up while they're all still here. It saddened him to think of a day when they wouldn't be.

Just the thought of loss seemed to make her appear. She was standing in their living room, shrouded in a white aura that clung to the fabric of her white dress. The white fabric touched down to the floor, her feet poking out like little catfish nipping at the air waiting for humans to drop down food. Red hair spilled past her shoulders in waves and green eyes stared at him with an emotion he could not understand.

"Veronica, what are you doing here?"

"Remiel, I'm here to tell you something." When he looked closer at Veronica, he realized she was slightly transparent. The armchair behind her form was in blurry view.

"Okay. What is it?"

Her next words fill him with dread.

***Emma's POV***

Everything had started off normally. She had went on a morning run alone on the beach, watching as the waves crashed ashore. Out of habit she stayed away from the whitecaps and foamy outline they left behind on the shore. Her parents had been killed on the ocean, and she did not trust it anymore. The sun beat down on her as she made her way past the many sand dunes. There were no mundanes on the Shadowhunters private beach, and thankfully no Shadowhunters here either. This was something she did in solitude. It gave her time to think.

By the time she arrived back at the Institute, gasping for air from running for so long, Jules and his siblings were already up. The older Shadowhunters were busy in the training halls while the Blackthorn family was eating breakfast. Julian was in the middle of talking to Mark when she walked in. The second eldest of the Blackthorn family didn't seem to notice her until she sat down between Dru and Ty.

"Hi Emma!" Livvy and Dru chorused. Ty and Tavvy offered up similar greetings, though Tavvy's face was covered in a layer of dripping syrup. Apparently he was pretending to be a pirate again. As the youngest of the Blackthorn family, Tavvy had yet to have any runes on him. So he keeps himself entertained in other ways besides fighting demons.

"Oh hey Emma! What've you been up to lately?" Mark asked when he noticed her. Mark's pointed ears were even more visible in the light of the dining room awning.

"I should be asking the same of you, seeing as you've been out and about for the past while. As for me, I've been doing well. Just got back from a run."

"Still doing those huh. You should let Jules join you sometimes, seeing as you're both parabatai," Mark said.

Julian was giving her a small smile, his blue-green eyes reminding her of the sea glass she would find on the beach. Some of said glass sat as a bracelet around Julian's right wrist. She had made it for him as a present a few months back. The fact he still wore it made her feel a strange giddiness inside.

"Maybe, but my runs are usually private time. Plus Jules tends to be cooking breakfast then so . . ."

"No! Don't stop Julian making breakfast!" Livvy protested. The brunette was sitting beside her twin brother Ty, toying with the locket around her neck. Jules had engraved the pattern of thorns for the family motto and the interlocking sabers —Livvy's weapon of choice— on it last week.

"Yeah, Jules makes the best pancakes!" Tavvy agreed, something sticky dripping from his chin. He was a messy child, possibly even messier than Dru back when she was little.

"Well, I think the public has spoken," Jules said with a chuckle. He got up, snagging up his plate. "Do you kids want anymore bacon or can I have the rest?"

"I want more!" Tavvy banged his fork on the table.

"I would also like some." Ty spoke up quietly. Julian rolled his eyes at the youngest Blackthorn's antics before giving Tiberius a small nod.

"You've already had your fill Tavvy, let's let Ty have some."

"But I want more!" The youngest complained, syrup coiling down to his shirt collar to make a maple stain against white cotton. Most Shadowhunters didn't wear white because it was the sign of mourning. Tavvy was still learning cultural values. The little boy was crying now all over food of all things. Emma would sympathize but there was never a time Julian didn't give her something she asked for.

"Hey, how about you and I go down to the beach." Livvy tugged at Tavvy. "We can build a sandcastle together."

The little boy rubbed at his eyes. "Just the way I l-like it?" Tavvy sniffled.

Livvy gave him a kind smile as Jules walked back to the kitchen. She rubbed his back gently. "Yes, just the way you like it."

"Okay!" And suddenly Tavvy's mood was vastly improved. It was like someone had flicked the switch from sad to happy off in his head. He leap down from his chair and sprinted off, shoes scuffing on the tile as he went.

Livvy made to follow him after whispering something in her twin's ear. She'd lifted up the headphones Ty was wearing to talk to him, lest he not hear her at all. The dark haired boy gave a nod. "Wait for me Tavvy!"

The room was quieter without the hyper child. "I think I'll go follow them. Do you want to come with?" Mark had gotten to his feet, hand extended out to her. There had been a time when she was younger that she had a crush on Mark. It came like an oncoming train racing down the tracks. The features she crushed on him for all those years ago matured: blue eyes like twin gems, pale blonde hair upon his head, a lithe body which moved with a grace akin to both of his heritages.

Emma glanced around. Dru and Ty were the only ones still seated. The sound of Julian rummaging in the kitchen could be heard. She always knew where he was whenever they were this close. The parabatai bond which bound them was like a homing beacon, bringing them back together even if they got lost. Her own rune pulsed when she rubbed at it. The parabatai rune was hidden behind layers of clothes on her, but the same could not be said for Julian, who wore his on his upper arm.

"Sure, I don't see why not. Jules should have everything handled here."

She accepted his hand to pull her up, the motion one fluid tug. And then they were off. Emma's footsteps were louder compared to Mark's silent walking as they made their way out of the Institute. Summer sunshine gave everything a warm glow, especially the ocean in the background. An old truck sat in the gravel parking lot. They hardly drove it without Diana's permission, unless they were on a long distance mission or a trip to the grocery store. Jules loves buying things in bulk for a reason.

It was a good thing they were wearing shoes as they made their way over the small, rickety bridge. The sand closest to the Institute was scorching hot this time of day, scattered bits of sea glass existing somewhere between the bunched up dunes and the crashing waves. Thanks to her shoes, the warmest thing she could feel was the weapon strapped to her back right now. Cortana was a golden slash in the afternoon.  It was the Carstairs sword. Thinking about all the many Carstairs who had used it in battle helped her to feel less alone at night, when the nightmares of her parents' deaths made her feel sick inside.

Livvy and Tavvy were crouched down up ahead with mountains of sand. The little boy could care less about building castles out of sand. Tavvy would build what he called sand cities, buildings with windows and flags and roads surrounding them. Livvy had her work cut out for her digging up a huge moat with her bare hands. Clusters of grimy sand were already gathered underneath the rings of her fingernails. It reminded her much of Julian's own paint stained hands the last time he had tried painting a watery sunset.

"Oh, came here to help did you?" Livvy said upon their arrival. Her jeans were pressed into the sand. Emma imagined that couldn't be comfortable, though at least her tank top was right for the beach. Though if Jules were here, he'd worry about her getting sunburnt.

"Yep, is there something you need us to do?" She asked kindly.

"Well, I'd love it if you helped me with this moat, but I'm guessing you'd much rather help Tavvy out with collecting the right seashells for the tower he's building."

"Yeah yeah! Emma has to help me." Tavvy's attention was drawn away from the sand city. He was tugging on her arm with his small, chubby fingers. The way he beamed at her with those blue-green eyes reminded her so much of Julian when he was a child her chest started to ache. This pain was something she felt only once in a while when she could help it. For a number of years, she'd tried to push this feeling away, but to no avail.

Parabatai aren't supposed to fall in love, so what am I going to do?

"Oh, alright then." Emma pushed away that dark thought. It would never fully leave, swirling in her mind like food stuff in a blender. The bitter medicine would have to be swallowed later when she was alone. "Should we start looking for shells, seeing as you've just about finished with the tower?"

Tavvy nodded. "Yeah, and Mark can help Livvy out while we're gone."

"Heh. He doesn't even ask me. Just assumes I will." Mark was shaking his head in amusement. "I'll go grab us a shovel or two, okay Livs? We'll be able to dig the moat much faster then."

"Sounds good." Livvy agreed.

So then Emma, Tavvy and Mark left, leaving Livvy to keep on working. Emma and Tavvy gingerly stepped over mounds of washed up seaweed as they approached the tide line. Her heart stuttered in her chest. It had been a long time since she'd gotten in the ocean. Her lungs could imagine the choking feeling of water drowning her, dark water enveloping her whole.

"Emma, what about this one?" Tavvy's voice broke her out of thought.

The little boy was holding up a large conk shell. Emma took it from his hand, examining the sharp spikes littering it's sides. "I think this is fine, thought it won't fit in a wall."

Tavvy gave her an indignant look. "Of course not. That's why it's going on top of the tower. It'll be the city's capital symbol."

"Oh, I see. Smart thinking Tavvy."

Stuffing the large shell in her shirt, they proceeded to search some more. The wind billowed about them, making the golden strands of her hair fly about like strands of light. Tavvy hurriedly went about collecting shells. Each of them were given to her to examine, including a rather ticked off crab who tried to nip at her pinky finger. She tossed the angry little hermit back in the ocean when Tavvy wasn't looking. There was no reason why the city would need a guard crab anyways.

It's not like the people there need to be protected from some unknown evil.

****Alec's POV****

One quick SOS message to Daniel, Pippa and Harry and then he was grabbing Magnus and leaving the Loft posthaste, food left forgotten behind them. The Portal opened up onto the LA Institute. It was almost unrecognizable now. Fire was awash everywhere, the stench of burning death and smoke making it hard to breath.

"What happened here?" Magnus asked in horror. Some dead bodies lay on the front steps, already blackened by the flames. The sky was a painted picture of blood red and deep purple, the sun like a beacon of death.

"I don't know, but we have to find out. Are you sure you're up to this?" He found himself asking. In normal circumstances he would not doubt his husband. But there's no telling what we might find in there. It was sad but true. Shadowhunters were trained to understand death. One could never tell when you might be living your last moment. Magnus had not been raised this way however, so he wasn't so keen on him coming along.

"If you're going then so am I. We're in this together, remember?"

"Always."

So they found themselves walking on in to what might as well have been the gates of hell. The ornate church walls were so badly burnt, the heat in the room making both of them sweat as they made their way inside. Alec kept a force field surrounding them. This would protect them from fire and smoke inhalation, but not entirely the humid heat.

"Where do you think Max and the Blackthorns are?" Magnus voices the question buzzing around in his own mind.

"I don't know. Hopefully we don't find them here. They might be out." I hope. It was likely wishful thinking on his part. Imagining any of the sweet, kindhearted Blackthorns gone made his stomach churn in apprehension.

Everything was unrecognizable in the halls, but somehow Alec found himself and Magnus walking off to the training room. Flames licked up to the high-arching ceilings, wooden frames crashing to the ground. The training hall was much designed like the one in New York. Weapons lined the walls and training mats were rolled out on the ground. Only the fireproof weapons remained, the other things going up in smoke. The smell of sweat so overpowering in this room had been beaten out at last by a much more horrible scent.

"Max? Max? Are you here?" Magnus called out.

"Max! If you're here please answer us!" Alec exclaimed. He would tear through all the flaming rubble if necessary to get to his little brother, but he would not dare put his husband at risk either. But he worried too, because what if Max wasn't in this room? Tearing the already ruined beyond repair training room apart would be for nothing then. And, on an even worse note, might seal Max's fate were he to be trapped somewhere else.

They waited for a second, and then two.

"Alec? Is that you?" A voice coughed.

Alec and Magnus whirled around to see a sight that left him gasping in relief. Max was coming towards them. Ashes were in the boy's hair, making him look like a little old man. His training clothes were horribly ruined, his hazel eyes glinting like twin pieces of amber in the firelight. So he was unclean but alright.

"Max!" They both cried.

Alec yanked his little brother close, running hands up and down the boy's sides in an extra inspection. While he doubted the young Shadowhunter had any serious injuries one could never be too careful. Max whined at his movements. The teenager seemed exhausted from breathing in all the smoke.

"Magnus, you have to take Max back. He needs help right away," Alec said.

Magnus nodded, a frown on his lips. "But what about you? And what about the rest of the Blackthorns?"

"I'll be fine. I'm an archangel now, so the flames won't hurt me. When I find the Blackthorns I'll portal them out."

"But Alexander—"

"Magnus, I promise I'll be okay. Pippa, Daniel and Harry are coming soon too. So I won't be alone for long. Please Magnus, we need to make sure Max gets help immediately." The unspoken words of 'I don't want either of you to be around in case she's here' were left suspended over their heads by thin strings.

Reluctantly, Magnus agreed. "Okay. I'll bring Max to Izzy and the others. You stay safe okay. Or else."

"Yes, I will. Love you Magnus." They shared a brief kiss. So much emotion filled on small touch, a cascade of even further warmth despite the roaring flames.

"I love you too Alexander." They shared a brief smile, and then Magnus and Max were whisked away in a Portal of the warlock's creation. Alec cracked his knuckles, his wings unfolding outward. The burning fire did not bother them; they had been bathed in much hotter flames than this.

I have work to do.

**** Izzy's POV****

She was gearing up to leave. Simon, Jace and Clary were grabbing their weapons, the whole Institute set on alert. Pippa had disappeared in a flapping of wings the second the alarm had went off. She had no idea where the winged nephilim might've went, but could presume it was to Los Angeles. Her parabatai was just drawing the Portal rune (MOST of her created runes could be used again) when a Portal opened up in front of them. Out from it gracefully stepped Magnus. Following beside him was Max.

"Max!" Jace said in startled shock.

"Are you alright? Magnus, what are you doing here?" Clary was asking.

"Max, thank goodness you're okay."

Izzy reached out for the littlest Lightwood immediately, yanking him into her arms. The teenage boy was covered in what looked to be ashes and grime but otherwise was unharmed. She thanked the Angel he was alright. Seeing Max almost die once was one time too many already.

"It was t-terrible Izzy. T-there was fire everywhere." Max hugged on to her tightly, squeezing her rib cage. She ran her fingers through his hair, not minding the smoky substance littering her fingers.

"It's okay Max, it's going to be okay." Now that you're with me, nothing will happen to you. Distantly she listened to Magnus speaking to them. Her brother-in-law was dressed like he was about to enjoy a set tea time, not some battle or another.

"When Alec heard about the Los Angeles Institute being under attack we rushed to the scene posthaste," Magnus said.

"That would explain your choice in wardrobe." Clary commented.

Magnus looked down at his clothes. "Yes, it would Biscuit."

"How did Alec here about the attack, we only heard about it just now and news to Alicante doesn't exactly travel fast. And where is Alec by the way?" Jace asked.

The warlock's expression turned grim. "Veronica came to notify him. She's a friendly ghost helper/ deceased wife like that. Alec's still at the scene."

The group looked to be in shock. "You just left him there?" Simon sounded horrified. Izzy was sure his worry was reflected on her own face. Sure, Alec was an archangel now but there was no telling if he would be able to use the extent of his power needed to stop this thing. Her grip around Max tightened. One brother was out of her reach; she would have to make due with the one who wasn't.

"Yes. But the winged nephilim are on their way over so he'll be just fine. If they weren't I wouldn't have left him, but like he said getting Max out of there needed to be our top priority."

"Uh huh. Well, now that you've done so we should be heading out," Izzy said.

Magnus held up a hand. "Too many of us there will just cause a problem. Jace, Clary, you two can come with me."

"What about us?" Simon asked.

Dark, glamoured eyes swept over them. "You two take care of Max. He may not be outwardly injured but there's no telling how much smoke he inhaled. Get Lorenzo over here stat."