A/N: comment if you get the Hamilton reference!

"Mark!"

"Yes, Drusilla?" He said with a sigh as he turned around.

"Mark... Emma and Jules need to talk to you. It's important." she did indeed look worried, and at this, his curiosity was piqued.

"I'll go see them. Where are they?"

"They're in the kitchen. Please hurry."

Alright then. This must be quite something, and possibly had something to do with the Clave envoy he'd seen leaving as he and Cristina came back from their patrol, if he were to guess.

***
Ten minutes later, he stood outside the Institute, trying to process everything.

Well. This was certainly something.

Mark was in shock.

He was, of course, not given time to process the shock or convince them to say no to this, because of course, they had already decided on doing it.

He was still in shock fifteen minutes later when they were packed and making their leave.

Julian smothered each of his siblings in a hug and gave them all a fifteen-minute pep talk. By the time he had gotten through from Tavvy to Ty, Mark was ready for the dozens of safety facts and warnings Julian was about to pepper him with.

However, what he said completely surprised him.

"Mark..." he sighed. This was clearly difficult for him, "thank you for being able to stay here with them while I can't. I know that I'm always supposed to be there, and now I'm kind of regretting the decision to leave..." he looked so lost, and Mark felt a surge of protectiveness.

"Julian," Mark steadied his hands on his younger brother's shoulders. "No one here blames you. You and Emma need to help Clary and Jace, and we all understand that. We'll be fine while you're away, and Magnus and Alec are here so you don't have to worry about me accidentally burning down the Institute. Ty has Kit, Kit has Ty, Tavvy will have Max and Rafael, and I've got Dru. Everybody will be fine. Does this cover your worries?" he stared seriously into his brother's Blackthorn blue eyes, the eyes he'd once had.

"Well..." he seemed to be thinking. "Remember that Magnus and Alec are going through things as well, and try to help them out with their responsibilities as well. And train every day... and by the angel, tell Cristina to stop buying Kit cookies."

"No promises on the last one brother, cookies are good. But regardless, we've been talking much too long."

"You're right," he straightened up and addressed all of his siblings as well as Kit as a group. "Guys, I'm really sorry I have to leave, but you all know about how much Clary and Jace mean to us, right?"

Everyone nodded emphatically, except for Ty, who grabbed Kit's hand, and Mark saw Kit tightening the grip, which he knew helped Ty, and apparently Kit did as well.

Mark wondered who else thought they were perfect for each other. It couldn't possibly be just him.

A/N: only like 500 words, but it's a chapter. I'm really happy to update bough, it's been forever and I've been busy.