"Zee, ow-" Alec hissed as I began pulling off the face mask from his face, seated on top of him on his bed where he laid, "That hurts-"

"Are you kidding me?" I stopped, placing my hands on his chest, "Badass Shadowhunter that kills demons and fought Circle members can't handle a peel off face mask?"

"I don't know how you got yours off so easily!" Alec points out to my face mask cleared face, "This might be the most pain I've ever been in."

"I knew there was a little girl in there waiting to jump out." I poked him, putting the strands of my hair behind my ear that had fell out of my messy bun, "Come on, let me take the rest off-"

"No!" Alec grabs my wrists, "You love me."

I stare at him, "I do."

"Which means you can't put me in that type of pain." Alec tried to persuade, "It's unbearable."

"Unbearable?" I bursted out laughing, "It'll be over in two seconds!"

"Two seconds that'll be the most painful two seconds of my entire life." Alec points at me, still holding my wrists, "I can't believe I let you put this stuff on me."

"Alec, you'll be fine-" I reached for the facemask, "One of the many perks of being a Shadowhunter is having an Iratze, remember?"

Alec's eyes began to widen as he gently kept my wrists back, "Zee, I will never talk to you ever again if you-"

I pushed through and grabbed the face mask, ripping it all off his face all together, cutting him off.

Alec lets out a squeak in pain, grabbing me and rolling me onto my back, burning his face into my stomach as he groaned.

"Alec!" I started laughing, tossing the face mask into the garbage can by the bed.

Alec doesn't reply, keeping his face buried in my stomach, my eyebrows furrowing.

I poked him, "Did I kill you?"

Alec looks up at me, his lips pursed, as he simply nodded his head yes, confirming.

"Ah, this is you not talking to me because I ripped the face mask off." I pointed at him in realization.

Alec nods again.

"Okay-" I got up, slipping away from him, walking over to the mirror and taking my hair out of its messy bun.

Alec's eyebrows furrow, as he got up as well, coming behind me and wrapping his arms around me.

"Nuh uh-" I slip away from him, smiling as I backed up, "You don't get comfort if you're not talking to me."

Alec grabs my hands and pulls me into him, giving me a innocent smile, as I shook my head and backed up, "Nope."

"Zee!" Alec broke and throws me over his shoulder, as I squealed, kicking my legs around.

I hung from him, "Alec!"

Alec began to spin, "I'll not putting you down unless you hold me when we go to bed."

I hugged his middle, "Promise you'll talk to me."

Alec shot back, "Promise you'll hold me."

"I promise!" I blurt, kicking my legs, "Put me down, I'm not used to this height!"

Alec pulls me off his shoulder and plops onto the bed with me, holding onto me tightly, a wide smile on my lips.

-

"There you are!" Magnus said when him and I walked into the armory where Isabelle and Alec were, "Good news: the Core is off the ley line grid and free of demonic corruption."

"That's good news." Alec simply said, his mind seeming to be occupied elsewhere, "Thank you."

"Okay." I walked over to where Isabelle was sitting and wrapped my arms around her, putting my chin on her head, "What's going on?"

Alec looks at me, "I want a hug."

"Alec, I love you- but- I'll hug you later." I shot him an innocent smile, "My parabatai needs me- now, who do I have to deal with?"

Isabelle sighs, using her hands, "We just got a fire message from Mom, saying she's "dropping by" for an impromptu "family dinner.""

Magnus steps closer, "Those are a lot of air quotes."

Alec sighs, "Mom doesn't just drop by for anything."

"Yeah, we're thinking it has to do with her and Dad." Isabelle admits, "They're finally making their divorce official."

"I'm sorry." I hugged her slightly tighter in comfort.

Magnus exhales, "My condolences."

"It's for the best." Isabelle places her hands on my arms, "Problem is, instead of just being sad like a normal person, she starts trying to fix everyone around her."

Alec exhales deeply, "Which usually includes grilling her children on everything she thinks is going wrong in their lives."

I looked up at my boyfriend, "I'm truly sorry for being the soul reason of your suffering."

Alec looks at me, "I'll kiss you in front of everyone at my own wedding again if I have to, if it'll prove to her that us is inevitable."

My expression softened, "I-"

"I'll do anything to prove it to her." Alec stood up straight, "Kissing you at the altar was probably the best decision I've ever made- you're the best thing that's happened to me."

Isabelle places a hand over her heart and leans into me, "You guys are so cute."

"I got lucky, didn't I?" I softly smiled, "But, you're not gonna be lucky when she brings me up during that dinner."

Magnus inhales, "So- where are you holding this suspenseful dinner?"

Isabelle made it clear, "Definitely not here."

Alec agreed with her, "The Institute tends to bring out her inner Inquisitor."

I sigh, "That's never good."

"How about my place?" Magnus offers, and follows up before any of us could protest, "I insist- you can have the place all to yourselves."

"Plus, I could go shopping for you." Magnus touched the collar of Alec's shirt I was wearing, "More fitting clothes would be suffice, dont you think?"

I shot him a look, "Why don't you scour through my closet to see what items I need?"

"That's exactly what I was thinking-" Magnus eyes my outfit, "Definitely more glitter."

"Magnus-" I point at him, "A limit on the glitter."

Magnus' face scrunches up, "How many?"

I put my fingers up, "I will only allow two."

"You're killing me!" Magnus left the room, leaving me alone with Isabelle and Alec.

"Wait." Isabelle looks at me, "You should be there."

My eyebrows furrowed as I looked down at her; confused, "Be where?"

Isabelle smiled simply, "Dinner with Mom."

"Oh, no-" I let go of her and took a step back, "No!"

Isabelle grabs my hands, "Think about it: if you're there being your usual amazing self- Mom won't have time to interrogate us."

"No way!" I denied, beginning to back up again, as she pulled on my hands, "That woman hates me."

Alec grabbed me, wrapping his arms around me from behind, my back against his chest, my hands still tangled with Isabelle's, "Zee-"

"I'm serious- she once said, and I quote," I truly did quote Maryse word for word, "She is the daughter of our biggest threat, do you know how that makes us look? One of the most respected, choosing one who could be a traitor?"

"Please-" Alec hugs onto me tighter.

Isabelle shook me a crooked smile, "Please!"

"Fine, I'll come!" I gave in.

Isabelle hugged onto my middle in thankfulness, as I looked between them, "You know what- I didn't know I needed both Lightwoods to hug me at the same time."

Isabelle pulls away and smiles at me, then leaves Alec and I alone, my hands gripping Alec's arms.

"Hey-" I turned in Alec's arms and grabbed his hand, jerking my head lightly, signaling for him to come with me, "Come on."

Alec held my hand, walking with me down the hall as I looked at him, since I couldn't help but notice I look on his face from earlier, "You okay?"

Alec exhales deeply, swinging out hands lightly, opening up to me, "With my parents finalizing the divorce, it got me thinking."

"Thinking about?" I looked at him.

"When you're a kid you automatically assume your parents are soulmates." Alec grabs my other hand and came to a stop in the hall, "Our kids are gonna be right about that."

My heart stopped.

A panicked look crossed Alec's expression when he notices the speechless look on my face, "Did I weird you out? I mean- we're always joking about marriage and you being pregnant, so I-"

I cut him off by grabbing his face and kissing him, him melting into the kiss and wrapping his arms around me.

I slowly pulled away, my forehead against Alec's, my voice quiet, a wide smile on my lips, repeating his words, "Our kids are gonna be right about that."

-

I walked into Jace's room after he had asked for me, noticing the bags under his eyes, "Jace, are you okay?"

Jace grabbed his tablet from the desk in the corner of his room, "I'm fine."

"Clary told me about how you've been pulling all nighters to find the Owl- how you think it's Jonathan?" I watched him, genuinely concerned, "Did you get any sleep?"

Jace doesn't reply and hands me the tablet, "This is Morgan Young, the Owl's latest victim, except she escaped before he possessed her."

"How'd she manage that?" I looked through the file, swiping through it, ignoring how we shared the same last name.

Jace replied, "She got him in the face with pepper spray."

I looked up, "That wouldn't affect a demon."

"No, it wouldn't." Jace expresses his point, "It means the Owl is part human, the same as Jonathan."

"Jace." I was serious, "The Owl is not Jonathan."

Jace shot back, "How do you know that?"

My eyes slightly widen at how determined he was to prove that this was Jonathan, "I don't know, maybe- because I'm the one that killed him?"

Jace reminds me, taking the tablet and putting it back on the desk, his back to me, "They never found his body."

"Because he's probably in the middle of the ocean somewhere!" I stated the obvious, "Jace, you saw him in that river- Jonathan was dead."

Jace faces me, walking back over to me, "So was I- until you brought me back."

"What, do you think someone just brought Jonathan back to life because I brought you back to life?" I placed my hands on my hips, "Are you kidding me, Jace?"

Jace sighs and confessed, "Ever since Lake Lyn, I've been having dreams about Jonathan."

I don't react, "Which are probably just dreams."

"Like your dreams about the Mortal Mirror?" Jace recalled, "They all ended up being true."

"Jace, this is a completely different story." I huffed, "In no way is Jonathan actually alive!"

Jace hands me a pamphlet, "Maryse wants to have dinner with Alec, Izzy and I later on tonight, but- I think this is more important."

"Yes, I know." I placed a hand on my hip, "I'm invited."

"Morgan is throwing a fundraiser for disaster relief." Jace began telling me, "If I know anything about Jonathan, he will be there to finish what he started."

"Then we should schedule the dinner, and fill Alec, Isabelle and Clary in." I reasoned, "We need back up if we're going in blind and stupid."

"No- he had spies in the Institute before." Jace shook his head, "I don't want anything to tip him off."

"Jace, I have to show up to this dinner." I told him, "I'm sorry- but, I can't just leave Alec hanging."

"You can go to the dinner, I'll text you when I need you, okay?" Jace assured me, "When he attacks again, we'll be there to stop him."

-

"Are you sure this is exactly half a cup?" Alec calls out from the kitchen as I typed the laces of my black heeled boots in the other room while I was getting dressed.

I was dressed in a forest green layered dress, one that was a V neck and ended mid thigh, having balloon sleeves and covered in red roses.

"Well, you measured it in the measuring cup, so I'm pretty sure it's half a cup, Alec." I joined him in the kitchen, running a hand through my straightened hair.

Alec stopped when he saw me, holding the measuring cup in his hand over the soup on the stove, "You look amazing."

"Really?" I set down my phone, "Not too much?"

"No, you really- wow." Alec's eyes lingered on me for as long as they could, pouring the contents in the measuring up into the soup, stirring it.

"Alec, everything doesn't have to be completely exact." I came to his side, putting my hair behind my ears, "Cooking is an art, not a science."

Alec waves the index card in my face, "If that were true, then- there wouldn't be instructions."

I place my hands on my hips, humming.

"Now, this is an old family recipe." Alec stirred, his other hand covered with an oven mitt, "Izzy and I found it right after my grandmother died."

"My mother was inconsolable until the day we made her this stew." Alec looked at me, giving me a soft smile as he recalled, "That was the first time that I saw her smile."

"You're so thoughtful." I smiled, reaching, grabbing the piece of radish off the top of his head, "And so adorable with radish in your hair."

Alec suddenly had a spoonful of the soup on the wooden spoon, pushing it towards me, "Here-"

"Oh-" I almost stumbled in surprise as he shoved the spoon in my mouth, filling it completely with the hot soup, a muffled whine leaving my lips.

The soup was horrible.

"How is that?" Alec looked between my eyes as I chewed the contents, swallowing only part of it due to how much he put in my mouth, "Good?"

I placed a hand on my chest, trying to force it down, "Hot-"

Alec realized how he shoved burning hot soup in my mouth, guilt crossing over my face, "I'm sorry-"

"It's okay-" I swallowed the rest, "It's really good!"

"Yeah?" Alec asked as I nodded quickly, him letting go of the spoon when his phone buzzed in the other room, as he went for it.

I quickly grabbed my phone and texted Magnus about how terrible the soup was, as he sent back a quick reply.

Blue magic appeared around the pot, turning it into a much better tasting soup as I heard Alec's footsteps.

The magic fades as I quickly grabbed the spoon, pretending to have been stirring it the entire time.

"Izzy texted." Alec walked in and shooed me to the side, grabbed the spoon, "Out, out, out, out."

I placed a hand over my heart, "For your information, I was doing a wonderful job stirring the soup."

Alec pauses, "Izzy's going on mission with Clary and Jace which means that- it's just me tonight."

"Just us." I corrected him, "All right?"

Then, there's a knocking at the door, signaling that Maryse had arrived.

"Actually," My eyes widen, "I don't think I'm ready to be criticized by your mother-"

Alec began to ramble, just as nervous as I was, taking off the mitt, "Remember, my mother is on edge and that means avoiding any sensitive subjects, like my dad, or like- that I turned down that job at the Clave, or-"

I shot him a crooked smile, "Or the fact that you're dating a Valentine Morgenstern's dastardly daughter?"

"I'm sorry." Alec sighs, "Am I being terrible?"

"No, you're just tense." I handed him my drink from a little earlier, "Here, have some-"

Alec takes it and drinks the entire thing in one gulp, handing me the empty glass, "I'm okay."

"You're okay?" I stare at the empty glass in my hand with wide eyes, "It's all gone-"

Alec swallows at the burning, "You're okay?"

"I'm okay-" I looked at him, "Are you okay?"

"I'm okay!" Alec walks past me and to the door, opening it to see his mother.

"My children!" Maryse blurts out when I joined Alec, her arms out wide as she engulfs me into a hug first, handing Alec the bottle of wine she brought.

I was caught completely off guard, looking at Alec with wide eyes, gently hugging her back.

"I-" I stammered as she pulled away, "Hello, Maryse-"

Alec watched a smiley Maryse walk past us, "Can I get you a drink?"

Maryse smiles wider and walked to the dinner table, "How about a round of cocktails?"

I looked at Alec, whispering to him, just as confused, "This is your mother on edge?"

-

Maryse was giggling and laughing the entire night, and shockingly it was during the conversations I was most involved in.

"Well, I've got to hand it to you, Zee." Maryse set down her drink, smiling, "You do know how to host."

"Oh, please-" I place my hand over Alec's, smiling softly, "Tonight was all Alec."

"Really?" Maryse gaped at her son, smiling wider, "That stew was incredible- who knew you could cook?"

Alec's tone was innocent, "Well, I've made that for you before."

"Ah, how could I forget?" Maryse recalled, sitting up and looking at me, "Alec and Isabelle made this for me when they were little kids- to see the looks on their faces when they brought it to me, it still warms my heart."

I squeezed Alec's hand, "That was sweet of them."

"But- that stew!" Maryse began laughing lightly,
"I still have nightmares!"

Alec's expression dropped, "I- I thought you loved that stew."

"Well, I do now!" Maryse truthfully said, "Whatever you've done to the recipe, it's unrecognizable."

Alec looks at me right away, knowing I had something to do with it, as I pretended to be suddenly interested in the ceilings, avoiding eye contact with him.

"Uh-" I sat up, "Anyone up for a digestif?"

"Mm- no, thank you." Maryse hums, sipping her drink, "I'm probably embarrassing Alec as it is."

"No- it's just-" I used my free hand to trace Alec's tattoo under the table, "We're just happy to see you in such good spirits."

Alec intertwined our fingers, "We thought you might be upset what, with the divorce and everything."

"I've made my peace with that." Maryse confessed, "But- your instincts are right- I do have some unpleasant news."

"I wanted Isabelle and Jace to be here, but- you need to know." Maryse inhales sharply and sat up herself, "In light of Malachi's coup, the Clave has reopened its investigation of former Circle members."

Alec was wary, "You had nothing to do with Malachi."

Maryse folds her hands, "Still based on a review of my actions in the Circle, the Clave has reclassified me a traitor."

Alec's tone was louder, "What?"

"Maryse." Her name barely left my mouth due to how shocked I was and the sympathy I felt for her.

"They're stripping me of my runes." Maryse came clean to us, "In a few days, it'll be announced that I have been exiled from Alicante."

I held Alec's hand in both of mine.

"This is completely unjust." Alec wasn't happy about this, "You've given your life to the Clave!"

I looked between them, clearing my throat, letting go of Alec's hand, "I'll go and check on the desserts."

I rushed into the kitchen, my back leaning against the wall, staying dead quiet.

"This is total hypocrisy." Alec bursted, "What about the Pangborns? The Blackwells? Do they keep their positions? What about- what about Dad?"

Maryse sighs, "He was assigned to the LA Institute as part of a deal."

"That is exactly my point!" Alec was angry, "He gets a slap on the wrist, not exiled!"

"Please, don't make this harder than it already is." Maryse's tone remained calm, "My punishment is more severe because my crimes were too."

"Back in the days of the Circle, I was convinced Valentine had all the answers." Maryse went in depth, "I recruited many good people including your father- and together with Valentine, I orchestrated all the bloody details of the Uprising."

Alec quickly adds in, "But- you got out."

"Only after I knew we were doomed." Maryse replied to him, "Once I saw Valentine for who he really was, I couldn't believe what I had done."

"I vowed to devote the rest of my life to the Clave." Maryse exhales deeply, "But- the charges against me are just."

"That's very noble of you, Mom." Alec told her, but was stern, "But- if you're not going to fight this thing, I will, even if that means stepping down from the Institute."

"No." Maryse immediately denied, "Seeing what you have accomplished as Head of the Institute nothing has made me prouder."

"The Clave's always had its faults." Maryse exhales deeply, "My generation nearly destroyed everything in our passion to fix it- yours will have to be wiser."

Then, my phone buzzed, Jace's name popping onto the screen, a sigh leaving my lips.

-

"Let's get this over with." I joined Clary, Isabelle and Jace in the loud, music blaring setting at Morgan's fundraiser, as they had called me to meet them there, "I already feel bad enough leaving Alec as it is."

"Okay, we'll make this quick." Clary nods once at me, "Except- the Owl could be anyone."

"Remember, he might not look like Sebastian Verlac." Jace reminds us, "Keep an eye out for anything suspicious."

"All right." Isabelle nods as well, "Let's split up."

Jace instructs, "Don't let Morgan out of your sight."

We all split up, blending within the crowd of people drinking and dancing, the blue light flashing throughout the room.

From separate parts of the room, we all kept our eyes on Morgan, making sure that the Owl didn't make a move on her.

I had lost sight of everyone else, trying my best to stay focused on Morgan.

Someone bumps into me, making me stumble lightly and completely lose sight of Morgan.

I looked around, pushing past their flakey apology, trying my best to locate Morgan, but she was gone.

I rushed through the crowd over to Clary, Isabelle meeting me half way, "Clary- did you see where Morgan went?"

"No." Clary shook her head, "I hope Jace has her."

Isabelle suddenly points out, as we rushed over to it, "Isn't that Morgan's phone?"

Then, a feminine scream filled our ears from outside through the back, "Get away from me!"

Clary ran out with us following her, "Morgan!"

The Owl was on top of Morgan, possessing her.

Isabelle whipped her whip at him, pulling him off her as the Owl began pulling her towards him.

Morgan got up and snarled, Clary pulling out her seraph dagger, "Izzy, watch out!"

Morgan ran off, as I pulled out my kindjals, "Go after Morgan- I'll handle him."

Isabelle and Clary oblige, heading began Morgan so they could catch her and restraint her.

My boots hit against the ground as I circled around the Owl, flipping my kindjals in my hands.

The Owl throws punches at me, as I dodged them, throwing one of my kindjals at him.

He caught it with ease, shocking me.

I went to impale him, but he was quick, piercing my kindjal into my side and pushing me up against the wall.

The kindjal fell from my hand, as I was completely defenseless, the Owl's face inches away from mine.

"Is it really you?" I stare at the Owl who didn't reply to me, just growled, "Show me your face, Jonathan!"

The Owl pauses, as this had confused him.

He let go of me, leaping onto the walls and disappearing, as I heard Isabelle's fast footsteps as she ran over to me, as she felt that I was hurt, "Zee!"

"I'm okay-" I grunted, pulling out the kindjal, my eyes glowing gold as my Iratze was activated, healing the wound.

"Was it Jonathan?" Clary ran over soon after, "Was it him?"

I shook my head, picking up my kindjals, Isabelle in agreement with me.

Clary looks between us, "How do you know?"

"Jonathan always goes for my neck." I held up my bloody kindjal next to my ripped dress, "Never my side."

Isabelle nods, "And I got him with my whip- the electrum didn't react."

Clary exhales deeply, looking down, confused as we all were, "Then who could it be?"

-

I rushed into Magnus' apartment after we had apprehended Morgan, seeing Maryse picking up her purse after slipping on her coat.

"I'm sorry I had to run out like that-" I closed the door behind me and rushed over to her and Alec, "I'm so glad I caught you before you were heading out-"

"Don't apologize." Maryse softly smiled, "You're a Shadowhunter- you have duties."

My heart was saddened for her.

Alec notices the rip in my desk, his eyes widening with concern, "Zee?"

"I'm fine- I'm fine-" I ran a hand through my hair, clearing my throat as we followed Maryse to the door, "There was just- some- stabbing involved."

"Thank you again." Maryse faces us, smiling genuinely, "Tonight couldn't have been nicer."

"Of course." I pressed my hands together.

"And, um- I'd appreciate if you could keep our conversation between us." Maryse looked at Alec, "I'd like to tell Isabelle and Jace myself."

Alec exhales, "Of course."

I looked at Maryse, feeling at ease due to how she hadn't done anything to criticize me this entire dinner, "I hope we'll be seeing more of you?"

"I'd like that." Maryse inhales sharply, looking at me in the eyes, "Zee- uhm, I may have had my prejudices in the past but seeing you stand by Alec?"

"It's what every mother wants for her children." Her words brought tears in my eyes, her hands grabbing my arms gently as she gave me a genuine smile, "Thank you for loving my boy."

Maryse hugs me tightly, as I returned the gesture and looked at Alec, a smile on his lips as he watched us.

Maryse pulled back, smiling at both of us before leaving, closing the door behind her.

I looked at Alec, covering my hands over my mouth, tears present in my eyes at how much that meant to me.

Alec pulled me into his chest the moment he saw a tear began to fall, kissing my forehead repeatedly to comfort me, holding me tight in his embrace.

authors note:

this chapter bro omg

they're so cute, i cannot handle this

i have never been so happy that i decided to write an alec lightwood book smh

THEY'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE AND IT MAKES MY HEART GO CRAZY BRO, I-

this is the best ship I've written, idc

ok every other may be a close second

but, question, what is your favorite chapter of forelsket so far?

also, thank you for 25k !!!

go read metanoia !!!

vote and comment loadssss