"What the hell did you just do?" I immediately questioned after the apartment was erupting in rumbles, staring at Jonathan.

Jonathan breathed out when the rumbling stopped, "Just a little change of locale."

I walked past him and to the balcony, swinging open the doors, my eyes immediately landing on the Eiffel Tower, my expression dropping.

"What's wrong?" Jonathan came to my side, looking at me, "You're in Paris- I thought you'd be happy."

"Why on earth would I be happy?" I looked at him, "Alec's dead. Simon's- dead- and I'm tied to you for the rest of my life."

"I take it you're afraid of our little bond." Jonathan eyed me, "I forgive you for trying to kill me, by the way."

"I'd do it again if I wasn't killing myself in the process." I walked back into the apartment, "If one of us gets hurt, the other does too."

"That appears to be the case." Jonathan followed me, "If we can't be enemies, perhaps we'll be allies."

I stare at him, "You're joking, right?"

"We never got a chance to know each other." Jonathan mentioned, "And what better place than Paris? Home of Renoir, Matisse, Van Gogh and now? Morgenstern."

"My last name is Young." I snipped at him, my eyes glued to him, "This whole- brother sister bonding you have planned- it won't last very long- my Institute will find me- how idiotic do you have to be to forget I have a parabatai that can track me down?"

"A parabatai that can no longer feel you alive, or see your parabatai rune-" Jonathan leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, smirking at little, "Lilith cooked a little something up just for that reason before she sent us to Siberia."

"And," Jonathan adds in, "If you think you can just- portal yourself back to New York- the potion is just as powerful to stop your ability as it is to make it seem like you're dead."

I covered my face, "God damn it-"

"Look- you're a great artist, Zee." Jonathan recognized, changing the subject, "I admire that."

I scoff, "Oh, shut it, will you?-"

"I'm gonna go get us some food." Jonathan suggests, "How about I pick up some art supplies, and you can show me how you work?-"

I thought fast, "Wait, Jonathan-"

"Take me with you." I said when he stopped, "If you really wanna get to know me, you can't keep me locked up in here- how do you expect me to open up when you're holding me hostage?"

Jonathan took a step, "I'm afraid it's not that simple."

"How isn't it? I mean- I can't hurt you, because if I do- I'll hurt myself." I stated the obvious and took a step closer to him, "What am I gonna do- run away?"

Jonathan stares at me, scanning my expression, "How can I be sure you're telling me the truth?"

"You can't." I cross my arms, lightly shrugging, "You're just gonna have to trust me."

I just needed to get the hell out of this apartment.

I needed to find a way back to New York.

I needed to get my runes to work.

Jonathan spoke, "Does that mean that you trust me?"

"Slow down." I held my palm out, "All I'm saying is- maybe I do owe you a chance."

-

Jonathan opened the closet, revealing many clothes, "See what you can find-"

"Not much my liking-" My hands touched the sequins of a dress, "These are all so- sparkly."

"Yeah, well- they belonged to Lilith." Jonathan grabbed his own clothes, "Happily, she won't be needing them any longer."

I rolled my eyes lightly, looking through the clothes, my hands gripping onto a few items, before I walked away from him, noticing how he was eyeing me as I walked toward the foldable wall.

I stopped, staring at him, before heading into another room, shutting the door behind me, tossing the clothes on the bed.

I changed out of what I had on and into the tight, white ribbed shirt I had gotten out, tucking it into the jeans I already wore, putting on a loose black blazer over top.

I put on the heeled boots, tying the laces before getting up and walking toward the mirror, my heart dropping the moment I got a glimpse of my reflection.

My hand touched my neck, feeling bare skin.

No chain or golden heart pendant.

My heart shattered into millions of pieces as my fingers glazed over the skin where the pendant used to rest.

It was the only thing I had of him.

And I lost it.

I gripped my hair in anger, letting out a breath through my nose, tears easily and quickly filling my eyes.

Jonathan's voice came through the door, "Paris is home to the world's the largest Institute, so- best to keep our runes covered."

I exhale deeply, sniffling, wiping my eyes, clearing my throat, swinging open the door and walking back out to where he was.

Jonathan looked at me, wrapping a scarf around his neck, "You look gorgeous-"

I stare at him, inhaling once, fixing my sleeve, "Thanks-"

Jonathan stares at me, then takes a few steps closer, "You couldn't have found something that covered your neck?"

"What, you think my deflect rune would be a dead giveaway?" I crossed my arms, looking up at him.

Jonathan gave me a look, before bringing his hands back and bringing my hair to the front, covering the rune, then picking up a wide trim fedora, setting it on my head, "There."

-

[ jace's pov ]

"These are the coordinates-" I breathed out when Luke, Clary and I came out of the other side of the portal, now in Siberia, pointing to the cabin, "It must have touched down here- let's take a look around."

"I don't know why we couldn't have let Alec in on this- or Isabelle-" Clary said as I opened the door of the cabin and looked in it, "They would want to be in on this-"

"We can't until we're absolutely sure-" I denied, shaking my head, "I don't want to get their hopes up- especially Alec's."

"I got tracks." Luke said to us, catching our attention, pointing to the ground, "They look like a female's."

We moved down the tracks, looking around to see if there were any clues that it could be Zee.

"Guys-" Clary stopped when she spotted something, pointing to a pile of branches and snow, "I think there's something over there-"

I quickly rushed over to it, falling to my knees and running my hands through the branches, my eyes falling onto a gold chain tangled in one of them.

I pulled it out, brushing the snow off it, relief and hope filling my chest, "It's- it's her necklace-"

I looked up at Clary and Luke who stood by me, staring at the necklace in shock as well, "It's her- it's Zee-"

Luke moved, rushing down the tracks, following them to the end of the woods as Clary and I followed him, my heart dropping when the tracks ended to a huge dent in the snow at the bottom of the hill.

Clary looked around, "She must have come this far and then collapsed-"

Luke exhales, "Well, whoever was after her must have picked her up and carried her back to the apartment."

"It was Jonathan." I breathed out.

Luke looks at me, "What?"

"He was in the sarcophagus when the Mark of Cain went off." I pulled my mask down, "He must have escaped too-"

Luke stares at me, "So you think Lilith actually brought him back to life?"

I looked at him, "Wherever she is, she needs us."

-

[ zee's pov ]

"Feels like another century, doesn't it?" Jonathan walked next to me, looking around.

I don't look at him, "It's peaceful."

"Well, after everything we've been through, we deserve a little peace." Jonathan lightly shrugs, "Today, we're just brother and sister in the most beautiful city in the world."

"Everything we've been through?" I looked at him, "You were brought back to life- I was part of the ritual."

Jonathan looked at me, as I fake sighed, "Sorry- I'm still- at unease about that- I'll get used to it."

Jonathan looked down, "I forgive you."

"You know, I'd love to visit the Rodin Museum." I mentioned, trying to persuade him, "I was obsessed with his sculptures in art class- when I was just a- normal mundane."

"Rodin's a favourite of mine too." Jonathan agreed, but shook his head, "But- the Museum is in spitting distance from the Paris Institute."

I stare, "Can't we just be careful?"

"How about we get something to eat?" Jonathan changed the subject, "I know great café that serves the world's best hot chocolate."

"Hot chocolate?" I scoff, "Now?"

Jonathan links his arm in mine, "Trust me."

-

My eyes rolled to the back of my head when I took another bite of the croissant Jonathan had ordered for me, groaning lightly at how good it tasted after not eating for days.

"You know, they'll bring you another if you want." Jonathan laughed lightly at me, "You're attacking that like a wolverine."

I swallowed, staring at him, my expression blank, "Sorry, I didn't have time to eat after I passed out in the Arctic."

Jonathan ordered me another anyway, then grabbed the small pot and poured me some more hot chocolate, "This was the first place I came after I escaped Edom."

"I was hideous- burned raw from my mother's little love marks, so I huddled in a hoodie, hoping no one would notice me." Jonathan set them pot down then folded his hands, "Then, the most beautiful boy came and asked if he could share my table- he looked me right in the face, it's like my burns weren't even there."

My heart dropped, "Sebastian Verlac."

"He was so- good, so full of light." Jonathan thought out loud, "He was everything I wanted to be."

I dust my hands off and crossed my arms, sitting back, "So you kidnap and murder him?"

"Murder was never part of the plan." Jonathan immediately defended himself, "But seeing the hate in his eyes every time I would bring him his meals- it made me feel like a monster."

"And all the time I was at the Institute, I-" Jonathan exhales, "I was terrified that you would all find out who I really was and hate me too."

"Jonathan, you were working with Valentine." I brought that to attention, "You were trying to destroy us- why would you care what we think?"

"No- I never wanted to hurt any of you." Jonathan shook his head, "Just Valentine-"

I moved, leaning my arms against the table, staring at him, "You almost killed me- twice."

"Because I thought I had to- I never wanted to." Jonathan counteracted, "The way that you and the Lightwoods took me in- it made me want to be good."

"For the first time in my life, people cared." Jonathan continued, "Can you imagine what that feels like?"

"Yeah, I can." I swallowed hard at the thought, but kept a straight face, "I'll never forget how the Lightwoods were there for me when I first showed up at the Institute- alone, confused. I'll never forget how Alec held me- until I calmed down. I'll never forget all the training sessions with Jace and Isabelle- the nights we'd eat leftover Chinese in Jace's room when we were hungry at patrol. I'll never forget the bond I had with them."

"And now, I might never see them again." I blinked away tears, and looked down, "Because the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with is dead- and Jace and Isabelle think I'm dead."

"I know it's sad, Zee." Jonathan sighed quietly, looking at me, "I know you miss New York, but- let me be your home now-"

"Jonathan- when you love someone as much as I love Alec, home isn't a place, it's a person." I looked at him, my voice lowering to prevent myself from crying, "My home is dead."

"I'd like to be there for you now." Jonathan stares at me, "If you'll let me."

"Damn it." Jonathan looked at the clock tower before I could reply, "Uh, we- we have to leave."

-

"There's an antique dealer in Saint-Germain who keeps odd hours." Jonathan walked with me, "I was thinking we could pay a visit."

"An antiques dealer?" I stopped, staring at him, "Look, Jonathan, if you want us to start bonding, you've gotta start being straight with me."

Jonathan stood in front of me, "It was supposed to be a surprise."

I cross my arms, "I don't do well with surprises."

"The Morning Star Sword has surfaced in Paris." Jonathan gave it up, "I was going to give it to you as a gift."

I gape at him, "You were gonna give me a sword?"

"It's an ancient family relic, a symbol of Morgenstern dignity." Jonathan began walking again.

"You don't hear that every day." I walked with him, "The words Morgenstern and dignity in the same sentence."

"Our family used to be great heroes until Valentine disgraced our name." Jonathan said, my eyes falling on a man who was walking toward us, moving to the side so we could get through, "It is up to us to change that."

A Shadowhunter.

One who had a stele.

I purposely ran into him, grabbing his stele quickly, turning around, shoving it in the waistband of my jeans as Jonathan turned toward the man in defensiveness, "Hey, watch where you're going!"

"I'm sorry, it's my bad-" I immediately said, holding my arm out to stop Jonathan, using my other hand to brush my hair back from my shoulder, exposing my rune, "Je suis une touriste stupid-"

"Y a pas de soucis, mademoiselle." He replied to me, nodding his head once and walking away.

-

[ alec's pov ]

"You- you found this when you portaled to Siberia?" I stuttered at the sight of Zee's necklace, stood in the Ops Center with Magnus, Luke, Clary and Jace, my heart beat racing at the fact that she could be alive, "Why- why didn't you tell me about this?"

"I didn't want to let you in on it until I was sure that it was her-" Jace looked at me, "I didn't even know how you'd react-"

I looked up at him, blinking a few times, "To the fact that my girlfriend's might still be alive and trying to find her way home?"

"To the fact that it might not have been her." Jace corrected me, "I didn't even know how to tell you- you've been hurting so much that you're a completely different person without her- I didn't want to risk it destroying you more."

I swallowed hard at his words, nodding once, "You're right- I'm sorry. Has there been any movement?"

Jace nodded, "We can confirm that the apartment jumped again early this morning."

"And we have good reason to believe that Zee was in it." Luke said, looking between us.

Jace sighs, "The problem is she could be anywhere-"

"Well, not anywhere." Magnus interjected.

Clary looks at him, "What do you mean?"

"Inter-dimensional domiciles run along ley line grids." Magnus dragged his finger across the screen, "Based on the apartment's size and power, there are only a handful of habitable regions with grid junctions large enough to support it."

"All right." I swallowed hard, holding the necklace tight in my palm, "Well, let's get a list of all places that fit the prole and check any nearby Institututes for unusual activity."

I looked at Magnus, "You must have some international warlock friends who could keep an eye out for us? For distinct characteristics of Zee-"

Magnus nods, "I'll make a few calls."

"Even if we check all these places, it's still like finding a needle in a hay stack." Luke said.

"Then we better start now." Jace nodded once, then looked at me, his voice lowering, "Hey- we are going to find her."

-

[ zee's pov ]

"This is not the first place I'd expect to find a long lost Shadowhunter sword." I walked inside the store when Jonathan opened the door.

"Then you have much to learn." Jonathan said, walking toward the front and having a conversation with the man behind the counter.

"I'm sure you can make an exception." Jonathan threw a small bag at him, "Coins from dead men's eyes- a particular favourite of the Vetis demon- don't ask me why."

I blink, "He's a demon?"

Jonathan trails, "Not to worry, our friend?-"

"Mirek." The man informed.

"Our friend Mirek is relatively harmless." Jonathan walked around the store, "Part of the Greater Demon middle class that rarely gets mentioned."

"They live quietly among us, working at our banks schools, brothels, gently stoking the lesser vices." Jonathan continued, "For the most part, they sail under the radar, you know, I'll bet Mirek here hasn't gotten so much as a jay-walking ticket-"

Mirek took what was in Jonathan's hand, staring at him, "What do you want?"

"The Morning Star Sword." Jonathan was straight forward, "I hear you have it, and I'd like to make a deal."

"I'll speak with you, but that one- outside." Mirek pointed around me, "Phew! I can smell your Nephilim blood from here."

A small smirk formed on my lips, as Jonathan tried to send, "My sister and I are rather- attached. I'd prefer if she stayed."

"I've stayed out of the Institute's sight for years. I won't have any trouble now." Mirek turned, "Come back tomorrow without her."

"So you can disappear overnight with your treasures?" Jonathan called out, "I don't think so."

"Uh, hey!" I cut in, going over to them, "I'll just wait outside-"

Jonathan looks at me, his face hesitant as I shrugged, "I mean- what am I going to do- run?"

-

[ alec's pov ]

"I think I've got something." I finally spoke up after a while of not speaking, my eyes being glued to the screen since Jace had told me that Zee was alive, not having let go of her necklace.

Jace walks over, along with everyone else, "What is it? What did you find-"

"A Shadowhunter in Paris just reported his stele missing." My finger glided over the screen, my eyes scanning the report.

Jace questions, "Do they have any suspects?"

"They think it's a rogue Shadowhunter." I read off the report, "A young woman, dark hair and a deflect rune on the base of her neck."

Jace looked up, "Zee."

"Yeah- it's her." I held the necklace tighter in my hand, taking a step back, looking up at them, "Gear up, we leave as soon as possible-"

Jace nods once, "Let's go get our girl back-"

"We're coming from you." I whispered to myself, to the necklace in my palm as I walked toward my bow and arrow, "Just hold on a little longer."

-

[ zee's pov ]

I pulled the stele I had stolen out, looking back in the glass to make sure Jonathan wasn't looking as I was quick to start writing a fire message to Isabelle about what had happened.

To let her know I'm okay.

That I would find a way back home.

That was until the man from before grabbed onto my arms, stopping me, "I believe you have something that belongs to me-"

"Damn it-" I gasped lightly, looking back then back at him, "Look, I'm sorry- I'm- just trying to get word to my colleagues in New York."

"You're a Shadowhunter." He stares, "I knew it-"

"My name's Zee Young- I've been kidnapped by my brother- and he's extremely dangerous." I tried to explain, "I'm one of the Heads at the New York Institute- I need to get in contact with them, now-"

"Save your story." He pulled the stele from my hand, starting to pull me along and away from the shop, "You're coming with me-"

"Listen to me!" I raised my voice as he pulled me along, my fedora flying off my head and onto the ground because of the wind, "You need to call for backup before Jonathan Morgenstern comes out of that shop and kills you for being near me-"

"Whatever you say, Miss "Young"-" He replied, making me stop in my tracks, forcefully pulling myself out of his grip.

I looked at him, "You don't believe me?"

"Zee Young is dead!" He looked at me, "And so is Jonathan- you could be shapeshifted and trying to fool me-"

"No, that's not what this is!" I shouted at him, "We survived- we survived, and now he's holding me hostage-"

He stares at me, "What?-"

"Lilith- Queen of Edom- she used me to resurrect her son." I told him, staring right at him.

My heart dropped when his neck snapped sideways, as he dropped dead to the ground, revealing Jonathan, "That was close-"

I took a step back, fear filling within me.

I tried.

And all my attempts failed.

"Hey-" Jonathan pulled me into his side, walking me away from him, "You're safe now with me."

-

"That was incredible." Jonathan was giddy as we walked, keeping me close to him.

"You killed a man, Jonathan." I swallowed hard, staring at the ground ahead, my eyes slightly wide,'"A Shadowhunter- one of our own."

"And I did it for you." Jonathan was passionate, "Seeing you in his arms like that, so vulnerable-"

"Vulnerable?" I stopped, forcefully prying myself out of his grip, taking a step, "I am not vulnerable."

"You looked terrified, Zee." Jonathan stopped in front of me and took a step closer, "It wasn't like any kill I've ever done before-"

"Zee, it felt so good!" Jonathan grabbed my hands, "You make me good."

"Are you out of your mind?-" I snatched my hands out of his hold, "That's not what good is, Jonathan- killing someone like that should never feel good."

"Oh, yeah?" Jonathan called me out, "I heard what you did to our father- on the shores of Lake Lyn, watching his life slip from your hands, how did that feel?"

I went silent for a few moments.

Then I took a step closer to him.

"It felt amazing." My voice lowered dangerously, staring at him dead in the eye, "After all the pain that man caused me, he deserved to die at my hands."

"Yeah." Jonathan stares at me, looking slightly taken back, but pleased, "That's what I thought."

"What are we doing here, Jonathan?" I confronted him, "I know this isn't some- brother sister bonding vacation- and the Morning Star Sword isn't a gift- how gullible do you take me? What are you planning?"

"I would love to tell you, Zee." Jonathan snipped back around me, "But frankly, I am beginning to question your motives."

"Zee!" Jace's voice filled my ears, making my head snap toward the sound, my eyes widening at the sight of him the moment he stepped on the ground we were on.

I acted quickly, grabbing the seraph dagger that Jonathan had been carrying, piercing the blade right into my side, grunting, gripping the pillar.

"You little bitch!" Jonathan grunted and help his side, before rushing off before anyone could catch him.

I grunted again and fell to my knees, pulling out the dagger, suddenly being surrounded by Jace, Clary and Luke.

"Zee, hey, hey-" Jace got on his knees and used his stele on my Iratze, then gripping my arms, looking between my eyes.

"You're- you're okay-" I grabbed his face, delight leaping in my chest as I threw my arms around him, "You're back, you're yourself again-"

"I can't believe I'm holding you-" Jace held onto me tightly, rubbing my back, "I'm so sorry-"

I shushed him, holding onto him tighter.

When we pulled away as I pushed himself onto my feet, Luke and Clary has engulfed me in hugs as well.

I was hugging back until through the hugs, I could see a tall figure a few feet away, stood, watching us.

My heart stopped.

I slowly moved everyone out of the way to get a better look at who it was, hoping it was who I thought it was, my heart starting to race.

My body froze at the sight of Alec.

Who stood frozen at the sight of me.

Tears starts to burn and gloss over my eyes, finally getting myself to move as I quickly started rushed over to him.

Alec took a moment before he was making his way over to me, our chests crashing together roughly when I threw my arms around him.

Alec lifted me off the ground, his grip being as tight as ever on me, as mine was on his.

My heart was racing, my hands shaking.

Neither of us could say anything.

I slowly pulled my head back, a tear slipping my eye as I looked between Alec's eyes, grabbing his face, my voice shaky, "I love you- I love you, so much-"

"I love you-" Alec was tearing up himself, staring at me, "I thought you were dead-"

"I thought you were dead!-" I shot back at him, making the both of us not help back start to laugh just a little, tears streaming down both our faces.

"Hey, hey-" Alec sniffled and gently set me down, revealing something to me that was wrapped around his palm as he had been holding it this entire time, my heart stopping at the recognizable gold chain.

"You have it-" My eyes slowly widened at the sight of my necklace, "How do you have it?-"

"Jace found it in Siberia- this- necklace, proved to us that you were alive- that you needed us." Alec slowly turned me and clipped it back around my neck.

"And you came for me." My hand touched the pendant, before turning, looking toward him, "You're here- with me."

"I will always be with you." Alec's voice lowered, his voice quiet as a tear fell from his eye, pulling me into him by wrapping his arms around me, "I thought I'd never see you again- I thought you weren't coming home-"

"But- I'm here now-" I grabbed his face, pressing my lips into his for a few seconds, "I found my way back to you- I always will."

"I know, I know- but, I-" Alec was stammering, another tear falling from his eyes, breaking right in front of me, "Being away from you for so long made me feel like I was dead too- god, I wanted to die when I saw the explosion-"

"Alec, don't you ever say that-" I used my thumbs to wipe his falling tears, "I'm back home- I'm home with you. I love you. I love you so much-"

"I love you too-" Alec moves his hands and held mine as I held his face, sniffling quietly, leaning his forehead close to mine.

We went silent for a few moments.

Taking in that this was real.

That everything was alright now.

Everything would be alright.

"Let's move in-" Alec suddenly said, holding my hands tighter, "We never got a chance to before-"

"Yes-" I threw my arms around his neck and pressed my lips into his for a few seconds again, a wide smile forming on my lips as I quickly nodded my head, "Yes, let's move in the moment we get back to New York- let's do it right now-"

"Slow down-" Alec softly chuckled at my rambling, sniffling lightly as he held my legs up, looking up at the Eiffel Tower, "You know- seeing your drawings of the Eiffel Tower in your sketchbook- I always had this one dream that one day, I'd take you to Paris."

I also sniffle, "Well, here we are."

"I'm not sure this is exactly how I imagined it." Alec looked back at me, laughing just lightly, more tears burning in his eyes, "I always thought- you'd be wearing one of sweatshirts, and you would let your hair down natural- when it's wavy- instead of straightening it all the time- and we'd eat macarons, and have a little picnic by the Eiffel Tower- and you could sketch in the quiet-"

I stare at him, tears set free from my eyes as I listened to his rambling about what went on in his head, my heart fluttering with every word.

I was home.

authors note:

the reunion made me cry

like a lot

so much

this ship makes me so happyyyy agh

and the bOND THAT ZACE HAS, GOD MY HEART

just pure content

thank you for 95k !!! gosh , wtf that's so much .

go read metanoia !!

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