Clary stares into Jace's eyes as they held the Mortal Cup in their hands, "It just looks like a wine glass."

I was dressed in a forest green thermal button front crop top that were tucked into black ripped jeans, black combat boots on my feet.

I sat on a table, chewing on a piece of gum as I watched them, running a hand through my straightened hair, trading glances at Alec, who's back was to me, facing the monitor.

Jace's eyes lingered with Clary's, "That wine glass saved your life."

They had been like this ever since they kissed, and at this point, I just wanted to kill myself so I didn't have to suffer seeing any more of it.

"What if- what if I hadn't gotten the Cup out in time?" Clary softly questions, "That demon-"

"But- you did." Jace cut her off, "First rule of Shadowhunting when something explodes, just keep walking, never think twice- never look away."

The corners of her mouth turned up into a smile, "And what's the second rule?"

I hopped off the table and walked over to them, grabbing the Mortal Cup from between them and pretending to drink from it, letting out a breathy slurp, holding it up, "That, it's not a wineglass, because if it was- I'd be drunk in complete luxury."

"Oh, and- if you keep acting like that around me, I will slit my own throat." I could see Alec softly smiling at me from the corner of my eye.

Isabelle uses her whip to grab the Mortal Cup form me, "Don't forget there's nothing a Shadowhunter can't do in heels."

I smirked at her, as Jace walked over to Alec, us following him, "Alec, what are you doing? You can stare at this monitor all you want, they need angel blood to get past the wards."

"You know that-" Jace continued as Clary places the Cup back into tarot card, "No Downworlder can come into the Institute."

Isabelle leans against the table, "Not without an invite by a Shadowhunter."

"Last I checked, Valentine is a Shadowhunter." Alec spun to face us, "The Cup is not safe here- we have to give it back to the Clave."

"Give it back to the Clave?" Clary blurts out, "No!"

"That was uncalled for." I sat on the table once more, looking at her, "Who do you think you are to make that decision?"

"We can't give it back-" Clary shook her head, "Not after everything we went through to get it."

"My brother is right." Isabelle sides with Alec, "The Cup is extremely important."

Alec looked at Isabelle, "Are you agreeing with me?"

Isabelle shrugs lightly, "I'm full of surprises."

"Knowing my father, he'll send an army to get the Cup back." I played with the ring on my finger, "The longer we have it in possession, the longer we're at risk- and, handing it over to the Clave will piss him off- so, that's a plus for me.

"Sounds like you're warming up to us after all." Jace crosses his arm and began smiling at me, "You just referred to all of us without excluding yourself."

"You guys are stuck with me until I get my memories back." I ran my hand through my hair, flipping it to the side, "Might not be very long until my father comes for the Cup and takes me with him."

Alec looks at me, "That's not going to happen."

Isabelle interjects as well, "We're not going to let him take you again."

Clary placed a hand on my shoulder, "I just started to get to know my sister- I'm not going to lose you either."

My eyes slowly trail to her, my expression remaining straight, "I'd hate to have a sister without a hand."

Clary's hands up flew in defense, taking a step back.

"Whatever, returning to my father would be my choice." I sat cross legged, folding my hands on my lap.

Alec's eyes linger with mine, "And is that your choice? To go back to him?"

I don't reply to this, my eyes glued to his.

If I was being honest, I liked being here.

I didn't want to go.

I liked knowing that I had people here, even if I didn't remember them.

My life was strictly Valentine and Circle members when I was with my father.

Now, it was Alec, Isabelle, Clary, Jace, Margaret, Luke and Magnus, even the mundane, Simon.

I just, liked the feeling I got when I was around these people- like I was doing something good.

Ironic when it comes from the world's biggest threat's daughter.

Clary brings us back to what this conversation was actually about, "Okay, but- Zee and this Cup is the one chance I have at getting my mom back."

"I agree with Clary." Jace sides with her, "We can't give the Cup to the Clave, not now- we need it. It's our only bargaining chip."

"Hello?" I gesture to myself, "I'm a bargaining chip."

Alec looks at me, "We're not using you as a bargaining chip."

"Look, I know how powerful this Cup is." Clary sighs deeply, "It has the power to create new Shadowhunters, control demons and even kill a mundane if they drank from it. But I promise you, I will not let that monster get his hands on it."

"Well, that was-" I trail off, "Subtle."

"There you go." Jace gestured, "You have her word.

Alec sighs deeply, "Follow me."

-

"Huh-" I flipped the pencil between my fingers as I stared at the sketch of New York City I just drew, "Still got it."

Isabelle had given me this sketch book, telling me that it was mine before I had been kidnapped.

In it were drawings of many people and things, but the ones that stood out were the drawings of Alec, Isabelle and Jace.

Alec looks over my shoulder, "Wow-"

"It's just a sketch." I threw my head back and looked up at him, "It's not much."

"Yeah, sure-" Alec gently shrugs, "Except, it shows me that the person you were is still in there."

The eraser of the pencil touched my bottom lip, as I sat up, looking into space, "Jace said that."

Before Alec could reply, the alarms started to blare loudly, his eyes on the screen where a red dot shined, "What the-"

Jace looked at the screen, "There's something outside the perimeter."

"I told you-" Alec began.

"Don't say it." Jace stops him.

Clary interjects, "What's happening?"

"Looks like someone's trying to break in." Isabelle's eyes scan the monitor, the model of the Institute standing out next to the red dot.

"Well, all right people, let's get a move on." I slammed my sketch book shut and set it to the side, leading already, pulling out my kindjals, "I'm in the mood for some killing."

Jace was following me, along with Alec and Isabelle, "Could be the Circle."

"Told you so." Alec slips on his jacket.

"Too soon." Jace said as the four of us ran outside, Clary struggling to keep up with us.

"Don't move!" I raise my voice at the back turned to us holding someone, my kindjals ready as I came to a stop.

"Drop what you're holding." Alec was next to me, his bow and arrow aimed, "Put your hands up."

When he turned, it was revealed that it was Raphael Santiago, holding a dead Simon Lewis.

Clary finally caught up to us, gasping immediately, "Oh, my God, Simon!"

-

"People will be wondering what we found outside the perimeter." Jace said when we laid Simon on a table, a book under his head.

"I'll go." Alec offers, turns and walks up the stairs, "I'll tell 'em we didn't find anything, nobody will come down here."

Clary stares at her dead best friend, tears burning in her eyes, "I can't believe he's gone."

I put my hair behind my ears and cross my arms, "Damn, that's unfortunate."

Everyone's eyes fell onto me, as I shot them all a look, slipping my hands into the pockets of my black leather jacket.

"What?" I looked at them all with slight wide eyes, gesturing to Clary, "You kept roping him into this, he was going to wind up dead somehow."

"I might be a vampire but I was raised a good Catholic." Raphael said, stepping back.

"The vampires breached the Accords." Isabelle stares at Simon, and by the look on her face I could tell she liked him a lot, "Killing Simon is grounds for war."

"The vampires were not behind this." Raphael defended his kind, "Just Camille, she attacked Simon on her own."

Jace looks at him, spite in his tone, "And how do we know you're telling the truth?"

"I could have gotten rid of him, but instead I brought him here." Raphael points out, "I don't want trouble with the Shadowhunters."

Isabelle stares at him, "Smart decision."

I knew this would happen, that was exactly why he was licking blood off his hand the night at Magnus'.

Raphael exhales deeply, "I warned the mundane to stay away but Camille gave him a taste of her own blood, and like an addict he came back wanting more."

"The only reason Simon ever tasted Camille's blood is because of you." Clary put the blame on him, tears streaming down her cheeks, "You kidnapped him- you drug him to Hotel DuMort- you- you delivered him to Camille!"

"Don't forget the part where he let him go." I looked at her, "He could've killed him but he didn't."

"Thank you." Raphael's tone was clear and honest, "I never meant for this to happen."

"Simon." Clary began to sob, hugging onto his dead body, "Simon, please come back, please!"

"You know-" I ran a hand through my hair, sarcasm in my tone, "I don't think he can hear you."

Jace shot me a look as I put my hands up in defense, Raphael sitting down, "There is a way."

Jace rolls his eyes, "A way what?"

Raphael looks between us all, "A way to bring Simon back."

"You can do that?" Clary's eyes widen, "How- how?"

"He's a fledgling." Raphael inhales sharply, "It's a state of transition, your friend can be resurrected."

Jace shook his head, Isabelle agreeing with him, "No-"

"So- I could have Simon back?" Small tears fell from Clary's eyes, "Alive and breathing?"

"I swear, if you people don't fill her in about everything soon, I might just kill her because it's getting really irritating how stupid she is." I pinch the bridge of my nose in annoyance, "When a mundane drinks a vampire's blood, they can be turned when they die. That's what he means by being resurrected, the mundie'll be a vampire."

"And not the sexed up, romantic kind." Jace adds in, "The ugly, bloodsucking, coffin-dwelling kind."

"That's offensive." Raphael shot him a look.

Jace scoffs, "Really?"

"Coffin implies wooden box." Raphael points out, "We have caskets now, they're made of 14-karat gold."

Jace clicks his tongue, "My bad."

"I don't think you should do it." I cross my arms, shaking my head towards Clary.

Clary looks at me, her face twisting in anger, "I could have Simon back!"

"As selfish as you seem, keep in mind that if you do bring him back, that you will be inflicting that life on him." I told it to her straight, "Don't get me wrong, I know you can't get his consent because he's, well- dead- but, turning him into a blood sucking vampire isn't really the way to go."

"It's almost sunrise." Raphael took notice, "Simon must be turned into a vampire tonight or staked through the heart."

Clary sighs, "And if I do neither?"

"His soul will be trapped for eternity." Raphael said, "You have till sunset to decide- the clock is ticking."

-

"Zee-" Margaret walked over to me in the Ops Center, "I'm so glad I caught you."

I stopped and looked at her, "Uh, hey- Margaret."

When Margaret's expression slightly drops, I felt slightly guilty, "Sorry, I'm just not used to the whole Mom term yet."

"It's fine, I understand." Margaret recovers, holding what looked like a necklace in her hands.

I notice it, slipping off my leather jacket and setting it on the table, "What's that?"

"Something I wanted to give you." She held up the necklace, it was a sliver wedding ring on a sliver chain. The ring was simple, a diamond shining in the center of it, "It's my wedding ring- I put it on a chain."

My eyes were glued to it as she placed the cool necklace into my palm, "I thought Shadowhunters just stick to the runes."

"I loved the mundane idea of marriage so- your father and I got wedding bands." Margaret pressed her palms together, "I don't know- I just thought since I haven't worn it in years that you should have it."

I looked up at her, "Why?"

"To have something of both your father and I to look upon- you know, when times were good." She put her hair behind her ear, "I just thought maybe you'd like it."

"I do- I really do." I looked back at the necklace, feeling some sort of connection with her.

The connection was so strong that I couldn't even let out any snarky remarks.

For a moment, I felt like I had something besides my father. Like, I knew that she was family.

I clear my throat and looked up at her, holding up the necklace, "Could you-"

"Yeah, yeah of course-" She took the necklace as I turned my back to her, moving my hair out of the way and she clipped it around my neck.

I let my hair down and touched the ring, facing her, "Thank you- really."

Margaret softly smiled at me, "You're welcome."

"I don't usually- do hugs, but-" I hesitantly held my arms out, as she smiles wider and hugs me.

I held onto her for a few moments, before pulling away and giving her a small smile, as she returned it before saying a small goodbye and walking away, returning to duty.

Before I could even make a move, I felt someone latch themselves onto my leg, a little boy's voice filling my ears, "Zee!"

I almost stumble, my eyes wide as I looked at the kid that had attached himself to my leg.

My palms were on the table as I leaned back, lightly shaking my leg to try and throw the kid off.

"Max-" Alec walked over to us, looking down at him, "Didn't I tell you not to do that when we saw Zee?"

"I couldn't help myself." The little boy who's name I had now learned was Max let go of my leg, "I haven't seen her in ages."

I shot Alec a suspicious look, as he shot me a look that screamed for me to play along with it.

"Yeah, Max-" I clear my throat lightly, crouching in front of him, "It's- uhm, it's been a while."

Max grabbed a strand of my hair, twirling it between his fingers, "Your hair's soft."

I scoff in surprise, watching him, suddenly not being so weirded out but wanting to just hold him like he was my own.

Being around these people was making me soft.

From the corner of my eye, I could see that Alec noticed this, a small smile on his lips.

Max looks up at him, "Zee, you think you could get my stele back?"

"What'd you do to get it taken away, kiddo?" I let the name slip out of my mouth to keep the act going.

Alec looks down at the boy, "They took it away because you nearly burnt down the Mumbai Institute."

"How many times do I have to say it was an accident?" Max drops my hair, throwing his arms out dramatically.

"Look, Max." Alec crouched next to me, in front of Max, "Somebody very important is coming to visit."

"You think you can stay out of trouble for just a couple days?" Alec questions, "If you do, I promise I'll get your stele back."

Max nods lightly, as Alec and I stood up and began walking with Max, him being a little ahead.

I looked at Alec, my voice quiet so Max didn't hear, "Someone important?"

Alec replies, "Envoy from the Clave."

"And-" I pointed at Max, "Who's Max?"

"Little brother." Alec answers, and before he could continue, the doors open of the Institute, making all our attention fall onto who walked in.

My heart dropped to the deepest part of my stomach.

It was my father.

How did he manage to get in here undetected?

If this Institute can be on alert within two seconds of locating a vampire outside of the Institute, why hadn't they reacted like that towards Valentine Morgenstern?

I pulled out my kindjals immediately and got in front of Max, as Alec was shooting an arrow at my father from next to me, as everyone else reacted as well.

Valentine caught the arrow, my eyes still wide with shock. He tossed it to the side and suddenly pulled out his stele.

He waves it over his wrist, the Shapeshifting rune appearing, Valentine fading into a woman.

The blonde woman stepped closer and looked between us all, her voice at monotone, "That reaction time was abysmal."

I began to mutter under my breath, now angry that she even pulled that, beginning to make my way over to her when Alec grabs my arm and stops me, "I'll show you what's abysmal-"

"Except for you." The woman inched closer and looked at Alec, handing him back his arrow, eyeing him.

I didn't like how she was looking at him to begin with, and I didn't know why.

Alec's hand stayed on my arm, as I tilted my head, looking at her, "And who the hell are you?"

The woman smirked, introducing herself, "I'm Lydia Branwell, envoy from the Clave."

"Maryse." Lydia walked past us, noticing Maryse and Isabelle walking down the steps when everyone went back to duty, Margaret looking at us from where she stood, holding a tablet in her hands, "The Clave has ordered me to take temporary control of this Institute."

Alec lets go of my arm as we watched her, him and I putting our weapons away.

"Wait a minute." Maryse was defensive, "Nobody informed us."

"The Clave doesn't need to." Lydia's voice varied, making me want to punch her in the face at how high her voice went, "And, to repeat myself, it's temporary, nothing's been decided yet."

"But- I do need full clearance in order to assess how this Institute is running." Lydia put her stele away and looks between everyone, "Where is Clary Fairchild?"

When none of us reply, she looks between us all again, "I would hope someone here knows."

Alec spoke up when no one did, coming up with some sort of lie, "She's in the field, training."

Lydia looks at him, "You're telling me she's just out and about in the streets of New York?"

"Is that a problem?" I cross my arms, keeping a straight face as I stared at her.

"Now for me to voice the question that has been burning in my mind since I arrived." Lydia walked over to me and stood in front of me, about just an inch taller than me, "What is Zee Morgenstern doing in this Institute?"

"Actually, I go by Young now." I stepped closer to her, correcting her just to spite her, and for the fact that after learning what my father did to me, hearing my true last name made my blood boil, "So, if you're going to refer to my name as if it's something of the disgraced, I suggest you get it right."

From the corner of my eye, I could see Alec pursing his lips to hold back a smile at me claiming myself as a Young, and Margaret putting a hand over her heart, a smile on her lips as she watched me.

Isabelle speaks from behind Lydia, defending me, "Isn't she also your cousin?"

Lydia looks back at her, her voice varied as she corrected her, "Distant cousin."

"Distant is good." I placed my hands on my hips, a small smirk on my lips, "I wouldn't want to unintentionally inherit the bitchiness of the family."

Lydia faces me to speak, but Alec beats her to it, "She's with Jace."

"The same Jace Wayland who decided to lead an unsanctioned raid against the vampires?" Lydia exhales deeply and steps back, "I've read reports."

Maryse follows Lydia as she walks away, "Jace might be unconventional, but he's our best soldier. If he's with Clary, then she's in good hands."

"I hope so." Lydia stops and looks between all of us, "And for your sake, all of New York, all of your jurisdiction better be well protected."

-

Isabelle walked with Alec and I, eyeing Lydia from afar, "I'm not a fan."

I roll my eyes at the thought of Lydia, "Neither am I."

Alec shot us both a look, "Jealous?"

"Jealously is far from it." I cross my arms, clenching my jaw, "Call it a meaningful hatred."

Isabelle fixes her collar, huffing as Alec's phone vibrated, "How the hell did she catch that arrow?"

Alec looks at his screen then walks down the steps with us and over to Lydia and Maryse, "I have something you need to see, something attacked the Jade Wolf."

"The werewolves' headquarters?" Maryse looked st the photos when Alec brought them up onto the monitor, "Where did you-"

Lydia cuts Maryse off, "Where did you get these?"

Alec looked at her, "Leader of the New York wolf pack."

"You're friends with Lucian Graymark?" Lydia scoffs lightly at this information, "An ex-Circle member?"

"Well, I'll be damned." I place my hands on my hips, surprise and sarcasm in my tone, "Apparently, an ex-Circle member can't be on the good side."

Lydia looked at me, her tone filled with accusation, "Valentine's daughter can't be on the good side."

I wanted to laugh at her practically accusing me of being a spy of some sort.

A smirk fell onto my lips when she said this, not letting it affect me, "Well, I really have turned the tables, haven't I?"

"How about we send Isabelle and Alec to investigate?" Maryse cuts in before it got too heated, "I'm sure this is linked to-"

"Valentine." Lydia finishes her sentence, turns and began walking away, "I need to see it for myself."

When she notices no one following her, she stops and looks back at Alec, "Are you coming or what?"

-

Isabelle walked around the table where the Forsaken laid, "You almost done?"

Magnus used his magic over the dead body, "Patience is a virtue, my dear."

I slipped my hands into my lab coat, watching Isabelle walk around the body and to Magnus' side, "Come on, I want to get my hands on that thing."

I almost gagged, "Remind me again why I wanted to join you two on this autopsy?"

"Because you wanted to get away from Alec and Lydia." Isabelle points out, as she began examining the body.

"Speaking of which, how are you and Alexander?" Magnus questions, looking up from the body, "Any progression?"

"No, not really." I put my hair behind my ears.

"Putrefaction." Isabelle said, observing the dead body, "It's decomposing."

"I can tell he's interested in you, he's just not initiating." Magnus points out, "I mean, I can't fathom why he wouldn't be interested."

"As flattered as I am-" I placed my hands on my waist, "I'm not really a catch."

Magnus shot me a look, "I beg to differ."

"Alec's dealing with a lot, that's all." Isabelle simply said, looking at the rune on the Forsaken.

"I suppose." Magnus hums, "With Clary's arrival and Valentine's return-"

"Don't forget the envoy from the Clave." I scoff, rolling my eyes, "That bitch-"

Magnus throws in, "Babysitting Jace."

Isabelle grabbed a utensil, "And dealing with our parents who are trying to find him a wife."

My jaw almost dropped, "What?"

Isabelle pushes her safety goggles up her nose, "They've been pestering him about it."

"You know what-" I inhale sharply, grabbing the yellow folder, "Since I'm bored, I'm gonna go deliver the preliminary findings, it seems like you guys have everything under control here."

-

I walked up the steps into the training room, where Alec was alone, his hands wrapped as he repeatedly hit a boxing bag over and over.

He was shirtless, his body holding a layer of sweat that was visible even in the dim red light shining through the window, his hair a mess.

I stood there for a few moments, watching him.

"Zee." Alec notices me, panting, grabbing the boxing bag, looking at me, "How long have you been standing there?"

"Wow." I ignored his question, almost out of breath, "Why don't you do that when I'm around?"

Alec sighs, walking over to the bench and grabbing a black sweatshirt, as I immediately reach for him to stop, "No, no, no-"

Then, he puts it on and leaves it unzipped, as I huffed, dropping my arm, hiding my face behind the folder I held so he could only see my eyes.

I slowly walked over to him and handed him the folder, "These are preliminary autopsy findings."

"Why are you giving this to me?" Alec tosses the folder onto the bench, "This should go to the Head of the Institute."

I stare at him, "And it is."

"I'm not." Alec breathes heavily, shaking his head, "And I never will be."

Suddenly, I felt sympathetic and I didn't know why, "Alec, don't say that-"

I always went soft when it came to him.

"Zee, it's like- it's like, my whole life has been a lie." Alec opened up to me, running a hand through his hair, "Now, everything I've ever known is-"

"It's not what you thought." I finished his sentence, crossing my arms, playing with my necklace, looking down as my voice fell quiet, "Believe me, I understand that better than anyone."

"I've done everything for my parents for the Clave and-" Alec stutters, his breathing short, "I've done everything that they've asked."

"Maybe- you should start living for yourself." I suggest, looking up at him, "Do what's in your heart- that's what gives life meaning."

"I can't believe I'm saying this." Alec breathes deeply, "I think you're right."

-

I walked down the hall when I heard grunts and crashes in the training room.

When I walked up the steps and entered the training room, my eyes fell onto Hodge on the ground, a Forsaken over him.

Tables were broken and Hodge was weaponless, as the Forsaken was getting ready to kill Hodge.

I jump in, throwing one of my kindjals at it's back, making his freeze and then towards me.

I pulled out my other kindjals, grunting as the Forsaken walking over to me and swung his weapon at me, as I dodged each swing.

I fought The a Forsaken as best I could, until my kindjal was on the ground and I was defenseless, backing away from the Forsaken.

The Forsaken swung at me, when a red arrow shot at the Forsaken's arm, making me look back to see Alec.

When I look back at the Forsaken, his weapon was swinging towards me despite the arrows, my eyes widening.

Suddenly, Alec came between us, taking the hit himself and falling onto the ground with a grunt, dropping his bow and the few arrows he had.

"Oh my God-" I fell onto my knees next to him, my eyes wide with fear and concern, not realizing that I was showing it this time, "Alec-"

The Forsaken inched closer to us, as I instinctively grabbed Alec's bow, grabbing the few arrows left.

I moved onto one knee, aiming at the Forsaken as Hodge got up, shooting a few arrows at him, sending him back, as Hodge finished him off.

I dropped the bow and immediately went back Alec's aid, looking for his bleeding wound, "Where did it get you?-"

Alec tried to sit up, as he leaned into me for support, my arm around his shoulder and over his chest as I held him up, him clutching his arm in pain.

"Oh, my God!" Isabelle gasped and ran in, falling to her knees on Alec's other side, "Alec, are you okay?"

Why has he taken the swing for me?

authors note:

lydia and zee being on each other's ass like-

literally they're destroying each other

but, zalec bro. i can't. they're so cute.

zee's literally going so soft for all of them tho, no joke

except clary

but awh, zee and margaret moments, zee and max moments, zee and everyone moments

thank you for 1k !!!

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