Chapter 21 – United Front – Part 3

Robert Lightwood & Catarina Loss

A Bonus Chapter

This an optional bonus chapter in The Omega. It is entirely optional & does not affect the story line in The Omega however it does provide additional insight.

This insert coincides with Chapter 21 – United Front – Part 3

This story in not intended for readers under the age of 18! I am in no way responsible for readers under the age of 18

Cat poured two fingers of scotch into a short glass in her cottage. Turning, she handed it to Robert.

"Thanks." He said as she sat down beside him on her small couch.

"How are you holding up?" She asked. She watched as he threw back the glass, swallowing it in one gulp. She knew that he was worried about his son. "That good." She said softly, rubbing his back. "He's going to be okay you know."

"Is he?" He asked, gazing into the mossy green eyes of the woman who had somehow become the mother his children had never had. When, he didn't know. Because he hadn't been there. "I just wish that there was something I could do. Some way that I could help him. He's my son." He said, defeated.

"You're being there for him. That's all that you can do. And to be honest I really think that's all he needs you to do. He just needs...you. And he has you now." She said. "He has his father."

She had come to like Robert Lightwood, the man. Seven weeks ago when she had come to learn of the man that she had thought he had become she had been sad and angry. So very angry. 'He was always such a sweet little boy. How could he have become such a monster?' She had thought.

And over the last few weeks she had gone back and forth, one day she had thought that maybe he was okay, others she hadn't been able to stand him. Until she had seen with her own eyes just how much he loved his children and come to see just how much he had tried to do for them. Even if he hadn't always succeeded.

She remembered the little boy that had run wild around Haven with his brother. The boy that had left flowers on her doorstep when he was eight before he' d had to go to The Idris Institute for his Shadowhunter training. Izabella had told her that she was his little crush which she had thought was cute. And she remembered the day he had come back before his wedding and she had found a rose on her doorstep.

She had been angry when she had learned of his arranged marriage and had hoped that he would find happiness. She remembered Izabella's excitement and joy when she had received his message that his wife was pregnant. A woman that she had come to learn shortly thereafter was a horrible person. Then later a monster through the letters that Izabella had received.

She had known of Alec and Isabelle long before she had ever met them. She had watched them grow up through the letters and the photos that he would send. She had heard the pride in his words in his letters home. But when she had met those children for the first time and learned what they knew, what they had experienced, she had been angry.

Now, now she knew that the little boy she had once known had never changed. He had just grown up. He had grown up to be a strong and loving father. He was a good man who'd had to make hard choices.

She didn't realize that she had been staring into his soft brown eyes, Isabelle's eyes, until his voice snapped her back into the here and now.

"Catarina? What is it?" He asked.

"Nothing." She said, mentally shaking herself.

"No. Tell me." He said, softly stroking her cheek. He had dreamt of doing it for as long as he could remember. It was oh so soft.

She didn't know it, but she had been his first and only crush. She had held his heart since he was a boy. He had thought that she was so beautiful and exotic back then, and still did. Being immortal she looked the same now as she had then, only her hair was longer now.

Her skin had always looked so soft. He had dreamt of touching it countless times in his youth, of feeling it beneath his fingertips. And as he had grown older those dreams had never changed. His ache for it had only grown more and more intense over the years. He just didn't know why.

"You have the softest skin." He said. "I've dreamt of what this would feel like."

"You used to leave flowers on my doorstep." She said, smiling.

"You knew that was me?" He asked, blushing.

'Ah, that's where Alec gets his blushes.' She thought.

"Yes, sweetie. I did. And the rose." She said.

"You were my first crush." He said softly, cupping her cheek.

"I know." She said, holding her hand over his.

"And my only." He said, swallowing hard. He didn't know what was happening.

"But Mayrse..." She started. She had been taken back by his words. He was a grown man.

"Never interested me." He said, gently cutting her off. "We had a job to do and we did it. Don't get me wrong, she gave me the most precious gift I have ever received. My children. And I will always owe her a debt of gratitude for that. But after I found out what she had done, that she had tried to lose them it was over between us. There was no hope left for us. And there hasn't been another since."

"Surely someone has caught your eye during all these years." She said.

"No." He said, barely more than a whisper. "There have been some who have expressed interest, but it wasn't mutual. My dreams were always of you." He said, gently stroking her bottom lip with his thumb. "I never thought I would see you again. Then I found that portal rune and there you were. You were here that day. Would you...would you do something for me?" He asked.

"What?" She asked, barely loud enough to be heard. She didn't know what was happening.

"Would you make an old man's dream come true? Would you let me kiss you? Just once." He asked, aching for it with everything in him.

His soft touch on her lip had her blood humming beneath her skin. She had never felt this way before with anyone. And she had over 400 years of anyone's.

"Yes." She breathed.

With his heart thundering in his chest he set his glass aside. The woman he had dreamt of since he had been old enough to dream about a woman was going to let him kiss her.

"Come here." He said, pulling her onto his lap. Framing her cheeks in his hands he stared into her eyes utterly captivated. "You are beautiful, Catarina. You always have been." He said softly, pulling her forward and pressing his lips softly to hers.

They both sighed into the soft kiss, melting into it. She couldn't stop herself when she licked his bottom lip, aching to take the kiss deeper. She was thrilled when he let her in. Fireworks went off in her head when their tongues touch, rocked to her core as she explored his mouth, tasting him on her tongue.

He had been surprised when the woman that he had always dreamt of licked his bottom lip, seeking entrance. He was more than willing to give it to her. Fireworks went off in his head when their tongues touched, rocked to his core as she explored his mouth, tasting her on this tongue. Tilting his head he took the kiss deeper, listening to the soft moan caught low in her throat.

He didn't want the kiss to end. He never wanted it to end, but they had to breathe. With great regret he broke the kiss, both of them panting for breath as their heads fell on the other's shoulder.

One breath. That's all it took. His world tilted on its axis, everything shifting perfectly into place right where it needed to be. 'After all this time.' He thought.

She couldn't stop it when her head landed softly on his shoulder. The kiss had her head spinning in the best possible way. One breath. That's all it took. Her world tilted on its axis, everything shifting perfectly into place right where it needed to be. 'After all this time.' She thought. 'He's the one. My mate.'

"Catarina." He breathed, stunned. His mate was in his arms, arms wrapped firmly around her holding her close. 'She's the one. My mate.' He thought.

"I know." She whispered softly, pulling in more and more of his delicious scent, maple, jasmine, and musk. It was making her dizzy, dizzy with need for her mate. The one she had been waiting centuries for.

He was overwhelmed by her glorious scent, honey, apples, and melon. It was making him dizzy, dizzy with need for his mate. The one he had been waiting his entire life for. He couldn't stop himself when his hands slid down her back, over her hips to her ass, gripping and molding it in his hands. Something else he had always ached to do.

"We should stop." She whispered softly, tears stinging her eyes. She didn't want to stop. She never wanted to stop. She had just found her mate, the man she had waited all of her life for and she never wanted to let him go.

"I know." He whispered, just as softly. He didn't want to stop. He never wanted to stop. But he couldn't seem to let her go. He had just found his mate, the woman he'd loved all his life and he never wanted to let her go.

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The smell of fresh coffee pulled Robert from sleep, the best night's sleep of his life. Never before had he felt so relax, so at ease. Opening his eyes, he saw what he thought was one of the most beautiful sight's he had ever seen. The woman of his dreams stood at a small counter pouring coffee wearing a short silky robe and bathed in soft predawn sunlight coming through the small window above her sink.

"Good morning." Cat said, her eyes never leaving the cups of coffee she was pouring. She had felt his eyes on her the moment he had opened them.

"Good morning." He said, unsure what to do or say. He had never woken up in a bed that wasn't in some way his own. He had never had a 'the next morning'.

"It's alright, sweetie. No need to feel out of sorts." She said, lifting the steaming mugs from the counter. "I know this is a bit new. Black, right?" She asked, extending a mug of coffee out to him.

"Yes. Thank you." He said, taking the mug from her outstretched hand as he sat up. "What time is it?" He asked.

"Early. We have a bit of time yet." She said, blowing on her coffee. "Your mother believes that you fell asleep on my couch last night. After everything that happened with Alec we came back here to talk about his dream and exhaustion got the best of you. I didn't have the heart to wake you. So she won't be expecting you home for a couple more hours at least." She said, taking a small sip of her coffee as she sat down beside him. "Or, will believe I should say. That's what I put on the fire message laying on her kitchen counter."

"Oh. Um...thank you for that." He said, staring down into his coffee. "We're going to have to talk about this. Figure it out."

"Yes. We are. But not right this minute." She said, lifting his chin with her finger. Gazing into his beautiful brown eyes she felt that if she looked into them long enough that she might just get lost in them. "You have beautiful eyes." She softly.

"Not as beautiful as yours." He said, setting his coffee aside on the bedside table. Taking hers from her hand he sat it beside his.

"You don't want coffee?" She asked, her brows furrowing.

"Not when I only have a few hours." He said, pulling her into his arms. "I've already lost so much time with you. I don't want to lose a minute more." He said, pressing a firm kiss to her lips. He smiled when she giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck.

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Robert held his beautiful Catarina in his arms in front of her cottage door.

"I have to go. I don't want to, but I have to before my mother goes down to the forge looking for me." He said softly, aching to stay with her with everything he had. She was his mate.

"I know, sweetie." She said, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.

"We're going to have to talk about this. Figure something out." He said, repeating his earlier words.

"I know. And we will. But for now, for everyone's sake we need to keep this between us. Until we get things figured out." She said, aching with everything she had for him to stay. He was her mate.

"I know. I hate it. I want to shout it from the rooftops. I want the world to know. You're my mate and I want everyone to know it." He said, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

"So do I." She said, smiling. She knew exactly how he felt. She felt exactly the same way.

"I'll see you soon?" He asked, pulling back to gaze into her beautiful mossy green eyes.

"Oh you can count on it." She said, gazing into his beautiful brown eyes. "Go on. Get home." She said, pressing a soft kiss to his lips.

Robert sighed, melting into the soft kiss. But it wasn't enough. Sliding his hand into her soft brown hair he licked her bottom lip, seeking entrance. He gladly slid his tongue between her parted lips when she let her him tasting her on his tongue one last time before he had to leave her. She tasted divine. Tilting his head he took the kiss deeper.

She couldn't help but melt into the soft kiss or stop her soft sigh. She opened gladly for him when he licked her bottom lip, gladly giving him entrance. The taste of him on her tongue was decadent. When he took the kiss deeper fireworks went off in her head, their tongues fighting a beautiful but fierce dance for dominance.

"Lilith, you're a good kisser." She breathed when the kiss finally broke.

"Really?" He asked. He was very inexperienced with kissing.

"Really." She said, cupping his cheek. "Now go on. Go. Before I drag you back to bed."

"Please don't tempt me." He said, pressing one last soft kiss to her already kiss swollen lips. With great regret he pulled away. "I'll see you in a bit." He said, turning to the door.

She hated it when he pulled away, but she knew he had to go. But she couldn't stop herself when she slapped him on the ass, giving him her most innocent smile when he looked back at her in shock.

"What?" She asked, all innocence. "You have a nice ass. It just needed a little attention."

He couldn't help but roll his eyes. It had shocked him when she had slapped his ass, another first for him. And her all innocence act was cute. He already knew that she was far from 'innocent'. Opening the door to her cottage he stepped out into the early morning sun.

She watched as the door softly shut behind him, hoping that no one would see him leave. Not until they were ready for them to. It had been a beautiful morning, one that she hadn't wanted to end.

She had known that when he had woken up that he wouldn't know what to do. This was all new for him. He had never had 'a next morning'. She also knew that Izabella would be panicked when she woke up and found that he wasn't there. The last thing she had wanted to do was wake her sleeping mate so he could sneak home before his mother woke up. So she had sent that preemptive fire message ensuring that it was waiting on the kitchen counter to be found later.

She knew that he was right. They were going to have to talk about this and try to figure things out. They were mates. They were meant to be together. But things were complicated.

But she didn't want to think about it. Not right then. Not that morning. And maybe not that day. She had just had the best night of her life and the best morning with the man that she had already lost so much time with. And she didn't want to lose a minute more.

During the night she had watched him sleep, for how long she didn't know. She had been captivated by him. He was beautiful and his perfectly drawn runes only added to that beauty. 'Marks made by Angels' Magnus called them. She had understood then why her oldest and dearest friend called his mate his 'angel'. It would seem that she had found an angel of her own. Magnus had told her more than once that Alec was his 'saving grace.' Perhaps her mate would be hers.

In her world falling in love and mating a downworlder was a common and perfectly acceptable thing. She had watched it happen countless times throughout her 400 years. But in his it was a crime punishable by death. He was a nephilim, a Shadowhunter. She knew that no matter what happened that the Clave would not murder her mate for loving her. She wouldn't let them. She would burn Alicante to the ground if that was what it took.

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Robert couldn't help but stare in awe. His son didn't know it yet, but his army now consisted of over a thousand people. Word had spread. About everything. And now every downworlder in the world had come to Haven to fight for his son. To fight with him. Every werewolf, Seelie, vampire, and warlock now called Haven home.

He couldn't help but watch as his children as they stood outside his son's small cottage. All of them. His beautiful badass princess. Jace, the son that he had adopted after his parents were killed. His adopted son didn't know it, but he had taken on the honor of being his godfather the day he was born. He had sworn that day that he would look after his best friend's child, the baby that he had fallen in love with moments after he had entered this world. A love that had grown into a father's love after Steven and Sarah had been killed in battle.

Clarissa. His son's sweet parabatai. She was the kindest most loving person he had ever known, besides her mother. Long before her father had died, he had come to see her as his daughter. The day his Alexander had asked her to be his parabatai he knew the reason why his son had made that request and understood it. And he respected him for it. He had been so proud of him that day. Regardless of his boy's decision, he would honor the promise he had made to Jocelyn. The promise to watch over and protect her baby girl. Always.

Simon, her daughter's mate. Like his adopted son he didn't know that he was his godfather either. He might not be his guardian, something he still didn't understand, but Simon was his son all the same. He had made the same promise to his parents that he had Jocelyn. They were his children. All of them. He hoped that one day they would know it, that they know how much he loved them. And maybe, just maybe they would love him just as much as he loved them.

Magnus, his son's mate. His fated mate. He had always hoped that his son would find love, that he would find his other half. He had hoped and prayed. He had never expected that his boy's other half would be the most powerful warlock in the world. But his son loved him, so he loved him.

Watching them as they stood together outside the small cottage, he couldn't help but smile. His son had built a strong family with his team. And that family had grown.

Waiting while his son slept, his mate was watching over him. His son's mate had tried to instill some sort of order. Trying to sort out over a thousand people would be a challenge for most, but not for his son's alpha. It had taken him less than an hour. The nephilims stood with the nephilims, the werewolves with the werewolves, the Seelie's with the Seelie's, the vampires with the vampires under the shade of the trees, and the warlocks with the warlocks. They all knew what they were going to do and in what order. His children had planned it out perfectly.

His heart jumped into his throat when Clary swayed, but it settled back into place when she quickly shook it off. It could only mean one thing. His Alexander was awake, dizzy or lightheaded. Which one he didn't know. That's why his mate was with him. The vision he'd had the night before had taken a heavy toll on his boy. They had been for a while and The Angel Raziel was really starting to piss him off. He watched as Clary took the steps up to the small cottages door and let herself in.

____________________

Cat watched as Alec slept. She had been watching over him for the past hour. His vitals had been stable each time she had checked them and he didn't seem to be in any distress. It was a huge relief to her.

The night before had scared her even if she wouldn't admit it. She had been practicing medicine for more than 400 years and in all of those years she had only felt fear for one other person. Belle. The day she had given birth to Bella she had been afraid. And it almost killed her when she couldn't save her.

But Alec, each time he had a vision the aftereffects seemed to be getting worse and worse. The Angel Raziel was really starting to piss her off. While his heart had kept beating, he hadn't been breathing for three minutes. Had it been a minute longer she would have intubated him. She honestly wasn't sure if he would be up for today.

She watched as he stirred, snuggling into his pillows. For a split second before his eyes snapped open. She barely caught him by the shoulders when he bolted up in bed.

"Hey, easy there." She said, watching as he shook his head, probably trying to clear it. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Cat. What in the Angel's name did you do to me?" He asked.

"I took care of you, sweetie." She said softly, looking into his beautiful but unfocused eyes. "I think you should lie back down."

"I said I'm fine. Where's my alpha?" He asked, swallowing hard.

"He had to go out for a few minutes. He asked me to stay with you in case you woke up before he got back." She said, releasing him. She hadn't wanted to let him go. She had wanted to hold on, but she wasn't sure why. And she didn't understand the unshed tears sparkling in his crystal blue eyes.

"Lydia." He said.

"Is fine, sweetie. She hasn't presented yet. She won't present until May. We have time. We'll find a way to protect her." She said gently. "If she presents as an omega, we'll keep her safe."

"My vision..." He started.

"We'll talk about it." She said, gently cutting him off. "We're due to meet at noon." She said, wanting to reassure him. She wanted him to know that they would do everything possible to keep his friend safe.

"Noon?" He asked, surprised. "What time is it? How long did I sleep?"

"As long as you needed to. That vision hit you hard. It took a lot out of you." She said as he glanced at the beside clock. 10:54 am.

"I need to get up. I need to move." He said, pushing the covers back. "There's so much to do."

"And were doing it. Magnus is out right now finishing up the housing for the downworlders. Cut yourself some slack, sweetie. You don't have to do it all yourself. We're here to help." She said as he climbed out of bed. She barely caught him by the hips as his knees started to give. "Okay. Back in bed for you. No arguments." She said, guiding him back down on the soft mattress.

"By The Angel, what's wrong with me?" He asked.

"These visions are kicking your ass, Alec." Clary said from the open doorway.

"Clary. What are you doing here?" He asked as she closed the door.

"I thought I'd come check on you. I figured that when I got dizzy that you were up and about. That aside, how are you feeling?" She asked as she crossed to him.

Cat stepped to the side to make room for his parabatai. 'He has such a close bond with her.' She thought.

"Alright, I guess. As long as I don't move." He said, dropping his head into his hands. "How am I supposed to do this? The Angel is giving me these visions to try and change things, right? To save people. How am I supposed to do that when these visions are 'kicking my ass?'"

"That, my parabatai, I don't know." She said softly, lifting his chin to meet her eyes. Gideon's letter did say it gets easier."

"When?" He asked, gazing into the emerald green that was her eyes. He saw the compassion there, the kindness, the love. And the worry.

"I don't know. But I believe it will happen. You just have to give it some time." She said, brushing a lock of hair out of his eyes. She wanted to comfort him. To tell him that it would be okay. He was Alec Lightwood. The strongest of the strong, the bravest of the brave. She knew in her heart that he could do this.

"If anyone can get through this it's you, Alec. I really don't think that The Angel would have picked you for this if there was anyone better. And you are the best, rather you're 'not sure you believe that' or not." She said, quoting his words from the day before.

"Maybe." He said softly. "They just seem to be getting harder and harder, you know? Sometimes the visions aren't that bad but every time I have one the aftereffects just keep getting worse."

"I know." She said, sitting at his side. "Did you see something new?"

"Yes. Well, I guess 'heard' is the better word. Someone is hearing something. Or overhearing. Twice now I've overheard things that someone else is overhearing. Who? I don't know. But they're hearing things that we apparently need to know. But I do know that whoever they are they're inside the Clave." He said.

"How can you tell?" She asked, frowning.

"Because I've been in Alicante enough times to recognize the walls inside the buildings. Like with that vision of Imogen and that vault. Whoever it is that I'm overhearing has deep access within the Gard." He said softly.

"Well whoever it is they're giving us some pretty vital information rather they know it or not. Rather they want to or not." She said. "So what do you think, do you feel ready to get up? There's something you need to see."

"What is it?" He asked.

"Get dressed and come see for yourself." She said, smiling. She leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. "I'll wait outside." She said, climbing up.

"Okay." He said, confused.

"We'll wait until he's ready, Cat. Don't let him up if he's not." She said, crossing to the door.

"I won't." Cat said, smiling. She'd be damned if she would let him up before he was ready.

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Robert watched as Clary closed the cottage door behind her. He was close enough that he could overhear them.

"Is he ready?" Izzy asked.

"I think so. I think he needs this." Clary said, looking around at the crowd of assembled people. "He should be out any minute."

"That's my que, I guess. Better go take my place." Magnus said, taking the small flight of stairs to stand beside the door.

Robert couldn't help but smile. His son was in for a big surprise. Anticipation and excitement were humming beneath his skin. He didn't have long to wait before the cottage door opened, his Alexander stepping out.

His son stepped out of the cottage and stopped in his tracks. His eyes went wide at the sight before him.

"Good morning, sweetheart." Magnus said beside him.

Alec turned at the sound of his alpha's voice.

"What is this?" He asked, turning back to the sight before him.

Robert knew that he was taking in the sight of the village and the fields beyond that were filled with downworlders and nephilims. Far more than the four hundred and eighty-five that had been there the day before. He saw his beautiful Catarina smile as she stepped out of the cottage, closing the door behind her.

"This my love is every downworlder in the world." Magnus said, wrapping his arms around his angel's waist. "Well, except for those that are too young or too old to be here." He said, pressing a soft kiss to the back of his Shadowhunter's neck.

"I don't understand." He said.

"What don't you understand, big brother?" Jace asked.

Alec looked at his brother. His team, his family stood before him with Cat standing by their side.

"What are they all doing here?" He asked.

"They're here for you, Alec. Because of you." Clary said, unable to hide her smile, standing at Jace's side.

"And for what you're going to do." Simon said, standing beside his alpha.

"The Clave picked the wrong person to pick a fight with, big brother." Izzy said, her smile lighting up her eyes.

Robert couldn't have been more proud of his children. They were doing exactly what their leader, their commander needed. They were showing him their support. Just as he had always supported them.

"They can't be here for me. Because of me." Alec said, turning his head to take them all in.

"Why not? You're their hero, sweetie. You saved them. They feel like they owe you their lives. Their mate's lives. And their children's." Cat said, knowing with everything that she was that her words were true. Pride swelled in her for her mate's son.

"But they don't owe me anything." He said softly.

"They think they do." Robert said, stepping up to his children's side. He would stand beside his children gladly.

"I just did my job." He protested, shaking his head.

"You did more than that. And they know it." Izzy said. "You fought for them in The Dark War."

"You did more, Alec." Clary said.

"You learned more." Simon said.

"You studied more." Jace said.

"You trained more." Cat said.

"And you fought harder." Robert said, pride for his son swelling inside him. His little trooper had always made him proud, but how had fought in The Dark War was beyond words.

"In doing all of that you gave them their best chance." Magnus said, pressing a soft kiss to love's cheek before taking a place at Robert's side.

"You're more than just our brother." Jace said, dropping to one knee.

"Jace. Please get up." Alec said.

"I can't, Alec." He said, looking up at him.

"Why?" Alec asked, fighting back the tears that were shining his eyes.

"Because you're our leader." Clary said, dropping to one knee at Jace's side.

"Because you're our commander." Simon said, dropping down beside Clary.

"Because you're our hero." Izzy said, tears shining in her own eyes as she dropped down beside her mate.

"And because you're theirs, sweetie." Cat said, dropping down beside her mate's daughter.

"You fought for them, son. All of them." Robert said, dropping down beside his mate.

"You're Rockstar, big brother. And now, now everyone knows it." Izzy said.

"All I did was fire an arrow." Alec said, his voice trembling. "I did my job."

"You did more than that, Alec." Simon said. "During that final battle, you did more than just end a madman. One of your own kind that wanted them all dead."

"They know my parabatai." Clary said. "Words gotten out. They know how hard you fought. Harder than all the rest."

"They know how long you fought. Longer than all the rest." Cat said. She hadn't known that at the time. And knowing now it just amazed her.

"While wounded, son. They know now that you had a double concussion, a dangerous thing for someone who's already had a severe head trauma." Robert said. He had been so worried when the doctors had told him. He still remembered every moment of his precious boy's struggle and recovery after his fall. The doctors had watched him closely for days after the war had ended.

"By the time you took that shot you could barely see, angel." Magnus said, his love growing more for his precious Alexander, something that he hadn't thought was possible as he dropped down to one knee.

"You could have ducked out at any time. But you didn't. Even when countless others already had." Cat said. She had seen it for herself. She had seen how many of the Shadowhunters had fallen back over minor wounds, wounds that an iratze could have easily healed.

"Others who had dropped out over far less." Jace said. "But you kept on despite your injuries."

"Injuries even Clary's iratzes couldn't heal." Izzy said. "And she drew plenty."

"You risked your life in every way for them. To save them. And you did." Clary said as every downworlder there dropped to one knee. The one's in the village, in the fields beyond and in the shade of the trees.

"I just..." Alec started.

"Did what you always do." Simon said, cutting him off. "You gave them your best."

"You gave them your all." Cat said.

"You gave them everything you had, love." Magnus said.

"They shouldn't be here because of me. I didn't..." Alec started.

"You did, big brother." Izzy said. "And they're willing to do for you. The Clave's put a target on your back and they're not having it."

Cat had known for some time how loyal the downworlders had become to Alec. He had done everything his family had just said and more. And she knew that each and every downworlder there herself included would do for him. They would do anything for him.

"They want to fight this war, sweetheart. For you. And everyone like you." Magnus said.

"They know you're going after the Clave and they want to help. They all have their reasons. We can't list them all but at the end of the day they're here because of you, sweetie." Cat said, a tear sliding down her cheek.

She had heard countless reasons why that day and her own words were pure truth. She couldn't count them all if she tried.

"And so are we." Izabella said, dropping to one knee.

"Because you want to protect people like my mother." Gideon said, dropping down beside his mother. "Like my daughter."

"Because you're willing to fight for us all. Nephilims and downworlders alike." Nathan said as he dropped to one knee, as every other nephilim there followed his lead.

"You're going to change our world, Alexander." Magnus said. "You're going to end the evil that lives within the Clave once and for all."

"And create a new one. You're going to change everything, son. We all know it even if you don't." Robert said, knowing it with every fiber of his being.

Alec couldn't hold back the tears that were streaming down his cheeks.

"They know of your skills, sweetheart. They know of your gifts. They know that we will win this war because of you. We need you, angel. All of us. And it's okay for you need us too. Because we will need you, forever." Magnus said, climbing to his feet. He crossed the short distance between him and his Shadowhunter, gently wiping the tears from his angel's cheeks.

Robert was still struggling to accept the fact that his boy would live forever, that in a few short weeks his mate would claim him and that he would be immortal. But Magnus' words were true. The Shadow World would need his Alexander forever. For everything that he was and for everything that he stood for.

"Please, alpha. Make them get up." Alec pleaded.

"I can't, sweetheart. Only you can." Magnus said softly.

Alec nodded yes.

"Please. Rise." He said, using his command voice. It wasn't a command. It was a request.

Everyone rose to their feet.

Robert could see that they were surprised that the one that they had chosen to lead them had asked them to do as he wanted, not commanded them. But he wasn't. He knew that his son never commanded unless he had to.

"You are their leader now, angel. Their commander. All of them. And they will follow you. Anywhere." Magnus said, pulling his sweet omega into his arms.

Cat saw Alec looking out at them all. She could only wonder what he was thinking, what he was feeling. But she knew that each and every one of them would follow him. That they would help him. They would help him win this war. They would help him bring an end to a war that has waged for centuries.

____________________

"That was amazing." Robert said to his children and mate huddled outside his son's cottage. "In all of my years serving the Clave I never thought I would see anything like what I just saw today."

"They needed to know." Clary said. "Everyone did. They needed to know everything."

"You're right. They did." Cat said, her hand itching to hold her mates, but she couldn't. Not yet. "It took my breath away when I heard all that there was to hear. I knew that he was a hero to the downworld. I just didn't know just how much he had done for us." She said, her heart still full of pride for her mate's son.

"We all needed to know." Izabella said, stepping up to Robert's other side. "When you told me in your letters baby, you left a lot of things out. You had told me that he had been injured and that he had kept fighting. But the rest, the rest you left out."

"Sorry, momma." Robert said. 'There was so much to tell. How was I supposed to put it all down?' He thought. "There was just so much. How do you put it all in a letter?" He asked, gazing into the crystal blue eyes that matched his son's. The pride he saw there took his breath away.

"Letters?" Izzy asked.

"Yes. Letters. Your father has been writing to me since before you were born. And sending photos. I may not have gotten to see to grow up in the traditional sense, but I did through those photos. Of all of you. I'll have to show you sometime." Izabella said, smiling at her granddaughter. "He wrote me almost every day."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Izzy asked, unshed tears in her eyes.

"I didn't know how." Robert said softly.

He had told his mate about the letters. During those nights when they had been watching over his boy when he had been sick, so heartsick over what he had thought her oldest and dearest friend had done that it had made him physically ill. She had learned so much about her mate during those late nights. And he about her.

"How long do you think he'll be inside?" Cat asked.

"I don't know. He needed some time before we headed over to the council hall to talk about his vision. I could feel it." Clary said. "These visions, they're really hitting him hard." She said softly.

Robert had seen firsthand how hard his son's visions were affecting him and it made his stomach churn. When he had caught him in his arms the day before and seen the gold swirling in his beautiful blue eyes, he had known what was happening. He just hadn't been expecting what had come next. For a moment he was afraid that The Angel was going to take his Alexander from him, and he had only just gotten him back.

"Is everyone ready?" Magnus asked, closing the cottage door behind his love. His Shadowhunter's eyes were dry but still a little puffy.

"We are if you are, Alec." Izabella said.

"I'm ready. I'm sorry. I just needed a few minutes." Alec said softly.

"Don't apologize, sweetie." Cat said. "That was a lot to take in."

Alec nodded yes.

"We should get going then." Gideon said. "It's going to take some time to get through this crowd.

Robert turned at the sound of his brother's voice. He hadn't seen him come up. But with all of the people around them, he wasn't surprised.

"Lead the way." Alec said, taking his alpha's hand as they descended the stairs.

"Are you sure you're up for this right now?" Robert asked. He knew that his son must be feeling overwhelmed and probably tired. He'd been through a lot in the last twenty-four hours.

"I'm sure." He said softly, wrapping his arms around his parabatai. "You knew."

"I knew." Clary said, giving him a soft squeeze. "But how could I tell you something that you needed to see for yourself?" She asked, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek.

"Well, let's do this. If we can get through all of these people." He said. "How many people are there exactly?" He asked, trying to take them all in again.

"A little over a thousand." Cat said, smiling. She knew that it would be a shock, but he was going to find out eventually.

"Over..." He started.

"Yes, sweetheart. A thousand and change." Magnus said, gently cutting him off. He pulled his angel into his arms when Clary released him. "Come on. Let's go so we can talk about this latest vision. Isabelle? Would you like to clear us a path?"

"I can try." Izzy said, surveying the crowd. "Hey!" She shouted, full alpha. She was a strong alpha just like her father. "Can we get through please?" She asked.

Robert watched as the crowd around them parted like the mundanes story of the Red Sea. He could only smile and shake his head at his little badass. As one they made their way through the path towards the council hall.

____________________

Robert had been watching his son for the past few hours alongside his alpha. They were keeping their distance so as to not to distract him. After their meeting at the council hall his son had said that he needed some solo time to train. They were hesitant to let him go. They were afraid that he might be too weak, that he might hurt himself. But they also knew that he needed it. They knew that his solo time was when he did his thinking. That was when he best analyzed information. It had taken him a while to find a quiet spot, but he had found one four miles outside the village.

They had watched him go through his warmup knowing full well that he was thinking through their meeting at the council hall. They could only stare in awe as they watched as he added new moves to the moves they had already seen, moves they didn't think he had even shown his team yet. They seemed to come fluidly. It was like watching beauty in motion.

The longer they watched the more complex the moves became. It hadn't surprised him in the least when his boy smoothly added weapons into the mix starting with his daughter's custom blades. He had seen them train enough times now to know that he was the best with them. Even better than their creator.

New moves appeared to come out of nowhere as his pace picked up. He was moving at breakneck speed, blades flying. The blades seemed to hit exactly where he wanted them to. When he finally came to a stop and started retrieving his blades Magnus nodded at him, it was time for them to head back. They hadn't wanted to be seen.

In that moment he wondered if his son's mate was as awed by the beauty and brilliance of what he had just seen as he was. He knew then with every fiber of his being that his boy would be the best Shadowhunter to walk this earth for eternity. His knew that his son's alpha had been right when he had said that 'They would need him. They would need everything that he was, everything that he stood for, every man, woman, and child. Nephilim and downworlder alike, they would need him forever'.

His precious boy never ceased to amaze him. Watching him train always took his breath away. But this, what he had just seen was beyond anything that he ever seen before from his son. It was beyond anything he ever could have imagined. It was beyond brilliant. It was beyond magnificent. There were no words for what he had just seen his Alexander do, for what he could do. He knew then that his little trooper would be their worlds saving grace and that he would watch over and protect it forever.

Taking one last look at one of the two greatest gifts he had ever received he turned with his son's alpha, quietly walking back towards the village.

____________________

Robert sat at one of the six tables used for the sign-up sheets in front of two large crowds standing in front of the podium. His children sat beside him, his daughter and Simon of his left, Clary and Jace on his right. The empty chair at the end was for his son. His boy was once again about to do the impossible. When he had first heard of what his Alexander was about to do, he had been shocked. But he had come to trust his boy completely.

The two large crowds were made up of two groups, on one side were the nephilims the other the half nephilims. They were all whispering to themselves. He watched as his son walked up, picking up the seraph blade his youngest son had brought with him and turned to the assembled crowds.

"Good afternoon." Alec said, using his command voice.

Robert watched as all eyes turned to his son.

"Thank you all for coming. We've called you here to give you your angelic runes. There are several you will be receiving and once you have them all we'll explain to you what each one is and does. You'll be getting the basics. Everything we believe that you will need in both training and combat.

Your angelic runes will be what gives you your edge. They will become a useful tool that you will have in your personal arsenal. Now, I know that some of you are wondering why your all here."

"We are, sir." Said a young man from the half nephilim group.

'He can't be older than eighteen'. Robert thought. It was obvious from the tattoos on the boy's face that he was half Seelie.

"What's your name?" Alec asked.

"Matthew." He said.

"Come closer, Matthew." Alec said.

Unsure, Matthew stepped away from the crowd of half nephilims, stopping in front of Alec.

"I'm assuming that you're afraid. That you think that you can't be runed?" Alec asked.

"Yes, sir. I have demon blood. Runes are for the children of The Angel." He said softly.

"Are you not a child of The Angel, Matthew?" Alec asked.

"I...I" He started.

Robert watched closely. He knew what his son was about to do.

"Catch!" Alec said, tossing the seraph blade to Matthew. The boy caught it smoothly and obviously shocked when it lit up in his hand.

"How?" Matthew asked, dumbfounded.

"Angel blood runs in your veins, Matthew. Not just demon blood. It runs in all of you. Each and every one of you are children of The Angel rather you carry demon blood in you or not." He said.

Robert could only smile and shake his head. Once again, his son had been right.

Cat stood under the shade of an old spruce tree. She was more than a little nervous about what Alec was about to do and wanted to be close by. She had wondered what he was going to do with the seraph blade when he picked it up. Her heart had caught in her throat when she saw him toss it to the young boy, sagging with relief when the boy caught it smoothly. She smiled when it lit up in his hand.

"How did you know that wouldn't hurt him, Alec?" Izabella asked, eyes wide from what she had just seen.

Robert wasn't the least bit surprised by his mother's reaction. His son was shocking her at every turn. Looking at the four Shadowhunters flanking him, two on each side he saw absolute unquestioning confidence in their eyes. 'They have absolute faith in him.' He thought.

Alec smiled at his grandmother.

"There are going to be a lot of things that are going to happen that seem impossible, grandma. You should know by now that what seems impossible isn't always impossible." He said, scanning the crowd of confused faces before him. "There are going to be times like now that I just need you all to trust me. If you can't trust me then we can't do this."

'He's right about that.' Robert thought.

"I trust you, sir." Matthew said.

"I'm glad to hear that, Matthew. And please, call me Alec." Alec said.

"Okay. Alec." He said.

"You're holding an angelic blade in your hand, Matthew. How does it feel?" Alec asked.

"Like..." He hesitated. "Like it's meant to be there."

"Good. Because it is meant to be there. We're going to teach you how to use blades like that. But first you need your runes. Care to step forward a little bit and give me your hand?" Alec asked, pulling his stele from his pocket.

Robert watched Matthew look back at the crowd of half nephilims. He saw the different expressions there. Fear, curiosity, uncertainty. He watched as Matthew crossed the last few feet that separated him from his Alexander, extending his hand.

Cat stood up straight. 'This is it.' She thought, having seen Alec pull out his stele. Her heart was thundering in her chest.

"This is going to sting a little, Matthew. New runes always do. It's normal." Alec said, taking Matthew's hand and turning it over, wrist facing up. "The first rune you will all receive is the angelic rune." He said, using his command voice. "This is the rune that will anchor all the rest. Without it any rune you receive will just fade out shortly after it's applied. Are you ready, Matthew?"

"Yes, sir. I mean, Alec." Matthew said, forcing more certainty into his voice than he actually felt.

Robert could hear the nerves in Matthew's voice and understood them. What his son was about to do had never been done before. He had every reason to be afraid.

"Relax, Matthew." Alec said softly.

Matthew willed himself to relax. He was facing the man that they had chosen to be their leader. Their commander in the war that was coming. He knew in his heart that he had to trust him.

"That's better." Alec said when he saw him relax, his eyes softening for the boy. "Remember, this is going to sting. That's normal. But it won't hurt. I need you to hold perfectly still."

Robert knew that his family was holding their breath. His mother, his brother, even his beautiful Catarina as she watched from beneath her tree. He knew that she was there in case something went wrong. He also knew that his son was well aware of this. His senses were just that good.

Alec pressed his stele firmly to Matthew's wrist and drew a perfect angelic rune.

Robert heard the teens soft sigh of relief as he watched it glow then fade into a perfect black rune. He heard dozens of other collective breaths release around him. Glancing up at his Catarina he saw the relief shining in her beautiful mossy green eyes and her smile.

Cat was ready to move when she saw Alec's stele touch the boy's skin, adrenaline pulsing through her. She watched in awe as he drew the rune. Once again, he had done the impossible. He had runed a boy with demon blood running through his veins. She couldn't help but smile when her mate looked up at her, relief coursing through her.

"Did that hurt, Matthew?" Alec asked.

"No, Alec. It didn't. It did sting like you said. But it didn't hurt." Matthew said.

"Do you trust me now, Matthew?" He asked.

"Yes, sir. I mean, Alec." Matthew said.

"Good. If you would please step up to my parabatai she will start applying the rest of your runes." He said, releasing Matthew's wrist.

Robert watched his family. It was obvious that none of them could believe what they had just seen, not his mother, his brother, or his beautiful mate. They had just watched a boy with half demon blood running through his veins successfully receive an angelic rune without injury. He bit the inside of his cheek, hard, trying to hide his grin. Once again, his son had done the impossible.

He saw what must have been the downworld parents of the collective half nephilims in the distance sag with relief. He was sure that his son saw them as well and the joy that shone in their eyes for their children. His boy's vision was just that good. He was also sure that he had heard the relieved sighs of the nephilim parents grouped across from the half nephilims.

Looking at his children he could see his daughters smile and Clary's as she shook her head. 'Yes. They have absolute faith in him.' He thought.

"Who's next?" Alec called.

Robert watched as they all formed a line, the nephilims mixing with the half nephilims. And as his son took the next half nephilims wrist in his hand and drew another perfect angelic rune, he watched as it glowed and faded into a perfect black rune.

Comments and feedback are always welcome! If you enjoyed this chapter, please give it a vote. Also feel free to follow me on Twitter @ BrandyB17922482, or friend me on FaceBook

There is more to this bonus section if you want to read it. It can be found in The Omega's sister story Mates.

It includes M/F smut between Robert & Catarina

Not Intended For Readers Under The Age of 18