Actions not Words (Will Herondale x OC)

Chapter 6

Dear Sophia,

We had Buffalo Wild Wings last night before the New Year rang in. You tried to nibble on your drumstick while your older siblings ate the rest of the drumsticks. I reckon you were waiting to eat all the flat pieces, yeah? We kept trying to make you eat, but you kept mumbling back to us, and Papa made you go upstairs and go to sleep. Mama made you come back down and eat, though. You were the first to fall asleep, too. Although, this was a couple of hours after midnight.

Love,

Older Sister

(Author's Note: As you can tell, I've had this draft in my box for a while now. The note above says that it is New Years', but it is quite obviously September almost October. Nearly 10 months of thinking of how to finish it. Enjoy.)

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A Little Less Than 2 Years After The Incident (they are 17 1/2-ish)

3rd POV:

All day, the Institute was in a tizzy preparing for the arrival of one Sophia Carstairs after a long time in the Iron Sister's fortress. In all honesty, it was Charlotte in a panic while everyone else followed her instructions.

"Sophie! Can you make sure that Sophia's room is ready?"

"Will, please do change into an attire that does not consist of training gear."

"Jem! Will you please help Will go prepare."

"Henry, darling, can you go check up on Bridget and the food?"

"Jessie....go sit by the window and alert us if the Iron Sister carriage is approaching."

"Charlotte!" Henry scolded lightly. "You've prepared everything for Sophia's arrival since the day she's left! There is no reason to fret."

"Oh, I know. But I can't do anything besides worry!" Charlotte moaned. She had just collapsed into the seat at her desk when Jessamine's soft voice flitted through the Institute. "She's here!"

"Oh, dear!" Charlotte exclaimed, bouncing up from the seat, her panic renewed.

"Everyone! Gather in the front! Come along!" Charlotte ushered everyone to the front in less than a blink of an eye. They all marched through the doors and down the front steps to greet their long awaited comrade.

The only person who was more nervous about Sophia's arrival than Charlotte was Will. He still felt extreme guilt over the powder incident, and he did not know what to expect from his parabatai's sister after all this time.

The black and gold carriage stopped at the foot of the steps. The Iron Sister who drove the carriage did not turn her head to the London Institute residents, nor did she move to open the carriage doors.

After a moment of tense silence, Charlotte wondered if the Iron Sister was waiting for them to open the doors. Charlotte's hesitation was answered when the door practically burst off of its hinges. Sophia ducked out from the interior of the carriage and turned quickly to close the door. She did not turn to greet the Institute shadowhunters, but she rather walked with a dignified grace to the Iron Sister.

In the fashion of speech that only Sophia needed, she signed to the driver, "Thank you, Sister Clemence. Please extend my gratitude to your fellow sisters."

"There is no need for thanks, Sophia, but I will extend your thanks to the sisters. I hope that the next time that I see you, you will have thought on our offer and have accepted." the Iron Sister responded, not through the mind like the Silent Brothers, but in a rough tone as if she had eaten the flaming metal she worked.