After COHF

Chapter 19

~~~This chapter took me like ten hours oh my...!!~~~

The bright room began to hurt Alec's eyes even as he was just getting dressed; it was already past 10am and Magnus was running around the apartment looking for whatever it was that he was muttering about at the moment.

Today they would see the baby again and for whatever reason that had Magnus highstrung.

Alec wasnt really trying to calm him down at the same time- he spun around the room looking for his new blue sweater- this one trying to replace the old one that had gotten holes in (although he had still worn it with holes).

"Alec!" Magnus was calling from the kitchen- his voice; Alec thought he would never get ued to hearing it... let alone hearing him while he actually needed something.

Alec wandered to the kitchen; Magnus was going through all the cupboards and turning over all the bowls as if whatever it was he was looking for would be there.

"Have you seen the present we got Charlotte?" Magnus spun around and began looking under stacks of things on the breakfast bar.

"You put it in the pink bag..." Alec glanced at the little bag that was literally no more than a foot from where Magnus was looking, "you know.. a little to the left.." He laughed when Magnus made an exasperated look as he looked at Alec. "I guess i just dont see why you're so concerned over a present for the baby- were only going dinner,"

"Its almost november!"

"Yeah... October 29th is only a few days away from November... So?"

"She'll be four months old soon- aren't you technically her uncle?"

"Yeah-"

"And you're terrible at it so im helping... you're welcome!"

~~~

All through the house things were strung up and cleaner than usual. The Herondale Manor had always had a celebratory theme but was still welcoming and calming. Jace smiled down at the bundle in his arms- she had grown thick red curls down to her little elbows and bright gold eyes that seemed like they always wanted to tell a story or a joke.

Jace inched toward the grand doors of the dinning room that connected to the kitchen- something inside smelled good.Something he'd learned from living with Clary was that she was actually an excellent cook although while they lived in New York she'd almost never cooked.

 He peaked in at Clary- she was closing the oven on something- peppermint smelling with a bit of cinnimon- when she turned and saw him with the baby she smiled.

"It is nice to see you getting father-daughter time," She smiled and wipped her hands off on an old aprion.

"Well you cant blame me for wanting to," He smiled down at her now. Her fist was balled in a tight circle and she was scrambling to get down to the floor. Jace set her down and watched her lay on her back staring up; she was too little to do much more than crawl a few feet at a time. With both her parents staring over her she began giggling and as Jace wrapped Clary in a hug from behind her and rested his head on her shoulder she only began laughing more.

"What? Is this really funny to you tiny?" Jace stuck out his tongue at her which only granted him even more laughter.

"I wonder whats going on in her head." Clary leaned her head against Jace's cheek.

"You mean other than how did i get this wonderful little life? I have no idea,"

"Wonderful?" Clary snorted. When Jace looked at her funny she backtracked, "I mean i guess during her life its been great but what about before then?"

He wavered then sighed,"darling Clary, dont worry about the past," and he planted a kiss on her cheek then traveled over to her mouth.

~~~

With Simon and Izzy working together to get the institute ready to be alone- even though it was only for a little while- Simon came across a locked cabnet... the same cabnet he'd seen several times.

"Hey Izzy," He called from one side of the library, "whats this?" he gestured toward it. It was elegent- wood and carved by hand.

She strode to him although she didnt actually need it to know what he was asking about, "That- it was something of Hodges,"

"Whats in is?" He admired Hodges eye for the cabnet- it really was nice- although he didnt really like Hodge.

"I've never seen. no one ever went through it when he- ah- left"

They looked at each other with the same look. They both knew the rune that unlocked things and since it didnt really look like there was anything that should be keeping them out.

At first the contents looked like nothing significant- just old books. Dusty documents from stores and blank paper. Something from the back of the case shined bright- steady cursive letters that were painted on an old rust- colored book.

Izzy gasped as she read the writing.

A name that although was rarely used but was not entirly foreign.

Jonathan Christopher Herondale.

"Jace," They gasped.

Thats when it struck her- the book was locked. At a glace she knew that a regular rune would never work- it was far too easy. This was far too private.