Malia walked away from the rooftop, prepared to open a portal and head back to her apartment, but a voice stopped her. The Bane reluctantly turned around, her eyes meeting Clary's. "Malia please, can we talk about what happened?" She asked softly, as Malia felt her body stiffen.

I can't love her

"What is there to say, Clary?" The warlock asked. Clary bit her lip, seeming anxious. "Malia... I really like you." She confessed. "I don't know if maybe I got the wrong idea but.. if what happened really made you uncomfortable, can we just.. go back to being friends?" The Fairchild asked. "I.. I don't want to lose you."

Malia felt her heart sink, by the sincerity in Clary's voice. "You didn't get the wrong idea.. I kissed you." Malia began, "But it shouldn't have happened, and I'm sorry." The raven haired girl concluded, as Clary opened her mouth to say something, but her breath seemed to catch in her throat.

"Goodnight Clary." Malia said, before she opened a portal. Clary quickly reached her arm out, "Malia, wait—" She began to call out, but it was too late. The Bane was already gone.

☠︎︎

The next day

Madeline, Isabelle and Alec all stood in front of the screen, replaying a video from the night before. Alec paused it and pointed to a flicker of light. "There. They said that was the Angel." Alec stated. Isabelle shrugged, "It could have been a shooting star." She suggested. "Are you saying you don't believe Jace and Clary?" Madi asked Isabelle before Alec added, "I thought you'd be impressed."

Isabelle faced her siblings, "I'm not saying I don't believe them. It's just that no one's seen an Angel in hundreds of years." She said before she closed the holographic screen. "So Alec, did you take my advice about Magnus?" She suddenly asked, as Madi sent a smirk towards her brother, who blushed. "You did, didn't you? Okay, start talking." Izzy demanded, with a grin. "There's nothing to talk about." Alec insisted.

Their little brother, Max, suddenly raced up to them. "Hey, you guys." He boomed, excitedly. "Max!!" Madi chirped, bending down to hug her younger brother. "Hey, buddy. How are you doing?" Alec asked, with a smile.

Once Max got out of Madi's arms, he was hugged by Isabelle. "Max! I missed you so much! You look so handsome. What are you doing here?" She asked, all in one breath, before Maryse walked in.

"Alec. Madi. Isabelle. It's good to see you three."

"Really?" Isabelle and Madeline asked in unison, and somewhat snappily. Alec frowned, "Izzy, Madi—" He said but was cut off as his sisters continued. "Last time you were here, you turned your back on all of us." Isabelle growled before Madi added, "Especially Jace."

"I was following orders. I had no choice." Maryse insisted before she looked to Max, "Max has some big news. Tell them, sweetheart." Max looked between his three siblings, with a bright smile on his face, "I passed my last trial. I'm ready for my Rune Ceremony." He boomed.

Alec smiled brightly, "Congratulations." He said. "So you finally perfected your roundhouse kick?" Isabelle asked, as Max nodded eagerly, "Yeah, and I knocked out two different instructors!" He added. Madi smiled proudly before she and Max highfived, "I'm so proud of you buddy!" She insisted.

"Sadly, your father won't be able to attend." Maryse began, catching the four Lightwood's attention. "So, Alec, as the eldest male in the family, you will be in charge of Max's ceremonial party." She declared. "What do you mean he won't be here?" Isabelle, Alec and Madeline all asked in unison. "He's tied up with the Valentine task force in Idris."

Izzy shook her head, "I can't believe Dad would miss this." She sighed, disappointedly. "He doesn't have a choice. We're all on high alert, especially after what that demon did to all of you... and Jocelyn." Maryse declared. "I was surprised not to see you at the Rite of Mourning. Dad called to see how we were." Isabelle huffed before she turned and walked away. "Isabelle.." Maryse sighed, going after her.

Now left with Alec and Madi, Max sighed, "I thought I was coming here to get away from the fighting..." He said. Alec and Madi shared a confused glance before Madeline asked, "Fighting? Mom and Dad?"

The youngest Lightwood nodded, "All the time." He replied. "What's going on?" Alec asked, concerned. "Mom doesn't like you having a warlock boyfriend." Max said, looking directly at Alec. Madi's eyes widened, before she placed her hand on Alec's shoulder, hoping to try and comfort him in any way. She had a hunch that their parents were iffy about Alec dating Magnus, but Madi, Izzy and Jace had been nothing but supportive.

"And you?" Alec asked, curious to what his brother thought about it. Max just shrugged, "Whatever, I don't care." He said, before he turned to walk off.

Madeline finally exhaled, as it felt like she was holding in a breath, forever. "Alec.. I'm so sorry." She sighed, as Alec shook his head, "I... don't care." He insisted, though she knew that deep down, it bothered him.

Madeline looked away, deciding that now probably wasn't a good time to tell her Mum that she and Jace were together.

☠︎︎

Malia entered the apartment, a lollipop in her mouth. Magnus noticed this and huffed, "Where's my lollipop?" He teased. Malia opened her mouth, taking the stick with the lolly out of it to speak. "Sorry Mags, lollipops are for the mentally ill."

Magnus rolled his eyes at her humour, before he patted the empty seat on the couch beside him, motioning for his sister to sit beside him. The girl did so.

"How was your appointment?" Magnus asked. Malia had gone to four appointments with Eleanor now, and she was starting to feel like she could understand her brain and reasons for her behaviour more.

"I'm going to get some tests done.. but Eleanor thinks I have PTSD and some form of anxiety.." Malia trails off. "Separation anxiety."

Magnus nodded, before putting an arm around her comfortingly, "What happens now?" He asked, softly. "I get tests done.. and if I do have these disorders... then I'll be going on medication and learn about different ways to cope." She said, sticking the lollipop back into her mouth.

Magnus suddenly hugged his younger sister, and she reluctantly hugged him back. "You're doing amazing, Malia." He insisted, as she felt like she was being suffocated. "Magnus, let me breathe—"

The door to the apartment suddenly opened, and Alec walked inside. "Oh thank god, I'm saved." Malia dramatically declared as Magnus let go of her, and went to greet his boyfriend.

After a couple of moments, the trio were all seated on the couch, the couple quite close, as Malia kept her distance. "My mother's back." Alec began, as Magnus frowned, "Which means I'll make myself scarce." He decided. "Me too." Malia piped up, as she figured Maryse would probably accuse her of almost killing Madeline.

"No, I have something else in mind." Alec suggested, his hopeful eyes darting to the older Bane. "Hmm?" Magnus hummed. "How would you feel about throwing a party?" Alec asked.

"Have you met me?"

"Have you met Magnus?"

Alec chuckled at how the siblings answered in unison before he added, "It is for Max's Rune Ceremony." Malia nearly choked on her lollipop, as she inhaled to laugh. Magnus gave her a concerned look to his sister, before he looked back to Alec and answered, "I think I'll pass."

"Magnus..."

Magnus shrugged, "I'm sure I'll love Max. But Maryse? That woman hates me." He confessed. "And I'm sure she will hate me too." Malia added, not at all helping with Alec's idea.

"That's sort of the point of the party. So that she can see that this, us, it's not going away." Alec said lovingly to his boyfriend, before taking a moment to glance at Malia. "And the extra, angry, comic-relief little Bane isn't going away, either." He said with a grin, causing Malia to smile back amusedly.

"You sure about this?" Magnus asked, as the Lightwood looked back at him. "Why wouldn't I be?" Alec asked.

"Then I better get to work." Magnus said, getting to his feet. "Malia." He added as the younger Bane rolled her eyes playfully, before she got to her feet. "What would you like me to do?" She asked.

Seeing how the Bane siblings were now eager to plan this rune ceremony, Alec couldn't help but to smile. He was grateful for them, for both of them.

☠︎︎

AUTHORS NOTE

Magnus and Malia Bane deserve the world. That is all.