Casey had never appreciated the simplicity of his life until the day that it became complicated. He took for granted the mornings spent with his mother and Clary, the car journeys to work with Luke and the coffees with Simon. He didn't realise how quickly things could change. If he had known what would have happened he would have cherished each moment. Because now he stood weeping at his best friends grave.

Alec should have been there for him. He should have wrapped his arms around him and made him feel safe. But he wasn't there, he never came for him.

For when he was being held by Raphael, a so called heartless vampire who hugged this boy tightly, holding him as though he were a porcelain doll, allowing him to drown his shirt in tears, Alec had been with another woman.

Lydia Branwell, a harsh tongued girl who lived by the law so closely that it was woven into every thought she ever had.

And as the raven haired boy tried to tell his best friend that he wasn't the monster he thought himself to be, Alec got down on one knee and asked Lydia a question.

A question that he should've been asking Casey in a few years. A question that he would've answered with yes, and together they would've made vows and drawn the marriage rune on each other. And together they would've fought, united they would've run the Institute. And when the time came they would've had a family of their own, and Casey would become a Lightwood.

But none of that would ever happen. And as tears fell from Casey's eyes, words fell from Alec's lips.

He asked Lydia to marry him, seeing it as a way to bring glory to his family once again. He did not love the blonde woman, she would never be Casey. His beautiful Casey whom was oblivious to the fact that the only joy in his life had been ripped away with five words.

"Lydia, will you marry me?"

And as Casey walked away from the graveyard, Raphael holding the boy steady, Alec and Lydia announced their engagement. As he cried with guilt and sorrow, Alec smiled brightly and laughed as the other shadowhunters congratulated him.

He loved him, and now he had lost him.

- - -

Casey listened to Isabelle explain how a forsaken had entered the institute. They had killed it, but apparently it had angel blond with Seelie properties.

"It went after Hodge and Alec." Isabelle sighed and panic sirged through Casey.

"Is he okay? Did he get hurt?" Casey babbled, worried for the Shadowhunter that he was so fond of.

"He's fine, just a little banged up. They'll live. It was after the cup." Isabelle spoke and Clary shook his head, coming to that conclusion before Isabelle had spoken.

"Casey, I think you should to the institute now." Isabelle added.

"Why?"

"Alec wants to talk to you about something. It's important."

"I'll be there as soon as I can." Casey said, taking Jace's phone out of his hand. "Tell him I love him." He said quieter but Jace heard and smiled softly.

Isabelle didn't reply, just hung up almost as if she was annoyed. Not as Casey, but at someone else.

"Clary are you sure you can find Simon on your own?" Casey asked his sister.

"I'll be fine. You two go see Alec. He needs you."

- - -

"Alec." Casey breathed and ran ahead of Jace. Alec had a bandage on his forearm and Casey inspected it before reaching up to kiss him as those around them had either been told of their relationship or had figured it out themselves. Alec wrapped his arms around Casey, holding him tightly, knowing that this may very well be their last kiss.

"Are you okay?" He asked and Alec smiled at him. "I'm fine." He promised.

Jace ascended the steps, sighing. "I just spoke to Robert and Maryse. They're being sent back to Idris."

Casey's eyes widened and he turned to Alec just as Isabelle spoke. "Another order from Lydia?" Isabelle snarled.

"Who's Lydia?" Casey asked just as Alec intertwined his hand with his, guilt drowing his hazel eyes.

"She's in charge of the institute." Isabelle explained, rolling her eyes.

"She's what?" Jace exclaimed, arching his eyebrows.

"Temporarily." Alec grumbled.

"And now she's convinced the clave that mom and dad aren't doing their job." Isabelle spoke, outraged.

"Well maybe they aren't." Alec huffed.

"Alec." Casey said sharply, believing he was being too harsh. His parents may have been firm and rather cruel at times, but they did their job and they did it correctly.

"The institute was under their control when the forsaken got in." The hazel eyed boy argued and Casey shook his head.

"Alec I don't understand." Casey sighed.

"Mom and dad were members of the circle." He announced and Casey froze.

"What?" Isabelle hissed in disbelief. "They don't have circle runes."

"That's because they made a deal with the clave prior to the uprising." Alec explained. "In exchange for their cooperation they were pardoned."

"You're questioning their loyalty?"

"Valentine is back. The circle is rising. They're suspects." Alec said, disgust lacing his voice.

"Jesus Christ Alec will you just stop with the goddamn law for two minutes?" Casey yelled. "These are your parents. You're mother and father, who are still together and love you Isabelle and Max more than their own life. Do you know what I would give to have that? My mother was a member of the circle, for godsake my father is the leader of it.

"Your parents were members in the past. That's just the same as suspecting me because I'm his son." Casey finished speaking and looked at Alec, who seemed rather guilty.

"You're right. I'm sorry." He confessed and kissed his forehead, causing him to smile.

"You must be Jace Wayland." A voice came and confusion surged through Casey as Alec jumped away from him as if he were hot coals.

A woman the same age as Casey ascended the steps. She had blonde hair which she had pulled back into a ponytail with the front part braided and she wore a suit that Casey thought was disgusting. Her smile was too preppy and her walk too formal.

Casey didn't like her already.

She stopped infront of Jace and Casey had to stifle a laugh as he looked over the blonde woman's shoulder to roll his eyes in Casey's direction.

"Lydia Branwell." She introduced herself as she stood ridiculously close to Alec. Casey cleared his throat and glared at the woman, who took no notice of him. "You're quite the legend back in Idris." She told Jace who for once did not want to hear praise.

Jace only stared at her hand and shrugged. "Don't believe everything you hear."

Lydia pursed her lips and turned to Alec almost smugly. "Did you tell them?" She spoke and Casey's head tilted in confusion.

"Tell us what?" Isabelle demanded.

Alec's eyes drifted up to Casey, his hazel eyes locking with his. He shifted on his feet, guilt coating his face. Casey's stomach dropped and he knew that whatever it had to say, it wasn't good.

But nothing could have prepared him for the words that tumbled out of his mouth.

"Lydia and I are engaged."

- - -

A/N

SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT. I'VE GOTTA BLAST. THIS IS SO PAINFUL TO WRITE I CANNOT RIGHT NOW. CASEY MY POOR BBY OMG NOPE NOPE NOPE