Casey had closed his eyes when entering the portal, recalling how the last time be had entered one he experienced what resembled the feeling of being car sick, without actually throwing up of course.

See, being in a portal was as though each and every part of your body was being pulled apart to transport you to your desired destination.

When the feeling stopped, Casey opened his eyes and looked around the room. Well, hallway to be exact, but it wasn't the way he remembered their apartment. Photos lined the wall and Casey looked at each and every one of them, suddenly feeling like he couldn't breath.

There was a photo of him, Clary, their mum and Valentine standing smiling with their arms around each other and Casey realised that this was a family photo.

In this universe they were a family. Just as they had been all those years ago, only now Clary was a part of that family. He did notice however, that none of the photos contained Jonathan, and with a sinking feeling he realised that he didn't exsist at all in this world.

"Casey should be here soon. He said that Alec had to leave their house early this morning for last minute plans to do with your father's party." Casey heard the voice of his mother.

If Casey hadn't been so shocked by the sound of his mother's voice he would've noticed how she had said their house, as in a house that he and Alec lived in together.

Casey barrelled into the room, finding Clary and his parents sitting at a kitchen table eating breakfast. Casey's eyes drifted to Clary's for confirmation and Clary smiled slightly, nodding.

But to Clary's surprise it was not their mother that Casey hugged first. No, instead Casey ran to his father, who stood up from his chair just as the raven haired boy went flying into him.

Casey wrapped his arms around his father, blinking back tears. Here he was, his father just as he had remembered. Smiling, kind and loving.

"Dad, it's really you." Casey whispered, pulling back.

"Of course it's me Casey, who else would it be?" Valentine laughed, pushing his sons hair away from his face. "Are you crying?" He added and Casey was indeed crying.

Clary watched his brother with mild worry. The fact that he had hugged his father before their mother did worry her. Granted, this is what Casey had known as a child. He had both parents, along with his twin. He had a family, and Clary couldn't imagine how painful it must have been to live without them.

But the Valentine that Casey had grown up with was not the Valentine in their universe any longer. The man that had been his father had turned cold and twisted, obssessed with reuniting his family. Clary sometimes wondered if Casey forgot that. His brother had changed a lot since entering the shadow world, but the remembrance of losing his father and twin had effected him the most.

It was almost as though the confirmation of Jonathan's death had pushed him over the edge. And although he did a good job hiding it, Clary could see the silent fury within her brothers eyes.

Casey blamed someone for Jonathan's death, it was just a matter of finding out who that person was.

Forcing a smile, Clary watched as Casey hugged their mother before taking the chair beside Valentine rather than the one beside her.

"So Casey, how is the redecoration of your house going?" Their mother asked and Casey's eyebrows furrowed.

"My house?" He echoed, sipping the glass of orange juice his father had poured him.

"Yes." Jocelyn laughed. "The house that you and Alec live in. You're redecorating."

Casey choked on his orange juice and Valentine patted his son on the back as he spewed orange juice. His mother's words had shocked him. Not only was he and Alec together, but they lived together.

"Sorry." Casey replied sheepishly. "It's going good."

"And I suppose that the two of you are coming to the party tonight? Simon is so excited." Valentine laughed and Clary's head snapped up at the name of her best friend, remembering what they were there for.

"We've got to go." Clary announced, standing up. Casey gave Clary a pleading look, but the boy shook his head.

"Why so fast?" Valentine laughed.

"Yeah Clary, why so fast?" Casey seethed, annoyed that Clary was making him leave so soon.

"Because Casey and I have things to do." Clary said firmly, staring at his older brother. The Raven haired boy glared at the redhead before reluctantly standing, hugging both his parents.

"You'll be at the party tonight right?" Valentine asked his children.

"Of course dad." Casey smiled. "We wouldn't miss it for the world."

Clary flinched at the casual use of the word dad. There was a difference between being a father and being a dad, and it was not a role that Valentine deserved. But yet there Casey stood, despite everything that Valentine had done, smiling and hugging him.

And that truly worried Clary.
- - -

A/N

HELLO AGAIN, I AM ALIVE!!
Short update, but I wanted to post tonight. The reason I haven't been posting is because I had an English controlled assessment this week and I have a drama controlled assessment next week. Butttt, this episode will be lots of fun to write and the finale will contain some plot twists. *slides on sunglasses*