Isabelle had taken it up herself to infuriate the eldest Fray by sitting him in the front row, as if he wanted to see the man he loved marry someone else so up close.

Casey reluctantly took his seat beside Clary, mentally cursing Isabelle as Alec's eyes latched onto his before they ran up and down his body, widening as he saw his close fitting suit. He blushed as he felt his gaze upon him and when Alec realised he had been staring he quickly turned away and began to speak with Jace, a faint blush dusting his own cheekbones.

He looked incredibly handsome in his own magnolia coloured suit but his bow tie was crooked and Casey's hands twitched as he resisted the urge to walk up and straighten it.

"What was that?" Clary asked in both an accusing and teasing tone as he leaned towards her brother. Casey gave his sister a slight nudge as she shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing." He said firmly. "What about you and Jace?" He questioned, eager to change the subject. He had intended it to be a light hearted conversion, but Clary's face told him otherwise.

"Clary what happened between you two?" He demanded and the redhead diverted her gaze, mumbling 'nothing'. Casey intended to pry, but before he could Simon entered.

"Did I miss anything?" Simon asked and the siblings shook their heads.

"Holy shit Simon you look good. Honestly, if you weren't basically my brother I'd date you." Casey laughed, not noticing how Clary tensed at the word brother.

"Thanks." Simon grinned. "Embracing the new me."

"Attention." The silent brother spoke, although not through his mouth considering his lips were sown together. That always creeped Casey out. "The ceremony is about to begin."

Casey sunk into his chair, his legs shaking as a feeling of nausea engulfed him. Simon reached over and intertwined his hand with his, and he shot him a grateful smile as he squeezed his hand. Isabelle walked up the isle in a beautiful golden dressed, followed by Lydia who looked utterly beautiful.

Her dress was beautiful and elegant, the crimson roses she held such a contrast. Her hair was intricately braided, cascading down her right shoulder. Alec held out his hand to her and helped her onto the alter. Simon squeezed Casey's hand again, gently rubbing the pad of his thumb against his skin in an attempt to calm him.

Lydia took the marriage bracelet from Isabelle and placed it on Alec's wrist. Alec turned and took a necklace off Jace and placed it on Lydia, the jem hanging at the base of the young woman's neck. The room seemed to close in on Casey as he watched Lydia gently touch the necklace, smiling.

"Simon I can't breath." Casey whispered and Simon's eyes widened in panic. He felt a sense of deja vu as he looked at the boy. Casey had had panic attacks as a child, mostly when he woke up from dreams that back then he hadn't known were often memories. Casey and Clary had shared a room, and Simon often stayed over meaning he almost always witnessed Casey clawing at his chest as he tried to breath, struggling to find his glasses as Clary screamed for her mother.

The panic attacks had faded with time as Casey no longer feared the dreams and so no one spoke of them again. But he watched him now, watched how his eyes darted around the room, how his hands became sweaty. He could hear his heartbeat fluttering like a hummingbirds.

"It is time for Alec Lightwood and Lydia Branwell to mark each other with the wedded union rune." The silent brother drawled and Casey began to shake his head as Clary leaned over and tried to calm him down with the help of Simon.

"A rune on the hand, a rune on the heart. A union is born."

His words echoed through skull and his vision blurred as Lydia picked up the stele and placed it above Alec's hand.

"No, I can't do this." Casey said shakily and let go of Simon's hand. He stood up abruptly, and worry washed over both Jace and Isabelle's features as they turned to see Casey struggle to get out of the room as quick as he could. The raven haired boy pulled at the cuff of his blazer, willing himself to breath.

"Casey." A voice came as Casey pressed his hand against the wooden door. Casey turned to see Alec staring at him from the top of the alter. He stood frozen as Alec said something to Lydia which Casey could not hear before turning to face him.

He descended the first step agonisingly slow, followed by the second and third. Casey wasn't sure what was happening, all he could hear was his own heartbeat pounding in his ears and all he could see was Alec Lightwood. All he had ever seen for a long time was Alec Lightwood, he was his sun, moon and stars.

Maryse jumped from her seat, rushing forward in an attempt to stop her son, but Alec pushed her away. "Alec, what are you doing?" His mother hissed, once again trying to stop her son. "Enough mother." He drawled in response, never taking his eyes off Casey.

He was supposed to be marrying Lydia, but it had always been Casey. It would always be Casey. The moment he had walked into that room, Alec's eyes were fixated on him. On how the silk clung to his body, and when he stood from his chair Alec knew that if he let him walk through those doors he would lose him forever. And Alec Lightwood didn't want to live in a world where Casey Fray wasn't by his side.

He placed his hands on his waist and gently pulled him forward, capturing his lips in his. He kissed him with such passion that Casey felt weak in the knees as he wrapped his arms around his neck, their bodies pressed together. They broke the kiss, and the couple smiled at each other.

"I love you Casey, and I don't want to be with anyone else. Ever." Alec told him and Casey felt explosions of happiness envelop his entire body. "I love you too Alec Lightwood." He replied, embracing him tightly. They fitted like two pieces of a jigsaw, and in that moment they were in a bubble of their own making.

Isabelle ran towards them grinning from ear to ear. "I am so happy for you two." Isabelle said genuinely and Casey smiled brightly, his head still resting on Alec's chest as his arm snaked around his waist. Simon followed, more boisterous and loud than Isabelle had been, but just as sweet.

"That was awesome. I mean, I never thought it was going to happen. It was like a cross between the titanic where Rose and Jack reunite and Teen Wolf where Lydia kisses Stiles when he has the panic attack. Only this time Alec you were Lydia because Casey was having the panic attack. A more masculine, taller version of Lydia, but yeah." Simon babbled, but all Alec gathered from his words was the phrase panic attack.

He stepped back and peered down at Casey. "You were having a panic attack?" He asked and Casey nodded sheepishly. "But I'm fine now." He promised. "Better than fine." He added, grinning.

Casey looked up and saw Lydia retreating from the alter. Guilt rippled through him as he saw the heartbroken expression on Lydia's face. She may not have loved Alec, but she did care for him, and once again her happy ending had been ripped away from her.

"Alec, I need to do something." Casey told him. When Alec went to question him, he quickly leaned up and kissed him before running after the blonde.

"Lydia." He called as he stood outside and the girl in the bridal gown halted, turning to face him.

"Casey." Lydia smiled and Casey leaned forward and hugged him. Lydia seemed surprised at the action, but returned the gesture before Casey stepped back.

"I am so sorry." Casey apologised. "I have been a total bitch to you when you are one of the sweetest people I have ever met."

"Casey-" Lydia began but Casey cut him off.

"No, let me finish." He pleaded and Lydia nodded. "I have been acting like a spoilt brat, and never once did I stop to think about how you felt and what you have been through. What you just did for Alec and I there, I can never repay you for that. You have changed my life Lydia, changed Alec's life. And I will never ever forget that. Wherever you go, whether it's back to Idris or staying here, I want you to know that there is always a place for you here. There's always a place for you with me, and I hope that we can be friends."

Casey finished his speech - feeling slightly out of breath - and waited for Lydia's reaction. The blonde smiled and took Casey's hands in hers as she spoke.

"Casey, you have nothing to apologise for. I know we have had our differences but I understand why you did what you did. As for what I did, it was the right thing to do. You and Alec deserve to be happy. And I would love to be friends with you Casey." Lydia told him and the two embraced once more.

"Will you stay?" Casey asked his tone almost pleading, and a frown appeared when Lydia shook her head. "No, I'll go back to Idris. But we'll stay in touch." She promised.

"I'd like that." Casey nodded.

"I'll write to you - the cellphone reception in Idris is horrendus and most places don't have any at all."

"That's horrible." Casey laughed, referring to the cellphone reception and Lydia nodded in agreement.

"Now go." Lydia urged. "Be with Alec, you two deserve it."

•°•°•°•°•

a/n
only like three / four chapters left of this book.