A/N - Thank you guys so much for the feedback on the last chapter! 
The comments on one certain part did make me laugh! (What the fucking hell!?, OMG PLOT TWISTTT, wtf wait, um wait he's MARRIED noooooooNoooooo) I love it when you guys comment saying that you didn't see something coming - that means I'm doing an okay job at keeping it interesting! 

Also, for anyone who doesn't follow me, Smokescreen was ranked at #342 in the Fanfiction category this week! (It's since disappeared again but still!) I don't know how it happened and my mind is still blown by it! And while it might not seem like a massive deal, I didn't think fifty people would read this book, so it's a huge deal for me! 

Not many chapters to go now... (Maybe 2? 3 at max)

Also, IF YOU DID NOT READ THE LAST CHAPTER IN ITS ENTIRETY, PLEASE GO BACK AND READ IT UNTIL THE END.

(3+ comments/votes for the next chapter!)
*NOT EDITED*

*****

Adelaide watched Alec through heavily lidded eyes as he pulled himself up on her bed, running a hand through his unruly hair. Adelaide's heart felt like it was going to explode from the intense amount of love she felt for the man sitting beside her, and despite all the things that seemed to be going wrong around them, neither Alec or Adelaide had ever felt quite so content as they did in that moment.

'What changed?' Adelaide asked quietly, pulling the sheets around her body tighter.

'You'll have to be a little more specific.' Alec commented wryly, his mouth twisting into a smirk as he pulled his pants back on.

'The last time I saw you Alec, you were getting ready to marry another woman.'

'When you didn't arrive with Magnus, I didn't think I'd be able to go through with the wedding without you being there. Lydia managed to calm me down, but Magnus-'

'Magnus what?' Adelaide cut in, and upon seeing the amused look on Alec's face she smiled sheepishly. 'Sorry.'

'Magnus called in that favour I owed him.' Alec shrugged, recalling Magnus' price for helping Isabelle.

'How about, you'll simply owe me a favour?' Magnus finally decided.

Alec frowned. 'That's it? Just one favour?'

'Unless of course you'd rather I not-'

'No! No, one favour. Fine, done.'

Adelaide snickered quietly. 'Why do I get the feeling that Magnus knows so much more than he lets on?'

'Because he's a warlock, they're sneaky.' Alec raised his eyebrows at Adelaide; smirk still tugging at his lips and Adelaide promptly shoved him lightly.

'Play nice Alec.'

Alec laughed, his eyes settling on Adelaide, taking in everything about her from her wild bed hair to the way her eyes seemed to sparkle when she looked at him.

Alec sighed, running a hand through her thick hair gently, twirling the ends in his fingers.

'What's wrong?' Adelaide asked gently.

'They'll be looking for me. I should go and clean up the mess I made.' Alec's fingers trailed down Adelaide's shoulder and right down her arm, making her shiver.

'What mess? Alec, you still haven't explained how you got here, how you got away from your Mum and Lydia-

'I know. I don't want to think about it.' Alec admitted quietly, imagining the mess he'd left behind at the institute.

*****

Magnus watched as Alec forced himself to calm down, though there was still terror evident in the tense set of his shoulders and the way his hands were balled tightly into fists.

Magnus' eyes narrowed at the taller male. He could see that Alec didn't want to do this, Jace knew, Isabelle knew and Magnus wouldn't have been surprised if Lydia could see it too.

Alec breathed out a shaky sigh again and Magnus leant forward, his quiet voice drifting into Alec's ears alone.

'Remember that favour you owe me? This is me cashing it in. Do the right thing.'

Magnus watched Alec square his shoulder as he faced Lydia, giving no indication that his word had reached the stubborn shadowhunter. 'You're right, I can do this, everything will be fine.'

Lydia seemed to see the nervous determination cross Alec's face as she smiled sadly, stepping closer to the man who was supposed to become her husband. 'Go. Find her.' Her voice was soft and understanding.

'Lydia, I-' Alec started apologetically, his eyebrows furrowing.

'I've had my shot at real, true love Alec. I won't deny you of the chance to feel the same way I used to.'

'What way's that?' Alec asked absentmindedly, still feeling slightly feverish and breathless.

'Happy.' Lydia smiled gently, squeezing his arm before she stepped away.

Magnus watched as Alec nodded, his eyes glancing over the watching faces, paling as he caught his mother's stern gaze.

'I'll take care of it. All of it.' Magnus murmured, aware of Alec's eyes darting around the room, taking in the elaborate decorations and the guests who were watching him with confused gazes.

'I can do this.' Alec muttered to himself quietly as he turned and walked away from Lydia, Jace, Isabelle and Magnus, past the watching guests.

'Alec! What do you think-'

'Enough.' Alec cut him mother off in a stern voice, not glancing at her as he loosened his bowtie, pushing open the heavy set door, not reacting even as it shut with a final resounding bang behind him.

Alec ignored the curious looks coming from the shadowhunters guarding the front of the institute. He couldn't stop to explain what was happening, or talk about his now fictitious wedding, or exchange any formalities. If he did, if he let himself stop walking, there was a good chance that he would lose his nerve and he wouldn't- couldn't - let that happen.

'Alec, you should be- you can't-' One of the shadowhunters tried to warn Alec, his wide eyes going to where the wards had been placed.

Magnus' words rang around Alec's head. 'I'll take care of it. All of it.'

Alec pushed through the warding, feeling a cold sensation as he broke through them. Alec turned slightly, seeing the shadowhunters charged with guarding the institute for the night, banging their fists against the ward, unable to break through.

A small smile broke onto Alec's usually stern face. Nothing, and no one, could stop him now.

*****

'You just left?' Adelaide asked, her mouth hanging open.

'Yes.' Alec groaned, lying back against the scattered pillows on Adelaide's bed.

'Your mother is going to kill you.' Adelaide commented drily.

'I know.' Alec agreed, pressing the heel of his palms into his eyes gently.

'She's going to kill me-'

'No she won't.' Alec denied. 'You didn't do anything.'

'I got in the way, I'm Valentine's daughter, I ruined your wedding... Alec if she didn't already hate me before she will now.'

Alec sat up again, sighing heavily. 'You know what she's like Adelaide. She raised both of us.'

'Mhmm.' Adelaide hummed in agreement, running her fingers through her hair trying to smooth it down. 'Alec?'

'Yeah?'

'What does this-' Adelaide gestured between the two of them. 'even mean?'

Alec shot her a disbelieving look.

Adelaide rolled her eyes. 'If we're gonna do this, I need to know exactly where we stand. No more confusion, no more games and no more lies.'

'Alright.' Alec agreed easily as he rolled over, pinning Adelaide to the bed with his body. Adelaide laughed as he tickled her slightly before his hands travelled up to her face, his finger tracing the outline of her jaw.

'How about we just be us.' Alec suggested quietly.

Now it was Adelaide's turn to look at Alec in disbelief. 'Just us? You'll have to be more specific, there are a few different versions of us.'

Alec snickered at her sarcastic tone. 'I'll just be me, and you just be you.'

Adelaide raised an eyebrow. 'So you'll just be Alec Lightwood, son of former circle members, parabatai of Jace Wayland who is actually Jonathan Morgenstern, and sister of treasonous Isabelle and I'll just be Adelaide Morgenstern, shadowhunter runaway, formerly deceased daughter of Valentine, sister of-'

Alec put his hand over her mouth. 'Addy, I get it, but you know that's not what I meant.' Alec removed his hand from her mouth, continuing to trace her jaw. 'I think we're a bit beyond labelling each other.'

Adelaide sighed, nodding slightly. 'Alright, just Alec and Adelaide.'

'Just two people who enjoy spending quality time together.' Alec smirked as he brushed his fingers against Adelaide's lips.

Adelaide laughed at his words. 'Any ideas on how you want to spend whatever time we have left before your sister hunts you down?'

'I have a few ideas.' Alec murmured as he pressed his lips to her collarbone.

Adelaide smiled cheekily as she hooked her legs around his waist, flipping Alec underneath her in a well executed, well practiced move.

Alec stared up at her, wishing he could stop time and just stay with her in that moment forever, where Valentine, the clave, his family and any responsibilities he had were nothing but a hazy thought somewhere in the darkest, dustiest recesses of his mind.

The only time Alec felt truly free, completely unshackled from the burdens he bore each day was when he was with her.

With Adelaide.

*****

'Adelaide Morgenstern! You get out here right now!'

Adelaide and Alec both shot up at the sound of Isabelle's voice coming through Adelaide's bedroom door, the knob jiggling as Isabelle twisted it.

'Isabelle-'

'Just leave her alone-'

'I don't think we should-'

'Isabelle my dear, I like you, but if you so much as scratch these floors-'

Adelaide glanced at Alec with wide eyes as Jace, Clary, Isabelle and Magnus' voices drifted through the door.

Alec and Adelaide moved immediately, Alec tugging his shirt over his head as he buttoned his pants back up correctly, glancing sneakily at Adelaide as she pulled her usual black jeans and shirt over her head hurriedly before she tugged her long hair into a messy knot on top of her head.

Adelaide met Alec's eyes and she forced herself not to break out into a fit of giggles, feeling giddy and completely drunk off of Alec Lightwood.

Alec bit the inside of his cheek, fighting off his own laughter as he looked at Adelaide's flushed cheeks and the way she was biting her bottom lip.

'Adelaide, if you don't open this door I swear to Raziel I will unlock this door myself. Jace has a stele.' Isabelle growled angrily.

'She's lying.' Alec immediately whispered in Adelaide's ear.

'Is she?' Adelaide replied wryly, rolling her eyes when her hand had barely touched the cool metal of doorknob lock before Isabelle was spitting threats out rapidly again.

'That's it! Time's up, I'm coming –'

Adelaide pulled the door open, hiding Alec from view. 'What are you doing?'

Isabelle hadn't been lying about the stele; her fingers were wrapped so tightly around the object that the stele itself looked like it might snap at any second, and Jace was eyeing the pissed off girl rather warily.

'How could you not show up!' Isabelle immediately bit out, her expression disbelieving and slightly betrayed as she shoved the stele back at Jace roughly.

Adelaide's expression flickered very slightly as she looked up, meeting Magnus' eyes. Magnus gave her a smirk that told her all she needed to know. He hadn't told anyone that he knew where Alec had gone, which explained Isabelle, Jace and Clary's mixed expressions, and he knew precisely what she and Alec had been up to since. She felt her cheeks flush slightly which only caused Magnus' smirk to deepen.

'Izzy-' Adelaide tried.

'No! Don't you Izzy me! Adelaide you promised Alec-'

'I did but-'

'- and you were going to just let him marry Lydia! Who by the way-'

'Isabelle, let her ta-' Clary tried.

'- back to Idris, and now she's royally pissed off with –'

'Isabelle Lightwood, I swear-' Adelaide groaned.

'Alec looked so hurt Adelaide! I swear that the two of you-'

Alec, familiar with the impossible task of getting Isabelle to give up, ran his hand through his hair, trying to flatten it as much as possible as he stepped out from behind Adelaide's door, right into view of everyone crowded around her.

Adelaide thought Isabelle had finally given up as her ranting abruptly paused, her eyes widening and her jaw going slack as she gaped at Adelaide. It wasn't until she felt Alec's chest brush against her back that Adelaide realised he'd moved into view of their friends and siblings.

'Oh my god.' Isabelle breathed out.

Clary was wearing a similar expression of surprise but Adelaide noticed that Jace, standing beside Clary, simply looked very, very smug.

'Uh, hi.' Alec eventually got out, feeling slightly awkward and uncomfortable with all the eyes on both him and Adelaide.

'Oh my god.' Isabelle repeated before she launched herself at Alec.

Alec stumbled back slightly into the doorway of Adelaide's bedroom as Isabelle hugged him tightly. 'Alec, I'm so proud of you!' She choked out in awe.

Alec hugged Isabelle back tightly. 'Thanks Iz.'

Clary was grinning at Adelaide, who looked happier than even the Adelaide in the alternate dimension had. 'It's about time.'

Adelaide laughed lightly at Clary. 'I guess it is.'

Clary opened her mouth to say something only to be cut off. Adelaide never did find out what it was as Isabelle pounced on her, squeezing her tightly. 'I knew it. I knew you'd work everything out. The two of you are so freaking stubborn!'

Adelaide hugged Isabelle back. 'You wouldn't trade us for the world though.'

Isabelle grinned as she stepped away, flicking her hair over her shoulder. 'Not for all the designer shoes in the world.' She laughed.

Adelaide joined in the laughter as her eyes travelled to Alec and Jace, not missing the sly fist bump that happened between the two.

'I see everything worked out?'

Adelaide glanced at Magnus who had appeared silently beside her. Adelaide hugged the warlock immediately. 'Thank you Magnus. I owe you so much.'

Magnus smirked, his eyes gleaming with mischief. 'Your happiness is all the payment I need my dear. Well, that and a bottle of that expensive mundane wine they sell in the city.'

Adelaide laughed. 'Sounds fine to me.'

It was there, in that moment, that Adelaide realised that while she had suffered the consequences of her decision to run, that it truly was the best thing she could have done. And while she had lost the respect of the clave, majority of the members of the New York institute, her parabatai bond with Isabelle, and the relationship with the two people who raised her - there had also been some good that had come with it.

She had Raphael, Magnus and Clary, three people who had somehow wormed their way into her heart and her life, and now she had a very different Alec too.

Her new relationship with Alec was daunting, foreign and more than a little terrifying, but it was everything she wanted, everything she needed to get through what was to come.

Alec was her anchor and she was his. It had been that way since they were three years old.

And while Adelaide knew deep down that the happiness that seemed to be emanating from every fibre of her being would shatter into pieces sooner rather than later, in that moment she couldn't bring herself to wipe the smile off of her face as she glanced around the room at her family, Alec's hand brushing hers gently as he came to stand beside her.

Adelaide didn't need to glance up at him to know that they were thinking the same thing. That for the first time in what felt like very long time -

- They were happy.