I'm so pissed that this took so long to get up. My internet has been down and then I've had work this week and a driving test and ugh :( sorry!

Bit of a filler chapter, just needing to tie a few ends regarding the wedding leading into the final chapters. 

Working on the next chapter now though! :) So make sure to vote and comment! 3+ of each for the next chapter!

(Gif is not mine, credit to whoever made it. I think it's great ahaha) 

*NOT EDITED*

*****

Alec was nervous.

More nervous than Adelaide had ever seen him as the institute came into view. It looked as it always did, tall and intimidating, much like Alec himself, Adelaide thought wryly. The building itself was enough to evoke anxiety in the couple, though thankfully the over the top wedding decorations Isabelle had put out were nowhere in sight.

Magnus had assured both Alec and Adelaide that by the time they made their way back to the institute, the guests that had arrived for the wedding would well and truly be gone;  and it looked like he had been right.

Alec sighed shakily next to Adelaide, and she looked up at him in concern. 'Alec?'

'I can do this.' Alec seemed to be speaking more to himself than to Adelaide as he tried to relax his tense shoulders the closer they got to the institute.

Adelaide and Alec stepped inside first, followed closely by Isabelle, Magnus, Clary and Jace who were nervous for the couple, knowing how upset Maryse had been when Alec had walked out of his own wedding. Magnus swore he was only there to discuss payment for his services with Lydia, but Adelaide knew better – he was worried.

The few people that were milling around as the group entered the institute seemed to pause, their eyes following Alec and Adelaide suspiciously as they came into view.

'I have to hand it to you Alexander, you certainly know how to make a statement.' Magnus commented drily, ignoring the warning glance he received from Adelaide.

Alec hummed in agreement, his eyes darting cautiously from face to face.

Both Alec and Adelaide tensed as they heard the familiar click of heels on the polished institute floors, moving very, very quickly.

'That's our cue to leave little ones.' Magnus shooed Isabelle, Jace and Clary away, back towards the other end of the institute, ignoring Isabelle's loud protests.

Maryse and Robert came into view, Robert looking stern faced and Maryse's looking absolutely livid.

Growing up, Adelaide had always idolised Maryse, just as Isabelle had. She'd always wanted to grow up and become the woman that Maryse was; strong, independent and smart. She'd envied the way Maryse could intimidate anyone, and the way she commanded the respect of every living being that entered the place she considered home.

As Isabelle and Adelaide had grown up, they'd drifted away from the older woman, Isabelle more so than Adelaide. Even as an adult, a fully trained shadowhunter, Adelaide respected Maryse far more than she sometimes let on.

After all, Maryse had been the only mother figure Adelaide had ever known. She'd taught Adelaide a large chunk of what she knew about the world and everything in it.

So seeing that same woman, the woman who'd sung Isabelle and Alec lullabies to help them sleep as children, who'd graciously accepted both her and Jace into her family without a second thought, who'd raised her, storming towards her with a murderous look on her face was enough to make Adelaide's body begin to tremble in an uncharacteristic show of fear.

This was a new side of Maryse, one that had been rearing its ugly head from the moment Adelaide had appeared back into their lives.

Adelaide didn't like it. She didn't like it at all.

Maryse turned her hateful eyes to her son. 'What have you done, Alec? to us – to this family?'

'This isn't about you.' Alec replied almost immediately, seeming very on edge, his eyes dancing from one parent to another.

'Of course it is. You are either being selfish, or naïve. This wedding was your plan from the start, and now you have humiliated us in front of the most respected members of the clave.' Maryse sucked in a sharp breath. 'I don't even recognise you anymore.'

I don't even recognise you, Maryse, Adelaide thought glumly.

'I'm the same person I've always been. Now everything's just out in the open.' Alec refrained from rolling his eyes, though his heart was beating against his chest.

Adelaide could feel Maryse's stare and made the mistake of glancing up as she spoke.  'All this for a Morgenstern.'

Adelaide tensed, biting back the words that she wanted to say. Alec slyly reached for her hand, a move that didn't go unnoticed by Maryse whose eyes narrowed as she huffed and stormed away without another word.

'Just give her time.' Robert warned Alec, who was watching his mother leave, looking as though he might go after her.

'And you?' Alec questioned, not sounding excited to hear his Father's opinion.

Robert sighed. 'I don't really understand this. What you were thinking, how this happened –' He shook his head. 'How long has this been going on?' He asked, looking between Alec and Adelaide. 'Before you disappeared?' Robert questioned Adelaide directly.

Adelaide shook her head. 'No. It's something new entirely.'

Robert nodded in understanding. 'Are you two in love?'

Adelaide forgot how to breathe for a second.

'Does it matter?' Alec cut in, looking as awkward as Adelaide felt.

'No, I suppose it doesn't.' Robert conceded, though his mouth was still turned down slightly.

'We're happy. That's all there is to it.' Adelaide added quietly, avoiding his gaze, for the first time in her life not able to look Robert Lightwood directly in the face.

Robert reached out and gripped Alec's arm, hesitantly squeezing Adelaide's too as he spoke again. 'I better go check on Mum.'

Adelaide watched him walk away, trying to squash the flicker of hope that formed in her chest at the elder Lightwood's gesture. Hope usually led to disappointment and shattered dreams. She couldn't let herself hope that everything would work itself out, because from experience, everything usually just became more and more complicated.

Alec sighed beside Adelaide. 'Well that was-'

'Interesting.' Adelaide cut him off.

'That's one way to put it.' A small smile tugged at Alec's lips.

Adelaide pressed her face into Alec's chest, her arms winding around his waist, seeking comfort in the familiar feelings that seemed to overcome her as Alec pulled her closer to him, his arms winding tightly around her.

Alec kissed the top of her head. 'Are you okay?'

'Mhmm, yeah.' Adelaide nodded slightly. 'Are you?'

'I am, all things considered.' Alec laughed lightly.

The two were so wrapped up in each other than they didn't hear the footsteps approaching them. 'So this is the reason you walked out on your own wedding.'

Adelaide pulled away from Alec, rolling her eyes at the amusement colouring the person's tone. 'Really, Hodge?'

'Can't say I'm surprised.' Hodge smirked. 'Always thought you two would end up here. It was only a matter of time.'

Alec's cheeks flushed and Adelaide giggled at the sight, which caused a scowl to spread across the handsome shadowhunters face.

'I have to say Adelaide, I'm hurt that you didn't think to come and see your favourite teacher.'

Adelaide's smile slipped slightly. 'Don't take it personally, Hodge. Most of the people here don't want anything to do with me anymore. Distancing myself seems like the best option.'

Hodge held up his hands in mock surrender. 'Former circle member here, I'm the last one whose going to judge you for being his daughter.'

Adelaide's thoughts went to Maryse and Robert briefly, but she pushed them away before Alec could see it written on her face. From the look he shot her, she hadn't been entirely successful.

'Well, thank you. You know it means a lot.' Adelaide sent Hodge a genuine smile as he moved to pass her.

'It's good to see your doing okay, Adelaide. You've got so much potential.'

And then he was gone.

'Well that was...uh-'

'Weird.' Adelaide shrugged. 'Then again, it is Hodge.'

Alec laughed. 'Good point.'

*****

Alec had left Adelaide in what was once her bedroom so she could change and shower.

He had to find Lydia and apologise again, but also thank her for allowing him to do what was right for him. If it weren't for her ability to see things as they truly were rather than what they were supposed to be, Alec was almost certain that he would have been officially married to her only hours ago.

Alec glanced around, ignoring the eyes on him as he spotted his Mother, scrolling through one of the institute's tablets with a stern look on her face.

Alec swallowed his pride and approached her. Maryse completely ignored her son. 

'Have you spoken with Lydia? No one's seen her since the wedding.' Maryse continued to ignore Alec. 'Mum, c'mon.'

'Maryse.' Robert could almost feel the tension coming off of his wife, and could practically see the nervousness seeping out of Alec's body.

'Mum, I understand your upset but this is-'

'Calling of the wedding would have been one thing. But running away in front of the entire institute? And then parading around with her on your arm? You've embarrassed all of us.' Maryse finally spoke in clipped tones.

'Why? Because she's a Morgenstern? What's the problem?' Alec asked in exasperation.

'Alec, if you met her Father you'd know exactly why I'm so against this!' Maryse exclaimed.

'Alec, there's so much that you don't know about that family.' Robert added, standing by his wife's side.

Alec laughed without humour. 'I forgot, you two would know all about the Morgenstern's wouldn't you? You spent enough time with Valentine and Jocelyn.' He snapped, fed up with the judgmental stares and disappointment coming off of his parents.

Maryse seemed offended and Robert's eyes hardened.

'The two of you seem to forget that you raised Adelaide just as you raised me, just as you raised Isabelle and Jace. She is not like Valentine. She's Adelaide. She's the same person she has always been.' Alec crossed his arms, his mouth tensing into a thin line, debating his next words before he finally spoke.

'I love her.' Alec admitted, much to his parents chagrin. 'And if you have a problem with that then I suggest you deal with it. Now, I have to go find Lydia.' Alec's tone was final, his displeasure evident.

'She's probably packing for Idris in your Father's office. What she did-' Maryse started in an angry tone.

'-saved my life. So I should go thank her.' Alec walked away from his parents, no longer feeling up to arguing with them.

When Alec rounded the corner as he headed towards his Father's office, he found Adelaide, makeup free, dark wet hair slowly drying into the familiar waves, standing with Magnus who seemed all too happy with himself as he raised an eyebrow at Adelaide suggestively.

Upon realising Alec had arrived, Magnus spoke. 'One a scale of one to ten, how unpleasant was it?'

'Off the charts.' Alec admitted with a sigh, watching as Adelaide's brow furrowed into a frown. 'Yeah, I've never seen them so angry.'

'Just give them some time?' Magnus suggested as Alec started walking towards the office, both Adelaide and the warlock following.

'You're immortal. Time is on your side.' Alec reminded the warlock, who smirked.

'It seems as though it isn't on yours. You best make the most of it. It would seem you've already started on that judging on the state we found you in earlier.' Magnus commented slyly, earning himself a sharp smack to the rib cage from Adelaide.

Alec tried to fight it, but he couldn't help the cheeky smile that overtook his face at the reminder.

'Alexander, wipe that smile off of your face.' Adelaide commanded, only causing the smile to turn into a full-blown grin.

Adelaide rolled her eyes, but a smile pulled at her lips.

'I just wanna make sure Lydia's okay. I owe her so much.' Alec commented as they finally reached the office.

'We owe her so much.' Adelaide reminded him gently, Alec smiled down at her.

'You both owe me so much more.' Magnus smirked and Adelaide rolled her eyes.

'Trust me, we know.' She commented drily as Alec pushed open the door.

'Lydia!'

Immediately the three were at the fallen blonde's side, Alec shaking her gently as Magnus checked her pulse, nodding at Alec who looked relieved.

Adelaide's cautious eyes took in the scene, a feeling of unease settling in her stomach as she crouched down beside Alec, who was drawing an iratze on Lydia's forearm.

'Go get help.' Alec nodded at Magnus who left quickly.

Lydia began to stir and Adelaide leant closer as Lydia started to mumble something.

Alec was too busy taking in the scene to notice the way Lydia gripped Adelaide's arm tightly, her nails digging in, leaving indents in her pale skin.

Alec looked up in fright at the gasp that left Adelaide's lips, watching the blood drain from her face. He could practically see the wheels turning in her head as her eyes darted around the room, assessing and categorising every aspect of it.

'Hey, hey what's wrong?' Alec questioned Adelaide as Lydia pulled herself up slowly. 'Addy? Hey-'

Adelaide's heart sank as she caught Lydia's eyes, seeing only terror and resignation in their depths.

'Hodge.' Adelaide gasped out, Lydia nodding beside her. Alec looked at the two in alarm.

'It was Hodge.'