s03e03 - "What Lies Beneath"

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- There you are - Magnus said as he entered the armory where the Lightwood siblings and Lizzie were. - Good news, the core is off the ley network and free of demonic corruption - The warlock informed them.

- That's good news, thank you - Alec told him.

- All righty, then. I'll make myself scarce - Magnus said and saw that the three shadowhunters were worried about something. The warlock was about to leave but Izzy stopped him.

- We just got a message from Mom that she's 'dropping by' for a spontaneous 'family dinner' - Izzy told him when from a chair in front of the table.

- That's a lot of air quotes - Magnus stated.

- Mom doesn't just drop by for no reason - Lizzie sighed and grabbed her husband's hand to comfort him.

- Yes - She agreed with Izzy's Lizzie. - We think it has to do with her and Dad. They finally officially announce their divorce - The girl sighed after a moment.

- My condolences - Magnus said quietly and he approached them.

- It's for the best. The problem is that instead of just being sad like a normal person, she starts trying to fix everyone around her - Izzy told him.

- Which usually includes grilling her children on everything she thinks is going wrong in their lives - Alec added.

- So, where are you holding this suspenseful dinner? - Magnus asked him.

- Definitely not here - Izzy replied.

- I like my mother-in-law, but I've noticed that the Institute tends to bring out her inner Inquisitor - Lizzie explained to him.

- What about my apartment? - Magnus suggested and he looked at the three shadowhunters. - I insist. You can have this place all to yourselves - Magnus told them before anyone could answer.

- Wait, you should be there - Izzy said to Magnus.

- Think yo about it. If Magnus is there, Maryse won't have time to question us and ask about her granddaughter's name - Lizzie noticed with a smile and looked at Izzy and then at Magnus.

- I'm charming - Magnus stated.

- Don't you think it's too much? You've helped us a lot already - Alec told him.

- You're my friends, and friends help each other - Magnus said.

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Lizzie was in her sister-in-law's room, where she and Izzy were getting ready for a family dinner. The blonde girl was wearing a green dress that went below the knee with long sleeves and black knee-high boots with low heels. Her hair was tied in a low bun.

- You look beautiful - Izzy said awhen she looked at Lizzie.

- It's not easy to find something nice to hold your gun when you're five months pregnant and still gaining weight - Lizzie noticed, and Izzy went back to doing her makeup. - I need to sit down, my legs are starting to hurt - The blonde girl sighed and sat down on the bed.

- In less than 4 months and you will be holding your daughter in your arms - Izzy told her before Clary entered the room.

- Have you noticed anything different about Jace? - Clary asked them.

- No. Well, you see my brother a lot more than I do - Lizzie told her. The girl looked at her worriedly. - What's the matter?

- He thinks Owl is Jonathan - Clary replied.

- What? Why? - Izzy asked, when joining their conversation.

- He keeps having these dreams about him. He thinks they're prophetic - Clary said and she came closer.

- What do you think? - Izzy asked her and turned to look at her.

- I don't know. He hasn't been sleeping, he's been using his Stamina rune to stay on mission - Clary said and leaned against Izzy's dressing table.

- When you don't sleep, your mind can play tricks on you - Lizzie stated. - Did he tell my husband? - Lizzie asked her.

- She's afraid that once the news gets out, Jonathan will find out - Clary said.

- I'm coming with you - Izzy told her.

- What about your family dinner? - Clary asked her, surprised.

- If Owl is Jonathan, we have bigger problems than missing dinner with Mom. There's no way I'm letting yous go out there alone - Izzy told her.

- I'll stay and get surway through this dinner - Lizzie stated before leaving Izzy's room.

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- Are you sure that's exactly half a cup? - Alec asked as the man measured something in a cup.

- Cooking is an art, not a science - Lizzie told him, who was helping him cook in the kitchen.

- Well, if that were true, there would be no instructions - Alec said and held up the recipe card. - It's an old family recipe. Izzy and I found it right after my grandmother died. My mother was inconsolable until the day we made her this stew - The man continued and stirred the stew. - It was the first time I saw her smile

- You're so caring - Lizzie said with a smile and pulled a radish out of her husband's hair - And so cute with a radish in your hair.

- Here, try it, honey - Her husband said before turning around and putting a wooden spoon with soup in his mouth.

- Oh, wow - The blonde girl told him and barely swallowed the soup.

- Okay. How do you like it? Good? - Alec asked her.

- Very good - Lizzie lied, although the soup tasted terrible and the girl could barely hold back the vomiting. Then Alec's phone rang, so he went to answer it, and Magnus entered the kitchen.

- I love my husband, but you have to improve this soup or everyone will get sick - Lizzie said quietly to the warlock.

Magnus listened to her and used his magic to improve the taste of the stew. After that, Lizzie quickly started stirring the soup when she heard Alec coming back to the kitchen.

- Izzy wrote. Go away, go away, go away - Alec said and pushed her aside from the pot of soup. - She's going on a mission with Clary and Jace. Which means tonight it's just me

- Just us - Lizzie corrected him. - Is everything okay? - The girl asked him and at that moment someone knocked on the door so everyone turned to look.

- Okay, your remember, my mother is on edge. Thats means you avoid any sensitive topics like my dad or me turning down that job at the Clave - Alec said nervously and took off his oven mitts.

- You're tense, so have a drink - Lizzie told him and handed him a glass of alcohol to loosen him up. The man took the drink from his wife's hand and drank it all before handing her the empty glass.

- I'm fine - Alec told her and kissed her on the lips. - Is everything okay?

- Yes, everything is fine - Lizzie replied and put the empty glass on the counter. The girl quickly joined Alec who opened the front door.

After a moment, the three of them saw a smiling Maryse Lightwood, which was a rare sight.

- My childs! - Maryse shouted with a smile and hugged Magnus, then Alec. - Lizzie you look beautiful - The black-haired woman stated and looked at her daughter-in-law before hugging her.

- I'm far from being a boy, but I appreciate these words - Magnus said.

- I'm sorry - Maryse said and handed a bottle of wine to Alec. - I should respect my elders

- And this is for my granddaughter - Maryse said and handed Lizzie a bag with a gift for granddaughter.

- You didn't have to, mom - Alec said.

- Son, let me spoil my granddaughter and enjoy being a grandmother - His mother told him. - It will be some time before I become one again, because your sister is not mature for marriage and children - The woman noticed and touched the rounded belly of her daughter-in-law. The woman smiled wider when she felt the joyful kicking of her unborn granddaughter. - This little princess loves her grandma

- Can I buy you a drink? - Alec asked his mother.

- How about a round of Magnus' famous cocktails? - Maryse suggested before she entered the living room.

- Is that your mother on edge? - Magnus asked Alec and took the wine from Alec and followed Maryse.

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The entire dinner was going better than expected Alec and Lizzie. Maryse was laughing at Magnus' stories as everyone sat at the table. Lizzie and Alec didn't know what had happened to the woman.

- Well, you know how to host - Maryse said to Magnus.

- Oh, please. Tonight was Alec's - Magnus told her.

- Really? - Maryse asked with a smile when she looked at her son. - That stew was amazing. Who would have thought you could cook?

- I've already done this for you - Alec stated.

- Oh, how could I forget? Alec and Isabelle made it for me when they were little kids. Seeing their faces when they brought it to me. It still warms my heart. But that stew, I still have nightmares - Maryse said to Magnus and Lizzie.

- I thought you liked this goulash - Alec told her surprised.

- Oh, now I know. Whatever you did to the recipe, it's unrecognizable - His mother informed him, and Alec looked at Magnus, who looked at the table.

- Does anyone want a digestif? - Magnus asked them.

- No, thank you. I'm probably embarrassing Alec anyway - Maryse told him before taking a sip of her drink.

- Oh, we're just glad to we see you in such a good mood - Lizzie spoke up.

- We thought you might be upset, what with the divorce and all - Alec added after a moment.

- I've come to terms with it. But your instincts are right - Maryse confessed. - I do have some unpleasant news. I wanted Isabelle and Jace to be here, but you need to know. In light of Malachi's coup, the Clave has reopened its investigation of former Circle members - Maryse informed them.

- You had nothing to do with Malachi - Alec noted.

- Regardless. Based on a review of my actions within the Circle, the Clave has once again deemed me a traitor - Maryse explained.

- What? - Alec and Lizzie asked at the same time.

- They're taking my runes. In a few days, they'll announce that I've been banished from Alicante - She told them sadly woman.

- This is completely unfair. You gave your life to the Clave - Lizzie said angrily.

- I'll check on the desserts - Magnus told them and he stepped away from the table to give the Lightwood family some privacy.

- This is complete hypocrisy - Lizzie said. The girl knew the ways of the Clave, so she knew they were making bad decisions and accusing those they shouldn't, as now like Maryse now.

- What about the Pangborns, the Blackwells? Are they keeping their positions? What about Dad? - Alec asked.

- He was assigned to the LA Institute as part of the deal - Maryse replied.

- It's not fair that Robert didn't suffer greater consequences - Lizzie was outraged.

- That's exactly what I mean. He gets a slap on the wrist, not banishment - Alec said, and he couldn't control his emotions anymore.

- Please don't make this harder than it already is - She begged her son and daughter-in-law Maryse. - My punishment is harsher because my crimes are too. Back in the days of the Circle, I was convinced that Valentine had all the answers. I recruited many good men, including your father. And together with Valentine, I organized all the gory details of the Uprising - Maryse said.

- But you managed to get out - Lizzie said and trying to comfort her mother-in-law.

- It wasn't until I knew we were doomed. When I saw Valentine for who he really was, I couldn't believe what I had done. I swore to devote the rest of my life to the Clave. But the charges against me are fair - Maryse said calmly.

- That's very noble of you, Mom. But if you're not going to fight this, I will. Even if it means leaving the Institute - Alec told her determinedly.

- No - Maryse protested, when she looked at her son and then at Lizzie. - Seeing what you've accomplished as heads of the Institute, nothing makes me more proud. The Clave has always had its flaws. My generation nearly destroyed everything in our passion, and to fix that, yours will have to be smarter

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- Thank you, again - Maryse said and smiled at her son, Lizzie and Magnus who walked her to the door. - Tonight couldn't have been more pleasant

- You're welcome anytime - Magnus said with a smile.

- And, um, I would appreciate it if you could keep our conversation between us. I'd like to tell Isabelle and Jace myself - Maryse told them, when she looked at on them.

- Of course - Alec told her and Maryse hugged him.

- Now We'll see you more often that the baby is born - Lizzie told her.

- Sure. Now I'll have more time for my granddaughter - Maryse replied and hugged her. When she stopped hugging her, Maryse touched her daughter-in-law's pregnant belly. - Have yous already come up with a name for your daughter?

- Yes - Alec replied and walked up to his wife, then put his arms around her waist. - We didn't want to reveal the name so early, but we'll tell you. Our daughter's name will be Alexis Céline Lightwood - Alec confessed with a smile.

- Beautiful names - Maryse stated. - Céline, like your mother's name Lizzie - Maryse said to the blonde girl.

- Yes, even though I didn't know her, I wanted to honor her - Lizzie explained.

- She would be proud of you and what you've accomplished - Maryse said and took her daughter-in-law's hand. The woman treated and loved Lizzie like a daughter, so she wanted the best for her.

- I hope so - Lizzie said.

- Take care - Maryse said Lizzie before leaving Magnus' apartment.