I don't know what had made me come here. When I'd left Magnus' apartment, I was set in my decision - I wasn't going to stop the wedding, I wasn't going to be selfish, I wasn't going to ruin everything.

But then I'd stepped through the portal, arrived in the Institute and just...took off running. I didn't think, I didn't even consider what I was doing I just let my feet take me to the church and burst through the doors, let my mouth form the four words that would solidify Alec and I's relationship.

And now, here we were, surrounded by at least two dozen people, several envoys from the Clave, a distraught Lydia, an incredibly happy Izzy and a proud Simon and Clary.

Izzy, Clary, Jace and Simon's faces were the only ones in the room that shone brightly and that...only that was the singular thing keeping me from backing out and changing my mind again.

This was right and we knew it.

"What did I just do?" Alec pants, his eyes wild and confused and my heart sinks...was he reconsidering?

"Changing your mind now?" I joke weakly but the pain seeps through

"No" Alec assures me, placing a comforting hand on my cheek that makes my heart swell and his voice so strong I don't question it for a split second longer, "No just...shocked"

"That makes two of us" I chuckle, "I didn't even realise I was running until I was already here."

Without speaking, we both turn to face the rest of the room properly, just in time to catch the stroke of black hair and a silver dress disappearing around a corner and out the door.

"I am so proud of you both!" Izzy squeals, jumping up and down excitedly, "Especially you, big brother."

"Guys, that was incredible!" Simon gushes, appearing by Izzy's side, "It was like watching the live version of The Graduate...You know, the Dustin Hoffman movie? The amazing one?"

"They're Shadowhunters, Si, they don't really get-"

"You were Ben! 'Elaine!'" Simon continues, pointing to me, and the to Alec "And you were Elaine! I mean...a taller, more masculine, handsome version on her. But at the altar though, you were like...'Ben!' And then...and then now, you're both sitting on the bus at the end of the movie, both totally stoked, but wondering, like...'What're we gonna do now?' You know?"

"I don't think they do, Si" I laugh, "But I get it. Very nice impressions by the way!"

"Who invited the vampire?" Alec asks rather rudely

"Hey" I nudge him gently, "Be nice. Simon's part of my package deal. Take it or leave it."

Alec narrows his eyes but his expression softens and Simon continues to prattle on endlessly quoting different movies where the bride or groom has left the altar to flee with another romantic leas.

"I'll take it" Alec whispers in my ear and I shiver slightly as his breath tickles the skin of my neck, his hand sliding along my arm till it reaches my hand and he clasps it in his, heat blazing beneath my skin at his touch.

It was the perfect moment.

***

"I must say, Buttercup, I am incredibly glad to see you came to your senses" Magnus grins jovially

He had called Clary, Jace and I to the training room and I had brought Alec with me. Apparently, he had some information for us.

"A lot of it is thanks to your speech, Magnus" I admit, looking to Alec before re-addressing him, "Or should I say speeches?"

"I'm honoured...but it was all the two of you. I just...helped you along" Magnus blushes, not touching on my mentioning of his several ploys to force Alec and I together, "Anyway...I'm not just here to congratulate the two of you. I have pulled every item of magical importance from Ragnor's belongings. But I can't determine which will lead to the Book of the White."

Magnus flicks his fingers and an array of strange objects lay themselves upon the wooden table. Everything from weird bones to magical books sat there, all with a different secret.

"Wait" I interrupt, grabbing something on the table. A tattered, torn woven bookmark, coloured in bright primary colours, "I've seen it before...in the alternate dimension. 'You' had this book of spells and this was in it...Of course! That's where I've heard Book of the White before! I was looking through it in the alternate dimension!"

"If that's the case, we can use the bookmark to track the owner of the book" Alec informs

"Okay" Jace shrugs, moving to take the bookmark from me but Magnus gets there first

"Warlock tracking is stronger" Magnus rebuts when Jace gives him a nasty look

Breathing deeply, Magnus closes his eyes, holding the bookmark in both hands, concentrating hard. Another second later Magnus gasps softly, his eyes flying open with the most unpleasant look on his face.

"Well, there's good news and bad news" Magnus sighs, "The good news is we all know the owner. The bad? It's Camille...and not the nice one."

"Camille?" I gape, my own name sounding strange in my mouth, "Well, this is going to be remarkably easy, isn't it?"

"Looked like Raphael has her locked up in the basement of the Hotel DuMort" Magnus recounts

"Well, since I punched her last time I saw her, there's no way she'll help me" Clary remarks

"She won't have a choice" Jace states, "Trust me"

***

"I'm so glad we got away from that crowd and all those people" Alec exhales, "So intense."

We're alone now. Clary and Jace had departed awkwardly after Magnus had bustled off to do some recon or...something. Who knew when it came to Magnus?

"I have to hand it to you, Alec" I admit, "You definitely know how to make a statement"

"I could say the same to you" Alec counters, his hands wrapping around my waist, his head bowing to meet mine...

Footsteps break us apart like two polarising magnets and Maryse and Robert Lightwood come bursting into the training room, Maryse with a face like murder.

"What have you done, Alec?" she snarls, "To us? This family?"

"This isn't about you."

"Of course it is!" Maryse exclaims, "You are either being selfish or naive. This wedding was your plan from the start. And now you have humiliated us in front of the most respected members of the Clave. I don't even recognise you anymore."

I start to shrink backwards, cautiously taking the steps to get away, knowing my presence in the room would only make matters worse but Alec notices my unstealthy attempts at a get away and takes my hand in his again, gently encouraging me to his side, where he wraps an arm around my waist so tightly it would be a miracle if someone could pry us apart.

"I'm the same person I've always been" Alec refutes, "Now, I'm just doing things for me instead of fixing things that you have broken, acting the parent instead of the child. It's not my job to fix the name that you tarnished."

"And all for a...Mundani you barely know?!" Maryse spits, enraged, pivoting on her heel and stalking off without another word

Alec shakes his head in disbelief at her close mindedness

"Just give her time" Robert pleads

"And you?" Alec demands

"I don't really...understand this" Robert confesses, "But I suppose our world is changing. How long has this been going on? Are you two in love?"

"Love? What? No!" Alec and I both stutter over each other

Despite the strength of our feelings one another, despite thinking it was love, now that we were here, together and we'd gotten through all the obstacles, it felt like there was a lot more learning, more growing to do before it could blossom into love.

I guess absence really does make the heart grow fonder.

"It's all very new" I clarify, breaking through the reverie of stammers

"Right..." Robert responds brusquely, evidently still confused but he squeezes Alec's shoulder consolingly, "I'd better go check on Mom."

"You know what I just realised?" Alec speaks us, turning to face me, his second arm joining the first around my waist as it did before

"What?" I wonder, looking up into his deep hazel eyes

"We still haven't gone on our first date yet"

"Yeah" I chuckles, "Yeah, I guess you're right...but it should probably wait until after things settle down a bit. Agreed?"

"Agreed"

***********

Incredibly short chapter, I'm sorry but I didn't want to re-do the wedding in this chapter, you guys saw it, ya know?

Anyways, this book is rather rapidly coming to end, ya'll ready for book 2? Speaking of...got any name ideas? I kinda want the them of 'Frayed' to tie in so maybe like other names for fraying or something like that?

You probably didn't understand that, but leave your suggestions and comments! I always love reading them.

Happy Reading!! xx