{𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 15}
A DREAM

"A little life, like hers"
-𝐝.𝐛

✾

CHRISTINA'S in the center of the New York institute with iris on her hip. She hasn't been able to put her littlest shadowhunter down since she got here.

I find it hard to believe this is my life now. It's crazy to think that this isn't just a dream. But it's real. I'm a mom. I'm not that 17 year old girl anymore who felt alone after her dad died. My world had changed for the better. If you would have told me all this would have happened just 3 years later I would have thought you were as delusional as mundane love.

My two favorite girls. A voice said from behind the mother and baby. Christina turned around swiftly to face the voice, seeing that it was Alec. A smile formed on both Chris's and Iris's faces. "Aww she smiling at her daddy." Izzy said entering the room with clary.

"Yes she is." Chris said in a baby tone. "Are you ever gonna put her down?" Alec questions with a furrowed eyebrow.

"Eventually when I feel...Chris started. "Eventually." She ended.

The bitter truth that Christina would admit to anyone, not even herself was that she was afraid. She felt this constant overwhelming crushing fear that something terrible would happen. It wasn't like her to be afraid, not that she was invincible but that it just wasn't like her. Why she felt this? A great question. She'd like to know too, it was like ever since having Iris she's had this feeling.

Maybe it had something to do with the drops of seelie blood coursing through her veins, she thought. Or maybe there was a more mundane answer to her feelings. Like separation anxiety.

"I'm gonna head home." Christina said, grabbing her and iris things. "I'll see you later." She gestured, kissing Alec goodbye and waving to the others.

"Hey..Alec called after her, you sure everything's okay?" He asks, peering into her dark brown eyes.

"Yeah everythings..fine" she assures giving him one last hug before stepping into the portal.

Alec heads back to the duo that was now joined by Jace. He has a blank, concerned look on his face.

"Chrissy's leaving?" Jace asks,looking at Alec."Uh yeah.."he responds "Everything okay?" Izzy asks,reaching his shoulder. "I don't think so iz. Chris hasn't really been herself since she had Iris."

"What do you mean?"
Clary asks wide eyed.

***

Christine's in the nervery holding baby Iris. she still can't bare putting her down , she can hep that crushing feelings. Soon Iris fall sound asleep she takes a seat in the recliner in the nursery. She hears Footsteps approaching and she quickly jumps as they come closer. It was Alec, he lores at per with that same corerned expression. Chris caught her breath and
relaxed.

"Chris you can't keep saying you're fine when it's clear you're not." Alex implies, having her sit back down with Iris."I'm fine... really." Chris saids unconvincingly in an attempt to brush off Alec's statement. "You're not sleeping, the jumpiness, you haven't put Iris down since we brought her home." Alec stated."I'm afraid, okay!" She shouts. I'm afraid that when I close my eyes this will all just disappear. She continues looking at Iris, then back up at Alec with tears leaving her eyes.

"Baby.."Alec starts "We're not going anywhere, Iris isn't going anywhere." He voices walking closer, cupping his hands on her cheeks wiping the falling tear.

"You can put her down..I have us."

Alec gently takes Iris from Christina and places her in her crib. The two walk out of her nursery in each other's arms. For once since the birth of her daughter Christina hasn't felt so guarded, but calm. Safe. Chris remembered Valentine's words how he knew she was having a little girl. She worried for Iris's safety. She kill Valentine before he took a step near Iris let alone vicinity as her. Alec would too; they had already planned for her to start training as soon as she turned 4 same as the both of them.

✾

Chris woke up the next morning in an empty bed, not much different from any other morning. The only thing that was different was what was waiting for her on her night stand. A huge bouquet of pink roses lay and waited for her. A smile formed across her face.

She walked over to take a whiff when a crying sound was heard from across the hall. Chris grabbed Iris and her bottle, once she calmed down she got her ready and then herself. Christina threw her hair in a quick ponytail and put on a burgundy tank, with a grey cardigan on top. She walked through a portal into the New York institute. As she did so she made eyes with Izzy who lit up when she saw her niece.

"There's my little Lightwood. " Izzy spoke, tickling the baby. A smile flashed. "Hey, Iz what's going on?" Chris questioned handing the baby over to Izzy.

"Alec's assigning the troops to search for Valentine." Izzy said nonchalantly playing with the baby.

"What? Valentine's not in Idris?" Christina questioned with worry in her tone. Izzy realizes what she just let slip out. "Chrissy, he didn't want you to worry."

"Alec knew?" She questions with venom in her voice. Chris storms off to find Alec.

So many emotions going through her heart and her head at once; fear, betrayal, uncertainty. When she had finally felt safe she learned this. This secret her fiance has been keeping from her.

She finds Alec in the monitor room with Jace beside him surrounded by other shadowhunters. She steps into his sight, he could tell she was upset, that she knew just by the look in her eye. "HOW LONG?" Christina yells at him. "Chris let me explain-" he started only to be cut off.

"HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN? " She spat once more. "Since the day I proposed." He spoke in a husky voice. "That's why you were upset. " She realized, "and you weren't going to tell me."

"I was-

"When?" "When Valentine was caught again?3weeks.. You knew last night... how I felt." Chris mumbles. Alec tries to console her in his arms but she pushes him off her in anger.

"Chris!" He calls out.

She grabs Iris from Izzy and walks back through the portal.