Troubles & Dreams

It had started as one of those rare, quiet afternoons at the loft-at least, quiet by the Lightwood-Bane family's standards. Alec had settled into the armchair by the window with a book in hand, enjoying the rare stillness of Magnus actually sipping tea instead of pacing with glittering impatience. The air smelled faintly of cinnamon and wards, soft sunlight slipping through the enchanted curtains.

On the rug, Aster was a blur of energy, racing her stuffed animals across the floor in some elaborate game that only she seemed to understand. Every so often she'd leap to her feet, dart across the room, and return, narrating her adventure at a volume far too loud for the space.

Clary and Isabelle were perched on the sofa, trading amused looks as they watched the little girl whirl around the furniture. Jace, sprawled far too comfortably in one of Magnus's expensive chairs, wore the smug look of a man who insisted he was "great with kids" without ever being tested on the claim.

For a moment, it almost felt domestic. Normal.

Aster darted across the room again, little legs carrying her faster than anyone expected. She didn't notice the corner of the heavy oak table until it caught her hip with a sharp thud.

"Fuck!" she yelped, clutching her side.

The room froze. Every adult turned toward her at once, shock flashing across their faces.

Magnus's eyes widened, his voice low and deliberate. "Excuse me... what did you just say?"

Aster blinked up at him, completely unaware of the weight of her words. "...'Fuck.'" She repeated it innocently, like it was any other word in her tiny vocabulary.

Alec's brows shot up, the stern dad look already settling on his face. "Aster," he said firmly, kneeling down to her level, "where on earth did you hear that?"

Without hesitation, Aster pointed her finger across the room. "Uncle Jace said it! When he kicked the table with his foot. He said it really loud. I remembered."

All heads swiveled instantly toward Jace.

Silence. Then Isabelle's voice, flat and sharp: "You idiot."

Jace's mouth opened, closed, then opened again. "Wait-I-no, hold on. That was-okay, maybe I did-but it was an accident!"

Magnus folded his arms, his expression thunderous. "So you admit it?"

Clary pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering, "Jace, she's five."

"Exactly!" Isabelle snapped. "She's five, and her very first curse word came out of your mouth. Congratulations, you're officially the worst role model here."

Jace threw his hands up. "Oh, come on! You all curse sometimes!"

Alec's glare could have cut through steel. "Not in front of my children." His voice was low, dangerous.

Jace actually flinched. "It slipped! I wasn't-"

Magnus crouched down beside Aster, tone firm but patient. "Little star, that word you just said... it's not a nice word. It's actually a very bad word."

Aster tilted her head, confusion clear. "Why? Uncle Jace said it."

Magnus exhaled slowly, eyes flicking toward Jace like a knife before softening again for the child. "Because sometimes adults-reckless, thoughtless adults-say things they shouldn't. That doesn't make it okay for you to copy them. Do you understand?"

Aster frowned. "But... if I can't say it, why can he?"

The room went quiet again. Isabelle smirked viciously. "Good question."