#those who truly love never stop loving | benjamin fairchild

[lostxones-musings]

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[imherongraystairstrash]

The Broken Hearts (tsc AU) Part 1

A/N: I’m sorry if you’re tired of Ella Herondale, but I can’t get enough of her! This is about the “second wave” of TID children. Ella is NOT cannon, and I don’t think she ever will be, but I had a lot of fun writing this, so I hope you guys get a kick out of reading it! Also, if anyone has a better title, I’d really appreciate it, since I had no idea what to name this😂

It’s official. Ella was going to be single for life. She stared out as her parabatai Alex Lightwood danced with Matilda Fairchild. He twirled her and her skirts fanned out. Ella could see the smile on her face, that made her look so pretty. When they faced each other once more it was as though there was nobody else watching; as though the only person that mattered in the world was the one in front of them. Ella could feel it through her parabatai bond. It was incredibly annoying.

It wasn’t only Alex and Matty. Everybody in Ella’s life had someone they loved. Ella heard that, over time, adults start fighting more often or get bored with each other, and begin to drift apart, followed by a divorce. That was a load of werewolf droppings. At least, the adults in Ella’s life were sick with adoration for each other. And her parents? They were leading the army. Uncle Gabriel and Aunt Cecily still shared a mischievous and lustful glance at each other, even though they were well into their 50s. Sophie and Gideon still made doe eyes at one another. Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Henry, James and Cordelia, her parents, the whole lot of them. They were all so deep in love, they might as well have been drowning.

Except for Ella.

Ella had nobody.

The World War will end before Ella finds someone to love. And it’s been more than four years since the prospect of war wasn’t hanging over their heads.

Ella sighed and turned her attention elsewhere, only to find Jocelyn Fairchild (Matilda’s twin sister) and That Carstairs Boy dancing together. (Ella strictly referred to Cordelia’s younger brother as “That Carstairs boy” or “Carstairs boy” just to spite him and as payback for The Incident). How sad. Oh, how incredibly sad. Ella missed being in love so much. That feeling when you catch someone’s eye across the room and the rest of the world dims. The way it feels to have someone’s soft lips on your own. How it feels to be loved by someone.

Ella was still thinking about her sad and unfortunate love life when Alex walked over, pulled up a chair and sat down beside her.

“El?”

“Huh? Oh, I didn’t see you there.”

“Uh, you clearly did. I could feel your depressive gaze from a mile away.”

“I’m sorry to ruin your wonderful dance with Matilda Fairchild. I’m sorry I was staring at you because I was lonely and have nobody to dance with me other than Jonathan Dearborn.”

They both shuddered.

“By the angel, I hate him.” said Alex.

“You don’t have the right! I’m the one he keeps staring at and fawning over. It’s horrible. He’s literally staring at me right now.”

Sure enough, there was Dearborn, looking at Ella…well, at her body mostly.

Alex stood up. “I’ll make sure he never looks at anyone with those eyes again.”

“No, Alex, sit down. I don’t need your help. I can fight my own battles.”

Alex reluctantly took his seat.

“Tell me about Matty.”

“You know Matty.”

“Yes, but you are so desperately in love with her, I thought it would be adorably sweet to hear stumble over your words when you describe her.”

Alex blushed. “I’m not in love with her.”

“You’re not fooling anybody, Alex. Just twenty minutes ago, Aunt Cecily whispered ‘it’s happening!’.”

“What’s happening?”

“My words exactly and she told me, and I quote ‘The Lightwoods and the Fairchilds are finally interbreeding’. Her words, not mine.”

Alex banged his head on the table repeatedly.

“Are we killing our neurons?”

“Ew, get out of here, Carstairs Boy.” Ella said, scrunching her face as she looked at Carstairs Boy.

“Seriously? You’re still mad at me? Ellie, I said I was sorry fifty times.”

“It doesn’t matter. Besides, are you implying that a simple apology can fix the damage you did?”

“You’re impossible.”

“Correction: I’m a free independent woman, who will stand up for herself against men who wish to contain me.”

Anna Lightwood was walking by just as Ella said that. She didn’t stop, only held her hand up for Ella to high five as she passed.

“You tell him, Ellie.” She said.

Carstairs Boy sank down in a chair, meanwhile Alex kept banging his head.

“Alex!” Ella said.

“What?” He said. He sounded mournful.

“Stop doing that! You are giving me a headache.”

That’s the bad thing about being parabatai: you feel what the other does. In Ellie’s case, the banging of a head against a table.

“What happened?” Carstairs Boy asked him.

“I do not want to talk about it.” mumbled Alex.

Ella looked over at Matty, who was kneeling beside Henry’s Bath chair, surrounded her aunts and uncles. She said something that made them all laugh. She caught Ella’s eye and waved, smiling widely. Ella blew her a kiss.

Ella couldn’t have chosen someone better than for Alex to love than Matilda Fairchild. She’s truly one of the sweetest people she had ever met. She is perfect for Alex. They compliment each other so well; whenever Alex was awkward (which was most of the time), Matilda was there to even things out. And whenever someone was trying to take advantage of her kindness, Alex was there to put them in their place.

“I approve.”

“Of what?” said Alex.

“Of your relationship with Matty.”

“Gee, thanks.”

Ella smiled. “You’re very welcome.”

“Uh oh,” said Carstairs Boy, “Dearborn alert.”

Ella looked up and saw Jonathan striding over to them.

“Quick Alex, stop moping and ask me to dance.”

“What?” he said, peeling his eyes away from Matty.

“Ugh, never mind you are so lovesick, you’re going to get us killed.”

“You can dance with me,” offered Carstairs Boy, “but you’re going to have to call me by my name.”

“Carstairs Boy.”

“My actual name.”

“Not happening.” said Ella. Apparently, stubbornness was an inherited trait.

“Ella, Would you do me the honor.” said a voice from behind.

Ella turned and was face to face with none other than Benjamin Penhallow.

This could not be happening.