Welcome back!

Okay, so this was just a spur-of-the-moment type thing, and I really love this other Taylor Swift song that basically tells a whole story. And who is better suited for those rolls than Jace and Clary?

I don't own anything. . .not even the plot.

Enjoy :)))

My jaw dropped the first time I saw him.

I was sitting in one of those dinky little diners in my hometown, and I pretty much already knew everyone here.

So as you can imagine, he stuck out.

Anyone that looked like him would; golden hair and skin, even his eyes were golden, which I didn't even think was possible. He was one of those people that no one ever really expected to be real, the kind that only existed in those books.

In fact, I was pretty sure I was hallucinating until he came over and took my order.

"Hey, I'm Jace," he said, flashing me a grin that almost knocked me out of my seat. "What can I get you?"

I was pretty sure that I looked like a shocked blow fish, so all I could stutter out was, "a coke."

He smirked, one corner of his mouth pulling up as he wrote something down on a pad of paper.

Once he was gone, all I could do was sigh and slump down in my seat, cursing myself for acting like such an idiot.

Attractive people usually didn't have that big of an effect on me. I mean, I appreciated their. . .er. . .looks and whatnot, but beyond that, a little display like the one that I had just had was very rare for me.

I didn't really believe in love. Love was something that existed in Disney movies, for people who were worthy of happy endings.

Not for people like me.

I suppose that I owed all that to my parents, who had made my childhood as terrible as it could be. They had fought constantly, and I was sure that getting a divorce would be a pretty decent solution, but in the end, it just made things harder. You couldn't be around one of them without listening to the other complain about each other.

It was exhausting.

After I had eaten and then stared at Jace some more, I decided that it was finally time to leave.

But I didn't get out without someone grabbing onto my arm.

"Hey," he said, his eyes burning into my own. "I was just wondering, and this is going to sound pretty weird, but can I see you again?"

For a second all I could do was blink.

But then, some very small, detached part of my mind nodded a 'yes.'

"Great," he said, flashing me one of his grins again. "Here's my number. . ."

After we exchanged information and I was walking off, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret.

I shouldn't be so careless. I mean, agreeing to meet up with Jace wasn't exactly dangerous per say, but who knew where it was going to take me? Appreciating him was one thing, but if we did actually go out, what happened when it didn't work and we had to break up?

I decided right then and there that I hated that word.

And Jace and I. . .well, we could be friends.

What's wrong with friends?

. . .

"It's nice out here, isn't it?" Jace said, stretching his arms over his head as the sea breeze ruffled his golden hair.

I nodded, pulling my knees up to my chest. It really was one of those perfect days; the waves were crashing on the beach, the gulls were squawking up above us, the sun was warm on our faces as it set over the sea.

"So, what do you do?"

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

Jace leaned back on his elbows, giving me a look. "You know, for work," He said, the corners of his mouth pulling up. "You already know that I work at that crappy diner, so I think it's only fair that I should get to know what you do too."

I shrugged. "I work at the library."

His eyebrows shot up to his hairline. "Oh, we've got ourselves a bookworm!"

"Not really, I mean, I do read often, but I really love painting."

"You're just full of surprises," Jace said, and then before I knew what he was doing, he was throwing his arm around me, loosely draped over my shoulders as he tugged me into his side. "Aren't you?"

"I mean," I said, leaning into him a little. "I work at the library, Jace. And I paint. There's nothing really exciting about that."

"Of course there is!" He said, throwing his hands up in the hair. "Many a wise man who has worked at a library. . ."

. . .

"Jace," I groaned as I shifted the weight of the box in my arms. "This is way too heavy."

"I've got it," he said, leaning down and relieving me of what felt like massive weight. His hair was sticking up in odd directions because of the humidity, and his black T-shirt clung to his stomach muscles.

I followed him inside as he sat it down, collapsing on the couch. "Well, that should be the last of it," he said as he frowned, leaning forwards and snatching up a picture frame before I could stop him. "What's this?"

My stomach dropped to the floor. I knew that I should have tucked that away better. "Nothing," I said, trying to reach over and grab it from him. "Can I have it back, please?"

Jace ignored me. "So these are your parents," he said. "Your mom looks like you."

"Yes, that's nice. Please just give it back." I nearly demanded, but Jace wasn't so quick to give up on his new discovery.

"I have to admit, I thought I was never going to get to see them, I mean, clearly this isn't the same in picture form, but it's not too far off, am I right?"

"Your not going to meet them," I mumbled, taking the picture back as I stuffed it into a box. "So dream all you like."

"What's wrong, Fray?" Jace said, spinning me around. His golden eyes bore into my green ones. "Are they not around anymore or something?"

"It's really not-"

"It matters, Clary." He insisted. "Your upset, it's all over your face. Did-"

"They got divorced," I spat out. "When I was a kid. The minute I turned eighteen, I left them both as soon as I could. I didn't want to be near either one of them any longer than I had to."

Jace blinked, and for a second I was sure that he was going to walk out, because honestly, what kind of person don't want to see their parents after they move out? What kind of person was I?

"I wish you had told me," he said softly, his voice taking that tone that he reserved only for me; becoming soft and raw. "You didn't have to keep this to yourself."

I shook my head. "You wouldn't have understood," I whispered. "I still don't understand it."

Jace was quiet for a moment, and I was afraid to look up and see his expression. "Sometimes, people just fall out of love, you know? That's all there is to it." When his eyes met mine, they were soft. "But I promise that we won't make those mistakes again, okay?"

I nodded, feeling a smile creep up onto my own face. "Okay."

. . .

It was one of those days that you didn't just forget easily.

Right from the beginning, I had loved the weather, and when Jace suggested that we go out on a boat ride, I agreed with him.

We took a little row boat, the kind that they always used in old movies, and paddled out to the middle of the lake before stopping to look around.

"This is nice," I said, tilting my head back so that I could feel the warmth of the sunlight on my face. "Don't you think so?"

Jace nodded. "Yeah, it really is."

There was a silence that fell over us, but not uncomfortable. I had never been uncomfortable around Jace once I had truly gotten to know him. He was the type of person who was willing to listen. His gold eyes would fix on me as I started to talk, and they rarely left.

For my whole life, I had longed for someone who would listen, really listen. Neither of my parents had, they were too busy screaming at each other for me to get a word in.

The look in Jace's eyes was far away today. He seemed to be thinking about something else, something important.

"Jace?" I asked, feeling my eyebrows furrow. "Are you okay?"

He shook his head a little. "I'm fine." Suddenly, he pointed behind me. "What's that?"

I turned.

All that was behind me was the shoreline, and I craned my neck. "I don't see anything," I started as I turned back around.

My jaw dropped as I looked first into Jace's eyes and then at the small ring box that he was holding in his hand.

His smile was devious.

"So, will you?"

I opened my mouth and closed it again before my brain started working again and I nodded, throwing my arms around his neck. "Yes!"

Jace chuckled, slipping the ring onto my finger.

. . .

Lately, it just seemed to be getting later and later.

It was two thirty in the morning, and I couldn't sleep, the worry was so intense.

Because no one got out of work this late.

Not unless there was something else going on.

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, because I didn't want it to be true. Oh, how badly I wanted to be wrong. But when you looked like Jace, something like this was always bound to happen.

But still, it couldn't be true.

I was interrupted when I heard the front door open, and I dropped a dish in the sink.

It clanged against the metal, and I winced at the sound.

The sound of Jace's feet on the floor entered the kitchen, and I swallowed.

He dropped his coat on the counter.

"What are you still doing up?" He asked. He kept his tone light, but I could hear the warning brewing beneath it.

I lifted a shoulder. "Waiting for you."

Jace snorted. "What are you, my police?"

I gritted my teeth. "When your fiancee gets home from 'work,' at two thirty in the morning, wouldn't you be a little concerned?" I demanded as I turned around.

Jace's gaze was unwavering, his eyes hardening. "What are you suggesting, Clary?"

My hands fisted. "Do I really need to spell it out for you?"

"I can't believe you sometimes, you know?" Jace bit out suddenly, his voice frigid. "I come home late, and here you are, waiting with a whole bunch of accusations. Give me a break."

"I'm not going to stay with someone who comes in late and won't even tell me where they've been," I said, my voice rising.

Jace shook his head, and when he spoke, his voice was even louder than mine "Just because I'm out late doesn't mean that I was doing anything."

"It doesn't suggest anything good!" I spat back.

"You don't trust me!"

My mouth tightened. "I want you out."

I expected Jace to shake his head and walk away, but he did nothing of the sort.

"We're not your parents!" Jace roared. "Stop pretending like I'm the bad guy and your the poor, innocent victim. Life isn't some fairytale, Clary. Grow up for a change and realize that the way we live is not some stupid story!"

I shook my head, my pulse racing with anger and tears threatening to brim.

I pushed past him, not wanting Jace to see me as the tears raced down my cheeks.

The screen door slammed shut behind me as I ran out across the front yard, and I looked back only once.

This was going to be it. It always ended like this; some declaration of anger that lead to no speaking at all, followed by a silent agreement; it was time for this to come to an end.

Surely Jace and I would be better off on our own. He could stay out as late as he liked and I could read and paint, dreaming up places that were a lot better than the one I lived in.

I wanted to get out of here, as far away as I possibly could. But I only got to the car, suddenly exhausted as I dropped my hand on the hood, the tears finally brimming over. It would be alright. I would be alright. There had been a time before Jace and there would be a time after. Maybe I was better off alone.

But no matter how hard I tried, my breath wouldn't slow down, I hadn't even heard him coming until his fingers were gently wrapped around my arm.

"Stop," I mumbled, trying to pull myself away.

"Come on, Clary." Jace said, and I turned to look at him.

I knew I was a mess, my eyes red and puffy, but Jace didn't seem to care as he took my face and held it between his hands as I cried.

He's going to let me down easy, I thought, and broke into a fresh wave of tears.

"Clary," he said softly, "I'll never leave you alone."

I looked into his eyes, and they were sincere.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and we rocked back and forth as he stroked my hair, not saying a word.

When I finally started to shiver, he kissed the top of my head. "Come on, you need to get inside; you're exhausted."

And I was. So I followed him back into the house, and Jace kept our hands linked the whole way.

. . .

So much has happened since that day in the diner all of those years ago.

But, despite everything that has changed, Jace and I haven't.

Okay, so we might have added a few kids to the mix, but other than that, life as we knew it has carried on.

He still put his arm around my shoulders when we went to the beach, burying his nose in my hair against the salty air as the sun set over the water.

It was one of those things that was just too perfect to forget, and so I kept it stored in my memory to look back on whenever I wanted.

I know it's not anywhere near over yet. We still have so much-

"Hello?"

I blinked, suddenly shocked back into reality.

I was, in fact, not sitting on a beach somewhere. No, I was still in that same diner, and Jace was standing in front of me, a worried expression in his gaze.

"Are you okay there?" He asked. "It's almost closing time."

"Oh, shoot," I mumbled, throwing my bag over my shoulder. "I'm really sorry about that, sometimes I get sidetracked and loose track of time."

Jace shrugged. "It's all good, I actually just wanted to ask you if you wanted to go out sometime."

At that moment, I was pretty sure my ears were deceiving me.

"What?"

The tips of his ears pinkened. "I was just wondering, but if you don't want to, then that's okay-"

"No!" I said, then realized how quickly it had come out, and my face flushed bright red. "No, I-I'd love that."

And he sent me that grin, that crooked grin with the chipped front tooth, and I was happy the dream had ended.

Because I could see it. I could see it all.

Not the most original thing that I could have come up with, but I started this a little while ago and just worked up the nerve to finish it.

Anyways, I hope you guys all liked it, I was on a Taylor Swift kick when I started this, and so it's kind of eh, but it was fun to write!

Happy Tuesday!