DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the MI characters; I do own the plot and circumstances I place the characters in.
AN: Thank you for taking the time to read this. I spent months trying to write it.
AN: the circle never happened. Neither Jace nor Clary has angel blood. Jon doesn't have demon blood. Valentine was a good father. Jon is fourteen.
She was just eight years old. Clarissa Vale Morgenstern loved her dad with all her heart.
On January 5, eight year old Clary came running from her school to her beautiful house in the center of Idris. Her father Valentine was coming home from a Mission that lasted 18 months. Clary was a Shadow Hunter in training and very proud to be so.
When she arrived home no one came to greet her. Not her mom, not her older brother, and sadly not her father
She ran into the Fairchild manor hoping to see her Father's warm face smiling and yelling "Clare-bear!" With a slight chuckle.
The sight that greeted her was not even close to her heartfelt fantasy. Clary saw her brother Jon holding her mother as another sob racked her body.
"Clary…" Jon whispered quietly into their mother ear.
Her mother sat right up as if she was trying to hide her cries.
Clary was starting to worry. Why would her mother be crying the day her daddy came home? Why would Jon have tears trailing down his face? She took notice of the tall man in the black leather. Clary recognized the man as Robert Lightwood, Alec, Isabelle and Max's daddy. This observation brought on a whole new round of questions. Why was he here with us and not with his family? Why is he here instead of daddy? Where is daddy?
"Honey…" Jocelyn, her mother started "Come here baby, we need to talk."
Clary dropped her small, yet heavy, book bag and started walking to her mother "Mommy..." Clary whispered as Jocelyn engulfed her in a hug.
"Sweetie, I have some terrible news…" Jocelyn started off as her tear filled eyes landed on a picture.
The picture was taken one and a half years ago, a few days before Valentine had to leave. It was a wonderful picture. Jocelyn was tickling Clary and Valentine was laughing at one of Jon's joke. Robert Lightwood snapped the photo. Photos, videos, and memories would be the only things left of Valentine.
"Daddy is not coming back," Jocelyn said trying to hold back her tears, but miserable failing "Daddy died protecting shadow hunters."
Clary refused to believe what her mother told her. She scanned the room in hopes of finding some evidence that her father hid from her as a surprise. She grew more frantic as she jumped up and started to search every nook and cranny in hopes of finding her father. She soon realized her efforts were of no avail.
"No!" she screamed "He promised! He promised he'd come home! He promised!" Clary ran out of the house as quick as her small body allowed. She ran and ran until she reached her secret hide out. It wasn't very secret since Valentine knew about it. Clary started crying, but soon remembered her father's lesson: Crying shows weakness. Shadow Hunters never show weakness.
After an hour Clary realized what her mother was saying as true.
"Daddy isn't coming back…" she whispered to herself fighting the tears again
She slowly made her way back home. As Clary walked through the neighborhoods, she saw happy families hugging and laughing through the windows. She soon passed two families walking together. It was the Lightwood family and the Herondale family. Clary tried to make her self as small as possible when the passed her. She did not go unnoticed. Alec saw the small fiery red head and broke away from the group.
"Why aren't you with your Dad? Everyone came home today." Alec asked cocking his head to the right.
"My daddy isn't coming home today," Clary stated looking Alec straight in the eyes "Actually he isn't coming home at all…" Clary broke eye contact. Tears started to gather she tried to blink them away, but it was an impossible task.
"Oh…" Alec stated in shock "I'm s-sorry." He knelt down taking her hand and pulling her into his warm embrace. With this Clary finally allowed her self to cry.
For anyone passing by this might have been a strange sight, a dark haired and lanky nine year old boy comforting a small short and frizzy red headed eight year old girl. But no one walked by and for once Alec didn't care about what people thought or who saw him. As Jace Herondale's Parabati and Isabelle Lightwood's older brother he had a lot to live up to and comforting one of the least popular girls at their school was a definite no-no.
After a few minutes of crying, Clary suddenly stopped. She looked up at Alec realizing he never said a word after she started crying, he only held her and made quiet shushing sounds.
"Why are you doing this?" Clary asked as she looked up.
"Because you needed someone." Alec stated with no trace of insincerity.
Alec walked Clary home and gave her a hug and a small kiss on the cheek. He left Clary standing by her front door blushing. When Alec got to his house he realized no one had cared that he had left. Jace was flirting with Aline and Izzy, Mom and Dad were talking to the Herondales and Max was in the corner playing with his various toys.
"Hey Alec," Jace said as Alec neared the group "Where have you been?"
"No where." Alec replied quickly. He could never let his friends find out he was with Clary Morgenstern. Never. Even if he had always had a small crush on her.
When Clary opened the door she ran straight into her mothers arms. Jon's arms wrapped around her too. The broken family stayed like this all night.
Clary tugged nervously at her flowy white dress. It was her father's funeral and everyone was here. As she looked around she spotted Alec and his family. She liked Alec, as what she wasn't sure, his sister, Isabelle, was never very nice to her nor was his Parabati. Alec looked towards her and gave a small smile. She blushed and turned around.
Once the funeral started Clary and her family had to stand by the pyre. No body was placed on it since Valentine's body was destroyed by demons. Jon was holding their sobbing mother and Clary stared straight ahead
"So strong, so young." One said.
"He would be so proud" Another said.
"Jon and Clare deserve a father." A man said
Clary knew her father would be proud of her stone like demeanor, even if she was longing to curl up under her covers. It soon came time to burn the pyre, since Jocelyn was crying profusely and Jon was holding their sobbing mother Clary was handed the torch. The Torch handle had an elegant design of swirls. Around the rim were the runes that stood for family, peace, hero, friends, and honor. Clary leaned down and ignited the wood.
The fire consumed the funeral pyre. Clary finally allowed the tears to fall silently as the final prayer was said.
When the funeral was done, Clary took off running. Alec took note of the small red head and ran after her. No one would care if he left.
When Clary reached her hide out she was out of breath and sweating. She heard the sound of boots hitting the gravel. She turned around and whipped out and named her seraph blade. She faced the intruder, the blue light reflecting of her small pond.
The intruder who faced her was Alec.
Alec raced forward and held her as she sobbed. This sob was different. It wasn't the cry your eyes out fall to the floor sad sob, it was the angry why did you do this to me sob. Clary realized that she was angry at Valentine. Angry that he left her. Angry that he died. Angry that she would never have a father. She also realized that she was angry at her mother. Angry that she wasn't strong like a mom is supposed to be. Angry that all she was able to do was cry. Clary was angry at her brother for nothing being like her dad. For holding their mom and not her. She was even angry at her self. For not being strong like her father was and wanted her to be.
"Clary…" Alec whispered into her ear as he held her tighter. "Clary you can talk to me you know."
Clary straightened up some and left his arms. Alec grabbed a tissue from his pocket and wiped Clary's tears.
Clary told him all about her anger and resentment towards her family and her self (I don't know how to write those things so onward!). Alec just stayed quiet, wiping her tears as they fell.
When Clary was finished she sat down on a rock. She was exhausted; the crying really wore her out. Alec sat next to her.
"My parents forget about me…" Alec stated after five minutes. Clary was surprised when he spoke. She looked up at him with large curious, bright green orbs.
"It's always about Max and Izzy. You know how the always say that the middle child is usually forgotten? Well, they are wrong. I'm always forgotten." Alec had tears forming in his eyes.
Clary did something that surprised them both. She wrapped her thin arms around him and hugged him.
Alec did a surprising thing too. He kissed her again on the cheek.
10 years later
. Ten years ago her father died. Ten years ago she had her first kiss. Ten years ago she realized that she hated her brother and mother. Ten years ago she gained a best friend. His name was Alec. He wasn't like her friend Simon (she needed a friend so no flames about him not being a Shadow Hunter!). He was so nice to her, but when she was ten Alec moved. No more camping trips or training time together. They just packed up, said goodbye and left. The Herondale family left with them.
Clary was eighteen and finally had enough of her mother always complaining about how Clary was never as smart or well trained as Jon. She had enough of her mother getting drunk and hurting her. She had enough of hiding the bruises and the very large scars. She had enough of lying to people when the asked where she got the scar on her face from (It starts on the edge of her left eye and ends at her chin giving her a slight frown). Clary was an artist and never cared for school. Everything there reminded her of Alec, Valentine or Simon. Simon and her were great friends until Maia came along and convinced Simon that Clary was nothing more than a whore and bitch.
When Clary was fifteen she started to sell her paintings so that when she was eighteen she could leave her family and be able to support herself. Soon many young artist and visionaries knew her art. She used the name her middle name and a shorten version of her last name. All through the art world Clary was known as Vale Morgen.
On Clary's eighteenth birthday she left Idris. With four suitcases, three boxes and many canvases, she went through a portal. Clary landed in her one bedroom, one bath apartment that she purchased in New York. Clary took the phone number of the institute out of her pocket. She was still indecisive about calling the number. She heard rumors that the Lightwoods ran this institute, but they were only rumors so she dispelled the thought from her mind and she dialed the number.
It was picked up on the third ring.
"Hello?" a very feminine voice answered.
"Hi this is Vale Morgen. Is this Marsye?" Clary replied barely remembering to use her fake name. If the Lightwoods and Herondales were here she did not want to have them remember her.
"No!" the girl said obviously annoyed "This is the beautiful Isabelle Lightwood and Mom said you would call. She said to come tomorrow at noon. Bye" Isabelle ended the phone call without giving Clary the time to respond.
The Lightwoods did live here. Damn. Clary decided to just go to bed and hope everything turned out alright.
Clary woke up at nine o' clock. She got up ate breakfast, took a shower, blow dried and straightened her hair. By then it was almost eleven. She looked at herself in the mirror for any trace of the ten year old she used to be. She did not see the ten year old who was always full of joy. She did not see the wild fiery mane with acidic green eyes that used to be there. She did not see any traces of that pale girl. Instead she saw a lean woman with edgy dark red hair with black ends. The paleness was replaced with an even tan due to hours in the relentless sun training. The joy was replaced with anger and resentment. Her once bright eyes were a mellow green now. As she stared at the mirror she felt her scar looked even more prominent than before. Clary turned away from the mirror and sighed. She got dressed in black skinny jeans, a white long sleeve v-neck, combat boots and a warm and cozy leather jacket. She headed out of her apartment and headed to the institute.
She was met by a stern looking woman with her ink black hair tied in a tight bun. "Hello Vale, I'm sorry I was unable to talk to you yesterday, Clave business" Maryse said, not realizing who she was.
"It's fine." Clary answered non-chalantly "I don't believe I would have been very pleasant yesterday."
Maryse answered with a curt nod. Clary stifled a laugh. If only Maryse knew that the girl behind her was Clary.
"I'll take you to meet my children. You will also meet Jace Herondale." Marsye said in a very uninterested and business like tone.
All Clary could do was nod. She was going to see Alec again, though she doubted he would remember her. After all she was only ten when he left, now she was eighteen. She wasn't very excited about seeing Jace or Isabelle. They were never very nice to her, but it didn't matter now. All too soon, Maryse opened the door and revealed four teenagers.
The minute Clary stepped into the room four sets of eyes were on her. She looks around the room refusing to be intimidated by them. She first sees a tall blonde man; he was muscular and dressed in jeans and a white shirt. Jace. Jace's fingers were intertwined with a tall thin asian looking man. The tall man had black hair covered in highlights and glitter. He was dressed outlandishly and Clary figured he was a warlock. The next person was a beautiful girl with curves in all the right places. She had raven black hair and black eyes. Isabelle. And finally her eyes fell upon a tall guy with black hair that covered half his dark blue eyes. He was wiry and tall. He was wearing black kind of skinny jeans and a maroon v-neck. His eyes met hers.
Alec!
She looked at Maryse, wondering what to do.
"Vale this is Jace," Maryse said as Jace stood up and shook her hand "The man next to him is Magnus Bane, high warlock of Brooklyn, and Jace's boyfriend," Magnus stood up and did an elegant bow. "This is Isabelle you two spoke over the phone." Isabelle looked her over and nodded in approval. "And this is Alec." Alec stood up and walked towards her. He said a faint 'hello' shook her hand and went to stand with his friends again.
Clary was in shock, but she kept herself composed. Who would have thought that Jace was gay? And that her childhood friend could be so hot? Each of them looked her in the eye, but none recognized her.
All of a sudden a little boy came in. He must have been ten at the most. He had owl eye glasses and was reading Umbrella Academy. Clary remembered reading that herself. The little boy looked up at her.
"Do I know you?" The little boy asked as his glasses slid down his nose.
"I don't think so. My name is Vale." Clary answered quickly hoping no one would realize who she is.
"Oh Ok," The little boy said unconvinced.
"Vale, this is Max," Alec said as he put a hand in Max's shoulder. Clary realized how short she was compared to him. She was only 5'1 tall and he looked to be 6'3.
"Max put that wasteful piece of junk down!" Maryse reprimanded at Max "No respectable Shadow Hunter reads that junk!" Clary did. Was she respectable? No, she had been told repeatable that she was shameful.
"Mrs. Lightwood, let him be child. Don't let him constantly think that he isn't respectable." Clary said knowing that the minute the words came out of her mouth there would be a fight.
"I am his Mother! I know what is right and wrong for him!" Marsye yelled, "And reading those unspeakable books is very wrong!"
Clary looked up and saw Alec smiling at her. Maybe she did a good thing.
"Maryse," Alec started "Vale's right. Max can only be a child so long. Let him read them. What harm could it do?"
(Alec's pov kind of)
Alec looked up to see a small girl walk in. She was beautiful even with the scar. She looked unnervingly familiar. A memory of his childhood in Idris tugged at the corners of his mind. He quickly pushed it away. Thinking of Idris made Alec think of her. The girl he left, but never stopped loving. (I'm skipping his view of introductions so on to Max)
Max walked in reading his newest manga. Max look up at saw Vale.
"Do I know you?" Max asked.
"I don't think so. My name is Vale." Vale answered a little too quickly Alec thought. She's hiding something. Alec rose from his seat and placed a hand on Max's shoulder
"Vale, this is Max". As he gazed upon Vale he noticed how short she was. Just like her…
He then heard his mother reprimand Max and Vale stick up for Max. Alec knew he had to step in or it would turn into a fight.
"Maryse," Alec started knowing it would get her attention, "Vale's right. Max can only be a child so long. Let him read them. What harm could it do?" Vale looked up at him. She mouthed a small thank you.
Vale, Alec mused, reminded him so much of her. It was unnerving. Vale looked absolutely nothing like Clary… well at least the Clary he remembered. Alec often imagined what an older more mature Clary might look like. He figured that she would still have bright red hair; maybe it would be tamed into soft curls by then. She would probably be taller and have her childish bright green eyes he loved so much. Alec then looked over at Vale. Vale had dark red hair with black tips almost as if it was singed off, but he knew it was dye. Her hair was stick straight, something he knew could only be attained by a straightener. Her eyes looked mellow and dull, like she was in constant pain. Alec saw that she was covered in fine scars. Not demon hunting scars, but another type, ones that could only be caused by a human. He once again looked up at her face. His eyes immediately went to the scar on the left side of her face. It gently tugged at the side of her mouth pulling it down into a type of grimace.
(Normalish pov)
"Well then!" Maryse exclaimed "Your father and I will be gone the rest of the week. Ta-Ta, Children" And with that Maryse turned and stalked out of the room.
For five minutes no one spoke. Max was to busy reading, Alec was staring at Vale trying to figure out why she reminded him so much of Clary, Isabelle was thinking about what to make for dinner, Jace was hoping Izzy would not cook, Magnus was thinking about Vale's sense of style, and Clary was wondering how long it would take for Alec to realize it was her.
Finally Isabelle broke the silence "What does everyone want for dinner?"
"Izzy, when are you just going to stop trying?" Jace groaned.
With that Jace stood and suggested Taki's and walked out with Magnus trailing behind. Isabelle walked out in a huff exclaiming that she would be down in 10 minutes. Alec walked over to Max and convinced him to come. Clary feeling slightly out of placed walked out of the room and towards the stairs. Clary walked out of the institute and onto the cold and unfamiliar New York streets.
