Nothing had ever scared her before like this; she had fought demons; she had watched her own love die; she had killed Valintine. But never before had any of those things scared her like this.

It was a plus.

Clary sank slowly down the bathroom floor, her eyes glued to the devilish little plus. Heart hammering, she noticed that she had broken out in a cold sweat, but it mattered very little. Her mind was on other things, other ideas, other possiblitites. Perhaps, she thought, she could just get rid of it. They made pills these days…surgry wasn't even mandatory. Or perhaps…but she knew it was not an option. Killing was not an option; too many had died already.

Slowly, she placed the plastic stick on the counter, her mind immeadetly jumping to Jace. She would have to tell him, of course…but the thought brought a new fear to her, twisting uncomfortably in her chest. What would he think? It was Jace, the fact that he was even dating her was out of his character enough…but this…this could be too much.

She shoved the thought away. Perhaps, if it was too much, he should have thought of that before; she should have thought about that before. We both did this, she reminded herself. It wasn't only her fault. But the fear gripped in her chest was still there, still strong, as though it would never go away.

"Clary?"

She looked up towards the door at the voice. It was Alec, of course. She remembered him saying he wanted to take a shower. Sighing, she shoved, or attempted to shove, the overwhelming feelings inside her away. "Just a minuet," she called, hoping that her voice sounded normal. Getting up, she carefully picked up the box, shoving it down into the bottom of the trashcan with the plastic stick inside. No one would find it there, she reasoned. After all, how many people dug through the trash?

She walked to the door and opened it.

"Thanks, Clary! I was starting to think I wouldn't have time for a shower before Magus came…" Alec stared down at her, his eyebrows coming together. "Clary…are you alright? You look a little pale."

"I'm fine," she answered, brushing past him. "Have fun on your date."

Alec smiled, immediately brightening again. Really, he was so happy these days. "Thanks! I will. Magnus was going to take me to a really nice restaurant where-"

But Clary wasn't listening. Instead, she continued down the hall, walking to her own room, where, after she carefully shut the door, she gingerly laid down on her bed. Her mind was buzzing with so many thoughts behind a numb cover of disbelief. She needed to close her eyes and just rest….

She woke to a darker room and a blanket over her. Stretching, she sat up. Jace was there, sitting in a plush chair, reading by the small amount of light the window offered; it was almost dark.

"Feel better, sleepyhead?" He asked without looking up, a slight smile on his lips.

She didn't smile-her heart was beating so fast at the sight of him- but she nodded slightly. "Sure."

He looked up. Even from here his golden eyes stood out to her, so beautiful. Would it have his eyes? She wondered, suddenly envisioning a small version of Jace hanging of a tree, looking at her with those eyes as she worried that he would fall…

"Yes, I feel better." She said. "What time is it?"

"About seven," he answered, still looking at her. "Iz cooked tonight…good cover…I should try it sometime. You missed Cauliflower Broccoli Casserole-even Simon only ate one serving." His nose crinkled up at the memory of the meal.

"Hmmm" She was kinda hungry…perhaps there was something leftover in the kitchen that wasn't an Isabelle creation.

"Are you alright?" Jace suddently asked. Clarly turned to find him looking at her, his golden eyes concerned. "You seem off…distracted or something."

"I'm fine." She answered quickly, dismissing the feeling of telling a lie. After all, she was fine wasn't she? Being pregnant wasn't life-threating anymore.

Jace stood up, coming over to sit on the bed beside her. Clary resisted the urge to turn away from him or run her fingers over her stomach to make sure there wasn't a lump.

"Clary," he said, cupping her face with his hand. His eyes were staring straight at her, making her want to lean into him and just forget everything. "You know you can tell me anything, right?"

She nodded.

"Whatever is bothering you, I'll help any way I can, ok? I mean, I'd rather you tell me, even if you think I might rather not know. That's what we need, Honesty, because I trust you, Clary, and I want to know you trust me too."

She looked back at him. She did trust him, that wasn't the issue after everything they had gone through. She just…she was scared. There was no other way to put it. She couldn't say the words right now…even the thought of saying the words made the twisting discomfort come back in her chest. Somehow, just saying it would make it true. And she couldn't…not yet….

"I know, Jace." She answered, looking up at him and attempting a feeble smile. She saw his own lips offer a small smile too, but he saw past her mask. His eyes told her so, but he wasn't going to push her. Not tonight. Instead, he leaned forward, his lips brushing hers. She leaned into him, just her lips though, keeping her body arched back, and deepened the kiss, her heart both releasing some fear and tightening again. She wanted more, like always, and a part of her wanted to throw away her fears and fall into him again. Her hands came up to his hair, so soft between her fingers, and she started to open her mouth. There was already something inside her so surely it didn't matter if she would just…

She pulled away from him, afraid again of the thought of her own body. Jace's face fell just a bit, but he quickly put his mask back on. Still, she felt a twinge of guilt.

"I'm kinda hungry." She said, as an excuse.

He nodded. "And to think, someone would actually choose food over my good looks…when you have me all alone up here." He teased, flashing a grin, but Clary couldn't find it in herself to laugh and Jace dropped his façade as they hurried down to the kitchen.

The next morning, Clary woke with a nauseous feeling. Cautiously, she sat up, heading for the bathroom. This, she thought, is proof, if anything. At least Jace had slept in his own room last night- she told him she was afraid she was getting sick, and that even though he was willing to risk it, she was not.

This morning, she really was sick.

She met Jace in the kitchen, after she had felt better and cleaned up and even felt her stomach and finding, to her horror, a small bump. She had decided to put on a looser shirt that morning.

Jace came up behind her as she poured her normal bowel of cereal, starting to slide his arms around her waist. She pulled his hands away, her heart beating quickly the closer his hands got, and turned, finding a slightly confused look in his eyes.

"How are you this morning?" she asked, attempting a cheerful tone and standing up on her tiptoes to give him a quick kiss (but making sure her stomach didn't touch).

"Alright," he answered. He reached around her and grabbed a bowl. "Feel better?"

She nodded. "Actually, I was wanting to talk to you today."

Immediately, he looked at her. There must have been something in her voice that said important…inwardly she chided herself on the mistake. Jace was full attention.

"About what?" he asked cautiously.

"Just something." She answered, not knowing what else to say. He looked at her, a question in his eyes.

"Can we talk now?"

She looked around. Would it be alright to talk now? In the kitchen? It was later then normal…perhaps no one would overhear…and, she reasoned, even if they did, they would find out eventually.

"Um…sure." She answered. She was suddently nervous. She looked up at Jace, his face only curious and somewhat nervous. But for some reason, his full attention for her and the care visiable from his face made her feel a bit braver. "Jace…"

He waited. "I haven't…done anything wrong have I?"

She snorted. "No…well, nothing worse then what I've done."

He raised an eyebrow. Clary, took a deep breath. Perhaps it was easier just to plunge in, like ripping off a band-aid all at once or putting a sword straight through a demon's heart.

"Jace, I'm pregnant."

The world stopped as she said it. For a moment, neither one of them moved, neither one of them breathed. He just stared at her, his eyes growing wider, his chest still.

"Are you…are you…sure?" he sputtered, sucking in a deep breath. His eyes were still wide.

She nodded, slowly.

Jace took a large breath in, letting it out slowly. "Your…pregnant…like…a baby."

"Yes." She wasn't sure if he was going to suddenly crack. His odd stunned expression was throwing her off.

"Wow…" his eyes dropped to her stomach and for a moment, she was disappointed in her decision to wear a lose shirt, but it didn't matter. Suddenly, Jace was kissing her, pulling her to him in a more passionate and delicate way then ever before. She kissed him back, deeply, not afraid to let her body touch his anymore, wanting her body to touch his, for him to feel the small bulge through her shirt. He broke away, resting his forehead on hers. "We're going to have a baby." The way he said it, as though there was nothing else in the world, made her for the first time, not afraid. She felt herself smiling, a small giggle escaping her lips. Jace pulled her to him again. "Oh Clary, we're going to have a baby. A real, live, baby…Oh by Angel." She leaned into him, finding the comfort she had been craving since the day before.

"I'm so scared, Jace." She admitted, her voice small in his ear. She hadn't meant to say it, but the words came out as though she had no control. But it didn't matter. Jace just hugged her a little bit tighter at her words and let her go, his hand trailing down her side. She didn't stop him as his fingers slid under her shirt and found the slight bulge. Somehow, the touch calmed her, as his fingers explored the part of her body that was just as foreign to him as it was to her.

"I am too," he admitted, softly. "But we'll be ok, we always are."

She smiled, resting her head into his shoulder, feeling one of his arms around her and the other on the bulge, their baby. Perhaps, she thought, they would be alright.

And then the door opened and Magnus's cheerful voice rang out. "Well, if anything, we can't say that the byproduct won't be an interesting little thing can't we? And I suppose I won't even get nominated for Godfather?"