Screaming. That's all Jace could hear filling the halls of the institute like water fills a glass. It bounced off every wall, reached into every corner, broke every bit of his heart.

Clary was in the infirmary with Isabelle , Magnus and Maryse and had been for that past four hours. Jace sat outside, his back against the wall, arms resting on the tops of his knees. His mind was still burning from the energy rune him and Alec had both given each other before setting out hunting for demons and the 19 year old blond was becoming more and more restless by the minute.

It was one thing for Clary to be in such pain but knowing that he helped cause it, and knowing there was nothing he could do, no amount of words or comfort that could calm her down and make it all go away. Isabelle had called him the second Clary was taken into the infirmary and told him to get back as soon as he could. It was time.

Jace had left then, ignoring the calls from his parabatai and ran, he ran so far through the dank and murky alley way in New York, wanting nothing more than to hold his tiny red head and tell her everything was going to be okay.

When he'd finally reached the institute Simon had been by the gates, being a vampire it was impossible for him to enter the holy building but it didn't stop him being there like the good friend he was. After the defeat of Jonathon, Jace and Simon had finally found some common ground, the fact he was dating his adoptive sister was just the catalyst to help their mutual acquaintance.

Simon, with his pale skin and dark hair looked just as dishevelled as Jace had felt he did. His clothes looked like they'd seen better days and he looked tired. Whether a vampire could actually look tired was not the top of Jace's priority at that moment, he had to get to Clary and fast.

Running through the institute was strange, all the walls looked the same and every hallway seemed to look like the last, but finally he had made it. Turning the corner to the infirmary he saw someone exit the room Clary was currently in. A girl around his age with long black hair pulled into a pony tail and wearing all black clothing, her pale skin adorned by the permanent runes that covered her bare arms and chest.

He had stopped him from entering, stopped him seeing Clary claiming he didn't make it in time and she couldn't cope with anyone else at the moment. He protested obviously but that wasn't enough to get him past Isabelle. She had her whip handy and taken him to the floor before he even had the chance to fight back.

The door was locked now; no doubt the work of Magnus Bane, the high warlock of Brooklyn and Alec's boyfriend, stopping him getting to his angel. His small red headed angel. The angel that had brought him back to the light when the world seemed so dark. Granted the way she'd chosen to do it wasn't ideal and led to a lot of complications, but that didn't matter to him. What mattered what that when he needed her she was there, unlike now.

He continued to listen to her screaming in agony for what felt like hours. Was it hours? Was it days? Jace had no idea. He just sat on the floor and waited.

Finally the institute fell silent. Jace heard the sound of the door unlocking and was on his feet and through the door before anyone could protest, not that that mattered now of course. He walked across the room, down the aisle between the rows of white infirmary beds straight to the one at the end. His heart beat was thumping in his ears, blocking out all sound and a lot of common sense from reaching his conscious mind.

Stopping at the last bed on the left Jace's breath caught in his throat. Lying on the bed sheets, propped up by what looked like a mountain of pillows was a red headed angel. His red headed angel. Her hair was tied in a loose bun but a lot of the bright red ringlet's had escaped and was currently plastered to her forehead and neck by sweat. Her white gown seemed to also be stuck to her body like a second skin by sweat, but Jace wasn't looking or caring about that. He stared at her with a large smile on his face, his angel. Her small frame only just reached past the halfway point on the bed and her normally pale skin covered by the black runes of the shadowhunters was pinked in places whether from heat or exhaustion he didn't know. He didn't care.

He stared at her face, her tired yet still beautiful face. Her cheeks where rosy and her emerald eyes were shining with unshed tears as she gazed down into her arms. Jace followed the sight, looking down her pale arms also adorned by rune or the thin white scars indicating past runes at the bundle held in his angel's arms.

A sound choked its way out of Jace's throat causing Clary's eyes to rest on him. It was a strange sound, halfway between a sob and laugh making Jace bite down on his knuckles to stop it escaping again. Her sweet, innocent smile grew when her eyes landed on him, her eyes filled with excitement and pure happiness.

Jace walked forward and sat on the edge of the bed next to his Clary. She wasted no time in passing the bundle of blankets to him and giggling slightly at how cautious his face was, pulled into an expression of concentration. Almost like someone who was being given a doll made of paper thin glass and was terrified of dropping of damaging it in any way.

"Jace. Meet Ashley" Isabelles voice was soft and maternal as she stood over Jace's shoulder, craning her neck to get her own glimpse of the newborn. "Ashley. Meet papa" Jace scoffed slightly.

"Papa?" he said not taking his eyes off the child but sarcasm still evident in his voice "I'm not a granddad dad Iz, honestly. Try again" Not even the birth of his first child was enough to knock the arrogance out of Jace's voice.

"Fine." She said huffing. "Meet daddy" Jace smiled, cradling the baby boy like he was the most delicate thing on the earth.

"Ash. The best shadowhunter to of walked this earth since Jonathon Shadowhunter himself!" Jace exclaimed gaining a giggle from the infirmary bed. He looked at Clary to see her eyes shut, her head resting against the head board.

"I swear if you take him to the weapons room with you, I will be forced to kill you" She said, her voice sounding exhausted.

"Don't doubt you would" Jace said, his smile growing "But what you can't watch him all the time" he said with a wink. This achieved him getting a slap from two people on each arm. "OW! Sleeping infant here!" he proclaimed in a fake whispering voice. Clary giggled again and went back to resting her head on the head board. Jace stood, baby Ashley still in his arms before leaning over and giving Clary a kiss on the forehead "Thank you" he whispered in her ear, gaining him a small smile.

Hearing a small grunt he looked down. Ashley's eyes were open, gazing up at him with an emotion that could on be described as fascination. His eyes were large and as gold and syrup, his hair, an already thick mass of golden curls. The same colour as his father's but same style as his other. Jace wiggled his finger in front of the baby's nose, laughing silently to himself when Ashley grabbed it with his tiny hands.

"Ashley Herondale" Jace said, his voice quiet, speaking only to the child "Demons won't know what hit them"