Hey everyooonne! I don't feel like blabbing on about "my first Mortal Instruments fanfic I've posted", so instead, I will give you all a word of advice; never stick your fingers in a lawn mower. Thank you.

I don't own any of the characters or places or anything like that. Obviously. ^.^

oOo

Clary Fray was in a taxi on the way back to her new dad's, Luke's, house, when her phone buzzed. Shaking water out of her hair—it was raining outside—she fished it out of her bag. A message from her mother, who finally learned how to text. Clary scanned her eyes over it and frowned.

Her mother, Jocelyn, and Luke had just got married and were currently in Idris, finishing up their honeymoon/business trip. Jocelyn claimed they were coming back tomorrow morning, and she was welcome to go to sleep back at her own home instead of Simons; they'd arrive before she woke up. But the text stated that their trip back had been delayed due to something-or-other. Clary hated politics.

With a sigh, she texted a quick 'okay' back and flicked her phone shut.

Lately, things have been crazy-busy with her. Since the Mortal War was over, Clary had been put in training. Adult Clave members—some she knew, some she didn't—came thrice a week to train her. They worked on more strenuous, important things such as rune endurance and battle instruction. But for lesser things like hand-in-hand combat, singular skills, and basic knowledge, Clary was usually allowed to have Isabelle or Jace train her. Of course, she wouldn't consider any time she spent with Jace "training". Most of the time it involved making out, actually. Maybe that's why Isabelle insisted at being every training session…

Clary had second thoughts as the grisly driver pulled up to the sidewalk in front of Luke' bookstore. Quickly, as not to aggravate the cab driver too much, she reopened here phone and pressed speed dial 2. For a second the other end rang, and then it was picked up.

"Yellow?" The voice was garbled through the static cast by the rain.

"Simon,"

Simon seemed only a tiny bit surprised. "Clary? Is everything okay?"

Clary saw from the rearview-mirror the driver glance back with an annoyed face. She ignored him. "Mom just texted and said her and Luke were delayed. You mind if I stay another night or two at your place?"

"Of course! But…" for a second Simon's voice was cut off by static. "…stay at the Institute?"

She sighed. "I told you, that's one of Mom's rules. No over nights without her supervision."

Simon laughed. "She still doesn't trust Jace? Oh well. Yeah, you can stay."

"Kay. See you in a few." Clary hung up and shoved the phone back in her bag.

The cab driver turned around in his seat, near-fuming. "So what is it, girl? In or out?"

"Take me back to where I came from."

He grunted and jammed the stick shift back into 'drive'.

Ever since the secret about Shadowhunters had been revealed, Jocelyn had changed. She became more lenient on hours spent alone, but even that had a cost. There were rules Clary had to follow: no overnights at the Institute unless Jocelyn was there; always have at least two experienced Shadowhunter with you when hunting; and no hunting at all until further notice. Jace, of course, was fine with the last rule. He was very sheltering almost to the point of over-protectiveness. But aside from that, he was more than Clary could ever hope for.

A while passed and the cab rolled to a stop in front of Simon's small house that he shared with his mother.

"Nineteen-eighty." Said the cab driver, eyebrows scrunched into a thick line.

Clary handed him a twenty, got the change, and was just about to exit when the car door abruptly opened for her. Someone slid in, gave the cab driver different directions, and turned to Clary. His curled blond hair and muscular body was impossible to mistake.

"What are you doing here?" Clary asked, her eyes subconsciously following the dark shape of Simon's house as it melted into the shadows behind him.

"Change of plans." Jace squinted out the window. "You're coming back to the Institute with me."

"What? What about Simon?"

"What about him?" The corner of his mouth twitched into the usual sarcastic grin.

"I'm not allowed to stay at the Institute."

"Maryse contacted Jocelyn."

"Why all the hassle?" Clary opened her phone and sent a quick cancellation text off to Simon. "Simon's fine with me staying with him."

Sadly enough, his friends and family still didn't know he was a vampire.

"You don't like the idea of staying with me?" Tawny eyes sparkled with amusement. "Afraid I'll sneak into your room in the middle of the night and do something naughty?" Jace put his finger to his lips and waggled his eyebrows.

Clary laughed. "Probably."

The cab pulled up a little ways away from the dilapidated church, the driver frowning. Glamours hid the real fortress from the eyes of mundanes. Clary gathered her stuff in her arms and Jace opened the door for her.

Since the past two weeks Clary had been staying at Simons' house, he had borrow his mom's car to drive her to the Institute almost every day a week. He claimed he didn't mind, but Clary knew that any time he spent driving her back and forth meant less time he could be spending with his girlfriend, Mia. Thankfully, Simon was gradually getting over the feelings he had for Clary. Of course, he'd always love her, but his heart is opening wider to love Mia a little more. Isabelle was still wavering in and out of the picture, but that relationship probably wasn't going anywhere.

With the bags tucked under their arms, Clary and Jace stepped into the entryway. Funnily enough, the moment they set the luggage down on the metal benches, the creaky elevators opened and Isabelle fluttered out in her full Isabelle-ness; a billowy forest green dress, usual freaky heels, and her hair braided with ribbons into two plaits.

"Clary!" She beamed, then glanced at Jace and back at her. "So he brought you back intact, did he? No mugging? Raping?" Izzy put her hands on her slim hips and faced her brother.

"Only a bit." Jace winked.

Only sparing a small smile, Isabelle grabbed Clary's wrist. "Enough stalling, Mom wants to talk to you, Clarissa." She let go and pressed the elevator button.

Clary, who hadn't said a word, snorted in annoyance and made to grab her bags again, but Jace's finger on the top of her hand stopped her.

"We can get them later." He said, not drawing back, but slipping his hand around hers instead.

She happily squeezed back, luggage all but forgotten. Though her tight jeans and tank-top was nothing compared to Isabelle's allure, Jace looked as though he had won the lottery.

The elevator groaned upwards, carrying the three upwards through the familiar Institute. When it squealed to a stop, they stepped out onto the landing. Church, the fat gray Persian cat, greeted then with a muted meow. He stretched his paws out in front of him, yawned once, and then turned around to pad off down the corridor. Thinking nothing of this, they pursued.

Jace kept Clary close to his side, as usual, occasionally reaching over to brush his opposite hand on her hair or back. She let him.

As they had assumed, Maryse was in the library. Church stopped the tall pair of doors and sat on his haunches.

"Thank you, Church." Jace gave the cat a fond pat on the head with his foot, and followed Isabelle into the library.

Maryse was behind the ornate wooden desk, shuffling some papers absentmindedly. Her long black hair was pulled back into a bun away from her face, stuck with a pair of shiny chopsticks. For an elder Shadowhunter, she was very put-together and fair. Though the past year seemed to have aged her more than the past ten had (according to Jace), she seemed to be doing as much as she could to be more of a parent to Izzy and Alec. Alec, obviously, was currently in Bermuda with Magnus, but they didn't worry.

Maryse looked up, and upon seeing the three teenagers, a teensy smile stretched across her mouth. "Ah. You're here. Thank you, Jace." She straightened up from her project and came over. "I called Jocelyn a bit ago and got permission to keep you until they get back."

"But, uh, why?" Clary adjusted her hand in Jace's and blinked at Maryse. She had become considerably warmer to Clary after the Mortal War, and felt less inclined to be formal to each other, now that she was considered Jace's mother, too. "Simon's fine with me staying with him."

From beside her, Jace snorted, but no one reacted.

"Early tomorrow morning Chartreuse Actiecia is coming for training. Instead of waking Simon that early, it's easier to just have you stay here."

Simple enough to understand. Thankfully, most people have stopped calling Simon "Daylighter". Except of course, Jace, who had an astounding list of nicknames he used quite often for Clary's best friend.

"Oh. Okay." Clary blinked awkwardly, unsure what to say now that that was covered. But apparently Maryse wasn't done.

"But she laid out some rules."

Inwardly, Clary wondered why her mother didn't tell her that in her text, but decided she was probably too busy.

Maryse, abandoning her formal manner, have her adopted son a pointed look. "Rooms are for one person only, no sneaking out in the middle of the night to share. That means behave, Jace."

Jace held up with hands in defense, but grinned.

"And do your best, training-wise." She gave a small smile to all three of them, and turned to her daughter. "You can show Clary her room."

I already have a room? Clary wondered, but didn't say anything. Izzy grabbed her wrist and bounced off back out the library, dragging Clary along behind. Jace followed, of course, but seemed in a considerably more cheerful mood ever since Maryse commented on sneaking out. When they stopped in front of a door, Clary began recognized its neighbor. The black splatters of paint on the door told her nothing other than it was Izzy's room.

"How come I get the one right next to you?" Clary asked, out of curiosity more than anything.

"So I know if Jace comes." She said nonchalantly, and kicked open the door.

"How come no one trusts me?" The blond Shadowhunter threw up his hands again.

"Shut up and get Clary's bags."

With a snort and a ruffle of her hair, he left.

Isabelle, satisfied with being able to boss her brother around, waved Clary inside her new room. "I'll wake you in the morning for training."

"Noo…" Clary hated when Iz woke her up; it usually involved either yelling or forehead-smashing. "I can wake myself, thanks."

"At five."

That was really early, even for her. Clary did her best not to object, and she punched the time in on her phone. "Fine. Good night, Izzy." She gave a tired smile to her friend. It was quite late in the afternoon—nine o'clock—and she didn't sleep well last night. Thankfully, she didn't need to train that day, so she just stayed at home with Simon and Mia playing video games. Mia was okay, for a werewolf.

"Good night!" Isabelle fluttered her glittery black eyelashes at Clary and skipped off. She was thankful she knew Iz so well, or she'd hate her.

Blinking dryness out of her eyes, Clary stepped into the guest room. Strangely enough, it seemed as though it was already fixed to her liking, as if her stay had been anticipated. The bed was made, like all the other guest rooms, except there was a clean white nightgown draped over the end. Though Clary had her own pajamas back downstairs, she welcomed this. It was soft, heavy, and smelled like Jace. Well….maybe all Shadowhunters smelled like sunshine.

Clary, after tucking the gown under her arm, went to explore the cavernous water house known as the bathroom. Happily enough, it was fully-stocked with everything she needed: shampoo, soap, towels, etc. But she didn't feel like showering right then, so she just stripped off her clothes and pulled the nightdress on. The head-gap was a bit larger than usual, so it hung loosely on her shoulders, exposing some skin. The gown looked like something people long ago would have worn.

Sleepiness was weighing Clary down by the time she crawled into bed. Strangely enough, Jace still hadn't arrived with her bags, so she decided to crawl into bed and wait.

It was quiet in her room; the roar of cars was muted by the closed window, no gusts of wind pounded on the side of the Institute. Listening to the quiet sounds of home, Clary shut her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

oOo

Congratulations! You made it through chapter one! I must tell you, the next will be much fluffier. Training with Jace, so you know what THAT means wink wink. Hehehehe…Anyways, review and tell me what you think about it! More fluff coming up, I swear. :D