Thud. Thud. Deep breath. Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud. Deep breath. Thud. Thud. The rhythm of the combat staff hitting its mark on the practice dummy was the only thing that helped ease jace's frustration and restlessness. It had been almost 2 months since Clary had left for Idris on clave orders. How much longer could it possibly take to assess Clary's angelic powers? Jace thought to himself as he struck the dummy again in rhythm. They spoke almost every day, but Jace missed clary terribly it was the cause of his restlessness and frustration. Not to mention he hadn't slept properly since her departure. He missed the little things she did like shoving her fingers through her hair when she was frustrated or annoyed, the way her nose crinkled when she giggled, or how she would sigh and melt against him when he kissed that sensitive spot her behind her ear. But mostly the way her beautiful green eyes would sparkle with absolute love and awe whenever she looked at him. He hadn't heard from her at all today yet so his mood was especially black when Alec entered the training room looking for him.

'Hey,' Alec said as he reached Jace.

'What?' Jace demanded bitterly, continuing his assault on the dummy.

'Well I was going to you tell that mom is looking for you. But I'm guessing by the sound of your voice and your aggressive attack on the sparring doll, you haven't spoken to clary today?' Alec observed. Jace stopped and turned to face Alec.

'No, I haven't heard from her. Why is Maryse looking for me?' Jace asked. Alec shrugged and replied.

'Don't know. But from the look she had on her face I'm thinking it might be important,' Jace sighed and wiped the sweat from his face.

'Ok, well I'll go have a quick shower then go find her,' Alec walked with Jace and watched as he replaced the staff to its spot on the weapons rack, then followed him out the door.

'I'll see you in a bit,' Alec told Jace and left for tech ops H.Q. Jace nodded and headed for his room. Once showered, Jace made his way to H.Q and found Alec and Maryse at one of the screens discussing strategies for eliminating demons.

'Maryse! I heard you were looking for me? Whats up?' Jace asked as he approached them.

'Oh, Jace! There you are! We received a fire message today from the Clave. Jocelyn and clary will be home tomorrow evening,' she told him. Jace's mood lifted instantly.

'That is the best news I've had since they left,' Jace said excitedly. Alec just laughed and Jace faux punched his arm and told him to shut up. Jace then left to see if he had received any messages from Clary. When he got to his room he checked his phone where it sat charging on his beside table, and sure enough there was a text from Clary waiting. It read:

Jace I have the BEST NEWS! I get to come home TOMORROW NIGHT! cant wait to see you I miss you SO much! XXxx

Jace smiled then replied:

hey Angel! I just heard the good news the clave sent a fire message to Maryse. I cant wait to see your beautiful face either! I miss you like crazy! how was your day? X

Her reply came only a minute later:

It was boring! they had me drawing more runes from the grey book again! :( what about you what did you do today?

Jace shook his head annoyed at the clave then texted back:

Seriously!? do they think something different is going to happen honestly a speed rune is a speed rune right? as for my day I just did the usual and trained ;)

Her reply was almost instantaneous:

hahaha I know right! of course you did what did you train with today?

haha :) combat staff ;)

Her reply took longer than before, Jace guessed she must be tired.

Cool! bet the dummy didn't fair to well! Babe as much as I want to keep chatting I'm super sleepy can I talk to you tomorrow? XXxxx

Jace smiled and replied:

He did alright! of course angel I'll talk and see you tomorrow! love you sleep tight! X

I cant wait ;) love you too XXXxxxxx 3

Jace couldn't help but smile at the amount of kisses she always put at the end of her messages. He put his phone back on the table and got ready for bed and for the first time in almost 2 months he fell asleep easily, knowing he would see his Clary the very next day. He was awoken the next day by Isabelle bursting through his door.

'Jace! get up! we have so much to do!' she complained. Jace lifted his head and stared at her questioningly with one eye.

'huh?' he asked confused. Izzy sighed exasperated.

'Clary's coming home tonight and we're throwing her a welcome home party, so I need you to help me get everything ready,' she explained. Jace just closed his eye again and let his head fall back on the pillow in reply. He jumped when his pillow disappeared from underneath his head and was whacked in the face with it.

'Hey!'he protested.

'Well get up!' Izzy growled.

'Ok, ok, I'm up!' he said sitting up. The rest of the morning he spent being bossed about by his adopted sister, shopping for party food and helping move furniture, speakers and the sound system into the training room where the party was being held. It was at about three thirty in the afternoon that jace's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and immediately smiled when he saw who was calling: Clary

'I have to take this,' he told Isabelle and walked away for some privacy and answered.

'Hey Beautiful,' he greeted and his eyes closed in content when he heard her giggle.

'Hey Handsome,' she replied still giggling.

'So do you know what time you'll be home yet? The waiting is killing me,' he told her and was rewarded with another girlish giggle.

'It's killing me too! but yes mom said we should be home at around 6ish she's got a few things to do yet, but she promised me we'd be home no later than 6 which is so close but yet still so far away!'

'Well tell her to hurry! I'm going insane with out you,' he confessed.

'Jace,' she sighed longingly, then said 'I know exactly what you mean,'

'Hmm,' he hummed in agreement. He was just about to ask her what she had been up to all morning, when heard Jocelyn's voice through the phone telling Clary that they had to go.

'I don't want to but I have to go,' she said in a forlorn voice.

'I don't want you to either, but at least I get to see you tonight,' he replied in a hopeful voice.

'Yes! I really can't wait. I love you, I'll see you soon,' she said.

'Either can I! I love you too, not long now,' he replied then hung up. When he turned around Alec was standing with Isabelle who was grinning at him. Alec was smirking as well.

'What?' Jace asked as he joined them.

'You are so whipped,' Alec teased which landed him a whack in the gut from Isabelle.

'Leave him alone Alec, I think its cute how in love they are,' she said defending Jace

'Like you can talk! If I'm whipped then so are you! I've seen you and Magnus when you thought no one was looking,' Jace jabbed back at him. Alec blushed and fidgeted uncomfortably.

'Hey enough!' Izzy snapped and jace raised his hands in surrender.

'So did clary say what time she'd be back?' Isabelle asked and Jace nodded.

'Yea she said Jocelyn promised they'd be home no later than 6,' he replied.

'Ok awesome! that gives us just enough time to finish the decorations and get ready for the party,' she said determined. She set a few tasks for each brother then sent them off to get ready. Most of the institute was already gathered in the training room it was 10 to 6 when the 3 siblings all met up again. Jace was on edge his eyes drifting anxiously from the clock to the door. Isabelle put a hand on his shoulder, he turned his head to look at her.

'Hey she'll be here! stop worrying,' Isabelle told him reassuringly. It was then that the door opened and Jocelyn stepped through followed by the red headed Angel he had been craving to have back by his side. He barely noticed when everyone else shouted "welcome home" because just the sight of her stunned him still and knocked the breath out of him. She truly was an Angel and it wasn't until her eyes met his that he was able move and breathe again.