A/N(claryherandale): This story is co-written by me and BlackHeartedTigress.

A/N (BHT): I hope you all enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it with CH.

Disclaimer: The characters belong to Cassandra Clare but we do own the Cats, Hellhound, and the plot.

(Clary's point of view)

Good angels are honest, perfectly obedient and never, ever fall in love with the humans they're meant to protect. They listen to their parents to hear the great wisdom they will impart and they train with courage and diligence until they are ready to fulfil their predestined role. I, Clary Fairchild, trainee Guardian, epitomise all these things.

It would sound difficult for any human, I suppose, my unwavering loyalty. They are simply not designed to be perfectly good and selfless as I am. That is why we angels exist though, to protect humans from the worst versions of themselves. As well as demons, of course, but that goes without saying.

Where a human has a choice to do evil or good, demons have no choice. There is no such thing as a good demon; the words themselves are oxymoronic. I have yet to meet one of these despicable creatures, I am pleased to say, but I know I will have to in the future. A Guardian does not have to actively seek and hunt down demons, but she must be prepared to defend her charge against demons if they encounter them.

You might wonder if I am afraid of demons. The truth is, I am a little. How could I not be? I have heard myriad tales of their grotesque appearances and their vicious natures and I do not look forward to my first battle with one. My biggest fear is that I will meet a demon stronger than myself, one that I could not fight off so easily. I would have to make the decision to sacrifice my life for my charge in that situation, as a Guardian is obligated to do. If there is one thing I loathe almost as much as demons, it is Guardians who abandon their humans. They are cowardly vermin who don't deserve anything more than having their wings ripped out of their backs, as is the custom to do with deserters.

Clary Fairchild allows herself a brief but satisfied smile. The kitten beside her cowers slightly from the look in her green eyes.

"What's wrong with you, Phoebe? I hope you're not a coward like those bad angels," she says with mock disapproval. She tickles the little feline's ears until it swats her with a furry paw. "That's a good girl," Clary coos, "Be brave, like your older brother Sir Fluffs-a-lot."

The cat in question purrs as if he knows the angel is complimenting him.

"I'll be finished in a moment, Fluffs, then I'll let you out for your morning stroll."

Clary's blue quill begins to scratch on the light-gold note paper again. The two cats watch contentedly, no idea in their small heads of what their angel can possibly be doing that is more important than them chasing birds.

Anyway, let's move on past that unpleasantness and onto more exciting news: I am graduating from Golden Gate College tomorrow! That means I will meet my charge for the very first time! I wonder, will it be a boy or girl? Will they love art like me? Do they have any pets? What colour do they decorate their bedroom with?

These questions might sound frivolous, especially from an angel, but I truly wish my charge to be someone I like. How horrible it would be to have to defend a thief or a vandal or worse. It is difficult to care for criminals, and yet if I am given one then I absolutely must defend them without question.

For the first week after my graduation, I will be shadowed by another, older and more experienced angel to ensure I do not act foolishly or outside of our angelic protocol. That angel will also check that I do not show the signs of falling in love with my human. I am fairly confident of this point, though. I know how unimaginably wicked it is to feel such an emotion for a human, and besides, there are plenty of more suitable men up here in Heaven. I'm sure my mother and father, Jocelyn Fairchild and Lucian Graymark, will choose a superlative mate for me.

Well, that will have to do for now; my darlings Phoebe and Fluffs are getting impatient. Until next time,

Clary.

Clary snaps her diary shut and picks up her kitten and cat, one in each arm. She glances in the mirror once to check her red hair hasn't grown to mountainous volumes. Happy it looks reasonably tame, she leaves her home and walks out into the perfect streets of Heaven.

On every house hangs a flag with the colours of Heaven marked upon it; dazzling white and gold ringed with a vibrant pink and the green of budding life. The flags flutter in the slight but always warm wind as she walks past them.

A familiar voice calls out from one of the houses: "Hey Clary!"

She looks round, and grins when she sees her best friend, Isabelle Lightwood. "Izzy!"

"How come you haven't invited me to your graduation?" The black-eyed girl says with a pout, looking hurt.

"Come on, you know it'll be boring," Clary fires back. "I'm doing you a huge favour by not inviting you!"

Izzy smiles darkly, "Maybe you think your charge will be a cute boy and that's why you're not letting me go; you want to keep him to yourself."

Clary gasps. "Iz… you can't joke about that- your brother-"

"Alec did nothing wrong," Isabelle says flatly. "That stupid ruling should never have existed, and it shows how barbaric angels can be that they criminalise love."

Alec Lightwood had been Guardian to the mortal Jordan Kyle before he fell. It was not his charge he fell in love with, but rather a warlock man who'd seen Alec when he'd forgotten to glamour himself. They'd done their best to keep the flourishing relationship quiet, but eventually it was found out. His wings had been taken immediately, but he was viewed more poorly than most as his lover was half-demon, the creatures they were supposed to loathe and destroy.

"Isabelle, this is exactly the reason I didn't invite you!" Clary hisses. "If the Archangels hear you talking like that, they'll-"

"Send me to be with my brother? Maybe I'd like to see him again," the black-haired girl challenges.

Clary shakes her head. "Please, Izzy. Let's not fight over this. Your brother wasn't a bad man, but he did commit one of the worst crimes. He's a fallen angel now, and we don't respect angels like that and we certainly don't talk about joining them." She pauses. "If you want to come tomorrow, then please do, but I can't have you talking like that."

Izzy grumbles slightly, but doesn't press Clary any further. "I'll see you there, I guess."

Clary breathes a sigh of relief and waves goodbye to her troubled friend. She truly hopes Isabelle will stop with the rebel talk. After all, it wouldn't be good to be seen with someone with ideas like that. The Archangels might get the wrong idea about Clary, then. Her soft wings flutter nervously at the thought. Not good at all, she thinks. For a moment she feels a twinge of guilt, but she banishes it. I must do what is best for all angel and humankind. If that means letting go of Izzy, then so be it.

(Jace's point of view)

Journal (because no matter how cathartic they tell me writing in this thing is, I am not calling it a diary),

It kills me how self-righteous angels are. They always claim they're working for the 'greater good'. Well then, I'd like to see them explain to me how ripping the wings from my best friend's back fits into their oh so virtuous moral framework. And speaking of best friends…

"Wow. I can't believe you're actually using a diary. No, strike that, I can't believe you're doing something your parents told you to."

Jace looks up to see his best friend, Alec Lightwood, smirking at him.

Jace replies smartly, "Alec. I am trying my very best not to think about it like that. Besides, it's a journal, not a diary."

"Whatever you say, Herondale, whatever you say." He grins a wicked grin until Falcon starts growling at the fiery doorway where Jace's mom is holding a flower pot with a screaming tiger lily in one hand and a plate of homemade cookies in the other.

"Not another plant, mom. You know I don't like the noisy ones, too," Jace groans.

His mom smiles vaguely at him, and offers a cookie to Alec.

Alec says, "I'd love one Mrs. H. They're a lot better than my sister Izzy's." His face darkens slightly for a second, and there is pain in his blue eyes. He often makes little slip ups like these, forgetting he is no longer in Heaven with his family.

Céline, who is oblivious to this, says, "You know better Alec; Call me Céline." She motions at Falcon, who is trying to eat her flower. "Jace, feed that idiotic dog of yours."

Jace rolls his eyes and throws a piece of raw meat in Falcon's direction and chuckles at the thought of his dog eating the flower with the same gusto with which he was tearing into the meat.

Céline smiles and then sees the flyer for the big Angel and Demon party. Her face falls immediately. She whispers, "Jace, you are not to go to that party."

"Mom.."

"No!" Céline never shouts, her whispers just become harsher.

"Fine. Whatever." Jace mutters, no doubt already planning a way to escape to the party. It isn't as if Celine can do much to stop him, either. They both know that.

"Be careful, Jace." She shivers. "You'd think, in a world made of fire, I wouldn't be so cold all the time." She looks sadly down at her screaming flower. "She doesn't like it here."

"I'll take the damn flower, mom," Jace growls, pulling it out of her hands.

Céline walks out of the room and when she's out of earshot Jace says, "We're going to that party Alec."

"For someone who claims to hate angels, you sure do like spending time with them," Alec answers sourly.

"Well I do enjoy the hot female angels," Jace purrs seductively.

Alec sighs. "And why do I have to be involved in your venture to 'enjoy hot female angels'?"

He replies with a sly smile on his face, "You're my best friend and you owe me one, dude. Let's not forget that I was the one that begged my parents to take you in."

"You're never going to stop bringing that up, are you?"

"Never," Jace promised.

(Clary's Point of view)

Izzy won't stop pestering me to go to a party tonight. I couldn't even believe she suggested the idea when she first brought it up. I've told her no more times than I can count, but still she keeps on. I'm worried that with all her persistence I'll give in just to have some peace. I'm hoping I can talk her out of it.

Well, I have to go again. As always, Sir Fluffs-a-lot is demanding my attention,

Clary.

Clary picks up her cat and pets him. He purrs loudly and she reads her clock; it is 3.30pm. Prime time for Izzy to arrive and begin cajoling Clary into going to the party. Izzy yells from downstairs: "Where are you, Clary?"

Clary yells back: "My room, Izzy!"

Barely five seconds pass before Isabelle is on the bed by Clary's side and with Clary's kitten Phoebe in her lap.

She says, "Hey Clary. Are you going to the party with me?" Her black eyes widen into her best puppy dog expression at Clary.

"Iz. You know my mom's rules; no parties. Also, in case I haven't mentioned before, it's my graduation tomorrow. What would the Archangels think if I'd been out partying the night before?"

Izzy rolls her eyes. "They'd think that you have a social life, and that you know how to balance work and fun. The Archangels don't expect you to be super serious 24/7."

"I don't know…" Clary says dubiously.

"Please? Pretty please?" Isabelle bats her lashes and allows her lower lip to tremble. She even brings out the threat of crocodile tears.

"Izzy," Clary says warningly.

Izzy lets a few tears roll down her face.

Clary reluctantly gives in: "Fine."

Izzy squeals and says, "We have to get ready, Clary." She smiles a huge smile, perhaps tinged with a little smugness at her (eventual) victory.

Clary has a look of slight fear on her face as she says, "Izzy, I know what you're thinking and I don't like that look."

"Have a little faith, Clary. Have I ever got us into trouble before?" Izzy asks sweetly.

Clary glares.

"Alright, there was that one time, but I promise it won't be like that. You'll have fun." Izzy sounds sincere, and that finally puts Clary's worries to rest.

"Okay, I guess you're right, but if it goes wrong then…" Clary leaves the sentence hanging.

"What could possibly go wrong?"Izzy remarks lightly, grinning on the inside.