Disclaimer: I do not own The Mortal Instruments series
Also, if you have not finished the TMI series then;
1. What are you waiting for?
2. My story contains spoilers from the series: you were warned.
This fan-fiction is set several years after the Dark War. In this rendition, however, there was just enough good in Sebastian (Jonathan Morgenstern) that he remained alive after he was stabbed by Heosphoros ad filled with heavenly fire. He now lives as the regular boy he could have been before Valentine experimented with demon blood. Clary, Jace, Sebastian, Alec, Magnus, Luke, and Jocelyn have moved to Idris following Luke's and Jocelyn's wedding. A year after Luke and Jocelyn's wedding, Jocelyn announces that she is pregnant. Their daughter is now five years old. A few years later (in Alicante) Clary and Jace get married. Several months after the honeymoon in New York (where Clary and Jace catch up with Simon and Isabelle, who were unable to go to Alicante for the wedding), Clary announces that she is pregnant. Her children (twins) are now a few months old.
Chapter One
Isabelle rapped impatiently at the door, despite Clary's warning that the babies were sleeping.
Clary bustled from the kitchen in their small house, wiping flour onto her jeans. She walked through the small living room and into the entry hall.
"Yes?" Clary said, opening the door open. She blew a small red hair that had fallen in her face out of her eyes and stared at Isabelle. She wore dark jeans and a pink blouse that matched the light dusting of makeup of her face.
"Alec and Magnus make too much noise." She simply stated. Clary let out a light laugh and opened the door wider, letting Isabelle inside. Jace was out at work and Sebastian had decided to visit Idris countryside today, particularly the crossroads. Clary had let him go.
The house was empty, other than Clary and the twins. She had just put Jonathan and Jocelyn to bed when the phone rang; Isabelle informing Clary she was going to stop by.
"Make yourself comfortable. I'm baking right now and the twins are sleeping. Jace should be home in about an hour." Clary gestured towards the living space and Isabelle chose the loveseat, happily sinking into the cushions. The living room was a simple room; a couch, loveseat, coffee table, piano in the corner and two large bookshelves. There was no wall between the living room and the kitchen; the floor just changed from faded pink carpet to stark white tile.
Clary went back to baking; she had been in the middle of kneading the dough when Isabelle knocked. There was flour on her jeans and on her black tank top, but she didn't mind. She never minded.
Clary set the dough aside to rise for a while and walked back toward Isabelle, who had pulled a random book off one of the shelves and started reading. Clary was going to sit on the couch, but decided against it. When her mother visited on Saturday she didn't need her wondering what the white stains were on the couch. Clary somehow doubted that her mother would believe it was flour.
"I'll be right back, just going to change." Clary said, heading towards the back of the little house. Isabelle nodded and kept reading wordlessly.
The bedrooms were all along one hallway that started between the kitchen and living room. There were four doors; the guest bedroom where Sebastian currently slept, the master bedroom where Clary and Jace slept, the nursery for the twins Jonathan and Jocelyn, and the bathroom. The master bedroom was the last door on the left.
Clary changed into a new pair of jeans and a green short-sleeved blouse that had copper buttons running down the front. Satisfied, she went into the nursery to check on Jonathan and Jocelyn. The nursery was the first room on the left, adjacent to the bathroom. Sebastian's room was opposite the master bedroom.
The babies, Jonathan and Jocelyn, were named after Clary's brother and her mother. Jace didn't dispute the names, so the twins were named Jonathan and Jocelyn.
Clary opened the door as quietly as she could, though it did creak a bit. Neither of the babies stirred at the entrance. Jonathan was in the left crib, and Jocelyn was in the right one. Both of the cribs were against the far wall. Clary checked Jocelyn first, since she had been having troubles sleeping recently.
Jocelyn had very little hair so far, but Clary knew it would be dark blonde like Jace's. Jocelyn even had Jace's face, with full lips – even as a baby – and high cheekbones. As she slept, Clary could see that Jocelyn's eyelashes were also quite long, much like her father's. Jocelyn had Clary's green eyes though.
Jocelyn was sound asleep, so Clary shifted her focus to Jonathan, who also seemed deeply asleep.
Jonathan only had wisp of hair, and like his sister, it seemed like his hair would be blonde too. He took on some of Clary's facial features; pale skin, small nose, and a faint dusting of freckles. Jonathan had the same eyes as Clary too; green like springtime.
Seeing that both of the children were sleeping peacefully, Clary crept out of the nursery and back into the living room, where Isabelle was still contently reading.
"Where's Sebastian today?" Isabelle asked, eyes still affixed to whatever book she'd pulled. Clary sat on the couch and let out a small sigh. Isabelle noticed and closed the book.
"He went to the crossroads." Clary was wringing her hands in her lap and Isabelle nodded, a slow nod, like she wanted to say something.
No one spoke, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. Clary pulled her hands apart and Isabelle watched her with great interest.
"When's Simon arriving? Last we spoke he said 'this week', but has he specified recently?" Clary asked, changing the subject. Isabelle perked up, like Clary knew she would, and nodded.
"Yes, he said tomorrow. He's very excited to see Idris. He says the memories are coming back, but this place, almost the epitome of the Shadow World, is still really clouded." Isabelle's voice quieted speaking the last words.
Isabelle had been only been in Alicante for a few weeks. Her arrival involved lots of tears and hugging since she's been gone so long. Before that, she was in New York, with Simon. Alec, Magnus, Jace, Clary – even Luke and Jocelyn – had come to Idris almost six years ago. Isabelle had stayed behind, however, to be with Simon. Clary would have stayed, but she knew that Simon would be fine with Isabelle.
"Where will Simon be staying?" Clary asked, pulling her short legs onto the couch and sitting cross-legged. She rested her chin in her hands and set her elbows on her knees. Isabelle smiled at Clary's relaxed position and pulled her legs onto the loveseat so that her feet were beside her.
"I'll temporarily move out of Alec and Magnus' place and Simon and I will stay at the house my family bought here in Alicante." Clary nodded; this made sense. Then she smiled at the moving out remark.
"I'm sure you'll be so sad moving away from Alec and Magnus." Clary sarcastically retorted. Isabelle grinned and shook her head, comically.
Just then the door opened and Jace walked in. He removed his shoes and came into the living room, sitting down next to Clary. She smiled adoringly at him and sat like Isabelle, leaning into Jace. He planted a light kiss on her forehead and finally acknowledged Isabelle.
"Hey, Izzy." She smiled and let out a small sigh. It was more for her sake, feeling bad for herself. She had missed Simon in the few short weeks she'd been in Idris.
"I should probably go. You have babies and bread to deal with, and I assume that my brother and his boyfriend have quieted down enough that I can enter the house and not want to throw up." Clary laughed at the comment and Jace twisted his features into a displeased face.
"You don't have to go. You can stay for a while, really." Jace tried to convince her to stay, but Isabelle wanted to be alone for a while. She didn't actually intend to go back to Magnus' place.
"No it's fine. I think I'm going to go to the house we got those years ago and see if it's inhabitable. The last time that house was used was before…" Isabelle's voice drifted. So much had happened between the time she's stayed at that house and now; Sebastian had the demon blood sucked out, Simon had his Shadow World memories removed, Luke and Jocelyn (Clary's mother) got married, Clary and Jace got married, Clary got pregnant, and Jonathan and Jocelyn were born.
The whole room had got eerily quiet and still. Clary ended the silence by standing up and speaking.
"We'll see you tomorrow I guess. Would you like me to walk you home?" Clary and Isabelle had made their way over to the door and Isabelle slipped on her shoes as Clary spoke.
"No thanks, Clary. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye." Isabelle gave Clary and quick hug and waved to Jace who was still lounging on the couch. He returned the wave and Isabelle left, leaving Clary and Jace alone in the living room.
Clary sighed and sank into the couch next to Jace. He wrapped one arm around her shoulder and brought her into his strong chest. He nuzzled into her hair and she reclined into his toned body.
"Are the twins sleeping?" Jace asked, his breath tickling Clary's scalp. Clary lightly nodded her head, slightly jostling Jace in the process. He chuckled and wrapped his other arm around Clary too.
"And what was that about bread?" He asked, starting to slightly rock as they sat on the couch.
"I was baking when Izzy arrived. The dough's still on the counter." Jace looked up and spotted the dough resting in the kitchen.
They sat in their warm embrace for a while, just breathing and resting. Finally, Clary spoke.
"I'm nervous for Izzy." She didn't have to explain why; she and Jace had gone over this a few times already.
"Yeah, but I heard Simon will be portalling here tomorrow. That'll be good, right?" Jace was still murmuring into Clary's orangey red locks. Clary sighed, still not content.
"How was work today?" Clary asked, eager to switch the topic. Jace had gotten a job in the weapon shop on Flintlock Street and he was there five days a week.
"Good; sold two broadswords, four daggers, an axe – and we finally got a buyer for the flail. I never thought that thing would sell." Clary laughed and smiled. Her own sword, which she'd gotten at that same shop a few years ago, was hidden in her bedroom. She didn't plan on Shadowhunting while she raised kids.
Just as the thought of 'raising kids' crossed Clary's mind, one of the twins started crying. It only took a few seconds for the one screaming voice to multiple and Clary could feel Jace sigh behind her.
They both got up and went into the nursery. Clary started to go for Jonathan when Jace stopped her.
"Can you help Jocelyn? Please?" Jace eyes pleaded at her.
"Why?" Clary asked. Both babies were still crying.
"I don't think she likes me." Jace admitted eyes cast down. Clary shook her head.
"No, no she loves you Jace. But if it makes you feel better, you can deal with Jonathan." Jace nodded, but didn't look any happier.
"What's wrong?" Clary asked. The shrieking was giving her a headache.
"I'm not very good with babies. At all." Jace insisted but Clary rolled her eyes.
"Babies love you." She stated it like a fact and moved to lift Jocelyn out of her crib. Jace scowled, but it shifted to a half-smirk as he picked up Jonathan.
Jocelyn's face was red from cry and tears were running down her face. Clary held her and quietly shushed her, rocking her and rubbing her back soothingly. Jace did similar with Jonathan and soon the screaming was reduced to infrequent whimpers.
After a while, once they were quiet, Clary heard the front door open. She mouthed to Jace; Sebastian's back. He nodded and checked to see if Jonathan was sleeping. He was, so Jace set him back in his crib and went to greet Sebastian. Jocelyn was still awake so Clary continued to rock her and lightly kissing her soft forehead.
In the living room Sebastian was sitting on the couch. He leaned forward, with his elbows propped on his knees and his face in his hands. He kept running his hands through his pale, almost white, hair. Jace was propped up in the loveseat, watching his brother-in-law.
"I had to be there, I wanted to be there, but it was terrible." Sebastian mumbled this to himself as he started running his fingers through his hair again, which was getting too long. Jace didn't speak.
Clary entered the room, Jocelyn having finally nodded off. She noticed how distressed her brother was and her shoulders slumped. She came to sit next to him.
"Are you okay?" She whispered, wrapping her small arms around his shaking shoulders. She knew it was a terrible question, but she asked it anyways. Sebastian just shook his head, face in his palms.
"Ever since the demon blood was burned away by the heavenly fire, I've been scared that it will come back. I'm scared that I'll turn again and I'll hurt someone that I love. I'm scared of what will happen to me if maybe the heavenly fire didn't burn it all away. And I'm scared that I'm a different person. I'm scared that someday the monster will come back and there won't be demon blood to blame." Sebastian was whispering, his voice raspy and muffled by his hands. By the end, it sounded like he was crying. Clary was crying, slow tears rolling down her face. Jace sat in hard concentration.
For once there was a problem that no amount of war could fix.
Hello! This is my first fanfiction so I know it might not be very good, but I am working on it. I have several other chapters written and quite a few other chapters planned. Reviews are welcomed as are critiques, though please don't be rude because that is unnecessary. Thank you for reading, and make sure to follow this story for chapter updates, and follow me for new fanfics!