Hey, everyone! Had a dream the other night and started writing off of the idea. There may be some spoilers in here for those of you who haven't read the books or still have some left to read, so be aware of that. Also, I tweaked some of the conflict we were left with at the end of City of Lost Souls, which you will read about almost immediately. Sorry if you're disappointed, but I had something else in mind :) Anyway - I'm not sure how long this will end up being, I'm just going to wing it.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Mortal Instruments. You can thank Cassandra Clare for that.

They say "time heals all wounds". I think we are the perfect example that that is not exactly true. We are fine, yes. We are happy. But, we are never quite okay.

Its been two years since the battle that severed Jace's tie to my brother. Things have mostly gone back to normal — as normal as they can be when you're a shadowhunter. Just as the Silent Brothers predicted, Jace's "chance to shine" (as we now refer to it) faded after a while. The Clave continued in its search for Sebastien, but found no trace of him. We have our suspicions as a group, though there has been no activity to support them. The Clave remains alert, but are convinced that Glorius had a more significant effect on my brother than we had originally anticipated. If you ask me, two whole years of nothing and no one threatening to end the world as we know it is reason enough to be suspicious.

"Are you ready, then?" calls my mom from the other room. I hadn't realized I was staring at the wall. I do that a lot lately - drift off in thought.

"Coming!"

Tonight we are going to dinner with Luke and the pack. It's Maia's birthday. We are not close, Maia and I. We speak only when I visit other people - Luke at the station or Simon, at his and Jordan's apartment. Even so, I agree to attend tonight's dinner mostly because I am basically the alphas daughter, and mom says it would be expected of me to show up. Making an appearance would be much more bearable had Simon agreed to attend, but he decided instead to spend the night with Isabelle.

I throw my bag over my shoulder and meet my mom at the front door. She smiles at me, her eyes lingering for a moment.

"What is it?" I ask her.

"You look so grown up, is all."

I laugh a little at this as she opens the door. "Growing up will do that to you."

We meet Luke at the station, where the pack has set up a long table in a back room. A separate table against the far wall holds plates upon plates of food. Apart from a few bags of chips and what looks like a large container if potato salad, everything is meat. Typical.

"This is perfect, actually" my mom says to Luke as he places decorative center pieces on the table.

He smiles at her, "I think she'll enjoy it."

I scan over the table of food. A few rotisserie chickens, chicken wings, chicken tenders. I wonder if they like chicken. My dry mouth also leads me to the observation that there are no refreshments set out. I see it as my chance, "So where are the bowls, then?"

Luke gives me a confused look. "They're right in front of you, Clary..."

"No, I mean the water bowls. Someone is bound to get thirsty tonight." I say it casually, as though I'm completely serious, even though I'm biting back my grin.

It takes Luke a few seconds before he gives me a playful shove. "Who invited you, anyway, Shadowhunter?"

The pack eventually files into the back room, taking seats at the table. There are close to 20 of them, and they easily fill the room. My mom and I sit at the far end, opposite Luke. Everyone is talking, laughing, and I suddenly feel very small. All at once there are cheers and cat calls. I turn to see Maia walking in, Jordan at her side. Her cheeks flush from the attention.

"Yeah, yeah. Don't stop what you were doing on my account" she calls out.

"Does this mean we can eat now?" someone calls out. The question is directed at Luke. He nods in approval and they are all up and shuffling towards the food table. They let Maia serve herself first before they all dig in. By the time I get to serve myself, there isn't much left. I find that I'm not all that disappointed, as my stomach is just not agreeing with me at the moment. I snag a chicken tender and a handful of chips before heading back to my seat. Luke and my mom are conversing with Justin, Luke's second in command. My eyes move down the table and meet Maia's. She smiles at me, and I back at her, before someone throws a piece of what must be chicken at her head and her attention is elsewhere. She looks genuinely happy.

I take a bite of my chicken and immediately lose my appetite. Something just doesn't feel right, though I can't put my finger on it.

"Clary?"

I jump at the sound of my mothers voice. She sets her hand on top of mine. "Are you alright?"

"Fine. Just not very hungry" I lie.

I feel a cold rush over me as Luke stands up in his seat. The room goes quiet.

"We are all here tonight to celebrate a very special member of this pack. Maia -"

There are whistles, and applause.

"Maia, you are brave, loyal and warmhearted. As an added bonus, you also happen to be the cleanest-"

Laughter.

"- the least reckless,"

More laughter.

" and the least embarrassing."

Booing.

Luke continues, "Thank you for being such a great asset to this pack." The table erupts in applause as someone brings out a big cake.

A shadow in the corner catches my eye. I turn to look and the smile on my face immediately fades. There in the corner I see Sebastian. He begins to smile at me, and as the corners of his mouth turn up the room seems to darken.

I have not felt this level of terror in two years. Visions of my brother have not haunted my sleep in over a year. There has been no sign, not even a whisper of him in so long. And yet here he is - appearing before me. For a moment I wonder if I'm asleep. Is this just a nightmare?

But then I feel my mothers touch on my arm as I stumble back, hear her speak my name.

"Clarissa."

I hear my name a second time, but that is not my mother. I watch in horror as Sebastien takes a step towards me. I feel my legs start to give out. He takes another step.

"Clarissa, I'm not gone."

Tears fill my eyes and I collapse to the floor with a scream. The last thing I see before I pass out are green eyes.

I wake up with tears still staining my eyes. My head hurts, like I hit it, and there's a lingering pain in my side. Someone is holding my hand. I would know the feeling of this hand anywhere - fit together perfectly with mine. Jace sits in a chair beside my bed, asleep. I move to sit up - I need him to hold me right now. His eyes shoot open at my movement. I grab for him, tears spilling from my eyes now, and he pulls me towards him.

He runs his hand over my hair and rubs circles into my back with the other. "It's okay, Clary."

I respond only with a sob into his shoulder.

"Clary, calm down." I cannot control my breathing now, I am crying so much. All I can do is pull him closer. Jace pulls away just enough so that he can look me in the eyes.

"You're shaking. You need to calm down, Clary."

Detaching my hand from him, I take it and wipe my face. He kisses my cheek a few times.

I look up at him and answer the question I know he's wanting to ask.

"I saw him, Jace. He was there last night - at the station."

"Jonathan" he breathes. I nod.

"Clary, he wasn't really there. You were just seeing things."

I know it's true. He couldn't have actually been there, in the flesh.

"But I did see him!" I say.

"I believe you." He kisses the top of the hand he's holding.

There is a knock at the door.

"Come in" I choke.

"Clary!" My mom and Luke rush into my room. Jace releases me, turning me over to my parents.

My mom runs her hands over my face as if she's checking for wounds. "You scared me! What happened, honey?!"

I hesitate. If I tell her the truth, I'll never hear the end of it. It will worry her more than anything. Do I really want her to know I'm now seeing projections of my evil brother?

"I thought I saw a demon. I wasn't feeling well last night - I must have just been seeing things."

I see the look in Luke's eyes and I know he knows I'm lieing.

"I thought as much. You were terrified, Clary!"

I nod, "I know."

Luke speaks now, rubbing my shoulder, "Are you feeling better now?"

"I feel like I got hit by a bus, but yes, I feel better."

"You hit your head when you passed out. Some ice would help."

"Maybe a warm bath, too" says my mother.

I nod and my mom gives me another hug. "I'll make some breakfast. Jace, if you're hungry you're welcome to stay."

I don't think my Mom has grown used to Jace and I together, but she seems to have grown used to him being around. Sometimes I can't stand it, being around the two of them at the same time, because of the tension.

"That would be lovely, thanks."

I take a hot bath while Jace waits for me in my room. My brothers words linger in the back of my mind.

I'm not gone.

Jace is on my bed when I return to my bedroom.

"Took you long enough."

I roll my eyes, "You didn't have to wait in here."

He points towards the door "Your mother is out there."

"Jace, she doesn't bite."

"That woman hates me, and you know it."

"You'll win her over eventually."

He gets off the bed and walks towards me, "Unfortunately I think she is the only female that is not effected by my striking good looks and charm."

"Maybe you just aren't that charming" I grin.

"I won over the Seelie Queen. I am much more than that charming."

"Please. The Seelie Queen likes anything pretty. That doesn't mean you're charming."

He smiles and wraps his arms around my waist.

"I am quite pretty."

Well, hope you like where this is going so far! Please leave a review if you have the time - I would love to know what everyone thinks! Good or bad :) I'll update just as soon as I finish each chapter.

Toodles xx