Chapter 2: Set Fire to the Rain

I wasn't sure where I was going to go yet. Mum and Luke's maybe. But then again they had just got married and I certainly didn't want to get in their way. I walked the streets on Manhattan just enjoying the feel of the snow in my hair and soaking in the Christmas atmosphere.

I stopped outside the Macy's windows to look at the Christmas window displays. I haven't done this since I was a small child, Mum used to take me here every Christmas Eve and then we would go to Starbucks for peppermint hot chocolates together. That was before my life became so complicated. I didn't want to blame Jace and the Shadow hunters for my messed up life but I did even though it wasn't exactly fair. Jace told me that he supposedly loved me and then cheated. What wasn't to hate! Well… his body I guess… that had been mighty fine. I internally chastised myself for thinking such things. I was done with Jace Herondale.

I was starting to feel the cold as I didn't put on my cloves or thicker coat before fleeing the institute so I decided to head into Macy's for a look around and to buy some gloves because there was no way in hell I was going back for mine. The mood inside was cheery with the decorations hanging from banisters and the ceiling. People young and old were busting around doing last minute Christmas shopping. I thought back to the Christmas present I had bought Jace last week that was hidden at Luke's bookstore, which would be getting returned for sure. Then of course was the other thing I was going to get Jace for Christmas or should I say tell Jace. Thinking about it now made me subconsciously rub my stomach which was for the time being still perfectly flat.

*Flashback*

2 weeks earlier: I woke with a horrible nauseous feeling and bolted to the bathroom before I ruined the sheets. Again. I puked into the toilet bowl and Jace came in to hold my hair back from my face.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Jace asked for the thousandth time that week, "Because you have been throwing up all week and I'm worried."

"Yeah Jace, it's probably just a stomach bug. It'll pass," I reassured him. Although I had other ideas of what it could be but didn't want to tell him until I was certain. Later that day I went to Walgreens and bought a pregnancy test. Back at the institute I paced the bathroom while waiting for the stupid three minutes passed. I glanced back at my iPhone, only 1 and half minutes had passed. This had to be the longest three minutes of my life. Finally a tiny beep came from the stick that held my fate. I wrung my hands together nervously before flipping over the test. Positive. It was positive. A baby. Oh God. I was going to be a mother. Jace a father. What if he hated the idea of it?

*End Flashback*

I passed the babies wear section and then thought better of it. Why not? I was stressed, anxious, upset and most of all, royally pissed off. So some cute baby clothes could be the cure. I hadn't been to a doctor yet because I wanted to go with the Jace for the first time and I had decided to wait to tell him until Christmas day so it would be special. Huh, so much for special now. I was fairly sure I was about a month along though however it was hard to be accurate.

I looked over all the cute little onesies whilst smiling to myself. I had no idea of the gender yet but I was secretly hoping they would look like Jace. Even though I hated him now, the baby would be blessed to get his genes. I then stopped when I saw a cute little t-shirt saying 'Daddy's little girl'. My anger boiled at the site. Jace was such an ass, because of him our baby would grow up without a Daddy. I knew what that was like and I guess I was lucky that at least I had Luke, who had been Mum's best friend forever. I wish I could turn to my best friend about this but if I told Simon he would tell Izzy and it would probably get back to Jace. And he didn't deserve to know, he had lost the right to even know about his child. I didn't want to deny the baby the chance to know their father so I guess I would tell them when they were old enough to understand and then if they wanted to know him they could get in contact. But until then I was going to put on a brave face and deal with the consequences of my own stupidity. I was stupid after all: for believing Jace could love me and for having sex without protection of course. That was pretty blonde of me.

After my little shopping I exited Macy's onto 34th Street and was surprised to find it was almost dark. My stomach growled and I realised I had never gotten around to having any food. I walked the few blocks to the nearest subway near the corner of 8th Avenue and 35th Street and got myself a foot long sub. Yes I know I felt like a guts but hey, I was eating for two now. So why not!

After I was sufficiently fed I decided I needed to make some decisions. First where was I going to go? Was I going to tell anybody? I could portal myself anywhere in the world but where to?

Australia! It was perfect! Isolated, far away and across thousands of miles of ocean! Before making my departure I caught the subway back across the East River to my mum and Luke's apartment in Brooklyn.

I looked up at the apartment and the bookstore that had been my second home growing up. I was going to miss this place. The fading paint and overgrown garden had become familiar and homely over the years. I promised myself I would come back with my child and visit. Preferably in summer when it wasn't so damn cold.

I sighed and knocked on the door. I herd shuffling inside and a pair of heavy feet making their way down the hall to the front door. Luke opened up and welcomed me with a hug.

"Clary! Why did you knock? You know there is no need this is practically your house too. Just let yourself in," Luke said.

"Thanks Luke," I smiled back as I walked in, "I needed to talk to you and mum actually, it's kind of important."

"Ok kiddo. I'll round up the troops. We'll meet you in the lounge room," He winked and started calling for my mother up the stairs.

I plonked myself down on the couch grateful to take the weight off me feet after the hours of shopping and then standing on the train.

"Hey Clary," Mum greeted me warmly as she walked into the room and sat opposite me, "What did you need to talk to us about?"

"Well you see…umm," I trailed off awkwardly not really sure where to begin. What news did I start with first? The fact that I was pregnant and she was going to be a grandma at earlier than forty or that I was leaving New York?

I decided just to hit them with it.

"You see, I'm pregnant, Jace and I broke up and I'm leaving," I practically spat out at them.

They just sat there shocked for a minute then Luke spoke up,

"Well congratulations on the baby honey, why did you and Jace break up? Did he not want the baby?

"He doesn't know about the baby and I plan on keeping it that way because I caught him cheating on me. That's why I can't stay and finish my training there."

"Well okay honey, I guess if that is what you think is best I agree. I felt the same when I left Valentine, "Mum said looking at me sadly, "so when are you off?"

"I was planning on leaving as soon as possible. This is the first place he will look for me. If he looks that's is, he probably doesn't care," I said.

"Where will you go?" Luke asked.

"I was thinking somewhere warm for a change, California maybe? San Francisco looks good." I replied.

"Well I guess this is good bye for now then. Promise you will visit and call if you need anything" Mum said.

"I promise."

A/N – I promise I will try to update this story at least twice a week. You will have to bear with me at times though as I am in my senior years of high school and am practically drowning in homework and exams. I promise this story will be completed and regularly updated though! If I get slack with my updates feel free to yell at me through reviews etc. Please comment to keep me motivated and feel free to give feedback good or bad, anything is helpful Miki Xx