Okay so this is chapter 2. It is up far later than initially intended, but in all fairness I had two big English exams last week and I've been prepping for a very important science ISA which basically will now determine if I fail or pass science as I have to re-sit last year- lucky me! But enough about my terribly boring life, enjoy and don't feel free to leave a comments on your feelings for this story. Hopefully the next update will be done sooner.

Chapter 2

I'll tell you this for nothing, Isabelle can be elegantly vicious when she wants to be. Never in my life have a seen a girl, of Izzy's age carry herself so well whilst wearing those ridiculously high 7 inch heels in the house and dragging two loved up buffoons- Jace and myself- down the stairs and through the house.

Suddenly her voice was ringing in my ears of her past words from the Seelie Court, "Never less than 7 inches." I will never forget the face that bastard Merlion made at her comment and thinking back now suppress a smirk. That prick deserved all he got and more!

We finally reached the large dining room in the Lightwoods house that I have grown so accustomed to over the past few years. Isabelle slams me into a chair and as Jace tries to sit in the seat next to me, she grabs him tighter.

"No you don't!" She made a disgusted tutting noise in the back of her throat and dropped him down on the opposite side of the table. We give each other sheepish grins, when we look up to find each other both rubbing our bright scarlet ears which make us wince in pain. Isabelle makes a show of rubbing her hands together looking smug at her table arrangements. She has put out place cards- Alec next to me and Magnus next to Jace. Jace being well, Jace, upon seeing that the glittery warlock had been placed next to him, began rolling his eyes and opened his mouth to protest. Isabelle held out her arm, palm facing out towards his face.

"Save it, Jace. I don't want to hear it. I have had enough of your crap today and I don't want anymore. I know what I'm doing and that's why I have placed you where I have. I don't want dinner to turn into tonsil tennis. It's bad enough we're eating at such a ridiculous time, but Shadowhunting is a full time occupation. I just want this to go well. I'm tried enough and the sooner this is over with the sooner we can go to bed. So that means. No. Sitting. By. Clary." She enunciated every word and could see the glisten of anger in Jace's eyes it was plain to anyone not just me. "And before you get

pissed you know I'm talking about Alec and Magnus too. So spare yourself a slap and just sit and wait patiently, like the good little Shadowhunter you are. You don't want me to get little Emma and Jules to whoop your ass, do you?" She glared at Jace- eyes boring into him, daring him to make a move or speak in protest. It was at times like these that Izzy genuinely scare me and I usually keep quiet wanting to avoid her wrath.

"I thought as much," she muttered as she began to leave and then started saying something to do with how "Emma could whoop his ass without even needing any help from Julian". I started snickering and Jace gave me a puzzled look which I just shook off and smiled at him instead.

As soon as he was sure Izzy was as far down her hall as possible, he jumped out of his seat and switched Alec's place card with his and went and sat next to me. I didn't blame that he wanted to make sure Izzy was out of ear shot. It only would have ended with one of them in the infirmary anyway.

Clary had grown to realise over the years that that was how the Lightwood family showed their love for each other, violence- good natured of course. It was such a Shadowhunter trait for them all to have and since the passing of their little brother Max- the child who had barely live and who had everything taken from him at such a young age, too young. Angel rest his soul- the older three had tried to bond more in fear of losing one another. It was sweet really and I suddenly felt a pang of longing for a brother or sister, a real one, nothing like Seba- Jonathan.

Jace lifted my face in his callus hands and asked in a small voice, "What's wrong Clary? Do you regret the engagement?" His eyebrows furrowed and his face became pained. I love how he only lets me in, how somehow all his expressions seem to belong to me and only me.

I smiled widely up at him, a true, real smile, "No," I whispered back matching his tone. "Never ever think that." I told him more sternly. He nodded and I pulled him closer into me until his soft velvet lips met mine.

We only broke apart after hearing a loud clearing of someone's throat. It was a low deep sound to my surprise, but at least Jace and I wouldn't get our asses kicked by Alec or Magnus. Thank the Angel they got hear first, now Isabelle had a slim chance of getting us to swap seats back. Especially, if Robert and Mayrse got her before her as well, then she definitely couldn't swap us. I let a smirk play on my features, but unluckily for me, Magnus caught it- as he sat down- and interpreted wrong.

"Clary, I never had you pegged as such a dirty bitch…" Magnus trailed off suggestively, leaving my cheeks a beet red colour. My eyes were wide as I dipped my head in embarrassment. I barely recovered.

"I beg your pardon?" Jace spat with venom, "What did you just call my-," he stopped and faced me. I shook my head at him; I didn't want them to know yet. "My darling Clary?" I shot him a look, they said to him, nice save. He winked back at me in return and I flushed a light pink. Even after being with him as long as I have, I still can't shake the butterflies he gives me.

"As I recall," Magnus began, "I called 'your darling Clary' a 'dirty bitch'. Yes that was right, wasn't it Alec?" The warlock smirked at his boyfriend, waiting for back up.

"Don't get me involved," Alec replied, raising his hands to defend himself. Jace slammed his hands onto the white clothed table and I tugged his sleeve to make him sit down again. Eventually after glaring at Magnus- for what seemed like a long time- he sat, pulling me closed and snuggly into my neck gently nibbling my ear. To this my whole body tensed as I tried to stay quiet and give nothing away. This only seemed to further amuse him as he pecked my check but instead of continuing the 'touchy feely' thing he simply just held me close. It was for the best though as just then Robert and Mayrse walked in.

They sat in their usual seats as they greeted us; we each in turn either nodded our heads or spoke a soft 'Good evening' to them. I tugged Jace's sleeve as I felt slight bile rise in my throat. As he turned he saw the 'deer in headlights' look that was plastered all over my face. Seeing as I had considerably paled he excused us and lead me cautiously into the corridor, just out of earshot. He began caressing my check with his hand planting light circles with his thumb to reassure me.

"What's wrong? You haven't been the same since I gave you that damn ring. Maybe now wasn't the right time…" He trailed off with a thoughtful expression on his face. I have no idea where it came from, but despite my wave of sickness I swung my right hand and it planted with a satisfying smack against his left cheek. He immediately began rubbing his face, jaw open with an incredulous look staring down at me.

"Damn, you really know how to slap, Clary. I think I taught you too well. I still find it weirdly sexy though and I'm not quite sure why, because I think it's just been made clear that you can easily damage me now and I'm stuck with you." His face was bright considering the circumstances and he was smirking. I rolled my eyes, typical Jace behaviour!

"Seriously though, Clary, why did you slap me? It actually really hurt…" he continued to rub his cheek and then as a nervous habit the back of his neck.

"I slapped you because of what you said! You're so stupid this isn't to do with marrying you," I hissed at him trying to keep my voice low, "Well it is, but not in the way you think." I huffed out in annoyance.

"Then what is it? I don't understand. I'm confused Clary," that much was clear from the puzzled expression he was giving me.

"I don't know how I feel about telling everyone yet, and mum and Luke will be arriving any minute and you know that she's never exactly been fond of us. And because we're now asking for a blessing and not you pre-asking for my hand, I feel like I've betrayed her. I want to get married to you I do and I have no doubt about it. I just feel sick at the thought of telling them." I looked up into his golden eyes which melted me like honey. How did I get this lucky?

"Well," he gave me a measured tone, though I could see he looked slightly pained to even suggest his next idea, "You could take the ring off, I'll keep it in my pocket if you'd like?"

I stared up at him biting my lip, "Do I have to hit you again? You make me mad Jace, now it's on I'm not taking it off; it's a sign of our commitment before legal commitment," this earned me an amused smile.

"And although sometimes it feels a bit heavy- especially when I look at it too long- and yeah, it is going to take some getting used to, but I love it and I love you and I'm never going back on that." I met his eyes and pulled him down to me by the collar of his crisp shirt. We shared a light butterfly kiss- one sugary sweet compared to the usual heated make out sessions we had, now that we could.

He pulled back grinning, but held me close, "So what do you propose we do?" He gently squeezed me closer to him.

"I guess," I let out a frustrated sigh, "I guess I have to just man up for once, grab the bull by the horns and take a dive." Jace snickered beside me, I stared up in confusion.

"You have no idea how sexual and how filled with innuendoes that was. So number one, please don't actually become a man. Number two you can grab my horn any time," he looked down and gave me the dirtiest, most sexual wink he has ever given me in my life. I return a look to him, I felt myself bite my lip. This only made him smirk and bend down to my ear and whisper seductively, "You have no idea how hard it is when you look at me like that, to not just drag you to my room and give you the roughest sex I've ever given you. Clary, my patience against that look is wearing thin and I don't know how much longer I'll be able to tolerate it without doing something about it." He gently nipped my ear and leaned casually back as if nothing had happened.

"And three," I whispered so low it was barely audible. His words had really sunk in making me blush as usual, but unlike how I would normally brush his comments off this one stuck and I found myself longing for more alone time between us. His next words snapped me out of my revive.

"And three, is there something you want to tell me before we get married, because I don't mind being your beard, but I still want regular sex," he winked and after a second of my eyes growing wide I whacked him hard, just the pure cheek of him saying such a thing.

"Ouch, Clary! You know I'm only joking," He tilted my head to his, touching our lips- to show me how playful he was being and as I pulled away I gently tugged his bottom lip between my teeth, just to make a point and drive him up the wall at the same time.

His face became playfully pouty and he bent down again to my ear and whispered low, "That's not playing fair Clary, do you have any idea how hard it's going to be for me to not maul you at the dinner table now," he knitted his eyebrows together as he pulled away, mocking an annoyed huff.

I raised both brows, cursing mentally not being able to raise one, to make my point more seductive, "Well, you really should have thought about that before you made up nasty stories," I poked my tongue out at him. "Come on," I pulled lightly at his arm, "Let's go back and get this over with," I was serious now, my teasing tone taken over by my irrational worry. Jace read me like a book and gave my hand a gentle reassuring squeeze, as I led him back to the dining room.

"Are you alright Clary dear?" It was Mayrse who spoke first, her concerned eyes boring into mine as we took our seats with everyone once again. Still no sign of bloody Izzy- her concoction, sorry 'dinner' as she called it must be more deadly than normal. I still don't know why Mayrse and Robert let her in the kitchen; she should be filed as a health hazard!

"Yes, I'm fine now thank you, Mayrse. I just needed some air, that's why Jace took me out into the corridor. I felt a bit light headed and could feel a headache coming on. But I feel much better now." I gave Mayrse a polite smile. Then gradually let my eyes wonder to Jace who is now holding my left hand and rubbing his thumb back and forth in reassurance.

I could hear a mumble coming from across the table, "I bet you are…" It was Magnus; I inwardly cringe from his statement hoping the Lightwood parents hadn't heard him and kick him hard under the table. "My God, Clarissa," Magnus booms in a shocked voice, I cringe further into my seat. "Never once in my life have I taken you for such a violent person. Not even when you were toddling around my apartment chewing my phone book!" He places his hand on his heart in mock horror as I feel my face gradually heating. "And I'll have you know, that phone book never got replaced! And I'm sure it's still lying around. You owe me a new one and this is how you treat me? I can't believe you, Clarissa! I thought we were friends!" I look up to meet his gaze; his eyes are glistening with mischief. He clearly wants to embarrass me and get me into trouble. I let my eyes wonder the room everyone is in shock at his outburst but I can see Alec is trying not to laugh- so much for him being my favourite Lightwood. His break-up with Magnus was brutal on him and now we're stuck with another piece of sass. Not that I don't love it, I do. His whole pie retaliation was a work of genius and still has me cracking up, but I could do with supporting Alec right now.

"Magnus, what are you even talking about?" Jace stares at the sparkly haired warlock, clearly coming up blank at what has just happened. I feel Jace's eyes on my but I dare not look. Maybe if I just stare off into the room everyone will drop it? Who am I kidding? Of course they won't.

"Your 'Darling Clary' just kicked me under the table. I'm going to have a bruise! You should know, that girl-" I decide to cut Magnus off through my annoyance.

"I'm not a girl," I grumble with a huff. "I'm twenty, I class as a lady or a woman."

"Age is just a number, young Clarissa." Magnus continues unfazed by my interruption. "You act like a child at best. I'm telling you Jace, she's more brutal than ducks!" I see Jace wince out of the corner of my eye, but he just holds my hand tighter. He's about to make a retorting comment, but the next thing you know.

"ENOUGH!" Isabelle stand in the doorway with an apron on and in her oven –gloved covered hands she's holding a large ceramic baking pot. "I'm gone merely 15 minutes and you're already at each other's throats."

"It was more like twenty by my counting," Jace says letting out a smirk. Definitely the wrong time to have said something. Why can't he just keep quite?

Isabelle slams the pot down onto the middle of the table and turns full wrath on Jace. "YOU!" she half shrieks into his face, "I thought I already told you to sit by Magnus!" I felt my eyes growing wide as I turned my gaze away- I want nothing to do with this. Stay calm, Fray. Just stay calm.

"Isabelle. Just calm down. It's all going to be fine." Clearly Robert doesn't understand that now is not the right time to be testing the waters and making comments about Izzy's emotions.

But before Izzy can full snap, Mayrse chimes in. "What's for dinner, honey? It smells amazing!"

Iz sends daggers to her farther but has visibly cooled down, she lifts the lid for us to see and then waltzes back to the kitchen- presumably to put the oven gloves back and get a ladle. All six of us slowly lean over the table to look at the dreaded substance that lurks in the pot. Much to our anticipation we are not disappointed by the contents. It's something that I can only describe as being a dark muddy green in colour and much to everyone's horror it's slightly bubbling with massive lumps sticking out in random placements. The disgust is plain on everyone's faces as we lean back in our chairs. We all thinking the same thing, there is no way in hell I am eating whatever in the world that crap is…

When Izzy walks back into the room, black ladle in hand, I decide to take a different approach from the others. "Izzy? I was just wonder… um.. well, what exactly is it that we are, er… having for dinner?" I give her a small smile trying not to show my distaste to the bubbling pot.

"Oh," Izzy perks up, "It's a beef stew, I thought that after the training you and Jace did today and the call out Alec and I took. Not to mention the meetings mum and dad sat through, that it would energise everyone back up to top form." I could tell she was oblivious as she still had a shiny smile plastered on her face.

"How thoughtful," Jace mumbled with a grimace, I squeezed is hand hard waiting for him to look at me than shot him a scrunched face it disapproval. He almost laughed, almost- I dared him to try and see how far he would get with my eyes, dead and serious.

"Yes, very thoughtful," I repeated Jace's words with a kinder tone. I did feel slightly guilty though as whilst everyone had been out earlier that night, Jace and I had taken the opportunity to have a movie marathon, cuddled up in his bed. "But if I'm being honest Izzy. I kind of had in mind something lighter for tonight. As I'm pretty tired, I don't really think I could handle such a hearty meal right now," I mock a yawn, hopping I can save the evening.

"Yeah," I hear the others chime in. "We're all pretty tired," Mayrse tries to use a reasoning tone. I can see Izzy getting all pouty; oh by the Angel- what would it take? Think fast Fray, this all hangs on you.

"Well, Izzy it doesn't have to go to waste. I'm sure it will keep," I smile at her but I can feel the disbelieving looks on me from the others. Oh God, they think I'm being a traitor. I carry on anyway, "But right now, why don't we go down to Taki's? I could ring Simon if you want?" Please say yes, please say yes, please, please, please.

And there it is, I've got her, she cracks a wide pristine smile. "Alright, you're on. But it will have to be eaten at some point!"

"Of course. We can have it tomorrow, for lunch maybe," I can't be bothered finding a good excuse now, "Or maybe I could take it home for Mum and Luke?"

"Yeah, okay. I'll put it into a container and you can take it home later, or tomorrow if you're staying over." She gives a sly wink to Jace and he smirks. What in the Angel's name is going on? "Are you sure about ringing Simon though? You know he's not a vampire any more, it has been nearly four years, or have you forgotten?"

"Why would I have forgotten, Izzy? He's still my best friend and you know he's nearly fully recovered. And anyway, it's not like he followed normal vampire sleeping patterns and we all know he's probably up watching 'Death Note' or 'Black Butler'."

"Okay, fair enough you make a good point Clary," she grins widely at me. "Come on then, let's go. Clary we'll wait outside for you whilst you ring Simon." I nod my head in agreement as everyone but Jace and I exit the room.

"You're an absolute bloody genius!" he praises as he makes his attack on me. He pulls me out of my seat and into his warm embrace. He lowers his head to mine, cheek to cheek and whispers into my ear, "And you're all mine, forever."

Please review it would be very helpful! Thank you for reading, see you soon!

Love always and forever,

LoveMakesLiars