Author's Note: This story still just won't get out of my head...so what else could I do but go ahead and turn it into a multi-chapter story. My priority is still finishing my other TMI fiction, The Axe Forgets What the Tree Remembers, so I do not have any of this story written in advance and I do not have an updating schedule at this time. It is going to be a "whenever I have time" and/or "Whenever an idea gets stuck in my head" kind of a thing until I finish the other story. Enjoy!
Jace still couldn't believe this turn of events. Over the last several years, he's had a lot thrown at him, but he's managed to come out stronger each time. However, Clary agreeing to marry him has him coming completely unglued. A part of him wants to just show up at the Garroway's door and look Jocelyn straight in the eye and tell her he is marrying her daughter and there is nothing she can say or do to stop it. His more rational side notes that he wouldn't make it out of that encounter alive, or if he did, Clary would probably be a bit annoyed with him. He sighed. Loathsome as he was to admit it, he knew he needed help if he had any hope in succeeding. If only stupid Lewis hadn't gotten fucking demon amnesia, he might have been useful. There was really only one person Jace could trust in this situation; his marvelously mature and rational Parabatai.
Jace knocked on Alec and Magnus's door gently. He was afraid of waking the baby. Alec opened the door with Max perched on his hip. "Hey, Max! Look at you! Have you been working on that right hook I taught you?" Jace cooed.
Alec sighed, "Hello to you too. How quickly I've become invisible. What are you doing here, Jace?"
"What? I can't come spend time with my Parabatai? My best friend? Wow, I'm not feeling the love here, Alec" Jace mocked lightly.
"Whatever. Come on in." Alec rolled his eyes as he walked towards the small kitchen to grab Max's formula.
"In all seriousness, there is something I need your advice on." Jace flopped into one of the rickety chairs and started drumming his fingers on his thighs.
"Oh, okay. Sure. What's up?" Alec immediately gave Jace his full attention as he sat and gave Max his bottle.
"Don't say anything to anyone yet, please, and that includes Magnus, Maryse, and Isabelle. This stays between us for now, got it?" Alec nodded his agreement. "Clary has agreed to marry me, but she says I have to get Jocelyn's permission, and I just don't know how in the hell I am going to do that. Jocelyn hates me, which is absurd, I know. Most women would be begging for me to marry their daughters." He joked lamely.
A look of hurt flashed through Alec's eyes briefly. "I didn't know you were planning to propose to Clary. You hadn't mentioned it."
"Well, I didn't actually propose. Some comments were made about marriage and babies while we were over here yesterday, and last night Clary and I just kind of got into a discussion about it, and it somehow ended with her agreeing to marry me if I could get Jocelyn's approval. It just kind of happened. It was not how I had ever envisioned it, but I can't say that I'm disappointed." Jace admitted.
"That's great, Jace, really. I'm glad you have Clary in your life and things have finally settled down. I certainly wouldn't have imagined three years ago that this is where we would end up, but I'm definitely not disappointed either," Alec responded with a small smile on his face. "I agree that you probably have your work cut out for you with Jocelyn. Honestly, I barely know the woman, so I can't really give you advice about her, but I do know you. Do not march into her house and tell her you are marrying her daughter and there is nothing she can do to stop you. Do not make inappropriate jokes or innuendo. Do not be cocky. Your best bet is to be honest and humble, Jace. Sit Jocelyn and Luke down and tell them exactly how you feel about Clary, about your plans for the future, and how you intend to care for their daughter. I've only been a parent for a few days and I can already tell you that the most important thing is that your child is happy and healthy." Alec shrugged as he gently burped the small blue baby.
Jace blew out a breath and ran his hands through his hair. "Shit. Can't Magnus just magic Jocelyn into agreement? Make her forget she isn't particularly fond of me?" Alec gave him a sharp look. "Kidding! Mostly. I guess I will call Luke tonight and see if I can set up a time to sit down with them soon. I just want to get this over with. Then, I can marry Clary and live happily ever after." He smirked.
"That's only in fairy tales, Jace." Alec grinned back.
"Well, you know they say, Alec. All the stories are true."
Jace and Clary stayed in Idris with the Lightwoods for the remainder of the week. Jace had planned to meet with the Garroways the next morning while Isabelle and Clary went shopping for more baby necessities. He spent most of the night watching Clary sleep peacefully. Neither one of them had mentioned their conversation again. He didn't want to bring it back up until he had talked to Jocelyn. Once Clary had been dragged out the door by Isabelle, Jace made his way to Luke's house. Luke answered the door in his usual flannel and jeans. "Jace! Good to see you. Come on in, son." He smiled politely.
Jace sat stiffly on one of the chairs as Luke called for Jocelyn to join them. Jace was always affected by the sight of Clary's mother. It was like looking into the future, despite the fact that Jocelyn was a bit taller and her hair was a few shades darker. Jocelyn sat across from Jace on the sofa next to Luke and eyed him warily. Everyone just stared at each other in awkward silence. "So, uh, I guess there are a few things that I want to say to you today, and you know, um, clear the air a bit." Jace began, clearing his throat uncomfortably, "I just want you to know how much I love your daughter. Clary has made such a huge impact on my life, and I absolutely don't know what I would do without her. She has always believed in me, even when I couldn't believe in myself. She makes me want to be a better person, and I think I am, thanks to her. I would give anything; do anything, just to make her happy. Her health and happiness are my priority, because without them I have nothing. I know you don't like me, and would have chosen someone different for your daughter, and I understand, but by some grace of god, Clary has chosen me. You are such an important part of her life, and I know that it would mean the world to her if you and I could get along better." He rushed out.
Jocelyn sighed deeply. "It's not that I don't like you. I just never wanted this life for Clary. I never wanted Valentine to find out about her. I never wanted Clary to know about Jonathan. I absolutely never wanted Clary to date a Shadowhunter, much less become one. I wanted a simpler life for her; a better life. It's not personal, Jace. I just wanted my daughter to have a long safe life far away from the shadow world."
"I understand the desire to protect her, I do, but only Clary can decide what sort of life she wants. I won't lie to you and say that I wish she chose to continue living as a mundane. I thank the angel every day for bringing Clary to me. I love her more than anything. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. Which is why I have asked her to marry me, and she has agreed, but only with your blessing, of course." Jace rubbed his sweaty palms together.
Luke and Jocelyn stared blankly at Jace. He was surprised they hadn't seen that one coming. "No. Absolutely not. Are you out of your mind? She's just a teenager!" Jocelyn responded angrily.
Luke grabbed his wife's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze to calm her. "Jocelyn, you were that age when you got married." He began.
"Yeah, and look how that turned out!" She interjected.
Luke continued, "You know things are different for Shadowhunters. You understand the lifestyle. I know you didn't want Clary to be a Shadowhunter, but she is. This is the life she has chosen. She is an adult now, and you know that she is in love with Jace. This was always inevitable, Jocelyn. You know Clary will do whatever it is she wants to do. The decision you have to make is whether or not you want to be involved. Personally, I know that as long as Clary is happy, then I'm happy. So, you better spend every day for the rest of your life trying to make her happy. Marriage is not easy, Jace, no matter how much you love each other. You better make sure you two have thought this through completely before you decide to move forward."
Jace sent Luke an appreciative glance before moving his tawny eyes back to Jocelyn's heated face. "I am not happy about this. I knew it would happen, but I would have preferred not to have to deal with it for another ten years." Jocelyn scrubbed her hands over her face, "But, Luke is right. I know my daughter. Nothing I say is going to stop her from doing what she wants, and I appreciate you trying to do the right thing by coming here today. It means a lot to Luke and I that you would consider our feelings. I may not like it, but I guess I can accept it, grudgingly at least."
The corners of Jace's mouth lifted, "Awwww, shucks. Thanks mom and dad! Group hug!"
"Get out. Get out now, before I change my mind!" Jocelyn rolled her eyes with exasperation.
"Yes, ma'am! I am off to tell my lady love to start flaunting that Herondale family ring. I can hear Isabelle squealing from here." He grinned as he sauntered out the door.