Later that Tuesday night Clary still could not get the blonde out from her mind. Deciding to focus on Peter, she set his dinner down on the makeshift dining room table which was really a coffee table. She decided to call in sick tomorrow being she would not have her car and the day care would be closed because of some invention conference Helen, Aline, and Lydia always went too. Clary was eating her chicken as she watched Peter finger the small bite size pieces.

"What's on your mind babe?" She asked. Peter loved his food, and had yet to take a bite.
"Are you scared of anything Mama?" The child asked bluntly.

Clary dropped her fork. Damn her kids was intuitive. Of course she was afraid of something, many things actually. Meeting new people, trusting someone, loving someone. She thought. Deciding that these concepts were too vast and lengthy to explain to Peter she decided for an honest answer that would be simple.

"Drawing." She told her son.

It was true. Clary used to love drawing it was such an outlet, sketching, the passion and everything about it. However, Sebastian used it as a weapon against her, made her do unspeakable things to become the best and now it haunted her. She hasn't sketched since she got to the states.

"I'm scared of cars." He said honestly as if she couldn't tell. He saw a big accident that terrified him for weeks. "I know baby, but your so brave for facing your fear." She assured squeezing his hand.

Before she could register what was going on, Peter uncrossed his feet from underneath him and walked past her to his room. With in secents he came back with paper and his box of crayons, colour pencils. It was scary how smart he was. The paper and crayons out on the table, Peter looked up at her.

"Draw with me Mama." He said pulling loosely on her hand to were the art supply's were.
Clary looked bewildered at her son.
"You help me face my fear everyday, I want to help you." He said earnestly.
And god, call her soft but the statement made her cry. Not able to say no to him, she moved forward and they started drawing. Peter was drawing with his crayons, she found herself, sketching him, smiling as she sketched her son.

She forgot all the times that art was used against her and lost herself in the sketch like old times. However, she was disturbed by a knock on the door. She stopped, put her sketch down, and caught her breath. Suddenly scared of not knowing who was on the other side, she lifted Peter.

"Hey, can you go in your room for a few minutes? Maybe go through some toys." She asked.
He nodded happily, smiling as her grab the drawings and art supplies and she kissed his head as he conquered the stairs.

Slowly creeping to the door looking in sight for the nearest weapon, she pulled the door open. She was relieved at who was at her doorstep and also confused.

"Jace?" She said raising an eyebrow.
"Clary, hi." He said a bit nervous.
"Oh I'm sorry -" She began explaining thinking there was a reason he was here.
"I hope uh, this isn't a bad time I just brought you something. A house warming gift if you will?" He offered shyly, as if she hadn't said anything.

Clary could not help but blush over how thoughtful he was. Holding out a bouquet of flowers. She smiled and accepted it. "I hope you like them, I wasn't sure what to get you so I just," He began ranting nervously. "I love them." She said easing his anxiety with a smile as she sniffed the flowers.

"Thank you, realy." She said still taken aback by the all this. "Nah, it's nothing just a welcome to the neighborhood gift." He shrugged. Clary looked up as his eyes bored into her. They were staring at each other for god knows how long until Clary cleared his throat

"I'm sorry I should go I don't want to keep you from your meal." He said gesturing to the plate visible behind the door.
"Yeah, I guess so…"She said a bit sadly.
"Thank you again Jace, really." She said offering a wide smile.
"Your welcome Clary, I hope to see you around. Have a nice night." he grinned, and turned to leave her porch.

And, in the nick of time Peter returned from his room. "Who was that Mama?" He asked curiously.

"No one baby, let's eat." She told Peter with a tight lipped smile.
He nodded and sat back down.

…..

Jace walked back to his house happy with how it went with Clary. Though, as cheesy as it sounded Clary seemed different therefore, as he walked into his house he could not wipe the smile from his face.
"Where were you?" a voice questioned.
"Out. Plus what are you even doing here?" He asked.
"Visiting." Alec retorted.
Jace scoffed, and Alec rolled his eyes.
"Izzy wanted me to check on you." Alec explained honestly.
Alec lived with his husband and their two boys, Max and Raphael . His husdend was Magnus Bane who was a general surgeon at the hospital.
"I see, but we saw each other at work" Jace responded, not even realizing his lips were still turned upwards.
"Izzy." as if that was an answer and it was.

Seriously man, what's got you all giddy?" Alec interrogated further.
"I bet it's a woman." Alec claimed. "Wait till' Magnus and Izzy hears!" Alec cackled. God he would have a lot of phone calls from Izzy in the morning. "Goodnight Alec, lock the door when you leave." Jace said climbing the steps.

…..

Days went on and what Jace thought was a onetime thing was not. He could not get Clary Fray out of his damned head. The smile he was sure could light the darkest of tunnels, sparkling emerald orbs, fiery red head, and not to mention her wonderful personality, not shallow like other woman he knew. Groaning audibly, he got up and decided to focus on getting ready for work.

Jace's shift started around noon today, so when he arrived everyone was already well into their day. Sitting at his desk he said hello to both Alec and Simon. Simon replied with a pat on his shoulder, as Alec remained silent nose deep into paperwork. Ten minutes later, he heard Alec let out an annoyed sound and both Simon and himself raised an eyebrow to their friend.

"Someone distract me, I need a break." He declared running a hand down his face.
"Ah, the Redhead again." Simon said coming to a realization.
"Yes." Alec bit out.
"Why is Luke so adamant about this anyway?" Simon asked.

"Not sure, it's pretty messy. The victim, a young woman in witness protection is still in danger. Plus he is all riled up after he received word they're snooping around in New Jersey for her." Alec explained.
Both Jace and Simon nodded.
"Let's not talk about work." Alec declared.
"You guys heading to Aline and Helen's Saturday?" Simon asked.
"Yeah." Jace and Alec said at the same time.
"Good, I'm looking forward to it." Simon finished and turned back to his case file.

…..

The rest of the week went by and Jace had luckily seen Clary. However he was disappointed he did not get to talk to her, only observing from a distance. Most times he saw her around four o'clock knee deep in the back seat of her car reaching for something. He would wave briefly and she would smile back as he entered his house. On Friday night he saw her out on the porch swing with a book in her hand, as he was returning after a fifteen hour shift. He didn't want to disturb her focus so he smiled to himself as he saw her. He also swore he saw a small body curled to her side but figured it must have been exhaustion as he yawned and treaded into his home. It was currently Saturday and he was disheartened by the lack of contact he has had with her. It's weird that they have had all of two conversation and already he could confirm that absence does make the heart grow fonder. Pushing down these emotions he dressed, excited to spend the evening with the his friends at Aline and Helen's cookout.

…..

Clary observed herself in the mirror as Peter kicked his feet off the side of her bed as he watched something on the tablet.

"Mama, we are going to be late." He said.

"I don't know baby, maybe we should stay home?" She questioned nervously.

"No! I want to go please!" He groaned giving his best doe eyes.

Unable to deny that look she apprehensively shook her head. "Fine. Let me change" She groaned. Deciding on her final outfit, an over sized grey sweater dress paired with ankle boots as her hair fell in elegant waves. "Ready babe?" She asked emerging from the bathroom.

He nodded jumping from the bed and flying down the stairs and out the front door.
Clary buckled him in safety and started the car, and put the car in drive and grabbed the wheel.

She was already twenty minutes late and having regrets. Yesterday at daycare Aline and Helen introduce het to their twins, Hope and Emma. To both their understanding Peter, Hope, and Emma have become fast friends and she insisted on inviting him to their annual cookout on every second Saturday of November. Helen also told Clary it would give her a chance to meet more of the town's residents. Clary said she would try her best to make it and made some lame excuse about unpacking, she nodded understanding but Peter was not as sympathetic. He begged for the entire day to go and she finally agreed, so now she was pulling up to the brightly lit house. Holding Peters hand as she walked to the door noticing the amount of cars on the street and noise from the house making her more uneasy she knocked.


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