AN: Hey guys I'm back with another chapter, and I am really sorry about the stupidly long update but hopefully it will be worth the wait. Thanks for any reviews/PM I've received over for the story and I hope you all like the chapter coming up.

Jace's point of view

Clary screamed out slightly almost dropping her sketchpad and pencil in the stormy waters.

She then spun around her hand already on the hilt of her sword.

Her face soon darkened as she realised it was me and she glared at me sharply and asked "What are you doing up Goldilocks?"

I told her "I could ask you the same question and I couldn't sleep."

Clary shrugged slightly but stayed silent which was slightly irritating.

She shut her sketchpad before saying quietly "I don't sleep much. I never have really."

I nodded, wondering if I should mention her past to her or not. Then my mind told me just ask and if I get slapped or beaten up then it was worth the try "Not so good past?"

Clary's eyes glanced at me as though she was slightly surprised but she turned away quickly and told me "Not really what I would call great but it could have been a lot worse I suppose."

We stood in silence for a moment before Clary asked "What about you?"

I looked at her slightly surprised and asked "What about me?"

Clary explained "About your past."

I shrugged lightly and said "Like a prince's past, work, studying, practise fighting, you know."

That earned me a small look and an answer of "Do you seriously think I know what a prince does during his time?"

I smiled slightly and answered "Do you think I know what a pirate does during her time?"

Clary's lips twitched as she said "Touché."

Again we stood in silence before I asked her "So what's all the secrecy of the sketchpad about then?"

Clary actually kept her eyes trained on me as she answered "Oh this? It's basically my diary."

I raised my eyebrows and asked "Without words?"

That earned me a sigh before she explained "I'm an odd person, most people think and express themselves by words, I don't. I think in pictures and the only way to let that out in my way is to draw what I think instead of writing it."

I tilted my head to the side and studied Clary as she hugged her pad close to her chest before I asked "You good at drawing Fray?"

Clary shrugged lightly and said "I'm not the worse; I think that goes to Si, even his stick men look demented."

I laughed and told her "He can't be that bad surely."

Clary smirked and replied "Just wait until you see him try and draw battle plans tomorrow."

We both fell silent for a while before I asked her "Can I ask you something?"

A few moments of silence passed before Clary said hesitantly "You just did."

I gave her a long look and she finally sighed and said "Okay, yes you can."

"Do you ever miss your home?"

Clary frowned slightly and asked "What do you mean?"

I took a small breath before I started "Well you said when we were in the prison that you were from the same country as I and my family were. And as we've been on the ship for a while I was wondering if you ever miss your old home with your family and living on land."

Clary nodded and then said slowly "Not really. My blood family are all dead and the only person who ties me to your land now is Luke, who took me aboard this ship ten years ago. And since then the ship has become somewhat my home and the crew my family. Like my mum used to say once you get a taste of freedom, you instantly crave more of it until it becomes an addiction. That's really what pirates are, we don't want to be ruled or ordered around like puppets as everyone else is; we want to be free, make our own decisions and choices instead of being told what to do. Though on this ship still our freedom is limited as we are sworn to hunt demons down and stop them hurting as little of people as we can, most of the time resulting in our deaths. But I will admit I'd rather put my life on edge every day for the rest of my life than to give up all costs of freedom and be a puppet for one family."

She then seemed to realise who she had just said that to and tensed up slightly before saying "If it makes you feel better your family isn't the worst I've seen."

I shrugged lightly and reassured her "It's fine, my family aren't the best rulers I know, and I walk through the town every week on market days so I see what the people do."

Clary nodded and opened her mouth to say something but was cut off by a man called to her, still climbing down from the pole "Hey Princess! You and your boyfriend relieving me?"

At this I jumped slightly but Clary just smirked at me before calling back "Did the Cap say so? And he is not my boyfriend Ragnor."

The man shrugged and said "No idea but the offers up for you and your boyfriend if you want to take it."

Clary sighed and said "Not my boyfriend but I'll take the offer up of relieving you. Who's after me?"

Then shrugged and told her "I'll ask the lads, taking your boy up too?"

His question earned me a slight glance from Clary before she answered "No he needs to rest up for tomorrow if he wants to survive it."

I glared at her as Clary and Ragnor's soft chuckles lifted into the air and Ragnor said "I'll make sure he does Miss Fray."

Clary nodded her head in approval before grabbing a rope and beginning to climb up it quickly and it wasn't long before she reached the small platform and clambered onto it causing me to lose view of her.

One of Ragnor's hands then clamped onto my shoulder and he quickly guided me away from the center of the ship and towards the cabins.

I was about to walk in when Ragnor's hand tightened on my shoulder and he said "I wanted a word with you before you go to bed actually Jonathan Herondale."

I turned to face him and asked as calmly as I could "What about?"

"About a certain person on this ship. The certain person being called Clary Fray."

My blood ran cold at the sound of her name like it always used to do at home when Maryse had told me, Alec, Max and Izzy about pirates and all the stories that follow them around though I asked back casually "What about Clary?"

Ragnor stepped forward slightly and told me "You like many of our prisoners and crew seem to have developed a, what you could call, small crush on Clary."

I went to open my mouth to argue but Ragnor kept talking "I know that you're probably going to ignore that and tell me that I am crazy for thinking so but I know that you at least like her more than a normal person would. I don't blame you really, she's a very pretty young girl who has a lot of talent but all I'm saying is that don't get your hopes up to high because I've been on this ship for the entire time Luke has owned it and I have never seen Clary give another man or even woman a single glance that suggests she likes them without it being a way of getting money."

This time when I opened my mouth, Ragnor actually let me speak "Getting money?"

Ragnor pushed a hand through his dark hair and told me "Everyone on this ship takes the fact that the kid is a girl as an advantage. You've surely done those nights when you want to get away from the palace and gone to a bar to get wasted and then laid by someone."

I hung my head slightly ashamed as I said "Unfortunately I happen to do that a lot more than I'd like to admit."

Ragnor carried on as though I'd said nothing "We often use her to somewhat flirt with the men whilst we steal from them. Most of the time she growls and grumbles afterwards and to be honest we owe her a lot more than what anyone here would ever even like to think we do. Anyway what I was saying is that just don't get your hopes up about her because she has a lot on her plate now, especially with everyone telling her that she's way to weak and female to handle this lifestyle when she's clearly not."

Now he looked up towards where Clary had gone to and said softly "I miss her from when she was a kid and before her family died. She used to visit the ship and Luke often, had a very soft heart and loved having the wind fly through her hair and clothes and she'd laugh as we'd work and challenge us to fake sword fights. But after her family went she went downhill, her eyes leaked more tears than I'd ever seen them do before, she used to wake up in the night screaming her brother's name. She lost everything that day and she's never quite got that everything back again. So maybe you liking her is a good thing, she craves love that girl, she won't admit it to anyone not even herself but all she wants is to find a way to have another family. Maybe you could give her that but I will warn you though everyone teases Clary for being a girl, if you decide to mess with her, you mess with the entire ship and it's crew."

My blood felt ice cold as it raced through my body and Ragnor said quietly "But if you mean it, as though you seriously mean it, then good luck Jace Herondale because you'll be needing it."

Ragnor then turned on his heel and walked through the door leaving me standing outside watching the area where Clary was up there before her slightly annoyed voice came down along with a rope "Well Goldilocks if you ain't going to bed you might as well put something useful to your time."

I smiled at the rope before calling back "How do I climb up?"

Clary's eye roll was obvious in her voice as she told me "Jeez, can you do anything Herondale? Just hold on and I'll pull you up."

I gripped the rope tightly before Clary's voice came again "I'd make a foot hole if I were you."

I frowned up and asked "What?"

That earned me a soft sigh but suddenly a flash of colours came zooming down another rope and landed next to me and said "Seriously do you have a brain in that head?"

I scowled at Clary who was smirking at me as I insisted "I do, just not a pirate one."

Clary chuckled before grabbing my rope and saying "Here, you make a loop with it so you can stand on the rope so you won't fall."

She then handed it to me and told me "Now wait here until I'm up there and then tug on the rope three times when you're ready so I know when to pull you up."

I nodded and watched her as she grabbed her own rope and scaled up the pole easily as though it was how she spent years practising to do which she probably has.

Again she soon disappeared and she called down "You ready to come up Barbie boy?"

I stepped on the rope quickly before I called back "Are you sure you can pull me up Red?"

Clary sounded slightly irritated now as she called back "If I can pull the crew up then I think I can handle you Goldilocks, just tug three times when you're ready."

Okay I'll admit I am slightly nervous, I mean I'm lying my hands in the life of one of my sworn enemies and a rope, but I could tell that if I didn't go up for at least a little while Clary would tease me about it for the rest of my time on this ship, so I grabbed the rope tightly and tugged three times.

There was no movement for a few moments and I opened my mouth to call up to Clary but as soon as it opened, the rope was pulled and I shot up a couple of metres which I yelped at slightly.

A small pale face appeared leaning over as a voice called down "You okay?"

I called back, my voice luckily not betraying my nerves "I'm fine, carry on."

"As the prince insists." The reply came followed by another pull.

What was probably a few minutes, but to me felt like hours, later I was nearly there when I said "Um Clary?"

Clary glanced at me as she asked "What?"

I looked at her and said "This rope is going to give out so- ahhh!" The rope beneath me gave way and I slipped down the rope a little, causing my hands to burn.

Clary's curses could just about be heard as she called "Hang on a sec!"

I glanced down at the deck which looked so far away now and yelled back "What else do you want me to do? Let go?"

A few seconds later Clary's face peered over the edge and she told me "Well I meant as in wait whilst I tied a knot in the rope so you don't fall further but take it whichever way you want. And actually yes, I need you to let go of the rope with one hand or you're going to fall down."

I asked her "Are you crazy? We're meant to be enemies and now you're telling me that you're helping me?"

Clary rolled her eyes and told me "Trust me, I thought of that too but if you don't want to die then you're going to have to listen to what I say."

A pale hand then reached out towards me and she told me "Take my hand and I'll pull you up."

I studied her hand for a few seconds before asking again "Are you crazy?"

Clary considered this for a second before answering "Quite possibly, but if you don't want to fall to your death you're going to have to trust me."

I sent her a sharp look as I argued "Why would I trust a pirate?"

"Because a pirate is you're only hope of not dying, now grab my hand!"

I studied her for a moment before closing my eyes and reluctantly letting go of the rope with one hand and throwing it towards Clary's hoping it would reach.

For a moment my hand met empty air and I wondered if Clary had left me to hang here until I fall, but then small fingers curled around my wrist causing my eyes to snap open in surprise and I heard Clary say "Gotcha."

Now another hand set on the inside of my elbow and Clary's voice said calmly "Okay, now all you need to do is when I pull you up I want you to let go of the rope completely and grab my other arm and then I'll pull you up to the right height okay?"

I nodded, not trusting my voice to not give away how scared I was.

Clary nodded back and said "Good."

A pull on my arm from Clary soon came and I quickly let go of the rope, this time my hand automatically finding Clary's and she smiled slightly before yet again pulling me, sending me soaring upwards and at last, onto the deck.

Unfortunately as she pulled me up, Clary lost her footing and slipped backwards, and as I was still holding onto her hands tightly, I ended up falling forwards and on top of her which caused Clary to hiss slightly.

I winced and told her "Sorry."

Clary's voice shook slightly as she answered "It's my fault, my boot slipped."

I studied her for a moment before asking "Are you okay?"

Clary nodded and said "Fine, you're just heavy when you're practically lying on me."

I winced again and moved off her and asked "Are you calling me fat?"

Clary shrugged and said "If you want to take it that way, yes."

I mock glared at her and Clary asked mockingly "Is that anyway to treat the person who just saved your ass?"

"Yes considering she just called me fat."

"Well you've still got hold of my wrists."

I went to argue back but then I realised that she was telling the truth, I was still gripping her wrists tightly from when she pulled me up.

Quickly, I let go of her and winced again as I realised I burnt my hands pretty bad on the rope.

Clary's eyes flickered down to them for a second and looked like she was about to say something but then stopped herself and stood up.

We were silent for a moment before curiosity got the best of me and I asked "What were you going to say?"

Some of the loose curls bounced around as Clary shook her head and said "You wouldn't want it anyway."

I frowned and asked "What wouldn't I want?"

Clary sighed before nodding to my hands and saying "I was going to offer you some medical stuff and help with your hands but I doubt you'd take it."

I glanced down at my hands before looking back up at Clary and asking "Why wouldn't I want your help?"

Her emerald green eyes flickered towards me for a single second before they looked away and she said "We're meant to be enemies, and I'm a pirate. Would you trust a pirate let alone an enemy pirate?"

I tilted my head slightly before answering "No, but you're different because as I quote, you saved my ass."

Clary smiled a little and said "Okay then I'll offer. Do you want some stuff for your hands and my help?"

I smirked as I teased her "No, you're a pirate."

That earned me an eye roll and a reply of "Well tough luck because otherwise your hands are going to kill tomorrow in training."

She then knelt next to me and grabbed a bottle from a box nearby before she said "Okay this is going to sting but it's worth it."

I nodded but still gasped and winced as the liquid hit my sore skin and Clary smiled slightly before dabbing it carefully across my whole palm.

Then she started to bandage them up carefully, making it look more like fingerless gloves than bandages before she finished and said "There, that should do it. Tomorrow they should be good as new."

I looked at my hands and said "So I don't get off training tomorrow?"

Clary rolled her eyes and told me "Well you could but you'll be teased for being such a chicken so I wouldn't recommend it mate."

I chuckled slightly as Clary added on mate to the end of her sentence and she frowned at me for a moment before asking "What's so funny?"

My laughter seemed to hit me more as I teased her "Nothing, mate."

Clary opened her mouth to argue but realised I was already laughing too much to care so she just rolled her eyes and moved towards the edge and studied the sea.

Soon my laughter faded and I said "Sorry but it's funny when you say pirate things."

Clary glanced back at me as she asked "Pirate things?"

I nodded and explained "Like mate or lass or aye."

That earned me a scowl from Clary as she said "Anyone can say those things mate, aye pirates may use it more but that's not meant to be the point."

As soon as she finished I burst out laughing again and Clary must have realised what she said as a blush built up in her cheeks and she turned away and muttered "Stupid sea language."

I soon stopped laughing and managed to ask "So what do you actually do up here?"

Clary clicked her tongue quietly and gestured around and asked "What do you think we do up here?"

I eyed the bottles of alcohol on a barrel and offered "Get drunk?"

A laugh came from Clary in response which surprised me slightly before I asked "Wrong?"

Clary told me "Partially, I was hoping you'd go for up here we keep watch for other ships, in particular enemy ships."

I stood up and walked over next to her and looked at the waves and told her "I don't see anything."

Clary rolled her eyes and said "Well not at the moment, but we use it so if enemy ships are coming to try and kill us all, we are at least slightly prepared."

I nodded and said "So you just keep watch basically?"

A small smile curved on her lips and said "Pretty much, and then if we see any enemy ships, we pull the piece of rope over there which ring the bells over there," She gestured towards a piece of rope and then towards small bells dotted around the ship before continuing "So we can all prepare for an attack if it is necessary and then if they attack, we fight."

I nodded again and said "That simple huh?"

Clary shook her head softly as she told me "It was designed to be easy, we don't want to them to attack whilst we're trying to ring the bells now do we?"

I shrugged before looking back out to sea only to hear footsteps come up behind me and Clary said "Before you ask, I'm simply telling him the basics of what we do Magnus Bane."

Magnus' voice came floating over "Well doesn't look like it to me Sweetheart."

Clary turned on her heels and said "Nothing is ever as it seems Mags, you get used to it."

Magnus sighed and told Clary "Hmmm well you two could make a good couple."

Me and Clary both yelled out in sync "What?!"

That earned us a grin and a comment of "Synchronised speaking already? Definitely a great couple."

I argued "We're meant to be enemies, and not to mention I'm a prince."

Magnus sighed dramatically and said "A forbidden love, what a better tale than that?"

Clary seemed to snap out of her staring at Magnus in disbelief part and she told him "No romantic tale at all is the winner."

Magnus whined at her "Awww you're no fun Fray."

Clary smirked at him and said "Good, because you, Magnus Bane, are way too over fun."

Magnus winked and told her "And that's why you love me, Clary Fray."

Clary rolled her eyes and asked "Are you taking over?"

"Of course sweetheart, otherwise I wouldn't interrupt your date with you golden prince here."

That earned him a sharp glare from Clary as she reminded him "Three things, one you are either extremely late or you're meant to be on after whoever's watch I'm taking. Two it is not a date in any way shape or form."

Magnus raised an eyebrow and asked "And three?"

"Even if it had been a date, you would have totally interrupted trying to see if we're doing something other than watching for enemy ships." Clary carried on.

I choked slightly and asked "Something other than watching for enemy ships? Up here? No thanks."

Clary gave me a small smirk before she turned back to Magnus and said "Now if you don't mind me, I'm going to go to bed and maybe actually get some sleep."

I followed her quietly to the two ropes and Clary handed me the full length one and told me "Basically just hold on tight and make sure to start running in mid-air near the bottom or you will likely break your feet."

I nodded patiently and Magnus called to us "Night Golden Prince and Sweetheart."

Clary waved a hand in his general direction before jumping of the small ledge and disappearing from sight until she reached the bottom and called up "Okay you're safe to go Goldilocks."

I nodded and then bid Magnus goodnight before hesitantly stepping off the ledge.

Within seconds my feet hit the ground and I stumbled slightly but Clary's hands caught me just in time for me not to fall flat in my face.

I looked at her for a moment before I nodded at her and said "I take it you're going to bed?"

Clary nodded and replied "I recommend you do the same to, we don't want you too tired for practise tomorrow now do we?"

I mock scowled at her which caused her to smile before she said "Goodnight Jace."

The use of my real name stunned me slightly and by the time my mind cleared again, Clary's door locked up so I only had time to say faintly to the midnight air "Goodnight Clary."

I then sneaked back into the room where everyone was sleeping in and I laid in my hammock for a while, waiting for sleep.

By the time sleep eventually came, the last thing I could recall was a pair of emerald green eyes.

AN: And that is another chapter over and done with. Again I am sorry about the ridiculously long updates I've had recently, as I have been working on some other stories. Anyway please review the story as I really do appreciate them, even if they're criticism and well I hope you liked the chapter and until I next update it's goodbye from me.