A/N: Chapter 3! Thanks to everyone that is reading this fic! Hope you all enjoy.

Chapter 3

Life as a Fray, was something that had taken getting used to. Living in New York, for starters. Growing up as a mundane, for mains. Charlie was able to focus on things she had never been able to before. Going to normal school, hanging out with friends, watching TV and playing video games; these were things that she had never even experienced. Her life before had been focused on training and the history of Shadowhunters and the Clave and Runes and all sorts of things that mundanes have no idea about. Charlie decided almost instantly that she wanted to keep up her training so Jocelyn found her a martial arts studio where she could practise without Clary finding out. There were a lot of things that Jocelyn didn't want Clary finding out. She had told Charlie that she must tell everyone that her parents died in a car crash and that was why she had been adopted by the Fray's. She was told not to tell anyone about the Shadowhunter world including Clary. She was told not to bring up her past at the institute, her training or how she got to New York, and was told to always wear a glamour over her runes so that Clary couldn't see them. Jocelyn had also explained to why she must do all these things. She admitted that the head of the Circle was after them and she was trying to keep Clary safe. Charlie, being slightly older than Clary felt an overwhelming urge to protect her and so agreed as long as she could still train.

So that was why, 8 years later, when Clary and Simon walked in to the studio to find Charlie flipping and using her seraph blade, they were a little bit confused.

July 12th 2013

Charlie POV

I flipped and spun working though my formations, using my blade to finish my moves with a sharp point. The strength in my core burned as I flipped backwards from standing to land on my knees and swiped my blade in front of me, to knock out the feet of the imaginary opponent. The door to the studio clanged shut and I flicked my eyes to stare angrily at the person who was interrupting my session. My face soon changed from anger to panic. Clary and Simon were staring at me, mouths open in a gape.

"OH MY GOD!" Simon yelled excitedly, "YOU'RE A FRIGGIN' BADASS!" He jumped around excitedly before stilling and pointing at me. "That's why you don't like action movies. Because you think you could do them better?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"No, I just don't like action movies with action for no reason. There has to be a point for the action. Why put in a pointless car chase when you could walk there faster!" I argued back, hoping to change the subject from what they had just seen.

"BECAUSE IT'S COOL!" Simon groaned loudly. This was his only point in this argument and I still wasn't convinced. I rolled my eyes and glanced over to Clary. She stood, still gaping at me. I walked up to her.

"Mum taught me," I whispered, hoping this would be enough to get her to leave it alone. Closing her mouth she nodded gently and turned to place a hand on Simon's shoulder. Poor boy had been in love with her for as long as I had known him. Clary had no idea. Simon was our rock; for different reasons, but out rock all the same. For Clary, he had been her best friend for 10 years. They did everything together and spent copious amounts of time with each other. For her, he had always been there whenever she needed him, and vice versa. For me, Simon was my tie to the mundane world. He taught me everything there was to know about movies, and TV and video games. We would spend hours arguing over which Harry Potter house celebrities would be in and which Lord of the Rings character we would be ourselves. He helped me blend in in the mundane world. He was the reason that Clary and I were safe from the dangers of the Shadowhunter world. He was our rock. Our boy. Our best friend. Clary had been over the moon when Jocelyn had told her that I was coming to live with them. Simon wasn't as sure as he thought I would take Clary away from him. Bless his 8 year old mind. To his credit as soon as he discovered my lack of Mundie knowledge he took me under his wing as well. I'll be forever grateful for that, to the both of them. Not that I would ever tell them that. I have a reputation to uphold. One which I now realised would benefit immensely from the recent discovery of my fighting abilities. Turning my attention back to the pair, I narrowed my eyes.

"What are you doing here?" I asked curious as to what they were up to.

"Coffee?" Clary said in a sing-songy tone.

"I don't like coffee. You know that. What are you up too?" Clary and Simon blinked at me before turning on their heels and sprinting out the door. Rolling my eyes again, I grabbed my bag and jacket and followed after them. I knew where they were going. Clary mentioned coffee, they'd be at Java Jones. Walking the familiar route from the studio to Java Jones, I smiled thinking about the last 8 years. I had slotted in quite quickly with the Fray's. We'd never had any issues with the paperwork, Luke did an amazing job with them, I got settled into school quite quickly, made some friends my own age but had always been closest to Clary and Simon. I don't know why. Maybe because of how quickly they had accepted me, or maybe because I saw them as more than friends, as family.
I grinned thinking of all the trouble we had got into over the years. The most recent was Clary, Simon and I sneaking into Mrs Lewis' liquor cabinet and getting black out drunk. Simon got the blame, of course. Clary and I felt bad but at the time we were so hungover we just wanted to go home and sleep for 3 weeks. The bollocking we got off Jocelyn and Luke wasn't fun, but at least she waited until we had recovered; I'm not sure we could have handled it still hungover. I grinned at the memory of Clary pulling herself into my bed and saying, "Never again," although it sounded more like, "Urghhh Urghhh." I got what she meant though.

Reaching Java Jones, I furrowed my brows to see the shutters down. Pushing the door, I discovered it to be open. Walking inside, I gripped hold of my blade's hilt, just in case. Without warning, the lights flicked on and a crowd of people said, "SURPRISE!" Looking around I could see Simon and Clary with massive grins on their faces, Maureen (Simon and Clary's friend, I always found her a bit dull), Jocelyn, Luke, a couple of people I knew from school and the staff of Java Jones who I'd known for years. Simon and Clary bundled up to me and handed me a wrapped gift each. Clary had given me a beautiful pair or emerald studs, whilst Simon being Simon had bought me a Time Turner on a chain. I grinned up at the pair of them and pulled them into a hug. The night moved quite swiftly after that, we danced, we drank (I mean they drank, Luke and Jocelyn, we wouldn't drink…no…not after Mrs Lewis' cabinet…never) and ended up on the roof of our apartment looking up at the stars.

"So, what now?" Simon said turning to look at me.

"What do you mean?" I said looking back at him.

"Well you've graduated. You've got offers from several colleges but you haven't accepted any." I sighed. This was becoming a usual conversation between Simon and me. But it wasn't like I could tell him that I hadn't accepted any places because I was worried that if I left Clary would be in more danger then she was before. If I left, there would only be Jocelyn and Luke to protect her. It may sound like enough but 6 hands is better than 4.

"I'm thinking about picking City." I said to him. He laughed.

"Of Brooklyn? You have offers from all over the country and you're going to stay here?" I smiled.

"I like it here. I like the noise. It wouldn't feel right being anywhere else." These were just excuses, and I think Simon knew it too, but he let it go. Soft snores to my left made me giggle. Clary was fact asleep. Simon saw what I was looking at and laughed as well.

"When are you going to tell her, Si?" I ask quietly. His laughter trailed off into silence.

"I dunno, Char," He whispered. "What am I supposed to say? Oh hey there Clary. I've been in love with you since we were 8 years old, but I never told you coz I didn't wanna make it weird." I nodded.

"Yeah." Simon laughed. "You can't keep it to yourself forever. What happens when she meets someone? Someone she likes? What happens if you lose your chance?"

"I'll tell her." He says finally. "I will." He didn't sound convinced. Neither was I.

"What Harry Potter house do you think Brad Pitt would be in?" I said quickly changing the subject.

"Slytherin." He replied instantly. "No-one is that handsome and is also clever/brave/kind so he must be Slytherin." I nodded.

"Sound logic, my padawan." He laughs.

"Thank you, Master." He clasps his hands together and bends his head as much as he can lying on his back.

I finally settled on City. It's not too far from the apartment so I could visit all the time and I could still keep my eye on Clary. It was fine. I made more friends and even had a romantic interest or two. Clary wouldn't let that slide.

"So what's she like?" she asked me one day as we were doing the dishes. I chuckled and said,

"Better than David but not as good as wine." I joked. She laughed. When I had come out to Clary as bi, she took it much better than I thought she would. She just said,

"Okay cool, so any boyfriends/girlfriends I should know about?" and that was it. I was grateful for it. It had never bothered me but seeing the struggle some people face made me more nervous about it. None of the relationships ever lasted. There was one that seemed perfect, but that's a story for another time. For the most part the excuse was that apparently I'm not emotionally available enough. What the fuck does that even mean?! Whatever. I'm not bitter. Actually yes I am. Emotionally available! I was physically available, isn't that what matters? I was there. I was present. Clary tells me that's it about being there for each other emotionally. How can you be there for someone emotionally, if you don't know what their emotions are? She says that's my problem. Not obvious enough with what I'm feeling. I told her, "If someone knows me well enough, they will know what I'm feeling." She just gave me a look that said, 'Enjoy being single, forever!' I tell you, if I'm gonna find someone for me, all of this emotional availability stuff needs to be something that both of us are confused by.

Anyway, about 2 years went by in the same old, same old fashion, where nothing interesting is happening and every day feels like the one previously, before the night that changed all our lives forever.

I got out of the cab, paid the driver and grinned at the building in front of me. It was quite early, about 7ish but I wanted to see Clary before she went to her interview. She had got an interview with The Brooklyn Academy of Art. She was amazing at drawing, always had been. One guy described her as a female Michelangelo. Rushing up the stairs, I let myself in and saw that no-one was up yet, so I raided the fridge and started making pancakes. About 10 seconds after I put some in the pan, I heard the door to Clary's bedroom creak open and a tired voice say,

"Are those pancakes?" I turned and grinned at her.

"Birthday pancakes," I laughed as her expression of exhaustion turned to one of excitement, and she bounded up to me giving me a tight hug around the waist. I hugged back for a second before pushing her to the table and flipping the pancakes. The front door opened and a pyjama clad Simon walked in.

"Are those pancakes?" He sniffed the air.

"Birthday pancakes," Clary chirped, staring at Simon's attire. You might be thinking, how Simon knew I was making pancakes. I text him, and sent the taxi to him after I got out. I grinned and said,

"You couldn't even get dressed?" Simon looked up at me with a scowl.

"That taxi driver was mean. He was beeping outside the house until I got in. I didn't have time to get dressed before all the neighbours made a noise complaint." I chuckled and heaped some pancakes onto his and Clary's awaiting plates. They tucked in immediately.

"Better?" I asked the pair. Clary made a noise of agreement and Simon said,

"Totally worth it." Making some for myself, I sat down with the pair.

"So, 18!" I nudged Clary's arm as she grinned at me. "Do you want your present now or later?" Clary's face said that was a stupid question. "Okay," I laughed, rooting through my bag and pulling out a wrapped box. Taking it from me, she carefully unwrapped it and gasped at the contents. I had taken a picture of Simon, Clary and I ages 8 and 10, another one at 13 and 15 and another at 17 and 19; all three were set in an ornate frame. In every picture we stood with Clary in the middle, Simon on the left and me on the right. The comparisons were easy to make, that's why I picked them. Clary's eyes were filling with tears. I grinned at her,

"Do you like it?" Without words she placed the frame down on the table and threw her arms round me; well, as well she could from her seated position. I laughed, "I'll take that as a yes!"

"I remember this!" Simon grinned pointing at the middle picture. "That was the day you pushed me in the lake!" Clary and I laughed as he mock glared at me.

"You were asking for it Si." I stated with a massive grin on my face. Jocelyn's door opened and she came to join us at the table, grabbing a few pancakes for herself.

"What's all the commotion?" She smiled. Clary picked up the frame and showed Jocelyn.

"Charlie got it for me." Jocelyn smirked at the middle picture as Simon continued to scowl at the memory.

"It's lovely, Charlie." She put her hand on my knee and squeezed. "I'm going to give you your present later Clary, if that's okay. I still need to wrap it." I furrowed my brows at her. I thought she was getting her an easel, which was already wrapped and stocked in my old room. What was she up to? Clary suddenly caught the time and gasped.

"I got to get ready. My interviews at 11." I rolled my eyes. Only Clary would take 3 ½ hours to get ready for an interview. Practising her breathing exercises no doubt. She jumped up from the table and ran to her room, pausing halfway, turning and giving me a swift kiss on the cheek.

"Welcome home," she whispered in my ear before running off again. "And thanks for the pancakes!" I smirked and glanced at Jocelyn who was staring at Simon.

"Simon, why are you in your pyjamas?" I hooted with laughter before standing up, grabbing Simon's arm and pulling him out the door.

We decided to walk to his. He only lived 5 minutes away. We got a couple of strange looks, but nothing too major. It was New York, it would take more than a man in his pyjamas to get seen as strange. Arriving at his house, I threw myself onto his bed waiting for him to get ready. He stared at me for a moment.

"What?" I furrowed my brows in confusion.

"You're just… gonna… watch me… get dressed?" Simon stuttered still staring at me. I rolled my eyes.

"Would you like me to turn round?" I asked sarcastically. Simon nodded.

"Yeah, turning round is good. Leaving the room is better." I laughed.

"Turning round it is." I tuned onto my front and picked up a comic from beside his bed. I had never gotten in to comic books, to Simon's horror. I flicked through the pages looking at the pictures. I heard Simon sigh from behind me and start shuffling around getting ready. I chuckled and continued flicking through the pages. "So what are we doing tonight?" I called over my shoulder.

"Umm, Clary, you and I plus Maureen are going partying after our gig." I gasped.

"I'd forgotten you had a gig tonight. Forever Young right?" He laughed.

"Yeah that one of them. Okay, I'm done." I flipped over and smiled at him.

"You listened to me for once!" Simon look confused.

"I told you to perform Forever Young and you are." I gestured as if saying 'See?' He smirked and motioned for us to leave.

"Bye Mom," Simon yelled.

"Bye Mama Lewis!" I smirked as Simon rolled his eyes and we trudged back to ours. Clary was still 'getting ready' when we arrived back (breathing exercises, I'm telling you) so we flopped in front of the telly. Two episodes of Teen Wolf later, Clary came out of her room with her sketch pad and a determined look on her face.

"Ready?" I asked.

"Ready!" She said, spun on her heel and headed out the door. Simon and I trailed after her with matching grins.

I could tell she was nervous. Simon could tell she was nervous. Hell, even the doorman could tell she was nervous. She was bouncing from foot to foot, staring up the imposing structure that housed The Brooklyn Academy of Art. I spun her round, holding her shoulders tight.

"Clary, Stop!" I pressed. "You're getting yourself too worked up. Your work is good. You know it's good. Now show them that it is good." I flicked my eyes up to the building. "Be confident in your own abilities. You can do this. We'll be waiting at Java Jones with a coffee and a biscotti. Now go." I spun her back around and pushed her towards the entrance. Her shoulders rose as she took a deep breath and she headed in. I gripped Simon's arm.

"She'll be fine," he reassured me, although I was getting the impression that that was more for him than for me.

"Yeah she will." I sighed and pulled us off in the direction of Java Jones.

As we entered the coffee shop, I caught Todd's eye. He nodded and started getting our drinks ready. We love Todd. He knows exactly what we have, so we don't even have to tell him anymore. We placed ourselves at a table facing the door, which in hindsight was a mistake, because the whole time Simon sat staring at the door. We sat in silence for about 5 minutes before Simon's nerves got the better of him.

"Chris Pratt, Scarlett Johansson, or Chris Hemsworth." He stared at me. I grinned.

"Fuck Johansson, Marry Pratt, Kill Hemsworth." I replied immediately. Simon gasped at my decision to kill Hemsworth and I rolled my eyes. "Scarlet Witch, Wonder Woman, Poison Ivy. Go."

"Fuck Witch, Marry Wonder Woman, Kill Ivy," he shot back. For us this is a game of speed rather than tough deliberating. "Catwoman, Chris Pine, Allison Scagliotti."

"Fuck Pine, Marry Scagliotti, Kill Catwoman." We sat giving each other FMK options until our drinks came. I grinned at Todd and picked up my tea. Simon rolled his eyes and crinkled his nose.

"Still don't know how you can drink that stuff." I laughed.

"I'm English. It's almost a crime not too." He rolled his eyes again. We sat with our drinks trying to pass the time by playing out usual silly games until a familiar red-head with a downcast expression walked in.

"Give me the professors' names and I... I will end them." Simon said. Clary and I started at him with disbelieving expressions. "You know, with... with a scathing e-mail to the dean." I rolled my eyes and looked back to Clary. I recognised that face. I felt a hint of a smirk flash across my lips. Clary caught it and her eyes sparkled with mischief.

"Don't bother." Clary whispered 'sadly' and dropped the folded sheet of paper on the table. Simon stared at her before looking at me. I shrugged my shoulders and nodded my head towards the paper. He picked it up gently and started to grin at the black CONGRATULATIONS printed on the top.

"What? Sad face? Really?" Clary and I laughed as Simon grinned at the pair of us. "You knew?" He asked me.

"Of course I did! I know you." I directed the last part to Clary. She laughed.

"Well played, well played." Simon said fist bumping Clary.

"Thank you. You know, it's weird. They kind of liked my assigned work, but they flipped out over the drawings for our graphic novel."

"You're welcome." Simon grinned. I furrowed my brow

"I thought you'd left those at home?" She turned to me.

"So did I, but somehow they turned up in my sketch pad."

"Weird," I sighed, "Well, be glad they did, I suppose, because now our little birthday girl is going to ART SCHOOL!" I shouted the last bit and the crowd around up applauded. Clary's face flushed with embarrassment as Simon and I laughed at her.

"This day will go down in history as the greatest 18th birthday I ever had."

"Which is why we are celebrating tonight. Yes, with Maureen, after our show." I plastered a smile on my face. Maureen was nice enough but come on; she literally has nothing interesting to say.

"Absolutely." Clary said with a smile. "So... what's the deal with you and Maureen?" I had taken a bit of my biscotti and choked loudly and unflatteringly. Simon patted my back as Clary looked at me strangely.

"Sorry," I croaked, "Took too big of a bite." I looked at Simon to see him giving me warning looks. I grinned back whilst massaging my neck.

"What deal? No deal. We sing together." Simon stuttered.

"You seriously don't know she's been crushing on you this whole time?" I pushed back another laugh at the love triangle that was presenting itself here.

"What? No. No." Simon looked at me for help. I shrugged my shoulders gently and smiled sympathetically.

"Simon, how can someone as smart and perceptive as you not realize that the person sitting right there is in love with you?" I stared at Clary in disbelief. Did she really just stay that?

"I guarantee you I'm not the only smart, perceptive person to make that mistake." I muttered before I could stop myself. Simon clapped his hand on my knee painfully and I yelped a little. Glaring at him I pinched his cheek. He pushed away and went for my nose before we stopped. Normally Clary would have stopped our little fight by now. We turned our heads to see her staring at her coffee.

"That's a latte." Simon said helpfully (not).

"But I could have sworn I had a biscotti." I stared down at the paper by her arm, where a detailed drawing of a biscotti lay. I furrowed my brows. This wasn't good. Jocelyn would have a meltdown if she found out.

"Maybe you ate it really fast and didn't even notice. Happens to me all the time. When I'm happy... when I'm sad." You could always count on Simon to break a silence. Clary laughed "But I will replace your mythical biscotti with an actual one," He finished, passing her his.

"Thank you." She laughed before looking at me. "Charlie? You okay?" I pulled my gaze away from the biscotti drawing and smiled at Clary. Picking up my cup, I said, "You know what? Here's to you." Simon and Clary smiled, following suit and we clinked our cups in a chorus of, "L'chaim."

So were now at the beginning of the show. It won't be long before some more familiar faces start to appear. ;) Thanks to everyone reading. Keep reviewing at letting me know how it's going, your thoughts and feeling about the plot, perhaps your hopes for the future or even if ou just want to chat, send me a review and i will answer.

A big thanks to Guest who reviewed the last chapter, you know who you are.

Have a lovely week,

Zoe xx