"It's not my fault we can't get in the apartment Jace." Clary and Jace stood outside the locked door of the 'oh-so tiny' apartment her and Alec previously shared. "He won't open the door for a reason." Inside it sounded like Alec was pushing someone in a broom closet. They stood there, helpless, waiting for Alec to give her the key back and open up.

"Screw it!" Jace yelled and pulled a bobby-pin from his pocket. "If he doesn't want us to know what's going on we obviously should."

"Jace, stop!" She pushed her body in front of the lock. "He must have a good reason." His face contorted and Clary felt his arm wrap around her back, "Hey! What do you think you are…" Her face was mushed into his chest and the words silenced. "….."

"You talk too much Fray. Just let me do this." The lock clicked when he twisted the bobby-pin in it. "Done. Now let's see what he was hiding." Jace dragged her alongside him until they got to the bedroom doors. "Which one is yours?" Clary pointed to the door with vines painted on it. "Good! Go pack and I'll see what he is up to."

She dashed into her room and shut the door behind her. On her bed sat a sparkly man with no visible pants. "Who are you and why are you in here?" Clary whispered, grabbing a box. As she packed he explained.

"My name is Magnus Bane and I'm Alec's partner. I assume you're Clary?" She nodded and ushered for him to continue. "We were doing… stuff… and then you guys walked in and you know the rest. He made me come in here."

"Well, Magnus, if you could please help me pack up this room, we'll be out of here quicker." He nodded and grabbed a few boxes himself. "So are you the one he tried on a speedo for?"

A small smile made its way to Magnus's face," what do you think?" Then he winked and started putting cd's and pictures in a small box. "How did you end up moving out anyway? Blackmail?"

Was nothing sacred in this place? "Pretty much, Jace has a way with words." She snickered at his mixed personality.

"What is it? Is my dye uneven?" Magnus looked horrified at the thought. "Is my glitter gone?" From the look on his face that scared him even more.

"No! You look fine! I was just thinking about how much Jace changes his attitude." Magnus raised an eyebrow at her. "First, he is a complete jerk, then, out of nowhere, he is a sweetheart. It's highly suspicious, and gives me a migraine. I wonder why he's like that."

Magnus was on his third box and smirked. "Sounds like you are in love to me." She froze in her place and tried to refute it. "No, love is not something you can ignore. So what's he look like?" Jace stood in the doorway with a finger to his lips.

"He's has blonde hair and works out. I mean, he is fit. Oh! Never mind! Also, he has gold eyes and an enticing little grin. It's like a smirk but not really. I don't know, it just fits him so well. Yet, he is a lazy ass. That was my first impression. I like it but I don't." She finished with a blush and started clearing the closet. "So where did you and Alec meet? Sorry, I just don't want to talk about Jace any longer."

"A little café downtown actually. I came over when you were out." Magnus motioned for Jace come in the room and hide. "It's sad but he did look so cute in that speedo. He threw it out when you caught him." Clary flopped on bed and looked at the bag she just packed. He picked up the hint and scooted out of the room. "That's most of it, good luck Clary."

"Thank you!" Clary yelled, not bothering to move. The door shut with a 'click' and she finally felt alone. "This feels weird."

"How come?" Someone with a deep voice said behind her. Arms snaked around her waist and she was pulled back into something hard. "Is moving so weird for you?"

Her head slowly leaned back and she breathed a sigh of relief. Then she scowled at him. "Have you ever heard of personal space?"

"I believe that personal space is not required in some situations." Jace laughed and she imagined his expression as he sat his head on hers. "Such as this one, where I get to counsel you. So I work out huh? You like my smile?" Clary felt uncomfortable under his steady gaze. "I will get an answer you know."

"You heard that? Fuck," she mumbled quietly. "Fine. Yes, I said that. Didn't you here the last part too? That should have pissed you off any way."

"Honestly, it flattered me rather than angered me." Jace played with a strand of her fiery hair. "You really know how to confuse a man Fray." His eyes landed on a picture she hand forgot to pack. "Why didn't you take that off the wall too?"

"That," she said pointing to the wall. "That is a painting I did when we first moved in. The flower with red and black is Alec and I. Then the thorns are our personalities. Maybe I can paint some at your place? Never mind, it's too nice of a place to paint a wall."

"Actually you can. If this means so much to you, your room can be an easel. I like the swirls on the walls in here. The art is you and I won't stop you." He let her go and slid off the bed. "Come on short-stuff, we have stuff to move." She hurried after him with a large pile of boxes. In a few trips they had carried everything to his car. "Ready Fray?"

"Whenever you are. Let's go. Actually wait! I need to say goodbye to Alec." She hopped out and ran to the bottom of the steps. "Lightworm! Come say bye to me!"

"Come on bro!" Jace added.

Alec ran down the stairs with a wrapped package in his hand. "Here, I got it earlier. I think it would help you out if you are doing a whole room." He hugged her and sat it in her hands, then whispered in her ear. "If he tries shit, call me." She laughed as they embraced. "I'll miss you and your funny face waffles."

"I'll miss you too. Remember, one strawberry and blueberries." She backed away and waited till he went back to the apartment. "Let's go."

Alec walked into the apartment and straight to Clary's old room. Jace's car drove down the street as Alec looked out the window. A blur caught his eye and he turned around. The painting Clary did the first week they were there was still on the wall. Black for him and red for her, he could almost cry. She had left some things behind. The comforter still laid on her bed, the pink and grey one she loved. Alec laid on the bed and rested his head on a pillow. Something crinkled and he slid a hand under the middle pillow.

Alec,

I left you something I could never take. No, it's not memories or the cheesy movies I had hid in my room. (I took a few, your favorites are in the top drawer in the den.) It's that flower you loved and my art journal of sketches for the apartment. I told you I would let you see it when the time came. I never anticipated leaving. Use these and let your imagination go wild. Also, I won't forget all you've done for me. Taking me in when I need a home, I will never forget that. You helped me get a job during art school. You know what? You always joked my big mouth would get me in trouble, always. All the coffee bags, silly waffles, and Cons* we went to won't be forgotten either. I love you Alec, in a platonic way of course, but I love you. Call me whenever and whatever happens, I couldn't have asked for more. Take care of Magnus.

Love your 'sister' forever,

Clary.

Alec put the letter down and stared at the wall. He remembered the first time he saw her paint in her room.

FLASHBACK!

"Clary! Here's your final box. It came to the door a few... What are you doing? He had been perplexed by the way her hair was up. "What's that?"

She had looked down from the step ladder and smiled. "It's a flower of us. See? The black is you and I'm the red. Then the thorns here, they represent our personalities. Tough but persistent, that's us right?" The ladder shock and she fell into his arms laughing. "Sorry." It took him an hour after to realize that she had apologized for getting paint on his face.

"I love it Clary. It's amazing."

She had hugged him tight then returned to the ladder. "Can you cook dinner tonight?"

"Of course, just clean up before you come out okay?"

"Okay." Then he walked out and the rest was history

FLASHBACK OVER

He had to face the facts. She was gone and he missed her already.

*: Comic Conventions or Conventions for Shows/Movies/etc.

Platonic: free from physical desire