ARG I don't know what is going on with my updates they keep formatting weird. If anyone has any tips let me know. Ill try this again. Author note also got erased so lets try to recreate it. Another chapter, yay, its all thanks to your kind words. I have a busy time coming up on the 14th where I won't be able to write much at all so everyone give words of encouragement so I can get as much written before then as possible.

Chapter 4

They talked for hours, only pausing briefly when Jace went to get some food for them. He brought it back to the room where Clary enjoyed eating in the bed, something she had never done in her life. They talked about their lives. Jace had stayed with his dad for most of his life. His mother had died during childbirth and his father had been forced to take a new wife to maintain his governor status. Jace had not liked his step-mother very well, which suited him fine as she was rarely seen or heard. There were perks to living in a house so large. His father stayed busy with meetings and being an overall busy guy. When Jace was 17 his father passed away and his step-mother moved into a widowed home. He never went to see her. Jace inherited his father's money and prestige so as soon as he was 18 he applied for marriage so that he may obtain the governor title as his father had. It was simply what he was expected to do.

Clary told Jace her story, something much different than his. She was taken to the academy when she was 3 years old, as every female was. She remembered very little of her parents, only that her mom had hair like her own. Once she was at the academy she spent every day learning all the things she was expected to know in life. Bedrooms were cramped, each child with a small bed and at least 20 beds to a room. Clary had found Izzy quickly as they were paired with the security rod since the age of 5. Izzy then became Clary's best friend. Life at the academy had been tough and discipline was always handled swiftly and with force. The girls were taught to look down at the floor at all times, only when they were married would they be allowed to look up at the world. It was only through the power of a husband that a wife could obtain respect. Clary was taught to be seen and never to be heard unless asked a question to which a direct answer was demanded.

To Clary ease, Jace had been the first to open up about his life, which gave Clary the cue of what and how much to share. She had never had such an open conversation before, not even with Izzy. There had not been much time for conversation when she was a child.

She found Jace to be unlike what she had imagined a husband to be. He welcomed her to speak her mind and share her opinion. It was something she needed to adjust to. Jace wanted her to call him by his name, not Sir or Lord as she had been instructed all her life. He only asked that when guests were around that she maintain formality, but privately or around the house help he wanted her to address him informally. He said that he would do the same.

"It's getting very late." Jace said, looking to the clock to confirm his suggestion. "You must be very tired."

Clary couldn't help the yawn that escaped as she was indeed very tired. It was far past her bedtime, one she had routinely kept her entire life.

"Where am I to sleep?" She asked, looking around and seeing only the one large bed, perhaps her room was separate.

"Here of course, with me." Jace said, notably with a hint of tease. Even his eyebrows raised when he said it.

"Really?" She supposed he was right, they were married which would mean sharing a bed if he wanted. At least there was enough room in the bed where she wouldn't have to worry about him getting too close, but at the same time the idea frightened her. She had never shared a bed with anyone before.

"If it makes you uncomfortable I could sleep somewhere else or get you a room of your own. But I do worry that some might think it odd and I don't think either of us would like that kind of trouble. If you are really bothered I will happily take the floor." His tone was sincere which helped to ease Clary's worry.

"No, this bed is definitely large enough for more than the two of us. What about sleeping clothes?" Clary looked down to her lovely black clothes that Jace had provided for her. They were so comfortable she likely could sleep in them but she wasn't sure if he would like that.

"I have a full wardrobe for you, including pajamas." Jace pointed to the other side of the room where a small door waited.

Clary got up from the bed and Jace followed in her wake, careful to give her enough space. She opened the door and found another room. Lined on each side was more clothes than she had ever seen, even in the academy linin closets. The left side seemed to be for her where the right was lined with men's clothes. The overall color scheme was black. Black tops, black bottoms, black shoes, not only for her but him as well. It was honestly overwhelming and she had no idea what clothes were designated for sleep and what were for normal wear. She turned to face Jace who was standing in the doorway looking tired but amused. He leaned against the frame of the door and Clary found him very attractive.

"Which clothes are for sleeping?" She asked.

He looked amused. "Personally, I prefer to wear nothing at all." He raised his eyebrows and gave her a smirk. Clary felt her cheeks redden as she considered lying in the large bed with nothing on. "But I might suggest a comfortable t-shirt and underwear for you."

He moved toward her and she took a step back. He didn't approach her but rather moved to the right side, grabbing one of his own t-shirts and throwing it at her. She caught it was surprise.

"You can wear one of mine, it will be long on you like a dress." He crossed the room to the side that housed her clothes and opened a drawer that sat beneath the hanging garments. Inside the drawer was filled with black. "Underwear." He said simply. "Go ahead and change, leave your clothes on the floor then come to bed when you are ready." With that he grabbed a few items of his own and exited the smaller room, closing the door behind him.

Clary quickly changed, finding the hardest part when navigating the drawer full of underwear. They were all different, different shapes and material. Some covered very little, some were entirely see through. She grabbed a pair that resembled shorts and put them on. With the shirt over top she was entirely covered, and admittingly felt very comfortable. She left her clothes in a neat pile before exiting the room. Jace was already in bed, laying on the right side with the covers pulled up under his arms. He had no shirt on and Clary worried for a moment that he was not wearing anything as he said he had preferred.

She hesitated, wondering if maybe it was best to take him on his offer to get a bed of her own. Maybe she should just sleep on the floor and save everyone the trouble.

"Don't worry I'm not naked." He said with a smile.

It was enough to get Clary to approach the bed, but a bubble of anxiety remained in her chest keeping her from saying anything. She slid in on the opposite side of Jace, thankful for the vast spans of space between them.

"Good night." He said with a smile before turning over and shutting off the light, enveloping the room in darkness.

Morning came too quickly as the sun filtered through the sheer curtains. Clary has slept well in the large comfortable bed. Dreams of warm lips covering her own was a persistent theme of the night. Despite feeling utterly tired her body woke her at her expected wake up time. She found Jace had moved closer to her through the night, an arm extended in her direction. There was no way she would be able to go back to sleep, but she was unsure what to do as Jace apparently was unaffected by the dawn filtering into the room. She hesitated, caught between the urge to go in search of the kitchen, waking Jace up, or merely laying in bed until he decided to wake. A loud rumbling from her stomach decided for her and she quickly got up and dressed for the day before quietly exiting the large double doors in search for a kitchen.

Luckily warm and inviting smells of freshly prepared food helped Clary to guide her, though she took the wring way and had to double back on several occasion. The kitchen was not far from the main doors Clary had entered when first arriving at the house, it was tucked into the back corner of the house with a beautiful view of the back yard which featured a large garden surrounded by trees of fresh fruit. The smell of food was too enticing so Clary couldn't stay and admire the picturesque outside for long.

She opened the door to the kitchen and was hit with a rush of smells coming from the freshly prepared food. The room was busy and noisy compared the empty and mostly quiet house, but all the noise stilled, and all eyes were on her as soon as the door closed. Sizzling pans were the only sound as Clary was met with several pairs of eyes looking utterly shocked.

"Oh Lady Herondale!" One exclaimed, breaking the silence and running up to her.

Clary took an instinctual step backwards as the woman in the large green dress approached. She stopped suddenly and gave Clary a pitiful but understanding look.

"I am Amatis." She said, giving a slight curtsy to Clary before brandishing a warm smile.

"Very pleased to make your acquaintance Amatis." Clary said formally, knowing that the green dress signified the woman before her was a widow. "I am sorry to interrupt, I was looking for food and the wonderful aroma from your kitchen called me in."

With that the other women began to bustle about. Clary noted they were all donning green dresses of various shades and styles. They were all widows.

"Sit right down dear and let me get you something to eat. I am sure you are starving after the long day and night you had." Amatis raised a eyebrow to Clary, looking curious for answers to more than she was asking.

"Yes, I am famished." Clary responded, hoping she answered appropriately.

Amatis looked delighted and began bustling about, grabbing a plate from one of the cabinets and filling it with a variety of foods. The plate laid before Clary had more food on it than Clary would have gotten in an entire day at the academy, and it all looked delicious. She wasted no time digging in to the pancakes with hot melted butter and syrup dripping from the ends. These pancakes were light and fluffy, stacked tall entirely unlike the pancakes she had growing up which had greatly resembled thin paper plates. Clary took a bit and groaned in appreciation which made Amatis clap her hands together in joy before making herself busy along with the other women.

Clary finished nearly a quarter of her plate and felt completely stuffed when the door to the kitchen opened and Jace walked in. He looked relieved when he saw Clary sitting at the island, a giant plate of food before her. Unlike her, he had not dressed for the day, but at least he was wearing a shirt along with long pants that seemed to be made of the same material her shirt from the day before had been. Hid long shaggy hair was messed up a little more on one side and he looked like he could use another few hours of sleep.

"There you are." He said with a smile as he came and sat down on the chair next to Clary. Amatis hurried to the cupboard and produced a new plate and began piling it high with food. Clary turned to Jace and watched as he grabbed a slice of bacon off of her plate and put it into his mouth with a satisfying groan.

"You make the best bacon Amatis." He said pointing the other half at Amatis with a smile before finishing the piece hungrily.

Clary didn't know what to say or do. Here everything was so casual and comfortable, unlike anything she had ever known. Jace had a large plate of food set before him and he stopped grabbing food from Clary's plate and began eating his own. Clary just stared at her own unfinished plate, knowing that she wouldn't be able to finish everything there, but unsure what to do with the remainder.

Amatis seemed to notice her distress. "Are you all finished dear? I know I gave you a lot, do not worry I can take care of the rest for you. Or perhaps I should just give it to your husband who seemed all too keen of it earlier." She gave Jace a stern look as he looked up from his own almost empty plate with an almost apologetic smile.

Amatis rolled her eyes and took Clary's plate away. Jace finished his food in a hurry and looked to Clary. "I was worried when I woke up and you weren't there." He said softly.

Clary looked down to the floor, readying herself for the trouble she would be in for not waking him, or waiting for him. She felt slender fingers under her chin lifting it up to meet warm eyes. He was not angry with her.

"I was just worried. It's ok, you were hungry. You are always free to go where you please. You don't need my permission, just let me know if you want to leave the house. It's a little different out there." He pointed outside and Clary understood. She was free to roam the house but needed to let him know if she wanted to go outside. It was far more freedom than Clary had ever been given before and she was thankful for the gesture.