YOU BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!

Thank you! Thank y'all for the great response to last night's chapter.

I finished this one around one in the morning and am currently having breakfast.

I had some time to write this one and thought better now uploading because I cannot promise you anything about the next chapter.

I don't think I'll have any time to write this week and after that I'm not home for three weeks. I'm going to be in beautiful England and doing an internship in London. I'm so excited. But this means I have no idea when the next chapter is coming up.

I also promised you Clace for this chapter but I have to disappoint you here because this has become longer than intended and now you will have to wait until Chapter 4. But the next one will definitely contain the Collins/Lightwood dinner.

As for buffalofangirl4life: As you can see, I am definitely bringing the TID characters into the story. I cannot say how important they are going to be but you will meet a few of them eventually. I'm trying to use only characters of the Shadowhunter series (for the most part) in this fic.

Aww. I really love how much you love Jon and Clary's relationship. This means so much to me. Thank you, lovelies.

Thank you ILOVEYOUCLACE (Guest) for telling me that you prefer explicit sexual content or mild smut. I think I will do one of the two.
You guys can still continue to vote. Since I don't know when it's coming to sexual content we still have a lot of time to talk about it.

A special thank you to Guest (can you leave a name next time? I'd love to thank you properly). Your review made my night. I am so incredibly happy to hear that this ff is something you were looking for. I am so, so glad that you loved it. Really it meant a lot to me. I really hope you'll like this chapter as well. Thankyou again and I love you xx

Disclaimer: Not my characters :(


WARNING: Mentioning of Child Abuse. It is only briefly mentioned during and after the phone call with Jocelyn.


Clary

It seems like I wasn't the only one that couldn't handle to be alone last night because as I wake up the next morning, the first thing I notice is that I'm not only hold by two strong arms but that it's four strong arms that encircle my small frame.

My head is tucked under my brother's chin and Magnus' head is resting on my stomach, our legs all tangled. It's a mess. On the food of the bed rolled into a ball, is Simon. Chairman Meow is lying right next to his head.

The scene in front of me makes me smile like an idiot. It isn't the first time that we all share a bed. It happened multiple times in the past and it started when we all were still kids. Some things just don't change when you grow up, though it has been years since the last time that all of us together had shared the same bed.

The love I feel for those three idiots sometimes threatens to burst my heart. I feel tears sting in my eyes and quickly blink the away.

I'd like to just close my eyes again and fall back to sleep but one look at my brother's alarm tells me I have to get up. I have work in two hours and still have things to do before. With a sigh I gently untangle myself from the guys and waking them all in the process. Jon accidentally kicks Simon, who wakes with a groan and makes the cat jump.

I quickly make my way into the bathroom I share with Magnus and that connects both our rooms. Taking a quick shower, brushing my teeth and trying to comb the knots out of my red mane and pulling it up into a high ponytail, I take almost twenty minutes in the bathroom (thanks to my hair sigh).

Putting on some black leather pants that cling to my body like second skin and emphasize the little curves I have and a black tank-top that will show of my tattoos which adorn my arms, I am ready for breakfast in no time.

Stepping out of my room, I am greeted with the smell of coffee.
I find my three roommates already sitting on the kitchen island, each a mug in front of them and a bowl with porridge and fruit. My mouth begins to water at the sight of the food.
I fall on the stool next to Simon where a bowl with food and a mug with black coffee is already waiting for me.

"You're driving to Taki's before work?" Magnus asks and I nod.

"Yeah, I was supposed to ask about next Sunday, wasn't I?"

Simon and Jon, both with full mouths, quickly nod.

"Okay, I'll drive you." I'm already protesting but Magnus continues. "I'll wait in the car while you discuss business with Ragnor and then I'll drive you to work. Don't even try to argue with me Clary. I will also pick you up. Do you have something to wear for tonight?"

Defeated I tell him that yes, I already have a dress for tonight.
Jon looks extremely pleased at Magnus and I roll my eyes but to be honest I'm more than glad that the guys refuse to let me alone.

After breakfast Jonathan wants to call our mother to tell her what happened. He wants me to be there for the phone call which I do not want to. I don't have the best relationship with my mother. Never had. I like Luke though and I know I can be glad that I still have a mother. That she is still living and healthy and that she cares about me and Jon but I'm of the opinion that she should have cared sooner.

I tell my brother that it can only be a short call for I need to hurry. While we sit in the kitchen, phone on the table between us, Magnus and Simon have disappeared in their bathrooms. Simon is sharing the bath with my brother. Jon wouldn't let Simon and I share (He is, after all, a dude, Clary!) and I refused to share with my brother (what if I walk into you naked, Jon? Gross!) so I ended up sharing with Magnus (Jon, you know that Magnus isn't gay, right? Why is it okay for Magnus and I to share and Simon and I not? Magnus never had a crush on you!) and Jonathan ended up sharing with Simon.

After a couple of rings, a familiar voice greeted us on the other end of the line.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Luke. It's us." I tell him and my brother joins me.

"Clary, Jonathan, what a surprise. How have you been?" I feel almost a little guilty. None of us have visited Luke and mum during the summer, although we all have spent a lot of time in the city.

"Good." I answer. "What about you?"

But before Luke can answer Jon says, "Listen Luke, maybe you should get mum. We have something to tell you both. It really is important."

Luke, noticing Jon's stern voice, immediately obliges. A moment later, Jocelyn's concerned voice becomes audible.

"Jonathan, Clarissa, what happened?"

I look at Jon and he looks at me. His gaze fixed on my terrified expression before it wandered down to where I'm scratching my left, with countless bracelets covered, wrist. I don't realize what I'm doing until Jon gently takes my hand laces his fingers with my own , squeezing my hand. He is about to answer our mother but I beat him at it.

"Valentine called me the other day." Jocelyn's sharp intake of breath the only audible sound from the other end of the line.

It's Luke who breaks the silence. "What did he want?"

"He wanted to see me." I answer and Jon adds, "He's going to be in town in a couple of days. We don't know when."

Our mother is still silent and slowly anger rises in me like bile. "Mum?" No answer. "Jocelyn?" Louder this time but still no answer. Withdrawing my hand from Jon's, I slam my now free palm on the table. Jonathan next to me, who hadn't expected that, flinched.

"God damn it, Jocelyn! Don't start doing nothing again, like you did when we were children and you let him beat the shit out of Jon and I and let him... let him-" I'm choking on my own words as a dry sob shakes my whole body.

I quickly stand up and leave but I still hear Jon say, "We just wanted to warn you guys. Later." And he hangs up, following me into my room where I sit on my bed, tying my dark red combat boots.

He sits down next to me and gently crushes me against his chest. I close my eyes and let my brother wrap me in the safe haven of his arms.

"I'm not going to let him near you, okay? I'll protect you, Clary. He will never touch you again!" Jon vows me. He sounds pained and I feel something wet falling on my bare shoulder.

I'm shocked that my brother is crying. It barely ever happens and I immediately knows why now.
He is blaming himself for not doing something sooner. For waiting until he was fourteen to go to the police. But I never blamed him and I never would. Jon was a child, too. It wasn't his job to take care of our family. For fuck's sake, he was just a child getting beat up by his own father and having to witness the same man abusing his mother and little sister. He was as scared as I was. I don't blame him. He did everything he could to keep me away from our psychotic father. I blame my mother for letting him beat the shit out of Jon and I. For not going to the police herself. For just watching him, do what he wanted with us.

And that's exactly what I tell him. I tell my brave, big brother that it isn't his fault, that he's the one who saved us all in the end, that it's her fault. Always will be.

I have to bite back tears myself and am glad when Magnus walks into the room to tell me we have to go. He doesn't comment on what he sees when he walks in. Magnus always knows when it's better to not say something and he has already witnessed so many of our breakdowns that it isn't a strange sight to him to see me or Jon hunched over the other and crying.

I slip into my black leather jacket and kiss my brother on the cheek, promising him to text him about Taki's.

The car ride is a silent one. When Magnus pulls the car over in front of our destination, I am about to get out but he stops me with a hand grabbing my wrist.
Our eyes lock. "Biscuit, you okay?" he whispers, his voice as pained as Jon's.

I shake my head and say, "But I will be."

He smiles at that and eventually lets go of my arm.

Inside Taki's, I'm immediately greeted by Clancy, who stands behind the counter with a rag thrown over his broad shoulder. He genuinely smiles as soon as he sees me and I wave.

"Hello, Clancy. How are you?"

"Miss Fray, what a pleasant sight this early on a Saturday." Clancy is around fifty and one of the sweetest persons I've ever met. His daughter and I went to school together and he knows me for years now. "I'm wonderful, thank you. What about you, kiddo?"

I grin at him, "Me, too, thank you."

Before either of us can say another thing the door to the back room opens, revealing the man I was looking for. The owner of Taki's, Ragnor Fell.

His gaze lands on me and he immediately rushes over to where I'm standing at the counter.

"Clary, Darling, what can I do for you?" He greets me with a kiss on the cheek and I give him a wide, genuine smile.

I look him up and down and have to laugh. At the moment his hair is a bright green, which makes his milky skin even whiter. Dark eyes stare into my emerald ones and his shirt has more glitter on it than all of Magnus' clothes together.

"The guys need a venue for Saturday and if you let them, they'd love to perform here."

"Of course, Darling. That will bring so many customers, I'll let them perform for free."

I smile. I knew exactly that this would happen. That's why I told the boys to consider Taki's. They haven't performed here in a while.

"Fantastic. Thank you Ragnor, that is perfect."

"Everything for you, Darling. Will you play on Saturday? I haven't heard you play in a long time."

My face falls. "I don't know yet." I answer.

Ragnor nods. "People always love you on the stage. You are so talented it's unfair."

"What do you play?" Another voice suddenly asks.

The voice is scarily familiar and I twirl around. My eyes fall on a broad chest clad in a grey shirt with a wide v-neck that shows the beginning of a tattoo. My eyes dart up to meet a pair of golden ones, looking curiously at me.

"Blondie." A mocking smile, takes over my features.


Jace

I hurry into Taki's. I'm almost late and it's my first day. Relieved that I made it still in time I look around to see Ragnor Fell talking to a familiar redhead. I smirk to myself. Look at that, so soon I see her again. Maybe I can reveal a part of the mystery that is Clary Fray, today.

I slowly approach my new boss and the girl that hadn't left my thoughts since I met her yesterday.

Again she is clad completely in black except for her red boots. I'm a little distracted by how the leather clings to her body like a second skin and my gaze is drawn a little longer to her ass than necessary.

The green haired man talks about the tiny redhead performing on stage, making me curious as ever and I can't help but to asks what she plays.

Hearing my voice, both of them turn to look at who interrupts their conversation.

Clary's jade coloured eyes stare a little too long at my chest, noticing the streak of ink revealed by my shirt. When she looks up and I can see the freckles covering her delicate features, a smirk transforms her face into a mocking mask.

"Blondie."

I groan inwardly. This name is going to stick, my stomach tells me.

"Lightwood, finally." Ragnor interrupts us. He hugs Clary and tells her, "See you Saturday, Darling." Then he grabs my arm and yanks me in direction of his office. I wave at her and call, "See you around."

This isn't going at all like I thought it would and I'm strangely disappointed.

"Oh, you will. Later." she says with a wink, before she turns around, swinging her leather clad hips.

God, this image is now burnt into my memory.


Magnus

I watch as Alexander's brother walks into Taki's only a couple moments after Clary. I narrow my eyes at the sight of him. Is he following my best friend around? But only a couple minutes later, Clary emerges from the exit, phone in her hand, she types a message, grin plastered on her face.

"What did Blondie want?" I ask as soon as she is seated beside me.

"Apparently he works there." she answers with a shrug.

I start the engine and pull out and onto the street.

"I didn't came to ask you last night but what do you think? You like Jace?"

Chuckling I shake my head. "I don't even know the boy, Mag."

"But you think he's attractive." It isn't a question.

"Don't you?" She shoots back.

I laugh and shake my head. "Not my type."

Smirking she says, "Oh yeah, I forgot. You like the shy. The ones that blush when they catch you looking at them. Preferably with black hair and deep blue eyes."

I continue to shake my head but refuse to look her in the eye. She giggles into her palms and I glare at my best friend which makes her double over with laughter.

"Do you at least have his number?"

"Not yet." I mumble, making her only laugh harder.

"Why's that?"

"I did not want to make him feel uncomfortable in front of Jordan and Simon. I thought he wouldn't appreciate it."

This makes her shut up. I glance at her and she nods. But when I say "I guess, I have to wait until Monday." she starts smirking as if she knows something I don't. I never liked this look on her.

"Oh I promise you, Mag, you will not have to wait until Monday to get Alec's number."

I want her to elaborate but she refuses. Since we are already in front of the Blackthorn tattoo parlour and Helen is already waving Clary inside, I sigh and let it go. For now. I will have to question her later but first we will have to attend this hideous dinner my family is holding tonight for their relatives from America. What is it with all those Americans coming to London lately?


Question: Jon's girlfriend, I mentioned in the previous chapter, is supposed to be Tessa Gray. Since the relationship between Tess, Will and Jem is too complicated for me to write and I both ship Wessa and Jessa, (herongraystairs 5ever) I decided to make Will and Jem gay. They both are dating and Tessa and Jon are childhood sweethearts. What do you say? Can you live with that?

Please let me know what you think about that.


Your reviews are such an motivation and I love reading them. I will PM y'all as soon as I have time to do so.
Every review concerning a question about the story, I will answer in the following chapters.

Thank you so much for reading.

I love you all!

Enjoy your Monday and the following week. The weekend isn't that far anymore ;)
I have to go now.

Love,

-Kat xoxo