"Jon," Clary moaned tiredly. She dragged her feet through the elevator doors and collapsed on the ground. It was eleven twenty and they had just gotten back from Taki's. Clary was exhausted, mentally and physically.

Jonathan scooped Clary up and walked her to the kitchen where he sat her down on the counter. "What would you like to eat?" he asked as he shifted through the fridge. "You didn't eat much at Taki's. I thought you would considering you were starving."

Clary swung her legs and shrugged. "I want mac and cheese."

Just then, Jace walked into the kitchen. He noticed Clary and regarded her with clouded eyes. Clary was about to ask him something when Jonathan spoke up. "What do you want, Jace? Will you quit staring at my sister like that?"

Jace shook his head and a smirk tugged at his lips. "Nope," he said, popping the 'p'. "I came to whisk your sister away."

Jonathan raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "Excuse me?"

"Am I not allowed to do something with her for her birthday?"

"I want her back at my room in forty minutes. No more." Clary had told Jonathan about her feelings for Jace and he wasn't liking it. And Jonathan knew how tired Clary was. Even if she wasn't admitting it. She collapsed on the floor. Obviously she's exhausted.

Jace sighed, but nodded nonetheless. He wasn't about to argue. Jonathan would probably give them less time together if he did. Jace held out his arm to Clary. "Madame," he mocked. Clary took his arm and bid her brother goodbye. Jace and Clary walked in silence for a few minutes. Jace spoke again once they came to an old wooden door. He pushed it open and allowed her to climb the steps. "Welcome to the greenhouse," he whispered in her ear once he had joined her.

Clary shivered at the hot breath against her neck. "Why are we in the greenhouse?" she whispered back.

Without answering, Jace grabbed her hand and dragged her through the garden to a blanket and picnic basket. Candles burned steadily between two plates. A smile pulled at Clary's lips as she took her seat across from Jace. "Happy birthday, Clare," Jace smiled.

"It isn't my birthday yet," Clary replied with a slight blush.

Jace's smile grew. "Not yet, but it will be. I wanted to be the first to tell you happy birthday."

She blushed furiously and motioned for Jace to lean forward. He did so, following her lead. Clary placed a soft kiss on his lips before pulling back and pulled the picnic basket toward herself. "So what's in here?"

"Well, Magnus told me you really, really like mac and cheese and hot chocolate." He pulled out a thermos and a container. "So that's what I brought you."

Clary would have launched herself at Jace had it not been for the candles in the middle of them. This was so sweet of Jace to do. "Thank you, Jace," Clary murmured softly.

Jace handed Clary the container of mac and cheese before he opened the thermos filled with hot chocolate. He poured some into a cup and gave it to Clary along with a fork. Clary put some mac and cheese on her plate before giving it to Jace. He did the same and placed the container and thermos back inside the basket. Clary dug right in and moaned as flavor burst inside her mouth. Jace laughed at her. She was clearly enjoying the food.

"Glad you like it," he smiled. "Isabelle tried to help, but let's face it. She isn't the best cook." Clary giggled as she finished the last of her mac and cheese. Jace's eyes widened. "I guess you were hungry."

Embarrassed, Clary nodded. "I didn't eat much at Taki's."

Jace held up his plate as an offer. "Would you like mine too?"

Clary blushed furiously and shook her head. "You have to eat, you know." Jace shrugged and took a couple bites before claiming he was stuffed. He offered the food to her again. The redhead sighed and accepted the food graciously. Jace wore a small smile as Clary finished off the mac and cheese.

Once she was finished and they placed the plates in the basket along with their forks, Jace held up his glass. "A toast to the wonderful Clary Fray. She survived another year. Happy birthday, Clary."

Their glasses clinked and they both took a sip. Or in Clary's case, gulped down the entire thing. Jace chuckled, finished his off, and placed both glasses in the basket. He stood and held his hand out to Clary. Clary grasped his outstretched hand and allowed him to pull her up. She stumbled and Jace caught her with ease.

"Sorry," she said sheepishly. Out of nowhere she said, "Jonathan told me that when I was twelve, I wanted a tattoo of Donatello from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on my left shoulder. Of course, I didn't get it. Instead Jonathan and Magnus had taken me to a Silent Brother. It had not been my first rune per se."

"Your first official rune," Jace said. Clary nodded. "Well, when I was five, I wanted to take a bath in spaghetti. Father said it wasn't expensive, and why not if that was what I wanted? He had the servants fill a bath with boiling water and pasta, and when it cooled down. . . ." He shrugged. "I took a bath in it."

She giggled and the next thing she knew, his lips were capturing hers in a passionate embrace. She slid her hands up his chest and intertwined them in his golden hair. Jace gripped onto her waist tightly, pulling her flush against him. Clary let out a gasp and tugged on his hair.

Hugo squawked, startling Jace and Clary. Jace chuckled and slid his hand down Clary's arm to grasp her own. "It must be close to midnight. You don't think your brother would kill me for bringing you to him a little later than expected?"

Clary gave him a look of disbelief. "He'll have your head."

Jace shrugged. "Oh well. Your expression will worth it." She raised an eyebrow and opened her mouth, but as soon as bells chimed twelve, Jace directed Clary to a green shrub they'd been standing beside and watched as it bloomed: opening like the birth of a star.

A small sound escaped her lips, a soft "Oh!" The flower had shimmering pollen and white gold petals. "Do they bloom every night?"

"Only at midnight," he spoke softly, watching as her fingers twitched slightly. As if she wanted a pencil so she could draw the sight before her.

Suddenly, her body went ridged. She kissed Jace on the lips quickly before running away. "Sorry, Jace, but I kind of don't want my new boyfriend to be killed at the hand of my brother." Jace smiled as he watched her run off. Boyfriend. He liked the sound of that.

He gathered the blanket, basket, and candles before heading off after her. She was nowhere to be seen by the time he got to the hallway. Jace shook his head and walked to the kitchen. Isabelle was sitting at the table with her head in her hands.

"Iz? What's wrong?" Jace placed the things in his arms down and went to comfort his sister.

Isabelle looked up at him. "Do you think Clary hates me?"

Jace was taken back. "Of course not! She likes you."

"Okay."

"That couldn't have been what was bothering you."

The raven haired girl sighed and turned to him. "Mom and Dad are bringing Max home. Apparently there is something big going on in Alicante and they don't want to leave him by himself. We'll have to watch him for a week."

Jace shrugged. "Who is in charge of the Portal?"

"Magnus Bane, of course. I talked to Clary when she walked by two minutes ago. She said she'd talk to him, or she'd have Jon talk to him when she got to his room."

"So why did that make you have your head in your hands?"

She shrugged. "I'm tired. Also, I don't know who will watch Max while we're out."

"What about that vampire? I'm sure Clary could get him to babysit," Jace answered.

"I feel like we're asking too much of them," Isabelle replied. "Do you think that?"

Jace thought about it. She wasn't wrong, but she wasn't right. "We haven't really asked for much from them."

Isabelle sighed again. "I just feel guilty for not doing anything in return."

"Don't," said a voice from the doorway. "We're happy to help." Clary sauntered in wearing a green tank top and black shorts. "You guys are giving us a place to stay. It's the least we could do. Especially for friends." Isabelle beamed at her. "Oh! I wanted to tell you that Jonathan asked Magnus. He said he'd do it. He just needs to know when and where."

She nodded. "Thank you so much." There was a moment of silence. "Do you think your vampire friend would mind babysitting?" she asked shyly.

Clary shook her head. "He'd do it willingly. He likes kids."

Jace's face scrunched up. "How old is he?"

Clary gasped. "He is not a pedophile! Besides, he is sixteen forever. He was turned three years ago."

Jace chuckled. "Okay, okay."

"Goodnight," Clary said and skipped back to her and Jonathan's room. "Jon," she sang.

She pushed the door open and found Hodge against the wall with Jonathan's hand around his neck. "I found him trying to steal the card."

"I knew we couldn't trust him," Clary hissed and locked the door behind her. "Hodge Starkweather, you are─"

Someone cleared their throat. "Ah, my daughter, such a fiery little girl."

"Valentine," Clary and Jonathan snapped. Clary stepped forward, but found she couldn't. There was an invisible wall between her and Valentine, but there wasn't one between Valentine and Jonathan. Jonathan sprang into action. Valentine slammed him down on the floor in one swift move. "Jon!"

Valentine turned to his daughter. "You have two days. If you do not bring me the cup then I'll kill Jonathan for real. Oh and the cup must be out of that card." Then he disappeared, Jonathan with him.

Hodge didn't bother taking down the invisible container that Clary was in. He ran out and left Clary alone. Clary broke down in tears. Valentine had her brother. Valentine Morgenstern has my brother, Clary was freaking out. There was no way she could contact anyone, her phone was on the night table and it was night time so no one would be anywhere near the bedroom.

Clary was undoubtedly heartbroken. There was a chance that she'd never get her brother back. Valentine could kill him even if he succeeded in getting the cup. Clary knew that once this invisible wall disappeared, she would contact Magnus before going after her brother. Sure, she didn't know where he was being taken, but she'd find her way to him with a locator spell. Hopefully Valentine wouldn't get another wizard to block the locator spell. That would break Clary's heart even more than it was.

She knew that Hodge would betray them, but she didn't know how to break the news to the Lightwoods. They trusted him. He was their mentor. But, of course, she wasn't going to lie. They deserved to know. Deserved to know that Hodge Starkweather, their trusted mentor, has betrayed them and has been in contact with Valentine Morgenstern.

Clary sunk to the ground in defeat. She wouldn't be getting out any time soon. Might as well make herself comfortable. Clary laid on her back and thought of the things Valentine could do to Jonathan. Kill him, turn him into a monster. Who knew what Valentine was capable of now? To be honest, she was beginning to get anxious. Would someone find her before she's able to get to Magnus? She hoped not. Then she'd have to tell them what happened. She wanted to do it on her own. She had to.

Fortunately, Clary didn't have to wait long for the wall to disappear.

I didn't not proof read it so there may be mistakes.