Hello again. Regarding this chapter, in all honesty I had no idea how this chapter was going to turn out, and I rewrote bits and pieces of it several times. This is the finished product, and I'm not so sure how I feel about it, so please review!

It had been three days since Jace had kissed Clary. Three days of nothing said between the two, and it was frustrating Clary to the point of driving her out of her own apartment. The silence she normally cherished had become deafening, making it impossible for her to paint in her studio. She left early for her coffee date with Izzy, and was already sitting down at her usual table when she saw her best friend walk in. Izzy immediately spotted her and walked over excitedly.

"Okay, tell me everything." She said enthusiastically before Clary even had the chance to talk.

"Hello, Izzy, I'm doing just fine, you?" Clary replied sarcastically, standing up to walk over to the coffee counter to order with Izzy.

"Oh come on, don't be like that, Fray. That man was gorgeous, and you said you would tell me everything today in the text you sent last night." She recalled, turning away from Clary to place her order.

"There's really not that much to—" Clary stopped before she finished her sentence, afraid to continue based on the look Izzy was giving her. She pointedly ignored Izzy as she ordered her coffee. Turning back to her friend, she replied. "Fine, fine. His name is Will, he's a detective." Izzy glared, making Clary laugh. "Alright, I guess you want to know more," she paused, stepping forward to grab her coffee when her name was called and walking back to their table. "Let's see. Last night, we danced, he walked me home, and gave me his jacket when I got cold. I still have it. Oh, and we kissed." Izzy excitedly banged her hand on the table.

"Please tell me you got his number before he left." She said, and Clary winced. "Clarissa Fray, don't you dare tell me you forgot to get this man's number." Izzy said loudly, prompting a couple of heads to turn in their direction before going back to their own conversations.

"Well, I kind of did. But I have his jacket, and he said he'd come get it sometime. Only, now that I think about it, I'm not sure how he would be able to do that." Clary thought aloud, glancing at Izzy, who looked as if she might explode.

"You're only just now thinking about that?" She scoffed.

"Come on, Izzy. I had a lot on my mind, you know that. Plus, I'm not exactly good at this kind of thing." Izzy's face softened.

"Is Jace still being an ass?" She asked.

"Well, he did bring a girl home last night, so you tell me." Clary said, annoyed.

"Did he really?"

"Yeah. And do you want to know what the worst part it? Her shoes were sitting right next to his, by the door. Her coat was thrown over the back of the couch, too. You know how much of a neat freak he is. It was almost like he wanted me to see them, which just made it worse."

Izzy was quiet for a moment. "You said you still have this guy's jacket?"

"What? Oh, yeah, back at my apartment. Why?" Clary replied, momentarily confused by the abrupt subject change.

"Well, you said he's a detective, right? I'll bet you that he has some sort of business card in his jacket."

"Izzy, why on earth would he carry around a business card in his jacket?"

"They always carry them in the movies." Izzy blinked, taking a sip of her drink that was far too many words for Clary's taste. Clary only needed two words; Black coffee.

"Okay, but we don't live in a movie, Iz." Clary was looking at her friend like she had gone nuts, which wasn't all that uncommon.

"I know that, but there's still that chance, isn't there? I mean, they had to get the idea from somewhere." She said, and Clary had to admit that Izzy had a point. If anything, it was worth a shot.

"What exactly did you have in mind? I don't exactly want to go back home to see Jace with some girl draped around him like he was the last man on earth." Izzy shrugged, and got up.

"If he's there, then flaunt the jacket around like it's the only piece of clothing you own." She suggested, making Clary choke on her coffee.

"Not a chance, Iz." Clary coughed out, embarrassed. Izzy grinned.

"I'm just saying, it'll get him to shut up." She laughed, following Clary out of the coffee shop.

"Getting Jace to shut up isn't the problem right now. And sure, it'll work, but at what cost?" She inquired as they walked back to her apartment. "It would be one thing if Jace and I weren't so close, but he's been my best friend for years. I don't know what's going on, but I know it would suck if I lost him as a friend."

"You'd still have me, Simon, Magnus, and Alec." Izzy offered as she pulled open the door to her apartment building so the two could step inside.

Clary pressed the elevator button and glanced at her. "Do you really think that Alec, Jace's own brother, would side with me over him?"

"Honestly, after he found out what Jace did last night, he's been more than a little annoyed. All of us have been. He isn't acting like himself." The two stepped into the elevator and rode the way up to Clary's floor in silence.

"What I don't understand is how so much has changed in only two days." She said as the two walked down the hallway to her apartment. Clary stalled outside her door, fiddling with her keys. She took a deep breath and unlocked the door. She turned the knob, expecting the worst as the door swung open to reveal nothing. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. Izzy seemed relieved too as she walked into the apartment. Both girls stopped at the sight of the sparkly heels sitting by the door, and the woman's jacket thrown over the back of the couch, exactly the way they had been when Clary had left that morning. She glanced over at Izzy, whose eyes had widened slightly at the sight of the offending objects.

"Wow. I wasn't aware Jace had that much nerve." Izzy snorted. Clary giggled, and soon both girls were laughing at the absurdity of the situation. If someone had walked in at that moment, both girls would have looked more than a little crazy. Soon their laughter turned into a few scattered giggles here and there as they caught their breath. They weren't bothering to be quiet as they walked into Clary's room, Izzy even made a point to close Clary's door with a little more force than was necessary.

"Okay, show me this jacket." Clary crossed the room to her desk chair where she had placed Will's jacket last night after she got home. She handed it to Izzy, who immediately went through the pockets, eventually fishing out a white business card.

"Aha! Found it." She grinned triumphantly, holding up the small card. Clary couldn't believe it.

"I can't believe that you actually found one." Clary said dumbfounded, reaching for the card.

"Movies don't lie, Clary. At least, they don't lie about hot detectives carrying around business cards." Izzy replied, snatching the card away from Clary's grasp.

"Come on, Izzy, give it." Izzy laughed

"William Hero- wait a minute, that can't be right." Izzy stopped, confused.

"What can't be right?" Clary asked, and Izzy passed her the card, and her eyes widened.

"William Herondale. Herondale, as in Jace Herondale. You have to be kidding me." Clary couldn't believe her eyes. Jace had never mentioned anything about another Herondale, ever. As far as she had been told, he was the only one after a tragic accident killed both of his parents. Jace was raised with Alec and Izzy, but he kept his last name.

"Well, are you going to text him?" Izzy asked, and Clary could only blink at her with wide eyes.

"Text him? Did you miss this whole last name connection thing?" She asked, incredulously.

"It's just a name, Clary." Izzy said, trying to be nonchalant, but Clary had known her for long enough to know that she was equally as curious as she was. Then again, she really did want to see Will again.

"Fine, I'll send him a text. You should call Alec. He might know something." Izzy nodded and pulled out her phone. Both girls paused at the sound of a door opening from across the hall. They remained quiet, listening for other sounds, and began talking again when they heard the front door open and close after a moment. "On second thought, now that Jace is gone, invite him over. Magnus too, and Simon. We can order in and try and figure this out." Clary suggested before pulling out her own phone to text Will. Or should she call him? She fiddled with her phone for a minute before deciding to text him. After all, it was the middle of the afternoon, and he could be at work. Even though it was a Sunday, she wasn't sure what his schedule was.

Hey, is this Will? She typed, sending the message immediately, not allowing herself any time to worry about what she should say. Her phone buzzed a moment later

Yes, who is this? Was the reply.

It's Clary, she typed, before adding from Pandemonium.

Well hello, Clary from Pandemonium. Not that I'm upset, but how did you get my number? Unless I'm mistaken, I was an idiot and didn't think to get the number from the woman I spent most of my time there with. Either that, or I drank a lot more than I thought I did last night. He said, and Clary smiled.

No, you didn't give me your number. I kind of found it on a business card you had in your jacket. My friend gave me the idea.

I'm certainly thankful for your friend's idea then. I kind of miss my jacket. He replied. Clary was beginning to type out a response when her phone buzzed with another message from him. Of course, I'd also like to see you again. Clary blushed, thankful that Izzy was still on the phone with Alec, and was not paying attention to her at the moment.

Likewise, was her only response. After a minute, she received another text.

So, when would be a good time? He asked.

I have to teach tomorrow, but I have a lunch break for an hour at 1 if that works? She sent the text, and bit her lip, waiting for his reply.

Sounds perfect. You work at Alicante, right? She grinned, certain she was blushing.

Yep, have you ever been there before? She asked.

Yes, a couple of times. Where should I meet you? Clary was suddenly aware of a presence lurking over her shoulder, and turned to see Izzy reading the message on her screen. Deciding to pretend her friend wasn't reading her conversation, Clary responded.

I work in the art building, if you ask for me someone will be able to show you my classroom. It's kind of hard to find.

It's a date. Just don't forget my jacket :)

Trust me, I won't. She turned off her phone after sending the last message, and turned to face a smiling Izzy.

"Oh, don't give me that look" she said, trying and failing not to grin. "Are the guys coming over?" She asked.

"Yeah, they're on their way now. Magnus and Alec should be here first, Simon had a couple of last minute things to do at work." Izzy said.

"Work? It's Sunday." Clary questioned as she hopped of the bed.

"Apparently Raphael had to have something done today. You know how he gets sometimes." She had a good point. Raphael never seemed to think about anything but work, and more often than not Simon was dragged into whatever piece Raphael was trying to put together. and the two walked out to wait for them in the living room. Five minutes later, the two were talking about Izzy's latest show when there was a knock at the door.

"That was fast." Izzy remarked as Clary got up to answer the door. Outside was a strange woman who was smiling brightly until she registered who was at the door. She looked slightly disappointed for a moment before plastering a smile onto her face.

"Oh, hi. You must be Jace's roommate. I'm Alyssa." The woman extended her hand out to Clary, who didn't take it. She glanced back at Izzy, who had come to stand behind Clary with a less than welcoming expression.

The girl's smile faded. "Okay, look. I'm just here because I left something in Jace's room when I left earlier, is it okay if I grab it real fast?" The girl made as if to step into the apartment but was stopped as Clary hadn't moved out of her way. After a moment, she let her arm fall to the side and stepped back, allowing the woman into the apartment. She looked relieved. "Thanks, I promise I'll just be a minute or two." She said, walking down the hallway into Jace's bedroom. Izzy and Clary had their heads turned away from the door so they were both startled by the sound of a new voice breaking the silence.

"You know, Alec. I think we might be a little late to the party. These two seem to be having too much fun on their own, don't you think?" Magnus's voice caused the two women to jump and turn towards the door, finding a smirking Magnus and a confused looking Alec.

"Magnus, what are you talking about? They're just standing there in silence, looking at, well, I don't know what they were looking at but..." He trailed off, his confusion forgotten as the room fell silent when Alyssa walked back out. True to her word, she had only taken a minute to return with a small clutch bag in her hands. "Found it. Thanks again." She said, nodding at Clary before walking out the door. Clary hadn't moved since she opened the door, so Izzy shut the door behind the stranger.

"Well, that was awkward." She said.

"Yeah, who was that?" Alec asked.

"Jace's latest conquest." Clary replied bitterly. Alec's features hardened at the mention of his brother, his lips forming a thin line.

"He's not here, is he?" He asked.

"No, which is a good thing considering Clary probably wants to have the first punch, and the look on your face right now says that you'd be willing to fight her for that." Izzy responded from the kitchen, where she was sitting on the counter holding a box of saltine crackers with a displeased look on her face. "Is this really all you have? Saltines?" She accused, looking at Clary.

"Don't blame me, I haven't been home long enough this weekend to go shopping." She defended. "Just order pizza or something."

"We had pizza last night."

"Okay, then order something from Jade Wolf, or from Taki's." Magnus perked up at that idea.

"Let's get Taki's, we haven't been there in ages." He suggested, and there was a mutual agreement. Soon after Izzy had called and placed their order, their food arrived, and now the group was settled in the living room.

"Okay, so not that I'm complaining, but why did you call the two of us over?" Alec asked, looking at his sister. "I'm guessing it wasn't just for lunch."

"Well, you guys saw that guy Clary was with last night, right?" Almost immediately, Alec sat up rigidly and looked at Clary.

"He didn't hurt you, did he?" He nearly growled. Clary smiled. Alec had always been a bit overprotective of her ever since she had walked into their lives, and she loved him for that.

"No, I'm fine. The night was great, actually. He walked me home and was a perfect gentleman, he even gave me his coat when I got cold." Clary had to stop telling her story when Magnus let out a squeak. She eyed him but said nothing. "Anyways, he gave me his coat, and I still have it because he left it with me last night. Izzy nearly hit me when I told her I hadn't gotten his number, until by some strange logic she suggested looking for a business card in his coat pockets." Alec looked confused. "He's a detective." She clarified. Magnus nodded, and Clary wondered if she was the only one who thought the entire notion was ridiculous. "So, we found his number on the card and I texted him and we're going for lunch tomorrow, but we called you over because his last name is Herondale, and we figured if anyone would know about his name, it would be you, Alec." She finished quickly before she could get interrupted again. As it turned out, she didn't need to worry about being interrupted because both Alec and Magnus had their mouths open in shock, and didn't look ready to form a coherent sentence.

"Are you sure, absolutely positive, that his last name is Herondale?" Instead of replying, Clary passed Will's business card to Alec. His eyes widened as he saw the name.

"So, do you know anything?" Izzy asked him.

"I wish. No, I thought Jace was the only Herondale. I mean, he was adopted into our family after he was orphaned. I'm not even sure he knows he has any blood relatives left." He paused for a minute, still processing the information. "I need to meet this guy, Clary."

"I just met him Alec, don't you think it'd be a little weird if the first thing I said to him was 'hey, you might be a long-lost relative of the guy who has been my best friend for 7 years and his older brother wants to meet you'?" Izzy snorted.

"Well, he'll probably find out eventually, won't he? And it would be even stranger if he opened the door to find me standing there explaining the exact same thing. At least he knows what you look like." Alec replied, and Clary opened her mouth to respond but found herself unable to find a good excuse. As much as she didn't want to admit it, Alec kind of had a point.

"I don't suppose I can persuade you to wait until I've had the chance to go on a proper date with him?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

"Just call him and ask if he's busy." Clary looked at Izzy wide eyed.

"Now?"

"Yes, now. I can always call him for you if you want. But I don't think you would want that." Izzy smirked while Clary blushed.

"Clary, in all honesty, you didn't think you would be able to tell us this and not expect Alec to want to meet this man?" Magnus chimed in, wearing a smirk that matched Izzy's. "Just call him, darling. We won't bite."

Clary looked down at her phone, her fingers hovering over the call button next to Will's name. After a moment, she pressed the button and brought her phone to her ear, watching as all of her friends looked at her apprehensively as she waited for Will to pick up the phone.

"You're not calling to cancel our date, are you?" Clary couldn't help but smile.

"No, definitely not. I'm looking forward to lunch tomorrow. I called to ask you a question." She blushed and pretended to ignore the mischievous look Magnus was giving her.

"Well then, fire away."

"This might be super forward, but unfortunately my friends are too nosy for their own good and want to meet you right away. Would you like to come over?" She asked, biting her lip.

"Sure." He replied.

"Really? Because if you're uncomfortable I totally understand."

Will chuckled. "It's fine, Clary. I'm new to the area and now that Jem and Tessa are engaged I can't really hang out with them without being a third wheel. It'd be nice to meet some new people."

"Okay, do you remember my building?"

"Yeah, it's not exactly that far. What's the apartment number?" Clary gave him her address. "Great, I'll be there soon." He said, before hanging up the phone.

"He's on his way." Clary said, looking down at her phone, and then at her outfit. She was dressed in jeans and one of Simon's old T-shirts she had stolen from him ages ago. As if sensing her distress, Izzy smiled.

"You look fine, Fray. Besides, were you really going to dress up for class tomorrow?" Clary gave her a doubtful look. "I know he saw you all dressed up last night, thanks to me, but that's not you." Magnus nodded in agreement.

"You don't need to be nervous, Clary. Besides, there's not enough time to get you all dolled up." Magnus replied as there was a knock at the door.

Clary crossed the room and took a deep breath before she opened the door. Will was standing on the other side and he grinned at her.

"What?" She asked.

"Well, I was pretty drunk last night, and in my haze, I remembered you being pretty. Now that I'm sober, I realize I was mistaken." He paused long enough for the room to become tense before he continued. "You're gorgeous, Clary." Clary was sure her face had turned as red as her hair.

"Damn." Magnus spoke up from behind her, drawing their attention to him. He was looking at Alec. "How come you're never that romantic?" He asked jokingly. Alec simply huffed.

"Clary, let him in." He said, and Clary stepped aside.