Kay I thought we better see why Clary collapsed from her POV before I go on. It's nice to see so many people worried about her. Sorry for not updating in like a month...or two. *sheepish grin*My bad. This chapter was sorta hard to write as it decided the rest of the baby's and the story's future. Anyways, read on ppls.
Disclaimer- ....yes, I am Cassandra Clare. *shifty eyes*
CPOV
Jace was smiling at me euphorically. It was times like these I treasured the most.
Suddenly, a cracking pain shot up through my torso, knocking the wind out of me. I tried to draw in breath but I couldn't seem to be able to. The pain in my chest was excruciating, like having multiple bones broken at once.
I lost feeling in my body as a wave of black overcame me. The last thing I saw was Jace's mouth move, his lips forming my name, and his lightning fast reflexes trying to catch me before I hit the floor.
*****
JPOV
"Clary!" I cried as she lay there, motionless, in my arms. I looked up at Isabelle, the panic clearly shown in my eyes.
"What do I do?" I said, desperately.
"How should I know!?" Izzy said, flinging her arms around nervously.
I rushed into the lounge room and carefully placed Clary on the couch, stuffing a pillow under her legs to level her body.
"Watch her," I said to Izzy who was crouched beside her, "I'm going to find my stele."
I practically flew up the stairs to find my stele. Why had Clary had fainted? One moment, she had been perfectly happy, rejoicing with me over our child's feats. The next, she had fainted in my arms; the panic and adrenalin was still pumping through my veins from the sight of her limp body in my arms.
I opened up the door to our personal weaponry store. From the panelled walls, every weapon that Clary or I had desired hung there or was in a cupboard. My eyes found the stele lying on the table, centred in the middle of the room.
"Clary, wake up!" Izzy was saying as I ran back into the living room.
"Anything?" I asked as I knelt down beside her. Isabelle just shook her head.
I ran my hands over Clary's stomach. There was unfamiliar bump in her skin before where our baby was growing- and another and another. I gently touched the lump and it moved as I touched it; it felt strangely like-
"Bone," I whispered.
"What's the matter?" Izzy asked.
I grabbed my stele and drew a healing rune over Clary's ribs. "I think the baby kicked Clary's ribs and broke a few somehow." I sighed with relief as the moments passed and the broken rib set back into place. Clary's soundless state soon was filled with her shallow breathing.
Izzy sighed with relief. "So it was just the pain of it that knocked her out?"
I nodded. "Probably."
I looked back at Clary to see her eyes fluttering open. She looked confused for a moment as she took in her surroundings. I sighed again.
Clary rubbed her head. "What happened?" she said a little groggily.
I reached for her hand and held it tightly between the both of mine. "Somehow, the baby broke a few of your ribs unexpectantly."
She frowned. "Surely he can't be that strong yet. It's only been about 5 months."
I shrugged while Isabelle answered.
"Some Nephilim offspring are stronger than others; it's not that uncommon. But all have more strength than a pure-blooded mundane child."
It was my turn to frown. "But still. Did you ever break your mother's bones when you were still in her stomach?"
"Probably not. But then again, you guys are- how do I put this?" She thought for a moment before raising her hands and making quotation marks with her fingers. "Special."
Clary laughed. "I think we already knew that. But who knows, there could be something whacked about our genes and stuff. Like our angel genes could cancel each other out and the baby could end up not having the Sight at all."
I shook my head. "Not likely."
"As I said, who knows!?"
Isabelle got up from where she had been kneeling on the ground. "Argh my knees!"
"Seriously you're not that old yet," I said, contradicting her complaint.
She scowled. "Soon I will be."
"Get pregnant first and then tell me how your legs feel," Clary said.
Isabelle just rolled her eyes in response and walked out of the room.
Clary held up three fingers, putting them down, one at a time.
"Three, two, one..."
"I refuse to get fat just to find out how much it hurts Clary!" Isabelle yelled, from the direction of the kitchen.
"I'll have a green tea thanks Iz," she called back. I could just imagine the relinquished look on Isabelle's face complimented by a smirk. I shook my head and laughed.
A shrill ringing echoed through the house.
"Go get that Jace. You know you want to," Clary said, playfully.
I got up and walked over to where the phone was ringing in the hall, picking it up from its cordless docking station.
"Hey, Jace speaking."
"Hi Jace it's Jocelyn. Is Clary there?"
I rolled my eyes. Of course she wanted her daughter.
"Yeah, I'll put her on."
"Thanks Jace."
I covered the mouthpiece with my hand as I uttered to Clary, "Your Mum."
"Was that supposed to be a delayed comeback?" she said.
"No, it is actually your Mum," I said.
"Put her on speaker then." I nodded.
"Hey Jocelyn you there?"
"I hate to be sarcastic but yeah," Jocelyn said through the phone.
"Good. We're putting you on speaker."
"What? No, I-" I didn't hear the rest of her protest since I pulled the phone away my ear. But when I pushed the speaker button, I heard the end of it.
"-speak to my daughter without your input or sarcastic comments!"
Clary shook her head. "You know, whatever you say I'll tell Jace and take his advice anyway?"
Her mother was silent for a moment and I stuck my tongue out at Clary.
"Fine," Jocelyn finally said.
"How have you been anyway, Mum," Clary said, "I haven't seen you in a month or two."
"I've been better."
"What's wrong Mum?"
There was a sigh on the other end of the phone.
"I-"
At that moment Isabelle barged into the living room with a tray laden with cups of tea, not realising we were on the phone, let alone on speaker.
"Drinks," she said; the china tinkling as she set the cups down in front of me and Clary. "I took the liberty of getting you a coffee, too, Jace," she added.
"Ah Izzy-" Clary started.
"What? I gave you green tea didn't I?" Isabelle replied.
"Izzy-" I said.
"Seriously, what did I do wrong this time? Ever since I got here it's 'What the hell Iz?' or 'Keep secrets from Jace' or 'You stay here with the injured pregnant woman while I go do something else-"
By this point I had completely forgotten about the phone.
"Hey! I was not doing 'anything else'. I was getting my stele," I said, indignantly.
Izzy and I continued to bicker so much so that Clary threw a knife at the wall behind us to get our attention.
"Oi!" She said, "I'm the only one who gets to be hormonal around here! Now shut up- there's someone on the phone!"
Izzy and I fell silent.
"Oh," Isabelle murmured. I chuckled.
"Sorry Jocelyn," I said, as I sat down beside Clary on the lounge. Izzy sat on the arm of the chair.
"It's okay. You two have always been like this," she said.
Clary shook her head. "What were you saying Mum?"
"Now I know you like it there in Idris and everything but-"
Clary sighed. "I hope this isn't another one of your attempts to persuade us to move back to New York."
"No but-"
"Jocelyn, give it up. We're not moving," I said, crossing my arms. Jocelyn had been giving us the 'I want you to move back home' speech ever since we moved here. And it wasn't only her. Isabelle had also said it is better living in New York. But then again, she only agrees because of the lack retail stores here.
"Now Mum, when are you coming to visit?" Clary asked.
"That's what I phoned to tell you about-"
"What?" Clary cried, "You're not coming not coming to visit your own pregnant daughter!?"
"Clary! I'm not going to Idris because you are coming here!"
"What?" Clary, Isabelle and I said in unison.
"Clary, I want you to have the baby here in New York," Jocelyn said.
There was a stunned silence. Well, that was something I wasn't expecting; unless she wanted a hospital delivery which was unusual. Most Nephilim were home-birthed and I would have expected my child to definitely been one of those, considering we didn't actually know what was going to happen with our extra angel-blood and everything. But then again that could pose a problem to Clary's health, so I guess the technology could well be worth the risk of being exposed at a mundane hospital.
"Ah Mum..." Clary drifted off, head in her hands, "I was hoping to have her here."
"But Clary I think it would be best having the baby in New York and living here for a while. That way, we are here if you need us."
'We' I assumed were the rest of the family. No doubt they were in on this already.
"We'll think about Jocelyn," I said. I was convinced on going, but I just had to persuade Clary now. And I don't think it would best having her mother listening in as I did it.
"Thank you Jace," she said, relieved. She was relieved anytime I didn't deny anything at first mention.
"We'll talk to you later then, Mum," Clary said.
"Okay Hun. I'll talk to you later then," Jocelyn said.
"Bye Mum."
"See ya," I put in.
"Byeeee!" Izzy said.
Jocelyn's laughter could be heard as the receiver clicked off.
Clary sighed and leaned back into the chair. I leaned back and put my arm around her shoulders and she gently put her head on my shoulder.
"What do we do now?" she said, twisting her fingers through mine.
I laid my head on top of hers. "I think your mum is right: We should go back to New York for a while."
"Jace is right. You're so isolated out here. I think it's about time we all went home too," Izzy said.
After a moment, Clary sighed again. "Looks like we're going home then."
Just a lil ramble here-
I was seriously considering a miscarriage in the planning stages but I value my safety too much. I also went re-reading my stories and was like, 'Wow! My grammers come a long way. How did I even come up with half this stuff?' So it's been proven: Constant writing does improve your grammitcal skills.
Anyways, drop me a line-
Alec- Me? C'mon I'm not that much of a background character!
Bowvs- OMG! It's you! You finally decided to make an appearance.
Alec- Why yes I did.
Bowvs- Would you like to help me announce the usual 'review or I kill you' jargon.
Alec- You kill them?
Bowvs- No...Maybe a better threat would be 'or you'll never get a job!'
Alec- Aww are you not getting work?
Bowvs- *sniffles* No.
Alec- *hugs* It's ok.
Bowvs- *hugs back* At least someone cares about my lack of employment.
Alec- You going to announce the end of your rant?
Bowvs- Yes. Rant over now guys. Remember to review!!!
Alec- She does love feedback.
Bowvs- *nods* It helps alot. (to Alec) Chicken soup is also good for feel-good stuff.
Alec- Yep. Anyways, we gotta run now guys.
Bowvs- He's right. See yall next chap! :) TTFN. xx
Alec- Cheers.
Bowvs- (Did you just use Aussie slang?)
Alec- (Gah, it's cause of your darn Destination: Australia story.)
Bowvs- *smirks*
