Chapter Nine

Time Jump – Two Years Later

Jace POV:

I had Izzy distract Clary today because I wanted some time with the kids to ask their permission to marry Clary. I knew we were already a family, and I knew they loved me and I loved them but I still wanted to ask. Clary was not happy with me that Izzy got her up at the crack of dawn to take her shopping. She glared at me as she was pulled out of the door but I knew that she would be happy when tonight rolled around.

I got all the kids ready and we went out to lunch. I was nervous because I knew this was a huge step and although I was asking for permission to marry Clary, I was also going to ask them if I could adopt them and that was extremely nerve wracking. When we got to the restaurant we were seated and we ordered and when everything was situated I decided to ask them.

"So kids, there was a reason that I wanted you all alone today and why I had Aunt Izzy drag her out of the house." I said and they all looked at me. "As you know, I love your mom very much. There isn't a single thing I wouldn't do for her and these past couple years together have been some of the best years of my life. I want to ask your mom to marry me, and I wanted to get your permission." I said and they were all super silent which made me nerves heighten.

"I think it's safe to say our answer is yes." Shelly said after a moment with the biggest smile on her face. "You're already our dad, and you make mom happy. I think it's about time you asked her anyway." She said and I laughed and they all came over and gave me a hug.

"We love you dad." Tara said and my heart just swelled. There was a point in my life where I thought I'd never have a family, but after meeting Clary, and these kids I knew that this is what I was meant to do in life. We were meant to be a family.

"I want to ask you another question." I said and they took their seats. "I want to know how you guys would feel if I adopted you." I said and their smiles got even wider. "You four are already my kids, but I'd like to make it official." I said and they ran towards me. "I'll take that as a yes." I said and they all nodded their heads enthusiastically. The rest of lunch went really well and I could tell how happy they were, and I was excited to ask Clary tonight. Hopefully everything went according to plan.

Clary POV:

"Izzy, we've been shopping for hours. I'm tired. I didn't sleep well last night, and Jace had you drag me out of the house for this at an ungodly hour." I complained but Izzy just laughed.

"Jace thought you could use a day where you aren't in mom mode, and I agree. You rarely do anything for yourself Clary, and that needs to change." Izzy said as we exited our 10th store of the day.

"I can't. I have my kids to take care of." I said and she stopped and smiled at me.

"You aren't alone anymore Clary." She said as she grabbed my hand. "You have Jace, who is more than capable of taking care of those kids. You have me, and Magnus, and Alec. We're all here for you. My mom and dad are too. You don't have to be the mother, the father, the aunt, the uncle, the grandma, and grandpa all on your own anymore."

"It's hard to turn that off. Even after the last couple years. I have been on my own for so long it's just second nature to fall back into that mindset." I confessed and she gave me a hug.

"I get that you're used to that Clary, but that's not how your life is anymore. You have money for those kids, you have a house, and food for them." She said and I laughed a little.

"That's all Jace's. None of that is mine." I said and she rolled her eyes like it was the most ludicrous thing she's ever heard.

"The day Jace took those kids in, was the day whatever he owned became yours as well." She said and I just looked into her eyes. "That money, is yours. That house, is yours. The food, the heat, the cat, everything that Jace has, is now yours as well."

"Not really. I'm just the girlfriend. I don't have any right to what he has earned. I haven't earned anything. I mean, I feel guilty every time I swipe my credit card because I know it's not my money I'm spending."

"You honestly think Jace cares about how much money you spend?" Izzy asks and I just shrug. "Well he doesn't. You could go off and treat yourself to a weekend at the most exclusive and high-end spa and Jace wouldn't even bat an eyelash at the coast. He would be totally cool with it because he thinks you deserve absolutely anything you want in the world."

"He would care if I spent that much money." I tried to counter her argument and she just glared at me.

"When has Jace ever complained about how much money you've spent?" Izzy asked and I just shrug. "When you brought up that you wanted to send the kids to that really fancy private school because they would better prepare them for high school and college, what did Jace say?"

"He told me to pay all of their tuition up front so we didn't have to worry about payments every month." I said and Izzy just nodded.

"And when you had to buy them the proper uniform, what did Jace say?" Izzy asked and I laughed.

"We got to the store and he told the kids to go crazy. He didn't even look at the price when the cashier rung us up."

"Exactly. Jace doesn't give a shit about how much money you spend. The guys a multimillionaire, and makes a shit ton of money from work. You are set for the rest of your life sweetheart." She said and I took a deep breath.

"Until he realizes he could have someone better than me." I mumbled but Izzy smacked my arm.

"Jace is completely in love with you. I've never seen him this way before. After being together for almost three years you should know how he feels about you Clary." She said and I hung my head.

"I know in my heart that he loves me, and I know that I love him. Sometimes it just seems too hard to believe you know? I don't have the best past when it comes to men. I mean I had 4 kids with a guy who I stayed with because I was too naïve to know that didn't actually love me but loved having sex with me."

"You were a child than. We do stupid shit ahs kids, it happens." Izzy said and I laughed.

"I used to know how my life would turn out. I would be poor and scrapping by forever and when my kids got old enough to work, they would be working too because they had too. I always knew my life was going to be a struggle." I said and I started playing with the necklace Jace bought me for Valentine's Day. "Than Jace showed up, he was a complete asshole to me, and than saved me."

"Yea, Jace likes to pretend he's a superhero sometimes. Rescuing the poor damsels in distress." Izzy said and I laughed.

"He took my kids in, he took me in, he did everything for me possible, and here I am, three years later, and we're completely happy and in love and I don't have to worry about what my kids will eat for dinner because we have a fully stocked fridge at home." I laughed because something that simple now, used to be the biggest struggle before. "I can't believe how much my life has changed, and sometimes it's hard to actually think its real."

"It's real alright. Jace is your boyfriend, he is the best father to those kids, he treats you like a freaking queen, and he is more in love with you every day than I've ever seen him before." Izzy said and I started getting teary eyes. "Sometimes life doesn't make sense and you just have to roll with it." She said and I laughed. "Come on, we should get you back." I nodded and we made our way back to the car.

When we got home something smelled absolutely wonderful. I walked into the living room to see the kids but they weren't there. I walked into the kitchen to see Jace standing there cooking. I smiled to myself and leaned on the counter to watch him for a few moments. Izzy was right, this was my life now, and as crazy as it was for me to believe it sometimes, I needed to embrace it more. When Jace turned around and saw me he smiled.

"How was your day?" He asked and I smiled.

"Long. Very long." I said and he laughed. "How was your day?"

"It was good. The kids and I went out for lunch." He said and I smiled and nodded.

"Speaking of kids, where are they?" I asked.

"They are upstairs. They'll be down for dinner." Jace said and I nodded. "go get changed."

"Is what I'm wearing not appropriate for dinner now?" I asked as I looked at my sweater and jeans.

"Nope. Tonight is going to be different. Look nice." He said and I sighed. I walked over and gave him a quick kiss.

"Okay. I'll be done when dinner is done." I said and he smiled and I made my way upstairs. I was kinda confused what was going on but I listened to him regardless. When I walked into our closet there was a note on one of the dresses that I had never seen. It was from Izzy.

Wear this tonight! No protests, I know what I'm talking about! Have fun! ~Izzy

The note said and I nodded and slipped on the black dress. After about 25 minutes I headed back downstairs and it was completely transformed into a very elegant and romantic space. Jace was standing there wearing a black button up, with the sleeves pushed up past his elbow and damn did he look good. The kids were all there and dressed nicely. It was a sight to see that's for sure. When I walked over Jace gave me a kiss before dropping down to one knee. My hands flew over my mouth as he pulled out a black box.

"Clarissa, I have loved you from the moment I saw you open those beautiful green eyes in that hospital room. You have completely taken my heart, and have shown me what it means to truly love someone unconditionally." He said and I could feel my eyes start to water. "I don't know what I would do without you or these amazing kids in my life, and I don't ever want to find out. I love you more than I ever thought was possible, and I want to begin our lives as a family, properly." He said as he took out the ring and grabbed my hand. "Would you do the honor of becoming my wife?" He asked and I took a deep breath. I looked at him and saw nothing but absolute honesty in his eyes. I looked at my kids and they all looked extremely excited. I looked back at him and smiled.

"Of course I'll marry you." I said and he slid the ring on before he kissed me. When I pulled back the kids came running into our legs and I couldn't stop the tears at this point. Everything was perfect. I looked up at Jace and smiled. "I love you."

"I love you too." He said as he kissed me again. After a couple minutes of hugging and looking at my ring we sat down and started eating dinner. I guess I was no longer just the 'girlfriend' but now the fiancé, and boy did I like the sound of that.