I'd love you if I could

chapter 8 - A birthday to remember

A/N: Just decided to get one more chapter up before school started.

Ok...favorite color was purple...

Remember:

It's been years after COG so the character's personality will change and mature a bit, but still have their old personalities if that makes sense?

Disclamer: Only in my dreams do I own Jace... * sigh *

Reccomendation of Fanfiction:

Turbulence by ddpjclaf... my fav ff, amazingly written, i read it like 6 times

Reccomended book:

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto for anyone who likes fluffy type books, it's my favorite book next to TMI

"When I'm not with you, I feel like I'm wearing a pair of sunglasses that turns the world grey," he said.

"and when you're with me?" I asked softly.

"Everything's in technicolor."

Halo - by Alexandra

Adornetto

ClaraBelle squealed and giggled in delight as Isabelle lifted her up,"You're gonna be a big girl now aren't you, Belle?"

Belle nodded and held up five fingers,"I'm turning five!" She said proudly.

At that moment, a flustered looking Jace entered the room. Belle squirmed in Isabelle's grip to be put down. Her wish was immediately granted. As soon as she was put down, she ran too Jace and gave him a big hug, then returned to her "tea party".

"Thank the angel, you're here!" Jace looked up and raised an eyebrow.

"Ok, so I couldn't decide what color the napkins should be!" She exclaimed. Jace gave the whole party planning responsibility to her. One, because he was a guy, and guys do not plan parties, especially him. Two, it was starting to get annoying with Izzy begging him every waking hour of the day.

"I don't know, I love this lavender one, but I love the shade of this other one." She held up two samples. The lavender had a lace like fringe, how they managed to make it look realistic on a napkin, he didn't dare ask. The other one was a shade of teal.

"Whatever," He rolled his eyes. "It's not gonna be that big of a party, ... right?" He stared at her with serious eyes to make sure he got his point across.

"Well, I don't know what you would call big..." She trailed off.

"How many people are on the guest list?"

"Kids or adults?" She asked with a nervous smile. He rolled his eyes once again and let out an agitated sigh.

"Both?" He said with a duh tone.

"Oh, well 66?" Jace's eyes bulged.

"Izzy, when I "asked" you to plan a small party for a five year old. I didn't mean invite 66 fu- people!" He caught himself before he cursed in front of Belle.

"Well sorry if I wanted to plan a great party. I mean she's only gonna turn five once!" She emphasized sorry in a snobby tone.

"Fine, but add one more to the list. Aline's visiting."

"And you would know that how?"

"I talked to her," he said that like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Izzy gave him a pointed look, and raised an eyebrow. "You know on a little plastic thing that you could talk into, a cellphone?"

"Don't phones not work in Idris?"

" I don't know, maybe they fixed it. I always thought that was annoying." He shrugged.

"Anyway, I told Maryse and she said Aline could stay in the institute. Well I gotta take Belle to school." He headed over to Belle and picked her up.

Izzy took a pencil from the nearby table and scribbled out 66. Next to it, she wrote 68, and smirked, an idea forming in her mind.

Isabelle dialed Clary's phone number...

One beep, two beep, three beeps... no answer. She tried again, and got the same result. She shook her head in worry, picked up her purse, and took off through the door.

Isabelle looked up at the building in front of her, and took the slip of paper out of her purse. She had secretly asked Lexi for Clary's address exactly for these purposes.

She entered the apartment building and went up to the 3rd floor. She walked down 2 empty hallways, and finally turned a left to her destination. She knocked. After a few moments, her worry increased. She knelt down and picked the lock with ease. Inside, she found Clary.

It took Clary a few minutes to acknowledge Isabelle's presence. She simply looked up for a second, and back down again. Once Isabelle saw her tear streaked face, she rushed to the redhead's side.

"What - "Her gaze landed on the picture laying in the sea of broken glass. Izzy put a comforting hand on Clary's back. The only thing that could be heard was Clary's broken sobs.

After about 15 minutes, Clary calmed down enough for Isabelle to tell her what she came to say. Isabelle took a piece of paper out of purse. She held it up for Clary to read. Clary looked down and shook her head, sending her red hair flying around.

"Why not?Clary, come on. "

"I - I don't know if I can handle seeing him again. And H-he hates me," Her bottom lip trembled and her voice broke at the the last sentence.

"No, he doesn't. Where's the fierce little redhead that burned down an entire ship? The one that saved all of us from Valentine? Aline's gonna be at the party. And living at the institute for a while. Jace invited her. It may be your last chance to fix everyone would be happy again. Clary -" Clary interrupted her.

"Maybe he's better off with her."

"Clary, don't think like that."Isabelle gave her a dissaproving glance. She took Clary's hand and pressed a slip of paper, covered in glitter of course, into her hand.

Clary looked at the piece of paper in her hands and scrunched up her eyebrows. "Why-"

"We had to rent a place as our "house". Most of the guests will be , just please think about it ok?" And with that she rushed out of the apartment with Clary looking after her, a look on her face as lost and confused as ever.

Clary's POV

I stepped on the trail of concrete leading to the house. I could hear voices of the happy children inside. I wonder which one was Belle's. I felt ashamed that I didn't recognize my own daughter's name. Stepping onto the front porch, I rang the door bell nervously. Oh god, I hope Jace doesn't answer the do - . The door opened before I had time to finish that thought, and thankfully it was Isabelle. She looked at me, shocked, then pulled me into a tight hug. She had to hunch down, one -because she was so much taller,two - because she was wearing heels and I was wearing flats.

"I knew you would come," she whispered in my ear. When she let go of me, I looked behind her.

"He's not here yet, he should be bringing Belle any minute now." She answered my unspoken question.

There was a moment of silence,"Aren't you going to invite me in?"

Isabelle quickly stepped aside and waved her in.

Jace (third person POV)

"Daddy do I have to eat this?" Belle looked disgustingly at the mashed green stuff called peas. She looked up at Jace with puppy dog eyes that Jace couldn't resist. It was hard to refuse to her even if it was good for her. Belle had learnt quickly that she could swerve her father to do almost anything when she gave him that look.

"Yes you do,"Jace said resolutely. "It's good for you. You'll be eating all that junk food at the party.

Belle crossed her arms as an attempt to look angry, but Jace found it rather cute,"Fine!" She grumbled and reluctantly ate another spoonful of the peas.

"Good girl," Jace said chuckling, and kissed Belle's forehead, before turning around to finish the dishes. Having a daughter really changed him. He started washing dishes and doing other stuff that he was never used to doing. He always just had takeout , as a result from avoiding Izzy's cooking.

Clary's POV

There was a creaking noise as the gate to the backyard, where the party was, opened.

Jace's beautiful head of gold looked around. I ducked behind Isabelle but kept my gaze on Jace. He was holding Belle with one hand and his other hand was...holding Aline's hand. Aline was half leaning on Jace. I always imagined her to be the clingy type. She had a small smile on her face, but her eyes told a different story. She looked like she wanted to leave this place full of disgusting little kids and start dry humping Jace right there. I glared at her even though I knew she couldn't see me. I was starting to see red as Aline leaned even closer to Jace, stroked his hair, and planted a kiss on him. I stormed over to them.

"What the hell are you doing?" I said to Aline.

"Oh, hi Clary, I thought you were..." She trailed off and gave me a fake tight smile.

"Why the hell are you here?" Jace said through his teeth.

"I was invited."I said smugly. I didn't know where I got the courage from, but I hoped it stayed, or else I'm screwed. Jace peered behind me and Izzy waved and gave him a guilty smile.

I crouched down a little and looked at Belle. She looked so adorable. Her gold colored hair, were in two pig tails and they shown in the sun. Her smile was radiant as she saw her friends. She was wearing a cute little purple dress. It was of course full of glitter.

"Hi, Belle, Happy birthday, do you like your party?" She nodded excitedly.

"I brought a present for you."I gave her a little wrapped box. She took it eagerly. And looked up at me giving me a big smile. The her smile faded and a puzzled look took over her face. She turned to Jace.

"Daddy? why does she look like mommy in the picture?"

Before he had a chance to reply I said,"That's because I am your mommy," A tear rolled down my face. Jace's eyes were shining with a sheen of reluctant tears. He blinked them away.

"Let's go Belle," He said with a hard edge to his voice, with a hint of happiness?

They walked away, and Aline turned to give me a glare, then smiled tauntingly, and mouthed he's mine.

That night

"Daddy, what did that woman with red hair mean, when she said she was my mommy?" Jace looked over surprised that she remembered.

"Nothing,sweetie," He told her.

She was silent for a second,"Daddy, do you know what my wish was?"

"What was it, honey?" Knowing her, Jace thought she was gonna wish for a pony with lots of glitter, but what she said next surprised him.

"I want a mommy." She said

"Of course, Aline will be like your mommy."

"No, I mean a real mommy, my mommy."she said with an innocent look.

"Belle-"But she was already fast asleep. He sighed, turned on her nightlight, and shut the door.

This was certainly, a birthday to remember.

Quote that I love:

"You're the kind of friend that if my house was burning down; you'd be hitting on the fireman. You're the kind of friend that steals my umbrella in the rain to see how fast I can run. You're the kind of friend that laughs when I fall, then you trip me again. You're the kind of friend that ...can't bail me out of jail because you're sitting right beside me in the cell. Most of all, you're the kind o...f friend that will be with me until our last breathe. The kind that will be chasing me around the nursing home, trying to hit me with your walking stick when your old and saggy. "