Sorry about the lack of updates, school actually continued for a week or two uninterrupted, but now the snow is back and school has been cancelled for the rest of the week. This means more updates :)
To Guest reviewers: I don't mind these reviews, in fact I love them just as much, but I would greatly appreciate it if when you review to leave an identifier with it such as a number sequence or a name so I can respond to you in the next chapter.
"You what! Clary this amazing! You all will be so adorable. Are you all gonna get married? Has he already proposed? Will your Mom and Luke come in for the wedding? Can I be a bridesmaid or even the maid of honor? Oh my gosh this is all so exciting!" I pulled the phone away from my ear, wincing at Maia's shrieking.
"Maia, calm down. We are not getting married and we're not engaged. He just asked me to move in is all." I knew how bad it would look to others if I moved in with him after only two weeks, but I was a grown woman damn it! After all I had been through in my life, from the bullying to the general feelings of displacement, I deserved a little bit of happiness without feeling guilt due to others' disapproval. I looked at the door anxiously, hoping Jace was still busy and not listening.
"Ah poo. You're no fun Clary."
"What does engagement or marriages have anything to do with fun?" I heard Maia sigh on the other end, probably rolling her eyes knowing full well I couldn't see her.
"Okay Clary, since you're going to get all technical with me I'm gonna get off of here and go back work on my reports. Be safe!" Huh?
"Be safe? What are you talking about?"
"You are so dense. Make him wrap it or be in pain nine months later. See ya in a couple weeks!" I was left gaping, the dial tone snapping me back to reality. I had never thought of things going that far, let alone a baby coming into the mix later on. Would Jace even want kids? Do I even want kids? I shook my head not even wanting to begin thinking about anything in that direction.
"Hey." I tensed up when Jace hopped on the bed beside me, relaxing moments later. He always teased me about being jumpy, so I would try to hide when I flinched. I set the phone on the bedside table and buried my face in the soft pillow, letting out a frustrated groan.
"How'd telling Maia go?" I groaned again, immediately deciding not to tell Jace about Maia's rant on marriage and preventing children.
"That bad huh. Was she upset or angry?" I sat back up and pulled the pillow into my lap, resting my arms on it.
"Neither. Maia was... enthusiastic for lack of a better word."
"I was expecting something different. I'm not sure what that was, but definitely not enthusiasm." I let out a short laugh, falling backwards onto the bed again.
"You and me both."
"So what else did Maia say? You all were on the phone longer than it took to just be excited about it."
"Nice choice of words. We didn't really talk about anything else." I felt my cheeks flame, desperately wishing Jace to look away so he wouldn't see past my lie. He just raised an eyebrow, then pulled me into his arms and nuzzled my neck. I sighed in contentment, and chose to forget Maia's remarks.
~.~.~.~.~.~
Two days later, I found myself curled up on the couch wrapped in what I now considered my favorite blanket. I was shivering, the blanket pulled up tight against my neck, desperately wishing the nausea that had plagued me all day to vanish. Jace had left earlier that morning to go check on the Academy and make sure Izzy wasn't beating Alec up too bad, while I remained in bed for another hour before stumbling to the couch. Why was it when someone gets sick, they sleep on the couch rather than the bed?
I had drifted off into an uneasy sleep, until I felt a draft from somewhere. Not putting much thought into it I pulled the blanket tighter, allowing myself to drift back into the haze. I felt like I was in a dream, everything in the room was hazy when my eyes would flutter open for a moment. The television had a glowing blur around it, illuminating off of the coffee table. I shut my eyes again, and when I opened them I saw someone standing beside the television. I closed my eyes again just to open them again in a squint. The figure was gone- probably just my imagination. I slipped back into uneasy oblivion.
~.~.~.~.~.~
"Damn it Clary, if I'd known you were sick I wouldn't have left." I felt his strong arms slip under me, blanket and all, and lift me into his arms. I let out a pitiful sound that was a cross between a groan and a whimper. I vaguely registered Jace cursing before he put me back on his bed. I flinched and weakly clawed at the cold washcloth he had laid on my forehead.
"No, Clary. You have a fever and you need to leave it."
"No."
"Clary. We can go to the hot tub once your fever's gone if you leave it." Reluctantly I dropped my hand, remembering the bliss of the hot tub and Jace's amazing massage skills.
"Good girl."
"I'm not a dog."
"No, you're a Clary. A Clary is more relatable to a cat, as neither of them listens and tends to do the exact opposite they are told to do." I groaned, wanting to make a snarky remark back but not trusting myself to keep from losing my breakfast. Jace gave my hand a gentle squeeze before going to the refrigerator for a ginger ale. I sleepily opened my eyes when Jace came back, setting the glass on the table. He had a puzzled look on his face; I moved my head slightly to the side trying to ask him what was wrong.
"Did you by chance open the balcony door sometime this morning and not lock it?" I let my eyes fall shut again, mumbling that it was possible.
"Okay baby, get some sleep. I'll be right here if you need me." I felt the bed dip and his strong arms wrap around me, before I drifted off again.
~.~.~.~.~.~
"Come on, get up." I nudged Jace, trying to get him to move. He smiled and grabbed my wrist to pull me back down to him, but stopped as soon as his hand met bare skin at my waist. His eyes shot open, taking in my attire. I was wearing another bikini I had found in the closet of clothes he had gotten me. My fever was gone and I no longer felt as if I was going to lose the contents of my stomach, so I decided to take Jace up on his offer of the hot tub.
"You promised, Jace. Let's go." He stretched and held his hands up in surrender.
"Alright. Give me a minute to go find my trunks." I jumped up from the bed, clapping my hands in delight.
"You couldn't have waited for me?" I shook my head, sinking lower into the warm water to let the jets massage my back.
"I don't recall waiting last time either. What made you think I would this time?"
"That's true." Jace slid in across from me, pushing his tousled hair from his face. That simple movement was so... hot. I gave Jace a shy smile and moved so my legs were locked around his waist and my arms locked around him neck. I gave him a gentle kiss, enjoying the feel of his fingers skating across my back.
"Have I told you how glad I am you basically kidnapped me?" Jace trailed kisses up my neck, stopping to look at me.
"Hmm maybe once or twice." I playfully slapped his arm, kissing him again. As our kisses picked up intensity, Maia's words floated around in my head. I gasped and pulled back, water sloshing out of the hot tub. Jace gripped my waist, keeping me from pulling away any further.
"Hey, you okay? What happened?" I flushed, not wanting to tell Jace anything about that conversation.
"Nothing, just a passing thought." He pulled me closer, my legs locking tighter around him.
"Clary, if your uncomfortable about anything, anything, then please tell me." I bit my lip and placed my hands on his chest, quickly thinking it over. Did I want this with Jace?
"I'm uncomfortable just sitting here." Jace gave me an amused smile, before pulling me in for another kiss.
"Do you want to get out and go to the be-"
"Yes." I gasped when Jace picked me up, only to be silenced by his lips on mine.
Yup, just go ahead and scream again. I know you want to :)
