Author's Note: Hey sorry again for the long wait for the update but what can I say? I'm a procrastinator. Before I knew it, almost a month had passed from the last update. Oops. But anyways, without further ado, here is the next chapter. Xoxo Katslove0897

Disclaimer: Still waiting for the papers to say that I own the Mortal Instruments series. But until that day, it all belongs to Cassandra Clare.

JPOV

It has been three weeks since that asshole Simon tried to take away the most amazing thing in my life. Like I was going to let that happen.

But even with all of the drama that unfolded, I couldn't help but feel grateful to Simon, as crazy as it sounds. Clary and I were better than ever. If anything, all Simon did was reassure me that Clary was the only one in the world that was meant for me.

I loved everything about her. The way she smiled, the way her beautiful red hair flowed in the wind, the way she laughed, the way her eyes seem to sparkle whenever she's happy. Everything.

Everyone has seemed to move on from the whole aspect of Simon. In the beginning it was the only thing that Isabelle and Alec would talk about, but it was just old news now. Thank god. Izzie is busy trying to get her marks high enough so that she can graduate with Clary in a couple months. Alec is being very secretive about his relationship with Magnus, which we all know has become extremely serious. And I have thrown myself back into med school and my work at the hospital.

But there is one other person that I am very curious about. Clary, like Isabelle, is in her final months of university and has begun her final collection to display at her school. But that's where my knowledge of it ends. She hasn't told me anything about what she is creating or let alone, shown me any of it.

She continually tells me that she will show me "when its ready", or "when it's finished". All it does is makes me even more curious to know what it is.

My train of thought came to a screeching halt when she emerged from her art room covered with an array of colors splattered over her clothes.

"Hey" I said with a smile that just naturally comes to my face whenever I'm around her.

She looked very surprised to see me just sitting in her living room in the middle of the day. But it vanished with a knowing smile. "Hi. Still trying to catch a look at my new work?"

I sighed. She knew me too well. "Yep."

She laughed and shook her head before heading into the kitchen.

I jumped off the couch and followed her, before saying, "So… can I see it?"

"Umm, its not ready yet."

I laughed and said, "But Clary, you have to submit it for final marking tomorrow."

She turned around to look at me with a sly smile on her face. "Well, it's ready to be submitted, but that doesn't mean that it's ready for you to see it."

My jaw dropped. "What? You don't want me to see it?" Now I know what's been going on.

She stopped smiling and came over to me. "Jace, of course I want you to see it. That's not what I mean."

"Then if its finished, why won't you let me see it?"

She looked up at me with that sparkle in her eyes and replied, "I want you to see it at the right time, that's all."

"And I take it now is not the right time?"

The corners of her mouth started to curve up. "No. Not yet. But soon, I promise."

CPOV (One week later)

A week had passed since I handed in my finished collection to my professor. The day after I had handed it in, she told me that she was amazed by the entire selection, but with one piece in particular, and I knew exactly which one she was talking about. It is my favorite thing that I have ever made in my entire history of art. My professor was so excited about it she called me herself to tell me what she did.

"Clary, I know that I should have talked to you about this first, but I just couldn't resist. I submitted some pieces from your collection to the National Board of Art."

Wait, what? "I'm sorry, you did what?!"

"Clary, I think that you have a real chance at this. In about a week's time, the National Board is hosting its annual art gala, when they give out awards."

"Yeah, of course I know about it. It's every artist's dream to be recognized by them. But what do you mean that I have a chance, they only give out awards to the best in the country!"

My professor sighed and replied slowly, "Clary, the work that you have shown me over the last few years have been some of the best pieces that I have seen in a long time. I believe that you have the potential to be one of those artists. Anyways, you should expect a letter in the mail from them in a few days. Goodbye now, Clary."

I was in utter shock form the enormous compliment that she had given me that I could barely mange a "Thank you". Oh my god.

JPOV

I was sitting with Alec and Izzie when Clary came through the door. She was staring down at an unopened white envelope in her hands. Without breaking her staring contest she had with the envelope, he pushed the door shut.

She just stood there silently looking down at the envelope, before Isabelle hesitantly broke the silence with, "Clary…? You ok?"

With this, Clary seemed to wake up from her trance and quickly looked up at us. "I got a letter."

Isabelle's sarcastic personality made another appearance when she said, "Ya. I see that. So… Are you going to open it, or are you just going to keep staring at it?"

She looked too stunned to completely understand what Isabelle was saying.

"I uhh.. It's from the National Board of Art." She said breathlessly.

This is when I chose to contribute to the conversation. "Ok… but why aren't you opening it?"

Clary's expression changed to one of determination. She ripped open the letter and quietly let her eyes scan the page.

As she read it, her eyes bugged out and she gasped.

"Clary? What is it?"

She looked up at me with a shocked expression, "I have been nominated for Most Promising Artist of the Year."

Holy shit. "That's fantastic!" I ran over to her and spun her around in a tight embrace.

Just then a thought occurred to me. "But wait how did they know about you?"

"My professor submitted some pieces from my new collection to the National Board of Art." She said with a smile.

I looked down at her with a mischievous smile. "Wait so all of these people have seen your new stuff, and you still won't show your extremely supportive boyfriend?"

She laughed and said, "I'll show you when it's the right moment."

Mm-hmm. Sure.

A Few Days Later (Still JPOV)

It was the night of the big art gala, and I couldn't be prouder of Clary. I always knew that she was incredibly talented, but now others will know too.

It was an extremely formal event, so Alec and I were in suits and the girls were just finishing getting ready. Isabelle came out first from the back rooms to join Alec and I who were waiting by the door.

She was wearing a floor length, tight-fitting black dress, that was covered in sparkles which reflected the light when she walked. The dress had a large cut up her left leg, as well as a plunging neckline that looked as if it made it to her bellybutton. She had curled her dark hair and then piled it up on top of her head, leaving a beautiful display that would certainly turn heads tonight.

But nothing could have prepared me for the pure beauty that emerged after Izzie.

Wow. It was like time stopped as I laid my eyes on her. Clary was wearing a large white dress that seemed to flow down her body. The top half hugged her body, accenting her every curve. Fountains of tulle came out of her waist making her look like a princess. Silver sparkles ran down the dress creating the most beautiful image that I have ever seen. Clary had curled her hair as well, but instead of creating the style Isabelle had, Clary let her red curls flow down her back. The sparkles from the dress seemed to make her hair glow.

It was breathtaking. She looked like an angel. My angel.

She walked over to me with a shy smile on her face.

"So… How do I look?" She said as she did a little spin for me.

My God, where do I begin? "Clary, you… You look… You look incredible."

She looked up at me through her dark lashes and kissed me gently on the cheek. "Thank you. You look quite handsome yourself."

I held my arm out to her, and she held on tight as I led her to the limo that was waiting outside.

In. Out. In. Out. Deep breathes, Jace. Just keep breathing. Its not like there is a model siting next to you, holding your hand. Nope. Not at all.

We arrived at the entrance to the gala, but Clary took a moment before stepping out of the limo. I could tell that she was nervous.

I laid my hand on her shoulder and spoke quietly. "Clary, you are going to be fantastic in there."

She looked over at me with a scared look in her eyes. "I don't know, Jace… What if I just make a complete fool of myself? Those people in there are the people that can make or break my entire career."

She really has no idea how truly amazing she is. I brought my hand to her face and rubbed my thumb gently across her soft cheek. "Clary, you have nothing to worry about. You belong here."

All she had to do was smile at me and I knew that she was ready. I jumped out of the limo and walked around to hold the door open for her. She took my arm again as I led her into the event, Isabelle and Alec directly behind us.

Inside, there were displays everywhere of the different nominees' work. I still had no idea which one was Clary's.

The four of us took our seats and waited patiently throughout the many awards and acceptance speeches. The award that Clary was nominated for one of the most prestigious awards that would be given out tonight, which meant that it would be one of the last awards to be presented. We had a long, tense wait ahead of us.

The entire time, Clary never let go of my hand, always needing support. But when her category was called, she let go because she knew that she was strong and could handle this was coming moment on her own.

As the presenter of the award walked onto the stage and started to talk, we all sat up a little straighter.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this last award is given to an artist that shows great talent, as well as promise."

Ask she spoke, a member of the backstage crew brought out a pedestal that was holding a large piece of art, covered with a velvet sheet, to stop prying eyes.

The presenter continued her speech. "The winner of this award has been under the National Board of Art's watchful eye for many years now."

Beside me, Clary let out a sad sigh and whispered, "It's not me. I didn't win."

"What? How do you know?"

She looked down at the floor when she replied, "My work was only presented to them over a week ago. Not years ago."

I started to reply but the presenter who had started to talk again, stopped me.

"Please welcome 2014's Most Promising Artist of the Year, Clarissa Morgenstern!"

I heard Clary gasp beside me. A big bright light was directed on our table, inviting her up to the stage. But she didn't move.

I gently prodded her to stand up, encouraging her. The room was filled with applause. Clary looked down at me with the biggest smile that I have ever seen.

I nodded my head and she turned to make her way through the audience. Alec and Isabelle were standing up, clapping and hollering like crazy people.

I couldn't take my eyes off my red-haired beauty as she walked across the stage to receive the award. She shook hands with the presenter, and held her award tightly, before turning to the audience.

Beside her, the presenter walked over to unveil the mysterious artwork that I still had never seen. The artwork that Clary had said wasn't ready for me to see, and that it wasn't the right moment. Well, here came that moment.

As the velvet cloth was removed from the art, a quiet hush fell over the crowd, and all the breath left my body.

It was a painting of me. It was a painting of… ME. Oh. My. God. And it was absolutely phenomenal.

The crowd erupted once more in a deafening applause as they all leapt up from their seats. A standing ovation.

And right in the middle of it all was my angel, who was looking directly at me with a shy smile and that special sparkle in her eyes.

The crowd hushed once more as Clary cleared her throat to give her acceptance speech.

"Wow, I… I never expected this to happen. I…" She smiled and looked down at her award before looking back up to the audience. "I would never have had the strength or courage to continue my journey of art without the amazing support that has been given to me from my parents and my friends. They have always been there to help me and well, just been there whenever I need them. I don't know what I would do without them. But, there is one person that I couldn't be here without. He is my inspiration for everything that I paint or draw, and I love him more than anything else in this world."

A single tear rolled down her cheek as she stared into my eyes. "Thank you, Jace Wayland for being the person that I can share anything with and for being my own personal model." She finished with a chuckle.

The audience joined her in a small laugh as they realized that I was the one in the painting.

Clary returned her gaze back to the audience and finished her speech. "Thank you to the Board for this amazing honor." And with that, she turned with a smile and walked off the stage.

When she reappeared before me, I didn't know what to say. I couldn't seem to find the words to express the absolute love and pride that I had for her.

Clary sat down beside me and placed her hand in mine once more.

I looked at her and said, "I am so proud of you. There is yet to be a day that you don't amaze me more than the day before." I placed my hands on either side of her face and whispered, "I love you. More than you will ever know."

And I will never stop.

Author's Note: Hey! I hope you liked this chapter, I feel really bad about the late update so I made this chapter a lot longer to make up for it. I promise to update soon! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!