"...Robert wanted to go on this trip. He said that it is a good way to spend some quality family time, like old times, you know. I thought it was a great idea. We'll go to this festival together, spend the night there, have a barbeque, play some fun games, maybe.. Are you listening?" asked Stephen, annoyed.

Green eyes, red hair, perfect lips, that's what was going on in Jace's mind. While his dad was planning a whole family weekend with the Lightwoods, Jace's thought were only him and Clary. Though, not everyone was happy to see them together. Alec, for example, kept getting more and more distant, which was odd. He didn't want to say why, but something felt off between him and Clary.

"I am listening, dad. Sounds amazing, the Lightwoods would be happy, I can't assure you. Can we bring other people?"

Stephen sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. "I am concerned about you, Jace. What has this girl done to you? It's true, her mother is beautiful, but-"

"Waait, you know her mom?"

He hesitated. "Well yes, but no- Whatever, bring her, as long as her parents agree with this."

Clary was standing in front of the red door, waiting for any sign. She knocked three times, just like she always did, but still no response. She looked trough his window. Clothes tossed on the floor, empty bottles and cigarettes laying on the tables. Let's hope he's sober. But that was pretty much impossible, by the way his house looked.

Suddenly the door opened. Green shiny eyes were looking at her face, tiredly. The smell of alcohol and cigarettes had hit her, harassing her nostrils.

"Great to see you too, Jon!" said Clary and went straight in the house. She looked for a place to sit, but abandoned that thought, looking around. He greeted her and closed the door behind him.

"Why are you here? Some sort of problem with mom? Dad again? I swaer to God, if he ever touches you-" Jonathan said, but got interrupted by Clary.

"It's not about any of that. Thanks for caring, by the way. Um, well, I've met this guy, Jace Herondale.. and he asked me if I wanted to go camping with him and his family. Mom wouldn't let me go alone.. so would you, the best big brother in the entire world, go with me?"

Her brother started laughing so loud that, their cat- or his cat now- ran away and hid under a pile of clothes. Clary groaned and went to the kitchen, grabbed a mug and pured some water, came back and splashed him with the cold water. He held his eyes closed and took in deep breath.

"I agree. I needed that.. Anyway, I'll come with you. I want to get out of this place."

"Yeaaah, I've noticed that Helen isn't here.. Sorry for that."

"Oh, fuck her. The last six months were horrible. She kept talking about going steady and forming a family in a few years. But I don't see myself as a father quite yet... And talking about it makes me feel worse. We're still in college, for God's sake!.." He took a cigar. "Let's hope she finds a better boyfriend than me, which is impossible."

After his long speech about how great he is as a bigger brother, he had accepted to go with her on the trip. He told her that he would drive her home. Her mother would be happy to see him and know how he had done since he had started college and got his own place.

Jonathan was that type of loving brother, the black sheep of the family, just like his father. Though they're so much alike, Jonathan hates his father since he had formed the Circle and ran away. His relationship with Jocelyn isn't that good either. First, he had blamed her for Valentine leaving his family behind, but he still stayed with his family because of Cary. His sister was the only reason why he didn't go with his father. Jonathan knew that she would have nobody to train her, teach her how to be a real shadowhunter, to fight, to protect herself. But all those plans faded away once their mother decided to keep distance to the Shadowhunter world. The two sibings had always been close.

They remained silent on the way to Clary's house, enjoying the tunes on the radio. Clary replied to Jace, telling him that her bigger brother would come.

"Her bigger brother is coming." said Jace, as his father was studying some new weapons. "Do you think he's a cool guy? He's like 24.. I don't know."

"For God's sake, Jace. It's not like you need his blessing to be with Clary. The Fray's had always been different, accept that." He took a seraph blade and twisted it around, studying each detail. "I've told you not to get involved with them."

His son got up really fast, almost making the chair fall and threw his hands in the air. "Stop being so judgemental! You're acting like they're a family full of serial killers, drug dealers and other bad things. You had been part of Valentine's Circle. I have no idea who my real mother is, the woman I used to call mother died because you weren't strong enough to protect her.. And they are still the bad guys? Think about it, dad." he looked down at the weapons scattered around.

"Jace.." he sighed. "I don't consider myself as a model for you, for anyone. I know I could've saved your mother from Valentine, but I didn't. I know I could've said no to Valentine, but I didn't, because I was weak. And when you were born.. oh, I knew that you would be a better person than I'll ever be. You can make things right, Jace.. just like your mother said, your real mother."

Hearing the word real made Jace tense. "My real mother?.."

Stephen handed him an album from the bookshelf. When Jace opened it, he saw a picture of Stephen and a woman - his real mother, he supposed - smiling. The next pages were full of pictures of both, in holiday, at their house, with their friends, including Alec's parents. The last pages had been ripped, leaving one piece of paper. A letter, from Jace's mom.

"That's why I gave you this album. It's a letter from your mother, addressed to you.

"Dear Jace,

When you read this I may not be near you. I may be far, far away, or you may not know me, still living with the impression that your mother is dead. Stephen and I did stupid mistakes, but you aren't one. If you have that idea in your head, throw it away, because it's not true.

You're part of the Herondale line. Believe me, you've got good genes, considering that I once was a Herondale. Don't just throw them away, because you're part of one of the greatest families. As a mother, I know that you're a little rebel. I knew that since I've watched you grow up- yes, I was there- and I knew that you'd become a warrior, why not the best. After Celine died, your father took you and ran away in New York to protect you from Valentine. We've discussed about it and decided to follow you, but never show up. It's like I'm just a shadow who stalks you, but in a less creepy way.

Jonathan, I want to let you know that I love you with all my heart and that I would never give up on you. You're the best thing that happened to me and I hope you'll make your dad and I proud.

Love, Amatis."