Work had been gruelling today, being slow and quiet, so there was nothing to do other than wiping the same table six times over and folding napkins. But finally my six hour shift was over and I was jumping off the bus at the stop a block from my apartment. As I approached my door, fishing out my keys, I heard a commotion from beside me just as the neighbouring door opened and a man stepped out.

His brown shaggy hair fell limply over his forehead and the glasses he wore slipped down his nose as he dug his wallet and keys out of his back pocket.

My keys slipped from my fingers and fell to the ground below.

The man frowned and his coffee coloured eyes widened as they focused on me.

"Clary?"

My mouth opened and closed several times, words failing to come out.

"Clary, is that you?" The man asked again stepping an inch closer to me.

Slowly I nodded.

"Oh my god."

Strong arms flew at me, making me flinch involuntarily before they wrapped themselves around my shoulders tightly. Bringing me into a much more well toned chest than the one I remembered.

Slowly, my body unlocked from it's frozen state and my arms wrapped around the waist of the man in front of me.

"Simon." I whispered squeezing my arms around his waist tighter.

"My god, what are you doing here?" he asked.

"I live here," I answered my voice muffled by his shirt.

"I thought you were living in New York with Sebastian?" He said.

I flinched at the mention of Sebastian's name and took a step back. I let out a nervous laugh and pushed a stray hair behind my ear. "It's a long story." I said hesitantly.

"I've got nothing but time," Simon said looking down at me with the same boyish smile he had ten years ago.

I giggled nervously and looked around before looking between him and my front door. "Well, um, did you want to come in?" I asked unsurely.

Simon smiled widely and stepped forward. "I'm sorry I keep hugging you, I just can't believe you're here right now, and I've missed you so much," he said into the crook of my neck.

I sniffled before I could help it and embraced him back. "I've missed you too Si."

The door next door suddenly opened wide and there stood Isabelle. Simon and I pulled apart.

"Simon?!"

"Isabelle," Simon started.

"What are you two doing?!" Isabelle screeched.

"Wait, how do you -" I started.

"Shut up!" Isabelle turned to me. "I thought you were better than that! You didn't seem like the rest of my friends, I thought you were different!"

My mouth gaped open. "Different to what?"

"A whore! Every other friend of mine always tries to steal my boyfriends!"

"Isabelle, We aren't - " Simon tried.

"Boyfriend?! Wait, Simon is your . . ."

"Don't pretend like you didn't know!" Isabelle yelled.

"But I didn't, and Simon isn't cheating on you with me either!" I yelled back.

"Oh really? Then why are you two hugging like - "

"Because she is my best friend!" Simon's voice cut in.

We both turned to look at Simon in shock.

"I've known her since I was six years old," Simon said looking at Isabelle now. "But I haven't seen her for at least ten years. Which, in saying that, I would like to know why," he said turning to look at me now.

I started to feel uncomfortable. "I can explain." I said lamely.

Simon scoffed. "Let me guess this has to do with the story you were going to tell me?"

"What story?" Isabelle injected no longer mad - just curious.

"Does it have to do with Sebastian?" Simon asked.

I laughed dryly. "It has everything to do with Sebastian."

"Who's Sebastian?" Isabelle cut in.

"My ex-husband," I answered.

"You were married?"

I nodded meekly. And I cast a glance to Simon to see that he had a guarded look on his face, like he knew he was about to hear something he didn't like.

"Well, I could use a cup of coffee, what about you two?" she asked looking between us.

I cast her a grateful look for the icebreaker and led then both into my messy and crowded apartment.

"Don't mind the mess, the kids have a habit of leaving their stuff anywhere they feel like it," I said as I picked up Lexi's stuffed hippo, and Jake's fire engine.

"Kids?" Simon asked. "As in more than one?"

I bit my lip as I moved the blanket that Jace and I used last night off the couch so they could sit down.

"Yeah, I have four kids, Phoebe, Lexi, Will and Jake." I said as they both sat.

"Oh you are in so much shit Fray," Simon said and I couldn't help but grin at the use of my old nickname.

"Is that Jace's leather jacket?" Isabelle asked picking up Jace's fallen jacket from the floor beside the couch.

"Um . . . Yeah it is." I admitted blushing furiously.

"Who's Jace?" Simon Piped up.

"My adoptive brother," Isabelle clarified.

Simon looked between Isabelle and I with a gaping mouth. "Oh you are in so much shit Fray." he said with a small shake of his head.

"So, lets jump straight to it," Simon said leaning forward so that his elbows rested on his knees. "I heard you call Sebastian ex, as in past tense."

I bit my lip and looked at the ground for a moment silently drawing in strength for this conversation.

"Yes, I'm not with Sebastian anymore."

"Since when?"

"Since about two years ago." I admitted feeling ashamed.

Simon was silent and I dared to look at him quickly, surprised to find him looking at me with a speculative look.

"What happened?" He asked patiently.

I took a deep, calming breath. Somehow, telling Simon the truth about what happened was worse than telling Jace.

"I left Sebastian because he was abusive." I said, looking up to see that Simon's face hadn't changed. Isabelle however was looking at me with a look of horror.

"He started to become abusive around the time that Phoebe was two years old. And at first it was a little slap here and there, but in the end it was fists and kicks that would leave bruises for weeks and leave me unconscious at times." I explained.

It was silent for a minute before Simon spoke.

"How long was this going on for?"

"About six or seven years. Since the time that Phoebe was two, till she was about eight years old. I finally left him when one night he came home drunk at two in the morning with lipstick stains on his shirt. That night we fought worse than we ever had, and he bet me harder than he ever had. It was the same night that he forced himself on me. R-raping me, which was how Jake was conceived. When I woke up again after being unconscious, I found Phoebe leaning over me, and it wasn't long after that that I packed our bags and left."

"So why are you living here for? Because I knew that you had enough money to afford something better than this apartment Clare," Simon said sympathetically, leaning over to place a supportive hand on top of my own.

I sadly shook my head. "When I filed the divorce, Sebastian took everything, including my money because he claimed that I was unfaithful and all this shit, so I had to pay him back thousands of dollars in child support. The only thing I got out of it, was the custody of the kids." I said.

"Why didn't you ever come find me? You know that I would have helped you, or your parents," Simon said.

I was shaking my head even before he had finished. "My parents kicked me out the night I told them I was pregnant with Phoebe Si, and I was too embarrassed to come and find you for help, and after all the years that went by without even a phone call from me, I was convinced that you hated me."

Simon looked shocked. "I could never hate you Clary," he said sincerely.

I looked down. "Sebastian said you did." I muttered.

"What?" Simon asked having not heard me.

"Sebastian said that he spoke to you in school after I left and he said that you hated me just like everyone else in school did. And that's why I never spoke to you all of these years."

Simon's face had transformed to one of fury. "He never spoke to me that lying mother-"

"Simon!" Isabelle chastised him, speaking for the first time.

"If I ever see him again, I swear I will strangle him, and then grab his nuts and-"

"Simon!"

Simon stopped mid sentence and looked over at Isabelle meekly. "Sorry," he apologised half heartedly, though I knew he didn't really mean his apology for his actions. I knew he had all intentions of following through with them. The thought both scared and amused me, at my geeky best friend beating up my crazy and abusive ex-husband.

"It's over now anyway, I live here, Sebastian is no longer in my life - I think," I muttered remembering a few months ago when he showed up. "and I have Jace . . ." I said breaking off shyly looking towards Isabelle.

Isabelle was grinning like the Chester cat. "So is it official between you and my brother?"

I blushed. "Well, I-I think so. I mean he stays over every night, and we have kissed, and he helps Phoebe with her homework . . ." I faded off, thinking about Jace.

"You love him."

I snapped back. "What? No I don't-"

"Don't try to deny it, I can see it in your face, and hear it in your voice. It's so obvious." Isabelle grinned.

"But I can't - I mean," I stopped realising I had no idea what I was trying to say.

"You don't think you can love or trust anyone after Sebastian?" Isabelle asked.

I nodded. "But I already trust him," I admitted.

"Sweetheart, I know you love him, and you might not be ready to admit it to yourself yet, but it is obvious to everyone else around you that you love him." Isabelle said gently.

"But what if it is one-sided?" I asked fearfully, feeling like I was back in high school and talking about our school yard crushes.

"If he is spending the night with you and helping your kids, without you even asking, then he loves you too."

I bit my lip, thinking about what she was telling me. Was it true? Did I love Jace? And better yet, did Jace love me?

Hey, Guys, I am so, so sorry about the wait on this one - again. But I tried to make it a bit longer for you guys to make it up to you. But I had to cut it off there because I started going into the next chapter!

But what did you think? Where you surprised by Simon's reappearance?

Drop me a review to let me know where your thoughts are. I always read every single one of them, and they make my day.

~ Until next time xoxo :)