Authors Note: It is taking so long to update (though I try to update every two days) because this is a new chapter. I am not just editing but writing an all new one. I also had to go back and update the last chapter I posted because I rushed it and was not happy with it. It also doesn't help that I am a full-time first-grade teacher and to top it all off it was Reading Week. Between making sure the students had prizes for book character day, setting up mystery readers, morning announcements, etc. I literally came home and crashed at 6 p.m. Got to keep the kids happy and I do not just mean my own. I oversaw activities for the week for over 1,000 students, so cut me some slack, please.

Most nights I rather be writing than grading over 100 papers. There are only 3 months left of school and it is crunch time. My kids will always come first. I have 20 futures in my hands and I do not take that likely. I get it your excited but chill. It will happen. Enjoy this update and I would check out the last chapter since I added over 700 words to it last night. I didn't like how whiny Clary was coming across. I have time this weekend so expect another update Monday or Tuesday. Clary's birthday is going to be covering two chapters at least so everything is all new. J

Chapter 10

Birthday Preparations

Clary's eyes craved sleep but her heart was on cloud nine. Ignoring her need for sleep she continued to talk to Jace.

Jace: So, what are you wearing?

The blush on her cheeks grew warmer reading his message.

Clary: Clothes.

Of course, she knew what Jace was really asking but thought it would be fun to play with him. Jonathan was not a big texter and his phone was often dead. At least that was what he told her. It was nice having someone to talk to. Doubt weighed heavily in her mind but right now she didn't want to think about him. Jace was proving to be a much preferable distraction than sleeping. Her mind was tired but her body was alert and embarrassingly, wet.

Jace: What kind of clothes?

Clary looked down at her robe and the underwear she had put on. Another devious smile light up her face.

Clary: Mostly clothes made from cotton.

Jace: Cotton is nice but I hope it doesn't rub against those hickeys. You should probably take it off, just to be safe.

Clary: Perhaps you should do that for me?

Clary didn't get a chance to read Jace's reply, which was sure to be colorful because Isabelle called her as soon as she had hit send. The redhead groaned in discontentment but answered reluctantly.

"Clary! I have a big problem!" Isabelle's voice yelled out from the phone. The redhead had to pull her ear further away as to avoid bruising her ear drums. Taking a deep breath Clarissa composed herself.

"What happened? Did Neiman Marcus have another sale?" she teased. Isabelle laughed nervously. It was strange to hear her best friend act in such a way.

"No, mother says I spent way too much there last time anyway. Clary, this is serious!" Iz exclaimed. Now, she had her best friend's full attention.

"What is wrong, Iz?" she inquired. She could practically picture Isabelle pacing the floor of her room.

"It's Simon, Clary." She replied. At this the redhead was confused. Didn't she just see those two hitting it off at the party? She even saw Simon finally making a move and kissing Isabelle. Her nerd friend was full of surprises. Others had looked on in shock when Isabelle kissed him back, full force.

"I slept with him." She muttered. Clary was so lost in her thoughts that she had barely heard her.

"You what?" Clary asked, snapping to full attention on her bed. The somber, warm environment of her room that was present as she lost herself in Jace's texts dissolved.

"I slept with Simon. We had sex. Not just any sex but drunk sex, at a party, and without protection!" The Lightwood cried. Finally, everything started clicking together.

"By the angel! Isabelle, you and Simon both know better!" she scolded. Her friend had slept with many men and had always told her that she carried an extra condom in her purse just in case. "Why didn't you use protection?"

"Of course, I know better and we did. Well, we tried. The condom broke and things were so heated that we both didn't want it to stop so we continued.

"What were you thinking?" Clary asked in surprise. The women talking on the phone with her did not sound like the Isabelle Lightwood she knew. The Isabelle she knew would tell the guy to get lost or come back when he was prepared. This woman was not her Isabelle.

"And Simon was just okay with this?" she asked. If she couldn't reply on Isabelle, then surely Simon would have been smart enough to say no.

"He told me that he would pull out and that if I got pregnant that it wouldn't matter to him. That I was his end game all along and that he had been in love with me for years." Isabelle answered rather sweetly. She had to admit that was sweet.

"Well…Simon has had it bad for you but getting you knocked up is not the way to go." The petite women sighed getting up and making her way to her closest. The walk-in wardrobe did not fit her room's decor and was more of an ode to Isabelle. The women enjoyed shopping and Clary was often dragged along with her. Despite not being a big shopper she usually always bought something. Her father didn't care but she quickly ended up running out of room for all the clothes she now had. She ended up voicing her frustrations to her father once who got a carpenter to come and line her closet with built-ins. Now there was room for everything and still room to grow. Something she refused to do. Activating the witch light the room came into full view and she took out a pair of jeans.

"I know that Clary but what am I supposed to do now? It already happened." Her friend begged solemnly. Putting her phone down she began to get into the jeans when she heard Isabelle shout at someone.

"Alec just go upstairs with Jace and leave me alone!" she snapped. The hair on Clary's neck rose as she smiled.

"Well, there is nothing you can do about it now except take the day after pill." She replied looking up at her wardrobe again. If Jace was there then there was no way she was going to wear just a pair of torn up jeans.

"I already did that this morning. I am not worried about being pregnant. I am worried about Simon. What if this doesn't work out and we can't even be friends? The three amigos will be no more and it will be all my fault!" she scoffed. Clary couldn't help but laugh.

"That is what you are worried about? Iz, Simon has been in love with you for years. He wouldn't do anything that would make you uncomfortable. He has seen you at your worst. Hell, we both have. Do you remember that fiasco with Meliorn? You were a mess and Simon ended up socking him in the face. If things don't work out I would be surprised." Clary admitted stepping towards the row of dresses that her friend insisted she purchase.

"Perhaps…perhaps you are right." Isabelle sighed. The line was silent for a moment before Clary decided on an idea that would make Isabelle and her happy.

"Hey Iz, I know what would make you feel better." She teased going to her underwear drawer to find something more provocative. It was noon and there was no way she was going back to sleep now. She might as well start getting ready.

"What? You're going to let me give you a makeover?" Isabelle teased. Bingo!

"Would that make you happy?" Clary asked putting on a black laced bra. The line went silent for a moment as she listened to her friend take in a deep breath.

"Yes, that would make me very happy. After all, it is your birthday. You should look hot." The women argued. Clary smiled in triumph. She knew how to make herself look cute but Isabelle was a master at making her look sexy. I would be worth it to see Jace's face again, not to mention her brothers.

"You're right. I'll be over in a moment. What should I bring to wear?" Clary inquired grabbing a duffle bag and putting it into the middle of the room. Isabelle squealed with excitement.

"Well you're having a dinner with your family, right? So, you want to look nice." Isabelle chimed.

"I am having dinner with my father, brother, and Jace." She replied throwing on a pair of leggings and a tank top. Her friend was silent once again.

"I feel like there is something you are not telling me? Last night at the party you said your father set you up as a date. Now, he is coming to your birthday dinner?" she inquired. Then Isabelle gasped. "By the angel, I was so occupied with Simon I didn't even think about what you were doing at the party! Did you guys-"

A sudden knock on Isabelle's door stopped her. Clary took this chance to begin drawing a portal. She knew that she couldn't just portal into Isabelle's room. With her duffle bag loaded with various objects, she concentrated on her friend's house and stepped through the portal.

Her feet hit soft grass as she regained her posture. Then she brought her phone back to her ear. Isabelle was still talking to someone.

"No, I'm fine. I am talking to Clary. She is coming over to-" her friend spoke as Clary rang the doorbell. She heard Alec yell at someone to get the door.

"Look, Isabelle, I know you saw me and Magnus at the party. Please, we need to talk about this." Alec's voice hummed. The line suddenly went dead. Isabelle must have hung up. Clary knew she wasn't supposed to hear whatever they were talking about. Fine by her.

The door suddenly opened and Jace stood in front of her in all of his golden glory. She had been on the phone with Isabelle so long she didn't even get to see if he replied. Judging by the devious grin, his reply was probably colorful.

"Well, we met again, Red. I see you liked my proposal?" he grinned. The redhead looked at him curiously, not having any idea what he was talking about.

"Proposal?" Clary inquired. Jace took a step forward and closed the front door behind him.

"The proposal I sent you about meeting up at the Lightwoods?" he supplied. Understanding light up in her eyes as she reached down and unlocked her phone. Quickly reading the messages. Trying her hardest not to blush she looked up and faced him.

"I'm sorry but I actually came here for Izzy. She called me in the middle of our conversation upset. I just got off the phone with her when I knocked." She explained. Jace's grin fell slightly but it was clear he was still elated to see her.

"Iz is talking to Alec at the moment. I was told it was private and not to disturb them. Care to help me stay entertained as we wait?" he suggested. Butterflies filled her stomach as she looked away pretending to consider the suggestion.

"What did you have in mind?" she inquired. Jace rushed forward and pressed his lips deliciously against hers. The young women let out a giggle and moved her lips against his. She didn't deny that the man was a good kisser. She didn't even deny him when he pressed his tongue into her mouth. She did, however, remove his hand from her breast just as the door opened again suddenly. Isabelle's shocked expression and Alec's were a sight to behold. The siblings looked at the pair as if they had grown another head.

"I do not think that mom would appreciate you both having a heavy make-out session in front of our door for everyone to see." Alec scolded sending Clary a glare. Her relationship with Alec was always hot or cold. One minute he acted as if he liked her and the next she became the bane of his existence.

"Sorry, Clary and I could not control ourselves." The blonde grinned unashamedly despite his apology. Isabelle huffed.

"Well, you are going to have to now! Off with you Jace. You and Alec promised to go into Idris and get some papers for mom." She informed before raising her hand and pointing to Clary. "And you Missy need to come with me immediately in order to fix this fashion fopa"

Isabelle grabbed Clary's hand and rushed her upstairs. The women only had time to give Jace a frown who yelled at the pair that they would be back in an hour. Once they were safely in her friend's room Isabelle turned her warm brown eyes on her.

"So, you and Herondale are a thing now or are you going to let him add your name to that list of used women who flock after him? I thought you knew better than that Clary? You know how Jace is." Isabelle warned.

She knew that the woman was only concerned for her well being but it still upset her that Isabelle thought she was so naive that she would allow herself to be manipulated by Jace. After all, Jace was her adoptive brother. Why was she suddenly so against him?

"I'm not going to let myself be used by Jace Herondale. I am only having some fun. It was nice having some male attention at the party and he is nice on the eyes." She replied. Clary pushed the knowing feelings in her gut aside as she looked at her best friend's face. Isabelle was hiding something but what? Perhaps, it had to deal with Alec?

"So, are you going to make me look sexy for my birthday or not? I really need your help giving Jace blue balls." She teased. Isabelle's face lit up but there was still uncertainty in her eyes. It was as if she was not sure she was doing the right thing. It bewildered and complexed Clary but as soon as the emotion was there it was gone. The raven-haired beauty was on her, inspecting her hair, nails, and clothing.

"Well, first thing is first, we must do something with your hair!"

Authors Note: Do you want the dinner from Clary's, Jace's, or Jonathan's POV.