Author's note: so I have an outline for this story. I know everything I want to do in broad strokes but broad strokes don't show you how long each chapter will be when all the details are filled in. I am done trying to figure out how long this will be...it's going to be as long as it needs to be. Still don't own them so don't sue. Please read and review

Part 11

As per doctors orders Clary stayed in the hospital for two more days and by the end of it, as much as Clary loved being so close to her mom, she was more than ready to get the heck out. Clary was packing up the last of her toiletries when she felt Jace's arms circle around her waist. In response Clary moved her arms to cover his and snuggled her back into his chest...the young couple stayed like that for a long moment.

"You almost ready to go."

"Yes and no. I hate leaving Mom here."

Clary turned in Jace's arms and buried he head in his chest. Jace pulled her closer.

"It's only for a week. My grandma said the facility she found for Jocelyn is highly recommended. Once she is settled there we can go whenever you want...it's only an hour from home."

"Home...what does that even mean anymore?"

"Hey look at me. I know the world feels upside down right now and I wish I could tell you that's it will ever feel the same again but I what I can tell you is you do have a home. Home is where the people who love you are...aunt Maryse and uncle Robert love you...Izzy and Alec love you...Imogen loves you...and I love you. We are all going to be your home now. You don't have to carry any of this by yourself."

Jace kissed Clary's head and then brought her back into a hug.

"Do you want to see your mom before we go?"

Clary nodded in his chest. When they pulled apart Jace took Clary's hand and led her to the ICU.

Jocelyn looked the same way she had for the past four days...peaceful and asleep. Clary and Jace had been up to see her so much that they barely noticed all the wires or the beeping. Jace and Clary walked over to her bed...hands still together.

"Hi Mom. I got released today. We are about the head home. I won't see you for a bit but don't be scared, Imogen found you some amazing doctors closer to house and we are going to transfer you over there in a few days..."

Clary paused silently praying her mom would respond but when she didn't Clary continued talking.

"Imogen says it's really nice. I saw some pictures and I think you will like it. You are going to have a room that overlooks a pond...it's a private room too. We couldn't subject someone else to your snoring. Although I guess...I haven't heard you snore since we've been here..."

Clary's shoulders started to shake as tears ran down her face. Jace let go of her hand and wrapped his arm around Clary's shoulder...pulling her close to him.

"You look like you are sleeping mom, but your not. I need you to wake up. I need you..."

Clary's cries became uncontrollable and she buried her head in Jace's chest.

"Aunt Jocelyn I don't want you to worry. We are all going to take care of Clary while you get better. So just do whatever you need to do to wake up. We all miss you so much. We will come to visit as soon as you are settled in your new place."

Jace released Clary so he could bend over and kiss his aunts forehead and then stepped back to allow Clary to do the same.

"I love you mom."

Jace once again pulled Clary into his body and they headed out of the hospital.

Maryse had offered to sleep in the Morgenstern guest room if Clary wanted to sleep in her own bed but Clary refused...she wasn't ready to walk into her house without her parents. Instead the guest room at the Lightwoods was set up for Clary and for a few days everyone went about trying to find a new normal. Izzy and Alec were back at school but Imogen and Maryse both felt it best that Jace and Clary stay home the reminder of the week. After hearing of the accident (the kidnapping was being kept under wraps) the principle agreed readily and Izzy and Alec were tasked with bringing work home for their friends.

"Clary! I'm home and surprise surprise I have homework for you."

Izzy came running up the stairs...two book bags in hand and knocked when she reached the closed guest room door. When Clary didn't answer she knocked again but when she still didn't answer Izzy opened the door and found an empty room. Running back down the stairs Izzy yelled to her mom.

"Hey Mom. Where's Clary? She's not in her room."

"She's probably at Jace's. Imogen said they have been having lunch together all week."

"Oh. Ok."

Hey sorry to interrupt your time with your new bf but just wanted to see if you and Jace wanted to come with Simon n me to the movies tonight? LMK

Izzy threw her phone on her bed and proceeded to go into her own book bag and grabbed her science books. About twenty minutes later her phone buzzed.

Hey so are Jace and Clary coming tonight? I think we should get our tics now. Lmk

So wrapped up in her homework Izzy had forgotten she had even texted Clary but noticed Clary had never responded.

Hey Jace can u ask your gf if she wants to go to the movies tonite?

Why don't you tell her...she is at your house.

Ha ha ha. Very funny I know she is over there with u. Just ask her. I need to tell Simon how many tics to get.

Iz she's not here. She left after lunch.

Now worried Izzy called Jace.

"What do you mean she's not there?! She's not here either!"

"Ok breath Izzy. She couldn't have gotten lost or gone too far...she doesn't have a car."

Jace looked out his window and took a deep breath. Across the lawn he could see the Morgenstern house. The windows were closed and all the shades drawn...a sad reminder that only one Morgenstern had come back to Alicante Court but none of them had been in the house since Christmas. Suddenly Jace knew where Clary was.

"I know where she is Izzy...I'll text you later."

Jace could hear Izzy talking as he hung up the phone but paid no mind...Clary needed him. He walked down the stairs and found Imogen watching her stories.

"Hey grandma. I think Clary went to her house. I'm going to check on her."

"Oh that poor girl...really the two of you have thru way to much for your age. I'm so glad you have each other."

"We have both been lucky. Plus we got you, aunt Maryse, uncle Robert...aunt Jocelyn and uncle Val."

Jace's voice cracked as he spoke of the Morgensterns. Imogen got up and walked over to hug him.

"You need to grieve too my boy. I know Val was like a father to you. I know it's been hard helping Clary and maybe we should have held some kind of service for Val...it would have given you all a chance to say goodbye to him."

"No grandma. It's doesn't feel right to have a funeral for uncle Val while we still don't know what's going on with aunt Jocelyn. Aunt Maryse has his urn...when aunt Jocelyn wakes up she and Clary can figure out what to do with his ashes."

"Oh that reminds me. I heard from Jocelyn's doctors. They are very happy with her progress...they approved her transfer. She should be here Monday."

"Clary will be relieved to hear that...let me go. I'll let you know if we go anywhere else."

Imogen reached up to kiss Jace on the cheek and watched as he walked out the door.

When Jace got to the Morgenstern's door he took a second to listen for any sounds...when he heard none he took a deep breath and put his hand on the door knob...he wasn't surprised to find it unlocked.

"Clary. Clary are you here?"

Jace tried to listen as he walked into the house. When he reached the living room he finally found Clary...sitting on the floor staring at the Christmas tree. He could tell she was crying, not so much from the sound but more so because he could see her shoulders shaking.

"Clary."

She finally turned around...her face red and wet from tears. She looked so tiny sitting on the floor that it broke his heart and he found himself moving towards her. He sat on the floor next to her and Clary immediately climbed into his lap. Hiding her face in his shoulder, cries wracked her body. Jace wrapped his arms around her and tried his best to sooth her...running his hands up and down her back and rocking slightly. It was a long while before Clary began to speak.

"I came here to get some art supplies. I thought I could just run in and out...but then I saw all the decorations...we always take them down on New Year's Day...it's the fifth already. I walked in here thinking I could do it myself but then I was standing here and I couldn't move. Dads never coming home and Mom...she may never step foot in this house again..."

Her tears took over and she snuggled more into Jace's embrace.

"Shhh. It's ok. It's ok to be scared Clary. But you don't have to do any of this alone and there is no time table...including these decorations. We can do it today or we can do it next month but just know we can do it together. You are not alone. You are never alone."

Without lifting her head Clary whispered...

"I love you."

"I love you too."

After Clary's sobs had subsided Jace mentioned that Izzy invited them to the movies...Jace could tell from the look on her face that she wanted no part of it and then suggested pizza and a movie at his house which earned him a slight smile.