Authors's note: I really wish I did own the rights to the books, sadly I do not. I did sorta use another quote from the book...but doing that makes me so happy and I'm still not making any money from it so please don't sue me.

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Chapter 10: Be Good to Yourself

Clary couldn't help but stare at her ring all night. It was beautiful and it was perfect. Jace and her had spoken about forever, about moving in together, about building a life but marriage just hadn't come up. Clary had never told him what she would want in a ring and somehow he found it anyway. It was just another example of how well he knew and understood her. It was why she felt so at peace when she was with him.

The group argued back and forth about going out to celebrate or staying in. In the end Clary had wanted to stay at the house and since she was the reason to celebrate they all agreed. Magnus popped champagne and they ordered pizza. Again Clary was struck by how easily these people had become her family in such a short time. They met as a group for the first time nearly a year ago and now she couldn't picture her life without any of them. It made her heart swell and she smiled.

"I want to see you smile for the rest of my life."

Jace leaned into her and kissed her cheek.

"We are going to make each other smile forever."

"I'm going to hold you to that."

"It's not even a challenge."

Clary place her hand on the Jace's face and he leaned into her touch.

"Thank you."

"For what? The ring? I couldn't exactly propose without a ring...Izzy would actually have killed me."

"No...I mean yes...I mean...thank you for being you...for being this amazing man who loves me for me...you never judge me or talk down to me...thank you for listening to me and putting up with my family stuff...and thank you for giving me a second family."

"Well Izzy found Simon first so this mess of people..."

Jace waved his hand motioning around the others on the porch.

"...they're all on her."

"Maybe but maybe us getting together was the final piece of the puzzle for all of us. I don't know...I feel like we are all stronger when it's the six of us."

"Yeah I can feel that too...especially when I was in South Africa. I felt very off kilter when I was there. Kinda like half of me was still in New York."

"I'm so happy you are home now. I was beginning to loose my mind when you were gone."

"I told Tessa that from now on we really need to pick and choose what and where I film. I even want to negotiate mini breaks in some shoots, at least when I can. I don't want to be away from us for that long ever again."

"I don't want to be either. I was going to wait to tell you but now is as good a time as any. When you were gone I was offered a teaching position at NYU. I could pretty much make my own schedule and the breaks are longer. I didn't give them an answer yet, I wanted to wait to talk to you about it."

"If that's what you want. I just don't want you to ever feel like you are sacrificing too much to be with me...the security stuff is bad enough."

"It's not a sacrifice if I want to do it. I actually applied for a position there before I met you and didn't get it. Another spot opened and they called me. I want to do this. I would be with mostly grad students...young artists who are looking to make art a career. I think I will really love mentoring and teaching them."

"You are going to be amazing at it."

Clary was about to lean in and kiss him when Simon started clanking a fork against his glass and yelling.

"Guys. Guys! GUYS! WILL EVERYONE JUST SHUT UP A MINUTE!"

"Geez Simon what's with the yelling...ever hear of an inside voice?"

"Well we are outside Alec and none of you were listening to me."

"I was listening baby."

"Thanks Iz. Anyway, I was trying to get all of your attention because as Clary's best friend I feel it is my duty to say a few words at her kinda sorta engagement party. So if everyone could please grab your glasses. I have known Clary my entire life. We have been thru pretty much everything together. Scraped knees. Horrible teachers. First kisses. First heartbreaks and worst of all her father's passing. Clary knows this but the rest of you may not. I went to visit Mr. Morgenstern in the hospital, once we all knew he was dying, and he asked to speak with me privately at one point. Once the room was cleared he asked me to look after his little girl. I, of course, told him I would. In reality Clary and I have been looking out for each other since we were born...It would be no great change. After he passed, there was a time I was worried about her but then she met Jace. I played my role as the overprotective best friend...it wasn't too hard Clary was about to go on a date with a movie star...when does that ever end well?! But deep down I could already see a shift in her. From that first night, here in this very house, I could tell the movie star was going to change my best friends life. So Jace, thank you for loving Clary and for bringing her back in full to me. I know in my heart Mr. Morgenstern would love you and that he would be thrilled you were going to marry his daughter. And to Clary, don't think becoming a wife means I'm not going to keep looking out for you...old habits die hard. But I want you to know how happy I am for you. I look at you now and there is a light and a peace around you that I've never seen in all the years we have been friends. I know that is because of Jace. My wish for you both is that you lead a long and happy life and that I get to see every minute of it. To Jace and Clary."

Simon raised his glass as the others followed suite.

"To Jace and Clary."

The rest of the summer went by in a flash. Jace and Clary never once thought about going back into the city...even for a night. Everyday was spent enjoying each other's company either at the house or walking around the small towns and villages that made up the Hamptons. Everyone else came out most weekends and they would barbecue or eat out at a restaurant. Clary couldn't remember another time in her life that she was this happy. As she and Jace sat out on the porch on the one year anniversary of the night they met Clary knew she could finally say that pit in her stomach, the weight on her heart...was gone.

"I'm going to be sad to leave this place next week."

"What if we didn't have to?"

Clary looked over at Jace...confusion written all over her face.

"What are we gonna squat here forever?"

"No. I bought it. I bought his house. It's ours Clary."

"Wait, what? You bought this house? This house?"

"Yes this house."

"I don't kn...ho...wh...for us to live here?"

"Yes and no. We are still going to need to find a place in the city. The commute to NYU would be killer from here and it easier for Tessa to schedule my meetings in the city than out here in the Hamptons. But maybe instead of looking for a the perfect home in Manhattan we make this our home and then we get something small in the city? Something we can use when needed. You love this house...I love this house...our friends love this house. This house holds so many good memories for us already and now we can make more. Can't you see us building our life here...raising our kids, growing old? If I am wrong we can sell it but..."

"Wrong? How could living here ever be wrong."

Clary jumped from her seat and slammed into Jace.

"I love you more than I can say."

"So we are keeping the house?"

"Damn right we are keeping the house."

It got crazy when the press caught wind of the engagement. Tessa could barely keep up with the interview requests and the security team was pulling their hair out. Jace and Clary tried to

steer clear of the circus and the Hamptons house definitely helped with that. It became ground zero for everything wedding...the couple picked out everything from the invitations to the floral arrangements to the menu from the back porch and today Clary was going to meet with her dress designer in her living room. Tessa had originally brought Clary a list of designers that could and or would design her dress and when Clary saw Elie Saab was on the list she knew he was the one. She had been a fan of his designs for years...the intricate details in each of his dresses appealed to Clary's own artistic side.

The initial design consults were done via FaceTime and Clary made sure Izzy was there with her. They made not have the same sense of style but Clary trusted Izzy fashion eye and knew she would make sure Clary got the dress of her dreams. Today would be the first day Clary would see the dress in person and actually get to meet Elie Saab...all in her house. Her house...that still felt strange to Clary...this amazingly beautiful house was hers and Jace's. They were going to build a life here and add to the already amazing memories they had made here.

"Hey Clary what time is your mom supposed to get here?"

"She said her GPS was telling her she would be here at 2:30."

Izzy looked at her watch...it was 2:30. Elie Saab was scheduled to arrive at 3. Leave it to Jocelyn to cut it close. Izzy had only met Clary's mom a few times. She seemed fine although Izzy definitely felt like the women was sizing Izzy, and for that matter Alec and Magnus, up. Simon said it was just because Jocelyn wasn't used to Clary having such a tight knit group of friends but Izzy couldn't shake the feeling that the women thought by being around all of them Clary's life was put at more risk than usual. And of course in a sense it was...Jace was one of the most famous people on the planet...but what she couldn't or didn't want to see was that the six of them were at their best, at their strongest when they were together. Izzy hoped eventually Jocelyn would come around but for today she just wanted her to get there so nothing could put a damper on this day for Clary.

"Izzy don't look like that. She will be here...I hope."

"I'm sorry Clary I just want today to be perfect for you. You're trying on your wedding dress for the first time!"

"I know and maybe it wasn't the smartest idea to invite my mom...she does provoke odd feelings from me and obviously you. But it was an olive branch. She was complaining that she wasn't involved in the planning of her own daughters wedding. Honestly I think I invited her more to shut her up. Does the make me a bad daughter?

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"I'm tempted to say saved by the bell but I will not for one second ever let you think you are a bad anything."

"Thanks Iz. Here we go."

Despite Izzy's and even Clary's fears the day went smoothly. Jocelyn was more than pleasant...she may have even been friendly...and Clary's dress was perfection. It needed a few alterations, mainly to the length...even in stilts it would have been too long...and most importantly Clary LOVED it. It was perfect in every way.

Later that night Izzy and Clary were sitting on the couch waiting for the boys to bring back dinner.

"Wait until Jace sees you in that dress! I can't wait to see his face."

"You think so?"

"Clary I know so. Jace would love you in a potato sack and that dress is as far from a potato sack as I have ever seen...he may be rendered speechless so be prepared to say both of your vows."

The girls started to laugh, neither sure if it was the image of Clary walking down the aisle in a potato sack or the thought of Jace ever truly being speechless.

"How much have you ladies had to drink?"

Jace was leading Simon, Alec and Magnus into the kitchen to put down the take out food and shaking his head. The sound of the girls laughter filled the house and warmed Jace's heart. He hadn't felt this way since leaving home to move to LA. The sense of family was grounding. The love that filled every corner of this house, that emanated from everyone in their small pack of friends brought a sense of calm and joy into Jace's crazy celebrity world.

Jace felt Clary's arms wrap around him.

"Everyone is heading into the living room what's got you held up?"

Jace turned in her arms leaning back on the counter and pulling her into him.

"Just thinking."

"Am I allowed to know about what?"

"I was thinking that when I moved to LA I lost something but meeting you has given it back to me. In actuality every time I think I'm missing a piece of me, you give it back."

"I feel the same way. You know that right?"

Jace leaned down and kissed her fiercely. When they needed air he rested his forehead against hers.

"What do you think?"

Clary touched the sides of Jace's face.

"I think you and I are made for each other."

With that she dropped her hand to his and led him into the living room to join the rest of their friends.

Clary's Jack and Jill bridal shower had been perfect. At first the boys protested being invited... "what do men do at bridal showers?" being their only argument...but once Clary had convinced Jace it was want she really wanted the other guys knew they had lost the battle. The thing was Clary did only want her closest friend and family there...the wedding was becoming a bit bigger than she ever dreamed so this party needed to be just those closest to the couple.

They got sandwiches catered to the house and made sure to stock the wine fridge. Clary didn't want bridal bingo or any of those others shower games. She just wanted to hang out with her friends and family...like any normal Sunday. The only difference was her and Jace would be getting presents.

"Clary it's present time!"

Izzy was actually bouncing up and down on her heals.

"Ok."

Jace and Clary sat on the fire place bench in the living room while everyone else filled in the couches and chairs. Izzy handed the couple the first present.

"It's from me."

Izzy was so excited it made Jace and Clary laugh as they opened what looked like a small rectangular jewelry box. Inside was a silver keychain and a silver necklace. On the ends of each was a tiny glass charm...on the keychain a flame and on the necklace a star...filled with what looked like beach sand.

"It's the sand from the beach outside this house. The beach you guys met on. This way even if you are apart and not here at the house you will have a piece of it with you."

"Iz, this is amazing thank you."

Jace went over to kiss his sister. Clary was fighting back tears as she stared at the necklace.

"Iz, this is...I love it. Thank you."

Izzy looked extremely pleased with herself as she handed out the remaining gifts. The final gift of the day was from Alec, Magnus, Izzy and Simon.

"So the four of us wanted to do something special for you guys for the house since you let us crash here whenever we want."

Izzy handed over a large rectangular shaped present. When Clary opened it both she and Jace sucked in a breath. It was one of those picture frames that has three spots for pictures. In the first spot there was a picture of Jace and Clary looking like they were dancing on this very beach...from what they were wearing it looked like it was taken the first night they met when they danced to "Don't Stop Believin"... but they had been alone on the beach that night. The second picture was again on the same beach but it was of Jace kneeling in front of Clary as he proposed and the third slot was left empty. Clary was overwhelmed and when Jace looked at her she just shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. It was up to Jace to ask his friends what they were both thinking.

"How? I mean you guys were there when I proposed so I get how you got that picture but the first one...we were alone on the beach. You guys were all up at the house. We had just met."

"You guys were gone for a long time. We actually started to worry so Alec went to look for you. At the time when he came back all he said was that you guys were fine. He didn't mention to any of us, including me his sister, that he took a picture of you guys dancing. He only showed it to us when we were talking about what to get you."

"You kept this picture for over a year? Alec, I don't know what to say. Clary and I love it."

"I'm glad. That's why I kept the picture a secret I wanted to use it for something special. Since the wedding is going to be here too we were all thinking the third picture could be from the ceremony."

Clary finally got up from her seat and headed towards Alec. She leaned down and hugged him.

"Thank you. I will cherish it forever."