Disclaimer: I don't own the Mortal Instruments. I just make them have sex.

-Clary Fray-

"It's too short." I complain, pulling the uncomfortable dress down as far as it will go. It barely reaches the middle of my thighs, so it's not really leaving very much to the imagination. It's got a corset top, and it's extra flowy at the bottom. The high heeled lace up boots Isabelle chose for me make my legs look longer.

"You look great." Isabelle assures me, adjusting my curly hair a little.

"Do I have to wear these shoes? They're ridiculously high." I protest, flopping down onto her bed. My calves practically sigh in relief, and my feet ache.

"Clary, you're an entire foot shorter than Jace." Izzy points out, like I hadn't already noticed. "the shoes will make you closer to his height. Besides, they're only six inches."

I groan. "They're killing me already."

"Relax, Clary. We're all having dinner together. You'll be sitting down the entire time, so they won't even bother you." Izzy promises.

I wonder why my shoes matter, in that case, if they'll be buried under the table for the duration of my time wearing them. I don't ask her though. I just sigh, realizing that there's no point in arguing with Isabelle. I can't win. I'm stuck wearing these murderous shoes, and this too-revealing dress that leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination. I look like someone from the cover of a harlequin novel.

Isabelle slips her feet into a pair of shimmery silver heels, that match her silver bracelet and her medallion. She wears a plum colored dress. It's got thin straps, and stops just above her knees. Why does she get to wear an appropriate dress, and I have to wear this?

There's a knock at the door and Iz calls "It's open!" Maia walks slowly though the door, wearing a knee length blue dress.

She smiles, softening her hard expression. "You two look beautiful." Despite her stunning smile, I notice sadness in her shiny dark eyes, and a bruise on her neck in the shape of fingers. It's been covered by makeup, but it's still very visible. I wonder if Isabelle notices too. I glace at her, but she isn't looking at Maia.

I try to keep my eyes locked onto the stars that light up Maia's eyes, and I force a smile. "You look really pretty, too." It's the only thing I've said to Maia in my time here. She rarely leaves her room.

"Thank you, Clary." She says, her voice quiet and soft. "The guys are waiting in the hall." She says, turning to Izzy.

Isabelle nods. "We're ready." She grabs my hand, yanking me hard to my feet. I nearly fall over, unable to keep my balance in these stupid shoes. We walk single file into the hall. The boys are leaned beside each other on the wall across the hall. Maia keeps her eyes downcast when Jordan approaches her, linking their arms together.

Simon wraps his arms around Isabelle's waist, and I can see in her eyes that there's no place she would rather be than the space inside his arms.

Alec and Magnus walk toward the stairwell, hand in hand. All of the boys wear basically the same thing, except Magnus. They've all got dark wash blue jeans and black button ups with the sleeves rolled to their elbows. Magnus wears a bright orange button up, with the sleeves unrolled, and blue denim pants.

I stumble, trying to follow them and Jace chuckles offering me his arm. Hesitantly, I accept it, thankful to have someone to hold me up. I would fall down the stairs for sure. Valentine waits at the end of the hallway, wearing a black suit just like the last time I saw him. I wonder briefly if he ever dresses casually, but I can't picture it. It seems so foreign, like it's something I shouldn't be looking at.

He smiles warmly at each one of us individually, as if we're his children and he loves us. "Hello, children. It's wonderful to see you all again." He meets eyes with me, holding eye contact for way too long. I hate it when people look into my eyes for more than a few seconds. It makes me uncomfortable. They say the eyes are the window to the soul.

We follow him down the stairwell, to a room he calls the Dining Hall. It contains nothing but a long rectangular table. He and Sebastian sit on each end, instructing us all where to sit. I sit between Maia and Simon, with Jace across from me. Isabelle sits across from Simon, Jordan across from Maia, and Alec across from Magnus.

"So, what's the occasion?" Magnus breaks the lingering silence as two young boys, looking to be about 14 years of age, bring out trays placing food in front of each of us. My plate contains fried rice and sesame chicken. Of course they know what kind of food I like.

"Yeah. We haven't had dinner as a group since you told us Clary was coming." Jordan observes, glancing at me. "What's going on?" I wonder when exactly they had this dinner Jordan mentioned. How long did they know I was coming, before they actually took me?

Valentine clears his throat. "We will make our announcement at the end of dinner, as usual." He looks knowingly at Simon. Everyone seems to accept this answer, diving into their food and pointless chatter. I reach for the glass of red wine in front of me, taking a small sip. It's disgusting, and I hate it, but choke it down anyways. I look up when I hear Maia giggling at the look of distaste I imagine I'm wearing.

"I don't like wine either." She whispers.

I smile at her, setting the glass down on the table. I try to think of something to say to her, but I'm not very good at small talk, and I can't keep my eyes away from the finger shaped bruise on her neck. She notices, and tries to inconspicuously cover it with her hand. I wonder if it was Jordan who did that.

I hold my wrist out to her, as if to say that I understand. She lets her hand drop, smiling sadly. The difference though, is location. Jace was only restraining me because he had to. Bruises on the neck suggest that Jordan wanted to hurt Maia. I want to ask her about it, but this is not the time or the place. And I doubt she would want to speak to a stranger about such personal issues. I know I wouldn't.

One of the young boys comes to take our plates when we're finished. Isabelle and Alec shift uncomfortably in their seats. The boy has dark hair, and goofy glasses over eyes like Isabelle's. "Hey Max." Isabelle whispers. He smiles sadly at her and Alec. He must be their brother...

Max places all of our dishes in one of those tubs you see bus boys with at restaurants. The other boy pushes a cart with various types of deserts on it. This boy has shaggy, light brown hair and dark green eyes.

He places a German Chocolate Cake in front of me. I slice off a small piece with my fork. It's not nearly as good as when it's made by my mother. It's too dry, and slightly bitter. I want to go home.

Isabelle looks lovingly at Max, as he and the other boy exit the Dining Hall.

Valentine clicks his knife against his wine glass, silencing the casual chatter between everyone at the table. Do people actually do that in real life? I thought it was only in the movies. "As you all know, there is an announcement to be made." Every eye is on Valentine, each one of us straightening out in our seats. "Simon, would you like to do the honors, or shall I?"

Simon shift. "I'll do it." Everyone turns their attention to the goofy looking boy sitting beside me. He adjusts his thick rimmed glasses, and fidgets with his sleeve, making eye contact with Izzy. "Isabelle and I are having a baby."

There's a collective gasp, followed by Magnus hooting "You're the man, Simon!"

Just a heads up: I won't be updating tomorrow because my favorite person in this world, my brother, is getting married! Yay!

See you all on Saturday.

Was the announcement what you thought it would be!? Review! I hope I'm not being too predictable here.

-IWriteNaked