Author's Note:

Happy Valentine's Day! Oh... it's not Valentine's day?... Awkward... not but really someone commented and suggested a valentine's day special and I sort of in a way did that... in a sense. But in other news have you guys seen Endless Love! Holy mother of christ Alex Pettyfer is perfection (I was meant to be the girl but I decided to let Danielle have it instead...). If you see Alex Pettyfer's name in the news and 'kidnapped' in the title, it wasnt me... Enjoy (:

~Maddie

Jace picked at his bottom lip where a scab was forming from Sebastian's fist. His leg was shaking from the uncomfortable moment. A hand found his leg secretly underneath the table cloth immediately giving him the reassurance to stop. He glanced over at Clary on his left and saw her staring at her lap surrounded by the same uncomfortable air. His left hand found her right hand on his knee and entwined their fingers together.

Jace sighed and leaned his head back recalling the afternoon they had just had.

"Jace calm down!" Alec yelled. When he showed up, Jace would never know, but he was grateful he had because he didn't know if he'd ever detach himself from Sebastian.

"Stay the hell away from her!" Jace yelled as he watched Sebastian try to compose himself.

"What is going on down here!?" A shriek came from Jocelyn as she pulled up in the driveway. Clary and Izzy stood wide eyed in the doorway observing the scene before them.

"Oh shit." Clary stood stiff, not sure how to explain this to anyone.

Alec had Jace pinned down while he was still yelling profanities at Sebastian, who was lying shocked and pissed a couple of yards away from Jace.

"Sebastian you need to leave." Clary heard Izzy quietly say as she helped Sebastian up. Clary was surprised by her kindness but realized that they must have been friends through Aline.

Clary could feel her mother's stare burning a hole through the back of her head, but decided to deal with her mother afterwards. She went and knelt next to Alec who was struggling with Jace.

"Jace stop." Clary grabbed the sides of his face and made him look at her instead of Sebastian. "You need to stop." She slid her thumb over the blood appearing from his mouth.

Jace's eyes seemed to soften as he stared at Clary's rattled expression. "I'm sorry." He choked out. "He- I just-."

"It's fine, just…" Clary turned to see where Sebastian was and said a silent thank you as she noticed him and his car gone. "Just stand up." Clary stood and held on tightly to Jace's hand as he raised himself. "You okay?"

Jace nodded and Clary hugged him.

"Isabelle, Alec, thanks for your help but I think it's best if you both leave." Jocelyn voice seemed to waver.

"But me and Clary-." Izzy attempted but was shot down with Jocelyn's icy stare. "Right, we're leaving." Izzy tugged Alec's arm, and without another word they left, Jace giving Alec a reassuring nod before he was gone.

"Inside." Their attention was back on Jocelyn. "Now."

They had been sitting side by side at the kitchen table for ten minutes now with Jocelyn glancing between the both of them.

"Jocelyn." A deep voice came from the garage door and made its way to the kitchen. "I got your call…" Valentine dropped his briefcase on the counter.

"Dad?" Clary's eyes widened at the sight of her dad home in the middle of the day. "Why aren't you at work?"

"I called him. As I did with Jace's parents." Jocelyn stood to greet her husband. Jace closed his eyes and took a deep breath at the mention of his parents.

"Dad I-." Clary raised slightly in her seat.

"Save it, your mom filled me in." Valentine sighed and ran a hand through his disheveled blonde hair. "Do you two mind stepping out of the room for a minute, I'd like to talk to Jonathon privately."

Jace's hand tightened around Clary's involuntarily and she squeezed back. "Dad, whatever you have to say-."

"Clary." Valentine sighed. "I just want to talk, I'm sure he'll fill you in later."

Clary hesitantly released her hold on Jace and stood from the table. She gave him one last apologetic look as she followed her mom out on the back porch.

Jace's leg resumed its shaking as Valentine sat down across from him.

"So." Valentine started. "I think we both never thought we'd have conversation like this."

Jace gripped his jeans tightly as he waited for the cursing and yelling from Clary's father.

Jace's relationship with Valentine was never good or bad. They just never really talked or had conversations. It was always Michael and Valentine chatting and drinking beers as the moms discussed recipes while the kids did whatever they wanted. Maybe once in a blue moon would Valentine acknowledge Jace and ask about sports. But other than that, nothing.

"Thank you Jace."

Jace's eyes widened as he met Valentine's stare head on. "I'm sorry; I think I misunderstood you-."

"I said thank you." Valentine repeated. "Thank you for protecting my daughter. I should have known that, that Verlac kid was bound to notice Clary. I don't like him, I hear his name come up around town and I don't like what I hear."

"Well at least we agree with something." Jace chuckled and stopped immediately when he remembered the situation.

"I also should've seen this coming." Valentine gestured to Jace. "And I hope you understand that I've watched you grow up, watched you become who you are and from what I and your father talk about, the way you have a different girl on your hip from week to week."

Jace sighed and felt his shoulders sulk. This was not something he wanted to talk about. Not with Clary's father and especially not with his greatest demon. His hand ached and knew he was itching to hold Clary's hand, just hold her close and forget this ever happened. "Sir, if you don't mind me saying…" Jace started and Valentine nodded allowing him to continue. "I have many regrets, as I think we all do, those girls being a major part of them. If I was in your position as a father, I think I'd pull out my rifle and scare the kid out of town. But, like I asked Clary, I'm asking you to give me another chance to show you what I really need in life. And again, if you don't mind me saying, what I need is your daughter. She makes me a better person and she makes me see things in a different light. I realize my actions earlier today we're completely irrational and downright ridiculous, but I think we both know what it feels like to love someone, and loving someone makes you do completely irrational and downright ridiculous things."

They sat there, both taking in what Jace had just said and not talking.

After another minute Valentine cleared his throat. "No father wants his daughter in such a vulnerable situation, no matter what type of relationship they have. I see the way she looks at you, the way her body language shifted when she was asked to leave you. And I also see the way you look at her." Valentine opened his mouth and closed it a couple times trying to plan his next words carefully. "I like you Jace, I do. I like your parents and I know were you come from. Like I said, I watched you grow up." Valentine shook his head. "In all honesty I don't think I could see my daughter with anyone else but you."

Jace's eyebrows bunched together in confusion. "I don't understand…"

"I don't see how what I'm saying is confusing." Valentine leaned back in his chair.

"You're saying… you don't mind me dating your daughter…?"

Valentine sucked in a deep breath. "In so many words… but as I would assume, you two like to spend a lot of time together. In her room. With the door shut."

Jace's head shot up. "There's nothing- I mean that will never happen. Ever. Promise."

Valentine smiled. "I'm glad we're in an understanding." He stood and walked around to where Jace was sitting; now standing as well. "I just ask you for one favor."

Jace shook his head smiling. "Anything, sir."

"Don't make me regret my decision."

"…but I think we both know what it feels like to love someone, and loving someone makes you do completely irrational and downright ridiculous things." Jace's words rang in Clary's ears. She smiled and blushed at the same time, eavesdropping on her father's and Jace's conversation.

"Clary what are you doing?" Jocelyn sighed.

Clary stepped away from the door. "Sorry, I couldn't help myself."

"No, not that. With Jace. What are you doing with Jace?"

Clary was taken back by her mother's words. "What do you mean?"

"Clary, we both know who Jace is and we both know you're going to end up with your heart broken."

Clary shook her head. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Clary don't be ridiculous, Jace is a nice kid and I get that you two are close but do you really think that dating is the best option for the both of you."

Clary's heart sunk listening to her mother. She expected this from her father but never her mother.

Jocelyn sighed at her daughter's sad eyes. "Honey I just don't want to see you get hurt by a boy, maybe-."

"No mom. There's not a maybe." Clary bit her lip. "I love him."

Jocelyn shut her eyes tightly. "Jesus…" She sat down on the porch swing.

"Why aren't you happy for me?"

"I am Clary but…" Jocelyn paused and sucked in. "Did I ever tell you who my first love was?"

Clary shook her head and sat next to her on the swing. "I mean I guess I just assumed it was dad…"

"No. It was a man named Luke. I was a junior in high school and he was starting his first year in college when I met him. In just two months I was head over heels in love with him."

The wood Clary was sitting on seemed to get stiffer listening to her mother talk about loving someone besides her dad. "What happened?"

"He cheated on me." Jocelyn shook her head. "It was some one night stand. But the point I'm trying to make is that, it's very rare that your
first love is the one you're with forever." She looked over at Clary. "Your first heartbreak is something you never get over Clary, and what kind of a mother would I be if I didn't try to protect you from that?"

"Mom…" Clary leaned her head on her mother's shoulder. "I'm almost eighteen, you can't protect me forever."

She felt her mother sigh. "I know." They sat there discussing what color they'd use to paint the sun setting until Jace and Valentine finally came out. Jace's face immediately brightened when he saw Clary.

"Jocelyn, can I talk to you inside?" Valentine put his hand on his wife's shoulder. She was reluctant but made her way insider.

Clary smiled when Jace sat down next to her and wrapped his arm around her waist. She snuggled her nose in the base of his arm and let his free hand grab hers.

"You know what I was thinking about." Clary said into Jace's shirt.

"What?"

"The pageant is in a week and my piano skills haven't improved."

Jace smiled and kissed the top of her head. "A problem for another day."

Yeah so hopefully you see what I mean my "valentine's day special". Get it (; Review! It makes my day.