Jonathan found himself waking up with a start from a nightmare. It didn't happen often, only a few times during his life. But recently these last two years, they had become more frequent. They were quick, violent. He lay there with Anastasia asleep with her head upon his bare chest, just gazing down at her in silence. She was beautiful. Really and truly.

He raised a hand and smoothed her midnight hair back, resting his head back against the pillow as he closed his eyes- it was peaceful. So peaceful. It was something Anastasia bought upon him, and he loved it. Genuinely.

With a tired yawn, Jonathan carefully pulled away from Anastasia and snagged the dark flannel dressing gown from under a pair of boots upon the floor and pulled it on, tying it around him and glancing back once more as he slunk out into the corridor outside.

"It's the crack of dawn and you have my sister in your bed. Stopping so soon?"

Jonathan let out a short laugh as he descended the tightly spiraling glass staircase, walking over to Jace who was sat upon the sofa with a cup of tea and a book. He sat down next to him, setting his feet up upon the coffee table as he replied "We forgot the stamina runes."

"Bummer." Jace said with a snort of amusement, setting his book down.

"You mean you actually approve of me and your sister?" Jonathan scoffed in a disbelieving tone and Jace shrugged. "Even if I disapproved, what could I do? She's my sister and I know nothing about her. A sibling bonding session is in order."

"She's… sweet." Jonathan told him sincerely. "I think the word is sweet. But she has no business in our plans Jace, she could never handle it."

"Then why have you bought her along? Not like you to bring unnecessary weight."

"Because I'm attached to her."

"You don't love her though. You can't."

"Love." Jonathan scoffed, leaning backwards against the sofa. "Such a complicated, vexing thing."

"Not really. It's painful at times, but your father was wrong. It's not a weakness. Did he tell you that?"

"My father" Jonathan smirked out "never told me about love. He knew I didn't feel it, so he didn't teach me it. All I knew of it was the fact my father loved my mother. And she left him. Lied to his face and pretended to love him for months, maybe years. Just to gather information against him. Love is destructive. You can use it as a weapon. It has the power to make or break a man."

"Anastasia loves you. The way she looks at you… that is the look of a girl in love." Jace noted and Jonathan nodded. "I know she does. Foolish girl."

"Why are you calling her foolish?"

"Because she chose to love me."

"You protect her, don't you? You even put your plans on hold yesterday for her."

"And?" Jonathan asked in a bored voice. "What of it?"

"You do that for no one. Except her. You may not feel it, but that's caring."

Jonathan blinked. "I'll take your word for it."

Jace got to his feet, picking up his mug with a chuckle of "Well I'm off back bed. Mind not waking me up next time?"

With a widening smirk, Jonathan just retorted with "Sorry. Your sister's quite the wildcat."

"Feels like it too." Jace grumbled, raising a hand to his back and rubbing it. "It's kinda hard to sleep when your back is being torn at by invisible nails."

"That's my girl." Jonathan grinned in triumph and Jace groaned, rolling his eyes as he went to leave, but the demon boy just called. "About that Cup idea you bought up the other day."

A raised eyebrow and Jace looked over his shoulder. "Yeah?"

"I like it." Jonathan said lightly, sliding his bare feet down from the table and standing up. "I've decided to go ahead with it."

"Really?"

"Yes. I've a connection to where we can obtain the material, and maybe even an Iron Sister to craft it."

Jace looked impressed. "You've been thinking this all out. Want a cookie?"

"All I ask of you Jace," he started "Is that you keep this from Anastasia."

Jace frowned. "You don't trust her?"

"Oh I do. I just know her. She worries more than she should. She'll attempt to convince me not to do this, because like you, she's more angelic."

"She won't be happy when she eventually finds out. On your own head, be it." Jace yawned, saying nothing else as he wandered back upstairs. Jonathan's dark eyes followed him the whole way until he heard the quiet clatter of the bedroom door shutting. He sighed and glanced to the clock hanging on the wall, a useful little thing that changed to whatever timezone they appeared in. It was four in the morning.

Jonathan retreated back upstairs to his room, kicking aside a boot as he shut the door behind him, letting his dressing gown drop from his shoulders as he slipped back into bed with Anastasia, winding his arms around her bare midriff.

"Mmmn, Jon-?" she muttered as he tugged the covers over them both. "Go back to sleep." Jonathan murmured into her ear, trailing a hand gently up her bare side. Anastasia groaned and turned onto her back, gazing at him with bleary eyes. "What are you doing awake? It's not even light yet."

"Ah. A nightmare, Anny."

Anastasia blinked, raising a hand to trail it gently down his cheek. "You had a nightmare? What about?"

"Trivial things."

"Tell me." She frowned, leaning forwards and pressing a soft kiss to his lips. Jonathan shook his head, replying quietly with "No Anny. Now go back to sleep."

"Jonathan, you have nightmares? I didn't think… you could." Anastasia's frown was deepening, and Jonathan sighed, giving in- she'd just pester him all day if not. "In my nightmares" he mused "I kill you. Like in your own."

"Your nightmares are about me?"

"Most of them." He nodded, trailing a finger across her bare shoulder. "The others are dad. They don't bother me, they're not real."

"They feel real though. When you kill me in my own… it feels real." She bit her bottom lip. "They scare me. I'm not going to lie."

"You think I would kill you?" Jonathan sniggered out, poking her arm. "You're a total bitch sometimes, but I'd never want you dead. I'd only have Jace for company then."

"Tragedy (!)" Anastasia whispered against his lips as she leaned forwards, trailing her hands down his back, a flush of red rising in her cheeks as she added "You're naked."

"So are you." Jonathan retorted with a devious grin, letting his hand wander down under the covers to rest upon her backside, squeezing it lightly. "Next round or sleep?" he asked cheekily, causing Anastasia to roll her eyes and turn her back to him without replying, a smile upon her face though. She felt him creep his arms around her once more, tugging her into his blazing chest. It was more than warm, and that made it comforting. She dropped right back off to sleep.

-TheBeastInside-

Anastasia was the one to wake up first the next morning, slipping out of bed and stealing Jonathans dressing gown, pulling it on as she stood and stared at the scene before her. One she'd certainly not seen before- Jonathan lying naked on his stomach, fast asleep with the covers on the floor. Just like a regular, normal couple Anastasia thought as she allowed her eyes to wander over the scene- his bare back with its jagged scars there draw her eye the most, quickly looking away when she saw the fresh red marks there that she knew would match her nails. She picked up a seraph blade that was under the bed, just an arm reach away if needed and poked his shoulder with it. He made a noise of clear annoyance, but didn't wake up. Anastasia giggled quietly as she poked his backside with it, and this time he opened his eyes, turning his head to face her. "Why are you poking my ass with a seraph blade?" he asked and Anastasia shrugged, dropping it to the floor with a playful glint about her eyes. "Because I wanted to?" she suggested and Jonathan closed his eyes, chuckling out in a sleepy voice "You're lucky I didn't grab the dagger under my pillow and throw it at you."

"You would have missed."

"I never miss."

"Well why didn't you throw it anyway?"

"Because-" he started, sitting up with a yawn, running a hand through his sleep mussed hair "I knew it was you. Who else would have the guts to poke my ass with a seraph blade?"

"…no one."

"Exactly. I'm too used to your little habits and tricks to lash out." Jonathan stood up and walked over to her, stopping dead in front. Anastasia refused to look down, staring directly into his charcoal eyes that were glinting in amusement as he asked "You look embarrassed."

"You're still naked. And ah, stood right in front of me."

"Apparently, according to you last night, I couldn't get naked fast enough. And now you want me to get dressed?" Jonathan's smirk was widening as he stole a kiss from her lips, raising a hand and patting her cheek twice. "I can't win with you."

"That was last night." Anastasia breathed out, nipping at his fingers. "One hell of a night" Jonathan replied smugly as he walked over towards the door that connected to the shower, asking with a raised brow "Gonna take that off and join me? Or are you that body conscious?"

Anastasia scoffed, letting the dressing gown fall from her shoulders, marching right past him as she retorted with "You can kiss my ass."

"Don't tempt me."

-TheBeastInside-

"I have nothing." Was the first thing Jace said when the pair walked down the stairs to the living room. Anastasia frowned. "You have tons of clothes here."

"I propose a daring quick visit to the good ol' New York Institute." Jace said, causing Jonathan to say in a scoff "Oh yes. Walk straight into Shadowhunter-"

"I assure you, if we go later, it will be deserted. Don't you trust me?"

Jonathan gave Jace a hard, calculating look, then shrugged. "Why not? That place has some pretty decent books, doesn't it? We need research."

Anastasia wandered over to the fridge and pulled out eggs and bacon, calling back to the pair who were still talking "hungry?"

"Starving."

"Feed me Anny. I'm ravenous."

"You're always hungry." She called to Jonathan as she turned the cooker on and grabbed a frying pan and oil. As she set about making bacon omelets, the pair of boys gradually drew closer, continuing their talk right next to her as they waited for their food, the room full of the gorgeous smell and sizzling of the oil.

Boys and their food Anastasia just thought as she plated up and handed them each one. She stood leaning against the fridge as she ate her own, Jonathan muttering out after a mouthful "She can fight, she's a wildcat in bed and she can cook-? Tell me I'm dreaming."

"Manners, Jonathan." Anastasia said lightly as she set her plate down, putting the kettle on boil

"Make me a tea while you're there. Your tea is amazing."

"Make that two."

"How about you both get off your asses and make them yourselves?"

They both shut up at that, neither making a sound as they ate until Jace finished and called to Anastasia who was washing up; "I designate you the cook."

Anastasia paused at that before turning to her brother, folding her arms "Oh will you now? I expect to be treated like a queen then unless you don't want me to give you deliberate food poisoning."

Jonathan just laughed silently into his cup of tea, causing Anastasia to flick the back of his head as she passed-

It was like living with a pair of children at times. She even asked them if they wanted a packed lunch to take with them when they made a quick stop in New York for a joke. Jace said Yes and Anastasia barely resisted the urge to kick him right in the balls, but then remembered it would do the same to Jonathan as well. It would be bad for her as well as him if they were out of working order she thought shamelessly.

While they were out, Anastasia set about clearing up Jonathan's bedroom. Something that took ages, but by the end of it, the sleek black covers on his bed were smooth and his black gear was hanging up on the front of his wardrobe.

"By the Angel…" he mused when he returned, stepping into the spotless room and looking around. "I fucked you and turned you into a housewife. What have I done-?"

"I swear if I find another fucking shirt with blood all over it in this room after I've cleared up, I'm going to sleep on the sofa until further notice and cease all cooking."