Alright, alright; so, in all honesty, I really was trying to get this out on Christmas…but it was my only day off, and I got immersed in family stuff for the holidays and…obviously it didn't happen.

I'm hoping, though, that you'll forgive me after you get to the end of this chapter. ;)

And, you're welcome in advance because I'm pretty excited for you all to read it.

"You're…you're not?" Clary asked, obviously confused.

"No, but that doesn't mean I'm your ally exactly either."

"So, what does that make you?" she asked, confusion and curiosity once again overpowering her.

Alec sighed, "An observer who learned something about himself tonight." He walked over to sit on the bed himself.

Clary shot an eyebrow up at him as he sat down next to her, "When you love someone, you have to let them go and see if they come back to you, right?"

Clary still stared; she had no idea where this was coming from…why Alec was here…anything. And, truth be told, she was slightly afraid to interrupt, so she stayed quiet and let him continue. It didn't sound like he wanted an answer anyway.

"You did that, with both of them, just now." He continued at her silence.

"Oh, so you were eavesdropping too."

To her complete and total surprise, Alec smiled at her.

She rolled her eyes, "Apparently you're all known for that."

"Except, I know my brother. He may seem like he's giving up, but he's not." Alec replied to her.

Clary just looked at him, a lone tear rolling down her cheek as she thought about what Jace must've seen from under the bed – helplessly watching her kiss Simon since they had been standing near the door.

And he was right, if she truly did love Jace, she would've pushed Simon off of her immediately – not that the thought wasn't there she just…couldn't do it…

"And I also know men," Alec suddenly plowed on. It was as if he knew the battle going on inside of her head. It was freaky.

"And your friend Simon, well…he'll get used to the friend-zone, and he'll probably come to like it…being around my sister and all…"

"What? You're not angry that someone likes your sister?"

Alec scoffed, "Please, Isabelle's had her fair share of dates already. I'm way past the point of being mad that someone likes her. Jace and I only get mad if and when they break her heart…"

"But lemme guess, that usually goes the other way, doesn't it?"

Alec looked at her and nodded.

"Sounds like you have an easy life, then, except you don't get out much, do you?"

Alec suddenly narrowed his eyes at her, and Clary briefly wondered if that was the wrong choice of words.

"I guess there's no use in hiding it now, that's why we moved out from our parent's house anyway."

"Ah, so that's why you all live here? Your brother and sister support you, but your parents don't?"

Alec nodded.

"That sucks."

"They're just old-fashioned. They'll come around eventually…"

"How long?"

Alec just looked at her in response; maybe not understand what she was asking.

She clarified, "How long have you three been on your own?"

"A few years, give or take."

Clary cocked her head at him, giving him the unbelieving eyebrow.

"Okay, four."

Clary nodded in understanding now, and Alec continued, "And actually, I don't have an easy life. Watching Jace try to find someone is anything but easy…"

Clary wasn't really sure what to say here, so once again, she opted for staying quiet and letting him continue.

"I don't usually believe in love at first sight, but…I think he might…now."

Clary laughed, and Alec still continued, "I'm serious, Clary, I've never seen him act around a girl the way he does with you; and there have been a diversity of girls."

Clary just looked at him, not sure if that was supposed to be a scare tactic or not.

"So, you're not going to ask me how many?"

Clary furrowed her brows and shook her head, "No. I don't really care…as long as there's no little Jace's running around somewhere."

To her surprise, Alec laughed, shaking his head, "Not that we know of, and … Jace probably wasn't in a state to even get the girls' names, let alone numbers; but god help us all if there are little Jace's out there…"

Both he and Clary laughed, almost uncontrollably and Alec got up and left the room.

What. The. Hell. Just. Happened?

After a brief moment of attempting to collect her thoughts, Clary realized it was futile and got up and walked out of the room. When she got downstairs, Jace was in the kitchen and he barely glanced at her for a second before turning away – obviously still seething; Alec had gone off to do … whatever, but Clary didn't see him, and Jonathan, Simon, and Isabelle were all in the room with the huge T.V…eating.

Belatedly, she hoped it wasn't Isabelle's cooking.

She walked into the kitchen and looked around. It didn't look like there was anything left over; so, frowning, she began to walk out.

"In the fridge." Jace muttered, and if the room hadn't been under the creepy silence of his anger, Clary probably wouldn't have heard him. Instead, she stopped dead in her tracks and turned around.

He was staring at her, and as she moved from where she was to the fridge, she could feel his eyes boring into her back. Upstairs in the room, she realized, he probably hadn't had much time to see what she had been wearing…

But now he did.

She smirked, thinking he must like it.

She saw a tuber-ware container with something edible in it, so she grabbed that and stuck it in the microwave. After the resigned 'beep' signaling the microwave was done, with one regretful glance at Jace, she walked out and into the room with the T.V. – which she now assumed was probably some elaborate living room, and sat on the couch next to Simon.

Simon got up and walked upstairs.

Clary inwardly groaned as Isabelle got up and followed him upstairs.

At least this'll bring them two closer… she thought.

Clary glanced at the door, the envelope from earlier still burning a hole in her pocket. She needed to get out of here – to go see her boss – try and get her job back, go back to her apartment.

Even though she had barely an appetite, she spooned the food she had just heated up into her mouth while she thought.

This whole chance meeting had been great, but it was painfully obvious the fairy-tale was over. Jace had saved her, and she would be forever indebted to him for that, but now he hates her, and he obviously didn't want her around anymore.

The same goes for Simon. Whatever friend-ship they had had was obviously screwed up by his attempt to have a relationship with her, and she would never forgive herself for turning him down; but she just…didn't see him that way. Ever. Even without Jace in the picture. Simon was her best friend; he knew all of her secrets…well, most of them anyway…he knew just about everything there was to know about her…

…And unfortunately for him, that's where his story ended.

She wanted to smack herself, but there was a container of food on her lap; so she figured that wasn't a good idea.

"They'll get over it." Jonathan said, basically reading her internal battle.

"I know." Clary muttered.

Jonathan looked at her now, "The question is, which one of 'em do you want to get over it first."

Clary's eyes immediately went to him, "Now's not the time, Jon."

Jonathan just shrugged and turned back to the T.V.

And Clary's mind was made up; she had to get out of here; the sooner the better.

"Do you know where we are?" Clary asked Jonathan.

He shook his head, "No, you know I suck with directions."

Clary giggled, "Yeah, I guess I had forgotten."

He turned to her then, eyes narrowed, as though something had just clicked, "Why? Planning on leaving?"
Clary looked at him and with a mocking tone, "No, Jon, three people in this house just hate me but I want to stay here for the rest of my life."

"Why do they hate you, anyway?"

Clary rolled her eyes, "You're supposed to tell me that they don't hate me."

Jonathan let out a strangled laugh, "Please, with the way they're acting, you're like the devil's spawn."

Clary chucked a pillow at his head, and he caught it.

"That's not funny."

"Clary, I'm not trying to be funny. What happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it." She said, getting up and, quickly putting her finished container in the sink, she walked back upstairs.

She found Alec back in his medical room.

"Hey," she said, as though she were a younger girl with a crush. She had her left hand rubbing her right arm.

"Hi." He said, not looking up.

Oh, come on, you can't be back to yourself…

She walked over and leaned against the top of the desk that he was sitting at.

"Whatchya doin'?" she sing-songed.

He smirked, "Paperwork, why?" and his eyes narrowed as he looked up from it.

"I need you to do me a favor now, and it involves that mysterious envelope."

Alec raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yeah, I need to get out of here, and I'd really like to return the money to its owner…and get my job back."

"Will Jonathan kill me?"

Clary shook her head, "Probably not."

Alec shrugged, standing up.

"Wait, you're actually going to take me?"

Alec gave her a smile and a shrug, "Why not?"

"I don't know; I just was sure that…"

"That I would say no?"

Clary nodded.

Alec shrugged again, "I don't get out enough anyway."

She smiled, and followed him downstairs. He snuck her out the front door since Simon, Jace and Isabelle were nowhere to be found.

Jonathan was immersed in the television in the living room.

Clary and Alec, after sneaking out, ended up getting into a Chevrolet Camaro that looked exactly like Bumblebee from the movie Transformers.

"Wow." Clary said.

"What?" Alec asked her as he opened his door.

"I…"

"Wasn't expecting the nice car? I am a doctor, in case you have forgotten." He said now, starting the engine as they had both gotten in.

Clary nodded, getting in without another word.

"What's the address?" Alec asked, handing her his GPS.

"Bane's Abyss? What the hell is that?" Alec asked, as his GPS began speaking out the directions. They were already on the road.

"A bar…" Clary muttered, but Alec had heard her.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-one…soon." Once again, Clary muttered the "soon" part in hopes that Alec had missed it.

He didn't. "Twenty? You're not old enough to be working in a bar…"

"Look, the owner took pity on me and gave me a waitress job…one that I'm pretty sure he created just for me. Apparently he has a soft spot. I didn't serve alcohol to anybody, nor did I drink it…"

"You could've been arrested if the cops had found out, and…that might be why he sent you away…"

"No! That's not true. He cares about me, Alec. That's why he gave me the job."

"There could be other reasons."

"Save them for my brother to ponder. I don't need another one." Clary said, getting out of the car as soon as they had pulled up from the bar. It had been a pretty quick ride…quicker than she had expected. She supposed it had a lot to do with the make of car Alec was driving.

Clary led Alec into the front doors, and in another life, Alec probably would've frequented this place. It was pretty dark; at some points, you couldn't see your own hand in front of your face; but it was nice.

After all, Alec had a logical reason for the anonymity. As much as he hated himself for it…

"Hey, Maia, is Magnus here?" he spun around as he heard Clary talking to a bar girl.

Well, what'd ya think? A couple of you were asking if I was going to have Magnus in this story…and I can only hope this answered your questionnnnn ;)

Once again, thank you for the continued support! Any reviews/PMs/favorites/follows are welcome and DEFINITELY appreciated! I try to respond to/mention my frequent reviewers, but if I've missed you, just let me know in the review and I'll give you a shoutout in my next update!

Thank you all SO much! See you in the next chapter ;)