Jace could hear the music before he saw the house. It was a good thing Magnus lived a mile away from anyone. Something that made his parties that much better.

He parked his car and walked to the house. It was sad, how long of a walk it was. And the party has only started twenty minutes ago.

"Jace!" He was pulled in to a hug by Magnus. "Glad you could make it."

Jace patted him awkwardly on the back, feeling uncomfortable.

"Is Clary here?" Jace asked instead of commenting.

Magnus nodded. "Yeah, her and Simon are out back."

Jace nodded, fighting through the crowd to the back. He grabbed a beer in his way. He didn't really plan on drinking it but he figured it couldn't hurt.

"Baby!" Clary shot up when she saw him and threw herself in his arms.

He laughed, kissing her head. "Are you drunk?"

"No, I just missed you." She pulled back and he could see it in her eyes that she was one hundred percent here.

"I love you." He kissed her lips, no alcohol taste on them.

"Love you too." She nudged his nose with hers and than pulled away almost completely, only holding on to his hand.

"Hey." He nodded to Simon.

Simon nodded back, not saying anything. Not a crack of a smile or any other type of friendly acknowledgement.

They had met a week ago at Clary's house when he made another spontaneous visit. Simon had been rather peeved when he had seen Jace and Jace couldn't help but feel the same way. It was Tuesday. That was his day with her.

But he had made an effort for Clary. He wasn't dumb. A four month old relationship or a lifetime friendship.

"How was work?" He asked her instead.

"Long." She fell back down beside Simon, pulling him with her.

"When do you go in next?"

"Sunday at one." She looked at him over her shoulder. "You?"

"I leave Wednesday for California and I'll be back Saturday."

"So your mine until then?"

"Yeah." He grinned. "I have lunch with Maryse on Sunday but you won't be able to hang anyways so."

She smiled at him before turning back to Simon.

"You're coming up for Thanksgiving, right?"

Simon nodded. "Is Jon coming?"

Clary shook her head. "No, but we're going to Jace's house. His brother and sister will be there too."

Simon nodded, his lips pressed together. "We're still cooking together, right?"

Clary looked at him like he was stupid. "Duh. We'll just meet them there."

"Do you normally spend Thanksgiving with your family?" Simon turned to him.

Jace shrugged. "We only see our parents for Christmas really, but I see Alec and Izzy for every holiday."

He nodded. Clary rolled her eyes. Jace leaned back on his hands, wishing he was alone with Clary.

"Are you going to stop acting like such a bitch?"

Jace had to bite back his laugh as Clary turned to Simon.

"I'm not." Simon protested. "I just met the kid, you can't expect me to spill everything in the first week I've known him like you."

"Hey." Jace warned.

"Oh, shut up." Simon rolled his eyes. "You've known her for like four months, don't act like you know everything."

"I see him more in one week than I've seen you in the last year, don't act all high and noble."

"Maybe if you invited me around more I would be."

"Piss off." Clary interjected. "I told you anytime you wanted to come over you could. That's how it's always been, I didn't think anything's changed."

"You haven't come to my place in months."

"I'm a doctor Simon!" Clary turned to him angrily. "My days off aren't real days off. I'm almost always on call. Don't blame that on Jace, he's ever closer to the hospital than I am, it's not an inconvenient trip."

"I wasn't." Simon protested, rather weakly.

"Please." Clary rolled her eyes again. "We've never had an argument about this and we haven't lived within three hours of each other in like 5 years."

"You've never had a boyfriend in those five years."

Clary threw her hands in the air. "What does that even mean?"

Simon clenched his fists. "Clary," Jace grabbed her hand. "Just let it go."

"What?" She turned to him. " I just want to-"

"Because I've been in love you with you since we were kids." Simon started quietly. "And it was a lot easier to believe I had a chance when you didn't have anyone either."

Clary's jaw dropped. If Jace hadn't figured it out last time Simon had been in town his probably would have too.

"I'll go get us some drinks." Jace gripped Clary's thigh before getting to his feet.

It wasn't exactly easy, leaving someone he loved with another guy confessing his love for her but he knew it had to be done. And he trusted her and her feelings towards him. He didn't want to make it anymore awkward than it already was.

Jace walked through the mass of people back inside and upstairs to Magnus's room. He knew Alec would be there, watching Netflix by himself.

"Jace?" Alec questioned as Jace entered the room. "Why are you not with Clary?"

" Simon just told her he loves her, figured that's a conversation they need to have by themselves. "

Alec raised an eyebrow. "How mature of you."

Jace grinned a little before flopping down next to him. "I wish I could have stayed but this is between them and I trust her."

Alec nodded , turning back to the tv. "Want to watch some Criminal Minds."

Jace nodded, shooting Clary a quick text of where he was for when she was finished. "How long did you make it down there this time?"

"About an hour." Alec grinned. "It's a lot harder when you're not wasted."

Jace laughed, trying to focus on the t.v. and failing. He was just waiting for Clary to be done so he could see how she was doing and make sure she was okay.

The episode was almost over when the door finally opened and she walked in. He sat up and caught her in his arms when she reached him. There were no tears or shaking but he could feel the emotion radiating off of her.

"I'll just go." Alec made to get off the bed.

" No. " Clary's hand shot out to grab his sleeve. "You can stay."

He nodded and somewhat awkwardly leaned back on the bed.

"You like Criminal Minds?" Alec asked her.

She nodded, settling in between them on the bed. Her hand was still in his but other than that they weren't touching.

When the episode finished Alec excused himself and left them to talk.

"You okay?" He held her face in his hand.

Her bottom lip wobbled. "I'm the worst best friend ever."

"No your not." He kissed her head and pulled her on top of him, hugging her.

"Yes I am." She fisted his shirt with her hand. "He's hurting so bad right now and there's nothing I can do. I never even knew that he ever liked me as more than a friend. He's my family." She paused. "I don't have a big family, I can't lose anyone else."

His heart ached a little for her. "You haven't lost him. You're family and family doesn't turn their back on family."

She nodded. "I want to call Jon, can we go home?"

"Of course." He kissed her forehead before releasing her. She rolled off of him and stood next to the bed, just holding his hand for a second.

Her face was still dry but he could see the restraint crumbling in her eyes. And he could also see the composer she was grabbing. Her eyes locked up and her body tensed. He couldn't tell if that was something she learned as a child or because she was a doctor. Either way he wished she wouldn't have to do it.

"Come on." He tugged at her hand. "It'll all be okay."

She gave him a small, tight lipped smile.

"Simon drove me here, can you take me home?"

"I was planning on it." He lead her to his car.

"He told me he didn't want to see me for a while." She gripped his hand tighter as they walked. "And I told him that would probably be best but Thanksgiving is in a month and I don't even remember a Thanksgiving I've spent away from him."

"To much space and you'd never be able to repair anything. Send him a text in three weeks, let him know you're still counting on him to come up. Those feelings have always been there, it weird to think about, but the only thing that's changed is that you know now."

"But that's a big change." He opened the door for her before getting in on his side.

"Only if you make it." He pulled out. "I know it's hard to look past but you love him to and you don't see that as weird just like he doesn't see the way he loves you as weird."

"You sound like you're speaking from experience."

"I am." He nodded. "Alec thought he was in love with me when we were kids. And I knew all along and was to afraid to ever say anything. It would have been easier if I just had. I love him like a brother and he loves me like a brother, it was just a little unclear for him at the beginning."

"And it wasn't weird?"

"It was, but only as much as we allowed it. We worked through it and now neither of us hardly remembers."

"He told me he's loved me since we were 11, that's 14 years now, how do you just forget that."

"Time heals all wounds. Do you think of your dad often?"

" I guess not. "

He grabbed her hand and kissed it. "Living in the present is hard enough, don't make it even harder by living in the past."

" I'm not, I'm worrying about the future. "

"If you live well in the present there is nothing to worry about in the future."

" Easier said than done. "

"Such is life." He pulled into a parking spot. "I love you, that's a constant. Your whole world didn't just suddenly change. You're still the best doctor ever. The most beautiful woman to ever Grace the planet. Your brother still works for the FBI. And you're still best friends with Simon."

Her eyes started watering. "Are you sure you have no experience as a boyfriend?"

He grinned. "Positive, it's just really easy to love you."

She put her hands on her face. "Stop, I feel like I'm going to explode with warmth right now."

" Good. " He leaned across the consul to kiss her. "That's my job."

She kissed him back. "I'll talk to Jon tomorrow, I just want to go to sleep."

"Next to me?"

"No place I'd rather be."

She ran out of the car as he chased her, laughing freely. God he was in love. And as his arms wrapped around her he thought he could die a happy man.