Clary:
Maybe three weeks had gone by since the incident at the wolf house, and everything had gone back to what everyone else called normal. Except Sebastian.
She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply at the thought. Jon, who had woken up the day after they got back to the institute, confirmed what Jace had told Clary earlier that morning, along with a few more major details, such as his kidnapper.
Valentine had felt so surreal to Clary. She hadn't heard much about him, and her mother had always told her that he was a deadbeat father, so she never really cared to know about him. So when she heard that he was the man on the loose, it felt like a stranger, no one she would have to deal with. Then he came after Jon, and took Sebastian. He felt more personal than ever.
Of course everyone of her friends were going out of their way to distract her. Heck, she wasn't even grounded! Then again, when your psychotic father mentioned wanting to meet you, most likely with every intention of killing you, what sort of punishment is 'go to your room!'?
Izzy was in happy relationship land with Simon, which was adorable and disgusting at the same time. Will, Jordan, Jon, and Alec were having the time of their lives teasing them relentlessly. Jem, and Magnus didn't do much teasing, both of them were just very happy for them. Thankfully Izzy, who always outshined everyone took the teasing heat off her and Jace.
When Jon had woken up and Clary had been there to greet him, her fingers intertwined with Jace's, his first words had been, "Which eye do you want blackened Herondale?"
Clary actually managed a smile as she thought about everything that had happened. She was worried sick about everything, but Jace was definitely making things bearable. His relentless teasing remarks, random compliments, and constant company had kept her mind off her troubles. He was the world's best boyfriend.
There was that word...boyfriend.
The first time she'd said it aloud, to a smirking Izzy, it had foreign on her tongue. Now she loved the sound of it. The thought of it, put an even bigger smile on her face as she rested her head on Jace's lap in the training room.
He had offered to help her refine her skills, and she wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to get better. Not to mention that was two extra hours a day that they had to themselves.
"What's got you smiling?" Jace asked, twirling a strand of her red hair on his left index finger, looking at it as if it were covered in pure gold instead of sweat.
"You," she replied, knowing she was massaging his ego, which didn't need the extra help.
His lips curled upward slightly as he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers lightly. "As much as I love kissing you," he said lightly in her ear, "I don't think you want to kiss me right now. I happen to be very sweaty."
Clary rolled her eyes as she grabbed the collar of his black training shirt and pulled him down, pressing his lips firmly against hers. She felt more than heard Jace chuckle as he slipped from under her head, careful to cradle it with his forearm as he bent down closer to her. He made a soft trail of kisses across her cheek to her ear, where he whispered, "Am I that irresistible?"
"Just can't keep my hands off you," Clary said dryly, scrunching her nose slightly as a few strands of his curly blond hair tickled it.
"Please," he murmured seductively, "don't try."
Clary was about to do exactly as asked, being the polite individual that she was, when the door opened.
"My eyes! Great God above, haven't you guys heard of a bedroom!" Jon wailed as he stomped inside. "Dammit Herondale! That's my sister!"
Jace pushed himself away from Clary and sighed, looking up at a fuming Jon, who was looking more disgusted by the second. "I'm going to have to kick your ass now! It's in some kind of big brother's codebook, or whatever."
Clary heard Jace snort too quietly for Jon to hear before he said, "Not meaning to throw her under the bus, but would you believe me if I told you that Clary attacked me? The girl can't keep her hands off! I can't help it that I'm so desirable."
Clary looked over at Jace with a raised eyebrow. He was grinning at her sheepishly. She turned around and looked back at Jon, hoping that Jace thought that she was mad at him. He needed to squirm a little.
Jon's face looked a little green, and red at the same time. "You know, Clary, I'm finally considering apologizing about Camille."
Clary snorted and blinked, "All I had to do was make out with your best friend in front of you, and you would have apologized? I need to remember that."
"What happens if Jon decides to kick me to the curb and gets a new best friend?" Jace demanded. "You gonna make out with him instead?"
"Can we please stop talking about this!" Jon demanded. "I came in here to train! Not to have my eyes assaulted!"
Clary sat up and pushed herself back against the cool wall as she looked at her brother guiltily. Jon had been the one most devastated by Sebastian's disappearance. Clary could see the guilt flashing in his eyes every time his name was mentioned. Sebastian attacked Valentine to save him, so naturally Jon felt like it was his fault. He had been working himself into the ground since it happened, trying to learn how to fight better, to protect himself and others better.
"Come on then," Jace said, pushing himself to his feet. "I've probably got a few more hours in me."
Jon gave him a grateful smile, and Clary wryly thought about how she was going to have to actually share her boyfriend with her brother.
He leaned over and held his hand out to Clary, who took it immediately. Jace hauled her to her feet, and said, "You probably don't want to watch me whip your brother," Jon snorted at this, "why don't you go and get cleaned up?"
"You're trying to tell me something?" Clary asked, smirking slight as she raised her eyebrow.
"You're smelly and sweaty, and kissing you was probably not a fun experience," Jon informed her dryly. "Now go away."
Clary gaped openly at him, while Jace tried and failed to cover up a snort. She turned her outraged look to Jace, who held his hands up placatingly, "I swear that's not what I meant! It wasn't funny!" He smiled softly at her and leaned in slightly, "And kissing you is always fun." He leaned down even further but before he could kiss her, she slipped back.
"I should probably go get cleaned up," she said before slipping out the door and into the hallway. Before she shut the door behind her, she heard Jace say something about her being a tease, and snickered. That's what he got for laughing at her.
She was drying her hair, enjoying the feeling of being clean after having so much sweat and dirt on her when she heard quick raps on the bathroom door.
Considering the fact that she just got out of the shower, she wasn't exactly decent. She rolled her eyes at whoever was at the door, and shouted, "I'm a bit preoccupied at the moment, is there anyway you could come back in like five minutes?"
"No!" Izzy's unapologetic voice sounded from the other side of the door, making Clary sigh. "I can't! Hurry up and get dressed; you can make yourself look good for Jace later!"
At that comment, Clary was sure her face was the same color as her hair, and her mouth was gaping toward the door at Izzy's audacity. She was lost for words, but Isabelle didn't seem to mind in the least, already talking again.
"Maia said she has something to tell us, and that she wants all of us around when she makes the announcement," she said through the door, banging on it one last time. "So hurry up!"
Clary heard the unmistakable sound of heels clacking on the floor as she walked away. Clary sighed and picked her clean clothes up, struggling to put them on as fast as she could. Whatever Maia had to say better be pretty damn important.
When Maia said everyone, she meant all the group, her parents, Charlotte, and Henry. Everyone was sitting in the conference room, looking at Maia and Jordan, who were sitting together on the loveseat, their hands clasped together. Both of their knuckles were pure white from their grip...talk about nervous.
Clary sat between Jace and Jon. Both guys were still sweaty and dirty, so she went out of her way not to touch either. She didn't think Jace appreciated her gesture too much. The thought made her laugh silently. Simon, who was sitting in an armchair with Isabelle in his lap, his arms around her waist, leaned forward slightly and asked, "What is it, Maia?"
"I didn't think it would actually be this hard to say," she said, a humorless laugh in her voice. She curled into Jordan's side, as he wrapped a protective arm around her, give them all a weak smile.
It was obvious that he knew what was going on, and he was uncomfortable with being silent, but Maia clearly wanted to be the one to speak. Jordan leaned down and whispered something in her ear, and she smiled softly, nodding.
She looked up and around at everyone, her normally dark eyes were bright and shiny with tears. "I'm pregnant."
After she said that everything was in an uproar. Shouts of congratulations, could be heard from every direction. All the guys were shaking Jordan's hand, and Luke, being am almost father-like figure to Maia demanded to know when the two of them were planning on getting married.
Clary found herself hugging a tearful Maia, jumping up and down with her, and patting her stomach gently.
"I am so babysitting," she exclaimed, hugging Maia again.
"Me too," Izzy said from behind Clary. Clary released her friend, only to watch Maia be engulfed by Isabelle. As she released her from her grip, she asked, "Do you know what the gender is?"
Maia shook her head, "Too early for any of that," she admitted. "I'm so sorry for keeping it away from you guys, but...I didn't know how to tell you. Jordan's been so protective of me lately, and honestly, I don't know if I can handle all of you guys watching me so closely."
"Don't worry," Clary said, as Tessa, Charlotte, and her mother started making their way over toward them. "Everything's going to work out perfectly. I can feel it."
Maia smiled a watery smile at her and said, "I hope so, Clary."
No One's POV:
Night had fallen over the institute, and everyone was in their beds, sleeping peacefully, their stomachs full from the celebratory dinner they ate due to Maia's unexpected announcement. Even the guards were at peace, standing in front of the large wooden doors, talking and joking quietly.
No one noticed the red robed blur...not until it was much too late. The first guard, a man named Thomas, never saw him coming, and only had time to register cold steel on the back of his neck before he fell to the ground with a blade sticking out the front of his throat.
His companion, scrambled to draw his weapon, but there was already another red robed man behind him. His hands flashed forward, and snapped his neck. He was dead before he hit the ground. The scuffle had been completely soundless, alerting no one to their presence.
The first man let out a short bird whistle, signaling for the rest of his group to follow before he slowly opened the door and slipped inside.
Well...some serious shit is about to go down! And my lovely reviewers, I really adore you all! You make me laugh sometimes. At the moment, JaceHerondale17 definitely did. I would marry the towel too, though don't worry ;)
Like I said, story's almost over! Only a handful of chapters left. Aiming at 25 chapters, might be a bit more. I'm not sure. Sad thought, really. But *sigh* all good things come to an end eventually. Lemme know what you thought about this chapter on the way out!