Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. All rights belong to Cassandra Clare.
It's so nice to meet you." Maryse pulled Clary into a hug.
"You too." Clary have her a small smile.
"And you must be her brother Jon." Maryse held her hand out for Jon to shake.
"That's right." He shook it. "Thanks for having us."
"It's my pleasure."
"Are Alec and Magnus here yet?"
Jace nodded from where he sat on the kitchen counter, Clary back standing between his legs.
"They're in his room, unpacking."
"Izzy?"
Jace shook his head. "Originally she said she'd be here by 9 but she changed it to 5."
Maryse hesitated. "Robert?"
"No, he texted Alec and said he'd be here by 6."
She nodded before turning back towards the stove she had been turning on.
"Hey!" Izzy's voice rang through the hall, followed by the closing of the door.
"Sweetie!" Maryse gushed, pulling her in for a hug. "Where's Meliorn."
" As a Christmas present to you all I decided to leave him for good. "
"And where are you planning on staying?" Jace asked, an eyebrow arched.
"My brothers have an extra room, I heard." She looked a little hesitant.
"It's all yours." He smiled at her.
" Thanks. " She squeezed his shoulder walking past them to the stairs.
Jace slid of the counter, following her. Jon and Clary with him.
"How'd he take it?" He asked her once they reached Alec's room.
"Not very well." She shrugged, flopping down on Alec's bed next Magnus.
"Where's Meliorn?" Alec asked from where he was wrapping a present on the floor.
" Left on the curb. " she grinned at him.
"About time."
" And I'm moving in with you and Jace. "
"About time." He repeated, finishing wrapping his last present. "I didn't get him a present anyways."
Izzy laughed, "Me neither."
Jace grinned, taking a seat in the middle of the couch Alec had in the room, Jon and Clary sitting on either side of him.
"Alright, enough talking about the douche, how are you biscuit?" Magnus asked, sitting up to look at Clary.
" Good. " Clary looked at him weirdly. "Why?"
"Because you had were in the middle of a shooting two weeks ago." He rolled his eyes.
She shrugged. " I'm fine, just waiting for the bruise to fade. "
"When do you go back to work?"
"The 31st."
" Seriously. " he rolled his eyes. "Biscuit, don't you think that's a little soon."
"Magnus." She sighed. "It'll be three weeks, I'm ready to move on."
"Clare, you were given a month. You should take it."
She sighed but didn't say anything.
"Clary, take it." Jon voiced from Jace's otherside. "It often takes a while for a situation to hit you, do you really want it to be when you're standing in the operating room with a life in your hands?"
"I'm fine." She rolled her eyes. "I'm going to go see if Maryse needs any help in the kitchen."
"Babe." Jace reached to stop her but she was out of reach. He sighed, watching her go.
"Give her space." Izzy told them. "She's dealing her own way."
" And I'm worried. " Jace ran his hand through his hair. "She's talked about it twice in front of me and I know she's not talking about in front of other people. We went to the dinner at the hotel and nobody even talked about it, it's like they're pretending it never happened. It's not healthy."
"She tends to shut herself in when she's scared or hurt. So used to helping others she doesn't know how too help herself." Jon was still staring at where she had left. "And when she breaks, she breaks hard."
"What do we do?" Alec asked.
"Nothing." Jon sighed. "We wait."
"And be there for her." Jace stood up. "Lets go help her with Maryse."
They nodded, following him back to the kitchen. Where Maryse and Clary were laughing over a pot on the stove. She caught sight of Jace and gave him a small smile.
"Smells good, mom." Alec kissed her cheek.
" Thanks sweetie. " She gave him a smile.
Jace wrapped his arms around Clary, pulling her in tight. "You alright?" He asked her quietly.
"Yeah." She gripped his shirt. "Just tired."
He looked at the clock, it was almost 6.
"We normally eat and than watch Christmas movies, I'll take you to bed when you fall asleep."
"Okay." She nodded into his chest.
He kissed her head and rubbed her back until she pulled away. "I love you."
"I love you too." He gave her a soft kiss.
"Hello." Robert's voice rang through the house, followed by a thud of the door.
" Hi dad. " Izzy answered him, not moving from where she was leaning against the cabinet on her phone.
He walked in the kitchen, setting his bag down in the hallway. "Hey kids, Maryse."
"Hi Robert." Maryse kissed his cheek. "Time for dinner everyone."
Jace's eyebrows shot up in suprise. He had thought being civil was going to be a long shot.
"Here, let me help you." Robert grabbed plates and cups from the cupboards and carried them out to the table .
"What the fuck?" Izzy asked, her eyes following the two out of the kitchen.
Clary let out a small laugh. "Your mom said they called each other yesterday and cleared the air. They didn't know if this would ever happen again and they wanted to make it a good one."
"How mature of them." Alec commented.
"Are they feeling okay?" Izzy asked, only somewhat joking.
"Why, what's so unusual?" Jon asked.
"They haven't talked in five years." Jace kept his voice down. "And even when they did they weren't the best at being civil."
Jon nodded.
"Are you guys coming?" Robert asked, peeking his head back around the door.
"Yeah." Magnus moved away from where he had been leaning against the island and towards the dinning room, everyone else on their heals.
It turned out to be a pretty okay dinner by their standards. There was no killings or death threats. No fighting or name calling. But it was still slightly off. There was no warm feeling only a family could provide. It was business like, but Jace didn't mind to much. It was better than what it had been in the past.
"What movie are we watching first?" Izzy asked from where her and Clary lay cuddled under a blanket.
"It's a wonderful life." Robert requested from where he sat in the recliner.
"No." Alec groaned. "We always watch that one. What about 'A Year Without A Santa Claus. '"
"Or A Miracle On 34th Street." Clary suggested.
"Yes!" Izzy seconded.
Jace shrugged, finding the DVD and putting it.
"Izzy, you're stealing my girlfriend."
"You snooze you lose." She stuck her tongue out at him.
"Babe." Jace whined, dropping in the floor in front of her. "Come sit with me."
She shook her head and laughed when he turned around, leaning on the couch so his head was leaning back on her legs. Her hand found it's way in his hair, and brushed through it.
It stopped moving after a while and he turned to see her eyes closed, and her breathing light.
"I'm going to take Clary to bed." He announced, standing up and lifting her in his arms.
"Night." They called, not really turning away.
He carried her upstairs and to his room.
"You've got to brush your teeth and out your pajamas on." He gently nudged her all the way awake.
"Only if you wear the matching ones." She mumbled, stepping out of his arms.
"Deal." He grabbed his cookie monster pants and took his shirt off before following her to the bathroom to brush their teeth.
"What time is it?" She asked, toothbrush hanging out of her mouth, fist running at one of her eyes.
"Ten." He glanced at the clock. "Two hours till Christmas."
She nodded, leaning over to spur out her tooth paste. He grabbed her hair, making sure it didn't fall in front of her shoulder.
She walked back into the room and by the time he was done in the bathroom she was passed out, her own cookie monster pants on and a tank top. He climbed in after her, falling asleep almost just as quickly.
(L)(i)(n)(e)(b)(r)(e)(a)(k)
"Merry Christmas baby."
Jace couldn't help but smile.
"Merry Christmas Cherry." He forced his eyes open. Clary was hovering over him, a large smile on her face.
His hands gravitated to her hips on either side of him.
"Come on, Izzy just pounded on our door."
He turned to the side to look at the clock. It was almost ten o'clock. Way past when he normally got up.
"Are they already downstairs?" He asked, rubbing his eyes.
"They're waiting for Magnus too." She nodded.
"So what you're saying is we have a minute." Her grinned upwards at her.
"No." She warned, sliding off of him. "It means we have to get dressed."
He whined, grabbing her and pulling her back to him. "Five more minutes?"
"Fine." She snuggled back into him. Turning so that she was facing him.
"I love you." He kissed her.
She smiled, rolling back over she was once again hovering over him. "Maybe we do have a minute." She whispered in between kisses.
He laughed but before he could make a cheeky remark there was another knock on the door. "Stop doing whatever you're doing and come down stairs. I want to open my presents."
He groaned, letting his head fall back and his hands go to her back, pulling her down so she was tucked in the crook of his neck. "Little sisters are so annoying."
She laughed, placing a couple kisses on his neck. "Come on." She sat up. "I want to give you my present."
He let her go and followed, taking her in in her rumpled cookie monster pants.
"sometimes you're so cute it makes me want to scream." He told her, wrapping his arms around her.
" And sometimes you're so sweet I want to melt into a puddle at your feet. "
He kissed her head and lead her out of his room and to the living room where the tree was set up, surrounded by piles of presents. They had all made the piles last night before they went to bed and Maryse and Robert had added to them when they had gone to bed. Even Jon's and Clary's.
"Merry Christmas baby." Maryse hugged him. "Merry Christmas Clary. " She gave her a hug as well.
"Merry Christmas Maryse." She hugged her back.
Jace took a seat next to Jon on the couch. Robert was sitting in the recliner, talking and laughing with Magnus while Alec looked on skeptically.
"Thanks for letting me come." Jon told him.
"Not a problem." Jace turned to him. "It wouldn't be fair if I got to spend the holidays with my family and she didn't."
Jon shrugged. "But you didn't have to get presents or half of what you guys did."
Jace shrugged again. "I'm sure you've already noticed but they're not exactly short on cash."
He grinned. "Still."
Clary plopped herself down in between the two of them, wrapping an arm around the both of them. "You guys ready to see what I got you."
"My gift is so much better." Jon smirked.
"Doubt it." Clary snorted. "You can't use the I didn't die this year because we both could have."
Jon rolled his eyes. "We aren't all doctors who climbed out of their debt in like two years, I was broke."
"Sure." She pursed her lips.
"Oh my God!" Izzy held up a ruby necklace in the shape of a heart. "You guys are to much." She got up to pull her parents into a hug. Jace laughed, Izzy always had a problem waiting for others.
"I guess that's out cue." He slid down the couch and next to his pile.
And then the sound of wrapping paper filled the house, the occasional shriek of glee from Izzy. Balls of paper were chucked at people and big hugs were exchanged.
In Jace's pile of opened gifts now sat a stack of clothes from Izzy, a new watch and some shoes from his parents, some new books from Alec, a nice pocket knife from Jon, and a bag of candy, scratch offs, and gift cards from Magnus. And now he was left with a large box from Clary.
He opened it and was met with a pair of pajama pants with dinosaurs on them which made him laugh. Underneath it were two books he had picked up while they walked through a book store and had expressed interest in. And another package lay at the bottom.
And it made Jace excited. He could tell it was a painting. It felt like a canvas. And he lost his breath when he Saw it. It was a painting of a couple in the distance, only their silhouette, walking in a park of bright colors that were smudged and rain on the ground, puddles everywhere. It was beautiful.
He looked up to see her opening the present he had gotten her. Her head down, concentrated as she took the wrapping paper off. He had driven up to Izzy's place one day while she was at work and had solicited her help. He wasn't good at making things cute.
She pulled the picture frame out. It was a picture Alec had snapped of the two in Central Park. It was snowing and everyone was bundled up accept Clary who was wearing only a dress, leggings, and a scarf. Her hair curled and her smile radiating. He was in a jacket and jeans, offering her a coat she would not take. His own radiating smile on his face as he watched her laugh at him. It looked like a professional picture. And it made her smile.
She put the picture to the side and pulled out some books. She had been complaining about how she hadn't read anything good in months.
And than She pulled out a jar wrapped in a ribbon. One hundred and fifty reasons he loved her. All typed out and cut in to small pieces, rolled in a ribbon of their own, thank you Izzy. For the rolling. Not the one hundred and fifty reasons, that had been easy.
She looked up and caught his eyes, leaning over to wear he was sitting and pressed her lips against his.
"I love you." She murmured against them
"I love you too." He held up the painting. "And this is being hung in my room the second I get back. It's beautiful."
"You almost ruined it, you never let me paint by myself, I did it while you were away on shoots."
"I'm not sorry." He kissed her. "What else you get?"
She shrugged. " Jon got me a bunch of new set supplies and than I got a bunch of new clothes and scrubs from your parents and sister. Alec got me so!e books and Mags got me some eyeshadow. "
Jace raised his eyebrows at the last one.
"He thinks I need to wear more make up." She rolled her eyes.
"Well I think you're perfect and who's opinion matters more here?" He nudged her nose.
"His." She laughed at the face he pulled. "He's less biased."
"No, apparently he's blind."
She laughed again, turning to look at him. He was holding a new scarf that he had gotten from Robert. "Nah, he's just him."
"Clare!" Izzy called her over to where she was sitting with Maryse. "You're missing girl talk."
"Coming." She answered, turning to give him a big kiss. "Thanks again."
"Love you."
He watched as she made her way over to his mom and sister, laughing as she went. And as Jon and Alec laughed on the couch, acting like they had been friends for a lot longer than a day. As Robert got to know his son's boyfriend. And he decided he could get used to it.