A/N: ...don't kill me. I was working on This Means War, which is kinda...stressful, but hey, I'm going with it.

I freaking love this song so... Yeah! Here we go!

"Didn't they tell us don't rush into things?

Didn't you flash your green eyes at me?
Haven't you heard what becomes of curious minds?
Didn't it all seem new and exciting?
I felt your arms twisting 'round me
I should have slept with one eye open at night."
- Wonderland, Taylor Swift

Chapter 21: Wonderland

Clary traced the veins on Jace's hand carefully. Tight skin pulled over pianist fingers. Slightly scarred, but beautiful. Golden and marred.

The steady pace of Jace's breath was calming, constant. She breathed when he breathed. She shifted when he moved. Shadows outlined his face in strange shapes. They changed while he slept. Clary looked at him, and all she saw was peace and light. Her stomach filled with warmth.

She was, very simply, in love.

Jace stirred and blinked awake. His tawny eyes shone in the darkness. She kissed his neck, his pulse thrumming beneath her lips. He moved his palm up her bare arm. "You should be sleeping," he said hoarsely.

Clary rolled her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder. "Easy there, grandpa. It's only ten o'clock."

"I'm serious. Can you not sleep with me here?"

Clary trailed her fingers up his chest. "I'm fighting to stay awake." Jace give her a quizzical look. "I want to just...bask in the joy of being with you." She shrugged. "That's it."

"I'm here, Clary," he said. His soft lips brushed her cheek.

"Yes, yes, I know. Forever and ever, and all that jazz. I'm just trying not to get stuck in Wonderland."

Jace ran his fingers across her hair. Her eyes fluttered closed. "Clary...I fell down the rabbit hole with you when I kissed you. I stared the Mad Hatter right in the eye when I told you how I felt. Hell, I gave the Cheshire Cat the finger when I came here. I said, 'Screw the clock and the goddamn rabbit.'" He smiled. "We're not stuck here, Spitfire. We own Wonderland."

Clary kissed his shirtsleeve. "Your words," she said, "they're so perfect. You always know what to say."

"Of course." He smirked. "I'm—"

"If you say anything about being God's gift to humanity, I'll slap you," she warned.

Jace chuckled. "Now can you sleep?"

Clary nodded and settled back down. Jace turned them so that her back was flush to his chest, and his lips were behind her ear. She closed her eyes and didn't think of anything.

Sleep came easily to her.

Simon expected the house to be near-empty. Jace was always who-knows-where doing who-knows-what, and Isabelle's parents were always away.

He let himself in with the code Izzy had made for him. His heart pounded when he thought about it. Things were getting serious. It was almost as if they were moving in together. Almost.

"Izzy?" he called out. He waited.

"Up here!" she yelled a moment later. Simon climbed up the stairs, taking them two at a time. He stepped into her room.

Isabelle was sprawled on top of the bed. Her arm was casually thrown over her forehead, and her lids were shut, obscuring her coal-black eyes. She opened one now to look at him. Simon perched himself precariously on the edge of the bed. "What's up?"

"Jace is gone," Isabelle said.

"Gone?"

Isabelle sat up and pushed her hair out of her eyes. "He went to see Clary."

Clary. He perked up immediately. "Really? Why? Is she okay?"

"She's fine." Isabelle sat up. "But that answers my question. You have a thing for her, don't you?"

Simon's heart stopped. He could feel his eyes widen. "What?"

"I mean, it's to be expected. You've known her for years." Her eyes held pure fire now. "I should've known this was going to happen. After everything I did, I knew this was too good to be true." She buried her face in her hands. Then, Isabelle, strong and fearless Isabelle, started to cry. A lone tear fell down her cheek, cascading into her palm.

"Isabelle..."

"Don't talk," she said firmly.

"No." Simon moved her hands away from her face. "You didn't let me react. No, I don't have feelings for Clary." Isabelle looked up. Her mascara was starting to smudge beneath her lash line.

"You don't?" At that moment, childlike innocence masked her face.

Simon cupped her cheek against his long fingers. "No. I'd be lying if I said I never did. I once believed I loved her so much. I thought we'd be perfect. She just didn't see it, right? But then you came. I took one look at you, and..." He took a deep breath. "...and I fell in love, Izzy. I knew then that what I thought I had with Clary was only a fraction of what I feel with you. Any concern I have for her now is just because she's my sister. I love her in that way."

"You love me?" Isabelle whispered. Simon leaned in and kissed her. He tasted her salty tears along with her usual vanilla.

"I do." He kissed her jaw. "I really do."

She pushed away. "You can't. It's...I'm messed up, Si."

He raised a brow. "You? Messed up?"

"I-I'm clinically depressed." She looked tense. Simon shook his head.

"I don't care," he said firmly. "You're you. Let me ask you this: are you happy with me?"
"That's not even a question," Isabelle scoffed. "I'm elated whenever I'm with you."

Simon pressed his lips to hers once again. "So we're fine."

Isabelle gave a watery smile. She leaned into him, feeling like a small child, resting her shoulder against his chest. She closed her eyes. Love. That was her ultimate cure. "Yeah," she said. "We're fine."

Jace had to admit, Dallas wasn't all that terrible. It was an interesting place. Everything was close. They had grocery stores in the city that weren't small and crappy. It was a tumbleweed sort of place, draped in a certain sleepiness. He saw the light in Clary's eyes when she spoke about the quaint places she found. "And here's the only coffee shop that could put Java Jones to shame."

Jace raised a brow. "I doubt it. Nothing's better."

Clary shoved his shoulder with hers, lacing their fingers together. "Prepare to be destroyed."

"That's a bit dramatic, don't you think?" Jace said while holding the door open. He looked around. "It's a small."

"Not many people know about it," Clary replied. "Sebastian showed me it."

Jace's hand tightened. "What else did he show you?"

Clary rolled her eyes. "You're jealous. It's cute."

Jace snorted. "Cute? I'm a man. Men are not cute."

Clary grinned. "Oh, come on." She pulled him to the line. "Fine. I'll get you something manly, like black coffee."

"Hell no." Jace wrinkled his nose. "That's just disgusting. I'll take a latte."

Clary shrugged. "Your loss." She ordered their drinks, asking for takeaway cups. The barista handed the cups to them in record time, smiling pleasantly. That was also something New York never had.

Jace raised the cup to his lips, taking a long, slow sip. It was excellent. The coffee wasn't overdone, and the milk blended seamlessly with minimal froth. Clary watched him, amused. "It's good, isn't it."

Jace nodded, taking another sip. The flavor exploded in his mouth. "Okay, it's good."

Clary kissed his cheek quickly. "Now, admit I'm always right."

Jace wrapped his arm around her, lifting a brow. "What was that, Sebastian was saying, about your thinking Tampa is in Georgia?"

Clary elbowed his ribs. Hard.

A/N: Well, there it is! Don't forget to review!