A/N: LAST CHAPTER! And a long one at that!

That's all for the moment, catch you guys at the end! Enjoy!

) Chapter 21 (

Several months had flown by; winter had ended as spring rolled into the city. It was entering the summer months when Jace was finally allowed to return to New York. He was led up to the institute with Alec on one side and Robert Lightwood on the other.

Jace remained silent; furious at the whole event and wished for nothing but to be alone. After giving Maryse and Isabelle a simple greeting he disappeared down the corridor.

XxXx

Clary stood on the sidewalk breathing heavily after having just run several blocks across the city in the summer heat. The dark pants she wore clung to her skin as beads of sweat rolled down her back dampening her blouse. Focusing her gaze up at the large building while her heart rate returned to its normal pace. She still deemed it a miracle that she had continued living up to that moment…a thanks to Isabelle for having not let her fall of the deep end. The same woman that had called her only an hour earlier that Jace was back.

Shaking her head she leaned back against the institutes gates—she couldn't do it. Annoyed with the red damp curls sticking to her face she tied it back…How could she face him again…how was she supposed to?

Hearing snippets from Isabelle it turns out her mother had good reason to send her packing out of Idris. Having almost forgotten about her the Clave shifted to a much older matter…the Circle. Bringing in anyone that was once associated with the Circle even successfully finding some of the more recent members. Which resulted in Stefan and Celine Herondale's past pulled up into the spotlight and it was done so by interrogating Jace. Though after much wasted time the Clave was once again unable to pin a legitimate crime.

Sighing Clary felt the urge to head back and blow the Clave sky high, it would have been easy had Jocelyn not risked her skin to get her out of the city.

Sliding down to come sitting on the hot pavement she pulled her knees up to her chest. "What to do?"

A shadow fell blocking out the sun, "Clary?"

Lifting her gaze she found a dark haired man standing over her, "Alec!" Glancing around she searched for an escape, "Um I was just-."

He smirked, "Nice try." Bending down he took hold of her wrist pulling her up, "Come on. I'm positive you're not just sitting out here catching some sun."

Clary let Alec lead her inside the building and then push her into the elevator. Feeling defeated she leaned against the lift keeping her gaze down, "This might not be a good idea Alec."

Logic told him she was being irrational and decided to question any ways, "What do you mean?"

Running a hand down the side of her face, "I messed up. I made the promise to come back, but broke that promise when I chose a life hidden in Alicante."

He sighed, "Izzy told me that Jocelyn sent you back to New York. I'm sure by now you've grown to understand why she did so."

"I know…"

Reaching the top Alec opened the doors motioning her forward.

"Clary." Walking down the corridor towards them was Isabelle herself modeling a casual outfit; a white knit top accompanied by a pair of dark skinny jeans and her favorite knee high boots.

Alec shoved his hands into the front pockets of his pants as he walked away heading in the opposite direction, "I found her outside internally debating whether to come in."

Clary rolled her eyes, "Alec I told you already…"

Isabelle took her friends hand, "Hey," Having the woman's attention she continued, "He really needs you. I think you'll be the only one to get him to break his silence." She led Clary down the corridor cutting off any further opportunity to argue. Eventually they found their way into the institute's library the only light source coming from the few windows propped open letting in the warm air.

The dark haired woman took a quick scan over the room instantly finding her brother. She pointed up to a shelf running along the wall and there perched like a leopard was Jace. Clary began to move closer as Isabelle began, "Jace it's time to talk."

He kept his gaze glued to the book in front of him, "Izzy…not now."

Losing patience with the man the woman bravely stepped up taking hold of the ladder attached to a rail running along the wall. Seeing one of his legs resting on the object she gave it a hard shake. This captured his attention tearing his gaze away to focus it down below to meet a pair of bright green eyes.

The book in his lap slipped off plummeting ready to make contact with the wooden floor. Isabelle reached out just in time to keep the old text from tearing to pieces.

Placing the book under her arm she set a hand on her friends shoulder, "He's all yours." Giving the girls shoulder a reassuring squeeze Isabelle made her way out placing the large book on a table.

Clary watched her best friend leave taking with her any confidence she had seconds ago. A soft thud from behind brought her out of the slump and turned to see Jace.

She bit down on her bottom lip to keep from breaking down. Physically he looked so different and she could only imagine what kind of emotional damage he now carried from the numerous interrogations. Interrogations most likely comprised of false accusations in an attempt to get Jace to speak the truth. Suddenly the urge to blow up the Clave came back, but once again pushed the thought away.

Now standing inches from him she noticed the bright light in his eyes was gone, dwindling down to a small ember. Wrapping her arms around his now thin frame she buried her face into his chest, "I'm so sorry Jace."

His arms soon came up to hold her, "It's okay."

She shook her head, "No it's not. I messed up."

He held her tighter resting his head against hers, "I'm just glad you're alive."

A few stray tears escaped the corners of her eyes, "I missed you so much Jace. I wasn't sure if you were ever going to come back."

He let her and held her face, losing him self in the emerald pools gazing up at him, "I've missed you Clary. You were on my mind every second of every day since we parted ways at the mansion."

XxXx

Jace was on his back, hands tucked behind his head, staring up through the glass ceiling at the dark night sky. Enjoying the cooling sensation from the grass and finding some relief from the humid summer night. The institute's garden was always his favorite place as a child to disappear from the world. In the past couple weeks he made it a task to escape reality as often as possible and realized that the garden was again his safe haven.

He heard the attic door creak open, he knew who it was but still sat up either way.

Feet from the top Clary grabbed hold of the edge and pulled herself up to sit down for a moment before swinging her legs up onto the small patch of flooring surrounding the entrance. Glancing across the room she could see Jace facing her direction leaning back on his hands.

Stretching across the opening she pulled the latch door up to return it to its closed position. Standing she made her way over to take a seat next to him, placing a kiss on his cheek before resting her forehead against his temple, "Hey you."

He took one of her hands intertwining their fingers, "Hey." Tugging on her arm he motioned for her to move closer. Clary shifted to sit between his legs leaning back against his chest. Choosing not to let her hand go he still wrapped his arms around her waist burying his face into the crook of her neck, "How was work?"

She sighed, "Good, nothing new." Then she smiled, "At least I was able to leave early to change and head over here."

"Didn't have to," He lifted his head to whisper in her ear, "You're beautiful in anything you wear Clary."

She bit her lip fighting the urge to grin while taking a quick glance down at her outfit; the navy blue halter-top, white jean shorts and black flats, "But it's your birthday. I wanted to look nice." Clary moved the hand still holding his to rest it on her pulled up knees.

Jace's free hand brushed her long hair over one shoulder, "You finally let them show."

She simply shrugged knowing that he talked about the marks on her back, "Only for you."

He could catch the slight flush in her cheeks as she occupied herself by tracing little shapes onto the palm of his hand. Her action reminded him, "By the way," He shifted a bit to dig into his pocket, "I believe this belongs to you Cinderella." Bringing the red crystal in front of her.

Clary's eyes lit up, "My stele." Dropping his hand she reached for it; only to have it pulled from her reach.

Jace chuckled at her annoyed expression when she glanced over her shoulder, "Don't give me that look…pay up."

She tilted her head at the statement and he continued, "For keeping it safe of course."

Clary maintained her questioning look for a second until it registered and then she smirked. Turning around completely she grabbed the collar of his shirt pulling him close their face's inches apart, "Is that so."

He arched a brow, "Only seems fair don't you think."

She drew even closer her lips moving up as if to set them on his forehead, trailing them down to brush against his nose and then his lips. Anticipating the second their lips would meet his mouth reached to capture hers and instead was met with the tip of her nose, her lips grazing his chin before trailing along his jaw. Feeling the burning sensation her mouth left behind as she traveled across his skin; stopping at his neck the warmth of her breath causing the spot to shiver. Clary smirked setting her lips against the base of his neck feeling his heart beat through the pulse traveling up the vein resting just under surface of his skin. "Can I have my stele now." She sat back on her heels catching Jace's narrowed gaze. "What?"

This time it was Jace who drew closer a fiery light in his eyes, "You're quite evil Clary."

"How exactly?" her lips fought back a smile; in her attempt to appear innocent of having committed anything wrong.

He shrugged slightly, "You're a tease."

"Am not."

Jace whispered in her ear, "Never figured you would be a liar." One of his hands had trailed up her arm, to rest under her jaw causing her to lean into his open palm. At the same time exposing more of her neck on the other side which he took advantage of by descending his mouth down onto the soft patch of skin behind her ear.

The action caused a wave of heat to explode in her stomach. Clary chewed on her bottom lip overwhelmed by the sensation, "Who's evil now."

His lips quickly shifted to capture hers in a soft kiss. "You asked for it."

Clary raised a brow, "Oh, so it's my fault."

Jace didn't comment again, choosing instead to kiss her this time a bit more passionate. Her hands traveled up his torso to rest at the back of his neck her fingers burying into his hair. One of his hands snaked around her waist to press on the small spot on her lower back. He pulled her closer their bodies making contact; the shift in weight caused them to tumble backwards Clary lying on top of him. The change in position was not enough to break them apart, in fact spurring a heated kiss both working to catch their breath in between the split seconds they would part before once again reclaiming each others lips.

One of Clary's hands had snaked down; after finding what she had been looking for, she smiled in delight. Noticing this he pulled away just enough to keep her close, whispering against her lips, "Why are you all smiley?"

She kissed him one last time and then pushed herself upright answering his question, "I'm just surprised you found this."

He leaned back on his elbows catching sight of the red stele in her hand his eyes widened slightly, "You cheat."

Clary laughed softly, "Oh honey, it's stealth."

Jace playfully narrowed his gaze, "I've fallen for a thief."

She tilted her head smiling, "What a mistake on your part. You can always go find a normal girl."

He rolled his eyes, "Not happening." Wrapping his arms around her waist he pulled her back into his lap and rested his chin on her shoulder. Seeing the stele still in her hand he asked, "Clary…"

A large bell toll broke into the conversation. Clary dug into the pocket of her shorts pulling out her phone smiling, "Well look who turned 23."

"Tell me."

She closed her eyes, "Happy birthday Jace…I love you."

He couldn't fight the grin from appearing on his face nuzzling his nose into her neck, "I love you Clary."

The tower at the church several streets away tolled for the 12th and last time. In the moment that followed Jace felt a crushing pain envelope him whole.

The smile on her face faded as the arms around her waist tightened to a painful point, "Jace?"

He said nothing and instead pressed his forehead hard against her back in an attempt to ward the crushing sensation plaguing his head. Worried Clary tried to loosen his grip around her—but failed, "Jace! What's wrong?"

It was all he heard as all feeling in his body disappeared leaving behind the pounding attack to his head. He opened his eyes for a split second to see her worried face and then his line of vision transitioned into nothing but darkness.

Xx

Laying on the cool ground his hands went up to his head, "Aww man…"

"Sweetie, are you all right?"

His eyes snapped open at the voice he had not heard in over a decade.

A second voice brought him bolting to a sitting position rubbing his eyes, "Celine do I have to remind you that he's not an infant."

The older woman waved a hand away, "Oh Stephen let me be. He will always be my baby."

Jace glanced around at his surroundings and found himself sitting in a clearing of tall grass. Several yards away on a dirt path were his parents, his mother kneeling down. His eyes widened at the sight of a small child scrambling to their feet. The woman than brushed back the child's light hair planting a kiss on their forehead, "Be careful Jace. You know reading a book no matter how good can be a hazard not to mention your defenses are regressed to nothing."

Jace sat dumbfounded in the grass one hand still resting on the side of his head, "Oh by the angel. This is not happening." Seeing that he had control of his limbs he began to wonder, "Is this a dream? Damn should have never had that brandy earlier."

He returned his attention to the trio continuing down the path leading up to a large mansion.

Standing to his feet Jace made his way across the tall grass to catch up to the group. Neither one of them acknowledged his presence or simply even notice he walked along side them. Jace took this opportunity to study the child. Unable to place an age onto the boy considering he had no context of the dream he could conclude that the kid was pint sized maybe just reaching four and a half feet.

Next he glanced over to his mother, the memories he had of her were fuzzy but enough to admire the fact that she was an elegant woman standing at an average height with a long curtain of hair cascading down her back. His father stood next to her calm as always despite the protective aura he emitted that could drive away anything that would want to bring harm to his family.

Unaware the others had stopped at the top of the porch steps Jace almost collided with the large double doors. There arrival was expected as the door swung open revealing an elderly man in uniform, "Ah welcome, please come in." The man shifted out of the doorway, "We've been expecting your arrival if you could follow me to the drawing room."

Inside the large home Jace tailed the group to have a chance to study his surroundings. In his time as a shadowhunter he has entered many wealthy mansions, but this one was one he did not recognize…

"Please make yourselves comfortable my lord will be with you shortly." The man left leaving them to the confines of the large room. Several sets of furniture filled the space while a bay window to his left illuminated the room with the afternoon light.

Jace stood by the window studying the hillside out in the distance when he caught movement from the corner of his eye. Standing close to him also gazing out the window was his younger form. The sound of the doors opening caused both of them to turn.

"Stephen. Celine. Welcome."

Valentine entered the room with his wife at his side. Jace narrowed his gaze at the man for a moment before becoming puzzled at the scene playing in front of him. This dream or whatever it is, was suggesting that he met this man as a child.

As the couple crossed the room to greet his parents," I'm glad you all could join us today." The young boy by this point stood next to his father when Valentine spoke again, "I see you brought your son this time."

"My he's a scrawny one." This new voice came from behind the older man and soon the individual made his appearance. Annoyed Jace mumbled under his breath, "Jonathon."

Valentine waved away his sons comment. "Jonathon, realize that he hasn't trained to be a hunter, it's expected but it can be worked on. Now if you two will accompany me I would like to speak in private."

Celine remained where she stood setting a hand on her son's head, "I would prefer not to leave him behind."

Jocelyn appeared impassive almost depressed and simply led herself out of the room. Valentine paid no attention to her and continued, "He wont be alone, my children will remain as well; I already sent for Sarah, Jocelyn's closest assistant, to come down and keep an eye on them."

Stephen gave his son a curt nod, "We'll return shortly."

Celine smiled, "Yes and don't forget our compromise. You behave like a grown boy and we can go visit the Lightwoods tomorrow."

The boy nodded in understanding and watched his parents leave.

Jace still stood rooted to his own spot by the window when a loud yawn broke the silence.

Jonathon stretched his arms up hearing several of his vertebrae pop releasing the stiffness in his back, "Well I'm out of here, Sebastian will be here soon to spar. Hey sis."

Jace raised a brow as Jonathon continued, "Take care of him. I don't want to be caught hanging around with babies." With that the older boy turned on his heel and walked out.

The fiery red hair situated across the room curled up in a lounge chair was all the confirmation he needed to know he was now looking at young Clary. Jace moved from his spot to stand closer to her, and like the others she did not notice his presence. The girl had in her lap a journal where she currently was busy sketching a drawing. Looking over her shoulder at the book he noticed the oddity in the drawings, they weren't a child's doodles as expected but instead the page was filled with a complex design. Which was not all too surprising considering she is the creator of hundreds of runes.

"Hey."

Jace and young Clary looked up from the drawing to see the young boy standing near them. The girl grasped the book to her chest hiding the contents from view as he motioned to the object, "What are you writing?"

She bit her lip shrugging her shoulders.

The boy raised a brow, "How don't you know what you're writing."

Jace glanced at the girl squirming in her seat, uncomfortable with the situation making the decision to remain silent.

"So you were doing nothing?"

She quickly shook her head; holding the book tighter she lost hold of her black pencil letting it drop to the seat. Jace couldn't help but smirk; the boy had no fear in asking questions.

It was a silent stare down until the boy spoke again, "I don't get you."

Jace had not noticed the space around him changing until it faded into a mahogany blur pulling him into a new scene. He now stood in a conference room appearing in the middle of another conversation; "You've progressed to quite a level, taking into account you began training to become a shadowhunter only a few months ago."

Approaching the large table in the room Jace had to glance twice at the person Valentine was speaking with, as it no longer was the scrawny boy from the first part of the dream. A few months, the child looked like he aged several years, he still maintained a small frame, though he was now built with a hunters body, scars covered his arms while black and blue bruises painted his light skin.

Valentine continued, "Though it appears you are driven by something more than power."

The boy remained unresponsive with an impassive look on his face.

The other man leaned back in his chair, "I figured the discovery of being half an immortal being would be your motive to train. Though it seems that is not the case. Despite your new found abilities it all pales in comparison to something much more dear to you."

Jace set his hands on the table feeling the weight of the conversation sinking down on him as he pondered the thought of an immortal being…

"Did becoming partners with her interest you that much…"

Jace directed his gaze to the young hunter still silent in his chair. It seemed like an eternity until he finally spoke, "I just know what I'm fighting for…"

The space around him began to twist in, straightening out at a new location…a forest trail. The sound of a snapping branch directed his attention to find the young hunter making his way out of the surrounding trees.

A red blur suddenly appeared out of the blue colliding into the boy with enough force to send them both to the ground. Jace glanced at the spot where the boy stood seconds earlier to where he ended at the base of a tree. He grunted under the weight sitting on him, that weight being Clary.

A huge grin plastered on her face, "Jace! Jace my daddy let me out today! Isn't this great!"

Her victim scrunched his forehead, "Yeah that's good, now can you get off. Breathing becoming a little difficult."

Jace remained rooted to the spot, questions running through his mind, "What in the world is going on here?"

The girl now stood on her feet, "What do you want to do today Jace?" As she waited for her friend to get up off the ground she began to ramble off different ideas as she paced back and forth on the trail.

She was so concentrated in her own monologue she was unaware that her friend was up and leaning against the tree, his hands buried into the pockets of his jacket. The young hunter chose to remain silent letting the girl continue conversing away as he watched her, a calm and caring emotion rising up onto his face.

Jace studied the younger version of himself, "Hn, look at him…what a love struck fool. Everything he feels for her is written all over him. Wait…he's me…does that then make me the fool?"

He was not given the chance to answer his own question as the space around him twisted to end with him now standing at the top of a hill.

"Well the angel did say this bond thing is forever."

Not far, Jace caught sight of the same pair now sitting in the grass facing each other.

The young boy raised an eyebrow, "Forever."

"Yeah. So seeing as you're bigger than me anyways the only place you would need a look out for is your heart."

"My heart?"

Interested Jace moved closer. Clary playfully rolled her eyes, "Yeah are you deaf you keep repeating the end of my sentences. It's to make sure you never forget who you are even if some girl comes along to take it. I want to be sure it will always be safe because you're my partner." She gently smiled up at him, "Okay come on we're losing light."

Jace watched his younger self pull off their shirt as the girl inched closer to then began drawing out a rune on his chest. He felt his legs go weak when seeing the complete rune, which he instantly recognized as the mark of the angels bond.

A hand went up to his chest, "It's not possible." The rune glowed, illuminating the design carved into the skin for a couple seconds and then the light faded. Jace shook his head, "No it can't be, and this is just a dream. Something that the mind conjures to sometimes reveal what we…"

The scene changed once more, dropping him into the living room of his old home in Idris. His eyes widened in surprise at catching sight of the warlock Magnus Bane. Who calmly sat in one of the large chairs, "Wait one second…"

He stopped seeing the young hunter enter the room his mother rising from her seat, "Sweetie. Please understand that we do love you…and we know how much she means to you, but you're going to have to say goodbye.

Jace backed up colliding with the wall, "By the angel…what is this…"

The boy craned his head, "What do you mean?"

He was led over to take a seat between his parents.

Magnus spoke, "Your old enough to handle the truth. So I will tell you what is going to happen. I was commissioned with the task to suppress your memories boy."

The young hunter shook his head, "No you wont."

A stray tear rolled down Celine's face, "I'm so sorry."

A determined look appearing on his face, "No! You will not make me forget who I am!"

Magnus remaining calm spoke again, "I will not."

The boy now held a confused look, "What?"

"I will make you forget the girl."

Jace the only outside witness to the unfolding event held his head, "No this is not real. It is just a dream."

The boy sprung to his feet, "You will do no such thing!"

Celine stood taking her sons face in her hands, "Sweetie listen to me. We have to leave this place. It's not safe anymore."

"Then why make me forget!"

"Jace we know how much you care for Clary, but you have to let her go. We wont leave you behind."

"But…But…"

"It will be easier this way."

Magnus cut in, "It's not permanent. In case you were wondering, there is one thing that will break the seal."

The boy pulled away from his mother frustrated, "Who cares you won't touch my memories."

Stephen until that moment had remained silent but had enough of the argument, "Valentine wants you Jace." He whipped around to face his father; "He used Clary to keep you close. Figuring out that so long as you felt the need to protect her he could use that as an excuse for you to do his bidding. In short you would become one of the pawns he plans to use and destroy our world."

Jace by this point had crumpled to the ground. "No…no…this is not real…it is not real."

Stephen sighed, "Even if after all of this is over you will hate us then so be it, but we will not let you become one of his disposable toy soldiers. We know you Jace, even by knowing this you will still make the decision to protect Clary. Which is why you will forget she ever existed until the time is right or forever."

Defeated the young hunter dropped down to the sofa giving up on the fight.

Seeing the debate blow over, the warlock proceeded with setting down the enchantment. "Following tonight only your parents will know how to break the seal. A confession of true love, at the strike of midnight will degrade it and slowly the memories will return in order of significance."

Jace watched in horror, as the memories were shut away causing everything around him to turn into darkness Jace…Jace…Jace.

Xx

Clary felt her world collapse around her as Jace suddenly fell unconscious, "Jace!" She scrambled from her spot, "Jace!" Still nothing. "Jace please…"

Panic set in as she shifted him onto his back but still no response. She bent down resting her head on his chest, sighing in relief upon hearing a steady heartbeat. One of his arms moved as his face held a look of pain. Clary bolted upright, "Jace Jace!"

His eyes flashed open before squeezing shut once more as he grabbed his head rolling onto his side.

She set the back of her hand over his cheek, "Jace, I'm here."

He took hold of her hand remaining silent. It was not until the pain faded did he slowly open his eyes once more, "What happened?"

"I don't know."

Jace paused to recall the event; "I felt a crushing pain at first and then all of the sudden my whole body went numb before blacking out."

Clary bit her lip worried, "That's it? It seemed like something much worse."

Jace shook his head, "You have no idea."

Her free hand brushed back his hair, "What do you mean?"

"I don't know, after blacking out I was suddenly in a dream. Not just any dream. It's almost as if I went into the past, as I saw myself as a child with my parents." The distant look he held focused on her, "Then I met you Clary."

She raised a brow, "What…that doesn't make any sense. You were only gone for a minute."

Still holding her hand he crossed their fingers as if searching for reassurance, "I'm serious, I met you for the first time. Not at the club last year but a long time ago when we were young."

Of course she remembered, but she wondered how did he suddenly see all of this.

Jace continued, "Your whole family was there. Valentine in particular mentioned how he was impressed by my training…though I don't recall ever encountering him until that night at Versailles."

The gears in her mind turned slowly as she studied the serious look on his face. "You trained with my father?"

He brought the back of her hand to his lips, "He also mentioned I was half of an immortal being…"

That caused the rusty gears in her mind to snap into place, "…an angel."

He gazed at her puzzled, "What?"

Clary sighed, "An angel…Jace do you remember the night of the ball in Idris."

He sat up letting go of her hand, "Yes I remember, why?"

"Well…I actually fell unconscious, just after everyone made it into the portal. It really only took minutes for the lack of oxygen to kill me." She glanced at his questioning expression, "I wasn't supposed to survive the night Jace. I died in that hall."

"And you said I wasn't making any sense."

She slightly smiled, "Simon mentioned to me that you know about who I am physically, half shadowhunter and half angel. It's this supernatural side that refused to let me die despite my deep desire to just fade from this world. This push and pull caused me to get trapped in a realm between life and death."

Jace held a hand up cutting her off, "Wait one second you died…"

Clary shyly looked away, "Wasn't the first time."

His eyes widened a bit and she waved a hand, "Don't give me that look okay. Where was I…oh yes…so I was in the realm and it is there that I encountered your parents Jace."

"My parents?"

She laughed, "Yes your parents, I know what I said. Anyways they were only with me for a short time but it was long enough to revive the determination I needed to end this war. They also told me the reason they were at the manor the day they died by my hand. They told my father he couldn't have you, it was all caused by their attempt to protect you Jace. Protect you from my father, by keeping you away from me."

"No. You can't be serious."

"Does it look like I'm lying to you?"

He looked away focusing his gaze on a potted plant, "So you're telling me that what I just saw, meeting you for the first time, it wasn't a dream it actually happened."

She bit her lip looking down at her hands, "Possibly…"

He turned back to her, "Possibly? What are you still not saying Clary."

She sighed glancing up, trapping her self in a pair of golden pools, "You don't remember because…they erased your memories of me."

Like he couldn't be knocked down any further, the final scene before waking up flooded his mind. So the argument with his parents that he ended up losing was indeed real.

He ran a hand through his hair as she continued, "I was my fathers bait. I oddly enough befriended you, which kept you coming back to the manor. He had a plan to create a pair of powerful shadowhunters using the blood of the angel Ithuriel. In turn giving an individual that was half angel, gaining either an ability or increased skill; the added bonus without the side effects that arise from using demons blood. You already know I'm one of them, having the ability to create new runes as well as being able to channel the angel's energy to heighten my senses. My partner, as my father coined it, was blessed with increased power and speed—that is you Jace."

It all made sense, always figuring that he trained too much and that he was just a natural runner. Not to mention being drawn to her that night at the club, running into a stranger without realizing he already knew her…it all started to fall into place.

"Clary…"

She finally looked up to him, "Yeah."

"If what I just saw were indeed memories of my past then…" Innately his hand went up to rest over his heart, "You drew this…"

Clary smiled, knowing what he meant, "Yes I did." Adjusting her position to sit with her legs crossed she glanced down at her hands again letting her elbows rest on her knees. "When I was probably 6 or 7 I had a dream one night and the angel Ithuriel showed me a rune that could bind two shadowhunters in a permanent bond. The angel also told me that in order for the rune to fulfill its purpose its location on the person had to have a special meaning for the other…By a stroke of luck or your tolerance of me I convinced you to try it with me." She shrugged her shoulders once, "And it worked."

It took a moment to process what she said, "Turn around."

Jace moved her hair to reveal the exposed skin on her back and quickly spotted the mark. Observing it more carefully this time he noticed the style of the rune was different from those surrounding it, but the style was familiar… "I drew this?"

She nodded glancing back attempting to snag a peek of the rune, "Yup."

He smiled, "Looks like I picked a legitimate spot."

Clary turned around to face him again, "Why do you say that?

Jace crossed his arms, "I would always want to make sure I was watching your back."

She rested her head against his shoulder, "That's exactly what you said."

"Really? Wow even then I knew where my priorities laid."

"You sure did."

He took one of her hands in his, "Could you explain mine."

Clary lifted her head spotting the top of his shirt already unbuttoned and then reached to undo a few more. She felt him tense slightly as her fingers grazed his skin to pull the fabric to the side and there where she had put it years ago now surrounded by other runes was the angels bond linking them together. The tip of her index finger traced a small crescent moon incorporated in the design, "I'm not sure how much you remember. Then and even now your strength surpasses anything I could ever hope to achieve. So I picked a spot only I could watch over—your heart. Even the most ruthless shadowhunter can lose sight of who they are in the attempt to achieve great things. By drawing the rune here I promised myself to make sure you never forgot who you were even when you met someone and fell in love. To be sure you wouldn't change anything about who you are for them."

She dropped her hand and gaze to the space on the floor between them, "I broke that promise the night your parents died. I shut you away, forgetting who I was, becoming the crumpled soul you met before the ball. Whenever we spent time together you brought back the memories of the traumatic event. Only serving as a painful reminder of what I had done as well as forgetting who you were to me. I didn't deserve you and then tried pushing you away, my other half. Once again breaking the promise to always watch out for you. Even with your memories gone you still looked for me even after knowing the truth about me. Proof that you're stronger in spirit than I can ever be…"

Jace lifted her chin to get her to look at him, "Are you trying to push me away again?"

The corners of her lips tilted up, "I think I can keep pushing you away and you'll still come back."

He raised a brow at her, "Glad you finally came to terms with that fact…you're not getting rid of me that easily Clary. Plus I don't think you what me to leave."

She softly laughed, shaking her head, "Your right. I want to keep you right here with me."

Jace tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear his fingers lingering on her neck, "So considering the rune worked…we're bound forever."

"Yeah, whether we agree with the bond or not."

He shrugged setting his hand at the nape of her neck drawing her closer, "As long as it's with you I could care less what kind of bond this is or how long it will last."

She held a sincere look, "Forever is a long time Jace, and things have a way of changing, life changes, what if we drift apart with no intentions of ever crossing paths again."

"We've always crossed paths, you were just never aware fearless…"

"Fearless?"

He smirked, "Let's see if this refreshes your memory at all…another day has arisen and set…with the sun dipping behind the lush hillside…the full moon rose by a pulley into the night sky…a heartless girl wanders the sleeping city looking for redemption…"

Clary now stared at him wide eyed for a second, "...Some say her heart was torn from her…"

"By the people she tried to protect and failed…"

She glanced down closing her eyes, "The moonlight shines down on her as she walks alone…"

He leaned his forehead against hers, "Looking for something that would almost seen impossible to find…"

She could feel herself getting lost in the poem, "Forgiveness…"

"Acceptance…"

"Love…" One of her hands reached up to wrap around his wrist, "Demon heart…"

He smiled, "Who else."

She opened her eyes to look into his, "It's you." She couldn't believe it, "It's always been you."

He shrugged, "It appears so." He inched closer his lips hovered over hers, "Question then, do you still love me?"

"Of course I do."

His mouth moved across her jawbone trailing down her neck. "Not like how you love Isabelle or Simon." He paused over the rune tying them together.

"…Yes much more than that." She felt him smile against the skin on her shoulder.

His lips reappeared centimeters above hers, "Then you have nothing to worry about because I've always known what I've been fighting for…you Clary. Nothing and I repeat nothing will ever take your place in my heart—bonded or not." The tips of his fingers caressed her cheek.

Her emerald eyes locked with his golden ones, "I love you Jace."

Whispering against her lips, "I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there's a life after that, I'll love you then."

A/N: OMG! It's the end! Never believed since restarting the story I would actually make it to the very last chapter. Hope you all enjoyed a very long chapter! Nice treat don't you think. I did my very best to tie up the many loose ends and questions that appeared through the story: like her stele, them being online friends, Magnus' involvement with Jace, etc.

If anyone recognizes that last quote you obviously know it's not mine. It really isn't, it belongs to Cassandra Clare, but it was just wonderful I couldn't help but included it in the story. The same meaning it portrayed in the series happened to appear in this story. So I included it :)

Now on to what I consider a very important contribution to this story. All the reader support: favorites, follows and reviews! Thank you all so much for the continued support of this story. It would have never been finished without it. As for all of you who reviewed, know that you all will have a special place in my writer's heart (haha just came up with term) your comments overall motivated me to not only work on this story but to strive and become a better writer.

Thank you again everyone! We made it to the end! Yay!

I'm thinking of potentially starting a new fanfic for the mortal instruments. So if you liked this one and are interested in some new story my frazzled mind tends to spit out, keep an eye out!

Till next time! Bye!

Edited: February 10, 2013