Once again I am so very sorry for this super long wait but hopefully it'll be worth while. Also two things I want to quickly address

1) HOLY SMOCKS I GOT OVER 1,000 REVIEWS! THAT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I am so happy and soo grateful I love you guys so much and I adore everything you have to say.

2) So a super long time ago someone mentioned in their review that it was their birthday and I TOTALLY forgot to mention it (i have the worst memory ever) but HAAPPPPY BIRTHDAY! XXXX Happy birthday to anyone that reads this and has a birthday today or coming up at any time.

YAYY! Okay here you go lovelies:

Clary stared at the ceiling of Jace's bedroom while Jace was at the gym with Alec. The white carpet was rough on her shoulder but she didn't care, she was strangely content on the floor and it was easier to think about her mom when she was uncomfortable and annoyed.

Mom. Can she even call her that? Obviously Jocelyn gave birth to her, but a mother is someone who loves their child more than they love themselves, someone who will do anything and everything to protect them. Jocelyn only seemed to care about herself.

But then why did Clary feel so guilty?

She didn't bother looking over when she heard the doorknob turn and the door open, knowing it was Jace.

"Hi?" Jace stated but it sounded more like a question than a greeting. Clary kept her eyes on the ceiling but lifted her hand and gave a little wave. "Why are you laying on my floor?"

"The real question," Clary answered still looking at the ceiling, "is why aren't you?"

Jace stood there and pondered this for a second before putting his gym bag down and lying next to Clary on the floor. He laid quietly for a second before saying, "I don't get it." Truth is she didn't get it either.

"Shhhhh," Clary put a finger to his lips then readjusted so her head was resting on his stomach.

"Did you only want me to lay here so you could use my stomach as a pillow for your ceiling gazing?"

Clary just smiled and replied, "I can neither deny nor confirm that statement." Jace chuckled in response as he lazily ran his fingers through her hair.

They lay there quietly for a minute before Clary said, "I didn't even give her a chance."

Jace didn't have to bother asking what she meant. It's been a few days since Clary had lunch with her mom and she refuses to talk about it with anyone. Whenever Jace asks her about it she just says she doesn't want to talk about it or that it didn't go well, and eventually Jace learned not to pry, knowing shell talk about it when she was ready.

"I don't know in the moment it sounded like she was making excuses and everything she was saying was a complete lie," Clary stammered, "but thinking about it now it actually makes sense. It's like I'm trying to convince myself that what she said was just bs but I realize I barley even let her talk."

"Well Clary, you went in there mad and knowing that you didn't really want to accept anything she was saying. You had every right to be angry, but if you go into something expecting to be disappointed, you're going to be."

Clary sighed, "I know you're right and I should just get over myself and talk to her maturely but every time I see her face its like I'm taken back to that night and it just keeps playing over and over in my head and it makes me absolutely insane." Clary didn't realize she was rambling until she finished her sentence and was basically gasping for air.

"Look baby," Jace said while sitting up and bringing Clary with him so he was cradling her on his chest, "you don't have to do anything you don't want to. If you want to talk to her then go do it, and if you don't then don't. You didn't promise to become her best friend, you just agreed to lunch with her, which is what you did. Stop feeling so guilty, this stuff takes time and when you're ready I promise you everything will fall into place, okay?"

Clary nodded and snuggled deeper into his chest, "Yeah, you're right."

"I'm always right," Jace smirked as Clary lightly smacked him on his shoulder.

XXXXXXXX

"Clary?" Clary jumped and whipped around with her hand over her heart.

"Maryse you scared me!" Maryse smiled a little and replied nervously, "sorry dear, I didn't mean to scare you."

Clary just smiled, "That's okay," she turned back around to continue her search for chips in the closet, "I just didn't hear you come in."

"Can I ask you a question?" Maryse asked hesitantly.

Clary grabbed the Doritos and turned around smiling, "You just did," but stopped smiling when she saw that Maryse wasn't laughing.
"It's kind of serious," Maryse quaked.

"Maryse, you're scaring me."

"It's about your father," she acted like she didn't even hear Clary. Clary crossed her arms over her chest, accidently crunching the bag of chips into her.

She raised her eyebrows waiting for the question but Maryse just stared at her expectantly, "What about him?"

"I don't know, I was just wondering about him. All I know is your mother left because of him, and when I try to question it she just shakes it off and says it's too personal. I thought maybe it was something like infidelity or addiction or something, but she just denies everything. Also you are here all the time, of course I don't mind at all because you are always welcome, but isn't he mad that you're never home? You rarely ever talk about him and when we bring him up you give simple and vague answers and then immediately change the topic. It's all just a bit strange."

It took every ounce of Clary's willpower to not show any emotion towards what Maryse was saying. She made sure to mask the shock and fear and remain impassive. "I'm still waiting for the question."

Maryse continued ignoring Clary, "Also, I heard about what happened with the police, how they came to your house because they heard screaming and

fighting-"

"That whole thing was ridiculous. Nothing happened, plus our house is very far back from compared to all our neighbors so even if there was yelling the neighbors could not have heard it."

Maryse didn't look like she was buying any of it, "It must've been some very loud yelling then."

"I still don't know what you're trying to ask he-"

"Clarissa, are you safe? Are you in anyway in danger because if you are I need to know now."

"If I was in danger don't you think I would be more open to my mother coming home?"

"I suppose so bu-"

"And if I was in danger then don't you think the police would have taken him or me away that night? Or I would be living with my brother? Or-"

Maryse cut Clary off, "Clary do you know what I do for a living?"

Clary was taken back by this, "Yes, you're a psychiatrist."

"Are you aware that you have been tapping your foot and that your hands have been shaking since I mentioned your dad?"

"What does that have to do with anythi-"

"It's very subtle but it is my job to notice those little types of things. Your actions prove that you are nervous and afraid and I don't understand why you'd feel that way unless there was something to hide. So tell me Clary, is there something to hide?"

Clary clenched her jaw and bit her lip. "Last time I checked," she hissed, "I was your son's girlfriend, not a client."

"Clary I'm just trying to help-"

"Well stop!" Clary bellowed. "What goes on in my life is none of your concern, and if I wanted or needed your help I would've asked for it. But since I don't, would you please just leave me alone?"

Suddenly Jace appeared, "Damn girl did you get lost? It's been like ten minutes I thought you were getting chips not baking brownies."

"Sorry, I was too busy being interrogated," Clary replied. Jace lifted his eyebrows questionably but Clary just kept her eyes on Maryse. "There are some things in life you just need to just accept," she whispered, "trust me Maryse, this isn't a line you want to cross. Just let it go."

On that note, Clary turned around and handed the chips to Jace, "You know what? It's late, I should get going."

Jace took a step back in surprise, "But I thought you were spending the night here?"

"I feel like it's been forever since I've been home, I think it's best if I spend the night there tonight. I'll call you when I get there." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before heading out the door.

"Are you sure?" He asked but before he could even finish his sentence she was out the door. He turned to go follow her but saw she was too far ahead for him to catch up now.

He stared in confusion before turning back to his mom who took the chips out of his hand and threw them back in the closet, "Don't spoil your dinner."

"What did you say to her?" Jace asked but Maryse was rambling about chicken or steak so Jace repeated it louder.

"Don't you dare use that tone with me mister," she barked but replied in a calmer voice, "she's hiding something Jace. I don't know who she's trying to protect but something is going on there and I'm going to figure out what."

"Mom I don't know what you're talking abou-"

"A collapsed lung from getting kicked while playing soccer? If that could actually happen you would've been dead years ago."

"She's more fragile then I am of course it would affect her more than me-"

"Jace think about it: she is here constantly and her dad never seems to care, her mother completely abandons her when she's a little girl and nobody explains why, not to mention she's skinnier than a stick an-"

"Mom! This is absolutely none of your business so will you just leave my girlfriend alone? Please?"

Maryse studied him for a second before saying, "You know what it is don't you?"

"Mom I don't know anything because there isn't anything to know."

She just shrugs, "Fine whatever. But when the big secret is revealed don't come crying to me unless you want to hear a big fat I told you so."

Jace just rolled his eyes and ran upstairs while Maryse threw on her apron and started to defrost the chicken.

I hope you enjoyed, review and let me know what you think! Love you all :*