Enjoy.
Disclaimer/ Cassie Claire owns.
My arm hanged off the couch and my mouth gnawed wide open, I could hear myself snoring that's what it was like to be a mum. You could never really sleep or find ease because everything revolved around the little human, who always slept peacefully offcourse.
Malachi crooned away in his bed like an angel, something he hadn't been lately. He was being fussy about everything that he could be fussy about, only because he was at the stage where little pearls of teeth were budding their way out in his mouth, he was beginning to sit by himself and he was chasing everything he could grab a hold off so momentary he was ruling my life and I loved every moment of it.
I heard a faint knock on the door my face frowned; the one person I was waiting for to arrive didn't need to knock. The knock got louder, "ugh" I grumbled quietly getting up. If it was Isabelle I was going to slap her. Dragging my feet to the door, I opened it with the sourest look on my face.
A woman stood on the hood of the door. A mass of dull pale blond hair piled on top of her head, her body leathered in a sophisticated expansive suit and in her gray eyes I could see a reflection of me, looking strained and as white as a sheet against my flamed red hair.
"Imogen" I bubbled, "Professor Herondale" I corrected myself quickly using her work name. "Clarissa" Imogen she greeted me sternly, looking around. I looked around us, up and down. "Am I going to get invited in" she lifted her hands. "Yes, sorry please come in" I moved out of the way. Just the way she carried herself intimidated me to the core of my bones, but mostly because she never approved of my child or me.
Closing the door behind her, I rushed in the apartment picking toys, and bottles. "Sorry it's a bit of a mess in here", she nodded as she proceeded to follow me. "Please sit" I pointed to the couch, I wouldn't say the place was that dirty but to her she probably would have thought so.
Quickly running my hands in my hair I sat across from her. "Can I get you anything to drink" I asked nervously. "No thank you" she muttered.
"Relax, child I don't bite I can see the fear in your eyes". I nodded my head not sure how to reply; I wasn't sure why she was here really either.
She never liked me. Ever. Well that's how she perceived things. Since Malachi's birth she had seen him three times, and in those three times she had held him for less than 3 minutes. The only good thing I know she had done was try help Jace with custody, if I had lost my life that was, and if she wanted to know about Malachi's health she only asked Jace and that never ended well between them.
"How is Malachi" she asked now, her eyes straying to the cot were he lay asleep. "His great" I mumbled, silencing myself. "His really great, he is a troublemaker around here now, starting to move on his belly and teething" I smiled.
"I have this for you" she said pulling out a plain white A4 envelop and not asking any more questions. "You may or may not want to see what's inside, but it may give you and everyone a piece of mind around here". Without asking further questions I knew what was in the envelope, I just didn't know who had administered it now, possibly Jace going back on his word and getting Imogen to do his dirty work. Standing I took the folder from her but took no interest in finding out its contents.
"Have you looked inside" I asked Imogen. "I do what I can to protect my family Clarissa, but no" she shook her head. "So" I whispered, and dragged my feet back onto the couch. "So what, so why give it to you" Imogen says for me. "Yes" I look up I really didn't need it. "That's up to you" Imogen said standing up. "Up to me" I asked shaking my head slightly.
She made her way to the baby's cot and looked down at Malachi. Then her hand raised slowly and she stroked his cheek. "There's no denying it" she whispered.
"Why are you doing this" I asked her. "That's what I do dear, I do things that only make sense to me, you shouldn't have anything to worry about should you" her eyebrows shot up her forehead, I wasn't sure why she was so against me. Giving the child another look, she turned and headed away.
I sat there holding the envelope, contemplating on what to do, I didn't need this right now. I didn't need to be questioned I didn't hold Jace's life here, did I? No I don't think so, I looked up at my sleeping son.
I mean the last 6 months had been crazy, not easy. The late nights nursing, burping and memory losses but this was a blow I didn't need I would never have lied to Jace. I put the envelope down and crossed my arm's, this is what she wanted to break me.
I stayed in my thoughts for a long time contemplating different situations, most of them revolving how I could escape Idris, leave and start free back home in New york. But the other part knew how much Jace would object, he had sacrificed a lot for Malachi though he never said so I saw it in him. He often said it was what truly grounded and made him happy I couldn't break his heart could I, I cared to much to do so.
That's why I had moved out of home, so he can be with him more often but also I wanted space, and because Jon was still repelled by the sight of Jace do not start me on that topic. All my hopes of taking a nap had gone away now. I stood and carefully lifted the sleeping boy and descended up the stairs. He crumpled around in my arms and I paused before we entered his nursery.
"Shhh" I muttered quietly rocking him up and down. "Your okay, mummy's here" I crooned. "Shhh" I crooned some more brushing the small droplets of sweat into his thick blonde curls. I appreciated moments as these, just holding and knowing he was mine, being thankful I hadn't given up on him all those months ago.
Looking down I saw his breathing had slowed and his head lolled on my shoulder I carefully placed him back into his crib, and walked over to were I left the envelope his grandmother left earlier.
I placed the envelope on the side and went on to picking things lying around on the floor. I end up cleaning the whole house trying to keep my mind away from the letter. I really loved the place, Isabelle had helped to pick it with Jace's approval offcourse, just the distance.
It was small and cosy, and down the street from where Jace lived. It was either this or, move in with him really. When I returned upstairs I found Malachi squirming about in bed fully awake now. "Look who's awake" I muttered, getting his head to turn towards me.
The moment he spotted me his eyes popped and lightened. He bobbled his head up some more some he could look at me. "Who's my boy" I muttered squirming towards him, "Who's my boy" I repeated smiling. It was our game I would call him and tickle his sides. Each time he would squint his eyes and show his toothless smile, that was now changing his was growing.
"You're really good with him, even when you look worn out".
"His my son, so I have to be " I half smiled. "I wouldn't say the say for you" I mumbled.
"What" Jace sounded gobsmacked enlarging his eye's. As I turned my head slightly and smirked at him, remembering his little incident some weeks ago when he babysat alone for the first time. "You promised to not speak of that ever". I look at him grabbing Malachi for a bath.
"I know" I mumbled, but the events of the day catch up to me. I walk out of the room to the bathroom where I had set up his bath earlier. "So how's today been" Jace asked following behind me. "Great" I told him not turning around, his presence came with the realisation of the envelope that still lay on top of the kitchen bench.
"Just great" Jace quizzed some more. "Yeah, really great" I mumbled a reply taking Malachi's clothes off. I gave him a quick bath and moved back to his room to dress him. I could not concentrate with Jace trailing behind me and finding ways to help when I didn't need his help.
"Please elaborate" he whispered as I put Malachi in his play pen. I looked at him sternly then quickly turned to look away, and handing Malachi a toy to entertain himself. "It was great Jace, same stuff as usual, chase the baby, feed the baby, try sleep and have unusual visitors and the whole lot" I breathed hard.
"Unusual visitors" he whispered, coming closer. I looked up at him and realised what I had said, I was planning on not mentioning his grandmothers visit until I had done my own investigation. "Yes, and maybe" I played it coy.
"Yes or maybe, you had an unusual visitor … Clary" he said, "are … are you like in some type of danger".
"Maybe you should redirect that question, is your son in danger, and no his not" I spiked back; his presence was annoying me the further he stood there. This was another thing lately I was always clippie when it came to Jace.
"I was not trying to pick a fight" he muttered lifting his hands. "Neither was I".
"Then why do you sound angry at me, when I ask for your safety I truly do care, it wouldn't make sense if I only asked for Malachi's safety without knowing if his mother was safe too, it's the same when I ask if his happy I want to know if you are too" he looked at me.
"Well I am fine, and we are okay" I whispered trying to lower my voice, but he just moved closer to me spiking breathing.
"Then what's this all about" he asks rolling his eyes. "You" I yell.
"Everything is about you Jace, you're the reason for everything" my voice burst at him, I couldn't hold it any longer. His face lost the colour from my outburst.
"Is this a bad time, did I come on a bad day because I don't see how anything is about me, I am just concerned about you" Jace looked side ways as he spoke through his teeth. "Well don't be" I stomped picking my child and making my way down stairs. "What's going on". I put Malachi down again when I got down stairs, Jace walked over to pick him up. "Don't" I muttered sternly. "Don't you dare touch him".
"What now I can not pick my son up". "No, not when I don't trust you and your intentions".
"What intentions" Jace asked. "Don't be coy Jonathan, getting your grandma to do your dirty deeds for you is not on" I grinded my teeth.
"Please enlighten me what dirty deeds, I have not even spoken to Imogen in a while".
"Then what is this" I waved the envelope in my hands, "do you honestly think I am lying still, I told you I could handle this on my own".
"You're not handling anything, you're yelling" he muttered running a hand in his hair, which needed a trim. "And your lying" I yelled a tear streaking my eye. It was safe to say my period was close too.
I didn't know how things happened in the moments that followed, but Jace's towering figure was over me, his hands around my waist moving me back against the kitchen counter way too fast. My body surrendered as my hands moved behind his neck welcoming him into my presence, his lips met mine moving too fast against mine it was like he was hungry and I was too, and I could feel the tension releasing.
Before I knew it I was being lifted onto the counter, my legs wrapped themselves around him. A small squeak brought me back to my senses making me push Jace away and quickly lower myself on the ground.
I looked away to fix myself whilst he done the same. Without another word, I picked the envelope from where I dropped it moments ago. "This was all, you can open it or not I don't care" I whispered, taking my keys and Malachi. I could not face to look at him, because I wasn't sure what had just happened, and for the most part of it I enjoyed it.
It was a path I had managed to void for months and I wasn't about to change that now.
Alriteo i hope you like this chapter guys.
Remember to review to, i kinda missed your reviews on the last chapter means a lot.