A/N: It's been ages, I know! Forgive me? Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 25

Simon stretched and let out a sigh. Alec's training session had started out simply but had quickly progressed into something much more difficult.

At first, he had simply been firing arrows at the targets but towards the end of his training session Alec had him ducking and turning and rolling all while firing arrows.

He'd tried to copy Alec and tried to follow the instructions he was given but it hadn't been easy – and it had been much more than just difficult. He'd broken two of the arrows trying to pull them from the quiver while he rolled, the arrows had slipped out of the quiver several times – Alec had said this was because he wasn't doing things correctly – and he'd slipped from a crouch several times.

"Maybe being a Shadowhunter wasn't the best choice," he mumbled to himself as he left his room.

"What was that?" Clary asked, appearing behind Simon.

Simon jumped and spun around. "I was just saying... nothing," he said, shaking off the question and walking down the hall. He knew Clary would be persistent though and he knew he was right when she followed him. Despite the fact that she was five – almost six – months pregnant, she still seemed to be able to move pretty quickly. Simon decided it was due to the fact she was used to being a Shadowhunter.

"Slow down Clary... we don't need you falling over," Simon said.

"I would slow down if you would," Clary replied.

Simon sighed and slowed his pace. Clary easily fell into step beside him.

"So what were you saying? Are you regretting being a Shadowhunter?"

"No... I don't think so. I just don't seem to be made for this stuff... I can shoot an arrow at a still target but I'm not that great at hitting a moving target, especially when I have to roll and duck and twist and turn... I didn't think it was going to be this bad," Simon explained, running a hand through his hair as he came to a stop and propped himself up against the wall.

"Training isn't easy Simon. It's going to get complicated and it may take time for you to master things but you were made to do this. You may not have been born into a Shadowhunter family like most of us were but you've saved people so many times and you've got the skills to do this. Just take it slow, practice and you'll get it," Clary said, resting a hand over her stomach as she leaned beside Simon.

"You're saying that because you can do this," Simon said.

"No I'm not Simon. I've been in your position before... a similar position anyway. I've been through those stages of training and I know how difficult it can seem but it gets easier. I can't shoot an arrow to save my life... well... I could I guess but my aim isn't so great. Just ask Alec... you'll get this Simon. You'll be a great Shadowhunter."

Simon let out a small laugh and looked down at Clary beside him. "Enough talk about that... I get it... I'm just annoyed I guess... anyway, what about you? Have you and Jace come up with a name for your daughter?"

"We have," Clary said with a smile, her entire attitude changing as the attention turned to her unborn baby. "We've decided to call her Alexis Celine. I wanted her to be named after Jace's mother and I settled on the name Alexis for two reasons... one is the fact that it means warrior or something like that and the other reason is that it has the name Alex in it, which is pretty close to Alec and Alec means a lot to Jace."

"That's sweet," Simon said. "Do you know when you're due?"

"Sometime in early January I think," Clary replied. "Although you never know... she could be born early... or late... that would suck..."

"It would?" Simon asked.

"Yes, of course it would!" Clary replied, raising her voice slightly before lowering it again. "Being pregnant has its drawbacks Simon. I'm emotional, I have to pee all the time, especially when she kicks, my back is starting to hurt and on top of all that, I look fat," she continued, a frown appearing on her face.

"You're not fat," Jace's voice echoed down the hall. "You're beautiful."

Clary turned and smiled slightly at Jace but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"And do you have any idea how long it will be before I can go hunting demons again? I'll have to catch up on training so I can run and move the way I could before and I'll also have to look after Alexis here for a while... I might not be able to hunt demons again until she's getting her own runes..."

"Don't be silly Clary... you'll be back to hunting demons in no time. There are plenty of people who would be happy to babysit our daughter," Jace said, brushing a lock of hair away from Clary's face and tucking it behind her ear.

"It will be just like it was before, except eventually we'll have Simon with us," Isabelle added, coming down the hall.

"And I honestly never thought I'd see the day you cried because you thought you wouldn't be able to hunt demons," Alec added, walking in behind his sister.

"Shut up Alec," Clary said, brushing a stray tear from her face.

"Exactly, shut up Alec," Jace said, wrapping his arms around Clary.

Alec just raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"You know... all we need is Magnus and we could have a party... party in the hall, raise the roof!" Jace said, laughing.

Simon choked back a laugh as the Shadowhunters surrounding him laughed.

"You always know how to lighten the mood Jace," Isabelle laughed.

"I know... on second thought though, maybe we shouldn't get Magnus here... he'll cover this place in glitter... he's crazy enough to do something like that," Jace said.

"Hey!" Alec exclaimed.

"What? He is crazy like that," Jace said with a shrug.

"I'd shut up if I were you, he'll be your brother-in-law soon," Isabelle said.

"Izzy!" Alec said, staring at his sister.

Simon stared at Isabelle as well.

"I know Alec likes Magnus but he could end up liking someone else," Jace said, although he tone suggested he was joking.

"You're engaged?" Clary asked.

Simon spun around to look at Clary and noticed her gaze lock on Alec's hand. He followed her gaze and saw the band on the older Shadowhunter's finger and his eyes widened.

"Well... that was not how I planned to tell everyone..." Alec muttered.

"Sorry..." Isabelle said.

"You told Isabelle before me?" Jace asked, feigning emotional pain.

"Shut up Jace... I was getting around to tell everyone," Alec said, a blush appearing in his cheeks.

"Well... I guess a congratulations is in order," Clary said.

"Yeah," Jace said. "I'm happy for you."

Alec simply smiled and his posture made it evident that he clearly wasn't comfortable with the conversation so, despite the fact Alec wasn't his favourite Shadowhunter in the institute, Simon decided to change the subject.

"Anyway... Clary and Jace have decided on a name for their daughter," Simon said and turned to see Clary smiling again. Any mention of her daughter seemed to bring a smile to her face and her happiness was contagious.

"What did you decided to name her?" Isabelle asked.

"Alexis Celine," Jace said with a smile as he placed his hand over Clary's stomach.

"Celine? After your mother?" Isabelle asked.

"Yeah," Jace said.

"And Alexis for two reasons... the meaning and the fact that, in a way, it's similar to Alec's name... part of your name is in her name," Clary said, smiling at Alec.

Alec smiled back and the uncomfortable air that had recently surrounded him disappeared as they continued their conversation.

-o-O-o-

"Clary!" Isabelle shouted, her voice echoing down the hall of the institute. "Clary where are you?"

Clary sighed and put down her paintbrush and turned around just in time to see Isabelle walk past the room.

She only waited a second before she saw Isabelle again.

"There you are!" she said, walking in.

"What's up Isabelle?" Clary asked.

"I just wanted to show you something. I went out earlier today and bought a few things for my niece."

"I haven't even gone shopping for anything yet... shoot," Clary said, placing a hand over her stomach as she looked up at Isabelle.

"Well lucky for you, I did... it's not much, but there are a couple of things. You'll need a lot more than what I've bought," Isabelle smiled and handed Clary the bag. "Have a look."

Clary smiled slightly and opened the bag. "This is adorable Izzy," Clary said, pulling out one of the outfits – a little pink one-piece that said 'princess.' "And it's so tiny!"

"I swear I don't even recognize you right now Clary," Isabelle said with a laugh. "And thank you... Jace is always calling your unborn daughter a princess so when I saw that, I had to get it."

"I wouldn't be surprised if Jace saw it and decided to write the word 'warrior' on it so it said 'warrior princess'" Clary laughed.

Clary continued to go through the bag until she had pulled everything out. "Thank you Izzy... I'm sure you're going to end up spoiling your niece... she'll be one lucky Shadowhunter."

"Yep," Isabelle smiled. "I'll get her whatever she wants – clothes, make-up, heels –"

"My daughter is not wearing heels or make-up until she is at least fifteen," Clary said, cutting Isabelle off.

"Aww... why?"

"Because she's my daughter and I said so."

"You can't tell me you didn't wear make-up before you were fifteen," Isabelle said, folding her arms.

"Well... I didn't have a lot. I had lip-gloss and that's about it. Enough of this... she's not even born yet," Clary said, waving off the conversation as she packed things back into the bag.

"Fine," Isabelle said. "I'll go bug my brother about his wedding," she added after a moment, a little more excited as she left the room.

Clary shrugged and moved the bag to the side so she could finish the painting she was doing for her daughter's room.

A/N: I know, I know... it's shorter than usual... I was having trouble coming up with an ending for this chapter and it's been a while since I update and I had to get this out... I'll try to make the next chapter longer to make up for it! Review Please! xx