Chapter Twenty Six:

Clary POV:

Girls day turned out to be a big success. After pleading with Kelly for 30 minutes she finally gave in and let me spoil her for the day. I knew I could get her to cave, and Arden and McKenzie really helped. We were almost done with out shopping spree when I got a phone call.

"Hey babe. What's up?"

"We just finished our sound check. I can't wait to see you tonight."

"I can't wait either." I was carrying some clothes up to the register where the rest of our belongings were. It was going to be a very expensive tip but I didn't mind. I loved spending my money on my children, its all worth it.

"How has girls day been?"

"Wonderful. It was really nice to have Kelly along for the trip."

"How long did it take you to bribe her into letting you pay for everything?"

"It took about 30 minutes, but I did it."

"I knew you could. So how many people will be coming with you tonight? I need to give security a number."

"There will only be six of us."

"Alright. Sounds good." The girls came up to me and asked who I was talking to, I mouthed your father and Arden snatched the phone.

"Hi daddy."

"Hey baby, how is your day with mom?"

"Great! She has a surprise for us later! We're picking out our outfits now!" She sounded so excited. "When are you coming home dad? I miss you."

"I'll be home sooner than you think. I miss you guys too. I have a show tonight, but I love you Arden. Tell McKenzie and Kelly I love them too. Can I speak to your mom again?" She handed the phone over to me.

"Dad told me to tell you guys that he loves you." She said to Kelly and McKenzie. Kelly looked shocked.

"Hey."

"I can't wait to see them tonight. She sounds so excited."

"Me either. But I have to go. We're almost ready to check out. And we have a lot of shit. I love you. Good luck tonight."

"I love you too Clare. I'll see you soon." I hung up the phone and couldn't help but smile. After 4 long months I was finally going to be seeing him again.

After we checked out we made our way to the parking lot where my car no longer was, but there was a limo.

"Mom, what's going on?" Arden asks.

"This is part of the surprise. Get in." When I opened the door they got in and saw their friends and started screaming. Their friends had no idea where we were going either, so everyone was super excited. We were in the limo for about an hour when we pulled up to the venue.

"Are we at a concert mom?"

"You bet we are!"

"Who is it?" Arden's best friend Tori asked.

"You'll see soon enough." I walk up to the side door and tell the security guard who I am and he lets me in immediately. We are almost at our destination when Arden screams.

"Dad!" Jace turns around and smiles as Arden and McKenzie run towards him.

"Hey baby. I've missed you both so much." He hugs and kisses them both. And then it's my turn. "God I've missed you so much Clare."

"I've missed you too babe." I kissed him and we got a little carried away until we pulled away listening to Arden fake a gag. "Well guys, grab your tickets from your father and go get your seats." They all scream as Kelly stays behind with me.

"Did you enjoy today Kelly?"

"I had a lot of fun Mrs. Herondale. Thank you so much for inviting me. I never got to experience this kind of stuff with my mom before. Most of the time we barely had money for food."

"I know what that's like. My first foster home barely fed us anything."

"You were in foster care?" She asked surprised. I laughed.

"Yea. I was orphaned when I was 11. Both of my parents died from cancer. I bounced around from home to home until I graduated high school at 16 and went to college."

"Wow. Skylar never told me that."

"I mean it isn't a particularly happy story to tell. I inherited everything when I turned 18. I grew up dirt poor and alone. That's why these days are important to me. Don't get me wrong, having money is great. I mean we spent a couple thousand dollars today, and I have no problem doing that. I have already made that back, but I want to give my kids everything." I pause and look at her. "Do you know Skylar's story?"

"He doesn't like to talk about it. He says he doesn't remember all the details but he says it wasn't a happy upbringing."

"I fostered Skylar when he was 3 to undergo a bone marrow transplant." She looked shocked. "He came in to the hospital with all the signs of blood cancer. He needed a bone marrow transplant and I was a match. The orphanage wouldn't pay for it, so I decided that I'd foster him and pay for his treatment. I fell in love with him, and so did Jace. After we got engaged we decided to adopt him."

"I can't believe he went through that."

"I almost lost him once. It was the scariest moment of my life."

"Why did you do it? I mean, you didn't know this kid at all. Yet you paid for his treatment. That's insane."

"Both my parents died from cancer as I said before, and my best friend died from it as well. Than I met Jace, and he had cancer." She looked stunned. "I was also a match for his bone marrow transplant too. So when Skylar came into the hospital it was a no brainer. If I can save someone, I will. No questions asked. They were the two greatest decisions I've ever made. I saved my husbands and my son's life, and I would do it all over again if I had the opportunity. I tried with another foster kid. Her name was Ellie, but unfortunately she didn't make it. The cancer was just too strong. I spoil my kids, and I love doing it. Jace does the same thing with our boys, they have boys day. We know what its like to almost lose the ones we love, and money is great but the people we have are even better. So we take the time to appreciate each other. But that doesn't mean we can't give them a taste of the better life that we are fortunate enough to enjoy." She looks at me and just nods. "So, what's your story?"

"Well, my mom and dad met in high school. Both drop outs. They got pregnant with me when they were 18. They had no idea what to do. My mom was on crack, and my dad went to jail shortly after. He was killed in a prison fight." She looks down at her hands, and I can tell this is hard for her. "My mother tried to get sober while she was pregnant with me but she just couldn't. She was way to dependent. I was a crack baby. We struggled a lot. She had a dead end job as a waitress, and she barely made ends meat. I would go hungry for days because she would spend the money on drugs. Thankfully my best friend Alli brought me a lunch to school everyday. For a while that was my only meal. By the time I was 13 my mom found some local drug dealer and decided to shack up with him. She would just leave for days at a time. One time she left for 2 weeks. She didn't leave a note or anything." She took a deep breath and continued. "When I met Skylar, god he was just too good to be true you know? He was sweet and caring, and when I told him about my past, he just accepted it. He would buy me lunch everyday, after school he'd take me home and sometimes cook me dinner. He was a god send. I felt so lucky." She smiled and looked down at her hands. "When he asked me out I was shocked. How could someone as sweet, and kind, and handsome want someone like me?" I laughed.

"That's exactly how I felt about Jace."

"He took care of me. He was there when I had nobody. He was my shoulder to cry on when I would find my mom passed out in the bathroom, he was there when she overdosed, twice. He went through everything with me. When I found out who he was, it blew me away even more. This kid, was the son of Jace Herondale, one of the most famous musicians in the world and he wanted me? A poor girl who was barely getting by? It was amazing to me. He's everything to me. I couldn't picture my life without him."

"I know he feels the same way about you. I knew the moment he brought you to meet us. He was just so attentive to everything you did. He's a good kid, and I glad he has you. We always knew our kids would have trouble finding people who wanted them for who they were and not who their father is. Skylar had that problem in the past. But I'm glad he found you." She smiled at me and I hugged her. "Come on, lets go enjoy the concert." We walked over to the side stage and watched. Sixteen years later and Jace still amazes me when he performs.

"Alright New York, I have some very special guests here today. Why don't you girls come one up." He gestured to Arden and company. They all got so excited and made their way up on stage. "Also, lets get my wife and Kelly up on stage as well."

"It won't be that bad. He will only keep us up there for a minute or two." I reassured Kelly knowing she was scared. We made our way on stage and I greeted Jace with a kiss. He kissed Arden, McKenzie and Kelly as well before we were allowed to leave. The other girls stayed on stage with him for a couple songs while Kelly and I watched from the sides. He looked over to us and smirked and I just shook my head and laughed. This was a good day., and only getting better from here.