Here ya go lovlies!
Clary sat with her head in her hands. Her clothes reflected just how distressed she was. The jeans had holes. Her shirt was wrinkled and just thrown on randomly. Her boots at least were on the right feet. Her hair was thrown up in a bun, too tired to do anything else with it.
The past twenty four hours had her mind reeling, and she still was adamant that the whole thing was a dream. Her brother, her father, Sebastian… it was just too much to really take in.
How was it that her best friend in her entire life suddenly attacks her brother? And what's with her father taking a gun to her mother's new husband. She knew that Valentine was crazy, but not that crazy.
It made her sick to her stomach. She wished that she never knew her father. He was insane. He made her life awful. He's ruined so many parts of her life that she wanted to get back. Those moments where she thought he was changing, it was just a game. Now, she understood that. There wasn't a single moment in his mind where he actually cared about her. He only cared about himself and what he wanted. Because of that, he hurt people. Innocent people. People that she loved.
And he got Sebastian to do his dirty deeds too. What kind of man sends a boy to hurt his own son? A sick, sick psychopath, Clary concluded. And someone even crazier accepts an offer like that. She didn't care that Valentine offered Sebastian money or whatever. The fact he took it told her he was never who she thought he was.
"Hello there, Clary," a chipper and bright Caterina said as the doctor entered her mother's hospital room. Her gear always made her look so much smarter and superior, and Clary found herself sitting straighter. "How are you?"
Clary swallowed the lump in her throat. "I'm – I'm okay."
"Don't lie. I'm a doctor. I know those little tricks and I can visibly tell that what's going on with your father is bothering you."
Clary sighed. "You know?"
"Yes. You tell Jace. Jace tells Alec. Alec tells Magnus. Magnus tells me." She caught Clary's appalled look and held her hand up. "Don't worry. It's not like that all the time. I don't know everything, only the things I could possibly help with. But this would've gotten out sooner or later, and the sooner the people who can help actually know about it, the better things will be later. Magnus just wanted to see if there was anything I could do."
"I'm just here to see my mother actually," she said, standing when Caterina started to pull out a clipboard and charts. "So if you don't mind…"
"I don't want you to think I'm prying when I ask this, but I'm kind of curious."
"Okay?"
"Why now?"
"Why what now?"
Caterina lowered her clipboard, dropping it to the table by Jocelyn's bed. "Why are you suddenly concerned about your mother now? I never saw you in here, and now you haven't left for the past," she looked down at her watch, "five hours. Normally, five minutes and you're out. You don't want to visit Luke or you brother? Or don't you have school or something?"
"School hasn't really been on my mind. Plus, today is Saturday."
Caterina shrugged her shoulders. "The days blur together in here. But back to the question."
"I just feel like I need someone to talk to who won't answer back for once," she finally said, looking down at her mom. "And… well…"
"That makes sense. Some people find it easier to let their feelings out in this kind of situation than to other people who might respond in ways they don't want to hear."
"Can you tell me anything more about when she might wake up?" Clary asked.
Caterina shook her head, taking Jocelyn's hand and looking like she's doing some kind of mental test. After a few minutes, she put her hand back down and wrote something on the clipboard.
"I'm afraid not," she finally said. "Like I've said before, Jocelyn will wake up when she wakes up. Nothing can speed it up, and nothing can slow it down."
Clary nodded, remembering that she read something like that somewhere. "So I've been told."
"But it's possible she could still hear you," Caterina added. "Don't let that stop you from talking to her."
With that said, Caterina left the room, closing the door behind her and leaving Clary with her unconscious mother.
It took her a while to muster up the courage to actually talk. Clary probably sat there for ten extra minutes, staring at her mother and playing with her hand. It was hard! She hadn't spoken to the woman face to face since she ditched their family those years ago, and now she wanted to confess to her everything she couldn't say to anyone else?
But she couldn't talk back. So why not?
"Mom," Clary started, her voice cracking slightly with the word. "Maybe you can hear me and maybe you can't. I kind of hope you can, just so I don't have to repeat this again."
She paused, taking a deep breath and calming herself.
"I miss you. I freaking miss you so much. I've missed you since you left, and I didn't want to admit it because it hurt. I felt abandoned, ditched, and it was like you did it without a second thought. But Luke… he explained things to me and I get it. I understand why you left. Jonathan is starting to understand why you left. I don't want you to think that we don't. It's not easy to just accept something like that, but we're starting to."
She squeezed her mother's hand, looking down at it. They were both so similar. Both pale. Both lightly freckled. Both fragile. No matter how strong Clary thought she was, she knew that she could be weak and breakable, just like her mother was now. That idea was awful, but she knew it.
"And I really need you here with me. I can't handle this on my own- Dad's trial about the abuse and the attacks, the fact my best friend is just as crazy… I just – I want a mother who could be here for me and just let me cry. I want a mother that will tell me it'll be okay, and I will actually believe it. I want that hug that girls get when they're sad. Not the one from their boyfriend, but the one that can last up to five minutes with a mom who pats their back and kisses their hair and does nothing else until they're okay. I want that."
She touched her forehead to her mother's hand, feeling the cold skin against her own. "It's been really hard without you. And now…"
She trailed off, thinking back to the last time she saw her father. He had told her what to do to keep Jace safe. He said she'd have to leave him permanently, to come home, but it was obvious that there wasn't anything she could do about it now.
She was actually glad in a way she didn't go through with it. Maybe now, she'll be free from that burden forever. But not without a price.
"And now I have what I wanted, at the cost of others." Clary felt a stray tear slip its way out, her chest tightening and squeezing, willing her to just cry it out. "I couldn't leave Jace. Barely distancing myself from him at all was too painful, and he needs me as much as I need him. But maybe if I did… maybe Luke and Jonathan would be okay. Dad threatened Jace and Kaelie, but maybe Luke and Jon were his true targets. Maybe it's my fault. I just feel like shit because of it. I can't change it, but I feel awful because this is kind of what I wanted."
She sat back up, dropping her mother's hand and wiping her eyes. The tears were starting to get annoying.
"They'll be okay at least," she said, dropping back in her seat like she was exhausted. Instead of looking at Jocelyn, she stared straight ahead to the blinds that covered the window. "Luke and Jonathan. They'll be okay. Luke's surgeries went well and he'll be on his feet soon. Jonathan just got some minor things, considering he's a great fighter to begin with. Luckily, Sebastian forgot his little trick when it came to fighting my brother. But… he's eighteen and will get the adult charges. Maybe, just maybe, after all this is done, we'll all be rid of this forever. A drama free life with no worries and the idea of living my teenage years like I should."
Clary sighed, breathing deeply at the idea.
And just then, she saw movement. It wasn't much, just a small lift of her mother's finger, but she saw it. Could she be waking up?
She smiled at the thought and dropped her head back, staring at the ceiling. "And maybe, someday, you'll be awake to watch me live them too."
Simon pulled up to the hospital later that day, smiling and waving at Clary as she walked over. Immediately, seeing him put her in a better mood. She didn't know why, but he had such a light personality lately that was so intoxicating. It was hard not to smile when he was around.
Even the past few events couldn't keep him down.
"Hello, little Red," he beamed as she slipped into the passenger seat.
She chuckled and shook her head. "You are way too happy right now."
"What can I say?" he smiled, turning the radio down to a talking level when Clary closed the door.
"Isabelle?"
Simon blushed, which he does a lot, but nodded too. "Yeah. She might have something to do with it."
Clary leaned back in her seat, buckling her seatbelt when Simon started to take off down the street. "You two have been pretty happy then?"
He nodded. "It hasn't been long, but it's been good. Great. Hell, fucking awesome!"
Clary rolled her eyes. "Remember when you used to call her a stuck up princess and hated her?"
Simon laughed and nodded. "Yeah, I do. It's crazy thinking about it."
"What happened to that, huh? Her looks finally made you give in?"
He gave her a short look of annoyance before turning back to the road. "Maybe. But hey, people change. She doesn't get Jace and Alec to dump me in a trashcan to make me do her homework."
Clary gave him a stern look. "You still do Isabelle's homework anyway."
"Yeah. But it's different now. She'll kiss me for it. I don't get hurt anymore, and I can't say I'm complaining about her new payment."
Clary rolled her eyes. She should've known that he'd be like this, and it was actually kind of amusing to say the least. He always had the feelings for Isabelle, whether he wanted to admit them or not, but at least now he gets something out of it.
"How was the visit?" he asked out of the blue. The car went from playful to serious in two point five seconds.
She sighed, sinking back into her seat. "Alright."
"Anything different?"
"No. Caterina said that my mom will wake up when she wakes up. Nothing will speed up the process and nothing will change the results one way or another."
Simon nodded. "I'm sorry, Clary. I know it's not easy dealing with something like this with everything else going on."
"It's not," she admitted. "But I'm getting there at least. Maybe someday everything will work out for the best."
"What are you going to do up until the trial?"
She bit her lip in concentration, not really sure what she should do. "I honestly want to avoid anything that has to do with Sebastian or my father. I don't want to think about it for the next few weeks. I just want to go to school, spend time with my friends and boyfriend, and pretend none of this happened."
"No Jonathan visit today then?"
She shook her head. "No. I couldn't today. I'll see him soon and I promised him I'll call him Monday."
Simon was quiet for a while, letting Clary gather her thoughts. She was thankful for it. The awkward silences between friends never really occurred with Simon to begin with. He was just as comfortable as she was in silence, and that made it easier to talk to him. He didn't push when she'd quiet down.
All she wanted now was to just have some time to herself but she didn't really want to be alone. She just wanted to be carefree for once. Everything that's happened has been too much, and the next few weeks need to be a recuperation time for her and Jace. They both needed to gather themselves before they snapped, so that's what her plan was. Relax. Chill out. Avoid drama. And maybe recover a bit if it was possible.
"So where to?" Simon asked after a while of aimlessly driving towards the east part of town.
She shrugged. "I don't think Jace and Isabelle are back from Max's game yet."
"Wanna go to my house and play some video games until they get back?"
She smiled, actually liking the idea. "Yes. Please."
Weeks passed, and Clary and her friends spent more time away from the world than with it. Especially she and Jace. If they didn't, everything around them came crashing down. Too much time outside would cause them to run into people from their past, or worse, Kaelie's father. He always had something to say about the trail coming up and all they wanted was to avoid it for the time being.
Some of Sebastian's friends saw them at the park one day, which was not a good idea. She got all kinds of crap that turned into Jace getting pissed off and punching one of the boys from the football team. With a lot of willpower, she was able to pull him away eventually, but what they said scarred her. Everyone blamed her for how Sebastian ended up. Why? She didn't know.
Luke and Jonathan were eventually cleared from the hospital and back to normal lives. Luke still struggled with doing certain things, lifting boxes and things of the like, so Maia, Jace, Simon, and Clary helped him out at the bookstore more often. Luke's face when Jace first offered to help was priceless, but eventually they were all comfortable around him. Jordan would stop by as well, helping whenever he could and Clary was surprised that as time went by, Jordan and Jace started to become friends.
Simon and Isabelle were getting along great, fitting really well together. Her outgoing and fashion crazy personality dominated his quiet and confused one, but it worked. He didn't care about the fact that people would call him whipped, because he was with Isabelle at the end of the day. Clary thought it was cute how he considered it, and she hoped more than anything that those two would work out.
Surprisingly, after a while Robert and Maryse started to accept Magnus and Alec being together as well. The tension was in the room of course, but they didn't ban Magnus from the house. They hired him back with some difficulty and there were rules about doing what they were doing and where they were doing it, but it was working out nonetheless. There were troubles, but maybe they could get past it soon. All they wanted was their family to be happy, and no one could deny that Magnus made Alec happy.
But they still had to keep quiet about it, not announcing to the world that they were together until some other form of arrangement could be worked out. Specifically, they were supposed to keep secret until Valentine's trial was over. Robert was the prosecutor on Jonathan and Luke's behalf, so his image had to stay clean until the time when everything was over.
And as for football, there were so many things going on that nobody really cared anymore. With one team missing a quarterback and wide receiver, the other team missing a quarterback and the coach… the schools weren't all that worried about the championship anymore. They played for stress relief, not for a winning season. It was used as a distraction.
So with everything else out of the picture and the football teams dropping the intensity, Jace and Clary had plenty of time together outside of school. And even more time to themselves.
Like now. Jace was with Alec at the moment, doing some kind of rehab training for the injured lad in the Lightwood's in-home gym, so she made her way in the fall atmosphere to their backyard waterfall, a place of her own refuge that only the two of them knew of.
Well, and Church. That stupid cat seemed to follow her around more and more these days. Chairman Meow too. They loved her for some reason. Like now, Church currently rested with its head on her leg as she leaned against a tree, sketching the waterfall in front of her. She didn't mind and found it humorous actually.
After a while, Church suddenly perked up and jumped, turning towards the direction of the house. Clary followed him with her eyes, watching as he trotted close to the edge of the water and froze when another body came into view.
"There you are," Jace smiled when he stepped out from one of the bushes. He held his hand up, and in it was her phone. "I called you but obviously, your phone wasn't much help."
She smiled apologetically. "I kind of just wanted to be alone for a bit."
He nodded, dropping his hand. "Do you want me to…" he trailed off, pointing back towards the house.
"No," she said quickly. "Come over here."
As he approached, she really took him in. His hair was damp from a shower. His shirt was black like his pants and shoes, making him look dark and dangerous. That was her favorite look on him. She didn't know why. Maybe it was the bad boy attire that all girls liked, but she loved it.
He slid in behind her and leaned against the tree, pulling her back into him. "I missed you," he whispered in her hair, his hands dancing along her side.
She smiled and leaned her head back on his shoulder. "Did you now?"
"I did. I'd rather be wrestling with you than with Alec. It's not as exciting since I have to be extremely careful. His casts get in the way and he's slow. And God! He's so weak. I feel like I'm fighting a child."
"So I put up a better fight?"
"Max can put up a better fight. And you… well, you put up a fight that leads to more exciting things after that I enjoy much more," he teased.
"Our wrestling tends to lead to… bigger things."
He laughed, kissing her neck softly when he pulled her hair to one side. "Isn't that the point?"
She swallowed. "Jace…"
He smiled, slowly leaving kisses along her neck. "Hmm? You're breathing a bit hard, Tiger."
She tried her best to focus down at her sketchbook, at her drawing of the waterfall, but her hand kept shaking in the process. "Jace, I'm trying to focus."
"So am I."
She reached behind her and caught his hand when it started to slide around her side, coming up to her chest. "Seriously?"
"I know. I'm sorry," he said, dropping his hands and leaning his head against the tree behind him. "It's just… it's been so long since we… you know."
She sighed and dropped her sketchbook, stretching her legs out. Thanks to her boyfriend, now she was flustered and unfocused. Great. "I know. But you know how it's been. We do one thing and Isabelle or Alec or Magnus all have some kind of radar, busting in at the most inopportune moments. Other than the one time, the universe and our friends have kind of been against us."
"I hate our friends."
Clary slapped his knee. "You do not."
"When they interrupt us, you best believe I hate them."
The sound of his voice was almost hurt, and Clary hated hearing him like that. The past few weeks, he'd done so well. His temper would get crazy rarely, and he'd broken down a few times in front of her, but he didn't lose it like last time. The death of his grandmother hurt him, but it hadn't changed him.
Clary turned in his gasp, moving until she straddled his lap and looked down at him. Screw focusing. "We have some time now."
"Yes, we do," he agreed, but he didn't move to touch her.
She could feel the hesitancy in his body under her touch. Granted, it wasn't exactly easy for them to be together lately, and they were hesitant because they were being watched like hawks. Now though? They were isolated and alone. Even Church was gone. So she was going to take advantage of it.
Her hands slid down his shoulders and arms, gripped his hands and purposely placed them on her hips, pulling them up enough so her tank top rode up. He watched in fascination, like he'd never seen her like this before, and slowly started to take control. His hands pushed up and up until he couldn't take it. Her smile was wide and bright when he yanked her closer, and she was instantly lost as her mouth descended over his.
Her hands went to his hair, holding her to him as they kissed. He always tasted the same, no matter what happened and she found a thrill in that. The taste of mint. The smell of the tropic shampoo. The feeling of sunlight. Skin as smooth as silk but hard as a rock. God… she loved this man.
Jace sighed when they pulled apart, closing his eyes and leaning his head back.
The look on his face was one that Clary recognized all too well. It wasn't good. It was distressed.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked wearily, playing with his hair as his hands slid down to the base of her shorts. He didn't make a move, just held them there securely.
"Life."
"Life?"
"Yup."
"Explain," she said.
Jace shrugged and opened his eyes. "The trial. It's like it'll pop back into my head at the worst of times. Now included."
She drifted her eyes to the tree behind him, focusing on the bark to distract her. "I've been thinking about it too."
"Are you scared?"
"I'm honestly freaking out. It is next week. That'll decide if my dad goes to jail for how long and... and it's my brother and I against him."
Jace shook his head. "It's all of us against him. Not just you two. We're behind you one hundred percent."
"I know. But it still freaks me out. Like… this is my dad."
Jace nodded and reached up, brushing her hair out of her face and past her shoulder. "What can I do to help?"
Just as he said that, her phone suddenly started ringing. Clary was more than annoyed now at the familiar ringtone. "This is exactly why I didn't want it out here," she complained into Jace's neck.
He laughed and kissed her hair. "Sorry baby. I didn't know."
"I just don't want to talk to Sebastian. And I know it's him."
Jace nodded, looking annoyed and pissed as well. "They're letting him call more often?"
"My father has his ways. And Sebastian is doing his best to get to me," Clary said. She slowly pulled back, took her phone from Jace's grasp, and ended the call. "I don't know why."
He watched with his brows furrowed. "Not even talking to him at all, huh?"
"I don't want to. He's been calling for weeks and he can't take the hint that I don't want to speak to him."
She could tell he was trying to hide a smile. Finally, he just let it out and leaned forward, kissing her lips lightly. "I can't say I'm upset. The fact you hate him actually pleases me a lot."
She rolled her eyes. "I know. I just don't want to talk to the guy that tried to hurt my brother."
"Now do you understand why I hate him?"
Clary nodded. "I thought you hated him because he and I were so close."
"I hate him on principle," Jace explained. "I still don't like your brother much either."
That didn't surprise her. "Jace, he helped you. Can't you at least give him some credit? He's not as bad as he used to be, and he's proving that."
He looked taken aback. "I am giving him credit. I said I don't like him. I didn't say I hate him."
"I guess I have to take what I can get, right?"
Jace smiled and winked at her.
Jonathan sighed and collapsed on his bed, staring at the ceiling with a mindless expression.
This is how it has been for the past few weeks. He and Clary were getting on well, and that was exciting, but this thing with his father was eating him alive from the inside out. Whenever he was alone, it would stab him like a sword. Luckily, his mind drifted as soon as his beautiful girlfriend walked into the room.
It was weird thinking how he and Kaelie were so wrong but so right for each other. People, Clary especially, thought he was only in it for the sex. But Kaelie cared about him. He cared about her. There was a reason he'd protect her from his crazy ass father, no matter what the cost. Yes, at first he just wanted the attention, but now… he wasn't sure if it was love but it was pretty damn close.
She smiled as she closed the door behind her, pulling off her jacket and tossing it on the chair by his desk. "Hey, you."
He sat up, taking her in as she walked towards him and stood between his legs. His hands automatically went to her hips, like two magnets that pulled him there, and she leaned down and kissed him.
"Luke told me that you've been down in the dumps," Kaelie said when she pulled away, resting her hands on his shoulders. "Why?"
"The day is getting closer."
"Why are you worried?"
"I'm not."
She gave him a stupid look and he knew that she was reading him easier than he'd like her to. "I know you. Now don't try to hide from me."
"I just don't like the idea of having Clary there when he gets put in handcuffs," Jonathan finally admitted. "Or having Sebastian there. He's going to try something, I know it, and that's what worries me. My sister is strong and all, but she's avoiding Seb at all costs because she knows she might not be able to handle it."
Kaelie nodded but didn't look convinced. "Don't you think she's strong enough to know what she can and can't handle. Honesty, you shouldn't worry about her."
"I do anyway."
He felt her leave his space momentarily before Kaelie took the spot next to him on the bed, taking his hand. "I like how things changed back for you two."
He looked taken aback. "I thought you would've hated it."
"Why?"
"She's…" Jonathan paused, wondering if Kaelie was playing some kind of game with him. "She's my sister. You hate her. And she's dating you're ex-boyfriend."
Kaelie shrugged causally, tossing her blonde locks over her right shoulder. "Clary and I might not ever be good friends, but we both ended up where we wanted to be. We still might not get along, but I don't think we actually hate each other."
Jonathan sighed. "It just doesn't make sense."
"Don't over think it." Kaelie leaned into him, kissing his neck softly. "You always do, and that always makes you do the wrong thing. For once, just–"
At that moment, the door burst open, and the one and only Clary stepped in. She was staring down at her hands, her thumbs tapping away on her phone. Like Kaelie, she was dressed casually with her hair down.
She was completely oblivious to Kaelie when she spoke. "Hey, Jon, I was wondering if–"
Kaelie waved with a bit of bitchiness when Clary looked up and froze mid step.
The tension between the two made Jonathan uneasy. Three months ago, he would've loved it and dwelled on it. This kind of feeling is what drove him and helped him. But now, he wanted his sister and his girlfriend to get along. He wanted the family he'd missed for so long. And this wasn't helping.
Clary started back towards the door again. "I'll just come back later."
"No," Jonathan said instantly. He didn't even catch a gaze from Kaelie at his reaction, which he was thankful for. "Don't go."
Clary didn't, her hand resting on the doorframe and looking between the two of them wearily. "I just came by to tell you that Maryse and Robert have everything set up for the trail this Thursday."
Jonathan swallowed, hearing the same distress he felt in his nerves in Clary's voice. "Thanks."
"They wanted me to come over and give you the details of what we need to do to prepare."
That's what he was afraid of. Time was going by way too fast and he wasn't sure that he could keep up. At eighteen, he'd have to have a ton of responsibilities on his shoulders during this trial. He'd have to figure it all out and work through it like a man.
Kaelie squeezed his hand and stood from his momentary bed in Luke's house. "I'm going to get a drink so you two can talk for a bit. Don't miss me too much," she said as she bent down and kissed him. He knew that it was just to irritate Clary, but he didn't want it to stop when Kaelie pulled back after a few seconds, winking at him playfully.
Jonathan watched as his sister stepped aside instantly, giving Kaelie a look before his girlfriend stepped out and closed the door behind her with a click.
"She's still a bundle of joy," Clary muttered, walking over to him.
"I'd rather you say that than say she's a bitch like you used to."
"She deserved it. She was a bitch to me."
Jonathan shook his head with a small smile as Clary took Kaelie's previous spot, but the distance she put between them was still… heartbreaking. "I'm still not over the fact you punched her."
Clary's eyes widened. "Seriously?"
He shrugged in answer.
"Whatever. It doesn't matter. That was so long ago I barely remember."
"I know," he agreed. "Seems like a lifetime ago."
A momentary silence fell over both of them. He welcomed it, mainly because he missed it. Whenever he and Clary used to be together, it was nothing but yelling, screaming, and threatening. The fact that they can sit together without fighting was progress, and these past few weeks have helped little by little. So as long as she was comfortable around him, he'd take it.
"I don't hate her," Clary finally said, breaking the silence.
Jonathan gave his sister a look. "What do you mean?"
"Kaelie," she clarified. "I don't exactly hate her. I just don't like her. Kind of like you and Jace."
"Jace hates me."
Clary shook her head. "He doesn't. He still doesn't like you, but it isn't a burning hatred."
That was news that he didn't expect, and he wasn't sure how to take it either. "I guess that's a good thing."
Clary nodded. "Now that it's settled, we can get down to what we have to really talk about."
Jonathan sighed. He loved his sister, but sometimes he wished she wasn't so uptight. Although, he can't really blame her. She was like that because of him, partially, and he was an idiot for making it worse.
The sooner they get this done, though, the faster it'll be in their past.
"Alright," he said with a low, worried voice. "What are we going to have to do?"
Clary looked up from her bed in the Lightwood's house. The bedroom door opened at exactly nine at night, the time Jace said he'd be done with rehabbing Alec, and he did not disappoint.
Only this time, he didn't bother with a shower. His torso was bare and sweaty. His hair stuck up in certain places. The gym shorts that Clary could oogle at for hours on end hung low on his hips. And that was his only article of clothing. No shoes or socks or anything.
How was she supposed to keep her hands to herself?
He smiled and shut the door behind him, locking it nonchalantly. "Hello, beautiful."
"Right back at you."
"God, I missed you." He walked forward and grabbed her hands, pulling her from the bed to stand.
She did, their fingers interlocking as she stood on her tip toes to kiss his lips. "How was training?"
He shrugged and pulled her into him. Her cheek pressed against this chest and she could smell the mix of cologne and sweat and deliciousness all at once.
They stayed like that for a while, just the sound of the TV being the only noise in the entire room. And after a while, Clary wasn't really sure if everything was okay.
"What's going on?"
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he just tightened his grip on her. "I just… God, I just miss you."
"Jace–"
"I don't mean to be a dick, but I can't help it."
"Jace, let go for a second."
He did without question, dropping his arms and finally releasing her from his hold. She stepped back, just barely, and reached up to his face. His eyes were closed and he looked strained. Her fingers gripped his cheeks and slid over his skin until he finally opened his eyes.
"You don't have to be sorry for wanting me, you know."
He sighed. "I do though. I'm just a hormonal little shit that–"
"Loves me and would do anything for me, right?" she finished for him. "And that means I'll do anything for you too."
"But–"
"Just shut up and kiss me, asshole," she demanded and yanked him down to her.
It was a little too forceful apparently, because Jace tripped and his weight pushed Clary back to the bed. They fell in a clumsy heap, small laughter coming from both of them as they tried to arrange themselves.
"Jesus," Jace exhaled with a chuckle. He pushed himself up on his elbows and looked down at her with a look that caused her to flush. "You make me look like an idiot sometimes."
"It's not my fault you tripped. Aren't you supposed to be graceful or some shit?"
He glared at her. "Well, you're stronger than you look."
"It's all that wrestling," she teased, wrapping her hands around both his biceps and squeezing the muscle there.
He chuckled and shook his head. "I think it's attractive as hell."
"Then show it."
And he did. Clary closed her eyes as he bent down and kissed her, but it was hard and persistent. It wasn't sweet, but needy. Wasn't kind, but wanting. Wasn't soft, but forceful. And she loved every damn second of it.
Jace pulled back and reached for her shirt, slipping it over her body and tossing it to the floor. He didn't waist a second before coming back to her, their torsos rubbing against each other deliciously.
Clary wasn't really sure what brought this on, but she decided not to question it. She wasn't the only one that had been missing this. His touch. His scent. His taste. The way he felt under her fingertips. Sure, they'd have a make out here and there, but nothing got any further without someone ruining it. He wasn't the only one that craved the intimacy that had been missing lately.
So she responded exactly how he would've wanted her to. Her arms followed the skin of his arm up to his neck, pulling herself up. He got the message and reached one hand around to her bra clasp, unhooking it expertly before pulling the material from her skin.
The now full skin on skin contact had them both going a bit mad. One touch had Clary wanting four more, and one kiss made her crave another.
Jace took no time. His arms encircled Clary and pulled her up the bed until they rested in the middle. It wasn't like their normal time together. Almost every time, he was hesitant, but she wasn't getting any of that anymore. Now… it was primal and she loved it.
His hands skimmed her sides until they reached the waistband of her shorts. Her breath hitched against his mouth when he slipped his fingertips underneath, hooking them around the material. It had been so long since they'd been this close that the nervousness was worse than the first time. Her heart raced faster than ever, and she was actually freaking out inside.
"Relax," Jace whispered against her lips, moving to kiss across her jaw and down her neck. "You're as tense as a rubber band."
Her eyes involuntarily closed and she pressed the back of her head into the pillows. "That's not my fault."
"Yes it is. Just stop working yourself up."
"But–"
Jace sighed and dropped his head. "Clary," he mumbled into her skin. "I love you. Nothing you can do is going to change my mind." He pulled back up, looking at her with those now darkened, gold eyes. "So stop this." He touched her forehead, where frown lines were starting to show.
"Yeah, I know. I love you too but I just – I guess it's been so long that… well, you know."
"I do. But that doesn't mean you should be nervous."
"I'm always nervous around you. Meanwhile, you act like I don't even faze you."
His eyes widened. "Is that what you think?"
She shrugged, unable to meet his gaze with the answer.
His hand covered hers and pulled it to his chest, just over his heart where it was pounding at a mile a minute. She stared at it in awe, wondering how that was even possible.
"Why do you doubt yourself?" he asked.
She pressed her whole hand against his skin. "I don't know. I always have in a way."
"I hate when you do that," he admitted. "I'm not doing my job if you don't feel as beautiful as you are."
She rolled her eyes. "You're so cheesy that it's sad." But the smile she tried to hide broke through anyway, and that caused Jace's reaction to be just as mesmerizing as her own.
"As long as you're happy."
"I'd be happier if you kissed me," she teased, hoping he'd get the message.
He did. For a while, they just kissed and slowly touched each other's skin with soft caresses. The intensity wasn't gone, but they didn't feel a need to just get to the point either. It had been so long since they'd even been like this. She missed it so much.
Jace slowly made his way down her body, kissing and touching the flesh that was there only for him. One of Clary's hands gripped his hair, causing moans when she pulled. The other, out of sheer pleasure that Jace was causing, was gripping the sheets as she tried not to lose it completely.
He paused above the waistband of her shorts, his lips teasing the skin above it.
Clary's eyes closed. "Jace, please."
"Patience," he teased.
"But–"
"You trust me, right?" he asked, looking up at her and stopping all his movements.
It took a few seconds for her breathing to calm enough to actually look at him, but she eventually did. His golden eyes were dark and luminous in the light, but they were filled with nothing but honestly and truth.
She nodded, biting her lip. "Yes."
Jace smirked and snaked back up her body, kissing her softly on the lips. "Then–"
"CLARY MORGENSTERN!"
There it was. That stupid sound of Isabelle's yelling voice, the one that always interrupted them, the one that always came at the wrong time. She should've known it was coming.
"Damn cockblocker," Jace growled as his head fell to her shoulder. His hair tickled her skin and she couldn't help but giggle. "I'm going to kill her."
"Clary!" Isabelle yelled, this time banging on the door as well. "Please, please tell me you're in there! PLEASE!"
Jace raised his head when he heard the tone too. Their eyes met cautiously.
"She sounds frantic," Clary pointed out.
"That doesn't happen often."
"Get up."
Jace did as she said and slid off of her. Clary stood quickly. She grabbed her shirt and slipped it on, the banging on the door insistent and constant.
She swung the door open. "What is it, Isabelle?"
But it wasn't just Isabelle. There was Luke, Jonathan, Simon, and Isabelle. All were wide-eyed, stressed, and distraught. She took an involuntary step back at the sight, bumping into Jace who wrapped his arms around her waist protectively.
"What's going on?" Jace asked, getting right to the point.
"It's Mom," Jonathan explained. "She's…. she's awake."
Clary looked at Luke for confirmation, and she could see it was true. He looked happy, shocked, scared, amazed, and flabbergasted all at once.
He nodded to her like a robot. "And she wants to see you and Jonathan. I explained everything to her earlier. She's a bit baffled, and she's anxious, but she wants to… talk to you."
Clary's eyes widened. "Now?"
"Now."
So, for the one reviewer who wanted Jonathan's point of view, there ya go! If you want something more deep and meaningful, let me know. I wasn't really sure how to put him in and kind of winged it.
But on a cheerier note... Jocelyn is awake! Hello more things to deal with. Emotions are running high, the trial is coming up, and the story is slowly coming to a close. It's crazy thinking it'll be ending soon :/
Anyway, review please! Yay or nay?
And stay tuned for more in about two weeks :)
