Only a small chapter but it's something, at least!

Shoutouts go out to reppinda5o3, Angeliel, maayan21051, LOVERGIRL, catastrophicmind, cait418448, marmaids, xTheMorningStarx, ReadingManiac, reemarie36 and JaceyXgirl! I have said this before but you honestly are the lifeblood of this story, you keep it going xo


Clary sang under her breath along to the music flowing in her ears as she danced into school. She knew people were staring—but she didn't care. She was happy and wanted everyone to know. She stopped when she reached her locker and unlocked it to see a pink rose. She looked around to see if she could find anyone watching her but couldn't see anyone. She picked it up with a smile and then noticed a little card attached to the stem.

Go to the place where we became Smooth Criminals together.

Clary smiled and a pink tinge grew over her face. She didn't know what Jace was playing at but she liked it. She went to the back entrance of the school and looked around for any sign of her golden haired boyfriend. She felt disappointed when she couldn't see him but she did see a flower tied to the fence. She carefully pulled at the bow on the orchid and read the card attached.

I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey…

She smiled and whirled around, running back through the school to the courtyard where she and Jace had danced and kissed to Seal's song. She smiled as she saw Jace waiting for her, with a flower in his hand. He looked casually good. A nice pair of jeans paired with a white tee and a black leather jacket. It was so effortless and so Jace and he could pull it off like an Abercrombie model. Jace smiled somewhat nervously as he saw Clary come running through the doors. Her eyes caught his and he saw her holding onto his other two flowers he had left for her which made him smile a bit more confidently. He watched her hair bounce as she trotted down the stairs and made her way over.

"Hey," she breathed softly, looking up at him.
"Hey," he responded in kind.
He held out the last flower out for her, a lilac and she was smiling so big it looked like her face was going to crack in half. She took it from him and held the three flowers together.
"I'm sorry if it seems small or stupid I just, I wanted you to know—I care for you and I very, very much appreciate you," he told her.
Clary threw her arms around him, being careful not the break the stems of the flowers and planted a kiss on his lips.
"It's perfect, thank you," she murmured against him.
He felt a weight lift from his shoulders and he held her tighter.
"Anything for you, Clary. Always," he mumbled.
He pulled back and looked down at her, nervousness flickering through him again.
"I just wanted to know… would you like to go on a date with me?" he asked her.
Just when she thought she couldn't smile bigger, all of a sudden there was more.
"I would love to."

Isabelle looked over at Clary at lunch and chewed on her lip anxiously. She could see Alec sitting with Clary and Jace and the three of them were all smiling and laughing. Jace had his arm resting behind Clary's back as he leaned back and she watched Clary turn to him and poke him on the nose, making him stick his tongue out at her and she saw Alec throw his head back in one of his characteristic big laughs.
Izzy had never felt more conflicted in her life; she wanted to be happy for her friend, but she was also scared of her getting hurt by Jace. The very idea that he had shot his own mother chilled her to the bone. She and her mother had never seen eye to eye however she would never even dream of pulling a gun on her. She did trust Clary to make good decisions, and especially her ultra-level headed brother but, what if they were being drawn in by some serial killer charm or something?
"Iz, you haven't said anything for nearly ten minutes, I'm getting worried," Simon said to her.
She turned to the boy next to her and sighed.
"I'm just scared for Clary, and Alec, what if… what if he's lining them up next?" Isabelle voiced, her fear betraying her.
"I know, I worry the same thing… But you have to admit, Clary's very taken with him and Alec has got almost a sixth sense with people, and he would never let Clary be in any danger. To be honest, I'm kind of wondering if we were too snappy in our judgement. I mean, we barely even know the guy..." Simon answered.
Isabelle thought it over and then looked to Magnus. He had been stubbornly mute on the subject since his boyfriend had left him to join Clary and Jace.
"What do you think?" she prodded.
Magnus glared up at her.
"Alec is a big kid now and he can do what he wants as can Clary," was all he offered.
Isabelle sighed and then made a snap decision. She stood up and grabbed her tray and carefully click, click, clicked across the cafeteria before standing awkwardly in front of Clary, Jace and Alec.

"Hi," she said softly, avoiding Clary's eye.
"Hey, Iz, what's up?" Clary asked cheerfully.
Isabelle carefully studied her face to see nothing but happiness and her eyes averted to Jace's who was remaining quiet and somewhat reserved.
"Nothing I just… I don't want to let a guy come between us so, here I am. Deal with it," Izzy said confidently, even though she felt anything but.
Clary laughed as Jace cracked a smile.
"I get the feeling she'll be tough to get rid of," Jace said quietly to Clary.
"Oh, you have no idea, I've been trying for years—even when I wear terrible clothes she still hangs around," Clary said teasingly.
"Well, someone has to show you high fashion, and I'm just the poor sucker who drew the shortest straw," Isabelle told them as she sat down next to her brother.
"Yeah, because I really twist your arm," Clary responded sarcastically.
Alec snorted and Isabelle raised one manicured brow at him.
"I've never heard you complaining when I give you fashion advice," Isabelle told them proudly.
Clary shrugged in assent.
"Speaking of, you wanna play dress up on Friday? Friday or Saturday Jace?" Clary asked, turning to him.
Jace thought for a moment.
"Saturday, definitely Saturday, casual," he told her.
Clary turned back to Izzy.
"We're going on a date on Saturday, casual, I figured you would be horrified if I had to choose what to wear," Clary laughed lightly.
Isabelle's eyes gleamed in happiness.
"Oh Clary, I already have the perfect outfit in mind!" she squealed.
She began to list off clothes, shoes accessories and ramble on about hair and make up and Jace turned to his girlfriend.

"Will you even survive the prep for the date?"
Clary turned to him and gave him a very serious look.
"I don't know."
"I'll hold a funeral for you," Jace promised.
"Make sure there's lots of colours and singing and dancing. And burlesque dancers," Clary added.
Jace tilted his head slightly and smiled at her.
"You are so weird," he commented fondly.
"Normal is boring," she responded.
"I wouldn't change you for anything."
He kissed the top of her head and leaned back, lacing his fingers behind his head. Clary's eyes followed the tight curve of his abs that were just showing through his shirt before they wandered up to his developed chest and his strong arms. She saw them flex slightly and she had to fight the urge to make an embarrassing noise. She knew exactly how strong those arms were and it made her face heat up as her mind drifted to other ways she could test him. Her eyes travelled to his face where a smirk was rested. He had been watching her.
"Shut up," she muttered, embarrassed.
He just grinned in response.

That night Clary practically ran into the house and her mother chuckled at her daughter.
"Good afternoon, how was school?" Jocelyn asked.
Clary dropped her bag by the stairs, ready to take it up when she went up. She walked over to the kitchen counter and flopped into one of the stools.
"School is great, Mom! Honestly, best thing ever," she said happily.
Jocelyn gave her daughter a strange look.
"Are you ill because you don't sound like my daughter," Jocelyn teased.
Clary just poked her tongue out.

"So, who's the boy then?" Jocelyn asked.
Clary blushed.
"Jace," she answered.
"He must be pretty special to make you blush like that," she observed.
Clary blushed redder.
"He is, he's completely one of a kind, he is so kind to me and protective and he just, he really cares. And I told him all about my… problems and he just, didn't care. Didn't judge me, didn't treat me any different… He just… I dunno, it sounds silly but it's almost like we were made for each other," Clary finished shyly.
Jocelyn smiled at her obviously smitten daughter. It reminded her of when she first met Valentine.

"You forgot to mention he's a murderer," Jon muttered darkly as he walked in.
Clary glared at him as her mother gave her a confused look.
"What?" she asked.
"Oh yeah, why don't you tell her, Clary?" Jon said cheerfully.
"Tell me what?" Jocelyn demanded.
"Oh yeah, our lovely little Jacie-poo, he's a cold hearted murderer who shot his mother!" Jon declared.
"What?" Jocelyn asked in horror, turning to Clary.
"That is not how it happened, Jonathan! I am sick to death of you shoving yourself in where you are not wanted! I said I would tell Dad and I will and he will prove Jace's innocence!" Clary shouted, slamming her hands down on the counter top.

"I'm proving who's innocence now?"
Clary turned and saw her father and gave a big breath of relief. She ran up and gave him a hug. He chuckled and gave her a hug in return.
"It's nice to see you too, Clary, now mind telling me what's going on?" he asked her.
"Okay, so, I thought since you're a chief you could look into something for Jon's piece of mind. I started dating someone this week, a guy called Jonathan Herondale and he accidentally killed his Mom when he was a kid. Jon thinks he did it on purpose, but I know it was an accident, so I was kind of hoping you could maybe pull the file and check it so Jon doesn't keep calling him a murderer every time he sees him?" Clary rushed out.
Their father stayed silent for what felt like eternity.
"Herondale… little boy, blonde? Celine Herondale the mother?" he asked Clary.
She nodded.
"Accident. I remember that case. His father was tried for a form of child neglect because he never should have had a gun loaded in such an easily accessible spot. 'Course he had enough money to buy everyone off so it didn't stick but he was never particularly pleasant after that," Valentine informed them.
"Are you sure it was an accident?" Jon demanded.
Valentine looked at his son and sighed, he understood where his anger and frustration and protectiveness was coming from but he also knew that he needed to learn when to let things go.
"Yes. We had a number of technicians try to replicate the scenario, and not one person managed to get the same result. We pulled in an ex-Navy SEAL and even he took some practise. Basically, there is no way a 10 year old could have purposely done such a shot," Valentine assured him.
"But—"
"Jon. We love how protective you are, we always know Clary is safe and I know Clary herself appreciates it, but remember, not everyone in the world is out to get you. We can't live our lives in fear," their father said firmly but kindly.
Jon nodded and walked upstairs, looking chastised and sullen.
"So, do we get to meet this, Jace?" Valentine asked his daughter.
She smiled and blushed.
"Maybe."