Happy almost Friday of a Holiday weekend! Here's the next chapter after Jace learns about Clary's dad. Hope you enjoy it!

Jace and Jon are mine - Just Kidding! I wish but no I don't own anything! :)

Chapter 28:

**Chapter Songs:**

Far Away by Nickelback

Run Away by Cary Brothers

The Ladder by Andrew Belle

Trust Me by The Fray

"Jace do you know what case Michael Wayland was working on when he….?" I trail off and Jace nods his head.

"Yeah, Valentine Morgenstern. Why?"

I look at him and he stares back at me. His eyes darting back and forth across mine. Then realization hits him and his face drains of all color. "No….you're not saying that he's your….no."

I don't say anything and he drops his head and his hands go into his hair and he pulls on it hard. He stands up and paces to the door. My heart clenches and the machine picks up the sound of my accelerated heart and the uneven thumps. Tears sting my eyes. This is it. The heart machine is going crazy and Jace turns back to me and his eyes widen and he hurries over to me, holding me close.

"Clary, baby, calm down. Shhh." He rests his head on mine and looks into my scared eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Jace. I didn't know him. I didn't know him." I keep saying shaking my head.

"Clary, I don't blame you. You didn't do anything wrong." He rubs my cheeks with his fingertips.

"You mean it? You're not leaving me?"

"God, no. I love you more than anything. I'm not going anywhere." he says softly.

I close my eyes and breathe him in. "Okay." After holding onto each other for a while, I nod my head and open my eyes. "Jace? Is everything alright with the baby? I mean when I was in the coma or whatever, did it hurt the baby?" I ask uncertainly.

A large smile breaks out on his face. "No, she's perfect."

"Oh, good! That makes me feel….wait! Did you just say she?" I furrow my brow and look at him. His smile grows even bigger and he nods his head. I cover my mouth with my hands and gasp.

"We're having a girl." Jace says right before he kisses me. We lie next to one another talking about the baby girl growing inside me while Jace caresses my stomach.

o.O.o\

JPOV

Clary had to stay in the hospital one more night after she woke up for observation. After that, I was able to bring her home. Right now, she's taking a nap, because the doctor wants her to rest for a few days to get her strength back before resuming her normal routine. I settle down on the couch and turn on the TV when I hear a knock on the door. I heave myself up and go to answer the door. My mom stands on the other side looking nervous.

"Mom? What are you doing here?" I ask confused as to why she came all the way here unannounced.

"Hello, son. Can I come in? I uh need to talk to you about something." she says averting her gaze. I step aside and let her enter.

"Sure. Is something wrong?"

"I don't know." She walks into the living room and glances around. "Where's Clary?" I follow her in and sit on the couch. Mom sits beside me and twists her hands together. My stomach drops and I know whatever she says, it's not going to be good.

"She's asleep. Mom, you're starting to freak me out. What's going on?" I can't take it anymore. I need to know.

She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. I wait and she finally looks at me and gives me a sad smile.

"Jace, I need to tell you some things about your parents. I never meant to keep things from you intentionally, but I made a promise to your mother and I just couldn't dishonor her after her death. But some things have come to light recently and I have no choice but to tell you now." She pauses and gathers her thoughts. "Michael, Celine, and I were best friends growing up as you know. In high school, your mother met Stephen Herondale and they were together for two years. Right before we graduated, Stephen's family decided to move to London and forced Stephen to join the British Army. Celine was heartbroken and ended it with him." I take all this in not sure where this is going, so I keep quiet until she finishes. "Two months later, Celine tells me she's pregnant. Michael offered to marry her and help her with the baby because he always secretly loved her. She accepted and in time grew to love him, too. Jace, that baby was you. Michael was not your biological father; Stephen Herondale is your father. He never knew about you because Celine never talked to him again, although Stephen tried for several years, but she refused him."

"Wh-Why are you telling me this now? After all this time? Why now?" I'm completely shocked. I shake my head to try to make sense of what she's saying. Why did my mother keep this from me?

"I'm telling you this now, because Stephen has returned. He came into the gallery when Clary was there and she knew right away there was something about him. She came to me and asked if I knew him. I told her everything and then I called Stephen. Jace, he wants to meet you." Mom eyes me warily and grabs my hands. "Do you want to meet him?"

"I-I don't know. This is all a lot to take in. I mean I just found out that Clary's father is the one responsible for my parents' deaths and now I find out that the father I knew was not actually my father at all. I just don't know what to think right now." I squeeze my fists, my fingernails digging into my palms.

"Jace, Michael might not have been your father by blood, but he loved you and treated you like his own. Don't ever think otherwise." she says rubbing my back. I nod and close my eyes.

"I need some time to think about this, okay?"

"Okay, son. I'll let myself out. I love you, you know." she says as she gets up to leave. I nod and hear the door close. I sit there and stare into space for who knows how long. I glance toward the bedroom and I realize the one person I need right now is just on the other side of that door. Clary is lying on her side with her arm across her growing abdomen. Her hair is splayed out across the pillow and her beautiful face looks so peaceful. I climb up beside her and lie down facing her. I touch her hand that's resting on the baby and twine my fingers with hers. She sighs and I focus back on her face. Her eyes bore into mine and she smiles. She looks much better now after some rest.

"Hi." she says sleepily.

"Hey, baby." I can't help the sadness from creeping into my tone. She instantly picks up on it because her eyebrows pull together.

"What is it?" she whispers. I can't take the distance any longer so I pull us closer together and kiss her. She kisses me back but I can feel the worry through her lips. I take in a breath and blow it out.

"My mom came by just now." I look at Clary and she has a knowing expression on her face. "I guess you already know what she told me." She nods and places her small hand on my cheek. I lean into her hand and close my eyes. "She said he wants to meet me. I don't know what to do. What do you think?" I ask opening my eyes to look at her.

"Well, I don't know. I do think you both got slighted. He was never told he even had a son and you never knew who your real father was. 22 years have gone by that you two could've had each other. It's ultimately your decision and I will support you with whatever you decide." she says quietly while stroking my cheek.

"You're right, baby. I shouldn't let any more time go by. I'll meet him as long as you come with me."

"Of course I will. You don't ever have to do anything by yourself again." she says and I feel my chest tighten and my heart stutter.

"I love you so much, baby. I wish I could tell you how much you mean to me, but there just aren't words strong enough to describe my feelings for you."

"I love you, too. And you already show me. Every day when you look at me, I see." I kiss her and hold her close for the rest of the afternoon.

I called my mom and told her I would meet Stephen Herondale and she said she would invite him and his wife over for dinner. I walk back into the bedroom and Clary is in the closet tossing out clothes and cursing to herself. I call out to her and she emerges red faced and upset. Instantly I take her in my arms.

"What is it, baby?" I ask as she puts her arms around my waist and buries her face in my chest.

"I can't find anything to wear that fits over this." she whines gesturing to her stomach. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing because she is so adorable since she started showing more.

"I'm sure there's something in there. Do you want me to go get Isabelle to help you?" She nods and I kiss her head. "I'll be right back." I say as I leave to get my sister for help.

I go next door and knock. Jon opens the door and lets me in.

"Hey, buddy! What's up?" he asks clapping me on the shoulder.

"Your sister is having a crisis and I need Isabelle to help her." I say with a laugh.

Jon raises his eyebrows. "What kind of crisis? Is she alright?" The protectiveness he has is sometimes crazy but I'm glad he does it.

"She's fine. Nothing fits if you know what I mean."

"Ah. She's feeling fat."

"You better not let Clary hear you say that, Jon." Isabelle says coming into the room with some shopping bags. "I heard you need my help. Well, I just happened to see these while shopping the other day and picked them up for Clary for when she needed them. Looks like that day is today." She says smiling smugly.

"Isabelle, I could kiss you. Come on. Clary needs you." I say yanking on my sister's arm.

"I'll come too and keep you company while the girls are busy." Jon says following us out to my apartment.

We all walk into my bedroom and see Clary sitting on the floor among the clothes she threw out.

"Clary, Isabelle has something for you." I reach down and help her up. Isabelle hands her the bags and Clary peeks inside. She looks up and launches herself at Isabelle.

"Whoa, there. To be so small, you sure do have a lot of power." Clary glares at her and puts her hands on her hips.

"Don't start the small talk. And thank you for the clothes. Will you help me get ready?"

"Sure, but where are you two going?" Isabelle asks us. Clary and I share a look and I proceed to tell her and Jon about my real father. Clary and Isabelle go into the bathroom to get ready and Jon and I go watch some TV.

"That really sucks." is all Jon says and I'm thankful for that. We watch some baseball and then the girls come out. I glance over and see Clary. She is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen, I swear. I love how she looks pregnant. She thinks she looks awful, but I think she's the sexiest woman ever pregnant or not.

"Wow, you look amazing, baby." I breathe as I get up to go to her. She looks down and rubs her belly and blushes.

"Are you sure I look good enough to meet your father?" Worry evident in her face.

"Clary, of course you do! You look perfect. Besides, you already met him remember?" I say linking our hands together.

"I know, but today I'll meet him as your girlfriend. It just feels different." she says with a shrug.

"No, today you'll meet him as my fiancé and the mother of my child. Come on, let's get going." She gives me a smile and turns to Isabelle.

"Thank you so much Isabelle. You're the best." She leans in and gives her a hug.

"You're welcome, Clary. We can go shopping whenever you want."

"Love you, shortcake." Jon says patting her on the head and grabbing Isabelle's hand and pulling her out of the apartment to theirs. I look at Clary and we leave to meet my father.

We arrive at my parents' house and I turn off the car. We sit for a few minutes and Clary squeezes my hand. That small gesture is enough to get me to get out of the car.

We walk up to the door and I ring the bell. Max opens the door and beams at us.

"Jace, Clary, guess what?!" Max exclaims as we come in the door.

"What buddy?" I ruffle his hair and he gives us both a hug. I notice he hugs Clary more gently than he does me.

"Alec's picking me up and taking me to a real baseball game!"

"That's great! You're gonna have a blast!"

Mom walks in to the foyer and hugs me and then proceeds to Clary.

"Clary, you look adorable." Mom coos. I smile at Clary and give her a look that says I told you so.

"Thanks, Maryse. Isabelle went shopping and got me some clothes. None of mine fit anymore." she says looking down at her stomach. Mom gives a light laugh and tells us to make ourselves comfortable while she finishes dinner.

Alec comes by to pick up Max and leaves me and Clary to talk with dad. My nerves are wound tight and when the doorbell rings, I just about jump out of my skin. A warm hand rubs down my arm and links with my hand. I look down at her and she gives me an encouraging smile. I take a deep breath and look toward the doorway. I hear mom talking and then I hear his voice. It sounds so much like mine. Mom walks in and just behind her is my father. He is tall, blonde, and has my face, except where my eyes are gold, his are blue. My breath catches and all I can do is stare at him. He seems to be having difficulties as well because he stares right back at me.

A throat nearby clears and mom starts talking. "Stephen, this is Jace and his fiancé, Clary. Jace, Clary, this is Stephen and his wife Anna." Stephen takes a tentative step closer to me and holds his hand out for me to take. I look at his hand, that looks so much like mine, and back to him and then I place mine in his and we shake.

"It's so good to finally meet you, Jace." Then his gaze shifts beside me and he smiles. "Clary, thank you for making this possible. If not for you, I would never have known."

I look at Clary and she is blushing furiously. "Oh, um I didn't do anything. I-I just asked Maryse about you." I pull her closer to me and kiss her on the head.

"Why don't we sit down and talk?" my dad - Robert says gesturing to the seats. We all sit down and I pull Clary as close as I can without putting her in my lap.

"So, I see you two are expecting. How soon?" Stephen asks us, eyeing Clary's small bump. Clary looks at me and I still can't talk so she turns back to Stephen.

"In May. We just found out we're having a girl." I hold onto her tighter to let her know how glad I am that she's here.

"That's wonderful! So, Jace….what do you do for a living?"

This time I have to talk. I clear my throat and reply, "Um, I'm a sports trainer at a facility in town. I train for football and baseball and sometimes I scout talent." Stephen nods his head while I talk.

"That's great! I was a football star in high school. Wasn't that right Maryse?"

"Oh, yes. He led the team to state all four years he was there." mom replies with a smile.

After a while, conversation begins to flow more freely and I begin to relax. Stephen talks about Clary's artwork, causing her to turn red, but I couldn't be more proud of her. I know she's talented. I find out that Stephen and Anna have been married for 15 years. They never had any children due to their traveling lifestyle and I think maybe she couldn't have children. Stephen owns a company that sells health products and has made a pretty good living. They just moved back here and wanted to purchase some artwork to go in their new house that coincidentally isn't far from the Lightwood's house.

My mom invited them to Thanksgiving and we promised we would see them soon. Clary and I left to go back home while Stephen and Anna stayed a little longer. When we get in the car, I lean over the console and kiss Clary as passionately as I can manage, swallowing every one of her breaths. When I pull back, she blinks a few times and is breathing heavily.

"Jesus, Jace! What was that for?" she asks breathlessly.

I grin at her reaction and say, "For being here and for loving me and for being absolutely perfect for me." She smiles widely and I kiss her one more time.

"I love you, Jace. Now take me home and have your way with me." I shake my head and laugh.

"Whatever you say."

AWWW. . . .Well I hope you enjoyed the reaction and meeting Stephen. I'm going out of town for Memorial Day weekend and I won't be able to update until Monday or Tuesday. Sorry :( But you can still leave reviews and messages over the weekend. I would love that! I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

Until next time. . . .