Authors Note:
Ah! So sorry it took me so long, but here it is! Only two more chapters left of this beloved story, and I can't wait to see where it goes! Let me know what you think and leave a review! :)
Chapter Twenty Eight
Time Jump – Three Years Later
Clary POV:
It was weird seeing my kids grow up and have kids of their own. Rider and Lena now had two kids, and they were simply perfect. Alexa was now three, and just the spunkiest little girl you've ever seen. It was honestly like having another little Izzy running around. She was every bit of Lena accept her gold eyes which she got from Rider. The Herondale gene with the eye color was persistent, but I loved it. Also, I thought it was pretty perfect that her flaw was that she wasn't artistic and she couldn't cook. I knew Rider and Lena were both extremely pleased when she showed signs of flaws, and I was happy she got to stay.
Their second was also a girl, and just the spitting image of Rider. Claire was born only a year ago, but already had the blonde hair and light eyes. The blue eye gene was passed down from Lena's family, and she was super adorable. I loved spending time with them, and just getting to know my sweet little grandbabies.
That wasn't all though. Embry and Harlyn were both expecting as well, and I think that might be the weirdest of all. I still pictured them as the cute little babies, but they were all grown up, and I couldn't even tell you where the last 24 years have gone. When they came to tell us, I thought Jace was going to pass out. He refused to believe that they got pregnant any other way accept immaculate conception, until they both told us the gender, and that's when it got real.
Embry was due a week before Harlyn which was so funny because everything in life Embry got to do first, accept be born first, and she loved rubbing it in Harlyn's face. Embry was expecting a sweet little boy, and she was over the moon happy about that. When she first got pregnant, she told me that she wanted a little boy. She thought it would be the perfect way to start a family, and I couldn't blame her, having Rider was amazing, and just seeing that father son bond was something I would never get tired of, even to this day. I also knew that Lucas was super pumped to be having a little boy, let's hope his flaw isn't sports, cause poor Lucas would be out of luck if that happened.
Harlyn on the other hand was expecting a sweet little girl. She was jumping for joy when she found out. Harlyn may be an athletic girl, but she was also super girly when she wanted to be, and the thought of her having a little Harlyn running around was something I could definitely see, and Dominic was actually really excited to do all these daddy daughter things with her. It was really rewarding to see all my children in happy and functioning marriages, and starting families. It was everything you hope for as a mom, and I was excited for the future.
Everyone was coming over for dinner tonight and I was happy to have everyone under the same roof again. Things have been chaotic, and getting everyone together had been complicated. There was always one person absent, more often than not, it was Jace and Rider but I understood why, but tonight everything was going to be there, and I was happy.
"Mom?" I heard Rider call as he walked into the house.
"What's up?" I asked.
"I was wondering if you could watch Alexa for me. I want to speak with dad about something." Rider asked.
"Of course. You wanna watch Nanna cook?" I asked Alexa.
"Yea!" She cheered and I picked her up out of Rider's hands and set her on the counter and Rider disappeared.
"Now, I need some help stirring this. Do you think you can do it?" I asked her and she nodded enthusiastically. I gave her the small mixing bowl and a whisk. I turned my back for .3 seconds, and she spilled it all over her. I couldn't help but laugh, and just let her continue whisking nothing as I continued to cook dinner.
Jace POV:
I was sitting in my study when there was a knock on the door. I turned around and Rider walked in and took a seat.
"What's up Rider?" I asked.
"I want to start changing the law for when Alexa takes over the society." He said.
"Are you sure?" I asked. "She's only 3."
"I know, but I want to be prepared, and get all the details in order before she turns 30." He said.
"Okay." I said. "Let's start." I said and I could tell he was happy about that.
"So I have an idea, but I want to run it by you first." He said and I nodded. "I was thinking, since Herondale's have run the society since it's beginning, that if a female is ever in charge, cause let's be real, it will alternate." He said and I nodded. "So, if a female is in charge, than the man has to take her name. That way Herondale stays in charge."
"I think that's a great idea." I said honestly.
"Really?" He asked surprised.
"Of course. I think it's a great idea, and a good way for our name to continue on in this society." I said.
"Cool." He said and I laughed.
"Any other ideas?" I asked.
"Well, I think that the first born of the Herondale family in this society should have a house." He said. "I mean, whoever Alexa gets paired with will have a house for them, but there is something different about the houses the head of the society gets, and Alexa, and whatever other female becomes the head of this society, should have the same opportunity." He said.
"You make a valid point." I said.
"Sweet." He said and I laughed.
"Honestly Rider, you going to be an amazing head of society." I said. "I know you doubt yourself right now, I doubted myself too, but you have what it takes."
"Thanks dad. I needed that." He said and I nodded. I heard the doorbell ring which meant more people were here.
"We'll continue this later. Let's get downstairs." I said and he nodded. When we got downstairs that kitchen was an utter disaster.
"Mom, what happened?" Rider asked.
"It was Nanna's fault." Alexa said as she pointed her finger.
"Gee, thanks kid." Clary said and everyone laughed. "I just asked for her help."
"You know her flaws." Rider said.
"Oh please, like we kept you away from your flaws." I said and Rider looked at me.
"You let me embarrass myself?" He asked.
"We called it character building." I said and he rolled his eyes.
"Uncle Jon used to make me play sports with him all the time." Clary said. "Pay back sucks." She said and everyone laughed.
"Why don't you all go into the living room, Lena why don't you go give Alexa a bath, and we'll clean up here." I said and everyone nodded in agreement. I walked over to Clary and she smiled up at me. "Even after all these years, and all this flour, you still manage to take my breath away." I said and she laughed.
"Always the charmer Jace Herondale." She said and I kissed her flour-covered nose.
"Only for you Clary Herondale." She laughed and we started cleaning up the floury mess so that we could have dinner.
Time Jump – Twins Give Birth
Clary POV:
We were currently in the hospital waiting for Embry to have her baby, and I was freaking out. I mean, I've been through this with Rider, but this time my kid was actually pushing a baby out, and that was crazy to think about.
I was pacing in the waiting room waiting for Lucas to come out and tell us that he was here. It seemed like they had been in there forever and that he was never going to get here. I just wanted to meet my grandson, that's all I wanted to do. When I heard the doors to the waiting room open, I looked up and there stood Lucas with the biggest smile on his face.
"He's here." He said and I smiled. We all got up and made our way into the room where Embry was. She was holding her little baby, and I just couldn't stop the tears.
"What's his name?" Rider asked.
"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Ezra." Embry said. "Ezra Jonathan Holland. We thought about making his middle name Jace but it didn't sound right so we just went with your real name. I hope that's okay dad."
"It's perfect baby girl." Jace said as he kissed her head. "I'm honored."
"Can I hold him?" I asked and Embry nodded. She handed him over to me and I just couldn't get over how perfect he was.
"I remember when I first held Rider. He was a little heavier than this, but just as cute." I said and everyone laugh.
"I can't help it that I was a big baby." Rider said.
"Yea, but you had to be 10 pounds?" I asked and he rolled his eyes.
"Not my fault us Herondale men grow big." He said as he puffed out his chest and everyone laughed. "Can I hold my nephew?" He asked and I nodded as I handed him over to Rider.
Everyone was getting a chance to hold him when I heard a sharp intake of breath. I looked behind me and Harlyn was doubled over in pain.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"Contractions." Harlyn said.
"You couldn't let me have one day?" Embry said in a teasing voice and Harlyn laughed.
"I need to do something." Harlyn said.
"Of course. We'll get the nurses." I said as Lena ran out into the hallway to get someone. Dominic was holding up Harlyn as she continued to breath heavily. They brought a wheelchair in and wheeled her down the hallway.
"Well, this just turned into an interesting day." Rider said and everyone laughed.
"I'm gonna go check on her." I said and they nodded. I got to her room and the doctor was already looking at her.
"When did your water break Harlyn?" The doctor asked.
"A couple hours ago." She said.
"What?!" I shouted. "Why didn't you tell anyone?"
"Everyone was so worried about Embry, and I didn't want to add worry on top of that. The contractions weren't that bad. I could just suffer through it." She said.
"Well it looks like you're ready to push Harlyn." The doctor said.
"Oh my god." I said. "Okay, good luck sweetie. We'll be with Embry until you're done. Come get us afterwards Dominic." I said and he nodded before I went back to Embry's room.
"How is Lyn?" Embry asked.
"Apparently her water broke hours ago, and she was just sucking it up until you had your baby." I explained to them.
"She always was the tough one." Embry said with a smile.
"She's currently pushing." I said.
"Wow." Embry said. "I guess twins do like to do everything together." Embry said and everyone laughed.
Time Jump – One Hour Later
Clary POV:
Embry was holding a sleeping Ezra, and we were all siting around doing random things just waiting, and when the door opened and Dominic walked in with the biggest smile on my face, every worry I had was gone.
"Would you like to meet her?" Dominic asked and we all nodded. He opened the door further and in wheeled Harlyn holding her baby.
"What are you doing out of the bed?" I shouted.
"She was born about 20 minutes ago. They told me to rest a little before I could come in here. 20 minutes is plenty of time." Harlyn said, and Embry was right, she was the tough one. I was on my ass for hours before I could move after Rider was born. Dominic wheeled Harlyn over to the bed, and Embry scooted over. Dom handed his little baby to Jace who was standing there and he lifted her into the bed. Jace than handed the baby back to Harlyn and she had the biggest smile on her face.
"What's her name?" Jace asked.
"Well, Embry and I decided not to tell each other the names we picked because we wanted it to be a surprise, but we also picked an E name." Harlyn said.
"Classic twin thing." Rider said.
"Everyone, meet Elise Clarissa Matthews." Harlyn said and tears pooled in my eyes.
"She's perfect baby." I said as I kissed Harlyn, than kissed Elise.
"These two are going to be the best of friends. I already know it." Embry said as she held Ezra and Elise next to each other.
We sat in the room and just admired the babies until we had to leave. Jace and I got into bed and I just couldn't believe that today even happened. It seemed so surreal.
"I can't believe Harlyn and Embry had their babies on the same day." Jace said and I laughed.
"I was just thinking that." I said. "But they have done everything together since they were kids. I'm not surprised that they did this together as well."
"I just can't believe Harlyn was in labor for hours and we didn't even know." Jace said.
"Embry was right. She has always been the tough one." I said and Jace kissed the top of my head. I closed my eyes and started to slowly drift asleep when I felt something jump on the bed. I looked down and Buttercup was getting comfy at our feet like she did every night. I leaned my head back on Jace's chest and was lulled to sleep by his steady heart beat, dreaming about spoiling the newest members of the family.
