Okay, okay. I am so sorry this took extra long!
"Isaac!" I gasp, looking up at him. Half of his face is bandaged up, the other side sporting a black eye. An arm is already sporting a bionic replacement, visible as he's wearing a T-shirt. The onyx black of the carbon fibre instrument gleams in the sunlight, a stark robotic contrast. He lifts his 'normal' arm in a wave, smiling down at me. I shoot up to my feet and launch myself at him, he catches me and hugs me.
"Oof! It's good to see you too but I'm a little battered," he says, and so I release him. His bionic arms stays around my shoulders and he flushes in embarrassment.
"Sorry, I haven't really gotten used to it yet," He apologizes before slowly lifting the arm back to his side.
"You're alive!" I exclaim, stating the very obvious. He glance down at himself.
"Really?" He asks, "I'm a- I'm ghost!" he laughs before smiling widely. "Yes I'm really here,"
"How?"
"Okay it's a pretty long story but I knew before I went into the mission that I was not going to come out officially alive. It was a predetermined death."
"Why?"
"Let's just say there are some guys out there who really do want me dead. I mean, I'm out of action now, but this is better than actually dyeing. I lost my arm in an explosion - that happened after you guys got out by the way,"
I just smile back at him.
"Well it's good to see you alive,"
"You too,"
We start walking back to where Jace is waiting for me, when the realisation suddenly hits me. I stop walking and he frowns at me.
"Hey, hey. Wait a minute. You knew you weren't going to die," I point out.
"Well I mean I still could have died,"
"But it was most likely that you would survive,"
"Well…."
"You kissed me!"
He blushes a deep colour.
"I'm sorry! It was a heat of the moment thing!"
"You kissed me!"
"I'm so, so sorry. I mean I wasn't thinking straight and-"
"Fine, fine. It's okay." I decide.
"Really?"
I roll my eyes.
"You saved my sister's life, you kissing me wasn't that big of a deal,"
He looks down, rubbing his neck with his other arm as we keep walking.
"So what are you going to do now?" I ask.
"I don't know. I'll find something, might try out pottery. Who knows?"
"How bad is it?" Jace groans once he's woken up from being under the strong anaesthetics. He peaks open his eyes to find mine, I squeeze his hand.
"Not too bad actually, they managed to salvage everything above your knee," I supply for him. He squints at me and gives me a weak smile.
"Well at least it doesn't hurt anymore,"
"Exactly, that's what is most important. We can finally move on,"
"And I get a sexy, sexy new metal leg,"
I roll my eyes at him.
"You know you love me,"
"Yes, sadly I do. Very much,"
"I love you too,"
"Take a nice deep breath and slowly stretch out the leg," Jace's new physiotherapist asks Jace. My own physiotherapist for when I still had crutches discharged me last week, as my leg was healed enough to walk on. It still hurt but I didn't mention it much. Jace stretches out his new robotic leg with a determined expression. It was all paid for as compensation from the CIA and it was very high tech stuff. The leg is attached to his brain signals, so he can stimulate the nerve endings and make the leg move when he wants it to. It looks like it takes some effort but eventually the leg does what Jace 'tells' it to.
"It worked!" He exclaims, surprised. The last few weeks without the bottom of his leg had really been tough on him and I was so grateful that he could get this.
"Now if we work on this for the next few days you'll be able to walk like normal,"
Jace looks apprehensive.
"It's cool, you've got this," I encourage him.
"Yeah, I've got it,"
"Jace!" I cry, turning back to as Jace trips and falls down the pavement. I hurry back over to him, ignoring the bus waiting for us. I hadn't realised I had been running for it.
"Clary I'm okay," he says, evening out his breath as he sits on the pavement.
"But your-"
"I'm okay," he snaps this time, I blanch and his face morphs into an apologetic one.
"It's not your fault," he says, "I tried to run and I guess I forgot I didn't have two complete legs,"
I nod and offer my hand to him, which he takes and heaves himself up.
"I'm sorry," I apologise.
"For what?"
"For running, I'm sorry I forgot and-"
He cuts me off by slamming his lips into mine, hand cupping my face. I respond, but pull away first.
"You can't keep doing that!"
"I so can," he smiles devilishly, I roll my eyes. "Anyway, you were worrying. I don't need you to worry about me."
"Maybe I'm worried for you,"
He gives me the twinkling, melt your heart look.
"Well, I'm not going anywhere, besides it's my job to worry about you,"
He says, entwining his hands with mine.
"What's there to worry about?"
"Small midgets getting lost in crowds…other men noticing how beautiful you are…"
"Oh shut up!"
"Never,"
"Clary! Clary! Clary!" Jace squeals like a five year old girl, as he jumps up and down.
"Clary! Clary! Look at this!" He cries enthusiastically, jumping up and down with the leg which worked perfectly.
"You're doing awesome Jace! It's so much better!"
He tries skipping with the leg, which doesn't really work and he stumbled. I catch him before he hits the ground, steadying him again.
"You can't climb Mount Everest just yet Jace,"
"But I can try!" He exclaims, his eyes gleaming with hope. "I can run now-and walk!"
"I'm really proud of you, you know,"
His eyes are practically beaming as he looks down at me, kissing the top of my forehead.
"I'm proud of you too,"
Alec
"Your friends are very talented singers," Magnus comments, flipping through some of the footage of that one concert gig that Clary had done with her sister. He was sprawled out across his sparkly pink couch, momentarily distracted from 16 and Pregnant to look at the footage yet again.
"You asked Clary and she said maybe," I remind him, picking Chairman Meow off of the couch so that I can sit next to my boyfriend.
"Practically a yes," Magnus replies, all too optimistically.
"Come on, that girl has been through some crazy stuff. I mean, these guys with guns came into my house and tied me up!"
"And it was all very traumatic I'm sure, but I don't see why that is stopping her from reaching her potential. She could be so great!"
"Maybe you just have to give it some time,"
He grumbles and I roll my eyes.
"You're turning sentimental," Magnus comments, eying me up. "I thought you didn't like her very much,"
"Well Jace loves her…and anyway I can't keep hating my future sister in law,"
Magnus almost chokes.
"They're engaged!"
"Going to be," I correct. "Jace was going all soppy and asking Izzy for location advice."
"How romantic! I'll have to have an input into the wedding plans." He gasps, excitedly. "They can be the love struck couple!"
"This isn't the Hunger Games,"
Magnus chuckles.
"If it was I would totally be the guy with the gold eyeliner,"
"And I would probably be dead,"
"Nah, I'd sponsor you,"
"And then I'd die,"
He wraps he arms around me lazily, as if he was a cat stretching in the sun.
"Now, now Alexander. What have we discussed about your outlook on life?"
"To be more optimistic," I grumble, feeling my ears turning pink.
"Exactly. You will survive the Hunger Games. I will win the lottery. Clary will sign onto my record deal,"
I roll my eyes as he stares at the screen wistfully.
"One day,"
Clary
"Clary! It's my birthday soon!" Phin cries, bouncing up and down and tugging on my sleeve. "Can I have a party, pleeease!?"
"I don't see why not,"
"This is so exciting! I've never had one before! I'm going to invite all the class!"
"Have you asked Maryse yet?"
She shakes her head and looks at me worriedly.
"She'll let me have one, right?"
"I'm sure she will,"
"I'll go ask then," she resolves, scurrying off to find Maryse. Maryse has been my saviour over these past few months. After a bit of complicated legalities, she was allowed to become both of our guardians and has been housing us since. Of course it wasn't really a squeeze, seeing as the house was huge anyway, but it as very generous of her all the same. I had offered her the little money I had saved up in the old house but she refused, saying that I had earned it. I have to admit it is a bit hard to hand over Phin to her and I sometimes think I take charge a bit too much. She understands why though and we think it'll only be matter of time before I'm completely comfortable with letting her go. It's true that I can't stay here all my life, I'm going to have to completely leave Phin with her when I finish high school. Which I am okay with. It's just a little hard to think about sometime because Phin has played such an important part in my life before.
"What's this about a party?" Jace asks, from behind me as his arms comes round my waist and his chin rests on my head. I sink into his embrace.
"Phin wants a birthday party,"
"What's the theme?"
"I don't think she's decided that yet,"
"I could be Robocop if we have to dress up,"
I laugh.
"It'll probably be Disney themed,"
"Well then I'll be Elsa and you can be Anna,"
"Wow, most guys would go for Hans or Kristof,"
"Hans was a prick and Kristof…well actually he was blonde…"
"Good point,"
"I always make the good points,"
"Sure, Jace. Sure,"
"This is the bestest birthday party ever!" Phin exclaims, dressed up as Elsa. I had indeed become Anna, but Jace was being Hiccup from How To Train Your Dragon as Max had pointed out that he even had the leg missing (Yes it's DreamWorks, but none of the kids were going to care). He was being really sweet with the kids and had ended up with Tyler who Izzy dressed up as Tinkerbelle. Because, 'apparently' it was the last costume for a six month old left in the store.
"Who's eight?" I ask, ruffling her hair.
"I am!"
"Cake! Cake!" Max squeaks, followed by a chorus of other cute little eight year olds. I go into the kitchen to the find the cake, where I see Maryse lighting the candles and Jace feeding Tyler some baby formula. The poor kid's dignity has sadly gone out the window from a young age, as he sits there oblivious in his green fairy costume. Jace looks up at me and smiles as he cradles his son in his arms.
"Right time to sing Happy Birthday!" Maryse exclaims, carrying the cake towards the living room. Jace throws me a wink and I wink back before helping keep order in the chaos of children. It was typical for arguments to happen, epically since Phin had chosen pass the parcel, I don't think all the kids quite understand the rules. Phin was having a good time which was most important; she's now got all I ever wished for her. A happy home, an actually family and most importantly she's safe.
Izzy
"Good morning!" I greet Simon, who's dressed in his nerdy Darth Vader shirt. He smiles when he sees me jogging out of the house.
"Good morning," he replies, giving me a quick kiss, before we set off to run. I like running, especially with Simon with me. He was so supportive and amazing and loving and….everything! We reach the park out of breath and Simon collapses onto the floor, face red and sweaty. I lie down rather more gracefully next to him, entwining my attractively sweaty hands with his. The wind cools us down immensely and I close my eyes, soaking in the atmosphere. The feel of the wind on my face, the sound of the trees rustling, the smell of fresh air and the grass beneath my back that tickled my arms: it all made me feel alive. After the hour in that horrid building that I will never speak of again, everything made me feel grateful to be alive. To be able to feel, touch, hear. To be able to lie here next to the guy I love more than anything else in the world. If you asked Jace he'd Simon was no-where close to my type, but he is my type. After all, opposites attract right?
"What are you thinking about?" Simon asks. I open my eyes and smile at him.
"You,"
"All good things I hope?"
I laugh, Simon could do that for me.
"Of course,"
He reaches up and kisses me, he tasted like apples. He breaks away suddenly.
"You do realise we're in the park…."
"…yeah,"
"Like in the public, public park, on the floor…"
"Yeah?"
"Okay," he says and leans down again, but his watch bleeps.
"We should get back before Jace sends the wolves after me,"
"Good idea,"
Clary
"…was murdered in 1811," Mr Starkweather drones on. Murder. I glance around the classroom, self conscious. What if they all found out? It's been on my mind constantly. Jace doesn't even know he's living with a murderer. "…killed by the person closest to him,"
Killed, killed, killed. I killed him. Shot him in the head. The recurring nightmares threaten to draw me in again and I squeeze my eyes shut trying to shut it out. BANG! I stand up suddenly, my chair scraping across the floor as all eyes turn to me.
"Clarissa?"
I say nothing before leaving the classroom in a hurry, accidentally catching Jace's worried eyes in the process. I run, taking off down the corridor. Murderer. I sprint flat out, skidding around corridors with no destination in mind but to escape from the thoughts poisoning my mind. Shot him. With a gun. Shot him like Malachi shot my mother. He didn't feel any remorse. I don't feel any remorse.
"Clary!" I hear Jace yell from behind me. I keep running, spurred on by the sound of his shoes squeaking along the floor. Or one shoe, one robot foot. That was my fault to. Don't stop, keep running.
"Don't run away from me," Valentine yells. I keep running, although there is no where to go. He would always find me. Someone grabs my arm and spins me around. I rip myself out of their grip, propelling myself towards the floor. I land on my hands and spin around. I cower as the man stands above me. He's back. I didn't kill him after all. He's going to kill Jace and-he raises his hand and I flinch back, moving away from him as fast I can on my hands. My back hits some lockers and I curl up, pulling my legs up against my chest. Don't hurt me, don't hurt me, don't hurt me. I deserve it though, I killed him. BANG! I clutch at my head, trying to get it to stop. I sense someone in front of me and I shrink back, smaller, lockers pressing into my back.
"Cherry it's Jace. It's just Jace," Jace whispers. I look up, my watery eyes latching onto his worried ones. I nod. His arms come around my shoulder and he hugs me close into his chest.
"What's wrong?" He asks, hands rubbing my back comfortingly.
"…I-b-back at the place, I-"
"It's okay, it's okay," Jace coos. "It's all in the past now. He can't hurt you anymore,"
"But Jace, I-I…I killed him,"
"No, you didn't Clary. It wasn't your fault,"
"No you don't understand. I killed him. I shot him in the head,"
He looks at me with shocked eyes
"H-he had shot Phin and I didn't even think-I just pulled the trigger. I killed him,"
"And if you hadn't shot him what would have happened?"
"I-I don't know!"
"He would've killed her. You would have never forgiven yourself. Clary, after all those things he did to you, no-one is going to blame you. I definitely don't. You did the brave thing, you protected your sister."
"It was still wrong-"
"You're not going to get punished for it if that's what you're worried about. The CIA had permission and so no-one can be held accountable,"
I sigh, leaning into him.
"I know. It's just, my mum was shot and-"
"No. Clary you are not a murderer. The man shot your mother was a monster. Valentine was a monster. You are not to blame for what you did,"
I sink in his words. It felt better that I had the weight taken off my chest, but I still felt a little guilty. Although Jace's words made me feel ten times lighter.
"I love you, and this doesn't change a thing," he reassures me, always managing to make me fall even more in love with him, even though I didn't think it was possible.
Izzy
"I'm going to break it off," My mother decides, looking towards me for support, the assurance that I was okay with this. I nod.
"Okay,"
"What about the others?"
"Well…Clary already knows and dad's almost never home so it doesn't really make much difference. I think that's the point in the end isn't it?"
She nods.
"I don't really want to do it, but now you're all more mature and not so dependent. It seems naturally the best time. The thing is, I think I still love him. I still care about him,"
She sighs and I hug her.
"But this needs to happen. He has this flashy new job in Italy and….yes. It's for the best,"
"I fully support your decision,"
Luke
"Hey Clare-bear, it's been a while," I say, coming into the living room where Clary looked to be trying to teach Phin how to play Chess. She immediately launches into my arms, making me stagger back a few feet. She looks so different from the last time I saw her. So much happier….whilst I'm happy for her, it fills me with shame. She is practically my daughter and I abandoned her with abusive Valentine. I should have seen it; I should have known he wouldn't be able to cope. He had always been teetering on the rails.
"How are you?" I ask, when we break away.
"I'm great!" she responds enthusiastically.
"Look I'm so sorry, I didn't-" I try to apologise.
"Don't-" She says quietly.
"But Valentine was my friend. I should have known. To think that…" Some of the things she must have been through…
"Luke, you're here now, I'm safe now. It's all I need." She responds certainly.
"Okay…okay." I nod, accepting that I made a mistake and now I have to honour Clary's choices. She deserves everything I can give her. Jocelyn deserves to know I tried my best for her daughter.
"I'm here now. You can ask for anything you want,"
"A pony?"
"Okay, maybe not everything…"
"But is a trip to the farmhouse feasible? Phin has never been,"
"Of course. I would love to take you,"
"Thanks Luke," she says, smiling widely.
"Hey Luke person!" Phin pipes up, I turn to the youngest Fairchild. "Do you know to play chess?"
"Phin, I know how to play chess!" Clary exclaims.
"Yeah but can you teach me how to play chess?"
Clary makes a frustrated noise which makes me laugh.
"Okay kiddo, I'll try to explain it to you,"
Clary
"I hope we can be on better terms after our last meeting," Mr Carstairs says, offering me a biscuit from his side of the desk. I smile.
"I'm sorry I'm stormed out, I had a lot of things going on,"
"So I've heard," he pauses, giving me a sincere look, "And I am sorry that I did not help you sooner,"
I wave it off.
"It's okay. There's not much you could have done. What happened, happened,"
"Indeed,"
A little silence ensues before he talks again.
"I imagine it must still haunt you though,"
I shrug.
"I don't think something as big as this is ever really going to go away,"
He nods in agreement.
"You are wise, much like my fiancée." He comments with a smile, the gleam in his eye telling me that he loves his fiancée very much, "and I am here to help you try to deal with how you feel now,"
I nod.
"So, how do you feel?"
"I'm still a little scared I guess, sometimes it just gets a bit too much. Like I'll have a nightmare and I'll just be right back there again."
"It is a usual response, but I believe it can be fixed. You are strong."
"Really? Because I'm not sure, I keep having these breakdowns and-"
"Clary if I had been in your shoes I'm sure I would be having those too. You are strong and you will overcome this. I have faith in you."
I must still look doubtful as he says sincerely.
"If you believe you can overcome this you will. I believe it," he smiles, "Jace believes it, Maryse believes it. Do you?"
I sigh.
"Ok yes. I believe it,"
"Good. That's exactly the attitude I need,"
"Clary I have something to show you," Jace tells me one Saturday, catching me once I'd just finished my homework.
"What is it?"
"You have to come see,"
He leads me by the hand out the door and towards his motorbike. I hadn't been on a bike in forever and it feels like second nature to slip on the bike behind him.
"Where are we going?" I ask.
"You're just going to have to trust me," Jace yells over the rumble of the engine. I sigh and rest my head on his shoulder. When he parks I lift my head, stunned to see myself back on my old street.
"Jace…."
"I know, I know. We're not going there, trust me," he reassures me, guiding me towards his grandmas house. I sigh.
"Your grandma, as sweet as she is, is a little but of an anti-climax."
He chuckles and moves over to the back of the building where all the fire exit stairs are and starts climbing. I grab his hand and follow him, surprised by his agility with his leg. At the very top is a ladder which I recognise that leads to the rooftop, his eyes gleam as he looks back at me before climbing up. I follow him and gasp when I reach the top and onto the roof.
"Jace? What is all this?" I ask, astonished. The rooftop is decorated with beautiful shining candles, dotted around with fairy lights and lanterns. Shining like a thousand stars. Jace takes my hands and faces me.
"Jace…."
"Clary, I have been a jerk, an asshat, an egotistical human being, someone with no real direction or purpose. I still remember that first day, new school, new beginning. New found appreciation of a certain redhead's spitfire nature, brought out by me merely sitting in your seat. I remember the gorgeous girl I misunderstood at the club and was too blind to see the truth. I remember the way you came and helped me find my most prized possession, without any reason to do so. You were just that kind. I remember all those petty arguments over a song that you already had sorted. I remember meeting you in that little janitors cupboard. I remember chasing the thief down the street and ending up kissing her instead. I remember our first date at my beach house, a place I haven't shared with anyone else. I remember the way you brought me and my son back together. I remember the feeling I felt with you in my arms in that burning building and I knew I never wanted to let you go again. With all that said, I hope to have many more memories to remember and share with you."
He gets down on one knee and I gasp.
"Little Red Cherry Bandit. It would be an honour to marry someone as wonderful as you. I know I'm still an idiot and I know I have my flaws, but I only ask one thing."
He takes a little box out of his pocket and my heart thunders inside my chest. Apprehensive and disbelief surrounding me, he wasn't going to…?
"Will you marry me?" he says, opening out the little box with a ring nestled on top. I delay for a second, staring at the ring cushioned inside the box. It was his ring. His family ring and he was giving to me. I snap out of it soon enough to give my answer.
"Yes. Of course, yes!"
He slips the Herondale ring onto my finger and stands up. I launch myself at him and he catches me lithely, swinging me around. After a while he sets me down and engulfs me in a passionate kiss, I meld into him. The world still spins and the hot fire connecting us together is still as strong as the first time we ever kissed. I can never get enough of Jace. He lets go and rests his forehead on mine.
"I love you, so, so much." I gush.
"I love you too, Clary Herondale."
The End
Right so, this IS the end of this story. I do however have a SEQUEL coming out after this, which will be when Phin is a lot older etc.
Thank you for all being so awesome and supportive! Thank you to anyone who reviewed, followed and favourite! I love each and every one of you!
