Jace and I spent six days in Santa Cruz surfing, exploring and planning out our lives together. The tables had turned for us since we were in his home, where he grew up and he was the one showing me everything about his home town. It was refreshing to get to know Jace in that setting. I got to see his old high school, where his parents' old shop was and of course, he showed me all of his favorite surf spots.

On the last day we were in Santa Cruz, Jace finally gained the courage to fulfill his parents' wishes and mix their ashes before spreading them in the ocean where Mavericks was located. I held his hand as we walked down to the shore with two long boards and the urn of mixed ashes. He had told me that it was too difficult when his parents first died to just take two bags of ashes that used to be his parents and spread them. He felt that when he actually let the ashes out of his possession, his parents wouldn't be with him anymore. When he finally realized that his parents would always be with him in his heart, we decided to finally put them to rest in the place where they fell in love.

Jace and I paddled out past the breaking zone—luckily, it wasn't a big day for waves—and sat on our boards while Jace told me his parents' love story. When it was over, I had tears streaming down my face as I watched Jace say a final goodbye to is parents as he dumped their mixed ashes into the water. We sat in silence for a few moments, just listening to the waves and soaking in the beauty around us until Jace finally reached over and pulled me onto his board.

We held each other for what seemed like hours out in the middle of the ocean. We didn't need words. Everything we could possibly want to say to each other hung in the silence between us.

If I had thought I loved Jace before, watching him finally let go of his past and welcome his future with me made me fall in love even more.

We hadn't talked about having a baby again. I was too afraid to bring up the subject even though it seemed like he wanted the same thing, but he could have just been reacting to the idea that someday in the future we could possibly have a baby together. It wasn't like he had said we should make a baby right then and there. He was just open to the idea of me having his baby.

I wasn't even sure when I wanted to have a baby. All I knew was that I wanted a little child that was half me and half Jace with his golden eyes and kind heart. I decided to just leave the subject for another time. When we were both ready to become parents, it would happen and I didn't want it to control our lives. We had the shop and each other and adding a child would only make it better.

At night, I would dream of Jace holding a little girl as they looked out at the waves. When they both deemed the waves worthy, Jace would put her down and take her hand as he snatched up his board and led them out into the waves. When she came into contact with the water, she would grab Jace's leg and hold tightly until he picked her up and held her to get her acquainted with the waves. I finally watched as Jace set her on the front of his board and paddled out to the lineup as she clapped her hands and ran them through the water.

Every time I had this dream, I would wake up with an immense love for Jace. I couldn't wait to watch him raise our child and teach them everything he knows about surfing and shaping boards.

After those six days in Santa Cruz, Jace and I loaded up our boards and bags and set off down the coast. For two weeks, we drove around aimlessly, stopping when we needed to, surfing daily and sleeping wherever we could rest our heads, even if that meant sleeping in the car most nights.

One night, we were sitting on a beach in Malibu, watching the sunset. I was sitting in front of Jace, between his legs with his arms wrapped around me. He buried his face in the crook of my neck and placed a soft kiss there before I turned my head so I could kiss him quickly.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Jace's arms tightened around me and I could feel some tension passing between us. Finally, he broke the silence.

"So, we're in Malibu," he began and I nodded so he would know I was listening. "We're getting pretty close to San Diego." I knew where he was going with this, but I let him continue. "And you haven't called your dad in almost three weeks. I guess I'm just wondering what's going through your mind in regards to seeing him."

"I don't know," I whispered after a pause. "I don't know what I want to do. Part of me wants to see this life that was good enough to replace me, but the other part just wants to leave him hanging like he left me for so many years."

"I'm not going to tell you what to do, but I do think you should hear his side of the story."

"And I want to hear it, but I don't think I can handle walking into his life with his wife and sitting in a house that could have been mine. I don't want to become a part of their lives because I feel like I would be betraying my mom and I don't want to do that."

"I think you should call him and tell him how you feel. Don't leave him waiting for you to show up until you never do. Maybe you can just get some closure and agree to keep in touch without actually having to be a part of each other's lives."

I nodded before taking my phone out of my pocket and dialing my father's number. It rang three times before he picked up.

"Clary, I was beginning to think you weren't going to call me," Valentine answered with a nervous laugh. "Are you and Jace enjoying your time in California? Where are you?"

"We are," I said shortly. "We are in Malibu."

"Oh, you're so close to San Diego. When do you think you'll be coming through? I just want to give my wife enough time to prepare for your visit."

"Here's the thing," I took a deep breath, "I don't think we're going to stop by. I'm sorry, but I don't want to see the life you left mom and me for. I do, however, want to here your side of the story."

"Wow. Um, I wasn't expecting that and I understand you feeling that way, so if you don't want to see me that's fine, but I will tell you my half of the story." He then began his long story explaining how he fell in love with Mom when they were sixteen. He told me of his time as a pro and that when Mom got pregnant, she told him to go and she would be waiting. Finally he told me that when he came back, after I was born, she said he was too late. She sent him away.

My heart broke for the man I had always despised. I had no idea that my mom had sent him away and told him he was too late, but I understood where she was coming from. She thought he had just disappeared and didn't want him to do it again after I had known him as a father. She was just protecting me, as always. When he was finished, I told him exactly that and he agreed that Mom did the right thing in the end.

"So, you see, I really did want to be a part of your life," he said finally. "But I'm glad you and your mother were without me. I don't know what kind of life you would have had if she had just let me waltz back into your life. I understand your animosity toward me and all I want now is to have some semblance of a relationship with my daughter."

"Well, why don't we just talk on the phone for now and maybe someday we can work up to seeing each other in person and spending time together?"

"Honestly, I'll take whatever you will give me at this point."

"Okay, well I'll call you when we get home. Thanks for telling me your story and I hope we can work on being an actual father and daughter."

"Okay, thank you, Clary."

Instead of saying anything in return, I sat on the phone in silence for a moment before he said goodbye and hung up the phone. When I took the phone away from my ear, I let out a sigh of relief and sagged back into Jace's chest and he wrapped his arms around me again. The moon had risen and the sky was dark. I felt a chill creep through my body as Jace tightened his arms around me and pressed his lips against my temple.

"I'm proud of you, Pretty Girl," he whispered into my hair and I nodded. "You did a good thing and I'm proud of you for taking a stand and controlling the situation."

"Jace, I think I'm ready to go home," I whispered into the darkness and felt Jace's hand run up and down my arms. "I want to start our lives together in our home and I miss the shop and our family and friends. I have loved having you all to myself for the past few weeks, but I think it's time for us to go home."

"Why don't we drive back up to Santa Cruz and stay at the house for the night tomorrow and get a flight home the morning after?"

"That sounds perfect." I turned in his arms and wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing my lips to his. "I love you, Cali."

"Clary, I've been meaning to talk to you about something." I could see the apprehension in his eyes, which was odd considering Jace was always confident in everything he did. I cupped his cheeks in my hands and ran my thumbs back and forth against his smooth skin. "When we were in Santa Cruz, you said something when we were in bed. I'm not sure if you remember this or if you were sleeping or not, but you said you wanted to have my baby." I turned my head away from his gaze, but he stopped me and forced me to look in his eyes. "Don't be embarrassed."

"But, I am." I took a deep breath. "We had never even talked about children and I just blurted something out vaguely."

"Clary, I said I wanted you to have my baby and I wasn't lying." I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding. "I want to watch your stomach get bigger as our child grows. I want to teach a little girl how to surf and love her as much as I love her mother. I want to pass on our shop to a boy with your fiery red curls and attitude. I want to give you a family to be proud of."

"I don't think we should plan it. I think we should just let it happen when it does. We still have so much going on in our lives and I don't want to stress about trying to have a baby."

"We'll do whatever you think is right." I nodded and kissed him firmly before standing and reaching down to take his hand as he followed.

"I think we should start practicing…right now." Jace scooped me up in his arms and I kissed his neck as I laughed and he started running to the tent we had set up down the beach.

"Who am I to argue with my pretty girl?"

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and as always, let me know what you think and leave a review! :)