SOOORRRRYY! I have been ditched for a whole week already and I'm trying to make this as good as possible on my own! I did write the previous chapter individually but that's because Harriet and Filia have their own things to get through. Please bare with us! This story might be a little longer than we thought!

Jace's arm wrapped around Clary tighter and tighter. He didn't want her to leave. She couldn't leave him. They got together literally just days ago. The day he died was the day he got back together. It was a miracle that Max had gone hardcore swearing on him that he came back to life. There was something he never mentioned to anyone about blacking out to death though. Something he never told anyone.

"I don't wanna go," whined Clary, just like a young child. Jace felt himself sadden even more as he helped his girlfriend wipe another tear down her face.

"It's okay… you'll get through it. You always do."

"Me? I thought…" Clary's heart sunk.

"Clary, you know why I can't go," said Jace, looking into her eyes. Immediately Clary's hiccuping tears stopped and she leaned away from Jace, her posture perfect.

"No, I don't, Jonathan." Fuck, thought Jace.

"I…" Now that Clary was practically kneeling, he got up and started to pace. He ran his callused fingers through his hair and took a deep breath in and out.

"Well?" pushed Clary. She was always stubborn.

"Argenteus is going to be there and um…"

"You're afraid of my ex?" Clary scoffed, tears completely forgotten.

"NO! Of course I'm not!" Clary quirked up an eyebrow. Her green eyes bore into his golden ones and he came crumbling down. "Ok, so, maybe a little scared. But that's because he's the one who trained you and you can pin me down in a minute. A record no one has ever broken. And if he trained you, who knows what he could do to me!" She sighed. She was hoping for her boyfriend to still have a little dignity after getting her back but now, she wasn't so sure that his self-esteem had moved at all.

"He may have trained me with the sequences and helped me with technique but I was the one who trained myself to perfect it. Even he isn't as good as I am, not meaning to brag, but it's true. I'd say I'd protect and stand up for you but I'm sure your ego is going to take over if I do say that."

"You know me so well," smiles Jace, his cheeky smirk. He was softening.

"Jace, it'll just be a few nights. A week at most that you have to be there. We'll go out all the time and I'll be able to show you around where I've been for the past 2 years. Avoiding Argenteus will be very easy. I know what he does, his whole schedule almost. If it's him you're worried about, you don't have to be." Clary put her hand on his shoulder.

"Do you still like me?" asked Jace.

"I love you, Jace." His head started whirl and soon he was screaming at himself mentally. Jace didn't know whether he didn't want to go because of Argenteus of because of Clary. He knew Clary would do anything to be with him. What he showed her for the past few days… he knew it; but, what about this new Clary. The one that could beat his ass in seconds.

"I… I don't know if I can do it…" he trailed off. He wanted to rip Argenteus's head off right the second he would see him but there was the thought of how he didn't do anything wrong but keep his girlfriend on hold for him and… he made her happy from the start.

"What happened to you?" asked Clary standing up for emphasis. Her heels clacked as she walked around their room. "You were capable of doing anything, practically fearless, and now you're afraid of my ex? What happened? What changed about you? You've always been strong, stronger than me! You jump 30 fucking feet in the air like it's nothing-"

"Now it's 40, but please continue."

"-and you will always have the best looks. It's one ex out of 2 and I've gotten back together with the first one so suck it up because I'm not leaving without you. And if I don't leave, the Clave is going to get more and more involved in this."

Jace stood up with Clary and sighed in defeat.

"Thank you, for that." He pulled her close and let her bury her little red head into his chest which she was still short enough to do. "That reminds me, where did you learn to give pep talks? You've never been a pep talker. Actually, you've never been a talker at all."

Clary shrugged. "I guess i just don't like seeing you sad, or nervous, or angry, or pissed, or-"

"I get it," interrupted Jace as he chuckled. Clary looked Jace directly in the eyes, a serious face full of mixed emotions put on.

"Can you promise me that you'll at least try to get along then. I know that's asking for a lot-"

"Clary, nothing you ask me is too much. Sure he is your ex that you got up to the point of engagement, but you're mine now and after that pep talk, I think I can manage without having to act too much."

They both looked at each other, observing each other from a reasonable length.

"Hm… This Clary is different to the one I use to know," grinned Jace. "Better attitude, better clothes…" he blinked, "better body…"

"… would you like to see…?" Clary was being seductive. Jace had never before seen a seductive Clary though that had been his dirty wish since he saw her that day when she slid down the HK Institute's banisters. It was a huge turn on.

"Fuck yeah," he whispered lifting her legs up from her thighs. Guess where that led to? You probably guessed it… a make out session. They haven't gotten up to sex just yet.

Izzy heard everything. Clary was leaving. She was leaving just as she came. It happened so fast that she started to burst into tears outside of Jace/Clary's bedroom door. No matter what she heard, the sounds of her tears hovered over them.

"What's wrong?" asked Alec as he leaned against the door with her. His face twisted at the moans of what was coming through the door but focused on his sister as much as he could.

"C-C-Clary… sh-she's leav-ving…" said Izzy through her uneven breathing. Alec's eyes widened. His second sister was leaving. It hurt him too. Not as much as to tears but… it felt like an old wound opening up.

"Why?" he wasn't one to jump to conclusions.

"The C-C-Clave," she sobbed even harder. Alec hated the Clave more than anything. The law of Downworlders and Shadowhunters never being together; how they were against everything gay related; and how they saw Downworlders as pointless 'creatures,' not living beings that had emotions and feelings.

"Don't worry, Iz. We'll talk about it later. For now though, can we please go somewhere else. This is becoming very um… disturbing."

Isabelle gives out a small laugh that stops her tears.

"Gladly."

"OMG!" screamed Spadix from the centre platform of the stairs.

"Spadix, please keep your voice down," said her father, Damien as he came up the stairs.

"Sorry!" she yelled back. "Clary's coming back!"

"Spadix," said Damien sternly. "Would you mind coming with me for a moment?" The 18 year old nodded and went with her father to the t.v. room. "This is going to be hard on your brother. I know perfectly well of the situation from the Clave and I do not need this to be more complicated than it's supposed to be."

"Yes, sir!" Spadix smiled with a cheery attitude. She was too excited of her parabatai staying over. The rune was starting to tingle a little and she obviously knew what it was from after that Clave informed her of the 'long distance relationship.' Once that was said, she could barely keep the laughter in.

"Spadix, please. Take this seriously, for Argenteus?" Spadix sighed in defeat, straightened out her dress and belt, then took deep breaths in and out.

"Anything for my brother," she replied slightly calmer on the outside. Inside, her insides were jumping so high her brain would explode in seconds if Damien didn't leave the room within the next few seconds.

"That's my girl," he smiled warningly then walked out of the room and back up the stairs.

"EEPP!" She whisper screamed, then flopped onto the couch.

"OOOOOWWWW!" Came a voice from underneath her.

"Woah! Gent? When did you get here?" She observed his clothes. Oh.

"I was always here. Guess Dad didn't see me." The colour of the couch was the exact same as his clothes.

"No shit," Spadix scoffed as she sat properly on the other end of the couch. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah," smiled Gent. He was genuinely okay, though.

"You're not crying? She broke off an engagement with you and you're not crying?" Spadix's eyebrows rose. "Where is Adam taking you tonight?" she said eagerly.

"We're going clubbing since the last time I went my ex's old-new boyfriend died and came back to life." Gent shrugged and pulled at the hems of his burgundy shirt.

"Argenteus… You will allow me to dress and makeover you up as much as I want, is that understood?" said Spadix like Francesca, their mother.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good." Spadix stood up and straightened out her blue dress, the double thick belt at her waist was getting slightly uncomfortable so she loosened it up by one. "I think they're here!" Spadix instantly ran over to the front of the staircase.

"They?" Gent instantly ran to catch up with Spadix. A blue portal was just coming up and a golden Jace had just stepped through in a loose pirate looking shirt. Gent was questioning in his head how that innocent-ish redhead could fall for such a dick.

There was an awkward silence between all of them as Jace rocked back and forth from his feet.

"Sorry," came a tiny voice from inside the portal. The down-dressed Clary came through the portal. "I forgot my stele." She wore straight legged jeans, a regular t-shirt, and jacket. What sets off her NYC Clary look is her worn out converse and lack of makeup.

"Woah. This is like… déja vu except… you're not soaking wet from rain this time." Spadix pulled Clary in for a tight hug.

"I missed you," said Clary in such a small voice only she could hear.

"So… what's up?" said Jace awkwardly to Argenteus as the two girls were catching up; mostly talking about why Clary was dressed that way.

"I'm going clubbing tonight," said Gent with a blush. The thought of Adam was clouding his mind. This was probably how it felt for Clary, was what he thought. Clary didn't cloud his mind just by one single thought. He'd think of a bunch of other things before Clary.

"With who? You got a little something on your face, by the way," Jace teased.

"What? Where?" Gent pinched his own cheek.

"It's your blush. That definitely means this person isn't just something. That knida sounds wrong 'cause I can't specify whether it's a girl or a guy since you're bi. That's so complicated." Jace shook his head as Gent laughed and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"It's a guy. Adam. He's a- he's a close friend of mine. He was there the night you um… died? and came back to life." It was his turn to rock back and forth on his high tops.

"Ah, good times. I will never forget how proud I was to hear my 9 year old brother swear me back to life." Jace dramatically put a hand on his chest and stared up at the chandelier in the centre of the foyer.

The both of them laughed. Jace knew how to make a moment not awkward and how to purposely make it so. It was a gift he was proud of, but in front of Clary, he'd better watch his tongue.

"Guys!" Spadix yelled to get the two men's attention. "Argenteus, I need to get you ready since you need to look hot and pass as gay. And since I've never dressed up a gay guy before, it'l take me some time."

"Izzy and I have done that loads of times with Alec," interrupted Jace. "It's like… the funniest and most interesting thing to do ever."

"You're into playing dress up?" Clary held in her laughter as much as she could but was clearly failing.

"To help gay guys, yes. It's actually really funny. I prefer watching than doing though. That way, I don't have to move. And Izzy is really fussy with coloured jeans."

"Well, once Clary has given you a proper tour of this place come up to my room. We'll see how it goes then." Jace gave a nod as he mouthed a 'good luck' to Gent before walking away with Clary.

Once the couple were out of the room and in the kitchen, Spadix asked:

"No pain?"

"Not as much as I thought I'd feel," replied Gent with a sad smile. All he ever wanted was for Clary to be happy and there she was. Happy.

"Adam is really rubbing off on you, huh?" Spadix nudged his elbow.

"Just get me something to wear already. I literally look like the couch." Spadix laughed and hooked her arm in his so she could pull him up the stairs.

"You okay?" asked Clary once they were out of earshot.

"I guess he's not so bad," replied Jace. "But you still dated him," he added. Clary slapped the side of his shoulder.

"I dated him because of you, remember?" Jace rubbed where she had hit him.

"So? You still dated him. And he's gay!" He protested. Clary rolled her eyes.

"He's bi and I trusted him with… everything faster than I ever did with you. He's got quite a lot of qualities that you clearly don't have." Jace's mouth gaped open.

"How could someone be better than me?" Clary rolled her eyes again.

"Never mind. Le'ts just keep walking around." Clary showed him the outdoor training centre first since she knew he'd be interested in it. She thought about taking him to the roof but she was afraid that the setup of the roof would be just as she and Argenteus had left it. That was their special place, and it always would be.

After walking around a little more, they finally made it up to Clary's bedroom across Spadix's.

"You still up to seeing Argenteus?" Clary was being hopeful. It wasn't for her, but for Spadix. Spadix was her parabatai and with Gent as her brother, she couldn't afford any conflict between him. With Jace living there too, he had to get along with Gent as well. If not, that would add to the list of conflicts.

Clary hadn't properly spoken to Argenteus since the day at the back of the school and she broke it off with him completely. She didn't know how broken he was inside, or whether he was since he was going clubbing with Adam tonight. It confused her, but she was wiling to try as well. Try to get things back to the way they were. Not the relationship kind of way but in a friendship that happened for a few hours before they made out with each other.

"I promised I would try," said Jace as he stood up from the balcony couch. He reached a hand out for Clary's and they walked together across the hall.

"Spadix?" Clary knocked.

"Come in!" she called back. As Clary tilted the handle, she embraced herself for the impact of bright colours and a shit load of makeup or clothes. Forgetting to warn Jace, he squinted his eyes until he adjusted. The Sight rune made it harder to adjust but he managed in the end, as Clary could tell.

On the bed were the least of 3 outfits laid out neatly. The rest of the eliminated clothes were set aside to the back of the bed and hanging from chairs or the headboard.

Argenteus was facing Spadix in white jeans, his signature vans, and a leather vest over a second skin red tee. The white jeans matched his hair and the tee matched his red vans.

Jace and Clary sat on the bed next to Spadix. They scrutinized every part of Gent. Gent had his fists balled up by his sides in anticipation, clearly wanting this outfit to be the perfect one after trying on so many.

"Is the leather vest really necessary?" asked Clary. Spadix quirked up an eyebrow. "I mean, when you're clubbing you want to be able to move around, right? And it's covering his abs which I'm sure Adam would love to see." Argenteus's eyes grew wide as Clary had easily complimented him. Well, it was implied.

"You have a point…" Spadix gestured for him to take it off. Gent shrugged it away and placed it gently on the desk chair.

"Jace?" said Spadix, wanting his opinion. Jace tapped chin.

"Keep the jeans. Just not the red," he said simply. Everyone waited for him to explain. "With your pale skin and silveriness the whole outfit is clashing… except for the jeans."

"And what would you suggest then?" Spadix asked, clearly underestimating the golden Shadowhunter.

"Go with blue. It'll make your eyes stand out and it'll look like you actually are trying to impress someone." Jace rampaged through the eliminated clothes and threw one at Silver Boy. Sighing, he went into the walk-in closet to dress. Once he came out, the shirt actually showed off his abs and he was wearing blue vans instead of red ones.

"Better," smiled Clary. Argenteus smiled back warmly, but they both still felt edgy.

"Accessory time!" cheered Spadix. She ran halfway to her vanity drawer then realized… she had nothing for guys. "Let's go to your room." The four fanned out and went to the room at the end of the hall.

Immediately, Gent went over to his closet and brought out a simple wooden box that held every accessory he ever owned.

"Clary, you handle this one." Jace's eyebrows knitted together as Spadix pushed her over next to Gent. Spadix gave Jace a look and him simply backed down.

Clary remembered all of the accessories he had. Some, she bought with him. Others, he had before she arrived.

"Dogtag is a necessity," she said placing the silver chain over Gent's head. "Double loop leather bracelet on the left. Watch on the right. We don't want you getting too carried away on the first date." She strapped them on quickly. "Banenyght ring," she said slipping it onto his left middle finger. "It shows that you've got some class and family pride."

"Well done," smiled Spadix.

"You're missing something…" said Jace. He went up to the two and looked through the box. He found a simple silver stud earring and handed it to Gent. "Alec wears it every time he's around Magnus." He put the earring in Gent's hand and leaned forward so he was just at his ear. "Says it turns him on."

"Stop scaring him," said Clary as she pushed him back. Gent's face turned bright red.

"Just trying to help," retorted Jace as he put his hands up in surrender and took his place next to Spadix.

"You look great," complimented Clary as Gent had got the earring on.

"Thanks," he smiled back. Clary looked at Spadix and Jace. Her eyes gave them the message. Jace was hesitant but Spadix forced him out.

"We'll give you guys a minute," smirked Spadix. Not in the 'you're gonna hook up' kind of way but, 'I hope you two are okay' kind of way.

Once they heard the door close, Clary and Gent looked at each other in the eyes.

"Are you okay?" she asked first. Her hands pulled at them hem of her t-shirt.

"I guess so…" Argenteus began to pace. "You were right," he started. "We didn't move from where we first started. We did the same things we did the first few weeks we were together and we hadn't gotten into a single fight. Adam was the one who said that the heartbreak may be bad, but getting back together is what you're really supposed to be looking for. That's what makes a relationship grow, but I guess we never did that so we stayed in the same place."

Clary sighed and put a hand on his arm to stop him from walking.

"I'm glad you understand, but it wasn't until Isabelle pointed it out and Spadix agreed with her that I could really see what wasn't happening. If it weren't for your sister and my, not exactly, biological sister, then I wouldn't have done what I did." Gent looked at her in surprise. "I'm not sure if I regret breaking up with you or not," she said quickly before he could interrupt. "You fixed my broken heart and you made me happy every single day ever since that night. Up till the day I broke up with you, you made me happy, and even after that. I guess it just wasn't in the same way it was 3 years ago."

"Spadix was right. This really is déja vu," he chuckled. Gently, he placed a loving hand on hers. "We're cool?"

Clary grinned. "We're cool," she repeated. Out of habit, she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. "Sorry…" she blushed as she pulled back.

"It's okay," he smiled. "I was about to do the same thing until you did it first." They both laughed and hugged it out.

"Have fun tonight," said Clary as they walked slowly towards the door. "You deserve it."

"Clary…" Argenteus brought her backwards slightly, then stepped into the walk-in closet just incase Spadix and Jace were right outside the door. "The Institute is going to be completely empty tonight. Spadix is going out for a date, my parents are back in Alicante, and none of the other Shadowhunters like Aria, Selina, or Kurt are staying here tonight. It's deserted."

Clary's mouth opened wide to say something but Gent cut her off:

"Please tell me you understand what I'm saying because I don't want to have to spell it out for you."

Clary nodded and stepped out of the closet with Gent.

"You have no idea how much I love you," she said quietly.

"I love you too."

Saying that made them feel a whole lot better. They didn't mean it romantically but… they were close enough to say it so it wasn't awkward.

As they exited Gent's room, they went their separate ways. Clary to her room, and Gent to the club.

"I'm leaving! Be good you two!" called Spadix as the engine of her motorcycle revved.

"We will! Have fun!" yelled back Jace as she left the HK Institute's premises.

Quietly, they shut the door behind them, only to hear it echo. It was completely empty.

"So… dinner?" suggested Jace.

"Yeah…" Clary awkwardly walked towards the kitchen, her converse squeaking along the marble floor. All Jace could do was follow at a respectful pace, completely aware of what was going to happen to night. The only thoughts he had now were:

Look at dat assssssss.

"You didn't tell anyone, did you?" asked Spadix's date. He stepped out of the alleyway and adjusted his jeans.

"Nope, they don't expect a thing. It's just you and me tonight. All we have to do is avoid the Devil's Tavern and the Institute which clearly, since you're a Downworlder, would naturally want to avoid." Her date chuckled as they walked side by side towards a private park in a mansion filled neighbourhood.

"Great, because what I have planned has nothing to do with those places." Quickly picking her up, he ran to the top of the mountain. The skies were clearly towards the peaks.

Her date speedily brought out a blanket hidden behind a tree and lay it flat against the grass. He took out a basket from behind another nearby tree and opened it up to reveal finger sandwiches.

"Stargazing," he smiled. As they lay down, Spadix leaned against her dates' chest while his arm wrapped around her somewhat bare shoulder.

"How'd you know I liked stargazing?" asked Spadix. It was a hobby only Clary knew. It was astronomy, that she was interested in. The planets, solar system, universe, stars, constellations, all of that. She loved it. Not even Gent knew it.

"It was the most interesting first date I could come up with without being too cliché. You know, there's going to the movies, strolling in parks, eating at fancy restaurants, though I can't actually do that. So, I figured doing something quiet and private would be better."

Spadix chuckled. "The sky is so much clearer up here," she sighed. "Look," she pointed up. "There's the archer." Her date smiled, playing with her long locks of dark brown hair.

"You're so smart," smiled her date. Spadix returned an equal smile of appreciation and continued to point out different stars to the inexperienced vampire date of hers. She knew she was in love, no doubt about it, but she didn't know how long it'd last.

READ THIS FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER TO BE UP WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK!: CLACE LEMON SCENE? YES? NO? WE'LL MARK IT LIKE WE DID LAST TIME IF YES, WE WON'T WRITE IT AT ALL IF NO. IT'LL BE OPTIONAL TO READ SINCE IT WON'T INFLUENCE THE STORY, BUT IF YOU WANT SOME LEMONS, WE WOULDN'T MIND ASKING OUR OLD FRIEND TANISHA TO HELP OUT. WE WOULD LIKE THE LEAST OF 10 REVIEWS ON YES OR NO. MESSAGES ARE ALSO WELCOME. THANK YOU! You may proceed to read the AN below.

Good? Bad? I did this one alone so hopefully it turned out okay. If anyone wants to shout out any ideas, that'd be great! Though we have plenty, we wouldn't mind prolonging this story a little more. It can just be minor little hiccups and stuff, nothing that will affect the story too greatly to mess with the storyline.

~Raquel