Thank you to all the readers and all the people who have added this story to their favorites and alerts! It makes me feel all warm and fluffy inside. :D Keep them and the reviews coming…they really do make my day!
I apologize for the delay in posting…but I've been busy with some very exciting things!! I hope you enjoyed the fluff—a bit more here and then some…other stuff to lead further into what's going on with Jace. Enjoy (and review!!)
Chapter Songs:
Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer
Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve
After pulling Jace's t-shirt over her head, Clary crawled around on the floor, searching for the rest of her clothing. She had gathered all but the elusive pair of black lace cheekies. Good thing Jace's shirt came almost to her knees. Frustrated, she let out a huff of air.
Jace cleared his throat. "Looking for these?"
Clary turned to see him, sitting on the floor, dressed in only his jeans, twirling the panties around one finger. She crawled over to him, placed her hands on either side of his legs, and reached out to take them from him. Just as she was about to grab them, he snatched his hand back and held it out of reach.
"Hmm, I think I'm going to keep these."
Clary sighed. "Give them to me, Jace."
He smiled. "What's the magic word?"
"Now."
He furrowed his brow. "No, I don't think that's it."
"Why do you always have to be such a tease?"
He grinned. "Because I'm insanely good at it."
"Could your ego be any bigger?"
He feigned a hurt expression. "Of course it could. I'm not even really trying. Oh, how you insult me!"
Clary couldn't hold back a laugh any longer. "Fine. You win. Please?"
Jace shook his head. "Not good enough anymore."
Clary frowned. "I already said please, what more do you want to say?"
"Maybe," he leaned forward and brushed his nose against hers, "I don't want you to say anything."
Clary grinned and closed the distance between them, kissing him lightly before pulling away.
"There, was that so hard?" He handed her back the panties.
She scowled at him, slipped the underwear back on, and turned around, leaning her back against his chest. "You could have just asked me to kiss you."
"Where's the fun in that?"
"It's not always about what's fun. Maybe just the fact that we can communicate clearly and precisely would be a good thing."
Jace's arms tightened around her. "Sometimes words are overrated."
She turned and cocked her head up to look at him. He bent and placed a small kiss on the end of her nose. Smiling, she lifted her chin to kiss him again. "I guess," she said before turning to face out once more.
"So." Jace reached forward and plucked the miniskirt out of Clary's hand. "Just what was this all about and whose eyes do I have to gouge out for looking?"
Clary groaned. "I made the mistake of telling Isabelle she could have free reign over my wardrobe last night. Believe me, no one regrets it more than me."
"Hmm." He placed the skirt back in her hands. "It was pretty nice actually."
"You liked it?"
"Clary, I am a man remember? Of course I like clothing that covers almost nothing. But, do I like other people seeing you in stuff like that—hmm, not so much."
Clary glanced back up again. "Jealous?"
"Excessively."
She smiled. "Good."
He raised his brows. "Good? You like me being jealous?"
"Hell yes I do! What, are you kidding?"
"Why?"
Clary shrugged. "It's not fair for me to be the only one."
"You're jealous?"
"Constantly."
"Again the million dollar question—why?"
"Are you serious?"
"Don't I look serious?"
She rolled her eyes. "Are you gonna make me say it?"
A smile tugged at one corner of his mouth. "Say what?"
Clary whipped around, straddled his lap, and slung her arms around his neck. "You're such an ass—and I'm not going to say it."
He chuckled and brushed aside a strand of hair that had fallen over her cheek. "It's okay. You don't have to say it, I already know."
"Oh yeah? What do you already know?"
He shrugged. "I'm hot."
Clary flung her head back and laughed. "God, your narcissism knows no bounds."
He laughed with her. "Glad I could amuse you. Apparently my comedic side is adequately developed as well."
Clary laughed harder, tears coming to her eyes. When she could finally catch her breath, she grabbed his face between her hands. "Promise me you'll never stop being a conceited ass."
He raised his hand palm out. "You have my word that I will never deviate from my current state of assyness."
She brushed her thumbs along his cheeks. "What am I going to do with you?"
He raised his brows. "I can think of a few things."
Clary shook her head and her gaze fell on the rune etched over his palm. She sighed and dropped her hands from his face, grabbing his hand and tracing the lines on the inside of it. "So," she kept her eyes down, "what did the Clave say?"
Jace flipped his hand over and laced his fingers through hers. "Oh, you know. Same old crap they always say."
She raised her eyes to meet his. "And that is . . ."
He chewed on the inside of his lower lip for a moment. "It was just like before. My father is evil, therefore I must be and I must be in on all his plans."
Clary's eyes widened. "They did not say that."
"They did. Luckily, Luke was there to back me up."
"Luke?"
Jace nodded. "Yep. He told them where to stick it and we left."
Clary frowned. "They just let you leave? They didn't try to stop you or anything?"
"Nope." He popped his lips on the "p."
"That's . . . strange."
"No kidding."
"Why do you think they just let you go?"
He shrugged and tightened his hold on Clary. "I don't know, but I'm not going to waste my time wondering why the Clave does what they do. I swear they're growing more and more insane as time passes."
Clary sighed and then her stomach made a loud growling noise.
Jace laughed. "I was just thinking the same thing. I'm starving." He shifted behind her and drew himself up, helping her at the same time.
"Okay. Just let me throw this stuff in my room and get some pants—I wouldn't want anyone catching me like this."
He chuckled and nodded his head. "I'll meet you in the kitchen."
She stood up on tip-toes, kissed him quickly, and spun around to the door. Jace's laugh followed her all the way down the hall to her room. Once inside, she tossed the clothing into the corner with a roll of her eyes and grabbed a pair of yoga pants. Slipping them on, she made her way back out the door and jogged down to the kitchen. Jace had already set out sandwich stuff, apples, and soda.
He grinned when she breezed through the door. "That was fast."
She nodded. "I'm a bit reluctant to leave you for too long—still not positive you won't disappear."
Jace dropped the bread he'd been holding and leaned over the island, brushing his fingers along her cheek. "I'm sorry."
Clary leaned into his hand. "You don't need to be sorry." She sighed and turned slightly, brushing her lips against his fingers. "So," she turned back to face him, "what are we making."
"Um." He lowered his hand and glanced down at the various items in front of him. Several different types of sliced cheeses, lunch meats, lettuce, bread, and condiments. "Sandwiches?"
Clary laughed. "What can I do?"
He held up two apples and a knife. "You want to cut these?"
"Okay." She smiled.
He handed them to her along with a plastic cutting board. Sitting on the stool, she pulled them in front of her and started peeling. They worked in silence for a moment, him assembling sandwiches and her peeling and slicing the apples.
"So," She finished removing the peel of one apple and placed it on the cutting board to cut. "Did you get to see Stephen while you were there?" Jace sighed at the same time Clary brought the knife down, slicing through her thumb. "Ow!" She instinctively shook her hand, blood dripping from the wound and juice from the apple stinging inside it.
Jace grabbed a nearby towel and reached forward, bringing her hand close to him to inspect the wound.
"It's okay, I don't think its deep—Jace?"
He stood absolutely still and all color drained from his face. A line formed between his brows as his hand began to shake.
"Jace?" Clary whispered, her heart hammering in her chest.
His face contorted into a grimace and he dropped her hand, slamming both of his palms down on the island before lowering his head. She heard his breath hitch as he curled inward on himself, a small groan escaping his lips.
"Jace what's going on?" She jumped down off her stool and started to make her way around the island to him when the kitchen door opened and Alec walked in.
"Hey guys, what's—" His face fell when he spied Jace, standing across from them, his head hanging and body trembling.
Clary started forward again only to have Jace hold his hand out to stop her. "Alec—," his breath hitched again and his face screwed up in pain, "get her—out. I don't—want—her—," his body spasmed and he fell to his knees, bending over and touching his forehead to the floor.
"What—?" Clary jerked forward only to find Alec's hand on her shoulder, pulling her toward the doorway. "Alec! Let me go!" Her eyes found Jace again, still doubled over and moaning." "Alec—"
Alec wrapped his arms around Clary's waist, lifted her up, and carried her out the door. Clary struggled against his grip, shouting at him to let her go. He set her down a few feet from the kitchen door, gripped her shoulders, and met her frantic eyes. "Listen to me. He's going to be fine but he doesn't want you to see this so please, do us all a favor and respect that, okay?"
"Alec, what the hell is going on?" Her voice trembled with fear and anger.
"Clary, just let me help him and he'll tell you, okay?"
She wanted to argue, to yell at him, slap him, anything. But sensing the seriousness of his words, she nodded in defeat.
Alec lowered his hands from her shoulders and raised his brows. "Stay."
She nodded again and watched him run to Jace's room, disappear inside, and reemerge a few seconds later. He blew past her into the kitchen, letting the door slam shut behind him.
Clary raised her hands to her eyes and slid down the wall, her fear and confusion emptying out of her in streams of salty tears.
***
The second the scent of her blood hit him it started. The disabling, excruciating pain. It began just behind his navel, twisting and tightening his organs into perfect knots. He groaned at the realization of what was happening. This was not the way he'd hoped to tell her, not the way he wanted her to know about what was really happening to him. He'd planned to tell her everything—that night in fact—but this wasn't the way it had played out in his mind.
Another flash of pain shot through him. He slammed his hands down and clenched his eyes cut, realizing that he was groaning audibly. Clary jumped down from her stool and attempted to come to him. The last thing he wanted was her near him at that moment. He didn't want her to see this! Behind her, he noticed the door open and Alec step into the room. Relief flooded through him just as another jolt gripped him. He held his hand up to ward her off.
"Alec—get her—out. I don't—want—her—" Another pain ripped through him, this time sending him to his knees. He heard Clary protesting Alec, but knew he could and would handle it. Finally she was gone, and he let go, falling over onto his side, clutching his stomach and laying his cheek against the cold marble tile. He tried breathing slowly but nothing seemed to help lessen the pain. Where was Alec?
Just as the thought crossed his mind, the kitchen door flew open and Alec knelt in front of him. "Jesus, Jace. Here." He held two of the tiny bottles in front of him.
Jace took one, guzzled its contents and then quickly took the other, draining it as well. After a moment, his muscles unclenched and he could finally take a deep breath. He lay there for another moment before sitting up. His body felt mostly normal again. Glancing up at Alec, he said, "Thanks."
Alec's eyes were wide and he shook his head. "You obviously haven't told her yet."
Jace stood and leaned against the counter, his legs still slightly weak. "I was going to. I just haven't gotten around to it yet."
"Yeah, well. Times up. You didn't see her face—and she's getting stronger—nearly ripped my arms off trying to get to you."
Jace grinned.
"Yeah, laugh it up. This isn't going to be pretty."
Jace's smile faded.
"Uh huh. That's what I thought." Alec placed one hand on the door. "Tell her—everything."
Jace closed his eyes and nodded. He didn't open them again until he heard the door open. Clary stood there, her hand tentatively on the handle, her face three shades lighter than normal. He gave her a small smile and gestured for her to come in and sit back on her stool. Her eyes never left his as she made her way back to the opposite side of the island.
He sat across from her and let out a slow breath, not knowing how to begin.
"Jace," her voice wavered with uncertainty, "what's going on?"
He raised his gaze to meet hers. Tears gleamed in her eyes. He shut his briefly before answering. "Do you know what rejecting means?"
She shook her head, her eyes wide.
He bit his lower lip. "It's a term they use when a vampire fledgling doesn't take well to the change."
Her brows furrowed but she still said nothing.
"Well," he placed his hands flat against the island, "when that happens, their body convulses and purges itself of its own blood. Sort of like it's trying to cleanse itself of the virus."
"So . . . is . . . is that . . ."
He nodded. "Sort of."
She let out a shuttering breath and closed her eyes, allowing the tears that had accumulated in them to fall silently over her cheeks. "What do we do to fix it?"
Jace sighed and looked down at his hands. "Normally, consuming blood helps . . ." He glanced up and caught her horrified expression before she smoothed it over.
"But . . ." she hedged.
He shook his head, closing his eyes. "But it only seems to be a temporary fix."
Clary closed her eyes again as a moan burst through her lips. She lowered her head to the table in front of her, her body shaking with sobs. Jace rose from his stool, walked around the island, and sat in the one next to her. He reached out and pulled her onto his lap, cupping her tear streaked face in his hands. Leaning his forehead against hers, he closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry. I should have told you. I just—I wanted to know exactly what was happening first. I'm so sorry, Clary."
She raised her gaze to his. "So this is what you've been hiding from me?"
"Yes. I'm sorry." He lowered his face.
She placed her hands on both his cheeks and lifted until their eyes met once more. "Why? Why is this happening?"
"I don't know. I did get to see Stephen and he was adamant that it shouldn't be happening. He—he says—" Jace took a deep breath. "He says I must have changed my blood somehow."
"What? How—" Her eyes widened as realization struck her. "The rune?"
Jace shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe."
"Oh my God." She lowered her face to her hands. "So while trying to save you I've now managed to kill you?" She moaned.
He grabbed her face once more and held it close to his. "No. We don't know that, Clary."
"What else could it be?" she cried.
Jace didn't answer. He had no ideas other than that.
"What are we going to do?" she whispered. Her tears falling onto Jace's cheeks.
He let out a slow breath, his fingers trailing through her tangled locks. "I don't know. I just don't know."
Okie dokie then. Inundate me with reviews please…I need some cheering up right now…