Hi guys! I'm baaack! With another chapter! Yaaaay! Now I don't really have anything to say except thank you to everyone for reviewing and welcome to the newcomers! Thanks for all your support guys, it honestly keeps me writing.

Shoutouts to *drum roll*: xTheMorningStarx, ReadingManiac, LOVERGIRL, .dream30, jsmith84, ClaceLover246!

Hope you all enjoy the chapter!

It was early Monday morning Jace was up but still lying in bed and he could hear his father walking around the house. It made him feel uneasy; he felt like he was prying, invading his safe space and it made his defences all rise and he could feel a current of anger and violence under his skin and he hated it. His father always brought this reaction out in him and it was rarely ever pretty and now he had to hide it, he could not let Clary see him this way. She was hot-tempered herself so it would be like throwing a match on gasoline. He growled in frustration and rolled out of bed, pulling on a pair of track pants and a loose singlet. He pulled on a pair of runners and he quickly left the apartment, not saying a word to his father. The moment his feet touched the pavement outside he was off and running.

The streets weren't crowded and he managed to dodge through the early morning traffic with ease. The thump of his feet on the pavement beat in time with his heartbeat and it kept him at one pace. The impact of each foot fall was jarring his knees and bones and he felt like he was pressing himself too hard but it felt too good, he felt each jolt of pain stabbed into his anger and slowly it bled away. The early morning wind stung his face and caused his eyes to water slightly as it burned his lungs. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, chest and back and by the time he entered Central Park he had noticeable damp patches on his singlet.

He turned onto an unfamiliar jogging path and immediately a body crashed into him. The impact was hard and heavy with the force of a running body. Jace was thrown back to the ground and he dimly heard an 'oof' from in front of him. Immediately he felt his barely suppressed anger rage forwards and he leapt up.
"You freaking idiot! Watch where you're goddamn going!" he shouted, his rage rearing its ugly head and making him see red.
Green eyes met his and immediately he felt his rage wash away leaving only embarrassment and shame.
"Wow, someone clearly woke up on the wrong side of the bed," Clary commented.
She sat up and brushed herself off as Jace looked down in shame.
"I'm so sorry," he mumbled regretfully.
Clary took in his appearance and her eyes narrowed slightly. She could see frown lines on his forehead and his shoulders looked tight like he was ready to attack or flee at any second.
"It's okay. Are you okay?" she asked him.
No, was his immediate thought, but he couldn't say that. He had to be okay, he couldn't be that weak little boy he once was.
"Yeah, I'm good. I didn't know you ran," he answered, changing the topic abruptly.
Clary knew he was avoiding the topic but she decided not to press it. He may not be ready but she thought maybe he was just adjusting to having his father in town.
"I run every morning. It helps me start the day and if I'm upset it helps me cope," Clary confessed.
She was surprised to find that she felt a little uncomfortable sharing that tidbit, not many people knew she ran. Even Jace was only just finding out now.
Jace blinked in surprise and took a look back at his girlfriend. A few more things made sense to him now, the way she could run the length of the school several times over without breaking a sweat. How she did well in all their track portions of Gym. How she stayed so little while eating the way she did.
Clary gave Jace a somewhat awkward smile and shrugged.
"D'you wanna join me?" she asked quietly. "We don't have to talk."
Jace felt a smile stretch across his face and he nodded.
"Yes, please."

The pair took off and began to run in the direction Clary had been running in. Neither spoke, simply enjoying the sound of their heart beats with their foot falls. Jace felt some of his stress ease out of his body and he felt… closer to Clary. Running wasn't something he did often but he liked doing it with her. She made it easy. She didn't ask questions, she didn't pry, she was letting him be—which he appreciated. By the time the sun had fully risen the pair had slowed from a run to a jog. They came across a small pond and Clary grabbed his arm to stop.
"I always stop here, I like to stop and watch the ducks," Clary told him.
"No," Jace growled.
She stared at him, taken aback.
"Never trust a duck. They are bloodthirsty little beasts," he informed her.
Clary stared at him perplexed.
"What?"
"They're cannibalistic. And they will eat you."
Clary wondered if there was a screw loose somewhere in his brain as she focused back on the quacking ducks swimming peacefully over the water.
"Jace, they're more scared of you than you are of them," she told him gently.
He glared at her.
"I am not afraid of ducks, I just don't like them," he told her. "I don't trust those beady little eyes."
"Oh c'mon. I'll show you," she said and before he could stop her she was marching off to the edge of the water.

Jace hesitated before running after her. The quacking got louder and he could feel his heart rate increase.
Clary was basically at the water's edge when her scream cut through the air and a splash followed soon after. Clary was gone.
Jace felt the blood rush from his face and he sprinted the last few metres left.
"Clary?! Clary?!"

As he reached the edge her red head popped through the water and Clary jumped back in the water overdramatically.
"The ducks! The ducks did it! They tried to drown me! Evil, evil ducks!" she cried out.
Jace got the distinct feeling she was mocking him and he fixed an unimpressed look on his face as he crossed his arms. Clary giggled at him and he raised an eyebrow.
"It was the ducks. They told me to," she laughed.
Jace blinked slowly and then turned away from her, ignoring her protests.
He had successfully ignored her for at least 5 minutes until she jumped on his back and wrapped her legs around his waist.
"What are you doing?" he asked her.
"Piggyback ride!" she cried out in delight.
Jace rolled his eyes but he could feel the smile on his face as he looped his arms under her knees.

Around 8am he stumbled back into his place, with a smile and a lingering hint of Clary's lip balm on his lips. He had completely forgotten why he had even gone out.
"Where have you been?"
His father's voice brought him back with a jolt and his smile melted away.
"Out," he responded curtly.
He pushed his sweaty hair away from his eyes and glared at his father, feeling the tension rise back in his body. His father's blue eyes stared back impassively.
"With Clary?" he asked.
Jace's eyes narrowed, he had no idea what his father's big deal was about Clary. Sure, he supposed his father thought he was going to kill her in some way but he seemed to really dislike the idea of her. Which was unusual.
"Running," Jace corrected.
He looked surprised at that and then pleased.
"Good, running is good for your health. When did you take up running?" he asked.
Jace was surprised by his response and immediately suspicious.
"Recently."
His father nodded and turned away abruptly. That was an unusual turn of events but Jace decided not to dwell on it and turned away to get ready for school.

"Jonathan! Time to go!"
Jace frowned in confusion and checked the time. He had to get to school, where on Earth did his father think he was taking Jace?
"Dad?" Jace called out.
"Come on! You're going to be late and Herondales are never tardy!" his father snapped back.
Jace lightly jogged down his stairs with his bag and gave his father a stoic look.
"I have school. I can't go to wherever you want to take me," he said firmly.
His father turned and gave him a big smile which looked forced and uncomfortable.
"I know. I'm taking you to school and I will pick you up at three o'clock, sharp," he said.
Jace blinked in surprise and then shook his head.
"I've been going to school on my own for years, Stephen. I'll take myself," Jace snapped.
"I am your father and you will address me as such!" his father growled.
Jace just rolled his eyes and snatched his keys off the table and walked out the door.
"Jonathan!"

Jace's stomach growled as he pulled through a McDonalds drive through for breakfast. He ordered for himself and then ordered a strawberry thickshake for Clary, knowing how much she loved them. As he pulled out he began to mull over his father's weird behaviour. It was very uncharacteristic of him to show any interest in him, every other time he had been over for business or to 'check on him', he had either holed himself up in his room or had made himself scarce. Jace found himself wondering what on Earth he could want off his son.

"So, you and Jace are pretty serious," Alec commented to Clary as they walked into school together.
Clary nodded and gave Alec a big smile.
"Yeah, we just celebrated six months together," Clary told him.
"Do you think we're looking at the next Prom King and Queen?" Alec teased.
She snorted unflatteringly.
"No. Undoubtedly it will be Sebastian and Kaelie," she said.
Alec nodded and then smiled.
"Maybe."
She looked up at him quizzically but shook it off. They separated to go to their lockers and just as she opened hers Jace turned up.

"Hey," he called out to her.
"Hey Jace," she responded, digging deep into her locker to pull out her art book. "You ready for another day of school?"
"Not at all," he grumbled.
She emerged to see him leaning on his closed locker with a McDonalds thickshake. The faint smell of strawberries wafted over and she perked right up.
"Is that?"
"Yes."
"For me?"
"Yes."
Clary squealed in delight and quickly snatched the thickshake and eagerly began drinking it.
"Clary! You'll get a brain—"
Jace was cut off by Clary groaning and clutching her head.
"—freeze."
Clary looked up at him and he shook his head, amused.
"Ow."
Jace just laughed. He felt the tension leave him a bit as she slurped down the rest of her thickshake. Being around Clary made him relax slightly and slowly his father drifted off his mind and he just focused on Clary and school.