Clary was a rare child of separated parents in that she had no desire for her parents to get back together. She had never met her father but that wasn't why. In her heart Luke was her father so his wedding to her mother felt right to her.
Jocelyn seemed oddly stressed however.
"Mom," Clary said holding her mother by the shoulder and shaking her a little. "Chill!"
"I'm fine," Jocelyn said trying to push Clary off.
"No, you aren't," Clary said. "Is it Luke? Did something happen?"
"Everything with Luke is fine," Jocelyn said, waving her hand dismissively.
"Then you have to tell me what is going on," Clary said. "You are freaking me out!"
"Do you remember how I put the time and location of the wedding in the paper?" Jocelyn said. She was looking down at her phone as she spoke as if waiting for something.
"Yeah," Clary said. Wasn't that the normal thing people did with weddings?
"Your father and I never got divorced," Jocelyn said.
"Huh. Kinda late for that don't ya think?" Clary yelled, gesturing to the flowing white wedding dress her mother was wearing.
"Valentine isn't going to be happy when he reads about me and Luke," Jocelyn continued.
"Why did you put it in the paper then!? And if you are still married to him," Clary said. "What are you going to tell Luke!?"
"He knows," Jocelyn said. She held Clary's shoulders and looked straight into her eyes. "I'm sorry. But this wedding isn't actually a wedding."
"But you made me pick out cake!" Clary complained.
"And you were wonderful at it," her mother said affectionately.
"So you don't want to marry Luke?" Clary asked, more hurt by this than she thought.
"I can't," Jocelyn said. "But that doesn't mean I don't want to."
"You lost me," Clary said.
"I tried to get my marriage annulled or in any way dismissed but they won't do that without a death certificate or a divorce involving both parties," Jocelyn explained. "Before I can be a Garroway I need to not be a Morgenstern."
"How will you find him to divorce him?" Clary asked. "He's been missing with Jonathan for my whole life."
"He won't like this wedding one bit," Jocelyn said, grinning. "Robert and Maryse are on watch. We will find him when he shows up. Police make up half the guests."
"Why did you invite everyone else then?" Clary asked. "I mean, why invite my friends if it's fake?"
"We need it to look real," Jocelyn said. "And if all goes according to plan Luke and I will get married today."
"When has anything about Valentine gone according to plan, mom?" Clary asked.
"Never," Jocelyn said. "But this is our best chance to see Jonathan again and our best chance to be free of Valentine forever." She paused but Clary couldn't think of anything to say. "You can't tell the others. Now stop worrying about me having cold feet and go enjoy the party."
"I'm not worried your feet are cold anymore," Clary said. "Now I'm worried they are insane."
"Some trust please," Jocelyn said. "While you were tasting cake, Robert, Maryse, Luke and I were planning. Now go find Jace and not a word! Understand?"
"I understand," Clary said with a sigh as she left her mother's room. The wedding, or rather the fake wedding, was being held in a grand hall. Clary had suggested doing a small one at home in the back yard and only now realized why her idea had been dismissed.
Clary went to find Jace who was at the buffet with Alec. She tried her best to act normally but Jace saw through her in an instant. She assured him everything was fine but when he didn't listen simply explained she couldn't tell him now but he would find out soon enough. He trusted her enough to let the matter drop.
She was on edge for the rest of the afternoon. Jumping at the smallest noise. Sometimes she caught Jace watching her with a look of concern. When it was finally time Clary sat in her seat next to Jace and held his hand tightly. Luke stood at the altar with his eyes shining and Clary had a hard time believing Luke knew this to be a ruse.
Her mother walking down the aisle was a sight to behold. Jocelyn's face glowed with happiness as she gazed at Luke. Clary's mind snapped back to attention as she turned her head to check for… what? She didn't know what her father looked like!
Her stress levels continued to rise and she was almost thinking her mother's plan had failed when the priest spoke those timeless words.
"Should anyone here present know of any reason that this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony," the priest said. "Speak now or forever hold your peace."
The doors banged open and Clary gazed upon her father's face for the first time in her life. The man was tall, his chest wide. Clary guessed he was very strong. His chin came to a point and his face had more of a triangular shape to it. His hair was fair, almost white blonde. She saw nothing in his features that resembled her own.
"Get away from my wife, traitor!" Valentine roared. Clary couldn't help but stare at him.
"Where is my son?" Jocelyn yelled back, turning from Luke to face Valentine. Though Valentine's remark was obviously directed at Luke he remained silent.
"Where is my daughter?" Valentine replied with a sly grin. Clary gasped. Her mother had always said he didn't know about her.
"You have no daughter," Jocelyn told him but Clary knew it was no good. Her mother was a terrible liar.
"I did some digging when I learned of this wedding," Valentine said. "I found her birth certificate. The timing of it can mean nothing else."
Clary wanted to stand up and say announce who she was but fear and shock kept her frozen. Jace on the other hand seemed to have no such problem.
"You!" Jace said standing up and glaring at Valentine.
"Ah," Valentine said. "Stephen's son. How are you acquainted with my wife, boy?"
"That doesn't matter," Jace snared.
"Very well," Valentine turned back to Jocelyn as if Jace meant nothing to him. Clary remembered all the stories Jace had told her about when her boyfriend had known Valentine. She knew from those stories how much Valentine's quick dismissal of Jace would hurt him. Jace was holding her hand very tightly now. Valentine quickly moved down the aisle and took hold of Jocelyn's arm.
"If you won't tell me where my daughter is," Valentine said. "Then we shall leave her behind."
"I am not going without her, Valentine," Jocelyn said.
"I have a lovely out of the way house all ready for us," Valentine said, ignoring her rejection. "Already stocked with your favourite clothes."
Luke hadn't moved, even when Valentine grabbed Jocelyn by the arm. That in Clary's mind was all the proof she needed that Luke and her mother were in this together. Luke would never have just sat by otherwise.
"I want a divorce," Jocelyn said coldly.
"Never," Valentine replied easily. "Why would I ever let you go?"
"You did let me go," Jocelyn said. "For over fifteen years!"
"You knew I would always come back for you," Valentine said and Clary thought she heard a hint of affection in her father's voice. "I had business to attend to, that is all."
"Where is Jonathan," Jocelyn asked again. "Please, I want to see my son!"
"A son's place is by his father's side," Valentine replied. Clary looked around frantically, trying to spot another unfamiliar face. She saw nothing.
"Please may I see him," Jocelyn begged.
"Bring our daughter and come come with me," Valentine said. "Then you shall see him everyday."
"I won't come with you until I see him," Jocelyn said firmly. To Clary's surprise Valentine smiled at her.
"Oh I have missed your spirit," Valentine said, then he raised his voice and yelled. "Jonathan! Come out."
Clary whirled her head around again even more frantically and this time fixed her eyes on a man with Valentine's hair and her mother's eyes. Jonathan walked up the aisle to stand beside his father.
"Oh my god," Jocelyn whispered as her hand reached out to touch her son. Jonathan flinched back then looked to his father for instructions.
"Come," Valentine said. "Your mother and I are leaving. It is time we were a family again." Jonathan nodded. Valentine turned from his son to his wife. "If you don't tell me who our daughter is we are leaving her behind. You will never see her again."
Clary didn't understand this. It seemed like her mother was surrendering! She couldn't leave Jace but if she didn't speak up… Hadn't her mother said there were police on the guest list? What was going on!?
Clary made to stand but Jace held her down. She turned to him and saw naked terror in his face. He was clinging to her hand like he would fall and die if he let go. Her resolve to be heard vanished with the pained look on her boyfriend's face. She stayed silent but Valentine did not miss the exchange.
"Ah Jonathan," Valentine said, turning to stare at them. "That is how you know my wife it seems. Through my daughter."
"My name is Jace," Jace spat at him, still holding Clary's hand tight.
"Come Clarissa," Valentine said holding his hand, that wasn't gripping her mother's arm, out to her.
"No," Clary said in a small voice. Jace made a move to stand in front of her but Clary pushed him back. Valentine sighed as if disappointed.
"Very well then," Valentine told her, then his tone softened as if talking to himself. "Clarissa. Not a name I would have chosen."
Clary watched with the rest of the stunned guests as her father, mother and brother walked back down the aisle together. Clary turned to stare at Luke where he stood at the altar. There was a tear running down his cheek but his jaw was also clenched as if he was trying to hold back extreme anger.
When her parents and brother reached the doors and flung them open Clary finally understood what her mother's plan had been; the doors opened on about ten men with guns. Valentine was arrested for child kidnapping and when Jonathan tried to fight the police he was also taken into custody.
Jocelyn screamed and cried as her son was taken away again. Luke ran down the aisle to pull her into a hug and she cried onto his shoulder.
Clary quickly stood up and ran to her mother. She could sense more than hear Jace running behind her. Jocelyn pulled Clary into her arms.
"He looked just like his father," Jocelyn sobbed. Luke stroked her hair and Clary held her hand until her mother's tears ran dry. Then Jocelyn stood up with a determined look on her face.
"Right," Jocelyn said. "I am going to the police station. Wait here."
"Why?" Luke asked.
"For a divorce," Jocelyn said and with that she ran from the hall. Luke collapsed into a chair.
"That women will be the death of me," he said, half laughing. "Too bad I love her too damn much to care."
Clary sat beside Luke and Jace joined them on her other side. The whole room started to buzz with gossip as guests stood with confused looks on their faces but Clary, Luke and Jace just sat frozen. Alec come over to talk to Jace but Clary didn't listen. She couldn't have told you how much time passed until her mother returned.
When Jocelyn walked back into the room she was holding up a few sheets of paper with a triumphant grin on her face.
"How did you get him to agree?" Luke asked, awed.
"Traded him for a few pictures of Clary as child," Jocelyn said. "That man does care about family in his own twisted way. And the police helped me intimidate him." She laughed.
"I doubt you needed much help," Luke said. "Are you sure the charges will stick?"
"Yes," Jocelyn said. "He has been leaving a bit of a trail lately. They know he has been working with hackers to infiltrate the government. One in particular with a bad rep seems to have sold him out. And even if he weaseled out of those the kidnapping charge is enough to get him a nice long sentence." She smiled then added. "And they aren't charging Jonathan with anything. Though he does seem a little blindly loyal." Her smile faded as worry replaced it.
"None of that," Luke said stroking her face. "It's our wedding day."
"Let's get married then," Jocelyn said. She kissed Luke briefly then grabbing his hand ran up the aisle shouting for people to get back in their seats. Clary and Jace sat down next to a rather surprised looking Alec and Magnus. Izzy and Simon sitting behind them looked equally confused. Clary vowed to fill them all in later.
Luke and her mother picked up their wedding right where they left off. The priest pronounced them husband and wife then Luke kissed the bride.
The news the next day covered her mother's wedding from every angle. Some talked about how the alleged conspiracy theory had been proven true with Valentine's arrest. Some focused on her brother. The police were keeping Jocelyn informed as to his well being so Clary knew when the news was lying and when it wasn't.
Her brother had scars on his back as if from a whip. He asked to be taken back to Valentine at least once daily and didn't want anyone else near him. Jonathan has been diagnosed with stockholm syndrome. The psychologists that interviewed him didn't feel like he was at fault especially since Valentine had kidnapped him at such a young age. They deemed him not responsible for his actions.
After many months with no one but doctors and psychologists for company her brother was returned to them. On his first day he tried to escape most likely to Valentine's prison. After that Jocelyn started locking his room at night though it pained her greatly.
Clary postponed school to stay and help her mother. Jace stayed with her. Jace was able to get through to Jonathan in a way neither her nor her mother could. It was this more than anything that made Clary able to fully understand Jace's previous relationship with her father. Jace may not have physical scars like her brother but that didn't mean Valentine's influence on his life hadn't left a mark. The more she thought about it the more his love in spite of all this meant to her.
Slowly but surely with all of their help Jonathan started to laugh again. He stopped trying to escape. He bonded with Jace in almost a brotherly way and one day Clary caught her mother thanking Jace for everything he did for her son. To Clary's great surprise Jocelyn even hugged her boyfriend. When Clary was sure Jonathan, Luke and Jocelyn would be okay without her, Jace and Clary left together for school.
Clary thrived in Art school and Jace was a constant presence by her side. She went home for the holidays and was happy to see Jonathan still doing well.
During his second year of university when she returned home Jocelyn informed her Valentine had been killed while trying to escape from prison. She hadn't told Jonathan yet and she wasn't sure she ever would but she thought Clary at least could handle it. It was a strange feeling for sure. The father she had only briefly glimpsed, whose most affectionate moment toward her was saying he didn't like her name, was gone forever. She couldn't bring herself to care much about it one way or the other.
When Jocelyn finally told her brother, Jonathan went straight to Jace for comfort. After the tears were over Clary was relieved the news didn't cause her brother to spiral down again. Jonathan had taken up martial arts. It turned out Valentine had schooled him from a young age in self-defense and Jonathan found a great deal of peace in the exercise. Clary tried to get him to paint with only mild success. The more Jonathan improved the happier Jocelyn became.
Clary's life was a happy blend of her friends, her family, her boyfriend and her classes. Her friendship with Isabelle in particular become stronger than she could have thought possible. It was helped along by Simons continued relationship with her. Simon and Jace were more than getting along these days. The day Jace showed up at her place to meet up with Simon took her quite by surprise.
Beta read by Rosycat
This chapter was a last minute addition but was also planned from the beginning. I was always going do a Jonathan follow up after mentioning that he was kidnapped by this father though I was originally going to work it into the main plot... it just never seemed to fit. I think this worked well though. Never written Clary POV before. Hopefully it went okay.
I would also like to dedicate this chapter to my best friend of 12 years. I based Jonathan's struggles off her own but gave him a better ending.
Only a couple chapters left now guys!
