Hey Shadowhunters!

Happy Holidays my Shadowhunters!

Here is a present for whichever Holidays you celebrate

Or just because it's that time of year

Please Review!

Be Honest But Be Nice!

Enjoy! = )

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Chapter 43 - What It Would Be Like

Clary looked Jace in the eye and struggled to find her words. "Jace, do you see a future for us?" she was afraid of what he would say. Could he see their future? Or was he just living one day at a time? The time he was taking to contemplate the answer was driving her mad. Jace then laced his fingers through Clarys. "I can see me, spending the rest of my life, with you."

With conviction Jace told Clary "I won't let anyone, or anything take you away from me again." Clary could feel him tracing the ring on her finger. She had a feeling he liked one part of its protection more than another. "You know I can't keep this right?" Clary reminded him. "It could protect you against the angels spite." Jace said plainly.

Clary sighed and for some reason unknown to even her, she smiled. "Jace you have to trust that I will never leave you again." Jace was happy she believed in them. However despite Clary renewing his faith that everything would turn out well, he was still fearful. Fearful, because it was he who felt the pain the past year, not her.

Clary could see Jace's doubt. She knew that he didn't doubt their relationship. Just how it would survive when they had so many powerful enemies. After all they had been through, Clary though wanted a normal relationship. However if she stopped to think about it, a life full of normalcy would probably drive her mad with boredom, Jace as well.

Clary let out a chuckle and Jace looked at her wondering what she could possibly find humorous in this moment. "Since the moment we met we were faced with so many obstacles, but we overcame them.." Jace didn't deny it because what Clary was saying was beyond true. After Clarys return into his life, his mind had changed.

Jace originally thought it was a miracle their love survived the trials their relationship had faced. Valentine's lies, Lilith's spell, Jonathan's rune, then divine punishment itself. However it was the night Clary remembered him that he realized, it was no miracle. It was just how strong their love was. A love that could overcome anything and anyone.

Jace looked around the ballroom. "If we do make it through this...would you consider living here me?" Clary's jaw dropped because she was in utter shock. "What?" she asked in a whisper. "You want to know if I see a future for us. I see us spending the rest of our lives together, here." Clary couldn't help but be moved by his words.

Jace spoke with such conviction, Clary could not see a hint of doubt within his eyes. Clary smiled at him softly. "No..."

Of all the things Clary would say, Jace did not expect her to say this. She could have, as he had hoped say yes. She could have said maybe, she could have said she needed time to decide, to think about it. She could have even said to wait till everything that was currently happening to them had blown over.

Any one of those answers would have been enough. However simply saying no, and with a smile on her face. That was something Jace did not foresee. "No?" Jace said repeating her words. Clary looked down shyly. She knew she had to explain herself. She only hoped he would understand.

"Jace, I never want us to part again. But if we stay here think about how bored you will be." Alicante isn't like New York. Before my brother when was the last call to arms here? Jace you're a soldier, that's why you belong in New York. I don't care if we live in a castle or a hut. If we are together it doesn't matter to me. When this is all over, why don't we find a place of our own, in New York."

Jace raised his eyebrows. At least Clary wanted to live with him. It didn't matter where personally, as long as they were together. Besides it didn't matter if he lived within Institute to be affiliated with it. He just needed to live in New York. Jace smiled and hugged Clary. She knew she had reassured him. The look on his face at her rejection was a mix between pain and shock.

Jace probably assumed she would say yes. Clary thought. Jace took her hand and it was then Clary realized just how hungry she was. She let go of his hand feeling that instinct to reach for her steele to place a nourishment Rune on herself. Most unfortunately she quickly came back to herself and reality once again. Remembering the use of a steele was taken from her, permanently.

Regardless, Jace too would probably start feeling hungry as well. He could use the rune satisfy his hunger. But it wasn't that same as having a real meal. At least not to herself. Clary always felt the rune would take the hunger away from her. But it didn't leave her with the same contentment as having say, a Manhattan pizza.

Then Clary remembered that Magnus, given that his magic was gone, did not vanish all that he had conjured. That makeshift kitchen was still there. Clary kissed Jace's cheek then started leading him by the hand outside to the kitchen, Jace unaware of what she was doing. She saw on the patio Simon. Clary had almost forgotten he was still there.

To strangers, it would seem as if Simon was trying to get a tan, given how pale he was. However since he was a vampire that wasn't possible. Simon just loved the sun. Since becoming a daylighter, even if it was so long ago, he had learned to appreciate the sun in a completely different way. Unaware that regardless of how many vampires admired his ability, many had an enraged jealousy.

Jace rolled his eyes because he could see that Simon had fallen asleep. "Don't wake him." Clary told Jace. "He needs to stay up here all night to watch over me. Let him get some rest now." she whispered. Clary let go of Jaces hand and walked down the steps towards the kitchen Magnus conjured.

Jace understood now where Clary was leading him. He wasn't entirely sure why he hadn't asked before where she was taking him. Clary opened the fridge and saw something odd. This was not what was in the fridge before. She turned around and looked at Jace quizzically even though she knew he would hold no answers.

"What is it?" Jace asked? Clary wasn't sure how to explain it. "Nothings wrong it's just, what happened to all the food that was here before." Clary said. Jace walked forward. "It's empty?" he asked. "Not exactly." Clary replied. Clary took a warm box pizza out along with a fresh caesar salad. Even though everything about this was weird. The first thing she thought was, how was it still hot?

Clary walked away and placed it on the table. Clary took a guess and opened a drawer, there was a fork and pizza cutter. Clary looked back at the fridge whom she knew to be empty. "Jace can you please take out some ice water for me?" Jace walked over to open the refrigerator and Clary looked back at him. Sure as she thought, a pitcher of iced water with lemon slices was inside.

Clary brought a couple cups to the table and told Jace what she had noticed. "The refrigerator changes. That water, it wasn't there before. Also, how is this pizza hot if it was in a refrigerator." Jace didn't find it as confusing as Clary. The fridge was simply spelled to provide what the person who uses it requests.

It wasn't anything to worry about so Jace told Clary the most probably explanation that he had come up with.

As they sat and ate Clary thought about how many days it would take till she was safe? How long till they found out who was after her? In the presence of her friends she felt safe. Still she wished she had the ability to protect herself. Clary remembering sparring with Jace.

Clary knew Jace had been holding back. He was afraid of hurting her. Before it wouldn't have mattered but she couldn't heal herself with an Iratze anymore. Even if it was thoughtful she hated him fighting with one hand behind his back.

For one it made her feel weak. Two, It was a constant reminder she was no longer a shadowhunter. Three, it wasn't really a challenge. And four, it just wasn't as much fun as when he really came at her.

"I want to spar." She told Jace. Jace agreed it would be an enjoyable pastime. He stood but Clary stayed seated. Biting her lip, she nervously said what she had been wanting to. "Don't hold back." Clary then stood and looked him in the eyes. Unblinkingly she stood firm on what she said and he would not change her mind.

"What?" Jace ask confused, yet still he think he knew what Clary meant. He didn't know what to say that wouldn't start any conflict. Because Jace wasn't replying, Clary continued her way to the training room. Once she got there she picked up a sword. It felt comfortable, yet she was used to having a short sword in her other hand.

Clary could feel Jace as he came up behind her. His warm breath on the back of her neck gave her chills. Jace took her hand. Clary looked down and was surprised to see him placing a sword in it. She felt balanced. As if this was how she was supposed to be.

"Where did you-" Jace gestures toward the back wall with his chin. Before Clary could finish her question. "I saw you grab the sword. I had a feeling you wouldn't feel right with that alone." He explained. Clary kissed him. She had forgotten how well he knew her. She looked down at the two swords. They weren't like her kindjals, but they were enough.

Jace picked up to two swords of his own and turned towards her. "Not fair." Clary said glaring at him. She had noticed he had taken his shirt off. That always proved as a distraction. Clary places down her swords and left under the pretense of going to the bathroom.

Instead, as Jace waited Clary quickly ran to the master bedroom. It was in poor taste but she started look through the dresser. Opened the drawers and closets to see if she could find anything of the sort that she was looking for. Jace was getting impatient and was going to go look for Clary when he heard a sound behind him.

When Jace saw Clary he had momentarily lost grip of his sword. She had come back wearing what looked like a black sports bra. It was something you would normally wear to train in. Jace knew Clary was evening out the odds, because his eyes kept going down making him lose focus. Just as hers did when she saw him topless.

Clary was still distracted by his firm chest and abs but at least Jace had a distraction of his own now. They got into position and Clary was the first to attack. The sound of blades clashing, seeing the sparks fly feeling the sweat drip down her body as her adrenaline elevated. This was what Clary loved.

Clary came down on Jace hard. "Stop holding back!" Jace furrowed his eyebrows "I'm not!" He said in denial. Even though he two knew it was a lie. Clary narrowly missed his stomach. "You're pulling punches." she said, because it true. "Ever think maybe you're winning on your own? You're just that good?"

Clary block one of Jaces attacks then tilted her head to the side giving him an "oh please" look. "Unlike you I'm not so egotistical. I haven't trained in a year. Not to mention it wasn't even this easy when I was a shadowhunter." Clary paused sighing. "Just stop denying it. I've seen how you train and this isn't it."

Jace dropped his arm from where Clary was still blocking it. "I don't want to hurt you." He told her plainly. "You think only shadowhunters get hurt when they spar?" Clary asked raising both eyebrows.

"Mundanes train too. And for whatever they may be training for they get hurt too. That's why it's called training. To perfect your skills. Not taking your opponent seriously will only hinder you from seeing what you can do. If you hold back, it's not really learning is it, for either partner. Because the person you're facing doesn't have a challenge. Which would leave the vulnerable to a stronger assault. Because they wouldn't know how to defend against it. Now as strong as you are. How am I supposed to learn how to fight as best as I can as a mundane, if you don't give me something that is worthy to be called a fight."

Jace thought for a moment. His "Thinking" be it quick was making Clary's impatient self very annoyed. Mainly because she just wanted an answer. "I can do that." Clary smirked. "Good, because if you don't I'll kick your ass." Jace smirked "I'd like to see you try."

Clary wondered if this is what it would be like living together with Jace. All she knew was she loved being together with him. Every they were together she never wanted him to leave. And every time he left she couldn't wait for him to return. What she didn't know was Jace felt the same way.

Clary knew how much Jace cared for her though. It wasn't all he did for her, she did not need that as proof. It was the look she sees in his eyes every time he sees her. The look that made her feel as if she was the most special person in the world. Clary smiled, but she did not realize how distracted she became lost in thought.

Clary felt a sting above her left elbow then something dripping down her arm. Clary looked to see the wound, she wasn't upset or worried. However, her eyes went from the cut to Jace. Clary wondered what his reaction would be to her being hurt.

Jace dropped both of his blades as he walked over to her and took ahold of her arm. "This is why I was holding back." he said as he examined the wound. Clary rolled her eyes looking away from him, but not pulling her arm back either. "At least now you admit it." She said rolling her eyes. Jace looked up at her for a moment annoyed with her remark.

"It is a little deep. We should bandage it before it gets worse." Clary whipped her head back to Jace. He still had her arm looking at the cut Ugh she was getting so frustrated with him. Something so simple was nothing, yet he is making a big deal of it. And she knew Jace probably felt guilty as well.

Clary didn't know why she did it, when she did it or how. But she just couldn't take being treated so fragile. Clary kneed him in the stomach winding him and pushed him back. "Pick up your swords." she said as her temper was rising. "Clary you're bleeding be reasonable." Jace said with one arm on his gut.

Clary pulled a from her back pocket some gauze and wrapped it tightly and difficultly around her arm. She had taken it for Magnus's bathroom before returning to Jace who was waiting in the training room. She had a feeling she was more likely to find bandages there since the Herondale's could simply use Iratze's.

Jace shook his head disagreeing with Clary. He walked forward and helped her finish wrapping her arm. Despite his somewhat sloppiness with runes, he was very gentle and precise with what he was doing now. Except when he tightened it. Clary had a feeling that was some spite because of how difficult she was being.

Clary got into fighting position again. "Well?" she said eyeing Jace. Jace took up his swords. "I know you feel guilty, that it's you're fault." Clary paused. This wasn't the time to comfort him by telling him it was otherwise. Because it was his fault, and it was not a bad thing. She only hoped he could understand that.

"I won't say it's mine because I said come at me. I won't say just don't do it again. Because what you still don't understand is I'm ok with this. I'm even happy you're finally taking me seriously. You may the one who hurt me. But you didn't do anything wrong. Now let's go again, just like before. Don't hold back."

Despite Clarys words Jace had reservations. "And if I hurt you worse next time?" he asked her. "Jace what you did now I don't consider as something bad. However an action of yours what I will consider harmful is you not properly preparing me. The action, or more like something you didn't do. Which was take me seriously. What you did may hurt me now, but it will do less harm in the future. If training like this properly equips me for future dangers, what do you have to feel so worried about?" Clary said hoping he finally understood.

Jace looked at Clarys arm. The cut was too deep, she was bleeding through it. He placed his swords down once again. Jace took Clarys short sword and delicately cut the wrap. He bit his lip, his brows furrowed in worry. He was hoping she wouldn't need stitches. At the very least, they needed to dress it again. This time with more padding.

Clary look down at her arm and saw she was still bleeding. It didn't sting anymore but she did feel a dull hurt. If they fought again she knew she would be at a disadvantage. Her arm, be it very little. Still felt slightly weaker than before. "We need to wrap this again, this time with more padding. We should probably disinfect it too." Jace told her.

Clary sighed and let go of her other sword, she heard it fall to the ground as it collided with the floor. They decided to return to Magnus's bathroom on Clarys condition they would return here. Honestly if Jace refused she would have left. Clary knew she had to tend to her wound.

When they got back to the patio, they noticed Simon wasn't sleeping on the lounger anymore. Where had he gone? The most likely answer was he was looking for them in this huge house. Imagine his surprise when he sees they have returned to where they last were. Clary and Jace descended the stairs and walked over to Magnus's beautiful bathroom.

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Author's Note

Given everything that has happened recently. And my on and off writers block. I can't promise days of chapters, or how many. My schedule, at least for the time being will be sporadic. Also another reason I have writers block is, everyone says don't finish the story. I don't want to, but it has to end sometime. I know the ending. But to keep it going longer, is proving to be difficult for me. I'm having trouble finding what new and exciting chapters I should place in the middle.

I love the holidays

And I got some ideas for new chapters.

I don't know if you'd consider it long or short

It is 3,254 words though (Excluding intro and outro)

I know it's a slow chapter

I hope you like it anyway

Please Review!

Be Honest But Be Nice! = )

See you Monday Shadowhunters!