As Clary drove home she couldn't stop thinking about what Jace had said. "The rest of my life…" It was just an expression. Surely, someone who didn't believe in love wouldn't be making that kind of commitment to anyone. Certainly not someone they'd known for only two weeks. Not unless they were insane. Was Jace insane? Clary felt sure she must be insane, because she could already picture herself falling asleep in Jace's arms each night and waking up next to him every morning.

'Stop that!' she told herself. 'That's exactly the kind of thinking Simon was worried about.'

Simon. Clary sighed. What was she going to do about Simon? They'd never stayed in a fight overnight before. Usually their disagreements ended almost immediately with one of them making a joke and the other unable to resist laughing. Was she really even mad at him? She'd been embarrassed, sure. Mortified, even, but how could she be angry with him for trying to protect her?

Simon and Gran had been the ones to comfort her when Sebastian had broken her heart… both times. Simon had to know that Clary wouldn't worry Gran with anything like that now. How could she be upset with him for not wanting to deal with the emotional fall out if something happened and fell apart between her and Jace? Plus his loyalty would always be to Izzy now, as it should be, and Jace was Izzy's brother. Clary couldn't ask him to choose her over any of Izzy's family. If anything happened with Jace and she got hurt, it would be her own hurt to deal with on her own. Clary was determined to find a time to talk to Simon today and let him know she understood all this.

One look in her bathroom mirror told Clary it was a good thing she'd gotten home with plenty of time before Gran woke. She would need the time to make herself look presentable. The dark circles under her eyes were horrendous. She almost looked as if someone had punched her. Twice. Clary laughed at the thought. Who would stand still while someone punched them symmetrically once on each eye?

As she showered and made herself presentable for the day, Clary began to think of all the things she had to feel guilty for. She worked every Shabbat. Sure, she didn't work until after dark Saturday, but she worked long after the sun went down every Friday night. Gran would be so disappointed in her if she ever found out. Then there was all the lying and sneaking around. That was before she even got to thinking about the things she'd done with Jace last night.

Clary realized she'd have to be careful of her surroundings when she thought about that, because even right now when she was all alone Clary had turned bright red just thinking about what they'd done. She couldn't believe she'd been so bold! She'd never even thought to do some of those things with Sebastian. Sure, they'd had sex, but she'd never had him in her mouth, or ridden him or anything.

Just thinking about that was enough to embarrass her all over again. What must Jace think of her? Was it normal for people to do that kind of thing? She hadn't really talked much about sex with anybody before. It was just the usual learning at school how to prevent pregnancy and diseases, then Sebastian trying to convince her they should do it, and those awkward conversations with Simon in the car and Jace at the hotel last week. Last night it was like some kind of instinct had just taken over. Clary almost wished she'd been the one drinking so she could have blamed the alcohol.

Jace certainly hadn't acted appalled by her actions, but that didn't mean they were normal. Clary had never wished so hard for a close female friend. She'd always tended to have more friends that were guys, probably because she hung out with Simon, but it had never bothered her before. She'd hoped maybe she'd find that closeness with Izzy, but now that her questions would be about Izzy's brother that didn't seem appropriate.

Clary finally decided she'd better stop dawdling and finish getting herself ready for service so she could start helping Gran. It wasn't until they were both showered and dressed, made up, and just finishing breakfast that the doorbell rang signaling Jace's arrival.

"You don't mind if Jace rides with us today, do you?" Clary asked quickly, walking to the door to let him in.

"Of course not," Gran said, stopping to say hello to Jace on the way down the hall toward her room.

"We're just about ready," Clary said, moving to clean up the table and put the dishes in the sink. "Gran must have forgotten something. Have you had a chance to eat yet?"

Jace just nodded as he watched Clary move around the room.

"No kiss hello?" he finally teased. Clary looked quickly down the hall to be sure Gran hadn't returned before rising onto her toes to give Jace a quick peck on the lips. He looked like that may not have been quite what he had in mind, but he smiled at her anyway.

When Gran did return, she had a black, white and royal blue kippah in her hand that had been Gramps'. He'd been buried wearing his absolute favorite, and Gran had given Simon another of the ones he wore a lot, but Clary recognized this as a third of his favorite kippahs.

"Do you know what a kippah is?" Gran asked Jace, holding up the small head covering.

"Yes," Jace answered. "I have some Jewish friends back in New York." Clary held her breath as she waited for Gran to ask something along the lines of how long he'd lived in Kentucky, but thankfully she didn't.

"Our Rabbi won't require that you wear one, but it is a symbol of respect, so if you're willing, I'd love for you to wear one of Jack's."

Clary saw how Gran's eyes sparkled with unshed tears as she spoke and Clary could tell this was important to Gran. She silently willed Jace to be okay with wearing it.

"Of course!" Jace said quickly! "I'd be honored to wear it, and I'll be very careful to give it back in the same condition it's in now," Jace said, seeming to notice Gran's disposition the same way Clary had.

"Oh no," Gran clarified. "It isn't a loan. I am quite confident that Jack would've wanted you to have it! There was nothing in the world he enjoyed more than seeing his 'Clary Berry' happy. Anybody who could put that smile on her face," Gran nodded toward Clary who could feel herself grinning, "would have had his stamp of approval."

"Thank you," Jace said. He actually dropped to one knee beside Gran's walker and bowed his head so she could reach to clip the kippah on, but if Clary wasn't mistaken she saw tears in his eyes as well.

"If you're done making me all emotional," Clary teased, fanning her face to try and keep her own tears from leaking at the reminder of her grandfather and the private moment they had just shared, "maybe we should get going?"

They all chuckled as Jace stood up and took Clary's hand lacing his fingers through hers as they followed Gran out of the apartment.

Jace offered to drive, and Clary was more than happy to let him. For one thing, she hadn't been thrilled with the thought of asking Jace to squeeze his long legs into the back of her small car. Making Gran sit in the back was out of the question. With Jace driving, Clary was able to sit in the back herself, which she actually found quite relaxing. It wasn't until they were in Louisville that Clary realized they may have a slight problem.

"I forgot to mention… We usually pick Simon up on the way. Do you want me to just text him and ask him to meet us there today?" she asked.

"It's fine," Jace assured her. "I don't mind picking him up. Unless you think he'll have a problem with it?" Clary saw Jace briefly meet her eyes in the rear view mirror and knew he was saying he didn't want anyone to argue in front of Gran. Clary couldn't agree more. After a couple of texts with Simon, Clary was confident everyone could behave for the short trip. She began to give Jace directions until he reminded her that he knew how to get there since it was also his sister's place.

When they got to the apartment Clary hopped out of the back, "I'm just going to go get him," she said. "I'll be right back."

"I'm sure we can manage to entertain ourselves for a few minutes without you," Gran teased. Clary didn't catch anything else as the door closed, but she could tell they were continuing to converse by the expressions she saw as she crossed in front of the car. It made her heart happy to know Jace got along so well with Gran. Now if he could only make friends with Simon…

Clary could have texted Simon and waited in the car like she usually did, but she wanted a chance to clear the air. She didn't owe him an apology or anything, but she wanted him to know she appreciated his attempts to protect her, even if she felt they were unnecessary.

As it turns out, Izzy had apparently already convinced Simon he hadn't handled things well. By the time Clary rang the doorbell he was waiting with an apology and a hug. "Izzy says she's never seen Jace like this with anybody, so maybe you guys will be okay after all," he told her.

"You don't have to worry," Clary assured him, as they moved down the stairs. "If things don't work out I'll know better than to come crying to you." Apparently the words had not come out as lighthearted as Clary had hoped because Simon put a hand on her arm and stopped her mid decent.

"That's not it at all!" he told her emphatically. "You can always come to me, no matter what happens, or who it's about. Why would you ever think that would change?!"

"Well," Clary said carefully, "Jace is going to be part of your family now…"

"Yes," Simon said. "He will be, but you already are! That's not going to change. When Izzy and I get married, if she says yes, our families will grow. Neither of us will be loosing anybody. I hope you don't think I'd ever choose him over you, no matter who I marry! Did you?"

Clary just shrugged. "I would never ask you to choose. Now come on. You know Gran likes to be early." Clary started to pull away, but Simon kept his grip on her arm firm.

"Clary, this is important. You can always talk to me about anything, okay?" he said sincerely.

"Okay," she said, giving him a quick hug. "Now come on, before you make us late." They continued to walk down the stairs as another thought occurred to her. "Wait, you don't have any reason to think she won't say yes, do you?"

Simon shrugged. "She was plenty mad at me last night, but I'm pretty sure she'll forgive me if you do," he said.

"As far as I'm concerned you're already forgiven," she said, giving his arm a squeeze.